A/N: An interlude. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.
"This is strange," she commented as they reached the border. "It's so rare for me to walk you to the gate, rather than the other way round."
"Guess that's a hint for me to visit you in Suna more often," he smirked at her.
"I wouldn't have a problem with that," she grinned in reply. They paused right by the edge.
"Come back soon," he whispered as he crushed her to him. It was an unusually overt display of affection even for him, and it took her by surprise, though she quickly melted into his embrace.
"And vice versa," she added, head pressed against his shoulder. She thought she might cry, but she wasn't that kind of person. The physical distance between their villages hadn't changed, so there was no outward reason to be any more or less affected by their parting; that said, the usual physical distance between their bodies had dwindled significantly, awakening a new sense of longing that she hadn't recognised within herself since she'd begun seeing Shikamaru as a man, rather than the boy he once was. In his arms, she felt the unmistakable firmness of well-trained muscles; the comfort of his taller, sturdier figure; the warm, welcoming scent of fresh pine mingled with salt and sweat that, to her, was the essence of him, and by association, Konoha. These small yet significant details that made him real, a person of her present, not just a fantasy her once-18-year-old self might've entertained.
"The sooner, the better," he murmured into her hair. "I'm still yet to see you with your hair down, troublesome woman."
She blushed madly, hiding her face in his chest so he would be none the wiser. "Maybe next time, you'll get lucky." She lifted her head and met his eyes with a devilish grin, smirking in satisfaction at her double entendre. She brought his lips to hers and kissed him softly, suggestively. "I love you, Shikamaru Nara."
"You should already know how I feel," he replied simply, his unwavering gaze leaving little unsaid.
"It's nice hearing it, all the same."
"I love you, too."
Somehow, being apart from her seemed a far more daunting task than he'd previously imagined. Their conversation in the confines of the guest room had intimated that a certain progression in their relationship was to be expected the next time they met, and frankly, Shikamaru didn't know whether to feel nervous, excited or feign apathy altogether. He figured that overthinking it would almost definitely spell disaster, but it was a hard subject to keep off his mind nonetheless; whether he was sifting through paperwork or just lying in bed at night, the thought of her stirred up surprisingly powerful emotions and urges that he'd once suppressed with relative ease. He supposed that now the possibility of a physical relationship had been explicitly approved, it only exacerbated his impatience - not necessarily to get in her pants, per se, but just to hold her close and feel the way her form fit perfectly against his as they lay in their own world and forgot about the rest.
He found himself sitting in a restaurant far too expensive for his taste, across from a familiar blonde who observed him with impatience and irritability.
"Hellooo? Earth to Shikamaru?"
He snapped out of his daze. "Sorry, Ino."
"Damn right you are! Not showing up on my birthday and then spacing out during the make-up dinner two weeks later. What were you even doing that day for you to not even send me an email?"
"You know I don't trust all this new technology," he muttered. "Besides, I had to go to Suna."
"Suna? Did the Hokage-" she paused. "You went with Temari, didn't you?"
He remained silent.
"Are you guys back together?"
He nodded slowly.
"Ah, Shikamaru, that's great news!" she beamed, her sudden change in demeanour all too confusing for him. "What changed? Tell me everything."
"Jeez, Ino, have you ever heard of privacy?" Shikamaru grumbled. "We just talked it out and settled things."
"Right. She came to Konoha for your birthday, and then you left for Suna the next day...did you two...?"
"Huh? What are you...oh, no! No, no, no. Nothing of the sort," he said quickly, feeling his face flush with embarrassment.
"Then in Suna...?"
"No! Worry about your own sex life, Ino."
"Hey, don't get all cranky just because you're still a virgin."
"My God, do you have no filter at all?" he hissed. There were a few disapproving murmurs from the surrounding tables. "We're back together, that's all you need to know. Okay? Now hurry up and decide what you want to eat."
"Am I allowed to tell people or is this a secret?"
"Be my guest. For all intents and purposes, we're engaged."
"What?!" she exclaimed. He clapped a hand over her mouth.
"Lower your voice, will you? It's just a cover to appease the elders."
"Interesting. Sakura will be shocked to hear you're engaged and still a virgin-"
"Not that part, you idiot!" he said, flustered. "I can't believe I let you interrogate me. You Yamanakas are dangerous."
"Well, it's the least you could do for completely missing my birthday, even though it's the day after yours and we went through all the trouble of getting Temari back here..."
"I'm telling you again, I'm sorry. Have I suffered enough?" He brought his glass to his lips and took several slow sips.
Her eyes glinted devilishly. "Not quite." She beckoned the waiter over to their table and practically sang, "Hi, I'd like the lobster and caviar as well as a bottle of your finest, most expensive champagne."
He choked on his water.
After Ino had finished stuffing her face with the world's most overpriced seafood and then an even more indulgent dessert, Shikamaru prepared himself for the heart attack that would surely happen when he saw the bill. He knew he deserved it, but he was starving nonetheless; he'd resorted to a side salad for his meal, since he was genuinely fearful that he lacked the funds to cover Ino's spiteful gluttony.
"Relax," she laughed, raising her glass. "It's cheap champagne. I had them switch it out straight after we ordered it, while you were in the bathroom."
"Eh?"
"Even I'm not that cruel," she chuckled, taking a sip. "But the rest of the meal is full price, mind you."
"Your bill, Sir."
Tentatively, Shikamaru opened the slim leather holder and scanned the total. Two individually wrapped mints fell onto the table, and he breathed a sigh of relief. The sum was steep, as he expected when he first selected this restaurant to dine in, but not devastating.
"Out of curiosity, how much was your most expensive champagne?" Shikamaru queried.
"About four times your total, Sir."
"For that alone?!"
"Yes, Sir."
Shikamaru blinked a few times in disbelief. Across the table, he mouthed, "Thank you."
"Sorry, Shikamaru," Ino smiled. "That was a little immature of me."
"No, it's okay. We've been friends since we were kids, and you've always made a fuss over my birthday. I screwed up this year, especially since it's an important age."
"Twenty," Ino murmured. "Can you believe that? We're adults, now. Before we know it, we'll all be married with kids." She then snorted and added, "Well, some of us will. Others don't know how to make them, yet."
He rolled his eyes. "Ha, ha. Very funny."
"But you guys seriously haven't broached the subject?"
"Well, we have, but it was all very recent. After all, we only just got back together, really."
"It feels like you've been dating forever, though."
"Technically, only three months. Five if you count the break."
"Yeah, but you were into each other and going on dates well before then. Even prior to the whole Gengo fiasco, I knew you had a thing for her."
"Ino, I of all people am well aware of how long I've liked her for. You don't think the idea of...taking the next step...crosses my mind all the time, too?"
"I'm kidding, you know. Take your time. Do it right." She gazed up at the stars that had begun to appear in the evening sky. "If you really care about her, and she really cares about you, then you'll know when you're ready."
He smiled. "I suppose. I'm assuming you speak from experience?"
She blushed, but didn't elaborate. It was his turn to tease.
"Sai?"
"M-maybe..."
"Was it good? Bad? Painful-"
"Stop it!"