Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto
Pairings: InoxShikamaru TentenxNeji SakuraxSasuke HiantaxNaruto
"What a wonderful day!" Ino stretched and smiled. Valentine's Day was here again and Konoha was in high spirits. "Time to wake up Shikam…." Ino trailed off as there was nobody to be found in the spot next to her on the bed. "Shika-kun!" Ino yelled hoping to hear a grumble or anything to signify he was home. 'He's never up early unless he has a mission. Shika would have told me anyway. And what a day to be gone! Valentine's Day is one to spend with people you love.'
The blonde got out of bed and smoothed out the satin sheets. "Shikamaru, come home soon." Ino turn on the water looking forward to a warm shower to wash away her drowsiness. Ino slid into the shower and closed her eyes. "Well, no point in dwelling on where Shika went. I better hurry up so I can meet Sakura to go get Valentines gifts for everyone." No matter how mature Ino was suppose to act at the age of 19, she still had a playful quality that no one could resist. Sakura and the blonde became friends again after they both became chuunins. There was no point in fighting if you were working for the same village.
"Better get out. Don't want to be late." Ino wrapped a pink towel around herself and pulled back the red shower curtain. In her spare time, the girl loved to decorate the house depending on holidays, seasons, or special events. Ino walked into her closet which was about 3 times the size of her boyfriend's.
Flashback
"Shika, what should we do with this room." Ino and Shikamaru had just bought an apartment that they would move into together. They were figuring out what to put where. Actually, they was more like just Ino. The blonde was humming happily as she strolled from room to room dragging the lazy genius with her.
"Ino, as long as it's reasonable I don't care." This earned him a smack on the head from his girlfriend.
"Shika dear, don't you want us to be happy in our new home." Ino pouted and gave him the puppy dog eyes.
"Of course." He replied.
"Then help me decide!" Ino yelled in an angry voice. 'Lazy Shikamaru!'
'This is so troublesome' "Fine, this room can be a study." Shikamaru told the woman standing next to him.
"Maybe, just maybe." Ino tapped her finger on her chin contemplating the thought. "Wait," Ino yelled, "I have the perfect idea! This room will be my closet!"
"There's just one problem, Ino. Where will I put my clothes?" Shika was amazed at how much room his girlfriend thought she would need for just clothing. 'I just had to pick the high maintenance one.'
"Over there." Ino pointed to a room about three times smaller than the one they were currently in.
"What ever you say Ino-chan." Shikamaru kissed his girlfriend on the nose and walked into the next room. Ino was left standing into what was to be her closet, blushing until her boyfriend called her. "Ino, are you coming!"
"Hai, Shika-kun!"
End Flashback
Ino giggled as she recalled about that time. "So, what should I wear today?" Ino picked out a pair of black high heels with strings that laced until about mid-thigh. Then from the racks and racks of tops, Ino pulled out a white tank top that said 'I love NS' on it. Under the lettering were words in parenthesis that said 'Nara Shikamaru'. It was custom made by Tenten's mother who was a talented designer. The bottom she picked out was a black skirt with one pink heart on it. The skirt ended about where the lacing of her boots ended.
Ino quickly dressed and applied makeup on her face. The blonde tied her hair up in a ponytail. The finishing touch was a locket that her lazy genius gave her for their one month anniversary. It was silver and once opened had a picture of the couple. It was from when the carnival was in town. The ninja's were given a break from their regular duties to enjoy the day. The picture had Shikamaru hugging Ino. In her arms was a stuffed piglet. 'My first date with Shika-kun'
Flashback
Shikamaru was watching clouds like everyday when his schedule was free. It was something he missed from the days when he was a chunnin. Now that he was an 18 year old jounin it was hard to find a good day to do this.
Despite the fact that Shikamaru was 18, he had never gone on a date. The one woman he loved would probably never be interested in him. 'The sky is just like her eyes' Shikamaru hadn't seen her in a while.
Ino was crying because of the fact that her friends all had someone to love, all but her. It was a month after Christmas and it was still cold outside. The snowflakes covered the top of her head as she ran down the busy streets of Konoha. The people were staring at her, but she didn't care. Ino's hopes had been crushed again. She asked a former classmate if he would like to go. Turns out he had a girlfriend and she was very harsh on Ino, cursing at her.
Today was the day of a fair for young couples. She had nobody, absolutely nobody to go with. Sakura was lucky. She had the Uchiha prodigy, Sasuke, who would never admit that he loved her. But it was evident the way his eyes would watch her every move and the way he would act cold to anyone who would flirt with her. Tenten had a prodigy too. The Hyuuga prodigy, Neji. He was a very protective lover but a sweet romantic Tenten claimed. They were even engaged! Quiet Hinata had scored big time with Naruto, her childhood crush. Naruto had defeated Orochimaru and became a hero. He finally relized who he loved and became her boyfriend. Even the little brat Konohamaru had a girlfriend and he's only 15! On top of that it was Hinata's sister, Hanabi!
Ino ran to the only place she felt was safe, the place where Shikamaru, Chouji, and herself would watch clouds. The cold winter air stung her cheeks and arms. 'God! It's so cold. I should've brought a jacket.' Ino sat against a tree and began to shiver. She rubbed her hands together and blew warm air on them. The tears still dropped from her crystal blue eyes. Now they stung even more, not just because she was cold. It was because she thought nobody would bother to come and find her.
Shikamaru was smiling at the clouds when all of a sudden he hears footsteps. The person who was approaching was crying by what he could hear. The voice sounded familiar to him. The noises were coming from the other side of a tree about a yard away from him. He sat up and walked around the tree only to find Ino scrunched up in a little ball. Her sobs almost tore his heart in half.
The blonde looked up from her current position to find Shikamaru standing in front of her about to kneel down. "Shika," Ino choked out, "What are you doing here?" She tried to smile and stop crying but it was no use. Her tears came back stronger than ever.
"Ino," Shikamaru whispered as he stood her up, "You must be cold. Here take my jacket." He took off his jacket and gave it to her. Ino shook her head to say no but Shikamaru just put his jacket on for her. "Now climb on my back. I'll take you to my house so you can rest." He knelt down for her to get on his back.
'Is this really the lazy Shika-kun I know?' "No, Shika-kun, I'm fine. Really I am." Ino lied to her teammate expecting him to believe her like all those times in the past. What he said back to her shocked her.
"Don't be stubborn. You'll freeze to death if you stay out here." Shikamaru picked up Ino bridal style and ran in the direction of his home.
"S-Shika!" Ino squealed out as she was lifted into his arms. She was blushing madly but was unable to do anything because of her lack of energy. 'Shikamaru, if only you knew how much I need a guy like you.' Then the thought struck her. 'I guess I need you. You Nara Shikamaru, my lazy genius. I love you.'
The lazy genius arrived at his house. He moved out from him old home because he needed to learn how to take care of himself. Shikamaru set Ino down on her feet and opened the door. He walked Ino inside and told her to lie down on his couch. He brought her a warm cup of tea and sat across the room from her one his other sofa. 'You really are troublesome.'
Ino set the cup of tea down. "Shika," Ino asked, "What do you think of me?"
Shikamaru was taken back. 'What do I think of you? Well, you're independent, strong, beautiful, and everything I look for in a girl. I can't tell her that.' For once, this lazy genius was stumped. He finally spoke, "Well, I think you're a great person. You're the most beautiful woman I've ever met. And Ino... I love you." 'Way to go Shikamaru, you just come out of the blue and say that!'
Ino's eyes widened and tears began to form in her eyes. For once in her life, a man told her that he loved her. "Shika!" She pulled him into a tight embrace. "I love you too." At that moment Shikamaru thought he was the happiest man in the world. "Shika-kun. There's a fair today. Will you come with me?" Ino was unsure how her new boyfriend would react.
"Of course I will." Shikamaru replied.
"Good. I thought you would say 'How troublesome' and reject my offer." Ino smiled. Shikamaru told her to keep the jacket that she had on right now so she wouldn't get cold. He himself grabbed a new jacket from the closet. The two walked down to the fair which was in the center of town.
As soon as the fair was in sight, Ino grabbed her boyfriend's arm and ran as fast as she could. "Come on Shikamaru!" Ino was excited to go see her friends at the fair. And of course she was going to tell them to keep away from Shika-kun. He had a girlfriend now.
At the fair, she met the whole gang bundled up by a particular booth. "Hey!" Ino yelled. Everybody turned around to see Shikamaru and Ino holding hands.
"Did you bring him along just to prove to us you could get a boyfriend?" Kiba asked. His confident smile hadn't changed a bit in all these years.
"No!" Ino argued back, "We're an item now." Shikamaru blushed and mumbled something nobody could hear.
"Is this true?" Chouji inquired. Over the years Chouji had cut down on junk food and became one of Konoha's most eligible bachelors. The cloud watcher just nodded his head. There were gasps and squeals among the girls. The boys however just smiled and smirked as if to say 'Congratulations'.
"So what were you all looking at?" Ino went over to the booth to find a target game.
"Well our boyfriends were getting prizes for us." Sakura explained. Ino looked around and saw that every girl was holding a stuffed animal in their hands. Hinata had an orange fox. 'No surprise there.' Ino thought. Sakura had a pink puppy with a bow on its head. Tenten had a white tiger which she clutched tightly in her arms.
"Shika-kun" Ino looked up at Shikamaru with a pout. "Will you get one for me? Pretty please with a cherry on top?"
"How troublesome," Shikamaru told her. Ino looked as if she would burst into tears. "Fine, fine, I'll do it." He took the little rubber ball that they used to hit the targets. It stuck becausethere wasVelcro on it. He got a perfect score and smiled at his girlfriend.
"Congratulations sir! What prize would you like?" The man at the counter was a cheerful, beardedman. Shikamaru pointed to the pink piglet on the very side of the booth. Shikamaru handed it to Ino.
"Why did you get me this one?" Ino was mad. 'How could he make fun of my name?'
Shikamaru smiled and replied, "It's cute, just like you."
End Flashback
Ino was so caught up in her daydream she didn't hear a car horn honking from outside. "Ino!" a pink haired girl yelled, "Are you ready?" Sakura was standing next to a red convertible.
"Coming!" Ino yelled back to her friend. Ino grabbed her white purse and black leather jacket. She rushed down the stairs and opened the door. The cold winter air mad her shiver and run to get to the car. "It's freezing out there!" Ino told her friend as she bucked her seatbelt. Sakura just smirked. 'Her boyfrined is really rubbing off on her!'
"Well, off to the mall!" Sakura turned on the radio and drove down the road.
'I guess Naruto rubbed off on her too.' Ino thought.
To be continued...