DISCLAIMER: I own nothing from the Naruto universe but I do have an imagination of my own. PLEASE REVIEW!
Thinking
Emphasis
Biju, etc. speaking
Turning her head forward, Naru realized that help might be available. She saw a tall figure with long dark hair and she began running directly towards him. The man looked at her and scowled, his eyes surrounded by veins that seemed to make him look even scarier. As she tried to slow down - because this guy looked dangerous - she heard him make a simple statement:
"You are in the range of my divination."
Shikamaru had started dinner in Neji's kitchen for the obviously hungry Uzumaki woman after her stomach had begun growling. After washing his hands, he began walking back toward the sitting room, carrying tea for himself and his guest. Naruto's sister: Kami-sama! The Nara couldn't believe how nervous he was, it really wasn't like him at all. Hell, he didn't even know what to say to her! He certainly didn't want to freak her out, especially as until only around 10 minutes ago the blonde had looked uncomfortable. Plus, he had so many questions - all those he had been thinking about for hours - not to mention how he wanted to know what she was doing in the Hokage Tower. Take a deep breath; you can do it! Just stay calm…
No: he wasn't ready. He quickly turned around and headed back into the kitchen, grabbing sake out of a full case of the stuff, and added a few bottles and cups to add to the tea tray. He took a deep cleansing breath before considering his tray and added edamame. I'll pay Neji back… Kami knows when he sees her and learns what's going on he's gonna need sake too. "Troublesome." The Nara ran his hands over his face feeling terribly anxious. He shook his head and redid his ponytail - it was a reaction to extreme nerves. I hope this isn't becoming a tic!
"I should have offered you tea earlier. Gomennasai," Shikamaru said to the stunning blonde. He sat next to the very happy young woman who was full of smiles.
"Nah! Don't worry about it. Thanks for this, by the way!"
Sipping their drinks in silence he noticed that between every few sips she would give him a strange look. Shikamaru guessed that she was nervous, maybe even as much as he was, but he doubted that. The woman he sat down beside seemed to be a puzzle. He loved puzzles - he just had to force himself to talk. Clearing his throat, he began. "So, I guess I should finally introduce myself, ne?" She smiled at him, waiting for him, he supposed. He swallowed down the lump in his throat and continued. "I realize now that I've been doing just about everything backward with you tonight! I really am sorry - and can't tell you how happy I am to find and meet you." He poured sake into the two cups again and offered her one as she ate a piece of edamame. "My name's Shikamaru Nara. Like I mentioned earlier, I was a good friend of your brother's."
What kind of look was that? It passed over her features quickly but it didn't seem happy in any way. She looked up at him blankly and he felt like an idiot. He was so happy to meet her but just brought up her deceased brother. He winced, trying to fight back his emotions. She must know about what happened to him. How could have been surprised by that sour expression?
The blue-eyed woman - with eyes so much like Naruto's - plastered a tight grin on her face. She finally gave him a nod and simply said, "I'm Naru. It's a pleasure to meet you Nara-san."
Naru? You've got to be fucking kidding me - Naruto and Naru Uzumaki? The names were almost enough to make him laugh, but he didn't know how Naruto's sister would react: he didn't want to hurt her feelings after all. I should have figured it would be something like this. Shikamaru had learned during and after the war that the Yondaime made up some long weird-ass names for his jutsus before he had been forced by one person or another to rename them for the ones that were later famous. Apparently, he wasn't forced to do so with his children. "The pleasure is mine, Naru-hime."
Naru nearly spit out her drink. Ooops, she did spit out some of her drink! Hime - as in princess? Dear gods, this guy must be flirting with her! Damnit Naru, what the hell did you get yourself into? She patted down the liquid on Kakashi's shirt and took a towel from the dark-haired jerk who was a friend of her original's asshole brother, then cleaned up the drink she had spit all over the place. She tried to smile at the no-doubt pervert, but she was pissed. Clone or not, she was protective! Still, she needed to keep up the charade as Kami-only-knows what her original was up to. Hopefully, she had run. She apologized to the bastard sitting next to her for spitting out that drink, but inside was cackling over getting quite a bit of it on the guy. Go, me!
"Don't worry about it," Shikamaru smiled down at the woman. He couldn't help but remember Naruto doing this when he was surprised. How many times did Sakura whack him for that? Sitting here with his sister, he actually was thinking of it all with fondness, rather than the pain that usually accompanied his thoughts of Naruto - especially with Sakura - that had been plaguing him since he died. It was a wonderful feeling, he realized, and he was even more grateful that Naruto had left behind this young woman. Maybe he would eventually get past… Realizing they were sitting silently, he gave her another smile. Interestingly enough for him, she had a very mischievous look on her pretty face. It warmed his tortured soul further. It seemed she was like her brother in more than just looks. I wonder what she's thinking. He poured another cup of sake for them both.
"Naru" kept up her act. Oh you fucking pervert, I'm going to totally kick your ass! He didn't need to know that yet, the clone thought, him being the fruity pineapple-headed bastard that he obviously was. The only thing she needed to do now - other than pounding this guy silly - was to delay him to give her original plenty of time to get far from here. She widened her smile, not realizing that she looked feral and a little insane. Slamming her drink back, she never let her eyes wander from the soon-to-be-dead shithead that was Naru's fuckface brother's friend sitting beside her. "This is really good. May I have another? You'll drink with me, right?"
Should I? Shikamaru had already had quite a bit to drink tonight. He rarely drank this much, he realized, but he didn't feel bad. Probably burned through it considering the stress of the entire day. Plus, she was giving him such a huge smile - although it was a little unnerving - then turned it into a pout. Hearing her ask, "Please Shika-kun?" how could he say no? She was pouting for god's sake!
He agreed to drink with her just as the timer for the stove went off.
Bringing in ramen, he was a little taken aback at the sound she made. Moaning? Sucking in the air and throwing her head back? This was a little - erotic. Yikes! "I'm uhhh, glad to see that you like the ramen…" he said as she made a very sexual sound and licked her lips hungrily. Kami-sama! If Naruto ever saw his sister like this, or worse: saw his sister do this in front of his friend or any guy present there was no doubt in Shikamaru's mind that he would kill him! He looked away from the show he was being given uncomfortably.
"So, so good," she breathed out, looking like she needed a cigarette. Honestly, he almost offered her one. They were in Neji's house so that was a no-go, but the whole thing was so damn embarrassing! Beyond troublesome, Shikamaru knew.
"Well," he cleared his throat yet again, "I'd heard that all Uzumakis love ramen as much as life!"
"Uzumaki?" she asked.
He nodded slowly. What kind of question is that? "Yeah… like you and your brother."
"Oh! My name's not Uzumaki. Anymore I think?" Yes, she said it as a question, not a statement, which was odd.
Shikamaru felt his stomach roll, and it wasn't from all the drinking he had done today. No, he had a bad feeling about this. "Naru-hime, what is your last name?" the Nara asked, pulling his chopsticks away from his noodles.
"Aa! My last name is Hatake." Shikamaru freaked out so badly that he accidentally hit her arm with his chopsticks, leading to a POOF.
"Shadow clone? Oh fuck, I've gotta find her…" Hatake?! I'm going to kill him!
Naru was just about to turn away from the tall guy with the veins popping out of his head. She had run right for him as fast as she could, hoping he would tell her where the Tower was. Until he looked so angry and plain scary, she thought he had a rather pleasant face for an old dude. Now? Oh hell no!
Suddenly her mind was filled with images, making her stop in her tracks. Me and a "Shikamaru?" Naru was totally confused. She'd already been tossed out that window and now suddenly it's like her head is full of a conversation she didn't have with that dark-haired guy. What the hell? Oh, Kami! He stabbed me!
Suddenly afraid and trying to decide if she was losing her mind, she realized the tall scary dude was starting to spin. Why would he spin?
That was the last thought she had before shit really hit the fan, and her.
