Author's Notes: This is a series of one-shots based on an LJ Community called 10 Passionate encounters, or shortly: 10 Passions. The first theme I wrote was His place. I thing this turned out quite right! Hope you like it!

Warning: I'm sorry if there are any mistakes! You see, English is not my first language.

5. His Place

"We're going to the Nara's today."

Inoishi's statement usually meant nothing to Ino. She enjoyed going to the Nara's. Okay, Shikamaru was a pain in the behind and he was boring as hell! She would much rather be with her dear Sasuke-kun than spend one hour with the lazy ninja! But there was nothing wrong with it.

They usually went after lunch, spent the afternoon, maybe stayed over for dinner and then they would leave.

But today, today her father's statement sent shivers down her spine and made her heart beat a little faster.

"Hum... father, I already have something planed with Sakura..."

Ino said while blushing a bit from the fact that she was lying to her parents and that was something that she definitely didn't like to do. Specially because...

"No you don't..." Inoishi stated while eating his breakfast.

Yap... specially because her parents knew right away if she was lying or not.

"Oh, come on dear," Her mother started. "It's not that bad. We won't stay for dinner or anything. We'll just be in for a quick hello."

Ino stared at her plate. It was still filled with food. She nodded worriedly.

Oh man... how would she react when she met him?

"May I be excused?" She asked.

"Sure dear. When you finish your breakfast!"

Ino grumbled a bit and ate the rest of the breakfast in a hurry. Then she jumped all the stairs up to her room.

She flopped on the bed and started swearing in a low voice.

"Damn it! Damn it, damn it, damn it!"

She punched the pillow until she let all her anger out. Then she sighed and stared at the ceiling.

"Man..."

She closed her eyes and let herself wonder on what had happened the day before.

--- Flashback ---

"AGH!" Ino protested. "Why the hell do we have to be on guard duty?"

Ino and Shikamaru were stationed on the North gate tower. It was known that the Mist Ninjas were planning to attack Konoha so the Godaime Hokage had decided that it was best for the village to have guards at every time.

Shikamaru lay down on the hard wooden floor.

"Just relax Ino. And stop yelling. Your voice makes my head hurt..."

Ino turned her gaze from the woods to her teammate and placed both of her hands on her waist.

"Well EXCUSE me for talking! Geez! I can't believe that you are happy for being here!" She snorted. "Well of course you are happy! You're not doing anything! You're just laying around on your lazy ass and..."

She stared at him once more. He was sleeping. Oh the nerve! How dared he fall asleep while she was screaming at him? It was downright outrageous!

She kneeled near him and glared at his sleeping form.

"Nara Shikamaru! You better be just pretending that you are asleep! Or I'm going to beat you up into oblivion!"

She waited a few seconds for him to respond or move. When he didn't she frowned. It was very unusual of him to fall asleep just like that.

Then she remembered. He had been on a mission the day before. He must have been dead tired... her features softened.

"Gomen, Shikamaru..." She started while she gazed into his opened mouth. She giggled. "You know, you look kinda of cute in your sleep! At least you're not wearing that stupid lazy expression you usually have..."

She giggled again. "Hmm... What if...?" She moved near him a bit more and stared at him right in the eyes. He didn't move. She tried something else.

She placed her legs on each side of him very slowly so that he wouldn't open his eyes. Then she moved down a bit more. Her face was mere inches away from his.

Her legs trembled a bit and she could feel something warm on her cheeks. Why was she feeling like this?

She shrugged and pushed those thoughts away. She was in this position to do something else! Ino moved her arm slowly and grabbed the strip that was holding his hair.

His long black hair fell softly on his face and Ino stared, mouth open. He looked really handsome. Why didn't he wear his hair loose every day? He could have lots of girls after him!

Ino moved in a bit closer to get a better look. Her heart was now beating faster. But why was that?

Unfortunately, she didn't got the opportunity to stare at Shikamaru's sleeping form anymore for he woke up.

He jerked his head up and in the process his lips connected with soft rosy lips. His eyes widened, so did hers. She was now sitting in his lap since she had lost balance.

First the kiss was just a gentle peck, but neither of them seemed to back away from the incident that had just took place, so, Ino's hands found their way to Shikamaru's soft hair and his rested at her lower back, pulling her closer to him.

Both of them closed their eyes and deepened the kiss. What had started as an incident somehow led them to something much more deep. They were both enjoying that fully.

--- End of Flashback ---

Ino sighed and flushed a deep shade of red. After the incidental kiss, Ino had excused herself and left Shikamaru all alone on guard duty. And now she was going to his house! And she didn't exactly know how to act.

The truth of the matter was that she had really enjoyed the kiss and she was afraid of the things she had felt when she had experienced it. She was afraid that if he saw him again she would feel the need to kiss him again, the need to feel the things she felt again, the need to have him in her arms again...

She shook her head. "Get over it Ino! Geez!"

She went over to the window and stared at the sky. The clouds looked fluffy and cute. She smiled, they reminded her of Shikamaru... she sighed again.

"Damn it..." What if he didn't feel the same way about her? What, wait! She didn't felt anything for him except friendship! Geez...

"Ino! Come on! Let's go!"

Ino's heart beat faster. "A-alright mom..."

She went into the mirror and stared at herself. She fixed her clothes and her hair a bit. Then she sighed. "Great... now I'm even trying to look good for him..." She shook her head and left the room feeling gloomy.

Finally they arrived at the Nara's household. Ino had a really worried expression on her face. They all entered and sat in the living room.

Ino's mother stared at her.

"Ino, honey, are you feeling well?" Ino was really pale and she hadn't smile the whole day, which was very weird for her.

"Hn?" She stared at her mother and then at her father and then at Shikamaru's parents. They were all staring at her with worried expressions. "Oh, I'm fine!" She forced a little smile.

"Ino," Shikato started. "Go see Shikamaru. He's in the back feeding the dears." Ino's stomach twisted.

"Hum... sure..." She got up and walked slowly to the back door of the Nara's house. With each step she could, she started feeling a lot awkward. She rested her hand on the handle and turned it slowly.

"Shikamaru?" She called him softly. She couldn't figure out if she wanted to see him or if she wanted him not to answer her.

"I'm here." She heard his monotone voice from behind some bushes. She sighed. Here we go...She thought.

Ino finally walked to the place where Shikamaru was. He was shirtless because the day was relly hot and he had been working non stop. So he was also a bit sweaty. Ino felt her cheeks burn.

"Hi..." She started.

Shikamaru didn't move his eyes from the dear in front of him. "Hi." He answered.

Ino's stomach twisted once again and she suddenly felt really sad. Shikamaru was talking somewhat coldly to her. What she didn't know was that the young Nara was trying to hide the small blush that had formed on his cheeks.

"So..." Ino started. She waited for Shikamaru to say something. When he didn't she got angry.

"Damn it, Nara Shikamaru! Talk to me! Don't act like nothing happened!" Shikamaru rested the food bucket on the ground and stared at her.

"You're the one who came here acting like nothing happened!"

Ino shifted a bit from her spot. Suddenly she felt nervous.

"I... I didn't know what to say! I don't know what to do! I don't know how to act!"

Shikamaru's expression didn't soften with her words.

"So what? You want to act like nothing happen so you can still fawn about lovely Sasuke-kun? Is that it?"

"No!" She answered maybe too fast. She didn't want to be the old Ino again. This new Ino didn't like Sasuke. She thought he was a bastard for hurting Sakura and her all this years.

This new Ino wanted to feel what she had felt the day before. With Shikamaru...

His eyes stared at her and his facial expression softened a bit. He walked a little closer to her. She wouldn't dare to look him in the eye.

"Ino..."

She lifted her head. Her eyes met his.

"Shikamaru... I..."

He smiled. "I know..." She smiled.

"Good..."

She rested her head on his chest. "Thank you..." He started.

"No... thank you..." She finished.