A week. Seven Days. One-hundred sixty eight hours. It had been exactly that long since Shikamaru had left for his mission. Chouji had just awoken before his departure and managed to speak with him before that. He still wasn't able stand up, but he recovered quite quickly. A week ago, Temari left again—probably cooling down from the wedding.

So Ino was stuck in Konoha. Mostly working at the flower shop or visiting Chouji.

Today, she would fetch some new flowers for him as the old ones died.

"So, how are you today?" Chouji asked as she entered his room.

"I'm fine" Ino assured him as she sat down on the nearest chair. Chouji wasn't dumb to know that she was deceiving him. There was clearly something bothering her. This Ino was particularly fragile and not bossy!

Flashback 1 week ago:

"Shikamaru, what are you doing here?" Ino snapped "It's my turn to visit Chouji!" It was the first day of his recovery. Ino had woken up especially to see Chouji up and running—or still resting on his bed. He wasn't even awake yet and her company soon turned to a shouting match when Shikamaru arrived.

"We're both allowed in here" Shikamaru argued back. "Chouji's my best friend. I have to tell him something"

"I got here first," Ino protested back "And Chouji's not even awake yet"

"So?" Shikamaru could've cared less. "I'm about to leave for a mission. I have to tell him…"

"You guys!" Chouji hauled. They both finally noticed their friend awake and desperately trying to end their argument. Ino and Shikamaru stared at their teammate. "You guys just don't know when to stop do you?"

Oh trust me Chouji, we've stopped..

"Chouji! You're awake!" They exclaimed.

"Yeah.." he said. "And I'm hungry too"

You've just gotten better and you wanna fatten yourself. Typical Chouji…They both rolled their eyes.

"Anyway," Shikamaru announced "I need to talk to you privately"

"Um..NO" Ino nudged at Chouji "I was here first"

"I'm the one leaving for a mission" Shikamaru pointed out.

"I don't care if you're leaving straight to hell. Don't go in this mission if you wanna talk to him so badly!" Ino was cut off.

"Ino, let me talk to him" Chouji persuaded her calmy "He sounds desperate"

Ino turned to Shikamaru and then back to Chouji. "He had some pleasant wedding" Ino announced as she swaggered out. So what happened at your wedding?" asked Chouji. Shikamaru sighed.

End Flashback

"No Ino. You're not okay." Chouji spoke up "seriously. what's up?"Ino didn't respond. She only asked, "So what did you and Shikamaru talk about before he left?" It took her a week to ask for this question.

Chouji looked at her funny. But didn't dare to argue with her."We talked about his wedding" he started "And Temari, and you.." "And me?" Ino asked curiously "What did he say about me?"

"He said many things about you…" Chouji raised his brow "You, him, and your mission.."

"That asshole said it just like that?" She bursted angrily "Chouji, you've got to believe me. I didn't..."

"I know everything Ino" he told her "And I know what you guys did…"

"Okay! Just stop" Ino cried "I know that I'm a bad bad bad girl"

Chouji chuckled hysterically. "What did he say about Temari?" she asked to throw him off-topic.

"Umm.." Chouji wasn't sure if he was the right person to announce this.

"Chouji you better tell me!" the crazy kunoichi demanded.

"He told me that the sand chick was pregneant"

Ino's eyes widened. "What the hell?" she screamed "Temari is pregneant?"

Ino was more mortified about this news than the first one.

Shikamaru got Temari pregnant? Oh. I need to stay away form him. ASAP.

"Shikamaru loves her right?" Ino asked. "I mean, he would have to love her lot to do the dirty-dirty"

The dirty-dirty? Chouji nearly choked of his own laughter.

"I'm pretty sure that he loves her" Chouji disappointed her "But..he ran off at his own wedding."

Ino looked down...unsure of the reason

"So you weren't the one that ruined his wedding?" Chouji suddenly asked. Ino became angry. "Why would I ruin their wedding? It's not my fault that things weren't working out between them!"

Okay, so maybe it is..but still!

Later that day, Ino knew that Shikamaru would return from his mission. Therefore she stayed at the flower shop, avoiding to encounter him. Yet she couldn't stop thinking about him.

A/N Not much in this chapter. Sorry. But Shikamaru will be back next chapter! I promise you that! Anyways, thanks for the reviews! I just might update again this weekend.. I have a feeling that the next one will be short. But there will only be three chapters left. And like I said, Shikamaru isn't out of the drama yet!

Previews: Chapter 14

"Ino! Quick! Shikamaru's in coma!"

"Sakura-chan, he's gonna be okay right?"

" You win. Take him. I'm leaving"

"I don't know if you can hear me, but just please wake up."