Pale blonde hair against light pink curtains, a silhouette begging to be seen, what does one do when they are the only one with permission? The cool morning sun making it all the more heavenly, light beams fighting their way through the cracks of fabric that slowly moved back and forth to shine on the unknowing girl. She disturbs the scene, moving to grab the hairbrush that hid inside her silver vanity. A short and sorrowful hum, and she pulls a chunk of her light hair over her shoulders, moving the brush through it in a familiar motion. A silent routine she had set for herself since she was old enough to figure out how. All this is done with her eyes shut, her just knowing the feelings, knowing that she was safe under his watch.
Upon hearing a quiet shuffle on the bed behind her, she turns her head slightly, only the profile of her face visible to him, while her hair fell over to the side where it hung over her shoulder, some of it sticking to her bare back. Her mouth hung in quiet surprise, one eye scanning over the person who disrupted her silent morning.
"Aren't you tired?" She merely whispered to him.
A faint reply, "Am I not always?" Dark bored eyes lazed down her uncovered back, deep fine lines telling him she was healthy but thin, small dimples above where his eyes were landing, a crack that was usually hidden away from the world. She had the decency to blush, hiding herself away from him with her hair. The eighteen year old sighed, "I've already seen everything before."
"I know, but…" Her head turned towards the mirror, "Doesn't mean I'm used to it." A pause, "Yet."
He pretended not to hear her small suggestion, throwing his legs over the side of the bed, and walking out of her bedroom.
"Shika! Where are you going?"
"I have a mission today."
He walked to her bathroom, fixing the hair he forgot to let down the night before. Her washroom was bathed in blues of all shades, making him feel like he was underwater. The sun was coming through the small square windows above her shower stronger now, her royal blue shower curtains lightening and darkening in different places almost as if he were below the sea, her clean tile floor glistened, feeling slippery and soft under his bare feet.
A hand on his shoulder broke the aura of calm that radiated in the room, he continued his morning checklist anyway, picking up the spare toothbrush she kept in her holder, he wondered if any other guys saw this when they came over, or if anyone came over at all besides the Konoha teams. When the hand pulled on his shoulder he finally turned his head, toothbrush scrubbing his teeth, even as he held her stare. She was in a thin white and purple nightgown now, her hair was still down, hiding the more prominent parts of her otherwise slim body.
"Why did you spend the night?" Her look was quizzical, a small spark of mischief in her misty blue eyes, "Didn't do anything to me while I slept, right?" She poked him playfully.
He rolled his eyes, turning and spitting in the sink before speaking again, "Aside from saving you from yourself, no." Shikamaru rinsed his mouth, spitting out the remains of the acid-filled cleaner while Ino spoke again.
"Ever the gentlemen." Her pout was not lost on him, quiet confusion filtering through his thoughts. When he moved, she grabbed her toothbrush and slathered on the toothpaste, wetting it in the sink before brushing her perfect teeth, "Whuh mission?"
"I have to head off to the Sand with Sakura to check out a couple of new poisons they encountered recently." He scratched his head, "It seems they don't have the right ingredients for an antidote, and they are paying the Leaf to figure it out for them. It also benefits us to know of the new poisons so we can save our people if we come across it."
She spit, "You'll be seeing Temari again?" Ino quickly spoke, startling him a bit, as she proceeded to rinse her mouth and wash her face.
"If she is there, she's there. It's not like I ever go seeking her out." And this was the truth, normally it was her trying to find him. "Hopefully, Sakura and I can just go there and come back. The sand never has clouds in the sky while I'm there, it's hot, and I'd rather not deal with the troublesome woman or her annoying brothers."
Ino's nod was sharp, "Yes! Good thinking! Just get the poison and come back. Simple." He raised an eyebrow, the girl drying her face with a hand towel, and grabbing his shoulders, "Naruto will be missing Sakura, ya know? And uh- I want to eat out with you-... And Choji again when you come back! It would suck if you got sunburned again right?"
She continued on her mini rant of why he should hurry back and not "mosey" around Suna too long, even while he washed his face and picked up his work clothes, taking them out of her room, and walking to the front of her apartment.
"Only you would be this chatty in the morning Ino." He sighed, his hand falling on the door handle, when the blonde pulled his other arm, turning him suddenly.
"Here's a better reason."
Yanking his arm down, she forced his chestnut orbs to fixate on her, looking back and forth between them. She smiled seductively, blue eyes becoming half-lidded as they traveled down to his lips, she giggled, and pulled the dazed boy all the way to her. Ino's lips were soft against his, fitting against him like a puzzle piece, her arms wrapped around his head and neck, her nails tracing down the middle, softly then rougher as the kiss went on. She nipped his lower lip, a noise eliciting from him. He huffed a little in frustration at how she was dominating him, his chest rumbling with a growl that emitted from deep within his throat. A moan escaped her when he started fighting back, it was a battle of lips, teeth, tongue, and nails. After a while she smiled against his lips, her chest heaving, his mouth was open and gasping for air. Finally, she untangled herself from him, licking her now red and puffy lips.
"Minty." Ino poked his nose, "See you later, Shika-kun~." She opened the door and pushed him out, leaving him on her doorstep, confused and longing for more.
OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoO
'Flowers. Rose, no tulip? Which one did she say it was? Mendokusai.' Chocolate eyes fluttering open, Shikamaru saw what he was smelling.
Ino was still asleep, her mouth hanging open cutely while looking like she was swimming in his oversized sweatshirt and blankets. Her hair was a mess, looking more like a lion's mane instead of it's usual flat and neat style. Her bangs were lying off the side of her head, her full face in his view. Ino's makeup was smudged, some of it staining his pillows. He observed her dried tear tracks, a frown pulling at his lips.
The mind manipulator was cuddled up with his arm, as usual, his mind in a slight panic because he needed to use the restroom.
"Mm." The girl moaned and opened her eyes slowly, "Shika? I'm so glad I'm waking up to you." She looked over his face slowly, letting go of his arm after a moment, "Go on."
Silently thanking her in his mind, he got up and stumbled to the restroom, shutting the door clumsily behind him. Instead of heading back to the room when he was done, he walked off to his kitchen to make his "magic hangover cure", knowing the Yamanaka would be out for the count for a while.
"Hm, Shika?" The girl stumbled in the hallway, holding the wall for support with her arm wrapped around her waist, worrying the sweater in-between her fingers. "I didn't say anything weird, right?"
'Did that troublesome woman brush her hair?' Shikamaru thought and sighed, Ino's face contorting into worry.
"You were yelling about wanting to be let in, and about how I left without telling you."
Her eyes widened, her hand going up, "Oh, Shika! Uh- I was just drunk. Don't think anything of it, alright?" She grabbed her head afterward, it hurting from yelling.
He watched her, finishing the drink he made, and handing it to her. She nodded her thanks and drank it in one go. 'I hope she doesn't drink alcohol like that.' The Nara walked back into the kitchen, opening the fridge to make breakfast.
"I understood you being upset about me leaving," He pulled out the butter and eggs from the fridge, setting them on the counter and looking at the girl, "but what did you mean by 'let you in'?"
The fidgeting with his sweater got worse, Ino rubbed the top of her foot and toes up and down her calf, looking down, "It's just… I have a hard time understanding you. You never tell me anything that's really important, or how you are feeling." She walked a little closer to where he was standing, "You always help me, know me, fix me. Why can't I do the same for you?" Her hand landed on his.
"Helping you does help me." He couldn't look her in the eyes, turning his head away and rubbing his shoulder with his free hand, "Mendokusai." He took a breath, "Can you imagine me focusing on the death of our fathers and fighting Asuma all on my own?"
Her brows furrowed, "No, but-..."
"Ino. Just listen." His thumb ran over her hand, showing he was sorry for snapping at her, she was quiet, "Taking care of you. No matter how troublesome, or how much I complain. It keeps my "genius" mind from running too far down the wrong path. Because when I'm listening to your sadness, all I can think of are ways to help you, get revenge, make your tears stop before mine start falling as well." Her hand started rubbing his now, "Being strong for you, helps me become stronger for myself. You are helping."
"Shika-kun, thank you." She squeezed his hand, "I can carry more of the burden." Resolve flooded in her sky blue irises' "Nara Shikamaru, just let me try before you go trying to be a hero." Ino giggled, "Ino-Shika-Cho, we aren't heroes remember? We just need to survive, we are weak not strong. And because we are weak, pathetic even, we have to help each other. Rely on each other, yeah?"
'Using my words against me, huh? What a pain.' His lips twitched up in a smile, looking down at the counter with a nod.
OoOoOoOoOoOoOo
It was a summer night, fireflies out, crickets chirping. The birds were finally settling down, their music fading to go to bed. The fire of the sun was finally leaving the sky, faint oranges and pinks becoming indigo and blue. The clouds were grey and blocking the limited light that shined on the Hokage monument. Dark shadows crossing over their manipulators face as he leisurely went to his destination.
Eighteen year old Shikamaru was sent to check on Ino, having been absent from all her jobs without calling in, her employers and her parents were worried. Ino had her own apartment now, saying that Shikamaru wasn't the only one who could live on his own, because she was jounin too now. Choji was jounin too and living with his girlfriend, they were doing really well so Shikamaru wasn't worried.
Who he was worried about was the owner of the apartment he was currently breaking into, she wasn't anywhere he could see, her chakra signature was barely pulsing almost feeling dead. 'She could be asleep.' His mind reasoned, as he hurriedly crossed to the bedroom.
"Ino?"
Her room was empty the sheets a mess, and pillows randomly spread around the bed, her clothes were folded neatly on the edge. From this he could tell she was taking a shower, or a bath, it looked like she was just laying around all day, which made him groan. Shikamaru being the one to take up her duties since it was his day off.
'Wonderful.'
He knocked on the bathroom door. Nothing. Putting his ear on the door and enhancing his hearing with chakra, he heard the water splash, the girl inside the bathtub sighing happily.
'Is she-?'
Bracing himself, Shikamaru opened the door, and of course she was just asleep. Her arms were hanging over the sides, her head resting on one, she was smiling, her hair everywhere but her face. What does one do in this position?
He was going to walk out, leave her there to wake up on her own. This was her problem, not his, Ino would kill him if she found out he walked into her bathroom while she was naked. And he was not going to deal with that nonsense. Not now. Not ever.
But as he started to leave, he heard the water splash, the tub groaning at her arms moving down the sides and her feet rubbing against the walls. Her head fell underwater, and he was immediately by her side, pulling her out of the water. He didn't even think, which was an oddity in and of itself, but another odd thing was how he didn't care that he was pulling a naked Ino out of her bathtub in her apartment.
'She's going to kick my ass I just know it. Mendokusai.'
He pulled a towel off the rack, wrapping her upper body in it awkwardly, while trying not to get it in the water. Why the hell wasn't she waking up? No, how the hell wasn't she waking up? He wasn't exactly being gentle, holding her by her arm and armpit, just barely missing her…
'Nope. Don't look! Don't touch! Don't even thinkit Nara!' The scoldings of Yoshino screamed in his head, causing him to shut his eyes, and feel where he was with his chakra.
He pulled her covered body over his shoulder, with his eyes still shut, he covered the rest of her round- no no no, her normal bottom with the towel. Then he lifted her legs, carrying her out of the bathroom bridal style, he was soaked, and feeling very uncomfortable for many reasons.
'Don't look. Don't touch. Don't think.' His mind repeated when he almost looked down at the legs he loved.
Pushing the bedroom door open with his foot, he walked in, laying her down on the bed and throwing her sheets over her. He wasn't even going to try and put her clothes on her, knowing that would be pushing his luck. Instead, he made sure the blankets covered her fully, placing a few pillows under her head and around her body. He looked her over after he finished, her hair was bothering him, it was just thrown around everywhere soaking everything it touched.
'Including me.' He thought looking down at his drenched person.
Shikamaru looked around the room, his scan of the room was successful, his eyes landing on her silvery-blue vanity. Looking through all the little drawers, he finally found what he was looking for, the brush.
'Now to just…' He went back over to where she was laying, lifting her head while holding his breath. He pulled the thick blonde mass out from under and around her in one go, slowly placing her sleeping self back down.
Releasing the breath he was holding, he started brushing through her golden locks. It was tangled because she hadn't washed her hair, so he carefully went over the same bit over and over. It became almost hypnotizing, pull, stop, grab another, let it slip through your fingers, stop, do it again. Although he didn't want to admit it, he was very good with hair now.
Soon he was just brushing through the last of it, finishing and running his fingers through it with a natural air about him, his thoughts traveling to simpler times. He remembered when he and Choji were forced to brush through her hair at family sleepovers. Sometimes having to do all the elaborate hairstyles she'd seen done on other girls. She didn't have many female friends yet, so who would she turn to for girly activities? Them.
Choji didn't seem to mind it too much, but the lazy boy with the dull eyes wanted nothing to do with it. Whenever this would occur, it was late at night, all the adults already asleep, and the children were allowed up to play and chat as they pleased. But Shikamaru would evidently rather be asleep. Many a time, he'd have pillows, food, water, stuffed animals, just whatever the tiny blonde haired blue eyed terror had within her vicinity to throw at him, well thrown at him.
Shikamaru had a strange smile on his face from the memory. At the time, he was so angry, pouty, annoyed, but now he'd give his left leg to relive those days again. The time where it didn't matter that all three of them slept in the same bed, where they can all snug under the blankets without weird thoughts popping into their minds whenever a leg rubbed up against them. The days where Ino was happy to see him, and not just because she thought she was with someone she didn't really care about. A time where their fathers would tease them, and say they'd be the reason the clans were joined together for good.
'Just one more day. One more bothersome day with everyone.'
Ino stirred, interrupting his nostalgic kick. Her dark lashes opened slowly, like a butterfly's wings when they first learn to use them, pale blue appearing and disappearing. She was taking in his face, almost looking like she didn't recognize him, either that or she was too tired to process why he was there. Realization dawning on her, she quickly threw her arms around herself over the blankets, red spreading from her ears, to her cheeks, all the way down to her neck.
Her voice was cracky when she finally spoke, "Is there any reason why you broke into my house?"
"To check on you. Crazy woman, you had everyone worried sick." Shikamaru stretched, the hairbrush going above his head.
"I'm the crazy one?! You broke into my apartment!"
"It's not breaking in if I'm welcome here, right?"
The girl eyed him angrily, her face still red, and lips a little pouty, but she shook her head with a huff, "You are so lucky I'm too tired to ask about the rest of the crap I'm confused about." She turned on her side, going back to sleep without another word.
'Looks like I'm sleeping here then.' Shikamaru put away the brush he still held. Pulling out an old sweatshirt of his that Ino never gave back, he changed, laying in the bed with only that shirt and his boxers. Everything smelled like her, flowers and a hint of vanilla, even the shirt he wore. Which he guessed she cleaned and kept because it was "comfier than the rest of her stuff", she always liked his stuff over hers.
He let out a deep breath, pulling the white and pale orange sheets over him. Eventually he fell asleep, his mind badgering him about her nudity and smell, all the way til the end of consciousness.
OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo
Mendokusai- Troublesome, sometimes Pain in the ass
Okay so it's still not over, but this is just leading up to the good ending~! -Also I'm just having so much fun writing this- The reason why this took so long is because of -get this- LIFE... That sounded a little mean sorry... It's just the truth though. I only have time to write this during my breaks at school and work. (I'm sorry that this is so short btw.) Anyways, I know you don't want to read this randomness! So thank you for reading this at all! I mean really it is great getting reviews and feedback from you guys, no matter what it is. I'm always aiming for the happiness of my readers, and the improvement of myself. I will be writing side stories to this, maybe before even getting to the end. It's all up to what you think really. Soon I will be writing a story with an actual plot or something haha See you then~!