A.N.: Sorry if it took REAAALLLYYY long for me to update again… I was kinda busy with a game and I almost forgot about this story… Sorry bout that… " and… I noticed that this story is now pretty long…
-----
Shikamaru's house.
It was morning and the boys were all gathered around Shikamaru's living room. They were just lounging since Sakura and the girls had gone to the mall to shop.
"Ya know, I'll never understand why women go to the mall almost everyday." Naruto shook his head and took a sip of his soda. "I mean, aren't they tired of walking for hours and hours and hours…"
"Women and men are different Naruto." Shikamaru corrected him while lying on the longest sofa. Naruto was lying horizontally on the individual couch and Neji was sitting with his legs crossed on the other cough. Sasuke's sitting on the armrest of the long sofa.
"Speaking of women…" Neji sounded. "Hey Shikamaru, do you have a special someone? I mean, all of us have on and you're pretty secretive so we don't know who it is yet…"
With his statement, Shikamaru sighed. But before he could say anything, Naruto butted in.
"They said you had a crush on Ino but…"
Shikamaru perked up.
"They?"
Naruto coughed.
"I mean… we… and they… we presume and they…" Naruto scratched his head because he got confused himself. Neji sighed and Sasuke rolled his eyes.
"Sakura and her gang, except Ino, and us, presume that you like Ino." Sasuke explained for Naruto.
"Yeah! Yeah!" Naruto clasped his hands together.
Shikamaru stared at his friends before raising an eyebrow.
"You guys… presumed that I like Ino?"
Neji looked around as though the house was the most interesting thing in the world, Naruto resumed sipping his soda while Sasuke whistled a tuneless tune.
"Hey guys." Shikamaru barked. "Why the heck did you presume that I like Ino?"
Naruto cleared his throat.
"Weeeellll… you always blush when she's around and you can't even look at her straight in the eyes for just 5 seconds and you mostly stutter when you're talking to her…" Naruto explained while counting with his fingers. And then he slammed his hands on his lap. "But don't worry! It's just a guess… I mean, why would a genius guy like you like a girl with an attitude opposite to yours?" He said, thinking Shikamaru was mad.
Shikamaru stared at him as though he was crazy or something but then he shook his head.
"Opposites attract." Neji's voice trailed away but then his gazed fixed on Shikamaru again. "So is our guess true?"
Shikamaru blushed again and looked at the ceiling.
"Well…" He stammered. Naruto sat up.
"Oh no… Don't tell us…"
"It's true?" Sasuke asked, seeing Shikamaru's blush.
Neji smirked when Shikamaru 'hmphed' and looked away. Naruto jumped from his seat and stood beside Shikamaru, who was lying on the long sofa.
"You like Ino?!!!" Naruto asked, his eyes as wide as saucers.
"Well, it's obvious." Neji rolled his eyes and smirked at Shikamaru who grabbed a pillow and smashed his face with it. "Come on Shikamaru, stop being discreet with us. We didn't even know you had a lot of secrets."
"Yeah!" Naruto agreed. Sasuke just nodded.
"Now why would I tell you guys about my secrets?" Shikamaru replied through the pillow, making his voice muffled. He then removed the pillow and looked at Naruto. "Secrets are meant to be kept."
"Kept…? Within friends, yes." Sasuke raised an eyebrow at him.
Shikamaru groaned.
----
At the mall…
"Ino…" Sakura was now trying to keep herself standing since her feet ached a lot. And judging from Tenten and Hinata's faces, they're both tired as well.
"Yes?" Ino chimed, walking as though she had never walked before.
"Could we PLEASE have a break?" Tenten pleaded, pointing her feet. "I swear it's going to detach from my body any minute now."
Ino rolled her eyes and flipped her hair.
"Oh come on guys! We've only shopped for what?" She checked her wristwatch. "5 hours?"
Sakura and Tenten groaned loudly. Sakura glanced at Ino's shoes.
"You're amazing. You're the only one who's wearing heels right now and you aren't even tired." She mumbled.
After a few minutes, they saw a vacant bench and Tenten, unable to take it any longer, squealed and went to the bench as though it was a lifesaver. She sighed in relief.
"Me too!" Sakura ran to the bench and sat down. Hinata followed suit. Ino placed her hands on her waist and looked at her friends who looked like they were in heaven.
"Ugh! I can't believe you three!" She snapped. "Come on! We aren't even finished yet and there's a sale nearby!"
Tenten glared at her.
"You can go yourself." She snapped back. "Give us a chance will ya? We haven't even eaten anything yet." Tenten added while looking hungrily at the nearby food stand.
Hinata nodded.
"Please Ino-chan." She pleaded at Ino, who stared at them for a few minutes then rolled her eyes again.
"Fine. I'll go myself." She sighed. "Just send me a text message if you guys wanna meet up."
The three nodded.
"See ya." And she went off.
After five seconds…
"I swear I'm going to have cramps." Sakura sighed. "I feel like riding on a wheelchair again."
Hinata giggled.
"I wonder what the boys are doing right now." Tenten mumbled while looking at the humungous ceiling. "They said they're currently in Shikamaru's house."
"Yes they are. Naruto-kun called me earlier to…" Hinata stopped midway and blushed feverishly. Sakura gave her a sheepish grin.
"To…?" Tenten and Sakura looked at her. Hinata bowed her head down and was red as a tomato already. Sakura and Tenten inched nearer to the blushing teenager.
"To—check—check up on m-me." She stuttered.
It took a while before the information was digested into their brains.
"Naruto…called…to…check up on you?" Sakura echoed, wondering when Naruto became so… sweet. She heard Tenten laugh out loud beside her.
"What's so funny?" Hinata asked when Sakura chuckled.
"Hahaha! Woot! Naruto!" Tenten laughed. "I never thought he'd be sweet!"
When Tenten stopped laughing there was a moment of silence between the three…
"So!" Sakura sighed, looking at the food stand. "Who wants some food?!"
-----
Back at the boys…
Neji checked his watch.
"They've been gone for… about 5 to 6 hours or so." He mumbled. "What the hell's taking them so long?!"
Naruto was already sleeping at the sofa. Sasuke was looking out at the gardens with his hands clasped behind him. Shikamaru, of course, he's sleeping. So it's only him…and Sasuke.
Neji stretched his arms before turning at the Uchiha.
"Sasuke."
Sasuke looked at the side.
"What?"
Neji crossed his arms. And it took a while before he spoke again.
"Have you found a special someone already?" He's been dying to ask this question because he's been praying and hoping that he already got over Sakura. It's awkward snuggling with her when you know you're friend is watching and… jealous.
Sasuke fell silent for a few minutes then sighed.
"No." He replied.
Neji leaned on the sofa in dismay. Did he love Sakura that much?
"I wonder why you didn't fight like Ran." Neji wondered. "I mean, Ran fought to get me and all and…"
"I'm not like her. I know Sakura's happy with you and because I love her… I let her go even though it's painful." He intervened. Neji's eyes widened at his words and his head hung helplessly. Now he feels guilty but there's nothing he can do.
The two fell silent again and felt comfortable with the silence.
"Sasuke, thank you." Neji sounded.
Sasuke smirked.
"You don't need to thank me Neji. What I did was not for free, there's a condition hanging with it." Sasuke faced him. "You expect me to do something like that without expecting something in return?"
Neji raised an eyebrow.
"Condition?" Neji echoed.
Sasuke nodded.
"If you cannot fulfill this promise or condition, I would take Sakura right back from you permanently." Sasuke crossed his arms.
"What is your condition then?" Neji asked nervously, though he didn't let it show. Sasuke smirked and looked back at the scenery.
"It's simple, but hard at the same time."
Neji remained silent. Sasuke sighed.
"Take care of Sakura. Don't break her heart, don't let her suffer, don't make her cry, don't hurt her physically… emotionally… heck, even mentally." He said in a matter of fact tone. "Be responsible to her… handle her heart with care…those kind of things. You get my idea."
Neji sighed in relief.
"I thought it was something really hard."
"It is hard."
"Well…yeah… but you know I won't ever hurt her." Neji crossed his legs and rested his head on his hand. He turned to look at Shikamaru and much to his amazement, Shikamaru was awake, his eyes transfixed on the ceiling.
"Shikamaru? You're awake?" Neji asked as Sasuke looked at the lazy genius.
"I wasn't asleep. Just resting my eyes." Shikamaru replied lazily while scratching his head. "Damn Sasuke, that was something I didn't expect to come out of your mouth. I thought you were just an indifferent arrogant bastard with an ice sticking up to his ass."
Sasuke raised an eyebrow.
"And I thought having a girlfriend like Sakura won't even change that." He sat up.
Sasuke smirked.
"Well for once, lazy ass, you were wrong." He replied coolly. Naruto turned around with a groan and continued snoring.
-----
The girls are currently eating in a table by the food stand.
"Ah! That hits the spot!" Tenten rubbed her stomach. "I feel good!"
Hinata nodded. Sakura drank some juice while watching several people pass by, not listening to Hinata and Tenten's conversation about food energizing them. Sakura's eyes landed by a toy store and found a large teddy bear, similar of what Sasuke bought but the bear's color was dark brown.
Hinata and Tenten continued talking.
"I thought I was going to die if I'm going to continue to walk with Ino. Damn, those legs of hers are amazing." Tenten cursed. Hinata giggled.
"She's a shopping addict, remember? It's natural for her to be like that Tenten-chan." Hinata replied and looked at Sakura who looked like she was in a deep reverie. When she followed the direction Sakura was looking at, she noticed the large bear.
'That bear looks like the bear given to her by Sasuke-san.'
She looked back at Sakura who sighed and resumed drinking her juice.
"Eh? What's the matter Sakura? You were really chirpy earlier on. What's with the sudden change?" Tenten asked while playing with her glass.
Sakura shook her head.
"It's nothing. Something just popped into my mind. That's all." She replied lowly.
RING! RING! RING!
Sakura scrambled to get her cell phone from her shoulder bag and saw Ino's number. She answered it immediately while Tenten and Hinata continued talking.
"Yup?"
"Where are you?"
She glanced at the food stand's name.
"Shoujo's food stand. East part of the mall. We're just sitting in one of the tables. You're done shopping already?" Sakura checked her watch. "About thirty minutes or so just passed…"
"Hmm… I wanna stroll around more but I need to eat something… I'll see you guys there in ten minutes." And before Sakura could reply, she hung up. Sakura sighed and placed her cell phone back at her bag. She faced her two other friends.
"Ino, she's coming."
"What? Already?" Hinata checked her watch. "I expected her to be gone for an hour or so…"
"She said she needs to eat something…"
"Well that's new." Tenten smirked. "She should be careful if she doesn't want to ruin her… so called 'perfect figure'."
"She can eat lots and walk it out while shopping." Sakura grinned.
-----
"Look at him." Shikamaru looked disgustingly at Naruto, who was still sleeping… (and snoring) (--,) . "I wonder how Hinata could bear him."
There was a moment of silence…
"You know what Shika?" Neji sighed. "I agree with what you said."
"Heck, I don't even know how or why Hinata fell in love with him." Sasuke said coldly and crossed his arms.
'I wonder how or why I fell in love with Sakura…'"Ah well, love and women are so complicated." Shikamaru leaned on the sofa. "I'd rather solve mathematical problems than try to understand them."
"They may be complicated…" Neji smirked. "But we can't live without them."
"That's not true." Shikamaru grinned. "We can, we can cook by ourselves, do the laundry by ourselves… do their work by ourselves… We can survive without them."
"But we won't be here talking…" Neji was cut off by Sasuke.
"Or arguing…"
"If it weren't for our mothers." Neji raised an eyebrow to make his point.
"Well…"
RING! RING! RING!
Neji looked at his cell phone and noticed Sakura's number.
"Finally."
-----
At Sakura…
"Hey… where are you now?" Sakura asked on the phone, smiling widely. They saw Ino coming towards their direction as Hinata and Tenten greeted her while Sakura only waved.
"We're in Shikamaru's house right now… Bored as hell." Neji replied.
"Oh?" Sakura raised an eyebrow. "Why don't you guys catch up on us?"
Back at Shikamaru's house…
"Hold on." Neji covered the receiver with his hand. "Hey, Sakura suggested for us to catch up on them… since we're bored as hell here… why don't we go?"
"Oh man…" Shikamaru smashed a pillow on his face. "It's too troublesome…"
Sasuke shrugged.
Neji put the phone on his ear again.
"Is Ino there?" Neji asked again. "She is…? Okay then…"
Then he covered the receiver and was about to say something but Shikamaru stood up.
"Ino's…"
"Let's go?" Shikamaru stretched his arms. "I changed my mind. My legs need some exercise."
Sasuke rolled his eyes.
"Yeah Right." Sasuke shook his head.
Neji grinned.
'I knew it.'
"We'll be there in… ten minutes…" Neji glanced at Naruto. "Make that fifteen to twenty…" He knew waking Naruto up would take some time. Naruto's a really heavy sleeper. Neji hung up on his phone and stared at his sleeping friend.
"What about him?" Shikamaru looked at Naruto.
"Leave him." Sasuke said monotonously and jammed his hands on his pockets.
Neji sighed, stood up and proceeded to where Naruto is sleeping. He started to poke and nudge the Kyuubi boy but he just groaned and turned around.
"Naruto… Oi. Wake up." Neji poked again and again but Naruto slapped his hand away. Naruto mumbled something about 'Evil Ramen thief' and 'Stop stealing my ramen'!
Sasuke approached them as he grabbed a pillow and hit him with it… hard.
"OI!" He yelled and hit him again.
Naruto grabbed a pillow and threw it back at him. Sasuke avoided it and hit him with it again… but to no avail. Shikamaru groaned.
"Damn." Neji cursed. Shikamaru went beside Sasuke.
"Let me." Sasuke stepped aside. Shikamaru scratched his head. "So Troublesome…"
He looked at Sasuke.
"Sasuke, please go to the door. Open the door on my signal."
"Why?" Sasuke seemed confused.
"Just do it."
Sasuke went to the door and held the doorknob. Shikamaru raised a hand as he opened the door. Then Shikamaru mouthed.
"Slam it."
Sasuke was confused but obliged on his orders nonetheless. He slammed the door, which perked up Naruto a little. Shikamaru turned his head.
"Hinata-chan? What brings you here?" Shikamaru said in a (fake) surprised tone. Neji smirked when he knew what Shikamaru was planning. He saw Naruto's body stiffen.
"I thought you were with Sakura at the mall…" Neji joined in.
"Hinata-chan!" Naruto shot up and wildly looked around. "Hinata-chan! Hinata-chan!"
Sasuke tried not to laugh at Naruto. He managed to go with a smile. Well, it's always Naruto's 'stupidity' that always makes him laugh and some other things as well…
"You dobe." Neji hit Naruto with a pillow. "Get up. We're going to catch up with the girls at the mall."
Naruto groaned.
"You guys are so unfair!" He yelled. "How could you…"
"Shut up Naruto… We did that to wake you up since you sleep like a mule." Shikamaru turned around. "Thanks Sasuke…"
Sasuke nodded.
Shikamaru and Sasuke headed to the door. After fixing himself up, Naruto followed them with Neji. They rode on Neji's car with Neji driving.
----
Sakura watched Ino eat as she talked with Tenten. Hinata looked bored, but she's also listening to Ino and Tenten's conversation together with Sakura. Sakura checked her watch.
"Hmm…"
'Ten minutes left…'
-----
At the car…
Neji's the one driving while Shikamaru is beside him. At the back were Sasuke and Naruto, who were both quiet. Neji was driving in a fast manner since there were almost no cars around as he swiveled around a corner and the mall was in sight.
Sasuke sighed in boredom. Shikamaru listened intently to the music that was playing on the radio…it was something mellow which almost made Naruto go to dream palace again.
"Hey Shika, change that music or you guys will have to drag me to the mall." Naruto sounded as Shikamaru sighed and changed the channel. The song was now RnB.
"That's better."
----
Sakura rested her arms and head on the table, already dozing off. She was really tired and the other three looked at her.
"What's up with you?" Ino asked, sipping some shake. "You look like you're ready to go six feet down under."
"I'm…tired…" Sakura moaned.
"You need more stamina girl." Tenten grinned. "Who knows? Maybe you and Neji would indeed end up together and you need more stamina and energy to bring forth the new generation of Hyuugas… if you know what I mean."
Sakura gave her a glare.
"Ha. Ha. Very funny." She replied sarcastically. Ino chuckled.
"But it's true."
Hinata giggled.
"A guy needs a girl with stamina… especially those types similar to Neji." Ino explained in a matter-of-fact tone. "Or else the girl won't be able to catch up with the guy and all that…"
Sakura raised an eyebrow in confusion.
"What the hell are you blathering?"
"Ahem. Speaking of guys, here they are." Tenten beamed. "Dang, Naruto looks like a rotten fish. What happened to him? No offense Hinata."
Sakura perked up and looked behind her and saw the guys walking towards them. Naruto and Neji gave their girlfriends a peck on their cheeks as they all sat down again but didn't order food because the boys said that they were already full.
"What did you girls do these past six hours?" Naruto asked. "Just shopping?"
"Yeah…" Ino chimed. "But we had some good buys!"
"Yeah Right. In exchange for our legs." Tenten stared at her. Hinata looked at Naruto.
"Naruto-kun, you okay?"
Naruto sighed then gave Hinata a smile.
"I'm fine Hinata-chan!" he said cheerfully. Hinata smiled in relief as Sakura raised an eyebrow.
"What happened to him?" Sakura pointed Naruto with his thumb. "He looks terrible."
Shikamaru sighed. Neji smirked.
"He was sleeping when you called." Neji explain in Sakura's ear. "We kinda… woke him up. And got mad."
"Woke me up my ass! You tricked me!" Naruto burst.
"Tricked you? To wake you up. Same thing." Sasuke argued. "And besides, like what Shikamaru said, you sleep like a mule."
Ino just kept quiet judging her distance from Shikamaru (who is seated beside her). She just watched Sasuke and Naruto argue while hearing Shikamaru's constant whines of being bored. Sakura seemed to notice her silence a few minutes later… well, they all noticed it…
"Hey." Tenten poked Ino, who slapped her hand away.
"What?"
"What's wrong with ya?" Tenten asked. "You're quiet…for the first time."
Sakura looked at Shikamaru, to Ino and then back to Shikamaru. Shikamaru looked uncomfortable while Ino was fidgeting with her straw. The two refused to neither talk to each other nor just look at each other. Sakura grinned.
"Oh…" Sakura chuckled. "I see, I see."
"You see what?" Naruto asked and stared at Shika and Ino. "I don't see anything unusual."
"Baka, you're too literal." Sasuke spat coldly.
And they argue again.
Neji rolled his eyes while Sakura placed her head on her hands and grinned sheepishly at Tenten, who, after a few minutes of eye gesturing/signaling, got the idea.
"Ah!" Tenten burst. "I get it!"
"What are you guys signaling each other about?" Ino snapped making everyone fall silent. Shikamaru sighed and leaned his head on his hand while watching people pass by.
"Nothing…Nothing…" Sakura smiled and looked at Neji who just stared back.
Ino rolled her eyes.
"What…ever!" Ino exclaimed in a preppy tone and crossed her arms. "Hey girls, I've eaten enough…let's shop!"
Hinata, Sakura and Tenten stared at her in disbelief.
"What?" The three sounded, staring at her as though she was some kind of a weirdo. Sasuke shook his head.
"Unbelievable." Sasuke mumbled.
"Don't tell me you girls are still tired!" Ino asked in disbelief. "It's been an hour or more!"
"We've shopped for 5 hours Ino." Sakura sighed. "FIVE WHOLE HOURS."
"Yeah! So?" Ino grabbed her bag. "I've shopped for ten hours."
"Shopping addict." Naruto gaped.
"So what if I am? Shopping is also a great exercise." Ino replied cheerfully. "So you guys coming or what? Well…if you can take the walking."
"What do you take us for? Sissies who can't walk?" Naruto burst out and stood up. "Come on Hinata-chan."
Hinata stared at her boyfriend.
"Naruto-kun…"
Sakura stood up.
"Fine, fine. If we won't go, you would case some scandal or something…" Sakura growled and Neji stood up after her. "Darn it."
Shikamaru didn't say anything and stood up. So did Sasuke.
And they went off.
-----
Shikamaru's thoughts were drifted in a far away place while he looked at the displays of different kinds of shops. He was behind the group and was very quiet, even quieter than Sasuke, who, right now is having an argument with Naruto.
Sakura and Neji seemed to notice this. And so did Tenten.
"Hey Saku." Tenten whispered. "What's up with him?"
Sakura looked at Shikamaru who was obviously daydreaming. Ino was busy talking with Hinata while walking in front of the group. Sakura excused herself and walked slowly until she was beside Shikamaru, who noticed her.
"What's up with you?"
"Hn?" He raised an eyebrow. "What?"
"You're not into yourself today…is something bothering you?" Sakura asked in a concerned tone. "You can tell me… I won't spill. Promise."
"You won't spill?" Shikamaru smirked. "You really know if someone's hiding a secret."
"It's a skill." Sakura giggled. "Well, anyway, tell me."
"Nah." Shikamaru shook his head. "It's not that important."
"Oh come on!" Sakura sighed. "Not important? You've been daydreaming since we started walking. I doubt that it's something not important…"
Shikamaru jammed his hands on his pockets.
"It's nothing important Sakura. So there's no need to concern yourself with it." Shikamaru replied coolly.
"I doubt it." Sakura giggled. "Come on! I would not stop annoying you if you won't tell me!"
"I don't care." Shikamaru smirked wider.
"Ow! You're mean!" Sakura lightly punched his arm. "Come on! Tell me! Tell me!"
"No."
"Tell me."
"No."
"Tell me."
"No."
"Te—"
"Say that again and I swear I won't talk to you ever again." Shikamaru warned. Sakura pouted. Shikamaru's eyes trailed towards Ino, who was busy talking.
Sakura grinned.
"It's about Ino… ne?"
Shikamaru's eyes widened.
"What?" Shikamaru turned red. "How can you be so sure?"
"You're turning red." Sakura teased.
"I am so not."
"Yes you are."
"It's not about Ino ok? So let's just drop the subject." Shikamaru sighed. "Could you just go back to Neji?"
"I won't unless you tell me what's bothering you!" Sakura stomped her foot. "Why are you being so damn obstinate if it's something not important!"
"Then why are you so damn annoying? It's just not something important." Shikamaru returned with a cool tone.
"I said I'm ready to waste time." Sakura placed a hand on her waist. "And we're friends. So we need to tell each other about even the deepest secrets."
"We're not that close."
"You're so mean."
"I'm just stating facts."
Sakura stopped as Shikamaru continued walking. When he noticed that Sakura stopped, he looked back as he saw Sakura teary eyed.
"You don't treat me as a friend…" She sniffed.
'Damn! Neji's gonna kill me if he'll know I made her cry!'
Shikamaru looked back and prayed that Neji won't look back. He quickly went to Sakura.
"You're so shallow! I was joking!" He hissed.
"Well at least you should tell me." She pouted.
Shikamaru gritted his teeth in annoyance as he looked back and noticed that they were far behind the group.
"Fine! Fine! Let's go before Neji will see you in that state!" Shikamaru left as Sakura smiled and followed. "I wonder how Neji puts up with you."
"Like you said, women are complicated." Sakura giggled.
"How the hell did you know that I said that?"
"Well like duh, Neji told me."
Shikamaru rolled his eyes as they were finally behind the group. Sakura placed her hands behind her.
"So! Ready to spill?"
Shikamaru sighed.
----
E.I.:YAAY! AT LAST! XD Sorry if this entry isn't that good since I'm getting faulty at writing..