Chapter 10: Returning the Favor
"Careful Kurenai you'll hurt yourself!"
"I'm pregnant not dying. Hanging up this picture isn't going to kill me."
"You can get hurt!"
"Don't worry so much."
Himai prayed she'd never be this bad if she ever had kids. Kurenai was standing on the arm rest of her couch hanging up a new picture. She was worried she'd fall over and harm the baby.
"I can't just sit around doing nothing all day. Can I make you tea? I have dango I bought earlier today."
"If it means you won't do anything reckless today by all means do it!" Himai knew there was a reason she should be there today. If it wasn't for her, who knows what other scary things Kurenai would be doing at the moment.
"So did you tell Shikamaru before he left?"
"Tsunade called me before I could. We were deployed right after."
"I see. So you're gonna have to put it off for a while."
"Yeah. I'll tell him, the problem is when."
"I'm sure you'll get the chance to soon. You just have to-"
"Be patient I know. But it's hard to be patient when you're antsy."
"Yes I suppose that's true as well."
Himai leaned back on the couch. Kurenai wasn't as calm as she usually was. She was a bit stiff.
"Kurenai?"
"Hm?"
"Are you alright. I've been meaning to ask you since I came in the morning."
"So you notice huh?"
"It's not so easy to hide things from me. You know that."
"I'm worried. They don't have much information on the enemy. Even with what you gave them. You can never tell what a shinobi will really do next."
"I guess you're right."
"Well not to brag but I usually am."
"I'm aware. This isn't an insult, but you really are like a child."
"Normally I'd be angry at the comment. But since it isn't an insult and you're pregnant, care to explain?"
"You fooling others, deception. You know how to get what you want. You're very observant of things around you. But sometimes, you can't see the true meaning of things. But when you do, it's like you become enlightened and know what to do from there."
"Guess when you put it that way it makes sense. Then again your hormones are out of control you might not know what you're saying."
"Oh I have a feeling I'm still in my right mind."
Kurenai came to the living room and set down the tea and sweets in front of Himai. She tried to restrain herself and eat politely, but she couldn't help it.
"I can say the same for you though, you're acting like something you're not."
"I had an argument with Hiryuu and his wife yesterday about how I'm not as 'lady like' as people in my clan prefer a woman to be. I can't help it. I'm not going to sit around and be a trophy for some guy when I can actually do something productive."
"Don't have to worry about what they say. Just be who you are. You'll find someone that will appreciate you not being another trophy."
"I hope you're right."
They kept talking until they heard a knock on the door.
"Stay there Kurenai. I'll get it for you."
"If you insist."
Himai walked to the door and opened it.
"Mai?"
"Maru your back!"
Himai practically jumped on him in seeing him alive.
"Are you alright."
Shikamaru hugged her back, a little too tightly.
"Yeah, I'm fine."
She could feel that he was depressed, angry.
"Maru?"
"Is Kurenai here?"
'He's depressed, angry, and asking for Kurenai…'
"No… it can't…" Himai slowly backed away to see his face and she knew.
"Himai? Who is it?" Kurenai came walking to the door.
"Shikamaru. It's so good to see you back. Please come inside."
"Actually I have something to tell you." Shikamaru sounded solemn. He knew he had to say it even if it killed him.
"What is it?"
"Asuma sensei. He… died in battle."
Kurenai stood there in complete shock before falling over and crying on her knees.
"Kurenai!" Himai caught her before her knees hit the floor so the impact wouldn't be as hard. She started crying heavily. Himai wanted to cry as well, but she knew that wasn't what Kurenai needed at the moment. She looked up to Shikamaru who looked like he was holding back his emotions. She placed a soothing hand on Kurenai's back.
"Kurenai, at least get to a place where you can sit. You'll hurt yourself." Himai helped Kurenai walk to the couch where they had the tea that was forgotten.
"H-how?" She asked shakily.
"The Akatsuki… got him."
Himai felt her heart sink. She was upset for actually following orders for once in her life.
"They've set the funeral for tomorrow."
"I, I want to be alone for a while. Please." Shikamaru and Himai looked at each other and nodded.
"If you need anything, don't hesitate calling."
"Thank you, Himai." The pair walked out of her house.
"I'm going to Lady Tsunade. I'll see you around."
"Don't." Shikamaru grabbed her arm knowing what she'd do.
"Even if you did stay and help out, the outcome would've been the same. Asuma sensei wouldn't have let you fight at all. He intended to keep you out of it if you were there."
"But-"
"It's just the way things would've been." Shikamaru loosened his grip when he was sure she wouldn't go running to Tsunade.
"He knew he was never officially your sensei, but with such an age gap, he felt like you were his student that became a reliable comrade. He wanted you to not be afraid of who you are, that others would accept you no matter what. Those… were his final words… to you."
Himai stood there shocked. She wasn't part of team 10, but she'd always stop by to train and help the team. She went on many missions with him, so he was a comrade to her.
"How are Choji and Ino?"
"Coping, but they'll get over it."
"And you? You were his favorite. You had a strong bond."
"..You already know. I'll see you tomorrow."
Shikamaru walked away and Himai headed to her house. She didn't plan on greeting anyone, but a familiar voice stopped her.
"Hello to you too." Jino got up from the couch.
"I heard about Sarutobi Asuma."
"Even if I was there it wouldn't have changed a thing. Don't worry about me, I'm fine, I just need to take it in."
"And how's your friend?"
"He's not gonna break until he's provoked. I'm taking care of that."
"Just don't do anything stupid."
"I won't."
Himai went up to her room and fell on her face on the pillow. She instantly began to cry. After what seemed like hours, Himai got her face off the pillow and looked at the sun, it would be dinner soon, but she didn't plan on eating. She put her face back in the pillow and just stayed there.
She heard her door open but didn't care to see who was there.
"Himai? Are you alright? Your mother said dinner is ready."
"I'm not hungry." She replied to Hihana.
"I know you're saddened by your friend's lost, but you shouldn't be cooped up in here. You should be with friends and loved ones."
"You were never a shinobi. You don't know what it's like to have a comrade killed in battle."
"I never wanted to deal with these kinds of things. I just wanted to live a nice peaceful life."
Himai loved her sister-in-law, but sometimes... She pushed herself up on her elbows and stared at Hihana.
"You know, now that you're not pregnant, I won't really have much time to think about my actions. You didn't become a shinobi because you wanted a peaceful life? I became one because I didn't want your life. Now I'd greatly appreciate it if you'd just let me drown in my sorrow for a while. I won't hesitate to accidentally swipe my staff on your face."
Himai stared Hihana down until she left her room. She felt like she had to add something to her words. She got up and opened the door to yell out.
"And if you think nagging to Hiryuu is gonna change jack then I hope you know what pissed the fuck off means!" She slammed her door shut.
"HIMAI! LANGUAGE!" Hishu yelled.
"FUCK OFF!" She replied. Himai put in her sandals and left the house by the balcony. She was concerned about something, or rather, someone. She went by rooftop to the Nara house. She knocked on the door and was thankful Shikaku opened it.
"Himai. What a pleasant surprise. Shikamaru isn't-"
"I know. I came to talk to you about that." Shikaku nodded and let her in.
The following day the funeral was held. Everyone was there except of a very noticeably absent Nara. Everyone found out about Kurenai and Asuma's relationship and the baby. Everyone went their separate ways afterwards. Himai made sure Kurenai had something to eat any went home.
She didn't see Shikamaru all day. She figured he wanted space. She'd drop by the Nara house later. Right now she went to the Hokage's office.
"Himai, I-"
"Nothing would have changed if I was there. I know that now Lady Tsunade."
"Very well. Unfortunately though, you're still on standby."
Himai nodded.
"We'll be forming a new squad to track and take out the group that Asuma's squad encountered. I want you to be there."
"You know Team Asuma is going to want to go after them right?"
"Yes. I'll have to think of a way to stall them."
"Is that all?"
"Yes, you may go." Himai left and went home to show her mother she was alive and ate a bit. It was sundown, in about an hour she'd go back to the Nara house.
The moon was out and Shikaku had taken Shikamaru in to play shogi. She stood outside the room. She wasn't able to hear their conversation. After another 12 minutes she heard what sounded like a shogi board hit the ground. The light that illuminated the room went out. Eventually Shikaku came out of the room and closed it before Shikamaru could wake the whole house with his crying.
"You should go in there."
"I will when he calms down. I'm, not that good when it comes to emotional breakdowns."
"He's right. You're good at making others do things for you."
"You make it sound like it's a bad thing Shikaku."
"Not the way you do it, but it can be used for evil."
"I won't use it for that. I promise."
"You'll be with him when he calms down."
"Yeah, don't worry about it. He'll be fine."
"I leave him in your hands now Himai. Good night."
"Good night Shikaku. Tell Yoshino I say hi."
"Of course."
Himai sat and leaned on the wooden pillar that was outside of the room. She waited for Shikamaru to calm down. She knew if she was in his position, he'd do something to make her cry and let it all out. Now it was her turn to do the same. Team 10 wouldn't rest until they got revenge.
When Shikamaru stopped crying and he'd spent half an hour not moving and silent, Himai opened the door, removed the staff from her back, sat on the floor with her legs crossed, got the shogi table and put it up, crossed her arms and leaned them on her knees.
"Mai."
"So now what are you gonna do Shikamaru."
Shikamaru sat up. He looked over to the shogi pieces on the floor and looked at them. He began to organize them until her saw one that caught his attention. He instantly became motivated. He started putting them on the board and playing a game by himself. Himai just sat there and watched.
It looked like he was getting somewhere until he found a mistake and messed up the pieces.
"Try again." Himai encouraged.
He kept going until he found the result he was looking for.
"Let's go Mai."
They were at the village library very early. Himai didn't ask, she just took whatever order she got from Shikamaru to do something. What she was doing? She had no idea. She just did what she told him and followed him around until he went to Choji's house. She decided he was well enough to be left on his own. She wasn't worried anymore.
"Don't do anything stupid Maru."
"I won't. I'll be passing by later on, so be ready."
"Ready for what?"
"You're coming with us to get those Akatsuki and you're not dying on me."