𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 ˢʰᶦᵏᵃᵐᵃʳᵘ

toxic habits

Her room was small and cramped with only a futon and one dresser. It had a restroom as well but that was even smaller. She got up from the futon and slipped her way inside the bathroom, then flipped the light on to look at the low-quality mirror the bathroom had. She examined herself trying to understand what she was looking at.

Her hair was disheveled and was being to knot. Her eyes we slumped and no longer showed true emotion. She touched her neck and stared at through the mirror. Something was missing, she wrapped her hand around her neck now thinking of what was once there. Something wasn't adding up, she could have sworn that she had something there. It was something that was meaningful and she truly cared for it.

"My necklace?" that word made sense, it was her necklace that wasn't there anymore. Suddenly her head filled itself with broken memories of her 3-year training. It pained her to remember but she kept trying. [y/n] could only remember Yamato, Midori, and Midorima, but that was a start that would help her learn that she shouldn't be there.

"[y/n] get ready your training starts in 30 mins," a voice yelled out from the outside.

"O-Okay!" she called out and she quickly brushed her hair with her fingers. It really didn't do much to her but tame most of her naps. Yet she wondered if the old man was really telling the truth, was she really in a intense battle before all of this?

***

After the thirty minutes were up and a man with an animal mask knocked on her door. She opened the door and was confronted by the masked man. The same feeling she felt when remembering her necklace overwhelmed her once more. She took a step back as her eyes widen in fear, these memories were vivid this time. She could recall cruel battles she shared with that masked man.

"Shh [y/n], I'm here to tell you something," he whispered while entering the room closing the door behind him.

"I l-left a clue f-for anyone that's looking for you at the training grounds you were at," he whispered quietly stumbling through some of his words.

"D-Don't worry I'll watch over you until I can break you out of here," he took his mask off and revealed a man with fair skin and black hair that flowed to his ears. His eyes were a dark grey filled with guilt as he spoke the Uchiha.

"I don't understand," she whispered back still moving further away from him.

"You're not supposed to be here," he looked at her his face confused from her nonchalant demeanor.

"I'll be honest with you... I don't have much memory of anything that has happened recently," she scratched the back of her head.

"Hmm, well I'll try to talk to you more later, but we have to go before Danzo starts wondering where you're at," he placed his mask on again and grabbed her by the wrist quickly, pulling her out the door and down a long, dark hallway.

"Wh-Where are we going?" she stumbled before she was able to match his pace.

"We're going to spar like we did before,"

"That wasn't sparing," she mumbled as she recalled those memories.

"I-I know but things are different now, you've changed and this time I'll make sure not to hurt like I did before," he still held her hand as they jogged through the hallway.

"I just have to find a way to break you out without getting caught,"

"But where will I go?" she asked since she had no idea where she was at.

"Away from here...far away from here,"

***
3 weeks later

"Y-You said y-you'll always come b-back t-to me," Shikamaru's voice was breaking as he held [y/n]'s lifeless body.

"S-So w-wake up," he clutched onto her limp body tears streaming down his face.

"D-Don't leave me a-alone! You said you'll come back! Wake up please! I-I need you!" he hid his face into the crock of her neck. He sobbed uncontrollably rocking back in forth waiting for her to say something.

"I need you," he whispered over and over again hoping his words would reach her conscience.

He then felt her body tense up, he shot up quickly to meet her eyes.

"I knew you were a cry baby," she laughed lightly as her face scrunched up in pain.

"[y/n] y-you're awake?!" a huge grin formed on his face while his cheeks were red and stained with tears.

"You look funny when you smile like that," she whispered, placing her hand on the side of his cheek.

"I-I only s-smile like that for you [y/n]," he snuggled his face into her hand.

"Just wait a little longer okay?"

"Wh-What?"

"I'll see you soon, just wait up, don't lose hope,"

"Y-You're already here, I don't have to wait anymore," he embraced her once more closing his eyes not ever wanting to let go.

"Don't worry we'll see each other soon," she whispered and Shikamaru opens his eyes to see that she was gone, his arms were left empty.

Shikamaru's eyes shot open to reveal the light of dawn in his room. His breathing heavy as sweat dripped from his face. He slowly pulled himself out of bed, grabbing a cigarette and his lighter which were placed on his nightstand. He sluggishly walked to his outside porch and slowly dropped himself onto the floor.

The crisp morning air made goosebumps form on his skin. He placed the cigarette between his lips and lit on fire. The sun was barely rising and he already started smoking.

"[y/n] would kill me if she saw me right now," he chuckled to himself taking a hit of his cigarette. This wasn't the first time he'd wake up during dawn to have a smoke, but without [y/n], he wasn't taking care of himself. Having a horrible sleeping schedule that led him to depend on the cigarette's nicotine to keep him up.

Isolating himself from his friends and comrades. Hardly ever spending time with his family, he only played shogi with his father or by himself, but most of the time he was alone with his thoughts. It had only been 3 weeks since [y/n] had gone missing and Shikamaru was spiraling into toxic habits.

{[a/n]: don't forget to check out my new stories!

Patience- Shisui AU
Watch- sequel to +(plus)- Kakashi AU

Hope you guys are staying safe and are healthy! If you ever need someone to talk to you can alway reach out to me!

Thank you and much love ❤️

- marle }