Shikamaru was irrated, he had watched the Eclipse and been amazed at the sight of it but everything else that could have gone wrong with the night did! Ino had been tripping over every single step of the way when he decided to carry her, in bridal style no less, to where she wanted to go. His thoughts were on Temari. She had looked so gorgeous even with her sad eyes; to him she had looked vulnerable and he...
He wanted to ask why she was upset.
He wanted to ask why she had been so distant.
He wanted to ask her so many questions.
Ino interrupted his thinking when she asked him to put her down. He obeyed without delay and raised his eyebrow toward her. What is her deal? We really should be getting back to the others before..
"Shikamaru, we've known each other a long time. Do you remember when I was so heartbroken to hear the news that Sasuke had decided to leave the village? And I was terrified to hear about Chouji who was injured so badly he needed to be admitted to the hospital? Do you remember what you did for me?" Ino had spoken very carefully making sure to pay attention to Shikamaru's every move. She wasn't under the influence anymore and was back to her-tipsy-carefree-self.
"Um, I didn't really do much Ino" he replied with confusion.
"You..you were there for me when I needed you, that's what you did" Ino had taken a few steps in his direction and was approaching him slowly.
"After that incident there were days I found myself thinking about you in ways I shouldn't have..because we were on the same team after all and..because we had grown up together.. I've fought against my feelings for you for such a long time it's been almost unbearable."
Shikamaru could see where this was heading. She was going to confess her feelings, but he couldn't move. It was as if he was caught in his own shadow paralysis and was completely at her mercy. She had moved close enough to him and stood before him with her blue glistening sapphire eyes and she put her hands on his chest. This is bad Shikamaru get out of here.
"I know that you might not want me, I've always had that thought in the back of my mind but.. just for tonight allow me to have you..." she had put her hands on the back of his neck pulling him down to her when she placed her lips on his.
He hasn't responded, he hasn't pushed her away and he hasn't broken the kiss. So she must be the one he's in love with. Temari looked at the couple in front of her eyes betrayed by
her crush and her best friend.
After a few seconds she gazed at Chouji who had felt the same stab of betrayal as Temari;
his crush and his best friend.
She could sense Chouji's agony and guessed it to be ten times worse than the ache within her own chest. Unable to accept what he saw in front of him, she saw his eyes fill with tears that refused to escape from his eyelids and unable to cope with seeing him so miserable, she ran away without speaking another word. In the end, I was the coward all along. Why do I care so much? He's nothing but a lazy boy, not even a man, what was I even thinking... Will Chouji be able to recover from this?
She ran far enough until she knew she was completely alone and fell to her knees; she tore off her stupid heels and tried to get back up to keep running but her body refused. She tried to calm her breathing but it was hurting her so much simply to breathe, she lay back down on her side, pulled her legs close to her chest and sobbed. Frozen in time.
Chouji hadn't been expecting anything romantic for himself for tonight; he had planned this with and for his friends. He had missed them behaving like kids and hanging out together like they used to at the academy from years ago. The night had turned out even better than he had planned. He had enjoyed every minute of the night, it was a memory he wanted to keep with him for the remainder of his life. Everything had been perfect until this one second.
His world collapsed seeing the girl he loved kissing his best friend truly shattered his heart. They had been Ino-Shika-Chou since they were young, had grown up side by side. He allowed the tears to flow from his eyes as they began to roll down his rosy cheeks. Chouji had waited for Temari to run away, he knew she would, her ache matched his.
He stood there paralysed. Ino is kissing me? What the heck? Ino didn't allow Shikamaru to break away from her. She had wanted this from him for what seemed an eternity. Her desire for him had overruled her mind; she forced his mouth open and let her tongue slide against his bottom lip when he suddenly pulled away from her.
"Hey you two. I'm sorry to interrupt but everyone's gone home" Chouji said behind a smile. I'll act like I didn't see them together.. I'll act like I'm unaffected by this.. I'll act like I've always acted around them..
"Chouji what are you doing here! Can't you see we're busy?" Ino sneered.
"Chouji!" Shikamaru was dumbfounded. He was beyond confused as well. He looked at his friend who was smiling with semi swollen eyes, he knew that Chouji had seen the kiss.
"No it wasn't.. I mean.. We were.. and then.." Shikamaru tried not to trip over his words but the words were fighting against each other. Was he meant to apologize to Chouji or scold Ino or excuse himself or what was he meant to do? Everything was so fucked up!
"Don't worry 'bout it man. Temari's gone to the hotel by the way"
That's right he had forgotten about Temari, she had gone back to the hotel? Had she been with Chouji or had she left for the hotel by herself?
"Thanks Chouji, for ruining my evening! You're always getting in the way and acting like you are my father, well no more Chouji, I never want to see you again!" Ino hadn't realized the words she had shouted as they slipped out one by one. She felt ashamed and wanted to take them back but the harm had been done and she was too proud to do so anyway.
"That's fine with me Ino. Sorry to have been such a terrible friend to you all these years. See you round Shikamaru" Chouji looked at their shocked faces, turned and walked away slowly, although what he wanted to do was run away as fast as he could. He wanted to scream at Ino how much he loved her it was like a curse, he wanted to smack his best friend across the head, he wanted to vanish..
"Wait just a darn minute Chouji!" Shikamaru shouted "Ino you and I.. listen we're not gonna happen. I'm sorry but I have feelings for another woman. Chouji's the one who is madly in love with you, that's why he is so protective of you don't you realize? Go after him Ino, go now he needs you!" Shikamaru didn't realize he was still shouting. He wasn't able to hold back his feelings anymore. He wished he hadn't been there with the wrong girl. Now everything was unrepairable.
Ino was stunned. Chouji loved her? She liked Shikamaru and he had feelings for another woman?
"Why should I? I don't love him; you're the one I'm in love with Shikamaru!"
"Ino, do you even know what you feel? What you feel for me isn't love at all"
"THEN WHAT IS IT!" her heart was being shredded causing her overwhelming agony.
"Love is unconditional and uncontrollable. You'd do anything for that other person, you'd die for them. Your idea of 'love' isn't real, Ino. I'm sorry to..."
"Shikamaru you idiot..." unable to continue Ino ran away from him, leaving Shikamaru alone with his thoughts. He had lost his chance with Temari. Maybe he could confess to her tomorrow, he began to walk down the hill, alone.