Lean on Me...
Summary: She was found at such a young age, taken in by Shikaku, not as a daughter, but as a wife in training for his youngest son. How will this affect the Nara Clan...more specifically the laid back, easy going, semi-lazy...Shikamaru?
Anime: InuYasha/Naruto
Pairing: Shikamaru/Kagome
Genre: Romance/Comfort/Hurt
Rated: M for Mature
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AGES RIGHT NOW
AGES
Kagome – 11
Rookie Nine – 12
Neji – 13
Itachi - 18
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Sakura stepped out of her house dressed in black, the rolling rumble of thunder overhead sounded and called to her. Glancing downward towards her teammates, she took in Naruto and Sasuke who were standing outside waiting for her. Walking towards her teammates, she looked back and saw Shikamaru walking their way. "...where is Kagome?"
Shikamaru shrugged, "she left early this morning. Haven't seen her since."
Sasuke gave a quick look around them before he nudged Naruto forward, "let's go,"
"Right."
Shikamaru and Sakura followed the two in silence. The four making their way towards the funeral service, none speaking more than necessary. It was halfway to the service when Shikamaru saw Ino and Chouji standing at the meetup, waiting patiently for Shikamaru to join them.
Genma and Hayate stood towards the front of the line, Kagome was nowhere in sight. No where in sight. As Sakura glanced curiously around, she felt a warm hand take hers and guide her into the lineup. Looking at the hand, she was surprised to find Sasuke's. She wanted to pull her hand away, but it wasn't the time. Her emotional turmoil could wait, she was more worried about Kagome who was M.I.A.
"She's watching from afar, ekhm."
Glancing up curiously at Hayate who stood next to her, she eyed him uncertainly when his eyes raised up towards the Hokage Lookout. A small, minuscule figure, barely visible in the rainfall, could be seen from the distance. 'Kagome...'
-x-x-x-
Staring down at the memorial service, she saw everyone, everything. Kagome closed her eyes as she let go of her hearts anguish. "Rule twenty-five...a shinobi must never show their tears during a mission. It's been a while since I've not had a mission..." the warm tears that fell brokenly from her dark blue eyes, her fragile frame trembling as she tried her hardest to hold back those tears. Finally, she gave into her despair.
The third smiled, "hello little one,"
Chapter is over, the last page turned
In the end, you left alone
"Kagome...as of today, you are a citizen of Konoha, the Village Hidden in the Leaves. Welcome home, little one. Welcome home..."
There's no stopping, this hurt inside
Can't believe, I've got to move on
"Come in,"
Five years old, Kagome entered the Hokage's office. "Lord Hokage," she grinned as he turned and smiled down at her.
"I believe congratulations are in order, Kagome."
Cherish on hold on to traces of you
Carry your words in my heart
"I saw your review with Itachi. I would be a fool in my years, to turn away someone so willing to learn. In your eyes, the beginning sparks of the Will of Fire have been made known, let us fan it and see where your embers rise to."
'The beginning sparks of the Will of Fire...'
You were my teacher, my brother
An extraordinary friend
My angel, believed in me till the end
Not my lover or father
Still you gave your all unselfishly
You were good to me
"Kagome, welcome, welcome. I've heard good things from Genma."
Kagome blushed a bit and glanced to her right as she took in her Advanced Weapons teacher. "Really?"
Take your head out of your hands
And breath you said to me
"To be more precise, he can't stop talking about you." The Hokage laughed heartily.
Genma scoffed and turned away, the pink tinge along his cheeks was hard to miss, but Kagome smiled and turned her eyes back to the Hokage. "I am glad to hear that I'm doing so well."
You gave me strength I found my voice
I'll thank you endlessly
"More than," he lifted a scroll and held it out to Kagome. "I've found myself short on hands, and in need of a specific set of skills. If you aren't opposed to the idea, I'd like to place you on a three-man squad."
"Three-man...but I haven't graduated yet..."
"You have secured praise from all of your teachers, and passing you is a matter of taking a review of your curriculum with your instructor, which you did earlier this morning."
Cherish on hold on to traces of you
Carry your words in my heart
Indeed, she had. "Then, I would be happy, honored...to join a three-man team of your choosing. Anything to be of use, Lord Hokage."
"Then, starting today, you will be placed on a team with Hayate Gekko and Genma Shiranui...a specialized team of Tokubetsu Shinobi."
'Tokubetsu...?' She frowned, "but I'm not―" she stopped when he held his hand up and motioned for the other person in the room to come forth. In his hands, a thick handled Scimitar with a jagged blade was held tightly. "...Lord Hokage..."
You were my teacher, my brother
An extraordinary friend
My angel, believed in me till the end
Not my lover or father
Still you gave your all unselfishly
You were good to me, so good to me
"There are Four Scimitar's of Konoha's Elite Bodyguards, and yet I only have three bodyguards...train hard, Kagome. Starting today, you are to be my fourth. In time, your flame will grow brighter."
Kagome reached out her hand and carefully took the Scimitar, her eyes sparkling as she felt the weight of the weapon. "Genma, when do I start learning how to use this?"
Genma chuckled, "training starts immediately." He took the mission scroll from the Hokage and opened it for Kagome, the contents reading as such; Mastering of the Tsuchi Scimitar.
I keep asking why, keep asking why
I don't wanna cry, don't wanna cry
I want you to stay but I gotta say goodbye
"It's been a month, Kagome. You are handling your missions well."
Kagome bowed, "thank you, Lord Hokage."
"Something troubles you?"
Kagome smiled and straightened up, though her smile hardly reached her eyes. "Just boy trouble. Nothing that you should need to worry over."
I keep asking why, keep asking why
He chuckled and nodded, "afraid it won't be the first time a boy gives you trouble, Kagome. If you ever need some advice, feel free to pay me a visit. I may be the Hokage, but I am also a Husband, Father and Grandfather. I would hope that I am also a Teacher and a Friend."
Eyes widening a bit, she nodded, "yes, yes sir!"
I don't wanna cry, don't wanna cry
I want you to stay but I gotta say goodbye
"Kagome..."
She turned around and moved back to the Hokage's side, "yes, Lord Hokage?"
He smiled, "a moment ago...what you did."
"I'm sorry," she bowed her head, "I acted without considering the consequences for intervening in a match."
Chuckling, he shook his head, "don't be ridiculous. You responded the way my Jounin responded. I have never felt so proud of a Genin."
You were a teacher, my brother
An extraordinary man
My angel, in heaven
So safe in your hands
Not my lover, or father
Still you gave your all unselfishly
You were good to me
He placed his hand out and closed his eyes when she placed hers in it. "After the finals, I want you and your team...to go out and find someone for me. I think she will be most beneficial to you and your growing skills."
You were my teacher, my brother
"The pillar of your village, a pillar full of termites and rot. I don't have to knock you down, you're already falling!"
"And if I do fall, you still will fail! I am only one of a long line. I carry the title of Hokage in trust, for those Hokage who came before and those who will come after! I am the Third Hokage! You can't stop it by destroying me, a new and stronger Hokage will take my place, becoming the pillar, roof and walls that defend the village."
An extraordinary friend
My angel, believed in me till the end
"Look at me, Kagome...listen...to me. I have...one last mission...to assign before I leave...This mission...is to be considered...S ranked. Bring back...Itachi..."
Not my lover, my father
Still you gave your all unselfishly
"you never stopped believing in him..."
"I...no, I didn't...but, Itachi-Sensei...I thought..."
"He...to protect the Village...and myself...I'm sorry...that such a mission was given..."
Shaking heavily, her heart rate was increasing as was her breathing, "what are you saying..." Kagome desperately clung to the old man, "please...tell me that's not true!" More tears burned at her eyes.
You were good to me, so good to me
"I wish...it could have been...averted. He asked me to protect Sasuke from…that man. I couldn't bring myself to change Konoha's Barriers Composition...Kagome...I've never regretted anything, as much as I regretted that."
"Lord Hokage...please, tell us clearly. Who assigned that mission!?" Genma asked, trying to piece together what he was hearing.
"...that...I'm sorry to say...was...Danzo..." his eyes grew heavy as he sighed, "one more thing...tell my Grandson...tell him...not to...let the Fire die. Kagome...I'm...I'm sorry. To you, and Sasuke...to this village...I couldn't properly protect." He gave one last heavy sigh of breath, his hand falling from her arm...his eyes unseeing.
You were good to me
"Lord Hokage, thank you. Thank you for telling me. Please trust in me, I will bring Itachi-Sensei home. I will bring him home, and I will kill Danzo."
"Making some heavy promises, Kagome."
She didn't turn around; she knew the voice. "Should I not?"
"Well, bringing Itachi home is one thing, but killing off the Elder Danzo might cause some problems. Let's take this all one step at a time. We have orders, but missions are on hold for a bit until we manage to clean up this mess here."
"What about Tsunade?!" She finally turned and frowned, "...who's that?"
Behind Genma, a tall man with long spiky white hair and a humored grin on his face, stood looking down at her as she was much smaller than he was.
Genma sighed, "I will be, under heavy persuasion, staying behind while you, Naruto and... Jiraiya...go looking for Tsunade. When you return, you, Sasuke, Hayate and I, will be leaving to find Itachi and bring him back. That of course, is if he doesn't try to kill us on sight."
"...Jiraiya?"
"Orochimaru...like any child, can take one of many paths. The choices he made, led him to the path he took. The same for Jiraiya and Tsunade."
She shook her head at the revelation, "you're one of the Legendary Sanin that the Honorable Third Hokage mentioned."
"All good things, I'm sure."
She raised a brow, "he only mentioned you in name, nothing about you. We were more or less discussing Orochimaru and Tsunade."
"I see. Originally, I'd planned on going after Tsunade with Naruto...but Genma hailed me down and explained the situation with the Thirds mission. I still don't think it's necessary to bring you along. Naruto is more than enough―"
"As far as the mission goes, you are the one impeding on mine." She walked towards Jiraiya, "when should I expect you and Naruto at the gates?"
He sighed and brought a hand to the back of his head, "we won't be leaving for a while, hands are needed here. In a week, we will meet at the gate at seven. I'll be sure to stop by and remind you so that you don't forget."
"Like I would."
He chuckled, then left as silently as he came.
"Kagome, you should show him some respect."
"Was he here?"
"What do you mean?"
"During the attack on Konoha, was he here?"
Genma shook his head, "he arrived after Orochimaru and his experiments left. Don't turn this into the blame game, I won't hear of it. You did what you could, and we did what we could. No one regrets more than Jiraiya, not being around to help his old Sensei."
She nodded solemnly, feeling a slight tug at her harsh tone.
"Did you pay your respects to the Third?"
Kagome glanced back to the service, long since had the Shinobi begun dispersing, roughly around the time that the rain had come to a slow stop. "I did. This morning, I was there when the Elders Koharu and Homura arrived."
"I wasn't aware that you knew anyone on the Council."
"I don't, or...I didn't. I asked for their names..."
Genma got down in front of Kagome and placed a firm hand on her shoulder, his eyes narrowing, "don't go looking for Danzo, Kagome. We need to do things right, or Itachi won't be welcomed back into the village a free man. Tsunade will be pivotal in securing his safety within the village."
She heard him, clear as day, she did. Lifting her eyes and meeting his, she nodded in understanding. "Alright, I'll stop looking for him. I'll focus on the tasks at hand."
"Good girl,"
A small smile found her sorrow filled eyes and she couldn't help but lean forward a bit. Still drenched from the rainfall, the two arms that held her close kept her safe from the chill.
-x-x-x-
Sakura was leaning against the wall in the Hokage's office. Oddly, no one was in there, now that there was no Hokage. Listening to Genma and Kagome, she kept her thoughts carefully filed away as she wondered about Danzo, and the mission to retrieve Itachi Uchiha. She knew who he was. Had heard a great deal from Sasuke in outbursts here and there. Not to mention, hearing about him subtly from Kagome when she spoke of her Sensei. She wasn't stupid. Quite the contrary, she was very smart, and she prided herself in her intelligence. However, secrets seemed to be quite deeply buried within the Village Hidden in the Leaves. She didn't know of a great deal of what exactly was going on, but what she did know...Sasuke hated his brother, Kagome idolized him, and now she was going to go on a mission with Sasuke...to bring said brother back. It really was too much to ask, but she hoped that everything would go well for the girl. Meanwhile, she'd no doubt have to remain behind in the village, cleaning up and helping with the rest of the Genin. Not that she'd complain.
Tightening her fists, she couldn't stop a grin from forming on her face, 'while you're gone, I'll be training, and working hard to discover my Ninja Way!'
-x-x-x-
"Ah, there you are." Shikamaru sighed, "damn, you suddenly disappeared without saying anything this morning."
"Sorry about that,"
Shikaku glanced up from the Shogi match he was holding with his son. It was late, almost ten at night, they'd both been waiting up for Kagome as Yoshino had gone to bed early after the days trying emotions. "You didn't attend the Memorial."
"I paid my respects before the service started and watched from afar during." She sat down next to Shikamaru, "I watched till the end, but couldn't bring myself to stand among the other Shinobi of the Leaf Village."
He dropped his eyes to the board, "why is that?"
Shikamaru leaned back on his elbows and listened, glancing over her to make sure she was okay, he didn't see any physical problems, but she had a bad habit of hiding her emotions from the world. Unless of course those emotions were anger or happiness. Everything else in-between seemed to get swept away by the tides of time.
Twiddling her fingers, a bit, she shook her head and took a deep and calming breath. "I don't believe... that is to say, I had no right to stand among the others."
A clatter of pieces sounded as Shikaku dropped the King and stared in surprise at the young girl before him. "You fought diligently by the Third Hokage's side, how could you not have the right to stand among your fellow Shinobi?"
She smiled, standing, she bowed almost apologetically before starting up the stairs.
"Kagome,"
Pausing, she didn't turn around, but at the sound of Shikamaru calling her name, she felt her heart crying. "The path I chose was one to protect this village, its Hokage, and the villagers. I failed; I couldn't protect the Hokage. In the end, he still died. In the end...I'm still too weak." She started up the stairs and left both in silence.
Shikamaru turned his attention to his father who was staring at the King piece, utterly irate, though he couldn't be sure with what. He made to follow Kagome when his father demanded that he stay put. "Wha― but she's clearly hurting."
"She's like this, because of something I said. I wouldn't be much of a man if I let my son fix my mistakes." Shikaku stood and left Shikamaru even more confused. The younger huffing and letting gravity pull him down as he stared up nonchalantly at the ceiling above him. Arms crossed behind his head as he listened to the soft knocking on his wife-to-be's door. She'd apparently locked it. Strange. She must of assumed that he would follow, but the idea that she would lock him out was unnerving. 'Don't look to deeply into it, Shikamaru. It's not like she's locking you out emotionally, just...physically.' He closed his eyes and gritted his teeth. 'Damn...'
-x-x-x-
Opening the door at the sound of her Caregiver's voice, she stepped aside and let Shikaku enter her room. "Shikaku..."
"Kagome, years ago, when you were five, I do a most cruel thing."
She tilted her head in confusion. "What?"
"I laid down the expectations of a full-grown shinobi, on your shoulders. I made it seem, like failure was unacceptable. We all make mistakes, it's human nature, and yeah...all of us fail at one point or another."
He sat down on her bed and held a hand out, watching as she took it carefully in hers. The size difference was shocking, he really had forgotten just how small he was. She was still just a child, and younger then when he'd given her such responsibility.
"The path that you chose...is in fact one to protect this village, it's Hokage and the Villagers. This wasn't exaggerated, but it was ill explained. To take this path, means that you give your all to do just that. Kagome, you fought as hard as you could, and harder still. Genma told me what happened. Nothing more could be expected of you. The Hokage's death is painful, and we as a village will overcome the scar on the village that's been left behind, together. Just as we will walk this path of the Shinobi, together. You are not alone, and you never were. I took you in and failed in the simplest of ways as your guardian. I made you feel as if you had to do everything on your own." He brought his thumb to her cheek and brushed away the stray tear. "Never mind that you were willing to give your life for the Hokage, you were a first responded when the attack took place, and first to take action. I hear a lot, Kagome, and you did the Nara Clan proud. I'm proud of you." He carefully pulled her into his arms, her form shaking as she heaved heavy breaths of air, trying to calm herself down and failing miserably. Tears ignored her plea to discontinue, falling without reserve as all her hurt seemed to make itself known to the Nara Clan head.
"I'm sorry,"
"Don't apologize for this, Kagome. I owe you the apology, not the other way around. Without realizing it, you've become ingrained in this village. You are important to many people here, and that includes me. I never made the effort to tell you because I always assumed you didn't need to hear it. Kagome, look at me," he caught her eyes and felt his heart crack under the deep blue gaze of the little girl in his arms, "I'm so sorry."
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Me: Here is chapter 62! Thank you again for all the reviews~! Let me know what you think and I'll update again soon!
SONG: Connie Talbot - Good To Me
