Taking After
Every time Shikamaru lifts Shikari up from her crib, the baby cries. Today is no exception. Sighing, he gives his daughter to the awaiting arms of his smirking brother-in-law.
Kankuro makes those faces and with his face paint it probably looks comical to the baby but then Temari has reassured Shikamaru that the month-old baby still could not see.
Now, Shikamaru wonders for the umpteenth time why his daughter appears to not like him. He has even tried using Temari's subtle yet still floral soap, hoping that his new smell would lure his child into liking him.
Kankuro and Gaara have visited twice this month, the first when Temari had given birth and now, as Shikari is turning a month old, the Sand siblings have arrived yet again and seem to prove that Shikari likes everyone to carry her except her father.
Fighting another sigh from escaping from his lips, Shikamaru watches his daughter smile and gurgles happily as her uncle Kankuro coos.
Maybe he should ask Kankuro his brand of soap?
Kankuro notices Shikamaru's frown. "Aw Shikari, you show good taste at such an early age."
Shikamaru's frown fleetingly becomes a scowl before he slips to his nonchalant stance as he mumbles, "Tch."
"What was that, Nara?"
"Shut up!"
Kankuro laughs which makes the baby in his arms smile wider. Seeing this miracle, Kankuro raises gleaming eyes from the baby towards Shikamaru and catches the look of envy before it is covered with the typical bored facade of the younger shinobi.
"Here." Kankuro outstretches the bundle in his arms towards Shikamaru.
"She'll just cry again," Shikamaru mutters.
"So?"
Shikamaru takes the baby from Kankuro. True enough, the baby wails, her pitiful cries loud enough for all of Konoha to hear. "Shh," Shikamaru remarks softly, trying to juggle the baby to stop her from crying.
Kankuro watches Shikamaru's struggle to calm his own daughter. "Maybe it's your shampoo."
"Or maybe she takes after her mother despite the dark hair." Shikamaru puts down the bottle with his left hand, careful to support Shikari's small body with his right arm. Once again his daughter is neither hungry nor uncomfortable in her nappies. She just doesn't like him. "A month old and she's this troublesome. Can't wait for her to get old. That would be great. Just great."
"Until she runs off with a shinobi from Iwagakure," Kankuro thinks aloud, speaking with mocking humour. "After all she must really take after her mother."
—o0o—
~11/22/11AF~
A/N: Hmn I got this idea from my brother who claims his son Enzo cries when he tries to carry him...okay nobody in the family reads this but still—Happy one month old, Enzo!
To Alex, hey I like your suggestion for Shikari's appearance but she should have Shikamaru's hair and then Gaara's cute eyes.
Aw I miss writing new stories/drabbles. Hope I'm out of that awful writer's block...
Review?
