Maladaptive

VIII. Shikaku Nara

"Yes. What happened to your mother was rather - unfortunate. Collateral damage."

"C - Collateral damage?! What the hell are you saying? What happened to your talk of, 'What are men without women' and all the other philosophical ideas of love you once told me of? Especially the ones of Mom."

The man in the wheelchair sat without emotion in his tone. Was this man really his father? Is this the man Shikamaru had long but missed?

"Shikamaru, you must know those were years ago. It was unfortunate of course but, certain things you need to let go - "

"Let go of my parents' death? I will admit, I don't think about it as much anymore but that is not something that simply just leaves one's child's memory. You didn't even tell me how you are here. You are supposed to be dead."

"Have you never just taken a moment to think? Did they survive? After all, I assume you ran away that day. Which was the right thing to do. So it is understandable that you never were able to confirm it for yourself what happened to us after that explosion."

He turned a bit to meet Shikamaru's stature over him. His eyes met the frame of Shikamaru's jaw and continued,

"I never died of course. After the explosion, I awoke with someone else's blood being pumped into me and a needle in my chest and both of my temples. I'm sure you've heard of Shinwa correct? They used a similar technology on me that they used to create those 'Super soldiers'. I don't have exactly what they have of course but it is what is keeping me alive. They are artificial antibodies that have been put into my brain, heart and bloodstream to keep me working properly. Sadly, I was never able to get my legs back after the accident since I was impaled from behind. The wood completely severed my lower vertebrae. There are things even the NKR's lead scientists can't repair."

He looked down at his frangible legs then back to the horizon. Shikamaru was a bit unsure what to say. Yet, one question lingered on his mind,

"Why do you continue to work for them? Can't you just leave them."

"It is not that simple - "

"It is."

"Not! You must understand, they have given me my life. My life! How could I just simply repay them by simply walking away?"

"You have a child out there. Why not make sure he is okay?"

"I've always known you were okay."

"How so?"

Shikaku gave off a muffled yet smug chuckle. He shook his head and sighed as he retorted,

"The NKR... We know everything. You never thought we didn't have inside people? How else do you think I found you?"

Shikamaru remained silent for a moment trying to grasp the entire situation. He never did once ask himself this but knowing how busy he was, he never could. He turned around away from the man and proceeded to slowly take a few steps away from him and said,

"If your plan as to come here and boast about the NKR's 'Superiority'. We have nothing more to discuss here."

"Actually quite the opposite. I want to show you something."

He turned around alongside Shika and wheeled past him. Shikamaru followed close behind him and soon, they arrived to a bus. They both boarded it and it took off in a rushed fashion. Shikamaru looked out the transparent window and asked,

"Where are we heading?"

"To my home. I live in the moon district."

"The capital?"