"What do you mean you can't find them?"
"I can't get a sense of their chakras at all. It's almost as if… they've completely disappeared off the face of the earth."
"Naruto, that doesn't make any sense at all. It's either they're far beyond your detectable range or they… th-they… they haven't been… killed… have they?"
"…"
"Naruto."
"…"
"Naruto!"
"I don't know! I… don't know, Shikamaru. I really don't know."
The four had all eventually made it to the barbecue restaurant Shikadai's dad and his team often gathered at, seating around a booth that was relatively secluded from all the others.
Shikamaru and Temari sat on opposite sides of the table and on the seats furthest to each other. Both were refusing to look in the other's general direction. Both were distancing themselves as much as possible from the other. Both were desperately trying to distract their minds with something, anything else than of the other. Both were failing miserably.
The four were eventually accompanied by Chōji, and a new but familiar face.
"Well how about that. I was convinced Chōji was just ribbing with me the entire time when he said that Naruto's and Shikamaru's future kids were running around causing a scene in the village—only so that he could start chowing down sooner. But, I didn't actually expect to see one in the flesh, I mean, I can barely tell the kid and his ol' man apart! So Shikamaru does really settle down eventually, huh? I never thought the day'd actually come!" He let out a great guffaw, exhaling one last meaningful breath of smoke, before pressing the cigarette bud against the surface of a nearby ashtray.
Shikamaru laid his chin down onto a palm and made little effort in hiding his irritation as he glared daggers towards the large man, only prompting him to let out another powerful howl.
"And with Temari of the Sand, no less! It wasn't too long ago the two of you were trying to tear each other's heads off at the Chūnin Exams! Well, Temari certainly was at least, anyway. I never would've imagined a relationship would boom from that!" Another hearty laugh escaped his lips as he wiped away a misplaced tear. "I'm sorry you two, I'm done. I assure you. I'm glad you could join us here today," he said to Temari, after he'd somewhat composed himself. He then tucked his chin down and gave her a sincere nod.
Temari wanted nothing more than to launch herself over the table and wring his neck for the excessive laughing and making the already unbearably awkward situation even more unbearable, then to tear Ino's perfect hair out from her scalp for dragging her along and forcing her to endure this, and then to shove the remains of her hair down Shikamaru's throat for not saying anything. But she thought better of it. After all, she had to be an example to her son, as absurd and difficult as it was for her to comprehend. So she simply returned a nod.
"Shikadai, meet Asuma Sensei!"
"You shouldn't have to introduce me to him, Ino, if what he says is true, then I'm sure he's seen me plenty."
Except Shikadai hadn't seen him. At least not in person, that is. Not once. He'd only ever seen him in framed pictures like the ones in Asuma's daughter Mirai's house. And the most daunting thing was, his likeness looked remarkable similar to that in the pictures; the same black, spiky hair, the same strip of hair coating his jawline. Not a wrinkle less, or more. There was hardly a single thing that differed at all. Mirai had shown Shikadai a handful of pictures of Asuma during his genin days, but never any where he'd looked older than his current appearance. There was only a single, sensible conclusion Shikadai could draw.
Asuma will die soon.
And there was yet another predicament. Does Shikadai tell him? Neither his father nor Mirai had even told him how he'd died. He was a shinobi, so being killed in action was the most reasonable assumption, but it is still just speculation nonetheless. Is now even an appropriate time to tell him? During an infrequent gathering where there's plenty of laughs and smiles? Is it even right to tinker with the future any more than he already had, and be essentially cheating death? But now Dad can see him once more. Kurenai can reunite with him. Mirai can finally meet him.
"You alright, kid? You look like you've seen a ghost or something."
Shikadai snapped out of his trance, stiffening. "It's… it's just that… that… that you…" he visibly gulped with shut eyes, "…look so much like your daughter."
Maybe best to think it through properly first before spilling it, Shikadai thought.
"My d-daughter?" Asuma stammered.
"Hmph, guess I'm not the only who settles down," Shikamaru said with a lopsided grin and a face no longer wrought with discomfort.
Shikadai nodded. "Mirai, her name is. Mirai Sarutobi."
"Mirai?" Asuma's eyes further widened in realization. "Wait, s-so… you mean to tell me... the mother is—"
"Kurenai Sensei!" Chōji and Ino both yelled. Shikamaru also muttered her name in synchronization with the two, albeit with far less enthusiasm. Shikadai shrugged his shoulders in agreement.
A wave of red shot across Asuma's face. "H-h-how d-did you g-guys—"
"Gosh Sensei, you're such an open book," Chōji said, amused.
"Uh, a-anyway," Asuma nervously coughed, "that's enough about me." He then mouthed to Shikadai, "We'll talk later."
"So, Shikadai," he began, "if I've heard correctly from Chōji over here, you and Naruto's kid were both sent to the past by some creep with a scroll?"
"Sounds about right."
"And you know next to nothing about this person or why he did it?"
"Mm-hm."
"And you're pretty much stuck here indefinitely?"
Shikadai felt a wave of disappointment at the reminder. "Seems like it."
"I see." Asuma raised a perfectly cooked meat off the grill and placed it onto his empty plate, Shikadai's subtle reaction not going unnoticed to him. "The Ino-Shika-Chō tradition still going strong?"
Shikadai couldn't help but raise the corners of his mouth. "Uh-huh. More so in bonds than in battle, but we're working on it," he said with a brisk chuckle.
He missed his teammates Inojin and Chōchō. A lot. He hadn't seen them much prior to the train altercation; his thoughts were too preoccupied with his parents. He missed the absurd yet thoughtful ways Chōchō would relate potato chips to just about any scenario. He missed opening ninja card packs with Inojin, the anticipation that was always present from the tear of the wrapper to the revelation of the card, and the cheers or frowns that then followed. He hadn't been in the past for very long, and it was already taking its toll on him.
Ino threw her body unexpectedly over the table and narrowed the distance between her face and Shikadai's. "Wait, is this 'Ino' mine?"
Shikadai clenched his teeth and leaned back in response. "Yeah. His name's Inojin."
Ino inhaled with a shriek and smiled open-mouthed. "Sasuke and I have a son called Inojin?!"
"…Huh?"
"Sasuke and I get together, don't we? Naruto's kid did say he was back in the village, so I assume he's settled down with the love of his life, right?" Ino said pointing to herself repeatedly.
"…I'm… I'm not following…"
Her expression gradually transitioned to one that conveyed disbelief. "You… mean he doesn't…? Wait, he… he's not actually into… guys, like Shikamaru and Chōji always say he is… is he?"
Shikadai gave a mocking laugh, eyes shut and head inclined forward. "No, he isn't. He has a daughter. Just… with Aunt Sakura."
"F-Forehead?!" Ino yelled, exasperated, startling everyone at the booth. "Are you kidding me?! How the hell does she get him in the end?! He's practically sleeping with a man with that chest of hers!" Ino sat back down onto her seat and crossed her arms. An enlarged vein made itself more discernible on the side of her forehead. "Then who the heck is my husband?!"
"U-um, I haven't seen him around here yet. Does a guy named Sai ring any bel—"
"S-Sai?! Him?" Ino yelled again, prompting Shikadai to jump once more, then quickly follow with a frantic nod. The tension on Ino's face eventually eased, and she puckered her lips. "Actually, he's pretty cute. Looks sorta like Sasuke, too. Disappointed it's not the real deal, but, whatever. I can live with that. Just glad it isn't one of these two fools."
Shikamaru responded with a scowl. Chōji appeared unfazed by the comment. That or the meal had already eased his pain.
"Once again Shikamaru, I just don't see you in that way. Besides, I have no intention of making a man out of your lazy butt. That's Mama Temari's job," Ino said with a wink, nudging Temari with her elbow.
"Stop calling me that," Temari said, the tinge of red on her cheeks betraying her menacing frown.
"Anywho," Ino cleverly diverted, "and I'm guessing this 'Chō' is Chōji's?" Chōji paused briefly from chewing and stared at the boy.
Shikadai shook his head up and down. "Yeah, she's yours. You remind me a lot of her, actually. She's got your hunger," he began, the words escaping Shikadai before he'd properly given it some thought, a trait he blamed his mother for inheriting. This prompted Chōji's eyebrow to raise, as if gesturing him to continue. "And, uh… drive," he continued, looking away. Chōji shrugged and went back to his meal as Asuma and Ino quietly sniggered to themselves. Shikadai eased from his stiff posture and let out a nervous cough. "Her uh, name's Chōchō."
"Chōchō?" Chōji gulped down all of the meat that occupied his mouth. "Hey, that's a really nice name."
"It's a really lazy name," Ino immediately followed. "You could've put anything else at the end of 'Chō' and you put another 'chō' right after it? What, did you ask Shikamaru to come up with it or something?" Shikamaru fired at her another scowl, one that depicted even less patience for her than the one before. Temari was playing slightly with the meat on her plate; her appetite frankly wasn't present, but even she couldn't help but let a wry smile slip.
"…Aren't… aren't you gonna ask who your wife is, Uncle Chōji?" Shikadai asked after a slight lull in the conversation.
"Hm? Not really, all I want for a wife is a pretty woman that knows how to cook!" Chōji effortlessly piled together five pieces of meat and cushioned them down onto his tongue.
"Chōji, there's a lot more to a woman than her ability to cook you dinner, you know," Asuma clarified.
"Yes, absolutely Sensei! Breakfast and lunch are equally as important, too," Chōji continued with a mouthful of meat. Ino rolled her eyes with exaggeration. Asuma shook his head as he stifled a laugh.
"So, Shikadai," Ino said mischievously, slowly sliding her arm around Temari's shoulder. "What exactly is it about our Shikamaru that softens Temari up so much?"
"Ino," Temari said in a dark tone, setting her chopsticks down onto the table.
"What? It's true. It always feels like I'm interrupting something anytime I approach the two of you hanging out. Which is a lot, by the way. And don't try to play up that 'it's just work' crap, I'm pretty sure lying down with him in the fields isn't part of your job requirement."
"Ino." Red flashed in front of her eyes. She took slow breaths through her nose, trying desperately to control herself and loosen her clenched fist.
"What, you hiding something?"
That was the last voice Temari expected to hear.
"Excuse me?" she followed, now eyeing Shikamaru with curiosity.
"I mean… don't you… y'know, wanna know why you left your village… for me, and stuff," he said, looking elsewhere, anywhere else from her gaze.
That was a thought that completely escaped her mind. She had left the village she was born and raised in, its difficult conditions she'd spent a lifetime getting adapted to. She had left her brothers behind, disregarding the oath she'd made to herself to forever stand by their sides and protect with her life. She left it all… for him? Some chūnin from another village? Sure, he was excellent company, and was one of the few she could have both an intelligent and intimate conversation with. Sure, he had an absurd amount of untapped potential that she'd taken it upon herself to ensure he takes full advantage of and doesn't squander. Sure, the way he'd stare intently into her eyes or the accidental physical contact the two would occasionally make with each other would make her heart skip a couple of times and her knees buckle slightly. But this? This was a sacrifice she couldn't fathom ever making. And yet she did.
Once again, she found herself simply returning a nod.
Perhaps this could be a good thing, Shikadai thought, intrigued at the opportunity of playing matchmaker. He was frankly sick of the tension between his parents, past or future.
"He's… he's loyal. He'd never abandon his friends and family, and he'd rather give his own life away than for his comrades to get hurt. He's hard-working, too."
Temari scoffed. "Could've fooled me." Shikamaru rolled his eyes and muttered something under his breath.
Shikadai chuckled a little. "He might not seem like it now, but in the future, he works tirelessly as the Hokage's advisor. Sometimes, even a little too hard."
"Oh? Hokage's advisor, huh? Very fitting of Shikamaru actually, now that I think about it," Asuma said.
Shikamaru balked slightly, unsure what possessed him to take up such a troublesome job. He'd rather not spend all his time with the overly-energetic Naruto.
"Okay, now what is it about Temari that makes Shikamaru actually shows some damn interest in a woman?" Ino asked. Shikamaru stiffened in his seat. "Troublesome woman this, troublesome woman that. My mom's a witch! Tsunade's out to get me! Ino's gorgeous but annoying! Waaaaah! It was driving me crazy! But I would've thought Temari of all women would be the last person he'd ever want to settle down with. So what is it?"
Shikamaru raised both his hands up as if to surrender. "Alright Ino, first off, don't flatter yourself, secondly, I think we've had enough fun for toda—"
"No. I want to hear this," Temari said, cutting him off.
Shikamaru blinked repeatedly at her in confusion. "Huh?"
"What, hiding something?" she mockingly asked.
"Haven't we been embarrassed enough already, woman?"
Temari uncrossed her arms and threw her head back. "Hah. Nice try. I've been embarrassed enough already. You've got some catching up to do." She waved her hand, gesturing Shikadai to proceed.
"Shikadai, as your father, I command you not to continue."
"And as your mother, I command you to continue."
"Troublesome mother."
"Lazy ass, crybaby fathe—"
"Her smile."
Everyone turned their heads and directed their attention to the boy.
"It was after I was scolded by Mom for not finishing breakfast, or something like that. I asked Dad what it was exactly he saw in her, and he responded with something along the lines of, 'Even she has her moments when she smiles gently.'"
Shikamaru's mouth was agape in disbelief. The conversation was far too familiar.
"I didn't really get it at the time, but… I guess seeing her smile must make him feel happy."
If not for the sizzling meat on the grill, a pin drop would have been audible.
"Shikamaru… that's so beautiful," Ino said eventually. She sniffed, then stroked away an imaginary tear. "When did you get so romantic? Ugh, Sai better be like this!"
Temari lowered her head. She couldn't help but wear a grin on her face and had to bite her lip down to prevent it from transitioning into a teeth-baring smile.
Shikamaru pushed his plate forward and stood without warning. He shoved both hands in his pockets and began walking towards the door of the restaurant.
"Shikamaru? Where are you going?" Ino questioned, shifting her body round. "You can't just leave!"
"Hey, you heading off already? C'mon Shikamaru, we're only having a bit of fun. You just gonna leave your kid here?" Asuma asked.
Shikadai stared ahead, utterly bewildered. Did... did he say something wrong? No, he couldn't have. He couldn't have. Every word had been carefully selected. Every potential outcome had already been thought of, and storming out the place was certainly not one of them. He was sure, positive, confident that it would work, so what on earth was the reason now?! Gah, troublesome parents!
"D-Dad?" he pleaded, a final, desperate attempt clinging on to hope. But it was in vain.
Temari furrowed her brows at the lack of response. She abruptly stood and turned round to face his curved back. "What, you just gonna run away from your responsibilities again, Shikamaru? Huh? Is that it?"
Shikamaru froze.
He wanted to respond. He did. He wanted to turn around. He wanted to return to the booth and he wanted to sit back down in his seat. He wanted to prove her wrong.
But he didn't. He didn't do any of that. He caved. He caved and he opened the door to the restaurant and he walked right out without sparing a glance.
Temari continued to stare at where he once stood. A myriad of thoughts flooded her mind: frustration, appall, irritation. But what dominated most was hurt... and disappointment. Ino raised a hand and neared it towards Temari's shoulder in an effort to comfort her, but it was quickly swatted aside before contact had been made. She then marched in the direction of the door, escaping the restaurant without sparing a glance herself.
The entire affair was reminiscent of that incident, and though Shikadai was in the presence of others this time, he felt just as alone and helpless as he did then.
A/N: Thank you so much for showing the love for this fic. It really means a lot. :')
Another special thanks to the 3-4 regular reviewers that have been reviewing from the very first chapter, you guys have a special place in my heart damn it. ;_;
NaruHina interactions will come, I promise! I just don't want to rush it. It took Naruto, like, two whole series and about half a movie to recognize his feeling for Hinata, lol. So I really just wanna get it right.