Greetings, I am L.
Please let me know if I should continue this story. Someone said I should write more stories with Shikamaru and Ino ergo I'm giving it a go.
It's the Dog's fault
Chapter 1
"Damnit Shikamaru!" A loud, high pitched woman's voice traveled from the master bedroom, down the hall, down the circle staircase, through the kitchen and onto the small balcony where a young, tanned, lazy man sat lounging in the sun. "He did it again! Again!" The voice got louder and louder the more he tried to block it out. "Shikamaru!"
"What?" He finally gave in and turned around when the deck door slammed open. His bored dark eyes stared up at his fuming girlfriend glaring down at him. She was a petite young woman with long blonde hair that she piled onto the crown of her head and sparking baby blue eyes. Today she wore black skinny jeans and a white shirt showing her support for saving the wildlife.
"Don't 'what' me Shikamaru." She snarled at him and looked down at the spot beside the chair he was sitting on. "That-that animal has done it again!"
The pineapple haired man sighed and reached a hand down to scratch behind his dog's ears. "Peanut is not a 'thing' Ino." He stated patiently, used to this argument.
The blonde haired woman growled and continued to glare at the large, Labrador Retriever currently licking her boyfriend's hand. "Well 'Peanut'" She spat the dogs name as though it were poison in her mouth. "Left us another gift on our bedroom floor!"
Shikamaru shrugged and continued to scratch Peanut's head, smiling a little as the dog leaned into his touch. "All you have to do is take a plastic bag an-"
Ino took a step forward and slapped him on the head. "Don't you finish that sentence!" Baby blue eyes glared daggers down at his lazy form; he hadn't reacted to her slap, which only furthered her anger. "I am not cleaning up after that stupid animal! I have to go to work-that dog better not be here when I get back!" She snipped and turned to storm back into the apartment.
At that, Shikamaru finally stood up and followed his livid girlfriend inside, Peanut at his heels. "Ino, come on give him a break." He walked up to the kitchen counter and sat on one of the stools with Peanut hopping up onto the one beside him.
"I've been giving him a break for eight months Shikamaru!"
He watched as she flitted around the kitchen, grabbing things to make a quick salad. She threw the lettuce and tomatoes down onto the counter angrily then reached up into one of the cupboards to grab a giant container.
"How the hell am I suppose to feel at home when this dog is everywhere?" She gestured to Peanut with a knife she plucked from a metal bar above the sink.
Peanut whined softly and cocked his head to the side.
Shikamaru opened his mouth to say something only to be cut off by her tirade.
"The dog is allowed everywhere!" She began angrily slicing up lettuce, glaring at him over her shoulder. "When we decided to move in together I didn't think you'd bring that mutt with you!" She dumped the lettuce into the large bowl. "I thought we bought this new apartment for us-not for that dog!"
Calmly, Shikamaru took a deep breath and threw one arm over Peanut's shoulder, watching as she hurriedly finished dicing the tomato's, and a few pieces of red onion. "Ino, come on I've had Peanut for years-I'm not going to abandon him."
Ino stopped tossing her now finished salad and slowly covered the large container with its lid. She took several bracing breaths before finally meeting his eyes. "Shikamaru…" Her eyes darted to the clock on the wall and she cursed. "We'll finish this later-I'm late for work." And then she flew out the door without a backwards glance.
Shikamaru sighed a heavy sigh and slid down off of the stool. "That could have gone better." He mumbled, staring at Peanut who cocked his head to the side. "You seriously need to stop leaving Ino presents." He rolled his shoulders as Peanut jumped down off of the stool and trotted past him into the living room. "You know how she hates you sitting on the couch." He called after his best friend, a small smile tugging at his lips.
It's the Dog's fault It's the Dog's fault
"What happened?" A young woman with bright pink hair that stopped just before her shoulders asked as soon as she saw her best friends face. She was currently leaning against the counter near the small stove waiting for the kettle to start whistling; she was wearing light green scrubs, completely out of place in the fashion magazine building she was in.
Ino huffed and placed her salad on the counter then turned to face her friend. "Sakura! You won't believe what that stupid mutt did!" Blue eyes rolled as she leaned into the other woman to kiss her on both cheeks. "He left another 'gift' on the bedroom flooring!"
"Miss Ino?" A young man with frighteningly pale skin leaned into the private kitchen.
"One minute Sai." She waved him off and turned back to Sakura who was now pulling a mug out of the cabinet. "Can you believe that? Ugh! I swear one day Shikamaru's going to come home and that stupid 'Peanut' will have suddenly gone missing!"
Sakura sighed and offered her friend a sympathetic smile and pat on the back. "Well Ino, really-"
"Miss Ino please, you need to look over this week's design for the magazine so we can send it into print." Sai persisted, immune to her death glare.
"Fine! Sakura can you wait?" Blue eyes turned to plead at the pink haired young woman.
Emerald eyes rolled in thought but she glanced down at her watch and nodded. "I have half an hour to spare before my shift starts." With that said, Ino rushed out of the room and into her attached office.
Sai sighed and walked inside the kitchenette to put his boss' salad in the mini refrigerator while Sakura poured the now hot water into her mug, making tea. "You're too pale; you should go tanning with Ino." He stated bluntly, staring at the pink haired woman.
Sakura looked at him, eyes wide and more than a little offended. "Excuse me?"
"You may leave."
Flabbergasted, she continued to gape at the pale man in front of her; he was tall and slim and wore jet black pants and a slightly open black dress shirt. He combed his black hair till it lay flat against his hair and his expression was that of a slightly disgusted yet polite dinner host.
"You're none to judge." She finally found her voice. "And I'm a busy person-I don't have time to go tanning."
He scoffed and examined his nails. "But you have time to hang around here."
"Ino is my best friend."
"S-"
"Sakura!" Ino's whinny voice called into the kitchenette. "Please come here! I need you!"
Wordlessly, Sakura picked up her mug of tea and walked into Ino's office to see her best friend scribbling furiously on a piece of paper. "Now be honest-do you think I'm a total bitch for wanting Shikamaru to get rid of that dog?" She stared up at the pink haired woman staring down at her, pen hovering centimeters above the paper.
"Well…" Sakura took a seat in front of the desk and sipped her steaming tea. "To be honest Ino, he's had that dog for years-it's his best friend." She began diplomatically.
"But-"
"But nothing Ino." She smiled gently. "Yeah, he pee's on the ground and sits on the chair but Shikamaru does put up with a lot of your things too I'm sure."
Blue eyes narrowed insultingly at her friend. "What was that Sakura? What are you implying exactly?"
Emerald eyes opened wide as she noticed what she said and colored lightly. "Oh look at the time-best be off! You know how they get down at the hospital." She stood up quickly and placed the still full cup of tea on the desk. "See you later Ino."
"Yeah…you will." Ino leaned back in her chair and watched Sakura slowly walk out of her office. "And you will oh so kindly explain exactly what Shikamaru has to put up with." She stated sweetly.
It's the Dog's fault It's the Dog's fault
After hours of signing papers, analyzing layouts and sitting through two utterly boring meetings, Ino was back at her desk digging into her salad while her assistant stood behind her; emotionless as a rock.
"Miss Ino…is that…a pimple on your face?" Sai stared intently down at the side of his boss' face, his eyes locked onto on spot along her cheekbone.
Immediately, Ino dropped her fork and slapped the side of her face, fingers immediately scanning over the skin searching for imperfections. "What? A pimple? NO!" Her other hand grasped at the drawers in her desk, pulling open the second one and yanking out a small mirror. "Shit!" She swore, staring at her otherwise flawless reflection in the mirror. "I do have a damn pimple!"
Wordlessly, Sai took the chair opposite his boss. "How did that happen? All the years I've known you your skin had always been perfectly flawless." He complemented, his voice absolutely emotionless.
Blue eyes darted up to her assistant. "That damn dog." She muttered darkly. "It's his fault!"
Sai raised one curious eyebrow.
"That goddamn mutt will pay! With his life!" With that stated, she grabbed her iphone off of her desk and skimmed her slim fingers over the screen, quickly typing in 'how to kill a dog inconspicuously.'
It's the Dog's fault It's the Dog's fault
L.
Should I continue?
All constructive and unconstructive criticism welcome.