A/N: The last theme, at last! I would like to say a gigantic THANK YOU to spilihp17 and fanofthisfiction for constantly reviewing every entry that I've written for ShikaTema week. No words can truly express my gratitude for your kindness. I would also like to thank Orin Tora, SariaKasumi, QveenLo, starwarsfan16 and Sfrostwolf for all your wonderful individual reviews. Thank you to everyone who read, favorited and/or followed! You don't know how much each review, favorite, and follow makes the heart glow. Without further ado, here's Legacy!
Legacy
"The kings... are the unborn children... who will grow up to take care of Konoha. One... is still in Kurenai's womb... hers and my child. Take care of my king."
A smile played on his face as he thought of young Mirai who was now under his tutelage. The kid was a natural fighter and strategist. No surprise considering who her parents are. Asuma-sensei would be undoubtedly proud of his strong-willed daughter.
As Shikamaru turned to his wife who was resting on the couch with her hand instinctively over her belly, his smile grew unusually wider. His blonde-haired beauty cocked an eyebrow at him, probably questioning his sanity. When his dark eyes pointedly gazed lovingly at her rotund abdomen, Temari's face softened in a way only her husband had visual access to. Reaching out his hands to her tummy, he gently placed them on her stretched flesh and drew his face close.
His face emitted a seriousness that had Temari oddly curious. Then he spoke in a soft but deliberate tone of voice. "I'll teach you everything you need to know. From shougi to clan jutsus, how to handle your troublesome mother ("Hey!" Temari exclaimed but with a smile) to making her the happiest woman in the universe. I will also show you that there are things worth caring for despite our natural tendency to gravitate towards laziness. I will teach you that Konoha is worth protecting with all your strength and all your heart. And that, my king, is a promise from your lazy ass father."
Then as he raised his head to grace her with that special smile of his, Temari said without thinking, "Come closer, lazy ass."
He crooked a brow but raised his upper body higher so that his head was just about the same level as hers. He sent her a questioning glance.
She cupped his cheeks and drew him close. She pressed a quick kiss to his nose then pulled back while grinning impishly.
Shikamaru had a decidedly disappointed look on his face.
"What?" Temari asked with a little too much innocence, holding back a grin.
"Nothing," he huffed out. Then continued to grumble under his breath, "Thought I'd deserve way more than that..."
"You only said all that for the reward?" Temari teased playfully.
His dark eyes met hers in a clear, fierce gaze. "You already know the answer."
This time, Temari didn't hesitate to press her mouth to his in a sensually tender way that made all the sounds and sights in the vicinity fade into the back corners of their consciousness.
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Four-year old Shikadai managed to produce the shadow bind technique caused by his distress at his parents' upsetting fight. Later, his father would teach him how to control it.
Six-year old Shikadai was found afloat his mother's tessen which nearly gave his parents aneurysms. He was then consequently trained by his mother to wield and contain his wind jutsu lest he destroys the Nara forest.
Eight-year old Shikadai was taught by his uncle Gaara to control man-made sand while his uncle Kankuro gifted him with some puppets with fascinating mechanisms. He learned to hide said mechanisms from his mother lest she confiscates them as advised by his uncle Kankuro.
Ten-year old Shikadai started shinobi school. He'd rather sleep. And that it was too much effort to put pen to paper. It was only fun because his childhood friends were there. There was also a troublesome blonde that made a ruckus almost everyday.
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A thirteen-year old Shikadai suddenly blurted out a question to his mother, "Mom, why did you find yourself loving Dad?"
Startled, Temari turned to look at her son with a slight color in her cheeks. "Why would you ask that, Shikadai? Are you interested in someone? Or has someone expressed interest in you?"
"Aw mom! Can't I just be curious? Why does it need to be that I'm interested in someone?"
That made her smile. "Hmm, all right. Why are you curious?"
"Well, earlier Inojin and Chouchou started talking about their parents' love confessions and whatnot and realized I've never really heard yours. Er, never mind, this is stupid..." Shikadai mumbled, a dull flush across his face.
"No, no, it's fine. I'll answer your question." Temari quietly chuckled. "Hmm, well, your father... that is... he is..."
Shikadai's expression slowly turned dismayed. "Mom, it's okay... I won't tell dad."
"Tell him what?" asked a puzzled Temari.
"That you don't know why you love him?"
"Ah." Temari grinned. "No, it's not like that. Love is... It's hard to pinpoint just one reason to love someone. But if I had to say one thing, I guess it would be... I like the way he takes me to watch clouds."
Abruptly flustered, his mother started cleaning up the living room while saying, "You'll understand when you find someone, Shikadai. Now, go on, you'll be late for training."
Not completely satisfied but knowing that he won't get any more details, Shikadai shuffled off to exit the house anyway.
Seeing her son leave, she heaved a sigh of relief as she just stood there in the middle of the living room.
After a few minutes, she made out noise from behind. Once she clearly heard her husband's footsteps, she turned to face him. As he yawned freely, he drawled out a good morning. She returned the greeting with a smile.
Expecting him to sit down and eat breakfast, she went over to the sink and started washing some dishes. Until she felt him take a few steps and slide his arms around her waist, pressing himself close.
"What is it?" Temari quietly asked, wondering what was running through his mind.
"Nothing. It's just I've been so busy lately with advising Naruto that I kinda just miss this," he mused. He hesitated visibly before asking her, "Don't you?"
"Hmm." She smiled down at the soapy dishes where her hands were submerged. "Perhaps."
He gave a husky chuckle. Then he laid a gentle kiss on the side of her jaw and whispered against her skin, "I thought perhaps we might go watch clouds later. You know, since you missed it."
She visibly flushed, clearly caught off guard. Flustered once more, she started mumbling. "I- that was... Shikadai... I had to say something," she said with a sense of finality. She wanted to smack herself for acting like a bloody schoolgirl. In her defense, it wasn't everyday her husband caught her declaring her love for him in such an embarrassingly obvious manner.
Damn, she just had to go be endearingly adorable without even trying. He caught her chin with the tips of his fingers and turned it gently, capturing her mouth with his. It was sweet as dangos and slow as drifting clouds. Taking her soapy hands from the sink, she wrapped them around his neck. Soap suds fell over his shoulders. Waves of pleasantly burning sensations crept through their systems.
Pulling back, she said with a rasp, "Work... you need to go to work."
"Hang work. I'm sure they can manage a day without me," he said with a soft growl.
She threw him a brilliant smile. Which caused him to turn her around, lift her up onto the kitchen counter and proceeded to resume kissing in that same snail-like pace. He stood between her legs which eventually rose to wrap around his waist. Her foot brushed against his buttocks which made him groan like he was in pain. Sweet, addicting pseudo-pain.
She laughed softly against his lips. "Something wrong, lazy?" in that irresistibly sultry alto which hit him right in the gut.
But before he could get a word out, she attached her mouth to his throat and peppered hot kisses all over its surface area while her slippery hands worked to free his hair from its restraint. More heat gathered furiously around his middle.
"Why aren't you doing anything?" she whispered against his neck. Her breath sent shivers over his oversensitive heated skin. She was referring to his oddly inactive hands that were loosely resting on her hips.
In a gruff voice which pleased her feminine senses to no end, he admitted freely, "I'm afraid if I touch you now, it will be finished that much sooner."
She grinned at his honesty. Then she slid her lips from his neck to his jaw, to his ear, and enunciated every word clearly and deliberately slow, "We have all day."
He gave her a wicked grin back. Promptly, he lifted her bridal style and swept into their bedroom.
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"I wonder what kind of girl Shikadai will fall for," Temari mused, her hand on her husband's chest.
They were both lying on their cloud-viewing hill. The sun was setting and it filled the sky with shades of orange and pink and red.
Shikamaru chuckled and said, "He's a Nara. Definitely a troublesome one. But he won't figure it out until it's too late. Happens every generation."
"Is that right? You're making it sound like I trapped you."
"That's what you think. In fact, it was me who made you think that you had to trap me."
"Oh? You mean it was all a strategy?"
"Had to. I had a reputation to uphold. Couldn't very well let everyone know I actually made some effort into getting you to go out with me."
"Hah, and that would be the worst, isn't it?"
"No, not really. I maybe enjoyed it a little."
"A little?"
He shrugged but a smirk was clearly visible.
She rolled her eyes but the corners of her lips couldn't help but lift.
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Shikadai's stomach grumbled like rolling thunder. Where were his parents? He was starving.
He already searched all over the house and came up with nothing.
He looked through the forest even.
Then he came onto the hill.
Ah.
He watched from behind a tree as his parents just lay side by side with their hands intertwined atop his father's chest.
He stared just a bit longer before returning to the house.
Perhaps he understood what his mom was saying just a little bit now.
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If someone asked his younger self what kind of legacy he wanted to make for himself, he would've said he couldn't care less about it. Nowadays, people would presume his best legacies would be his position as the Hokage's advisor, being an influential authority in the great shinobi war, and defeating one of the Akatsuki. But in his heart and mind, none of those could compare to the precious time, affection, and devotion he shared with his wife and son.
Outsiders would definitely contest to that not so ambitious declaration but whoever said he was truly ambitious deep down?
After all, as his gorgeous wife fondly called him, he was a lazy ass.
Nothing more, nothing less.
A/N: I know I'm not the most eloquent of writers. But if my stories made you smile, laugh, squeal, gush and/or feel, then that would be more than enough for me. If you enjoyed any or all of my entries, the greatest thing you can do for me is to please give me a feedback via a review.
Thank you once again to everyone who stuck with me all the way through ShikaTema week! :D
