Hey guys! Thank you all so much for reviewing!! It made me happy! ::grins:: Here is the second chapter...I hope you enjoy!

Chapter 2: Dreamer

"So, I guess I'll see you when I see you," Shikamaru said, absently scratching at the back of his neck. He had walked with Ino all the way to her house, though it was in the opposite direction of his own. Ino had protested a bit out of habit, claiming that he should go straight home and get some sleep since he'd be on the move again in the morning, but in a completely uncharacteristic move, Shikamaru put his foot down. He was not about to allow Ino to go traipsing about in the dead of night when who-knows-what could be lurking in the shadows, and it made him feel more comfortable knowing she would arrive home in one piece with him watching over her.

Of course, that bit of information he kept to himself. He told Ino that he was being her chaperone out of fear for his own backside, since if anything were to happen to her, he was positive she would come up with some unpleasant way to get revenge on him, even if it was from beyond the grave.

Ino had given him another of her 'in my head this is a playful smack though I'm not aware that it stings like a full on pummeling' smacks for his sass, and Shikamaru did not elaborate any further on the matter after that. He'd received more than the lion's share of Ino Slaps in his lifetime, and he could spare himself the pleasure of earning more.

In truth, Ino was quite proud of herself for being able to conceal the giddiness that had become a living entity inside of her after the abrupt kiss by the riverbed, and she had the impression that Shikamaru suspected nothing out of the ordinary in her behavior towards him. She had not intended to smack him, but it certainly aided in her deception. The normal Ino would beat on Shikamaru at the drop of a hat, and they both knew it.

Saying a convincing goodbye, on the other hand, was going to be quite tricky.

"Just don't do something stupid like getting your head broken, okay? I'll be angry with you if that happens," Ino remarked impishly. "It'd be no fun to tease a brain damaged half-wit, wouldn't you say?"

"Again, your complete lack of anything resembling tact never ceases to astonish me," Shikamaru told her, his voice as dry as chalk. "I do so appreciate your concern on my behalf. It's quite touching."

Ino laughed, and patted him on the cheek as if he were a precocious child. "Yes, I know. Now scat. You need your rest if you're going to exercise your genius tomorrow."

Shikamaru snorted. "I'll be 'exercising' more than just brain power, I assure you." He sighed. "My livelihood is diminishing before my eyes."

"Eh? Livelihood? Since when have you had livelihood?"

A rogue smile stole the normal stoic expression Shikamaru wore. "That's a good question, actually. Why don't you ask again later, and I'll let you know if I think of a witty response."

With a straight face, Ino replied, "See that you do." As an afterthought, she added, "It isn't going to get earlier before it gets later."

Shikamaru's brow furrowed as he pondered those words.

"That was clever," he accused.

Ino grinned. "I've had a good teacher," she said, and started to giggle.

Shikamaru, the boy who never bothered to show emotion, was blushing.

"Oh Shika," she laughed, and wrapped her arms around his middle in a quick hug. "This is the reason I love y—to torment you," she amended herself quickly.

Oh my goodness, she thought, I was about to say I loved him. Where did that come from? It must still be that kiss playing with my nerves. Yes, that explains it.

She sincerely hoped that Shikamaru did not notice her almost-slip, because she did not want to think about what the consequences would be if he did. She was not quite ready to face her feelings just yet, as she was still trying to figure them out herself.

Luckily, he had not.

"I don't know if I should be flattered or scared," Shikamaru shook his head. That hug had surprised him, but, even more confusing, he found it a pleasant surprise. Worse, it made his desire to stay at home and skip the mission even greater. However, he had a duty to fulfill, one that would not allow him to do such an irresponsible thing, so, with great reluctance, he gave Ino a lopsided smile.

"Well, I guess I really should be getting back. Like you said, it's only getting later, and every minute spent here is a minute of sleep lost."

Ino smiled back. "Go on. And be careful, you got that?" There was a slight tremor to her voice, one that betrayed her true feelings about his leaving. Though she never told him so, it worried her sick every time that he went away, and she was always on pins and needles until she saw that he had returned with her own eyes, touched his solid form with her own hands, heard his sarcastic voice with her own ears. The thought of him going off and never coming back was her deepest, darkest fear, a fear that she kept hidden under lock and key. Shikamaru did not need to know how she sometimes went for days without sleeping when he was gone, or that her worry made food taste like ash in her mouth. Those were trivial things that he shouldn't be bothered with, particularly when he was on duty and risking his life.

"I will," Shikamaru said in response to her previous demand. He raised his hand and made to cup her cheek, but he stopped himself at the last second, his arm falling limply to his side. "Don't overexert yourself with those flowers, now," he said, and with one last glance, he turned and began the trek back to his house.

Ino stayed on her porch until she could no longer see his retreating form, one hand pressed to her chest.

Her heart hurt.

Ino sat up in bed, the morning sunshine pouring in through her window. Birds twittered on the trees nearby, and she heard the hustle and bustle of villagers beginning their everyday tasks. She was amazed that she had been able to fall asleep at all the night before, since her head was swimming with worry for Shikamaru, and thoughts of that puzzling kiss. Instinctively, her fingertips went to her lips, feeling for the essence that Shikamaru left behind. It was there, a ghostly vapor, a memory. When she realized what she was doing, Ino immediately felt silly, and shook herself.

"It was probably just an impulse thing," she said out loud. "He must not have been rational when he did it."

After she paused to think about that, Ino frowned. "Shikamaru and irrational don't go together," she mused, annoyed. "He's one of the most rational people I know!" She crossed her arms over her chest and humphed. "Damn it! Why do you always have to go and do things that confuse me? It's not fair!"

"What isn't fair, dear?" Ino's mother poked her head through her daughter's doorway.

Ino blushed crimson. "Nothing, mom. I was just...talking to myself." She waved her hand and laughed, though it was a fake laugh.

The tall woman raised an eyebrow. "I see," she said with amusement. "You do know that you have to open the shop today, right? I have errands to run, so I won't be around until late afternoon."

Ino's eyes went wide. She had completely forgotten about that, and now she would have to take a record-breaking shower in order to be ready in time. Ino hated being rushed when it came to grooming herself, but she was not left with much choice right now.

"Damn it, damn it, damn it!" She muttered as she untangled herself from her sheets, nearly stumbling as she got out of bed. She lurched past her mother and headed for the bathroom, still swearing under her breath.

"This is shaping up to be a fantastic day," she grumbled. "Just fantastic."

A mere twenty minutes later, Ino stood behind the counter at the shop, her chin propped on one hand while the fingers of the other drummed out an uneven rhythm. Once in a while the little bell above the door would tinkle, signifying the entrance of a customer, but all in all, business was rather slow.

Not helpful, considering Ino was in desperate need of something to distract her.

She considered working on some new flower arrangements when the bell chimed again.

"You look about as bored as I feel," Sakura said as she walked up to the counter, resting her elbows on the surface. "Most of the boys are on missions, so I can't go force them to entertain me, and there's absolutely nothing to do." She sighed.

"Tell me about it," Ino nodded. "It's so dead in here that I can hear the dust settle."

Sakura laughed. "Would you mind some company?"

"Not at all," Ino grinned, and went in the back to retrieve a stool. "Sit," she ordered.

The pink-haired girl sat.

Their talk ranged over a variety of subjects, from what color nail polish would look best with certain outfits, to the new café that had just been opened a few days ago ('we need to check it out,' Sakura stated), to boy problems. The conversation stayed on that topic the longest.

"I have no idea what's going on between me and Naruto, but there's definitely something," Sakura said thoughtfully. "It's just...odd, you know? I remember when I used to think he was such a loser, but I couldn't have been more wrong." Her eyes became soft. "He's always been so sweet to me, even when I didn't deserve it."

Ino hid a smile behind her hand. She'd believed all along that Sakura and Naruto would end up together somewhere down the line. Their personalities were too suited to each other for them not to be together.

"And what about you?" Sakura inquired after a few moments. "Any interesting developments?"

Figures you had to ask, Ino thought, heaving a mental sigh.

"As a matter of fact, yes," she replied, receiving raised brows from Sakura.

"Out with it!"

"Shikamaru kissed me last night."

Sakura's jaw dropped. "He did what?"

Ino decided that she ought to explain the situation. "I was by that river in the woods, you know, the one with the lilies," Sakura nodded and motioned for Ino to move along, "and I was singing that song my grandfather taught me. Shikamaru must have been nearby staring at his clouds, because he heard me and came over. We ended up watching the sun set together, and I fell asleep on the grass, but I woke up when he kissed me. He doesn't know that, though."

Sakura whistled. "Oh wow..." She tapped her chin. "I wonder what possessed him to do that," she said, though she had a good idea as to what the answer would be.

Ino shrugged her shoulders. "All I know is that I haven't been able to get him out of my head ever since, and it's frustrating." Ino purposefully kept out the bit about her almost telling Shikamaru that she loved him to steer clear of Sakura's opinions on the matter. She had enough on her plate as it was.

"So that's where I stand," she said, and began to gather up materials. Now was a good time for those flower arrangements. "Oh well, I'll figure things out. Give me a hand with these, eh?"

Sakura looked like she wanted to say something, but she held her tongue. The blonde girl had made it quite clear that the subject of her feelings for Shikamaru was closed, and she would not speak another word about it, even if Sakura were to pry. Instead, the two girls whiled away the afternoon by becoming immersed in their task.

"I'll drop by your place tomorrow so we can go to that café, okay?" Sakura said as they closed up the shop for the day. "It'll be fun."

Ino grinned, though her thoughts were returning with full force now that she wasn't occupied any longer. "Sounds good. I'll see you then," she said, and took the road to the right, while Sakura branched off to the left.

"You'd better sleep tonight, Yamanaka Ino," Sakura called over her shoulder while she was still within earshot. "I know how you get when something's bothering you, and stinting yourself isn't going to help."

She knows me too well. "Okay, Okay! I will, I promise."

That promise was proving difficult to keep.

"He's fine. He'll come back," Ino said to her stuffed bear, one of the tokens of her childhood that she could not part with. "Shikamaru can take care of himself."

But what am I going to do then? I can't pretend that nothing happened forever. I have to tell him that I was awake...it's the right thing to do, after all.

She clutched the bear tighter. "I'm afraid, Bear. I don't understand what's happening to me...all these feelings...do I love him?" She buried her nose in Bear's fuzz, smelling the musky scent of pine, her grandfather's scent. He had given Bear to her when she was three, she remembered, and his scent still remained after all this time. She felt his familiar presence then, one that spoke to her through Bear, whispering truths that, in her heart, she was already aware of, though she needed a little nudge to make her realize them.

"Thank you, Grandpa," she whispered before she drifted off to sleep.

Shikamaru watched the flames of the small fire, fascinated by the way they danced. He, along with Kiba and Neji sat in a small cave that was dug into the side of a rocky mountain, their refuge for the night. The goal of this mission was to glean as much information as possible about a few rebels who were stirring up trouble in the area, and to take them out, if possible. Kiba, known for his tracking skill, and Neji, for his speed and agility, were hand chosen by Shikamaru himself to accompany him, and they had both been happy to oblige. Missions were rather dull as of late, and this one gave them the chance to hone their skill a bit.

So far, things were going fairly well, the three managing to discover the exact location of the rebel camp and go into hiding without being seen. The cave was an added bonus, as it was close to the camp but far enough away to not attract attention. The three took turns on watch duty, and it was Shikamaru's task at present. Nothing was happening, so his mind began to wander.

I kissed her.

Shikamaru could still not quite believe that he had made such a brash move, and the more he thought about it, the happier he was that Ino had been asleep. He wasn't sure what he would have done if she'd woken up while his mouth was still on hers, though he knew it would not have been pretty.

What was I thinking? Ino doesn't want someone who's plain...

Someone like me.

There's nothing special about my looks, or my personality, for that matter...why would she want me, when she could have someone more...extraordinary? Someone who can give her the sun and the moon and the stars without even trying? But...

I want to give her those things! I want to be the person she runs to when she's sad, or angry, or happy! I want—

Her.

And there it was. The great revelation, the reason why he strove to be stronger, to be better, to take every mission that was handed him even though he didn't want to...

I want to be someone in your eyes, Ino. I want you to be proud of me.

I want you to love me as much as I love you.

Shikamaru sighed. These lightbulb moments required too much energy.

A week went by, and Ino still had no word of Shikamaru. She was no longer worried.

She was frantic.

What if he's hurt? What if he's bleeding to death somewhere and there's no one around to help him? What if...what if he's dead?

That last thought she immediately drove away. He wasn't dead. He couldn't be. Not after it had taken her all this time to understand her heart.

On Monday evening of the second week since Shikamaru's departure, Ino was in the kitchen preparing dinner for her family when she heard tapping on the front door. Wiping her hands on a dishtowel, Ino went to see who it was.

Shikamaru's mother stood on the other side of the door.

"Mrs. Nara?" Ino asked, a bit startled. Out of nowhere, a sense of dread descended upon her. "Is everything okay?"

The older woman's level eyes met with Ino's.

"Oh Ino...I know how close you are to Shikamaru, and I wanted you to know first. He's been injured."

I'm going to wrap things up in the next chapter, I promise!