The Nara house was silent when you slipped in through the sliding glass door. Shikaku had asked you to come over that evening, hoping your presence could provide even a shred of piece to his son. You had moved to Konoha and started working as a medical nin in the hospital about a year ago. Shikamaru had taken quite a shine to you, and now you two were attached at the hip.

But you hadn't seen your boyfriend since Asuna died two days ago. He'd holed himself up in his room immediately after the funeral. You hadn't really known the older man, and felt that it wasn't your place to insert yourself into Shikamaru's grieving process. But Shikaku and Yoshino insisted that you were needed.

You quietly opened Shikamaru's bedroom door, spotting him sitting on the floor. There was a half-finished game of shoji in front of him and the only light was a dim lamp at his side. It was difficult to play shoji against yourself, but with Shikamaru's intellect it was no doubt possible. He didn't look up when you entered but the shift of his position on the floor said he knew it was you.