Chapter 56
"Gaara, I have to do something first," Shikamaru mumbles as he pushes his chair backward ready to leave.
"I'll come with you," Gaara replies, doing the same to his chair.
Instead of nodding his head, Shikamaru turns towards the blond nin sitting on his other side. "Naruto, can you accompany Gaara for a while?" Shikamaru poses the question as he tries to catch the attention of the Konoha nin sharing their table but the nin seems to be busy fidgeting with the white table cloth, the unsplit wooden chopsticks, then the glass of water, just basically hiding from his acquaintances' sympathetic or curious looks coming from the other tables.
The three are now at the wedding reception of the Uchihas— Sasuke and Sakura. As a foreign visitor, Gaara is given his own table together with his older brother and Naruto has chosen to join them.
Naruto seems to agree with Kamaru's request, obviously distracted, saying, "Hai hai," while gulping his glass of water.
Grabbing the chance to flee the wedding alone, Shikamaru's eyes flicker towards his youngest brother, inconspicuously warning Gaara that they shouldn't act suspiciously, and leaving together even before the food is serve on their table will be viewed by the other Konoha guests as highly irregular. After all, Shikamaru has his reasons. He has to be sure that his li'l brother would not follow him when he visits the Nara's.
Gaara pulls his seat back towards the table and then coldly watches the blond nin who appears like pouting and smiling at the same time; the expression is just comical. "I don't need that idiot to accompany me," Gaara announces.
"Who are you calling an idiot?" Naruto yells, suddenly not distracted at all, even toppling his chair backwards in his haste to stand up, flapping his arms in indignation. "I am the number one Konoha nin and someday I'll be the Hokage."
The commotion then has the other guests turning their heads and craning their necks to look pointedly at their table. Only, Gaara's lips insultingly tilt at a corner and with his eyes, he pointedly watches the Konoha nin, implying that Naruto's outburst is proof of his stupidity.
Shikamaru sighs. "Naruto sit down. Gaara you're here as a guest."
Naruto picks up his chair and takes his seat back, his lower lip pouting all the way.
"If you two want to fight there'll be time for that later," Shikamaru calmly prevaricates. "In the meantime, stay here at the table."
"Sheesh I don't fight shinobis that need their brothers to protect them." Naruto crosses his arms on his chest and glares challengingly at Gaara.
The remarks then make Gaara with his big gourd sitting on the floor by his feet shaking ever so slightly reek with killing intent; a white haze starts to envelop the red haired nin as his black rimmed eyes grow darker and his red lips twist in a cruel line. "Niisan, attend to your errand fast. Then before we leave Konoha you're going to watch me crush this insignificant pest."
"O—okay," Shikamaru mutters as he finally stands up. "I'll go ask the new Hokage for permission for you Gaara to spar with Naruto on the training grounds."
—o0o—
Tsunade, with her hand up about to knock on the door, is jolted back when the door is jerked open from the inside by none other than Shikaku. The dark haired nin is obviously on his way out of the house.
"Shikaku," Tsunade greets the shinobi who looks much older than he does eighteen years ago. Caught off guard he still has his lazy smile plastered on his face ready to greet his unexpected visitors, his shoulders typically hunched in a relaxed posture.
Shikaku's surprised eyes travel from the medic who had helped his wife in labour and to the young man standing beside her, Shikamaru, his newly discovered son who suddenly left this home more than a month ago with not even a verbal farewell or a note explaining his rush to leave. Transferring back his attention towards the older woman, "Lady Tsunade," Shikaku belatedly acknowledges, straightening his shoulders as well as differentially nodding his head at her before opening the door wider and gesturing for her and Shikamaru to come in.
"Is your wife here too?" Tsunade asks as they follow the owner of the house towards the living room.
Shikaku moves his head in agreement.
At the living room, Yoshino suddenly jerks up from the couch, with the unfolded clothes lying on her lap falling to the floor, upon spotting the new arrivals. "Lady Tsunade," Yoshino exclaims, pointedly ignoring Shikamaru.
Lady Tsunade notices the anger that fleeted on the younger woman's face before she is able to school her expression to one of politeness. "I have come to—"
"We know why you came," Shikaku interrupts Lady Tsunade, approaching his wife and placing an arm around her back in an unspoken support.
"Yes. Shikamaru told me you already knew about Temari," Tsunade agrees calmly. "Where is she?"
Shikaku and Yoshino glances at each other, seeming to be unwilling to disclose their daughter's whereabouts.
"Jiraiya told me that Temari asked for permission for an indefinite leave. She's still in Suna, correct?" Tsunade inquires, wanting confirmation, knowing that the Nara couple actually understands her underlying question.
Shikamaru turns his head towards Lady Tsunade. Tch, if only he'd thought to ask the older woman if she knows Temari's whereabouts. Refraining from sighing loudly, he swivels his head back towards Yoshino and fleetingly their eyes meet.
Yoshino, with her eyes sharp and her voice sharper, snarls at Shikamaru, "This isn't your home that you can just come and go as you please." And with the same breath Yoshino continues turning her attention towards the other woman in the room, "Lady Tsunade, whatever you have come to say we don't want to hear it... Temari is my daughter and that unkempt boy—" Yoshino points a finger at Shikamaru as she adds for the older woman's benefit, "—will never be welcome in my home."
Lady Tsunade's eyes betray a flinch, but mustering a strong facade, she challenges in a commanding voice, "You may not want my explanation but Temari obviously does. What do you think she's doing in Suna? I'm a—"
"As her mother, I forbid you to tell her anything," Yoshino spits furiously. "The only thing Temari would discover in Suna is how ruthless the Kazekage is. And when it finally sinks to her what kind of man her real father is, she'll be ready to come home."
"You can't forbid me..." Tsunade doesn't want to inflict more pain but the best way to heal is to apply the medicine, she knows this as she threatens acidly, "…since I'm now the Hokage. Furthermore, Temari is old enough."
Yoshino fumingly glares at Lady Tsunade, recognizing deep inside her that the older woman is right; she can't do anything to protect Temari from the truth. Swivelling her attention and her anger towards Shikamaru, she snaps, "What are you doing here?"
Shikamaru notices the impotent rage behind Yoshino's eyes. "You have a reason to hate me now," Shikamaru monotonously states, knowing his succeeding words will cement Yoshino's rage towards him.
"I don't need a reason to hate you. Just your mere existence is enough," Yoshino rasps.
Shikaku, appalled by the blunt admission, quickly places his palm over his wife's mouth but he's already too late from preventing her from uttering those cruel words. Shikaku's eyes travel to Shikamaru's conveying his regret.
Shikamaru smiles hollowly at his father, remembering the fact that Temari had once said the same thing about his existence. Calmly, Shikamaru continues, "You can hate me now without feeling any guilt. I am not worthy to be called your son. You see I hurt your daughter much more than you two could imagine."
"What are you talking about?" scowls Yoshino.
"I took something precious from her."
"What?" Yoshino asks.
"Son, listen you are worthy being called my—our son. Don't think that—" Shikaku is interrupted unexpectedly by Shikamaru.
"I raped Temari," Shikamaru tonelessly admits, raising his head and looking straight into Shikaku's eyes.
Shikaku meets his son's unblinking gaze. "You don't have to lie like this. Aside from I believe you couldn't do it—Temari would be able to stop you."
Suddenly, Yoshino pushes away her husband's arm from around her and strides purposely towards Shikamaru then she slaps him hard on the face, her palm stinging as she accuses, her voice shaking with anger, "You're using her to hurt us. I'll never forgive you!"
"Stop it, Yoshino." Shikaku acts immediately, physically restraining his wife who attempts to take another swing and another at Shikamaru. "He's lying!"
"Of course, he's lying. My baby would thrash his ass so hard if he so much as laid one unwelcome finger on her. The only reason Temari would ever allow such things to happen is because she had no choice. This—this ass probably took advantage of the situation, of Temari's. I'll never forgive him. He's no son of mine," Yoshino shouts, trying to shake off Shikaku's arms from around her but failing to.
"Yes, I'm no son of yours," Shikamaru agrees evenly. Yoshino is right; he did take advantage of Temari's guilt and her penchant for keeping things even. Tch, ironic that the best night of his life is Temari's worst. He still thinks about it—a lot—and sometimes he regrets it, but only because it made him want more from Temari.
Shikamaru just continues to watch Yoshino struggling with the arms that restrain her. The woman who gave birth to him has eyes not clouded by any doubt instead her eyes are sparkling with loathing—for him. Shikamaru recognizes that his wants are not important but Temari's are. So he's giving Temari back her mother. She never lost her anyway. "I'm not your son," Shikamaru reiterates once again.
Shikaku looks at Shikamaru, astounded. The boy has successfully turned his own mother against him. This way Yoshino won't ever regret her decision to choose Temari over her real son.
Lady Tsunade, still standing at the middle of the Nara's living room, has decided not to interfere as Yoshino is already constrained by her husband's arms around her and could only unleash her fury through her eyes as her hands though fisted are pinned at her sides, obviously itching to strike her son one more time. While Shikamaru remains calm, probably pretending he's tough and unfeeling—even to himself. And Shikaku, the hardest one to read, has eyes shining with a strange light. Tsunade tries to delve into Shikaku's expression and can only interpret it as admiration for his child.
"You will always be my son, Shikamaru," Shikaku simply announces. "Later, I will explain to your mother what you tried to do."
"You're wasting your breath if you're going defend him, Shikaku," Yoshino snarls.
"Maybe," Shikaku utters. "Lady Tsunade, when my wife is ready, we will speak to you again."
TBC
~9 1 11 AF 9 2 12 P still C~
A/N: To the Guest who reviewed Chapter 57 slash 55 and bellatoz guardian, thanks. Imagine if you guys didn't review that chapter ~shivers~
To the Guest who reviewed Chapter 58 slash Filler 2, thanks for the reassurance...BTW I wrote 2 chapters inspired by what you said. But you won't be seeing those anytime soon…
To jayjoan, I finally want to write again.
And I love this chappie…so guys do review okay.