I'll Be Waiting My Lynlyn-maru
Chapter 4- Of curses and blessings
Ino and Shikamaru continued in their frivolous lifestyle for the next three weeks. (Because a honeymoon to a ninja is three weeks without missions.)
Between a trip to the local hot springs, passionate love-making and many new culinary experiences for the couple, neither could see how life could get any better.
We find our protagonists awaking from a pleasant nights 'sleep' in their apartment, tangled in each other's arms.
"Ino, you awake?"
Ino rolled over to face her husband. "I am now…"
Shikamaru smiled, rolling on top of his wife, kissing her tenderly on the nose.
"What's for breakfast? I'm starving."
Ino pouted, "You only woke me up to get you breakfast? How rude."
"Well, I suppose I could make it, if you want black food…like yesterday." Ino giggled, remembering her husband's feeble attempt at cooking, resulting in horribly burnt eggs and toast. (How do you burn TOAST!)
Sighing, she rolled over, slipping on a t-shirt and made her way to the kitchen, as Shikamaru rolled back over, trying to catch a few more minutes of sleep. His peaceful slumber was soon interrupted, however, by Ino's screams.
"Shikamaru! Get in here! NOW!" Shikamaru groaned and rolled off the bed, heading in Ino's direction.
As he entered the kitchen he was greeted by his wife, holding a small green scroll out to him.
'The Hokage's emblem'
Shikamaru silently took the scroll, tearing the seal and reading it's contents, as Ino watched at him, an unreadable expression on her face.'Nara Shikamaru, You have been summoned immediately to the office of the Hokage. –The office of the Hokage'
He rolled the small scroll and tossed it onto the counter, staring at the floor.
"Well…?" Ino asked, chewing on one of her fingernails.
Shikamaru signed and placed one of his hands behind his head. "I'm summoned to the Hokages' office…immediately. How troublesome"
Ino sighed.
They both know that this day would come, they couldn't avoid missions forever, especially with Shikamaru being the villages' top strategist, it just happened too soon for Ino, she wanted her 'honeymoon' to last forever…
Shikamaru returned to their room, shuffling around to find his uniform as Ino quickly prepared breakfast.
They ate in almost complete silence.
"Maybe I could come with you?"
"You weren't summoned, Ino. That would be inappropriate, you know that. I'll come straight back and tell you everything. How bad can it be? Like I said, just troublesome." He replied, smiling and shoveling the last of his breakfast down.
Ino walked him to the door as he departed, planting a quick kiss on her cheek.
Now, all she could do was wait.
When Shikamaru arrived in the office, it was obvious that he was not the only one who received a notice this morning. The room was occupied by at least five other jounin, including Naruto, Neji, Lee and a few other nin he had never seen before.
"Shikamaru, glad you could join us." Tsunade barked.
He took his place in the line of ninja and waited for her to speak.
"I am sure that you all remember the final battle with Orochimaru, that resulted in his defeat. However, there is still one more matter that needs to be resolved concerning this case; the return of former Konoha ninja, Uchiha Sasuke. You are the finest that this village hasto offer and you have been chosen to retrieve or missing comrade."
Ino had resorted to cleaning the apartment to pass the time more quickly as she waited for Shikamaru's return.
It had been more than two hours and she was running out of dishes to wash when she heard him coming up the stairs. Ino quickly dried her hands and rushed to meet him at the door.
"Shikamaru! How did it go?"
Shika closed the door slowly and turned to face his wife, a sullen expression on his face. Wordlessly, he took her hand and led her to the couch, where he pulled her down next to him.
"Shika, what is it? Did you get a mission? What rank? Where are you going? Who else-" She was cut off by Shikamaru's fingertips touching her lips. He looked up at her for the first time since his arrival, the same nervous expression on across his features.
"I've been assigned as the team leader for a mission to retrieve Uchiha Sasuke from hiding."
Ino let the information sink in for a moment, then her expression lightened. "Well, it's about time they decided to find him! That shouldn't take too long, where is he?"
"That's just the thing, we have no idea. The first phase is to locate him and spy on his actions for a while, to contemplate the risks and value of his return. It's going to take a while, Ino"
"How long, Shika?" Ino asked.
"It's hard to tell, we're unsure of-"
"Dammit! How long!"
"A year, minimum… max of two, according to the Fifth?"
Ino turned her face away from him, a few tears beginning to form in hereyes. He stroked her hand reassuringly.
After a few minutes of grave silence, she turned back to him and smiled, genuinely and warmly.
"This is the life we both chose, we knew the risks. It's part of our lives as shinobi. You do what you have to, Shika. I'll be here when you get back, waiting for you.""
Shikamaru smiled at his wife, embracing her gently.
'I'll come back, Ino. I'll come as fast as I can. I promise.'
Days passed and finally it was time for the mission to commence. Ino woke early and cooked all of Shikamaru's favorite foods for breakfast and making a few ectra packages for him to take on the journey. He awoke to the sweet aroma and fallowed his nose to the kitchen, where his banquet was laid out for him.
"It's going to be my last chance to cook for you for a while, so I thought I'd go ahead and make the most of it." She giggled at his wide eyes, placing the last plate on the table before him.
Shikamaru grinned and began to devour his feast, Ino watching him affectionately, nibbling at her own food. He finished and went to shower as she cleaned up the dishes.
Before long, he reappeared in the kitchen, this time clad in his jounin uniform, a bag slung over his shoulder.
Ino felt a tear beginning to form in her eye, but quickly brushed it away.
They silently walked to the door and stopped to face each other. Wordlessly, Shikamaru dropped his bag and enveloped her in a tight embrace, she responding just as affectionately. After a moment, they parted and shared a tender kiss.
Shika rested his forehead on hers, their eyes closed, "I'll come back as soon as I can. I promise"
"Then I'll wait forever, Shika"
He interlaced their fingers, playing with her little silver ring.
The clock struck nine, breaking the moment as he started out the door. Their fingers remained entwined until the last moment, as he descended down the stairs.
"I love you." He whispered, glancing back.
"I love you too, Shika." She responded.
She watched him walk down the street until he became no more than a speck in the crowd of people.
'He'll be back…I know he will.'
Sorry if this chapter is a little shorter than the others, I actually worte this and chapter 5 together and split them, or else you guys would...die or something.
Anyways, I hope you sill liked it! Big plot twist next chapter! What will happen to Ino in her lonliness with Shikamaru gone?
Ino-"You're making me out to be some kind of skank! Watch it!"
Lynlyn-"Gomen, it's just to get thier imaginations working!"
Review please!