Hi everybody,

I don't really post much anymore because reasons (aka college, laziness, working, life struggles T_T), but the recent ending to Naruto done pissed me daf*** off. I hate all the pairings, except ShikaTema (because of obviousness).

Anyways, consider this as a sorta continuation/side-story of this fan fiction here: s/8383582/1/ShikaTema-The-First-Time, which stars Shikamaru and Temari in a smut-fest. This one is pretty mild. I really ship these two, because I think they complete each other. Screw Sai x Ino; what kind of ship is that? Ino is a bitch to Choji for reasons. Anyways... happy reading.

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When Ino called me, I knew what I was in for: a rant. A long, drawn-out, one-sided, one-person input rant. It was painful for me to listen to her, but I knew it was painful for her too. Because when she freaked out and ranted to me, her breath would choke up and come out in gasps and then, she would cry. And nobody but me had ever seen her cry. That was the beautiful part about her.

So, I put down my chopstick and that tantalizing piece of barbeque pork, and excused myself from the table. Shikamaru looked at me lazily but didn't give it much thought, considering Temari was here with us too. She was noisy, impatient, and demanding. But I knew he loved her. And I knew she loved him. So I was happy for the both of them.

"You're leaving already?" Though Temari sometimes acted like a bitch, I knew she was a softie on the inside; she was always kind to me and liked to ask me to show her where the best snack-stalls were in Konoha. She knew how to eat, and she never criticized me for eating how I did.

"Yeah, I've got some business," I smiled and scratched my hair. It was getting long; I probably needed to get it cut soon. I could feel my phone ringing in my pocket. I had put it on vibrate; but, it was still nagging, just like the woman who kept calling.

I left the two to finish up our order; even though I had ordered the most, Shikamaru insisted on paying for it all, as courtesy not just as my best friend, but for saving his girlfriend. I had saved her life on a mission before. In all honesty, he didn't owe me at all. I did it because I knew he would've gone mad and because I genuinely liked Temari. I wouldn't leave her to die.

I walked out from the barbeque house, but, I had to duck down to avoid knocking my head against the wooden beam around the doorway. A couple walking in avoided me, as I took up most of the doorway. They even try to hide the staring, and I think the guy ran into the trashcan. I tried ignoring them, but I felt my cheeks turn red and I tried to hurry off. It was normal. I should've gotten used to it a long time ago. I had always been bigger; it was in my blood (and my diet), and I had always been this way.

Ino was sitting underneath in the shaded area by the willow tree. It was cozy and quiet; nobody ever went there since the larger parks in Konoha were built, which I never understood because it was so beautiful. And she was beautiful. They went well together.

She had her hair down, and she was wearing sweatpants and a large sweater. She didn't have any makeup on, and she was stroking the petals of the roses that grew at her feet.

She heard me approach and looked up. "Choji," she said.

"Hi, Ino."

She scooted over on the bench, but I sat down on the ground. My weight would crush that little wooden thing in a heartbeat.

Surprisingly, she slid off the bench to sit next to me. Her back rested against the seat, and she was so close that our knees almost touched. I fiddled with my thumbs as she sniffed the air. "You smell like barbeque."

"Yeah," I said nervously.

"I hope I didn't interrupt anything." She laughed. "Were you on a date?"

I shook my head, "Of course not." I think she was joking, but how could she ask that? Wasn't it obvious that I wasn't interested in anyone?

Nobody but her.

"I'm jealous." She laughed again. But she sounded so sad. "I wish I could enjoy food like you do."

I tensed up, expecting some sort of insult about my weight. She did that a lot when we were kids. It was less often now, but I guess it's because she matured. We matured. I took it so seriously then, but maybe it was because it came from her.

I tried to brush it off casually. "No, you don't. That's why you're so slender." She would like that. She always was very careful with her weight because she thought that would make her more attractive.

Ino brought her knees towards her chest and rested her chin on her knees. "Really, I do. You're happy when you eat. And that's never a bad thing."

She was being too nice. Something was wrong.

"Did something happen?" I asked gently. Whenever I asked this, it was the cue for her to spill the deets; she would always let out a big sigh and then let it all spill out: the troubles, the wishes, the worries.

But she was quiet. And she didn't say anything.

Puzzled, I leaned down to look at her. "Ino?"

She had already started crying. Startled, I scooted in closer and pat her shoulder gently. Usually, she would start yelling or flip out before any tears came. And when she cried, it was because she was mad.

"It's Sasuke. He said he still didn't want me."

Sasuke. Right. Even though he came back to the village and things were all dandy and fine, I didn't trust him. He had torn people apart. He tore Sakura away from Naruto, and then left her broken. I remember because Naruto had dated her for a long, long time. He really cherished her. I understood that Sasuke might have been Sakura's first love and all, but she was stupid to have gone back to him. Because now, she was trapped in that never-ending loop of being used and hurt.

Ino was sobbing quietly. I rubbed her shoulders slowly; she was a tiny thing. Even though she was so strong, she was weak now. I guess that's why she came to me. I never faltered. I was solid.

"I know you love him." I said softly.

"That's not it!" Okay. Now came the yelling. She was furious, and she glared at me with those sky-blue eyes. Okay, maybe she didn't. Sure, it had been a couple years or something since she had really seriously considered him. But, first loves never did die fast. Sakura was a perfect example of that. "It was a favor for Naruto. He was hoping I could convince Sasuke to date me so that Sakura wouldn't go back to him. She's so stupid. And Naruto's so stupid. They're perfect for each other."

I snorted, and I tried not to laugh, but stifling my laughter started to make her giggle. And so she was laughing and crying, and I was sorta glad because at first, I was thinking I was cheering her up some.

But she stopped, and she hid her face from me again. Muffled against her sweats, she said, "I thought it might work, since he's a womanizer and all he cares about is appearance. But he said I was too ugly." And she choked up. "It shouldn't matter, but it still hurts. He said it in front of everyone too; in front of his students, in front of our friends."

If she had said something like this before, I would've thought she was vain. But, after a lot of self-evaluation, I realized that I was in the same shoes; even though it really didn't matter, words still hurt.

I was angry now. "Should I go crush him? I'll squish him like a bug." I didn't even plan to use jutsu on him; I would just grab him and smash his bones like splinters. Physically, I was stronger. I could do it. I would do it. She just needed to ask.

She laughed, "No, Choji. It's a petty thing. My ego is just massively wounded." She pointed to herself. "I try so hard, you know. I practice my makeup. I dress to impress. I workout. I stay thin. I just don't understand why I'm not beautiful."

My anger just exploded out of nowhere. I didn't normally get so mad, but when I grabbed her she looked at me in shock. "Ino, you're so stupid."

I relaxed my hold a little so I wouldn't hurt her. I shook her gently, just to startle her. "What!?" She demanded.

Now, I wanted to cry. "You are beautiful. I think you're beautiful."

I couldn't look at her. She was completely still. The wind blew around us gently, teasingly making the leaves of the willow tree around us shudder and sway.

"Choji." I could feel my face turning bright red. Her head leaned down and she tried to catch my gaze with hers. So I shut my eyes really tightly and hoped that she would just turn away. I had never done this before. I had never, ever, given any hint of my feelings for Ino. I had always been afraid.

"Hey, Choji." She cupped my cheek with her hand. Her soft, slender hand. "Look at me."

As embarrassed as I was, how could I ignore her?

She was smiling. Her eyes were a little red and swollen from the crying, but she was genuinely smiling. At me, nonetheless. "Thanks."

I stared at her suspiciously. Would she attack me when my back was turned? Was she going to maul me mercilessly and laugh all the while?

"You're not insulted."

Ino shook her head, "No."

"Not in the slightest."

"Why would I?"

I glanced around and scratched my stomach awkwardly. "You know… it's not really a compliment coming from me. I'm not handsome... I've never had a girlfriend either... You wouldn't think I'm a good judge of beauty, right?"

Ino touched my hair, pulled it away from my face and then leaned her head against my shoulder. I stiffened instantly, Ino had never tried to touch me before. "You're the butterfly, Choji."

Obviously, I didn't understand. "Ok." But she just laughed.

"You metamorphasized. You used to be that fat, little, lazy doughball. But then you tried so hard. You trained and trained and beat yourself half-to-death. Now, you're a big, fine shinobi. Tall, gentle, strong." She reached over to touch my hand; it was so huge compared to her small, slim one. The comparison was obvious. Her fingers were small, slender, and slim: her complexion as smooth and pale as cream. Mine were dark, weathered, scarred, rough and coarse. "Handsome, too." Ino added shyly.

My heart was pounding, and I was shaking. I pulled my hand away from hers so she couldn't tell. How many guys had she been with? Too many for me to remember. Too many lovers that I couldn't compete with. "You're funny."

I guess the tone I said it in set her off because she snapped right back, "And you're blind. You've changed, and so have I. You're desirable, but I'm not. Not anymore." It was true; Ino hadn't dated a guy in awhile. She said she had wanted a break, but maybe it was because there wasn't anyone good enough for her either. I guess she was referring to that Karui girl. She was sweet and pretty, with her dark skin and those amber eyes. But compared to Ino, she was the little bud; Ino was the blooming flower.

I had nothing to lose now. "Go out with me."

I surprised her. "What?"

I sighed; I hated having to repeat myself. It was somewhat demeaning. "You said you're not desirable. But I desire you. I want you. So go out-t-t with m-me." I stuttered and choked on the last couple of words. I was a nervous wreck.

Some more awkward silence. I just wanted to run away and go back to my barbecue.

Suddenly, I felt her lips brush against mine. It was quick and gentle, like a feather. But, I'm pretty sure my brain stopped functioning, and my heart stopped beating altogether.

"Okay," she whispered.

"Yeah?" I choked out.

"Yeah." She leaned her forehead against mine, and I could feel her breath mingle with mine. She smelled like earth and flowers. Her eyelashes sparkled like woven silk, and her cheeks were rosy. I inhaled her deep inside my lungs, and I reached out to tangle my fingers in her hair.

She leaned into me. "I'm going to kiss you." I said hoarsely.

Ino just drew in closer, to the point where the tip of our noses barely grazed one another. "I dare you."

So, I did. Again, and again, and again.