"Tea!" He shouts then claps his hands impatiently.

I grab the tea from the fridge and hurry to the living room where he was waiting. "Shikamaru, not trying to be disrespectful, but have you ever thought of getting off your lazy ass and doing things yourself?"

He sighs. "I pay you to do this don't I?"

I nod. "Yeah..." He had made his point but it still didn't explain his laziness.

He takes a sip of the tea. "Exactly."

I place the tea on the table. "And what're you gonna do when I make enough money to get out of here?" He did know I was going to leave eventually, right? That I wouldn't be his servant forever?

"Ugh...what a drag." He says nonchalantly.

I roll my eyes and continue cleaning then I begin cooking.

"I don't like hard-boiled eggs."

"You think I don't know that?" Honestly I kind of HAD to know this stuff.

"Then why do I smell hard-boiled eggs?" He nags.

I place a hand sternly on my hip. "Would YOU rather cook dinner?"

~~~~~~~

I hang up the kitchen rag and grab my bag. "So Shikamaru, in the pan is the grilled mackerel and in the bowl is the bean paste and then there's rice. Salad's in the fridge. For dessert, I made chocolate cake-in the fridge." I pause to let it sink in. "Got it?"

"Yeah, whatever." He waves me off.

"So I can leave?" I ask tiredly. He was a lot of work.

"Do whatever you want." He waves me off yet again.

I open the door and am about to walk out when I feel him grip my wrist.

"Wait...actually, Ren, will you please stay...for dinner." The look in his eyes was pleading.

"I-I dont know if that's a good idea, Shik."

"Its a great idea!" Shikaku says enthusiastically.

I didn't know his dad got home so early. I smile at him. "O..okay. Would you like me to set up the table, sir?"

He shakes his head. "No I've got it. You're a guest."

"But sir, I haven't yet gone home so I'm still on duty."

He stares at me. "Ren, sit down and take a break. I've got this."

I nod. "Okay." I sit down next to Shik and sigh.

He laughs. "You need to learn how not to work sometimes, y'know. And I'm glad you decided to stay for dinner."

I smile at him. "Since you insisted."

~~~~~~~

They made small talk and included me but it was a bit awkward. I had never been asked to stay for dinner before so it was a new experience for me. I would just smile and nod and every once in a while add my input. By the time 10:00 rode around, we were all laughing and enjoying ourselves but I had to politely dismiss myself.

Shik walks me to the door.

"Um...thanks for inviting me to stay for dinner." I smile and jokingly compliment the food.

"You did make it after all." He says and laughs. "I'm glad you enjoyed yourself. You should stay again sometime."

I feel a blush come across my cheeks and thanked god it was dark. "Um...only if you want me to." After several seconds of silence, I finally bring myself to say goodbye. "I had better go. It's getting late."

"Yeah, of course. You'll be back at ten?"

I nod. "Of course." He leans forward and my breath catches in my throat. What exactly was happening? He kisses my cheek and then walks back into the house.

~~~~~~~

*Knock, knock*

I hear footsteps and suddenly the door is open.

I smile at Shik and walk in.

He sighs and rubs his eyes tiredly. "Why do you insist on knocking EVERY time?"

I grin a cheesy grin. "Because it makes you get up. You need to work on improving your exercise."

"Why? It sounds like such a drag."

I playfully slap his arm. "Doesn't everything?" I immediately walk into the kitchen and begin making breakfast. Of course, Shikamaru sits on the couch and immediately turns on the TV. I couldn't help but remember that I only had 94 more days of working here before I was free to go. Only $1,500 left. Its not that working for Shik was bad but I couldn't do this anymore. When I started working for him, I didnt think I would get attached and now that I have I didnt want to be disappointed when I leave. I look back at him, fascinated by the show that was on. I smile inwardly to myself and turn away immediately as he looks in my direction.

I hear him smirk and I glance at him. "What!"

He smirks. "I saw you, Ren. You cant hide it."

I throw a rag at him. "Hide what?" I say with a smile.

He shakes his head. "Nothing. Just finish my breakfast." He throws the rag back, smirking.

"Um, did I hear a 'please' in that sentence?" I put a hand to my ear. "Um no, I don't think I did."

He rolls his neck to look at me. He glares. "Honestly?"

I keep my hand there, waiting. "I'm waiting." I tease.

He sighs. "Oh my god. Please," he says with sass. "Finish my breakfast."

I smile arrogantly. I won and I knew it. "Mhm. That's what I thought."

~~~~~~~

I finish off the breakfast with cheesy eggs, crisp bacon, oatmeal, and pancakes. "So Shik, what are you gonna do when I leave?"

He shrugs as he shovels food into his mouth. Honestly, the way he ate made me wonder how he wasn't the size of Choji, who lived across the street from him.

"So...in three months and two days...what do you plan on doing..without me here?"

Shik looks up at me, a hurt frown on his face. "You know the exact days before you quit here. Are you looking forward to leaving?"

I bite my lip. This was what I was afraid of. Getting attached and being side-tracked from my main goals. "It's not that. Its just when the days count down and I'm finally done here, I'm free. I can go wherever I want. The world is my playground and I wont be held back."

"I'm holding you back?" His face was a scowl.

I shake my head. "Th-that's not what I meant. No. Shik please don't take it like that. I didnt mean it like that at all. I just...once i finish here, I plan on leaving. I'm not getting attached."

~~~~~~~

The rest of the day, he was silent and didn't demand much. So when Shikaku got home, I planned on heading home as well.

"Is everything all right, Ren?" Shikaku asks.

I nod slowly. Were things alright? I didnt really know for sure myself. "Uh...yeah. Everything-everything's fine."

"Okay. Well have a nice night." I nod and head home.

~~~~~~~

Three months had passed and I had continued my work for Shikamaru as usual and he had gone back to his usual self, constantly demanding anything and everything because he was too lazy. I kept waiting for him to ask something about my leaving but the questions never came. Maybe he didn't care after all...i found myself feeling upset at the thought of that. In those three months, he had invited me to several more dinners and I enjoyed them despite the fact that I barely spoke. Things were changing and I wasn't sure if it was for the better or for worse. Shik definitely wasn't himself and I missed the old him. And to think that I only had two days left here...with him. I definitely started doubting having to leave New York.

Today, I finished up the house just before Shikaku got home and that's when I finally decided that I would talk to Shikamaru. When he went to his room to change, I decided this would be the time to talk to Shikamaru.

"Hey...can I...can I talk to you?" I was hesitant.

"What's there to talk about Ren? You're leaving in two days. You'll just leave anyway and without a second glance back here. You'll be gone and I will be here still. And I wouldn't want to hold you back. Not getting attached right? Then don't try to talk about it. This...serving my lazy ass...this will all be your past."

I sit down on the couch next to him and I wrap my arms around him in an intimate hug. "Shik, don't-don't make this harder than it has to be."

He shakes his head. "I just...what am I gonna do when you leave?"

I shake my head also. "You're gonna have to stop being lazy." I say with a light-hearted laugh. "I'm not gonna be here to take care of you...just like a baby." I joke.

He chuckles softly.

Why did I have to talk to him? It was becoming very difficult to even consider leaving. But, he wouldn't need me much longer. He would probably find someone else to care for him. I was really going to miss him.

~~~~~~~

I wipe my hands and grab my bag, putting it over my shoulder. "So...it's my last day and..."

"Here." He walks towards me, his hand outstretched. "Here's the money I owe you."

I graciously take the money and put it into my bag. "So...i-I guess it's...goodbye..."

He sits back down and shrugs. "Yeah...whatever."

I bite my lip to hold back tears threatening to spill down my cheeks. "Goodbye...Shikamaru." I walk out the door and head to my apartment.

~~~~~~~

I pack the last thing into a bag and pack it into the trunk of the cab waiting patiently outside. I lock the door and stand outside, speculating the scene I was leaving behind. I take a deep breath and duck into the cab. It drives off, the scene blurring outside the square window.

"May I roll my window down, please?" The driver nods his head and I roll the window down halfway.

"Wait!" I hear a fading voice yell. That must be a lucky person to have someone wanting them to wait. But I would not wish Shikamaru would do that, I would not be a wishful dreamer. He continues to drive when Shikamaru steps into the street.

"Stop the car!" I shout, the car coming to an expeditious stop, a hair's width from Shik's body.

I swing open the door and hop out of the cab, running to him. I slap his arm in anger. "What the hell were you thinking!" I throw my arms around him, thinking that would protect him.

He pushes me away slightly. "Ren...im sorry. But..." He looks down at his feet. "Will you..." He hesitates. "Please...please stay."

Tears build at the brink of my eyes and I wrap my arms tightly around his neck. "Y-you really mean it?"

I feel him nod. "Yes. I want you to stay."

The tears slide down my cheeks and I hug him tighter as I eagerly nod. "Yes. I-I will stay." I pull away and we stare deep into each other's eyes. I see him leaning in and feel myself leaning towards him, meeting him halfway before our lips meet in a delicate kiss. Our lips move in unison, studying and memorizing the feel. I pull away, breathless. Shik...he was mine and not just in my head. 'Please stay...' The words echoed in my head. I really did mean something to him.