Disclaimer: If I owned Naruto, I would not be writing fanfiction.
A/N: Hm.. Not much to say. Did this in about an hour, with a lot of thinking. Enjoy!
Umbrella in the Rain
Konoha's lazy, high IQ ninja was now in the chuunin rank. After Shikamaru had accomplished a tough, multiple-day solo mission, it felt good for him to reenter the gates of Konoha. Although when he returned, it was raining quite furiously.
The exhausted teenager gladly, but tiredly, began his walk home with his umbrella. He hardly bothered to even open it though. He just used it as some kind of walking stick, or something to twirl around. As he watched his feet kick puddles of water while he walked, he spotted the back of a blonde girl with her face buried in her hands through the corner of his eye. He shifted his head toward her. It was Ino, and she looked upset.
Shikamaru approached the bench she was sitting on. Her shoulders were bobbing, she was probably crying about something. Willingly, Shikamaru released and opened his umbrella and held it over Ino to shield her from the showers. Ino stiffened and rotated herself to the boy.
"Shikamaru," She gasped, half surprised. She hurriedly cleared the tears on her face with her hands, even if it wasn't necessary since it blended with the rain. But she did so anyway and put on a faint smile that was fake. "You're back early."
Shikamaru shrugged.
"You shouldn't be out here in the rain," Shikamaru said hypocritically, his hair was still noticeably wet. But Ino didn't try to make a point like she usually would.
"So." Was all she said.
"So.. You could catch a cold,"
"So." She repeated.
"So.. It would take you a few days to recover. That isn't good."
"So," Ino said again. Shikamaru stared at her, "I wouldn't care. You wouldn't care. No one would care. Sasuke wouldn't."
Shikamaru disagreed when she said that he, himself, wouldn't care. Of course he would.
"Is Sasuke what all this crying's about?" In the past, Shikamaru had to experience Ino's blabbing about the raven haired boy every girl was crazy for. And Sasuke never returned any of their feelings, why is Ino still trying?
"I don't wanna talk about it."
"You know, I really don't think Sasuke is interested in girls at all—"
"That's where you're wrong," Ino broke in. She hesitated, then let out, "I saw him with Sakura earlier, and then it started to rain. Yep, sure is the highlight of my day."
Shikamaru didn't take the trouble to ask Ino what she witnessed the two of them doing. It probably wasn't that big of a deal. But when Ino doesn't want to talk about it, it should stay that way.
"Hey," She said less angrily now, "Why don't you sit?"
Shikamaru realized he was still standing. Still holding the umbrella over Ino's head, he moved himself to the front of the bench and sat himself down. The two of them stayed seated about a foot away from each other, with Shikamaru's umbrella between them. They shared a silent moment. Only the rain was heard. During this time, Ino was probably rethinking her thoughts because her sobs were soon audible to Shikamaru once again.
Ino scooted herself over on the bench and found herself hooked onto Shikamaru's arm, the one that held the umbrella. Shikamaru, not knowing what to do, froze. Ino's face was buried into his shoulder now. But timidly, Shikamaru took his opposite and unoccupied hand to rest on Ino's back so he could comfort her. Shikamaru had to understand that Ino could occasionally be very emotional, and he just had to be there to make it better. Shikamaru's eyes darted in several directions, thinking of scenarios. What exactly had Sasuke done to make Ino cry this much?
The two of them remained this way for a while. From time to time, the rain would sound like a song as it pattered against the umbrella. As Ino held close to the boy, lamenting, Shikamaru watched the nimbus clouds ahead. The pouring rain had ultimately softened, and as if it was a cue for Ino, her sobbing subsided.
"I'm sorry," Ino finally apologized after she sniffled a few times. She felt stupid for showing such emotion, and showing him her tears."I didn't mean for me to burst out crying in front of you. It's just.."
"I understand."
"But you know something, Shika?" She looked up at him with another faint smile. This time, this smile was real. His tired eyes returned her honest gaze.
"Other than the fact that my shoulder is drenched, what?"
"You're a good shoulder to cry on. And for some reason, I can forget more about Sasuke when I'm with you."
"Glad to hear it," Shikamaru said casually and turned his head to the nimbus clouds again. He did mean what he said.
A/N: Don't you wish you had someone like Shikamaru? (If you're a girl) Heh, I know I do. :P
And much thanks to ishgreeklady and Darkangel15x. My first reviewers ever. :)