From the Abstract to the Practical

Ok, thanks to all the reviewers!

Thanks to my betas:
cutsycat (beta and chappy namer)
fairyniamh (beta and OOC police)
alisteal (beta and chappy slicer)

Hope you all enjoy it!

Chapter = Role Reversal and Gifts

They unpacked their necessities. Shika was just about to suggest they each take a shower to wash off the festival grime, when Naruto came up behind him, wrapped his arms around his waist and began kissing his neck. It was eerily familiar.

“Naruto, what are you doing?” The blond didn’t answer right away. Goose flesh rose up all over Shikamaru’s body. He endured the sweet torment until Naruto decided it was enough and moved his mouth to Shika’s ear. “I almost forgot. I have a present for you.” His breath on Shika’s ear was wonderful torture.

Shika turned in his arms and draped his own over Naruto’s shoulders. “Really.” He arched a slender eyebrow, curious and a little afraid. He knew he couldn’t let things go much farther, without some kind of understanding between them. He also knew that if Naruto brought the full power of his presence to bear, he would submit to it, easily.

Naruto guided him over to one of the beds and pushed down to sit on it. I don’t have the strength to fight this and I don’t want to. Naruto grinned like a fool and pulled a package from each pocket.

“That’s the same cord you had wrapped around your hands earlier.” Shika stared at the intricate knots tied in the cord around each package forming a geometric design.

“Oh, yeah, that. Well, I was getting worked up earlier and needed something to concentrate on, so I worked on untying the knots.”

“This design? One handed and in your pockets?” It shouldn’t have surprised him so much. They were ninja after all, but Shikamaru felt like he should have had some clue that Naruto’s attention had been somewhere else.

“Ah, it wasn’t that hard. I re-tied them the same way while we were at the tea shop.” Shika was looking at him a little differently, it pleased him somehow. “Well are you gonna open them or what?”

Three hundred and sixty degree turns at a hundred miles and hour. Shika realized, That’s him, all the time. It shouldn’t have pleased him soo much, but he was grinning when he took the packages from Naruto’s hands. He let his hands linger over Naruto’s for a moment longer than necessary, enjoying the simple contact.

“Thanks, Naruto.”

Naruto smiled a sweet smile and cried, “Oh, just open it already!”

Shika examined the packages, each in it's turn, trying to find a loose end in the knots. There weren't any visible. This is really amazing knot work. Naruto watched him carefully as he sat on the side of the other bed, facing Shika.

He watched as Shika's brows creased and got a little thrill from it. He knew the exact moment that Shika figured it out. If Naruto hadn't been watching carefully when to women had initially tied the knots, he never would have figured it out. Shika worked at the puzzle of the knots for a few minutes. It was nice. Just concentrating on something solid, it was a nice break after the last week, and especially today.

He took two unconnected strands and pulled on them a little. They slid easily through the knots closest to them. He knew that only two, maybe three of the strands would move like this. He continued to slide the cord through the knots, until he'd created a hole in the network large enough to slip the small box through. He set that box aside and began working on the other one.

Naruto was almost disappointed when Shikamaru didn't open the box right away. He waited, impatiently, while Shika worked the other box free of it's net. When both were free, Shika looked up at him expectantly.

“Any one you want me to open first?”

Naruto hadn't thought about it before, but he nodded now. “Yeah, the one that's a little bigger.” His excitement was turning to nerves and his stomach was doing flips. He unconsciously bit his bottom lip a little. He saw a strange look pass across Shika's face, but it was soo quick and he was soo distracted that he couldn't really read it.

If you don't stop biting that lip.....I'm gonna join you! Shika reined himself in quickly and focused his attention on picking the larger box up off the coverlet, where he had set it earlier.

Naruto almost stopped him from opening the box. He was soo nervous. He was soo worried that somehow it was wrong. He couldn't, didn't move.

Shikamaru opened the lid of the box, removed the little piece of silk that lay at the top, and stared. In his hand was a box containing a beautiful pair of antiqued silver earrings.

He'd seen them before. He'd been debating on buying them for himself, but had convinced himself not to. How did he know? “Naruto, were you watching me?” He didn't have to be more specific. He was pretty sure he already knew the answer.

Naruto sighed or huffed or both. “Hhh, only all day!” Then he blushed a lovely crimson. “There's another one.” He didn't look Shika in the face. He just couldn't make himself.

Shikamaru set down the box he held carefully. He then picked up the smaller box just as carefully. He lifted the lid and the piece of silk beneath it. Inside was another pair of earrings, this one was a lighter silver and the earrings were slightly smaller than those in the first box.

Both pairs had a leaf design on them. The smaller pair had leafs etched around the hoops and the larger had leafs embossed on them. They were perfect in every way.

“Naruto, you do realize that this isn't a gift a guy would normally buy for a friend. At least not a friend whose another guy?”

Naruto looked up at him then. “Yeah, I guess you're right. You do like them though, don't you?” He was a little thrown by Shika's analysis of it. It was true, though. He wasn't thinking about being nervous anymore. He was thinking about why he'd bought Shika the earrings. He was trying to see the truth behind his motives.

“I love them, Naruto.” It was a whisper, so soft that it actually seemed to move through him. Naruto felt little tears form in his eyes. He had his answer. The answer to why he'd bought the earrings and the answer to Shika's questions, he knew what he wanted.

“I want you to wear them all the time. I know no one can know why, but I'll know and you'll know that you wear them for me. That you and I are together. That you are mine. And Shika, I won't share you, so don't even think about it.”

There was a lot of Naruto like force behind that last sentence. Shika didn't look up right away. He didn't want to let go of the moment, the joy.

“Did you hear me or what?” Naruto was standing over him now with one hand on his hip and the other buried in his blond hair. He was glaring down at Shika, who decided the best, most practical response was a physical one.

Shikamaru carefully set both small boxes on the nightstand next to the bed. Then he grabbed Naruto around the waist, pulling him off balance and yanking Naruto down on top of him. Before Naruto could say another word, Shika distracted his mouth with a long sweet kiss.

“And how shall I brand you?” He asked his sweet blond, in a very sultry voice. Naruto gasped as Shika rolled him over on his side and began raining soft kisses along his neck all the way to his collarbone.

He really couldn't think of an answer. His body was reacting even more strongly to Shikamaru than ever before. He wanted, needed something. The kyuubi seal was sizzling deliciously in response to the pleasure and excitement he was feeling and that only made things worse or better.....

It was a long time before either of them spoke again. They traded soft sensual kisses and kissed any and all currently exposed flesh, testing the other's response to their actions.

Shikamaru pressed his finger against Naruto's lips, in an attempt to halt the next onslaught. It was a tactical mistake. Naruto couldn't reach his target, the soft sensitive skin of Shika's neck, so he settled for what he could reach.

He kissed and then licked the tip of Shika' finger. Shikamaru jerked his hand back as if it'd been burnt. “Good gods, Naruto.” He gasped. He'd curled his fingers into his palm protectively. “You can't do that.”

Shikamaru was breathing more heavily than before and Naruto had begun to equate that with having done something good. So, he really didn't listen when Shika told him he couldn't. Lots of people had told him he couldn't do things. He hadn't listened then and decided not to now.

Naruto looked Shikamaru in the eye and smirked. Shika knew that look. Oh, shit. There really wasn't time for more thought. Naruto reached out slowly and took hold of Shika's wrist. He gently began pulling Shika's hand toward him.

Shika resisted, but it was half hearted. Naruto was determined. That determination showed in those wonderfully expressive blue eyes. Shikamaru submitted to his whim and gave Naruto his hand, it was trembling a little.

Naruto brought the hand up in front of his face. He straightened the fingers, fanning them out in front of him. He kissed the calloused palm first. It was a warm wet kiss. It was wonderful.

Shika watched in terrified fascination as Naruto kissed a trail up and then down each digit, starting with his thumb. Naruto never took his eyes off of Shikamaru's face. Gauging Shika's reaction to every move gave Naruto a thrill like nothing he had ever felt before.

When he reached the tip of the pinky finger, he closed his lips around it, thinking what to do next. Shika gave him his answer. He gasped and his whole body stiffened a little. His eyes were closed in what appeared to be anticipation.

Naruto moved on instinct, just like Shikamaru had said earlier. He slid Shikamaru's slender finger into his mouth slowly and was rewarded with a low soft moan. Encouraged by this, he slid the digit out of his mouth just as slowly. Shikamaru actually whimpered.

Naruto was glowing inside. There was something soo wonderful about knowing that he was the one to hear those sounds, to cause them. He repeated the process, varying things a little, like caressing the sensitive digit with his tongue.

Shika lay on the bed gripping the coverlet tightly with his free hand, twisting the fabric in his clenched fist. It was soo difficult to just be passive and endure. He gave this to Naruto. He gave this control......for now.

Naruto was easily distracted. It was a well known fact. So, when Shikamaru's writhing caused the hem of his black shirt to move up exposing his toned stomach, Naruto was distracted. He abandoned the finger he had been teasing.

Shikamaru hadn't realized anything had changed, until Naruto's warm wet mouth was showering his taunt abs with tantalizing kisses. Shika gasped and sputtered, “Huhn.....Narrr.....Narrr.......” His back arched pressing his stomach forcefully against Naruto's mouth.

Naruto gently, but firmly pushed him back flat on the bed and held him there. Shika's reaction to being restrained was unexpected. His pulse quickened and his blood heated more intensely. “Gods....” He groaned louder than before. Naruto nipped at his navel in reproof.

Shika's reaction to that was encouraging, so Naruto began alternating between kissing, nibbling at, and licking the sweat salted flesh of his stomach. When he realized that he had explored the same territory half a dozen times, he started looking for something new to conquer, some new challenge.

He looked up at Shikamaru. Shika's head had been thrown back and his eyes were shut. He raised his head, slowly opened his eyes, and looked at his torturer. Naruto choked back the laugh that almost escaped his lips. The look Shika gave him was a total pout at having the delicious torment interrupted. That look just screamed 'why'd you stop??!!'

“Gods, Naruto.....where did you ever......?” He didn't finish the question. He didn't need to.

“Meh, like you said, instinct.” Naruto smiled wickedly, not at the question or the answer. Nope, he had just located his next target. He was looking across it right now. There was still an expanse of flesh hidden beneath the black t-shirt that had, as of yet, gone untouched.

He decided that laying half on and half off the bed as they were, was not the best position. He half stood and indicated that Shika should move more up onto the bed. Shika complied with a look of complete suspicion on his handsome face. Handsome. Funny how I never noticed it before.

Naruto moved, so that he was straddling Shikamaru's legs. Naruto, not having thought about this as much as Shika, did not see the significance of this position. Shika felt a moment of panic. This was not how he'd pictured this. He made a move as if to sit up.

That annoyed Naruto, he already had his plan of attack in mind and was not going to let anything get in his way. He shot Shika a reproachful look and pinned his shoulders to the bed. “Just where do you think you're going?” Naruto growled.

Shika didn't answer. He couldn't think of anything to say. He sure as hell couldn't say 'I'm trying to make sure I'm not the uke, or at least not first.' No, that wouldn't come out right, no matter how you said it.

Shika lay still for a moment and tried to think of a plan or something. Naruto took this for compliance. He leaned forward and slid his hands under the material. His hands glided over the ripples of toned muscle, making their way to his chest. Naruto's fingers hesitated over each erect nipple, surprised by what he found.

Shikamaru sucked his breath in between clenched teeth. His tormentor took this opportunity to slide the shirt up as far as he could. Naruto was intrigued by the hard circles of dark ruddy flesh he'd just exposed. He chose that as the place to start his assault.

When Naruto leaned down and closed his mouth over the erect nipple, Shikamaru stopped thinking about who would be first at what and gave himself over to the sensation. He abandoned his restraint too. Shika reached down and dug his hand in Naruto's thick hair, gripping it tightly. This time he was the one rewarded with a moan. He vaguely remembered the hungry look in Naruto's eyes earlier, when he'd pulled his hair, holding his head back.

Shika tightened his grip a little, testing. Naruto shivered, growled at him, and then nipped teasingly at the nipple he'd been suckling. It was good to know that he too could get a reaction. It boosted his confidence. He had begun to feel like a defenseless animal locked in a pen with a fiercer, hungrier one.

Naruto moved to attack the other nipple and Shika took advantage of that instant. He gripped Naruto's hair and pulled his head up. He then slid out from underneath the seductive blond. Before Naruto could resist, Shikamaru had him lying face down on the bed, with Shika's weight holding him down.

“But, why?” He whined. Shika just chuckled in his ear. “'Cause you aren't the only one who gets to play. Stop being selfish.”, he chided. Naruto stopped pouting and tried to look up at Shika. “Are you gonna play nice?” Shikamaru asked. Naruto couldn't see his face, but he could picture Shika's raised eyebrow and smart ass smirk.

“I wasn't finished.”

“No, you aren't.” Shika agreed. When Naruto said nothing else, but lay beneath him placidly. Shika sat up, straddling Naruto's hips and ass. Don't think about that now.

He started by running his hands in long slow, tender sweeps under the material of Naruto's shirt. He continued until he had managed to raise little goose bumps all over the skin he'd touched. Naruto was sighing and squirming, arching his back against Shika's hands, silently demanding more.

When he had Naruto sufficiently distracted, he began to pull the hem of the shirt up over Naruto's shoulders. Naruto resisted. “No.”, he said simply. “Not until yours comes off too.”

Shika smiled. “O.k.” He pulled his own shirt over his head and dropped it on the bed above Naruto's head. He only got a faint grunt in response, but Naruto didn't resist when he once again tried to remove the creamy fabric that hid Naruto's sun kissed skin.

In the process of sliding the shirt off of the well muscled arms, Shika had to lean forward, across Naruto's body. When the bare skin of his chest met the bare skin of Naruto's back, they both hissed at the contact.

Naruto had never imagined that such a simple touch could send him soaring like that. He wanted more. He wanted every inch of their bodies to touch like that.

“That's it.” He said through clenched teeth. “Strip!” It was a command.

Shika laughed out right. “Hasty.” He said and actually 'tsked' at Naruto. That set the blond off. Naruto moved to reverse their positions, but Shika was ready for it and held him in place with his own weight and strength. “Easy, Naruto. We have all night. We don't have to rush.” We have more than that and we are not rushing anything. I almost let it, but I won't now.

Naruto continued to strain beneath him, his cursing was getting a little louder and a lot more imaginative. Shikamaru was intrigued at just how imaginative. He moved his head, so that his lips brushed the back of his struggling lover's neck. Lover. It's not really adequate, but it'll do. Naruto was soo much more than that to him.

He began with gentle kisses and slow lazy licks, Naruto strained harder against him, determined to get the upper hand. So, Shika tried a different tactic. He grazed his teeth across the back of Naruto's neck.

That got Naruto's attention, but he was still tensed for a fight. Shikamaru remembered his reaction to the hair pulling and altered his tactic. He bit Naruto. It wasn't a nibble, it was a soft bite that lasted longer than a nibble. Naruto gasped and hissed, “Oh gods.” Not what I had imagined, but it worked. Naruto was no longer fighting him.

He experimented with a few more bites and nibbles. Naruto arched beneath him and groaned in response. Shikamaru's heart sped up. He hadn't known it could beat so fast. He'd been in life or death situations that hadn't affected him this much.

Every time Naruto responded to him, his own body responded strongly. It was bliss, those sounds, those reactions, they were heaven. I could do this forever.