Fallen
"Yo people." Kiba greeted setting his bag on the cafeteria table and sitting next to Ino. "I passed my classes." He said with a sense of pride.
"With mostly D's, congrats graduate!" Naruto replied.
"Hey I passed!" Kiba retorted.
"I think it's great, sweetie." Ino chimed in kissing his cheek.
"Oh please." Sakura mumbled snidely. "Like she gives a damn about him."
"She's your friend, Sakura." Shikamaru commented.
"Like hell she is. What kind of friend, cheats on her boyfriend and looks him in the eye to say she loves him." She replied.
He didn't answer her. He wanted to say something in Ino's defense but he was actually at a loss for words. Things have been falling apart with Ino all year, and from the looks of it they were going to snap soon.
-XXX-
"I can't believe this…" Kiba said in disbelief. His head in his hands and Sakura at his side.
"I know I couldn't either. But I couldn't let her lie to you like that." Sakura replied rubbing his back soothingly.
"You tell him?" Naruto asked as he and Shikamaru entered the cafeteria before school.
"I had to. It's not like she was going to." Sakura defended.
"This sucks!" Kiba exclaimed sounding really pissed. "Y'know what?! I don't even care. Ino's a bitch and there is nothing more to it."
"She is." Temari agreed.
"Honestly you just said what we're all thinking." Tenten commented. "She's acting all high and mighty like she owns all of us and can do whatever she wants."
"Really I think someone should knock her down a few pegs." Temari answered.
"Guys, this is Ino." Shikamaru tried to rationalize. "She's been our friend since freshman year. Sakura you've known her since elementary school."
"Yea and she changed. That isn't the same person who was my friend." Sakura replied.
"But…" Shikamaru started again but was cut off.
"Ugh!" Temari exclaimed frustrated. "There you go again! You honestly…Damn it Shikamaru!"
"I'm just trying to say…"
"Quit defending her! She needs to know that all she is is a petty bitch that isn't now nor will she ever be just 'that good!'" Sakura exclaimed.
"I get it!" Ino yelled from behind them. "I'm a terrible person! So if you don't like me stay out of my life! I don't need you! I don't need any of you!" She was crying before she finished speaking and ran off dropping her books.
"Ino!" Shikamaru called after her but she was gone.
Naruto put a hand on Shikamaru's shoulder trying to calm him down. Naruto knew Shikamaru liked Ino, everyone did.
"We're done." Temari said to him. "If you care more about that bitch then you do me, then we shouldn't be together."
"Maybe we shouldn't!" He snapped. "I thought some of you might at least have had enough decency to care that you just sent your friend off crying alone. I admit she made a mistake, but that doesn't deserve a punishment of solitude where her friends turn their backs on her!"
Shikamaru picked up her books and walked out of the cafeteria. While he walked down the hallway cooling his head he could hear someone crying in the girl's bathroom. He set her books down by the door and walked away.
"Hey." Naruto greeted after Shikamaru had gone outside for the fresh air. "You find Ino?" He asked.
Shikamaru nodded.
"Is she okay?" He asked.
He shrugged.
"Look, I'm sorry I didn't say anything earlier. Maybe they would've listened if it was more then one person trying to talk them out of it." Naruto commented.
"I wouldn't bet money on that." Shikamaru replied.
"What about Temari?" He asked.
"I'll get over it." He answered.
"You aren't going to try and get her back?"
"Too much effort." He replied. "Besides, she's right. When it down to it, I do care about Ino more then I care about her."
"I'm sorry."
"I know."
-XXX-
"What the hell?!" Ino demanded. "This is much in the opposite direction of where I live!"
"I know." Shikamaru answered. As was usual, Shikamaru was supposed to be driving Ino home. Supposed.
"Then why are you going this way?!" She asked.
"Calm down will you. You know me; I'm too lazy to kidnap you. Way too much effort." Shikamaru replied.
"Possibly, but now you're rich. Who knows how much you've changed since high school." She commented.
Shikamaru only chuckled at her. "You worked the day shift today, and I have a life."
She made a face.
"I know it's hard to believe." He replied. "But I have to go to a dinner party to go to, and I'm dragging you with me."
"I hate you." She said.
"You've said that before." He replied.
"Shikamaru…" She started.
"Yea?" He asked.
"Whatever happened to everyone? I mean the high school group." She wandered.
"Who do you want to know about?" Shikamaru asked.
"Everyone. The whole group y'know. I always kind of wanted to know." She replied.
"Um…" He thought for a moment. "Choji's a dead beat author who is crashing at my place for now. Naruto is unemployed and lost his house so he is also crashing at my place." He answered.
"Oh, so that's what you meant when you said that thereare two idiots staying at your place." She commented with a giggle.
"Yep." He agreed. "Sakura is a student doctor at South Heart Hospital. Sasuke is studying abroad. Temari went back to Suna after graduation. Tenten married Neji and they moved uptown so I never see them. Hinata is dancing ballet and is always busy with rehearsals so I never see her either. Rock Lee is at a military camp. Shino is some big layer or something like that. And Kiba…got married last year but I don't know who to, then he moved away with her."
"That's good." Ino replied feeling guilty. "I'm glad he found someone."
"I don't think he holds a grudge against you." Shikamaru said noticing in the mirror how her face was showing signs of sadness and guilt. "It's been three years. I'm sure they're over it by now." He added.
"Well if they aren't, you seem to be." Ino retorted.
"I never had a problem with you." He replied truthfully.
"Oh please. You all hated me." She argued.
"You know… after you ran away that day, I think they renounced me as a friend as well when I wanted to stop you." He said.
"Liar." She replied.
"I'm not lying." He assured her. "I called after you and for a couple days the only people who would talk to me was Naruto."
"Better then what I got."
"You were crying in the girl's bathroom. I set your things by the door since I couldn't go in, but I did go looking for you, and I wanted to talk to you. But after that, you skipped the last couple days of school and only showed up at graduation. I only saw you for a couple seconds. You showed up got your diploma and left."
"So tell me Mr. Sensitive, what would you have said?" She asked.
"I don't know." He answered. "I wanted to let you know somehow that I was there if no one else was."
She looked at him shocked.
"But you disappeared for three years. I even asked your parents and they told me that they only got a phone call from you once a year. Then when I was at the drug store across from the bar you work at, I saw you through the window and I decided that my chance to talk to you was either now or never, so I went over."
Before she could regain her voice, he parked the car outside a store.
"Dinner party at a boutique? You sure do have class Shikamaru." She commented thankful for the change of subject.
"It's a fancy restaurant. You don't want to show up in that do you?" He asked looking at her work clothes. "Besides, I need to change to, although it's a bother."
"Great." She said. "Has it occurred to you Mr. Big fancy cars, restaurants, and condos; that I'm flat broke and can't afford this?"
"I only have one condo." He replied. "And yes, that's why I'm buying it."
"What?" She asked.
"Don't make me repeat myself." He said getting out of the car.
She followed this action but wasn't about to stop hassling him. "Hell no! You ain't buying me shit!" She argued.
"I'm not buying you 'shit.' I'm buying you a dress so that I can get through this damn dinner. It'll be so boring if I don't take someone, and like I said, you're the only person I get to have intelligent conversations with. Despite the complaining. Humor me?" He asked.
She smacked him in the back of the head. "You're such a smart ass." She commented. "But I'll humor you for now."
-XXX-
"I can't believe you dragged me to something so damn boring." Ino complained.
"Sheesh, you have really bad language." Shikamaru commented. "Where'd you get the potty mouth?"
"Your Mother." She replied.
"Ouch. Is it just me or are you like this to everyone?" He asked with a laugh.
"Depends on if I like the person or not." She teased. Being around him was easier after what he said earlier. At least she knew he wasn't trying to "throw his weight around." And after some thought she can remember that someone did call after her who sounded a lot like Shikamaru. Although she'd blocked this from her memory on the idea that they all hate her she could remember hearing him try to rationalize things with the people who were about to jump down her throat.
He never did that. Stuck up for people or tried to rationalize things on someone's behalf. Mostly because that meant he actually had to do something and he wasn't the best at that. But he did that for her, so what does that mean? She thought maybe he liked her back then but threw that thought out of her mind. He was dating Temari. He was Shikamaru; that is enough reason for him to not like her right there.
He pulled up to her apartment and Ino say Yuri sitting on the steps. "Yuri, what are you doing there?" She asked getting out of the car.
"I was waiting for you." She answered then looked at the dress Ino was wearing then the fancy car. "You go yourself a suitor!"
"No I got myself an idiot." She corrected.
Yuri ignored the correction and ran to the car looking in through the window. "Hello suitor!" She greeted.
"Hey." Shikamaru replied. "Sorry I kept your roommate so long."
"No problem take her anytime." Yuri replied.
"Yuri, shut up. Stop talking to the weird man." Ino chimed in from behind her.
"Would you like to come up for some tea?" Yuri asked.
"I can't. I have to make sure my condo didn't get burned down while I was away. Maybe some other time." He replied.
"Anytime's good with me." She replied before backing away from the car with a wave.
"No go away, Shikamaru." Ino said.
"You're so harsh." He replied. "Oh well. See you Friday."
"Friday?" She asked wandering why he wouldn't see her tomorrow.
"Tomorrow's your day off right?" He asked.
"Oh, right." She replied.
Shikamaru smirked. "See ya." He said starting the car back up and driving away.
"You've got yourself a sexy ass rich dude." Yuri commented. "I'm starting to envy your life."
"Don't." Ino warned. "You do not want him in your life."
"You do." Yuri replied before entering the apartment building.
-XXX-
"Where have you been all day?" Choji asked when Shikamaru got home. He looked around the condo that was once neat and easy to manage. Now he had no idea what was clean and what wasn't staring at the mess.
"I spent the day with Ino then I went to some work thing. What the hell happened here?" Shikamaru answered then asked.
"Ask Naruto. I spent the day with my editor talking about a book that might sell." Choji replied.
"Hey blonde ass-hole!" Shikamaru called.
"Yea?" Naruto asked recognizing that that meant him.
"Clean the mess or I'll kick you out on your ass." Shikamaru warned.
"Man, you're mean Shikamaru." He Naruto replied. He looked at the dressy clothes and smirked. "What's this? Did you go on a date?"
"Work dinner." Shikamaru corrected.
"Was Ino with you?" Naruto asked.
"Why does that matter?"
"So she was." Naruto gathered. "Then you went on a date with Ino. I think you should ask her out."
"Naruto…" Shikamaru started but was cut off.
"Think about what he's saying Shikamaru. I know it's been three years and all, but even if it seems like she changed it's possible she hasn't changed that much." Choji mentioned. "I've been your friend since we were in elementary school, so if you want to be with Ino, I won't oppose you, but at least think about what I said."
"I know." Shikamaru replied. "I don't know if she'd even say yes if I asked her out."
"Why not?" Naruto asked. "Are you not good enough for her?"
"She might be thinking that, but even if I was…she's paranoid as hell. She keeps expecting me to show up one day and rub it in her face that she's where she's at and I'm not. I'm guessing that she just doesn't want to be hurt anymore. And that if I asked her out she'd think I am pitying her." He answered.
"Is pity even one of your limited feelings?" Naruto asked.
"So tell her that." Choji said. "If she thinks that, correct her."
"Yea." Shikamaru replied thinking ahead. He couldn't stand what he knew she'd think if he told her, but if he never said anything high school will repeat itself. He'll have gotten himself caught in the position of friend and she'll end up dating someone else. He couldn't stand to see her with Kiba then, he won't be able to see her with anyone else, now either.
-XXX-
Shikamaru laid his head on the counter of the bar. He was tired today and his bosses had pissed him off so he was wandering how many drinks it would take to kill his brain altogether.
"Hey something up?" Ino asked bending down to level with him behind the bar.
He didn't respond so she poked him and he stirred.
"Can I do something for you?" She tried again now that she had his slight sleepy attention.
"Kill me?" He asked sounding like he was begging.
"Can't that's illegal." She replied. "You want a drink?"
"I can't. Driver, remember?" He replied.
"So, just call one of the idiots and tell them to pick you up here later. They can drive your car home." She suggested.
"Then give me something that'll work quickly." He asked.
"Coming right up." She retorted turning to make a drink.
"Do you hate working here?" He asked.
"Sometimes. But y'know, when you don't have a choice you take the work you can get." She replied handing him the glass of many mixed alcohols.
"You could always go back to school." He suggested. "Do something with your life. You're still young."
"Shikamaru…I don't need a lecture on what to do with my life." Ino protested.
"Apparently not." He retorted looking around the bar. "You've already done so well."
"Shikamaru!" She warned.
"You never change. You never listen when someone is trying to help you."
"I don't need to hear it from you. I get it, you've done so well for yourself, you're rich and a fricken genius and…"
"I'm sorry." He said quietly cutting her off. "There's something I want to say to you, but I'm having a hard time with it so I end up saying something else. I didn't mean for it to come off like that but I've never been good with words."
She looked at him as he laid his head back on the counter not taking a drink. He was speaking so quietly she felt odd. Uncomfortable hearing this. Like something was moving but she can't see it.
"You can say anything to me, Shikamaru." Ino let him know using a sweet tone. She was never close with Shikamaru in high school and now he was her only friend. It was selfish but if something was bothering him she was going to help. No matter what. "You can tell me anything that's on your mind." She added.
-YuukiSoma