Part Two:
Of Peach Blossoms and Dead Leaves...
Upon entering OUR room, his lying figure greeted my view. I didn't even think for a while that he is actually sleeping for I know him much better than that! We're not teammates for nothing!
If Nara Shikamaru is REALLY sleeping, he should be a whole lot more ear-splitting than that.
"Shika..." I called and walked towards his sleeping figure.
He didn't stir and probably wouldn't but I still cleared my throat and went on. "W-We should talk... about certain matters. You know, about this forced marriage thing and stuffs. It's pretty hard... don't you think?"
He then stood up from the bed and faced me with his jaded and irritated look. "Spill it out, Ino. Go straight to the point."
I turned back away from him as I walked a few paces closer to the glass window. I stared at the scenery and tried to hide my nervousness. Why was I nervous, anyway? It's not that he is a stranger or something. Well... maybe a half-stranger since we haven't been that close... because I am too infatuated with Sasuke-kun!
"It's hard, Shika. I don't want to spend my whole month like this! I don't want to go on giving you that forced smile, tolerating your stupid attitude and dealing with that sickening face of yours! I don't like this whole thing! In fact, I don't want even a single moment of this—this—limited married days!"
With that, I looked back only to find him unmoved, unaffected and probably impassive. Just how did the stupid Hokage-sama for crying out loud, realized that me and Shikamaru are getting along?! How am I to live the rest of my living days with HIM???!!!
I saw him shrugged off his shoulders as he laid his head back to bed. "If you want to end this thing, pray for Kami-sama to let the sun rise and set faster than the usual so that a month would likely to be as short as a week! Geez..."
I sighed in defeat and began to walk out the room. I said what I want to say but he didn't. This is just making me sick to my stomach! And I don't want to ruin the digestion of the beautiful food that I had cooked.
"If you can live through with this kind of relationship then FINE! Like heck would I spend my time hanging around with a freaky genius like you!" I left the room stomping my feet as I raged in fury. Boy was he such an idiot...
I ran outside the mansion and proceeded towards the flower garden that hooked up my full attention. Sakura trees are in fool bloom as well as several orchids surrounding the garden. At first sight, it was a pretty elegant panorama. I was overlooking the mountains as the bright sun brought enough heat to make my mood less slight.
Walking through the stoned path above the man-made pond, I caught glance on peach blossoms that added the essence of springtime. Its ability to adapt its color to the environment really fascinates me. No matter how hot the sun could get, it doesn't even show a single trace of irritation towards the heat.
It was as if it was used to this. Now I wonder if I could do the same as the peach blossom does.
Could I get used to Shikamaru's attitude that is REALLY very strange and unusual to me? And would I make myself not to give in and would never show any signs of irritation to his mind-set?
It sounds that it's going to a one looooooong month to waste...
Strange as it seems, brown, yellow and orange dry leaves were scattered around the peach blossoms which vaguely appeared to be very common. It IS springtime, isn't it?
And definitely not autumn! But why on earth would there be dead leaves?
Whatever the reason is, it's not a big deal. The big deal is... how to survive 30 days with HIM???!!!
Damn him. Damn the guy. Damn the troublesome guy. He's such an insensitive and uncaring weird freak that made me stuck in here—particularly in the middle of nowhere and just look at how he treats me?!
I'm supposed to be his wife, aren't I? And he should treat me like some sort of princess or queen and... and... and what else? Love me...?
Nah...
It's not like Shikamaru to undergo such a troublesome feeling. And I...? Of course I'm in love! And definitely NOT with HIM!!!!
Sasuke-kun, of course.
And why have WE agreed upon this thing anyway? It's not that I like him! It's not like we're both in-love with each other. It's just... just a scheme. A scheme made by the most impossible Hokage in the whole barren world! He's such a clever idiot to trap me in this whole damn thing—mess, I mean! And guess what?
I totally H-A-T-E this.
Shikamaru is being stupid in ignoring me and all. He doesn't pay attention when I talk, doesn't even bother to answer my question and didn't even try to stop Naruto and his shit modus-operandi to hell! Of all kunoichi, why ME?????!!!
We're not that close and we're definitely not in good terms. I haven't heard from him for almost a year and here he is now, as Yamanaka Ino's wife. Ugh. It's not Yamanaka Ino anymore—though I hate to say it.
It's Nara Ino now.
Goodness! Could life get any better?
I picked up a dry leaf and twirled it around with my two fingers. 'If only I could just stay as restless as a dead leaf like this...'
Crumpling the leaf and letting its remnants fall down the ground, I grumbled underneath my breath in annoyance and frustration. 'And if only I could crush HIM down to pieces like this!!!! Arrrrrrrrrgggghhhh!!!'
I don't want to eat...
I am not hungry...
I don't want to listen to my rumbling stomach...
I don't want to go inside to eat some food...
I don't want to see him...
And definitely I don't want to be with somebody right now...
"Oi, Ino. Catch."
A shiny red apple fell down my lap followed by the sound of an apple being crunched. "You...munch... got some stuff inside that troublesome munch head of yours? munch munch..."
Silly guy.
I took a bite on the apple he gave me and tried to answer. "I... gulp... have just been wondering if you could leave the hell out of me alone."
He polished another red apple and ate it again. "Come on now, I wouldn't be Mr. Nice guy if I haven't placed anything inside that dungeon pit of yours..."
"Dungeon pit???? What dungeon pit????"
"Baka! Your stomach of course! You got an appetite of a monster if I haven't been mistaken..."
I shot a glare at him and snatched the apple he was holding from behind. "If I haven't been hungry, I wouldn't likely to eat as a monster does." I looked up to his standing figure and I realized that he must be inches taller than me. Well, he wasn't THAT tall when we were still genins but now...
An idiot wouldn't look so bad if you put a flak jacket on him. Hey, have I said that similar thing before?
"So, since we got this—this moment together, why don't you say what you want to say and I'll say mine. That way, it wouldn't be THAT hard anymore, would it?" he said and sat beside me as he looked up the sky.
Watching the clouds again, probably...
"And maybe you could also leave the hell out of me alone, too..."
"Y-you're a sick bastard, Shikamaru...." I said in a whisper.
He gave me an inquiring look and asked, "Huh? Did you say something?"
"I said 'you're a sick bastard, Shikamaru'!"
"Would you please speak louder and clearer?"
"YOU'RE A SICK BASTARD, SHIKAMARU!!!!" I shouted on top of my lungs.
He became perplexed but not to the point that he freaked out. He just quirked an eyebrow at my remark and continue to nibble up his precious apple.
I never expected him to express such a retort, but he did.
"And why would YOU call me such a sick bastard, troublesome brat?" he fought back.
'T-Troublesome brat? D-did he just call me that?'
My breath became shallow and my fists as if involuntarily clenched as I felt smoke coming out from my ears and nostrils. "Oh heck you ARE a sick bastard, Nara Shikamaru because—because you're so STUBBORN, you're so IMMOVABLE, you're acting as if NOTHING has been happening and you ENJOY every time I get myself upset and annoyed because you think I am right under your control! Just for once, Shikamaru! Why won't you be serious?!!!"
For a while I thought he cared...
I thought he finally noticed...
And I thought he finally became concerned.
But I guess all are thoughts and not reality...
"What has happened anyway, huh Ino? You've just become Nara Ino in an instant and will live through with it for a whole month? It's no big deal, right? After a month you could ditch me off as if nothing really happened. Was that it, Ino? Some sort of game to play?" Shikamaru finally faced me with mockery in his eyes. "And how do you expect me to take your kind of game to play seriously?"
He looked away from me as if trying to collect himself up. "Don't make me appear like an idiot because I have never been an idiot in my entire life. And if I could site an idiotic thing I did, it would be falling hopelessly in-love with a woman that could never love me back... which is unfortunately you, Ino."
My world as if froze as I held my breath in midair. Sakura petals fluttered in between us just as a spring breeze would always do. Have I... just heard it right? He didn't mean it, did he?
I saw him snort as he slapped his forehead in confusion. Stress was well evident on his face and probably, I AM the cause of such distraction to him. Was it me that had been cold and not him? I don't know... Should I be flattered? Flabbergasted? Shocked? Annoyed? Overwhelmed?
But still...
"I--I can't love you, Shika! You know I can't--right?" I almost sound pleading. Pleading for him to understand even though I suppose he won't.
He gave me a tired look but showed no traces of disappointment and regret. His face is blank.
No feelings.
No emotions.
Nothing but absolute nothingness.
"S-shika? Y-You do understand, don't you? I love Sasuke-kun..." I said again this time in a whisper.
He waved off his hand as if dismissing off the topic and he began to stand up. "I know that from the very beginning, Ino. I may have you now as my wife but I could never have your heart. If ever... you still want to return home tomorrow, I'd bring you back and tell Naruto to cut off the deal. It's not that I want to imprison you here or some sort."
He threw a peach blossom on my lap the same way he did when he tossed the apple. He then walked away unmindful of the dry leaves that shattered underneath his steps. I watched him as he headed back inside the mansion and looked back at the peach blossom.
Then back to the shattered leaves...
I can't tell if he was hurt or if he was offended. He showed no signs and probably would never show it.
But I would definitely go home tomorrow—and nothing could change that.
Not even HIM...
()()()()()()()()()to be continued()()()()()()()()()()()
Author's Notes:
Once again, I thank everyone for your support to this story and thank you for making me determined to make this story a finished one! I followed one of the reviewer's advices, that I should use a P.O.V in narrating this story.
Well, I hope I did well. Actually I plan on having 5 chapters for Ino's P.O.V and 5 chapters again for Shika's P.O.V. Well, anyway, if you have suggestions or comments and constructive criticisms, they're all welcomed!
Dedication:
To all Shikamaru and Ino fans and even Naruto fanatics.
And especially to the readers who're still finding their true identities and building up themselves.
Most especially to that special someone who doesn't even know that I made a story out of him.
This one's for you...