Well I thought about doing a little Christmas scene but then I realized that it's like Summer or Fall in this fic so I am now decreeing that it's late November. I got an idea for a Christmas fic however and was going to make it a one-shot but then I realized it would be a perfect way to get two certain people together so there will be a Christmas scene just not near Christmas. This is a primarily ShikaxIno SasuxSaku fic but it will have hints(or maybe a bit more than hints in some chappies) of NaruxHina and NejixTenten.

Chapter Six

Sasuke and Naruto sat in their usual seats at their usual dinner stop(Icharaku) at the usual time. Yes all in all it was a pretty usual day(was being the key word) until Shikamaru dragged himself over to them sat down on Naruto's left and sighed. Now it was true that Shikamaru was lazy but moping around? No that wasn't him, so naturally the two guys to his right were curious(or rather Naruto was curious and Sasuke managed to look mildly interested).

"Hey-mfffpt." Naruto was cut off as Sasuke covered his mouth with his hand and gagged the blonde with a few of the napkins that were scattered on the counter. Shikamaru ignored them and ordered a bowl of ramen for himself. Only when, instead of breaking them apart, Shikamaru broke his chopsticks in half did Sasuke ask the question Naruto would have asked-had he not been so busy clawing napkin scraps out of his mouth.

"What happened?"

"Nothing."

Inwardly Sasuke sighed, why did everyone have to be so stubborn? Wouldn't it just be easier for Shikamaru to tell them he liked Ino, for Ino to like Shikamaru back instead of liking him, and for Sakura to get her memory back and remember she was in love with him? Wait, scratch that last part, he liked Sakura much better how she was now. Except she ignored him, but that was what he wanted. And she seemed to like Naruto, no way she couldn't like that idiot. But Hinata did and she was the only other one who didn't like him(Sasuke that is). But Hinata was afraid of him, Sakura wasn't...

The three boys sat there with only the sound of Naruto slurping his ramen to fill the silence for the next few minutes, until Neji walked up to them.

"Have any of you seen Tenten?"

"Why? You have a date?" Naruto singsonged earning himself a punch in the face.

"Just as soon as I see you in a fancy restaurant with Hinata-sama"

Naruto stood up on his stool and was no-doubt about to yell at Neji for hating Hinata when Sasuke pulled him down.

"Realax, he was joking."

"No way Neji's an ice cube he doesn't joke."

"No, I'm pretty sure he was joking."

"If you say so..." Naruto didn't sound at all convinced though.

Standing impassively with his arms crossed Neji repeated, "Have any of you seen Tenten?" and so Naruto wouldn't make another stupid comment he added, "We agreed to train today."

"If your sure it has nothing to do with a date..." Naruto was an idiot, if Sasuke joined in he probably was too but it was an obvious weak point with Neji and teasing others was always fun...

"Naruto shut up. You already know Neji likes Tenten anyway."

"You sure about that?" Neji asked turning on his Byakugan threateningly, Sasuke merely nodded activating his Sharingon to show he wasn't intimidated, so Neji added, "How are things with Sakura then?"

And soon Naruto couldn't stand being left out any more and the insults started flying along with a halfhearted punch or two. So carried away were they that it wasn't until Naruto ducked a kick from Sasuke that the sleeping Shikamaru was just barley saved from being decapitated, and they remembered he was there.

"So how are things with you and Ino?" Naruto panted.

"There's no feelings on my side."Shikamaru glared past him, "but why don't you ask her?"

Turning around Naruto fell to the floor from shock and Sasuke just barely saved himself from the same fate.

"Hey Sakura-chan you look great!" Great? Great didn't even begin to describe her...she was...No, Sasuke chided mentally, she's your team mate.

"And Hinata-chan you look great too!" She blushed deep crimson and Naruto received a knowing look from Neji. "So' Sakura-chan got a new outfit, Hinata-chan got a new dress, Ino got a new top, what did you get?" And Naruto received a slap from Tenten's newly gloved hand, "Oh."

Rolling his eye's Shikamaru got up not bothering to leave any money(the others could pay it off) and left. Noticing this Ino followed him. As soon as she left the covered ramen stand Ino realized why everyone had crowded in there, it was raining, hard. But she couldn't give up she had to find him to apologize and maybe even tell him. But no he had said he didn't like her she had heard and Shikamaru had known she had heard.

Ino was so absorbed in her thoughts and making sure Shikamaru's back was still in view that she didn't see the pot hole in her path until she tripped in to it. Groaning and moving her ankle to make sure it wasn't broken Ino was surprised to see a hand offering to help her up, she was even more surprised to see it was Shikamaru's hand.

Dumbly she took it and stood up. When he turned to walk away she called out, "Shikamaru wait! I'm sorry! Please do you forgive me? Are we friends?"

Without turning he answered, "I forgive you but as for being friends, I don't think we ever were." and continued walking until Ino couldn't see him anymore.

Tears mixing with the rain Ino turned to go home but then just sat on the ground. Would he ever really forgive her? Ino wondered...

Ahh, and well on that happy note Merry Christmas! Please leave me a present (a.k.a review)! Ok I lied but I had time that I didn't think I was gonna have so I decided to update!

-Fumei