au ino has something shikamaru wants
Shikamaru was always good at drowning out Ino's voice, but she was exceptionally loud. "You totally let her win just 'cause she's pretty!"
The blonde was in her ear, yelling at him the first chance she got him alone. "Seriously, a Sand nin, too!" Her voice sounded more like a wail. "If you don't be too careful, people are going to start calling you the village traitor!"
"It would have been a waste to keep that battle going. I played all my cards, I couldn't win," Shikamaru told her simply.
Ino's porcelain face interrupted his entire view. She was uncomfortably close. He frowned even deeper — this whole teammate thing was starting to feel like a drag.
Then he noticed something.
Ino had dimples. The bitch is smiling.
"You totally like her." Ino pulled away, then sighed as she glanced the other direction. "You know, you totally embarrassed yourself in front of her brothers. How are you supposed to get their blessing now?"
"What are you talking about?" He leaned back onto the bridge railing, more drained than usual. Their conversations usually never lasted this long. He had this conversation to get over, and then the rest of the day to finish. What a drag. "I'm not pursuing anybody, especially not a Sand nin."
"Good." Ino said. "I guess I can just throw the note she left for you away."
Shikamaru glanced at her face. She looked more evil than usual; there was a special twinkle of chaos hidden in her sea form stare. "Are you being serious?"
"Well, technically she gave it to Naruto, who gave it to Sakura, who gave it to..." She turned around to look for something behind her, then gestured to her own face, as if to say 'I'm going to ruin your fucking life, Shikamaru!"
But Ino didn't say that. Instead, she said, "You don't care, right? You're not going to pursue a Sand nin, are you?"
Fucking great. Ino had his note. The note that Temari wanted him to read. His note! His!
He shut his eyes then let out an exhausted sigh. "Go ahead," he said. "Throw it."
Ino slapped him across the face. He blinked when he realized, completely shocked. "No!" Ino said, angry. "What the Hell is wrong with you!? If you like a girl, everybody should know! You shouldn't be ashamed!"
She slammed the letter to his chest, passion firing behind her blue-white eyes. "Read it, Shikamaru! Tell Choji about it! Tell Naruto! Tell Konoha! Be in love!"
He blinked again, unsure of what game they were even playing anymore. "Wait," he finally said. "You're encouraging this."
"Well, I was." Ino huffed. "But she's way too good for you, anyway. She's probably gonna find a really cute, really hyper Sand nin who's leagues better at fighting than you."
"Oh, I'm sure," Shikamaru droned, then tore open the note.
Shikamaru — In case I forgot to say: Please never come to Suna. We have our fair share of terrible men, and having you there will completely skyrocket our numbers.
Xoxo, the girl you lost to.
P.S. Also saved your life. You owe me.