Shikamaru managed to track down Temari. "Hey, Temari. I want you to come to the hospital with me."
"The hospital? Why?"
"Ino's in the hospital. She...well, come on. I'll tell you when we get there."
"All right, fine."
A plan is more likely to work the fewer people know about it.
Shikamaru had come up with this plan with Asagao's help after telling her the circumstances surrounding Ino's depression. He admired at how cool-headed Asagao had stayed throughout the planning period, even after learning that he was the indirect cause of Ino's suicide attempts.
The plan was already being put into effect. Only the two of them knew about it.
And knowing Shikamaru, the plan would, in the end, go off without a hitch.
Ino laid there, staring at the ceiling. She refused to look at Asagao, but listened as the latter spoke to her.
"Ino...I know you probably don't want visitors other than me, but Shikamaru will be coming soon."
Ino tensed up at the mention of his name. "I don't want to see him."
"He won't be here for very long. He's bringing Temari, but it's gonna be a touch-and-go thing. He'll stop in for a moment and leave."
"Does he want me to successfully kill myself?"
"Ino, stop!" Asagao's voice hitched a little.
"Sorry, Asa..."
At that point, Shikamaru and Temari came in.
Ino became rigid, not moving even a centimeter.
Temari smirked down on Ino. "Well, well, well. Look at you, all bent out of shape over some boy. You're so immature. You know what I say?" Temari bent down over Ino. "I wish you hadn't missed."
Ino looked at her straight in the eyes. "Listen, bitch-"
"Stop it, you two. Temari, stand up straight."
Temari smirked and stood up straight. "Hmph. What a jade. You're lower than dirt, you know that? Shikamaru-"
"All right, that's enough." Shikamaru turned to her. "You should feel lucky that I tolerated your badmouthing for this long."
"Wait, what? What are you talking about, Shikamaru?"
"You know full and damn well what I'm talking about. I won't listen to this anymore." He pointed at the door. "You see that door? That marks the entrance into and out of my life. Now get out of my life."
"Wh-what? What are you saying?"
"Temari, I've been sick of your shit from the beginning. I didn't love you at all; I just felt bad rejecting you. But when Ino came to me that night, I realized something." He stepped closer. "She's been with me, by my side, ever since we were kids. Have you ever stuck with me like that? No. You just want the pleasure." Shikamaru changed to addressing Ino, but still looked at Temari. "Ino, I told you I wasn't interested in romance. That's true. I don't want to do all of that romance shit like courting. I want love. Unquestionable. The kind where we don't have to worry about whether or not the other person is going to stay faithful and true. I was an idiot, and I know that now. But, Ino...I know you'll probably never forgive me for what i've done to you...but I need you to know anyway." Now he did turn to look at Ino. "If I were to spend my life with anyone, it would be you."
Temari was outraged. "You don't want me?"
"No."
"Wh-what did you say?"
"I said no. I'm not interested in romance."
"Rrrrrgh...you know what? Fuck you! Just fuck you! You want your jade, you can have her. Fuck you! See if I ever want anything to do with you again! Fuck! You!"
Ino chimed in for the first time in the entire exchange. "You know where the door is. Now go through it and get the fuck out." Her voice turned sweet and happy, but it was the "i-hope-you-fucking-die" kind of sweet. "And I hope you don't miss."
Temari stormed out, a black cloud of smoldering rage trailing behind her.
The other members of the room were silent for a while. Asagao finally broke the silence. "Was our plan a success, then, Shikamaru?"
"Completely." He grinned and took the seat across the bed from Asagao. "You did your part well, I take it, seeing how she's awake."
"It didn't take much, but yeah."
Ino's eyes flicked back and forth between them. "This was premeditated?"
"Yeah, it was."
"What are you trying to do, Shikamaru? Get me to forgive you? It's not gonna work."
"No, Ino. I don't deserve your forgiveness, nor do I expect it. I just want you to know that..." His hand trailed down to make a fist next to her shin. "You...you're special to me, Ino. I want to keep making memories with you. Like the ones in your book."
"Y-You found that?"
"Asa did. I remember all of those things that we did...I realized how much I missed it. Just spending time alone with you in the forest or by the river. I'd like to experience that again."
Ino was quiet for a long time. Finally, she lifted her hand and made a beckoning motion. "Come closer."
He leaned in closer, unsure what to expect.
"Closer."
He leaned in even closer.
"Now look me in the eyes."
He did. She was so close that he could smell the tear stains on her cheeks.
"You're a fucking scumbag for pulling that trick with Temari. But...I realize it was unfair of me just to cut off a decade-long friendship just because you did one thing that broke my heart. You get one chance, Shikamaru, to fix my broken heart."
"And how would I do this?"
"You're going to take me on a romantic date. You're going to treat me like I'm special to you. And at the end of the night, you're going to walk me home and give me a good-night kiss."
"Well, first things first. You need to heal."
"That I do, Shikamaru. That I do."