Shikamaru's POV
He woke up at early morning. For the first time in months, he felt he had really rested. The training from the previous day with his sensei was apparently truly helping his mind to get back to normal. Shikamaru blinked slowly, and stared at the ceiling.
Rajah had ask him to try to remember his dreams every morning, to put his brain to work from the first hour. So he decided to give it a try. During the first minute he remembered nothing, but after a little while, some images started emerging. He had dreamed about his mother and his team, and there was some very diffuse memory of Suimin lying on the forest grass. Nothing of that seemed unusual. But suddenly, a very clear scene started to take shape.
He was standing in a wide, clean field. The grass was of a bright green, and the sky shone with an intense light blue. Flowers of all colors were slowly moved by the wind. A few meters ahead there was a huge tree with a thick white log and uncountable white leafs. He looked down, to see right in front of him a strange object. After getting close to it and lifting it up, he discovered it was a mask. A faceless mask. He stared at the thing, and realized that there was something very weird in it, besides from the lack of factions: the point were the eyes must had been was made of a strange substance that looked like smoke. White, turbulent smoke, spinning in a very slow motion. He remembered himself turning the mask around and placing it over his face.
In that instant, the whole field in front of him changed. The grass, the sky, and the colorful flowers, acquired a diluted but bright white tone. Strangely, that unusual tonality made him able to see more detaller, despite of the absence of colours. He was capable to identify each petal of each flower. But something didn't fit. No. Something was missing. The enormous tree he had seen before wasn't there anymore. It had just disappeared.
In the dream, Shikamaru took the mask off and watch ahead. And there it was, huge and strong like he remembered it. There was no way of missing it. So what was the explanation, then? He put the mask on again, and the tree disappeared once more.
This time, the Nara from the dream was more analytical. He narrowed his eyes and searched for any hint of the ghost tree. After a little while, he found it: it was in the same exact place, but its color was so similar to the mask filter that it got lost in the whiteness.
After that, the dream faded away.
Shikamaru meditated in his bed, and immediately related it to Neji's explanation about how it was to see with the Bakugan. He had been thinking about that a lot before falling asleep, so it wouldn't be strange that it had slipped into his dreams. And there was an interesting inference about that scene: what if the Bakugan couldn't see very well the things that were of the exact same color than that white Neji had told him about? He had always thought that the only debility of the Hyuuga clan was their blind spot. But if this supposition was real, it could represent a huge weakness.
It was so weird to have dreamed about it, though. That meant that, even in his dreams, his brain kept looking for a way to take advantage of the Hyuuga clan. Shikamaru was surprised to realize that his mind never, ever, stopped.
He sat at his bead, thinking about how likely the assumption from his dream could be. He couldn't take it for granted without checking it before. So he needed to do some experimentation, and find out if there was really something the Bakugan could miss.
Shikamaru felt his brain working. It was amazing how after just one day of training, his mind felt clearear. He should do his best on his sensei's exercices, to have his better tool in perfect functioning.
But before starting with that day's training, there was something else he wanted to do. His mother's words from the last night were still sounding in his head. " It was very sudden. She went sick from one day to the other,... and in about four weeks she left us.". That was what Yoshino had told him about Neji's mother's death. She had also said that doctors concluded it must had been caused by a virus, though they couldn't determine which one. That seemed too imprecise to Shikamaru. He needed more specific data. So he decided to make a quick trip to the Hospital, before Rajah came to resume the training.
He left the house through the back door, to avoid running into his mother. With a faked lazy step, he walked to the center of the village, already feeling million theories taking form in his head.
-Good morning, dear. -the receptionist greeted him. The woman was a close friend of his mother, and she must be aware of his recent mental issues, because she studied him with attention. -You look good. Are you feeling better?
-Yeah, much better. -he answered. -Actually, I'm slowly getting back to work. That's why I'm here. Before this problem I was doing an investigation for the Hokage, and I'd like to take it from where I left it. Could I enter to the Archive to check a few things?
The woman smiled kindly at him.
-Well, it is a good sign that you're feeling like working. -she said. -That means your head is in a better state. But what does your mother think about you getting back to work so fast?
Shikamaru put on a grumpy expression.
-She doesn't like it much… -he replied. -She says I must rest, but I'm starting to get sick of being idle all the time while everyone else has things to do. I'll get crazy from the boredom. -He made his most pleading face. -Could you please give me permission? I swear I'll take it lightly. I'm not a big fan of work, after all. I just want to distract myself a little.
The woman meditated for a second, not looking convinced, so Shikamaru joined his hands over the counter.
-Pleeeease? -he begged.
After a little while, the woman finally smiled, and Shikamaru knew she had fallen.
-Okay. -she said. -But I will only give you half an hour. I don't want your brain to explode and make a mess in there.
The young Nara gave her his best fake grateful smile.
-Thank you so much. -he answered. -And could you not tell my mom? She is very exaggerated, and it's not really a big deal.
The woman agreed, convinced by his good acting, and after that, Shikamaru was able to walk pass the counter and enter to the Hospital Archive.
He had been there a couple of times already, so he knew where and how to look. He opened a specific gabinet, and ran his fingers over the many folders which contained the medical history of each deceased patient. He didn't knew Neji's mother's last name, but he knew her name: Ayame. Thanking the fact that he was a fast reader, he checked all the records under that name. Fortunately he only found five. He discarded one because the patient was very old, and then compared the other four. Two had died in battle, another because of a lung disease, and the last one, to an unknown virus. That definitely had to be her. Tsukino, Ayame.
Just like his mother had said, the woman had not had any illness or health complication in her entire life. The only records were from about one month before her death. Shikamaru read the report, paying close attention.
She had came to the Hospital the first time saying she felt week. Not finding an explanation to it, the medic sent her home and order her to rest. Just a couple of days after, she had came back with increasing muscular pain on her whole body. This time, the doctor asked for blood and urine tests, which were included in the folder. Shikamaru check them, but all the values were normal. Neji's mother was sent home again without an answer.
She returned to the Hospital in four more occasions during the next three weeks. Every day there was something new to be concerned about: lack of energy, worsening of vision, loss of appetite, and then intense dizziness. The fifth day she came back with an alarming fever. The doctor ordered to intern her, and she never left the Hospital again. After one more week, she was dead.
The medical history said that, based on the symptoms, it was most likely that she had been attacked by an unknown virus that couldn't be detected in the analyzes. But to Shikamaru that was fucking bullshit. Yes, it could have been a virus, but there could also have been many other things. Those symptoms were simply too common. Which doctor in his right mind would settle with such an uncertain explanation? None, of course. For some reason, the investigation had been closed. Apparently there had been no interest in discovering what had really happened to her.
Shikamaru read the documents many times, but found nothing else. There was definitely something suspicious in all that.
He closed the drawer and frowned. His thoughts traveled fast as lightning bolts. He needed to check on the medical history of more people who had married a Branch House Hyuuga, and maybe that could give him more informacion. He had to be very careful, and extremly sly, to find out more about all that issue, without being caught by the Hyuuga clan, or by Neji. He left the Archive, acting relaxed and unworried.
He was just starting to walk in the forest direction when someone's cough behind him made him stop.
-Having a productive morning? -Rajah's voice asked.
Shikamaru turned around and stared at his sensei, who was looking at him with a slightly tough expression.
-Hi… Sensei. -the boy answered, trying to hide his surprise at having been caught.
Rajah studied his eyes.
-You're already investigating again, aren't you? -he said after analyzing him. -Damn, you're tireless. And people think you're lazy.
-I wasn't doing that. -he lied, smiling innocently. -I just took a little walk to distract myself before training.
Rajah stared at him with boredom.
-Yeah, right. Do I look stupid to you? -he replied. -That's a lie and you know it. Do I need to get inside your mind and find out by myself?
Right, he could do that. Shikamaru realized he had no way out of there.
-No. -he finally answered, lowering his head a little. -You're right, that's what I was doing.
His sensei let out a deep breathe.
-You can do it if you want. I never forbade it. -the man explained, and Shikamaru lifted his head with surprise, expecting to be scolded. -You can do whatever you want with your brain. I can just tell you to don't forget to give it enough rest. That's all. How are those visions going? Has any appeared?
The Nara denied with his head.
-Not a single one. -he affirmed.
Rajah put his hands together and rubbed them, smiling.
-Great! -he said. -Now, ready for today's training?
Relieved to have gone unpunished, Shikamaru nodded.
-Back to the forest? -he asked.
But Rajah shook his head.
-No. -he replied. -This time we need another environment.
Without more explanation, he started walking in the direction of the Hokage Mansion. The young Nara followed him calmly.
-Hey, look at that! -a cheerful voice exclaimed when they were reaching their destination. -Isn't that Shikamaru?! YO, SHIKAMARU!
Unmistakably, that was Naruto. The boy turned to the sound, and was surprise to see that the Uzumaki wasn't alone. Actually, all the teams were there, just standing in the middle of the street, as if they had just ran into each other. Shikamaru's sight landed immediately on Neji. The Hyuuga returned the look, smiling with his eyes.
After recognizing him, all his friends started approaching.
-How's your training going? -Choji asked with a big grin, happy to see him.
The Nara smiled back softly. He opened his mouth to reply, but Rajah spoke first.
-It's going great. -he said, and then added, looking at Shikamaru. -Are you not introducing me to your friends?
The boy rolled his eyes.
-You already know them. -he answered. -You've seen them many times in my head.
-That's right. -the man agreed. -But they don't know me. -He opened his arms as if he was a master of ceremonies. -Greetings, kids! I am Rajah, the man in charge of fixing your friend's mind.
-How is he going with that? -Ino asked. -Because he's very lazy and he hates training, and also he's kind of bad at it.
The man nodded, showing that she was right.
-That's true. -he accepted. -But this is no regular training. This is a mental training. And he's doing it pretty well so far.
-You know, now that I see the dude, I totally believe his sensei gave him those cigarettes... -Shikamaru heard Kiba whispering to Shino.
Rajah gave all of then a big smile.
-It would be nice to stay and chat, but we have to get to work. -he said to the group of friends.
-Can we go? -Naruto asked. -I wanna know how those special training goes.
-Sure. -the man answered. -You can cheer him up.
Shikamaru exhaled with annoyance, but it didn't discouraged his friends. All the kids followed Rajah to the Hokage Mansion.
Inside, they turned around a few times in the many corridors.
-We'll borrow one of this classrooms. -the man commented, while searching for the right room.
Finally, he spotted one and entered. Inside there were many chairs and tables, a modest desk for the professor, and a big blackboard.
-Sit. -Rajah ordered to Shikamaru, as he pointed to a chair and a desk.
The boy did, while his friends settled into the seats behind him. His sensei stood up in front of them.
-Now… -he said, and began to look for something in the folds of his tunic. -Give me a minute. Where is it?...Ah, here. -he took a bunch of paper sheets folded in two parts, and gave them to Shikamaru.
The boy arched an eyebrow, but took them.
-What is this? -he said, as he unfolded the papers.
-Look at it. -Rajah answered.
A second after, the Nara boy did, and his eyes went wide with astonishment. He sensed all his friends inclining to watch. The papers were full with numbers. There were lines and lines of them, placed between other symbols in a very complicated equation. It occupied almost seven whole pages, and it looked very intricate. That was high level math.
-Wow, what the hell are all those numbers, man? -Naruto questioned.
Shikamaru lowered the paper and stared at his sensei.
-Where did you get this from? -he asked. Rajah didn't look like a person who would know that stuff.
-From a book, of course. -he answered relaxedly.
-This is advanced algebra. -the Nara continued.
Rajah nodded calmly.
-Glad you recognize it. -he said. -Can you solve it?
Shikamaru thought for a few seconds, hesitating.
-I think… -he finally responded.
Kiba snorted behind him.
-Please. I know you're a big nerd, but that looks incomprehensible. -he commented.
-Well, if you think you can solve it, do it. -Rajah kept going, undisturbed. -But first read it. All.
Shikamaru frowned slightly, but did what his sensei ordered. He read the whole equation once, paying close attention to every symbol. When he finished, he lowered the papers again and stared at the man once more.
Rajah smiled, and made a step to a side, clearing the way to the blackboard. Then, he made a gesture with his arm towards it.
-Go ahead. -he said.
Not seeing the point of all that, Shikamaru stood up and started walking with the papers in his hand.
-Wait. -Rajah stopped him, as he took the pages from the boys hand. -You don't need this. -With a relaxed attitude, he tore the papers in many pieces and let them fall to the floor. -Now you can go.
Shikamaru simply stared at him with an astonished expression. He had to remember all of that? Damn cruel old man. Remembering numbers was considerable harder than remembering words, because there wasn't a thread to follow. That training was tougher than the previous one.
Rajah didn't stir. He kept looking at him with a calmed smile.
-What? -Ino asked from her seat. -That's impossible. He can remember all those pages. It's too long.
-Yes. -Tenten agreed. -Besides, he only read it once. There's no way he can do that.
Shikamaru doubted. It was indeed a very hard thing to do. But just like the last time, he felt he could do it. He just had to use all his concentration. Even though, he still felt a little insecure. There were really a lot of different numbers and symbols in that equation.
Frowning, he took a second to think. He felt suddenly lost. Not realizing it, he lifted his stare to Neji, and their eyes met. The older boy gave him a soft smile, and nodded slowly. He was telling him to go for it. Shikamaru could almost hear the words "you can do it". Recovering some security, he nodded back to the Hyuuga with decision and then turned to walk to the blackboard. Slowly, he took a chalk, and closed his eyes to start remembering.
After a few minutes, when he was sure of having the whole equation present in his head, he opened his eyes again and put the chalk on the blackboard. With a deep exhalation, he began writing.
During the next hour, he calculated. The equation had many parts that could be separated, so he solved them one by one, remembering each result. Once he finished one, he cleaned the blackboard with his forearm, and started with the next one. After a very long time, he finally managed to reduce the equation to six single lines that he wrote calmly. The other ninjas stared at him in silence.
Shikamaru could almost hear his brain working at full speed. He was just so close from the result. When he finally got it, he hesitated for a seconds before writing it down. Just in case, he checked the whole calculation in his head once more. That took him five extra minutes, but he prefered to be sure. After having done that, he wrote the final cipher:
a long number with sixteen decimals.
Shikamaru put the chalk down and let his arms fall to his sides, lowering his head and closing his eyes. His brain felt heavy and light at the same time. It was such a weird sensation. He was sleepy, but so relaxed. His mind seemed to thank the exercice. Remembering stuff and analyzing them at the same time wasn't something he would imagine as pleasant. The Nara boy took a hand to his head, trying to caress his own brain.
-Alright, let's see if the result is right. -he heard Rajah's voice taking him back to reality. Shikamaru turned around and looked at his sensei, who stared at his own palm to check something he had annotated there. He compared it where the number in the blackboard. -Yes! -he finally exclaimed with enthusiasm. -Well done, kid! You nailed it!
Behind the man, all the others made sounds of amazement. All except Neji, who already knew the things his brain was capable of. The older boy stared at him, and smiled proudly. Shikamaru returned a tired and thankful grin. The Hyuugas tiny gesture from before had been decisive for him to regain courage, and the sensation of confidence it gave him would be stored in his memory forever.
-Man, you really are a brainiac! -Naruto exclaimed.
-Yeah, like I've said, he's a real genius! -Rajah agreed. -Now, why don't we all go for a bite? I'm starving.
-Yes! -Choji cheered with a big smile. -This is good training!
They all left the room and then the Hokage Mansion. Shikamaru was thanking the calmed walk, enjoying a well earned break for his mind. The large group stopped when reaching the first restaurant and sat in a very large table. Rajah was at the head, and Shikamaru placed himself in a corner next to him.
-Let's order something! -the man said, as he started waving at the waitress.
The woman came and took everybody's order. Shikamaru relaxed in his chair, leaning his head back and letting his back sink in the backrest. He closed his eyes and took a deep breathe, that he let out slowly. He could definitely sleep. Even right there, in that exact position. And just thinking about sleeping made him more drowsy.
-Well, as we wait, let's continue with the training. -Rajah said at his side.
Shikamaru opened his eyes and blinked a couple of times. Then he stared at his sensei.
-What? -he asked.
Rajah gave him a huge smile.
-What? You thought that was all for today? -he retorted. -I'm not letting you laze around, kiddo. Let's go.
The Nara straightened a little in his chair, still confused.
-But, here? -he questioned, looking around.
-Sure, this place is perfect. -the man assured with calm. -For the next exercice we're gonna use a bit of music.
Shikamaru arched an eyebrow at this, not expecting it.
-I'm sorry to disappoint you, but I'm no good with music. -he said. -No Nara is.
Rajah let out a soft giggle.
-Yeah, that's what your father has told you. -he answered. -But I must tell you that there's not something like a congenital predisposition to suck at music.
-Mmmm… -Shikamaru whispered. -I think you're wrong.
The man gave him a rogue smile.
-Do you? -he questioned. -Well, you like codes, don't you?
That took him by surprise, but he didn't changed his skeptical attitude.
-I do. -he answered flatly.
-You're good with them. -Rajah continued. -You've even learnt to read a few foreign languages with just dictionaries and grammar books. You like decoding. And you love sequences too. Running through them makes your brain happy.
Shikamaru remained silent for a second with a grumpy face. It was hard to discuss with someone who knew so much about him. All the others were curiously hearing their conversation.
-Yeah... So? -he finally said.
Rajah smiled again.
-Music is a code. -he explained. -You just have to learn how to read it. And that will put your brain to work considerably. We need to keep exercising your mental process.
Shikamaru shook his head.
-How does music exercices my mental process? -he asked.
-What do you think it means to play a song while reading the music sheet? -Rajah took his index finger to his temple. -A big complicated mental process, of recovering information, translate it and take it to action, at a very fast rhythm.
The Nara boy frowned a bit, thinking about it.
-And that's not all. -the man kept going. -It will also help you to train your memory, in the same way we have been doing it.
All of that sounded very weird. He knew he was absolutely incapable of making music. It didn't even made sense to try. But Rajah seemed sure.
-If you don't believe me, let's make an experiment. -the man said, as he turned to the table in front of him. -Can you do this?
He lifted his index finger once more, but this time he placed it over the table. With an unworried expression, he hit the wooden surface once, provoking a short and dry sound.
Shikamaru arched an eyebrow at him. Of course he could do that. It was a super simple task. And his sensei knew that. What was the point on doing it? He let out a lazy breathe and lowered his shoulders with a slightly irked expression. Approaching to the table too, he put his finger over the wood with a complete lack of enthusiasm and hit the surface once, just as Rajah had done it. The man smiled to him and nodded.
-Very good. -he said. -How about this?
This time he hit the table twice. Shikamaru stared at him with boredom, not hiding that he thought all of that was stupid. He rolled his eyes, but he imitated his sensei again, tapping twice on the table. The man nodded once more.
-You're going great! -he exclaimed, despite of his student attitude. -Now do this.
Then, he hit the table again: one hit, a pause. Two hits, a pause. One hit.
Shikamaru stared at the man's hand , taking note of the sequence. He turned his head to look at Rajah with suspicion. But the man only lifted his eyebrows, encouraging him. After a few seconds, the boy finally put his finger in the table again, and repeated the succession of hits.
His sensei gave him a huge smile.
-Fun, right? -he asked. -Now try this…
He held his finger in the air over the wood for a little while, and then made a way more large sequence, with many pauses but also a lot strange accelerations. The sequences lasted about fifteen seconds.
Shikamaru opened his eyes wide and stood still. That was the trick. Doing something very complicated and hard to remember, to make him repeat it without missing a beat. He should have realized it sooner.
-C'mon. -Kiba said from his seat. -There's no way he can do that. It's impossible to remember all those beats.
Shikamaru stared at his sensei, frowning. Yes, it looked impossible, but that was the challenge. Rajah only smiled calmly.
-Well? -he asked.
The Nara turned his eyes to the table again, and lifted his finger over it. After checking the sequence in his head, he repeated it.
All his friends opened their mouths in disbelief. All except for Neji, who simply smiled softly.
-Well done! -Rajah exclaimed. -Now lets make it a little more complicated.
During the next two hours, they stood at the restaurant repeating different sequences. Each one was larger and harder than the previous one, but Shikamaru was able to nail all of them. His friends stared at him, not believing it yet.
-I'm starting to realize you're way much smarter than we thought. -Sakura commented after Rajah indicated that they were done for the day.
-He's pretty amazing, right? -the man asked. Then, he took a book from under his robe and gave it to Shikamaru. -Now, I want you to take this and read it.
The boy stared at the book's cover. "Introduction to musical notation". He opened it and check the content. It was full of unknown symbols and complex explanations.
-This looks alien to me. -Shikamaru said as he looked at the intelligible pages.
-I know. -Rajah answered. -It doesn't matter if you don't get it at first. I will explain it to you tomorrow. But it'll be easier if you already have a small idea. Your homework for today is to study this, and try to remember the notations.
After that instruction, they paid the bill and left the restaurant. Rajah left them, and all the teams started leaving. Neji walked away with Tenten and Lee to go meet with their sensei, and Shikamaru started heading to the Nara forest. Once there, he entered the cabin, lit a cigarette and sat in the floor with his back against the wall. He put Rajah's book over his legs and started reading.
He couldn't understand anything of what was written there, and that was a new sensation for him, because usually he had no trouble with learning new things. He spent hours studying it, but even though he could remember everything perfectly, he still didn't found any sense in it. But his brain liked the exercice. He felt it tingling with enthusiasm. Even if all that was incomprehensible, he was enjoying the work. Night came, thought he didn't realized it.
He only stopped when someone knocked on the cabin's door. He lifted his head, a bit surprised, and answered:
-Come in.
The door opened slowly, and Neji appeared behind it. He entered the cabin and made a few steps towards Shikamaru.
-Hi. -he said.
-Hey. -the Nara responded.
-How are you going with that book? -the Hyuuga asked.
Shikamaru let out a tired breathe and leaned his head against the wall.
-Not very well… -he answered. -It's the hardest thing I've ever had to learn.
Neji smiled softly.
-Good. -he commented as he approached to sit next to the younger boy. -Finally a challenge for your brain.
Yeah… -Shikamaru replied, with a barely there smile. -I bet you're enjoying it.
The Hyuuga shrugged slightly.
-Just a little. -he answered. -Can I see?
Shikamaru showed him the book, page by page.
-There are a lot of things to bear in mind. -he explained. -Rhythmic figures, pauses, depiction of heights, alterations, tonalities… I don't get a word of all of this.
Neji gave him a sorry look.
-I wish I could help you. -he said. -But I don't know anything about music either.
Shikamaru let out another breathe and closed the book.
-It doesn't matter. -he assured. -Rajah will explain everything to me tomorrow. I think I've earned a rest. What are you doing here, by the way? I thought Tenten wasn't going to let you go.
-She had to help her mother at her house. -the Hyuuga answered. -So I came to make sure you sleep.
Shikamaru lifted an eyebrow and made a side smile.
-Really? -he asked. -How considered.
-Well… -Neji started. -Honestly, I don't trust that you will without someone making you.
The Nara let out a soft laugh.
-It's fine. -he said. -I wouldn't trust me either.
They talked for a while, just leaning calmly against the wall, one next to the other.
-You left everyone very surprised today. -Neji told him. -First with the math exercice, and then with those sequences.
-Mmhhh… -Shikamaru grumbled. -I don't know why Rajah invited them over. Having so many people watching me makes it harder to concentrate.
-But you did everything very good, after all. -the Hyuuga insisted. -From the first exercice.
In that moment, Shikamaru remembered how Neji had help him in the first part of the training with just one simple look.
-I guess I should thank you for that. -he said.
The older boy frowned softly, confused.
-Thank me? -he asked. -Why?
Shikamaru hesitated for brief seconds.
-Well… -he started. -Remember when I was about to do solve that huge equation in the board? For a second I thought I wasn't going to be able to do it. It doesn't happen to me much, but I really thought I couldn't do it. I felt kind of insecure… But then I looked at you and, I don't know… Somehow, you made me feel like I could make it.
Neji stared at him with a very tender expression.
-Really? -he questioned softly.
During the last days, Shikamaru had done nothing but show how much he liked the Hyuuga, with all those stupidized looks and pathetic phrases that made him feel like a silly girl. What was one more affirmation?
-Yeah… -he finally confirmed. -If you haven't been there, I probably wouldn't have dared to try.
Neji smiled wide at him.
-I am glad I could help you. -he said. -And I am very proud of how hard you are working. You are improving very fast.
Shikamaru felt a warm sensation spreading across his body. Neji was proud of him, and that made him feel really good with himself. Even more than the pride his parents or his sensei could feel of him. He stared at the Hyuuga directly in the eyes, and said with a lazy with firm smile:
-Thanks.
They looked at each other in the partial darkness for a little while, until Neji let out a soft giggle and approached to snuggle against him. He put his head on Shikamaru's shoulder, and the Nara surrounded his slender body with his arm. They stood there in silence, just feeling the pleasant proximity.
Shikamaru rested his cheek against the Hyuuga's forehead, and felt the cold steel of his Hitai-ate. In a second, that sensation triggered a sequence of dark thoughts. He remembered that Neji was still in the village for him, to help him and to check on him. He really liked that, but because he did, he was being kind of reckless. He was risking the Hyuuga's life, having him so close to his clan, only to be able to enjoy his company. Shikamaru knew that the best for the boy was to get back to the border as soon as possible. There he would be safer. In Konoha, the Main House could use their power to hurt him in many ways at just any moment.
Then, he remembered what he had learnt about the Hyuuga's mother that morning. He needed to keep investigating about that, because he had the latent idea that her death hadn't been an accident. But he couldn't do that with Neji around. He didn't even wanted to imagine what the boy would do if he ever found out about what he was doing. He would probably beat the hell out of him, and then never talk to him again. Just thinking about it was too painful. Before telling Neji anything, he needed to solve the whole mystery. Maybe in that case, the boy wouldn't completely hate him.
After a few minutes of silence, he finally spoke:
-I don't want to ruin this moment… -Shikamaru said softly. -But I really think you should get back to the border.
Neji didn't answered right away. He rubbed his temple on the younger boy's shoulder and whispered, with a very calmed voice.
-I am keeping myself prudently away from my clan. -he finally replied. -They seem to have forgotten about me for now.
-I doubt that would last too much. -Shikamaru insisted. -With people like them, you can never lower your guard.
Slowly, Neji moved away from the Nara's shoulder and straightened to look at him.
-Do you want me to leave? -he asked, with a slightly sad expression.
That dismal face broke Shikamaru's heart.
-No. -he answered, and then lifted his hand to caress the dark wicks of hair that framed Neji's face. -Of course not… But I don't want anything to happen to you.
The Hyuuga leaned against the touch and closed his eyes for an instant. When he opened them again, Shikamaru felt them reaching up to his soul.
-So you really are afraid? -Neji asked in a soft murmur.
The Nara held his stare, and slid his thumb across the older boy's cheek.
-You know I am… -he whispered, not caring to admit it anymore.
Neji's eyes filled with emotion. He covered Shikamaru's hand with his, and pressed it gently against his face.
-Nobody has ever cared so much about me before… -he said in an almost inaudible voice.
-I'm sorry... -the Nara replied with a sad tone. -I just can't help it…
Neji smiled softly at his words, and moved his hand to Shikamaru's temple to tenderly caress the skin next to his eye.
-You don't have to apologize. -he answered.
Very slowly, the Hyuuga crossed the little space between them and kissed the younger boy on the lips. Shikamaru closed his eyes, feeling his heart beating hard against his chest with that simple contact. He didn't realized he was frowning. But he had a reason for that: his feeling towards Neji made him blissful, at the same time they made him suffer. And despite of how strange it could sound, he simply couldn't get enough of that sensation. He grabbed the Hyuuga's face stronger and deepened the kiss, making their tongues meet.
The motion was slow but intense. Shikamaru felt Neji's breathe inside his mouth and took it all in. He wanted that moment to last forever, but he knew that couldn't happen. The boy had to leave, or he would always be in danger. Neji must have perceived it in the kiss, because after a minute he slowly drove his head back and studied the Nara's face with concern.
-Are you okay? -the older boy asked, as he searched in Shikamaru's eyes. -You look troubled.
The younger ninja nodded slowly.
-Yeah, I'm sorry… -he answered. -I'm just struggling with my thoughts.
Neji inclined his head a little.
-What thoughts? -he questioned.
Shikamaru took a few seconds, but finally replied:
-I want you to stay here with me, but I also think it's not good for you.
He didn't know what to expect from that confession, but at hearing it, Neji simply gave him a tender smile.
-Don't think so much. -he whispered, and then joined their lips again.
Shikamaru let himself get lost in the Hyuuga's scent. Their tongues danced together with increasing passion. The temperature between them went higher, and became so hot that quickly they felt their clothes needed to be removed. Wild hands traveled along both hungry bodies, and layer by layer, they got rid of them. Their naked skins touched, sending vibrations in all directions and making the air stir.
All the movements felt incredibly natural. Neji went forward to sit on Shikamaru's lap, as he had already done many times in the past. The Nara put both hands on the older boy's face and grabbed him strongly, to stroke their tongues fiercely. Without even planning it, the tip of his hot throbbing member touched the soft ring of Neji's entrance, making the Hyuuga broke the kiss to let out a surprised but excited moan.
The sound made Shikamaru's arousal to increase. He lowered one hand to Neji's nape, and the other one to his hip. He started moving the small body over him, making his shaft rub the sensitive area. His flesh was so wet that the motion was amazingly fluid. The Hyuuga moaned again, as Shikamaru started kissing his neck and jaw with desire.
This time, Neji didn't warn him to stop, and the Nara's body shivered. He wanted so much to be inside the Hyuuga that his whole self complained at the tempation. But he had promised himself to take things slowly. He knew Neji still felt a little uncomfortable with the idea, and he didn't want to press him. So he settled with that. Inch by inch, he slid his hand from the Hyuuga's hip to his hard erection, and started stroking it gently, while he kept caressing his entrance with his own wet member.
-Aah… -Neji groaned, and dug his nails on Shikamaru's shoulders.
The Nara stop kissing the delicious skin and drove his head back to admire the beautiful face: Neji had his eyes closed, and his cheeks were red with arousal. His dark hair fell messy down his back. He was so stunningly attractive that Shikamaru thought he could never stop staring at him. But in that moment, something sparkled in the Hyuuga's forehead, driving his attention. It was his Hitai-ate. That damn thing Neji never took off, because what was under it embarrassed him and made him feel too exposed. He had only accepted to remove it once, when they had showered together. Not knowing why, Shikamaru felt the need to see what was hidden under it again. That bloody mark that so many times had took his dreams away.
Trying to make it seem accidental, he moved his hand from Neji's nape to his face, and then up to his forehead. Acting possessed with arousal, he slid back the Hitai-ate and the black ribbon that was under it, making them fell to the floor. In that instant, the green mark of the Cursed Seal shone under the moonlight. The Nara narrowed his eyes on it, wanting so much to make it disappear.
Neji was so immersed in the sensation of his sensitive entrance being touched by Shikamaru's shaft, that he didn't realized his Hitai-ate had fell off until he heard the sound of the steel hitting the ground. In that instant, he opened his eyes and looked down, finding the Nara's turbulent stare nailed on his forehead.
Shikamaru didn't noticed he was now clenching his teeth and frowning with evident anger. He had stopped moving, completely forgetting about the hot situation in which he was. He didn't lowered his eyes even when Neji put both of his hands around his face.
-Shikamaru… -the Hyuuga called.
But the younger boy didn't hear him.
-Shikamaru. -Neji repeated, a bit louder this time. -Look at me.
Finally, Shikamaru did. He lowered his eyes and stared at the Hyuuga's big pink ones. Neji was looking at him with a slight expression of sorrow. Slowly, the older boy denied with his head with sadness.
-Please, forget about it… -he begged. -And just be here with me.
Shikamaru's stare finally softened. He swallowed, took a hand to Neji's cheek, and nodded.
-Yes, sorry… -he answered, and added with a faint reassuring smile. -I'm here.
The Hyuuga smiled tenderly. He leaned forward and kiss him again. Very quickly, their bodys turned into fire again, and the hot motion between them restarted. After intense and arousing minutes, they both reached the orgasm.
Sweaty and exhausted, they were just too tired to get up and lie down over the blankets. So they simply stood there. Neji snuggled against Shikamaru's chest, while he surrounded the dedicated body with his arms. In the quiet night, the only sound was the soft murmur of the Nara's fingers caressing the pale skin at the older boy's back.
Neji fall asleep pretty fast, but for Shikamaru it wasn't that easy. He rested his head against the wall, as he felt the Hyuuga's breathing against his neck. He look down and had one last glance of the Cursed Seal shining under the moonlight, before closing his eyes with a knot in his throat.
Hi everybody!
Once again, I'm so sorry for the wait. I am currently preparing the last final exams of my career, and it is taking me quite a long time. The bad news is that after that I'll start with my Thesis, so I'll probably have the same problem. That is why this chapter is, once again, considerably shorter than the previous ones. But I prefer to post shorter chapters than to take too much time to update.
In the next chapter the story will advance considerably. I will try to upload it as soon as possible.
Thank you all for reading and for your lovely comments!