READ THIS!
A/N: Guys, BIG ARIGATO to everyone who reviewed. I've been feeling kinda down lately, seriously considering committing suicide by cutting my wrists. I don't think anyone close to me noticed. School's been hard for me and life was hectic in general. And Christams is soon, everyone was so happy, excited, the darn 'Jingle bells' song everywhere...while I moped. It sucked.
You know what prevented me from killing myself?
One: I'm a chicken and coward who's afraid of death.
Two: Everyone who reviewed/faved/alerted my stories.
The recent reviews were long and full of encouraging words...It helped me pull through. Because I thought I can't leave you behind like that. And I love you all. So, thanks a bunch. I'll carry on writing as long as you read and review.
One meets his destiny often in the road he takes to avoid it.
Angels we have heard on high,
Sweetly singing o'er the plain,
And the mountains in reply,
Echo back their joyous strains
The gentle sounds, softly echoing inside his head, slowly woke Shikamaru up from his pleasant nap. He opened his eyes leisurely, glancing to the radio, standing in the corner of his living room, perfectly visible from his spot on the bed.
Glo...o-ria, in excelsis Deo,
Glo...o-ria, in excelsis Deo...
A familiar female voice accompanied the chorus from the radio and Shikamaru's lips slowly stretched in a delighted grin.
Shepherds, why this jubilee?
Why your joyous strains prolong?
Say what may the tidings be,
Which inspire your heavenly song.
It was already the third day Ino accompanied him in his sickness and Shikamaru quickly concluded, just on the second day, that his life, albeit a bit too exciting for his preferences (he really didn't want to hear again his fire alarm going off, when Ino accidentally burned his meant-to-be dinner), was never that enjoyable.
Despite the variance in personalities- perfectly visible in practically everything they did- the two of them got along surprisingly well. When she came back yesterday, they talked almost all the time, constantly finding new topics that needed to be discussed. Shikamaru shared some funny stories from his and Naruto's work, chuckling loudly even at the oldest ones, simply infected by her laugh.
Ino told him how she got to meet Naruto, Sakura and the rest and what working as a florist was really like. And him, a guy who couldn't tell apart tulips and roses and always thought that all plants were nothing but useless weeds, actually found it fascinating. But maybe it was the way she chatted about it animatedly, eyes glowing with enthusiasm- a feeling totally unknown to him.
Either way, flowers won't be the same for him, never again.
Glo...o-ria in excelsis Deo,
Glo...o-ria in excelsis Deo...
With the notes still falling from her lips in a melodious voice, Ino's voice died out as the song slowly faded, replaced by a weather broadcast, which was promptly ignored by both of them. Turning down the radio, the woman stepped into his bedroom, both hands holding steaming bowls on a big, colorful trey with a mouth-watering aroma.
"It's about time you woke up, sleepyhead!" She laughed loudly, in a slightly teasing matter. "Honestly, you're sleeping too much. It's starting to worry me; I mean, I don't think I sleep that much in a week!"
Shikamaru decided not to comment that, his whole attention focusing on his meal. "What's today for dinner?"
Ino gave him a small wink, placing the trey on the small table. All the bowls were covered with a plate.
Shikamaru's brows furrowed a bit, noticing something was certainly in the air.
"It's a surprise. Alright, one...two...three...Ta-daaam!"
Swiftly as always, Ino picked up each plate, leaving the dish exposed to Shikamaru's eyes, which quickly grew round.
"You made..."
"Mackerel and kelp. Your favorite."
Shikamaru's eyes went back to their original size and he made a show to appear the stoic, emotionless male on the outside, but his insides were melting, touched greatly by that small, simple gesture of affection. He mumbled something incoherent, wracking his brain to find suitable words that would express gratitude and let him keep his reputation intact at the same time.
He found none. Everything seemed either sickeningly sweet or too far-fetched.
"Thanks. You didn't need to go through all that trouble, y'know..." He mumbled quietly, brown eyes staring deeply into her blue orbs, efficiently showing everything their owner just couldn't say.
Ino just smiled warmly at him and suddenly embarrassed, Shikamaru shifted his eyes to the steaming meal, mildly wondering would it be rude if he started eating now.
"Of course I had to go through all that trouble. It's like a medicine; my mom used to make me my favorite meal every time I was sick. It's like a must!" Her hand reached out and patted his cheek gently. "Now, eat up; I'm having the afternoon shift in the flower shop today, so I'll be going."
He took small bites, tasting the dish carefully as he watched her putting the purple coat on. A small wave of pale hand- and she was gone for another twenty-four hours.
The bite he just took grew a bit larger when he tried to swallow it and it stayed for a while in the middle of his throat as an uncomfortable lump.
It's been so long since he ate mackerel and kelp. His mother rarely prepared it, claiming it took too much effort and time, and to be honest, Shikamaru wouldn't have it any other way. It just made it a whole lot more special.
Till now, the Nara didn't realize how big impact food could have on him, snickering silently to himself when his best friend praised snacks to heaven and higher.
In your case, it's more like who prepared the meal. A tiny voice sounded in his head and Shikamaru gave a lopsided grin. True. After months of living alone, it was much more than pleasant change when he had someone like Ino, who cared for him, who treated him like he was really, really important to her.
With every bite he took, Shikamaru felt elation swell inside him more and more, changing his heart to a drum of some heavy-metal band. Warmth spread all around his system and he felt strangely light-hearted; the feeling was impossible to compare to anything he felt before.
If this is like to be sick, a fleeting thought passed his mind, I never want to be healthy again.
The dishes were already dumped in the sink, patiently waiting for someone less lazy than him to wash them. Shikamaru glanced up from the book he'd been reading for past three hours, looking at the clock.
Seven p.m. Four hours passed since Ino left and there were still nineteen hours to kill before she comes again.
With a heavy sigh, Shikamaru gloomily realized the feeling that was steadily growing inside him.
He missed Ino.
Of course, as soon as this fact was acknowledged by him, his 200 IQ brain started to analyze thoroughly reasons for such reactions.
I mean, since when did he care for her enough to miss after mere four hours of absence?
Shikamaru Nara wasn't known to be a sentimental man. He moved out from his parents' house as soon as he found a suitable apartment for himself and didn't bother to pay them visits more often than special occasions, like his father's and mother's birthday. Heck, he rarely even called, waiting for the call from his mother instead!
However, the truth was that he missed a woman he met just three days ago. And he missed her to the point he actually counted the hours till he sees her again.
So, what's the conclusion, genius? And don't you have anything better to think about, anyway?
Before Shikamaru could answer himself, the door slammed open and a trail of cursing followed next.
Curious beyond everything, Shikamaru got up just in time to witness no other than Ino Yamanaka standing on his doormat, with blond hair tangled and red cheeks. Her clothes were positively wet, with small piles of snow here and there, which she kept stubbornly shaking off.
"You won't believe what a blizzard there is outside! I barely got here in one piece!" She exclaimed, waving the blue hat and sending snow all over the entrance.
Shikamaru automatically looked outside the nearest window to see a spectacular battle of raw forces of nature outside. He shuddered slightly, glad beyond anything that he could stay home.
"It's so strong that I couldn't keep on walking. Good thing my flower shop is so near your place." At that point, she stopped petting the coat, since all the snow was either on the carpet or melted. She looked up to him, big, blue eyes staring sincerely into his. "Mind if I crash in for the night?"
"Sure. No problem."
A relieved smile appeared on her face. "Thanks. I would never make it to my home at this rate. You put the dishes in the sink?" She proceeded to the kitchen, absentmindedly handing him her coat and hat, which he deliberately took and hang in the bathroom. Soon, the sound of water splashing could be heard from the other room and the radio was turned up.
Shikamaru returned to his room, picking up the book with a small smile playing on his face, never fading especially when he stole few, short glances on the blonde by the sink.
Looks like it was just as it was supposed to be.
And Shikamaru didn't mind at all.
And now, our traditional winter song...
Dashing through the snow
In a one horse open sleigh
Over the fields we go
Laughing all the way
Bells on bop tails ring
Making sprits bright
What fun it is to
Ride and sing a sleighing song tonight
Jingle Bells
Jingle Bells
Jingle all the way
Oh what fun it is to ride
In a one horse open sleigh...
A loud groan of discomfort could be heard. "No way! Not that song!"
The radio was turned off and Shikamaru neared the blonde, one hand drying off the plate with a piece of fabric, finishing the troublesome deed Ino made him to do.
"Why not?"She pursed her lips. "I hate it."
"How can you hate 'Jingle bells'?" The man asked, obviously shocked.
"Blame Kiba. He invented his own version of this song and every damn time he got drunk, he sang it to me. It was enough to leave a small trauma behind."
Imagining Kiba's voice, which strangely resembled barking of a dog, singing his own version of 'Jingle bells' was enough to make Shikamaru chuckle in understatement. "Hey, I didn't hear his version before. And he got drunk a few times with me."
Ino grumbled slightly under her breath, hand still resting on the radio. "I bet he does it only to annoy me. And his dog barking with the melody...Stupid flea-bag."
"Akamaru or Kiba?"
"Both."
So busy glaring at the radio, Ino didn't notice her companion come closer, until her hand was covered by a bigger and warmer one. "Sing it."
Her body temperature rapidly rising and nerves tensing, Ino found her mind clear enough to utter one, simple word: "What?"
"Sing it." He repeated, glancing encouragingly into her eyes and giving her fingers a brief squeeze. "I'm curious what Kiba's is version like. Knowing him, I can expect everything."
"Oh, you have no idea." She took a small breath and exhaled. "Well...Alright, but only this once. Listen carefully because I'm not doing this again. Never. Ever."
She inhaled deeply and hesitatingly slipped her hand away from Shikamaru's grasp, with small twinge of embarrassment feeling it covered in a light layer of sweat.
Ginger beer, ginger beer,
Drinking all the way
Oh what fun it is to ride
With an alcohol inside!
A day or two ago,
I thought I'd take a ride
And soon Miss Warka Strong (Polish kind of beer)
Was seated by my side!
The horse was lean and drunk.
Hangover seemed his lot.
And in his own beer he sank and we, we got upsot!Ginger beer, ginger beer,
Drinking all the way
Oh what fun it is to ride
With an alcohol inside!
Beer in our veins
Flowing as we ride
Over the cat we go
Swerving from side to side
Per mills are rising fast
Making spirits bright
What fun it is to drink and sing a drunken song tonight!
And it was up till this point Ino managed to sing, when Shikamaru couldn't help himself and broke down laughing, both hands clenching his ribs.
"Enough." He choked out. "I can see where it's going."
"Don't say I didn't warn you." Ino laughed good-heatedly as well, with amusement observing Shikamaru's body shake with muffled laughter.
She hadn't thought that such stupid songs could be that enjoyable.
"Owww..." He wheezed, taking deep, calming breaths. "I can barely stand. My knees are weak."
"Well then, go to sleep already! You're still not healthy, remember!" With a gentle push, Ino guided him to his bedroom.
That's when Shikamaru realized there was one big problem that needed to be solved now.
"Ah, Ino...I have only one bed and a terribly uncomfortable couch, so this night I'll sleep in the living room. You take the bed."
Ino's crystal blue eyes blinked at him. "No way, you're sick! Good sleep is the key to fast recovery!"
He rolled his eyes a bit. Why is it whenever you want to make real effort, woman refuse to accept it? "Look, Ino; you're the guest and-"
"And as guest I get to chose where I'll sleep. And I chose the couch in the living room."
He looked at her sternly, clearly ready to argue more.
Ino took the matters in her own hands. "Look, Shikamaru. You were sick and sleeping in that bed for days. It's full of germs and there's no way I'm sleeping in it. End of the discussion, now go to sleep."
"You can find bed sheets in the closet." He murmured, giving up to such strong argumentation, before closing the door to his bedroom.
His eyes lazily following the slim silhouette of a woman's moving around his living room, visible behind the glass in his door. Shikamaru fall asleep almost instantly...
...Only to awake in the middle of the night with his nose frozen cold.
Scowling, the man rubbed it a bit, trying to release some of the numbness. It helped; a bit, but it helped.
With no surprise, he touched the heater by his bed only to find it cold. The heating went off again...
No surprise; it happened almost always on stormy weathers, and especially often during winter. He should've predicted it from the yesterday's blizzard.
Covering his nose with a fluffy blanket, Shikamaru got ready to drift away into Dreamland again.
Ino.
His eyes snapped open in alarm.
Ino for sure had no idea just how troublesome the heating in his apartment is, especially on cold weathers. She's probably covered in a light bed sheet and nothing more, leaving her practically vulnerable to freezing temperature and air that seemed to fill every part of his home.
Determined, Shikamaru throw away blankets and everything he'd been sleeping under, bravely surpassing a shiver when his body made sudden contact with the cold air, grimacing only slightly when bare feet touched the wooden floor. With the fluffy blanket curled under his arms, he strolled right to the couch, anxiously bending over it to get a better glimpse at the sleeping woman.
And as expected, she was shivering and curled up, gripping the bed sheets tight all around her body in a feeble attempt to warm up a bit.
From the distressed look on her face and the iciness of her skin, it wasn't working so well.
Shikamaru covered her up to her chin with the blanket, bending over her again to carefully tucking her and blocking all possible passages for the chilly air.
It's no use, he realized, still bent over the couch with his arms on Ino's both sides, no matter how much I try, it'll still take at least an hour to warm up on her own.
He watched her serene face for a moment and the steady breathing that made her chest rise and fall regularly.
Suddenly, his bed wasn't so inviting anymore and his gaze fell on the empty spot beside the blonde, gazing at it with longing. His back would be killing him in the morning, but...
She can't warm up on her own, Shikamaru reasoned, while slipping under the cover and blanket. I've been nothing but trouble to her and she came here, doing all those stuff for me...like cooking me that dinner today and cleaning, asking for nothing in return...the least I can do is save her from pneumonia.
When his hands slipped around Ino's slim waist, Shikamaru realized with mild surprise that he wasn't cold anymore. Just the opposite, his whole body was pleasantly warm that seemed to continually rise, coming from somewhere near his fast-beating heart. Probably the blood circulation got quicker and warmed him up.
Shikamaru's body temperature seemed to be greatly appreciated by Ino who scooted a bit closer to him, pressing face to the crook of his shoulder and squeezing slim arms that went around his neck, drawing herself even closer. He responded by supporting her with one hand on her shoulders and the other leisurely draped over her waist.
She has to be acting on instinct. Must've been really cold, poor thing. Shikamaru thought, watching a content expression gradually appear on her face.
He felt pretty much like some hero from fairytales or at least the main male character from chick flicks. Slipping in the middle of the night into the princess's bed, only to shield her from cold. Never mind he was still ill.
His eyelids gradually dropping, Shikamaru was barely aware that his hold on Ino got even tighter, just as hers and it was quite obvious that neither of them had the intention of letting go during the night.
Really, why did he say this couch was uncomfortable, again? It wasn't bad at all...In fact, it was pretty much perfect.
Looks like it was just as it was supposed to be.
And Shikamaru wouldn't have it any other way.
A/N: Yay, Christmas carols! Who doesn't love them? Oh, and the remake of the 'Jingle bells' song- it was purely made by my friends and me. Don't you dare steal it.
Often, when I wake up my nose is frozen and the rest of my body is warm. It's annoying.
Did anyone really notice that Shikamaru and Ino are acting like a married couple here? Or that I tried to make it like that?