Author: OwlPenguin
Genre: Romance, Drama
Pairings: Shikamaru/Ino and side pairings; Neji/Tenten, Naruto/Hinata (the rest is up to you to figure out!)
Summary: AU somewhere around the 20's. Rich girl Ino is dissatisfied with her caged life when she by accident meets the mysterious Shikamaru from the streets. They will soon learn how pure coincidences can change the life you know, intertwine your destiny with someone else's and how far they are willing to go in the name of true love.
Rating: M for sexual and violent scenes.
From author: This story takes place somewhere in the early 1910-20's. If something's historically incorrect, please don't judge but you're welcome to enlighten me about it. I will try to update this as often as possible
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto, Masashi Kishimoto does.
Chapter 1 – Concealed in shadows
By: OwlPenguin
-X-
Oh dear god! The dinner is in two hours, and you're dressed like that? Don't you want to impress? Do you want to embarrass us? Please Ino, show some respect towards your family!
Bla, bla, bla. Always this endless nagging. Ino Yamanaka sighed and wandered off to her room to fix herself up to the approaching dinner. Dinner, again, with the Haruno family. At least she got to see cousin Sakura.
She laughed slightly to herself thinking this, making the maid in her room give her an odd look. It was pretty amusing really, how all rich people called each other "cousin", even if they weren't even the closest to being related. Also, most of them just hated each other's guts as well, which made it more hilarious and frankly comical. Although, Sakura she didn't mind. She was a sweet girl with her heart on the right place, even if her family's wealth sometimes turned into too big of a fuss sometimes for her. Ino wished she would stop brag how she was engaged with the wealthiest man in the county, when she knew very well Sakura had no feelings at all for this poor guy.
She gasped as the corset was laced around her tiny body with more force than necessary.
"Not so rough, please!" she growled to the maid, who only huffed but at least loosened her corset death grip. Ugh, how many times hadn't she told her? And still, the maid persisted in always lacing it too hard. It was all about looking appealing, you know.
Almost an hour later, she could finally walk out of her room without her family yelling at her. Instead, she was met with praising words, such as you look dazzling! I can't believe we have such a fine daughter! You're such a gem! She wanted to grimace at the hypocrisy. Nevertheless, as the good girl she was raised to be, she followed them willingly to the dinner which she already knew to be just as boring as watching paint dry.
-X-
They arrived just before the dinner party started, as always. Fancy folks always arrive late, her father had claimed her whole life and she never really understood what it meant. She swiftly and elegantly left her coat by the wardrobe and quickly went off to the banquet hall to avoid as many as possible. She had practically grown up in this house, she knew it's every corners. She missed the days where she and Sakura would run around and play, ignoring the adults admonitions. Now, they were 17 years old and were expected to act as adults as well. She hated it, she didn't want to be responsible for the family honour and stuff like that. She wanted the freedom she knew she could never have.
She observed the surroundings, seeing nothing but men in suits smoking cigars and slender women in fabulous dresses, probably worth more than every item in her lavish room. Nearly everyone in here was married or engaged with someone rich and successful. As she made her way to find her seat, she contemplated on this… lunacy everyone had about getting married. In this world, where she lived, a marriage was all about finding a rich, successful and suiting husband. Some women had the luck to find the love in a suitable man for themselves, but mostly all marriages were products of their parents' choice. Ino hated that concept, she'd never want to get married to a stranger. She didn't even know if she wanted to get married at all. She never mentioned that last thing to anyone, she knew she'd practically be decapitated for not agreeing on everyone else's idea of a good life.
She found her place, feeling both relieved and incommodious realising she'd sit right next to Sakura. At least she saw Temari, her other cousin being placed on the far end of the table. She hadn't really much against Temari, it was just that they never got along and they always ended up in pointless grudges. At least Sakura wasn't as hot-headed as Temari, but she was also rather dull. Oh well, at least she's nice to me, Ino though sitting down on her chair gracefully. Sakura soon joined in, and immediately went on blabbering about her fiancé Uchiha something. Ino mentally closed her ears, focusing on conversing with the man next to her. She had no idea who he was, probably another cousin but that wasn't of importance. However, he paid little attention to her words, so she soon gave up. Besides, Sakura was nagging on her other side.
"Are you even listening Ino? As I said, Sasuke has this big manor which is really fabulous but the furniture are all wrong, so I just have to…"
Ino closed her eyes, pretending to listen. As someone called her name, she quickly answered, thankful for an excuse not to listen to Sakura's endless chatting. She regretted it soon though.
"Ino! When will you find a suiting husband? It's about time soon!" it was Sakura's father who spoke, and along with this statement he and the rest of the adult men all laughed so the room rumbled while the women smiled with more dignity, incoherently sending some sympathy to her. All she did was just sighing and ignoring the stupid comment.
The night went on like that, and she was extremely bored. When they were leaving her father got something sympathetic in his eyes all of a sudden. She responded with a pleading look of despair and he promised her to go to the market in town the following day. Victory, she though. Going to town was one of the best things she knew. Maybe this night hadn't been in vain after all?
-X-
The following day was a nice one. The sun shone in through the drapes and blended Ino as she woke up. Deciding to dress herself today, as she most often did, she refrained from calling for a maid. She chose a light green dress and fixed her hair so that she would look decent. A last approving look in the grand mirror, and she was off running down the stairs.
"Let's go daddy!" she yelled enthusiastically, but was a bit taken aback seeing him walk out of the living room still with his morning robe on.
"Ino, darling, do you know what time it is? It's only 8am, and besides you should have some breakfast first." He said, probably trying to sound caring but ended up sounding stern. She gave him a disappointed look which he only dismissed as he turned around.
"We leave at 9, not earlier!" he said while disappearing into the living room again. She sighed, but obeyed and went to the kitchen to ask for breakfast. The kitchen maid was frankly the only one Ino liked, mainly because she had always been nice to Ino. During her childhood, while all the other maids complained how she made the floor dirty just by walking on it or how she ruined her clothes playing, the kitchen maid had always been nice to her, hiding her away from the other maids when they were after her for doing something bad.
In a short moment, she was served a full breakfast and only then realised how hungry she actually were. Maybe her dad wasn't that bad after all, forcing her to eat. She finished it all rather quick, thanked the maid and then glanced at the kitchen clock. It was five past 9!
The sum beamed high up in the blue sky, and the town was filled with people. Ino rejoiced as the sounds of voices, laughter, children playing and even some distant singing embraced her warm and lovingly. She loved this place so much. She looked around at the nearest shops and quickly decided that they weren't much to have, they were all rich-people shops which contained boring, expensive and mostly unnecessary stuff. Ino loved more to explore the hidden corners of the city, where the most obscure shops where located. Especially the ones containing old, inherited goods from bygone times. Her father, nor anyone in her social area would even think of buying such things. They were disgusting, and only for poor people. But for Ino, it was treasures.
Her dad had strictly ordered her to not run away from him again today, and also asked her so very kindly to not bring home any more "rubbish", as he viewed her findings. She frowned, she hated being treated like such a child in these situations. Just because she wasn't engaged to be married, couldn't she at least count as a young adult?
"Ah, Mr Yamanaka!"
She saw how he suddenly spotted someone he knew, some businessman of some sort. Oh well, her dad knew practically everyone in this city so she didn't even bother to figure out who the bearded man with the top hat was. She was briefly introduced by her father before they engaged into a very intense discussion about something out of her world. This was her chance.
After doing weird faces to her dad for a while, without him even taking the slightest notice of it, she ran off. Pleased with succeeding, a smug smile spread across her pale lips. She quickly ran into an alley, almost tripping over her long dress. How she hated these dresses!
She quickly caught sight of an interesting shop and went straight to it. A few more shops and 2 hours later, she was at the end of the alley, where it took a turn out to a bigger road. She decided she'd go back now, bracing herself for her scolding father awaiting. She turned on the place and went straight back to the way she came from. But something was blocking the way for her this time. Four men was standing there, two leaning on the brick wall to the right, one sitting on a garbage bin and the fourth one standing in the middle of the narrow alley. She had nowhere to go but the road. She turned again, walking a bit faster but trying not to show her fear. God knows what these men wanted, and Ino sure wasn't going to stay to figure out.
"Hey sweetheart, wait up!"
She ignored the shouts and hollers behind her and turned from the road to another street. This was a big mistake.
"Well, well, look what we have here, eh?"
"Pretty little thing."
"Mhm, but isn't she too young? She doesn't look very old."
"Who cares? It's not like you're marrying her."
The four men erupted in laughter that cut like knives through the tense air. Ino's blood froze when she faced a brick wall. She had gone into a dead end. Stupid, stupid Ino.
She turned around, facing the men and wishing she'd brought some sort of weapon. Well, who was she kidding really? She could use a weapon even if she wanted too on these men. She swallowed hard, unwillingly backing up against the wall as they edged closer.
This is it, she thought. If I don't do something now, I'll die.
Without even thinking or hesitating, she closed her eyes and screamed the highest she could. Screamed for all of her lung capacity, trying to drown out the sound of the men.
"Oh, will you shut her up?!"
She received a slap on the face with a dirty hand, but even if it wasn't very hard it was enough for her fragile form to fall towards the ground.
"Thanks. So, who'll start?"
The man speaking laughed crudely, and Ino closed her eyes. She was doomed. She heard his footsteps edging closer when suddenly a voice from above broke through the laughter.
"Nobody is starting anything here."
The sound of someone or something landing on the ground next to her was heard, as if someone had jumped down from the brick wall. The odd, slightly husky voice continued talking to the men who had silenced.
"In fact, each and every one of you are leaving. Now. Don't ever fucking dare to come here again."
"Oh really, kid? The fuck you saying?" one of the men spoke back, but was quickly reprimanded by another one.
"Shut up Kyle! You don't know who you're messin with! Let's just go…"
The sound of ruffling feet was heard as the men obviously were leaving, and Ino finally dared to open her eyes. In front of her appeared a hand, reaching down to help her up. She gratefully took it, and turned her head up to see her rescuer. She was looking up in the face of probably the strangest man she'd ever met. He looked nothing like the boys and men in her world, and somehow she found herself liking it. He had long, black hair tied up in a ponytail along with rather shabby clothes. They looked very clean though, and his face was still concealed by the shadows of the alley. She collected herself to thank him, but she was still stunned and shocked.
"Oh, thank you Mr…Mr…"
"Nara." He answered simply, barely moving a muscle in his face.
"Mr Nara." She repeated. "Thank you for saving my life, Mr Nara. How shall I ever repay this honourable deed?"
"No need to thank me, miss…?"
"Yamanaka." She answered just as simply. She narrowed her eyes at his nonchalant demeanour.
"Shall I walk you back to the safety, Miss Yamanaka?"
She raised a brow at his nonchalant, but polite answer. He seemed so simple, like he hadn't a care in the world. Like he wasn't affected at all of what just happened here. She thought for a second and then nodded. He offered her his arm, and she thankfully hooked hers with it.
She told him the directions to find her father, even if it was with prodigious reluctance. She was way too fascinated by this mysterious man appearing nowhere from the shadows to ever wanting to head home. And what was even more interesting to her, was the fact that those men seemed to know about him, and that they were afraid of him. She glanced carefully at him through her hair. Out of the shadows, she could see that he had very handsome features in his face along with a pair of hazel brown eyes. She felt she wanted to know more about him, but was afraid to ask. She tried different phrases in her head before deciding on one.
"Who are you really, Mr Nara?" Jesus, how stupid didn't that sound? But he barely huffed at her before he answered. Was he trying to contain a laughter?
"I'm no one really. Why would someone like you be interested in getting to know me, anyway?"
The answer surprised her only half as much as it frustrated her.
"Excuse me? You don't know me, so don't label me please! So what if I do want to know about you? What's the problem with that, huh?" she said quite bluntly.
"Well, you sure do know how to reprimand someone, that's for sure." He chuckled slightly. She ignored how much she enjoyed it and only narrowed her eyes at him as a reply. She suddenly realised she had let down her guard completely. She always behaved well and spoke properly, but now she behaved as if she was with some close friend. Besides the fact, of course, that she knew nothing of him. She swiftly drew back into her role again, polite and well-mannered. They continued walking in silence, both of them not seeming quite sure of how to start a conversation.
"But, you know if you're ever in the close-by neighbourhood… I mean, I have my living at Akimishi Inn, so if you're so eager to know more then…"
"Akimishi Inn?" she repeated quizzically, as his voice slowly faded out. He nodded, keeping his look on the cobblestone road before them. Interest flared up inside of her, she had to find that place. But of course, she did not let any of this slip past her mask of diplomacy as she replied;
"I will consider that, Mr Nara." She couldn't hide a little smile curving her lips, she really looked forward to this. It was insane. She didn't even know this man, yet she was so amazed by him already. She needed to know more. Her endless need of information on everything was sometimes very bothersome, she become conscious of.
Nevertheless, they had finally reached the town square, where Ino supposed her father to be. And sure enough, he was standing by a lamppost at the far end talking to another businessman. Ino wondered to herself if he had even noticed her absence. She turned to Mr Nara, who had let go of her arm and was dwelling in the shadows of the closest alleyway.
"So, this is where I bid you farewell Mr Nara. I hope we meet again." She said, trying not to put too much emphasis on the word "hope". He, however, gave her almost a smile before he replied.
Disregarding what most men did when leaving her, like kissing her hand or something along those lines, he simply waved to her with an unreadable expression on his face. She found herself smiling, waving back. She was mesmerized by this man from the shadows, she didn't even know how long she just stood there still watching him leave. She shook her head slightly, pulling herself out of the trance she was in and quickly composing herself to move. She turned to find her father again, and saw him standing at the same place again. After promptly considering with herself, she decided on not telling him the truth. He'd be way too worried.
"Dad! Dad, here I am! Did you miss me?"
He turned to see her half-running towards him, and she was given a very serious look.
"Ino, there you are you bothersome girl! Where were you? I've been worried sick."
"Well, I was just you know, walking around in shops and I got lost but then I found my way back. Luckily!"
She had always been good at lying, and she could see little hints of amusement behind her father's stern eyes.
"Very well then, I'm glad you're back. Let us go back home, it's getting rather late."
She nodded and accompanied him along the short way home that they walked. He was telling her something, something about business as always, but she didn't hear any of it. Nothing such as insignificant as that could draw her mind away from the man from the shadows.
To be continued.
Dear reader, please review!