Author's notes: I know this story is beginning to seem a little draggy but I don't like to rush. And I like to take time out to explore the characters and their development through out the story. The next chapter(s?) will have more action, I promise. In the meantime, thanks to all the reviewers. Enjoy :)

As the sun continued to rise in the sky, four young ninjas were making their way through the forest to the Earth country. They were walking in silence, no one spoke or said anything. The only sounds that could be heard were the distant twittering of the birds and the occasional rustle in the underbrush as unseen animals went about their business. The three men didn't mind the quietness, in fact they found it rather relaxing. Shikamaru, Neji and Shino weren't exactly the talkative type and they preferred to speak only when spoken to, the three were quite alike in this sense. Sakura, on the other hand, found the absence of human voice rather unnerving and very uncomfortable. The boys hadn't so much as cough or sneeze, let alone utter a word and she became increasingly frustrated. She was after all a girl and she lived to talk, chat, gossip, and converse like all females do. But this was getting to be too much! She couldn't take the deafening silence anymore.

"Nice weather today, don't you think? Neji-kun." She said to the tall, handsome man walking in front of her in the sweetest voice she could muster.

"Hm?"

Sakura's eyebrow twitched.

"I said, nice weather today. Don't you think, Neji-kun?" She repeated herself slowly, so that he could catch her words.

Neji looked up to the sky, his squinted his pale eyes as the sun's bright rays washed over his upturned face.

"I suppose so." Came his brief reply.

Sakura pressed on, wanting to ignite the small ember that is this conversation.

"Don't you just love weather like this?" She asked cheerfully.

Sakura loved sunny days for it reminded her of good memories she had with her old genin team as well as her good friends – Hinata, Tenten and especially Ino. Even though their friendship was broken due to their competition over the attentions of the sole remaining Uchiha, that fractured relationship was mended after both women had grown out of that childish infatuation. They had moved on to other men and other relationships, with Sakura hooking up with Naruto, while Ino explored her chances with Neji. Though both couples did not last for long, they knew that they were still young and that they had all the time in the world to find the one meant for them. In the meantime, Sakura was perfectly content being single and giggling with her friends over the many good-looking men that inhabited their village.

Inuzuka Kiba was one prime example. The unassuming ugly duckling had turned into a rather attractive young man and Kiba was now one of Konoha's most sought after bachelors. He was of average height and was slight compared to Neji's tall frame or Chouji's bulk, but he had a well-muscled body to rival even the legendary athletes of Ancient Greece. Sakura once had the pleasant opportunity to see the Jounin shirtless during a training session and she had to stop herself from drooling as she watched his corded muscles ripple as he moved. The childish, toothy smirk was now replaced by a confident and self-assured smile, and she had to blush when she found herself thinking that his two sharp canines were sexy. Even the red markings on his tanned skin were strangely erotic and alluring to Sakura.

Neji was also another example. If he had been good-looking during his genin days, he was absolutely HOT now. The long, flowing brown locks draped on his strong back, the mysterious yet gentle silver eyes, the smooth flawless skin that never seems to darken even after hours of training under the sun. Sakura could go on and on about all the things that made Neji as attractive as he was. But while Kiba was friendly and outgoing, Neji was the direct opposite. The Hyuuga genius was quiet and subdued to say the least. Sakura couldn't remember if she ever heard him laugh or to speak above a whisper unless it was to shout at his teammates to evade an enemy's attack or to yell at Naruto to shut up. She found his silent demeanor a little awkward at times, especially if they were alone. Other times she appreciated the aura of calm, level headedness he exuded.

But now was not such a time.

"Aa." The man replied. "At least it isn't raining."

Normally, Sakura would blow up at the lack of effort on Neji's part to sustain the dialogue between them but this time she let it slip. She knew the significance of rainy days in his less than rosy life and decided not to pursue the matter further. She debated whether to shift her attention to her other team members and to attempt another doomed conversation or to just remain quiet. Sakura didn't know how she survived one year with Konoha's three least talkative people, it was nothing short of a miracle.

"Sakura?"

The sudden sound surprised the young woman.

Nara Shikamaru, shadow master, deer herder, strategist extraordinaire, go expert and overall lazy jackass just spoke to her?

"Can I ask you a question?" He sounded… Nervous? No, Sakura didn't think he did. Strained? No, Shikamaru still had that lazy drawl. She couldn't put a finger on it.

"Sure." She answered uncertainly.

"Why didn't Ino come to send you off today?"

Shikamaru tried to sound disinterested as he spoke and kept his gaze averted from Sakura's. But she immediately knew his intention when she saw the red tinge on his cheeks. The shadow user didn't want to know why Ino didn't show up to send Sakura off, he wanted to know why Ino didn't come at all. He knew that Chouji would have passed his message to her but he didn't know why she hadn't turn up. Shikamaru thought of hundreds of possibilities of her absence but he didn't find any of them satisfactory. Sakura smiled mischievously to herself. She was going to have some fun with him.

"Oh, I'd expect she's busy." Sakura replied, trying hard to not smirk or to laugh.

"Busy? With what?"

Shikamaru kept a look of nonchalance on his face but Sakura didn't miss the slight raising of his thin eyebrows. She was going to enjoy herself indeed.

"Oh, she met someone at the Konoha festival last month." Sakura felt that she was going to burst out in fits of hysterical laughter. She bit on her pink lips to keep from snickering.

Shikamaru's eyes widened, then narrowed with displeasure. His brows were furrowed and the red hue on his face a brief moment ago disappeared.

'She didn't tell me about that.' He frowned deeply as he thought to himself.

Ino always confided in him and he didn't about this 'someone' she had just met. She told him everything that took place in her life, from her breaking a nail during a mission or her having a fight with her mother. But lately they had drifted apart and she talked to him less for he was always busy. Anger began to well deep within him. Anger that he didn't know whether it was directed towards this new person, towards Ino or whether he was simply angry with himself. It was jealousy escalated to a new level.

"Who?" He demanded. Shikamaru didn't bother to hide his true feelings anymore, and the tightness in his voice bore evidence of that. His hands were balled into fists by his sides and he gritted his teeth till the muscles in his jaw jumped.

Sakura froze. She had guessed that Shikamaru had something for Ino but she didn't expect him to react so violently to what could be a mere rumor. The lean, young man beside her was exuding such an aura of pure rage that Sakura's heart began beating wildly. She had never seen her team leader like this before. It was a part of his personality that she had never encountered before. Shikamaru was one of those people who could never get angry no matter what. Even during missions when they were faced with cruel and twisted enemies, she never so him lose his temper or blow his stack. He always calm and unruffled in the face of such turmoil. Neji and even Shino had moments where they lost their cool but not Shikamaru. This sudden change in his usual placid behavior scared her.

But just as quickly as the sudden wave of rage consumed him, the young man just as quickly relaxed. He let out a long breath. He had frightened his poor teammate and he knew it. Raging about the presence of a new man in Ino's life wasn't going to achieve anything and he was ashamed that he had lost control over his emotions like that. He turned to face Sakura and flashed her a sheepish grin.

"Sorry." He mumbled and scratched the back of his hand with his right hand. "I don't know what came over me..." He look faintly embarrassed.

Sakura blinked.

What just happened?

"Its ok, Shikamaru." To her, it seemed that he had calmed down.

He smiled again but remained silent and looked away. Sakura knew what was bothering him but she wasn't sure what to do.

"Um…" Sakura began hesitantly. "I don't know why Ino didn't come, Shikamaru."

And she saw him smile for the third time but this time there was bitterness behind it. She felt bad for him. She really wished she could have given him an answer, at least to console him. But Sakura really didn't know why Ino hadn't come. The two good friends had spoken briefly after Tsunade had assigned the task force their mission but Sakura hadn't thought to ask Ino to come send her off. She always did. Come rain or shine, Ino always came to send her best buddy off. Naturally, Sakura was a little surprised that she hadn't turn up this morning but quickly dismissed all worries for she was sure that Ino had a sound reason for not coming. She wondered if Shikamaru knew it, or did his feelings for her cloud his judgment.

"I know you were waiting for her." Sakura said softly. She looked up at the tall Jounin and saw sadness in his ebony eyes. But he didn't speak.

"I know there's a reason for her not showing up." She continued. "If it wasn't important, she would have come."

The slender young woman put one delicate hand on his wrist and pulled his arm towards her so that he turned to face her. Shikamaru was taken aback by the sudden physical contact.

"She would have come. Not just for me. But for you." She stared into his eyes, her gaze unwavering, as if she was trying to convey the undeniable truth in her deep green orbs.

"Especially for you."

Shikamaru's eyes widened. Sakura's words were surprising to say the least.

'Ino would have come especially for me?' He pondered bewilderedly.

After he had requested that Chouji ask Ino to come send him off, he felt like kicking himself in the behind. What was he thinking? Of course she would come. Her best friend was going off as well, of course she would have come that morning. But to ask that she come for him, what was he thinking? Who was he to her? A teammate, an old family friend? Sakura was her best friend, someone she had known closely since they were children, and someone whom she spent most of her waking hours with. How could he compare?

But after what Sakura said, he didn't know what to believe.

Sakura, as if knowing what was going through his mind, squeezed his hand gently.

"She would have come." She asserted.

He had to smile.

All this while, Neji had been listening in on their conversation. So had Shino but he didn't care much for chats on topics such as these and took the walk through the woods as an opportunity to discover more insects. But Neji knew Shikamaru's pain. He felt the same when he had been with Ino. It was painful every time he had to leave her before setting off on a mission. The both of them would share a tender moment alone a few minutes before and speak words of reassurance to each other. Telling each other to be strong, to keep hope and to take care of themselves. But never once did he see Ino cry. She was strong. Stronger than most kunoichis he knew. And she carried herself with a feminine grace that was both alluring and yet deadly misleading. Beneath the soft curves and silky skin was a tough nut that was hard to crack. She never faltered in missions and was just as brave and hardy as her male teammates maybe even more so. She was also very bossy no doubt, and would throw tantrums (as well as any objects she could get her hands on) if she didn't get her way.

But on the day he and Shino had gone to get Shikamaru, his perception of her had changed. The two young men had received word from Izumo that Tsunade wanted the team immediately and they had set out to look for their team leader. When they had gotten to his house, they found the house empty and both knew where he would be. However, they didn't expect him to have company and when Neji recognized the woman with him, he asked Shino to go ahead alone. He wasn't avoiding her nor did their breakup leave each other with acrimonious feelings but he didn't want to make things awkward for her. So Neji wisely choose to watch from afar as Shikamaru got up and spoke his last words with her. As the two men met up with him, Neji saw that Ino looked strange. Her proud head, always held high, was drooping sadly. And she had a hand to her face, touching her eyes. Was Ino doing what he thought she was doing?

Neji waited till the others had their backs to him and he silently activated his Byakugan. And he saw something that he didn't think he would ever see.

He saw Ino crying.

'Shikamaru, my friend.' Thought Neji. 'You're a lucky man.'

Then he remembered Ino's sudden mood swings and violent temper. Neji had to think twice.

And the silver-eyed genius nodded knowingly to himself, a small smile playing on his thin lips.

Endnote: I'm running out of inspiration! NOOOOOO!