Author's notes: Yay! I AM BACK! FINALS IS OVER! YAY WITH ME!
And because I am happy... for the last chapter (I haven't read this week's chapter but last week is just so fun! So many feels!) of Naruto... and because the worst is almost over... I am here to update!
I don't know if you'd be happy with this.. this chapter is kinda... sad... :'(
Disclaimer: I hope I am the owner.. but I am not... Naruto is owned by Masashi Kishimoto
"Shikamaru... I know you still haven't thought of a plan... on how we can escape this so..."
"No... no Ino..."
"So..." Ino continued, "I think this will be a great distraction for them to leave you alone so you can think..."
"I can't... I can't think properly knowing you're miserable... no, Ino...I can't..." tears are falling down his cheeks.
Ino flashed a sad smile, "Of course you can, you're a genius."
"Ino...please..."
"Besides... this is my specialty! I'm a great decoy... I am made for this... I'm the most sought seductress after all, right?"
"I never wanted you to be in those seduction missions. I never wanted you to be a decoy because you are not... you're... you're my king..."
"Shikamaru...please... don't make this hard for both of us..."
"No Ino... I can't let you go... I won't let you go..." Shikamaru said as he tightened his hold to Ino. Ino stood up; trying to pry Shikamaru off of her but Shikamaru is just too stubborn. Shikamaru stood up as well and hugged Ino from behind.
"Ino... please... please... don't do this... I can think of a plan without you being a decoy... just don't do this... please..."
"Shikamaru..." Ino called, trying to stop her tears from falling. She tried to push Shikamaru away but the guy just tightened his hold onto her.
"Is this the payback you were telling me? Is this the payback for that time I left you in the boat? Huh, Ino?"
"Just think of it that way."
"Bullshit! Ino... I am willing to pay everything bad that I did to you... just not this way...please..."
"Shikamaru..."
"I'd rather you break off the wedding if you're sick of me. Or you can just date other guys even though we're married. I'd choose for you can leave me and say nothing at all... just not this... please...please... I'm begging you Ino... I... I can't... I can't go on knowing that someone is hurting you... Ino... please... please..."
Ino faced Shikamaru, "Shikamaru, you love me, right?"
"Of course I do..."
"And you're willing to do anything for me, right? Anything I ask?" Shikamaru nodded. Ino smiled that cryptic sad smile.
"Then, let me do this." Shikamaru groaned both in agony and misery.
He was again in his desperate begging tone, "I could kill, I could die. I'd be everything you need and want. I'd do anything... anything... just not this... please... I can't..."
"Shikamaru, you can do it! You're strong right?"
"You're wrong... I am not strong. I only hold on because you were there... you were always there. You are my strength... if you do this... I'll be nothing! I'll die Ino! I'll die..." and slowly whispered, "You're my life..."
"Shikamaru..."
"Please Ino... they'll be hurting you... they'll abuse you... they'll enslave you and harm you in every way possible... I... I don't want to see that happen... I can't..."
"Shikamaru... please..."
"Seeing someone hurt the person I'd give everything for is much worse than death. I could take it if they punch me; stab me or whatever until I lose consciousness. I could take it if they'll kill me. But... but I can't see you hurt... I can't Ino..."
"Shikamaru... listen to me..." Ino said as he cupped Shikamaru's face. "You have to be strong, for Konoha and for me."
"How... how can I be strong if-?"
"Shhh... you would and you could. I'm just a ninja... I'm just one life. If I sacrificed myself, you can save more lives than... than thousands..."
"You're worth a thousand lives Ino... for me..."
"Don't say that! That's selfish!"
"That's because I am selfish! I really am! I have always been selfish, it just so happen that I can easily cover it with reasons... like it is what's good for the village when in reality it is just my selfish desire. But right now... right now... if I had to choose between you and the village I'd choose you... and I don't care if it's selfish... I don't care. If it will save you, then I'd be selfish!"
"Shikamaru... you're a ninja... you can't back down to the ninja's way of living."
"You know full well I don't have plans of being a ninja until you decided to be one. I thought I could protect you more and be with you more often if I will be a ninja too. You're the reason why I'm a shinobi."
"You choose to be one...so act like one. You should think of others first before yourself." Ino reminded, tears are leaking out of her eyes. Shikamaru groaned.
"Why do you always have to be like that? Why do you always have to put others first? For Pete's sake Ino, can't you be selfish for once?"
"I want to be. Believe me I do. But I'm just one life. One life, Shika, compared to the thousands of lives I can save if I sacrifice myself. One life I am willing to give if it will save my friends' lives, and your life."
"Ino... Ino please... don't do this..." but Shikamaru knew once Ino made up her mind, it would never change.
"Never let them have the satisfaction to see you weak, alright Shika?" Shikamaru hugged Ino tighter that the blond can't almost breathe. He poured his soul crying for her.
"Times up!" They heard Orpheus voice. Shikamaru desperately cling to Ino.
"Just a minute..." Ino replied before focusing again to Shikamaru. He pushed the shadow-nin to back a little so she could see his face. She wiped his tears.
"Do you remember when we were young and I always drag you to be my prince because Choji doesn't want the role?" Shikamaru nodded.
"BOYS! GATHER AT THE LOBBY! WE HAVE A SPECIAL TREAT FROM YAMANAKA INO!" Orpheus called out every single enemy, and they all smirked. They left their businesses; the rapists left their praise naked on the floor, the abusers left their chained prisoners, all of them left to gather at the lobby to fiest on Yamanaka Ino.
Shikamaru's jaw tightened, his fist curled in a ball. He watched the men leave the wretched and sinned room, dreading what's going to happen once his wife leave the room and follow those men.
"And do you remember what the prince always does?" Ino said ignoring the men who glance lustfully at her. Instead he grabbed Shikamaru's chin and made him look at her.
"He always saves the princess." Shikamaru answered.
"Right." Ino smiled, "And since you're the prince, you're my prince, I'd be waiting for you to save me... Shika..." her sad smile still plastered on her face.
Shikamaru saw that pleading look in her eyes and he mentally cursed everything and everyone. He hated that stare, so he looked away and closed his eyes. He knows Ino is starting to walk away from him and he wanted to run after her, beg her again to stay, but he stopped his self. She asked for it, she asked him to let her do this and Shikamaru would never and could never say no to Ino, even if he hates her ideas or plans. It was a strange habit Shikamaru had developed when they were growing.
"What are you doing Shikamaru!? Stop her! She's already walking away!" Shikamaru heard from the crowd behind him. But he ignored them all even when he was aching to do as they say.
"Ino... we're waiting..." Orpheus voice was full of malicious intent. Shikamaru wanted to punch the guy's face until it's unrecognizable.
"I love you Shika... I always will..." it was almost out of anyone's hearing range but Shikamaru heard it. He snapped his eyes open and sharply looked at the back of Ino. He did the very thing he was scared to do once he open his eyes; run after her.
But he was a little too late. He shouted her name as he run to her. His tears and sweat were staining his face. He ran as fast as he could. But... his efforts all fell short. He didn't make it; he didn't make it to her.
He fell to his knees, mortified as he watched the last light of Ino got swallowed by darkness. All the cries and shouts began to fade. He was beginning to become deaf, he was getting blind. But he doesn't care; he was too numb to care.
So when he felt two muscular arms sweep him off the floor and place him on cell, he didn't give a damn. Even when the two arms started to beat him to pieces, he still didn't fight back.
He can't feel anything anymore. He was numb, too numb. He can't hear, he can't see. All he smell and taste is blood, his own blood, but he doesn't care. He just let his torturers do whatever they wanted to do with him while he stared blankly into nothingness.
A/N: Thanks for the read! Review if you like... :)