Soul Scrolls

Chapter 3

When I next opened my eyes, I was vaguely aware of a cool towel on my forehead and someone holding my left hand. "What...?" All I managed was a weak croak.

"Ino!" Shikamaru...?

I was engulfed in a tight embrace and when he finally let go of me, I saw that his eyes were bloodshot. "Oh, I... we were so worried about you... We didn't think you'd make it..." He paused, and smiled. "But you did."

Choji fed me some water and I felt refreshed instantly. I tried to sit up but fell back, my wound throbbing with pain. "Where are we?"

Choji pointed out the window and all I saw was an expanse of sand. "Hidden Sand Village?" I queried.

He nodded affirmatively, and then looked away. Was that a guilty look in his eyes? Suddenly suspicious, I looked around the spartan hospital room and spied an empty basket. Well, maybe not so empty-- there was a banana skin left inside.

Eyeing the basket, I started, "Choji, did you--"

"I'm sorry! I didn't mean it! I really didn't! You see, I was too hungry and I couldn't resist... and... and... I finished the fruit! I'll... I'll go buy another basket!" I allowed a small smile to tug at the corners of my mouth despite my disgust at my teammate's lack of self-discipline. Choji always reacted in that cute way every time he was caught red-handed or was found out.

Shikamaru sighed, and threw his hands up in exasperation. "Well, I tried to stop you, Choji... Ah well, I guess you'd better not buy anything... edible the next time." He shot a dirty look at Choji, who promptly scooted out the door like a wounded puppy.

After our laughter had finally abated, an awkward silence hung in the air. At that point, I was itching to ask him about... that kiss, but when I opened my mouth to ask, somehow no sound emerged from my parched lips.

It was he who broke the silence eventually. "You know, when you got stabbed by that Cloud ninja, I thought I could die right then-- I was so afraid and worried for you..." He got up from his stool and rearranged the flowers on my bedside table.

"I thought you'd die..." He turned towards me, clutching his heart as though it ached tremendously, a wry smile on his face.

I frowned. Shikamaru wasn't quite himself today. When Choji got admitted to hospital for severe food poisoning the last time, he brought a goban and calmly laid out kifu while waiting for Choji to awaken.

But then again, I guess that because I could have died from that stab wound, perhaps his overanxiety could have caused him to act differently. After all, the three of us were very close, and even though we often quarrelled and fought, cursed and swore at one another, our close bond was indisputable. If anything, our disagreements only served to bring us closer together.

"Shikamaru... don't worry, I'll be all right. In fact I can't wait to get back to Konoha! Oh yeah, how are the others?" I tried to appear as chirpy as I could despite the pain, and attempted to divert attention from myself.

"They're all okay. In fact, you're the only casualty."

"Oh." The smile must have faded off my face, for Shikamaru moved closer to me, evidently concerned. Immediately aware of the close proximity between the two of us, I quickly changed the subject. "So when are we leaving?"

"Soon, I guess, since we were supposed to send Watanabe-sama here and leave after spending the night. Oh, by the way, you've been unconscious for the past three days... The doctors' reports have been good so far, but you'll have to return to Konoha to receive treatment. All they did was to clean and bandage your wounds."

I tried to sit up again, and forced myself into a position so that I could get off the bed. Ninjas on missions were technically allowed to stay in a foreign country-- with the relevant documents of course, for a maximum of two days after a mission was completed. Even though exceptions were made for severely injured ninjas, the unspoken rule was that you were expected to leave with your teammates once you were able to walk. Otherwise, you could be prosecuted under the Ninja Code for being a spy, and your native country would not be able to do anything no matter how good relations with the other country were.

With Shikamaru's assistance, I found that I could walk several rounds around the room and declared myself well to the doctors.

And thus we left Hidden Sand Village with haste, knowing from past experience that peace agreements and FTAs would not hold for eternity.

*****

I guess it was my own fault for being so anxious to leave Hidden Sand Village. As we had to travel all the way back to Konoha on foot, the journey back home seemed much longer, more arduous and definitely less exciting than when we were escorting Watanabe-sama.

Furthermore, having yet to recover fully from my injuries, I was technically a burden to the team, and it showed, for I was breathless even when we were traveling at less than half our usual speed. As if that wasn't bad enough, I had to take breaks every two kilometres or so to catch my breath. And even though no one complained, I knew that they were tired of traveling at this pathetic rate with a badly injured ninja.

Leaning my weight on Shikamaru, and struggling to breathe and walk as briskly as I could manage, I began to drift off into a semi-meditative state-- I felt as if my body was separated from my mind and soul. I was vaguely aware that my legs, oh so far away, were moving, and my breathing was so laboured and pained.

And I drifted off, away from reality, thinking about my dreams and goals, as well as what I had achieved these sixteen years. How proud I had been, and how my parents were, when I entered the Ninja Academy. How hard I worked at perfecting my jutsus. How kind I had been to my friends, especially that crybaby Sakura. How I first fell in love with Sasuke...

Sasuke-kun...

...

How brutally he had rejected me when I confessed my feelings for him.

Sasuke-kun...

All of a sudden, I began to wish that Sasuke could be Shikamaru... Walking me home after missions or late night team outings... Taking care of my helpless body when I was using Shintenshin no Jutsu...

Holding me close, helping me along when I was injured...

If only Sasuke could do these for me.

"If only Sasuke could be Shikamaru..."

He stopped, and I was jerked back into reality when I stumbled. I turned, puzzled, to look at Shikamaru, wondering what was wrong. He avoided my gaze, and turned his face away. I then look at Choji, in search of an answer, but he too remained silent, a strange look on his face.

What had I done wrong?

"Uh... I'm not feeling very good now... So, uh I think I need to use the... uh, toilet..." Shikamaru conveniently passed me to Choji, and disappeared into the bushes, with one of his teammates watching over him just in case.

"... Choji... What did I do?" I whispered, worried and guilty despite having no knowledge of what I'd done wrong.

"Don't you even know what you said?"

I shook my head in response, still puzzling over what I'd 'said', when I didn't even recall opening my mouth.

"You said 'If only Sasuke could be Shikamaru'. You've hurt him badly... You know how he cares for you..."

Despite the warm summer buzzing in my ears, and the company of my noisy and oblivious teammates, I suddenly felt alone.

Very alone in my guilt.

A/n: Thanks to all of you for being so patient! XD Actually I'd finished writing this chapter last Wednesday, just that I didn't have the chance to come online -_- Mom's restrictions. Blah.

Anyway. Yeah. I guess the interaction between Choji and Ino is rather... Unnecessary, if you know what I mean. I mean, like, darnit this is a ShikaIno fic!!! But then again I didn't want this to become just a ShikaIno fic ^^;;

Uh, I keep mentioning that Ino finds Sasuke's rejection of her brutal. Just wanted to justify that. Apparently all rejections are brutal, especially if it's your first love. ^^;; Poor Ino.. ;_;