Because.

"Do you think I'm fat?"

"What type of Damn question is that?"

"s..Sasuke-Kun thinks so and so does….."

"So does who?"

Ino hung her head in silent refusal.

Shikamaru, seeing that he would get no reply, settled back down and began to cloud gaze as he had been before she had disturbed him.

"Gosh, you're so troublesome, women."

Suddenly Ino burst into tears.

"Oh shit."

Shikamaru quickly sat back up and stood. Trying to comfort her in him own awkward way, he detached his limbs from his pockets and tried to hug her. He knew she hated when he did that. It made her feel weak and, as a kuniochi, she was anything but.

Quickly she dodged and proceeded to beat the shit out of him, all the while yelling obscenities and insults mixed with confessions that no one but they would ever know.

Shikamaru, used to this method of aggravation from her, just took all her punches and kicks half listening to her and the other half wondering so many oddball things.

At least that was what he was doing until he heard:

"YOU DON'T CARE! YOU NEVER DID! YOU NEVER GAVE A FUCKIN' DAMN WHAT HAPPENED TO ME!"

Shocked, Shikamaru stopped all his meaningless wandering thoughts and then became pissed off. I mean severely pissed off.

Activating his Shadow-no-jutsu, he turned to Ino.

As he moved his head to look at her, she did the same. But her eyes were still cast downwards.

"Ino, Look at me." He spoke firmly and decisively, leaving no room for questions.

She complied with his wish, and lifted her tearstained eyes to gaze into his dark umber ones. They say the eyes are the window to the soul. At that moment, if anytime, Ino knew those words to be true. Shikamaru's eyes were usually warm and understanding, so unlike the Uchiha she had been crying over. But now, as she gazed at him his eyes were ablaze with anger and if she was in her right mind, love.

"Don't you ever – EVER- think that! I care for you. I have always cared for you and I always will. Nothing will ever change that."

Blinking back tears, Ino hung her has as Shikamaru slightly released his hold on her.

"Why?" she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

"What?" Shikamaru said confused, his voice back to normal.

Her voice rose, still barely a whisper, but stronger than before.

"You heard me. Why? Why the hell do care about me when I'm such a horrible, ugly, loud being? WHY?"

Quickly Shikamaru released his jutsu.

Ino crumbled to the ground, her head down between her knees, her shoulders shaking, her hand gripping her silky hair as if it was all she could do to keep from screaming, sobbing her heart out.

Swiftly Shikamaru walk to her and held her close.

"Because."

Sobbing quietly she said, "Because why, because WHY?"

He didn't reply, just held her until her crying had faded and she had slowly drifted into unconsciousness. Then, smiling ruefully down on her dreary form in his arms, he said,

"Just because."