Painfully Aware with So Much to Learn

Chapter Twenty-four: Advice

Shikamaru lay awake in his bed, glaring at the ceiling as if it had wronged him. There was only one thought on the Nara's cluttered mind.

Revenge.

Of course with these thoughts the Nara had to act quickly, not only because he still had a vague idea of where the accursed Akatsuki members were, but because he feared that if he let his hunger for vengeance stew, he would become a second Sasuke.

He would not let that happen.

After trying to sleep in his hospital bed for a while, he got up, much to his wound's displeasure. He decided to go in search of a medic nin so that he could get healed quicker. He was the only one in the hospital so the quicker he healed the better, and once he was healed, he would head out, team or not.

He got dressed in his normal clothes and out of his 'troublesome' hospital gown and headed to Sakura's house, her being the supposed medical protije. He knocked on the door of the civilian home and was met with the teen he was looking for, now all he needed was to convince the girl that he was less-than-fond of to help him.

"Shikamaru?! Why aren't you in the hospital, you're aware of your condition, correct?" She said in a way that annoyed me, I rolled my eyes.

"I came here to get healed quicker so I can go on a mission." Her face darkened at that, and her pink bangs covered her eyes.

"This is for revenge, isn't it." She stated more than asked, I was about to protest but she spoke up before I had the chance. "Take Naruto with you."

Now I was pissed. "Listen Haruno, I'm not going to drag Naruto into my own problems." I spat, subtly implying that 'promise' of hers. I saw her body physically tense.

"I'm not as stupid as you seem to think. While he was gone I learned more about Naruto's past then I could bare to stomach, I know how you feel about him." She said in a dark voice. "I'm the one that only ever burdened him, I've never helped like I wanted." She said, her voice cracking. "Naruto's still a human, and after Sasuke-" I could see the tears dripping down her cheeks in steady rhythm. "-after Sasuke, if he lost you too..." I stayed silent, hating that name with a passion. Sakura looked up at me, new courage in her eyes. "Please, he's even stronger than you can imagine and ask or not, he's going to help you."

Well that changed things, I knew she was right, even if Naruto left out certain details about his past, he was still a determined knucklehead. The only difference is if I tell him, he'll be safer.

I muttered a "troublesome" before beginning to leave the door, only to feel a hand grasp my sleeve. I turned around to see a sad look on Sakura's face. "Please make sure he comes back in one piece." The genuine look surprised me, but I just nodded and continued to Iruka's apartment.

On the walk I couldn't help but wonder what had happened with Sakura to make her see reason. 'Was it Sasuke?' I continued analyzing Sakura's body language until I reached the door I was looking for. A curt knock had me face to face with a drowsy blonde.

He was wearing a baggy t-shirt, bright orange boxers and a beaver night cap, I could safely say it was one of the most adorable sights I had seen. "Mmm, Shika? What're you doing this laaaate." He groaned, rubbing the tired out of his eye. Then his eyes snapped open. He grabbed my hand and pulled me into the house without an explanation. I tried to object but the hand holding mine was very distracting, it's like all cognitive thought stops when Naruto touches me. He sat me down on the couch and then sat next to me, his eyes looked woried which confused me.

"I'm sorry I didn't visit you earlier, I was trying to make sure Kono was okay." And with that I understood, he knew about Asuma.

"Well, it's about that, yeah." I said calmly, trying my best not to break down at the reminder that Asuma had a family. "I need your help with something." I said, still a bit reluctant to drag the blonde into this.

"Anything, I'm here for you, Shikamaru." He said gently, stroking my knuckles.

"I'm getting revenge on the bastards that killed Asuma." I said dryly, I saw Naruto pale at the word 'revenge' but he hid it almost perfectly with consern. "I need you to heal me so I can stand a fighting chance, please." I said, looking into his eyes, those ones that I love getting lost in.

Naruto swallowed thickly before muttering. "One condition."

I waited quietly for him to finish.

"If I heal you and help you on your mission, you have to finish this in less than a week. Revenge isn't something ment to linger, I don't want anything bad to happen." I knew what he was implying, I could feel he was scared, so I nodded in agreement.

I said the most honest thing I could.

"I would never disobey my king."