Don't kill me for the late update. Thank you all for your very wonderful reviews, they made me ecstatic. Hope you guys actually like this chapter, cos I certainly don't. :P
Check out my forums, peeps! They give the explanations for all my weird chapter names.
I hate how I made Tsunade seem OOC. But I don't know what she's like, besides the fact that she's a drinker and loves gambling and has impossible boobs.
Disclaimer: I really don't own Naruto. The more I watch the anime (finally), the more I think Kishimoto-san is trying to hint at Naru x Sasu, or Sasu x Naru, whatever floats your boat.
Again, at 6 am in the morning, not just insistent knocking waked both up; it seemed someone was trying smash the door down with a battering ram. Ino burrowed deeper into the couch and blankets, afraid it might be her father. Shikamaru looked in the spyhole, groaned, gritted his teeth and swung open the heavy door.
A beautiful, well-endowed blonde woman nearly fell through; she righted herself and just GLARED at Shikamaru.
"HOW CAN YOU NOT TELL ME THE "LOST" GIRL IN YOUR HOUSE WAS YAMANAKA INOICHI'S MISSING DAUGHTER?" She screamed, bits of plaster floating down from the ceiling. Shikamaru rolled his eyes, while Ino poked her head up from underneath the little fortress she'd made with blankets.
"YOU ARE SO DAMN LUCKY THAT I HAVE A FRIEND IN THE NEWSPAPER BUSINESS THAT RECOGNIZED YOU!" She continued screeching, "I'M LUCKY THAT SHE OWED ME A FAVOR! I HAD TO TELL HER YOU WERE GAY! THAT IT WAS ALL JUST A BIG MISUNDERSTANDING!" Her voice dropped to a deadly whisper, which was much scarier than all her shouting. "Do you know what could've- would've happened if the paper was actually published?"
Both young adults breathed a collective sigh of relief- so it hadn't been published. But Tsunade wasn't finished. She barged past a scowling Shikamaru to scan the living room. Ino squeaked and dived into her safe haven again, but Tsunade had already spotted her. She marched right up to the couch and began to dig through, until she finally found Ino and lifted her up to air and light again. The slim blonde girl gulped.
"Dear sweet lord! What has Shikamaru done to you?"
Ino was affronted, and her eyes flashed angrily. She took a breath, drew herself up to stand with her back ramrod straight in a way that definitely belonged to that of upper class, expensive Swiss finishing schools and almost royalty. Never mind that she had polka dotted pajamas and rumpled hair.
"I am a lady of the Yamanaka house, madam, and I ask you to unhand me this instant." She said with a voice like steel, high, noble, and absolutely undeniable. Tsunade let go of her immediately, but reluctantly. A vein was pulsing in her forehead. Shikamaru surreptitiously moved so that a table stood between him and the wrath of two females.
"Mr. Nara here was kind and generous enough to let me live in his home, knowing full well of the consequences of his actions. I came here willingly and gladly, also well aware of my actions. He has been a true gentleman to me, and treated me with the utmost respect. Nothing was forced of me, and we have done nothing shameful. I will also take all the responsibilities if this were to get to the press. I am not Yamanaka Ino for nothing."
"Whoa," Tsunade and Shikamaru said in unison. Ino continued to look at Tsunade with a superior look on her pretty features, obviously waiting for an answer. She didn't like the woman, but had to respect her: lesser men have quailed (and even melted) under her glare. Shikamaru braced himself; Tsunade was not known for her easy temper. So he was quite surprised when the woman didn't explode. In fact, the vein disappeared and Tsunade swallowed her anger.
"Well, for one thing, I wasn't suggesting that you guys did anything erm, shameful, excuse me if you took it the wrong way." She's apologizing? Shikamaru thought in disbelief.
"Second, I've already burned all copies of the photos, and 'dealt' with the paparazzi. When he was tort- when he was interrogated, he told me that the person that hired him to follow you was a man named 'Kabuto.'"
Ino caught her breath. Tsunade continued.
"Now, would you guys like to explain to me what happened?"
Ino turned around to look at Shikamaru with a pointed look. He sighed, and walked over to stand beside her. Pushover, Ino thought teasingly.
"I'll explain," he said gravely, and Tsunade automatically sat down on the couch.
"Thanks, Shika!" She smiled at him. "Would you like something to drink, miss?" She turned her attention to Tsunade, who looked surprised at this sudden change of attitude. She didn't miss the nickname she made for him either. She nodded slowly and said, "Sake."
Ino cocked an eyebrow, what the hell is this woman thinking, drinking sake at this time of the day? But she went anyway, rummaging around the cabinet.
"I was in a bar," Shikamaru began, after Ino came back with coffee for him and sake for Tsunade. She settled down beside him with Dr. Pepper in hand. "Generally throwing myself a little self-pity party…" And went on until he came to the part about her being a pole dancer. He looked at her questioningly. She grinned wickedly and announced to a stunned Tsunade, "I'm a pole dancer."
The older woman swooned; the second richest and most powerful girl in the country ran away to become… become a pole dancer? She took a large swig of sake. Shikamaru rolled his eyes, women and their theatrics. He coughed and went on with the story.
"So you are telling me, that Inoichi wanted to marry you off the most eligible bachelor in the country, and you refused because of your best friend?" Tsunade asked 10 minutes later.
Ino nodded, resolute in her decision. Tsunade let out a whoosh of air and gave a low whistle.
"Wow, that's pretty… amazing, I suppose, very courageous." She smiled at the surprised heiress. Ino smiled back, immediately relaxing.
"Um… Sorry about the snobby attitude before… I'm not normally like that." Ino said guiltily a bit embarrassed about her behaviour before. She hated apologizing, but she did act like a brat.
"It's alright, I did sound like I was jumping to conclusions." Tsunade smiled at her again, and all was well. Shikamaru sighed in relief; it wouldn't do to have two women angry with each other, much less these two.
"Oh, yeah. Ino, this is Tsunade, my boss." Shikamaru made the late introductions, looking from one blonde to the other.
"Oh." Ino blinked, "Well, that explains a lot. Are you one of my dad's lawyers?"
Tsunade blinked, and looked at Shikamaru. He nodded, thinking that perhaps they should all come clean.
"Well, sort of. Shikamaru may have told you that he's a lawyer, and that's partially true… Actually, he's a military strategist. His father was the general Nara Shikaku."
Ino's eyes widened. She gaped, looked at Shikamaru then at Tsunade, back to Shikamaru.
"OHMYGOD! I used to know you! At um, my 6th birthday party! You went into the corner and decided to sleep! I knew you looked familiar!"Ino stood up on the couch and flailed her arms, pointing at him dramatically. I'm such an idiot! How can I not remember that ridiculous monstrosity he calls a hair do? She mentally kicked herself.
Shikamaru shrugged, having remembered the incident ages ago. "I was sleepy, and I didn't like parties." Ino glared at him.
"I spent a week moping because I thought the party wasn't fun enough!"Finger again, perfectly manicured.
"It's not my fault- "Arms up in defense, perfectly whipped.
Tsunade broke in- "Miss Yamanaka, you do know that your father is worried to insanity about you?" Ino immediately looked sheepish.
"Yeah, but I don't want to marry Sasuke!" She pouted, looking extremely childish.
"Why did you tense up when Tsunade mentioned the name 'Kabuto'?" Shikamaru asked, rubbing his temples. Ino frowned.
"He was one of my dad's men. Real slimy guy, I hated him from the moment we met, but I never really got involved with dad's business, so I didn't have to see him a lot. He was the one that suggested to dad to marry me off." She was scowling now, "That dipshit! He must've sent stupid paparazzi after me!" Then she swore in more colorful languages. Tsunade looked impressed.
"So what are you going to do now? If Inoichi hears about your location from that Kabuto guy, I'd bet every dollar I have that he'll come storming here, not to mention that he'll be very likely to believe everything Kabuto tells him." Tsunade took an impressive swig of her sake. And that's one bet she'll actually win, Shikamaru thought wryly.
"Well uh, erm… ahem…" Ino trailed off, and looked at Shikamaru hopefully.
"If that is the case, I suppose we'll just have to talk to Mr. Yamanaka first." Ino's eyes widened, and she stared at him incredulously. He held up a hand to stem her flow of questions and protestations, and continued. "We stand a better chance of striking a deal with him if we go to him willingly, and not as fugitives." He didn't have to mention that he'd probably be arrested.
"Then I suggest you go as soon as possible, since Kabuto might find out that the photos didn't go through." Tsunade looked over the rim of her cup with a stern yet kindly look at the poor guy.
"Alright." Shikamaru grumbled, and stuffed his hands in his pockets.
"BOOYA!" Ino yelled, punching the air, all signs of tearful despair gone, replaced by a triumphant look.
Shikamaru had a feeling that he was just played.
You know, the more I read this chapter, the more I hate it. But I'm tired, it's Friday and I don't really feel like writing more. I can't remember what it's like to not be sleepy everyday. Insomnia really takes its toll on you. TTOTT
Review please, and chase away my demons!
Cheers,
Earthborne
