Shikamaru was very worried about Ino. He'd seen Asagao once or twice and had asked her how Ino was doing.
The first time she shrugged and said, "She's crying a lot and isn't getting much sleep. She stays in her room most of the time, but when I do see her she's reading a book. Once in a while she touches her leg."
The second time was a little more worrying. "Well, I dunno. She doesn't sleep, barely eats...she insists on doing all her own laundry even though it's my job. She's started wearing long sleeves and gloves when we go out together. She looks really bad. I don't know what happened to her, but it really hurt her."
Shikamaru ran into her again today. "Ah! Asagao!"
She turned at the sound of her name. "Oh! Shikamaru! Oh, I'm glad I found you!" She looked very upset, and it made him very worried.
"What's wrong, Asagao? You look really upset."
Asagao threw her arms around him and buried her sobbing face in his chest. "I...Ino...she..."
Shikamaru's heart locked up. "What happened to Ino?"
Ino had been delaying the inevitable for weeks. Every time the blade was ready to end her meaningless life, a long-buried memory would surface and stay the hand of execution. But it was only a matter of time before she ran out of memories.
Over the past two weeks, she had attempted suicide every night. Every time, she had gotten scared and stopped the bleeding before it got bad.
Tonight, though, her conviction ran far stronger than before. She kissed Asagao's brow, but this time lingered for a moment.
"Asa, you know I love you, right?"
Asagao looked confused. "Yes, of course, sis."
"You know I would never hurt you, right?"
"Yeah, Ino, of course. What's all this about?"
"Nothing, Asa...I just...I want you to know that." Ino smiled. "Good night, Asagao. You'll see me in the morning." She left, closing the door behind her.
Asagao didn't fall asleep. Something in Ino's voice worried her.
Eventually, she got up and went to get a glass of water.
In her room, Ino heard Asagao's door open and almost literally jumped out of her skin. "Shit! What's she doing awake?!"
Asagao's shadow stopped outside the door.
Dammit! I was too loud!
"Ino? What's wrong?"
The knife in Ino's hands trembled against the side of her neck. "Nothing. Go back to bed!"
The shadow grew larger. "Ino, I'm coming in."
Shit! I have to do it now! Ino hesitated ever so slightly as she drew the blade across her throat.
D-dammit...t-too shallow...
Asagao opened the door to a scene she never thought she would see.
Shikamaru couldn't speak for a long time. "She...she tried to slit her own throat?"
Asagao nodded.
"So...is she...dead?"
Asagao started crying again. "She...she..."
Shikamaru clenched his fists. "Dammit..."