Chapter 19

Temari's father, to Shikamaru's eyes has aged during the last fifteen minutes they are talking. The older man who once laughed at what he thought as his friends' joke has now a frown etched deeply on his forehead and the grooves that bracket his mouth are now more pronounced since his lips has turned down and seems to appear like he would not find any reason to smile again.

Shikaku has locked his eyes with Shikamaru then after a while he approaches the younger man, hesitantly raising his right hand to pat Shikamaru on the back. "I heard some stories about you from Temari; mostly complaints of course that you are too darn lazy, too unmotivated, too intelligent for your own good. I should have listen to her more." Shikaku tries to lift his lips into a grin but the mirth doesn't reach his eyes.

Shikamaru glances at Temari's father, he would like to ask a lot of questions but he feels that the older man is actually very emotional at the moment so he holds his tongue. Shikamaru also makes sure his face doesn't expose any of his own thoughts. The old man doesn't look angry, just very sad. Shikaku doesn't appear worried about Temari either; obviously something far greater than fear for his daughter's safety is troubling him. Shikamaru knows it is related to his stolen jutsu. He realizes that it must be important for Temari's family. Shikamaru then has to bite his tongue to stop himself from saying, 'Sorry'. Donning a blank expression, Shikamaru waits for Shikaku to say something first.

"I am going to talk to Yoshino. She's Temari's mother. I would like you to wait here. I would ask you to come with me but I think you would scare her to death." Shikaku gives a laugh that sounded hollow. "Wait for me here. I'll be back immediately." Then Shikaku turns and walks away. After ten steps towards the house he swivels back to wave at Shikamaru and shouts half teasingly, half seriously, "Don't disappear!"

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"I want to get to know my son, Yoshino," Shikaku declares softly, almost pleadingly.

"And Temari? What about her? If we acknowledged his presence, what will happen to Temari? Do we have to give her back? Haven't you been listening? That—that boy said Temari is in danger. The fourth Kazekage has meant to kill Temari! He will kill my daughter! I won't let him!" Yoshino shouts, her body trembling as she stands in the middle of the living room, glaring at her husband.

"But he's our son." Shikaku retains his calm and tries to argue reasonably, "The Kazekage won't hurt Temari. Temari has been coming and going to Suna, he has never done any move to harm her."

"Because she doesn't know! Because nobody else knows! I won't take the risk—"

"Risk? How about our son? Shikamaru has also put his life in danger in coming here to protect Temari. But who is going to save him in turn?" Shikaku seems to start to lose his patience and has slightly raised his own voice.

There is a long pause as pain flits across Yoshino's face. She heaves a sigh as if she has just made a difficult decision. "I won't give up my daughter and I don't want to meet him. Nobody needs to know that we know. Talk to Choza and Inoichi, swear them to secrecy. If the Kazekage isn't made aware that we know his secret, he wouldn't hurt the boy," Yoshino declares, finality in her voice.

"His name is Shikamaru, Yoshino. He is named after me. He is my son," Shikaku again tries to argue evenly, using his reasoning to convince his wife to change her mind.

"And my daughter has suffered enough thinking she's different. I won't have her doubts confirmed," hands fisted at her sides, her eyes shining with unshed tears, Yoshino states adamantly.

"She already knows." Shikaku points it out quietly. "Shikamaru said she confronted the Kazekage."

"She'll believe us if we deny it!" Yoshino almost scream.

"I don't think she would—" Shikaku shakes his head.

"And the Kazekage didn't want her. He must have refuted whatever she has asked of him!" Yoshino grasps at straws. "We'll talk to her. We'll make her believe." Yoshino closes her eyes tightly to stop the tears from flowing but when she opens them, the first trickle of moisture is set free.

Shikaku upon noticing the uncharacteristic tears can only shake his head, trying to tell Yoshino that her suggestion is futile without actually saying the words. Then Shikaku persists, "How about our real child, Yoshino? Aren't you a bit curious?"

"Shikaku you said yourself he doesn't even seem to suspect that he's your son." Yoshino continues not listen to her husband. With her tears silently streaming down her face, she forcefully dabs at her eyes with her yukata sleeves before yelling angrily, "He's a stranger and he's gonna remain that way!"

This time Shikamaru unfreezes, dropping his arm to his side. He had raised it to open wider the already partly-opened door before he heard Temari's parents arguing inside, but his arm halted before it could grasp the door knob when their words became clear. Shikamaru then leaves his position behind the ajar wooden door since Yoshino, still unable to stop her tears, is hauled by Shikaku to let her sob earnestly on his chest. The couple have not noticed his approach before and they also have not detected him go. Shikamaru doesn't know why he hid his chakra or why he disobeyed Shikaku's orders. Curiosity? The need to know? Impatience? Guilt? Now, it feels as if he witnessed something he shouldn't. Calmly, Shikamaru returns to where he is supposed to wait. Leaning on the tree trunk and blanking everything away.

But unknown to everyone, Temari has also arrived from a three day trip that has lengthened to what feels like almost forever going the long way. Temari has chosen an unknown path, passing thru another village, surrounding herself with people, looking over her shoulder and never letting her guard down until she is almost home. Then and only when she's near the safety haven of her home that she allows her tears once again to fall. She doesn't mean to creep stealthily into her family's residence but with the ravages her crying has left on her face, she has decided to enter through her room window to tidy herself before she could present herself to her parents. Nobody has ever seen her weep, not even when she was young and people asked why she uses the wind and not the shadows. Looking at herself in the mirror inside the adjacent bathroom; she critically examines her face, noticing the redness and puffiness of her eyes, unused to crying the effect is obvious. Splashing ice cold water on her face then rubbing it dry; she decides she couldn't do much to hide the evidence of her tears and she couldn't really fool her parents. Temari has stepped out of her room, on her way to the living room to surprise her parents when she hears everything.

TBC

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A/N: Effie, thanks for the 5 simultaneous reviews...and about that suggestion, hmn you have just given me an idea...

Sandanio! Still busy?

Review? Concrits?...Flames?

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