((I feel horrible…literally I'm sick! Why am I always sick! Plus I still have to write up that research paper, and I have absolutely no motivation. However, no matter how I'm feeling its time I owe you guys a new chapter nee+hearts+)
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'Troublesome?'
She blinked down at his slightly irritated look and quickly sat beside him, keeping some space between them as she curled in her knees.
"Sorry…you helped me out and…" Her lip trembled slightly, hands clenching blades of grass.
She heard him sigh, the sound either annoyed or tired, but she knew it had to do with her.
He glanced over slowly to her, confused why she was saying sorry at all. Was she that sensitive to get depressed over a small word; that described all women in this world?
Shikamaru ran a hand through his bangs and gave her a bit of a dull look; honestly trying his hand at comforting her. He hadn't expected her to look so guilty or hurt; he called quite the number of women that bothered him troublesome or bothersome and they would get angry and threaten to beat him to a pulp if he didn't apologize. Fearing for his life he always said he was sorry, quickly and numerous times. Why had he bothered to help this girl anyway?
Sakura noticed the dull look he was giving her.
'I must have done something wrong again.'
She looked away, wondering how she always seemed to cause these problems for herself. Was she really this bad of a person that people disliked the instant they met? Maybe, her old school was right, and now the cruelest and coolest maybe they also…
She blinked when she felt a nudge to her hand, and noticed his clumsy fingers trying to get a good grip. She blinked over, confused; her eyes seeking answers but also enjoying what seemed to be comfort.
"At lead you're not loud." It was mumbled slightly, his cheeks a little hot in embarrassment. He never gave compliments to girls.
"Pine—"She stopped when she caught his slightest twitch and knew she was treading forbidden ground with that nickname. She could understand, and forehead was a bit of a taboo for her too. "Um, what's your name?"
His expression returned to its dull state and some half-hearted interest, as he drawled out still not bothering to sit back up, and still not letting go of her hand. He didn't want her start freaking again or look like she was going to cry.
He couldn't deal with crying girls.
"Nara Shikamaru, just Shikamaru though alright?" His lips curled into the slightest smirk. "I bet you wish to be called something other than Haruno, Haruno."
She took the hint and nodded, her face getting a little pinker. "I'm Sakura. You know your names really long."
He just shrugged and his interest drifted back to the clouds.
"Can I call you Shika?"
He did look at her then, and the way his eyebrows drew down, and how he twitched the answer was obvious. She almost smiled, actually.
"You're right Shi is much shorter!"
He stared at her, irked by the playful use of his name, before giving a grumble and starting to blush; a very un-manly thing to do. "No."
"I like Shi! Shi, it is." He grumbled again and she laughed.
"Sakura."
She blinked wondering how Shikamaru's voice got so deep; it almost sounded like…
The pink kunoichi let out a yelp as she was suddenly pulled to her feet by her wrist; her hand slipping from Shikamaru's grip. Arms tightened around her waist and pulled her to a larger frame holding her tight against him. "S-Sasuke?" She gasped out, trying to get a good look at him; he was holding her so tight.
"What were you doing with him?"
Sasuke had finished his laps early and had been trying to avoid the girls that kept offering him towels 'to wipe the sweat off…unless he didn't want to'. He'd taken one with small thanks from some girl he didn't know with her hair in a bun, and that had been a very bad mistake. Suddenly several girls had surrounded him holding out towels, water bottles, health bars…
He'd finally managed to escape them and duck behind a covering only to hear a foreign sound of laughter. Their slave was with some other boy smiling and holding hands, laughing sweetly as she moved a bit closer, and he lay beside Sakura grumbling, but Sasuke could tell he wasn't too bothered.
He'd felt a pang of jealousy and even now he wasn't about to release her no matter how much she squirmed.
"I was talking to my friend." True, she shouldn't label him as such, but she wasn't about to forget Shikamaru or how he had helped her. He was a good guy.
"Did I say you could talk to other guys? What if the teacher just happens to find out you skipped out on your laps?" Her eyes widened and she glanced to Shikamaru, watching him start to get up.
She was probably dragging him into something he didn't want to be in…she understood.
"I won't stop talking to him."
Sasuke's eyes narrowed at her stubbornness and his grip tightened to the point that his fingers dug into her sides; hurting her.
He growled and kissed the back of her neck, his lips rough and filled with a sort of hunger that made her whimper slightly unable to struggle anymore with such a tight grip. His mouth went lower, to her shoulder; and she could feel him his pulling back the shirt collar to expose her back her mind a bit dizzy when his tongue graced her skin.
He didn't know what he was doing actually…there was just this sudden rage that made him grip her harder and want to put her back in place as punishment for her stubborn disobedience. The girl he'd seen as a toy of sorts, lower than him, and soon to become just another fan girl of their group when they got bored of her...he couldn't stand seeing her holding another boy's hand of her own free will. He couldn't explain it, but he trusted his instincts above all else and they were telling him not to let go. She felt the cloth pushed aside more and shivered, sure that Shikamaru was gone by now and tried to figure out what to do. 'It hurts.' Wincing she tried to pull Sasuke's away, but to her surprise ahead she spotted the Nara , still there. Well, not exactly in the same spot, but he was still around and out of his hiding spot. It almost looked like he was sucking in a lot of air and bout to…
"OH MY GOD! LOOK! SASUKE-KUNS BEHIND THE BLEACHERS!!" Shikamaru yelled with hands at his mouth, trying to make his tone sound high and girly.
Sasuke paused in what he was doing to the pink-haired girl; the thunder of footsteps coming rapidly fast and getting closer.
'Damn it. This isn't over.'
Glaring at Shikamaru he shoved Sakura aside and ran out from behind the bleachers, half the gym class at his heels…and was that a guy in the mix too? He shuddered and picked up speed.
"Oh! Don't run!" "Sasuke-kun!" "I want a piece of your hair! I'll treasure it forever!"
The glee squeals, and low voiced giggle died down as the fans and Sasuke got farther away.
Sakura had managed to get a hold on the bar when Sasuke had shoved her, keeping herself upright and not banging her head on anything. She glanced to Shikamaru a bit out of breath, and surprised at the stunt he just pulled.
He grinned at her. "That got rid of him, huh?"
She pushed herself lightly from the bar and got a step closer to the pony-tail boy giving a nervous smile, fidgeting a little. She could still feel where Sasuke squeezed too hard, her lower neck wet where his tongue had slipped against her skin, and the air tickled where he'd kissed and licked making her fight to hold back a shiver.
"You didn't have to do that…" She spoke softly, between confused and worried about Shikamaru upsetting Sasuke. It was her fault, and now...he wasn't a part of the 'cruelest' for no reason.
He brushed off her guilty look and shrugged his shoulders in that offhanded way.
"I'm not a good fighter; had to do something." He tried not to make a big deal of it.
"Shi…"
He sighed and walked over placing a hand on her shoulder, kind of half straightening out where the collar had been pulled back and ruffled.
"Are you alright? What was all that about anyway? I've seen Uchiha pick on girls before but that was even a bit new for me."
"I'm fine, I'll manage." She didn't answer his second question and he noticed; the dull look back as he waited for an explanation that she was going to have to give him.
"Are you really alright?" he tried after some silence, frowning at her. There was something she was hiding; he could tell that it was a delicate subject also.
"Um…" It was hard, extremely hard. If she told someone they would show that picture and she'd be branded as the school slut, and most likely kicked out again. She'd lose Tenten, Naruto, Hinata, and now…Shi too. If she told him he would hate her instantly; he'd see the reason she was picked on at her old school and how stupid she was to fall into trap after trap. Tears had started to fill her eyes as the terror rose inside her; she tried hard not to cry but a tear had already leaked down her cheek.
A wave of discomfort went through the Nara, and he felt bad for pushing her. He frowned more and gave an aggravated sigh his short nails scratching the back of his neck. 'Mendokuse.'
"Hey, if it's that bad…you don't have to tell me now." He really didn't want her to start crying.
Sakura rubbed her eyes, sniffling as she tried to shake her head. S-She had to tell someone, and this time it was different; unlike her other friends he'd seen. She needed to tell someone; even if they were starting to get nicer the things like Sasuke just did she couldn't take.
"I-I might need some help…"
He raised a brow and drew a bit closer; he didn't like how she kept shivering. It was irritating seeing her so small when she'd been smiling and teasing before. He sighed and nodded for her to go on, the smallest of a weak smile. "Just no crying, alright?"
She scowled at him, and rubbed her eyes again. "Who's crying?"
"You've still got a tear on your cheek."
Sakura blushed and rubbed that away too frowning at him. "Better? Anymore complaints?"
His smile was lazy.
"Nah, you look prettier when you're not crying." His expression turned serious then. "So what happened with Uchiha?"
Her eyes went wide at the compliment and she blushed, kind of nodding when he looked serious. Her hand accidentally gripped the bottom of his shirt; which he noticed but didn't bother to complain over it…as long as she didn't tug and she looked like she was finally going to say something.
"I-It's a long story…"
"Nara Shikamaru?" Itachi inquired, a brow raised at never hearing the name before—his lips were in a deep frown.
"Yeah, I guess. She was laughing with him." Sasuke sat on one of the desks, fists clenched at his sides.
Sasori remained silent in the corner, arms crossed.
"Does that mean she won't be trying out for soccer, yeah?" The blonde pouted, his head tilting towards Itachi.
"Of course she will." Neji sat at one of the desks, his expression emotionless but his insides where twisting. Another person holding her hand, someone he didn't know…
"What if she forgets, un?"
"I'll go remind her." Gaara's expression was fiercest of all, he was closest to the door and he was shaking, his lips drawn into a scary smirk that practically filled his whole face. His mind swirled over the idea of breaking this boy's arm so he could never hold the little bunny's hand again.
"No, I'll go. I haven't spoken to the Sakura in quite awhile."
"Un! Yeah, good idea Itachi-kun is very persuasive! Right, Sasori? Eh Sasori?"
Deidara blinked at the absence of his companion, when had Sasori-kun left?
FIN!
(( Well, Sakura is finally telling someone, but just how far will she get? Can she keep Sasori and Itachi from finding out? Or will her worst nightmares come true...
Like I said! Shikamaru is a big part in this, ah my original idea for this chapter kind of changed…I got her to tell Shikamaru because he's smart enough to not just shrug important things over his shoulder and he can tell something would be wrong. Plus, she needs his genius on her side if she's ever getting free of those bastards. There will be no DeixSaku except for fluff because Deidara is starting to like her (not LIKE THAT I REPEAT!). I'm weighing away from Sasuke with Sakura and Gaara with Sakura because things are going to get pretty sadistic. Sasuke just liked toying with her and getting her reaction, but he'd confused to this new sudden possessive side, and he wants her…to give in like the other girls who follow him around, both so he can stop caring and so he doesn't have to put up with her annoying stubbornness. Gaara on the other hand is a very scary guy and a bully. He picks on girls, boys; pretty much anyone that gets in his way and he's interested when she gets mad…However the thought of someone else touching her is bring a bit of his craziness out to a point that he will hurt someone. We'll see how it goes…if you people didn't like sadistic you would be reading this right+hearts+ ;D
The pairings are between Nejisaku and Sasorisaku, Itasaku might be coming and I'm thinking there might be something between Shikamaru and Sakura that will unfortunately crumble, but you guys will love it for the moment! The guys are jealous—look out Shikamaru!
Now for the reviews!
hugsanimekisses04: Itachi made a brief appearance! Some definite SasorixSakura and ItachixSakura in the next chapter! Confrontation ;D This chapter was laced with Shikasaku hope you enjoyed. I hope you liked this chapter too! Deidara will remain cute and yeah I kind of dislike Ino sometimes…
gin-inu: Deidara is a pretty happy person, he pouts a lot too and gets easily bored. That's why he likes Sakura around because she's not boring+hearts+ I can't wait for dark Naruto! It'll be so fun…I hope I did good with Shikamaru, I really tried to keep him IC. I hope you liked the chapter hon. I always enjoy hearing from you—and that manga of your Sakura fic—more please, it's so awesome!!!
evilflynmonkeys: Thank you!! Um I put the couples up top xD
Skullcandy: Ha, ha! Shikamaru is so uptight about his hair being teased D: Updated
luvssasuke: Awe +hearts+ Shika is cute, and not good around girls ;D Updated!
o0Dreamer0oYES! Who is now titled "Shi" – Sakura needed a good ally didn't she xD Sasori DOES like her.
EvilFaerie17: I'm so happy someone caught that X3 It's an authors dream when the readers pick up things like that!!! Ha, ha running is no fun--- and YES this chapter his packed with ShiSaku goodness ;D Naruto's darker side well it's been slowly building with the way people treat HIM and how he's always in trouble…he's going to be scary I promise you. As for a stand, hmm my idea changed I tend to keep things logical and I like it to flow so OBVIOUSLY she needs help! With Shikamaru on her side she can get a little farther to escape and :coughchokehint: he's old friends with Naruto. I'm glad you love it!! X3
Gothic Saku-chan: Thank you! X3 Updated
Love of Midoriko: Ha, ha wait no longer!
MistressBlossom: Updated!!! X3
flaming witch of fire: Updated and thank you ;D
yukibozu: Cha! Shikamaru WILL help her! X3 Thank you for the suggestion—I'll think about that later on. Believe me though, they each of a different way of caring after finding out Sakura was with another guy 3 Sasuke and Gaara's a bit more twisted of course lmao.
badbunny1818: Updated!
Tashi Miyashita: I put the pairings up above—Sasori is growing less cold because of her. I hope you love this chapter as well!! X3
AngelFox23: Thank you!! Continued ;D
brunneteangel1005: If you have any questions please check my author's note or leave them in your next reply and I'll gladly answer them! X3
starlit.kiss7: And with this last review I shall update thank you X3 and enjoy this fresh new chapter!
And that's all I seriously need to work on my final—the helpful distraction of reviews would give make me feel really happy though ;D I love you reviewers so! You really make my day- sorry but it's true. SO! UM! Yeah, that's it…hint Shikamaru knows Naruto. They're old friends. READ AND REVIEW +hearts+ )