Sorry for the long time not updating. I got a little off-track with what I was doing with the storyline.
Considering that, this chapter is pretty much just filler between 8 and 9, and consequently, it isn't my best. Apologies for that, by the way.
Also, from now on, to save time and space, I will now only be replying to reviews by email. If you don't get an email, it's probably because you said something like "Update soon!" or "OMG, I love this chapter!". Those types of reviews I won't be replying to. But thanks, as always, for reviewing.
Song: Sunday Best – Augustana.
Disclaimer: All characters belong to M. Kishimoto. I do not own, and I do not make bank.
Dix.
Ino found it unbearable sometimes how Shikamaru's eyes followed her.
He did it subtlety, his face portraying his usual bored expression. His eyes though always held some degree of interest, some spark of active intelligence that always seemed to follow her around when she was in the room.
It was unnerving.
Ino glared at him from across the table, in a particularly irritable mood.
She had finally finished up her interviews for Fashion Week and was booked solid. As pleased as she was with the business, Ino still felt discomfited.
Shikamaru knew her secret, and though initially she'd felt relieved, it now felt like an irrepressible burden.
Across from her, Shikamaru cocked his head at her.
"What?" he asked flatly.
Ino shook her head, breaking eye contact.
Shikamaru's searching eyes filtered over her person like a probe. Ino felt exposed.
"How's Temari?" she inquired, attempting to get his focus off of her.
"Fine," Shikamaru responded shortly. "She's getting ready to head back to Oxford."
"When does she leave?"
"Few days," Shikamaru sighed, leaning back in his chair, directing his gaze to the street outside the window.
"Are you ready to see her go?"
Shikamaru's irises returned to her. He raised an eyebrow.
"What kind of question is that?" he retorted.
Ino shrugged, looking down at her hands.
Ino failed to see it, but Shikamaru smiled.
"Damn."
Shikamaru surveyed the photo he had just developed, watching as the picture developed.
Shikamaru shook his head slightly, mesmerized.
Ino hadn't known he was taking the picture. He'd been on his way to meet her when he saw her standing a few feet down the street.
Something in the sky had captured her attention, and her head was tilted up. A deep frown was in the middle of settling itself on her lips, her blue eyes varying between vague comprehension and concern. Her hair was down, the wind making it billow slightly.
Shikamaru whistled lowly, shaking his head again.
He was about to reach out to fix the way the picture hung on the line as it dried, but Temari knocked on the darkroom door.
Slightly annoyed, Shikamaru told her he'd be out in a minute.
Ino fell into her bed, exhausted.
Preparing for Fashion Week had the capacity to wipe insomnia from her bones, but Ino wasn't sure how long the effects would last.
Blindly Ino searched by touch for her phone, finding it buried inside her purse.
Ino blurrily surveyed the screen, punching the number to call up her voicemail.
She had two messages.
The first was from her mother, her worried voice just checking in to see how she was. Ino deleted it without much contemplation.
The second was from Shikamaru.
"Hey, Ino, it's Shikamaru. I just wanted to see if you were busy. . . Stupid question I guess with all of that Fashion Week stuff. If you get the chance in the next few days to call or drop by. . . Well, you know where I live. So, bye."
Ino sighed and closed her eyes, pressing the button to replay the message.
The sound of Shikamaru's voice echoed in Ino's ears and nudged her into sleep.
"Well."
Shikamaru's mouth slanted downward. He hated climaxes.
Temari glanced around the airport, as if searching for something to say.
Her gaze sharply returned to Shikamaru.
"I've been thinking. . ." she began.
Shikamaru raised an eyebrow in curiosity.
"About what?" he prompted.
"Maybe we could take our relationship to the next level. . ."
Shikamaru stared at her, wondering why his heart had stopped all of a sudden.
Temari took a breath, holding Shikamaru's gaze.
She blindly found his hand and squeezed it.
"I'm tired of this long-distance thing, Shikamaru. When we met, we were only in the same city for six months before I moved to Oxford. We've been dating for three years. . . I'm ready to take us seriously.
"I want us to get engaged and live in Oxford together."
Shikamaru felt his gut sink to his feet.
"I don't want to have this discussion in an airport," he told her. "Why didn't you bring this up earlier?"
Temari scoffed.
"Like I could! The entire time I was here you were either in that damn darkroom with your beloved photographs, or out with your friends!"
"I invited you along, Temari," Shikamaru retorted. "But you said you had to work on all of your school stuff. I thought you came here to see me, not do schoolwork."
Temari rolled her eyes.
"Oh, don't pin this on me, Shikamaru. You're always off in your own little world! You never pay attention to me when I'm here! It's either your stupid photos or your friends or that anorexic little—!"
"Don't talk about her," Shikamaru said softly, his tone dangerous.
Temari scowled unpleasantly and withdrew her hand from Shikamaru.
"I've got to get to the gate. Think about what I said."
She turned on her heel, too angry to even kiss him goodbye.
As the days to Paris Fashion Week drew nearer, Ino's insomnia returned, losing her more sleep than usual.
She had no free time for eating, much less grooming, and stress exuded out of her in waves.
For all intents and purposes, her soul had been sold to the fashion underworld.
Ino was sitting in a chair, receiving instructions about what she would be wearing for a runway show when Shikamaru called.
She quietly answered.
"Hey."
"Hi," Ino replied, nodding at the stylist.
"I was just calling because I haven't seen or talked to you in a few days. . ."
"I'm sorry," Ino said, sounding truly remorseful. "I've been preparing for Fashion Week."
"I figured," Shikamaru replied, sounding decidedly grumpy about the inconvenience. "Speaking of that, guess what?"
"What?"
"I got hired to photograph a few shows for some magazines. Have you heard of Lutz and Yves Saint—!"(1)
"Yves Saint Laurent? You're photographing that show?"
Shikamaru slowly replied, "Yes. Why? Is that one a big deal or something?"
Ino almost smiled at his ignorance.
"Yes. YSL is a fashion powerhouse."
"Are you doing any of those shows?"
"I'll be at the one for YSL."
"Good. I finally get to see what you do for a living."
Ino flushed a little.
"It's not that special. You won't get to see the craziness behind the production."
"What, are there models wrestling each other over shoes or something?"
Ino let a chuckle escape her lips.
"You're so naïve, Shikamaru," she responded.
On his end, Shikamaru grinned.
(1) Lutz and YSL are actual fashion companies who were both featured at Paris Fashion Week 2011. You can view photos of their clothes from Fashion Week 2011 online.
Next chapter: Fashion Week.
I'm really excited about chapter eleven. :D
Please review.