Well hellow, dear readers! I know, it's been a loooooooong time since I last posted, I'm sorry, I had a lot of things to do :s Anyways, as promised, this is chapter 3 with slight fluff towards the end, I hope you'll enjoy it :3

This time, I'll really try to post soon enough, since I've finished the next few chapters a while ago :)

PS: Nope, still don't own anything from Naruto...duh! :p

Chapter 3 : Back in black

From Shikamaru's POV

Shikamaru was laying on his back in the tent. Choji was snoring so loud any animal in a 2 mile radius would hear him. So much for being discreet. It wasn't his friend's sleeping noises that kept the strategist awake. He thought of so many things at the same time, but it was Ino's irritating, high pinched voice in his head that disturbed him most. The young man remembered once again how the kunoichi had laughed at the idea of being married to him. Not that it bothered him, he never intended getting married, and especially not to a loud, nagging, troublesome blonde woman. His mother haunted his every thought already, every time he did something wrong or didn't do anything with his life (the second was more often), Shikamaru could hear the nagging of his female genitor. Ew, why would someone choose to live with that? Don't even talk about committing for a lifetime to a dragon. The shadow-caster trembled at the thought.

Once again, he could hear that too girly voice of Ino's in his head. It seemed to be too loud to be in his head though… By the time that the information got to every cell of his brain, Shikamaru had jumped out of his tent, and seeing no one outside he mechanically went to inspect the "ladies" tent. No one. What the hell?..

Shikamaru looked around for Kakashi and couldn't find him. He went back to the tent to wake Choji up.

"Mmmh, whaaaaat?" the other asked half asleep.

"Wake up Choji, Ino and Sakura have left the campsite and Kakashi is nowhere to be seen!"

It didn't take the Akimichi heir much to get a grip of what was happening. Both men took their tool bag and started running.

"I can still feel Ino's chakra, they shouldn't be too far." Shikamaru said.

"Hn!"

What was it with women to always be putting themselves un trouble? Shikamaru frowned, deep in his thoughts, his calculating mind already analysing the situation. Sakura must have left to find Sasuke alone and Ino, as always, followed without thinking twice. As for Kakashi, he had to be inspecting the area, but why didn't he warn them?…

A loud scream resounded through the forest and he could clearly recognise Ino. It wasn't her way to play the damsel in distress, she always fought loudly when she was in a difficult position or alone, knowing that her teammates would directly react. The two headed towards the sound, but they quickly exchanged a worried look. Something, or someone, was coming their way. Shikamaru threw a few kunais towards the danger and Choji expanded his hand, ready to attack.

"It's me!" Kakashi yelled, avoiding Shikamaru's kunais.

The other two relaxed instantly, stopping their run to wait for the jonin. The said man landed on the branch next to them, a serious look on his face.

"Sasuke's nearby" he said. "I sensed his chakra, which means it isn't completely sealed, but he's weak. I was inspecting the area when I sensed"

The two friends looked at each other, more than concerned.

"He's alive then" Choji said.

"Ino and Sakura are missing" Shikamaru interrupted. "We went looking for them"

"I'm afraid they encountered Sasuke" Kakashi nodded. "Be on your guard, I want each one of you to protect one of the girls, we'll make out a plan further on. Let's go!"

While they were running, the earth started violently shaking. They heard sounds like trees braking followed by some very expressive cursing. The three men stopped to look at each other.

"That's got to be Sakura pissed off" stated Kakashi, half worried, half amused.

The others didn't really know what to think, so they got on their way towards the catastrophy scene. Arrived there, it was if it had been the apocalypse: the ground was upside down in a huge crater and trees were broken here and there. Sakura stood in the middle of the crater, Ino a few meters away. Shikamaru took a harsh intake of air. There stood Sasuke Uchiha, on a big intact boulder, facing the two kunoichi. His eyes were black and cold, he was dirty and had several old wounds that were only starting to heal all over his bared chest and face. "Must be the damage inflicted by the Kyubi" Shikamaru thought. The Uchiha had a single blade in his mouth, his hands ready to act. His face was as calm and icy as always, but what was that in his eyes? Warry?..

"He doesn't have enough chakra to activate his Sharingan.." said Kakashi.

The Akimichi and Nara heirs were about to jump to help in, their eyes on the enemy, when the copy ninja held out a hand before them, warning them to stop. Both of them looked up at the man in front of them, shocked.

"Wait, let's see how it goes"

Choji hissed, and Shikamaru was thinking rationally. At least that's what he thought.

"We can't let them fight him on their own!" he snapped. "Are you out of your mind? They'll get themselves killed!"

"Give them some credit, Shikamaru" Kakashi said smiling. "Besides, Sasuke's worn out as it is, and if something goes wrong, we'll jump in."

"You've got to be kidding!" replied the strategist.

Apparently not, the scare-crow haired ninja sat down on his branch, watching carefully the combat. Shikamaru looked up at Choji with a shocked expression, the other just shook his shoulders as if saying "I don't know, don't ask me". The shadow-caster decided that they were close enough to interfere if things got ugly, so he stayed put, still worried.

Sasuke disappeared from his boulder, Sakura was looking around for him when Ino jumped on her.

"Look out, Sakura!"

She pushed Sakura with all her weight at the same time Sasuke cut through the air, missing his victim by a hair. "Damn, the girl has quick reflexes!" Shikamaru thought watching his female teammate. Sasuke was back on his boulder in less than a second, but this time Sakura launched after him, fist first, smashing the massive rock into tiny peaces. "One has monstrous force" the strategist analysed, "the other is fast and agile. They form a good duo. Maybe they stand a chance?.." This battle might well be just intriguing…

Ino's POV

Sakura had just literally destroyed the huge rock Sasuke was standing on. The said enemy jumped off of it in time, landing just a few feet away from Ino. Very bad mistake. She took a peace of rock and threw it towards the black haired man. He avoided it but not noticing it's shooter was just behind. Ino attacked him with her one Kunai (thank God she thought of taking it!), Sasuke reacted fast, paring her attack with his long blade. They started a one on one armed battle. "Hn, he's already out of chakra" the blonde thought, "It's gonna be taijutsu fair and square then!" . She smirked while carefully avoiding the snake-like blade. Her mind was racing, planning precisely her every next movement in fractions of seconds, due to the effects of adrenaline and years of being in company of a strategy genious. That's when she got the perfect idea, but not fast enough though. Sasuke kicked her with bone crushing force in the gut. Ino flew a long distance before landing harshly on the ground, unconscious.

Sakura ran towards the enemy, rage radiating through her veins. She kicked in the ground near where Sasuke stood, making the earth break and huge peaces fly up. One peace, in particular, flew dangerously near the Uchiha. The traitor jumped from a platform to another to avoid being crushed. Sakura used this moment of inattention to kick his right hand, which made a very satisfying cracking noise, making him drop the blade. Sasuke jumped backwards a few times, then stopped grabbing his broken hand and panting, his eyes on the kunoichi. She picked up the blade that landed at her feet, took it in her two hands, one at each extremity, and never losing eye contact with her old crush, she broke it in two with her inhumane force. The Uchiha looked at her with fury, the other showing him an evil smirk. Sakura sprinted in direction of the village traitor, but she was unluckily slow, Sasuke disappeared. She stopped to look around, but it was too late. At the precise moment she turned around, an iron strong hand grabbed her throat and was choking her with crushing force.

"Goddamit, not again!" was the only thing she could think of. By the time that she was trying to think of something else (kicking his ass, for example?), something changed in Sasuke's eyes. His facial expression became familiar. He smirked.

"You lose, Uchiha!" was all he said.

Sakura's eyes flew wide open in realisation as his grip on her throat released slowly.

"Ino?"

Sasuke, well his body at least, took a few hesitant steps away from the kunoichi, then suddenly stopping.

"Ugh, I won't be able to keep control for long" he said through his teeth.

Every step he took looked like it needed the greatest effort in the world. He (or she, whatever) headed towards Ino's inert body, leaving behind a stunned Sakura.

"Get out of my head, bitch!" Sasuke's furious voice resounded in Ino's head. He was very strong willed, it took everything she had to not to snap out of the body at any second.

"Shut up, I'm in control" she harshly thought. "And don't think it's such a pleasure being in here, you stink!"

"I'll kill you so slowly, you will be crying and imploring my mercy!"

They eventually arrived to Ino's real, unconscious body. She ordered her puppet Sasuke body to pick up the kunai on the floor. Her hand was trembling, as Sasuke was slowly regaining control.

"The kunai is poisoned" Ino hissed through her teeth at Sakura's intent. "I-it will paralyse h-him…act quickl-ly."

That said, she cut Sasuke's elbow, the poison entering directly his system. Ino quickly composed the "release" sign and regained her own body. The kunoichi opened her eyes and saw Sasuke perched above her, his eyes burning with anger, and the kunai still in his hand. He raised it and was about to stab her. She squeezed her eyes shut, expecting pain, but it never came. The blonde girl looked up once again, and saw Sasuke Uchiha with shadow hands all over his body, immobilising him.

"Damn you!" was the only thing he could say before the poison kicked in and he fell on the ground, Shikamaru not caring to avoid him hitting the ground.

Choji appeared next to Ino, helping her to stand up. Kakashi held Sakura in her arms. The young woman was crying like she hadn't in such a long time. The Sharingan-bearer was soothing her by caressing her pink hair. Shikamaru and Choji were embarrassed by this sudden over-flow of emotions.

"He's not dead, don't cry.." the strategist timidly said to the pinkette.

"Nah" replied Ino, "Those are tears of happiness."

Her two teammates looked at each other, still not at ease. Ino laughed at their awkwardness, and embraced both them, one arm around each neck.

"Aaah, I love you, my teamies!" she said giggling.

Two days later, the team was finally home. Tsunade put Sasuke in a special prison cell and affirmed that she would take care of him personally. The Hokage intended to let Sasuke some freedom, but not until she was sure he wasn't a threat anymore.

Team 10 got together for a dinner to celebrate at their usual table, Kakashi went off doing paper business and Sakura went to visit Naruto and tell him about the mission. Ino sat next to Shikamaru and Choji in front of them. They were laughing and talking loudly. Shikamaru even treated the other to for a bottle of sake. He personally didn't like that much alcohol, but he was enjoying the good time, so he took a cup or two. Ino stopped eating very fast, leaving her unfinished plates to her cheerful chubby friend. She sat back, her hands on her belly and contemplated her friends.

"Hey guys?" she asked.

"Hn?"

"We can talk about everything, right?.." her voice trailed off.

Shikamaru looked at her with curiosity.

"What is this leading to?"

"Is there someone you fancy?" Ino sat up slightly, already into the conversation.

The other two just looked at her as if she'd grown a third eye.

"Oh come on, there must be a cute girl who's caught your eye!"

"Nah, my only love is food." Choji simply stated.

"Gah, you're boring!" the blond turned to face her other friend. "Shika?"

"Well, if there was someone" the Nara started. "I wouldn't be bragging about it, and I certainly wouldn't tell you."

Ino hissed. Why couldn't they ever talk about love stories, or exes?..

"Please, I'm sure you're in love with that woman from Suna!"

"Temari?" he snorted. "Yeah, not gonna happen."

"Why? She's kind of hot and she's obviously head-over-hills in love with you!"

"I don't need a woman!"

The blonde looked intently at the now slightly embarrassed man, who was avoiding her eyes. She stood sloppily back in the depth of her chair, completely KO by her teammates lack of romance life. A long and painful silence followed the last phrase. Ino decided to heat up things a little bit. She poured sake in the other's cups and made them drink up. They obeyed without any second thoughts. When the kunoichi felt that they were tipsy, she tried again.

"Who do you think is the hottest person of the opposite sex in the village?"

"Tsunade-sama" Choji said, humming happily. "A woman her age shouldn't be so fine, it's criminal."

"Allrighty, then" Ino giggled. "We have one preference for older women! I think the hottest person in this village is Kakashi-sensei!"

The other two looked at her, eyes wide open.

"What? The guy's sexy and he's got that masked mysterious look going on…"

Still no further reaction. Ino sighed and turned over to Shikamaru, once again. The strategist was half asleep on the table, his head reposing on his right hand, listening carefully though.

"And you, Shika?"

"I don't know, I don't really care I guess…" he shrugged.

"Okay, let me ask it this way: who's the person you think is the most sexy? Girl or boy, it doesn't matter…"

Shikamaru jumped off his seat, and was furiously looking down at his female friend. He pointed one accusative finger and almost shouted:

"I'm not GAY! Stop interpreting that I am! I think women are troublesome, but that's doesn't mean I'm into guys, got it?"

"Okay, okay!" Ino said, putting her hands slightly in the air to calm him down. "I won't ever say that again. Promise."

She patted the seat next to her, inviting him to sit back next to her. He scrutinised her, still suspicious, then gave up and sat back into his seat. Choji was now snoring, his head tilted back against the wall. The others just silently laughed at him.

"So?" Ino broke the silence.

"So, what?"

"You never answered my question!" she rolled her eyes at him.

"Oh… Well, I guess every girl in of our grade are rather good-looking.."

"Choose one!" the other pressed him, not satisfied with his answer.

"I don't know, really I-…"

"Which one is the most beautiful? It's a simple question!"

Shikamaru looked her deeply in the eyes. This action slightly embarrassed her, but didn't lower her eyes. He was analysing her, with a little smirk starting on the edge of his lips.

"You want me to say it's you."

"What?" she snorted.

"You're trying to flatter your ego. You want me to say you're the most beautiful woman in the village."

Ino didn't know what to say, as he was looking at her, his smirk getting pretty damn close to seductive. She filled her cup again and drank it in one short swallow, this action permitting her to avoid the strategist's eyes. The blonde felt like she had rocks in her stomach, and she was starting to feel dizzy, as if everything was half surreal. She then looked back up at Shikamaru, and asked in a provocative, yet serious tone:

"You don't think I'm pretty, Shika-kun?"

"Aaah, I knew it." the shadow-caster also filled his cup. "Don't get me wrong, you're much more than pretty, we both know you're beautiful, you just need to hear it from other people than yourself."

"You're getting on my nerves, Nara." Ino said, never leaving his eyes. "You're so full of yourself too, you know well that you being smart attracts easily women."

"It does?" he asked with his irresistible smirk.

"Yes, and you just love telling everyone off so you can make yourself untouchable. It's a little pathetic, really."

Shikamaru leaned closer to the woman, looking her deeply in the eyes. She didn't flinch at their sudden proximity and waited for the next move. It never came. The Nara heir just smiled devilishly.

"Pathetic. You like that word, don't you? You invented pathetic, right?"

"Hah, good one!" said the kunoichi, lifting up her cup for a cheer. "And I've taught you so well."

"Thank you, Yamanaka-sensei!" he chuckled lifting up his cup and meeting it with hers.

They sat there in silence for a moment, a slight smile still on their lips as they finished the bottle. Ino couldn't help the feeling that this was all wrong. She enjoyed talking alone with Shikamaru, and even liked it when he analysed her. That feeling, she thought, was so twisted. Choji's loud snoring got them suddenly back on earth. They both sighed, thinking they had to carry the Akimichi home. Luckily, he and Shikamaru shared a small apartment now, so there wouldn't be any fuss with the parents. Ino gathered their stuff while Shikamaru paid the check, and they went out for a very long walk, with an arm of Choji's around each neck.

Finally, drunk Team 10 arrived at the crappy building, and had affronted the dangerous and narrow staircase up to the third floor. Somehow, Shikamaru managed to open the apartment door and they were in. Arrived in Choji's room, they tried to put him gently down on the bed, but Ino slipped on something (she didn't really want to know, the room was such a mess!) and bumped into a sort of bookshelf while falling and most of it's content landed on her. Choji, atleast, made it safely on the bed. The blonde started laughing, while struggling to get out of the pile of junk and books on top of her. Shikamaru shushed her and leaned over to help her up. She clung to his neck as he used all his strength to lift her out of the mess. Ino took in a whole breather of his scent. He didn't use any cologne, but he had a very distinct smell of woods and mint, all of it mixed to that intoxicating male odour. It made her feel dizzy. The young man plunged his black eyes in her ocean blue ones. He was panting from the effort of carrying Choji and lifting up Ino, with his lips slightly apart. The kunoichi felt a sudden rush of fire running everywhere in her veins, and her stomach was weirdly aching. His hot breath on her face made her heart pound crazily. She could clearly see him swallow hard, as his adam's apple moved, which made her notice his muscular neck. "When did he get so damn attractive?" Ino thought.

Shikamaru leaned in even closer, their lips only a few inches apart. He looked at her warily, but she had already closed her eyes. He kissed her lightly, feeling the smoothness of her lips on his. He tilted his head back to watch her. Ino had a very determined and passionate expression. She grabbed him by the hem of his fishnet shirt (which made her wander, when had he taken his vest off?) and kissed him full on the mouth, a little more harshly than he did. Not that he bothered. Shikamaru let out a low growl when the girl started biting his lower lip, demanding more access, and he gave it to her. Their tongues met in a passionate dance, swirling around one another. Ino had the feeling they were losing balance, and so did the other who pushed her against the wall behind her. One of his hands went up and down her toned stomach, while he used the other as a support against the wall, right beside the head of the girl. Ino had one of hers on his perfectly sculpted chest, her fingernails digging further in the material of his shirt, and her other hand was around his neck. They finally broke apart, gasping for air, and she looked upwards, feeling really dizzy now. He didn't stop there; he started trailing down kisses on her soft neck, leaving a burning feeling on Ino's skin wherever he touched it. The blonde closed her eyes, surrendering to the feeling, and lifting one leg up and locking it around his waist as he started caressing her thigh.

"Oh no, my chips!" Choji shouted.

The other two fell back from wherever they were, in sudden realisation of the situation: they were in Choji's room (Choji being asleep and shouting about food in his dreams) and they were making out shamelessly, in a pile of junk. Shikamaru took a step backwards, heavily panting. Ino was also trying to catch her breath, her hand on her heart. It was still racing. She felt cold now, without the comforting heat naturally radiating from Shikamaru on her skin. The kunoichi looked up at the said man, who looked just as shocked as her. They stood there for a very long time, just staring at each other. Finally, Shikamaru composed his face, looking serious now, and spoke in a low tone.

"I'll take the couch in the living-room. You'll sleep in my room tonight."

That last sentence would have driven any girl crazy with desire, if it weren't for the fact that the guy was actually not going to be in the room. Ino simply nodded and headed to the room nearby and, not bothering to take her clothes off, jumped in the bed, her thoughts still lingering on what had just happened.

So, did ya like it? :D I didn't have that much trouble writing the kissing scene, since Ino X Shika is simply an epic couple x) Please, please, please review, it's always reassuring to know that there are people actually reading the crap I write ^^

Peace,

DarkDream93