Summary:
Shikamaru is observant; it's a known fact. But did Temari know he was kind of vengeful too?
Shee needs to make some amends since he's behaved a bit too harshly towards an undeserving teammate. Especially if he needs to visit a place where the women who raised him live. They are very loving and warm people. Also, they are too nosy and very attached to the idea that he can't just die alone some day.
Chapter 16: "Think whatever you want."
Shikamaru dragged his feet with his hands in his pockets and looked around at the buildings. It turned out that Amai was really an enthusiastic guide and was telling historical facts with fervour in an interesting way. Temari looked like she was really having fun and was even asking questions; the smile persisted on her lips.
Kumo had really unique architecture because it was actually two-layered. There were rock pillars around the whole village. Some had stairs coiling around them. When Shikamaru held his sight upwards, he noticed there was a wooden terrace around each pillar. They were connected to each other via bridges made of wood and rope. He asked Amai about it and patiently listened about the so-called "second village floor".
The cloud shinobi explained that it was used mainly by the patrols and the pedestrians who needed to reach a certain place faster. He mentioned a rope system that allowed really fast access to the hospital from the village's gates. Ameno was really interested in that, so she started to interrogate him thoroughly.
After an hour of walking, Amai offered to visit a famous local tea house and refreshed themselves before going back to the inn and preparing for the dinner. The whole group gladly accepted his idea.
The tourists were everywhere, which meant they had to wait in a queue to enter the teahouse. When their turn came, they were invited inside and led to a table in the corner of the room.
The table was on the left of the walking area; it was elliptical, short, and very slick. There were big cushions to sit on the floor beside it. The table itself was discreetly surrounded by a bamboo wall, ensuring some privacy.
Shikamaru smiled slightly to himself, letting Ittan take a place first; so he did — just across the path, at the head of the table. Before Temari could slide in next, Shikamaru sat down on Ittan's left side; his back leaned on the wall.
Temari raised an eyebrow, placing a hand on her hip. "I was left with the impression you were raised better than that," she said and pursed her lips, displeased.
"You really think that?" A smirk appeared on his lips before he added, "Temari... In approximately five minutes, you'd want to visit the ladies room. You'll make me get up."
She burst out laughing.
"We've been drinking tea and eating out too many times on too many formal and informal occasions in Konoha. And some in Suna." She waved her hand dismissively in front of the confused gazes of the rest of the group.
"Yes. One's quirks tend to stick in." He nodded.
Temari felt obligated to give a further explanation: "We've been working together for five years now." Though she couldn't miss an opportunity to mock him. "That doesn't mean you don't serve your laziness by leaving me in this spot," she added with a smirk.
"Sure," he admitted. "Sit on the inside if you want it so badly. I'm not moving to let you pass, just so you know." Shikamaru huffed; she shook her head.
Ameno chuckled and gestured to Amai to sit against Shikamaru, so she could also be closer to the walking area.
Temari didn't get upset with him for real, even if she had felt the first tingles of irritation rise within her chest. It seemed rude and tactless to pick her place for her at first. But he actually took into consideration a quirk she wasn't even aware of.
She couldn't fully suppress her smile. And after a quiet hmm, she just slid in beside Shikamaru and crossed her legs under the table.
This time, Temari didn't go to the ladies' room five minutes after she sat. She remained on her cushion until the order was placed. But, still true to her idiosyncrasy, she got up on her feet to visit it. Ameno decided to accompany her. So the two women excused themselves and disappeared into the back of the teahouse.
Shikamaru sighed and let his head lean on the wall behind him. His eyes closed, dulling one of the main senses. He didn't have any desire for a conversation and was trying hard to avoid it. It wouldn't work, of course, but he would at least try. He felt in his gut that one of the other men would attempt to involve him at any moment now.
"So, you say this one is good?"
"It's typical for Kumo cuisine," Amai confirmed. "At least I haven't seen it in other villages."
"I'm giving it a try, then. What exactly is it?" Ittan was reading the ingredients, trying to make sense of them mixed together.
"It resembles a cinnamon cookie with honey, but it has apple pieces in it."
"Sounds really tasty, indeed. Shikamaru, do you want to try it?"
There we go, he thought, with both irritation and amusement. Wouldn't it be nice if he was just wrong, and instead they left him alone to live in his wonderful fantasy world for a few more moments?
"Sure," he said, remaining in the same position. "Why not, if I'm here anyway?"
Ittan watched Amai read the menu from the corner of his eye.
"I must admit that if those two are the typical representatives of sand kunoichi, I'd draw a general conclusion that Suna's women are beautiful," he noted with a soft smile on his face.
Shikamaru cracked his eyes open and gazed upon him with a kind of curiosity, while Amai nodded. A brief and almost invisible blush passed over his cheekbones.
"Yes, they are both beautiful," he agreed.
"You communicate with Ameno quite a lot, don't you?" Ittan waited for a nod and continued, "What can you say about her personality?"
Amai smiled and placed the menu down. His fingers played with the already damaged corner.
"Ameno is… kind and caring person," he said after a few moments of contemplation.
"She looks patient as well," added Ittan.
"She is," Amai admitted. "She's also considerate and often funny."
"Maybe it's uncalled for," Ittan started with some hesitation as he glanced in the ladies' room direction, "but accept advice from an old man." He paused, waiting for permission or declining his offer.
"What do you want to tell me?"
"Make sure you seek the same thing. If you don't clear this out in the beginning, later it gets harder."
Amai averted his face and sighed. "I know…" He shook his head and repeated, "I know."
"What about Princess Temari?" Ittan changed the topic. "What's her personality?"
Amai huffed. "I think you'd better ask Shikamaru. He's been working with her for years."
Both men looked at the leaf shinobi expectantly.
"Princess Temari... is one of the most intelligent women I know," he whispered, then continued with a normal-volume voice, "She's the most brutal and troublesome kunoichi, stomping the earth's surface with her very strong legs. She's the one graced with the very unique ability of giving me severe migraine attacks."
They tried. He should've given them credit for trying. But they failed miserably at keeping their composure and burst out laughing.
"Brutal?" Temari's voice interjected; it was calm — too calm.
"And troublesome," he added matter-of-factly.
"Thank you, Shikamaru," she said, turning to him. "That was the nicest thing you've ever said about me," she tagged on with a cheeky smile.
"You are welcome," he replied, giving her one of his very rare smirks. As if he kept them especially for her.
When the shinobi realised she heard Shikamaru's words, they envisioned an outburst, dictated by her sometimes fiery temper. And pretty much problems afterwards. Amai's body had even tensed, preparing him to stand up and act if needed.
But her last words caused yet another wave of laughter, though this time Ameno joined in as well. Temari had a good sense of humour after all, and she knew Shikamaru well enough — he wouldn't just insult her mainly because he was afraid of her anger. All of what he said was well addressed, having the purpose of teasing her. Shikamaru knew she was within earshot the moment he opened his mouth. And she was aware of that. So, she chuckled and returned to her place beside him.
A few moments later, their order arrived — tea and a few plates with various sweets on them, available exclusively for Kumo. Amai threw himself into explanations about seasoned desserts and even added a couple of fun facts.
Temari took her cup — her hands well trained — and gracefully presented it to her lips for a sip.
Shikamaru shifted in his spot. At first, she didn't notice what he was doing until his knee pressed firmly against hers. She froze with her lips still on the cup's edges. A dreadful but exciting anticipation shot up her chest, warming her in an instant. He didn't advance further, so she relaxed. Maybe he was just looking for discreet proximity? Their places with no other people that could pass behind or near them, plus the table itself, gave them just that — a cover.
The kunoichi returned her teacup to the table and squared her back as she was taught to. Shikamaru, on the other hand, leaned on the wall behind him, relaxing his back.
"What would your mother say if she saw you like that?" Temari teased, looking at him from the corner of his eye.
"She'd say I'm a carbon copy of my father." He glanced at her. His voice sounded disturbingly merry. "And that I've inherited my laziness from him, too."
"I can almost hear her," she said with a chuckle. "So, I assume you purposefully picked those spots? To laze around undisturbed?"
"Would this be the only reason?" He asked, amused, hinting at something she couldn't quite put her finger on.
The rims of his lips curled up in an impish smile. Her body immediately stood alert.
"I pretty much hope so," she stated, returning him a stern look.
The realisation about the reason for his unwavering good mood dawned on Temari, together with his nimble fingers skittering on her bare knee. She bit her bottom lip and side-glanced at him, keeping her composure. In the next moment, her head snapped in his direction, and her eyes opened wide — he had slid his hand up her thigh.
Shikamaru feigned concern and leaned in to give her face a closer look. "Temari? You all right?"
Temari felt the looks of the others as if they were pointing guns at her head. And she couldn't do much but join his absurd game. She needed to lie, pretend, and deceive. She didn't like any of those things. Her lips curled in displeasure.
"Yeah, sure. Why wouldn't I be all right?" The kunoichi retorted.
An angry spark flashed into her teal eyes for a moment when his calloused fingers moved a few inches further up her thigh. They both knew she couldn't possibly grab and remove his hand because she'd drawn the attention of the group to what Shikamaru was doing.
"You look a bit off," Ameno said, furrowing her brow.
The rough skin of his fingertips was scratching gently at hers, drawing random patterns and shooting wave after wave of excitement. As much as she didn't want to admit it, his ministrations caused heat to pool in her low abdomen and a blush to creep up her cheeks.
"Do you have a fever?" Amai asked with concern.
Shikamaru removed his hand from her leg, letting her relax, and placed it on her forehead.
"Yeah, she's a bit hot," he stated. It was utterly hard for Temari to stay put and not burst into a fit of laughter. Of course he'd use "hot"; there wasn't any other word that would be so on the spot.
Temari shook her head. She became aware that Shikamaru had planned this even before they sat down, maybe when he saw the table and assessed the surroundings. He picked their places so no one could see where his hand would go. And since they were in public, he knew Temari wouldn't cause a scene and attract attention to their altered relationship.
"Bullshit," she denied, snatching his hand and pushing it aside.
The man smiled.
"I just bit myself, that's all. I don't have a fever, and I'm certainly not hot."
"Are you not?" Shikamaru chuckled. "My bad for poor judgement, then."
"Maybe we should just order some water?" Amai offered, helplessly looking first at one, then at the other.
"That's a nice idea," Ittan supported.
That was exactly what they did.
Temari shifted on her cushion, leaving a few inches gap between their knees, and got full control of the situation. Her eyes briefly slid over his bent leg. She'd never seen his legs naked above the calves — she had never seen them naked at all before her Lee joke — and suddenly she wished to caress the bare skin of his thigh and watch his reaction. She wanted to see him shudder beneath her hand. And the mere memory of his passionate expression — the quiet sound she had succeeded in eliciting from him — resulted in an even stronger desire in her lower abdomen.
The jug of water arrived, and Amai took care to supply everyone on the table with a full glass.
Shortly after, the shinobi prepared to leave for the inn.
While walking towards the exit, Temari peeked over her shoulder, gracing Shikamaru with one of her most wonderful smiles, melting his insides.
"You're gonna pay," she mouthed before returning her head to the front.
"I count on it." Came his challenging whisper.
Temari huffed. She knew he was smiling; she could hear it in his voice.
They walked last. And since there were a lot of people on the streets, the other part of the group wasn't in plain sight. When Temari was sure they were out of earshot, she nudged him in the ribs. He turned to her and met her eyes.
"That was uncalled for," she stated.
"You transformed into Lee," he reminded her. "And touched my bare chest with his manly hands."
Temari chuckled at the memory of his face. "You were so freaked out."
"It was totally called for," he concluded; his tone was serious.
She smiled, catching the sun, which lightened her face and made her look even more beautiful and radiant. Irresistible.
When she glanced at him again a few moments later, Temari noticed where his eyes looked as if they were glued. She teasingly licked her pink lips before stepping closer to him. "You wanna kiss me, crybaby?" came her whisper near his ear.
Shikamaru abruptly stopped, an almost hurt expression on his face.
Temari also halted and raised an eyebrow in silent question.
"Temari…" He whispered in replay. His voice came out hoarse, so he coughed in an attempt to clear his throat. "That…" She knew he was referring to kissing her. "That's the least I want to do to you." His face was candid.
Under his intense gaze, her cheeks slowly covered with a marvellous shade of pink.
Ruka silently walked a few feet behind Shee's back. Seven, as he estimated while using his tracking ability to keep an eye on her. During the ten minutes they were walking, she didn't make any attempts to fall in step with him, nor did he wait for her to catch up.
Shee wasn't the type to feel sorry for his actions or words, which looked rude and cruel more often than not. He was straightforward — a trait that Raikage A held in high regard. But that wasn't the case. The man's guilty consciousness gnawed at the back of his mind because he knew Ruka had done nothing wrong. She hadn't aimed to offend him. And she certainly hadn't reached to destroy his reputation, as he half-accused her of doing. He verbally attacked her; she didn't deserve this kind of treatment.
He became aware of the fact that Ruka had almost never spoken to him before today. And that bothered him. It bothered him even more that he couldn't put his finger on the reason. Was she scared of him? He tended to cause dread; he knew that. Still, it didn't feel right to impose fear on her.
He sighed with something resembling resignation. Shee had to make amends. He couldn't just leave a teammate to feel so uncomfortable in his presence that she couldn't walk beside him. Or even look at him, for that matter.
"Did you get everything you wanted?" Shee asked over his shoulder.
"I did," she answered curtly, her voice almost a whisper.
He pressed his lips together before trying to get her to speak again. "How do you intend to carry all of these herbs until we reach Kiri? Are you proficient in the art of sealing?"
"No, unfortunately, I'm inexperienced with these kinds of seals," she replied quietly. "Tenten. I have her assurance that she'll seal all of these for me."
"Good." Shee nodded.
He slowed his pace so she could come closer, but she slowed too and kept the seven feet between them intact. Shee huffed and finally stopped. He turned and just stood there, looking at her small frame. People were passing on their sides and in between them. He closed the distance between the woman and himself with a few strides.
"I'm... sorry that I lashed out at you," the man said, looking above her shoulder. He couldn't force himself to meet her eyes at the moment. Apologising wasn't his cup of tea, and he shunned it every time whenever that was possible.
Ruka averted her face.
"Apologies accepted," she whispered. "But I don't see you as the type to lash out for no reason. So I guess I challenged you, even unintentionally." She breathed out, her words barely distinguishable.
His hands balled in fists, his jaw clenched. No, she hadn't challenged him intentionally, but nonetheless, he felt threatened and went on an offence.
"Let's just put this aside? You didn't—"
Ruka started to shake her head, and his words died in his throat.
"Shee-san, I admit I am shy, but a coward I am not," she said firmly. "It was a surprise that I couldn't resist your verbal attack because, due to my specialty, I've been undergoing a lot of those and harsher nonetheless."
What's your real specialty? A brief memory of a needle scaringly precisely lodged into Ittetsu's neck flashed in his mind; it reminded him to be careful. "Oh?"
"I still don't have an explanation for myself. But somehow… I shouldn't have reacted the way I did."
"Ruka—"
"I'm sorry," she interrupted him once again. "I'll pull myself together."
As the last word left her lips, she smiled at him. It was a forced smile that made his chest clench painfully. He gaped at her for a fraction of a second but restored his composure almost immediately.
He nodded in the direction they were heading and turned.
"So, you'll stop walking behind me then?" He asked with a hint of a smile. "It's hard to speak over my shoulder."
Ruka took a few steps until they were both side by side. Only then did he start to walk again, and she didn't fall behind.
"I didn't realise you'd… want to speak to me," she said hesitantly, letting out the words with a raspy breath. But her body language spoke of an attempt to restore her balance as she lifted her delicate chin and looked ahead.
"With you," Shee corrected, to which her cheek coloured briefly. "I still do, if that's fine."
Ruka looked at the ground, failing to keep her confidence at a level above the minimum.
"I have some doubts that a conversation with me would be of any interest to you," she uttered.
The man inwardly recalled her words from earlier, when she was talking with the merchant. "Why not?"
"I'm just not sure that anything I say would be interesting," the woman quietly admitted. "I mean to you," she hurried to add.
"I enjoyed our conversation during 'women's night'," he pointed out.
The young woman averted her face yet again, trying hard to hide it.
"You didn't have any issues talking back then. Why is it different now?"
Ruka let out a nervous chuckle. "I was heavily intoxicated back then," she justified herself. "And now I'm not."
"Fair," Shee agreed. "Were you 'heavily intoxicated' fifteen minutes ago when you didn't stop chatting with the merchants?" He paused, giving her an opportunity to answer. She didn't.
"Or were you 'heavily intoxicated' during all the days since we started the mission up until now? You seemed comfortable enough to talk with the other girls, Chojuro, and, actually, the rest of the group." Shee pressed his lips together. The whole point of starting a conversation was to try to make amends, and here he was, attacking her yet again. "Scratch that. You don't have to say anything. I'm sorry."
Ruka sucked in a sharp breath, so he was observing. "That's not it," she whispered.
"Would you mind explaining?"
She huffed quietly. Maybe if she discussed it and let him peek into her brain, it would become easier.
"I don't have a short or easy answer to your question... I'm not sure I have one at all."
"There should be a reason why your communicative abilities don't express themselves properly with me. Do I make you feel anxious?" His analytic side floated to the surface of his mind, letting him pull away metaphorically.
"You can say that... Before the women's night, I struggled to talk with you for no objective reason," she said. "I thought that may be because of your frigid demeanour in general. You didn't look happy to talk with anyone."
Shee's lips tugged in a small smile. He didn't like talking with most people; when he did, he was usually driven by simple curiosity or duty, which was the case now. He happened to talk with someone because he liked it, but it was a rare thing. Her observation had been correct.
"I thought you just disliked people, including myself."
He frowned.
"I don't mind most people," he specified. "I don't like talking with them, as you noted. Though I don't particularly dislike them." He glanced at her. "Had I treated you badly?"
"No!" She shook her head.
"It doesn't really matter if I like people or not," he explained. "We live in society, so I have to put up with them. I don't really have a choice." He paused. "They can often be too much, if you know what I mean."
Ruka nodded slowly. "I think I do. Do you mean that they pour out their feelings because they need to get rid of the emotional charge? But then, instead of resisting the emotions and letting them flow around you, you get drowned in them? Physically and emotionally exhausting you to no end?"
He stilled. That was the best definition of his feelings towards people he had ever heard. It fit perfectly with his sensations. He huffed and smiled at her.
"Yes, that sounds about right."
"If you feel that way, I can understand why you stay away," she said, returning a small smile to him. "I gather you've got nothing personal against me," Ruka concluded aloud.
"I never had anything against you," he confirmed, and he deliberated whether he should continue. He decided to share his last discovery: "And if I have to be honest, I find talking with you kind of refreshing."
Ruka blushed deep red and looked straight down.
"Am I making you feel uncomfortable?"
"You were honest," she whispered. "I hold honesty in high regard."
Shee nodded and kept quiet, letting it all settle down. When they took the last turn to his destination, he sighed.
"If you like honesty, it's time to let you know where we're going."
Ruka glanced at him. He could swear there was curiosity in her big, dark eyes, and it somehow fitted her.
"We are going to the elderly establishment, where a relative of mine lives."
She peeked into his eyes with a half-smile. Knowing he visited old relatives just like everyone else made him seem more down-to-earth. It definitely helped her relax.
"It was only fair to warn you." He shrugged and stopped in front of a large wooden door.
There was a playfulness hinted at in her tone when she spoke: "I'm not sure how to interpret your warning. I'm volunteering at our Kiri's Elderly Establishment and make sure to visit once a week when I'm not on a mission."
"Of course you are," he huffed, amused. He didn't leave her the opportunity to retort. "Anyway, you can either get inside the yard or wait for me in the hallway."
"Do you want me to wait in the hallway?" She asked.
"It's up to you. I'm just going to give you a heads-up on what you're going to get yourself into. If you choose to enter, you'll have to handle a bunch of nosy and absolutely tactless men and women who tend to pry into one's very personal matters for their own amusement. I advise you to give them as little information as possible."
While listening, Ruka's smile grew to an almost full grin. She chuckled.
His eyes were drawn to the clean lines of her face. He never paid her enough attention to notice the way she looked. But he had tried to focus on her a few times, and she was always blurry. Except for the time during the woman's night. When he was looking at her sleeping form, her face had solid outlines, but the darkness didn't allow him to observe her carefully.
"I'll be fine," she assured him, and she reached for the doorknob.
Shee took a very deep breath and let it out really slowly before his foot stepped into the hall.
He turned 26 on the 3rd of April this year. According to a large number of people who meddled in his life uninvited, he was awfully late to ensure himself a wife. He didn't share their opinion, nor did he trouble himself with concerns. But he was genuinely annoyed at the comments about it running not so discreetly behind his back. Or more oftenly, thrown directly at his face.
Every kunoichi he happened to bring into the village for work-related business was claimed to be his future wife. It was simply exhausting. He loved the old hens very much; they were all dear to him, but they needed to leave him be. Their visions of how his life should go were too obligatory and conflicting. His desire was to just serve his village and kage until he died an honourable death. Was it really so hard to comprehend?
Shee led her down the hallway until they reached a couple of lockers.
"We can leave the bags here and take them back on our way out," the man explained while opening one of the lockers.
He placed the bags inside. Ruka followed his example. When everything was neatly arranged, Shee closed the door. Turning the small key in the socket, he sighed.
"I'm still a bit worried about you entering," he admitted.
"What exactly worries you about it?" She asked. "Am I going to be pounced over by a bunch of elders and torn in pieces?"
Her joke caught him off guard, and he couldn't help but laugh. They might just do that, he thought, but decided to spare her.
Chojuro had said she was funny, but, frankly, Shee didn't believe him. Ruka seemed to be many things: careful, caring, emphatic, very precise with senbon throwing, and a couple of other things. But entertaining? Not really. To his surprise, the mist shinobi had turned out right in the end.
The man restored his collected demeanour really quickly.
"I know how they'll react. And I know that they'll put you through unneeded interrogation and cause you to feel awkward and—"
"Just say the word and I'll stay outside," she interrupted; right after, she added thoughtfully, "I can take a short walk around the main street."
He hesitated. "I'm not supposed to leave any teammates alone if they aren't from Kumo. And even if I track your location all the time, technically, I'll be breaking the rules if I leave you to just wander around."
"Then I'll be inside. And I will handle everything that will be served on my plate." Ruka chuckled. "You see, there's a difference between communicating with you — my teammate — and people that I'm probably not going to see ever again."
Shee smiled briefly at her confident self. It was interesting to see her this way instead of being all blushing, shy, and unnaturally tense.
"They don't have to see my real personality. I don't have to prove my ability useful, as I'd do for my work partners. There's no need to like each other or develop any relationship based on trust."
"That's pretty much correct," he nodded, amusement sneaking in his tone.
"I just need to dodge their curiosity, that's all," she concluded, her smile still intact. "I'm aware I don't look like it, but I'm a big girl, and I can do that, Shee-san."
"I must admit that you sound very reassuring," he stated.
Instantly, her face flushed, and she stepped backwards to get some physical space. Her features blurred slightly, and Shee reacted by rubbing his eyes — a reflex he was slowly becoming aware of. This… seemed more and more peculiar. He definitely needed to check it out.
They reached another door, double this time. He pushed in and held it open for Ruka.
She entered inside, fearless. Looking around, she determined that she was in an enclosed backyard garden.
Her attention was drawn to the sudden lack of chatter — something she had heard when Shee had first opened the door. Curious gazes seared both of them, coming from all around the scattered benches and chairs.
"Ok, that's unsettling," she whispered over her shoulder, barely suppressing a shiver.
"And it'll be getting worse." He returned an almost-there smile. "You have my word on it."
The kunoichi drew in a breath as if preparing for a battle. Shee patiently waited for her to let it out. His eyes caught a group of old women to the right. A curt nod in their direction told Ruka where the destination would be.
"Ready?" he asked without looking at her.
"Yeah…"
He put a smile on his face and headed to the group; she followed. There were three women sitting around a square wooden table. One of them was knitting; the other two were just chatting.
"Shee!" Exclaimed the woman on the right. "So glad to see you, my boy!"
"I am also glad to see you, Vaala," he replied, and approached her to let himself be hugged and stamped with a kiss on his cheek.
He did the same with the other two women, while Ruka stood a bit aside and waited patiently. As he finished the greeting ritual, he turned to her, gesturing.
"This is Ruka-san. She's currently my teammate and had to accompany me here due to some circumstances." Shee started to point at the women with an open hand from left to right. "These are Mitsu, Nia, and Vaala. They—"
"We helped raise him," Nia said, briefly lifting her eyes from the knitting.
"Oh?" The young woman shot him a glance. "That's really kind."
The woman named Mitsu snickered and reached for her tea. "He wasn't very kind when he was a little boy."
Ruka gave him an incredulous glance. He shook his head, his face twisted in displeasure.
Nia's lips were drawn into a fine line. "That wasn't it, and you know it. He was just a bit naughty."
"He," Mitsu pointed at him with a trembling pointer finger, "was a prankster," she added, whispering.
"Oh, come on, Mitsu. Just drop it." Vaala interjected, an annoyance audible in her rough voice.
"Don't hang out here, Shee." Nia dismissed him with a wave. "Go to her. She's been expecting you."
"On my way," he said, sighing.
He took a few wide strides, then stopped. Hesitant, he turned to them with a frown.
"Please, behave."
"When we didn't behave?" Vaala asked mockingly.
The man clicked with his tongue. "You want me to take my list out?"
The women laughed openly, while Ruka giggled hidden behind her palm.
"Just go." Mitsu moved her hands to shoo him away.
Shee rolled his eyes and headed right at the double door. When he hid from sight, one of the women, Nia, pointed at the free chair beside their table.
"Take a seat, my girl," she invited Ruka with a warm smile.
She hesitated. She wasn't sure if it was a good idea to sit down and give them all the control of the situation by cutting out the physical distance. And it showed on her face.
"Oh, come here, dear," Vaala said sweetly. "Join these three old hags for a cup of tea.
Ruka glanced at the teapot in the middle of the table. There was even a clean teacup beside it, as if they were expecting guests. She let out a small sigh and pulled the chair back. All three were staring at her while she sat stiffly, her hands tightly squeezed together on her lap.
"You look as if you're afraid of us," Mitsu noted.
"We won't bite you, dear," Vaala chuckled and grinned, showing off her white prosthesis. "Look!" She tapped her nail on the upper teeth. "They're fake!"
Ruka's lips curled up unwillingly.
"Aww, look at her! So pretty smile, you hide there!" Vaala exclaimed, making Nia lift her eyes from her knitting. "You're cute like a doll."
The kunoichi blushed and attempted to hide it, averting her face.
"Stop it, you old crone!" Nia scolded. "You're making her uncomfortable." She turned to Ruka, her voice instantly softer. "I'm sorry, my girl. Not many young people come around, and the habit of communicating just slips out of our old brains."
"Talk whatever, but she's pretty," Vaala insisted.
"Thank you?" Ruka said, hoping to cut off their bickering.
"How old are you, honey?" Mitsu asked, putting an end to the previous discussion.
"I'll be twenty-two in October," she answered cautiously.
"Wonderful times at that age." Vaala nodded, her tone nostalgic. "I still remember when I was twenty-two—"
"You remember nothing!" Mitsu interrupted. "At twenty-two, you were pregnant with your second and so sleep-deprived, you couldn't string a simple sentence together. Wonderful times, indeed…" Her tone was disregarding.
"But such nice things were the little ones." She chuckled. "What about you, honey? Have any children?"
Ruka flinched and bit her lower lip briefly. "N…no." She frowned at herself; she didn't expect to stammer.
"Of course she ain't got kiddos!" Mitsu huffed. "She wouldn't be here if she did have any."
"True, true…" Vaala didn't seem affected at all. "How about a husband, then?"
"With the new traits, she might have a wife. Who knows?" Mitsu mumbled into her cup.
"Would you shut your hole?" Vaala raised her voice, narrowing her eyes. "She knows. And if you let her talk, she can tell us." When she turned back to Ruka, her face was as calm and collected as if she had never scolded anyone. It was unnerving. "So, dear… Got a husband? Or a wife?"
Ruka shook her head, untrusting of the way her voice would sound. She volunteered at the Kiri Elderly Establishment, like she had told Shee, but there she was using her abilities for rehabilitation. She chatted with the residents, but mainly about their problems. This thing here… It felt more like an interrogation. On top of that, Vaala and Mitsu exchanged gazes as if they were having a conversation she wasn't privy to.
Nia clicked with her tongue, her face twisting in an irritated grimace.
"I warn you two. Stop it," she said, her voice low. "Ruka-san, Shee said you were his teammate?"
The young woman let out a breath of relief. Talk about work? Better.
"Yes, Nia-san," she confirmed.
"Your accent suggests you ain't local. Where are you from?"
Ruka had dressed in plain jeans and an equally plain dark grey top. Having an opportunity for a walk and visiting the market, she preferred to stay as incognito as possible. But there was no viable reason to lie about her origin.
"I'm from Kirigakure, under the Mizukage's command," she answered curtly.
"My husband came all the way from Kiri for me," Mitsu said, her face suddenly falling down. Nia patted her back. "I loved this man fiercely; I still do. Hoping he's waiting for me." She sighed. "I'm not planning to keep him waiting for much longer."
An awkward silence wrapped around the table for a few moments.
"I used to wield a katana in my prime," Mitsu said with a dreamy smile. "A close-range fighter, they call it now. What about you, honey?"
"I'm... a medical shinobi," Ruka said, smiling. "I'll soon finish my last year of education on it."
"Oh? But aren't you twenty-two? I thought at this age, the education should be finished already?" The woman stubbornly rubbed her eye as if she had something stuck inside.
The young woman shook her head. "This is… a prequalification. I've had another specialty. But I'm not allowed to talk much about it."
"Not allowed to talk much about it…" Nia repeated slowly. "So you've been either in a killing squad, or in the local intelligence department," she concluded effortlessly. "I was in the intelligence department of Kumo. I understand that whatever your tasks are, they're usually with a high priority of secrecy." She nodded to herself. "Why did you want to change your specialty?"
"It… influences my personal life... to the extent of being nonexistent," Ruka let out a nervous chuckle, accompanied by a shrug.
"I see…" Nia placed her knitting on the table and started rubbing her knuckles.
The young kunoichi's eyes followed her movements, assessing the shape and swelling of the joints. "Arthritis?" She asked.
Nia laughed. "Oh, yes. Usually, it hurts just a bit. But it bothers me a lot when a storm is about to come." She grinned. "We've got a lot of storms here."
Ruka returned a smile. "Would you mind if I gave you something I made? It helps with decreasing the pain in the joints."
"As far as it works, I'm ready to try almost everything." The woman nodded. "Is it something to drink?"
"No." Ruka reached into her waist bag and dug in it for a few moments before taking out a small jar. "It's an ointment."
"What does it do?" Vaala asked, her eyes sparkling like two pools of curiosity.
"That ointment is used for nourishment of the cartilago's surface. It helps repair the damage, thus smoothing the surface and easing the movement. That's how it relieves the pain. It won't give you a new joint, but it will help you move better," she explained calmly and patiently. "Can I?" She opened the jar and scooped some of the ointment with a single finger.
After receiving a confirmation nod, Ruka applied the cream-like yellow substance and rubbed it carefully until it soaked into the skin.
Nia caressed her hands. "Hmm, it feels both warm and cool at the same time. It's weird. But kind of pleasant."
Ruka beamed and left the jar on the table. "Take it."
"Don't you need it for someone else?"
"The ingredients for this one are easy to find in Kiri. I'll just make another one."
"So what's wrong with our Shee?" Vaala asked out of the blue, drawing all eyes to her.
Nia frowned while Mitsu laughed.
Ruka frowned, trying to comprehend the question. "Beg your pardon?"
"You're a free bird; he's not taken yet. How come you haven't grabbed him by the collar yet?" Vaala's voice was serious.
Ruka hoped that the old woman was joking, but an indication of such a thing was lacking.
"Stupid woman! It's not how it's done!" Nia punched Vaala's shoulder.
A wave of anxiety rushed through Ruka's mind and body, leaving her blushing and frozen for a few moments. After the brief stupor passed, she shook her head in disbelief.
Vaala laid a hand on her shoulder. "I'm sorry for the straightforwardness, dear," she apologised. "It's just... We all love him too much. And the thought of dying and leaving him without a family gnaws at all of us. He can't continue on his own. He needs a partner in his life."
Mitsu waved a hand dismissively. "It's not that. He's a smart boy. But the smart ones are the most stupid about ordinary, common matters. In Shee's case, he's blind because of his oversized ego and misunderstood dignity." She huffed. "He's so damn lost that we can't expect him to think of simple, fundamental things like a wife and kids."
"We're not—" Ruka attempted to say.
"What he needs is a bold woman that can pin him down the wall and—"
"Mitsu…" Nia growled warningly.
Mitsu shot her a glance before finishing her sentence: "And kiss some sense in his prideful skull. He thinks he doesn't need anyone. And that's why he's stupid, even though he's smart…"
Ruka's chest burned with unrest. She felt really upset — not that much because they pounced on her, but because they spoke unkindly about a teammate she held in high regard. It wasn't fair since he wasn't here to defend himself. The flame of the witnessed injustice burned painfully through her. It was something she couldn't cope with, something that she had always been struggling with.
"With all due respect," Ruka said firmly, making the old women shut up and look at her. "Shee-san is a grown person, a grown man. He's one of the most capable shinobi I've had the pleasure to know, and being the Raikage's bodyguard proves it." Her cheeks coloured red and heated; her breathing turned panting, quickly raising her chest; sticky sweat made her palms clammy, but she didn't back off. "I'm most certain he has his own preferences for a future wife. And if you claim that you love him so much, you should at least have a little trust in him. He's the one who knows what's best for him."
"That would be valid if he thought for himself rather than thinking only about our Raikage and the village," Nia said after a short moment of gazes' exchange between her and Vaala.
"Maybe that's it?" Ruka countered. "Maybe executing his duty in the best way he can gives him the reason for existence?" She paused, huffing quietly. "If whatever he does makes him happy and it's enough for him, why isn't it enough for either of you?"
An overwhelming frustration blinded her vision when she realised that the women were… smiling at her. Instead of looking at least a bit guilty, they looked... happy? Her eyes opened wide and she drew in a sharp breath as a wave of confusion clashed into her mind.
"I'd give my left hand for an honest answer to your question." Shee's voice came from behind her. "Thank you for stepping in for me," he whispered near her ear. Then he towered beside her; his arms were crossed on his chest, and an obvious irritation scrunched his forehead.
"I asked you to behave," he snapped at the old women.
When he spoke, his voice was so sharp that Ruka's body jolted.
"Somehow, I've resigned myself to your attempts at matchmaking, interrogating, and pestering me about not having a girlfriend, wife, or children. But that should stop with me." He gave each of them a stern look. "Involving my teammates in your personal visions and desires about myself is crossing every border of decency. Just, no." Shee shook his head.
"But—" Nia opened her mouth.
"No!" He cut her off. "I'm never taking anyone else with me here again. This happens for the third time. And it's getting worse."
He gently laid his hand on Ruka's shoulder as if he were apologising. She looked up at him, eyes wide and cheeks still red.
"Come on." His tone softened when he spoke to her. "It's time for us to go."
The kunoichi nodded and pushed the chair back. She swiftly got on her feet.
"Could you wait for me at the door, please?" He asked quietly. "I'll be right there."
"Okay," she replied, as quiet as him. "It was… nice to meet you." She bowed to the women and waved them goodbye. Then she almost dashed to the door.
Shee waited for Ruka to be out of earshot.
"The three of you set me up in a very unpleasant situation," he started, bracing himself on the table. "I don't know how I'll apologise to her. Because of you. And we're supposed to be on the same team for about two more weeks."
"She's a good girl, Shee." Nia ignored him.
"Whether she's good or not is not relevant," he insisted.
"She's suitable for you," Vaala interjected. "Don't let her just slip away in somebody else's arms."
The man sucked in a sharp breath and let his head hang low before lifting it up again. "Yes, Nia, she's a good girl; in fact, she's a wonderful girl. And no, Vaala, she's not suitable for me." His eyes moved from the respective targets of his speech. "I don't want to date her; I don't want to get married to her."
"Why not? She's kind—"
"No," Shee interrupted. "Period."
Mitsu had stayed unusually quiet, looking after the young woman who was now standing near the double door.
"You probably missed that in your anger," she whispered suddenly, "but she defended you." The woman looked straight into his confused eyes. "She wasn't obligated to do it. It was because of an inner intolerance for injustice that she possessed. This girl," Mitsu said slowly, "is a keeper."
The man shook his head. There was no point in telling them anything more. They would still insist they knew better.
"Still," he breathed, "a wife is not what I want."
Nia took a deep breath, reading herself to give him a speech. He dropped on the chair, the edges of his mouth pulled in annoyance.
"You have the thickest head, you know? You may think you don't want a proper family." Her expression remained calm, but her eyes sparkled. "You can think whatever you want. But someday, a hand will touch yours, and an electric bolt will shake your body and mind. Someday, your heart will start to pound so fast and hard in your chest that it'll hurt." She placed a hand over her heart for emphasis. "Someday, you'll have another person's image carved in your mind. And you won't be able to kick it out." Her hand was now pointing at her head. "When this happens, you'll want to wake up beside the very same person every single morning. Then you will want to get married and eventually have children."
Nia signed and glanced briefly at Ruka. "Maybe it's not her. We wouldn't know that."
"But, Shee…" She shook her head, returning her eyes to him. "Don't deny your heart something that it has never had the honour to feel. Every painful spasm of your heart, every laboured breath you take... it's worth it." Nia leaned back in her chair, waving dismissively. "Until that comes to you, think about A and the village."
Shee sighed and closed his eyes briefly, so he could gather his thoughts more easily.
"All right, I understand it is worth it. Just… Let me choose when and with whom I want to feel it, would you?"
"Fool," Vaala said. "You don't choose it. It chooses you."
The man drew his lips in a fine line and got up. "I gotta go. I'll visit again when I come back home."
Mitsu also got up, pushing her weight up slowly on her hands. She stepped closer to Shee and hooked her arm around his.
"Accompany me to the door," she requested.
When they were a few feet away from Nia and Vaala, she whispered. "When you come back here, you may want to visit the old archives of Kiri bloodline limits."
His head snapped at her.
"Trust the old kunoichi, who had worked in the specialised section of the library for half of her life. Try the "h" section." She patted his hand. "This blurriness… I thought I had something in my eye," she mumbled.
They were close enough to Ruka that Mitsu stopped talking and smiled at her. "It was nice to meet you, honey. You are welcome to visit us. Shee doesn't have to bring you here. You know the way."
Ruka nodded with a small smile on her lips.
"Take care," the old woman said, heading slowly back to the table.
"Ruka, I apologise," Shee whispered.
"You warned me," Ruka reminded him. "I underestimated them."
"I should've taken you with me." Shee gave her a crooked smile.
"No, that would've been highly inappropriate." The woman pushed through the door and held it open for him to follow. "They really love you," she stated quietly.
"They do."
"It's just… If their love turns against your wishes, it can become a burden."
"Correct again," Shee huffed.
They reached the locker, and the man unlocked it with a click. While he passed her the bags, she pursed her lips thoughtfully.
"They won't stop pestering you."
"You seem to have picked on their characters."
Ruka nodded and arranged the bags in her hands. Roughly a half of them were in Shee's hands. He headed towards the exit door, and she fell in step with him. Effortlessly.
"But…" She whispered, and he turned to her. "I'd love to have people caring so much for me as they do for you."
He stopped, his brows drawn together, and his eyes narrowed. His lips pressed down into a fine line, paling from the pressure. The kunoichi stopped too.
"You are a lucky man, Shee-san," Ruka claimed.
The man stood unmoving, considering her words. A few moments later, he slowly nodded. "Yes," he confirmed, "I guess I am."
Thank you, jtoo for all the support. You know I need it. A lot of it...
Thanks to the people who still read this. Thanks in advance to the ones who feel like commenting as well. The feedback is valuable thing ^^