Author's note: I wish I had more time to write and then I'd put out chapters every other day, but adulting unfortunately requires maintenance. 7 is actually my unlucky number so the chapter is going to be a quick one with chapter 8 to follow shortly after. In the meantime, enjoy a little 7 from me.

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or any of it's characters

2 months earlier

"She turned me down." Shikamaru didn't move from his sprawled position on the couch while Choji sat on the floor near his feet. Choji had been barely audible but Shikamaru hadn't missed it. He knew it was coming and had run out of things to say to comfort his best friend.

"I mean she was really nice about it, but I feel kind of... played." Choji pulled his legs up to his chest and wrapped his arms around himself like a child. "I guess I should have known, but it still sucks." Shikamaru sighed and very slowly got up and moved himself to the ground on the opposite end of the couch with his legs out and his arms stretched across the cushions.

"Listen man, she's not the one for you. She's a drama magnet and a total tease, you don't really want that." Shikamaru waited and then turned after a moments silence. "Do you..? I just don't get why?" The grey sky cast strange shadows across the room between the drops of rain that collected and streamed down in shifting patterns. Choji dropped his head and closed his eyes, tears barely contained.

"You just don't see her. She is so much more than pretty and 'trouble'. She is smart and brave and she cares so deeply for the people and the things she believes in. She's – She is sunlight Shikamaru." Shikamaru frowned and tilted his head in thought.

"Sure she is, but she's Ino. She's like a sister, and an annoying one at that."

"Okay but that's not how I see her. I mean just try and have some perspective."

"Choji I can only be me and can only understand what you see through explanation. Besides it's Ino and we've both known her for so long. I guess I can understand the appeal but I don't understand why you didn't see this coming. I mean it's not the first time she's turned you down."

"This time was different Shikamaru. Before she always made excuses like the fact we were too young, or that she wasn't interested in any relationships from anyone. This time she... she. Just. Said. No." Choji was now letting tears fall freely down his face in silence while Shikamaru sat indecisive. He did want to comfort his friend but he also knew that Choji had to learn and not let some girl keep playing his heart. He was annoyed that Choji was saddened by something that had happened for the fifth time.

"Choji you gotta let her go. It's just not meant to be and you can't keep torturing yourself like this." Choji clenched his fists and seemed to finally burst.

"WHAT THE HELL DO YOU KNOW! You've never loved someone, hell half the time you're too damn lazy to give a shit about anything but a damn nap. Fuck you Shikamaru. I'm tired of you trying to give me life lessons on shit you don't even understand. You're too smart for your own good, and if you don't learn anything real from it you're going to end up all alone." Shikamaru was stunned and took several seconds to fully process all the words that had just been shouted at him. He suddenly felt betrayed and very angry. He jumped to his feet and subconsciously took a step forwards.

"Learn anything real? You call your little childhood fantasy love and thats the reality I have to learn. Just calm down! All I said was to let her go, and considering the facts of how you feel you can't deny that that is the best solution to your problem!" Choji stood up and wiped his eyes with the back of his hand. He zipped up his hoodie and turned to walk to the door in silence. As he pulled open the door with much more force than necessary, he stopped and turned to Shikamaru.

"Not everything is a problem that needs to be analyzed. You're thinking with your head when you should be listening to your heart. You should consider that or it'll be the reason you end up all alone." With that Choji closed the door, The sound seemed to resonate and leave a ring in Shikamaru's ears. He stood frozen to the spot with his heart rattling loudly in his chest and his mind racing so fast he could barely make sense of it. He wasn't heartless at all, he thought to himself. He cared so deeply for the few people he chose as friends and his family as well. He would easily take a bullet for them or give a kidney, anything! He paced from the window to the door and back again. He was angry that Choji of all people would accuse him of being heartless, especially over a conversation about Ino, the other best friend of their trio. Shikamaru realized he was losing control and took a deep breath and let his hands fall to his sides, forcing his fists to relax. He counted each step as he paced. Ten steps every time. Once he finally felt calm again he sat down in front of his window and traced the path of a drop as it made it's way back to earth. What if he's right? Am I being too cold, too calculated? Am I really the asshole?

Two weeks later Ino burst into Shikamaru's apartment while he was making breakfast.

"He's leaving!" Shikamaru choked on the piece of toast in his mouth.

"What, who's leaving?"

"Choji! Didn't he tell you?" A frown crept onto Shikamaru's face as he thought about their last interaction and that neither had spoken since. "Shikamaru snap out of it! What happened, why is he leaving? Is it because..?" Ino made a small gasping sound and clapped her hands over her mouth. "Is this my fault?"

"Ino relax. What do you mean he's leaving." Ino stood motionless except for tears that filled her eyes and threatened to spill over.

"He's going to Africa, and he's leaving today." Ino barely squeaked the words out before dropping into a sobbing mess on the floor.

"What the hell Ino! He's been talking about applying to this for months and now you're freaking out?!" Shikamaru squatted next to her and awkwardly patted her back.

"I know, but it's so sudden now and right after I.. after I.." She never finished her sentence. She leaned into Shikamaru shoulder and sniffled quietly, slowly soaking his shirt. Shikamaru wrapped his arm around her and kneeled.

"Hey, don't worry about it. He's been wanting to go for awhile now, I'm sure it had nothing to do with you."

"Don't lie to me. I know I'm partially to blame." She took a deep breath and continued. "I can't - fake a feeling I don't have though."

"Ino, Choji wouldn't want you to." She nodded into his shoulder and let more tears soak his shirt as they remained in their awkward position for several minutes. Once Ino had stopped crying she sat back and covered her face with her hand. Shikamaru nodded before Ino could ask to use his washroom. She left the room and Shikamaru was left with his breakfast mess to clean up.

Ino returned and told Shikamaru to get dressed since they were going to go say goodbye. Shikamaru looked down at his green sweatpants and university t-shirt. He shrugged and said Let's go, not giving Ino time to protest his lack of fashion sense. Ino knocked tentatively on the door next to Shikamaru's. They both stood quietly in the hall while Shikamaru tried to stifle his anxiety of having not settled their previous fight. Choji swung the door open and smiled widely at his friends.

"Hey guys, just in time! I just called the taxi so I've got about ten minutes." He greeted Ino with a big hug and motioned Shikamaru to enter with a friendly smile. Usually Choji's apartment was homey and filled with snack foods on all surfaces, but he was really moving out this time. There was nothing left but luggage and the standard dining table and chairs that had come with the apartment.

"It's so... empty." Shikamaru's voice seemed to echo in the large space. It was a mirror image of his own apartment, and Shikamaru had only added a couch and coffee table, but it wasn't Choji and it didn't feel right.

"We're going to miss you so much! You'll have to write to us, like at least once a month or as often as you can!" Ino sat on one of Choji's luggage bags next to the window. She smiled brightly at him without a hint of her breakdown earlier. She was awfully good as containing her emotions. Choji laughed and pulled up a chair next to her and they laughed and reminisced about memories in the apartment. Shikamaru stood next to them, leaning against the window and listening to their conversation while watching the cars and people move about below. The ping of Choji's phone made everyone silent.

"Well thats my cue to leave." He stood and pushed the chair back to the table.

"Are you sure you don't want us to help bring your luggage down?"

"Nah it's just the two bags. Besides I've got to get seriously strong if I'm going to be doing construction!" He gave a big belly laugh and Ino started to tear up a little. She jumped on him and held him tight for a second. She whispered something in his ear and Choji smiled sadly at her before reaching up to mess up her hair. She immediately turned from sad to annoyed and began to fix it. Shikamaru stepped forward and awkwardly put out his hand unsure of where they stood. Choji gave him a sad smile before grabbing his hand and pulling him in to a one armed hug. "Promise me you'll listen this time." Choji let him go and tapped his finger against Shikamaru's heart. Shikamaru felt a pang of guilt at the words and fought to keep his emotions in check.

"Yeah okay, whatever." Choji smiled and swung his bag up on his shoulder, pulling the luggage behind him. The two followed him into the hallway and watched him walk away until he rounded the corner to the elevators. He gave them both a small wave before disappearing. As soon as he was gone Shikamaru felt like someone had poured cold water into his chest and his heart contracted. Choji was really gone for the next 6 months, and he hadn't said sorry.