This is my very first fanfic. So please be kind. Noted, English is not my mother language, so there must be lots of grammatical error. Please notify me about the grammatical errors.

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto. Kishimoto does.


YELLOW MOON

Chapter 1: Prologue

Ino knew, there was something wrong with her. She couldn't describe it, but she knew it had something to do with her genius teammate. For couple of weeks she had been trying to keep a distance from him. She wanted to understand what's exactly wrong with her. Until now, she couldn't quite figure that out.

She didn't want Shikamaru to notice that she was indeed trying to keep a distance. Honestly, she didn't want to do this, but she really need time to understand what was going on inside her. So she decided, until the time she could finally understand, she would keep a space between herself and Shikamaru.

From her windowsill in her bedroom where she sat, Ino stared at the yellow moon. She wished she could understand what's wrong with her and why was Shikamaru involved, so she could finally hang around with him without such an uneasy feeling.


Shikamaru knew, there was something wrong with Ino. He didn't know why and what was the cause of her sudden change of behavior. He felt like she's trying to avoid him in any chance. It had been like that for couple of weeks.

At first, he thought maybe she was busy with missions and her part time job at her parents' flower shop, but later he knew from Chouji that she had not been on any mission for quite some times. He started to get tired of it. Did he done something wrong that upset her? Or maybe she had a very serious problem she refused to tell and decide to deal it herself?

From Nara's family forest where he lay on its grass, Shikamaru stared at the yellow moon. He decided he would go to see and check on Ino tomorrow and yes, he was going to find out what's with her exactly.


Chouji knew, there was something wrong with Ino and Shikamaru. He didn't know what it was between them. Honestly, Chouji didn't like this situation. Ever since Asuma-sensei passed away, Ino and Shikamaru were all that he had. They were acting weird lately.

Ino was not in her usual self, she was less talkative and less violent. Whenever Chouji he mentioned something about Shikamaru, her face suddenly get straight and she didn't want to talk further about him.

Shikamaru on the other hand looked like he had lots of thing to think about. Sometimes he would stare blankly when Chouji talked to him. Chouji knew Shikamaru was thinking about something really matter. He had a hunch that it had something to do with their blonde teammate.

From the street leading to his home, Chouji stopped for a moment and stared at the yellow moon. He hoped that there was nothing serious going on between his teammates, so they could laugh and do stupid things together again like they used to.


Shikamaru woke up fifteen minutes earlier than his set alarm. He hated this habit because the alarm would ring when he had already woken up and it was very disturbing and troublesome. Today it would be more troublesome, because last night he had decided he's going to come to see Ino at her parents' flower shop. Chouji told him she was most likely working there most of the day.

So even if it's troublesome, he dragged himself to the flower shop. He met Naruto and Sakura on his way there. They said that they would do some training together on one of Konaha's training ground. As usual, Naruto bragged about his power and how it had improved so much, and he would definitely become the sixth Hokage soon. Sakura gave Naruto a heavy sigh, seemed like she had had heard it for million times.

Then he met Kiba and Akamaru. They stopped for a while and shared greeting, then Shikamaru gave Akamaru some pats. Kiba told him he was taking Akamaru for a walk. He and Akamaru were more than just an owner and his pet. Shikamaru knew that Kiba loved Akamaru like he was his own brother. Shikamaru wondered what if he had a pet. Honestly he never thought about having pet in slightest (well, except from the deer that his clan owned). He's not a pet lover type; maybe if he had a pet, let's say fish, he was sure that it would die soon enough due to his lack of concern.

So here he was, standing in front of Yamanaka's flower shop. From the glasses on the door he could she Ino was trimming some flowers. Maybe she was doing flower arrangement for a customer. She was wearing her apron and her platinum blonde hair was in her usual ponytail. Shikamaru could only see half of her face, 'cause the other half was hidden behind her bangs.

He opened the door, and the doorbell rang.

"Welcome!" she said it in such a cheerful voice without leaving his eyes from the flower arrangement.

"Yo. Good morning, Ino."

Upon hearing his voice, Ino brought her face up directly. Then when she was saying his name, Shikamaru failed to hear such a cheerful voice from earlier. Instead he heard her whispering voice came from those perfect lips on her beautiful face.

"Shikamaru…"

Wait, did he just said perfect lips and beautiful face?


Author's Note:

That's all. Chapter 1 is the prologue. Hope you like it! If you don't, that's ok too. I write this fanfiction 'cause I see not enough Ino x Shika moments in manga and anime. T_T

I have set plot to write, so next chapter will be released in a week or two.

Until then, please review! :D