Accepting Changes

Disclaimer:

I do not own any of the characters from Naruto

Chapter 2

A poof of smoke went up in Shikamaru's apartment, taking his concentration off game with Choji. A random shinobi in black, most likely from the main building of the hokage, appeared in the living area. He tossed Shikamaru a scroll and told him the Hokage wanted to him. Then just like that, the ninja was gone.

"Does the happen a lot?" Choji asked confused, noticing that Shikamaru didn't notice any kind weirdness at all.

"No, but I told Tsunade-sama that I wouldn't mind if she did it," he replied, still concentrating on his game. And with one final move, he ended it, "looks like I win again Choji." He got up from his sitting position and went for the door. He put on his sandals, opened the door and pause, looking back, "don't forget to lock up when you leave." And like that he was gone. And Choji still just sat there confused, at the game and what just happened.

Shikamaru was walking through the streets of Konoha with a blank expression on his face, still thinking why he was being called to the Hokage's office…alone. If it were a mission then the messenger would've told Choji to go as well. He stuff his fists in his pockets and clenched his jaw at his baffled mind. 'Things always had to be so troublesome,' he thought, as he knocked on the door of the Sanin's office and waited to be acknowledged. He heard a muffled 'come in' and the door swung open. "You wanted to see me," he said, as he stepped through the open doorway, closing it behind him.

"Ah, Shikamaru, I called on you nearly an hour ago," Tsunade commented, a hint of agitation in her tone, "What took you so long?"

"I walked, I was trying to figure out what you would call just me for," his eyes fell on a girl sitting on a bench to the left of her desk. She was looking at him and his eyes hardened; she quickly looked away.

"I see you noticed our guess," Tsunade rolled her eyes; she wasn't stupid, and glare he sent the girl's way clearly told her that he knew where she was from, "she is going to be your newest teammate."

"Tsunade-sama, she's Sound ninja," Shikamaru objected, never talking his eyes off of the girl's downcast form, "are you sure that's smart for a time like now. My team was, just, ambushed by the likes of them."

"She's not apart of the Sound village anymore, Shikamaru," Tsunade countered, her stare just as hard as his, "most ninja left the sound soon after the entire incident with Orochimaru."

"H-he gave the S-Sound a bad name," the girl stuttered timidly. She tried looking back at Shikamaru but only got a cold stare so looked back down.

"That's only because the Sound is made of bad people or do you not remember the ambush they did on us about three years ago. You know, the one that killed our Hokage," he spat spitefully, hating the fact that she was in his presence.

"You can't blame all the ninja from the Sound for one group of people. It's just not right. That would mean none of us could be trusted because of Sasuke's departure and treacherous ways," Tsunade smirked, she knew she had him since he glanced at her, "if you went by that then you would be a hypocrite. Now ending that conversation, Shikamaru Nara, this is Asuka Saiou."

"Hi," the shy girl tried again weakly, but it was just brushed off by the, rather angry, boy again.

"I want you to show her town, and she's staying at your apartment. She needs to feel comfortable around her captain," she smirked at the gaping jaws of both people she was speaking of, "How did you know she was Sound so fast?"

"We met before, on my latest mission actually, you know, the one where we got ambushed," he commented a little more than needed, "she was one of the nicer people's daughter."

"I see," Tsunade observed the girl as she continued to glance at Shikamaru then look away blushing, "you two are excused."

Shikamaru turned around and walked to the door, "Well, are you coming?" he barked nonchalantly at the girl as he opened the door and left through it. Asuka got up and ran to catch up with him.

Shikamaru opened the door to his apartment and realized the door was unlocked. He just brushed off the irritation for later and moved to the side to let Asuke in. She hesitated, but walked swiftly inside, to the couch, hoping the offer wouldn't be taken away. Shikamaru smirked and entered himself, from how she acted when he was showing her around, he got used to the way she did things. He sat down next to her and she blushed tremendously, looking down and twiddling her thumbs. He only spent one day with her and his perspective of her completely changed, and it annoyed him. He never knew someone could have that kind of power over him; someone he just met, at that. He wanted to get back at her, for having some kind of effect on him, but doing that would be childish. But, at the moment, he didn't care. So he began to push her buttons, he got up and removed his vest. Asuka's eyes never left him as he walked into his bedroom, her blush getting darker while Shikamaru's unnoticeable smirk was getting bigger. He stepped out of the room, shirtless, and sat back down next to her; this time, he was turned facing her, leaning against the armrest his leg tucked into his chest.

He started up casual conversation, "So do you have any specialties?" The words came out flirtatious, each letter hinted at different means.

"A-a-ah," she just stuttered, her eyes continuously shifting from his chest to there downward position, "I-I-I can create extremely strong s-sound waves with without using a-any chakra, then use it to make b-barriers and s-such. "

"Really?" now he was interested, "are there any draw-backs I should know about?" He leant forward, forgetting the ways he was affecting her.

"Her entire face was red now, "I-It puts a strain on my body--can I use your bathroom?" she swiftly said, her eye's dead set on the floor.

He noticed why she was so wound up, "Sure, through the hallway, second door to the left." She hopped up and practically ran there. Shikamaru just smirked as realization dawned on him, "Troublesome women." After a day like that, he knew he could get used to having her around.

A/N: personally, I hate this chapter. I don't think Shikamaru would have conflicting emotions like that. And I'm not a real fan of romance novels, so this is a chapter I might change.

Also, if you think the story is starting off slow, bare with me; all great stories start off slow and it's going to speed up sooner or later anyway.