Frozen Past (A Naruto FanFic/Gaara Love Story)

The Demon Wakes

Shikaku woke me and Shikamaru up reeaallly early this morning.

I chucked a pillow at his head and screamed at him to go to hell, but he only chuckled and dragged me out of bed and onto the floor. I tried to go back to sleep but the floor was too cold and Shikaku had taken my blanket. So, I had to get up and get dressed, whether I wanted to or not. Damn, he's good.

A bleary-eyed Shikamaru is walking beside me now, yawning and scratching himself like any respectable Ninja. I nudge him with my elbow and smirk at him. He turns his blank, sleepy gaze on me and I bust out laughing. There is nothing cuter in this world than Shikamaru when he's really tired.

I told Shikamaru about the Gaara incident last night. We talked it over, and even though he's as freaked out as I am, he told me to just forget about it. He said it's unlikely either of us will fight him in the finals, so we shouldn't worry.

I yelled at him for not having any confidence in himself, or in me.

His dad said we were having a "lover's spat".

Shikamaru muttered curses about his dad that I laughed at.

It was a fun night.

"You're fighting Temari, right?" I ask as we walk. He nods, rubbing his eyes. "I keep fighting women," he says, clearly annoyed by his bad luck. "What a drag..." I laugh again, and lean against his shoulder. "Oh come on, stop being so sexist. Girls can fight just as well as guys, and we don't discriminate."

"I was raised to believe that a man should never hit a woman."

"You were raised by an old-fashioned knucklehead who just happens to be a genius at shogi."

He pauses, about to defend his father, then shrugs. "I guess you're right," he says with a sigh. "My old man's behind the times."

"So don't complain about fighting a girl, because Temari definitely won't be holding back because you're a guy."

"...Whatever. Have you come up with a way to counter Dosu?"

I sweat drop. "I was thinking of winging it."

Shikamaru stops in the middle of the street and stares at me like I've just grown a second head. I shrug innocently. "Hey, I thought about it, and he's a very calculated guy, from what I've heard anyway," I say, trying to explain myself. "So I thought, why don't I just be as impulsive as Naruto and scare the hell out of him?"

"You really don't want to become a Chunin, do you?"

"...Shut up."

We reach the stadium and are greeted by two Leaf Shinobi, who smile at us and wish us good luck. We're directed to the middle of the arena.

Oh holy crap.

We are surrounded by normal citizens and Shinobi alike, from all different Villages. Their thundering cheers reach to the sky and crash down on my ears, but I smile anyway. They're cheering for us, for me. Even if they're here for Gaara and Sasuke's match, they still want to see us fight too. And I'll give em a good show.

Shino, the Sand Siblings and the boy I'm assuming is Neji are already here. I greet Shino with a hug, to which he stiffens and refuses to hug me back. I sigh and release him. "Shino!" I say, recovering my happy attitude. "I haven't seen you in ages!"

"It's been four days, Akari."

"Too long, my dear Shino, it was too long."

".....Why was I placed on a team with you......?"

Eh, I know he loves me, so it's all good.

I sneak a look at Neji over Shino's shoulder; he's staring impassively at the crowd, his pale eyes fixed on a single point. I follow his gaze and spot Hiashi Hyuga, Hinata's father, and I guess Neji's uncle. As much as I dislike Neji, I think I hate Hiashi more. He treats his daughter like trash, and that is unforgiveable in my book. A father should always love his children, despite their shortcomings.