Maladaptive

III. Interlude.

The smell of burning wood flooded the young child's nostrils, along with the faint screams and gunfire of semi automatic rifles and pistols.

'Am i dead... is this how death feels..?'

These words repeated through his young head along with the faint sound of his fading heartbeat and slowing breaths. He felt himself slipping into a state of Purgatory, almost as if his spiritual being was leaving his body.

"S-Shikamaru..."

Hearing his voice from a familiar tone instantly brought him back too reality. his clothes were drenched in a warm substance. He felt two heavy objects holding him down and restricted his movements. Beyond the smoke came a hand that caressed his cheek, his eyes slowly opened to realize the horror before him. His mother carried a smile, while her blood stained palm held the young boys face close to her breast.

"S-Shikamaru.. you're finally awake. I... I can bearly move. As for you're father"

Her eyes strayed onto the motionless man who laid next to her. Blood leaked rapidly from his open wound above his eyebrow which signaled his fate. She sighed silently, then brought her attention to the traumatized boy under her and whispered

"I... I know i don't tell you this enough but I love you... I'm sorry your father didn't have time to tell you also but I'm sure he would'a said the same thing if he were... still breathing. We love yo-"

And with her final breath, she slipped into the same fate his father had. Their bodies laid over him like a shield. Protecting him from what could have been,

'They.. died for me..'

He thought as he used the remaining strength he had to free his arms and legs. Shikamaru dusted himself off as his eyes observed the bodies of his loved ones. His father's left arm was completely obliterated, his head had a fatal wound and it seemed he had two bullet holes in his upper chest. His mother however had a shard of wood, about seven inches long impaled into her stomach. It took him a few moments to actually realize reality. The terrible world he lived in and how something so important can be taken in seconds. His legs grew weak and tears formed at the corners of his eyes. He fell, taking his mother and father's hands into each of his. Holding them as tight as he could and did nothing but cry. It was all he could do at a time like this, the boy was used to his mother coming to his side and cuddling with him until his tears died, but where was she now? Dead in front of him. His father would usually threaten the bullies from his school not to mess with him when he would tell his father about them and occasionally shed a tear, protecting him from the dangers of the world. Yet where was he now? Dead in front of him.

"I.. I can't cry. I can't be weak. Father wouldn't want this. Keep moving. We all have a reason to live... Is what you would say, what is my reason if i don't have you to guide me..."

Vague screams and yells of men emerged from down their road. Shikamaru bounced to his feet, going to the window, he looked down the dirt road, seeing his neighbors that lived about a quarter of a mile in the opposite direction of his already dead neighbors arguing and in a standoff with the men who killed his parents. Both sides had rifles and twelve gauge shotguns pointed to one another. Shikamaru felt something click in him, he began to think of all the ways the battle could go. His body grew tense in anticipation. He already knew the outcome of this battle. His neighbors held a small chance to win against this armed militia. Shikamaru's heart pounded against his chest, and then he heard his moment, his time to escape. To freedom.

~

Subtly snoring, Shikamaru had been waiting for the blonde house owner to return with his clothing. It had now been forty minutes and she had not returned. His lazy 'Tendencies' kicked in and instead of being a good guest, he had fallen into a light slumber as if it were his own home. On the flip side, Temmy rushed down the hall, holding a fresh pair of boxers, a T-Shirt, and a pair of shorts. She threw them on top of him, balling her fist as she saw the ignorant male on her sofa and yelled,