When Past Meets Present

Disclaimer: I Do Not Own Naruto

Chapter 18: Finale

A/N: Ok another chapter, I think that it's almost time to wrap up this story, so this might be the last chapter, read it all the way through to find out, because at this point I don't know, but I will at the end.

Ren woke up on the floor, despite the fact that the hard ground gave her a stiff back, she smiled as she saw Shikamaru on the floor next to her, with the game controller still in his hand. Ren smiled and got up off the ground and went to take a shower, she was in the middle of her shower, and she heard the sounds of Shikamaru doing his morning stuff, she finished showering and reached for her clothes, but her hands only clasped air, her eyes widened as she realized she had forgotten her clothes, and to make it worse she couldn't run out with a towel on, not with Shikamaru and his little pervy eyes. Ren cracked the door open and called for Shikamaru.

Ren: Shikamaru…?

Shikamaru: Yeah, what's wrong?

Ren: I uh forgot my clothes…

Shikamaru: (Smirk) Then go without.

Ren: Shikamaru…I'm serious! Now can you go get my clothes?

Shikamaru: I would except I don't know where you put them.

Ren: Oh uh. Then give me some of yours!

Shikamaru walked away and returned holding a t-shirt and some boxers, he handed it to Ren through the crack in the door and waited while she changed.

Ren: Ah, finally I'm clothed.

Shikamaru: (Smirk)

Ren: Yes I know I look ridiculous in your clothes.

Shikamaru: It's not that, but remember the first time you had to wear my clothes?

Ren: Oh yeah, that was a fun day. Well I'm off to go change into my real clothes…

Shikamaru caught Ren by the waist and pulled her back.

Shikamaru: No need to change, I like you in my clothes (smirk)

Ren: Fine I'll wear them, but only because it's you.

So Ren laughed and got started on breakfast. Meanwhile across town Usagi was also waking up, unlike Ren she had gotten used to wearing Neji's clothes seeing as how her clothes were pretty much forgotten back at the house, Usagi didn't mind wearing Neji's clothes because she didn't even really go out that much anymore, but she knew that eventually she'd need to go outside and for that she needed more than just two outfits, after all the only clothes she had at this point was the clothes that she had worn the day at the court, and some odd pieces of clothing that she had forgotten at Neji's house. Usagi gently shook Neji awake.

Usagi: Neji?

Neji: Mm? Yeah?

Usagi: Uh, you wouldn't happen to have any extra money on you, I uh need new clothes…

Neji: Couldn't you just wear Ren's clothes?

Usagi: Not really, I'd feel bad borrowing her clothes seeing as how she pays a fortune for them, and plus they would never fit me.

Neji: Mm, ok. Wait here.

Neji got off the bed and went into the bathroom for a few minutes when he came back out he was holding a roll of cash. He pressed it into Usagi's hand and climbed back into bed. Usagi undid the roll and saw that it was almost a thousand dollars!

Usagi: Neji! Where did you get so much money?

Neji: I've been saving it for a long time, by doing odd jobs for people around town.

Usagi: Neji…here take it back, I can always just withdraw from my account.

Neji: No, you need that money, just take this.

Usagi: But—

Neji: Shh, just take it, after all you want to look good for me right? (Smirk)

Usagi: Ok…

Usagi gave Neji a quick little peck on the lips and went to get ready for her shopping trip. So across town Ren was trying to prepare breakfast for Shikamaru and herself. But Shikamaru kept on sneaking behind her and poking her sides, breathing down the back of her neck or simply doing things that disoriented her and made her flustered.

Ren: Shikamaru, stop! Or you and I are going to starve this morning!

Shikamaru: (Smirk) Heh, sorry are you distracted by my actions?

Ren: Obviously…I keep on feeling like I'm forgetting something…(Thinks)

Ren thought for a while when suddenly a light bulb lit up in her brain.

Ren: Today is the court date! I totally spaced on that!

Ren left the breakfast uncooked and went to change for the courthouse; Shikamaru frowned and went to change as well. Ren finished in record time, and still managed to look sharp. Not exactly trendy but sharp, she was in a plain white blouse, with a plain black skirt with black pumps and her hair in a bun. Shikamaru frowned when he saw her.

Ren: What?

Shikamaru: That's a terrible outfit.

Ren: Well what do you expect? I only got a few minutes to get changed, I didn't have time to do anything with my hair or accessorize so whatever, it's not as if I'm going to be doing anything fancy today.

Shikamaru: But don't you want to make Maro jealous?

Ren: Of course, but the only thing I need to make him jealous is you!

Shikamaru: Uh thanks?

Ren: You're welcome.

So Ren hopped into her car while trying to call Usagi at the same time. Usagi said that she was almost done with her shopping and that she and Neji would be there in about 15 minutes. So Ren arrived at the courthouse and took her place next to her lawyer. Pretty soon Maro showed up with HIS lawyer, and Ren wasn't surprised at all at who he picked. His lawyer was tall with long legs; she had platinum blonde hair, red lipstick and a good figure. Ren wasn't surprised at all. Ren's lawyer leaned over and whispered "we can take him down easy, where's his mistress?" Ren whispered back "I have no idea, I guess he dumped her or maybe he thinks that she'd be jealous of his hot lawyer" Ren shrugged and they went through the formal court business, the rising for the judge and all that crap. (A while later) Daisuke had called up Maro to the stand. Daisuke had just asked him if he had ever had romantic relations with Iva. Maro claimed that he didn't even KNOW a woman named Iva, much less dated her. That's when mascara streaked, messy Iva smashed into the courtroom. She pointed at Maro with a wild look in her eyes and charged for him, all the while yelling an intricate string of insults. She then began to strangle him in an angry blur, Ren was shocked, she had no idea what was going on.

Iva: Maro you—you BASTARD! I can't believe you'd cheat on me with that skank of a lawyer!

Maro: Baby I thought you knew? You were just a fling sorry hun.

Sure Maro was brave now, but that was only because security guards were holding Iva back. The judge looked thoroughly shocked and he turned back to Daisuke. Daisuke shook his head saying that there was no need for him to question Maro. Anyway the business went without further interruption and it was the time when the judge was to announce his decision, he had decided that Ren would get custody of the estate, and her assets would be safe, also that she would be getting a substantial settlement from Maro due to his acts of adultery. Ren jumped into the air and she and Daisuke shared a dramatic high five, Ren hugged Usagi, squished the air out of Shikamaru's lungs, cheered into Neji's ears and waved the official papers in Maro's face. In a matter of seconds after her crazy behavior Ren calmed down and walked back over to where Usagi, Neji, and Shikamaru were chatting.

Ren: You guys wanna head home with us?

Neji: Right now? Can we get a rain check on that?

Ren: Again? C'mon…

Usagi: Oh ok… Where are we going?

Ren: It's a secret…

Usagi: Even from me?

Ren: Well I guess I can tell you… but no one else.

Ren whispered something in Usagi's ear, Usagi's eyes lit up, while Shikamaru and Neji scowled. So Ren motioned for them to get into her car and she handed Shikamaru and Neji both a blindfold.

Neji: What's this for?

Usagi: It's to make your surprise extra special.

So Usagi drove the guys over to their surprise, when they arrived Usagi and Ren helped them out and guided them around, Usagi was purposely steering Neji into walls and poles, while Usagi was walking as fast as she could pulling a flailing Shikamaru behind her.

They stopped and pulled off the blindfolds. Neji and Shikamaru were silent as they took in their surroundings; they were in Ren and Usagi's high school.

Neji: Ah THS, nothing has changed.

Shikamaru: Aren't there going to be students or teachers that stay after?

Usagi: Nope, the location of THS got moved to a larger facility, this place was closed down four years ago.

Ren: Yup, but I like it like this, untouched by the stupid yuppie teens of today.

Usagi: Ren, YOU were a stupid yuppie teen of your time.

Ren: I know, but today teens are so much more yuppie.

Usagi: Yeah, I swear some of them went into my store and were so spoiled about it.

Ren laughed and started to walk around the lunch area, she stopped and motioned for Shikamaru to walk over.

Ren: Hey Shikamaru…remember this place? It's where I kissed you for the first time…

Shikamaru: (Smirk) Hmm, what's say you refresh my memory…

Meanwhile Neji and Usagi went off to explore the school, they both opened the door to a classroom, and to their delights they were in the poetry classroom. They had both had great memories in this room just seeing it brought back tons of memories, Usagi walked over to her seat and sat down reminiscing Neji sat down next to her and did the same. That's when Usagi's cell rang and it was Ren saying that she and Shikamaru were going to head home, Usagi said ok and hung up. She also got up and motioned for Neji to explore the campus further with her. Their explorations lead them to the double doors of the gym Usagi pushed open the doors and saw that the decorations for the last prom were still up.

Neji: Hmm prom decorations?

Usagi: Yup.

Neji: How was your senor prom?

Usagi: It was ok.

Neji: Just ok?

Usagi: Yeah, I didn't have a date.

Neji: No way! You didn't get asked?

Usagi: No I did, but I said no and went with my girlfriends instead. What about you?

Neji: No prom for me.

Usagi: A ladies man like you? Haha.

Neji: I just didn't want to go with any of the girls I knew.

Usagi: Oh so you didn't really have a prom either?

Neji: Nope.

Usagi: Hmm, you know that you're never really too old for a slow dance…

Neji: Hmm…

Neji went over to the DJ station and turned on the music suddenly the gym was filled with the loud beats of a certain song, I like big butts and I cannot lie, you other brothers can deny when a girl walks in with a—well you know the rest. Neji looks thoroughly shocked while Usagi was doubled over with laugher; Neji manipulated a few things and was able to change the song to a sultry slow jam. After doing this Neji found that he was frozen with anxiety, he saw Usagi waiting on the dance floor and he panicked. Neji went onto the dance floor and he tried to think of ways to ask Usagi without sounding like a blubbering idiot. He rehearsed it in his head once over before asking her, confidant that he would sound suave and relaxed…no luck.

Neji: U-Usagi…u-um…uh…

Poor Neji, he had totally forgotten what he was going to say…so he decided that he'd better hurry up and just use his actions instead, all the while hoping that Usagi didn't think him an awkward geek, but it was the nervous quality that kept Usagi entertained, she thought it was adorable how awkward Neji was, it was a refreshing change from his usually unbearable intelligence. Neji held out his hand and motioned to the dance floor. Usagi took his hand elegantly and followed him onto the dance floor; meanwhile Neji was worrying that his hands were sweaty. So they started to slow dance, Usagi was a pro at slow dancing while Neji was far from it. You know how you can tell if a guy is inexperienced at dancing if he steps on your feet? Well Neji was VERY inexperienced, instead of just stepping on her toes he practically kicked her in the shins and tripped her, not on purpose of course.

Usagi: Ouch…

Neji: Sorry…

Usagi: It's ok. You don't dance much do you?

Neji: Do I look like the dancing type?

Usagi: Haha, so you expect me to believe that you don't ever just like dance around in your bedroom when you're totally alone?

Neji: (Sarcastically) Oh yeah Usagi, sometimes I'll turn on some trance music and then I'll close the door and I'll make my own nighttime rave.

Usagi: So that's what those weird crashing and stomping noises were…

Neji: Haha.

Usagi: See? Now that you're relaxed you dance great.

But Usagi accidentally jinxed it and Neji started to stumble, his legs got tangled with Usagi's and they both came crashing down onto the floor of the gym. They both moaned in pain before sitting upright. Neji rubbed a bump that was forming on his forehead and Usagi massaged her sore back. Usagi looked over at Neji and the quail egg that was forming on his forehead. Usagi looked at it for a while before kissing it.

Usagi: (Wink) a kiss to make it better.

Neji: (Smirk) Well my lips are feeling a little bit sore as well…

Usagi: Oh then I can fix that.

Usagi and Neji playfully kissed before getting up continuing to dance. Meanwhile Ren was standing in front of a trendy boutique with Shikamaru.

Shikamaru: Tell me again why we're here?

Ren: Because I need to take care of some business.

Ren tapped her foot absently before waving at an approaching figure; it was a girl with wavy snow colored hair down to her waist, Dior sunglasses, and a black t-shirt with cargo pants.

Ren: Puffi! How are yah?

Shikamaru: Puffi?

Ren: Shikamaru shut your face. (Sticks Out Tongue)

Shikamaru: (Silence)

Puffi: That's my nickname; my real name is Kakuna Riganshi! And I'm here to help Ren with something!

Ren: You know it. Here are their addresses.

Shikamaru: Wait, what's going on?

Puffi: I'm an assassin! I'm going to get Maro and Kintaro tonight!

Shikamaru: …What? That's not possible, you're like 7 years old!

Puffi: Shut your face! I'm eleven!

Shikamaru: And Ren hired you as an assassin? Feh.

Ren: Shikamaru! Shut up! She's an elite assassin, she's better than you! (Sticks out tongue)

Puffi: Aww, nah I'm not that good.

Ren: (Hugs Puffi) Ahh! You're so humble, and adorable!

Shikamaru: (Pulsing Vein) Can we just get this over with?

Ren: Fine, here you go Puffi! Good luck and be safe!

Ren handed Puffi a care package of gourmet candy, Puffi smiled and waved goodbye cutely to Ren, and poked Shikamaru in the forehead quickly before setting off.

Shikamaru: Hmm, that girl makes me nervous…

Ren: That's only because you know she's stronger than you.

Shikamaru: Nuh uh.

Ren: Yuh uh. Anyway even if she does worry you, she's invited to the party tonight.

Shikamaru: Since when are we having a party?

Ren: Since I thought of it just now.

Shikamaru: (Sweat drop) …(Forced Voice) If…that's what you want.

Ren: Ahh, Shikamaru, I love you for tolerating my randomness.

Ren hugged Shikamaru around his neck and planted a kiss on his cheek.

Shikamaru: I love you too, but do you love me enough to cancel the party? It's so troublesome.

Ren: Hmm, but don't you want to go party?

Shikamaru: Not really.

Ren: Aww, then fine, we can throw a party another day, for today let's—

Shikamaru: Hey, wanna go to radio shack and look at some games?

Ren: Boy you read my mind.

Ren and Shikamaru joined hands and walked in the direction of the radio shack. Meanwhile Usagi and Neji were still at the THS, they were sitting on the ground and leaning against the wall of the gym just relaxing.

Usagi: Neji, thanks for tonight.

Neji: It was nothing.

Usagi leaned forward and kissed Neji tenderly on the lips it was a perfect moment that Usagi would remember forever, it wasn't how she imagined that she'd fine true love, she didn't imagine that she'd be in a gymnasium at a deserted high school, and she certainly didn't believe that she'd be with a guy like Neji, but it was at that moment she knew that she was complete and that she no longer had to look for "The One" because he was sitting right next to her. She knew that she had something to do.

Usagi: Neji will you marry me?

Neji: Wait, you're asking ME? Well actually I was hoping it would be the other way around.

As he said this Neji pulled out a ring box, he knelt in front of Usagi and opened it, and lo and behold it was a sparkling diamond much better than the one that Kintaro had given her.

Neji: So Usagi will you marry me?

Usagi: Duh! Haha.

Usagi jumped up and embraced Neji causing them both to fall laughing onto the floor. Meanwhile in radio shack Ren and Shikamaru were in heaven they were surrounded by video games, Ren walked up and down the aisles reading the titles when she stopped, she saw that they finally got the new Mario game. Shikamaru stopped next to her and they both just stared at the game, it was so beautiful it almost glowed in front of their eyes. And there right in the middle of the store they kissed, they didn't care that the gamers in the store were staring creepily, they didn't care that it would be captured on camera, they didn't care that the manager was threatening to throw them out of the store, they only cared that they were in love and that they no longer had to struggle through life alone.

A/N: I know it's a terrible ending but it's really hard to end this, hmm I feel like I'm leaving some unanswered questions oh well. I know it's super clichéd but I'm just grasping at straws to finish up so I can start fresh with something else, but I dunno I might do a concluding CONCLUDING chapter if this one leaves to much unanswered, but I don't think it did that much. Anyway this is the end you guys. Hope you enjoyed the ride.