Chapter 9
Shikaku slipped out of the shadows next to the hole in the wall, him and his teammates frequented. The alcohol was good, the prices better, and it was small and dark. Only a handful of veterans were here at a time, most from the Nara, Yamanaka, and Akimichi clans. Sometimes they brought other shinobi in, but they were rare moments. Still the owner of the establishment refused to move further to the center of the village, he didn't want more customers. The ones he had were loyal and came back regularly. He, for a civilian raised ninja, understood the bonds between the three clans, and their need for space from other people at times. It helped that his bar also doubled as a café all day. He had filled the walls with bookshelves, and game cupboards. Though it served different things, the rules were the same; Do Not Start Shit. That, and the barman's word was final. Shikaku smirked, it was a great hideout from his wife, as she detested the place. With his hands stuffed into his pockets, Shikaku lazily slunk into the bar, nodding his head in greeting at the bar keep.
"Welcome Shikaku-san. Inoichi-san and Chouza-san have already ordered for you. I'll bring it over as soon as you are settled."
"Thank you, Daisuke-san." With a fleeting smile, Shikaku gave his thanks to the owner, before wandering across the bar to the usual seat. A flash of long platinum blond hair caused amusement to flood through him. No matter how often they tormented their brother about his hair, Inoichi never got it cut. God help anyone who harmed his precious hair. After he had …removed… the issue from near his hair, he used to cling to the nearest person and wail about how his hair was ruined for good. Dramatics ran through the Yamanaka clan. It was as much a part of them as the gossiping, though they cultivated that image so most people underestimated them. Shikaku snuck over behind Inoichi, motioning to Chouza to keep quiet, and waited for the right time.
"…and then she came home with a whole bunch of new clothes and told me she needed a bigger wardrobe. A bigger wardrobe! She already has a room as her wardrobe. I love my princess, but maybe I spoiled her a little. She is so picky, I'm worried I am never going to see grandkids."
"Inoichi, you always say this. You never do anything about it." Chouza's rumbling voice was amused. He was right; Inoichi complained most weeks about how picky his girl is and that he wouldn't live to see grandkids. Yet, every week, he would decide that there was nothing he could do.
"I keep hoping she'll come home and say she is dating your son. Hell, she could date Shikaku's girl if she wanted. I'd be happy. There is always adoption!" Inoichi dropped his head onto his arms and sulked silently.
"Oi, why is my daughter a second choice?" Shikaku grinned and winked at his rounded teammate opposite him, before throwing himself over Inoichi's back. The normal rough and tumble followed as Inoichi tried to throw Shikaku off and pin him. "Besides," Shikaku laughed "I think two out of the three together wouldn't work. It would be unbalanced."
A cleared throat separated the two, and they sank into their seats, pulling their alcohol towards them. Chouza shook his head in amusement. The two in front of him, never changed. They always take any chance to tumble about like puppies. When they were younger, it often led the three of them to a private area for a quick romp. Especially near front lines. During the war, it was pretty much expected that every shinobi had someone to help release stress with. The Ino-Shika-Cho had just relaxed into the bonds their team had; it made them stronger, allowed them to put aside the masks within their team. When Shikaku needed to let go, and stop being in control, Inoichi and Chouza were there to meet his needs. When Inoichi needed to feel grounded to his own body after one too many mind transfers, Chouza and Shikaku were there. When Chouza needed to feel love after he had stretched, twisted and shrunk his body all day, Shikaku and Inoichi were there. They were brothers; closer than lovers in some ways. Now-a-days, they had their wives for that kind of comfort. Still, sometimes the puppy piles and the physical fights that were not fights happened.
"So Shikaku, what's happening in clan Nara this week? Any luck with talk with Shika-chan the morning, before her mission?" Chouza asked, to stop Inoichi plotting a not so sneaky, sneak attack on Shikaku.
"I thought I had had a break through that morning. She fell asleep in my arms the night we brought her home, and was relaxed the next morning." Shikaku explained his voice low, and slightly tense. "Well, she was relaxed enough to cry. I've not seen her cry since she was a child, yet twice this week alone she has been a sobbing wreck." Shikaku's voice cracked slightly, his dark eyes, so like his daughters, swirled with worry. Instinctively, his brothers' chakra circled him protectively and in comfort. "Then Yoshino came in."
Shikaku sighed and stared into the cup of sake. Studiously avoiding the looks the two next to him were exchanging. He knew how they felt about Yoshino. Hell, he knew how everyone in the village felt about Yoshino. Even he, and he loved his wife, agreed with them most of the time. Yet, when they first met she was different. Still loud and nagged a lot, but she didn't scream or threaten. She didn't try and crush his spirit day in day out. Something changed after they were married. He needed to find out. Yoshino used to be firm but had a gentle heart. Tender towards the people she cared about. She would be a spitfire in the battlefield, and tough on people who broke the rules, but under all of that was a heart of gold. A gentle loving spirit. Yet, now, he felt like he had married a battle axe. The bit that got to him the most, was how she treated their daughter. The Nara clan loved children. Afterall, children were the future. They kept the village and the clan prosperous and safe in the years to come. Her distain for their heir is the final straw with him. If he couldn't find the problem and fix it, they would need to split. He would not put up with his daughter being put down in her own home! Shikaku looked up and met his teammates eyes, his own were firm. Almost steely in determination.
"I need your help." He asked. His voice just as firm and his eyes. He felt no shame in asking the two members of his family, who have had his back for decades, for help.
"Of course. Always." Was the chorused reply; their voices reflecting his steel back at him. Together, they would fix their family.
"Yoshino has changed. I know you guys haven't …approved… of her for years, but she hasn't always been this way. Not long after we got married, and she was expecting Shikamaru, she started to go out once or twice a week. I thought it was with your wives. Then I discovered it wasn't. It was another group of her friends; which is fine, she is welcome to have friends and a social life, so I didn't interfere. Then she started to nag and ignore me. Then the threatening started. I can take my wife, but I don't want to hurt her, so I've put up with the threats. Now, she treats my daughter worse. This is unacceptable. I want my heir around more, not hiding from us. Logically, there are two possible reasons." Here, he stopped, waiting to see if his friends would pick up where he had finished.
"Either she was faking the personality you met originally or..." Chouza's deep voice started slowly. His dislike for the idea showing.
"Or, someone is influencing her to change." Finished Inoichi. His words coming out in a snarl. If it was the latter, then the three of them will remind the person exactly who they were. Their masks would be put to the side, so the feral shinobi could shine through for a purpose.
The three sat in silence drinking their sake. Each one of them coming up with plans and ideas, before chucking some and storing others. A sigh broke through the silence, before Chouza looked up.
"So, what's the plan Shika-kun? How do you want to do this?"
"Today happens to be a lunch day for Yoshino. How good are your henges?" Shikaku smirked, as he stood up and dropped some coins on the table. Inoichi and Chouza smirked back before rising from their seats. As they dropped coins on the table, and walked away, a snort of amusement followed them out.
"Damn, whoever pissed those three off are so dead." A cackling Yamanaka stated to his companions.
The outside of the bar opened onto a quiet street, mostly residential. Three women stepped out and glanced around, before heading into the center of the village. One was tall, with hair like spun gold, pulled into a bun on her nape. She had clearly aged well, her face tastefully painted with complementing colours. Her clothes were elegant, and obviously costly. A silk kimono top of a dazzling blue rested on black fitted pants. Threads of the same blue colour outlined flowers falling down the side of one leg. Her companions were a definite contrast to her. One had locks of fire gathered into a messy bun on the top of her head, two wooden hair sticks held it up, though if one looked close you could see the hair sticks were actually a pencil and a slim paintbrush. Her clothes were simple. A kimono in autumn colours, with a black obi, tightened around her slim waist. Her face was clear of makeup, and she wore a simple necklace of leather. The third woman was slightly chubbier than her companions. Her hair fell down her back in a tumble of curls. She was definitely the plainest out of the three, but the aura around her was sweet. Like coming home after a long time away. She wore a pretty dress in plain black, with cherry blossoms embroidered on. The three of them sauntered up the streets to a modern looking café. The blonde looked at the menu before loudly deciding that they were eating here, it looked lovely. The inside was sleek and modern, the kind of place that tried to downplay their price, but you just knew lunch was going to be expensive. Everything was in black and white, with the odd splash of colour. A server showed them to a table, and handed out menus, before vanishing off.
"Ohhh look at this girls, they have my favourite wine! I knew this place was a winner!" the loud blonde squealed in excitement, drawing attention from a table nearby. The nearby table was large, an elder woman sat at one end, holding court with the others. In the middle of one side sat Yoshino. One of the braver ladies leant over.
"Oh yes dear, this café is brilliant. Say, would you ladies like to join us? It's always nice to have new faces. We are a support group really. We look after our own, and make sure we are all happy and help with any issues we have." The older woman smiled sweetly at them and gestured to the servers to move their tables over. Quite clearly this woman had never been told no before. Once they were moved over and had ordered the woman picked up where she had left off.
"So, my name is Mito, and I'm one of the founders of the lunch group, along with my sister, Kito, who is sat down there. Currently we are helping Yoshino-chan. She is struggling a little with her family, the poor dear." The woman paused to nod to Yoshino, who smiled brightly, and started to speak.
"Oh, I'm married to Shikaku Nara, and we have a little girl. I came here first, because I was a civilian ninja, and my new husband was about to become the head of the Nara clan. I didn't want to embarrass him or show him up and be a bad wife. This group has been so kind to me. They've really helped me become the main person in my family. I run my household, so my husband, bless his soul, can work for the Hokage and relax at home. The problem is my husband, and daughter, are so lazy! I'm proud of them, I really am, but I wish they had some kind of ambition and motivation. My daughter has just been promoted, so she goes and signs up to be a school teacher!" At the end of her rant the other women all made soothing and sympathetic sounds. The lady identified as Kito started to speak.
"A school teacher? As the heiress of a great clan? Well I never! You poor dear, having to deal with this! You told us you were nagging, yes? You've been trying your best to get them to realise potential Yoshino-chan, don't take it to heart. As for your daughter's recent behavior, well, nothing a good scolding and punishment wont fix. She needs to recognise that, as her mother, you have the highest of authority over her. Why, in my youth, my mother would give my sisters and I a good thrashing for even thinking of acting like your girl. Have you tried the…older… way of doing things? Maybe a trip over your knee would sort her out?"
"No! I'm not sure my husband would stand for it." Yoshino gasped.
"Come now Yoshino-chan, it's not beating, if it's done as a punishment, and with love." Mito broke in. "Anyway ladies, look at the time. I must go, I have a doctor's appointment. Same time on Wednesday?"
As if her words were magic, the other women started to stand, leaving Yoshino, and the three new women at the table. With a sigh, Yoshino stood slowly, her head hanging low. She bowed goodbye and turned to leave.
"Sit down Yoshino." Shikaku's voice was soft but harsh, like a velvet covered sword. His henge dropped as his wife swung her head around to meet his eyes. Shock plain to see as she took in her husband, and his teammates sitting there, watching her with hard eyes.
"Shikaku-kun, what are you doing here?" She stuttered as she tried to compute that it wasn't a trio of women that had sat down at the table.
"I think we need to talk, wife. You will go straight home. You will wait for me in my office. I think its time we had a chat. Now go."
Yoshino practically ran for the door, a flush across her face, quite telling that she was near tears. As she pushed the door open, her husbands voice froze her to the spot.
"I have never been disappointed in you Yoshino Nara, not until today."
With a choked back sob, Yoshino ran from the building and down the street. Through the window, Shikaku watched with dark eyes as one of the two most precious people in the world fled from him. His heart hung heavily in his chest as he internally blamed himself. Maybe he should have been more aware. He had been praised all his life for being a genius, too observant for his own good, yet, when it matters the most, he failed to see the pain his wife was going through at the beginning of their marriage. He assumed she knew he didn't care what she did, that the clan accepted her no matter her background. Now he sees that is not correct. He had truly failed his family. A nudge from his companions draw him out of his dark thoughts.
"Well Shikaku, you always had a knack for getting things done in the quickest time possible, but this was ridiculous! Did you suspect the group from the beginning?" Chouza asked, his voice filling the now empty café.
"I had an inkling. When we got married, most of her friends stopped talking to her, some rubbish about her being a clan matriarch now, and above them. So, when she came home and told me about a new bunch of women, she had met one day, I was both suspicious and happy for her. I choose to focus on the happy part. She had friends and wasn't relying on me to be her only socializing point. The change, when it happened, was slow, and I remained willfully ignorant. Now. Now, I've had enough. This ends; before I lose my wife and my daughter." Shikaku's voice raised towards the end. His closing statement sent shivers down his teammates back, this wasn't their friend anymore. This was a Clan Head, Hokages advisor, and the Jounin Commander talking. People were about to be reminded that Shikaku Nara was not a lazy doormat, and that he had power.
"But first, I'm going to the ANBU training grounds. I need to work off my anger before I speak with Yoshino. There is nothing good to come from having that discussion in anger. You guys coming?"
"To see you let loose, and kick some arse? Hell yes, we are coming. It's been way too long Shika-kun. Maybe we should both join in too. I think we've left Konoha to forget who it holds for a little long now." Inoichi's words dripped in dark enjoyment. A seductive pull of power from the blonde, that spread to the other two. Their eyes gleaming in sadist delight. This was going to be fun…
