absence makes the heart go...???

Chapter 5

Naruto wants to protest his latest mission, but he knows that he can't exactly turn down an official assignment just because he hasn't had the chance to see Shikamaru in several weeks. It's a stupid reason to be so upset, and he doesn't know what's gotten into him lately. He knows that his teammates have picked up on it too, because they enjoy teasing him, and making note of how distracted he always is.

Sakura in particular likes to call him out on it, and even though he's used to her giving him a hard time, this feels different, somehow. She acts like she knows something he doesn't, and that's frustrating, but if he asks her why she's always picking on him, she'll just say something about how he's brought it on himself. Well, that's Sakura, just as impossible to read as ever, and yet another thing to remind him of his mission with Shikamaru.

Man, I wish he was here, so we could talk about this! I bet I know exactly what he'd say about how she's acting, too...

He supposes he should be grateful that she's more focused on him than Sasuke for once, but that's still no great comfort to him. Though he used to be absolutely infatuated with her, something's changed over time, and he didn't notice the change until he was already too far gone. He sometimes thinks about how he used to feel about her, and how he feels now, and he feels like he's almost on the edge of some great discovery.

But if he doesn't like her anymore, then there's nothing to discover, right?

~X~

"Do you think we'll be sent out again, and we won't be able to go to Hinata and Neji's wedding?" Naruto asks, once this mission is over and they're able to make the journey back to Konoha. "I mean, things have been so busy lately, that it doesn't seem like we'll be allowed any time off, but that's so unfair! I want to see it!"

"Do you really think you'll be able to sit still for that long?" Sasuke asks, and Naruto scowls at him.

"And just what's that supposed to mean, huh?"

"I think you know exactly what it means, Naruto."

Before they can start bickering in earnest, Sakura speaks up, saying, "I do know what you mean, Naruto. I really don't want to miss the wedding either. It'd be nice if everyone could be there."

"And Gai will probably be bawling his eyes out over one of his students getting married so young," Kakashi says. "He'll be proud, but also distraught over how fast they're growing up."

"And you're probably hoping to get to see him there," Sakura says, which throws Kakashi off guard.

"Sakura, I wouldn't-"

"Yeah! It could be like a reunion for everyone!" Naruto interrupts, unknowingly saving his sensei from having to try to explain himself. "If everyone could be there, it'd be great, cos-"

"Cos you'd finally get to see Shikamaru again, right?"

"W-well, yeah," Naruto says, wondering how she realized that was the main person he was thinking about, "but I meant everyone else too. You know? Everyone!"

"Right, of course," she says, not sounding like she believes him in the slightest.

"Come on, Sakura! What are you talking about?"

"You're completely hopeless," she says, and when he looks to Sasuke, perhaps in hope of some support, Sasuke simply nods in agreement.

~X~

"Are you kidding me?" Shikamaru asks with a sigh.

"I wish I was," Tsunade replies. "Trust me, for a team like yours, this will be easy, and you'll be home in no time."

"Yeah, you said that about the last one, and the one before that," he says.

"And I was right every time, wasn't I? Complain all you want, but you should be honored that you're this useful!"

"You haven't given me hardly any downtime lately."

"Hey, now, it's been a week since you got back from your last mission," she says. "If you've been loafing around that whole time, and still think you deserve more time off, then you're just as lazy as...well, honestly, that wouldn't be all that surprising. Anyway, there's no way out of this."

"Such a pain," he mumbles.

"Tell you what. If you can get through this without complaining too much, I'll give you all some time off. The Hyuuga wedding is coming up, right?" she asks. "Unless the situation is absolutely dire, I'll make sure that you and the rest of Team Asuma are able to attend."

"That's almost a good enough deal," he says, "but you're probably forgetting somebody. I know Hinata's team has been promised the same thing, and I'd bet Neji's team has too, but would it really be a party without Naruto's team?" He doesn't know what possesses him to ask that, but he decides that it is just out of a sense of loyalty, or maybe nostalgia.

"Are you really trying to bargain with me?" Tsunade raises a brow. "You're getting kind of cheeky, thinking you can negotiate like this! But...whatever, I'll see what I can do. You guys can have your little reunion, just please stop bitching and moaning every time I have work for you."

"Alright, you got yourself a deal," he agrees, not sure why he feels so satisfied. As if he really cares about going to some wedding...even if it is two of his friends, it's still nothing but a pain. But still, he's excited nonetheless, and feels like he's accomplished something special, something important.

~X~

He tells his teammates about the deal he struck up, and Ino and Choji both celebrate the prospect of enough time off to go to the wedding, with Ino gushing about how beautiful Hinata will look, and Choji wondering what sorts of food will be served there. However, while they're both busy getting excited, Asuma gives Shikamaru a knowing look, and he can just tell that some sort of "important talk" is coming up.

And, sure enough, he takes him aside the first chance he can get, and says, "You know, if you ever need any advice about anything, I'll offer whatever help I can."

"What are you getting at?" Shikamaru asks, not in the mood to beat around the bush today.

Sighing, Asuma says, "Look, everyone has noticed you acting a little different lately. Both Ino and Choji have asked me about it...particularly Ino. She keeps saying something about the mission you and her went on? The one with Naruto?"

"This again? Why does everyone seem to think there's something going on between me and Naruto?" he asks with a groan.

"Maybe because you kind of act like there is," Asuma replies, shrugging. "Sorry, but I'm just calling it like I see it. You've been acting weird since then, and if one of us brings him up, you get more defensive than usual. Most of the time you just brush things off without bothering to defend yourself, but it's different here, like you have something to hide."

"Well, there isn't anything to hide," he says, mimicking his teacher's shrug. "Nothing happened between us."

"Do you wish something did?"

The question hangs in the air for a moment, and for the first time, Shikamaru seriously considers the meaning behind that.

Finally, all he can say is, "Dunno."

"Well, I guess it's just something to think about," Asuma replies, and then he lets it go completely.