The Fox that got Lost in the Clouds

It's Okay

Shikamaru laid down on his futon, he got a 3 good full hours of sleep. Now he laid awake on his futon. He was laying on his right side, his back to his bed.

His right arm prop up on his elbow, while the hand held up his head, and his left arm was crossed over his chest, his hand gently laid on his right bicep. His legs were laid over one another, while his feet laid side by side, and his left foot toes twitched in thought.

He stared at the door, his eyes scanning his light brown door. On the left side of his door was a shelf, it held all his favorite personal belongings. His shoji board was first, on the highest shelf. Then there was his chest board. Right next to his chest board, laid Naruto's bento box and chopstick case.

He laid there on his futon, stiff as he listened to his parent's hushed talking. He tuned his ears the moment he woke up from his peaceful slumber.

He could usually hear them talking at this time of night, but he would usually roll over and go back to sleep. However, tonight, he could hear them speaking of Naruto.

In the kitchen, sitting at the table was Shukaku and Yoshino. They sat there, discussing Naruto's predicament and what they should do to help her. Yoshino looked down at her cup of warm lemon tea.

It was a white mug with pretty, pink writing. 'Best Mom, Best Wife' it read. She sat there, leaning against the table, her arms folded under her chest. She wore her silky, pastel pink night gown with a long, fluffy, red robe over it. Her hair was up in a messy bun.

Shikaku sat across from her, his chair sideways, facing away from the table. He was wearing a plain, white shirt with some plain, dark blue pajama pants. He too had a cup of warm lemon tea.

He sat leaning back into his chair, arms crossed as he looked down at his his spread feet. He could see his left foot toes twitching through his socks. His plain, green cup, sat on the table next to him. In white writing it read
'# 1 Husband,
# 2 Dad,
#3 Ninja.'
It was a strange thing to write, but it suited him just fine.

"Dear, I don't know what to do. I don't wanna see her suffer anymore. She's just a child." Yoshino said to her husband in a sadden tone. She brought her hands up to her cheeks.

He gave a sigh. "Yoshino, I'm sorry, but I don't know what to do. I've talked to the councilmen many times about adopting Naruto, but they reject me every time." Shikakau explained to his wife, his voice sounded tired and drained.

As he rubbed his hand over his eyes and down his cheeks. 'If only I could cut the middle man out.' Shikakau annoyingly thought. "Let's go to the Hokage tomorrow." Yoshino suddenly stated. Her eyes opened and set. He snatched his head in her direction, his right hand inches from his face, while his left stayed crossed over his chest.

"What? Yoshino." Shukakau started but quickly stopped himself. He had thought of going straight to the Hokage about it, 'but the councilmen is over him too.' Shukakau scowled at the thought and balled his right hand into a tight, bone grinding fist.

"Hear me out, Yes the councilmen is over the Hokakge, but the Hokage is the true leader of the village. What he says goes." Yoshino said in a convincing tone. Her right palm turned up, while her left arm down under her chest. "Hmm." Shikaku thought as his right hand pulled his beard in thought.

Shikamaru sat next to his room door, his back against his wall. His left leg was pulled up, while his left arm rested on his knee. In his left hand he played with something that held a long, silver chain glittering in the white moonlight glow.

His head was turned to his right as he listened with a numb face. He was relaxed as he listened to their conversation. He honestly wasn't surprised about the topic. In fact he was quite happy about it. He looked down at his hand, the chain sparkling in the moonlight. He opened his palm.