"Diet Diet Diet! Chouji you really do need one!" Ino scoffed as she sat in the circle around the two men who had once been on her team. Chouji rolled his eyes at her and threw a potato chip in her general direction.
"There I'm eating less, now you eat more... anorexic." Chouji muttered the last part and shoved a hand into his pocket to clip his bag of chips shut.
"I heard that you pig!" she yelled back, throwing the chip back.
"Ino, your being so troublesome, he only weighs 174." Shikamaru said through a yawn. It was true, Chouji had gone on a 'diet' years back, he had lost the weight and trained his body to git the chakra, he looked sexy in most female ninjas eyes.
But of course Ino was never satisfied with anything. Or, at least that's what the two men of the old Team 10 had come th think. Chouji sighed and waved a finger. "173 Shikamaru, having to drag you two down here made me lose a pound in my arms." he smiled and took a breath.
Shikamaru's phone went off right as he was about to say something witty and he rolled his eyes, stretching a bit.
"Hello, Shikamaru Nara?" the lazy nin said through his flip phone. There was a pause and he smirked. "I'll be at the hospital as fast as you Temari... yea I love you too." he hung up and stood, his smile still as happy as always.
"Sorry Chouji, Ino. Temari's water just broke, I gotta go." he said waving before he ran out.
"Good lord, I still don't think that child is his, he's to lazy to-"
"Well, anyway Ino," Chouji cut in, "since Shikamaru is gone, I guess I just have you to talk to alone." he smiled as she rolled her eyes and sighed.
"Oh what is it, Chouji?" she asked him, plopping her chin into the palms of her hands.
"Ino, how old are you again?" he asked calmly.
"20 why?" the blond female nin asked lamely, stirring the board look on her face around with a sigh.
"And how much do you weigh?"
"98 pounds, why?"
"Ino... the average 20 year old female weighs about 140 pounds. I know 14 year olds who weigh more than you." he said bluntly, staring at her with simple, sad impression.
"So, why do you even care?" she asked him outright, snapping her reply.
"Ino... you not only look disgusting because I can see your rib cage, but I think I've eaten things bigger than your ribs!"
Ino's face burned crimson in her anger as she began gathering her things. "Shut up Chouji Akimichi you..you-" she stood quickly and Chouji only pulled her down by her wrist.
"If you don't gain up to 130 pounds at least Ino, they're thinking of putting a feeding tube in you, by force." he said calmly, looking her dead on. Ino stared at him in horror.
"What are you talking-"
"Tsunade is worried sick, we all are. Ino, I... I just want you to be healthy." he said sweetly. He smiled at her and ruffled her hair. "I'll help you but you just have to ask, I know how to gain weight. Healthy weight." she shook her head.
"Chouji I'm perfectly fine."
"Ino I could fit you in a damn test tube!" he nearly shouted. "Look." he stood up, bringing her with him, his hands found her shoulders. "I know you think you look awful, but you don't... well... now you do. But that's only because you turn side ways and paper is thinner than you are!"
She stared at her feet as his words stung like salt and vinegar in an open wound. "Ino, when you where a child, you were chubby right? And just chubby from baby fat. You were way prettier than Sakura was." he said with a smile.
Ino looked away. "Chouji..."
"I know your still holding out for Sauske, but look... at least think of it this way." Chouji pulled out a picture of a healthy looking Ino hugging onto Sauske's surprised body. "You wanna look this healthy and this happy, not weight the same thing you did when you were 9."
Ino couldn't help but chuckle. "Fine Chouji, alright fine." she said defeated. He smiled and handed her the picture.
"Look that fat or I'll make you that fat." he said is a humorous tone.
She simply smiled and nodded. "I'll see you in a week then?" she asked in a soft voice.
"If you need help you have my number." Chouji said, patting his pocket with a grin. That conversation had been had 2 weeks ago, and Ino hadn't been seen by anyone but the ninja she was on a mission with in the Mist village.
"Kainu, come on, smile for uncle Chouji!" Chouji said as he smiled at the two week old on the changing table. Shikamaru rolled his eyes as he threw away yet another dirty diaper into the already packed garbage.
"Chouji, he won't smile at you, he's Temari's son." Shikamaru said, lifting the giggling mass of flesh and drool into his arms.
"He smiles at you doesn't he?" Chouji asked sarcastically.
"Oh ha ha, I'm his father." Shikamaru said as he sat back down on the couch. Chouji followed and tried for the fourth time to make the little boy crack a smile towards him.
Kainu only went back to his stare, the dirty blond blue eyed baby had his mothers outlook alright. "Oh boys! Mommies home!" a sweet voice called from the front door.
"We're in the living room, Temari." Shikamaru called as he bounced the baby on his knee.
Temari walked in carrying a bag full of groceries and smiled. "Oh hey Chouji, there's my little devil." Shikamaru smirked as she came toward him. Of course only to pout as she swiftly caught Kainu in her arms and held him cradle style. "Yes you are, my little sadistic satan child that actually lets mommy sleep at night and is the sweetest bundle of joy in the world." Temari cooed, waving her fingers on the child's belly.
He burst into a fit of laughter and took his mothers fingers happily. "Oh please Temari, spoil HIM with your love why don't you." Chouji said waving a hand at Shikamaru's pout.
"Oh Shika don't think I'd forget about you." she leaned over the back of the couch and gave him a swift kiss.
"Have you feed him yet?" she asked sitting in the rocking chair across from the couch at a catty corner.
"No, but he wet himself." Chouji said happily.
"Oh, poor Kainu-kun, daddy hasn't feed you yet!" she played a gasp. "How dare you daddy, I should punish you by not cooking supper." Temari smirked and undid her top. Chouji turned as she began to breast feed the baby in her arms. "So, guess who I saw in the store today." Temari said looking dead at Chouji alone.
"Umm, Hinata and Gaara?" Shikamaru asked, pointing at her.
"No, why would I see them together?" she asked questioningly.
"Gaara found out Hinata likes sweets?" Chouji said with a wink, and Temari rolled her eyes.
"I saw Ino." she stated simply and Chouji looked up.
"Really, how was she?" he asked her.
"Oh I don't know, tired, blond, crazy, what's new?" Shikamaru laughed.
"Thanks a lot Temari, now I know perfectly well how Ino is." he rolled his own eyes.
"She's at her house right now, Chouji, I saw she was packing up on food in abundance." she said with a sigh. "Why don't you go and visit her Chouji." Temari said with a sadistic smile.
Shikamaru smiled at Chouji encouragingly. "Go on." he said. Chouji stared at Temari, then Shikamaru with a smile.
"How you ended up with her still baffles me, Shikamaru." Chouji grabbed his bag and waved. "I'll see you two later, I've got an Ino to chase after."
'Maybe after so many years giving up Sauske would be a good idea for her, I mean, it was a one sided love, anyone could see that.' Chouji thought as he walked the street to Ino's cozy little home.
She lived in a small blue house with bay windows and a wrap around porch with a swing, her claim was to be ready for her family right away. He lifted himself onto the steps and knocked on the door.
"... Coming, I was in the shower!" Ino's voice said after a moments silence. Chouji sighed and the door swung open. Ino stood soaking wet, her hair to her elbows and tied back swiftly from her face, a long purple bath towel wrapped around her elegantly. "Oh, her Chouji." she said with a bright smile to blow any man away.
She had gained the weight, she looked over healthy... But not happy.
"You ok, Ino?" he asked her as she took a step back to let him in.
"I'm fine, why?" she asked nervously.
"Don't lie to me, I'll rip that towel off you in a second." Chouji said as he plopped onto her couch.
"Oh shut up." she said as she walked into her room to change properly.
"Well, whats up?" he asked again.
"I'm fine Chouji... just tired." she answered quickly after her pause.
"Ino... you tell me whats bothering you this instant! I can hear it in your voice!" Chouji said, picking up the remote from her table. Ino appeared out of no where sitting beside him.
"... I think Kiba's gay." she said in a serious tone. Chouji knew this method all to well. Whenever Ino didn't want to talk about something, she would pull out a theory.
"Cough it up Ino."
"No I mean it, he flirts way to much with people! And you've seen the way he looks at Shino!" Chouji sighed.
"Ino, just tell me." he warned her.
"And then he is always trying to play off he gets laid, I mean how sad can you-" Chouji sighed and pushed Ino to the couch bed by her wrists, pinning her in her spot.
"Ino, please don't make me tickle you." She shook her head and looked away, a bitter sting in her voice next.
"Fuck you, Akimichi." Ino said in a sing song voice, but that sting still remained.
"I don't have the time Ino, now please, be a dear." he smiled.
Ino's face lit up quickly as she turned back to him. "I missed that Chouji..." she said in a soft voice.
"What, my cocky sense of humor I adapted with you?" she shook her head and wrapped her ankles around his own.
"I missed you..."
"Why?" Chouji asked, finally letting her go. Ino smiled and reached up, wrapping her arms around his neck and suddenly burst into a sobbing fit, the sudden action frightening her friend a bit.
"I don't fucking know!" he sat still over her, confused before he finally sat up with her still clung to him. He tried to sooth her in his fogged thoughts.
'Why would Ino miss me, she must miss Shikamaru too... she'd say she missed us though, not just me, what the hell. Geez, she really is tired...'
Ino let him go and shook her head finally, wiping the tears onto her sleeve. "You hungry? I'm hungry, lets go eat, barbecue, my treat." she stood up and smiled, and Chouji stood as well, still confused by Ino's actions but following her.
After all, why give up a free meal? Especially if it was barbecue.