Note: The last chapter is supposed to be "Chapter 11: Act 3 Scene 1"... oops. O.O

Act III Scene II

"Did you see that?" Shikamaru griped in disbelief. "She was all over him! She couldn't keep her hands off that kid! That's it! I'm leaving!"

"Why would you do that?" asked Chouji.

"Isn't it obvious?" Shino rolled his eyes behind his sunglasses.

"It was a fun stay, but some of us have a living to earn! My grass isn't going to mow itself, and the house won't clean itself either! I find them troublesome, but I'd rather get a head start on that than waste my time here! You may not be familiar with the word, Chouji, but I have responsibilities!" Shikamaru ranted.

"But I thought you liked Lady Sakura!" Chouji objected.

"I do! However, she obviously prefers Naruto's message-boy over me!" Shikamaru started off towards his guestroom. "I'm going to go pack."

"Wait, Shikamaru! Sakura does like you; she just doesn't show it as prominently her crush on Hinato! And it's just a crush! You're the real thing, love! Her crush will blow over in a few months! Stay! She totally likes you! Tell him, Shino!" Chouji protested.

"She does like you more than us…" Shino agreed.

"I told you! I'm not wasting my time!" Shikamaru snarled.

"Is it Hinato? Does he intimidate you? It's just a little competition. Why don't you go pick a fight with him, then? Show him who's boss!" Chouji encouraged his friend.

"Chouji, I am not going to do something so troublesome!" Shikamaru growled.

"Why? Are you scared?" Shino asked wryly.

"Chicken! Chicken!" Chouji teased him.

"I am not scared of that scrawny little runt! I am not a chicken!" Shikamaru argued.

"Prove it, then! Prove that you're a man!" Chouji egged him on.

"Fine! Where's that little lawn gnome? I'm going to find and beat the snot out of him!" Shikamaru rolled up his sleeves. "But catching him off guard would be like cheating. I guess I'll go and write that pipsqueak a note so I don't totally destroy him."

"You go, Shikamaru!" Chouji slapped his friend on the back as he went indoors.

"You really want him to marry your cousin, don't you?" commented Shino.

"Hell yeah! Best friend marries rich cousin, easy livin' for me!" Chouji grinned.

"But don't you think you're going a little too far with the fight?" asked Shino.

"Don't worry. Shikamaru may talk big, but he's a total wimp," Chouji assured the servant.

"And his opponent doesn't seem like an experienced shuriken-wielder either," agreed Shino.

"Guys, guys, you have to come see this!" Ino dashed into the scene.

"See what?"

"Earlier, I saw Lee at the mall, going into the change room with a whole rack of bikinis! A second ago, I saw him coming down the street, and guess what he's wearing?" Ino shrieked with glee.

"Is it itsy bitsy and teeny-weeny?" asked Chouji.

"Is it yellow, polka-dotted and two piece?" guessed Shino.

"Correct!" Ino giggled.

"Come on, he must almost be at the front door by now! Let's go watch!" Ino raced inside.

"Hell yeah!" Chouji ran after her.

"I wonder what Sakura will say when she sees him?" Shino wondered, following them.