I really didn't like this one that much. It started out shikaino (like i wanted), and turned into something else. Bleh. I finished this on june seventh in about four hours. I was gonna have Shikamaru participate in my hobby of spackle watching, but I'm not sure how i ended up with this. Ah well, least i got another idea out if my head. R&R (itoko means male cousin by the way)

Shikamaru tended to stare. When outside, he stared at the clouds, at the patterns that the shadows of leaves cast, at just about anything for that matter. And when he was inside...

He stared at spackling. You know the little piles of plaster that hang form the ceiling? That's what he stared at when there was nothing else to do. Shikamaru groaned, rubbing his eyes to clear them of sleep. It was two in the freaking morning, he should've been asleep by then, or out watching the stars if he couldn't sleep. Instead, he was staring at his favorite patch of ceiling, looking for patterns in the clumps.

"How troublesome," he muttered, hauling his form into a sitting position. There were many ways to try and get one to fall asleep. His friends all had different methods that only seemed to work for them. You could listen to music (Deyna), have a snack (Choji), if you had a pet you could stroke it (Kiba) or read or do any number of other things that all seemed equally troublesome at this point.

"You think breathing is too troublesome, Shika." The boy growled. He had to listen to Ino talk all day, he didn't need his mind to be bringing up her comments when he was trying to sleep. Shikamaru scratched his side and looked around his room. It wasn't that interesting in the daylight, even less so when you couldn't see anything in it. Another groan fell from his lips. Staring at the sea of shadows that was his room wasn't helping either.

For once in his life, on ideas floated through the strategists mind. No brilliant ideas as too how he would fall asleep, or battle strategies, or anything. His mind was a blank, canvas and the painter who was supposed to fill it with thoughts had taken a vacation. "Damn it!" He cried, flopping backwards onto his bed. "Why the hell can't i sleep?!"

"Because you're awake," came a small voice from his doorway. Shikamaru lifted his head and saw his tiny cousin Shikaji, holding a little teddy bear to his chest. His cousin was staying with him for the week, and was probably the only person that he didn't find troublesome. The boy toddled over to where his older cousin was sitting and tried to climb onto the bed. "Why were you saying bad words?" Asked Shikaji as Shikamaru pulled him onto the bed and chose his next words carefully.

"I was saying those words because my mind isn't working straight right now," he said, looking at his cousin.

"Why isn't it?" Shikaji asked, playing with his green night shirt.

"Because I'm tired."

"Why are you tired?"

"Cuz i can't fall asleep?"

"Why can't you fall asleep?"

"Because you're here talking to me, that's why!"

The little boy turned to his normally bored cousin, surprised that Shikamaru had yelled at him. That never happened. "Then you should do what I do." Shikaji held out his worn out little bear to Shikamaru. Shikamaru took it slowly, uncertain as to what he was supposed to do with it.

"Troublesome. What am i supposed to do with your bear, Shiakji?" The little boy giggled in delight at knowing something his genius cousin didn't.

"You cuddle it itoko!" He laughed. Shikamaru was embarassed to say the least. The last time he had cuddled anything had been when he was a little baby.

His eyes narrowed. "Shinobi don't cuddle bears, Shikaji," he said, trying to make his cousin understand. Shikaji wasn't going to become a ninja, so he wouldn't understand.

His cousin slid down to the floor. "Don't worry Shika, i won't tell anyone," he yawned, already heading for the door. It was really too late for either of them to be up. "He just helps me sleep, so maybe he can help you," and with that Shikaji slid out the door, seeming far too mature to be only five years old. Shikamaru looked to the door, And the bear. And the door. And the bear. Oh hell!

Shikamaru flopped backward so his head hit the pillow, holding the bear to his chest like Shikaji had done. He could feel his breathing begin to slow, felt himself begin to relax...If this EVER reached anyone he knew... Konoha would be in desperate need of new shinobi.