[[A/N]] Ok, this chapter took forever to write and I'm still not happy about it. My transition scenes suck =[

The following days and weeks passed quickly for both Neji and Shikamaru. Each continued training, Neji was sent on various missions and Shikamaru was becoming more adept at using his clan's jutsu. That which had passed between them in the first few days in their new home remained unspoken; subtle glances that lingered longer than was necessary were the only indication that either wanted more from their relationship.

Shikamaru had continued with his Ame mission, covertly gathering data on each ninja he encountered and mentally storing it away in his mind while seamlessly integrating himself in the Konoha community. He now regularly frequented Yakiniku Q with Chōji and Ino and Ichiraku Ramen with Naruto Uzumaki and on occasion, Sakura.

As autumn began to give way to winter, he decided he should probably start thinking about heading back to Ame. News that the guard at the border was still there meant that he still wasn't trusted but that there was probably someone else a little closer to the village watching his movements. There had been no signs of an attack about to be launched and so Konoha had relaxed their defences to a more normal guard.

With the last of the red and brown leaves, Shikamaru made his decision. He would return to Ame before the festive season. The infiltration had been successful. Konoha would fall in the New Year.

As he sat eating his weekly family dinner, Shikamaru decided to broach the subject with his parents. He was saved the trouble of finding an opening to announce it however, by his mother.

"You know," she said. "I'm looking forward to Christmas and the New year this year. We'll finally be able to spend it with you, Shikamaru."

"It's hard to think you've only been here for about three months," Shikaku said. "You've grasped our family's hidden ninjutsu like you'd been moulding chakra for years, not months."

"Mom," Shikamaru said, interrupting his father's praise. "I don't think I'll be spending Christmas here."

"What are you talking about Shikamaru, of course you will. Where else would you spend it?"

"I still have my family in the Land of the Wind," Shikamaru explained. "They've raised me for too long for me to just forget about them. I was thinking I'd visit them and then come back next year."

Shikaku looked at Yoshino with a slight smirk. He had told her not to jump to conclusions. He had told her that Shikamaru may want to make other plans.

"Wipe that grin off your face, Shikaku, I know what you're thinking," Yoshino chided him with a grim smile. "Well, Shikamaru, if you've made your decision, there's nothing I can do or say to stop you."

"Thanks for understanding, Mom," Shikamaru said. "I knew you would."

The rest of the meal passed with a light heartedness that Shikamaru had come to expect from these evenings with his parents. As Yoshino began to clear the plates, Shikamaru and Shikaku moved to a room Shikaku had set aside for Shogi. After learning that Shikamaru was very good at it, it had become almost a ritual for them to share a game and talk about what Shikamaru had learned throughout the week.

"I spoke to Tsunade-sama earlier today," Shikaku said as he moved a piece. "She asked me about your training."

"What did you tell her?" Shikamaru asked as he scanned the board.

"That you're doing well, learning fast. She said that Guy and Shizune think the same. They both think you're at a level where the village would be able to acknowledge you as a ninja of their own."

Shikamaru looked up at his father. "And you?"

"I'm biased," Shikaku said with a shrug.

"If she believed that then I wanna know how she managed to become Hokage," Shikamaru said. "And if you think I'll believe that then you're insulting me."

There was a sharp crack as Shikamaru placed his piece, cutting off his father's attack.

"I told you'd be putting your skills to waste if she wouldn't let you at least try to be a shinobi of the Leaf," Shikaku replied. "Careful with this board it's older than you are, how many times do I have to tell you?"

"What did she say?" Shikamaru asked ignoring his father's reprimand.

"She asked me to give you this," Shikaku said reaching behind him and pulling a forehead protector out.

With shaking fingers, Shikamaru traced the Konoha symbol.

Neji returned from his mission with nothing else on his mind than collapsing on his bed and sleeping until morning broke. Sakura however had ordered him to get himself checked out at the hospital first.

"Chakra depletion is serious, Neji and I can't fix it in the field," she told him as they walked through the gates of Konoha with Tenten and Lee. "You need to go to the hospital so they can help."

"Sakura, I appreciate your concern but all they will tell me to do is rest, I am simply going saving them the trouble and myself the time."

Tenten looked at Neji with a small frown. "You can't seriously believe you know better than a medical ninja on this Neji."

"It may be true that they'll tell you to rest, Neji but they may need to keep you under observation. We're not sure how bad it is and if -" Her sentence was cut off by Neji scowling at her.

"I know my limits, Sakura. I am fine. Could you please inform Tsunade-sama that I will debrief her tomorrow morning." With that he walked off leaving Sakura stunned.

As he rounded the final corner and the small home he shared with Shikamaru came into view, Neji let out a sigh of relief. He had almost expected Sakura to follow him and ambush him on his way back, dragging him by his hair to the hospital if she needed to.

The house was in darkness and so Neji was surprised to find the door unlocked.

"Shikamaru?" He called into the darkness.

"In here," Came Shikamaru's voice from the sitting room.

Flicking a light switch, he looked at Shikamaru. "Why are you sat in the dark?" he asked.

"Thinking," Shikamaru replied in a lazy drawl.

"Are you going to give me an answer that's longer than two syllables?" Neji asked with a smirk.

"Maybe," Shikamaru replied with a small grin. "Mom sent dinner back for you, it's in the fridge."

Neji walked into the kitchen and opened the fridge before sighing.

"As usual, your mother has sent enough food to feed a small army," he said as he pulled out the large container.

"She thinks we'd try to survive on take out if she didn't," Shikamaru replied.

Neji returned to the sitting room and sat down in one of the chairs opposite Shikamaru. "So what is it that has you thinking so hard, Shikamaru?" he asked.

Shikamaru glanced up before deciding to come clean. "This," he said as he tossed his shiny new forehead protector to Neji.

Neji caught it deftly and looked at it carefully before looking back to Shikamaru.

"This is yours?" he said. "Well then I believe congratulations are in order."

"Yeah, thanks."

"That isn't all is it?"

Shikamaru glanced up at the Hyūga who was watching him carefully.

"I've been thinking about heading home,"

"Permanently?"

"No."

As Neji looked on, Shikamaru gave nothing away. His face had become a mask, unreadable.

"When are you leaving?"

Shikamaru shrugged. "I'll have to speak to Tsunade-sama about it tomorrow," he said.

"Good luck."

[[A/N]] So Shikamaru's planning on heading back to Ame *insert dramatic music here*What is he planning? How will he manage it and is he really going to come back to Konoha? Find out in the next chapter of "Home"!

Lessthanthree you all

~WatchingAsYouFall