Note: This update would not have happened in all likelihood without the reviews of the fans of this story. Especially the two that reviewed this week MechaKeitaro and Hoshi Taki-bi. This chapter is dedicated to them for reviewing even when this story hadn't been updated in two years. I'll try to finish it this time. I fear the wrath of the army of cute bunnies.

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:You Are So Whipped:
Chapter 3:
Meet the Parents

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It was nearing dusk before Shikamaru finally left his house again to pick up Ino for their first date.

Does that really sound as weird as it does in my head? he wondered. Trust her to pick the most unromantic spot in Konoha. The ramen stand was a popular place with the genin in their year but hardly the place for a halfway decent guy to take a date even if team 7 was sure to be there.

His feet scuffed the pavement as he headed in the direction of the Yamanaka household. He could probably walk this route in his sleep if he felt like it. The well worn roads brought back countless memories of them, of he and his team, playing together as little kids.

After he had met Chouji for the first time, their fathers had gotten together and made a conscious agreement to keep the old team as close as possible. It had resulted in them being forced together for countless barbeques and family parties. He supposed he really hadn't minded all that much.

As a result, their team was truly in tune with one another and fought well as the second generation of InoShikaCho. Besides that he had to admit that without the constant presences of his friends, it'd be a little too quiet around the village.

Chouji was his best friend and Ino, in her own sadistic way, provided him with motivation. When did she get so manipulative anyway?

The boy trudged on, his hands thrust in his pockets. It had been difficult to get out of the house. His mother had confronted him before he could get out the door and asked him where he was going so late in the afternoon.

He really hadn't wanted to tell her, but as it would only be delaying the inevitable (and Ino's trademark embellishment would add a whole other set of problems) he blurted out the lie he and Ino had agreed to live with for the coming month.

"I'm taking Ino out tonight."

At this admission she had called his father into the room, fussing over him and asking questions while his father looked on smugly. Shikato was probably just glad he wasn't being called in to actually DO something but he congratulated him and clapped him on the back so hard he thought he was going to fall over.

It had been a big mess and another twenty minutes before he was let go set with several bouts of advice such as 'don't do anything I wouldn't do' and a wink. He had miserably replied that it was just dinner before skulking out of the house.

Nothing is worth this. I should just call the whole thing off. . But then again, he would still be suffering utter humiliation if she followed through on that threat of hers. He frowned deeply as he walked up the neat path to the Yamanaka's front door. Shikamaru couldn't win when it came to Yamanaka Ino.

He knocked once on the door before rocking back on the balls of his feet and idly looking around. It was a fairly small house, only a block from the business section of Konoha where the family's flower shop was located. It could've been a cramped space if left to itself for too long, but Ino made sure to clean the place up and down at least once a week. Mrs. Yamanaka had passed on during a mission when they were all still small. She didn't talk about it much but Ino had gone into domestic mode not soon after, determined to keep life as normal as possible for her and her father.

Shikamaru huffed in annoyance straining his ears for any noise inside the quiet house. Inoshi was usually out with high-ranking missions or drinking at a bar at this hour so he figured he wouldn't have to face yet ANOTHER parent tonight. Finally there a slight shuffling and a rustle before the door was thrust open.

Inoshi popped his head out of the opened door slit eyed and ready for a fight. "Come in you toad-faced little.. -Shikamaru?" He immediately loosened and straightened up. "Ino told me some snot nosed little hoodlum was going to take her out tonight. I thought you were him."

The highly energetic father of his highly energetic teammate jovially dragged him in by his shirt. "You want to help me show this guy what he's not going to do on their date tonight if he wants to wake up breathing in the morning?"

"Uh-" he replied intelligently.

"Come on kid. It'll be fun to watch the boy squirm." Shikamaru wondered if he'd already started drinking tonight. The fathers of Team 10 made a habit of drinking together recreationally as a way to unwind after missions and make their children wish they were related to someone else. One of the things that annoyed him about their comradery since its very embarrassing to have three drunken idiots at your first ninja skill test, or the chuunin finals, or anywhere out in public associated with you.

The boy wasn't given a chance to speak as Inoshi prattled on about his plans to turn whoever had dared ask his daughter out into being a gentleman who wouldn't even try to hold her hand on the first date. "If we're lucky he might not even come back for a second one." Inoshi cackled.

"DAD!" Ino flew down the stairs and yanked Shikamaru away from her father in a smooth motion. "What did I tell you about trying to scare my dates away?"

Shikamaru could tell the tone set the elder Yamanaka's teeth on edge. He could understand the feeling. "Sorry Pumpkin I-" His eyes widened in slow realization and a bit of betrayal. "Nara is your date?"

"Of course." She said in a superior voice. "Why else did you think he was here?" Ino grabbed Shikamaru's arm and placed it around her shoulders. "Don't we look cute together?"

The chuunin felt a sense of impending doom as he watched the wheels slowly turn in Inoshi's head. What he said next would affect the course of his relationship with his father's old friend. . Probably forever. "This. . is good."

What? Shikamaru stared incredulously. He was expecting the Yamanaka to try and see if he could fit Shikamaru's head through a wall instead of clapping him harder on the back than his father had.

"Umph-" He almost fell over. By the time this is over I'll have cracked ribs.

"This is great! I know YOU wouldn't have the spine to try anything with my Ino." Wait. What was that supposed to mean? Shikamaru frowned. Not that I would anyway but.. "Even Shikato didn't start having sex until he was married. That worm!" Inoshi laughed good naturedly as Shikamaru made a face. First punching him in the back and then that visual?

"Ur. We should get going now. ."

"Fine. Have her back by eleven." The he smirked. "Actually have her out all night if you want to." Yamanaka Inoshi wheezed out laughing as Shikamaru dragged Ino to the door and out of the awkwardness of the living room.

He finally let go of her wrist as they came to the end of the path to the road. Finally. . And this night hasn't even started yet. "Shikamaru. ."

"What?" The Nara boy was still trying to get over the insults to his family and his pride.

"You haven't said anything about the way I look yet, idiot." Shikamaru raised his gaze to Ino's annoyed face, her arms crossed over her chest. She wore a pale yellow sundress with spaghetti straps that ended mid thigh. Her hair was up with a matching bun cap, a daisy tucked behind her ear and as usual her makeup was flawless.

"Well you look. . Nice." He smirked. She needs compliments from me now?

"Shikamaru. . Nice is how I look after a day of training in the hot sun. ." Shit. Her tone is getting dangerous. "Nice is a word you say to your grandmother after she gets back from the salon. . NICE does not cut it when you compliment your GIRLFRIEND on how she looks. It took me THREE HOURS to look like this! You should say I look like a summer princess!" With that said she flounced off ahead of him in an annoyed huff.

Shikamaru looked after her incredulously and looked down at his own clothing. He was just wearing his chuunin vest over a fishnet shirt like usual. Sure he had showered but were you really supposed to dress up for a date to a ramen stand? I'm glad I'm not actually her boyfriend. . I don't think I could keep up with all this.

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That's it for now. Next chapter is "Our First Date"