A/N

Inspired by a quote by Shikamaru's father.

"Even the toughest woman will show her gentle side to the man she loves."

Too right you are, Shikaku, too right you are.

"You troublesome woman, I told you no."

"You lazy man, I told you I don't care. We're going."

Shikamaru lets out a long, heavy sigh. "Why do you have to be so bossy?"

She leans above him, planting her thin, pale hands on his chest. She smirks and runs her nail down his stubbly cheek. "Because you're so cute when you're frustrated." She giggles, brushing her lips against his. He tries to respond but she pulls back, still smirking that same smirk.

"Eh. Troublesome." He mutters, stretching his arms behind his head and yawning.

He peeks through one eye, and she looks a little hurt. "You're not even interested in me." She says flatly, hotly. Shikamaru sighs yet again.

"Women." He says lazily, "Always worrying." She climbs off him and sits on the end of their bed. Her long blond hair hangs over her delicate face, framing it like a halo. Her back is rigid, her arms crossed tightly over her chest. She makes a small, irritated sound.

"You're an idiot." She announces. "Fine. We won't go. I don't care."

Shikamaru tries not to smile. She's adorable. "Okay." He grins. She turns to face him, a murderous look on her beautiful face.

"Why can't you just go?" she demands, "It's not that difficult to do something for me, is it?"

"Well..."

"Shikamaru!" she cries, getting to her feet. "We're going, and that's final!"

"No." He replies. "You can go. I'm not going."

"Shikamaru!" she cries again, getting back on the bed. She looks at him with those big, beautiful blue eyes, and he feels his resolve waver. "I really want to go."

"Ugh." He tries, but he knows it's hopeless now.

"Please?" she begs, planting kisses upon kisses on his lips. "Shikamaru..."

"Troublesome woman." He says again, but she sees the acceptance in his eyes and she beams at him. For a moment, Shikamaru can't remember why he even bothered to say no.

She hands him one final kiss. "I love you."

"You're so troublesome." He sighs, tucking a strand of her hair behind her ear.

"You never say you love me!"

"See? Troublesome."

"But...?"

"But what?"

"But you love me, stupid!"

Sigh. "Yes. I do."

"You never say it properly."

"Say what properly?" He grins. He's doing it just to see her get all flustered. He loves it when she gets flustered.

"That you love me."

"I just said it, you troublesome woman."

"No you didn't!"

"Maybe if you stopped being so bossy, I would say it."

"I'm not bossy, Shikamaru Nara! Don't you dare say I am!"

"Fine."

"Fine."

She's sitting away from him again, upset and angry. He can't stand to see it anymore, so he pulls her against him and just holds her.

"I love you, Ino Yamanaka, and don't you dare say I don't."

She laughs into his chest, and he knows he's done the right thing. This woman, this bossy, troublesome woman, is his. And he will have her for as long as she'll have him. He has to protect her, care for her, love her.

Even if it means she makes him do troublesome things from time to time.

A/N

Yay for ShikaIno. :3