Title: The Books, The Shougi, and The Girl
Summary: AU: High School Fic. Ino's the popular girl. Shikamaru's the unpopular boy. Can love blossom between the two or will it end as a one-sided love?
Disclaimer: Masashi Kishimoto owns Naruto and the characters of the manga/anime. This fan fiction was created for fun. Do not sue for any reasons.
Chapter: 2: Ice Cream Days
Comments: Okay 1: I'm extremely sorry if you were reading this fic and were disappointed that I haven't updated in forever. Lol. 2: Someone in this fiction comes in but in the manga/anime they are a year older than the Konoha new graduates? Pretend they're not. Pretend they're the same age as everyone else. 3: Thank you for your kind reviews. No flames yet. Yay! I've finally come up with an actual storyline! Instead of writing as I go along! Meg awesome! Now on with the story!

OOO

Shikamaru's POV

"Aye, Shikamaru! Didja hear about the dance?" Kiba bounced towards me in his cocky voice.

"Yes, only about a million times, Kiba." I answer back, rubbing my temples with my two index fingers.

Over the intercom during second period, the student body president, Tenten, announced the dance this Friday. Everyone's been chatty about since, and it's fifth period. Geez, I don't even know if I should go.

The bell rang and I got out of my seat, dusting off my pants in the process. I headed to the door, only to be stopped by Tenten herself. She was panting a bit, maybe from running?

"Wait just a minute, Shikamaru." She huffed. She held the edges of the doorframe, preventing me from exiting the room. Great. Just wonderful.

"What do you want?" I had to ask. This was all too weird. First Ino comes up to me, now this?

I can't complain though. Tenten's the student body president. She's the editor of the school's newspaper, and president of the Tennis Club and Kendo… Her status here makes her one of the popular girls, but different than Ino. Tenten's more intellectual than her, rather than in beauty. I guess my day is going a little better.

"I want to ask you a question!" She piped. Okay, my day just got… let's say… odd? No, more like… bad. There.

She led me over to a sitting area near the front of the school, where a lot of students came to hang out. We sat down and she swung over in front of her a large sling bag. I couldn't help but wonder what she wants me to do with all of this.

"I was wondering if you could fill in for Lee this week… as one of our school's journalist. He came down with a late case of chicken pox."

"I see." I closed my eyes. "No thanks, I have other plans." Okay, I lied. I just want to go home and read a book, really I do.

"Please? I really need you on this job! I've read some of your other works, from your history class, and they were phenomenal!"

I don't really think I can work with someone who snoops through my papers. She's kinda cute, though. What am I saying? I need to change the subject… how about…

"How did you get my papers?"

"Oh. Uh… The teacher let me read them?" She sweatdropped and scratched the back of her head in guilt. "She said they were the best she's read in years." She stuck out her tongue. Cute.

Great. She pulled me back in. "Still no."

"Come on Shikamaruuuu. You don't even know what assignment I'm giving you. I think you'll be interested in this event." I could see a slight tint of pink in her cheeks. Was she nervous about asking me to do this job? I sighed in defeat. She was a persistent woman. I'm starting to think all girls are like this.

"Fine… What's the big assignment?" I put my hands up, like a robber caught by the cops. She gave me a cheeky grin.

"The school's dance of course!" She said, fiddling with something in her bag.

The school dance? Is she kidding? I was trying to avoid that subject all day. Now I'm going to have to write about it for the entire school! Could my day get any worse? Can it get to the point where I feel I have to kill myself to avoid human contact?

"Alright, I'll do it."

Apparently so. I said my goodbye and headed home with Chouji. He said he had something… 'interesting' to tell me. And about this whole… surprises crap… I'm getting really tired of it.

OOO

"No. NO! You're lying to me Chouji!" I screamed. I thought I was hallucinating, but I was wrong. I messed up my hair in confusion and finally threw myself onto my bed with my head in a pillow. How was I supposed to know I appealed to anyone? Let alone someone who I don't give attention to? What kind of a world is this? A world that likes laughing at me. And it likes to roll… and roll some more…

"But it's true! I'm really sorry, maybe I shouldn't have said anything!" He continually bowed his head in front of me for forgiveness.

You ask what I am so worked up about? Do you honestly want to know? Oh…It's nothing really, only the sole fact that Tenten likes me. Me, Shikamaru. The boy who just agreed with her to be one of the school's journalists for one week. I can feel the gods striking my very existence with their all-mighty weapons straight through my heart. Or is it my brain… because that's getting seriously damaged too…

"When was this?" I sighed, further into the pillow with my face to Chouji. I could feel a little drool slipping from my mouth due to my outrage.

"I think it was last year? I'm not sure… but think about it! You guys kinda… make a… nice couple…" He gave me a fake grin. I'm going to kill him. With a very long, pointy kunai…

"Chouji…" I seethed.

"KIND OF. I mean c'mon Shikamaru, you've been so caught up with thinking about Ino for a long time, and it's a little obvious she only wants to be friends with you."

I can't believe I'm saying this… but he's absolutely right. I rake my hand through my unruly hair. I have been thinking about Ino, for the longest time. I don't think about other girls. Does that make me some kind of stalker with a fetish for a person I'm in love with? I hope not. But it really does sound like it.

"What do you think, Chouji. Should I go out with Tenten? You said it yourself that Ino only likes me as a friend." Am I nuts? Today's definitely not my day.

Chouji choked on his soda and coughed violently. He beat his chest with his other hand and straightened his composure. "Whoa whoa, hold on there! I never said anything about getting into a relationship with Tenten!"

"But I did." I sat up and yawned.

"What do ya mean?" He propped an elbow on my desk and took another sip of his soft drink.

"I guess I'm saying… that I should try getting into a relationship with someone else. Maybe it'll get my mind off of Ino." I really don't know what I'm saying. That's the hard, rusty truth. It's been lying in the back of my mind, and it hasn't come out into the light… until now.

"Hey, you should go for it. I mean, there's no harm in it right?"

I blinked and looked down at the hardwood flooring. What would happen if I asked Tenten out? That would mean I'd have to go with her to the dance… as her date. It sounds wrong though… I don't feel anything for her. It would probably end up with her crying in tears and me with my eyes closed and looking at the ground saying, "I'm sorry Tenten. It's not working out for us." Yeah I can see the scene right now, except my imagination has it where we're both on the beach with a sunset background, and she's bawling her eyes out, and screaming at me. Then she'll probably start hitting me. Or run away. Either one might happen…

"That's what I'm hoping Chouji. That's what I'm hoping."

OOO

I have my plan rearing and ready to go. Okay I don't have a plan, and I should for this kind of stuff. Oh, I haven't mentioned it yet? Silly me. I'm going to ask Tenten… uh… out? Or to go out with me? Oh boy, which one is it… It's fifth period again, and the bell's about to ring. I already told Chouji to tell Tenten to wait for me near this big sakura tree out front. Am I nervous…? No, not entirely. Maybe it's because… I don't mean it? I feel a little guilty for doing this. I'm only trying to see what's good for me, and that's seeing if I can overcome my 'love' for Ino. It's the strangest thing. I don't know if I want to.

I hear the bell ring, and everyone's getting up to go. I stand and gather my things into my forest green sling-pack. I'm rushing a bit, because after, I need to go to another book seminar. I still have a life. Don't worry. I head out and duck and dodge the oncoming traffic of shuffling students. I'm almost out the door until I'm grabbed from behind and tumble backwards into a bubbly figure.

"What the… Chouji?" I regain my poise and give him 'give-me-an-explanation' expression. He looks a little worried.

"I just wanted to say good luck buddy! I mean, this is your first time asking a girl out… and it makes me happy to say I'll be the first to know… I think I'm gonna cry…" He fakes sniffles. I'm starting to wonder if Chouji is… gay. I mean, in the acting-girly way. Not as in he's really into girls and boys. He likes girls. Believe me. But that's his story. This is mine.

"That's… nice of you, Chouji. I'll see you tomorrow." I rush passed him and out the front door. I tighten my grip on my bag, and fasten my pace, almost at a near trot. I can see a figure by the tree, with a bear shaped head. That's how I've always pictured Tenten. With bear ears. Hey, stop laughing at me, that's not funny. I slow down and take a breath. I walk up to her, and she notices me. The ribbons of her hair ties sway in a breeze with the wind and she has that slight glow to her face.

It's starting like one of those animes, where there's an awkward silence between the two. Then one of them usually says something like, "Well, I'm here! What is it that you wanted?" That's my guess. But now that the awkward silence has passed I guess I'll make the first move.

"Tenten, I just wanted to say-"

"Will you go out with me?" I hear her blurt out.

"Eh…?" I could feel my eye twitch. Now I'll remember my first girlfriend. Or my first encounter with a girl alone. And she was the one to ask me out. Great. I'll never be the dominant one in a relationship. Ever. Is that like… some curse upon my family that hasn't lifted yet? Where the males don't dominate in a world of Naras? One of my new goals in life: find out why Nara men are always inferior to their women.

"I'm sorry for interrupting you like that… I shouldn't have done that. It was too rude of me… uh…" Tenten started panicking and turned around with her back toward me. Suddenly she turns around and has a sudden change of expression. It's a face of determination and embarrassment. I still haven't said anything. Some power I have over women… then you, the readers, all say, "What power Shikamaru?" Then I say, "Shut up."

"Shikamaru, I just… really like you. And I was wondering if you wanted to… go out sometime."

"Sure." Smooth move, Shikamaru. Smooth move. She looks up at me with a glint of hope in her eyes. Then she jumps at me and squeezes hard as though I were a giant bar of soap not wanting to be held in her grasp. Now… what? I tense down a few notches and put my arms around her figure. If this felt good with Tenten, I'm imagining how good it would feel if I were hugging Ino right now. Really soft and warm…

"Thank you… Shikamaru… for giving me this chance. Thank you so much…" She says into the fabric of my shirt. I could feel it dampen on my skin. She's crying. And clawing on my back. Ow. Seriously. I let her go and tell her I would see her tomorrow. She gives me a curt nod and dashes off. I can see a very bright pip in her steps. Did I do that? Aww shucks, I'm touched. Suddenly I hear a rustling noise above me. That can't possibly be a good part of my day.

I take a few steps back to avoid whatever might come down. There's a loud crash to the ground from the sakura tree and thousands of petals are fluttering in the air as the figure pains in agony. I walk up to it, then squat down. (A/N: Thanks Zorro TT.TT; Lmao.)

"Chouji, what were you doing in the tree?"

"Ehe… Just… enjoying the day's breeze. It's wonderful today, isn't it?"

OOO

It's after school right now, the day after my encounter with Tenten. Well… I'm with her at the moment. I decided to try and be a little assertive, so I've taken us to the town's ice cream parlor. I paid, of course.

"Wow Shikamaru! This is great! Thank you so much!" She takes a spoonful of her strawberry ice cream and slips it down her throat. We're sitting in a booth, and the atmosphere has a retro-feel to it. Everyone's cheery and happy. As for me, well, I can't say. It's mixed feelings.

"I'm glad you're enjoying yourself." I pick at the sprinkles on my raspberry sherbet scoop, not really in the mood to each such sweet matter. She takes her napkin and swipes softly at her lips. I watch her motion.

"You know, Shikamaru. I'm a fan of your poetry. You've written very deep work… and I've always wondered how a person, well, like you, who seems so shallow, can make such beautiful art?"

"You can't judge a book by its cover. And you've gone through my poetry assignments too?"

"I'm sorry." She rubs the back of her head in shame. "But it's the truth. Tell me your secret."

"I… can't do that. A magician never reveals his secrets."

"Again with the metaphorical stuff! As you can tell, I'm not the type of person who understands you well. But… I want to. Please, tell me. I want to know more about you." She clapped her hands together and smiled.

"I can explain it to you, but it'll just be more 'metaphorical stuff'." I smile at her for the first time and prop my elbow on the table and rest my cheek on it. She mumbles something and crosses her arms and lies backwards in her seat. She has a thinking cap on. A few seconds later…

"Alright. Go on. I wanna see if I can understand you in the least bit of my poetic capabilities. Haha."

I chuckle at her and take a bite of my ice cream. "Okay. Ask me a question."

"What? But that has nothing to do with…"

"Just ask me a question."

"Okaaaay… um… how has your week been?" She folds her hands, props both of her elbows on the table and sits her chin on her hands.

A simple question. A normal answer would've been something like, 'Fine.' Or maybe 'It's been good.' But I'm no ordinary person. I like confusing people. It's my specialty. Heh. I look up at the ceiling and contemplate for a few seconds. I can feel her staring at me, waiting for my answer. I look down at my ice cream and something pops in my head. Go me!

"My week… the days have been… my ice cream days."

"… ice cream days? Mouuu… I dunno what you're saying."

"No one ever does." I closed my eyes and laughed.

"I'm serious! What does that mean?"

I smile at her and she tints a shade of pink. I look out the window. She looks outside with me. But she sees nothing but the people who pass by. I see much more than that. I see a world of happiness, one in which I wasn't exactly born in.

"Ice cream days… it's something like having the feeling that you want something so bad, but you can't have it. It's that little piece of paradise out there that you just want to run after, but it's only a mirage in the distance… But for a moment in time, you seem to feel that it's right in front of you. It's allowed you entrance to its path. And you do nothing but enjoy it for all its worth, only until you find that its gone." I took another spoonful of ice cream and stared at it, then ate it down. I looked up at her, and she seemed as though she was about to cry.

"Hey… are you okay?"

She held back a sniffle and rubbed her eyes. "Wow… You made that so… surreal. In a way… that it makes so much sense, that you'd think there would be more to it than that."

I lidded my eyes and licked off my spoon. "So I'm guessing you understood what I meant?"

"Most of it. Like I said, I'm not too poetic."

I laughed. She laughed along with me.

OOO

Phewy! I thought I'd never get on with this fic. Unlike last chapter, this chapter actually holds meaning, and is actually important to how this story goes. Lol. And you guys weren't expecting this unexpected pairing, now weren't you:p Well, neither was I. Haha that made no sense. But I hope you enjoyed, and the next installment should come… soon. You better pray. O.o;

S.K.