Good things
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or any of its characters
The sun had finally started to set, and grabbing the mail in the box, she reached home.
Yoshino opened the door to see her son lounging on the couch.
Nothing new in the Nara household.
"Have you at least cleaned your room?"
Shikamaru closed his eyes, pretending to fall asleep. "I'll do it later."
Opening her mouth to speak, she decided against it. It was too late in the day to bother, and she just wanted to cook dinner and go to bed.
The mother put down the mail on the table, which created a strange response. Her son talking.
"Anything for me?"
lifting her brow, she turned to face him. "Why do you ask?"
"Just curious."
After a moment, she walked over to the pile of letters and looked through them.
"Let's see. For your dad... For your dad... For me... For your dad... Something from the Yamanakas, a formal party for your father... Something from the Sand lady..."
"The Sand?" Shikamaru opened one eye, trying to look only half interested.
"Oh sorry, I meant the land lady. This should have gone next door, not here," Yoshino answered her son, seeing his shoulders come down slightly upon her answer.
She flicked through the last couple of letters.
"Ah here we go, Nara Shikamaru, from one of the Lords of the Land of Fire."
She flicked the letter towards him and he caught it, surprised to have received something from someone.
Or rather, someone else, Yoshino smiled to herself.
"What does it say? You better not have caused the man trouble during your mission, boy."
He rolled his eyes at her comment. "Troublesome. It's a letter of appreciation, mum. Jeez, no need to worry."
Then she pulled out another letter. "Here's another for you, from Lady Tsunade."
He got up. "Well, I think it's time to clean up," Shikamaru answered quickly, before taking the letter from Yoshino's hands in case she tried to read it.
Yoshino was too tired to scold him now. He could wait until after dinner.
"Good things come to those who wait, Shikamaru," she said as he got half way up the stairs.
He lifted an eyebrow, but he knew she'd figured it out.
"You saying the cleaning can wait?"
"Only if you don't want to eat dinner for the next week, boy."
Shikamaru sighed. "Troublesome," he complained, before continuing up the stairs.
When she heard the door shut, she grabbed the letter from the land lady and opened it up.
"Dear Crybaby
You haven't been waiting for my letter 'cos it's a little late, have you? Well sorry (not really), I've been busy with work and Gaara..."
She smiled.
"He can wait until after he cleans his room."
End.