Disclaimer: Consider it disclaimed.

AN: Silly plot bunnies, they won't leave me alone...

Rules (from ChristinaAngel):

1. Choose any character, pairing, or fandom you like.
2. Turn on your music player and put it on random/shuffle.
3. Write a drabble related to each song that plays. You only have the time frame of the song to finish the drabble you start when the song starts, and stop when it's over. No lingering afterwards!
4. Do ten of these, then post them.

The iPod Shuffle Challenge

The ShikaSaku List

Artist: Alice Cooper

Song: I Never Cry

"Shika, I never figured you the type to be proud, you know..."

Shikamaru almost scoffed at this, except that he couldn't. His throat was a bit ... clogged up – and he didn't want to risk it.

"Wow, you're more stubborn than I thought..."

"Why are you here, Sakura?"

She looked a bit offended at that. "Why would I? Besides, Ino and Chouji can't really comfort you. They're in bad shape, too, you know."

At this reminder, Shikamaru stubbornly steeled himself again, swallowing the rock that seemed to be caught in his throat. Someone needed to be strong right now and Asuma couldn't because-

Damn rock. Wouldn't stay down.

"Shika, I won't tell if it makes you feel any better..."

And with that, he sobbed like he never did before.

"Shikamaru, were you crying?"

"Of course not."

"Just a heart ache that got caught in my eye. How troublesome..."

'Cheeky genius.'

Artist: Hellogoodbye

Song: I Saw It On Your Keyboard

Shikamaru grinned as Haruno Sakura walked into his training grounds. Ino and Chouji eyed their team mate suspiciously. Nara Shikamaru never grinned.

"So, Sakura, I saw recently a song on your desk..."

Sakura froze, then studied him carefully. "... What song?"

"On your desk in your office. Didn't know your wrote songs and the notes looked good..."

"Didn't know you knew nothing of privacy, Shikamaru."

"Ah, I don't mean to go against your privacy, Sakura – would never ... dream of it. Just merely curious..."

Sakura paused and looked him over again.

The Nara noted with some delight that she seemed to actually see him for the first time. 'Guess I used some good tones in that sentence, huh?' He thought with yet another grin.

It was then that Sakura realized that the suggestive tone was, indeed, on purpose. (Ino and Chouji stepped away slowly.)

Artist: Show Me The Skyline

Song: Far From Being A Star

Shikamaru watched as his two closest girl friends came out of the building they had just played in, his crush following just a little behind. It seemed their band hadn't been doing as well recently (or so he guessed). As usual, the four piled into the beat up Volkswagen of his, but the unusual silence followed, rather than boisterous laughter, made him uneasy.

He obediently drove Temari and Ino home first, before he finally got to Sakura's driveway. "Hey, Sak."

"...What?"

"What's wrong? I missed the last song – something happened with the alarm system on the car."

"... You seriously missed it?" After receiving a simple nod, she immediately started crying.

Confused he leaned over and hugged her, completely bewildered with both of their actions.

"You i-idiot! I confessed to you today and you didn't reply! We totally buggered up our last song because of it."

Feeling very much like an idiot, he lifted her head and Shikamaru kissed her. "I'm so sorry. Am I too late?"

She was quiet a moment before she finally shook her head. "Never."

"Good."

"Troublesome," she muttered with a choked laugh and he smiled.

Artist: The Bravery

Song: An Honest Mistake

Despite having known each other for the most of their lives, sometimes, Sakura just didn't make sense to him. She always seemed like she cared so much about people, then the next she was trying to pound their heads in.

"I'm so sorry, Sakura!"

Now, if she was trying to pound his head, he could deal with it, but it wasn't.

"Listen to me, woman-!"

He realized after (though he should've known anyways), that this might not have been the brightest thing to say. She sent him a vicious glare before Ino finally managed to lock her arms in Sakura and drag her backwards.

"Let it go, Sakura. He's not worth it."

"Hey, Ino, don't say that- I honestly didn't mean to, it was a mistake."

"Damn right it was, Nara." Sakura hissed and Ino shook her head, obviously just barely containing her anger as well.

"It was a mistake...?"

Shikamaru turned his attention briefly to the other girl. "Yeah, it was. Sorry, Temari. I got ... confused."

He didn't get a chance to say everything, though, as she smacked him as well, then stalked off – but he didn't even feel it. His senses were currently focused on his aching heart. 'Troublesome ... love.'

Artist: Carolina Liar

Song: I'm Not Over

Sakura sighed as she watched her ex-boyfriend, resident co-genius (herself being the other one), Nara Shikamaru walk down the halls. She didn't know what on earth made her continue to think about it. They were over – done, capiche and all that. But ... well, she knew, truthfully. She still cared for him. Though she had tried so hard to forget it all, they had been too close. He meant the world to her – still. This was worse than her crush on Uchiha Sasuke back in grade school!

Her friends all shook their heads at her as she watched him. No doubt her longing was showing, but what could she do? She was still trying, of course, to move on and she had no right to still like him. It was her that broke up with him, after all.

So, she turned to her own locker, never once noticing as the same boy turned to her, smiled knowingly, then walked away – oh, he was going to wait for her. It was only a matter of time (he wasn't a genius for nothing)...

Artist: Trading Yesterday

Song: One Day (non-acoustic version)

Contrary to popular belief (well, Ino's and Naruto's, that is...), Sakura was actually quite a patient person – when she wanted to be. In fact, she had been quiet and waiting for over two years, now, about her ever-growing love for one Nara Shikamaru. That is to say, she had only told Ino and hadn't made any advances, aside from attempting to make conversation slightly more often.

If she could make him notice her, though, she would be very happy, indeed. But – her patience was running out and she was feeling more and more uneasy, especially now that Temari was in town and annoyingly enough, monopolizing his time.

Well, one day, that might just turn around, and when she received her next mission briefing, she was pleasantly surprised to see an eight-day mission with just Shikamaru and herself.

"Seems someone was missing me."

"Troublesome woman, be quiet. Even I need a break sometimes."

'And yet, you still request for me to come with you, time after time...'

Artist: Owl City

Song: If My Heart Was A House

It wasn't often that Shikamaru started thinking in terms of cliched lines, but every time he was with her, something really strange happened to him.

Whenever he wasn't with her, though, it got even worse – the longer, the worse, it seemed. For that reason, he made sure that every mission he got, it was with her. Of course, with a brain like his, he automatically had to analyze things that didn't make sense.

It was really quite puzzling, though. Even simple things like when she borrowed a shirt of his because hers got ripped up too bad, then her scent lingered and it made him feel ... nice. (How did she always wear his clothes better than him...?)

Something felt cheesy and so undeniably right when they were together (see, there he goes with that cliche crap) so he didn't mind continuing his investigation...

Artist: Elliot Smith

Song: Waltz #2 (XO)

The first time he ever saw her, he quite honestly fell in love with her. She was quiet and complacent when he first saw her. She also looked broken. It drew him to her.

Turns out she had 'caused a death' at the local hospital. Really, the way he saw it, the only hope was her and she had only been unable to do that – the death was already taking place before it got to her, so she could in no way be held responsible.

Instead of thinking her troublesome, though, he decided that he didn't mind listening to this.

So, eventually, they made it a habit that everyday after work, they met – same place, same time; the subway station for only an hour or so – and they just talked. Everyday, he told her how amazing she was to save the lives she did, so that one she was given 'permission' to move on. Not forget, but not dwell over.

Then, two months after they started going out, she saved his sensei and a year after that, the two got engaged. This woman was truly amazing. Never troublesome, lively and with burdens, but at least he could help her with that...

Artist: Ingrid Michaelson

Song: Porcelain Fists

"Shika, you're drowning again."

"I can ... see that!" He hissed, trying desperately to reach the inflatable tube just inches in front of him. "Maybe you shouldn't have pushed me in then keep yanking the tube from under me."

"I didn't mean that."

"Oh? Then ... what did you mean? Troublesome woman," he muttered, his feet still pumping hard below him.

"I mean, you want to cry again. I won't allow to be stubborn again, but I won't force you."

"... Sakura get it through your head, I don't cry."

"You did last time. And I didn't tell, just as I promised. Do you really not trust me at all? Gosh, even I'm drowning in your tears, yet you won't cry."

"... Some other time, Sakura." Then the inflatable was yanked again. "Sakura~!"

Artist: Joshua Radin

Song: Sky

"Sakura?"

The pink haired woman turned her head to look at her fiance. She was surprised he was still awake, being a little later than two in the morning.

"What time is it? Did you just get home?" His voice was groggy, but it sounded alert and a bit alarmed.

"Yeah, sorry, the hospital wanted me to stay late tonight."

"Don't do it anymore," he said after a moment of silence, then he sat up. "Come to bed."

She frowned, feeling concerned. "Are you alright?"

"I'm better than I was yesterday."

"You were sick yesterday?" Immediately, Sakura finished tugging on her pajama pants and hopped onto her side of the bed, reaching for his forehead. Instead, Shikamaru took hold of her wrist, pulled her down, and kissed her firmly on the lips.

"June 18th." He said firmly. Then, seeing her confusion, he added, "Our wedding."

"So soon?"

"We've waited long enough. Just ... don't leave me." A blush covered his face and he scowled.

With a laugh, Sakura put her arms around his neck and kissed him again. "Bad dream? Is that what this is about?" At his sharper scowl, she grinned. "I promise."

AN: Done! DeiSaku next.

Also, you that Elliot Smith song there? Yeah, well I'm planning on writing either a three-chapter story on that or a one shot. Not a song fic, per say, but using the kind of story line there (mostly 'cause I absolutely loved the line 'I'll never know you now, but I'm gonna love you anyhow'. :))... Anyhow, love ya all~! ;)

- Cady :D