"You're off today" Asuma smirked as he captured Shikamaru's knight. Asuma took notice of the dark bags under Shikamaru's eyes. "Late night?" Shikamaru adjusted his position.

"Yeah," he replied, making his move.

"Everything okay?"

"Yeah." Shikamaru smiled. "I had a really late night"

"Oh?" Asuma smiled back. "Ino had told me that you were in buying flowers a few days ago. Might I ask who those flowers were for?" he was smiling now, already knowing the answer.

"It seems that you already know" Shikamaru shot back, the blush starting to creep across his face again. "But anyway," he said, checkmating Asuma, "they were for Kiba." Asuma laughed as he lit a new cigarette.

"So how'd that go?" he asked, exhaling. Asuma had been able to pick up on who Shikamaru's feelings were for and hoped that no one else would put together the facts, save for Ino who wouldn't cause anyone any harm anyway.

"Well, better than I expected to say the least" Shikamaru was beaming now, his smile extending from ear to ear.

"I'm glad" Asuma said as he smiled. "Just be careful" he said to the young ninja as he stood to take his leave. Konohagakure was usually open and respectful to all sorts of relationships, but the same couldn't necessarily be said for all of Shikamaru's friends. Asuma didn't know them and made no judgments on their behalf.

"I will be" Shikamaru stood to see Asuma out. "I want to see him again, but I don't know how…" his voice trailed off at the end, becoming lost in his thoughts again.

"Why don't you let him be the pursuer this time?" Asuma left Shikamaru with those parting thoughts.