Chapter 30: Continuance

(Alternatively, In Which Time Passes and Ino Is An Evil Teammate)

Author's Note: It's taken me a little while to figure out which way I wanted this chapter to go, but I think I've finally figured it out! But I almost scrapped this...

Enjoy!

(Shikamaru's POV)

Time passes, as it always does, and with its passage comes change. It's a slow, gradual thing, but Shikamaru clocks the changes not long after they start. It's in the way Chōji and Ino get stronger and in the way that Asuma begins to look progressively prouder and prouder of their accomplishments. It's in the way that he suddenly finds himself aching deep down in his bones before he realizes that he needs new clothes(he could certainly do without the pain of a growth spurt…). They are growing up, he notes absently one day.

Not that these are the only changes in his life. No. Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura are closer than ever these days -to the point that she's almost always at his house for one reason or another. Though... it's been increasingly harder to convince her to go home to her parents. These days, Sakura does not seem to be on good terms with them and it seems to stem from the fact that she is not the same little girl she used to be.

Sakura is no longer the shy, awkward girl she used to be. She's brave and strong and knows exactly what she wants from life. And from herself. She wants to be a frontline medic and has also taken to seeking out Kurenai-sensei for lessons in genjutsu as a not so last resort. Shikamaru thinks that she has the right idea.

Her parents, on the other hand, think she is stretching herself too thin and growing up too fast. However, Sakura is a genin. She is considered to legally be an adult in the eyes of Konoha's laws. She may still have her parents and may still need them on an emotional level, but she does not need them on a physical or financial level. Not like a civilian child would.

Sakura could be independent of them if she chose to be so… Something Shikamaru sees happening sooner rather than later if they do not stop pressing Sakura to 'slow down' and 'enjoy her youth'. They are Shinobi themselves. They should know better than to stand in her way when she honestly and genuinely has a goal to reach for. One that she wants with all of her heart and soul.

He smiles sadly to himself. When he had been Hyo, he'd been the same way. Always reaching for the next goal, always on the move. There is nothing wrong with the mindset, but, at least, her path is not as lonely as his own used to be. His path is no longer a lonely one, but he can remember when it was and he is glad that Sakura has such devoted teammates and a sensei who encourage her.

Not that his own teammates and sensei are any less encouraging or devoted. If anything, he thinks that Chōji and Ino may be his very best friends and that Asuma may be the closest thing to a second father to him. It's a novel experience and not one he intends to give up.

And then…there is his quiet, peaceful companion, Hyūga Neji, whom he has come to know better in the time that they've known each other. He knows that Neji fervently hates spicy food, which is something that actually makes him laugh since he is the exact opposite and spicy food is something he loves. He knows that shōgi and Go are two of his favorite games, much to Shikamaru's pleasure. He knows that Neji feels a kinship to birds. More specifically, birds of prey since they are not only deadly and beautiful, but able to fly freely without chains or tethers.

He knows that Neji considers his closest blood family, teammates, and friends to be his 'true family'. He knows the Neji is close to most of his Branch Family Clansmen, but detests the majority of the Main House and its elders. Which, honestly, Shikamaru cannot blame him for. He's run into a few members of the Main House and he could truly do without the memory of them trying to look down at him as if he is lesser for being born outside of the Hyuga Clan. Though, it does makes him smirk to remember how he'd just stared blankly back at the sneering Hyūga Clansmen before commenting on how ugly their expressions were and how he didn't understand why they'd ever look at anyone that way and 'did they really want to potentially send kids screaming in fear to their parents?'.

After all, after what had happened with Danzō, he doubted that the Hokage would put up with anyone messing with children anymore. And they knew it if their not so happy expressions were anything to go by. Of course, Neji had been thoroughly amused by Shikamaru's utter lack of regard for the Hyūga Main House and its elders. Though, Neji had warned, it was not a good idea to insult them too often. Shikamaru had shrugged back then and explained that he didn't go out of his way to find them and that it was only by coincidence that he'd run into the nosy, stick up their asses elders/Main House Clansmen.

Beyond that, however, there are other things that Shikamaru has learned about Neji just by observing the older male. Like how Neji prefers meditation over many forms of entertainment or how the Hyūga learned to bandage his hands through trial and error rather than being taught by another person. He learns that, if he spars with the Hyūga for long periods of time, Neji will begin to relax from his rigid forms to something that is looser and more playful. Shikamaru has also learned that after such matches, Neji is much more tactile and seems to have a fondness for pressing himself against the Nara's side. This is something he does with his teammates, his sensei and his cousin, Hinata, as a sign of trust and contentment

It warms something in Shikamaru's chest to know that Neji considers him to be someone he truly trusts. He doubts that Neji trusts anyone else that much. Or that easily. He's far too distant a person to ever allow another to get close to him without knowing them exceedingly well. Not that it stops some of Neji's family members though. Shikamaru scowls darkly as he thinks about the elders of Neji's family. Those idiots do not and cannot ever understand the younger Hyūga.

They are far too concerned with tradition, honor, and pride. Neji wishes to unite the Branch and Main houses just like his cousin, caring nothing for the 'pride of the Hyūga. And, if he's reading the situation correctly, the Hyūga Clad Head no longer holds with the traditions that the Elders keep trying to force upon the rest of the Clan.

It's a relief in a way. With Hyūga Hiashi no longer holding true to the old ways of his Clan, Neji has more freedom than before. Not that is stopping the elders from doing their level best to hinder the branch member in every way possible. Shikamaru frowns deeply in contemplation. He may just need to find a way to get them to back off if they continue to be pains in the ass.

(Ino's POV)

She has never forgotten how much she'd missed Asuma after he'd been killed by the Zombie duo. Seeing him so unchanged in some ways, but so changed in others is a great relief to her since she had thought that she would never see him again in the future that will never happen again. And it's all thanks to Shikamaru. Shikamaru who, by just existing it seems, has changed how she remembers things to be in her own past. It's not a bad thing, but it may mean that future events are not so easy to predict.

That's okay, though. She had been a real brat back then before she'd gotten a wake-up call about the realities of the life she'd chosen. She much prefers the her of this timeline. She looks up when she here's her father moving around cautiously and Ino snickers when she sees the look on her tou-chan's face. Uh oh, looks like she's been too quiet for too long of a time.

Better chatter his ear off about how he needs to take her shopping before he gets suspicious about what's going through her head. She hums thoughtfully as she taps her finger against her bottom lips and then the Yamanaka grins evilly. She's never managed to drag her Nara friend out on a shopping trip. It's about time she did. After all, Shikamaru is getting taller and while he does have clothes that fit...they certainly aren't fashionable.

"Thank you, Yoshino-obaa-san!" Ino calls out with a smile as she drags Shikamaru with her by his arm. The long-suffering look on his face is hilarious. As is the relieved expression on her ojii-san's face. Nara Shikaku is one of the most shopping avoidant people she knows and it's so funny to watch his deer caught in the torchlight expression.

Shikamaru, on the other hand, just looks like his mother has sentenced him to a fate not quite worse than death, but certainly up there on the list of things he'd rather not ever do. She laughs outright and declares, "Oh, stop with the drama, Shikamaru! It's just shopping. It's not like I'm making you be a pack mule today, after all. Nope, that's tou-chan's chore!"

"I feel so loved," Inoichi deadpans.

"Hush, you. I'm going to be buying lunch too. Unless you'd rather pay," Ino looks up at her father slyly and grins when he blanches.

"No, no. That's quite all right, darling."

The look on Shikamaru's face is priceless. He looks like he's just managed to realize something important and that he should have done so sooner. Not that it matters anymore. She's finally managed to drag him out with her and he's not going home until she has bought him clothes that come in any color than black.

Well, in shirts and jackets, at least. Maybe some cargo pants in dark gray? No tan though… It might be a neutral color, but Shikamaru wouldn't look so great in tan. And definitely no orange. Oh! And some more yukata! Green and navy and burgundy. Maybe some specialized ones? Ino hums in thought as her eyes narrow.

She doesn't quite realize that she's thinking out loud until Shikamaru protests her getting him so much stuff and the Yamanaka just grins, "As your teammate, it is my duty to make sure you have everything you need! And you, my dear Nara, need some color in your life!"

(Shikamaru's POV)

The look in his eyes is of a man despairing his life choices. He just knows it. Just like he knows that he should have gone looking for Neji instead of staying home, but he'd allowed himself to go back to sleep just this once instead of getting up at his usual time. Never again, he vows to himself. Ino is evil incarnate and he is somewhat bitterly reminded of Yuffie and her shopping sprees.

And he regrets everything.

Endnotes: In the end, I somehow managed to not scrap this in its entirety! Yay for not starting over! I just had to go back and read some of my previous chapters to get a feel for the flow again.

So we get some seriousness and we also get some humor, because Ino is a scheming little sneak. And Shikamaru is definitely not being overdramatic when he thinks that he regrets EVERYTHING! Like, this is the worst thing ever for him, because he likes his black. It's a versatile color and it hides blood so well! XD

Ino's just like, "Suck it up, dude."

Hope you all enjoy the chapter. Let me know what other colors you think Shikamaru would look good in since I'll eventually be covering his expanded wardrobe! Let me know how you like evil Ino!