Love Child
A Shikatema Fanfic
Disclaimer: I own nothing but the plot line!
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Ch-9
I sat on the couch staring at the ring on my hand for almost an hour. By the time Shikamaru had gotten my attention again, sadly without the kiss this time, he had made a late lunch.
I got up and joined him at the table. I sniffed the food at the table carefully, ensuring none of it made me nauseous. I was actually more tentative about its taste. Most male ninjas were terrible cooks. But after all, it is kind of hard to mess up a sandwich and potato salad. I took a bite of the salad. It wasn't bad.
"Too much salt," I said to him.
"Hn?" he replied.
"The salad has too much salt. But it's not bad, especially for a guys cooking."
"Guys cooking? Aren't you being a little sexist?" he asked.
"Have you ever eaten food made by my brothers?" I asked.
He shook his head.
"Well good. You may have died if you had. They are terrible cooks, and do absolutely no credit for males and cooking."
"Just because two guys suck at cooking doesn't mean all men do," he replied tartly.
"Well there is a reason why women stay in the kitchen."
He laughed and said,
"How would you take staying in a kitchen?"
"I am actually an amazing cook," I pointed out. "But I would get to restless and end up beating the crap out of someone or poisoning them purposely."
He smiled, as if he thought I was being funny. I rolled my eyes and continued eating my food. Then I thought of something.
"Do you know of somewhere in Konaha that needs a chef?"
He raised an eyebrow and replied,
"No, why?"
"Well I am going to need a job, seeing as I can no longer work as a ninja," I answered.
"You don't have to work," said Shikamaru.
"Are you kidding me? Are you going to be all chivalrous and support the two of us? I don't think so crybaby. In addition what would I do here all day? Get fat?"
"You're going to get fat anyways," he pointed out.
"That's not the point! Did you not hear the part about me being restless and poisoning your food?"
He sighed and said,
"I may have heard something about the ANBU kitchen looking for a part-time cook."
I smiled a self-satisfied smile. He admitted defeat. If he gave in so easily to me, then marriage was going to be a piece of cake. I took a bite of a sandwich. Wait, sand ...
"When am I going to go to Suna?" I asked.
"We can leave tomorrow," he said emphasizing the we. "I cleared it with Tsunade. She I also going to make our marriage a diplomatic one. She was also more than happy to be your doctor."
I raised an eyebrow. He seemed to have made a lot of decisions without me. I didn't appreciate that. I don't appreciate people telling me what to do.
"I went and saw her today. Also I saw Sakura and told her if she told anybody that you would go a-wall on her," he said with a smile.
"That is all good and all, but next time you talk about me, our baby, or our marriage I would like to be present. You acted quite high-handed today," I said.
He looked at me and realized he had made me angry. He sighed as if this was too much work and said,
"I am sorry, you're right, I was being high-handed."
I nodded to tell him he was forgiven. Then I continued eating my sandwich. He didn't disturb me as I finished eating.
When I was finished, I picked up my plate and cup and took it to the sink. Then I started running the hot water and added some soap.
"I can do the dishes," he said, coming up behind me.
"I will wash and you can dry, I replied.
He nodded and then placed his dishes beside mine and picked up a drying cloth. I did the dishes and then passed them to Shikamaru. We finished the dishes very quickly, not that there were tons to do in the beginning. Then I wiped down the table and the counters.
After I was done I went and joined Shikamaru on the couch.
"So now what?" I asked him.
He was holding the crossword book, looking over the puzzles I had done. He turned his head to look at me and said,
"Well dinner is at 5:30." It was 4:32 at the moment. "Maybe you should change into something more suitable of meeting my parents," he said.
I looked down at myself. He had a point. I was in a pair of black shorts and a loose t-shirt that I had worn to bed the night before. I changed after I had gotten sick earlier. I also had let my hair down, so I should probably put it back up.
"You're probably right," I replied.
"Of course I am," he said.
I flicked him in the forehead. Self-assured bastard he was.
"You're an idiot."
Then I walked to his room to change. I didn't have very many options for clothing because I only meant this trip to be for Shikamaru's blood, but I made do with what I had. It was almost the end of November, so it was getting quite cold out. So I put on a long sleeve fish-net shirt and pulled a gray halter top on over top. I wore black pants with them. I was tempted to put on my ninja gear, but I didn't think I'd need it for dinner. Also I put on the special bracelets that Tsunade gave me because I didn't want to throw up my guts at Shikamaru's parents place. I quickly pulled my hair into my trademark four ponytails and walked out of the room.
When I walked out of Shikamaru's room he was waiting by the door.
"Are we going somewhere?" I asked him. "I know it didn't take me an hour to change."
He smiled and replied,
"No, but I want to introduce you to someone who might have a clue as to what you're going through."
"Okay...?" I replied.
"She was a ninja, until of course she got pregnant. I would like to tell her you're pregnant if that's alright with you and also that I am the father."
"Yes that's alright, I suppose," I said. "But don't going and telling everyone, we decided not to."
He nodded. "Well let's go then," he said gesturing at the door.
I walked to the door and was about to walk out when I felt Shikamaru put a jacket over my shoulders.
"It's not that cold," I said.
"Well it will be by the time we come home and plus we don't want you getting sick. That wouldn't be very good," he said.
I nodded and continued walking out the door. I put my arms through the jackets arms and waited for Shikamaru to lead the way.
We didn't have to walk very far, a few blocks at the most. Shikamaru knocked on the door and it was opened by a small little girl about two years old.
"Chiyo!" called who I believed was her mother. "You know better than to open the door!"
A tall girl with messy black hair came up behind the young girl. She had red eyes that looked almost like a Rinnegan, but they weren't. I recognized her as one of the leaf's jounin. Her child didn't have her mother's eyes though.
"Uncle Shikamaru!" screeched the small child as she jumped on him.
"Hello Chiyo," Shikamaru replied. "Hello Kurenai, could we come in?"
She looked at me and then nodded. Shikamaru carried the child into the apartment and I followed after him, closing the door. We took off our shoes and followed Kurenai to the living room. There were childrens toys on the floor and on the TV was a children's show.
"Uncle Shika! You should watch TV with me!" said the little girl.
Shikamaru laughed and said,
"I can't right now, I have to talk to your mama. But if I have time I will happily watch it with you."
Shikamaru set the little girl down and she ran over to the TV and sat down. Kurenai said to us,
"Come and sit at the table."
We joined her at the table and I waited for Shikamaru to begin talking. He did.
"I am leaving for Suna tomorrow and I'd like it if Kakashi could spend the time while I am away with you."
Kurenai laughed and said,
"Shikamaru, do you not remember that in the leaf, I have the strongest genjustu? We will be fine without Kakashi or you for a couple days."
"But I promise Asuma I would take care of you two," he replied.
"We will be fine Shikamaru," she answered.
He didn't look happy about it but, Shikamaru did accept it. Then Kurenai asked me,
"What brings you here Temari?"
I was surprised she remembered who I was; I barely remembered who she was.
"Well I just found out recently that I am pregnant. Shikamaru wanted to introduce us seeing as you too are a very powerful ninja and a mother," I replied.
"Really?" she asked. "Well congratulations."
"I'm the father," said Shikamaru.
Kurenai turned and looked at him. I think she could see he was struggling with something, because I could see it too.
"Don't worry Shikamaru. You won't die and leave your unborn child to be raised alone. Asuma wouldn't allow it," she said with a smile.
He smiled slightly. He was worried that if it could happen to this Asuma guy, it would happen to him too.
"Believe me, I would save your butt long before it happened crybaby," I said.
His smile widened at that thought. Then Kurenai asked me,
"How far along are you?"
"Seven weeks," I replied.
She smiled and replied,
"Morning sickness?"
I nodded and showed her the bracelets on my wrist.
"Mine wasn't that bad, but seeing as you have bracelets, I am assuming yours is quite bad," said Kurenai.
"Quite bad is an understatement," said Shikamaru.
I smiled and nodded. Shikamaru seemed to be back to his regular self.
"It will go away sooner or later. But then you'll have to deal with the mood swings," said Kurenai.
"I'm so excited," I said sarcastically.
"They usually aren't that bad as long as whoever you're with doesn't upset you, because once you're upset it's like you boarded a rollercoaster of emotions," said Kurenai with a smile. "But then again everyone's different."
I smiled in return and was about to reply when her daughter came up.
"Uncle Shika! Come on watch TV!" she grabbed his hand in an attempt to pull him to the TV.
Shikamaru looked at me apologetically and then let Chiyo lead him over to the TV. Kurenai was still smiling when I looked back at her.
"Shikamaru really loves kids," she said. "How about you Temari, how do you feel about having a child?"
"I guess I am kind of worried. I didn't really grow up with a parental influence or more so a mother." Kurenai nodded. "She died giving birth to my youngest brother. I may have practically raised both of my brothers, but this seems, well, different," I said.
"Well I can see why you're concerned. But truthfully it is more instinctual than you'd think," she said. "Raising a child that is, but I imagine you'll have it easier than I did, seeing you still have Shikamaru."
I looked over to Shikamaru and the child. He did look really happy with young Chiyo. Then I said to Kurenai quietly,
"So Chiyo's father has passed?"
Kurenai nodded and said,
"I was five months pregnant. Shikamaru and Asuma were on a mission together at the time and Shikamaru was the only one that came back. He took Asuma's death almost harder than I did," I raised an eyebrow to that. "Asuma was his sensei, or more so his father because his actual father was always on missions. Shikamaru promised to Asuma before he died that he'd take care of me and Chiyo. He takes the job very seriously, and has already said that he us going to be Chiyo's sensei when she's old enough."
I looked over to Shikamaru and Chiyo again. It seemed that their relationship was much more complicated than it seemed. Though I had to smile, he looked so happy. Maybe raising this child wouldn't be so hard after all.
Kurenai and I continued talking. It wasn't all about the pregnancy, but it seemed to be the central theme. Occasionally I'd glance over and smile at the sight of Shikamaru. Kurenai noticed my ring and said congrats, she seemed very happy that Shikamaru completely committed himself to this relationship and child. Then it came up as to how I managed to get pregnant by him.
"Some days I just swear Shikamaru had to be gay, because you'd never see him with a girl," she laughed. "So how'd he get you pregnant?"
Shikamaru was suddenly appeared by my side and answered for me,
"One-night stand at the beginning of October. It was just after the Chunin exams."
"Really?" said Kurenai in a disapproving tone.
I laughed and said,
"It isn't completely his fault. We were kind of drunk and happy we were finally done the Chunin exams for the year. We just decided to celebrate in a different manner this year."
Shikamaru smiled as if he was remembering the manner in which we celebrated. He continued smiling as he said,
"Kurenai, could you keep the knowledge of my child a secret. I have developed a fair few number of enemies over the past few years, and so has Temari. I would rather not have my child threatened as a way to get back at me. And until we think of a better excuse as to why Temari's pregnant."
She nodded. She obviously understood the reasoning as to why we were keeping it a secret. She was a ninja at one point too.
"Thank-you. But now we have to be going. My parents are expecting us for dinner," said Shikamaru.
Kurenai nodded again, and shooed us out her door.
"Don't be late!" she called after us.
I smiled. I liked Kurenai, she was kind and easy enough to get along with. I had a strange feeling that I was going to spend a lot of time with her over the duration of my pregnancy.
Now we were off to meet the parents of the genius I am engaged to. Oh joy.
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AN:/ Well that's chapter nine! I hope to have chapter 10 up soon, but I am going to camp for the next week so, I doubt it's going to be up soon!
I thought I'd through Kurenai in; she will probably be a very helpful character. As for her daughters name, I kinda just thought of it out of nowhere. xD
But anyways,
Spaz out!