A/N: Big thanks to my reviewers . They really gave me strength.

I have some news to those who read my stories- Don't expect an update until Monday- tomorrow I have a German test and on Monday a Chemistry test. Today I had Math test and it didn't go well...that's why I couldn't post this chapter on Valentine's Day...In other words, school consumes most of my free time. And my extra english lessons...I'm taking an important exam in June so my English teacher is going nuts with practice, practice, practice...

And another messege- I should be posting the first part of my second ShikaIno fic next week. I think I'll manage somehow...

Please, keep your fingers crossed for me- I really need luck.

Also, I want to dedicate this chappie to mroooffcia. Thank you for everything. You're the bestest .

Disclaimer- Naruto does not belong to me.


There are many different kinds of relationship. First of all, there's a parent and child love, that's created from the day of your birth or maybe even sooner.

There are also bonds with your siblings, grandparents and your whole family.

And of course, there are your friends.

Friendship. One word, so many meanings. There are friends that slowly drift apart without any regret. There are friends that, although you have fun being with them, don't mean anything to you at all.

There are childhood friends, who play a really important role in your life. They help to develop you personality, character and social skills. Maybe that's why younger children have more, less important friends. Because they are still looking for that one and only friend, who will stay with them through thick and thin, no matter what.

Ino was really lucky. She was only five and she already found such a friend. Sakura Haruno.

It started really unexpectedly. She saw a crying girl in a park. Her caring nature made her go to her to reduce the tears, at least a little bit.

She didn't know that it was one of her biggest mistakes that will cause her so much pain in the future.

Sakura was really sad. She was shy and the fact that other children kept teasing her about the size of her forehead, didn't help. So, when a cute blond girl came up to her and offered a ribbon as a sign of a friendship, she was in bliss.

She didn't know how much she will hurt her savior.

Right now, both girls were happy. Sakura possessed a confidence that could match Ino's. She wasn't shy anymore.

Shikamaru also found such friend. Chouji Akimichi. A son of his father second best friend.

It started quite similar to Sakura and Ino's friendship. Chouji was teased about the wideness of his body. Shikamaru helped him to gain confidence and friends.

The boy's relationship was different than girl's. While the girls chatted, played on the playground, took a walk or made flower arrangements, the boys preferred to watch the clouds or play a board game. Sometimes they would chat, though not about normal childish stuff.

Maybe because Shikamaru wasn't a normal child.

Shikamaru and Ino were friends since they remembered. They were always together, so none of them knew when and how did it happen.

They often met, either Ino coming to Shika or Shikamaru coming to Ino.

They didn't see how important they were as friends to each other.

Ino told Shika about Sakura a while ago. She described how the pink haired girl made her way to her life and how she became her best friend. In the little girl's mind, a best friend of a girl could only be a girl.

Shikamaru understood it. But still, he was somehow annoyed. He always assumed that since they were together for so long, it was natural that he was her best friend. Not some Sakura who just came crying and because of it, she had the right to be her best friend.

Shika didn't know how much more he was to Ino. And how deeper their relationship was.

Right now, he was irritated. That pink haired girl had no right to be Ino's friend just because she was a crybaby.

Sakura never accompanied Ino when she had to go shopping alone for the first time.

She never brought the shop assistant's attention to the little blond girl.

She never carried Ino's bag home.

She never offered a shelter in her house when it started to rain.

She never bandaged Ino's knee when she fell for the first time.

He doubted that Ino told Sakura everything just like she did to him. So, what did Sakura had, except her wide forehead, that Shikamaru didn't?

He didn't know the answer nor did he asked for it. It was too troublesome.

The next time they met, Shika told Ino about Chouji.

And this time, Ino felt a strange sensation in her heart.

Was that chubby guy the reason why he seemed to drift away from her?

She never thought that it might be her, who started it.

Of course, she demanded to know who is a better friend to him-her or Chouji. So, he responded with a similar question-who she likes better, Sasuke or him?

Sasuke Uchiha. The only boy who was called "sweet" or "cute" by young girls like Ino. She often told him, how Sasuke impressed her by his training, his dark eyes or dark hair. Or by his white skin and excellent clothing.

Every time Shika heard his name, he wanted to puke. Seriously, everyone was talking about the young Uchiha prodigy, the pride of the village.

No one knew that few years later, he will be the cause of the death of many shinobis. And that Shikamaru's first serious mission will be to bring him back to the village. No one even suspected that he'll be a traitor to Konoha.

Right now, Shikamaru felt even more annoyed. Ino didn't even talk to Sasuke and she was already saying how great he was. She never said a good word about the boy who was with her since her birth.

So, right now, she surprises him by replying to his question.

"Of course, I like you much, much more Shika-kun! You're a lot better than Sasuke!"

Ino was really surprised. How could you even compare Sasuke to Shikamaru? Then again, how could you compare Chouji to Ino?

Both were just as different as...Shikamaru and Ino. All of them were one of their kind, and they couldn't be compared.

Shikamaru was lazy, but a very skilled genius.

Ino was a bossy and loud girl.

Sasuke was a genius too, though in a complete different way than Shika.

Chouji was very nice, though a little too easy to scare.

Sakura was also very nice, quite confident but too much of a crybaby.

They were all different. And their lives were connected with each other.

Since Ino answered his question, he should do the same. To avoid quarreling and sulking, he gave her the wanted answer.

"You're a better friend than Chouji"

He can't help but feel that he lies. Ino is a very nice friend but Chouji is a little better. He wonders why, exactly. Is it because Chouji is a guy and Ino is a girl? Or maybe Chouji does everything Shika wants?

Suddenly, a not-so-childish though crosses his mind, giving him an answer.

"Ino is much more than Chouji. She is too important to be just a friend."

He chooses not to think about it. Too troublesome.

Sakura gave Ino back her ribbon. She overheard Ino talking about Sasuke. All the things she said about him.

She failed to notice how, despite her constant chatting and sighing about Uchiha, Ino was continually playing with the other boy's ponytail.

She waited a little. Her first thought was that Ino should have Sasuke. After all, she was first. If it weren't for Ino, Sakura wouldn't have met Uchiha.

But then a wave of protest hit her. So what, if Ino was first? So what, if she was her best friend? Sasuke was worth everything. She was positive she could live without Ino, now that she gained confidence. She was positive that she couldn't live without Sasuke.

Sakura didn't know that few years later, their friendship will be rebuild, though never the same. And that she would settle for the most unlikely person, who promised her eternal protection.

Right now though, she saw Ino skipping happily towards her flower shop. She called her name and announced the end of their blooming friendship. She gave her back her ribbon and walked away, not caring if the girl behind her just fell on her knees, shaking with sobs.

Sakura felt free, though incomplete. She brushed off this feeling, saying that it'll fade away.

Ino's little heart was broken. After crying all tears she had, her Yamnaka pride had called to her.

She was far too proud to let Sakura know how weak she really was. She'll show everyone that she can be worthy of Haruno's attention. And then, Sakura will come back.

She put on a determined face and went home, wiping her damp cheeks.

No one came to her, like she did to Sakura, when she was crying her eyes out.

She never noticed a boy in a fishnet shirt, standing in the shadows, watching her closely.

He noticed the green ribbon in Ino's hands. The same ribbon he saw for the first time in her room. The one he saw Sakura wearing earlier.

Shika was smart. He saw Ino's tears, the recognizable ribbon, clutched in her hand and put the pieces together.

Looks like Shikamaru got what he wanted. Sakura was gone from Ino's heart. But why did her tears feel as if his heart would shatter? He felt like crying there with her, and Sakura wasn't the reason.

He wanted to cry, because Ino was crying.

He expected her to come next day and curse Sakura. She didn't. So, when it was getting late, he went to her, expecting to hear her raging screams as she furiously kicked her training bag.

The only sound he got, was quiet sniffing from her room, when he entered.

And somehow, her pitiful sobs brought something in his mind. He didn't know why, but he grabbed her hand, squeezing it gently.

Ino didn't expect him to be here this late. So, when she found him, clutching her hand, she felt a wave of panic.

"This isn't Ino"

That was his first thought when she smiled brightly and asked him what was he doing here. Not waiting for an answer she gently pushed him out of her room, saying that they'll meet tomorrow, now it's too late, promising that she'll come.

She came. But she always talked about everything except Sakura.

She was always cheerful, energetic, bossy. But...

"This isn't Ino"

Shika saw what she was doing. He saw how she was building a mask and hiding under it. No one else saw it, but he did. It'd take him some time and effort to bring her back, but he didn't plan on giving up yet. Actually, he didn't plan on giving up at all.

He was ready to do everything it takes, just to bring his little Ino back.

Right now, he was sure to spend more time with her. He dragged her out on swings, playgrounds where they would play hide and seek or tag. Or they simply took a walk.

He often complained that it was troublesome. But, the smile on her face as she was running after him or jumping through the playground, was graved forever in his memory. And he was really glad, that he was the one who caused it.

As for Ino, she felt the ache in her heart slowly fading, with every day spent with Shikamaru. And the mask was slipping off without her knowledge.

Shika saw it. He saw how her forced smiles became natural laughter. He saw how her previously dull eyes, were shining with brightness.

And he felt the ache in his heart disappear too.