Here to Ruin the Tournament
Shikamaru took a deep breath as she slowly walked in the forest. Interacting with a reporter yesterday was beyond troublesome and she definitely deserved a day off.
Slouched slightly with her hands in her pockets, the young Nara was just wandering around with no true destination in mind. She was hoping slightly to see a thestral as they were the closest thing she could get to the Nara deer in this foreign land.
She couldn’t help but smile softly when she did come upon a clearing where there was a few thestrals that were just lazing around. Looking around, she spotted a nice sunny area at the base of a tree and quickly sat down.
Closing her eyes, she took another deep breath as the sunlight tried to weakly warm her in the bitter cold.
Hearing a noise, she opened her eyes to see a very young thestral standing above her with its head tilted. Taking a hand out of her pocket, she held it up in front of the thestral’s muzzle. It took mere seconds until the baby pressed its nose into Shikamaru’s hand.
With another smile, she started to pet the baby thestral.
Shikamaru then heard an indignant meow and looked to the side to see Shikakage trotting over to the young Nara.
Snorting softly, she took her other hand out of her pocket and crossed her legs. She watched amusedly as Shikakage manipulated her size and then plopped herself in her owner’s lap.
With another demanding meow, Shikamaru started to also pet her cat who easily started purring loudly. “I swear you’re worse than the deer for attention.” She couldn’t help but comment softly to the cat.
Shikakage just purred louder.
Finally glancing over, she saw that the baby thestral had wandered back to its mother. Still petting her cat, Shikamaru leaned her back against the tree and relaxed even further (she didn’t dare stop petting Shikakage, who knew what that cat would do if she did stop).
After what felt like an hour, in which both cat and owner were dozing, there was a soft beating of hooves. Shikamaru opened her eyes slightly and moved her head to look at where the sound had come from.
The elder centaur she had met her first time slowly walked into the clearing while commenting, “I thought I felt your presence young one.”
Shikamaru opened her eyes a little more and turned her head to fully talk to the centaur, “The forest reminds me of home.”
The elderly centaur nodded in agreement as it sat down relatively near her so that she wouldn’t have to strain her neck to talk to him.
“I have noticed your companion a couple of times in the forest. Causing some mischief but also seeming to hold a grudge against the spiders.” He finally admitted as they sat in comfortable silence.
Shikamaru glanced down at her cat with a raised eyebrow, but Shikakage didn’t even twitch. “I have no control over what Shika no Kage does.”
The elderly centaur let out a chuckle, he had figured as much.
They then sat in comfortable silence for a good chunk of time. “Your favor among the thestrals has seem to have grown.” The centaur commented casually.
Shikamaru just shrugged her shoulders.
“When you had first entered the forest, it was clear to feel the deer imprint on you and your father. But I feel that you have more blessed items on you currently.” He continued.
Shikamaru paused before reaching up to touch the beads in her hair. She wondered who else could feel that the beads were blessed. “The stars have foretold that you will be challenged with a great challenge soon.”
Shikamaru nodded her head slightly before explaining a little, “The wizards are having a competition and I was unwillingly entered.”
The centaur frowned slightly, “And they did not have a way to remove you?”
“Apparently it was magically binding.” Shikamaru answered with a slightly bitter undertone.
The centaur’s frown deepened, that really was poor procedure by the wizards to not allow unwilling participants a way out. He shook his head at the lack of foresight the wizards possessed.
“There is an area in the forest that we have been asked to stay away from. There are cages being set up in the area but it remains void of any animals so far.” The elder freely associated.
Shikamaru dipped her head in acknowledgment and vowed to visit that area next weekend.
They once again lapsed in comfortable silence.
“Hard times are coming for you young one. I have no indication of when these hard times will hit, just that they will hit. Loss will be a major hit, but I cannot tell you what you will lose. Trust in your instincts for you have strong ones. Trust in the bonds you have forged.” The centaur finally warned what had been on his mind when he had initially sought her out.
Shikamaru furrowed her brow slightly at the warning but responded, “I thank you for the insight and the warning.”
“You are a young but growing warrior. You have much to learn and much to gain, but just as much to lose.” He warned again.
Shikamaru frowned slightly before taking a deep breath and responded, “Then I will do my best and hope that it is enough.”
“You have an interesting mindset young one. You now know of the challenges that will come for you, and yet you are forging ahead on your chosen path.” The elder couldn’t help but comment with a light undertone.
“No use in needlessly worrying, and I am already working to be the best I can be. It will come down to if I managed to grow enough in time.” Shikamaru countered logically.
“Wise words for someone so young. I can easily see why you have a deer imprint and the mark from an alpha pair.”
Shikamaru startled slightly; she didn’t know about the mark from an alpha pair. She met the centaur’s eyes but he just gave a mischievous smile which made her groan inwardly. What is it with elder people seeming to get entertainment out of whatever she is doing?
They then lapsed in a comfortable silence. Shikamaru closed her eyes again, enjoying the weak sunlight and managed to doze off a little.
Finally, though, she heard noise and opened her eyes to see the elder centaur stand up. Glancing up, she noticed how late it had gotten and just how hungry she was. With a small grunt, she managed to stand up while holding Shikakage. “You could at least make yourself easier to carry by becoming smaller.” She couldn’t help but tell her cat.
The cat opened one eye to look at her owner before shrinking down in size. Shikamaru scratched behind Shikakage’s ear as a thanks and she gave a low purr.
“Can I at least know your name?” Shikamaru couldn’t help but ask the elderly centaur as he started to walk away.
Shikamaru groaned out loud when he turned slightly and gave her a slight smirk by answering, “You can call me Elder.”
She shot the centaur an unimpressed look but he just chuckled as he gestured her to follow him.
They sedately made their way out of the forest, the centaur leading just to make the journey more efficient.
At the edge of the forest though, he bid her a good evening and disappeared into its’ depths as she continued towards the now lit castle.
Shikamaru had to admit, at least to herself, that today was a very good day. Yes, she received a warning from a centaur, but she got to fully relax for once and had quite a pleasant nap, even if it was colder than she preferred.
She lazily made her way to the Great Hall; she figured she should show up for that since she had been in the forest all day. After she could get some real food.
Just as she entered the full Great Hall though, it went almost immediately silent and everyone seemed to stare at her.
The female Nara raised an unimpressed eyebrow at the general populace and just lazily went over to her team. Still in silence, she sat down in between her teammates, still holding her cat. As soon as she sat though, the Hall broke out into furious whispers.
Shikamaru eyed the general populace before looking at her teammates. Ino at least looked amused by something, which was terrifying by itself. Chouji just sent her an oddly strained smile.
Glancing across the table, she saw Harry looking at her with pity, Ron was staring at her in between bites of food, and Hermione just looked indignant.
“Alright, what happened.” She finally demanded.
“Where have you been all day?” Hermione couldn’t help but ask immediately.
Raising an eyebrow again at the question, she lazily answered, “In the forest with Shikakage.”
“But the forest is forbi-“ Hermione started but was cut off by such an unimpressed look from the shinobi.
“I don’t actually go to this school, and this is the closest thing I’m getting to home any time soon.” Shikamaru couldn’t help but drawl an explanation.
Ino just looked more amused and Chouji looked slightly sympathetic. They might not know much about the Nara forest and deer, but they did know that Shikamaru spent a good chunk of time in that forest.
“Congratulations fawn, you’ve caused problems even when you weren’t here.”
All the Hogwarts students jumped as a voice sounded behind Shikamaru and a few fell out of their seats. She looked up to see her dad with an odd mixture of annoyance and amusement in his eyes.
“Am I in trouble?” She couldn’t help but ask first.
“Technically no, but it might cause later problems.” The elder Nara couldn’t help but admit.
“Should I care about this?” She asked as a follow up.
“Probably.” He admitted back.
She gave a groan and a relatively loud, “troublesome”.
Well, at least she wasn’t in trouble which was great. “So, what did I apparently do now?” Shikamaru asked after a few beats of silence.
Well, her dad looked more amused now which was interesting. He pulled out a newspaper and set it down in front of her, and with a “We’ll talk later” walked back up to the teacher’s table where Inoichi and Chouza were still sitting.
Shikamaru glanced down at the newspaper and couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow at the “Savage and Rude 4th Champion Here to Ruin the Tournament” that was splashed across the front page.
With just a glance she saw that it was Rita Skeeter as an author and was already done with the whole article.
“I’m not reading that, I’m afraid my braincells will die if I even attempt, someone do a summary for me.” She admitted after staring at the title for a second more.
Ino and Chouji both snorted and at least Harry grinned in amusement. Hermione still looked worried though, but Shikamaru was firm, she wasn’t reading whatever this was.
“Basically, insults you and how you are unbearably rude and downright savage, with your dad doing nothing more than encouraging your blatant disrespect.” Ino almost cheerfully explained.
Shikamaru just stared blankly at Ino for a second before snorting. “Amazing. I’m so proud of myself.” Shikamaru couldn’t help but sarcastically comment.
She glanced down at the newspaper again before she grinned. Chouji and Ino smartly looked wary and Harry looked slightly wary.
“Do you think my mom would appreciate this?” Shikamaru asked almost rhetorically.
Chouji’s eyes widened while Ino just started to laugh. Soon though, Chouji was joining in the laughter and Shikamaru just looked pleasantly pleased with herself.
“What did we say about scarring the general populace?” A voice sounded behind the Golden Trio now.
All three jumped but none fell off the chair thankfully. They whipped around to see the elder trio standing there.
Shikaku was already smirking, Chouza looked intrigued, and Inoichi just look exasperated. Ino and Chouji were starting to get their laughter under control, but the addition of the adults just added the hilarity back and they were laughing again.
“I just asked if they thought my mom would appreciate this.” Shikamaru stated with a feigned innocence.
Shikaku looked suitable impressed while Chouza was chuckling and Inoichi snorted. “You do that and your mother will come storm the castle, magic or not.”
Shikamaru just gave a cheshire grin.
Yoshino might not be a Nara at birth, she was one by marriage and she fiercely defended that. Anything going against a Nara was an attack against her. And it went double whenever anyone tried to go up against Shikamaru.
Shikamaru could easily take care of herself, but it was always fascinating to watch her mom basically rip people to shreds with her words alone. Yoshino might nag Shikamaru, but it was never in public, and absolutely no one else was allowed to treat her daughter like that.
It was actually one of the things Shikamaru appreciated in her mom, and with them tentatively bonding more now, the Nara heir was being taught how to do the same thing.
Shikaku would come home sometimes to them just sitting together, furiously whispering and would smartly ignore it and go to his office until he got an all clear.
Shikaku could play word and mind games instantly, but the type of word games that Yoshino played were entirely different.
To the growing horror of the unlucky, Shikamaru was showing an aptitude for both types of word and mind games. Shikaku was so proud of his fawn and Yoshino was ecstatic that Shikamaru was so willing to learn something from her.
“Keep that as a last resort, I don’t think the wizards could survive my wife’s wrath.” Shikaku couldn’t help but point out.
Shikamaru considered this and then nodded; setting her mother on the wizards would be extreme.
“Is your mom really that scary?” Ron couldn’t help but ask.
The Nara sagely nodded their heads. The other 2 families just looked amused, but like they also agreed.
Harry was honestly interested in meeting Shikamaru’s mom, especially if she got this kind of reaction.
There was a moment though that a bubble of bitterness welled up inside him. Sure, they shared a mother and both lost her, but Shikamaru still had a full living set of parents.
Harry was startled though when he glanced at Shikamaru and found her studying him. There was a look in her eye that he couldn’t identify though and she tilted her head just the slightest to the side.
Her eyes flickered up to her dad’s and their eyes met for a second before she looked back at Harry. “You’ll meet her at some point.” Shikamaru finally declared softly.
Harry was a little startled at this; just earlier they were saying how they didn’t know if they had any power of where he went and now, they were saying he would get to meet the mom. So that meant either he was going with them to their home, or they would come back to visit him.
This thought caused Harry to grin slightly. It would be nice having family that didn’t hate him immediately.
Speaking of family, Sirius had responded to Harry’s letter and set up a time on the 22nd to fire call and explain more. He was both anticipating and dreading that conversation honestly.
“Alright, well I’m off, it’s been a long day and I need to sleep.” Shikamaru declared as she stood up.
Hogwarts students were surprised though to still see the cat in Shikamaru’s arms. And was the cat that small before?
“See you guys later.” Shikamaru stated as she started to walk away.
Ino and Chouji both bid the others goodnight but still seemed to be laughing about Shikamaru’s mom.
Looking around, the Hogwarts population was startled when they noticed all the elder trio were already waiting at the door, like they had been there the whole time. No one even saw them move!
This brought on a new wave of whispering as the shinobi all left the hall.