Here ya go: )

Chapter 8:

A Choice or a Privilege

Shikamaru slowly opened his eyes. He took one look around, and slightly panicked. He was in a darkened room, with a single light in the corner creating a freakily dim effect in the room.

He looked to his left. He saw Ino and Marnie both tied to chairs. Marnie was unharmed, but looked frightened. Ino, on the other hand, had a blooming black eye and was bleeding down her mouth and bit out her nose. She was clearly unconscious. He noticed something else about the two girls.

Both of them didn't have their necklaces anymore.

"Why that-" Shikamaru attempted lifting an arm when he looked down. He was strapped to a chair too. Ok, why didn't he see that before?

"Comfortable?" Mina's shrill voice came next to him. Just as he turned to face her, she slapped him. Hard. "Good," she said icily.

Shikamaru could feel his cheek burning as it throbbed. "What' s wrong with you?" he mustered in his pain.

Mina plopped into a chair.

"Well," Shikamaru heard clanks. She had nine chains around her wrists as she swung the trinkets back and forth with her finger. "I think we went over this. But just for all times take, we'll go over it again," she swung the trinkets back into her palm and gripped them. "Now that there are some new additions," she said regarding him. She stood up and walked back and forth. She placed the necklaces on the table next to her.

"Where to begin?" she pretended to think deeply. "Ah. Well, one," she ticked off a finger. "I haven't obtained all ashes of my past yet," Shikamaru raised an eyebrow. What does she mean? She has all the necklaces. "Two," she continued. "My apprentice has abandoned me…little weakling. I knew she wouldn't be able to handle life on the edge the minute I saw her. Oh well," she sighed. "Last, and certainly not least, not only are the offspring of my past foes still living, but as are two of them!" She snapped her head around at him. "Answer your question?"

"Um…sure," he said, confused. Mina growled as she whipped her head back around.

"Are you at all scared, boy?" she asked him darkly. He looked at Ino.

"I wouldn't say scared as much as I am pissed off," he said, trying with all his might to break the tape's bind.

"Oh? You do not tremble in fear at the sight of your little lover-girl in such deep pain?" she asked dramatically. "Honestly, Shikamaru. This worthless girl comes in for no more than two weeks, and you fawn over her as if she were gold." She scoffed. "Tell me," she walked over to a table and picked up a sharp knife. "Would you rather join me…" She took the knife and snapped open Shikamaru's tape. "And live? Or stay with her…" she seized him by the neck and threw him at Ino's lap. "And die?" She whispered in his ear.

As she said this, she drew the knife along his arm, blood trickling down his arm. He did not falter.

With others…

"Damn it!" Asuma slammed his fist onto the wall after many failed attempts to lift the tile, making a dent. "How do we get down there???"

Kurenai and Tenten paced. He was right…what were they going to do?

Tenten sat in a chair and began swiveling in it. Movement often calmed her.

"Oh my god, oh my god, Ino where are you?" she said to herself as she laced her fingers into her hair. In frustration, she tugged out her hair things, her buns rolling down and out. "Urgh…" she growled, snapping her hair things with her fingers. Man, she really was mad.

"You…you look different with your hair down," said a bashful voice next to her. She turned and looked up to find herself looking into Neji's pearly whites.

"You mean, like better?" she asked, blushing.

"Yeah, well sort of, just…different." He didn't know why he was saying this at a time like this, but it felt right. "You don't leave it down often, do you?"

"Naw," she said. "It gets too much in the way. Besides, my mom used to wear buns when she was my age. I have some pictures of her. I just kind of wanted to…"

"…Carry on the legacy your mom started?" Neji finished for her.

"Exactly," she said looking up at him, this time feeling like she was looking into something far deeper than just his milky white eyes.

"Trust me," he said. "I know all about what it's like to carry something on." He looked straight into her chocolate eyes. Her eyes are almost the exact same shade of brown as her hair…it's kind of unique actually. And I have no idea why I'm thinking this. But at the same time, I think I kind of do.

"I guess it's like you said," Tenten said. "We are all in the same boat."

Neji smiled. And this time it wasn't a smirk. It wasn't a half smile. It was true, warm, genuine smile. Coming from the stoic Neji Hyuuga.

With Shika and Mina…

"It's a choice Shikamaru…" she whispered. "Death or life. I think there's an obvious answer here." She put her hand gently on his shoulder and massaged it.

"More like…" he said in a trembling voice. "Love or life." He said into Ino's lap as he shook (AN: Lap as in lower thighs near the knees, NOT what some of you might be thinking…)

"Well, you could think of it that way," Mina said. "Or you could think of it as a favor. I mean, look at your little friends…I'm killing them unquestionably. But you…I'm offering you the chance to live. To live on by my side."

"What makes you think I want that?" he asked angrily.

"It's better than death…" she hissed.

As this exchange was being made, Ino came to, but did not open her eyes. For all Mina or Shikamaru knew, she was still sleeping. But no, she was listening to every word said. What will you choose Shikamaru…

"A whole hell of a lot better," she added. Shikamaru paused as he brought his head up. It was still bowed though. He let his shoulders drop in a succumbing manner.

"That's right…" Mina encouraged. "See, Shikamaru, death is an option…but living is a privilege." She slipped the knife into his hand and turned the point towards Ino. Ino, having her eyes closed, wasn't aware of this offer.

"I think," he said in a soft voice. "I'll take my chances on that one."

Shikamaru's next move could have made Ino embrace him for the rest of her life.

He turned a slashed Mina's face.

With others…

"Wait a second!" Said Kelisa. All heads turned to look at her impatiently. She began bouncing on her ankles a bit.

"Well?" Asuma asked. "Spit it out already!"

"Mina once told me about this think she used to do when she needed to take her anger out," she said.

"Besides killing people?" Kurenai asked.

"Yes. She had this rather odd ritual she said, where she would stop twice and hit the wall as hard as she could three times. After she did that, she felt so much better."

"Look, I don't mean to me rude, because you're obviously having a sentimental moment here, but I really don't see how that little factoid is going to help us out of this right now." Asuma said.

"I just wonder…" Kelisa's voice wandered off. She stopped twice. She hit the wall as hard as she could three times. Nothing. "Hm…maybe…" she thought some more. "Asuma, Neji!" she called to them. "I'm going to need your help with this."

Neji came over. "What are we supposed to do?" he asked.

"I told you," Kelisa answered. "Stomp twice, and hit the wall as hard as you can three times."

"Will do," nodded Asuma. He cracked his neck. "Alright." He said. "Count of three. One…two…"

"Wait!" Kurenai grabbed Asuma's arm, Tenten at her side.

"What is it?" Asuma asked.

"We'll do it too," Tenten said, stepping next to Neji.

"I don't know if that's a good idea," said Neji. "As silly as this little ritual is…we have no idea what the outcome will be."

"I don't care," stated Tenten, not about to budge at all. "Whatever the outcome…we're going through it together."

She discreetly laced her fingers into Neji's. Neji jumped slightly at the contact. He had lots of fangirls in the orphanage, no doubt. He's what we would call a lady-killer. Even so, it's not like he's ever been involved in any way with any of them, let alone held one of their hands…

Whatever. Neji closed his fingers over Tenten's.

"Fine by me," said Asuma. Kurenai kissed his cheek and stepped beside him.

"Okay," he said again. "One…two….three!"

On three, all of them stopped twice in unison, and hit the wall opposite them with all their strength.

Only milliseconds after, the wall tilted inward almost like the tile, and all of them tumbled in.

Hope you liked that chappie. As you could see, this one was mainly NejiTen. I need them to have their fluffy moments! Now shikaIno fluff is DEFINITELY underway. Keep reading guys, thanks to all of you! R and R!