I apologize if this chapter isn't that great. I'm exhausted and its 2 a.m in the morning. Lets just hope its readable cuz right now, I have no idea what I wrote. Sorry for taking so long with this update. The thing with me is, I get more ideas than I know what to do with and I'm usually too lazy to write it down immediately. If I could write fics telepathically, I'd have soo much fics. I'm just too lazy to sit down at the computer and diligently type it all up.
For those of you reading Gambare Shikamaru and wondering to yourself why I'm updating this fic instead of that one.....well.... its cuz I'm too lazy to write a lemon right now. BIIDA!
If the series Naruto belonged to me, I'd be living in a tropical paradise with a harem of bishonens entertaining me.
Ch. 2 Went Missing But I'll Be Back
From somewhere in the far distance, a muffled rumbling of thunder reverberated throughout the land like the harbinger of rainfall that was to deluge the earth below. Nowhere in Konoha, could a ray of sunshine be seen reflecting off the surface of the land beneath the endless heaven. The comforting light that was the sun, could do nothing but cede the sky to the moisture-laden rain clouds that left no space uncovered. Dark and heavy, these ominous masses of concentrated vapor rolled across the vast space above—bringing with it, the humid taste of rain that was heavy in the air.
The atmosphere was still. Nature was at a state of calmness as the rolls of clouds loomed quietly overhead, lurking. During this period of uneasy serenity, animals and insects fled to their unknown hideouts for refuge from the rainstorm that was soon to come. Humans were of no exception. Ino was glad to have the safety of the flower shop.
She waited somberly in the cheerily lit room for the clouds to break and release the downpour of their absorbed dampness. Forced indoors by the dangerous weather and bound to the counter by her duty to her family's business, Ino let the seconds on the clock tick by as she sat pointlessly on her tall stool. Without any interference from the sounds of bustling activity, the normally imperceptible ticking of that clock filled the room with its steady rhythm. It was times like this that Ino finds herself to be too introspective for her taste.
Why did the gray and cheerless condition outside cause the thoughts of him to arise? Perhaps it was because the adjectives closely associated with stormy weathers also suited him. It seemed like Shikamaru and the clouds were painted in the same color spectrum. Like each other, they were both black—such that was the color of Shikamaru's eyes and hair, which was similar with the color of dreary clouds that hung heavily in the sky—and white—like the paleness of his skin, and the color of the feeble light that barely shone through the cloud covered sky. Gray and gloomy, Shikamaru wore on his body an outfit that was in the colors of a nubilous sky.
But their melancholy pigmentation wasn't the only relationship between the antisocial boy and the unfriendly tempest. No, they were linked to each other through the uniting ties of similar characteristics. Ino had never expressed this opinion to anyone before but she had always thought of Shikamaru as a strong person with many untapped potential. Although Shikamaru was always the first to advocate running away in the face of danger, she saw in him a latent strength that lurked within his lazy soul. And like the thunderstorm, his mana festers innocuously until necessity forced the power to be unleashed.
Outside, a mist of thin rain started to streak down from the darkly clouded sky. Soon, Ino knew, the soft rainfall would be replaced with faster falling and heavier drops of water.
A lone Cosmos flower lay on the counter in front of her, looking lonely and neglected. This particular bloom wasn't among the rest of the Cosmoses for sale because it wasn't in perfect condition. Its tender pink petals had missing patches and lightly browned bruises from eager insects that fed on the last vegetations of autumn before winter came. Normally, these imperfect blossoms were tossed as trash because no one would think to buy them but for some reason, Ino had kept it.
Her fingers stroked the marred petals of the unwanted flower. Although it wasn't as radiant as the rest of the Cosmoses from her family's garden, its fresh aroma was more alluring. It was like the flower was trying to compensate for its less than stellar appearance.
The rhythmic tapping of tiny raindrops against the window increased its tempo steadily. Before Ino knew it, the rain was coming down in torrents. The light drizzle from before had changed into a heavy downpour in only a few mere seconds. Coming down hard, the roof hummed with the pattering of the furious rain. Heavy raindrops shattered against the window before cascading down the glass like a waterfall, which blurred the view completely and kept Ino from seeing the world outside the flower shop.
Fall storms were always this treacherous with it's infamous bolts of lightening that snaked throughout the crevices of black clouds—burning inferno-white against its bleak backdrop.
It was during this season, two years ago, that Shikamaru left the village. By now, the time requirement of his mission was fulfilled, which meant he would be back any day—maybe even today. Possibly, he was already in the village and on his way to the flower shop to say 'hi'.
Ino trained her eyes to the door expectantly and waited. Her fingers that were petting the Cosmos flower started to unconsciously pinch the plant, injuring it further with her anxious movements.
Five minutes passed. From the window, a flash of light flickered dazzlingly before the thunder that followed gave an impressive roar then faded to a dragged out rumbling.
Ten minutes passed. The pitter-patter of the pelting rain, like the hooves of a million miniature horses, made the entire room vibrate with its toneless tapping.
Then finally, the minute hand on the clock counted that fifteen of its unit had gone by, making Ino feel foolish over her naivety. Shikamaru wasn't coming back today after all. It was common sense because the weather was too nasty for safe traveling. Besides, watching the door in wait didn't mean he was actually going to show up.
The thunderstorm was moody and unpredictable. It awed her with the might of its torrential shower. Ino had a hard time believing that the quiet calm before the storm, and the majestic chaos of thunder, lightening, and squall of flood-like waters, were all parts of the same rainstorm. Once again, she was forced to draw similarities between the behavior of the storm and Shikamaru. The indolent, laid-back and lurker of a person was the same Shikamaru who volunteered to stop enemy Jounins during the Chuunin Exam. Unbelievably, it was this Shikamaru who was the squad leader that led a team to bring the Sasuke who had gone astray, back home to Konoha. Even though Shikamaru preferred the days of warm sunshine when the clouds were like white puffs in the blue sky, Ino had already decided that his counterpart in nature weren't the fluffy clouds carried by the serene breeze of spring days. It was the murky thunderclouds of autumn.
With a sigh of boredom, Ino slid the lone Cosmos on the counter into a vase of crimson roses. It was the least she could do after she unconsciously mutilated the poor flower while watching the door for Shikamaru. Sighing yet again, she rested her elbows on the counter and plopped her head into her hands unhappily. Eyes floating back to the door, Ino was irritated with the way she was wasting her life. She never did understand Shikamaru's contentment with monotony.
Unexpectedly, the knob turned and the door started to swing open. From the slight opening of the door, a crack that was only about an inch or two, the wind whistled loudly as it blew into the room—carrying with it, a large amount of rain that immediately left a puddle on the floor.
Ino lifted her head from her hands in surprise as her eyes widened. "Shika-....."
A sudden gust of forceful wind caused the door to abruptly fling open as the rain soaked doorknob slipped from the man's hand. Ino shut her eyes when the cold blast crashed into her and left speckles of wet droplets on her skin. "TOU-CHAN!" She cried out angrily. "Close the door or you can wipe the floor!"
"Gomen gomen" Came the baritone voice of Inoshi as he trudged tiredly in, before pushing the door against the current of the air to shut it. "The door got away from me." He said to her with a grin.
Ino hopped off her chair and rushed to her father. Circling him, she inspected his appearance and exhaled at his pitiful state. Completely drenched with his hair clinging flatly to his head, he trembled faintly as water flowed off him and gathered into a pool around his feet.
Placing a heavy hand on her shoulder, Inoshi bent down to give his daughter a kiss on her forehead. She winced when his cold lips came in contact and sapped the warmth from her skin. His hand on her shoulder left an uncomfortable wet stain in her shirt.
"You're watching the store?" He asked. "Why don't you go do something else? Enjoy the rest of the day because no one is going to come today. Not with this weather."
"That's what I told Kaa-chan!" Ino was quick to complain. "But she still made me sit here." She extended her lower lip in a pout. Instead of extracting pity from her father like she expected, all he did was chuckle and give her head a few pats.
"I knew it." She grumbled. "You and mom are of the same side."
"Now now, don't say it like that." He said with mirth in his voice. "I'm on your side too!"
"Yea right..." She muttered before deciding to ask what was really on her mind. "Tou-chan?" She said with curiosity in her voice as she looked up at him. "What was the meeting about? Was it really so important that Tsunade- sama had to summon you during a thunderstorm?"
The relaxed demeanor of her father immediately changed into an unknown mood. Instead of replying, he chose to pull his sopping shoes off his feet. It seemed like he was unsure about something. Finally, after removing his shoes, he turned his attention back to her. "It's not something a Genin needs to be concerned about." He told her seriously.
The drastic change in her dad worried Ino. The way he seemed to be avoiding her eyes was alarmingly suspicious and it bothered her immensely. Concerned, she grasped one of his large hands with both of her smaller ones. "Tou-chan....is...is something wrong? Are you going away?"
"No no of course not!" He quickly said.
"But....." Her voice trailed off. "The moment I asked you about the meeting.....you started to act weird..."
Inoshi looked down at the daughter he loved so much, and it was because of his protective love that he wasn't sure what he should do. Eyebrows knitting together with uncertainty, he looked into Ino's anxious eyes that reflected his own blue ones. Should he tell her? It wouldn't change anything if he did. All it would do is make her sick with worry. But as much as he didn't want to tell her, Inoshi knew she had a right to know. She wasn't a child anymore.
"Have a seat, Ino." He whispered softly with a guiding hand on her back that urged her to go to a chair.
Obediently, she allowed her father to usher her into the wooden seat. Quietly sitting down, she looked up at him and waited for him to talk. From his behavior, Ino knew that whatever he planned to tell her was going to affect her enormously.
Inoshi lowered his towering height by getting down into a crouch then dropping to his knees. He chose that position so he could have level eye contact with his fourteen-year-old daughter when he delivered the news. With one of his hands that was rough with age, he enveloped Ino's slender hands that were folded on her lap.
"Do you still remember the purpose of the mission that Shikamaru left on?" He asked in a light tone.
"Of course I do!" Ino was offended that her father even had to ask. "He was supposed to be a spy in another village! Although what village I don't know......"
Inoshi's shoulders raised then lowered with a deep sigh. "Anbu just informed us that the village he was sent to, Kurayamigakure no Sato, had disappeared without a trace. The entire village has just upped and left and we have no idea where they went. When Anbu searched what's left of the village, they found no sign of Shikamaru or the two Jounins he was with."
Ino didn't even feel her jaw falling slack. Staring wide-eyed, even her father's gentle shaking couldn't rid her of the glazed look in her eyes. The village Shikamaru was sent to spy on had disappeared and him with it. Either his status as a spy was found out and that Kurayamigakure village had him executed then escaped, or there was a greater enemy who was the puppeteer it all. Whatever the cause of the disappearance, Shikamaru's chances for survival was slim to none.
Shikamaru.....is...gone.....
Disappeared with an enemy village....
No trace of him was found...
Completely lost...... No contact from him....
"He's dead....gone.... no longer in this world...." Ino didn't realize she was whispering incoherently as the sudden appearance of a growing mass of darkness overtook her.
##########
There was the sound of soft knocking on her door. Wondering who would be knocking on her bedroom door at this time of the night, Ino slid out of bed. She tried to find her slippers by using her bare feet to feel around the cool wooden floor but in the darkness, the slippers eluded her.
The knocking started again, more urgent this time, as if the person who waited at the other side of the door was getting impatient.
"Alright I'm coming! Jeeze..." Ino complained to herself. "Just come in already, mom or dad!"
"It's me. Let me in."
"Wha.....?" Her eyebrows raised in recognition of the voice. Hurriedly, almost tripping over herself, Ino threw her entire body forward as she ran to the door. Snatching the doorknob, she twisted it then flung the door open happily. She was about to dash forward for an embrace when the sight revealed to her caused her to fall backwards in fear.
Shoulders slumped with exhaustion that seemed to reach his soul, Shikamaru stood there and stared at her with dull, faded eyes. His face was framed by strands of hair that hung messily from his badly tied ponytail. The tattered remains of his ragged clothes barely covered his skin that had an unearthly tinge of gray. And there he stood, drooping with gravity, as the rotting wounds on his body filled the air with the smell of infected sores.
Tears sprung to Ino's sapphire eyes as she cowered away but Shikamaru didn't seem to notice, nor did he move.
"Y-You're..." She tried to state the obvious.
"Yes. I'm dead." His blue lips moved stiffly to finish her thought for her.
"Bu-but how?!"
"A picture, Ino. A picture." He said in a serious voice with a tone that was infinitely bitter.
"I don't understand!" She cried out. Already, the tears were trickling from her eyes. Her shoulders bobbed as she sobbed quietly, and her hands were clinging to the front of her nightgown with with a sense of extreme desperation.
Shikamaru's head, which was hanging low with fatigue, raised itself so he could give her a heartbroken look. "I brought a picture of us—you, me, and Chouji. The barbeque place was in the background. They found the picture because I was stupid enough, sentimental enough, caring enough to bring a memory of happier times with me. And they killed me."
Ino stifled the sudden sob that came from the tightness below her lungs by pressing her hands firmly over her face. The gesture may have quieted the sounds of her gasping breath but it did nothing to stop the flow of tears. "I'm sorry...." She managed to whimper in the middle of her weeping. "I'm sorry..." She continued to apologize even though she didn't know what she did wrong.
"Find my body, Ino. Find my body and give me a proper burial in Konoha or my soul won't find peace." He pleaded with her in a firm voice.
"I will!" Ino promised loudly as she removed her hands from her face. She did so just in time to see Shikamaru fading away into the shadows of the moonlight. "No! Shika don't leave! Don't leave yet!" She cried out urgently. Not yet ready to say 'goodbye' to Shikamaru for good, her desperation helped overcome her paralyzing fear. Rigidly, her legs unsteadily carried her to the faint image that was the ghost of her friend. Ino reached out and grabbed him firmly and was surprised by the solidness of his arm. "Don't leave yet Shikamaru! You didn't tell me where your body is!"
"Find my body.....Find my body, Ino.....Find my body....Ino......Ino..."
Her body started to shake with an unseen force. Frightened out of her mind, Ino shut her eyes and tried to free herself from the invisible hands. "LET GO!!" She screamed angrily, hoping that the vehemence of her voice would cause the assailant to back off.
"Ino! Ino! Ino-chan, wake up!"
She cautiously relaxed her eyelids that were squeezed tightly shut, then gradually opened her eyes. A blinding white light hurt her with its prickling strength, before it faded to a manageable brightness that was the golden sunlight flooding in from her windows. Just outside, in the trees around her house, birds warbled cheerfully the songs of their heritage.
The worried face of her father loomed over her bed as he stared down at her. Sliding his strong arms underneath her body, he easily pulled her up and against his chest in a firm hug. "Don't worry honey, it was just a dream." He told her soothingly.
Ino's pale complexion went pink with embarrassment. She was fourteen and did NOT need to go running to her father whenever she had a nightmare. "I'm fine!" She protested and tried to wriggle away from him but he was too strong for her. "Tou-chan, leggo!" She whined as she struggled some more in futility as her father crushed her even more against his broad chest.
"Are you ok? Your mother told me to wake you for breakfast so I came, and imagine my surprise when I found you fighting with your bedsheets." He told her with a hint of humor even though he was visibly troubled.
"Tou-chan!" She accented what she said with a stern glare. "I'm not a kid anymore! You can't just barge into my room without asking!"
Inoshi feigned a comical look of hurt and tried to give her puppy-dog-eyes. "But I'm your father!" He whined annoyingly, as if it justified his intrusion into the room of a blossoming young girl.
"Mouuuu...just go away so I can get dressed!" She yelled in irritation.
"Do it fast and hurry up with breakfast." Inoshi switched to his serious voice suddenly.
"Why?"
"Because Hokage-sama wants to see you."
##########
Ino meekly followed her father into the room filled with intimidating, scar- covered men. Their large bodies completely shielded from her view, the Hokage who was sitting behind a wide oak desk.
"Get out of her way!" A loud female voice broke through the soft chattering of the Jounins. She sounded authoritative, like someone used to having people obey her will. There was no doubt that she had the physical strength to back up her tone.
Like toy soldiers falling to their sides, the group parted into two halves as the men shuffled to the polar ends of the room, revealing the large Chinese character of 'fire' written in red ink in front of the dark-brown desk. Behind that desk, sat a deceptively young looking blond who was staring straight at Ino with her clear, golden eyes. Without warning, the woman's peach-colored lips curved up into a friendly smile, catching Ino completely off guard with her beauty.
"So....You're Ino-chan?" She asked with the smile still dancing on her lips.
Ino blushed and wished silently that she would grow up to be a woman like Tsunade. "Yes, Hokage-sama." She replied. "I'm Yamanaka Ino, Yamanaka Inoshi's daughter."
"Not bad, Inoshi! Who knew a brat like you could make such a beautiful daughter!" Tsunade joked boisterously.
Inoshi let out polite chuckle. "You're too kind, Hokage-sama."
The rest of the ninjas in the room rolled their eyes at the bantering.
"Isn't it about time we get back to the real topic, Hokage-sama?" An impatient man suggested.
"Maa maa, maybe you need this book more than me." Kakashi made his presence known by handing his Icha Icha Paradise to that ninja.
From the back of the room, another deep voice spoke up. "Kakashi, I can't believe you would actually read that dirty book in front of the Hokage."
"Asuma-sensei?" Ino said incredulously. She had forgotten that her laid- back teacher that puffed like a chimney was actually a Jounin. Now she understood why the room smelled of smoke.
"At least I'm not trying to give Hokage-sama cancer." Kakashi retorted dryly.
It was then, that another man decided to cry out in an overly dramatic voice. "Oh Kakashi! Your modern and perverted way irritates me! No wonder you are my eternal rival!"
Ino looked around for the telltale green, which she spotted among the dark colored clothing. She hadn't realized that Gai-sensei was also present at this meeting.
The men in the room were smirking in amusement when they were pushed aside by a pair of feminine hands as the slim body of Kurenai-sensei squeezed forward. Her blood-red eyes looked around the room, making eye contact with anyone that dared to meet her displeased glare. "With all due respect Hokage-sama, we shouldn't be making small talk when there's a Genin in need of rescue."
Upon hearing those words, Ino stepped closer to the female Jounin with wavy long hair. She looked up at the taller woman with hopeful joy sparkling in her eyes.
"Is there news of Shikamaru?" Ino asked enthusiastically. She was barely able to contain herself when she realized he might still be alive.
Tsunade's hands folded over each other and she propped her arms up by her elbows. Her earlier humor fled as if it was chased away by the pensive mood that suddenly made the room heavy. Leaning her face closer to her folded hands, Tsunade's light amber eyes narrowed in concentrated thought. The ninjas within the room stayed respectfully silent as they waited to see how the Hokage would broach the subject.
After the initial pause, Tsunade opened her mouth and started to state the facts. "Anbu brought back something interesting. I suspect it's some sort of code but no one has been able to crack it thus far. Shikato has already confirmed that it's in Shikamaru's handwriting."
Ino looked in puzzlement to her father, then to Asuma-sensei. That was when she noticed Nara Shikato, Shikamaru's father, was leaning against the wall to the right. He seemed to be in a sullen mood, which was understandable. It was his son that went mysteriously missing after two years of his mission, along with the enemies that he was supposed to keep an eye on. Because Shikato had been quiet the entire time, in addition to the drab inconspicuousness of his outfit, she had failed to detect him until now.
"Um....." Ino felt reluctant and didn't know how to begin her question. "What's the purpose of summoning me?" She asked timidly.
Tsunade snorted lightly through her nose and gave Ino a cocky grin. "Why......I want you to crack the code of course!" She declared as if it was the most natural thing in the world.
"WHAT?! Me?! B-but....if you guys can't figure out the code...and Shikamaru is a genius...what makes you think I can understand his message?"
"Why, because I want to take a chance with you! I never could resist a good gamble." Tsunade laughed raucously after saying that.
The subservient Shizune who worked as Tsunade's assistant, flashed Ino an apologetic look as she handed to her, a tattered piece of paper. "Anbu found this in the house that Shikamaru lived in. We believe these are directions." She informed the young girl.
As if he was tired of waiting in the background, Shikato pushed himself away from the wall and sauntered forward. "Or maybe my son is just a horrible poet." He said, trying to put up a brave front of indifference.
Cautiously, Ino was careful to be gentle with her fingers as she took the precious paper from Shizune. Swallowing the lump in her throat, she ignored her apprehension and looked down at the paper.
"................................."
Shikato gave Ino a weak smile and patted her on the back. "That's ok Ino, I couldn't figure it out either. I don't blame you at all for not getting it. It's my son's fault for making it too obscure."
Ino quickly shook her head at him, her eyes still glued to the paper. "I know what this means."
The whole room immediately became energized as the talking amongst the Jounins started up again. Asuma took a deep drag from his cigarette and smiled a closed-lipped smile at Ino. He had faith in her and time proved his faith to be well placed. Meanwhile, the blond hair belonging to Inoshi waved in the air as he nodded vigorously with a proud look.
The room was buzzing with the low conversations of the ninjas as various speculations about the 'poem' were tossed around. Ino ignored it all because she was preoccupied with something substantially more important. Because she was still staring down at the paper Shikamaru left behind, she didn't see the look of hope filling Shikato's tired black eyes.
Homeless, the cloud is carried away helplessly.
To where, the wind decides for it.
Should the currents carry the cloud too high, no shadow shall be cast onto the ground.
It is when the cloud floats low that its image should be reflected on the earth.
They say a rolling stone gathers no moss, but I will not be buried in the sands of time.
Come with me, my companions, for our numbers will multiply and we shall cover the sky.
When we, the clouds, amass, the energy of Mother Nature is on our side.
Thunder and lightening, rain and hail, our fury shall be unleashed upon the green land.
But until then, I will only float in the heavens, a single cloud and benign.
A strangled cough escaped from Ino before it turned into an uncontrollable giggling. Between the pauses of her convulsive laughing, she wiped tears of amusement from her eyes and beamed at her father. Like everyone else standing in the room, his expression was that of utter confusion as he gaped at her like a goldfish.
"M-man! I had no idea he sucked so much at writing!" Ino snickered in delight. "Tou-chan, w-where...what direction has the wind been blowing right before the village disappeared?" She gasped out after the fit of chortling.
"Uh.......west?"
"And where was Kurayamigakure no Sato located?"
Hesitantly, Shikato reached his arm out to a large map hanging on the wall and pointed out a spot with the tip of his kunai.
Ino raised herself to her full height and flashed a cheerfully toothy grin. "Shikamaru is at the southwestern boarder of Niwagakure no Sato."
1. Tou-chan: Affectionate way of saying "dad"
2. Kaa-chan: affectionate way of saying "mom"
3.Kurayamigakure no Sato: Hidden village of darkness. Yes I made up that village and it sounds totally stupid.
Man I'm so tired. I know I shouldn't post this because isn't it taboo to post stuff without proof-reading it first? But I just really really wanna update something! I guess I'll edit glaring mistakes later. I had actually wanted to end this chapter at a different part but I'm too tired to type more.
To Johnson: T-T mannnn...your compliment was soo nice!!! If you're still checking for the update of this fic "everyday", I hope this chapter doesn't disappoint you cuz I will be so sad if it does. Please continue to read my ficcies! SHIKAINO FOREVER!
To Gooberific: I'm so glad SOMEONE noticed the first chapter of this fic was edited and lengthened! Whew, at least someone read the revised version! Thanks for checking out this fic!
As for Gambare Shikamaru, I'll have you people know I've already written two versions of the lemon in my head. Yes.....In my head LOL And now I'm sure all the ideas have fled me. If only I could write telepathically! Then I can nap and write at the same time and everybody will be happy!
Tasuki: #frowns# I was wondering why you were blushing randomly and giggling freakishly. (and here I thought she was checkin me out)
Ehh? Genchan....moshikashite....Yakimochi kai?! XD #RED# I will try my best to summon the courage to write about something I have no experience in! #salutes#
p.s.
the crappy ass formatting changes my fics into is REALLY REALLY starting to piss me off.