Author's Note: OMG! You guys are so awesome! Thanks so, so much to those who already read my first chapter, and even more to those who left a sweet review! Really, you guys make me want to keep writing, so I will!

Quick Note: This chapter includes parts that are from Ino's POV. I've separatedthem. Let me know what you think, and thanks again everyone!

Troublesome Love

Chapter 2- Drunken Nights and Hungover Mornings

Hours later, Shikamaru woke up to a loud crash outside his apartment. Rubbing the sleep from his eyes, he checked the time on his watch. It was barely past 3am. Picking up the book from his lap, he noticed that he had barely finished two chapters. After a long day of working for Ino, Shikamaru hadn't realized just how exhausted he was, and fell asleep in his chair.

He marked his place in his novel, and slowly stood up from his chair, only to hear another loud noise come from outside. Who in their right mind would be up this late and making so much racket? Shikamaru put his book back on the shelf, and moved over to the window to see what was going on.

Through the thick darkness of the night, he could make out a lone figure, thrashing around with something in it's hand, almost as if it were dancing. Some drunken fool, for sure. Taking a closer look, Shikamaru could see the person's hair was tied in a long ponytail. Funny, it almost looked like…no, it couldn't be. Could it?

Now very curious, Shikamaru put on a coat and walked outside, only to realize what he hoped was not true really was. There she was: Yamanaka Ino, thrashing and jerking around with what looked to be a half empty bottle of sake in her hand. Every once in a while, she would hold the bottle to her lips and take a long swig. Her feet kicked around several rocks at her feet, and she was mumbling something that was inaudible from his distance. Shikamaru sighed and said only one word before he headed for the stairs:

"Troublesome."

As he made his way down the stairs, Shikamaru remembered what had happened tonight. The date with Sasuke. She had gone out with Sasuke and was now this drunk? What the hell could have happened?

Finally, Shikamaru reached the street, and observed Ino's thrashing for a few more moments before she turned around and noticed him watching her. "Shikamaruuuuu~" She stuttered, walking towards him. "You're up really really really late you know. Really late. Why are you up this late, Shika?" She took another swig from the bottle in her hand.

Shikamaru made quick work of prying the bottle from her hand and tried his best to keep her steady. "The question is, why are you out so late, Ino? I came out here because I heard you. Hell, I'll bet half the neighborhood could hear you! What happened?"

"Oh, Shikamaru~ you don't have to worry about me. I'm a big girl. Sasuke though? Sasuke's a meanie face. A big meanie. I never want to see Uchiha Sasuke again. Never in my entire life." Ino explained, using large hand gestures and leaning all of her weight on Shikamaru.

"Sasuke? Sasuke did something to you? Did he hurt you?" His free hand wrapped around Ino's waist, trying to support her as she leaned on him. "Hurt me? Psh. I can take care of myself, Shika. Nobody can hurt me!" Ino nearly screamed.

Shikamaru sighed. This was getting him nowhere fast, and she was talking so loud, he was afraid she would wake the neighbors. "Alright, alright, shhh Ino." He said, trying to calm her down. "We'll worry about that tomorrow. Let's just get you inside for now. Where's your key?"

"Key?" Ino looked at him like he was crazy. "I don't need a key. I can knock down that door easily!" She started kicking the air, and Shikamaru struggled to hold her down. "Cut it out! You're going to hurt yourself, Ino!" He yelled, trying to get her under control. After a moment, she settled down, and her whole body went limp. Shikamaru sighed and grumbled to himself. Ino had probably lost her key or forgotten it at the restaurant. Shikamaru had no choice…

"Alright, let's go." Shikamaru said to the non-responsive Ino. By this time, the bottle of sake had been discarded, and was lying on the ground next to the curb. Shikamaru reached underneath Ino's legs and scooped her up in his arms, bridal style. Now that he could see her face again, he could see that she had apparently fallen asleep.

Ino…what have you gotten into now? Shikamaru wondered as he carried her up the stairs, and kicked open the door to his apartment. He carried her inside and closed the door behind him with his foot before heading for his bedroom.

Once there, he carefully set Ino down on his bed and turned down the covers. He made sure to tuck her in nice and tight, and turned off the lights to let her sleep. Making his way over to the couch, Shikamaru shrugged off his jacket and hung it on the rack before sitting down and burying his face in his hands. If he hadn't been there tonight to take care of her, where would Ino be in the morning? He couldn't even think about it.

He made a bed for himself on the couch and laid down. He tried several times to lull himself to sleep, but every time he would awaken when his mind turned to the Yamanaka girl sleeping in his bed. He got up several times that night just to check on her.

Finally, Shikamaru was able to fall asleep, and ended up getting about four hours of sleep before he was awakened by a sound coming from the bathroom. Sitting up, he listened for a moment. Yes, he knew that sound anywhere. He stood up from the couch, and moved to the kitchen to grab a towel before heading towards the sound of Ino throwing up in the bathroom.

It was a night she wished had never happened. It had started off slow, with her getting all dolled up for her big date, spraying her perfume on heavily. Thank goodness Shikamaru had been with her at the shop and was able to close for her. She would thank him by baking him some cookies tomorrow.

By the time 7 o'clock rolled around, Ino was already standing outside the restaurant, waiting for Sasuke. She had chosen to wear her new purple dress that she bought specifically for the occasion, her hair tied back in her signature ponytail. Soon, she spotted the raven haired Uchiha walking down the road, and waved him over. She greeted him warmly, and he responded with a rather cold greeting of his own.

After they had settled into a table and ordered, Ino started to make small talk with her date. However, every time she would try and ask Sasuke a question, he would respond with a one or two word answer, if he responded at all. Ino had known Sasuke wasn't very talkative, but this was ridiculous.

By the end of dinner, both Sasuke and Ino were silent, finishing off their meals. When the check arrived, Sasuke refused to give it a second look, and passed it straight to Ino, coldly saying, "the only reason I even agreed to this date is because of the free food."

Of course, Ino was furious, and decided right them and there that was the last time she would ever talk to Uchiha Sasuke. Here she was, all dressed up and pretty, and she felt like this entire night was a waste of time. Even Shikamaru would have been better company than Sasuke was.

She was so ticked that on her way home, she spent the last of her money on an expensive bottle of sake. She was going to save it for when she got home, but somehow the bottle got opened and before she knew it, she was floating on a cloud with a half-empty sake bottle in her hand. It was a miracle she even made it home to her apartment.

Once outside the complex, she started talking to herself, kicking rocks at a nearby dumpster and taking swigs from the bottle in her hand. The nerve of that Sasuke…to treat her like that after she had worked up the courage to ask him out. What a bastard.

Soon, she heard footsteps behind her and turned around to notice her old friend Shikamaru behind her. Boy, was she glad to see someone she knew appreciated her.

The rest of the night was a complete blur, and the next thing Ino knew, she was waking up in an unfamiliar bed. After a moment, she sat straight up, trying to remember where she was, what she had done. She was thankful to find that she was still in her dress from the night before, and didn't seem to be in any immediate danger. Taking a closer look around the room, she realized that she recognized it. How did I get into Shikamaru's bedroom? And where's Shikamaru?

Just as she finished those thoughts, her stomach lurched, and she jumped for the bed, racing for the bathroom that was thankfully just down the hallway. Leaning down in front of the toilet, she let her insides completely drain out, and stayed that way for several minutes, until she felt a pair of warm hands pulling her hair back behind her head.

After the gruesome deed was done, Shikamaru sat next to the blonde on the bathroom floor, wiping off her face with the wet towel. She seemed to be a little more aware of what was going on now, but she would probably be down for the day. Good thing it was Sunday, and the flower shop was closed.

"Seems like you had quite the night." Shikamaru said as he wiped off her mouth. Once he was finished, Ino spoke up. "Ugh…it was awful, Shika. Sasuke was so rude all throughout dinner. He even made me pay for the entire meal! After he left, I ended up buying that bottle of sake on my way home. Guess I overdid it." Ino sighed and buried her face in her hands. "I'm such an idiot for even thinking Sasuke would give me a chance…"

Shikamaru sighed and pulled Ino's face up so he could finished wiping her off. "It wasn't your fault, you had no idea something like this would happen, Ino. Let's just be thankful you're safe and not dwell on the past, alright?" He finished with her and stood up from the floor. "Now, try and get some more rest, okay?" He said as he turned on the water of the bathroom sink, washing off his towel.

He was thankful Ino was safe and sound, with little severe damages to her body. As Ino walked out the door and entered the bedroom again, Shikamaru sighed. What was he going to do with her?

After the bathroom was cleaned up, he moved back to the kitchen, and started making something for both of them to eat. He found a can of chicken soup in the cupboard, and decided that was most likely good for people who were sick. Thank goodness it was easy to make. Shikamaru had never been much of a cook.

An hour later, the soup was finished, and Shikamaru made his way to the bedroom with two hot cups of chicken soup. He turned on the light as he entered and sat on the edge of the bed, nudging Ino to wake up. "You should try and eat something, see how your stomach takes it." He explained with a smile.

As soon as she was finished throwing her guts up, Ino sat on the bathroom floor with Shikamaru, gazing into his eyes as he cleaned her off. She explained to him what she remembered happening, and complained how it was a big mistake to even ask Sasuke out. Soon, she was leaving the bathroom and heading to the bedroom. Normally, she would have thanked her friend for all he had done, but right now her body just screamed for rest.

She fell asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow, and not much longer was awaken by a rather…good smell. She slowly sat up, and accepted the cup of soup with a smile.

"Thanks for looking after me, Shika. I don't know what I would have done without you, you know…" She said, blowing on her soup to cool it down.

Through thick and thin, Shikamaru had always been there for her. Ino was thankful to have such a loyal friend like he was. Now that she looked at him, he was pretty easy on the eyes too, in more ways than one. But, those thoughts were quickly forgotten, because there was no possible way Shikamaru felt the same way. Shikamaru liking girls? Never.

Once they were finished eating, they both decided it would be a good idea for Ino to go home and rest. Before she left Sikamaru's apartment with his spare key to her's, Ino looked back at him.

"Thanks again, Shika. Hey, are you busy tomorrow? I could really use your help again, if it's not too much trouble." When he agreed with a shake of his head, Ino gave him a sweet smile. "See you tomorrow then! Thanks again!"

And so began the start of a beautiful, yet complicated journey.

Author's Note: There we are! Aren't these two adorable? Well, it's 3:30am so I'm off to bed, but Ch. 3 will be up tomorrow! Thanks for the reviews!