AN: This one is really short, I know. It's really just plot filler. I toyed with leaving it out and going straight to the kunoichi. It was really written as an ending to chapter sixteen, but that was too long as it was. This is it now. The story is continued in the sequel, "Phase Two". It will eventually be a trilogy of stories, although the next few will probably be shorter. Disclaimer still applies.

756 words in this chapter

Missing in Action

Chapter seventeen- Phase two

Kakashi finally walked in as Shikamaru paced the room frantically, belying his usual attitude.

He turned to face the older man and froze in his position, noticing a change in expression but not focusing on any details. That was… until he saw that Kakashi was shirtless.

"Did I interrupt something?" he asked, shocked.

"No." Kakashi assured him with a slightly disappointed glare "You actually caused it"

"Oh." The man's relaxed presence had a calming effect on him and for the first time in the long ten minutes since he left his own room, he found that he could sit down. "So that's what took you so long?"

"It was kind of hard to avoid. I couldn't exactly come straight here after that noise, she would have gotten suspicious."

"Alright. Fine." He sighed. More like you couldn't tear yourself away.

"Don't do it again though. It scared the shit out of Sakura." Kakashi gave him an accusing look that set him on edge. With that Sharingan eye exposed, he can be scarier than Sasuke used to be.

"You aren't serious."

"I bloody am. She nearly dropped her towel"

"What?!" he glared at him in shock "Too much information Kakashi."

"Alright. What was so desperately important then?" his eyes seemed to question now, rather than accuse.

"How long did Tsunade say we have to wait until phase two?" he blurted out quickly.

"Why?"

"Just answer the question Kakashi"

"Until tomorrow morning."

Shikamaru gulped "And we aren't allowed to retaliate anything until then?"

"No. Just let it happen" He seemed like he was upset by it aswell.

"I am going to die." He sank into the chair.

"What have you done?" the accusing glare was back.

"I haven't. Not yet but… I can't last any longer. There's no choice. As it stands, if she asked, I would answer, without a doubt. I can't…"

Kakashi sat down on the other chair and gazed at him sympathetically. "What happened Shikamaru?"

"She kissed me." He said in a weak voice.

"That's it?" Kakashi was almost laughing.

"No, I mean… she kissed me. It was so…" he felt like saying something silly, like hmm or something. The very thought of it sent pangs of pleasure through him. "Arghh! This is unbearable… I feel really bad… because she really did put every thing into it, and I couldn't retaliate… I can't wait Kakashi. I want her. Now."

"Dear Kami..." That was all he would say.

"What am I going to do Kakashi?"

"Read? Ignore her? Borrow my mask? Anything to bide your time and stop her. If you get stirred up…" Kakashi signaled towards his crotch "She'll notice and you'll be caught out."

"It's too late for that." Shikamaru blushed. "That's why I rushed out. It got very close. I can't ignore her Kakashi. I-I don't want to."

"If this was a real mission, I'd suggest that you should pull out. I must admit, we're a bit lost at the moment."

"We?"

"Hai. I'm in a very similar situation to be honest, except that I am not getting any. At least you are getting a healthy load of action, despite the fact that you can't return it. I'd give my all just to have Sakura show anything like that, but it's like she won't do anything until I do. I'm finding it hard to wait aswell. But other than that, if you give in and give the key, the entire Gen-jutsu on both rooms collapses. We're a team in this. We have to be strong."

Then a piece of paper appeared from nowhere. They went towards it and Shikamaru took it in his hands while he read it out loud.

"Hatake. Nara.

The pair of you are complete idiots by the way, but that's not the point.

The point is that the game is up. Haruno is too damn clever.

She has figured it all out. Everything except the key.

No offence Hatake, but she will win, without doubt.

Yes, she knows exactly where you are and why you are there.

My only option is to order you to put Phase two into action now.

I know that Shikamaru will be relieved by this, but stay calm.

You still have as long as you want and the same rules apply.

Have fun,

Tsunade."

They looked at each other for a brief second, but it didn't last long before they both dived out of the room. A second later, two items were flung back into the room. An elastic hair tie, and a black mask.

The End

AN: don't kill me. Read the sequel. It's pretty much a follow on but I don't like stories with thousands of chapters so I split them. Apologies if that's messed up anyone's story alert blah.