Hello fanfiction! Okay, so I got some comments asking and wondering about Ino's death. Iv'e decided that it is kind of supposed to be up in the air. Even to the shinobi. Nobody really knew what the enemy wanted from Ino, but the general fact o' the matter is that she was killed and robbed of her belongings. Their kind of like thugs I suppose, except shinobi thugs? Idk.
Disclaimer: I don't Naruto. (sniffle) Man. I'm too lazy to come up with a good disclaimer. Whatever.
Inaru's eyes widened.
"Dead?" he whispered, looking up at his father. Shikamaru nodded.
They stood in Shikamaru's apartment, and the sun was hazily setting just outside an open window. A breeze blew in, ruffling the two Nara's hair. The older of the two heard a sniffle, and he saw tears forming in Inarus eyes.
"W-why?" he asked, the tears now spilling over and running down his tanned cheeks. Shikamaru winced, knowing it was going to end like this. Inaru shook, and repeated his question again.
"Why w-would they just, k-kill her. I mean, It's not fair!" cried the four year old. Shikamaru nodded his head in silent agreement. It wasn't fair. He learned that the hard way, with Asuma. The ANBU captain hugged his new-found son to his chest as Inaru shook with grief. They sat like that until the sun had reached its destination, falling behind the trees that surrounded the Great Hidden Leaf. Shikamaru murmured soothing words to the boy until he had calmed down.
"So, I'm going to live with you?" asked the four year old, in a tiny voice. His father smiled gently.
"If you want." he said standing up, and holding the boy on his hip. "I know I'm no Ino, but I can try to be a good dad I guess. Just to let you know, I'm kind of new to this whole 'father business,' but bear with me." he added.
"I'd like that very much." Inaru said, smiling. They heard a growl emitting from his stomach, and Shikamaru laughed.
"You must be hungry. I totally forgot about dinner!" he said to the blushing child. Swiftly, Shikamaru took them to the kitchen. Putting the four year old down on the counter, he rummaged through his very-bare cabinets, frowning. Checking the fridge, he concluded that he hadn't been food shopping in quite some time, recalling that he usually went to the BBQ place or a food stand for his meals.
"Great. We don't have any food." Shikamaru grumbled. This could only mean one thing. He was going to have to go food shopping sometime soon. What a troublesome task.
"How bout' this?" asked Inaru, pulling two dusty cups of instant ramen from behind a stack of never-used cooking pots. Shikamaru shrugged. It's food, and it's edible, he reasoned.
"So, how do you make this stuff?" asked the shinobi, puzzling over the package. Inaru sighed.
"Fill that pot with water and boil it." he instructed. Shikamaru did as he was told. The water came to a rapid boil, and he turned the stove off. Shikamaru turned to his son, awaiting further instructions.
"Now, open both the cups half-way, pour in the water up to the line, and close them for three minutes." he said. Shikamaru shrugged and proceeded with the directions. After three minutes, the noodles were ready.
"Amazing! I didn't know troublesome food could be made so easily." said the older of the two, staring in amazement at his now eaten cup of noodles. Inaru pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed once again. How could anyone not know about instant ramen?
"So..." he said awkwardly, watching as his son put down his cup. What do little kids like to do? Games? He wondered. Ah! Shogi!
"Wanna' play some shogi?" he asked, and Inaru nodded excitedly. Shikamaru took out his set, and soon the two were submerged in the game. Shikamaru won, as expected.
"Wow, you're good at this game." said the boy in amazement. Shikamaru blushed and scratched the back of his head. He had tried to go easy on the kid. Inaru grinned, his eyes growing heavy. Slowly he curled up next to the shogi set and fell asleep.
"Looks like it's about time for bed I think." said Shikamaru quietly, and picked up the child and placed him in his own bed. Until they got Inaru a bed of his own, Shikamaru could sleep on the couch. Slowly he shut the bedroom door and made his way back to the living room. Throwing the empty cups into the garbage and putting away the game, he sat down on his couch and removed his ANBU vest and shirt. Idly remembering to shut out the light before he fell into a troubled sleep.
"Shikamaru!" she screamed, throwing herself over her child. The man stepped closer still, ripping the bag from Ino's back.
"Kill her." was all he said, and the surrounding men drew their weapons, smirking with killing intent. Blood spattered the ground.
Shikamaru woke up in a cold sweat, gasping and clutching his head. It's just a dream, Shikamaru. He assured himself. No, it's not just a dream. The living proof is sleeping in your bedroom at the moment. His realistic side told him, and he groaned. It was the middle of the night.
For the past few years, Shikamaru's dreams had always haunted him. They first started after Asuma's death. For months all he dreamt of was watching his sensies eyes flutter closed, blood covering his hands. The dreams subsided, only to be replaced with ones of chaos and death. These started after he joined ANBU, constantly having to go out on missions and killing his enemies. This was probably true for most ANBU. The blood. The reoccurring dreams of their last victim. Combined with every-once-and-a-while Asuma dreams, Shikamaru didn't usually get enough sleep. And now Ino... The images flashed through his mind again, and at last, he broke down and sobbed. Ino.
This was how Shikaku found him. The older Nara let himself in through the open window, and with a thud landed on his feet in front of the couch. Shikamaru didn't look up from his position. Head in hands, shaking ever so often with a silent sob. Shikaku sighed, and sat next to his son on the couch. He waited in silence.
"Why are you here?" asked Shikamaru in a heavy, choked voice at last. He didn't move, only talking to the rug.
"Tsunade, Kakashi and I were discussing you after you left. Tsunade was worried. Said that you might crack under grief or somethin'." said Shikaku, looking out the open window. Shikamaru didn't answer.
"You haven't... cracked, right?" he asked, raising a brow. Shikamaru chuckled.
"Sure did. Cracked like an egg, Dad." he said, wiping a few tears from his face. Shikaku sighed, wrapping an arm around his son. "I'll be fine though." he added, not used to his fathers comforting gestures.
"A son, huh?" he asked, not letting go of his own. Shikamaru nodded.
"Can you handle it? Nobody would think any less of you if you didn't take him. I'm sure some family would be willing to take him in." said Shikaku.
"I- I think I can handle it. Am I making a bad decision?" asked Shikamaru, and for once in his life, Shikaku noted, looked completely lost and unsure.
"What do you think, son?" he asked gruffly.
"I think I can. Handle it, I mean. I'll be okay. We'll be okay." Shikamaru said, laying back down to face the ceiling. Shikaku got up and found a blanket, throwing it over the ANBU captain. Shikamaru smiled at the gesture. Just like the old days, before I became a shinobi. He thought. Shikaku muttered a goodnight and left out the window again. The twenty one year old grinned as he fell asleep, for once not haunted by his past. He dreamt of his new future, with his son.
Hey guys! Don't kill me, okay? This story was supposed to be short and sweet, nothing complicated. I'm not too good at long stories anyways. Hope you liked the ending! Cus' I'm not writing any more, got it? Thanks to my reviewers for the first chapter! Bye Bye!