Two Months Later
"Well Shikamaru I must admit I am highly pleased and satisfied to find you so... eager for this assignment." Tsunade spoke and Shizune tried to stifle a giggle.
Shikamaru let out a sigh. You weren't really supposed to tell the supreme leader of your village she was acting like a school girl. "Thank you Hokage-sama." He reached out to accept the mission document, but the Hokage didn't seem quite ready to hand it over.
"My, my Shikamaru you do seem very anxious to receive this assignment." She looked at him with a barely quivering lip. "Any particular reason you requested it?"
He tried not to blush or stutter, why did something so simple have to be so troublesome? "My team and I have not really been out of the village for some time and I thought it might be good to go on a mission that involves a bit of traveling." He tried to sound uninterested.
"Oh! I understand now! You wish to see some new places, eh? Well you happen to be in luck a new mission to River country just came available and it's a B-rank. Now how does that sound?"
Oh wonderful she was going to make him beg! He shut his eyes for a moment. Why did every single woman in his life insist on making it harder? "Thank you Hokage-sama but I think the first mission would be preferable."
"Are you absolutely sure Shikamaru? It is only a C-rank after all and an extended one at that. I was actually thinking of giving it to one of the new rookie teams."
"No! I mean, ah..." Tsunade and Shizune were both openly giggling. "I feel that this mission would be a good transition to allow Chouji to acclimate to more difficult ones."
"Oh, so you're doing this for Chouji? Well it's good of you to show so much concern for your team member." Tsunade said.
"Does he have a girlfriend there as well?" Shizune asked. Both women laughed as Shikamaru could only stand there and feign indifference. When their laughter died down the Hokage mercifully decided to return to business.
"I am sorry Shikamaru; I formally assign you this mission to Suna." She held out the mission briefing and he quickly took it. "The mission should last about three weeks, possibly four. As I've already said it's C-rank so there should be no major complications. You and your team must be prepared to leave by 9 a.m. tomorrow morning. Are there any questions?"
"No Hokage-sama, and thank you again for granting my request."
She had on a mischievous smile. "Have fun in Suna!" She shared a look with her assistant. "Don't do anything I wouldn't do."
Shikamaru told himself that he did not run out of the Hokage's office like a scared girl. He was hurrying through Hokage tower as quick as possible, he had to get his team together and let them know the good news, he would have to let his parents know he would be gone for awhile, he would have to get packed for the trip, and while he was here he would stop by the central posting office and have a message sent out.
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They were at the restaurant that had become their unofficial meeting place. As usual they were having a meal together before going out on a long mission. As Shikamaru watched Chouji suck down one piece of beef after another he sighed.
"Chouji you're going to bankrupt me."
His best friend laughed at him. "That's what you get for becoming Chunin. Since Asuma's out of the village right now you're team leader. And team leader always pays for the meal."
"That rule seemed much fairer when Asuma-sensei was always the one paying."
"I cannot believe you want us to actually go to Suna. Do you have any idea what the sun can do to a girl's skin?" Their other teammate said.
"I'll buy you some sun block." Shikamaru said, not sounding the least bit sympathetic.
She glared at the lazy Chunin. "Why did you have to get this now? Sakura is having her birthday next week and I'm going to miss it!"
"Buy her something nice in Suna and give it to her when you get back."
"But I'll miss the party!"
"She'll have another one next year."
The blonde came to a slow boil as each comment only made her angrier. "That's it! I am not going on this mission! You and Chouji can go by yourselves!"
"Fine."
The girl waited, but there was nothing else. The table was actually quiet for a change as no one spoke. Chouji looked from one friend to the other. He was by far the most sensitive of the trio and did not like the tension he was feeling. Proof of that was that he actually stopped eating. Shikamaru took advantage to snag a couple prime pieces of meat for himself. Alone among his teammates he continued to eat and did not seem to mind the silence. The silence dragged on for a couple of minutes as Ino glared at the boy sitting across from her.
Finally she barked out, "That's it?! You're not going to argue with me to come with you?"
He stopped eating and gave her his full attention. "That's right Ino, if going to Sakura's party is more important to you than accompanying your team on a mission to a foreign country then you can stay. This is not an S-rank so you have that right. As the assigned team leader I judge that Chouji and I will be able to accomplish the mission goal so there's really no need for you to come."
The fact that he was just dismissing her like that hurt. "Don't you even want me to come?"
"Not if you're going to be troublesome the entire time." He pointed his chopsticks at her. "You've been kunoichi for a year now, so you should already know that your responsibility to the village and the Hokage isn't something that just stops when it's inconvenient. If you only want to be shinobi when it suits you then just work in the flower shop and forget about being ninja."
"That is so easy for you to say. You actually want to go."
The corner of his lips turned down. "I've been on missions I didn't want Ino."
She broke eye contact with him. She still felt guilty that her two boys had nearly died while she was sitting at home. There was no way she was going to let them go somewhere without her. "Yeah, well we both know the real reason behind this assignment, you just want to see that sand nin. Well there is no way I am letting you go there without me to watch out for you. I'm going."
"Fine." He had known all along that she would.
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They went over a few details about what to bring and when and where to meet. With the meal over the three of them headed out to pack. Their homes were all in different directions so they would normally go their own way as soon as they left the restaurant.
"Shikamaru, walk me home." Ino spoke as soon as Chouji was out of sight.
"Ino I have to pack; besides it would be…"
She grabbed him by the arm and yanked him. "Shikamaru I swear to you if you tell me it would be troublesome I'll take possession of your body and make you skip through town singing, I am woman hear me roar." He blanched at so cruel a threat and came over. As soon as he was beside her she slipped her arm around his and they began walking arm in arm towards her house. "You used to walk me home like this all the time remember?"
"When we were eight."
"I always liked having you take me home why did you stop?"
His look was blank but there was a hint of something in his voice. "You told me to. Don't you remember? You said you wanted Sasuke to be the one to take you home."
That was right! How had she forgotten that? "I'm sorry Shikamaru; I should never have said that. I thought if Sasuke saw me walking home alone he would want to walk with me." She shrugged her shoulders. "But he never did."
They walked on in silence for a bit. Ino noticed some of the smiles of the people passing them. They thought they were a couple. Would that be so bad?
"I cried." He said suddenly.
She stopped and so did he. "What?"
He looked at her with that lazy carefree expression but she could hear an ache in his voice. "When you told me that I thought it meant you didn't like me. I went home and I cried." Why am I telling her this?
"Skika-kun I am so sorry, I never knew."
He smiled, and whatever had been in his voice was gone. "Don't be sorry, it was a long time ago and we were only kids. Besides, a man should never cry." He began walking and she fell back into step with him.
"You weren't a man then you were just a boy."
"Principle still applies."
"Shikamaru why her? Why is it when you finally get interested in a girl it's got to be a kunoichi from another village? I mean aren't there enough beautiful girls for you to choose from right here?"
"I'm sure every village has its share of beautiful women."
"Well then do you really think she is sooo much more beautiful then the girls right here?"
"You are the one obsessed with looks. I think she is beautiful, but if her looks were all there were to her I would have no interest."
"Then what is it? You barely even know her but you're ready to go 500 miles into a burning desert just to see her. Tell me why."
He thought about that. "Sometimes she can be very warm."
Ino stared at him. "Sometimes she's warm?" She replied in a lifeless monotone. "That's it?"
He shrugged. "I also like her chicken."
Ino just looked at him and didn't know what to say. So they just kept walking towards her home. As they went she thought back to that horrible morning at the Nara's kitchen. When she had gotten the call from Sakura she had refused to believe it. Shikamaru would not suddenly start making out with strange girls where everyone could see. That was about as likely as… Uchiha Sasuke abandoning his village to go follow its worst enemy. So she had run over to the Nara's just to hear the truth from Shikamaru himself. Oh she had heard the truth all right. He had gone into disgusting detail about what that filthy slut had said and done. The girl had just teased and played with him and he had been too ignorant to see through her. And as she had listened she had gotten confused, angry, and hurt. She had never seen Mr. 'I am too lazy to even pick up a pencil to take a test' as a potential boyfriend. But hearing him talk about another girl like that had sent a pain through her. She didn't want him; but she did want him to want her, at least a little. They had known each other all their lives and could not be closer. So how was it exactly that when Shika finally woke up to the wonders of the opposite sex it was with some foreigner he hardly knew?
They came to a halt outside her front door. He smoothly unhooked his arm from hers. "I'll see you tomorrow." He said as he turned to leave.
"Oh, Shikamaru do you remember what we would always do after you walked me home?" Before he could object she leaned in and planted a quick kiss on his cheek. "Thank you Shika-kun." She said in a high pitched imitation of an eight year olds voice.
He gave her a small smirk. Well why not? "You're welcome Ino-chan." Feeling slightly ridiculous he completed the little ritual.
She smiled at him. Why had that felt so good? For a second it had felt just as it had when they were kids. "You know you should keep in mind that you don't have to go all the way to Suna to get a beautiful blonde to kiss you." With that she hurried inside.
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Shikamaru wondered what all that had been about. At least she seemed to be in a better mood. He could only hope that it would last awhile. He supposed that whole episode had just been Ino's way of finding out more about Temari. But if Ino was feeling better she had also managed to sour his mood. He shook his head in wonder, she didn't even remember? She had crushed him like a bug and it had been such a small thing to her she couldn't even recall doing it. When they were kids he had thought she was the most wonderful girl in the world. She was his wonderful Ino-chan and he'd had a full blown crush. He had been completely in love in that special way only small children can ever be. Then one day he had gone to put his arm around hers and she had pulled away. She had told him straight out not to do that again, that she was going to get Sasuke to walk her home. His heart had been broken. He had run all the way home holding back the tears. When he got home he found his mom and he cried. His mom had put her arms around him and told him it would be all right. She had held him close and comforted him until his tears went away.
Just like Temari did. He thought about Temari and his heart quickened just a bit. When Ino had asked why her he could have given a different answer: Because she never pulled away.
XXXXXXXXXX
The sun was going down. She stopped for a bit to admire the magnificent sunset. It had been a pretty typical day; up before dawn to make breakfast, then out with Baki-sensei to train all day on taijutsu and ninjutsu under the merciless desert sun for ten hours, now she was on her way home for a hot bath before dinner and bed. Heading home people gave her a wide berth while acknowledging her with a shy smile or a respectful nod. As she got inside she was very glad to be home again. She moved to the main stairwell to get up to her room and private bath. She gave the small table beside the stairs a glance, that was where all messages for the Sabaku family were left. There looked to be several pieces of official correspondence. Then she spotted something with her name on it. It was a small scroll, the kind that was placed on birds. Usually those were only used for official business; but there was no state seal on it. Someone had spent a good bit of ryu to have this sent to her by the fastest means possible. Curious she broke the seal open.
The message was short and to the point, it was all of ten words.
Temari: I like steak. See you on the twentieth. Shikamaru