Bittersweet

Pairings: Hidan x Shikamaru



A month had passed since his fatefully encounter with that irritating brat, and still, Hidan's thoughts continually lingered on the boy. What was it about Shikamaru that had his mind spinning? Was it really just Shikamaru's cold, calculating stare that sent his blood boiling?

"Tch." Hidan scolded himself under his breath, but for some reason, he found himself inside of the Hidden Leaf Village, practically stalking the kid.

He'd been following Shikamaru around for the past two days, and of the things he'd observed, the one thing he'd learned about the shinobi was that he was lazy. Now as Hidan watched Shikamaru lounge around in a nearby garden surrounded by the sprinkled cherry blossom leaves, he wondered what it was he'd originally seen in the boy. What the hell had he been thinking?

Still, even as Shikamaru's chestnut eyes glazed lazily at the sky, Hidan could see the wheels turning inside that intellectual mind. He remembered Shikamaru's heated glare, the pure intensity in his eyes as he struggled to calculate Hidan's next move, and the undeniable pleasure Hindan felt when those scheming eyes filled with fear. A thrilling shudder traveled throughout Hindan's body at the mere thought of seeing Shikamaru's eyes up close as he hovered over the boy.

Hidan closed his eyes, leaned his head back, and sighed, lost in the visions of Shikamaru. Vaguely, he realized this probably wasn't normal, that this went above and beyond his normal obsession with killing, and perhaps, he wanted it to be more than just blood this time. He was definitely attracted to the kid.

Hidan's amethyst colored eyes burst open at his own revelation. Yes, he definitely wanted the shinobi.

From the rooftop several houses away, he saw the unsuspecting Shikamaru lying motionless and almost sleepily in the grass. From this distance, it looked to him that Shikamaru's eyes were closed, but he knew that Shikamaru's senses were still very much alert.

Still, Hidan's hands twitched at the knowledge that the boy's lips lay defenseless before him. He suddenly wanted to test his theory, to find out if Shikamaru truly held special meaning to him, or if he was just having inner delusions. And the best way to find out was to taste those delicious-looking lips.

Hidan flew like the wind, breezing through the rooftops, his feet barely touching the shingles before lurching back into the air again. He leapt one last time from a small rooftop into the square garden and directly onto the oblivious Shikamaru.

However, as Hidan landed, Shikamaru's left hand swung out from underneath his body with a kunai, pointing the sharp edge straight at Hidan's throat. Yet, in that same instant, Hidan pinned Shikamaru down by practically sitting on top of him, squeezing his legs around Shikamaru's hips, and at the same time, he grabbed Shikamaru's other free hand by the wrist, effectively holding him down.

Hidan watched as Shikamaru's eyes widened with recognition, and perhaps, that the kunai in his hand was now pointless. A bit of fear flickered in those chestnut eyes, just like Hidan had predicted and hoped, causing a chill of delight to sliver down his spine.

Shikamaru's hand shook, but stubbornly, he did not remove the sharp blade, as if it would save him. Hidan licked his lips and gave a wicked smile.

"Hello, Shikamaru," Hidan said pleasantly. "So, we meet again."

"Wh-what the hell do you want?" Shikamaru quivered, but for a brief instant, that flash of intelligence sputtered to life, and Hidan knew the brat was already mulling over his escape routes.

Hidan clenched his jaw. Too bad the brat wouldn't have enough time to think of an escape route, Hidan thought, and almost snickered to himself.

"Oh, this time I've come to give you a wonderful present. I think you'll enjoy it," Hidan said, and actually leaned closer towards the boy, pressing his throat against the blade.

Hidan felt the sharp prick as it pierced his skin and the warm trickle as blood streamed down his throat, but by then, he'd already reached Shikamaru's wonderful lips. He pressed into them, and immediately, Shikamaru dropped the kunai, brought both of his hands against Hidan's chest, and started pushing away insistently.

"What the hell are you doing!" he yelled into Hidan's mouth.

But the taste of Shikamaru's smooth lips weren't enough for him, and as Shikamaru continued to thrash against him, Hidan's grip only grew stronger. Now that Shikamaru had dropped the kunai, Hidan moved his hands up to Shikamaru's shoulders, clutching him firmly, and tightened his legs around Shikamaru's waist.

He forced his lips against the boy's, this time more urgently and more demanding. Shikamaru tried to turn his head away from Hidan, so instead of being aggressive, Hidan changed tactics, yet again. This time, he let Shikamaru turn his head away, and he started placing soft sweet kisses everywhere on Shikamaru's face.

By the time, Hidan circled back around to the boy's lips, he noticed tears welling up in Shikamaru's eyes. Hidan lifted his head up and gazed into the Shikamaru's eyes.

"Shikamaru…" Hidan started to say, but he wasn't sure he could really apologize for what he'd done because in all honesty he didn't really regret it.

"Why? Why are you doing this?" Shikamaru asked in a weak voice.

Hidan watched as one tear spilled from Shikamaru's brown eyes, and out of pure impulse, he released his shoulders to wipe away that fallen tear.

"Because… I think I've fallen in lo—," but before Hidan could finish, Shikamaru kicked up and out, punching his elbow in Hidan's face at the exact same moment.

"Wah! You little brat!" Hidan said and fell backwards, yet somehow, managed to quickly recover.

He stood up and found Shikamaru standing and holding him in his shadow jutsu. Crap! Hidan did not come here to fight him. His plan had really backfired on him, and he'd almost foolishly told the boy he'd fallen for him. What was wrong with his head?

"Did you really think I'd fall for that Hidan? Do the Akatsuki use seduction now to try and kill their targets? That's just sick," Shikamaru said, holding his fingers in his jutsu symbol, sweat already forming on his forehead.

The best the young shinobi could hope for was for another Leaf shinobi to pass by and see him fighting an Akatsuki member. If not, his jutsu would run out in five minutes, and Hindan would have another chance at those lips. But Hidan didn't want Shikamaru to misinterpret his intentions.

"Shikamaru, that's not it. I didn't come here to fight you. I came here because… because… " Hidan stumbled for the right words.

Now that he wasn't staring at the teary-eyed Shikamaru, it was harder to tell him his feelings. Shikamaru would probably laugh at him. Who wouldn't? An Akatsuki member falling for a Leaf shinobi? That was just absurd.

But Shikamaru cocked his eyebrow at him questioningly, yet in a mocking tone, he asked, "Because?"  

"Shit!" Hidan yelled at the boy. "Because I think I'm in love with you!"

Hidan ground his teeth together in irritation with himself, and stupidly felt his cheeks warm like a girl confessing to her first crush. When his thundering heart finally stopped hammering in his head, he bravely glanced up at Shikamaru's reaction. To his surprise, the boy's eyes were wide and his mouth was slightly open from shock.

"Y-you've got to be joking, right?" Shikamaru asked, but his eyes told Hidan that he already believed him.

"Nope. I wish I were. It kinda caught me off guard, too," Hidan said and offered a weak smile.

Shikamaru dropped his gaze, obviously stunned. His jutsu had just about reached its limit, but Shikamaru dropped his hands as well, releasing Hidan.

Hidan took an uneasy step forward, but Shikamaru's eyes stayed focus on the ground in front of him as if lost in a daze.

"Shikamaru?" Hidan asked, trying to draw the kid's attention again.

Shikamaru glanced up and noticed him stepping closer. Inadvertently, Shikamaru took a step back, away from the man who'd just confessed his love.

An unusual sting of pain coursed through Hidan, a pain he'd never felt before, and one he truly didn't like. It was near his heart, and he wondered if this boy had been the cause of it. Either way, it was apparent Shikamaru wanted nothing to do with Hidan, so he turned to leave.

"Wh—Where are you going?" Shikamaru asked, sounding strangely timid.

Hidan turned back and eyed the boy, but Shikamaru didn't appear any different than before, except perhaps for the fact that his eyes kept shifting around nervously and avoiding eye contact with his. Why wouldn't he look Hidan directly in the eyes anymore?

Hidan took a step back towards Shikamaru, closing the distance and forcing him to look up at Hidan.

"I'll stay if you want me to," Hidan said, giving Shikamaru a sly smirk.

Shikamaru's cheeks lit up a bright red, and again, his chestnut eyes avoided Hidan's purple gaze. He studied Shikamaru's shaky breathing as he stepped inches closer, and saw the boy's fidgety fingers as he pressed his warm body against Shikamaru's.

Hidan leaned down next to Shikamaru's ear. "I'm going to finish what I started, okay?" he whispered.

Shikamaru didn't respond, but when he saw Shikamaru close his eyes, it was good enough. He leaned in and brushed his lips against Shikamaru's. His heart thumped a thousand times faster as those silky lips opened for him, quivering, yet responsive. And those lips brought forth a deep, sweet ache that wiped away all other pains and pleasure.

In that moment, Hidan knew he would do anything for Shikamaru. Even if the world came crashing down around them and the Akatsuki members hunted him down for his betrayal, Hidan would plunge into the deepest, darkest depths for Shikamaru, if only it meant he could continue tasting those delicious lips.