BK: Hey guys!
BK
Shikamaru usually ate alone. That was because he didn't usually eat. But somehow he got dragged along with Sasuke and Hinata to a restaurant and now they were all eating barbequed pork. He was partly surprised Choji wasn't here. Choji almost always found a way to join in on food.
They were just finished with applying the rooftops to the northeastern parts of Konoha when the rain came. Sasuke immediately threw his jacket over the Hyuuga and dragged her to the restaurant for shelter. Shikamaru had somehow gotten there without getting rained on and before he knew it, Shikamaru was already paying for lunch.
Hinata's stomach let out a loud growl and Sasuke gave Shikamaru a look. So without further ado, here they were at the restaurant eating barbequed pork with the most unlikely people. You just didn't meet the shinobis of the Konoha nine usually just eating and talking – especially if they were from all the different teams. Shikamaru from the Ino-Shika-Cho team, Sasuke from the Saku-Naru-Sasu team, and Hinata from the Kiba-Hina-Shino team. It was just all too rare. Especially since they were all the quiet ones (excluding Shino, the poor lad).
So there was no talking whatsoever, just eating. And Shikamaru admired that the famed Hyugga was eating her portion of the meal. Shikamaru wouldn't mind taking the Hyugga out to lunch if she always finished her plate. Unlike Ino, Hinata ate what she paid. So there were no negatives or wasting food on her part and Shikamaru quite liked that.
Especially since they were godparents to Asuma's and Kurenai's little baby boy.
But then there would be Sasuke how seemed all too immersed into the beautiful Hyuuga next to him. It was as though just watching her eat filled him up. There were rumors going around the village that the Uchiha avenger was in love with the Hyuuga heiress. Just by looking at him, Shikamaru could tell that it wasn't just a rumor. It was true.
The Hyuuga was soaking wet, but that didn't stop her from eating. Sasuke looked at her the whole time without touching his plate, much to Shikamaru's annoyance, and only drank the sake from the cup whenever Hinata paused for a smile.
Finishing her plate without using her hands at all, instead using the knife and fork, Hinata turned slightly to Sasuke and asked in the sweetest voice Shikamaru had ever heard a girl talk with to Sasuke.
"Ne... Sasuke-san, is it okay if I use your jacket?"
Shikamaru watched as Sasuke smiled. Smiled. Actually smiled. And Sasuke handed Hinata the large jacket. Shikamaru knew what she was going to do. She was going to squeeze out all the wet water from her clothes and wear his jacket over them. But he also couldn't fathom why Hinata couldn't tell the Uchiha was in love with her. She was practically inviting him over. Over for... you know.
She left them and Shikamaru was left stuck with the Uchiha who finally picked up his own food and gobbled it down. At least he didn't waste food either... even if it was cold.
Shikamaru coughed and decided to bring to Sasuke's attention the rumor. After all, Sasuke's best friend Naruto was vying for the Hyuuga's hand and the whole village was supporting him, not the Uchiha avenger, no matter how handsome he was.
"You do know that there's a rumor going around." Shikamaru started.
Sasuke downed all his food with some sake, holding quite well on the alcohol, and looked at the Nara genius with raised eyebrows. Shikamaru didn't know if the Uchiha avenger chewed his food or not. He probably didn't, Shikamary surmised.
"Rumor?" Sasuke asked.
"About Hinata." Shikamaru said with purpose. Then according to the genius's plan, Sasuke piqued up and listened well.
"Hinata? What about her? Does it have to do with Genma Shiranui?" Sasuke asked with a little anger and concern.
Shikamaru blinked slowly and he tried his best not to smile at the head-over-heels in love idiot. He did however question why he asked about Genma Shiranui and not Naruto Uzumaki.
"... No. It has to do with you and Hinata. There's a rumor going around that you two are attracted to each other. More like you are attracted to her."
Sasuke furrowed his eyebrows and he said nothing, just drinking a sip of his sake.
Shikamaru sometimes hated being too intuitive because he was the one who somehow would end up doing everything. However, waiting a little bit, the Uchiha asked him a question.
"And what about you? Are you interested in her?"
Shikamaru didn't answer. He hadn't really thought about settling down. But the Uchiha continued.
"She's kind. She's quiet. She's beautiful. She's skilled. She can cook. She can heal. She can do anything. She's from a clan with a bloodline that's amazing. She also has political power. People love her and she loves people. Everyone seems to support her in everything she does. And every male I meet seems to be in love with her. She has dark hair, creamy eyes, a soft voice, smooth hands, and when she smiles... When she smiles, the world stops a little."
The Nara genius stared at the Uchiha. Maybe the sake got to him. Because whatever he just spouted would make any man fall in love with the Hyuuga heiress.
"Are you in love with her Sasuke?" Shikamaru asked him. He felt like a therapist.
Sasuke shot him a deathly glare, "No," he said firmly, "Absolutely not."
Shikamaru chuckled a little. The Uchiha was in denial.
"Well, if you don't tell her, then she'll be gone soon. I'm sure someone will sweep her off her feet."
Sasuke looked down, his eyebrows still furrowed, and gulped down another cup of sake. Shikamaru wasn't concerned about the Uchiha avenger. Four cups of sake and he was still holding on to sanity – to his denial.
"Don't be an idiot. Who can top me?" Sasuke spilled, his mind finally addled by the alcohol.
Shikamaru rolled his eyes at Sasuke's statement. Maybe he judged too fast. Four cups of sake was more than enough.
"I'm an Uchiha. I'm handsome, strong, intelligent, powerful, and skilled."
Shikamaru decided that it was no use talking to someone who couldn't admit his feelings. But he did start thinking about the Hyuuga. She was definitely going to be off the market soon. Many men did fancy her.
Hinata appeared and she looked at them both. In her hands, she held her wet clothes. On her body, the only thing that kept her decent was Sasuke's large jacket. Shikamaru wasn't dumb, the only things she wore under that jacket were... her undies and a bra. She was definitely inviting the Uchiha over without thinking.
Sasuke saw her and his eyes lit up. They scanned her body and he stood up, slamming money on the table and waved Shikamaru goodbye. The Nara looked at him in surprise as Sasuke grabbed Hinata's hands and led her out the restaurant.
It was still raining.
Shikamaru looked at the amount of money and was baffled. Sasuke paid more than needed. A couple hundreds more. Sighing, he fixed the amount and saved the extra, deciding to give it to the Uchiha when he was in the right mind again. Apparently, loving a girl did stupid things to the male brain.
Shuffling around, Shikamaru exited the restaurant and waited outside the door, hoping the rain would lessen. Hinata was a beautiful girl, but the contestants who battled each other for her hand... he didn't even want to think about it. After all, Shikamaru was the laziest ninja around. He closed his eyes and waited for the rain to go away, admiring the dark clouds.
"Shikamaru... did you see Hinata?" A casual voice asked.
The Nara genius opened one of his eyes and he saw Genma. A little surprised that he would be here, Shikamaru nodded his head.
"Yeah, Sasuke took her by the hand and led her away to who knows where."
Genma raised an eyebrow, nothing but knowing expectancy on his face, and laughed.
"Really? What are they wearing? I hope that they have an umbrella."
Shikamaru shrugged, "Not that I know of..."
"Shikamaru, do you think the rumors are true?"
Shikamaru opened his eyes again and turned to face the Hokage's bodyguard, "What rumor?"
"The one that Sasuke is in love with the Hyuuga heiress."
Shikamaru nodded, "Yeah, it's true. Why?"
Genma looked away and stuck his hands inside his pocket.
"Because I'm in love with her."
Shikamaru let the words process through his brain. Then his eyes widened. Then his mouth opened. Then he turned around to look at Genma, but realized too late that Genma had already disappeared.
"Genma Shiranui?"
BK
BK: Sweet, huh? I wonder what's going to happen... Heehee!