A/N: Sorry this update took too long... I thought that Chapter 107 wasn't good so I got stuck...I wish I could write better. I wish someone has drawn me a fanart, I wish I could draw... Ah there are a lot of things I wish for. But my most relevant wish is that I get to finish this soon.
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Chapter 108
"Now she tells me to prepare her son's bath!" Temari mutters under her breath as she does what Yoshino ordered her to do—filling the wooden tub with warm water in the main bathroom of their home and preparing the towels and soaps.
"Let me do that," says Shikamaru, suddenly appearing by the door, striding in to make a grab for Temari's hand, reaching for the towels and soap in her grasp.
"I know you can do it, ass." Temari slaps the towel and the bar of soap towards Shikamaru's chest. "I hope the water isn't too hot for you. Oh wait I forgot you just came from Suna, you're used to being scalded."
"Temari—"
"Save it, ass!" hisses Temari before leaving the bathroom and banging the door close as she left.
Shikamaru sighs. Marching towards the door, opening it and then calling after Temari's back. He opens his mouth about to say sorry once again but what comes out of it is, "I don't mind. Later will just have angry sex. That's still better than the no sex I had to endure these past months, you troublesome woman."
Temari sputters, pivoting around to glare at her husband. "What did you say?!" she scowls.
"I said I'm tired, and filthy but later after I've taken a long soak in your parent's tub and feel more like myself, I'll be able to—you know..."
"No, I don't know."
Shikamaru's mouth twitches. "Liar."
"You're the liar here."
"My bath's getting cold," utters Shikamaru, about to close the bathroom door when his eyes drop to Temari's swollen tummy. Frowning, his lips twisting in self directed distaste, he mumbles, "No wonder you don't know what the hell I'm talking about—I'm disgusting and you're hugely pregnant. Damn it, you're right, we can't. Sorry."
Temari's last view of his thin face framed by his unbound dark hair before the door closes on it is that it's marred by a disappointed frown and a self directed disgust.
Temari hesitates then comes closer to the closed door. Without opening it, she says in a voice that would carry through the wood, "You should see my breast . They have gotten much bigger."
"Oh fuck, Temari!" groans the male voice inside the bathroom.
Revenge is sweet. Temari then leaves her husband to his bath, with a satisfied smirk on her face.
—o0o—
"Here. Taste this first." Temari thrusts the rectangular plate laden with simmered mackerel with a dash of miso sauce towards Shikamaru. They are now seated beside each other in front of the dining table, that Temari only needs to twist slightly for her to offer her dish.
"No. Try this first," Yoshino insists, stretching her hand across the table to offer another dish of fish with brown sauce to Shikamaru. "I know mackerel is your favorite. This one was slowly cooked in three hours—well, for almost three hours. Not like that hastily prepared one," speaks the older woman as she gestures at Temari's dish. "This one was simmered for a long time in a mix of soy sauce, vinegar, chillies and apple juice."
"You better try mine first," threatens Temari.
"If he doesn't want to, you shouldn't force him," criticizes Yoshino.
Shikamaru glances from his wife to his mother then to his father, looking for guidance. Shikaku just smiles at him with a teasing glint in his usually serious eyes.
Shikamaru returns his glance to the two dishes in front of him...He knows enough about women and competition to recognize that whoever he picks first sort of wins that round. He already is on not so good terms with Temari. He can't insult her further by choosing Yoshino's dish first...but he can't insult Yoshino period.
Shikamaru gulps. This will set who will be his final boss in this household...Wouldn't it? He asks himself, stifling a groan.
The past four months, dealing with the Suna council, being the kazekage's right hand man and protecting Gaara from would be assassins were easier tasks than what he's about to do.
—o0o—
~1 21 16AF P2 12 16~