This chapter its a long one, but luckily its a funny one! Hope you have a great time reading it! I had a blast writing it, again I started on writing and couldn't stop for the sake of it and decided to NOT make a story of it, just go along with the current, doesnt matter anymore how long it is. I will stick to this story and end it in just one shot. A VERY large one but still. One shot.
Hope you like it and thanks for the amazing reviews!
Disclaimer: I don't own a thing, promise.
-.-.-.-.-.-
The first time he blushed because of her.
Shikamaru hated to blush, blushing meant he was embarrassed, and to be embarrassed in the first place something awkward must happen, surely, otherwise he wouldn't blush. So he avoided everything troublesome that might put him in such a horrible state. He was a guy for kami's sake! So he didn't blush as long as he had a said in it.
Right now Shikamaru had his hands on his head, it was throbbing because of the noise both his teammates were making, they had come to the wave country to do a mission and before going back to report it Team 10 decided to take a day break, after whining and pleading and begging from a certain blond, they both agreed that one more day couldn't hurt, right?
"Alright, but just one day, get it?" Shikamaru used his authoritative tone on them and both the Yamanaka and the Akimichi ninjas nodded, after that Shikamaru went to bed saying something that after such a long, stressful and troublesome day like this one he deserved some sleep, and after telling them to do the same he left, Ino and Chouji clapped hands together.
"Free day, free day!" They both chanted on the corridor, Ino had a spark on her eyes that had been long hidden, she grinned at the thought of a free day in the beach. She had bought a new swimming suit, she only wished Sakura were there so she could see her and rejoice at seeing her envy face, but oh well, strangers will do.
"On the beach— with lots of things to eat!" Chouji singed.
"Guys to see! A nap and the sun on my skin!" Ino wondered if it was only her or what they were singing actually rhymed, oh well.
"Fish, octopus, shrimp… cooked, toasted, grilled…." Chouji decided to eat everything and anything!
"We are going to play volleyball! Maybe get a date? Aaahhh we deserve this Chouji!"
"I SWEAR!" Shikamaru's head popped from his room, his hair already down and wearing only pants, he scoffed as he watched Ino and Chouji hands intertwined talking excitedly about tomorrow. "If you don't shut up right now, we'll be before the sun even rises!"
Chouji and Ino smiled at him and raised their hands on surrender, still giggling. How they both wished Asuma had come too, but still they decided not to push it, Shikamaru was never a stubborn man but they didn't want to prove him wrong right now.
"You've got it, sorry sorry." Ino winked at him and left to her room after wishing both a good night, Chouji stared after her and then glanced at Shikamaru that was looking at her retracting back, almost too lost to see he was being watched.
"Tomorrow's going to be a hell of a day for you, isn't it mate?" Chouji smiled, his eyes losing on his fat as Shikamaru opened the door for him to enter the room too sighing at the floor. He run a hand through his messy hair and winced.
"Just shut up, how bad can it be?" He said closing the door and plopping on the bed, too tired to even keep talking to his best friend. Chouji sat on the other and grinned knowingly at him, Shikamaru was already asleep to notice.
"When are you going to realize it?" Chouji whispered before he, too tired to even change his clothes, fell asleep.
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
Shikamaru was dreaming something beautiful, something about clouds, that much he was sure, and a beautiful smell was around the place, the air touched his skin and he breathed it slowly, he couldn't have been happier, he was at peace, nothing around but green grass and blue skies, he was sure in this place, wherever it was, there were never storms or cloudy nights, just starry ones, never cold, always warm. He wanted to stay here forever, and somehow in this paradise he was missing something, he just couldn't quite point it, he shrugged it off and decided to enjoy the moment, then his name sounded on his ears, for a second the thought he had imagined it, then a little bit louder… and he knew that was what he was missing, he turned around to look for that voice, and didn't found it, he shrugged… the sky started to change, it crumpled, it changed suddenly to dawn and—
"Shikamaru Nara!" Ino's voice rang in his ears, Shikamaru, from the impact of it all, fell from the bed.
"I swear… woman…" Shikamaru, still on the floor, tried to ease the pain on his arm, opening his eyes slowly he saw Ino, who was grinning at him with some shorts and a short blue blouse as she jumped on the bed, on his bed, no wonder why he fell. This woman…
"What?" Shikamaru gulped.
"Its beach day!" Ino jumped out of the bed and helped him on his feet, grinning and smiling and her baby blue eyes sparkling and Shikamaru swore she looked beautiful. He wanted to say it but stopped himself. She looked so… so beautiful, graceful without the stupid jounin clothes that made her legs shorter, when they were actually the most amazing thing he had ever laid his eyes on, and the stupid vest made her curves… wait. What the hell was he just thinking? What the hellwas all of that?! He panicked on the inside.
"Shikamaru, Im talking to you." Ino said, her whole hair in a ponytail, no lock in front of her eye and he decided he liked this Ino better, that way he could stare at both her eyes and lose himself on those oceans orbs. Wait. Wait again! What?! Shikamaru took a step back from her.
"Yeah? You were saying?" He tried to act cool, im not blushing, at least; he thought observing his face on the mirror, he grabbed his t-shirt and pull it on, somehow he felt not worth being watched when Ino, the perfect girl on his team looked… well looked like a freaking goodess. Damn Iruka sensei for putting them together. Shikamaru, he said to himself, grab a hold men!
"I was saying…" She said annoyed a bit but still managed to smile a little. "That we could go and grab a breakfast, and then go to the pool, and later on to the beach! What about it? Dinners goes on me!"
Shikamaru glared at her.
"Dinner? Ino we agreed on leaving today at seven, we can't stay for dinner, right Chouji?" He looked around and raised both his brows, he didn't even notice Chouji wasn't there, Ino made a wave with her hand.
"Already attacking the breakfast menu, eat whatever you want for two hours for a very reasonable price." Ino chuckled and even Shikamaru did, they both knew that today at least whoever decided on that was going to regret it.
"As long as he doesn't leave the owner crying." Shikamaru sighed and then glared at her teammate again, he had almost forgot, but he was who he was thanks to his brain, right? "Smart, but not getting away with it, we can'tstay, end of discussion, a whole day is enough."
Ino grabbed his arm and looked at him the eyes, almost too frantically. "But I am paying dinner, and god knows how much that's gonna be with Chouji, Oh'cmon! We can go at dawn tomorrow, just 24 hours more! "
"Tsundae said—"
"To be back the second we finished, but she doesn't know that…" Ino smiled and Shikamaru raised a brow, confused about this.
"How come? I send Chouji to deliver the scroll to—"
Ino removed his hand from his arm as she put her hands on her waist smiling broadly. "Lets just say that said scroll is on my room right now, so she doesn't know we are finished… to her, we are still on duty."
Shikamaru gaped at her before snapping.
"Ino!" He said with that tone that always made the blond cringe and she did, looking sorry about the whole issue. "I swear woman…"
Shikamaru put his hand on his eyes, think, think… alright, one more day, 24 hours more, the fucking scroll was on Ino's room, so Tsundae wasn't aware that they had finished their mission… right? what Ino was saying was true, but still… no, they couldn't say, they had another mission already waiting the second they returned. He hated doing this to the both of them… they deserved a break, but right now it was no use, they needed to go back, otherwise his head on the line… Tsundae will surely be furious at him, beyond that, she would go all Kyubi on him. No, they needed to go back. Till seven was more than enough to enjoy the pool, beach and eat, that's what they wanted, right? So till seven. Decided.
"Ino…" He looked back at her, Ino was waiting patiently for him to answer, she knew when to shut up and leave him to think, hands clasped behind her back, waiting… if he said it, she would go with it. If he said that they needed to go she would follow his orders. He knew that. Then he opened his mouth and Ino eyes turned to the floor, she knew the answer already, and Shikamaru lost it. The look on her face gave her away before she had time to put a blank stare. Screw it. "We can go at dawn, twenty four hours more, isn't it? As long as she doesn't finds out I think we are good."
Ino looked back at him, her smile bigger than he thought possible and, surprisingly, she tackled him on a huge hug and stayed like that, Shikamaru was lost at words.
"Oi, I-Ino!"
"Thanks…" She said in a little voice, something was wrong with her. Why was she hugging him?!
"Ino?" He wanted to pull away to see her face, but she wouldn't budge, don't dare blushing Shikamaru! And realized it was too late, he was blushing madly. He needed to stop this. "Hey Ino! What—"
"It's the first time we've got a day off together, since… well…"She hugged him tightly one more second. "Thanks." Ino said in a little voice, pulling away slowly her hands on his elbows, she smiled weakly before hitting his arm playfully. "Get dressed before Chouji leaves us with no food at all."
With that she just turned away, leaving a very dumbfounded and blushed Shikamaru behind, a second later he was already looking for his clothes since he knew he didn't own a swimming suit! He shook his head, trying to get rid of the redness in his cheeks, he just wished she haven't notice. They were on a mission not vacations… how on earth—then he spotted something on the end of his bed, Ino had brought him one, it was a long short: green with black and Shikamaru liked it. Ino knew him so well it made him smile.
He would take the consequences later, right now he just changed on the long swimming short and put on a white t-shirt on, he pulled his hair on his pineapple ponytail and went down with some sandals he had carried on to enjoy the day. Right now he couldn't do anything about it, so he might as well enjoy it.
It was pandemonium when he finally got to the breakfast table, Chouji was full but he could see faces of the owners, they were so broke. Shikamaru felt so bad that he left a few bucks in the counter in order to try and compensate, try being the key word. Ino was eating already and she had a plate ready for him with lots of things he liked, gladly he digged in as Ino gave Chouji the good news.
"Chouji guess what?"
"Bwat?" Chouji said with a mouthful, Ino glared at him but continued, the whole restaurant was eyeing him surprised, of course they were at the amount of food Chouji was able to keep… inhaling. Ino glared at them back and they finally stopped watching the chubby ninja, that being done she smiled again at her friend.
"We are staying the night! We are leaving tomorrow before dawn though"
Chouji smiled and made a happy dance seated, Shikamaru laughed out loud. Chouji never danced.
"Bank fu Shimamaru!"
Shikamaru sighed and just weakly smiled at him. "Lets just finish and go, alright?" He said sensing the stares from everybody in the room, he didn't want a person to even whisper the forbidden word or that would be the last thing they will ever say. Ino finished and Shikamaru dropped his meal after that, getting up incredibly fast. Chouji gave him a look.
"Ino is done, I am too. C'mon lots of things to do. Am I right?" He grinned at Ino who grinned back. Sometimes they shared moments like these cause it was their tactic. When they wanted to leave knowing Chouji would stay there forever they used Ino was the winning card. Chouji cared so much about her that thinking of ruining her day because he wanted to eat more was just beyond him so he just nodded, ended his plate in a few second and stood.
Ino and Shikamaru shared a mental high five.
"So were to first?" As they were going away Chouji turned avoiding a kid running to his table with his parents and ended up bumping with the shoulder a waiter that was making his way with a huge tray over his head. It all collapsed. Ninja feels kicking in Ino grabbed the tray midair getting on her little toes, Shikamaru used his jutsu to stabilize the man before he fell and Chouji caught the knife that was making his way to the chest of the waiter as he pushed a chair into Ino's way because of the momentum she gained, so she could sat in it instead of falling to the floor. And he was proved right when a second later Ino sat on the chair, tray in her hands looking lovingly at Chouji for doing so.
"A perfect ino-shika-chou, we are just so god." She said proudly, both the guys snickered.
The whole room was silent, Shikamaru noticed. The three of them had almost forgot that they had left their bandages of Leaf ninjas back in their rooms, he guessed doing this was quite not ordinary. Ino smiled politely to the waiter as she gave him her seat so he could sit after that shock, putting the tray on the table as Shikamaru stopped his jutsu one second later on the waiter, not that anyone noticed though, he noticed looking around.
"Are you okay,sir?" Chouji asked as he left the knife on the table and the waiter just nodded and smiled weakly. "I am sorry, wasn't looking."
"Thank you" He said softly, eyeing the knife on the table and shuddered. "No worries."
Ino smiled at him and then eyed Shikamaru who glanced distractedly around the room, searching for something.
"We are just leaving, we um- shall leave you at it?"
Ino glared at everyone and soon enough people returned to their plates and business as they made their exit.
"Well, so much for going unnoticed." Ino said as she stretched her arms above her head as she walked down a path, some kids run past her legs to a garden. Shikamaru just looked defeated to the ground and she happily hit him in the back. This wasn't going smugly.
"C'mon! The last one on getting to the pool has to replace me for a whole week at the flower shop!"
Before she even had time to start running herself Shikamaru was already a few yards away, sandals on his hands and looking frantically for the pool. He hated lots of things in his life and some of those things he was willing to do them if needed. For example he hated, totally hated killing people, and still he would do it if necessary, in order to protect his friends and family god forgive him for the things he was ready to do. He hated washing the dishes, but he would do them if it he ran out of clean ones. He hated being interrupted when he watched the clouds, but still will go along with it if it meant he had responsibilities, Shikamaru did a lot of things that he hated, but what he hated the most was losing bets on Ino, cause he couldn't stand being on a flower shop for over an hour besides being actually with her.
Naruto, Kiba, Sasuke and sometimes even Lee would show up to talk to him… rather make fun of him in his attire and just put flowers in his head and just have a laugh athim. Don't be confused, they weren't laughing with him. So yes. He hated losing bets, so it was no surprise at all that he was the first one on the pool, he jumped on it after he took away his shirt in one and swift movement. Once there he sighed on content, feeling the cold water running around his skin, it felt good, so relaxing. He looked to the sky as he lay on his back he chuckled. He laid there, on the huge pool of the hotel. A minute later a chubby boy he knew so well crashed against him on the water sending water everywhere.
"Whenever it is about shores you are the fastest to get away, you know that?" Chouji stated as he splashed the other boy, the Nara ninja just looked mildly annoyed at him and shrugged in his feet again, then he looked around and raised a brow. Where was Ino, did she actually lose the bet? He beamed at the thought. He was about to ask Chouji for her when he heard her.
"Alright, I'll give you that. You two are really fast when you want to be but—" Shikamaru blushed for the second time that day as he turned to her voice. "I am a girl! I can't just jump into the poo! I had to take my clothes off first! Apply lotion and what not. Gee guys. You should ear some sunscreen, you are going to regret it later."
Ino was on the side of the pool near the boys. Sunglasses on and wearing a blue bikini her hands on her waist. It was normal bikini, any boy would have said, it didn't show that much. Just, well what normal bikinis showed, but for kami's sake Shikamaru was having a hard time breathing. He gulped and blushed for the second time that day. Really? He submerged himself on the water to stop the blush and resurfaced.
"So!" She innocently twirled once. "What do you think? Its new! I designed it myself and a friend of mine made it, I am still not sure the blue is the right color… but—oh well, since no girls are here" She scoffed and it any other time both Chouji and Shikamaru would have laughed. "I guess you two would do…" She looked rather mad that the first opinions about her new swimming suit were going to be made by the two more unfashionable boys around, she scoffed again waiting for a reply, impatiently she tapped the wet floor with her foot.
"So?"
Shikamaru gulped, he stammered. "I-I… I think…" All the things he was thinking right now were so not good things to be said out loud. He looked away annoyed. Asuma would kill him just to think of her in that way.
"You look stunning Ino!" Chouji said merrily to her with a huge smile. "Seriously any guy would be lucky to have you." Chouji knew he was pulling strings here, but it had been years now! It was about time these two realized what they felt to each other, at least attraction! "Right Shikamaru?"
Shikamaru managed to cross his arms on his chest and nodded looking at her, directly to her face, otherwise he would lose it and he needed to voice something, otherwise Ino would hit him and having her close to him wasn't at the moment a bright idea. "Yeah, whatever."
Brilliant.
Ino looked at him and smiled, content with both answers, seriously she wasn't expecting much from the Nara boy, then she jumped on the pool and Shikamaru was glad she wasn't that tall, so only her chest along with her head showed and that helped a lot. She could handle her now.
Non of them said anything as Ino swam across the pool, Shikamaru lay on his back and Chouji stared at the both of them, thinking hard, how could he get this amazing opportunity to work out? After an hour or so he had an idea.
"Alright, so wanna play or something?" He said finishing his second order of fried potato-ships. Ino nodded and smiled as she accommodated her sunglasses on top of her head, her hair in a messy bun. Shikamaru was quite content looking at everywhere but her.
"You wanna do something? Well that's new. Any plans?" She said jumping on one foot, she loved how light she felt under water, he looked at Shikamaru, still on his back looking at the sky, seriously, the guy had an ability to look at the clouds whatever the circumstance. She giggled and after taking a huge gulp of air swam to him and when he was under him she pushed hard, she started to laugh after hearing his yell… bad thing now that she was gasping for non-existing air under water, she got to the surface and coughed.
Shikamaru was glaring at her. "Funny, really." After a few seconds his features warmed a little and he put his hand on her back, patting her ever so slowly, concern all over the place, Chouji was enjoying this. "You alright?"
Ino coughed a few more times before nodding. "Not doing that again."
Shikamaru just smiled lightly and one she had regained herself took a step back as he nodded to Chouji. "Were sayin`?"
"I was thinking we could go and play volleyball, what about it?"
Shikamaru and Ino froze, they looked at their third teammate and then to each other, then back at the chubby guy who was smiling happily and then back at each other. Chouji wanted to do exercise, actual work!
Ino took a step closer to Shikamaru and whispered. "Did he really….?"
"I think he did…"
They gulped, Ino reacted first.
"Are you feeling alright? You sure you ate enough?!" She looked around for a waiter to order him something, Chouji laughed out loud.
"I am serious! C'mon, let's go, it's been a while since we three have been on a beach, innit?" Chouji started to get out and he just knew that words made it home, he knew otherwise both would have refused. He held a towel for Ino. Ino sighed mildly annoyed, still a warm feeling crossed her face, looking at Chuji.
"I can take care of myself…" but she obeyed gratefully, she hated when she had to make the long trip to get her towel and Shikamaru was grateful too, that way her body was covered. Shikamaru sighed.
"This is—"
"Troublesome, we know." They both chanted.
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
Ino held the ball on her hands passing it one to the other looking intently to the guys, for his luck she had put on her shorts, still Shikamaru was having a hard time looking at her.
"Its three of us." She stated, annoyed that any of them had noticed this before. "How on earth we are going to play?!"
"I have that solved." Shikamaru left the field and lay on a hammock just a few feet outside it, ready to see the sky as long as the day lasted, it was only about maybe two in the afternoon, the sun high in the sky and he was liking this. He put a leg out of it, so it was hanging lose and both his arms behind his head, his shades on. Ino threw the ball to his head."Oi! Woman!"
Ino scoffed at him. "I swear…"
Chouji had long ago decided his move, he went for the ball and 'accidentally' he threw it even farther. Ino yelled after him to hurry, the ball ended between five boys playing cards, one of them looked annoyed the others just confused and even one yelled happily, Chouji thought he had just saved him from something, maybe a horrible bet. The annoyed one caught the ball and hit his friend on the head and mumbled something, Chouji came running. Yep, he was sure he had ruined the game.
"Is this yours?" One with bright red hair asked. "You just ruined a great game."
He said as he mumbled something and after that delivered the ball to Chouji.
"Chouji!" Ino called after him from the volleyball field.
"Pretty friend you've got." Said a guy with amazing green eyes and brownish hair, a guy with very short black hair hit him in the head. "I was just saying!"
Chouji smiled.
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.
Shikamaru was silently enjoying the day, numbed from everything and everyone, it had stayed like that for a while when he heard Ino giggle, he turned his head slowly and his eyes bulged, she was talking to a few boys, they were settling something, and one of them was touching her arm, that someone said something funny cause Ino was giggling non-stop because of it.
What was this feeling in his chest? It made him want to get up and take the shirtless boy from his neck and snap it. That sounded like a good idea right now.
"So, its settled then." She nodded and she had a spark in her eyes that could only mean one thing, she was up to do something stupid… Shikamaru winced, he knew that spark, why? He asked himself. Why she had to be so… adventurous?! WHY?! "The winner has a date with me, deal!"
She winked at the guys and all of them shook hands between them and finally at her.
"You've got it blondie." Oh, bad move green eyes, she hates being called blondie, Shikamaru thought as he smirked and rolley his eyes. In three second Ino was going to fume at the guy and told him to get lost. However what was even more surprising was when she giggled at him lovingly and kicked his arm playfully. She put her arms on her waist, the ball in-between, ready to take action. Shikamaru would not have believed it he had not been there just a few feet away.
"So, who starts?"
"I'll go." Said the red hair looking confident. He looked at his friends who agreed. Shikamaru was starting to raise from his spot before Chouji volunteered.
Ino smiled sweetly at him. Shikamaru felt a huge relief and sat back down. Save the day, mate, the others might be good and Chouji really might not be very talented in anything related to exercise but he was a ninja and had perfect good reflexes. The other chuckled and retired to the sides as Chouji and Rei –the red haired boy- positioned themselves on the arena. One and one. Its looked like Chouji would have to take the five of them individually.
"C'mon Chouji! You can beat him! I know it, I feel it, make me proud you—WHAT ON EARTH WAS THAT CHOUJI?"
Rei jumped happily on his spot, he had taken the shot first and Chouji had literally not even moved from his spot to stop it, not an inch, he didn't even look like he know what to do.
"Alright…"Ino said awkwardly before she started at it again, smiling to him nonetheless. "It was the first shot, it caught you unguarded, now, next shot, there you go—CHOUJI WHAT FOR KAMI'S SAKE WAS THAT!?"
The second shot passed just above his head, .Not. Budge. Ino stared at him perplexed, the third shot came and Chouji looked like a statue very interested on his feet. Shikamaru was gaping at him, he had even took off his glasses. Chouji wouldn't let Ino walk on a date with those guys freely, she was like a sister to him! Then why…
We swore under his breath as the next guy, a blond one with soft blue eyes took his place, ready to beat Rei. So the last one standing was the date. Shikamaru hit himself on the forehead finally getting what Chouji was doing. For a genius really it took him a while.
"This is sotroublesome…"
-.-.-.-.-.
Ino gulped feeling nervous, Rei had practically kicked ass, defeating Chouji, defeating each of his friends, who were gaping at him and sulking for being defeated in such a way. Not once Rei had lost a shot.
"You know!" The one with black hair said as he failed to catch the third shot from Rei. He was the last one of the five. "You could at least give us a chance! It's not like we are not friends or anything!"
Rei laughed at him and crossed the field to help his friend get up.
"Sorry Takumi. I really want a date with Ino-San!" he yelled to Ino, who sheepishly waved back. What on heart was she thinking when she accepted the deal? At least the red head was quite a view, she would have fun tonight with him, in like a good fun. He looked like a very funny guy to be around and very charming.
"Well, I guess no one else is coming for the price." Rei winked at her, coming near, Ino shrugged and smiled.
"It does seems like it Rei-kun."
"So? I have a date Ino-San?"
Ino smiled at him and was about to answer when the volley ball hit him in the head, hard. All of them turned to find a shirtless Shikamaru waiting on his side of the arena, looking annoyed beyond belief.
"Have a problem, dude?" Rei asked and Ino blushed, maybe for the rest of them it wasn't that clear, but for her it was kinda obvious, Shikamaru wanted to try on a date… or rather save her from one, both things made her heart flutter.
"Yeah, I want to participate." Shikamaru said catching the ball Chouji threw in his direction, already waiting, Rei looking amused. "I swear— coming or not?"
Rei stared at him and then at Ino who smiled broadly.
"You have defeated all your friends plus Chouji, you can do this right?" She said innocently to him and Rei blushed non stop.
"C-Course I can! Just watch."
Inner Ino smiled. "Good luck."
Shikamaru glared at her and Ino raised both her arms, jumping causing all the guys to stare at her, Shikamaru wanted to hit her with the ball now. He was blushing again, third time in less than a few hours. "You go Shika! Beat him! You can do this lazy bum! You've got this!"
Chouji cheered from him too.
Shikamaru sighed and finally looked over to the other guy who looked confident on winning. He analyzed him for a second, head to toe all the way to his cocky smile and he grinned, he was a normal guy, Shikamaru was a ninja. He had this in his pocket. Ino was going to have a date with him, and that's how things were supposed to be.
"If you win I'll clean your house for a week!" Ino wanted Shikamaru to win for reasons she did not know, besides Shikamaru never fought for anything besides his life, she wanted him to taste how doing something and winning at it was good for once.
Shikamaru imagined her cleaning her house in her swimming suit. He apologized to Asuma in his head four times before he shook his head. Oh, Asuma would kill him. His face was red again, that much he knew. He could blame the sun on his red face though, and with that he focused on the game. God he hated blushing, but as always, when it comes to Ino unexpected things happened to him, with a smile on his face he took a step back and made a few strategies, he nodded to himself and with both Ino's and Chouji yells he took his first shot.
-.-.-.-.-.-.-
"So, see you at eight?"
"You've got it!"Ino winked as the guy left, when he was finally long gone he turned to Shikamaru and raised a brow. Everything was silent for a few seconds.
"You lost."
"Really? Haven't noticed."
"Big time… like, he crushed you Shika…"
"So observant."
"Seriously, I thought you were going to win!"
"So much for hope."
"But honestly you were doomed since the first shot, not blaming you, the guy knows how to play."
"And so much for confidence."
Shikamaru was with his arms folded, a red face, because Ino had taken her short off saying she wanted to dive for a while in the ocean, and second because he had lost, big time, the guy moved more fast that Shikamaru had thought! He kicked the ball in exactly the only spot not even he could reach, ran or dive for it, he had managed to score two points, making the game even, but after a few seconds the red head made a false movement and Shikamaru dived the other way, he marked, he won. Fair and square. It had happened and now he was here doomed to see Ino go out with another guy.
Ino patted his back at seeing his troubled face. She thought he was nervous because he had lost. Shikamaru wouldn't say it but a piece of his pride was gone.
"Don't worry, I'll be back before two, so I can sleep a bit and leave at dawn, I promised." Clearly misinterpreting the sings he was giving. "Well im going for a dive, see you in a bit."
She watched her go and he couldn't help but notice how she attracted all the attention as she walked, she didn't even notice the effect she had on people, right? People like him. Some girls even glared at her seeing their boyfriends suddenly starting into space.
"Shikamaru…" Chouji said beside him.
"What?" He said as he looked around for a place to lay back and stare at the sky so he could mourn he bad luck.
"What are you going to do about it?"
Shikamaru froze, do something? About what? Ino and her date?
"It's her problem, she agreed to it, she's a big girl, she can handle him, if he tries anything funny we both know he'll be dead the next second."
Chouji just shrugged.
"But what if?"
Shikamaru lay a few feet away from him under a palmer, as he waited Chouji to finish his thoughts. What if what?
What if the guy wasn't a nice guy? What if the guy tried something funny? Would Ino react to it? Would she go along or she would hit him? What if the guy showed up with his other friends… what if they outnumbered her and she couldn't do nothing? She wasn't carrying any kunais, that much he knew. Questions popped into his head non stop. What if she liked him back? What if what if?!
Shikamaru sat annoyed on the floor, blushing slightly and turning to see Chouji's happy face besides him, he had too taken a sit besides his best friend.
"I hate you."
"But I didn't say anything" Chouji gave him a knowing smile. Shikamaru wanted to hit him hard. He knew he thought of a hundred different scenarios in minutes. "So we are going to do something!"
"I really hate you."
"So what's the plan?"
"I want to tell you something first, this—" He pointed to his read face and then to the whole area with a wide movement of his arm. "It's all your fault for agreeing with her with staying for a day break, I swear…."
Ino at that moment waved to them from the ocean, a guy who was seated on a chair near the two friends waved at her thinking it was meant to him, Ino giggled at this, the guy turned to see both the Nara and the Akimichi waving at her and he suddenly left the place.
"She's so troublesome, even when she doesn't ask for it!" Shikamaru was beyond frustrated now. He didn't know what to do. Kick her out of the ocean and wrap her in a towel and shout at her that they were leaving so just she had to cancel her date or simply go and kick her to the bottom of the ocean so she could stop being so so so troublesome.
Chouji waited as the not-in-the-cool-mood and lazy Shikamaru kept on ranting, finally he stopped to just stare at the blond girl far in the ocean, diving and for the looks of it having fun, two girls approached her and soon were making conversation.
"Just say it and we'll stop the date."
"No."
"As you wish, mate" Chouji took a coconut for who knows where and started eating. Shikamaru was in silence, a few minutes later when Shikamaru had started to relax and face the fact that she could date whoever she wanted – and he really didn't want to think of the reason of why he was so angry— Ino finally started to make her way to the shore and then to the guys, water dripping from her body as she absently took her hair down, Shikamaru couldn't take it, he put his head on his hands. Asuma please forgive your student, please. Please don't kill me once I reach were you are.
"You win, fine." He said with a red face that could be compared to the red head boy from before and a tone that said he wasn't saying that again. "I don't want her to go out."
Chouji snickered but pushed him just a little farther, finally, he thought, it took a lot to Shikamaru to realize she was in love with her!
"And why is that? Say it. Otherwise I will not help."
"Chouji!" Shikamaru said in a restrained voice looking at his friend in agony. "C'mon men!"
Chouji pretended he wasn't hearing. "Ino is coming closer…"
Shikamaru did not dare to look at her, from the distance she looked stuning, bright like the sun, beautiful like he had never seen her. He couldn't imagine how she would look just a few feet away from him.
"I-I am… "Shikamaru staggered over the words before finally sighing, this was so troublesome, even Chouji, the last boy on the planet he would address as troublesome was acting like a brat right now. "I'm jealous."
Chouji stared at Shikamaru, he wanted something among the lines of "I love her and I have always been in love with Ino, and I cant stand the sight of any other men taking her away from me, it's killing me and I cant take it!" but he decided 'Im jealous' will do for now, Chouji smiled proudly, it was a starter.
"Alright, we'll stop it." He murmured to the Nara kid.
Shikamaru sighed in relief, all red gone from his façade as he shook hands with Chouji. A few seconds later Ino plopped on the spot next to him, her hair down and still dripping wet, Shikamaru looked at her, he was past beyond the point on caring of his blush or not, so he just let it be.
"You should go and take a dive! The water is so warm!" Ino said excitedly to both of them, running her fingers through her hair.
"You are so troublesome you are going to be the death of me. I swear." Shikamaru said as he turned back to watch the sky, Ino stared at him from above and sighed.
"I didn't even do anything…" she said plopping besides him, clear view of her whole body next to his, Shikamaru gulped, he felt like a bad friend right now. He wanted to run on a corner, was this some punishment?
Chouji laughed out loud and Ino joined thinking he was laughing at the whole scene, but in fact he was laughing at Shikamaru who looked like he wanted to run away but wasn't just yet ready to give in.
"Shikamaru…"Ino said beside him plopping on her elbow, looking down at him, this was better, he thought, I can talk to her like this. Just her face.
"Yeap?"
"You have been red on the face from a long time now, sure the sun it's not affecting you?" Ino was truly concerned now, she had noticed but thought non of it, this because the Shikamaru she knew never blushed, she put her hand on his forehead and cheeks leaning a bit forward and now he was seeing her chest too. He shook his head, trying not to think. He had stopped apologizing to Asuma. He was a dead man already.
"Yeah, the game and everything." It was such a non intelligent response he felt bad for himself.
"Oh…" Ino stared at his face and before she flushed too she lay on her back. Chouji was having an amazing time. So, proud of me Asuma sensei? Finally this two are starting to see how much they fit together…
I can't believe I am jealous, of all things. Shikamaru thought,this is so stupid, it was the first time something like this happened to him and he was having a hard time to not think about how much he wanted Ino to go out with him, he wasn't ready to explore his feelings towards her. He turned on his belly and decided to take a nap instead.
I can't believe I have a date later on! Ino sighed, somehow she wasn't happy about this, she glanced at Shikamaru, oh, she was so not ready to go down that path. She closed her eyes and put her shades on.
I can't believe how much this two can be such idiots! Chouji said frustrated but he just kept on looking at the beach, it was after a long, long time when he talked. "We should get something to eat."
He turned and saw both his teammates sleeping peacefully under the rays of the sun, Shikamaru's hand resting on her stomach and Ino's hair spread around her, she was truly beautiful. Chouji smirked, maybe he would let them be for a while.
-.-.-.-.-.-.-
Hope you liked it! a huge hug to everyone, Off I go im moving to my apartment today! So I better hurry with this already! If I made any mistakes I do apologize, I was in a rush on the last part.
-Juliet'lovestory-