That last chapter was VERY, very short… Nothing, just commenting.

OOH! I'm already starting on my first manga… It's shounen-ai… Haha!

Chapter 15- Shikamaru's First Case of the Year

Hours later, Ino and Sakura had finally finished the wedding gown design. Tenten and Hinata remained inside the room still working on the wedding decorations. As soon as they got out, Shikamarku was standing there, talking loudly on the cell phone.

"Hi, Shikamaru! We're done!" Ino said cheerfully.

"Oh? Well, that's good." Shikamaru replied then resumed talking on the phone. "Really? Is that so? Then when would you want to set the appointment with me? Friday? Okay…"

"But Shikamaru," Ino sighed, "We're watching a movie together on Friday night, aren't we?"

Then, Shikamaru turned to Ino and hastily replied, "Don't worry, babe. This won't take long! We'll still have time for a movie, so don't you worry! Hello? Oh, I'm sorry… My girlfriend was talking to me…"

Ino suddenly felt very annoyed, feeling that's he's now paying less attention to her.

"Hmph!" she growled angrily.

"Take it easy." Sakura said, rubbing her comfortingly on the back, "It's his first case o' the year! If this means a lot o' money, you should let him take it!"

Ino sighed, still very exasperated, and said, "Fine… I guess it wouldn't hurt."

"How much money are you talking?" Shikamaru asked. "A million Ryo!? Whoah… That'll be able to pay my whole wedding!"

"See? He still cares a lot about you!" Sakura told Ino.

"So I'll meet you on Friday, in my office… Okay… Okay… Uh-huh… Bye… Right… Bye."

Then, he folded his phone and gently placed it in his pocket. The two girls looked at him as he grinned about the huge sum of money his new client was offering him. A million Ryo… Just for one case… Who couldn't be any happier about this?

"Well, this guy seems to make a pretty good deal!" he said, chuckling softly. "Of all these years, I've never came across anyone who'd offer me an amount that big! Isn't it great?"

"Yeah, that's nice…" Ino replied, not being interested at all. He already has a mansion, a hot car and everything! Why would he still need a million Ryo? She thought.

"What's the matter?" he asked, "You don't seem too psyched about it at all!"

With a frown, Ino hid her face behind her long bangs, shrugged her shoulders and said, "There's nothing wrong with me! I-I'm just a little tired."

"You don't look tired!" Shikamaru smiled, "Come on, I know that face! Something's annoying you, right?"

"I said there's nothing wrong!" Ino yelled.

"I think I hear Sasuke calling me…" Sakura chuckled nervously, "I, uh… I'd better go in right now!"

And in she went, with a quick shut of the door, leaving the quarrelling couple standing outside her door. Shikamaru slowly put his finger under Ino's chin and started stroking it, as if she were a cat. Ino tried hard not to react, but she couldn't help but blush a little.

"Come on," he said with a smirk, "What's the problem? Hmm? Hmm?"

"How many times do I have to tell you?" she yelled even louder, "There is no problem!"

Quickly, he pulled her close to him and wrapped one arm around her and the other, still under her chin. Ino was still very annoyed as she looked at him with fiery eyes full of rage. Shikamaru smiled at her without a worry and said, "Then if there isn't anything wrong with you, why are you frowning at me like that, huh? You know how much it creeps me out when you frown at me like that."

"Then if you're so creeped-out, why are you smiling at me like that?" Ino said.

"Because," Shikamaru replied, pushing Ino's head toward his chest, "As your fiancé, it is my duty to influence you in a good way. So I smiled, hoping that you'd smile along with me too."

Then, he looked up at the bright sky and continued, "It's a sunny day. Don't spoil it just 'coz you think I'm paying less attention to you and more attention to this new case that had just been given to me."

Softly kissing her on the cheek, he said, "Yes, I love money. But only you can buy me happiness. You're worth more than a million Ryo. Let's keep it that way."

Slowly, Ino closed her eyes, hugging Shikamaru's muscular torso.

It was a fair-weathered day. The clouds were feathery-looking and the sun blinded everyone with its magnificent rays. Shikamaru's got his first job of the year and now Ino's feeling a little jealous. Will everything still be as sweet as it used to be?