Birthday Spirit

"Kaa-san," the six year old asked, "Where's Shika-oji?"

Kurenai frowned. "I don't know," she lied.

What kind of sick joke was this?!

The day of Asuma's death six years ago, his 'king' was born. A carbon copy of Shikamaru's beloved sensei was born the day he mourns.

Shikamaru loved his little nephew like his own son, taught him everything Asuma ever taught him. Shikamaru always tried to be there for the boy but he's never been to one of his birthdays.

"Shikamaru."

Shikamaru pulled his gaze away from the wall, breathing out smoke. "Asuma-sensei," he murmured.

This wasn't the first time the lack of oxygen in the smoke-filled room made him hallucinate. Shikamaru was used to it by now.

Asuma frowned, no cigarette in his mouth for once. "I thought you promised me last year you'd go this year," he said in a disappointed tone.

Shikamaru scowled and looked away. 'You're not real," he said stiffly.

Asuma walked over and knelt in front of his ex-student. "What's real is that you're my boy's only father figure; he needs you like you had needed me once," Asuma said.

Shikamaru gritted his teeth. "I look at him and all I see is you dying, or worse, him dying," he growled.

"I know you'd never let that happen," Asuma soothed.

"He's asking questions now," Shikamaru said suddenly, wanting to change the subject.

"About me?" Asuma asked knowingly.

Shikamaru nodded. 'Kurenai-sensei thinks I should tell him about you," he muttered, looking away.

Asuma smiled thought Shikamaru didn't see it. "I trust you with my King and Queen," he said simply.

Shikamaru's head snapped up, his eyes wide but Asuma was already gone. Shikamaru shook his head to try and clear it before wobbly standing up and trudging over to the curtains. With a flick of the wrist, Shikamaru was blinded but he ignored it and opened the windows, coughing as he fanned the smoke out. Taking a deep breath of fresh air, the shadow nin jumped out the window and onto the rooftops.

Shikamaru got to the Sarutobi Compound in record time. He was let in by Konohamaru, the current clan head/heir, and Shikamaru made it in time to see the kids leaving.

Shikamaru's eyes found his target. "Asuma-chan!" he called.

The newly turned six year old jumped and turned in surprise. Brown eyes on tan skin and framed by spiky black hair widened before a grin broke out on his face. The boy tackled him in a hug.

"Shika-oji, you came!" he beamed.

Shikamaru chuckled and hugged the boy back. "Yeah, I'm sorry I'm late; I had to talk to someone important to me," he explained.

Asuma Jr. looked at him. "Was it otou-san?" he whispered, making sure his mother wasn't near.

Shikamaru smiled. "Yeah," he knelt down, "how about you and I sit down and I'll tell you about it."

"Alright!" Asuma beamed.

"Asuma Jr! Come and out away your toys!" called Kurenai.

"Okay kaa-san!" he replied. Asuma hugged his uncle again and ran off to do as he was told.

Shikamaru straightened and looked at Kurenai when he remembered something.

"Hey Kurenai-sensei, you're glowing. What's the occasion?" he asked.

Kurenai blushed. "It turns out Asuma gave some of his seed for CRA in case something happened to him. Tsunade-hime inseminated me last week; now we're waiting for the results," she said flustered but smiling happily.

'Queen huh?' Shikamaru looked to the sky. 'I bet she'll be beautiful Asuma.'

End.