I was nine. Just a kid exploring with her best friend. At eleven years old, Shika was a better hiker than I was, having to help me over all the rocks and fallen tree branches. It didn't help that I was clutching my little doll with one hand. I made him stop every time we saw a pretty flower so that I could pick it. My arms were already filled with a sweet-smelling bouquet. With all the "stopping to smell the roses", covering any amount of ground was taking us quite awhile, but finally we reached the little meadow that was our destination. He clasped my hand and we emerged through the trees. There were people already there - a group of boys about eleven and twelve. They were fighting.

"Hey!" I shouted.

"Ino," Shikamaru said in a warning tone. I ignored him, running to where they were throwing punches at each other.

"What do you think you're doing?" I asked them, infuriated. " This is private property." They looked at me, laughing at my size. The tallest, and obviously the head of their little gang, approached me. He bent down, looking me straight in the eye.

"Oh yeah, punk? Whatcha gonna do about it?" I was about to finish telling them off. Shikamaru hurried up to us. He glared at the boy and pulled me behind him.

"It's not worth it, Ino. Come on, let's go."

" No!" I argued. " They can't be here." I stepped out from his protecting arms and lunged at the boy. The boy behind me shot his arm out at my face. Shika sprung, pushing me out of the way and taking the blow. He winced and buckled to his knees. Two more boys held me back, squeezing my arms to the point of pain.

"Shikamaru!" I screamed. The head boy sauntered over to Shikamaru. He smirked seeing the thin line of blood his crony had caused.

"Well, well. What do we have here? The little girl's knight in shining armor, huh? A bit small to protect her, though don't you think?" He knelt in front of Shika, running his finger over the blood on his cheek. Shikamaru grunted, in pain. He looked into the eyes of the villain, his own eyes radiating strength.

"I'll do whatever it takes to protect her," said Shikamaru. The other boy just scoffed.

"Do you here that boys? This little squirt will do anything to protect his little princess. Isn't that sweet," he mocked.

He brought his fist back and punched his victim's nose as hard as he could. It crunched and blood trickled down his face.

" Do you want to change that answer, punk? Still think you could do anything to protect her?"

Crumpled on the ground, Shika managed to gasp out, "Anything." The boy nodded at the one's holding me back. I shrieked. They were breaking my arms.

"No," Shikamaru pleaded. " Don't hurt her. Let her go. Please, I'll do anything." The boy's eyes glinted and he gestured for the others to release me. I moaned with pain as I fell to the ground, landing on my already broken arm.

"Fight me."

" No, Shikamaru!" I sobbed on the grass, to weak to get up and stop him myself. Shika looked at me, considering.

"How troublesome… Ino, can you walk?" Shikamaru murmured.

" Yes," I answered, unable to see where he was leading.

"Get away from here."

" No," I insisted my voice hard.

He sighed. "Ino, you got us into this, I going to get you out."

" What about you?" I asked stubbornly, rising shakily to my feet. He didn't answer. I ran to him, pulling him to me, crying on his shoulder.

" Please, Please," I gasped. He shook his head. His flexed his muscles and hugged me closer to him. It was too short. He let me go.

Shika spoke again, this time to the other boy," Can one of your friends make sure she gets home? Can I trust them to do that without hurting her?"

"Yes," he answered, smiling as if he wasn't about to pummel my best friend.

I was dragged out of the clearing by my good arm. I tried to resist, but the boy was strong.

He covered my eyes before we got out saying, "Trust me you don't want to see that. He doesn't stand a chance."

The last thing I heard was a shout of pain. Then I fainted.

It was all my fault.

My first lament.