Author's notes: Hello! I am back.. kinda pissed off that I was welcomed back to the site with a nasty remark but hey.. at least the reviews went up a notch...reviews are still reviews anyway...

Okay... so everyone is loving my update strategy but I am so sorry I could not keep that up... School is calling me and right now I should be doing my speech for 20 minutes but I am not... hahahhaha

So let's make it fast...Thank you everyone who reads, reviews, follows, and favorites! And for adding me to your favorites and follows... like I feel so loved! Yay!

Warning: More of a ShikaIno fic... and a songfic too... but I am going to post another one so don't worry... :)

Disclaimer: A reviewer said my characters are OOC... so... yeah... that only means I am not Masashi Kishimoto for I am only personifying them as I perceive them... so yeah.. I do not own Naruto...

And the song... isn't mine... It's Les Miserables' On My Own... I like Lea Salonga's version but if you like the movie version it's also quite good...

Chapter 37: A Suna Suprise

Shikamaru would have said he didn't really want to go to Suna. It was true, partly true; half of him was shouting and begging to see a certain blond mind wanderer; Ino.

So who would have thought that the lazy genius could come early to Suna? After a day, Shikamaru had finally reached Suna which was earlier than the common two days travel. Immediately, Shikamaru went straight to Gaara; remembering what Naruto had said.

"Shikamaru..." Gaara seriously called, "Come in."

Gaara was so serious; Shikamaru didn't even question the man's immediate need of him. He followed his instruction without saying another word.

XxXxX

*And now I*m all alone again

No where to turn, no one to go to

Without a home without a friend without a face to say hello to

And now the night is near

Now I can make believe he's here*

Ino stopped what she was doing as she heard voices outside her office. She took a peek and smiled as she saw a girl in her teenage years and children are flocking around her like moths to flame.

*Sometimes I walk alone at night when everybody

Else is sleeping

I think of him and then I'm happy with

The company I'm keeping

The city goes to bed

And I can live inside my head *

The girl was obviously a Mirage fan. The song was Mirage's. Of course, she knows; she's a fan as well. She closed her eyes as she felt the song and let all the emotions envelop her.

*On my own,

Pretending he's beside me,

All alone, I walk with him till morning.

Without him, I feel his arms around me,

And when I lose my way, I close my eyes,

And he has found me... *

Ino knows, now that she had met Mirage face to face, who the song is for. It's for their dumb Hokage. She sighed; she wished Naruto wasn't so stupid. She loves him like a brother of her own, but the guy seriously needs to be smarter.

'I mean, Hinata did not only confess to him once. She confessed during Pain's attack and before she left. How can Naruto be so blind?' Ino asked herself.

*In the rain,

The pavement shines like silver,

All the lights are misty in the river,

In the darkness the trees are full of starlight,

And all I see is him and me,

Forever and forever... *

She didn't even know what happened to the two. She thought they were going smoothly towards Upendi, but then Hinata left. Hinata obviously had reasons to leave though Ino was sure it was because of the rokudaime.

'At least they're going smoothly again, well, according to what Naruto says. But that guy is so dense; he was even confused of his feelings for her the last time I checked. What if Hinata leaves again? I'm sure he'll be broken beyond repair for letting go of the person he loves the second time around.'

*And I know it's only in my mind,

That I'm talking to myself and not to him,

And although I know that he is blind,

Still I say, there's a way for us... *

She sighed. Naruto and Hinata's problem is slowly solving itself. She hopes everything goes smoothly. Unlike hers.

Ino knew she's bound to meet Shikamaru. The guy has been the best strategist since the fourth shinobi war and everyone just go to him when they need advices. And she really meant everyone. She hummed with the lady.

* I love him,

But when the night is over,

He is gone, the river's just a river

Without him the world around me changes,

The trees are bare and everywhere the streets are full of strangers. *

She started to sing. Her eyes still shut but her ears are listening to the beautiful melody. The lady's voice was amazing alone, but it was more astonishing when combined with hers.

It was wrong of her to leave Konoha, she knows. It was coward of her. Something she isn't and she was scared that she would start to act someone that she isn't; and that someone will see through her mask of lies if she stayed. And worst, that someone could be Shikamaru.

* I love him,

But everyday I'm learning,

All my life,

I've only been pretending,

Without me,

His world will go on turning,

A world that's full of happiness,

That I have never known... *

She swayed as her voice filled the room. She really thought there was something going on between her and him. She thought it was obvious. Everyone thought so too.

But she was scared to confirm her feelings. Hinata was much stronger than her since at least she confessed. Ino didn't, never did. Because she thought it was obvious and that deep down inside she was scared.

If it was any other man, she could have walked proudly down the streets while professing her love. But it wasn't any man, it was Shikamaru. It was a different case, she reasoned. She didn't even know why she chickened out; maybe because she was scared to scar their friendship or if she was just too frightened to know his true feelings for her.

She was happy. She assumed they mutually liked each other. The town thought the same and Shikamaru never complained so she continued to assume. But then, that scene in the marketplace, it just opened a file of truth she hid for so long. It made her realized how wrong she was. And it struck and hit her like lightning. She couldn't take it, she needs to run away.

* I love him... I love him...

I love him... But only on my own..*

"Mirage, eh?" Ino took a sharp glance at the direction of the owner of the voice. She smiled when she realized who it was.

XxXxX

He tightened his fist as he watched the two figures laugh and tease each other. He needs to control it. The Kazekage is with him. He can't just punch Gaara's brother. Control, he needs to control.

'Of all the places… why did he choose to go here at this very moment?' He sighed, complaining.

"Are you even listening Shikamaru?" Gaara asked.

"Yes. Yes I am."

"I just noticed you weren't looking at me and kept staring at them. Do you want me to interrupt them and let our presence known?"

'Great. Just great. Now I'm ruining the lovely mood.' Shikamaru sarcastically thought as he watched Gaara called the two shinobi. He tried to stop him but he was too late.

Brunette and blond looked fast to them. The brunette smiled and waved to them, and Shikamaru wanted to punch him more. Instead he gave a tight-lipped smile before his eyes roam to the girl beside the brunette. The blonde's face is nothing but complete shock and horror.

"Hi Ino."

A/N: Thank you for reading! Review if you like! :)

So the tittle is Suna Surprise... cause basically... Ino didn't know Shikamaru was coming.. that's one surprise... another one is... Shikamaru didn't know Ino and Kankuro are close... Like did you see that one coming? I bet you did... But when-? Ahhh stupid me..

See... see... I was going to put a radio but people may say it is not in Narutoverse so let the young lady sing... Just think its me... except my voice is crappy... Hahahahha...

You know if I posted this last night, I could have been sassing... but well, my mom said its bad to sass your readers and generalize them... the poor innocent ones will be victimized too.. and because I am pissed off and I need to let that pass... I slept... and now I am here...

Ugh.. last week is just awful and that's just the start... too many research papers... yep... i definitely need to go now...