All the Naras stared at the door along with Mrs. Haruno. Then Mrs. Nara broke the silence. "So! What's this about having that idiot Inoichi's daughter as a fiancé?" she asked, anger in her eyes, "Knowing that girl she could be more dense than the nine-tailed brat…" she mumbled the last part, but it reached Shikamaru's ears.

"And what the hell does that mean?!" Mr. Nara yelled. Shikamaru glared at Mrs. Nara. His own mother! His own mother had insulted one of his best friends while criticizing his woman! 'I've had enough!' his mind screamed. He was about to open his mouth when Mr. Nara cut him off. "Inoichi happens to be one of my best friends, in case you've forgotten," he said, than walked to his son and put a hand on his shoulder, "And I gave it a lot of thought and I think Ino is a perfect wife for you." Then his father smiled.

"Besides, she's the only one that can keep you off your lazy butt. And I can teach your son some jutsus, if you have a son!"

"Dad!" Shikamaru blushed.

"Shikaku! Are you really allowing our son to be-wed a weakling dumbass?!" His mother yelled. "Besides, if he can't marry Sakura, then he'll marry that Temari girl from the Sand! At least she knows how to fight."

"OH, HELL NO!!" Shikamaru screamed. He was getting tired of this. "Besides, you say Ino can't fight? Heh, Ino and Temari had a fight over me and one got seriously injured. Guess who got injured?"

"Of course it would be Yamanaka! That's why-" but he cut his mother off. "Ino won. Temari had a broken arm, sprained ankle, and a cracked rib. But know this. Even if Ino lost, I would still choose her." he said, than walked out of the house. Mrs. Nara stared at the door dumbfounded. "Well he can't marry without my consent!" she sniffed haughtily, "Hinoto, will you and your husband accompany me in trying to make Sakura and Shika be-wed?"

Just then, Mr. Haruno came in, hate evident on his face while mumbling, "I hate that Uchiha.." Hinoto looked at her husband. "Of course we will." he said with determination.

"Well then, I will be at the house, laughing at your idiocy. Good day." Shikaku muttered while walking out.

00000000000000meanwhile other side of town00000000000000

Ino sat on a swing in the Konoha Park, eyes downcast.

0000000000000000Flashback000000000000000

Ino had been having a good day, dressed in the same thing she wears almost everyday. But this time, she had a beautiful diamond ring on her finger. Yesterday Shika had proposed to her and she loved the thought of being called Ino Nara. A couple days back she had even fought with Temari over Shikamaru.

At this, she smiled proudly. She had come out with two bruises and eight scratches, while Temari looked as if she was dead, not just unconscious. Ino looked at her ring once more before noticing that she was walking by her best friend's house. 'OH! I CAN TELL HER THE NEWS!!' she thought excitedly.

She slowed to a halt when she noticed the sliding door was open. 'I know! I'll surprise her!' she thought. But then she heard talking. It was muffled, but she could hear Mr. Haruno speaking. "Shikamaru Nara, Sakura Haruno, from this day forth…….." 'Oh, Shika-kun's here to-'

"You are to be married in two months time!" Mrs. Nara screamed. That one sentence, and her world shattered. Her knees buckled and she was silently crying, oblivious to the argument inside. After a few more minutes, she hauled herself up and started to walk away. That was until she heard someone yell, "WHAAAT?!" Ino wipped around so fast, that her feet didn't move like she had hoped. She let out a yelp as she collided on the ground. She looked up hoping no one saw her. Fortunately, she had fallen into some shrubbery. But when she looked up, she saw warm eyes pointed in her direction.

For the next three minutes, she didn't dare move, since Shika's eyes had not turned away. Then Mr. Haruno grabbed Sakura's right wrist, making all eyes, including Shikamaru's, turn to them. Ino then made a mad dash out onto the village streets. She stopped for a split second and ran straight for the Konoha local park.

000000000000000End flashback0000000000000000

Ino's eyes had started forming new tears when someone called her name. 'Shikamaru…?'

"Ino…."