Chapter 17- Catch Hell

"Hah...I envy those clouds...I wish I can sleep forever...."

Nara Shikamaru, the prestigious clan's future clan head was laying under the shade of a tree, comfortably gazing at the sky, more like the clouds. His best friend, aka Akimichi Choji, laid next to the lazy heir while eating some chips he bought from a nearby convenience store.

It was peacefully silent between them just like always ever since they became friends until it was broken by a loud, high-pitched voice coming from their female teammate, Yamanaka Ino.

"YOU TWO! GET UP FROM YOUR LAZY ASSES AND START WORKING ALREADY!"

The lazy genius only sighed in annoyance and slowly prop himself on his elbows before rubbing his pinky finger on his ear.

"Tch. How troublesome."

Choji watches the two disturbed yet not quite unbothered.

"Mah Shika, let's go.", he nudge his teammate as they both stood up looking lazily at Ino.

The girl slightly bent forward towards them as she place her hands on her hips, "Finally! Took you a long while! Listen up! You must always follow my orders! You get it?!"

She was given a rather tired and sluggish reply from Shikamaru and a nod from Choji. She turned around crossing her arms already knowing that they won't follow her anyways.

"If only Sasuke-kun was here...", she mumbled pouting, before remembering her rival's smug face of triumph when they were teamed up with another blonde.

She gritted her teeth in annoyance and her two teammates just looked at her with confused expressions, not clearly understanding her.

"Women are so troublesome...", the Nara heir claimed before heaving a yawn.

The chubby boy nodded in return before giving a reply. "Yeah, you're right Shika, *munch*"

Soon they were dragged towards the busy streets of the village to finish their task of capturing cats that went astray from their owners. At the end of the day, they finished their mission and a loud growling sound was heard just as they went out of the Hokage's office.

"Oi oi oi, Choji, are you hungry again?", Asuma, their sensei asked exasperated. Quickly learns that he will end up being bankrupt soon.

"Let's go to the BBQ restaurant, Asuma-sensei.", the boy requested.

"Well, that can't be helped. Alright, how about you Shikamaru? Ino?"

Ino scoffed as she look away. "I'm out, I'm on a diet anyway."

Shikamaru just nodded in return because it was too troublesome for him to even reply. Nonetheless, Ino ended up eating with them. Why? To improve their teamwork, probably.

"Yosha! First come first serve!", Asuma just sighed at the Akimichi before glancing at the blonde who was only glaring in annoyance at Choji and the dark-haired boy who was eating rather quietly.

"Can you shut your mouth, while you're eating?!", the girl's rant was ignored for they were used to it only made her puff her red cheeks in embarrassment and anger.

Their sensei immediately handed her a glass of water. "Well, calm down Ino." The girl snatched the water and gulped it like she have been traveling the desert for days.

Asuma sweatdropped at his students before proceeding to eat his portion. All of a sudden, the Nara heir stood up causing all of them to snap their attention towards him.

"Hey Shikamaru, something wrong?"

The male jonin blinked his eyes in confusion as he watch the boy run out of the restaurant, not even answering him. It was rather rare and unusual for Shikamaru, out of all people to be running all of a sudden.

"Hey Choji, what's wrong with him?", he look towards the chubby boy who was looking out of the window making him turn his eyes towards it.

"That person isn't that...?", Ino trailed off while watching the scene unfold before them.

A man was being beaten up to a pulp by a young boy who was a shinobi who never paid attention to the number of looks they were getting from the crowd slowly forming around them.

Just as the blonde girl turn towards their teacher who was now gone. "Where's sensei?", she asked.

Choji pointed towards the outside.

Asuma held the boy's hand from punching the man below him. He puffed a cloud of smoke from his cigarette that was held in between his fingers.

"You should be protecting the civilians not beating them up brat.", the boy glared spitefully at him before harshly smacking his hand away making the jonin only sigh.

The genin stood up from crouching down and stomped his foot as he look fiercely at the man below him.

"We're not yet done you bastard.", he inquired and was about to storm off.

"Are you alright Lhexi?"

Shikamaru helped the girl who was clutching her bandaged head stand up, as his one arm was wrapped around her waist. Lhexi who had her eyebrows scrunch up in pain fluttered her eyes open before giving a smile.

Itsuki immediately stomped over the man he have beaten to a mashed potato before heading towards Shikamaru's direction taking Lhexi's hand.

"How are you feeling, Lhexi?"

He was worried about her condition and the Nara only awkwardly stared at the two before narrowing his eyes at the other boy.

"You should have helped her first.", Itsuke turned towards the lazy genius.

"Shut up. You don't know what happened."

"Even if that was the case, she should have been your priority." they both had a glaring contest before the Nara sighed in defeat not wanting to spend his energy towards something so trivial.

The two then turned to look at the female with concerned eyes.

"I-I'm fine.", they both noticed the stutter in her voice as she hissed painfully at her throbbing head.

"I shouldn't have taken you here. Let's go back to the hospital.", just as they were about to go, Asuma stood in front of their way stopping them.

"Before you do that, explain what happened here. Or I won't let you boy pass through."

The sight of the man only added more displeasure to the angered Itsuke to the point he did not notice how the girl beside him gripped his hand tight.

"Shikamaru take the girl."

The brunette gritted his teeth as Shikamaru slipped between them taking the girl's hand in between his.

Asuma inhaled through the cotton in his cigarette. "So, care to explain to me what happened?"

The man who was lying on the ground unconscious immediately received a quick action as they rush him to the hospital.

"That man was the father of a friend of mine.", Asuma raised an eyebrow.

"Then why did you beat him up?"

Itsuki crossed his arms. "He insulted his son."

"That's not enough for an excuse."

Itsuki looked away and shut his eyes close. "He said he was useless and he pushed my teammate."

"Even so, you should have pulled back your fist. Now come with me. You have to be reprimanded for your actions."

The boy glared down, "Tch."

Asuma was reminded of his genin days. Heck, he was probably even worse than the boy.

Itsuki followed Asuma a step away, with a frown on his face. "So, where's this friend of yours?"

"He's dead."

Asuma stayed silent for a few minutes before proceeding to ask questions.

"Which team are you in?"

"Team 13."

Asuma was surprised but he did not show it on his face. From what he can remember, they were the team of genin who completed an S-rank mission at the cost of one comrade. It was inevitable. That was a price you have to put on the line for every mission.

"So that girl is--", before he could even finish he was cut off.

"Sensei! Where are you going?! You have to pay the bill!", Asuma stopped in his tracks and stiffly turned around watching his female student jog towards him.

'I forgot...'

Ino deliberately pulled his arm heading back to the restaurant.

"Mou! Hurry up sensei!", Asuma sweatdropped.

"I-I got it...!"

"Where's Shikamaru anyways?!"

Itsuki was left alone on the road before shrugging and heading to the hospital not forgetting about something.

'That Nara bastard better not touch her.'

..........

Shikamaru was panicking inside but he did not show how the girl shakily trembled. He placed his hands on top of her shoulders trying to calm her down.

"Lhexi. Inhale."

Alexa couldn't seem to hear clearly, her head was throbbing painfully as her eyes darted from one object to another inside the room.

"Wait here. I'm going to call a doctor.", just as Shikamaru turned around he winced when he felt how Alexa gripped his arm tightly.

"Don't!", her voice was hoarse.

Shikamaru's breathing slightly hitched, when he look at the girl's look.

"Please!"

Shikamaru stayed still letting Alexa clutch on his clothes tightly. At her current condition, the Nara knew he have to call a medic to calm her down.

"Lhexi--!"

"Don't! Please don't! Don't leave me!"

Shikamaru stiffened as he watch the girl cry and beg him.

'Why...?', was the only thing Shikamaru could ask himself.

"Please! Don't leave me!"

It was the first time, he saw the strong female who earned his respect so fragile and broken. Could the reason be because of the death of her teammate? Her desperate look questioned him otherwise.

It was more than that.

But before that, he has to solve this problem first.

He smiled and took the girl's hands.

"I got it. I won't leave.", he sat on the bed next to the girl.

A few more minutes and the girl's sobs finally calmed down. She slept rather uncomfortably hugging Shikamaru's arm just then Itsuke arrived with silent footsteps.

"Your team is waiting for you.", Itsuki said.

Shikamaru pinches his nose bridge before nodding. "I got it."

He sluggishly stood up and look back at the girl before gently pulling his arm away.

"Tell her I'll try to visit her next time."

Itsuki nodded. He was surprisingly grateful, he stayed by Lhexi's side.

A few days later...

Alexa's POV

"What do you mean, sensei?!", Itsuke stood up and I just stared back at sensei who sighed.

"We have to split you two."

"Why...?", was the only word that escaped from my mouth.

She shook her head. "Hokage's orders."

I clenched my fists under the table and looked down at the tea. Sensei is pregnant so she can no longer lead the team as the teacher. Kenma is dead leaving the two of us alone.

Itsuki was fuming in anger, "Why can't Hokage-sama just add another teammate in our team and order some jonin as our instructor?!"

"I don't know either. He has his reasons Itsuki-kun."

"But--!"

I held Itsuki's hand and smiled at him.

"Let's take this calmly, Itsuki.", he looked away and sat down, holding my hand tighter.

He seems to be like an explosive bomb these days. It looks like Kenma's death took a huge toll on him. I feel sorry for him.

"This is bullshit.", I heard him whisper.

I just furrowed my eyebrows and stiffly smiled.

"Which teams are we going to be assigned?"

I winced at how Itsuke gripped my hand tightly.

"Why are you so fucking calm about this?!", my eyes widened at his outburst.

"Itsu--!", he cut me off.

"Shut up! I'm not letting the two of us get separated!", he stormed off leaving the Dango shop.

Sensei sighed again and rubbed her belly before answering my previous question, "Itsuki-kun would be in Team 26. As for you Lhexi-chan, I still don't know."

I just smiled bitterly.

"I see...that's quite disappointing..."

Three plates of Dango were served in front of us.

"Anyways Lhexi-chan..."

I look up.

"Inoichi-san requested you to take a therapy."

My eyes widened and my pupils dilated in shock. Of all people why him? I have been avoiding him for so long for he could sense the sealed chakra inside me.

I stiffened. "I-I'm fine. There's no need for that."

She narrowed her eyes at me and I nervously tried to hide my scared expression.

"The fact that you're refusing means you need help, Lhexi-chan."

I laughed lowly.

"I'm not a crazy person, sensei..."

She shook her head and brought a paper sliding it towards me.

"Go to this address."

I have to avoid him at all costs or all my plans will only go down to the trash bin once he finds out. He may even look inside my memories.

"Sensei, I'm totally fine."

"Lhexi-chan."

I clenched my fists until my knuckles turned white. I stifled a peal of laughter and couldn't believe I was gonna get caught and be killed soon.

"Did you recommend me to him?"

I was angry at Aiko-sensei until she shook her head again.

She took a sip of tea before answering. "It wasn't me."

"Hai?"

"Shikaku-san did."

I dropped the teacup from my hand. It landed on the floor, its broken fragments scattering around as the tea spilled.

"Lhexi?"

It's over.

They knew now.

I saw a dark shadow on the table, there was a person behind me.

"Hokage-sama wishes to meet you alone in his office.", the Anbu spoke and I nodded nervously fiddling with my fingers.

'I have already gone through shit. What could go worse?'