Okay, so this is where the real story begins. xD Time skip!! Lol Please review my lovely readers.

--Chapter One: Get Back Together--

"Ack—Shikamaru stop!" Ino said through a tearful of laughs. For the past minute or so, she and Shikamaru had been in an intense tickle fight. In the background, Chouji was eating the curry Ino had made them.

This was a daily routine for Team 10 now. Ever since Asuma'a death, the Ino-Shika-Cho members could bare to eat at the Korean Barbeque. It was too painful for them, so Ino took the liking to cook for them. After she cooked, she'd take the food to Shikamaru's house, were all three would hang out.

"You two really need to get together again." The Akimichi said once his teammates had calmed themselves down.

"Chouji…" Ino said in a pleading voice. The blonde was currently sitting on Shikamaru's lap, and he in return had his arms around the Yamanaka's waist. Shikamaru's chin rested on Ino's shoulder as she finished responding to Chouji's comment. "We tried that once, remember?"

"And you two were doing great together! You guys were the best couple in Konoha! I've always thought you two would end up together."

"That may be so, Chouji, but we broke up for a reason you know very well." Shikamaru intervened.

"Yeah, yeah. To not jeopardize your friendship. I know. But I'd wish you two would see how perfect you are for each other." Chouji sighed.

The mind-possessor merely smiled. "I know how happy you were when we got together, Chouji. But I love Shika too much to let our friendship be ruined." Though that was true, Ino knew there was more to why she couldn't be with Shikamaru. He knew as well.

It was true that everyone in the Leaf had not been surprised that Ino and Shikamaru had decided to get together. He had recently broken things off with the Sand kunoichi, Temari no Sabaku, and Ino had stated that she had finally decided to move on from Sasuke. So one day, as Shikamaru and Ino were training alone, they began talking and one thing lead to another. In the end, they both realized that they felt something for each other. Things were going great, but in the end, they both realized something.

The day they had decided to break off their relationship, they had another heart to heart conversation. Yes, neither of them wanted to hurt the other, but there was a little more on Ino's part. The part that she thought she had completely gotten rid of: her childhood crush, Sasuke Uchiha. It killed the Nara inside, but he it was a fact he just had to accept. He knew Ino would never completely forget Sasuke, but at least he had had his chance to be with Ino.

"Yeah, Chouji. Let's just leave it at that. Why don't we watch the movie now?" They took Shikamaru's suggestion and sat in the living room to watch the movie they had rented.

After an hour or so, Ino spoke up. "Well, I've got to go." Ino said as she rushed to give the men a good-bye hug and kiss. "I've got to go to work. Love you two. Bye!"

"Bye!" The other two yelled out in unison. Once Ino left, Chouji turned to Shikamaru.

"So, Shikamaru? Tell me why you two really haven't gotten back together?"

"Chouji…" Shikamaru groaned.

"Shikamaru," Chouji looked at his best friend in the eye. "It's because of Sasuke, isn't?" He waited for the respond and then replied. "So what?"

"'So what?' Chouji, she's still in love with him." Jealousy once again overcame Shikamaru. Why was it that he couldn't be the one Ino wanted to spend the rest of her life with? He was there, whereas Sasuke wasn't. Besides, she did feel something for him.

"Again, so? Look, Sasuke's gone and you're still here. You love her, don't you?"

"What kind of a question is that?"

"Then convince her to get back together." Chouji said encouragingly. "Think about it. I have to go meet Ayame. Seriously. If anyone can convince her to do anything, it's you, Shikamaru. I believe in you."

"Yeah. I think I will." Shikamaru said in a quiet whisper as he saw Chouji leave. "I think I will." With that said, he stood up—a plan already forming in his head—and walked out the door. Ino was going to be his or at least he hoped.

I feel kind of bad, because since I'm in school, I can't keep up with the other SasuIno stories that I've been so faitful to...lol. But yeah...I have no idea why I put that. Heheh I'm crazy! But please review!