Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Naruto Fiction - Promises ❯ Chapter 1

Title: Promise

Author/Artist: theablackthorn

Rating: NC-17

Prompt/Summary: Mission with the 2 of them and Akamaru gets hurt really badly.

Warnings: BL

AN: Gift for Kiteries/ Sumi-Hatake for the wonderful beta she did on my IruKaka Summer Fest entry.

 

“Akamaru!”

 

Shikamaru's hands clenched at the pain and sheer desperation in that shout, pivoting quickly as chakra pooled in his feet aiding to halt him in his flight through the shadowed treetops. He spun on his heel to watch as Kiba plummeted through the leafy canopy after the large white beast he'd called out to.

 

The canopy had just settled back into place with a quiet rustle of leaves, muffling any sound from below when his dark gaze came up from where his fallen comrades had disappeared, trusting Kiba to catch his friend and teammate.

 

Shikamaru caught sight of the last shinobi that had been trailing them from the battlefield only minutes before. The Nara didn't need to think, letting instinct guide him as his hands formed the seals of the Nara clan's infamous, dark jutsu.

 

Shadows's extended from his feet, reaching out and ensnaring the enemy ninja, stopping him in mid flight as soon as his feet touched down on the bare branch littered with shadows. He strained against the hold and Shikamaru held on all the tighter, the enemy was only a few branches' from the area of canopy that hid his fallen teammates and he wouldn't let him find them.

 

The other shinobi was bleeding heavily from his shoulder and a wound in his thigh, but there was determination set in those deep blue eyes, shadowed by his hitate, revenge would be had for his own fallen comrades.

 

Shikamaru reflected that same grim determination, brow furrowed, eyes focused beads of deep umber, sweat trickling down his neck into the collar of his jounin jacket.

 

He didn't have time for this enemy ninja, so he quickly, and efficiently brought his empty hand to his throat, the other shinobi mimicking his movements like a reflection in a mirror, the only difference was that he held a sharp kunai in his hand. Hand steady, Shikamaru sighed as he jerked his hand in a path across his throat, eyes never shifting from the other shinobi.

 

Red streamed from the enemies jugular in thick pulses, echoing his fading heartbeat, and Shikamaru knew he would have regret's later for using the merciless tactics of an ANBU, but his teammate's needed him now, and that was his only priority.

 

Shikamaru dropped through the canopy; apparently being a lazy genius didn't help him when idiocy was contagious. He found himself winded and pinned to a broad tree trunk, the bark digging into his back despite the thick khaki coloured flak vest, a very sharp kunai pressed to his jugular and an enraged Kiba snarling in his face.

 

Shikamaru choked out a few words, “Kiba... stand down...” His hands remained at his sides as he waited, hoping his friend and teammate would realise he wasn't the enemy. Shikamaru took a few laboured breaths before the pressure against his throat slowly eased and Kiba's gaze shifted from Shikamaru's face back to his wounded friend.

 

He offered no apology, and Shikamaru didn't expect one, as the Inuzuka slipped away from him back to Akamaru's side.

 

Shikamaru watched the Inuzuka from his position as he regained the breath Kiba had knocked from his lungs.

 

Kiba traced over Akamaru's body with knowing calloused hands searching for any further injuries as Shikamaru watched, slowly regaining his breath from his impact with the thick trunk of a oak.

 

It was a rare and painful moment, to see such concentration and care in Kiba's gaze, a thought whispered through Shikamaru's mind and was gone in a flash - Kiba staring at him, as he lay prone on a bed, that burning intensity in his gaze. It was there and gone again, Shikamaru barely acknowledging it as he approached his fallen teammate.

 

“How is he doing?” His gaze didn't waver from the pair in front of him, but his senses were on high alert, feeling for any shift in the breeze, any small signs of other's coming. He couldn't rely on Kiba to be completely aware at this moment, so focused on his lifelong companion that he would may be blinkered to any danger that may try to hunt them out.

 

Shikamaru could see that Akamaru's breathing was laboured; the quiet whimpers a testament to his pain, but also to his training. Akamaru was trained to be as quiet as possible - sound could and would attract attention, especially in the woods. Shikamaru didn't know much about animal anatomy, and little about human healing but what he could see looked bad.

 

Akamaru's thick white fur was matted with blood; he could see a livid crimson gash on his hind leg and upper back. He kept his mind clear; thought's moving a mile a minute. He looked around the small area they had found and pulled up a mental map in his mind, assessing the distance back to Konoha. Not far, two to three hours with how slowly they'd need to travel, “Kiba, we need to move. We can't stay here - we'll make reasonable time if we start out now.”

 

He grimaced at the fierce look Kiba gave him, but didn't back down. He was the team Captain on this mission and what he did was for the good of the team he commanded. They needed to keep moving, they weren't equipped to deal with Akamaru's injuries. The location wasn't secure and there was no telling who was following them. They'd left a bloody mess in their wake that would clue the other members of the little rebel shinobi group in on what had occurred. They had achieved their objective with a good deal of resistance and now they needed to get out of the line of fire.

 

“Akamaru's hurt, we can't move him like this!” Kiba's voice was a deep, angry growl as he protested against Shikamaru's plan.

 

Shikamaru sighed, eyes never leaving the bristling Inuzuka, familiar bored expression on his face, “You don't have the skill to heal him do you? I'm not trained in healing animals; the little first aid I know is for humans, Kiba. We need to get him back to the village.”

 

In truth Shikamaru was feeling anything but the lazy nin he portrayed. The more normal he appeared in front of the snarling brunet the better. It would keep Kiba at some level of ease, though he wouldn't realise it, familiarity was key in this situation.

 

“Fucking Nara, don't you think I know that? I haven't completed the training for this kind of injury yet and I don't know what's hurt inside him! You might do more damage if we move him now.” Kiba's volume didn't decrease, in fact he was working himself up into a frenzy, eyes wide, hands fisted as he growled fiercely between words.

 

The sound was only halted by the quiet whimper from Akamaru.

 

Shikamaru watched in mild surprise as Kiba immediately calmed, softened, hands relaxing and caressing his companion's head in soothing strokes. The way he crooned to the pained beast was just endearing him further to Shikamaru, though he didn't know why he was drawn to the rough and tumble ninja that he'd known for years.

 

“Troublesome, mutt. We need to go.” He eyed the Inuzuka silently and wasn't surprised at his monosyllabic reply, familiar stubbornness coming to the fore.

 

“No.”

 

Shikamaru sighed audibly, he knew trying to reason with Kiba was pointless at this juncture but he wanted to try. “Kiba. You can't help him.”

 

“Go and get help, I'll stay here.”

 

Shikamaru could see from the tension in Kiba's shoulders, his gaze focused on Akamaru's body and the way his fingers tightened in the thick white fur, that the brunet was adamant in his decision and Shikamaru had expected nothing less.

 

He shook his head, stepping closer behind the kneeling brunet as he ran a critical eye over the pair again, keeping his tone even, “I'm not leaving either of you behind.”

 

“We can't carry Akamaru as he is.” Shikamaru pinched the skin at the bridge of his nose as he spoke, knowing that he would incite the Inuzuka's wrath with the plan that was formulating in his mind.

 

“Then what the fuck do you suggest?” Kiba's voice shook and Shikamaru noted the way his hands loosened on Akamaru's coat and clenched tight, fisting in his lap, shoulders hunching.

 

He watched Kiba from the corner of his eye, “He needs to be in human form.”

 

Kiba spun around, his toes digging into the soil and churning it up as his hands tightened further. “Fuck no.”

 

Shikamaru didn't budge, hands in pockets as he slouched, waiting for Kiba, watching the muscles in his thighs for the slightest tell to pre-empt his movements.

 

Shikamaru knew he would try and stop him.

 

He turned, hands sliding free of his pocket's and into the first sequence of the Nara clan family shadow jutsu as he spoke, eyes fixing on the irate Inuzuka, “I wasn't asking.”

 

Kiba's eyes widened and Shikamaru could see the panic alongside the anger in his face, his sharp canines biting at his lip before he spoke, “You can't do that, he's not strong enough.”

 

Shikamaru shook his head, looking down at Akamaru for a second before his gaze fixed on Kiba, “Yes, he is. It's that or he won't survive.”

 

Kiba shook his head, spikes shaking as his hood slipped from his head, fingernails clearly biting into his palms and causing them to bleed, “I won't.”

 

Shikamaru didn't want to do what he did next but, to get them all home safe, he would have to risk his friends hatred and the loss of any chance he had at having the other man, “Yes - you will.”

 

Shikamaru's hands shifted through the final seals on the Nara clan's infamous shadow jutsu, the dark strands darting out from his feet to coil around the seated Inuzuka before he had the chance to rise.

 

Kiba froze, eyes wide in clear panic, his voice angry but edged with fear, “Fuck... Shikamaru stop! For Kami's sake!”

 

Shikamaru felt regret twitch his features at the sound of sheer desperation in his friends voice, a furrow dipped his brow as he continued with his plan, a soft whisper slipping free as regret shadowed his heart, “I'm sorry.”

 

He moved so he stood closer to Kiba, turning the other man around and sliding up behind him, chest pressed to his back so he could rest his chin on the other man's tensed shoulders, hands reaching around to press against the back of Kiba's own as the Inuzuka protested adamantly, “You don't know how - fucking bastard.”

 

Shikamaru sighed, his voice sounded tired, “I'm a genius aren't I? I know the seals, but I need you to apply your chakra. I can't make you - but we need to do this. Don't go against orders, I want to help Akamaru as much as you do, but neither of us has the skill. If he's willing to take the pain to get him home to someone who can help him, how can you deny him?”

 

“I can't do it, I can't hurt him.”

 

“Then I'll take the blame.”

 

Kiba didn't nod but his head dropped, muscles going slack and Shikamaru took that as consent, his hands formed the familiar jutsu of the Inuzuka clan, something he had taken the time to study when he was watching the young man pressed to his chest.

 

He didn't have time to revel in the feeling of warm flesh and the rich scent of Kiba filling his nose as he pressed his mouth close to his ear and his hands finished the last seal, “Now.”

 

Kiba's chakra spilled through the brunet and Shikamaru could feel the sizzling tingle of it as it brushed his skin, instead of the familiar whirling tornado that would normally consume Kiba and Akamaru, all he could see was bright light, which he closed his eyes against, and all he could hear was a series high pitched whines, crescendoing in an animals scream, before silence filled the clearing.

 

Kiba slumped back against his chest for only a moment, before shoving his way free.

 

Shikamaru had released his jutsu the moment that Kiba's chakra spilled forth, not wanting to risk getting the two techniques muddled together due to their proximity.

 

He watched with pain wrenching at his heart as Kiba dragged himself over to the prone figure of Akamaru and as he reached out his hand to his silent friend he fell hard on his knees, a hoarse whisper falling from his lips, “Akamaru, I'm sorry.”

 

Shikamaru felt something break in his chest and shoved all the emotion's that wanted to well up inside him down. Now wasn't the time or the place, he had to get these two home. He stepped forward on slightly shaky leg's and spoke quietly, not daring to touch Kiba, “We should move while he's out, it will be easier for him.”

 

Shikamaru didn't have to say anything else, Kiba didn't even look at him, instead shifting himself to pull the human formed Akamaru up to a seated position, swiftly cutting bandages and tying them over the wounds in Akamaru's thigh and shoulder before dragging his dearest friend up onto his back.

 

Shikamaru stood in silence, not wanting to interfere as long as Kiba kept moving. He was offered only a terse growl before the Inuzuka was off, Akamaru cradled against his back, “Move out.”

 

Shikamaru sighed, rubbing a hand against his breastbone as he followed the brunet, the ache that had started wouldn't leave and he mourned the pain he had caused Kiba and Akamaru, if there had been any other way he would have taken it in a heartbeat.

 

There wasn't, there was no way to heal Akamaru, nor carry him in the form he had been in.

 

Silence reigned, as they made there cautious, but fast paced, return to the gates of Konoha, not one word passed between the two men and thankfully Akamaru remained unconscious for the journey. He had been through a lot and he deserved the painless haze of unconsciousness.

 

They set down just outside the gate and Shikamaru was surprised to see the two elder Inuzuka women dash through and straight over to Kiba and Akamaru. He only heard a few words from Kiba, “Mama, Akamaru…please.”

 

Shikamaru saw the pained expression on Tsume's face but she quickly hid it again, calling over her eldest daughter, Hana. “Take Akamaru to the compound, be quick, we don't have much time.” She tugged Kiba to her for a brief hug before sending him off after Hana, and then she pivoted on her heel, turning a fierce gaze at him. And to his credit, Shikamaru didn't cower from her, though he felt the full effect of her wrath as it radiated from her in waves. Now he knew what had driven her partner away all those years ago, this was a formidable woman, hierarch of her clan and he was at fault for what had happened to her son and Akamaru.

 

Shikamaru didn't even hesitate; he bowed before the head of the Inuzuka clan, hands flat to his side and eyes down, the ultimate show of submission without being on his knees. It was a gesture few had ever received from him, but he felt it necessary, “My sincerest apologies Inuzuka-sama.”

 

She snorted at his words and spoke in that familiar gruff tone, “Get to a healer Nara, you're bleeding.”

 

He slowly rose to his full height once more, only to watch the woman stalk off after her family.

 

He looked down at the slash of red staining his flak vest.

 

He hadn't really noticed it and until that point it hadn't hurt. But as he looked at the red stain that was slowly darkening and spreading he felt the first prick of pain, that he knew wouldn't take long to run deeper; the adrenaline had kept it at bay for a time but no longer. He turned, choosing to make his way to Ino's. He didn't want to go to the hospital for this, Ino would understand - he didn't deserve it.

 

00-00-00

 

Shikamaru lay out in the sun on one of the training fields, he was supposed to be cloud watching but he just couldn't seem to find the familiar lazy feeling that often came with his favourite hobby. Instead he felt drained, tired, he knew why that was - hours of being awake, restless, unable to sleep for the words, thoughts and ideas tumbling through his head.

 

He'd had insomnia before, when he was young - his father had said that he just had too much going on in his head and he needed to turn it off. And, with time, he'd learnt how, but sometimes that just didn't work and he ended up like this. Exhaustion made his body ache, his eyes felt gritty and he knew there were dark shadows beneath them. His mother had given him that look again this morning, that `I know something's wrong and you're not going to tell me, so I'll glare at you in the hopes that you'll be intimidated into talking just like your father. Yeah that look. He briefly wondered is Tsume got that look with Kiba too, before quickly shoving the idea aside.

 

He sighed, watching the white cumulonimbus clouds rolling slowly across the sky, his mind wandering back to the mission that had happened almost a week ago. He'd managed to get snippets of information from various, unnameable sources, he knew that Akamaru was doing better, but he hadn't seen Kiba in that entire week.

 

That wasn't unusual per say, but it grated against Shikamaru's nerves, he wanted to see the brunet and yet he stayed away - not wanting to face-off with the man he found he was becoming increasingly infatuated with. He sighed up at the sky, body easing back against the hard packed earth and grass at his back.

 

He winced as he shifted, trying to raise his leg to bend at the knee, the stitches in his stomach pulling taut, he lay a carefully protective hand over them as he let his mind wander. Shikamaru tried to bring forth memories of better, simpler times, his pre-genin days had been full of those, but he could feel regret and sadness like shadows lurking in his thoughts. That ache in his chest that had started that day a week ago had never left him, he knew it was an echo of the thoughts he was trying to avoid.

 

He settled back, trying his best to keep his mind empty, pushing away anything that tried to encroach, he was just so tired. It put his normally logical thoughts off and he couldn't spare the time for it, he needed to sleep. Shikamaru didn't even notice when his mind slipped into sleep, clouds, red tattoos and the smell of dog filling his dreams.

 

00-00-00

 

Shikamaru didn't know how long he'd been sleeping but he was woken by something hot and damp pressing against and then sliding up his cheek. He tensed and felt his stitches pull but he didn't release a sound, waiting, letting his senses absorb where he was and who was with him, even though his eyes were closed.

 

He was startled by the rough, yet wholly familiar voice that spoke to him, though he didn't show it, “You've been a sleep for awhile, Akamaru decided you needed waking up. You shouldn't be napping in the training grounds you know.”

 

Shikamaru opened one eye, turning to where that voice had come from, before he was bombarded by a long lick from Akamaru's tongue, the fur on his muzzle tickling his damp skin and a series of soft whuffling noises from the nosy animal.

 

The mutt seemed intent on getting his attention, but at the sound of warm laughter he couldn't help but turn his head to see to Kiba laughing, hands curled tight around his stomach as the sound spilled out and around the field. Just seeing that raw, unadulterated, amusement lightening his piercing gaze, his canines on full display as he laughed openly and loudly made Shikamaru's heart thud in his chest. This wasn't what he had been expecting, but it was a pleasant change from the angry, irate and violent person he had been expecting to deal with

 

His hand came up to rest on Akamaru's head, rubbing at the back of his ears in that hard to reach place that he knew the dog loved. Shikamaru waited patiently for the other man to calm, for the laughter to die away, he noticed that the ache that had been a steady pain in his chest seemed to be easing with Kiba's proximity. Though he found himself slightly amused by the Inuzuka and how he found his own amusement at Shikamaru's expense. He felt Akamaru settle his long body beside him as he watched the other man, and he slowly sat up from his lazy sprawl. He winced as his stomach muscles tightened, though he made no other noise to voice his discomfort.

 

The large white dog whined quietly and nuzzled at Shikamaru's belly and he carefully pushed the dog away from the tender area, eyes locking with the umber pools and shaking his head slowly at Akamaru. The dog seemed to comprehend and eased back, resting his muzzle on the Nara's thigh instead. Shikamaru could hear Akamaru snuffling quietly at the wounded area, taking in the scent of blood, cotton and the sharp antiseptic even he could still smell.

 

He wasn't expecting Kiba to slump down behind him, but didn't flinch away as Kiba's back pressed against his own.

 

“You should rest some more.”

 

Shikamaru could hear clearly how Kiba's voice had sobered, his amusement swept away at the drop of a hat and he sighed. Not wanting to rest his weight against Kiba. He didn't know what to say to the Inuzuka, how to broach the subject that lay so clearly between them.

 

In the end he didn't need to.

 

“Shikamaru?”

 

He looked back over his shoulder to see the edge of Kiba's hood in his vision, the furry rim obscuring anything of his face, “Yeah.”

 

“Sorry.”

 

Shikamaru turned back to Akamaru, rubbing his hand through the thick fur of his ruff as he spoke, drawing comfort from the presence against his leg and the one at his back, “Don't.”

 

“Why?”

 

He could hear the confusion in Kiba's question, but he never turned around, there was no movement from behind him. He looked intently into to umber eyes, “Troublesome, it wasn't your fault, it was mine - I was the leader. So just don't.”

 

“You think of anything?”

 

The question surprised him, and he stumbled, “I...”

 

“No huh, well think about that then. The genius couldn't think of anything else - what does that tell you dumbass?”

 

Shikamaru tried to explain, to reason out how he could explain the guilt he felt, that he knew that fell squarely on his shoulders. He felt so much and yet couldn't tell Kiba even half of it, “There must have been some...”

 

“Shut it. There was nothing else - I was an ass about it and you did what you had to do.”

 

Shikamaru sat, mouth tightly sealed as those words sunk in. Kiba was apologising and though he could understand it, he couldn't believe in it. Silence filled the empty training field, the rustle of leaves skittering along the ground as the wind whistle in cool gusts across the open space.

 

“Thanks, Akamaru wouldn't have survived if...”

 

Shikamaru looked back momentarily at the clear and concise apology and interrupted before Kiba could finish, “Forget it.” He felt the pain of guilt settle over his shoulders like a shroud and it weighed him down, his hands stroked Akamaru's muzzle, and received a lick in return. He wondered if it was his way of saying thank you. He never been licked or approached by the big white dog before and though his size might intimidate some it felt oddly comforting to him.

 

“Mama won't let me...she's pretty pissed at me, but she said for a Nara - you did good.”

 

Shikamaru snorted softly, women were always capricious, something he could pretty much rely on, “Troublesome woman.”

 

“Yeah.”

 

He heard the faintest hint of amusement in the word and he went to speak, to apologise, to do something but his thoughts were interrupted.

 

“Get some rest, we'll keep an eye on ya.”

 

He couldn't help but question, hands tightening in the fur under his fingertips, though he was careful to keep his grip loose enough not to harm Akamaru. He done enough damage already, “Why...”

 

“You should've said you were hurt.”

 

Kiba was always butting in but Shikamaru wasn't angry with him for it, there was nonchalant concern in the Inuzuka's voice that made his heart beat quicken. He knew that the brunet was worried about him to some extent, but he couldn't let himself look any further. He was a realist. He chuckled self deprecatingly, remembering the shock he'd experienced at finding the injury after Tsume's comment, “Can't say I noticed.”

 

“Idiot.”

 

Shikamaru let a small smile tilt his lips at the familiar insult, though it wasn't usually aimed at him - but rather the exuberant blond they both knew. He countered in kind, “Troublesome.”

 

“Sleep .”

 

He was expecting to be cut off so quickly but he couldn't deny he was tired.

 

He let his weight ease back, Kiba's slightly broader frame holding his weight easily what he hadn't noticed was that the Inuzuka had turned. He watched as leg's encased in thick cotton bracketed his body, and careful hands held him in place when he went to rise again.

 

“Sleep, Shikamaru.”

 

That was the first time Kiba had called him by name since that mission, though it was the first time he'd seen him since it made that ache in his chest dissipate slowly but surely as he let his full weight press into Kiba's chest.

 

 

Shikamaru felt calloused fingertips ghost under his shirt and across his bandages, but he didn't move, letting Kiba check his belly as he drifted in a haze of almost sleep the scent of dog and wood smoke filled his sense. His eyes felt heavy as Kiba's warmth suffused his back, he felt the tickle of nerves in his stomach but he shoved them away. Kiba was here, he wasn't angry, he was holding him and it felt … nice. And if this was his only opportunity to be held in the Inuzuka's arms he would take it.

 

That hand shifted, stroking across his forehead and he thought he felt the brush of something softer, warmer against his skin but he wasn't certain.

 

“I was pretty pissed at you for a while there. You got us home and you gave me what I needed to do it. You're a pretty smart' guy Shikamaru, though, when your all healed up, I'm gonna kick your ass. Fucking smartass, Nara.”

 

Shikamaru chuckled softly at the amused tone, feeling his mind closing down, quietening at the soothing rumble of Kiba's voice, Akamaru's fur under one hand and a calloused palm gripping the other, He spoke drowsily, eyes refusing to open, “Troublesome mutt, your on.”

 

Shikamaru fell asleep to the sound of laughter, the touch of warm calloused hands, soft fur and the scent of Inuzuka Kiba filling his nose.