Whoo... it's been a while since I've updated, eh?
The next day…
Shikamaru sat in his office, fumbling through papers. It had been his only source of distraction lately, since Naruto, Sakura, and Kakashi only awoke to go back to sleep. He had their brain waves analyzed, and the results say there not in the genjutsu anymore, but he still had a hard time believing it, especially since they were still, in fact, asleep.
A knock was sounded at his door. "Come in," he said.
Kiba walked inside his office. "Hey," he said, softer than normal.
"Something the matter?" Shikamaru asked, sitting up in the Homage's chair. "It's unlike you to give me a visit in my office, Kiba."
Kiba's heart rate picked up, his courage dropping. "Well… I've decided, I'm leaving the village."
There was a long silence between them, and Shikamaru's eyes turned to slits. "If you're leaving the village, you'll need to tell me why."
"Because," Kiba shrugged, trying his best to act non-chalant. "I just want to go away in solitude, wonder around, adventure— you name it! Just not…" his eyes looked to the floor, "Here."
Shikamaru set the papers down. "Why not here, Kiba?" he asked.
"What's a guy gotta do to just leave for a bit?" Kiba asked, beginning to get irritated and defensive.
Shikamaru didn't reply, instead, he picked up a single paper, his wife's hospital information. "Ino's in the hospital, did you know that?" he asked.
Kiba's feet went cold. "Uh.. yea, the whole village knows—"
"Actually, the village doesn't know," Shikamaru frowned at his friend, "I made sure no one knows, it keeps panic at bay." Kiba stood there quietly, not daring to talk. "There were a few things I found odd when I found Ino. First, why would someone capture the Homage's wife if our village wasn't at war? It would have to mean someone who was sick and tired of the village would've capture her. Maybe to get information, I don't know… but after this they probably would want to leave," he analyzed.
"And secondly," he stood up from his chair, "There was a few strands of dog hair on her shirt… and I very well know we don't own a dog."
"Shikamaru—"
"Kiba. What the hell were you thinking!?" he walked around his desk, never breaking eye contact with the Inuzuka. "You have nothing against Ino, and you've got nothing against me! Why!?"
"I didn't—"
"Don't play stupid, we're not students in the academy anymore!"
"I only wanted to know what was going on, okay!?" Kiba yelled. "You were so secretive about Naruto, Sakura, and Kakashi, so what did I do? I joined the black ops, only to find that they knew nothing more about anything in this village than the public! I tried to snoop around a bit, I even asked you a few questions, 'Hey Shikamaru, what's up with Team seven,' but you avoided it like a plague— they're my friends too!"
"So you kidnapped my wife!?" Shikamaru was having trouble finding the logic in Kiba's antics.
"It wasn't supposed to go sideways like this…" Kiba mumbled. "At first, I was going to try and ask her a few questions, but then she automatically thought I was trying to kill her, so I panicked, and—" he cut off, "I never knew… I never knew she was pregnant until that filthy rouge gave her to me."
"You know what you've done," Shikamaru mumbled, looking away from a long time friend. "I can't allow you to stay in the village."
"You're still not answering the question!" Kiba accused.
"You're no longer a member of the leaf— the information isn't relevant to you anymore," Shikamaru said harshly, pointing to the door, "I'll let everyone know that you've decided to leave on your own accords…"
Kiba's mouth was screwed shut, and he could feel the anger bubble in his chest, but he kept quiet, turned around, and left.
That was the last time Shikamaru ever saw him.
xXxXx
Two days later…
"Hokage-sama," Shikamaru heard a knock through the door.
"Yes, come in," he said, sitting at his desk. He had yet to go through the paperwork for Kiba leaving the village.
A nurse walked into the room. He recognized her as one of the nurses helping his wife. "You'll want to hear this," she said.
"Well I can't hear it if you won't say anything," he sighed, leaning forward. He noticed her face blush, probably from embarrassment, and she scrambled her papers together and set them on his desk.
"You're wife is well," she said, "And will be released tomorrow, as expected." She paused, looking at him, "But the real news is about Team Seven."
Shikamaru straitened in his chair. "Are they awake?" he asked, his breath caught in his throat.
"No, but their brainwaves suggest they will be soon," she furrowed her brows, "I figured you'd want to be there when they do awake."
"Of course," he nods. "Thanks," standing up, he walks to the door, holding it open so she can walk pas him.
She bows, "Thank you."
He only hums in response, and walks the other way, towards Team Seven's room. Was this it? Were they going to wake up? And if they do, will they remember anything? Will they be themselves? Will the village go back to normal? His heart picks up it's pace, his footsteps become quicker, and his palms sweat. Team Seven, awake and alive again?
When the genjutsu first wore off, Shikamaru was almost unsurprised that they weren't awake—almost relieved. Not because he didn't want to see his friends, but because he didn't know what would happen when they awoke. He wanted it. He really did. But he was nervous. Being in a genjutsu for so long can be… well it can do crazy things to your mind. He feared what they've seen. What they've gone through. Who they may have become…
He reached the hospital room, but he almost doesn't want to go in. Luck for him, however, a nurse opens the door, startled by his presents.
"O-oh! Hokage-sama!" she bows, "S-sorry about that," she mumbles, making away for Shikamaru to enter.
"No need to apologize," he says slowly, "I was just standing there for a bit."
"Did I disturb your thoughts?" she asked.
They were already disturbed, he sighed. "No, not at all."
She bows once more, and takes her leave. He sits down by the beds. Laying there are Naruto, Sakura, and Kakashi. He glares at the sheets that cover them with his elbow propped up, his hand holding his head. What was his approach? How should he handle this? What was the… answer? He didn't know.
The steady beep of the monitor in the room was almost a lullaby, and soon, he found himself falling asleep. He didn't know how long he was out before…
"Shikamaru," Ino shook her husbands arm. He didn't budge. Figures, since he's such a heavy sleeper and all. "Shikamaru!" she tried, a bit louder, and this time taking his hand that propped up his head away, leaving his head to fall.
"Wha—!" he looked up, seeing his wife. "Ino?"
"You fell asleep," she sighed, "The nurses said I could come in here with you," she said.
He looked at her lazily, then realized she wasn't sitting down. Immediately he stood up, "Here, sit down."
"I've been laying down for days. I think I should actually stand for a bit," she said sternly.
He rubbed the back of his neck, "You're still hurt, though."
"Nothing worse than anything I've had happen before," she said, placing a hand on his shoulder. "There may not be a war anymore, but in case you've forgotten, we've both gone through one." She leaned forward to give him a soft kiss.
He sighs, "Right—"
"Huh?" they both quieted. That voice didn't come from them. They whipped their heads around, locking their eyes with a familiar sky-blue pair. "What the hell?"
"Naru…to," Shikamaru's eyes widened. He was…
"The hell are you two doing all lovey-dovey!? What kinda whacked shit happened while we were gone!?" Naruto sat strait up like a bolt, pointing an accusing finger at them.
Shikamaru's eyes blurred, and he decided to blame it on his tiredness and definitely not tears. "Ha," he smiled faintly, "How troublesome."
"Naruto, stop being so loud…" Sakura mumbled, moving her hands to cover her ears. "And what's that annoying beeping sound?"
"That would be the monitor," Shikamaru said, "And as much as I'd love to take it off, it's making sure you're alive and well."
Kakashi sat up, his expression sober. "Well," he looked out the window near him, "I guess we're finally back home…"
Shikamaru looked curiously at them, "You seem almost upset?"
"That place…" Naruto whispered, "It was just like a dream." He laid back down in bed, "Nothing was wrong there—aside from it being fake, of course." He said it with a tinge of sourness in his voice.
"Really?" Ino said, just loud enough to hear.
"Yeah," Sakura said sadly. But her expression changed, a smirk replacing her frown, "You weren't even there, Pig!"
Ino immediately frowned, firing back, "Are you serious, forehead!? I swear if I wasn't injured and if you weren't in a hospital bed, you'd be dead meat right now, you hear me!?"
Sakura laughed, and after a short while, everyone joined in. There was unspoken grief that lingered in the air, but it seemed to be forgotten.
"Welcome back," Shikamaru smiled.
xXxXx
Naruto leaned against the apartment window. The hospital, with the help of a persuasive Shikamaru, allowed Team Seven to leave the hospital. They found a small apartment, Kakashi staying in one, and Naruto and Sakura staying in another. Naruto knew people thought Team Seven was dead, but it was weird to see everyone's faces as they gawked at them when they walked down the road. Although, what else could you expect?
Naruto found himself wondering, as he usually did. His thoughts kept getting the better of him. He heard footsteps coming from down the small hallway. He turned around, meeting eye to eye with Sakura.
"What'cha thinking about?" she asked him, leaning against the opposite side of the window.
He smiled, closing his eyes, "Nothing really." He could practically feel her frown. He wasn't ever good at lying.
"You're worried about something."
He grimaced, "You know me too well, Sakura-chan."
"What are you worried about?" she asked, stepping closer and letting her hands find their way around his waist.
"Remember what we talked about?" he asked, looking down at her.
"What?" her eyebrows raised.
"You didn't forget anything, did you?" he asked, his expression serious.
She let her head fall down into his chest. "Of course not… baka," she whispered, her lips curving upwards.
He grabbed her head, lifting her chin up so that he could look at her. "You still love me," he asked, his eyes hopeful.
She nodded, leaning up towards him, only an inch from his face, "Yes, I still love you."
He grinned, leaning down and kissing her. It started firm, as if it were a desperate plea for confirmation, but it turned soft, light, and made Sakura's insides turn to mush. "I do too," he smiled on her lips, and breaking apart. Holding her close, he popped his head on the top of her own.
They were like this for a long while, and Sakura couldn't be any more satisfied.
"Hey Sakura-chan?" Naruto asked.
"What?" she hummed.
"Marry me."
She could feel his heart rate pick up at a frightening pace as those words left his mouth. She could hear his breath hitch in his throat, his hands still at her waist. Her head was still against his chest, and her words came out before she got the chance to even think them through.
"Okay."
Well next chapter will be the epilogue, then it's over! Ugh, I just want this trash story to be finished with now ;n;
Hope you enjoyed!
-LovelySheree