Day 02: Mission Report

iii. oh, wrap the ground around

Shikamaru knows he promised Kakashi to not distract her, but it's actually her that distracts him.

Anyone would have the same problem were them in his place, his secret - but no less his - girlfriend as the head of an entire village, incredibly beautiful, smart and strong. There had been a time when he thought staying in her presence would be too troublesome, now it was more like a gift.

Ino will probably strangle them both if she ever finds out Shikamaru gets a bit turned on at seeing Sakura handling politics so well, looking at him from over mission scrolls and documents alike with a glint in her green eyes.

Ino will strangle them both when she finds out they've been dating behind her back for some months now.

It's hard to find the time and privacy to switch places and have her straddling him on the Hokage chair as he kisses her senseless - too many ANBU around and people coming and going, and all that - and while that is a good daydream, he saves those for when he's at home after work. They can't and won't do anything risky here, but he does find breaches to run his fingers on exposed skin and make her shiver whenever she gives him these looks.

He knows, later, she'll get a payback when he shows up at her doorstep with no excuse on the tip of his tongue at all, but here she keeps her hands to herself. It's cute: Sakura twitches and wrinkles nose, loses her train of thought, and he smiles at her discreetly as some ninja watches the office from a distance.

Their friends come and go, for missions or other matters, and Shikamaru is always standing that respectful distance away. He never teases her in the presence of others, for more reasons than one. Firstly, he can't taint her image as Hokage. Secondly, they don't know they're together. And thirdly, Kakashi will have his head if he ever finds out.

Kakashi, for all his tardiness and lazy tendencies that rivalled Shikamaru's, never neglected his work. He didn't think himself fit of the position, but it didn't mean he wouldn't do his best for the village just because he would rather be out on the field or just lying around reading. Promises made aside, Kakashi had been her teacher, he's someone that keeps a close eye on her even now after the War. His protectiveness over Sakura can rival one of a father, or one of an older brother given their age difference, and it means he doesn't need to see or hear that Shikamaru had his tongue in her mouth in the Hokage office.

He'd always said the office was meant for work only, the only reason why he kept his Icha Icha books at home in all the years they've known him.

Well, Shikamaru can honor the Sixth's request, which is why they never go further than slight touches and glances, waiting for the moment when they'll find themselves alone.

Today, Sakura suggests they head out for lunch break. They'll still be taking scrolls with him, but a change of scenery for an hour might do them some good, and he gets to keep his hand on her lower back under the pretence of keeping her safe out in the open. She finds a place that suits her mood and they sit on a table by the window overlooking the busy streets, smiling up at the waitress and ordering for them both as Shikamaru arranges the files on the tabletop.

Whatever work they thought they'd get done slips through their fingers the moment Ino plops down on the table beside Sakura. She slings an arm over her shoulders, pulls the Hokage close and reaches for his glass of water across the table. "So, Sakura," she begins after a short greeting, "Have you given thought to what I suggested?"

Shikamaru looks at her quizzically, watches as Sakura cringes. "Ino, please. I don't have time for that."

"Oh, come on." The blonde huffs. "It will do you good. Imagine, you can go to those meetings with a hunk of a beefcake hanging off your arm."

He knows immediately it's one of Ino's ploys to get Sakura on a date with someone, and he's not even mad that Sakura didn't tell him about it, because it's an occurrence more common than both of them would like it to be. Ino may back off in the moment, but she'll keep trying, as she's been doing since they were teens.

"Ino, I don't need… A hunk of a beefcake to go with me to diplomatic meetings. I can go with Shikamaru just fine. You know, as I should."

"No offense to Shika here, but don't you get bored of spending the entire day with him?" She sticks her tongue out at him when he gives her a dry look. "You must really like him, uh, Sakura?"

Thankfully, the waitress comes with their food and it distracts Ino. They both know she'd been only teasing, and hadn't even hinted at anything, but Shikamaru was willing to bet that Sakura's heart had picked up just as his had. She swears to never leave the office for lunch breaks again, and he'll gladly retrieve take out from the other side of Konoha if it means no one will comment on it again.

By now they should've broken the news, but it's good as it is. He doesn't like to have his life exposed, and this is one of the few things Sakura can keep private now, so they keep quiet and put up with Ino trying to get her best friend into blind dates.

Life goes on and one afternoon, he's beside her chair, hand propped on the backrest, the other tracing the lines of the report as they go over it together. Shikamaru had taken part in organizing Chunin Exams for as long as he can remember, so he's well versed in it enough to be of great help to her now that they are to host one in Konoha. Around the desk, more paper is scattered about: their budget, possible housing for delegations, the expected number of outsiders, security for the event.

And then there's a brief knock on the door before it opens, just as they are looking at each other and discussing costs. Ino, Kiba, Rock Lee and Shino, responding to her earlier summon, stopping short when they see them.

Belatedly, Shikamaru realizes he should step away, and that no one bothers to wait to be called in anymore. He's standing too close to breathe the same air, too close to be merely platonic. Kiba lifts a brow, Ino narrows her eyes, Lee looks between the two. Shino is the only one to mind his business, bless him. He sees a brief flash of panic in Sakura's eyes before she hides it well and turns to face them. Shikamaru finally moves and retrieves the designed mission scroll.

It's like she's briefing only Shino, because the other three are going over every scenario and possibility in their heads. Just their luck that Ino had to see it, and Kiba too, because he's her male equivalent, and he's going to tell all his friends about it whether he realizes it or not. And Rock Lee - he'll probably challenge Shikamaru to a duel over Sakura's hand after he cries to Guy about it.

And Guy will tell Kakashi, and Shikamaru will be a dead man.

He half expects any of them to ask about the closeness when Sakura inquires if they have any questions, but they all know better than getting too friendly with her in the office. They leave, not before Ino makes a motion that implies she'll grill them both about it as soon as she gets back in a week, but at least Shikamaru finds a little comfort in knowing she'll have to deal with Lee's dramatics if she wants to discuss it with Kiba during the mission.

Sakura shoves her face in her hands a full minute after their departure. "We'll never hear the end of it."

He shoves mental images of his funeral away and places a hand on her shoulder. "We can handle it." A pause, and he tightens his grip. "We should probably tell our parents first, though."

She groans and slumps in her chair. "God, I can already hear my mom questioning you before my dad tells embarrassing childhood stories."

"If it serves of any consolation," he begins, crouching down beside her. "My mom will do the same."

Sakura snorts and looks down at him. "I think I'd rather face Kaguya one more time than do this, but yes. We have to tell them before Ino comes back."

That's a sentiment he can relate to well enough. Yoshino has been pestering him about wives and heirs for some time now, and she's going to be equally elated and livid about it. Elated because he's finally chosen a suitor, and livid because he didn't tell her about it as soon as he began dating Sakura. Not to mention Yoshino will have to deem her worthy enough, and so will the elders.

But really, will they even find a better person to be the Nara Matriarch than the Hokage herself?

Sakura cups his face, runs her thumb along his cheekbone. He smiles up at her and knows they can do it. They faced a lot of stuff since their first Chunin Exam, Sakura more so since her first C-rank mission to the Land of Waves. After all that, it'll be easy to face their parents.

They will have to announce it to the village at some point, because they can't afford to have rumors of their relationship going around.

Well, they'll cross that bridge when they get to it.

Shikamaru turns his head to kiss her palm, smiling against her skin. Everything will be okay.

Unless the newcomer clearing their throat right now is Kakashi.

A big thank you to everyone leaving nice comments! I'll reply to them individually! I'm just... really bad at it afshafka but I'll get to it!