I Something you all may want to know, this story is only going to be a few more chapters. I'm thinking of a sequel, but then again there's the chance I'll want to write something else before I start a sequel, and if that's that, then you may just want to use your imagination.

I would try and come up with an excuse as to why these are constantly late, but really I don't have anything good so I just hope that no one's pissed at me for saying I'd get these out every eight days and it's not really turning out that way.

Luckily for you guys, I'm stuck at home sick and I don't feel like reading. It's miserable, but I don't know which is worse, going to school with a bunch of liars and fakes who keep catching me talking to myself (damn them), or stay at home with pneumonia.

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The night was creeping in on Shikamaru, too quickly for him to be comfortable. He felt as if he just saw the afternoon's light shine brightly through the window, but now it was pitch black outside. He shook his head and closed the blinds. Something was bothering him, however what that something was couldn't be said quite yet.

Hidan, for his own reasons, chose to go to his bedroom before he came to lay down for the night. Shikamaru wanted him to come straight to bed, but thought it would be better to not say anything.

For some reason, the Konoha nin was cold and lonely. He sat on the bed and pulled the chilly wrinkled sheets on his bed around him. Too many things had went on since he got here for anything to be a great comfort, except the picture he kept of himself and his team, including Asuma.

He retrieved the book he stashed the picture in and pulled it out. He felt so happy back then, when he was a genin fresh out of the academy. He saw Chouji smiling at the camera, and Ino with her arms around both her teammate's necks in a friendly way, smiling brightly. Asuma stood in the background with a beaming smile. The only one who didn't look completely happy was Shikamaru, who was acting as nonchalant as always.

He silently scolded himself for not smiling, but never the less enjoyed the picture. It brought on a countless million memories of lame missions and impromptu adventures. Ino was one for complaining when she was younger, about how lazy Shikamaru was or how Chouji should watch how much he eats. Shikamaru laughed when he thought really how frustrating he must have been to Asuma when he was young. He never did anything unless it involved life or death, and that meant during his earlier years he literally did nothing helpful for his team.

Laughter turned into tears at the thought of causing Asuma trouble. Not tangible sobbing, but he silently lamented. He realized as he wiped a silent few droplets from his eyes, however, that he didn't feel butterflies in his stomach as he thought of Chouji, which was very unusual.

His thoughts, however, were cut short as Hidan's footsteps could be heard down the hall. He put the picture behind his library card and opened to the book so he would look like he'd been reading.

"Shika," Hidan whined, "Don't tell me you're going to be reading, I want to go to sleep."

"I was just passing the time waiting for you," Shikamaru answered and closed his book.

Hidan smiled, as if relieved, and climbed into bed. He kissed Shikamaru on the cheek before he noticed how red the boy's face was. "Are you alright, Shika?"

"Fine," Shikamaru answered and looked down.

Hidan glared, "Let me try again, and you can answer without lying, are you alright?"

Shikamaru avoided his boyfriend's eyes. They seemed to pierce right through him, "I was just thinking-"

"About?"

"My friends."

Hidan noticeably relaxed. "So, it wasn't anything I did, then?"

"Well, if you want the truth, I was thinking about Asuma, too."

"Dammit."

"I don't want another fight, Hidan. I really don't."

Hidan, instead of defending himself or being aggressive, took Shikamaru by surprise and hugged him tightly. "I'm sorry. I really, really am. But he attacked me, and that's how it kinda is, you know."

"Hidan-"

"Wait, listen. I know, I was cruel, and a major bastard, alright? I understand that no matter how well we get along I really can't be forgiven for that, but I don't want you to hate me either."

"It's not what you did, it's what I didn't do," Shikamaru said softly. Hidan barely caught the words.

"What do you mean?"

"I was an inconsiderate bastard when I was a kid, and there were so many things I could've done to help Asuma."

Hidan had Shikamaru pulled onto his lap, while he was only partially sitting up. He saw there was so much that Shikamaru was upset about, but believed very little of it had anything to do with himself. He bent down and gave Shikamaru a kiss on the cheek.

"Hidan, what if I told you that I was scared?"

"Of what?"

"That I'm doing something completely wrong here?"

"I'm still not sure I know what you mean, Shika."

Shikamaru sat up and faced Hidan, "Asuma wouldn't hate me for this, would he?"

"For being with me, you mean?"

"Yes! He wouldn't want me to be here, I don't think, but if I loved someone, he would never step in the way. He even knew that I cared about Chouji, I think, but he never did anything to get in the way of us."

"Did you just say you loved me?"

Shikamaru blushed, "Don't go off topic, this is serious!"

"Sorry, sorry. So, what's the problem? Isn't he a real shinobi?"

"Of course he is," Shikamaru replied testily.

Hidan felt that he was walking on thin ice, "Then he wouldn't hold a grudge against someone who beat him in battle, right? I mean, this is to help your village on top of everything, isn't it?"

"I don't know if it's that simple," Shikamaru mumbled, as if defeated. He was waging an internal war right now, and that was apparent to Hidan. If only there was something to say that could clear the mixed feelings and they could both be happy for a little while.

"What kind of guy was he?"

"What do you mean?"

"Tell me what he was like."

Shikamaru smiled a little bit, "He was really funny and a good shogi player. Not as good as my dad, but he was always up for a game. He taught me a lot and never gave up on me, even though I caused him more than a few headaches."

"Hey, Shika, I'm sorry to stop you," Hidan interrupted at a point where it seemed Shikamaru paused.

"Hm?"

"This Asuma guy, what was he to you?"

"What?"

"He was more than just your teacher, wasn't he?"

"Nothing like that, geez! That's just sick-"

Hidan put up his hand to stop Shikamaru, "Not like that. He seems like he was always there for you and believed in you."

"Yeah, and?"

"He was like a father to you."

Shikamaru was a little bit shocked. That was it. Shikaku was his father, and by no means a dead beat, but he wasn't there to play bored games or encourage him or even say that he believed in his son. Asuma never failed in these things.

"Hidan," Shikamaru started carefully, "I think you've got it."

"He'd want you to be with someone you loved, and wouldn't hate me, I don't think."

"He would want me to be with you if I loved you-"

"So, do you?"

Shikamaru looked down and blushed, "I don't think that's what's holding me back."

Hidan raised an eyebrow. Shikamaru just wouldn't say it directly, but it seemed that he was in love. "Then what?"

"Do you love me?"

Hidan felt that like it was a punch in the gut, and he lost all his breath. He couldn't answer if his life depended on it.

Shikamaru's eyes narrowed, "Well, do you?"

"Shikamaru, of course I do. I always have loved you. I'm not sure, exactly how to say this, but ever since our battle-"

"You mean after I kicked your ass," Shikamaru was a little taken aback by Hidan's reluctance. He didn't mind being openly angry.

"Yeah. I know it sounds weird, but you being able to beat me, well. That was amazing. I really never met someone who was able to beat me like that."

"So if someone else had nearly put you six feet under, you'd be in love with them, too?"

"No!" Hidan answered, he didn't want to sound like a floozy. "That just made me interested in you. Love came after that, I guess."

Hidan's words seemed to carry the truth. While kind of inconsistent, they didn't seem to be lying or hiding behind a masquerade. Shikamaru believed him, his mind didn't feel clouded or like it was forced into forgiveness or believing the zealot this time, like he had been previously.

"There's one last thing bothering me, Hidan."

There was nothing on Hidan's mind more important than sleeping right now, but if he said that, the he would probably be kicked out of the bedroom. He chose to humor his boyfriend hoping that one last thing was really just one thing.

"I don't care about Chouji anymore."

"The one you said you loved?"

"Yes. And I mean, he's still a good friend, but I love you and I don't want to be with him."

"You mean you're choosing me, over him?"

"That's right. But I have to know that you think of me as more than just a fling."

"I just told you-"

"That you loved me. And I believe you, but words aren't enough," Shikamaru paused and looked down. "Because I also believed you when you were talking to Ibiki."

"Shikamaru-"

"Stop, right there. I just want to say that I don't know how to tell truth from lies coming from you. Not yet, anyways."

"So what can I do to prove to you that I love you?"

Shikamaru bit his lip, "I'm not completely sure about that. I mean, really I have no idea. I just..."

"You just?"

"I don't know. I want to know right away the truth, but at the same time I can't just know something like that so soon."

Hidan leaned forward and kissed Shikamaru on his lips. "There's no time limit, I don't think. Let's just sleep. It's been awhile since we've went to bed not fighting, hasn't it?"

"Hidan..."

"Don't say anything, just go to sleep. If you still want to talk about this later, when we're both not tired. Nothing good comes out of that."

Shikamaru smiled a little and relaxed on the bed. "Fine, but I'm not letting you off tomorrow so easily. I'm just tired, too."

"Love you."

"Promise?"

"Promise."

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I figured out why I hate my story so much. More than it being mushy gushy blah. I've been reading Clive Barker and my standards for myself are being set extremely high, but besides that, I'm actually a pretty shitty writer. I just think I have an interesting concept that I'm writing about and that's why people are actually reading this so far into the story. Interesting, but badly told and not completely original, I don't think. (I didn't take the idea, but really, it's not so hard to think up.)