Hello everyone! I just feel like sharing to you guys where the hell did this story originated from. First thing first, I am totally in love with ShikaIno pairing. It does not help that I already love them separately. Second of all, I am but a mere frustrated writer. One day, I decided to watch Naruto from the beginning and when I was in the Shippuuden series, I got caught off guard by one of its opening songs: Sha La La. It was on replay for one good week! Then one night, the plot bunny decided to give me a random visit and came to see me in my dreams. I woke up, trying to remember my dream. One moment I was adjusting my eyesight then the next thing I knew I was typing rather too fast that I didn't even care for my grammar, thinking that I'd fix all those when I awoke later. Then tada! I am such a talker, I know.
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.
Chapter 1
Ino always thought she knew everything, that she had everything figured out. It did not take a genius to know what life had in store for her, but she surely did not expect this chapter in her life:
The Konoha's Flower fell hopelessly in love with the lazy boy genius.
Thing was, she was not exactly Shikamaru's type. We all had heard about his ideal woman: marry a regular girl who isn't too ugly and not too pretty. Have two children, first a girl, then a boy. Retire after his daughter is married and his son becomes a successful ninja, and spend the rest of his life playing shogi or Go. Then die of old age before his wife.
He also did not picture her to be a major part of his life. As far as she knew, she already caused a whole lot and more bothersome things to him just being his bossy teammate. And not to mention being the daughter of his father's best friends made Ino and Shikamaru childhood playmates with Chouji and a family friend to both clans.
Problem was that Shikamaru has another troublesome woman in his life. Yeah sure, Ino had the privilege to be his first (aside from his mother) but that was because of the consequences brought by the previous legendary Ino-Shika-Cho trio. Inoichi and Shikaku, along with Chouza, were the best of friends back in their days up until now. To make things short, Shikaku and Chouza each had a son to continue their lineage but Inoichi had a daughter. It was only normal to continue the Ino-Shika-Cho Konoha was so proud about.
And that's pretty much where it all started. From that moment on, she was already a part of Shikamaru's life as a teammate, a friend, and as family. Nothing more and probably less.
But this Temari, a kunoichi in the Hidden Village in the Sand, was obviously someone who just popped out of nowhere and entered Shikamaru's life.
She was older and much more mature than Ino and Shikamaru combined. (Well, Ino thinks she is.) She was a lot more reliable and strong compared to her. She was also pretty, only if she fixed her hair would she be higher than her in that department.
At her young age, she already had heavy responsibilities on her shoulders. She was the Sand Ambassador and a Jounin. The current Kazekage was her little brother! To top it all off, she could keep up with Shikamaru's laid-back personality and she had this healthy rivalry with him.
Now, how could she ever compete with her?
As confident and strong-willed as she was, Ino knew a losing battle when she saw one, and this thing she had towards Shikamaru was the epitome of impossibility. Too bad, she was also in it, too.
Already taken in too deep, Ino was in a frantic search of a permanent solution to her situation. She already had come up with temporary fixes, like dating other boys and taking care of her family's flower shop.
Until recently, she found her old rivalry with Sakura proved to be beneficial to her desperate situation. With that as her reason, she intentionally joined the Intel Division while still studying Medical Jutsu under Tsunade during her shifts in the Hidden Leaf Hospital.
With her demanding workload in the Hospital and Intel Division taking almost half of her time, the Medical Jutsu training and espionage missions kept her mind from wandering off for days. As for her rare days off, she had flower arrangements to take care of and her overtime at the hospital to keep her busy.
Alas, she had found her perfect distractions. She was kept busy from her different responsibilities as a shinobi and as a daughter. She was caught between relief and disappointment when her career and hobbies did not at all come close to Shikamaru's. Well, aside from being a member of the Intel Division that is. There were times she would see his retreating back in the hallways, always talking to Shiho or her own father, Inoichi, about Konoha's safety. She later mentally noted that she should not go anywhere near the Hokage's Office unless it was for missions or emergency purposes.
But as they say, the only thing permanent in this world is change and she did not like the change of plans she just received this morning.
She was alone in her family's flower shop, already had started her weaving routine when she was called out by a worried looking Shizune, telling her that she was summoned by the angry Hokage and that she was also expecting she'd bring Shikamaru with her all in 15 minutes.
What a way to ruin her perfect Shikamaru-less life.
"I know this mission is sudden and I suppose Tsunade-sama has to be the one to break the news for you, but I can't help it! Especially when it's something to be proud about!"
"What do you mean, Shizune-san?" Ino tilted her head from her utter confusion.
"Well, this mission will dictate your career as a shinobi! Wait, as an Intel Division member that is."
"Don't tell me-!" said Ino upon fully realizing the opportunity the Hokage gave her.
"Yes! Success of this mission will guarantee you the position as the Intel Division Head!" Shizune ran towards her and embraced her.
"Oohh! I'm so happy and proud of you, Ino-san! You and Sakura are like little sisters to me that I didn't have!"
Eyes widened and completely stunned by the news, Ino could only return her embrace. Her incomplete, and now a mess, weaving left laying on the floor.
When her sempai finally left the shop that was the time when Ino had fully realized the reality she was about to be in: she had to go to the Hokage office with Shikamaru and she also had to look for him!
She clicked her tongue and almost kicked the incomplete flower arrangement at the wall. What happened? What did she do to deserve this? She was improving in her medical training, she had saved countless lives in the hospital, she had made tons of moody brides happy by making exquisite wedding flower arrangements, and she had all succeeded with her espionage missions! She was also as good as Sakura when it comes to medical jutsu!
So why? Why now when she was already contented with her life without Shikamaru in it? Not only that, she was finally given the chance to be the head of the Intel Division, but to her dismay, that would also mean she would spend some time with Shikamaru. He was, without a doubt, a genius and he would gradually replace his old man as the Head Strategist of Konoha.
She almost fell like crying right then and there. Once again, she did not know what to do with her life to make things work for her. She was always wishing to the stars when she could not sleep at night to revert everything back to where it was perfectly normal. Back to the days when she did not have to make plans to avoid Shikamaru, to those late lunch treats with Team 10 and Asuma, and to those carefree days when she could have moments with Shikamaru without feeling giddy about it.
Back to the days when we were just Team 10 with Asuma-sensei.
After a good 5 minutes, Ino stood up from her stool and prepared herself to leave. All this moping around was not helping her. She needed to face reality and get it done with already. She called out to her mom, relaying to her what happened earlier before she leaped out and started her frantic search for Shikamaru.
Given the initial look plastered on Shizune's face and having Tsunade mad already this early, Ino knew Shikamaru was somewhere nonchalantly watching the clouds and, of course, slacking off from work. What's new.
Knowing him and his odd hobby (aside from playing Shogi), Ino tried to remember all his favorite areas to do his cloud activities and proceeded to each. While in her search, Ino had made immediate preparations to appear normal with him, but when she reached the fifth place of Shikamaru's Top Cloud Watching Spots and actually saw him there, she could not help but stop. That is, to calm the wild pounding her heart had been doing the instant she spotted him.
Her hands were sweating, her lungs and throat were burning from hyperventilating, her eyesight was losing focus, and her head was a combination of the state of being blank and full of images of him. If ever that was possible.
This is absolutely absurd! Calm down, Ino. Calm down. It's only Shikamaru.
Repeating that to herself over and over again, Ino finally regained composure. She knew she could not avoid Shikamaru forever. One day, she would have to talk to him like the old days. With all the courage she could have mustered in less than a minute, she took one step closer to his sleeping form.
.
.
.
It was now or never.
