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2 years old.
"Dada" Shika giggled showing off her mud covered skin proudly.
"No Shika, that's bad" I shouted I had only given her a bath yesterday. Looks like she will have to have another one. I sighed. Sometimes I got sick of the whole single parent thing.
"Sorry Dada" she whispered, tears running down her cheeks. She wasn't sorry, if I let her go right now she would go back to playing in the mud but I always was a sucker for crocodile tears. Especially from my daughter.
"Its OK baby, just don't do it again" she nodded and hugged my leg. I give her ten seconds until she goes back to the mud.
"Looks like you will be having another bath" I told her.
"No" she answered defiantly, crossing her arms on her chest. As you can guess she hates baths.
"Yes. Its your own fault. I told you not to play in the mud" I said raising my voice a little. I love her but sometimes she gets on my nerves. Her eyes filled with tears again.
"But I don't like baths!" she whined. She sounded like Naruto. Damn.
"Tough shit, you shouldn't have played in the mud then should you?" I asked through gritted teeth.
"Dada said a bad word" she frowned.
"Come on bath. Now." I could feel the vain on my forehead pulsing.
"No" then she ran. And trailed mud all over my just washed floor. I now understand why my daughter slept so much when she was a baby. She was saving her energy until she hit 2 and turned into a demon. In three steps I caught her and put her on the table. She stood still. She knew I was angry. I grabbed her hand pulled it out in front of her and gave her it slap. I didn't hit her hard enough to hurt her, just to shock her. The look of betrayal she gave me hurt my heart.
"When Dada says not to play in the mud, do you play in the mud?" she shook her head. Tears filling her eyes. There was a knock on the door so I took her down off the table and went to open it. It was Ino and Choji. They were just about to say something when they saw my expression.
"What's up Shikamaru?" asked Choji. Ino pushed pass me into the house not waiting for an explanation or an invite. Choji and I followed. When they saw the mud covered baby and floor they put the pieces together. Ino went over to Shika and picked her up and handed her to Choji.
"Give her a bath" she ordered. Choji nodded and took her upstairs. He was used to bathing her.
"I was just about to do it" I mumbled
"I want to talk to you" She answered. I was scared. She walked across the kitchen and put the kettle on, then walked back to me. I was expecting a lecture about keeping a clean house or looking after my child. What I was not expecting was a hug. I did the only thing I could think of, I wrapped my arms around her thin body and buried my face in her hair.
"Its so hard" I whispered. She rubbed my back.
"Sometimes I just want to give her away and then I feel like shit because you're not supposed to think that about your own child." We started to rock.
"I hit her" Ino stiffened "Not hard or anything, just a tap on the hand but I feel so bad" Ino relaxed and we continued to rock. Ino finally spoke.
"Don't feel bad. I was spanked as a child. Weren't you? Its a part of growing up."
"I just wish Temari was here so bad it hurts" Ino didn't say anything, what could she say?. Then there was a huge splash and a "hey!" heard from upstairs. Ino giggled.
"How are things?" I asked. I wasn't specific but she knew what I meant.
"Great. We are getting married. That's what we came over here to tell you"
"I'm glad Ino you both deserve happiness. Poor Choji getting such a troublesome woman" I grinned.
"Shut up" she laughed. I found myself laughing with her. Her happiness was contagious. She pushed me into a chair and kissed my forehead. She turned and went to make some tea. A fully dressed Shika ran through the kitchen and out the back door. Her chubby legs carrying her as fast as they could. Then Choji came walking in soaking wet.
"Congratulations man"
"Thanks" he smiled.
They were at my house for hours. We just laughed and talked about the old days when Asuma was alive and we went on missions. I don't think I have laughed so hard in my life.
"Remember the time we camped by that creepy river and we were all scared but too proud to tell each other"
"yeah and we kept hearing rustling" I laughed.
"And Asuma had gone to bed"
"Oh god, not this story" Ino moaned.
"And you completely freaked out Ino."
"And you jumped into that tent thinking it was yours"
"When it was Asuma's"
"And you landed on his chest waking him up"
"You stayed their for ages and then you asked"
"Why are you in my tent I know. I was there. He never let me live that down" the room filled with laughter.
"I think we should go" Ino said to Choji."Its time for bed" we all turned to look at Shika who was asleep on the couch.
"I will bring her to bed, then we will go" Choji promised. He picked her up and tiptoed up the stairs so he didnt wake her up.
"She is mad at me" I told Ino. She had clung to Choji all day, barley looking at me.
"Of course she is mad a you. She feels betrayed but she will get over it" I nodded hoping she was right."Bye honey. Everything will be ok" Ino hugged me.
"See ya man. We have to get together to pick out your best man suit" Choji told me with a wink.
I just smiled. I was too tired to get excited. I felt a presence behind me as I closed the door. There was Shika in her Princess nightgown at the bottom of the stairs. She lifted her arms and I picked her up and held her close.
"I love you baby" I whispered.
"Me too" She replied pressing her face against my neck. I knew what she meant.
"Lets go to bed"
"Your bed"
"Okay" I sighed.
The next morning
I herd a noise downstairs and Shika wasn't beside me. That's not good. I jumped out of bed and ran down the stairs. There was some white powder in the hall so I stuck my finger in it and put it in my mouth. It was flour.
"Dada come look at the cake I made"... oh God!