Author's note:
Hey guys, it's a one-shot! I thought you'd all like to know that this fic was a challenge from Kudari-chan (I think that's her new pen name.), and it is dedicated to her.
Love you, Kudari-chan!
--------------
Challenge: Write a one-shot about Ino and Shikamaru! It must have something to do with Shikamaru's love for clouds, and Ino's love for stars.
--------------
Of Clouds and Stars
By: Maiyuko-chan
--------------
A sixteen-year old Shikamaru sighed lazily as he looked up at the clouds. He squinted his eyes slightly.
That one looked like an alligator.
He closed his eyes and yawned. This was just about the only thing that wasn't to troublesome for him. Just lying there… and staring at the clouds.
Of course, it was troublesome when the sun was too bright, or when night came, which was what it was doing now. The clouds were turning purple, and Shikamaru's alligator was blown away and gone forever.
He opened his eyes and started to get up, when he felt a hand on his shoulder pressing him back down. He looked up. It was that troublesome girl that haunted his thoughts, Ino.
"What is it?" yawned Shikamaru. Ino put her hands behind her head.
"Why are you leaving, Shika? The stars are coming out." Shikamaru looked at her, as if it were obvious.
"I came to look at the clouds." he stated. Ino plopped down to the ground.
"Ya wanna look at the stars with me?" she asked playfully. Shikamaru only plopped down beside her. Why not?
He supposed that you learned something new everyday, even if you were a genius. He hadn't known that Ino liked stars. They didn't say a thing to each other as they lay there, waiting for night to come. The clouds disappeared with the sun, and Ino sighed happily when it turned out that tonight would be bright. The moon came out, and Shikamaru noted that it looked much bigger than it usually did.
Ino looked at the stars as if they had given her very life. Her eyes closed for a moment, and Shikamaru listened to her breathing.
"Shikamaru." she said after a moment. He looked at her.
"Hn?"
"Have you never looked at the stars before?" Shikamaru looked back up.
"No. Not really. I like clouds better." Ino sat up.
"Oh. Why?"
"Why, what?" he asked, slightly irritated. Why did she have to ask so many questions?
"Why didn't you ever look at them?"
"It's too troublesome," was the automatic answer.
"Don't give me that!" she said angrily. "You could just say 'I never took interest,' or something, but it's always 'too troublesome!'" Shikamaru sighed. She always did this. He could tell that this would be the same as always. She would harass him for not caring, leave, and then he wouldn't be able to stop thinking about her.
She sighed, though, and lay back down on the ground.
"Sorry." he said. Ino looked at him.
"S'okay." she sighed. Ha. He knew that would work to shut her up. He closed his eyes and sighed, enjoying the cool night air. The breeze ruffled his hair slightly.
"Shikamaru." Dammit!
He kept his eyes closed and answered: "What?"
He didn't remember exactly what happened then. All he knew was that he felt a hand on top of his, and his lips were covered with hers for a moment that probably wasn't as long as he thought it was. The scent of flowers floated around him for a blissful moment. Suddenly, he couldn't feel the contact anymore.
He opened his eyes, and Ino, who was now all he could think of, was gone. A small smile spread across his face. And for a moment, he figured that Ino might not be as troublesome as he thought.
--------------
Owari
--------------
Author's note:
Please review! Sorry if the characters are OOC...