AN: Rewrote this chapter three times. That's why it took so long. Sorry for the wait. Not an easy chapter by any stretch of the means. Plot is coming. Trigger warnings for rape. YOU WERE WARNED.

For Lems!

They walked, Ino's arm still wrapped up in his own through the woods. He tried not to notice the warmth, the callouses of her palms against his arm. Tried. She said nothing, and he was not about to break the silence just yet.

No, he was studying her cautiously, so as not to be caught. Her head was still high, and she did not waiver. Not that she would. Ino did nothing without confidence and control. She looked forward, constantly staring at whatever was ahead of her.

Something bothered him about this. Was she just using him for appearances with Shikamaru? Or had her actions at the grave been genuine? It was hard to tell. Neji had never had trouble reading anyone. The Byakugan gave him insight into each and every action. Anyone but her. She was a master at subtlety, knowing each and every move the mind could make, that every action was scrutinized.

She turned to look back only once, when they had exited the gravestones, and made their way to the woods. It was there that she removed her arm from his. He noticed the absence without fully wanting to.

"I guess I should say thanks or something." Ino shrugged with a bubbly laugh. She looked like the cat who'd made away with a fish and the cream.

"Should you?" Neji asked, pearlescent eyes amused and glad for her good mood. She was so personable, and charming at times, that it made it difficult to be awkward, even for one as unaccustomed to social interaction as him. It was a fact Neji appreciated. She also seemed to know how to get him to laugh. The irony, and what pulled at the corners of his mouth was that she had yet to actually thank him.

Ino grinned in good humor. "You spared me an awkward conversation, Captain." She saluted, as she began to walk into the forest.

"Again." Neji prompted with a chuckle, following after her, though not too close, so as to gauge her reaction. He did not want to force unwanted company upon her. She'd just had a very trying and emotional day.

"Again?" Ino turned those blue eyes lashes fluttering as laughter danced in her eyes. Her body language spoke of invitation. She didn't mind him being with her in this moment.

"The hospital?" Neji prompted.

She shook her head. "More like started it!" She protested, though the smile was still in her eyes. "No, that awkward conversation was never finished." Ino retorted as those eyes darkened. Her pace was slow, but still ambled forward. She turned back to see if he was following her. Neji needed no other invitation.

"Why avoid it?" He trotted to keep up with her as they made their way deeper into the woods.

She sighed. "All girls have their secrets, Neji."

"You have to trust someone sometime" Neji replied back with a small smile.

"That's the problem" She turned to smile back at him with sad eyes, though they hardened with determination. "I made that mistake once"

"And he betrayed you. So trust is a mistake?" Neji asked, pearlescent eyes meeting hers. She looked into his eyes and quickly looked away.

"No, but trusting the wrong people tends to clip your wings." Ino snorted with an eye roll.

"And now what? You'll just push everyone away? Never trust anyone again?" Neji asked.

His questions were sharp and pointed. Ino didn't appreciate being cut by them, so she replied in turn.

"Seems to work for you." Ino retorted, as she jettisoned into the tree tops.

She was done with this conversation and who the hell was he to tell her anything? Just because they were teammates didn't give him intimate input on her love life. Or any other part of her life, other than training (damn you, Tsunade sama).

He stood, shocked by her sudden retreat. No. Neji wasn't about to let her get away. She couldn't just say that and expect him to leave it. He leapt into the trees swiftly, silently, propelled forward and up with precise control. He should have landed in front of her and instead was greeted by a cacophony of screeching and feathers, birds retreating from his presence. Byakugan summoned those eyes darted to and fro, scanning the area. He was surprised when he could not sense her chakra.

"And what makes you think I push people away?" Neji said arms crossed as more blood vessels expanded around his face, flaring to life. He searched the trees for her, honing in on his birthright. Clever. She was no where to be found.

Her laughter echoed in the trees. Birds took flight around him each in different places. She must be controlling them to keep from revealing her position.

"Everything you do pushes people away Neji. You read emotions like a book, but you don't feel them." She was deliberately throwing her voice so he could not track her. Clever."You rely too much on your eyesight."

"Very well then." Neji pulled the hitae ate over his eyes. The curse was bound by bandages so it was not visible. Gai had put them through similar training so it did not concern him.

"Let's see how I fare without my eyes. I still see more clearly than you do." Neji challenged with a smirk.

"Is that a challenge, Byakugan boy." Ino's voice replied. If there was one thing Neji could count on with the buxom blonde, it was that Ino never backed down from a fight.

"You are so wrapped up in your hurt, that you cannot see up from down, right from left, friend from foe. Pain blinds you." Neji said, keeping his eyes closed as he took up the defensive position.

He opened his ears, his others senses to the nature around them, to her chakra, masked but not completely concealed as he had thought. It was how he sensed the rock coming towards him, and blocked it easily, assuming a defensive position that grounded him on the tree trunk. His form was solid for good footing and stability, but fluid, giving him the ability to turn and move in an instant if need be. He balanced on the balls of his feet, shifting as he caught wind of her plane.

"I can see just fine." She growled and he heard the rush of wind behind him as she plummeted down to the tree branch he stood on.

Turning, he blocked her punch with his forearm, his other hand striking out at her. She had to twist out of his reach, but was no less quick to react, as her foot whistled by his face only by centimeters. But she had sacrificed her advantage, and her footing was weak. He pressed his advantage, taking the offense, volleys of blows too quick to be ignored. He pressed her further towards the trunk as attacked with impunity. She snarled her fury, putting her efforts into trying to regain the ground she'd lost, but it was too late.

With a final chopping motion, her back hit the tree trunk and he took off his hitae ate to look her in the eyes. He'd released the Byakugan, so his face was smooth, veins settled. He didn't need them to defeat her as she was. Her emotions were controlling her too much for her to be useful. His forearm at her throat was not too firm. He didn't want to hurt her, but he did not remove it, as he looked into furious steel blue eyes. Those eyes were out for blood. He'd forgotten however that she was wearing a dress, and his forearm touched soft warm skin.

Realizing the intimacy of the gesture, he removed his forearm, never breaking eye contact from her. This wasn't about dominance or petty tit for tat. The Hokage had asked him to go easy on her. Neji was just following orders. But there was something more to this conversation. She had struck a nerve. And for some reason, she mattered. He wanted her to know that he wasn't the unfeeling monster that she painted him out to be. What she thought about him mattered.

"You see rage, and hatred, and betrayal, because it is what you feel about him. Feeling those things does not make you stronger, though your feelings have always served you well. Deeper than that, he hurt you. That he broke your heart, I can understand. That he broke your spirit, is something different entirely." Neji told her, as the rain began to fall, and fall hard.

Ino turned her head, so he would not see the tears in her eyes, thankful for her bangs that hid her face and the rain that gave her a little cover. Damn him. Damn his eyes. Neji turned his back, trying to respect her desire for privacy, and give her a moment to compose herself. He walked to the edge of the branch when he heard her behind him.

"What would you know about any of this?" Her voice was a harsh whisper. She was trying so hard to control herself in front of him. She didn't need to.

"I know what it's like to live a life of bitterness, and hatred. It changes you, makes you into someone you should not be. I would not wish that on anyone. Least of all you." Neji replied over his shoulder, and disappeared.

They were teammates. She could trust him. She'd have to learn that sometime.

…...

Ino retreated for now. Neji could go take his philosophical meditation praddle and choke on it for all she cared. She needed to see Chouji. Touching down outside of the Akimichi house, she could see his spiky pineapple shaped hair and immediately ducked out of site. Her chakra signature was always cloaked, a habit she had anbu to thank for, but it didn't mean he did not have uncanny observation. Ino sighed as she slipped through the bushes, intent on watching her two boys. Maybe she was avoiding it, and maybe she wasn't. Damn it, Neji this was all his fault. Ino never doubted herself.

Chouji sat on his couch. "Seriously Maru, what gives?" Chouji complained, his bag of chips near his side, and a beer in the other hand.

"What do you mean?" Shikamaru asked taking a lazy draw of his beer. His feet were up on the coffee table and he wore the insignia of an ambassador from sand. So the bastard had already gotten his citizenship through and approved. I guess it shouldn't be surprising. His wife to be was the sister of the kage. Even now the damned lazy genius was having everything done for him. Shikamaru's laziness was legendary, but she'd never thought that would include this.

"I mean of all the people, I deserve to hear the truth." Chouji grumbled.

"The truth about what?" Shikamaru asked, hand reaching into the bag of chips as Chouji extended it to him.

"You and Ino. What the hell happened? And don't you tell me to talk to her. She wont tell me and I'm tired of going around in circles on this. One of you needs to give me answers." Chouji had grown up with a vengeance.

"Mendokusai..." Shikamaru groaned raking a hand through his jet black tresses as he lit up a cigarette.

Ino's eyes widened. She spotted the Akimichi's cat; Mittens through the window and saw her perfect opportunity. Summoning her clan jutsu, she inhabited the pudgy orange tabby cat, settling in comfortably. She pounced, jumping up to curl onto Chouji's lap as she took in the Pinneapple haired genius. He was exhausted, dark bags hung beneath his eyes and several days worth of stubble on his chin as he took a deep drag and exhaled the nasty smoke. He looked awful. She purred, rubbing against Chouji's hand as she kneaded his knee. He finished the first cigarette, crushing the butt into the ash tray, and lit up another one.

"This doesn't leave the room." He insisted, dark eyes intent on the Akimichi as he looked around. Ino purred as she rubbed her chin against his hand.

"Yeah, of course." Chouji shrugged not recognizing the panicked look on Shikamaru's face. Perhaps she would finally get some answers too.

"No. Swear it." Shikamaru pressed, grip on Chouji's arm firm, those black eyes intense.

"I swear, already." Chouji said, frowning as he scratched underneath Ino's cat chin. She hummed in pleasure but green eyes were focused on Shikamaru's every word.

"You remember that Ino I fought before going on that mission to Sand?" Shikamaru asked.

"Yeah. You slept here for the night." Chouji replied.

"I left early that morning. Ino and I had never fought like that. I thought we were done. She had kicked me out of the apartment. I went on the mission. We had something else to do before we arrived in Sand. Temari was..." He swallowed. "She was clear about her interests in me from the beginning."

"She never was subtle." Chouji replied. "Even at the chuunin exams."

Ino's ear flattened, as she batted Chouji's hand, claws extended.

"Ouch!" Chouji pushed Mittens off the couch with a shove. "Sorry." He said sucking on the wound.

Outraged, Ino mimicked an indignant cat, guiding mittens to clean her leg with catlike outrage, as she listened intently to what they were saying.

"Temari had always been...bold? I knew that about her. But I always thought she'd been kidding about...everything. I didn't take her seriously. But by the second night into sand, about 3 weeks into the mission, I was starting to miss Ino."

Chouji nodded.

"They offered me something to drink. It was stupid of me. I got into a drinking game with the others. I was with Kankuro, and a few of the other sand ninja. Temari arrived much later. I had too much."

"And you slept with her?" Chouji asked point blank. The Akimichi was a man of few words, but he did not mince them. He spoke clearly, honestly, and from his heart whenever he did speak.

"I-" Shikamaru paused, and swallowed hard, visibly trembling. Ino's ears twitched at the expression. This was not the emotion of an illicit lover who betrayed her willingly. Shikamaru was pale, sweating at the tale, and clearly tense.

"We did sleep together...but..." Shikamaru couldn't continue. "I distinctly remember telling her no. It's difficult to remember it all...but I remember that."

Chouji's eyes widened. "Did she force you? What do you remember?"

Shikamaru's pained expression was enough. "I should have fought it harder. I told her no, pushed her off of me several times. She said it didn't matter if I was drunk, I wouldn't remember it anyways. She was drunk by that time too. I shouldn't have drank that much. I wasn't coherant enough to fight her off, and I missed Ino and the combination of that...well you know how it ended. It was only once. But it was enough..." Shikamaru trailed off.

"Enough for what?" Chouji looked horrified.

"Chouji...she's pregnant." Shikamaru confessed, head between his hands, as he slouched over the couch. He trembled, shaking, as he tried to control the sobs, spasms spreading over his body. Chouji slung an arm around him.

Ino felt cold. Numb. All this time. All this time she had thought he'd thrown their love away. And this. This was...

She felt cheated. Robbed. Why the hell hadn't he told her? Why the hell was he doing this? Why would he marry the woman that had...that had...

"What are you going to do now?" Chouji asked, after Shikamaru pulled himself together. Red eyed, he looked miserable.

"It's done now. I can't abandon my child, even..." He coughed, but composed himself. "I won't be that kind of father. Besides do you think Gaara would let me leave his sister pregnant and unmarried? He made the arrangements with Tsunade before I even got back."

"Do you love her?" Chouji asked.

"Does it matter? I have to learn to love her. She's going to be my wife and the mother of my child. I don't want to raise a family with someone I can't stand and I refuse to be a dead beat dad. That wouldn't be fair to the kid. I can't...I can't live like that." Shikamaru confessed feebly. "I feel like I'm going out of my mind half the time."

"It's a lot to take in." Chouji replied amiably.

"I talked to Temari about it. She even said it was wrong, but I can't completely blame her, as we were both drunk and not operating on the right frame of mind. She apologized. Not that it means much, but it gives her some credit." Shikamaru said.

Chouji said nothing.

"She told me I could leave her if I wanted, that she would take responsibility for the kid or get rid of it. But what kind of choice is that? She's bearing my child. I'd already cheated on Ino, even if it wasn't entirely intentional. And Gaara and Kakuro would hunt me down if I tried. I felt like there was no option."

"Shika..." Chouji was surprised. Chouji would marry for love, not duty or obligation. His black eyes sunk to the floor.

"She's agreed to get some help with me. To talk to somebody about all of this. That we will try and figure this out. We're seeing a specialist, to try and make things work. It..it helps." Shikamaru stated.

"And Ino?"

"She hates me." Shikamaru said miserably. "and I can't blame her. And I can't do anything about it." He said, head in his hands. "I've really fucked things up this time, Chou."

Ino had enough. She released the jutsu, sprinting as fast and as far as her feet could take her into the woods. Sprinting, she zipped through the trees, startling birds, and wildlife as she moved, ran away from everything that she had just heard.

On she ran, over rives and lakes, splashing through puddles and ravines. She ran until her legs nearly gave out from under her. She made it a few miles before the border, where the statues overlooked the waterfall when she finally broke down. The universe it seemed simply wasn't kind. It wasn't fair. And it was her fault. They had fought and because they had fought Shikamaru had gotten drunk and been taken advantage of by that aquamarine eyed sand bitch.

…...

Ino's fist smashed into the wooden figure, shattering it into a shower of a thousand splinters raining upon the grass. With lightning speed she turned and made the same work with her foot, spinning as she took out each of the targets with the appropriate foot work, but with far greater force than she needed apply.

Lee and Neji turned, watching their teammate decimate the wooden targets. She was certainly learning the Taijutsu fast, but this was beyond training. The blonde unleashed her fury making short work of the targets, the final training exercise done in record time.

"Anything else?" She snapped tersely.

Lee shrugged and looked at Neji, and Neji shook his head. Ino stormed off, disappearing in a whirl of leaves.

"What got into her?"Lee asked.

It was Neji's turn to shrug, but he would find out.