ShikaIno: Lifeline

By kiwi4me

Summary: He was supposed to be the one to help her, but she soon realized that he was her death. She was drowning and she couldn't breathe anymore. How long until it was over?

Her hair swayed as she walked down the street. Customers from the flower shop smiled and waved at her as she does the same. On her way to meet her pinkette friend, she saw him underneath the tree staring at the cloud in deep thought. She contemplated on going over or not. She paused thinking it over and decided against it. He never really liked her interrupting him. He would get annoyed with her. She sighed and continued her walk. There was no need to bother him anymore. He had more things to worry about then her annoyance.

"Sakura," Ino waved to her as the pinkette turned.

"Ino," she smiled standing from where she sat.

They would eventually throw in their nicknames toward one another, but she wasn't in the mood. They headed over to the coffee house where they ran into the other blonde in their generation.

"Naruto," her friend's voice showed wary, "… what is wrong with you?"

"Eh?" he turned to them, "… Sakura-chan, Ino-chan," he smiled to them rubbing his shoulders, "… I slept wrong and now…" he frowned, "… it hurts."

"You slept wrong?" Ino had to smirk, "… how did that happen?"

"Neh, Ino," Sakura folded her arms, "… stop thinking like that."

"Like what?" she questioned innocently.

"I always sleep like this," Naruto pouted only to cause the other blonde to laugh.

"Ino," it was a playful warning, but Ino continued.

"Do you now?" Ino grinned, "… maybe you need a new bed."

"I should buy a new one…" Naruto nodded thinking about it.

"Why buy a new one?" Ino stared at him grinning mischievously.

"What do you mean?" Naruto questioned only to witness Sakura placing her hand against her head.

"Just go to their place instead," Ino replied nonchalantly.

She saw his face turn into confusion before startled, then embarrassment.

"No… no!" Naruto blushed, "… not like that… no…"

"Got it," Ino laughed, "… if you want I can massage it out."

"Really?" Naruto looked startled.

"I could do it for you too," Sakura announced, "… you should trust me more since who knows what Ino would go with it."

"I am so hurt," Ino feigned sadness, "… Naruto-kun," Ino aimed her bright blue eyes to him, "… tell me you don't think I would do such a thing. Do you?"

"Um," Naruto scratched the side of his head and was about to leave, but Ino grabbed his arm.

"Oh dear Naru-kun," she continued hearing snickers from the pinkette, "… won't you give me the opportunity to change your mind?"

"Uh…" Naruto continued unsure how this conversation will end up.

"I see," Ino's voice softened, "… you like her more," she looked away from him removing her hold on him, "… I know when I'm not wanted."

"Um…" Naruto was unable to say anything staring confused at the blonde before him.

"Stop messing with him," Sakura said giggling, "… Naruto," Sakura aimed her emerald eyes at him, "… you could leave if you want. Ino here was just having a laugh."

"Well," Naruto looked confused, "… alright…"

"I'll come over later to ease you out," Sakura announced as he walked away nodding with a smile.

"Why must you ruin it Sakura," Ino pouted, "… he could've given into me… unless…" Ino's thoughts were turning, "… you want him to yourself."

"Ino," she said aggravated with a huff before walking off gaining a laughing blonde beside her.

-o-o-

He continues his gaze at the clouds drifting by. It wasn't often that he gets time away from work to just relax. His body may be relaxing, but he wasn't able to relax his mind. What was wrong with his former teammate to have her ask such a personal question? Ino had always been one to get personal with people, but it was odd hearing her ask him that. He could tell there was something more behind it than she revealed. He sighed.

"Would you love me?"

Of course. Was it not obvious that he would? He had always been there for her and though she had gotten on his nerves in more than one occasion, it didn't mean she was nothing more to him than another person. She was his childhood friend. She was constantly around him. Thinking about it now, it felt strange not having her questioning him as he lie on the grass.

She demanded attention.

She would bombard him with her thoughts, her ideas, her feelings. He admits it made him annoyed always hearing her talked nonstop. If it wasn't about her, then it was about him and their kind friend. Yet lying here, he still felt he was missing her.

It was true.

He would always be there for her whenever she needed him. That kind of promise is hard to keep when he was constantly going to Suna or out on missions. Yet, his intentions were right, wasn't it? He sighed and closed his eyes. What is going on?

She didn't yell at him.

That caught him a little off guard when he was allowed to touch her well-mane hair. She always complained about keeping it straight, soft, and long. He had to admit, he didn't think it was that nice, but it was. He compared it to expensive soft silk, almost milky. He found a new appreciation for those locks. Never was he complaining about her keeping it long ever again.

He opened his eyes again and sighed. He sat up and slouched forward for a few more minutes before standing up. Maybe he should go visit the swirly cheek man.

-o-o-

She heard the knock on the door. She opened it to reveal him. She blinked a few times before finally stepping to the side letting him in. He closed the door once he entered heading straight to the dining room. As he sat on the chair, Ino automatically grabbed a cup and pour water into it. She placed it in front of him, in which he mumbled thanks.

She just watched him drink the water before sighing. His eyes met hers. Her heart was still fluttering, but it wasn't as much as before. That was a good thing. He looked tired in her eyes, but that was probably because he was always tired no matter how inactive he was out of missions.

"I'm going to Suna tomorrow," he stated watching her.

She didn't emit any emotion.

"Okay," she offered a smile.

She knew he wanted more. He probably expected her to talk a lot more. She normally would wish him well, to be careful, to not act stupid. The problem with this is he was careful, smart, and always returned. What was the whole point in wasting her breath?

"I'll be gone for two weeks," he added.

He used to not tell her when he left or when he returned. He would disappear and come back like nothing changed, but things did. She found out she missed him more. She didn't know what made him tell her when he was leaving now. Maybe it was Chouji. He probably informed the genius of how devastated she was. She inwardly frowned.

"Okay," her voice was softer feeling his eyes scrutinize her.

"Are you okay?" Ino heard the worry in his voice.

"Yeah," she nodded.

"Ino," it was stern, "… what is going on?"

"It's not important," she sighed, "… just make sure you come back."

She admit it, she cared too much for the man before her. She saw him relax a little offering a reassuring smile to her.

She thought she was hanging on a lifeline, but she slipped further in.

That damn smile of his was slowly killing her.