Valentine's day special – sometime in the future

.-.

Naruto was relaxing under a tree in his garden after his morning training. The previous day he had cleared all the flower and herb plots around the property and now he was just planning how he'd like to arrange the garden. 'Maybe I should get a window box at the kitchen window to plant the herbs I use frequently… I wonder if Shikaku-ossan would help me build one…'

A rustling from above him brought him out of his musings. Looking up Naruto spotted the bane of many gennins mission history and chuckled, "Tora what are you doing up there?"

"Miaow" Tora mewled and jumped next to the relaxing child. Purring and rubbing its head against Naruto's leg to be petted.

"Hai, hai you spoiled cat." Naruto smiled and scratched the mischievous feline behind the ear and continued to pet it. The two sat in a comfortable silence enjoying the peace and company of the other being.

.-.

Shikamaru was sleeping soundly and snoring lightly, half hanging off the edge of his bed. At the foot of the bed Shikayoshi giggled quietly and Shikahito was smirking, both holding a pot and a wooden spoon in their hands. Shikahito whispered "3… 2… 1…" and both started hitting the pots with the spoon. The noise causing Shikamaru to startle and fall out of bed.

The noise stopped and the two mischievous brother laughed. "Maru-nii! Hahahahaha! Good haha morning!" Shikayoshi said in between giggles. Shikahito just continued laughing.

Shikamaru sat up and glowered at his laughing brothers, "Can't the two of you wake me up normally?" The laughs and giggles continued. Sighing Shikamaru stood up and stretched, "What time is it?"

"Almost 10 Maru-chan." Shikahito said, ushering the still giggling toddler out "You better hurry up or you'll be late for your date with Naru-chan." With a final smirk at the younger Naara, Shikahito closed the door behind him.

"Che. Troublesome big brother."

.-.

"Well Tora I better get going or I will be late." Naruto said getting up and dusting off the leaves, grass and dirt from his pants and heads inside the house.

.-.

Shikamaru was not in his ninja gear for once, he was dressed in a plain grey male kimono and a dark green haori patterned with leaves in lighter greens and browns. The chunnin was walking through the main shopping district of the village not really paying attention to anything in particular.

"SHIKAMARU!" a voice called out.

Shikamaru stopped and turned to face the person who called out to him. Ino was running up to the young Naara. "Yes, Ino?" Shikamaru sighed when the girl finally reached him.

"Maru-kun you have a date on valentine's day and didn't tell me? Who is the poor soul that has your lazy ass a valentine?" Ino said in a teasing tone, then her eyes narrowed "Do I know this person?"

"Tch, troublesome girl." Shikamaru sigh and turned to keep heading in the direct he was headed in without answering Ino.

Ino scowled at her friend, grabbing the lazy genius by the upper arm, thus effectively stopping Shikamaru from leaving, "Fine you don't have to tell me who it is, but at least tell me you've prepared something romantic for the unlucky sap."

Shikamaru just gave a mysterious smirk at the purple wearing girl and gently removed the hands holding him from his person and carried on his way.

Ino just stood there in the middle of the road, jaw slightly hanging open, staring at her childhood friend's back as it got further away. 'What in the world was that?!'

.-.

Shikamaru stood in front of Naruto's house leaning next to the door waiting for Naruto to come out.

"Sorry for the wait Shikamaru!" Naruto said closing the door and locking it. The blonde was wearing a pale yellow kimono with darker yellow Uzumaki swirls stitched on the fabric, he was also wearing an orange haori with little foxes playing along the bottom edge.

Shikamaru smiled at the blonde and just held out an arm. Blushing Naruto hooked their arms together, "Can I ask where we are going?"

"No, and don't look at me like that." Shikamaru said smirking and lightly tapped the shorter male's nose. Naruto just pouted.

"Hold on tight" Shikamaru said and wrapped his other arm around the blonde. Those were the only warnings Naruto got before he felt himself being shushined.

.-.

Appearing in a whirl of leaves, Naruto shook his head to clear the fuzzy feeling of being transported by shushin. Eyes widening in surprise as he took in the surroundings. Shikamaru had brought them to the top of the Hokage mountain and they were behind the Yondaime's head. A picnic was set up and the clearing was decorated with strings of paper hearts.

"Wow Shikamaru this looks great!" Naruto whispered.

"Yea it does." Shikamaru said staring at Naruto.

The two stood in the embrace for a few moments, Naruto just looking at the set-up and Shikamaru staring at Naruto. After a bit Naruto turned his head to face Shikamaru with a blinding smile and pecked the taller boy on the cheek, "Thanks Dear!"

Shikamaru just smile softy at the blonde and lead them to the assembled picnic. "Right this way my koishi."

.-.

The two were lounging on the picnic mat lying next to each other cuddling, cloud gazing with the food untouched.

"I'm surprised we both have the day off today. Usually we are both busy and don't have a lot of time together." Naruto said nuzzling his face into the crook of Shikamaru's neck.

Shikamaru smirked, "I may have bribed the old hag to give us both the day off by 'helping' her out with her paper work for a week."

Naruto sat up and stared at his boyfriend for a full minute, unmoving. Shikamaru was beginning to worry, the blonde hadn't moved for a full minute. Sitting up the lazy genius reached out to the smaller male "Na-"

Naruto snapped out of his daze and proceeded to glomp Shikamaru and laughed, "Dear, is spending time together on valentine's day that import to you?"

Shikamaru flushed and mumbled "Not really, but I just wanted to do something special today."

"So you prepared all of this." to emphasis Naruto waved an arm around the clearing, "Even offered to do work deemed 'troublesome', even better to do that work for a week, to get us both a day off. Really Dear what are you planning?"

Shikamaru raised an eyebrow and pinched both of Naruto's cheeks, "Troublesome blonde, stop asking questions and just appreciate it, and let me spoil you today."

Grinning widening Naruto gently swatted Shhikamaru's hands away and giggled, "Fine." Turning back around the blonde settled back against the lazy genius with a content smile.

Shikamaru wrapped both arms around Naruto's waist with a satisfied smile, 'As troublesome as doing all this was, it is worth is of we can get this little bit of time together.'

.-.

After finishing the lunch that Shikamaru had prepared, the lazy genius transported the both of them to the forest attached to the Naara grounds. Hand in hand the two strolled through the forest until they came to a pond. This time there was a table set up with cutlery but no food.

"Now what have you got planned Maru-kun?" Naruto asked couriously.

Smirking Shikamaru lead Naruto closer to the table. Suddenly Naruto was yanked into a strong chest and arms wrapped around his waist. Looking up at Shikamaru with a questioning look, "What- ?"

The blonde didn't get to finish his question as music started to play from a little radio by the table and Shikamaru started to slowly move.

"A dancing Naara? Now I've seen everything." Naruto said, his face flushed with happiness.

"Don't expect this too often now" a smugly smirking Shikamaru said leaning down to place a chaste kiss on Naruto's forehead.

.-.

As the second song came to an end, Naruto got an impish look in his eyes that made Shikamaru nervous, "What are you planning Naru-chan?"

Naruto didn't say anything but pulled away from Shikamaru and lightly pushed the taller boy in the chest, "Tag! Catch me if you can Maru-kun!" Naruto called and ran into the forest.

.-.

Shikamaru finally caught up to the giggling blonde and tackled Naruto to the ground and proceeded to tickle the laughing jinjukuri.

"Hahaha Maru ahaha st-stop!" Naruto laugh as he tried to push Shikamaru off him.

After a few more seconds Shikamaru relented and helped Naruto up and the two walked back to the lake.

By the time they reached the lake the sun was setting. Entering the clearing Naruto's eye widened in surprised for the second time that day. Fairy lights were strung around the table and spread out around the lake.

"Shikamaru…" Naruto said in a whisper

Shikamaru chuckled at the kitsune's speechlessness and sat them both down at the table. Pulsing a little chakra in a seal on the table a small poof and a small box appeared. Nudging the box to Naruto.

The blonde took the box and gazed at the brunette questioningly.

"Open it Naru" Shikamaru urged his companion.

Naruto gasp when he opened the box. Inside was a pair of promise rings.

"Happy valentine's day kioshi" Shikamaru whispered capturing Naruto's lips.

"Happy valentine's day saiai" Naruto whispered back.

.-.

Back with Ino

"Ino-chan what are you doing here in the middle of the road?" a hand landed on Ino's shoulder shocking her out of her dazed state.

Jumping slightly Ino turned to face her mother, Odayaka, "Ah. Mum hi."

The three older women looked at each other then back at Ino, "What's the matter Ino-chan?" Choji's mother, Ishun, asked the flustered girl.

Ino faced Yoshino, "Does Shikamaru have any romantic interest?"

Taken aback Yoshino hesitates 'Ah… have those two not told all their friends? But the two of them are quite obvious…' but says to Ino, "Eh… Why do you ask Ino-chan?"

"Oh nothing really... It's just… Shikamaru was all dressed up just now looking like he had a date." Ino admitted a little flustered

The thee mothers all shared a look and snickered. "Ino honey I think you are rather slow on the up take. The two of them are hardly discreet with their affections." Odayaka snickered.

The mothers just laughed harder at the incredulous look that the teenager gave them.

.-.