=T=
Tayuya shivered, her dreams filled with images of her own versions of her teamates undoings. Tayuya's eyes shot open for the third time that night and
she sat up, her hands shaking slightly. She just couldn't sleep and it was frustrating her to no end...her eyes fell on Shikamaru..then they narrowed
a little, his comment from the night before stuck firmly in her mind. What the hell did he know anyway? It's not like he's lost someone special or
important to him, he could never truly understand. She firmly pulled the covers over her, shoving any thoughts of comfort from Shikamaru out of her
mind. After a few minutes of hurt and anger her mind drifted upon her fallen friends. Jiroubou... Her eyes trailed to the ceiling. Jiroubou wasn't exactly
high on her list of pals but he was there...no matter how much they fought or how little they liked one another. Kidomaru...he had at least been fun to be
around, no matter how annoying he and his spiderness could be...Sakon..and Ukon...Tayuya hed felt that they were quite alot alike...frustrated...angry
..ready to do what it took to get some respect. Kimimaro... Tayuya shivered slightly...she refused to say she was afraid of him but she was...humbled..
by his presence back in the forest... Tayuya then shut her eyes...it wasn't something she did often but.... She quietly stood up then walked to a window,
checking back to see if Shikamaru was awake. When she saw that he wasn't she gently got to her knees and said a silent prayer for her comrades, the moonlight
hitting her face.
=S=
Shikamaru heard movement from Tayuya's bed..but couldn't be bothered to check, still half asleep himself. After a second he heard mumbling, causing him to
open one eye. His gaze rested on Tayuya, his eyes narrowed slighty as he opened his other 'Is she.....' his thoughts were confirmed when he saw her hands
clasped together. Shikamaru continued to watch her as Tayuya got slowly up and walked back to bed, he noted how she was shivering slightly. He looked at her
"Tayuya.." he said, causing Tayuya to jump then growl "Oh my god you scared the shit out of me". Shikamaru smiled slightly "..right.....saw you praying"
replied Shikamaru, which caused Tayuya to blink, then lower her eyes with the faintest of blushes "Oh.....did you..?" she asked weakly, rubbing the back
of her head. Shikamarus smile faded "...So you really cared about em..huh?" Tayuya turned her head away "Well someone..had to...they were crazy assholes.."
she mumbled, her eyes slightly sad, as though trying to retain a sense of dignity or power, but she looked weak...alone. Shikamaru watched her "All alone..
huh?" Tayuya bit her lip then narrowed her eyes "shut up Nara" she growled. Shikamaru shook his head "..I didn't mean it like that.." his eyes opened fully
now "What I meant was...if you need someone to talk to...or even...a friend" Shikamaru watched as Tayuya's eyes went from hard to soft..her expression
going from embarassed to surprised. Shikamaru smiled slightly "...I'll at least be here for you..." Tayuya sniffled and looked up "even...if I'm...
troublesome...?" Shika's brow furrowed "..how troublesome..?" "...I'll do my best..." "Then that's all you can do..."
=T=
Tayuya tried to smile, but it came out something like a smirk. "...Thanks..." she mumbled quietly. Shikamaru smiled satisfied..then shut his eyes.
"No problem...try to get a little sleep.." Tayuya nodded quietly then sat back down on the bed and looked at Shikamaru. For the longest time she just watched
him...then shut her eyes and laid back, curling up into a tight ball.
She was in a very dark room, alone. Her eyes widened and she looked around "..h...hello?" she asked. Her voice echoed off the endless void..wherever she was..
she was certainly lost. She clentched then unclentched her fists, but every ounce of courage seemed to have been sucked out of her. She shook her head quicklky
then took a step. The moment she moved she plummeted down into darkness, causing her to let out a scream as the sensation of falling stuck her like a brick.
She didnt stop and images of people she couldnt make out swirled around her as she plummeted down the endless pit. Soon she hit the ground and stared up at
the sky, the images gently settled down around her and they suddenly came into sharp focus, causing everything around them to blur. Sakon, Kidomaru, Jiroubou..
she could see all 3...they had a deadened expression, their eyes glazed, wearing black robes that almost blended into the cold surroundings. Sakons eyes
narrowed into a glare "failure..." he breathed. Tayuya stared at him and jiroubou snorted "...foul mouth" Kidomaru took a step forward and his eyes narrowed
"...you dont deserve to live.." he lifted his hand "...so die!" Spiders began to rain from above, Tayuya gasped and dodged pointlessley about. She rolled
then ran, trying to escape but a huge rock wall stopped her. She gasped and ran left, but another rock wall..jiroubous rock walls had trapped her. She felt
the ground beneath her shake and sakons rashomon wall erupted beneath her, the huge gate lifting into the air. Tayuya lost her balance and fell with a scream,
the gate doors opened and a huge tongue shot out, grabbing her. It pulled her in and the doors slammed shut with a ringing sound.
Tayuya fell completley out of her bed with a cry and hit the wood floor. Shikamaru was already sitting up, staring at her. Tayuya gulped shaking and sat up
staring around, then gripped her head and sighed. Shikamaru now seemed concerned "....here..let me" "I just need a bath or something!" said Tayuya quickly,
standing up and bolting from the room, she walked quickly down the hall and entered the bathroom, then shut the door and paced for a minute or two before
turning her head fully to the mirror, gripping the edge of the sink and looked at her reflection. She looked awful, her red hair askew and her eyes filled
with tears. She shivered slightly and looked away then quickly took off her things and turned on the bath water. It didn't take long for the tub to be filled
with the steaming liquid. She gently stepped in and sat down slowly, sinking into the water before laying back, resting her head against the wall, and shut
her eyes with a sigh, telling herself mentally over and over that it was all just a dream...a dream...and she was alright. Her eyes gently opened...she
the dream had been so real...so chillingly real...the darkness...the falling...her friends...it had all been so life like. She stared at her own hand,
turning it slightly, then it clentched into a fist and she looked up at the ceiling...it had been way too real...there was no way she was going to be able
to sleep any more for tonight...
=S=
Shikamaru just continued to watch the door, then his brow furrowed and he rested his head back on his pillow, staring at the ceiling. "Second time tonight..
that can't be good..." said Shikamaru aloud, resting his hands beneath his head. His eyes strayed back to the door and his eyes softened slightly 'I wonder
if...she's alright...' he thought to himself. He toyed with the idea of checking on her for a while but then shook his head and shut his eyes, figuring
he'd just get yelled at and that she needed privacy. His eyes opened and he peered up at the ceiling again 'But still..' thought Shikamaru 'I did say...
I'd be there for her.....' Now he had an excuse, he decided he might as well take it. He got up and rubbed his eyes, then walked quietly out the door
and down the hall. He stopped at the bathroom door and gently knocked "Tayuya.......is everything alright?" he asked tiredly. A small sound came from the
room "...im.......fine" replied Tayuya. Shikamaru furrowed his brow, scratching his head head and looked back at the door "..your not ok..." he replied.
"Then whyd ya ask??" growled Tayuya. Shikamaru blinked then narrowed his eyes "Just trying to help" "Well get lost I don't want your help ok??" Shikamaru
glared at the door then turned away "...fine you troublesome wench" mumbled Shikamaru "Im going back to bed.." Shikamaru heard her say something but couldn't
make it out, already on his way back to bed.
=T=
"You go on then you lazy bastard!" spat Tayuya. She glared, waiting for a reply...but one didn't come. She shut her eyes and sighed, gripping her hair,
wondering what on earth would make her snap at him like that. Her mind lingered on how she would always berate jiroubou and kidomaru, even sakon at times.
Her head silently rose from her arms. She slowly began to realize.......her "friends" didn't really care. She remembered how Jiroubou had always gotten mad
at her for just being herself, how Kidomaru had always teased her, how Sakon felt superior over not only her, but over everyone. Her eyes narrowed harshly..
those weren't qualaties friends possesed......maybe they hadn't been her friends after all...As her mind went over these facts she could come to one conclusion
...She hadn't had a friend all her life after all... She burried her face in her hands and let out a shakey sigh when she realized the one person that had been
good to her had just walked away from the other end of the door to her left. Tayuya got out of the bath tub, drying herself quickly and pulled on her clothes,
then ran to Shikamarus room and opened the door. Shikamaru was laying curled up on his side, his eyes shut and his expression annoyed. He seemed to be asleep...
Tayuya sighed, gripping the doorknob...then let go of it and walked in, and looked down at him. After just watching him for a few seconds she sighed "...ill
talk to him..tommorow" she whispered. Without thinking she pressed her lips to his cheek then quickly pulled back and sat down in her bed..once again..she was
tired...drowsy..the bath had helped. She laid down on her side, curling up, and quietly watched shikamaru as her eyes almost instantly began to close. "...im..
...sor......*yawn*........im sorry...." she mumbled, before drifting off to sleep.
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Chapter notes: Third part, hope you like it, R&R, no flames, I don't own these characters.