Third Wheel
Chapter 4
Inner
Stuff that is written and read
Normal
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It's been two year since Ino and Shikamaru's night together, and the two got on with their lives as usual. They didn't mention what happened that night to this day.
Everyone graduated and got jobs, even though they were busy 24/7, they always found time for each other.
Shikamaru joined Paul & Song Law Firm; he was quite well known for his quick wit and had won numerous cases.
Ino took over The Yamanaka Flower Shop, and opened a branch in Suna. The business was going very well. She recently moved in with her boyfriend, Sai.
TenTen joined the Police Unit for Firearms, her knowledge of weapons amazed the Police Board, she is now head of the Firearms Unit.
Neji and Hinata both opened an optical clinic to help people all around Konoha with eye diseases. Their prescriptions always worked, and never failed.
Sakura became a well known doctor, for curing cancer. Her skills almost never failed.
Kiba also joined the Police Force, but he was in the Kidnapping Unit. He always found the hostages, but never looked at the evidence. People considered his find as sheer luck in his first few months of work, but soon found his talent.
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One Day
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One day, Shikamaru was on his way to work, when he received a disturbing text message. It said:
Temari is dying, come to Konoha Hospital A.S.A.P
Gaara
Even though Temari and Shikamaru didn't speak since their break up, he never truly got over her, so he rushed over to Konoha Hospital.
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The Hospital
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Shikamaru ran into Temari's room, and saw everyone was there. Hinata was leaning on Kiba crying. Sobs can be heard from Naruto and Kiba. Neji had watery eyes and TenTen had red eyes. He noticed Ino, she was pale and tried, where as Sai did nothing to comfort her, but sat there. Shikamaru wiped away his tears, and handed Ino a tissue.
'It's going to be okay, there's nothing to worry about,' Shikamaru said as he gave her a comforting hug.
'It's not going to be okay. Temari has brain cancer, she was fighting it for the past two years, and Sakura was treating all along, but her tumor got worse and worse. Now she's in emergency!' Ino sobbed, and dug her head into Shikamaru's chest. Shikamaru took in the information, and didn't notice the tears that rolled down his cheeks. Someone tapped on his back, it was Gaara who was also crying.
'Temari wanted you to see this,' Gaara said and gave Shikamaru a letter.
It said
Hey Shikamaru
By the time you read this, it's probably too late for your reply, but here goes.
The real reason why I broke up with you, was because I found out I had cancer, and I didn't want to see you sad. I rather you are sad for a while, than become sad for a long time.
I just wanted to say I never wanted to break up with you, anyway, that is all I have to say.
I hope you know that someone around you also feels the same way
Temari
Shikamaru read the letter, and more tears rolled out of his eyes.
'Troublesome woman, telling me in person would've hurt less,' he thought. Suddenly the doors opened, and Sakura came in, she took of her mask, and said shakily, 'I did the best I could do, but the internal blood loss wouldn't stop. Temari is…is….is…' She couldn't finish, but shook her head, and rubbed the tears away. Everyone stood in silence, when suddenly Shikamaru got up, and ran into the emergency room, and saw Temari. He shook her and called her name, waiting for a response from her, but nothing came back.
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A few weeks later
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Everyone took Temari's death very well, and didn't talk about it. Gaara and Kankuro moved back to Suna, and helped Ino manage her flower shop.
One day, Shikamaru was leaving work, and saw a bare foot Ino who was still in her sweats, sitting in front of his office building. He walked to her, and asked her, 'What's the matter?'
'Sai, cheated on me, and kicked me out of MY apartment!' Ino said, and buried her head in Shikamaru's suit top and cried. Shikamaru only gave her a comforting hug, and said 'If you want, you can stay at my place tonight, or you can call Sakura or something.'
Ino nodded, and tried to get up, but fell trying. Shikamaru examined her foot, it was splintered, and it looked like she sprained it.
'You want a piggy back ride?' Shikamaru asked. Ino nodded, and Shikamaru knelt down, and handed Ino his briefcase and piggy backed her to his car, and got her settled down in his apartment.
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The Next Morning
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Shikamaru woke up, and smelled bacon and heard sizzling in the kitchen. He got up and saw Ino in the kitchen.
'Good Morning,' Shikamaru said in a hoarse voice, Ino looked up and slightly blush.
'I woke up and felt hungry, I didn't think you'd wake up early, so I only made my portion,' Ino said adverting Shikamaru since he wasn't anything on top, 'I could cook some more if you want.' Shikamaru gave a nod, and went back to his room.
By the time Ino finished cooking; Shikamaru had got into his work clothes, which was a simple suit with an open collar.
'So when do you think Sai will move out?' Shikamaru asked.
'I don't know, he'll probably stay there anyway,' Ino said, and looked up and saw a rather pissed Shikamaru, 'Don't worry, I'm going to find my own place, I won't bother you long.'
Shikamaru shook his head, 'I'm pissed because you aren't trying to take back what is yours.' With that, the two ate silently; when they finished Shikamaru took Ino by the hand and pulled her to the car park.
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Later
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Shikamaru called his lawyer firm and said he had a fever and couldn't make it to work, he did this because he either needed to get Sai out of Ino's apartment or move all her personal stuff to his apartment so she didn't need to wear the same thing for God knows how long.
'Shikamaru I can't do this, just let me get my stuff and go,' Ino whimpered.
'It's going to be okay, just go in, kick his balls and I'll chuck him out,' Shikamaru said. Ino couldn't help but chuckle, Shikamaru was always able to cheer Ino up no matter what happened.
Ino opened her apartment door, and saw Sai on the couch.
'Get out of here,' Ino yelled. Sai looked up and just gave one of his annoying smiles and carried on watching TV.
'I SAID GET OUT!' Ino screamed. Sai once again looked up and saw Shikamaru next to Ino.
'So you brought your new boyfriend to kick your old boyfriend out of his apartment,' Sai said.
'What the hell, this was always my apartment, and Shikamaru is only a friend,' Ino said.
'A friend that you screw with,' Sai said. Ino couldn't help herself, but she instantly ran over to Sai and slapped him so hard that Shikamaru swore he saw Sai's head do a 360.
'This is the final warning. GET OUT NOW OR ELSE I WILL SUE YOU!' Ino yelled in Sai's ear.
'Technically, you are no longer the owner of this apartment,' Sai said while rubbing his face 'I told the landlord that you left to be with…that, and that I would like to buy this apartment. So this is now all mine,' Sai said while pointing at Shikamaru who was refered to as that, 'by the way, your junk is in those two boxes, now take it before I call the cops on you because of breaking and entering.' Ino glanced at the two huge boxes at the side of the door marked Things that the Slut Owns. Shikamaru took the initiative and took the bigger box and whispered to Ino to get her stuff.
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In the Car
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'Shika-kun, where am I going to stay?' Ino asked.
'The suffix is back, I lost it since I went out with Temari,' Shikamaru thought.
'You could stay at my place for now,' Shikamaru said.
'But I thought your apartment only had one room,' Ino said.
'Well I have a small storage room, which I think could fit all your stuff in, if you mind I can help you find a place,' Shikamaru said.
'No, I'm fine with sharing an apartment with you,' Ino said. Shikamaru gave her a small reassuring smile and Ino respond with a small chuckle.
Ino and Shikamaru unloaded the boxes and cleared the storage room. By 10.00 pm they finished packing, and they were both sweating like crazy.
'I'm going to take a shower,' Shikamaru said and grabbed a towel and a pair of pants and a T-shirt and went into the shower.
After he got out, Ino went in.
'I hope we could stay like this forever,' Ino thought while smiling. That night, they both fell asleep thinking of each other.
Both pondered over the question
'Are you thinking of me?'
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