So this chapter ended up being 6981 words long without Author's notes. Please enjoy!
Start Chapter 18
Harri could just tell it was going to be a very bad day, even with it being the day of the last of the exams. He was happy that he had been able to spend the last few days with Shika and Choji though.
The last couple of before the last day of the exams had been eventful in themselves.
Kakashi had been told by the council a week and a half beforehand that he was not allowed to have Harri live with him until he was able to show proof that Harri was related to him. They had also decided that Harri would be removed as a genin under his care if he continued to show favoritism towards him.
This was all decided after Sasuke had apparently gone to them when he had finally realized the reason he hadn't seen his cousin in nearly a month was because their sensei had actually moved his cousin into his home. Harri was both happy and sad about the situation and generally felt conflicted. Maybe he would have been happier with them but how he had been forced into the situation didn't instill much confidence or trust in the man and he was way too close to Harri's main secret for Harri to feel anything but fearful and panicked.
Harri was just happy that Shikaku had managed to get Harri time over at the Nara compound that Kakashi couldn't complain about. Kakashi had convinced the council that Harri's health needed far more monitoring after bringing up several different things at different times that had happened with him around.
Shikaku had convinced the council in the end that he didn't need a different doctor as Harri was nervous and shy and would most definitely have to be chased down and would fight them tooth and nail if they tried having someone he was unfamiliar with become his doctor. In contrast, Shoma had been his doctor for years and Harri liked the man very much. Instead, Shikaku, had convinced them to simply have Harri be monitored more closely by his doctor cousin. The decision was probably met with so little resistance because of the fact that Shoma was one of the top medics in the village and before his 'retirement'. Which was just him working from a small office he had set up in the Nara compound that catered to the Nara and their two closest allied clans. Shoma had been a highly regarded diagnostician at the hospital along with being a Jounin ranked Shinobi and was fiercely loyal to the village. The only catch was that Shoma would have to begin to regularly report to the council about the Uchiha heiress' health.
0000000000000000000000000000000000
"Hey, Harri! Why are you down here? I thought you forfeited?"
"I-I did. Apparently…. It wasn't considered the proper way of doing it? I was told only last night that I had to participate and I would be fighting against-" Harri was interrupted.
"Listen up and memorize this new roster. These will be who each of you fights. Harri Uchiha will take the place of Dosu, though instead of fighting right away she will be on the reserve and will fight the victor of the match between Shikamaru Nara and Temari of Sand. Now first up is Naruto Uzumaki versus Neji Hyuuga. You two stay down here while the rest of you head up to the waiting area."
00000000000000000000000
Shikamaru couldn't figure out if he was more afraid or irritated. That monster of a boy was totally fixated on Harri. Touching his arm and acting so casually with him. Not at all like he had acted when trying to kill Lee just for the thrill of feeling the life leave the comatose boy's body. Shikamaru gripped his pant leg. Why was he feeling so angry…. Hurt? Shikamaru tried not to show how uncomfortable he was when Harri eagerly snatched the boy's hand, smiling cheerfully and leaning against the redhead who seemed almost desperate for the contact. It was clear that the other boy was enthralled in some way with his friend. He hated it. Shikamaru felt…. Harri rarely behaved that way with anyone but him. He flexed his hand, unable to help but to openly stare at the pair…. And found that thing, Gaara, staring right back at him almost smugly.
"Shika! I was looking all over for you! It was so crowded…. I got really….. um…. but Gaara helped me! He's really sweet like that!" Harri explained. "I managed to catch your scent while getting up here though. Anyways, thank you Gaara! I appreciate it! Here!" Harri exclaimed, sitting a container and plastic fork in the confused boy's hand. "It has apricots in it!"
The other boy stared wide-eyed, almost reverently at the little plastic container and quietly thanked him. Glaring down Shikamaru when he went to move forward. "I have to go meet with my team." The boy said after a long terrifying moment. Harri thanked him again and told him to do his best before the boy left.
"I made something for everyone else to! It's why I was a bit late." Harri explained, not even seeming to notice the group of horrified looks he was getting from the others.
"I made veggies with chicken and beef and pork buns along with an apricot cake and an apple crisp. I also made strawberry cream tarts!" Harri announced, starting to pull containers from a shoulder tote. "And Shika's favorite Machreal with fresh kelp!" Harri exclaimed, and eagerly pressed the bento box into his sulking friend's hands.
"What's up with the other bag?" Shino enquired.
"Some snacks for me….. I mean…. My stomach was a bit queasy this morning at the thought of…. having… so many people watching…. But…. I…. I know I won't be able to do very well if I go without." Harri explained, holding up a shaky hand. His face suddenly lit up."I even remembered you often eating melons and other fruit when we were in the academy… so I brought some…. Sorry, if it's not to your taste! I just…. remembered you saying something about Aburame being vegetarian or something along those lines when we got to talking while still in school!" Harri said, smiling at the other boy and held out a glass container.
"You are correct. Though I am surprised that you had remembered such a detail. I appreciate such thoughtfulness…. I remember you used to give me the melon you would pack in your lunch and I would give you my peach or apple." The tall, jacket clayed boy said, hiding as much of his face as he could in his jacket. Clearly pleased as he popped the top off of the container.
"I remember that. They still grow out of control behind the house….. I've just given up on trying to eat all of it." Harri admitted with a little laugh. His amused look twisted into a frown when the older blond girl stalked her way over and began speaking to Shika even as the match between Naruto and the Hyuuga Neji was still raging on. He couldn't help but to follow them with his eyes.
0000000000000000000000000
Harri had been right. More than right in his prediction that the day would turn out badly. Gaara had completely lost it and the village was under attack. Was this why Kakashi said he couldn't be around him anymore and had demanded he tell the boy to remove the bracelet? Maybe he should have because seeing it crumble a few hours after the attack started made him feel awful.
"Harri, we need to get out of here. Why? Because I overheard those Sand Genin, they said something about this being planned. They are part of this." Shino insisted, grabbing the other boy's arm gently but firmly as he began leading him.
"I want you to try and find some Jounin to help here. I will go after the others."
000000000000000000000000
The fight between Sasuke, then Naruto and Gaara had been the beginning to a hellish day that ended in not only many lives lost but also the death of the Hokage and the first time Harri had felt…. Him. It. Death since he was so very little. Death's personification summoned. It felt nearly like being greeted by a dear old friend, it was wonderful and warm and yet filled Harri with a debilitating depression that lasted for days after. Though, finding out his cousin had been attacked by the snake thing as well but had been properly cursed was also pretty devastating as well. Sasuke was already unstable enough without some dark influence pressing down on him and whispering devilish things into his very soul. Learning that his new friend was an absolute monster twisted and hell-bent on killing everyone in gruesome ways wasn't exactly a picnic either.
000
Harri had never really understood funerals. Though he had only ever been to three. Shisui's, the Uchiha clans mass funeral, and the most recent the mass village funeral with the Hokage at its center point. It happened three days after the attack on the village. But… The only one he remembered ever being truly devastated at was Shusui's.
Harri knew that he probably should be crying like a lot of the others to feel a connection like everyone else but… All he felt bad about was that so many people had died. Good people. But he had no emotional attachments to any of them like most of the people there. Especially to the Hokage, which he had heard even from Sasuke about the man's kindness and how he had gone out of his way to spend time with everyone. That it felt like losing a grandfather… It made Harri fell so different…. So alone. He had never experienced anything like that with the man.
It had made him think about Fugaku and how he had wished they had that sort of relationship that everyone mourned over. Why hadn't they? Why had everything been so strained? He should have loved them more…. And he didn't. Harri felt empty standing staring at the row of boxes and pictures of those that died. When he tried coming up with the faces of those he loved…. there… really weren't that many.. And yet…. Unlike before…. Itachi wasn't consuming his every thought like he usually would. There were more then just his father now…. He still was very dear…. But… more distant.
No, now several people came to mind. Shikaku, Shikamaru, Mai, Choji, Sasuke…. Even if he didn't really want to deal with him, and he was only just starting to feel affection for Kakashi and Iruka. Even then…. He felt so alone. He cared for other's so much but it… it just wasn't the same. Harri felt like a monster! All of his important people had been so sad and crying and Harri… Had just wanted to go home the whole time. The smell of death made his stomach squirm and the rain made him cold and the feeling of death clinging so close he could nearly taste it on his tongue. Guilt ate at him for feeling so relieved when they were all finally able to leave.
Sasuke was especially upset… He had planned to go over to Shika's but…. He hadn't made any of Sasuke's favorites lately. That lightened Harri's mood a little. Yes. That's what he would do. Maybe he could… cheer his cousin up a little bit. Even though they didn't get along that great, he still hated to see the other boy so unhappy.
00000000000000000000000000
Harri dozed in and out and Mai had given up on getting him up hours beforehand and had even stomped out, totally disgusted with his lack of interest in the shiny rock she had so thoughtfully found for him.
He sighed and curled up tighter, enjoying the warmth of the heated blanket that Kakashi had insisted he slept with and had brought an extension cord over for. Kakashi and Iruka had even begun coming over to build nests for him since they weren't allowed to keep him at their compound for more than 1 overnight a week.
"Sasuke, leave' me 'lone" Harri grumbled, swatting at a petting hand.
"Awe, look at him he's adorable! You didn't tell me your kid was a carrier, you've been holding out!"
Harri panicked and scrambled to his feet at the sound of the unfamiliar voice and smell of adult demon. He was out the door before he had the chance to even think. Harri just needed to get away from the adult demon. He had never encountered a full-blooded before and it was terrifying having it in his bedroom. Harri nearly fell all over the place as he tried waking up enough to even understand what was actually happening.
"Wait, squirt!"
Harri snatched up a Kunai that had been left in a tree next to the house, not slowing down for a second. He hissed in pain as rocks dug into the bottoms of his feet. It wouldn't be so bad once he got into the forest. Harri was sure he could hide himself well enough if he got there with his scent already being all over the place.
Relief flooded Harri's system when he finally managed to launch himself into a tree and dove from tree to tree. He felt like his body couldn't keep up with his mind at that point as he kept nearly slipping and falling as he did his best to avoid the person following him. Terrified as the man laughed almost jovially. Harri was gasping for breath at that point. Feeling light-headed and dizzy because of the prolonged speed he was pushing himself to run at. Suddenly there wasn't anything to jump to unless he wanted to shear his feet to ribbons on the splintered mess that was his practice area.
Harri squeaked, snapping and biting without thought into flesh until he tasted blood after he was snatched up. The taste and smells were painfully familiar and had him gently lapping at the punctured hand.
"There-there my sweet boy. Don't be scared, never be scared of me." An achingly familiar voice cooed.
Harri couldn't help but to nuzzle desperately into the hand that came up to run through his hair.
"Let's go get your feet bandaged up."
000000000000000
"Why did you have to be so resistant to leaving?" Itachi croaned, tone mournful.
"You didn't tell me that he would be so adorable, Itachi!" A shark-like man complained, practically gushing over the little merring carrier who was so pheromone drunk at that point he could hardly even understand a word either said let alone worked up the willpower to resist or to do anything but to obey. This was after he had refused to leave with them. His uncharacteristic resistance had been easy enough to deal with, though. Itachi would not allow his Harrison to be used as a shinobi and his ache for his young son was near agonizing at that point. Harri was everything to him. He would never allow anyone else to take what was his from him.
"He makes a good cake to! Yes, you do~" The shark-like demon cooed, tone disturbingly sweet with the boy, completely smitten.
"We should get going. You said….. Kakashi smelled strongly of my son. Not only that… but he warned us away from him and Kakashi smelled of being mated. It wouldn't surprise me if whomever…. it is that he mated with would show up to tell….. Harri what happened or to take him to see Kakashi." Itachi pointed out, tone flat as he curled his lip.
That man had tried to steal his place. Kakashi had made Itachi's Harri refuse to go with them. All his fault! Why would his Harri act hesitant around him otherwise? Why would he try to run from him when he told him he had to come with? Harri was his, his baby his world! He should have done worse to the man. Though…. Some of it was on himself.
Itachi had known that given a chance, certain individuals would try to brainwash his sweet boy, make him fight, turn him against Itachi. He had known yet he had left him and now his beloved son wasn't himself. It was heartbreaking, but they would fix him. Having a full-blooded demon assist him in caring for his baby while in such a state was a definite asset as well. He just wished that he could have gotten there a few days beforehand… Itachi hated the idea of missing another birthday with his beloved Harri.
"Yeah, you are right….. Someone could show up at any minute. Go grab some blankets or whatever ya' need and I'll keep him calm." Kisame assured, pulling down his sleeve and pressing his wrist under Harri's nose.
"I will only be a moment," Itachi said and headed out of the room.
"There ya' go. Nice and safe little storm." The demon cooed and grinned as Harri went completely limp and droopy-eyed taking long drawn out blinks and pupils blown.
00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
Harri felt so good bundled up and talked to so sweetly. He felt so sleepy and like he could trust anything this person did or asked him to do without question. Harri couldn't even remember why he was so resistant to going with his dad or this man in the first place. They were so wonderful! He was lucky that they wanted him!
"Come Harri, we have someone we need to pick up." Itachi murmured, running a hand through Harri's freshly washed hair. Happy to have the last traces of Kakashi and the village off of him and Harri back to being his sweet, cuddly boy who wanted pets and happily focused on him and adored him. Only him.
"We can get something sweet after," Kisame added, grinning at the way Harri lit up at the promise.
Itachi nodded. "Yes. If we can, we can get something sweet. I believe the next town over still has a good bakery I use to visit when I came back from missions." He said as they made their way into a hotel and up some stairs. He stopped at the door at the end of a hallway and knocked.
"Did the chick dump ya' already old man?" Could be heard called through the door and then a few moments later the sound of shuffling and clicking. "Gesh, calm down. I'm lettin' ya' in I just have to undo the lock." Was said, tone irritated.
"Hello, Naruto."
"W-wh-Who are you?" The blond exclaimed, eyes wide and tone unnerved.
"It's hard to see this brat holding something like the nine-tailed fox in him." Kisame snorted, eying the boy with something similar to amused disbelief.
"Would you mind if… we took a nice…. Long walk together?" Itachi asked. Ignoring Kisame.
"Yeah… I-"
"We should cut his legs off… Less chance of his running off then!" Kisame immediately exclaimed, grinning ear to ear and effortlessly pulling a wrapped up man-sized bade from his back.
"Oh…. I wasn't expecting to meet you here… little brother…. it's been a long time."
"Huh?"
"Itachi!" Sasuke snarled, narrowing his half-crazed eyes at the man.
"What's going on Itachi, that squirt… he looks like you, has the same eyes too…... I thought that you said you killed that clan." Kisame pointed out, pressing Harri behind himself a little more.
Itachi signed when his younger brother went on a rant about training to be the clan's avenger and then went to attack with a Lightning Blade attack. He just wanted to get Naruto and then spend some quality time with his son. For all he knew, Harri had different likes and dislikes now and Itachi wanted to learn all of them. At least Kisame had taken the fox spirit out of the fight with his blade, Shark Skin, which was both able to cut through chakra and devour it.
One minute the pair had everything perfectly under control and the next some oversized armored amphibian was blocking Kisame's blade and Jiraiya was there giving some long-winded speech about his resistance of the wiles of women? It was honestly something that Itachi had been hoping to avoid. Even as idiotic as he could be, that man could give him a run for his money or at the very least make Itachi regret getting in a fight with him. Sasuke had to keep getting in the way as well. Forcing him to pummel his foolish little brother into the ground. Though, it kept everyone's eyes on him instead of noticing his Harri.
That didn't matter for long though as Jiraiya summoned the stomach of a toad that ended up chasing them off. Itachi and Kisame had to run for their lives and never even had the chance to grab Harri whom no one seemed to notice even once. Jiraiya and Naruto had been too focused on Sasuke and the pair to even notice the demoness.
0000000000000000000000000000
Only after Guy showed up did anyone notice the extra person in the hallway.
"S-Sasuke? Why are you… there?" Harri hummed, stumbling a bit as he made his way over to his cousin. His movements, shakey and delayed.
"Where… did-father….. go….-Sa-Sa-su-ke?" Harri asked, his tongue like lead in his mouth.
"H-Harri? Why are you here? When did you get here?!" Naruto shrieked.
"Sa-Suke where-did…. He…. Go, Sasu-ke?" Harri mumbled tone starting to take an upset sounding note to it.
"Don't shake him!" Naruto hissed. "What's wrong with you?" He flinched away when Harri looked at him with unsettling pupil blown eyes that almost seemed to look right through him. "Where-he go… I-I need-I-I need-"
"Hey-hey-hey calm down." Jiraiya insisted, "Talk to me." The man said, tone friendly even as he wore a frown on his face. He grimaced when Harri's eyes met his. "Can you follow my finger?" The man asked face becoming pinched as Harri's eyes only followed about halfway through then he nearly fell flat on his face.
"Why is Harri acting that way?" Naruto demanded.
"It could be a genjutsu…." Jiraiya said.
"Harri has been known to be immune to even the strongest of Genjutsu. I doubt that even Itachi could put her into a state this out of it…. even if…. he somehow could affect her. Kakashi has even, on more than one occasion, tried using the Sharingan on her and it didn't do a thing." Guy explained, a stricken expression on his face.
Naruto grimaced and held his nose. "Why does… she stink kind of like that fish guy and sort of like Sasuke… but not? Like it's making my skin crawl!" Naruto hissed, scrambling back on instinct.
"Well.. she was with them." Jiraiya pointed out, looking at his student oddly.
"No! It's… Different… like…. It's almost in her… skin or something…. It's just.. gross, wrong feeling." Naruto explained vaguely.
"I…. Harri…. Kid… why where you with those two? What happened?"
Harri scrunched up his face, confused. "I need…. I-" Harri stumbled to his feet, completely ignoring Naruto and the two adults as they tried getting him to focus on them. Where were they? Why did they leave him alone? He needed his dad!
"Sorry there kid, but you need to say right here," Jiraiya said, carefully steering Harri away from the gaping hole in the end of the hallway caused by Itachi.
"I think you…. need to take Harri back to. I would try to bring her with… but I have a bad feeling whatever this is… will…. need some actual doctors to deal with it."
"Right. You can count on me!"
000000000000000000000000000000000000000
It didn't take more than an hour or two after leaving to get to the village. It had taken much longer to get to the village then it usually would at a run than it usually would because of Harri's constant attempts at escaping, which had become more and more desperate.
After that Guy took the pair straight to the hospital.
00000000000
"A demon."
"My lord, please don't think ill on Harri! I kept this from you because I didn't want to I-didn't-"
"Well… I suspected…." Shikaku cut in with a sad sigh, more upset that he hadn't been told by Harri himself after so long what he was then the fact that the boy was a demon. "I mean Harri nests….. and a lot of his behaviors….. We may seal away that part of us to a near nonexistent level…. But…. That doesn't mean I can't still read them…. " Shikaku sighed again and rubbed at his face. Seeing the other man still tense, Shikaku rolled his eyes. "You're being such a drag, you know? I care for him just as much as I did two minutes before entering this room. That won't change no matter what. I mean, what kind of guy do you think I am? I've practically raised this kid!"
"Well… this explains some things." A younger voice exclaimed. Shikaku and Shoma whipped around, both paling a little when they realized Shikamaru had wandered in as well without them noticing. "Or…. Well…. It would have if I hadn't already figured it out a couple of years ago… anyways. So… how is he? While Harri be alright?"
"Wha'- I- Harri…. I'm not sure you should be in here for what… I believe has occurred…. It-it is… evil."
"I-I let me up! Have to-it hurts!" Harri shrieked, struggling against the restraints that were placed on him. His breathing a weak rasp as he struggled to force the oxygen mask from his face.
Shikamaru dug his nails into his shirt. "If you can tell my father you can tell me! Harri is my-my best friend! I'd do anything for him even if its a drag." Shikamaru insisted, gritting his teeth together at the strange feeling that filled him when he said that, best friend…. It almost felt…. Inadequate…. Not a strong enough way of putting it. "He's…. my… my most important person.." The pineapple haired teen nearly whispered.
Shoma went wide-eyed at his young cousin's declaration. "I… I see…." He turned to Harri. "Could you tell me one little thing, Harri? It will help… me….. get you back to…. Itachi." That had his attention, Harri gave a stilted nod. The desperate look in his eyes had the man's skin crawling. "Good. I hope I am wrong, but…. Yes or no, did you refuse to go with Itachi at first?"
"Ye-ss. Don't kn-ow why… though." Harri agreed still unable to understand why. They were wonderful and smelled so nice and he had missed Daddy so much!
"Did you drink anything they gave you? Did they force your nose near a shoulder or wrist?"
Harri blinked owlishly, then his face slowly lit up into a smile. "smelled so nice… Neck-hurt's…. Dad's red… taste…nice." Harri hummed, "Where… is… da-d? I-need-need….. him."
"Shit…... Alright, I'm just….. going to take a little peek at your neck, alright sweetie?" Shoma explained, trying to sound as nonthreatening as possible even as his face practically turned green. The man carefully pulled away Harri's collar from his shoulder and grimaced at the bandages he found over where he knew glands were on both sides of Harri's shoulders. The man looked ready to throw up.
"What's going on? What did they do to Harri?"
Shikaku went equally as grey as realization slowly made its way onto his face.
"When was the last time anyone saw Harri?" Shoma desperately demanded, sharp eyes landing on Shikaku.
"Yesterday. I'm certain that it was yesterday at the most." Shikaku said, gritting his teeth together. "It was yesterday a bit before noon to about 3 or 4 when Kakashi went to visit. I know because he was bragging to me about the nest he had built for Harri and told me about how Harri seemed under the weather today." The man rubbed the back of his neck. "I went over around 9 to check on him today, but he wasn't there. I just figured that he was out training or something. Mai came to me freaking out around 2 though. She was tied to a cinderblock and dragging it behind her….. I've never seen her tied up…... I thought maybe… Sasuke had gotten sick of her getting in his way while training or something….. No one was home and the only thing I could see out of place was a plate was sitting out. Paddy was even still in Harri's bed so I…. thought Mai was just telling on Sasuke." Shikaku said, feeling incredibly stupid.
"Damn… I see. So they had anywhere from 5 to 22 or so hours if they did this at the Uchiha compound. Probably closer to the 5 then the 22 though since Koda was found unconscious from genjutsu less than 9 hours ago and had clearly not been under very long, I would say even with an additional couple of hours of being forced to inhale that Mist Demon's pheromones Harri should be able to recover."
"If not?" Shikamaru pressed.
"Itachi…. Did an evil thing. Sometimes… though very rarely does it happen…. and I only know of this because of texts I have read….but," Shoma swallowed hard. "Sometimes, when a child refuses one desiring to become their caregiver…. Sometimes… when they do that… the former 'parent' or individual that desires to be the 'parent' with start a process….. It makes the child so reliant that they stop being able to even produce certain chemicals in their bodies to live after a while. It's a painful process that can seriously damage the mind of a young demon. Carriers…. Like Harri are especially vulnerable." Shoma explained, tone grave.
First…. They-they force the child to drink down their blood. Specialized hormone laden blood and oils from specialized glands around their shoulders. After an hour or so they then inject a chemical into the same specialized glands around the neck that produce the chemical in the elder dominant demon that forces a powerful feeling of bonding and almost love. They will have to do this on a regular basis and after a while if they don't…. The child will die. After prepping….. them,….. the adult will force their nose against their glands which will pump out a specific pheromone for such an occurrence for hours and hours sometimes even days at that level….. until they nearly go mad from over exposer to such strong pheromones." A bitterness took over Shoma's face.
"They have no choice but to practically worship the ground, the 'adoptive parent' walks on after that, twisting them. They get the kid's so reliant and addicted to their cocktail that they will hardly be functioning people anymore. Those affected will be forever bound to this 'parent' and if they ever do manage to leave, they will die a horrific death. This method is most used….. by those that first killed a child's parent's to get a hold of them and is only able to be used by a dominant."
Harri groaned, face taking on a sickly grey tint. "I-I need-him. I-I need-I feeling-sick. Please!" Harri whimpered, sharp terrifying anxiety starting to fill him up. He needed them. Harri felt sick-what was going on? Where was he? His chest flared up with a sharp pain. Harri wanted his daddy so bad he needed him. He-he couldn't live without him. He wasn't safe. He-He-
"Hey, it's alright, Harri. You'll be okay." Shikaku cooed, immediately walking over to the boy pet his hair.
"Actually…. I…. He needs someone to ease him down…. Harri needs a demon or at… least someone who is part with the ability to produce the pheromones necessary….. No one in our clan is capable of helping him. Not with the seal. Kakashi could have easily helped but…. Well, Itachi did a number on him…. Iruka probably would volunteer but… he… isn't capable of helping in this situation." Shoma explained.
"W-what? So…. He's…. going to die? Or… completely lose his mind?" Shikamaru choked out.
"Jiraiya… If only he had come back…. Or… It may not work as well… but if we just had a young dominant around as long as they were starting to… mature… That might work…"
"Remove my seal."
"What?"
"Remove it," Shikamaru demanded.
"You don't know what you are talking about. We don't know what would happen if we did that! The blood is too strong. You could end up becoming wild for all we know or even close to or even a full-blooded demon if we did that!" Shoma exclaimed.
"I don't care. If that's what's going to help Harri then do it!" Shikamaru insisted.
"The main branch can't be without the seal! That is how it has been since the beginning. Severus created that seal so he wouldn't have to outlive all of those that he loved. It can't be reapplied at your age! I can not do this! You are still young enough for you not to stay mostly human." Shoma insisted.
"Wha-what about Harri?"
Confusion filled both men's faces.
"He'll outlive everyone else. He'll…. Be all alone…. If it's the both of us…. We won't be completely alone… will we? Harri and…. I…. We'll have each other. He's… He's not troublesome…. I-I please father, for him."
Shikaku smiled a strange smile. "Man… calling me father and everything you must be serious…." The man bit his lip. "Did you know that supposedly when a Nara man falls in love they only able to do so once… completely and utterly. We so rarely find that one and… that's why we have so many arranged marriages…. We are cursed as a clan of too picky people when it comes to the love department. But once in a great while, we do… and we become their shadow and they become our light… We…. we give our strength and devotion to them." Shikaku paused a longing, sad look on his face.
"We are willing to do anything and follow that person to the ends of the earth and back just so we can bath in their light for as long as possible….. and they give us love and joy and accept as we are. They make us happier, then we could ever be otherwise. Even if we eventually grow to feel affection for our chosen spouse, chosen for us is nothing like the love of that chose person, the one that holds your heart. This is at least that's what great great grandfather told me when I was a boy…." Shikaku explained a smile filled his face again, a little brighter than the last one.
"I will never know what it feels like but…. Just remember that, okay? Don't make me regret this…. It would totally be a drag if I sentenced my only son to a miserable existence, okay?" Shikaku grumbled then turned to Shoma, stonefaced. "Do it."
"What, Shikaku?! You can't be serious! He's your only heir! You don't even know if it will work!"
"That's why I'm doing this. I don't want to sentence him to a forced marriage like mine and I trust him to make his own decisions. He's right and his argument made sense to me…. I understand if you won't do it but… If you won't,…. I will." Shikaku said firmer. He sighed as the man shook his head and stared him down like he thought he was losing his mind. "Come on Shikamaru." He turned to the man. "I'll be bringing him back in an hour or so…. Do you think that Harri can hold on for a few hours?"
"I-yes but-"
"Good, I can be more gentle then," Shikaku growled. Only stopping at the door for a moment. "Also…. Pretty certain it's going to work." He barked, tone screaming, I know something you don't.
00000000000000000000000000000000000000
"Harri-it's okay everything will be alright." Shikamaru soothed. Grimacing in pain as he had another full body cramp. He gritted his teeth together and hugged the other boy tight to himself. He was long past the point of even blushing with Harri pressed against his bare chest and nose firmly against his now far more productive glands that burned and ached something terrible at the sudden need to produce so much more than they had previously. Thankfully Shikamaru already had much larger ones then most Nara did. Shoma had hypothesized it was because he was around Harri so much for so many years starting off at such a young age. Thank gods because he didn't think he could handle much more pain and discomfort than he was already feeling. Shikamaru was seriously hurting at that point…. And sweating rivers. Though… he rather feel the way he did then suffer the horrific way Harri was. Both from withdrawal and severe mental strain.
Harri's breaths were just barely below a pant, quick, shallow and pained as Harri let out little agonized whimpers, rubbing his face into Shikamaru's neck desperately.
It took nearly a week before Shikamaru wasn't felt like garbage that had been run over by a stampede of elephants. Though that was better than a few days beforehand and Harri was finally willing and able to keep things down… Shikamaru was still a bit queasy as well, to be honest. The dark eyed boy really shouldn't have expected it to be some sort of picnic to get that seal taken off. It had been on him since before he was even born after all.
00000000000000000000000000000
It took nearly a full two weeks before either Harri or Shikamaru felt fit enough to actually do much else but sleep. Harri more from mental and emotional injuries and Shikamaru a mixture of continuing to be his usual Nara self and because of the pain and exhaustion, he suffered through from the seal removal.
Shikamaru didn't really understand what the big fuss was about. He felt sort of different but mostly the same. His personality hadn't changed, nor did his thoughts and feelings about the people around him. He still liked taking naps, play Shogi, and sleep in cuddle piles with Harri. Shikamaru wasn't sure why his clan had been so tense because he most definitely was happy and doing well.
Just because his demon blood my become stronger didn't mean he would become some feral evil thing. It wasn't like Harri was some monster or anything and he was confirmed to be a full-blooded demon… and most clans descended from demons, so not all demons were like the monster that was the nine-tailed fox.
It wasn't like any of that mattered all that much to the barely teen though. Shikamaru was just glad that the heaviness weighing on him over Harri's confirmed prolonged lifespan no longer was choking him the way that it had been. Harri wouldn't be sentenced to a life of being completely alone… Or at least as long as Shikamaru managed to stay alive as all Shinobi, full-blooded demon and human alike still had the chance for a significantly shortened lifespan. He would try his best not to a statistic.
Shikamaru still wanted to live a rather unremarkable life even after the recent developments. Work, have two kids, retire, and die an unremarkable death. He couldn't really ever imagine being with anyone. Every time he tried to, even with that Sand Nin chick who had quite some mighty impressive brain on her, it made his stomach queasy. Hinata was an eew, Sakura a hell no, Sasuke had a puke worthy personality, same with that Neji and the guy's eyes weren't right.
He could confirm that the Nara curse was real. No wonder everyone had to get arranged marriages! Their clan's pickiness in the choice of a spouse was legendary for a reason. Shikamaru could literally pick out things that made anyone available or eventually to be impossible to make them .marriageable if he were to chose them himself…. Except for….. Nope…. He wasn't going down that rabbit hole again. But yes he wanted to have an unremarkable existence. He wasn't sure how easy that would be now that he had been promoted to Chunin especially at his age…. But he would try and he would get to have an even longer time to do so. Best of all, he and Harri would be able to spend it all together!
Shikamaru wondered if cloud watching would get old in a hundred or so years? In two hundred? He didn't think that it would.
"Hey, Harri….. Would… you like to go cloud watching with me? The clouds are particularly beautiful today, super fluffy." Shikamaru asked with a small smile.
"Yeah, I'd like that! I actually was thinking about asking you the same thing when I saw how nice the clouds were." Harri happily agreed, heading towards the kitchen.
"What are you doing?" Shikamaru asked, following his friend with a curious expression on his face. He couldn't help but feel a happiness bubble up in his stomach at the thought that his friend was just as eager as he was.
"I'm making us a picnic, like when we were little. Could you grab me a blanket? We can lay on it."
"Troublesome," Shikamaru grumbled almost playfully, unable to hide his smile and did as he was asked. Grabbing a familiar shoulder tote while he was at it. "I suppose I'll be carrying all of this junk too, won't I?"
"Maybe."
"Maybe?" Shikamaru snorted eyes gleaming mischievously. "So so troublesome today! I guess I'll do it if I have to." The young Nara said in a put upon tone of voice. He was unable to hold back a laugh at the cheeky grin he got in return. No, why did he have any doubts before? He would never grow tired of the simple pleasures in life no matter how long he ended up living… Shikamaru didn't think either of them would if every day together was like this. To get to spend times like these…. with his best friend. Shikamaru could live with that. He could live doing this with Harri forever. He just hoped he wouldn't have to spend that practical eternity with Sasuke or even worse, Gaara, as well if Harri gained the crazy idea to take one as a mate…. Ugh, now that would be a nightmare!
End Chapter 18
I wasn't really sure about the way I wrote this chapter, so I hope it sounds alright. I honestly wanted to skip over a bunch because I am thinking about time-skipping to Shippuden for the next chapter! Tell me if you think this is a good idea or if I should wait. I really want to finally have the real war for Harri's heart started though.
I am thinking about putting the time skip as a new fanfiction, should I or just time skip on this one?
If you want to see my art, you can find me on Instagram and Facebook under this name you can also find me on DeviantArt under the name Yuvush…
IMPORTANT! IF you want to be able to vote on who Harri ends up with please vote either on my pull on my fanfiction profile page or in the comments! It will be set in stone very quickly!
Also, I am going to be trying to get another chapter or two out before I get back to school in 3 weeks, so keep a lookout!
Please review! It has been keeping me motivated to write like crazy lately and has given me quite a few great ideas!
Next Chapter hint: Traveling and Encounters of the Royal sort