Damnit, Damnit, Damnit! Shikamaru continuously cursed himself as he ran what a drag! Why'd I have to get involved in something so troublesome? Why'd I have to argue with Ino this morning!? If I could've just shut my troublesome mouth, this wouldn't have happened. The Story Master wouldn't have caught us, gotten pissed off, and put us in this mess. Now Ino's gone insane! He stopped at the top of the hill, panting and incredibly mad, probably going to drive me insane by trying to find this freaking cure… troublesome.

Shikamaru laid Ino down on the ground, where she instinctively curled into a fetal position. Her eyes were bloodshot, her hair was a mess, and she only continually gasped for air and shivered. What could possibly cure this? Shikamaru sighed and stared into the sky. Taking an educated guess, it had to be about ten o'clock. Where would he find an insanity cure in two hours?

Better start looking, Shikamaru sighed and picked Ino back up, cradling her. There was no way in hell he'd leave her alone again.

He started walking towards the apothecary. It may be a fake Konoha, but if there was a cure for him to find, the Story Master had to hide it somewhere, right? Or maybe that was too obvious…

Puzzles were such a drag.

At the apothecary, a man was still awake and manning the store. That had to mean something, right? Shikamaru stepped into the store, setting Ino on a chair by the counter and walked up to the cashier. He placed one arm on the counter, and looked the cashier in the eye with an almost menacing look, "So, you got anything for insanity?"

The cashier returned him a questioning look, "You crazy? Insanity can't be treated with medicine, it's a mental disorder."

"There has to be something."

"Insanity isn't exactly a quick fix, you know. It really depends on the victim." The cashier bent over the counter and took a look at Ino, "And you don't have a clue as to why she's like that?"

"Nope."

"Well," the cashier crossed his arms, "You're screwed."

"Thanks for informing me." Shikamaru growled, impatient, clenching his fists, "But I really do need at least a hint as to what to do."

"Don't ask me." The cashier grumbled, "I don't deal with psychos."

"Of course you don't," Shikamaru growled. His fists shook with anger.

"Yeah, I don't, whatchya-" The cashier wasn't given the chance to finish, because in the middle of his sentence Shikamaru's fist came into contact with his face. It caused a loud crack to be heard, and the cashier collapsed to the ground. Shikamaru glared at his body as it merged into the ground a disappeared to return to the Story Master's command.

"Because you're just a character," he mumbled, picking Ino up and leaving. As he walked out, he looked up to the clock. Ten-thirty; the minutes were just rolling by.

The entire village seemed to have gathered for this cause. They stood together, forming a large circle, bickering over her fate. Ino stood in the center of it, cringing. Didn't they know that their words were hurting her? Her ears couldn't stand it any more, and when she opened her eyes…

…all she saw was him.

The original two-sided debate had grown in so many ways. Too many people had gotten involved now. They made too many pros and cons to this situation. It was supposed to be a simple 'I like him' or 'I don't like him.' Why come to this? And it wasn't just Sakura's claim on destiny or Asuma's on danger. No, now more had inputted their views.

Her father was the first. Inoichi couldn't stand the thought of his baby girl dating that lazy bastard… Wasn't he supposed to be friend's with Shikamaru's father anyway? Why the sudden hatred towards the Nara's? It's not like Shikamaru was any different than Shikato. But now her father was fighting with his old comrade, throwing out threats about restraining orders and the naught. Was it really that terrible for Ino to be with Shikamaru?

Choji showed up soon after. When he had heard the new rumor about Shikamaru and Ino, he couldn't have been happier for his team mates. "Who'd'a think," he had said, "that you two would ever end up together? You always bicker and fight. It's a huge relief for you to be dating." And when Ino had tried to state something, Asuma had started to explain to Choji about the dangers of worry that this would bring about. But Choji wasn't to be swayed. He fought for his friends. Their team mate, who would only end up as a third wheel if Ino and Shikamaru had really ended up together, still thought that this was true. That had to mean something, didn't it?

And then there was Sasuke. He'd returned, telling Ino to ditch Shikamaru and be with him instead. Her biggest crush wanted her along! But as excited as she wanted to be, her heart didn't beat as fast as she thought it what. She didn't jump and scream and run to Sakura to rub it in her face. She didn't hug him happily. Being with Sasuke… just wasn't what she wanted.

And last was Temari. She showed up, took one look at the crowd and laughed. She looked Ino straight in the eye, smirked, and said in the most confident voice, "Shika is mine, little girl."

Ino was enraged. Temari, who she had despised since she first laid eyes on her, threatened the availability of Shikamaru. It was something about the way she had looked at Shikamaru for the first time they had met. Ino didn't like it. She didn't like the idea of her anywhere near her Shikamaru.

So she punched her. But Temari only stumbled back to be thrust into the ongoing argument between the citizens of Konoha, her words lost amongst all the other ones. Ino covered her ears, squeezing her eyes shut. Why won't the words go away? Why won't you leave me alone?

All of you just LEAVE ME ALONE!

The crowd vanished.

Ino fell to the ground, sighing. Did Shikamaru even like her back? If he didn't, none of this seemed to be worth the pain…

Shika…

Eleven-thirty… the time was flying by.

Shikamaru sat on a bench and rubbed his temples, annoyed by a sudden head ache. He'd been running all over the village to try and find a cure, but sadly insanity had no quick fix. How was he supposed to cure it by midnight?

He looked beside him to the ever-shivering Ino. Her gasping was settling down, which he presumed to be a good sign, but then again he couldn't be sure of anything in this fake-Konoha. The air was crisp and chilly, so he understood why she wouldn't stop shivering. However, after placing his chuunin jacket over her, she still hadn't settled…

Shikamaru stood from the bench, picked up Ino and walked down the street. No more time could be wasted, after all, if he planned on winning this game. Also, there was still one more place he hadn't checked yet…

He stopped in front of the restaurant. The same, massive restaurant they had gone for their early lunch in order to make it to the storytelling. The same restaurant they'd fought in. The same place that Ino had been driven insane in front of, it seemed that this place was the cause of all their problems… but why did it seem to be so important?

Shikamaru set Ino back down on the ground, then leaned on the door and groaned. This is so… troublesome! He hit his head into the door, gritting his teeth in frustration. Things weren't supposed to be this hard! What happened to that average life he had always wanted? The simple one, where people like the Story Master didn't exist? Why do things have to be so… troublesome!

He looked down at Ino. What's her problem, anyway? How can I do anything if I don't know her problem?

"Shika…"

He froze, raised an eyebrow, and stared at her. Her lips had only trembled just barely, and her face hadn't shown much expression other than the fear that had set in since he found her earlier. But still, he knew that she had just mumbled his name.

Everything started to fall into place.

"You're such a drag, Ino. Don't worry all the time, maybe you won't be as uptight."

"Uptight!? I am not uptight! And I didn't know it was so wrong to care about someone!"

"What is wrong with caring?"

"It's troublesome, like this pig here."

"I'm sorry I ever gave you a simple thought!"

"The fight…" He whispered to himself, "That started it right? That's why we're here…"

"And they won't shut up about you! You're a big celebrity here, Shikamaru, especially when it comes down to me. They all think we're dating!"

"You need to tell me everything that happened to you today. You could be walking into a trap."

"Erm… nothing important."

"That was the problem, wasn't it Ino?" He chuckled, "You and me together, couldn't see it, could you?" He shook his head, "Damn, what I'd give for that, right?" He knelt down to Ino, "You're insane of contradictory feelings toward me. I see it now. I've figured out the Story Master's trap…" He furrowed his brow and smirked; "Now how the hell to I fix it?"

Eleven-fifty… Ino began to gasp again. He shivering had shifted into violent shaking. Shikamaru's eyes widened as she thrashed her head, eyes bloodshot, and fingers digging into her skull. Her hair flew everywhere, and Shikamaru was forced to step back in panic.

"Ino! What the hell!?"

Eleven-fifty-five… the gasping turned into screaming. Shikamaru inched behind her until he had could get a good grasp on her shoulders, and then tried his best to hold in her place.

Eleven-fifty-six… Ino's screaming only got louder. The thrashing only got more violent, and Shikamaru could only do his best to hold her down.

Eleven fifty-seven… Shikamaru had snaked his arms around her waist to keep a firmer hold so she couldn't get away.

"Damnit, Ino, don't die on me!"

Eleven fifty-eight… what was this coming to?

"You can't die here!"

Eleven fifty-nine.

"I love you, Damnit!"

Freeze.

Ino went limp, falling to the ground. Shikamaru's face was dumbstruck. What had happened here? He looked around. The wind had stopped blowing. Trees seemed frozen in mid-sway. Birds flying in the night sky froze as if in a painting. The cricket's midnight song had suddenly paused.

"Well done, boy." Her voice, accompanied by slow clapping, filled the frozen air.

"What did you do?" He asked menacingly. The Story Master appeared from behind a tree, smiling that ever-knowing smile. Dear lord, if that smile ever pissed Shikamaru off, it was now.

"I didn't do anything. Well, anything to her that is. That was you." She gave him an accusing glance, "I've stopped time for my own needs."

She can control every condition in this world since it's her story… Shikamaru frowned, "What's wrong, writer's block?"

"Actually," She chuckled, "Yes."

A time of weakness! Perfect! "So what would that imply?"

"Well, we've reached the climax, haven't we?" The Story Master crossed her arms and sighed lightly, "I'm terrible with falling action. I can never really decide what I want my outcome to be. Happy ending or no? Tragedy or comedy? It's such a hard decision sometimes."

"I thought this was merely a lesson."

"It is," she smiled again, "but that doesn't mean I can't make something bad happened. Remember, I am the Story Master. I can kill my victims off simply as soon as they've gone insane." She looked at him, and frowned, "Don't think of attacking me, boy. I'm on a different level than you, and you're at your weakness too."

Shikamaru scowled, that's right. There aren't any shadows for me to work off of at night… He went into deep thought, assuming his thinking pose. After a moment, he opened one eye, focusing on the area behind the Story Master. He noticed a street lamp shining brightly behind her, forming a nice yellow circle on the pavement. Perfect. He reached for his kunai pack.

The Story Master noticed his movement and quickly prepared her hand signs, "Alchemic no Jutsu! Setting summoning!" A wall of rock thrust out of the ground in front of her, and kunai Shikamaru had thrown landed in it, making a nice crack right in the middle. He ran to the wall, kicking the kunai so it was thrust further into the wall. It cracked into pieces.

But the Story Master wasn't behind her shield any longer. She stood, instead, atop the street light.

Shikamaru growled and threw another kunai. She lost her balance dodging, but caught onto the pole with her feet, hanging upside-down from it.

"I'm not touching the light on the ground," She smiled, "You can't catch me." She moved her hands to prepare for an attack, but froze, "What…!?"

"You may not be touching to lighted pavement," He grinned, "but you are touching the source. I've caught you with my Kage Mane."

The Story Master would have glared if it weren't for her position. She was forced to fall from the post and stand on the ground, mimicking Shikamaru's pose. Shikamaru pointed his hand at her, and then clenched a fist.

"You're going down, woman, for hurting Ino."

Little did either of them know, that during this entire fight, young Ino was stirring from her sleep.

So… I was going to go on from here, but decided to split it up into two chapters. So I'm thinking… one more chapter and an epilogue? Probably.

REVIEW AND YOU GET A COOKIE:3

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