Prompt 2: Write a mystery. Start with a question and write until you answer it. If you don't know the answer: even better.

Pairing: Nara Shikamaru x Tsubaki Hikari (OC)

Shikamaru kept his eyes trained on Hikari. The Rookie 12 and Hikari's team had gotten together to celebrate the end of the chuunin exams with barbeque. No one else seemed to notice but Hikari and her team were only eating the vegetables. That wasn't the only thing that went unnoticed.

Like how their group got through the forest of death without a scratch. He had heard the proctors whisper how only one other sand nin had been able to do that. Their team had taken out the sound nin with little effort and even won their preliminary matches with ease. While they had stated their clan wanted them to test their abilities for advancement they were clearly above genin.

His father wouldn't tell him much about the Tsubaki clan, except that they were part of Konoha at its founding before leaving the village not long after the Sandaime came into power.

Shikamaru had spent the last month with Hikari preparing for the tournament. It had been a bit bizarre at first seeing as he could've gone against Sai in the second round and her later on, but she had been nonchalant about it when he pointed it out.

"Sai and I won't lose just because I trained with his opponent. Don't underestimate us." Shikamaru sighed at the memory of their spars. They had spent almost the whole month together and somehow she easily became part of his routine.

The two of them had been lounging in a meadow on his family's land, talking about things here and there and somehow the conversation drifted towards marriage. He joked that the two of them should pretend to court each other to get their clans off their back. Shin had mentioned that Hikari was heir, so he had assumed she would be facing pressure to marry like him.

When he didn't get a response right away he looked over at Hikari who had an indiscernible expression in her eyes. While he had been joking he wouldn't object to spending more time with her, but he wasn't sure what to make of her reaction. The silence stretched a bit longer before he propped himself on his elbow to face her.

"You don't think so?" After several moments Hikari turned towards him. "Aren't you too young for your clan to be thinking about marriage?"

She left not long after and he didn't miss that she never answered either of his questions. The rest of the conversation went as usual and if it wasn't for that unusually long pause he wouldn't think anything of it. How troublesome. Somehow he had stumbled on a touchy subject. But what was it? Their clans? The courtship? Or was it him?

Author's Note:

Happy New Year! This one was an interesting piece for me since I didn't have something prior in mind like I did the Sakumo drabble. Shika is one of my favorites in Naruto and I think there's so much potential in his character. I'd definitely love to expand on this world if I get the chance in the future since I ended up doing some world/character building while trying to flesh out this chapter. Hope everyone had a wonderful new years eve and here's to a better 2019! :)

Song Inspiration: Let's Not Fall in Love - Big Bang