A/N: I decided. This will be an innocent, heart-warming, pure story. Which means... NO SEX! Or any implication. No lust (even though I'm a sucker for ShikaIno lusty scenes xDD –shotshot- )

No angst. (well... not very serious one, anyway.)

Because f I were to write an angsty moment right now, after my failure from the exams, I'll be sure to kill myself.

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"Hey Shika, do you think I will be the perfect princess one day?"

Said boy looked up, lazily watching his friend twirl around slowly, her long blue dress ruffled by the wind.

"No." He said flatly, returning his gaze to the sky.

Ino's grin grew dangerously wide.

"Baka Shika. I will be the perfect princess. Just like the ones from fairytales. I will be just perfect and everyone in my kingdom will be truly happy!"

Shikamaru snorted in response.

"You really believe that it's possible for a fairytale to come true? That every princess has her own prince to live her life happily ever after with?"

Ino's look hardened. Her child hands curled up into small fists. "And just why not?!"

"If life was a fairytale, why would it be called fairytale? Besides, princesses are supposed to be gentle, subtle and delicate."

Ino fumed. "You mean I'm not?!"

Shikamaru sighed. "Face it Ino. Fairytales don't happen. And thank god for that."

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The sun seeped into Shikamaru's room, successfully interrupting his sleep. A faint, rhythmic munching was already echoing in the room.

"Chouji..." Shikamaru muttered sleepily, rolling over to block the sun. "Are you eating my breakfast or is it still yours, by some miracle?"

"Both." Came a cheerful reply and Shikamaru forced his brain to try and understand the sentence. It failed.
"What do you mean, both?"

"I figured out it would be easier if I ate both at the same time. It saves time, you know."

All the while, Shikamaru did his best to summon the Herculean energy to get up from the cozy, messy bed. So far, all he could do was to roll onto his right side and open both his eyes.

"It saves time how, exactly?"

"When I eat both at the same time, it's as if I was eating one big meal instead of two smaller ones. And one meal takes less time than two, understand?"

"No. When it comes to food, you have your own specific logic and rules that I have yet to learn. Just leave me some scraps. And not just vegetables, please."

Food was just not enough motivation for Shikamaru Nara to get up and fight for it.

Suddenly, the door banged open, followed by an excited yell and Ino appeared in the doorframe, her wide smile brightening the room even more than the early sun's rays.

"Chouji! Shika! I have some splendid news!"

"Ino, silence please! I've just woke up and my hearing isn't used to the noises of the real world!" Shikamaru groaned, hand rapidly shooting to grab a pillow and cover his head underneath.

Ino graciously ignored not being called by her honorific title and calling the sound of her voice a noise.

"My daddy is very proud of my progress in my studies, so he gave me a whole weekend off! We can go to the garden together again, or go shopping, or... or... the possibilities are endless!"

The lack of enthusiasm from the two boys was rather obvious. Even though Shikamaru did finally sit up.

"Going shopping and inventing new bouquets is something you should do with your female friends. When a fourteen-year-old guy does it, it's considered gay."

"Can't you ask that pink-haired girl instead?"

Shikamaru grimaced as soon as those seemingly innocent words left Chouji's mouth and Ino flinched. He should've mentioned that the subject of Sakura Haruno. That was a rather sensitive one to Ino.

"I don't think Sakura would want to spend it with me. And neither do I." Came the cold reply.

Chouji blinked, Shikamaru grimaced even more and Ino bowed her head, determined not to show them how she really felt.

"In front of the castle in an hour at the latest. Call it an order!"

The door closed with a bang.

"You should've known better than that. If she wants to spend the day with us, there must be a reason to it." Quickly, the Nara's arm grabbed the last sandwich, just before Chouji could claim it.

"They had a small fallout about two years ago. Ino's too damn prideful to be the first to offer a peace offering, even though she misses Haruno... badly. Even though, it was Sakura's fault."

"What happened?"

"I'll tell you some other time." As he slowly stretched, a small crack was audible from his spine.

"You know, I think I'll actually help my dad today."
Shikamaru looked sourly at his companion. "Some friend you are. You could at least sacrifice a small bit of your dignity and help me out with this one."

"I am helping you out. Treat it as a thank you for all those extra breakfast in last few weeks. My dad will soon be finished with repairing this residence. And I won't be able to see you all that often. I think you'll actually enjoy it more if you're with Lady Ino alone, my friend."

Shikamaru felt warmth creep on his cheeks.

"What makes you think that?"

"Picking up flowers and shopping would be gay, if there were two guys and a girl doing it. But, when a girl and a guy are by themselves, doing it... you know what it's called?"

At the lack of response, Chouji beamed, proud to outsmart the genius for once.

"A date!"

The red color bloomed on Shikamaru's cheeks in full glory.

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"Naruto no baka!"

The blonde boy, whose name currently echoed all over the kingdom screamed out in fury by a certain pink-haired girl, ducked successfully avoiding the cheerfully colorful vase thrown at him.

Sensing the danger of more flying objects, Naruto skillfully knocked down the table and hid behind it, pressing his covered with cold sweat back to the wall.

Sakura fumed, glaring with all her might at the table.

"How many time do I have to tell you not to interrupt me? Look what you've done!"

She pointed an accusing finger at the shapeless pile of fabric, covered with small foam and brown liquid.

Naruto peeked from the table, attempting to look sheepish and guilty at the same time.

"Eheheheh... I thought you'd like some hot cacao, Sakura-chan."

The look on the girl's face visibly softened. "If I wanted it, I'd make myself some. And I told you not to interrupt me when I'm busy, no matter what! You're lucky it's only the fabric I wanted to make a scarf with, not the actual dress."

"Why are you working so hard on this anyway, Sakura-chan? You've been sewing this dress for months now."

"I told you! I'm going to appear at the yearly Spring Ball and show everyone that you don't have to be born into royalty to be a perfect princess! I'm going to show Ino- and everyone- I'm not just some regular citizen!"

Naruto's eyes widened.

"Hey, it's just like Cinderella! Except for evil stepmothers, fairies, and a prince."

Sakura rolled her eyeballs.

"Of course. Fairytales don't happen, Naruto. There's no such thing as wish-giving fairies. If you want something, you need to work for it! And..." Her lips curled into a small, dreamy smile. "I'm pretty sure I'll meet my prince on that ball. After all..."

Feeling a wave of determination wash through her, Sakura grabbed what was left from the light fabric and scissors. "... All the royal clans from all of Konoha will be attending it."

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A/N: Lol, Yea. Better than the prologue, but whatever. Short chapter, but they will be longer once all the characters will appear :3 The Ball is going to happen soon and that's when the real actions starts and all characters appear xDD

And just so you're wondering, I'll loyally warn:

Pairings that WON'T happen in this story:

SasuSaku

NejiTen

NO. NO. NO.

Btw, I really have no plan for this fanfic. If someone has ideas, write them in review. I appreciate it.