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I am a PageBreak! I am a PageBreak! I am a BagePreak! I am a BreakPage! I am confused.
"Neh, Shika?"
"I'm cloud watching. What do you want?"
"Shika... do you think anyone will go to my funeral?" Shikamaru rolled onto his side. "Why? You're not dying." A shrug. "Not yet, but I'm a ninja. I will die one day, and when I do, I wonder if anyone will care?" Shikamaru shook his head. "Of course they will, you idiot! And even if they don't, me'n Asuma and Shino will go! Won't we, Shino?" The black haired boy nodded softly, his face raised to the sun.
There was a moment of silence. "Thank you, Shika. I'm glad... I wouldn't want to be alone there."
"Your not leaving are you?" The boy demanded. "'Course not. I'll be with you forever!"
"Shikamaru, wake up. We need to talk." Shika opened his eyes to look at his father.
"Something happened at that meeting." He said quietly. His father nodded. "You are in a... unique. Position. I am sure you have heard of the new hidden village outside our borders?" The boy nodded.
"Their Kage and Council met with ours today to discuss a treaty."
"Arranged marriage." Shikamaru interrupted. Shikaku nodded. Shikamaru glanced at his father. "Who?" he asked. "There are doubtless more heirs being pressed into this."
Shikaku nodded slowly. "Uchiha, Hyuuga and Aburame. But it is completely your choice. You need not say yes. You have been invited to dinner, if you wish to meet with him and the others." It was Shikamaru's turn to nod slowly. "I would... like that. Father... what can you tell me of this man?" Shikaku sighed. "Not much. He was not present for most of the meeting. In the beginning, he intimidated many of us simply by being there. He is a huge man, six and a half feet high and when he moves, it is like a caged beast. He speaks politely and has a pleasant demeanor, but it hints at a will of steel underneath. His name... Kamikaze. Kaze."
Shika nodded again. "What is his physical description?" He murmured, thinking of Ibiki. The man was huge, but as scarred and tough as old leather.
"Long slightly wavy blonde and copper mixed hair, tall but slim. His muscles are wiry and his complexion pale. But his eyes... his eyes inspire fear and awe at the same time. One as blue as the sky on a cloudless day, and one as red as the blood of a heart wound. Both as deep as the sea..." Shikaku seemed to be reliving those moments spent in the presence of the great demon. "Son... I feel I must warn you. The Chikage... He is not... human. He's something worse. Something... darker.
He wears power like a cloak, and hides very well behind that little smile thoughts that could easily spell the destruction of our world." Shikamaru watched his father closely.
"The Uchiha... when he talked to the Council member, he seemed to know him. He was upset, but the demon told him 'We will be together... forever.' and suddenly, he accepted the marriage with open arms and a smiling face." Shikaku told his only child. Shikamaru paused and thought.
"This intrigues me. I will meet this Chikage, father. And I shall tell you my answer when I return." His father watched him carefully.
"My son... please be careful." Shikamaru nodded, smiling sleepily. "Don't worry, Father. I always am."
I am a PageBreak! I am a PageBreak! I am a BagePreak! I am a BreakPage! I am confused.
Two hours later, Shikamaru experience a problem he hadn't before. What on EARTH did he wear to dinner with demons? Was it... casual? White tie? He rolled his eyes as he stared into the closet his mother hid his formal wear in.
In the end, after destroying the neat racks and shelves of formal kimono and western styles, he chose an emerald green western style dress shirt and black slacks. With the top two buttons undone to show his naturally tan chest, and a jacket to go with the pants, he looked like he was going to a classy club. Neat, but not over doing it.
His finishing touch was a rose, as red as blood. A rose that had lived for five years. He tucked it into his breast pocket.
His hair was out of its customary pony tail, and now hung around his shoulders, the bangs parted slightly to one side. He glanced in the mirror and was ready to go.
He stood on the path to his home in the woods, just slightly out of the Nara land, and waited. He didn't have to wait long.
Up the path come someone he hadn't seen in five years, bloody red hair bobbing along behind him. As he drew closer, Shikamaru could see that his eyes were exactly the same, and indeed, it seemed as if time had frozen for him, stuck eternally at age nineteen of thereabouts.
He stared. "Mitsukai?" he demanded. The man grinned at him. "Good ta see ya kido! Its been a while... haven't seen you since... well... you know." Shikamaru nodded, bewildered. "When my father told me Itachi recognized you, I'd assumed it was someone else... but... it couldn't have been, and- Tell me, Mitsukai. What really happened to Naruto Uzumaki? We did not have his body to bury, and we never did find it. What did you do with him?"
Mitsukai smirked at him. "He's waiting for you, Nara. You wouldn't want him to wait longer, would you?" Shikamaru glared at the demon. "You knew. Even then! And-" he looked down at the rose, still glowing red and healthy, even though he hadn't watered it since it had been given to him. "It was him! Wasn't it?" Mitsukai didn't answer. He just grabbed Shikamaru's hand and they disappeared off the path.
I am a PageBreak! I am a PageBreak! I am a BagePreak! I am a BreakPage! I am confused.
"Neji." Pupil-less white eyes turned to stare apathetically at his uncle. "Yes, Hiashi-sama?" He asked. His uncle looked at him appraisingly.
"You are engaged." Neji started. "I-"
Hiashi glared at him. "You are now a political tool to be married to the Chikage. At 6:45 this evening, you will await the Council member who will escort you to a private dinner with the other three chosen. This is a great honor, Neji. Do not blow it." Hesitantly, Neji nodded.
"Yes, Hiashi-sama." When the man had left, Neji turned to the training dummy. With a swift hand thrust, its head snapped off. He looked at it in grim satisfaction, and then checked the time. 6:15.
Oh. Fuck. His hair looked terrible! *
Thanks Kami he always had a n outfit prepared for these things.
At exactly 6:45, he stood before the Hyuuga compound; brown hair brushed and arranged perfectly, his Caged Bird seal showing openly on his forehead. His white dress shirt and black dress pants were casual enough to pass for normal wear, but formal enough to not offend a high ranking person. To finish off the look, he had applied a little eyeliner.
Wandering up the street towards him were two people, one a half a head taller than the other. The first was red haired, wearing a gold kimono with black hems and obi. His mix of blood red and copper strands of hair shone under the street lamp. Black lined his eyes thickly, making them seem sharp, four tiny black dots sat under each eye enhanced the flecks of black in his bloody gaze.
Fangs protruded just over his lower lip, and claws capped each finger. This man was obviously not human. Then Neji remembered something. 'Married to the Chikage.' Chikage... blood... shadow. The man following after the demon blended perfectly into the shadows, his dark eyes only slightly blacker than the shade in which he walked. Neji stared at him. He could recognize that head of pineapple hair anywhere.
It was the Nara heir, the one everyone called a genius. He was said to have an IQ of over 200. The Nara was completely relaxed in the demon's presence, as though he knew the man before that moment. Neji felt a small bit of hope. Maybe he wouldn't be surrounded by idiots after all...?
The demon and the Nara stopped next to him, and Shikamaru grinned. "Hey Neji. So you were picked too?" The brunette nodded. The demon grinned happily. "Hello, Hyuuga-san. My name is Mitsukai. I am the head of the council of Onigakaru, and also I am Kaze-chan's husband." Neji nodded at him. "Good evening to you, Mitsukai-san. Hello, Shikamaru-san. You have been well, I trust?" Shikamaru nodded. "I have. And you, Neji-san?" He had always hated the dance of manners that passed for conversation among the clan houses.
Mitsukai observed their transaction with amusement. "You know..." He murmured quietly, "Though Kaze-chan is Clan born, and a royal consort, he can't use political language at all?" He commented. Shikamaru snorted, amused. But Neji looked scandalized. "You mean to say he can't speak the diplomats' tongue? At all?" Mitsukai bit his lip until he could control his laughter.
"No. He-can't. We, the council that is, usually handle it so it isn't too obvious but..." He let out a small chuckle. "Then I demand he allow me to teach him! He can't be a blunt Kage! That's just... abnormal!" Now Mitsukai let out a full blown laugh. "Calm down Neji-san. I'm sure he'll welcome you help! Now... Please give me your hand, so I can transport us to the next compound." Neji hesitantly set his pale hand into the demons' larger one, and then experienced a feeling of detachment from the ground. Like he was floating on air. It felt like... flying. Then his feet touched the ground again, and the moment was over.
Before them was Uchiha Itachi, looking sexy in a blood red dress shirt, his hair released from its usual low pony tale, his mother standing at his side. He pecked her on the cheek and smiled at them "Hello Mitsu-chan. Shikamaru-kun. Neji-kun." Both heirs nodded at him, and Mitsukai grinned. "Hey 'Tachi-chan. Grab my shoulder will you?" And they were off. Neji was flying again.
I am a PageBreak! I am a PageBreak! I am a BagePreak! I am a BreakPage! I am confused.
"Shino! Com' on, Shino! Smile!" The grinning face appeared in his vision. "Awww... Shino! I know you can do better than that!" The owner of the face began to walk backwards. "Shiiiinoooo! Smile for me please?"
"But I have nothing to smile about."
There was a pause. "Shino? If I could, I'd make you smile. Forever." Suddenly, the person tripped. Finally, Shino cracked a tiny smile. The other person grinned happily. "Yay! You smiled!"
I am a PageBreak! I am a PageBreak! I am a BagePreak! I am a BreakPage! I am confused.
"Shino." Amber eyes opened behind black glasses. "Father." He replied tersely. Things had been tense between them since Shino's kikaichu had evolved from the rest of the nest and formed their own colony. He was no longer under the control of his clan, should they have need to discipline him. "Shino. You are in a trying position. You have been offered a marriage to the leader of the hidden village of Onigakaru. I strongly suggest you take the proposal."
Shino nodded carefully. "Yes, Father. Will I meet his leader before hand?" He asked voice monotone. "You have been invited to dinner, to so voice your decision with the other three heirs chosen. Be outside the main gates at seven, you will be escorted there." Shino nodded curtly. "Yes Father."
He turned around the corner of the building and disappeared. Only when he was safely hidden in his room did he allow the emotions to bubble to the surface.
"Arranged marriage... I'm sorry..." He murmured softly, a single tear drifting down his cheek. "I'm so sorry." He felt so... betraying. As though he were cheating on someone, though how he could cheat on a memory was beyond him.
He stood before the gates, his decision already made. The silk of his silver dress shirt was cool against his skin. His glasses still in their usual place on his face, he had also chosen to wear a fedora and, to complete the ensemble, had tucked a certain blood red rose into the small flap on the hat.
There was a small brush of a breeze, and suddenly, four people stood before him.
All four he recognized. After... His death, Shikamaru, Shino, and Itachi had gotten to know one another pretty well when Itachi had requested to be put on their team. The other, the Hyuuga genius, was someone he had met and done battle with in the Chunin Exams the year he had died.
The last was the only person to know where his grave was. He hadn't seen the red haired demon in five years, when the man had disappeared with the other three cloaked ones.
Those parting words still echoed though his mind when he saw something sad. "Who is more evil, demons... or humans?"
"Mitsukai. It has been a long time, has it not?" The demon smiled softly at him.
"Nearly five years. But, before you get upset with me, I have something to tell you." He paused, looking hopefully at Shino. The young man inclined his head, prepared to hear him out. "I was told to tell you, 'Smile more, or forever will never come.'" Shino flinched at the word 'forever' as though he had been hit. "He- he has returned to us?" He asked hesitantly, all hope of keeping his cool throw out the door.
The demon nodded softly. "He has. He would apologize for not coming sooner, but he needed make sure everything was perfect for you. He'll get his final revenge eventually." Shino nodded slowly. "Good... now, grab my shoulder. I'll transport us directly to the hotel."
Suddenly, Shino was flying. He had never felt so free.
I am a PageBreak! I am a PageBreak! I am a BagePreak! I am a BreakPage! I am confused.
Bwahahahhaaaa! I've been working on this most of the day, between worrying about my guitar, and talking to my friends on facebook, so I'm sorry I've taken so long to get it out! Here ya go! Next chapter! R&R and I'll update tomorrow~!