(no subject)
Title: Tie Me Down; Chapter 3; Part 1 of 2.
Pairings: ShikaChou, ShikaTema. A mention of ChouOC later in the fic. (NaruGaa hints in this chapter if you squint.)
Genre: Drama, Romance.
Rating: R on the whole. PG-13 for this chapter.
Warnings: Non-Beta-ed, Post time-jump (But you don’t need to have read it to understand, just beware of some minor spoilers), AU, Yaoi, Het, character death, OC’s (Realistic and not central). Very possible that I won’t finish.
Also, this chapter marks the apex of the ShikaTema story-line, there will be a lot of angst in this one and very little ShikaChou. So if you’re looking for boylove you’re going to have to wait a while, but fear not, it will come :p
Summary: A dejected Chouji leaves Konoha permanently and Shikamaru, heartbroken and drugged, sleeps with Temari and winds up with a whole new set of problems he never could have predicted...
Notes: I know that “Damn” and “hell” are not eastern phrases in any translation because they derive from Christianity and such, but as this is in English, imagine they’re being translated from equally callous, non-God-related Japanese swears.
~~~
Shikamaru sat in the Konoha hospital maternity ward waiting room, one thought, and only one, running through his mind like a mantra.
I’m a father.
He couldn’t believe it, it made no sense, he’d had to choke out his numerous questions to medical specialists for half an hour before he finally got any answers. Shizune had been just as clueless as he was.
What he found out was that three days earlier Temari’s brothers had arrived in Konoha, gore-covered and weather-beaten, in Gaara’s arms an equally as filthy, half-dead newborn child, wrapped in blood-soaked rags. They had been unable to get anything out of Kankurou, who seemed to be in a state of shock, but Gaara had calmly handed over the child to a nurse and had answered as many questions as the medical nins dared to ask the formerly Shukaku-posesed Kazekage.
Temari was dead, that much was clear. When asked how it had happened Gaara had said in a strained voice, “It could not be avoided.” Which didn’t sound good to Shikamaru at all. The questions had stopped there, however, for at Gaara’s words Kankurou had broken down in anguish and the two had to be removed from the hospital.
Shikamaru ran his hand through his hair, which he had removed from it’s elastic for that exact purpose, and tried to think things out rationally.
The child was his, they were sure of it, he’d even had them test and retest his DNA in comparison to the child as well as use every shinobi medical method he could think of. There were no buts about it. The child was his.
He thought of it as “The child” because that way it didn’t seem as horrifically real. He couldn’t think of it by its name, or even it’s gender, he just… couldn’t. Everything was just too much.
Just when he thought he was settling back into something that vaguely resembled normalcy, this had to happen. Hadn’t there been enough pain and confusion inflicted on him already? What had he done to deserve all of this?
He hadn’t contacted Chouza yet, he hadn’t told anyone. He had been there for hours and hours, and now the sun was almost up.
And he was still there, in the same chair he had been all night, alone.
The child was pre-born and weak, the doctor he had spoken to told him it was a miracle it had survived as long as it had, as it had been obviously (and in an very literal sense) ripped from it’s mother almost four months before it was due. It baffled them completely, and everyone he had spoken to had told him tearfully that they didn’t expect the child to survive through the night.
It was now morning, and Tsunade was hurrying down the hall toward him, he didn’t know what to feel.
He didn’t know if he could feel anything, anymore.
“Shikamaru!” She yelled, almost barked at him. He didn’t respond.
“The child is still alive, but barely. I have a mission for you.” Shikamaru’s face tightened but he didn’t feel relief, he hadn’t the time to, the sudden, overwhelming sense of exhaustion made sure of that.
“I don’t do missions anymore.” He whispered, his throat was raw.
“Today you do. Fetch Sabakuno Temari’s brothers and bring them to me, they’ve had three days to calm themselves and if we have a chance of saving this little girl it lies with them.” Her face was tired and stern and held no room for discussion. “They’re staying with Naruto. You know where he lives, right?” He nodded weakly and she turned on her heal and headed back towards the ward.
“And one more thing.” She added, looking over her shoulder, “I’m sorry this has been added to your troubles, but there are people in this world who suffer far greater than you. You have to realize that.”
Shikamaru glared at her retreating back until she had disappeared around a corner. Even then he didn’t move.
He didn’t have to do anything for her. Or for his-
It’s not mine, it’s not mine.
-That child. He wouldn’t, he refused.
He stood up.
Damn it all.
~~~
When he arrived at Naruto’s apartment Shikamaru promised himself before entering that he would in no way connect himself to the… the situation and would remain impartial. He would get Temari’s brothers and take them back to Tsunade and that was it. He wouldn’t ask them any questions, he wouldn’t talk about Temari or how she died or…or anything.
He had to stay out of this.
He knocked on the door, Naruto answered.
Naruto, though still shorter and more childish than any of the other male rookie nine, had non-the-less grown in maturity and was less likely to play pranks, yell, act inappropriately or get in peoples personal space than he used to have been.
So Shikamaru was, to say the least, surprised when the first thing Naruto did upon seeing him was wrap his arms firmly around Shikamaru and give him the most rib-crunching, inescapable hug he had ever received, and that was saying something as he had been best friends with an Akimichi for almost all his life. He knew that Chouji-
Stop it.
Shikamaru forced himself off that train of thought and waited for Naruto to finish the assault on his body and pride before stumbling through the doorway and muttering a shaky “What the hell, Naruto?”
Naruto shrugged gloomily in return and showed Shikamaru into the kitchen, where Kankurou and Gaara were sitting at Naruto’s small kitchen table, their clothes had been washed and their faces were clean, but they still looked as though they had just come from battle.
When they noticed him their reactions were very different. Kankurou stood up from his chair so quickly it fell over, his face a mass of panic and anger. Gaara looked at him for a moment with a stony, mournful expression before returning his eyes to the table. It suddenly struck Shikamaru that these two had known he was a father before he had, and had probably known for months. He glared at both of them.
“Our Hokage wants to speak with both of you.” Gaara looked up at him again.
“And you as well?” Gaara’s expression was difficult to read, he looked almost…resentful.
“Ne, she just said you two.”
“You’re going to be there, as well.” Shikamaru was reminded of the Chuunin exams. Gaara may have become more stable, but moments like these made him doubt it. There was just something about his eyes…but he couldn’t be a part of this.
“No, I’m not.”
Kankurou picked up the table and sent it flying into a wall, much to the protests of Naruto, and tackled Shikamaru to the ground, his hands closing around his neck. His eyes were filled with fury.
“You stupid son of a bitch! I’ll kill you, I really will!” Shikamaru struggled to get the upper hand but Kankurou was bigger and stronger than he was.
“It’s not…my problem.” He choked out.
Do I really believe that?
Shut up.
Kankurou bared his teeth and began to bang Shikamaru’s head on the floor, Shikamaru felt his consciousness almost fading but then suddenly the weight was lifted, Kankurou had been pulled off of him and stood over him, panting; Naruto had a hold on one of his shoulders.
Gaara was now standing over him as well, arms crossed, his sand swirling around him in distressing patterns.
“This isn’t a discussion, it’s an order. If you have any decency you are going to come with us and listen to what we have to tell you.” He sounded dangerously calm, and after a moment of silent deliberation with himself, Shikamaru nodded and sat up.
“Good. Thank you for letting us stay with you, Naruto-kun.” Gaara walked past him and out the door, Kankurou glared at Shikamaru menacingly before following.
Naruto helped Shikamaru to his feet and began to brush the dust off of him.
“Geeze, what’d you do to get them so mad? I mean, yeah she was their sister, but she was one of your best friends, too. It’s not like you don’t care, yeah that ‘not my problem’ comment was a little harsh but you’re upset and everything…” Shikamaru stared at the blonde boy and blinked.
“They didn’t tell you?”
“Tell me what?”
Shikamaru shook his head and headed out after Kankurou and Gaara. He didn’t want to explain to Naruto something he didn’t understand himself.
~~~
End of part one.
Sorry for the shortness, this chapter is in two parts because I’m tired right now and seeing as I’m working on my Grandfathers computer I’m afraid to save R rated yaoi fan-fiction on it. XD
Hopefully the next part will come soon, but I’m making no promises.
(Don't worry though, I know where this is going.) This is the first fic I've written where I actually have the plot worked out before hand and I'm not just stumbling through! :)
Pairings: ShikaChou, ShikaTema. A mention of ChouOC later in the fic. (NaruGaa hints in this chapter if you squint.)
Genre: Drama, Romance.
Rating: R on the whole. PG-13 for this chapter.
Warnings: Non-Beta-ed, Post time-jump (But you don’t need to have read it to understand, just beware of some minor spoilers), AU, Yaoi, Het, character death, OC’s (Realistic and not central). Very possible that I won’t finish.
Also, this chapter marks the apex of the ShikaTema story-line, there will be a lot of angst in this one and very little ShikaChou. So if you’re looking for boylove you’re going to have to wait a while, but fear not, it will come :p
Summary: A dejected Chouji leaves Konoha permanently and Shikamaru, heartbroken and drugged, sleeps with Temari and winds up with a whole new set of problems he never could have predicted...
Notes: I know that “Damn” and “hell” are not eastern phrases in any translation because they derive from Christianity and such, but as this is in English, imagine they’re being translated from equally callous, non-God-related Japanese swears.
~~~
Shikamaru sat in the Konoha hospital maternity ward waiting room, one thought, and only one, running through his mind like a mantra.
I’m a father.
He couldn’t believe it, it made no sense, he’d had to choke out his numerous questions to medical specialists for half an hour before he finally got any answers. Shizune had been just as clueless as he was.
What he found out was that three days earlier Temari’s brothers had arrived in Konoha, gore-covered and weather-beaten, in Gaara’s arms an equally as filthy, half-dead newborn child, wrapped in blood-soaked rags. They had been unable to get anything out of Kankurou, who seemed to be in a state of shock, but Gaara had calmly handed over the child to a nurse and had answered as many questions as the medical nins dared to ask the formerly Shukaku-posesed Kazekage.
Temari was dead, that much was clear. When asked how it had happened Gaara had said in a strained voice, “It could not be avoided.” Which didn’t sound good to Shikamaru at all. The questions had stopped there, however, for at Gaara’s words Kankurou had broken down in anguish and the two had to be removed from the hospital.
Shikamaru ran his hand through his hair, which he had removed from it’s elastic for that exact purpose, and tried to think things out rationally.
The child was his, they were sure of it, he’d even had them test and retest his DNA in comparison to the child as well as use every shinobi medical method he could think of. There were no buts about it. The child was his.
He thought of it as “The child” because that way it didn’t seem as horrifically real. He couldn’t think of it by its name, or even it’s gender, he just… couldn’t. Everything was just too much.
Just when he thought he was settling back into something that vaguely resembled normalcy, this had to happen. Hadn’t there been enough pain and confusion inflicted on him already? What had he done to deserve all of this?
He hadn’t contacted Chouza yet, he hadn’t told anyone. He had been there for hours and hours, and now the sun was almost up.
And he was still there, in the same chair he had been all night, alone.
The child was pre-born and weak, the doctor he had spoken to told him it was a miracle it had survived as long as it had, as it had been obviously (and in an very literal sense) ripped from it’s mother almost four months before it was due. It baffled them completely, and everyone he had spoken to had told him tearfully that they didn’t expect the child to survive through the night.
It was now morning, and Tsunade was hurrying down the hall toward him, he didn’t know what to feel.
He didn’t know if he could feel anything, anymore.
“Shikamaru!” She yelled, almost barked at him. He didn’t respond.
“The child is still alive, but barely. I have a mission for you.” Shikamaru’s face tightened but he didn’t feel relief, he hadn’t the time to, the sudden, overwhelming sense of exhaustion made sure of that.
“I don’t do missions anymore.” He whispered, his throat was raw.
“Today you do. Fetch Sabakuno Temari’s brothers and bring them to me, they’ve had three days to calm themselves and if we have a chance of saving this little girl it lies with them.” Her face was tired and stern and held no room for discussion. “They’re staying with Naruto. You know where he lives, right?” He nodded weakly and she turned on her heal and headed back towards the ward.
“And one more thing.” She added, looking over her shoulder, “I’m sorry this has been added to your troubles, but there are people in this world who suffer far greater than you. You have to realize that.”
Shikamaru glared at her retreating back until she had disappeared around a corner. Even then he didn’t move.
He didn’t have to do anything for her. Or for his-
It’s not mine, it’s not mine.
-That child. He wouldn’t, he refused.
He stood up.
Damn it all.
~~~
When he arrived at Naruto’s apartment Shikamaru promised himself before entering that he would in no way connect himself to the… the situation and would remain impartial. He would get Temari’s brothers and take them back to Tsunade and that was it. He wouldn’t ask them any questions, he wouldn’t talk about Temari or how she died or…or anything.
He had to stay out of this.
He knocked on the door, Naruto answered.
Naruto, though still shorter and more childish than any of the other male rookie nine, had non-the-less grown in maturity and was less likely to play pranks, yell, act inappropriately or get in peoples personal space than he used to have been.
So Shikamaru was, to say the least, surprised when the first thing Naruto did upon seeing him was wrap his arms firmly around Shikamaru and give him the most rib-crunching, inescapable hug he had ever received, and that was saying something as he had been best friends with an Akimichi for almost all his life. He knew that Chouji-
Stop it.
Shikamaru forced himself off that train of thought and waited for Naruto to finish the assault on his body and pride before stumbling through the doorway and muttering a shaky “What the hell, Naruto?”
Naruto shrugged gloomily in return and showed Shikamaru into the kitchen, where Kankurou and Gaara were sitting at Naruto’s small kitchen table, their clothes had been washed and their faces were clean, but they still looked as though they had just come from battle.
When they noticed him their reactions were very different. Kankurou stood up from his chair so quickly it fell over, his face a mass of panic and anger. Gaara looked at him for a moment with a stony, mournful expression before returning his eyes to the table. It suddenly struck Shikamaru that these two had known he was a father before he had, and had probably known for months. He glared at both of them.
“Our Hokage wants to speak with both of you.” Gaara looked up at him again.
“And you as well?” Gaara’s expression was difficult to read, he looked almost…resentful.
“Ne, she just said you two.”
“You’re going to be there, as well.” Shikamaru was reminded of the Chuunin exams. Gaara may have become more stable, but moments like these made him doubt it. There was just something about his eyes…but he couldn’t be a part of this.
“No, I’m not.”
Kankurou picked up the table and sent it flying into a wall, much to the protests of Naruto, and tackled Shikamaru to the ground, his hands closing around his neck. His eyes were filled with fury.
“You stupid son of a bitch! I’ll kill you, I really will!” Shikamaru struggled to get the upper hand but Kankurou was bigger and stronger than he was.
“It’s not…my problem.” He choked out.
Do I really believe that?
Shut up.
Kankurou bared his teeth and began to bang Shikamaru’s head on the floor, Shikamaru felt his consciousness almost fading but then suddenly the weight was lifted, Kankurou had been pulled off of him and stood over him, panting; Naruto had a hold on one of his shoulders.
Gaara was now standing over him as well, arms crossed, his sand swirling around him in distressing patterns.
“This isn’t a discussion, it’s an order. If you have any decency you are going to come with us and listen to what we have to tell you.” He sounded dangerously calm, and after a moment of silent deliberation with himself, Shikamaru nodded and sat up.
“Good. Thank you for letting us stay with you, Naruto-kun.” Gaara walked past him and out the door, Kankurou glared at Shikamaru menacingly before following.
Naruto helped Shikamaru to his feet and began to brush the dust off of him.
“Geeze, what’d you do to get them so mad? I mean, yeah she was their sister, but she was one of your best friends, too. It’s not like you don’t care, yeah that ‘not my problem’ comment was a little harsh but you’re upset and everything…” Shikamaru stared at the blonde boy and blinked.
“They didn’t tell you?”
“Tell me what?”
Shikamaru shook his head and headed out after Kankurou and Gaara. He didn’t want to explain to Naruto something he didn’t understand himself.
~~~
End of part one.
Sorry for the shortness, this chapter is in two parts because I’m tired right now and seeing as I’m working on my Grandfathers computer I’m afraid to save R rated yaoi fan-fiction on it. XD
Hopefully the next part will come soon, but I’m making no promises.
(Don't worry though, I know where this is going.) This is the first fic I've written where I actually have the plot worked out before hand and I'm not just stumbling through! :)