Disclaimer: I do not own any aspect of Naruto. Naruto is the property of Masashi Kishimoto and probably Shonen Jump, with license to Viz Media
Author's note: no beta. Thanks very much for the lovely reviews! I really enjoy your comments and I would definitely not have written this without your support. It helps to know that someone wants to read it :).
To Commit
"Kurenai developed minor complications and will need extended recovery time." Shizune explained. "I recommend that she get as much help as possible to regain her strength quickly."
"And the baby is okay?" Shikamaru asked to clarify.
Shizune smiled, "Baby Sarutobi is fine. A healthy screaming boy." She paused and held Shikamaru's gaze seriously. "But Kurenai lost more blood than expect and is anemic. She wants to nurse the baby and so that will be an additional demand on her body." Shizune continued with more detailed instructions for a few minutes before she handed Ino the paperwork.
"Basically she needs to rest and take iron supplements." The kind medic nin smiled encouragingly.
"Thank you Shizune-san." Ino said warmly.
"An infant is a lot of responsibility. But having a baby is a natural part of life." Shizune reassured the slightly shell shocked Shikamaru. "Kurenai Yuuhi is a strong woman. She'll be fine."
All the reading and researching helped. But it was surprisingly simple. There was a small baby completely helpless in the other room. The young man tried to return her smile and managed to lift one corner of his mouth. Shizune patted his arm in encouragement and left to return to her other duties.
Shikamaru and Ino returned to Kurenai's darkened room. They moved quietly to not disturb the sleeping jonin. The fussy red faced newborn took a deep breath. Before the infant could unleash a cry that would wake, not just his mother but also most of the hospital floor, Ino deftly picked him up. She adjusted his blankets tightly and began to bounce him gently. Shikamaru sighed in relief even as he wondered at the constant attention that would be required for one tiny little person. He had not expected a small version of Asuma-sensei...but he also had not expected the squishy noisy bundle in Ino's arms.
Baby fawn were standing on their own within minutes.
The books indicated that human babies could not even roll over for at least three months.
"Troublesome." He sighed.
"It won't be too bad, Shikamaru. Typically recovery time is 2 to 6 weeks. Kurenai will need 6 to 12 weeks with a lot of help and a lot of rest." Ino smirked. "We can all help out. And I know with your big brain you can figure out how to make sure a least one of us is available to help Kurenai and the baby."
Shikamaru nodded in acknowledgment. In the dim light of the room, he could see the pale and exhausted form of his sensei's widow. Kurenai was a strong and capable woman. But she was smart enough to know when she needed help. Shikamaru, Ino, Hinata and the others would help in every way they could.
"I'll discuss it with Hinata. It's pretty hard for the village to keep any of us off the roster for more than a few days." He replied. Ino ignored his pessimism. She knew that Shikamaru would find a way. War or no war, Shikamaru would make sure that they could help care for Asuma-sensei's family.
The next day, Shikamaru and Hinata worriedly discussed how Kurenai would cope with the rotating help of Team 8 and Team 10 (the extended Asuma-Kurenai "family.") The young genius and influential heiress developed a plan.
Shikamaru worked with Shizune to review mission requests and knew exactly when members of the extended "family" would be assigned to long missions outside the village. He and Hinata constantly developed alternative team compositions to ensure someone was in Konoha (who was not injured) to help Kurenai.
The benefit to the village was that newer chunin got more mission opportunities and lesser-known but experienced chunin were circulated into more critical mission. Overall the skill mix and camaraderie throughout the ranks improved.
Every time Kurenai would allow it, her baby boy was whisked away so his mother could recuperate. Shikamaru and Hinata had both asked for two weeks break from missions after baby Sarutobi was born. It was a stretch, but Tsunade had allowed it.
After that, there was an even higher demand for their services to the village. So each member of the extended Asuma-Kurenai family helped out. Shikamaru and Hinata tracked and shuffled everyone's schedule around missions, doctor's appointments, training sessions, grocery shopping and naps.
Shikamaru took baby Ryouta through the Nara lands. Shino showed him the inner sanctum of the Aburume home. Even Hyuuga Hiashi welcomed the youngest Sarutobi into the Hyuuga home. Sarutobi Ryouta, bundled in his infant blankets, saw a lot of training grounds as his extended family took turns sparing with each other or training genins.
Hinata insisted a member of the Hyuuga clan staff help twice a week, every week. Kurenai reluctantly accepted the help of the Hyuuga only after Hyuuga Hiashi himself had visited her (at Hinata's request). The normally aloof Hyuuga patriarch was unexpectedly touched by the sight of the dark hair baby bundle and his normally vibrant jonin mother. Hiashi wove a few careful statements into his visit to Kurenai's home: "Your child requires a healthy mother." "This is a small thing." "Hinata considers you family." The simple statements warmed Kurenai's hormonal state of mind and she was able to set aside her concerns and accept the support.
So Hyuuga Amane, a warm and efficient woman, became a regular face in Kurenai's home helping cleaning, cooking and laundry. She blended into the chaotic routine and somehow Hyuuga Hiashi became a semi-regular visitor as well. Occasionally he would walk Hyuuga Amane from the Hyuuga compound to Kurenai's home. He would stay for tea with Kurenai and had even held the baby. Much to Kurenai and Hinata's surprise, Hyuuga Hiashi was remarkable comfortable with the infant.
Sarutobi Ryouta dark, expressive eyes saw some of the most private areas of Konoha's oldest clans. He was serious like his mother and seemed to take each new environment in stride. Ryouta was at ease, whether he was napping in bundle on Shino's back or taking a bottle from Kiba while laying a heap on Akamaru. He smiled occasionally. Like most infants, it was not clear if it was true expression of joy or just passing gas. But he seemed to save his biggest smiles for his mother, Uncle Shikamaru and for Auntie Hinata.
It had been twelve weeks since Shikamaru committed nearly every waking moment to caring for Asuma-sensei's widow and son. He and Chouji had just returned from two weeks in rain country. The last week spent dragging a beaten, drugged Konoha criminal back to the village for interrogation.
Despite the dangerous nature of his recent mission, Shikamaru had many hours of mind numbingly boring guard duty. He filled those moments with thoughts of Hinata. As a genius in strategy, it was an easy habit to visualize the possibilities. Over the course of his mission, his mind sifted through hundreds of different scenarios with Hinata. Some were typical of a hormonal teenage boy. Some involved their friends and family and baby Ryouta. Some involved terrible scenes that were unfortunately common in their shinobi life.
The only common thread was that Hinata loved him and he loved her. Shikamaru could see that one constant, clear and unwavering.
Shikamaru stood in the shower and washed the grim off. He scrubbed his skin with a small white towel he had never seen before. His mind wondered through the last time he had seen Hinata. They had shared a few rare intimate moments. He could remember the feel of her soft lips against his and her fingers on his back as she pressed against his body. The warmth of her breath as she whispered her love for him. That was four weeks ago.
Shikamaru sighed and exited the shower. He missed her. He dried himself quickly, tied the towel around his waist and exited the bathroom. He made his way to the small guest room to change into fresh clothes and nearly crashed into Ino.
"Shikamaru!" Ino hissed. She held a sleeping Ryouta in a bundle of blankets.
"Sorry! Sorry!" Shikamaru waved with both hands up. "I didn't know you were here." He leaned over to peer at the boy. The baby yawned and completely ignored him as he settle in his sleep. Ryouta little face looked bigger and the bundle looked a little bulkier. "He's grown."
Ino rolled her eyes. "Yes genius. Little ones get bigger every-time they sleep. He should triple his birth weight in twelve months or less." Shikamaru smiled at the baby. His dark tufts of hair stood straight up. Ino was wonderful with the baby. Her training as a medic nin meant that she had endless bits of information at the tip of her tongue. And she was remarkably gentle yet firm with the often squirming infant. All the guys seemed to be afraid that Ryouta would break or bruise if they were too firm (except Kiba).
"I'm putting him down for his nap." Ino stated as she nudged past the towel-clad Shikamaru.
"Good luck with that." He muttered sarcastically but without any heat as his blonde teammate pushed past him. Shikamaru had struggled through many afternoons with a cranky over-tired baby Ryouta who refused to nap. So he understood the precious moments of peace that came with a content sleeping child.
Shikamaru walked into Kurenai's guest room with a little more energy. Just seeing baby Ryouta healthy and safe made helped him overcome the fatigue and tension from his mind and body. He quickly located his bag of clean clothes in the messy room. It was tucked in a corner near the futon. Ino and Hinata were more likely to spend the night and had taken over the closet. Shikamaru dug around the spare clothes he kept in the bag and pulled out a black t-shirt and a pair of civilian pants. After he dressed, he took a moment to lay down on the futon. His let his eyes close as he remembered with a smile the times he had shared the futon with Hinata. Her constant blush, the warm of her curves as she pressed against him, and the smell of jasmine.
He indulged in his memories for few moments as he slowly let exhaustion drug his body into sleep.
Thirty minutes later, he woke to the sound of voices in the apartment. Hinata and Ino were speaking softly. Shikamaru smiled. His body ached and there were a million things to do. But he could hear his two of his precious people planning something. It could be anything, from a birthday party to the medical nin exams to an S-class mission. They were remarkable women.
It felt like home.
Shikamaru quickly dressed, haphazardly threw his towel and dirty clothes in the hamper in the bathroom and made his way to the kitchen. Hinata was in front of him the moment he walked through the doorway. She hugged him and held him.
"Tadaima" He mumbled. I'm back.
"Okaeri." She responded as she tightened her arms around him one more time before she release him. Welcome home.
Ino smiled at their small affection and rose to get another cup for tea. Shikamaru and Hinata sat down together. Their shoulders pressed gently together was the only indication of how much they had missed each other.
"We were talking about the unit on the 3rd floor. Mrs. Haruka is moving out next month. We were thinking that it is time to give Kurenai some space and her spare bedroom back." Ino explained. "So we were trying to figure out if it would make sense for Hinata and I to move in together into that unit. It's a small place and a little pricey, but we could still be close by. And - "
"No." He interrupted.
"Excuse me?" Ino asked perplexed at his out of hand statement. She and Hinata had been discussing this for weeks while Shikamaru was on his mission. What the hell did he know?
"No. It's not a good idea." He repeated deliberately. Shikamaru's eyes were sharp as things fell into place.
"Well why the hell not?" Ino demanded. She looked at Shikamaru's determined expression and changed her approach. "Look," She stated more calmly. " I know you like to control everything, but you have to face it. Kurenai is mostly recovered and she is going to want to have her privacy back. She already started training again. That's where she is now." Ino explained with some sadness in her voice. Ino could see the constant swirl of people and "help" was going to feel smothering eventually. It was wonderful to be such a close part of baby Ryota's life, but they all needed to give mother and child some space too.
"I agree with Ino." Hinata stated firmly. She reached for Shikamaru's hand under the table to soften her words.
Shikamaru tangled his fingers with Hinata's smaller calloused ones. "I agree that Kurenai needs her privacy." He explained. "I don't think you and Hinata should take Mrs. Hakura's apartment."
He met Ino's clear gaze with one of his own. "This place is too far from the hospital and the flower shop. It has never been convenient for you. You can't decide to live here and commit to wasting a lot of time commuting back and forth. Your family still needs to see you and your duties at the hospital are endless."
Ino wrinkled her nose at his logic. She knew he had a point. She crossed her arms with a small huff of frustration. Ino looked to Hinata for support. Hinata knew that Ino was willing to make the sacrifice, but it wasn't practical.
"I-I guess I could still rent it. By myself. We are pretty close the Hyuuga compound." Hinata offered.
Ino objected. "It would be pricey for two people, and much too expensive for just one. You know your father would not approve. Hyuuga-sama might not stop you, but he won't help either."
Hinata sighed. That was true too. "It might be the best option though. I can manage the rent for 6 months. Maybe a year." The implicit part of the statement was that with the war and missions, a year was all they could plan for anyway.
"No." Shikamaru squeeze her hand. "We should rent it together." He stated simple.
A different type of girl would have been offended. It would have annoyed her romantic sensibilities that her boyfriend was suggesting that they live together for convenience. She would have been upset that the private moment was shared with her boyfriend's closest female friend.
But Hinata was a shinobi and a Hyuuga. She turned the idea over in her mind. The location relative to the Nara lands, the Hyuuga home and the Hokage tower was reasonable. Ino and the others could still crash at their place instead of Kurenai's home. It would work. The only problem was...
"It's a one bedroom unit. You and Hinata would be sharing a bedroom." Ino stated confused. "Are you...are you ready for that?" She asked both of them. Shikamaru may have a big brain but sometimes he overlooks the social aspect of his ideas. While is seemed likely that Shikamaru understood what he was suggesting, Hinata was still a very proper Hyuuga heiress. It was even more unlikely that Haishi was support this approach.
"I am." Shikamaru stated. He looked Hinata in the eyes. "You can appoint Neji or Hanabi's heirs as your heir or I can appoint my cousin's kids as my heir." Hinata's eyes clouded for moment and then widened as she realized the implication of what he had said.
"What are you talking about?" Ino huffed in irritation.
Hinata looked away from Shikamaru to explain to Ino. "When Shikamaru is clan head, his heir must be either his own child or a close blood relative. The same is true for myself. If I choose to be Hyuuga clan heir and earn that privilege, then my heir must be my own child or a close blood relative to ensure that the bloodline remains strong."
"I get that!" Ino snapped. "What does that have to do with Mrs. Haruka's apartment and you two living together...ehhh?" Ino gasped and stood up. Her eyes sparkled and she clasped her hands together. While Ino was not the "genius" of their generation, she was very intelligent and remarkably intuitive, especially about people.
"WHEN DID YOU GET ENGAGED?" she asked happily and loudly.
A small crying noise erupted from Kurenai's room. All three shinobi winced.
"I'll go get him. But I want details when I get back!" Ino stated as she was halfway to the door, ready to comfort the sleepy Ryouta.
Shikamaru and Hinata sat together in the kitchen and listened to the sounds of Ino as she soothed the baby. Hinata sat motionless as her mind worked through Shikamaru's words and Ino's question. Hinata's face flushed as turned her eyes to stare at their clasped hands on the table. Shikamaru sighed.
"I mean it Hinata." He squeezed her hand gently and brought to his lips. "I'm ready." He brushed a soft kiss against the side of her fingers. "I missed you." Hinata smiled slightly at his words. They left for each mission with the uncertainty of return. They said goodbye to each other, their friends, their students with the certainty that it might be the last time. The age expectancy for shinobi involved in waging war was not good. For the shinobi who took A class missions as a routine and was frequently asked to plan S class mission, the age expectancy was even worse.
She knew him well enough to understand the depth behind his words.
"I mean it" meant "I figured out how to make it work. Our family and clans will accept it."
"I'm ready" meant "We don't need to wait."
"I missed you" meant "I love you."
Hinata looked up from staring at their clasped hands.
"I missed you, too." she finally said. She sighed and he pulled her from her chair and into his lap. Hinata wrapped her arms behind his neck. Shikamaru hugged her close and buried his head in her neck and against her chest. He pressed a kiss to her clothed shoulder.
"Do you really think the Nara and Hyuuga will accept it?" Hinata asked softly. The warmth from his solid body pressed against her curves and she wondered if it would be possible imprint the memory in this sense of love and acceptance.
Shikamaru held her tighter and then stilled. The soft scent of jasmine from Hinata's hair teased him. The clean smell of soap from Shikamaru's skin comforted her. The weight of their duty lay oppressively all around. The duty to serve the village through blood and pain. The duty to lead their clans with through strength and wisdom. The duty to protect their loved ones through death and birth.
Hinata's unanswered question sat in the silent swirl of the ever present sense of duty.
Shikamaru sighed. As Hinata felt the breath from his body move the air, she suddenly knew the answer herself. Nara Shikamaru was brilliant and had found a way. It was an approach that would not make the Nara nor the Hyuuga happy. But it was possible. But it required commitment to make it happen.
"We will make them accept it." She whispered the answer to her own question. Hinata pulled Shikamaru into an intimate kiss. She tugged at his slightly chapped lips with her own and gently expressed her love.
He ran his palms along her back, pressing her as close as possible. His heart and his hormones screaming at him mine, mine, mine. His mind filled in the blanks...mine to love, mine to have, mine to cherish.
The next few minutes passed full of kisses and caresses. The shower had washed his body. Hinata's love washed the grime from his mind and soul.
"Guys, get a room!" Ino interrupted with a huff. She flopped back in the kitchen chair. Ino lifted her eyebrow as she eyed her pair of friends wrapped around each other. "So immodest." She teased with an infectious smile.
Shikamaru and Hinata turned slightly away from each other and blushed. Shikamaru released Hinata as she slid off his lap and back into her own chair.
"So...engaged?" Ino asked as her eyes twinkled with excitement.
Shikamaru looked at Hinata with a small smirk.
"Yes." Hinata blushed. "We..." She paused and then smiled and said with certainty. "We are going to get married."
Shikamaru smirk grew as Ino starting bombarding Hinata with questions and suggestions about everything from how to set up house for the newlyweds in Mrs. Haruka's apartment to the types of flowers for the wedding. Hinata smiled and let Ino speculate and plan and enjoyed the moment.
In their world filled with duty, every duty was one that they embraced and made their own. Underneath every duty was a choice. And in every choice was a commitment based in love. Love for the village. Love for family and friends. Love for that person who would be a partner for life.
Shikamaru's mind reminded him that he has a long mission report to complete. He should check the supplies and see if Kurenai needed anything, food, diapers, etc. He hadn't been home yet to see his mom, though he had sent word from the gate so she would know he had returned safely. The Hokage would likely want him to review the next chunin exam plans. He should really get going.
Shikamaru smiled as he watched Hinata blushed and Ino teased.
It was good to be home.
Author's Note: I wrote this in many fits and starts, so I hope it still flows okay. I didn't do much on the final edit. I tried, but I thought it better to post it than let it sit on my computer for another 2 months.
One more chapter to go.
Please review!
