Thanks so much for the reviews everyone! :D Thanks to XxsasusakuxX, mood ink, Caili-kun, JaliceLove, Cueil, DragonRider-Xankira, and Light Side Darth Vader for reviewing chapter one! As you can see, I'll be making this a chapter story. I really want to see how this turns out too! So keep reviewing, they inspire me greatly to continue writing. I love you all!

Regrets: Chapter Two

Cure

Then, she burst into tears. She ran away, as far as her legs could carry her. She no longer cared where she was going, as long as she was getting away from them. Her vision was blurred by tears. She could hear her name being called several times, by a concerned female voice and a soft male voice. For once in her life, she didn't care. She ran and ran and ran…until her feet suddenly didn't hit hard ground. They hit something…unstable. She felt herself falling down, deeper and deeper, into her little pit in the middle of nowhere, where nobody could stop her, where nobody could hear her crying…

It felt like a large body of water. But it's not like she actually cared about herself anymore, or anyone for that matter. To her, it felt like she was finally getting what she deserved…a one-way ticket to her watery grave.

She was getting used to it…the suffocation..how her lungs burned for oxygen. It felt…nice, soothing actually. It was definitely a better, albeit mindless alternative to the blinding pain she had felt mere moments ago.

A couple of minutes later, just when Ino was sure she'd die here and now, just when she was willing to take death with a smile to escape the bleeding pain in her shattered heart, …something magical happened. A miracle. An angel sent from heaven, here to help her.

~*~*~

"Ino!" Shikamaru cried. He received no response. "Ino! Ino!" Deep down, he regretted telling Ino. He knew somehow that this would happen. So after four years…she still hasn't forgotten, he thought icily, trying to hide the pain in his icy heart while at the same time trying to keep his tears from flooding his eyes.

"Ino…" Sakura was already weeping. "Shikamaru, I knew we never should have done that! Now what are we supposed to do? I need to talk to her." But Shikamaru's muscular arm restrained his pink-haired fiancée from advancing.

"Sakura," he stated gently, "Maybe it's best if I go talk to her. Alone," he whispered.

Sakura understood. She nodded. The kunoichi's eyes were pained, but she knew that Shikamaru was the only cure.

"Right," she mumbled incoherently. She seemed to be bothered by something.

I'll figure it out later, thought Shikamaru. He gave his partner a quick kiss and bolted after the blonde kunoichi.

Et tu, Shikamaru, Sakura thought dryly.

~*~*~

Just as he had expected. He was too late again. He remembered last time he was too late. He had lost a friend…….

Shikamaru didn't want to think about it now. All he wanted to think about was the fact that Ino was gone…or was she?

He heard a loud splash coming from somewhere. His eyes quickly scanned his surroundings. There was a river nearby. "Ino!" he shouted.

Without hesitation, he dashed to the river. It was already too late. Or so he thought.

A beautiful blonde was lying on the bottom of the river. She's probably unconscious by now, it's been a few minutes, Shikamaru thought but leapt into the stream anyway. As he was plunged downward, the icy water ripped at his skin. It felt the same as being dragged on a bed of daggers. But he didn't care. More important things needed to be done.

Within a few seconds Ino was at the surface. Shikamaru frowned. She wasn't breathing! He pressed his cold lips to hers and began CPR. He pushed on her chest. In, out. In, out. INO! COME BACK!!

Just when he thought she was gone for sure, Ino took a deep breath and opened her eyelids. Her orbs locked with Shikamaru's, cerulean clashing with chocolate brown.

Neither party spoke.

Shikamaru silently took off his jacket and put it around her shoulders. She stared blankly at him, it was her way of saying thanks. He gently touched a lock of golden hair. You're welcome. He lifted her up, amazed at how light she was, and began to walk towards the Yamanaka residence.

They were halfway there when she finally spoke up.

"I," she started. "I—"

"Shush," he murmured, gently placing a finger on her lips to silence her.

She blinked. "No. Shikamaru. I'm sorry."

He was temporarily shocked that she didn't call him by his old nickname, Shika-kun. But, he had already lost her, why should he care about losing a stupid nickname anymore?

"No, I'm sorry. I knew I shouldn't have—"

"Shhhhh." Now it was Ino's turn to silence him. "It's not your fault," she decided bitterly. "I knew something like this was going to happen anyway."

All Shikamaru could do was sigh. "I think we need to talk," he muttered.

"Same."

"Let's get you home first." Shikamaru set Ino on her feet and put his arm around her shoulders. He led her to her house.

Inoichi spotted them, and inquired protectively, "What are you doing with my daughter Shikamaru? What happened? What did you do to her?!"

"I can explain. I was just making sure Ino was okay."

"No," Ino whispered, "Shikamaru, are you leaving?"

"I kind of have to."

"Don't go," she pleaded. "Would. Would you—like..to…stay. For a cup of tea, perhaps."

His lips turned up in something that looked like a smile. "If you insist. We kinda need to talk."

Ino nodded, agreeing. "Stay here. My father probably wants to interrogate you anyway." With that, she limped upstairs and Shikamaru was left alone. With Inoichi, of course.

~*~*~

After Ino had gotten out of her shower, blow dried her hair, and put on her clothes, she walked into her room to find no one other than Shikamaru sitting on her bed. He was holding a cup of cocoa.

"Ino." He stood up upon her entrance and cleared her throat. "I thought you might want some cocoa."

Ino blinked. "Thank you, Shikamaru."

Again Shikamaru was thrown off by her calling him by his full name. She never did that. Ever.

She sat on the bed next to Shikamaru. He took Ino's blanket and wrapped it around her shoulders silently.

After a few moments of silence, Shikamaru sighed. "It appears that I have some explaining to do," he murmured.

Ino looked at the ground. As much as she didn't want to hear this, she knew she had no choice.

"But first…I have to ask you why you left in the first place."

Ino was still staring blankly at the ground, refusing to meet his eyes. She could feel the weight of his orbs on her, but she decided to ignore it. "Um." She didn't know how to begin. She took a sip of cocoa and adjusted her blanket before speaking further.

"As you know, I left Konoha for Suna four years ago. And I suppose you are wondering why. Well…I…had some personal things to do. Let's say I went on an important four year mission. Something I couldn't avoid.

"My family," she continued, "thought it would be best if I…broke any ties with you. I suppose I was forced to, actually, because I knew that the last thing I ever wanted to do was break your heart. In the end, I ended up doing just that." Ino took another sip. "The reason I left was because…"

"Ino! Sweetheart, are you alright?" Inoichi came in. Ino flushed a light pink.

"Yeah, Dad. Can you excuse us, we have some important things to—huh." Ino's words were silenced when her father wrapped his arms around Ino's shoulders.

"Be more careful next time," he warned Ino. But his eyes lingered on the Nara.

He departed and closed the door with a soft click. Ino had a tiny smile on her face. Shikamaru let out a small gasp. It was the first time she had seen her smile in ages.

"Now where were we? Why did you get engaged to Sakura?" Ino asked nonchalantly, looking at a nail.

Shikamaru desperately wanted to talk about why she left, why she came back, and what exactly happened, but he didn't want to pressure her. So he sighed and began his part of the story.

"As you are aware, Sakura and I used to be very good friends." Ino nodded. Shikamaru continued, "After you…left……Sakura and I sort of got closer." He stopped to blush. Ino nodded again, looking away.

"I understand," stated Ino.

"No, you don't. You don't understand. Ino, Sakura saved my life. You have no idea how worried and heartbroken I was…" he started, but cut off when he noticed Ino biting her lip and holding back tears. "And then suddenly Sakura just comes out of nowhere and she helps me cope. It was the hardest thing I ever had to do in my life, and Sakura helped me through that. I am eternally grateful."

"No. This can't be happening…" Ino couldn't control the tears from overflowing onto her cheeks. "I'm sorry, Shikamaru. I'm so sorry."

Shikamaru sat there wordlessly for a moment and wrapped his arms around Ino. She sniffled, trying not to stain his chuunin vest with tears. But it was already too late.

"Here." Shikamaru retrieved from his vest pocket a small object. Ino peered at the object through her tears and gasped.

It was a ring.

He cleared his throat. "The reason I have this is because…"

"Ino! Shika…maru." Sakura came in but stopped abruptly when she saw what was going on.

"I can't believe you would do this to me!" Sakura's lip trembled and she sprinted out of the room.

"Sakura! Wait!" Shikamaru protested, but it was already too late.

And again, sorry if you were just expecting this to be a oneshot. But for those of you who do want me to continue, you're in luck! But I have to say, it takes a lot to get my lazy ass to actually write something (especially because I'm sick)…and those reviews were enough to get me to continue! Thanks again everybody and keep reading and reviewing! Then I'll know that I should continue :D Please?? I got 7 reviews last time, let's get 8 for this chapter, then I'll update. Heh, I'm cruel, I know.

Preview for chapter 3:

"I thought you loved me"

"The four years I have been without you were the darkest years of my life"

"I can't love you"