Wow I'm doing good this week. Chapter 11 is here, so I do hope you enjoy it. Disclaimer Disclaimer. I don't own any of these guys, they're all the Naruto Creator's. R&R, no flames, enjoy!

Ino was hurled out of Shikamaru's house, causing her to grunt as she hit the snowy ground and slid slightly. Tayuya couldn't help but grin, even though she had been heartbroken, hit over the head, and thrown in jail, she had plenty of energy and fire to see Ino being thrown out.She lifted a suitcase with her things in it and hurled it out at Ino. Ino, who had just gotten up to her knees, got the wind knocked out of her as it collided with her stomach,

sending her back into the snow face first. Ino lifted her teary miserable face and looked at the two in the doorway. Her plan had failed, and unless she did something, and now, then she was going to lose him forever. "Get outa here!" yelled Tayuya, eyes narrow, Shikamaru simply standing next to her, arms folded. Ino got back up to her knees as Shikamaru moved to close the door "W..wait!!! Please!!" Shikamaru stopped...then pushed it open slightly, glaring out at her. "...Make it quick you troublesome wench..." Ino was shaking, tears were leaking down her face, hitting the snowy ground. "...Shikamaru please...please don't just kick me out in the snow.." she pleaded, staring at him with her misty blue eyes. Shikamaru shut his eyes and looked away "...You had your chance." He moved to shut the door once more. Ino, knowing it was her final chance, screamed the first thing that came to her mind.

"I LOVE YOU!!!"

Shikamaru froze, hand gripping the door tightly. Tayuya felt her heart sink and her smile fade...her eyes widen...and her mouth gently fall open. The door had closed just enough to hide Ino from view. Tayuya silently prayed that he would just shake his head and shut the door, but her fears were confirmed as Shikamaru reopened the door and stared at Ino. Ino was now bowing to him, on her knees, her hands clasped together beneath her, her head down,
eyes staring at the snow, blonde hair falling in pools on the white snow. She was trembling hard, her sobs had quited down to shakey breaths. "P-please...Shikamaru..." She trembled harder, starting to cry again "Please don't kick me out..." She couldnt hold it back anymore and finally just cried uncontrollably, gripping the snowy ground with clenched fists. To Tayuya it was the most pathetic shit her eyes had had the displeasure of viewing, but Shikamaru slowly bit his lip, staring at Ino. Temari had come forward, having been invited to stay the night as the snow had fallen harder than expected, almost shin deep in some places,
and peered over Tayuya and Shikamaru's shoulders, Ino's confession of love had reached her ears as well. Shikamaru gently leaned against the door frame and covered his face with a hand, thinking hard. He finally lifted his eyes over that hand. "...Get up...and get in" he whispered softly.

Tayuya put her hand over her forehead, and shut her eyes, shaking her head as Temari gently rose her eyebrow. Ino silently got up to her feet with just a little difficulty, her legs wouldn't stop shaking. She slowly picked up her things, hugging them tightly and staring at Shikamaru with an anxious and nervous expression. "...get in..." repeated Shikamaru, his arms folded. Ino gently took a step forward, then a second step, then continued in this manner until she made it beside Shikamaru. She stopped and slowly looked at him "I...I meant it...what I said..." she whispered, before turning her head away and walking inside. Tayuya stared at Ino as she entered the living room and sat down on the couch, hugging herself, then turned to stare up at Shikamaru. She wanted to scold him...when would helearn??? Yet all she could do was stare in disbeleif as Shikamaru shut the door behind him then gently rested his forehead on it, eyes shut, giving the impression that Shikamaru had had a very long day. Tayuya gently took hold of his arm "...c'mon...let's get you to bed..." Shikamaru said nothing as he was steered up the stairs, taken into his room, and laid down to bed. Shikamaru very gently looked at her then shut his eyes and looked away, rolling over onto his side. Tayuya toyed with her fingers, watching Shikamaru, who merely laid there, doing nothing. Tayuya wanted nothing more than to join him, but there were some things she needed to take care of first.

Tayuya left the room and walked down the hall, fists clenched and eyes narrowed, ready to berate Ino for her unforgiveable crimes. How did that little slut, after lieing and plotting against her plans to get closer to Shikamaru, manage to convince Shikamaru to let her still live here. It was unheard of, it was unfair, it had to be a joke. She stormed down the stairs and into the living room. The first thing she did was pull her hand back and throw a punch at Ino. Ino threw her arms up with a squeal but his fist never connected with her face. Tayuya let out a squeal of her own as her hand connected with Temari's folded fan. Tayuya pulled her hand back, tears of pain welling in her eyes "What the fuck??" Temari opened one eye, pulling her fan back to her, then leaned it onto the wall and looked back at her "...look.I'm going to make us all tea...and you're both going to behave..." Ino opened her eyes and looked from Temari back to Tayuya. Tayuya was seething with anger "Mind your own damn buisness" she spat. Temari got up and walked into the kitchen, her interuption had left Tayuya just enough time to think about her chosen course of action. She slowly lowered her fist and sunk into a chair arms folded. She knew full well Shikamaru had enough to deal with, thanks to that slimey pig Ino, and after the previous greif she had caused him by slamming her fist into Ino's little piggy nose, flatting it out so it looked like that of the animal she was named after, she knew better than to try anything. So she went with words instead.

"What the hell is your problem?"

"What the hell is my problem? You're the one that just tried to-"

"I know god damn well what I tried to do, and had Temari not been there, I woulda done it.
Again, and again, and again"

"Why are you so-"

"Because you're a nosey little slut whore, that's why"

"Well your just jealous..."

Tayuya cocked her head and rose her eyebrow. "Jealous...?...You've gotta be kidding..." said Tayuya in a voice reaking with sarcasm. To that, Ino folded her arms and gave her a steady gaze. "You're just jealous...that I told Shikamaru-kun that I love him first...I beat you to him..." Tayuya slowly clenched her fists, she couldn't let Ino win, no way in hell. So she was going to break the promise she had made, the promise she had made Shikamaru swear not to ever mention. Tayuya leaned in close to Ino, glaring at her, then whispered "...beat me to him...?...Whore...I've already slept with him..." Ino's eyes slowly widened and she looked at her. Tayuya slowly smirked "...He took me on his own bed" she lied softly, letting out a tiny laugh at Ino's expression. "...you didn't beat me...and you haven't beaten me...and you won't beat me..."

Ino narrowed her eyes as Tayuya slid back into her own chair, her face adorned with a very smug expression, satisfied she had made her point clear, just as Temari came back in with a tray of 3 cups. She set it down on the table with a gentle sigh "Enjoy you guys". Ino stared into hers, a leaf was floating silently in it. Temari glanced at it then sighed "I'm sorry Ino, but the plant in the kitchen is sort of dieing, that leaf must have fallen in when I brushed past it. Ino had a small smile on her face "Oh that's alright...a leaf in your tea is supposed to be good luck...right?" Temari scoffed and glanced away "Well yea if you really believe in that sort of...Tayuya?...What's wrong?" asked Temari softly, looking at Tayuya's exprssion. Tayuya was staring down at her cup, her hand had stopped just short of grabbing it. There was a long crack in the side of her cup that hadn't been there when Temari was filling the glasses. Temari shut one eye "...well...that's no good...that's the symbol for bad luck" she mumbled, then blinked, looking at Tayuya's wary expression. Temari shrugged and took a sip of her own

"I mean...if you believe in that sort of thing..."

Tayuya silently trudged up the stairs, she had wanted to get out of there, and as quickly as she could as well, the sooner she did, the sooner she could get into bed with Shikamaru and let all her troubles just slip away. As she dragged her feet along the floor and took a look into the room through the cracked door, she saw that Shikamaru was no longer in his bed. She pushed the door open and saw Shikamaru, arms resting on the window sill, forehead pressed against the pane, eyes half open, just staring out into the dark snowy night. He looked tired and worn, but had too much on his mind to sleep. Tayuya silently pushed the door open, and stepped inside and looked at him again. Shikamaru made no movement or said a word to tell her he was aware of her presence there, he just kept staring out silently into the darkness.Tayuya silently walked toward him, barefeet making tiny soft steps. After what seemed like an hour she made it behind him, and gently rested her hand on his back. She felt him tense up slightly, then relax, looking back at her. Tayuya had a caring and gentle look on her face, eyes soft and understanding. She didn't even have to say a word, neither did he. Shikamaru turned and silently rested his head on her shoulder, Tayuya's arms wrapping around him to hold him up, her hand stroking the back of his head. Shikamaru took a deep breath and silently let it out through his nose. This had been a hard day, the realization that Ino loved him took everything out of him mentally, his brain pleaded with him to sleep. Shikamaru felt himself being led over to the bed, which he silently laid down in, on his side, facing the wall. This time however, he felt the weight on the bed shit, and a pair of arms slip between his own, hugging him tightly from behind. Shikamaru nuzzled the pillow a bit, it didn't take long for sleep to finally overtake him.

She shut her eyes and even though she felt bad for him, on the inside she was actually smiling. No matter what the future held, no matter what the tea leaves read, nothing could spoil this moment. This one single moment in time where everything felt alright.

Hope you enjoyed that, phew, cranking out 3 chapters at once sure is fun Expect more if you review more!