The sun was high in the sky,outside the hospital stood Shikamaru with his parents, his father Shikaku head of the Nara clan and his mother Yoshino Nara a rather in Shikamaru's opinion "troublesome woman". Due her personality he's seen and lives with, which he prayed with the newest addition to his family his mother would be less of a "troublesome woman", it seem so considering the amount of gifts he and his father where holding. Gifts and presents Yoshino demanded to be bought, to welcome their new daughter as well a few get well gifts. Shikamaru felt it wasn't necessary to do it, complaining to his father who told his son to just go along with it, as it was his mother's "good side", meaning she was in a happy mood. Though the way she barked at them to not mess up any of the gifts this morning and to hurry up, not to mention how they needed to behave in front of their newest family member. Shikaku a loving and devoting father and Shikamaru the best brother ever. All this before the sun even rose. Like she was coaching them.
And again his father just told his son, Yoshino was just excited about it all and nervous though she wouldn't show it. Kinda of like when he was born, his father told Shikamaru. After learning about the girl she just wanted the best and was acting like a mother, finding out the girl never had one and give her the best family. All this Shikamaru found as an excuse but didn't dare to speak up about to his mother, though he felt he wanted to about these gifts. Knowing the girl already, she was pretty simple, like simple things, heck even a leaf blowing in the wind would be enough for her. It was that innocence she held. Yeah, that was it the reason Shikamaru didn't mind her, the thought of actually having a sister was something he never thought of, but didn't seem to mind. He just prayed his mother wouldn't rub off on her, and one thing was sure his mother would spoil her to death and by the way his father seem to be acting he wouldn't be surprised if the old man did the same thing like his wife, having caught him a few times talking to Inoichi about what to expect with having a daughter, if he could get the man. Inoichi had duties, he had to keep monitor on the his soon to be sister, it was interesting because Shikamaru found out from Ino that her father was going to do the same thing like his family, take her into their family. She wasn't the only one either a few more too, word spread about his sister and a few wanted to claim her, but his family beat them to the punch. If Shikamaru hadn't said anything about her to his family, than none of this would be happening.
Looking at the large hospital sign, though more so in the direction of the room.
His legs getting tired of standing, Shikamaru groans irratiated."Are we going inside?"Realizing the type of tone he just used he starts to sweat.
Expecting his mother to react, he braces himself for it. But instead he hears her inhale and starts through the front door. Confused and baffled, Shikamaru looks to his father who just gives his son a smirk. And follows his wife, gesturing his son to follow behind him.
The Nara's check in at the front with the receptionist, who calls for a nurse to come and escort them to the room. On the way there, Shikamaru hears his mother asking the nurse all sorts of questions, about the girl. They where pretty normal questions, but the way his mother asked them made them sound serious. Almost life threatening which was not the case, they've been the same questions his mother has asked since day one. When she came up here with her husband to check on the girl, who was sleeping during that time. She slept a great deal the pass three weeks and half, her body was still recovering Tsunade told them. The Hokage was personally over the girl and kept tabs on her all the time. She had to stay in the ICU room after she awoke for the first time, just to make sure she was stable before Tsunade allowed and transferred to "normal" room. And by "normal" it was rather larger than the average hospital room. It only made since, because, for one she couldn't be around others, second the kind of care she needed, and third the most important, the amount of visitors that came into the room and how her room became somewhat filled with so much, from others. And now she was going to be getting more, thanks to his mother.
Shikamaru thinks back when she first woke up, opened her eyes. Everyone was happy to see those bright eyes again, even if they did seem a hazy. She was confused at first at who they all where. In fact she had a rather hard time placing names. Going blank a few times, a side effect Inoijin told them, all they had to do was just remind her and work with her. It worried everyone, because the pain it seem to cause her a bit trying to recall. But, she soon remembered. That was just the tip of the ice berg, much more came after that, that scared the others. Afraid she would slip back into her previous state. A few times she minor comas, her body slightly failed. It all happened within the first week and half she opened her eyes. After that, came her cognitive functions, having trouble grasping things, her hands trembled. Her body was in constant pain, and since none of the medical ninjutsu was good for her health made it a bit more difficult. And to add to it, her healing had yet to kick back up. Whatever it was that she experienced, he remember everyone was there. Things just seem to go from bad to worse, to dreadful. Her body structure though human like, was not as simple as a regular human. Tsunade spent countless days almost weeks to understand it and figure out it worked. What made it better, she was from a different world and different species. Being nearly three in one body. Still, she was May to them all. No matter what. It didn't matter to them.
When all the hardship passed, and light came back through the storm. Things started to pick back up, she was starting to do much better. Tsunade had her moved out of the ICU, to a room that offered so much light and lovely view of the hospital garden, with a large window to look out of, to enjoy the view. Of not just the garden but also the sky, so she could look up at as many stars as she wanted. It was the best gift so far to give her, after all she had done for those of this world she only just meet, it seem like it wasn't enough. Shikamaru was aware everyone felt they could never repay her back. Though at the same time he knew she wouldn't want them to look at that way. She did it, because...
The nurse stops at the room: M-1, she knocks on the door to open it."May, May are...Oh!?"she looks to find an empty room. Yoshino steps in looking the empty room worried.
"Where is she?"she slightly demands.
The nurse seem a bit preplaxed by this sudden finding."I'm not sure..."she looks at her chart."There isn't anything schedul-"
"Oh, if you're looking for May. She was taken outside about 20 minutes ago."a passing nurse tells them."I'm sure you know by who."
Shikamaru rolls his eyes knowing what they meant. He and his father snicker silently. The nurse shuts the door."Please, this way."she starts up walking again to the garden. Yoshino kept up with her stride almost passing her.
"Is she okay to be outside?"she asks the nurse.
"Yes. Lady Hokage said it will be good for to get some fresh air. Her visitors have been doing this for her, the last few days. She really enjoys. It helps her health."
"She likes nature."Yoshino reminds herself. Shikaku chuckles lowly to himself at how his wife was acting, taking careful notes. Despite her tyrannical self, he was right, she showed her soft side at times. And here was a perfect example.
Shikamaru notices his father's smirk."What's so funny?"he questions his father.
Shikaku kept his eyes on his wife."Having a daughter, will be a good thing."
"I don't know, two woman...it's going to be more troublesome."Shikamaru complains sarcastically.
It only took a few minutes to reach the hospital gardens, which was rather large, with different terraces of flowers, bushes, trees. A river that ran through the terraces, creating mini waterfalls to come together forming a tranquil pond with lovely fish swimming around and under the moon cresent bridge, there platform balconies with benches if someone just wanted to look out over it at all the lovely fresh colors. There was always a gentle breeze that blew through, different paths to take to enjoy every inch of the place. Yep, this was a place for them. Birds perched and sang, going about their business. Butterflies fluttering and other small creatures who just decided to make their home there. It was good the place was fixed up after damage the village suffered awhile back.
Yoshino kept her eyes alert for any sign of the pink hair girl, determine to find her. She started straying away from her son and husband. Looking high and low for any sign. The gardens where big but not too big. Still, someone like May could get lost in a place like this, if she wanted too. Enjoying it so much she blends in.
"I don't see her."Yoshino begins to panic."Where is she?"The nurse gets ready to say something, stopping when the woman begins to call for the girl."May!May where are you? Ma-"
The sound of sweet and innocent laughter was heard, there was only one person Shikamaru knew that had such a pure life like that. Smirking to himself he manages to locate it, and walks in that direction. His mother notices her son and follows him, with her husband and the nurse. The laughter was becoming closer and closer, Shikamaru went down a few more stairs stopping on one of the platform balconies, and there before his eyes with her golden flower broach, the same color as her eyes nicely placed on the left in her short hair. Yes, short hair it still made Shikarmau cringe when his eyes laid upon it. Her hair was once long, to her mid back completely chopped to a much shorter style. Not to her shoulders. Shorter. The style still allowed her to look cute, but truly her long hair worked better, than the pixie style. She didn't choose this style, nor did she cut it off herself to prove something. No. It was cut against her will, no doubt from what she was subjected to. She didn't seem to mind about it, and with Ino who helped to style her hair much better. Made it suitable, her bangs still framed her face allowing her to remain cute looking. And because of her personality it made much better. So there wasn't anything really to worry about.
Still, after the memories he'd seen along with the others, it seem her hair was very important to her. Her sister use to style it a lot, which was a role Ino gladly took over. There she sat in a wheelchair of course, it was really the only way she could get round. Her legs weren't broken, she just needed to let them heal and practice with them, and since her healing in a sense was coming back she would just have to practice again. Starting from scratch all over again, like when she first open her eyes. Starting back from square one. Shikamaru couldn't imagine. From witnessing the struggle she seem to go through during that part in her life learning to walk, unlike the rest of them who had years to learn it properly, she didn't. Like a new born calf she had to learn despite all her stumbling and falls. To make it worse, she couldn't run right off the back, if she did her legs would give out and she couldn't do anything really. The life she had back home and how it started of despite her loving family and friends, was actually sad. Just sad. Life just thrown at her, without any warnings what life had in store. He could only imagine it being overwhelming and frightful. Having seen it in her eyes a few times. During the look into her memories. The way she felt alienated and indifferent. Misplaced. Mistreated. Confused on what she was. The treatment she experienced there and here in this world. But no one would know, she never told a soul really. Just carried on like everything was okay.
The fact it went on and the others didn't know made them feel miserable and guilty. While she made everyone feel good, wonderful and important, she felt the opposite. Able to put smiles on other's faces, which many would fine as being rather stupid, but she was far from stupid. She had a intellect. One praised, despite her naivety and child innocence.
Dressed in a standard white hospital gown, her feet often bare unless either Hinata, Ino or Sakura told her to put something on her feet. And there was something on her feet this time. Meaning one or all three girls had to be present. Since there was nothing on her feet, that meant one thing.
"Seriously, Naruto? May needs to have something on her feet."Shikamaru berates the knucklehead.
Hearing his voice you and Naruto turn around to him, along with Kakashi, Guy and his team, and Natsuki. Who was standing very close to you, like she always did. Neji stood by the handles. Your eyes light up upon seeing Shikamaru, that you almost sprung out if not for Shikamaru who used his shadow to keep down.
He walks over placing what he held in his arms down."Shikamaru!"you chime happily."Hello."
"Hey, May."he greets you casually. Which earned him a scolding from his mother.
"Shikamaru!"she hisses."That's not how you greet her!"You look on a bit confused by the hard look Yoshino was giving him. Scaring her son. Huffing the woman turns to you, her face became softer, she gets down to your level her eyes look you over to make sure everything was alright. Seeing there was nothing wrong, she sighs in relief and satisfaction, including her sons and the others."How are you feeling?"her words came out warm and gentle.
"I am fine."you give her a slight tired smile."Naruto and the others have come to visit."
Shikaku places the gifts down where his son had."Hey Kakashi. Guy."he greets the other jonin. They greet him back, though become scared when Yoshino snaps at her husband for not acknowledging you.
"You say hello to your daughter first!"she hisses.
Scaring the man."..."he looks at you fear written all over him."H-Hey...I mean, hello May."he corrects himself. Sweating bullets. While holding his breath. Looking to his wife for approval. Her look didn't change but he read in her eyes, she was accepted it. Allowing him to breath.
"I will leave then."The nurse excuses herself. Yoshino thanks her, keeping her attention on you.
Natsuki though noticed the presents and makes her way over to them, picking up two. Shaking them."What are the gifts for?"
Everyone looks to her."Seems someone receiving gifts."Kakashi smiles looking to you.
This was a surprise, since your vision was much better now you managed to read your name on each of them. Counting at least ten, some wrapped others in bags. Confused a bit with this sudden surprise. You look to Shikamaru and his family for an explanation. With that look Shikaku picks up small box and hands it to you. Smiling at you.
You hesitate to take it, but reach out to take it. The hand that extended, your left was still bandaged so it moved a bit slower. Finally grasping it, you look at the decorative wrapping unsure if you should open it or not. This was just so unexpected. Gifts? What for? You didn't do anything and you knew it wasn't your birthday, well you didn't really have one. Still, what for?
Seeing the pondering questions in your eyes, a hand rest upon your head. Making you look up at Kakashi who smiles at you, assuring you it was fine. So you began to open it, struggling a bit at first, but Neji came to help you and what you received was lovely. It was a necklace, with the Nara family crest. You didn't know what to say really. Unsure what it meant it, though the others understood.
Shikaku steps forward and takes the necklace from you putting it on you."There...a perfect fit."he tells you. You look at the emblem around you, and trace your fingers on it. It was lovely. You look to him and his family.
With a grateful smile."Thank you. Very much."
He smiles back."You're welcome. I was told you like instruments."he gestures to his son, who grabs this time a decorative bag with tissue paper and hands it to his father. Shikaku places it in your lap, he helps you take out the paper and you pull out a lovely flute. One that you remember playing before. Your eyes light up at the sight and soften.
"I love music."you tell him."A way to express yourself. Thank you."
Tenten interrupts the semi bonding beginning to establish between you and Shikaku."Why don't you play something? I'd love to hear it?"
"Yes. Please."Lee chimes in agreeing. Along with Naruto.
You get ready to agree when someone noticed the slight lethargic look in your eyes. Your eyes lids where starting to shut."Seems someone's getting tired."Kakashi notices."How about we take you back, the medicine Lady Tsunade has you on is kicking again I see."
Noticing the tired look, the others agree. Shikaku smirks to himself."Guess we'll have to open the rest up later. Huh?"He said to you, only to not get a response back instead he finds you fast asleep. Yoshino hurries over to you.
"Neji."Guy looks to the Hyuga.
"I have her."he starts to push you back to your room, Yoshino and Natsuki follow. While the others watch.
"It's good she's recovering, well."Shikaku states."I'm surprised though, Kakashi, you didn't want to take her in. Considering Lady Hokage used you for her recovery."
"Hey!"Naruto erupts."She used me too."
"And how would take care of her?"Shikamaru points out.
Making the boy think for a second."...I don't know really."
Back to answering Shikaku's question."I did. Then again I do like my privacy. But, I'll still keep my promise."
Knowing what he meant, Shikaku smirks to himself."...It's going to be interesting having a daughter."