A.N. I must warn all you readers that this chapter has a bit of shounen-ai. If you don't like reading about a boy kiss another boy, don't read this. You should already be familiar with the warnings of this fic, so this is just another warning. I don't want a mass of people swarming me with flames saying that I didn't tell them about the boy-kisses-boy action...ok, and then maybe a little more... ON WITH THE FIC?
Ino woke up to a beautiful morning, birds chirping, people happily milling around town and next to a warm body…
"EH?!?" she exclaimed, pushing herself up quickly. She and Shikamaru had fallen asleep on the roof. Of course, being the bum that he is, he didn't stir when she got up and paced around.
Mom's gonna kill me, she'll shave me bald and then she'll kill me, Ino thought as she walked around. Despite the warm and fuzzy feelings from sleeping cuddled up to someone she really liked, she was so very afraid of the repercussions, come as they may. She kicked him.
"Wake up!" she yelled. Shikamaru sat up so quickly he thought he'd have a nosebleed.
"What the hell?" he asked, rubbing his sore knee. What's her problem? he thought, frowning
"Look at where we are," she said, pointing to the roof and then down to the street. Shikamaru shrugged.
"We're on the roof," he answered casually. Ino fumed.
"I know we're on the roof. Do you know the implications of what you said?" she asked, poking him in the chest. It finally clicked. For them to be on the roof may lead people to believe that they … you know… Shikamaru groaned.
"Oh…" he said, standing up. She glared at him. She just spent a night in the arms of her boyfriend, which, by the way, she could finally say without the air-quotes, and all he could say was "oh…"
Shikamaru stuffed both his hands in his pockets. He seemed pretty lax about the whole situation. It bugged Ino to no end.
"My parents trust me. They know we're up here," he said calmly. Ino blushed. He made her go from angry to embarrassed in two seconds flat.
"Yeah, but don't you think that even the most trusting parents doubt their children even a little bit?" she asked. Shikamaru nodded. Then he paled.
"You don't think they think that we…?" he asked. No… his mom trusted him. She did threaten him after all…
Ino shrugged. What was she supposed to think? How many people knew they were on the rooftop together? Did it even matter anymore?
"I better get home," she said quietly, turning to leave.
"I'll walk you. I know you're mom will be mad," he said, casually taking her hand. Ino smiled. He learned fast.
"I'd like that," she said meekly, squeezing his hand a little. They looked at each other and then down at the street.
"Jump for it?" he asked. She grinned. Why not?
They stood hand-in-hand outside of the Yamanaka flower shop. Ino shivered. What could she possibly say to her mother? Would her mother even believe her?
"You're going to confess today," Sasuke said, leaning over Naruto. The blonde boy gulped. Sasuke had an odd glint to his eyes.
"But-" he started to say. Sasuke crushed his lips to Naruto's, effectively silencing the troublemaker.
Finally! his brain rejoiced. Naruto was experiencing bliss after nearly a month of being ignored. Sasuke's quick hands made work of Naruto's pajama pants and flung them across the room.
Yeah, yeah, yeah! Gonna get some! he thought happily. Sasuke's hand left. Naruto paled, his lower lip trembling and his eyes wide as saucers.
"Why did you stop?!" he complained. Sasuke smirked.
"Only after you confess. They have no idea, despite Shikamaru who being as smart as he is, who spread the rumor," he said, poking Naruto's chest. Naruto frowned, then pouted. He had a trick up his sleeve.
"Kage bunshin no jutstu!" he yelled and multiplied into five, annoying blonde boys and swarmed Sasuke.
Before long, he had the dark haired shinobi gasping and pleading.
Why didn't I think of that before? Naruto thought happily as he lay down next to an exhausted, sleeping Sasuke.
"Where were you last night?" Mrs. Yamanaka asked. Ino gulped. She couldn't lie. Well she could, but not if Shikamaru was right there.
"I was at his house. We were on the roof," she explained. Ino's mother nodded slowly.
"Did you two have sexual intercourse?" her mother asked. Ino wanted to die. Her mom actually used the term… oh Kami-sama.
Shikamaru stepped in this time.
"I can assure you that we didn't do anything. We were on the roof watching the stars. My parents know we were there. I would never defile your daughter that way," he said, looking right into Mrs. Yamanaka's eyes.
My knight in shining armor! Ino thought. She exhaled loudly. They still weren't out of the woods yet.
"I see," Ino's mother said. The lack of words just unnerved Ino even more. She expected yelling, cursing and possibly even some violence. But not this. Not… calm understanding.
"You seem like a trustworthy boy, much better than that Uchiha boy. He's so loose," Ino's mother gossiped. Okay, she was wrong, the feeling of wanting to die came back again.
Shikamaru nodded slowly.
"Thank you for your trust, Mrs. Yamanaka. I have very strong feelings for Ino. I respect her very much. You don't need to worry about us," he said, clasping Ino's hand tightly. Ino's mother smiled brightly.
"You better marry this boy," her mother said.
Yamanaka Ino. She was a little annoying and superficial, but she found a good boyfriend through a rumor. That's what her tombstone should say.
Shikamaru let out a laugh. Not a guffaw, but a delightful laugh that just made her shiver with odd lovey-dovey feelings. Something came over her at that moment. He was right for her. Sitting here, defending her honor in front of her mother, no less. Maybe it was the way the light was shining in and illuminating his profile, and maybe it was his laugh, but she could see herself spending the rest of her life with Shikamaru by her side.
"That's if he'll propose," Ino said, rolling her eyes a little. She snuck a look at Shikamaru, giggled and then blushed. Shikamaru's eyes widened and he blushed as well.
"Well aren't you two just adorable? I must get to work. I trust you'll come home tonight, Ino?" her mother asked, standing up. Ino nodded.
"I will. I'll come by for the afternoon shift, ja!" she said, watching her mother leave. When Mrs. Yamanaka was well out of sight, Ino planted a huge kiss on Shikamaru.
"That's for being my prince! Can you believe it? My mother didn't even get mad! That's incredible. I love you!" she said. Whoa… that came out of nowhere. She drew back, a little shocked that those last three words came out.
"I mean… well, I, you know-" she tried to explain. Shikamaru just gave her the sweetest smile and kissed her.
"I know what you mean," he whispered. "And I probably will propose. You just won't know when," he said before taking her hand and pulling her up.
"Now let's go eat. I'm actually hungry," he said. Ino nodded.
"To the Ichiraku we go," she said, sidling up to him as they walked down the street. The townspeople of Konoha all knew they were together and many people smiled, watching the couple walk down the street, completely in love and happy.
"Sasuke, Naruto, hello?" Sakura called as she kicked her shoes off. There was no noise. She raised an eyebrow and walked around. She could sense Sasuke's chakra but he wasn't responding. Panicking, she fled to their shared bedroom only to find him nude but covered by a sheet with a note lying beside him.
My Sakura-chan,
Forgive me, I seem to have worn our Sasuke out. Going to refuel at the Ichiraku and come back for you.
Love, Naru
Sakura smiled. She figured something like this would happen once she left the house. She shrugged. She missed her little blondie anyway.
"Miso ramen!" Naruto called. The owner frowned. He didn't need to be told. Uzumaki Naruto had been coming to the Ichiraku even before he was twelve. That meant years and years of the SAME old ramen.
Naruto took a seat and broke his chopsticks apart. He was so hungry. All that work… Sasuke better realize how much energy it took for him to accomplish that…
"Hey Naruto," Shikamaru greeted as both he and Ino walked into the restaurant. Naruto gulped. He hadn't been around the 'couple' since he had spread the rumor. Maybe it was alright to come out and confess…
"Hey… I think I should tell you guys something," Naruto said. Shikamaru and Ino looked at him quizzically.
"Like what?" Ino asked, taking the seat across Naruto.
To hell with it. He was going to tell them the truth. Uzumaki Naruto was not made for abstinence.
"IwastheonewhospreadtherumoraboutyouguysI'msososorry!" he said in one single breath. Ino looked at Shikamaru and then they both looked at Naruto.
Ino laughed. "That's okay, Naruto. We forgive you," she said. Naruto paled. He lost a month's worth of sex for this?!?!
"Where's my ramen?!?" he demanded. Shikamaru looked at Ino and shrugged. The blonde boy was certainly unpredictable. Naruto's bowl came and he literally inhaled it, paid and ran out of the ramen house.
Kiba had the biggest grin on his face. All he could remember was the night before.
flashback:
Hinata had smiled at him shyly as Neji pushed her into the room. The Hyuga boy was certainly an odd one.
"Work it out. I'll leave you two," Neji said before shutting the double doors to the sitting room. Kiba smiled nervously.
"How are you, Kiba-kun?" she asked, taking a seat next to him. Oh boy… he was starting a nervous sweat. Was his breath okay? Did he have anything stuck between his teeth?
"I-I'm fine, thanks," he stammered. So much for being in control of the situation…
"Brother Neji said you wanted to ask me something," she pressed on. Kiba twiddled his thumbs. He was usually confident in everything he did. Except when it came to talking to girls. Hinata wasn't even just a girl. She was someone who he'd liked for a while now.
Say something! his mind prodded and he exhaled loudly.
"IaskedNejiforhispermissiontoaskyououtonadatewillyoupleasejoinmefordinnertomorrownight?" he said quickly. What a litany…
Hinata giggled and blushed. Finally... Kiba finally worked up the nerve to ask her.
"Of course I would!" she exclaimed. Kiba felt as though a thousand pounds had left his shoulders.
He smiled widely. "You just made my day," he said, pushing his thick brown bangs out of his face. Akamaru yipped happily and Hinata blushed a little.
end flashback
Naruto nearly barreled an old man over as he ran back to the house. He hated being stubborn, but he was really just afraid of being injured by an angry Ino and/or Shikamaru. Now that he had that dilemma resolved, he could get his… revenge.
"…and then he just ambushed me. They just ambushed me," Sasuke corrected himself. Sakura laughed.
"Well I figured something like that would happen. I think he's learned his lesson, don't you?" she asked. Sasuke crossed his arms over his chest.
"I guess so," he said quietly. He looked at his waist, the beginnings of hand-sized bruise marks blooming all across his hips. He frowned.
"I confessed!" Naruto yelled as he came into the room. Sakura and Sasuke laughed.
"Took you long enough," Sakura said as she walked over towards him. "Punishment isn't fun, is it?" she asked, trailing kisses along his jaw. He grabbed her shoulders.
"No it wasn't. It was torture," he said before throwing her onto the bed next to Sasuke.
"Kage bunshin no jutsu!" he yelled. Six still sexually deprived Uzumaki Naruto's stood before the pink-haired girl and the Uchiha boy, grinning very much like Cheshire cats.
"Uh oh…" Sakura said.