I'm back with a new chappie! ) Thanks for all those reviews! I didn't expect to get any that soon. You guys have made me a happy person.

Disclaimer: Again, I do not own Naruto.

Chapter Two: TELL HIM!

Shikamaru liked his teammates, really. They were nice people. He even liked Asuma-sensei, though he tended to smoke too much. Chouji was a good friend, and Ino could be seen as quite pleasant if she stopped bossing everyone around.

But his teammates always tended to appear before him at the weirdest moments!

Take now, for instance. He, Shikamaru, was on the brink of starvation thanks to his ever thoughtful mother, and couldn't decide which would be more troublesome – dying from an empty stomach or cooking. And deciding on which type of food would be less messy and easier to cook. That was, if he decided that starving was more troublesome than cooking.

And just as he was about to make his final decision, there came a knock on his door.

As soon as Shikamaru flung his door wide open, he realized with a sinking feeling that he would be in for something far more troublesome than his earlier worries.

He would have to console a girl.

Ino had been banging on the door for quite some time already. Was anyone home at all? She hit her fists against the planks of wood with frustration. She had finally decided on Shikamaru as her confident, yet he was making himself scarce! He should be honoured that she even considered him at all.

She shut her eyes in irritation, frustrated with her mixed feelings. She was so distracted that she didn't even notice that she was still banging her fists when the door opened.

"OW!"

Ino was startled and quickly withdrew her hand. She stared up at a very listless Shikamaru. Her face went red when she saw the effects of the punch she gave him appear on his swollen cheek.

"I assume this was what you've been planning to do to me for a long time?" Shikamaru narrowed his eyes and pointed at the swell.

Ino blushed further. She hadn't meant to hit him - THAT hard, anyway. Still, considering that he was supposed to be her confident and everything...

"Eh, I'm sorry Shika-kun," she muttered. She looked up at him hopefully. "But - well, I was hoping that I could, you know...stop by and have a chat with my fellow teammate!" She finished the rest of her sentence in a single breath. Shikamaru sighed. Given her temperament, it wouldn't be wise to argue with Ino, so he reluctantly opened his door wider and allowed her space to enter his house.

Ino bit her upper lip. This wasn't her first time entering the Nara's house, so why was she so nervous?

Oh, yeah. I'm supposed to spill my thoughts.

Ino sat down on the couch in the living room, and Shikamaru walked over and sat beside her, though still a considerable amount of distance between them. Ino fiddled with her fingers. How was she supposed to start telling him what happened? She suddenly felt stupid. Whatever made her so sure that Shikamaru would sympathise with her in the first place? She shouldn't have come. She should've just gone home and cried in her bed or something. At least then she would be spared the embarrassment of Shikamaru staring at her either skeptically or in confusion. Her eyes were starting to water again.

What the hell...

She quickly blinked her eyes. Her plan was to tell Shikamaru her thoughts, not to let him see her cry.

Nobody sees Ino cry.

Ever.

That was exactly what was running through Shikamaru's mind.

He stared at his teammate, at a lossat not knowing what to do. What had just happened anyway?

Oh, nothing much. He had just gotten himself a punch on his face for answering the door to a girl, that's all.

Troublesome, the lot of them!

Shikamaru looked up at Ino hesitantly. "So. Why are you here?"

Ino grew uneasy. "Well, I-" She shifted in her seat. "Are you free now?" Shikamaru raised an eyebrow. "I mean, is it convenient for me to pop by?"

He sighed. "The Ino I know is never this polite. Wait, she isn't EVER polite to me at all! Go on, tell me what's up." His stomach growled. He blushed, feeling embarrassed. His stomach demanded attention!

Ino stood up quickly. "I'll-I'll cook you something first!"

Woman, just tell him what's wrong already!

Shut up, inner voice! I'll do what I want!

And you want to tell him! So TELL!

Only that idiot Sakura would have a stupid inner conscience! So stop bothering me!

"INO!"

Ino whirled around, flustered. "WHAT?"

Shikamaru stood up and walked towards her, his eyes filled with worry and confusion. "I am asking you one more time," he said carefully, speaking each word earnestly. "What is wrong?" Ino never acted like that. The fact that she was now made him feel uncomfortable, even worried.

When Ino refused to look at him, he put his hand on her shoulder. Startled by the sudden contact he made, she looked up into his eyes. Her heart started beating at a very fast pace. What is this feeling-?

"N-Nothing." Ino squirmed. She tried to push Shikamaru's hand away. "I..." And she faltered. No, this was her chance. Wasn't he acting just like she'd hoped he would? Being caring and concerned?

Shikamaru felt this amazing urge to just shake Ino madly and make her wake up from her unhappy stupor. She was acting like a zombie! She simply refused to open up! He sighed. WOMEN.

"I'll tell you." Shikamaru noticed with a start that Ino was on the verge of bursting into tears. "I'm sorry, I just-"

And for the first time in her life, Yamanaka Ino cried.

A/N: OMG. It's finally done! sighs in relief Anyways...YEAH REVIEW! x) R&R, blah&blah...

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