Chapter 4: A Meeting
Shikamaru and Ino spent time with each other each day and night. Shikato and Inosha actually wanted to build a little home for them until they'd be old enough to marry. If it wasn't for the mothers the plan might actually be on the way.
Mostly everyone they knew have known about the engagement already and Chouji has been trying his best to control his joy about the subject.
Everyone didn't dare tease them knowing it wasn't much of effective.
This day though a weird event is about to happen.
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Temari entered through the east gate of the village. Her brother has sent her on another mission to Konohagakure. She has been acting like a messenger bird of the two ninja villages.
'I hate Gaara. He's treating like Takamaru! God!' She screamed to herself.
She passed the stands and walked towards the Village Hall. She saw some beautiful clouds floating through the sky.
'At least, there's something good about being here in this little village.' She said to herself as a smile drew on her face.
Temari reported her message to Tsunade without hesitation.
The door suddenly blasted open.
"Tsunade-sama! We did it!" Sakura and Ino shouted.
"Good." Tsunade answered lazily as she kept her eyes on the report Temari gave her.
"Yes! We can on lunch then! Shika-kun said he'd treat me today. Bye." Ino said quickly not noticing the blonde kunoichi in the room.
"Shikamaru? Treat someone out? That's new." Temari blurted out.
"Not really. He's been treating me a lot lately."
"Wow. He never treated me out before." She said.
"It's not really that weird. He's my fiancé anyway."
"What!?" Temari blurted out. Her expression was a complete farce.
"Yeah. Shika-kun agreed to an arrange marriage with me. Why?"
Temari's heart sank. She never felt this way before. And she didn't know why.
"Guess you two are made for each other anyway. It's just unfortunate on your side." Temari said
"Why?"
"Shikamaru's a good for nothing-"
"Stop."
"-lazy-ass, ugly-"
"I said stop it."
"-son of a bitch, who doesn't understand fee-"
"You're just saying that because you can't believe he chose me over you!" Ino shouted.
The tension in the room was so high. Sakura and Tsunade were dumbfounded by the argument in the room. Ino and Temari were staring each other angrily. Ino was crying and Temari was stunned.
"Tsuna-" the door opened.
Shikamaru entered the room to see Ino crying and Temari stunned.
He didn't know what to do. He calculated the situation and spoke, "Ino, why are you crying" he said in a voice as he gentle as he could manage.
"It's nothing, Shikamaru." She said.
Temari saw she had lost. Shikamaru had made up his mind with that remark. Ino has won. No excuses. Temari walked out the door without a word, only teardrops marking her path.
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Shikamaru sat alone at Ichiraku. He realized what had happened. He felt pain when he saw Temari leave like that.
'Could I love her as well?'
"Oi, Shikamaru!" sounded a voice.
"Konichiwa, Chouji." He said.
Chouji sat down beside his bestfriend and ordered some ramen.
"I heard about Temari and Ino from Sakura. Is that true?" he asked.
"Yeah."
"You should make up your mind sooner or later."
The ramen arrived at their table.
"What?"
"Even though –slurp- you said yes –slurp- to –slurp- Ino. –slurp- That doesn't mean –slurp- you don't –slurp- love –slurp- Temari too. Wow! This ramen's good!"
"Haha! You might be right." Shikamaru laughed at his friend.
"But –slurp- if I were –slurp- you. I would tell both of them I need more time." Chouji said in between ramen eating.
"Maybe. Will you finish my ramen for me?" he said.
Chouji pulled the bpwl closer to him and waved goodbye to Shikamaru.
--/--/--/--/--/--/--/-/
'What do I like about both of them anyway? They get on my nerves. Both are troublesome. The other one's like a loudspeaker the other punches like hell. Why do I feel this way anyway?' he said lying on the soft grass.
He closed his eyes and tried to clear his mind only to be interrupted by the sound of someone's footsteps. He opened an dhis eyes and saw Tenten coming near him.
"Troublesome woman."
"Shikamaru, I heard about Teamri-chan and Ino from Chouji. Is that true?" she asked as she sat down beside him.
"Kinda." He said lazily.
"You know Shikamaru, you were wrong to say yes to Ino, this early." She said.
"Why?"
"Because your not even sure if you like her more than Temari." She added.
"I-"
"don't explain. You like Temari, obviously. Ino knows it too."
Shikamaru was speechless. Maybe he was wrong.
"Okay. Goodbye, Shikamaru. Neji's waiting for me." she said taking off.
'Maybe she' right.'
'Tenten and Choji are making sense. I know what to do. I know who I like more.'