It had been three days since the worst mistake of his life. At least Choji got out. Shikamaru comforted himself, lying half clothed on his mattress. He was right about one thing; Orochimaru took care of his subordinates. The "Boss", as most of the sound referred to him, made sure there was a lot to lose.

There was always a lot to lose. Shikamaru thought, since the beginning, there was always a lot to lose. Friends…Family…Love… I could've it once, just to get her out-

No. A small voice spoke up from deep inside of him, No you couldn't have! Would she have done it for you?

That's not the issue. Shikamaru dismissed the thought, the point is I could have gotten her out and I didn't.

You don't even know if he intended to let her out anyway. Remember the mind body switch. He wants that too.

I'll be damned if he gets it! Shikamaru stretched, At least I can protect her better from here than down in that cell.

Shikamaru yawned and covered his face with his hands. Never again would he would he be unappreciative of these appendages. Orochimaru made it a point of reminding him that they, along with various other items, could quickly be taken away. Bad enough he could hold Ino over his head, but Shikamaru's own body… The power that man held scared him. One word from his lips and Shikamaru was back in his cell, hands tied with scurvy setting in. Orochimaru made a point of having fresh fruit delivered to his door ever day at breakfast. Just a reminder of what could happen.

Shikamaru stood and tried to distract himself. Such thoughts could only be destructive. His new quarters were simple but comfortable, bed, bath and kitchen with ample food provided. Bathrooms were another thing Shikamaru would never again take for granted. There was nothing like two guys shitting in the far corner of the room for over a month to make one appreciate a toilet and shower. His bed consisted of a single white futon mattress on the floor and the kitchen consisted of two cupboards, counter space, a stove and a sink. The walls were tan with black trim and there were bars on the window.

Just a reminder. Shikamaru thought, You're still in prison…it's just a much nicer cage. Things could be worse.

Shikamaru had learned not to expect much from life. The lower one's standards were, the faster they were met. Choji was gone and, he had excellent reason to believe, he would stay gone. Orochimaru had not interest in the Akimichi clan. Right now, Shikamaru only wished for two things. One was for Ino to escape. The other was a pack of cigarettes. His own freedom didn't matter too much. As long as she was safe…

A knock at the door woke him from his wholly depressing train of thought. Who the hell? Shikamaru glanced at the clock above his sink. It was about three minutes to mid night. He hadn't been sleeping since the day he'd secured Choji's release. They weren't so much dreams as feelings that haunted him. He had the feeling that someone he cared about…it had to be Ino…he had the feeling that she was in danger and there was nothing he could do to save her.

Blinking, he forced himself to reality and went to the door. Orochimaru never knocked. There was an intercom system through which he demanded Shikamaru's presence and Sasuke never had any contact with Shikamaru anyway.

"What?" He looked down at the small figure that stood in the beam of light created by his door. It was the girl- what had Orochimaru called her? - Sanna. Her hair and skin were damp as though she had just taken a shower and a betraying scent of lavender hung about her person. Make up had been carefully applied on her lips and accenting her eyes. For once the girl was smiling. Her kimono was silk, like the kind geishas and prostitutes wore, and two sizes to large for her. The purple fabric slipped down on her right shoulder and Shikamaru could just make out the hint of breasts beneath it.

"Do you want me?"

"What?" Shikamaru look a step back, flustered by the question, and the girl pushed her way into the room.

"I said do you want me?" Sanna surveyed the room with a slight trace of disappointment coloring her cheeks, "Yes or no? It's a simple question."

For some reason, perhaps because he didn't want any one else barging in or perhaps it was that his libido was more powerful than his common sense, Shikamaru closed the door, "Do I…want you?"

"Yes, do you want me?" Sanna turned to face him and untied the top of her kimono revealing small peaking breasts, "Do you want to fuck me?"

"How old are you?" Shikamaru avoided the question.

"What difference does that make?" Sanna asked, "I've fucked before."

"If you're as old as you look you shouldn't have." He looked down awkwardly, wondering how the hell he'd gotten into this situation, "God, you must be twelve…or eleven or something."

"You still haven't answered the question. " Sanna pointed out, "Do you want to Fuck me?"

"No, I don't want to fuck you!" Shikamaru snapped, "For god's sake you're a kid!"

"No, I'm not." Sanna sauntered towards him, her eye lids lowered and her fingers spread wide, "I'm a woman."

"No, you're not." He tried to back away but came up against a wall. Sanna moved in closed, sliding her hands on to his chest and stoking his abs and pecs. Shikamaru couldn't remember a time when he'd felt more uncomfortable.

"Yes, I am." She said, now moving her arms around his neck and petting his hair, "I'm a woman and I want to fuck you. Come on, baby-" She lifted herself to his lips and kissed them softly, "You know you want to fuck me!"

"No." Shikamaru pushed her gently out of the way, "I don't." This was the single most embarrassing situation of his life. This woman- this child was, for reasons that remained a mystery desperately trying to fuck him. If not for her age, he might even have taken her up on it but...she was so damn cold about the whole thing, like he was some conquest for her.

Holy role reversal. He thought, with reckless abandon. He must have been less gentle than he thought, for Sanna was now sitting on the mattress with an irritated expression coloring her face. Either that or she wanted to take the suggestive pose. Her breasts were still exposed and her knees spread wide in a crouched position.

"Why?" She demanded, furiously.

"Aside from statutory rape?" Shikamaru asked, although he didn't think sound law punished for that, "Sorry, kid, you're not my type."

"It's the pig whore, isn't it?"

Shikamaru had been looking away but now he turned to face her, "What did you say?"

Sanna smiled, "Now I have your attention, eh? The pig whore. The one who was captured with you and the fat man. Yamanaka."

Ino… It seemed he had stopped breathing. He didn't care, "Where is she?" He asked in a hoarse whisper.

"I'll not tell you!" Sanna spat, "I see you, you aren't really loyal. What is so special about this woman, that all men want her? You, Lord Sasuke-"

"Did you say Sasuke?!" Without entirely realizing what he was doing, Shikamaru had her by the shoulders and was shaking her. Sanna smiled and he knew he'd given himself away. But- rage had begun to cloud his head and he had to know.

"Aye. Lord Sasuke…" Her lips curled malevolently, "He wanted her, he's taken her already. What it is that to you?"

Sasuke, you bastardHe let go of Sanna. He was not mad with rage. Shikamaru felt very clear, very focused. He was not dangerous or crazy with wrath or anger at Sasuke. He merely wanted to find him and calmly slit the traitor-rapist's fucking throat.

"You're upset." Sanna's grin grew wider, "Do want to kill her? Him too, for taking your woman? You couldn't do it. Lord Sasuke is much more powerful than you will ever be. There's a better way, if you want vengeance…fuck me."

Ino… Shikamaru wasn't listening to Sanna's insanity, his thoughts came at light speed, barely taking time to register, I'll kill him- I'll fucking kill him-

"You see, I belong to Sasuke." Sanna continued, "I was the first on he took at Kobe so he is mine. Sometimes he- Sometimes he just forgets that- We can get back at him, make him remember who he really loves…"

Who he really- Who does she- He shook the thoughts wildly out of his head. It had to be rape. Ino wouldn't- well, maybe before but-

She used to love him…used to…she wouldn't.

"So… now that you know…do you want me?" The question brought him momentarily back to reality, "do you want to get vengeance on Sasuke and the pig whore?"

"Get out." He said softly, grabbing her wrist and pulling her to the door, "I don't want you. I don't like you. I think you're bat shit crazy but you're still a girl and a young one too. You stay here any longer and I'm not gonna be responsible for my actions, got it?"

Sanna was too bewildered to protest and it was only when he tossed her forcefully from the room and slammed the door did she realize how thoroughly she was rejected.

"The pig whore asked for it!" She shouted, banging on the door, "She asked for it! Don't you want to kill her? KILL HER!"

"Mendokusee…" Shikamaru sighed, letting himself slide to the floor in exhaustion, If it's not a psycho snake pervert trying to fuck me; it's a demented tween with an obsession. I can't take much more of this shit.

Ino…this is just me being jealous, right? You wouldn't…not with him. Not by choice.

People do desperate things in prison. He thought suddenly, They do things that would be fundamentally wrong on the outside. They kill, they steal, they betray their villages…everything they used to stand for.

But not Ino. He sighed, She die before she did that. She's too strong, too proud to ever stoop to that. She wouldn't ever…not unless he forced her. Then she'd kill him. Ino's that kind of girl…

He knew he had to think like that. Had to believe in her. If he didn't…jealously and doubt would drive him insane. In the end it was all a question of woulds…

Ino wouldn't. Sasuke would and, if Shikamaru ever got the chance, he would kill him for it.

Ino wondered when her life had gotten so ridiculous. Waking up everyday wondering whether she would get raped or beaten that day was ridiculous. If it had been happening to someone else, Ino might have found it funny. This place could really warp your sense of humor.

Actually Sasuke hadn't come back since the last time. Her new tormenter was Ginna, whose real name Ino still didn't know. Ginna "loved" (Ginna's word, not Ino's) Sasuke and took it extremely personally when Ino "touched what was hers."

This particular morning- or was it an evening? - Ino's lip was bleeding slightly and her right eye was bruised. The shirt someone had deigned to provide her was ripped and Ginna was once again staring at her breasts, a knife in hand.

"What is so special about you, Whore?" She asked seethingly, "I've looked and looked but I can see nothing that would make him choose you."

"Did you notice a vagina?" Ino had given up all semblance of being a lady and resorted to crude humor whenever the occasion arose, "I'm telling you, he'll fuck anything on two legs."

"Shut up!" Ino winced in pain and Ginna's fist collided with her cheek, "Does he still want you with all those bruises?"

"I haven't seen him since I got them." You're obsessed, Ino thought, Just like I used to be. I wonder, how different would we be, Ginna, if you grew up in Konoha?

The girl leaned in close and whispered, softly, dangerously, "You stay away from him!"

"Only too happy to."

Ginna drew back with a satisfied smile on her face and for a moment Ino thought she might leave her alone. But then Ginna spoke…

"I saw the other one last night." She said, "The one who loves you."

"What?" The one who loves me?

"Your teammate. The one who is not fat."

"Shikamaru?!"

"That's what Lord Orochimaru called him…" Ginna's grin grew wider, "When he joined the sound."

"You're a LIAR!" Ino shouted, "Shikamaru would never betray Konoha!"

"Pfft!" Ginna laughed, "Tell that to Orochimaru! He joined alright, with out a second thought!"

"Lying bitch…" Ino swore. The idea…that Shikamaru, of all people, would betray the village, betray her and Choji, betray Asuma-sensei's memory … it was too much to bear. Any pity she might have felt for Ginna disappeared in an instant of rage and indignation.

"Hunh!" Ginna smiled, "It makes not difference what you believe. It cannot change the truth. I saw him last night…your Shikamaru. I told you, if you touched what was mine, I would take what was yours. Well, I have."

She leaned in, confidentially, again, "I kissed him. Was it his first kiss, Ino-pig-whore?"

"You'd better hope I never get out…" Ino whispered, "You'd better pray to god I never get out…"

"Listen, Ino-pig…" The knife was dangerously close to Ino's cheek, "You'd better stay away from Sasuke. "

"Ah!" Ino gasped involuntarily at the touch of steal passing through her skin and the red blood that trickled from between her breasts.

"For every time you touch him…" Ginna said, grinning terribly, "I'll make another cut and another and another until one of them falls off. Alright?"

Ino said nothing and the knife and Ginna receded. She smiled at Ino's pale bruised continence in triumph and, wiping the knife on her skirt, she allowed the door to slam behind her.

"Fuck you." She whispered angrily.It couldn't be true!It wasn't true! Shikamaru would never betray Konoha! Ginna had every reason to lie, every reason to want to hurt her. It wasn't true!

Was it his first kiss, Ino-pig-whore? His first kiss…Why was it those words that remained trapped in her head, after she had dismissed all of Ginna's lies. His first kiss…

No. Ino thought, Shikamaru may not be a social butterfly but… he's not bad looking. He's actually kind of cute when he's not scowling or grumbling under his breath. He's kissed before, right? I'm sure of it, he must have.

It was only then that she remembered,

It was early summer, the year she turned seven. Their fathers, old friends from the academy, were fond of impromptu get togethers, at least once a month during the summer. The wives liked it because it meant Mrs. Akimichi did most of the cooking and the men liked it because they could lounge around and talk about "the good old days". Choji, Ino and Shikamaru were expected to entertain themselves.

Ino hated it. She was of an age where almost every boy was icky and the Nara and Akimichi boys where no exception. Choji was too fat and Shikamaru was too lazy to do any of the things she wanted to do. Whenever she hung out with them, Ino felt so patronized. Not so much by Choji, he was happy as long as there were ample amounts of snacks available but Shikamaru…he was infuriating. It wasn't so much that he came out and said "this is stupid" or "Flowers are dumb" but the constant eye rolling and murmured "Mendokusee…" gave her a subtle hint.

But Ino Yamanaka was nothing if not a social creature and, for want of anyone else to talk to that day, she sought them out. That particular Sunday she found them on a hill at the north part of the Akimichi property. Choji had eaten too much barbeque, again, and was sleeping it off. When she first saw him, Ino thought Shikamaru was sleeping as well. It wouldn't be unlike the lazy little brat! He lay flat on his back and stared straight into the sky.

"What are you doing?" Ino plopped down next to him.

"Watching the clouds." Was his short answer, "Go away."

Ino ignored him, as she often did, and settled down on the grass beside him, "What do you think that one looks like?" She pointed to the sky.

"A visible mass of condensed droplets or frozen crystals suspended in the atmosphere." He answered.

"Smart ass."

Ino smiled. The swear word had the desired affect. He looked up.

"I never heard you swear before."

"I swear all the time." Ino lied coolly.

"Liar." Shikamaru sat up and looked around, "Choji's still asleep. He didn't even eat everything this time. You want some?" He gestured at the left over barbeques, "It's a little cold but-"

"No thanks." Ino said, "I'm on a diet."

"Why?" He stared at her.

"All girls' diet." Ino said.

"Nuhuh." Shika disagreed, "My mom doesn't, neither does yours-"

"Don't tell me Choji's mom doesn't!" Ino laughed.

"Well, she doesn't." Shikamaru continued obstinately, "None of 'em do."

"Well, duh!" She said, "They're already married!"

"So…" Shikamaru tried to wrap his fragile male mind around the concept, "once…you're married…you can get fat?"

"No!" She snapped, knowing that he was mocking her, "Well, yes…but I'm not going to."

"How do you know?"

"How do I know what?"

"That you won't get fat?" He seemed ridiculously interested in this topic, "I mean, what if you get pregnant and can't work off the baby fat?"

"I'll be able to." She said confidently.

"Shouldn't a guy love you whether you're fat or not?"

She didn't have an answer for that. They sat in silence for a few moments and then he picked up the plate of barbeque and said,

"Eat it."

"No!" She shrieked, giggling madly for whatever reason as he tried to force feed her cold mu shu pork.

"Eat it! Eat it, Ino!" He was on top of her stomach now, his knees on either side of her, grinning. She was laughing out loud now, trying to push him off of her. The plate had tipped over and there was sticky barbeque all over her face and his arms. Finally he got the pork into her mouth and they sat still, panting. He was close to her face now and she could feel the hot, barbequed stained breath on her face. It was warm and their sweat rolled off of their bodies on to each other. After a while they were still and Ino began to realize the awkwardness of the situation.

"Umm? Are you gonna get off of me?" She asked.

"I don't know." Shikamaru smiled, "Maybe."

Then, for no real reason at all, she sat up and kissed him. Not a real kiss. Not wild and sensual, just a little peck. It tasted like barbeque, with a slight hint of fruit salad. Shikamaru's lips were slightly chapped but they fell good against the soft pink of her own. Ino's eyes were closed but she knew Shikamaru's were opened wide in surprise. Smiling she drew back and looked at his expression.

It was far from what she'd hoped for. His eyes were open and his eyebrows raised questioningly as they always did whenever she did something he thought was strange but his mouth was a straight line. Neither smiling nor frowning, just expressing mild surprise.

"What was that for?" He asked.

"Just felt like it." Ino shrugged and she felt herself growing red. She couldn't read him! Shikamaru wasn't like other people! With other people she could tell where she stood in a moment and manipulate and play with their emotions to match her needs. He was just so…mild. Not for the first time and certainly not for the last time, Ino longed to break his shell as see what really went on in that genius head of his.

He smirked slightly then and brushed his lips against hers. It took Ino by surprise. Her doing it was one thing. Shikamaru was something else entirely!

He smells so nice. Ino thought.

Shikamaru stood and smiled at her again, as though he'd just won some sort of battle of wits. That damn smirk! It infuriated her to no end and she felt herself growing redder and redder by the second.

"Hey, Choji." Shikamaru kicked the sleeping Akimichi lightly, waking him up, "Let's get out of here, hunh?"

"Right, Shikamaru." Choji stood up and followed his friend back down the hill. Ino made no attempts to follow them.

So that was his first kiss. Ino thought, returning her mind to the bare prison cell, Mine too. Ino thought, returning her mind to the bare prison cell,

And suddenly, Ino wished she could go back to that moment and live her life over again. For the first time in her life, she realized what she wanted. A man who got up when he kissed her, a man who would let her have her own life, a man who smelled like spring time.

Shikamaru…

Please Review. Big things coming in Chapter 6