Too Lazy to Love: Too Troublesome to Care
When alliances with Sand become weak because Konoha is weak; where is the line that is being crossed when arranged marriages keep an alliance between Sand and Konoha strong? In the cross roads of this problem we find two people forced to answer the call of their village without choice. This is a short story, lost with time. (Ino X Shikamaru).Short Story and Additional Poem after story.
Nara Shikamaru is a boy who things everything is too troublesome: his mom, being a ninja, fighting, jutsus, sitting, Sakura, Choji, all his friends, exams, writing, talking practically doing anything except sleeping, eating and cloud watching. Out of all the things, there are two things that he finds extremely troublesome. They are Yamanaka Ino and Love. He finds them annoying, troublesome, too complicated, hard and useless. He doesn't like doing anything he figured that if he became a ninja he could lazy around his life then to find out he was completely wrong he learns to deal with Ms. Troublesome herself, Yamanaka Ino is on his team.
Yamanaka Ino is a girl who is arguably the most beautiful girl in Konoha. She loves flowers, talking with friends, obsessing over Sasuke, arguing with Sakura, med jutsu and mind transfer jutsu among these. Ino had barely anything in store for her life. Everything seemed smoothly running along with fate and she didn't mind that. Among the things she dislikes are lazy people, people with large foreheads, people who dislike flowers and Nara Shikamaru who some would only accuse him of the first thing on her list. She only had one thing against him, being lazy and saying she's troublesome.
◊ (I Can't Believe My Ears) ◊
∆ (Hokage's Office) ∆ - VP: Shikamaru - ¤ (After Time Skip) ¤
Notes: Gaara is not Kazekage. A man named 'Viand' is the Kazekage. Take note of this.
Ages: Everyone is 16 except Temari, Neji, Lee and Tenten who are all 17. All the adults are their own ages too.
I didn't expect this when Ino and I were called down to the Hokage's office. Tsunade usually didn't make any unusual rules, decrees, or such. She's somewhat lazy which is why, she's like me. She'll take responsibility if she has to but other than that. You wouldn't want to bother her, in short.
She seemed sort of upset and worried. "Shikamaru, Ino, I'm sorry to tell you this but, you're engaged to be married." She said pounding her hands on the table. I looked at Ino then back at the Hokage.
"For a second, I thought you're serious." Ino said laughing.
"I am. I'm very sorry Ino, but the paperwork is filled. It's a fact." She handed us each both a form.
"No way! This paper doesn't say to whom or anything about it!" Ino yelled.
"I suppose you'd like to know why."
"Why this happened and Why me!" Ino yelled.
"I suggest you calm yourself Ino." She said.
"But…" Ino said finally getting it. I grabbed Ino's arm and pulled her to a sitting position. "Why me?"
"Konoha is weak as you both know." We nodded. "And as such, no country wants to have to be allied with us." We gasped.
"So we're weak and defenseless." Ino said.
"No, this is the last chance we have, or we are. This mission is a life-long mission. There is no, 'I don't accept'. It's happens, sorry." She said.
"I don't get it, we're being married why?"
"We only have 4 able kunoichi and 3 male ninjas who can deal this."
"Any of them, why us?" Ino asked.
"Neji and Tenten are already engaged. Sakura's parents have already set up and engagement and Naruto's a risk to the mission. That leaves Shikamaru and Hinata is the Hyuuga heir, leaving you."
"What about Shino, Choji, Lee and Kiba?" I asked.
"Kiba and Shino are important clan figures and their families refused to marry them off. Choji and Lee weren't ninja classifies of those we could send off. Sorry Shikamaru."
"So because I didn't fall in love, and I have no family that needs me for some important cause, I'm being married off." Ino asked unexpectedly.
"Yes, for the sake of Konoha. You are." She said plainly.
"To who?" I asked.
"Gaara and Temari of sand."
"What!" Ino yelled.
"Man, she's so troublesome. My luck has to be horrible." I complained.
"Why them?"
"Sand is our strongest alliance now. Kazekage Viand says that if we have 2 successful marriages between our nations, even if arranged. They'd have reason to keep the alliance."
"What if they don't care about our old homes?"
"It's in paper, once you two are married; we're allied as long as you are alive. No more missions, no life as a ninja, and no endangering your life. You belong to sand and those two sadly." She said.
"You really are serious aren't you?" I asked.
"Yes Shikamaru, I am." I sighed.
"I wouldn't normally be okay with being married off to an almost stranger who's troublesome in another village but if it's for the alliance, safety of Konoha and sake of everyone here. Fine. I accept."
"Thank you Shikamaru." Tsunade said with a smile. I know I wasn't happy. It's not as if I had planned anything better for my life. I felt bad for Ino though, she had big dreams for life. Being anywhere near, Gaara wasn't in them, at all.
"So you're saying, no matter what goes on, this will go on. Even if you have to drag me down the isle that day, right?" Ino asked sadly.
"Correct Ino." Tsunade said.
"There's no way out?"
"No. Your parents agreed."
"My parents?" Ino asked about to cry.
"Correct again. Shikamaru, Ino, you have 3 days to pack up and say good-bye to everyone. Understood, meet back Wednesday night."
"Understood, come on Ino." I said to her. She followed me negatively out of the place.
"We're engaged to weirdoes!" She yelled. I couldn't help but laugh at her crazy attitude. "And you're okay with this?!" She yelled jumping at me.
I grabbed her arms and held them to her side. She was near tears and I laid my head close to hers. "I never said I was okay with this, I just said I accept. She said 'In this mission, there is no 'I don't accept'. We had no choice." I told her. I let Ino go and she crumpled to her knees. I walked away to let her be alone with herself. I didn't go far.
I lay down in the green grassy pastures and stared up at the clouds. I'd miss clouds. Since it's so humid in Sand, I doubt they have clouds. If they do then they're probably not the kind you want to see. I wonder if they have anything of interest to me. Most likely not.
I hear a sobbing voice coming near to me. It's Ino. I guess now she's ready for me to comfort her with my logical words, again. I thought she'd had left already but, no. She stays, to bother me. "Shika… maru, I'm sad." I walked over to her and looked at her. I smiled and raised her head up.
"I kind of knew that Ino." I said.
"You can't leave me." She said crying farther and once again falling to the ground at my feet.
"Sorry Ino but I'm an engaged man." I said trying to brighten her spirits.
She stood up and smacked me right across the face. I just laughed. Ino is so predictable. She gets bad news, she cries alone, she comes to me, I make a joke, she slaps me, now she cries and apologizes. Then, I really comfort her in risk of my reputation and against my better thoughts. Yet, it's worth it knowing she feels better.
"Shikamaru, I'm so sorry. I'm just so sad." She said crying. I laughed; I hug her and hold her into my chest. "I'm so sorry; I didn't mean to hurt you. I was just… you were so… it's not fair."
"Life isn't fair Ino, come on. I better get you home before your dad kills me and then I end up stopping your engagement because I died taking care of you, the most troublesome girl ever. But I guess it would be worth it, for you to be happy but then you'd be miserable after all."
"Why?" She asked.
"Because Sound would invade, kill everyone, you'd most likely be taken captive as someone else's wife and be extremely miserable. Then, when you die, you'll annoy and complain to me forever. At least this way, I can hear you complain and live." She gave a faint smiled and rested her head and my chest.
"He wouldn't kill you; you're his best friend's child. He knows you. He knows how important this engagement is. Thanks for everything though, Shikamaru. It means a lot to me." She said smiling a little more. I rest my head on her head and we walk to her house which is in next to mine so it isn't that troublesome. She deserves some care, sometimes after all. Moreover, honestly, this isn't very troublesome. It's some of my better times with her. Too bad the only time I get along with her is when she's sad.
I arrived at her place and she had calmed down. I think she was asleep. I figured she was when her body almost collapsed to the ground halfway here. I picked her up and carried her, the rest of the way. She was a bit light, not very troublesome. If it were, Choji who passed out, that would be troublesome. I knocked on her door.
"Shikamaru, what's wrong with Ino?"
"We found out about the engagement, 3 days, she cries, slaps me, I escort her home, she falls asleep, I carry her here, and give her to you." I explained.
"Who is it and what was he doing with Ino?" Ino's dad yelled.
"It's me Mr. Inoichi. I brought Ino back. She fell asleep returning home. I expected you'd want her back." I said.
"Oh, Shikamaru. It's you. Thanks for bringing her back. So you two found out?" I shrugged and nodded. "How'd she take it?"
"Horribly, she cried, slapped me, being troublesome and then I had to console her and take her home. Well here she is. Where you want her?" I asked.
"Could you put her in her room?" Ino's mother asked.
"I guess. It's not any more troublesome then anything else that went on today." Ino's mom sighed.
"You act just like your father did but you care a bit more workable with. Thanks a lot. You're a good young man."
I shrugged. "I'm a ninja; I can't be completely useless no matter how much I want to be." I answered.
"Good for you." I nodded. I shifted around Ino's weight on my arms and chest so that I was comfortable taking her up the stairs and didn't drop her. I walked in her room. It was actually quite pleasing; it was blue and had many flowers and pictures of our team. She was proud of her accomplishments, as well as her team. I laid her down, covered her up with blanket, closed her door and left.
I returned my house; my parents didn't care much that I was late. I simply said. "Ino, engagement, slapped, asleep, took her home, night." Then nodded and I went to bed, without another word.
¤ (Morning) ¤
"Shikamaru!" Ino yelled from downstairs. I got dressed and went down the stairs.
"You're a lot less troublesome when you're asleep." I complained. She blushed and looked away.
"Sorry about falling asleep on you last night. I didn't mean to…" I put my hand in front of her face.
"It's alright. You parents didn't mine and you weren't heavy."
"You carried me home?" She asked.
"No, I left you on the ground where you collapsed and went to your house, told them where you were and they took care of it. Of course I carried you home, put you in bed, covered you up and left." I said not caring what I was saying. She blushed more.
"Sorry." She said once more.
"It's fine. What do you want?"
"I was wondering if you wanted to go with me, to say good-bye to all our friends. I really don't want to go alone." She said looking down sadly.
I smiled. "Mom, Dad, I'm going out with Ino, bye." I said walking out of the house pulling her behind me. She looked at me surprised and blushing some more. "What?" I asked.
"You just said you were going out with me and left."
"So? They know what I meant. We're engaged remember."
"Oh yeah, right." She said nodding. I smiled and I starting walking. She followed along side with me. "Where to first?"
"Choji, he's right next door." I said.
"Right." She said. We walked in the house. His family was in the kitchen and chowing down on food. "Hey Choji, can you come to the living room, we need to tell you something?" He came in the living room.
"What is it?"
"We're engaged. Shikamaru and I."
He was like choking on his food. "Not us as together, us as in both of us. We're engaged to Gaara and Temari of Sand." He wasn't laughing.
"You're first joke was funnier."
"No, we're serious. Trust me; it's as horrible as it sounds." Ino said.
"Man that stinks, why?"
"To keep the alliance of Konoha and Sand." I answered.
"Well I think you should tell everyone at the same time to save you guys a lot of time."
"Good idea, Ino and I will meet you at the park in our normal training area, Choji. See you soon." He nodded. I looked at Ino. "Ino, you go find Sakura, and Hinata's team. I'll get Neji, Tenten, Lee, and Naruto." She nodded and we jumped off get anyone. Soon everyone was gathered in the training spot.
"What's this about?" Neji asked.
"Neji, quiet. It's important news." Tenten said. He nodded.
Ino opened her mouth and I put my hand over her mouth. "Due to recent problems in the alliance with Sand two people are being sent over to Sand to marry them and form the alliance."
"Who?" Lee asked concerned.
"Us." Ino said sadly.
"Ino, that's horrible. To who?" Sakura asked.
"Temari and Gaara of the Sand." Ino said. Everyone went quiet. "I figured you guys would take it like this. We were picked because you all had plans, duties to fulfill or were not classified or already engaged."
Ino was once again crying and was wiping her tears. I was surprised no one said saying something about Ino's tears because that's breaking a ninja law. "Also, we are no longer ninjas anymore. If we do missions, it's under Sand's name. We're no longer for Konoha; we're diplomats and can't endanger our lives again." I explained.
"I think that's horrible." Tenten said.
"I agree. It's quite unfair to the both of you." Neji said.
"My heart goes out to you two for giving your lives to strangers for the sake of Konoha. Good job." Ino gave a small smile. Lee's words actually for once, did actually make someone happy to serve Konoha even if it was my force.
"I'm going to talk to Tsunade now! They can't do this!" Naruto yelled.
"Stop." Ino said. Naruto stopped dead in his tracks. "It's useless to stop it. Our parents decided it. It's not as though… I had plans for my life. Like you all." She said falling down in tears. I sat next to her and pulled her into my chest. Everyone just watched in amazement as I took care of her.
"Ino…" Sakura started. I shook my head.
"Sometimes words aren't what people need." I answered for her. Everyone left us sitting there except for Choji who wanted to comfort his teammates. I didn't blame them for leaving. I would have left Ino to her privacy if I weren't comforting her.
"Ino, do you want to go home?" She shook her head furiously in the chest.
"Shikamaru?" She asked.
"Yeah?"
"Can you stay with me?"
I sighed and looked at her. "Sure." I answered her. There's no harm staying with her. It's not as if we'd get in trouble for cheating on our fiancé (e) s. They have no choice but to marry us. It's not like I like her, either. Moreover, she definitely doesn't like me. She's in love with Sasuke. Right? I asked myself. I wasn't sure anymore. She was sure acting weird though, I didn't want to think about it anymore.
Choji had left after that, I didn't blame him. There wasn't much to do to comfort us. I was doing the only comforting here and I didn't care to be comforted. Temari was a troublesome female, crazy, hyperactive active, easily annoyed, stressed and definitely not my type. I don't think I have a type anyway.
"Ino, I don't want to bother you, but I have a question?" She looked up with tear-filled eyes.
"Yeah Shikamaru?" She asked.
"What's my type of girl?" He asked.
She stiffened a giggled of sorts. "I don't know, one that will do anything you want, and are definitely not troublesome." I smiled at her. The way she looks at me, at this angle, she almost looks cute. It makes me want to kiss her. Did I just say that? Someone, smack me! If I like Ino then I'll be in trouble for many reasons.
I'm engaged.
She's engaged.
If not troublesome is my type, Ino can't be.
She's troublesome a lot of the time.
She's my teammate, even if we weren't engaged because of our triclan, we can't intermarry. It's again our triclan rules.
As much as I shouldn't like her, I had reasons too. It's too troublesome to fight my feelings now. Therefore, she looks cute. I'm sure there are tons of guys that think she's cute. It's normal. She's cute. I'm not denying it. I just can't like her because it would mess me up.
I sighed rather loudly. She looked up at me expecting to hear something. "What?" I asked.
"You sighed, extremely loudly. What's bothering you?" She asked.
"You." I said not thinking.
"What, me? What did I do?" She asked.
"No you're fine how you are now. You're just… it's nothing. Nothing important. A stupid part of my brain that hasn't gotten to do anything today since I didn't watch clouds." She smiled.
"You can watch clouds if you want. There is an open field that way." I patted her head and smiled.
"I'm fine Ino. I'm just over thinking. You're fine just the way you are. But can I lie down?" I asked.
"Sure." I lay down and surprisingly she rested her head on my chest and snuggled to my side. I was utterly surprised and I think I might be blushing. Look at trees, past the trees, to the clouds. It's like around noon. Choji probably was hungry and left to eat. Ino doesn't look hungry but I'm not either so whatever. She snuggled closer to my side and I blushed. I looked down at her with her eyes clothes. I put my arm around her without thinking much of it and closed my eyes going to sleep.
I woke up a few hours later. I saw Ino still resting against me but she was lying flat on her back and staring at the clouds. "I finally get why you stare at clouds. It's relaxing and you can think clearly." I smiled. It took you enough years to figure it out, when your mind is constantly thinking you have to relax it a lot. "You know what I want to know?" She asked.
"Yeah, what?" I asked not really carrying you.
"You have carried my body over long distances millions of time. You've carried me while I've been hurt. You always take care of my body and all that stuff when I do my jutsus but, you seem uncomfortable with me this close to you now." She said.
"You're troublesome when you think too much." I said. "It's because well… because when I do usually you're unconscious, asleep or not even there. You can't smack me for being too close to you when you're not there."
"If that's it, you're being stupid. I don't care if you're close to me. As long as you're not being perverted with my body or me." She answered. I smiled.
"I wouldn't dream about it for a second."
"Good, because anyways, I'd just nail you when I came to or came back." I nodded and smiled.
We stayed like that for the rest of the day. "Come on." I said standing up.
"But we've been here all day; can't we just stay here all day, and sleep here?" She asked.
"Sometimes Ino, your ideas are genius like that one but that's not your style being lazy. We should eat something and go home. We only have one more day and we pretty much wasted this one."
"No we didn't Shikamaru, we told everyone good-bye. I got to spend the day with you and learn the importance of watching clouds." I smiled at her. I didn't see how that was important. "You're going to be bored in Sunagakure without clouds and all."
"I know, but I'll have a troublesome wife to deal with. I'm sure there won't be time but I'll find something to entertain myself. I can always try to figure away out."
"When you find out, tell me, alright?" She asked.
"Yeah." I answered. "Come on." I took Ino out to dinner just us to and it was actually nice being civil with one another. Too bad the reason that we get along is a horrible time in our life. It stinks. I like this Ino, one that's civil and not so troublesome. We finished eating and I walked her to her place. I leaned against her wall and then her parents answered the door.
"Hello Shikamaru, there you are Ino. We figured you two would be out somewhere, your parents left us the message." I nodded.
"Night Ino." I said walking out. I sensed that she hadn't moved. She was watching me leave. "Go inside and sleep Ino. One more night at home. Take advantage of it." I advised her. I sensed she was smiled.
"Thanks Shikamaru, Bye." She said happily. I sensed some weirder tone in her voice but I figure that it isn't that important to figure out. I'd learn eventually, right? Right.
¤ (Last Day, Morning) ¤
This is certainly on the list of interesting mornings. I woke up to my phone ringing. I picked it up to hear a freaked out Ino's mom panicking. "What's up Mrs. Yamanaka?" I asked.
"Ino's missing." I sighed. She's back to being troublesome.
"I doubt it. Yet again, she might. I'd say the chances are 10 she ran away. She's probably thinking or something. Maybe watching clouds, who knows?"
"What, Ino watching clouds?"
"Yeah, she's pretty good at it too. I'll find her don't worry." I said hanging up the phone. I got dressed and walked outside and a kunai flew by me. I caught it and turned around.
"What's up Ino?"
"I don't want to." I smiled.
"Neither do I, join the club."
"Very funny Shikamaru, I don't. I never wanted to get married in the first place! I still don't. Especially to Gaara." She's finally thought about it enough to realize its happening. It's a step, a good step but a troublesome one at that.
She jumped off the room landing next to me. "Aren't you going to say something, comfort me?" She asked.
"No, you've been comforted enough. Now that you actually accept its happening, I can't do anything for you. You were sort of in denial as if it was far in the future. You had plenty of time. Did you pack up?"
"I know its happening and I did. My parents were crying all night. I knew they'd call you when they realized I wasn't in my room."
"I didn't think you'd run away. You looked like you had found all the answers you needed when I left yesterday."
"I did, but not about the engagement. I realized that this morning. It hit me hard." I put my hand on her shoulder.
"Yeah, I knew it would. Come on, I know where we're going." I said walking off. We went into the grill where everyone awaited us.
"What is this?" Ino asked.
Sakura stepped forward. "It's a thank you, good-bye party." She said.
"For us?" She asked.
"No, for Sasuke." I said. Both girls gave me a mean glare. "I was playing; you guys need to be more enjoyable."
"Yes for you Ino, it's a thank you for saving all of us and Konoha even though it's against your will, you still are. It's also a good-bye because you're leaving us." Sakura hugged Ino. "I'm sorry I was so mean to you Ino, I was being stupid."
"I'll forgive you if you forgive me. I mean there's a chance we might not see each other again so, friends?" Sakura nodded and they let go again. It was an okay party. I would have rather watched clouds and relax and consol my mind but this was all right too.
Soon though, the party was over and all returned home. They all wanted to avoid the sad fact of the truth that we were leaving, to save them, and we weren't coming back for an extremely long time, if at all. That was the sad truth of the matter.
Tsunade told us to transport ourselves to Sunagakure and use the last jutsu we'd need for a while. I know that I planned on if she didn't leave me alone, trapping her with my shadow imitation jutsu and going into the house while she bakes in the sun. It was mean but that's how you deal with troublesome girls. I've done to Ino plenty of times.
"Well this is where we say good-bye to you two." Tsunade said.
"Yeah, I guess." I said.
"Yeah, good-bye and thanks for everything you've done for us in the past." Ino said smiling. Trying not to cry. She knew what to expect of Gaara, that wasn't sympathy, care, or love. I hated that's how her life was going to end up. At least Temari could possibly show care, sympathy or love. I had known her to in the past but Gaara… he was a cold hearted killer. Yet again, better Gaara then Kankuro. He was a major pervert and needed a head adjustment.
"I'm really sorry it all had to end up like this, but some things are meant to be, and this is one of them. I'm sorry though. Thank you for saving us all. You won't be forgotten, I know that. I promise you." I smiled.
"Thanks, don't do anything much for me. Don't trouble yourself with remembering me. You can remember Ino though." I said. Ino looked at me and smiled.
"I wish this was all just a big mistake." Ino said.
"I do too Ino, for your sake and not so much mine. As long as you're happy, then I don't care." I said and we prepared the jutsu and we were gone, as quickly as we left Konoha we showed up in our new home Sunagakure. Know as simply Suna to its natives.