ShikamaruPoV

Ino, Chouji, Asuma-sensei, and I were staying at Ino's house as part of a bonding thing or something. Tsunade was making all of the teams in the Rookie Nine do this. Neji, Tenten, Lee, and Gai were at Lee's house. Sasuke, Sakura, Naruto, and Kakashi were in Sasuke's mansion. Hinata, Shino, Kiba, and Kurenai were at Hinata's house.

Anyways.

We had just eaten dinner, and were now just hanging out. Asuma actually had to go call Kurenai, Chouji was raiding Ino's kitchen, and Ino and I were sitting in awkward silence. "Excuse me," she said, then left me alone in her living room.

A few minutes later, I thought I heard something, but I didn't know what it was. I followed my ears to…Ino's room. I knocked on the door, and when I didn't get a reply, I put a hand over my eyes and went in. "Ino? Are you okay?" I followed the sound to the bathroom door.

It sounded like she was vomiting. I unshielded my eyes and muttered, "Troublesome."

I knocked on the door. "Ino, are you okay?"

"I'm fine, Shikamaru! Don't worry about me!" she yelled through the door. I was silent. She must have thought I had left, because when I opened the door, I caught her forcing a toothbrush down her throat.

"Ino!" I exclaimed, alarmed. I pulled her hair back and rubbed her back just as her gag reflex kicked in.

She finished and leaned back into my arms, crying. I held her tight, rocking her. "I-I-I-" she stammered.

"Why are you doing this, Ino?" I said to her, surprised to feel tears spring to my eyes.

"I want- I want… a certain guy to like me… I thought he wouldn't love me if I wasn't beautiful…" she cried, burying her face into my chest.

"But you are beautiful. This guy's a stupid jerk if he doesn't think you're absolutely perfect. Who is it?"

"…"

"It's Sasuke, isn't it? When are you going to get over him? He's like, asexual. God, I never understood why you-"

She cut me off. "It's you, Shika. I'm in love with you. I thought you might love me back if you thought I was beautiful."

I stared down at her, openmouthed. "I-I-I l-love you, too, Ino.

She smiled. "Y-you do?"

"Yeah…"

We were silent for a minute. "So what now?" she asked.

"I don't know. I guess…I ask you to be my girlfriend?"

"I accept! Now, help me up. I need to brush my teeth. My mouth tastes gross."

I did, and she started to brush her teeth. "Ino, how long have you been doing this to yourself?"

She avoided my gaze in the mirror. "About a year…"

"You need help." I put my arms around her waist. "You're too skinny."

"No, I'm not," she said, spitting in the sink and rinsing her mouth out, then turning to face me.

"Yes, you are."

"N-" I cut her off with my lips. She melted and kissed me back, wrapping her arms around my neck.

When we finally pulled apart, she laid her head on my shoulder.

"You're right," she whispered. "I need help. Will you take me to the hospital tomorrow?"

"Troublesome woman, of course I will," I said, kissing her forehead.

"I love you, Shikamaru."

"I love you, too, Ino."

A/N: I fully realize that a bulimic isn't going to just admit she or he needs help because of a kiss. This is a fanfiction. The world can be twisted.

Review, please!

That is all.

XD