AN: I thought I'd put up a note in order to explain a few things that's happening in the story so far because someone mentioned that the situation seemed rushed.

I'm not going to go into really deep detail because I was going to lead up to the changes in his personality as the story went on. Basically another side affect of being away from home is that things change, people change. It happens all the time. So what doesn't bother someone once could definitely bother someone further down the road and add to the fact that now that Kakashi has had time to think (that's all I am going to reveal about that) that his curiosity has had time to be perked. I personally know that when I am curious about something and have had a long time to go over many possibilities without an answer, it tends to drive me nuts until I GET an answer. So to me, Kakashi is mainly curious as to what is happening and also perhaps feeling a bit protective, although he is wondering why at this point as well.

And while I realize that it may seem like he did a complete 180 and it seems abrupt, that's not what I am trying to portray at all. He is just starting to explore what it is he is feeling and nothing major is going to happen anytime soon. Right now he doesn't quite know what to think or feel at this point.

As for the feeling threatened by Shikamaru, to me that would be normal. I mean if you were just starting to feel at least a small amount of protectiveness towards someone who is clearly going through something bad, and didn't know what was going on, wouldn't you be a bit suspicious too? No matter who it is.

And as for Shikamaru acting OOC? Well I had to make him a bit more caring in order to fit into the role I put him in. So yeah, right now hes being an overly caring older brother atm, hes not coming onto her at all. I mean what kind of person does that to a person whose going through something? Not someone very nice that's who.

However, I do realize not everyone thinks the way I do, so I know I wont please everyone with my explanations, but there's really nothing I can do about that. I am putting characters into a storyline I made up and sort of twisting them to my specifications, so at times they will act a bit OOC, but I will try to have it make sense further on down the road at some point.

So please remember nobody is perfect, and I'm certainly not.

And no one is required to read anything I publish, but if something doesn't make sense please log in and comment so I can try to explain a few things.

Chapter 3

Lending Strength

Every step she took felt like agony, her head swimming in a foggy haze as she clung to the angel walking beside her. That's what Shikamaru was, her lifeline, her reason for hanging onto the so called life she led now. He was like a pillar of light in the inky darkness surrounding her which, to be honest, was rather amusing as he specialized in Shadow Jutsu. She didn't know what she would have done without his presence these last six months. Sakura buried her nose in his shirt and took a deep breath, his familiar scent of sandalwood with just a hint of mint flowed over her senses. She could feel her muscles relaxing, the tension that usually ran rampant being replaced with a calming, soothing sensation. She felt his arm tighten around her as he pulled her closer, knowing she did that to draw comfort from him. He wasn't one of the most brilliant strategists in Konoha for no reason.

As they came up to her apartment building they slowly climbed the stairs, his grip tightened again when he suddenly stopped and turned her towards him. She knew what was coming, so she just stood there and let him move her like a rag doll. Sakura huffed out a breath of frustration at being man handled as he lifted her into his arms, a hand beneath her knees, the other holding onto her back. The first time he'd pulled this on her, he argued that it made more sense and was far more safe then trying to climb the stairs herself. And after she had tried several times and almost had her face kiss the pavement, she'd finally given in. Albeit reluctantly, and she made sure both he and anyone else in the vicinity knew of her displeasure quite loudly. It would be faster his way anyway and not to mention, less painful. She'd just buried her face in his chest and tried to ignore the soft chuckles from her elderly neighbor lady who had been taking her garbage out. It would have been fine if no one had seen it, but luck it seemed wasn't with her that night. Sakura knew damn well, he could've avoided the commotion too easily but knowing his lazy attitude, deemed it too 'troublesome'. She felt as he adjusted his grip and opened her eyes seeing her front door as he used his shadow jutsu to rummage through her hip pouch for her key. Sighing, she settled into his embrace, content for the moment that she didn't have to move. She knew better than to try and help anyways, he always argued with her and insisted on doing everything, which irked her at first.

Sakura had always preferred to be independent, only relying on herself, so to suddenly have everything done for her was disconcerting. Not to mention embarrassing. And nothing seemed to dissuade him either, not tantrums, threats of bodily harm or even crying moved him.

'And people call me stubborn. I've got nothing on Shika.' She mused, focusing her emerald eyes on his face. Being this close to him didn't bother her anymore, after all they had gotten a lot closer and had even slept in the same bed. Well, more like she'd passed out as soon as she hit the mattress and he stayed to make sure she would be alright.

Her mind conjured the first night he brought her home from the bar blind drunk. It had been awkward at first, not knowing how she was going to tell him anything without really telling him everything. But she knew he wouldn't just let this go. So as he laid her gently on her bed and sat down on the edge looking at her expectantly, she swallowed her pride and began.

"Are you sure you want to know Nara? It's not too late to back out now and go home you know."

Cocking an eyebrow, he leaned in closer. "I think we are past formalities Sakura, and if I hadn't wanted to know I would've dumped your butt on your bed and left already. Now spill woman."

Turning to her side, she faced the open window as a soft breeze wafted through, ruffling her red curtains, her eyes tracking the movements. An errant lock of hair swirled across her vision before she tucked it behind her ear.

He sighed and rubbed the back of his neck in frustration. "Look Sakura, I know there's something wrong, so don't deny it."

"How do you know anything's wrong?" She whispered back. "I could just be having a bad day."

He moved to her side of the bed and gave her a do-I-look-stupid-to-you expression. Sakura sighed deeply, clenching her hands in her pillow. She knew there was no way around this now, but maybe she could keep some semblance of her dignity intact.

"Okay, I will tell you, but I'm not giving you any specifics," She began, and noticed as his shoulders tensed in response.

He seemed to be analyzing her words for a moment and then nodded. "Alright Sakura, just give me the basics and I'll fill in the blanks myself."

Sakura ran a hand through her tangled locks as she shook her hair free of the messy ponytail and sat up slowly, slumping over from the effort. Keeping her eyes on the floor she swallowed hard and took a deep breath.

"You know I came from a merchant family right?" Seeing him nod out the corner of her eye she continued.

"Growing up in a civilian family was about as normal as you could get. Granted, a merchant's life isn't glamorous or exciting, but I never went without growing up. Don't get me wrong, I'm grateful to my parents, but I always knew I wanted something more." She paused, tilting her head back and stared at the ceiling.

"I can remember helping out at my families store as a little girl, even knowing at that age I wasn't destined for that, but for something more. One afternoon while sweeping the sidewalk out in front of the store I heard a commotion and turned to see a shinobi chasing someone through the streets. It was the most amazing thing to me, to see the agility, the speed, the precision of the ninja as he pursued the thief. I think the most amazing part was when he climbed up the side of our store only to leap off the roof and tackle the thief to the ground." She paused as she brought her legs up and rested her chin on her knees, her arms wrapping around her legs.

'Almost as if she was trying to curl in on herself for protection,' Shikamaru mused. 'But protection from what exactly?'

He watched as she took a deep breath and blew it out shakily and he knew then that this was hard for her to say. Sitting there hunched over, looking so much like the little girl from their academy days. It made his heart ache.

Even as young as he was Shikamaru was perceptive, he just masked it with his lazy attitude, preferring to observe unnoticed. So when his attention wasn't up in the clouds or napping, his gaze was upon those around him, studying them. Analyzing every move, every facial expression, noting even the smallest and obscure things most people completely disregarded and committed it all to memory. So he was familiar with her behavior and patterns and seeing her revert back to her childhood mannerisms was disconcerting, to say the least.

She'd grown since those days immensely, but every so often her timid inner little girl shone through. He remembered well the small shy girl Sakura was before Ino had taken her under her wing. It seemed every time he'd seen her she had tried her hardest to fade into the background thanks to the teasing she got from her large forehead.

But he never thought anything was wrong with her forehead, in fact he always thought she was rather pretty with her cotton candy colored hair and those deep emerald eyes. Her features and coloring were rather unique and almost exotic even, a breath of fresh air amidst all the normal people around her. Even as insecure as she was then, it still took him aback when she directed those intense eyes on him. It was almost like she could see into his very soul and he continually found himself getting lost in their depths. He tilted his head and studied her more before raising a hand and brushing a strand of hair from her face, drawing her attention back to him. His eyes widened as he saw the tears welling up in her eyes, threatening to fall. Shikamaru smoothed a hand down her shoulder and clasped one of her hands in both of his.

"Come on Sakura, we've known each other for a long time, so you can trust me with anything." He sat there patiently as her gaze went from their hands back up to his face, a silent single tear trailed down her cheek. Bringing up one of his hands, he brushed the tear aside tenderly with his thumb, meeting her questioning emerald eyes unflinchingly.

"Let me be there for you, please?" He knew she had questions of her own concerning him and the reasons behind his actions, but now wasn't the time for that. This was her time and he was determined to help her no matter what it took. There would be enough time later to answer her questions.

"Shika...," She croaked hesitantly, throwing herself into his arms, her body shook with the earth shattering sobs that bubbled from her throat. As he clutched her to his body and tried to soothe her, his determination steeled. It was obvious she needed someone to confide in and he would be there for her, even if she fought him the whole way. Her pain was far more deep than he first realized, and he knew then that this was something he would be in for the long haul.

(¯`¥´¯`·.¸.:¨NIchiki ¨:.¸.·´¯`¥´¯)