[Naruto][Shikamaru][drabble]
Title: A Better Peace
By Kel, the Queen of Corny Titles
Summary: Response to theme 1: submerge. Drowning was a new and unique feeling, but Shikamaru could debate the supposed peace of such a death. 350-some words.
A/N: Naruto. Yes. Shikamaru. Yes. Purpose of this drabble? To have a bit of fun. To have an excuse for mindless whumping. To try to get a handle on some Naruto characters. Whatever. I really need to exercise a little discipline when it comes to length of these things…
Drowning was a new and unique feeling, and Shikamaru spared a moment to curse those damned Mist-nins and their twice-damned water techniques. Water slid over his throat, filling his lungs with a force he’d never really imagined water to have. It roared, cutting of all other sound until he couldn’t hear the sounds of the battle anymore. Even Chouji’s bellows couldn’t reach him here.
He’d once heard drowning was peaceful, but he couldn’t imagine how that could be so. Did other people who drowned forget about their lives as soon as the water filled their lungs? Did their concerns and worries just drift away? Did they just forget their friends and family, just on the other side of the surface, still fighting for their lives? How can that be peaceful?
He quit clawing at his throat, fingers going slack. Somewhere in the distance, someone yelled, their voice hoarse above the roaring in his ears. His eyelids twitched, his fingers working slowly.
Drowning was not peaceful, not when someone was constantly yelling for him.
Surface. He needed the surface. His hands were clawing at the water. He was jerked upward, a hand closing around the back of his jacket. He broke free of the water, and was deposited on the ground and, before he could regain his bearings, a large hand was smacking his back with bruising force. Shikamaru leaned sideways, into Asuma-sensei’s shoulder, coughing and sputtering.
Compared to what he was going through now, they might have a point about drowning being peaceful. Another racking cough forced him to his hands and knees.
He looked up as a scream echoed. Asuma was already on his feet, running toward a hapless Ino. Chouji was moving in her direction as well. Shikamaru knew already that neither one would be fast enough to deflect the blow that would most certainly kill her.
He could be faster. Hands came together in a familiar seal. Everything stopped a split second later, including the Mist ninja in front of Ino.
Drowning might be peaceful - he snorted at that thought - but this? Being alive to save a friend? That was much, much better.