Wow, I know, I've been really bad with the updates, especially this last month. This new year has been crazy so far with family, closing in on colleges and midterms are this week. Please don't bite my head off, that would hurt. Hope everyone had a great Christmas and New Year! Everyone that has left a review so far this story - THANK YOU!! You all are awesome! And yea Temari was a bit out of character in the last story but I just really wanted to write a fight scene between the two which I'm happy people liked. Well anyways, I'll stop yapping, here's the next chap. Enjoy!

Song: White Flag- Dido

By the time they arrived at the spot the sky had become a deep purple, waiting for the last rays of sunlight to pass away. There was no wind to rustle through the branches and the only sound of nature was the stream flowing gently as a few crickets began their nightly orchestra.

"I can't remember the last time I sat to watch the stars." Shikamaru said while letting Ino slide off his back.

"That's because you're usually inside lying on your bed and looking at the ceiling to wait for sleep." Ino responded with a smile.

"Stalker."

Ino waved his comment away, "I've just spent way too much time with you." She said before beginning to walk towards the stream with her slight limp. Shikamaru stayed behind for a few moments, caught up in the beauty of dusk while Ino's body swayed as if dancing to some music in her head. The last rays of day shone off the long blonde hair as it swung back and fourth behind her, giving it some light pink.

"Look, there are the first stars!" Ino called out while pointing towards the darker parts of the sky. Shikamaru turned his head to see several glimmering slights in the sky that shone from millions of light years away.

While continuing to look at the sky there was soft thud from where Ino stood. His eyes snapped to where she once was but couldn't see anyone.

"Ino!" He called out in panic while running towards where she was last seen. Millions of different possibilities zoomed through his head all at once on what may have happened. Everything from her leg giving out, someone had come and harmed her or she was playing a prank, in which case he would probably be pretty ticked off.

Right after he called out her upper body flew up into sitting position from where she had collapsed in the long grass, looking around frantically to figure out why he had yelled out with so much alert. The moment she popped up, Shikamaru slowed to a walk, letting relief pass over him.

"What's wrong with you?" Ino demanded while watching the color return to his face. Shika quickly regained his composer and shoved his hands in his pockets.

"Lost sight of you." He said in a monotone while coming to a halt to look down at her. She let out a giggle while he sat down next to her, one arm draped over his knee while the other one supported him from behind so he could sit up.

There were was a moment of silence when Ino let herself fall backwards on the ground while with a sigh. Both of them remained looking at the sky as it got darker. The steady sound of the stream made Shikamaru feel tired as his eyelids slowly began to close while listening to the dark world.

Soon he too was lying on his back by Ino, one hand resting behind his head and the other on his stomach. They were lying so that their heads were right next to each other but their feet going in opposite directions. His heavy breathing could have had anyone fooled that he was sleeping but Ino knew better. He barely breathed at all when sleeping; the heavy breathing was just him being at a peaceful state of mind. A small smile of satisfaction formed on Ino's lips while her eyes remained on the sky, spotting more stars as time went on and before she knew it the sunlight was gone.

"It's so peaceful." Ino said softly, breaking the silence between them. Shikamaru opened his eyes to see the twinkling stars above them.

"Yea, but not as interesting as clouds. You can't really make shapes out of stars." Ino rolled her head to the side to look at him with a shocked expression which he didn't need to look at to know she was giving it.

"What are you talking about? Stars create many things, everything from shapes and figures to stories. Now I can't remember of ever hearing of a cloud having a story." Shika shrugged his shoulders.

"Sorry. I've never been really good with connect the dots."

"And this is coming from the best strategist we've had in decades." Ino rolled her eyes. "You really are the laziest person I know Shikamaru." He turned his head to look back at her.

"Would you have it any other way?" The question made Ino catch her breath. She wasn't sure if he was trying to flirt with her or if he meant it as friends. It was little things like this, actions or comments, which always made her hopeful.

But her biggest fear was of screwing it up. She was a flirt, but she never really knew how to flirt with Shikamaru. He was different. She could have a good guess on what he was thinking, but in the end she never really knew exactly what was crossing his mind. Unlike other guys, he treated her as a person. He would argue with her when others feared her unless it was too 'troublesome'. He was sensitive and everything. The fear of coming on too strong was always there, she didn't want him to feel like another one of her challenges to go after like Sasuke was. He was more.

"No." Ino answered while rolling over so that she had an elbow prompting herself up on both sides of Shikamaru's head, her sky blues looking down at his deep darks. "I wouldn't have you any other way." With that she took a risk. Lowering her face down to his she captured his lips in an upside down kiss.

Ino meant for it to be a quick peck on the lips so she could get a reaction. But there was no opportunity to back off and evaluate. Shikamaru had returned the kiss and wasn't about to let her go.

It was a different kiss, different from Kiba's, from all that she had ever kissed. Something new that she was not use to. Instead of the rough crushing he was soft and gentle. The soft feel of his lips were gentle and not forceful. There was no tongue, just the soft, gentle, sweet taste of his lips slowly connecting to hers.

Ino felt dazed and was nervous of messing up so she slowly backed her head up, watching the Nara's eyes remaining closed before slowly opening up to look back at the blondes blue eyes.

"Ino…." Shikamaru tried to process what else to say, but couldn't think of anything. Instead just remained staring at her, speechless.

The silence continued and made Ino feel nervous, what if she was rejected? Yea he kissed back, but maybe he really didn't return the same feelings as her. Or could it be that he was still upset about Temari? It would suck if that was still the case.

Shikamaru moved to sit up, not looking at Ino as his head passed hers before standing. "I should get you home."

Ino's face dropped, rejected. Exactly what she was afraid of, what all girls are ever afraid of. The one thing that keeps them from taking the risks that get other girls what they want. It both turns out really good, or extremely awkward and can ruin a relationship.

Still looking at the ground she stood up, in shock of what had happened. "okay," she managed to say. There were a few moments of silence.

"Come one, I'll carry you again." Shikamaru offered, now looking at her. Ino swallowed her fear, pain and sorrow to regain her pride and confidence to look him back in the eye.

"I can walk just fine." She stated before heading in front of him, knowing that she wouldn't be able to hold the strong face for long due to the feeling in her throat as if she had dry-swallowed a pill.

"Ino, come on. It will be easier on your leg if you don't have to walk on it." Shikamaru pleaded.

"It is not that bad, just a slight limp." She continued on, Shikamaru keeping the same pace by her side.

"Don't be reckless." Ino halted to a stop, her face in shock as she remembered what he had said in the street on that rainy night, careless, stupid, and hopeless.

"You're hopeless, always putting yourself in jeopardy, not thinking about your own safety. And then who comes in and saves you? Me. You can be so stupid sometimes. You just don't care, completely thoughtless and reckless with your actions."

"Forgive me, but I don't need you to come save me this time." She stared at Shikamaru with anger, making him remember too. The Nara's face dropped once the memory of the awful things he said returned.

"Ino – I –" But he didn't get to finish his sentence. She cut him off by walking past, not wanting to look at his face. She was embarrassed, broken. Why was it that she felt so much for the Nara?

So wrapped up in thought and feelings the time went by quick, before she knew it Ino had left the path and had begun making her way through town. Not only that, but she had been running despite the pain in her leg. There was no use trying to stop the hot tears that streamed down her soft cheeks

"Ino! Ino wait!" Shikamaru yelled from behind, trying to keep up. But her feelings had launched her into such a fast pace that he struggled to gain on her. She couldn't stopped, didn't want to stop.

Turning, Ino crossed a bridge that went over a small creek while heading for her home when the injured leg gave out, making her body collapse on the wooden structure in a heap. Sobs escaped her sweet leaps while remaining kneeled forward on the ground, head facing down and hands out for support.

She could hear the sound of Shikamaru's feet quickly approaching before he kneeled down next to her with heavy breathing from the running. Wrapping his strong arms around Ino's tiny figure, Shikamaru brought their bodies closer together in an embrace, trying to comfort the sobbing girl by letting her cry on his shoulder.

"Ino, I am so sorry." Shikamaru whispered in his ear while gently stroking her back, every so often making a circle with his hand.

"I – I tried – so – hard." Ino said between sobs, figured she had already gotten thus far, might as well go the whole way. "Shika, I – really – really – like you. Maybe – even love."

Shikamaru remained silent, continuing to draw small circles in her back while she started to calm down and was soon starting to gain control of the tears.

"I know you may not feel the same way. I know - and hope that it doesn't – ruin our friendship. But it's something – which I needed to get out. If you don't feel the same way – that's okay. I just wanted you to know." Ino added.

There were a few more moments of silence where Shikamaru thought of what to say, unsure of how to put it.

"Ino, I don't know what to think." Shikamaru started, "I admit that I have felt something lately but I don't know what it is. I have been a bit more protective than usual but it could just be the brotherly side of me. Either way, I just ended a relationship, and am not sure if I'm ready to get into another one. On top of that, any type of relationship beyond friendship could be hazardous to our team; it could stir up all kinds of issues."

Ino closed her eyes as he spoke, trying to not let go of what little control she had of her feelings. What he was saying made sense, but it wasn't what she wanted to hear.

"I understand."

"Now let's get you home." Shikamaru picked her up bridal stile and continued to take her home. Arms around his thick neck, Ino held on, no energy to argue with being carried. She knew there was no way she would be able to walk and that was how they remained with the silence between them the rest of the way to her home.

One more chapter to go, I think you will like it :) I am going to try my hardest to get it up soon. Please leave a review, it only takes a few moments and always makes me happy.