Between the Lines of Love
By Kimmy
Summary: ShikaIno one-shot. It's going to rain, and there's nothing Shikamaru can do about it.
Notes: My third fic pumped out over three days. I needed those three days to do my papers, but I'm afraid fanfiction comes before school.
Title comes from We The King's Headlines Read Out.
It's going to rain, Shikamaru thinks as his brown eyes rake across the cloudy skies.
And there's nothing I can do about it.
It's his one day off from training that week, and he's spending it lying underneath an overcast sky. He supposes he should get up before the rain starts to fall, but the thought of returning so soon to his nagging mother doesn't appeal to him.
So he decides to stay, even though he hates the rain that is beginning to fall.
It's barely a minute later, when the rain has strengthened enough to make him shiver, that he hears it. Someone's approaching, and he knows who it is. He waits for her to scold him for being lazy and careless again.
There's only silence from her, however, and all he can hear as he waits is the rain pattering against the thick material of his flak jacket. He turns his head from the grey sky to look at Ino.
She's standing only a few feet away, drenched and shivering in her outfit. She's upset.
He sits up in concern, "Ino?"
She doesn't offer an answer, just slowly approaches to take the spot of grass next to him.
He's hesitant when he edges over to nudge his shoulder against hers. "Ino?" he tries again.
She won't look at him, but she answers this time. "Sakura's arguing with me." Her voice isn't shaking, but her hands are, and Shikamaru notices one is clutching a familiar ribbon, weighed down with rain. He understands immediately.
The first words that come to his mind exit his mouth before he even has a chance to think. "She's not worth it, Ino."
Apparently, it is the wrong thing to say, for Ino only hangs her head.
He has never had to comfort a girl before – that's Chouji's area of expertise. He wonders now why she didn't go to Chouji this time around, but barely begins pondering this when she leans in to rest her head on his shoulder.
She reaches up to clutch his arm, and though the rain is still falling and they are still shaking, her hand is warm.
He decides then that he doesn't ever want her to let go.
"Shikamaru?"
He turns to look at her, and sees the reflection of the grey clouds in her blue eyes.
It's going to rain, he thinks helplessly for the second time, and there's nothing I can do about it.
Sure enough, there are tears in Ino's eyes, and when she blinks, they spill onto her cheeks.
When she speaks again, her voice is shaking. "Shikamaru, will you stay?"
He's startled by the question. It takes him a moment, but he soon nods, letting out a shaky, "Y-yeah, of course."
He hears her give a relieved, shaky sigh in response, and suddenly, she's curling her arms around his middle.
"Thank you, Shika," she mumbles softly against his shoulder. "I know you hate the rain."
It's true, he thinks sadly, as he wraps an arm around Ino's shaking shoulders, but I'll stay.
Because while he may hate the rain, he loves this girl, and Shikamaru does not ever want her to let go.
I'm not entirely happy with the ending. Ah, well. It's Easter over here, so for all those who celebrate it, Happy Easter!