"Since Then"

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Chapter one:

"Encounters"

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He hasn't seen her face… not since that moment.

He was walking down the street, as he was used to do those days; his mind was flying, going to the heavens and how beautiful they must have looked, but his gaze was on the floor, staring at the cracks he kept stepping on.

Why did he prefer to walk this path? It was terribly old and wasted, everyone seemed to avoid it and of course, why wouldn't they? It was longer than the other newer and improved roads the latest Hokage had taken upon herself to create or rather, had made him plan.

But still he did, and if asked maybe he would have answered that he was only bargain for some more time to look at his beloved clouds… maybe he would have said he was stalling… he was never eager to go to work.

And if the years hadn't passed by maybe his friends would have believed him, but they had, and he was no longer the same.

He had forgotten how to enjoy the sky, he did not longer wish he was a cloud taken away by the wind. He would not longer stall or laze around, he was forever on time and always the first to finish everything, and he would work, for he had forgotten what he was without it.

And so, even if his mind played with the idea of raising his eyes to the sky, he would never do it, for something beyond anyone understanding had happened, and the glint that was ever present in his gaze had slowly became a void.

The light that day was strong; the sun shinned with a terrible presence, his face burned for such shameless exposure, even his raised hand could not bring the so needed shadows to comfort his pain.

He could not see where the path was leading, not that he needed it, he had taken the same road for years, and his steps were mechanical.

But a shadow appeared, and mercifully bathed him with its coolness. He could not relax though, the second that obscure form had touched him, another sense alerted him, the smell of flowers had surrounded him and he hadn't noticed.

With a hidden gasp he retrieved his body out of the comforting zone, alarmed at the possibility, alarmed at his fast beating heart who screamed to get out of his chest.

The way his body firmly stood, was an amazing contrast to how his insides were trembling, he mused.

He took a moment, the indecision and hope filling his lungs, and there was a moment were his face seemed to almost raise, but still with his gaze down he continued to walk, avoiding the contact, avoiding Ino.

Sun forgotten, heat forgotten… love left behind.

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Author's note: Another Ino/Shika!! I love them.

I know it's little, but hopefully the next one won't be.

I actually was never happy with the way things ended in that other story of mine, so I decided to start a fic were things would get resolved

Don't worry, you don't have to read that one to understand this one, I'll probably change some things anyway.

I have another story to continue, but I thought they wouldn't mind it much if it gets delayed a little.

I think I'll continue this story soon, I have a lot of ideas of how the story should go, but… you never know.

Now, leave a review!