:bows multiple times: I'm sorry, I'm sorry! Please forgive the lack of an update. I know that there were quite a few people commenting and asking for the next chapter (yes, I do check my e-mail). So here it is!

And, as a side note, I do realize that Neji and Shikamaru are pretty out of character at some points. Sorry if that bugs you, but I can't seem to help it with this fic. xD

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto. D:
Warnings: This is NejiShika, as in a boy/boy pairing. There may be some bad language later as well.

----------

I Can't Love Anymore

Chapter 2: Real

----------

The horrible light that shown through the clean window stung at Shikamaru's eyes, even as he kept them tightly closed. How troublesome. Sitting up in the unfamiliar bed, he looked around, wondering just were he was and how he'd gotten here.

Just one good look around the room told him almost all he needed to know, however. Obviously, this was a girl's room. But why was he in a girl's room?

Setting his hands back to support his form, Shikamaru sighed. With his awakening, all of the memories of the previous... how long had it been? had returned. The boy had been lucky enough that his dreams were shielded from the hurt look that had been in Neji's pale eyes, but now the vision was back. The Hyuuga's voice rang clearly in his mind and all of a sudden he felt the horrible pain return to grip at his chest.

Before Shikamaru had a moment longer to sit with the ache, the door to the room slowly opened. It seemed surreal. The door hadn't even made a sound. The nin sitting on the bed was strangely captivated by the fact.

"Shikamaru!" The familiar voice pulled said boy from his thoughts. "You're awake, I'm glad." Sakura made her way into the room, not bothering to shut the door behind her. In her hands she held a tray. Shikamaru found in strange. If she hadn't known he was awake, then why bother bringing food? Would she have just left it set and get cold at the bedside?

"Mm..." Was the only sound he could make rise in his throat, earning a worried look from the girl as she took in the air around him.

"Are you feeling okay?" It was a stupid question, he thought. Why bother asking? Couldn't she tell?

"Yeah," Shikamaru was finally able to say after allowing a long silence to overtake the room. It was obvious that Sakura didn't believe him. Again he wondered why she bothered to ask. Most people would expect such a response and still, she asked anyway. It was pointless. Shifting on the bed, he spoke again, curiosity getting the better of him. "How did I get here?"

Sakura looked as if she were thinking. Smiling lightly, she answered, "Kakashi-sensei brought you here."

"Why?" Shikamaru's voice was so blunt that it almost startled the girl.

"Well, we didn't want to just leave you out there. I mean..." A hand rising close to her face cut her off. No longer thinking of the food she'd brought and clearly no longer much caring what she thought in general, he made a move to rise.

"Thanks, I guess, but I'm gonna go." Shuffling out of the room, he didn't even bother to look back or offer a real farewell to the pink-haired girl. She just watched him leave with an unreadable look.

………

Shikamaru made his lazy way down the bustling streets of Konoha, a mild expression gracing his features. After having to quick-talk his way out of an impending conversation with Sakura's mother, he felt strangely drained.

To any the casual observer, the nonchalant air to the boy would've been normal, but he was good at hiding his emotions. Since his actions before had bartered so much unwanted attention, he decided it was best to keep to his usual habits.

It wasn't long, though, before his act was rudely interrupted by a familiar brightly-clad boy.

"Ne, Shikamaru, feeling better?" Naruto's loud outburst in the middle of the street only earned him a blank stare from the boy he was questioning and angry glares from the villagers around them. "Are you listening?"

Oh how badly Shikamaru wanted to reach out and crush the hand that was now waving in front of his face.

"Yes, I'm fine." As dead as his voice sounded, Naruto didn't seem to notice.

"Awesome!" Folding his arms behind his head, he offered a trademark grin, which only caused Shikamaru to sigh. Without warning, he quietly moved around the blond, continuing down the street.

Naruto turned, confused as he watched the dark-haired nin leave. His presence, however, was soon replaced by another dark-haired nin, this one obviously more thinking than Naruto. Sasuke passed Shikamaru by without a word, knowing it wasn't his place to pry.

"What are you doing here, Sasuke?" Naruto's voice seemed to ring with its usual annoyed air that flared up when the Uchiha was present.

"It's a public street," was all that was offered in reply as Sasuke continued on his path. Naruto only turned again to watch the other leave. A sad expression set on his face, a flashback of his childhood flitting through his thoughts as he watched his teammate's back. But it wasn't long before the smile took over, making the sorrow hidden again.

………

The sky seemed quite uninteresting to a certain pale-eyed boy as he stared up at it. A long sigh escaped his lips, dissipating in the calm air. But the boy's heart was not so calm as the air.

"I hate this feeling..." Neji whispered to no one in particular, a usual scowl set on his lips. It marred his beautiful features, of course, anyone who dared call him beautiful wouldn't be conscious much longer to see the frown. No one, he knew, except...

Shaking his head, he felt the grass prick at his neck. It was uncomfortable, but he didn't want to move. He wasn't in the mood.

Another sigh left his lips, this one betraying more of his feelings to the world, actually met the ears of another.

"N-Neji...?"

At the voice, said Hyuuga's eyes widened considerably. He hadn't expected the other to return to this place so soon. It had been his hope that he could rest here, remembering the times he'd spent with his best friend... his young love...

"Shikamaru..." Neji's words were dry as they left his lips. By now, he'd sat up, trying to keep his body looking relaxed as he stared off into the distance. For a moment, he wished he could dare to look at the other, but he knew that he couldn't. They couldn't be together anymore, he knew it.

Shikamaru wasn't so sure, though.

"Neji... please look at me. Please." The words seemed to fall on deaf ears, but the boy refused to give up so easily. Making his way over to where Neji sat, he knelt down they way a mother would bend to her fallen child's side, coaxing him to get up and continue playing.

Neji made no move to respond, however, only continued to stare off with a blank expression. If Shikamaru stayed this close much longer... In his head he prayed the other boy would leave, but even as he remained unresponsive, it only proved to spur the other into somehow moving closer.

Neji couldn't take it anymore.

"Don't... Don't come near me!" The Hyuuga jumped from where he sat, almost sending the other sprawling out on the grass. Catching himself, Shikamaru looked up with wide eyes at the one who had just yelled at him. The call seemed to bring him out of whatever dream he had sought refuge in. When the pale-eyed boy had said he couldn't love him anymore, well, he couldn't, the Nara now came to realize.

Hurt was obvious in Shikamaru's eyes, but he kept quiet now. Those eyes, they had captivated him so and now as he stared up into them, they seemed to judge him as they never had before.

"Please..." Neji's voice now shook. "Please understand... I..." But before he could finish, warm lips were pressed against his own. Pupil-less eyes widening, his mind yelled at himself to pull away, but he couldn't. The feel, the taste, they were all welcome, but...

Finally, Neji got enough control of himself to pull away, though leaving the warmth of the other wasn't something he wanted to do. His heart stung and he could feel the beginnings of tears behind his eyes as he viewed Shikamaru's pain expression.

"Don't do this to me, Shikamaru." With that said, Neji took off. His strong legs carried his slender form easily, taking him quickly away from the other. Shikamaru could do nothing to call him back. His legs refused to move.

So, Neji really didn't love him? Squeezing his eyes shut, he tried to hold them back, but soon the tears were flowing freely.

He wasn't sure just how long he sat there weeping, but when he opened his eyes to the setting sun, they held no more emotion.

----------

Ah, I feel strangely happy and quite accomplished! I hope everyone enjoyed.

By the way, I was pondering adding a SasuNaru pairing to this fic. Any opinions?