Shikamaru's POV
While the Hokage talked to the Council, he explained everything to his mother. The woman was still very mad at him for having lied to her, but she finally agreed and returned to the house. Choji offered himself to stay with him, but Shikamaru assured that he wanted to start with his new treatment in the act. He didn't consulted that with Rajha, though, so when he returned to the Godaime's office to see him, he discovered that he wasn't there anymore.
It didn't took him a lot of time to find him, anyway. He just had to follow the trace of that weird smell his cigarette emanated. He cached up with him when he was leaving the Hokage Mansion.
-Rajha-sama! Wait! -Shikamaru screamed, running behind him.
The man looked at him from over his shoulder, and kept walking relaxedly.
-Oh, hi there, kid. -he greeted in a languid tone.
-Excuse me, Sir., but I was thinking that maybe we could start now. -he explained after reaching him.
Rajah arched his eyebrows.
-You want to start now? -he asked. -You don't care that the Council has not yet approved it?
Shikamaru looked at him as it that was the most stupid assumption in the world.
-Honestly Sir., regardless of what they might say, I'm gonna do whatever I want anyway, so it has no case to wait until they decided.
The old man looked at him with impressed eyes, and then inclined his head back to burst into laughter.
-I like you kid! -he explained. -You're a rules braker, and it turns out that I think respecting rules is overestimated. Besides, I'll do anything to show to that two old mummies that my methods are better than theirs.
-Great, so we can start now, then. -Shikamaru concluded.
-I don't know... -the man replied. -I was thinking on taking a little nap.
The Nara was about to protest, when a voice that came from his left caught his attention.
-Shikamaru, if you sleep during all classes you are never going to finish the Academy. -Iruka said.
The boy stared at his teacher without stop walking. Then, a sharp pain traveled through his brain. He took a hand to his head, understanding. It was another vision.
-What? -Rajah asked at realizing he was looking at the emptiness.
-Nothing.. -Shikamaru answered, turning to the man again. -I'm just hallucinating again.
-So fast? Hmm… - The man thought for a few seconds. -Alright, guess I should take care of that. Let's go to the Nara forest so no one interrupts us.
When they got to their destination, Shikamaru's visions had already multiplied many times. They stopped at the small clearing that surrounded the boy's storage cabin.
-Okay, let's start with getting rid of those annoying visions. -Rajah said, joining his hands and cracking his bones. Then, he approached to the Nara and put a hand on his head.
Like he had done the first time, the man easily put every memory back into place. When he finished, he took a look around.
-You could personalize this place a little. -he commented. -It looks pretty boring.
Shikamaru wondered his gaze around the enormous warehouse.
-I can do that? -he asked.
-Of course. This is only a representation. -Rajah explained. -I will teach you how to get inside your mind and move stuff around like this. But later, when you can stand it. Now, let's go back.
He was about to snap his fingers, when Shikamaru stopped him.
-Wait! -he screamed. -When we get back, everything is gonna be spinning around and I'll end up throwing up like the last time?
The man took a few seconds to answer, but finally said:
-Yes, most probably.
-Isn't there a way to avoid that? -Shikamaru asked.
-Well, yes. -Rajah responded. -But it takes time. You need to get your mind used to be handle like this, so you can do it yourself. And you have to learn how to go in and out without losing it. The only way to achieve that is doing it again and again and again. Until it has no more effect on you.
Shikamaru shook his head, not liking the idea.
-And how much time is that going to take? -he questioned.
-I don't know… -the man meditated. -Maybe two or three months, depends on you.
-"Two or three months"? -the boy repeated. -I don't have that much time. I need to use my brain for other stuff.
-Ha! -Rajah laughed, amused. -You mean to keep conspiring against the Hyuuga clan? I think that can wait a little while.
Shikamaru froze. What had that man said? His whole body tensed up.
-Um,... what? -he asked, wanting to look innocent.
-Please, kid, I've been in your mind. -the man answered. -I know everything about you.
The Nara stared at the old man with no words. After a few awkward seconds, he lowered his head and questioned:
-Everything...?
Rajah approached to him and moved his eyebrows in a confident way.
-Everything… -he whispered with a smile.
Shikamaru concentrated all his strength in not blushing. This guy knew about his plans, and about his strange relationship with Neji. That made him feel extremely exposed.
-Enough conversation. -Rajah said firmly. -Let's go!
A second later, the forest appeared again, and Shikamaru felt it shaking under his feet. He tried to stay standing, but everything seemed to be moving violently. He staggered several times, feeling queasiness. Despite of his efforts, just like a couple of hours ago, he fell to the ground and threw up. Coffing, he laid back down and fisted the grass strongly, while everything kept shaking like on an earthquake.
-Well, this is going to take some time… -Rajah said lazily.
With his peripheral vision Shikamaru caught a glance of the man sitting in the ground and lying against a tree. He simply stayed there, smoking calmly.
-Really? -the boy asked. -You're just going to stay there while I'm here suffering?
-There's nothing else I can do. -the man replied, non disturbed. -We have to wait until you're able to at least stand up. It'll take and hour or so.
-Mmmm… -Shikamaru complained, closing his eyes to diminish his dizziness. -In the meantime, you could tell me how it is that you can handle minds, if you're not a Yamanaka.
He heard Rajah exhaling the smoke of his cigarette.
-I never said I wasn't a Yamanaka. -he answered.
Shikamaru thought for a few moments.
-Yes, you did. -he replied. -You said you were better than a Yamanaka.
-That doesn't mean I'm not one, but that I'm better than just that. -Rajah continued. -I'm a Yamanaka, and something else.
-You are a Yamanaka? -Shikamaru asked, stunned, as he opened his eyes and tried to turn a little on the floor to look at him. -You?
And it was a logical question. The members of that clan didn't match at all with his temporary sensei's aprerence.
-Hell yeah, I am! -the man assured. -This hair used to be blond, kid!
Shikamaru let out an amused exhalation and closed his eyes again.
-That's hard to believe… -he murmured.
-Well believe it. -Rajah said. -My sweet mom was a Yamanaka, and my father was a Shiraiwa, from Merodimura.
-Merodiwhat? -the Nara asked, surprised at hearing the name of a village he didn't knew.
-Merodimura, the Hidden Music Village. -the man explained.
-Music Village? I've never heard about it. -Shikamaru answered.
-Of course, because it's really hidden. -the man retorted. -Not like this place.
-So what do you do? -the Nara questioned. -You fight with instruments or something? I thought only the ninjas from Otogakure could do that.
-And where do you think they got that ability from? -Rajah responded. -We were a happy and modest town, until Orochimaru came with the idea of reuniting small and dispersed populations to form his own village. Many from Merodimura agreed to join him, and let him experiment with their bodies. All idiots, if you ask me. Now the town has reduced a lot, but it still standing.
-Yeah, I've met a few of your deserters. -Shikamaru commented, remembering the four ninjas he and his team had fought against with in their failed mission to recover Sasuke.
-Some of them were students of mine. Nice kids. But too ambitious. -the man said. -It's sad when good people lose their way…
Inevitably, those words woke in Shikamaru the memory of his dad.
-Hey. -he started saying, changing the subject as he opened his eyes. -With your abilities, maybe you could help my father. He has some conflicts with his mind too.
He waited until Rajah finished taking another whistle to hear his answer.
-I probably could. -he replied softly. -But your father would never let me touch him. He doesn't trust me, just as he doesn't trust anyone.
-You know him? -Shikamaru asked, not hiding his surprise.
-I do. -Rajah answered. -And I wouldn't dare to cross him. He's dangerously smart, like you are. This always happens: at facing a problem, complex minds are the ones that sunk more deeply. Even though, I do think you should elaborate your feeling towards him, in order to give your mind a little clarity.
-What? -the Nara asked, not knowing what the guy ment.
-You hate the man, kiddo. -Rajah explained, without dissimulation. -I mean, you really, really hate him. And that rises a conflict inside your brain, because it is a high contradiction for you to hate the man who raised you. You should work with that to have a peaceful mind.
Shikamaru didn't answered. It was so weird to hear someone talking about his most repressed feelings like that. He started understanding how much that man knew him for having been in his mind.
-And I recommend you to do the same thing with Neji… -Rajah added.
Shikamaru said nothing for a little while. He had never mentioned the boy's name, so the man knew him for what he had seen inside his head. And judging by his words, he also knew everything about his confused feelings towards him.
-There's nothing to elaborate about that… -he finally mumbled.
-Of course there is! -Rajah explained. -You're completely nuts for the guy, but you won't admit it! Even though you have spent the last year gathering information to strategize in his favor. That creates a conflict too. You're lying to yourself! You don't even dare to put a name to what you feel for him. And you pretend that you don't, but you care about what some people could think if they knew. Like your Inuzuka friend or your father. That needs elaboration.
Shikamaru turned his face away and closed his eyes. He was starting to hate that conversation. It was like a cold bucket of reality.
-Don't worry, I won't torment you with that now… -Rajah said reassuringly. -First, we would put your thoughts in order. I will teach you a few techniques to oil your mental processes and that mind of yours will work better than ever.
They spent another half hour like that. Shikamaru tried to stand up a few times, but he wasn't able of even kneel before falling to the ground again. While he was down there, waiting at the world to stop spinning, he remembered something else he had been wondering about.
-Hey, I have another question. -he started. -Why did my shadows went completely insane when my brain collapsed?
A few seconds of silence passed by.
-What do you mean? -Rajah asked.
-When the pain in my mind got too strong, just a little while before blacking out, my shadows always came up and started attacking me. Why did that happened?
The man didn't answered right away. He took a long minute to analyze the question. Finally, he simply said, shrugging:
-That I can't explain.
In that moment, a sound came from between the bushes, and a big figure appeared among them. Suimin shook his ears at seeing Shikamaru on the ground, and approached to smell and lick his face. The boy let him do, not wanting to move.
-Oh, this is your deer, right? -Rajah interrogated, standing up slowly. -Yeah, I saw him in your mind. Sup, buddy?
The deer focused on the man and walked slowly towards him, curious. Rajah extended his hand to tap him on the head, but in the moment he did, a strange vibration traveled through the air.
-Wow… -the man said, as a chill seemed to run up his spine. Then he smiled broadly. -Amazing! Now I get it. Ha! I would've never imagined this.
Shikamaru felt intrigued, so he lifted his weight on his elbows with great effort to look at the man.
-What? -he asked.
Rajah tapped Suimins head gently, and the deer moved his ears, pleased. Then, he turned around to eat a sticky thing that was glued to a tree.
The old man made a few steps towards Shikamaru.
-Kid, with that immense curiosity of yours, have you really never asked yourself how the deers and all the creatures that inhabit the Nara Forest are so connected with it? -he questioned.
The boy meditated the question. He had, when he was a child. But then he had found a book that talked about magic natural places, and it said there was a mysterious force acting in them. He had not inquired more on it.
-Yeah, I've read that there's some magic thing doing the trick. -he answered.
Rajah laughed and shook his head slowly.
-That's no magic, boy. -he said. -It's called Natural Energy. And not anyone can feel it or perceive it, less control it.
Shikamaru frowned. He had never heard of that thing in his life. And he considered himself pretty versed in many subjects.
-So the forest has Natural Energy? -he questioned.
-Well, actually, Natural Energy is everywhere. -Rajah continued. -It surround us all the time. But in special places like this, which are inhabited by special creatures, it thrives and gets concentrated. - He extended his arm to point at Suimin. -This deers are ancient animals capable of storing that energy, and they use it to communicate with the whole forest. Have you never wonder why this guy can find you at any point you are in here?
Shikamaru considered that for a few moments. It was true. Many times he had lost or got hurt while playing in the forest during his childhood, and Suimin had always appeared from out of nothing right when he needed him, even before he called him. He had never noticed it wasn't a normal behavior.
-Some of these deers are a bit more special than the rest, because they can connect with those Naras who can handle Natural Energy. -Rajah continued. -And this seems to be one of those deers.
The boy stared at Suimin, who sneezed when an insect few inside his nose. He didn't looked powerful nor special. Actually, Shikamaru had always considered he was a little dumb.
-And how does this affect me? -he asked, not knowing what was his part in all that.
-Tell me, kid. -the man said, sitting down next to him. -How do you create your Kage Nui ?
-With my chakra. -Shikamaru answered without hesitation.
Rajah nodded.
-That's right. -he said. -But what if I told you that you can create another kind of shadows, using Natural Energy?
The Nara stared at him with distrust.
-Me? -he questioned. -I can handle Natural Energy?
-Apparently, you can. -the man confirmed. -And that's very strange, because not many people can do it. There has been very few cases in your clan. I've met only one Nara who could handle it, and he retired to live like a hermit.
-He went crazy? -Shikamaru asked.
-Nah. -Rajah replied relaxedly. -He just realized he prefered being with himself than with anyone else. He was pretty bright too. Anyway, this explains why your shadows acted that way. They weren't trying to hurt you, but to help you. It was actually yourself, intending to stop the pain.
Shikamaru stared at him, arching an eyebrow and frowning with the other one. That was hard to assimilate.
-Let me explain you. -Rajah said, at seeing his perplex face. -Natural Energy is controlled with the power of the mind. When your mind is at ease, your shadows will be at ease, and do whatever you order them. But if your mind is chaotic, your shadows will be in the same state. They are like an extension of your thoughts, to say it somehow.
Shikamaru raised a hand and stroke it along his face.
-This is so complicated… -he murmured.
-Take your time to digest it. -the man calmed him. -But this is actually a very good thing for you. It's not a secret that you are not the most powerful of shinobis. Honestly, your chakra reservations are a bit under the standard line. But if you can gather and control Natural Energy, you'll be way much stronger!
-I've never cared to be strong. -Shikamaru answered. -I have my brain to compensate that.
-Using your brain to think is fine. -Rajah commented. -But you could also use it for much more. With that powerful mind of yours, you could get an amazing control of your shadows. If you gather enough Natural Energy, you could create more shadows, and in more intelligents ways. You could take advantage of each inch of them, and handle them at your whim. At the same time, it's a bit ironic that you among all the are the Naras are the one who can do this…
-And why is that? -Shikamaru asked.
-Well, let's be honest. -Rajah responded. -You are pretty feeble, which means you have not enough stamina to put up with very high amounts of Natural Energy. With this ability, you'll be more powerful, but just as week. You should be careful, so. You must never run out of chakra if you're gonna use it.
-Why not? -the boy questioned.
-Because it'll hurt you directly. -the man explained. -The chakra is what allows you to use it without getting harmed.
Shikamaru was bewildered. That was a lot of new information in a very short time. And he hadn't even completely recovered from his dizziness yet.
-So you're gonna teach me how to use the Natural Energy? -he asked.
-Sure, but not now. -Rajah replied, standing up. -First we need to relax your brain. Ease your thoughts, so we can work with your mind. Right now it's too accelerated.
Shikamaru started at him from the ground.
-And how are we going to do that? -he wanted to know.
Rajah smiled mysteriously and raised his eyebrows.
-I have the answer right here. -he said, lifting his weird cigarette.
Shikamaru frowned, not believing it.
-You're kidding, right? -he asked.
-I'm certainly not. -the man replied grinning.
-I don't want drugs. -the boy protested. -The whole point of all this was to stop using them.
-But those were chemical drugs for crazy people, very aggressive. -Rajah continued. -This is natural and soft. And, very fun.
He gave Shikamaru a mischievous smile.
-Are you serious? -the boy asked again. -Do you really want me to get high? That's your solution?
The man waved a hand in the air.
-It's not the solution itself, but it'll help you calm your brain down. -he said. -You need to slow your mental process, but not so much as with the medicine you were taking. Just a bit. And this is perfect for that. -He bendt slowly and put something over the grass next to the Nara. -So I'm gonna let this little fellas over here…
Shikamaru turned his head and saw three of those long cigarettes.
Rajah stood up again and started walking.
-And I'm going to leave you to start your therapy. -he added, not turning around.
-So I'm just gonna smoke that thing and what? Stare at the nothingness? What's the point of that?
-The point is to relax your mind. Find a calmed place and just chill out. -Rajah answered, looking at him from over his shoulder. -That's you homework! See you, kid!
After those words, he disappeared among the trees. Shikamaru whined and lied down in the ground again. He was starting to understand why Tunase-sama had said that this guys methods were "unorthodox". He was literary asking a teenager to get high. But at the same time, the Nara knew that this strange man really knew what he was talking about. He had completely solved his visions mystery. And he had also answered things he wasn't even asking himself about, like that he could handle Natural Energy. This person was wise, indeed, and he knew his better chances of getting back to normal were at listening to him.
"What the hell", the thought. " I'll do it".
He tried to sit up, but it took him about another fifteen minutes to achieve that. That feeling of dizziness really lasted a lot. He needed to work on that. Suimin approached to him and inclined his head, so he could grab his antlers. Shikamaru did, and the deer gently helped him to stand up.
It took him several minutes to be able to give the first step. He was hanging tight from Suimins thik neck, while the forest slowly stopped moving. The animal supported his wait until they reached the cabin's door, and he managed to enter alone.
He decided that if he was going to do it, he was doing it alright. And the first thing for that was to be comfortable. He took off his clothes, which were partially stained with his vomit, and tossed them to a side. He only kept his Nara clan shirt. Then, he put on an old ragged pant, and decided to stay barefoot.
Before going out again, he took his lighter, and crossed the door. He walked over the tender grass and took the cigars Rajah had left him.
The second thing was to find a nice spot. So he surrounded the small hut and looked at Suimin, who was lying down in the ground with his head high, staring at him.
Shikamaru approached to the animal and reclined against him, extending his legs on the grass and supporting his head in the soft fur.
-Alright. -he said to the deer and to himself. -Lets do this.
He took his lighter and lit on one of the cigarettes.
At first he felt nothing. The smoke was a little heavier than tobacco's, but not much happened. He started thinking about the strange particularities of smoke itself, and about how it could be used in strategies in many different ways. To hide a weapon, or your location. Also, because it usually was the manifestation of something, it could always trick the opponent by making him believe that it was due to a particular thing, when its cause was really another one. Or non, if the smoke was fake. He started analyzing all the possible scenarios in which he could use it combat.
When he got to he alternative one hundred seventy-four, he realized he was high. Smiling at his state, he sunk deeply against Suimin. He wondered what his mother and the Hokage would think if they saw him, and the image of the two woman screaming in rage like scary dragons made him burst into laughter. After that he thought about his friends. First his team, and he could see Ino's incredulous look on him. That made him laugh even more. Then all the rest came to his mind, till he got to Neji.
Neji…
Shikamaru's eyes turned up to the already dark sky. Not even all those bright starts put together shone like the Hyuuga's pale skin under the moonlight. He remembered Rajah's words, saying that he was nuts for the guy, but that he wouldn't admitted. It was true. But how could he be so scared to admit something that made him feel so good? He took a deep breathe, remembering Neji's slender body, his soft laugh and his mesmerizing eyes. Yes, he saw it more clearly than ever: he was completely lost for him.
In that moment, he heard voices, and something that sounded as if someone was knocking on the cabin's door.
Neji's POV
He was walking with Lee and Tenten across the village when they ran into the other teams. Choji had told them that Shikamaru had just started a new treatment that looked really promising, and they had all agreed on going to see how he was doing. Neji thought it was amazing how Shikamaru's friends supported him. They all really cared about the boy.
Neji's team accepted going with them, and they started walking to the Nara Forest. When they got to Shikamaru's cabin, where Choji said it was were he probably was, everything looked pretty quiet. Ino walked forward and knocked on the door.
No one answered. After a little while, she knocked again.
-Just open it. -Kiba proposed impatiently.
The girl did, and after taking a look inside, she stared at the rest to say:
-He's not here.
In that moment, a soft coff caught their attention and they all turned their heads towards it. Shikamaru was reclined against one of the cabin's corners, with one hand in his pocket and the other one holding a cigarette. He was wearing a ragged pant and his transparent Nara shirt, and his ponytail was disheveled and a little lose. But in his face, Neji saw a relaxed and even happy smile.
-Hey. -he said to his friends, grinding calmly.
-Dude, you look like a tramp. -Naruto commented, staring at him up and down. -What happened to you?
-You are smoking? -Ino interrupted before he could answer. -I knew it! You lyer!
-Wait, what the hell is that? -Kiba questioned, as he lifted his nose to smell the air. -Doesn't smell like tobacco.
Shikamaru let out a soft laugh, while Akamaru approached slowly to sniff his cigarette.
-Cause it's not tobacco… -he replied, still smiling. -It's part of my traitement…
After saying this, the took a deep breath of the cigar and then exhaled slowly.
-You're getting high? -Naruto asked, opening his eyes wide. -Dude!
-Oh Gods, are you insane?! -Ino screamed again.
-Relaaax… -Shikamaru responded, without stop smiling at any moment. -It's for medical use, so it's fine. Don't go crazy about it.
-Where did you get that from? -Kiba questioned, apparently interested.
-My new temporary sensei gave it to me. -the Nara explained, and then narrowed his eyes in complicity. -Wanna try?
Ino was about to protest again, when Kiba moved forward.
-Hell yeah I want. -the Inuzuka answered, stepping next to Shikamaru.
-No! Are you crazy? -the Yamanaka girl yelled. -It's not okay!
-C'mon. -the Nara told her persuasively. -It's not a big deal. Trying it once doesn't make you an addict.
Ino crossed her arms, annoyed.
-Yeah, it'll be so cool of we all did it! -Kiba exclaimed. -Do you have more?
-You bet I do. -Shikamaru answered with an enormous smile.
-Wow, wait. You're the only one who wants to do it. -Sakura cut him. -I'm not getting high either.
-Yeah, you're a moron, junkie-boy. -Naruto said to Kiba, sticking out his tongue.
-You just say that cause you don't dare to do it. -the Inuzuka retorted, mockingly. -You're all babies! I'm in, man.
The Nara gave him a calmed and sleepy smile.
-Great. -he said, and turned his eyes to the rest of his friends. -I know it sounds ridiculous, but I was really told to do this. I have to do it, and I'll be nice to have company while doing so.
Nobody answered, and they kept looking at him distrustfully. So he slowly focused his eyes on Sakura.
-Sakura, you know this is very usually prescribed for many conditions, and that it's very light and completely harmless. -he insisted patiently. -You know it's okay.
The girl frowned and meditated for a moment, looking for a retort.
-Well, it is very used, and yes, it is harmless… -she finally agreed. -But I don't know…
-Hey, look at me! -the Nara answered, extending his arms. -I'm perfectly fine! Actually I feel better than ever. It'll be alright, guys. C'mon…
After saying this, he turned around lazily and disappeared behind the cabin. The rest followed him, to find a nice and green clearing illuminated by the moonlight. In the center of it, Suimin was lying on the ground.
In the instant the beast and Akamaru saw each other, they both raised their heads and stayed completely still. Moments later, the deer stood up and the two creatures approached slowly, smelling the air.
It was very likely that Akamaru had never seen a deer, and that Suimin had never seen a dog that size. Neji feared they were going to attack each other, but in the moment their noses touched, they simply started running around, trying to catch the other and run from him at the same time.
Shikamaru stared at the picture and laughed softly. Then, he started walking to the center of the clearing. There, he let his whole weight fell to the ground to sit on the grass. Opening his arms and gesturing to his friends, he said with a wide smile:
-Have a seat.
Except for Kiba, who ran to place himself next to the Nara, everybody hesitated, but ended up approaching. They sat in a circle. Neji was cautious of not choosing a spot next to Shikamaru, so he sat after Sakura, who was at the boy's left.
When they were finally all sit, the Nara lifted his hand with the half smoked cigarette, and was about to lit it, when Shino's voice sounded timidly in the air.
-Are we really going to do this...?
Shikamaru stopped, and looked at the boy with friendly eyes.
-You don't have to, if you don't want to. -he said. -But you'll be a great friend if you did.
At that, the Aburame raised his eyebrows. Neji could imagine his dreamy eyes behind the dark glasses. That had been a dirty move. Everyone knew that Shino was very insecure about his friendship with the others. He had always felt like they didn't considered him a part of the group, and would've done anything to show them his loyalty.
-Alright… -he answered after short seconds.
-That's my pal! -Kiba shouted, giving his friend a strong slap in the back.
Neji turned his head to Shikamaru, wondering how could he always have the perfect retort to get what he wanted. The Nara noticed his stare, and slowly focused his eyes on him. He arched his eyebrows, like asking "what?".
The Hyuuga simply shook his head slightly, and with that simple gesture Shikamaru understood that he was disproving his move. But instead of defending himself or making out an excuse, he simply smiled and shrugged, not looking guilty at all.
That mere grin made Neji's body tickle. Damn him. How could just a smile from the boy had that effect on him? Thinking that Shikamaru simply looked too cute to be mad at him, the Hyuuga finally smiled back.
-I never said I was going to do it. -Ino affirmed, crossing her arms.
-Me neither. -Lee agreed, talking seriously for the first time in his life.
-Nor I. -Neji added.
He didn't care if all his friends were willing to smoke from that weird cigarette, he wasn't going to do it. It wouldn't be the first time he missed of doing something "fun" because he considered it wrong or silly.
-Whaaaat?! -Tenten asked, staring with disappointment at her two teammates who were sitting at her sides. -C'mon guys! Stop being so good all the time!
-But Tenten! -Lee answered, looking at her with big dramatic eyes. -We can't contaminate our youthful bodies with strange substances! They are sacred temples that we must protect!
The girl snorted at him.
-Nothing will happen to your beloved body. -Tenten replied. -It's a natural herb, which comes to us by Nature's wonderful and generous hand. It's a gift from it! And it'd be practically a sacrilege to despise it.
Lee scratched his head, meditating his teammate words.
-I see… -he said, looking confused.
Neji couldn't believe there was some people so easy to manipulate. He shook his head again and rolled his eyes, but in that moment Tenten turned to him.
-And you, stop being so boring! -she explained. -You're on your break! It wouldn't kill you to have some fun.
The Hyuuga straightened his back to look firm.
-I don't need to get high to have fun. -he retorted.
-That's what I say. -Ino agreed.
-Please, Ino. -Choji started telling his friend with his soft and kind voice. -How bad could it be? Look at Shikamaru. He looks fine.
The blond girl frowned and turned to the Nara, who smiled and extended his arms again, showing that he was perfectly okay.
-What's the point on smoking that anyway? -Ino asked.
-Decrease the visions. -the boy answered lightly.
-Were not the pills for that? -she questioned again.
-Yeah, but they turned my brain into jelly. -the Nara replied, and then added with a side smile: -This is way much better than that, believe me.
-I think it's stupid too. -Naruto opined. -But if Shikamaru looks that happy, after how grumpy he had been lately, then it has to be like magic. I'm in.
-Look, even Naruto is doing it. -Tenten insisted, looking at Neji.
-So what? -the Hyuuga responded, not seeing how that obligated him to do it.
-Pleeeease! -she begged, grabbing him by the arm. -I swear I'll never ask you to do anything else in my life!
She wasn't going to drop it, so he finally rolled his eyes again and said:
-Fine...
He could feel Shikamaru's stare on him. He tried to ignore it, but after a few seconds it was just to irresistible. He raised his eyes and met the Nara's. The boy was slightly smiling to him, with that strange seductiveness of him. Damn him again. Neji had to press his lips and lower his head to avoid smiling as well.
At last they had all agreed on smoking with the Nara, so he lifted his arm again and lit the cigarette with his lighter. A heavy curtain of smoke came from it, and it went bigger when Shikamaru exhaled what he had just inhaled. Short seconds after, he handed the cigar to Kiba, who wasn't even trying to hide his excitement. The Inuzuka took a deep breath of the thing, which was probably too deep, because he started coughing immediately. Just like that, the round started.
Without exception, all of them coughed like Kiba on their turn, but it was mostly because none of them were used to smoke anything, unlike Shikamaru. Neji saw the others taking the cigarette, trying it, and passing it to the side. When it go to him, he was impressed about the flavor. It wasn't as disgusting as he had imagine. But the smoke was just too much to take.
The last one was Sakura. After she finished, Shikamaru took the remainings of the cigarette and let it over the grass.
Neji sensed his body getting heavier first, but then he immediately felt lighter than ever. His skin tingled as a strange sensation traveled through him. Like an intense wave of static. He closed his eyes, and in the silence of the night he heard the sounds of the forest. The wind, the crickets and the night birds resounded in his ears. He had the impression of hearing them at full sound. Suddenly realizing that his mind had gone too far about a complete triviality, he opened his eyes.
He felt as if a lot of time had passed. Taking a look around, he saw that the others were in a similar state. Some of them stared quietly to the emptiness, and others had their lids closed. They were probably experimenting those strange sensations in their bodies too.
He turned to Shikamaru, and saw that the boy had his eyes wide open and stared in a particular direction with a surprised and amused smile.
-Lee...- -he asked, trying not to laugh. -Are you okay, man?
Neji quickly turned to look at his teammate, as all the others, and saw that the boy had his enormous eyes round as plates and was staring at the sky with an astonished look. He took a long time to answer, but he finally did. Without moving an inch his tense body, he said:
-Nature… Is so… -emotion broke his voice and his eyes filled with tears. -Beautiful…
Shikamaru burst into laughter. Everybody turned at him, and started assimilating the joke in all that. Evidently, it was pretty ridiculous.
-You are sooo stoned.. -the Nara murmured, drying with his hand the tears he had sheed at laughing.
That comment made everybody start laughing softly. It was evident that Lee was in a far away trip.
-Should we be worried? -Sakura asked containing the laughter, at seeing that Lee remained the same.
-Nah, this happened after his fight with Gaara. -Tenten affirmed. -The analgesics got him this way too.
-It's like Naruto's face at the Academy class. -Kiba said, smiling maliciously.
Neji thought the blond boy was going to answer back with another derision, but instead, he laughed softly and replied:
-Remember yours when Iruka-sensei found you trying to eat your own homework?
-Whaaaat? -Ino asked, looking at the Inuzuka with wide eyes.
-HA! -Shikamaru's voice resounded in the air, as he pointed at Kiba. -I remember that! You were going to tell him Akamaru had eat your homework but he wouldn't do it, so you decided to give it a few bites to made it look like he had!
Everybody broke into laughter. The image of a little Kiba biting his homework and being caught by the teacher was just too hilarious. Even the Inuzuka couldn't contain himself.
-It would've been a good lie, if Iruka hadn't discovered you… -the Nara said, regaining a bit of composure.
-Yeah, I wasn't as good a liar as you. -Kiba replied, and added with a side smile: -Remember the they of the fire?
-What fire? -Sakura asked, but the two boy, along with Naruto and Choji, were already laughing.
-YES! -Naruto exclaimed. -Three older kids were picking on us after class in the Academy bathrooms. They were about to beat us up, when Shikamaru appeared running through the door, screaminglike a maniac that the building was on fire! They escaped like little girls!
They all laughed again.
-I remember you grabbed one from the shirt and screamed to his face: "RUN FOR YOUR LIFE!" -Kiba added, putting his hand at his stomach at the funny memory.
Shikamaru supported an elbow in one knee and took his hand to his forehead, closing his eyes as he laughed irrepressibly. Neji couldn't stop giggling either at imagining him.
They talked like this for a long while, remembering funny stuff they had done as childs. Every story was funnier than the previous one.
-I remember we played "Butterfly" a lot. -Sakura said with a happy smile, looking at Ino.
-That stupid hands game? -Kiba asked.
Neji remembered the girls playing that again and again and again in the Academy recess.
-It wasn't stupid! -Tenten complained. -It was great! We could do it very fast.
-Yes. -Ino agreed, and whispered slowly with a evil smile: -But we were the fastest.
Tenten opened her mouth, looking offended.
-You wish. -she answered. -I bet Hinata and I could beat you, right?
She looked at the shy pale girl, who hadn't said anything yet. Hinata had simply stayed silent, giving Naruto quick glances and blushing every time. Seeing that Tenten was waiting for an answer, she sunk her head between her shoulders and nodded timidly.
-YES! -Tenten screamed. -You're on, Yamanaka!
The four girls got up and sat at a corned of the circle facing each other, and prepared for a match.
-C'mon, that's so boring! -Kiba whined.
-This is a race you could never run, tough boy. -Ino told him mockingly.
-I could totally do it. -the Inuzuka answered, and stood up to see the game and try to learn it. Slowly, everybody gathered around the girls, except from Lee, who didn't moved, and Neji and Shikamaru, who stayed in their places. They stared at each other, and smiled.
Neji couldn't help it. He had had so much fun with the talk, and he felt so fine and happy. The Nara looked really comfortable too. He put his hands in the grass just inches behind his hips, and leaned back a little.
-How are you feeling? -he asked, without stopping to look at him with a tender grinn.
Maybe it was just because he was high, but Neji thought that Shikamaru's eyes changed when looking at him. They became softer, and more affectionate. He smiled too, liking the way that made him feel.
-Okay… -he answered, joining his hands over his crossed legs and taking a look around. -Sometimes it seems as if time was going slower… It's weird.
-Yeah… -the Nara agreed. -I know what you mean. And don't you feel your skin is, like, hypersensitive? I feel I can feel the atmosphere or something.
Neji laughed softly, knowing the sensation he was referring to.
-I had to admit that you look much better now. -he said, referring to Shikamaru's health and mental state.
The younger boy nodded.
-I feel better. -he answered. -And let me say you look fine too, all smiley and relaxed. I like this you.
Neji shook his head and bit his lip again. He simply couldn't stop smiling.
-It put me in a good humor, I guess… -he responded. -And hearing about your monkeyshine when you were little was very fun.
Shikamaru laughed softly, and leaned back in the grass, supporting his weight on his elbows. Neji tried to ignore the evident way in which the fabric of his Nara top tightened around his abs and chest.
-Yeah, we were pretty naughty. -he admitted, staring at his friends. -I remember one time we got a ball stuck up a tree branch, and we couldn't get it down. I had recently read a Chemistry book and wanted to try something from it, so I took the chance and designed a reaction with two substances that would create an explosion behind the ball strong enough to get it down.
-How were you going to make it explode right behind the ball, if you couldn't reach the branch? -Neji asked
Shikamaru smiled.
-Good question. -he said. -With Naruto's sling. I put each liquid inside a tiny glass jar and we shoot them together to the ball with it. The impact would break the jars and create a little explosion. And it did. But I miss calculated a bit, and it came out too strong. The ball flew through the air at all speed and crashed against the Sandaime's head.
Neji laughed once more, picturing the situation. Neither of them noticed that a few of their friends turned around at the strange sound of Neji laughing, and stared with perplexity at the kind way in which they interacted.
-But where did you get those solutions from? -he asked amused.
Shikamaru shrugged a little, and repressed an ashamed smile:
-I stole them from the Nara laboratories. -he confessed.
The Hyuuga tried to give him a reproving look, but he was just too sweet with that face, looking sorry and embarrassed.
-I have said it before and I will say it again. -Neji announced. -You are unbelievable.
But not matter what he did, he couldn't stop smiling at Shikamaru. The younger boy let out a soft laugh and closed his eyes, lying completely over the grass and putting his arms behind his head.
-Yeah, I know… -he said, chilling out on the ground.
A moment of silence went by, while their friends keep playing a few metres away from them. Neji couldn't stop imagining the young Nara making strange and dangerous experiments.
-And how old were you? -he asked softly.
Shikamaru opened his eyes and looked at him from the ground, with that same deep and warm stare from before.
-Like seven I think… -he answered.
Neji frowned, surprised.
-Why were you reading a Chemistry book at seven? -he questioned.
The Nara gave him a side smile.
-I don't know. -he said. -I did that. When I wasn't sleeping, I was reading about chemistry, and math, and, ummm...
-Tiles… -Neji completed.
Shikamaru's smile went way wider.
-That's right. -he recognized.
They both laughed with complicity at the old private joke. Neji hadn't stopped to think about it, but it had been more than a year from that moment. From the day everything had started between them. It felt so strange to realize that. He leaned back slowly to lie on the grass too, and stared at the dark sky. It reminded him to the Star Chart Shikamaru had gave him that same day, in the cabin that was just in that same clearing. That was the first time the Nara had kissed him.
Neji slowly turned his head at feeling the younger boy's eyes on him. He has supporting himself in one of his elbows, and stared at him with a cautious look.
-Are you okay, there? -he asked softly.
Neji smiled slightly and nodded.
-I was just thinking that it was a good thing I decided not to apply for ANBU. -he answered. -Imagine they finding out that one of their shinobis is getting high.
Shikamaru snorted mildly.
-You could've never been in ANBU. -he said.
Neji frowned a little and stared at him, distrustfully.
-Why not? -he questioned.
The Nara shrugged.
-They're all dark, cold monsters. -he answered. -You're too cute for that.
The older boy eyes widened, and because of the way Shikamaru looked at him with a sweet smile after saying those words, he blushed noticeably. Not knowing what to say, he moved his head away a little and bit his lip, trying to retain his own smile.
He heard the Nara's soft giggle next to him.
-And you're even cuter when you blush like that… -he murmured.
Neji tangled his fingers in the tender grass.
-Stop… -he said, not being able to hold his smile. He turned his head around again and met Shikamaru's mesmerized eyes staring at him. -Someone could hear.
-I think they're too busy with their race. -the Nara said, pointing at the rest with his head.
They just held their gazes for a long minute, lost in each other. Neji knew that if the others saw them, they could start to suspect something strange was going on. But he simply couldn't get his eyes off Shikamaru's dark and magnetic pupils.
In one moment, a tiny red bug flew to Neji's hair. He tried to get it off, but he couldn't see it because it wasn't at his eyes reach. The Nara moved closer to him, extended a hand to take the little insect, and gently pulled it off the older boy's thick mane.
The bug went flying away from Shikamaru's fingers, but he didn't retreated his hand right then. It was only for a fraction of seconds, but he seized the opportunity to slightly run his fingertips along Neji's cheek. The touch made his heart gave a jump.
They stared at each other again for a long while, completely hypnotized. Until the Nara put on a strange expression and shook his head, not breaking their stare.
-Damn… -he murmured.
-What? -Neji asked softly?
The younger boy made a short pause, studying his features.
-I want to kiss you so much right now. -he said.
Neji opened his mouth to take a sharp tiny breath, and blushed even more. Knowing that Shikamaru wanted him made tim feel in a unique way
-Aaahj.. -the Nara spat, closing his eyes and turning his head away, like trying to control himself. -I have to stop looking at you.
He couldn't help to let out a soft laugh at that. In that moment, they heard Naruto's voice over all the others.
-Is anyone else hungry? -he asked. -I could eat ten ramen orders!
-Now that you mention it, I could have a huge ice-cream right now. -Ino added.
Neji and Shikamaru stood up slowly, as the rest of them agreed on going for a bite before Ichiraku closed his restaurant. The Nara refused the offer, saying that he was going to stay to have some rest. While everyone disappeared among the trees, Neji took a moment to look at him again. He was about to speak when Tenten's voice behind him stopped him.
-Lets go, Neji. -she told him. -Maybe if we give Lee some food he will react.
He turned around to answer, but again, before he could say anything, something stopped him. But this time it was Shikamaru's hands at his hips, and his breath at his temple.
-He's going to stay for a little longer, if you don't mind… -he said dragging his words and rubbing his nose against Neji's cheek.
Inevitably, the Hyuuga's face turned red as fire.
-Shikamaru! -he whispered.
-What? -the younger boy answered, going down to caress his neck with his lips. -She already knows, so who cares...
The tender touch on his skin made him incapable of retorting, and he closed his eyes. But he quickly remembered that Tenten was there, and opened them to look at her.
The girl was staring at them with an astonished opened mouth, and then she gave them a huge thrilled smile.
-Ooooh, alriiiight! -she said, not hiding her excitement. -I see you boys have some things to do! No problem, I'll deal with the zombie. -She turned around, saying goodbye with her fingers and winking at Neji. -Have fun!
The Hyuuga couldn't believe it. She was never going to shut up about that. He turned to complain, and saw that Shikamaru was smiling openly.
-Why did you do that? -Neji asked, trying to sound mad.
-I'm sorry… -the Nara apologized. -I just couldn't wait to be alone with you, and I didn't found another way.
Damn him and his words. It was just impossible to Neji to be angry at him. He didn't knew in what moment he had become so soft, but everytime Shikamaru said something like that to him, his heart fell to his knees.
The forest, on the other had, had gotten cooler. The older boy shivered when a gust of wind hit his back. Shikamaru noticed, and grabbed him gently by the hand.
-Lets go inside. -he murmured, and kindly took Neji to the cabin.
Once there, they stood in front of the door in the small room. The Nara didn't let go his hand. Instead, he took it to his face, first to simply admire it under the light that came from the window. And then to slowly rub his nose against Neji's fingers. The older boy let him do it, just watching him in the partial darkness.
When Shikamaru entwined their fingers and kissed the back of his hand, he felt electricity traveling from that spot to his entire body. And the Nara didn't stopped there. He kept wondering Neji's skin with his mouth, giving him short and sweet kisses from his wrist to his shoulder. When he got there, he went up through the Hyuuga's neck, in the moment he pulled from his hand to make him turn.
Neji stopped spinning when his back hit against Shikamaru's chest. It was so amazing how the boy could handle him gently, but firmly. The Nara planted warm and hungry kisses all along his neck, while surrounding him by the waist. Neji had never imagined that he could be comfortable in a situation like that one, but the older boy aroused him so much that he simply couldn't fight. He gasped when Shikamaru's lips reached his ear and his heavy breath resounded in his head.
The Nara loved the sounds he made in those intimate moments. Neji had already learned that. Getting possessed by lust, Shikamaru moved the older boy's thick hair to a side and continued the wet path of kisses along his nape.
Neji repressed a groan, and he extended his arms to put his hands against the door. He closed his fists over the wood surface when the Nara bit the soft skin below his head.
The temperature went higher. He felt his white robe sliding down slowly, but he didn't care. The only thing he could think about was that Shikamaru was getting too close to his blind stop, that vulnerable and sensible area he had never gave anyone access to.
The boy must had thought about that too, because just an inch before reaching the exact point, he stopped. It was more than possible that the Nara knew where it was, because it was a common feature of all Hyuugas, known by many people. As reading his thoughts, Shikamaru answered the question by softly blowing warm air over the spot.
Neji's hole body shivered, and he close his eyes, moaning. He heard Shikamaru letting out a soft giggle of satisfaction at his back. A second after, he felt a wet and hot tongue liking the sensible skin.
He took a sharp breathe, noticing that his erection was already hard under his pants. His robe finished getting untide because of the Nara's incessant caresses along his body, and it fell to the ground. The only thing he had under it were his training bandages.
Neji felt Shikamaru's warm body through the fabric of his Nara top, and leaned closer against him. The older boy noticed it, and retreated back for a second to take it off. When their skins touched with no obstacles, it was a million times more intense.
Suddenly, wild fingers fisted the Hyuuga's hair right at his nape, and made him turn his head to a side. Holding him like this, Shikamaru took advantage of his way superior height to kiss him without difficulty. He stuck his tongue inside Neji's mouth, breathing agitatedly.
Feeling intoxicated at the taste of the Nara's wet muscle between his lips, the older boy took one hand to Shikamaru's face and the other one to his tight, to fist the fabric of his pants strongly. They kissed passionately, panting into each other mouths.
While he went back to hungrily bite Neji's neck, the Nara's hands traveled down his waist to the cord that tied the older boy's pants. He got rid of the knot easily, and slided his palms below the fabric, going under the Hyuuga's underwear too. Slowly, he made the clothes fell to the floor.
Neji wanted to turn around and change positions, when fierce teeth attacked his blind spot.
-Fuck! -he exclaimed, as a wave of excitement flooded his blood.
Seconds later, he felt Shikamaru taking down his own pants and underwear too. A great heat emanated from the Nara's crotch.
Neji sensed the younger ninja's erection softly rubbing his buttocks and took his hands to the door again. He didn't liked being in such a vulnerable position. A chill ran down his spine, and he went completely still.
-Don't. -he requested firmly.
Shikamaru slowly lifted his head to looked at him from the side. Suddenly embarrassed, the Hyuuga didn't dare to meet his stare.
-What? -the younger boy asked.
-Just… -Neji answered. -Don't do it.
Of course, the Nara understood. The Hyuuga felt him breathing softly over his skin. Inch by inch, he moved his head until his lips were over his ear.
-I won't… -he whispered. -I promise…
Shikamaru's deep and raspy voice rumbled in his eardrum, making him relax a little. With extreme tenderness, the Nara started kissing the edge of his ear, and then went down to his neck again, while softly caressing his hip bones. Neji quickly got lost in his touch once more, but gave a tiny jump when the younger boy's erection was pressed against his ass.
-Shhh… -Shikamaru whispered over his ear again. -Trust me…
With extreme delicacy, the Nara placed his throbbing member between Neji's buttocks. He felt the hot shaft shivering over his sensitive entrance. He was about to protest, when Shikamaru started moving his hips up and down, just sliding all the length of his wet erection against the tight ring.
-Ah! -Neji exclaimed, arching his back at the sensation.
The movement pressed him tightly to the Nara's member, which he kept rubbing deliciously against his entrance. The feeling was so arousing that Neji couldn't help to groan while Shikamaru's soaked erection caressed him in that place to which nobody had ever got so close before.
Sensing that the Hyuuga liked the motion, the older boy intensified his stroke against the sensitive ring, while he slided one hand to Neji's throbbing member and squeezed it softly. He moaned deeper as the Nara started masturbating him slowly, not stopping the movement of his hips.
Neji's body started shivering. He took one hand to Shikamaru's nape and nailed his finger in it, pulling him closer. That made the younger boy groan as well, and he pressed himself tighter against his ass. Their bodies were so hot that it felt as if they were about to burst into flames.
-Fuck, Neji… -the younger boy murmured deeply.
The Hyuuga felt fingers fisting his hair at the back of his head again, and he allowed Shikamaru to turn his face and introduce his wet tongue inside his mouth once more.
Both boys panted hard into the kiss.
He was too close to the edge. At realizing it, the Nara intensified his trust against his anus and fastened the stroke of his hand. He broke the contact of their mouths to breathe.
-Gods, Shikamaru… -Neji whispered in a lustful tone.
As he reached the climax, the Hyuuga screamed in pleasure, while his release came out, spilling between Shikamaru's fingers. The exciting sound was just too much for the Nara, who came as well behind Neji with a hoarse moan.
The Hyuuga felt hot liquid hitting his sensitive entrance, and he thought it was the most hot situation in which he had ever been.
Their bodies relaxed, and they started recovering their breathe. Shikamaru leaned his head to support his forehead on Neji's shoulder, as he surrounded his waist with his arms in a warm embrace. They stood like this for long quiet minutes, as the orgasm faded.
After a little while, the Nara raised his head again and their eyes met. The intimacy of the moment was so intense, that Neji felt his heart tingling. The way Shikamaru could make him feel was so different to anything he had experienced before. He got lost in those black pupils, which attracted him as if he had been bewitched. He contemplated the younger boy's expression, who watched him marveled at the sight of the Hyuuga's turbulent eyes. Short seconds after, the Nara smiled softly. There was so much tenderness in that smile that Neji felt the last of his sanity melting away. They leaned forward to kiss, knowing that in that moment, words weren't necessary.
Hi!
Well, this was chapter five! Hope you had enjoyed it! Once again, thank you very very much to all for you support! I still have a lot more ShikaNeji in my mind to share with you ^^
In next chapter, Shikamaru's new training will start, and you'll find out more details about the Hyuuga clan evil business.
LOVE!!