Disclaimer: I Don't Own Naruto.
Author's Note: Is a slight AU, not an expert in Naruto
or Japanese customs please forgive any stupid mistakes. Beta is welcome. Is written in second person…obviously. I know it doesn't
suit many people but it's just my preference in writing.
Summary: "…- things were changing Shikamaru
was going to break off and leave you behind… and it made you feel uneasy
inside. He was your anchor and without him you'd surely float away."
Reviews: Always welcome!
POV: Chouji
------------------------------
Nara Shikamaru – he was your
first real friend…still is, at least you like to think so.
*
"I wish I was brave like Naruto or a great fighter
like Lee or even cool like Sasuke" you say sitting
against a tree trunk, empty wrappers in your lap. You were spending a rare
afternoon with Shikamaru as he lay, not far from you,
watching the clouds. "But most of all," you brush the crumbs off your knee, "I
wish I was smart like you"
"Don't compare yourself to other people, Chouji" your
companion says, arms crossed to support his head. "You are who you are and
despite what you think now, that's the greatest compliment I or anyone else can
ever give you."
If it was any other person you would have denied it but it was Shikamaru and he has never led you astray. So for a brief
moment you welcome the encouraging words.
*
You were so happy when he became chuunin it was
almost like you had passed too. 'That
would show all the doubters' you remember thinking, all those who passed Shikamaru off as an underachiever. But as you clapped and
cheered, louder then anyone else, when Shikamaru
accepted the vest you couldn't help but notice the apprehension behind his
eyes.
You and only you saw behind the mask he
slips on whenever an unfamiliar situation presented itself, when he'd lay back
and observe behind distant, uninterested eyes but it was hard to do so now when
he was the one under scrutiny.
----------------------------------
"I can't wait to be a chuunin!" You exclaimed, during
your early days as a genin.
"I can" Shikamaru replied, strolling beside you.
"I'd think it be great" you insisted. "We'd get to go on these exciting
missions instead of the old boring ones we do now."
"I like the boring ones…"
"And then we could be heroes and then the people would love us and they would never
call you lazy again! And they'd stop teasing me for being fat!" You continued,
completely losing yourself in the moment.
"I don't care what people think", he paused, "and you shouldn't either."
"But you could be a hero" you persisted; imagining all the great things Shikamaru could and would
do.
"and then what?"
"What do you mean?" you said confused.
"What happens after I become a hero?"
"Well, you'll be remembered and your achievements will become great legends
parents tell their children as bedtime stories."
"You don't know that."
"Neither do you" you shot back, not knowing what else to say.
Then he sighed and looked up at the sky, like it held all the answers, "I'd
rather be an unknown soldier then a forgotten hero"
"Why are you being so cynical Shikamaru?"
He sighed again before suddenly planting himself in the middle of the pathway,
his gaze never leaving the skies. You looked over your shoulder to see if
anybody was coming and when you didn't see anyone you sat down beside him.
"Do you remember Chouji, when things use to be…
simpler?"
"No" you admitted, not really sure what point he was trying to make.
"I use to dream of flying a lot, when I was younger. You know, be up there with
the clouds, I guess a lot of kids do." You didn't but you decided not to say
so. "Then you grow up and all sorts of hardship and expectation get thrown onto
your shoulders and I guess you just can't dream about flying anymore...." *
And from that point forward you had decided that Shikamaru
was and still is the smartest person you had ever met. You didn't need a stupid
IQ test to prove that.
-----------------------------------
"Is being chuunin all you thought it'd be?" you ask
him, regrettably pulling his head back down from the clouds.
"Yeah" he says, sitting up to face you. "That's why I hate it."
"Do you think I'll ever be chuunin?"
"You deserve it more then me – you'd appreciate it"
Your long overdue, heart felt conversation is sadly cut short when a peculiar
looking bird lands on Shikamaru's left shoulder.
"Sorry" he says, looking disappointed.
You shrug like it's no big deal, "duty calls" and you offer a small smile.
"Yeah," but he doesn't smile back.
He rises to his feet and you notice the disillusionment in his stance. And you
wonder what sorts of hardships have been thrown onto his shoulders.
"I hope you dream of flying again!" you call out suddenly to him.
He stops immediately, turning back to face you and for a moment just stares,
amazed. "Me too," he finally says and smiles.
*
Left alone with your thoughts, you look up at the blue sky, decorated with
fluffy white clouds when you notice a flock of birds flying in the opposite direction
from Shikamaru's path. You smile up at them as you
like to think that's some sort of metaphor.
------------------------------
A/N: * - this is based and is very
similar to one of my favourite Johnny Depp quotes.
Because he is a God and I worship the ground he walks on.