AN: I haven't written anything in a LONG LONG time, so bear with me, I'm a bit rusty. This is kinda long to be a drabble, but I didn't feel like elaborating on whole life-stories and stuff. I was jet-lagged, okay???

Originally written on a plane to Portland, Oregon, and then edited EXTENSIVELY to the annoyance of my seat mate... haha

6- The space between dream and reality

Disclaimer: Nothing has changed... except for the fact I have a poster with ShikaIno written on it... but that's it.

It could be lengthened or lessened within a fraction of a second. With one deft hand in fate, the course of reality could be changed to fit the wheeling plot of a dream.

XxXxXxXxX

When Ino woke, panting, alone in her dark room, she wasn't sure what to believe. Her dream had been so clear; Shikamaru had been struck in the chest with Sasuke's heightened chidori, and had slipped into an unconsciousness that spoke of death. But Tsunade had appeared, her fight with Juugo forgotten, and whisked the genius jonin away, into the black twilight. It was then that Ino had awoken, knowing that it had only been a dream. Sleep overtook her and she only had a moment of conscious thought before she was claimed by her dreams to wonder to herself as to why she was so tired.

And the next morning, as she strode towards her family-owned flower shop to open up for the day, she ran into her father shutting the very door she had ready to unlock and start the morning. Ino approached, confused as her father turned and regarded her grimly.

"Ino… I forgot to tell you, the shop's closed for the day. You've been through so much in the past day… and your mother thought, well, he's getting out of surgery soon and if you wanted to see him…" Inoichi trailed off, not wanting to upset the delicate balance of emotions his daughter had managed to gain since the night previous. His discretion, however, did nothing to help; the news hit Ino like an unforeseen tidal wave and she found herself unable to breathe. The truth, the reality of it all, and her disillusions… it was as though she was reliving the last terrible moments of her nightmare in a darker, more shadowed world.

But steely resolve set in, the water from the wave dissipated, and without looking back at her father, she jumped away in the direction of the hospital.

XxXxXxXxX

Some will find in the most difficult fashion that the span between dream and reality is not quite as large as many think.

Okay, you may believe the story you have just read was a waste of your time and I need to find some writing class the help me with my non-creative issue, but a review would be appreciated. ShikaIno is a totally luff ship, so I was inspired by the luff. It's kinda hard to resist.

If I really get my head into it... the next chapter should be up in less than an hour. Peace out until then!