"What's taking him so long? Oh Shika, just come back safely." mummered Ino quietly to her self twirling a strand of blonde hair around her index finger.

Sasuke stared at Ino curiously thinking, hm...she really cares about that Nara boy.

It was almost the crack of dawn and the morning sun is just about to rise up as a couple of ninjas sprinted forward anxiously.

"That must be them." Sasuke suggested.

Ino gasped for breaths as an unbelievable scene came into view before her eyes, blood was splattered over the teams, and fresh wounds were still gushing out unstoppable blood. It was a sight that she never wanted to see, her best friend near to knock on heaven's door. No. How could she even think that? Her best will not die! Under the supervision of one of Konoha's best healers, Hinata, Chouji can not die! But even trying to be strong on the outside, Ino cannot avoid believing to the fact that if a person can loose that much blood then they can die. And she cannot avoid her tears.

Before Shikamaru, or anyone got a chance to talk yet, Ino grabbed hold on Shikamaru's green vest collar and screamed into his face, "WHAT HAPPENED? YOU WERE SUPPOSE TO HELP THEM ON THEIR REQUEST! YOU WERE SUPPOSE TO PROTECT YOUR BEST FRIEND!"

Even though Chouji's severe injuries weren't Shikamaru's fault but the guilt feeling ninja just used his rough hands to wipe away some tears on Ino's moist, pale skin and whispered, "Ino..."

"Ino! That's enough! It's not Shikamaru's fault, so just relax and let's get Chouji and Neji to the hospital fast!" Hinata practically yelled.

With a calmly said "Sorry" Ino disappeared leaving a guilt feeling desprate Shikamaru feeling all alone.


"How could I let this happen...she must hates me now." moaned Shikamaru putting a hand on his sweaty forehead while sitting on the tiled ground infront of Chouji's operation door. Before the Yamanaka brightened his life, Chouji was his bestest and only friend. Chouji was a clean, simple, husky boy who didn't like alot of commotion, which was also a reason why Shikamaru liked Chouji. No matter if it was girl trouble...er Ino trouble, or training, if Chouji wasn't on a mission then he'd be the on who's got Shikamaru's back. He would never lead Shikamaru into any sort of risky danger.

Ino on the other hand, was a sneaky but a strong ninja. She'd mostly dictate his life all the time, but she's also the one that can crawl into Shikamaru's heart. She's not just another pretty face to him...well she is pretty, but she's a person that he cared about. Sure she'd ask him to buy stuff for her, help her do troublesome stuff, or even mess with other people's lives. But if she was gone then who'd make him do all those stuff together?

Thinking about Ino and Chouji, Shikamaru was afraid. He doesn't want to loose both of them, or even any of them. He felt like the perfect time to cry and weep his tears out, but no way was he going to let Chouji see him as a girly man when he comes out of that door being perfectly healthy.

Suddenly, he felt hope. The door opened. But the person out of the door wasn't Chouji in a wheelchair, it was Sakura.

Her face was stern, it was serious, "S-Shikamaru...I'm so sorry. The hokage, Hinata, and I tried out best but...but we can't bring him back." Then Sakura weeped into Lee's arms while Lee came just out of nowhere.

Then...his mind went blank...

"C-Chouji...he d..d...gone." He stuttered not being about to say the "D word".

He sank into the ground speechlessly as Lee carried the weeping Sakura home. Hinata and Tsunadae were still in the room, trying to clean up of what's left of Chouji.

Remebering the good times that they had and the fights he had against Chouji before because of his imperfection. But Shikamaru swore if he could see Chouji in heaven right now then he'd be the most perfect angel...with chips.

Flashback...

After a bunch of little boys has beaten up Chouji and called him names, Shikamaru ran towards Chouji.

"You okay bud?"

"Yeah." replied Chouji acting brave and wiping off the dirt in his cuts.

"Don't worry I'll get them."

"No need. A little scratch like this is no prob!"

"They almost killed you!"

"Nah, I will live for 200 years!" smiled Chouji.

"You promise Chouji? Never die on me okay?"

"Okay."

Ends Flashback...

But unfortunately Chouji broke his promise. A promise that Shikamaru knew that wouldn't last forever but he was sure before now that it'll last for a good long while. A promise that made him want to cry in a long time. A promise that he cared.

He...Chouji...you...d-d-died...

"Shikamaru?" asked Ino as she walked closer holding a glass vase filled with Chouji's favourite flower, tulips, in her delicate fingers.

"What are you doing here?"

"Listen, I'm sorry. I was just worried if Chouji's gonna be okay. It's just that...all that blood. Nevermind, I just thought...I could check up on Chouji, to see how he's doing."

Shikamaru stared at Ino almost in tears, her blue eyes locked with his worried dark ones.

Huh? What's wrong with Shikamaru? He looks so upset...

"Hey, um where's Sakura? She said if the operation was a success she'd be here to noogie my head." Ino asked while Shikamaru containued staring at her.

Finally after a while of Ino patiently waiting, he finally managed to choke out, "...It wasn't."

"What?" wondered Ino. What's he talking about? Is Chouji...NO DON'T THINK LIKE THAT INO! OF COURSE HE ISN'T...

"It ...it wasn't a success." he sighed trying not to make her feel like he is.