Okay, this is another one and you probably won't get the title until later. R and R.

You're Not Her

Now Ino and Shikamaru had been going out for quite some time now. They loved each other, were there for each other, knew each other like no one else, and most importantly, they trusted each other completely. Well, almost completely. It was just when that girl came that things got bad. It was well known that Temari liked Shikamaru. And it was well known that she was just like Ino. And it was well known that Ino and Temari hated each other because of the one thing they had in common: Shika. So when Temari came around, Ino got...let's say overprotective. Yeah, let's go with that.

Whenever Shikamaru did anything, it was "what were you doing?!". If Shikamaru came late to lunch, it would be "Were you out with her?! Why are you late?!" where he would reply "I'm always late for lunch." and she would start apologizing. So then he tried to come early but that didn't work either. She would just say "Trying to get here early so I won't know you were out with her!" But, almost immediately after saying that, she would be ashamed and start apologizing over and over again, saying she was sorry and that she was just paranoid and worried that one day he wouldn't be there. And so he would always kiss her forehead and tell her that "yes, troublesome woman, I'll always be there because godammit, I love YOU!!" And she would feel assured but after a day or so, she would always be back to her nervous self. And so it went like that in a big cycle: acuse Shika, apologize to Shika, be assured by Shika, repeat.

And then one day, Shikamaru had enough. It was just another regular day when he came to his favorite cloud-watching spot on the hill. She was sitting there with her arms crossed, as if waiting for something. And before he could say anything, she started asking him all these questions.

"Oh my god, Shika! Why weren't you here? Huh, huh?" she asked and before he could answer, "You're always cloud watching and now you're not!! Were you with...Oh my God, I bet you were. You were with Temari weren't you?"

Now she was all but hyperventilating as she stared at Shikamaru, rocking back and forth, hugging herself as she thought of all the possibilities. The HORRIBLE possibilities. Shikamaru grabbed her by the shoulders, shaking her slightly until she looked at him.

"Ino! Listen carefully. I- stop rocking!!! I need you to stop being so-stop it!!- so paranoid!! I love you! I love I-no! Now what's your name?!" Shikamaru asked slowly.

"...Ino..."

"Alright then," he said. "Then it's obvious that you're the one I love!"

"..."

"Why are you so paranoid when Temari comes to Konoha?"

"It's because we're so alike. Maybe you'll just get tired of me one day and decide to leave me for her," she said sadly.

"I won't," he said. "And you're not like her."

"Yes I am. The only difference is...she's probably better for you," she mumbled quietly.

"Give me examples."

"...We're both bossy except she's nicer to you."

Ino, you're nice to me too. Dad was right. Even the most violent woman is tender to the man she loves, Shikamaru thought. You are gentle and nice and-

"And plus, we're both blonds. Except everyone says she looks better with you."

Who the heck says that? I don't ever hear that around Kono-

"And we're both energetic except Temari's lazy sometimes just like you. And I'm always too loud and troublesome. But it's just the way I am and I can't change that. Temari doesn't have to," she mumbled as she looked at the ground.

"Ino," he said, lifting her chin up so his gaze met hers. "You both may be bossy but Temari is controlling and I know you're just bossy because you care. Plus, you have a sweet side that you show sometimes. You're nicer than her."

"Yeah but-"

"And," he said, covering her mouth. "I don't know what you've been hearing but everyone says we are the better-looking couple and that we belong together. For example: Me, my parents, Sakura, Tenten, Hinata, me, your parents, me, Kiba, Lee, Naruto, me, Chouji, Tsunade, Kakashi, me, Asuma, Gai, Kurenai, me, Shizune, the villagers, some random girl named STG (A/n-hehe) and also, did I mention me?"

She smiled slightly as he let her mouth go.

"And anyway, your energy keeps me in balance and I love your voice even when it's yelling. And finally...yes, you are more troublesome," he saw her face drop. "But...that's not always a bad thing. You're my troublesome Ino. And nothings going to change that."

He wrapped his arms around her in a big hug and then kissed her softly, resting his head on hers afterward.

"Thanks Shika," she said softly. "But-"

"I don't want to hear it," he mumbled into her hair. "It's done. I love you and I always will. And even if you two were the same personality-wise, there's still one more thing that you should remember that will always make you different. You're. Not. Her."

He kissed her again and that was the end of that.

The End

Okay, well...yeah. Just review.