It's Worth The Troubles Chapter 5: Some Things Change, Some Don't, a naruto fanfic

IT'S WORTH THE TROUBLES

By ardenilia

Disclaimer: Masashi Kishimoto-sensei owns Uzumaki Naruto & Company. I'm just a newbie, have much to learn and owns an average life.

Author's Note: Thanks A Bunch to my precious readers and especially reviewers. I knew it takes a lot of effort to convince my readers to review, and besides I've been one of the readers before, that's why I know how it feels. All I could say is; thank you for giving a new writer an inspiration and motivation to keep on writing. (although her writing is bad…hehe… -)

Summary: Both of them did not expect this. More over Shikamaru. What's Temari gotta do? This one, not even Dai Kamaitachi No Jutsu could handle…

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Part 5 : Some Things Change, And Some Don't

Temari was quite disappointed to find the house empty when she got back that afternoon. The wheels of her mind span around to think of the possible locations where Shikamaru might be. The bar? 'Nope, too early'. The academy? 'Couldn't be either, besides he passed up teaching months ago' or maybe…

Her lips form a smile when it suddenly hit her. How could she totally forgotten about it all this time. She quickly walked towards a certain destination, gracefully avoiding collision with other passers-by.

After 10 minutes, she arrived at the place. It was a lush greenery field, with a wide area of dandelions swaying to the rhythm of the warm afternoon zephyr. How on earth could she ever forget this place before? For goodness sake, this was the place they used to hang out together and in times colored with verbal arguments and stolen glances, the place where he accidentally confessed his feelings for her, the place that witnessed their first kiss and his wedding proposal on her 21st birthday.

Her face grew warm at the bittersweet memories that such simple environment could hold. She took careful steps forward, as she came upon a small grassy mound. She let out a small laugh as she remembered that it is the exact same spot where they used to lie together, watching the clouds, and this is the location where she had told him the greatest news in his life, twice.

He laid his head on her lap, enjoying the comfort it provides. 'This is just like heaven, cloud gazing on a lazy afternoon with the most wonderful and beautiful person in the world'. His heart pondered to himself. In the same time, a pair of onyx orbs stole glances at the said person. Her eyes reflected the serenity that he felt at that moment.

"Heh…getting married wasn't such a troublesome thing at all" He muttered under his breath. Among the rookie nine and genins of his batch that he knew, he was the first one to get married at the tender age of 18. Foolish and brash as it may seem, getting hitched early was something that is expected of the traditional Nara heir.

There are a lot of factors supporting the notion; he just got promoted to Jounin and that's the highest he hoped to achieve, besides that, he and Temari loved each other very much and he doesn't want to bother with having an uncertain long-distance relationship between Suna and Konoha. Apart from that, he realized that if he does not act fast enough, he'll certainly lose the girl he loved to the prying suitors, lining up for her in Sunagakure.

On the other hand, his friends say that it's "the hormones talking" while his parents just nodded in understanding, for they are fully aware of whom Temari is and their situation together. His sensei, Asuma, just shrugged when he told him the news. He acted coolly but he was rather shocked upon receiving the news that his former student is ready to settle down, at such a young age. Heck, he himself is 33 and still a swinging bachelor.

Gai-sensei? Well, the spandex-clad teacher just gave Shikamaru the nice-guy pose while rambling on and on about the "Springtime Youth of Love". He wouldn't stop until Shikamaru was afraid he might 'jinx' his wedding. Thanks to Kakashi-sensei who stylishly congratulated him, switching Gai-sensei from "Springtime Youth" mode to muttering "Eternal Rival" crap. Oblivious to everyone, Kakashi-sensei even slipped a latest copy of "Come Come Paradise" into his hands, while whispering "Sort of a wedding gift". Right before he disappeared in a cloud of smoke, he said out loud to Shikamaru and loud enough for the others to hear, "It might come in handy on your wedding night!" Shikamaru was stunned, before his skin turned a deep shade of crimson, earning roars of laughter from everyone. 'Damn, I'll kill that pervert for helping too much'

And true, they were married for six months now, and still marriage life did not differ much from his bachelor days. He could still enjoy what he loved most, despite of having someone to nag him apart of his mom after he moved out from his parents' house. And, the best part is, he had find his other half and had become one with her. The only thing that matters right now is that they are finally together. Just the two of them. No one else.

Well, that is until that afternoon…

Soft, tender and slightly-callused hand stroked softly on his dark-plum hair. "Shika…"

"Hmm…?"

"What if…I tell you that there's someone else between us?" Her question came nonchalantly.

His head shot up impulsively, eyes wide opened, obviously flabbergasted at her revelation. "What!" He shrieked. By looking at his response, Temari tried very hard to suppress a laugh. Who knew a guy could shriek? And a married one at that.

"What do you mean with there's someone else? Are you seeing someone? You're having an affair?" Eyes blinking furiously at the now laughing woman in front of him.

"Why are you laughing Temari? This is not a joke. Jeez, we didn't even reach our first anniversary." He was on the verge of breaking down, when Temari's hands went up to cup his face as she gaze deeply into his restless eyes.

"How could you Temari? What have I done wrong? I really love you" His voice sounded a little bit shaken, his lips trembling fretfully.

Deep inside, the man that she married is still a young boy. The insecurities and uncertainty were there.

"And, I love you too."

"But, I still refuse to lose you to someone else…"

"Not even our baby?"

"Huh?"

Her right hand went down to hold one of his hands and placed it on her flat belly. She leant forward and whispered at his left ear.

"Congratulations Shika-kun. You're going to be a daddy"

Exactly two years later…

A very heavily pregnant Temari, 6 months to be exact was walking towards the same spot with little Hikaru in her arms. It seems that she was holding something like a blue card in her small, fragile hands.

"There you are birthday boy…" Temari greeted as soon as the figure of her husband reached the range of her vision.

Shikamaru's head tilted from it's position on the grassy surface, a smug grin graced his well-toned face as he identified the faces of his visitor.

"Hey…don't you think I'm a little too old for that wish?"

"You just turned 21 but you're already acting like a 50 year old man, Shika dear. Besides, Hikaru has something for you. Don't spoil her mood." She said in a sweet tone, laced with 'hidden' messages like "don't-you-ever-dare-try-to-ruin-Hikaru's-mood-or-I'll-beat-you-into-a-bloody-pulp".

Shikamaru wasn't a genius for nothing. He surely got the hint. Cold sweats started to form on his forehead, as he put on a silly grin instead.

"Hey little princess, what do you got there for daddy?" He thrust his hand forward as his one year old daughter slowly put the blue colored card on his hand. Colorful smudges of crayons were smothered on the surface. A stick figure who looked unmistakably like him, obviously from the drawing of the pineapple-styled hair and a dark Jounin uniform, laying flat on his back, watching word-shaped clouds. The clouds formed a "Happy Birthday Daddy" sentence.

"Did you do it by yourself?" He asked the little girl, eyes warily fixed at his wife, who pretended to be interested in fixing her hair. "What?" Her wife snapped at him. He just arched one of his brows in a curious manner. Temari rolled her eyes and said, "Yeah, I did help her draw, but she did all the coloring." He just smirked as he planted a kiss on Hikaru's forehead. "Thank you sweetheart. You're an angel."

He stole a glance at his captivating wife. "So, what does mummy have for daddy?"

"Nothing." The expecting mother just shrugged in return.

"What do you mean nothing?"

"I already gave you two kids."

"That is not considered as a gift, woman. They are called blessings and responsibilities."

"Oh, really? I went to see Hinata-chan this morning and guess what?"

"Oh joy. Naruto finally has the guts to propose to her?" He replied blandly.

"No, you bum. She checked on me and she found out that we are going to have a son."

"Really? You know, this is the best birthday present I ever had. I finally achieved another one of my dreams. A girl and then a boy. I really won't ask for more." He said as he showered her porcelain-like face with long, warm kisses.

"Then, I don't see why I need to give you your present tonight then?"

"I thought you said…"

Temari just responded by grinning slyly.

"Oh…okay. You're one demanding woman, you know."

"I know. That's why you love me."

The sounds of laughing children brought her back to reality. She looked around and searched the parameter for the source of the sound, when her eyes spotted two little blonde girls, smaller than Hikaru running around another area filled with daffodils, picking up the flowers one by one.

'Isn't that Ino and Shino's twin daughters?' Temari asked to herself. Just as she was advancing towards the girls, she heard the voices of a woman and a man talking. She quickly turned around and lean against the nearest tree in sight.

'If the girls are here, then Ino or Shino must be here'

She's not the type of person who likes to eavesdrop on other people's conversation, so she decided to believe that Shikamaru wasn't here form the first place and that she might be disturbing a family outing. Just as she was about to leave, she heard her name was mentioned vividly. No mistake. 'What the hell?'

Cursing silently, she walked slowly and closer towards the couple. As she found a spot, not too far until she couldn't hear and yet, not too near till her presence can be sensed.

"Are you sure? I mean, Temari must have her reasons to be acting like that." The woman asked her companion.

"Pretty much. This thing is giving me a headache. Who knows, I might die sooner because of this stress." An unambiguously familiar voice responded.

"Stop whining, Shikamaru. It's normal for every married couple to have problems. All you needed to do is have a good communication, that's all."

"Yeah, yeah Ino. All you guys said the same thing. But this is different. Temari is changing. She's being someone else."

"Just give her some space of her own. We, women need our own time to do the things we love ourselves."

"…I guess you're right Ino. It felt nicer, talking to you."

"Hey, what are best friends for? Besides, I want to thank you for your company this afternoon. Sometimes, it's hard to deal with a pair of growing twins on my own."

"Don't worry, although I admit it could be one troublesome thing to keep an eye on both at the same time. Just lending a hand till Shino gets back here next week."

The short conversation told a thousand things to Temari.

She walked all the way home, looking like her life had been sucked dry. On the way, she dropped by at Tenten's and picked up HER kids. As they walked hand in hand together, Temari wondered which one hurts her the most? The fact that her husband spent the day with another woman's kids or the fact that he rather talked to that woman, who is also his best friend than her.

Heavy-heartedly, she came into one repulsive conclusion; she may be the wife and the mother of his children, but she could never take the place of his best friend.

'Confide in me, Shika'

Later that night, dinner was a little bit awkward for the kids. Shikamaru had turned up late for dinner; something which he had never done before. And usually, their father would do all the talking while their mother would just fake a frown on her face, just to pretend that she didn't agree with him. But that night, it was quite the opposite. Temari had tried her best to put on a happy smile and start a conversation with Shikamaru, but all he did in response was nothing.

Hikaru and Kusanagi were a bit quiet, as if they could sense the tension between their mom and dad. It was a very cold night indeed, and it wasn't the temperature outside.

After tucking both of the kids to sleep, Temari headed straight to her bedroom. She saw the silhouette of her husband standing tall against one of the windows beside the king-sized bed. Shikamaru's tall, strong and well-built physique stood like a statue. His broad shoulders heaved as he drew out a long breath and sighed. Her eyes were instinctively glued to the Jounin symbol at the back of his vest, before moving on to embrace the image of her husband lovingly, and that is with her eyes only. Something stirred inside her. She couldn't deny that she badly and truthfully missed him very, very much. She missed the warmth of his touch, the gentleness of his words and the look of love and sheer adoration when they were alone together. It's like another side of him that only she had a chance and the right to see. She felt his calming aura soothing every time he is near. However right now, there was nothing there but bleakness and it's killing her insides slowly but surely.

A chilling breeze made its way through the opening at the window, causing Temari to shiver and put her arms around herself just to gather some heat.

"I'm not going to ask you why you were late for dinner today." Her slow, calm voice resonated throughout the room as she made her way towards the bed. 'Oh, she knew alright what he did, where he goes today and who did he meet today'

"…"

"…" Still, no response.

"Shika, say something."

"We need to talk."

"I'm all yours. But, before you do, I have something very important to tell you…I don't know how to say this. I know you're not expecting this but sooner or later I have to tell you no matter what" She drew in a very long breath before she continued, "Shika, I'm pr…"

Without letting her finish her sentence, the now stoic and serious looking Shadow Controller cut her words in the middle as he spun around, eyes narrowed in sharp piercing gaze. "We need to take a break from each other."

"What?" She felt like her heart had stopped at the moment he spoke those words.

"Both of us need our own space. You need to cool down, and I need to reevaluate everything."

"Reevaluate what?"

"Our marriage."

"What? Our marriage is not a battlefield or one of our goddamn missions!" She scoffed sternly. This is not what she expected.

"We're not going to start fighting each other again...Jeez, you're delirious Temari. This is so troublesome."

"No…no, listen Shika, there's a reason why I've become like this…"

"Can we just be silent for tonight? I'm tired. So, please spare me from any negotiations." He posed a well-concealed longing glance at his wife before walking towards the door.

"I'll be at the office tonight. You should get some rest too."

"…You don't have to go. I accepted a mission from Naruto-sama. I'll be heading for Suna tomorrow morning."

"…"

"Don't worry about the kids, I'll place them under your mother's care. You just do what you had to do…I…just hoped that we could sort things out between us after I came back."

Without a word, Shikamaru just walked out from the room, leaving a very heartbroken wife behind.

End Of Chapter 5

To Be Continued…

A/N: Well, that's it. This is the longest chapter and possibly the most emotionally and mind straining one I've ever written. I just hope you guys would be able to understand their situation a lot better. Take care. See ya! R&R!

Love,

ardenilia