- Birthday Party -
The rest of Sakura's evening passes in a blur. She awakes an indefinite number of hours later, embraced by shadows and spent of energy. She barely remembers stumbling to her feet, or the shockingly cold shower she endures after. All thoughts of further sleep are pushed aside by one prominent, omnipresent thought-
She was late, and Ino was going to kill her.
And if Ino didn't, Shikamaru surely would. Damn and double damn!
Sakura overturns every drawer in her dresser, shuffling to find a suitable clean outfit. She wants something that says 'I didn't accidentally fall asleep, I swear.' but eventually decides to dress down instead of up. Checking the time to see just how late she is, Sakura's heart spins into further panic.
Shit. She wasn't just late, she was Kakashi late. Not to mention the party was all the way across town. Sakura knew Ino would probably forgive her tardiness, but that still didn't make her carelessness okay. Punctuality was one of Sakura's love languages, along with physical touch and scathing sarcasm.
In her mad dash to the restaurant, she chooses to cut across rooftops rather than run through the streets like a menace. Even still, it's longer than she likes before she finally arrives, panting. She practically skids through the restaurant entrance, head on a swivel looking for Ino's party.
She hears a familiar voice rise above the restaurant noises. She could have walked in blindfolded for all it would have mattered, their rowdy group was impossible to miss. At the back of the restaurant, behind a partition of curtains, a moody bar faces out towards a riverfront patio. Thursdays here were Karaoke night and Sakura could tell without even looking who was currently on the mic.
Passing through the partition curtains, Sakura spots Ino in a reflective silver dress, power belting a catchy breakup song to a room full of bar patrons. Her bare arms are slung across the shoulders of some stranger, and together the two gesture enthusiastically to their respective friends in the crowd.
Karaoke night always drew a lot of people, and tonight seemed to be no exception. It would be just like Ino to meet a group of strangers and end up leaving with a new circle of friends.
Sakura presses her way through the crowd, making a beeline for the dark-haired girl she spots hiding in the corner. Hinata jumps lightly when Sakura slides into the raised booth beside her, but smiles happily in recognition. Kiba and Choji sit opposite her, deep in serious drunken conversation. Over at the bar, Sakura can just make out a hooded Shino and a dressed down Shikamaru sitting in companionable silence. Both of the boys are nursing a drink and avoiding small talk with other patrons.
Sakura leaned her head into Hinata's. "Where are the others?" She asks, scanning the room for the rest of their friends. She's hoping to spot Tenten somewhere in the crowd.
"Out of village on a mission, unfortunately."
Sakura considers this for a moment, then shrugs. "Maybe it's for the best." She calls over the music. "No one wants Lee accidentally drinking liquor and bringing down the building."
Hinata laughs with her in the quiet way she does everything, and soon they are catching up on each others lives. Damn. It had been too long since the girls had all been together, it was a shame Tenten wasn't here. Maybe they could arrange another all girl sparring session once team Gai got back from their mission.
Girl Time was a tradition they had started a few years ago to mix things up, cross training together when their schedules lined up. Even though it was difficult getting them all together, it was the highlight of Sakura's week when they eventually did.
"So tell me, how many songs have you sung?" She teases Hinata. Konoha would freeze over before her friend ever sang in front of a crowd, but still. It was fun playing with her. As predicted, Hinata just blushes a full beet red, violently shaking her head No.
Ino and her new friends' song ends on a high note, working the crowd into a round of applause. That's when Ino locks eyes with Sakura's from the stage, an evil grin spreading across her face. Sakura shrinks down into her seat, knowing she can't avoid what's coming. She was late and her punishment was inevitable. She was going to be so hung over…
Ino practically leaps from the stage, rushes over to their booth. She takes Sakura firmly by the hand and says. "I knew you were going to be late! You are in so much trouble." before dragging her over towards the bar. "Kiba, let's go! We're doing shots!"
"Alright!" Kiba laughs, never one to turn down drinking with a bunch of girls. Out of everyone present in the room, Kiba could always be counted on to match Ino's energy. Whether it was a quiet group cook out or a shameless Karaoke night, Ino was the party antagonist and Kiba her partner in crime.
"Save me-" Sakura whispers to a grinning Hinata, but the Hyuuga girl just waves goodbye as Sakura is dragged bodily away.
"Order me more dumplings while you're up there." Choji calls out. Kiba gives him a thumbs up as he leaves.
During Sakura's mad dash across town, exhaustion had weighed heavily on every joint of her body. But now that she was surrounded by friends, her energy was once more picking up speed. Kiba gives her an affectionate hug when they get to the bar, radiating with golden retriever vibes. Even Shino waves a friendly hello from his bar stool, though he's content to remain introverted.
Surrounded by everyone she loves, Sakura reminds herself these rare moments together needed to be treasured, chiding herself for having missed even an hour of it. She really needed to tell Tsunade she wanted more weekends off…
Too soon, Ino is pressing drinks into her hand, and they are throwing back shots of liquor and sweet mixers. Sakura and Kiba happily submit themselves to the medley of drinking games Ino keeps in her arsenal. They keep daring each other to try stronger and stronger spirits, and soon the floor is tilting under Sakura's practical sandals.
Much like Tsunade, alcohol always went strait to her head. Belatedly, Sakura realizes she hasn't eaten anything since lunch-
A warm presence appears at Sakura's side, steadying her by the shoulders. Shikamaru wordlessly pushes a glass of water into her hands, dark eyes watching her intently until she drains the glass dry. She gives him a wink and sticks her tongue out as a thank you. Shikamaru just rolls his eyes at her childish behavior.
"Why do I feel like you're going to be trouble tonight?" He asks, taking the now empty glass from her hand.
"Don't you know? Trouble is my middle name." She grins. Oh boy, she was capital D- Drunk.
Shino tilts his head back like he's rolling his eyes at the both of them, though she could never really tell from behind the glasses. Shikamaru returns to sitting with his friend, but Sakura can't help when her eyes linger on his back for a long moment. She's overcome with a wave of… curiosity. He always seems to know exactly what she needs, even before she does…
When had that happened?
She's broken out of her ponderings when Ino calls her to help finish the last row of shots on the bar.
"Okay! Okay! I- I think I've sufficiently caught up-" Sakura cries, coughing through a shot of pungent Shochu. Her nose scrunches up at the astringent taste and her stomach burns from mixing liquors. Ino and Kiba laugh at her watering eyes.
"I thought Tsunade would have taught you how to drink by now!" Kiba barks, slapping her on the back a little too hard.
Oh god. That last shot was going to come back up.
"I think I have to…I'll be right back-" She calls, power walking to the glass doors leading to the patio. She slips between fellow party goers and steps out into the blissful open air, trying not to hurl. The back patio overlooks the winding river that cuts through Konoha's city center, a very pretty sight when you're not intoxicated.
Trying not to look too tipsy, she makes her way over to the waters edge, proud when she only teeters once. An evening breeze envelopes her in its cooling embrace as she drapes her arms over the metal deck railing. River water rushes by below. Yep, still valiantly trying not to throw up...
"Am I going to have to carry you home tonight?" A voice come up from behind. His body leans against the railing beside her, ready to catch her in case she tips over.
"I'll be...fine." She lets out a heavy huff of breath. She knew who it was without even looking. "You know Shochu never sits well with me."
"I don't think it sits well with anybody." Shikamaru chuckles, and Sakura mentally agrees with him.
"Why. Why did I agree to shots, Shika?"
"You and I both know we don't agree to anything when it comes to Ino. She says drink, we say how much."
"This is what I get for being late..." She groans. Her body is going to hate her in the morning, but she finds unexpected relief when a soothing hand runs gently up and down her back.
Shikamaru was comforting her? Not just that...he was good at it. Sakura was touch starved even on a good day, but even drunk this was...nice.
"So, how was Kakashi?" He asks.
Moment ruined. The question catches her entirely off guard. Sakura's head shoots up like a sling shot, and her stomach swims in an ugly, threatening way.
"What do you mean?" She asked in a hurry. Thoughts of her earlier Yume-jutsu experience tints her face even redder than it is from the liquor.
Shikamaru looked at her, confused. "At the Hospital." He clarifies. "That's why you were late, right?"
"Oh…Yes. In a way."
She always lies badly, but she hates more that she's lying to him at all. "He's better today though." She elaborates, "Healed enough that he's started driving the other nurses crazy instead of just me."
"So troublesome." Is all Shikamaru says, turning to look back out over the water. He takes his soothing hand with him. "Kakashi should take the bed rest while he has the excuse. I would kill to just lay in bed for a week, people bringing me food and everything."
They were standing close enough that their sides brushed together when she swayed. Despite the persistent heat of the evening, she finds herself leaning into his frame. "I'd expect nothing less from a lazy ninja like you." She teases, bumping him playfully with her shoulder. "But trust me, nobody actually likes bedrest when it's forced on them."
Shikamaru shrugs, looking away. "If you insist."
Back inside the bar, another Karaoke song begins to play. This time Kiba and Choji sing loud and out of tune, their voices cracking into the microphone.
Shikamaru visibly cringes. "Why do I get the feeling I'm going to be responsible for getting everyone home?"
"Better hurry," She says with a teasing smile. "Escape the responsibility while you can."
Dodging responsibility was what Shikamaru did best. She called him lazy, he said he was 'Allergic to work.' She called herself highly motivated, he called her a workaholic. It was a running bit they had.
Gradually, her nausea passes and her head only swims when she moves. Now she feels perfectly relaxed and maybe just a bit too comfortable. Her body is a limp noodle draped over the railing, and she's content to stare down at Shikamaru's shoes.
"Come on, let's find you somewhere to sit." He says, slipping one of her arms around his shoulder. She greedily leans into his jacket, pressing her face into his chest. She feels his voice rumble with a small laugh as he leads her over to a patio table.
Again, physical touch. Love language. She couldn't help it. Shikamaru finds her a place to sit, and suddenly Sakura has the best idea.
"You know what we should do?" She says, startling Shika out of his drifting thoughts.
"Get you some more water?"
"No. I mean, yes, but no. We should play chess!" Her voice is full of energy she has no business having. Now that she was comfortably seated in the fresh open air, she was getting her second wind.
"I don't think you could play rock-paper-scissors at this point." Shika chides, but he sits down across the table from her anyway.
"Oh yeah? I'll make you a bet, Nara." She challenges, leaning forward in her chair. She was feeling ballsy and it was coming out in her body language. "Let's finish the game we started today. Loser has to do anything the other says."
"First off, you're drunk. That's a terrible idea."
Sakura waves her hand as if to wipe away the accusation. "I'm not drunk, I am…pleasantly imbibed."
He gives her a looks that says 'I can smell your bullshit.'
"And secondly," he continues, voice more serious now, "I'm not sure our friendship will survive when I humiliate you and win in five moves."
"I'm not as drunk as you think I am." She glares. Her competitive nature is starting to burn through her buzz. "And I'll prove it by capturing your last knight in three."
Shikamaru, bless him, never turned away from one of her challenges, especially the stupid ones. In moments, their roll-up travel board is out on the patio table. Together they start repositioning pieces from their earlier game.
"Nu-uh, that pawn was over here-" Sakura says, stopping his hand and pointing to the correct square. They bicker for a moment over where the tile is suppose to go. Sakura defends her point by replaying their last three moves for him, grinning when she knows she's right.
Shikamaru narrows his eyes at her, begrudgingly admitting his mistake. "I get it now. You're just pretending to be drunk in order to get my guard down."
Sakura doesn't look up from where she's studying the board intently. "You know me better than that Nara. I would never dream of underestimating you."
Chess. Drinks. Karaoke. Friends…
Sakura is both warm and cool in her seat. Her exhaustion from earlier has been completely washed away by the energy of the party and the man before her. Her thoughts now hum in preparation for their game. She loves a good mental challenge as much as she loves physical ones.
There's a playful sort of intimacy two people can develop from years of playing chess together. There's a unique form of anticipation that comes from trying to predict each others moves. It felt good to have someone who could challenge her mind when everything else Sakura did was with her body.
She wonders if Shikamaru ever felt the same, or if she was just overly sensitive to this sort of thing.
Once the board is fully reconstructed they jumped right in, rapidly trading moves back and forth. Shikamaru's eye twitches when she plays her third move, ignoring the knight she'd promised to attack. Instead, she captures his much more valuable rook and puts his King in check.
"That's not the piece you said you were after." He growls, visibly irritated. He'd thought they'd been playing a different game.
Sakura looks up at him through long, dark lashes, savoring her small victory. This play was a page right out of Shikamaru's own playbook - Make the enemy think you will go low, then go high.
"A diversion from the very beginning" She says simply.
His eyes go wide with understanding. She'd been playing him before their game had even restarted. "I said I'd never underestimate you, Shi-ka-ma-ru. Now you know not to underestimate me either. So, what should I make you do when I win?"
Maybe it's the way she says his name, or the way she accidentally looks at his mouth when she says it. Maybe it's the shochu in her system or the summer air caressing her bare shoulders.
Maybe it'd the way their legs are pressed together underneath the patio table, a detail she hadn't even registered until suddenly she was registering everything.
Just like that, the air around them is electric. His gaze lingers on her lips like a burn.
This was not the first time Sakura had surprised Shikamaru, in chess or otherwise. It was the whole basis of their friendship: He was the predictable and she was the surprise. He was the stability and she was the energy. But somehow, she had surprised him in a new way, and his response now was… thrilling.
His posture has suddenly gone stiff and rigid. She watches his adam's apple bounce in his throat as he swallows hard around something unspoken. Strands of hair fall loose from his messy ponytail, and she has to stop herself from reaching out to brush them back.
He stares at her like he's seeing her for the very first time. Like she was suddenly shiny, brand new. His eyes on her skin is a featherlight brush, and she feels it travel down the lines of her neck. He looks as though something inside him has change, and it will never be the same again.
Moments ticked past. She squirmed under his stare, wondering if she'd gone too far in teasing him. She'd only meant to have a bit of fun at his expense before he turned their game around and won. He was always winning their games, she'd just wanted to play a new one for once…
And still he seems unable to take his eyes off her, lost in the thoughts racing through his mind.
She can't take this anymore. They are inching too close to something she doesn't want to acknowledge yet, either to him or to herself.
"What?" She asked quietly, sitting back in her chair. She can't handle this intense eye contact for a second longer. "Can you blame me for being a little underhanded?"
With a jerk, Shikamaru stands with a start. He blinks like he's waking up from a dream.
"I just…I think I need another drink," is the excuse he gives, practically taking flight from their table. His hip bumps his chair awkwardly in his rush to get back to the party. Sakura's confused gaze follows his clumsy escape.
What…had she just done?
She waits, and waits, and waits some more. It feels like he's been gone forever. He keeps her waiting so long that she's nearly sobered up when Ino finally comes looking for her. The birthday girl's blonde head leans out the patio entrance, pale eyes looking around the tables until they find her.
"There you are." She calls, walking over to Sakura's side. She gives the chess board a brief look of 'What is this thing doing here?' before accosting Sakura with a string of questions.
"What are you doing out here all alone? And what on earth did you do to Shikamaru? You know what, never mind. What ever it was, I'm sure he deserved it. Come inside and sit with us, I feel like I've haven't seen you for hours."
All at once, Sakura remembers who tonight is suppose to be about. She sits bolt upright in her chair, fresh guilt washing over her.
"I'm so sorry Ino," she says, scrambling to pack up the chess tile mess. "I came out to get some fresh air and somehow it turned into a chess-bet with Shika. I guess we got carried away, I'm really sorry-"
"Wait, did he finally lose a game?! Is that why he's inside brooding like a moody brat?!"
Ino's sudden enthusiasm is infectious, a wicked edge overtaking her voice. Despite being Shikamaru's teammate for years, she was heavily invested in the day when Sakura finally broke his winning streak.
"No I just tricked him into losing a high value piece and-"
But then Sakura's brain clicks into third gear, processing everything Ino has just shared with her. "I'm sorry…...He's doing What?"
Ino looks back to the bar, perplexed. "He's inside drinking with Choji like his entire world is ending. Come see for yourself."
Sakura tucks the chessboard under her arm, torn between concern and irritation. He'd left her outside alone to drink with Choji?
She…was absolutely going to kill him.