The Light In The Dark: Book 2

Chapter 1

I do not own Naruto Shippuden. All rights go to Masashi Kishimoto. I only own my OC's. 

It has been a long five years and Himika was happy she was finally returning home. She learned a lot about her clan and who her parents were while she was away. How Lord Riki had been some of her clan's summons and how Fang served her father before he passed away. Himika had just celebrated her 17th birthday while she was away. It made her sad that she couldn't spend it with Shikamaru.

"Lady Himika, we are almost back to the village," Fang told her. She looked up ahead of her and saw the gates of her village. All of a sudden the little bit of tiredness she felt left her body and she went charging towards the gates.

"Lady Himika? Where are you going?" Fang called after her. A smile came across her face as she entered the gates and ran in the direction she knew he would be in.

"Wait! Who are you?" Izumo yelled. Himika didn't listen and just ran. She ran up the hill and saw a certain pineapple-haired man she had longed to see. She wrapped her arms around him and he jumped up.

"What the hell!" He yelled. He turned around and saw Himika. It took him a minute to recognize her. Her hair was a darker red and the marks on her face had grown, and so had she.

"H-Himika?" He asked. She nodded her head eagerly. At the confirmation, Shikamaru hugged her tightly. Himika hugged him back just as tightly and took in his scent. He hadn't changed, he still smelled of pine needles and nature. The two let go and stood up. Shikamaru took her in and had a look of amazement.

"You look..." He started.

"Different?" She asked him. He nodded his head.

"I mean, you are taller. But you look... even more beautiful," He said. Himika blushed and looked away. She felt a hand under her chin and she was forced to look back at him.

"Don't look away from me... It's been so long I haven't seen your eyes that, if you don't look at me I might go crazy," he said. Himika could see the longing in his eyes. She could feel it also, it was so powerful. She reached up and put her hands on his face and leaned in. Right before they could kiss, they heard a shout come from the gates.

"Naruto Uzumaki of the Hidden Leaf Village..."

"Has returned!" Naruto yelled. Himika looked in his direction and could see him standing on top of a pole. She giggled and the two walked in that direction. As they approached the pole, they saw Naruto jump down.

"Woah... Naruto, is that really you?" Himika asked him. He turned and a red blush formed on his face.

"H-Himika, y-you look different," He stuttered out. She felt Shikamaru's hand tighten around hers.

"Yeah that happens with age you num-skull," she said.

"Oh my god! Naruto? Himika?" a girl asked. Himika turned to see a grown-up Sakura.

"You didn't grow your hair out?" She asked. Sakura reached up and touched the ends of her hair.

"No, I didn't. It's a lot easier to take care of. Especially now that I work in the hospital for Lady Tsunade," She said.

"Ah, so you're a medical ninja now?" Himika said with a smirk. Sakura giggled and turned to Naruto.

"You're taller now... Wow," She said and walked up to him. There was a height difference between them now. Himika used to be taller than Naruto and Sakura. But now, it seemed she was the shortest out of the group. Except, she just speculated that Sasuke was taller than her now. She was pulled out of her thoughts when she heard a loud crash next to her. She looked over to see Sakura had punched Naruto into the gate.