Sungrazers

by El Reino

ShikaHina. When Shikamaru's mother procures him a noblewoman from the capital to be his wife, he thinks he'll be getting a spoiled, demanding shrew of a woman. Instead, he gets Hinata. He remembers Hinata from his pre-genin class. But he knows nothing about who Hinata is now, and is equally confused about her best friend, Sasuke. Smut later. ***Drabble length chapters***

6. Six

Forgive my hasty upload and any typos that come with it.

oOo

"When was the last time you saw Ino or Choji?" Yoshino demanded as soon as Shikamaru stepped out of his bedroom.

Shikamaru's closed eyes flew open. All semblance of sleep left him as he jumped away from his mother to the other side of the hallway.

"Woman, you scared me!" He clutched at his flak jacket.

Yoshino held up a finger out and pointed at him. "Why didn't you hear me coming?" she demanded. "You look half dead!"

"Why are we yelling?!" he, appropriately, yelled back.

"Because you're falling apart!" She stomped up to him to peer into his face, and thankfully lowered her volume to just 'loud' instead of 'shrill.' "Ever since Temari left, you have barely left the house. You've done back-to-back missions. You're ignoring your duties as Clan Head. You're ignoring your friends."

Shikamaru slumped back against the wooden beam behind him and did meet his mother's gaze.

"Ever since your father died-"

Shikamaru's eyes turned sharp as blades, and he glared at her. "Don't use him against me," he hissed through gritted teeth.

Yoshino scowled back at him, uncowed by her son's anger. "I'm allowed to talk about my husband. Just because you're ignoring your grief, does not mean I need to be silent. I loved him longer than you."

Guilt and shame ran through his blood like a flash flood. He opened his mouth to apologize, but she spoke over him.

"I don't want you to be alone, and you need someone to help you with the clan." She stepped back and took a breath. "I have a proposal for you."

Shikamaru stared warily at her.

"You need someone to help you run the clan, and I don't want you to be alone anymore. Let me find you a wife."

Shikamaru peered at her. "Are… you… serious?"

She buried her face in her hands and laughed wetly into them. "Just… give your old mom a chance, okay?"

For a moment, silence reigned, then Shikamaru's watch chimed, shattering the oppressive atmosphere.

"I need to go on my mission."

"Okay." She reached out to clasp his hands in her own. "Be safe."

"I will," he said quietly.

oOo

Coming up: Hinata gets a letter from Konoha. Her first fiance is displeased.

Word count: 360