Before the Storm
"I don't think this is the right time for cloud gazing, Shikamaru," stated Ino, her shadow falling over Shikamaru and blocking out the dim rays of sun. He shifted his gaze from the white puffy forms above to the girl who hovered over him. Her voice had not been reprimanding, but instead contained a weakness, a bit of concern; a faulty hope. Everyone had that tone wavering in his or her voice since the Fourth Ninja War was announced. Her expression was blank, hardened by the anxiety that wandered her mind. "I don't think there will be a right time for a long while." Her voice was even softer, and her eyes were distant. Shikamaru knew she was lost in that worried void.
He glanced once more at the clouds. They were darker than normal. Maybe they too sensed the coming storm.
Slowly, he rose and sat up straight. He sensed Ino sliding down besides him.
"Are you ready for tomorrow?" she asked, hiding her worry with a false determination.
But she couldn't fool him.
"Yeah…it's troublesome, but I guess I am."
There was silence for a moment.
"You're Gaara's proxy, right? You'll be a main target."
He glanced over at her. She was curled up, hugging her knees, supporting herself with just her feet; a weak stance, just like weakness he could sense in her voice. Her eyes were turned away from him, looking up at the clouds.
He knew she was really looking for a miracle.
She was looking for something to stop this war before it begun, but that wasn't possible.
He looked away from her, muttering, "…Maybe."
She rose to her feet and looked down at him. "Well then," she began, her voice filled with strength and the usual chipper. But, Shikamaru knew it was a mask this time. "You need to go home and make sure you are ready. Because you and Choji are in a different division than me, and I won't be there to save your sorry asses if you aren't one-hundred percent prepared." She flipped around and began to walk away.
"Ino," he muttered. She stopped and he sighed. "Nothing is going to happen to me nor Choji."
She didn't reply, but he knew that in that stubborn mind of hers she was wondering how he could possibly know that everything would be okay. But he also knew that she trusted him with her life and trusted him to give her the answers she couldn't find for herself.
"Because Asuma's child is going to be our student one day. We will live to fulfill that role." He paused and looked up at the clouds. "And nothing is going to happen to you either, Ino." He smirked. "Who else, is going to influence the kid to have that stubborn passion of yours?"
There was a moment of silence before she stated, "I know that," matter-of-factly. And as she walked away he could sense that passion was back and it was no falsehood.
I finally caught up with Naruto after a 3 year pause. I hope you liked my short story and if you did, please see if my other shikaino stories appeal to you.