Disclaimer- I don't own Naruto, or the characters. Just in case you didn't know...
This is my first story. My very first story. I think it's okay, so maybe you'll like it. If you don't well, you can leave a mean comment to criticize my writing. I won't cry, I promise. It'll only help me get better. But if you do like it... you know how the rest goes... *wink wink*
I just hate it when people push their opinion on what pairings are better nag nag. Everyone has their own opinion so...
"Do you like her?"
The question was so sudden, Shikamaru now regretted that he had tuned her voice out the whole conversation.
"I like who?" He asked softly. Ino was talking about Temari for sure, he already knew. But it was just so damn troublesome.
"Temari. You like Temari don't you?"
Ino demanded him for an answer rather than asking.
"Sure." Shikamaru replied.
Ino stopped walking and crossed her arms at the lazy boy. All he wanted to do was go home and sleep, but that wasn't happening until he walked this loud mouth to her house. And that wasn't happening until he gave her a full answer.
"What do you mean by 'sure' ?" her voice made the hot summer air suddenly cold. She was angry for some reason, and he didn't know why.
"I'm just saying, you can think I like her if it floats your boat..." He yawned, hoping she'd get the message.
He got a slap on the arm instead.
"Shikamaru! I'm serious! I want to know how you really feel about her!"
He sighed.
"Fine. I like her." It was a simple answer.
Ino stood there for a moment in silence. Something was wrong with her. Words slipped from her lips every moment of the day. The only times she was really quiet was maybe when they were hiding from enemies during missions. Even then, she had to stop the urge of herself talking, but now, she seemed to be voluntarily speechless.
"Ino? What's the mat-"
"How much do you like her?" she interrupted.
Now this was just making Shikamaru confused. He was smart, but he never understood women.
"Uh... This much?" he said, spreading his hands apart in front of his shoulders.
Ino only shook her head. "No. I meant, do you love her?"
"Ye-" He stopped. He never really thought about it like that. He came to the conclusion that he liked Temari maybe just a week ago. It was just when they were going out to eat just after they finished their mission...
"Shikamaru, I need to tell you something." Temari said.
Her voice was unusually soft and sweet.
He gave her a look telling her to go on.
"Well first I've been wondering... When are we going to take this relationship further?"
Shikamaru scratched his head.
"What?"
"I mean, it's pretty obvious that we both like each other..." Temari looked down and kicked the dirt softly beneath her feet. "You do like me right?"
"Yeah." Shikamaru said quickly. "But I need more time to think about that whole thing."
He liked Temari. Well, at least he thought he did.
She was just like his mother. Mean, scary, scary, and scary. But they were both loving to people who they cared about, and they were very wise for women. People say men fall in love with women like their mom.
Also, he hated to admit but, he liked it when she bossed him around. It meant less thinking for him to do. It was a true life saver.
But then he thought about Ino. She was also loud like his mom, mean, and scary. Ino was a different scary though. When his mom or Temari was angry at him, Shikamaru feared for his life. But for Ino...
It was almost like he was scared for her... That really, on the inside, she was dying from all the yelling and angst. He couldn't explain it, but that was just how he felt.
"Shikamaru! I asked you a question, I expect an answer." Ino said interrupting his thoughts.
Oh yeah, Ino was also very bossy.
Sometimes Shikamaru wondered, why was he always surrounded by such troublesome women? But then again, was there any un-troublesome women out there?
Probably not.
"Shikamaru!" Ino was now pissed that she was getting ignored. It wasn't on purpose though.
"Yes, I love her Ino. He made it as clear as he could.
She rested her temples on her fingers. "Why Temari?" she asked. The red in her face was now gone. Her face now showed something of sadness, but why?
"You just have to get to know her."
"That girl is just pure evil, you should know..." Ino started to walk toward her house again.
He followed.
"Why do you care so much?" Shikamaru asked.
"I don't! Now go away, jerk!"
"Damn, you are so annoying Ino." he blurted out.
Regrets he had, but he couldn't take the words back.
"WHAT? ME? ANNOYING?" Her yelling must have woke the whole village up.
"Ino, shut up. It's late out and everyone's asleep." He held her shoulders, trying to calm her down.
"No. You shut up! I've been patient this past five minutes waiting for you to answer, and you're saying that I. That I am annoying?"
She shoved Shikamaru's hand off of her shoulders. "And just so you know, I can walk home myself. I'm not a little, annoying, girl who can't take care of herself."
"Bye." he said as he watched her storm off in the direction of her house.
She was so troublesome. All he wanted to do was sleep, but still, he followed behind her to make sure she got home safe.