Shikamaru's POV
He woke up with that now familiar tingling inside his brain. It didn't gave him a second of rest. He was pretty sure of feeling it even during his dreams. He frowned, wanting to go back to sleep.
But then a sweet fragrance reached him.
He opened his eyes and looked to his side without moving, and saw the top of Neji's head, resting peacefully against his shoulder. The older boy had an arm around Shikamaru's waist, and breathed calmly in dreams.
So it had been real. The visions never remained until the next time he woke up. Last night had really happened. The Nara remembered Neji's pink lustful eyes nailed on his as he took Shikamaru's hot flesh between his lips. It had been more arousing than any of his previous wet dreams.
Filling a sudden chill at the memory, he slightly moved the hand he was resting at the Hyuuga's lower back, and caressed it softly with his fingers. The boy's skin felt like delicate silk under his touch, and he couldn't but to think how much he had missed it.
Short seconds after, Neji woke up because of the contact. He moaned lightly, pressing his body a little more to the Nara's. Shikamaru couldn't help to smile at that cute morning hug.
-Good morning. -he whispered against the Hyuuga's covered forehead.
He saw the older boy smile, and then open his lids slowly. Neji looked up and stared at him with tender sleepy eyes.
-Good morning. -he answered in a murmur.
There was no reason to talk in that tone. They were alone, and no one could heard them there. But it made the moment even more intimate. Maybe neither of them wanted to perturbed that ephemeral private instant.
-How are you feeling? -Neji asked, not rising his tone a bit.
-Alright. -he answered. -Still a little sleepy.
The Hyuuga raised the arm that was surrounding Shikamaru's waist to caress the boy's face with his hand, studying his state.
-You still have to go to the Hospital and get checked. -he said. -The sooner the better.
The Nara clicked his tongue mentally. Why did he had to remember that so fast? He was still determinate to avoid having medical attention at any cost, so he had to find a way of running away from it again. His mind planned a quick strategy.
-Or I could stay and sleep for another couple of hours, and go later. -he suggested. -It's only dawn.
Shikamaru tried to put on his most supplicant expression. Neji smiled a bit, but stood firm.
-You can sleep after getting checked. -he retorted.
The Nara made an imploring face.
-Pleeeease. -he begged. -I'm really, really tired yet. That nap was really short. Just a few more hours.
The older boy held his stare for a while, but finally rolled his eyes and lowered his hand, to let it fall over Shikamaru's chest.
-Fine. -he agreed. -But I'm staying with you until then to make sure you'll do it.
The Nara smiled triumphantly and relaxed, tenderly squishing Neji's hip with his fingers. But seconds later, he took a hand to his forehead, as suddenly remembering something.
-Oh, shit… -he cursed.
-What? -the Hyuuga asked, watching him a little worried.
-I have to go report the mission result to the Hokage now. -he explained. -It was pretty urgent yesterday and I didn't do it.
-Well, you should do it then. -Neji concluded.
Shikamaru covered his forehead with his arm and whined.
-Noooo. -he complained. -I don't want to. I want to sleep!
He heard the Hyuuga letting out a little laugh.
-Kami, you are a child. -he said amused. -I can imagine how much your mother must have suffered when she woke you up to go to the Academy every day.
-Yeah… -the Nara answered. -She never let me stay. Troublesome woman. -He lowered his arm and slowly slipped it around Neji's waist, turning a little to face him better. Whit his other hand, he faintly caressed the end of the Hyuuga's back. -You could be a much nicer person than her and let me sleep a bit more. It would completely heal an old wound from my past.
At hearing his ridiculous argument, the older boy couldn't help but to burst into laughter.
-How dramatic. -he said, looking at Shikamaru with a smile. -Alright. I will go and report to the Hokage. But after that I will come back and take you to the Hospital.
The Nara smiled triumphantly again and hugged Neji tight.
-Yes! -he exclaimed. -I feel I'm healing already.
The Hyuuga laughed again, and they both approached their lips to share a sweet kiss. The two ninjas stood like this for a few moments, just enjoying the proximity and the warm embrace.
-I will go now. -Neji finally said in a soft tone. -It is important that the Hokage sends another team to finish the mission. -Then, he put his mouth over Shikamaru's again and gave him another kiss.
Slowly, the Hyuuga sat down in the pile of blankets and started combing his hair with his fingers. Short after, he stood up and dressed calmly. Shikamaru watched his pale skin shining under the first sun rays that came through the window.
-I will come back in less than an hour. -the older boy said when he finished getting ready. -So you better start sleeping now. And you owe me one for covering you with the Hokage.
-I'll pay you happily. -the Nara answered smiling.
He watched Neji walk to the door and disappear behind it.
That had gone right. He felt pretty bad for cheating the Hyuuga like that, but at the same time he couldn't take the risk of letting the boy find out about his research about his clan. Luckily all the information regarding the subject that he had in that cabin was written in his code, so even if Neji tried to read them he wouldn't be able to understand a thing.
Besides from that, there was nothing else there than pages and pages of the infinite equations he calculated every night to try to ease his mind. He was doing just that minutes before Neji entered a few hours ago. The uncountable amount of voices from the many different characters filling the cabin had him overstimulated. The only thing he could do to ignore them was to concentrate his mind in something else, something that needed attention to be done. So he forced his mind to focus on an operation, and his brain stopped collapsing. It provided a momentary calm.
Shikamaru had actually heard Neji when he spoke the first two times. He just though he wasn't real. The boy had appeared so many times in front of him, being nice and caring, that he doubted immediately. Every time the false Hyuuga had looked at him directly in the eyes, to tell him that he wanted him, or missed him, it had felt like a stab in the heart, because he knew it wasn't real. Last night, Shikamaru didn't feel he had the strength to face him again. And despite the intense sensations the Hyuuga's body had generated in him, in no moment he stopped fearing it was just an hallucination.
But what happened that morning disproved that possibility. Neji had been there with him, and he was going to come back soon. Having waited a considerable time for the boy to be far enough, he got on his feet and dressed up as fast as he could. Then he walked straight to the door and left the cabin.
Suimin wasn't there anymore. He had probably left after Neji arrived, knowing that there was someone watching him now. The animal could somehow felt when something was wrong with him, and it acted like a guardian dog, staying close all the time.
Getting oriented quickly, he started walking among the tall trees. Being completely honest, he had no idea of what he was going to say to the Hyuuga the next time they saw each other. He was definitely going to want an explanation for his disappearance. But Shikamaru couldn't thought about it in that moment. He just needed to get to a remote and lonely place to be able to grab his head with desperation and scream in pain. Because that insisting tingling hadn't stopped beating his skull from the inside since me moment he woke up, an it was doing nothing but get worse.
The suffering boy walked until he felt protected enough. Neji wouldn't be able to find him in the forest, so he could steal some time to try to regain some sanity. He sat in a huge raised root and leaned his back against its tree. Closing his eyes, Shikamaru begged the visions to give him some time alone and not appear.
The wind blew calmly through the tender leaves. There was no other sound than that, and the murmur of birds above. He let his mind enjoy the peace of quietude.
He didn't knew how much time passed until he heard a voice, and his heart give a jump at recognizing it.
-How have you been, boy? -his father asked.
Opening his eyes, Shikamaru looked straight ahead and saw him, standing just a couple of meters away from him, with a side smile.
The young Nara prepared himself immediately. Even if that was his real father or not, the man would most probably threw a punch to his face. It had happened enough times in reality and in his mind to be careful. He stood up slowly.
But his father just kept smiling to him, looking relaxed and unworried. That was such and odd expression in him. It was surreal. He looked completely different, without a trace of that usual dark aura that was always coming from him. When he wasn't getting drunk, his dad only wondered around the house and the village, with a constant frown and a rough attitude. When he spoke, he always sounded angry with the world. Shikamaru thought hadn't seen him smile like that in years. At it was a little sad.
-What do you want? -he simply said after a long silence.
If that had been his real father, Shikamaru wouldn't even considered answering. He always kept his mouth closed in Shikaku's presence, because anything he could say apparently annoyed the man even more. So he limitated himself to nod and talk just the necessary. But judging by the way his dad was smiling, he definitely wasn't real. So he could answer.
Despite of his son surly tone, Shikaku smiled wider.
-Just talk to you. -he responded calmly.
Then, he started walking towards Shikamaru with a relaxed step. The young Nara stood straighter, preparing himself for anything. But when he man stopped in front of him, his next action totally took him by surprise. Shikaku raised one of his hands and posed it affectionately over the boy's shoulder.
-You are a good son. -his father said, looking at him with fondly eyes. -I'm proud of you.
Shikamaru stared at him with his mouth opened in disbelief. He hadn't imagined that hearing his father spoke those words could affected him so intensely. Maybe because he had never expected to really hear them. With the passing of years, he had come to hate the man with all his strength. But he knew that deep inside, he still hoped to get his old father back. That man who walked with him through the Nara forest, teaching him things about it, fueling his curiosity, and congratulating him when he learned something right. Those had been wonderful years that now felt far away. In the present, all he had from his dad were deadly looks and hated punches.
Shikamaru felt a knot in his throat, and a sudden desire to cry. This was so fuking cruel. This vision were getting under his skin to get to his deepest feelings and tore him from the inside. He lowered his head and closed his eyes when they started to ache.
What the hell was he doing? All that thing wasn't he really going to cry because his daddy didn't loved him? No way. He had already gave up on the man and had completely accepted that he wasn't going to change. It didn't mattered how vivid the presence of his father felt, that wasn't happening. And he had to control himself.
Taking a deep breathe, he lifted his head and opened his eyes again. He tried to resist, but Shikaku's friendly expression hit him hard once more.
-Wanna take a walk through the Forest? -the man asked, as he stepped next to his son him surrounded his shoulders with his arm. -We can go to the north lake and see the shiny fungus.
Was that a hug? When was the last time his dad had give him a hug? Shikamaru couldn't tell. He closed his eyes again, felling a torrent of tears about to come out. The pain was like a thousand needles nailing in his heart.
There was nothing he could do to make the illusion go away. He just had to let it be. So when Shikaku started directing them through the forest, still holding him tenderly, he didn't resisted. He walked calmly with his head low, feeling the familiar scent of coffee coming from his father's clothes.
It was a torture. This hallucinations could take the best of him. In that moment he felt so emotional that he wasn't able to think about anything else than the distressing pain in his chest. Father and son walked slowly between the all trees.
Shikamaru couldn't tell how much time had passed. His dad's proximity, which he hadn't felt in years, was too overwhelming to keep track of reality. But suddenly he heard a close buzz coming from his side. Rising his head a little, he turned to look at his father. Small black insects were starting to appear around him.
The boy looked at them distractly at the beginning, but then more and more started to pop out from out of nothing. Or at least that was what he thought at first. When Shikaku's face started transforming into thousands of little bugs that went flying out, he understood that they were actually coming from the man. And he confirmed it when the arm that was surrounding his shoulder transformed into a mass of this creatures. They were starting to climb over him.
He jumped and hit his arms with his hands repeatedly, but they were just too many. The insects were now getting under his black sweater's neck and coming down his shoulders. He felt a sharp pain when they started biting his skin.
What the hell were those things? With a chill of fear, he remembered he had seen members of the Aburame clan attacking with a technique similar to that one before. The tiny bugs would reach their target flesh and ate it alive unmercifully. Panicking, he took of his vest, his black sweater, and even his Nara t-shirt, and tossed them to the ground.
But that was a terrible idea. Now the rest of the bugs that were flying around him had complete access to his body. They went directly to him and attacked his back, arms, stomach and face.
Screaming in pain, Shikamaru tried to shake them off, but they kept coming back. His skin was already replete of tiny bleeding bites. He completely forgot that all that was most probably an illusion, because it hurted as if it wasn't. If he didn't do something fast, those things were going to eat him alive.
He started running towards the closest lake. He knew that forest very well, but the insects were clouding his vision, and he stumbled against trees and branches more than one time, falling to the ground and tearing his pants. During his desperate run, he lost both of his sandals, but didn't stopped. When he finally arrived, he simply sunk in the water completely.
He waited all he could before coming out to breathe. Crawling, he got out of the lake and lied in the ground. The insects were no longer at sight, but it didn't meant that he was safe. Anything could happen, at any moment. Panting heavily, he used his elbows to support himself and looked around, when a sharp pain exploited in his brain. It was more unbearable than ever. Actually, he was starting to feel that, every day, those penetrating headaches got stronger and stronger. He grabbed his skull with his fingers, falling to the ground again, and screamed with desperation. It was time to admit that he needed to find some help.
He stood up with great difficulty, and started walking, though he had no idea of in which direction he was going. Another sharp stab penetrated in his brain, and short seconds later he felt the pressure of powerful tentacles crawling over him.
He didn't knew what to do. He couldn't scream because of the pain, and the shadows kept surrounding him, tearing his pants and skin. Shikamaru lowered his hands and tried to pull from them, but they were just too strong. Panic took control of him. Was it possible to get kill by his own jutsu? He made a step, but fell to the ground, rolling down a hill he hadn't seen. His body hit rocks and roots, making him whine in pain. He needed to find a way to free himself from the shadows and stop his fall.
Sadly he didn't had time to think about it, because the overwhelming sensation in his brain intensified, until everything got lost into whiteness.
Neji's POV
He was lucky the Hokage was in a good mood that day. Neji had to lie to her about the hour of the arrival, because he couldn't tell her that they had took all that time to deliver such an important information. She asked why hadn't Shikamaru came to do the report himself, and he said that the boy had been slightly hurt during the mission and was still getting medical attention. After a quick conversation, the woman dismissed him.
It had take Neji less than half an hour to complete the task, so now he could return to the forest and take Shikamaru to the Hospital. The Hyuuga was still suspicious about the boy's behavior. Last night he had looked a little lost all the time. And then he had said that Neji felt real. Why had he said that? Anyway, he was only sure of one thing: he had to make the Nara get medical attention to see if there was an explanation for his previous day's collapse.
Neji got to the cabin about twenty minutes later. He opened the door slowly, to discover that Shikamaru wasn't there. That took him by surprise, so he looked for the boy in the surroundings, but couldn't find him.
Not understanding, he sat in the stairs and wait, thinking that he might come back. But after a while he realized that the Nara had simply run away. He had probably manipulated him with that morning's conversation to leave the cabin and be able to scape.
Damn sneaky bastard. He had completely fooled him. And this demonstrated that he was definitely avoiding going to the Hospital. Shikamaru was obviously hiding something.
Knowing that he wasn't coming back, Neji stood up and walked through the village. He used his Bakugan to look for the Nara, but he was nowhere. Resigned, he decided it had no sense to try to located him. He was very smart, after all, and knew how to avoid being found.
The rest of the day, he spend it with Tenten in the training fields, just talking and trying to get distracted. He couldn't deny that he was worried about Shikamaru and his state, but there was nothing he could do for now.
At late afternoon, Tenten said goodbye to return home, and he started walking to do the same. He was passing in front of the Hokage Mansion when he spotted Ino and Choji in the middle of the road. The two shinobis saw him and run to him. They had worried expressions on their faces.
-Neji! Hi. -Ino greeted him, looking concerned. -By any chance have you not seen Shikamaru?
He thought for a moment. The true was that he had, that morning. But he couldn't tell them that. So he lied.
-Not since yesterday. -he answered, and the two friends exchanged a preoccupied look. -Why? What happened?
-Nothing really. -Ino responded. -But we can't find him anywhere. We've look in the forest, in his cabin, in his house, in the library and in the Hokage Mansion. It's as if he had disappeared.
That wasn't good. He had stopped looking for Shikamaru, but he imagined that the boy would be back already from wherever he had run to. If he was still hiding then there was something wrong. Or maybe he wasn't hiding at all.
-I'm sorry, I haven't seen him. -he said, and then tried to offer some comfort. -But I am sure he is okay.
-I don't know… -Ino replied. -After what happened yesterday we feel a little worried. What if it happens to him again?
-Could you help us look for him with you Byakugan? -Choji asked, imploring. -Please, just for a little while.
Neji stared at the two teammates. They really looked scared and desperate.
-Of course. -he agreed kindly.
Both kids thanked him, and the three of them started walking around the village looking for Shikamaru.
When they come back to the place where they had started, three hours had passed. The sky was already dark, and there was no trace of the Nara. Neji was starting to feel fear too.
-Maybe we should tell the Godaime. -Choji said. -She could make a bigger team look for him outside Konoha.
-You think he could have left Konoha? -Ino asked, biting his nails nervously.
-Well, we have look everywhere and he doesn't seem to be here. -the boy responded, and then looked at Neji. -What do you think?
-Yes, I guess it's the least we can do. -the Hyuuga agreed.
They were about to turn around to get in the Hokage Mansion, when Ino stopped them.
-Oh, Kami! Look! -she screamed.
Neji turned his stare to the direction she was pointing at, and felt that his heart stop in his chest. Two shinobis walked towards them, coming from the village's entrance, and in the middle, a third figured advanced slowly. Shikamaru dragged his feet along the road, looking straight ahead with an absent expression. His hair was loose and disheveled, he wasn't wearing any shirt, his black pants were torn in many places, and he walked barefoot. The Hyuuga opened his mouth in astonishment, and instantly started running in the boy's direction. At the same time, Ino and Choji did que same.
-Shikamaru! -the blond girl screamed while they approached at full speed.
When they reached the two shinobis and the Nara, Neji realized that Shikamaru's state was even worse than he had thought: his hair and his skin were covered in mud, an in the parts were his body was at sight, he had bruises and uncountable cuts that bleed noticeably. He looked as if he had crawled for miles over thorny bushes. But that wasn't the worst part. The worst part was his lost look, fixed ahead through his half closed lids, completely unconscious of his surroundings.
-Shikamaru! -Choji exclaimed too, but the boy didn't seem to notice.
One of the two shinobis that escorted him put a hand on the Nara's shoulder, and only then he stopped walking.
-You kids know this guy? -he asked, staring at them.
-Yes! -Ino affirmed, getting closer to check on the boy state. -He's our teamate!
The two adults exchanged looks.
-Yes, we supposed that because we found a Konoha's Hitai-ate near him. -the other of them said. -We found him lying in the ground on the outskirts of the village. He doesn't seem to see or hear us, but he let us guide him back here without resistance.
-We should take him to the Hospital now. -Choji opined, staring at his absent friend with alarm.
-And we should call Tsunade-sama. -Ino added. -She will definitely figured out what's affecting him.
Neji had his eyes fixed on Shikamaru. His face, covered in mud and blood, and his hair loose and dirty, made him look as if he had been on a earthquake or something. The Hyuuga had to fight all his instincts to not run to the boy's side and take his face in his hands. He felt that, maybe if he tried, he could connect with his eyes and bring him back.
Before he noticed, Ino was running to the Hokage Mansion, already screaming the woman's name. Choji gently put one of his arms over Shikamaru's shoulder, and started turning him to the Hospital.
-I'll go with you. -Neji said, standing at the other side of the Nara, walking slowly with them.
The chubby ninja smiled gratefully.
-Thank you, Neji. You have been so nice helping us. -he answered. -But you really don't have to do that.
The Hyuuga shook his head.
-I want to help you. And I don't mind.
Choji went a little surprised at of his determination, but then smiled again, wider this time.
-Thank you! -he exclaimed.
The two shinobis that had found Shikamaru offered themselves to escort them to the Hospital, and they did. After they felt them at the big door, Neji and Choji entered the building, with the dirty and robotic Nara walking between them. When they got to the reception, the nurse that received them went completely insane at seeing Shikamaru's state. She started screaming for other medics and quickly directed them to a room. There, with extreme delicaly, the Akamichi grabbed his friend from under his arms, and sat him at the gurney, with his legs hanging.
Faster than he had expected, a great number of doctors and nurses started entering in the room. Choji and Neji retreated back to let them work. Some of them cleaned Shikamaru's wounds and applied gauze to all of them. At the same time, others were connecting electrodes on his skin to check his vitals signs, and nailing a serum to his arm. In no moment the boy stopped looking like an empty puppet.
Minutes later, the Hokage entered the room, followed by Ino and Shizune. She approached directly to the bed and stared seriously at the Nara.
-What's his state? -the woman asked at the medics, without stop studying Shikamaru's expression.
-He only has superficial wounds, and we can't find anything that can tell us that his body is malfunctioning. -a doctor answered.
-Because it is his brain what's malfunctioning! -Ino screamed. -He's been acting weird and having strange blackouts since yesterday. I tried to get in his mind and he expelled me out.
Tsunade turned around to look at the girl. After thinking for short seconds, she got back to studying Shikamaru, and talked with authority.
-Get a high level Yamanaka here. Now.
Shizune didn't missed an instant. She walked out the room with a very fast step to go find the requested shinobi. Neji and the rest of team ten looked at each other, sharing silent worried words.
About five minutes later, the Godaime's assistant came back with a Yamanaka. It was a blond long hair man, of about thirty five years old. He looked at Shikamaru sitting on the bed, and stepped in front of him. The boy's eyes were still fixed ahead, half opened.
The Yamanaka lifted his hands to put them at Shikamaru's temples, but stopped an inch before touching him. He opened his eyes wide, and paralyzed. The man stood still for some seconds, and then retreated his hands slowly.
-I, I can't get in this kid's mind. -he said, stuttering a little. -It's too chaotic now. And it feels very strong. If I try he will kick me out. There's nothing I can do.. You need a powerful mind than mine. -the ashamed man lowered his head. -I'm sorry, Hokage-sama.
Tsunade put a hand on the Yamanaka's shoulder.
-It's okay. -she told him. -I didn't imagine it would be that serious. Let's call Inoichi, then. I want him and no other.
-I'm sorry, Godaime, but he is on a mission. -Shizune answered respectfully. -He won't be back until tomorrow.
The Godaime kicked her tongue.
-Is there someone else in your clan that could handle this?
The Yamanaka looked at Shikamaru again, and then denied with his head.
-I doubt it, Hokage sama. -he answered. -His mind is very hostile right now. More than you can imagine.
The woman started walking in circles around the room, and everybody waited for her verdict.
-We will wait for him. -she concluded when she finally stopped. -Meanwhile, monitor Shikamaru and inform me if there's any change. Choji, Ino, I want to talk to you. Come with me.
The two friends looked at Neji with worried eyes, and he nodded at the silent question.
-I will stay with him. -he said. -Go.
The kids thanked him and disappeared after the Hokage.
The Hyuuga stayed there while the medics finished cleaning Shikamaru and controlled his data in their computers. After a little while, they all left, asking Neji to call them with the alarm button if there was any change. Only then the boy approached to the Nara, who was still sitting in the edge of the bed, completely out.
Slowly, Neji stepped in front of him and took a hand to Shikamaru's cheek. Running his thumbs under the empty eyes, he discovered those dark circles he had seen many times before, when the Nara was exhausted. He looked so far away from there. Desperately to make the boy came back, the Hyuuga gently rubbed their noses together, and whispered his name against the closed lips.
-Shikamaru…
Despite of the call and of the contact, nothing happened. With his heart trembling with fear, Neji put his lips over the Nara's cheek and gave him a sweet, caring kiss. Then, the just supported his face against the boy's, wondering what to do. He wished so much for Shikamaru to speak to him, to tell him that he was alright, and to explain to him what was going on.
Without breaking the contact of their cheeks, Neji looked down and took one of the boy's hands. Gently caressing his palm and fingers, the Hyuuga thought that Shikamaru had never felt so dead under his touch. This made him shake with anguish, and he buried his face on the younger ninja's.
-Please, wake up… -he whispered, desperate to hear an answer.
But it didn't came. Neji simply stood that way, shivering and squishing Shikamaru's hand on his.
After about ten minutes, he felt movement, and a gurutal complain that came from deep the boy's throat. The Hyuuga retreated a little to look at his face.
The Nara had finally closed his eyes, and he was frowning slowly, like perceiving a sudden pain in his head.
-Crap… -he murmured with a hoarse voice.
Neji took a hand to his cheek again, making him now that he was there. The boy opened his eyes, and stared at him with a painful and confused expression.
-Neji…? -he whispered, and the Hyuuga felt a wave of relief washing his entire body. -What happened?
Both boys held the stare. Worried, Neji shook his head.
-You don't remember anything? -he asked.
Shikamaru blinked slowly, starting to look tired.
-No. -he answered in a low tone.
The older boy caressed his cheek with his thumb.
-Two shinobis found you outside the village. -he explained. -You were awake but unconscious, and you have been like that until now. You have many wounds on your body. Did someone attacked you?
Shikamaru closed his eyes again, frowning.
-I don't know… -he murmured. -Shit, I'm so tired…
Neji pressed his hand a little more, trying to keep his attention.
-Shikamaru, do you really have no idea of what going on with you? -he interrogated, wanting the truth.
The boy slowly denied with his head.
-No, I don't… -he responded, drowsy. -The only thing I know it that I need to sleep, now.
He lifted his legs to lye on the bed.
-I am not sure if you should sleep right now. -the Hyuuga opined. -You could have a concussion, and the Hokage might want to talk to you now that you are awake.
Shikamaru didn't even opened his eyes. He just turned his head to a side, and rested his hands on his naked stomach.
-Well, she'll have to wait. -he said.
Then, with a last deep breathe, he fall asleep.
-Shikamaru. -Neji called. -Shikamaru!
But the boy was already too far away from there. Thinking that he should report the Nara's change of state, he pressed the alarmed button to make a nurse come and check him.
Shikamaru's POV
He woke up about six hours after, feeling dizzy and having no idea of where he was. Already feeling that damn tingling in his brain, he took a hand to his forehead and exhaled sharply.
-Finally! -a girls voice exclaimed.
Frowning at a growing headache, he opened one eye and tried to focus on the sound's origin. Ino was standing next to him with a preoccupied expression.
-You are awake! -she kept shouting. -We were so worried!
-Hug, don't scream. -Shikamaru mumbled, closing both eyes again and pressing his skull with his fingers.
-How are you feeling? -Choji asked, and the Nara realized that his friend was right at his other side.
Opening his lids slowly, he laid back in the bed and stared at the boy.
-Fine. -he answered flatly. -Just have a little headache.
-I'm gettin Tsunade-sama. -Ino said. -She'll want to talk to you.
Quickly, the girl disappeared behind the door, and Shikamaru caught the figure of someone standing a few steps behind. He met the Hyuuga's eyes, surprised to find him still there.
-Hi. -Neji told him in a soft, kind voice, after some long seconds of silent staring.
-Hey. -the Nara answered, still a little stunned.
Approaching slowly, the older boy walked to his side and stopped next to his bed.
-How are you? -he asked gently.
Shikamaru let his head fall on the pillow and admired the boys face for a few moments. Waking up to realize that Neji had stayed by his side all the time made a warm sensation spread along his chest. He almost forgot that Choji was there too.
-Better. -he finally answered. -I really needed to sleep. But I think I'm fine now.
The two boys stayed with him until Ino returned with the Hokage and Shizune. Tsunade stepped right in front of Shikamaru's bed and studied him with a hard expression.
-Tell me what's going on. -she demanded.
The boy opened his eyes with a feeling of fear.
-I really don't know very much. -he answered nervously. That woman's look was indeed scary. -I just know I have this blackouts, and I remember nothing of what happen during them.
-You don't know how you got all those cuts? -the Godaime asked seriously.
Shikamaru stared at his arms, and only then realized that he had been change into hospital clothes. He also noticed that his hair was loose. Looking at the evident cuts all over his skin, he denied with his head.
-No. -he sustained.
And he didn't, exactly. He supposed it might had happened while he rolled down the forest ground completely unconscious, but it was only a supposition. What he did knew was the explanation for those dark bruises: his shadows had tried to extrangulated him or something, and this time with a lot of determination. He remembered fearing the possibility of being killed by them. But he wasn't going to say that. He had to pretend to be more lost than he actually was.
Tsunade didn't took her eyes off him.
-You will stay in the Hospital until Inoichi sees you. -she affirmed. -I want to know what's going on in that mind of yours. So get comfortable, and wait. -Then she added, looking at Shizune: -I want a nurse checking on him every hour.
-Inoichi? -Shikamaru asked, not liking the idea of having a Yamanaka getting inside his brain. -But this can't be that bad.
-Two Yamanaka had already tried, and failed. -the Godaime explained. -We need the best of them.
Two had tried? Damn, so he had almost had his mind read. Luckily his brain had apparently took care of keeping them outside. He had to avoid that Inoichi made the attempt or he could be in troubles.
-That's all for now. -the Hokage finally stated. -Inform me if there's any news.
-Wait! -the Nara boy tried to stop her. -So I really have to stay here for indeterminate time?
Tsunade looked at her from over her shoulder.
-Yes. -she answered. -Do you have a problem with that?
-Well it sounds pretty boring. -he said. -Besides, I feel fine now.
-I don't care. -the woman affirmed with decision. -You're not leaving this place until we know what is going on with you.
Shikamaru just let out a resigned breathe.
After checking him one more time, the Hokage left, followed by Shizune. Ino slowly approached to his bed again.
-We went to your house, looking for your parents, but they weren't there. -she said.
-Yeah, they're out town, trying to clean my father's blood from sake with a relaxing trip. -he explained. -They won't be back in a couple of days.
The kunoichi stayed with him all the rest of the day, along with Choji and Neji. But at some point, she remembered than they hadn't tell anything of what was going on to their sensei yet. The two other members of team ten left the room, letting Shikamaru alone with the Hyuuga.
They eyes met instantly. Slowly, the older boy walked to the bed and sat on its edge. Neji's stare was so caring, so affectionate, that he felt his heart getting softer. But in that moment, the Hyuuga lowered his head and looked at his wounds.
-I am sorry, -he started. -but I think you know more about all of this than you are telling us.
Shikamaru let a seconds of silence pass. Neji knew he was lying, there was no doubt of that. He tried to take it with calm.
-You don't believe me when I said I remember nothing? -he asked quietly.
After a little while, Neji raised his eyes and looked at him.
-No. -he answered honestly.
Shikamaru decided to act relaxed about it.
-I guess that's expectable, coming from me. -he said, as he reclined himself over the bed. -I've gave myself that fame.
The Hyuuga frowned slightly, reprending him for being so calmed.
-It doesn't matter. Ino's father will tell us what its happening with you. -he affirmed seriously.
The younger boy opened his eyes wide and sat in the bed.
-Yeah, about that… -he responded. -Don't you think that could be, counterproductive?
Neji stared at him, not understanding.
-Why? -he asked.
-Well, if he gets access to my whole mind, he will find out about… Umm, you know… -he hesitated. -Us.
The Hyuuga's finally seemed to get the problem. He looked straight ahead, thinking, but after short seconds he turned to Shikamaru again.
-I really don't want anyone to know, -he said. -but in this case, I think we don't have many options. We need to find out what is going on inside your mind, because judging for what I've seen, it could be dangerous. -he made a little pause. -I am more worried about that, than have people knowing.
"Sweet beloved creature", Shikamaru thought. Neji was more interested in his health than in letting others find out about them. He knew the Hyuuga was afraid of having people knowing because of the consequences it could have for him, and took that as an act of complete altruism. Unable to stop himself, he took one of the boy's hands on his, and started caressing his thin wrist.
-Thank you for staying with me all this time. -he whispered, searching for Neji's eyes, which followed his long fingers path over his skin. He looked right back at Shikamaru, and raised his other hand, to roll his thumb across the boy's forehead. His softly lilac pupils were full of preoccupation.
-You are welcome. -he answered in a soft, kind voice, as he moved his hand to caress the Nara´s cheek.
Shikamaru blinked slowly at the contact, and leaned into the touch, closing his lids and letting out a deep breathe. Neji's proximity seemed to magicly ease the pain in his brain.
-Disgusting. -a harsh voice sounded at the end of the bed.
The Nara opened his eyes and looked straight ahead, to find the image of Kiba staring right at them, with a displeased expression.
-You're screwing with a guy. -the Inuzuka spat. -And not just with any guy. With Hyuuga. You're gross.
Shikamaru went completely still. Was the boy really there, or was it his first illusion of that day? He had came from out of nothing, so he possibly wasn't real. Besides, Neji hadn't reacted to him. He kept caressing Shikamaru's face with affection.
But he must have noticed that something had change in the Nara's expression, because he stopped gradually, and simply waited, not lowering his hand. The younger boy realized he had been staring at the imaginary Kiba, that must be just an empty point for Neji, and returned his attention to him. The Hyuuga narrowed his eyes, suspicious.
-What? -he asked, obviously realizing something was wrong.
Shikamaru opened his mouth to answer, but another voice that came from his right cut his words.
-A man? This is so humiliating. -it said. -I can't believe you're my son.
The Nara didn't need to turn to look at him, because he knew perfectly it was his father. Fuck, the man always spoke the most hurtful words, except when he was a huge teddy bear and totally broke his heart, like that last day. The boy concentrated all he could to block him out.
-Shikamaru? -Neji asked, after a long silence.
-Nothing. -he answered, focusing his eyes on the Hyuuga's to ignore the rest of the people in that room. Suddenly feeling that he needed to be alone and get out of there, he acted a big yawn. -I'm getting sleepy again. I don't understand why I can't get enough.
Neji let his hand fall from Shikamaru's face slowly.
-Maybe it is a good thing. -the Hyuuga said, smiling. -I have never heard of someone who have had too much rest.
The younger ninja smiled too, and stroke his fingers around Neji's wirst, which he was still holding.
-So you wouldn't mind if I take another nap? -he asked innocently.
The Hyuuga laughed softly.
-No. I am glad you can rest. -he answered.
Shikamaru's smile went wider and he inclined to gave Neji a sweet kiss on the cheek.
-Gods, you're so much better than my mom. -he whispered to him against his face.
The older boy laughed louder, as the Nara leaned back and rested his head over the pillow.
-I will go report to my uncle. He haven't seen me since yesterday. -the Hyuuga finally said, freeing his wrist from Shikamaru's grasp to caress his arm. -I will be back in about half hour, tough Ino and Choji might come back sooner. I will tell a nurse to come check on you after I leave.
The Nara nodded lazily.
-Tell her to hurry up. -he said. -Or I won't wait for her awake.
Neji smiled one more time, and inclined to give him another kiss on the cheek. It was a tender gesture, but it wasn't all. Then, the older boy rubbed their noses together a couple of times, with such a sweetness that Shikamaru felt his heart melting. Lastly, the Hyuuga went up slowly, to plant one more kiss over Shikamaru's face, this time exactly between his eyes. When the boy drew back, they shared one last calmed, intimate smile, and then Neji turned around to leave the room.
The Nara relaxed in the bed. The two visions kept spitting mean word to him, but he was still caught in the last moment. Feeling Neji's affection towards him was between the most wonderful things he had experienced in his life. Honestly, he had no idea in what moment he had become so emotional and sensible, but he simply couldn't help it. The Hyuuga had got deep into him.
A few minutes after, a medic came to check on him. He let her do, just acting sleepy. The true was that his brain was starting to tingle again, and the room was quickly feeling with visions. In the moment the woman left the room, Shikamaru carefully took out the serum from his arm, and stood up. He had nothing else than his underwear and an hospital gown. To avoid calling attention, he needed normal clothes, and shoes. Noticing that there was nothing there to wear, he slowly walked out the room and entered in the next one. There, another shinobi rested in a bed, completely sleep. Over a chair, he saw the guy's uniform, and took it. The Nara thought it was a good thing that his hair was loose. That will make him not instantly recognizable. Stopping at every corner to avoid running into medics, he started walking down the halls, while the growing visions followed him.
Judging by his previous experience, the amount of hallucinations will only keep increasing, along with the pain in his brain. He needed to get out of there fast and try to get a hold on himself. But if he left by the principal door, people might see him.
Remembering that there was an access that connected with the Hokage Mansion, he turned around. Maybe he could hide at an office until the worst part passed.
Using all his sneaky abilities, Shikamaru got to the big building. The sharp sensation in his mind was getting deeper, and he felt he was about to lose it. The dozen of voices kept talking to him, making him feel disoriented. If he run into someone in that moment, he wouldn't be able to recognize if it was a real person or not.
Panicking, he entered in the first room he could find. Grabbing his head he looked straight ahead, and saw a big blackboard. Maybe he could ease his head with a bit of math, at least just for a while. He approached to the empty surface, took a chalk, and raised his arm to the highest part he could reach. The golden ratio sequence came to his mind, so he started calculating it, trying to focus all his attention in the numbers. It seemed to work, but after a few minutes, he started feeling that if he stopped just for a second, everything would go straight to hell.
Neji's POV
After briefly talking with his uncle, Neji walked back to the Hospital. He went directly to the Nara's room, but found out that it was empty. Confused, he looked for a medic and asked her about it. The woman was stunned. She had checked on him about twenty minutes ago and he was there. They both understand that the boy had left by his own, and started looking for him.
"Bastard, he fooled me again", the Hyuuga thought. And it was true. Shikamaru had, once more, convinced him of being left alone to run away. Why was he acting like that?
Using his Byakugan, Neji registered the whole Hospital. But there was no trace of the boy. He left the building and walked in front of the Hokage Mansion, exploring its insides. And then, he saw him. The Nara was standing up in an office, writing something on a board. Three other people were there with him.
Losing no time, he started running towards them.
When he finally got to the room, the image let him without breathe. Shikamaru's face was completely unhinged. He was scribbling numbers in a big board, one after another. The black surface was already covered with thousands of them, and he didn't seem interested in stopping. Behind him, Konohamaru and his two friends were sitting over three tables, just staring at him.
-What is happening here?! -Neji demanded to know.
-We don't know. -Konohamaru answered, lifting his shoulders. -We found him doing that about ten minutes ago.
-And you didn't called anyone? -The Hyuuga asked, getting angry at them.
The little boy hid a little behind one of his friends.
-We didn't know he wasn't alright. -he excused.
-Does he look alright? -Neji almost scream, pointing at Shikamaru.
Then, he turned to stare at the Nara again, and discovered that he had filled the whole board already. But that didn't stopped him. He simply kept writing on the wall, not even noticing it. Alarmed, the Hyuuga approached to him and stood at his side.
-Shikamaru? -he called.
But the boy didn't noticed him. He had his eyes fixed on the moving chalk. Neji raised a hand and put it gently over his forearm.
-Shikamaru, can you hear me? -he asked, worried.
This time there was a change. The Nara frowned, as if Neji's words and touch were distracting him, and he was fighting to ignore them. Not knowing what that meant, the Hyuuga pressed his fingers a little.
-Shikamaru... Please stop. -he begged.
That seemed to achieve something, because he boy did. For some slow seconds, he didn't took his eyes from the chalk, but he wasn't writing anymore. Neji wondered if he was conscient of his surroundings or not.
Suddenly, Shikamaru closed his eyes and frowned deeply, lowering his head. He obviously was experimenting a terrible pain.
-Get the Godaime! -Neji screamed to the three little kids behind him, who were just looking the scene with their mouths opened.
Immediately, they run out the room screaming the Hokage's name.
-Shikamaru. -Neji called again, puting his other hand on the Nara's back. -Shikamaru, please talk to me.
But from the boy only came a hoarse complain. He let the chalk fall and grabbed his skull, staining his hair while he clenched his teeth. With a growing fear, the Hyuuga decided to lit his Byakugan. He had to find an explanation for the Nara's state.
The veins under his eyes came into sight, and he saw it: Shikamaru's chakra was waving erratically around him, but the weirdest thing was some kind of grey cloud floating just over his head. Though after a closer observation, it actually looked as if it was coming from inside his brain and spreading out.
In that moment he noticed that the Nara was starting to shake slightly. He was still nailing his fingers in his skull, like trying to take his brain out. Neji couldn't imagine the pain which he should be going through.
Feeling his hart at the edge of a clif with the sight of Shikamaru's suffering, the Hyuuga took a hand to the boys face, and gently caressed his cheek with the tip of his fingers.
-Shikamaru… -he whispered once more, perceiving his voice breaking a little. -Please, come back...
The Nara's whole body stopped shaking immediately. Slowly, he let his arm fall to a side, and straightened his back inch by inch. Turning his head with a heavy motion, he opened his eyes and looked directly at Neji. Behind his half closed lids, the Hyuuga could see his dark pupils deep like black holes. They were so intense and chaotic. And after a some tense seconds, they widened, drilling on Neji's scared eyes. The expression was so foreign in his face that the older ninja immediately lowered his hand, getting ready for anything.
Shikamaru's eyes were evidently showing that he was not in total control of his actions. His wide opened eyelids and his pressed lips were a sight for alarm. He looked completely crazy.
Extremely slowly, the Nara started turning his body to face Neji. When he stopped right in front of him, he could see Shikamaru's stare wondering his lips, and then going down through his whole body, with and unreadable expression. When he finally got back up and met his eyes again, there was a black fire burning in them. Neji couldn't identify what it was. Something like desire, mixed with rage and desperation.
Not breaking their stare, the Nara raised a hand, to stroke the older boy's cheek. Neji let him do, but to his surprise, it was a pretty intense caress. Shikamaru's hand went forward, getting under his hair and going directly to his nape. There, he tangled his fingers in the thick strands coming from Neji's skull, and grabbed him strongly. Due to his penetrating and chaotic eyes, the Hyuuga first thought that he was going to hurt him. But before he could react he realized he was wrong: Shikamaru pulled from him violently and smashed their lips together.
The Nara's wet and wild tongue invaded his mouth, while the boy clenched his fingers tighter to his hair. Neji moaned with surprised, and Shikamaru just deepened the kiss.
After hot seconds, he drove the Hyuuga back a little, pulling from his hair, and stared at him with his cheeks red in arousal and his eyes burning with that strangely hostile black fire. Neji just stared at him with his mouth opened.
In that precise moment, the Hokage run into the room, followed by Shizune and other ninjas. The Hyuuga studied Shikamaru's face, but he didn't seemed to notice the newcomers. He was still strongly grabbing Neji from his nape. The older boy gave the Godaime a side glare, and she walked forward.
-Shikamaru. Let him go. -she ordered.
But the Nara didn't moved nor answered. Neji looked at him again, to realize that he didn't even look present anymore. His sight seemed to simply past through him.
Slowly, the Hyuuga took a hand to his nape, and gently run his fingers through the Nara's, softly unraveling them from his hair. Shikamaru didn't resisted, while Neji held his hand and stared at him with preoccupation.
Shikamaru's POV
How could he really know if Neji was actually there? How could he confirmed that any of the rest of the thousand people that surrounded him ware? He didn't even knew is he really was at the Hokage Mansion.
He felt to freaking frustrated. He wanted Neji to be real. He needed him to be real. And he wanted to get back to the damn reality. After kissing the boy, the world started shaking, and the flor transformed into green grass. A small clearing in a known forest appeared in front of his eyes. Under the light of the moon light, he saw Neji taking his hand from his nape and starting to walk backwards.
The older boy denied with his head many times, and tears started coming down his eyes. Shikamaru stared at him as he cried and moved away.
-Please don't let them get me… -the Hyuuga implored with a desperate voice. -Please, Shikamaru… Help me.
In that moment, Neji started screaming, while his Hitai-ate slipped to the grass. Over his forehead, the Cursed Seal shone blindingly. The Hyuuga fell on his knees, and grabbed his head with desperation, screaming louder. He was about to get killed.
Shikamaru felt a violent shake all along his body. That wasn't happening. It definitely wasn't. Something like that couldn't happened from out of nothing. It was an illusion. A cruel illusion.
But it was so fucking real. He closed his eyes in the moment Neji's eyes started melting under the Cursed Seal.
-STOP! -he shouted, feeling his own tears coming down his cheeks.
Suddenly, millionth of voices exploited in his ears. He opened his eyes again, to realize that the little clearing was now crowded with people. They were the ones that had appeared before, and many others. He had no way of knowing who or them were real, nor even were he really was.
Feeling a stab in his brain, he looked in all directions, to the uncountables character. He was done with keeping his secrets safe. He needed help, or he was going to go insane, is he wasn't already.
Desperately, he was about to scream for someone's aid, when he felt a slight pressure on his shoulder. It was barely there, and when he looked at it, he saw nothing. But what he did was hearing a voice, amid the tumult of the many others.
-Shikamaru. -it said. -Shikamaru, can you hear me?
It was the Hokage. Thinking that that touch in his shoulder and that sound could be the only things getting to him from the real world, he saw a tiny chance. Tightening his lips, he nodded slowly to the invisible person.
After a few seconds, he heard the voice again.
-Can you see me? -it asked.
He tried to talk, but he couldn't. Requesting to his brain to send the order of producing words had become a titanic task at that moment. So he simply shook his head, shaking a little.
He waited for an answer, trying to ignore the other people talking to him. Finally, the Godaime spoke again:
-Tell me, and I want the truth. -she said seriously. -Are you having hallucinations?
Yes. Yes! That was exactly what was happening. He thanked that his Hokage was such an amazing woman and had figured it out. Once more, he nodded slowly.
When he was starting to think that his luck was changing, Shikamaru felt the pain in his brain increasing violently, and his whole body tensed. Faster than ever, strong black tentacles appeared from below his feet and surrounded his whole body, hurting him. He heard desperate and distant screams, seconds before his eyes rolled backwards and everything turned white.
Hello to all!
I'm so so so sorry for the delay! I have two jobs now, and I've been so busy with them that I haven't been able to write.
Well, this was Chapter Three. I'm sorry if it's still doesn't explains what's going on, but I like to create tension haha. I promise that in the next chapter you'll find out what's this all about!
Thank you so much for your support!
Love to all!