"She chose her own path, Shikamaru," Ino reminded her friend as they ran side by side in formation. The war had been raging for some time now and the entire shinobi world was intent on stopping the ten tails from destroying humanity, but, even with Naruto and his nine tails chakra, it was proving to be impossible. However, even with all of this going on, Shikamaru was still sidetracked by Sakaria. "Besides, I'm sure wherever she is, she's fine... unless that white haired freak she was with shredded her up." She mumbled the last part to herself, hoping her partner couldn't hear. In truth, Ino was more than angry at Sakaria after they had spent time and manpower going to get her and she not only refused to come home, but attacked her team.
"It's not that," Shikamaru rasped, rolling his eyes. He wanted to continue, but he couldn't find the words. "I just want to get this over with, okay?" Ino lowered her brow in concern, but turned back toward the direction they were running.
"It's going to be fine," Shikamaru said, rubbing the back of his neck with his right hand and smiling at the raven haired girl in front of him while she frantically combed her freshly curled hair over her shoulders.
"What if they don't like me..." Sakaria muttered looking at her feet. "I mean, no one else in the village really-"
"My parents aren't like that... especially not my dad," the man continued, still smiling sweetly. Since Sakaria's apartment was under renovation due to a busted pipe, Shikamaru had offered for her to stay with him at his parents' home. This would be the first time Sakaria had stayed there without sneaking out before his parents knew she was there and the first time Sakaria would actually meet his mother and father face to face. "Besides, it's either this, or you go without a shower for the next week."
Sakaria sighed and hung her head, her stomach turning. "I'm not exactly the greatest with parents," she added, standing and biting the edge of her thumb nail. "I didn't even really impress my parents before they..." She stopped herself and sighed, dissociating from her current situation as she thought back on her own mom and dad.
"Hey," Shikamaru's voice brought her back instantaneously, and she snapped her eyes over to meet his. He walked up to her and put his reassuring hand on her shoulder in the same way he always had. "You worry too much." His companion straightened herself and trailed slightly behind Shikamaru.
"Mom, Dad!" Shikamaru called, heading inside and kicking off his shoes while Sakaria did the same. "I'm back!"
"Did you bring that girl with you?" A harsh voice called from the kitchen. Sakaria swallowed hard and looked up at the Nara boy, unmoving from the doorway. Shikamaru shook his head and grabbed her hand, heading into the kitchen.
"She's not 'some girl,' ma," Shikamaru sighed, turning into the doorframe of the kitchen, Sakaria still standing shakily behind him. "She's got a name."
"Well?" His mother turned, eying her son with her dark brown eyes.
"Sakaria," Shikaku, Shikamaru's father chimed in, "We've heard so much about you." He set his newspaper down on the table in front of him, and smiled warmly at the small Uchiha girl hidden behind his son. The look reminded Sakaria of the time she and Sasuke tried to coax a frightened kitten from a drain pipe when they were younger, and the result was the same. She nervously stepped from behind Shikamaru and bowed slightly, her pale arms crossed in front of her.
"G-Good things, I hope," Sakaria stammered, "It's nice to meet you, sir..." She bowed reluctantly toward the matron in the room, "ma'am."
"All good things," the clan head reassured, taking a sip of his tea.
"Shikamaru never shuts up about you," his mother griped, wiping her hands on a dish rag.
"Yoshino," Shikaku sighed, closing his eyes in frustration. "Sakaria, please, take a seat."
"Oh, thank you," she mumbled, kneeling at the table with Shikaku. Shikamaru followed shortly after and took the seat on the other side of her.
"Shikamaru tells me your apartment is under construction."
"Y-Yes, sir. I think a pipe busted. The entire building has been without water for a few days now, and it's hard to sleep when they start working so early in the day."
"A few days?" Yoshino said unpleasantly, "How have you been showering?" Her voice sounded much more cruel than she intended.
"Mom!" Shikamaru growled, annoyed.
"No, it's okay," Sakaria moused, gaining her confidence, "Ino has actually let me use her shower a couple of times since the construction started."
"Hm," Shikaku smirked at her, setting his cup on the table, "Ino comes off as sort of crass and volatile, but she's a pretty helpful girl." His eyes trailed back to his wife as she started drying the dishes she had been washing prior to their arrival. "Sounds familiar."
"So, why couldn't you stay at Ino's house, then?" Yoshino asked, ignoring her husband's jeering and focusing on her cup.
"Oh, I..." Sakaria looked into her lap, searching for answers.
"Ino's parents don't have a guest bed for Sakaria to stay in," Shikamaru interrupted, "And anyway, Ino didn't invite her to stay. I did." He looked over at Sakaria and smiled which caused his mother to take note of this from her peripheral vision.
"Well, I don't want any funny business going on in my house," Yoshino said, cutting her eyes to the two.
"Mom!"
"Oh, of course not, ma'am I would neve-"
"Yoshino, there's no need to embarrass them. Leave them be." A silence rushed over the house, the only noise remaining was the clink of glasses as Shikamaru's mother set them side by side on the drying mat. "So, Sakaria," Shikaku continued, "Shikamaru tells me you're getting quite used to being back home."
Sakaria looked down, a sadness filling her eyes as she fiddled with her hands while they rested in her lap. "Yes, sir." She mumbled, "I missed the village... and it was nice to see my..." her words caught in her throat as she attempted to find what exactly she should say without causing herself to cry. She would love to say 'it was nice to see my parents,' or even 'it was nice to see my house,' but it wasn't. Everything was gone. While these thoughts rushed through her head, she managed to finish her sentence with a bittersweet, "my clan's crest..." Shikaku raised an eyebrow at this, not understanding until she continued, "It's nice to see that it's still on the police station."
Shikaku nodded, realization flooding over him. He wasn't sure what to say at this point, but, to his surprise his wife chimed in.
"You can actually still have your clan's symbol put on your clothes at a shop nearby." At this point, Yoshino's hard exterior had melted away, and when Sakaria looked at her, she was reminded of her own mother. "I'll show you tomorrow, if you'd like. The lady who works there is a close friend of mine. Maybe we could get her to make you a few new outfits." Shikamaru looked up at his mom in rare form, then over to his friend who was on the verge of tears although she was smiling.
"I'd like that," Sakaria said, blinking the tears away from her eyes. "I'd really like that."
After some time sitting in silence, Shikamaru stood and stretched lazily. "Well, I'm gonna show Sakaria where she's staying." He offered his hand down to his black haired friend and smiled as she took it. They walked down the hallway that Sakaria could almost remember stumbling through when she was drunk all those nights ago, and came to a door near Shikamaru's room. After opening the door and leading her in, the brown haired boy turned with his arms out, showing off the plain guest room in a show of sarcastic grandiosity. "Here we are. Casa de Sakaria." He joked as Sakaria walked over and sat on the bed. "There's no nightlight in here, but..." He leaned in and whispered, "You can sneak into my room if you get too scared, okay?" Sakaria blushed, slightly embarrassed as her companion talked to her as though she were a child. Shikamaru stood straight again and raised an eyebrow. "You okay?"
"You're really lucky, ya know," Sakaria mumbled, looking down to the blankets below her.
Shikamaru sat beside her, trying to catch her gaze again so she would look up at him but she didn't. "It's okay here. I mean, I definitely don't plan on living here forever bu-"
"Not the house... I mean..." Sakaria sighed, moving her thumb over the comforter gently. "Your parents are really nice." She finally looked up, a painfully fake smile crossing her face.
Shikamaru reluctantly reached up and took her cheek in his palm, ensuring she would continue looking at him and searching her face for any sign that she might start crying. He then pulled her into his chest and held her close to him. "Just because they're gone, doesn't mean you don't have parents too, Sakaria." He sighed and planted a light kiss on the top of her head. "and you still have a family... with all of us here." He pulled away and looked as Sakaria's faux smile faded to a look of curiosity and he beamed at her, "My dad always says girls are troublesome... but I don't think he'd mind having one more in the family." Sakaria erupted into laughter at this, almost shocked that Shikamaru could be so genuine and kind. He was truly the most accepting person she had met since returning to the village and now she knew why. His parents... his father especially, had taught him to be that way. The pair laughed and Shikamaru ended the moment, by throwing himself on the guest bed. "Anyway, I think it's time for a nap." Sakaria raised an eyebrow at this, ready to interject that he had his own bed to nap in, but by the time she had found the words, her ponytailed companion had already drifted off, his hands draped carelessly behind his head.