Chapter 6

Ino went to the exit, smiling to the guard and opening the door. Today was a really good day for her, she somehow managed to finish everything what had to be finished, surprising everyone else including herself. She sighed because of the weather and her eyes widened, when she saw Nara Shikamaru, leaning on the car with closed eyes. She looked around before coming closer to him. Small smile placed on her lips, when she understood that he's actually sleeping.

''Hey'', she said, making serious face and trying to sound very strict.

He didn't react, keep on sleeping. His mouth was a bit open and it looked really cute. She had to remind herself to be strict and emotionless to clear her throat again, but he didn't react on this too.

''Nara hey'', she said louder, leaning in a bit, looking at his face.

She pushed his shoulder and his eyes opened. Shikamaru stared at her with confusion and then his eyes widened. Opening his mouth to say something, he looked down at her lips, closing his mouth and not letting out a single word to her. All his thoughts were kinda blocked and he couldn't mange to make his brain start working.

''I can see you waited a lot, so you fell asleep'', Ino said, raising her eyebrow on him. ''You could just call, you know.''

Shikamaru just opened door of his car, looking at her. With hesitation, Ino get in, but before this she looked around for some paparazzi. They are always around him and this is something that she doesn't like at all. They sit in the car and Nara drove to her favorite restaurant that had a view on the bridge. The car ride was silent, just like coming to the place and picking the table. You know, when you had this strange knot in your stomach before something very and very important? Ino had one, watching him ordering the bottle of wine along with some fish.

''Wine for bravery?'' She asked in a sarcastic tone and he didn't answer, looking at her like she already knows everything. ''I actually am starting to get very annoyed by the fact that I still don't know what am I doing here.''

''It's not like I forced you to come'', Shikamaru pointed out, looking at her. ''As far as I remember you sat in the car by yourself, not even asking any kind of questions.''

Ino pursed her lips into a thin line, not knowing what to say to this. She ordered a salad and water, turning back to the guy, who cleared his throat. And the whole situation was getting quite awkward, because he doesn't talk and not being patient person, Ino started to get incredibly annoyed by this. The waiter brought the wine and poured it into the glass and went away. She looked at the guy in front of her and sighed. Slowly starting to get nervous, she just wanted this to end as fast as it only can.

''You better drink it now, for bravery. If you won't, I don't think I will ever hear the reason of this'', she said.

Shikamaru raised an eyebrow, but did as he said. Following this sip of wine that he took, he cleared his throat, shifting on the seat. Bravery still didn't come, but he's not some girl, yeah?

''I think we need to discuss some situation between us'', he started and Ino put the fork back to the table, raising her head. ''Don't you say you don't know what I mean.''

''Too bad that I actually really don't know what you mean'', she mumbled, starting to feel herself uncomfortable.

She can handle angry Nara, frustrated Nara, goofing around Nara and even sleepy Nara, but seeing him serious was something that for some reasons scared her. Maybe because she was afraid that he would actually say the truth out loud. You know, until you didn't say it, you just think about it in your head, knowing that this is the truth, but not having guts to voice it. And right now, when she looked at him, she realized that Nara has guts to voice it and that he's going to say it anyway. And Ino got scared, because saying the truth out loud will make her even more realistic and she's not sure if she's ready to face what she's going to face. So she chose to pretend completely stupid, knowing that this will piss of Shikamaru soon.

''Don't you start this game, I honestly am tired'', he mumbled and it was something that she completely didn't expect to hear from him.

Now, when she looked attentively, she noticed little wrinkles by his eyes, how tired he looked in general and she felt how something in her heart ached. Ino cleared her throat, looking down at her plate. Shikamaru watched her every move, not understanding her at all. He thought that maybe he should say everything gradually, but it changed as he saw how she behaves.

''Do you miss me?'' he asked quickly, looking at her.

Ino froze, slowly raising her head and looking at him with wide eyes. Did he just really asked…? She swallowed, not saying a thing. Because of her silence, Shikamaru decided to spur everything out.

''Just tell me yes or not to my next question, okay? And don't you lie, you know that I can sense lies. Do you think that somewhere in between those nights that we spent together, it all became more than just simple fucking? Do you think so? Yes or no?'' he asked, leaning in and looking in her eyes.

Ino licked her lips, leaning back on the chair and looking at him too. She could feel the pressure on her shoulders, like whole world weight was on them now and she knew how answer to this question is important. Does she think it changed? Of course it did. It would be pretty silly to think that some time of their nights without sleep, some time of kissing his lips and touching his body, some time she fell in love with this man, counting freckles when he fell asleep, looking at him when he doesn't see and wishing he once stayed for a night, so she could cuddle to him and never let go. This sounded to cheesy even for her, so she bite her tongue, looking at him in a silence. This, and here I mean silence, can be interpreted in different ways and Shikamaru was one of those, who think that if person is silent, then he just tries to think of how to say politely ''no''.

''Of course'', he let out with a shook if his head, not looking at her. ''Fucking, of course.''

He felt…it doesn't really matter actually, because if he felt something, he didn't show it at all. Shikamaru raised his head and looked at confused Ino, who didn't get what this ''of course'' can possibly mean. He took a sip of his wine and stand up, not saying a thing. Ino watched him with amused expression, not understanding what he's doing.

''You didn't hear the answer'', she let out, watching how he put his phone to the pocket.

''Your silence was an answer'', he said and turned around, going to the exit.

''What? Shikamaru!'' she screamed, but he kept on going to the exit.

If there was something that Ino always treasures then it was her pride, but now, she stand up and run after him, completely forgetting about it and cursing under her breath of wearing those heels today. Hearing footsteps behind his back, Shikamaru turned around and Ino bumped at him on the speed, pulling him on the wall. His hands automatically wrapped around her waist and he pulled her close, looking down at her face.

''You fucking idiot, silence is not an answer'', Ino breathed out, looking at him and catching her breath. ''Why, why the fuck you thought that it is? Nara, you're more stupid that I thought you were. And you are not a genius.''

Shikamaru raised his eyebrow on this, but didn't say a thing. He watched as she composed her breath and leaned back from him, but he didn't let her. His hands were holding her elbows tightly, not letting her move for an inch. Hope started to form in his chest and he knew that this is not really good. Hope dies the last, eh? It happened so many times on the matches and he really didn't want to feel this in his personal life, too.

''So what is the answer?'' he asked impatiently, looking at her.

''32'' she replied, looking up. ''You have 32 freckles on your body, Shikamaru.''

Nara was more shocked than confused with this. He did even let go from her elbows, leaning on the wall and staring at her in shock.

''And you know when I counted them? That night when you stayed till morning, you slept so peacefully and I started counting those freckles and god dammit, by the look on your eyes I can see you still don't know what I mean, yes, Nara, fucking yes, do you hear me? Yes!''

Shikamaru blinked, looking in her eyes and feeling like a bubble of happiness is filling him inside. The smile showed on his lips and he hugged her tight, his lips seeking for hers, finding them quickly and sealing together in a kiss. It was rather long time since he last felt those lips, so he tried to make this kiss last longer than usual. They leaned back from each other, breathing heavily.

''I knew it'', he mumbled with a smirk and she punched him in shoulder, smiling, ''You're so into me, aren't you?''

Ino raised her eyebrow, looking at him. Childish smile was again on his lips and she thought that this is the way that she always wants to see him: with that prankish smile, shining eyes, not sad and tired.

''I think you're more into me'', she let out, showing her tongue to him. ''Shall we go home?''

Shikamaru nodded, smiling and wrapping his arm around her shoulders and pulling her to the exit.

A/N: Merry Christmas, darlings! I wish you all the best, may all your dreams come true and your family stay happy and healthy. You all are absolutely amazing! - Nizza. xx