DISCLAIMER: REFER TO CHAPTER ONE
A/N: I've decided to revise this chapter... added more stuff... change a few things....
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!!!!!! Many, many thanks to those who reviewed... and gave me permission to continue ^^. Your contributions were very much appreciated!
Kaze – thank you for taking the time to review and although you felt that it was best to leave it as a one shot, I hope you're not (or will not be) too disappointed.
The Prime Minister – Thank you thank you so much for your support and kind words of encouragement. Any criticism from you will be welcomed.
ChiBi FeLiX – very glad you liked it. Thank you. (Holds up "Badass: Shikamaru!" banner proudly)
Crooked Dolphin – thank you, and I promise to try my best to not "leave it hanging there".
Alriadne – thank you for your support. I'll have to confess that some of what Ino is (and will) going through were based on my experiences. And girl, rant away... I'm here for ya.
Virgo – you are too kind. Thank you very much. Even though you voted to keep this as a one-shot, I hope you're not (or will not, in the future be) too disappointed. Feel free to comment and criticize, I'd really appreciate it.
^_^ - Thank you for your support and if I existed in Naruto World, hell I'll be after Shika's adorable behind ^_~. You'll leave your name next time won't you?
Reviewer – I thank you kindly and I will continue hoping not to disappoint.
Chi – I'm happy you liked it!
Fence Spider – Thank you for your correction, it was duly noted. (Squeals) I'm so glad you liked it!! Yes, Ino and Shika are so good together! Your review made "my day a day full of sunshine, rainbows, and daisies" as well!!! Thank you!!
Shino Bee – Please, please don't cry... I will continue, yes I will...
NarutoGuurl – thank you very much for your encouragement, and I hope you won't be disappointed.
Uchiha Kumiko – thank you very much... and who in their right mind wouldn't like Shika? That's why lots of the characters in Naruto are whacked ^_~.
Rune – thank you thank you thank you! Yes I agree, Shika + Ino = CUTENESS!!! Thank you!
The Lady Arianrod – thank you very much! You were very kind.
MeLaiya – I can only hope you keep on feelin' this. Thank you.
Impenetrable Mist (Crim) – thank you thank you kindly. Err... I have this weird quirk with contractions... I'm uncomfortable in using them within a narration. I do use them in character conversations and such... I hope this will not bother you greatly...
Rashaka - thank you very much. I know my writing style is a bit... weird, but I'm very glad that you do not mind it too much. Thank you.
Vegita-is-Forgotten – very glad you liked it! Thank you kindly.
Ame no Megami – thank you very much for your support. It was very kind of you.
Renn – will do! Thank you.
THE OTHER GIRL
Chapter II: (Autumn Rain) Everything I am not
Unblinking eyes focused on the ceiling but instead of the usual white paint and the occasional crack, she saw only him.
He was leaning back on the thick trunk, sheltered by the massive tree. She had expected his face to be contorted, annoyed by the dreary weather, but as she moved closer, it became obvious that she was mistaken.
The rain dulled everything but his smile lent luster to the colours around him.
How could something so beautiful cut her so badly?
Knowledge and acceptance of its eventuality did not – even minutely – lessen the pain of realizing that it had finally come.
She was losing him.
Slowly, day-by-day, he was slipping farther away from her and gradually she was suffocating.
All ready smothered, her eyes continued to weep.
Tormented, she wanted to scream.
She felt violent.
She wanted to tear down everything around her... she wanted the physical pain to numb away the emotional hurt.
She felt destructive but could not bring herself to hate...
...This girl who was taking over her place in his life.
"Let not bitterness blind you from the truth..."
Despite her tears, she could see this girl's sincerity. Jaded, she was still touched by the girl's warm kindness. Even when lost in her inner turmoil, she was calmed by the girl's presence.
This girl was genuine.
Demure and elegantly simple, the girl's gentleness complimented his reserved and laid back personality.
This girl was everything she was not.
Was it any wonder then that he would be drawn to the girl?
Ino would not be so foolish as to deny that this girl was perfect for him.
"They would be happy together."
She supposed she was being a martyr. Yet, the guarantee of his happiness did nothing to ease her heartache.
Shikamaru was slipping away.
"If you love something... someone, you have to let him go..."
Outside, the sun, in all its brilliant glory, chased the night away but its tentative promise of a beautiful day would never erase the memory of yesterday's rain...
Sheltered under the massive tree, Shikamaru was unaware of a girl, standing a short distance away, holding the broken pieces of her heart while he smiled tenderly at the girl with silvery white eyes.
A/N: Yes, Ino was talking to herself. And yes, Hinata would play a role. How big a role? Meh, we'll see... I know there is a gaping hole in terms of details of the why and how THAT happened but please bear with me. Again, please let me know of any errors (spelling, grammar or something moronic).
A/N: I've decided to revise this chapter... added more stuff... change a few things....
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!!!!!! Many, many thanks to those who reviewed... and gave me permission to continue ^^. Your contributions were very much appreciated!
Kaze – thank you for taking the time to review and although you felt that it was best to leave it as a one shot, I hope you're not (or will not be) too disappointed.
The Prime Minister – Thank you thank you so much for your support and kind words of encouragement. Any criticism from you will be welcomed.
ChiBi FeLiX – very glad you liked it. Thank you. (Holds up "Badass: Shikamaru!" banner proudly)
Crooked Dolphin – thank you, and I promise to try my best to not "leave it hanging there".
Alriadne – thank you for your support. I'll have to confess that some of what Ino is (and will) going through were based on my experiences. And girl, rant away... I'm here for ya.
Virgo – you are too kind. Thank you very much. Even though you voted to keep this as a one-shot, I hope you're not (or will not, in the future be) too disappointed. Feel free to comment and criticize, I'd really appreciate it.
^_^ - Thank you for your support and if I existed in Naruto World, hell I'll be after Shika's adorable behind ^_~. You'll leave your name next time won't you?
Reviewer – I thank you kindly and I will continue hoping not to disappoint.
Chi – I'm happy you liked it!
Fence Spider – Thank you for your correction, it was duly noted. (Squeals) I'm so glad you liked it!! Yes, Ino and Shika are so good together! Your review made "my day a day full of sunshine, rainbows, and daisies" as well!!! Thank you!!
Shino Bee – Please, please don't cry... I will continue, yes I will...
NarutoGuurl – thank you very much for your encouragement, and I hope you won't be disappointed.
Uchiha Kumiko – thank you very much... and who in their right mind wouldn't like Shika? That's why lots of the characters in Naruto are whacked ^_~.
Rune – thank you thank you thank you! Yes I agree, Shika + Ino = CUTENESS!!! Thank you!
The Lady Arianrod – thank you very much! You were very kind.
MeLaiya – I can only hope you keep on feelin' this. Thank you.
Impenetrable Mist (Crim) – thank you thank you kindly. Err... I have this weird quirk with contractions... I'm uncomfortable in using them within a narration. I do use them in character conversations and such... I hope this will not bother you greatly...
Rashaka - thank you very much. I know my writing style is a bit... weird, but I'm very glad that you do not mind it too much. Thank you.
Vegita-is-Forgotten – very glad you liked it! Thank you kindly.
Ame no Megami – thank you very much for your support. It was very kind of you.
Renn – will do! Thank you.
THE OTHER GIRL
Chapter II: (Autumn Rain) Everything I am not
Unblinking eyes focused on the ceiling but instead of the usual white paint and the occasional crack, she saw only him.
He was leaning back on the thick trunk, sheltered by the massive tree. She had expected his face to be contorted, annoyed by the dreary weather, but as she moved closer, it became obvious that she was mistaken.
The rain dulled everything but his smile lent luster to the colours around him.
How could something so beautiful cut her so badly?
Knowledge and acceptance of its eventuality did not – even minutely – lessen the pain of realizing that it had finally come.
She was losing him.
Slowly, day-by-day, he was slipping farther away from her and gradually she was suffocating.
All ready smothered, her eyes continued to weep.
Tormented, she wanted to scream.
She felt violent.
She wanted to tear down everything around her... she wanted the physical pain to numb away the emotional hurt.
She felt destructive but could not bring herself to hate...
...This girl who was taking over her place in his life.
"Let not bitterness blind you from the truth..."
Despite her tears, she could see this girl's sincerity. Jaded, she was still touched by the girl's warm kindness. Even when lost in her inner turmoil, she was calmed by the girl's presence.
This girl was genuine.
Demure and elegantly simple, the girl's gentleness complimented his reserved and laid back personality.
This girl was everything she was not.
Was it any wonder then that he would be drawn to the girl?
Ino would not be so foolish as to deny that this girl was perfect for him.
"They would be happy together."
She supposed she was being a martyr. Yet, the guarantee of his happiness did nothing to ease her heartache.
Shikamaru was slipping away.
"If you love something... someone, you have to let him go..."
Outside, the sun, in all its brilliant glory, chased the night away but its tentative promise of a beautiful day would never erase the memory of yesterday's rain...
Sheltered under the massive tree, Shikamaru was unaware of a girl, standing a short distance away, holding the broken pieces of her heart while he smiled tenderly at the girl with silvery white eyes.
A/N: Yes, Ino was talking to herself. And yes, Hinata would play a role. How big a role? Meh, we'll see... I know there is a gaping hole in terms of details of the why and how THAT happened but please bear with me. Again, please let me know of any errors (spelling, grammar or something moronic).