Broken Contract
Chapter Nine
It was a beautiful day. The sun was shining and the birds were singing. It was literally a day out of a fairy tale. Nothing could go wrong. Shikamaru had run around that morning, making sure everything was ready. He didn't know why, but he had been in such a frenzy. He had just decided that it was all because this was almost like a first date. Ino couldn't remember their real first date, so he had to make an impression. Once he was ready, he went out and got Ino, and they were off.
Ino said she just really wanted to tour around town, and so they did. They walked through all the districts, and Ino would point a thing out here and there she could remember, smiling. She was so giddy because she could remember certain things, and it made him smile. He was glad she was happy. This was the Ino he loved to see, carefree, not weighed down by the pain of being a shinobi. In truth, Shikamaru just wanted all the meaningless fighting to end. He decided long ago that they should all just give up fighting and relax. Watch the clouds. He certainly thought that those elders could use a day of relaxation.
Shikamaru was really enjoying today. It was like all those years ago on their first official date. Of course, Ino had spent that whole day, fixing him up, telling him he was doing things wrong. So, this was better than his first date!
The two sat down and were enjoying ice cream; Ino was naming off all the people she had "met." Shikamaru didn't mind hearing her list of names. "Isn't it great?" she chirped after she was done. "All these people know me! They are my friends and family!"
"I guess it must be hard to lose your memory," he pointed out.
She nodded. "When I woke up, I had no idea who I was. It was rather scary." She said, taking another bite out of her ice cream. "But now I have a home; a family."
He watched her for a long time, before his eyes drifted past her shoulder and caught another blonde's eyes. He resisted the temptation to wiggle in his seat.
Temari strode up to them, smiling devilishly. "Ah, so it seems Ino and Shikamaru are out together," she said, as she took a seat with them at the small table they were seated at. "On a date I presume?"
Shikamaru kept his lips sealed. He knew what she was doing. No matter what he said she would twist it around to backfire on him.
"Um... do I know you by any chance?" Ino asked; her brows furrowed in an attempt to remember her.
Temari turned a loathing, pitied look over to Ino, and instantly the girl felt a familiar feeling of anger. "Name's Temari," she replied, studding her. "And I'm Shikamaru's girlfriend."
Shikamaru opened his mouth to protest. But Temari cut him off. "Don't worry about that sweetheart, I've forgiven you." She said with a casual smile, before turning her judging gaze back to Ino, as if asking her what she was going to do.
Ino's blue eyes darted back from Shikamaru to Temari. "O-Oh, well, I didn't mean to intrude," she said, as she stood. "I-I'm sorry; I'll leave you alone."
Shikamaru opened his mouth to protest, when Temari slammed her lips down on his, cutting off any call he might have had. She only released him when Ino disappeared into the crowds. He practically pushed her off of him, wiping his mouth. "What is wrong with you!" he snapped.
Temari purred. "I don't like you, Shikamaru," she said, as she moved forwards, tracing her finger along his cheek. "I hate you. And for that, I'm going to ruin your life, and everyone part of it."
Growling, Shikamaru threw her off of him and stood. He turned to try and find Ino, but already found her gone and lost in the crowd.
---
Ino was wandering aimlessly. He had a girlfriend? Of course. She had to laugh at her own foolishness. Of course he had a girlfriend. Why wouldn't he? Maybe that was why he was reluctant to accept her proposal at the training field. He was probably about to tell her he had a girlfriend, but she cut him off before he did.
Somehow, Ino knew this feeling of helplessness, and broken heartedness. She had felt it some time before. "Was it because of him?" When Ino looked up, she found herself on a familiar street. "I know this place!" She thought, as she picked up her pace. She wandered through a maze of empty houses. She could feel a chill run up her spine. It felt... lonely. But somehow, she knew where she was going. She found herself in front of a large manor. Stepping up, she knocked on the front door, unsurely at first, before she gained confidence and knocked louder.
After a moment, a young man no older than her answered the door. He had deep black eyes, and tossed black hair. He was wearing a light t-shirt with easy shorts. He was certainly handsome. "Something wrong Ino...?" he asked, frowning. He knew about her "condition" but mostly tried to avoid it.
A thousand images burned into her retinas. She stared at him, wide eyed and disbelieving. "Sas...uke...?" she whispered, as she instantly remembered him, and her twelve year old crush on him. "Sasuke! Sasuke! Sasuke!" she lunged forward, wrapping her arms around his waist and burying her face into his shoulder. She then let out all her emotions, sobbing into his shoulder. Sasuke stumbled backwards in shock from the sudden attack.
The ninja then lost his balance and fell back into the floor. Ino didn't seem to notice, and instead continued to sob uncontrollably into him. Sasuke sighed, placing his hands lightly on her back in an attempt to comfort her. He was sick and tired of being dragged into Ino and Shikamaru's problems. Why couldn't they find someone else to be their middle person?
Turning to look down at her, Sasuke sighed. "There, there Ino," he said in a pathetic attempt to comfort her. "Come on, let's get out of the doorway. I'll make you some tea."
---
Shikamaru couldn't find Ino anywhere, and it was starting to worry him. After a long time of searching, Shikamaru went home, and fell back into his bed. He was tired, and felt like he'd never find her. Besides, it's not like she'd leave the village. She probably... just went to one of the places he didn't check. Yeah, that had to be it.
For some reason, he found Tsunade's voice echoing in his mind.
"Her brain has been damaged in a certain way," Tsunade explained as she paced the length of her office, Shikamaru's eyes studying her closely. "Even with an examination I can only find out so much."
"Give it to me straightly." Shikamaru said.
Tsunade sighed. "Well, one of three things could happen. Her mind may heal and she may regain all of her lost memory," she said, pausing, before continuing pace. "Or, only part of her memory could heal, meaning most of her memories will return, save for old unimportant events Ino doesn't wish to remember." She paused turning to look at him.
"Or?" Shikamaru pressed, the tension silently killing him.
"Her mind may not recover at all, and the one or two memories she has now could be all that she'll ever remember," Tsunade turned her cold brown eyes over to him. "In other words, her amnesia will be permanent."
Shikamaru groaned, and sat up. There was no real point in loafing around, despite the fact that that was one of his favorite things to do. Right now, he had to find Ino. Groaning, he headed out the door and down the street.
---
Shikamaru saw Ino here and there for the next couple of days. He wanted more than anything to find her, and explain what was going on. The thought that Temari might have gotten to her first kept haunting him. What would she say to her? Would Temari truly ruin any chance he might have gotten with Ino? Shikamaru dreaded the answer.
It had been several days later. Shikamaru was heading down the road with Chouji after one of their weekly lunches, when he spotted her. It was a fleeting image through the crowd, but he saw her. Giving no explanation to Chouji, he took off full speed after her. "Ino! Ino!" he cried, but found it did little good, and decided to save his breath.
He moved around people and over toppled trashcans. He moved with the skill of an expert ninja, betraying his normal lazy attitude.
As soon as he caught up with her, he grabbed her wrist, causing her to look back at him. "Wha-" she cut herself off, and blinked momentarily, before she frowned further. "Oh. It's you."
"Ino, let me explain." he pleaded.
"Oh, you don't have to," she said, her voice laced with anger. 'Temari told me all about your game?"
Shikamaru felt the dread inside him swell up to the size of a watermelon. "Temari...?"
"Yes!" Ino snapped, turning to face him and putting her hands on her hips. "Temari told me all about how you try to get all the girls in Konoha on your bed."
"On my bed...?" Shikamaru mumbled.
"She said that I was one of the only girls who didn't go with you. So you leapt at the opportunity when I couldn't remember you!" She practically yelled. "You won't fool me Nara Shikamaru! Not one bit!"
Shikamaru felt helpless. He wanted to tell her it wasn't the truth. He wanted to tell her Temari was lying to her, but... he found he had no voice. "Ino..." he whispered, shaking his head. "Please just..."
Her fiery temper lashed out at him. "Just what? Trust you? Let you take advantage of me?"
Despite her yells, he rested his head on her shoulder. The blonde was surprised by his actions. "I'm sorry..." he whispered, his eyes closed. 'It's not true... I don't... I...' there was nothing he could say, so instead, he lifted his forehead from her shoulder, and turned his back. "I'm really sorry I bothered you." And with that, he turned and left.
---
It was several days later that Shikamaru was called into Tsunade's office. He arrived late, and found many people all standing, cramped in her office. He took note that most of them were the genin from his generation. Many eyes were on him, as if waiting for him to hurry up and enter so they could get it over with. Carefully, he stepped into the office, and stood next to Kiba, who stood with his arms crossed and a frown on his face.
Tsunade tore her attention from Shikamaru to gaze around at the people all gathered around her desk. "People," she said, looking from person to person. "You have all been gathered here because a crisis has begun to take form." She paused, letting a small murmur ring through the group. "About two months ago, Orochimaru planned an attack on Sand, which we intercepted. This caused many casualties on our part." She paused again. "Unfortunately, Orochimaru has taken this interception as a challenge and declared war."
This caused loud whispers to rip through the crowd. Shikamaru gazed around, and spotted Ino standing next to Sasuke. He didn't miss the hold on his jacket grow tighter.
"What are we going to do then?" Naruto shouted rather loudly.
Tsunade shot him a glare, telling him to shut up, before returning to gazing around at the assembly. "We have already set up a camp not two days outside of Konoha. We also have guard posts all the way up to the border. There is no way Orochimaru is going to get by without triggering one of our watch posts.
"The problem is, when he does trigger one, he will be prepared. So, I've assembled all of you here because I know you will be able to handle an attack if one should arise."
"So what?" Kiba shouted. "You're sending us in without any backup- to handle Orochimaru should he decide to stroll along?" Kiba snapped sarcastically.
Tsunade shot him a glare. "Of course not!" she said. "Suna is sending their own team, of fifteen to twenty ninja. After about a week, we will be sending another wave of at least two hundred ninja. Suna will send it's own reinforcements as well."
Shino frowned, although no one could tell from beneath his jacket. "So Sound is going to try and take down the combined strength of Suna and Konoha. Surely he is insane."
Tsunade turned to look at him. "It's actually not what you think. Orochimaru has gathered the strengths of both Rock and Rain. We are expecting their attack any day."
Someone mumbled "traitorous bastards," from somewhere in the room, most likely from Naruto.
"Pack up your bags and kiss goodbye to your loved ones." Tsunade said as she gazed into the eye of each Shinobi in the room. "Because tomorrow, there's no guarantee you'll be coming home."
A/N: How long has it been? Months? I'm terribly sorry and I hope I need lose any readers because of my long absence from this story.
Yes, I have no excuses for you like; "My internet was down." Or anything. I just plain had no insperation to write this. Then of course I went onto YouTube, and watched ShikaIno amv's and I was all hyped up to write this again.
So, please don't hate me, and I thank everyone who hasn't given up on me.
