Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto. If I did, Temari would be in a lot more episodes and chapters!
A/N: Another short chapter. It's only 3 pages long. Too lazy to write anything interesting here.
Published December 1, 2006
Chapter 17 - He's Thinking?
Shikamaru sighed. 'If only I were lazier, less curious, and less kindhearted. If I was less kindhearted, I would have never picked up the picture frame to help Chouji. If I were less curious, I would have never seen and taken out the opening of Ino's photo. If I were lazier, I would have never read the note she wrote and want to read more and look at Temari's note.'
'When I don't think of Ino, I think of Temari and when I think of Temari, I think of Ino. Damn teenage hormones.' Shikamaru blamed. 'Maybe I should listen to Shizune…'
Flashback
"Just remember this; work things out with each of them one at a time and everything should work out. Okay?" Shizune said.
End Flashback
'That's so troublesome. How am I supposed to do something so out of character?' Shikamaru asked himself. 'Not a good idea. It would be too troublesome to talk to each of them…it would even be troublesome to arrange for each of them to see me. It's not worth the trouble.'
'You have to do something! They won't wait for you forever! Just pick one! Any one! Your mom already said it won't matter who you choose, so choose any one of them!' Shikamaru's inner-self told Shikamaru.
'It's not that simple…it's complicated, which is troublesome…' Shikamaru told his inner-self.
'It's simple enough…if Ino and Temari are truly two of a kind, it won't matter which one you choose!' Shikamaru's inner-self argued.
'But they aren't two of a kind. They're very different and unique in their own way.' Shikamaru argued back.
'If that's how you feel, make a decision then! Work things out amongst…yourself and shut out everything else until you come up with your mind made up on a decision. Remember…it's only a date. It's not a forever lasting relationship and the girl you pick is the one you have to marry. It's only a date…keep that in your head.' His inner-self helped out.
'It's only a date, it's only a date, it's only a date, it's only a date, it's only a date…' Shikamaru said over and over in his head. 'But I'm still confused on who to choose.'
'It's hopeless now…I've talked to all of my friends, my mother, Shizune, and even Izumo and Kotetsu, well, until they started laughing in my face (which was right after Shikamaru said 'Ino and Temari')!' Shikamaru said depressed.
'There's nothing more I can do now but plan my funeral. I think I'll have an orchestra instead of a band. Yeah…bands are nice, but too loud for me. An orchestra, no, a quintet, would be nice and quiet and peaceful. Yes, five string instruments is a good number. That's what I want…'
'In the spring…when the clouds are white and fluffy…that's a good time…no April showers though.'
'Everyone should be there…yeah…my mom, dad, all of my friends, maybe the Hokage if she can make it, Izumo and Kotetsu, Shizune, and maybe even some of my distant relatives. I heard I have a relative in Konoha…uhh…my mom's sister's niece's daughter supposedly live around here…but I'm not sure…oh well. I want a small funeral anyways.'
'I want a shogi board with me in my grave…I don't need any money or anything…I can live with a shogi board and maybe a nice house.'
'I wonder how popular I am. I mean, a lot of people do spread rumors about me…maybe they all know me really well, or at least they think they do. Would they ask to come to my funeral? No, they would just come to the funeral and sit in the back of the reception hall.'
'There aren't a lot of places to have a funeral. People die everyday. Maybe I should call in advance, or have someone else call, for a reception hall…'
'You're not thinking about Ino or Temari or your relationship with them at all!' Shikamaru's inner-self had to step in and take charge.
'What's the point?' Shikamaru asked bluntly.
'The point is, you have two beautiful blonde girls who want to go out with you and you're sitting her thinking about your funeral?!' Shikamaru's inner-self stated and asked at the same time.
'Exactly…it's too good to be true, so it must not be meant to be.' Shikamaru said plainly.
'Fine…but don't come running to me when you realize what you're going to be missing out on.' Shikamaru's inner-self said angrily.
'Troublesome brain…I can't even get along with myself…' Shikamaru said.
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A/N: Yeah…nothing to put here…lonely…