Title: Sorrow
Word Count: 471
Characters: Shikamaru, Kurenai, mention of Asuma
I still can't believe Kishimoto did something so horrible and right on the day after Asuma's birthday too. It came out pretty AsuShika. I didn't mean for it to come out like that. It was completely different on paper but when I typed it it went over into angsty BL mode.
The heat of the water that filled the bath tub fogged the mirror and made the bathroom humid. Shikamaru sat in the tub, soaking in the steaming water. It was hot against his skin. He had hoped that it would draw his mind away from all other thought but it had been more of a stimulant. His brain was contemplating even more.
Lazily, he climb out of the tub, upset with his failed attempt at distraction and got dress. He exited the room then left the house entirely. He wandered the streets of Konoha aimlessly, bringing up random mental discussions of objects and people he saw along the way to occupy himself. His stroll brought him to the one place he would have rather not visited: what was formerly Asuma's apartment building.
Shikamaru stood there, his mind choosing this moment to got blank for a bit. When he came back to his senses, he found himself heading up the stairs toward Asuma's apartment (or what had been Asuma's apartment). As he neared his destination, the door opened slowly. He froze. It hadn't crossed his mind that someone would be there. He could fell his heart rate quicken. It suddenly subsided when a solemn-looking Kurenai stepped out.
She looked up and noticed him. He wondered whether he gave off the impression of being surprised or depressed at the moment. Maybe it was both but she didn't seem to notice.
"Shikamaru," she said acknowledging him.
"Kurenai-sensei," he replied glancing at the door she had just exited.
She seemed to notice and looked to the door herself.
"Did you want to go in?" she asked, "You can it you want to. Here."
She held out her hand which held the keys to the apartment. Shikamaru approached her and took them.
"You can return it tomorrow," she said before taking her leave.
Shikamaru sighed and entered closing the door behind him.
The apartment was exceptionally neat. Everything was put away and cleaned. He had never been here without Asuma before. It looked emptier that when he usually came to play shogi. He began to explore the apartment some more before ending up in the bedroom.
He dropped himself on the bed, disturbing the state of the crisp sheets. He crawled up to the pillows and grabbed one, pulling it to his chest. Kurenai had eliminated every scent of Asuma. He himself wished that Asuma was there with him and how much he could use one of his 'cheer up' kisses right about now. His cheeks flushed at this train of thought and unexpected tears began to flow. He curled up and embraced the pillow tighter. He could feel his body tiring from the sobbing which was now a broken whimper accompanied sporadically by weeping. Would his mother mind if he spent the night here?