Let Me Be Your Shadow

A/N: Naruto Universe Property of Kishimoto

A/N2: It's been a really long time since the last chapter, and the manga moved into a different direction since then. I reorganized the plotline and mark this story as AU, since it deviates from Kishimoto-san's plans

Chapter Four

Shikamaru turned out to be pretty good company.

I expected awkwardness between us, but conversation flowed easily between bites of pork buns and sips of sake. When he's not complaining about the nuisances about being a jounin captain, he made drily humorous comments at my tales about the Wind Country. Unlike most of the other Leaves, he had no hostile feelings towards me, only a slightly distracted friendliness. I felt like I wasn't all that interesting, but wasn't boring either. I felt a small desperation to engage him and interest him, but my high breeding from an almost aristocratic family kept me from embarrassing myself. We traded stories about missions and jutsus, and almost snidely complimented each other's good strategizing.

He had a low tolerance, and a reddish hue spread across his face as we moved onto a second bottle sake. I was famous for my drinking skills, and felt a smug smile lift the corners of my lips as I watched Shikamaru get drunk.

"It's so hot in here," he murmured, wiping a hand across his forehead. With some difficulties, he began to unbutton his flak jacket, fumbling with unresponsive fingers.

It was getting late. I felt around in my pocket for a few bills, and paid for the meal. Shikamaru didn't protest as I hoisted him up and helped him out of the crowded restaurant. Some of the ninjas sitting near the door stopped eating as we walked by and looked incredulously at us. A plump guy with swirls on his face had a piece of meat hanging out of his mouth, a look of complete shock on his face. Shikamaru had enough energy to open his eyes a bit and wave at him with a goofy look on his face. I gave the group a last look and dragged the boy out into the darkening streets with me. Above us a full moon poured its silken light over us, the night air drifted by like soft caresses. Shikamaru hiccupped against my neck, and I frowned at his flushed face. A few gulps of sake should not have reduced him to such a state.

"Hey, look alive will you?" I slapped him lightly with the back of my hand, and started a little when my cool fingertips came into contact with the hot skin of his face.

Was it the alcohol that was making him burn up like that? It didn't take long for me to find my apartment building a few streets down. Taking a deep breath, I wrapped an arm around his waist tightly and opened my fan with a whoosh, sailing up to my balcony with one wave of the weapon. His head lolled back onto my shoulder, eyes shut tightly as his lips fell open. The steady thud of my heart sounded in my ears as I laid him down on my cot and grew even louder as I made my way through the dark apartment to fetch a wet towel to wipe his face. His arms stretched across the white bed sheets, a slender legs dangled over the side.

I wiped his sweaty face, and pulled his flak jacket off with a quick jerk. It was soaked with sweat, and came off easily. For a moment, I stared at his torso. Like any shinobi, he had a lean musculature, with narrow waist flaring out at the smooth plains of his chest. The mesh shirt stuck to his skin, and after a moment of hesitation I pulled it over his head too. The muscles on his stomach twitched when I passed the towel over them. He frowned, and turned his head this way and that, as if in some disturbing dream. I wet the towel again and pat his face, feeling worried.

"Hopefully, you'll feel better in the morning." I told his unresponsive body flatly before pulling a spare tatami from the closet and setting it up on my spacious balcony. The stares above winked down at me, and I closed my eyes. In my mind I thought about dinner with Shikamaru and how he smiled at me when I said something witty. I was sure that it wasn't his real smile, it was a polite, half-bored look. His real smiles are only reserved for his friends, and I clenched my hands together, hoping that someday I'll be more than just a colleague to him.

Well, at least he knows me now, I comforted myself before drifting off.

I wasn't sure how many hours passed before I was startled away by the sound of swishing garments near my ear. My eyes were about to snap open, but I opened them in tiny slits instead, staring into the apartment out of the corner of my eyes. I saw a pale ankle flash once in the moonlight before melting into the shadows. I quietly slipped my hand out from under my covers into the kunai pouch under my pillow, and grabbed one of the sharp weapons firmly. It clinked metallically against the others, and the ruffling sound ceased. I sprang up and jumped into the room, throwing it straight at a black haired figure crouched next to Shikamaru's sleeping form. She straightened and caught the kunai with ease in one hand, and tossed it back at me at lightning speed. I raised my hand to catch it, but it burned my hand like hot iron, and I let it drop on the floor with a clang.

"I heated it up with chakra." The masked figure was apparently a woman, and her voice was slightly husky with years of shouting orders and drinking sake. I recognized it instantly.

"Kurenai!" I said, feeling extremely shocked. "What the fuck are you doing here?"

She pulled the mask down under her chin, and her face in the moonlight was incredibly grim, with barely held back anger straining beneath her face. I took a step back, feeling anger and confusion twist my face into a grimace.

She snarled. "I was a fool to call you friend, I should've known that your Kazekage sent you here to poison our men!"

My throat went completely dry.

Before I could respond, a freezing jutsu slammed into my back, making me fall to my knees. Two ANBUs leaped through the window and tied me up with chakra infused rope. I turned around just in time to see a fist slam into my face. As my head rammed against the wall, I desperately wanted to go check on Shikamaru. But the black spots danced in front of my eyes as I crouched on the ground dizzily. I heard Kurenai shout orders for medical nins to be fetched and the sound of footsteps all around me. In a distance, the door burst open, and a woman gave a shrill cry.

I passed out cold.

Tbc!

I'm picking up this story again, after so many months of neglect. I'm still leaving the Kiba/Hinata story alone for now, as I have no new inspirations for them. Now that I've reworked the plot, it's more of a mystery/drama/romance than a plain romance as it was originally planned. Watch out for layers of deception, I think my clues are not too hard to pick up.