Shikamaru stayed nestled in Neji's arms. Violently shaking, silent sobs wracking his body. He was glad he wasn't alone anymore. That he finally had a shoulder to cry on that wouldn't judge him." We need to do something about this." said Neji. " About what?" asked Shikamaru. As his shaking finally slowed down. " Your team. You can't stay on a team that's likely to betray you and get you killed." said Neji.
" I can't leave them. My parents will know. You know how legendary the ino-shika-cho team is." said Shikamaru. " I understand. But the next time either one of us gets damage from one of our team mates we switch to the three man team I had in mind earlier." said Neji. " Alright. But you are going to have to trust me. In the event that Diamond can't be used in the village your going to have to trust me to lead you." said Shikamaru. " Alright, forgive me if I'm stubborn, but I'm not used to people helping me." said Neji.
" Are you going to tell your uncle about Diamond?" asked Shikamaru. " No it's too dangerous for him to know. Why don't I see blood on you?" asked Neji. " Because of the cloaks I wear. The cloak is like a rain slicker the blood slides right off." said Shikamaru. " You need to stand up for a minute. I need to see how bad the damage in your back is." said Neji. As he unwrapped his arms from Shikamaru's form and stood up.
Shikamaru fell forward to land on his hands and knees. He than got into a standing position. Shikamaru stood for about two seconds and than his knees buckled. He pitched forward like a diagonally thrown rock. His arms shot out to catch himself. It turns out, he didn't have to. Because just than, he felt two simultaneous chakra bursts. And laying on the ground in front of him, was Diamond. Shikamaru's arms instinctively went around Diamond's neck as the hound rose into a standing position. As he raised his head from Diamond's fur, he realized he was sat astride on Diamonds back.
Shikamaru looked over to where Neji was standing, and saw he was panting. " Neji, are you alright?" asked Shikamaru. " Yes, I just couldn't move fast enough to catch you." said Neji. As he sent out a chakra burst. Diamond walked forward to stand in front of Neji and turned slightly so Neji could reach Shikamaru's back without having to move.
As Neji probed gently with his fingers, he deduced that the cracked vertebrae was painful, but not as dangerous as he thought it was. " Well the good news is your not in too much danger, but the bad news is if your not careful and something hits you in the back your whole spine will shatter." said Neji. Shikamaru did not feel relieved. " Diamond likes you." said Neji. Out of the blue. " He does?" asked Shikamaru. With a raised eyebrow. Neji nodded.
" Alright since your on his back. I want you to get used to him jumping trees with you on his back." said Neji. He than ran up the side of a tree and started jumping branches, Diamond by his side. Shikamaru was surprised that Diamond could still move at his normal speed despite the extra weight on his back. He also realized that he didn't have to have a death grip on poor Diamond's fur. He loosened his grip. As he looked over at Neji beside him, he saw Neji pitch forward. Shikamaru's eyes widened as he saw this.
Shikamaru threw himself sideways and off Diamond's back like he was doing a cartwheel in the air. Once he was behind Neji, he wrapped his arms around him. They dropped out of the tree back first like a stone to the bottom of a pond. Shikamaru sent out a chakra burst. As they spiraled through the air Shikamaru flipped them so they were upright. He braced his knees for the landing.