Author's Note- Another fun-filled chapter coming your way! Lots of things happen in this chapter. Also, I'm almost caught up with my updates. Yay! You're probably thinking 'Why does that matter to me?' Well, my dear readers, that means until I get some more ideas that this may be the last update for a while. Sorry…Anyway, enjoy! R&R!
Disclaimer: I only own my characters.
Chapter 9
I was so happy to have Shika home! We invited Neji and Tenten to stay at the apartment but they declined, saying they were going to stay at the Hyuga estate. Before they left though, Tenten asked about the wedding.
"So do you know when the wedding's going to be now that everyone's back?" she asked. I looked up at Shika. He smiled and shrugged.
"Whatever's fine with Yumi is fine with me," he told her.
"I think I want to give Shika some time to heal before the wedding," I replied.
"Oh, I see," Tenten said as she waggled her eyebrows suggestively. I felt my face start to burn. I also heard Shika mutter 'What a drag' while Neji actually was trying to stifle a laugh. We said our goodbyes and went our separate ways.
We got back to the apartment and I made Shika go straight to bed and lay down.
"I'll go make you some tea," I told him after I got him comfortable.
"Don't. I don't want any. I just want you to come here so we can sleep," he replied. He patted my side of the futon. I got under the blankets and turned off the light. I put my arms around his neck and slid one hand up to his ponytail. I pulled out the string and tangled my fingers into that silky raven hair. I pressed my lips to his hard to let him know just how much I'd missed him.
"Wow, Yumi. I hadn't realized that being gone for two months would make you miss me this much," he said jokingly. I laughed softly.
"Of course it would. I love you, Shika. And whenever you're far away, I'll always miss you," I replied. I saw him smile in the darkness. He brushed his lips against mine in a gentle loving kiss.
"I love you, too. Now let's get some sleep. I'm exhausted."
"Mm hm." We both happily drifted off to sleep.
Shika and I didn't get up until noon that day. Luckily, Sakura had made him take his morning pill before we left the hospital. I helped him out of bed and we walked into the kitchen. Shika sat down at the table as I started looking for food. I could feel Shika's eyes following my every move. I turned to face him.
"Am I really that interesting to look at?" I asked teasingly. Shika smirked.
"I was surrounded by other men for two months. I noticed that we aren't that interesting. You, on the other hand, are fascinating," he replied. I laughed and sauntered over to him. I leaned down, putting my lips right beside his ear.
"I find you very interesting," I whispered. I pressed a kiss to his cheek and continued on my search for food. "So how are you feeling?"
'Hungry' was his answer. I laughed again and started getting out the things I needed to make stir-fry.
"So did anything big happen while I was gone?" he asked. I shrugged as I began to cook.
"Kimi and Hiro asked about you a lot. Tenten and Hinata stayed with me most of the time. It would've felt weird if I'd been the only one here."
"I'll have to go visit the kids. And I'm glad you weren't alone." I finished the food and set two plates on the table. Shika dug in almost immediately.
"I'm just happy you're home," I told him. He smiled.
"You know what sounds fun?"
"What?"
"Going to the meadow to watch clouds," he said.
"That really does sound fun! We haven't done that for a long time." I smiled at him brightly and started on my food.
I moved closer to Shika as a crisp breeze blew across the meadow. We were lying on the ground, staring up at the sky. I had my head resting on his shoulder as he had his good arm around me.
"This is really nice, Shika. So quiet and peaceful." Just as I finished speaking, we both heard and excited squeal.
"Nii-san's back!" a familiar young girl's voice yelled. Shika and I sat up to see Kimi and Hiro running toward us. They saw the sling on his arm and stopped.
"Are you okay, nii-san?" Hiro asked.
"I just got a little beat up on my mission, is all," Shika answered.
"But you're so strong. How did you get beat up?" Kimi said. He chuckled.
"The man I fought was strong, but he was no match for my dad and Yumi's when they used Kekei Genkai. You remember that, don't you?" he explained. They nodded.
"You'll get stronger, right, nii-san? So you can protect onee-chan?" Kimi asked. I felt my cheeks heat up as Shika nodded.
"Of course," he replied.
"Hey, nii-san. You said Clan Leader Yumimaro and Nara-san won a battle with Kekei Genkai, right?" Hiro asked.
"Yep."
"So that means if Kimi and I keep practicing, we can be as strong as the three of you with our Kekei Genkai?" Shika nodded again.
"Awesome!" Hiro cheered. "Kimi, I'm gonna go practice so I can be strong and protect you! Do you wanna come with me?"
"Yeah!" Kimi hugged Shika and I before joining Hiro. "Bye! We'll show you how strong we can get!" The two of them walked off and I couldn't have been more proud.
"You're really and inspiration to them, Shika," I said. He shrugged.
"Maybe." We lay back down and stayed until after the sun had set.
A few weeks passed and, as Sakura had said, Shika was all healed. He was still a bit sore, but all the bones were back in place and back together.
One night, as we were playing Go, Shika asked about the wedding. I felt my heart flutter at the mention of it.
"We're you planning the whole time I was?" he asked. I nodded as I made my move. "Is everything ready to go then?"
"Yeah. Why?" I asked. He took his turn.
"I was thinking we could get married in a couple of days. Now that everyone's back and I'm healed." He smiled at me. "I guess I just can't wait to finally marry the girl of my dreams." That last sentence made me happier than almost anything had. I shoved the Go board out of the way and tackled Shika to the floor. He let out a grunt as his back hit the floor but he smiled. I kissed him hard and giggled when we pulled apart. His hands on my waist kept my body firmly on top of his as he kissed along my jaw. I stopped him and looked him straight in the eye.
"I love you so much. More than you will ever know, Shikamaru."
"I can say the same to you," he replied with a smile. I threw my arms around his neck and kissed him again.
A couple of days had gone by and it was finally the day of the wedding. I was so nervous and excited that I could barely stay still. Choji, Naruto, and Neji stopped at the apartment and took Shika to his parents' house to get ready early that morning. Shortly after that, Tenten, Ino, and Hinata were at the apartment to take me over to Shika's parents' house.
"Why couldn't Shika and I walk over together?" I asked. Tenten and Ino rolled their eyes while Hinata giggled softly.
"You know the old superstition about the groom seeing the bride before the wedding?" Ino asked me. I nodded. "Well, the same goes for Shikamaru seeing your kimono. Bad luck." I looked at the bag in my arms that held my bridal kimono.
"Oh, I see." We arrived at the house and Shika's mother opened the door.
"Yumi, you're here!" she said happily. As nice as she had become around me, Yoshino still scared me beyond belief. "You'll be getting ready in Shikamaru's old room." I bowed politely.
"T-thank you, Y-yoshino-san." She took us up to the room and left to go find my mom. The girls and I walked in. The first thing I noticed was that it was clean. Of the times I'd been in that room, it had been a total mess. I sat down on the futon and a memory came rushing back. I remembered the night that I'd snuck in through the window. Shika and I had just started dating and I had wanted to talk to him since I couldn't sleep. I also remembered that that night was the night before we'd gone on an ambassador mission to Suna. Tears welled up in my eyes as I remembered how he'd pulled me down on the futon next to him in his sleep. He'd pulled me close and I'd fallen asleep in his arms. A smile crossed my face when I remembered the scene the morning after. Shika standing in the middle of the room with no shirt while I was perched on the windowsill, blushing like crazy. A hand on my shoulder shook me back to the present.
"Yumi, are you okay?" Hinata asked. I noticed that the girls had changed into their ocean blue bridesmaid kimonos. I wiped away the happy tears and smiled.
"Just something I remembered made me happy. I'm fine, really," I answered. I quickly changed and the girls were doing my hair when my mother came in.
"Oh, honey, you look gorgeous!" she cried. She was carrying bouquets for us. "Ino's parents made these for you." We took them and headed downstairs to the back door of the house. Choji, Naruto, and Neji were waiting for us, all dressed up in their formal clothes.
"Well, don't you three look handsome?" I said with a smile. I saw all three of them turn a little pink.
"Are we all ready?" Yoshino asked. I started to nod but stopped.
"Where's Dad?" I asked.
"Do you think I'd be late on my little girl's big day?" my dad answered as he walked in. I smiled at him and we heard the music start. Yoshino did some touch-ups on Tenten and Neji as they got ready to walk out first. I watched the walk to the altar and then separate. Then, Ino and Choji went out. Hinata and Naruto did the same after them. Finally, it was time for my dad and me to go. He smiled at me and pulled the veil over my face. "You look beautiful."
"Thanks, Dad," I replied with a smile. The music outside changed and we walked up to the door.
"Here we go," he said and then we were walking. Shika was staring wide-eyed at me as my dad and I walked down the aisle. I blushed deeply and I saw his expression change to his adorable crooked smirk. My dad released my arm and went to go sit with my mom as I faced Shika at the altar. I could hear excited whispers moving through the crowd.
"She looks so beautiful. And doesn't Shikamaru look handsome?"
"Aww, look! She really is a blushing bride!"
"They are such a good couple. They're so young, but this is meant to be."
I looked up at Shika and almost burst into tears at all the love I saw in his eyes. The priest started to speak, but I barely heard him. I couldn't take my eyes off of Shika. It got to the part where we said our vows and gave each other the rings. Shika went first. He took my hand and got ready to speak.
"There are so many things to say. But you know I'm not the greatest with words. I promise to care for you. I promise to protect you. Most of all, I promise that I will love you forever." He put the ring on my finger and it was my turn.
"Shikamaru, you may never know how much I truly love you. You are the sweetest, kindest, and most adorably lazy man I know." He chuckled softly. "I know you'll always be there for me. I promise to always be by your side. I'm the happiest I've ever been whenever I'm with you and I give you my promise that I will love you forever." I put the wedding band on his finger and smiled.
"Shikamaru, do you take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife?" the priest asked.
"I do," he answered with a smile. The priest turned to me.
"Yumiko, do you take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband?"
"I do."
"I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride." Shika wrapped his arms around me and kissed me deeply. I was lost in that kiss. He pulled away and I felt dizzy as everyone cheered. He took my hand and we walked back down the aisle and to the other side of the house where the reception was being held. There was a wooden dance floor and a slightly raised platform with a table. Shikaku led us up to the platform along with Tenten, Neji, Hinata, Naruto, Ino, and Choji. We all sat down together and everyone else sat at the tables below. The food was served, but before anyone could eat, Choji stood up.
"As the best man, it's expected of me to give a speech. So here goes. I could say a lot about these two. Most of all, they're great friends and are always there whenever anyone needs them. They're perfect for each other and every person here can see that." He smiled at us. "Congratulations, Shikamaru and Yumi." Everyone clapped and then we started to eat. When we finished, a beautiful cake was set in front of us.
"Stand up. We'll cut it together," Shika whispered in my ear. I did as he said and he stood behind me, his hands covering mine on the knife's handle. We cut two pieces of cake and then my mom took over. Shika picked up a piece and held it up. I looked at him warily.
"I really don't want icing up my nose, Shika," I said. He smirked.
"Cleaning off all that icing would be a drag. I won't shove it in your face, I promise," he replied. "Just take a bite." I took a bite as I picked up the other piece of cake. "Wait. You've got icing on your nose."
"What? Where?" I tried to wipe at it, but he grabbed my wrist.
"I've got it." Then, he did something that made my cheeks burn. He got close to my face and his tongue flicked out from between his lips, licking the icing off the end of my nose.
"Sh-shika!" I felt like my face would burst into flames. All he did was smirk.
"Yummy. Can I have a bite now?" he asked. I silently held up the cake and he took a big bite. "That's good cake." He licked his lips and my heartbeat sped up at the sight. My dad walked up to us and I was thankful for the distraction.
"It's time for you two to have your first dance as husband and wife," he told us. We nodded. Shika took my hand and gently pulled me down to the dance floor.
A/N- Yay! Shikamaru and Yumi are married now! I was so excited to get this chapter out. I hope you all enjoyed it! Also, sorry if Choji's speech was horrible. To be honest, I had absolutely no ideas for it…Anyway, don't forget to R&R!
- ren-shika-inu15
P.S. I had a guest reviewer ask a good question. The question was 'Who is Sakura's love interest?' Answer: I really haven't thought about it much. She hasn't really been a big character in either of the stories so I guess you could say that she's still waiting on Sasuke to change his mind and come back. That's the most I can tell you right now so I hope that works. It may change later on if I decide to include her more.
