Gentle-Fist Massage: The Series
Gentle-Fist Massage V: Life of Shinobi
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Massage V: Life of Shinobi
to Terms”
“You are very odd, Shikamaru,” Sai
commented, as he placed his piece carefully on the shougi
board.
The Nara sighed, already knowing his next
move but still taking his time in making it.
It had been a couple weeks since he had been forced out of his bed.
Academy in a few days and hopefully he would be rid of the constant annoyance
that followed him everywhere.
In all reality, Sai wasn’t that bad to
live with. For the most part, he was
quiet and tidy and usually stayed out of Shikamaru’s way.
had set up a section in the living room for his talent, which kept him busy
most of the day. The only thing that
bothered the shadow wielder was the constant picking the other man did to him
when he opened his mouth.
“How do you mean?” Shikamaru asked,
cautiously taking the paler man’s bait and finally making his move on the
Sai didn’t look at him, instead gazing
intently on the game. “According to the
books I’ve been reading,” he answered slowly, seeming to choose his words
carefully, “people who have lost someone close to them usually mourn the
loss.” He moved another piece.
The shadow wielder glared, even though
the paler man couldn’t see it. “I
mourns differently?” He pushed his
knight forward.
“Yes,” the artist agreed, hand ghosting
over the wooden pieces, contemplating his next move, “and they describe all the
different ways people mourn. You,
however, do not fit any of those descriptions.”
He carefully followed the movement of the other’s knight with one of his
own.
“Good,” Shikamaru replied, eyeing the
board warily, “that means you’ll be leaving after this game.”
up his knight.
“No, it doesn’t,” Sai stated, eyes still
focused on the game. “You aren’t even
depressed about this anymore, based on the books and your actions.”
The shadow wielder sighed again,
pinching the bridge of his nose. “All
right, Sai,” he said, giving in to the other’s prodding.
flank.
It was the artist’s turn to sigh.
several beneath mourning.” He pushed a
small piece toward his goal on the other end of the board.
Shikamaru’s glare intensified and he
forgot about the game of shougi.
Sai finally raised his dark eyes to look
confidently at the man across from him.
“Yes you are, Shikamaru,” he replied, face stoic and calm.
The Nara snorted, gaze leaving the paler
man. “Then maybe you need glasses.”
“If you’re not in denial,” the artist
continued, deciding that perhaps it would be best to reason with the man, “
you continue to wait for him, staring out the windows and keeping his things in
order as if he will return home at any moment.
It will not happen and you must accept that, Shikamaru.”
The shadow wielder was silently fuming,
trying to keep the unexplainable hurt at bay.
Sai had hit the nail on the head, whether he consciously knew he was
doing those things or not.
“You know,” he went on, eyes not leaving
the face and knowing his words were having an effect, “most people…
news. Granted, some rarely shed tears at
all, but even just a few at the initial shock of it.
all, not even after seeing your loved one’s cor—”
“That’s enough!” Shikamaru shouted.
words that damned artist had spewed. Of
course he hadn’t accepted it, and he never wanted to.
time he could feel that cold darkness begin to swirl around him and he’d
immediately squashed the thought. He
didn’t want to be surrounded by that nothingness again, and if that meant
waiting for someone who would never return, so be it.
“You know nothing!” the shadow wielder
spat, turning dark angry eyes to the paler man.
“You have no idea what it’s like to lose someone you loved with your
whole heart, to feel as if half of your soul has been taken from you!
the most to you in this world was gone, and with him a big piece of yourself.”
Sai stared back, unmoved by the speech,
but taking in every word and absorbing the meaning behind his tirade.
Shikamaru sighed and gazed out into the
forest. The familiar feeling of
loneliness was starting to spread within his soul, and he could no longer hold
it back by the lie of his lover someday returning.
say his name,” he continued, fighting the lump growing in his throat.
cry. It’s… things like that,
which….” The shadow wielder shook his
head; biting his bottom lip a moment as tears slowly began stinging his eyes.
a few drops escaping his dark orbs as he whispered, “…Neji’s dead.”
He dropped his face into his hands,
great sobs shaking his form as the truth finally settled around him.
he wouldn’t see his lover ever again.
The shadow wielder didn’t know what he was going to do.
and soul that he couldn’t live without the Hyuga; that fact being established
almost a year ago. How could he go on
with life now? The path ahead looked to
be a dark, cold, and lonely existence, one he really did not want to take.
Suddenly Shikamaru was enveloped within a
warm embrace, and he raised his head away from his hands to give Sai a curious
look. The artist gave him a small smile
that sent a small wave of comfort through the shadow wielder’s heart.
wrapped his arms around the paler man’s torso, burying his face into the
other’s shoulder and continued to cry out several weeks of built up sadness
within his soul.
Sai gently rocked him, running his hands
in soothing motions along the Nara’s back.
His own heart clenched painfully as the memory of losing his brother
came to mind. He wondered if maybe this
is how he should have reacted. Releasing
a small sigh, he held the sobbing man tighter, glad he was finally able to use
the comforting actions he had learned several weeks ago.
It meant Shikamaru was making progress.