Author's Ramble: Well, since a very fun Haruno Sakura cosplay at ShiokazeCon (tell me if you went!) I've become obsessed with Naruto, particurally NaruSaku and ShikaIno pairings, as my friend went as Yamanaka Ino. I had stopped posting stuff on here since my last update (SakuraxShaoran) went unreviewed, but now I'm trying again. I hope to get just one or two... please! Well, enough about that. Here's Overdue, and it's all for you Mobs! Enjoy!

Edit: Forgot to put in the poem... -bows- Gomen! And a big thank you to Hlomondodeli Majoribanks for your review! -huggles- This was also originally intended to be a dream, as well as about 10 years after the first arc, so it's still supposed to have a little of that not-quite-reality feel to it... hence the possessiveness and the OOC-ness pointed out by HM. Thanks again!

I gave it to you freely.

And yet return?

-It did not.

Years have passed

-The time has flown!

And now I have come to collect

What is long overdue.

"Ino!" The black haired strategist quickly approached his fellow teammate.

"Shika-?" Suddenly he pushed her against the wall, trapping her with his arms. "What?"

"I… need you to tell me something."

Ino blinked, completely confused. "What is it?"

Shikamaru glanced to the side, and then looked back at her. "Tell me, what do you see in him? What is it that makes you chase after him, even though he's never shown any sign of caring what you or anyone else thinks?" When she didn't respond, Shikamaru punched the wall next to her. "Damn it, Ino! Why do you say you love him? Why can't you see-" He suddenly stopped.

"Shika…" the blonde kunoichi whispered. "It's been years… If you had asked me this three years ago, I could have listed reasons and gone on for hours. But it's not three years ago. Things have changed." She placed a hand on the side of his face. "Shikamaru, if you're so worried, then why didn't you say anything earlier?"

The jounin blushed. "I… I was afraid of… never mind, it doesn't matter." He let his arms drop to his side, and turned to walk away.

"Yes, it does."

He stopped, but didn't turn back. "Why?"

"Because you matter," she said, stepping toward him. "Shikamaru, do you think I'm blind, or stupid?"

He immediately turned around to face her. "No!" he shouted, but any other words he might have said were stopped as she covered his lips with a finger.

"Then why do you think I've missed the looks you give me? Or the things you do? Don't worry about anything. Just say it. Tell me what it is that's bothering you."

She removed her finger, and he took a deep breath to steady himself. After a moment, he placed his hands on her shoulders and looked into those beautiful blue eyes. "I love you Ino. That's what's been driving me crazy for the last three years. That's what I've wanted to tell you since the days we were genin."

Ino smiled. "I didn't know it all that long, but I realized it once Sasuke left, the first time. Shikamaru," she said, putting her arms around his neck and pulling him close, "I love you too."

His arms slipped around her waist, and his lips met hers in a long, passionate, way overdue kiss.