Chapter Text
Temari couldn’t take her eyes off Shikamaru, and it wasn’t for any of the reasons she would have liked it to be for.
It was because she had never seen him like this. She had never seen him so . . . Quiet. And gentle. And . . . and not like the laid back, noncommittal Shikamaru she was used to.
She was trying not to stare, because she knew he would notice soon. But for now he was preoccupied, and that was part of why she couldn’t look away.
Sitting cross legged on the back porch, bathed in afternoon sun, Shikamaru was holding Mirai as she waved her arms and babbled wildly on about something. She sat on his folded legs, wiggling her stubby toes and leaning against his chest, talking and talking and talking.
Watching them together made some sort of weird, unfamiliar emotion stir in Temari’s chest. She tried to focus on the task at hand – filling in something for Gaara. She and Shikamaru were meant to be working on it together; they were meant to be at the Hokage building surrounded by books and papers, but he had asked her to bring everything to his house because he was ‘busy with something’.
She didn’t know ‘something’ was a small child.
And she didn’t know why she felt like she was truly seeing Shikamaru for the first time because of it.
Temari almost flinched when Shikamaru turned a smile to her, just briefly, before looking down at Mirai again and murmuring something to her. Mirai grinned, sending Temari a sideways glance, ducking her head away the moment their eyes met. She pushed back into Shikamaru’s chest, obviously seeking comfort in his presence.
Temari had never met Mirai before, and Shikamaru had never told her how much she meant to him. He’d mentioned her in passing – “My sensei’s daughter.” – but Temari hadn’t known how Mirai fitted into his life. She fitted like a puzzle piece, creating part of a whole picture.
Asuma – may he rest in peace – could claim that was his child all he wanted but it was shockingly clear that Mirai belonged to Shikamaru. She clearly adored him, smiling up at him, genuine and broad, leaning into him, holding onto him. It was mostly the way Shikamaru looked back at her that was causing the strange feeling in Temari’s chest – he was so soft and open and loving.
She had never seen this sort of gentleness to him. She had never seen this sort of tranquility in his movements.
He looked like a father. And he looked as though it was exactly what he was supposed to be.
On his lap, Mirai squirmed, hands grabbing at Shikamaru’s thumbs as he held her gently across the stomach.
“She’s looking at us,” Mirai said, tilting her head up to squint at Shikamaru’s chin. “Can you see?”
“Yeah.” Truth be told, Shikamaru was slightly amused at Temari’s reaction. She had been eying Mirai as though unsure of what to think of the child. It was fun to see Temari out of her depth; Shikamaru spent so much of his time around her flustered and at a loss for words, and it felt good to turn the tables.
Mirai wriggled around in his lap until she was facing him, standing up so their faces were level. She regarded him seriously, one hand gripping onto his shirt to keep herself steady, as though Shikamaru, hands on her hips, would ever let her fall.
“Is she special?” Mirai whispered, placing one hand against the side of her mouth to block Temari from reading her lips.
“Yes, she is,” Shikamaru replied.
“You love her?” Mirai’s eyes grew wide.
Shikamaru smiled fondly at the child. “Yeah, I do.”
“Hm,” Mirai contemplated that for a bit. “Are you gonna marry her?”
“I don’t know,” Shikamaru admitted. “I haven’t asked her yet.”
Mirai sent a furtive glance towards Temari. She quickly returned her gaze to Shikamaru. “When you gonna ask?”
“Soon. In a few months, maybe. But,” he said, tapping her nose with a finger. “It’s a secret, okay? You can’t tell anyone I’m thinking about it.”
“Secret,” Mirai repeated firmly. She put her arms around Shikamaru’s neck, hugging him tightly. “If she says no, then I’ll marry you, okay?”
Shikamaru laughed, returning her embrace. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
The next day was bright and sunny, and Mirai asked to go to the park where she often liked to play. The park also happened to be nearby the missions’ office, and there was always someone she knew wandering through to give her attention.
Today, the park was busy, and Mirai pressed close to her mother, little legs tight on Kurenai’s waist, and arms around her neck, observing the activity.
Kurenai waved to Hinata, who smiled shyly back, and came across to say hello.
Mirai wasn’t interested in her. She was looking for someone in particular, as she always did.
Finally, she lit up.
“Mama,” Mirai strained almost out of Kurenai’s arms, pointing across the park. “Shika!”
How Mirai had spotted Shikamaru through the crowd was a mystery. The park was dotted with shinobi, including Kurenai’s former team, the majority of Team Seven, Shikamaru’s team and even a few stragglers. It was unclear what had drawn them all to the same place – nostalgia, perhaps, or a series of overlapping missions.
Kurenai sighed. “He’s busy.”
Hinata approached, smiling warmly. “Good morning Mirai.”
Kurenai returned the smile. “Sorry, Hinata, she’s distracted.”
“Watching Shikamaru again?” Kiba appeared at her other side, shaking his head with a grin.
“She’s obsessed with him,” Shino added, close by.
“Who’s obsessed with who?” Ino cut in sharply, wondering if she was missing any gossip.
“Mirai,” Sakura said, flanking Ino’s side, with Chouji and Sai nearby. “Obsessed with Shikamaru.”
“That is true,” Ino laughed. “She really is.”
“I want to go to Shika,” Mirai said.
“He’s busy,” Kurenai tried to soothe her. “Maybe another day.”
“Yes, he’s working,” Sakura added, looking across the park where Shikamaru and Temari were walking slowly, squinting at a scroll. “Temari isn’t here for much longer and they have a lot to do before she leaves.”
“She can’t leave,” Mirai shrilled indignantly. She pointed firmly, voice rising with conviction. It was loud enough for every shinobi nearby to hear. “She’s not allowed to leave ‘cause she’s gonna marry Shika!”
The silence that fell over the park was spectacular. Ino was about to speak when Mirai added, “He hasn’t asked yet but she’ll say yes because Shika’s the best.”
Then, as though she hadn’t just shocked a generation of shinobi into total silence, she studied her fingers. “Mama, can we have biscuits for snack?”
The hope that this declaration hadn’t reached Shikamaru and Temari was dashed the moment Ino looked in their direction. Both were frozen in place, with Temari looking strangely purple and all the colour drained from Shikamaru’s face.
The deafening silence continued.
“What did she say?” Naruto piped up from seemingly nowhere.
“Shh,” Mirai scolded. “It’s a secret.”
Shikamaru was still frozen in place, mind whirling at an unhealthy speed, trying to figure out what to do next. He was uncharacteristically slow, and it was Temari who moved first. Without a word, without a glance left or right, she made an abrupt turn around and began leaving the park.
Shikamaru shook himself from his daze a few seconds later, scrambling to gather his thoughts.
“Temari,” he squeaked, following her half-heartedly. “Uh, wait?”
Temari did not abate her speed and did not look back at him. She marched across the park very purposefully. The crowed parted without question, silently giving her the space she clearly desired.
“Temari,” Shikamaru tried again.
Her reply was to reach one hand back, and grip the top of her fan firmly.
Shikamaru stopped, knowing the gesture for what it was – a warning. He watched her leave, a pained frown on his face, and at least a dozen ninja watching him. A distinctly Sai-sounding snicker resonated somewhere to his left.
“Shika,” Mirai bounced delightedly to his side. She stretched her arms out. “Up!”
Bewildered and confused, Shikamaru did so without question, leaning down to pick her up. Thrilled, Mirai wrapped her arms around his neck, grinning. Shikamaru just stared at the path Temari had taken, silent.
“So,” Ino crept up to his side. Chouji came to his other side. “What’s the plan?”
“I don’t know,” Shikamaru said faintly. “I had not planned for this scenario . . .”
“Think fast, genius,” Ino murmured. “This is not something you want to linger.”
“She’s going to kill me,” Shikamaru whispered. “She’s actually going to kill me this time.”
Mirai placed her hands on his cheeks, looking seriously into his eyes. “I’ll protect you, Shika.”
Temari didn’t do embarrassed. She didn’t get bashful over things, she didn’t lose her cool, and she didn’t ever feel like curling up in a hole and dying.
Except for now.
What the hell was that? She was thinking, storming into the apartment she was using. What was he thinking? What was she thinking? Does anyone in Konoha ever think?
There was the mortification of having half the Leaf hear about a premature marriage proposal – something they had not discussed much beyond the whole ‘seems troublesome’ argument. There was the horror of Shikamaru clearly having told Mirai about it – had he told anyone else? Was he talking about it? Was he planning it? How many people knew about this – this thing that she had thought was a personal conversation between them but was clearly not.
Temari slammed the door to her apartment, not entirely sure what she was feeling but certain that it was very present and very powerful.
She paced restlessly for a few minutes, stewing in anger. She might have been angry at Shikamaru; she wasn’t sure. But she was definitely angry, and part of her wanted to storm out the village and never come back.
She was weighing up the pros and cons, when there was a gentle knock at the door – so definitely not Shikamaru.
Hesitantly, Temari opened the door to find a woman standing there.
“Hi. I’m Kurenai, Mirai’s mother. We haven’t really met before.”
“Hi,” Temari offered cautiously, unsure as to why Kurenai was there.
Kurenai smiled hesitantly. “Can I come in? I’d like to talk about Shikamaru.”
“I figured Ino would be the first one here.” Temari moved aside, letting Kurenai in.
“Ino is with Shikamaru.” Kurenai explained, looking around briefly. “I’m sorry about Mirai. She just says whatever she’s thinking. And she’s obsessed with Shikamaru, she can’t help but talk about him.”
Temari cocked an eyebrow.
“And about what she said,” Kurenai paused, thinking through her words. “Shikamaru hadn’t breathed a word of it to anyone. I didn’t even know until Mirai said something. Please don’t be angry at Shikamaru.”
Temari let out a tense breath. “I don’t think I’m angry at him. I don’t know. Maybe I am.”
She shifted in place. “I just needed some space. To figure things out. And get over the shock.”
Marriage wasn’t exactly something she had been thinking about, or focusing on, and she didn’t like the thought of being taken by surprise, or the unwelcome myriad of questions that arose at the idea of it. Merging two villages, who lived where, was their relationship even at that point . . . There were thousands of questions she wasn’t prepared to answer.
And now all of Konoha were going to be musing on the same questions.
“I know you’ve got a lot to think about,” Kurenai added. “And I really have no right to ask anything of you, but don’t make any rash decisions.”
Temari eyed her, uncertain of what her next move was going to be. It was a strange feeling, being entirely uncertain of everything, and Temari didn’t like it one bit. She didn’t like anything that was going on.
“Please talk to him,” Kurenai said. “It would kill him to lose you.”
“I’ll think about it.” Temari didn’t know what to do, and the lack of control was unnerving in a way she couldn’t describe.
Kurenai left soon after, leaving Temari to stew in her thoughts, to slowly calm down, to consider the questions that had suddenly been raised. She still had two more days in Konoha, and she knew she would have to talk to Shikamaru before she left.
That felt like the most daunting task.
She spent the rest of the day in her apartment, thankful that Shikamaru made no move to try to find her and talk to her.
At least he knew when to give her space.
Somehow, Mirai had convinced Kiba – who was currently in charge of her – to find Temari. Even though Kiba didn’t have a clue where she was, and Mirai didn’t either, but Akamaru dutifully tracked her down to the Hokage building, and before Kiba could ask what they were doing, Mirai asked to be put down, and marched right up to Temari.
“Hey, Shika’s girlfriend,” she opened boldly, and Temari, who had thus far been quietly reading a report, looked up.
“Mirai!” Kiba yelped, scooping the child up into his arms. “We can’t just bother her like this!”
“She’s mad at Shika and I’m telling her she’s wrong,” Mirai said firmly, and that declaration nearly had Kiba running for his life. Save for her brothers, he didn’t think there was another being on Earth brave enough to tell Temari she was wrong.
Temari raised an eyebrow. “What?”
“You,” she squirmed in Kiba’s arms, trying to get down again. “Are wrong!”
Kiba clamped a hand across her mouth. “We were just leaving, Temari, sorry to bother you-“
“No, let her say her piece,” Temari said. She put the report down, crossed her arms over her chest, and stared at Mirai. “Okay, kid, what’s the problem?”
Mirai, best she could pinned to Kiba’s chest, drew herself up. “You are being mean to Shika. He is the bestest person ever, and now he’s upset. That,” Mirai huffed, “Is your fault!” She pointed an accusing finger.
“I am so sorry,” Kiba said, aghast. “I had no idea what she was going to say.”
“Shika is the bestest person in the world,” Mirai continued boldly. “And he said he’s marrying you, because he loves you, so you have to marry him, because I said so!”
Temari couldn’t help a small smile. “Is that so?”
“Otherwise you can’t be his girlfriend anymore, and I will be instead,” Mirai jutted her chin out stubbornly. “So there.”
All the colour drained from Kiba’s face, and he backtracked rapidly. “We’re just gonna go, and please don’t kill me-“
“Hold on,” Temari said, and Kiba froze obediently in place.
Mirai crossed her arms, with some difficultly, and stared Temari down.
“Kid,” Temari said. “Why don’t you help me find Shikamaru?”
Shikamaru was lying on a hill, eyes tracking clouds across the sky, deep in thought.
“Shika!” Mirai bounded to him, flopping onto his stomach. “Look! I brought your girlfriend to see you!”
Shikamaru startled upright, scrambling around to face Temari. “Temari. Oh my god. Um, I’m sorry, seems like the most important thing to say first, then, uh,” he hesitated. “I was going to find you. To talk to you. About . . .”
She held up a hand. “Hold on a second.”
Shikamaru snapped his jaw shut. He stood very still, only moving one hand to grip Mirai’s fingers as she fumbled to hold his hand.
Temari drew in a deep breath. “Okay, um . . . Once I finished being so mad at you I planned your murder in great detail-“
Shikamaru flinched, but nodded resignedly.
“- I got to thinking.” She hesitated. “I mean, I’m still pretty mad. But I think that’s because you surprised me. I’m not mad because of what you asked – well, you haven’t asked, technically.”
Shikamaru gripped Mirai’s hand a bit tighter, and she took a small, protective step forward, placing herself between them.
Temari glanced at the child, then back at Shikamaru. “You know, when I was watching you the other day, with Mirai . . . it made me think. And feel things. I realized I really like the way you look with children. It’s . . . a side of you I hadn’t seen. But I want to see more of. So I’m not going to give you up just because of a, well, rather large miscommunication.”
“What?” Shikamaru raised his head. “You’re . . . okay with all this?”
“I’m not ready to get married. Yet. I’m not ready to answer all those questions. But I’m also not ready for things to end between us. I’d like to keep going, and see where we end up.” She looked at Mirai. “. . . But maybe stop discussing major life changes with people who cannot keep their mouths shut.”
“That’s fair enough,” Shikamaru said slowly. He cleared his throat uncertainly. “You realize, though, that this probably won’t blow over? People will talk. People are going to keep asking you what’s happening between us. So, we should figure out what our answers are going to be to all those questions . . .”
He took in a deep breath. “If you want to say no . . . that’s fine. It really is. And I’ll-“
“Hey, you have to marry him,” Mirai insisted, glaring at Temari. “You’re his girlfriend, and that’s what girlfriends and boyfriends do. You can’t say maybe. That’s not how it works.”
Shikamaru grimaced at Mirai’s forwardness, but to his surprise, Temari’s expression softened.
“How does it work, then?” she asked.
Mirai huffed, and squared her shoulders haughtily. “Shika has to ask you to marry him – he’s gotta get down on one knee, and he’s gotta have a beautiful ring with shiny diamonds in it, and he’s gotta tell you that he loves you and you have to marry him. Then you say yes.” She sent a reproachful look at Shikamaru. “That’s the right thing to do. So do that.”
“Um, Mirai, it’s not as simple as that,” Shikamaru said carefully.
“Do you have a ring with you?” she asked.
“Well, no . . .”
“Hm,” she looked at Temari again. “I suppose you did say you were only asking in a few months. So that’s okay. But she still has to say yes.”
“I’m so sorry,” Shikamaru muttered, rubbing a hand across his eyes, feeling an oncoming headache. “If you don’t want to work together on stuff anymore, I’ll understand.”
Temari ignored him, crouching down to get level with Mirai. “Would you be happy if I said yes to him?”
“Yeah,” Mirai nodded, taking a shy step back at Temari’s closeness. “Because Shika’s the best.”
“He is, isn’t he?” Temari looked up at Shikamaru, smiling softly.
He was tense, jaw clenched.
“Tell you what,” she said to Mirai. “If you make him get a ring, I promise I’ll say yes.”
“Really?” Her face lit up.
“You’ve known Shikamaru for a very long time,” Temari said. “So you know him the best. If you say he’s worth saying yes to, I’ll have to believe you.”
“Temari,” Shikamaru began, but she held up a hand to silence him.
“But if I do say yes,” Temari continued. “You have to promise that you’ll help me with Shikamaru. Because he can be lazy, and needs a lot of care, and I’m not sure I can manage that all by myself.”
“I’ll look after him,” Mirai promised solemnly. “I’ll take very good care of him when you’re away.”
“That’s settled, then,” Temari straightened up, looked Shikamaru in the eye, and said sincerely, “If you’re serious. If you really want to.”
“I do,” he breathed, hardly daring to believe the way the conversation was going.
“Then yes,” Temari murmured. “I know it’s the wrong time, and I know things will get complicated. But my answer is yes. I will marry you. Eventually.”
Shikamaru just gaped at her, a sudden warm rush taking over his body. He stood in stupefied silence, until Mirai tugged at his hand, and whispered, “Up?”
Without thinking about it, without taking his eyes off Temari, he hoisted Mirai into his arms. Standing there, with a child held between them, felt oddly right.
“You have to kiss,” Mirai added. “That’s what people do who get married.”
“Later,” Temari said. “When you’re not around.”
That made a wry smile break out over Shikamaru’s face, and he met her eyes knowingly. “Thank you,” he mouthed, and he knew she understood. It was thank you for not leaving, for not storming off, for not being too angry, for not blaming Mirai for anything, for accepting her, and accepting him, and most of all, for saying yes.
“I want to go to the wedding,” Mirai craned her head back to stare at Shikamaru.
He smiled at her, and promised, “You’ll be the first person we invite.”