Chapter ONE: Introduction

The wind blew through her hair. He looked at her with loving eyes, taking his hand to brush off the free blonde strands that were blocking his view from his lover's eyes.

"I love you," he says in that carefree voice of his. It tickled her ears to hear those three precious words from her special one and only.

"Shikamaru!"

The voice was a disturbance, filling the air with an awkward silence between them.

Shikamaru let out a sigh, expecting to be torn away from the sweet paradise that he'd so dearly longed for. And that was Temari.

"I guess I should go now…" Temari hesitated as if anticipating something. Shikamaru just sat there, watching her. His gaze was of a longing desire that he'd wanted to feed.

Temari's beauty was like an ocean that couldn't be contained and her spirit was like that wind, wild and free. Just what Shikamaru had so deeply fallen in love with.

He smiled, feeling the tension growing between them. Temari just sighed, rolling her eyes and stood from where she'd sat.

"Shikamaru!"

It was Ino, no doubt. That loud, shrill voice, always calling for Shikamaru's aid or rather, his attention. He exhaled, wearily wanting to just take a long relaxing nap.

Ino came running from the hills carrying a big smile on her face.

What a dork, Temari said, silently, knowing the other girl's intentions for these unexplainable interruptions. She cursed in her thoughts as she made her way towards the opposite direction, avoiding any contact with Ino.

Shikamaru frowned, disappointed at Temari's quick exit. He hadn't been able to spend any time with her lately, and it was becoming a bother. Every time they had tried to meet each other, there were always these aggravating interferences.

"Yeah, Ino? What is it?" He said it in a lazy tone. Or was it annoyance? Ino couldn't tell. She skipped to his side, dropping herself to where Temari had just a few moments ago been sitting. Dreaming. Losing her thoughts in Shikamaru's eyes, just as he had been lost in hers.

"You okay, there?" Ino's voice, one again, broke through the discontented boy's wandering mind.

"Fine," he answered, bluntly. "What was it that you wanted?"

Ino giggled like a schoolgirl. She just sat there, looking up at the clouds, still smiling. "I don't know. Just wanted to talk to you. We haven't really had the chance to actually just talk."

"And you thought 'now' was a good choice?"

"Oh." Her head dropped and shoulders slumped. She avoided eye contact. "So I guess I'm bothering you…"

Shikamaru noted her voice had also gotten quiet with discouragement. He didn't mean to hurt her. All he wanted was for some privacy with Temari. That's it. But nooooo, because life has to be like that all the time. How troublesome, he though.

"Look," Shikamaru had no idea what he was doing. He felt worn out all of a sudden, as if just saying these words were tiring enough. "I didn't mean it like that."

Sure, you didn't…because all you're thinking about is Temari, right now, aren't you?

Ino kept her thoughts to herself, not wanting to have to fight with Shikamaru and hearing him defend her. What was it Temari had that she didn't? She didn't feel it to be very fair.

But I can still win you over! I know I can! I just have to try hard enough!

"Shikamaru?" Ino's voice surprised Shikamaru. The tone in it had turned serious and dismal.

"You okay?"

She didn't answer and had instead left Shikamaru hanging with his question, while she tried to find the right words to say. What was she supposed to say? Darn it, Ino! Don't make a scene! This isn't the time.

"Uhh…I…" She hesitated, still seeking for the correct things to say.

Shikamaru turned to look at her, tilting his head as he waited for Ino's response. She seemed like she was in a good mood just a few seconds ago, what had happened to make her look so flustered?

Ino gulped and her mind blanked. Crap! What do I do? What do I say? I finally have his full attention and I can't even remember what the heck I'm supposed to tell him.

Good going, Ino. Ugh, shut up! Oh great, now you're talking to yourself inside your head. I said SHUT UP!

"Uhh…I was wondering…Shikamaru…if you were busy tomorrow night?"

Ino's face flushed red as she got the question out. She didn't know what he would say, but she would do anything for it to be a simple 'yes.'

A small grunt came from a body lying beside her. Shikamaru's eyes were closed and his breathing was paced.

"Y-you're…asleep?"

Ino's anger rose. She didn't know why she even bothered. The idiot was lying peacefully, taking a nap beside her while she, on the other hand, was trying not to throw a fit in the process of asking him out.

"Lazy ass bastard," she muttered. Then smiled and said in a sweet low voice, "Shikamaru? Wake up." Ino shook his shoulder as she spoke.

Shikamaru mumbled something under his breath before turning on his other side facing away from Ino.

Well, this was enough to throw Ino into one of her raging moods.

"SHIKAMARU! GET UP! HOW DARE YOU TAKE A NAP WHILE I'M TALKING TO YOU! SHIKA-"

Before she could finish her sentence, the boy had put a hand over her mouth motioning for her to stop her tantrum, with an annoyed look and a groan.

"You don't have to yell you know," he said. "I was only out cold for a minute, geez…How troublesome."

"How troublesome??? Is that all you can say to me???"

Shikamaru smirked. "Look, I heard what you came to ask me, but I can't. Sorry, I'm sorta with someone right now."

I'm sorta with someone right now. What he said played a second time in her head. She was still for a moment, but came back to reality when she realized Shikamaru had stood. He just stayed there a minute.

"Sorry," he muttered again, and just like that, he left her there with her own thoughts.