....
Shikamaru wasn't sure if he should be amused or frustrated, but it seemed like he was leaning towards the latter.
The foursome had been on the road for two days, and had stopped for the night to regroup and plan their next step.
This didn't really bother him, it was inevitable and he already knew what the next step was most likely going to be, so this left him with too much on thinking what was going to happen when the first step was accomplished.
That was when the attractive blonde was going to move into enemy territory with Tenten while he and Genma waited it out until they had received the signal.
Before he wouldn't have minded having the less strenuous part of a mission, but now he almost felt on edge when he thought about how he would be sitting in wait while the bothersome woman was trying to get a man physically interested in her.
Watching said bother now as she sat across the small camp fire chatting with Tenten, he knew the worst part was knowing that the target would probably take the bait without any hesitation.
Was it karma? The reason for him falling for a girl that was nothing like his ideal. That must be it, the higher power(s) hated him, and spited him by making him feel only for his teammate.
He held back a smile when he thought of what he and teammate did when she forced him to go with her to get cooking water.
………...….
"Get off your ass and come help me get water."
He frowned at her bossy attitude but refrained from retorting, just getting up from his position on a tree stump.
Tenten grinned at him evilly when he met her eyes and Genma only gave him a sympathetic look as he followed the blonde out of the camp site. They had about a mile and a half from a small stream, a long way to carry water.
He dragged his feet.
"Don't be so lazy, you should be grateful."
Looking up from the ground, he had expected to see her marching ahead of him with an arrogant tilt to her head and sassy sway to her hips, but he found that the girl was closer than he had thought. As in, she was walking right next to him and her rude manner was gone now as it was replaced with a contemplative expression.
He took the bait.
"Why grateful, I do not like walking far just to carry water back the same distance."
His breathe caught when she gave him a shy smile, her hand slipping through to hook around his arm.
"Because you get to spend time alone with me stupid Nara."
Her eyes were downcast, and he felt his irritation at being put to work fade away as he slipped his hand out of his pocket to entwine his fingers with hers.
"Yeah, slave time. Don't think I didn't realize that you brought me so you didn't have to carry it yourself."
Seeing her smile flash into a glare, he tightened his fingers around her to keep her from flinging away his hand, and grinned at her to least the bite of the remark.
She didn't take it, turning to look away from his and muttering.
"Last time I ask you, in order to be alone. Next time you can go with Genma."
He had shook his head at her childish tactics but smiled at them nonetheless, feeling better now that she wasn't acting like snob, or cold fish.
"Tsk, troublesome."
Yanking her into the shaded area of a tree, he unceremoniously braced himself against the trunk while pulling her towards him. Smirking at the surprised expression on her face and the way her lips had parted, Shikamaru pulled harder until she was against him.
And he had taken his time.
Unlike their first kisses of harsh of need, these were slow and gentle to start before working up to new levels of intensity that left them both gasping for air and other unacknowledged needs.
He had reached up to ran a hand down the length of her back as their breathing slowed, enjoying the tint on her cheeks that he caused.
"Nothing lazy about that…"
Smiling, he had responded by leaning back down.
………………………..
He was glad that she had set up that little tryst, and watching her now as she laughed lightly at something Genma had said to them, he had a small suspicion that she had done it to ease his own uneasiness about her part in the mission.
A perceptive pain he wouldn't mind being alone with again.
As if she could hear his thoughts, Ino looked up to catch his eyes on her, and he was secretly delighted when her cheeks turned a rosy color as she hastily turned away.
Good, his male pride wanted to smother her in blush-triggering memories of him before she left him to try and seduce another man.
He might be lazy, but he was a man.
"What outfit do you need to buy? Tomorrow we will pass a small village."
Ino quickly turned from Shikamaru's predatory stare and faced Tenten's. She wished he would stop doing that, maybe the water trip had been a bad idea. It was hard to concentrate on what was going on when he was shooting her those unfathomable looks that gave her the feeling of being undressed.
Bastard was cheating and he knew it!
Shaking her head, she answered the question with an offhand smile.
"I had brought a…let's say, more modest dress to match the older files but now that I have a little more detail about his past…friends, I have to alter the outfit to something more fitting to his tastes."
She watched in amusement as Tenten's eyes widened with understanding before speaking.
"Do you know…a lot about men's tastes?"
Ino only stalled for a second before answering, knowing that the other two were listening in now. One more intently than the other. Honesty would be best right now.
"Um, actually I've only gone on a date during missions. So my knowledge is pretty limited as I've never had to go too far."
She felt am embarrassed smile find its way to her face as she clenched a fist. Tenten's mouth parted slightly in shock.
"You've never gone on an actual date, but all those guys…"
The brunette trailed off as her eyes dimmed with sudden enlightenment. Ino watched curiously, as the girl sighed sadly before scratching her head.
"That was stupid of me to say, of course you wouldn't date, you're not that girl and with Sa-"
Ino cut her off, seeing the telling signs of Shikamaru's displeasure at the mention of Sasuke.
"It's okay, I'm just waiting for that someone, yeah know. Besides, no one wants to date a person who goes on seduction missions; it puts me in a weird position."
She had spoken impulsively but after hearing her words, Ino frowned. Really, who would want to be with a person who might have to do unspeakable things to dangerous strangers for the sake of getting information? Was it fair to the other person?
Genma was the one who broke the sudden silence, his monotone in its usual drawl as he spoke around his lethal toothpick.
"You are a kunoichi; this is for the safety of your village and its people. Any man willing to date you should know and respect that. Don't be stupid and doubt your worth just because the job is sometimes unsavory. Besides, there are men out there who appreciate the strength it takes to do the jobs no one wants."
Watching him speak, Ino got the feeling that the man wasn't speaking to her but to the stiffened young woman next to her. What happened to make Tenten question her worth? And more importantly, when did they get so close?
A small smile played on her lips as Tenten muttered.
"Wish these so called men would show themselves before we get killed, it'd be nice to know they existed."
They didn't miss the darkening of Genma's expression as he unwavering stared at Tenten, and she stared unblinkingly back.
Ino knew when a third wheel wasn't welcomed.
Getting up and stretching, she headed towards the man who hadn't spoken at all. He was sprawled out on the ground, staring up at the sky blue sky.
Standing by his side, she shook her head as she stared down at him.
"You really are the laziest Chuuin ever."
Shikamaru merely rolled his eyes before looking back up at the sky, a frown on his face.
"What's wrong Shikamaru?"
Settling down on the grass by him, Ino sat back on her hands and looked up too. She knew him well enough to know when he was worried or not. He always avoided complete eye contact when he was.
"I exist, and am right."
She blinked and looked down at him just in time to see his eyes dart back up. It still hurt to be with him, to kiss him, to feel happy with him, but it was like an addictive drug that she refused to let go.
Glancing to see the two other ninja in what looked like a heated discussion, Ino sat up to release her tingling arms.
Moving one hand around the blades, she caught his questioning eyes as she grabbed one of his hands that were cushioning his head. Bringing it out from underneath, she rested her fingers between his before tilting her head back to stare up again, whispering loud enough for only him to hear.
"Don't be troublesome and insecure."
He watched as she looked down at him from the corner of her eyes, a soft imperceptible smile on her lips, and felt two very distinct feelings tighten his stomach.
Desire for the beauty gazing down at him.
And a sinking feeling at what she was about to do for their village.
...
A/N: Wow, two chapters out in one night, three total. What a lucky draw I'd say, perhaps it'd encourage some lovely reviews? lol
Song inspiration : Bering Strait : Safe in My Lover's Arms
Pretty sad song, but it clicked for odd reasons.
I apologize for any spelling errors, I'm too lazy to get a beta (actually don't want one) and definitely too lazy to re-read more then twice.