100
by: Miiyabi
Author's Note: All of the fanfiction contained in this story which will mostly be one-shots based around Shikamaru and/or Neji. I just don't see the point in posting them all separately (since there will be 100 when finished).
This is a challenge response for "The Ultimate Fanfic Challenge".
(remove all spaces) http/ www . livejournal . com / userinfo . bml ? user fanfic100
Prompt : 067. Snow
Rating: PG
A thin coating of snow had covered the majority of the Konohagakure Village. Because of it being a Sunday, many academy age children were bundled up in their winter gear, mostly because of their mother's fussing them to do so, and were now playing outside. Snowballs zoomed from one yard to the next one over, high pitched squeals and laughter filled the air, and snowman making had been going on for the past few hours of the day.
Shikamaru sat in a rather uncomfortable wooden chair on the balcony outside of his room. He had his knees pulled up to his chest, thankful that the cold wasn't unbearable (especially since he lacked a jacket to wear at the moment), and that the balcony had a roof above it to keep the snow from making him colder.
He had been watching the snow fall since early that morning, enjoying the time alone he had not had in quite a few days, especially with the missions he had been going on lately. Tsunade had been keeping his schedule almost completely full. He had also stopped shivering by now, now being beyond the aching cold stage, and at the comfortable numbing one. It probably was not healthy, though he didn't care at the moment. Maybe he would later on when he fell ill, though this was what he felt like doing.
Though, he hated snow. It ruined the sky the entire day with a white haze of falling snowflakes which he couldn't see through. That meant that there would be no cloud watching for him, and no time that he could clear his head completely.
Absentmindedly, Shikamaru flicked a pebble off of the arm of the chair he had not noticed earlier on. He watched as it fell over the edge of the balcony, and disappeared from sight, then was quickly forgotten.
Just over the top of the railing he could see a few of his former classmates, apparently letting themselves act like children for the day. He watched as Naruto threw a snowball at the back of Sasuke's head, who in return glared at the boy. Thus began their snowball fight. Kiba was making snow angels while Akamaru rolled in the snow near him; meanwhile Neji and Lee bickered about one thing or another. Part of Shikamaru was tempted to go and join them, though that wouldn't happen on account of his own, self-admitted, laziness.
"Ahh! Shika-chan!" a high-pitched feminine voice called to him. A single eyebrow rose and Shikamaru leaned to his right to peer over the edge of the railing.
The numbing comfort was gone as soon as cold snow him his face. He raised a hand to rid of some that had decided to stick to his forehead just as he heard a loud scream of, "Yes! I got him!" The blonde girl laughed and stuck her tongue out at Shikamaru before running back over to the rest of the group.
Shikamaru sighed and shook his head. He glanced over the group one more time before sliding the door open that led into his room, and stepping inside. Maybe he would join them.
Tomorrow.