Sorry for the delay, everyone! Thank you for being faithful to my newest story: Cure. I hope you enjoy this new chapter and leave me a little lovin' on my review page! Once again, I'd like to thank xxBroken21xx for being so supportive, and my true love Fanficfanatic940! Thank you for your reviews!

Without further ado, I give you Chapter 3.


Rainbows of butterflies flitted from clover to clover in the vast clearing. Honeysuckle grew in hundreds in the valley; their yellow-orange petals glowing in the sunset. Shikamaru gazed on his map, breathing in the fragrance of the meadow. Ino wasn't far behind, entranced in the beauty of the flowers that lined every corner of the enormous valley. Each flower was large, almost overgrown, and caving over. There were dogwood trees that lifted into the sky, higher than the pine that bordered the outskirts of the field. Lower than the flowering dogwood were large rose bushes and ferns that shimmered blue-green in the low lights of purple and orange from the sky. The clouds looked softer now, the once shapely, thick white clouds were feathery and light.

Ino twirled around gracefully, taking in all the beauty of their second to last destination. It was the biggest valley she had ever laid eyes on, and possibly the most beautiful. "It's breathtaking," she smiled from behind Shikamaru, walking to his side to peek over his shoulder at the map, "this place."

"Yes," Shikamaru was short, "We need to go north from here, towards those two hills," he pointed at a pair of higher patches of grass that over-looked the meadow, "right below them should be the honeysuckle we're looking for."

Ino nodded quietly and looked around them, "Do you think we'll make it to the mountain by tonight," she was hesitant, something about the mist had made her wary, "or should we wait until morning?"

"I think we should wait and take on the rest of the woods tomorrow. It'll be a bad hike in the dark. I'd rather not risk it."

"Hmm," Ino surveyed the field again, "Why don't we stay here?"

"Good thinking."


As Shikamaru walked closer to the twin hills, he cut as many honeysuckle blossoms as he could and gently placed them into a leather sack. Ino, on the other hand, was setting up a tent between the hills and starting a fire. She was already unpacked and preparing a warm meal when Shikamaru returned.

"Wow, thank you for setting up camp, Ino."

"You're welcome. Dinner will be done soon."

"What are you making? It smells pretty good."

"Just some mild curry over rice and pork," She removed two plates from her bag and placed their dinners on each plate. She filled two cups with lukewarm tea she had prepared earlier and handed Shikamaru his share.


The fire hissed in front of them and the pair shared their meal in natural, yet comfortable silence. There was an obvious air of lag in their usual lively banter; it was a long day and they were drained. However, being that this was a rare chance for the pair to be alone in this picturesque meadow, Ino was determined to make the most of it. Although she was unsure about these brewing emotions from recent events, at least she had someone to share them with. Within Shikamaru's feelings, there was an amount of reciprocation. His anguish was only equaled by Kurenai's or his team mates. Ino was no stranger to his feelings.

Now would have been a wonderful chance to open up, but Shikamaru was hesitant. Too often he had his feelings shot down by Ino's insipid spunk. Her mouth always got in the way of them getting too close, and often he just gave up. It was, after all, too troublesome to try and talk over her.

"Thank you, you're a good cook, Ino." Shikamaru finally said at length; breaking the silence.

She laughed. "Thank you! I'm happy you liked it."

"We did well today. I'm glad."

"Yeah, we really did. I think everyone will be healthy within a few days." Her smile radiated from behind the dying embers.

Shikamaru scooted closer to Ino, carrying his plate over and picking hers up on his way. He walked a few feet from their camp and washed the plates off with water from his canister. After wiping them off with a dark green towel from his pocket, Shikamaru walked back and placed the plates on top of one another on Ino's lap.

She thanked him as she put them back into her bag; he sat down on the flowering peat moss next to her and watched Ino gather all of the rest of the cooking materials. She set them inside of her pack and then relaxed, lying out on her stomach, resting her head on her palms; her elbows bent. He stretched out next to her on his back, his forearms reaching behind his head in his signature cloud-viewing pose.

"Ino," he breathed into the darkness, "do you have a lucky star?"

She rolled her body so that her pose matched Shikamaru's, "Hmm," she trailed off, "I guess I've never had one."

"Mine is that small one over there." He extended his hand briefly and let it flow to the ground, clumsily touching Ino's elbow in the process. "Oh, sorry."

"It's alright," Ino withdrew her arm swiftly. "I think I see it. Is it the one below those clouds?"

"Yeah"

"Oh, it's a nice star. Do you wish on it?"

"I used to, but lately…"

"Hmm? What is it Shikamaru?" She leaned to her side, staring at him with wide, blue eyes.

"Well, I don't need a lucky star now that I have a guardian angel." He lifted his head off his elbows and stared back at Ino.

"Asuma?"

"Yeah, he's looking out for us now."

Ino smiled at the shadow-nin. Even if she thought he was capable of being a complete idiot, there was a time that his IQ was actually working. Now was one of those times, and she thanked Asuma for giving her this chance to be with him. He was the only one now that Asuma was gone that understood her. Not even Sakura could hold a candle to the closeness she felt to Shikamaru. Of course Chouji was there, too. But in this beautiful moment under the moon, Shikamaru's lucky star, and Asuma's gaze from heaven, there was only them. Two of a kind; Shikamaru and Ino.

"What do you think Asuma has planned for us?" Ino laughed, she was half-joking.

"Something really troublesome, I'm sure."

They shared a soft laugh and returned to their positions, staring up into the sky.

"I think he's watching over Kurenai right now. Making sure she and his baby will be alright." She sighed.

"Yeah, their love could span dimensions. Heaven won't stop them, nothing could."

Ino was almost whispering, "I found something to wish for."

"Oh yeah? You can use my star." He laughed. "What is your wish?"

"To have a love like that sometime in my life."

"With Sasuke?" His stomach rumbled in laughter.

"I haven't seen Sasuke in a very long time! I don't have time to wait for him to come around!"

Shikamaru laughed again. "So, you want a love like Asuma and Kurenai, and yet you don't have the patience to wait for it?"

"Of course not! Would you?"

"I've been waiting my whole life, what's one more year? Ten more?" Shikamaru bluffed.

"Sure, sure. Your whole life? Who would be worth that kind of time?" Ino was annoyed at this point, she expected his response would be the beautiful sandy blonde, Temari.

Shikamaru hesitated. "No one." He turned over and blocked Ino from his sight.

"No one? No one!?" She grinned. "That's a surefire example of someone trying to hide their feelings. Admit it Shikamaru! No one means someone. "

Shikamaru pretended to be asleep while Ino continued to run her mouth.

"Oh, sorry. Are you asleep Shikamaru? Do you really expect me to believe that!?" She laughed. "Right, alright. I'll let you sleep. But it's going to be cold without a blanket."

Shikamaru let out a fake snore and rolled over on his side.

"Fine! I'm going to bed." She was too tired to play this game.

Ino stomped away from Shikamaru, ripping her sleeping bag from her pack and throwing it onto the moss. She wrapped her jacket tightly around herself and climbed into the blankets. Her azure eyes stung in sadness; tears. As one drop passed down her cheek, she wiped it away furiously and tucked her hand back into the warmth of her jacket. He's impossible. Her brows furrowed in exasperation and she tossed in her dark blue sleeping bag, fighting another dozen tears that threatened her ducts.

And as if it was planned, the clouds that gathered sparsely in the night sky descended cold rain on the camp. Shikamaru stubbornly kept up his fake sleeping antics, even in the rain. Ino had a hard time resisting helping him with a blanket, but in the end, her better judgment won and she walked over to help him keep out of the cold for the night. She helped him to his feet and laid out his forest-green sleeping bag next to hers, moving the awning of their tent closer to keep the rain off.


Before Ino knew it, it was morning. The sun had risen without her, once again, and she was late. Shikamaru stirred a pot full of sizzling oatmeal and added small fruit from the slack in his shirt that he had pulled up to gather with earlier. He didn't notice her walking silently to his side, nor did he acknowledge her presence in the least. He was still half awake and not ready for another day of squabble.

Yet, Ino was impatient as ever. Even coming out of a dreamless sleep, still tired from the night before, she had enough energy to get annoyed. "Good morning, Shikamaru" she said, mockingly.

"Morning." He replied plainly.

"Something smells nice. How did you," her eyes narrowed, "Sleep?"

He grunted coarsely and ignored Ino. It was much too early for her tiresome agenda. Shikamaru lifted the smoldering mixture into a ladle and poured a small amount into two cups. He jerked one over to Ino, and she took it before he whipped his hands back to his portion.

They ate in a tense stillness. Shikamaru ate rapidly, unemotionally, as Ino sat confused; staring at him through her drooping lashes. Her makeup was absent and her hair was less than perfect. She wasn't in the kind of facade she was used to presenting to others. Shikamaru, on the other hand, looked like he always did. The stoic shinobi with cloud envy, with no emotions that strayed away from sullenness, was just the same as he was two years ago. Change, was, after all, too troublesome.

Ino hurt; her body ached from Shikamaru's clear disinterest. Even if it took a lot of effort, Shikamaru would always strike up a conversation about something. He was curious, but even more than that, he wasn't this unfriendly. Something changed in him, and that happened very rarely. He was different and Ino noticed immediately.

"Shika…"

"Let's go." His expression was blank; unreadable.

"Shikamaru!" She yanked at his black, long sleeve. "What's wrong with you?"

He ground his teeth. "Nothing. I'm just tired. I'm not a morning person."

"Oh," She released his arm. "I see."

They sighed in unison; both trying to ignore the tension between them. Naturally, a newborn determination bloomed in Ino moments later. Today would be the last day she would worry about awkward moments. Shikamaru frowned and looked at the map, noting that all the rest of their goals had been met but the final one.

"How troublesome" he murmured.

"We'll be done in no time. Don't worry." Ino tried reassuring him.

There was something that was nicking at Shikamaru's brain; some strange cognition. He felt there was more to worry about than just hiking up a mountain pass. There was something about the mist that wrapped around the peak had him worried. What is there to hide behind the mist? And what, or who, was creating it? There must be something more to it. He was lost in thought when he realized Ino was already much farther ahead.

"Hurry up! It's only a little while before we can head home again!" Ino was smiling now, she was eager to rush back and help Chouji and the others.

Regrettably, their last destination was closer than they thought.


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