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Gentle-Fist Massage: The Series	By : PrplGrl Category: Naruto > Yaoi - Male/Male > Shikamaru/Neji Views: 1803 -:- 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
- 9
- 10
- 11
Gentle-Fist
Massage V: Life of Shinobi
Part 4: �Coming
to Terms�

�You are very odd, Shikamaru,� Sai
commented, as he placed his piece carefully on the shougi
board.
The Nara sighed, already knowing his next
move but still taking his time in making it.�
It had been a couple weeks since he had been forced out of his bed.� He was scheduled to return to work at the
Academy in a few days and hopefully he would be rid of the constant annoyance
that followed him everywhere.
In all reality, Sai wasn�t that bad to
live with.� For the most part, he was
quiet and tidy and usually stayed out of Shikamaru�s way.� The artist had brought over his paints and
had set up a section in the living room for his talent, which kept him busy
most of the day.� The only thing that
bothered the shadow wielder was the constant picking the other man did to him
when he opened his mouth.
�How do you mean?� Shikamaru asked,
cautiously taking the paler man�s bait and finally making his move on the shougi board between them.
Sai didn�t look at him, instead gazing
intently on the game.� �According to the
books I�ve been reading,� he answered slowly, seeming to choose his words
carefully, �people who have lost someone close to them usually mourn the
loss.�� He moved another piece.
The shadow wielder glared, even though
the paler man couldn�t see it.� �I have been mourning, idiot!� Don�t those books tell you that everyone
mourns differently?�� He pushed his
knight forward.
�Yes,� the artist agreed, hand ghosting
over the wooden pieces, contemplating his next move, �and they describe all the
different ways people mourn.� You,
however, do not fit any of those descriptions.��
He carefully followed the movement of the other�s knight with one of his
own.
�Good,� Shikamaru replied, eyeing the
board warily, �that means you�ll be leaving after this game.�� After a few moments, he moved a piece to back
up his knight.
�No, it doesn�t,� Sai stated, eyes still
focused on the game.� �You aren�t even
depressed about this anymore, based on the books and your actions.�� Another piece was scooted across the wood.
The shadow wielder sighed again,
pinching the bridge of his nose.� �All
right, Sai,� he said, giving in to the other�s prodding.� �What am I then?� Over it?�� He moved a guard over to protect the king�s
flank.
It was the artist�s turn to sigh.� �Nowhere near it, I�m afraid.� You seem to be in a stage of denial, one step below depression and
several beneath mourning.�� He pushed a
small piece toward his goal on the other end of the board.
Shikamaru�s glare intensified and he
forgot about the game of shougi.� �What do you mean �denial?�� I�m not in denial!�
Sai finally raised his dark eyes to look
confidently at the man across from him.�
�Yes you are, Shikamaru,� he replied, face stoic and calm.� �I haven�t been doing absolutely nothing since being forced to stay with you.� My eyes don�t miss much.�
The Nara snorted, gaze leaving the paler
man.� �Then maybe you need glasses.�
�If you�re not in denial,� the artist
continued, deciding that perhaps it would be best to reason with the man, �then why do you not say his name?� You haven�t even said once that he�s dead and
you continue to wait for him, staring out the windows and keeping his things in
order as if he will return home at any moment.�
It will not happen and you must accept that, Shikamaru.�
The shadow wielder was silently fuming,
trying to keep the unexplainable hurt at bay.�
Sai had hit the nail on the head, whether he consciously knew he was
doing those things or not.
�You know,� he went on, eyes not leaving
the face and knowing his words were having an effect, �most people� cry when they learn of this kind of
news.� Granted, some rarely shed tears at
all, but even just a few at the initial shock of it.� From what I understand, you haven�t cried at
all, not even after seeing your loved one�s cor��
�That�s enough!� Shikamaru shouted.� His body was trembling at the weight from the
words that damned artist had spewed.� Of
course he hadn�t accepted it, and he never wanted to.� He had tried on a few occasions, but each
time he could feel that cold darkness begin to swirl around him and he�d
immediately squashed the thought.� He
didn�t want to be surrounded by that nothingness again, and if that meant
waiting for someone who would never return, so be it.
�You know nothing!� the shadow wielder
spat, turning dark angry eyes to the paler man.�
�You have no idea what it�s like to lose someone you loved with your
whole heart, to feel as if half of your soul has been taken from you!� Would you accept that, Sai?� To know that in losing the person who meant
the most to you in this world was gone, and with him a big piece of yourself.�
Sai stared back, unmoved by the speech,
but taking in every word and absorbing the meaning behind his tirade.
Shikamaru sighed and gazed out into the
forest.� The familiar feeling of
loneliness was starting to spread within his soul, and he could no longer hold
it back by the lie of his lover someday returning.� �I� I can�t
say his name,� he continued, fighting the lump growing in his throat.� �I can�t
cry.� It�s� things like that,
which�.�� The shadow wielder shook his
head; biting his bottom lip a moment as tears slowly began stinging his eyes.� �It would just finalize reality that�� He turned his watery gaze back to the artist,
a few drops escaping his dark orbs as he whispered, ��Neji�s dead.�
He dropped his face into his hands,
great sobs shaking his form as the truth finally settled around him.� Neji was dead, gone forever from this world;
he wouldn�t see his lover ever again.�
The shadow wielder didn�t know what he was going to do.� It had already been decided within his mind
and soul that he couldn�t live without the Hyuga; that fact being established
almost a year ago.� How could he go on
with life now?� The path ahead looked to
be a dark, cold, and lonely existence, one he really did not want to take.� He was afraid to take it.
Suddenly Shikamaru was enveloped within a
warm embrace, and he raised his head away from his hands to give Sai a curious
look.� The artist gave him a small smile
that sent a small wave of comfort through the shadow wielder�s heart.� He decided to take what he could get and
wrapped his arms around the paler man�s torso, burying his face into the
other�s shoulder and continued to cry out several weeks of built up sadness
within his soul.
Sai gently rocked him, running his hands
in soothing motions along the Nara�s back.�
His own heart clenched painfully as the memory of losing his brother
came to mind.� He wondered if maybe this
is how he should have reacted.� Releasing
a small sigh, he held the sobbing man tighter, glad he was finally able to use
the comforting actions he had learned several weeks ago.
It meant Shikamaru was making progress.
- 9
- 10
- 11
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Gentle-Fist Massage: The Series