Authoress' Note: Wow, I've been on a roll as of late. With all the writing and the reading and the… writing and the reading. XD. Now, to the matters at hand, has anyone else had problems with bolding, italics, and underlining? I mean, I had to m·a·j·o·r·l·y edit some of my stories because of it. About an hour of my life was wasted doing just that… Heh. -shakes head helplessly- Read on.

P.S. Yukina sucks cow dung when it comes to writng angst, but she tried to anyway. Haha.

Disclaimer: I own this—in my small knowledge—entire plot, okay? So if you're out there Kishimoto-sama, or if you're reading this, (-winks-) or if you feel the same way I do about Naruto (-Completely in LOVE with the show and him! Sexy!-) or ShikaxIno, (-favorite couple-) then don't you dare sue me! ;p

Flowers of Meaning

Flower 10: Beautiful Dreamer

Pink Camellia — Longing For You

She was not certain when she had spent the first, lonely night outdoors, or even how long she had been there. All she was sure of was that the first night was absolute agony. The sound of shrilling cicadas putting her to sleep was a charming prospect in the beginning, but after only about an hour of listening to the insects, her ears began ringing.

Although it was well into summer, when night fell, she could have sworn she recalled herself shivering. There was always the ever-irritating insect as well—the infamous mosquito. Konoha's insect repellents proved to be horribly ineffective—even when applied before slumber; she would wake with tiny lumps on her skin.

However, no matter how dire the circumstances, it was necessary for Ino to withstand it. Her husband of a mere two months had been sent on a 'dangerous,' Tsunade had explained, 'possibly life-threatening mission that could span as long as a year.' Had she known that, she most likely would have accompanied him, no matter the objections.

Alas, she had no idea.

The blonde woke one sunrise with no warmth at her side—no loving spouse to whisper sweet greetings of the morning in her ear. In his place was crisp white sheet of paper, a simple rose at its edge. The words inscribed on it were neat in cursive, seemingly written slowly, as if he had been pensive over the matter.

After that, it took only a single trip to Tsunade's office to become informed. In turn, Ino made it a fact that she would be the first to welcome him with a barrage of wet kisses. To accomplish this, she would camp out in front of the village gate for one year, and after that time had passed, she would search for him herself. (Because Tsunade forbade her to go before then, explaining that she would be apprehended if she attempted to do so.)

The blonde stared up at twinkling stars in the sky, finding it the only thing able to stabilize her. She turned to lie on her side on the blanket she had spread in the grass.

Ever since the day he left, Ino would envisage him, and the night he finally came home. It was obviously too surreal, him showing up to the village without a scratch and wearing a lazy, lopsided smile. He would just stand coolly at the gates, hands in his pockets appearing nonchalant, watching his teary wife and instantly breaking into a knowing smirk. Then, when she would finally run in his arms and go for the long awaited kiss, everything disappeared.

She cursed herself for always coming around to reality.

She shut her eyelids yearningly and mused, And even thought I know it's going to happen again—pathetic as it is—I'm still going to fall asleep. Even if I can't fully, if I were to just get close enough so that it seems genuine…

Chuckling softly, the woman whispered bitterly, "Pathetic…"

…But I know I'll still wait.

Gradually, her body grew weak, and she was certain of what was to come. Sleep fell upon her almost instantly, and she immediately felt warmer. Trapped in a dream world, she opened her eyes, only to see him standing at the gates—same hands in his pockets, same knowing smirk.

She frowned at him, wondering why the male decided to torment her during her one true period of peace—her sleep. Fists balled angrily, the women stormed up to him. She stabbed him in the chest with her finger after every livid word, "Why do you keep doing this to me?! If you're not going to come back… then just don't!"

His smug expression slowly twisted into bewilderment. "The hell are you talking about? I am back, so why aren't you happy? Where are the tears of joy? The endless kisses? Some loving wife you are… troublesome…"

"What?! Some loving husband you are! You keep showing up and then just leaving me again! Why can't you stay?! Where could you possibly always be going Shikamaru?!" The blonde bit back tears. "No one else waited for you like I did… so why aren't you happy?"

"I am happy but," the male pointed to his face, "I don't smile. You knew that when I married you. During the proposal, the ceremony, the… honeymoon…" The male trailed off at the thought of the vigorously blissful carnal night. "…I never smiled, but I'm happy nonetheless."

"No you're not," she stated bitterly, clearing her cheeks with her rough shirtsleeve. "If you were, then you wouldn't run all the time."

Shikamaru remained silent for a brief moment before swathing his arm around her waist, the other resting lightly on the back her neck. Grunting in discontentment at her tearstained face, he assured, "I'm here now, and I'm not going anywhere anytime soon."

Suddenly, she who had been leaning against him, tumbled forward. Heartbeat suddenly erratic, the man before her once again vanished.

She hastily glanced to her left.

No one.

She glanced to her right.

No one.

No trees.

No nothing.

Again, she was alone.

It was a dream turned nightmare.

The woman shot forward to a sitting position while screaming in sheer anguish. She drew her knees to her chest, sobbing in the crook formed by them. "I-I'm scared of it," she whispered to herself whilst trembling. "I don't want to sleep anymore… you'll be there… and I'll always believe it's real…"

Ino gripped the sides of her heads in a futile attempt to cease the whirlwind of mixed emotions. "Leave me alone… just go away…"

"I told you not to do this."

Azure eyes widened, as the words had not been produced by her. There was a comfortable warmth that engulfed her, one that caused her breath to hitch. "Sh-Shikamaru…?"

"Don't you remember? I thought I told you not to shed petty tears over me," he whispered into the night.The man ran his fingers through her lustrous blonde hair soothingly. "Is this what you'll do whenever I leave for a mission? What will you do when I die?"

"You're not real, so you don't die," she moaned sorrowfully into his chest. Although she was one hundred percent sure he was a figment of her imagination, any portion of him was something for her to hold close to her heart. "I know it… because you'll disappear soon… The only thing you're good for is plaguingmy imagination, after all..."

"What are you talking about? I'm back from the mission, so why aren't you happy? Where are the tears of joy? The endless kisses?"

"You always say that!" Ino screamed, clutching the side of his shirt tightly in her hand. "You always do! You say that and then hug me like you are now, and when I start believing that it could be reality, you disappear! You always manage to shatter my resolve… you're destroying me, Shikamaru…" And I thought you loved me…

"I can't quite say I follow you, Ino, but I'm here in the flesh," the male smirked. The loving grip around her body tightened and he whispered huskily in her ear, "This is reality; I'm here to stay." He mused silently for a short time before his brain finally came to an intelligent conclusion. "What, you're having dreams about me?"

"They're nightmares, Shikamaru…" She corrected, melting into her incubi's encirclement. "Why were you gone for so long? I was worried sick…"

"Nothing for the first four months. It was a large area to scout, and we managed to wipe out the occasional enemy. Then, the coward sent us on a troublesome wild goose chase that managed to span two months. It wasn't exactly my intention to be away from you that long, especially after we had just gotten married."

Immediately afterwards, there was nothing but silence. It was only interrupted by the light hiccups emitting from the woman in his arm. He held her tighter against his chest. "It's not a dream, because dreams aren't fulfilling."

And yet, I'm fulfilled…

xo-XoX-ox

Ino rubbed the sleep out of her eyes.

The woman drew her knees to her chest, before wrapping her arms around her legs. She wearily hid her face in the space created by her legs. What's the point? I don't even get it anymore. I'm tired of the waiting, and the hoping, and the dreaming…

She spared a glance at the empty space in her bed.

You lied, Shikamaru.

Owari

Authoress' Note: Hehe. Can you say super cheesy? I can: SUPER CHEESY! Sorry guys, I'm slowly losing my mojo and starting to suck at this whole writing thing more and more.

P.S. They end of the story is like the only thing that really happens...

Anyways…

How was it? Any good? Better than the rest? Fit to be the best? Will you be my guest…

And just review?

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