I'll Show You Insanity

Chapter 36

Yuma didn't know when she passed out. All she knew when she woke up in her room, with her favorite stuffed rabbit in her arms, was that she felt sick.

Slowly, she rose from her bed and padded towards the door, opening it and shuffling through the hall.

"Kashi?" She called sleepily as she slowly opened his bedroom door.

"Living room!" His comforting voice called.

Carefully closing his door, she headed for the living room.

"Kashi, I don't-" she paused as she noticed the room full of people, and immediately took a step back as she sleepy eyes filled with clarity and narrowed at the multitude of strangers. "Who are you people?" She questioned darkly, tense and ready to fight.

"Yuma!" Kakashi said, pushing through the crowd to reach her. He kneeled before her, pulling her into a gentle hug. "It's okay, its alright. Take a closer look."

She did, and instantly relaxed in recognition. In her sleep hazed mind, she hadn't realized that all the people here, were people she knew. There was Iruka, Naruto, Sakura, Sasuke, Choji, Shikamaru, Yoshino, Shikaku, Ibiki, and Asuma.

"Did you need something, Yuma?" Kakashi inquired. "Why were you looking for me?"

"I don't... Feel so good..." She muttered, looking at the floor.

Kakashi pressed his hand to her forehead, yet felt no fever; had her open her mouth and peered inside, yet saw nothing unnatural: peered into her eyes, and saw only weariness, and... Guilt?

He understood suddenly as he recalled what Ibiki had informed him of from Yuma's recent job. She was sick with guilt, but was that possible? After all these years, was it possible for her to feel remorse for her actions?

"I don't..." She sniffed, rubbing at her eyes as everyone stared in shock and awe. "I don't know what's wrong with me..."

They did though, even her thick-skulled blonde teammate, and no one knew what to say.

Suddenly, Shikamaru stood and strode over to the charcoal haired girl.

"Yuma," he muttered, turning her around and pulling her into his chest. Her arms wrapped around his waist immediately as she buried her face in his fishnet shirt. "It's alright, you're okay."

She nodded, taking a deep breath. She was okay. She was okay because he was okay, because her team was okay, because the people she loved was okay. As long as they were well, she would never be less than okay.

She sighed softly, smiling against his chest, and took no notice of the softly smiling faces surrounding them.

Shikamaru, however, was scarlet faced as he avoided their gazes.

Kakashi would be having a talk with the lad soon enough.

***

Kakashi's talk with the young Nara boy came sooner than expected, as Yuma was invited to a Girl's Day Out with Yoshino and Sakura. The other men left to go about their own business, yet Asuma stayed behind, amused by the anxiousness of his student, who sat across the famous Copy Cat Nin.

"Shikamaru," Kakashi said calmly, yet the boy still jumped.

"Y-Yes sir?" He stammered.

Kakashi smirked behind his mask, holding back a chuckle as Asuma's amusement shown in the grin on his lips.

"What are your intentions with my little girl?" He questioned, watching carefully as a red stain exploded on the young boy's cheeks.

Shikamaru could only stammer unintelligibly, the fire beneath his flesh burning hotter as the awkward seconds ticked by.

Again, Kakashi had to fight a chuckle as the boy across from him struggled to form a legitimate sentence.

Shikamaru stopped himself, taking a deep breath to calm himself before swallowing a nervous lump that had formed in his throat. Slowly, face still crimson, yet much more in control of his words, he looked up to meet Kakashi's gaze.

He stood, bowing deeply and taking the man across him, as well as his sensei, by surprise.

"I-I love Yuma," he said loudly. "And I swear, I will never do anything to hurt her in any way, shape, or form."

There, he'd said it. It felt as though a huge weight had been lifted off his shoulder as he'd confessed his true feeling, to the man before him, as well as to himself.

Kakashi sighed, as it became clear that there was no stopping true love. He chuckled softly, and stood, seeing Shikamaru flinch.

That was it, the young boy feared, eyes shutting tightly. There was no going back.

Kakashi set a hand on the pineapple haired boy's shoulder. "Take care of my cousin."

Shikamaru's eyes snapped open, saucer-wide with shock as he lifted his gaze to the kind, closed eyed smile of Kakashi.

"Just keep in mind that things will not be well for you, should you decide to hurt her at all," the silver haired man added as his 'kind' smile began to appear somewhat sinister.

Yet Shikamaru only straightened with a confident grin. "Hai."

Asuma chuckled, and looked over as the door swung open.

A grey flash darted inside, tackling Shikamaru with a bell-like laugh.

"Shika!" Yuma cried, hugging the boy tightly as the two were kept upright by Kakashi's fast reflexes.

"Y-Yuma?!" Shikamaru stammered, cheeks burning as he looked down at her, eyes widening.

She'd been placed in a black and lilac baby doll style dress, her hair done up in two curly pigtails. She was so...

"Cute..." He breathed as Asuma, Kakashi, Sakura, and Yoshino burst into laughter at the poor boy's flustered face.

"What?" Yuma asked curiously, looking up at the taller boy.

"N-Nothing!"

"Ah, young love," Asuma chuckled.

"It's so cute!" Sakura squealed.

"S-Shut up!" Shikamaru stuttered.

Yuma was looking around, unsure of what they were all talking about, but smiling all the same.

These people were her friends, her family, and she loved them all dearly.