My Mangaka

A/N: As always, I have to show my heartfelt appreciation for my sister, co-author, and amazing beta Fairy Niamh.

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Manga and Trouble

Naruto looked up from where he lay sprawled on the floor. “Hey Shika! I didn’t know you read this stuff.”



His best friend for life gave him a look that would make a cornered badger seem tame. “What the fuck did I tell you about going through my stuff?!!” His briefcase hit the floor and he advanced on the nosy blond.



“I was bored. And you weren’t here. And that doesn’t explain why you have homo-erotic manga in your bedroom.”



“URGH! Troublesome brat.” The brunette gave up on changing the subject, sidestepped the prone idiot and headed for his kitchen. “Nobody asked you to hang out here, it’s not my fault you’re bored.”



Naruto smirked evilly and followed his irritated friend. “I always come here when I’m bored. It’s your job to entertain me. Oh and you’re out’a ramen.”



Shika rolled his eyes. “No. That’s your boyfriend of the week’s job. I’m the best friend. Remember? And it’s not my job to feed you either.”



Naruto lounged against the door frame. Shikamaru glanced at his smirking friend. They both knew the next line so well that it didn’t need to be spoken out loud. Of course, Naruto was always one to overdo everything, so he said it anyway. “And whose fault is that?”



Shika tried to change the subject. “Ordering pizza or Thai tonight?”



He heard Naruto move and the familiar excited dread filled him. They’d been playing this game for a very long time. At first it was a coping mechanism. When Naruto had realized his true orientation, it could have ruined their friendship. Instead of letting that happen, they turned it into a game.



Tanned arms wrapped around his waist as soft lips whispered against his neck. “The position of ‘one true love’ is still open…” There was a warm chuckle when Shika shivered, then he was hugged tightly and released. “You really really REALLY need to get a new girlfriend. You need to get laid.” Naruto called this over his shoulder as he headed back to the living room.



Shika shook his head and sighed. “How troublesome. Oh well, Thai it is then.”



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“So, your supervisor put you in charge of the Yaoi Department?”



“Yeah. “



“But you’re straight.”



“He’s got it in for me.”



“You shouldn’t have boned his secretary.”



“Tell me something I don’t know genius.”



Naruto picked up one of the racier Mangas. Shikamaru was supposed to read through all of them and select the ones he thought would do well translated into English. Then he had to submit a proposal, contact the chosen mangaka or authors and negotiate a deal. It was a lot.



“Huh. I don’t actually read this stuff. It’s really more for women who get off on the idea of two men together. It’s usually really unrealistic. But, you could probably get a lot of ideas and opinions on this stuff from the internet. I know people buy this stuff scan it, then translate it into English on the net.” He dropped the book and looked at his distraught friend.



“Will you help me? I’ll pay you. It’s just that….” Shikamaru didn’t look at him. “Well, you could help me weed out the really ridiculous stuff.”



Naruto frowned. “I told you. I don’t read this stuff.”



Worried brown eyes looked into his deep blue ones, searching for a shred of mercy. “Please. I think I’ll go nuts if I have to read them all. And the Yaoi Department is the Chief Editor’s baby. It’s her brain child. She finally got them to agree to let her try this and if I fuck it up….” He looked away. “I’m so screwed. Naruto please.”



Naruto knew the Chief Editor personally. He knew what she was capable of when crossed. A shiver of premonition skittered down his spine. “Okay, but promise me something.”



Shika looked up, a little worried.



“The next time you get drunk and horny and might do something that genius IQ of yours knows is dumb, call me. That guy wouldn’t be after you if he hadn’t caught you letting his secretary blow you at that Christmas party.” Shikamaru couldn’t argue. He just nodded. He was too ashamed and too grateful to even think.



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“This one.” It was two weeks later and every moment of Naruto’s free time had been spent helping Shikamaru research different yaoi mangaka and their work on the internet, then read the copies of their work in their native tongues.



Naruto and Shika were both fluent in Japanese. Shikamaru could read, and speak Chinese and Naruto had learned to read Korean from an ex-boyfriend a few years before.



Shikamaru picked up the book that Naruto had just dropped on his desk. Naruto had chosen the Japanese manga by the title of Migoto Tsukurigoto (Beautiful Lie).



Naruto flopped down on the floor and propped his feet up on the wall. “It’s actually pretty realistic. Not just about the physical stuff, but about how most gay men I know act and feel. If I’d ‘a read another one that labeled all ukes as over-emotional pansies with dicks I’d ‘a screamed!”



Shikamaru began reading. It was very well done. He flipped forward to a love scene. It was explicit, but tasteful. Aesthetically speaking, it was pleasing to look at. He couldn’t resist the opportunity. “I guess, being a ‘catcher’, you’d be sensitive to that, huh?”



Naruto grunted as he rolled over onto his stomach and grinned up at his friend. “Oh, I play all the bases. Every position. Don’t worry. When you finally come around, I’ll coach you through it all.”



Shika blushed and scowled. No one could make him feel uncomfortable quite like his blond haired beach bum friend. “You surfing today?”



“Naw.”



“Avoiding another ex?”



“Kinda.”



“Have anymore appointments today?”



“Nope. Last massage was an hour ago. Still got the table in the van.” A massage table in the back of his van and a surf board beside it; that was how Naruto lived his life. Not to mention the rock climbing gear in a box just behind the passenger’s seat, a skateboard strapped to the ceiling and various other outdoor recreational items scattered around the old piece of junk.



“Coming over?”



“Figured I’d just follow you.”



“Troublesome.” This was how Shika lived his life; work all day and hang out with his friend the rest of the time. Naruto always put him first. His various lovers had figured it out pretty quick. Shikamaru’s ex-girlfriends, well, they hadn’t. Thus the whole ‘ex’ thing. No one meant more to him than his friend.



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“So, when you getting back?”



“No clue.”



“Huh.” Naruto sounded upset. Shikamaru was upset.



He had every one of the damn mangaka that the Chief Editor had approved lined up for an English release. Everyone, but one; the one the Chief wanted most. That one had been cagey, wouldn’t even speak to him. The woman’s manager/editor, just politely informed him that the sensei was not interested in an English release. Now Shika was under orders to go to Japan, track down the rather elusive mangaka and get her to agree. He was not under any circumstances to return until that objective was achieved.



“So, what do you want from Japan?”



“Duh.”



“Ramen, got it. Anything else?” Naruto shook his downcast head. Shikamaru had never left him behind before. It had always been the other way around. Naruto had traipsed all over the globe, living out of a backpack for months at a time. Shikamaru had always been here waiting for him. Was this how Shika had felt? Had it hurt his friend this much to watch him go off to have adventures without him? Naruto felt sick.



“Hey. It’s troublesome, I know, but we can IM everyday. I’ll come back as soon as I can.” Naruto just nodded, his head still down, his face turned away. “Come on. Don’t make me tear up. I can’t go on a business trip looking like a sissy.”



Naruto smiled and glomped onto his friend. “You better come back. The position’s still open and I won’t have my best candidate half way across the world.” Shika just smiled and held his best friend tightly.



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The flight had been exhausting. The search for the elusive mangaka had been arduous. The run around he got once he located the damn woman was infuriating. She was holed up in a backwoods town in the middle of nowhere, on a property that you couldn’t even get to with a car.



He of course never got that close. He was trying to be respectful. He’d been told that a forceful person would never get close to the artist. So, there he was, renting a room from a kindly old couple and praying for a break. He got one when one of the villagers pointed out the mangaka’s assistant.



Haku was a pretty young man, just a little older than Shika himself. He was always polite and respectful, even when basically telling Shika to ‘sit 'n spin’. It didn’t look like he was ever going to get home.



“There.” Haku pointed to a hill outside of the village. “It sounds strange, but you will be able to get your Wi-Fi to work up there. Only at night and only between six o’clock and eight.”



Shikamaru slumped in relief. He’d finally be able to IM Naruto. “Thank you. I appreciate all your help Haku-san.” Haku giggled. He always did when Shikamaru gave his name the honorific.



“Nara-san, why don’t you give up and go home?” Haku asked quietly as Shika helped him load grocery items onto his dirt bike.



“I can’t. I’ve been told to stay until I at least meet with the sensei.”



“Oh. Thank you for assisting me again.” Shikamaru always met Haku and always helped him gather the things he needed from the village.



“You are very welcome Haku-san.” Another giggle. “I’ll see you next week?”



“I have to go to Kyoto next week Nara-san. There are things I can’t get here.”



“Oh, I see. Then two weeks after?” Haku shook his head sadly. This man was so kind even though Haku never had any good news for him.



“Nara-san. If you aren’t busy, would you like to go to Kyoto with me?” He just seemed so lonely. Haku had felt compelled.



“Really? Um, sure. It would be nice to get out a bit more.”



“I will see you next Monday then.”



“Be careful.” Haku just waved as he rode off.



“Troublesome mangaka.” Shika muttered under his breath. “Makes him tell me that she still won’t see me. She can’t even be bothered to call me and tell me to ‘fuck off’ herself.”



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Kyoto was beautiful. Haku was perfect company. They’d gotten the things Haku needed to pick up and then spent the day enjoying the tourist attractions. They ate at a lovely little restaurant and talked about non-consequential things. Haku excused himself to the bathroom and didn’t return for some time. Shikamaru became irritated and decided to check on the other man.



He heard voices from the other side of the bathroom door.



“I am going to find him Haku. He is MINE and I will find him.” The voice was low and menacing.



“Please Kabuto-san. You know I can’t tell you where he is. He does not wish to see you.”



There was a thud and a whimper. Shikamaru was certain that the whimper was from Haku. He eased open the door enough to see a man with silver hair towering over the slighter brunette. “If you don’t tell me….”



“If you don’t let him go, something bad will happen.” Shikamaru had surveyed the room enough to be sure that he could back up the threat. There was a mop and bucket, just behind the aggressor. Shikamaru’s dad had insisted on martial arts lessons when he’d been young. He never practiced, but he hadn’t needed to. He knew the principles and techniques and could apply them easily without practice. He just really hated to. It wasn’t worth the bother.



The silver haired man turned to look at him. His hand still held the front of Haku’s shirt tightly. “My friend and I were having a private conversation. Do yourself a favor and leave us to it.”



“My friend doesn’t look like he wants to talk to you. Our food is getting cold. Do us all a favor and leave us to it.” Shikamaru really didn’t like the arrogant sneer in the other man’s tone. He stood ready but relaxed as he waited to see the other man’s move.



Haku tried to be the voice of reason. That was just so very him. “Please Kabuto-san, Nara-san; let’s all just leave this place now.”



“Shut up slut. So this is your new fuck boy.” Kabuto’s hard beady eyes raked Shika up and down.



Shikamaru had suspected that Haku was gay, but the man had never been anything but kind and polite to him, so it hadn’t really been an issue. Gay men were alright until they hit on you. Even then, they were okay if they took ‘no’ for an answer. Naruto was excluded from this rule, of course.



“So, he’s not the only one who likes us Americans, eh? You like us too.” Kabuto looked back at Haku. “If I’d have known that….” He let the rest trail off like a threat.



Shikamaru’d had enough. He moved. He kicked the mop bucket just hard enough, the mop handle fell and struck Kabuto on the back of the head. The man whirled in surprise, straight into the Nara’s fist and then dropped like a stone.



“You okay?”



Haku nodded. “That was very impressive.” His voice only shook a little.



“Pfft, let’s get the food and go to the hotel. Don’t think I wanna be here when he wakes up.” Haku nodded and they left. It surprised the young assistant that the other young man was not the least put off by the way Kabuto had spoken of Haku’s sexual orientation. The little beauty was intrigued. Before he’d felt sorry for Shikamaru Nara. Now he was interested in learning just a bit more about this handsome young American.



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“Oh, mom’s half Japanese. Dad’s half American Indian. It makes it hard for people to know just what the heck I am.” Shika offered the soda to Haku as they waited for their train.



“I see. It is very interesting.”



Shika took a sip and dove in.



“So, can I ask who he’s after?”



“A friend. My friend… he made the mistake of trusting that man.”



“I see.”



“You’re straight, right?”



Shika had a hard time keeping the pop from flying out his nose. “Um, yeah.”



“Thought so. So why aren’t you bothered by me?”



“My best friend is gay. We’ve always been thick as thieves. I can’t really be okay with him and bothered by you, right?”



The little assistant smiled. “You should go home Shika-kun. Sensei will never meet with you. You should go home to your friends and family.”



“Can’t.” Haku just shook his head and held his peace.



~tbc~