Disclaimer: I lay claim only to my family, cat, house and car.

This story was inspired by one single picture of Shikamaru and Sasuke and was drawn by the talented Malja. I saw it and thought, "Yeah, I like that idea". I'd like to state for the record that I am not a Sasuke fan. He's an emo punk who I'd pay to see put in his place, painfully if possible. But like I said, the picture inspired me and I am a big Shika fan.

I made sure not to post this story until it was finished, but there is a follow-up, should this story prove successful, which is about 75% complete. So we'll see how it goes. I look forward to hearing from everyone.

The Shadows' Monster

Chapter 1

Shikamaru lay on his back, his eyelids getting heavy as the sky became a fiery red and the clouds glowed a soothing orange. It had been a long week and he was looking forward to a few days off. How did I let my life get so complicated? What happened to my master plan of leading a quiet life as a chuunin with a wife and kids? Where did I go wrong?

As he thought back on his twenty-eight years of existence and the moments that brought him to his current state, he realized there really wasn't much that he regretted or would do over. So I guess this is where I belong and this is what I should be doing. Although Asuma is probably laughing in his grave at seeing me, the slacker, working as a teacher and for Black OPS Intelligence.

Shikamaru let a sleepy smile curve his lips as his eyes finally drifted shut, content to fall asleep on the quiet hillside instead of his bed. It was a rare, simple pleasure in life Shikamaru cherished whenever he was afforded the opportunity: falling asleep in his quiet spot on a warm summer evening. There were traps all around the small perimeter and only a handful of trusted, necessary people knew of this spot and so he felt secure letting his guard down, somewhat, and enjoying a peaceful sleep.

After all, dropping his guard completely was out of the question. Especially when there was a pair of crimson eyes watching him from the dark shadows of some nearby trees. Does he really think I don't know he's there? What kind of amateur does he think he's dealing with? He tripped an alarm and doesn't even know it.

Shikamaru let his body relax, the week's worth of tension and fatigue seeping from his body into the warm earth below. But as hard as he tried to let his mind go, he couldn't keep his attention off the interloper hovering in the shadows. Frowning, he called out to his observer.

"Would you stop skulking in the shadows? I can't fall asleep with you around!"

The barest whisper of someone landing in the lush grass and slowly approaching deepened Shikamaru's frown. He took that as an invitation to come over? Jeez…..

Shikamaru opened one eye and looked up to see a dark figure looming over him. He was at least relieved to see black eyes staring at him and not crimson. What was he doing spying on me using Sharingan anyway?

The last of the Uchiha clan just stood there staring at Shikamaru with a blank expression, giving away no clues as to the thoughts running through his mind. The pair maintained their staring match for several minutes before Shikamaru snorted and closed his eye again, ignoring Sasuke.

It wasn't long after that Shikamaru felt the slightest of breezes tickle his nose and he opened his eye again to see that Sasuke had lain down next to him only a few inches away. What the hell does he think he's doing? I always knew he wasn't right in the head but this is just plain creepy.

Sufficiently awake, yet still relatively relaxed, Shikamaru lay on the hillside and contemplated Sasuke's various motives for joining him. The pair lay there for hours and just as Shikamaru had decided it was time to go home a soft rustle to his side caught his attention. He opened his eyes to see Sasuke standing over him again.

"Thank you."

And with those two words, mumbled in a deep voice, Sasuke Uchiha disappeared. Shikamaru sat up and stretched his arms over his head and did a cursory search of his surroundings with the aid of the shadows and found that Sasuke had in fact vacated the immediate vicinity.

Huh. I wonder what that was all about?

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Sasuke sat in the barren apartment he called home and just stared out the window at the gloomy grey day that just wouldn't seem to end. He woke up early to the sound of thunder and went out for some training before it could rain on him. After taking a shower and eating breakfast he ran some errands and then sat down in the spot he currently found himself in: perched on the bench sitting under the living room window, watching the full rain clouds pass by without sharing their bounty.

It was days like these that he dreaded most. There was nothing and no one demanding his attention and so he was left to his memories. So he wasn't surprised when the voice began echoing in his head. But he still tried to shut it out. He always tried to drown the memories that made him ache and drove home the point that he was truly alone.

He didn't want to hear Naruto's voice. It hurt too much to hear the lively tone filled with happiness and bravado. But the voice continued and so he sighed and listened, just as if Naruto were alive and standing before him, demanding his complete attention.

"I don't understand why everyone gives Shikamaru a hard time. I mean, yeah he looks lazy on the outside, but if you look at what he's done, he makes some of the others look like slackers!..........He was the first to become a chounin and how much did it suck that his first mission was taking the genin to get your ass back……he didn't even like you, but he accepted it because he understood what being a shinobi meant….We're not just tools, we're family……. And he was devastated about Asuma…….when I become Hokage, I want him by my side……he's smart and tougher than he looks…..and he looks past all the superficial crap…..it's almost like he has Neji's eyes, ya know?.....yeah, I think Shikamaru would be perfect, don't you, Sasuke?"

For some reason, Sasuke couldn't get Naruto's words out of his head and so the next day he set out to find Shikamaru. Since that day, a few weeks ago, he'd been quietly observing the unassuming shinobi, getting a feel for his routines and habits. It was odd, but watching Shikamaru go through his day gave Sasuke a sense of calm.

Like when I was lying next to him the other day. It felt…peaceful.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

It hadn't gone unnoticed by Shikamaru that he'd had a shadow for the past couple of weeks. And it wasn't the type he could control with his jutsu. He wasn't one for confrontation, as witnessed by his covert job and bachelor status, so he didn't call Sasuke on his stalker behavior. Instead he let the recluse shinobi do as he pleased and Shikamaru went about his life, seeing it as an opportunity to sharpen his skills in espionage. He routinely attempted to lose Sasuke or do things without him noticing by utilizing his transformation jutsu and shadow jutsu.

But when his stalker had actually come out of the shadows and joined him on the hillside, Shikamaru finally had to face the reality of the situation. He was being spied on by Sasuke Uchiha, former protégé of Oroochimaru and current ANBU.

I should tell Ibiki about this before things get out of hand. Perhaps they already have and I just don't see the whole picture yet. I just don't understand why Sasuke is watching me. Is it possible he's on a mission? Am I suspected of something? Being tested perhaps?

As Shikamaru wrestled with his thoughts and tried to give some sort of logical credence to Sasuke's actions, he was called into Ibiki's office and given a mission. Shikamaru observed everything about his superior's demeanor, his body language, what he said, what he didn't say, and Shikamaru couldn't find even a hint that Ibiki was keeping something from him so he didn't mention Sasuke.

After all, if I do mention Sasuke he might pull me off this mission to figure out what's going on and I really want to get out of here, away from him for awhile. This mission should keep me away for at least a month.

A good surveillance and information gathering job took at least a month, depending on the information being acquired. Being a master strategist and first-rate user of shadow jutsu made Shikamaru a prime candidate for the Black OPS Intelligence unit.

It took Ibiki almost eight months of coaxing and badgering to wear down Shikamaru's resolve and bring him into the Black OPS, which validated the Interrogation and Torture Specialist's assessment that Shikamaru was just the man he was looking for. To this day, Shikamaru still held the record for defying Ibiki the longest.

He knew his mother would be proud of his new position, however he was forbidden to tell anyone. So he went along with the ruse of being a school teacher who was, upon occasion, sent out on long-term good will missions to other countries using his status as a school teacher to support the ruse of learning between villages.

"Welcome back, Narra-sensei!"

Shikamaru inwardly groaned at being seen so early. I've been here less than five minutes. How did she know? I'll have to keep a closer eye on her. He watched with cold dread as his contact in the Mist village bounded towards him, all smiles and way too perky for his tastes. Gods, I change my mind. I would trade her for Sasuke any day.

To be continued….