Chapter 41

SHIKAKU

In Shikaku's absence the Nara elders had already pulled Shikamaru in to their rooms along with Ino and Choji as well as Naruto and Sasuke to explain the importance of the bond and what is was.

"It's much more than a simple attraction to somebody. It's about faith. Not becoming some possession Sasuke-kun. Becoming a fated-pair is like laying bare everything you are or ever will be to eachother and being blessed by the wind that they will be happy. Over time they will accept each other intrust themselves to the other."

Ino's eyes gleamed in hearts just imagining it.

"Then can fated-pairs read each other's minds? Know everything about eachother then?" she gushed.

Another elder chuckled, "No no. You can't read each other's thoughts or even sense the others emotion or presence better. But you are drawn to eachother,"

An elderly woman with a high neat bun sipped her tea, "I've heard that you become more sensitive to eachother especially in scent. There are other changes for example you can make this calming noise like a purr to sooth the female.. oh and you can make your heart match each other's heart beat."

Shikamaru's eyes widened while Ino shook him excitedly. "Shikamaru! Try doing it! Try purring now!"

"He might not be able to do it just now, it's only been two days since they've bonded." Another elder chuckled.

"Did you know, fated-pairs move exceptionally well together as a perfect team on missions? It's because they can completely be in tune with each other. Of course in the early days when Nara didn't have a village fated-pairs often had this ability and were the main hunters of the clan."

An elder patted Sasuke on the shoulder lifting his glasses up, "now you see how beneficial it is not just for the clan but their future careers as ninja- they'd make a splendid assassination duo in ANBU or something like that. Better to hurry up the marriage and approve now wouldn't you say? As her family I know you would also want to look out for her."

Sasuke frowned, he knew more than anyone how much Siata wanted to enter ANBU. He really hated the idea of that lazy slob being with her officially. But was he just being too unreasonable? Maybe he should have a serious talk with her about this..

"Sasaki-san, Riku-san." Shikamaru slid opened the door entering the meeting room and greeted them, "And Touma-san please put those marriage papers away. I thought you promised to hold back on doing those kind of things."

"I was simply chatting with our Hime's only family member what the bond entails. He should know and be informed of everything- that is proper etiquette Shikaku such a rude child you are as always- this should be your job in any case. But I see you've been too busy running away as usual." Touma carefully slid the papers away and went back to the shoji game that he was winning against Kakashi who awkwardly bowed and scratched his head watching his jounin commander get roasted like a little boy by these elders.

"Shikaku, when are you going to get serious and start doing anything with your life? The clan would benefit from more political involvement now. If you don't want to pursue putting your new daughter on the line then I suggest you make some progress on the medicine routs with the merchants. I heard a good rumour about a new line being opened up in mist for the upcoming wedding with the mist's noble woman and the Fire Shogan's son. Tsunade and Jiriya are even getting married at the same time as them, why don't you go? It's a perfect opportunity."

Shikaku scratched his head and Sasaki-san sipped her tea backing up- for now. His head was already tired from the nagging and sheer number of tactical moves that's begun from the elders already.

He'd contributed a lot actually with Hiashi's new policy and was active in politics then never before. But no, no it wasn't enough. He wasn't doing anything with his life according to them. He grinned and sat down.

"Well I think we have more important things to discuss at the moment however. Please go easy on me Sasaki-san."

The children left with Kakashi who nodded to Shikaku and closed the door. Shikaku almost wished he could leave as well but sat into a more comfortable position as Riku-san set up the shoji board in front of him and made the first move.

"Thirteen are they not? Did Shikamaru hurt her in any way, Shikaku?" Riku-san asked, gently, touching his chin to think, bringing the next shoji piece down.

Riku-san's eyes were a tender green, and he held himself with a humble stature. "I understand how hard it can be to control the impulse. I've seen many pairs in my younger days taken by surprise like that and do something they regret."

"The wind seemed to have taken a liking to their makeshift vows, so it was quite sudden- for all of us. It's a wonder he didn't do more damage, but I know Shikamaru would never intend to hurt her." Shikaku said and listened to the clack of his shoji piece fall down.

Sasaki's tone grew tight as she shook her head. "The lack of a partners good intentions isn't what causes trouble Shikaku. It's their impulse." She poured some more tea and looked up to see Shikaku's face as if testing him.

Sasaki went on, tone bland. "The girl seems calm enough about it and seems to be accepting Shikamaru, at least with no rejection signs. I've heard from Ensui."

Shikaku could already feel what she was trying to bring up but really didn't want to discuss it. Luckily Touma-san jumped in.

"Did you know her father's name is Uchiha Shiki? An Uchiha."

"Uchiha's are a nice traditional and upstanding family, Touma-san," Shikaku said to the elder, threading positivity into his tone, despite the worried crinkle on his forehead. Another added complication he'd have to live with. Uchiha Shiki's death had been one of those missions gone wrong that still kept him drinking to this day. He knew he could never atone but wanted to do the best he could to help his daughter be happy.

"She comes from a good family, yes. But you know her father was a known jinx for misfortune. Not that I believe in any of those nonsenses but still, if things go wrong in a fated-pair you know how bad it can get Shikaku." Touma-san rubbed his temples.

And they were back to this topic again with Ensui. Shikaku sighed and placed another piece on the shoji board. Riku-san's eyes narrowed on the shoji piece and he straightened a bit further, taking a moment to think and made his move again.

"It seems you've run into quite the situation haven't you Shikaku." Riku-san watched Shikaku take his time on the next move.

Shikaku ran his fingers over his smooth shoji piece.

"Riku-san, Touma-san, Sasaki-san. Shikamaru and Siata are different from Ensui's case, even though they're thirteen-"

"So young!"

"No, but this is now during peacetime. The situation is different." Shikaku said, obviously trying to make his case and rationalise this.

"Is she skilled?" Sasaki-san asked.

"She's been well known for her speed and tanto skills from an early age. Siata has lived alone for nearly her entire life and is naturally healthy- unlike Ensui's previous partner. Siata is very diligent in her training and sealing. I've also heard rumours about someone wanting to apprentice her for the ANBU pathway because she's an upcoming power sensor. She's intellegent. And strong. She'll be fine."

The elders nodded seeming to accept Shikaku's words.

"I had no idea our Hime was such a talent. It's a wonderful gift to have her as a part of the clan Shikaku," Riku-san smiled warmly and placed a shoji piece on with a hobbling hand.

"Yes Shikaku, you know we are more than happy with the development. Truly. But you know most fated-pairs are blessed much later. And the few cases where the Wind has blessed younger pairs… was because the couple was running out of time. Like Ensui's case where the girl was dying already," she muttered and Shikaku's hands twitched.

Sasaki-san continued.

"We feared that could be the case for them. Whether if it is or not I want you to take cautions Shikaku and be extra vigilant. They are young and younglings do stupid things. Go and escort them by attending Tsunade's wedding in whirlpool. I heard most of the Chuunin are being pulled as security for the event." She clicked her teeth.

Shikaku sighed and nodded his head, earning him a smile from Sasaki-san. The old raccoon had done it again. There was no way he could refuse her now. He suspected Sasaki-san already had the names of the mist medicine merchants somewhere in a file but had the sense not to bring it up today.

"In any case it is not like this is anyone's fault, we want Siata-chan to feel the most welcome with us so bring her around when she is feeling better Shikaku," Touma-san grinned, crossing his arms over his chest.

"Everyone knows bonding between fated pairs carries no fault. They are lucky to have found each other. If they've already been called and blessed by the wind then that means fate has ensured they'll have the best life together then, it's as simple as that," said Touma.

Shikaku smiled back and grinned when Touma-san finally lightened up and threw back a cup of sake in celebration and poured Shikaku some as well. Sasaki tsked at them and waved at Shikaku to leave already.

"Don't make us wait too long for the wedding ceremony Shikaku, we don't have much time afterall." Riku-san smiled wide as Shikaku scratched his head and quickly rose, bowed and closed the door behind him.

"Well? Have you sold your soul to them? Do I have to go back in there about a wedding Shikaku?" Yoshino was right there waiting for him outside the meeting room and he chuckled,

"Troublesome, I have to go attend the Shogan's and Tsunade and Jiriya-sama's wedding and do some business but nothing else. The kids are safe from any contracts for now." said Shikaku.

"Oh! A family trip then, we haven't been on holiday for a while- I'll have all the ladies come with us . This is perfect. I can dress up Siata for the wedding party then, so it all works out. Otherwise she'll go in her plain yukata again, the girl is truly a tomboy to the bone." Yugao shook her head but smiled in excitement.

"I guess Ensui would like to go as well. I'll tell him now before he makes any plans." Shikaku nodded and Yoshino watched him go upstairs and she bustled towards the kitchen where Chiharu (Choji's mother) and Noriko (Ino's mother) were to invite them to the trip.

SHIKAMARU

Shikaku had swapped with Ensui so he took a walk with his nephew. Shikamaru glanced towards Ensui, who sat on a bench in the park. His long sword was polished, and the shoulder armour he wore over his green yukata made him look more like a samurai then ninja. He was quite opposite to the boy he sat across: dark skin to Shikamaru's pale, harsh intense eyes to Shikamaru's relaxed thoughtful expression, and older than Shikamaru by thirty years.

Shikamaru asked. "You said we're too young. But since when does that matter with fated-pairs?"

"You're more vulnerable than you might think. Anyway I'm just saying to keep surrogates as a later option for you or for her if you wanted to separate. It's only a theory but it could work breaking the bond" Ensui had to at least explain the possibility of a different option, obviously trying to portray surrogacy as sensitively and positively as possible. "It's important to at least know the information just in case."

Shikamaru tried to imagine if somehow it'd ever come to that in the future. That something went so wrong between them because of a disagreement. Because he'd harm her in some way. So then the option to separate would require throwing himself at another person? Or worse. throwing her into the arms of some stranger? A wave of pain hit him, and he took a sharp intake of breath. It was almost ridiculous how the heat was messing with his reactions despite all his logical reasoning. This emotion wasn't real and not based on any interaction he'd had with Siata in real life, or a discussion that she would agree to a surrogate in the future. But he couldn't ignore the heavy burning pain in his gut at the very thought of his absurdly bonded mate having a hypothetical partner in the future. This was insane. Shikamaru scrubbed his face trying to get a rein on his emotions. Suddenly he really wanted to meet her. Find out what Siata thought about all this. See with his own eyes how she reacted to the news. Just one look and he could tell how she felt. Then maybe all of this wouldn't feel so big.

"So what does being a fated-pair really mean? Isn't it the same as just loving someone?"

"No. Love can come in all sorts of forms. You and me, your father and mother love each other even if we have no instinctual urges or a bond. You love your team and your ugly black deer that hates your guts." Ensui nodded towards the direction of the barn and Shikaku laughed. The black deer, he'd named him Kurosawa – he was very handsome with his thick black coat, and only let non-humans near him without showing distain.

"But, even though we might have theories for separating a bond, in reality fated-pairs are for forever even if you lose them. It's a love at a new level that's unbreakable and permanent. And there's no click or sudden shift to when it starts- it just creeps up on you until you realise, they mean so much to you that you'll want to do everything to make your partners life have happiness." Ensui looked away,

"My partner died after following me to the war wanting to look out for me. The bond formed right in the mist of the fighting somehow. She didn't deal well with it. I didn't know how I influenced her fever. She got too upset seeing me exposed to the constant line of fire, even though I was only trying to protect us from the enemy. She got sick fast and in a really bad way, then died."

"I'm sorry Ensui-jisan" Shikamaru whispered.

Ensui continued to look away and said thickly, "You won't fully understand now. A fated-bond is a totally different love compared to anything. It's driven by instinct, and on a physical and spiritual level. The bond will start slow at first then come all of a sudden all at once."

"Do you feel more whole because of the bond?" Shikamaru asked.

Ensui chuckled. "No. You feel more like walking through life with a greedy hunger to meld your souls together with your partner, but never fully achieving it. But at the times you get close to, that's when it's like heaven on earth." Ensui let out one of his rare smiles, something bright sparkling in his eyes as he remembered something.

Shikamaru took all of it in. As long as it didn't hurt Siata, he'll be fine with it. He'd be happy with her by his side.

"Good we had this talk. Come on boy, I'll get you some new training gear to celebrate today." Ensui lightened the mood and ruffled Shikamaru's head.

"Weapons… for congratulating me becoming a bonded-pair?" Shikamaru laughed and tilted his head towards his uncle.

"Hmm that yes. But also to becoming my apprentice." Shikamaru froze as Ensui went on, "I heard you want to train to become ANBU from your father. You'll need all the strength you can get, now that you have something really precious to you Shikamaru. What do you say?" Ensui stood up and waited for Shikamaru to reply.

Shikamaru slowly smiled and nodded. "I'll be in your care, Ensui-sensei."

SIATA

"You're important enough to me to try at least. Give me the word and I can kill him in his sleep." Sasuke muttered and Siata burst out laughing. Shikaku had let Sasuke in her rooms since he was family.

"Thanks Duckling, but has it occurred to you that it's possible I might be okay with my 'predicament'?" Siata smiled at Duckling in affection, her forehead still burning a bit.

Sasuke sighed. "Siata you're a promising Chuunin. Your dedicated and talented. I heard a few rumours from Kakashi sensei after accepting my apprenticeship with him that there's a massive fight going on right now about your apprentice amongst the teachers seeing you as a possible candidate"

Siata jolted at that. She'd been feeling really happy for Naruto's apprenticeship with Jiriya and Sasuke's with Kakashi-sensei but had also been jealous and feeling unsure about her future, especially with this fated-bond situation suddenly put on her making her body useless for training. It was a crucial time she should have used to train or appeal to the teachers instead of lying around in bed. Sasuke knew exactly what she'd been worried about and his words were encouraging. Siata nodded.

"To see you pulled back by that slob of an idiot is—"

"Don't talk bad about him Duckling," Siata said quietly, fiddling with the ends of her pyjama shirt again.

"How can you tell if you're going to be okay with this in a few years or more? How can you be happy if you know this is for forever. What if you regret this? I just.. I just need to know this is really what you want. I don't like him and his clan bond buisness choosing whatever he wants in your life for you. That your making this choice not just having it forced on you." Sasuke shot the door a wry glance, looking away from her.

"Fated-pairs isn't what you expect, Yoshino-san… explained it to me."

"In what way?" Sasuke asked.

"It's not so instant and forceful or overpowering as you think it is. Maybe the physical stuff but not the heart. It's… Yoshino-san said the real bond, it's more of a gradual thing. The blessing of the bond is mostly done in an instant. And apparently I'll be able to feel the pull of the bond when I meet him. But the actual ties of the bond will strengthen over time. Yoshino-san… Yoshino-san said fated-pair is just another form of deep l-"

Siata blinked at Sasuke and tried again, "deep… love."

The two Uchiha's froze like ice at the forbidden L-word and took some time recovering.

"Why do I find that hard to believe when from my perspective it looks like you've gotten hit with some rare drug addiction and need a detox." Sasuke said deadpan.

"Well the fated-pair bond is what happens after… after you learned who the other person really is and over time.. so Yoshino-san encouraged me to take as long as possible and give some time to grow up and make good choices that I really want and decided together with Shikamaru." Siata leaned on the wall and rubbed her face cautiously checking Ducklings mood.

Sasuke slowly nodded at Yoshino-san's words and seemed to relax a bit sitting at the edge of the bed.

"I know you'll be fine. And… we've got your back." He looked away, "You better rest now." Sasuke stood up and waited until she looked comfortable.

"Um, Duckling do you know how Shikamaru is doing?" She asked him.

"He's fine." Sasuke saw that wasn't enough and added, "I heard he's getting apprenticed by Ensui-san from Chiharu-san and Noriko-san."

Siata perked up, "Choji and Ino's mums? You get along quite well with the adults huh Duckling."

Sasuke shrugged, "its not a big deal. They can follow a real conversation unlike some immature morons our age. And they have plenty of knowledge about politics and recipes."

Siata grinned wider and he huffed and waved at her to sleep then left. Nodding to Shikaku as he passed him on the way out.

No matter how hard she tried to ignore it she kept feeling a large sense of fear that Shikamaru was really unhappy about becoming a fated-pair with her. She was convinced now it really had been an accident and the real one was supposed to be Temari. Of course. It hurt somewhere deep inside.
But he was still her friend right now. She wasn't the type to just go without a fight. Shikamaru was still her closest friend and she still had a chance in maybe saving this. If she tried really hard. And beginnings were the most important.

Then she got a great idea.

What if she bought him a present for his apprenticeship to Ensui-san? It was perfect. He'd be happy with the thoughtful gift she gave him and the more she thought about it the more she really wanted to give him the gift. As soon as possible. And of course she'd have to buy some gifts for her boys as well. Maybe a ramen coupon for Sunshine and for Duckling she can get him those expensive muscle tapes he liked to use.

She shuffled on one of Shikamaru's rain coats and some track pants and hobbled out of bed and was shocked at how shaky she was.

Was she this weak? Just from a fever? Her body jangled like badly like loose guitar strings as she made her way towards the window.

But she could make it. Her friendship was on the line, and the boys would be happy she got something for them. Did she have enough money for them? She'd have to go back home and get the money then go. But by that time Shikaku-san might figure something out and stop her. That wasn't good.

She made a sign with her hands for the soul dispersal. If she did multiple ones on top of each other it'd be harder to track her. She would sneak out and give the gift to Shikamaru. Shikamaru with his easy smiles and broad back and discussions he had with her about anything and everything.

"Soul dispersal." She zapped into the outside of the house and zapped again and again and again until she reached her house.

Was that her hands trembling? She dismissed the spasms throughout her body remembering Shikamaru's bright eyes and she grinned happy. She felt more excited after finding her purse, imagining the boys and Shikamaru smiling at their new presents. She grinned like a goof while dashing as fast as she could towards the stores. Her feet splashing the puddles.

Siata stopped in front of a glass store and stared at a small crystal sculpture in the shape of a deer. She placed a hand on the glass and the way the deer shimmered in the light caught her eye.

A bird took flight as she opened the store door. She carefully took the wrapped crystal by the shop keeper by the bag and stepped out of the shop.

And froze when she saw Shiruma Danzo standing observing the glass shop window the same way she did. She passed him and Danzo seemed oblivious to her presence as she took one step and another away from him. Then she stopped.

There was something like dark red rage slowly rising from inside her. She normally was always in wonderful control of emotions like this but today thoughts of that day when Shisui had smiled at her helplessly and left saying goodbye. Her bitterly standing infront of his grave. She swirled around to face him. He wasn't looking at the glass store but at her.

Who did he think he was trying to fool? Randomly appearing in front of her to leisurely look at glass stores? He obviously came here wanting something, but she didn't care. None of that mattered. All she cared about was her own justice and revenge. Towards that thing that had killed Shisui to not live any longer than her brother had. He had ordered her family to be slaughtered like animals. Her trembling muscles got tighter and tighter as she coiled herself, preparing to spring and rip into the murderer. Perfect. The distance was perfect for a strike. She leaned forward and felt the fever begin to change in intensity inside her and shook her head.

The paper bag containing the important present dropped into a wet puddle.

"So it's true. The brat has made his claim on you." He said something perfectly irrational that made no sense to her right now.

Did it really matter? A larger wave of fever slammed into her making her sway. Danzo easily caught her wrist and stared at her observing. Danzo's existence was an aberration. He was a black soulless demon and had no right. No right doing something like that to her family. And who knew how many other families he was wrecking. He had to be destroyed.

"I guess I'll have to get you to make a choice."

He suddenly looked upwards then disappeared.

Something slammed into her from behind and all her senses went from a foul zero to an elated ten. She turned looking over her shoulder and the person's gaze was right there, up in her face. Warm brown eyes, the colour of trees. Her shaking froze to a stop; heat poured through her stronger than ever before.

The pain burnt, but she felt like she was glowing. Everything inside exploded, and she felt the massive pull towards this person together with all her trust and loyalty and warmth. She felt like she was floating, hearing the frantic pounding in her ears. She clutched onto him and couldn't stop burrowing her face and breathing in.

"Shikamaru!" she beamed.

SHIKAMARU

One moment he was chatting with Choji while Ensui-jisan picked out weapons with Ino. And another moment he'd caught a glimpse of someone he knew, and he was dashing through the market place without thought.

His gaze swung from the old wood of a glass shop door, to someone with their sideview towards him, and all the hairs on his body rose. His heart stopped. It felt like he was being stabbed with a raw hot steel. Through his entire body.

The tousled black hair, and even darker eyes, wearing his rain coat. His life as he knew it ended then somehow. There was no mistake. If there was the purest form of what you love in a soul she was it for him. He barrelled into her pulling.

A raw sweet scent flooded his system and he was so so happy it was madness. Shikamaru wanted to laugh and eat and train with her for every second of every day for the rest of his life. She was it. His pair. He felt a raw hunger as her soul seemed right there in front of him.

This was nothing like he had expected. She was everything he ever thought someone could be.

She was raw and broken and was sworn to the harsh road to becoming a ninja, even enjoyed it.

Shikamaru relished in agreement and tried to reeled back but failing and wanted to give in. Give her everything. She was so beautiful.

He unconsciously started making a sound from deep down in his chest and she sighed happy. A blissful part on his heart felt connected to her like they were harmonising through the bond.

He shivered when she buried her face in the curve of his neck. And couldn't stop laughing with her in the rain her laughter pouring over. But A part of his brain screamed constantly in alarm as her shaking got worse.

Hands kept grabbing at him, voices calling to him and tearing her away.

"Let her go!" Ensui snarled, "Or I'll rip your arm to pieces- Damn it! Brother you handle him. Swap with me"

Suddenly his father was pulling him away and Shikamaru gasped trying to get less disoriented and try to stop fighting his father by tucking at his arm.

Ino's voice was far away close to Ensui-san "The Uchiha compound is closer from here! I'll go inform Yoshino-san!"

It was the pain in Siata's awkward frame that made Shikamaru loose strength. He let his father's tugging grip take him but smiled at her. And she gave him a smile back. He laughed stupidly as Shikaku shook his head and pulled him away towards the direction of his house.

SIATA

Shikamaru had smiled. Her lips felt like sand and the shiver became a shuddering. The back of her head rebounded sharply off the pillows and she gargled when the fever spiked. IN an instant Ensui was there, calling Sasuke to help and they held down her flailing to stop her from exhausting herself. And then she was gone. She came out of the darkness into the light, like surfacing from a deep blue ocean. She blinked as the familiar softness of her large pillow and texture of her blankets gave her peace. She lay quiet, feeling groggy but relatively good.

"Water?" Sasuke asked, leaning over her and she tanked him drinking the cool liquid down as he watched.

"I wanted to buy you guys gifts for your apprenticeships… I managed to buy something for Shikamaru first. Then I was going to go buy one… it doesn't feel that bad," she lied.

Sasuke recognised he was responsible for telling her about the apprenticeships and sighed.

"I'll hand the gift over to Shikamaru. You give yourself a few days to recover fully. Ensui-san is here so try just one more time doing anything funny." Sasuke smiled evilly then left.

SHIKAMARU

"And here I thought we were almost in the clear," Shikaku murmured, almost to himself, but Yoshino heard him and glared.

Shikaku ducked low while he flipped the next page on his newspaper, then cleared his throat. "well it's almost coming to the end of the month now, nothing irreversible happened and she's almost recovered Ensui's told me."

Shikamaru was hunched over on the veranda, turning a small crystal deer in the sunlight making the light spill out of it in all directions. A dejected angle in his shoulders remained even after two weeks had passed from the market place incident.

"She was just there, and I couldn't- I didn't mean to. Troublesome." Shikamaru sighed.

Shikaku nodded reassuringly. The boy had said it how many times now? He guessed enough time had passed that Shikamaru could meet her again without causing too much trouble. But with Yoshino's mood at both of them, it would be a difficult task.

"Go feed the deer Shikamaru," Shikaku told him.

Shikamaru was thinking of wanting to see her as he brushed Kurosawa's coat as the deer bristled at him with every down stroke. He'd embarrassed himself and jumped her without thinking about anything. What did she think of him now? Was she scared of him? After he was done grooming Kurosawa he went to the storage unit and shoved all the icepacks he could find down his jacket and shivered. He hadn't even been able to talk to her yet and she might already see him as a threat. The thrumming undercurrent of the bond seemed to constantly repeat 'where where where is she' and the ice helped him shock himself awake and away from those thoughts. He'd bring extra just in case, then walked out towards the streets.

Siata's house was situated slightly on the outskirts of the Uchiha compound with a clean nice walls and roof with an inviting entrance, the door painted a dark blue. To the side of the house was an upper floor window and Shikamaru stopped in his tracks in front of the corner of the window side wall. Shikamaru steeled himself and stepped closer, then climbed with his shadows. He should have knocked the front door like a good friend. He had to find out something, anything she was thinking. He peeked inside, there was no Ensui-jisan. Instead he recognised Siata immediately through the glass. She was going through her arm exercises, the ones she did in the morning. Something inside him did a happy jump being able to see her. Siata suddenly jumped up. Her dark hair sticking to her forehead and opened her mouth startled. He leaned closer to the window.

"Ensui-san will kill you." She whispered staring directly at him and talking clearly this time.

"I'm not going to hurt you," Shikamaru placed his hand on the glass, "I'm came to say sorry about the market place day. I didn't mean to scare you."

He relaxed a bit when she grinned and shook her head.

"I wanted to see you." She jumped closer to the window side,

"I did too." The glass was fogging up in condensation.

"Ensui-san told me yesterday that I was mostly good to go but he wanted to double check and have me stay inside for a few days for monitoring, so I've been training. Oh, and I'm apprenticing under Yugao-san! Starting a few days later!"

Siata's head filled with sparks seeing him smile back, "That's great. I knew you'd make it Siata."

"And I was happy at the market place I thought… you didn't want to see me because you didn't like having the bond with a friend when you could have done it with some other girl you like later on.." said Siata.

"To be honest I was scared you know. It's hard to get my head around. But deep down I feel really happy. Truly. So I don't regret anything. Are you? Are you ok even though you still see us as friends?"

Siata tilted her head, "For me I'm incredibly flattered about the whole thing, being your pair. I'm really happy if it's you Shikamaru." She gave him a real smile.

Shikamaru blinked.

His throat clenched up and the words slipped out, "You're beautiful."

Siata froze and coughed rubbing the back of her head. She couldn't believe how happy that made her feel but was totally unprepared to respond to it.

"I'm so mannish and muscly I must be so different from the lady of your dreams." she barked out grinning. But now she felt self conscious and dropped her arms so they showed less.
"..What...? No. I find you.. appealing." Shikamaru scratched his head but smiled genuinely. Relief showed on her face. It was almost as if she believed he thought she was ugly and needed reassurance. From him?

"..M-me too! I.. You know... When the heat came on, my mind couldn't stop thinking of you, you were really handsome. You still are!" Siata spilled out and laughed blushing.

That made him too happy for it to be healthy. He fumbled with his jacket and pulled out a large cold icepack and slapped it on his neck. The chill shocking him into reality again. Siata frowned confused.

"Icepack, for my fever." Shikamaru admitted shyly. Siata burst out laughing but looked at him curious.

"That's smart. Is it working?"

Shikamaru nodded.

"Ensui-jisan told me some scary stuff because were too young. What are we going to do if something really seriously goes wrong?" Shikamaru asked on a serious note.

Siata blinked and cleared her throat. "If we can both get past how invasive it is and try our best as each others friends and learn more about each other and treasure each others company I want to say that will be enough for me to say it was a happy life, happy being a fated-pair with you no matter what happens in the future."

Shikamaru just stood there a bit speechless at her resolve in all of this. What she'd said, it satisfied a deep part of him and somehow he knew he believed what she said too. He nodded.

"Ok now you really should go now, or we might have to wait another week before we can hang out again if Ensui-san finds out." Siata made hurried motions for him to move out but smiled kindly at him and he lowered himself to the ground and waved back at her and sneaked in back home.

"Where have you been?" Yoshino-san asked when Shikamaru came back. He couldn't lie to her.

"I went to talk with Siata, about how she felt about the bond."

"And what did she say?" Yoshino asked softly, and Shikamaru hesitated. "she's happy. She said she won't regret it as long as we treasured each other now and each other company no matter what happens. But she still sees us as friends." He pulled out the crystal deer again from his pocket, smiling remembering how she'd called him handsome.

"Oh Shikamaru," Yoshino whispered smiling warmly, "both of you will do fine."

After that day Shikamaru sneaked out a few times again to talk to Siata from her window side. She would ask him how his days had been, and she told him how Yugao-san was having her read and learn about some medicinal herbs. Her calm recital of the different ointments and their ingredients left Shikamaru wanting to distinguish himself in her eyes and he'd tell her about some of the herbs he knew from his clan as well and they started a thorough discussion of it having incredible fun. She'd give him a genuine smile and heat would rise to his cheeks and he'd hurried away from the door. In the evenings he'd surprise his parents and sensei by racing through his errands and being eager to feed the deer again.

One particular day Shikamaru had found a stranger trying to ride Kurosawa and harassing him and had chased him away. Hiashi-san warned Shikaku about something about the strange man, and his father added a bit more security around the Nara compound.

As for Kurosawa, he would grudgingly have to put up with Shikamaru's daily grooming and frequent visits before he went to visit Siata again. He would snort at him as Shikamaru left the barn with a grin despite Kurosawa having huffed at him all day and watched the wind follow the boy out.

Shikamaru and Siata also exchanged letters through Toto, her crow. The contents were of normal things like what they'd eaten for breakfast or an interesting thing that had happened during training that day.

After the heat passed Ensui-san let Siata off the hook and Siata and Shikamaru found a new norm. They would go for walks with eachother after training under their irrespective apprenticeships – like they were now through the market place in the evening sun.

Most of the ninja were packing up and getting ready to leave for Tsunade and Jiraiya's wedding in the Land of Waves being held roughly at around a weeks' time. That ment cramming in morning lessons with Yugao-sensei who was getting ready for the wedding with her ANBU team as well. And then many many chores. Her evening walks with Shikamaru were almost a routine now. She or Shikamaru would pack a bit of food and walk right around up to the Hokage monument looking out into Konoha at the end of the day. She would tell him about her day and the gossip Yugao-san would tell her and Shikamaru would listen and chat with her about how his day had went. Sometimes their elbows bumped as they walked. A lot of the times the bunch of them, their family and team would gather at Sasuke's house at chat and eat dinner together. They really couldn't be any more happier in that place. Hanging out together with their friends, team mates and families.

Authors Notes:

Super long chapter and I hope I haven't scared you all away. But I've been holding back so much for this chapter, so I splurged :D Thank you for all your supporting comments, reads and I really hope you enjoy!