Chapter 8:

It Brought Me to You

"AGH! BASTARD!" Mina clutched her bleeding face as she quickly drew back. Ino shot her eyes open at long last, and cringed at what she saw, clamping a hand over her mouth.

"Oh my-" she cut off in order to stop her gag reflexes from activating.

"Ino!" Shikamaru breathed in relief, turning to face her. He run over to her when something grabbed his collar from behind.

"Oh no you don't!" Mina rasped in pain. She threw him against the wall next to Ino.

"Shikamaru!" Ino was about to come to his aid when Mina simply put her hand out.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you…" she said, keeping a perfect grip on Shikamaru's neck with only one hand.

"And just why-" Ino was cut off as she felt immense pain. Mina had taken her fingers and pressed them into Ino's bruised eye. Ino's eye immediately started tearing in pain as she withdrew. "Agh!"

"I—I---no…" Shikamaru gapped with his few breaths of air.

"I gave you a chance…" Mina growled, her face inches away from Shikamaru's. "I offered to let you live. But no, you just had to go PUSHING things!" On the word 'pushing', she squeezed his neck even harder. He was sure that any more pressure, and he could just say goodbye to his windpipe and voicebox.

Ino was still in pain. Marnie had started crying at the traumatizing sight she just witnessed. Ino took her in her arms regardless of her pain and cradled her.

"Shhh…we'll get out of this…" she felt a hand clamp over her mouth. She tried to make noise, but then she heard a sharp 'sssh'. She looked up and smiled.

"I think…I'll kill you…with what killed me all those years ago…" Mina breathed as she reached back with one hand to the tabletop to retrieve the necklaces. "I'm thinking…choking you with the chains? Slashing you with the charms? You be the judge, I don't have all-" She stopped. She noticed that her hand was feeling all around the table, but she found no necklaces.

"Shit…" she said as she dropped the coughing Shikamaru to the ground. "Where the hell-"

"Right here." Just as Mina turned around, she gasped to see Asuma, Kurenai, Kelisa, Tenten and Neji standing in the corner. Asuma was swinging the necklaces around his fingers. "Loose somethn'?" He asked.

"You," she growled. "I thought I got you people off my tail."

"See, Mina, that's where you went wrong," Asuma said as he advanced. "You always assume that running from your problems will get them off your tail." Then, he reached down his shirt and pulled something out. It was his platinum necklace. "Well look where it's gotten you."

During this time, Kurenai had run to Ino to get Marnie.

"Sweetie!" She bunched up Marnie in her arms and rocked her. She looked down at Ino. "Thank you…" she put her hand on Ino's head. "For not letting harm come to her."

"Don't mention it," said Ino. Then, she felt another hand, only on her shoulder. She turned. "…Shikamaru," she turned red as she looked down at her lap.

"Hey," he said smoothly. "Look at me." He took her chin and lifted it to face his. He almost took in a sharp breath at seeing how bashed up she really was. "Are you alright?" He asked sternly.

"I think so…" she said softly. "But…are you?" She asked, touching his neck without thinking.

"Yeah," he said. "I'll live."

"Thank god," she said, holding her chest. "Just watching her try and strangle you made me want to-" Ino was cut off by Shikamaru's lips on hers. Perhaps it wasn't exactly the time to make out, but then again, it sort of was. Bad place, good time. Shikamaru had felt like he knew her even before all of this happened.

"You know," he whispered after they released.

"What?" Ino asked, still dazed after the leg-weakening kiss.

"Despite all the crap I've been under here…I think it was worth it."

"Why?" Ino ask stupidly, though she knew perfectly why.

"It brought me to you," He said, blushing. Ino blushed too.

"I can definitely see why my parents would have been friends with yours. I'm sure they…" She sniffed, as she felt a tear roll down her cheek. "…cared about eachother."

Shikamaru wiped the tear away.

"Well you know what's left to do now, then, right?" He asked her.

"What?" She asked.

"I've…just about…had enough of you kids…" Ino heard Mina's voice behind her, as Asuma had her in a headlock.

"Kick her ass."

"I think I'll enjoy that," Ino said, rubbing her hands together giddily.

"We all will…" said Tenten.

ShikaIno fluff! I know, cheese, fluff, don't be mad, I'M OBSESSED with cheesy fluff. But it's not done yet, don't worry. Well…if anyone was worrying in the first place. Keep reading, sorry I made this a short-notice quick chapter.