Chapter 8: Check! Let's take a look into Shikamaru's tormented mind, shall we? I think this was the chapter I had the most fun writing, hopefully you'll enjoy it just as much.

Disclaimer: same old, same old... don't own Naruto.

Chapter 8 : Take a bow

Shikamaru's POV:

Walking through the streets of Konoha, Shikamaru's mind was spinning at a hundred miles per hours. What was that, just then? Why did Ino behave like that? He closed his eyes, remembering the burning look in her eyes right before she kissed him, the desperation in the move of her lips… The young Nara surprised himself thinking of the softness of those cherry coloured lips, then slapped himself mentally. He fidgeted with his keys, finally opening the apartment door. Temari was sitting in his bed, with only a shirt of his on her, her bared legs stretched in a sensual way.

"It took you long enough!" she said, smirking. "Your chubby friend bored the hell out of me, so I said I went to sleep. I don't know how do you spend your days with him…"

"Don't talk about Choji like that!" he interrupted her as she was laughing.

"I take it didn't go too well with that blondie of yours…"

"Ino" he corrected. "You could at least try to respect my friends, Temari!"

"I only show respect to those who respect me. Your friends are no exception."

"Yeah, well what is respect for you, huh? People being scared of you and obeying your every order? Fear hardly leads to respect, Temari!"

"It's not me you're angry with."

The older woman looked at him intently, Shikamaru sighed and taking his vest off, he sat on the edge of the bed. The dark blonde sat behind him and put her arms around his chest, kissing the back of his neck.

"Why do you keep going to see that Ino if she only makes you unhappy?"

The Nara thought of that comment for a moment. Unhappy. Was he happy? He wasn't even sure what "happy" meant anymore. He tried to concentrate on what the woman behind him was saying.

"…and we'll move to Suna where you won't be bothered with all this nonsense."

"Excuse me?"

"Well, I gave it a little thought, and I think you should move in with me at Suna! I hate the wet weather here, and there won't be any disturbances anymore there, just you and me.."

"Are you calling my friends "disturbances"?" Shikamaru hissed above his shoulder.

"What now, Shikamaru? I'm the one trying to find a right truce for us to be happy, and you keep getting angry at everything I say!"

"You're right, I'm sorry."

The strategist got up, took off his pants and his fishnet shirt and put on just a pair of shorts. He lay himself on the bed and crossed his arms behind his head, closing his eyes. Temari wasn't apparently in the mood of sleeping as she crawled across the bed and straddled his hips, gently caressing his chest.

"Shikamaru, are you going to go to sleep so soon?"

"It's been a long day, Temari. Some other time, sorry."

It's not that he was so tired, but Shikamaru felt really bad at the thought of making love to Temari, thinking about Ino all the time. The older woman got off of his lap, groaning. The young man laid on his side and tried to fall asleep quickly.

The next morning he got up early, ready to go at the meeting with the village's jonin. He quickly got dressed and left a sleeping Temari behind. When he arrived to the meeting room, he was surprised to see more people than expected. Around the table sat the very few jonin that persisted, and behind them stood also his grade chuunin. Naruto, Sakura, Kiba, Neji, Hinata all smiled at a stunned Shikamaru. And Ino. The blonde beauty stood there, looking over a paper report, surrounded by their friends, all wearing their chuunin vests.

"What's up? What are you all doing here?" Shikamaru asked, still confused.

"Well," Sakura spoke up with her bright smile. "Ino told us you needed some help for the exam, so she asked all of us to come, and we're not very numerous, but we're the ones who made it!"

The strategist looked over at Ino who was still looking down at the report. He didn't know what to say.

"I…It's…well, thank you all, but are you sure you've got the time?"

"I'm bored out of my brains, and I'm dying for some action!" Naruto shouted enthusiastically.

"I don't mind bullying some rookies for a change." Kiba chuckled.

"W-we are glad to help you out Shikamaru-san." Hinata shyly said.

"We even got Kakashi-sensei to participate!" Naruto added.

The copy-ninja walked out of his corner and stood next to Sakura, who exchanged an embarrassed smile with Ino.

"So, let's get down to business. Shikamaru?" Kakashi offered.

"Ah yes, so we've been having some trouble sharing the different tasks, but we're more than enough now, I think."

He was interrupted by someone opening harshly the door. Temari came in, out of breath and clearly furious.

"I'm sorry I'm late!" she came to face the table and whispered harshly to her boyfriend's intent. "Why didn't you wake me? What is wrong with you!"

"I thought you could take care of yourself! We'll discuss this later, you're already late, you know!"

The sand woman gave him a murderous look but he faced the small assembly in front of him, and they all had a twisted grin. "Okay, so they heard everything" he thought. "Great!"

"Can we please put the lovey-dovey nagging to the side and focus on our job?" Anko ordered more than she asked.

The strategist nodded once and took a quick look at Ino. She had this nasty, satisfied grin on her face as she looked back at him. Not showing any emotion, Shikamaru started gathering the genin's name lists, but inside he was boiling. "She's enjoying our public humiliation! Or maybe she likes Temari getting mad at me?"

A few hours later, deliberating on the tasks, the group of ninja came to an accord regarding the different challenges.

"For the written exam, I propose Ino!" Sakura raised her hand.

"What?" Ino looked at her with round eyes.

"Well, since Ibiki is gone, I think we should use someone of the same cut." The pinkette smiled at her own brilliance.

"Since when I'm like Ibiki?" the blonde sounded frustrated.

"No, she's actually right!" Anko interfered. "You've done spying and interrogating on missions, haven't you?"

"Well, yes, but I hardly see…"

"It makes sense to pick someone of the Yamanaka family." Kakashi nodded.

"I don't think I'm capable of…"

"What do you think, Shikamaru?" Sakura interrupted the other kunoichi.

"I think it's a good idea, Sakura! Ino's very good at spying, analysing the students during the exam should be a piece of cake for her!"

"And we'd have the two Hyûga as the jury team, and also Sakura and Kakashi!" Anko added.

"Hey, isn't that a bit harsh for the jury?" Kiba asked, scratching his head. "I mean, have a braniac, a sharingan bearer and two pairs of byakugan? Poor kids…"

"They sure got large shoes to fill in…" Naruto commented.

Every ninja sat in silence around the table, remembering their personal experience during the exam. They sat in the conference room for about half an hour, then Shikamaru decided to dismiss his friends and coworkers . They had gotten much further in little time with the help of the new participants.

Everyone started leaving, Shikamaru waited for Ino to walk out of the room too.

"Hey, thanks." He said avoiding her eyes.

"You're welcome, Shikamaru."

"So, where are you going now?"

"I'm heading to the interrogation department, there's a few things I need to discuss there."

"Oh, okay. Don't worry, you'll do great supervising the written exam."

"I know, I'm the best!" she stuck her tongue out childishly at him before turning around the corner.

Shikamaru watched her walk away, still smiling. He was startled by Temari's voice right next to him.

"You two seem to be going along pretty fine." She crossed her arms and raised her eyebrows at him. "May I ask what is your problem? You come home last night, and you start getting angry at me for no reason, this morning you don't wake me up on purpose…"

"I didn't do that on purpose, I seriously thought you would be able to get up by yourself."

"Oh, of course. Are you happy, humiliating me in front of every important ninja in your village? I'm trying to understand you, Shikamaru, but honestly…"

"Temari, believe it or not, everyone isn't out there to stab you! Everything isn't about you!"

The sand woman looked at him, frowning and breathing heavily.

"So who is it about? That blonde slut?"

"Ino's not a slut! And could you for one second think that sometimes I think of my job only, and occasionally of myself?"

"Oh, please! You're always thinking of yourself, Nara! You never make an effort, it's like I'm living this relationship all by my self!"

"Well, maybe you're meant to live alone, woman!" Shikamaru shouted, tired by her useless excuses and plaints.

Temari looked a him, a little sadness lighting her dark green eyes.

"You don't mean that…"

"Maybe I don't, I just need some time alone…"

She nodded then turned slowly away. Shikamaru sighed and closed his eyes.

"That didn't go very well, if I do say so myself." Kakashi's voice sounded from behind.

The Nara sighed again, keeping his eyes shut. "Will I ever have peace?"

"Can I help you with something, Kakashi-sensei?"

"No, but maybe I can help you, Shikamaru."

"How's that?" He finally opened his eyes and looked at the older ninja in front of him now.

"I've noticed you've got "ladies" problems. Two of them."

"No, I've got one "ladies problem" and one very annoying and confusing female "teammate problem"."

"Ah, I've been your age too Shikamaru. I know you don't always think of one woman at a time. Maybe I can give you some advice, hm?" the copy-ninja kindly smiled.

"You sound really old when you say stuff like that. But what the hell, give it a shot."

"You're involved with Temari, yes?"

"Yep, lucky me."

"And you're confused by Ino, who's your friend of forever and teammate, correct?"

"Good things keep on happening to me."

"You need to listen to your women, Shikamaru. I know it can be very boring, and you can think it's a waste of time, but with some exercise, you get used to it."

"Wow, that's your advice? You really are old, Kakashi-sensei."

"I may not be sixteen anymore, but I've recently re-discovered what it meant to be in a relationship, and…"

"With Sakura? Don't try and be all mysterious about it, the whole village knows."

The silver-haired man's one eye popped open in disbelief.

"Ino." Shikamaru justified. They both nodded. Women just can't keep their mouths shut.

"So, as I was saying," Kakashi continued, clearing his throat. "You might imagine that a woman like Sakura isn't easy to handle. You know how I survive?"

"I can't imagine."

"I listen to her when she's troubled (which happens very often!) and I console her. What women really need, is someone to be there and listen to them and bring them comfort."

"With all due respect, sensei, what use do I get out of that advice? I'm still stuck between two troublesome women…"

"Think of it this way: which one are you more willing to listen to?"

Kakashi took out his book and walked away, satisfied with his philosophical advice. Shikamaru stood there, chewing on what the elder ninja just said. "Hm, maybe it's not so stupid after all" he thought "Well, coming from a twisted pervert, anyway." And he walked off too.

Shikamaru looked up at the sky. Clouds were moving slowly with the wind. He once again wished he could be among them, free and quietly following the wind's course. Picking out a cigarette of his back pocket, he was about to light it when someone called him from somewhere in the crowded street.

"Yo, Shikamaru! Wait up!"

The said ninja turned around and was almost not surprised at all to see Naruto running towards him.

"We're having a guys night up at the Inuzuka's tonight, will you come?" the blonde flashed him one of his hugest smiles.

"Um… Dunno, I've got some paper work to finish up…"

"Oh come on, it can wait! And you really need to get some male company!"

"Huh? What are you…"

"I ran into Kakashi earlier and he said you had your hands full with girls, and Kiba proposed a little guys party at his place, so I think it's your place to be."

The Uzumaki boy eyed his friend for a moment, questioningly. Shikamaru sighed then gave in.

"I guess some quality boys time can't hurt."

"Although, the last time we had a guys night out I ended up screwing my troublesome teammate…" he thought frowning slightly.

"Great! Bring some beers then!"

"Yeah yeah…"

The strategist headed towards his apartment, but then he figured he'd rather not talk to Temari that soon after their conflict. Before he even knew where he would spend the rest of his day, his feet led him to his parent's house. He passed the thin door and entered his childhood mansion. Shikamaru looked around, looking for his father, instead he heard humming nearby. His mother was washing the dishes in the kitchen.

"Shikaku, is that you?"

"It's me, mom."

"Shikamaru?" the woman dropped the dish she had in her hands and jumped on her son, embracing him warmly. "I didn't know you came back to Konoha! I've missed you!"

Shikamaru put his arms around his mother's back, a little startled by her showing emotions like this. They let go of each other and Yoshino kept his face in her hands and admired her son for a bit then turned back to her work.

"How did it go?"

"Yeah, good." The young man sat down at the table behind her.

"Have you met interesting people there? Your father says the Sunagakure aren't the nicest people out there…"

"They're okay, I guess…" he bit his lips, then added. "I'm dating one, at least…"

Yoshino dropped the dish again and turned around, her face a bit red. Shikamaru sat back into his chair, already waiting a nagging assault. Instead, his mother smiled and looked excited.

"You have a girlfriend, Shikamaru? You have to come and present her to us when your father gets home from his mission in a few days! What's her name?"

"It's Temari."

The smile disappeared as fast as it came. The middle-aged woman was still red but not of happiness anymore.

"That cold-hearted princess of the desert? Shikamaru, what are you thinking?"

"You don't know her, mom…"

"I know her reputation, and even your father dislikes her! I was ready to accept a girlfriend from Suna, but not her! God, Shikamaru why can't you choose a decent Konoha woman?"

"Oh, whatever, I don't know why I even told you…" Shikamaru rolled his eyes.

Yoshino took a deep breath and turned back to her task. The young man could see she was still tense but she was trying very hard not to get angry anymore.

"I don't like you dating her. They say she's the must unmerciful kunoichi there is. I don't want you to get hurt…"

"I'm a big boy, I can take care of myself. Plus, it's not a woman who's going to hurt me." he snorted.

"What do your teammates have got to say about this?"

"You know Choji, he supports me in whatever I do…"

"I can imagine, it's what Ino says that I'm interested in."

"Well, I guess she reacted a lot like you…" he started and then thought "Which is a bit scary…".

"I see…"

"Why do you want to know what Ino said so much?"

"I don't know, I've always had a fantasy that you and her would get married. She's a good girl with a great attitude and a big heart, she's from a respectful family… I'd say Ino's very much what every mother wishes for their only son. Someone to take care of your lazy self." Yoshino giggled.

Shikamaru couldn't help but to smile at her mother's childish dreams.

" Yeah, Ino's pretty amazing…"

His mother turned around and looked at him with a serious glare.

"Then why don't you ask her out, for crying out loud!"

"Because I'm involved, do you understand that?"

"Raaah, you're hopeless!"

The strategist rolled his eyes and got up, ready to leave. When he was about to open the door, Yoshino's voice called calmly from behind him.

"Come and visit me more often, Shikamaru. I've really missed you."

The Nara boy sighed, then opened the door.

"I will, mom."

"BRAAAAH! Beer's up, guys!" Kiba shouted when he put a whole pack on the table. They were five in the Inuzuka house's garden. Shikamaru, Naruto, Neji and Choji all took a bottle of beer in hand. The house wasn't big, but it had a huge garden that led to the forest. They had a fire going on and Choji was grilling beef.

"Life is so sad, I've never really noticed it…" Naruto said with his head on the garden table.

"I never knew you could be a pessimist." Neji laughed.

"You need to get laid, man!" Kiba chuckled.

"You're not getting laid either, Inuzuka!" the Hyûuga heir laughed.

"Shut up!"

There was an awkward silence and Kiba took the chance to talk to Shikamaru.

"So, how's it going with your sand hottie?"

"Good."

"That's all?"

"Yep."

"Kiba's trying to get details out of you." Neji informed the strategist.

"Oh, I know. And he's not getting any." Shikamaru laughed. "So what about you, Neji? With Tenten? Not that I care, but since we started…"

"She's constantly on missions and I don't really know where we are in our relationship. I'm getting tired of waiting faithfully around for her…"

"Wow, you really are like a girl!" Kiba laughed.

The Hyûuga shot him a deadly glare, then ignored him. Choji sighed next, happy with his faithful love: meat. The others just laughed then drank silently their beers. Shikamaru thought about his situation for a second. He was with his friends, so he decided to act spontaneously.

"I had sex with Ino at the hot springs."

The four ninja in front of him dropped their mouths and looked at him like fried birds.

"Now I'm dating Temari," he continued, sipping from his bottle from time to time. "and I don't know what to do about this whole situation. And Ino's acting oddly."

"Do you have feelings for Ino?" Neji was the first to talk.

"I don't know. She's been acting all jealous around Temari, and it's kind of cute. But I really don't know what to think. It's really not going that well between Temari and me, also.."

"I think Ino's just worrying for you, like she always does." Choji stated, turning back to his grill.

"According to Sakura-chan, there's a lot more going on in Ino's head." Naruto added, suddenly rising his head from the table.

"Maybe she's just afraid to lose you like a friend. You know, you getting all touchy-feely around your girlfriend and leaving her behind…" Kiba shrugged.

"Yeah, maybe…"

"I think she's in love with you! You should pick her, she would be a brilliant nagging wife and mom!" the Uzumaki looked at the strategist with a very serious look.

"Let's think rationally," Shikamaru sat down at the table. " IF I stay with Temari, we will be at each others throats all the time, and I'll be coming home to a ferocious but stable woman. IF I choose to go with Ino, it would be fun, since we know each other so well, and she'd be nagging but she'd understand me entirely, but she'd be sleeping around with other men. I don't even know why I'm even thinking about this, it's obvious…"

"Nah, you screwed her up, dude!" Kiba said bitterly.

"What are you talking about?"

"Since she slept with you, Ino doesn't screw around. I tried to take her to bed, but she pushed me away. I mean, she refused me! She was like this wild horse, completely untamed, and you went off and broke her! You destroyed all the fun in her, dude!"

Shikamaru's heart did a strange jump in his chest. Ino remained faithful to him. Well, not faithful, since they weren't dating, but she stuck with him. He thought of that beautiful strawberry fragranced hair in his hands as he closed his eyes.

"I can't do this to Temari…"

"You said "this". It means you've already made a decision." Neji smirked.

"Still, I've had feelings for Temari for so long, now I finally get her and I let her go for my childhood friend?.."

"Which one would make you more happy? Be selfish, don't think about the others this time!" Neji frowned, urging him to be rational.

"I'm not sure…"

"Okay, sleep on it!" Kiba interrupted. "Now let's eat and wrestle or something, all this girl talk is killing my testosterone one by one!"

They laughed and got up from the table and went towards the fire where Choji was already eating. Naruto grabbed Shikamaru's arm and pulled him away from the others.

"I've got the same problem!" the blonde whispered.

"Huh?"

"Hinata declared herself to me. Twice! And I don't know what to tell her, I've liked Sakura-chan for so long but I've got this feeling we're not going anywhere. And Hinata, she's sweet, kind and really cute, but I don't know… I've never had to make such a difficult decision in my life!"

He grabbed his blonde spiky hair and looked really crazy for a minute there. Shikamaru smiled in compassion. He thought then of Kakashi and Sakura together, and wondered if Naruto was aware of their affair. Knowing him, he certainly wasn't.

"Naruto, I'm saying this as a friend: don't chase after Sakura, you'd only hurt yourself. Hinata, on the other hand, is one of Konoha's greatest beauties and she's kind and naïve, just like you. You two would make a fine couple, and you'll look after each other all the time. Believe me, no one would make you more happy and vice-versa."

"Damn, you give good advice! Why can't you use that on yourself?"

"It's a lot easier when you're not in the action, when you're more objective. In my own love stories, I'm just as lost as you." he chuckled.

"I think you should choose Ino, you two are perfectly compatible."

"Yeah, thanks for your advice. Let's go with the others, no more women talk tonight!"

"Thank God."

Yup, love ain't easy! So, dear readers, let me know what you think! I'm dying for reviews here! x) My friends, we're rapidly approaching the fateful end: one more chapter to go!

Please, continue reading!

DarkDream93