Chapter 63

The door to Temari's room opens. The sound jars the slumping form on the bed, making him suddenly sit up on the bed, hastily checking if he's properly covered, only to remember he had put on his clothes after his shower last night.

"This isn't your room," the voice from the doorway snaps, her dark brown eyes stormy as she gazes angrily at the only occupant on the bed.

"I have a piece of paper that says it is," Shikamaru mutters, sitting more comfortably on the bed, folding one knee making his heel point towards his body.

"I didn't get to see my daughter sign it." Yoshino puts her hands akimbo, adding more fire to her glare. "She might have been forced, the same way you forced her to sleep with you before!"

"She might have…" Shikamaru slowly rolls his shoulders in a negligent shrug. "Doesn't change the fact she did marry me."

"You're always forcing her to do your will," sneers Yoshino. "How long do you think she'll put up with your manipulation?" she adds, not mincing her words.

"Temari's a big girl. She can protect herself. You don't need to—"

"I'm her mother!" yells Yoshino. "You raped her, impregnated then married her…I won't allow you to continue using her in your twisted way to get what you want!"

"You don't have to worry. When the time comes that Temari's satisfied that she has already repaid me in full, I'll leave." Shikamaru meets Yoshino's eyes.

"She doesn't owe you anything!" Yoshino snarls as her eyes harden and her hands close into tight fists.

"I know that. But she doesn't!" Shikamaru snaps. Then taking a deep breath he continues more calmly, "You know why she agreed to marry me? It wasn't because of the baby. As soon as your name was mentioned I had the means to convince her."

With those words out, Yoshino, who is unwilling to face the ramifications of the past on Temari, realizes that if Kamaru's words were true then…what's driving Temari to do the things she has done are somehow connected to her. Yoshino, taken aback by such a thought, can only glare at the boy.

The old woman's foul look then prompts Shikamaru to grunt, "She just doesn't get that I don't want her mother. Tch, I don't see why she thinks I want to be close to you. All you do is nag."

"Why you!" Yoshino attacks, outstretching her hands ready to claw and pounce Kamaru when suddenly she is frozen on her tracks by a shadow hold.

"As soon as everything settles down, I'm out of here," announces Shikamaru, his fingers holding the jutsu in place. "In the meantime talk to your daughter. She feels guilty enough 'bout something that she had no control about in the past. You don't have to add to the list of her worries by punishing her with your silent treatment. That won't be good for the baby."

Yoshino can't move but her eyes are expressive enough to show her distaste in what Kamaru is doing.

Shikamaru stands up from the bed and Yoshino follows his actions. Next he moves in such a way that Yoshino moves out of Temari's room and into the hallway still mimicking his actions, her eyes bulging in disbelief.

"My and Temari's room is off limits even to you," declares Shikamaru before he releases the jutsu once they are outside the room, and on the hallway.

Yoshino raises her hand high before bringing it down and slapping Kamaru across his face; the impact so strong his head is forcefully pushed to the side, the handprint becoming red on his tan skin immediately. "Nobody has ever treated me in such a way! You—you—"

"I'm the son you didn't have. And you're the mother I didn't have. I'm not required to treat you respectfully. I'm here as Temari's husband; not as your son. I don't mind you slapping me as much as you want but not inside that room." Shikamaru gestures at his back, towards the door they just vacated from.

"So this is the way your mother raised you—disrespectful! Selfish! An arrogant bastard!"

Shikamaru shrugs. "My mom didn't raise me. So don't blame her."

"I do blame her. Her irresponsibleness made you like this! Giving you to nannies while she does as she pleases—"

"She didn't give me to a nanny. She died when I was three," mutters Shikamaru, nonchalantly.

"Oh—"

"I still think I turned out okay with only one parent." Shikamaru's lips tilt up in one corner. "Later on, even if Temari's baby doesn't have a dad, that kid will be alright. So Yoshino let's declare an agreement. As long as I'm here, you can treat me nicely—or not—I don't really care, however, that room, my and Temari's room, that's the one place you can't ever enter without permission. In exchange, I'll give you my word that I will go as soon as the danger to your grandchild is gone. Not even Temari can stop me then."

Yoshino snorts.

Shikamaru merely watches the older woman, appearing impassive as he awaits her decision.

Yoshino finally speaks, "You won't force her to do things—"

"I might but only until the danger's gone—"

"Nobody knows when that will be."

"When the baby's born and Temari's strong enough to protect it, I'll go then. So do we have an understanding?"

"When the danger is gone or when the baby's born, you will leave? You will simply leave?"

"Yes."

"You won't even lay your claim on your kid?"

Shikamaru hesitates. It's not up to him to tell Yoshino who is the father. "Yes," he answers.

"All you're asking in return is that I won't enter your room?" Yoshino prevaricates, sounding more and more incredulous.

Shikamaru nods his head. "Yes."

Yoshino's eyes become slit like in suspicion. "Why is it so important that you have privacy in that room? Are you planning on making my daughter suffer inside—"

"If you must know…last night, Temari and I had sex. I don't know if she suffered because of it. But I sure enjoyed it. I don't want to be on guard all the time expecting you to barge in, that's all."

"You raped her," screeches Yoshino, "again!"

"She could have said no but she didn't. She's still in the process of repaying me."

"Bastard! I told you she doesn't owe you anything!"

"And I already told you that as long as she feels guilty about the past— about what she thought she gained and what I lost— she feels obligated to pay me back. Seriously, receiving only payment sex is not as fun as you might think. It's troublesome but I have to accept it. How else will she repay me? Shove herself between me and a kunai? Do you want that? If you have a better idea, share it with her. Maybe you can even try to convince her that she doesn't owe me anything. Maybe you are the one that can do that…since I sure did not try hard enough to convince her."

"There's no agreement! I don't want to be a part of Temari making a commodity of herself just to make you leave!"

"Then convince her fast."

Yoshino frowns as something finally clicks. "Why did you say you raped her when now based from what you claim she must have offered herself and you just didn't say no?"

Shikamaru shrugs. "It's rape when the woman's not really willing."

Yoshino's frown deepens as she ponders the time that the Kazekage's son openly admitted he raped her daughter. She was so sure he was just trying to get back at them through Temari. She really thought it was a plot for a twisted revenge but Shikaku disagreed. Her husband had instead given a promise to the boy as he said,"Later, I will explain to your mother what you tried to do." But Shikaku never got the opportunity to tell her anything. Every time he broaches the subject up, she gives him a death glare and her husband would just sigh, defeated.

Now, she wonders.

What is the boy trying to do?

What is Shikaku's son trying to do?

He claimed he had taken Temari by force. Of course, she knew he lied then. She thought she knew why only to realize she doesn't.

Now, he swears he will leave them alone and that he will relinquish his rights to his own baby in exchange for allowing him to stay in Temari's room for a definite period of time.

The boy it seems is ready to go against her—to fight her— if she doesn't agree to his request…

…Why does it seem like he wants to push them away and hold on at the same time.

Does he really?

There's only one way to find out.

"I won't interfere between you two once you are inside that room but you have to keep your word, you will leave as soon as Temari's given birth."

Shikamaru nods his head. "Yes. Once I have determined she's strong enough."

"And I can treat you anyway I want."

"Yes."

"Then move your ass and get out of my house. I don't want to see you as much as possible."

"What about breakfast?"

"Temari didn't cook any for you before she left with her father."

"What a drag," Shikamaru mutters under his breath, considering his options of where to get his breakfast before finally making a move, walking towards his old room. At the door, he pauses, his hand in the act of reaching for the doorknob. "I'll just get my things here then you can lock it. This guest room won't be needed."

"Don't tell me what to do!" Yoshino scowls. "Move faster so you can go."

"I'll be back for lunch."

"Dinner. I don't want you in my house before that."

TBC

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