Pairings: GaaIno. DUH!

Warnings: Uh...crying...and silliness.

Author's Notes: My goodness, it's been a while! I swear I have a good reason for the lateness! Really! I started writing this chapter months ago, but then a bunch of people in my family decided to start dying and getting terminal diseases so I was hung up in hospitals for many many weeks. It was exhausting. Luckily, almost all of them lived. Oh, god. That's really depressing to say it like that. But you guys don't worry about it. Just don't be angry at the lateness!

And thank you to the people who wished me well in college! You make me all "YAY!" and stuff.

Please enjoy! I hope it meets your standards!

Chapter Eight: Hiccup

"No...Gaara...I don't want it!"

"Ino!"

"It's too sour! No! I won't have it..."

"Ino!"

"Gaara! No. I really...don't like pickles..."

"Ino! WAKE UP!" a voice screams me into reality as I go crashing to the floor wrapped in mound of covers.

"What? Whozzat?" I shout in panic.

"It's your mother."

"Eh?" I look up and it really is my mom! What is she doing here? Why am I on the floor? And why am I craving pickles? I don't like pickles...

"Ino-kun! I came back on my lunch break to see how you were doing," she says in a gentle voice while leaning down and smiling at me. Aw, it really is mom. She's looking nice for a change.

"Wait. What? LUNCH BREAK? OH MY GOD I'M LATE!" I shoot up from my spot on the floor, trying desperately to clean up my tousled state and look around for clothes. My mom laughs at me and I nearly trip over a traitorous shoe. I swear things like that just try to get in your way to mess up your mornings – or afternoons.

"No, Ino. Calm down. I gave you the day off. You've been working hard. I tried to wake you up earlier, but you slept like a log," she smiles and lifts up the sheet that fell over my eyes.

"Oh. So is dad at the shop?"

"Yes. Here. Take some money. Don't spend it all in one place." I glance at the money she offers me a little hesitantly. You never know when you're having one of those dreams where you keep waking up and each time you think your dream is reality. Those dreams are so annoying. One minute I might be here, waking up to my mom, receiving a suspicious amount of money, and the next I'll wake up in a mall, shopping for bathing suits with Shino. It's happened before. I take the money anyway – if it even is real money.

I just got up and I'm already confused.

"Ino-kun! Maybe you could use it to buy a dress for the festival!" she beams. I slap my face gently. I feel real...So, what's this festival about? I turn to ask my mom but she's already gone.

Eerie.

I sigh heavily. It's just another day, I might as well get ready. Halfway through my shower, I realize that by missing work I won't be able to see Gaara today. The thought kind of makes me sad. I wonder if he has the day off too?

I get dressed, eat, and all the typical waking-up routine before walking out to greet a new day. I wander around, not quite sure what to do. It's a bright day with a few large, puffy clouds out. Suddenly an idea comes to mind. I head over to the big empty field next to the lake, in search of a certain someone I haven't seen in a while.

I come across a shady tree with leaves so big it would keep the sun off of the person that sat under it for the whole day. The lump next to it indicates that my friend is definitely taking advantage of the unique spot.

"Shikamaru!" I yell cheerfully as I run down hill to the lazy bum. The body, of course, refuses to move as I approach it.

"Shika-kun! Hey! Are you asleep – " my voice tails off as I look down at my sleepy friend. "Figures."

He's slumped up casually next to the tree as if it was his own personal couch. He has one arm dangling loosely at his side while the other rests across his stomach. His head is tilted down and slightly to the side. I sit next to him quietly as I watch him doze.

"Shikamaru...you know you're much cuter when you're asleep?" I say softly, secretly wishing he would wake up. Since everyone has grown up and moved on, Shikamaru is the only one that's remained exactly the same. Even when he's with Temari, he acts as if everything is the same. That's why I like him. I would have been disappointed if he had become some big romantic loser. I poke him playfully in the arm.

"Shika...where's your big scary vulture woman now, eh? Heeheehee..." I get closer to him and hug his arm. It's so fun to toy with people when they're unaware of it. Now if only I had a black marker. "Hey, Shika...I'm going to tell you a secret...It's too bad you're asleep and won't be able to hear it..."

"Stop right there, Ino," he mumbles out in irritation as he swats me away with his free arm. "I don't want to hear anything I'll regret hearing later on..."

"Hey! You were awake the whole time?"

"Yeah..."

"Ahhh! I see. You're so sly, Shika...I bet you really like it when I come on to you in your sleep!" I wink at him seductively and wave a finger at him.

"Oh, yes, Ino. I am so crazy about you," he draws out sarcastically.

"Good! Then you'll want to come shopping with me!" I cheer as I pull him up from the ground. He moans in protest and brushes a few stray leaves off his pants.

"Ino...why can't you just leave me alone?" he groans.

"Because I never get to see you anymore! Now that your beast is gone, I have you all to myself to torture!"

"Argh...is there anyway out of this?"

"Nope!" I smile as I pat him on the back and drag him away.

"How troublesome..."

The market is full and bustling with busy people. I love this atmosphere. Just to be nice to Shikamaru I haven't dragged him into too many stores or made him carry all of my bags. I even try to go places he might enjoy.

As we walk around chewing on the dango sticks we just bought I chat with him pleasantly.

"Heh heh..." he chuckles at a story I was telling him. The sun gleams in his eyes and I suddenly feel like we're twelve years old again.

"Shikamaru...do you ever miss the days when we were part of a team?" I stare nostalgically at the stick I just picked clean. We stop in the street and he turns to me. His brow is furrowed slightly and he slouches as he answers my question.

"Sure. Those times were...fun." he tilts his head away and rubs his chin like an old man concentrating while playing chess. "Why, Ino? Are you bothered with how things are going now? Is the shop lonely...?"

"No..."

"Is that...Gaara upsetting you?" he asks seriously. As I look up to his face I see the concern of a true friend. Suddenly, and unexpectedly, tears begin to prick the corners of my eyes and I feel like spilling everything to him.

I love Gaara.

It happened so fast I almost can't believe it. The ache in my chest and the loneliness I feel from not seeing him for this one day is enough to prove it. As if the giddy feeling and protectiveness I get whenever he's around isn't enough.

I pull Shika off to the side.

"...I know this kind of stuff bothers you. You always hated it when I would go on about Sasuke..."

He remains silent and waits for me to continue.

"B-But! I really feel..." I start to choke on my tears and can't even finish expressing myself. "It's Gaara...he makes me feel this way..."

I feel Shikamaru's arms wrap around me a little awkwardly. I sob into his shoulder. How is it that I can be moved to tears so easily? He whispers to me softly, but I'm too involved in my own thoughts to listen. Gaara...I want to see him. Just for one moment.

A day without him is...

"Ino!" Shikamaru cries for my attention. I look up suddenly, and not even three feet away is the whole Sand Trio. Temari is staring directly at us.

I'm in Shikamaru's arms and she doesn't even bat an eye.

"Good afternoon," she says in a lazy tone as she finally walks over to us slowly, her two brothers trailing behind her. I wipe my eyes with my sleeve and look up at this woman I have always considered a brute. Why is she acting so indifferent?

"Temari...?" he asks in a curious tone. She silently pulls him off somewhere else and leaves me with her siblings. My tear-streaked face brightens up as I look at Gaara's cold face.

"Hi."

He barely acknowledges me and looks off to the side at one of the booths. It's so obvious I've been crying. I've been crying over him!

"We just came back from the hospital..." face-paint boy mumbles.

That's right! Gaara's out here, so he's not at work!

"G-Gaara!" I reach out to him, but he turns away ever so slightly.

"I have to go. See ya." He vanishes.

"Well...It looks like it's just the two - " his brother starts with a lecherous grin, but stops as soon as he sees my face.

I'm crying again. How could I possibly think he would like me the way I like him? This will just turn out like it did with Sasuke. He doesn't want to talk to me. Even those days he's been nice to me, he still doesn't trust me. I want to know just what is going on.

I look up to the brother. His dumbfounded expression becomes surprised as I glare my tears away and furiously grab the front of his shirt.

"Tell me everything about Gaara."

"So you are interested in him..." he smirks.

"Very. Now spill it."

"Since you didn't ask nicely...I'm afraid I can't."

Smirk.

Dammit!

"Fine. What will it take for you to tell me what's wrong with him?"

"HA HA HAA! What's wrong with Gaara? Where do we start? It'd take at least a day just to list the shit that's happened to him! But, I guess I can try to sum it up...over dinner."

So I'm on a date with the uglier of the two siblings. So far I have learned absolutely nothing. I feel like stabbing myself in the eye repeatedly.

"He was a lot different when he was a kid. Well, ya kno. Sorta...His head was bigger...and he used to cry a lot..." he hiccups. So this older brother is legal drinking age. He doesn't have to drink the whole place dry!

"You already said that! Will you please say something important? Why does he need such intense treatment at the hospital?"

"Heehee...you're so cute...and fiery. If you weren't after my brother..."

"I DON'T CARE!"

My screech rings across a few of the glasses in the restaurant and the surrounding people turn to stare. Kankuro takes a lazy sip of his sake and looks at me seriously.

"Are you really in – hic – love with him?"

That's it! I'm sick of his pointless ramblings. I stand up abruptly and grab my bag to go. Before I can turn around, with extreme speed, he grabs one of my arms and looks at me dead in the eyes.

"Even if I told you everything, you wouldn't understand. No one can understand him completely. You don't know anything about him."

My eyes widen. I shrug off his grip and rush out of the place.

The next day I wake up quickly and look at the clock. I don't want to miss work again. I get dress hurriedly and rush out of the door without eating or speaking to a soul.

As soon as the door of the shop is in slight, my heart falls to the floor. Gaara's not waiting for me. I run the last yards up to the door and frantically unlock it. The door swings open with a clang and jingle.

"Empty..." he's not inside.

The whole first part of the morning I wait anxiously for him to show. I'm like a neglected plant drying up without his presence. I drape my lifeless limbs over the counter and numerous customers come in and out.

"Good morning..." I mumble into my arms for each one, looking like a person who just crawled out from under a rock. I don't even leave the register to help them out.

As one customer is foolishly trying to distinguish the difference in flowers for himself, the door opens again. I move slightly to acknowledge the customer and then slump to my listless position again.

"Hi, Asuma-sensei..." I drawl out.

"I-Ino...? What's with that face?"the big burly man who used to be my sensei asks.

"I can't live like this...Why!" I end dramatically. The other customer looks at the flowers and sighs exasperatedly. He grumbles as he leaves the store and I turn my sorrowful eyes to my sensei.

"I've never seen you like this before! Did you eat something bad? Was someone wearing the same skirt as you or something? You look just look bad."

I cough as a puff of smoke hits me in the face.

"..."

Bells!

"BELLS!" I nearly leap over my sensei as I rush to the door. For some reason I can feel it's him!

"Yo. Sorry I'm late," is the only reply I get as he tosses his gourd aside casually and reaches for his apron.

"Gaara!" I exclaim happily as I resist the urge to pounce on him.

"What?" he replies. The chuckle from my old sensei brings my attention away from Gaara.

"Ah...I see. I guess I'll be going then. I'm pretty sure Kurenai prefers chocolates," he winks as he takes another drag off his cig and walks out of the door with a jingle.

That's it. I can't resist it any longer. I totally pounce on the unsuspecting redhead.

"W-What are you doing?" he stutters as he tries to pry me off of him.

"I'm so mad at you. I just couldn't help it."

"Wha- ?"

"You're late. And you left me alone. I should fire you." I grin into his chest and am glad to feel the warmth of a speedily beating heart behind it. Arms wrap around me in a slow comforting gesture. I gasp and blush heavily as I feel myself being pulled in closer.

He's pulling me in!

I look up in surprise and misty sea-green eyes stare back down with amazing tenderness.

"G-Gaara...!" something tells me this must be a dream. He's never looked at me like that. His gaze is so intense I can barely breathe.

"Sorry, Ino-chan...you must have really missed me..." he leans in slowly, "It's nice to have a pretty girl like you missing me while I'm gone."

"I..." He's being so nice and romantic. He called me 'Ino-chan'. That's not right. He's not like this. My chest tightens as he leans down even further as if he's about to kiss me. Suddenly, I realize what's amiss. It's glaringly obvious. Red flags and alarms ring in my head as I remember the first day we officially met. My blissful face forms into a vicious scowl.

"GET YOUR HAND OFF MY ASS, PERVERT!" I yell and slap him across the face.

"Ouch." he reaches up to his own face and gives me a look as if to say "what did I do?". I glare back at him with a beet red face.

"You've been taking those pervy pills again, haven't you?" I cross my arms and tap my foot. He turns a cute innocent face towards me and I nearly lose all of my composure.

"P-Pills? I take a lot of pills...I don't think any of them are 'pervy'," he quirks his head adorably to the side.

"Dammit, Gaara! Where were you this morning?"

"Hospital!" he raises his hand like a schoolboy with a creepy grin on his face.

"I knew it. Come on, come on! Let's get you out of here before you rape someone...that 'someone' probably being me..." I whisper the last part under my breath as a push him gently towards the door.

"W-Wait a second!" he struggles and turns around to face me with his hands firmly on my shoulders, "It's not 'rape', it's making love – "

"I want to make love to you, Ino..." he says with a serious voice as smooth as chocolate.

I'm surprised I haven't fallen over dead yet.

"H-H-Hah?...y-you...wh-what?"

"Ino..." he leans down swiftly this time and I turn my head just in time. I lift my hand to my burning cheek and touch the spot that is still moist with Gaara's kiss.

"G-Gaara! Oh, no! No! Gaara, please get out. Y-You don't know what you're talking about. J-Just come back when you're sober, ok?" I fumble nervously and open the door. I practically have to kick him out.

The big wooden door closes with a jingle and when I look up, he's still on the other side, peering pleadingly through the glass window straight back at me...

"Gaara...you have know idea what you do to me," my hands cover my face and I slump down back against the door until he leaves. Many moments pass.

That was horrible. I finally pull myself off the floor. Horribly wonderful. I know if I ever let him kiss me, he'll really have my heart forever. I couldn't let him do that, especially when he probably wouldn't remember it after the drugs wore off.

Those words and those kisses aren't for me.

Why are things suddenly getting confusing? Why can't he be a normal guy? Why can't I let the guy I love just kiss me? Would it really have made such a difference that he was high?

Yeah, it probably would. I lean against my arms as I wait patiently.

"Gaara..." he's all I can think about. It's been hours...

The door swings open and the bells alert me to attention. For a fleeting moment, my heart threatens to leap right out of my chest. It's Gaara, standing listlessly at the doorway.

"Am I...late?" he looks confusedly around the store, "I could swear I already came here this morning."

I regard him silently. I knew he wouldn't remember. He reaches for his chest in a familiar movement and his fingers twitch when they grab nothing. A panicked expression crosses his face and he swings his entire body around to face the front of the store.

"My gourd...? I already took it off?" he looks at the motionless object sitting peaceful at the front of the store. Then he takes a look at his own clothes and notes the apron.

"What the...?"

"Oh! Um, don't you remember Gaara?" I laugh nervously. He scratches the back of his head and pouts slightly. I'll take that as a 'no'.

"I sent you out...to...uh, you know! To go on a break! You looked kind of tired from all the stuff you went through at the hospital, so I said you could go out for a while. Remember?"

"I guess..." his eyes glue themselves to the floor as he tries to digest the explanation. After a moment of thought he seems satisfied. I sigh with relief as he goes around like he does everyday. I pick up a magazine and stare at the pages as if they were blank.

Not thirty minutes later, I hear Gaara smacking his lips. I look up curiously to see the tip of a pink tongue pressed across the edge of his upper lip. I let out a small amused laugh, as I watch him lick his lips with the most serious expression on his face.

"What's the matter, Gaara-kun?" I prop my chin on my palm and smile at him.

"Ugh...my mouth is so dry. I dying of thirst."

"Oh! In that case we have some water in the back. Come on, I'll show you." I beckon him to the door to the right of my counter and he follows shortly, smacking his lips the whole way.

I wonder if this is another side affect of something?

The big blue container of water is in the small storage room. The strong overpowering fragrance of flowers, both alive and dying, tickles my nose. It's a bit dirty and unkept back here. It's also dark. As I search for the tiny chain of the single light bulb, I hear Gaara sneeze softly. I start giggling immediately. In the darkness I can see the shadow of his figure turning to me.

"What?"

"It's nothing...I guess you sneeze too," I laugh to myself and pull the chain I finally found. Light blinks into the room reluctantly as the cheap light bulb kicks in.

"Here we go!" I hand him a plastic cup and he gets some water from the plastic tank. He gets cup after cup after cup after cup.

"Whoa! Geez, Gaara! There's nothing special in that water there! Are you gonna drink the whole thing?"

He lets out a huge sigh and stares at the wall with a rejuvenated aura about his body. He wipes his mouth slowly, and licks his lips one last time. I blush and look away slightly, completely aware of how much more attracted I have become of him since this morning.

"Sorry...I was – hic – really thirsty." he crumples the cup up and tosses it skillfully into the trash can.

Was that just a hiccup? Well I guess Gaara hiccups too. He is human, right? On his way out, I hear it again. I laugh softly as I turn the light off.

Yup, definitely a hiccup.

I get into my comfortable little groove behind the counter. It turns out this day somehow became normal again -

Hic.

"Heeheehee...cute." I giggle into my hands. I hear Gaara grumbling as he looks for the broom.

Hic.

Hic. Hic.

He grasps the end of the broom and begins sweeping. He stops abruptly and tosses the broom down angrily.

Hic.

"Damn – hic – the floor's already – hic – c-clean."

He turns to me with a face full of rage. He grasps his throat as he continues to hiccup.

"Shi – hic – t! ...I hate – hic – these – hic – DAMMIT!"

His eyes glow fiercely and I notice a whirl of sand twirling about his feet. Remembering the last time sand shot out like that made me jump out of my seat quickly and rush over to him. I can't let him get too angry or something might end up getting demolished.

"Hey! It's okay, Gaara. It's just the hiccups! I know tons of cures for the hiccups! Please don't kill anything..." I put my hands out in front of him in a 'shush, the hiccups aren't evil' type of manner.

He looks up a me with slightly watery eyes and continues to 'hic' and 'hic'. His eyes ask desperately for the cure. I lift a finger to my lips in a pensive gesture and try to look as if I really do know what I'm talking about...

"Well, my mom always says you should drink lots of water when you get the hiccups!" I pound my fist into my hand proudly.

"I already – hic – did – hic – that! Hic! Hic!" He glared viciously at me, "DAMMIT!"

"Yeah...I guess so." Okay. I was going to have to think more about this. What other cures are there?

Think, Ino, think! There's the drinking water...the holding breath!

"Gaara! Hold your breath!" I shake his shoulders gently so he listens. Immediately, he gasps and his face puffs up like a balloon. I count away the seconds.

5...10...20...30...40...I loose count after about a minute.

"Okay, Gaara. Honey...your face is turning blue. I think you can stop now."

A huge puff of air hits my chest and I realize, suddenly, how close we are sitting. He gasps for a couple of seconds and his normal color finally returns. We sit still in silence and wait.

"Hey! See? It really did work!" I beam ecstatically.

"Hey! You're right! It's all – hic – fck!" he cries and clutches his throat again. I couldn't help but start laughing.

"Don't laugh! Hic!" he barks.

"Okay! Okay! Let's see...I think my friend told me once that if you bend over and swallow upside down, that it would cure your hiccups!"

"What? Hic! That's the – hic – stupidest thing I've ever heard!"

"It's okay. No one else is here to watch. Here, I'll do it with you."

I bend over as if I'm going to touch my toes.

Hic. Hic!

"Bend over!" I command. He bends quickly. "...And swallow."

We both swallow.

"Did it work?" I turn my head to him and his black-rimmed eyes look down at the floor curiously.

"...hic."

"Awww..."

"That was – hic – ridiculous! Hic!" He stands up, red in the face. Serves me right for trusting anything Sakura says. I try to think of more solutions. I think I'm completely out of them.

"Maybe just wait them out?"

This time his face was really enraged.

"Never! Hic! Hic! I – hic – refuse to let them take me – hic – over!"

His hiccups have suddenly become worse. The sand swirls a little more violently. I need to come up with another solution. What else...what else?

Scare him.

The corner of my brain lacking proper oxygen suggests. I've heard that works. What could possible scare a guy like Gaara?

"Hey. Just sit down for a while." I push him down on the floor gently and he complies silently.

"I can't – hic – stand – hic – these! Hic!"

"It's okay, Gaara, you know they seem really bad but everyone gets them and I'm sure they'll go away soon because you know..." I speak rapidly and I look up at his slightly flushed face as I become more and more nervous, "...because I have the cure!"

Our lips press together. Both of my hands press firmly against his chest with more force than intended, because we both end up sprawled on the floor. I wrap my arms around his neck, not removing my lips for a second. I close my eyes and savor this unique feeling and rush overwhelming my body.

I've wanted to kiss him for so long. He makes a small sound in the back of his throat, and I pull apart for a moment to lick at those lips he's been tempting me with, without even knowing it. He gasps suddenly, and I gaze into his beautiful eyes lustfully. He's wearing a completely new expression.

"Did it work?" I ask, brushing my fingers across his moist lips. He declines an answer and I grin down at him, "Are they gone?"

"Are who gone?" he speaks perfectly. I notice the – involuntary – tightening of his arm around my waist and I sit up in a panic. I was straddling him! I was the one kissing him...and I talk about being raped! I roll off him and turn my back to him.

"Your hiccups, silly!" I laugh, and cover my heavily flushed face even though he can't see it.

"Oh...I think so."

We wait a few moments, and sure enough they are completely gone. I turn just as he starts to sit up. He looks away as soon as my eyes my meet his.

"What was that?" he asks timidly rubbing his arm shyly.

"T-The cure for hiccups..."

"Why didn't you do that in the first place, then?" he fumes, with an uncharacteristically red face. "I m-mean...how the hell does that cure hiccups?"

"It was to scare you, Gaara. Geez, don't get all worked up about it."

"Scare me...?"

I felt like melting into a unrecognizable puddle of goo and just seeping through the drain on the floor. I really couldn't think of anything else to scare him, and it was so tempting to do. I can still feel his lips and the force of our bodies colliding to the floor.

It'll take me hours for my face to return to it's normal color.

Turns out this day didn't turn out as normal as I thought it would.

I kissed him! It's a good thing it's almost time to close the shop because I don't know if I could stop myself from doing it again.

JOY! They have kissed :cheers:

It's about time! This chapter was born because I thought it would be cute for Gaara to have the hiccups. heehee. It's an excuse for Ino to kiss him, right:wink:wink:

Hope you liked the chapter!