'Is this day ever going to end?'

Shikamaru sighed heavily while strolling through the streets of Konoha towards the Nara wood where his family home was standing. The work at the shinobi –alliance, helping out the hokage and forcing Naruto to do his. Not knowing why he got involved into this many important issues. The laziest person on earth was putting more and more work on his shoulder and slowly fainting under the pressure that he put on himself. Shikamaru this, Shikamaru that. He couldn't hear it any day longer, but knew that this was just the way he has planned it for himself and he got a reason for all of this. Sometimes, but only sometimes he forgot what the reason was. Today was a day like this and even the clouds didn't seem to be as relaxing as always. He couldn't get his head off work. The woods put a gentle shade on him and actually were a nice relieve from the hot summer sun of Konoha. Work in summer was the worst. He sighed once more feeling his mood slowly sinking even lower. A few deer ran past him which didn't catch his attention much but all of the sudden his body paralyzed and he stood still looking surprised in the distance.
'Ha! Finally! Got you dad!' A high boys voice laughed behind his back.
'Shikadai.' He smiled to himself as the shadows let go of him. 'You still need to work on the surprise effect and that shadow jutsu of yours, that's not very strong…If I wasn't that tired…'
'Dad.' The ponytailed boy pouted. 'For once you could praise me…'
'I'll praise you when you'll archive something.' He smiled and ruffled his son's hair. 'You're too strict Nara. You'll demotivate him.' He thought to himself looking into the angry looking, turquoise eyes of the mini Shikamaru. 'Come on. I'm sure your mother is already furious because we're late for supper.'
'Mother's always furious.' Shikadai rolled his eyes and headed towards the big Nara house leaving his old man slightly behind, smiling stupidly.
That was true. She was often furious, that's because she was frustrated. Since she gave birth to their only child she resigned of being a shinobi nearly completely and he could see how much she needed it, in comparison to him who was overwrought. He knew she loved Shikaidai like crazy, probably more than she loved him and if it wasn't for him no force would make her stay home but in the end she did. She cooked dinners and cleaned the house. Fed the deer and ironed their clothes. Never would he ever thought she would do things like this. Although he liked the new version of his wife it made her often furious –which on the other hand transformed his and his son's life into a living nightmare from time to time.

'Old prick get moving! We don't have forever! Dinner is already cold and I won't heat it up another time just because Naruto is too damn stupid to get your genius ideologies! ' A woman's voice rose.
'On my way!' He put his hands up in a sign of resign and let his head down not to show her his widening smile which would drive her crazy. There she is again. The cruelest of all kunochi – Temari, his wife. Nara no Temari.

As he was sitting at the dining table and watching in silence his bored son who was watching the birds outside and his loitering wife in the kitchen all of his troubles connected with work disappeared out of his head. They didn't know it but they were his everything and without them they would be nothing. Thanks to them he was complete, loved and absolutely peaceful. His home. His one and only, the woman who changed everything and the effect of their specific love, Shikadai. Without thinking about it he would sacrifice his life for them.

'Don't tell me you have eaten out again?' The blonde frowned and pierced him with her gaze. 'Why do you think I'm doing this?'
'Too feed your son?' He said calmly. 'I sound like father.' 'I haven't been eating out. I'm just tired. Thank you for the meal darling.'
'Um..Yeah. Enjoy.' She blushed and stared eating too. The supper continued in an pleasant silence as usual. Although Shikamaru enjoyed this much he knew this wasn't a good sign. He was too tired to think of something to talk about, his wife too frustrated and the boy was living in a world of his own, just as he did when he was his age. The only time they really spend time together were the evenings. It has been a ritual since Shikadai was a little child. No matter how hard the mission was or how late it was Shikamaru would wake him and talk to him for an hour or so. This way he felt like he wasn't losing touch with him. Same happened this evening, after the boy washed his teeth and changed into his pyjamas. He sat down at his bed and smiled softly.
'How is it hanging?'
'Fair to middling.' He gave him a serious look. 'Are you going to get divorced?'
'What?!' His eyes opened wide. 'What makes you think so?'
'I don't know dad. Mom is really grumpy lately. You don't even give each other that hello and goodbye kiss you used to.'
'We…' He looked back at the events of the last weeks and Shikadai was right. It started with a fight and since then they just stopped showing affection to each other. ' We're not going to get divorced Shikadai. We're perfectly fine with your mother.'
'Are you not lying?'
'I would never lie Shikadai.'
'You lied to mom about that you liked the dinner she cooked.'
'That's..different.' He sighed. 'No. You're right. That was wrong. You know, it's very bad to lie. Even if they are white lies because as soon as you start accepting small lies it will soon get worse and it might come a day when you won't be able to distinguish between wrong and right.'
'I know dad. You've told me this about a hounded times.' He sighed. 'Maybe you should take a few days off and go somewhere with mom? I could stay at Inojin's place. '
'It's impossible at the moment. Don't worry I'll talk to her.'
'Cool.' He yawned. 'How did you and mom actually meet?'
'Didn't we tell you?'
'I can't remember.'
'She was my opponent at the choinins exams. Back then she was actually at the enemies side. They planned to attack the village together with Orochimaru.'
'Mom was one of the bad guys? Cool.' He rubbed his eyes and smiled.
'But only for a moment and just because the orders were that way. Your mother is very loyal.' He smirked.
'Did you beat mom at the exams?'
'Oh..no. I gave up. This was way too troublesome. She was a very good opponent. '
'That's so much you dad.' He laughed. 'And what has happened next? '
'What do you mean?'
'How come you two came together? If she was bad and she beat your ass why did you end up marrying her.'
'That's quite a story to tell Shikadai.'
'Come on.'
'Not tonight. I can see you being sleepy.'
'You just can't remember. Don't pretend I'm wrong dad.' Shikadai laughed covering himself with
a duvet.
'Yeah I'll have to organize that one. Sleep well.' He closed the doors and went to his bedroom suddenly feeling rather blue.
He opened the doors rather slowly as if he was afraid to face her and to his astonishment he spotted her sitting motionless on the bed. As the doors opened wider she looked towards him and stood up walking towards the bathroom just as if she was avoiding his presence.
'Temari…'
'Hmm?' She looked back at him and let her hair down.
'Are …are we ok?' He scratched his back.
'What do you mean?' She looked surprised and gave him the exact same look as his son.
'It's just…I don't know. It's been different…'
'I don't know what you mean. You're tired. Just go to bed Shikamaru.' She closed the doors behind her.
He lied down on the bed and stared at the ceiling. 'It has been different.'

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