Chapter 3

''Who knew that you have dresses that actually cover something.''

''You said to look nice and I'm just doing my job'', - Mikaela replied, turning to Nara

They were sitting in the backseat of the car, looking at each other with smiles. Shikamaru looked her all over again, before murmuring: ''You look really good.'' She smiled and nodded fixing her hair. She agreed on being his date tonight and Shikamaru still doesn't believe that she does it just for a cause, not for money. He and Mikaela always got each other perfectly, he knew she would never cause any kind of problems; besides, she probably agreed to find someone rich as a husband. The car stopped and the driver turned a bit to them, nodding. He then walked out, going to open the door for them.

''Ready?'', - Nara asked and she nodded, smiling.

Shikamaru took a deep breath and get out of the car, quickly turning around from the flashes to handle his hand to Mikaela. If there is someone, who can put up a great show, then it's definitely this woman. She gracefully put one her leg out, leaning in and going out, placing her another leg right beside his, leaning to Nara and wrapping one her arm around his torso. Shikamaru smiled, looking at her as she raised her head.

''Should I pay you for acting like a lady?'', he asked, looking at all of the cameras.

''We can arrange this later and as for now, smile, Nara smile'', she whispered, looking around smiling to everyone as they proceed to the building.

The reporters tried to ask something, but they both completely ignored, going in. Shikamaru never actually could get the whole drill about the footballers. All he is doing is playing the football, the game that means everything to him and yet everyone is so interested in their lives; he loves fans, they are great and not to mention that the football is nothing without the fans, but the reporters and paparazzi are seriously not what he thinks is needed. They got in and Mikaela gasped to which Shikamaru chuckled. He is used to those marble arches, crystal ceilings, beige columns; men in suit that cost more that other people's houses, women in dresses that just scream about their high price. Shikamaru is used to that and it doesn't impress him and sometimes he got so sick of being a part of it. He looked at Mikaela who quickly composed herself, shutting her mouth and stopped looking around. Her fingers interlaced with his and he smiled, winking at her.

''Let the fun begin, huh?'', he asked and her lips twitched in a smile.

Holding hands, they went to the table number ten, where his friends were sitting. Naruto stand up, coming to him and hugging. He turned his attention to Mikaela and raised an eyebrow.

''Mikaela, what a surprise'', he mumbled and the girl chuckled, not saying a thing.

Mikaela and Naruto know each other very well, without some string attached. They smiled at each other and all three sat on the chairs. Shikamaru looked around and his jaw clenched as Ino turned to him and quickly turned away. She was sitting next to Shino and he was trying his hardest to captivate her attention, but was failing. And that was hilarious for Nara and he cleared his throat, when Naruto shook his head in a gesture ''don't open your mouth''. Shikamaru nodded, keep on staring at Ino, knowing that she feels it and knowing that it pisses her off a lot. Mikaela nudged him slightly and he turned to her.

''Nara, won't you like to tell us more about your date, tonight?'', Shino asked, probably being tired of Ino's ignorance and deciding to stop being pathetic.

''I won't like to do this'', Shikamaru replied and mots of the guys chuckled.

Shino blinked, being taken aback by this answer. Naruto only smiled, keep on talking with his girlfriend. Kiba send him stern look, but Nara waited for her reaction and of course she didn't seem to disappoint in him. Ino turned around, facing him and looking pretty pissed off. Her blue eyes were shining with anger, making her look incredibly beautiful.

''This is just disrespectful to your date to say this'', she let out, locking eyes with him.

And in such a not good moment for this, Nara get turned on by her look. Swallowing, he thought about some witty reply, but Mikaela was faster:

''You probably don't know Shikamaru well'', she said, turning to Nara ''With this he's not showing disrespect, honey.''

Shikamaru saw how Ino cringed on the word ''honey''. Mikaela put her hand on his lap, squeezing it lightly and smiling widely. Ino stared at Shikamaru, pursing her lips into a thin line and he could feel the waves of anger that are going from her to him.

''Yeah, you're right. I don't know him well'', she suddenly said, looking down and then turning away.

Mikaela smiled proudly and turned to Shikamaru to see him smiling too, but he wasn't. His eyes were trained on Ino's back and his jaw clenched. He felt something that is very hard to describe. Many thoughts were running through his mind, screaming in his head, making him want to hide his face in his hands. Why she looked sad? Why did she even say that? Should it mean something? Cursing, Nara took a glass with wine in his hand and took a sip from it, putting it back loudly. Mikaela send him a questioning gaze, but he ignored it.

''Good evening, ladies and gentlemen and thank you so much for coming here tonight.''

He looked up and saw Lee standing on the scene, smiling proudly and looking around. Well, the banquet hall was full and that was a big success. Shikamaru smiled at Lee, who started to tell where all the money would go and that was quiet impressive. All money is going to be given to an orphan and for given money they will buy computers there along with other things. Shikamaru clapped with others, when his friend finished his speech and he felt kind of proud that he can point out and say ''yes, I play with this guy in one team, we're friends'' and that happens rarely. He looked at his date, who seemed to be bored by the whole thing already. Mikaela turned to him and pouted.

''Can we already go?'', she asked in a quiet whisper, so only he could hear.

''It had just started. Wait for at least hour and then we will go'', he answered and she nodded, not saying a word.

Shikamaru liked Mikaela for her understanding. She never said a word back, never insisted on something and always did exactly what was wanted from her. Right now she straight up, smiling to others and trying not to look all bored. On the stage some ballerinas appeared and usual show started. Nara turned his attention to more interesting subject. Shino was trying to talk to Ino, but she was ignoring him. Nara wanted to look away, but then he noticed something else. Ino cringed and bite her lower lip and he knows too damn well, when she does that. He touched her. Shino touched her knee, only then Ino does that painful expression. The knee is the place, where she once had a surgery and it's not pleasant for her when someone touches it. And it made Nara angry more than he would imagine. Clearing his throat loudly he made everyone turn to him, but not Shino, who was technically making his way to Ino by touching her legs. Shikamaru was trying his hardest to not say a thing, but it was bothering him a lot. He knew ino. She was not keeping her mouth shut, because she didn't want to make a scandal right here, because she cared about her reputation. She shifted on her seat, titling his head just a bit and caught the glimpse of Nara, staring right at her. Her gaze told him everything what he wanted to know.

''Shino'', he called strictly and the guy raised his head, looking at Nara with raised eyebrow. ''Keep your hands on their place, boy.''

Shino blushed, while others turned to him with confused expressions on their faces. Naruto looked at his best friend, trying to understand what is going on. But Nara was looking at Ino, who sent him small smile that made him feel warmer inside. At that time, Shino decided to say his word and he mumbled that he has no idea about what Nara is talking.

''You know about what I'm talking, boy'', he repeated.

''I'm not a boy, Nara, stop calling me like that'', Shino muttered, turning fully to him. ''My hands are none of your business, watch your girl.''

Mikaela shifted and Naruto with gesture let her know to keep her mouth shut, looking at Shino with surprise. No one really expected something like that from him. Shino is a quiet guy, introverted guy, who never talks a lot. He always leaves to home right after the trainings, never saying a thing to anybody. He is a good guy, he helped them a lot, but as a person, no one knows him. Shikamaru started to tap the table with his fingers – sign that he's pissed off. The manager coughed loudly as everyone else started to turn their heads on their table.

''Nara'', he called, not really knowing what to do.

Shikamaru titled his head, looking at Shino. Without saying a word, he stand up and took off his jacket, giving it to Mikaela. Nodding to Shino, he went out of the ball room, not looking at anyone. The man stopped on his tracks only when he was at the balcony, facing a beautiful view of light of the city. He rubbed the back of his neck and then he heard footsteps. Not turning around and still looking at the sky, Nara said calmly:

''She doesn't like you. You don't interest her; she doesn't give a damn about you, Shino. She doesn't even look at you when you're talking. Ino will never like you in the way that you want her like you. I'm impressed that you're brave enough to do what you did, but she's out of your limit. She's not from your league, she's too much for you. So you can stop your attempts in trying to hook up with her and stop touching her knee under the table now and this is a warning, because if you don't, I will…'' he turned around and froze, looking at standing right in front of him Ino.

She stepped closer, staring at him with big eyes.

''You will what, Nara? What will you do?'' she asked, coming so close that he could see little dots on her nose and could feel her breath on his neck.

Shikamaru swallowed, not answering. Looking in her eyes he suddenly felt like hugging her, but he wasn't sure if this right thing to do. So he just stared at her, keeping silence. But she was waiting for an answer, so he simply stated the truth:

''I would make him stop'', he replied with a stern look.

His jaw clenched and so did his fists as he only thought about Shino touching her again or kissing her. This thought was unpleasant and Nara was taken aback by his own reaction to this. Ino was staring at him and biting her lower lip. Her hands raised and she caressed his chest, starting drawing small circles on it, making him shiver. She understood what he was feeling, because when she saw him with that girl, she almost felt like screaming at her for no reason.

''Is she another whore?'' she asked quietly and he chuckled.

''Is that important for you?''

''Just answer.''

''You know the answer.''

They both stared at each other, not saying a word. Ino leaned back, looking at him. Shikamaru was confused by all her actions. She heard what was for and now she's asking about Mikaela. At the moment, when he decided to finally ask what the hell is going on, Naruto appeared on the balcony, looking very oddly between them. His gaze flickered from one to another and then he said that they should go. Ino, turning around, went away, leaving them alone. Naruto raised one eyebrow, waiting for an explanation.

''He was touching her knee under the table'', Shikamaru explained.

''So what? Why do you care?'' Naruto asked, not getting the whole thing.

Nara didn't reply. He didn't have answer for this question and even if he had he would not tell it to Naruto anyways. Uzumaki waited a bit, but as he didn't reply, he shook his head.

''I thought you hated her'', he pointed out, going out.

''I thought so too'', Shikamaru mumbled, going with him.