Shikamaru

Today is my show day. It was the first thing I thought as I opened my eyes because to the light in the bedroom. I looked at the clock and it was 8 am, I just wanted to get some more sleep. I was reeking of booze, needed a shower. I got out of bed looking for the black rubber band to hold my hair back. I had a box of just these elastic in my bedside drawer. I always losting one or the other, but I hated having my hair down.

I staggered through my huge room lazily and stretched slowly. The sun had just come up and it invaded my room through the huge floor-to-ceiling windows. Outside, you could see the great Nara forest. It was a big amazing landscape in the morning... I always lost ten, maybe fifteen minutes of my day just enjoying the green and white clouds in this immense blue sky.

My head was exploding from last night. Going out drinking with Kiba and Naruto on a thursday wasn't one of my best ideas... But I needed to relax, always before the shows I was tense... Argh, I need to smoke one. I took the marijuana that was on my desk and the silk that was kept in a box and started making a joint.

I rolled up, finished and ascended. The hot flame from the lighter near my hand making it heat up… I took the first drag and this one was strong. I relaxed. I stared at the big forest in front of me and the most diverse thoughts invaded my mind. As I looked out, a deer approached the outskirts of the house, and it looked like it was looking right at me, with that huge antler and its eyes dark as night. They were rare this time of year… It was a sign of good omen. What did that mean? After smoking this one would take a shower to relax. Only hot water could bring the feeling of relaxation to my back...

I threw the rest of the joint into the ashtray and went to the bathroom. I stared at myself in the mirror and thought, what was I doing? I left that aside and went into the shower. The hot water droplets passed through my body gently. Down from my neck to my toes. My naked body upright, my head leaning against the wall. I still had a lot to do today, and just the thought of it made me lazy, what a drag.

I finished the shower and got a towel to dry off. I wrapped it around my waist after I wrapped it around my body and went to the closet to get something to wear. I grabbed a blouse and black pants. I had to finish editing the songs for this year's show, there was still so much to do...

I dressed and went straight to the computer to finish editing. My butler came to offer me breakfast which I promptly declined, I wasn't hungry, I would eat something later. I grabbed my cell phone from my bed and there were several messages... Some from Kiba and Naruto wanting to know about me, some from Ino wanting to know about the festival, some girls... I couldn't pay attention to that right now, I had to finish what I had planned. I plan to do some different things on this show.

It's been two years since I started performing at the Moon Festival... Wearing a mask that covered my entire face. This year I wanted to do something different... And it was this project that I was focused on for the last six months. I don't do it for the money, far from it, even though the fee is pretty high. My family is very rich and I am the only heir to this entire heritage. The firstborn. The prodigy. The smart one. That's what's expected of someone born into the Nara clan, let alone the main lineage.

My parents didn't forbid me to do what I do, but they always thought it was just a child's dream. And that when the time came, I would have to accept the responsibility imposed on me from birth willingly and with plans to increase and expand that same wealth. We are rich, billionaires, what more could we want? It was that thought that stayed in my head. But in the end... There is no way to bring money into the grave.

As I finished editing the songs my cell phone was ringing. I decided to ignore him for a while, but then it started to bother me. Who was it and what did you want? I quickly finished what I was doing and picked up the phone to see who it was, it was Choji. One of my best friends. I decided to call back and that's how I saw the time, it was 3pm. How did time go so fast? I totally lost my time while working. My belly started to rumble from hunger and it was no wonder.

I returned Choji's call and told him to meet me where the festival stage was, I had some things to sort out there before the show. But before I would go to a market to buy something to eat and buy some cigarettes, mine were running out. I saved the files and turned off the computer, grabbed my wallet and cell phone, put on my sneakers, and walked down the stairs to the house. In the corner I could see my parents sitting on the couch organizing some papers.

- Hi - I said discouraged

- Hello sweertheart - my mother smiled at me

- Where are you going? - my father asked me - Enjoy the beginning of the festival? I Hear that we will have great performances this year

- I'm meeting with Choji - I replied - I have some things to sort out before the show

- Ask Yami to take you - my mother said

- No need, I'll walk a bit - I said saying goodbye to the two

- Anything call him - my father warned

- I don't need security anymore, you know - I replied

- You never know everything, son - my father said calmly

- I'll be on it, see you later - I said and nodded to the two

I went through the big gatehouse of the house and had to walk to the main gate. It must have been a distance of three hundred meters to the gate. My house occupied a very large area. And the path to the street was lined with trees, the afternoon sun piercing through the leaves making little marks on the ground. I took the cigarette out of my pocket along with the lighter and lit one. I walked slowly, I wasn't in such a hurry...

I still wonder why my parents care so much about it... Wherever I go, there are ANBUS agents and private security behind me, it may feel like I'm alone walking around here, but I know it's not... A a few years ago I was kidnapped. Tied up, blindfolded and beaten. I was just a child and I knew the evil that inhabits this planet. As the descendant of a wealthy family these things are bound to happen. It was the worst day of my life, and it left its aftereffects to this day. The anxiety attacks, the shortness of breath, the despair of waking up in the middle of the night sweating and imagining having returned to that place. The feeling of being useless and helpless. I can be here right now and in the blink of an eye, be in a dark alley, scared and cold. I've never trusted anyone and the few I trust have had their lives investigated.

Because of that I never had lasting love relationships, I never trusted anyone for such involvement, it was just carnal pleasures, one night and no more. Not that I have a problem with that, because honestly it doesn't matter... My friends don't date. Naruto is in love with Sakura, who has always been on the fence towards him, Kiba isn't worth the ground he walks on and Choji values food more than people, and well, wrong isn't it... After one Walking time I passed the gate and put on my headphones to drown out the noise from the busy street.

I got a message from Choji that he had stopped to eat so I slowed my pace even more. I took advantage of the view in front of me. The parade had already started, drums pounding, drums, tambourines and over a thousand voices singing the traditional songs of Konoha. I didn't really like the turmoil but I must admit, the festival days are amazing. These are times of peace.

I passed the Hokage building and saw Tsunade and Sakura leaving through the door. The festival festivities would probably kick off. Tsunade took care of Sakura as if she were her daughter as her parents died when she was still a child. We all studied together at school and as we live in the same city we ended up not losing our bonds. Sakura will become a doctor under Tsunade's influence and my best friend Ino has become what she likes to call herself "the new sensation of konohanet". She has over a million followers on her shinobigram and is even recognized on the streets at times. Naruto and Kiba like me, are heirs to their clan. Kiba's clan works in the Konoha police force with their dogs and Naruto's clan works in hospitals, in fact his mother Kushina is one of those responsible for the main hospital in Konoha along with Tasunade.

Sakura saw me and waved at me from afar. We would probably see each other around these days. I continued to walk through the streets until I crossed the corner to go to the grocery store, my belly was growling. I strode past the crowd of people, turning my headphones up to maximum volume. I was listening to one of my favorite songs that I had released recently. I perform in other countries and release songs monthly, sometimes... But no show is as big as the festival. It's on that stage, in that moment, that I feel alive.

I entered the market and it was empty, thankfully. The frigid air touched my face and I thanked it. I walked down the halls to get something to eat and then I would look for cigarettes. I smelled a faintly familiar scent, but I couldn't remember where it was... It was sweet but not cloying, it was nice to feel. Like a vanilla ice cream in the summer, passionate. As I walked to the back of the store the smell was getting closer. I grabbed a biscuit and went to the freezers to get something to drink. I walked and got a message on my cell phone, I went to get it to see who it was and then someone bumped into me.

A blonde girl with her hair in two with rubber bands similar to mine, when she bumped into me her scent stayed on me. That sweet, light scent. That lovely scent was hers. She mumbled something while she was on the floor and then got up. And then... It happened.

- You by chance don't look where you're going? - she complained as she got up from the floor and then she raised her face and I saw her

I felt my heart stop for a moment. She stared at me with those huge dark green eyes, she looked like a nebula of colors and tones, an entire galaxy in such a small set. Along with her little pink lips. She had flower tattoos all over her right arm, covering it completely. She was beautiful. It seemed that for a moment time stopped and the sound was muffled. The world was in slow motion.

- You bumped into me, troublemaker - I replied with a tired face and snorted, she wasn't looking where she was walking

- And you're so rude to apologize? - she asked

- I'll ask if you ask - I smirked ironically

- I'm not going to play this game, I have to go - she spoke quickly and I looked at her confused, who was that girl?

She walked quickly to the register. I wouldn't go after her, I don't even know her for that. But I stood there for a while trying to reason out what had just happened, it felt like I had lost a part of my Qi. My mind froze and felt like limbo. I had even forgotten what I was going to do. After a few seconds in this trance I looked to where she was and she was talking something with the attendant and then I saw that the cigarettes were near the cashier. I grabbed a cola soda and walked to the cashier. The blonde girl hurried and left the market.

I arrived at the checkout and went to pass my purchases. The attendant looked at me laughing what I didn't understand, she was intimidating. I placed the items on top of the box and she started to pass. I kept looking outside and the blonde girl was still standing outside, it looked like she was watching the parade.

- Anything else sir? - the girl with the purple hair asked

- You... - I spoke a little slowly - Do you know that girl who was here? Do you know her name? - I asked

- No - she laughed - But she also talked about you

- What? - I asked curious

- Girls secret - she winked at me - Your purchase was 25.20, is it cash or card? - she asked

- Card, debit - I passed the password and took my purchases - Thank you Konan - I read your name from the badge

- No way, enjoy the festival - she said and I nodded my head

She was still standing outside. I got to the door and it opened automatically. The heat of the crowd seemed to engulf me. She didn't realize I was behind her and so I said

with her.

- Are you going to stand there? -I came up behind her and asked in her ear with a lazy tone, I had to get close if not, she wouldn't hear me

-Argh... It's you - she sighed - Yes, I'll just stand here, if you don't mind -she gave a smile and that's when my problem started, what an appeal, her smile was so beautiful

- Is it lost? - I tried to deduce - I can help you, if you let me - I said with a shrug and took the cigarette I was smoking out of my mouth, deep down I felt that I just wanted to be by your side a little longer

- Are the people of Konoha that receptive? - she asked

- I don't know if people are... But I am - I imposed

- So, Sir Receptive, could you tell me where this hotel is? - she asked and gave me the name of the hotel

- It's near here... - I said suspiciously - Where are you from? - I realized I had asked something very personal, how stupid

- E-er, I'm from... - she was going to answer but I interrupted her and she looked at me with a sullen face

- No need to explain to a stranger, it's my mistake to ask, I'll accompany you to the hotel, let's go - I replied and put the cigarette back in my mouth

I went ahead and she followed me, until we left that street and went to a calmer one. Her hotel wasn't far from the market, but then where was she coming from? What was she doing here in Konoha if she didn't know the place? Where is this girl from? From his accent it looked like it was from Suna, I've already visited that country and people talked about that way... It was charming... These questions echoed in my head, trying to put together a puzzle and I even wondered why I was so interested with that. We walked in silence for a while and I felt a tension between us. Even because we didn't know each other...

- That song you were listening to in the market, it's Shadow, isn't it? - I was still when she said that, and dare I say that even a little scared, she wanted to talk to me?

- Y-yes, it's his yes - I replied

- Are you going to the festival then? - she asked

- Normally I'll... I don't know, whatever - I shrugged - And you? - I asked curious

-I'm here for work, but maybe I'll go tomorrow-she replied and I heard her cell phone ring, maybe she had received a message from someone who would be here with her? maybe a boyfriend?

- Cool... - I replied lazily and looked sideways at her when I saw her taking her cell phone - Your hotel is right there - I pointed

- Thank you, sir receptive - she thanked

- You're welcome, troublemaker - I snorted, why was I so bothered about it? What was happening?

I replied and walked away through the crowd. I glanced back and saw her entering the hotel. I realized after looking on my cell phone that the hour had already passed, I was late. Choji must have been waiting for me for a while. I quickened my pace to the space where the festival would take place, a huge field of low grass with various attractions and stages. I would stand on the main stage and my show would start at 10pm. Just when the moon reached its moment of greatest illumination and was closest to the earth.

I arrived on the main stage after twenty minutes walking. One stage was far apart. I saw Choji from afar sitting eating a packet of potato chips and drinking a soda. I got closer and he was already waving at me.

- Shikamaru! - He called me - Why did it take?

- I had some setbacks... - I said tiredly - And the street is also full of people, you know

- What good did you bring in that bag? - he asked curious

- It's for me to eat, you already have yours - I replied - But I bought a chocolate bar for you, have a drink

- You're the best, Shikamaru - he said happily, it was easy to please Choji

- Did you do what I asked you to? - I asked - Are things already positioned?

- Yes, everything is in order - he replied with his mouth full - Only your songs are missing now - Choji was one of the few that I trusted this secret

I looked at the still blue sky without yet taking on that late-afternoon orange tone. And in an instant I remembered her eyes. Those huge eyes with their dark green irises with some bluish hues near their pupil. I got lost. Why was I thinking about that at that moment? I stared at the sky for a while... Thinking about the show and thinking about her... Who was that girl...

In the midst of so many people, so many girls... Why did her eyes catch me so much attention? What was behind them? What secrets were they hiding?

- Shikamaru? What are you thinking about? - Choji ended up taking me out of my trance

- Which? N-nothing... I'm not thinking about anything - I replied without much reaction so as not to give clues

- Did you manage to finish the song? - he asked

- Yes... - I said thoughtfully - I think I'm changing my mind

- About what? - he questioned while putting a potato in his mouth

- About the lights, during the show... - I replied

- Anything just talk - he said smiling

Me and Choji started to set up some stuff from the stage. My family financed part of this festival, so I always appeared as a "helper", so they never suspected that I was the Shadow. I packed my things in secrecy, and I always left it to be done at the last minute. But as this year I wanted to do something different, I had to prepare myself earlier.

Time passed... The sun went down, giving the sky a clean and clear view of its millions of stars, the same ones that burned hundreds of kilometers away from us. And the moon... A full, infinite moon. Big and bright in the sky, and for a moment it looked like you could catch it in your hand it was so close to the earth.

I couldn't get her out of my head. The girl from earlier, would I ever see her again? What did she have too much? I've met other girls, I've slept with other girls, this is no big deal. And I never got that thoughtful, never thought of anyone but myself, at least not the way I am now. I don't believe in love for the first time, this is illusory, fanciful. Love is solid. But why was my curiosity so heightened?

- Shikamaru? - Choji called me

- What's it? - I asked

- I've been calling you for a long time, what have you been thinking about all this time? - he asked

- Nothing specific - I lied - I always get like this before shows, did you forget? - lied again

- I know... - he said suspiciously - We have to go, your show starts in two hours, the festival will be packed and you won't be able to leave here

- See you later, I'm going home to get ready - I said and strode waving at him from afar, he was right, the festival was starting to fill up and maybe I couldn't get out of here

I called my driver to pick me up on the street behind the stage. I used to stay there. I needed to get home fast, I had just remembered that my mask had malfunctioned in one of its LEDs and I had to fix it before the show. I liked that anonymity, maybe if it didn't exist, I wouldn't be able to go out on the street. I don't want to brag, but my songs play on the konoha radio every hour. I have over millions of followers and honestly, it would be a lot of headaches to deal with all of this.

I was waiting for Yami to arrive at the place we had scheduled. He arrived after ten minutes, it was pretty quick, but I also imagine he wasn't far. There's a gps on my cell phone, not to keep track of me or anything, but just in case something happens... Again.

- Mr. Shikamaru - he called me from inside the car

- You don't need so much formality, Yami - I said - You don't need to call me sir, only my father is enough

- It is custom - he smiled - Home?

- Yes - I said tiredly getting into the car - I only have a few hours before the show

- In ten minutes we'll be there - he said and the car rumbled, hit the gas pedal and we went

Konoha was lit up. It was beautiful when it got dark, the streets were full, people were laughing and having fun. The festival atmosphere was intense. The smell of various foods mingled giving the festival streets unique smells. My head was still out of place, a thousand thoughts at once and between them, her.

- Shikamaru? - Yami called me

- What's it? - I asked

- What are you thinking? You're making a weird face - he laughed

- Oh it's nothing - I said laughing too - Nothing in particular

- I've never seen you like this before - he said

- I'm always like that - I replied disguising

- Thoughtful yes but, it's strange, different so to speak - he completed

- I'm thinking about someone - I replied, if he was supposed to stop and talk I would do anything

- Who? It's a girl? - he questioned and looked curious

- Yeah... - I said thoughtfully

- Look, this is new - he laughed - And who is the girl?

- I don't know - this time I answered sincerely, because it was true, I really didn't know

- I can look it up, if you give me a description of it - he played

- No, please don't do that... - I replied without patience - I want to have this curiosity

- You're the boss, boss - he concluded

After a while we got home. Entering that single tree-lined path to the Nara mansion. Looking out the window I could see some fireflies lighting up the forest, it was amazing and my eyes sparkled. I hadn't seen it for a while, since I was a child, I even thought they had been extinct.

I got home and ran upstairs. My parents weren't there, they should have gone out, there's always the festival dinner and even they usually come home late. I went to organize my things and fix my mask. I took a quick shower and put my hair in her standard hairstyle. I put the controls and my notebook inside a black suitcase. Nothing could go wrong today.

I came down with some things and asked Yami to put them in the car. I was going to be late, shit. I wish I was there myself to do this. Anyway, I'm going to ask Choji to start and when I arrive I put the music on and end the show. I sent a message explaining the situation and he visualized. I ran to the car and told Yami I was late, I asked him to speed up.

We left the Nara forest and reached the street. And that's when I looked up at the sky. I opened the car's sunroof and put my body out. It had happened, it had worked. I'm a genius.

- What happened, Shikamaru? What's happening? - Yami asked me

- Look at the sky... - I said, still not believing

My initial idea was to make the sky all dark, black, like a huge shadow. Use artificial clouds and lights. Every machine like this was positioned in a building in Konoha, so I could cover the entire festival area, I could cover the center of the city. It would give meaning to my stage name and would even cover the moon but I changed my mind. After I saw those eyes. Those damn eyes.

The sky now had a dark green hue with some bluish tones in the middle, and with a formation of thousands of stars. A large nebula in the skies over Konoha. The moon, closer than ever, bathed us in its glow. Not even I believed that I had planned all this...

Wherever you are... Are you seeing the same sky as me?