Thanks for all the reviews, much appreciated. Thank you, Hokatu Yuy, for pointing out my error in spellig, I've fixed it now. I don't own any Naruto charachters or the show, if I did, then it'd be just one big orgy. Enjoy the chapter.

The next few days found Shikamaru and Tayuya, followed (or stalked) by Ino and her unwilling sidekick, Chouji, who mumbled as he was dragged along on these investigations. Today's mission was to follow Shikamaru and Tayuya to lunch, a nice simple resteraunt. Ino and Chouji silenlty snuck in, hiding 2 or 3 booths away from the two. Ino slid into her chair, pulling Chouji in by his scarf and just looked at the menu, listening closely to the conversation the two were having, ignoring, or shushing Chouji's periodical complaints of hunger.

"So really, cloud watching isn't all that bad...great way to take your mind off things" said Shikamaru, taking a sip of his water. Tayuya blinked, her chin resting on her hands "I never thought about it like that before...it sounds kind of boring.." "Nice and quiet, actually"Tayuya smirked and shut her eyes, "Sounds like you Nara..." Ino blinked slightly at the lack of juicy evidence, touching, kissing or hugging. "Inooo..." whined Chouji softly "They're not even holding hands, can't we just-" "Will you hush up??" whispered Ino. "Hey you two" said a voice. Ino slowly turned her head then grinned, playing with her fingers "Hey there Shikamaru,
what a weird coincidence!" said Ino quickly. She elbowed Chouji and after a whine Chouji nodded "Totally weird" Shikamaru shrugged while Tayuya watched Ino with suspicion in her eyes. Ino narrowed her eyes a little "I need to talk to Tayuya-san for a sec" and with that, she gripped Tayuya's arm and tugged her out of the resteraunt. Shikamaru blinked then looked down at Chouji who sighed with exasperation and motioned for him to sit down. He did so and Chouji rested his chin in his arms "You know what she's doing here..right?" asked Chouji. Shikamaru had a faint idea, but he shrugged again. "Spying on you" mumbled Chouji, watching his gesture with a single open eye, "She doesn't trust Tayuya at all.." Shikamaru smirked "She's just being Ino"
Chouji opened both eyes "That's the thing though, I can't say I trust her either." Shikamaru blinked, turning his attention to his best friend. That was to be expected, he supposed. Afterall, Tayuya wasn't exactly an Angel, and her record had more black marks then her face when she went into curse seal form. "I think I can trust her..." said Shikamaru after a minute.
To that, Chouji shrugged. "Look...this is just coming from your best friend...take it or leave it but-"

Ino pushed Tayuya against a wall and growled "You're nothing but trouble, one of Orochimaru's own"
Tayuya growled and held herself back from beating the shit out of her. Instead she forcefully shoved her back "Not anymore I'm not, dip shit!" Ino growled and glared at her "I don't want you touching Shikamaru-kun!" Tayuya glared back, what buisness was it of her what she did with Shikamaru? "I'll do what I damn well please with Shikamaru! After all we're-"

"-Living together" continued Shikamaru, hands resting on the table. Tayuya's really opened up to me, and I really think she's changed." Chouji watched with a mixed expression, he wanted to believe Shikamaru, but Tayuya's reputation was against her, he didn't want anything bad to happen to his best friend. "Look...all I'm saying is-"

"-Your a little slut that's looking for a good time!" spat Ino. To this, Tayuya slammed her fist into Ino's belly, causing her to squeal in pain "SAY THAT AGAIN BITCH!" roared Tayuya as he put her in a head lock and rammed her fist into her chest a second time. Ino struggled to get free but Tayuya grabbed her by her long blonde hair and pulled her forcefully behind the building,
in an alley. He took her by the collar of her shirt and rammed her into the wall, holding her there. Ino kicked and struggled against Tayuya, throwing blind punches "LET GO OF ME, I'LL-"

"-tell you if there's ever any problems...but I really do thinks she's gotten better.." finished Shikamaru. Chouji sighed and finally nodded "Maybe your right...but you know we're just worried.
and we're only looking out for whats-"

"-WRONG WITH YOU!?" spat Tayuya in her face. "Why are you spying on us? Why are you pushing your nose into our buisness, huh!?" "Because unlike you I-"

"-care about you man" said Chouji, patting his shoulder. Shikamaru smiled slightly "Thanks.
I'll keep that in-"

"-MIND YOU OWN, GODDAMN BUISNESS!" roared Tayuya, throwing Ino to the snowy ground. Tayuya stopmed off but Ino got back on her feet and slammed into Tayuya from behind, tackling her "YOU LITTLE WHORE!" Shikamaru and Chouji came out of the resteraunt and stared at the two.
Chouji ran up to them and pulled Ino off of Tayuya, leaving Shikamaru to subdue Tayuya before she gouged Ino's eyes out. "She attacked me!!" stormed Ino, struggling wildly against Chouji's grip. "LET GO!" "Chill out Ino, seriously!" pleaded Chouji, pulling Ino back a ways from Tayuya and Shikamaru. Shikamaru was using all his power to hold Tayuya down, she was thrashing and raging, glaring at Ino. "IM GONNA FUCK YOU UP!!!" "That's not..gona...happen..Tayuya!" said Shikamaru through gritted teeth. After a minute or two the scene calmed down and Tayuya and Ino were now just glaring at one another. Shikamaru looked at Ino "Listen..." Ino blinked and looked up at Shikamaru. "I know your looking out for me..but I can trust Tayuya..I know it"
Ino just stared "...Shika...maru?" Shikamaru genlty pulled Tayuya up to her feet and knocked some of the snow off her knees and pants then looked over at Chouji and Ino. "Seriously Ino"
mumbled Shikamaru, rubbing his head "Haven't you thought once that maybe Tayuya had changed"
Ino paused then shook her head, still eyeing Tayuya. "If she wanted me dead, she would have already done it..." continued Shikamaru, watching her with his small dark eyes. Ino looked down, blinking gently, then looked away, her blue eyes gazing at the snow.

For the longest time now, Ino's crush had been Sasuke..but sasuke was long gone..and her eyes had shifted to new goals..like winning Shikamaru's heart. But now with this new competition.
she silently wondered if she would be once again cast aside and overlooked. The fire in Ino suddenly roared as a plan formed. Tayuya and Shikamaru had begun to walk away, so Ino watched them, nowplanning at blinding speeds. 'If Shikamaru...is getting close to Tayuya because she's living with him...then...' a tiny smile formed on Ino's face as she hatched a plan. 'This isn't over...not by a long shot...'

Shikamaru looked at Tayuya, who was watching the ground as they walked along "..what have I told you about fights...Tayuya?" asked Shikamaru gently. Tayuya looked up at him "but...Shikamaru she was spying on us, and she told me I was no good" "You know how Ino is...and it's not like you haven't done anything..." Tayuya snorted and looked back down at the ground "..But you think I'm better..right?" Shikamaru sighed and nodded, hands in his pockets "..yea..I think something inside of you has changed..." Tayuya watched him with gentle brown eyes 'You don't even know the half of it...Nara' thought Tayuya to herself before sighing. "..I'll..try to keep my temper..." she mumbled. Shikamaru looked over at her then gently put his arm around her "..don't worry too much about it..just try to stay away from Ino. Tayuya shut her eyes and held back the smile inside that was beginning to show on the outside "alright alright..don't get too mushy on me Nara.." Shikamaru smirked and gently pulled his hand back, but Tayuya was not resting her holding onto the arm that was around her, slung over her shoulder. Shikamaru blushed a little but smiled all the same as the two walked back home.

That evening was a quiet one, both Shikamaru and Tayuya ate the dinner that this time Tayuya had made. Shikamaru was actually enjoying it..she wasn't half bad.. There was a knock at the door and with a sigh Shikamaru stood up "..I'll go and get that" he mumbled. He walked to the door and opened it, and was genuinley surprised when she saw Ino standing there, arms folded in a cold way. "..H...hi...S..shikamaru" mumbled Ino. Shikamaru leaned against the doorway "Ino..what are you doing here...your wearing a skirt in the snow.." "I..I know but..I didn't have much time to change...see...moneys been...kind of tight lately...and I couldn't afford my apartment anymore..so I had to...leave.."

This, at least, was true. Ino was having trouble with finances, she was never very good with things like that. Shikamaru was now watching her with soft eyes "...Ino..." Ino lowered her eyes. Now it was just a matter of sealing the deal. "I know...you already have someone living here and..I know that..I can be..troublesome..." her eyes gently lifted back up to his face,
this is where Ino's crocodile tears came into play, silenlty filling her eyes. "..I just need a place to stay..just until I can make things right...please...Shikamaru-Kun.." Shikamaru's eyes told Ino she had caught him, hook like and sinker. How could he possibly say no to her?
Shikamaru shut his eyes, rubbing his forehead "...alright Ino...come in..." Ino nodded and walked in, rubbing her hands together. "Tayuya?" called Shikamaru gently. Tayuya walked out and froze, seeing Ino. Shikamaru gently put his hand on Ino's shoulder "...Ino's going to be staying with us for a bit...you don't mind..right?"

I'm gona go out on a limb and say she probably does, but you'll find out in the next chapter R&R, and thanks again.