OOC: All right guys, I'm going to be straight up with all of you. I've decided to go all out action stories now. Unlike my favorites writers (DameWren to name one) I REALLY enjoy writing out action sequences. Each move, each kick and each Jutsu really makes it all fun. That's why after this fic, I'll just going to focus more on no plot related fics and just slap in some action for kicks.

Anyway, that means the sequel to this interesting story won't be done for a while, or at least not immediately but hey what do you know? Maybe it just might, I mean, I've listening to Anime theme songs for the past four hours, it's almost four in the morning. Maybe my brain just ain't working. Don't you love these impulse OOCS?

Shikamaru woke up with a groan, he had no idea what happened last night and with the heavy after taste of sake in his mouth, he doubts he wanted to know. He attempted to move his arm, hoping to scratch his nose but his limbs felt… heavy for some reason. Every limbs in his body felt like they were made of concrete.

"It's too troublesome to open up my eyes…" The lazy ninja muttered. Sadly he had a feeling what was going on. The Jounin opened his eyes slowly, not surprised at all to see that his legs were chained to the bed frame while his arms were being gripped in a deadly lock by Temari and Ino.

Shikamaru didn't know if he should be an eternal bliss being clung to by the two hottest girls he knows. Or should he be afraid that tonight was the festival, the day where he has to carry them both on his arms as they walk through town… in public.

He didn't even want to know what that would do to his reputation. He was known as that lazy ass that was whipped by woman but seeing two women on his arms might turn it around. He might be called "Player" or maybe even… "Pimp". Shikamaru shivered at the thought of the latter.

"What the heck am I thinking?" Shikamaru muttered. The chances of that happening were slim to nil, Temari and Ino would be ordering him around like HELL at the festival. Shikamaru felt relieved for a moment and even smiled.

"Crap…" His smile faded, the Nara men really are whipped. Tonight was going to be an absolute HELL. The lazy Jounin face of terror faded however, the past several weeks had been… good, great in fact. Temari prove to be quite an intellectual, proving a challenge in Go and Shougi. And like Ino, she also knows how to joke and how to be emotional. She isn't a soulless warrior that she usually lets to be. Ino, god Ino is just damn hot. That blonde hair, that beautiful body, hell if she had the same chest size as Temari, she'd be a GODDESS in her own right.

Despite their many great pros and cons. Shikamaru still had a hard decision. His heart didn't even slightly tug in a certain direction. He really cared about the two, if he had to choose who to save, he'd much rather give his own life to let the both of them live.

Why the geniuses always are the ones with the most difficult decisions? This is too troublesome…

The Jounin sighed but decided that the answer won't come to him from contemplating it, years of a ninja has taught him such things can't be dealt with a high IQ and calculating mind, it was dealt by emotion and that takes time.

The day went by quickly; half of it went away with the three just cuddling in bed. Temari and Ino worked together (amazingly) on the breakfast, all the while Shikamaru was thinking of a way that he could deal with the two later that night. He failed miserably of course.

The festival was booming with fireworks and stands. Local bands (of course are there REALLY any 'International Bands' in the Ninja world?) played the classical Japanese tunes with their traditional instruments.

Shikamaru sat outside on top of a cheer, looking at the festivities. He refused to change and surprisingly (Shikamaru was getting unnerved at the fact that the girls were letting him slide with so many things. He didn't even put the seat down earlier and they didn't beat him to a bloody pulp) the girls didn't get mad. The lazy ninja's eyes were shifting from side to side, expecting the two to pull some sort of dominatrix stunt and chain him to a wall or… something along those lines.

"Hey! Shikamaru are we going or what?" Temari yelled up the tree.

"Yea, yea, just give me a moment." Shikamaru looked down at Temari and Ino. The second his eyes laid on those girls, he lose all balance and fell from the tree. "OW!" He groaned as he got up, rubbing his sore back.

"You alright?" Ino asked in worry.

"Man I didn't think you were that clumsy." Temari sighed and brushed some dirt off Shikamaru's pants. Ino did the same for his shirt.

"No it's just that…" Shikamaru took a step back. He smiled that same crooked smile. "You two look beautiful, absolutely stunning. You'll make the kamis themselves jealous."

Ino and Temari couldn't help but blush. Temari was wearing a yellow and orange kimono with white trims, beautiful flowers of different colors decorated the entire thing. Ino had a similar kimono but with roses instead. Her major colors were purple and white gold. Shikamaru had to admit; even he had to fight the urge to drool slightly. They were stunning.

Temari and Ino smiled humbly and bowed. "Come on Shikamaru-Kun, the festival is waiting."

Shikamaru was definitely taken back by this turn of events. They were… being polite! Holy crap it's like they were possessed. "Um… sure." He blushed slightly and turned to avoid to be seen. "Come on then! Let's get this troublesome night over" Shikamaru waited for the girls to walk up or to drag him or something violent.

However, Ino and Temari merely walked up politely in their sandals and held Shikamaru's opened arms, not pulling, pushing or ripping his arms off their sockets. They merely smiled and waited for him to guide the two.

Shikamaru felt like he was in some sort of horrible, horrible alternate universe but he played along nonetheless. They walked to the festival together, the girls admiring the sights on their way.

Seeing the two so polite made Shikamaru somewhat at unease. It was so strange seeing them act this way. Almost to the festival, Shikamaru decided to confront this to avoid being in a scene in a place where everyone is. "Why are you two acting like this?" He blurted out.

"What are you talking about Shikamaru-Kun?" Ino asked sweetly, holding her hands up in a traditional manner.

"Yes, I agree with Ino-San, what are you talking about?" Temari followed Ino like a carbon copy twin.

"You two, being nice and polite, it's really starting to freak me out." Shikamaru raised one of his eyebrows.

"I thought this is what you want Shikamaru, to settle down with a wife that's timid and polite. Have a normal family, have a kid or two and then retire?" Ino asked sweetly. Temari followed with a nod.

Shikamaru thought about that for a second. Sure that was his dream, a normal life was what Shikamaru had aimed for all his life. But this felt so wrong, he felt happier being able to talk with two REAL girls, not these stereotypical carbon copies. "No." Shikamaru stated simply.

Ino and Temari dropped their arms and stared at Shikamaru.

"I don't want you two to be somebody else just so you can be with me. I want you to be the one you are. You girls aren't like this and if you continue this, it'll just drive me away. I liked you two a lot better when you were bossy and incessant. But I lo-" Shikamaru caught himself.

Temari and Ino blushed deeply but didn't care. "But you what Shikamaru?" Temari and Ino demanded at the simultaneously.

"N-nothing!" Shikamaru stuttered, turning around hoping to hide his red cheeks.

"Do you… love one of us Shikamaru?" Temari asked, her heart pounding in her chest, she wanted to know so badly. She was pleading almost, if anyone from the Sand saw her they would freak. Temari had never felt this way before.

"Yes! Tell us!" Ino wearing the same face asked.

"Who do you love Shikamaru!" Temari and Ino both yelled out again.

"I love you both." The lazy ninja finally blurted out. He turned around to face the two girls. "I love you two both so much. I can't live with out the other. If you feel you can't be happy with such a decision then that's fine. I love you enough to know that if you can't stand each other and you'll be happy with somebody else then… it'll make me happy you're happy." Shikamaru said, tears welling up in his eyes.

"Maybe I'm just an idiot, or maybe I'm a masochistic lunatic but… You two have proven in the past several weeks that you are a part of me. I love you." Shikamaru stated it again. "I love you Temari. I love you Ino."

Ino and Temari stood there, tears also welling in their eyes. They looked at each other and then at Shikamaru again.

"Shikamaru… You idiot." Temari said she wanted to smack the idiot till he was bleeding from his ears but she also wanted to hug him, kiss him and love him like any woman.

"You're such an idiot. Such a damn idiot." Ino also cried, her eyes squeezed together, the tears dropping out one by one. She didn't know if her heart was breaking or jumping in joy. He had admitted his love, his undying love for her but… but there was also someone else.

Shikamaru turned towards his house. "I know you two probably hate me. But I can accept that, hate me and move on. Live a good life, a life I know I won't be able to provide because I love you both. I can never pick." The lazy Jounin walked back in silence, tears quietly rolling off his chin and onto his vest.