Maladaptive

XI. Denial

"So who will be the one to tell him?"

"I'll do it. It would be easier since they're closer to my family."

"Yeah. What about the body?"

"Keep it here. We can set up interment plans ourselves. We don't need this to go public."

It was hard on everyone. Ino had not made it through the morning and there was not much to do to help her due to her internal hemorrhage. Plus the lack of proper medical supplies Temari had at her disposal. She knew Ino would not make it unless they had sought proper medical attention for her. The She wrapped her body in a plastic sheet and sent it off to the morgue with Choji and Shikamaru. Choji called Sai with Shikamaru standing a fair distance away to give him space to explain things. By the end of their conversation, Choji had a stained look of commiseration and mumbled,

"He is on his way here."

"I see. I'll stay here with you two to help explain things."

"Thanks. He'll need all the support he can get."

When he had arrived, he frantically began to ask questions. Choji tried his best to answer them to the best of ability and Shikamaru stood off to the side a bit with his own internal conflicts. He leaned against the windowsill with his arms crossed and his head bowed. His eyes were shut as he tried his best to form his thoughts into something that actually made sense. Not once did he ever think of what to do if Choji or Ino died. However, when Sai turned his way and shouted something it snapped him out of his notion as he retorted,

"Hm?"

"Tell me exactly what happened. Since Choji is dumber than a fucking sack of rocks."

Shikamaru shot Choji a look of vex and sighed. He slid his hands in his pockets and said,

"Calm down and let me explain."

"I'm listening."

"See, we weren't exactly there. You know how she had been missing the past week or so? Well we found where she was at. Did you never bother to file a report with the police since you basically work for them?"

"I have, but they just gave me odd looks when I tried to and did not except it. I was planning to just take matters into my own hands. Then this..."

"Like I said, we found her near the bank basically broken. Whoever did this to her is - sick."

Sai was visibly experiencing sharp pang and but was keeping it under control with deep breathing. Choji patted his shoulder, but he pulled away and stared into scope.

"She was pregnant with our child. So whoever did this committed double homicide. Shikamaru I need something of you."

He took a deep look into Shikamaru's pupil and with great sternness told him,

"Find who did this. However I want them to be alive. I will handle the rest."

Shikamaru nodded and stood up a bit to extended his hand. They met each other in a shake as Shika promised,

"I will, just give me time."

Sai nodded and asked them both,

"Please. You two can leave. I'll wait for them to finish cleaning the body. I will host a wake for her tomorrow. I'll call you both about the details later today. You and your families are invited."

They both nodded and left without word. Choji stopped him and said,

"We're going to have to tell him the truth."