I haven't seen such a smile on I's face since there last was a suitor. I wonder who it could be since I and SU seemed to be a dead end. It seems like mystery man will make a return. We might actually learn who he is now.

"Need a napkin? Your palms are dripping?"

Shikamaru was currently hanging in a restaurant kitchen with his best friend, Chouji. The kitchen belonged to his father and Chouji often worked there after school, something that was visible. Chouji was a rather large character. Shikamaru had never thought about it, he simply didn't have the eyes for it nor did he care.

Shikamaru himself hadn't noticed his sweaty and shaking hands. He had just gotten a date with the girl of his dreams, Ino. The girl that was the product of essentially everything he used to despise and avoid like the plague.

"I'm fathoming a yes?" Chouji asked.

Shikamaru looked up and into Chouji's eyes. He always had such a kind face. Of course Chouji knew that the girl had said yes, nobody in their right mind would have said no to Shikamaru. Shikamaru had been drooling over this girl for years. They both weren't accepted by their peers. Ino had allegedly struck a conversation with Shikamaru once and that was all it took.

Spotted: Sakura jumping inside Sasuke's limousine

XOXO

Sasuke had taken Sakura out for dinner as they had planned. Sakura was currently gushing over the photo Sasuke had shown her.

"We all know Ino was a user, but an addict? This is too good."

Sasuke had said he would deliver and he had. He was just sad that Ino had such a serious problem. He was still friends with her. Ino had done nothing to hurt him, he almost felt bad for helping to take her down. Well, she should have thought about this before she rejected him and spent the night with his brother.

"Are you sure you're willing to use this?"

Sakura had already sent herself the picture. Sure she was certain she would use it. She had struck gold.

"I'm thinking Ino will be invited to my Kiss on the Lips party after all. I'm dedicating it to teenage abusers by the end of the night."

There was a wicked grin on Sakura's face. She had won; she just needed to destroy her competition. There was no way Ino would be getting away with what she had done. Drug abuse certainly wasn't a good enough excuse for any of what Ino had done.

"If you're certain, I'm not going to reprimand you."

Still Sasuke had an uneasy feeling. It was all too good to be true, and he was certain that Ino did not have that large a problem. Sure she was heavy on the coke and bottle, but rehab?

"She probably never even went to boarding school, unless they offered a rehab detox class."

XOXO

At the same time there was a nervous Shikamaru walking inside the hotel Ino was residing at. He had prepared all day, asked his father and sister for advice. Chouji had also helped him out, he would certainly have to thank him by the end of the night if everything worked out.

Ino was wearing a snug low rise jeans from Balmain and a caged cut out top in black suede from Fendi. She jumped up when she saw Shikamaru entering.

"Oh hi, I'm running a little late. I was about to go up and change, then I saw what time it was so I decided it was better to meet you down here first."

The start was certainly a disaster. Shikamaru was dressed in suit, white shirt and a thin brown tie that not even her granddad would have worn in his youth.

Ino had spent hours picking out her outfit getting ready for their date. She had wanted things to be perfect, different and fun. There was no hiding that the disappointment was huge seeing Shikamaru dressed in a suit.

She couldn't figure out how he had the money to take her somewhere fancy. From what she knew both Shikamaru and his sister were on a partial scholarship. Meaning he came from a middle class family at best.

Ino was certain that he going to take her on the date she had been on a thousand times before. He would buy her an expensive meal, then a couple of drinks and then he'd expect to pay him. Men were perhaps all the same.

The elevator ride was long and quiet. Shikamaru was busy studying the inside of the elevator. It's interior was some sort of rich red wood. He was uncertain what kind of wood it actually was. He wanted to ask Ino, but she probably had no idea.

"Well, this is my humble abode."

There was nothing humble about it. It was grand, it was the grand suite after all.

"He stood you up honey? I'm so sorry, boys from those boroughs simply can't be trusted. Oh, and you that spent all that time getting ready. Deidara seem to have taken a liking on you, perhaps he's free or willing to drop his plans."

It was Ino's mother Kurenai. She finally had some time off her phone, still she hadn't noticed that Ino hadn't come up alone.

If she had spent time getting ready Shikamaru wasn't certain about his plan any longer. It was also certain that Ino's mother had something against him.

"Mother! He's right here!" Ino shouted.

She stormed off into what Shikamaru assumed was her room leaving him alone with this dragon.

"Sorry, I never caught your last name."

That might have been because Shikamaru had never formally introduced himself.

"Shikamaru Nara, miss."

Her brows furrowed and her lips disappeared. Shikamaru could also swear that the color drained from her face and there was some twitching accompanying it.

He was glad that Ino had not taken long. Shikamaru was scared that Kurenai was going to start beating him.

Ino was now dressed in a black dress from Christopher Kane it had a tulle layer with neon flower cut outs. She wore black high heels and had a large golden bracelet on her left hand.

"You see, I had to run some errands before you came and I had this outfit already picked out." Ino was trying to correct her mother's blunder. It was a lie and he knew it, she knew that he knew it too. Ino could easily see that Shikamaru had to be at least as nervous as her. He kept moving around and fidgeting with his arms, it was as if he couldn't find a comfortable stance. No one had ever acted such on a date with Ino, she was flattered. It also made her unsure how to act.

"Ready?"

Ino nodded and took his hand.

"Have her home at eleven, any later I'll have you strangled!" Kurenai yelled after them.

"So… Where are we going?" Ino asked.

Shikamaru was so pleased with the date he had planned. He had gone through it in his mind for years. Ever since she greeted him and dazzled him with her smile.

"You'll see, it's nice."

He had spent his life savings on a town car and still had some left for some drinks after dinner. If Chouji wasn't treating them at the restaurant there had been no way he could afford it. His piggy bank wasn't fat.

What was running through Ino's mind was far from cars and flashy restaurants. She had imagined a more British theme. Brown bar, fried food and craft beer were what she hoped for. A rock concert with an up and coming underground band was also more than acceptable. She knew nothing of that would happen in these outfits.

It was a tad frigid outside, the sky was grey and rain threatened. Ino regretted not bringing a jacket. Shikamaru guided her to the waiting car. The private driver greeted them and opened the door. Ino looked longingly at a park Vespa as they drove off, Shikamaru caught her looking.

When they finally arrived at the restaurant there was already a line.

"I don't think we'll get a table anytime tonight."

There was doubt in Ino's face and she was looking at the burger joint not far away.

"Oh, I'm here all the time. I have a standing reservation."

He had Chouji had their own table in the break room so technically he wasn't lying.

"I wouldn't take you for someone who has a standing reservation at Masa, a three star restaurant." Doubt was ever present in her voice. There was no arguing that. Who would have guessed?

They were quickly shown to their seats. They weren't the greatest but at least it was quiet. Shikamaru couldn't remember the last time he had eaten at this side of the stoves. He was more than shocked when he saw the prices. He had no idea that that Tamago he used to eat was a thousand dollars. That was outrageous.

"We could still eat somewhere else if there's nothing on the menu you like," or if you don't know what any of this is Ino wanted to add. Ino had often eaten here with her former, but hopefully soon again best friend Sakura.

"No, I eat her like all the time. I'm close with one of the chefs."

Ino didn't want to call him out on what she taught was a blatant lie. She was disappointed that he felt like he needed to lie in order to impress her. He was proving to be everything she didn't think about him. He was like any other boy she had dated.

The waiter came over and took their order Ino had opted for the Toro and Shikamaru on some Ika.

When the waiter came over with their food Shikamaru asked the waiter to send his greetings to the chef. Both the waiter and Ino gave him strange looks.

"He must be new here, I practically live here."

They didn't chat much during dinner. Their date was bust to say the least. Ino seemed displeased with the whole ordeal and Shikamaru was wondering where he might have gone wrong. He had done practically everything his sister magazines had told him made a date. He had been attentive, treated her, been polite and complimented her. He excused himself and went to the bathroom.

Ino took the opportunity to settle their check. It wasn't fair to make him pay for this fiasco. She wouldn't even notice the money missing.

When Shikamaru returned Ino was waiting with her purse over her shoulder.

"Oh, I'll pay and we'll get going."

Shikamaru figured there would be no dessert. Ino gave him a halfhearted smile.

"I already paid. I used my mom's credit card. I didn't want you to pay for this flashy food."

Their date couldn't have gone any worse. Shikamaru didn't respond. He had failed and had been belittled. There was no arguing that. He had had one chance and he had blown it.

"Where did I go wrong?"

XOXO

One the other side of the very same restaurant Sakura and Sasuke had just finished plotting against Ino.

"Cheers for a takedown well plotted."

Sasuke raised his whiskey glass.

"She won't even know what hit her."

Sakura was pleased. She needed to make sure Ino would never take her throne. She was tired of Ino being the one putting her in the shadows. Ino was the leggy blond everyone loved to laugh and have a good time with. Sakura was the darker and smarter girl who always kept inline, like her mother would want her to.

"Are you certain that the punishment is just to the crime?"

The only one who had a relationship that went further back than Sakura and Deidara was Sakura and Ino. They had become best friends the first day of kindergarten when Sakura was as uncertain and as lacking of confidence.

"There is no punishment grand enough for what she did to me. Our history is the only thing keeping me from exiling her."

There was no arguing with Sakura. That Sasuke was certain of. He had given up years ago. Their fights could go on for months and never had a winner, they were equal. Still they both believed that they were better than the other.

"I'm sure you wouldn't understand, you haven't been programmed to understand human emotions."

Sasuke smiled and finished his drink. He couldn't argue with that, she was right. He simply couldn't understand why Ino was worth so much trouble. He was blind to the fact that he was going through the same amount of trouble just to spend time with Sakura.

Mystery boy is none other than Shikamaru Nara, who you ask? We don't know either, he certainly is a Lonely Boy. Not only is he anonymous, but he's also the one wearing a skirt. We heard that Ino paid for their first date. So nobody knows who he is and he's poor? Great catch Ino, but she has actually upgraded from what we've seen her with earlier.

"I've been on this date a thousand time, at one point it gets boring. I wanted a fun date, one where I could wear jeans. I wanted a Nara date."

Shikamaru had gotten it all wrong. She hadn't wanted a classy meal, she had wanted greasy fries and a round of pool.

"Well, if it's not too late for that. I know a place."