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: 3: Deer Farm Part I
Comments: Oy, I hate the near ending of school. Projects are always the worst, no? Anyway, thank you to those who reviewed.. from way back when. I feel awful when I read them, and don't write more than I should. Well then, here ya go!
OOO
Shikamaru walked down the cold pavement in his light gray hoodie and forest green sweats. His usual content look was plastered on his face, however, he was distracted by one of his trusty novel books. People walked past him on the sidewalks, some hurrying to business meetings, and some chatting down to the mall. The air was chipper and the sun peaked out through from the clouds above.
He took a glance above his book and walked up to one of the buildings, an old-fashioned bookstore. The exterior was of two large glass panes, and a cherry wooden door in the middle leading to the entrance. He lightly pushed down on the doorknob and turned it, releasing his grip and walking inside, with the ringing bell above him to signal the bookstore had either got another customer, or lost one.
A merry, chubby man in a dark blue apron stood behind the counter, reading the latest edition of the Konoha Times. He shuffled through the pages a bit, and let it down to see his new customer. He then put on a cheeky smile and waved.
"Good afternoon, Shikamaru, my boy!" He greeted, and Shikamaru stepped up to the counter, taking in the warm air contained in the store. He book-marked his page on his book and set it on the surface. "Isn't today a school day for you youngsters? Why aren't you getting your education?"
The teenager, slightly taller than the book clerk, looked around, and then set his eyes on the man again, smiling a bit. "Today's a day-off Mr. Koruki. I thought I'd stop by to see how things were doing. Mind if I look around?"
"Go ahead. You've been doing so for the past 3 years, I don't see what's the difference with asking me again and again." He shooed away Shikamaru and went back to his newspaper.
"I guess you're right then." Shikamaru walked up to one of the near bookshelves and picked out a thin book with a yellow binding. "So it'd be better if I didn't have manners and not ask?"
The clerk furrowed his eyebrows and looked over at him. "I didn't mean it like that. You're a good boy Shikamaru. Isn't it about time you had a girlfriend or something of the sort?" He flipped a page, and Shikamaru slapped the cover of the book closed with one hand. His head was bent down and his neck crooked slightly. His head turned to the clerk.
"Actually I am seeing someone, Mr. Koruki." He set the book back on the shelf and picked another one out.
"Oh? Do you really? Is it that girl… what's her name… Ina? Ine? Inu? Er… dog?" Mr. Koruki scratched his head. Shikamaru laughed, almost dropping the magazine he pulled from the shelf.
"It's Ino. And no, it's not her. It's another girl, and her name's Tenten." Shikamaru eyed a book on the top shelf, and he tiptoed up to reach it. He examined the cover to see a shorthaired blonde girl sitting on a river's edge. 'Reluctance'.
"I see. Well good luck with her my boy." He put away his newspaper and shuffled something under the counter. Shikamaru looked over at him, curious. The clerk came back up with a slightly worn cardboard box, and he set it loudly on the countertop. "Aye! Check these books out. They're pretty old, but some of them are worth reading."
The Nara walked over and set the book he was holding by the register. He then took hold of the box and set it on the floor. He sat on the thin-carpeted floor and browsed through the selection. He smirked as he noticed most of the books he saw were books he already read. One in particular caught his attention, a book with a dark background and a crescent moon printed on the front cover. He took it in his right hand and threw it in the air shortly. He read the back for the book's summary.
'Pretty good… Small text… thick binding… good summary…' He thought as he got up off the floor and placed the book on the counter. He fished into the pocket of his hoodie and pulled out his navy blue wallet, with the Konoha leaf symbol bared on the front. The clerk went to the register to ring up the boy's item. He looked next to the register, seeing a book out of place. He put it in front of Shikamaru to see.
"Were you planning on getting this one too? Reluctance?" Shikamaru thought attentively, looking above the clerk's head to the shelf behind him.
"Yeah. Ring that up too." He took out a few worn bills from his wallet and set them on the counter along with pocket change. A bell chime was heard, and two teenaged girls entered the empty store. Shikamaru and the clerk glanced at them, and continued on with the payment. The clerk began punching random buttons on the register in a low fury. He huffed and scrutinized the machine.
"Give me a few minutes, Shikamaru. This old thing likes to die out on me once in a while." He fiddled with it and opened the cover with a metal click. Shikamaru nodded and looked around the store. The two girls who walked in looked pretty lost. One of them looked at Shikamaru, and he stared right back. The girl walked up to him.
"Can you help me find something? I'm doing a research paper on the Wind Country. And I don't know where your reference books are." She looked a bit worried. Shikamaru scratched his head. "But I don't work here…" He said, with an apologetic tone. Suddenly he felt something blunt and hard hit the back of his head. Book pages were heard floating to the floor. Shikamaru glared behind him to the clerk, who had an angry look on his face.
"Help the customer boy! I'm in a bundle as it is. It's good to get some assistance around here ya know?" The clerk yelled, then going back to his broken register. Shikamaru sighed then turned back to the girl, who was fiddling with the hem of her skirt. 'Troublesome!' He cursed in his thoughts.
"The reference books are over here. Come with me." Shikamaru said, in his mannered tone and lead the girl to a section in the bookstore. The girls giggled quietly behind him and he shut his eyes in agitation. He never before experienced this weird kind of attention, but soon he felt stupid after remembering people laughed at him in school anyway. He stopped and showed the girls a bookshelf with a couple of series of encyclopedias and books containing map references. "I should warn you though, they're not for sale."
"Thanks a lot!" The girl said in her cute tone of voice. "Hey… aren't you Tenten's new boyfriend? Shikamaru was it?"
He looked at her in shock and scratched his cheek. "Say wah…?"
"Yeah! It is you! News around the school is that you're her new boyfriend! So is it true? Eh? Eh?" She batted her eyes in his face, frantically waiting for his response. He stepped back, almost coming in contact with a rolling cart full of magazines. He suddenly dodged under the girl and ran passed her, picking up the books he bought off the counter.
"See ya later Mr. Koruki!" He grabbed for the door leading to the exit, but was stopped by Mr. Koruki.
"Wait! I wanted to ask you a question."
"What is it? I don't want to stick around here for much longer." He looked behind the clerk to see the girls giggling their heads off.
"I saw how you handled those customers. How'd you like a job working here Shikamaru? I'll pay you extra, since I don't have any other employees." He gave him a smile, but only saw the boy look scared to death.
"Yeah yeah sure! I'll come by tomorrow BYE." He dashed out the door, almost breaking off the bell as it sounded. He gave out a sigh and looked behind him, only to see the two girls coming at him with overly excited face. 'What the heck do they want with me?' He sprinted across an intersection, just in time for a yellow light to appear on the traffic signal. The girls were nowhere to be found as he slowed his pace, panting heavily. 'Oy… I hate girls more than ever…'
OOO
He walked home, and closed his front door with a soft click. Trudging into the kitchen, he got out a jug of orange juice and poured himself a glass. His dad walked in, looking beat and tired. Shikato sat on one of the wooden chairs by the dining table and let out a long breath. Shikamaru took out a second glass and poured his father some orange juice as well. He sat down across from him and laid the glasses on the table.
"So, how's work on the farm dad?" The younger Nara took a sip from his glass, clinking it back to the table. His father looked up to the ceiling.
"Stressful. The deer wouldn't stampede back into the pen right away. They sat out in the field for forever!"
"That sounds… interesting." Shikato took off his dark vest, and threw it on the floor in a careless manner. He turned to his son.
"Shikamaru, how 'bout you sleep out in the cabin for the weekend? It'll be nice to have you help out on the farm for a couple of days."
'Everyone wants me working now. What is up with the world today?' Shikamaru thought and had a sour look on his face. A spark lit in his mind and he got an idea.
"Would you mind if I invited some friends?"
"Oh? There's someone other than Chouji you want to invite?"
"Yeah… so is it okay?"
"I guess… but only 3 more friends, besides Chouji. We only have so many sleeping choices in the cabin."
"Thanks dad. I'll get right to inviting them." He pushed his chair back and got up, going up the stairs to his bedroom. He flopped on his bed, picking his cordless phone off the receiver in the process. He sat up and searched his backpack for a piece of paper. Once he got it he dialed Tenten's home phone number.
Ring. Ring. Ring.
"Hello? Fuuryu residents." A female voice was heard through the other line. (A/N: I made up Tenten's last name
"Hello, Tenten?"
"This is her speaking. Shikamaru?"
"Yeah."
"Aah! Hi! How are you?"
"Uh… I was calling to see if you wanted to um… go to my dad's deer ranch for the weekend. You know… just relax and stuff." Shikamaru rubbed the back of his head in embarrassment. The other end was silent and some shuffles were heard.
"Oh…? Sure! I'd love to go!"
He let out a sigh while covering the phone with both of his hands. He put it back up to his ear. "…Did you want to invite anyone in particular? I'm only inviting you and Chouji."
"Oh! Oh! Can I invite Ino? She'd love to go with me. I would invite Sakura, but she has plans for the weekend."
"Ah…" Shikamaru almost dropped the phone to the ground as soon as the name 'Ino' was mentioned. His face grew warm and his body began trembling. He brought the back of his hand to his sweating forehead. '…Ino's coming?'
"…Shika? You there?" A worried voice called out to him. He fiddled with the phone and brought it to his ear.
"Yeah. Yeah. Uh, sorry 'bout that."
"Do you mind holding on for a few seconds?"
"Ah… no. Not at all."
"Alright. Click." Shikamaru tapped the back of the phone and hummed a bit. He bit the inside of the bottom of his lip and crooked his neck backwards and stared at his plain white ceiling.
"I'm back!" Tenten said.
"Hi." Following was the 'Ring. Ring. Ring.' of the phone again.
"..What was that?" Shikamaru asked.
"Oh. I'm calling Ino right now asking if she wants to go! Three-way calling is sooo useful these days, don't you think?" Her cheery tone commented. Shikamaru suddenly lost the ability to suck in air as he started to hyperventilate. The ringing continued and the click was heard.
"Yamanaka residence. Inoshi speaking." The gruff voice rang out.
"Hello Mr. Yamanaka! How are you this fine day today?" Tenten said.
"I'm pretty well. I'll get Ino, be right back." The phone was heard set down and Tenten started singing softly and Shikamaru sat in silence.
'Oh maaaaan. What am I supposed to say? Should I invite her myself? No, that's Tenten's job. Ah.. maybe I should just stay quiet and collected. Yeah, that's better. Oh wait, that'll make me sound shy. Argh. Uh.. 'bout I just casually say hi? Damnit, that's not my style either. But since when did I consider myself having a style in the first place…' Shikamaru thought to himself as the Yamanaka's phone was picked up.
"Hi Tenten!" Ino said.
"Hi Ino! Oh yeah, Shikamaru's here too. Say hi!"
"Oh.. Uh, hi Shikamaru." Ino's voice came down to a prissy yet comforting tone.
"Uh… Hi, Ino." His voice came out more like a strangled mouse in the grasp of a menacing cat. He mentally slapped himself for his cowardice. What was he thinking? 'Hi, Ino.' Smooth move, Nara. Smooth move.
"Anyway, Shikamaru invited me to his dad's deer farm and he wanted me to invite someone! So, didja wanna go with us Ino?" Tenten chirped.
"Aah, I see. Shikamaru's beginning to be the ladies' man, I see. Hm hm." She chuckled as Shikamaru knotted his brows together from her sarcasm.
"We're going for the weekend." Tenten said.
"Awesome! I don't have plans and I'm already bored. I was planning to go shopping with Sakura but then I didn't feel like it. It was like, the weirdest thing!" Ino replied.
"Totally. I get that feeling a lot too. It's like one minute you just want to go walk and see all the cool stuff they have, then you just don't wanna hop in the car and just go. Ya know?"
"I sooo totally know."
Shikamaru's head began to throb. 'So this is what girls talk about.' He thought. All this time he thought they talked about boys and how cool and hot they were. Judging by their conversation, he assumed they weren't going to stop talking about perfume and shoes anytime soon. His lips moved, but his voice couldn't seem to form words. He tried again, finally saying something that didn't involve having to actually talk directly to Ino.
"Aah, sorry to interrupt. But I need an answer now. We're leaving at about… 7 tonight." He said. The two girls on the other lines silenced. Then two unison screams echoed out, and Shikamaru had to hold the phone away from him and the ear deafening screams finally ceased.
"Oh my goodness! We leave tonight?"
"I have to get ready! Where's my duffle bag?"
"I need to pack some comfy clothes…"
"Aah! I can't find my old shoes…"
Shikamaru tried to decipher the two voices from the two girls, but found it useless due to their utter excitement. He began to wonder if girls weren't as tidy as they claimed to be, since they couldn't 'find' anything they were looking for. He listened a bit more, and Ino spoke up.
"Umm.. Shikamaru?" Ino said, a little shy maybe? He froze as he heard her.
"Ah! Yes?"
"I was wondering if um… I could invite…" Ino mumbled toward the end.
"Invite who?"
"Invite umm…" She said. "…Sasuke."
This time Shikamaru dropped the phone, and its plastic exterior came in contact, full force with the wooden floor and the sound almost echoed that of glass shattering. He came to and hurried to gather up the phone, which was surprisingly still functional, and with Ino and Tenten still there. He had a sort of sad look on his face when he brought up the phone back to his ear. He felt the air surrounding him becoming more dense, cold, and uninviting.
"Whoops, sorry about that." He tried sounding cheerful. "It's okay to invite Sasuke, I guess." He slumped back on his bed with his feet dangling off the end.
"That's great! I'll call him right now. And don't worry, I won't let him mess with you, okay Shikamaru?" He could almost vision her winking at him with her pale face and her piercing light blue eyes. "I'll see you later at your house with Sasuke and Tenten. Bye guys!"
"Bye, Ino."
"See ya!"
The line clicked off and the two were left.
"So, uh, Shika."
"So, yes?"
"I wanted to ask you something umm.."
"Ask me something… what?"
"I wanted to ask you something… personal." She ended, with a shy yet serious tone.
"..What did you want to ask then?"
"Alright… Uh.. I wanted to know if.. you really.. that is um.. like me.. in that way."
He thought attentively, pursing his lips, and sat down on his bed. He thought she was a cute girl with a spike attitude, but all in all, to him she was considered just a really good friend. They were only dating a few days, but hadn't even held hands in public. In addition, although they saw each other during school, there were plenty of opportunities for them to hang out with each other, but it almost never happened. He couldn't really see them together as the lovey dovey typed couple, and he still had some interest in Ino. He scratched the back of his head, then settled his arm in the crook of his neck, his hand hooked onto the nape of his hair.
"Do you want me to be honest?" He said. His decision was uncertain, but he predicted that she was going to break it off, here and now. It was going to be her, or him.
"Yes. Entirely."
"Okay then." He inhaled deeply before speaking up again. "I think you're a really, really cool person, but I don't want to sound mean and abrupt. But the thing is that… I'd rather be friends with you at the moment." He silenced and waited for a reply, but the other line was quiet.
"…And I'm not really feeling something happening between us. You know?"
"Oh thank GOODNESS!" She yelled into the phone with an overly enthusiastic tone of voice. He widened his eyes as he heard her mumbling something on the lines of 'I thought he was gonna say something about us being a great couple..'
"I'm sorry. What?" He asked, a bit worried.
"I thought the exact same thing! You see.. a couple of days after I confessed, I realized that I didn't like you all that much anymore. It turned out to be just a little schoolgirl crush on you." He pictured her sticking her tongue out at him. "I hope you understand and don't take it the wrong way. I'd love to go on the trip with you still, if you don't mind."
"… Yeah. That's fine. I'll see you later." He said, sounding a little happier than usual.
"Yep! Bye!"
Tenten hung up, and Shikamaru pressed the 'End' soft button on his phone. He set it slowly back on the receiver and got up, swaying. He went up to his closet and slid it open. He threw clothes into a black duffle bag and zipped it closed. The air around him seemed to feel… warm, and hopeful. Something about breaking it up with Tenten brought his spirits up about and dancing all over the place. He smiled and stood up, the duffle bag swung over his shoulder.
'Maybe it means I still have a chance with her.' He looked out his window, seeing the brisk weather, and the branches of sakura trees wallowing softly. 'Who knows.' He thought, still smiling…
OOO
"SHIKAMARU, I NEED HELP WITH PACKING! GET DOWN HERE!" Shikato yelled up to his son. Shikamaru flinched and glared at his closed door.
He yelled back at it, "I'M BUSY HAVING AN IMPORTANT MOMENT TO MYSELF. I'LL BE THERE IN A MINUTE!" He said, and went back to staring out the window with his almost cheery smile plastered on his face.
OOO
Hahaha. I don't have much to say other than 'Haha' at the moment. Hmmm… I need to do homework. Aah. Okay then! See you in the next chapter! Part II of Deer Farm! Hopefully we'll see Shikamaru trying harder, eh? Haha. Oh yeah, sorry if the Shikamaru and Tenten pairing was short lasting, but I couldn't see them going any further. I'm not an exact fan, but I hope I read some Naruto fics with random pairings in the near future. Bye then!
SK.