AN: I would've posted this sooner, but I was trying to wait until I'd have enough time to right more. So, uh, enjoy! Read and reveiew please...
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Saeko walked nervously toward the door, her little confidence had drained in her walk to the house. She stepped up and knocked a few times, waiting, hoping he was home because if he wasn't she didn't know if she'd be able to come back.
"Coming," A voice said from somewhere inside, though Saeko could've sworn she heard him mutter "How troublesome," even through the door.
"Oh," Shikamaru said, opening the door, "Hello Saeko."
"Shikamaru!" Saeko exclaimed, "I'm so glad you're here!"
"It is my house," Shikamaru said, still a bit dazed from her loudness.
"Of course but…." Saeko trailed off, she wasn't quite sure where she was going with that, "Can I come in? I promise I won't…. do what I did last time."
"Sure," Shikamaru said, holding the door open so Saeko could enter.
Saeko nervously seated herself on the couch when Shikamaru led her into the living room.
"I'm guessing you want to talk to me?" Shikamaru asked, determined not to make this easier for her.
"I really do," Saeko said, "I'm… sorry. I'm really sorry for thinking you liked me that way and would go for me right after my last boyfriend hurt me…. I wish I hadn't done it, but I'm glad you stopped me."
"Okay," Shikamaru said, "I'll accept your apology."
"Thanks," Saeko said, "There's more though. When I told you to leave then… well I didn't stay at home. I wasn't alone either. I went for a walk and I ran into Sasuke."
"You were with Sasuke?" Shikamaru asked slowly.
"I was…" Saeko started, "We went back to his house and didn't really talk much, I wouldn't even really tell him what was wrong…. Then one thing led to another and…"
"You slept with him," Shikamaru finished.
"I did," Saeko said, there was no point in denying it, "I wish I hadn't…"
"Then why did you?" Shikamaru demanded, it was unlike him to get this worked up.
"I just…" Saeko tried to explain, "It's just that I kept getting hurt, and although you didn't mean to hurt me you did. Then I just felt like I needed to be close to someone, really close. For that one night I'd feel safe, and I'd feel like I could trust someone. Sasuke was my friend… or one of the closest things to it that I've had. It just made sense at the time."
"It doesn't make sense anymore?" Shikamaru asked.
"Nothing makes sense anymore," Saeko sighed, "I felt hurt and then I ended up hurting you by making you leave…."
"I wish I knew what to say," Shikamaru said honestly, "But there's nothing I can say. If you want me to say I forgive you for your night with Sasuke… I don't know if I can."
"Why not?" Saeko asked desperately.
"I felt something for you Saeko," Shikamaru said, "That's why I pushed you away. I didn't want to hurt you, and have to have you talking to someone else about how much I hurt you later. I didn't know if you liked me or if it was just… a rebound thing."
"I understand," Saeko said slowly, "But wait, did you say you felt something for me? As in, you don't anymore?"
"I don't know what to think," Shikamaru said, "Even I can be confused sometimes. Now that you've explained yourself, I think it would be a good idea for you to go."
Saeko nodded slowly, salty tears forming in her eyes, "Can I come back sometime to talk?"
"I think it would be best if I came and talked to you when I'm ready," Shikamaru replied, every word he said was hurting himself as much as her, he wanted to forget everything and just be with her but knew life didn't work like that and he'd regret it later.
Saeko nodded again, a tear finally falling from her eye. As though that was the cue, Saeko started crying as she left Shikamaru's house. She ran home again, still trying to figure out how she thought going to see Shikamaru could somehow make everything better.
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Sasuke walked to Shikamaru's house slowly, he had just seen Saeko run away crying. He knew that going to see her probably wouldn't help; it would be a better idea to go and talk to Shikamaru to see why Saeko had been crying. Sasuke knocked quickly on the door.
"What?" Shikamaru asked as he opened the door, annoyed not only that he had to answer the door twice that day but that Sasuke was there.
"I just wanted to know if you knew why Saeko was crying," Sasuke asked, "She seemed to be heading from over here and I wondered if she had come to talk to you yet."
"She was here," Shikamaru replied calmly, "You should know that you don't have to worry about her suddenly trying to leave you for me or something though, I made her cry."
Sasuke pushed Shikamaru and sent him hurtling across his house, "First off, me and her aren't together, never were, never will be. Secondly, why the hell did you make her cry?"
"Oh I'm sorry," Shikamaru started sarcastically, "You just slept together. So much better. I didn't mean to make her cry though, it just happened…. I told her I'd need time to try to forgive her for sleeping with you."
"Why is it even any of your business who Saeko sleeps with?" Sasuke taunted, trying to anger Shikamaru into spilling the truth, "As far as I could tell you two were never together, and you pushed her away didn't you? Why should you car-"
"Because I love her!" Shikamaru interrupted.
"What?" Sasuke asked wide eyed.
"That just slipped out," Shikamaru responded, "I didn't mean it. She's one of my best frie-"
"Don't even try that with me," Sasuke said, "You meant it when you said it whether you'll admit it or not. Now either you'll sulk for a bit, admit I'm right and go and talk to her or you'll sit here and be an ass about all of this. I know you're smarter than the second choice, Shikamaru."
"I can't face her right now," Shikamaru said meekly, "I'll talk to her tomorrow."
Sasuke nodded as he walked back out of the house, calling a quick, "You better!" over his shoulder.
Shikamaru sighed, he knew Sasuke was right but still couldn't face it.
AN: Okay, lame cheesy lovey fluffy soap opera stuff right? Ah well, I kind of like it like that. I'll update once I write the next chapter probably, maybe this weekend... Thanks for reading, anyone want to review?