AN: ugh. This is kind of a lead up to better things later on, so it's not that wonderful to read.
just to clarify, the very start of this chapter is still on August 2nd, after they get back from the hospital, but the rest is on the 3rd- so it's friday.
i don't know when i decided that those dates fell on those days of the week but i must be psychic or something because i just checked and they are the days they fall on this year. lol.
I've just written another load of chapters for later in the story so I'm trying to get out the fillers now.
Ideas are very welcome because I'm just clueless.
Thanks for reading
1690 words in this chapter
Back to Surreality
Chapter 6- Plans
The night before…
Ino lay with her head in Shikamaru's lap as they cuddled together on her sofa.
It was getting dark but they didn't shut the curtains or turn a light on, content enough to just sit together in the twilight, watching stars appear over the Konoha skyline.
"Ino?" Shikamaru called, running a finger though her loose hair.
"Hmm?"
"I think I should go home soon"
"What? No." she sat up to look at him better, leaning against his shoulder and entwining their fingers together. "I'm not ready for you to leave me yet."
"It's getting late"
"So? Stay here with me. My bed is a double, it can hold us both"
"I can't do that Ino." He told her softly.
"Oh? So you can make love to me in public, out in the open, but you can't lie next to me for one more night for real." She was getting agitated now.
"Shh…" he leant over and kissed her lightly on the lips "you know I would Ino, but as long as we are keeping our relationship a secret, I can't be seen leaving your house early in the morning."
"What is our relationship, Shikamaru?"
He began to mimic her style from earlier in the day, giving her a kiss after each whispered phrase. "We are best friends… we are boyfriend and girlfriend… we are lovers… and more… we are anything you want us to be… and nothing to be expressed in words…"
She kissed him back "I love you Shika"
"I don't think I need to say anything"
"No, never" she giggled, breaking the beautiful mood.
"Troublesome woman"
"What are we going to do with our parents?"
"Do you still visit your dad?"
"Occasionally"
"Then I think I have a plan."
Present…
Ino…
"Hey Daddy! I'm home!" she called out cheerily as she burst through the door to greet him.
She skipped into the kitchen, humming to herself cheerily as she got a glass out of an overhead cupboard.
She placed it down on the countertop and bent to look in the fridge.
She sensed the presence of her father in the door way but he seemed unable to find anything to say, so she helped him out. "Well… aren't you going to ask me where I was yesterday?"
"Do I need to?"
"Hmm…" she picked up a carton of milk and poured some into the glass before returning it to the fridge, taking the time to look at the front of it. "Don't you think I'm a little too grown up to still have my drawings on the fridge now?"
"Yes baby." He sighed "I just like to hold onto your childhood I guess"
She stood and turned to give him a stunning smile "well, if you aren't going to ask, I may aswell tell you. I was with a boy."
Inoichi looked down at the floor.
"Now, don't get mad daddy, but I really like this one and I don't want you to scare him off or anything." She started drinking the milk, leaning against the counter comfortably. "he's like, the only guy except Chouji that I can get along with and I feel really comfy with him and… well never mind that. Please say you won't chase him off or anything."
"What's his name?"
"Does that matter? I'm not telling you that in case you don't get on with his father or something like that. You always jump to conclusions."
"Gomen. No, it doesn't matter. You can date whoever you want princess."
"Really?" she put the empty glass down on the side and jumped at him, wrapping her arms around him "Arigato Daddy! I love you!"
"Hmm…"
She let go and stood back grinning. "You'll love him I'm sure of it."
"Will I get to meet him?"
"Hai! Of course!"
"Well, you'd better know that we rescheduled the family meal, seen as Wednesday didn't go so well. This time everyone should be able to come."
"Really? When is it?"
"Monday, at the Akimichi place"
"Brilliant! Can he come and meet you then?"
"Who?"
"The guy! The one I was talking about!"
"Um… sure. Why not?"
She clamped her arms around him again. "Arigato Daddy!"
"Aren't you tired from that mission?"
"What mission?"
"You said the other day that you were on a mission"
"Oh, I finished that yesterday morning. After that I've been with my boyfriend. Sorry I didn't come back to visit earlier."
Shikamaru…
He stood nervously outside his childhood home and knocked on the front door. He suddenly remembered what Ino had told him and his nerves dropped immediately.
A small smile appeared on his face as he waited, just in time for the door to swing open, revealing his mother in a flour covered apron, her hair pulled into a bun at the back of her head.
"Shikamaru! What a lovely surprise! What are you doing here?"
"Konnichiwa Kaa-san."
"Come in! Come in!"
"Arigato." He nodded politely before entering, the smile still on his face.
"Shikaku!" Yoshino yelled through the house "get your lazy ass down here! Your son is here!"
Obviously he hasn't told her anything. It's understandable. If I had been doing what he did, I would be terrified to let a troublesome woman like her know.
Shikaku came down as they sat down in the main room, looking very nervous "Konnichiwa Shikamaru. No missions today?"
"No. Tsunade-sama has given me today off, for social reasons. I have a mission over the weekend, but I should be back by Sunday afternoon"
"Social reasons?" Yoshino looked concerned "is something wrong Shikamaru?"
FLASHBACK
"Um… Nara-san." Tsunade called out weekly
"Hai Tsunade-sama?"
"You have a mission"
"You have got to be kidding me."
His team gasped and looked at him in surprise as they stood in the Hokage's office.
"No. this has to be done this weekend."
"When?" he asked with gritted teeth
"We need you to leave tonight."
He practically laughed at her "and you got me out of bed this early for that? Sod off Tsunade, I'm going home" he turned and went to leave.
"I still have the tapes Shikamaru" she called out after him
He stopped at the door and turned; fire in his eyes. "That's blackmail!"
"Is it? I thought it might be useful if your team here were to see how you handle yourself on that type of mission."
"You wouldn't dare" he went to lunge at her, but was stopped by a feminine arm.
Tenten looked down at him carefully, trying to establish what was making him act so out of character. "Shikamaru, what really have we to lose by accepting this mission?"
He took a deep breath and shrugged her off, facing the Hokage once again. "Tomorrow morning. That's the earliest I am prepared to leave. I have plans today, cleaning up the mess that you made"
"Fine. Here is the mission scroll."
END FLASHBACK
"He's fine" Shikaku insisted, "Look, he's smiling"
"I suppose. What is the reason for your uncharacteristic optimism Shikamaru?"
"I have some news that may please you very much Kaa-san."
"Really?" Shikaku sat beside her, looking skeptical
"Yes, but we can discuss that later. I came to see you both, because it's been a while since we've spent any real time together."
"It really has been a long time, but you're always so busy" Yoshino smirked.
"I'm sorry that I missed the family meal on Wednesday"
"That's alright Shikamaru, you had your reasons."
"It has been re-scheduled for Monday anyway. There is something that needs announcing." Shikaku told him quietly.
"That's great Tou-san. I should be able to make it this time."
"The Yamanaka's aren't hosting again are they Shikaku? That would be unfair."
"No. The Akimichi's are hosting this meal"
"I see… middle ground?"
"Huh?" she can't possibly know that, can she?
"Oh come on Shikamaru, I thought you were the genius. Can't you make the connection? It's nearly your twenty-first birthday. You must know what is planned for you"
She just means the marriage… wait, the marriage? They can't possibly still… are they going to announce it on Monday? He went pale.
"Yoshino, I suggest that we stop this discussion now" Shikaku told her seriously
"Don't tell me what to do!"
"I didn't tell you, I suggested."
"Fine. What was it you wanted to tell us Shikamaru?"
"Huh?"
"You said that you had news."
"Oh, um…I have a girlfriend"
"That's nothing new Shikamaru." She frowned "you've had plenty of flings"
"No, I mean, a girlfriend. An exclusive, serious, committed, girlfriend."
"What?" her eyes went wide "Do you have plans with this girl?"
"I think that it is very possible. I was going to suggest that she come to the meal on Monday."
"Ah… that might be awkward" she cringed and looked over to Shikaku, who had his head in his hands.
"Well, you can't stop her so you might as well welcome her"
"What's her name?" Shikaku demanded
He simply grinned wider "you'll find out on Monday"
Later…
Ino laughed so hard her face hurt as she collapsed against him on the grass. "You should have seen his face Shikamaru, it was so funny. He just told me I could date anyone I wanted, no objections"
"Anyone?" he frowned
"Hai!"
"That's odd"
"What?" she stopped laughing and twisted her head around to face him. "Why is it odd?"
"Oh, nothing. It was just something that Kaa-san mentioned."
"What is it Shika?"
"She um… she may have hinted, quite heavily… that our marriage was going to be announced on Monday"
"You aren't serious."
"No, I mean it. It's this whole thing about it being our twenty first in a month. They were going to announce it on Wednesday, but then I didn't turn up, so…"
"shit." She turned to face him, withdrawing the contact on their torsos "Marriage? I really don't want that."
"You wouldn't want to marry me?"
"No, I mean… I wouldn't want it to be arranged, you know? If we were going to… then I would want to do it properly, because you wanted to"
"That's sweet. I think I just had an idea."
"Again?"
"Hai"
AN: Crap, that was a lot more fun in my head. Nevermind
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XX Belizma-chan XX