Chapter 15: Aniki
(Alternatively, I Gain Another Brother)
(Shikamaru's POV)
Shikamaru is startled the first time Sasuke calls him by the honorific. It's been six months since he's brought the Uchiha boy home and the boy's healing is no where near done. He stares as Sasuke fidgets uncomfortably, "Sasuke, are you sure you meant to call me that?"
Sasuke averts his eyes to the floor and nods. He says in a soft voice, "You've been a better brother to me than he ever was. You explain things to me and you always make time for me even though you shouldn't always do so-"
"And why shouldn't I?" Shikamaru asks.
"You're the heir to your Clan, you have to learn about your duties to it. Then there are the facts that you are still in the Academy and that you take care of Naruto even though your parents are around to help. You have your independent training and your Clan training too. You're juggling a lot and I just add to that," Sasuke says with a frown.
"So? I don't care about how much I have to do. Sasuke, I don't need to have time to make time for you or Naru. If something comes up with either one of you than I will drop whatever it is I'm doing and help you as best I can because that's what family does. Anyway, you do realize that I'm younger than you, right?"
Sasuke grins as a giggle bubbles in his throat. "Yeah, but somehow you seem a lot older than me. Sometimes it feels like you're even older than him."
Shikamaru tilts his head and watches the other boy for a moment. "You're going to have to start calling him by his name sometime, Sasuke. The longer you avoid it the harder it will be for you to move on from what he did."
Sasuke nods sullenly, "I know, but I'm still angry and it still hurts. He was my Aniki-"
"He still is," Shikamaru interrupts gently. "He always will be despite what he did. He hasn't stopped being your brother and that's why it still hurts. But, Sasuke, you can't let yourself be ruled by that anger and hurt. It's toxic and it will destroy you is you let it take over. Have you ever heard the phrase 'Before you embark on a journey of revenge, dig two graves'?"
Sasuke shakes his head and asks, "What does that mean?"
Shikamaru smiles sadly at him. "It means that, in the end, the person seeking revenge will be just as bad as the person they sought to avenge themselves upon. Sometimes it even leads to the death of the person seeking revenge because they've become something to be pitied and have to be put down like a rabid dog. Revenge doesn't benefit anyone, Sasuke. It just causes more pain. If you have to have some sort of revenge on him then let it be this – live your life the way you want to, not the way he dictated. Live a good life, be happy, and don't let your past color your future."
"What if he comes after me? Or you guys?!"
"Then we'll just have to be strong enough to stop him, now won't we? And if he does come for you or for us then we can capture him and bring him to justice. But I want you to promise me that you won't live your life for revenge. Naru, kaa-san, tou-san, and I – we'll all be hurt if you disappear from our lives. Your Clan may be gone, but we're your family now, even if it can't be made official. And we're still here, Sasuke. We're still here."
The second time Sasuke calls him by that honorific, it is a month later and said in front of Naru. The adopted blond launches himself at Sasuke, picks the taller boy up, and starts to spin around while laughing like a madman. "I knew you'd come around! Shika-nii is the best onii-san ever!"
Sasuke beats his hands on Naru's shoulders ineffectively, but there is a tiny smile on the Uchiha's face as he argues with the blond to put him down. Shikamaru leans back against the truck of the tree behind him with a content smile. He looks up through the branches of the tree to see patches of blue, blue sky contrasted so vividly against the emerald green of leaves and remembers.
(Mirth, happiness, affection, love, gentle knowing, amusement, fond exasperation, friendship. Family.)
Shikamaru's smile saddens a little as he listens to Sasuke and Naru argue and laugh(they are so much like Cloud and Zack that it is sometimes painful to watch). 'Are you guys watching this, watching me? Can you see the life I've made for myself now? I still miss all of you, but...it's better now. I'm happier now than I ever thought I could be. I just wish you were all here to share this with me.'
(He will always miss them until the day he'll be able to see them in the Lifestream.)
After that, Sasuke begins to call him Aniki far more often. Though he never says it in front of people who will throw a fit over the 'Last Uchiha' claiming a Nara as kin. As it is, the boy already considers the Nara Clan as part of his family. Sasuke is happier, Shikamaru notes, happier and more at peace now than he'd ever been after the death of his Clan. The only person Sasuke doesn't seem to consider family is Naru and Shikamaru smirks to himself as he remembers how they fight like an old married couple(he'll be very surprised if those two don't wind up together).
Shikamaru shakes his head in exasperated amusement as he watches the two fuss over what food is better – tomatoes or ramen. Ino is rolling her eyes and Chōji interrupts to call them heathens because, while all food is good, BBQ is the best. Shikamaru snickers from where he is sprawled out under a tree on the Academy grounds. The roots comfortably cradle him so that he is propped up just enough to watch his strange little group. Ino turns her head to give him a look that says 'Why aren't you over here suffering with me?'"
Shikamaru gives her a two finger salute and leans back against the tree further to settle down for a nap. He isn't anywhere as lazy as his father, but some days his own mind tires him to the point of exhaustion. He yawns and lets his eyes slide shut to the comforting sound of his – new – chosen family bickering playfully.
When Ino suddenly drags a pink haired little girl into their group without warning, Shikamaru raises an eyebrow inquiringly. When she responds, it is to tell him that Haruno Sakura was being bullied when she found the other girl. Naru's temper instantly flares up and Sasuke narrows his eyes and even Chōji looks angry. Shikamaru looks at the girl more closely and then back at Ino. "Did you deal with them already?"
"Sure did. Is it okay if Sakura hangs out with us?"
He shrugs. "I don't have a problem with her staying. Guys?"
The others respond positively as well. None of them like bullies and Sakura doesn't deserve to be be bullied anymore than Naru or Chōji do. The pink haired child smiles shyly at them as she sits down and quietly thanks them for letting her stay with Ino. Shikamaru wonders how it is possible for him to have surrounded himself with mostly broken children. Ino being the only exception. Said girl turns her head to look at him and smiles sadly, as if hearing his thoughts. Her look tells him that she is thinking the same thing(because Shikamaru is just as broken as the rest. Perhaps even more so).
The next person to become part of their group of misfits is Hyūga Hinata. Naru is the one to bring her with him and her story is the same as Sakura's. A little girl being bullied by people who don't understand nor even care to understand the child. The girl is so painfully shy that Shikamaru winces in sympathy because he remembers being that awkward around people once upon a time. As it is, he decides to gently coach her to stop stuttering. He knows it will be job that may take years, but he thinks he is up to the challenge.
He's also amused by the obvious crush Hinata has on oblivious Naru, but only a little bit. Mostly, he's sad for her because it is plain as day to him that Naru and Sasuke are going to look at each other one day and realize that they've both been stupid for a very long time. He just hopes that little Hinata figures this out before she gets hurt.
Aburame Shino joins them three weeks later without the interference of anyone. He simply asked if he could sit with them and Shikamaru had promptly said yes. Now, however, Shikamaru can't help but laugh hysterically inside his own head. Shino is as sarcastic and mouthy as Sasuke is, but in a more polite and lengthy way. The insect user is also quiet and easy to get along with so long as he isn't offended by something. As luck would have it, Shikamaru is a largely inoffensive person. Which he cannot say for Ino and Sakura. He will never understand the need to scream at the top of his lungs over the sight of a beetle.
Now spiders – the really big kinds – on the other hand, will send him scurrying for a broom or a can of bug spray(the end of the world, as Hyo knew it, had not been kind and he'd had a very valid hatred for arachnids by that time. He can't be blamed for keeping that in this life).
Inuzuka Kiba somehow falls into the group and, strangely enough, it feels as if he's always belonged and that they have just been waiting for him. He just fits. Naru and Kiba like to play pranks and wrestle and tell crude jokes about and to each other from the get go. Shino and Kiba get along surprising well and the Inuzuka likes to bring insects to the Aburame to ask about. He helps tease Hinata out of her shell and likes to piss off both Ino and Sakura(they've learned that Sakura has a startlingly strong right hook because of the Inuzuka and Shikamaru suggests that she look up Senju Tsunade of the Sannin).
Sasuke and Kiba don't always get along. Both of the boys are extremely competitive and Shikamaru thinks that Sasuke may be a bit jealous because Naru isn't just wrestling and playing with him anymore. As it is, Shikamaru and Kiba just tolerate each other. Shikamaru isn't sure if this is because of Kiba's loud and brash nature or if it is because the Inuzuka is very dog-like(Shikamaru relates to cats, larger ones especially, more than any other animal). Regardless of the reason, Shikamaru hopes they can get along for the sake of the group. He'd hate to have to fight with the Inuzuka and run the kid off when so many of the others are already attached.
Author's Notes: The changes keep coming and the future Rookie Nine are now together as a group There's always going to one person in a group that manages to chafe someone else the wrong way. For Shikamaru that person in Kiba.
I hope I managed to portray them as themselves while still changing things.