This will be my second fan fiction so… I guess I'm still an amateur writer or something but writing's definitely something I'm new to. So, R&R please and please be generous when it comes to reviews. The song's really old but I kinda like it so bear with me. Besides, it fits the chapter…

Disclaimer: Can I have a wishbone so I can wish Naruto to be mine?

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Driving down the dim streets, Shikamaru turned up the radio.

It was already past 9 and he just got a phone call from a very, very drunk Ino:

"Shika… (hic)" Ino squealed on the phone.

"Ino? Is that you?" Shikamaru questioned on the phone. It didn't sound like her. Her voice wasn't the usual perky one.

"Yyyyeahh…" Ino answered at the other end, "D-Do me a… (hic) favor, w'll ya?"

Arching a brow, Shikamaru asked, concerned, "Ino, are you drunk?"

The other end was definitely not silent when she didn't reply. At the background, Shikamaru heard booming music and drunken laughter. Ino was either in a bar or in a rave.

"Think sooo…" Ino replied wearily, "Can you pick me up, pleeease, Shiika-kuuunn? Heehee… I'm just… uh… here… I guess (hic)…"

Rolling his eyes, Shikamaru mumbled on the phone, "Where are you, anyway?"

He heard continuous gulping, assuming that she was drinking more alcoholics, until she said, "At… Sasuke-kun'ssss… Got a rave o'er here… Reeeaaalll fun here…"

Slightly annoyed at the fact that she got drunk in her boyfriend's house, Shikamaru hastily answered, "Stop drinking, Ino. I'll be there in a few minutes. Just wait there and… don't let anything happen to you."

He revved the engine and sighed. He was about to pick up the girl he loved, drunk and maybe groggy from drinking, from her boyfriend's house… not exactly a good idea but he'd do anything for her.

The music belched out of the radio and the lyrics didn't quite make Shikamaru feel any better:

'I would take the stars out of the sky for you,

Stop the rain from falling if you asked me to,

I'd do anything for you,

Your wish is my command,

I could move a mountain if your hand is in my hand…'

"Damn love songs…" Shikamaru mumbled to himself as he went down the block.

In a couple of minutes, he was outside Sasuke's manor. The booming music was heard even from outside. The party was probably a hit. He dialed Ino's number on his cellphone and waited for her to pick up.

"Sh-Shika-kunnn! Waha! Why ya callin'?" Ino finally picked up after 10 rings. Obviously, she was still drunk.

Shikamaru leaned against the wall beside the door and said, "Hey, Ino. I'm outside Sasuke's door so maybe you can come out anytime now…?"

There was a momentary pause in the middle until Ino replied, "Oooohhh… yeah, now I r'member… I asked ya to pick me up… Ookie-dokie, Shikamaru… I'll be out in a minute… I think…"

'Words cannot express how much you mean to me,

There must be some other way to make you see,

If it takes my heart and soul, you know I'd pay the price,

Everything that I possess I'd gladly sacrifice…'

"Crap…" Shikamaru muttered, "Now I've got the song lyrics in my head. Dammit."

20 minutes swept by and Shikamaru has gotten impatient, "What's taking her so long?" he said to himself. He called her again but this time, she wouldn't answer. Pissed, Shikamaru hung up.

Almost 40 minutes went by and Ino was still enjoying herself in Sasuke's party while Shikamaru stood outside, leaning on his car. He sighed, still waiting for her.

'You to me are everything,

The sweetest song that I could sing,

Oh, baby, Oh, baby…

To you, I guess I'm just a clown

Who picks you up each time you're down,

Oh, baby, Oh, baby…"

"Man, that song's getting to me…" Shikamaru said under his breath, "Humph. Troublesome."

Then, Ino finally walked out of Sasuke's front door, tipsy and laughing to herself.

She was tired and sleepy. The two just exchanged glances, "Oh, my head…" Ino groaned.

Shikamaru knew that too much alcohol always gave her headaches so once she climbed onto the front seat, he tucked a small pillow under her head and gave her an aspirin.

Buckling his seat belt, Shikamaru asked, "Are you alright, Ino?"

Ino just nodded her head and mumbled, "Thanks for waiting for me, Shika… That's so… nice of you…"

Soon, Ino had her tilted to the left, slightly touching Shika's shoulder. She was finally asleep.

'Though you're close to me, we seem so far apart,

Maybe given time, you'll have a change of heart,

If it takes forever, girl, then I'm prepared to wait,

The day you give your love to me won't be a day too late…'

'What the…?' Shikamaru said in his thoughts, 'How many times did this song play in the radio tonight? Weird.'

"Mmm… Shika?" Ino mumbled, waking up a little.

Shikamaru turned his gaze at her and said, "What?"

Ino smiled with her eyes peacefully shut as she said, "Did I ruin your night, having you pick me up from Sasuke's? I'm sorry…"

Shikamaru stroked her hair and lovingly said, "It's nothing, Ino. I'd do anything for you."

Without a move, Ino trailed off, "Really? Wow… Thanks for everything…"

Soon, she was asleep again.

'You to me are everything,

The sweetest song that I could sing,

Oh, baby, oh, baby…'

In minutes time, Shikamaru gently shook Ino awake, "Ino, hey," he whispered at her ear, "We're here. You're home."

But, the kunoichi didn't budge. She was sleeping so soundly that Shikamaru actually wanted to just let her sleep instead of disturbing her. Still, it couldn't be done.

He ransacked her pocket for her house keys, got off the car then opened Ino's front door.

After that, he took the sleeping Ino into his arms and carried her in. Grunting, Shikamaru tried to walk up the stairs slowly and silently so she wouldn't be disturbed.

When he reached her room, he gently lay Ino onto her bed, pulled her sheets over her then walked for the door.

But when he was about to close the door, he hesitated for a moment. He looked back to see Ino one last time before going home.

"'Night, Ino…" he whispered, "Call me again when you're too drunk to walk home."

At that, he slowly shut the door behind him, went down the stairs and drove home.

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It's a little lame, I know. If you don't think so, then I'm glad. If you think it's worst than lame, let me know through a review. Your comments will be greatly appreciated. Review me!