A/N: New chappie up…now I'm gonna introduce a new couple in order to interest more readers…it's low, I know but I'm getting desperate!

New couple: ShikaIno

Warning: Nothing really for this chapter.

The Price of a Dream

By Nine Tailed Vixen

Last Time:

"Oh my god…" Sakura was mortified. She had accidentally caused a guy to have an erection. Shit.

In a flash the jar was away, the fan packed up, the window was open, and Sakura was gone. She forgot to redo the bandages. They were lying limply from the side of the bed.

Lee woke up the next morning confused (at his room's disheveled state), horrified (his room had obviously been broken into), and embarrassed (he still sported morning wood).

Chapter 5-Uncertanties

"Come on Sakura come out of there." Ino spoke softly through the door of said girl's bedroom. "What happened? Sakura?"

"Go away Ino-pig!" Sakura yelled through the door. She couldn't face anyone after what had happened last night. She gave Lee, Mr. Freaky eyebrows, an erection! Ew! Sakura buried her face into the pillow.

Ino fumed. How dare Sakura act like this? Just after they became friends again even!

"Come on, forehead girl! Whatever your problem is it can't be that bad!" Ino pounded on the door.

"Wanna bet?" Sakura mumbled into the pillow. How could she have done that? And what was worse is that she had to do it again tonight.

"Sakura!" Ino screamed.

"Be quiet, Ino-chan" Gypsy said as she reached the top of the stairs. " I can hear you from the end of the street."

Ino looked at the girl. "It's you!" She fumed "You did this to Sakura! First you cheated me and then you do this to Sakura!"

Gypsy shook her head. "I still don't know how someone could cheat someone on a free service. Now if you don't mind, Ino-chan, I'll take care of this, don't you have a lunch with your team to go to?"

Ino's eyes widened. "How did you-?"

"Does it matter? It doesn't stop the fact that you are late." Gypsy said as she shooed Ino away before picking the lock and entering Sakura's room.

Ino fumed as she went outside. How dare she dismiss her like that! She was one of Sakura's friends! Ino fumed as she stomped to the barbecue place that their team was meeting. Choji looked up in greeting before he returned to stuffing his face. Shikamaru, however, didn't even look up as he continued to play Go with Asuma-sensei.

"Hey, Shikamaru? Shikamaru? Shikamaru! What's your problem?" Ino frowned as she leaned over his should as she peeked at his game. She never did understand this game, nor how some people could sit and play it for hours like Shikamaru could.

Shikamaru stiffened and lowered his head closer to the Go board, "No problem," he muttered as he placed another stone down on the board. Ino huffed. Ever since Gypsy did that love spell he's avoided all contact but the unavoidable. Did he find out about the spell and was disappointed in her?

Asuma looked from Shikamaru to Ino. Something was definitely up. "Come on, Choji, let's go get some more."

"But Asuma-sensei, they serve the ta-" Choji stopped at the meaningful look from Asuma before he looked at Shikamaru and Ino. Oh. Choji got up and followed Asuma to the counter, leaving them alone.

Shikamaru didn't look up but it was obvious that he was none too happy about what his teacher and his supposed best friend did.

Ino sat down next to Shikamaru. She needed to find out what she did this time. I mean really. Shikamaru had to know by now that it would be more troublesome to ignore her then to answer her questions. "Shikamaru?"

"Hn?"

"What did I do this time?" Ino asked gently.

"Nothing."

"Nothing?"

"Nope."

"Then why are you angry?" Ino said through clenched teeth. One word answers were so annoying!

" 'm not." Okay, one and a half words were just as annoying!

"Yes you are." Ino said, hand balling into a fist.

"No."

"Yes."

"This is so troublesome." Shikamaru said. This entire conversation was held with his eyes on the Go board.

Ino was fuming. This was going nowhere and he didn't even have the balls to look her in the face! How dare he! With strength not her own, Ino flipped Shikamaru's chair around and made him face her. Shikamaru's eyes widened slightly as Ino's face came inches from his own.

A pale pink made it's way up his neck and dusted his tanned cheeks, barely noticeable. Ino, however, who had known Shikamaru since they were kids noticed right away.

"Shikamaru? Are you okay? You look like you have a fever." Ino said before placing her hand on his forehead, cheek, and then back to his forehead. He was warmer, but it wasn't really a fever.

Shikamaru's eyes almost bugged. He roughly stood up and knocked Ino to the floor. He looked like he wanted to help her up but decided against it as he practily ran from the restaurant.

Asuma and Choji froze as tears filled Ino's eyes. It felt as though a hand clenched around her stomach when Shikamaru shoved her like that. Asuma went over to help Ino up from the floor as Choji shoved his food into his mouth. Choji nodded his good bye through his food filled mouth before heading for the door. He needed to know what the hell was going on. Shikamaru would've never touched Ino in a hurtful way, let alone push her.

Ino looked at Asuma, words evaded her as she looked into his kind eyes. Finally she said what they were both thinking.

"What did I do?"

Sakura tilted her head as Gypsy stopped talking mid-word.

"What?"

Gypsy shook her head sadly, "Nothing, Sakura-chan."

"But you went silent and got sad all of a sudden." Sakura said.

"I'll tell you some other time. Now are you alright with the Lee thing?"

Sakura smiled, "Nope."

Gypsy chuckled, "Sassy brat."

"Hey, at least I understand what happened, though I'm not comfortable with it." Sakura said.

"Hey, men will be men. Nothing you can do about that. Now are you ready to go back tonight?" Gypsy smiled.

"I guess…" Sakura said as she and Gypsy went out the door and headed towards the forest to make tonight's Blood Salve.

To be continued…