Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto, but I love all the characters in it

A Not So Surprising Discovery

"Are you sure?"

"Yes Chouji I'm absolutely positive."

"Very sure?"

As always Shikamaru didn't like it when people questioned his relationship with Yamanaka Ino. It all started when Ino came back from a mission that lasted more than 2 months. She had come back without any heavy injuries but Shikamaru had insisted she stay at home and rest for the next week because he thought she had a fever.

Ino, being the stubborn girl as always, had shot back, "AAwwhhh Shikamaru! Didn't know you cared that much!" And had kissed him on the check before leaving in a puff of smoke.

Fortunately or maybe unfortunately for Shikamaru, Chouji had been there at the gates of Konoha to witness the little scene unfold because he was just as worried about Ino. Obviously! Since she was always like the little sister he never had.

"Shikamaru. I really think you should stop being in denial! I saw how much your face flared up when she kissed you! Maybe she should've stayed a few more minutes then -"

Chouji was interrupted with a loud snort, "HEY! She kissed me on the cheek and I was so not embarrassed about it!"

With a really huge wolfish grin, "Heh Shikamaru I never said you were embarrassed about it. I just said you were flushed."

Knowing that he was trapped, Shikamaru finally gave in. "Ok, so I've liked her This time it was Chouji's turn to snort ok fine I've loved her for a little while… So what? It's not like anything is going to happen."

"You know… Maybe if u stopped calling her troublesome and asked her out on a date, all your problems will be solved." said Chouji wisely. He had started going out with a girl in the village who owned Korean Barbeque. He was just starting to dream about the love of his life when Shikamaru interrupted his thoughts.

"Do you really think I have a shot at this Chouji?" Shikamaru was the 'lazy genius' of Konoha but he could never ever figure out girls. He was confident on the battlefield, able to come up with about 200 strategies even under pressure but he could never say the right things to the girl that mattered the most to him.

"Of course you do buddy! I mean you've probably started liking her since we were teamed up in the same genin team. Shikamaru, we're all 23 now, not 12. I'm sure you're over the whole cooties thing by now. Take it from me buddy, the wife might shout at me all the time for going to missions so much and coming home late, but nothing beats the feeling of having someone to return to."

Nothing beats the feeling of having someone to return to ey Chouji? Wise words I guess. I never knew I would have fallen in love with such a troublesome girl… Oh right. Chouji said not to call her troublesome. But it's too weird! I've been saying that she's troublesome since we were kids! But yeah… Chouji is right. Returning to an empty apartment all the time is even more troublesome. That's it! I'm heading over there right now.

"Shikamaru? What exactly are you doing pounding on my apartment door at 2.30 in the morning??"

It's really a good thing that Ino decided to move out of her parents house… Inoichi might've stabbed me multiple times with kunai or shuriken if he knew I disturbed his baby girl's beauty sleep.

Although Shikamaru had just woken her up from her sleep, she was already awake enough to start shouting at him. And the white tank top and shorts was really not helping his brain to think… "I… Uuuhh-hh… thought I could tell you s-something to-tonight…"

Since when did Shikamaru stutter so badly thought Ino. Must be something big… "Alright then, come on in, you lazy boy."

As her nickname for him rolled smoothly from her lips, his brain managed to click back in place. "Actually I'm just going to say it to you right here right now. I've waited 11 years to say this and it just can't wait anymore."

"I want to be with you Yamanaka Ino. I know I call you troublesome all the time but it's only because… well…. I mean you really are troublesome…" A glare from Ino. "But you're the only girl that is so troublesome because I've fallen in love with all of you." The glare had changed to utmost surprise.

"I love the way you shout at me in the morning to get up because my mom just opens the window to let the freezing air come in. I love the way you wake me up from napping at my favourite cloud watching spot by laying your head down on my shoulder and yapping about all the new gossip you heard from Sakura. I love the way you nag at me because I know deep down you care and that you're just worried. Most of all… I love you because you're you. I wouldn't want it any other way."

At the end of his speech she was so astonished and shocked at his sincere words she couldn't even speak.

"You don't have to say anything… I know its hard to love such a lazy guy like me. I'm not handsome, not romantic, not -"

"Shikamaru. Just don't ruin the moment ok?" She leaned up and pressed her lips to his in a soft manner. So gentle that Shikamaru couldn't help but smirk against her lips.

"I see Chouji must've been able to convince you to tell me?" Ino asked with a sly smile after she broke the kiss. Her cheeks still flushed and red from their kiss but she left her arms around his neck.

"WHAT? How did you know about that?"

"Ehehe… Actually he knew I liked you and vise versa because he could just tell. He's our best friend Shikamaru, of course he knew. We didn't have to say anything about it."

"Aaahhhh is that so?" He sneaked his arms around her waist and gave her a chaste kiss. "I think we should treat him to all you can eat with us tomorrow"

"Of course we should! I mean our wallets will probably be so empty and we would have to go for so many more missions to make up for it. Then we can take him out and …"

Shikamaru had already tuned her out by then and thought of a very sneaky plan. Why use your lips for such a boring task when they could be used for much better purposes?

Oh yeaaaa Chouji, even just thinking about knowing that I now have someone to return to is freaking awesome.

"NARA SHIKAMARU! Did you just kiss me because you wanted to shut me up?!"

Aaahhh damn… It was a really good plan in my head! But nyehhh Ino is Ino and that's what I fell in love with… Troublesome.

"Oh by the way. You. Me. Date tomorrow."