Author: The Alternate Universe. To "Can you Repeat that...?" What if Ino did accept Sasuke's offer, at the party, before She got Shikamaru's confession... Well, here it is.
Shikamaru Nara woke up in a daze. From the party last night, he sighed into his arm. He looked around his room and couldn't remember a thing, where'd he been, before he got here, who got him here and where the hell is here...? He sat up and the room spun around, he rubbed his eyes and saw a dark figure, his dad. Shikato Nara. He cursed under is breathe.
"Well Shikamaru..." When Shikamaru's vision finally cleared he saw his dad, sitting in a chair, the chair turned backward. His dad only did that when trying to relate to his son. "What were you thinking? Have you and idea, the slightest hint of how worried your mother was?"
"Obviously not, Dad." He rolled his eyes, "But. I'm sorry, and I would like to know what happened?"
"Well, Shikamaru.. We found you passed out, drunk in the deer farm, talking to the fucking fish!!" Shikato sighed heavily and put his head on the chair. "I think I should be asking you what happened?"
"I would love to tell you...only I don't know." Shikato nodded and got up, pushing the chair under the desk.
" Well, get ready for school."
Shikamaru nodded, and got up slowly heading to his bathroom.
"Oh... I almost forgot." Shikamaru lead on the door frame. "Your mother is going to be gone for a while, so it's gonna be pretty quite. For two days at least." Shikamaru nodded and went for the shower. He let the warm water hit his skin before he snapped back into his reality. Letting the shampoo flee from is hair and the soap from his skin. The water cleaned what seemed to be caked on dirt and sweat. Whatever happened must have been pretty bad. He sighed. He figured he'd been in there long enough, because his fingers began to wrinkle. He stepped out of the shower and wrapped a towel around himself. And another to dry his hair. Sighing again, Shikamaru wiped the thick screen of fog on the mirror and saw bruises on is face. Light and swollen bruises. Where did these come from? How the hell did they get here?
"Great..." Shikamaru mumbled to himself, going into his room putting on his black boxers and a black wife beater. He took out a pair of dark green cargo pants, slipping them on. And a black hooded jacket. Slipping into his black shoe. He flopped on his bed and closed his eyes, He thought of the vague but memorable night. confusing, yes I know. He thought of the people there. The gang, and the people that went to his school. The only thing worth holding on to was the sound- The sound of his best friends musical laughter, no. Not Chouji, Ino.
How could it turn out like this, they grew up together, did just about everything together…Only thing she wouldn't…couldn't do, was love him back.
He sighed, smacking his forehead.
.And a moment later there was a faint tap on his window. He looked over and saw a Angel. Golden hair, a sweet smile. He smiled to himself, no one else but, Ino. "It's open."
She opened the window and jumped in. With a light thud, she walked in front of him. Ino held out her hand and he took it, pulling him up and hugged him. Her scent was sweet, like lavender and cotton. He smiled into her hair, only a few things made Shikamaru full out smile; a silent evening to himself, a relaxing day watching the clouds. Shogi. hanging with the guys, getting high- No sense off feeling, no pain, no anger, no troublesome life to deal with just...peace of forgetting all of your cares. And Ino.
"Hello Shika." Her voice was sweet, muffled against his chest. She pulled away from him and smiled sweetly at him. "Now, I'm here for our deal Shika." He smiled, the deal was that he got to dress Ino to fit in with his friends, and she got to make him look 'Goth' like Shino or 'Emo' like Sasuke and even 'Punk' like Kiba, one of his good friends.
"Ready?" He grinned at her innocence, how he wanted her, how she wanted to wait. She nodded and pulled out a small bag of make up, all dark colors. Or purples, blacks, blues, greens, reds, And a clear to go under and on top of the polish. They did this every year. Making each other in their own image of how they be if they had created one another. Weird? Yes. Confusing? Very. Their way of showing they loved one another, yes. Their parents were almost certain that they would end up together. And it was about time that they embraced that thought. But if only they could admit it to one another, instead of their Bestfriends. Chouji found it most interesting, being one of their oldest friends and both of their best friends.
Shikamaru pulled out a pair of fishnet stockings and arm warmers. Black cargo pants that had a zipper to turn them into shorts that came right above the knee, and a tight black sweater.
"Shika, I don't think I can wear this." Ino's timid voice sent chills up Shikamaru's spine. "I'll look silly."
"You'll look beautiful. As you always do Ino." She blushed and began to strip, Shikamaru locked the door and picked up the bag of make up and put in on, the eyeliner on heavily as she requested. He sat in the chair and watched. Respectfully of course. AT first Ino use to be nervous to take her clothes off in front of him, she eventually got use to it when he promised her that he wouldn't force her to do anything she didn't want to. GOD! I wish I could rearrange that agreement.
He looked around his dark room as if it wasn't his, a wall was dedicated to his friends, Chouji, Kiba, Shino, Naruto and Sasuke- against his will. Ino insisted on it when he and Sakura began dating a couple of weeks ago. When they think of it now, Sasuke and Ino are good friends, and laughs harder when Sakura wishes for what Ino has wit Shikamaru. Even though it's not official yet. But they hope it will be soon. The pictures were from Christmas parties, Birthdays, parties and just from whatever. The other side was a bookcase filed with dictionary's, Ninja books and photo albums. The wall to the left was is dresser and closet he hide his stash in. Along with other things he would never dare bring to light. Then the door, then the wardrobe filled with jackets and his clothes for Ino...actually, a lot of things he kept for Ino.
"Well..." Ino called, snapping Shikamaru out of his daze. "What do you think?" Shikamaru turned his attention to Ino, and is mouth fell open. He looked her up and down, Her hair was still in her bun, The sweater showed off her cleavage and stopped right above her waist. And the cargo pants showed off the curves, her muscular legs and plumped little bottom. And the fishnet shirt she wore under her sweater, and shoes that matched Shikamaru's. The black fishnet glove also complimented the delicate structure of her hands and small wrist. She wore a wristband on both wrist of the Nara symbol.- To show her commitment to him. He smiled, from ear to ear and licked is lips. He motioned his finger for her to come to him.
"Ino, may I kiss you?" She blushed and nodded. The kiss was tender, and passionate. When it was over her stroked her cheek gently. Looking at the time. "Come one, we better get going. He took her clothes and put them in the closet, and got their back packs and headed out of the door. On the way out Shikato smiled at them. The sight of them always made him happy, no matter how unset he maybe. If anyone could get to the bottom of what were left of his feelings-if not by his mothers doing.
"SHIKAMARU!!!" Shikato shouted, snapping Shikamaru from his daze. "Time to go."
"Bye, dad."
"Bye." Shikamaru sighed, and jumped into his car. "Of course...it was only a dream."
Shikamaru sighed, thinking of that lingering thought, "hmm, what could have been."
-At School-
He pulled into the school's parking lot and pulled into the empty lot beside Kiba's and Chouji's car. They smiled at him, waving at him, what looked like a dime-bag, and whispered something to one another. Shikamaru couldn't hear it if he tried. Kiba's music was blasting.
"Hey!! Look at the party animal," Kiba teased as he turned off the car. "trying to beat me at my own game, Shika?" Shikamaru shrugged off the comment, and greeted them with their 'cool' handshake. They stood there watching the parking lot overflow with kids. Across the parking lot, two rows down were Ino's friends. The only girl "Cool enough" allowed to hang out with them. No one had a problem with Ino, They just had a problem with her boyfriend- Sasuke.
Ino skipped over to the guys and smiled. Shikamaru admired her. How gracefully she walked. Her body, how snug it fit in her dark blue skinny leg jeans. How her black knitted sweater complimented her shape. . How the long collar hung showing her necklace. Shikamaru's favorite detail. He bought it for her on their 15th birthday. He wore the other half, How her black eyeliner, worked in her eyes favor. The only thing that made her less acceptable by her group of people was her piercing three in the earlobe, and arrow straight across the cartilage of the right ear, and a spiral arrow going through the left cartilage .
"Hello boys." She smiled, twirling her spiral curls. "How are my favorite stoners?"
Shikamaru pulled Ino close to him, wrapping an arm around her and she nestled closer to him, hand in his pocket. Playing with his stash. Shooting him a angry look, that he avoided at all cost.
"So, guys." Shikamaru started and played wit his tongue ring. "What the fuck happened last night?" Ino sighed at how harsh his words were and what lingered in his pocket. He flashed her a apologetic grin.
"Wild, party." Chouji spat while popping his gum. Kiba nodded.
"Total rager." Kiba smiled, flicking his tongue ring out. "You were smacked. FUCKED UP." Shikamaru sighed and sat on the hood of the car. His face in hand, Ino stood in front of him and put her hands on his forearms comforting him and looked into his eyes. He smiled and patted her hand, leaving it there.
"My dad was hassling me about it this morning" Shikamaru paused staring at Ino, not taking her gaze from the flower bed the were parked in front of. "While I was having a moment, trying to gather my thoughts and shit. Then I had a… you know." He gestured to Ino.
"SHIKAMARU" Naruto snapped, walking from the bus stop. To lazy to buy the car he's been begging Jiraya to buy him, He gave him the money. It was just all of the paper work. "How the hell did you get home?"
"Yeah…?" Ino smiled "By the time it was time for me to go home, everyone was sleepy looking. Like almost dead. And you were nowhere to be found. Then we just found you in your backyard. It was kind of cute actually."
Kiba tossed his head back into his booming laughter, with Naruto while Chouji stifled a laugh, and grinned at Shikamaru's red cheeks.
"Ino, how on earth did he look cute?" She smiled and faced Kiba now. Sitting on the car beside Shikamaru readjusted himself to lean on her, arms wrapped around her shoulders twirling her bang.
"Because he was rambling on and on about how the fish yelling about how there was too much water." She giggled "And by the time, we got you upstairs you were screaming at you dad about making me leave, so he let me stay so you wouldn't have a panic attack." They all stared in astonishment at how Ino found the weirdest things cute or interesting. Just like the rest of the girls she hung out with. Very ditzy.. intelligent but, ditzy.
"Wow." They all said in unison. Later the conversation went on and Shikamaru still hasn't gotten his answer about how he got there and what drug he had taken.
"Wait, so you were at my house this morning?" Shikamaru said quickly, biting his tongue. "Damn." Ino nodded and patted his knee. Well, lets go the bell is to ring in 5...4...3...2...1 RING!!!!!
The bell rung for school to begin, and headed into the building. Kiba smiled wildly, he felt powerful when walking down the hallway. How everyone just stared and moved out of the way when ever they were around, like they were afraid of them.
They went to their locker in the "Slums" where all the loners and Goth kids were, the darkness of the school. Ino tried to get the girls to move over there with her, but they were sure that the "Alley" was were they wanted to stay, close to the bathroom, nurses' office and the parking lot doors. The Slum wasn't any different. Well, despite the fact that it was full of weed heads, which is were Shino preferred it. Shikamaru liked the dim lights, Naruto loved he fights down here and the others just stayed with the group. Ino's locker was next to Shikamaru, Chouji, and Naruto to her right. And to her left was Sasuke, Kiba, Shino. Ino was getting her binder, and fixing her hair, leaving her bang in front of her right eye.
Ino hated the way the girls looked at her like she didn't belong there. Not in the Slums, but with Shikamaru, they looked at her like she wasn't good enough. Sure she thought of smoking with the guys but he wouldn't allow it. Ino sighed. Why is she always staring at me??
Shikamaru shot her a questionable look, leaning on the locker next to hers. She smiled. "I'm fine..." Ino lied,
"It's her again, isn't it?" By 'her' He meant Temari, one girl that would not leave him alone. "I don't want I her, I don't care for her. I practically hate her." And he did in fact hate Temari, she always got him in trouble since she transferred wit her two brothers. She made their life a living hell. Just because she could. "We had that thing once, but I'm telling you my friend, that that is all over. We didn't even fuck. So there's nothing to miss."
"Good. I'd hate to have to hurt her." She smiled as she spun around caught a swift of Shikamaru's leftover stench . "Shika, you smell." She pulled out her emergency cologne and sprayed him, twice. "Better. New piercing?"
"Yeah. Four in each ear, of course."
"Of course." Ino echoed.
"Navel, nipples, tongue… Should I get my nose done?"
"Maybe…but what about your sinuses?" They laughed.
"Did I miss the punch line already?" Sasuke joked. "Hey honey."
"Hi." He kissed her softly, smirking at Shikamaru.
"No, not at all Uchiha." Shikamaru spat, slamming his locker. "It's in your pants."
Kiba's laugh was booming. "Good one, Shika."
"Come on guys, be civil." Ino pleaded. Slinging her small purple backpack over her shoulder, and holding her binder and notebook in hand.
" Well. Ino, it's hard when your childhood friend is still stuck in his childhood." Sasuke chuckled, changing his book in his bag, closing his locker. "Grow up, Nara."
"Shika…please." Ino whined, giving him that look. That; Please, I know my boyfriend is not your favorite person but please…don't play his game. I'll give you your stash back.
"…See you in class Ino."
Shino walked down the hallways like a god. From his head to his feet you could tell he ran this place. Black spiky hair with a white streak on the left side, pierced eye brows, lips.- Snake bites. His eyes were dark as night like the eyeliner he wore, hiding the bags under his eyes. He wore a black hood like the rest of the guys, and girls. The clique "The Rookie Nine." It was embarrassing to still be called that, but it was a title that had some cower. His baggy black pants that clung to his legs as he quickened his pace to Kiba.
"Hey," Shino breathed "we need to get to class. Hall swipe is in 5." And they left Shikamaru walked with the guys to class, Geometry with Gai. They walked into the classroom and sat in the back rows. Shikamaru sat in the middle. Chouji to his left Kiba to his right. Naruto on the other side of Chouji, and Shino on the other side of Kiba. They started to write down the stuff on the board and Shikamaru was staring at his nails… Ino had painted them black.
"Clear coat, Color and clear coat again." Ino smiled, "The shine to perfectly painted nails. Beautiful sight isn't it?"
"Yeah, you are." Shikamaru teased as Ino caressed his palm, blowing his nails dry.
Shikamaru sighed and smacked his head. Why am I torturing myself…?
"Ino. How did Sakura take it?" Sasuke whispered, walking into the room. Ino shrugged.
"Not so good. She still isn't speaking to me." Ino sighed and sat in front of Shikamaru. "Why, you know she isn't. Remember last night?"
"What happened last night?" Shikamaru whispered, playing with her black hat, that Chouji's mom made her as well as the sweater.
"Ino. must we sit here?" Sasuke whined. Ino nodded. And turned to the side to answer Shikamaru's question.
"We got in this huge fight, and she tried to hit me." Ino smiled deviously flicking her tongue ring in her mouth. "Yeah. Keyword tried."
"Did she leave a mark?" Shikamaru asked, finishing his notes.
"Yeah, right here." Ino showed the pink scratch along her neck, going to her breast. "It burns."
"I'll handle pinky, okay?" Ino blushed.
"What are you gonna do Shika?"
"Well..." Shikamaru looked at Ino, with a eager look and she looked away, he smiled. "You'll see."
"Good Morning Class!!!" Gai shouted walking into the classroom with Neji and Rock Lee trailing behind. He was their mentor after all. "Today we shall learn about the Facts and Calculations of Geometry." The class groaned and Rock Lee shot them a angry look. As if to say; "You should be honored to be under is instructions instead of that whack job Anko."
"Well?" Tenten urged "Facts and Calculation about what?"
"If you had let me finish," Gai snapped. "Heading, Name, date, class and period. Polygons" The class was boring. Only the faint sound of pencils scratching along the paper, to write the types of polygons. Shikamaru looked up at Ino, who was turned sideways talking Sasuke. She looked so cute when she smiled, the only thing that ruined this picture was Sasuke's hand on her thigh. Blowing her bang carelessly, she glanced over and smiled. Kiba saw it and laughed. Ino looked over confused.
"Yes...?" Ino whispered. Smiling ever so brilliantly
"Nothing. Actually, when are you guys gonna..." Kiba paused, "you know?"
"Honestly, Kiba!?" Ino blushed, he nodded. Ino mouthed the word "NEVER"
"How can you keep a secret from this face?" Kiba smirked.
"Easy, because you'll tell that face, that face, and that face!!" Ino hissed pointing at Chouji, Shino and Naruto. Kiba laughed.
"Okay, okay. You have a point." Ino smiled and finished her notes and sat back in her chair, waiting until Sakura would begin start to notice her existence, as If they weren't sitting beside each other.
5...4...3...2...1..."SAKURA!!!" Ino whispered, turned so that her front was facing the back on the chair, laying across the top of the chair. " How long do you plan on ignoring me?"
"Until you drop dead." Sakura spat at Ino, she sighed and giggled.
"Don't be childish forehead." Ino cooed "It's…he's just a guy!!"
Sakura laughed, turned to Ino, "Yeah. I guy I liked for how long Ino? HOW LONG?!"
"You've liked him, as long as I have. Sakura." Ino snapped. Rolling her eyes. "and I'm not arguing about this with you or with anyone else."
Ino sighed and smacked her forehead, laying it on the desk. "What could have been…?"
"Hmm, figures." Shikamaru whispered to Chouji,
"What was that?" Sasuke snapped, turning his head in Shikamaru's direction.
"Only a Uchiha, would be so cruel as to break up a friendship." Shikamaru pointed in Sakura's direction.
"If she were a good friend. Then she wouldn't have let this come between them." Sasuke smiled. "Besides, I don't blame them."
"What…?" Shikamaru looked at him dumbfounded.
"I mean, look at me." Sasuke gestured to himself, how he filled out his navy shirt perfectly, "Who wouldn't be upset if they missed the opportunity to have me?"
"Me." Ino put her hand up, with a look of disgust. "Is that what you think, "All hale the Uchiha?"
"No honey, wait.." Ino put up her hand.
"Don't 'honey wait' I me." She snapped. "Are you out of your fucking mind?!"
"Ino, language." Sasuke spat angrily
"Your not my fucking father…!" Ino's words were hot with venom. "You don't correct me, understand Mr. Jade/Hopeless Romantic?!"
"You don't speak to me like that. I' am the man in this relationship."
"Then act like it!!" Ino bit back the tears of frustration "And learn to like my friends. Their not going anywhere." Ino gestured to the back row of stoners.
The bell rang and Ino, Shino, Shikamaru, Kiba, and Chouji walked into the slums to their lockers.
"Ino, your friend. Is hilarious." Kiba cooed leaning on Sasuke's locker. Ino shrugged and yanked open hers.
"I know, I know. You guys don't like my 'friend'." Ino smiled, looking into her mirror touching up her black eye shadow and eyeliner. "It's not like the like you guys either...well, except you Naruto... and you Kiba."
"What?" Naruto squatted almost choking on his soda. "He likes us?"
"Yeah. Naruto you guys use to always work with each other, and Kiba he finds you amusing." Ino smiled, slipping into Shikamaru's jacket grabbing the stash out of his pocket, tossing it to Shino. "Smile."
"Naruto, your face…Fix it." Shino barked. And stuffed the drugs into his pocket. "Ino, I'm going to find your boyfriend so…Cover for me…us."
Ino nodded, waving the guys off still fumbling in her locker. Looking herself over in the mirror. "Wait, what?!" but it was too late, they had already left.
"I look ridiculous…" Ino whispered taking out her bun, teasing her hair, tossing it all over her head. So that the curls, hung for dear life before Ino combed them out.
"I think you look okay." Shikamaru smiled, blowing the one of many dark green steaks out of his face. "Like my cut?"
"Yes. Sexy." Ino played with his new bang, that with diagonally across his right eye, that held the most green. "Why the change, Shika?"
"I wanted to give mom a heart attack." Ino giggled and hugged Shikamaru tightly. "Ino, were gonna be late….Ino?" She began to cry,
"I don't know what he wants." Shikamaru wiped her eyes, carefully not to smug her makeup. "I try and try and get nowhere, Shika…why should I be forced to feel useless. Like I'm doing all the work. With everything…"
"What do you mean with everything?" He asked, taking her backpack, putting a few of his things in there. "Shino has mine."
"With the dates, he pick but their too much, and not planned. And the way he acts around our parents, like he's perfect, and he try's to…you know… but I won't let him. And when we make an attempt to get there, he wants me to do all of the work." Ino pouted, and put her hat back on, taking Shikamaru's hobo gloves with the finger cut off, putting them on.
"You deserve better…Come on, were late." Shikamaru pulled her, wrapping an arm around her, putting on her eyeliner and mascara. "Do I look pretty Ino?"
Ino laughed while they walked into their Biology class, sitting at a work station with Kiba and Shino. Naruto sat with Sakura, Tenten and Hinata. He flashed them a huge smile when class started.
"Yammy." Shino called.
"You still call me that?" Ino blushed. Getting her books out, Moving over so that Shikamaru could sit beside her.
"Yeah. I hate your boyfriend." Shino said bluntly. "He's a whore."
"How?" Ino asked opening her binder, and began to write down the notes
"I saw him…flirting with Sakura." Shino scratched his head. "A lot."
"What?" Ino's left hand trembled as she finished coping the board. "No…couldn't be."
"I'm serious, Ino." Shino took off his glasses. "Dead serious." Ino nodded, and leaned on the table and sighed.
"You okay, Yammy?" Shino asked, handing Ino his glasses. She took them and smiled, cleaning them and putting them on.
"Yeah… fine." Ino smiled, handing them back. "At least, I'm free of the prep club, bullshit…"
Chouji smiled.
"Hey man…let's go." He coughed, throwing something at Naruto. " I need to get rid of this itch..."
"You need to talk to him." Chouji comforted and she smiled, sniffling alittle. "I have someone better in mind for you anyway.
Shino looked at Shikamaru through his glasses.
Shikamaru blushed, and started to write, What was he writing?
"...If you give me the chance, I'd jump at it...leave the bad boy life behind, to go forward with you."