Chapter Text
“I'm scared I come to care for you
In the heat of a cold beer eve
I'm scared to hold your words true
As they might be at the end what I will grieve.
I'm scared of you
And all the promise you hold
I'm scared of feelings old and new
In fear of your interest running stone cold
I don't know whether I'm wrong to push
Or if I am wrong to want to keep you away
I dont know which is worse
All I know is I'm scared you wont stay
You feel like a dormant dream
You feel like my lurking nightmares
But I know all arent who they seem
And I don't know if that's a disappointment I risk going in too keen.
I'm scared of you
And what this spark holds
We're just a heartbroken two
Who are in angst of what unfolds.
I know your scared of me
My hands along your stitched up soul
Scared of what I might see
When I seek you beyond your gaping hole.”
Drama Queen Poet
“You’re freaking out.”
“I’m not freaking out, you’re freaking out.” Asami responded, glaring at him from across the Shogi board.
“Asami.” Shikamaru said. “Breathe, he’ll be fine.”
Asami took in a deep breath, closing her eyes and moving around to lean against him. “You should have seen his face, Shika, when he told us. He was terrified. And I know this was a last minute decision. Otherwise he would have told us.”
Shikamaru sighed, rubbing her back gently. “I know. But freaking out won’t help him. Kohaku will need to get through this dinner, and then you and Ashi can kidnap him.”
Asami smirked. “That sounds like fun.”
He snorted. “Okay, menace.” He moved a piece forward. “Your move.”
…
What Kohaku really needed right was a hug.
Tonight’s dinner was so awfully awkward, he didn’t know what to think about it.
She’s just so… pretty.
It was not fair.
How was he supposed to have an amicable, quiet marriage with a woman he could learn to tolerate, when he already felt like this?
Ugh.
He really needed that hug.
…
Kankuro frowned as he watched Kohaku, his sister’s fiance, sneak out of his house and disappear over the rooftops.
He had stayed behind after the dinner was over to try and get an honest feel for the Hayashi family.
Temari was his big sister. He was extremely protective of her. He had to make sure she’d be safe in this wretched arranged marriage.
What he’d learned?
The Hayashi family was silent.
They never spoke. Ever.
What type of family never spoke?
He sighed, stretching his muscles as he stood. Time to see what the Hayashi Heir was up to.
…
Asami looked up, smiling softly when Kohaku came into view.
“Well, hiya.” she said, standing up and hugging him. “How did the dinner go?”
Kohaku closed his eyes, and began to cry into her shoulder.
…
Kankuro watched with narrowed eyes as the Hayashi Heir hugged a pretty redheaded girl.
Temari would be heartbroken to find out that the boy she married was in love with someone else.
He would make Kohaku pay.
Thankfully, violence was fully expected in the Chunin Exams.
He left before he could see the other boy join in on the hug.
…
Ashi couldn’t help but snort. “Wait. You’re upset ‘cause your fiance is pretty?”
Kohaku nodded, pouting. Asami hid her amused eyeroll, exchanging looks with Ashi.
“Um. Okay.” Ashi said, forcing down his smile and patting Kohaku’s back. “Sorrows, sorrows.”
…
“Another girl?” Temari asked, eyes widening. “But we’re sworn to each other!”
“Well.” Kankuro said, “Men suck.”
Temari didn’t cry. Or sigh in relief that she might be free of a husband she didn’t know.
No, Temari did what she always did when something didn’t go her way.
She grew angry.
And an angry Temari was a vengeful one.
…
“We’re going to be taking the Chunin Exams!!” Ashi exclaimed loudly, dancing around his team happily.
Asami laughed as Ashi dragged her up and started dancing with her, twirling her towards Kohaku, who couldn’t help but smile.
Fuyuto-Sensei watched on in amusem*nt as they continued celebrating.
Yeah. They were ready.
They’d take the world by storm.
And he couldn’t wait to watch it happen.
…
“So all of us will be in the Chunin exams?” Shikamaru sighed, putting his head in his hands. “Great, this is gonna be such a drag.”
The table of Genin just laughed at him, some even rolling their eyes.
“It’ll be fun, Shikamaru!” Ino exclaimed, clapping her hands excitedly. “We can finally show off our awesome moves!”
Kiba scoffed, “Please! As if your team of stooges will ever beat me and my amazing teammates.”
“That’s a big word for someone with such a tiny brain, Kiba.” Ino snapped back, glaring at him.
Shikamaru made eye contact with Asami, who simply laughed at his deadpan expression.
“Hey, we’ll beat all of y’all, Believe it!” Naruto cut in loudly.
“Naruto, please.” Sakura whispered meekly as the glares turned towards them.
Shikamaru sighed in sympathy. It was never fun to be on the receiving end of the Ino and Kiba War.
Especially since it was her very first time at “The Table.”
He was sure she was feeling extremely awkward right now.
“Are you guys behaving?” Makoto asked as he walked up to the table, hands full of food to serve the starving children.
“Totally.” Sasuke nodded seriously. Makoto eyed him suspiciously, but didn’t comment. He simply left to go back to the “calm table”, which sat Honao, Hitomi, Hinata, Kohaku, Kokoro, and Ashi. Because Kokoro was there.
Asami was simply moving back and forth between each table. She just couldn’t decide.
It was kind of adorable.
And on that thought, time to distract himself with Naruto, Kiba, and Choji’s eating competition.
…
“I’m worried about the Chunin Exams.” Shikaku whispered into the darkness of the room. Something he had avoided putting into the world.
Because once it was said, it became more likely.
Yoshino hummed, moving to wrap her arms around his neck, running a hand through his hair. “Do you think something will go wrong?”
Shikaku sighed. “Relations with the Sand are tense. Sarutobi ignored all of their few pleas for help. And there's the new Sound village coming, too. Something doesn’t feel right.”
Yoshino hugged him close, and he sighed into her neck, breathing in her scent. It calmed him.
“It’ll be alright.” She said, “Shikamaru and his friends are some of the most powerful Genin I’ve seen since the war-times. And we can prepare for the worst. What do you think the worst would be?”
Shikaku hummed. “Well… I’m probably overthinking it-”
She snorted, “Yeah, that’s a first.”
Shikaku pinched her hip, rolling his eyes as she cackled. “Alright, goofy.”
She grinned, kissing his shoulder. He sighed in contentment. Sometimes marriage could be rough, but she made everything worth it.
He loved her so freaking much.
“Anyways, what are you overthinking this time?” she asked.
“I think the Sound and the Sand are going to try and invade.” he said quietly.
The air froze.
“That would be very bad.” Yoshino whispered.
“Yes.” Shikaku sighed, “Yes it would.”
