Gravity
"WE MADE IT TO THE FINALS!"
"Well done!" He said with as much enthusiasm as he could choke out. His breathing was giving him hell, but he would do his best.
For her.
He moved aside to let her in.
"I wish you'd been there, Tenten broke a record on the high jump and I managed to come first at the one hundred metres. I came second at two-fifty though..."
They went to the sitting room and sat at the couch, talking about whatever came to mind.
"You should have been there," she said again.
"I would have come, really, but I couldn't miss the exam. I'm sorry."
She smiled sadly at him.
"Please come to the finals, Shikamaru. I'll win if you come. I'll come first at the two-fifty metres.". She sat up straight and looked him dead in the eye. "Shikamaru, I'll run for you."
If she had said this to him two months previously when he only knew her as the girl he had a crush on, he would have been flattered.
But he knew her now. She didn't do things for others. She wasn't selfish or anything, but she hated the idea of being tied down to something. To someone.
When she said that, he couldn't resist the urge to wrap his arms around her.
"I'll be there, Temari. I promise."
O
"Shikamaru!"
He looked behind him.
"Oh hi, Shiho."
The shy girl beamed at him.
"I was wondering if you were busy this afternoon? You see, I have to go home on my own and, well, it's on the way to your house and I was wondering if maybe you could... Walk me home?"
Shikamaru was surprised by her request.
"Sure," he said, turning back to the conversation he was having with Yuu about coffee prices.
"Oi, Shikamaru." Temari stalked over to him.
"Hn?"
"I can't walk you home today, sorry. My brother's piano rehearsal is on, I wouldn't miss it for the world. Be sure you find someone to walk with, okay?"
"Done. Shiho asked me to walk her home. It's on the way, apparently."
Temari nodded before heading off.
"I'm leaving early. I'll visit you tomorrow. Don't do anything stupid!"
He waved a little, being careful not to lift his hand up too high.
"Bye," he called.
O
As they walked back, Shiho clung annoyingly close to him and bumped off his shoulder a few times, much to Shikamaru's dismay.
He dropped her off at her house, which was only a five minute walk from the club grounds, and walked the last half hour on his own.
He was shocked to find that he didn't just miss Temari's company.
He longed for it.
When he got home, his mother frowned at him.
"Where's Temari?"
"She couldn't walk me home."
Yoshino nodded slowly and led him into the sitting room, where five others were seated.
He looked around and saw Ino, Chouji, his dad, his mother's friend Kurenai and-strangest of all- Asuma, his employer.
"Hi," he said as he walked in, taking a seat between his two best friends.
Kurenai smiled at him.
"I hear you're working for my husband," she grinned, nudging Asuma.
Shikamaru had no idea that the two even knew each other, but he nodded.
Kurenai stood up and knelt down in front of him, placing a hand on his shoulder.
"Shikamaru, I'm going to put this bluntly, I've heard that your condition has been getting worse, so your mother has kindly asked me to be your carer, I accepted on one condition."
She gave him a serious look before smirking and bringing a hand to her lower abdomen.
"I want you to be my daughter's god father."
So many thoughts were swirling through Shikamaru's head, but he couldn't suppress the smile that was breaking out onto his face.
"I'd love to."
He said, and he looked back up at Asuma, vaguely aware of a smile that was pressed to his lips. Kurenai smiled and stood back up.
"Thank you, I hope we get on well now that we'll be seeing each other more often."
Shikamaru nodded once more before excusing himself and leaving the sitting room to go to his bedroom.
He closed the door behind him and allowed himself to smile genuinely.
It had been so long since he had last felt this happy.
Things were truly looking up.
A/N: My internet was down this afternoon so I honestly didn't get to edit this until like, right before my dinner.
I'm not sure if I'll be able to post the next chapter tomorrow, but I'll try.
I'm getting a tattoo (at last)! I'm putting all my faith in my friend's artistic abilities, cos she's tattooing me in her bedroom on Halloween (possibly after a drink or two) so I just hope neither of us mess up with that. Oops o.O.
I won't get around to reviews, because time is tight, but I did read them, so thank you very much for leaving a review! I'll get around to some of them next chapter, I swear!
This chapter was a lil different. Less Shikatema, a bit more on his family/other friends I guess. You're all gonna love the next chapter, I swear. Drama is approaching!
Again, I'm sorry I couldn't get to the reviews-I am emotionally drained.
Thanks for all the support so far, my little fireflies!
please follow/fave/review!
~Lee