Note: Sorry I couldn't update sooner, my computer was letting me down. So, here's chapter 9! Hope you'll like it! And thanks for reading.
With his head full of brains and shoes full of feet, Shikamaru was trying really hard to pick a perfect moment to explain and ask all he ever wanted to tell her. He was desperate. He wanted to get out of his lazy turtle shell and tell Ino how pretty she was, how happy she always made him, and that he thinks that he's in love. But instead he just asked the blonde walking beside him, "...Erm, wanna go to my cloud watching spot?"
Ino's vibrant face lit up like a star as if she was hoping for that and happily nodded repeatedly.
The walk to the grass plain was quiet...tooo quiet. Shikamaru doesn't want it to be quiet! His face twitched at the uncomfortable silence and finally chilled when they've arrived at the grassy hill. As Ino ran and plopped down beside a young willow tree, Shikamaru just walked with his hands squirming in his pockets on a spot beside Ino and plopped down himself.
Should I make this talk simple? Or should I just get it over with?
Inner Shikamaru: Oi, you're stupid.
Hey! What am I suppose to say then?
Inner Shikamaru: Ugh, just start with something less troublesome and simple.
Okay...Like how you're doing? ...Gosh, I'm arguing with voices in my head. Ino IS driving me crazy!
Shikamaru sighed and took a deep breath. Okay Nara, tell her something simple...got it. He opened his mouth to begin a simple sentence but he blurted out everything, "Ino what's going on with you and Sasuke? And what's with you talking to 'Chouji' and acting weird around me and you look very pretty today." Realizing that he babbled out everything, there was nothing that he could do to take it back and just gave a heavy sigh.
"Erm...thanks." Ino replied looking at him awkwardly.
"Forget I said anything."
"...Shika?" Ino asked.
"...yeah?"
"Okay, where should I began? Okay, Sasuke. After you left for the mission Sasuke took me out to Ichiraku to thank me for the party. And we've been seening each other alot after that."
Shikamaru feel his hope has been ripped out from his heart. "W-what?" He stuttered.
"But Shika don't leave! I'm not done yet!" Ino held onto his hand afraid that he'll go away.
"Then you and Naruto went to the sand village. I missed you guys alot. I mean being with Sasuke was all I've ever wanted right? But I didn't feel all that happy at all."
"And?" Shikamaru asked even though he was afraid to ask.
"And then Sasuke and I went to the bar to whine about our depressions, since I felt so frustrated and he didn't get his revenge on Itachi. Yeah...but..." Ino said letting go of Shikamaru's hand and cuddling up to her knees while looking down at the grass.
"YOU AND CHICKEN HEAD WENT FOR A DRINK? DO YOU KNOW HOW DANGEROUS THAT IS?" screamed Shikamaru.
"BAKA! LEMME FINISH!" Ino screeched back. "...but then Sasuke got drunk. So I took his keys and helped him home. But like Sasuke was super drunk, I think he drank more than Tsunadae-sama usually does...and erm..." Ino hugged her knees even tighter.
Watching Ino hugging her knees like that Shikamaru automatically knew that something went wrong.
"And he got um...violent with me." Ino finished.
THAT BASTARD HE TRIED TO...TO MAKE INO...GAH! I HATE HIM!
"I-Ino..." Shikamaru put a hand on her shoulder.
"But luckily he was really drunk so it was easy getting out of his house. But after that I was also really scared. I mean when Sasuke regained his normal-ness he apologized and stuff, but I also realized that I don't love Sasuke anymore. And the next day I saw you with...her. So I went to talk to Chouji. I mean he doesn't argue and he listens very well." Ino grinned.
"But Ino! I have nothing with her!" Shikamaru explained.
"It's okay Shika I understand, just because I get to see ...him before doesn't mean you're not allowed to see anyone either. Especially if you liked her before." Ino coaxed but whispering the last part.
Then Shikamaru had the bravery and urge to pull Ino's fragile body into his arms and kissed her forehead.
"Ino, you're wrong. I've never loved her like I loved you and I'm always yours, sorry it took so long for me to realize that." Shikamaru confessed still hugging Ino in his arms.
"Shikamaru?" Ino's voice muffled in Shikamaru's vest.
"Yes?"
"You know after I went out with Sasuke, I found out that my feelings was always with you."
Ino's word had touched his heart and lit up his dreams, he hugged her tighter not ever wanting to let go and finally said, "This is troublesome but Ino, I love you."
Ino giggled and nuzzled her nose against his chest and Shikamaru finally understood that it was Ino's way of saying "I love you too."
Now he has understood everything in the world.
