It's been a year. Wow. Okay.

Pairing: Shikamaru x Sakura

Standard Disclaimers Apply

You are like a candy bar: half sweet and half nuts.

"How troublesome…" I scratched my head as I searched the crowd for pink. It didn't come as a surprise to me when I found her easily. At least her outrageous hair makes everything easier.

"Sakura!"

She turned her head as I made my way over to her.

"Shikamaru…what is it?"

"Tsunade asked me to hand this to you." I passed the documents to her and waited as she skimmed over the contents.

"Scholarship opportunities? Already?"

"Well, we are in second year now. She decided that we should snag as many as possible while it's nice and early."

"Are you doing it?"

He was tempted to smirk. "It's way too troublesome, so no."

"You should. It sounds like a great opportunity. I mean, I wouldn't mind doing a little work if it means I could cover my university fees." She looked thoughtful for a moment. "We should let Shino know as well since we're all in the same situation here. Just because we're a year younger than everyone else in our grade doesn't mean we're not any better than them."

"You should do it then. And while you're at it, could you hand these to Shi-"

"Do it yourself."

"Come on, you know how we don't have classes together. You have chemistry with him, don't you?"

"So?"

"We barely even see each other anymore. We have different lunch periods, and he lives on the other side of the world."

"You're exaggerating. You're just being lazy."

"And you're not being lazy?"

I always hated it whenever she got stubborn like this, because it meant I had to trade something in return…something that's totally not going to be worth it.

"Okay, I get it. What do you want?"

Her expression instantly brightened, albeit mischievously. "Now we're talking." She began to pull out a sheet of paper. "I want to start a club."

Well that was unexpected. "I'm sorry…what?"

"I don't have enough extracurriculars…my initiative and leadership abilities are lacking as well…at least on my resume. What better way to fix this than to be the president of my very own club?"

"Okay…" I spoke slowly, unsure of where this was all going. "And why do you need me?"

"In order to form a club, I need a minimum of 5 members. Consider yourself member number 2."

She began to shove the form to me so I could sign but I pushed it away. "Whoa whoa whoa. Hold on there, tiger. I am not signing up for any club until you tell me what kind of club it is."

She gave a little giggle. "Don't worry. It's just an after school study club."

I gave her a look. "That's lame."

Her reaction was immediate. "No it is not!" she puffed. "It's important, and you will join me."

"It sounds way too troublesome." That was a mistake. I should really take that back. Take it back, Shikamaru. Take it back.

It was too late.

"You won't join...hm, I see." She crept closer. "If you don't help me, you know what's gonna happen, right?"

I stood there, stunned, terrified -and at the same time, very turned on- as her hand brushed lower and lower. "...Sakura?"

She's not going to…is she?

I couldn't imagine what it looked like to an outsider. I couldn't even imagine what my own face looked like.

"I am going to," she whispered hotly in his ear, "personally, with my own two hands…"

I swallowed with difficulty.

"…castrate you."

"OKAY I'LL JOIN." I pushed her away quickly. I didn't want to admit it, but the feeling of her hand on my lower stomach and the sound of her velvety voice against my ear was pleasantly distracting. And I didn't want to think about the whole castrating thing. That was on a whole new level.

I wiped my mouth in case there was any drool...I might have drooled a little. "Sakura…has anyone ever told you that you're nuts?"

She tilted her head and blinked at me cutely. "No…why would they say that?"

That must be why. "I guess they wouldn't. You only show your sweet side to them." I rubbed my head in frustration, wondering why in the world she had to treat me this way.

She laughed a little. "But I'm far from sweet." She reached out just then, and I flinched back in reflex, but it wasn't me she was aiming for.

She took the documents from me gently. "I'll give them to him tomorrow," she said, giving me a reassuring smile. With this little action, I wanted to tell her that yes, you are very very very sweet, but I thought of something even better to say.

"You're just like a candy bar: half sweet and half nuts." It was a whisper, but she must have heard it because she turned around and smiled that little charming yet mischievous smile of hers.

Thanks for reading! Happy Holidays!

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