Match Made In Heaven (Shikamaru Naru One-shot)

I stand still, staring down at the form lying on the ground before my feet. The wind blows my hair forward, whipping it in my face, but i make no movements to fix it. I continue to stand perfectly still, waiting. It still baffles me how I have this much patience.

"Shika? Are you even alive anymore?" I ask, still not moving any other part of my body.

"Uhm... Let me think about that for awhile," He responds before closing his eyes again.

I sigh and finally take a seat behind him. I lean my back on the trunk of the tree and stare blankly ahead. What am I doing here? I couldn't even tell you at this point. I'm sure I had a purpose when i came her almost an hour ago, but I've long since forgotten it. Of course it would be smarter to just leave, but I can't do that either. I don't want to.

"You know, for someone who always complains, you're pretty troublesome yourself." I mutter, not really to him, but more to myself.

He tilts his head back to look at me, "Then leave."

"Is that what you want?" I look down to meet his eyes.

His eyes falter for a second, then he looks away. I know that means yes. So, without another word, I stand up and walk away from him. I don't know what I did to recently cause him to hate being around me so much, but there definitely is something. He can't even look at me anymore. I sigh, wondering vaguely what I could do to fix this. We hadn't been fighting much, and things seemed to be going fine.

Just before I leave the clearing in which he resides, I turn back to see him standing up and walking the opposite way. Curiosity nags at me to follow him, but I won't. I don't want to be that clingly girlfriend. I drop my eyes to the ground and slowly walk back into the village. My mind wanders. Shika and I had been together for over a year, and we'd liked each other longer than that. And even then. we've been best friends since birth practically.

Needing a pick-me-up, I change course and head toward's Ino's flower shop, which she now runs solely. I quicken my pace a litte. As soon as I reach the store, I practically run through the doors, tears pricking at the corner of my eyes. Ino is sitting at the check out counter making a new arrangement of flowers. I walk over and without a word start helping, it's something we've always done together.

"What's wrong, Ana?" She asks, putting her rose into the vase and staring at me.

I dodge her gaze, "Nothing. What would make you think something's wrong?"

"I can see the tears in your eyes. Don't lie to me. What's wrong?"

I sigh, finally meeting her gaze, "It's Shika."

"Oh." She hesitates as if she doesn't know what to say, "I wouldn't worry about it. I'm sure it's fine."

"No, Ino, it's not fine!" I cry, "He's going to break up with me. I can just tell."

Ino glares at me, "Don't you dare say that. You know that's not true. He loves you, Ana. Don't try and deny it."

I sigh, "Aren't you supposed to take my side?"

"No. I'm supposed to make you feel better." She responds, half smiling at my comment.

"Can't you do that by lying to me and telling me that I'm right?"

"I don't know why on earth you'd want to hear you're right," She mutters.

I chuckle. "Yeah, I guess you've got a point there."

She smiles and gives me a light shove. We both go back to putting the flower arrangement together, not really saying much. I still have a nagging feeling in the back of my mind that something has, or is about to change between Shika and I. And to be honest, it scares me. But Ino's right, he does love me. He wouldn't lie to me. I should trust him more.

"Oh! Is it 3 already?" Ino exclaims, "I have to get going! Sorry Ana. Just remember, he loves you! And I'll see you later."

And with that, she throws her apron on the counter and runs out of the store. Surprised, I stay sitting for a minute or so. Then i decide it's best for me to go. Standing from the chair, I locate the keys to the shop on the counter. I grab them and head out the front door, locking the whole shop behind me.

I pause for a moment, looking around the village. After deciding there is nothing for me to do, I walk slowly towards Ino's house. I need to drop her keys off so she can get back into her shop tomorrow. My thoughts drift as I walk through the streets of town. I think back to that first day Shikamaru asked me out, the way I thought he was doing it out of pity. I was so wrong. As he proved by the day he came to my house and kissed me. Our first kiss. I was shocked. And not just because I had crushed him, literally, moments before, but because I had crushed him at the festival.

A smile forms on my lips as I think back to all the times we've spent together, and how amazing they have been. Before I've realized it, I'm standing in front of Ino's house. I shake my head, wiping all the thoughts from my mind and slide the shop keys under the mat on her front porch. I then head home.

People who I pass on the way home smile at me, and some even wave 'hi'. It baffles me. Sure I'm friend with some of them, but even then, things like this never happen. I dutifully wave back, trying to convince myself that it's nothing odd. But I have a feelings gnawing at my stomach, and it's telling me that something is going on behind my back.

I run the rest of the way home, sprint through the door and slam it shut behind me. For a moment I feel safe, but then I remember that I now share an apartment with Shika, and my thoughts drift back to him. That gnawing in my stomach gets stronger, so I try to push all thoughts from my mind. I head into my room and change clothes, mostly just because I need something to do. When I head back out of my room, I see Shika standing just inside the door, waiting for me.

"Hey, Ana," His voice sounds nervous, and I dread the worst, "Will you come with me?"

Not knowing what to say, I weakly nod my head and walk towards him. He extends a hand to me, and I barely bring myself to take it. His fingers lace through mine and he pulls me out the door. We head through the village again, but this time my mind is blank.

Suddenly i feel his fingers slip from mine, and he walks a few feet ahead of me. I look around and notice we're in the same clearing he asked me to the festival in, over a year ago. I don't know whether I should be happy or scared at this point, so I remain numb.

"Ana, I know I've told you a million times that I love you more than life itself, and I know that lately I've been really distant. I would expect you to be confused. So I'm here to set everything straight." He speaks, looking me directly in the eyes.

Again, finding myself unable to speak, I nod.

"Good. Then you must know, i meant it when i said I love you more than anything. You, Ana, are my everything. I would do absolutely anything for you, without giving it a second thought. The thing that matters most to me is your happiness. You make me feel loved and special, and I want nothing more than to spend the rest of my life with you," He speaks, then bends to one knee and pulls a small, black box out of his pocket, "So, Ana, will you marry me?"

I freeze. Shikamaru stares at me expectantly, and before I can register
anything, I find myself yelling, "Oh my god! YES! Of course! Shika! OH MY GOD!!!"

Shikamaru smiles and stands from the ground, taking the ring out of the box and placing it on my finger. I stare down at it for a second: a beautiful diamond ring. Not too large or too flashy. The perfect engagement ring. Then I look up at Shika and he smiles my favorite smile.

I giggle, then tackle Shika to the ground. He laughs and wraps his arms around my waist. I stare down into his eyes before leaning down and kissing him. He kisses back and tightens his hold around my waist. I smile against his lips. I can feel fireworks going off inside of me.

"Ana," He addresses me after we pull apart, "You need to calm down. You're shaking."

I smile, "I'm not just shaking... I'M GETTING MARRIED!"

Shikamaru laughs openly at my excitement, and I can't help but join him. From birth to death, Shika and I will always be together. As I look down at him, I realize that we truly were a match made in heaven. There is nothing i can't tell him, and there's nothing we wouldn't do for each other. I think inside I always knew we'd be together for the rest of time, but this made it official. I lean down and kiss him one more time.

"Shikamaru Nara, I feel, as your soon to be bride, that I should let you know..." I smile, and soften my tone, "I will absolutely love you forever."

He smiles sweetly and strokes my hair, "That's more than I could ever ask for. You're amazing."

"Nope," I shake my head, "That's you."

He smiles and pushes me off him. I fall on my side and begin to giggle. he lays on his side, facing me, and kisses my forehead. In this moment, everything seems perfect. Vaguely I wonder where Ino went, and when I will be able to tell her about all this. But currently that doesn't matter. All that matters is that I'm with the man I'm more than maddly in love with, and I know I always will be.