Stolen

“Shikamaru! I can’t find my dress!”

The nine-year-old sighed in resignation. His mother was so troublesome.

“It’s under your bed, Mama!”

“Thank you~!”

He sighed again. He was always helping his mama find her lost things for as long as he could remember. And she was only twenty-two. She was meant to have a good memory.

Another sigh.

Mama jumped down the stairs and landed heavily on their couch, right across from where he was relaxing on a very comfortable armchair.

“Shika. I think you’re old enough now to know where you came from.”

Shikamaru blushed slightly. “I know all about the birds and the bees, Mama.”

“Oh good, but that’s not wha- wait. How do you know about that?”

“I have my sources,” he said mysteriously.

“It was one of your friends, wasn’t it.” It wasn’t a question.

“Yes.”

“Well. That saves me some extra embarrassment. But that’s not what I was going to talk about.”

“Oh?” he raised an eyebrow.

“Yeah. Come sit with me.”

As he moved across to the couch, he noticed that she was wringing her hands, something she only did when she was nervous. But what did she have to be nervous about?

“I’m sure you’ve noticed that I’m quite a bit younger than any of the other mothers here.” At his nod, she continued. “That’s because, well. . . I’mnotbioligicallyyourmother.”

After taking a second to decipher her words, he blinked. Well then. That was unexpected.

Taking in his non-expression, Asahi rushed to explain. “I was, um, going for a run, when I saw you in the hands of this man. He wasn’t handling you right. You were being held upside by your feet for Merlin’s sake! I couldn’t let that stand. So I went over and asked what he was doing, and he threatened me. I fought with him and took you away, but not before looking around for your parents! I’m sorry I couldn’t find them Shika. I really am. I tried to find them. But . . . I can’t help but feel grateful, because if I did then I wouldn’t have you. I love you Shikamaru and I really hope that this doesn’t change our relationship.”

He sat there for a really long time, thinking things over. Mama didn’t move away from his side the whole time.

Finally, he spoke, “I see. Thank you for telling me, Mama. I understand that this must have been hard for you to tell me. Please know that even though you are only thirteen years older than me and not my biological mother, you will always be my mama, regardless of whether we find my birth mother or not. I would like to find her though, but not now. Maybe in a few years when we are both ready.”

He looked up to find her with tears running down her cheeks and a bright smile. She rushed forward and smothered him to her breast, suffocating him.

“Oh, I love you so much Shikamaru! You’re so mature! When did you get so grown up? I’ll never deserve you for as long as I live.”

“That’s great Mama, but you’re suffocating me.”

She let him go. “I’m sorry baby. We should celebrate!”

“Ice cream?”

“Absolutely! Let’s go~!”

“Mama?”

“Hmm?”

“I was wondering if I could begin shinobi training.”

At her quiet gasp, he looked up. Her face had slackened, and her eyes had gone huge.

She stuttered out, “U-um, if y-you really w-wanted to. Yeah. . . yeah, if you want.”

He frowned at her, “It was just an idea. If you don’t want me to then I won’t.”

“No, no, no! You do you baby. You just. . . surprised me is all. I’d be proud to call my son shinobi. We’ll sign you up tomorrow.”

“Troublesome. Thank you, Mama.”

“Sure, baby.”

The next day he was indeed signed up, and thus began the next chapter of his life.