The bridge I crossed
The Fourteenth
I woke up to Kiba's frowning face. "Morning," he mumbled, handing me a bowl of food. I looked around and taking the bowl, and asked, "Where's Shikamaru?"
"Playing judge and jury," Kiba said around a mouthful.
"Please tell me I slept only a night." I picked up the spoon and took a sip of the steaming soup.
"Yepfh." He swallowed and pointed at the bowl in my hands with his chopstick. "Late breakfast. Also, Iruka's here. He almost burned down Kyoto in his anger because Shikamaru thought Kakashi was going to let Iruka know about the news, but Kakashi forgot. He yelled at Kakashi for three straight hours. You missed all the fun stuff."
"I remembered Iruka, from when I was asleep," I said through a grin. Kakashi probably got the trashing of his life. Perfect. "So what's Shikamaru doing again?"
"Sakura wants to marry Lee," Kiba said as-a-matter-of-factly. "I noticed they were getting close. Anyways, Wazuka doesn't approve."
I smiled at that, making a note to pat Lee on the back next time I saw him. "Why would Wazuka object?"
"She wanted her to marry Sasuke." Kiba answered, frowning. "You all right, Naruto?"
"Yeah. It's just not--" I took a spoonful of soup, and then finished my sentence. "It's just not like Wazuka to..."
Kiba grinned at me. "Well, once you've eaten, you can make your appearance. No one's said it, but I think they're waiting for you."
I sighed into my bowl, and felt a heat of steam hit my face in response. "Fine, then. I guess it can't get any worse." I finished breakfast in silence, and let Kiba help me into the bathroom. When I walked back again, brushed, and fully clean, I saw that Kiba was waiting outside with a look of impatience.
"Come on, come on. I don't want to miss this." He took me by the hand and led me out, steadying me now and then when I needed it. When we reached Wazuka's room, I heard voices inside, not loud, but definitely heated. The servant outside bowed once, opened the door and announced our entrance before opening the door completely for us to go inside. The room stilled when I walked in, and without even me noticing, Kiba slipped away and made his way next to Hinata who looked up at him gratefully.
There was a split-second, and then the argument started again. It was Hinata talking, speaking on Sakura's behalf.
Iruka had a frown on his face and was standing next to Kakashi who, to his credit, looked a little uncomfortable. The moment I came into the room, Iruka's eyes landed on me, and I made my way to Iruka first, who pulled me away from the general assembly and into a far corner of the room. Then, Iruka hugged me tightly, gathering me in his arms. "Hey, Iruka, I'm okay," I muttered against his shoulder. His arms tightened around me. "I can't--I can't breathe, Iruka."
But Iruka was too busy muttering things about how stupid I was, how stupid he was for letting me go back to work so early, how stupid Tsunade was for sending me on a trip like this, how stupid Kakashi was for not calling him, and what would he have done if I hadn't woken up?
"Look at me, Naruto." He held my face in his hands, looking worn and strained. "Don't do that to me again, you hear?"
"I'm sorry," I mumbled. Across the room, voices were being raised again--Sakura's now, and then Lee's. "I'm okay now. I was just tired."
Iruka didn't look convinced. "I was so, so worried, Naruto." And then he was presing his lips against my forehead, pulling me in for another hug.
"Hey, Iruka." I sighed, putting my arms around him and resting my head on his shoulder. I felt like a child again, sixteen and so small and stupid in a big, big university. "Stop worrying. M'okay, now."
"I'm not going to let you out of my sight again. And if you pull a stunt like this ever again, I'm going to ground you from here till--"
"Iruka," Kakashi's voice. "Naruto should probably join the conversation over there. Sorry to interrupt."
Kakashi looked genuinely guilty for disturbing us. I waved his apology aside, pushing away from Iruka who still didn't look like he was done hugging me. "It's okay. Iruka was going all freak-parent on me, anyways."
"What? Freak parent?" Iruka slapped me upside the head. Hard.
"Ow!"
"What do you mean freak parent? This is the second time in a month that you've fallen asleep, and you're saying I'm going freak parent on you?" I winced when his volume increased with each word. Slowly, hesitantly, I smiled at him.
Which was a bad move.
Iruka took a deep breath and yelled: "Oh my god, Naruto, do you have any idea how much I've aged in the past few days?"
Which may or may not have been a rhetorical question. I answered anyways, cowering under Iruka's gaze. "Uh...a lot? You look...older?"
Kakashi smiled, slow and easy. "Oh, but Professor, I think you look just fine."
Iruka turned a brilliant shade of red, snapping his mouth shut with a click of teeth. I stared, open-mouthed. Kakashi was flirting with Iruka. The Kakashi that I slept with. The Kakashi that Iruka also slept with, a long time ago. There were levels of wrong, and this violated them all.
Kakashi looked like he was about to say something even more traumatizing, so I took interrupted him with a yell. "Oh my god, can you please stop before my brain leaks out of my ears?" Kakashi grinned at me. Iruka stared. They didn't seem to be getting the problem here, so I tried again, pulling Iruka away from Kakashi. "He's like--he's my dad."
Which was also a bad move. Because Iruka's anger vanished in an instant, and he was pulling me into a hug again, pressing his lips into my hair, muttering how of course he was my dad because he found me when I was fifteen, and sure I wasn't as cute as I used to be anymore, but--"Iruka, quit it. Public," I said, and pointed at all the people who--"Um." Everyone was staring in our direction, argument momentarily forgotten.
"Now," Kakashi muttered, giving me a nudge between the shoulder blades, "would be a good time to go and join the debate."
I walked awkwardly back towards where everyone was and sat down next to Wazuka who gave out a long, throaty laugh. "He's been very worried, you know," she said, lowering her voice. Around us, conversations erupted between small groups of people. Distantly, I heard Kakashi yell 'ow'--Iruka hit him, I thought happily.
"Yeah, well. He gets like that." I turned to see that Iruka was hissing at Kakashi who was still rubbing at his arm. "A lot."
"Well, when you have a child..." Wazuka turned her head towards Sasuke over her shoulder. I turned to follow her blank gaze and saw that he was slouching against the wall, hands in pockets, decked in a full business suit. For some reason, he'd decided to retreat to back-stage for this scene. Swallowing a sigh, I steeled myself and turned to Wazuka. "I heard. About Sakura and Lee."
Lee was only a few feet away and when I looked at him, he shifted uncomfortably with Sakura by his side. Sakura looked to be on the verge of tears, but her face was completely free of any tear-streaks. I smiled at her encouragingly and she returned it, a hint of pleading curling her lips.
"Then you must have heard my objections as well," she said, straining to keep her voice low. "That ungrateful girl." Wazuka took in a deep breath. "I took her under my wing, raised her away from her parents, introduced her to this circle, all with the hopes that one day she would grow to marry my son. She said she loved him once, and now--" she waved vaguely in the direction of where Lee was standing, "Some vagabond journalist comes in and steals her heart?"
I took Wazuka's hand in both of mine and held them for a moment. She patted my hand fondly, absent-mindedly. "My son," she said, tilting her head to where Sasuke was standing, "Has been indifferent to this entire affair. I thought, after marriage, after children, he will grow to love her, but I've had no luck in the matters of my family."
I moved a little closer to her on the floor. "Wazuka, please, don't worry yourself."
"What do you think, Naruto. At least, you tell me your opinions honestly."
I looked over Wazuka's shoulder, caught Kakashi's smiling gaze and scowled at him. Slowly, I began: "Lee and Sakura fell in love. You know, love at first sight." I paused, thinking, and then, "Don't blame Sakura for that. She probably did love Sasuke, before she met Lee, but maybe because he was the only person in her life."
Wazuka opened her mouth to say something, but I softly cut in. "I'm not implying that you shut her off from the rest of the world. It's just--" Sasuke shifted loudly behind me and said something to Kakashi. I turned to look at him and saw that he was still staring at me, eyes blank. "Sometimes, love is an unexpected affair."
"And? I have yet to hear your opinion," Wazuka said, her shoulders hunching. I felt sad, withdrawing what support she expected to get from me.
"Sasuke's a big, fat, mean jerk," I said, raising my voice so that he caught my insult.
"Dead last."
"Shut up, Sasuke. Anyways," I lowered my voice and turned back towards Wazuka. "He doesn't care either way. But Sakura does, so you have to base your decision on her feelings." Wazuka nodded, and I went on, feeling hopeful. "The vagabond journalist you mentioned is a friend of mine. He's a good man," I continued, not having to think much about this part. "You hoped to make a match, a good match. They might have made a good couple. But the jerk didn't care, Sakura was maybe in love on the surface. She didn't know anything until she met Lee. You love both of them, Lady Wazuka. You have to take the decision that would benefit both."
"And you'll leave me with that?" She pulled back and felt for my hands. I placed my hands in hers and watched as she processed what I had said. "Well, I suppose, with you and Sasuke. It would have been problematic..." She reached up to my face and felt my features. Her voice still low, she added, "Sasuke says you have the bluest eyes."
I blushed, throwing a glare in his direction. He raised an eyebrow at me, unaware of my conversation with his mother. Wazuka frowned. "I suppose," she repeated and was was silent for a long moment. Finally, she waved her hand in the air with resignation. "Let the wedding preparations continue. Pass on the news to the guests that we have a new groom."
There was a sigh of relief in the room, and Kiba clapped Shikamaru's shoulder. Sakura jumped into Lee's arms, tears now falling freely. I leaned forward and hugged Wazuka, unable to contain my own happiness.
"Well, good news for you, Sasuke's single now," she mumbled so only I could hear. I flushed but before I could respond, she raised her voice again. "I suppose I can still expect grandchildren."
Sakura chuckled, still crying, catching Wazuka's comment, and came forward. "Of course you can. Of course you can."
"A five-man army," Lee said, close behind her.
Wazuka touched my arm, smiling softly. "Fine, then. Naruto, help me up. We have preparations to make."
I'd hoped to be able to spend some time with Iruka, but I was still a guest at Wazuka's house so I obeyed. Kakashi and Sasuke followed, close behind. Sakura stopped me on my way out, planted a quick kiss on my cheek before opening the door for me and letting the four of us pass through. Once the door closed behind us, I heard cheering. "You have a way with words," Kakashi said, catching up with me. Behind us, Sasuke was silent. His marriage was just called off, very publicly at that. Didn't he have anything to say?
"Yes, he does," Wazuka said, thoughtful.
Kakashi put hand on my shoulder, and bent to whisper in my ear, "How are you?"
I turned my head, came nose-to-nose with the man, and flashed him a smile. "Better now. Oh, and also, stay away Iruka." He raised an eyebrow at that, but didn't say anything, withdrawing instead to walk alongside with Sasuke. "Uh, Lady Wazuka," I said, after a few more steps, "I don't know where we're going."
"To my room," Sasuke said, from behind, his voice oddly tight.
"Oh, all right then."
Wazuka slowed down a little. "You know where his room is?"
I glanced quickly over my shoulder, and saw Kakashi's pleased grin and Sasuke's eyes narrow. "Uh--," I began, turning back to look ahead and feeling Sasuke's unwavering gaze on me. "Well, you see, we." I cleared my throat, "We--"
"I don't need to know the details," Wazuka said, quickening her steps a little more. "Some privacy would be nice." I guided Wazuka to Sasuke's room, blushing a little at the fact that I knew the way without even having to remember very much. When we reached there, I led her in, flushing when I remembered that we shared a bed in this room. Wazuka sat heavily on on the floor, looking tired. I was nearly at the door when I heard her sharp voice. "Where do you think you're going?"
I turned slowly. "Out?"
"No such thing," Wazuka said again, patting the seat next ot her.
I glanced at Sasuke--should I stay?--but his face was blank. Slowly, he nodded, holding my gaze still. "All right, then," I said, looking away from Sasuke carefully, "I'll stay."
"Come, sit next to me," Wazuka said, patting the space beside her. "My son's been silent all this time. But we both know how he is." She was being petulant, fishing for an apology from Sasuke.
"Mother," Sasuke's voice was soft, almost apologetic, but still reigned in with an almost fierce sense of propriety.
"Mother," Wazuka repeated. "That's it?"
Sasuke came to crouch next to Wazuka and took her hand in his. He was silent for a while, running a thumb on the back of her thin hand before finally admitting, "I've been difficult."
"Yes, you have. Learn a thing or two from Naruto here."
Sasuke looked up to catch my gaze. "I don't think he's inclined to do that," I said, not looking away from him. "An Uchiha is an Uchiha after all."
Sasuke's eyes narrowed, and I saw the edge of his lip twitch, and then still. He looked back towards his mother. "I apologize." His voice was soft, and I felt my heart thud to a stop. This, I realized, was the extent of Sasuke's affections. He could apologize, be gentle, look at a blind woman with all the warmth in the world, and yet...
And yet, he could not spare a kind, honest word for me. Not one because--I was jealous of his mother. Of his mother. "The matter of an heir," said Kakashi, moving forward and slicing the conversation short with practiced ease, "Should not concern us for some time, Wazuka."
"Yes, I know," she said, sighing and shaking her head. "I've become slightly paranoid, haven't I? About this family."
Kakashi smiled fondly at Wazuka. "After Itachi, Wazuka, it's only natural."
Sasuke stood up abruptly at that and moved towards the wine rack. "Don't drink in front of your mother, Sasuke. I've taught you better manners than that."
He stopped mid-stride, and made a detour towards his desk at the other end of the room without a word. I felt a small smile come to my face. Sasuke. Tamed. "Itachi's son," Kakashi said, moving the conversation firmly along. I felt a little out of place. This was clearly a family meeting. A private one. I tried to tune it out, but it was hard not to eavesdrop when I was in the room.
"I haven't said that I won't marry in the future," Sasuke cut in, drumming his fingers on the table-top. I bristled at his comment.
"Of course not," I muttered under my breath, and immediately, Wazuka turned to me.
"Naruto?"
I felt all three pairs of eyes land heavily on me. "I was just agreeing," I said, blushing full-force now.
"There are a million woman who would jump at a chance to marry you, Sasuke," Kakashi said. I looked away and stared at the back of the wall, forcing my muscles to remain relaxed.
"Of course there are," I mumbled, feeling petty. And here I was, thinking that I could ask him out sometime later for a movie maybe. They all stilled and turned to stare at me. "Agreeing still," I hastened to explain.
"A loveless marriage," Wazuka said. "Do you have to be so stubborn, Sasuke?"
"Mother," Sasuke said. "It's just a marriage."
Just a marriage? And I was just a phase for him, probably. And my feelings for him were probably just feelings. He kissed me that day, held my face in his hands and looked at me like he wanted nothing else in the world, and now--"I have to leave," I said rising, and pulling my hand away from Wazuka. "This is a private conversation."
"Naruto, Sasuke trusts you. I trust you, please don't feel like an outsider--"
"I'm a journalist, Lady Wazuka. I can't." I pulled that excuse out of thin air, but it did the trick, and Wazuka nodded.
"Very well then," she said. "Thank you. For everything tonight. You must visit me in the morning."
"I will," I said.
I exited quickly, closing the door of the room behind me with a soft swish, and walking away with a carefully measured pace. Sasuke, I told myself against the heat rising in my stomach--anger, I knew, anger that I could not control--was never interested. Not seriously. Not even superficially.
His loyalties were with his family. With his mother, and no doubt, with his mother's traditions. It was silly of me to expect anything, anything at all. Sasuke's visit yesterday had given me hope, and unnecessarily so. He'd come to confide in me, perhaps out of sheer sadism or out of the need for companionship his age. But there was Neji for that. There was Hinata for that. And even if Kakashi was older, Sasuke could confide in him. Heck, I thought, violently sliding open the door to my room, I would trust Kakashi.
I was about to head towards the bathroom for a quick shower when a long-forgotten cell phone that Tsunade handed me began to ring from my duffel bag. Groaning, I padded over, picked it up. "Uzumaki."
"You're up."
"I am. Who are you?"
I heard a scoff. "I'm your boss, that's who I am. Better start getting used to my voice, boy."
"Oh, the Granny," I said, grinning in spite of myself.
"Watch it."
"Oh, I am, Granny Tsunade. I am."
She huffed into a the phone, sending a sparkle of static into my ear. "How go the affairs of the Uchihas? Lee refuses to pick up."
"He's kind of busy now..."
"Doing what? Because whatever it is, it isn't his job," Tsunade snapped.
"He's getting married."
There was silence. "That wasn't a joke, was it?"
"Well, in a sense. He's not getting married this instant. But he will be getting married to Sakura. Sasuke is currently plotting away with Kakashi about what step to take next. So far, he has not said anything about not marrying again." I bit out each word.
"When was it all pulled off?"
"Yesterday."
"And today?"
"Wazuka said okay to the marriage between Sakura and Lee."
"How many know?"
"So far, only the family. A message has been sent out among the guests about the change in grooms, but otherwise, no stirring."
"No stirring. Right." Tsunade gave a short, dry laugh. "I have a question for you."
"Shoot," I said, chewing at my nail and pulling my hand back to see the damage I had done. Impressive, even for myself.
"Why is that Wazuka gets respect and I don't? We're the same age."
"If you want me to call you Lady Tsunade, you're asking for too much, Granny."
"I look half Wazuka's age," Tsunade protested. There was a slight pause, and then she changed the subject again. "You're angry."
"I guess you could say that," I said. I bit down on another nail and felt the edge break with a satisfying click against my teeth.
"At Sasuke?"
"None of your beeswax."
"Fine then. Hold off on the article, but start writing one. Talk to Page 3's editor for length and let her know that Jiraiya will be dealing directly with these articles now. And when you do, BCC me. This isn't official Uchiha business anymore, Daigaku Shinbun's neck-deep in it, so I want you to spin it."
"Will do," I said, curt. My voice was crisp in comparison to Tsunade's lazy string of commands.
"Don't let it get to you, boy," Tsunade added, softer now. "He'll come around in time."
"Oh, no," I said, my voice dripping pure venom. "He's an Uchiha. And it's just a marriage."
Tsunade heaved a sigh loud enough for me to catch. "Fine then. Be angry if you want, but I don't want you writing in this mood."
"All right."
Tsunade hung up on me without further ceremony and I pulled back the cell phone to stare at its bright screen. A Motorola Razor, one with low batteries, apparently. I tossed the cell phone, aiming for the duffel bag and saw it clatter a foot away. I prayed, almost guiltily, that it broke.
*
Iruka woke me up a few hours later with a bowl of steaming food. He looked a little more rested and had changed into casualwear. He watched me eat, tapping his foot impatiently until I was done. "You," he said, putting away my bowl on a tray, voice still polite. "Are a moron."
"Right."
"And don't think it's because you got sick," Iruka said, sitting at the edge of the bed. I buried deeper into the covers, trying to avoid his blistering gaze as much as possible.
"It isn't?" Iruka didn't look impressed, so I said again, "Right. It isn't."
"Oh, no, Naruto," Iruka said, tapping my noise with one of his long fingers. "It's because you didn't call or follow any of my directions. Like the one about eating breakfast before going to work. And resting a lot. Remember those?"
"Yes. Definitely," I said, nodding and shifting away from Iruka. He was starting to look a little murderous.
"The doctors told me that you were just really, really weak. Your iron count was low, your glucose levels were low. Just about everything in your body was low."
"Oh." Crap.
"So." Iruka said, folding his hands neatly. He took a deep breath. Then, it began:
"UZUMAKI NARUTO, IF YOU DON'T SMARTEN UP, SO HELP ME GOD, I'M GOING TO--"
*
"G'away," I mumbled into my pillow, not bothering to look up when I heard the door slide open and then shut. "My head hurts."
The entire mansion must have heard Iruka's lecture. It was worse than I'd anticipated and went on for almost an hour. He began, with excruciating detail, by explaining just how much trouble I was in right now because nothing--and I believed him here--would save me from his wrath if I died on him. He promised me, with vivid imagery, all the kinds of punishments. No ramen, he snapped half-way through, pulling the rule out of thin air. Not until I'd regained my weight, my senses, and what little intelligence I had.
I could hear the dull ring in my head--I'm fairly certain, Iruka yelled, I raised you better than this, before he dropped a kiss on my forehead and left the room a few minutes ago.
"Naruto?" It was Lee, looking apologetic but nearly radiating happiness. He pressed his lips together in the widest smile I had ever seen a man wear. "You."
"Me." I took his hand. He had a firm grip, and he shook my hand slowly, almost as if not believing I was real.
"Thank you."
"No problem," I said, feeling my headache and anger at Sasuke retreat against his happiness. At least one of us was happy.
"I don't know how to than--"
"You don't need to," I cut in. "How are people reacting?"
"Mostly well," he said. "Surprisingly enough. It seems to have captured some part of the audience's imagination."
"Quite the love story," I said, bracing myself against the headboard.
"I suppose. Mostly coincidence, though," he added. "I didn't think...You worked a miracle with Lady Wazuka."
"She's a nice person," I explained. "Just needed to be reminded, I guess."
"Are you close with the Uchiha family? It seemed as if you were."
"It's a passing acquaintance," I said, hating the sound of it. "I don't know how long it will last."
"Lady Wazuka seemed taken by you." Lee grinned at me. "Maybe she has plans on inaugurating you into this family too."
No, I wanted to say, because Sasuke was going to get married. Just a marriage, though. I was happy for Sakura for finding someone like Lee, someone who could appreciate her without any reservations. "So when's the marriage?"
"When it was supposed to be between Sasuke and Sakura. Awkward timing, I know, but also very convenient."
"Are your relatives and parents coming here, then?"
Lee smiled. "Yep. But I was wondering--Would you..." He trailed off, and then taking a deep breath, finished his question. "Would you be my best man?"
I grinned. My first time as a groomsman, and I was to be the best man. "I'd be honored."
"Thank you," he said, softly.
"What else are friends for?" I asked him, and as if on cue, Kiba and Shikamaru burst into my room. Kiba had a silly grin on his face, and Shikamaru had one of contemplation.
"Impressive, man. Impressive." Kiba pulled up a chair and sat facing me and Lee. "Did you see what he did with Wazuka?"
"We did," Shikamaru said, and I glanced up at his tone. He looked pleased, a small smile curling his lips.
"She was very stubborn until you came," Kiba went on. "And then you talk to her, and then boom. A secret conversation, and then she agrees. Just like that. I can't believe it. I mean, Naruto, why didn't you tell me that when you met her last time, she fell in love with you."
"I wouldn't go that far," Shikamaru said, carefully choosing his words. He turned to Lee and Kiba suddenly and gestured at the door. "Could you two leave us for a few moments?" Shikamaru's request came as a surprise, even for Kiba, who looked slightly hurt. Without another word, Lee and Kiba left, leaving behind an awkwardness that I knew years of friendship would not ease.
The minute the door closed, Shikamaru had a question for me to answer: "When she took you away after the family meeting, where did you go?"
"Sasuke's room," I explained, watching Shikamaru take Kiba's empty seat. "They were talking about...about what next to do. Sasuke's marriage and all. I left before I could hear the full story."
"I don't mean to trivialize the relationship that you have with this family," Shikamaru explained slowly. I caught his gaze, logical, calm, and utterly unfathomable. "I just want to say, Naruto. Don't get caught up with these people. They're. I don't think that Sasuke has any intention of--"
"Yes, I know." I turned away from him. "I discovered myself."
"Are you sad?"
"Angry. Pissed." I clenched my fists under the blanket. "Very, very angry."
"At?"
"I don't know." There was a pause after that, and I tried to reconsider, but there was no logic to my anger--just a hot, pressing feeling in my chest that made me want to scream. "I don't know."
"On the flip-side," Shikamaru said, leaning back in the chair. "We are just speculating. We don't know anything for certain. And from the time I've spent with Uchiha, he doesn't seem the type to express himself very often."
"You spent time with him?"
"We've been talking. Yesterday and today, too. He's interesting company. A good chess player. So is Kakashi."
"Oh. Well. I don't think I want to stick around long enough to find out exactly what's happening," I said hating the sound of it. But I had to get out before I got any more involved. "But I just made a promise to Lee that I'd be the best man."
"You couldn't have refused." Shikamaru got up and sat down next to me on the bed, letting out a long breath of air. "You'll get through this, Naruto."
"I know." He didn't seem reassured, so I leaned forward and rested my forehead against his shoulder. Solid, solid shoulder. "You'll stay, Shikamaru?"
"Yeah," Shikamaru said and stayed still a long time. "I'm not going to leave you."
Only a few hours ago, Wazuka told me, Sasuke says you have the bluest eyes, and Sasuke's single now. She'd brought my hopes up in that split-second, had me thinking of all the possibilities, had me planning out in my mind how I was going to break the ice with Sasuke, ask him out, maybe: "You want to hang out sometime? Movie? Lunch?" And then--Just a marriage, he'd said. I felt something wet on my cheek.
"I hate this entire thing," I said, wiping at my face. Shikamaru watched me, silent. "First, it makes me go into comas without warning, and second, it makes me all weepy. I've cried more in this past month than I have my entire life. I'm starting to feel as if I've hit my midlife crisis. As a woman." I paused, and for emphasis, added, "In menopause."
Shikamaru pulled me into a hug. "I hate to sound redundant, but. You are really troublesome."
End of the Fourteenth