Chapter 58
The people of Suna gawk as two of their shinobis appear before them. Everywhere, civilians and the handful of village shinobis present could only stop and stare at the two nins crossing their paths.
"Tch," Kamaru mutters under his breath. He already expects this. He's after all been gone for almost two months. People either thought he's dead or that he has deserted Suna. Judging by their shocked expressions, obviously they assumed the former. Albeit the idea that the lazy first born of the Kazekage could be brave enough to risk death by abandoning Suna never entered their minds. Good. That would work to his advantage.
"Is it safe for me to come back?" Nevertheless, Shikamaru still has to give a voice to that obvious concern as he and Gaara walk unhurriedly towards the big house where they both grew up together with Kankuro.
"It's too late to ask, seeing as we are already in Suna," Gaara answers, stopping mid stride to look sideways at his oldest brother.
"Right," Shikamaru mumbles, not bothering to stop and wait for Gaara as he continues to stride calmly towards their destination.
"Kankuro tried to throw off father's men from your trail," Gaara divulges as he remains standing, watching the negligent back of his brother. He already has a nagging suspicion about the next step his niisan has in his plan.
After a pregnant pause, Gaara blurts out softly, "But now that you've returned, with not a scratch, father may order your execution."
"Yeah...but it was worth it. Once Temari hears Lady Tsunade's back in Konoha, she'll be glad," Shikamaru speaks calmly, too nonchalant about his impending death.
So, Gaara thinks to himself, I'm right. Kamaru-niisan has no plans beyond this point. Instead of voicing his suspicion, Gaara queries, "Who is Lady Tsunade?"
"The sixth Hokage," Shikamaru replies as he turns around to finally wait for Gaara to come abreast with him.
Gaara puts his foot forward, walking towards his brother and noticing the resigned look in Kamaru's eyes, a look that his niisan doesn't even bother to hide.
So his oldest brother is the only person that he knows who is prepared enough to attend his own funeral.
Gaara has now reached Kamaru's side. "You can't die, niisan. Not just yet."
"Tch. I've been gone far too long and once father discovers what I did—"
"Temari's pregnant," Gaara announces, finally walking ahead of his brother.
—o0o—
"I heard a rumour regarding Lady Tsunade's whereabouts, father. I decided to act on it and discover who else knows about the secret," Shikamaru declares. He has gone directly to his father's chambers upon arriving moments ago.
The Kazekage just raises an eyebrow, comfortably stationed behind his desk.
"I would not want the people of Suna to discover our secret. I did it to protect you, father," the dark haired shinobi discloses, directly meeting his father's eyes.
The Kazekage remains quiet. Then suddenly, his hand reaches for the intercom device stationed on the left side of his table, speaking into the mouthpiece, he orders, "Send Kaito here."
The Kazekage then drums his fingers on his table top. The room is only filled with the tap-tapping of his digits. Shikamaru can only wait for his father's cue.
After a short moment the Kazekage finally grants, "Kaito—that boy is really eager to do my bidding. But I was disappointed in him once but he redeemed himself in the end."
Shikamaru simply nods his head. His father doesn't talk uselessly. There is point in all this…
"He is ordered to spy on Temari…" The Kazekage is interrupted by the knock on the door. "Come in," he bids the new comer.
As the door opens, it reveals a shinobi around twelve or thirteen years old. He wears a beige flak jacket and a keen expression, when suddenly he clutches his neck; he fights for breath as the shadow hand tightens. His eyes bulge and his lips tremble with spittle coming out from his mouth.
Kaito, unable to grasp the formless hand, slowly falls to the floor still clutching his neck. Soon after his body, lifeless, crumbles to the tiled surface, still half in, half outside the open doorway.
Voices are heard outside the office as the two Anbu guards scramble to drag the body away from the door. Then they close the door firmly after taking the body of the kid. The guards are so used to carrying bodies away from the Kazekage's office that no questions are asked after.
The Kazekage just smirks.
"Anything else, father?" Shikamaru asks.
"The kid probably knew nothing."
"We couldn't be too careful."
The Kazekage guffaws. "You're right, of course."
Shikamaru remains outwardly indifferent. But the knowledge that he just killed a kid to prove something to his father is not something that is easy to shrug aside. He has no problem murdering unarmed and unwarned nins but that one was young enough that he probably still lived at home; his mother probably still asked how was his day, his mother would surely miss him... Shikamaru mentally shakes himself.
It was a test…He needed to do it to pass…
Having back his resolve, Shikamaru returns to the topic as if they weren't interrupted. Steadily, he speaks, "Lady Tsunade…she was surprised when she saw me. It wasn't pleasant for her."
The Kazekage gestures with a wave of his hand to say go on.
Shikamaru continues, "Clearly, I didn't have to warn her that it wouldn't be to her advantage if people knew about the switch. She's already aware that the scandal alone in her village wouldn't do good to her name. She's interested in keeping the secret. She offered you a partnership."
But the Kazekage's answer is a sneer, "You're the most unmotivated shinobi …"
Shikamaru stands still, tensing as he prepares to receive his father's verdict, if the old man swallowed the bait or not. He has already made up his mind; he won't die here in this place, not without a fight. He already has an escape plan mapped out. Taking Temari with him is the tricky part but if he needs to he can control her with his shadows. What's important is he must protect her.
"…but regardless the most loyal," the Kazekage concludes. He may not entirely believe Kamaru but the boy still has his uses.
Shikamaru focuses on his father, looking out for traps but the quirk on the old man's lips seems genuine enough.
"I heard Temari's pregnant," the Kazekage suddenly mentions.
Damn, father already knows. That's why. Shikamaru ponders to himself, careful in making his face remain blank. The Kazekage will reveal his motives soon enough; Shikamaru just needs to wait for that time.
"I want you to marry my daughter," the Kazekage says as he leans back on his chair, confident that his wish will be carried out.
It's a trap, Shikamaru's mind screams.
"If I don't marry her…" Shikamaru prevaricates.
The Kazekage with his elbows resting on the table, folds his hands together cupping his chin. Watching Kamaru closely he then finally declares, "Then I won't let her leave Suna, not until I have her baby."
"Why?"
"You don't need to know at the moment," snaps the Kazekage.
"Konoha would not allow Temari to stay here indefinitely," Shikamaru points out, even though he knows his father is already cognizant with that fact.
"Then Suna must wage a war against Konoha," threatens the Kazekage.
The room is enveloped in uneasy silence as one watches the other. The old man is certain that his plan will be followed and executed and the young man silently thinks out his options.
"Getting married is troublesome but fighting in a war is more…" Shikamaru sighs deeply, appearing as if what he is pledging to do is totally against his will. "If I agree to marry her, then you must agree to let her go back to Konoha," Shikamaru states, laying down his own terms. It's the only way he could protect Temari, assuring her safe passage to her people.
"No. I won't agree." The Kazekage laughs, openly ridiculing Kamaru's chivalrous declaration.
Shikamaru stares at his father, not betraying the blossoming fear that settled in the pit of his stomach as his mind hurries to find a way to win the argument against his father without blowing his cover. If his father questions his loyalty, he is good as dead. He's useless to Temari dead.
"I'll only agree to let her return to Konoha if you go with her," the Kazekage proclaims.
Shikamaru tries to appear calm as the feeling of relief suffuses his body. "Yes father," he conforms slowly.
But the fear is still there, simmering. Shikamaru knows that his old man is preparing something, bidding his time to bring his plan to completion.
"I won't think twice in killing the Naras' or anyone—" The Kazekage gazes threateningly at his first born, his implication that by anyone he means Kamaru himself is obvious. "—who gets in my way to having my grandchild. In time once everything is prepared I will send Gaara to fetch your new family. I trust you won't disobey," the Kazekage announces with finality.
Shikamaru can only bow down his head towards his father, purposefully and respectfully, as he takes his orders.
Now, that he can leave his father's chamber, he can go, and finally face Temari.
TBC
~1st 9 25 11 2nd 12 13 11 AF GC P 12 2 12~
A/N: the people reading In between the Lines has spoiled me with reviews…haha why do I have a feeling that if I get only 2 revs here I'll feel bad…
Anyway, concrits are my fave type of review. Don't hold back. I don't bite. I write.