Sitting behind Senka with his arms wrapped around her midsection, Shikamaru stares out at Konoha below them with a thoughtful sigh. By the end of this week I'll be starting this mission, and I have no idea when I'll be back. This is probably gonna be a sensitive question, I really don't wanna deal with it, way too troublesome to start before something big like this but… I dunno, maybe she'll understand where I'm coming from…
"…it really is a nice view from the roof near your window, Shika-kun…" Senka comments a moment later, sounding a bit melancholy.
Holding her a bit tighter for a moment he sighs and then murmurs back. "Yeah…" A slight uncomfortably in his tone as he considers the difficult question at hand. Frowning gently he sighs again to steel himself before muttering. "…Senka, I got… somethin' to ask…"
"Yeah…?" She responds, an odd hopefulness to her voice.
Seeming hesitant for a moment, he then words carefully. "…Well, I'm not really sure how long I'll be gone… but it's really just a little thing, that I'd like you to do for me… while I'm outta town…" Damn, there's no real easy way to say this. It's gonna be pure luck that she won't get mad at all… I just hope I can walk away from this with minor bruises…
Seeming to lose her hopefulness, the brunette then sighs before asking a bit curtly. "..What is it, Shikamaru?" I thought he was going to ask me… This would have been a perfect… Oh well…
Yeah, listen to that tone of voice… well, here goes nothing… "…I just… well maybe… you could hold off… spending too much alone time with Kiba… I trust you and everything… and I'm not saying you guys can't hang out but… maybe just …I dunno, have someone there…" Shit. That did not come out the way I wanted it to… And when she suddenly stiffens, growing frigid in his arms, his fears are quickly recognized.
"…Excuse me, I don't think I heard you right. Did you just tell me…your pregnant girlfriend, that I not only can't hang out with my only real friend since I got here aside from you that often while you're gone, and I need the extra company and support… But you're saying we need a chaperone?" She asks heatedly, quickly moving from his arms to kneel in front of him, frowning deeply. "Are you fucking me? Seriously? How can you be so insensitive!"
Looking off and flushing as a pit of nervousness and guilt builds up in him, Shikamaru rubs he side of his neck before defending. "N-no… look, it came out way wrong-"
"I can't believe I actually thought you were getting ready to ask me to marry you..!" She cries out at him, her tears building quickly to unblinkingly roll down her face and she grits her teeth against the pain in her chest. "..Th-this would have been the perfect moment… the sunset, you holding me so close, the beautiful view… And you just ruined it..!"
Aw damnit! Stupid… "Y-you're right… okay… I'm sorry… just…" Standing up he reaches out to take her hand as she stands. "…Just calm down, okay?"
Snatching her hand back from his, the brunette screams back at him hurtfully. "Don't touch me! Don't you ever think you can tell me what to do, Shikamaru Nara!"
I've got a better chance of hiding food from Choji right now… "Alright… alright…" He utters back, putting up his hands. "I get it… I was wrong…-"
"M-Maybe we should just…b-break-up..!" She suddenly calls out, wrapping her arms around herself tightly as she grits her teeth against her anger and hurt.
"What…? No way… Come on, Senka…" He offers pleadingly. "…It was a stupid thing to say… I… didn't really think it out…" I did, kinda. I knew it'd be bad, I just didn't know why…
"I can't handle game playing! This is so childish..! …Maybe when you get back…you'll have grown up some…" She murmurs softly, flinching noticeably as she cringes in on herself.
Panting nervously, he carefully moves to her side, but then stops when she backs away again. Keeping his hands up and open he offers carefully. "Senka… I know you're upset… I know I upset you… and I'm really sorry about that…-"
"I should go…before I change my mind.." The brown eyed kunoichi murmurs shakily before turning towards the open village.
"Wait! Senka, let's think about this! Please, I love you!" The dark haired male practically begs. "C'mon… please…?"
Turning towards him, she then quickly turns away, letting out a soft whimper of restraint before taking off into the air, jumping onto the streets below and darting down one of them towards her home.
…Crap… this is bad… this is really bad… very nice, Shikamaru! How come every time you screw up it's gotta be something Earthshattering…? Putting his head in his hands he groans painfully before jumping down as well.
Several minutes later, sitting on the couch of the living room, Daisuke and Ino are watching a movie, that he appreciates with a grain of salt; something usually more 'tender' than his pick of either grotesque or disturbing horror films. He jumps defensively as Senka opens the front door noisily.
Not paying the two any mind, the tall brunette female moves quickly through the living room, letting out a soft sound before disappearing up the stairs, her door shutting at her back.
Pausing the movie, he looks to Ino knowingly, Daisuke then sighs. "Wow, that was bad… you realize we're the unofficially elected mediators now, right…?"
Making a face and sighing, the blonde then seems thoughtful for a moment. "..Well…I know Shikamaru better…but I doubt she wants to talk to a guy right now, and you might end up with another head wound, so I better go."
Chuckling softly, he compliments. "She'll appreciate having someone more insightful, too…" Reaching out to take her hand a moment he assures. "We'll finish the movie afterwards…" Before he stands and turns to the door hearing another set of footsteps. Well, that's fortunate…
"Shikamaru's persistent when it's something he cares about, so he should be here any minute." Ino warns as she moves towards the stairs and when the Nara comes through the door quickly, she only adds as she disappears. "Your job's easier..!"
"Good luck, then." Daisuke returns before looking to Shikamaru and raising his brows.
"Is… Senka-"
"Oh yeah…She was about as subtle as a rhino on her way in…" The brunette adds, rubbing the back of his head. "What happened?"
While Shikamaru goes about explaining the situation; from his point of view, Daisuke's look slowly and steadily gets more grim before he's left just pinching the bridge of his nose.
"Oh, Shikamaru… really…?"
"…Yeah…" He grunts back, slipping a hand into his back pocket and rubbing his neck with the other.
"Well, …I'm pretty sure it's fixable… Senka might have a temper but she's more understanding than Rinsu. Gods help you if it'd been Rinsu…!" Putting up a hand the hazel eyed male then points out. "Problem is; it's not gonna be fixed today…"
"I… kinda figured…" Shikamaru mutters before frowning gently.
"In fact, it probably won't even be fixable until after you've left and come back the first time… that whole 'absence makes the heart grow fonder'…"
Closing his eyes and sagging, Shikamaru shakes his head. "…damn…" Slowly sinking into a chair he pulls out a cigarette and lighter and starts up, dragging thoughtfully.
Seating himself not too far away on the couch again, Daisuke nods. "Ironically, your worries over Kiba have put you in the doghouse…" He offers with a sly grin.
Rolling his eyes, Shikamaru just chortles. "…Yeah, great…"
It isn't long after that Ino quickly makes her way down the stairs and calls out as she darts across the room, smacking the darker haired male ringingly across the face.
Flinching and holding his cheek, Shikamaru grits his teeth as his cigarette drops into his lap and then he jumps up quickly, fumbling for the heated ember against his pants. "Ah ah! Shit..!"
Staying perfectly quiet now, Daisuke just raises his brows.
"You jerk, Shikamaru! How could you! What a horrible time to handle something like that! And she's pregnant! Why haven't you asked her to marry you yet!" She begins berating him, tearing into him horribly.
"I.. I just kinda thought…it goes to figure…" He mutters, putting up his hands protectively.
"…it never goes to figure…" Daisuke murmurs lowly with a sigh, shaking his head.
"You're stupid! If you end up alone for the rest of your life, you deserve it! I'm disappointed in you Shikamaru! I oughtta tell your mother! She'd be pissed!"
"Come on, Ino… I already get that I made a mistake…!" He calls back, flinching hurtfully.
Blinking at him before biting her bottom lip the blonde then sighs and nods, frowning gently. "…Would it make you feel better…if I said she really, really loves you still…? …And that she's just hurting really bad…?"
Nodding slightly, Shikamaru just sighs before Daisuke offers.
"I told him… she really needs time to cool down before they can attempt to come to terms."
"But…we're leaving in just two days…" Ino points out, suddenly seeming concerned.
Nodding solemnly, Daisuke sighs. "…I know."
"…I really screwed myself this time…" Shikamaru mutters, sitting back down and rubbing his forehead with a tired expression. "We figured… it'll take about as long as it'll take for us to leave, and come back…"
Frowning still, Ino sighs before seating herself, seeming thoughtful. "…It'll help your case if you can get injured or something…"
Making a face, Shikamaru scratches his head before changing the subject. "…What were… you guys watching anyhow..?"
"…Lee…?" The green-clad male hears as he rests beneath the tree in front of 'Lucky Thirteen's' home. Turning up, he sees the also green-clad kunoichi, looking down at him seriously, though kinder than she had just earlier that month.
Blinking and looking up quickly, Lee stands suddenly seeming surprised. "R-Rinsu…!"
Kneeling in front of him, the brunette turns her almost glassy brown eyes to him before offering honestly. "…I want you to be straight with me, Lee… Be honest.. I'm…more open minded…and my eyes are open… If you lie to me, I'll know…and I'll hate you for it. …If you tell me the truth and you cheated… I'll listen to your explanation with an open heart… And if you didn't… we'll see what happens."
Sighing and looking down, Lee frowns gently before he utters. "…I've had a lot of time to think about this, Rinsu… in fact… all I've done is think about this…" Shifting and putting one of his knees up, the black haired shinobi rests his hand on his knee. "…I suppose that I did…. But what I want you to know is that I didn't go to see her with that intention… All she told me is that she wanted to talk, and then she kissed me." Sighing softly and looking down, he shakes his head. "T-to some extent I blame myself… if I hadn't been so oblivious before, or concerned over myself, I would have known better. I would have seen it coming and reacted sooner… but I was so naïve that I let the shock overcome me and… I froze up." Pausing he shrugs softly before adding. "and if I'd known, how she felt… then I would have been able to explain that it wasn't … for the reasons she thought, but because I really felt drawn to you, that I loved you… and I still do."
Listening to him before she slowly offers a small smile, she continues curiously. "…Why have you been out here so much…? You've barely been home for anything but eating and bathing… You look ill…and really tired…"
Sighing and rubbing his eyes, the chunin responds. "…When we were together… I was so happy, and when it ended the way it did… for a while I had trouble accepting it… after that, I felt even more alone than usual; living alone… and I couldn't stand it anymore. I just wanted to be near you any way I could…"
Smiling a bit sadder, the mokuton using nin moves to wrap an arm around him and help him up. "Come on, Lee… Let's get you inside and feed that cold…" I hope Gaara doesn't get upset…
Blinking a bit, Lee just falls silent as he allows Rinsu to lead him inside to where the small group sits. Shikamaru looks up first and blinks.
"…Uh… hey… guys…"
Glancing over, Daisuke pushes back a frown. All these interruptions… how am I supposed to talk to Ino seriously with more and more people showing up? "…Is he alright?"
"He's pretty sick… I'm gonna take him upstairs and try to get Senka to help me make some food. …Why does everyone look so solemn?" She asks with a frown.
"Let's just say; it's Shikamaru's turn, so ask Kiyoko for help instead. Senka needs some time to herself." Daisuke summarizes simply.
"Aww…! But Senka's the good cook between us!" Rinsu protests with a pouting frown.
"She won't have her heart in it…" the brunette shinobi states sagely, squinting softly.
Blinking as the thought hits her, the female turns her eyes darkly towards Shikamaru as a few trees start to sway and movement catches those gatherer's attention. "…you didn't cheat on her…did you?"
"A-are you serious? No way! Other girls are way too troublesome!" Shikamaru defends, putting up his hands.
"Hm… Alright.." She responds, one of the vines moving to pat his head, making him close one eye and shift slightly before they move to wrap around Lee's shoulders gently. "Do you need a lot of help, Lee…? I'm gonna be right back, but I don't want you sitting. You might fall asleep."
"I'm… alright, just… grateful for any help you give me…" He offers back gently.
Nodding, then leaning up to kiss his cheek, Rinsu makes her way upstairs quickly, knocking at her own door. "Gaara… Gaara…!"
Opening the door, the transformed teen looks to Rinsu and raises a brow before asking. "What is it?"
"…You know how you told me before that Naruto made you rethink things in your life…? Well, not I know what you mean." She explains quickly, offering a sweet smile as she tries to sound convincing. "I, umm…decided not to hate Lee anymore and try to be friends again… We talked, and I believe him… He didn't cheat on me, so I…don't want to be at odds with him, you know…?"
Watching her a moment, Gaara then nods slowly. "Alright. If you feel that's best, then I won't deny it. It could be best if the two of you reconciled to some extent anyway."
Nodding with a bit of a smile, she then becomes more serious, informing him with a sigh. "And another thing… …I did the ritual wrong, so…we'll need to do it again… …I know now that…we aren't soul mates… We're defiantly tied at the soul, but…we're true loves, or…fatal attractions…" She murmurs, a hint of worry in her voice.
Furrowing his brows, Gaara watches her for a moment before admitting. "I… don't understand. What's the difference?"
"..Soul mates are people who are really like you…in every way… True loves sometimes have similarities to you, but no matter what, even if they're nothing like you, they're the one whom your heart is most drawn to most of the time… Fatal attraction…is someone whom the evil in both of your hearts is drawn to one another…and nothing good can come of your union…" She finishes, closing her eyes before biting her bottom lip harshly.
Furrowing his brows in thought, Gaara then offers. "But we are very much alike, with just a few select differences. Namely in how our experiences have taught us."
Nodding a bit, she frowns in a knowing way. "But…I know…we're not soul mates now…" Before she bows her head, coddling her sore hand.
Watching her observantly, Gaara slowly frowns. "I see…"