I'll be Waiting By Lynlyn-maru
Chapter 2- Preparations
"Ino, sweetie! Time to get up or you'll be late! We have a lot to do before 4 o'clock!" Ino's mother called from the kitchen downstairs.
Ino scanned her bare room before her eyes set on the tiny clock by her bed, 8:30 am. 'Six hours…' She thought as she rolled out of bed , her room lacked the majority of her possessions, as they had already been moved into Shikamaru's flat. She wobbled towards the bathroom, stealing a quick glance at the large dress-bag hanging on her closet door. A small smile reached her lips.
Today was finally the day…her wedding day. It had been five months since the day Shikamaru had proposed to her at their favorite spot on his cloud-watching hill.
They'd spent the months planning and preparing the perfect wedding. (Actually, Ino and her mother had done most of the planning, Shikamaru just tagged along to make her happy…)
Ino finished her shower, blow-dried her hair and threw a button-up shirt and loose jeans on before heading down to the kitchen, where her mother and father were just finishing their breakfasts. Ino's mother smiled warmly and Inoshi grinned happily. "Are you ready to go, dear? Your appointment is in ½ and hour." Ino's mother asked, gathering up the remaining dishes and putting them in the sink.
"Hai. Everyone else is meeting us down there, right"
"If we get there on time. Now, honey." She said, turning to Inoshi. "Your tux is in our closet and I want you out of here by the time we get back in 2 hours, all the men are getting ready at the Naras'. You'll meet us in the brides tent 1 hour before the ceremony."
She kissed her husband on thee cheek and the two girls departed, Ino shoveling one last bite of toast down as she grabbed her purse.
-Knock Knock Knock-
"Oi! Shikamaru! Wake up!"
"You'd better not still be sleeping TODAY of all days"
After a few seconds, Shikamaru appeared, not dressed, his hair down and looking -mostly- awake, before his father and best friend. (Chouji, come-on people!) He turned around and retreated back into his apartment, returning to his spot on the couch.
Shikamaru's apartment had gone over a major transformation over the last month, seeing as Ino would be living there as of today. Most surprising of all to his guests, it was spotlessly clean, with exeption of his current occupied space.
Chouji and Shikato made their way over to the couch where Shikamaru was, surrounded by a mess of papers, all of which were covered with crossed out scribbling . "Um…son? Exactly, what is all this?" inquired Shikato, grabbing up a mess of papers.
"Ino…..write our own vows…troublesome." Was all they could make out through the incoherent grumbling.
"Ah. And how long have you been at it?" Chouji asked, gathering up the remaining papers and placing them in a stack on the coffee table. Shikamaru glanced at the clock. "Since 9 am…so about two hours"
"Well, it's time we headed back home, you're all going to get ready over there. Inoshi was arriving just as I left"
Shikamaru yawned and walked into his room, returning in a few moments dressed and carrying a bag. He gave a quick glance around the empty apartment, making sure everything was in place for later that evening.
'Everything's got to be perfect…for Ino.'
He blushed as his mind began to wonder about thoughts concerning 'later that night'. Shikato slapped his son on the back and they all headed out the door together, laughing at Shika's embarrassment.
Sakura, Hinata and Tenten and Shikamaru's mother were all already at the Salon by the time Ino arrived at 10am, just in time for their appointments. All the girls sat down, giggling and imagining the day ahead.
Once everyone's hair and make-up was finished, the group looked into the mirrors to admire themselves. Tenten and Sakura sported the same hairstyle, both of their long trestles pulled up with bobby pins and curled, little ringlets falling over their shoulders. Hinata's shorted hair was only slightly curled at the bottoms, bearing a couple of little purple, jeweled barrettes. Both of the mother's had stayed simple and pulled their hair up into fashionable buns. The brides' long hair was delicately woven on top of her head, still allowing enough length to fall down her back. The mixture of tight and loose curls were arranged into place perfectly, held by little sparkling pins.
After all of the girls had paid, they departed for Ino's house to finish getting ready, making sure to avoid any sight of the Nara residence.
Speaking of the Nara Residence…
"WOOHOO! THE GROOM'S HERE!" Naruto shrieked as his friend entered the household. Naruto, Kiba, Neji, Lee and Inoshi had already arrived and were gathered in the living room, most of them only starting to get dressed, Inoshi looking rather perturbed at the loud, blonde jounin. Kiba's voice was the next to ring out, "Dead man walking! Seriously though, Shikamaru, you sure you're going to go through with this? Last chance man!"
Shikamaru ignored the dog-boy and made a beeline for his old room, followed by Chouji.
The next hour or so moved on rather quietly, save for a rude shout from one of the boys downstairs. After everyone was about as presentable as they were going to get, everyone gathered back into the living room for one, last briefing. Everyone was wearing the same tuxedoes with a simple lilly on their jackets. Everyone had, thankfully, shed their forehead protectors and equipment bags for the occasion, Neji had even pulled his long hair back into a short ponytail.
Shikamaru came down the stairs in his own black tux, only sporting a larger lilly arrangement. Naruto looked confused. "Oi, Shikamaru? Aren't you going to pull your hair up or something?"
Shikamaru blushed and smothed his long hair flatter. "….Ino wanted it down for today. She said it made the occasion seem more special…."
-Silence-
After a few more minutes, Inoshi broke the silence, striding over to Shikamaru's place on the stairs. "May I have a word with you, my boy"
Shikamaru looked at him for a moment before turning back up the stairs. "O-of course..."
Inoshi followed him back into his old room, closing the door behind him.
Shikamaru sat down on the bed and rested his hands on his knees, Inoshi pulled up a chair in front of him.
"Shikamaru, I know that you and I haven't really had a chance to talk alone. And…seeing the circumstances, I think it's about time we did."
Naruto, Kiba, Shikata and Chouji crowed the door, trying to catch some of the conversation.
"Ino is my one and only little girl and I love her more than life itself. As you've probably guessed, I've been dreading this day since she took he first breath. I've always thought that there could never be anyone good enough for my little baby. But…after watching her plan this day for the past few months, I can tell that she really does love you. And I guess I've come to a conclusion….if you're good enough for her, you're good enough for me too. I just wanted you to know that."
Shikamaru was a little speechless. THE INOSHI, over-protective father of the year, actually accepted him! What could you say to that?
"Um…well….thank you sir. It really means a lot to me to have your consent…at last. I really love Ino too, and I promise that that will never change."
Inoshi patted his future son on the back and headed for the door. As he opened it, the crowd overhearing sprawled onto the floor.
Shikamaru sweat dropped as Inoshi stepped over the human masses below him. "Well, I suppose it's about time to get going. Only two hours to go!"
Ino was in her own room, slipping on the last of her undergarments when a sneeze escaped her. "Oh dear, somebody must be talking about you, dear." Her mother joked. "I wonder who it could be?" She mused, taking Ino's gown from it's place on it's hangar and bringing over to where her daughter stood waiting.
Ino smirked. And lifted her hands above her head, as the satin gown slid over her form, until it cam to rest in place. Her mother zipped zippers and adjusted folds and placings until she was satisfied. After her tiny veil was in place, she turned to see in the mirror, gasping in spite of herself.
The dress looked even better now than it had when she tried it on. She had chosen a beautiful ivory dress with a beautifully embroidered bodice top and flowing full skirt. Her train barely dragged behind her and the entire dress flowed as she walked. Combined with her veil, she was gorgeous.
Ino's mom called to the other girls, signaling Ino's completion and they all filed in to see the bride. All the bridesmaids were wearing different versions of the same lavender dress. Tentens' was, of course, Chinese styled but in satin, with a high collar and slightly tighter skirt. Sakura was in a slender dress similar to Ino's wedding dress design, with a flowing skirt. Hinata was in a shorter dress that came down to her knees and was layered with different cuts of fabric.
Everything was complete.
And only one and a half hours to go.
Gomen minna! This chapter was getting to long, I had to stop it!
But don't worry, the next chapter is almost done and will be up really soon!
Review and it may happen faster! (hint hint!)