Kit or Fawn?

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D/C: I own nothing.

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"Yin-Kurama Speaking."

"Yang-Kurama Speaking."

'Naruto and Shikamaru's mental link to each other and to their respective Kurama's. Or to emphasize something.'

-.-.-

Kushina kept her head held high as she was rolled into her former home. Her breathing started to uneven as she began to truly take in what everyone had warned her the place got ransacked but… not to this degree. Walls were painted with warnings, calling for murder on her son and oh Kami… how do they even consider themselves human? That was just the walls, the furniture was either taken away or was destroyed on the spot. Pictures that once hung on the walls were thrown around, burned or torn to the point it was unsalvageable. Many were missing, mainly priceless heirlooms from her homeland were gone. So many items that hold so much significance towards her, are gone.

"We managed to save a few things…" Kakashi murmured to her as he pushed her wheelchair around the apartment. "They're at the Sarutobi's residence."

Kushina didn't bother to ask about the details or about Minato's own items. She ever kept any photos of them in her apartment in fear of people finding a connection before the proper announcement… the what-ifs began to swirl in her mind, wondering what could have happened if they had done what they originally planned for the birth. "The nursery?"

"…Gone…"

-.-.-

Shikaku glared at the mob that seemed to grow by the hour at the main entrance of the Nara Compound. His clansmen were doing a good job at keeping them at bay, but even so… they've found several shinobi and civilians alike attempting to go through the forest to get to their target.

The Main Household of the Nara Compound, where Shikamaru and Naruto are currently located. Shikaku is going to have a serious talk to Danzo and that rumor mill of his. It didn't take an idiot to know that. Scratch that, it almost feels like a horrible portion of the village is populated by idiots. A massive horrible portion…

"That's it! All of you have five minutes to leave the premises before you're taken in for a night in the jail or T&I." The Captain of the Konoha Military Police Force announced to the mob as he and several other members of the Police Force appeared surrounding the mob. Shikaku let out a sigh of relief, thankful that he didn't have to do anything towards the idiots. If he had to face them… he would be the one taken to T&I.

"Fugaku." Shikaku called out to the man as he approached him. He ignored the pointed glares of hatred or freight coming from the mob.

"Shikaku." Fugaku responded he walked over towards the Nara Head, a frown forever present on his face. "This is the fifteenth time in the last three days, you have to deal with this already."

"What a drag… I've been pretty occupied." Shikaku deadpanned, at least several members of the Police Force shot their leader a look for his choice of words. He signaled for his clansmen to disperse and they quietly did so. "Yoshino is coming home tomorrow…"

Fugaku nodded solemnly. "I will personally ensure no harm come down upon her…"

"Thank you." Shikaku motioned for Fugaku to follow him into the compound. Fugaku sent out a silent signal to the Police Force before he followed Shikaku.

The two men walked in silence as one followed the other. It wasn't tense or awkward. Just simple silence.

"I've heard you've been refuting the rumors against my clan…" Fugaku allowing himself to muse aloud.

"I know what I saw, and it wouldn't make too much sense. I'll talk to Inoichi on curving the rumors down." Shikaku grumbled, scratching his neck as he did so. "I heard about Itachi, how is he?"

"He'll survive. It was a clean break and he's young." Fugaku replied, giving him a nod of thanks for Shikaku mentioned his eldest son. Itachi Uchiha had broken his foot to save his baby brother during the attack. Luckily, after breaking his foot someone from the clan had saved them and took them to safety… which reminds Fugaku to track down the girl and give him his personal gratitude for her actions. "Your own son… I commend you for your actions. To allow your son to be u-"

"Shut up."

"Right." Even if he's a clan leader and has a huge hand in the village politics, but when it comes to talking about family, it isn't exactly Fugaku's forte. "Mikoto should be done helping Kushina settling in…"

Shikaku ignored the pointed look Fugaku sent his way. "You saw the state of her apartment."

"She could have stayed at the Uchiha Compound… Mikoto nearly threw a tantrum when Kushina told her she's staying here."

At that, Shikaku didn't bother to hide his snort. He stopped just right in front of his home, memories started to flood right through him. Taking in a deep breath to break his train of thought to allow someone else to pop into his mind. Should he mention this tidbit piece of information to Fugaku? Minato did trust him, and the two of them do have a mutual trust or a healthy amount of respect. "The boys… they cannot be far apart of each other for too long."

Fugaku nodded his head at the answer, it may not be the entire truth but for now, it will do. "Do… do you regret it?"

"…We made a promise to live through the consequences. There wasn't any room for second-guessing."

-.-.-

"Remember, we'll be alternating from time to time to help around here. Kami already knows how much longer it will take for Shikaku to finally snap." Kiku Yamanaka said as she placed a steaming cup of hot tea on a small table that was next to Kushina. "If you ever feel the need to take a break, we'll be here."

"We'll be making sure Yoshino and you are well taken care of." Mikan Akimichi said as she continued to move around furniture to ensure Kushina was able to move around in her wheelchair with little to no difficulty.

"I know that…I just don't want to be a burden." Kushina grumbled under her breath, glaring at her legs. Little to no chance of recovery they sa- the Uzumaki attention was caught on a picture that was one the table next to her. What was in the picture frame made her regret her train of thought. Her injuries were nothing compared to many and from what she was told, Yoshino will never be the same. Mentally and physically. "They look…so happy together."

"Oh? That was taken three days after Yoshino gave birth. Difficult pregnancy nearly took her too…" Kiku mused over as she thought over Yoshino's son birth. She was a midwife for her godson's birth, and it was a rather difficult one at that. Despite this, Shikaku and Yoshino still had dreams to have a huge family but now, after what happened, that dream was dashed away due to the actions of one. "Mikoto, is dinner almost ready?"

"Almost, give it about five to ten more minutes." Mikoto yelled out from the kitchen.

"I feel as if I'm intruding here…"

"If it makes you feel any better, the Hokage made it an order for you to stay here." Shikaku deadpanned as he entered his home with Fugaku following behind him. "Staying anywhere else would arise subscription."

"Yeah, yeah, politics." Kushina rolled her eyes, she ignored how snippy Shikaku currently is. "The boys are in the nursery."

Without saying another word, Shikaku walked through his home to go to the necessity which he and Yoshino decorated themselves for their son during those nine months. Taking in a deep breath, Shikaku opened the door and attempted to ignore how the room smelt so much like Yoshino. Walking into the room slowly towards the crib to see both Shikamaru and Naruto sleeping without a care in the world. They were holding hands… how… innocent…

-.-.-

"CURSE THAT BASTARD! WE'LL ESCAPE AND MURDER THEM ALL!"

"You do realize we are one of the same, both of us escaping will result with us merging as one once more. Or if one escapes, it will promptly cause that half of us to have their energy transferred to the other vessel."

"Work with me here!"

"I'll do that once you stop being an idiot."

"If I'm an idiot, what does that make you!"

"You took all of our idiotic tendencies."

"I will finish you!"

"Yeah… good luck with that, dumbass."

-.-.-

She feels like she should know this place, but her memories are foggy and the more she attempted to remember, for the only pain to spread all throughout her body. For the life of her, Yoshino doesn't even know where she was let alone the people that are taking care of her. The only ones she has some sort of recognition is her infant son and… husband?

Husband.

She's married. Makes sense, she guesses. The baby looks like him, matching hair, ears, nose and even his chin. Shikamaru's eyes… his eyes make her head and heartache, distinctive foxlike rings around his eyes, making it appear more defined than they should for a human. Was her son born like this? She didn't have that type of feature on herself and Shikaku doesn't either.

Yoshino couldn't demand or ask why her baby looks like just as he does right now. He doesn't match the pictures that are around the room she was placed in. Nothing was adding up and why does it hurt so much when she tries to figure out what exactly happened during those massive blanks in her memory.

To be continued…

R/R.