"It's been two long days" he complained "Nothing's happening"

Day one of their mission pretty much stayed the same. The rain cloud ninja trained, swam, drank, and ate. That's all he did. The two only concealed themselves and spied on him very very slyly.

There were moments when they nearly blown their cover—just by arguing. That was all that they did. Ino refused to use mind transfer unless he was sleeping. Shikamaru urged her to use it, so the mission would be a lot quicker. They couldn't last five minutes without a quarrel. At night, Ino would take her sleeping bag and sleep a certain distance from Shikamaru. They both stayed silent—partly because they were tired from spying and partly because they were too tired from arguing. Plus it would feel kind of awkward because they were 26 year olds now and Shikamaru was bound to get married.

"We have to keep watch, Shikamaru!" she told him "He may be some criminal!"

Shikamaru chuckled at her frustration and said "You go do that Ino" He rested himself gently to the mellow grass and looked up at the sky.

Ino snorted. "You still do that?" she asked "You should really consider a new hobby"

Shikamaru ignored her and only examined the feathery, peaceful clouds.

Flashback 9 years ago:

"Hey you loser!" Ino shouted "What are you doing?"

Shikamaru opened his eyes. It's Ino for sure….

He was only resting before the Konoha memorial hours ago, serenely watching the clouds drift by. After falling into sleep, he had been awakened by non other than Yamanaka Ino.

He ignored her annoying comments and tried to fall back into sleep. He couldn't.

Ino's face suddenly softened as she stared at the memorial and stifened when she looked at Shikmaru.

She said softly "You're thinking about him no?"

He didn't respond to her, keeping everything sqirmed in his insides.

Ino then laid herself beside him and gazed at the sky as well. She tried really hard seeing the clouds from his perspective. To her…they were pretty much boring. Shikmaru doesn't turn to her, but felt her hand suddenly grasp his.

She later turns to his face and reminds him "You're not alone" in a kind approach "Chouji will make you eat and Asuma-sensei gave me permission to keep you guys disciplined"

That's what Asuma-sensei told me. I have to keep that promise.

Shikamaru doesn't turn to her. But those words coming from Ino were slightly comforting.

He finally averted his gaze from the clouds and turns to her face. By this time, her eyes were shut..probably into a deep sleep.

No matter how crazy, bigheaded, and Sasuke-crazy you get, I'll let you look over me and Chouji…

He found himself getting drowsier and drowsier as the clouds gradually turned into an orangey-yellowish sunset…

And they both rested there for a little.

End Flashback

"This is too troublesome..." he said "I need to go back to Konoha"

Ino stared at him…furious at his laziness. "I'm not working on this by myself!"

"Do whatever you want, Ino" he replied calmly. "Four Days till the wedding..yep"

Ino didn't hear this as she spied two odd figures in the small cabin that the rain cloud nin slept in. She quickly hid herself.

"Shikamaru—look!" she cheered "there's someone else in the house with him!"

Shikamaru perked up at the new information.

Finally, some useful information for the Hokage. Who is this guy? He thought as he knelt down and hid with Ino.

His excitement went away when Ino pointed to the shadow. First of all, it had an hourglass figure. It was a female. But what was her reason for being there?

"That's not him" he clarified to Ino "It's a girl"

"No!" Ino objected "He's in there with her"

Shikamaru rolled his eyes. Ino mocks him and rolls her eyes better.

She protested "I'm right--you're wrong!"

A/N

First, I wanna apologize for the short chapters. Don't worry--only three more short chapters to go...till the wedding. Let's just say you may wanna continue reading this because these mission chapters changes...things. I promise longer chapters from 10-15. Meanwhile...chapter dedications to: hypo-panda (for constantly reviewing) hehehe

Oh! previews:

"Those two are married Shikamaru"

"I can't beleive I'm trusting you with my body again"

"Sometimes if you marry the wrong person, things get complicated"

"Sometimes if you marry the person that's right for you..things still get complicated"

Okay, here's waht I want you to do:

first scroll down to the bottom left corner of this page. Then, when you see "submit review" in black letters on purple, click on "Go" And then write a review. (Unless you want Shikamaru to marry Temari...I'm totally kidding)