So far, I'm not making this fan fic any better so I'll understand if there are flames in my reviews. R&R.
Disclaimer: Even if SweetMisfortune119 said I'm Masashi Kishimoto's twin, I still don't own Naruto (I am not his twin).
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Pit-pattering everywhere were the raindrops.
It was just a light rain shower, actually. But, strangely, the sun was still shining. It's one of those few rain showers that felt refreshing and cheery.
Ino locked arms with Shikamaru as her eyes were still gloomy from the break up with Sasuke. Shikamaru noticed it and sighed,
'What does Sasuke have that I don't?…' he thought, asking himself, '…Aside from pretty boy looks, that is.' (A/C: Personally, I think Shikamaru's a good-looking guy. Seriously!)
The tiny drops fell from the clouds simultaneously as the two walked along the path. It didn't bother Ino much, which was unlike her, and as they passed through the almost deserted streets, neither said a word.
"You want me to go buy you an umbrella?" concerned, Shikamaru asked her.
She just shook her head and mumbled back, "No… I… I want to cry with the rain…"
It always pained Shikamaru every time Ino was hurt, depressed or angry. He'd always find a way to cheer her up and make her forget about it all. But, not today… coz he's miserable, too.
It seemed like the rain was getting harder by the minute despite the fact that the sun was still shining behind all the rain.
It made Shikamaru remember good times:
"It's raining!" the crowd screamed.
It was Ino's thirteenth birthday and she decided to have an outdoor dance party. Everything was going well until the rain poured when the party hasn't even gone halfway.
"This just had to happen!" Ino yelled in horror, stomping her feet onto the drenched grass, watching each guest depart from her backyard.
She stood under the rain, soon to bursting into tears since her party was now ruined. People would definitely talk about it… as the lamest and as the biggest rip-off of a party of the year.
Ino didn't get comforted by her parents immediately. They were assisting the guests, dirtied and messy. Everybody was inside the house, seeking shelter from the rain…
Everyone but Shikamaru.
"It's just a little rain…" he grumbled, "What's so wrong about it?"
Ino turned to see him, "Oh…" she said, sobbing a little, "You… you didn't run off."
Shaking his head, he replied, "Nope. It's just rain. Not really a big deal."
Glad that he didn't leave yet sad that everyone else did, Ino asked, "So, you're not going to call this party a… rip-off or something?"
Shikamaru arched a brow and said, "Rip-off? This party isn't a rip-off, really. I don't think it is, at least. Now, Kiba's pants? They were ripped off…"
Ino laughed with pure joy and went closer to Shikamaru. They stood there in the middle of her lawn, chuckling. "Ever danced under the rain?" Shikamaru asked curiously.
Ino shook her head and said, "You know how I hate the rain, Shika…"
Smirking, Shikamaru grabbed Ino by the wrist and muttered, "Well, you don't know how much you're missing."
Somewhat unconsciously, Shikamaru began to snap his fingers and randomly make his own dance steps.
She stared back, "There's… no music…"
Listening to the quick patting of the rain, Shikamaru answered, "It doesn't matter. You just gotta have fun, I guess."
"I dunno…" Ino hesitated then began backing away.
Knowing she wouldn't try it, Shikamaru connected his shadow to hers.
"Shikamaru!" she screamed, a little annoyed.
He made a few poses to check the shadow technique's effect and said, "Give it a try. It'll be worth it. I promise!"
In a couple of seconds, the two were dancing under the rain, with no music and without a care.
Ino was dancing on her own in a few minutes, "You're right, Shika!" Her smile was finally back, "It's fun! Especially with you!"
And that was enough to make Shikamaru glad.
After the recall, Shikamaru glanced at Ino, who stared straight across the road at nothing.
'Ino…' he wanted to say, 'Wanna dance under the rain like how we did before?'
But, obviously, those words were far. She's not in the mood for anything like that at the moment.
In a flash, the rain fell with so much force that you'd be convinced that it could already be hail.
Shikamaru noticed Ino put her hand over her head and hasten her paces. She was looking left and right frantically. Shikamaru knew that she wanted to get some kind of protection under the rain, "Shoot," she said, "Shika, are we anywhere near any roof or something?"
Shikamaru looked all around and noticed that they were in an alley. There was nothing but trash bins and building walls at both sides.
Not knowing what was the smart thing to do, Shikamaru took his vest off, "Lean on the wall, Ino," he calmly ordered.
Ino gave him a weird look, "What?" she almost screamed.
Shikamaru shot at her and said, "You want to get dry? Do it."
Ino trusted Shikamaru and at that leaned on the wall behind her. At that, Shikamaru spread his wide vest over her head and kept the drops from touching her.
His hands held a part of the wall firm on the wall while the other part rested on his head, half covering him.
"Smart thinking, Shika…" Ino said, "But what if the rain lasts long? Won't you be numb or something? Let's just look for some place…"
"No…" he firmly said, "I'll be fine. Even if I have to stay like this for hours end, I will."
Ino's cheeks got tinted with a blush when Shikamaru said that. And Shikamaru had an even redder tint on.
It was an awkward position. Their faces were inches away, drops dripping down their chins. Shikamaru could feel his hands shaking. He couldn't feel his legs. Was he that near to Ino? His body almost pressed against hers.
'Damn you, Shikamaru…' he thought to himself with anger, 'Show some respect to her, will ya? Step away!'
Oddly, Ino grabbed him by the shirt, the portion near the abdomen and pulled it towards her.
Shikamaru blushed even more and his cheeks were absolutely flushed.
Ino leaned closer to his ear, "Tell me the truth," she whispered, "I heard someone say that you like me… Is it… true?"
Shikamaru fisted his hands and squeezed his eyes shut. He could still feel her breath near his ear. Biting his lip, he muttered, "I… Y-Yeah… It's true. I'm sorry…"
At that, Shikamaru took his vest from over their heads and put it on again, "It's been that way for so long, already…" he confessed, buttoning his vest, "I tried not to… I'll stop. Don't worry. One day, I'll get over you or something. Just don't hate me… Crap."
For once, Shikamaru was uneasy. He didn't know what to say. She knew the truth… all along. He wanted to run away from her but he knew his whole body was numb.
Under the rain, Ino looked back at him humbly. She didn't have a frown or a smile. Her lips were just pursed.
Ino placed her hands behind her and looked down, "I have a confession, Shika…" she mumbled, "Sasuke… he was… kind of… uh… not my boyfriend…"
"…He's not? You've been lying to me?" Shikamaru said, surprised and a little pissed.
Ino snit her lower lips and went on, "I was just… pretending. I wanted to see if you'd be… jealous or something…"
Hearing the reason, Shikamaru began to relax a little, "Wh-What do you mean? You mean… you've been testing me or something?"
Nodding, Ino couldn't meet Shikamaru's eyes. She was feeling guiltier and guiltier. "I wanted to tell you that I liked you… for a long time already. I just didn't know when to make my move or if you'd take it easily or…"
Shikamaru hushed her by placing a finger on her lips. He had a serious look on and said, "Let me get something straight: You… like… me?"
Ino nodded her head slowly.
Then, Shikamaru took the finger away from her lips. "Hn…" he just mumbled, "…Shut up."
Ino's eyes widened, "Sh-Shut up?!"
Shikamaru's voice was angry and demanding, "Yeah! You heard me! Shut up! I don't want you to tell me lies just so I'd feel better or something!"
"I'm not lying!" she yelled back, "Not this time!"
Shikamaru snapped back at her, "I know that tactic already," he looked away, "Just… shut up about it…"
He proceeded to walk away when Ino snatched his arm and gripped tight as if never to let go, "Shika, listen to me! I asked you to pick me up so you'd be jealous of Sasuke! I told you that you needed a girlfriend because I wanted to know if you're interested in anyone else! Believe me!"
He turned around to face her, the rain slightly bothering him, "Then what about the break up thing? All those tears were forced or something?"
Ino stifled her tears, "The break up thing was a made-up reason…" she admitted, "The tears were real, though. I was crying coz…"
She clutched his arm and tried to speak up,
"I heard that other girls liked you. Eventually… I was the one who got jealous. And the things I said like 'Don't go…' were meant for you! I really, really don't want you to go!"
Almost pushing her away, Shikamaru muttered, "Oh, yeah? I want proof…"
There was stillness in the air. Both stood motionless, staring straight at each other's eyes. Until, Ino finally tiptoed high enough and reached for Shikamaru's lips. The soft touch of Ino's lips made Shikamaru's anger fade off.
Somehow, something was telling him that she was telling the truth.
He let go of her lips and said,
"W-Whoa…"
Ino still held him, "Forgive me?"
Shikamaru smirked and replied in a hushed tone, "… Sure. No more lying?"
Ino nodded, "Definitely."
"Now," Shikamaru said, "About that… confession…"
Ino was eager to hear, "What about it?"
He wrapped his arms around her and said,
"Well, let's just say that it changes a lot between us…"
He winked and Ino giggled.
The rain lessened and the sunshine showed even more. Shikamaru gazed upward then said, "Well, I better get you home…"
Ino made a cute look and playfully said, "Whatever you say, Shika-honey."
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXThe Shika-honey thing didn't mean that they became a couple from that moment on, all right? Special mention:
WittyFlower: Thanks for being the first to leave a review. It helps me a lot.
This isn't the last chapter so keep waiting. I'll update soon.