(This was a request when I had another profile whose password I have since lost)
Giving presents to a girl is such a bother, Shikamaru thought. And just on a random day. Not even their birthday. How does this show love? It’s so bothersome…
Shikamaru was in the gift shop looking through a menagerie of chocolates, flowers, and cards. Who the hell created Valentine’s Day anyways? Watching the clouds is much better than this. It’s all Ino’s fault. He winced slightly as he remembered Ino’s threat about where she would hit him if he didn’t go out and buy a gift for some girl. Any girl really. But which girl? There are so many girls here… and if I give it to one of them then another will get upset and want one too. Such a bother… how do guys do this every year? Why do they do this every year? Damn…
He looked at a bouquet of chocolate roses just as the gift shop door opened. Glancing over his shoulder Shikamaru realized it was just Naruto. The obnoxious blond didn’t seem to have seen him yet so Shikamaru continued looking. Now if I get a bunch of these I can give one to all the girls my age. But what about the 5th? She’s a girl too. Maybe I’ll just give one to Asuma-sensei… No that would be weird. To Kurenai then? No...
“Shikamaru!” Naruto’s obnoxious voice cut through Shikamaru’s thoughts, “What are you doing?”
Shikamaru rolled his eyes. Why did Naruto have to be so loud? He was already doing something pointless and now Naruto was here.
“I’m getting a Valentine’s Day present. It’s a bother really. Why would girls rather have cards than sit and watch the clouds?”
“I don’t know. I’m getting chocolates for Sakura. What are you getting?”
“I think I’ll get a chocolate rose. Girls like those right?”
“I guess. Hey that’s actually a good idea! I’ll get one of those for Sakura! Hey who are you getting yours for?”
“I don’t know. Ino told me to get one for somebody or else,” Shikamaru shrugged.
He grabbed the chocolate rose and brought it to the front desk. Looking over his shoulder he saw Naruto was now inspecting the different color of the wrapping on the roses. Looking down Shikamaru realized he had gotten one that had orange wrapping over the chocolate. He shrugged and paid for it. Naruto walked up behind him and set a dozen chocolate roses on the counter. When Naruto opened his money bag and looked inside; Shikamaru turned shaking his head and muttering what a bother it all was.
“DAMN YOU PERVY SAGE!” Naruto’s voice came from behind him.
Shikamaru sighed and turned back to look at Naruto. Such a bother. Now I’ll probably help Naruto.
“Listen kid, I’m sorry but you don’t have any money, you have to put them back,” the store clerk looked flustered and maybe even worried that Naruto might bite his head off.
“But I had the money. That stupid Pervy Sage just took it all. I can get it back soon,” Naruto pleaded.
“Listen kid, I’m sorry, but there’s nothing I can do.”
Shikamaru set enough money for two roses on the counter. “Naruto, you’re such a bother. I’ll loan you the money for two and you can pay me back,” he sighed.
“Thanks, Shikamaru! I’ll pay you back!” Naruto’s grin lit up his face. It was almost enough to make Shikamaru not worry about the money. Almost.
Shikamaru cuffed Naruto upside the back of the head. “You better. God this is annoying… later Naruto.”
Shikamaru walked out of the store. He had a small smile on his face. For such an annoyance, Naruto is ok. Just ok though. He’d be better if he calmed down…
- - - - -
Naruto was sitting in a tree. How could she not like them? All because of that stupid Sasuke. And he didn’t even bring her flowers. He just sat looking all depressed. Stupid Uchiha Sasuke. Making my life miserable. Naruto cut another mark into the tree.
“Naruto what are you doing up there?”
Shikamaru’s voice startled him so much that Naruto jerked back, flailing as he fell off the tree branch.
“Shikamaru, damn it! Why did you sneak up on me? I was… practicing! Yeah!” Naruto’s stupid grin lit up his face.
“Really? Seemed like you were moping to me. Ah well,” Shikamaru laid down on the ground. Naruto blinked when he realized that the relaxed boy still had the orange wrapped chocolate rose.
Naruto sat beside the ninja. “You still have that rose?”
“Yeah. Finding someone to give it to was such a bother and I ended up quitting. Ino’s gonna kick my a**…” he sighed, “You got rid of yours, I see?”
“Yeah I tried to give them to Sakura… she wouldn’t take them… I left them on her doorstep anyways.”
“Hmmm…”
The two boys were silent for a while. That damned Sasuke, stealing Sakura from me like that. I’ll show him. I’m gonna be even better than him. Suddenly Naruto felt something light on his lap. He looked down and saw the bright orange rose.
“There I gave it to somebody. Now maybe Ino will leave me alone,” Shikamaru stood.
Is Shikamaru giving it to me? Is he blushing? Does this mean he likes me? No. Not Shikamaru. But he doesn’t seem to take interest in any girls… No… That’s stupid…
The laidback ninja walked away.
- - - - -
I can’t believe I just did that .I mean Naruto? Shikamaru shook his head. I wonder if he saw me blushing. No. No way. And beside it was just because he’s a friend and he was looking down. It’s such a bother to have upset friends. Shikamaru shook his head.
“Shikamaru! You better not be coming back here without having given someone a Valentine!” Ino stood, arms folded, very pissed.
“You can ask the gift shop clerk. I bought a chocolate rose and gave it to someone,” Shikamaru sighed. So annoying…
“But did you give it to someone you like?” She stretched out the “I” in like as if there were ten instead of just one.
“Wha?”
“Well the whole point is to give it to somebody you love,” again with the thousands of extra vowels, “So if you just gave it to some random person then it’s pointless.”
Shikamaru thought about this. Memories of Naruto being… well Naruto… passed through his head. When he accidently kissed Sasuke. Coming back from his A ranked mission. Swimming in the summer. Naruto falling headfirst into a pile of snow. His failed shadow clone attempts. His sexy jutsu.
“Yeah. Yeah I gave it to someone I like,” Shikamaru felt himself starting to blush. What a bother…
“Oh?” Ino’s eyebrows raised and she smiled. Why did her smile always look so evil? “So who is she?”
“Who is who?” Shikamaru sighed.
“The girl you like! Honestly Shikamaru! If you like a girl it takes more work than looking at the clouds!”
“Yeah whatever…” he rolled his eyes and started move past Ino.
“Hey! Who is she?” Ino called at his retreating back.
“Don’t worry about it… Honestly this whole Valentine’s Day thing is such a bother,” he muttered.
- - - - -
That night Shikamaru was climbing onto the roof top. Valentine’s Day is such a bother. I wish Ino would leave me alone already about-
“Shikamaru?” Naruto’s usually loud voice was quiet. The blond boy was sitting on Shikamaru’s roof, the rose in his hand, held lightly on his lap. He was blushing slightly. Shikamaru almost turned around and went back to his room. But he didn't.
“Hey Naruto. What are you doing here?” Shikamaru fought to contain his surprise and slight embarrassment.
“I’m… um… looking for you really…” Naruto looked down at the rose and then back to Shikamaru, blushing even more.
Damn it… this is such a bother… Shikamaru felt the blush steadily rising in his cheeks and cleared his throat. “Really? Uh… Why?”
“Well… I wanted to as you something…”
“So ask,” Shikamaru sat slowly on the roof and stretched. He saw Naruto’s eyes wander down to his stomach and then as Naruto’s eyes met his again, both of their faces blushed again.
“Um… why did you give me this?” Naruto gestured with the rose.
“You seemed down,” Shikamaru shrugged, avoiding Naruto’s eyes.
“Oh…Ok… “
“And well maybe I like you a little,” Shikamaru said quietly as Naruto said “I thought it was because maybe you like me…”
The two looked up startled at each other and blushed and looked away as they met each other’s eyes. What a bother… Now he knows I like him and he likes Sakura… And I’m blushing… Shikamaru internally sighed. This was far from his original plan of escaping to watch the stars after Ino’s long interrogation of who he liked. It seemed she had received no flowers this year. Shikamaru found himself wondering if Sakura had received flowers from Sasuke. Or if Naruto got flowers from anybody. He felt his hand make a fist at the thought and looked down at it, surprised. Who knew he was this possessive. Over Naruto of all people. He looked up at Naruto. The blond had been quite an annoyance over the years: obnoxious, loud, and naïve, but for some reason that made him all the more endearing to Shikamaru. He was, for once, quiet, and staring over the village at the hokage faces.
Shikamaru found himself standing, almost without his own will, and walking to sit next to Naruto. The boy glanced startled at him, as he sat close enough so that their legs touched.
“Naruto… I…” Shikamaru started then stopped, unable to continue.
“I’m gonna be hokage some day. You know that right, Shikamaru?”
“Yeah. Rather you than me, trust me. And rather you than Sasuke,” Shikamaru folded his hands, the way he did when he was thinking during a game of shogi.
“Naruto… about the rose… if you don’t want it…”
“It’s ok Shikamaru. I want it,” Naruto was looking down at the rose, now held as if he were going to smell it.
“Good. Because it would be bothersome to find somebody else that would take it now…” Shikamaru sighed.
“Shikamaru… you said you liked me?” Naruto was whispering.
“…Yeah…” Shikamaru said softly. Even this quietly his voice seemed too loud.
“I kinda… like you too… I think… It’s… confusing… like one of Kakashi-sensei’s lessons… only weird…”
“Yeah?” Shikamaru smirked at the comparison to Kakashi. Leave it to Naruto to make an embarrassing situation even more awkward.
“Yeah…” the ninja looked at Shikamaru, blushing and breathing shallowly.
Shikamaru turned towards Naruto and cupped the back of the blond’s head with his hand. “Maybe... this will make it less confusing…” he whispered. And Shikamaru kissed Naruto.
At first Naruto was frozen, but then a small noise came from the back of his throat when Shikamaru tried to pull away and his arms wrapped around Shikamaru, pulling him closer. Shikamaru smiled into the kiss and moved so he was comepletely facing Naruto, letting his spare hand run up the teen’s stomach and then chest until it met with Shikamaru’s other hand behind Naruto’s head. Naruto moved his hands to Shikamaru’s chest and pushed slightly. Shikamaru pulled back and looked at Naruto. Both teens were breathing irregularly and both were blushing.
“Less confusing?” Shikamaru asked, hands shaking slightly, still at the base of Naruto’s head.
Naruto nodded looking surprised and curious, then grinned evilly and pulled Shikamaru forward by his shirt so the relaxed boy was on top of him and they were both lying down.
“Shikamaru…” Naruto breathed, and Shikamaru pressed their lips together in another kiss.
Maybe Valentine’s Day isn’t such a bother…
