Chapter 4

''What is you fuck is wrong with you?''

Nara choked, when Shino pushed him against the lockers as soon as they entered the locker room. Shikamaru gulped, roughly pushing his teammate back and roaring quietly. After what happened in a ball Shino didn't speak to Nara at all. But it seems like he is finally ready to have a talk.

''Shino'', Naruto started, but Shikamaru shook his head, giving a sign to his friend to get away from them.

The locker room was almost empty, most of the players already went out, only Shikamaru, Shino and Naruto were in. Nara couldn't help but smirk at the thought that Shino was too scared to start this, when everyone else was here. Probably because he knew that everyone will take Shikamaru's side, not his one.

''Shika?'' Naruto asked, nodding on Shino and raising his eyebrow. ''I actually need to go.''

''You can go'', he replied and then looked at his fellow teammate. ''I can handle him alone.''

Shino swallowed, but did nothing until Naruto didn't pack his things and go away. Only then, he pushed Nara back to the lockers, staring at him with narrowed eyes and breathing heavily. The genius of the team lowered his gaze for hands of Shino that were pressing him to the locker. Then he looked at him and raised his eyebrow.

''Get out. And this is a warning'', Shikamaru said calmly. When Shino didn't even flinch, he sighed. ''Well, I warned.''

His fist met with Shino's jaw and the other one fell out, holding for his jaw with his hands. Nara stepped closer, really wanting this to end. Whole last night he tried to settle his mind about Ino and the last thing he wants to worry about now is this boy. But Shino, with a loud scream, went forward and was greeted by another punch, this time in the stomach with a leg that made him kneel down. Nara was not into this fight, he was not angry or something; he was tired. Tired of not understanding his relationships with Ino, tired of his team losing games and tired of hearing Shino's complaints.

''I don't see your point here, Shino. What do you want from me, huh? I'm really not in a mood for a-'', he was interrupted by a strong punch on the ribs that made him step back and lean on the lockers, catching breath.

Shikamaru stared at Shino, who was looking rather fierce. Rapidly, the anger started to form in his chest and he didn't even try to calm himself down. His sides are hurting and this is not a joke. Swallowing, he licked his lips before leaning in a bit in a boxer position.

''You got in on, boy'', he muttered quietly and in a quick movement knocked Shino from his feet and pushed him on the wall, holding his torso tight.

In a few seconds he kicked him in his stomach with knee few times, strong enough to make other one feel sick and pain, but not too strong to block him out or cause a lot of harm. Even though everyone thought of him as of the genius, but Nara was a really good fighter, thanks for the boxing lessons that he took and for his ability to control his anger in moments like that. Hearing sob from Shino, he let go, stepping back. His teammate slowly fell on the floor, holding for his stomach and looking up.

''I warned'', Shikmaru said matter-or-factly, shrugging with his shoulders.

This is probably not right, but he felt satisfaction of winning. He never liked Shino for some reasons and when the last one started to try things with Ino, he disliked him even more. Shino get up, leaning on the wall and breathing heavily. Nara hoped he's smart enough to not run at him again and he didn't. Shino sighed, closing his eyes. He looked so exhausted and tired right now that Nara felt a bit bad for him.

''Well'', Shikamaru mumbled, taking his bag in his hands. ''If this is all, then I'm going home. I will send nurse here, Alicia, she will look you up and, if you will be able to turn her on enough, this girl will show you her amazing abilities with her tongue.''

He was ready to go away, opening the door, when he heard a chuckle. Turning around, he saw Shino staring at him with his big eyes. He leaned back and motioned on a place in front of him.

''Can you imagine that there are some guys in this world that actually don't really like the idea of fucking someone, who they even don't know?'' he asked and Shikamaru shook his head. ''Well, I'm one. I don't want to have sex with some random girl.''

Nara didn't really get why this was said to him. But, turning around, he sat in front of him with a sigh. Looking at his tattooed knuckles, he waited for Shino to say something and he soon did, talking quietly, almost whispering:

''I really do like her, okay? I want to be with her, but I don't understand what I'm not making right. I was gentle – she didn't like it, I was rude – she didn't like it, I tried to completely ignore her – it didn't work. And then I thought that maybe I should become more confident, so I thought..anyways, it didn't work and you only made it worse.''

Nara raised an eyebrow, when Shino looked at him, waiting for some kind of reaction on this. But he didn't get a one. All because Shikamaru was way too busy trying to calm his heart, because it seemed like getting out of his chest in any second. Maybe for a tiny second he felt sorry. He felt sorry for Shino, because everyone knows that loving someone and not having them love you back sucks a big time. But it wouldn't be Nara if he would let him to know this, right?

''Why are you telling me this? No offences, but I don't care about this'', he said calmly, looking at him with raised eyebrow.

''Of course you care about this, Shika, then why the hell you got so pissed off, when I started touching her? And don't you tell me that this is because of your manners, you don't give a shit about them'', Shino said, leaning in.

Shikamaru shifted, not feeling comfortable. This talk is getting a dangerous turn. He cleared his throat, not saying a thing. Not wanting to get this any deeper, Nara simply stand up, not giving any kind of answer to Shino. He opened the door and turned his head.

''So should I call Alicia or you better huff here alone?'' he asked, taking out his phone from the pocket.

''You like her, don't you?'' Shino asked, making Nara froze on the place.

Having many and many years of practice, he remained emotionless for this, looking at Shino calmly. He repeated his question about Alicia again and his teammate chuckled.

''You're so into her, Shikamaru'', he let out.

''I'm no longer listening to this bullshit'', Nara said, going out.

He was going to the exit of the tunnel, shivering a bit. Gripping his teeth, he started to chew on his bottom lip, rubbing back of his neck.

''You're in such a shit, Nara'', he screamed, wanting to have the last word.

''Tell me something I don't know'', Shikamaru muttered through his gripped teeth, going to his car.

He get in, sighing and driving to his house. Tapping the steering wheel with his finger, he tried to not think about it, but it was kind of hard to ignore. That's why he chose to turn radio on to the max, rolling down his window and listening to the music. But even with the music beaming up, he couldn't stop thinking about what he heard. Licking his lips, he shook his head, not wanting to think about her. He parked the car and get out, cursing out loud. Shitty day, already. His phone rang at the moment, when he kneeled down to pick the newspapers. Seeing ''Mikaela'' on the screen, he was more than just surprised.

''Already missed me?'' he asked, getting the keys out of the pocket.

''I've been called many names in my life, but 'mysterious brunette' is radically different from them all'', she said and his eyebrows furrowed as he came in.

Slamming door behind him, Shikamaru took shoes off, going to the living room and sitting on the sofa. It was clear that something was written on the newspapers, so he opened on, looking through articles. Mikaela said that it's on the tenth page and he opened it, looking at the picture of whole his team at the charity ball. His eyes caught the beginning of what Mikaela was talking about. Holding the phone between his shoulder and cheek, he read loudly: ''But Naruto Uzumaki wasn't the one, who came not alone; Nara Shikamaru, appeared on the charity ball hand to hand with a mysterious brunette. Nothing is official yet, they have never seen before this together, but who knows, maybe it's time for a girlfriend-boom in the team?'' He stared at the article for a seconds, before throwing this piece of paper on the floor, cringing.

''I have never heard anything more horrible than a 'girlfriend-boom', I swear'', she said, making Shikamaru roll his eyes.

''Is that somehow a problem for you or what?'' he asked, not being in a mood to discuss some idiotic article.

''Chill, Nara, I just called to ask what are you going to do about this, you know me, I don't give a shit'', she said.

Shikamaru shook his head, not saying a thing. Does he want to do something with this? No, he doesn't care. But what if Ino had already saw this. What if she thought that for this time, this is serious. What if Ino thought that he is actually taken. And what is the most ridiculous is that fact that he's actually cares what she thinks. With a sigh, he stand up, going back to the door and pulling shoes on.

''I gotta go'', I mumbled and Mikaela hang up, without saying a word.

She probably got offended, but it's not like he cared. This idea was beyond crazy and Shikamaru was still not sure why he is doing this by the time he was sitting in the car. All he knew is that he needs to say this to her and then, well, see what happens. The best plan is the one, which is completely unplanned, so he drove confidently, not thinking about any kind of doubts. Nara was usually like that, fulfilling every idea that came in his mind immediately, to not lose his bravery or to simply not forget the idea. And this time, was all about not forgetting bravery.

''Oh shit'', he muttered, getting out of the car and looking around.

He parked the car right in front of the building, so he will see if she will go out. Looking at the clocks, he sighed, leaning on the car and taking headphones from the pocket along with phone. It's going to be a long wait.