Hi! So I decided to update two chapters in a day. I was so BOREED! Hope you enjoy the chapter!
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto! Only the plot!
"Um.."
"Well?"
"Well, you could say it was a lucky guess." Ino lied.
"Besides, you two ARE the best of friends." She pointed out.
"I know you better than that Ino. Enough to tell that you're lying."
"Fine.. You win. Truth is, me and Choji have been keeping contact all this while. SO, he knows about my whereabouts. I just made him promise not to tell you, so don't be angry with him." Ino sighed
Shikamaru's eyes widened, shock was shown evidently on his features.
"F-for real?! How did I NOT notice!?"
"Yes, for real, and… I'm a ninja? Well, WAS would be a better word."
Shikamaru groaned. "At least I've found you. Halt, you aren't going to disappear on me after your stay, right?" His eyes glued onto me.
"Hmm.. Maybe" Ino teased.
Unfortunately, Shikamaru was not able to catch the playful tone in her voice this time.
"Then you're staying there permanently with me and Choji."
"WHAT!? Shikamaru, I was joking!"
"Well too bad for you." He yawned. "You staying there would make things much more easier. I wouldn't have to send someone or go to you personally when I could be sleeping. Oh yeah, you could do my paperwork for me."
"I am not doing that!" Ino yelled, exasperated.
"Like I said, too bad." He smirked.
"You wipe that smirk of your face this instance! I'm not going and that's that!" Ino finished.
Raising an eyebrow, Shikamaru turned to the guards and whispered something into their ears.
Ino only caught a few words that sounded much like "..house…pack…palace..order"
"What's with all the whispering?"
"Oh nothing you need to be concerned about. Let's go to the palace." At this, the guards took off in another direction.
"Where are they going?" Ino asked, confused.
Shikamaru just gave her a look that said 'don't-bother'. Ino huffed and came into step beside Shikamaru.
Soon, a silence ensued. Both did not try to make small talk, enjoying the quietness.
They arrived at the palace in no time.
Ino gasped slightly. The palace was so.. big! And pretty.
"Yeah, I know what you're thinking. It's big, yes. The reason why I don't exactly like it. I have to walk for SO long just to get to the other side of the palace."
"Oh.." Ino replied, not paying much attention.
As they entered the double doors, Shikamaru turned to face Ino.
"Ino. As much as I hate to break it to you, don't be alarmed by what you're going to see."
"Huh?"
Shikamaru merely pointed in a direction. There, was the guards standing beside luggages and bags of Ino's property.
"WHAT IS GOING ON? WHY ARE ALL MY STUFF HERE?!" Ino screeched at the top of her lungs.
Luckily for Shikamaru, he had covered his ears the moment Ino opened her mouth. But Ino's voice was just too loud so he still heard her very clearly. He winced slightly.
Shikamaru looked around to see the guards crouching down and rubbing their ears. Shikamaru hid a laugh.
Trust Ino to make everything loud and high pitched.
"I did say you were staying here permanently.. Your parents have been informed too, just in case you asked. They were kind of.. I don't know.. overly excited?" Shikamaru shrugged.
"Come on, I'll take you to your room."
Ino glared daggers at him before following him.
"As Shikamaru opened the doors and leaned onto it's frame, Ino gasped, again.
"It's so.. BEAUTIFUL!"
Shikamaru smirks. "And I thought you said you didn't want to live here."
"I don't!" Ino crossed her arms and turned away stubbornly.
"Mmyeah. Keep telling yourself that."
Ino rolled her eyes and decided to change the subject.
"Where's Choji?"
"Kitchen"
Ino snorted – very unladylike. "Should've known."
"Want to go see him?"
"Yeah!"
They walked at least a hundred metres before reaching the kitchen.
Shikamaru opened to door. "Hey Cho?"
"Shikamaru!" Choji beamed. "Ino? Woah am I glad to see you! What are you doing here?"
"Kidnapped by Shikamaru"
Choji gaped at Shikamaru.
"I did not! You came with me volunteeringly!"
"But you made me stay here permanently"
Shikamaru sighed. "All right, whatever." He barely had the strength to argue.
"Got any dinner Cho?" He asked instead.
"Of course! It's all on the dining table!" Choji chirped.
"Why don't they just make the palace smaller? We have to walk another mile?" Shikamaru whined. Though he was joking about the mile part.
After they had dinner, they returned to their respective rooms. Turns out they were all living in the same block! Oh joy!
Ino lied on her bed for a while, before finally falling asleep.
Then, a loud knock was heard on her door.
Ino groaned and woke up, looking at a clock on the wall. Who wakes up at 3 am in the morning?! I'm sooo going to kill that person!
Ino opened the door. "Yes?" She asked a bit too sweetly.
"Ah good morning Ino, sorry to wake you so early"
"Hey Choji, apology accepted.. I guess. What's up?"
"It seems like there's something important Shikamaru would like to discuss with us. So I was asked to bring you there."
"Erm, alright.. Let's go"
They soon reach Shikamaru's study. Choji knocked on the door before entering.
"Here's Ino, Shikamaru!"
"Thanks Cho"
"What now?" Ino asked, a bit groggily.
"About that.. Do you guys still remember Gaara? He was kazekage on the Sand village"
"Yeah, what about him?" Ino asked.
"I've just received a message from him saying they were attacked."
"Continue.."
"Well, they weren't attack by just anyone. But…a group of ninjas."
Was that a cliffhanger? Well, did you guys enjoy it~? I realized I was kinda getting off topic so.. mmhmm.
Anyways, R&R please! Constructive criticism is appreciated!
By the way, they are all 17 years old. Except Neji, Tenten and Lee who are 18.
©2012 CrystalLover. All rights reserved. Distribution of any kind is prohibited without the written consent of CrystalLover.
