Shikamaru was pacing, something he didn't do often. He was pacing and impatient. This was more troublesome than anything was worth.
"Shikamaru, calm down." Yamanaka Ino chided, "Just sit down, have a cup of tea-"
"Not while she's out there." Shikamaru responded harshly, "Robin and Ishi-chan should've been back by now. What's taking them so long?"
Maybe Orochimaru had already sunk his hooks into her. Or worse, maybe Ishi was at the moment on the rack, or being forced to commit seppuku.
Shikamaru shuddered. No matter how troublesome it was, he would protect his Ishi-chan. It was the least he could do for her after he had left her alone.
He looked out the window. "Where are they?" He asked for the millionth time before beginning to pace again.
"They'll be back soon." Asuma assured him, lighting a cigarette, "Just calm down and breathe…"
He glared at his sensei, and then continued pacing at a much faster rate. Where were they?
His heart beat hard in his chest. Maybe Ishi-chan was already hurt, or…or…
Shikamaru swallowed the lump in his throat, allowing his resolve to replace itself. He had made up his mind.
"I'm going after them!"
"What?!" Ino jumped to her feet, "Shikamaru, are you crazy?! You could get killed, or worse!"
Shikamaru glared at her, strapping on his kunai and disappearing out the door. He had to get to her, had to convince her to come back home. Come back to him.
He disappeared into Sound, avoiding ninjas carefully. Finally, he found Ishi's room, sneaking in.
"Ishi-chan…thank the stars you're alright." He sighed, "You've been very troublesome."
She turned, looking at him with wide eyes.
"S-Shikamaru-kun? What are you doing here?" She asked, standing from the windowsill. Shikamaru held out his arms for her.
"I had to make sure you were safe. Where's Robin-san?"
"Oh, Shikamaru, it's horrible." Ishi burst into tears, but only jerked away as Shikamaru tried to hold her.
"Ishiana-san…" Shikamaru turned, seeing Orochimaru and jumping into the shadows, "It's time. Your training begins now."
"H-h-hai." She murmured, bowing before smiling nervously at Shikamaru and walking out. He followed her, noticing Naruto lurking as well.
"There is something…you need to know…" Ishi whispered, looking up at Orochimaru meekly from behind her thin bangs.
"Yes, Ishi-san?"
"I…heard you had once been in love with Momoko Ali. I met her and…well…the rumble that killed her was her gang against mine."
Orochimaru looked shocked and angry, but said nothing until they entered the area they wanted her to train in. Then, he walked to another ninja and whispered to him with a soft grin at Ishi.
The arena they had set out for her was huge, several sets of ninja in front of her. Ishi looked scared out of her skin as Shikamaru and Naruto were confined to standing on the sidelines.
If anything happens, Shikamaru thought, and then inwardly sighed, this will be quite troublesome to explain. But, soon, it started.
He barely saw the fight, Ishi's body merely a blur. Ninjas dropped like stones, Justus blowing up. Suddenly, Shikamaru relaxed his muscles, sure she could handle it. She was just being troublesome about this.
"Ishi-chan!" Naruto screamed, "Behind you!"
It was too late. The kunai came down into Ishi's chest, then into her stomach, then across the vein in her thigh. Shikamaru could only stare in horror as the dark-haired girl crumpled to the ground.
Naruto/Kyubi was the first down there and Shikamaru followed.
"Klutz!" Kyubi yelled, drawing his sister into his arms, "Klutz! Klutz, wake up…wake up…"
"Kyu…bi…" she murmured, staring up at him, "I'm…so sorry…I tried to…warn the kit…but…"
"I know, I know you did." Kyubi crooned, holding her to his chest, "J-just hang on. Hang on." He glared at Shikamaru.
"Do something, genius!" He snapped, but the dark-haired Chunin couldn't move. He was rooted to the spot in horror. Ishiana, one of life's constant lights of hope, was dying. No, it couldn't be.
"Shi…ka…maru…kun…" Ishi whispered, reaching to him. He leaned down, taking her hand in his.
"Ishi-chan," He murmured, tears in his eyes, "Ishi-chan, I'm here. Don't die…don't die." He smiled through his tears, "Do you know how troublesome it'll be if you…"
Ishi's hand went limp in his.
"I-Ishi-chan? Ishi-chan?! No, no, no, please wake up. Ishi-chan! Please, I swear, I'll never call you troublesome again! Just…just hang on…" The tears began to fall, "Ishi-chan…I love you…"
The words had barely left his lips as Ishi's hand fell from his.
Kyubi let out a mournful cry, turning his face to the ceiling, Naruto's mingling with it.
Their sister…
Shikamaru's love…
Gone.
