Series: Sensei
Tenten looked at her friends and asked a very important question. "So where are we going?"
She saw Sakura frown and look away and wondered at that, but didn't bother to question it yet. Instead, she looked at Temari who was their self-proclaimed leader.
"Well, we're not going to a public setting because that never ends well for us."
Before Tenten could stop it laughter emerged from her lips and they all joined her knowing full well what she was talking about. Quite a few of their conversations had been heard throughout the Leaf Village and had caused them no end of trouble. The last thing they needed was one more.
"Quiet evening at Sakura's house then?" Tenten asked and looked at Sakura inquiringly. Sakura quickly shook her head.
"My house is no good. How about we go to your place, Ten?" Tenten shrugged, not really caring one way or the other.
"That's fine, but I don't have any food."
Ino rolled her eyes. "Really Tenten? How do you even survive?" Tenten smirked.
"I steal food from other people." Tenten ignored the four sets of eyes staring at her incredulously. "What? It works…until it doesn't. I've only been caught a few times."
Hinata sent her a disapproving look that she resolutely ignored—especially since she was one of the people who caught her grocery shopping in their home.
"So then are we stopping at the grocery store first then? What are we eating and who's cooking?" Temari demanded.
"I'll cook." Tenten bent down to pick her mouth up off the floor from where it fell when Ino made her announcement.
"Is the world coming to an end?" Sakura inquired.
Hinata's impossibly large eyes grew larger as she whispered, "I think it is."
Temari snorted and they all laughed and Tenten slightly marveled that Ino took Sakura's good natured ribbing without a word. Who was this Ino? Is this what Suna did for a ninja? Maybe she should have gone when Temari asked for volunteers.
"I'll go to the grocery store and get what I need while, you, Sakura Haruno, will go pick up the alcohol—and take Temari with you." A meaningful look passed between the two that Tenten was certain they thought she hadn't noticed, but she would pretend she hadn't—but only because they were in public. She was certain they were all being extra careful about their private lives. She was also certain they were all nearly bursting with news they had to share. "And don't go buying cheap shit either, Sakura. We haven't seen each other since forever ago and that deserves the good stuff." Sakura rolled her eyes and Tenten knew she had been caught.
"Tenten, Hinata you're with me. We'll all meet up at Tenten's house in an hour and a half. No more than that."
At that their group went separate ways.
"How are you Hinata?" Tenten eyed Ino after she asked the question, noting the major changes she was seeing in their friend. Off the top of her head, she couldn't remember a time where Ino had inquired about their well-being. Tenten never thought that Ino didn't care. She knew she did. She just tended to be a little self-absorbed.
"Yeah, Hinata. I haven't seen you around lately. How is the wedding coming along?" Tenten watched as their little Hinata paled slightly and stammered out.
"Good. Everything is good."
Tenten didn't believe that load of malarkey for a second and after a glance she exchanged with Ino she saw that she didn't believe it either. She supposed it was one more thing that they'd have to address at dinner tonight. Tenten chose to change the subject.
"So what are you cooking tonight Ino? It isn't poison, is it?"
Ino sneered at Tenten which caused Tenten to smile back innocently. After a playful shove Ino answered her question seriously. "It's a little something I learned fro- in Suna." The catch in Ino's voice caught Tenten's attention. She had learned this recipe from someone. There was a man in Ino's life. Tenten slightly picked up her speed so that they could get to the grocery store as soon as possible. The others unthinking followed suit.
"Is it spicy?" Hinata inquired.
"It is, but I can tone it down a little for you if you want."
"No, that's ok. I was just curious."
Tenten exchanged another look with Ino over Hinata's head. This wasn't the confident woman who was also known as the fiancé of Konoha's most wanted ex-bachelor. Something was seriously wrong.
"Oh, good, because I'm putting the fires of hell in it tonight!"
Hinata's eyes widened comically and Tenten and Ino laughed uproariously at her. Hinata quietly pouted and Tenten was glad that someone was getting picked on other than her.
They trio made their way to the grocery store without incident. It was a pity they couldn't make it back in the same fashion.
:::
Ino saw him before any of the others. She debated whether or not to speak now or hold her peace until her friends weren't with her since she didn't know whether or not things were about to get ugly. She didn't want anyone to witness how far the decline of InoShikaCho actually was.
When he made eye contact with her, she knew she couldn't let it go. "Ten, Hinata, go on without me. I'll meet you there."
They followed her line of vision and nodded. Ino waited until the two were out of eyesight before she started towards Shikamaru. Her heart started to pound the closer she got and she thought about running. How had things broken so badly between them? They had always been good friends, even when they got on each other's last nerve.
When there were only two large steps worth of space between them she stopped. She took a deep breath and said, "I'm home."
Without a word he opened his arms to her and not even thinking about it, she stepped into his arms and let him hold her closely. She buried her face in his chest and shuddered slightly not realizing just how badly her heart had been hurting because of him and everything that happened between them. A tear slipped down her cheek when she heard him whisper, "Now, you're home."
