Nara Yoshino had always wanted a girl in the house. She loved their younger stages, giggling at true comic, playing with dolls, and seeing the world for what it truly is. So when she saw Sachiko get out of bed and run right to her son's room, she couldn't help but wish that she had done a better job of trying to convince Shikaku. Yoshino's fantasies of a daughter were short lived however when the young girl let out a blood curling scream which is when Yoshino conveniently remembered that her son was not currently sleeping in his room. She walked towards the room after her on flew by her son racing to get to Sachiko's side. And when she got there, she leaned up against the doorway, watching her son.
He, of course was cradling her and shushing her, trying to convince her that everything was okay.
"This is Temari, my friend. She's sick and Baasan and Jiichan and I am helping her get better."
Yoshino's eyes traveled to the Suna Princess's face and wasn't surprised by the curious look on her face. This was the first time she had seen her son with Sachiko and Yoshino knew that her son acted differently around her than anyone else and was quite proud at how well he handled the child, assuring her he would be a good father.
He was bouncing her on his hip a little as she sucked her thumb. "She's sick?"
"Mmhm. I'm helping her get better. Do you want to help me?" He asked and a large smile appeared across her face.
"Yeah! Call me Dr. Sachi okay Shika-niichan?"
"Okay." He said, chuckling with a small smile on his face he set her down. She went running down the hall and Yoshino followed her to help her get dressed, glancing back once at the two ninjas.
Where the hell had Nara Shikamaru gone was the only thought running through Temari's head. He was bouncing a baby on his hip. He was cooing with said child, and giggling, and playing with the child. Where had he gone to? She was pretty sure that her jaw was slackened and her head was crooked at an odd angle but "Dr. Sachi" began to do a check up by hitting her knee, probing her boob and shining bright light in her eyes.
"Dr. Shika-ni, there's a problem."
"A problem?" He exclaimed dramatically. "What's wrong?" He asked intently and Sachiko put her hands on her hips.
"She' very sick Doctor, her knees won't move."
Oh yeah, she was supposed to move her knee to show she still has reflexes. Oops.
"No! It can't be!" Shikamaru exclaimed dramatically again. If she wasn't sick now, Temari was going to be soon.
"Yes. I'm afraid that we will have to operate."
"Operate?!"
Temari looked at Shikamaru who had exclaimed the exact same thing. However, hers was more worried and his was more playful dramatic. He gave her a raised eyebrow as Sachiko began to list off the terrible thing inside of her that needed to be taken out. Temari was more worried about how it would be done. So far, everything she had done didn't exactly feel like it was pretend. Those reflex tests hurt.
"So what do you think Dr. Shika-ni?"
"I think-"
"That you should go get the supplies while I discuss the details out with Dr. Shika… ni…." Temari said abruptly cutting him off, causing him to give her an odd look.
Naturally, being a small child, Sachiko took no notice of Temari. She happily gave a thumbs up and skipped out of the room. As soon as she made sure Sachiko was out of earshot, she turned to her best friend and immediately put the back of her hand to his forehead.
"Ummm, Temari what are you doing?"
"I'm checking to see if you are sick or something."
"Why would I be sick?"
"Because you never play with little kids! It's too troublesome! And you don't giggle or coo or, or do any of that because it's troublesome!" She said exasperated. "And I swear if you make a fake dramatic explanation one more time, I'm going to be really sick!"
She sighed heavily and was unnerved to see that he wasn't smirking at her or giving some sort of indication that he was pleased with her. Had she… insulted him? That couldn't be possible could it?
When he didn't look at her or say anything, she began to grow nervous. Maybe she really did hurt him. But how? She had only said that he wasn't acting normal. He really wasn't. Right?
"Temari," he began slowly and she jumped by the sudden break of silence "just because… just because I look lazy and I like to sleep and I don't like to do hard work doesn't mean that I am truly and honestly a good for nothing."
She was taken aback by his words. "I never said that you were a good for nothing. You're quite the contrary." She said gently, as to not upset him again. "You just never-"
"Work with little kids. Yeah, I guess that's true. But I'm the only real role model Sachiko's got. She's like my kid sister you know, especially because Asuma was like an uncle to me. I'll admit, it's kinda weird to see me play with her but…" He let his words trail and he looked up at her.
She was taken shocked by his words as they probed a thought in the back of her head. Turned over on her side and curled her hands underneath her chin and they sat in the silence. At least, that is what someone else would describe it as. Even though they weren't facing each other, she knew that he understood her actions and he knew that she understood his. She didn't need to apologize for her gruffness and he didn't need to apologize for snapping at her, even though it was done quietly she understood he was irked. That's what their relationship was about, what lies underneath.
She saw him turn to her as her eyes closed and she heard him sigh heavily. He pulled the covers up over her more and let his hands linger on her body slightly longer than needed before Temari fully fell back asleep.
Nara Shikaku didn't like teenaged girls. It was simple, they were loud, obnoxious, and completely ruined the nice night he had planned for he and his wife. Of course, the day of said nice night, his wife just so happened to tell him that four girls were coming to spend the night. So when he sat down rather grumpy at the table for breakfast, he noticed that the Sand Princess was just as grumpy as he was and was glad to know he wasn't the only one.
"What are you pissed about?" He asked her.
"Twerp." She grunted and he nodded. Sachiko had been with them for two days now and had been waking up Temari early every morning. The Sand Princess, as a result, had not taken to the newest temporary edition to the Nara household too well.
"What about you?" She asked back.
"Sleepover." He grunted and took a sip of his coffee.
"Sorry."
"Not your deal. Hers." He said casting a sideways glance at his wife that went, thankfully, unnoticed.
The two sat smugly sipping their coffee while Yoshino cheerily continued to make breakfast. After a few minutes, Yoshino came over to them and brought them a plate with eggs, rice, and toast and sat down as well. She took a sip of her tea and asked
"Where's Shikamaru and Sachiko? They should be back by now."
Just as she finished, the from door opened and Sachiko's voice could be heard as she yelled "We're home!"
She, Shikamaru, and two wolves all came into view carrying bags. Yoshino immediately got up to help and grabbed the bags from the wolves' mouths. They poofed away and Yoshino forced Shiakamaru to help her out the away.
Sachiko went into the kitchen, got her plate, and sat down at the table next to Temari.
"How was grocery shopping?"
"Fine. We went to the store and visited Ino-neesan." She took a bite of her food and Shikaku furrowed his eyebrows. Temari took no notice but then again she wouldn't. Sachiko normally ranted and raved about Ino, she viewed the girl as a celebrity. For her to be so quiet was odd.
"What happened Sachiko?" He asked quietly and Temari looked at him oddly while the young girl avoided his gaze. She didn't say anything and he tried again. "It's okay sweetie. You can tell Jichan right?"
There was a moments silence before she spoke. "Aburame-san was in the store when we were there. We said hello and them some other boys came in. They made fun of Aburame-san and then they saw Shika-niisan and they made fun of him too."
"For what reason?!" Temari demanded loudly, clearly upset. Sachiko looked at her terrified, probably because the Sand Princes had jumped out of her chair so suddenly.
"What's going on in there?" Yoshino asked with their son behind her. Shikaku watched the Sand Princess's eyes shoot like lasers into his son's and Shikaku figured that she knew what was going on.
She sat back down slowly and returned back to her meal and Yoshino and Shikamaru sat down as well. They ate in silence until Yoshino brought up the sleepover and Shikaku looked over at his son who was eating quietly, lost in his own world. He felt terrible that he couldn't do anything to help his son.
"Shikamaru."
His son looked up at him. "Yeah?"
"Let's have a mans night out eh? I'll call up Chouza and Inochi and we can all go out together tonight, get away from the girls. What do you say?"
"Alright." He responded and Shikaku sighed. Well, at least he could try right?
"So then he was like 'well that's stupid' and I was like 'that's because you're stupid Naruto.'"
Nara Yoshino chuckled at Sakura's comment as she finished cleaning up the kitchen. Ino had gotten Sakura, Tenten, and Hinata to come for the sleepover, which Temari seemed happy with. The boys had gone out long ago and it was about time for Sachiko's movie to be finished. As she moved from the living room into the guest room, she was able to hear the girls' conversations.
"Ino-chan, I just remembered. Shino-kun asked me to tell you that he will be late tomorrow." Hinata said and all the girls gasped. In the guest room, Sachiko began to whine about going to bed.
"I wanna go out there!" Sachiko pouted.
"Well now Ino, I think you have some explaining to do." Tenten said slyly.
"No, I didn't mean a date." Hinata said fearfully.
"No, you can't go out there Sachiko. It's time to go to bed."
"But I don't wanna go to sleep yet!"
"Still, I know that Shino has been here a lot lately so spill Ino." Sakura demanded.
"Well, he just comes to pick up orders for him family and-"
"Just comes to pick up orders alright." Sakura said causing the girls to laugh.
"Goodnight Sachiko." Yoshino said exasperated. The girl pouted and put hr head on the pillow. "I'll send Shikamaru in when he gets back okay?"
"Okay." The young girl said and closed her eyes. Yoshino made her way back to the kitchen to make some hot chocolate for the girls as their conversation continued.
"Speaking of Shino, did I tell you what happened today?" In o said seriously and Yoshino's insides froze.
"Trying to change the subject are we?" Tenten asked but her teasing demeanor was cut off by Temari's serous one.
"What happened." She asked sternly in a rather demanding tone. There was a silence form the living room and the girls listened quietly as Ino spoke.
"So today Shino was picking up and order and we were just chatting, stop it Sakura, and Shikamaru and Sachiko walked in to say hello because they were buying stuff for the party tonight. So we were talking and it was all good until these punks came in looking for flowers for their girlfriends, I pity them whoever they are. Anyway, you know how everyone views Shikamaru and Sachiko so they started saying crap about how Shikamaru did Kurenai and-"
"What?" Temari snarled, startling everyone.
"You didn't know? Okay so apparently, Asuma-sensei and Kurenai got married secretly because they weren't allowed to because of their positions and ranks and whatnot. So, everyone thinks that the kid belongs to Shikamaru and Kurenai and he can't say anything in his defense. He takes a lot of crap, especially from other ninja for the sake of that girl."
"Tsunade-shishyo obviously knows the truth and doesn't hold it against him. Actually, I find it admirable." Sakura added and Yoshino heard the girls agree.
"A-and Sachiko-san is having a hard time making friends in school because of the situation as well." Hinata said and it took Yoshino a minute to remember that Hinata now works with the younger students at the ninja academy.
Just as the last drink finished, Yoshino heard the door open and she knew her husband was home and drunk as she heard struggling footsteps from her on. She walked out into the living room and saw her husband leaning on their son for support.
"Shikaku…"She aid scoldingly as she walked over to them. Temari had already gotten up to help pry the drunken man off of his son.
As soon as Yoshino put her hand on her husbands arm, he flung himself at her, yelling loudly about things causing Yoshino to become embarrassed and she quickly went away, dragging him to their room. When he came back Shikamaru was bidding the girls, who were now getting ready to do their nails, goodnight and left excited knowing that he was able to sleep in his own bed.
As soon as he disappeared, Yoshino collected the mugs from the hot chocolate and begin to finish up in the kitchen for the last time that evening. She heard Ino say
"Let's draw on his face! He definitely won't wake up!"
Yoshino heard the other girls giggle when the Suna Princess's voice carried over to her ears.
"Guys, he hasn't slept in his bed since I came here which is about 2 weeks. You know how much he loves to sleep so, why don't we let him sleep in peace? He'll be abele to sleep in and wake pleasantly for once."
There was a silence until Hinata spoke up "I agree."
Just then, the door to the guest room crept opened and Sachiko walked out rubbing her eyes.
"Baasan, Jichan woke me uup." She whined and Yoshino rushed over to her.
"Come on back to bed." She said, reaching to pick her up.
"No! I wanna go with the other girls!" She yelled and Yoshino sighed. She really did not feel like going through this again. Then before she went into the bull's arena, a miracle happened.
"Hey Twerp, you wanna paint your nails?"
Yoshino mouthed a thanks to Temari who nodded as he young girl ran over to her. The other girls didn't seem to mind the young girl and she was out of Yoshino's hair for now and with that, the tired woman headed to bed.