What A Drag... || Shikamaru x reader

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Edited: 31/05/24

Reuploaded: 06/06/24

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"You had us worried as hell!" Yoshino shouted while we ate.

She, Shikaku, and Shikamaru had come over to my house to basically feed me since I had nothing here and apparently Shikamaru told Yoshino about my bedrest, and she demanded to look after me. Seems she's planning on making this a thing through the entirety of the week. I had the first couple of days alone with what little food I had left but now they're here now.

I love the Naras, truly, I do but I don't think I can handle them all week.

"I'm sorry for making you worry," I sighed. I feel like I'm a broken record at the moment.

"Please never take over my missions again," Shikaku begged.

"Your mission?" I questioned with a frown.

"You mean you didn't even know? That mission was my Dad's originally," Shikamaru told me. I blinked a few times in surprise.

"I didn't. I just got the mission and left," I shrugged. We all sat in silence for a moment, but Shikamaru seemed to remember something and stretched his hand out. He had my Dad's ring in his hand.

"Keep it. I have no use for two," I told him. I felt the stares of his parents on us and then sighed.

Or should I take it back? It's pretty important to me but also... oh I don't know. He can just keep it for now, I'm sure he'll give it back if I decide to take it back.

"Why didn't you call me?" he asked, "with yours? You said I'd be able to hear your whistle just as you'd be able to hear mine. So why didn't you call when you were in danger?"

"I'll be honest," I looked down at my ring, "I forgot you had it. I forgot my Dad didn't have it and didn't expect a response. My bad."

He looked like he wanted to argue or something but bit his tongue and kept it down as I glanced across the three.

"Maybe... you should be going home, I really need a good night's sleep and I'm not getting it by arguing," I told them as I stood up, "I appreciate this, I do. But, I think I just need to rest for now."

Shikaku looked understanding and nodded but Yoshino grabbed my wrist.

"Why not stay with us? You know we have a spare bedroom, and we haven't had you over in a while," she suggested. I thought for a little before sighing and shaking my head.

"I'm alright," I told her, she looked at me disappointed so I glanced back to our hallway of empty bedrooms beside mine and my Dad's and sighed, "but... if you want, you can stay here tonight?"

She smiled a wide smile.

"We'd love to, right?" Yoshino nudged Shikaku who just nodded, and I stood to start clearing the plates.

"Don't bother with that," Shikaku told me, "just go rest. We've got this."

"... Alright," I nodded, "thank you."

I turned and started to go to my room before Shikamaru caught up to me and poked my shoulder, I turned to him and waited for him to say something.

"Play cards?" he suggested. I just paused for a moment before nodding.

"Sure," I nodded as I opened the door to my room and gestured for him to go in ahead of me, he did, and I followed after. I grabbed the cards before dropping down on my bed and adjusting my pillows so I could lean against them while we played.

We both sat and focused on playing.

It was silent all but for the sound of our light breathing and the sliding of the cards.

We were about halfway through the game when he finally started talking.

"What're you planning?" he asked, glancing up at me.

Hm? I wasn't aware I was planning anything.

"I don't understand," I replied, one card down, another card picked up.

"You are planning something aren't you?"

I looked up to see him not focusing on the game but on my expression.

Damn—how'd he catch on so quickly?

"I guess," I shrugged.

"What is it?" he asked, "is it dangerous?"

"Well, if you must know, I'm thinking about going off to find someone and to train again," I told him, looking down and concluding the game, "I... it was a big smack in the face in the Hidden Rain. I'm strong enough yet."

I won again. As usual.

"Who?" Shikamaru asked.

"Is this the real reason why you asked me to play?" I asked before standing up and looking into the hallway and closing the door. I then sat back down, leaning against the end of my bed.

"If you must know, there's a branch of my family still alive. I know where they are... kind of. I want to find them not only to tell them about my Dad but also so I can get better with my control over our kekkei genkai," I told him, "I can't have Honoko teaching me what I already know over and over. Only people who can use this jutsu can teach me now."

If my Dad was still alive, this all would've been a different story. But he's not so I have to go elsewhere.

"When?"

"I was going to ask Lady Tsunade tomorrow when she came here to get my final report," I told him. His eyes were telling me everything.

"2 to 3 years," I told him, "that's how long I was planning to be out."

"Naruto has just left for training too. Are you sure?" he asked. He was trying so hard to stop me from going. That much was clear to me.

Naruto left a couple days ago to start his three-year training with Jiraiyah. I heard they left almost after we'd returned to the village from the Hidden Rain.

"Why are you so adamant to keep me here?" I asked him, leaning forward. He sighed and stood up, moving to my side and resting his head on my shoulder.

"Because I don't want to lose you.."