I had intended for this to be a proper one-shot, but I could never finish my idea. And the beginning is just too cute (in my opinion) to not post.
Also, this was inspired by Augustana's song "Steal Your Heart".
Disclaimer: Characters/places are the creative property of Masashi Kishimoto. I'm just borrowing.
"I'm going to steal your heart."
Shikamaru raises his eyebrows at his five-year-old counterpart. Her pigtails are sloppy after playing outside; her forehead is sweaty, cheeks pink. However, her blue eyes are focused, determined.
Shikamaru knows the look well. Ino only looks like that when she's set her mind to something. And usually, she achieves the purpose she's striving towards.
"What?" Shikamaru flatly responds, staring at her.
"I'm going to steal your heart," Ino repeats firmly, nodding her head to certify her words.
Shikamaru tries to quell the fear rising in his stomach.
Smartly, he replies, "You shouldn't steal from other people. That's wrong."
Confident that his retort will be enough to turn aside Ino's intentions, Shikamaru returns to his thoughtfully constructed sand castle.
Beside him, Ino crouches down, scrutinizing his architecture.
"We'll see," she whispers, mostly to herself.
A second later, Shikamaru's castle collapses due to Ino's heavy-handed fist. Shikamaru is so livid he contemplates shoving his playmate, but Ino is already out of the sandbox, laughing at her self-inflicted destruction.
In his five-year-old heart, Shikamaru vows to never trust the troublesome blonde ever again.
Let me know what you thought. :)