When it came to describing Shiho, all I had were the black and white references from the manga. However, after having recently seen her in color, I still prefer her with brown hair. I didn't really think the murky-blond color she has in the anime is all that interesting, so I'm going to stick with the light brown color I first picked for her.

Also, if any of you are interested, I posted a story a little while back that addresses the relationship between Shikamaru's parent- the Naras, Shikaku and Yoshino. Anyway, special thanks to StaceyAndStars, Cardlover95, Katqueen95, Naf-Nav and everyone else. I hope you guys enjoy this and will continue reading.

BETWEEN THE LINES

Part IV:

"Faith, Treachery, & Love"

…o.o.o...

Shiho sighed as her mother worked at her hair- running her fingers through the lather. The usually bespectacled teen was seated as he mother hovered over her, working to reign in her unruly brown hair- pausing now and then to tend to the odd strand that seemed to want to go its own way.

Shiori Tanazaki smiled inwardly as she tended to her daughter's neglected locks. For her daughter to finally swallow her pride and ask her for help, she guessed that the young man she wanted to look good in front had to be something pretty impressive.

Shiho tended to take after her father (another bookworm) in many aspects, so Shiori knew how tight-lipped her daughter could be at times. The older woman decided that it was best to simply cut to the chase in these matters. "So, tell me Shiho- what's this boy like?"

Shiho blushed at the question, but quickly relented as she was at her mother's mercy. After collecting her thoughts, she responded. "Er, well... He's smart and thoughtful... And he's also really nice, once you get to know him." She remarked with some effort. "Yeah, I guess you could say that he's not like other Shinobi." She added nervously.

The mother's interest was now peaked. "My, he certainly sounds like a very a intriguing young man... You certainly seem taken with him." She replied with a smile. "Though... is he handsome?" She asked in a devious tone.

Much to the woman's delight, the girl blushed at the question. "W-w-well, I think he is... So y-yeah, he's g-good looking." Shiho sputtered in response, blushing a deeper shade of red. "But that's not the only reason..." She added.

Shiori looked down at her daughter with a smile. "Really, and what would that be?"

Shiho glanced up at her mother for a moment, then back down. "Well this is just me... But personally, I think he's really cool." She admitted nervously with a smile and a blush.

...o.o.o...

Shikamaru was sitting across from Chouji in a cafe, making small talk with his friend, when Ino suddenly walked into the cafe. As she stood in the doorway for a moment, her two teammates noticed an odd distant look in her eyes. She then looked at them, still showing no emotion as she walked over to their table and looked directly at Shikamaru.

The dark-haired teen smiled and was about to make some clever remark, when Ino grabbed hold of him by the collar of his flack vest and pulled him up from his seat and leaned in closer. "Oh, I'm sorry, I do hope I'm not interrupting anything." She began in an unnervingly cheerful tone and a big smile on her face. She looked over to Chouji, still smiling. "Please excuse us for a moment."

She then turned back to Shikamaru. "Would you like to know what happened to me yesterday? I think you would because it really is ever so fascinating... You do? How perfect- I can't wait to tell you all about it!" She exclaimed with a smile, never bothering to let Shikamaru get a word in. The whole time this went on, Chouji remained deathly silent.

Ino's vice-grip on his collar held strong as she continued. "You see, I was working at the flowershop yesterday when someone happened to drop in... I don't suppose you would happen to know who it was, now would you?" She asked, again not waiting for an answer. "Yes, that's right, it was none other then Sai!" she exclaimed. "And let me tell you that the two of us had a very stimulating and lengthy conversation about all sorts of lovely things!"

Ino suddenly let go of Shikamaru, causing him to crash back down unceremoniously onto the bench inside the booth. "But you know what I found even more fascinating than discussing the complexities of emotions with Sai?" She asked as she leaned in. "Well I'll tell you... Sai happened to mention that it was you who recommended that he come talk to me!" She exclaimed with a smile. "Now I wonder why you did that, hmm?"

Shikamaru made another attempt to speak, but the blond slammed her fist down on the table and glared at him. "Shut up!" She snapped. "I bet you think you're pretty smart, don't you...? Well think again, because I have no intention of giving you the pleasure of hearing about me squirm!" She announced in a low tone. "The next time you try and pull a stunt like that, I'll show you just how 'troublesome' a woman I can really be- got it?"

She then stood back up and turned to leave. "Now if you two will excuse me, I have things to do- I don't want to keep my newest friend waiting." With that said, she promptly left the cafe- leaving her two male teammates in a state of shock.

Chouji watched as Shikamaru pulled himself back up into a sitting position. The dark-haired teen watched as the door swung shut behind the departing kunoichi. He glanced over to his friend briefly then turned back to the door. "...New friend?"

...o.o.o...

Shiho finished toweling off her hair and looked at herself in the bathroom mirror (along with her mother beside her). She ran her fingertips against the sandy locks and glanced to her mother for a moment before turning back to her reflection. "Wow... It's so smooth now, totally different than how it used to be..." She mused.

"Sweetie, you've always been beautiful... You just weren't aware it." Shiori remarked, making her daughter flush. "Physically, you take after my side of the family. In fact, you remind me a lot of my mother right now... The problem is that you have your father's personality and brains." She added with a chuckle. "Speaking of which, I wonder where that man is right now- I want to show you off!"

...Rei Tanazaki walked into the house and set his briefcase down in the family room. He reached up and removed his glasses, letting them hang around his neck. To his surprise, his wife wasn't in any of her usual haunts. He quickly heard footsteps and turned in time to see Shiori emerge, along with their daughter in tow. "Dear, take a look at your daughter!" She announced happily.

He quickly donned his glasses once more and smiled in surprise at the sight of the transformed Shiho before him- her glasses off and hair treated and hanging down. "Well now, my goodness- this is a surprise." He began. "Just what brought this on?" He asked with a smile. Rei was several years older than his wife and worked as a senior administrator in Konoha's record-keeping department, so he was pretty well out of the loop when it came to things like fashion.

Shiori beamed at the question. "Well... Our daughter has a date with a young man." She announced cheerfully. "Er, um, what was his name again?" She asked, looking towards her daughter.

Shiho cleared her throat and composed herself. "Shikamaru Nara... of the Nara Clan." She replied before turning back to face her father.

Rei nodded, brushing his hand across his (graying) sandy brown hair. "Oh yes, I'm familiar with the Naras... Which means that he's Shikaku's boy, right?" He asked, getting a nod from his daughter. He paused for a moment, looking at Shiho and noting how her hair was the same color as his. "Well if it's the Nara boy, then I don't see anything wrong." He added calmly.

"I, uh, have to finish getting ready." Shiho hastily announced as she took off for her room. Rei looked to Shiori, who only smiled back at him.

...o.o.o...

Sakura was currently standing behind Lee, moving her hand down along his left side. She felt him wince slightly when her fingers moved over a certain spot. "That hurt just now?" She asked, getting a nod from him. "Yeah, that makes sense... You've got two cracked ribs and some early bruising." She remarked in a calm voice.

Lee sighed, thinking back to his mission. "Sorry Sakura, I hate to having to trouble you so often like this... I just..." He offered in a an embarrassed tone.

The pink-haired girl shook her head. "Don't worry about, there's nothing to apologize for- you didn't do anything wrong Lee." She offered with a smile. "Shinobi missions are dangerous, people get hurt all the time..." She added. "You're team doesn't have medic... And besides, I also like knowing that there's something tangible that I can do for you."

The taijutsu expert blushed at the girl's word. "Thank you Sakura. Though... your kindness is more than a fool such as myself deserves." He replied as the medic ninja silently repaired the damaged ribs with her abilities. After a little while, she stepped back and placed her hands on her hips.

Sakura smiled to herself. "There, that should take care of it- I've repaired the damaged ribs and the took care of the hemorrhaging." She declared cheerfully. "So, how do you feel now?" She asked eagerly, crossing her arms as she spoke.

Lee stood up. "Yes, I feel as good as new... And it's all thanks to you." He replied with a smile. The teen was about to reply, when Lee advanced towards her and gripped her hands in his. She blanched under his sudden serious expression. "Sakura..." He began. "Thanks for always being there for me, and for accepting me."

As his words trailed off, Sakura felt herself her cheeks become flushed and looked away. She suddenly felt unusually vulnerable and girly at the moment. "Lee... You're making me blush." She began in a bashful tone, before mustering the nerve to look directly at him. She leaned in, tilting her head slightly ash the two shared a brief kiss.

After a moment, Sakura stepped back and smiled impishly. "You know Lee, I just now finally realized something..." She began, brushing a hand through her pink locks. Lee retrieved his flack vest as she went on. "I bumped into Ino earlier and she seemed pretty pissed." The girl explained as she slipped her gloves back on.

"And why's that?" Lee asked as he zipped up his vest.

Sakura grinned deviously at the question. "'Cause in spite of all the times she dissed me, she's the now only girl from our year that's still single!" She replied in a almost victorious tone.

...o.o.o...

Shikamaru had set out from the house in mid-afternoon with little incident. When he'd left, his father was still out and his mother was taking care of things around the house. He was dressed in a black long-sleeved tunic (covering his mesh undershirt) that was tied in front with a sash, and matching black pants. He had his regular black ninja sandals and his jet black hair was pulled up into its usual topknot/ponytail in the back.

He remained silent as he thought about various recent events. The oddest development so far in the last few days was how his mother was now suddenly giving him more space. He wondered if his parents had already managed to work out that he was 'seeing' someone. Still, regardless of the situation, he had more important things to focus his attention on. Specifically, he was due to meet up with Shiho in a nearby park. He shook his head and cleared away any other thoughts for the moment.

When he arrived, he spotted Shiho sitting on a bench. She was dressed in a sleeveless light blue dress that stopped above her ankles. She had a white shawl-like garment draped around her- tied loosely in the front. Her sandy hair hung down her back while her bangs stopped above her eyes and and framed her face. The girl was holding a simple purse in her lap. She was also wearing a pair of trendy open shoes (her bare feet visible).

She looked up just in for his arrival. Shikamaru tilted his head slightly and gave her handsome smile before offering the girl his hand. She accepted and took it, getting to her feet. "You look amazing." He commented, promptly causing her to blush. As he looked at her, noted that her usual glasses (though presumably in the small she had with her).

The two then departed from the park, walking in relative silence. Eventually though, it was Shikamaru who broke the silence. "I have to say that I never would have imagined myself doing something like of my own choice- asking out a girl, that is." He began with a smile. "But I guess it just a matter of the meeting the right one." He added as they walked.

Shiho nodded. "To be honest, I'm just as surprised to find myself doing something like this..." The girl began. "Still, I was really happy when you asked me." She admitted with a smile. She then paused and placed a hand on his arm, blushing as she looked at him. "Shikamaru, I've had a crush on you since we first met..." Her tone was nervous as she spoke. "So to be able to spend time like this with you is more than I could have hoped for."

Shikamaru smiled warmly. "Wow... I just hope that I can live up to your expectations." He countered, taking her hand in his. "And while we're on the subject of confessions- I have to admit that I've really fallen for you too." He finished, offering her his arm. She nodded, while blushing darkly, and linked arms with him. The two continued, enjoying a pleasant aura around them.

(- End of Part 4 -)

...o.o.o...

I'm sorry that this chapter took so long to get out. I was having a hard getting myself motivated enough to just sit down and write. This chapter is also a little short, but that's mainly due to pacing issues. Anyway, I'll try and have the next chapter up sooner. I hope you all enjoyed this and will leave me some reviews to let me know what you all thought about it.