HEY GUYS AND GIRLS. SORRY FOR THE WAIT BUT I'VE BEEN UNEXPECTEDLY QUITE BUSY THESE PAST FEW WEEKS. LIFE IS BEING SUCH A DRAG BUT I MANAGED TO TYPE THIS IS IN THE SHORT TIME I HAD TO MYSELF. THANKS FOR ALL THE SUPPORT AND COMMENTS EVERYONE. I THOUGHT THIS STORY WOULD'VE BEEN AN EPIC FAIL BY NOW (I GUESS I CAN'T RULE THAT OUT JUST YET) SO THANK YOU GUYS FOR MAKING IT WORTH TYPING. I'M SORRY FOR THE ERRORS AND MISTAKES AGAIN BUT I DIDN'T HAVE TIME TO EDIT THIS CHAPTER.
HAPPY READING
"So you and Sakura?" Izumo asked the lazy ninja as they waited for the hokage to join the group before they left to go back to Konoha.
"First Temari and now Sakura, you really do have a death wish." Kotetsu stated. Shikamaru let out a sigh as he looked up at the sky. He really didn't feel like dealing with anyone except Sakura right now. They had spent all night and morning together but he still wanted to see her. He hated that. She was able to wrap herself into his life with ease and he hated how easily he allowed her to do that. But he had to admit, he loved that troublesome woman.
"You really are your father's son." Izumo's words caught his attention there. Everyone compared him to his father but this was the first time someone suggested that he was becoming his father. For some weird reason he felt relieved and somewhat proud of himself. He always believed that he would never be half the man his father was yet here was someone who knew his father and believed that he could walk in his father's shoes.
"No, you're better than your father. He always gave us the worst jobs to do. You're at least more fun to work with than he was." Was Kotetsu still drunk from last night or was this just how he usually was? Shikamaru worked with the pair a lot but he never paid much attention to their personalities outside of missions and battles since he hardly hung out with them except for the occassional drink after a mission or drink at a party that they happened to be at.
"I guess I need to do the same then as well." Shikamaru finally piped up.
"You can't do that." Kotetsu was confident and way too sure of himself as he said that.
"I am Kakashi's right-hand man so if I tell him that you guys are better suited for some B-rank mission then he would believe me and he would tell Genma to give you guys the order or he would actually do it himself." He knew that he would shake Kotetsu's confidence a bit and it worked as the older shinobi stared at him in desperation.
"Come on Shikamaru. We're your friends. We'll go out tonight once we reach the village then we can have a good time just please don't give us boring missions like that please." Shikamaru smirked but Izumo was less subtle as he let out a laugh at his partner.
"Asuma would've been laughing his ass off right now." Izumo casually said as he wiped away a tear from all his laughter.
"You guys played me. I am going to get you guys back." Shikamaru couldn't help but think of his friendship with the chubby Akimichi. He had heard Choji utter those exact words at him and Ino on more than a few occassions just like Kotetsu had done now. He surprisingly missed those times. Everything was simpler and easy and the only thing that plagued his mind was how he could get out of training to go lay on a bed of grass and let the sun warm him as his mind drifted off.
"First get sober before you go plotting any revenge schemes." Izumo told his best friend then threw his arm around him.
"So you joining us tonight Shikamaru or do you already have plans with Sakura?"
"I can't go anywhere. Sakura and Kakashi are forcing me to take a week off to rest so that's what I am going to do. I'm still healing from a concussion so I don't want to risk it." Shikamaru explained.
"I heard about you falling off a roof. How drunk were you?" Izumo asked him.
"Not drunk, just tired which is why I need the rest." Shikamaru saw a group approaching them in the distance which was strange since the only people that he expected to join the 3 ninja was Kakashi, Genma, Sakura, Naruto and Hinata but he could see what looked like 6 other figures with them.
"Looks like the Suna-nin are joining us." Izumo stated. How he could see that the 6 other people were the Suna-nin was beyond the Nara but as the group came closer, Shikamaru confirmed the 6 other ninja; Gaara, Kankuro, Temari, Matsuri, Yukata and Temari's fiance.
"The more the merrier." Shikamaru was almost certain that if Kotetsu had a drink in his hands then he would've toasted it and drained the glass.
"Wait, who's that guy next to Temari?" Shikamaru wanted to turn around and make the journey back to Konoha alone when he heard that question. Sakura had been a huge help in rescuing his mind from thinking about Temari and her family but reality came crashing down on him again.
"Her fiance apparently." The surprises on their faces were unmistakable. They slowly turned to face each other then surprisingly began laughing. That actually lifted Shikamaru's spirit a bit. He was glad that they were laughing but he didn't know exactly why and he didn't really care anyway.
"Someone actually proposed to her and she said yes?" Kotetsu hysterical laughter was clearly rubbing off on Izumo.
"I know she's your ex Shikamaru but she scared me. I can't believe that anyone would marry that." Now Izumo was sounding like he had something to drink this morning. He was being a little rude but right now Shikamaru didn't give a crap about anything someone said about her.
"I guess he swept her off her feet or blew her away." Shikamaru joined in on their laughter. He knew that those were bad puns but he had to say it. It actually felt good to make fun of them a little. He had no problem with the guy whatsoever. Hell, he liked him surprisingly so he didn't mean any offence to him but he couldn't care less about the woman he was marrying.
"You… we need to… drink…" Kotetsu managed to say through his laughter. Shikamaru got the message though.
"Definitely Shikamaru. You're coming drinking with us soon. You're fun to have around surprisingly." Izumo said more fluently as their laughter died down before the group got any closer.
"I will think about it. I will have some free time on my hands so I might take you guys up on the offer." Shikamaru finally gave in.
"We look forward to it then. No Sakura though, just guys." Kotetsu firmly ordered me.
"Guys only." Shikamaru nodded in agreement then stood up straight and presentable. He saw Izumo and Kotetsu do the same as the familiar group finally reached them.
"Hokage-sama, Kazekage-sama." The three ninja bowed as they greeted the 2 leaders.
"The Kazekage and his ninja will be accompanying us to Konoha." Kakashi informed them, much to Shikamaru's displeasure.
"Great, we look forward to travelling with you." Kotetsu turned to Izumo then to Shikamaru as he tried not to laugh.
"We heard you guys laughing, want to share the joke?" Kankuro asked them.
"It's kind of an inside joke we remember Asuma telling us. It will just sound like nonsense if we tell it." Shikamaru bluntly told him. There was absolutely no emotion in his tone as he spoke. It almost sounded unnatural.
"Let's leave the fun and games for when we get back to the village." Genma shot them a look and the three of them immediately kept quiet.
"The path back to the village is relatively safe but keep your eyes open." Genma ordered them.
"I guess we're up then." Izumo said as he and Kotetsu made their way to the path leading out of the village. They were clearly going to be the ones leading the group and Shikamaru really didn't want to be close to any of the Suna-nin so he immediately walked behind the 2 partners.
"Trying to run away from me already?" Sakura appeared next to him as he walked. The path did allow for 2 people to walk side by side so he was grateful that it was Sakura.
"You're not the one I'm trying to get away from." He didn't have to remind her who their 'enemy' was did he?
"Hey, forget about them. When we get back to the village then I'm taking you straight to your house so that your mother and Kurenai don't kill you then we can just relax."
"Do you think they would mind if we ran ahead to the village then? Just to make sure that there's no traps up ahead and that the village hasn't been destroyed again." She smiled at him then gave him a quick kiss.
"It's cute that you want to get to the village to be with me but it's not all about the destination. Enjoy the journey with me. Slow and steady wins the race."
"That's not what you told me this morning in the shower." He softly whispered to her but she immediately blushed in response.
"Screw you."
"Slow down there. You can do that once we reach the village." He triumphantly smirked at her but he could see her stepping away from him so he immediately grabbed her hand to stop her from escaping any further.
"I thought you wanted to enjoy the journey together?"
"You were being an ass so you don't deserve to enjoy it with me."
"I don't deserve you even when I am not an ass."
"You got that right." She smirked as she moved closer to him again.
"You two, pay attention. This is not a romantic walk in the park." Genma instructed them as he appeared behind them.
"Yes sir." Both ninja replied. They turned to each other and smiled but kept their hands to themselves again. They were still on a mission so they needed to act accordingly.
"So we're in the village again." Sakura pointed out as they stood in Shikamaru's office after their journey.
"Yep. I just need to get my work then you can take me home I guess." Shikamaru replied as he began gathering a couple of scrolls. His desk was neatly cluttered with pages but he seemed to know exactly where everything was.
"Aren't you supposed to be the one who makes sure that I get home safely?" Sakura sat down then crossed her right leg over her left leg as she innocently watched her spiky haired lover. She may have looked innocent but her words were cunning and challenging to say the least.
"Who says that you're going home?" He lazily looked up at the beautiful kunoichi sitting a few feet away from him. This time it was his turn to look innocent as she tried to think of an answer.
"I have patients that I need to check up on at the hospital." She tried to sound casual but confident but his stare seemed to look through her answer.
"Lady Tsunade is an excellent medic ninja, not to mention your mentor. With Shizune's help, I am pretty sure that the hospital could do without you for one night and I am still a patient if you forgot." He stood up straight as he looked at her. He knew that she was a strong female force so she probably wasn't used to being so easily backed into a corner when she was on top just a moment ago. He was actually interested in how she would reply.
"You're clearly doing great so my talents would be more useful for some who needs it." Okay, not what he was expecting but he knew exactly how to get a more truthful and honest response out of her.
"You do realise that Kurenai is also living in my house. She's expected to give birth next week right and natural births can happen anytime in the month the baby is due so having a doctor in the house this close to the due date couldn't hurt." Her expression clearly changed. Her once strong and confident features melted into a softer expression again.
"You're right. I guess I do deserve a night off." Giving in, that was really surprising but it really shouldn't have been. Sakura might've been seen as a strong and independent woman let alone one of the most idoled and feared kunoichi right now but that really was just the exterior. She was a complete mystery deep down but he was glad that he had the opportunity to learn more about the girl he had known for most of his life.
"You don't look like you're going to take the night off though." She motioned down to the scrolls in his one hand and the stack of pages in the other.
"I have some work to do but I can leave that until tomorrow. I am sure the Kage will understand that I need to rest as well." A knock on the door immediately grabbed both of their attention.
"Looks like someone actually knows how to use a door in this place." Shikamaru joke certainly lifted the mood in the room as Sakura smiled.
"You guys are the most important people in the village. Right now you're leading one of the most impressive coallitions in the history of the shinobi realm so you can't blame us if we need to speak to you urgently." Sakura stated as she stood up and made her way to the door. She opened it but refused to say anything.
"Good evening Sakura, is Shikamaru in here?" That was Gaara's unmistakeable voice. The Kazekage might be an ally right now but something about the way he spoke still sent a shiver up the shadow ninja's spine.
Sakura moved out of the way and allowed Gaara to enter the room but Shikamaru could immediately sense the bad vibe between the two shinobi. He knew that Sakura was going to support him in his hatred towards the 3 siblings but for some reason he felt like she had a bigger hatred towards them than he had.
"Kazekage-sama, what can I do for you?" Shikamaru bluntly asked him. He was really getting good at that tone of voice.
"Shikamaru, I understand that you found out about Temari's engagement." Gaara clearly wasn't going to sugarcoat that and Shikamaru respected that so out of respect for the younger Kage, he wasn't going to sugarcoat his words as well.
"Kazekage-sama, respectfully, don't address me if it doesn't have anything to do with our professional careers." Shikamaru stared at the Kazekage but Kazekage stared back at him with equal aggression.
"This affects our professional relationship."
"We have no professional relationship right now. Our relationship is only limited to talking about the Shinobi Union so if you do not have any information regarding that then we have nothing to talk about." He knew he was being petty right now but he deserved to be. Fool me once…
"Shikamaru, I know you're angry and on behalf of my family, I apologise." Gaara's words were sincere but his expression still seemed cold and sinister.
"I accept your apology. If there's nothing else Kazekage-sama, I have an appointment I have to attend." Shikamaru reluctantly gave the Wind Nations leader a bow then made his way past him. Sakura followed him out of the room then joined his side as he walked out of the building.
"Want to talk about that?" Sakura asked him.
"They don't deserve our words. Let's just focus on us." He replied.
"I have no problem doing that." She gave him a genuine smiled and he appreciated her effort.
"Go on a date with me." He suddenly told her.
"Are you asking me or ordering me?" She challenged him again. Why did she have to be so troublesome?
"I'm asking you, would you like to go on a date with me?" He properly asked her.
"I'll have to check my schedule. I'll get back to you." That actually made him smile. She was annoying and irritating so why the hell did he want her more than anyone else in the world?
"Tch… troublesome woman." Suddenly he activated his shadow stitching ability and used that to grab the pages and scrolls in his hands as he stopped Sakura in her tracks then brought her body right up against his.
"You're such a drag." He gently planted his lips on hers as they slowly led themselves into a passionate kiss.
"You know, calling a female a 'drag' before you kiss them is not one of your best ideas." She told him when she broke their kiss.
"I'm kissing you so I guess it's not one of my worst ideas."
"You're lucky I am not your typical female."
"There's nothing 'typical' about you. You've always been something else." This time she initiated the kiss. He was glad that he could do this with her. She was really everything he needed in his life.
"You know, I think my schedule just cleared up."
"Lucky me then."
I GUESS THAT WRAPS UP A PRETTY UNDRAMATIC CHAPTER. LOOKS LIKE SHIKAMARU AND SAKURA ARE REALLY GOING TO GO THROUGH WITH HATING THE SAND SIBLINGS. (I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT I F***ING LOVE SHIKATEMA BUT FOR THE PURPOSE OF THIS STORY, I AM HATING THEM SO DON'T KILL ME JUST YET OR ELSE YOU'LL NEVER KNOW WHAT'S WRONG WITH SAKURA.) I DON'T KNOW WHEN I WILL BE ABLE TO WRITE THE NEXT CHAPTER BUT I WILL TRY TO DO IT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. UNTIL NEXT TIME GUYS AND GIRLS, SEE YA.