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((A/N: An Ino/shika one-shot. I thank you for reading. Really.))
Naruto doesn't belong to me. Y'all know that.
It contributes greatly towards a man's moral and intellectual health, to be brought into habits of companionship with individuals unlike himself, who care little for his pursuits, and whose sphere and abilities he must go out of himself to appreciate.
- Nathaniel Hawthorne
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Chouji is sick! Ino yelled, even though her informer was right next to her. Shikamaru winced before glaring at her.
Do you have to be that loud about it? Geez...
Yes, she did have to be loud about it. Because, she was stuck with Shikamaru. For about 25 minutes.
Alone.
Their soft footfalls on the cement were interrupted by Ino's indignant snap,
Be grateful, Shikamaru! Plenty of guys would consider their selves lucky to be walking alone with me!
He didn't reply, wondering briefly as his eyes flicked around the sidewalk if he should've brought ear plugs. Shoving his hands into his pockets in his trademark style, he slumped his shoulders and prepared for the worst this monster could do to him.
After all, Ino was more irritable than usual. He didn't know why, but something about her presence today just screamed female anger. He wasn't going to ask her why; because he didn't care. The less that mouth of hers produced sound, the better. After all, he was going to be stuck with Ino. The Ino Yamanaka.
For 24 minutes and approximately 57 seconds.
Alone.
Shifting his mind to better things, Shikamaru did whatever he could not to look at her. Girls were a pain like that. Look at them, and they wonder why. Since when do you need a reason to look? Whatever...
It really was a nice day. The sun drenched the ground in it's warmth, making the metal gleam like myka in rock. Shade splashed from overhanging trees, the two stepping in occasional pools of warm light.
It was too bad this walk had to ruin it.
Glancing over at his loud mouthed companion, it's not like he could help it. How could someone not look at her corn silk hair shimmer as she turned her head, absorbing everything she saw with those smokey jade eyes of hers?
Ino had snagged his eyes.
So, had he finally realized how sexy she really was? Really, what other possible reason could he be staring at her for? Was something on her face? Ino brushed her cheek over with the back of her hand casually. No -
What pain this is going to be... He mumbled, jerking back his glance. Ino's eyebrow twitched.
I heard that. He just shrugged, their steps falling into a companionable stride. Her lip kind of puffed out as she crossed her arms, giving up. Most normal people would've challenged her or atleast reacted. But, then again, Shikamaru wasn't exactly normal.
You're no fun.
I'm sorry. He drawled sarcastically, obviously not. Why did she always want attention?
I'm so sick of your wise-ass comments! She stopped walking and jabbed her index finger in his face, her shoulders stiff with agitation. Shikamaru snickered ever so slightly; he could almost imagine fangs prodding from that obnoxious mouth of hers. From now on, don't say anything unless I tell you!
I've said only one wise-ass comment.' He said pointedly, calmly removing her finger from it's place near his face.
The slight touch caused Ino to snatch her finger away as if it had been burned, getting more angry. Shikamaru's eye roll didn't contribute to settling her temper, either.
Women were such horrible creatures. Sighing, he waited as Ino's cheeks took on a crimson hue of fresh anger until she let out a groan blended with a cry and continued walking in a huff.
Boys were such horrible creatures.
But Sasuke-kun, she thought dreamily, relaxing a little. Sasuke-kun was a man.
Yeah, Shikamaru! Ino declared, causing some people to turn and stare. She spun around, the Nara clan member looking up at the sky absently, pretending Ino wasn't there. Hey, listen to me when I talk! She insisted, her hands settling on her hips.
He stopped walking. He turned to face her. How did her voice grate just at the right pitch to get on his nerves?
Is the sky really that much more interesting than me!
Shikamaru choose carefully not to answer. Either way, the percentage of her completely snapping was 99.5.
Fine then! Be an asshole! You know, we'd get along a whole lot better if you were more like Sasuke-kun!
He should've known. When it came to Sasuke, Ino just lost it.
So did he and his passive manner.
Would you shut up about Sasuke? Your nagging isn't getting us anywhere-
Oh, and staring at the sky all day will!
...Let's just get going. He held his tongue, frowning as he turned away. It was way too troublesome to argue with Ino. You just didn't win. He might of been pissed off right now, but he wasn't stupid.
Don't turn away you coward! Look at me when I talk! She yelped, but all of it sounded like a low hum to Shikamaru, who had mastered the art of selective hearing. Letting out a rather indelicate noise, she reached out her hand to grab his shoulder, when she stepped the wrong way.
Ino fell, tugging Shikamaru down with her.
When Ino opened her eyes, they immediately shot towards her source of pain. Her ankle looked okay, but it didn't feel okay. She groaned, and suddenly froze. Her foot, was beside another pair of feet. Not hers. Legs, were tangled together, with legs that weren't hers.
And she was on top of a back, which grunted in pain as her elbow was jabbing into it, just underneath the shoulder blade.
She was on top of a person.
A boy.
A boy that happened to be Nara Shikamaru.
Shikamaru felt his vein pop. This was exactly why walking with Ino was a bad idea. A very bad idea. Plotting how to kill his sensei would come after he could get up. Shifting a little so his chest was off the cool ground, he suddenly felt a moan and something that felt like an elbow jab into his back.
Becoming acutely aware of her soft breasts pressing against his skin, the warmth her body radiated, and the way their legs were tangled was a bit too much for Shikamaru to handle all at once.
He heard her gasp, and began to wriggle herself off of him.
How troublesome... He groaned, because it was. It took him a second to sit up, and when he did, Ino was giving him an eat-shit-and-die' stare.
But when their eyes locked for longer than two seconds, and her features softened, Shikamaru ran a hand through his pulled back hair and forced his gaze away gently. He had noticed, however, how she clutched her right ankle tenderly.
My ankle, caused me to fall. She offered lamely, her anger dim at the moment. Shikamaru slipped his hand over his face lazily, so she couldn't see his smirk. That was just like Ino, not to say sorry. A pause seemed to make itself present, dripping with everything but unease.
Well, aren't you gonna help me up? Ino asked, feeling strangely helpless. Shikamaru removed his hand, simultaneous with the arc of his eyebrow. Sighing, and muttering something about how troublesome girls, ankles, and life in general was, worked himself vertical and reached out a hand unenthusiastically.
What? I don't have all day. He remarked, noticing his hand had not been taken.
She agreed, and grasped his hand firmly, finding it larger than hers. Shikamaru's eyes widened, pulling her up with more care than he initially intended. Her hand was so soft and smooth, except for the flesh above her palms, calloused lightly from training. Her slender fingers gave more power than they appeared, gripping his hand tightly. He realized with terror he would memorize her touch, and it lingered with him even though he had let go.
What the hell... He rubbed his forehead, forgetting Ino for the moment, and looking for consolance from the sky.
She snapped, destroying her altered version in the boy's head. She was tottering, one foot in the air. Shikamaru glanced at her, off balance with her face red in embarrassment. So, he did the only thing he found suited to do;
He laughed.
Shut up and help me already! She shrieked, bunching her hand into a fist.
He smirked as he added silently, cripple.' Walking over to her, he stood, a bit dumbfounded.
Don't just stand there. She nagged. The rest Shikamaru chose not to catch. Ino noticed this and if it weren't for her ankle- You're going to have to carry me.
No reply.
Shika! Shikamaru!
You're going to have to carry me. Ino explained fiercely, trying to glare at him. His eyes kept avoiding hers.
No way. He replied bluntly, scratching his head.
Shikamaru flinched; his precious hearing was at stake. For about two minutes Ino droned on loudly about how he should carry her and how it was the manly thing to do and all these other reasons her companion couldn't care for. After she was out of breath, and about to draw another one, he spoke,
Why can't you stay here, I'll go get Asuma Sensei, and he can carry you back.
Ino considered, weighing the options in her mind. Her eye lids lowered,
You honestly think Asuma Sensei will come out here for me?
Damn. He was hoping she wouldn't think of that. Despite of how she acted, she wasn't that stupid.
She just lacked intricate knowledge.
The silence that ensued told Ino she had caught him. Ha, did he really think she'd be that stupid? Shikamaru might've had an IQ of 200 or whatever, but;
He really lacked common sense.
The scowl on his face was priceless, and you could tell he was grinding his teeth behind his closed lips. This she found secretly amusing.
Shikamaru spat, rubbing his temple. Get on before I change my mind. You're such a pain.
Hey, you think I like this! She latched her hands unto his shoulders, causing him to shudder ever so slightly. He had memorized her hands. He had he had he had-
Hurry up. He hissed, bending over a little. Anything to keep her moving. She rolled her eyes and awkwardly lifted one leg to the curve of his rib cage.
Both of them flung their faces away from the other, fearing the other would see the blush that accessorized their cheeks.
It's sun burn, Shikamaru rationalized, as he hooked his arm under her knee, brushing the slip of skin that was exposed around her thigh. It was only sun burn.
With a final grunt she was completely on his back, and the boy stumbled to the side a bit, taken aback with her weight. Or by just her.
Men weren't supposed to be weak, they were supposed to carry women with ease like in those movies, Ino reasoned, biting her lip. She felt him take a deep breath, steady himself, and trudge foreword.
Of course, Shikamaru was just a boy.
Ino had her head craned back, as to not make any extra contact, but about now in the thick silence, her neck was cramping awfully bad. She gnawed her lip in irritation.
Meanwhile, the youngest Nara member's eyebrow twitched, his jaw set firmly. He had tried to keep Ino metaphorically off his back, but now, literally, she was on it. And she just happened to be warm and soft and clinging to him.
He felt embarrassed, he felt tired, he felt annoyed, he felt angry, and yet...amongst his hatred to the world, it only took a slight shift in her body as she moved to perhaps scratch an itch, he felt almost...
He whispered, hoping it would sound like his last sarcastic remark. What was he thinking? Of course it was...it was, really. He began, his pupils darting to the eyes' corners. Ino had settled her head on her forearm, which was on his shoulder, very near to his face. It made him nervous, to say the least.
Wha-Shika look out! She yelled, suddenly yanking on his ponytail with her free hand. Hard.
His hands flew instinctively to his head, then his eyes widened, viewing a telephone pole inches from him. Swerving to the right sharply, he stumbled around, noting that Ino had yet to let go of his hair, which was hurting his scalp profusely. On top of that, her un secured legs had curled around his torso, and she was making him lean backward. Let go, damnit!
She would let go if he would grab her legs, which were being in danger of hitting the ground. The ground meant pain. And now the world was tipping as Shikamaru struggled to gain his balance.
The fence seemed to come out of nowhere.
It still amazed Ino that something so big could have become invisible moments before.
I'll let go when - AH!
Bam.
Shikamaru had slammed into the fence, slamming Ino's right, bad ankle along with it. In a moment of stillness and deafening silence, she let go completely, eyes shut with pain as she landed on her back with a quiet, shattering thud.
It hurt, was all Ino could think. Because it did. Badly.
It took a moment for Shikamaru to register what was happening, but he did so as he found himself kneeling on the ground, looking her over. It hurt her, no matter how hard she tried to conceal it. Badly.
Ino. Ino. He repeated, tapping her forehead. She couldn't be unconscious. What would he do then?
She murmured weakly, her eyes opening into slits. Her hopeful face fell. Oh...it's just you. She drew a quick breath in, flinching a bit. Shikamaru held his tongue. I hit my head... Ino trailed off, blinking her eyes in an attempt to see clearly.
He agreed, and they both smiled at the same exact instant, thinking the exact same thing as they locked gazes.
That's just like him, Ino began-
Not to say sorry, Shikamaru finished mentally, letting his smile linger on his lips.
They froze like that, caught by some unexplainable connection with that same thought and warm feeling. Until the moment wore off. How did it wear off? Well...
Ino began to rant.
How could you do something like that! Bringing someone as sexy as myself into this much pain! You're so weak, Shika!
He replied, watching her sit up and rub her head.
And another thing; watch where you walk! Are you that lazy to not even see a fence! A fence! She sighed, shaking her head. Her lip trembled.
Oh god, he didn't think she'd actually cry. Ino never cries. What was he supposed to do...? His heart fluttered, shaking his head and jerking it to anywhere but her.
She was stuttering, not sure if she should say anything. He wouldn't care, right?
You...don't have to explain it. I don't care and I won't listen about whatever made you upset, so...it'd be easier for both of us if you'd just shut up and not cry.
With a grunt he stood up, more than tempted to shove his hands into his pockets. Instead, with a look he was famous for, he offered one to her.
Ino looked up at him, trying to read his expression. One side of her was pissed off about him telling her to shut up' but on the other hand...he was, in his weird way, comforting her. Or maybe she was giving him to much credit.
You're such an ass. She told him, as he eased her onto his back. Not as uneasy, he headed foreword, his brow wrinkling as he thought of how late he was going to be. After all, Ino would blame it on him, and of course, he would be the one to do the laps.
Sighing, he was reminded (again) of how troublesome Ino really was.
Asuma Sensei! Ino exclaimed, making Shikamaru jump. Indeed, his instructor was leaning casually against the fence, cigarette tucked between his lips. Come on, pick it up. She ordered. What did he look like, a horse?
He made it over to Asuma eventually, who looked rather bemused with twinkling dark eyes. He inquired,
What happened here?
Ino and Shikamaru both looked at each other quickly, then glanced in the opposite direction.
I think I broke my ankle. She volunteered. Shikamaru rolled his eyes.
You twisted it, in the least. Man, women milk their wounds.
In response, he got a yank of his ponytail. Ow! Geez...
I can take her, Shikamaru, if you're getting tired.I noticed you guys were late... Asuma offered, not really planning to carry her at all. What if...
Bah, whatever. Let's just keep walking. And he did, despite of the dropped jaws they were sending him. Asuma smirked, and nodded,
I'll meet you there. He was gone as quickly as he had come. True to his nature, he really was going to bump into Kureina accidentally on his way there. That was, really, the only reason he had seen his students in the first place.
It took Ino a second,
Shika... why didn't you-
He threw a sidelong look at her, and then shook his head. It was hopeless. But he had to say it anyway. She would nag him and nag him until he did, so he might as well get it over with. I like...being with you, Ino...even if Sasuke doesn't. Turning his vision back to the road, he frowned. That sounded bad out loud, and it didn't make any sense. He shouldn't of said anything after all. What a pain.
Ino's wide eyes relaxed after a few steps, wondering how he could tell her problem had been just that. Carefully, she smiled, closing her arms tighter around his neck. She didn't suspect he liked her like that, no, she didn't think he thought she was pretty or whatever.
After all, he still was just a boy.
But he was more of a man than anyone could ever be.