A/N: Next chapter after god knows how long. Enjoy.

Disclaimer: Don't own it.

Naruto felt nothing but complete nervousness as he made his way to the airport to pick up Ino. He hadn't seen her in years and wasn't sure what he would face.

"Hey man aren't you going to pick your woman up some flowers or something?" Kiba asked.

The blond male went wide-eyed for a second.

"Eh, why the hell would I do that?"

"Oh I don't know maybe because you haven't seen her in forever and it's a nice gesture."

"It's troublesome but he's right." Shikamaru agreed.

"Fine, fine," Naruto nodded. He grabbed the first bouquet of flowers he had seen without really looking at them.

"Did you even look at them?"

"Yeah, they look ok I guess. Come on lets go if I remember Ino she'll be pissed if I keep her waiting for too long."

Meanwhile Jiraiya couldn't really contain the grin on his face. This was really too perfect. A part of him wished that he'd had gone too so he could see the much anticipated reunion himself because sparks were bound to fly.

"Damn and I'm going to miss it."

He didn't think that they would try to kill one another, at least not in a public place and Shizune was there. She should be able to keep some of the peace.

"Hm," Jiraiya sighed. "Minato I'm sure you and Kushina-chan knew what you were doing when you two arranged this union. Oh well I suppose I should just get things ready for when they arrive. Naruto don't do anything stupid." Or at least he could only hope.

Naruto ran into the airport first nearly dropping the flowers out of his hand. He looked around anxiously for bright platinum-blonde hair.

"Ino! Ino!" He shouted.

"Oi, screaming like that isn't going to do anything." Shikamaru warned.

"He's right that's why I've got this." Kiba suddenly pulled out a huge banner that read. "Welcome Mrs. Naruto Uzumaki." In bright red colored letters leaving Naruto looking stunned.

"When the hell did you have time to make that?"

"I did it when you weren't looking in the back of the car?"

Naruto sighed with Kiba shrugging his shoulders.

"What, you have to greet her somehow you haven't seen her since you were kids. You might not even recognize her when you do see her. At least you've got a sign she should be able to see this."

"You have to admit Naruto it does make sense." The lazy male said to his friend.

"Yeah, alright whatever lets just go."

Kiba took out the banner and began to hold it in the air while they walked.

"Yo Mrs. Uzumaki to be are you around?"

For awhile the three young men simply walked around the airport with Naruto not seeing anyone that even slightly resembled what Ino could look like right now.

"Naruto how come it's been nearly 12 years? You guys didn't think to visit one another?"

"I don't know what happened. I just remember saying goodbye to her at the airport and she left for China with her father. It was the last time that I saw her."

"You guys didn't think to write or call one another?"

"No." Naruto admitted.

"Damn, some engaged couple you two are. You guys suck."

"Fine okay, we suck I got it." Naruto sighed then stopped walking. He took a breath.

"Maybe we can get airport security on this and have someone call her on the loudspeaker?"

"Shika that's brilliant, okay." Just as he was about to go ahead and do that someone's voice calling him name caught his attention.

"NARUTO-KUN!"

"Huh?" all three young men turned around.

"What?" Kiba said first.

"Oh boy," Shikamaru commented.

Naruto stared in both shock and total disbelief.

A woman about 300 pounds easy with long blonde-hair and aqua colored eyes was running at top speed for them.

"Naruto-kun is that you it's been so long."

Kiba immediately doubled over with laughter while Naruto could not remove the look of fear from his face.

"It's just no way." Shikamaru said. "It really has been a long time."

The woman stood before him while smiling from ear to ear.

"Uh…Uh…Ino?" Naruto managed to finally speak.

"Hai, Naruto-kun it's me. I knew that it was you right away you can't fool me with these whisker-marks on that face." She instantly grabbed his cheeks.

"Ouch."

"This is too rich." Kiba had still been laughing. "Naruto buddy…" he tried to talk, breathe, and laugh all at the same time.

"You can't really be…"

"Of course it's me silly don't I look the same?"

"Uh…no...Um not really."

"Well it's me now that's no way to greet your future wife, give me some lovin."

She suddenly captured him in a tight hug lifting him off of the ground slightly.

"Ouch," he groaned as he felt that he might have possibly broken quite a few bones. "I…Ino please I can't breathe."

"Oh I'm sorry." She apologized and put him back down.

He took a breath but continued staring at her with his mouth wide open.

"It's absolutely worse than I first thought."

"Naruto it will be okay buddy she isn't…" Shikamaru couldn't find the words.

Kiba now had tears in his eyes from all the laughter.

"I…" Naruto began.

Suddenly another female's voice had been heard who also happened to be laughing out loud. Naruto and his friends looked to see a woman with platinum-blonde hair and aqua-colored pools with another woman standing next to her who had short dark hair and was wearing a very nervous expression on her face.

"That…that was too good." She breathed. "It was absolutely hilarious."

She walked over to the shorter female and took out some money from her purse.

"Here you go as promised thank you so much for going along with this."

"Sure don't mention it." The women then turned to look at Naruto. "Um, I'm sorry for deceiving you."

By now Kiba was through with laughing and Naruto's eyes never left the blonde female. She looked incredible. Her hair was now longer than it had been when they were younger and was placed into a high ponytail. She was wearing a black and red Chinese print top with a matching short black skirt as well as a pair of black sandals.

"Ino," he asked.

"Hai." She nodded then gave a smile. She looked up into his cerulean pools. "You should have seen the look on your face it was priceless."

"Wow," Kiba stared. "Naruto she's freaking hot."

A dark blush covered the blue-eyed female's cheeks. "Thank you um…"

"I'm Kiba. Inuzuka Kiba," He gave his hand for her to shake which she took.

"Yamanaka, Ino soon to be Uzumaki Ino isn't that right Naruto-kun?"

He sighed. "Yeah,"

Ino pouted then suddenly pinched his cheek.

"Ouch."

"You could sound a little happier you know it's only been 12 years since we last laid eyes on one another."

"Yeah man, go on and give her a hug."

"Kiss, kiss." Kiba chanted as he pushed Naruto forward slightly. He bumped into the platinum-blonde then awkwardly gave her a hug.

"Hm, not exactly the reunion I had in mind but I guess we have to work on your public affection skills. Oh," she suddenly remembered. "Shizune-chan please come over so you can hi to Naruto. He didn't really change too much except he's really tall now. I could have spotted you a mile away Mr. Whiskers."

Naruto turned red then frowned.

"Mr. Whiskers?" Kiba and Shikamaru wondered together.

"Yeah it's just a nickname I used to call him when we were kids on account of these." She spoke while rubbing his cheeks.

The dark-haired female then came over to the group.

"Hi Naruto-kun it's been quite some time, my you've certainly grown up."

"Yes." He smiled for Shizune. "Hi Shizune-san how are you?"

"I'm well."

"How was the flight?"

"Eh," Ino shrugged. "It wasn't so bad so I can't really complain."

"So where are your bags?"

"Ino-chan and I only brought a few things. She decided to wait awhile before sending for the rest of her belongings."

"Yeah I mean it's not like we're getting married tomorrow or anything so Shizune and I packed very light. Naruto be a dear and carry my bags please."

"Yeah, sure." He nodded then picked up one of the bags which nearly sent him falling over. "What the hell? This is what you call traveling light?"

"Oh come on you look strong enough you can handle it. Shall we go then?"

"Okay."

Kiba and Shikamaru ended up grabbing the remainder of the bags and they headed for the car. The bags were put in the trunk while Kiba, Shika, and Shizune all purposely sat in the back making sure that Ino had no choice but to sit in the front with Naruto.

"Oh yeah real smooth guys."

Naruto closed the trunk and nearly jumped out of his skin when he saw Ino standing there. "Shit,"

She laughed a little. "It's nice to see that some things never change. It's weird huh us finally seeing each other again after so long."

"Yeah," he agreed. "That was a mean trick to play though."

"I'm sorry." She apologized through some giggles. "I just wanted to see the look on your face when you thought that lady was me. You have to admit it was pretty hilarious."

Silence then followed. Naruto felt like he wanted to say something. He had questions for her but didn't know where to begin.

"Uh…"

"What's wrong?" she wondered.

"It's nothing." He lied. "Are you ready to go?"

"Yeah, sure."

The two blonds got in the car together. Ino didn't like the awkwardness she had felt but couldn't really blame him or anything. They hadn't seen each other in 12 years naturally it would be strange.

"This kind of sucks."

Hopefully things wouldn't remain so uncomfortable between them. The two blonds sat in the front seat with Kiba m king some kissing noises in the back seat.

"Kiba!" Naruto all but barked. "Stop it."

"S-Sorry man."

Naruto decided that he would drop Shikamaru and Kiba off first before bringing Ino and Shizune back to his home. He had no idea what to expect for later. He didn't even know if he could handler her staying with him but he knew he'd have to get used to her fast especially since they were going to get married.

"So uh, Ino?" Kiba started.

"Yes Kiba."

"I know its none of my business or anything but how come you and Naruto never kept in touch over the years."

The blond female paused at his question.

"I…"

"Yea Ino why didn't we keep in touch over the years?" Naruto raised an eyebrow to her because it had been a valid question that deserved an answer.

"Hey," she spoke defensively. "You didn't exactly write me any letters either you know. Besides from the way you said goodbye to me you wanted me gone anyway."

"Ooh," Kiba's mouth formed an o shape.

Shizune looked suddenly nervous yet again and even Shikamaru looked kind of interested.

"I…well…that's not exactly true." He found that he didn't want to hurt her feelings even if back then he had been very vocal about disliking the blue-eyed female.

"Hah," she let out a laugh. "Yeah right you would have probably helped me pack if you could."

"Ino it's not like that okay. You were just horrible when we were kids."

Her aqua colored eyes filled with horror.

"Oh so now I'm horrible am I?"

Kiba, Shikamaru, and Shizune all exchanged looks with one another. Naruto then tried to put his hand to her shoulder.

"Look, I…"

"I swear Naruto I don't know why I'm even marrying you."

"Um because we have to." He wanted to say but decided against it so another argument could be avoided.

"Ino I'm…" he was about to apologize only she wasn't hearing it.

"Naruto just watch the road okay."

Any type of apology would have to wait and as he drove the young man could only sit and wonder if this was the way life with Ino would always be.