I woke up in the same bed as Shikamaru. I don't know if I can explain my awe in that moment, cause you know I'm not so great with words. But it was like... It was like everything in the world was perfect in that moment. Of course, Shikamaru still had his bandages. We both smelled pretty bad. My phone was buzzing angrily cause Ino and Sakura were both texting me, trying to get me to bring Shikamaru in for an official examination. But I just focused on his hair and his breathing and his collar bone... And then things got... uncomfortable for me and I decided to step downstairs and call Ino.
She chewed me out. A lot. I think she may have started crying because she had to hand the phone to Choji. It was impressive though, I think she spent a solid five minutes yelling at me. Choji was a little more understanding and listened to my side of the story pretty complicity. I think he understood Shikamaru's thought process a little more than Ino did. The very most surprising thing, though, was that Choji was able (and willing) to convince Ino that Shikamaru would be okay to stay with me.
She took the phone back and grilled me about having all the necessary items for treating a large wound. I reminded her that the Inuzuka's ran the animal hospital next door. She grilled me about proper diet, and I reminded her that I'm a ninja too and I've had plenty of wounds. She grilled my about making sure to keep up proper hygiene and keeping the wound clean, and I gave up explaining and just began agreeing with her. I managed to change the subject somehow to how she and Choji were doing, but she just chewed me out some more. I still remember what she said, almost word for word.
"Kiba, why on earth would you worry about us more than Shikamaru? We were in a group, of course we're okay. Or didn't Shikamaru tell you? He took on that crazy religious bastard who killed Asuma all by himself." She was talking a mile a minute. Her words slurred. I think she was crying again. I almost dropped the phone.
I mean, I kinda had gotten the idea that maybe Shikamaru had taken on the guy all by himself cause he wasn't with any of the others when I found him, and I knew that despite his reputation for being lazy, he did some pretty crazy things, but I still... My rationality had told me that Shikamaru wasn't that much of an idiot. He wouldn't face down a guy that dangerous all by himself. He would at least take precautions...
Ino rattled on into my ear about the plan and I gripped the back of the chair tighter and tighter. He had taken precautions, but what if the blood switch hadn't worked? What if the paper bombs had been duds? What if that guy had caught on to the plan before Shikamaru got him in position, with the paper bombs to help?
What if the hole isn't deep enough? What if he comes back?
I took a deep breath. And then another one. Shikamaru was a fully qualified chunin, who lead his own team and was even allowed to advise the Hokage on occasion. He was one of the smartest ninja that the Leaf had ever seen. He would be alright. He was alright. He would be safe.
I tuned back in to Ino, who had circled around to lecturing me about hygiene again. I made a note that talking was what calmed her down, and that I should avoid phone calls to her in the future. But for the most part, I let her talk, and then eventually feigned that I had heard something upstairs to ease her into saying good bye. I went back upstairs to where Shikamaru was still sleeping, and—suddenly exhausted—crawled in next to him and fell asleep again.
A/N: Thank you for reading this far! I have much much much more planned for this couple and I really hope you continue reading this story despite my less than regular updates. I must warn you though, the next chapter gets pretty gory and I plan on introducing some really slanderous language towards homosexuals in future chapters, so if that is not to your taste, please discontinue reading this story. I do not plan on including any sex scenes, although there will be sexual themes throughout, and depending on reader feedback, I might change that. So please, let me know what you think, and strap yourselves in for a bumpy ride!