Disclaimer I don't own Naruto/Boruto

The Hardest Goodbye:

Shikamaru and Temari stepped into the darkened room. The two were seasoned shinobi and had seen some pretty gruesome injuries in their time; however, nothing could have prepared them for the sight that greeted them.

In the center of the room, Shikadai lay on the bed; the lower portion of his body was wrapped in bandages and a large metal brace was keeping his body aligned. The horrifying part though was his head; the boy's entire head was wrapped up in gauze, but despite that blood was still leaking out. Shikadai's face was also badly bruised and skinned.

Temari put her hands to her mouth to keep from crying out she just stood there unsure of what to do. As for Shikamaru, his heart sunk to the bottom of his soul for whatever illusion he'd had that his son would pull through this was shattered. Taking a breath, he grabbed onto his wife's hand and walked to the edge of the bed, "Shikadai?" he said.

Shikadai slowly opened his eyes, "Dad?" he said, his voice barely above a whisper.

Temari let go of Shikamaru's hand and went around the bed taking her son's left hand in her own while Shikamaru took the boy's right hand. The Shadow user swallowed back a lump that was forming in his throat, "Yes Shikadai, it's me. Mom's here too," he said.

The younger Nara was unable to move his neck so he moved his eyes back and forth in an attempt to find where his parents were. When he couldn't see them his brow crinkled, "Where are you?" he asked.

Temari's brows crinkled, "We're right beside you Shikadai, can't you see us?" she asked.

Shikadai winced, "No, all I see is black," he said.

Temari and Shikamaru shared a horrified glance; their boy was blind. The young mother felt tears prick her eyes but she wouldn't shed them yet not in front of Shikadai, "That's okay baby, the medics have the lights down to make you more comfortable," she said, lying so Shikadai wouldn't panic.

Shikadai sighed, "It's okay mom, you don't have to lie. I know that blast blinded me," he said. Temari gave a small smile, even on the verge of death her boy was as sharp as ever.

Shikamaru looked sadly at Shikadai, "It could just be temporary you know," he said.

Shikadai hummed, "I heard the doctors Dad, they said I wasn't going to make it," he said.

Shikamaru's grip on Shikadai's hand tightened, "They're wrong whether you live or die is entirely up to you," he said.

Shikadai sighed, "I think they might be right though," he said.

Temari whimpered, "Please don't say that Shikadai," she said.

Shikadai winced, he hated it when his mother was upset and worse when she was upset because of him, "It's okay mom, it'll be okay," he said.

Temari bit her lip to keep from crying, how could her boy say it was going to be okay? If he died things would never be okay again, not in her world anyway, and she could see in Shikamaru's eyes he was thinking the same thing.

Shikadai suddenly tensed up, and it was obvious the boy was in a great deal of pain; however, the child refused to cry out in front of his parents. Shikamaru wasn't haven't, "It's okay to cry if you're hurting. Your mother and I won't judge you for that," he said.

Once the pain subsided a little Shikadai asked his father a question, "Dad is Inojin and ChoCho okay?" he asked.

Shikamaru smiled proudly at his son, even though the boy should be worried about himself he cared about his teammates, "They're okay, Chocho lost an arm and Inojin's unconscious but otherwise okay," he said.

Shikadai sighed, "that's good," he said.

Temari felt the tears begin to fall, "It's all because of you, Shikadai," she said.

Shikadai forced a smile, "I'm glad they're okay; I just wish I could look after them a little longer," he said.

Temari gulped, "You can baby, just fight this," she said.

Shikadai winced, wishing he could, but he felt so tired and was in so much pain, "I'm sorry Mom, I'm sorry Dad that I wasn't strong enough," he said.

Shikamaru felt his throat close; why was Shikadai sorry for? This wasn't his fault, no if anything it was the client that had lied's fault. "It's not your fault, little fawn," he said.

Shikadai was comforted by his father's words; unfortunately, he could feel himself slipping away and suddenly he was scared, "Daddy, I'm scared," he whimpered.

Shikamaru moved his hand to Shikadai's cheek, "Sh, it's okay Daddy's here," he whispered.

Shikadai swallowed hard, "Daddy could- could you hold me?" he asked.

Shikamaru was surprised by the request but he couldn't nor would deny his dying son his last request, "Yeah, hang on just a moment," he said getting up to go ask the nurse.

Shikamaru found the nurse that had helped him earlier along with the doctor; he explained his son's request to them. The doctor understood that the child was about to die and needed comforting, so he led Shikamaru back to Shikadai's room; he removed the brace that had been keeping the child's back in place and then left the room.

Shikamaru wrapped his arms around his son and as gently as possible pulled him into his chest. Temari for her part laid a hand on his back and began humming the lullaby she used to sing to him when he was a baby. "I love you," Shikamaru whispered to his son for the last time.

Shikadai took a deep breath, "I love you, Daddy, I love you, Mama," he said and then he went limp.

Author's note: So here's chapter three of "Losing Shikadai,"