Ino woke up sick from last night. It wasn't the type of sickness that you felt physically—it was the type that made you feel so damn accountable for a kissing an old teammate. (Who's getting married tomorrow)

She awoke from the sleeping bag to find Shikamaru already stuffing his luggage just around the corner. She slowly got to her feet and walked towards him.

"Morning!" he said cheerfully—as if nothing happened. Was I really dreaming? Ino wondered.

"Shikamaru..last night—"

"Let's not talk about that" he said suddenly seriously looking up as he strapped the last buckle of his sleeping bag.

Ino ignored him and asked "Why did you do that?" she said this seriously as well "You chose Temari. Remember?"

Shikamaru sighed. "I...don't know" he mumbled

That's not an answer! You can't go around kissing other people while you're getting married in a day!

"You're getting married..tomorrow" she stated "Why did you kiss me?"

(Continued) Flashback 10 years ago:

After sleeping in the cold night beside the memorial, the two awoke beside each other on a warm sunrise. They were, for some odd reason, unable to argue that day. You couldn't argue on a balmy morning like this.

"Anybody called Ino Yamanaka could marry anybody

She giggled at his joke. "I gave up on Sasuke-kun, Shika" she reminded him. "I couldn't marry him"

"Didn't Asuma-sensei told you not to lose to Sakura-chan?" he repeated constantly

"I realized, I'd be making a total baka of myself because if Sasuke was even considering about marrying anybody in Konoha—it would be Sakura-chan" she answered somewhat irritated "Plus, it was a mere change of heart.."

"Besides" he added "You wouldn't marry Sasuke-kun. He's too…too…"

"Wonderful?" Ino gave him one of her sweet veiled glances out of the corner of her eye. "That's what you mean?"

It was exactly what he meant.

"Of course not. But he's not like any other boy I ever knew" Ino didn't notice the shadow on his face.

"Uchiha Sakura is poor. Uchiha Ino is worse" she announced "I couldn't marry him for that last name"

Shikamaru snorted. "Nara Ino wouldn't be bad eh?" he teased.

Ino stuck her tongue out. "Nara Temari would even be better" she said with a laugh

Ino didn't know why she enjoyed mocking him about Temari. They were going out at the time and she became aware that there was no time for his team anymore.

"Whatever, Ino" he told her.

End Flashback

"I…don't know" he finally responded.

Ino grew angry. However, she appeared calm on the outside.

"You told me that you didn't want what already happened to us to happen again" she reminded him acidly.

At the same time, who was she to blame just him when she didn't have the discipline to stop him.

Shikamaru gulped. "I asked Temari to marry me" he announced nervously. "So, I'm going to marry her"

He knew it was the mature, responisble decision. A shinobi never walks away from an important comitment.

Ino glared at him.

You big baka! Here I am, attempting to spill all my feelings out. And there you are, only responding by saying 'I don't know'. Go ahead. Take all my feelings and crush 'em in a sandwich! Here's your choice..its's simple, her or me. I'm sure that Temari is great. I'm trying really really hard to accept that you two are compatible. But Shika-kun, I love you. So, unless you want me to claw her out of her gorgeous wedding dress, put the damn gown on myself, and confess this horrible sin to a priest, I suggest you pick me. Choose me damnit! Love me okay? Don't live through hell without me.

"I need to know one more thing" she told him gently. She couldn't believe the brave question she was about to ask. "If I had stayed..would you have asked Temari to marry you?"

Shikamaru reminisced about the moment in the past where she had teased him about 'Nara Ino'. He sighed and looked up at her.

"I'm sorry" he muttered "Let's just go home okay?"

A/N

Yeah, so there's chapter 10 for ya! Next chapter, (which will be long) you guys will most likely shreik at the ending. I don't know yet, but this may be longer than 15 chapters..Oh! I dedicate the chapter to ofcourse, the reviewsers for chapter 9!!! Thank you guys so much for the encoragement. (Yay! Who's gonna be my 100th reviewer?)

Anyways, the previews:

Chapter 11: The Wedding

"Ino, what exactly happened and why is Shikamaru eyeing you?"

"I wanna screw this wedding up so badly!"

"Where's Chouji?"

"You were being hestitant!"

"Here comes Temari"

"There goes Temari"

"You're not the only one who's been unfaithful..."