"I'd always thought holding someone's hand was about possessiveness, I'd always thought it was about claiming someone but it's not; it's about maintaining contact, about speaking without words, about don't go."
CHAPTER THREE
Uzumaki Naruto, the son of Konoha's Mayor, was loud. He was hyperactive and obnoxious and— as Shikamaru would say at times in a low and exasperated sort of voice — Troublesome. But he was also inexplicably kind.
He never tried to make Toshiko talk when he would come over to play with her brother, nor did he— like other children had since she and her brother had come to live with their grand uncle Madara —make fun of her on the playground when she and Shikamaru and their other friends would kid around; sometimes the other children wall call her a Freak, other times they'd tug at her hair or take Mamarou from her until someone came upon them and made them leave her and her stuffed dinosaur alone.
So perhaps he was loud and obnoxious— maybe he was troublesome —but Uzumaki Naruto was kind to Toshiko, always offering her his arm to write out her thoughts whenever Sasuke and Shikamaru were no where to be found, and making enough nose for the two of them. It was why— ten months after having moved to Konoha; in the early start of June —when Toshiko opened the door to see the eight— almost nine —year blonde standing on her grand uncles doorstep she smiled. The whites of her teeth peeked past her lips.
"Hey Toshi!" Naruto beamed as Toshiko waved at him. "Is Sasuke home?" She nodded; Toshiko stepped to the side so the older boy could step into the house. "I wanted to see if he wants to come down to the park with me-you can come too, if you want!"
Toshiko silently reached out and grabbed Naruto's arm as he toed off his sneakers. Shika? She traced over the skin of arm.
"Sure! More the merrier you know?" Naruto said brightly. Toshiko signed Totally and Thank you in quick succession; Naruto's blonde brows knitted together for a split second before smoothing out, though it was clear he hadn't the faintest of what she had just signed he smiled and nodded all the same.
"Is Sasuke in his room?" Once more Toshiko nodded. "Awesome, I'll get him while you get Mamarou!" And just like that Naruto darted up the stairs.
Toshiko went into the living room where Mamarou was on the ground, next to where she— and he —had been coloring; the dinosaur had the box of crayons pressed up against it's front. Toshiko had been allowing Mamarou pick the colors she used to draw.
She and Mamarou had been drawing a picture of her fighting monsters along side Sailor Mercury; Obito had been the one to show her Sailor Moon after she and Sasuke had moved in. Personally he liked Sailor Jupiter better then Mercury but Toshiko didn't put much stock in her eldest cousins options as he had some dubious likes. For example, not only did Obito think that Mr. Mime was a top tier Pokémon but that Fruity Pebbles were better then Fruit Loops; both of which were— in Toshiko's option —wrong. Evee and Abra were obviously the superior Pokémon of the Poké world and Fruit Loops was ten times better then Fruity Pebbles.
Toshiko put her crayons and paper away, back into the drawer they'd belonged. She turned to pick up Mamarou before scampering off to the back of the house where she knew her grand uncle Madara would be.
The old man was stretched out along the back porch, his pipe in hand and his eyes locked on the coy pond. He had named each of the four fish in it; both Shiro and Yamabuki were named after their colorings while Raitoningu— which just meant Lighting —had been named so due to the stretch of while scales along his back which resembled a bolt of lighting and Glider who had been named that simply because of how gracefully he swam through the pond water unlike any other.
Toshiko knocked on the wood of the doorframe, Madara turned to her; his stark white hair had been tied back.
"Toshiko," Her grand uncle greeted, he smiled more with his eyes then his lips. Toshiko rolled herself up onto her tiptoes as she smiled at her grand uncle before rolling back down so that her feet were flat against the wooden deck.
Toshiko pointed to herself before she made the sign for Big Brother and fingerspelling Naruto's name, Maybe— she fingerspelled Shika —Going to park.
"Alright, be safe and stay with the boys," Uchiha Madara said. His eyes narrowed for a moment, "Obito and Kakashi are coming over for dinner so make sure you and your brother are back by six."
Yes, Toshiko signed, Okay. I love you!
Madara didn't say it back— it almost never said it —but as he leaned back against the post he had been resting against the look he sent Toshiko was warm enough to make the young girl preen before she turned back into the house.
Toshiko had made it half way to the front door when both Sasuke and Naruto— the two of whom had seemingly raced down the stairs —to leap somewhat simultaneously from the fourth and fifth steps from the bottom.
Sasuke, who had leapt from the fifth from last step caught himself from hitting the wall while Naruto who had jumped from the fourth hit his knees with a yelp. He smirked down at Naruto, "Told you I'd beat you."
"You did not!" Naruto said as he got back to his feet, his hands at his hips, "I hit reached the bottom first!"
"No you didn't," Sasuke snapped back, his arms crossed over his chest, "Toshi!" Sasuke called at the sight of his younger sister, "Who reached the bottom first?"
Toshiko's lips parted, her dark eyes flittered between her brother and his friend. His rival? Sasuke and Naruto called themselves the others best friend but some how everything got turned into a competition between themselves. The only time she and Shikamaru found themselves in competed on was when the two of them played shogi, and even then that was less a competition and more Toshiko seeing how long she could hold Shikamaru off before his inevitable win.
She shrugged. Sorry, she signed. No looking closely.
"It's okay," Sasuke said, though his shoulder sagged as he did so. He looked at Mamarou who was squarely in her arms, "You're coming to the park too?"
Toshiko nodded. She pointed to herself before making the sign for Talk and Uncle; unlike Naruto who's head had cocked to the side at the quick signs Sasuke nodded, before he turned Toshiko signed, He said home at six.
"Okay," Sasuke nodded. He peered into the living room as Toshiko passed by him, undoubtedly to look at the look at the clock that sat under the television. His lips turned downwards into a frown before clomping over to where his light-up sneakers were stationed next to the door.
Toshiko's sneakers— though weren't light-up like Sasuke's —were covered in a light pink glitter and had wheels on their underside; Naruto's shoes were just bright. Yellow and orange with ketchup red laces.
A few moments later, once Toshiko, Sasuke and Naruto had all stepped out of the Uchiha's ancestral home, Toshiko— with the hand that wasn't holding Mamarou's arm —grabbed the back of her brothers shirt; Sasuke wasn't the biggest fan of handholding and while he would allow it, he always ended up shaking Toshiko off after ten or so minutes.
"I was thinking—" Naruto said, only for Sasuke to cut him off with a scoff,
"—That's a first," Naruto's head swiveled to the side, his hands fisted together at his sides.
"Will you shut up!" Sasuke smirked in his friends direction. Naruto shot the raven haired boy a scowl before he sucked up a deep breath of air.
"Anyway," Naruto said, "Like I was saying, I was thinking that after we get Shikamaru we could invite Kiba too. I mean we can't invite Shikamaru and not Choji-that way, at least with Kiba whatever we play has equal teams."
"Kiba lives on the other side of town, inviting him is going to take forever," Sasuke said, "Toshi and I have to be back to ōoji-san's by six."
Ōoji-san's not home; Toshiko wasn't quite sure when Konoha would be home. When she and Sasuke would stop thinking about the apartment they had lived in with Itachi and their parents.
To be honest, at almost seven years old— and with the crash still fresh in her mind; still not even having happened a year ago —Toshiko wasn't quite sure if she would ever stop thinking about the apartment and her once pink walls and the dog that had lived in the apartment under them.
Naruto let out a long sounding hum as his arms crossed over his chest. A moment later his bright blue eyes brightened and Toshiko could practically see the metaphorical lightbulb go off above the blondes head.
"How about I get Kiba and you two get Shikamaru and Choji! They practically live right next to each other so it'll totally save time, believe it!"
"That's," Sasuke said slowly, in a surprised tone of voice, "Actually a really good idea."
Naruto scowled at the other boy, "You don't have to sound so surprised, you know."
Sasuke didn't bother to respond to Naruto before he began to lead Toshiko in the direction of Shikamaru and Choji's homes though— as Naruto went to turn so that he could run off in the direction of Inuzuka Kiba's home —Sasuke did look over his shoulder shoot a smirk at the blonde.
Toshiko could see the amusement in her brothers eyes. She could see the crinkle in his nose and she knew— just as the sky was blue and her grand uncle would be having soba noodles for lunch while she and Sasuke were at the park —that the smirk on her brothers face was the closest thing to a smile he had in him. Ever since the crash Sasuke's usual smiles had become rare— infrequent —leaving half hardy smirks in their place.
Once Naruto was no longer in sight Toshiko looked around at the familiar path to the Nara home; trees that lined the sidewalks were all in bloom, as were the bushels of flowers that littered the vibrant green lawns. Ever since she had first met Shikamaru in the forest that day, Toshiko and the dark haired boy had grown to be the best of friends; a title that Toshiko and Akimichi Choji— Shikamaru's other best friend —were both happy to share.
Toshiko let go of the back of her brothers shirt only to grab his wrist, Sasuke— letting out a quizzical hum from the back of his throat —turned his head to look at Toshiko. Toshiko simply turned her brothers arm over so that his forearm was pointed upwards towards the sky.
What if you get Choji? Toshiko wrote, We'll save time. I'll get Shika.
Sasuke's left cheek puffed outwards.
"I don't know," Sasuke said unsurely. Toshiko pouted.
I'm a big girl! I can get Shika! Toshiko traced along her brothers arm; while Toshiko hadn't written out an exclamation mark but with the increased pressure Toshiko had applied to her brothers arm whilst tracing the kanji the exclamation point had been implied.
"You're sure-the Akimichi's live a few blocks over from the Nara's." Toshiko didn't need her brother telling her that, she knew how far away Choji lived from Shikamaru. When she and Shikamaru weren't at his home, and they weren't at her grand uncles they were at Choji's.
She just nodded her head.
"Okay," Sasuke said after a moment, "Choji and I will meet you and Shikamaru at the park then." And though it wasn't a question as much it was a statement Toshiko nodded before she dropped her brothers wrist.
Toshiko was quick to blow a kiss at her brother before shooting off in the direction of the Nara household.
She was quick to look over at the Yamanaka home as she passed it by; no one was home and though she wouldn't admit to it— because it was mean and Toshiko, if anything wasn't mean —Toshiko let out a breath of relief when she saw the blinds drawn and the family car absent from the houses driveway.
Not because she hated the girl who lived there, Toshiko liked Ino. Sort of. Kind of.
Yamanaka Ino, the girl who lived in the home was sort of a friend of Shikamaru's. Their father's were the best of friends and so— occasionally —whenever Toshiko would drop by Shikamaru's she would find Ino there, complaining loudly about how Shikamaru and Choji were boring. Usually though, once Ino saw Toshiko, she would stop complaining; Toshiko being there meant Ino could braid her hair and listen to her talk about big girl things, something that while Toshiko was sure she was, Ino was convinced she wasn't.
Seven, according to the blonde Yamanaka, was still kid territory, not quite Big Girl status.
Toshiko turned the corner with a skid and brightened at the sight of the Nara household that laid at the end of the street. Unlike her grand uncles home the Nara household was only a single floor. It was small to be honest; it sat atop a tiny hill and various plants Shikamaru's mother Yoshino tended to littered the front yard. Toshiko couldn't help it but her smile got wider at the sight of the tall forest tree tops that could be seen sticking up from behind the house.
She still saw the stag that had lead her to Shikamaru from time to time. According to Shikamaru's father Shikaku that particular stags name was Osamu as the name meant— ruler —and he had been the biggest buck roaming the woods.
After having skipped up the steps that lead to Nara house and after having knocked loudly on the front door Toshiko rocked back and forth on the balls of her feet as she waited for someone— Yoshino or Shikamaru as Shikaku, Shikamaru's father was at work —to open the door, only to pause and look up when she saw Shikamaru's uncle Nara Ensui.
Ensui-san! Toshiko beamed, she waved at the man. She'd met him a handful of times before; Shikamaru seemed to think his uncle was cooler then his father as— according to Shikamaru —You should see how my old man acts around my mother. It's embarrassing. A total drag.
"Toshiko-chan," Ensui hummed, "Nice to see you again. Have you grown since the last time I saw you?"
Toshiko shrugged in response, the truth was she probably had. Uchiha's— if Obito and her father and grand uncle were anything to go off of —were tall, after all.
"You're here for Shikamaru, right?" Toshiko nodded and Ensui stepped to the side so that Toshiko could enter the house. She looked up at the man as she toed off her shoes, "He's upstairs napping. I was going to wake him up before Yoshino came home and found him but since you're here, you wouldn't mind doing that for me would you, Toshi-chan?" Ensui wondered.
No, Toshiko signed with a smile.
"Thanks," Ensui said, pressing his palm flat against the top of Toshiko's head, messing up her hair. While it had indeed grown since the crash— since she had first met Shikamaru several months ago —it still wasn't as long as it had been before the crash; when Ensui pulled his hand back the ends of Toshiko's dark hair fell against her jaw.
Toshiko trotted off in the direction of Shikamaru's bedroom while Ensui moseyed on into the kitchen; Toshiko, not even a full moment later found Shikamaru's bedroom door open and the boy— her best friend —stretched across his bed atop of the covers, spread eagle on his back. His mouth was open and a puddle of drool had formed next to his head.
A mischievous smile overtook Toshiko's face as a diabolical light went off over her head. Nara Shikamaru was Toshiko's best friend, she adored him. She also, as any best friend loved to do to their other half, took an almost sick amount of pleasure in torturing him.
It was why— after having quietly set Mamarou next to Shikamaru's shogi table —she sprung on him.
Shikamaru's eyes opened the moment Toshiko landed on him. The boy let out a loud groan— it could be heard over Toshiko's giggles —as he sat somewhat upright due to Toshiko's knees digging into the underside of his ribs.
Toshiko, peering down at Shikamaru, waved. Pouting, Shikamaru simply just looked up at Toshiko.
"Ensui-oji asked you to wake me up?" Toshiko nodded; sighing, Shikamaru seemed to melt further into his bed. "He is such a drag. And you—" Shikamaru moved his hand so that his left index finger was pressed against the tip of Toshiko's nose, "—Are the worst. You know that? Troublesome."
There was no real heat to Shikamaru's words, no real venom either; Toshiko— with her chest puffed out and her chin tilted up —smiled down at her best friend, taking his words as more a complement then anything. The same way Sasuke did whenever Obito or Kakashi— Obito's boyfriend —would call him a menace. Like it was something to be proud of; a badge of honor.
Thank you, she signed.
Toshiko rolled off Shikamaru and he rolled with her so that while her knees were pressed against his covers— and no longer the underside of his ribs —he was on his side looking up at her. Ever since Toshiko had cemented her friendship with Shikamaru over that first game of shogi he had begun to learn Japanese Sign Language. Shikamaru was somewhat slow to understand what her signs meant— Toshiko signed with a certain fluidity, steadily and quickly; she tended to sign as fast as she thought —but he tried. It was one of the reasons Toshiko adored Shikamaru, because for all his self-proclaimed laziness he always seemed to go out of his way for her.
Always seemed to take care of her.
Whether that meant learning Sign Language or constantly holding her hand because it made her feel safe— despite the jeers that would come his way from other boys their age —Shikamaru was always looking out for her.
Toshiko tapped the center of her chest before she made the sign for Big Brother and slowly fingerspelling out Naruto, Choji and Kiba's names— Shikamaru silently mouthed each name as Toshiko spelt them—Toshiko then asked him the question she'd come to ask, Play at the park. Come play?
It took half a minute and Toshiko signing what she'd meant a second time for Shikamaru's brows to smooth out in understanding.
"Sure," he said, "I just have to tell Ensui-oji first."
Okay.
Shikamaru rolled off his bed and Toshiko was quick to scramble off of the mattress after him. A moment later, after having picked Mamarou up from next to Shikamaru's shogi board the two young children stood in the mouth of the Nara family kitchen. Shikamaru's uncle, Nara Ensui had a newspaper on the table in front of him and an open pen twiddling between his fingers; her smirked as he looked up and at the two children.
"I see Toshi-chan here woke you up."
Shikamaru crossed his arms over his chest as he shot his uncle a dry and unamused look, one that only seemed to make the older Nara's lips stretch across his face.
"Toshi asked if I could go to the park with her," Shikamaru said, blatantly ignoring his uncles teasing comment.
"Who else is going?" Ensui asked, his eyes flickering between the two children, "Just you two?"
Shikamaru shook his head, "Sasuke, Choji, Naruto and Kiba."
"Alright," Ensui said, "When do you think you'll be back?" Shikamaru turned to look at Toshiko.
Ōoji said home by six, she signed.
"Six?"
"Okay, your parents will probably be home before that but—" Ensui waved his hand, "—I'll let them know where you ran off too."
"Before or after mom finds out you were smoking in the living room?" Shikamaru drawled. His uncles eyes narrowed, Toshiko's however, came alight with mischief. There was something almost thrilling about watching Shikamaru treat life like a shogi game; like he was so far ahead that no matter what move you made next you'd never be able to corner him.
"What do you want?"
"Money for ice cream," Shikamaru said, "It's hot outside."
"Right," Ensui sighed, he muttered— as he shifted in his seat for his wallet, about Shikamaru being just like his father —before pulling out two thousand yen notes. "Here you go."
Wearing the same kind of smirk Ensui had shot his way when both Toshiko and Shikamaru had entered the kitchen, Shikamaru moved to take the money from his uncle.
The greenish, thousand yen note was the smallest means of payment via paper money in the country; on the front of it the bill had the image of the famous physician and biologist Noguchi Hideyo, while the back of the note had the image of Mount Fuji and cherry blossoms.
"Thanks," Shikamaru said pocketing the money.
"Get out," Ensui said blandly.
Shikamaru hadn't needed to be told twice before he spun on his heel and lead Toshiko towards the front door where their shows laid. Grinning the pair slipped their shoes on; unlike Toshiko Shikamaru's sneakers didn't have a wheel in the heel of them nor did they— like Sasuke's —light up. They did however, have bright green laces that popped against the black fabric of his shoes.
Moments later, when Toshiko and Shikamaru were outside and on the steps leading up to the Nara house, Toshiko didn't bother to pull at Shikamaru's elbow to get his attention or hesitate before slipping her free hand in his. Nor did Shikamaru hesitate in squeezing hers once they were holding hands.
"Do you want me to hold Mamarou?" Shikamaru asked, "You know so it's easier for you to communicate?"
Always taking care of her; Toshiko warmed from the inside out before she shook her head no. Not because she didn't trust Shikamaru with Mamarou— he had held the dinosaur more then once since their friendship had started —but rather because she'd gotten better with multitasking while having the stuffed dinosaur tucked under her arm.
"Alright," Shikamaru said, his head turned upwards so that his eyes were cast among the clouds as he and Toshiko walked. Toshiko's eyes scanned the sidewalk for cracks and indentations Shikamaru could stumble on while his attention was occupied with the clouds.
Not that she minded; just as he— when Sasuke wasn't around —tended to be her mouth in social situations, Toshiko usually ended up being Shikamaru's eyes whenever they were walking somewhere so that he could watch the clouds as they traveled.
Sometimes though Toshiko wished she could help Shikamaru more. Wished that she could watch his back just as much as he watched hers; that just as Shikamaru constantly ended up being her hero she could be his. It was a stupid thought— Shikamaru never needed someone to speak for him, never needed someone to hold his hand just to feel safe, never needed to be watched over — but still, all the same, it was a thought Toshiko would have from time to time.
"Dose that one look like a rabbit?" Shikamaru asked; Toshiko and him were a block or so away from the park, their hands still interlocked. Toshiko looked up at sky only for her eyes to flit over to the specific cloud Shikamaru had been talking about when his arm raised and stretched outwards.
Toshiko cocked her head as she looked up at the cloud. It did, sort of. The cloud resembled a rabbit if said rabbit had been cut in half leaving only it's head and front paw behind. Toshiko tucked Mamarou under her arm and wobbled her right hand from side to side.
"That's what I thought, it sort of looks rabbit like but only after a minute," Shikamaru said. He then pointed to another cloud, "That one looks like a dog."
Toshiko nodded; it did, right down to the curled tail.
"Hey Shikamaru!" Naruto's voice rang out, "Toshi!"
The pair paused only a few feet from the park entrance and spotted Naruto's bright blonde hair atop the jungle gym. Kiba was with him— the brown haired boy sat at the top of the slide, just about to go down —while Sasuke hung upside down on the monkey bars and Choji, sat on the jungle gyms steps eating a bag of barbeque chips.
"Hey!" Shikamaru called back, he jerked his head upwards and Toshiko, grinning, shot forward, pulling the older boy behind her. Shikamaru let out a huff; though it was clear he must not have truly minded as he didn't pull back or shake off Toshiko's grip. He did however— at the sound of Inuzuka Kiba's poorly concealed snickers —turn his head in the brown haired boys direction and shoot him a glare.
One that made the taller boy look away and push himself down the slide so that he would have something to do. Kiba nap most hadn't had any time to get out of the way before Naruto barreled down after him.
"Cool, now that you two are here we can play ninja-tag!" Naruto called out. Ninja-tag was a lot like hide-and-seek tag, the only difference being that entire teams were it rather then just one singular person. There were also no safe spaces, once you were found there was no where to run except away.
"I don't want to be on your team!" Sasuke called out as he dropped from the monkey bars, Naruto turned his nose up in Sasuke's direction, his bottom lip curled inwards.
"Good!" Naruto loudly shot, "Because I don't want to be on your team either! I call Choji and Shikamaru!"
Toshiko shook her head. She wanted to be on Shikamaru's team. Naruto's shoulders sank.
"What! Why not?" Toshiko, not giving a verbal response, simply tucked her and Shikamaru's interlocked hands under her chin.
"Come on Toshi, can't you be someone else's team just this once?" She really didn't want too. Toshiko looked up at Shikamaru who was already looking at her. She raised a brow, almost as if to ask if he cared that they weren't on the same team.
With the palm of his left hand clasp to the back of his neck Shikamaru shrugged; he looked at Naruto, "Maybe we can switch teams every few rounds?"
"That's cool," Naruto nodded, only to then quickly add, "As long as I'm not on Sasuke's team."
"Like I'd ever want to be on yours," Sasuke sneered back. Naruto sucked in a chest full of air, no doubt about to go on a verbal tirade; Shikamaru's shoulders dropped.
"You two are such a drag, can we just play before I don't want to anymore?" Sasuke scoffed and Naruto looked away from Toshiko's brother, his chest deflated. The two boys stepped closer to one another.
Kiba stepped between them.
"One," Kiba said, "Two. Three! Nose goes!" Both boys touched their nose, though Naruto touched his a fraction of a second after Sasuke had already flattened the tip of his leaving Shikamaru to sigh loudly at the fact that his team— he, Naruto and Choji —would be seeking first.
"Have fun trying to find us," Sasuke smirked. The apples of Naruto's cheeks turned pink.
"I won't because Choji, Shikamaru and I are going to find you all so fast it won't be any fun, believe it!" Naruto declared; Toshiko's hand flattened against her mouth— so that she could smoother the giggles trying to escape —when Shikamaru let out a low sounding moan.
"Great, I'm actually going to have to try now. What a drag."
"I'll believe that when it happens," Toshiko's brother said.
Toshiko uncovered her mouth and while Naruto and Choji's eyes both squeezed shut and the loud blonde boy crouched down so that he could bury his face into his knees, Toshiko— before she untangled her hand from Shikamaru's —drew the kanji for maple on his hand.
The dark haired boy let out a small but genuine smile as his eyes closed.
"One!" Naruto called out, "Two! Three! Four! Five! Six! Seven!" Choji and Shikamaru had begun counting as well.
Toshiko took off up the hill of the park where the tamukeyama— Japanese maple bushes —were. Toshiko saw Kiba begin to scurry up a plum blossom tree whilst Sasuke disappeared behind the brush of green that quickly swallowed him whole.
"Eight! Nine! Ten! Eleven!" By the time Toshiko made her way to the tamukeyama bushes and managed to hide herself and Mamarou away between their branches she couldn't hear either Choji or Shikamaru and could only faintly heard Naruto's loud voice counting.
Sasuke would be mad, if he found out Toshiko had told Shikamaru where she would be hiding; she knew that. She knew that her brother would be upset if he found out she wasn't going to— hadn't —run from Shikamaru when he inevitably made his way to the maple bushes and saw her hiding there. But part of Toshiko— the part that felt warm every time she caught Shikamaru working on his sign language or saw him sharpen the pink crayon because while he never used it, Shikamaru knew that she loved the color pink —didn't care.
Couldn't find it in herself to care.
Though she supposed she could act like she did; it was why, a handful of moments later, when Shikamaru parted the maple bush branches and smiled at her— announcing that he had "Found You" —Toshiko faked a pout. Technically she was supposed to run since Shikamaru had found her, if he couldn't catch her she was safe.
She didn't though, instead— as her pout wobbled and quickly became a smile —Toshiko took Shikamaru's outstretched hand as he helped her out of the bushes. Neither Shikamaru or Toshiko let go of the other, though they did readjust one another's hands
"Thanks," Shikamaru murmured as he and Toshiko hovered next to the bushes. Toshiko moved Mamarou so that he was under the arm that was holding Shikamaru's hand.
For what? She signed, blinking ay him with a large smile that only just slightly too innocent.
"Right," Shikamaru breathed as Choji's voice rang out,
"Come on Kiba! Slow down!"
"No way!" Toshiko heard Kiba call back. Toshiko and Shikamaru made it to the edge of the hill the maple bushes had long ago been planted on and saw Choji chasing Kiba around in what looked like a circle. "Come and catch me Choji!"
"That's what I'm trying to do!" Choji whined. Toshiko saw Naruto checking under the jungle gym, no where near where Sasuke had gone off to hide. The young girl looked up at Shikamaru,
You going to help— Toshiko paused so that she could fingerspell his Choji's name.
"I guess, I mean what kind of man would I be if I didn't help one of my best friends?" Shikamaru wondered.
Man? Toshiko signed with raised brows. She wasn't trying to be tease him or be mean— she couldn't even imagine being mean to Shikamaru —it was just that Shikamaru couldn't be a man, he was a kid! Shikamaru was three months younger than Sasuke and Sasuke had only just turned nine not even two weeks before.
"Yes man," Shikamaru said with pink ears and a near petulant expression.
Okay.
Shikamaru nodded, he went to let go of Toshiko hand so that he could help Choji chase Kiba down only for the brown haired boy to fall. He must have tripped over something— a rock, a twig, a shallow root from the tree he had hidden in at the start of the game, something —because he tumbled forward along the grassy ground, elbow over heels.
Toshiko's eyes went wide, the air seemed to still. Choji froze mid-run, and Shikamaru sucked in a sharp breath of air as Kiba landed flat on his back. A beat passed and then, in an instant time seemed to snap back. Choji jolted forward while both Toshiko and Shikamaru rushed down the hill. By the time Toshiko and Shikamaru were next to Kiba— who Choji had helped sit up —the brown haired boys dark eyes were still as sharp as ever. He— Kiba was smiling —despite the fact that was dirt all along the left side of his face and the fact his elbow was bleeding.
His tongue poked out from between his teeth as he looked to Shikamaru and Toshiko.
"You two were up there right?" Kiba pointed to the top of the hill as he asked. Though it had been obvious Kiba had been asking Shikamaru more so then Toshiko, both Toshiko and Shikamaru nodded in response. "So you guys saw me eat it?"
"Uh-huh," Shikamaru answered cautiously; Toshiko nodded. She wasn't quite sure where Kiba was going with his line of questioning.
"It looked cool, right?" Kiba asked, "Cause it felt freaky—" scary was the word Kiba would have used if not for the self proclaimed fact that he never got scared, "—Which means it had to be cool."
The breath Shikamaru let out was something between a incredulous scoff and a disbelieving laugh.
"Yeah," Shikamaru said, "It looked cool." Kiba grinned, his almost unnaturally sharp canines shined in the sunlight.
"Awesome!"
"Get back here!" Naruto shouted. Toshiko felt her body swivel as she looked in the direction the blondes voice had come from. Her brother leapt from the brush he had hidden somewhere in, Naruto was hot on his trail.
"Why?" Sasuke shot over his shoulder, "Can't catch me on your own!" Naruto let out a growled yell as he pushed his legs forward. Sasuke darted up the hill and Toshiko, wanting to clap for her brother but unwilling to to release Shikamaru's hand— as she was still holding it —slapped her free hand against the side of her thigh.
Naruto darted up after Sasuke only for Sasuke to zag back down the hill. For the next few minutes it went like that, as Choji shared the large bag of chips he had brought from home with Toshiko, Kiba and Shikamaru the four of them watched Sasuke and Naruto zig and zag up and down the hill.
"This is so boring," Kiba complained with a mouth full of barbecue flavored chips. "I hate just sitting here!"
"I don't know, I don't mind it," Shikamaru said.
"Well yeah that's cause you're lazy," Kiba said flippantly. Toshiko frowned at the boy; while it was clear Kiba hadn't meant what he'd said to be an insult Toshiko felt her mouth twist downwards. Shikamaru wasn't lazy. Not really. Sure, perhaps maybe he preferred could watching to running relays for fun but he wasn't lazy. He was easy going.
Choji went to pass the bag of chips to Kiba only for Toshiko to grab them away from the brown haired boy. Yes the chips were Choji's and yes Choji could share the chips with whomever he wanted, but still, Toshiko found herself wearing a waspish expression and tightly gripping the bag of chips.
"Come on Toshi!" Kiba complained.
Toshiko however held the chips against her with one hand— Mamarou was in her lap, the bag of chips was pressed up against him —and after having let go of Shikamaru's hand signed Say sorry, with the other.
Both Kiba and Choji looked to Shikamaru, who had the ghost of a pleased smirk playing on his lips; Shikamaru turned to Kiba.
"Toshi said say sorry."
"You're kidding, for what!" Kiba looked between Toshiko and Shikamaru. Toshiko's grip on the chips tightened, she used her free hand to fingerspell Shikamaru's name. Not lazy.
"I don't know Toshi, I kind of am," Shikamaru said. Toshiko shook her head at him, Not lazy. You learn JSL and— Toshiko was t quite sure how to sign every little thing Shikamaru went out of his way to do for her so instead she simply signed —More. Sweet. Not lazy.
The small, pleased smile Shikamaru wore grew. While Toshiko— of course —didn't say anything she smiled at the pinkish hue Shikamaru's ears had taken on; something that if either Kiba or Choji noticed neither boy said anything about. Shikamaru turned to Kiba.
"Toshi here wants you to say sorry for calling me lazy."
Kiba's mouth dropped open, "But you are! You're like the laziest person in town!"
Not! Toshiko signed roughly. Say sorry! Her movements were sharp and quick, paired with her frown Kiba didn't have to know exactly what Toshiko was saying to understand her intent. The brunette met Toshiko's eyes and held her gaze for one moment, and then another before looking away with a loud sigh.
"Fine," Kiba muttered as he eyed the tree he had scurried up at the start of the game, "I'm sorry for telling the truth and calling you lazy."
Not truth! Toshiko signed, Shikamaru however rested a hand on Toshiko's knee— the look he shot Toshiko told her it was cool; even though it really wasn't —and nodded at Kiba.
"Thanks."
Kiba rolled his eyes. Sasuke raced down the hill, towards Toshiko and the boys, his eyes on the jungle gym only to stop dead in his tracks when Shikamaru's hand darted out and slapped against the side of Sasuke's knee; Sasuke gapped at the other boy. Toshiko's brows shot up.
"We win this round," Shikamaru said. Toshiko saw her brothers fingers twitch at her best friends declaration.
"Nice going Shikamaru!" Naruto, who stood on the slope of the hill shouted, his hands cupped over his mouth making his already loud voice louder. Shikamaru got to his feet before stick his hand out in Toshiko's direction.
Toshiko handed Choji is bag of chips before taking Shikamaru's hand, she and Mamarou bumped against Shikamaru's bony chest as he pulled her up. Toshiko could hear Naruto excited giggling as he ran down the hill.
"What did I tell you Sasuke!" Naruto bragged, "We caught you so fast we didn't have time for fun!"
"I don't know Naruto," Choji said, "Eating my chips was kind of fun and I did that."
Toshiko couldn't help but giggle at the look of betrayal that passed over Naruto face at Choji's words.
"Choji," Naruto stressed, as if Choji had somehow betrayed him.
"But it's true!" Choji pressed. Toshiko as Shikamaru— smiling —looked up at the sky while Naruto and Choji went back on forth on what you should and shouldn't say in front of the enemy looked between her brother and best friend.
Sasuke watched Naruto and Choji with a calculating sort of fascination, like he was waiting for his queue to jump in. Nearly everything he'd done following the crash— and his coma —seemed to be measured. Before the crash Sasuke used to push himself, he used to be loud and he used to smile; the only time Toshiko ever saw that boy in her brother anymore was when he was with Naruto, clashing heads and trying to best the blonde.
Shikamaru's eyes scanned the clouds, his shoulders had slumped backwards, relaxed and every few seconds Toshiko could feel his thumb swiping back and forth along the skin of her hand. He looked content, happy. Toshiko squeezed his hand and Shikamaru didn't bother to hesitate before squeezing back.
Toshiko looked at Kiba whos attention had been caught but a flock of birds that had settles right outside the park and though she was still mad at Kiba and though home wasn't home without her parents— without Itachi and without Shisui only a few blocks away —Toshiko couldn't help but think Okay.
Maybe Konoha wasn't her home— maybe it would never be —but she had friends. Sasuke was okay, awake and alive. Obito read her bedtime stories and always did the funny voices when reading and his boyfriend Kakashi was smart the same way Itachi was, he always helped her and Sasuke with their homework. Her grand uncle Madara was weird but he nice; he wasn't her father but that was okay. No one could ever be her father; like him.
Okay, Toshiko thought, This is okay. Maybe it wasn't great and maybe she still needed someone to hold her hand to remind herself that she wasn't in the river— that she was safe —but that was okay. It had to be.
It was a quarter to six when Shikamaru and Choji walked Sasuke and Toshiko home, their lips still sticky with ice cream and juice. Sasuke didn't bother to wait for Toshiko before g the house; from her place on the stoop with Shikamaru Toshiko could hear Obito's cackling laughter. Kakashi— her cousins boyfriend —must have said another stupid joke, that was the only thing that ever elected that kind of laughter from Toshiko's eldest cousin.
"You didn't have to make Kiba apologize you know," Shikamaru told her. Choji hovered at the end of the Uchiha homes driveway eating the last of the candy bar he had gotten along with his ice cream and juice.
Yes, Toshiko signed, she paused as she thought of the sign for care. When she couldn't think of it she signed instead, You protect— though she used the sign for save —Me. I protect you. Best friends. Protect each other.
Shikamaru blinked, his lips parted and for a second— as his ears turned a bright and vibrant sort of pink —all he did was stare at Toshiko before wrapping his index finger around her longest lock of hair and gently tugging on it. Toshiko felt her nose scrunch up and the tips of her lips turn upwards as she batted his hand away. A giggle already halfway out of her mouth.
"You're so troublesome you know that?" Shikamaru said lightly.
Yes, Toshiko signed. And when Shikamaru pulled her into a tight hug Toshiko didn't realize— until the embrace was over and Shikamaru was already halfway to Choji —that she had dropped Mamarou. All she could focus on was how nice Shikamaru's hugs were; they weren't like her mothers had been but they were nice and warm and they made Toshiko cling to the boy for a few extra seconds before pulling away because part of her hadn't wanted the hug to end.
Shikamaru, Toshiko couldn't help but think moments later as she bent down to puck up Mamarou, Is more then okay. Shikamaru's the best.
