Konoha seemed to be at peace at last; Sasuke was back (his welcome-wagon consisted of overly joyful females and one pissed kunoichi, guess who), Akatsuki had fallen in battle, Naruto was training to become Rokudaime, and Ino had Shikamaru.

Wait. WHAT?

Oh, right. Even though the sun was up and it was close to summer, everyone who passed the Yamanaka household felt chills. A dark aura surrounded the building, complete with some shouting and screaming. A few 'troublesomes' were heard among the shrieks. The citizens of the hidden village quickly passed the house. Mothers with children covered their kids' ears and hurried past. Shinobi were tempted to look inside, some ANBU knew better. Outside, the sky was clear and well. Inside, a storm was brewing.

Or, well, Ino.

"Nara Shikamaru!" Ino hissed at her fiance for the eight time that afternoon.

"No, Ino," mumbled said man, taking out the cigarette from his mouth and throwing it into the ash tray beside him.

The bride to be stomped her feet and slapped his head, hard. Shikamaru only groaned in pain; what was with her and slapping? Ino shoved the paper and pencil in his face, almost giving him a paper cut. Her face was red from the yelling, but her eyes were still the striking and determined baby blue eyes he always felt himself getting lost in. Her lower lip was slightly bruised from her biting it in fustration, and he wanted to do nothing but nurse it better in his own way. But it was too dang 'troublesome' to him.

"Ino, what is the point of this?" he sounded tired.

"Take the pencil and paper and I'll explain," she flashed him a bright smile. Having no choice, the Jounin accepted the objects knowing he was making a mistake.

Ino placed her own pencil and paper out onto the coffee table in front of them and turned to him.

"We," she paused for effect, "are going to write to ourselves."

"What?" Shikamaru asked in bewilderment. "Are you on drugs, woman?"

Ino rolled her eyes in irritation. "For a genius, you sure are dumb."

"For a kunoichi, you sure are troublesome."

"You think everything is troublesome," she smartly replied back.

"So, what are we doing?"

"I told you. We are going to write to our future selves. I read somewhere that you just write some things you want to say about your spouse and things you want to do in ten years, and after the ten years, you open up the letters and read each other's."

Shikamaru stared in disbelief at her. That was what she wanted him to do? Write a simple letter? After he endured her wrath, that was it? I fell back onto the couch, wishing for some clouds to stare at.

"Oh, come on! It will be fun. I told Hinata, and she and Naruto have already done it!"

He was already ahead of her. Pencil in his hand, he loathingly began to write.

Smiling, she started her own letter.

Dear myself (Yamanaka Ino, or Nara Ino, I suppose) and Shikamaru,

So, I'm guessing a lot has happened in ten years, huh? Opening this letter may bring back lots of memories, I hope. Maybe, one day, I'll have my kids read the letters and do one themselves. If I even have any kids, that is. But you should know, seeing as you are ten years from now. Wow, that did not make any sense to me, so it probably doesn't make sense to you, too. Unless you, I mean I, have become smarter due to a smart husband. I WILL be marrying him, right? It's not like I'm going to have a panic attack, realize that Shikamaru's not the one at the altar and cancel the marriage, RIGHT?

Shikamaru, hon, if you're reading this, I do hope you take no offense to this. You've probably gotten used to my behavior by now.

You know, when I started dating you, I was in doubt. I mean, I've known you my whole life and being with you like that just felt... weird. But in a good way, of course. Sometimes I felt I wasn't good enough for you, and maybe Forehead girl would've been better for you. You guys would talk non-stop about intelligent things I wouldn't know about. Do you regret marrying me, Shikamaru?

When Asuma-sensei died, the whole team felt different. I see you at his grave every Saturday, talking to him, you know that? You aren't saying mean things about me, are you?

Things change in ten years. I just hope your feelings haven't. Maybe your feelings towards going to festivals should change, but I like- no, scratch that. LOVE you just the way you are.

Do you remember me saying I wanted to go on vacation to the Rain village? Did I get to do that, in these ten years? How silly of me to ask. Of course I would know, in then years, that is. I hear the hotsprings there are heavenly. What with the rain and all that jazz.

Future me, I've made a list of things I want me to do before ten years. I'm praying that I've succeeded in doing these tasks.

01. MARRY SHIKAMARU. (Because my life will not be complete without you, sweetie.)

02. Buy a new house. (Not that there is anything wrong with this house, but I think Daddy wants me to move out as soon as possible. And Shika, your apartment is horrible. Like Chouji's socks. So NO.)

03. Go on the vacation mentioned above. (Hopefully before I have children.)

04. Get to see Sasuke and Sakura in a physical fight in which Sasuke gets pummelled to the ground, because, well, he kindasorta deserves it.

05. Learn the Hyuuga's secret recipe to pasta. (Hey, Hinata...)

06. HAVE A KID. (Due to popular belief, some say I don't want any because of what might happen to my figure, but that is so not true! I love little kids.)

07. Get Shika to stop smoking! Enough said.

08. ...

I've run out of things. Darn! I guess that completes my letter.

Love with hugs and kisses,

INO

P.S. Future me, please tell me I got the shoes with the white bow I saw last weekend. I cannot live without them!

I... had fun?

Feedback welcomed as always, muh dears!