Shikamaru/Hinata Song Meme Part Two

Notes: Yep there is more! As I stated before these song drabbles are addictive! Same rules apply here as did to the first. Again I really couldn’t keep myself within the time limit ;

Please read and enjoy.

Side Notes: Song 11, 12, 13, and 19 are set in AU/Modern Day Universes. 11 and 19 coming from the ‘Ravens and Writing Desk’ Universe. And 12 is connected to song 4 from Song Meme 1.

Whereas 14, 15, 16, 17, and 18 are set in canon or semi-canon settings.

And 17 is loosely connected to the ‘Sunlight and Shadows’ universe.

Also, 20 is in honor of SpammishRice’s ‘Godparent’s comic series on DeviantArt.

Thank you for reading and please enjoy…

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11: Song: ‘Same Mistake’ by James Blunt

‘It was a lie…all of it was a lie.’

Shikamaru tried to remind himself. It was the deepest form of denial, but at this point, he’d much rather welcome the numbing affect of ignorance in favor of counting sheep.

Restlessly turning in bed, upsetting his bed sheets, and pounding a fist into a worn and abused pillow to fluff it up, Shikamaru tried to close his dark eyes in a brave attempt of falling asleep.

But in the darkness, sleep didn’t over take him. Rather it taunted him by drawing a mental picture of someone he loved dearly, even if she had broken his heart months ago.

“Give it up already…she doesn’t love me. Hinata said so herself,” the young man told himself, dragging a forearm over his face to cover his eyes.

Yet even in the depths of denial, Shikamaru knew, underneath it all of the lies, the deception, the keeping of secrets; Hinata couldn’t lie about one simple fact.

She did love him. The kisses had been too passionate, too real to be lies. The way she held onto him so tightly in all her fragility and anxious need, couldn’t have been faked even by greatest actress.

Yet for all this ‘love’ Hinata supposedly had for him, he was here- in Tokyo- lying in an empty bed. And Hinata was…somewhere curled up next to Sasuke.

It all left a bitter taste in his mouth.

Turning to the opposite side, still unable to close his eyes in sleep, Shikamaru knew for all the betrayal and the lies about the truth, if given the chance he would want to be with Hinata again.

A cynical smile stretched along his mouth, “So much from learning from past mistakes…” Shikamaru mused wryly.

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12: Song: ‘Ain’t No Other Man’ by Christina Aguliera

“Ino, he’s doing that thing again…” Chouji warned, while leaning over to his female friend/teammate.

“Hmm?” curious, Ino glanced up from looking into the depth of her pretty blue- and alcoholic- drink.

Glancing across the table, Ino’s blue eyes widened as she watched Shikamaru drown another shot, his eyes never leaving Team 8’s table.

“Oh…” Ino began, her mouth forming a small ‘O’, then turned to Chouji, gesturing wildly.

“Don’t just stand there, Chouji! Do…something!” Ino said, keeping her voice low while wildly gesturing to the Nara with her hands.

“What though?” Chouji questioned as he watched Shikamaru’s pensive stare slowly turn into one of murderous intent as Kiba excitedly anchored his arms around Hinata’s waist, all but swinging the girl around the floor of the bar.

“You’re his best friend!” Ino hissed back, “Think of something that will calm him down.”

---

A few weeks ago, Ino and Chouji had the misfortune of finding out that a drunken Shikamaru meant an unpredictable one.

One incident, or rather the only, that involved Shikamaru and alcohol lead to him ‘sneaking’ around the bar until he came up on Hinata and gave a surprise proposal.

The surprise: Hinata was hardly inclined to marry someone she barely knew, and Shikamaru couldn’t even remember said proposal the following morning.

Thinking they were safe, so long as they kept an eye on how much Shikamaru drank, Chouji and Ino went out for drinks; yet during their conversational banter, both of Shikamaru’s teammates lost track of just how many shots he ordered.

-----

“But he looks mean!” Chouji complained, “What if he tries to hit me?”

Ino’s eyes narrowed, “Chouji, if Shikamaru did hit you, his punch would just…bounce off. Now, stop him before…oh god…” the young woman finished, smacking a hand to her forehead.

“What?” Chouji asked, turning around, his face turning pale once he realized that Shikamaru had already vacated their table.

“Please don’t tell me…don’t tell me he’s over there harassing Hinata again.” Ino begged, placing a hand over her eyes as if unable to watch the rejection soon to follow.

“Uh…well he’s not bothering Hinata…no wait my mistake now he is.” Chouji said nervously, not sure what exactly to tell Ino.

Parting her fingers enough to peer out from behind them, Ino suddenly shut her hand and eyes yet again.

“This isn’t happening…” she bemoaned aloud as she heard Hinata scream from way across the bar.

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“Hey…you…”

“Huh?” Kiba questioned, looking over his shoulder to see who had called him.

In the next second Kiba was eating fist.

Shocked, Hinata and Shino stared at their teammate staggered about, blindly grasping for the table edge only miss it and fall to the floor.

“Kiba-kun?!” Hinata yelled, getting out of her chair and bending down to help her friend; yet Hinata couldn’t do anything once she was picked up by the waist.

“Shikamaru-kun! P-put me down!”

“No…” Shikamaru said shortly, swaying slightly on his feet.

Hinata narrowed her pale eyes, “Shikamaru I mean it, put me down or I’ll eep!”

The Hyuuga squealed as Shikamaru plucked her off the floor, and situated her on his shoulder.

Shino stared, shocked, from behind his shades as Shikamaru pointed to Hinata with his free hand, “She’s s mine…sooo you and dogby…hands off…”

Turning around Shikamaru found it difficult to walk straight while carrying a struggling Hinata over his shoulder.

Not about to be carted off for unknown purposes, Hinata took in a deep breath, activating her Byakugan.

“I’m very sorry Shikamaru-kun, but it’s for the best. Please forgive me.” Hinata said as she lightly pressed on a pressure point in the middle of Shikamaru’s neck.

The young man suddenly froze up, his eyelids becoming heavy, and within seconds he and Hinata fell to the floor with two ‘thuds’.

“Are you alright, Hinata?” Shino asked, leaning over the fallen Hyuuga.

Feeling a bit dizzy, Hinata nodded nevertheless, “Yeah…I think so.”

Ino and Chouji were by an unconscious Shikamaru in a second.

“Shikamaru?” Ino asked lightly shaking his shoulders.

Chouji lightly nudged his friend’s leg with the toe of his sandal.

When Shikamaru didn’t move Ino turned an angry gaze to Hinata.

“You…you killed Shikamaru! Hinata how could you?!” the blonde demanded while shaking Shikamaru by his Chuunin vest, as if trying to tremor him into living again.

Shino ‘hmphed’ and fixed his sunglasses, having enough of this nonsense, he spoke up in Hinata’s defense.

“Hinata didn’t kill him. She just put him to sleep by touching a pressure point.” Shino explained.

As if to confirm Shino’s reason, a loud snore came from the sleeping Nara.

“Oh…so he’s not dead then.” Ino said, abruptly letting go of Shikamaru’s jacket so that he fell to the floor…again.

“That’s good. Would have hated to explain to him mom that Shikamaru died while picking up a girl…literally.” Chouji said, both him and Ino smiling as if everything was all right.

But Team 8 wasn’t buying it. Kiba with his bloody nose, Shino with his annoyance that this sort of thing kept happening, and Hinata

…well Hinata didn’t like appreciate being carried around and having someone claim her as being ‘his’.

“Uh…heh…” Ino uttered becoming nervous with the stares she and her teammates were receiving, “Oh will you look at the time! We’d better be going.”

With that Chouji and Ino picked up their very own ‘Sleeping Beauty’ and carried him away before Team 8 could enact their revenge.

Stopping up his bloody nose with a cocktail napkin, Kiba looked to his teammates, “All in favor of finding a new bar to hang out at…raise their right hand.”

Without question or pause, Shino and Hinata raised their hands.

Unfortunately for them, Team 10 decided to do the same thing…

And well there were only two bars in Konohagakure…

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13: Song: ‘Attack’ by 30 Seconds to Mars

Slender, silver, and deadly, the young woman twisted her grip on the blade, gaining a stronger purchase. Pale eyes turned to look at an enemy shinobi that had her younger sister- keeper of the Hyuuga’s sacred scrolls- backed into a corner.

--

Glaring fiercely at her captor the girl kept her teeth clenched and a tightened her grip on the scrolls. Or rather she tried to move to get a better hold on the scrolls; but wide white eyes blinked in surprise as Hanabi realized she was paralyzed.

‘But…how?!” the girl asked herself. Then her gaze flickered up to the lantern, the light cast from the glass bulb revealed her shadow was held captive by the cloaked and masked shinobi in front of her.

‘A Nara? They brought out the Assassin division just to get these stupid scrolls?!’ Hanabi thought while mentally cursing Konoha and glaring holes into her captor’s skull with her eyes.

However a flash of movement caught Hanabi’s attention, it was silver and moved quickly, followed by a flow of long indigo hair.

Gasping, Hanabi managed to scream, “Hinata! Go back it’s a trap!”

------

Yet the warning came too late, because as Hinata raised the sword to swing it down onto the head of the enemy shinobi, the young woman suddenly found her body frozen in place, her arms and sword still raised in the air.

Dark eyes peered at her from underneath the safety and anonymity of the cloak and white-red mask.

Hinata felt a small tremor start at her spine, but it couldn’t surface into any physical manifestation since the enemy had control over her body.

Eyes narrowed, Hinata choose to show her captor that she was not afraid of him. Yet her look went unnoticed or rather he didn’t care since the Nara forced- through his shadow bind- Hinata to take several steps backward.

Hinata felt another shiver coming on as her back felt the breeze of outdoors. She was forced against a large and open window. A twenty foot drop from the highest level of the Hyuuga compound to the ground below would at worst kill her…or at best permanently cripple her.

Still, though she felt afraid- terrified in fact- Hinata choose to look her captor in the eye. Her pale moonstone eyes seemed to all but dare him to make her jump, dared him to kill her…

He hesitated for a long moment.

Then a voice rose up from underneath the mask and cloak, “I only want the scrolls. I’ll let you and your sister go…if you’ll hand them to me…” he said, the command directed at Hanabi, yet his dark eyes didn’t leave Hinata’s pale ones for a second.

Unable to tremble, Hanabi was still outwardly afraid through her paling face and nervous glances of her eyes.

“Hanabi…” Hinata began, “Don’t give the scrolls to him. Father asked you to protect them…ahh!” the young woman cried as her feet were forced a half step backwards, leaning her closer out the open window.

“I don’t want to hurt either of you. I’m not here to kill anyone, but I will if it means getting those scrolls…” the Nara claimed, yet Hinata could tell even with his threat he was having a hard time forcing her further into the window- since his hands were starting to shake.

‘Or maybe it’s because he’s running low on chakra?’ Hinata asked herself. Yes, that seemed most likely the case, then him having a sudden bout of conscious and compassion for his enemies.

Hanabi bit her lower lip, and then gasped realizing the jutsu had released her. With one look to her older sister, Hanabi nodded once before running off.

“Wha…hey! Hey you get back here!” the Nara cried out, having to release his jutsu on Hinata in order to chase down the girl with the scrolls.

Now freed Hinata lowered her arms- and the sword- so she could run easier.

Having an advantage of knowing the ins and outs of the Hyuuga compound, Hanabi turned a corner and kneeled on the floor. With her free hand, Hanabi pulled back a wall panel, revealing a small secret crawlspace. Hefting herself and the scrolls halfway through the entry, Hanabi turned back when one scroll managed to fall and roll a few feet away.

Cursing, the girl lunged forward to reclaim the recluse scroll, only to yell in pain as a shoe landed heavily on her hand, holding her and the scroll in place.

“So this is how you guys get around…” the Nara said as he lifted his foot just enough to take the scroll right from within Hanabi’s reach, “crawling through holes in the wall like little rats…”

Hanabi scowled and was about to lunge at her captor to get the scroll back the moment his guard was down; but then the girl saw her sister sneaking around again, her sword drawn.

With a grin, Hanabi looked up to the Nara, “You’re right…we are a bit like rats. But at least our methods help us survive. You on the other hand…are dead1” she yelled, while painfully jerking her hand back away from under foot and quickly crawled into the panel behind the wall.

Turning his head, the Nara’s eyes widened as he saw a sliver of quicksilver coming at him. Ducking at the last second, he just barely avoided getting sliced clean across his face.

The cloth cloak and mask however easily tore when coming into contact with steel.

-----

Hinata finished her swing of the weapon; her body sinking into a defensive stance in case the Nara attacked her in return for the blow.

But, the young woman found herself disappointed when the cloth fell away, showing she hadn’t made a mark on the Nara assassin.

Now that he was unmasked, Hinata found herself staring into the face of the one who had been leading Konoha’s campaign against the rouge Hyuuga clan for several months.

Dark eyes now looked a plain and dull brown without having black clothing and a mask to hide his face. A mouth twisted into a very annoyed and displeased expression, yet it was a look that was far from that of a hardened warrior trained to kill on sight. If anything he looked liked a pissed off teenager, who was very annoyed with the current turn of events.

“So…” the Nara said, raising his hands in surrender, which surprised Hinata- true she had a sword at her side, but he had the advantage of being a man- only men were allowed to learn and use jutsu-.

“Now that I’m captured…what are you going to do next?” the Nara asked.

‘What indeed…’ Hinata asked herself, honestly confused as to what she was going to do with her prisoner.

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14: Song: ‘Yellow’ by Coldplay

“Isn’t it beautiful?” came the soft timber of a whisper, lips gently curved around the shell of his ear. Warm air the near-touch of lips to skin, made Shikamaru unconsciously shiver.

Torn between looking to his left and looking above, Shikamaru decided to first look at the night sky. A wide and endless expanse of midnight blue dotted with small pinpricks of light.

Still, Shikamaru perfered his cloudy afternoons to an evening out underneath the stars. So turning his attention back to Hinata, Shikamaru was surprised to see her standing up.

Eyes closed, head tilted back a little, as if she was so enthralled by the quiet and dark beauty of the night sky, Hinata had her arms wide open; a slight evening chilly breeze pulling back strands of her hair.

Then pale lavender eyes opened, a serene smile on Hinata looked down on him.

“Yeah…beautiful.” Shikamaru agreed quietly.

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15: Song: ‘Don’t Bother’ (AFTC Remix) by Shakira

Cerulean blue eyes widened as the blonde-haired Suna shinboi happened to see a familiar face ahead, just leaving the Kazekage’s office.

“Well, well, isn’t this a change of pace?” Temari said, “Usually it’s me that’s having to haul ass to Konoha, not the other way around.”

The young man replied with a small smirk, “Well if you think I’m here to see you Temari, you’re mistaken.”

“Ouch…” Temari responded, placing a hand over her chest, “I’m hurt Crybaby…really you cut me to the quick.”

It really had been a surprise to Temari to see the lazy-ass kid in Suna.

For a moment she half considered that maybe Shikamaru was going to take part in the transfer program, where Konoha and Suna Chuunin were exchanged for one year in order to build a stronger connection between the two allies.

Still, knowing better than to assume anything, Temari asked upfront the purpose of the Nara’s visit.

Shikamaru shrugged, “The usual. Running errands for bossy women, namely Tsunade-sama. But since I’m already here on another mission, I’ve been ordered to stay as a sort of escort for an ambassador…”

Temari gave a wry grin, “Wait, so you’re acting as an escort, to some foreigner when you don’t live in this country either?” she asked.

Shikamaru sighed, “I don’t quite understand it either, but I was specifically requested for this mission, so I might as well go through with it.”

Temari was about to tease Shikamaru again, but paused as the door the Kazekage’s-Garra’s- office opened. Out slipped a small Hyuuga woman. Temari almost didn’t recognize her without the large jacket and long pants. Rather the young woman was wearing an elegant almost-dress like light outfit white and light violet in color. The dress had long seam-line splits on either side making it easy for her to move and underneath were dark flared pants ending in small black sandals.

“Over here Hinata.” Shikamaru called out to the confused looking girl.

‘Hinata?’ Temari thought to herself, first drawing a blank as the Hyuuga girl walked up to her and Shikamaru. She reconized the name, but at the same time couldn't remember why.

“Hinata, I don’t know if you remember Temari, but she took the first Chuunin exam with us.”

Pale eyes blinked as if Hinata was slightly confused about who the woman standing across from her was.

Then comprehension dawned on her, “Ah yes, I remember now. Sorry for not greeting you earlier Temari-san,” the girl said with a respectful bow.

“It’s okay,” Temari said with a dismissive wave, honestly still puzzled as to who this girl was.

However, bemusement was abruptly shoved aside as Temari’s gaze feel on a slight movement of Shikamaru’s right hand. Dark blue eyes widened as Temari realized he was holding Hinata’s hand loosely, their fingers barely touching.

‘So he’s…’ Temari looked to Shikamaru who gave no outward sign of embarrassment at being caught holding hands with the Hyuuga girl.

‘And she…’ she looked to Hinata, the girl’s face turning a bright shade of pink from a blush.

“Ah…Temari-san?” the soft spoken girl questioned.

“…Yes?”

Hinata slightly tilted her head to one side, looking thoughtful, “Are you…alright?”

“Hm? Of course I am. I’m fine.” Temari said with a small laugh, “Why do you ask?”

Hinata lowered her gaze, “Um it’s just you looked a bit pale a moment ago…” she muttered, yet wasn’t able to finish her sentence since Shikamaru started tugging her along.

“Come on Hinata, let’s get some lunch. I’m starving.”

“Ah, alright. Temari-san, do you want to join us for lunch?” the Hyuuga girl asked politely.

At a loss as to what to say, she could have said ‘no’ but that would have lead to awkward questions since apparently Hinata was the ‘Ambassador’ from Konoha Shikamaru was escorting. So her declining might be perceived as an insult.

Looking to first the girl then to Shikamaru, Temari tried to find an answer or some kind of sign from either one. Hinata looked genuine in her offer and Shikamaru was…surprisingly unreadable.

“Hinata, she might be busy with work. We can go by ourselves.” Shikamaru finally said, breaking the awkward silence.

“Hey, don’t go saying if I’m busy or not.” Temari shot back, then forced herself to smile, “I would be happy to come along Hinata-chan.”

“Ah, thank you!” Hinata said with a smile, “Shikamaru doesn’t seem to know his way around and last night’s dinner wasn’t all that good, so maybe you can show us some better places to eat at.”

The forced smile again, yet it softened as Temari wondered if Hinata was the slightest bit aware of her and Shikamaru’s previous relationship.

‘Probably not. That’s why Shikamaru didn’t want me to come along.’ Temari realized.

“Sure, I know of a few places. So follow me my cute little tourists.” Temari teased, yet her heart just wasn’t quite in it.

Hinata didn’t seem to notice, but if that raised eyebrow was any indication, Shikamaru was aware of the difference from her earlier teasing to now.

‘Well…I guess he’s moved on.’ Temari thought as she leads the way for the ‘lovebirds’; ‘I just didn’t expect him to bounce back that quickly…’

And since Hinata and Shikamaru were so close, almost attached to the hip, Temari started to wonder if he had ever been that serious in their relationship.

The answer was clear.

‘No. No, he never was really into the relationship…or me. Almost like he was just bidding his time with me…’

Temari painfully clenched her teeth, yet still laughed and smiled as she joked how much the couple looked like a pair of Siamese Twins.

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16: Song: ‘When It Rains’ by Paramore

He really didn’t even notice the rain hitting him until the wet droplets abruptly stopped hitting skin.

Slowly turning his head, gaze turning right into the person holding the outstretched umbrella, Shikamaru blinked tired brown eyes as he saw a unexpected soul daring to brave this weather.

“Shikamaru-kun…” Hinata said softly while reaching out a hand to him, “Kurenai-san was worried about you…so…so she asked me to find you.”

Still confused as to why she was here, couldn’t have Kurenai asked Chouji, Ino, or come herself?

Why send Hinata, who had no earthly idea why he was out here in the rain? Or even cared that today another name had been carved into the monument?

Still, Shikamaru took the offered hand, ducking underneath the cover of the umbrella, only to be surprised as Hinata handed the object over to him as she ventured out from underneath the cover.

The pale eyes girl approached the monument stone. Her eyes then closed behind eyelids, head bowed quietly at first. He watched her lips move, yet no sound came from it, maybe because whatever being said wasn’t meant to be heard by him.

Then the quiet ended with three soft and short claps of small pale hands.

Afterward, Hinata turned, her face flushed as she caught Shikamaru’s confused stare.

“Um…it’s an old family prayer. My clan says it when someone dies in battle…it’s a little bit late now. And…”

Her gaze lowered, “I didn’t know Asuma-sensei well; but he was important to Kurenai-sensei…and to you…and Ino-chan and Chouji-kun so…”

Hinata gave up explaining when Shikamaru extended the umbrella out to help keep the rain off of her.

With a very small smile, Hinata gingerly clasped her right hand over Shikamaru’s squeezing it once before taking the umbrella handle, raising her arm high in hopes of keeping them both dry.

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17: Song: ‘Dizzy’ by Jimmy Eat World

A long slender green stem twisted around pale slender fingers. Warmed by the afternoon sun and surrounded by a bed of long fragrant green grass, Hinata was half tempted to lay next to her friend, who already looked to be on the verge of sleep.

Pale eyes stared directly into the puffy head of the dandelion. Lips pursed, eyes closed, and a wish was made. The white plops flew and fluttered carried off by the wind.

Behind her a sleepy voice asked, “What did you wish for?”

Hinata barely even turned to glance backward; she didn’t have to look at him for Shikamaru to get the message.

Her wish wasn’t for him.

“Naruto…again…’ he thought sourly before saying aloud, “You know what…on second thought, I don’t really want to know.”

Confused, Hinata tried to make a verbal protest, to call her ‘friend’ out for being mean; but Shikamaru simply turned over and fell asleep…or at least he pretended to be asleep.

Anything to avoid the growing sense of denial, jealousy, and questions he wasn’t ready to answer just yet.

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18: Song: ‘Only When I Lose Myself’ by Depeche Mode

A lingering kiss forms a slow and addictive coil around the pair. One hand on a pale shoulder, gently pushes the female back into the soft bed and its rumpled sheets.

Pale moonstone colored eyes blink, in the darkness looking more silver than light lavender. A second kiss followed this one slowly gravitating away from lips to hotly curl around the pulse point of his neck. The mouth stopped just short of biting skin when the girl gasped at the feeling of fingers brushing against bared breasts. Feeling her body arch from underneath, Shikamaru let out a low hiss of air between his teeth, as fingers- not his own- made quick work of discarding the last article of his clothing.

Dark, dark eyes stared directly into Hinata’s pale gaze, making her blush at the intensity, yet she didn’t feel quite shamed enough to stop her fingertips from wandering down a male chest, abdomen, and over narrow hips and thighs.

Shikamaru shivered, his hands on either side of the pillow, framing Hinata’s head.

She smiled up at him before winding her legs loosely around Shikamaru’s waist, pulling him closer and closer to her…

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19: Song: ‘Breathe’ by Michelle Branch

Holding a tight grasp on the piles of papers needed to hold her boss’s place at the convention, Hinata stared with wide pale eyes as she looked at all of the people packed inside the center. Tables were set up, showing off the written works of each author. Some manga, some paperbacks, even a few seemingly ancient tomes of hardback volumes.

But most of all…there were peoples. Big publishing companies- one of them being Shikamaru’s publisher- had large and lavish booths laid out, writers of different genre and opposite ends of the country had their tables, and of course there were the fans and bookworms alike cramming the entrance- making it difficult for the late coming authors, publishers, and vendors to get inside.

“You okay over there?”

Dimly aware that the question had been directed to her, Hinata meekly nodded and swallowed. Maybe now wasn’t the best time to tell her new boss that she hated being in large crowds.

‘I think I’m going to be sick…’ Hinata thought apprehensively, still keeping a hold- albeit an unsteady one- on the paperwork.

“Tch, we should have taken the first train instead of the third…looks like this place is pretty much jammed wall to wall already.” Shikamaru remarked, standing on the toes of his sneakers to see over the noisy throng.

Being shoved rudely from left to right, Hinata was in no position to kindly remind her boss that they had no choice but to take the third morning train; since he had overslept, causing them to miss the first by at least two hours.

‘I’ve got to get out of here…I can barely breathe in this crowd.’ Hinata thought desperately as she scrambled to abandon her boss.

Just as Hinata almost squeezed out from underneath the crushing weight of the crowd, she stumbled right into another person.

Teetering to regain her balance, Hinata blinked wide eyes as she looked to the person she’d just tripped into.

“A-ah! Sorry, sir!” she said quickly bowing three times in rapid succession.

A loud chuckle followed by some high pitched female giggles followed.

‘Zori sandals? Who wears those on a weekday?’ Hinata wondered as she slowly glanced up to see an old man- he had long and spiky white hair- draped in a red/white hori.

‘…traditional clothing? At a convention? Are we at the right place?’ Hinata asked herself.

“Oh ho, why hello there little kitten! Now where did you come from I wonder?” the old man said with a grin a bit too wide and large for Hinata to feel she could trust it.

“Um…are you talking to me?” Hinata asked, tugging on the right sleeve of her purple jacket with a free hand.

Another deep belly laugh, “Of course I’m talking to you. Say, you wouldn’t happen to be a fan of one of my books, hmm?” the old man asked.

“Well I don’t know…” Hinata began, “Who are you exactly?”

The old man tensed up, the smile frozen on his face, “Why, I’m the great Jiraiya. I’m the famed writer of the Icha Icha romance novel series.”

“Oh…you’re the one who’s been harassing my boss with all of those annoying phone calls.” Hinata said innocently enough, yet her words caused Jiraiya’s facial countenance to crack a little more, his smile becoming more forced.

“But…but you’ve at least read my works, right?” Jiraiya questioned.

Hinata bowed in apology, “I’m sorry sir, but I make it appoint to read trashy smut.”

“T-Trashy? Eh? I’m sure your boss called it that and you’re mimicking him like a parrot?” Jiraiya said, quickly losing patience with the girl who insulted his life’s work with such a cute face.

“Hinata!” a voice called out.

Sharply turning her head, Hinata nearly bumped right into her boss’s chest.

“Ah and there is the ungrateful runt himself!” Jiraiya remarked, a hand placed on his hip.

“I taught you everything you know about writing and yet you quickly discarded it and denounced me as a…oh what did you say again?” the white haired man questioned while scratching a hairy mole on the side of his face with a finger.

“Ah yes, you called me a ‘pusher of pornography’.” Jiraiya said with a threatening grin, “Care to take those words back boy?” he asked.

Shikamaru shrugged, “Not really. Why should I be forced to take back something that is true?”

“Why you…!” Jiraiya shouted and looked like he was about to lean at Shikamaru to attack him.

But the young man paid the other writer no mind, instead he looked to Hinata “The publishing company already set up my table, we just have to pass in the forms. Do you still have them?”

“Right here.” Hinata said.

“Hey! Hey, don’t ignore me you two!” Jiraiya said shaking his fists as Hinata and Shikamaru breezed right passed him to squeeze back into the long line at the entrance.

However, when they approached the crowd, Hinata unconsciously halted her footsteps, her palms starting to sweat, she didn’t want to get squished again.

Realizing he was alone, Shikamaru looked back, nearly having his eye gored out thanks someone behind him wearing a ridiculous and pointy hat.

“Um…why don’t you go ahead Shikamaru-san,” Hinata said, “I’ll go instead when the line isn’t so…big…and crowded.”

“This is stupid. Hinata, quit being a baby.” Shikamaru scolded as he leaned over and grasped the woman by the wrist, causing Hinata to ‘eep’ to surprise, and all but dragged her into the line with him.

Once boxed in on all sides with people, Hinata started to feel ill-eased and breathless yet again.

Then, her shoulders stiffened as two hands lightly settled on them.

“You’re fine. The line isn’t that long and once we’re inside it won’t be as crowded.”

Closing her eyes and taking a deep breathe, Hinata took comfort in the reassurance.

Meanwhile:

“Stupid kid! I swear…I’m calling your office every single day just to pester you. I mean it!” Jiraiya screamed, causing many a people to stare at him…and scaring off his own fans in the process.

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20: Song: ‘Breakin Dishes’ by Rihanna

Crashhhh

Two heads turned, first to look towards the kitchen where the noise had come from, then to each other.

“Where’s the baby?” the boy asked.

“I…I thought you said you were going to watch him?” a girl with pale eyes questioned.

Silence…then another crash, followed by ‘thumps’, ‘thuds’ and ‘bumps’. By the third crash the teenagers were up off the couch and racing each other to the kitchen.

Hinata was the first to arrive, her feet just barely getting missed getting hit by a fallen china plate. Mouth agape, Hinata let her gaze travel up and down the floor of the kitchen, taking note that at least three china plates and one coffee mug had met their demise.

“Coo-key…” a voice cooed above.

Both Shikamaru and Hinata glanced up to see their young ward: Kurenai’s infant son, had climbed up onto the kitchen counter and was now moving over a stack of boxes to reach the top of the fridge. Perched on top of the appliance was a ceramic jar labeled ‘Cookies’.

“How did he get up there?!” Shikamaru asked.

“I don’t know!” Hinata said as she worriedly watch the baby crawl up over the boxes, using the unsteady cardboard as a step ladder.

“We’ve got to get him down before he hurts himself…and before he breaks anymore of Kurenai-sensei’s stuff.” Shikamaru said.

Hinata nodded in agreement, but before either of them could move the kid climbed up to the top box, a few inches from the fridge.

With a small grunt, the baby restlessly reached up with his hands, grasping the top of the refrigerator, balancing wobbly legs to stand up.

“Ah…Shikamaru-kun! The box is going to fall!” Hinata cried out.

Pushing forward, Shikamaru all but leaped onto the counter top, his arms reaching for the baby, but missed him since the kid managed to lift himself up off the box and onto the fridge.

“Damnit…” Shikamaru cursed, not even caring that Hinata gave him a reproachful look for cursing in front of the baby.

“Coo-key?” the little boy said as he greedily grasped the jar, shaking it as if by tumbling the jar he could get a cookie from it.

“Okay…this doesn’t have to be a disaster.” Shikamaru said with a heavy sigh.

“We just need to get him down from there before anything else happens…” Shikamaru’s sentence was abruptly cut off sine Hinata roughly grasped his forearm to get him out of the way of a falling cookie jar.

The ceramic pieces all but busted apart, leaving at least half a dozen cookies littering the floor among the broken plates.

“Coo-key!” the baby squealed excitedly as he saw the brown chocolate covered treats, all but leaning over the fridge to get down to the sugary treats.

Shikamaru’s arms reached up, all but plucking the kid off of the appliance, mere seconds before gravity would have taken over and caused him to fall.

“Coo-key…”

“Yeah we heard you the first three times.” Shikamaru said his gaze narrowed at the infant.

But he couldn’t stay mad for long, instead a relieved puff of air escaped the young man, grateful the kid was okay, “Man, that was scary…”

Hinata nodded quietly in agreement.

However, true terror awaited the babysitters because just on the other side of the apartment door a key twisted into the lock, the other hand delicately balancing a large grocery bag.

“Hey, I’m home!” Kurenai called out.

Shikamaru and Hinata looked at each other, each with a look of ‘Oh crap’ on their faces.

“Here…” Shikamaru said passing the kid off to her, “You take the baby and stall her. I’ll try to clean up a little.”

Taking the baby, Hinata quickly went to the front door, “Welcome back Kurenai-sensei,” she said with a nervous smile, while attempting to hold onto a squirming kid.

“Ah, there he is. How’s my little man today?” Kurenai asked softly as she opened up her arms.

But the baby clung to Hinata, “Coo-key,” he said shortly, as if making a demand.

“Oh of course…” Kurenai said as she rummaged around before pulling out a package of cookies. Ripping open the plastic, the young mother offered up the treat to her son’s greedy open palms.

‘Well at least he finally got a cookie,’ Hinata thought, ‘I just hope Shikamaru has the kitchen cleaned up.’

Staring at the pile of ceramic and china piece, Shikamaru had no idea where to put it all. If he put it in the trash bin, Kurenai would spot it almost immediately and of course ask them how it happened.

‘If she knew we left him unattended for so much as one second, Kurenai-sensei will kill us…well she’ll kill me, I think she’d spare Hinata. Me on the other hand she probably sees as disposable.’ Shikamaru mused.

Yet he had to think of something quick since Kurenai, despite Hinata’s attempts to stall her, was making a bee-line for the kitchen to put up the groceries.

“Hinata, I really need to put these things away before the meat starts to go bad…”

Shikamaru scrambled to get to his knees gathering up the pieces of broken plates, mug, and cookie jar. With the sharp and jagged pieces in his hand and no place to put them, Shikamaru quickly opened a cabinet and shoved the jumbled mess inside. And not a moment too soon since Kurenai walked in carrying her grocery bags.

“Ah good, since you’re already here Shikamaru you can help me unpack the groceries.”

Without complaint and trying not to give away the fact that Kurenai was short a few plates, Shikamaru quickly went to work helping her put things away.

However, a problem arose when Kurenai noticed the cookie jar was missing from the top of the fridge, “Hmm…that’s strange.”

Freezing in place for a moment, Shikamaru looked, his eyes widening in pure terror as the older woman started searching the counter then moved to open the cabinets. Opening the middle one, Kurenai was suddenly showered with bits of dishes and cookie jar remains.

Stone cold silence entered the kitchen. Fearing the worst, Shikamaru bolted out of the kitchen, he ducked into the living to find Hinata playing with the baby.

He roughly grabbed the girl’s hand, “Come on, we’ve got to get out here before she kills us!”

“What…wait the baby!” Hinata said.

“Leave him! If we take him with us, that will only give her yet another excuse to chase us down.” Shikamaru commanded.

“Shikamaru-kun!” Kurenai called from the kitchen, her anger ringing clearly in each syllable.

“Run!” Shikamaru said, all but pushing Hinata out of the door, barely giving the girl a chance to collect his and her shoes.

And so Shikamaru lived for yet another day, but it did take Kurenai several months and a lot of convincing before she allowed Shikamaru to share baby-sitting duties with Hinata again.

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Notes: Well that’s it for the song meme for now. I might do some of different Naruto pairings later on, or maybe more ShikaHina song meme, but those will be in the far future if I do them.

Thank you again for reading! Later!