"Heh, heh. I think we lost him," Hazuki panted. Shikamaru and Naruto grinned at her. "Will Kiba and Choji know where to find us?"
Shikamaru nodded. The room's door burst open. Kiba and Choji dived in. Laugh hysterically as they did. "Thanks," they panted.
Naruto grinned at them and went to join them as Choji held out a bag of crisps.
Shikamaru sighed and gazed around the room. It was one of the many rooms hidden under the academy. Exhausted from the run Shikamaru dropped to the floor, puffing as he did. With one last look around the room and at his companions he lay on the floor. He tucked his arm under his head and closed his eyes.
Shikamaru heard someone lay down, almost silently, next to him. He assumed it was Hazuki, he could still here the others arguing over something in the distance.
"Shik, I need to tell you something," Hazuki said, her voice closer than Shikamaru had expected.
"Ummm," he replied lazily, keeping his eyes shut.
"When we graduate I have to leave," Hazuki's voice was full of sorrow.
Shikamaru opened his eyes at this, turning his head to face the girl. He'd known her for two year now and they had become good friends. She, like Shikamaru and the other three, had become a dead weight in their class, either day dreaming and tearing up leave she pulled from the tree out side the class window, or tormenting Iruka and escaping the class with the others.
She had changed her outfit from the skirt and top, into a chocolate brown qipao dress, with green edges and a leaf emblem on the left sleeve. As Shikamaru watched Hazuki her eyes glazed over, becoming a deep violet. He noticed this mainly happened when she was thinking deeply. She closed her eyes, pressing her index and middle fingers to her forehead. A few seconds later she let her hand drop to her side with a sigh.
She turned to him again. For once the play fullness that shone in her eyes had completely diminished, leaving a serious and sorrowful glint. "I have to concentrate in class now. My family doesn't like it when we don't pass first time," She bowed her head.
Shikamaru could only nod. He was about to speak when the door was flung open. Hazuki was on her feet in seconds. "Dad?" she squeaked. The silhouetted man stormed into the room, becoming less silhouetted.
As he stomped ever closer to the retreating girl Shikamaru saw a lot of likeness to Hazuki. His eyes were the reverse of hers, and his hair slightly lighter. His face shape was the same however. Shikamaru frowned.
"What do you think you are doing?" The man bellowed storming closer toward the girl.
Hazuki bowed, and then dropped to her knees before her dad. "I'm sorry father," her voice trembled. "We, we were…"
She stopped when she heard her father suck in a very deep breath.
"We were just resting sir," Shikamaru's voice sounded like heaven to Hazuki. "We have just been doing some kunai practice and we decided to take a rest. We would have been in Iruka-sensei's class, but he is always giving us the same lecture and we thought we should do some practice. I'm sorry for taking your daughter out of class, sir," Shikamaru spoke with his head bowed.
Just like the first time he and Hazuki had met he heard the air rush out of lungs. He relaxed a little, bowing his head further to see Hazuki staring at him. She masked her shock well. He gave her a very discreet smile.
Shikamaru looked up at the man. His mouth opening and closing, trying to find worlds. "And who are you?" The man finally said, a bit calmer.
"Shikamaru, sir. Shikamaru Nara."
The man stood with a thoughtful look on his face. In stead of grilling the boy further then man flung out his hand. "I am Tomoki," he said. "I trust, knowing your clan, that you will take good care of my daughter." His voice became stern, "But, please, do not encourage my daughter to skip class any more."
Shikamaru nodded and took the man's hand, shaking it. With one last stern look at his daughter the man swept from the room. Everyone one there let out a breath.
"What did you…?" Hazuki started.
"You did it for us," Shikamaru shrugged, and then helped the girl to her feet. "Let's get back to class."
"What are you going to do now?" Shikamaru asked.
Hazuki shrugged. "What ever. I have a little time before I leave, I was wondering if may be you'd want to go for a walk or something," Hazuki looked a bit awkward.
Shikamaru smiled and nodded. He went to find his parents. He found his dad talking to Choji's. Choji's dad smiled down at Shikamaru, giving him a congratulatory pat on the back. Shikamaru gave a smile and a quick look over his shoulder. Hazuki was standing by the swing he was sure Naruto had been on a few seconds ago. He frowned.
"What is it, Shikamaru?" Shikaku, Shikamaru's father, asked.
"Can I go with Hazuki?" he asked. "She's leaving today."
Shikaku looked to his wife who gave a nod. "Not to late," His father replied.
Shikamaru gave a grateful smile and darted of toward Hazuki. "Let's go," he said.
He grabbed Hazuki's hand and they ran through the trees. Instead of herding towards the park Hazuki directed Shikamaru around the Academy. They popped out of the trees, out of sight from the others and dashed to the side of the Hokage monument. She let go of Shikamaru's hand and stopped running, walking slowly along the mountain.
"Where are we going?" Shikamaru asked.
"I found a nice place, a ridge along here, with steps leading to hit. Strangely no one else goes there," Hazuki replied.
A few minutes later Shikamaru was climbing steep steps up to a grassy opening to the side of the Hokages faces. Hazuki disappeared over the side. Shikamaru followed quickly.
He watched as Hazuki climbed a tree that sprouted up and leaned out over the village. She was laughing. She held onto the trunk with one hand and let her body hang over the edge. She looked over her shoulder and beamed at Shikamaru. "Come on Shik, The view's amazing."
Lazily Shikamaru climbed the tree. He Stood on the branch opposite Hazuki and copied what she did. She was right, it was a good view. Shikamaru sighed and leant back, dropping down on to the branch, his arm aching.
"Do you really have to leave?" he asked as Hazuki sat down.
She gave an unfortunate nod. "Its how my family, or as you would call it clan, works. We get taught how to fight and a few other basic skills, then we are sent here aged ten to study at the academy for two years, then we are supposed to graduate and go back to our village."
"Where is your village?"
Hazuki smiled. "Hidden like yours. I'm gunna miss here." Shikamaru raised an eyebrow. Hazuki's smiled broadened. "And you of course. But I'll come back."
Shikamaru nodded. "What is it that you clan does exactly?"
Hazuki shrugged. "I don't know. We aren't told until we get back from graduating. Even then we aren't told everything." Shikamaru frowned at her. She turned her head towards him. "Like with the Hyuga's. Only the heir knows all the secrets to our blood trait."
"Are you the heir?"
Hazuki shrugged again. "I'm not sure. It's not done on a first born, boy girl thing. It's who ever is the most skilled and who mother and father pick."
Shikamaru nodded. "Do you have any siblings?" he asked, pulling his arms behind his head and shutting his eyes.
"Umm," Hazuki replied. "I have a sister, Hachi, and a brother, Naoki."
"How old are they?"
"Hachi is almost ten, and Naoki is two," Hazuki nodded with each number. "Will you do me a favour, Shikamaru?"
Hazuki received a shocked look for using the boy's full name. "Sure, so long as it isn't too troublesome."
Hazuki gave a small laugh. "When it's her turn to come here, I'm supposed to bring her. I'm going to bring her to you, so you know who she is. You can give her messages to send to me, and if it's okay I sort of, erm…"
Shikamaru smiled. "You want me to look out for her. I suppose that's not so troublesome."
Hazuki smiled. "Thank you," her voice was eerily close.
Shikamaru turned to her; she was only an inch or two away from his face. He caught his breath. Hazuki grinned at him, then lean close and pecked him on the cheek and slung an arm around his shoulders. "I'm really gunna miss you," she said then pulled away.
Shikamaru, at a sudden loss for words, just nodded. With another giggle Hazuki tipped back and shuffled to the end of her branch. She leaned forward, giving a little squeak. She plucked a leaf from the end of the branch and tip toed back, slumping back against the trunk.
"These are amazing leaves," she said, holding it at eye level. "So long as it is in contact with the tree, it will still live. On occasion they have been known to grow as a branch."
Hazuki gave an appreciative smile then dropped down from the tree. Shikamaru looked over the tree, watching her place it against the trunk. She grinned up at him, gave a wave and dashed off.
"Hey wait!" Shikamaru shouted. "Damn it," he hiss as he jumped from the tree, chasing after her.
She giggled, flying down the stairs and through the trees. Shikamaru was hot on her heels, dashing trough the trees. "Hey!" he shouted again.
He saw her disappear through more trees. He stumbled after. He crashed out of the tree, in time to see Hazuki turn and wave as she walked with her father, down the road toward the gates. He caught his breath for a second then ran to catch up.
"Ah, hello Shikamaru," Tomoki gave Shikamaru a small smile.
"Really it's a goodbye," Hazuki said giving the boy next to her a sorrowful smile.
"If only it wasn't so troublesome," he mumbled. He shoved his hands into his pockets and started to wonder why on earth he had chased the girl, but he followed her happily. It didn't take long before he noticed they were taking the long route, but he didn't complain. He, Hazuki and Tomoki chatted all the way to the entrance. Once they were there, Tomoki was almost desperate to get away.
"I'll be back soon," Hazuki said again. She gave Shikamaru another kiss on the cheek, then ran to catch up with her father. She waved back at him then disappeared off on some track. Shikamaru gave one last wave, and then headed off home.
Shikamaru gazed at the second truck that sprouted from the tree, smiling at it. The leaf had grown into a branch.