Section 17: Momma Nara Forces The Inevitable

Ino, Shikamaru, Choji, and Shikato were all sitting around the dinner table at the Nara's house. Ino and Shikamaru sat with discomfort, avoiding all eye contact with while they were next to each other. Choji sat across from the pair, stuffing his face with Mrs. Nara's rice snacks while he waited for the main course. At the head of the table sat Shikato, who was smirking contently.

"You're a genius! Your boy will thank you later!" He thought chuckling to himself, as he watched Ino and Shikamaru squirm in their seats.

"Shikato!" Mrs. Nara came storming through the doorway, "Help me with this food out here!"

He turned to her at the table, "Honey, can it wait just a..."

"NOW!"

Shikato hung his head in shame, "Yes dear..." He rose up from the chair and dragged himself into the kitchen to assist his wife. Shikamaru watched his father as he left, with a disappointed look on his face.

"Humph... Dad, you're such a bitch. Women really are a pain in the ass."

"Your poor dad..." Shikamaru looked up very surprised with Ino's comment. "Your mom's bossy eh?"

"What? She agrees with me? Yea, nothing I would deal with."

Ino smiled, "Nothing you should have to! I wouldn't do that to the guy I marry."

Shikamaru smiled smugly, "As if any guy in his right mind would marry you anyways." She looked at him a little damaged, and stared down at the table sadly. "What the hell? Why isn't she getting mad and defensive as usual?" He looked over to her with a feeling of guilt in his gut. He pushed her arm, trying to get a reaction from her. "C'mon, get mad! What's wrong with you?"

Choji switched focus between the two, while slowing his eating. He looked at the both nervously, "Uh oh, heh." He slid out slowly, trying not to be notice by the pair across from him. He wriggled out of the dining room, and peaked out through the opening to evaluate his friends and their situation.

Ino still hadn't answered, and she still seemed perturbed. Shikamaru felt his guilt tearing him up inside, which he wasn't used to really. "Well, shit... this sucks. This girl has me whipped like my father." He sighs lightly, "Ok, Ino... You win."

Ino shoots up from her mourning with a confused look on her face. "...W...what do you mean...?"

Out of frustration from his inability to hold his emotion back, he started rambling very quickly. "I like you... I have a crush on you... I want to be more than friends..." Shikamaru slapped and grabbed his face in embarrassment, "I love you ok? Happy?!"

Ino sat there as solid as stone. Choji was in the doorway holding his mouth to keep back his scream. Suddenly, Ino frowned, and her lip started to quiver. "Shikamaru..." Her eyes filled with tears, as she dove into his arms. He caught her with a freaked out expression, while she nestled her head against her chest, sobbing. "Shikamaru! I love you too!" She continued to sob, while Shikamaru looked down at her relaxed.

"Phew, I got that off my chest." He looked down to her, and smirked happily. "She looks so cute right now..." He looked up with the same star-struck look on his, to notice Choji, Shikato, and his mother in the doorway giggling at what just happened.

Ino rubbed her cheek against Shikamaru's chest, "I love you Shikamaru..."

He froze up when he saw then, and pushed Ino back up. "What're you doing?!"

She looked at him confused, "What? What'd I do...?"

Mrs. Nara jogged up to Shikamaru, giving him a huge hug. "Oh! My little boy met a girl he like! Ooooo!" she exclaimed while hugging and pinching Shikamaru's cheeks.

"MOM! What do you think you're doing?! I don't like her... I just..."

"Don't you dare lie! Your FATHER did that when he met me too!"

Shikato leaned toward his wife in a pleading fashion, "Honey...please..."

Pointing and lashing out at Shikato, "Shut up! You made the mistake a long time ago, it's your own fault!" Shikato drops his arm and head in defeat. "He was just like you Shikamaru, he treated me..." Mrs. Nara jerked her head towards Shikato and stares him down, "... TERRIBLE!" Shikato recoiled defensively, grinning nervously. Mrs. Nara pointed violently in Shikamaru's face. "..and YOU! You wont be doing the same, got it?!"

Shikamaru leaned back, with his eyebrow twitching in fear. "O... ok?"

Mrs. Nara leaned back, and smiled again. "Good! Aw, you'll both be so cute together!" She gasped, "I need to show you guys memorabilia!"

Both Shikamaru and Shikato sighed hopelessly, as Mrs. Nara ran off to the other room. Ino turned her head to Shikamaru with a scarred look on her face. "What just happened...?"

Shikamaru scratched his head in embarrassment, "She kept me from lying again, heh. I do love you, Ino. I'm sorry about all that."

She frowned in doubt, "Now, do you really mean that...? I can't tell if you mean it or not anymore... You keep saying you do, then you act like don't..."

Shikamaru stood up, and pulled Ino up with him. "Well, I hope this will answer your question." He yanked her body towards him, and locked lips with her. She struggled at first touch, but then settled into the moment quickly. "...What the hell did you just do? You must really be in love then? You're doing nothing you usually do anymore ...but I like it..." He closed his eyes, and held her close during the kiss, the kiss neither of them would forget.