Attention:

This chapter is dedicated to islanddreamr10 for suggesting this story! So everyone, of you happen to like 'Street Corner' all credit goes to islanddreamr10 for telling it to me!

(thanks a lot lizzy!)

Ok now, on with the story.

FireLight Horrors

Chapter Title: Street Corner

Lainey-bo-bainey

"Hey the-" Ino stared before her with disbelief, a yards away she saw Shikamaru setting up their site in the middle of the woods, no she's actually here, there was someone else, someone she couldn't have possibly missed by his size, although yet she did. "What are you doing here?"

Choji, who was munching on some chips looked up and stared at the person before him, "Oh hey Ino!"

"That doesn't answer my question."

Shikamaru rolled his eyes, "C'mon Ino, don't be mean to the guy."

"I am not! I'm just asking, why is he here?" Ino asked.

"He's got nowhere else to go." Shikamaru explained.

"Oh c'mon, you make him sound like an orphan."

"What if he is?"

"It's pretty impossible cuz on the way here I just saw his Dad in McD's munching up all the fast food." Ino paused and looked around, "What's with all the McD's?"

"That's Choji's dinner." Shikamaru calmly answered as he laid on his back and started staring at the clouds that flouted up in the sky. The sun was just about to set since it's nearing summer, and there were longer days.

"All this for him?" Ino asked in disbelief.

Shikamaru nodded. "Mm-hmm…"

"Uh…" Ino paused, "Whatever. Anyway, what's he doing here?"

"My parents have a date and they want me out of the way." Choji explained with his mouth full.

Ino chuckled, "Eheh, I date in McD's… how fancy…"

"So I'm simply here to hang out with my friends!" Choji exclaimed.

"Go hang-out with Lee or something." Ino said.

"Ino… be nice." Shikamaru warned.

"Yes Daddy…"

Shikamaru jolted upright and faced her, "Don't call me that."

"Fine." Ino murmured. She shook it away and sat beside the lying Shikamaru, "So… watcha doin'?"

"Can't you see?" he muttered.

"It's a nice day today…" Ino said, attempting to start up a conversation.

"Mm-hmm…" Shikamaru nodded, although he didn't really take of his gaze upon the pink-orange sky.

Ino rolled her eyes, "Can't you say anything else that's more than on sentence?"

"Nu-uh…"

Ino growled in frustration. "Ok…", 'ugh, he's such a jerk' she though as she breathed in and out, to control her anger.

"Go meditate somewhere else… you're breathing on me…" Shikamaru complained emotionless, running up his way to Ino's nerves. She stopped inhaling and exhaling and started breathing normally although she was still glaring at him, who obviously, it's either he didn't mind or he just simply didn't notice. She smirked as something came to her mind.

"Hey…" she called out poking him in the cheeks.

"Hm?" Shikamaru answered, irritated as he moved away from Ino's finger, but made no attempt on turning his gaze upon her.

"Nothing…" Ino frowned, and looked down; she smirked once again, as she looked up.

"Hey." She called out, poking him once more.

"Yeah?" she smiled as now, Shikamaru seemed to be listening. She was about to talk until she noticed that he wasn't even bothering on looking at her. She sighed and looked up at him.

"Hey."

"What!" Shikamaru asked irritated. Ino grinned.

"You weren't listening to me." she pouted.

"Yes I was…"

"No you weren't-"

"Well now I am, ok?" he said, "What do you have to say…"

"Ok, I have good news! I saw it in the bulletin board in school and-!" she frowned when she saw Shikamaru looking up at the clouds again. "Can't you pay attention for more than three seconds?"

"Ok, ok." Shikamaru replied, never turning his gaze to her.

Ino rolled her eyes, "When you talk to someone, you look at them. You are supposed to look at me!"

Shikamaru shrugged, "Why? It's such a waste of time…" Shikamaru said but soon realized what he said and quickly faced her, giving Ino his best smile he could forced himself to wear, "I- um, that's not what I-"

Ino looked at him, offended, "What's that suppose to mean?"

"Uh… um, that… that's didn't come out right, OW! What the hell!" he yelled as he rubbed the side of his head where Ino just whacked him.

"You and your excuses." She muttered, and glared at him playfully.

"Well, that's not really what I mean!" Shikamaru explained.

"You mean that those white stuffy air up there…" she said pointing up the clouds, "Is more important than me?"

"No! that's not what I meant! And it's made of gas, by the way, not air."

"Same thing! Don't get all brainy-act on me!" Ino demanded, "You're making me feel so dumb!"

"Well, technically, compared to me, you kinda are-…"

"Shikamaru!" Ino warned and yelled at the same time.

"What!"

Ino groaned, "Ugh, you're such a jerk."

"Oh? Exactly how?" he asked.

"Well for one you can't even last listening to me for three seconds and the next thing I know your nerdy mind flies out to space." Ino pointed out. "Second: all you care about it that white air that flies all around the world! I mean think about it: if the cloud and I were about to fall out of a building, what would you do? Would you rather save me or save the piece of white air?"

"Of course I'd save you!"

Shikamaru said loudly, as if it was obvious. He held that until he realized what he had just said and mentally slapped his forehead.

Ino looked at him in surprise. Somehow, she was actually expecting him to choose the cloud, not literally, just as a joke and all; but he didn't. "Really?"

"No…" Shikamaru said, and slapped his forehead for saying it. "Well, I mean, I- ugh, well, compared to a cloud of course I'd choose you, it'll be pretty dumb to choose a cloud. For various reasons, firstly, there are tons of clouds all over the world; second, scientifically you can't save a cloud from falling of a building since they would float by their selves." He pointed out.

Ino strangely stared at him, "Ok yeah, one: I told you do not get all scientific and brainy on me. Two: you are so mean, is that really your reason?" Ino asked, acting slightly offended although one cannot miss the faint grin on her face. Unfortunately, Shikamaru missed that grin.

"Well, no…" He admitted, "Between you and a cloud of course I'd save you… I can't just stay in one place and watch you die, you know."

"Aww… that's really sweet!" Ino said, kidding around.

"Uh… I seriously hope you didn't take that the wrong way…" Shikamaru said, feeling awkward.

"Why?" Ino grinned, "How do you want me to take it?"

Shikamaru stared at her strangely, "Are- are you flirting with me?" he asked.

Ino scuffed, "What makes you think of that?"

"Well, your talking to me like the way you would when you talked to Sasuke the first time you met him. You know, when you get a little too friendly when that guy's around, Ino?"

"Ugh, I do not!"

"Do too!"

"Do not!"

"Well whatever, you did, anyway."

Ino chuckled and rolled her eyes, "Ok fine. I'm just kidding around anyway."

Shikamaru stared at her, "Kidding around…? before or right now?"

"Right now. Why would kid around before? Sasuke's cute." Ino grinned.

Shikamaru lazily faced her, "Yeah, and I had to pull you away from him every time you cuddled up Sasuke. Man, you really know how to freak out guys." Although actually, that wasn't the reason Shikamaru pulled Ino away from Sasuke. He just didn't want her to hug him, that's all. He doesn't know why, he just… doesn't want her to flirt with strangers, especially that time when Sasuke was known as the cold-ass-Uchiha, and he never talked to anyone.

"I think he liked me… before, I dunno…" Ino said. "He hated then and then suddenly he kept wanting to hang out with me…so suddenly"

Shikamaru rolled his eyes, "Dream on. That suddenly was when Sakura moved here. He wanted to hang with you cuz you hanged out with Sakura." He explained.

"Oh and how do you know that for sure?" Ino asked.

"He told me… we were friends… along with Neji and Naruto…" Shikamaru explained.

"You were? Then why didn't you tell me so! You could've like, set us up!"

"Like hell, I'd do that."

"Why not."

"He was a jerk, you deserved someone better." He paused and faced Ino, "I didn't say that."

Ino chuckled, "Yes you did."

"Forget what I said… and let's get back to the cloud-topic."

"Ok, fine!" Ino agreed, "Me or pillow?"

"Huh?" Shikamaru stared at her.

"Me or pillow? Choose. Since you so like sleeping, what would you rather choose me or a pillow?"

"Uh… you… I guess…" Shikamaru replied, slowly.

"Me or peace?"

"You."

"Me or apple?"

"You."

"Me or Sakura?"

"You." Shikamaru paused. "No I mean… hey, what does this have to do with Sakura?"

Ino grinned, "I dunno… so… why me?"

"I dunno… I know you better than her… and… I'm closer to you… I guess…" he replied lazily. "Seriously, what does this have to do with Sakura?"

Ino smiled a little sadly, "I… don't know. I guess when she moved here, everyone's like 'oh she's so cute! She's so kind!' before it's 'Ino and Sakura' but then now it's like 'Sakura and Ino'."

Shikamaru looked at her strangely, "What the hell is the differ-…" he paused as he realized the difference himself. It might seem like a small matter, but it's does make a little difference. He shook his head, "Ino, don't make it a big deal. I mean, Sakura stills looks up to you as a role model, and I think she'll always ever. People still think that you're cool, that you're pretty, that you're kind."

"Oh really? Like who?"

"Me." he paused, and looked up to her, "We really should stop talking."

Ino grinned childishly, "Why?"

"You got me telling things I don't wanna say…" Shikamaru complained. "And I completely forgot that Choji's here, listening to us."

Ino slapped her forehead and looked over at Choji, who grinned with his mouth full of fries, "You'll forget everything." She demanded.

"Forget that you two had a little prep talk?" he grinned once more, as Shikamaru rolled his eyes.

"Yeah, I was hoping you'd forget that."

"Well, I didn't."

"If I say I'll buy you a dozen doughnuts would you forget?" Ino asked.

"Forget what?" Choji grinned and soon, Ino grinned, "I'll buy those doughnuts tonight." she said.

"What's with all the noise?" their pink haired friend asked as she oh so suddenly popped out of nowhere.

"Their just having their usually Lover's Quarrel… or is it called Love's Quarrel?" Choji asked himself as he kept eating, causing Sakura to sweat-drop.

"Oh… hi Choji."

"We are not having a love's quarrel!" Shikamaru said.

"See? Tsk, tsk, uptight…" Ino said.

Shikamaru groaned, "Why are you so annoying tonight?"

"No clue… I just feeling like." Ino replied as she finally sat down. "Hey Sakura, you're early…"

Sakura shook her head, "I'm right on time. The others are on their way here…"

"Oh…" Ino said as she looked at her watch. It had already been half an hour since she came and they had been arguing for also half an hour.

"oooohhh! Fries!" Sakura exclaimed as she headed over to Choji and got some of his fries. "I love fries…" she said as she went on eating.

It wasn't long until everyone started coming in. they all took their seats and encircled the camp fire.

"What's chubby doing here?" Naruto asked as Choji also sat with them, eating.

Choji glared, "Do not call me that."

Naruto raised both his hands up in the air to state innocence, "Alright, alright… just stating the obvious…" he muttered although Choji chose to ignore that comment and kept eating.

Shikamaru stared. "Aren't you getting tired of eating?"

"This is just dinner." Choji explained.

Ino stared at him, "You've been eating for the past hour."

"So? That was appetizers." He said as he took another fries and shoved it in his mouth.

Sasuke stared at the pink haired girl across from him, who was also eating fries with Choji. "Pinky, what are you doing?"

Sakura swallowed, and got some more fries, "Mmm, fries! Fries are good!" she explained and ate some more, causing Sasuke to sweat-drop.

"Uh… don't you think your eating too much?" he asked.

"Give me a break, I didn't eat breakfast this morning and I had pop for lunch."

Choji gasped and looked at Sakura in horror. "No breakfast! Pop only for lunch!" he asked, "That must be really horrible!"

Sakura nodded. "Tragic." She agreed.

Sasuke looked at her strangely, "Uh… at least you guys are getting along." He shook his head. "Anyway, who's on tonight?"

"Me." Ino said and started, "My story for tonight is titled "Street Corner."

In the Story

It was a dark and foggy Sunday evening when a man named Bob was about to drive home from work. Bob was mostly a typical worker; in his mid-30's, he ran a Cab Company. As like any fellow Cab driver, he loved seeing his customers whether happy or angry, he'd be honoured to give them a ride.

The road was dark as it is night and the moon's light was the only main source of brightness, not including the blinding headlights of the cars. As Bob neared an intersection, it surprised him to see a little girl.

She looked upset and scared, and there were no marks on her. As he studied her closer, he noticed that she had long brown her that went down to her waist; the red silky scarf was what made her more noticeable, as it was wrapped around her neck, like she felt cold.

Pity and kindness quickly washed over Bob as he set his eyes upon this little girl, and with no doubt, pulled over to check on the little girl.

"Hey, are you alright?" Bob asked with concern in his tone of voice. The little girl looked up, worried and scared about seeing or speaking to a stranger; although surprise that he noticed her, even when no body else did. After about a minute or so of silence, the girl started to cry.

"I-I want t-to go home…" she whimpered, as she cried.

The cab driver sighed, although he was actually off work by now, as he was about to head home, he couldn't possibly leave this girl out her on the streets.

"Alright, get in." he told gently as the little girl did was she told; she opened the back door and got in. "What's you name little girl?"

"Karen." The girl said quietly, "Karen James."

"Where do you live?"

"You just go down the street… and turn left, it's the big white house." She responded shyly.

That was their last conversation, soon after, no one had said a thing and silence took its part. Bob simply went to the address the little girl told him to. It wasn't long until a big white house came into the view. Closing in the distance and soon, the man pulled over in front of the house. But to his surprise, she didn't go out, or at least he didn't hear her go out. He became worried, maybe he went to the wrong house, although he's sure he followed exactly what the little girl had said. Bob decided to turn around to ask the little girl if he got the right house.

"Is this the right house? Did I choose wrong?" he asked as he turned around, and to his surprise once again, the little girl wasn't there. This girl was full of surprises. All that was there was the red silky scarf that lay upon the back seat. The door never opened, and he was sure about it, and all he knew was she was there from that beginning, that was how he got to the house. Bob shook the thought and got out of his car.

He went up the door and knocked a few times. It wasn't long until the door opened to reveal a lady as she stepped out. At first she smiled, but a look of concern shot up when she saw the frowning stranger.

"Did you know a girl named Karen James?" Bob asked the lady.

The lady smiled gently as sad and happy memories flooded back to her mind, "Yes."

"Did she normally wear a red silky scarf?" Bob asked holding out the scarf. The lady gladly yet sadly took it as she hugged the scarf. She was too shocked to speak, and soon after, the lady finally found the words she had to say.

"Th-this scarf belonged to a young girl named Karen James… she was my daughter. She… passed away on the street corner over there." she explained sadly, pointing out to the corner Bob had picked up the girl. "She died there 5 years ago."

The taxi driver, Bob, smiled sadly as he gently took the lady's hand his, and felt a tear run down his cheek, as he spoke, "I guess all Karen wanted, was to go home."

End of Story

"And that's it! The end!" Ino said.

"Oh… that's really sad…" Sakura commented.

"Yeah…" Ino agreed and stared at Sakura. "I think you should really stop eating…"

"Fries are good." Sakura muttered.

Ino rolled her eyes, "Fast food is not good. It's make you blow up like a balloon. AND it'll make your butt big."

Sakura paused for a second and looked at the fries before placing it down, "fine. But only for now."

Ino sighed, "Whatever, let's go home, I'm like, really tired."

It wasn't long until they all stood up and went their separate ways, "Hey, you wanna walk home with me?" Ino asked Shikamaru, who got his backpack and slung it upon his shoulder.

"You live four blocks away from me. I'm going left, your going right, do you actually thing I wanna walk you home?" he asked cocking his eyebrow.

Ino rolled her eyes, "I'm staying in the flower shop, which is across your house. So can I walk with you?"

Shikamaru nodded, "k, fine. But why are you staying there?"

"No one's home. So I'll stay with my aunt… who lives above the flower shop so… yeah."

"Oh…"

It didn't seem so far away actually, time passed fast as they now found their selves bidding goodbye as Shikamaru was gonna cross the street to his house.

"Hey Shikamaru!" Ino called out, he came back, then Ino gave him some money.

He grinned, "Wow thanks."

Ino rolled her eyes, "It's not for you... could you buy Choji's doughnuts?"

"Uh... no."

"oh c'mon... you hate toor else Choji will spill."

"No."

"Fine, I'll do it myself then. I'll go all the way to the store andby it myself...alone... with no one..."

Shikamaru groaned, "Fine, I'll buy it. But i'll do it tomrrow." he said as he got the money. "Go home." she said again and looked at the house/store, but noticed that the lights were off, stating that no one was home.

Shikamaru eyed the flower shop, "I thought you said your aunt was here?"

"She will be… she'll come like tomorrow, since my parents aren't gonna be home until next week." Ino explained.

Shikamaru hesitated before asking, "Are you gonna be ok?"

"I'll be fine."

"Do you need anything?"

"Nothing."

"You sure?"

"Shikamaru, don't fuss." She chuckled.

Shikamaru glared, "What are laughing about? I don't care, I'm just curious."

"Sure you are."

Another glare.

"Ok! No more jokes." Ino said.

"I'm just right across the street if you need me." Shikamaru said.

"The only time I'll be need you is if a spider crawls onto my bed." Ino smiled. "Oh and if I accidentally burn down the kitchen." she smiled again. "Otherwise, I'll be fine myself."

"Suit yourself." He shrugged, "You know my number, right?"

"(604)" Ino stated.

He smirked, impressed that she knew his number so well. "Do you know the phone number in the flower shop?"

Ino shook her head, "Ok, well, do you have you cell with you then?" Ino nodded, "Great, what's you number?"

"I dunno." Ino replied calmly yet clueless.

Shikamaru stared at her strangely. "You cell number, you sure you don't know?"

"No."

Shikamaru rolled his eyes, "You know me number, you Sakura's, you know Sasuke's, you know the Hyuuga's, you know Ten-Ten's, you know you parent's and you even Naruto's grandparent's number. You memorize almost everyone's and yet you don't yours?"

This time, it was Ino's turn to roll her eyes, "Well, I don't actually call myself, now, do I?"

Shikamaru glared at her, "That's a really lame reason."

"It's seriously my reason."

"How will I contact you?"

"You don't need to. If there's an emergency I'll call 911, not you." Ino stated.

Shikamaru shrugged, "It takes 5 seconds for me to go to your house and save you. It takes 5 minutes for 911 to get to your house and only then to whatever they have to do."

"Well either way I'll be the one calling and I know your number anyway."

"What if you didn't get the chance to? What if you're already getting killed and no one can hear you scream? Although that isn't really possible, I mean, when you scream and I swear everyone hears it." Shikamaru muttered, and got whacked in the head by Ino.

"Jeez, be positive will you? I'll be fine."

"Fine."

"Ok! Bye."

"Bye." Shikamaru said as he crossed the street, although paused and looked back.

"Take care."

The End!

Sorry for the short chapter. It's 14 pages. Actually, it's pretty ok. Other fictions only have 10-15 pages and it was ok… not too long. But compared to my other chapters with had 24 pages… eheh… yeah, I think 14 is a bit short.

You know what I find weird? This story is in:

5 C2s

39 faves

and 43 alerts

and I can't even get myself to have at least 10 reviews a chapter. () nothing… I just find that weird. I'm not complaining… I just… find that weird.

Anyway, thanks a million!

R&R

(NEXT CHAPTER: NEXT WEEK! AT EXACTLY 8PM FRIDAY NIGHT! (Vancouver, Canada time) there! I told you exactly when!

Why? Cuz I'm already done… heeehee… It's just waiting in my documents! It's sasuXsaku for everyone who loves that pairing! And… it's gonna be in Sasuke's house… with… special guest: Sasuke's mom, (not very special), Sasuke's dad (not very special either) and ITACHI! That's about it… bye!)

(next chapter dedicated to ROTC girl for suggesting the setting)

-lainey-bo-bainey