Chapter 37: A proposal party?
Ino stood there at the backyard gathering and was looking up to Shikamaru; Shikamaru felt her gaze on him and he turned to her "What's wrong Ino?" he asked squeezing her hand that was in his.
"Should we tell them" she said her face filled with concern of their family possibly freaking out or jumping with joy.
"I was thinking of telling them whenever you had felt ready to tell them" he answered giving her a smile that she knew was only for her. He went to his father right after got the the last hot dog off the grill and that grabbed Shikaku attention immediately the look he saw on his son's face was serious.
"Yoshino drop what you're doing Shikamaru needs our attention." he said taking the plate Yoshino had her hands away from and placing it on the picnic table Inoichi stopped what he was doing and looked to Shikamaru after hearing Shikaku speak to his wife.
"Dad, Mom, Inoichi. Ino and I have something to say to you guys and it might come to a shock." he said trying not to divert his eyes away because of nervousness he could tell Ino was confident and that gave him strength.
"well what is it?" Yoshino said crossing her arms and then adding "Ino isn't pregnant is she?" Inoichi look came from curious to out right scary in seconds.
"No Mom she's not. Troublesome woman always jumping to conclusions. "Shikamaru groaned out in annoyance
"Well what do you think your mother would think when you say you have something to tell us including Inoichi." Shikaku said with a huff
"We're engaged to married is what Shikamaru wanted to tell you." Ino said defensively wrapping her arms around Shikamaru waist and laying her head onto his chest lovingly. Yoshino face changed from serious to joyous glee and a huge smile on her face Inoichi looked about ready to strangle Shikamaru to complete shock and Shikaku face was that of bored look like always.
Shikazu blinked a few times amazed and turned to look to Tsunade who was speechless Inoichi spoke up first "When's the wedding date and are you sure about this?" he asked concerned not only for his daughter, but for the both of them.
"We haven't set a date yet Daddy cause we know it might be awhile before we will actually be married." Ino responded
"You two are going to be needing an engagement party at least until you two figure out the wedding plans" Yoshino said estatic and grabbing Ino and pulling her into a hug. Ino's eyes went wide with surprise and hugged her back tears falling she had always seen Yoshino as her mother since she lost hers at such a young age.
"Yoshino thank you for showing us the support" she said tighten her hug
"Oh Ino my dear I've always seen as Daughter I've never had and this moment should be special to you and you know I've always wanted you to call me mom so from now on you're doing just that." Yoshino explained Inoichi heart twisted with emotions and his eyes went downcasted.
"Hime I still have your mother's wedding dress, but I fear it might be a bit big on you." he said her mother and him had gotten married when they were in there 20's Kosha was 22 and he was 24.
"that's alright I'm sure there is something else of Mom's that I can burrow." she said wiping her tears away Shikamaru remained were he was sinking in this moment forever in his mind until he felt a couple of hands on his shoulders and looked both sides to see his Uncle and his father standing on either side of him and pull him away to talk to him.
Shikamaru looked confused he looked at both his father and his Uncle "Is something wrong?" he asked
"No nothing is wrong it's just that we thought the Nara curse would end with you? " Shikaku said
"you mean it would end with me marrying someone who wouldn't nag at me 24/7?" he replied annoyed
Shikazu stood there for a minute not sure why he tagged along the time that he had seen Shikamaru and Ino together she had not once nagged at him "Shikaku I don't think that will be a problem for him I haven't seen them at each other when I see them together."
Shikaku sighed that was true, but he knew Ino was bossy when she wanted to be and Yoshino was that way when she was younger.
"Besides Dad I couldn't marry anyone else I love Ino and I know you love her too as a daughter so what's the real problem?" Shikamaru said sticking his hands in his pockets.
Shikaku sighed "Just do anything to hurt her or Inoichi will Kill you and I'm not putting this lightly son I care for both of you and I'll say the same please heed to Ino's feelings like they were your own."
"I always do Dad" Shikamaru answered and the two of them walked back to the group Shikazu stood there awhile his mind in rambles his nephew was engaged and he knew I was suffering with the loss of Jiraiya he knew I was always a strong woman under loss of people I cared or loved about, but he guessed I couldn't deal with the loss of Jiraiya Tsunade walked over to Shikazu and pulled him out of his thoughts.
"Hey Shikazu I have something I need you to do will you do it?" she said looking at him with a straight face.
"Yea what is it?" he replied his face somber
"I've heard reports of a small village aways from here being attacked by Rogue ninja's and I need you to check it out can you do that please?" she said
"Is it a solo?" he asked on need to know bases.
"Yea I assigned you this knowing you can do it " she replied
"I'll do it and find out what's going on." he said he just needed to tell his brother he couldn't stay for lunch.
Jiraiya had decided to stay at the small village for awhile just incase it needed protection he sat under the shade of the tree that was in the middle of the village. "It's a very old tree been there since the village was created " The boy who he had saved said.
"I can tell so what's your name?" Jiraiya asked curious about the boy.
"It's Shuyo yours?" Shuyo asked sitting down next to him
"People call me Jiraiya." he replied and he saw Shuyo expression go into surprise.
"You're the legendary Sannin Jiraiya the toad Hermit no way!" he said crossing his arms Shuyo was a big fan of Jiraiya and not that Jiraiya knew that.
"the one and only kid" Jiraiya responded with a wide grin and sighed. Shuyo heard the sighed and looked up at Jiraiya face it looked like his age jumped up to more then what his actual age was.
"What's wrong?" he asked his expression softened
"Oh I miss my family my wife and my two kids they mean everything to me and I can't even return to them not yet anyways." he answered
"Why not return to them now nothing's holding you back." the boy replied
"The village thinks I'm dead and technically I was, but I guess I was only on the brink of dying and a friend came and saved as well as healed from my wounds and I was going to head back, but my mind track returned and I realized it wouldn't do me any good if I went back and they call me a ghost that had came back from the dead." Jiraiya explained Shuyo now understood the meaning.
"who did you fight to make you on the brink of death?" he asked
"The Akatsuki leader known as Pein, but I guess that doesn't matter now since he's heading to the village I came from which is Konoha" Jiraiya said ruffling the boy's hair.
"Hey! If you fought him shouldn't he be dead no one can beat a legendary sannin." Shuyo said
"It's only a title and yea I might be a strong ninja, but I'm not immortal I can die and be defeated " he said
"Yea we're all human I guess" Shuyo replied and nothing was said after that.
A couple of days had passed and when Jiraiya awoke that morning the Inn was going amess he could hear the staff running about going into empty rooms and cleaning and hear ruckus going on outside. He got up put on his sandles and walked out of his room and into the lobby he walked to the front desk and asked the innkeeper "What's going on outside?" placing an arm on the counter.
"There's a visitor here investigating what had happened to the Rogue ninja's you wounded a few days passed " she said fidgetting with her fingers Jiraiya nodded his understanding and walked outside and his eyes laid on no other then Shikazu. Jiraiya saw his face show surprise and then anger as well as frustration.
"Jiraiya care to tell me why you're here?" he asked crossing his arms which Jiraiya knew he never did unless it was very serious and Jiraiya could guess this it.
A/n: Yay! Chapter 37 is done! Enjoy and review! :D