Uwaa thank you guys for the lovely responses! Sorry for the long wait~~


Love by Any Other Name

Troublesome

Problematic

Burdensome

Overbearing

The words clung to the tip of his tongue yet didn't dare to express themselves.

"Ahh Maru-kun, you look so handsome!" His mother coo'ed pulling her stoic son from the doorway and into her arms. She pressed loving kisses against the pads of his cheeks, the warmth of his skin intensifying with each contact.

"Haha-ue, please, you're being-"

"I'm being what, Maru-kun?"

Seven year old Shikamaru Nara tensed as he caught the challenge in her eyes, her alluring blue eyes bore into his. The blush on his face quickly fading completely until he paled like the walls of his home. A movement caught his eye as his mother began straightening the collar of his summer yukata. His father was subtly shaking his head, making hand gestures common among ninjas.

'Retreat' Shikaku directed, sensing that his son was in troubled waters.

"...you look beautiful," Shikamaru tactfully redirected without a single deceitful tone. For he was true in his compliment, his mother Kagome Nara adorned in an elaborately decorated kimono was a sight to behold.

Kagome winked in response, straightening up to stand by her husband. She was very much aware of the signs her husband was sending behind her back but decided not to call him out on it. For now.

"Thank you Maru-kun, don't worry though, we won't hover this time," She reassured as the family headed out the door. Kagome stood on her toes, placing a sweet, chaste kiss on her husband's lips, his response almost immediate though cut short by his son's feigned calls of strangulation.

"Now come on, we don't want to scare off all the pretty ladies waiting to be your future wife~"

"Ehhh," Father and son deadpanned as they watched the cheerful woman giggle and continue to sing out nonsense.

"...that's your mother."

"...that's your wife."

"Troublesome."

"What did you two say?"

The two froze as a wicked stare was sent their way from above the pink fan covering half her face. There was no doubt, behind the warm smiles and nondiscriminatory love, Kagome Higurashi Nara held a tight leash and iron fist over the family. And Shikamaru Nara, at the tender age of seven, was quite convinced his mother could read minds and predict the future. Whereas Shikaku Nara simply accepted Kagome for the all powerful being she was, finding it easier when he did not try to understand the inner workings of her brain.

"That's what I thought."