Time-Bomb

"Alright, Gang. Pair up with the person you were with yesterday and this time...don't use the same techniques repetitively." Kakashi said, seeming to be bored. Shikamaru sighed. It was going to be another long day. He felt nauseous as he stood, swaying slightly. This didn't go unnoticed to Asuma as he stared as his student stood in front of Ino.

"Did you see that?" He asked Kakashi, who was to his right.

"Shikamaru swaying? Yeah, I saw it. He seems unwell."

"And thinner." Gai added, standing next to Asuma, watching Shikamaru barely dodge a kunai that was thrown at him.

"His reflects are much slower." Kurenai added, joining the huddle.

"So his behavior and physical health is changing rapidly, but why?" Asuma asked, everyone else asking the same question.

"Come on, Shikamaru!" Ino shouted, as Shikamaru pushed himself off the ground. "The least you can do is try to hit me! I may be a girl, but I know how to defend myself!"

Shut up.

He felt a pulsing pressure against his right temple. He closed his eyes and inhaled deeply, trying to center himself as a wave of nausea hit him.

"Shikamaru!" Ino shouted again, "I understand that you're lazy, but this is ridiculous! Are you even trying or do you just can't protect yourself?" She hollered, everyone's attention now on them.

The pulsing pressure against his temple turned to a steady pound, making Shikamaru narrow his eyes slightly. Soft warm air seemed to brush against his ear, as though someone was whispering to him.

"Shikamaru!" Ino shouted impatiently. "I'll punch you even harder if you don't move!"

"Shikamaru, I know you don't want to hurt Ino, but she's a big girl. She can handle it." Asuma called. Shikamaru felt the soft warm air against his ear again, this time hearing a dark familiar voice.

Fight for the chance to be lied to again. [1]

He gritted his teeth harder as he heard Ino run towards him.

"Shikamaru! At least look at her!" Asuma shouted exasperatedly, trying to make the boy do something. They all stared as Ino's fist collided with Shikamaru's jaw, throwing him back a few yards. He laid there, his jaw throbbing in pain, simply staring up at the sky. He thought of the light purple sky in his little world and considered going there, but he knew he would be forced to come out again soon. He heard the others shout at him, trying to make him at least defend himself.

Fuck this.

Move out of the way.

Shikamaru rolled backwards onto his feet and his fist immediately came into contact with Ino's face, throwing her backwards a good distance. Ino screamed in pain. Shikamaru smirked as Ino sat up, holding her face as blood poured from her nose and lips. He stared as the crimson liquid flowed from her hand to the ground.

Pathetic. How the hell do you tolerate her?

Shikamaru ran forward and Ino let out a piercing screech of pain as his foot collided with her face. She was now lying on her back, blood and tears pouring from her face. Shikamaru looked down at her, feeling satisfaction flow through him. He pulled the hair-tie out of his mussed hair, letting the brown locks grace his shoulders as the gentle breath of wind blew some of it into his dark eyes.

Ino cracked her eyes open as her hands clenched her bleeding face. She felt chills cover her body as she stared up at Shikamaru, noticing the look in his darkened eyes as his hair prevented the sun from shining in her face.

His eyes…they look different. Shikamaru?

Asuma and Kakashi sprung forward when Shikamaru moved to grab Ino again. Kakashi wrapped his arms around Shikamaru's very narrow waist and tried to pull him away, but he had a firm grasp on her hair. Ino was sobbing uncontrollably as Asuma tried to pry Shikamaru's fingers from her hair, noticing that chunks of blonde hair were being pulled out. He caught Shikamaru's fist in his hand, preventing him from hitting Ino.

Kakashi tugged harder, trying to get Shikamaru to let go and was surprised at the boy's strength. The others stared at the scene in front of them in shock. Neji's heart was hammering in his chest as he watched Shikamaru putting up a good fight against Asuma and Kakashi. He was surprised that Shikamaru could put up that much of a fight. He took a small step forward as his pale eyes filled with worry for Shikamaru.

There was a sickening crack as Shikamaru's knee hit Ino square on the nose, breaking it instantly. Ino screamed louder, her face no longer recognizable because of the blood. Kurenai and Gai stepped forward; Gai helping Kakashi and Kurenai helping Asuma.

Where the hell did all this energy and strength come from?

Kakashi's thoughts were racing, trying to think of how someone of Shikamaru's size can have this much of energy to put up this much of a fight.

"Ino!" Kurenai said loudly. "We're going to have to cut off your hair!" Ino let out a wail.

Kurenai pulled out a kunai and dragged it through Ino's blonde hair just above where Shikamaru's hand was gripping it. Asuma caught her as she fell forward and instantly cradled her against his chest, Ino letting out sobs of pain. Kakashi and Gai had Shikamaru by the arms and were dragging him away from her while he kicked and screamed.

"Shikamaru! Calm down!" Kakashi shouted angrily. Shikamaru wriggled away from their tight grip and Neji ran forward and grabbed his right arm, pulling him back. Shikamaru let out a small yelp of surprise as Neji pulled him back by his arm and then grabbing both of his wrists firmly, trying to get Shikamaru to look at him. Shikamaru let out a cry of pain as he felt some of the stitches in his cuts on his wrists pop slightly because of Neji's grip.

Adrenaline rushed through his system as it mixed with his mix of powerful emotions. He fought hard against Neji, yelling in protest. He started kicking at Neji, but the Hyuuga dodged his kicks which made Shikamaru even more frustrated. He glared deeply into Neji's eyes, chilling Neji to the core.

"Don't...touch...me." He growled darkly.

Neji's heart stopped as he stared into Shikamaru's dark eyes.

Something isn't right.

Neji got distracted by Shikamaru's tone of voice and his blackened eyes. He lost his grip and Shikamaru sprinted away again. Neji ran as quickly as he could after him and was just able to wrap his arms around his slender waist, pinning Shikamaru's arms to his sides. Shikamaru struggled again, but Neji kept his arms firmly in place around his waist, holding him close, his back flushed against his front.

"Shikamaru." Neji whispered in his ear. "Shikamaru." He repeated, trying to soothe him. Despite the seriousness of the situation, Neji couldn't help liking the feeling of having Shikamaru pulled against him. Shikamaru's scent filled his nose and his hands attempted to scratch him.

"Shikamaru." He repeated. "It's over now… please stop." He whispered in Shikamaru's ear, his warm breath sending chills down Shikamaru's spine.

The only sound that could be heard was Shikamaru's heavy panting and Ino's muffled sobs. Neji felt Shikamaru's racing heart against his chest. He quirked an eyebrow when he felt Shikamaru stiffen and leaned in closer, Shikamaru's soft brown hair brushing against his cheek. Neji felt his face heat up when he realized that it looked like he was nuzzling against Shikamaru.

"Shikamaru?" Neji's heart skipped a beat when Shikamaru collapsed. He carefully laid the Nara on the ground, brushing hair out of his face.

"What the hell was that?" Kakashi said, asking the question they all were wondering.

"What would've caused him to react like that?" Kurenai asked, staring down at him. "He is not a violent person."

"I have no idea." Kakashi said as he tried to make sense of what just happened.

"He had a lot of strength in him as well." Gai added, Kakashi nodded in agreement.

"Yes he did. I've never seen anyone his size able to put up that much of a fight against not only us, but Neji as well."

Neji continued to look at the unconscious Nara in front of him from his position on the ground.

Shikamaru...what's happening to you?

Neji sighed quietly and reached up to brush hair away from his face, but stopped. Making sure that the others weren't focused on him, he looked down at his hand and felt his heart stop.

A thin line of red was resting on his fingers.

xXxXx

Alright Gang,

[1: "Lies" by Evanescence

Reviews would be appreciated!

When-Rabbit-Howls