Chapter 2
Sakura got a look on her face unlike any I had ever seen. It was very cunning, nearly frightening look. She furrowed her eyebrows and scanned me with her sea green eyes, "We'll make him wish you were his!" I raised an eyebrow, "How?" She giggled madly, "We'll make him green with envy!" I shook her shoulders, "How?" I was more freaked out than excited to tell the truth. She smiled, "We need a list of all of the available guys we know." I took out a piece of paper and pen, "Well… Let's see…" Sakura took the paper, "What about Neji?" I stuck out my tongue, "Why don't I commit suicide?" She rolled her eyes in annoyance, "Kiba?" I scratched my chin, "He's sweet, but smells funky." Sakura sighed, "Okay miss picky… Lee?" I laugh slightly, "Isn't he with Tenten?" Sakura chewed on her bottom lip, "Shino?" I think about it for a split second, "Come to think of it, I don't think we've been introduced yet…" Sakura giggled in a girlish way, "Shall we get Hinata to help you out?" I sigh deeply, "Fine but remember, only you and Hinata are to know, okay?" Sakura giggled, "I'll be back then!"
She went to go find Hinata and bring her over. I sat on my couch, mumbling random things to myself, "Why? Why am I so eager to break him of his happiness? I love him, that's a given, but he's so happy when he's with Temari… Maybe I should just let him be… Maybe he'd be happier without me in the picture." I kept thinking on that subject, my mind refused to stray to another. About an hour later, Sakura was back and Hinata shyly walked in. Sakura smiled, "I already told her what was going on. She agreed to introduce you to Shino." Hinata nodded her head. The poor thing was trembling. I smiled, offering her a seat on the couch, "I really appreciate this!" Hinata shook a tad more, "Oh…I-it's no p-problem, really…" I smile, "Are you going to stay the night with Sakura and I?" She looked at me, "Only if y-you want me t-to." I laugh, "Why wouldn't I?" She looked at her feet, "I didn't m-mean it t-that way…" I laugh once more, "Calm down! It's not like I blame you… It really isn't anything to get upset over!"
Sakura sits next to me, "Well, let's get off of this subject and go to another, shall we?" Hinata smiled, "O-okay." Sakura nodded, "Tell us about Shino." Hinata thought for a moment, "Well… He's m-mysterious, strong, smart, and k-kind. Not m-much is known a-about him. He's v-very blank and has a c-clean slate as f-far as I know…" I think for a few minutes and sigh, "Sakura… I'm not so sure I want this anymore. I want Shikamaru to be happy, even if that means I don't get him." Sakura looked like she was going to slap me, "You don't want this anymore? Come on Ino-pig! You started the game, now finish it! Win or lose, at least you tried!" Hinata nodded in agreement, "S-sorry Ino… I have t-to agree with Sakura on t-this one. A-at least t-try." I sigh. Even Hinata thought I should try. I just didn't know. I nod, "Fine…Let's do it…" Sakura stuck out her chest in victory, "Good, let's go!" Hinata looked down, "Sakura… I think it's b-best if you stay h-here." Sakura looked shattered, "What?" I smirk, "Sorry Sakura, I have to agree with Hinata. You'll make Shino suspicious." Hinata stood, "We'd b-better go…" I wiggle my fingers as a goodbye, "We'll be back forehead!" Sakura huffed up and curled up into a ball on the couch.
When we left Hinata fidgeted, "Um, after I introduce y-you to Shino, I'll g-go back t-to your apartment…" I nod, "Okay…" I followed her to the ramen stand, which seems to be a meeting place of all sorts now days. She waved to a guy hidden in shadows. He motioned for us to come over, so we did. I was slightly afraid, but I'm still sure it was only nerves. We sat down. Hinata seemed less nervous than usual, but I assumed it was because she trusted Shino. His eyes were hidden behind his sunglasses, so I couldn't tell if he was looking at me or not. He finally spoke, "Hinata tells me you need my help." Hinata smiled, "Shino, this is Ino. Ino, this is Shino." I nod in greeting, "Well… Help is an understatement." Hinata stood, "I'm l-late for this t-thing." She waved, "I'll see you l-later." I was about to object her actions, but Shino's voice made me freeze, "Help is an understatement? How so?" I sat back, "Well… I uh…" I couldn't see it, but I could tell he was smirking. I start to stand, "This was a bad idea… I'm sorry to have wasted your time." He grabbed my arm tightly, "You made the trouble of coming out here, at least have some ramen with me." I couldn't disagree out of fear he'd threaten with a kunai. He seemed harmless, but I was petrified with fear.
Shino glanced at me. I felt my skin tingle. Not the fuzzy warm tingle, but the scared, pointy tingle. It scared me. He took note of my expression and went on, "I've seen you before Ino… Did you and that Shikamaru ever get together?" I tightened my grip on the fork I held and stabbed it in the ramen, "Nope." He was scanning me over, "Ever wanted to?" I forked the ramen into my mouth and swallowed, "Yes, but it won't happen." His porcelain skin touched my tanned skin as he loosened my grip on the fork, "What am I doing then?" I glance at his hand, "Touching me?" His brows furrowed, "You know what I meant Yamanaka." I wince at his tone when he spat my last name, "I don't know…" Tears formed in my eyes and I tried to deny them access to my cheeks, "I'm not even sure what I'm doing here…" Not realizing what I was doing, I rested my head on his shoulder and sobbed. I finally realized what I was doing when he ran his hand across my back and whispered, "Please stop crying and let me apologize." I shot up, wiping my eyes, "No… I'm sorry. I'm embarrassing you, and need to go. It was nice to meet you." I stood and walked out, walking towards home. Shino grabbed my arm, "Embarrassing me? That's physically impossible." I laughed and shook my head. This was wrong, but I was getting back at Shikamaru. Shino was so much taller than I, so he looked down at me and I look up. He liked me, I think, but I was in love with Shikamaru. Now my life was seriously screwed.
Well, I'm going to stop here. Remember to review! Thank you to all who reviewed my first chapter. I took silveraqueen's idea for Shino to enter the picture, thank you so much for that. Yamikage Yuuki, thank you for the constructive criticism, I really appreciated that. To everyone else who reviewed, thanks for the support, hopefully I'll get the next chapter done in the next two weeks, but no promises, it took me this long to get this chapter up because of school work. Thank you though!
Lots of love! hyper-active-naruto-lover