When the Past Strikes Back...(Naruto based)

Shikamaru

Just in case you were wondering, I still don't own Naruto.

***************************************************************

I keep having the same dream. It haunts me throughout the entire day. I've had it ever since the day that I confessed my love to Aiko, and she left. In this repetitive dream, the same thing happens every time. I'm walking through the streets of Konoha late at night. I pass Aiko's empty shop. The letters 'Aiko's Fish' are faded, and the abandoned building is covered in dust and cobwebs. There's a hole in the window and a huge padlock on the door. I keep walking down the street when I suddenly see Aiko sitting on a branch. She hadn't aged a bit. Her petite figure and enormous eyes had never changed even after all this time. I look up to her balancing body and ask,

"Why didn't you let me protect you?" I would be close to tears as I asked this question, unintentionally revealing my inner weakness to her. My weakness is and always has been simply: her. She'd look down, her flat, brown hair covering the top of her headband. Her blue eyes would give off a light as her eyes filled with tears.

"Because I knew you couldn't. It would be pointless." She replied, grief and possible regret lacing her aching words.

"Who are you? Who are you really, Aiko? Who's Ryo? What did he do to you?" I would start to yell then, but she would still be calm, sitting up on that branch, her dark blue eyes glowing.

"I don't want you getting involved with him. You're too weak to know him. Sorry, Shikamaru." After she'd say that, I would notice the rope on her neck. Then, she'd stand up, hold her arms to her sides, gracefully leap backwards, and, in the process, hang herself. Her body would swing forward; her glowing eyes would stare lifelessly into mine. I always wake up wide awake after the dream. I can never go back to sleep. Sometimes I'd wake up at three in the morning without a hint of exhaustion.

I've started to develop bags underneath my eyes, but most people don't notice. I often wake up in the middle of the dream, right when I see Aiko. I'll wake up and stand up, whispering her name. I'll always be panting then sometimes I'll wander around the house looking for a sign of her. One time, I even walked back down to her restaurant expecting her to be there, waiting for me, but it was, as always, vacant and dark, the only light came from the moon.

I just miss her so much. It seemed like everyone left at once. First, Sasuke left the village to get revenge on someone. Second, Naruto left to train for two years, so that he could bring Sasuke back to the village. Then, Aiko mysteriously left. When people asked me where she went, I'd simply tell them that I didn't know. Most of them would respond by saying,

"What a shame. The girl could cook." Or "I sure will miss her bright smile. It always made my day." Every time someone said that, I'd have to bite my tongue from saying,

"Mine too." Luckily, no one really noticed me falling apart after Aiko left. They all thought I liked Temari from the Sand Village. I'll admit she's cute, but she's nothing compared to Aiko. Aiko was, no is everything and anything. Her leaving us so suddenly was so troublesome! Ugh, it's not fair!

That dream is what keeps me going. I don't want to be weak. I've been training more, so that I can protect her if she ever comes back. And gosh, I hope she does. I don't know what I'll do if she doesn't. Maybe if I was stronger then, she would have let me come with her. Then, I wouldn't have to worry so much. Gosh, I miss her... and her cooking. Maybe it was just her that it made it taste so good... I need to stop thinking about Aiko. It's been almost a year now. What if she never comes back?

------Yeah, back to normal!--------

I smiled at the sight of Shikamaru with his hand in his pockets in a casual way. I stapled another flyer to a wooden post before jogging up to him. I slowed once I was directly behind him.