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Zephyr's Shadow	By : gaaraxoxolee Category: Naruto > General Views: 1094 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 1-Chapter 1
- 1
Ok, so this is my very first fanfic. I welcome any and all comments suggestions, I am currently looking for a beta so please contact me if you are interested. Grammar and canon nazis are preferred. This is the first chapter so no gory violence or sex yet.

Zephyr�s Shadow

By Tigress
Chapter 1

The soft morning light eased across his eyes gently disrupting his sleep. He blinked several times; the sting of the morning sun was yet another annoyance in the simple matter that he had to face this day. He finally decided he had put off the inevitable far too long and sat up with a quiet yet childish moan.
Ugh. I knew I should have closed those damned curtains last night.
He considered closing them now and returning to bed. Then he considered the complications that would result from taking it upon himself to take the day off.
Not a good idea. It would be too troublesome.
This day was already anticipated as a bad day, and the best remedy for a bad day was to let it end. He sighed deeply, stood and stretched. The same sunlight that he considered the cause of his premature awakening danced across his bare back as he practiced his morning stretches. It was a beautiful spectacle he had never known and probably never considered. With his morning routine completed, except for breakfast, he headed out the door and took a deep breath smelling the approaching winds of autumn before starting his way.
I�m sure mom made extra breakfast as usual. If not I�m screwed for a morning meal.
As with most other menial things, cooking was avoided unless he absolutely had to eat and there was no one else he could con into doing it. Therefore his mornings at the village usually included a reflective walk to his parent�s home for any meal, laundry, needlework, or other bothersome but necessary work he needed. However, he avoided asking for favors when his mom was in a bad mood. Those days only meant he had to do his own chores plus whatever else his mother deemed he and his father deserved.
Today�s walk felt exceptionally long. Thoughts by the hundreds were creeping in his mind. So many things change today. There was even more responsibility in his hands. He had enough to deal with. May be if he faked his death, retired in a nice quiet village, and lived off the land�? He almost laughed at the idea. It would exhaust him just orchestrating the perfect death. That wouldn�t be the end of it. Living off the land was hard work. He didn�t like work. Besides, if he failed, he would be labeled a missing nin and that would be another complete mess. Poetic though it may be, his new troubles and responsibilities were definitely not worth that much stress. He continued to smile at the steady flood of daydreams invading his mind. It was the silly and senseless ones that allowed him the best of the ever so slight escapes from reality. For the past four years these miniature vacations have been recurring less and less. This was partly a good thing and partly a bad thing. He had learned so much in his career if it can be called that. Becoming chunin and taking his first lead mission changed him. The mission had been a bust, but everyone lived and everyone learned, except maybe Naruto at the time. Years later the fight to avenge his sensei made him realize his potential. At this particular thought an old lesson resurfaced.
Maybe my new responsibilities won�t be too bad. Everyone thinks I�m a good strategist after all. I�m even starting the beat dad at shogi�
His eyes felt the soft sting right before watering, but he fought it.
Asuma-sensei would have been proud today.
The stream of thoughts began to slow, his pace matched and focused on the memory of his fallen mentor. The unnoticed smile would have betrayed his privacy had anyone of his friends seen it. But memories of those we consider wise were a good thing. They are a gateway one can use when one�s current problem required more than logic.
At this moment he was faced with his favorite kind of daydream� the ones where he could still speak to his teacher.
Hahaha, you coward! Be proud, not annoyed, or lazy, or which ever it is this time. Come to me once you have a real problem.

I�m not a coward! And do you always have to tease?! �

Besides, I have been taking responsibility. I�m taking care of your damn kid like I promised.

Good! You�re supposed to. Now I order you to cheer up and accept your new achievement. Life only gets harder as it progresses. But you already know this.
That he did. He would give almost anything to see him and speak with him even for a minute. Again he sighed and continued his walk. He missed having someone he could trust with his inner troubles. It was not as if he had no friends. He had enough people who loved and cared for him to be considered lucky. But none he could truly release with. Choji was some help but he associated all problems with not having enough food, and Ino, well, Ino was Ino and she always turned conversations toward herself. What Choji saw in her he will never understand, but as long as his friends were happy. Besides it was convenient for him. Sure, he had to sacrifice alone time with one or the other, but now Ino couldn�t use the �you spend more time with Choji� card on him. Either way, they had each other to be concerned with. Then there was Kurenai. Kurenai-Nee-san came closest but they rarely had an opportunity to sit and spend quality time together.
She is a good listener. Too bad we�re always sent on missions at opposite times of one another.
That schedule worked out. When she was working he took care of the brat and once she was back it was not long before he had an assignment. This luck of the draw saved both of them money as far as hiring a babysitter. Unfortunately it was an extra duty for him; surprisingly it was one chore he liked. However, this meant they never got to catch up. In fact, once he had found out through Sakura during a mission that some chunin had asked her out. By the time he got back, she had gone on two dates and had already dumped him. He remembered their talk afterwards. One of the few he wished for.
"I heard you�re dating again. I am very happy for you
Nee-san."

"*gasp* Shikamaru-kun!? I meant to tell you a couple of weeks ago, but you know how these emergency missions go-"

"That�s not it. It�s your business�"

"Shikamaru, you are important to me. I want to be the one to tell you these things. I�m sure there are things you wish to tell me about Te-"
At that very moment an ANBU showed up with an urgent mission for her. With that, his moment to talk and spend time with his adopted big sister ended. He was happy that she was finally dating again. But he rather wished for the time to have heard it from her and really just talk about nothing. Just like he expected to tell her first if he even got the nerve to talk to a girl. He didn�t even get to mention his impending fear. Of course his fear came true. His problem was a good thing and he needed to recognize that. His dad would tell him he should feel happy, accomplished even. His old man always seemed to say the exact thing he needed to hear when he needed a good kick in the pants. He had to admit, as a last resort he could always rely on him. But his father was too much like him. He wanted someone, no, needed someone different from the relationship he had with Asuma-sensei or the one he holds with his dad.
He was so lost in his thoughts of responsibility, friends, family, longing and lost ones he had lost all track of time, space, and direction. His body had moved him by simple routine. He did not even notice when he walked in the courtyard, or walked up the steps, or even opening the door. In fact, he had been so lost and so comfortable in his own village that he did not even notice that very few ninjas were out along his walk to his parent�s. As with all things, not paying attention has a price. He paid his as soon as he entered his old home.
�SURPRISE!�

�Uh! What the-?!�
Immediately alarmed he jumped instantly doing a back-flip and pulling out a kunai. He had instinctively landed in defense mode on top of the door no less, and held it but for a moment before pulling back his half executed kagemane as he realized everyone had tricked him and tricked him well. Shikamaru stayed squatting on top of the door in total disbelief.
�Happy Birthday and Congratulations Shikamaru-kun!� Ino shrieked clapping and hopping like a bunny.

�Yeah, good going Shikamaru,� Choji said still munching on his snack.

�Yeah man! We knew you�d be the next one promoted!� Kiba grinned.

Shikamaru glared. He could not believe what he was seeing; he could not believe what he was hearing either. Most of the people he gave a damn for were here, Kurenai and the kid, his mom, dad, Kiba, Choji, Ino, Neji, Sakura, Shino, Izumo, and Kotetsu.

�You people are crazy!! What do you think you�re doing surprising me like that! What if I had attacked you?�

�WHAT! You ungrateful- you- why I should- you call yourself our-�

�Ino please be quite,� Choji said calmly and suddenly.

�I will not!� Ino turned with her arms crossed huffed in protest.

�We were more than adequately prepared for such a situation. I�ve been tracking your movement with my Byakugan since-�

�Since I smelled your stinky ass the moment you walk out your door!� Kiba interrupted.

�Besides son, judging by this group, I think we could have handled you,� said a calm Shikaku, leaning against the wall next to his son with his arms relaxed and crossed.
Shikamaru was still squatting on top of the door. He looked and for the first time he realized his dad�s shadow now ebbing away and no longer holding him in that ridiculous position. He figured that was why his kagemane had only half executed. He shook his head and jumped landing with ease putting away the kunai. He stared.
�It�s not my birthday.�

�Of course not silly!� Sakura spoke up. �If we had tried something like this next week, you would have suspected something.�

�Yes, and you have NO idea how hard it was to keep this quiet!� Yoshino said in a near shriek. �We had to wait to nearly the last minute to send word to Lee-kun and -�

�SURPRISE Shi-ka-ma-ruuuuu!� a chorus of cute girl voices yell from no where as a cloud of smoke materializes with at least 10 naked blondes surrounding Shikamaru.
Kurenai instinctively covers her son�s eyes (but not without holding back a laugh).

�Pervert! What do you think you�re doing!!?� Yoshino yells and punches a random sexy clone. The clone by sheer luck happened to be the real thing. The sexy clones disappear in an immense puff and Naruto is on the floor rubbing his cheek.

�Ow, how did you know which one I was?�

�Never mind that! You�re late�� Yoshino continued to reprimand Naruto only to have Ino and Sakura join her.
The whole time Shikamaru stayed leaning back with his hands in his pockets. This party was turning out to be more entertaining and worth the annoyance. He closed his eyes and enjoyed the attention being focused away as he heard the girls and his mom yelling and beating Naruto.
Thanks Naruto, I knew I could count on a goof like you to make my first morning as a J�nin slightly bearable.
�Ow, ow, ow, ow! Come on guys, I still haven�t shown Shikamaru my surprise!�
Another surprise huh? How bothersome. What could he have for me, another perverted book from Jiraiya-sama? Or maybe-
His thoughts ceased as soon as he recognized those foot steps. There was something in the way she walked that he always knew. He smelled the air, hoping it would confirm his hope. True, he would never admit he longed to see her, not even to himself. Besides, if he opened his eyes and he was wrong, the dream would be gone as well. Whether it was true or not, until he heard her, he could pretend it was her. The smell was right. He dare not open his eyes.
Why am I even thinking about her? All she does is whine. She loves throwing things in my face too. She�s troublesome, and I don�t much care for her.
�I get it, you�re so lazy you�ll daydream even in your own damn party. But I must say, it took you long enough to catch up to me.�
Shikamaru�s eyes ignored his will and opened with a start. He quickly eased them back to normal. If he showed any sign of being pleased, he might give people the wrong idea. He gave her an indifferent, soft, sly smile.
�Hello Temari-san, I�m surprised to see you here.� Everyone in the room had gotten silent and stared at the two. For three long seconds no one said a word. Shikamaru and Temari stared at each other, both with smiles that implied the other was up to something. There was an air of beauty and deception.
�I told ya I had a surprise for ya!� Naruto yells finally breaking the silence he considered annoying.

�Surprise? Why would I be a surprise? I came to this village on official business. I had no idea about this party until maybe an hour ago and that�s only because you were whining about wanting to come by.�

�But Temari-chan, when I was telling Fuzzy-brows about our invitation you were-�
Temari swiftly swings her fan smacking Naruto in the back of his head, causing him to topple over.

�Idiot! Stop spreading lies!�

�Oh� why are all the girls hitting me today?� Naruto moaned getting up from the ground.

�Don�t worry, you�re not much of a surprise. I�m amazed myself at why he would even think such a thing,� Shikamaru finally spoke up, �but, I suppose I should thank you both for coming.�

Temari smiled, �We have to get going Naruto. We�re late.� She started walking past him out the door. She paused when she got next to him, �Congratulations.�
Naruto followed after her and in flash, they were gone. Shikamaru stood dumbstruck, Temari had come and he basically pushed her away. He felt a tinge of guilt. He was tried to prevent an internal struggle at this moment. He had an annoying matter to attend to even if he had been forced into it.
How could I have been so mean� except I wasn�t. Still, I can�t believe�

��it really was her,� he whispered.

�Did you say something Shikamaru?� Choji asked.

�No, nothing important.�

�Good. LETS EAT!!�
- 1
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Zephyr's Shadow