Shattered Glass

Sorry for the late update! Been swamped with work, school, and other projects for said school. I hope now that my schedule's sort of cleared up now, I can write more of this. In my head, this story's done. I just have to type it out. Enjoy chapter ten!

X.

Shikamaru’s door slammed in his father’s face, and he snuck out the window, dropping to the floor below without a sound. He was going to kill Kankurou now that he could get his hands on him. He didn’t get far before his self-appointed babysitters realized he was gone, Ino and Kiba catching up quicker than he could run. Kiba struggled with Akamaru, doing his best not to let the over-enthusiastic puppy bowl Shikamaru over.

“Dammit, Shikamaru!” Ino shouted when she and Kiba finally brought him to a halt. “Knock it off!”

“You tell me that now after you tell me that bastard is here!?” Shikamaru screamed at the kunoichi, Ino giving him that horrible glare, that horrible Don’t-make-me-take-over-your-body glare. Kiba pushed the brown strands of hair out of his face, smearing sweat onto his scalp to keep his hair in place.

“Look, Shika,” Kiba started, “That bastard’s not going anywhere. Tsunade won’t let him. And anyway, you shouldn’t be running around like that. What about your baby?”

Shikamaru paled a little and Ino turned that glare on the wild boy. Kiba gave a nervous grin and bravely hid behind Akamaru. Ino smacked him anyway.

“The baby won’t be hurt because of some running, Shikamaru,” Ino said in a commanding voice after beating Kiba senseless. “Some exercise will be good.”

“Yeah,” Kiba groaned out, picking himself up with Akamaru’s help. “Keeps ya healthy. God, Ino, you didn’t have to hit that hard.”

“Maybe I wouldn’t have to if you weren’t so thick-headed. What does Shino see in a fleabag like you anyway?”

“I don’t have fleas!” Kiba protested. “And Shino thinks I have very good skills, if you know what I mean.”

“Yeah. I’m sure he finds the ability to lick your own balls amusing.” Shikamaru said scathingly. Kiba nodded sagely, already used to such remarks. This one was much milder than the last one, something having to do with the dogs and Kiba’s mom. Ino never repeated it.

“Oh yeah, he loves that I can lift my legs behind my head.”

“And I love the fact you’re housebroken,” Shino’s monotone deadpan sounded behind the trio. He watched the three from behind his dark glasses, the insects inside him buzzing at the high range of emotions.

“Ah, Shino!” Kiba was grinning now, rubbing the back of his head. “What brings you to the Baby-Watch?”

“Hokage-sama wishes to see Shikamaru.” Shino replied, staring at Kiba, wondering why the Inuzuka was overly hyper. He looked toward Ino and the girl only shrugged.

“C’mon, Shikamaru,” Ino said, pulling her friend away from the pair who seemed to be squaring off against each other. Shikamaru’s hands rubbed that growing bump that was his abdomen, and Ino smiled a little.

“Have you thought of names for the baby yet?” Ino asked, if only to distract the shinobi from murderous thoughts involving the father of the little life inside him.

“Not yet. I haven’t been able to think lately. My father’s being pressured by the Council to make me abort the baby, my mother’s after me for my future plans. I don’t even know if I’ll get to keep my child.”

“You will,” Ino said, putting her hand on Shikamaru’s shoulder. “You will. All your friends will make sure of that. Don’t worry anymore. Hey, how about Ienzo for a boy?”

Shikamaru grinned a little bit. “Ienzo huh? Why’s that?”

“Because it sounds like a good name. Try it. Nara Ienzo. Has a nice ring to it doesn’t it?

Shikamaru mulled the name over in his head countless times, head tilting one way and then the other as he thought about it. He nodded finally, smiling a little more. Ino grinned a bit, and continued to throw our names for Shikamaru to mull over as they walked, taking the long way around simply to make Kankurou sweat. Because Ino hated the fact Kankurou could waltz into Konoha and not even say hello to Shikamaru before running to find the Hokage, she wanted to make him worry and fret and tug at his hair until it was all poofy like a poodle’s before she brought Shikamaru up to the Hokage’s office. In the end, that was where they were headed, their final destination, and to Ino they got there sooner than she would’ve liked. She led Shikamaru through the halls, holding tight to his hand, rubbing the back of his hand soothingly as she felt him tensing.

“I’ll be right beside you,” she said. “They can’t make me leave.”

Shikamaru nodded, swallowed, and knocked on the Hokage’s door, trembling a little as he waited for the door to open. It seemed like something out of a horror movie, the door slowly clicking, creaking open to reveal the scene that lay just a few steps beyond the portal. Shikamaru swallowed again and stepped forward, resigned to his fate. Ino was just behind him, offering silent support as she’d done for him since this whole thing began. She stepped forward just before Tsunade looked up to see Shikamaru, bowing her head just slightly in respect.

“Hokage-sama, I’ve brought Shikamaru as you’ve requested.”

“Thank you, Ino.”

Kankurou chose that moment to stand, turning to face Shikamaru. Ino stepped out of the way, behind Shikamaru just far enough to grab him if he decided to turn violent on Kankurou and deprive his baby of its father. Instead, Kankurou moved forward and placed his palm on Shikamaru’s face, watching tears well in Shikamaru’s doe brown eyes. Tsunade looked toward Ino who just smiled, slowly backing away, out of the room. The Hokage followed, though she and the blonde kunoichi stood just outside the office door, ready for any action it took to tear the two apart if they got violent.

Kankurou gently ran his thumbs beneath Shikamaru’s eyes, wiping away tears, pulling the brunette close to him, hugging him tight. They said nothing; there wasn’t any need to, as each just seemed to take comfort in the other’s hold, the fact that the other was just there to hold onto. For Shikamaru, it was enough to let him cry into Kankurou’s shoulder, though Kankurou tried to hush him. Kankurou just held him tighter and finally gave up trying to get Shikamaru to stop crying. It was minutes – it felt like hours – before Shikamaru finally pulled away and sniffled, rubbing his eyes and muttering about feeling like a total dipshit. Kankurou laughed despite himself and rubbed Shikamaru’s face free of the salty evidence of tears.

“You’re not a dipshit.” Kankurou said, with a slight chuckle. “You have all the rights in the world to cry.”

“I refuse to be treated like a woman just because I’m pregnant.” Said Shikamaru as he blew his nose in a tissue, smushing the used thing and tossing it in the wastebasket before he reached for another.

“I wasn’t treating you like a woman.” Kankurou replied. “I was merely stating the fact you’ve been through hell and not once have you done anything to relieve yourself of the stress.”

“And crying’s a good way to relieve stress?”

“Hell yeah.” Kankurou said with a grin. “Chicks do it all the time.”

“I’m going to kill you, Kankurou.”

Kankurou laughed though, and noticed Shikamaru’s own smile, head angled down to avoid being spotted. Kankurou just approached his lover anyway, putting his hands on his shoulders.

“You worry too much. Stress isn’t good for the baby.”

“Baby…? Oh damn.” Shikamaru’s gaze dropped to the bulge of his abdomen, his hand pressing to that bump, rubbing soothingly.

“It’ll be fine. Don’t worry.” Kankurou’s fingers caught Shikamaru’s chin, lifting his face to press their lips together in a chaste kiss. “I’m here now. We’re gonna do this together.”

“Together. Right. Yeah.”

“Don’t tell me you’re all weak in the knees from a kiss.” Kankurou said in disbelief.

Shikamaru shook his head. “No. No. I’m just hungry. And yeah, a little horny, but more hungry than horny.”

Kankurou shook his head and put his arms around Shikamaru’s shoulders. “Then let’s get something to eat, yeah?”

Shikamaru nodded his head almost emphatically, and Kankurou led him out of the office, waving to the Hokage and the blonde kunoichi that watched them both like a hawk. She relaxed at Shikamaru’s smile and waved back, moving off in the opposite direction from the pair. Some things, Ino decided, were best left to the ones who’s decisions mattered the most.