AN: O.o Sorry I haven't updated in like... Forever. But I've been really busy with life and stuff, not to mention I have huge writer's block for Ghost in His Shell, which will not be updated for a while. Sorry guys! However, I finally had some free time, so I wrote this in about half an hour. This is a short scene, so I apologise for the lack of action, blood, violence and gore.
Angels-Ramen: Sorry, I don't plan on having a Rosaline character. I was planning on just having Sakura being the nurse so Ino could confide in someone, and it would be a little silly to add an OC or make Tenten/Hinata/Temari/Anko/Etc. be in love with him. I'm sorry for any dissapointment.
Sei Mong: Well, Kakashi is not exactly going to be a Monk. He's just going to take the place of Friar Lawrence. So, Sakura is not literally going to be Ino's Nurse, etc. I picked Kakashi over Kabuto because Kakashi is always late for things, which would explain why he didn't arrive in time to save Sasuke and Ino. Also, I didn't think Sasuke could confide in Kabuto as much as he could in Kakashi.
So, without further ado, I give you, the next chapter!
Back in Konoha, the day had begun. The streets were once more filled with people, oblivious to what had transpired the night before. Young soon to be genin walked to the academy in pairs or small groups, talking and laughing. Members of Konoha's elite could be seen lurking around the village, but that was normal and no one suspected anything had happened with Sound. The shopkeepers on the main streets had begun to put out their wares and Ichikaru's would be warming up for the afternoon business. Women dragged their young children into stores as they completed morning errands. Older ninja hurried off for practice with their three man squads, while the girls on the streets talked of the upcoming costume party. Naruto ran quickly through the streets, pursued by a rather peeved looking Sakura. Tsunade sat in her office, staring unblinkingly at a map, her eyes focused on Sound's city walls.
A door to a flower shop opened and a teenaged girl stepped out, her bright blue eyes quickly scanning the streets. Her face turned up in a slight smile as the sun glinted down on her pale blonde hair. She carried a load of flowers in her arms and she began to hum a happy tune as she walked down the busy streets to the Nara's apartment. Konohamaru and his friends nearly crashed into her, yelling apologies over their shoulders as they continued to speed off. Laughing slightly, she carried on, wondering where they were going in such a hurry. She said hello to various friends and neighbors, inquiring about their children's progress with their new teams and answering questions about the chuunin exams.
Finally approaching the house, she knocked on the door and smiled as Shikamaru's mother opened the door.
"Hello," Ino said warmly. "Is Shikamaru home?"
"Actually, he's out for the moment. He needed to talk to Jiraiya and your father about something," she said, looking pleased her son was getting off his lazy bum and actually asserting himself. "Would you like me to tell him you called?"
"Sure," Ino said, smiling. "I just wanted to tell him happy birthday. These are for him."
"Oh, Ino," she said, taking the flowers from the girl. "These are lovely! I'll be sure to tell him." She paused, looking at the girl. "You're a good kid, Ino. I wish my son could end up with a good girl like you!"
"Um… Thank you," Ino said, suddenly hasty to make her retreat. "Uh, thanks very much. I've gotta go and meet Sakura at the Academy," she said quickly before running off with a quick wave to the woman.
The brunette retreated into the house with the flowers, carefully arranging them in a vase. She smiled to herself and she seemed to have an extra spring in her step as she went to finish her morning chores.
"Yes, that Ino's a good girl…"
Shikamaru rounded the corner of the hallway with Jiraiya and Inoshi, waiting patiently for someone to say something. He had come to them to ask their opinion of a rather important matter, but hadn't exactly known how to bring it up. Finally, about a few minutes ago, he had just blurted it out and now felt rather embarrassed. However, the two older men seemed to have taken it much better then he had hoped they would. He had asked Inoshi if he could marry Ino, and had expected much more then he had received. Now, the men walked in silence as Inoshi considered, thinking hard. Jiraiya broke the more then awkward silence with a muttered oath.
"Those damn Sound Ninja are constantly being such pests," he murmured, stopping to lean against the wall as the other two men stopped beside him.
"I had heard they had broken in again last night," Shikamaru said. "Is it true?"
"Yeah," Jiraiya said, running a hand through his hair distractedly as Inoshi stayed silent, looking at Shikamaru with piercing blue eyes.
"Man, what a drag," Shikamaru muttered, not looking at Inoshi directly. "How did Tusande take it?"
"She was pissed…" Jiraiya laughed.
"Don't you think you both are a little young for this, Shikamaru?" Inoshi asked suddenly, still looking at the dark haired boy. "I know you're sixteen now, but Ino's not going to be sixteen for a few more weeks and I'd like to keep her until she's at least eighteen. Besides, have you even talked to her about this?"
"But, people younger then us have done it," Shikamaru argued as Jiraiya yawned widely in the background, listening in partial amusement as the two bantered. "And besides, if the war with Sound starts soon, I'd rather we do it sooner then later. I… I don't want anything to happen to her before I tell her about how I feel."
Inoshi paused, thinking. Jiraiya yawned again, before interjecting. "The kid's got a point. The last thing we need is a repeat of some crazy old love story…"
Inoshi hesitated, looking a little stunned. Shikamaru felt a little badly, thinking he had probably hit the man with a lot in the last few minutes. But he didn't speak, not wanting to appear over eager. Finally, the blonde man sighed.
"Fine. But, only if you wait till her sixteenth birthday and if you can with her heart at the upcoming costume party. Don't just say you want to marry her: prove it. And I'll know if that hasn't happened." His expression softened. "You're a good kid, Shikamaru. It's not that I don't trust you. Hell, I trust you more then I'd trust my own son in a case like this." He clapped a hand on the boy's shoulder. "You have my best regards. Now, go and enjoy your birthday."
"Thank you sir," Shikamaru said before hastily departing.
Jiraiya laughed. "Nice job scaring the crap out of the poor kid, Inoshi."
The blond smiled slightly. "Well, you'd understand if you had a kid."
"I guess I would. Now, about our defense strategies," Jiraiya said, suddenly all business. "Lord Hokage said she'd have my head if I didn't get them to her by lunch."
"Very well then," Inoshi said. They left, discussing the war. Little did they know the night they would have to be worried about was coming sooner then they thought…
AN: To be continued. Questions? Comments? Concerns? Reviews motivate me to update!