Two weeks later

Ino was fully back to herself. She was taking D and C rank missions. She was off the painkillers and only a scar was left of the previous cut. Five days ago she stopped being Shikamaru's assistant and she was getting ready for her first b ranked mission.

Ino was back to her old self. She was at the apartment packing while Shika was out with his genin team.

Training grounds

Saiya walked up to her sensei while Markle and Ryo, the other two, were sparring.

"Shika-sensei," Saiya had taken after her role model, Ino's lead, "is Ino-sensei good?"

Shika sat up from his cloud watching position. "Yeah, she's fine."

Saiya sat down next to her sensei. "So, when are you going to propose to Ino-sensei?"

'Cough, cough, cough.' Shika started to choke on the water he was drinking. "Why would you say that?" Shika started to blush a bit.

"Shikamaru-sensei, it's easy to see that you're madly in love with her," Ryo said walking up.

"Yeah, it's an added bonus that Ino-sensei is hot," Markle said collapsing next to his sensei earning a glare from Saiya and nods from Shikamaru and Ryo.

"I would ask her but I would need a really nice ring for her and I don't have time to shop."

"Lame excuse, we'll go instead of training."

They all got up and dragged Shikamaru to almost, scratch that, every jewelry store in Konoha. They had found nothing.

Anything Shika found was deemed unworthy and anything Saiya found was deemed gaudy and too much.

There they sat Shikamaru, Saiya, and Ryo eating Ice cream. Markle had run off to get something. He finished his ice cream in a matter of seconds.

"Sensei, Sensei," Markle cried as he ran down the street. Shikamaru stood up.

"What is it Markle?" The others stood up as he came running up.

"I…found…it," he said out of breathe.

"What are you talking about?" Saiya asked.

"I found a ring."

Markle pulled out a white gold ring with a blue sapphire that matched Ino's eyes.

"We never saw this and how do you know she will like it?" Saiya asked.

"I was running home to ask my mom about rings. I saw Ino-sensei with her ANBU team leaving for their mission. Her team and her were talking. I asked them about what the perfect wedding ring would be. She said that it should… well that really doesn't matter. Chouji-sensei went inside his bag then handed me this ring and told me to give it to you. He said something about a fair."

"That's where I know this from…" Shika started to tell a story.

F.B.

Ino, Shikamaru, and Chouji were walking down the street. The three nine year olds were being followed by their parents.

They all stopped at the fair booths because Ino wanted a prize. Shikamaru started to play a game of Go with one of the old men. Chouji was at the food stand. Shikato and Chouza were watching Inoichi desperately trying to win any toy for Ino.

At the end of the night, Inoichi was carrying a sleeping Ino, who was holding a stuffed bear. Shikato, after recovering from laughter at watching Inoichi's continuous failure, stepped in and won the bear for Ino. The three old friends were chatting on the walk home. Shikamaru and Chouji were straggling. Shika was holding a gorgeous ring.

"Why'd he give it to you?" Chouji asked.

"He said it was because I beat him so many times at Go. He told me to keep it and give it to the woman that I want to marry. Troublesome."

"Shika, I'll hold onto it for you until you need it to give to your one and only," Chouji said putting the ring in his pocket.

The two boys ran to catch up to their parents. Shikamaru looked over at Ino's angelic sleeping face. He smiled and thought, 'maybe someday I'll give the ring to Ino. She is mine anyway.'

End F.B.

"Awe," Saiya said, "that's so cute."

Ryo and Markle grabbed Shikamaru's hands, as Saiya instructed.

"Shika-sensei, we are going to help you plan out your proposal to Ino-sensei!"