Choji's apartment was still in a state of transition. Considerably larger than his last sorry excuse for an apartment, it had, in Shikamaru's mind, great potential. A large bay window lined the outside wall letting in large amounts of sunshine, the kitchen area design allotted for a decent amount of counter space, and Choji's room was small, yes, but Choji didn't care. Shikamaru busied himself by attempting to put a lamp together, and was failing miserably since the instructions appeared to be in a language that was not Japanese. Ino got to rummaging through boxes that Choji's mom had recovered from the complex, stuff that Choji hadn't seen in years. By the looks of the layout of the lamp, Shikamaru reasoned that he needed to twist some wires together, or run it through a hole, or both. He scowled at the wires as he forcibly shoved them through an opening, silently praying when he plugged the lamp in he wouldn't blow a fuse, or electrocute himself. Getting frustrated by putting slot A into slot B and fearing the exposed wire were going to detonate something, he raised his voice to ask Ino for help. Perhaps she knew how to read Russian, or take pity on him and put the lamp together herself or perhaps mind-jutsu him out of his missery.

Randomly jamming another part aimlessly into another with more frustrated forcefulness, he finally looked up from his mind-numbing task to see what Ino was doing.

Ino was staring at a card, and when Shikamaru noticed all of the scattered photos around her, he realized that it was actually a picture. She looked lost with her watery blue eyes in a haze, holding the photo close to her face with sober reverence. Shikamaru dropped his post at not getting anything remotely helpful accomplished, and huddled next to Ino to shuffle through old photos with her.

Choji soon joined them, and they all three splayed out on the floor of his apartment, unpacked boxes forgotten. Soon one photo after the next segwayed into another story, all three were telling part of a story about their past sensei, in random bits and pieces, misstellings and forgotten moments picked up by one of them. It was like he was there in the room with them and they could almost smell his cigarette smoke. Then Choji pulled out a lighter from within the last few miscellaneous items of the box and looked at Shikamaru, who looked at Ino, who nodded her accent. Shikamaru patted his pocket that he carried his cigarettes in, just for this occasion. They all three headed for the door, knowing full well Shikamaru couldn't smoke inside the building.

Once outside, they leaned against the outside wall of the building, each ruminating over the nostalgia that coincided with the smoky cloud surrounding them.

Team Gai came bounding around the corner, bickering loudly amongst themselves, and as they approached it wasn't hard to see why.

Tenten was soaking wet from head to toe, her white clothes sticking to her like a second skin, droplets of water still running off of her body. She held her arms over her chest in a protective manner, obviously she didn't want to give away exactly how cold she was dripping wet. Her face was tinted pink, no doubt from shouting at her teammates, who seemed to be having a laugh at her expense, and not hiding it well.

"You must confront your fears!" Lee youthfully, "how else will you be able to overcome them?"

"Come on Tenten, it was only practice!" Neji pleaded half-heartedly like a last ditch effort to say that he was sorry, but not at all really. The not-so-well-hidden smirk was visible at team tens distance, even Lee was having a hard time stifling a snort of laughter at the kunoichi's expense.

"What exactly were you practicing? Being assholes? You blindfolded me and threw me in the lake under the pretence that it was a training exercise! You both are lucky I need to get ready for dinner with Nakimori-sama or I would be digging a damn hole for both of your corpses right now!" She turned and stalked off, slamming the secured entry door behind her.

Neji and Lee were too engaged in trying to get Tenten's attention to notice team ten, lounging against the shadows in the early evening, watching the interplay with the clearly dysfunctional team. Choji, Ino, and Shikamaru all exchanged a brief nod of thanks from one another, if only to remind them how much they appreciated each other for not doing stupid things to each other like the unstable team they had just witnessed seconds ago. A brief head nod to the sky from all of them also hailed Asuma for not being the psychotic sensei that Gai rumored to be. They looked back just in time to see Neji elbow Lee in the side and point to the fire escape on the other end of the building. Ino was shaking her head as she followed her two teammates out of curiosity. Shikamaru could tell she was thinking the words, "if you two ever did that to me…" and followed it up with no doubt, a promise of disembowelment or torture or a shopping trip with her or all of the above. Team ten kept well hidden as they watched both Neji and Lee climb up the fire escape to the fourth floor so quickly, they heard what happened before they saw it.

Tenten heard it too, the odd metal bending noise that sounded like a metal bar being bend into a U shape suddenly. She had her window open only seconds after the noise began, screaming at Lee that her fire escape couldn't hold the weight of him with his weights on.

But it was too late.

Shikamaru would have watched the fire escape tear away from her window, it was one of those rare moments of awe and destruction that you never get to see in person and that some lucky bastard captures on video for gobs of money to sell to some shitty TV show. The black bars bounced unceremoniously with warped enthusiasm on the hard earth below it, stirring the denizens of the apartment inside. He was surprised the metal platform didn't break a window upon its decent.

No, Shikamaru was more interested in the kunoichi who came to the window, throwing it open with haste and leaning out of it in her robe. In her robe that had somehow gotten untied during the whole incident, and how his best friend's eyes were glued to her half-naked figure. Even Shikamaru had to admit she was one hellova looker. She was already rewrapping her robe around herself before Shikamaru had time to blink, and the sound of the medal railings crashing to the ground helped jolt him out of his contemplative haze. But the damage was done, not only to the fire escape, but to his friend as well. It might have only been a split second, but her hair was down in ropes of wet locks that fell over her shoulders, and the lacey black bra he saw wasn't about to leave his head.

"Whoa," Choji let out with awe. Shikamaru wasn't sure weather it was from the metal folding up in on itself on the ground that had been hanging against the side of the building moments ago or if it was from the kunoichi he had just seen.

His money was on the kunoichi.

Troublesome.

Miraculously, the damage was only to the top part of the fire escape, Neji and Lee had landed safely below, half a second before the scraps of metal came tumbling after. Team ten rushed over to them, evaluating the damage done. Tenten had disappeared from her spot at her window. No doubt she would soon reappear on the lawn with them, and probably with a sharp pointy weapon for her to skewer her teammates like soft fluffy marshmallows.

Just like he had predicted, she rounded the corner, but instead of coming at them with killing intent, there was a note of concern as she evaluated her teammates up and down, checking for bruising and scratchings.

"Are you hurt?" she fussed over them like a mother hen, inspecting their faces and limbs, "Did you get hit? Any scratches or head trauma?" she continued, despite the eye rolling both of them gave her as they turned around and made sure there were both unharmed.

She wrapped her bathrobe around her tight, and tied the knot with a whip of her long arms. "Are you two insane?" she hissed in a low tone, "my landlord might just kill me when he finds out that I broke the fire escape! I actually like where I live! Why on earth are you two being such jerks to me today!" She broke threw their lines, slamming into each of their shoulders as she tore off for her apartment again. "I have to talk with my landlord, excuse me."

Shikamaru and Choji nodded to each other as they no longer became onlookers and decided to participate. The damage to the fire escape could easily be repaired, if they could find a way to weld it back on the side of the building. Neji and Lee explained that they would get it done first thing in the morning, and that they didn't need to fuss over it.

Ino had already gone off to talk to Tenten, and Shikamaru could see her silhouette in the window next to Tenten's from where he was situated on the ground. All that settled, they trudged their way back to Choji's apartment, and met Ino on the way in.

"She is pretty upset," Ino shrugged passively, "not that I blame her. If you two ever become that idiotic…" she threatened.

"We won't." The two boys said firmly in unison. Neither were that stupid, nor suicidal.

"It's getting late," Ino yawned, "and Choji has dinner plans." Shikamaru noticed that devilish smirk played on her lips again, and his scowl somehow found his face again. Choji smiled and swallowed nervously, and disappeared down the hall sporting a clean shirt. Shikamaru reasoned that was a wise decision; smelling like smoke would not make the best impression on his new neighbors. Ino approved of his choice, and together they sent him off with a bag of tea leaves in hand.

Shikamaru walked Ino home, if only to prove that not all teammates were complete jackasses.

"I think she likes him," she nearly pranced with excitement on to her doorstep, "she was asking about him the whole time I was up at her apartment."

"Troublesome woman," Shikamaru tried to mutter under his breath, but Ino heard him anyways.

"What is so wrong with Choji dating Tenten?" she asked suddenly, and Shikamaru shuffled his hands into his pockets.

"It could get awkward if they live in the same apartment building," was the only argument that left his mouth.

"Nice," Ino crossed her arms over her chest, "that is all you can come up with?" she raised a thin blond eyebrow at him.

"He is already all the way across town, Ino." He raised his voice as he managed to take a hand out of his pocket to gesture where they had just come from. "Chicks are troublesome," he nearly whispered, embarrassed by his outburst as he replaced his hand back in his pocket.

"That doesn't mean he is going to leave us behind, Shikamaru," Ino spoke softly to comfort him, "Tenten won't replace you, you are his best friend."

He let his scowl melt a little because he knew that what she said was true. Choji was the best friend a guy could ever want. He was loyal and easygoing, fun to be around and not quirky or obnoxious. There was just one downfall to the big guy.

He was completely lovable.

This proved to be a problem to Shikamaru on more than one level. He didn't know how to share, he was an only child for Kami's sake. And he didn't want to share Choji and, if Shikamaru was really honest with himself, it was more than that.

He pinched the bridge of his nose, "I've been kind of a jerk about it."

"Well," Ino added unhelpfully, "you may be smart, but like every guy your age, you are still emotionally retarded."

He hunched over some more, "Thanks Ino, I appreciate the insight."

"How bout we play some cards and have some tea," she offered, "I have some leftovers in the fridge if we get hungry."

He perked up considerably at this. He may not have Choji close by, but Ino was good company one on one, weather he wanted to admit it to himself or not.

"I'd like that. Thanks, Ino."

Shikamaru reluctantly went home late into the evening. Ino had made good on keeping him occupied, even baked him his favorite dessert just to give him an excuse not to go home to a cold apartment early.

Team ten gathered the next morning, late in the morning, as they hadn't scheduled a practice due to their mission late in the evening. Shikamaru hauled his butt across town to Choji's new apartment and was pulled inside so quickly by a giant paw he thought he might see stars by the sudden action.

"Damn, man, what's gotten into you," he swiped at the front of his shirt to get the wrinkles out from the fist his friend had used to pull him inside.

Choji closed the door quietly, "She was here last night."

"Yeah, she said she was going to help you unpack." Shikamaru droned, taking note of the panic playing on his friends face.

"No, I mean she stayed here, last night."

"What are you nuts? You slept with her already?" Shikamaru nearly yelled at him.

"No! No!" he waved his hands in front of him with alarm. "No, she couldn't stay in her apartment last night because it was a safety violation. So I told her that she could stay in my apartment. We had a really nice time at the neighbors with dinner, and I didn't want the evening to end. Not to mention I didn't want her camping out on the lawn with her mission gear. So I slept on the couch and she took my bed."

Shikamaru just stared at him. Not blinking, just an openly reverent, perfectly still stare.

"You like her," it wasn't really a question, though he was sure that it came out almost like one.

Choji shook his head, confirming Shikamaru's fears from yesterday. The stupid idiot had gotten himself a crush.

"What are you going to do?" Shikamaru fell into the couch, Choji followed beside him, looking thoroughly at a loss.

"I don't know, I've never liked anyone before. Not even Ino."

"What's Ino got to do with this?" he asked a little more defensively than he meant to. Choji gave him one of his famous looks. Those looks where Choji didn't have to say anything and Shikamaru knew exactly what he was saying.

"I had dinner with her yesterday. At her house. She made leftovers." There he said it. They hung out when Choji wasn't there. It was about time he knew what he had reduced him to.

"So, did you kiss her?" Choji interrupted his thoughts on how they played card games on the floor of her apartment, wrapped up tightly in blankets and Shikamaru paying more attention to the way the warm glow of the lamp lit up her features.

"What? No! Don't be ridiculous! It's Ino, Choji. She is our teammate. Don't be absurd."

"Don't you mean 'troublesome?'" he asked.

"Yeah, that, too." Shikamaru stood up suddenly. "Let's get lunch, my treat."

"Chicken." Choji reasoned to call him, although Shikamaru played it off as him announcing what he wanted to eat as he grabbed his coat. "We are picking up Ino on the way." He placed a large hand on his friends shoulder. Shikamaru frowned, knowing that Choji would expect more just a few brief words concerning last night. As troublesome as it was, he could probably use some help sorting out his feelings.

Choji forcibly made him eat a picnic with him and Ino on a grassy area he had cloud watched notoriously in his genin days. The crisp cold day made warm by the blinding rays of the fall sun. In truth, Shikamaru could have stayed there forever, listening to his team mates rattle on about idle matters with his hands behind his head and a full belly to lull him to sleep.

Choji was starting in on the dirty details from last night and Ino involuntarily shivered. Without thinking much, he reached a lanky arm around her waist and pulled her over to him, and she let out a satisfying sound of being taken unawares. "We can share body heat," he explained sleepily as her body finally relaxed next to his.

Part of his sleepy brain was paying attention to Choji and the other part was completely distracted by Ino's soft body against his.

He listened patiently for the explanation he was searching for, as to why she stayed the night at his place.

"She tried to explain to our neighbor that she had to leave early because she had to get her camping gear in order. I asked if she was going on a mission, but it turned out she couldn't stay in her apartment if it wasn't up to code. So I offered her my bed and slept on the couch. When I took her back to my place, we talked for a while over tea, she read my palm, and we went to sleep. In the morning, I got up and she was gone. She left a note, thanking me for letting her stay over. I want to ask her out today before we leave for our mission. I think she likes me."

When Ino spoke, it wasn't a squeal of delight like he was expecting, but a lower-than-normal tone that helped lull him into his stupor.

"I think so, too," Ino replied, "so what did she tell you about your palm?"

Shikamaru noted the slight pause, which meant his friend was probably blushing. He opened his eyes to sneak a peek to confirm his suspicions. The tinge of pink flushed his face and Shikamaru couldn't help but smirk from the outcome.

"She told me that I had met some one special last week." He smiled brightly, "then amended that she was likely to be a week off, give or take. Then I tried to read hers."

"Well," Ino prodded and Shikamaru had trouble keeping his eyes open. "Since I know you don't know how to read palms, what did you tell her?"

Shikamaru basked in the longer pause, nearly falling completely asleep with the absence of words.

"I told her she was adventurous, kind hearted, brave, resourceful, and then it deteriorated into how cute I thought her hands were, and eventually I told her that she was going to meet some one in a week. Give or take a week. Some one who would think she was funny, and charming and very," Shikamaru could nearly hear him blush, "adorable." Chojii cleared his throat. "I'm pretty sure she thought that was lame." He confessed fervently. Ino was probably reassuring her with a classic Ino smile.

"Awe, Choji, that is sweet."

Shikamaru grunted, though he was sure no one could intelligibly understand that he was trying to communicate that he agreed.

"I think caveman Shikamaru agrees. Ask her out. The worst that could happen is she says no." Ino stated.

Shikamaru finally sat up. Hunched over and lazily squinting into the sun, he offered, "What if you invited her to go out with all of us? Make it easier to double date than do one by yourself. What do you say Ino? You've been wanting to try that new restaurant by the lake for a while. We can all go after our mission."

Choji and Ino were staring at each other dumbfounded that the indolent man had finally contributed something useful to the conversation, and had sat up to do so.

"Yeah," Ino conceded with a stunned look, Choji just nodded.

"Good," he pulled Ino down next to him when he fell back and nuzzled into her hair until he fell asleep.