To your information, dear reader:
1 - I should warn you: english isn't my first language, so dear reader, I'm 100% sure that you will find spelling, grammatical, lexical and stylistic errors in the text. Sorry! Let me know what I should improve or correct. A constructive review is more than welcome. :)
2 - Sadly, I don't own Naruto - all characters and world belong to Masashi Kishimoto.
3 - The presented story is the result of my own reflections on cultural differences and problems related to acclimatization in another country as a person from abroad. I focused on the theme of marital cheating because the Japanese view on this subject is completely different than European one.
If we assume that Konoha is culturally such Japan in our real world. We can say that Suna is a bit like Iraq in the 70s, and Kiri is a bit like USA in the 80-90s. But of course, in the story, the action takes place in the world of Naruto.
4 - I'm so into making story which take places in blank period (699 - 700). So many curious social problem is there! Like how our babys working? How politics go by?
The door slammed behind her back as she stepped inside with an energetic manner - her personal trademark. The jingling of windchaims hasn't died down yet, when she felt something was very wrong.
-"Did I disturb in something?" - Temari asked, when all eyes turned at her, and all conversations froze.
-"Temari! Welcome!" - Ino greeted her. She was the only member of her clanmans gathered in the flower shop whose acted casualy. - "How can I help you?"
She asked sincerely, although she used a mechanically worn-out cliche formula typical for a shop vendor. Or for a clan leader to whom everyone comes with all the problems.
Temari waited, still watched closely by two women and a man. Her old, well-practiced habits launch out. Paying attention to the details of the room, to the sounds, analyzing space of flower shop for a possible traps and predicting from which side the first blow will fall. On the other hand, there was a growing conviction that she should expect another kind of threat - verbal. The words could be the blades here.
The atmosphere thickened with a second per second. A heavy silence swelled with unspoken sentences. Such sentences that shouldn't reach her ears.
She wondered if the Yamanaks standing at the shop counter also belong to the Konoha Intelligence Division like Ino, or if they are just ordinary civilians ... and what tactics to choose in both cases ...
-"I wanted to help you," she said, deciding that the distance halfway between the counter and the door was strategically the best place to maneuver.- "At TenTen's was a delivery of goods. I'm going to buy Shikadai new equipment. I thought maybe I would ask if you want me to buy an extra set for Inojin. You know how kids lose shurikens at school ... My boy doesn't bring back home half of them."
-"Oh, yes! How nice of you, Temari! " - said Ino, she even clap her hands with joy. - "I didn't know that delivery is today. I also need a new set of shurikens. Inojin lost his during practices in the Academy, so I let him take mine. Wait, just ..."
"We'll finish later, Lady Ino," one of the women from the Yamanaka clan said coldly.
As soon as Ino looked at the woman, she frowned in sympathy. Blond beauty leaned her hands against the wooden counter.
-"I'm sorry, Akaru" - she bowed her head slightly. - "I invite you to my house in the evening. Then we can talk freely."
Akaru and her companions passed by Temari demonstratively, not honoring her with even a look. Windchimes sings when they open the door. Concerned Ino watched them through the storefront for a couple of silent moments. They marched along the sidewalk under a row of blooming cherries. With each step they were farther away, and further ...
- "What was that?" Temari asked, annoyed. She didn't understand whatever she was witnessed and it pissed her off. She put her hands on hips, watching the receding trio.
Ino only sighed heavily in response. Tied the tall ponytail more tightly, then pulled off her apron and folded it carefully. Her shoulders slumped as she approached to Temari, still worried.
-"Dramas" - she muttered, pressing her cheek to her palm.
Temari understood that she might have asked about things about which the head of the Yamanaka clan couldn't talk. She knew from experience how difficult these moments are when private life collides with professional life. When you cannot entrust your thoughts to your closest friend, because their content touches top secret information affecting the fate of the country. Well, maybe in the case of Ino it wasn't about the fate of the country, but the analogy was in it indeed...
-"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have asked"
-"No, it's fine." Ino waved her hand and finally took her eyes off the spring-blooming street. - "I don't know what to do about it anyway. Just keep it for yourself, okay?"
-"Sure"
Temari was still confused. The silence was stretching time. She understood that Ino wanted to explain what had happened to her, but she still didn't do it. She was deep in her own thoughts. So much so that Temari felt sadness herself. She liked the leader of the allied Yamanak clan very much. Now they were as close to each other as family. She wanted to help her, trully.
-"Akaru is angry because her husband was not discreet enough," she finally said. - "She wants the clan to do something to punish Takeru for his lack of discretion."
-"Ino!" - suddenly hissed someone behind their back. Temari was frightened by the unexpected sound, so she quickly drew the kunai from behind her obi. She calmed down when she saw the matriarch of the Yamanaka family behind the counter. She left from the back room with a flower pot. It was tiny yellow flowers whose name Temari unfortunately didn't knew, but their view calmed her keened senses.
-"Come on?" - Ino growled. A blond beauty was annoyed. - "I think I can talk about what's bothering me with a friend, mother?"
-"You make things worse," the older woman said, glaring meaningfully at Temari. Her eyes were screaming "This is Nara!"
-"How!? Tale me how!? And it will spread through the Village anyway. Yes mom, thats how things had went with Ensui - she was disgusted, but after a while again her lips bent downward, and concern painted through her forehead.
-"Akaru's husband failled the mission?" - Temari asked, because she still didn't understand what was the actuall problem.
-"No, he wasn't discreet," repeated Ino again, as if that explained everything. But her friend was still lacking the nuance. Key information. Temari frowned, trying to guess what the problem was, if the lack of discretion wasn't related to the mission.
-"Did he reveal clan's secret techniques?"
-"No," Ino sighed, exchanging glances with her mother. Both seemed helpless in the face of the fact that Nara didn't understand the subtle information. What only pissed Temari, she nervously moved weight of her body to other leg. So the younger of Yamanaka woman added: "His affair came to light. Rumor spread among the members of the clan, so Akaru feels ashamed."
Temari tilted her head, suddenly feeling empathic understanding of the woman's icy weariness. In her place she would probably feel a cold fury. Also understandable why Ino feels overwhelmed by the woman's problem.
-"It's a matter between them. Don't let yourself get trap in this" - she advised, comforting her friend with quick arm squeezes.
Ino's reaction surprised her: she opened her eyes in astonishment and looked at her mother again, who made a meaningful gesture which in translation sound like "And I didn't say it would be so? This is the typical Nara!"
-"What is going on guys?" - Temari was already tired of not understanding what was going on in the conversation.
-"Akaru's husband," younger Yamana said quietly, as both women came to the counter on the other side of which the family matriarch stood. - "he didn't keep his affair in secret. If I don't react at all, I will give signal to the members of my clan that they can be as indiscreet as he was. Which brings humiliation their wifes and husbands. I have to do something, but I don't know what. Yet. I just don't know what is the best choice right now."
Temari heard so much bad information that she wanted to shout out. Ino probably didn't understand what she just said!
-"Let Akaru and her husband solve it themselfs, Ino" - she repeated. " As your friend, I advise you not to enter in their problems as a third in party. It will only bring you more problems. Do you suspect that some other people in your clan are cheating on their spouses? Realy? Of course, it is worth discussing some rules with the clanmans, but ... " - then Ino's mother interrupted her.
-"As Shikamaru's wife, you should know that sometimes leader need to..." began slowly the older woman. She talked to Lady Nara in the way, how people usualy talk to mean children.
-"As the wife of Nara clan's leader AND as daughter and sister of Kazekage AND as a former diplomat, I know that sometimes you have to firmly grab people for their balls!" - snapped furied Temari. - "And also that sometimes it is worth to wait until people castrate themselves and then peacefully judge them."
Nara liked Ino's mother, but the topic of conversation caused that they shot each other with hostile looks. Ino looked at them anxiously.
-"Temari, Akaru is in a difficult situation. She don't want to bring shame either to the clan or to herself..." - explained Ino very slowly, she felt thick tension in shop.
-"But she did nothing wrong. Her husband was the one having an affair! She is aggrieved one!"
-"But he didn't keep cheating on her in secret ..."
-"It's probably good that finally it came out, what kind of skunk he is"- Temari shrugged, and Ino's mother laughed angrily.
-"And you, of all people, say something like that ?!" - she still mocked.
-"Yes, I am," Temari said, leaning over the counter in a defiant manner. - "They were married, right? He wanted to spend his life with Akaru, right? He vowed her, right? Why did he look for excitement from another woman!?"
-"Because he could! "- older Yamanaka said also leaning against the counter. Her whole body was imitating Temari Nara's pose.
-"And does an adult, thinking man do all the things he can do!? Just becouse?!" - Nara asked rhetorically, loudly. - "Especially if he consciously accepted the rules of marriage? And the responsibility that goes with it?"
-"God, Temari, they are eleven years after their wedding!" - Ino's mother hissed.
-"And it changes something? I'm also eleven years after my wedding and nothing has changed the vows I have made back then! No wonder Akaru is angry."
-"It was only sex! Only the body! He didn't get emotionally involved, at least he says so. He just needed to 'blow off steam'."
-"And this is supouse to be his excuse? The facts are that he was in an intimate situation with a different persone than with whom he swore loyalty and honesty!"
-"Girl, it's a pure biology of the body, sometimes it's necessary!"
-"And he has a faithful spouse for that! For the other person in marriage , it is also 'sometimes necessary' to 'blow off seam'."
-"Exactly!" - Ino's mother shouted in desperation, because she didn't quite understand where Nara saw the problem.
-"Oh boy" - Ino sighed, rubbing her forehead. As if she suddenly understood where Temari's nervousness comes from. - "Temari, you must know that in our culture, satisfying sexual needs outside of marriage, is ... okay. Of course, not like everyone does that, but many married couples with longer experience will often turn a blind eye to their partner's indiscretions as long as the family unit is not endangered. Some women will not even consider their husband visiting a soapland as cheating, since it is only relieving a physical need and feelings are not part of it."
-"WHAT?" - she staggered. - "I haven't heard of such a practice. I mean, I know about soapland and unhappy couples, but..."
Ino felt tired: the dilemma that stood in front of her associated with Akaru and the fact that both dear to her heart women trying to scratch each other's eyes didn't help her now.
-"Because you don't talk about it aloud. Like never..." - said Ino. - "The point is to keep discretion. That no one would know about it. Akaru is not angry at Takeru because he cheated on her. She is angry with him because he didn't keep it secret. Now she was covered with shame in the eyes of many people..."
-"It is sick!" - - Temari grimaced, while the matriarch of the Yamanaka family dryly acknowledged:
-"I do not know what this stupid woman blames him for, after all, Takeru gave her a child. What else did she want !? Ino, you have to put into her head that she mus..."
Now, Temari moved utterly, jumped away from the counter. She looked wounded and angry, so Ino caught her attention to protect her mother from friend's anger:
-"In old-fashioned families, women after marriage dropping their careers. It is the duty of men to earn for a family, and the task of a woman to support her husband, take care of home and bringing up children. If there are children in the family, of course. Well, then, usually, husband and wife do not make it out anymore..."
Suddenly, all the situations she had witnessed in Kanoha over the years - and which, as it turned out, she didn't fully understand - returned to her. She even remembered the loud case of Ensui Nara's affair with the young jounin - and how his wife forgave him. She remembered how she visited her to show her support, but woman didn't want to see anyone. She remembered how many unpleasant accusations had fallen at her from the mouths of other Nara's women. As they sought the cause of cheating in Ensiu's wife herself. Then she thought with sadness, that it was so not fair. How we, woman, can be cruelly unanimity to each other!
She also remembered that nothing had changed in the relationship of that pair. They live as if nothing happened. Temari thought that this was an example of a toxic relationship or enormous love, but she decided that meddling in their drama would be worse. Shikamaru then also advised her not to engage in the problem of that couple. "Let them solve it themselves"
Then, it hit her like lighting bolt from the clear sky. Shikamaru! Then she interpreted his advice differently: she thought hers husband agreed with her moral compass, but now ... Now she wondered if he had deliberately hidden from her the quiet discretion of the Fire Country culture. She felt cold chills and a headache.
-"I don't understand" - she sighed - "When children appear in family, then a man can have a mistress?"
-"I repeat, not all relationships work like this - said Ino, but her mother and Temari were as if they didn't listen to her anymore.
-"Woman too," older Yamanaka 'comforted' Temari.
-"But why? They are a married. They cannot be just together?" - she felt like a child asking eatch question. - "And if they don't make it work, it's not easier to divorce? Honorably, or so, don't you think?"
-"And lose family?" - Ino's mother smiled coyly, and Temari felt at the sound of these three words as an iceberg had been weighing her stomach down. Oh, no, she had to admit that there was probably nothing more terrible for her. That is why she petrified, as Ino's mother, still based on the shop counter, says quietly: "No, love, it wouldn't be easier. Village, clan, family. In this order. When you think about how much good you do for the community, your private pain decreases. You learn to accept him."
Temari knew a lot about pain. And about his acceptance. So she just nodded.
-"But I think that cheating is gross. And that no self-respecting woman or men should experience this."
-"I agree with you,"- said Ino, raising her head high. - "but now you see how hard decision is in front of me."
-"No self-respecting woman?" - Yamanaka matriarch snorted - "Girl, you are exaggerating! There are many respected women who live in our culture! Which can deal with the infidelity of their partners. Look only at Yoshino. Nobody would ever say anything similar about her. And all of Konohas knew about her husband's cheatings. This old stag had no idea how to be discreet when he got drunk ... Eh.
The older woman waved her hand.
This information scared Temari.
She thought about Shikamaru again. He told her about how his father used to come home drunk. At dusk. She never thought that he was... It seemed so obvious now ...! But in these stories, Shika always emphasized how much father loved Yoshino. How he cared about her tenderness and harshness...
Now it seemed to fit this newfound cultural pattern: just blow off steam, without geting emotionally involved.
Perhaps the apple hasn' t fallen very far from the tree...
-"Temari!" - plucket of her thoughts woman put down a can of coconut milk on the shop shelf. At the same time, she stably set feet on the ground. Ready for an unexpected attack.
-"Everything is fine with you, Nara?"
Temari Nara felt uncomfortable under the examinating gaze of Karui Akimichi. She calmed her nervous thoughts. She's terribly edgy today... Not good, she let herself be surprised. What happens with her reflexes and focus? Is she aging? Her senses dulled or what? No, she was in the grocery store, she had no reason to expect an attack, but a kunoichi with her haritage should expect unexpected! Annoyed by her own behavior, looked at Karui again. The red-haired woman had a comfortable bag on her back, and a bottle of water and a protein bar in her hands. Unarmed. Why should she be armed? Because what for? They met in the store! They are civilians! Temari, get a grip, for fuck sake!
-"Yes, everything is fine," she said, adjusting the shopping basket in her hands. She felt stupid.
-"Do you realy shopping so far away from home?" - Karui was surprised, tilting her head. - "Grocery stores in Nara's estate have gone bankrupt? Or do you train long-distance marches with a load?"
Karui was nasty. But it was intentional and in the tone of their typical, mean conversations. Both of them usually took pleasure in exchanging ironic and just nasty comments. But not now, not today.
-"I just went to Tentens and on the way back I wanted to do some shopping" - she sighed.
Her lack of humor jumped out at Karui, she blinked several times, tilting her head.
-"Are you sure that nothing happened?"
-"What are you doing here? This part of the Village is not actually at all close to the Akimichi estate?" - she asked, her voice raised in irritation. It pissed Temari that Karui has notic that something is bothering her. Mainly because she didn't want to admit that she was bothered at all. Even in front of herself.
-"I was buying a new shuriken set for Chocho," she said, resting hand with protein bar on her hip and rolling her eyes. - "This kid will finish me off! She loses the equipment with the same speed with which she absorbs chips!
Temari couldn't help smiling.
-"I know your pain. Shikadai and Inojin also dropped out of all the shurikens."
-"No shit, Nara?"
Temari shrugged her shoulders and made a face that meant "with these children hands always full" Once again she adjusted the grip on the shopping basket and both women moved toward the cash register area.
-"I'm going to grab my sassy daughter, and then we go for dinner at a restaurant. If you are not in a hurry, join us" - Karui said as she watched Temari packing her groceries. - "I assure you that it will be fun and tasty, as always it is with Akimichis. You ain't never had a city-guide on goodies like us."
-"Thank you, but I have to go home and cook dinner for my boys," she said, picking up her shopping bags.
-"Your loss." - she spread her hands wide.
-"Another time, okay?"
-"I'll accompany you a little bit. Are you also going towards the square in the shopping district?
-"There is no other way, Karui," she grumbled, stepping through the scattered door into the street.
-"Maybe we can grab your own little shit by the way?" - friend suggested.
-"Naaah..."- sighed, but she also smirked. - "When he realized that he would be ten years old this year, I have a ban on approaching near to academy. It's already that age when it's embarrassing when mother picks up her son from school."
-"Really? I haven't heard anything like that from my sassy child yet" - Akimichi said with some fear in her voice, but then a smile appeared: "I think I'm not in danger. As long as I pay for food Chocho will always be happy to see her mommy."
They went to the main street. They turned towards the Academy and walked quietly along the promenade upon the rapidly flowing cannal. On the other side of the stream, pink sakuras blossomed in a row, and that's why it was so crowded there. It was one of the first, longing, sunny, spring days. The sunny views outside the window tempted people to go for walk, but the temperature wasn't favorable for a long, lazy stroll over parks. It was still cold, and most people - cheated by the beautiful sunlight and blooming cherries - dressed to light clothes.
Temari drowned in her thoughts. With eyes of imagination she saw their entire little-trio of Ino-Shika-Cho. She remembered all the brilliant lines and smiles, that makes her felt a bit lighter again. Thinking about children silenced her nervousness.
-"You know, I think your little brat just doen't give a shit about anything" - laughed Temari. - "Shikadai is more concerned about his social image. You know, he want to be 'cool' in the eyes of classmates."
-"You're right! - Karui waved her hand with protein bar enthusiastically. - "Chocho is just the whole Kumoin-strong-spirit! True self-confidence! She doesn't care about Konoha's cultural limitations!"
Temari got angry because her son was obviously insulted. She rebuked her friend with glare.
-"Come on? It is true!" - with a convincing tone, she stuck her finger towards Temari face. - "Your son just got into his father! Stop staring at me like you would like to pick out my eyes! I assure you, you don't want to pick out your own lovely eyes with my katana! So don't make dead wish!"
For a moment, they killed themselves with deadly glances, but then they burst into laughter at the absurd tension. They walked in silence for a moment, until finally Temari decided:
- "I'll walk you a little, but not just at the Academy itself. I made a deal with Shikadai."
She paused for a moment, watching her friend open the bar.
-"Karui?"
-"Yum?" - she hummed while eating the protein bar.
-"Did you know that in Konoha it is normal that the spouses aren't faithful after the birth of the child?"
-"Yup." - Then added: - "And this isn't the rule either."
-"Did Chouji tell you about it?"
-"I don't know. I don't remember. Maybe he does. Maybe somebody else told me? And why do you ask?"
-"Because just a few hours ago I found out about it... "- she stopped, unable to say out loud what she had on her mind "... and I am terrified"
-"Is everything alright between you and Shikamaru?" Karui asked with caution.
-"Of course!" -Temari glared at Karui. - "I'm asking about it because I don't understand it..." - She heard her voice falter.- "It's a cultural difference that seems very strange to me. And filthy. And repulsive."
-"Ye-ah"- Karui said significantly. She raised her eyebrows doubtfully.
-"What 'ye-ah'?"
-"Well, at least I know why you drifted away in the store over a damn can of coconut milk."
-"I didn't drifted away, stop it." - frowned.
-"You drifted away in thought" - she narrowing her eyes and biting protein bar. - "You looked as if the hell broke loose!"
- "Not true! I just wondered about something else, Karui!" - she moved away from her friend. She watched the street looking for something to stop her eyes, but nothing caught her attention. They were approaching the square where their paths would separate. Her thoughts flowed in some chaotic, painful way, and her heart was beating in a crazy rhythm. She felt herself getting hot. Felt strong fear and anger. She wanted to wipe something off the face of the earth! - "Okay, I admit, I was thinking about cheating."
-"With who!?" - Karui shouted.
-"Not me, you stupid!" - shouted back, angry and amuset at the same time. - "Nor is anyone else! I just thought about what I heard today and what a huge cultural difference it is."
-"How do I know?" - She shrugged. - "I never thought about it, realy."
-"Doesn't it shocking you?" - she was surprised, Lady Nara felt embarrassed by her earlier thoughts, and thus even more angry.
- "It's shocking, but if I have to be honest I don't care about it. It doesn't apply for me and Chouji and will never apply, so I don't think about it at all."
-"What do you suggest!? That I think about it, because..." - Temari raised herself with anger until the air ran out. She cannot even put in the words that what Karui implied right away. - "I thought that since you are the same as me, from another village, from another society I can discu..."
-"Temari!"- former kumonin interrupted her with sharp tone of voice. - "the fact that I don't care only concerns my relationship. I didn't compare myself to anyone and it wasn't suppouse to be a mean comment. I trust in Chouji and I'm convinced that he would never do something so stupid in his life."
-"But if it's normal here, then they may not even know that we will not accept it!"
-"We"? "They?" - Akimichi repeated and laughed.
Temari felt hot heat coming from her cheeks. Shit, she said too much! Karui looked through her. She felt pathetic! And so ... exposed, vulnerable.
-"Eh," sighed the red-haired woman, eating the last bite of her protein bar. She left Temari to throw the foil paper in the basket, and when she returned in a gentle tone said: "Our husbands knew who they married, right?
-"Yes," Temari grumbled, looking fiercely at her shoes and two gloceries bags.
-"They knew we'd gut them alive, if they'd even thought of another woman, right?
-"Yes."
-"They love us crazy, right?"
This question was so strange and private that Temari felt indignant, that someone was asking about the feelings she shared with her husband. It doesn't matter if one of her closest friends asked or not. Her feelings are an intimate case, which she can only talk about to her husband! Shocked, she looked at Karui Akimichi, who was walking beside her, her hands resting on her hips. She gave her as bluntly look as bluntly were her question.
-"... yes ..."- Temari gave up, feeling strangely helpless at the moment.
-"Hey, Nara?" - Karui, concerned, leaned towards Temari, clearly surprised by her expression and delicacy. In a soft, gentle tone, she added: "Are you sure everything goes well with Shikamaru?"
-"Yes! Sure, Akimichi!" - she exploded, annoyed. She didn't know what she was feeling, but at the same time she was aware that she was acting strangely. - "Sorry. I have a bad day today, sudden spring time! My head hurts."
Karui watched her for a moment longer and finally turned away. She decided to let go of the topic. For now, at least. Karui understood Temari better than she suspected. They were similar. On different ways. Both of them had a world-wide military career, their skills were widely known and both helped the world of Shinobi enter a new era. They made a difficult choice that was once unthinkable, one could say that it was equal to coup d'état: they put their feelings and selfish desires above the good of their countries. What they did was a revolution for the society of all kunoichi. They showed that in times of peace, the former enemy can not only become a political partner, but also a spouse. And entering into a marriage doesn't mean neither treason of the fatherland nor separation from loved ones. Following the feelings ceased to be a choice between love for another human being and the loss of their relatives from their homeland and exclusion from the society. But Temari and Karui simply lived in a different place and their family expanded. Dual citizenship. The new order has given birth to trust.
Of course - no matter how long they would puting effort to be one of Konohans, nor how long they lived in KanohaGakure - they will be aliens to this generation forever. Their cuisine is different, they behave differently, they have a different body language. They sang their children foregin lullabies, told stranger stories, used a different - blunt and loud - language on the playgrounds, making other mothers shiver on their backs. They are fearless and direct, so it happens that among the Konohas women they feel... excluded. It's not their fault, nor local one's. Just a lot of tiny, tiny things are lost in translation...
Cultural differences.
Their hot temperaments and life experience fuel some automatic reactions learned years ago, which is why Karui understands the behavior of Temari. The more she is scared, or the more she feels insecure or powerless, the more she is angry. In combat this is useful - especially correlated with the tactical mind and physical strength. But in raising children or in marriage, this isn't a very fortunate first reaction.
Karui knows it perfectly. She's exactly the same ... That's why she took a deep breath to calm herself down. Inside, she felt furious at view of such a weak Temari. But this isn't talk for this right moment. It wouldn't make sense if both of them, now in the middle of the city, began to throw themselves at their throats - although she was convinced that it would certainly help her friend a little. Only after getting rid of her anger Temari could confront with her real feelings... Instead, Karui decided to show her support in a different way:
-"Nara?"
She find herself on the other side of the patient look of teal eyes.
-"Look, this culture is basically a paradise for cheaters. It is a fact, simply" - she shrugged. - "The long working hours and alcohol-tight employee parties provide endless excuses for late arrivals home. Inns with rooms rented for hours are everywhere, everybody can buy a discreet and anonymous entertainment for a low price. I don't believe you didn't know that until now. At least, you guessed it. No willing partner to be found? Call-Girls will offer tired workers the happy ending they need before their long run home. Buying their silence isn't expensive..." - she hung her voice, feeling her own face settling into the same worried grimace that was forming more and more on her friend's face.
-"Because it is 'only the body', men only do 'blow off steam'" - Karui laughed sadly, quoting some social truth. She spread her hands wide, a little helpless in face of this absurdity of what she says. - "because there is no 'emotional involvement' in this. And if there is no emotional involvement, you can not talk about cheat. This is normal here. But that's their thing. Our husband knew who they were married with. Belive me, they wouldn't do something so stupid. They know the consequences..."
Temari was silent, her lips tightening in a narrow line. She weighed Karui's words - so harsh and sarcastic. The emotions were still there. She getting used to what she just heard and at the same time felt how the headache was increasing. She had this lump in her throat like after you dry-swallow a big pill. There was some words she was afraid to say aloud. She was so hard concentrating on not knowing, not understanding what she wanted to say, that she felt that she would begin to sob. There was a dampness of tears in her eyes. So she took a gasp. So terribly angry and confused!
- "Anyway, Chouji wouldn't have time for it anyway. Or even an opportunity" - Karui said, laughing at the thought of it. - "Either he's on missions or he's with me. Or he deals with the clan's chores. He can not lie and is an hopeless guardian of secrets. Cheating and lying don't lie within his personality. And after a drinking, he usually has a low libido, so I don't have to worry about this option too."
Temari keep silent. Her head hurt even more ... The metal rim of thought squeezed her temples like a vise! She was angry at Karui, so terribly bad!
-"Mom!" - the high-pitched voice rang and almost immediately three girls passed their way. - "Hi auntie Temari!"
-"What are you doing here, Chocho?" - Karui pleased, answering the greetings of the other two girls. One of them was a daughter of Sakura.
-"We went today to see the chunin training grounds. We were up to the Forest of Death!"
-"What!?"- shouted Temari, terrified. She knew these training ground very well, and at the very thought that a group of children - including her own! - had entered the Forest, fear passed straight through her like an arrow. She could feel the each hair on her body stand up. They aren't even geniens yet! It happens that trained shinobi coudn't handle with the danger that is there!
Karui, seeing her friend's reactions, immediately changed her attitude: she caught herself by hips and squinted her eyes at her daughter.
-"Chocho exaggerates" - Sarada explained quickly. - "Shino-sensei took us to the fence of the Forest of Death, that we walked around. He lectured us about how to use terrain amenities in combat techniques. We talked about what we see from behind the fence."
The women exchanged glances: calmed and amused at the same time. They have behaved like neurotic mothers! They panicked before they found out whether there was any reason to panic!
-"We just finished classes. We are going to school to take our things" - Chocho added. - "Will you go with us?"
-"Sure" -Karui smiled, brushing bangs from her daughter's face with a tender gesture.
-"Mom, you have to see what Boruto brought to academy! Somewhere I have it..." - she said by searching her bag for the equipment, for what other girls reacted by rolling their eyes. - "Where did I hide it?"
-"Oh, those stupid Boruto. Chocho, this is really stupid and unnecessary" - Sarada Uchiha said very patiently and very instructively. - "Shinobi don't use colored weapons!"
-"But it is sooo cute!" - Chocho moaned, making a sweet face and still buzzing metal pieces in her sachet.
While girls in this innocent and charming way exchanged their remarks about colorful and shiny shurikens. Temari looked around the square seeking for her son. She saw him when he saw her. Initially, she didn't pay attention to the mixture of irritation and shock he presented. Her attention was drawn to how tall he was compared to his peers. And how short were the pants she had recently bought for him. She moaned inwardly.
Shikadai overtook his colleagues walking towards her.
-"O-ho," Karui whispered quietly enough for her friend only to hear. They exchanged knowing, crooked grins. - "Maybe you will join us, anyway?"
-"Thanks, but no," she said, trying to tame her smile. She unwittingly broke the deal with her son, and his teenage irritation seemed funny to her.
The boy bowed slightly to greet his aunt, and she returned the greeting. Then Karui took her daughter with a bunch of her arguing friends and walked along the canal promenade.
-"What are you doing here?" - Shikadai grounded through his teeth.
He passed his mother as if they didn't know each other.
Temari raised an eyebrow. Oh - o! So their relationship have entered the period of a problematic teenager in full swing. She followed her son calmly, realizing that they were closely watched by his colleagues.
-"I was strolling with Karui, my son. I going home to cook dinner."
Shikadai tilted his head as if he considering all the circumstances.
-"I'm not a child anymore" - he muttered, turning over his shoulder. - "You don't have to pick me up from the academy itself."
-"I don't have to pick you up at all," she said with a smirk.
-"Exactly," he grunted, walking forward. - "Let's go home."
But it was nice to know that her humourous teenager thought that mommy was taking him from school. Some part of him wanted attention of his mother, and some needed to rebel against this attention.
Only now Temari saw a group of boys (including a tiny Inojin ... when it happened that all these children had grown up !?) whose looking at the back of a walking Shikadai with sneering smirks.
-"Son," she said in a low, firm voice that usually meant to her son that he has problem.
Therefore, she was not completely surprised that his laidback posture immediately went away. The boy straightened up, pulled his neck into the shoulders, and pressed his hands to his sides. After a moment, he turned to look at the woman with panic in his eyes.
-"Would you be so kind and gave Inojin the shopping I made for his mother?" - she asked gently, putting the grocery grids on the ground. - "Ino asked me today for few things." - she said pulling off the backpack.
The boy, realizing that no form of punishment is coming, again assumed a laidback attitude.
- "Yeah, sure ..." he said a little confused. Shikadai pushed hands into his pockets again, watching as mum pulling a heavy package from her backpack.
He took the package from her with a gentle, polite gesture. Seeing him like that, Temari felt a touch of tenderness and pride. He was such a little wonder. Her heart was bursting with love, she wanted to hug him (she get a grip on herself, thankfully!). This little urchin was her whole world. For him, she would do literally everything!
She watched as he approached the group of children, and gave to Inojin a package. That resulted in derisive smirks (and probably comments) at Inojin. Which, moreover, blushed when other boys were nudget him with their elbows. It made her laugh when she saw her child rolling his eyes, sigh terribly, and nod his head towards her - to the sidewalk, by the canal. She saw other children look at her curiously, and Inojin barely noticeably waves his hand in greeting. She imagined what Shikadai could say: "what a drag, but my annoying mother sat on my case, I have to go with her or prevent cataclysm at home"
Yes... it would suit him.
She sighed, putting the backpack again on her back. What a little smartass! - she smiled.
Temari saw nothing wrong in playing the role of the scarecrow on naughty children, especially since she was famous for being ruthless kunoichi. It was nice to have an area where she can celebrating her reign of undisputed queen. But she had the strange feeling that in time, shouting would no longer be the ultimate way to enforce obedience. Shikadai is growing up. His character, however, is too similar to her own, so Temari is afraid that they'll end up yelling at each other, and this will not lead anyone to anything.
Eh, she sighed. She must revise the ways of motivating her son...
She picked up a grocery bags from the sidewalk, but before she could leave with them, she felt her son's small hands taking burden from her hands.
-"Shikadai, what are you doing?"
-"Give it to me, woman," he grumbled. - "I will not let you bring this home by yourself. It's heavy."
-"Do you think I can not handle it?" - she snorted sarcastically.
-"I think it's unmanly to look idly at your own mother carrying heavy things and then wait for her to cook you dinner." - boy said bluntly.
-"It's sweet, son..."
-"Whats a pain..." - he complained, turning his head to hide that praise made him smile. It's embarrassing at the age of ten enjoying so much beeing praise by mommy. Awww!
Temari watched her child's pineapple head, and thought about how the apple hasn' t fallen very far from the tree. He is spitting image of his father!
At the thought of Shikamaru, she felt a heavy headache again...
Temari poured a glass of plain beer. Another small cultural difference: she poured into a glass, because the pleasure of drinking from glasses was reserved for home, for the time of relax.
In Konoha, you drink sake - sake which means alcohol in general. This name literally means rice vodka "sake", but when people here say "we go to sake," that means they intend to consume alcohol in general. So in Konoha, you drink sake from tiny pottery pots. Prudish hypocrites - a small pot doesn't mean that they will drink less. Well, there is a whole ceremony tied with a constant pouring into a pot, which can be quite charming, she has to admit. However, one looks badly at a person who openly admits to drinking a large amount of alcohol. In the tourist district of Hot Springs alcohol is served from tin pitchers or glass vessels, but this is a sensation on the scale of the Village.
However, the glasses are an exotic that Temari Nara took from the house in which she grew up: beautiful vessels on a long leg were imported to her father a long time ago from the northern Rim of the Land of Earth. The local glaziers were famous for their crafts and their wares were such an exclusive merchendise that it was worth trading in exchange for the precious gold dust of her father. And for other goodies, of course, but the glasses were one of those beautiful elements of her home in the desert with which she was bound by strong memories.
As a little girl, she liked to observe a cabinet in which her uncle - and father - kept glass wonders. The desert sun reflected in them, brightness striking the eyes. Sometimes it diffused light creating a rainbow on the sandstone walls. During the gala dinners, along with her brother, they play by flashing "bunnies on the walls" with those glasses. They were reprimanded by Baki and Yashamaru, and the council members gave them crooked glances. But father seems didn't bothered by the luminous bunnies - which is a pity, because they care about his attention most. Then she was frustrated because she has run of ideas how to get his attention. Later, this memory caused rage on father, because he ignored her and Kankuro not only as a teenagers, but also as an innocent sweet children, but now ... Eh, she can imagine that her father was delighted to see his unruly children - whose future was so uncertain! - in such childish, mischievous moods. And he didn't - fucking- care about councilmens at all. Her favour belonged to him for that fact alone.
And then, they were drink from the same glasses when only three of them were left...
Then she learned to drink beer. A skill that is especially useful if you're an ambassador. Alcohol not only untangles toungues, but also opens many doors...
By the natural sequence of things, when she organized herself at the Nara residence, she brought glasses straight from the Land of Earth. They used them only occasionally, for example at the clan ceremony. Or on special evenings. Today was a special evening... Damn special! - she thought clenching her jaw ...
She went to the bathroom with a large glass, which contents of pint of ale. She poured badly, too fast. The liquid began to foam, so she drank a cloud of beer. Then she licked the foam running down her hands. What a waste. A terrible mess. She managed to avoid getting dirty her clothes, but a few drops of alcohol left behind on the floor.
When Temari entered the bathroom, she immediately put her glass on the sink to wash her hands. Sighed looking at her reflection in the mirror: on all these wrinkles - tiny, shallow, yes, but they're still present ... As if she was not counting, she was in her late thirties. Almost forty ... This remark irritated her again, raising her headache. She reminded herself that she must think of something else. Do something else! To dim her own mind.
She turned on the water. In the mirror, she saw the bathtub fill up and she calmly began the evening toilet. It was late. Very late, even her son was already asleep. He usually lied that he went to sleep, but he really played in bed on his goddamn pocket-game. After she had cleaned the dishes, Temari checked on him. He snored with the game in his hand. Eh. She smiled at the memory itself. When he slept, he seemed so tiny...
She undressed, threw clothes on a pile on the floor. She went into the tub, naked, with a glass in her hand, and took a sip. The water was hot, and the bathroom had a pleasant temperature. She felt the purifying (both way: physically and spiritually) heat of the fluid wrap her around her. Fortunately, spring was already beginning - there ware so many years, and she still isn't used to winter and cold.
Her thoughts returned to today's conversation with Ino. She shuddered. Drank a large sip of beer to drown out the unpleasant feeling. What was it? Fear? Anger? Hard to say. Both of them always go hand in hand in Temari's hearth. She was angry at what she heard. How can you betray someone who has been sworn to be fatefull? It's dishonorable. How can any kind of cheating be justify, by that thy had a long term relationship? Or the fact that if a wife gave birth to a child, she becomes unattractive? How can one crush someone's trust? And a sense of security?
The water splashed as she raised hand. Temari covered her face. Perticular thought come to her mind, the one which she pushed away with all her strength through whole day. Her mind was playing with her. That's why she drinks sake now, so she doesn't think about it! To drown it out! And not to call it!
But the words of Ino's mother echoed in her ears: "This old deer ..." and her own observation: "An apple hasn' t fallen very far from the tree?" Shika didn't tell her about this cultural precedent, because he probably thought she already knew it. She doubted that there was a... hidden goal in it. But still, she thought about hidden goals, right? Why does she doubt him? She trusts him with her whole self! She trusted him enough to be his wife! To be with him, she changed her whole life! And she was happy with him! But in the imagination she saw the terrifying images: the familiar office in the Hokage Tower was enveloped in the darkness, and on the desk, the bodies intertwined with limbs. Her husband and a strager woman. And a lot of shadows. His shadows ... Those reserved only for herself. In a situation reserved only for herself.
This scene was cruelly painful. Lady Nara was breathless, it got so cold in that warm water. Why was she imagining something so horrible? No, no, it's some kind of paranoia! Genjutsu! Her lazy husband wouldn't be able to do anything like that. He wouldn't put so much effort for something like that. It would require keeping him secret, dodging. This is not his story. Besides, he loves her, right? Because he loves her? Yes? And he knows how much he would hurt her with satisfying sexual needs outside of their mutual relationship, right? Can you say that 'it's just body'? Could she forgive him? No, no, she shouldn't even consider it...
However, he knows how his wife would react, right? He knows he would lose her the moment he broke her trust...?
So, if Shikamaru loves her and knows what her reaction would be - IF something, with someone, has everhappened, - wouldn't he keep it a secret?
At that thought Temari cried. She felt the tears running down her face into the tub, and the sobbing shook her chest. Her heart ached so badly. Oh, no, no, no, nothing like that could have happened! Please! No! - she begging in her mind. Well, she doesn't know who. Any divine existence? Fate? She wanted to get drunk. She doesn't want to feel the pain she felt now. Temari drank a large sip of beer, tilted her glass so much that the liquid runs her neck and hair into the water.
Why isn't she so sure her marriage as Karui was sure of her relationship?
Their marriage had the same term as the marriage of this Yamanakas. Eleven years. Eleven years. "he gave her a child. What else did she want !? " - she mimicking Ino's mother Ino. Eleven years. And a child. She cried again. Her breath broke in her chest. It occurred to her that it was stupid! That nothing happened (or at least Temari doesn't know anything about it), and she is still mourning about... something the most horrible in the world. She felt guilty again, because she doubts in Shikamaru, but...
She didn't know what she would like to say on her own defense. She loved him so much. It is normal that she was jealous. Right? This is normal in this situation: today she got information, it is obvious that she analyzes it and refers it to her own life. But damn it! The last time she was jealous when she learned that Shika is in close relationship with Ino! It was eons ago! She has already done with it!
But these eleven years... Eh...
Only she has worse than those Yamanaka-woman: she is much older than her husband. She looked down at her naked body immersed in water: at long and slender legs, at her belly marked by stretch marks after pregnancy, at flaccid skin on the not-so-full-breasted and dry skin on the back of her hands. She sobbed. For calming, she took a few deep breaths and again followed the stream of thoughts...
... in addition, she is a full-time mother. Housewife. Of course, she still trains and is ready to return to military duty at any time, but the facts are that her duty and drill is now performed mainly in the kitchen. How stupid she was that she would take such a pleasure from this ordinary, safe reality for years! YEARS!
During all this time he works with Naruto, as quiet voice of reason; As all in one, a powerful behind-the-scenes strange-o. He is a handsome man in his prime, in power, intelligent, ironic. Her heart was tearing from her chest, she had a problem to breathe. Suddenly, she saw the obvious pattern and the reason why many women - even a lot of younger women - could see Shikamaru as even more attractive than when she and him vowed love to eachother.
Plus, these brags of Karui! She pissed her off elier! Temari was so angry at her for all the things that Karui claims that Chouji doesn't do, and which let her to feel safety and secure! A light sleep! Damn it!
She wanted to throw a glass. She even take swing, and more beer spilled into the tub... but she refrained herself. She drank everything that was left in the glass and put the vessel on the edge of the tub. It clicked loudly on the ceramic tiles.
Where were they after eleven years? In what place? They making love last time like... good question: when? A month ago? Two months ago? Maybe even earlier. She didn't remember ... They barely talked, and when they actually talked, it was mainly about the child. How was it at school, what jutsu he learned, when and who would take the boy to training. Or about food. Shit! What did role of mother bring to her? The fact that the only thing she can talk with her quite intelligent, well-read partner is what to cook him for dinner? She was pathetic. They've got so far away from each other... That's so damn far away...
Why hasn't she noticed it so far? She used to be important to him once. She was someone whose opinions matter for him. And now? He couldn't share information about work because they ware highly classified. And she was civillian. When something troubled him he preferred to lie in silence, yes, next to her, sometimes holding her by the hand, but that doesn't mean partnership in particular. That means presence. And that's it...
It came to this, that she doesn't even remember when they were the last time made love. And it didn't even seems so important to her, until today. After all, they will make love wherever they want to, right? Eh ... and if they hardly see each other, when should they want to?
What did Ino say? That after marriage, no, after children appear in a family, then married couples do not pay attention to having sex. Because both sides take their roles in society. In traditional families - old-fashilned Temari remembered the sour words of Ino - women quit their professional jobs and career, stay at home to support their hard-working husband and bring up children. She dreamed of creating such a traditional family, but she didn't know that what kind of terrible price she could have to pay for her dream of safty home.
Where is the passion? Where are the looks that once devoured her during the Allied Force meetings? Where is her excitement with his presence? Once she couldn't wait to enter with him into discussions about various difficult topics. Once they worked together to change the world to be better place for new generation...
-"Hi! I stopped by to pick fews things up." - Shikamaru's voice snatched Temari from her thoughts. She quickly gathered the water in her hand and threw it in her face to wipe away the tears.
It didn't matter, because he barely looked at her anyway. He rushed into the bathroom and walked to the toilet bowl. She heard him unzaipping the fly, and then the rivulets rustled against the ceramic wall.
-"Sorry, I couldn't wait any longer," he said apologetically, turning his head slightly towards her.
Temari sighed, watching his broad back. Well, they are so damn romantic and passionate that they pee with presence of each other without embarrassment. Sexy as hell.
Anger grew inside her. At him, for what she imagined that could happen in his office in the Hokage Tower or in some other place. Anger at stories about his father that she had never heard before. And at all those passionate nights that have never been. And for the fact that she cares about him so much! And that's why she felt this emptiness inside right now.
-"What's for dinner?" he asked, as he had been asking for almost eleven years.
-"Onigiri, pork and salad," she replied automatically, not even thinking about what she was saying.
-"I'll eat soon," he said, zipped up his fly and pulling off his jacket. He threw it on the floor, on the pile of her clothes.
She smelled his scent in the air, which had so far acted on her as an aphrodisiac. Warm and masculine, a bit musky, a bit forestry, some smell of old volumes from the archive. She closed her eyes to focus on the sense of smell. It was her favorite fragrance. The smell of the home. She wonder how many women consider this fragrance attractive? She could feel the tears rising again under her eyelids, and some lump stuck in her throat. She resisted sighing deeply to the viscera.
-"Are you relaxing?" he asked, looking at her briefly, then at the empty glass, as he pulled the necklace from his neck. He narrowed his eyes.
-"Yes, I wanted to... a relaxing session" - she said, telling herself that all terrible things happened only in her imagination. She stared at his broad back. She dipped deeper into the tub.
-"Did you see my razor somewhere?" he asked, searching the locker next to the mirror. - "It was here yesterday, and now...?"
-"Shikadai done some pranks in the bathroom today..." - she sighed. When she remembered the mess their son had made, she decided she didn't want to go back to that loud, flickering memory. Her head ached badly enough. - "Check in the drawer."
-"I got it!" - he said, lifting the razor high, that she could see it. But in the mirror he was watching the state of the last shaving wound on his cheek. - "So what did Shikadai done in the bathroom?"
Temari rolled her eyes. They begin their usual conversation about what further fascinating event in the life of an adolescent son were missed by the working father. While his naked and sad wife lies in the bathtub. Near. At his fingertips. And the baby is sleeping in a room upstairs. Nothing would be heard if...
The stranger thing is that so far, it didn't bother her at all. She didn't notice that it was weird. She loved to be a mother and wife, maybe that's why she subconsciously chose not to notice?
She looked at the man at the mirror and compared him with a young man she had never been jealous of. His loyalty was certain. But then her own world wasn't about home, about clan and shopping. And sporadic outings with friends on the coffie & gossip. Then she occupied the position that her husband was currently assigneted to. She was more confident then.
Eleven years ago, she hooked up with a briliant, sensitive, clever boy who was hardly a life of the party. He always wore a uniform, walked his hands in his pockets. A turtleneck sweater, a black color, suggested a mysterious introvert. And now? The roles seem to have reversed.
She watched as Shikamaru shave his cheeks, mustache and neck, leaving only a goatee on his pointed chin. He looked attractive. She was looking at his short-sleeved overalls and a wide V-neckline. Now, eleven years later, everyone can see his collarbone and quite a bit of chest. Where is this introvert in turtleneck? He isn't the world's most tallest man, not much taller than she is. But he was beautifully built, emanating self-confidence and peace. Wide chest, narrow hips, strong and muscled, but still slender limbs. In addition, this bright coat, eh... She chose it. She herself persuaded her husband to change his military uniform to a more representative and stylish set. The cream coat was extravagant, with a high collar and a clan symbol. She scanned his figure and felt something in the esophagus again. She looked at the ceiling to stop the tears that danced on her eyelashes.
Her husband was so damn hot!
This awareness hurts. It was not difficult to imagine that she wasn't the only woman who came to such a conclusions. But she is the only woman who, after eleven years of marriage, can lie naked beside him and not move him at all.
-"Temari?"
-"What?" - she asked, again splashing water in her face to hide her tears.
-"Tell me about Shikadai" - he asked, raising his head high and in a long motion collecting a strip of foam from his neck.
-"He got the idea to clean his NEW shuriken set in a detergent that changes the color of the metal. Of course he didn't even tell me about his plans and a terrible mess came out in the end."
Shikamaru chuckled, his head still high. With each collected strip of foam, he was tidying up the razor on the edge of the sink.
-"And they changed the color?"
-"Now they are drying on a towel on the porch. We'll see tomorrow morning."
-"Huge mess?"
-"Don't even ask."
He chuckled softly again, and she felt as this sound warming her heart.
-"What for?" - Shikamaru asked, leaning over the sink and rinsing the razor under running water. - "You know, colored shurikens?"
-"Ask Uzumaki" - Temari shrugged. -"These ideas came out from under his roof."
Shika washed his face, wiped it with a towel.
-"Tomorrow I'll be back late. I'm leaving for a mission in two days," - he said. -"I'll have dinner, take my clothes for a change and go back to work. I have several more reports to read."
Her heart sank. Against her will, she saw his naked body intertwined with another woman's naked body. In his office in the Tower. She knew it was stupid. That she falls into obsession: her husband really works in his office! Only work hard! Nothing more! But fear made her feel like she was losing him forever, at this very moment.
But still! It was after midnight, and he came home only now. What did he do before? With who? And now he just shaved and announced he was leaving! Isn't that strange?
-"Shika!" - in the act of some desperation, she reached hand out to him. The water was splashing.
Shikamaru finally looked at her. Straight at her, for the first time this evening. A little surprised by the trembling sound of her voice and her nervous expression. He reflexively checked in his mind if he had done anything that would piss her off. It looked like he was innocent, so he waited...
-"Sup?"
Temari felt devastated by the fact that he didn't come to her. That he didn't take her outstretched hand! She felt as if he had just confirmed all her dark guesses. As if she had already lost him. Her head hurt so much, and damn sake didn't work anesthetically. She was still in this painful reality. At the same time she was scolding herself: that what she is doing herself right now is stupid! That she should believe in their marriage, just as Karui believes in Chouji.
-"Shika..." she waved her fingers lightly.
He approached to the bathtub. She felt a huge relief. He took her hand - but he didn't laced his fingers together with her. He didn't hold her like his beloved one, but just like... a other human being. He waited intrigued.
She hoped that when her husband came to her everything would happen by itself. That he would know what she needed, just lake that, without words. That he would finally see her naked body and terror in her eyes. But he didn't saw it. And she didn't see in his eyes what had once made her feel special. And desirable. She felt disappointed...
With every second of silence, the irritation increased in the man:
-"Temari, I really have to go," he said in the tone that they both used to Shikada when he was grumpy and disturbing. - "Talk about what's going on."
Disregarded and angry Temari dragged her husband into the water. If it have to be a drama, let it be a drama in full format. The wave splashed over the edge of the tub. And Shikamaru's bare feet hung limply over the floor.
-"Fuck!" he hissed, rubbing his eyes. - "Are you crazy?"
Now or never - she said. She grabbed his clothes and pulled him to herself. She kissed him, but he didn't return the kiss, he broke free.
-"Temari! What are you doing?" - he drawled. He frowned, measuring his wife with an irritated look.
-"I want to make love" - she said, quietly but definitely.
Shikamaru's look lost its intensity. He was surprised. As if he only now noticed that his wife is naked. And that she is woman. He blinked several times. He moved away from her to have a full picture. He looked at her naked breasts, arms, stomach and looked back at her face. She had such a swollen, tired eyes. He bit his jaw firmly. He keeps being silent. As if he calculated all the possibilities. Temari was torn. With his silence, regret and anger rose in her. She wanted to scream and cry at the same time.
-"What a pain in the ass" - he sighed, taking her hands off his blouse. - "I cann't now."
She missed the tender note with which he uttered the last sentence, because she was shocked by the reddening insulting: "WHAT A PAIN IN THE ASS"? This is the answer you say to a naked, ready, loving wife when she wants to have sex with her husband!? She wanted to send him with tornado all the way to Suna! What a... what for ...!
She was hurt, angry, sad. In this mix of feelings, she drew him back to her. Oh, let him kiss her and assure her that - despite these eleven years - everything is fine in their relationship. Let him only give her warmth, solid confidence. Let him remind her what it's like to be his love.
-"Troublesome woman, no!" - he said, breaking up, and another wave of water splashed on the floor. - "I need to go to the Hokage Tower, read the reports and devise a strategy! In three hours I send the team on a mission!" - he explained, trying to be patient, although he was very angry. - "It's about people's lives! I am responsible for their existence!"
Shikamaru rose from the bathtub with the last words. The water level dropped inside the tube, but small waterfall flooded the bathroom.
Nara didn't even pull off wet clothes. Silently cursing, he left the bathroom.
Temari hid her face in hands. And she burst into tears.
To Be Continued..
If you reached up here, please leave a review. Let me know what you liked and what you didn't like in my story, please. It motivates me to write.
Thank you for your time.