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All due credit belongs to Masashi Kishimoto. Credit for this series of drabbles belongs to yours truly.
002: Laughter
Two
When autumn scatters away the warmth of the sun and replaces it with a bloodcurdling chill, the Yamanaka Flower Shop closes early. By the hour of five, the sign faces the villagers, rejecting them from the warmth of the entrance. A draft bustles in from the crack under the doormat, greeting the shadows fading through the windows as villagers walk by. The shop is desolate, the souls usually sitting within it instead upstairs where there are blankets and hot coco.
Within the small kitchen stands Inoichi, who is gradually stirring at the stew burning before him. Through the doorway and in the living room we find Ino, along with their guest for the evening, Shikamaru. Together they sit on the couch facing the wall, chatting comfortably beside the heater rumbling in the corner.
Shikamaru's legs are stretched under the coffee table supporting Ino's mug, and he has an arm thrown behind his spot on the couch as she rests against him. With his free arm, he lifts his own mug, blowing at it cautiously through a chuckle before taking a sip.
"The brats in the academy really give Iruka a hard time. I can't even count the times they've gotten their asses handed to them because of it."
Ino huddles closer to him, curling her legs fully onto the couch. She runs her fingers over the fabrics of his shirt, and with a smirk, she lets out a snort.
"I'm sure they take advantage of you too! You're nothing but a push over and you know it!"
She laughs, stretching forward to grab her mug for a taste. As she brings it down, she feels her eyes flutter sleepily when she glances up at Shikamaru, who has done the same with his lazy gaze. She holds back the heavy smile forcing its ways onto her lips, and soon enough the two drown each other with laughter.
"Hey, hey!" Inoichi peaks into the living room, frowning at the pair. "I better not find any hot coco stained onto those cushions!"
Putting Ino and Shikamaru together with blankets and hot coco means laughter. It's comfortable and that's what they like best about it.
. . .
Author's Note:
I honestly just whipped this up right after posting tintinnabulations. It came out of midair and I ended up finding it very fluffy. It's my take on what an evening at the Yamanaka residence would be like during autumn season. Ah, and yes, I made Ino rest against Shikamaru. Embrace the intimacy, people. Embrace it ~
Requests are welcome; see chapter one for the rules.
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