A Magical Princess

Chapter 16

Hari looked a little like he'd just slapped her. Her eyes were wide and hurt, and she stepped back and wrapped her arms around her middle. "Right," she said flatly. "Well, I'm sorry to disappoint. Bit hard to find good partners when everybody is either in awe of you or wants something from you. Or is trying to kill you."

Shikaku could have smacked himself for putting that look on her face as she took another step away from him. "I'm afraid there's nothing I can do to change it short of going out and finding somebody willing to teach me, which, sorry, isn't really my thing. Obviously. Otherwise, I wouldn't be..."

He stepped forward and pulled her stiff body against him in a hug. "There will be no teaching unless I'm the one doing it," he said in a hard voice, and she flinched in surprise. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean it as a slight against you. I was actually feeling like a lecherous old pervert for finding it so goddamn arousing that I'll practically be your first."

"I- what? You mean you don't think I'm immature, or -" Hari started, sounding bewildered, and he chuckled.

"No," he purred, leaning down so he could speak into her ear. "I'm a bit of a possessive bastard, so the thought of my hands and mouth being the only ones you remember..."

She shivered, then took a step back. "Oh," she said in a small voice.

"Yes," he agreed. "Should we continue on?"

He offered her his arm, sensing that she was feeling a little overwhelmed, and she took it. After some nervous fidgeting on her part, she finally spoke again. "So you're okay with moving more slowly on that front than you usually would?"

"Well, I can't say I won't be thinking about it, but I'm fine with any pace you set princess," he said easily, and she quirked her lips up in a small smile.

On the porch, Hari gathered her courage, then stood on her tiptoes to brush her lips against his cheek. "Thank you, Shikaku. I enjoyed myself very much."

She then slipped inside without looking at Shikaku's expression, relieved when he didn't immediately follow. Removing her shoes, she ghosted silently to the guest rooms, a smile breaking over her face at the scene she came upon.

"Oi, brat, that's cheating!" Shikamaru said, pointing at a giggling Natsu over the board game they were playing.

"No, I swear, Shikamaru! I just won!"

Eito was laughing at Shikamaru's exaggerated face of disbelief at his loss. "Natsu, are you making your big brother cry?" Hari asked, and both of their heads whipped towards her.

"Hari! You're home!" Natsu squealed, and she had to brace herself as they flung themselves against her for a hug.

"Did you behave yourself for Shikamaru?" she asked them, and he nodded as they loudly declared they had been 'the best' for big brother Shikamaru.

"Well, I'm glad to hear it. Now, it's time for you to get ready for bed, go on." She ignored their protests and shoo'ed them towards the bathroom.

"Thanks for watching them," she said, dropping into a chair, and he shrugged from where he was putting the game away.

"They're fun, if a little troublesome," he said, and she laughed.

After he'd left and she was lying in bed with one child on each side - and she was really going to have to make them sleep in their own beds, soon - Hari went over the conversation she'd had with Shikaku in her head, and a small smile played across her face.

Dinner had been nice. She enjoyed spending time with Shikaku, and she really, really, liked the physical attention he gave her. She might be a little inexperienced, but she recognized appreciation when she saw it, and Shikaku had plenty for her.

Not only that, but he was taking the time to get to know her and make her comfortable. The tours with the twins, taking her out on a date, asking her what she wanted - these were all signs that he wanted the same things she did. Hari fell asleep feeling better than she had in a long time.