So here's the next part! I really gotta run! Hope you like it!

Review if you feel like it?

Disclaimer: I own nothing I swear.

-.-.-.-.-.-.

Naruto watched as Shikamaru was torn between staying or leaving to the second floor, Naruto gave him a little smile in return.

"Go see Chouji, I'll wait here, if anything happens, anything— ey listen!" He said as he watched Shikamaru open his mouth to retort. "I'll tell you, now go." He said lazily as he looked to Ino's door waiting for anyone to go out. "Chouji is fine, by the way, he just had an accident."

Shikamaru just nodded deciding it will do no good waiting there anymore and ran past the waiting area of Tenten's operation room, Asuma wasn't there anymore but he didn't gave a second thought to it as he rushed past the desk and took the stairs to the second floor. He felt like it was happening all over again, the pain, the rush, the feeling of disgrace when he had lead his team to retrieve Sasuke—hopefully he had comeback—but still, the way all his teammates except him had hit the hospital still made his stomach turn and twitch, he had felt so helpless… now Tenten was close to death, like Neji had been at the time, Ino was also fighting for her life somewhere in the third floor, and Chouji, his best friend, hit the hospital once again and once again he was alright with not a single scratch on him.

This time none of it had been his fault, his mind knew that, but somehow he felt responsible for it, if he had just been there…

He rushed past the nurse on the desk in the second floor, he yelled something: mission, important, friend and Hokage's permission. It was all a lie but the nurse didn't bother to follow him. 256…. 260… 262…

267.

He stopped on his tracks in front of his door trying to catch his breath, he took huge amounts of air before knocking on the door.

"Come on in!" Chouji's voice made it to his ears and Shikamaru smiled widely even before opening the door, his friends was in a bed, no shirt on as a bandage covered almost all his torso and arms, Shikamaru looked scandalized but decided to not ask anything a few scratches were on his face too, but his smile told him he would be fine.

Shikamaru scoffed as he made his way to him, sitting on a chair near the bed they were in silence for a minute or two, too lost in thought. "You look horrible."

Chouji smiled for a second before it was wiped down looking at him. They shared a look, there was no need to say anything, unlike talking to Shino, Chouji was easy to read, at least for him, Shikamaru was in silence for a minute or two, not knowing how to phrase it finally he sighed and looked at the ceiling before looking at his friends brown eyes, Chouji was waiting patiently for him to talk.

"She's… she's not good, Chouji." And he had felt like crying, he hadn't, but right now with Chouji injured and alone… he felt like doing so, still he managed to grip his hands together and push that feeling away from him. "She was poisoned… she is being treated on the third floor—I-I haven't seen her."

Chouji nodded, confidence in his voice. "She's going to be okay…"

Shikamaru was glad Chouji wasn't asking for the whole story because he wasn't sure if he was strong enough to tell all that he had just heard all over again, he nodded weakly.

They didn't say anything more for an hour or so, they just sat there sharing the silence. Chouji didn't tell him about his accident and Shikamaru was just too lost in his own guilt to fill him in the details. If Ino died it would be his fault, he wasn't sure how, but it would be, he could almost hear her father yelling at him because he had broke his promise to him. Always keep his princess safe.

Right now, alone as he could be with Chouji resting and almost asleep he decided to explore that feeling of his that he had long ago decided to ignore for the time being, but right now she was the only thing in his mind.

He thought of her eyes…

The bluest eyes he had ever seen, like the sky he loved to watch on summer mornings, he looked over the window, it was dark now, he smiled a little, when angry her eyes will turn a shade of dark blue and those eyes always carried bad things around them. He loved them, he could stare at them the whole day and never get bored with all the things and emotions that swam in those orbs.

Her bright blond long hair, he loved when in really good days she would let it hang lose, feeling the breeze and the way it swayed in the wind, she looked like some kind of goddess whenever she did that, it was like silk running on his hands whenever he had caught her before hitting ground.

Her voice… it was an amazing voice, full of power, and just now, thinking about the way she said his name make him shiver, he would do anything for her to yell at him again at how lazy he was, seriously, he just missed her soft voice, even if it was only to annoy him. It seemed like centuries ago when he had came to her house to retrieve her that same morning.

He loved her confidence, even in the wrong moments, he loved the way her body moved in that purple attire of hers and they way she always knew how to put him in action, how to get him motivated… she was always so sure of herself… she was a great kunoichi and he was proud to be on a team with her. She belonged in it.

Her attitude, she could take the world with just that and her smile, she was such a kind hearted woman… she was always doing the best for everyone and Shikamaru sometimes thought she didn't get the respect she deserved, she was strong, stronger than any girl he knew… she cared so much for Chouji and him, the last dead on the academy. Always putting them into trouble when possible with those lips of hers she had total power over him, time and again.

He couldn't even phrase how his heart thudded on his chest every time she trusted him, him of all people, her body when she did her mind jutsu, the way she hopelessly fell into his arm, limply and just like that always made his heart race with a thousand feelings, he never knew if she would woke up, he just only trusted her the same way he trusted him, not a lot of people gave a lot of thought to it, she fell, he catches, but it was more deep than that, and even now, after years of being together he was still the only one that did this for her, not Chouji or Asuma, him.

It was all the things she was and she was not that she loved about her.

Her lips… he didn't even dare to go there, he wondered how they would feel against his, if he kissed her would she respond?

That's when it kicked him hard on the stomach, his brain finally realizing what he had been thinking the whole time, he had known all along, since the second he had said he loved her eyes , but it took a genius like him to just find out now. Like a bucket of cold water hit him on the head, he gasped air, amused at the whole thing.

He was in love with her, madly, utterly and without turn in love with no one else but Yamanaka Ino.

Relief shoot through him as he discovered this, but god he had been so, so stupid too! He almost wanted to laugh at his frustration as he held his head on his hands a chuckle escaping his lips as at the same moment he wanted to yell in grief.

He had said it before, isn't it? He couldn't ran fast enough away from her, not that he could or wanted anyway.

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.

"Don't worry, Shikamaru, we'll see her safe and sound soon." Chouji voice reached him and Shikamaru realized he had a few tears rolling on his cheeks, surprised he wiped them off and nodded again still in daze.

"I just don't know Chouji what we are going to do without her." He said in a little voice, Chouji looked at him intently, his voice sounded so pained it worried the chubby guy. "I don't know what Im going to do without her."

They were silent for a few seconds before Chouji chuckled a little, Shikamaru raised his eyes to meet his and he was astonished at the look on Chouji face, he was laughing out loud with a huge grin, he looked like he would break his face if he kept on doing that.

"Is this happening?"

"What's… what's happening?" Shikamaru said with both his eyebrows raised.

"I think we deserve to celebrate, I feel like barbecue! What do you say?!"

Shikamaru was in all moods but celebrating wasn't in one of them "Ino is in danger and you are thinking about food?!"

"Damn it, Shikamaru! Took you quite a long time to realize it!"

Shikamaru glared at him like he was going crazy. "What? Are you okay?"

"I seriously thought this day will never come and look what had to happen for you to realize it."

"Chouji, I swear im calling a doctor if you don't stop laughing— are you okay?" Shikamaru was annoyed by now, his friend had gone crazy, and he had chosen this time to go mental?! Chouji wanted to move and winced a little when his body ached, still a little smile played on his eyes as he finally decided he wasn't able to jump out of the bed so he managed to just shrug a little.

"Ya know, I am happy that you realized your love for Ino."

The world stopped for a second before Shikamaru turned red.

"What—"

"I mean, in all this hassle that's a good thing, now we just need Ino to realize it too!" Chouji's eyes shined in anticipation, finally! The wait was over!

"That's it, Im calling a doctor."

-.-.-.-.-.-.-

Tsundae walked, finally, out of the operation room and all the presents raised to meet her, Tsundae was exhausted but smiling as she nodded to Gai. Naruto, from the other side of the hall rushed to her, waiting for her to talk.

"Tenten is stable, we are taking her to the second floor, you will be able to meet her there, she would be exhausted but lets hope awake and with energies to ease all of you and her parents before she takes a good night sleep. Right now all she needs is rest." She said with a bright smile. "She will be fine, all the poison on her veins is out, right now she is just exhausted."

A sigh chorused around the room, Tenten would be alright. Hinata had long gone left with Kiba, who had demanded her to sleep too if she refused to take care of her injures, too exhausted to wait she had finally agreed almost falling asleep on Kiba's shoulder, Neji promised to let her know anything and finally both members of Team 8 had retired.

That had been an hour ago or so, now Tsundae looked at Naruto, the smile on her face wiped off a bit, she saw over his head, Asuma was talking to Ino's parents in Ino's waiting room and sighed.

"Come Naruto." She said walking with him, a hand on his shoulder. "We still have another new to deliver."

.-.-.-.-.-.-

Shikamaru was leaning against the door of Chouji's room, he couldn't enter the place without either turning red or having Chouji smiling face on him the whole time, it annoyed him to no end, he was even surprised Chouji had known all along! Still he hated his happy face at the moment and grew tired of it so he decided to calm himself before going in… or rather go and check on Ino.

His hearth feeling heavy again, all the happiness he had felt was pulverized the second he realized there was a chance he would never see her again. Naruto promised to keep a watch on her and let him know if anything happened, right now he was still torn between if it was a good sign Naruto still hasn't come or not.

He was thinking of letting Chouji know he would check on Ino when he saw another blond walking to him, Shikamaru's heart started to ache again was he here with good news? Bad news? Was she still being operated? was she out? They looked at each other eyes, Naruto's blue eyes were incredibly sad, he looked at the ground after a second or two before looking at Shikamaru's eyes again finally reaching him, grief all over his voice and face.

"Shikamaru—"

"Where is she?" He said in a whisper.

Naruto gulped. "Her parents are upstairs… Tsundae just left for the fourth floor after giving them the news, Im here to let you guys know…"

Shikamaru still waited when Naruto's voice trailed off, his heart thudding on his chest and he wondered if Naruto could hear it. He was about to shake the blond when he spoke. "Im so sorry Shikamaru."

Shikamaru shook his head demanding an explanation. "Where is she?"

"She's… she's gone." His voice broke on the second word and he didn't need to say more and Shikamaru didn't wait either as he rushed past him and to the third floor. No.

"Shikamaru—!" Naruto yelled behind, but Shikamaru wasn't listening. No. No. No.

-.-.-.-.-.

Tsundae was just leaving a room, she was checking on a patient when she heard him before he saw him, she sighed heavily, she didn't think he would actually come and blame her, but here he was.

"I knew this was coming…" she said in a low voice, before she turned her back and asked him to following her in silence.

Shikamaru didn't his hands closed in fist, his whole body trembling.

"Why are you so calm?" Shikamaru said in hushed tone not moving one bit, he was not going to obey her anymore, his heart was in great grief, his whole world seemed to collapse on him, they were in the fourth floor, were less people was actually at, not that he cared, not that he cared about anything at the moment. The pain was just too much.

"C'mon kiddo." She said surprised looking over her shoulder. "I know you are mad… but I can explain."

Shikamaru was amused at this, she even called him kiddo, he have had enough.

"Explain?! Explain what?! That you choose Tenten over her?"

"I had too, I don't know—"

Tsundae opened her mouth, an annoyed look on her face when he stopped her.

"Yes, that's what you did! You chose! You chose and you left Ino behind! What kind of a Hokage are you?!" He yelled to her, nor caring if he would be dead tomorrow because of his foolishness. "She trusted you, time and again, entered the medics nins and trained hard for you to recognize her, she was strong! And you left her! You just decided she was expendable!"

"Shikamaru Nara! There are a lot of things you don't understand and this is one of them. I had to choose who had possibilities, and I chose the one I could save! I didn't leave Ino behind!"

Shikamaru was red on the face and was having a hard time to control himself and don't hit her, how could her?! how could she just leave her to die?!

"Tenten was in great danger, she was almost gone when I reached here, Shikamaru. So yes, I took her with me to save her life." Tsundae glared at him her hands crossed over her chest, she looked pretty dangerous, not that he cared, and for all things she was blond! Blond like the girl he had just lost. "I made a choice and I chose her, she was weak, no one else could have save her but me, I saved her life, that's is why I did what I did and I really can't understand why are you so upset, you are a genius, you see all the results in your head isn't it?"

"That does not mean I don't care when you left her to die, when she trusted you and you just left her to die. I have feelings! I am human too! I had made promises…"

Tsundae's eyes darted from him to someone behind him, Shikamaru didn't look behind, she narrowed his eyes at the person and then at him.

"What—"

"She's dead…" Shikamaru said and suddenly he felt like something was tugging inside his chest. Its like he needed to say it so it could be true. "Dead because you had to choose, Naruto told me, what am I supposed to say to her parents?! To Sakura and Chouji?! To myself?! I didn't—I never…."

His voice trailed off he swayed but stayed on his feet, his anger returned as he glared at her, Tsundae was lost at words as she registered what he had said. "From now on I am not longer a ninja of Konoha, I quit."

Naruto was behind Shikamaru and Shikamaru just rushed past him walking fast, fists on his pockets, Tsundae looked at the retrieving back of the Nara boy for a long time, way too bewildered to do anything else. She breathed twice and then out of the blue she snapped at Naruto, Naruto swears he had never seen her so angry, scratch that, he had never seen anyone that angry, not even Sakura when he tells her she's fat just out of jokes and that's a lot.

So yeah, the hokage was irradiating a killer aura at the moment even he could detect.

"Naruto Uzumaki! What have you done?!" She said taking the kid from his front jacket and snapped at him, Naruto smiled sheepishly as his hand went to his neck, a little bit red on the face.

"I just thought he needed a revelation of feelings. He he…"

The screams Tsundae was giving Naruto left the whole fourth floor shaking as a lot of nurses ran to the third or second floor, away from her, how could Naruto still be alive was still a wonder, well, privileges of being the Hokage's favorite.

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.

He ran, his first idea was to ran away from the hospital, he was just too damaged to face Chouji right now, he was probably crying nonstop on his bed after Naruto had told him the news and he wanted to leave him alone for a while, but he couldn't. Sooner or later they would take Ino's body away, he had to see her, even if it meant he would never see her she just had to see her face one last time.

His whole body ached, pain exploded on his heart, he had been too dumb to realize how much he loved her, and now she would never know. He will never know.

He ran past Chouji's room and into the third floor and finally came to a stop in the room 345, the room besides the operation room… if Ino was somewhere it was here. He just hoped her parents weren't there yet… he sighed it took all his power will to finally turn the knob, he took a huge amount of breath, hot tears running already from his eyes, he blinked a few times. He just needed a minute alone with her before her parents came, just one minute.

Why did this have to happen?!

He imagined Ino would hate him for taking so long so he just opened the door slowly, his breath caught on the beautiful girl, her hair around her, she was peaceful, her eyes closed and her head to one side, he could see her face perfectly and he wondered why of all people she had to die today.

He walked into the room, closed the door and that was all that it took to him as he fell to the floor, back against the door, holding his hands tightly.

"Ino?" He said with a shaking voice, she did not move, she did not respond. He sighed heavily and he couldn't take it, he cried.

-.-.-.-.-.-.-

Ino had been so tired after being out of the operation room that she had fell asleep the second her head touched the soft pillow, she had calmed her parents and finally a nurse had asked them to leave her to rest, they could see her in the morning, at first they refused saying it was indeed their little girl but seeing Ino was really out of energies they promised to come in the morning, right now she was dreaming of beautiful blue skies and a peaceful clear. She stirred a bit. Something was bugging her… a noise.

She didn't open her eyes but her mind was remembering, a little bit awake now… slowly, painfully, she didn't know what had happened, it took her a few minutes to understand she had collapsed… and as Tsundae had said to her parents and her she had been poisoned… she hadn't give too much of thought, then she found quite amusing how her last memory was her collapsing on the grass and the next was her waking up on the postoperation room after being a success with both her parents beside her.

She wondered how and what had happened but her mind was too foggy, right now again the noise disturbed her, finally she opened her eyes, slowly and painfully, then they snapped open, her mouth forming an little o as her eyebrows furrowed. Cause at the door was a crying Shikamaru his head looking down as he clasped his hands together.

She wanted to talk to him, to ask him what was wrong, did Tenten die?! Was the first time it crossed his mind, but surely Shikamaru wouldn't be crying because of that, finally with great effort as she winced she sat on the bed, Shikamaru still didn't notice as her legs touched the cold floor, she scoffed. She was so weak she was sure she would fall to the floor if she even dared to stand up.

"Oi, Shikamaru! What's wrong?" She said horrified at seeing him like this, he was crying even more than the time he had cried on her shoulder when Chouji almost died, all those months ago. "Shikamaru!"

She called him twice before Shikamaru's head snapped in her direction, eyes red he just stared at her, he was silent for a minute or two and Ino started to get impatient, worry painted on her face, what had happened to him? Was Asuma okay? She couldn't remember everything.

"Shikamaru, why are you crying?! Are you okay? Its everything alright?"

Silence.

"Where's Chouji?" She said looking around, then back at him. "I cant get up, sorry, but come, sit, you look— devastated. Did something happen? I—Asuma said everything was fine…"

She asked again, again silence. Shikamaru was looking at her like if she was the most amazing thing in the universe, like it was the first time he had ever seen the sky, she felt kind of naked right now with only the hospital robes on her and his stare at her.

"Shikamaru!"

No response.

"I swear!" She said now trying to get energies to walk to him and shake him out of this daze. "Answer to me! Is everyone alright?! Is Tenten fine?!"

"Am I dead?" He asked finally cutting her off, Ino said one of those clever things like:

"Whaa?"

"Im dead, surely." He said still staring at her, a little smile gracing his face, like in a daze, the tears had stopped but still they traced his face. "Cause you are dead… so— perfect, now im dead too, just perfect. My mom is going to kill me." He said in a grief tone, he chuckled a little. "Well, not that she can, im already gone… I wonder how I did it."

Ino stared at him like he had gone crazy, alright, she said to herself, it was time to kick him hard so he could come back to reality, her heart ached just thinking he thought that not only her but him was dead too, seriously, everybody called him a genius and she couldn't help but wonder where was that brain on his at the moment.

"Or maybe a dream, that's another option."

Ino scoffed at him, still too weak to walk to him, why he couldn't walk to her instead?!

"Alright, genius! Stop that! Of course you are not dead and for all I know Im not dead either! So stop… stop looking at me that way!" Ino said blushing slightly, remembering clearly in her mind what she had discovered a second before all turned black and she had fainted. When she had seen his face on his mind, when her last thought had been him she had known… deep inside her heart, and now seeing him there with her crying… was breaking her. She wanted it to stop but she wasn't sure how much she could do about it.

"A dream then."

Ino had enough of his stupid talk.

"What are you talking about?! Im not dead, this is not a dream! I am here! What—Oh Kami, who did this to you?!" Ino said as she tried to rise from the bed, only wearing the not so long dressing gown of the hospital, she swayed and as she was about to fall before Shikamaru's reflexes kicked in and took her by the shoulders, steadying her.

Shikamaru wondered how his mind could play such tricks on him. "You feel… so real." Then he glared at her a little, his anger returning to him. "Why Ino? How could you just leave me behind?! After everything we have gone through, after all this years! When I love you so much how could you just simply give up on living?! What am I supposed to do now?! How am I supposed to let you go when in the first place I never had you?" He wanted to rip his heart out. "How?"

Ino's eyes snapped open, he really thinks im dead. She ignored the part of him loving her, he was acting like this because he really thought she was gone, it didn't mean anything, her heart refused to believe his words at a moment like this. He cared, that's all. They were friends, very good friends and right now he was suffering. Still she panicked at hearing his tone full of pain, she was the cause of it and she needed to mend it.

"No, no no, Im here, alive and breathing! Who told you I was dead? Tsundae?" She said disbelief in her voice, somehow she was sure that was not possible. "I would never leave you behind! Who—"

"It doesn't matter…" Shikamaru said ignoring her question, he stroked a lock that fell on her face and put it away, smiling slightly, his anger went off as he had heard those words, course he had left him, but it felt good to hear her say otherwise. "It doesn't matter."

"It does!" She shrieked in his arms, as he encircled her by her waist, she was red by now and she was hyperventilating, she was almost happy that he was holding her cause right now she was sure she would long gone had fallen to the floor due to her nervousness and weakness at the moment. "Im not dead! Snap out of it!"

She needed him to realize she was real! Oh she was so going to kill the person who told him she was dead, she was already making plans on her head. Still Shikamaru was looking like in a dream, finally she slapped him and left her hand there on his cheek, mad about him, he was the smart one here isn't it? That's when she noticed his shock, not because of her slap, oh no. His expression was pained, he had a light smile on his face but his eyes… it looked like he had been on hell and back.

Ino's eyes softened as well as her voice as she relaxed a little on his embrace, finally she sighed giving in. "What can I say to make you see im here? Huh? Oh god, this is going to be so embarrassing when you finally see the light!" She said half joking, cause he never looked at her like that, sure he thought this was his imagination, but really how thick can he be?! Tomorrow she doubted if she would be strong enough to face him. "You are so stupid."

"I've been told." He said and without waiting another second, another heart beat or a reply he kissed her.

Ino was just too in shock to react, her mind wanted to do something but her body refused, she couldn't even kiss him back! After a moment or two he pulled away, finally the daze was wearing off his eyes, he was frowning down at her, his mind running around, like if this was a strange dream then why she wasn't kissing him back? At least he felt like he deserved to be kissed even if it was a lie, even if it was just on his head!

His eyes snapped open as he felt the stare of those blue eyes he loved on his. He felt her… really felt her, her skin against his, he saw her pretty face and those lips that were frozen a little bit open. He opened his mouth once… twice… his hand on her bare back, her hands on his chest, limply between them two, they stood there unable to move. He noticed how her chest moved as she breathed.

Breathed.

Oh damn. He didn't know how to feel.

"Shikamaru?"

Shikamaru breathed in, she was… she was…his eyes were glazed, a single tear wanted to roll out as he blinked nonstop, Ino thought he would let her go now that he had finally realized she was alive and breathing and fine. Still he just looked at her in pure shock; two tears finally ran out, if anything he just held her closer. Ino smirked in his direction, her eyes twinkling, her hand was still on his cheek as she tilted her head to the side, with her other hand she took away those tears, it didn't suit him to cry, if anything the one who always cried was her, he looked like the most vulnerable man in front of her right now, he always acted like he could take everything. If she loved him before right now it just doubled.

"Hey, not my fault, I told you I was alive." She said in a whisper as this time she hugged him back both arms around his, her face on the crock of his neck hiding her face from him, she was blushing nonstop but she was glad to be alive right now, with him. Shikamaru wanted to laugh but he just held her close, breathing her in, his heart filled with pure happiness as she realized that yes... she was alive, breathing , safe and sound in his arms.

They stood there, just hugging each other for minutes not wanting to let go.

"You are so stupid." Ino finally said in his ear, grogginess taking her, she was so but so tired.

"Yeah..." He said finally picking her over by her legs and flung her on her bed again, like she was made of the finest crystal and she could break any moment. "So I've been told."

-.-.-.-.

There! It's a long chapter! Now we only have a few more chapters, wup wup! The third day of the trade (what were you thinking? That the trade was over? Oh no!)

Well, hope you like and I didn't disappoint you, if anything blame Naruto, he just really does not when to stop! Isnt it? But im kind of fond of that blond guy.

Im sorry if Shikamaru looked a little bit OC but understand, he tought it was either a dream or he was dead, on dreams we don't act like we usually do, he really thought she was dead so what if he just talked non stop about him loving her? Forgive the poor Nara boy, he was just in too much pain.

It seems Kiba's and Naruto's plan its done!

Review please please please?

-Juliet'lovestory-