Rain
Chapter one
Disclaimer: I don't own shikamaru and ino or any of the naruto characters
AN: this was a fic I wrote a looooong time ago so forgive me if I skrewed anything up (sweat drop) Now on with the story!
Today the warm rays of the sun mockingly tickled my sleeping face awake. The sun has always ridiculed me. As if saying: "I'm out, your rain won't come." I glared at my window while I got up to change out of my night clothes. I picked my blue brush up to comb out my long yellow hair then putting it in the high ponytail that I always have on. The chuunin exam was going to be in a week and we needed to train.
I sighed for the first time today. How I long for the rainy season to come. The rainy season in Konoha was always the best and most beautiful to me. For weeks it wouldn't stop raining, but there has never been floods thanks to our village's advanced draining system. I would walk around aimlessly for hours getting soaked to the bone, but never getting sick.
"Ino dear! Breakfast is ready!" mother called from the kitchen. I quickly put my sandals on and sped for the dining room. After eating, I had more than enough time to walk around Konoha twice before training started. We always trained later then most teams so Shikamaru would have enough shadows to control. Pointless really, since we trained in the woods where trees would make more then enough shade than was needed.
"I'm going to train now mom, see you later!" I yelled holding the lunch that my mother made for me.
"Have a good time sweetie!" mother said smiling kindly to my retreating figure.
"Now, where should I go…?" I asked no one, seeing as no one was around me. "Ah! The meadows! They're not to far from the training area, but a good distance away!" I said again to no one, and walked merrily to the meadows.
I got there in what seemed like no time at all. Looking at all the colorful wild flowers that were scattered around the meadow, I sighed. The beauty of the free wild flowers put the captive flowers in my family's flower shop to shame. I found a spot that had both high grass and flora and decided to lay with them to look at the white puffy clouds. White clouds, like the sun, mock me. Floating pass me planning to rain elsewhere. I sighed again. What Shikamaru found so interesting in them was beyond me…
"Taking up my pass time I see," speak of the devil.
"What are you doing here?" I asked getting up slightly.
"I can ask the same," he said sitting next to me.
"I'm 'taking up your pass time,' silly," I laughed hitting him playfully on the arm. He glared at me then laid down. Always with that annoyed look on his face.
"Well?" I asked. He looked at me like I was crazy so I punched him again, "What you doing here?!"
"I came to look at the clouds…" he said after a long silence. I sighed and laid down once again. "Why did you suddenly want to cloud watch?" his question surprised me. Why was he in the sudden mood to talk? And why did I come here? Oh yes to think, but if I said that he might want to ask me what about? And that, I haven't the foggiest…
"What do you find so damn interesting about them? Can you tell me? I really wanna know," I lied. I always lied about what and how I'm feeling, but since I'm so damn good at it, no one notices. He stayed quiet. I looked to him. Again with that freaking annoyed face.
"Are you gunna tell me, or not?" I asked sounding and looking as irritated as him. The truth of the matter is, I don't really care what he thinks is so interesting. I hate rainless clouds, and watching them go by makes me feel nothing more than a hypocrite.
I "glared" at him again since he wasn't talking.
"The shapes…" he said after a while.
"Huh?" I asked raising a brow.
"Yeah, the shapes. They always come out to be something that I wanna look at," he said blankly. Why was he telling me? He would usually just brush me off by saying, "Too troublesome…" or some other kind of bull shit like that.
"What?" I asked looking at the clouds again.
He sighed angrily then said, "You lack the imagination." That surprised me too. Well, I guess he's right, I don't have much of an imagination.
I made my eye twitch, "'Lack the imagination…' What the hell's that suppose to mean?" I inwardly sighed. I hate my reputation. At least he was staying quiet again. My reputation made me sigh out loud in defeat. He's not going to tell me. It doesn't really matter. The truth is I'm actually as apathetic about everything as Shikamaru.
"Look at that cloud. It looks like you," he said pointing at a cloud. I looked at it, nothing. He then surprised me when I felt him shifting my head slightly to the left to match his. It looked almost exactly like me, besides the puffiness off it all… and the fact that that 'me' seemed to be smiling.
"Yeah, but that one looks like she's been laughing," I said smiling lightly.
"…the shapes. They always come out to be something that I wanna look at."
That phrase he said came back to me. If what he said was true, then that means he wants to look at me? What the hell?
"Most of them usually are," he mumbled.
"You make it seem like you see me a lot," I laughed nervously.
"I do." Wow, Shikamaru sure is just full of surprises today, now isn't he?
"Why?"
"Because I want to," he said standing up and walking away, "and you look better when you smile."
I followed him. There's no way he's gunna get the last word in. "What do you mean?" I asked grabbing his arm.
"Oy… too troublesome…" he said lazily taking his arm away and stuffing his hands into his pockets.
"Tell me," I said running in front of him.
"You really wanna know?" he stopped.
"If I didn't, would I ask?"
He sighed and scratched his head, "Mmmm… how troublesome… I think… mumbles something inaudible"
"What?"
"I think Ihaveacrushonyou," he said looking at an, apparently, really interesting flower.
It took me a while to comprehend what the hell was going on. "Shika-kun… You know I love Sasuke-kun…"
"Yeah, I know. See you at practice," he said bitterly as he walked away.
"I'm sorry Shika-kun…" I said to his retreating form.
T.T
My eyes flew open. I hate this dream. Why must I always have it? I have no use for it. It's such a useless memory… It only shows me that I'm a freaking idiot. I didn't love, or even like Sasuke at that time. He was only an object that Sakura and I just had to compete for.
I got out of bed to wash my face. "Why?" I asked my reflection, "Why did I reject him back then? Did I really love Sasuke?"
Why did I even ask that question? No, I didn't. Maybe when I was younger, but then he became a thing that I wanted like a child wants a doll. I shook my head lightly and looked at the clock: 5:30 am. Good a time as ever to wake up from a bad dream.
I took a quick shower and changed into my training clothes. Today I had another training session with Uzuki-sensei.
With Uzuki
"Hahaha. You were as stupid as me when I was a kid," Uzuki-sensei laughed hitting my back lightly.
"Huh? Happened to you eh?" I stared up at her. We were walking back to the village after our session and she asked me about my love life. If I knew she was going to laugh, I should have kept my mouth shut.
She laughed some more and nodded. "Do you remember Hayate, the chuunin examiner? He always seemed like he had a bad cold…" she paused to see my answer. Her happy aura went to that of a sad one as the wind blew her log purple hair in her face.
I nodded, "Him?"
Her smile erased the sadness that she once held, "Him. And! Since your guy's not dead, you still have a chance with him!"
"W-what!? I don't want to go out with him anymore," I said standing up.
"Oy," she punches my head a bit, "don't get all fake on me now. He still trains with Asuma so it'll be easy to get you two together again."
"But I don't want to! Besides, he's going out with that sand girl…" I spat like poison.
"WHAT?!" sensei yelled angrily then calmed down a moment after, "SO?! You take him back! He's too good for her."
"You don't even know her… or him for that matter," I said when the facts just suddenly hit me.
"Ah, you see Ino… this, is the point," she raises her left index finger, "And what you said is beside it!" she laughed as she uses her right hand to show it's beside the left.
"But Uzu-"
"Ah! Who's the sensei?" she interrupted.
I sighed, "you are…" She always did this…
"That's right! And being what I am, I know what's best for you!" she smiles happily as she pats my head, "Now lets go get you your Chikamaro!"
I sigh again, "Shikamaru…"
"Oh tomato, tomato."
When sensei has her mind made up, there's no stopping her, but… it is nice to see her get so excited about something. Usually, she's never so animated.
"Uzuki-sensei…" I asked as she lead me somewhere. Probably to where Asuma-sensei usually trains…
"Yeeess, my little student?" she replied with a ear to ear grin.
"How long have you been training me for?"
She stops in her tracks and gives me a quizzical look. "Uhm. About 2 years… What're you getting at?" her violet eyes were fixed on me.
"I'm getting no where! Just keep on leading! I'll be right behind you! Oh great and paranoid sensei of mine!" I said doing a mock bow. It's times like this that make me see her as a big sister.
She puts pressure on my bowed head causing me to fall. She gasps, "It appears I have to train you more on balance…" she mumbled to herself and continued to walk. And it's times like this that reminds me that she is, in fact, my sensei.
I start to follow her on auto-pilot. I looked blankly at the rocky ground. I look up and I see, not Uzuki-sensei, but Shikamaru, walking away from me just like my dream. My heart started to ache as I regretted not going after him. As I regretted saying what I did to him. I shake my head in a desperate attempt to make that depressing image go away. I look up only to find that Shikamaru is no longer walking alone but with that damnable sand sibling. Was this what they call jealousy? Do I even have the right to be jealous? I turned away as I could feel my heart aching again
I shut my eyes tightly and brought my hands up to grip at the sides of my head. "Just… Stop…" I mumbled trying so hard to make me forget. Trying so hard to make this feeling go away.
"Ino-chan?" the moment I heard my name, the realistic memory disappeared and I opened my eyes to worried violet ones that belonged to my sensei. "Ino-chan… you alright?"
I regained my composure and looked up to her with a reassuring smile, "I'll be fine."
"Good! Because we're almost there!" She winks, then turns around to point an accusing finger at me, "Now don't you go chickening out on me!"
I laughed, "Now remind me again what I'm supposed to do?"
"You, my dear girl are going to get the man of your dreams!" she said loudly.
"Oh yeah, 'Hi Shikamaru! I know we haven't seen each other in a couple of years but I was wondering if you wanted to go out sometime!' That makes loads of sense!" I rolled my eyes only to receive a whack on the head. I hold the spot she hit me with and look at her angrily. "What was that for?!"
"For being stupid! MUHAHAHAHAHA! And you can't do anything about it because I know more than you," she stuck out her tongue, holding her rubber hammer evilly.
I wanted to laugh, I honest to God really did, but my stupid reputation only allowed me to get mad right back at her. "How was I being stupid?!" I yelled angrily.
"Oh silly, you know I won't tell you anything if you ask me fake questions! It just amazes me how you think you can get away with your reputation act," she tapped her hammer on my nose.
"I'll show you a reputation act…" I mumbled taking the hammer and started hitting her with it.
"HEY! NO FARE!" she laughed then stops completely causing me to stop hitting her. I look at her strangely and she smirks getting me into a head lock. "You think I can't tell when you're not alright? It's good to see you back to normal, girl." she winks and lets me go.
I frown at her while fixing my hair. She always did have a knack for reading people. Just like the day we met…
two years ago
It was the day I finally became a chuunin and I was celebrating with the other people who had passed. In reality, I wasn't too excited about it. But why wasn't I?! I mean now I get to do more dangerous missions that have a lower chance at coming back than ever before! Who wouldn't be excited about it?! Of course I'm thinking that sarcastically because I could never say this out loud. In my mind I am as bummed out about it as Shikamaru was when he became a chuunin, but I positively can't say or show it.
As I looked around happily I noticed that no one was looking so, hey, I sighed. You would too if you had to be in my position. We were in the rain village and guess what it was doing! Big surprise, It was raining! All I wanted to do was to get outside and sit there. But my reputation makes me unable to get my new chuunin vest wet. Not like I'm going to be wearing it, mind you. There's one thing about my reputation that I'm actually thankful for and that's that I have a good fashion sense and right now, this fashion sense is telling me to get this ugly green thing off me as soon as this night is over. After tonight, there's no way in hell this thing is going to rest on my shoulders again, even if I have to fight Tsunade to keep it that way.
Thunder crashed and made the lights go out for a second. And in that very second, I ran a hand through my hair in annoyance as everyone around me gasped I mumbled, in an inaudible tone, "why can't today just end..?"
The lights came back on and I pretended to freak out in typical girly cliché fashion. When the moment passed I, again, made sure no one was looking, and rolled my eyes while shaking my head. Hey, sometimes I have to let the real me show. I closed my eyes so I can have a little moment of peace.
Why oh why did I make my reputation into someone with all the things I hate in people? Why do I have to sacrifice my true feelings anyways? Wait… never mind… I knew the reason, I'm just asking the wrong question. Is being popular really worth everything I'm doing? I groan and put my hands over my face.
"You know, I think people would like you more if you were more honest to yourself," I heard a female voice. I rub my hands over my face, she's probably not talking to me.
I hear that same voice laugh, "Heh, if you want to go outside in the rain, you can. Nothing's stopping you." I freeze. I wonder who she's talking to… I look up only to see a lady who was most definitely a high ranking ninja staring at me.
"You're a pretty good actress, and not to bad a ninja, have you ever thought about becoming an undercover specialist?" she smiles brightly. I frown and look behind me and she laughs as she pats my head, "I'm talking to you little-miss-faker."
I start to freak out. How does she know?! "Wh-what are you talking about? I'm not a faking anything!"
She stares at me then bursts out in what seems like uncontrollable laughter. I stare at her angrily and resist the urge to hit her because I've got something called respect for the elderly. I fume with anger but stop and look away. "You're crazy, lady!" I say in defeat. I really wanted to stay and ask her how she could read me so well. I thought I was flawless.
"Hey!" she grabs my arm, "Sorry about that. Let's start over. I'm Uzuki Yuugao, and you are?"
Wait… she's Uzuki Yuugao?! THE Uzuki Yuugao?! I've read so much about her, her and her team of anbu always get to do such interesting undercover missions… and she wants to know who I am?! Although I'm freaking out about her on the inside I'm look at her angrily on the outside.
"Hahaha, I see you've heard of me," she lets go of my arm and smirks. "Well little-miss-faker, I want-"
"I'm Ino! Yamanaka Ino!" I cough, "so don't call me that. It's demeaning." I look away from her and her cocky smirk.
"Well Ino, Tsunade's been bothering me about taking in a student and-"
"YOU WANT TO MAKE THAT STUDENT ME?!" I practically yelled at her out of excitement.
She then hits me on the head with a rubber hammer, "yes, but under two conditions," she raises two fingers. I nod eagerly. "First! You have to get rid of that nasty habit of cutting people off when they're trying to tell you something."
I laugh, "uh-huh, what else? I don't have all day lady!" I asked impatiently although I'd much rather talk to her more than whoever's walking up to me with a very obnoxious aura.
She hit me on the head again, "My second condition is…. You have to be yourself. Save the acting for your missions, and don't say you're not acting because I know you so desperately want to take that ugly vest off and hit Gai with it as soon as he gets close enough to try to give you a congratulations death hug."
I laughed. So that's who's behind me. "INO! YOU DID IT! CONGRATULA-" he was about to do exactly what Uzuki said he would before I did exactly what I wanted. Take off my chuunin vest and whack him with it.
"Good girl. Now I'm going to tell Asuma that I took his student," she walked past and towards my former teacher. Well… at least now I get to be my real self. I must say… if feels great.
"Ino! That wasn't very nice!" dad said scolding me, he looks as though he's had one to many to drink. It's almost unbearable to watch him like that. I just want to drag him by his pony tail and lock him in his hotel room.
"I'm sorry, daddy! Please don't be mad at me!" I look at him with puppy dog eyes. Hey, old habits die hard. Is all I have to say. Yuugao-sensei will have her work cut out for her.
present
"no…. Ino… INO!" someone yelled at me. I shook my head and laughed.
"Aw crap. Did I blank out again Uzuki-sensei?" I bonked my head stupidly as I look up expecting to see my sensei, but the world is full of surprises. I not only didn't see my sensei but saw none other than, "Shi-Shikamaru?!"
TBC.
AN: Ok, sorry if that was confusing. Anways, I have no idea as to what I should do next so review with ideas so I can get the other chapter up.