He sat up in the tree and was still as a mouse, just as he was trained to do. Not all Shinobi were this good at being invisible to the people around them. Then again, Nara Shikamaru wasn't average. In fact, many of the villagers claimed him to be a genius. He didn't flatter himself though, even Shikamaru didn't know everything. He mentally sighed as he watched the sight unfolding on his hill, the best place to watch clouds.

Yamanaka Ino stood on the hillside, blonde hair blowing softly in the breeze. It reminded Shikamaru of the fluffy clouds in the sky, and he smiled slightly at the resemblance. However, it reminded him of the reason why he came to the hill in the first place; to watch his damn clouds in the sky. So why was Ino on his hillside? It was so troublesome.

She was wearing a sky blue sundress, her sea blue eyes sparkling in the sunlight. A small frown plastered her flawless face, making her look unhappy. He watched as she looked to the ground, then toward the far away village. What exactly did she think she was doing?

Wait a second, why the hell am I hiding? Just as he prepared to leap onto the ground, he heard a noise and watched as Uchia Sasuke walked under the tree he was hiding in, and entered the clearing.

Shikamaru nearly slapped himself for being so dumb. Of course, dumb ass. She dating him! Ino and Sasuke have been dating for nearly three years now. Why are you surprised that she's meeting Mr. Perfect? Her Sasuke-kun is everything to her, even more important than her 'best friend', Shikamaru. What a drag..Even more important, why are they on my hill!?

He watched as Sasuke approached Ino, and called out to her.

"Ino."

She smiled, "Sasuke-kun, I've been waiting for you. I was starting to get worried."

As she approached him for a hug, Sasuke backed away from her. His words were deprived of any emotion.

"No, Ino."

Her face fell, and Shikamaru watched her mouth move as she formed the words that came out of her mouth.

"W-Why? What did I do?"

"You care too much. I can't go on a mission anymore without you getting worried about me. I'm a strong man, I don't need your worry holding me back. You are too-"

"Sasuke-kun, I can change! I won't worry-"

"Shut up, Ino! That's another thing, I'm sick of you calling me Sasuke-kun! I don't like that, Ino. I don't like feeling like I'm obliged to be yours. I can't even talk to Sakura-chan without-"

"Obliged to be mine? Sasuke-ku, I mean Sasuke, you were obliged to be mine when you asked me to be your girlfriend! And what's with you calling me just plain Ino, when you just called Sakura, Sakura-chan?! How is that-"

"I'm done, Ino. You aren't the one for me. I've been miserable with you, and honestly any guy would be. So why don't you go make someone else's life miserable," he said as he turned away from Ino and began to walk off.

Tears began streaming down Ino's face as a series of sobs emitted from her pink lips. She whispered something unheard by Shikamaru's ears, but then she flung herself onto Sasuke and wrapped his arms around him.

"No, Sasuke, please don't go, I will stop! Please...I love you too much to let you go!", she sobbed into his back, burying her face into his choice of shirt, a simple black with the Uchia Clan symbol printed on the front.

Shikamaru heard Sasuke as he spoke.

"Ino."

Ino pulled her face back, still crying hysterically.

Sasuke quickly turned around and shoved her to the ground, shock spreading across her face. She then began to sob harder.

"Don't you ever grab me like that again, you pathetic bitch! I don't love you anymore, and in all honesty, I never fucking did! Nobody will ever want to be with someone like you, Ino!"

Something snapped inside Shikamaru. As Sasuke quickly brought his hand down toward Ino's face, a sudden strong gust of wind swept in between the two. Shikamaru caught Sasuke's hand just as it came flying down, a look of anger plastered across the shadow man's face.

They stood in that position for what felt like hours before Sasuke growled, "What the hell are you doing, Nara?"

"Don't you dare touch Ino like that, Sasuke," Shikamaru said, voice thick with boredom, but laced with warning, "It's troublesome, but I just might have to kill you."

Sasuke's eyes narrowed and he chuckled, "You, kill me? That would be the day. Nara, I know you and just how lazy you are. You don't enjoy getting your hands messy, and you hate fighting. So tell me, why initiate a fight with me?"

"It doesn't matter why," Shikamaru stated as he shoved Sasuke's hand back to it's owner, "Just stay the hell away from Ino, or I promise you, I will kill you."

"It's your funeral, Nara," Sasuke said, voice full of hatred. He turned around, and Shikamaru watched as he entered the treeline. Troublesome. He turned back to Ino, who was still sitting on the ground in the same place that Sasuke left her.

He crouched down next to her and smiled slightly, "Hey, Ino. I know it's a stupid question, but are you alright?"

Ino sat there for a few minutes before slowly turning her head to look at Shikamaru. Her voice held a great deal of sadness, and her words stung Shikamaru's heart to no end.

"He's right...," she looked back to the ground and started sobbing again, "I'm no...I'm not good enough!"

She grabbed Shikamaru and buried her face in his shoulder, knocking both of them back onto the grass. It wasn't the first time, and it certainly wouldn't be the last time that he held Ino as she cried. After all, what were best friends for?

He wrapped his arm around her and ran his fingers through her hair as her tears soaked his plain grey shirt. He didn't mind, though. He hated to see her cry, and this was just another way that he could console her, his best friend. The beautiful Yamanaka Ino.

It's not a big deal that I think that, everyone thinks she's beautiful.

Stroking her hair made her floral aroma reach his nose and he sighed in delight. Then he remembered her words, He's right...I'm no...I'm not good enough!

"Ino," he spoke calmly, "I know that it won't mean anything coming from me, but I need you to listen closely. You are good enough. And that's Sasuke's problem, Ino. You're too good for someone who can't appreciate how wonderful you are. You've been my best friend for years, since we were little. I won't ever let someone make you feel like you aren't important, because you are. Sasuke was a gripe anyway, he's troublesome, even more troublesome than you. He's troublesome in a bad way. I know he changed and reunited with The Leaf, but I will tell you now that I don't trust him. I worried about you the whole time you were with him. You're my best friend, and I always want your happiness."

By the time he had finished his speech, Ino had stopped crying. She mumbled an apology and sat up, smoothing out her dress. She looked down at Shikamaru, who had his eyes glued to the clouds above.

"Hey, Shika?" she said quietly, Shikamaru smiling inside from hearing his favorite nickname, "Why'd you stop Sasuke from hitting me? You could have gotten yourself hurt."

Shikamaru closed his eyes and let the truth fall out, "Because, Ino, I will always protect you. You're precious to me."

Ino blushed and smiled at his words, she appreciated his friendship. "Thank you, Shika. You're an amazing friend. Truly one of a kind."

Bending down, she kissed his cheek and smiled as a blush spread across Shikamaru's face and his eyes snapped open. She giggled and said, "Will you walk me home?"

"Troublesome," he mumbled as he got up, then helped Ino to her feet.

As they walked, Ino a few paces ahead of Shikamaru, a thought popped into his head and he groaned inwardly. So after all of these years, you still love her. You haven't even attempted to find another love. Temari likes you, but each time she attempts to flirt with you, you act oblivious to her actions. Why? Because you are in love with your best friend, and you never have told her. And you won't, either. You know she doesn't feel the same. She likes handsome, popular guys like the douche bag that just left her. You attempted to shove these thoughts into the back of your head but face it, Shikamaru; You love Yamanaka Ino.

So there it was, his feelings resurfacing once again. And he was right. He couldn't tell her how he felt. Besides, their friendship would just be awkward and he never wanted to lose his Ino.

As they approached Ino's appartment, Shikamaru tensed up. He didn't want her to be alone when she was depressed. "Ino, are you sure you are going to be okay here alone?"

"Shika, you're forgetting that I'm living with Sakura," she reminded him while giggling. Duh, stupid. Huh. Their friendship really did get patched up over the years.

Standing in front of Ino's house, Shikamaru spoke, "Hey, if you need anything, you know where to find me. If I'm not at home or on a mission, I'm at my hill."

"I know, and thank you," she said as she hugged him.

Shikamaru blushed and smiled again, "You're welcome, Ino. I'm always going to be your shoulder to cry on."

Nodding, Ino pulled out of his warm embrace and opened her door, "Bye, Shika."

"Bye, Ino," he said and watched as she smiled and closed her front door.

She really was his best friend, and he had to fall in love with her, didn't he?

Better not say anything, or I'll end up with a broken heart that won't ever be fixed. Heh, troublesome woman.

And with that, Shikamaru started the walk back to his hill again, to ponder today's events.