A/n: Before this little she-bang gets started...I got a review asking how Shikamaru was a Kumo-nin and how surely he'd never willingly turn his back on Konoha.

Well, his mission was to become a Kumo-nin. He's like a spy, I guess. I should have explained this earlier. In fact, I'll probably add like a prequel..but...yeah. Anyways, enjoy.

Chapter 5

Temari laughed. “So, how was Kumo?” she asked. “I mean before you were sent back.”

Shikamaru sighed. “Boring. They worked me until I almost died,” he said, looking up at the clouds floating by.

“You never used to be this dramatic, Cry Baby. I think that name actually suits you. Tell me about the shinobi,” she said.

“They were very different. All they did was work. I didn’t see many people my own age when I went out to eat. I think they were all on missions. Either that or they were holed up in their homes. I looked for a Shogi set, but couldn’t find one,” Shikamaru sighed.

Temari snorted. “Cry Baby.”

“Troublesome Hag,” he muttered

“What was that?” Temari asked.

“Nothing. Look, it’s that sand gourd Gaara used to carry around,” he pointed at a cloud.

“Nah. That’s not it,” Temari said. Shikamaru sighed.

“Look, it’s a deer!” Temari pointed out.

“No, that’s a star,” Shikamaru said. Temari glared at him.

“Well, what’s that?” she asked pointing to a blob.

“That’s a deer.”

Temari sighed. “I heard Kumo is vey foggy,” she said, staring at the deer-cloud.

“I guess. It was always gloomy. They didn’t have blue skies like Suna or Konoha.”

“It’s getting late. I guess we’d better head back,” Temari said, standing up and offering her hand to Shikamaru. He took it and let her pull him up.

“I’ve got two months before I’m assigned to a new mission. When will you be leaving?” he asked as they walked through the streets of Konoha.

“I have a few weeks left. Why?”

“Well, it’s been awhile since you’ve seen the deer. That fawn has probably grown up considerably,” Shikamaru explained.

“Probably. Speaking of growing up, Asumi is getting bigger,” Temari said of Shikamaru’s former sensei’s 20-month old daughter, Asumi.

“I should probably pay Kurenai-san a visit, huh?” he asked.

“We can do that now,” Temari said, not wanting to go back to her hotel just yet.

Shikamaru was silent for a few minutes. “Let’s go,” he said.

They arrived at Kurenai’s just as it started to rain. Temari knocked on the door.

Kurenai answered with a sleepy baby in her arms. “Shikamaru? You’re back early,” she said stepping back so they could gain refuge from the downpour.

“I got sent back,” Shikamaru explained. “Can I hold her?” he asked. The last time he’d seen her she’d been only a couple months old. Kurenai handed Asumi over to Shikamaru.

“Hinata and Shino and Kiba just left. I think Kiba read her a bedtime story, because all of a sudden she was tired,” Kurenai said, sitting down.

“Hi, Asumi. Remember me? I’m your Uncle Shika,” Shikamaru whispered. Asumi cracked open a reddish brown eye.

“Unca?” she said, tightening her grasp on Shikamaru’s vest.

“Yup. Kurenai-san, have Ino and Chouji stopped by?” he asked.

Kurenai started to laugh. “Yes. Chouji brought a basket full of baby food and Ino brought flowers just last week,” she said.

Temari smiled. Kurenai looked over at her.

“So, how long are you going to be here?” she asked. She’d overheard Ino discussing how Temari looked at Shikamaru and how he returned those looks.

“Um..a few more weeks,” Temari answered.

Kurenai nodded and turned her attention back to Shikamaru.

“I think she’s finally asleep,” he said. “Where’s her bed?”

Kurenai pointed to a hallway. “First room,” she said.

Shikamaru nodded and went to put Asumi in bed. He came back a few minutes later. “I heard Akatsuki got caught,” he said.

Kurenai nodded. “Tsunade told me Naruto and Sai and Sakura caught the one who killed Asuma,” she said.

Shikamaru nodded. He had failed to do the job himself. Instead he’d chosen to save Ino and Chouji. He couldn’t stand to lose all of his team.

Temari yawned. “I think I’ll head back, Shikamaru,” she said quietly. He nodded. “You stay here and catch up,” she added when he started to rise. He sat back down.

The next day, Shikamaru walked to the Yamanaka Flower Shop. It said “Closed”, but he still walked in. He found Chouji talking to Ino. They stopped as soon as Shikamaru entered.

“Shikamaru,” Ino said, surprised. “What are you doing here?”

“I saw Asumi last night. She looks almost exactly like Asuma-sensei. So I decided, I’m going to visit his grave. I need flowers, though,” he said.

Ino nodded and moved away from Chouji. “What kind? How many?”

“Um…I don’t know. Just pick some,” he said. Ino sighed. He really was lazy, she thought.

“Alright. Here you go,” she said handing him a handful of assorted flowers. After he left, she walked over to where Chouji was standing. “He’s still the lazy Shikamaru we know and love, huh?” she said, leaning against her boyfriend.

“Yup. We still need to tell Shikamaru that we’re dating,” Chouji reminded her after a few minutes of silence.

Ino nodded.

At the Hero monument, Shikamaru laid a cigarette on the bench in front of Asuma’s name before walking over to the cemetery built a little bit before Asuma died. He quickly found Asuma’s tombstone and read it over.

Loved Father

Loved Sensei

Loved Uncle

You will be missed, Asuma-sensei.

Shikamaru set the flowers down in front of the stone and took out another cigarette. He stuck it in his mouth and lit it. He inhaled and then exhaled a ring of smoke.

“Asuma-sensei, your daughter is beautiful. She looks just like you. You probably planned that, huh?” Shikamaru inhaled again and tapped the ash off the end of the cigarette.

“Kurenai-san is doing well. I guess she has had company while I was in Kumo. I think Temari-san has been visiting her,” Shikamaru said.

“I think I like her,” he muttered. “She can beat me in Shougi, or at least distract me enough to do so,” he said.

“Well, I guess I’ll be back later,” he said, extinguishing the cigarette on the tombstone.