Oh, what is this? Is it Chapter 5? It is, it is Chapter 5! x) Excuse my enthusiasm, I tried to control it but it was useless: it's just a wild, untamed beast. Back to serious business now: I was in the mood of updating, so here it is! :D This is a slightly shorter chapter where you get to see the impressions of Ino and Shikamaru about what happened (and other stuff, of course), I hope you won't be disappointed :3

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto... so life sucks, didn't you already know that? :p

Chapter 5: All the right moves

Shikamaru's POV:

He caressed her toned stomach down to her belly button, all the while she was trailing light but burning kisses on the side of his neck. He moaned at the feeling and could feel her smirking on his collarbone. The softness of her skin under his rough and strong hands gave him an electric jolt in every nerve of his body. The smell of her hair was intoxicating and everything was spinning around them, around her. She was the centre of everything in that right moment, she was the only real thing. Their bodies were burning, almost numb with the almost unhealthy passion. A pair of blue eyes with a mixture of determination and burning desire looked in his chocolate brown ones. It seemed they could have melted together, in a perfect replica of one another. Her soft lips landed once again on his, clearing out every thought in his head…

Shikamaru woke up hastily. He looked around in the room, feeling slightly disoriented. "My room.." the young man thought, reality catching slowly up to him. Laying back down on his pillow, one hand went up to his forehead and started massaging it. A light headache had followed him for about two days now, since Team 10 had returned to Konoha. The Nara started thinking about his coming missions and the assignment Tsunade had given him the day before. He had to go to Suna and escort Temari to Konoha to organise the Chuunin exam. This year, as every year since Naruto and his friends had passed the exam themselves, Konoha and Suna were working together for their rookies. Shikamaru felt his heart jump slightly at the thought of meeting Temari again. He had always had this little crush on her, even though the Sand woman was troublesome, and to many people, cold-hearted. There was something about her slight tomboy style that caught the shadow-caster's eye . Of course, he never mentioned this to anyone, because everyone was already making enough fun of him for sticking with her so much. Temari was very much like the woman Shikamaru had imagined to live with later on, even if marriage wasn't his dearest dream. A wife that could push him from time to time (very much to everyone's astonishment, he was aware of his almost sick laziness) but who would be selfish enough not to bother him too much.

The young man slapped himself on the face with both hands. He sounded like one of those teenage girls who plan out their future husband and life. Pathetic. The strategist's thoughts continued to wonder in the direction they had started. His mind was set on the eyes of the older woman, and wondered to her pronounced cheekbones and her sand-coloured hair. A parasite image of strawberry flavoured blonde hair, longer than those of Temari flashed in front of his eyes. Another pair of eyes, burning blue, looked down on him in his imagination, although this image was much more vivid than those that he had of the sand girl.

"Ino…" Shikamaru's voice sounded in his head. The young man still wasn't sure what had happened that night in the locker room. Well, he knew what had happened (it would be rather difficult not to) but he didn't understand that sudden need they both had to be so close. The Nara's cheeks reddened as he was remembering every detail, every touch, every kiss… Ino was his first, and it bothered him. She was an attractive, smart young woman, but she was also one of her best friends. Shikamaru could never have thought this could happen, they were almost like brother and sister, for crying out loud!

The strategist got out of his bed and went to the kitchen to have a quiet breakfast (Choji was still sound asleep). This was one of the best things in living in your own apartment: not having a nagging mother at 7:00 in the morning , already waiting to assault you when you only got out of bed, well it was more than a relief. Shikamaru slowly chew on his cereals, wondering how he would act around Ino next time he saw her. He pushed that thought to the side and went to the bathroom to get ready for a long and boring day.

Right in front of the mirror, he stopped every movement. Red marks were trailing down on the right side of the young man's neck. His fingers lightly brushed down on them, they were slightly stinging, but not painful. So much of not thinking about Ino, he had hickeys down to his collarbone!

Walking slowly through the crowded streets of Konoha, Shikamaru yawned ever so discreetly.

"Hey Shika!" a familiar voice called after him.

The said ninja turned around to look at his disturbance. Naruto was running like a five year old, with Kiba following right behind on Akamaru's back.

"Hn?" not caring to hide his annoyance.

"Where were you last night? We lost you after the hot springs!" Naruto frowned, but his eyes were bright as always.

"Ah, I went home, I was dead. Went straight to bed." the strategist shrugged.

"Nah, you're lying!" Kiba interrupted, sniffing the air around them. "You smell weird. I bet you did some nasty stuff, didn't you?"

Shikamaru's eyes slightly narrowed and he concentrated hard on not blushing like a little girl. It was Naruto who spoke first.

"What kind of nasty stuff? Like watching through the ladies in the hot springs all night?" he sounded almost as if he had been betrayed.

"Nope, he did way nastier than that, didn't you, Nara?" the dog-boy smirked evilly.

"It's none of your business, and I have to go. Find yourselves some other occupation than stalking people. Like, get yourselves a life, huh?" and the strategist turned on his heels, but he could clearly hear Kiba whispering something to the blonde boy. Damn it, the next day, the whole male population of Konoha would know about it, those two were the guys versions of gossip.

Arrived at the Hokage's office, the shadow-caster knocked once as he always did and waited for an answer before entering the big round room. Tsunade was sitting at her desk, reading a report and Shizune was looking out the window with her arms folded.

"Ah, there you are Shikamaru.." the 5th said looking up at the young man.

Shikamaru nodded once, waiting for the orders with his usual bored expression on his face.

"As you know, I have been analysing Sasuke since you successfully brought him home" the busty woman continued, "And I'm starting to think he isn't a threat to us anymore. I've put another seal to fortify the one that the Kyubi had put in place, so he will have the chakra necessary to survive, but he will never combat again. In a week or so (after doing some intense therapeutic curing with me) I intend to free him to give him a chance to blend back into society."

"I don't think that's a good idea…" Shikamaru started but was interrupted by the Hokage as she lifted her hand up to silence him.

"I'm not asking for your opinion, young Nara. Let me finish! I've given this a lot of thought, and I don't think that keeping Sasuke locked up in prison is the solution. Plus, it's unfair to Naruto and Sakura. In about ten days, I will free him, and I need always at least one person to be checking on him constantly. I charge you, Sakura, Naruto, Kakashi, Choji and Ino to keep an eye on him. You were the ones who brought him home, consider this part of your mission."

"And for how long must we "keep an eye on him"?"

"For a few months, and each of you will write me a report on his behaviour. I think you should "share the load" and guard him on day each in a sort of cycle. Although you will be leaving in a week for Suna and will stay there for two weeks, you won't have the pleasure of being in the presence of Sasuke for a while…" The Hokage smirked mockingly.

"I'll be staying there for two weeks? You said three days…" the Nara frowned.

"There has been a change of plans, they need your help there apparently." Tsunade looked back down at her paper work and handed a pile to Shizune. "You may go now."

Shikamaru left the office, still thinking about what had been said. He left the tower and was now wondering what would he be doing for the next week, apparently all his other minor missions would be cancelled so he could get properly prepared for his stay at Suna. The young man heard quick footsteps coming his way, and just when he looked up, someone smashed into him and before he could notice, he was on the floor, blinded by a cascade of blonde hair that smelled like strawberries.

"Oh, I'm so sorry.." started Ino, then looking down at the poor wanderer and recognised him. "Shika! I didn't see you there!"

"So it seems…" the other managed to say, a little out of breath.

Ino got up and helped Shikamaru stand up also by pulling his arms. She rearranged her clothing and her hair then flashed him a dazzling smile.

"So, how's it going?"

The shadow-caster lofted one eyebrow at her. How could she be so damn relaxed and un-awkward?

"Fine, I guess. Did Tsunade tell you about Sasuke?"

"No, I'm supposed to meet her this afternoon. Why, is there something wrong?"

"Nah, she's thinking about letting him free under our watch."

Ino's delicate eyebrows pushed together, showing her concern.

"That's stupid, he would only want to destroy everything all over again."

"My thoughts exactly. But she's the Hokage, I suppose she knows what she's doing.." Shikamaru shrugged.

"Suppose" Ino repeated, chuckling. "Hey, how about grabbing some ramen? I'm starving."

"Yeah sure"

They walked together down the main street in Konoha. Shikamaru looked down at Ino's hand. It was small and delicate, he moved his own hand toward it to feel her softness. Suddenly aware of what he was about to do, he repressed the urge to take her hand. "God, what am I thinking?". The Nara shook his head as if to forget a bad thought and continued to walk, falling behind by a foot. "Oh no, not good!" he thought when he realised the angle of view he had on his friend at that moment. Shikamaru watched her back, hypnotised by the movements of her pronounced shoulder blades, the swaying of her long ponytail. The young man started remembering the way it felt to have his arms around her thin waist, and the way her hips rolled when she walked brought back other peculiar memories. He started blushing and decided to walk a bit faster, getting right next to her where he was sure he couldn't watch discreetly. The blonde looked up at him and gave him that bright Ino-smile. Shikamaru smiled back and she started walking enthusiastically.

"So, you're leaving on a mission soon, huh?"

"Yeah, they need my help at Suna and I've got to escort Temari to Konoha."

"Wow, that sucks.." she looked with a disappointed grimace at her friend who raised an eyebrow questioningly. "You're gonna play the bodyguard, you have to actually follow someone around and pay attention and stuff…"

"So?"

"Oh come on, Shika, we both know what you're like!" she smiled.

"I don't know what you're talking about, I love having tons of work and live like a robot!"

They both laughed and Ino gave him a slight pat on the arm. It was so easy, their friendship was quite unique. The shadow-caster continued looking at her blonde friend for a while, still smiling. "We should always stay like this" he thought.

The two ninja arrived to Ichiraku's and ordered two bowls of ramen. They laughed all the while they remembered old mission memories: the way Ino cried when they were at the chuunin exam in the forest because she met a huge bug; Choji who stuffed his face as soon as he had recovered from the "bringing-back-Sasuke" mission and was quite thin at the time; the way they both were always nagging about Shikamaru's smoking. It felt good to be acting like regular teenagers, two friends eating and talking about the past. The Nara often mourned about the childhood they had left too soon. He sighed and pushed the empty bowl in front of him and spoke:

"I think I wouldn't ever have wanted a team even in the slightest bit different from what it is now and has always been."

"Yeah, awesome Team 10…" Ino smiled. "We've always had such a good bond, we didn't have to pass through all that "learn to trust" phase like the other teams."

"Yep, and every other team was so jealous of our teamwork!"

They laughed again, then sat there in silence, lost in thought. Ino started scratching the edge of the table. Shikamaru looked up at her: she was biting her lower lip. "Uh-oh, she's nervous.."

"Shikamaru, about last night…" she started.

The young man swallowed slowly. "Okay, here it comes…"

"I am really, truly sorry.." Ino managed to say, not getting her eyes off the table. "I didn't mean for it to happen, I didn't mean for it to happen with you.."

The blonde looked up at the hurt Shikamaru, then her eyes narrowed in realisation.

"Oh, no, I didn't mean it like that! It's just that I've known you for so long, I never thought…"

"I get it, you don't want this to get in the way of our friendship, right?" the Nara interrupted on a natural tone. "That's exactly what I think, we've been friends for so long, it was stupid and it won't happen again."

He smiled at her but she looked at him, startled. Shikamaru was starting to think he said something wrong.

"Yeah, okay" she finally broke the silence. "But don't you think…"

"What?"

"Nah, it's stupid, forget it."

"No, tell me!" the young man insisted.

Ino looked like she was thinking it through before she spoke again:

"I believe everything happens for a reason.."

"So what are you saying? That we had sex and it should make us suddenly lovers? Just like that, out of the blue?" he laughed.

"That's not what I was saying, you're just being a jerk about it!"

The kunoichi started to gather her thing in her tiny handbag, clearly hurt. Shikamaru sighed an took hold of her wrist, stopping her in her movements.

"Okay, I'm sorry Ino. But I don't understand, what did you expect?"

"I didn't expect anything, I just thought that if it happened with you of all persons…"

Her sentence trailed off as she looked him in the eye. The strategist frowned. What was she saying? That it meant something to her? That she wanted it to be more? He shook slowly his head, then looked back into her eyes.

"Ino, we've always been good friends, what happened last night doesn't change a thing. Don't get all disturbed by it, it's already forgotten."

The blonde looked at him with disbelief written all over her face, than she composed her expression, smiled and shook her head.

"Of course it doesn't change a thing"

Shikamaru wasn't all that satisfied with the end of the conversation, but he guessed it was the furthest he would get. Women get all pissed off if you don't understand everything they say in one sentence, so best not risk pushing it. They got up from the table and went out the restaurant. The two ninja stopped there, each going to opposite directions.

"Well, bye." Shikamaru said, a little embarrassed .

"Yeah, have a safe walk home" Ino turned her back at him without a second look.

Shikamaru looked at her walking away for a while before continuing his road. God, things could get troublesome around girls and touchy-feely moments.

Ino's POV.

The young Yamanaka walked out the Hokage's office and closed gently the door. Great, she would be baby-sitting Sasuke while Shikamaru was off with that sand witch, playing superman in Suna. Ino sighed and left the tower and started walking slowly home. She then thought she could use some girl-on-girl time and turned right at the next crossroads towards her best friend's house.

The blonde decided to have a little sprint, it only took 5 minutes to Sakura's apartment. She started running at a comfortable pace. The memories of the passed afternoon appeared in her thoughts. The way Shikamaru had laughed at her when she had suggested they could take it further than friendship, the way he looked at her with amused shock as if what she said was so naïve… Ino started to feel the adrenaline push in her veins and sprinted even faster as the thoughts got her enraged. A kid on her way was shoved away and started crying, but the running blonde didn't care at the moment. The kunoichi finally slowed her pace as her more rational side took over in her head. What did she suggest to Shikamaru earlier? That they should start dating, become lovers?

Ino stopped right where she was. "Why should it mean something to me?" she thought. "I often sleep with men without a second though. Besides, it was his first time, not mine.." Was it the fact that this time it was someone she knew so well, someone she respected?

"It's not worth ruining our friendship for a relationship that would last so little time!" Ino clenched her fists, angry with herself for having such futile thoughts about someone she cared for so much. She wouldn't ruin everything just for some stupid need of romance.

The blonde approached the old tree in front of Sakura's room and started climbing. Yeah, those two never used doors, they preferred pissing each other off by just popping through the window at the most unexpected time. Ino lifted herself with her arm on the largest branch that led directly to the pinkette's room. She almost fell off the tree when she noticed she wasn't alone. The blonde squealed, losing her balance, grabbing a smaller branch just in time.

"Kakashi-sensei?" she screamed when she recognised the Sharingan-bearer crouching on the big branch, facing Sakura's window.

The older ninja turned over and scratched his head awkwardly, smiling to try to hide his embarrassment. Sakura was sitting on her bed, reading some old book. She seemed completely unaware of her stalker.

"Oh, hey there, Ino" Kakashi tried to sound natural. Well, as natural as you can be when caught watching your younger student from a tree.

"Um, I don't know what you're doing, sensei, but I'm pretty sure you can get arrested for this. By the way, shouldn't I call the cops?.."

"No, no, that won't be necessary, I was just watching over her. With all this Sasuke story, I was worrying for about her, so I, er, was making sure she was alright."

"Uh-huh…"

Kakashi feigned to notice the time it was and took off.

"Well, goodbye Ino, have a pleasant evening!"

"Yeah yeah…" she smirked at him and made sure he was well off before knocking on her friend's window.

"Hi there, pig!" Sakura greeted her, opening the window.

"Hey billboard-brow, did you know that you have your own, personal stalker?" Ino asked sitting down on her friend's bed and grabbing a pillow in her arms.

"Oh, Kakashi sensei? Yes, he's outside my window every evening 'checking on me'. It's kind of cute."

"It's kind of creepy."

"Anyway, why are you here?"

Ino sighed and rolled on her back, ready to storm out all that happened and her thoughts about it.

"It sucks that you have to leave. Again." Ino pouted.

Shikamaru sighed, putting in an extra sleeping-bag in his huge rucksack. Ino was sitting on his bed, reading his written mission assignment with her legs crossed and her back on a big pillow.

"What do you mean by 'again", Ino? I haven't been on a mission since we brought Sasuke back…"

"No, I mean, they always send you for the stupidest assignments in Suna. Don't they have any qualified ninja there?"

"They have had heavy losses during the war."

"So did we."

"I'm the one organizing the chuunin exams, it's normal that they send me."

"Yeah, but a three days trip on your own? That's insane. And all this for what? So you can escort their precious princess so she won't get into any trouble on her way to Konoha? And who will escort you on your way there? These people don't think…"

The strategist sighed again and gave the blonde his best bored expression. She rolled her eyes and gave up. After all, arguing on the day of his departure was probably not on the top of his "to do" list.

Ino got up from the bed and headed towards her bag and took out a small medical box and put it on top of the rucksack. Shikamaru stopped in his movement of putting in some socks, and looked at her questioningly.

"It's a little medical equipment, you have everything in it: bandages, ointments…Take care of yourself, don't be reckless!"

"Okay, I will. You never gave me this much attention before a mission.."

"Well, you never left for two weeks alone to Suna."

"Thank you."

"You're welcome, lazy ass."

Shikamaru took the box and smacked it playfully on the girl's smaller back. She started giggling in her high pinched voice as she sat back on the bed. The Nara continued smiling while he finished packing. He and Ino have become closer since that night, but without the awkwardness they both expected.

Choji entered the room with a huge bag of chips in his arms, as if it was the dearest thing on earth. He handed it to Shikamaru who raised his eyebrows.

"I couldn't help but overhear your conversation, and I decided to give you something too. You know, so you won't die of hunger on your way there."

"Thanks Choji, but you really don't have to, these are beef flavored ones, I know how much you love them…"

"Well, let's say that I love you more than my chips" Choji said, looking away, embarrassed.

"Come here." Shikamaru put the chips on top of his bag and gave his chubby friend a bear hug.

"Aww, you guys…" Ino squealed, dying of their cuteness.

The shadow-caster grabbed her arm and brought her in the hug too, she was now stuck between her two friends who had both one arm over her shoulders. Ino started giggling after a few moments. Shikamaru groaned than chuckled too. Choji was the only one to stay serious.

"Hey, don't ruin the quality team-bonding time!" and he started laughing too.

At about 6:00pm that afternoon, a small group stood in front of the Konoha gate. Shikamaru stood there, facing his goodbye committee. His parents were there, as was his team and what was left of team 7: Kakashi, Naruto and Sakura. Ino looked at him with silent sadness catching up on her, she swallowed the lump in her throat and broke the silence.

"Be careful, don't fall asleep just anywhere because you're too bored to move on! And don't forget to drink every now and then, you have to hydrate, …"

Shikamaru approached her with usual amused smirk and took her in his arms, interrupting her sermon. She gave up, even if she had prepared a speech for days now. The blonde threw her arms around his neck, not caring that the whole group was now watching them.

"I'm a big boy, I can take care of myself, believe it or not" he chuckled in her ear.

"Yeah, I know…" she closed her eyes, taking fully in the moment, and felt her heart racing strangely. The young man placed a light kiss right underneath her ear and squeezed her gently in his arms then started to loosen them. Ino didn't want to let go, she didn't want him to go away for so long, even if this wasn't his first long type mission.

"I'll miss you.." she whispered low enough so he was the only one who could hear it, then let her arms fall sloppily to her sides.

"I know" was the only thing Shikamaru said, without a second look, he turned on his heels and left the village.

The group of ninja stood there silently for a moment before Sakura took a few steps towards her best friend, ready to tease her.

"Well that was kinda…" but was interrupted by Ino who put her hand on the pinkette's mouth to silence her.

"Shut up, don't ruin the moment." And she continued looking towards where Shikamaru had disappeared, with an empty feeling in her gut.

Ha, I put in a very bad joke about Temari, did you notice: "sand witch"? XD However, I promise not to be "disrespectful" of her character, because even if she's not my favourite, I believe every character has an important part to play in a story and that they deserve not to be denigrated. Wow, now that was deep. O_o'

Not to get all Oscar speech-ish, but I would like to give a huge, affective and grateful "THANK YOU!" to all my loyal readers and for the reviews. I would never have imagined that so many people would read my very first story and be so supportive! I love all the flattering kind of reviews, it gives me confidence, and I always welcome productive criticism from which I learn to improve my writing. Please continue!

Thank you again,

DarkDream93