Hey guys! So, here is the second chapter...My updates should be pretty frequent, so be on the lookout! Thank you so much for reviewing :huggles: I think this chapter thing could become addicting...

Chapter 2: Horrid Hats and Dancing Lessons

Shikamaru stood perfectly still, fearing for his very life. The hunter green tunic was on, but pins stuck out of it at every angle, just threatening to stab him if he even so much as twitched. His wife hummed to herself as she fussed over him, more of the dreaded pins in her mouth. In any other situation, Shikamaru would have thought that Ino looked absolutely adorable, but, seeing as how she was the cause of his extreme discomfort, he thought she more closely resembled a tiny blonde devil than a human being. Worse, she couldn't have cared less. She was so absorbed in turning him into the dashing prince charming of fairytales that nothing he said or did would have any effect. It didn't matter that he was utterly miserable, or that the idea of going to a party made his blood run cold. He was going, whether he liked it or not. Period.

After all of the pins were in place, Ino stepped back to admire her work, the measuring tape that had become like another appendage draped about her neck. "Oh, don't you look precious!" She squealed, her hands on her cheeks like a lovesick schoolgirl. She began giggling madly, and Shikamaru wanted nothing more but to crawl into a hole and die. Did she just refer to him as...precious? Granted, he'd never been a very looks- conscious kind of guy, but he didn't particularly care for the idea of being seen as precious. That was the type of name one would call a two-year old little girl, not a twenty-four year old man!

"Ino," he said quietly, his eyebrow beginning to twitch. "Please tell me that you did not just call me precious. Please."

Ino laughed, patting his cheek fondly. "I was only kidding, Shika," she said, still laughing. "You are the epitome of esteemed manhood." He glared at her, which only made her laugh harder. "I'm serious! Besides, your appearance is going to reflect on mine. I can't be seen with a prince who's not up to par with my beauteousness, now can I?" Winking, she kissed him, and started the arduous task of getting the tunic off of him intact.

"Wait! Ino!" He protested, the tunic halfway over his head. "Can't I just get one little look?"

"No!" Ino replied, her nimble fingers continuing their work, being careful to avoid the pins. "Not until it's finished. There!" The tunic was off, and he could breathe again. No longer confined to the study, he bolted, knowing that it was best to get himself as far out of range of the measuring tape and pins as possible.

Ino watched him go, a wicked smile on her face. She had a very long arm, and if she happened to need him again later on, there was no place that he could hide where she couldn't reach him.

The next day was a positively joyful day in the Nara household. Shikamaru's costume was finally complete, and he was enduring his last fitting with what could be described as jubilation. No more pins, no more measuring tape, no more poking and prodding...the thought was almost too exciting to bear. He allowed Ino to straighten his collar and tug at his sleeves and breeches without complaint, having survived the more torturous ordeal of actually getting to this point. He would rather have his head shaved than go through that again.

When she was satisfied, Ino allowed Shikamaru to turn and examine himself in the antique life-sized mirror that stood in the corner of the study. A prince stared back at him. Ino hadn't lied when she said the tunic would look better when she finished it: it was belted at the waist and fit him perfectly, as did the cream colored shirt with full sleeves buttoned at the wrist that he wore beneath it. His breeches and soft leather boots were black, the golden buckles of the boots matching the one on his belt.

All in all, Shikamaru was quite pleased with his appearance, surprisingly enough. He could almost see how easy it would be to get into character while wearing such a costume, and tried various princely poses before the mirror, always checking over his shoulder to make sure his wife was not in range. She had stepped out while he had been examining himself, and there was still no sign of her. Maybe he was making mountains out of molehills about this masquerade business. He was just about to concede that he might actually enjoy himself when Ino returned, carrying the most outlandish hat that he had ever seen. It too was hunter green, with a wide brim, a lone feather sticking out at a jaunty angle from the top. In horror, he realized that Ino actually intended for him to wear the thing, and all of his previous delusions about having a good time went right out the window.

"I am NOT wearing that, Ino," he said, staring at the hat as if it were the Plague. "And you can't make me, either." He crossed his arms over his chest, determined not to give way like he usually did. "So don't even try."

Ino employed a very nasty tactic then. She knew that Shikamaru could not stand to see her cry, and so let her eyes well up. "But, I went through so much trouble to find it for you. Don't you appreciate me?" The tears spilled down her cheeks, and Shikamaru's eyes went wide, his jaw going slack.

"No! I mean, yes! I never said that! I do appreciate you!" He was losing, and he knew it. "Ino! That isn't fair! I don't want to wear it," he whined like a child, backing away slowly as Ino advanced on him with the dreaded hat. "It won't fit over my hair," he said quickly, willing to try any idea, no matter how shaky, to keep from getting the hat shoved on his head.

Of course, Ino solved that little problem by reaching forward and undoing the tie that held it up, his hair tumbling down his shoulders and in his face. Before he could do anything else, the hat was on, Ino giving him a look that basically said, "If you even think of taking it off, you'll regret it." Her face broke into a smile then, and she started cooing over him. "That's absolutely perfect! You look adorable! Oh, just wait until everyone sees you!" She turned him around again so that he could view his reflection, and he made a face.

"I look like an idiot."

"You do not!"

"I do too!"

"You're wearing it."

"No!"

"YES!" Ino glared at him. "Do you really want to argue with me again?"

Shikamaru pondered that. "No."

"Then it's final. The hat adds to the costume. It makes it look more elegant."

Shikamaru was about to make a snide comment, but thought the better of it, saying instead, "I think I'm going to go find a sharp knife and kill myself."

"Just not in the house, dear. Blood stains are impossible to get out."

Shikamaru left his house soon after, muttering under his breath about women, and how they were all menaces. He decided to pay a call on the 6th Hokage, whose bright idea it was to hold the masquerade in the first place. There were plenty of things that he wanted to say to Naruto, none of them being kind. When he reached the Hokage's domain, he banged on the door rather rudely, not caring if he interrupted anything. If Naruto could turn Shikamaru's life upside down, he didn't see why the favor couldn't be returned. A few seconds later the door slid open, Sakura's pink-haired head poking out.

"Shika?" She said, surprised to see him. From the looks of things, she concluded that Ino probably sprung the hat on him, and bit back a laugh. Sakura had been in on the scheme, naturally, being Ino's best friend.

"Is Naruto around? I have some things I want to talk to him about."

Sakura grinned, stepping aside for Shikamaru to enter. "He's in the practice room with Neiji and Lee. They're playing with katanas, so watch out. Their skills are...not very good yet, and even that's being nice."

Shikamaru raised an eyebrow. This should be interesting. When he reached the practice room, he could hear laughter and the metallic clang of swords coming together, and slid the door open. Lee and Naruto were attempting to fight each other, while Neiji stood off to the side, wincing as the swords jarred. He caught sight of Shikamaru and grinned, waving him over.

"Decided to join in on the madness?" He said, clapping Shikamaru on the shoulder. Naruto and Lee noticed that they had a new visitor, and decided to call it quits.

"Hey Shikamaru! What are you doing here?" Naruto asked as he and Lee joined them, slinging an arm around Shikamaru's shoulders. Lee smiled knowingly.

"Probably getting away from Ino," he said, wiping sweaty hair out of his face.

"Bingo," Shikamaru replied dryly, looking into Naruto's cheerful face and glaring at him. "You're making my life a living hell, I hope you know."

Naruto stared back with feigned innocence. "I have no idea what you're talking about." Lee and Neiji snickered.

"HA! You know exactly what I'm talking about. This is all your fault."

"Well...it was Sakura's idea, actually. She's always wanted to have a masquerade, and she begged me. How could I say no? You of all people should understand how that goes."

That was true. He could never willingly deny Ino anything that would make her happy. Never mind that most of the time he caved because he was too lazy to argue with her. That, and she was very dangerous when she was mad.

"I don't know what I'm going to do. You guys know me. I'm not a party person. I don't know how to socialize to save my life, and dancing..." He shuddered.

"Oh, it isn't that hard." Neiji replied, grinning. "Just don't step on anyone. That tends to get people angry, for some reason."

Shikamaru stared at him. "Have you ever seen me dance?"

"Well...no, actually."

"Exactly. BECAUSE I CAN'T!"

Neiji's expression became thoughtful. "Naruto, come here."

"Eh?"

"Just come here."

The Hokage obeyed, confused. "What are we doing?"

"Showing our friend here how to dance. Now, you take the ladies' part, and I'll take the gentleman's."

"Why do I have to be the girl?" Naruto protested.

"Because. Now shut up and move." Neiji began to lead the dance, and Naruto fumbled along as best he could. "Right, Naruto, right!" Neiji demanded, barking orders like a drill sergeant. "Now forward. No, not that way! Now turn...that was my foot, you moron!"

"I'M SORRY! It's not like I practice dancing like a woman every day. Why don't you try it, if you think you're so good?"

The pair continued bickering with each other as time went on, and Shikamaru watched them with growing trepidation. Instead of feeling better, he felt worse, if that was possible. "What a merry band of idiots we're all going to be," he said offhandedly to Lee, who stood next to him, watching as Naruto and Neiji began flinging insults back and forth, the dance forgotten.

Lee chuckled. "Naturally. It makes life more amusing this way."

Amusing indeed.