Author's Note: Hey there! Thanks for checking out my fanfic! This is the first time I've ever done anything like this, but I am an avid Tumblr roleplayer, so playing characters is something I've been doing for a while! I was inspired to write this based on events that have happened to me or my friends IRL, and I thought it kind of went with these characters.
A little background on this story: I see Shika, Ino and Choji to be around the age of 22-23, and they are not living with their parents any longer. They do, however, all live in the same apartment complex, but separate apartments.
Also, I went with ShikaIno because it's pretty much my OTP. Years ago, I read an AU fanfic about these two that really stuck with me, and I've shipped them ever since. So, I hope you enjoy, and PLEASE feel free to review! I love any type of comments or criticisms you can offer! I know my grammar isn't perfect, and there may be some slight spelling errors, so if any of those really stood out to you, let me know and I'll make a note to work of it! Thanks again and I hope you enjoy it XD
Chapter 1- If Only I Had Known.
Crash
That was the sound the box Shikamaru had been carrying made when he dropped it on the wood floor of the Yamanaka flower shop. After carrying that box halfway across the village, he needed to set it down for a moment and rest his tired arms.
"Shikamaru!" That shrill voice never failed to send chills up his spine, and he quickly turned and watched Ino walk through the back door of her parent's shop. "That better not have been the sound of the box of bulbs being thrown on the ground. If any of those are damaged, you're paying for them!"
"Yeah, yeah, keep it down Ino. Yeesh, I barely even dropped them!" Shikamaru grumbled, opening the box to show Ino that all of the bulbs were still safe and sound. "See? Good as new." Once she was satisfied, he closed the box and pushed it over to the corner of the storage room to be sorted through later.
The two of them made their way to the front of the store. Seemed like things were pretty quiet today, so Ino had asked Shikamaru to help her bring in some of the new plants and supplies. Checking off the bulbs on her clipboard, she nodded. "Alright, that's the last of it. Thanks again for your help, Shikamaru!" Ino said cheerfully, grabbing an old rag to wipe off the counter.
"No problem, Ino. You sure worked me hard…" Shikamaru sighed, taking a seat behind the counter. "The shop's closing soon, right? Got any plans tonight?" He asked, half trying to make conversation, half wondering if she wanted to join him for dinner.
Shikamaru and Ino had known each other for years, having both been members of Team 10 as genin. Even before that, their fathers had been on the same team as well, so they were forced to play together as kids. Back then, Shikamaru had found not only Ino, but any female to be troublesome. They were always whining about boys, or clothes, or spreading unnecessary rumors. It got on his nerves. But as he grew older, his relationship and views of Yamanaka Ino dramatically changed.
Years after leaving Team Ten, all three of it's members, Shikamaru, Ino, and Choji, had moved on to become chunin, and Shikamaru had been promoted to jounin after successfully completing a mission to capture one of the village's most notorious criminals. Choji was still working on being promoted to jounin, and Ino had taken over her parent's flower shop while trying to perfect her medical ninjutsu.
They had moved out of their parents homes, and bought their own separate apartments. However, Shikamaru, Ino and Choji all lived in the same apartment complex, with Shikamaru and Choji on the second floor and Ino directly below them.
Lately, the only thing Shikamaru's parents would talk about was marriage. It was true that Shikamaru was starting to become the age to consider such things, but he had no real interest in any of the women his age in Konoha. Every time he pictured himself dating one of them, he would find some way of making it not work.
To this day, there was only one girl in the whole village that Shikamaru could even remotely see himself being with: Yamanaka Ino. The girl he grew up with, now lives above, and whose flower shop he was now standing in. For weeks, Shikamaru had been waiting for the right moment to share his feelings with Ino, and thought maybe he had found the perfect opportunity.
"Hm?" Ino finally acknowledged his question, turning from where she was at the counter to answer him. "Actually, I have plans tonight." She said, blushing a little. "I'm going on a date with Sasuke."
I'm going on a date with Sasuke.
Shikamaru replayed that sentence in his head over and over again. Sasuke? Uchiha Sasuke? She still has a thing for him? He thought to himself, his mind racing. Years ago, Uchiha Sasuke had left the village to get revenge on his older brother for killing his parents. Most of the citizens of Konoha, like Shikamaru, saw Sasuke as a traitor.
It wasn't until years later that the Uchiha showed up at the village gates, covered in blood and fatal wounds, and the village had no choice but to offer him medical attention. Sasuke was still recovering to this day, and was under strict provision, but he was allowed to get up and walk around Konoha and communicate with the villagers. Where he had gone and what he had done while he was gone remained a mystery.
Shikamaru never had, and never will trust Uchiha Sasuke, so when Ino told him about their upcoming date, he couldn't help but feel concerned. Maybe even a little jealous of the raven haired boy.
In that moment, so many questions popped into Shikamaru's head. Where is he taking you? How long will you be gone? How long have you been seeing him? Is it anything serious?
But instead of asking one of those questions, he replied, "That's nice." His tone was lazy, almost bored with this news, as if he saw it coming from a mile away. Shikamaru had never wanted to slam his head into a wall more than he did in that moment.
"Right?" Ino replied happily. "I was able to catch him on my way to work yesterday, and I finally built up enough courage to ask him to dinner. Isn't this great? If things go smoothly tonight, I'll have Sasuke in the bag, and he'll never want to hang out with Sakura again!" She almost cackled, leaving Shikamaru in shock.
So, this was all Ino's idea. Great…I should have known I didn't stand a chance. He thought to himself, sulking a little. If there was ever a time to tell Ino how he felt, it would be now. He took a deep breath before beginning.
"Hey, Ino. I-" Shikamaru was interrupted by Ino as she looked at her watch. "Oh my gosh! Shikamaru! Why didn't you tell me it was this late! Do you think you could close up the shop so I can start getting ready? Thanks! I'll come by your place tomorrow~"
Before he could even get another word in, Ino was rushing to the back of the store to get her purse. Just as Shikamaru was getting up to run after her, he heard the back door slam closed, indicating Ino had already left. He sighed to himself in the now empty flower shop.
He sent the rest of the afternoon sitting alone in the shop. Not a single customer came by, and before he knew it, the sun was setting and it was time for the shop to close. Shikamaru locked up all the door, and started back to his apartment.
As he walked, he couldn't stop thinking of how stupid he was. He should have spoken up a lot earlier. If things went well between Sasuke and Ino tonight, it very well could be that Shikamaru would be receiving an invitation to their wedding in the near future. The thought made his stomach churn.
But, that was only one scenario. Say things didn't go well tonight. Well, that would put Shikamaru in a good position. He would be the shoulder to cry on, in a way. He secretly prayed that Ino would screw up on the date tonight. But for now, it was probably best for him to not think about that date, and try to find something to occupy himself with.
Once back at his apartment, Shikamaru sorted through the books on his bookshelf, and found a novel Naruto had given him for his birthday. It was a mystery novel, and a popular one at that. Tonight would be the perfect opportunity to read it. Settling down in his chair, he turned to the cover, and started the book.
Not even Shikamaru could have predicted what would happen that night.
Author's Note: Thanks again for reading, and remember to review! Chapter 2 will be up shortly!
