Author's notes: Hope you're enjoying this so far. So this chapter is weird… and so will be the next of the story, but I said so in the summary… start preparing yourselves for the drama!

Chapter two: The unsorted feelings

Got a fist of pure emotion
Got a head of shattered dreams
Gotta leave it, gotta leave it all behind now

Two years had passed since that night, and everyday they seemed to be more in love. Their friends were wondering when they were to be wed, it couldn't be much longer now. They were both living together and were very happy.

They both knew that they had found the love of their lives.

Only if perfect could last forever…

"Shikamaru, I invited your parents over for dinner tonight. Your mother said she had something special to announce." Ino licked the whipped cream on her finger while she stared at the oven and talked to her boyfriend.

Shikamaru's eyes were glued to the TV screen. He was playing some martial arts video game that consisted on ninjas battling each other.

"Hmm hmm…"

That was his response.

She was pacing back and forth, grabbing her apron once, then coming back to the living room to tidy the place up. Then remembering something in the kitchen and going back there in a weird dance.

She stopped pacing and faced her boyfriend.

"Did you hear me?"

He paused the game, seeing as she was in front of the monitor.

"My parent's are coming, yes I heard."

She placed her hands on her hips and her brows knitted together. "And why in the world are you still playing that silly game?"

Shikamaru sighed. "I'm just finishing this level, Ino. I'll turn it off in a second."

Ino threw her arms in the air and went back into the kitchen, annoyed. Honestly, Shikamaru was the best boyfriend one could have, he was romantic, well, not always but that's what made it so special, and he was attentive to her. But what really ticked her off was his laziness and lack of responsibility.

Well, for certain things that is. In work he was very reliable and one of the best, but at home he could be such a slack.

"Can you please turn that off and help me make dinner? I need you to buy me some flowers Shikamaru…" the tone of her voice was pleading yet demanding.

"Sure." He said, but didn't made a single move from were he was standing.

Ino returned to the living room and stood next to Shikamaru.

"Shikamaru, seriously, I mean it. I need flowers. Turn that off and help me."

Shikamaru sighed irritably and got up. "Fine! Damn it Ino, I was just trying to relax. I actually do some tiring work during the day. I do not run around town fishing the latest gossip to write about in the paper."

Just as the words left his mouth he regretted them. What in the world had possessed him to say such things?

Ino was flabbergasted. "What? What are you trying to say?"

Her boyfriend scratched the back of his head, obviously altered and annoyed for saying something that might trigger a discussion. That was something he didn't really want to do right now, since discussions seemed to be more and more often around them.

"I'm not trying to say anything Ino, please forget it. I'll get you the flowers." He made a move to get past her and into the door but she stopped him with a stare.

"Oh I think I know damn well what you're trying to say. You just don't want to talk about it. Like you never want to talk about anything else that may cause a heated argument! You are incredible you know?"

Ino was stressed. She loved Shikamaru. She may even like his laziness because, despite ticking her off, that was harmless and kind of cute. But what really got to her nerves was this! Shikamaru was always trying to run away from serious things.

It had happen when she had first mentioned moving in together; it had happen when he had wanted to buy a pinball machine for the house and she said no; it had happen many other times because, honestly, Ino was a difficult woman! Shikamaru just had to learn to deal with it.

"I think that what you are trying to say is that what I do is not worthy. That it is not tiring or respectable. Isn't it?"

Shikamaru sighed and sat down. The argument had started despite his efforts. Why did Ino have to be so damn difficult?

"I am a journalist! I am not a silly gossip writer as you say and what I happen to do for a living does involve a whole lot of work!"

Shikamaru groaned at his own stupidity and lack of sensibility and tried to reach for Ino's hand. "I said I was sorry. I didn't mean it."

She pushed him away.

"No! Don't touch me Shikamaru, I am not very pleased with you right now. Seriously! Have you always thought that about me? Or was it just a spur of the moment? Can you honestly tell me that that thought wasn't the same one on your mind the very first time I walked in your office?"

"Ino, come on…" He tried, without very much success, to reach out for her hand again.

"Oh my God…" Ino backed up, feeling troubled, "It's true… you always thought that… you never thought that I was a respectable journalist… oh my God…"

Now this was going too far.

"Ino come on. Stop it. I'm sorry okay? I didn't mean what I said. Of course I think you are a very respectable journalist. I believe in your work, I know very well what you are capable of."

She stomped her feet. "Then why did you say that?"

Shikamaru scratched his head. He knew the reason, he just didn't want to start a fight over it. But, since one had already started, now was just a good time as ever.

"I just…" he hesitated.

"What!? Say it!"

"I just think that you are worth more. The way you write, you could be editing your own journal by now! But you still seem to think that you are perfectly happy in a gossip newspaper, writing things that only cracked up old ladies read!"

Ino sat down. Her legs felt heavy but her head was really light. How could he be saying those things? Didn't he know her? They were perfect for each other in every way. They had always been in sync with each other since the first time they laid eyes on one another. But this? This misconception? This frugal, idiotic ideas and stereotypes about her job?

She stared at him, her eyes sad and confused.

"But I am perfectly happy…"

Shikamaru sighed.

"I'm sorry… I didn't mean-.."

She shook her head frantically. "Stop it. You did. You meant every word. Just for how long have you held this in?"

Shikamaru stared at the ground and remained silent.

"I see…"

The bell rang loudly, waking Ino up from her distraction.

"It's your parents." She got up, straightened out her hair and plastered a smile on her face. "Go let them in Shikamaru, I'll finish dinner. Set up the table after they've come in please. Oh, and try to be nice, just for once."

And with that she was gone to the kitchen. Shikamaru sighed. He somehow felt empty.

He knew that Ino had locked her feelings inside for the rest of dinner, but and what about after? Had he gone too far? He had only said the truth. He knew that it would hurt her, but, eventually, she would see that he was right. She belonged somewhere better. She was worth more.

Worth more that him now that he thought of it…

TBC