So Hollow

Sorry I haven’t updated sooner, but hopefully the end of this chapter will make up for it! And this chapter is also a little longer than the others, so enjoy!

Chapter 3

They dragged Naruto all around town and he didn’t seem to mind. Well, more like Kiba and Lee drug him around with Shino, Neji and Shikamaru following at a safe distance. Neji and Shino weren’t quite sure about Naruto yet, but were willing to give him a chance. If Shikamaru could put up with him, they could too.

Kiba was currently trying to pull Naruto in one direction and Lee tried to pull him in the other. Naruto pleaded for help with his eyes to Shikamaru, making him sigh to himself. He yanked the two boys off poor Naruto easily and grabbed his arm myself.

“Stop being troublesome. Let’s go see Choji and get something to eat.”

“Choji?” Naruto asked.

“He’s a friend that works at a food joint we like to eat at.”

Naruto nodded and then looked down at his arm, which Shikamaru was still holding tightly. “You can let go of my arm now.”

Shikamaru fought down a blush at his actions and nodded briefly before letting go. Kiba snickered behind him while Neji just looked at him knowingly while Lee looked clueless. Shino showed no reaction.

The place that Choji worked at was actually a diner owned by his parents. They taught him to cook when he was younger and when he graduated from high school last year he started working there full time. It was a great place to get a burger and a smoothie. Absolutely delicious.

They chose a comfortable booth nestled in the corner of the diner with Naruto seated between Kiba and Shikamaru. Shikamaru had stretched his arms out behind the seat casually which coincidentally put his arm behind Naruto’s head. Naruto didn’t notice however, and continued to read the menu.

However, Neji noticed and raised an eyebrow which Shikamaru returned with an amused stare. Lee was happily ignorant of the transaction and Kiba was playfully fighting with Naruto over the menu.

A girl named Sakura took their orders and stared curiously and Shikamaru who had his arm practically around Naruto’s shoulders. Naruto was either completely oblivious of it or ignoring it. Either way, Shikamaru was happy with the outcome.

Choji, a cheerful plump guy, came out to join them for break. Naruto found himself instantly liking the guy and they got along well. Choji also noticed the arm around Naruto’s shoulder and snickered to himself. Naruto noticed the snicker and looked questioningly at him.

“Nothing, Naruto.” Naruto shrugged it off and turned to talk to Kiba. Shikamaru smirked to himself at Naruto’s ignorance and decided to use it to his advantage. While the boy was facing away from him he leaned his head down to Naruto’s and sniffed his hair, being careful not to touch him.

Choji stifled his snickers as Naruto turned his head back and Shikamaru jerked his head away before Naruto noticed. It became a game that everyone was aware of except for Naruto and of course, Lee. Shikamaru would do something to Naruto while his head was turned away that people considered ‘couple like.’ When Sakura returned with their meal she was blushing and wouldn’t meet Naruto and Shikamaru’s eye.

Although Naruto tore vigorously into his burger, he had surprisingly good table manners. Shikamaru had gotten a chicken wrap himself but stole some of Naruto’s fries. Naruto tried to bat his hands away, but he always managed to get one. While the others snickered at this flirtatious behavior, Lee exclaimed that it was the power of youth. Naruto threw a fry at him which Choji swiftly snagged and ate.

All in all they had a great time. The others were comfortable with Shikamaru’s sexuality, but they were a little wary of whether Naruto shared this orientation. If he didn’t than he was either ignorant of Shikamaru’s advances, didn’t care, or was also interested in Shikamaru.

It was getting pretty late in the afternoon so they started to head back to their respective houses. Shikamaru actually lived pretty close to Naruto’s house so he walked him home.

“Do your parents not care where you are? You haven’t called them once.”

Naruto winced slightly, and tried to play it off with a smile, but Shikamaru noticed none the less. “Oh…I actually don’t live with anybody.”

Shikamaru saw past that shaky smile and into the depressed eyes of Naruto. He wondered why he was living alone, but decided not to breach the subject at this time.

“Well, if you want you can come hang out at my place for awhile, my parents are there but they won’t care if you are there for a little while.”

Naruto gave a genuine smile that lit of his whole face and made his eyes sparkle. “I would love to!” He exclaimed loudly. Shikamaru almost cringed at the high tone, but it wasn’t so squeaky that he couldn’t stand it.

They turned back to go to Shikamaru’s house while Naruto blathered on about one thing or another with large gestures. Shikamaru let the sound wash over him as he made an effort not to stare at Naruto’s cute expressions.

Shikamaru let himself into the house and was instantly hailed by his dad in the living room.

“Hey dad, I have a friend with me.” Naruto beamed at Shikamaru’s father and shook his hand. It was like looking at an older version of Shikamaru. If this was what Shikamaru looked like when he was older…he would age very nicely.

They headed upstairs to Shikamaru’s room while Naruto followed happily. The room was dark, but very comfy. Bean bags were everywhere with a theme of dark red and blue. There was a few heavy metal band posters on the wall and randomly thrown around c.d. cases. Although it looked a little messy, overall it was organized.

A T.V. sat against one wall with a game station hooked up to it with a few controllers. Shikamaru sprawled out in one bean bag and Naruto in another next to it.

“Want to play video games?” Naruto nodded enthusiastically and they began. It started out relatively calm, but soon they were elbowing each other and yelling out mock insults while battling it out. Shikamaru was excellent in strategy, but Naruto made up for his own lack of strategy with enthusiasm.

They both won some and lost some; Shikamaru had Naruto in a one armed head lock while still playing on the controller when Shikamaru’s mother came up. She laughed when she saw their position and when she had calmed down she told them that it was probably time for Naruto to go home since they both had school tomorrow.

She shook her head and commented that she had never seen Shikamaru so into a game before. She took note of Shikamaru’s blush and laughed again. Both of his parents knew about his orientation and didn’t care, Naruto was adorable and perfect for her son. Shikamaru needed somebody that could draw him out of his tough guy shell and help him enjoy life.

Shikamaru walked Naruto home and purposefully bumped his hand against Naruto’s a couple of times, but pretended not to notice. Naruto shrugged it off as nothing, although was pleased with the closeness between them. He had fun with Shikamaru, but it wasn’t like Shikamaru was his boyfriend or anything. Naruto wasn’t even sure if he swung that way. He thought of Shikamaru as attractive, but doing anything about his attraction was another thing entirely.

Shikamaru, however, had no such qualms. He was comfortable with his sexuality and with liking Naruto. The kid was refreshing with his sunny smile and eyes that held a hint of sadness, but still glowed happily. Shikamaru was getting dragged into infatuation with the boy and he hadn’t seen it coming. He had been happy when him and Naruto were playing video games, at their closeness and just enjoying each other’s company.

Naruto stepped up a driveway to a relatively small house that was probably the perfect size for one or two people. He fumbled for his key on the porch, very aware of Shikamaru standing very close behind him. He turned to say good night to Shikamaru and was faced with a strong chest and Shikamaru staring directly down at him.

Naruto stuttered and was about to say something when Shikamaru placed his hands on either side of his head against the door and leaned down to gently kiss Naruto on the lips. He didn’t use tongue or anything, just pressed firmly against those soft lips before moving his hands to cup the back of Naruto’s head and thread his fingers through that soft silky hair.

A soft noise came from the back of Naruto’s throat, but he didn’t pull away or respond. Shikamaru took this as encouragement and softly nipped at Naruto’s lips, making them open in response. His tongue explored Naruto’s mouth as he pressed his own body firmly against Naruto’s, trapping him against the door.

Naruto kind of liked the feeling of Shikamaru kissing him…it made him feel comfortable and loved. But it also scared him. He could feel Shikamaru’s strong body pressing against him and it made him feel over powered. He turned his head sharply to the side to escape that wondrous mouth and drew in a deep breath.

Against him, Shikamaru hadn’t loosed his grip on the back of Naruto’s head and instead moved his face down to nuzzle the hair and marvel at the strawberry smell and softness. Naruto gasped at this and stuttered out his name, “Sh-shikamaru…”

Said boy opened his closed eyes and looked down at the adorable blond. “Sorry Naruto.” He murmured back, placing a kiss on Naruto’s head.

“It’s just that…I like you! But I don’t know if I like you like that…Do you know what I mean?” he glanced up at Shikamaru pleading with him to understand.

Shikamaru chuckled and slowly released Naruto. “I know what you mean Naruto.” Although he stepped away from Naruto a little, he grasped his face with both hands and tilted his face up towards his own. “But that doesn’t mean I won’t try to get you to like me.” And with that he placed another kiss against Naruto’s lips and drew away from the blushing boy. “I’ll see you tomorrow; meet me up on the roof before class.”

And with that he walked away, making sure to give another wave to the stupefied boy standing on his doorstep. Naruto finally shook himself out of his stupor and let himself inside. What the hell just happened?


You can vote more than once!

This is the vote so far:

A) I want to read just Shikamaru x Naruto: 10
B) One-sided Sasuke x Naruto: 4
C) One-sided Gaara x Naruto: 8
D) One-sided Other x Naruto: Itachi: 4
Shino: 1

So please review! After the fifth chapter the 2 most popular will be pitted against each other.