Muhahaha! I told you all angst would be back! And here it is! I'm very touched at everyones wonderful reviews! It makes me much more confident to write things when I know people are enjoying it. :)

Though it has a happy ending. . . .:complains cause she can't write sad things:

Oi, I know Naru-chan's not the Kyuubi, he's the 'container', but I was trying to look at it from Shikamaru's POV. I mean, really, if you were just told the person you loved was housing a demon inside his body wouldn't you freak?

Final part for Tenshi-Tara and tir-synni (she tempts the plot-bunnies!)

Please enjoy!

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ShikaNaru Drabble #20

Easy

"Why didn't you tell me?" Shikamaru asked into the silent room, arms crossed stubbornly over his ANBU uniform, a scowl set firmly on his features. His right foot tapped the ground silently in annoyance.

His only response was the 'beep' of the machine.

Naruto lay in the bed, tubes and IVs running here and there, drawing blood from one needle while injecting medicine with another one. His features, unnaturally drained, looked strained in the evening light, the sun casting shadows here and there.

Close to an hour had past before subtle shifting on the bed had Shikamaru's attention.

"Why does it matter?" Naruto whispered quietly, his voice broken in the stillness of the room as he sat up, blanket falling in soft waves around his lap. The slight shift in his shoulders told Shikamaru everything Naruto was feeling right now. It was always easy to read the blond.

The soft, silent tears of a person who was supposed to be happy, hyper, always fun and bouncy, tore at Shikamaru's stomach. The slightly noticable heave of tan shoulders, weak with fatigue and heavy with burden; a burden that had been tossed and flaunted in front of his face time and time again.

This wasn't his Naruto. Couldn't be. Where were the smiles? The laughter? The loud, annoying "datte-bayo!" that accompanied every exclimation the blond made. Where was the beautiful man he had fallen in love with. . . .?

The quiet sob that slipped past tightly closed lips made Shikamaru flinch.

What was he doing? Standing before the person he loved most in the world, asking painful questions anddrawing outhurt-filled, confused answers, Shikamaru felt like an idiot. Where was Naruto? Right there in front of him, hurting both emotionally and physically, sobs rocking his smaller frame, hot tears burning wet trails down scarred cheeks.

Shikamaru smiled suddenly. His body moved on its own accord, walking foward to embrace Naruto from behind, pale, muscular arms holding the blond boy tight, offering up comfort.

The words rolled off of his tongue so easily.

"It doesn't."

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See? It all worked out in the end! Hurray! Now I can get back to the fun stuff!

I think a bit of lovin' is due soon. . . .

Anjo- Lol! Thanks a lot! I had so much trouble writing that, and I do hate to fill up the Naruto fandom with even more angst. . . .LMAO. I'm not sure when Shika and Naru set the date! I'll ask next time I see them!

I'm just being used for my fanfics. How cruel ;)

Guren- Me kill Naruto? Never! Well. . . .we'll just have to see. No more angst? Lol. Too bad, there'll be more. :P But only if you keep reviewing :selfish:

tir-synni- Why must everyone use food as bait:chases it: Ah, okay, okay, I'll conintue but only if you give me that carrot!

Tenshi-Tara- XD Naruto-torture is okay for me sometimes but I'm a very hyper/happy-orientated person, so I'd much rather laugh than cry. Though I do have those moments. . . .Hm, Naruto should call Shikamaru names. Well, besides 'lazyass'.

mou- I love you, because your review was so passionate about the wording and I like that a lot. The wording was blunt but I really like it that way. Thanks for your feelings on it:D

Generally Maz- Yes, foxes do rawk! . . . .If you ever have to ask the question 'Which blood stains?' then you have a problem. . . .LOL! SakuKunai. . . .? Is that what I think it is. . . .? o.O

MysteryLady-Tx- Awww, thanks a bunch! You're so sweet!

Princess Kitana- I'm not sure what limit I'm going to have on this but I'm thinking around. . . .eh, not sure yet, but ShikaNaru will continue! Now with angst!

Akikaze- Gah, more food. . . .:glutton: Okay, okay, I'll keep updating. Lol. So persistant! But I like LeeSaku, too. That's really the only Sakura pairing I like besides InoSaku. :)

spikemyangel- A new reviewer! Hello! Thanks for reviewing! I wish I could actually write out a huge, deep plot about ShikaNaru but I can't. Lol. Drabbles are the best I can so with ADD kicking in all the time!

deathrosekitty- . . . .:creeped out: Oh, okay then. Bye! . . . .:creepy wave:

Caciquegoddess- Another new person! Yo! I'll keep updating till I can't do it anymore, just cause everyone is so cool! Thank you!

Now bring on the smut!

Naruto- OI!

>D Muahaha. . . .