It was still early in the morning as the sun's rays spread over the rooftops of Konoha. By now, most families were up, enjoying a quiet breakfast; and the Nara clan was no different. The table was set for three, with bowls and silverware placed accordingly; however, only Shikaku occupied a seat. In the kitchen, Yoshino busily prepared breakfast with a list of chores for the day running through her mind.
"The day's not long enough to get everything done," Yoshino sighed. "This whole house needs to be cleaned from the inside out; we're low on rice, so I need to go shopping; and Shikaku better fix the leaking sink in the bathroom!"
"Shikaku, make sure you-" Yoshino paused, seeing that only her husband sat at the dining table.
"Shikamaru! Get down here right now!" she shouted frustratingly.
Up in his room, Shikamaru huffed, rolling his eyes at his mother's bossiness as he climbed out of bed.
"What a drag," he sighed, annoyed at his mother, "And Dad wonders why I question his decision in marriage."
Outside, the people of Konoha were beginning their daily routines in the streets of their village; it was incredible how all the villagers pulled together to rebuild their home and get back to their normal lives. After all, it had only been a little while since the invasion of Konoha, the destruction caused by Orochimaru and his summonings, the Third Hokage's death...
Shikamaru watched quietly, the events all replaying in his mind.
It all happened so damn quick. We all were watching the match, and then came the genjutsu--the invasion--chasing Sasuke--staying behind--Asuma-sensei...
"Shikamaru! You've got fifteen seconds to get down here!"
"Hurry up and eat, Shikamaru!" Yoshino barked. "You and father have alot of chores to do today."
"Chores?" Shikamaru shot back, a confused look on his face.
"Yes: chores. And don't you talk to me in that kind of tone!" Yoshino replied, a fiery look in her eyes as she glared at her son.
Great. And here I thought I'd get to enjoy the day, staring at the clouds. What a drag...
"I've made a list for you to follow. I'll be out shopping, and when I get back, I expect this place to be sparkling clean."
Shikamaru groaned. "I hate cleaning."
"Well that's just too bad," Yoshino glared, "because you'll do what your mother tells you!"
"Yeah, yeah-"
"Shikamaru, be quiet." Shikaku intervened. "You don't argue with your mother."
You're so whipped, Shikamaru thought to himself, shaking his head at his father's courage, or rather, lack thereof.
"Besides," Shikaku grinned, "You know you like hanging out with your Old Man!"
He's got a point. It beats having to be bossed around by Mom all day.
"I just don't get it," Shikamaru said, as he watched his dad lying underneath the bathroom sink.
"What's that?" Shikaku grunted.
"Why in the world did you marry a woman like Mom? She's bossy, thinks she knows everything, yells all the time-"
"Oh, Shikamaru," Shikaku sighed, pulling himself out from underneath the leaky sink to look at his son. He grinned. Shikamaru, son: you're not quite yet a man who understands the needs and wants for a woman, yet not a little boy who's still afraid girls have germs. "It's like I've told you before: even the roughest woman is tender to the man she loves."
Shikamaru grunted, a sarcastic grin on his face.
"You'll understand one day," Shikaku went on, "Women...they're...well, um...see, men need women. To begin with, men can't even be born into this world without a woman. And think about it, Shikamaru: think of all the things your mom does for us-she cleans, cooks our meals, washes our clothes, just all the little things you never notice from day-to-day. And not only the small things she does as a mother, but for me, personally, she fulfills her role as a wife-"
"By bossing you around?" Shikamaru interrupted.
"She really does it for mine and your own good." he replied with a smile. "But anyway, a wife is suppose to be a girl who'll take care of you through all the good and bad days. If it wasn't for your mother's support throughout the years, I'm not sure if I'd be where I am today; and for all we know, you might have never been born into the Nara clan if things had went differently and your mom and I weren't happily together. Really, Shikamaru, she's got a tender side to her...and then...not to mention...when it comes to...um...physical needs...well...a man's got to have a woman for that!"
"I get it, Dad," Shikamaru said, quick to end any discussion about "physical needs" between his parents.
"Anyways," Shikaku continued, leaning up against the leaky sink, "I guess my whole point is that as your father and as a regular guy that's already been in your shoes and had the same thoughts you do, I'm just telling you not to give up so quick on women-"
And before Shikaku could finish his thought, a loud crash rang out.
"Damn!" Shikaku cursed out. Yoshino's gonna kill me!
In the floor, broken pieces layed shattered across the floor: Shikaku had knocked off one of Yoshino's plant pottery.
"Damn it!" Shikaku continued, picking up the pieces. He huffed, the continued cursing. Finally, his frustration subsided. "Well, Shikamaru..."
"Huh?"
"This," he paused, referring to once-plant pottery, "needs to be fixed."
What a drag, Shikamaru sighed. Now when Mom gets home, I'm gonna have to hear about this.
"And how do you propose it gets fixed when it's been broken into a million pieces?" Shikamaru glared.
"Guess we'll have to replace it. It came from Otsuki's pottery shop; I remember because it was your mother's birthday gift from me last year."
Shikmaru rolled his eyes, locking his fingers behind his head. "And what makes you think they're even gonna have the same stupid pot?"
"Well," Shikaku began, "I don't, but you're gonna go find out!"
"What?!"
"C'mon! It gives you a chance to get out of the house for a while!"
Oh man, what a drag! And here I thought this day couldn't get any lamer!
"Here!" Shikaku said, tossing Shikamaru money, "Go down to Otsuki's and try to find this exact pot. If they don't have it...I don't know...pick something that looks as close to it as you can."
Shikamaru huffed as he walked out the door. Well there goes my afternoon of cloud watching! All because of a stupid pot...what a drag!