''I suggest you shut up'', Ino muttered, looking angrily at chuckling Nata through the mirror.
She was cursing out loud everyone, who thought that this would be cool to make a party and make everyone wear white. She knew before that white is not her color, but now, wearing fifth dress and realizing that it looks horrible on her too, she got completely sure in this. And giggling Nara, who was making, as he probably thought, witty comments, was not helping at all. She let out nervous and annoyed sigh and he came closer to her, wrapping his arms around her waist.
''Or what?'' he breathed out in her ear, biting her earlobe and looking at her in the mirror.
''I didn't think of the witty response, so when something clever will come in my mind, I will let you know'', Ino mumbled and Shikamaru smiled, kissing her temple and turning her around to face him.
''You look beautiful'', he said and she raised eyebrow sarcastically. ''Well, white is not your color, but this dress suits you more than previous ones.''
Ino rolled her eyes and pushed him to the side, going back to the closet. She didn't want to look beautiful. She wanted to look stunning, breathtaking. She should see it in his eyes, when he will see her. She wanted to amaze, to blow his mind away, no matter how cheeky this sounded. She looked at another white dress and wondered again, why does she has so many white dresses, when this color is not really for her.
''Don't you want me to look really great standing next to you, this is our first time, when we will go out as a couple'', she said from the closet, taking the dress in her hands.
Shikamaru looked at her back, smiling. He felt strangely happy that she wants to look good for him. Those little things made sense for him and if his friends could read his mind, they would make fun of him and say that he's becoming like those guys, who he hated. But there was indeed something so sweet in realizing that she is trying for him. Nara hates those shopping and then changing in other clothes things, but Ino manages to make everything entertaining. His gaze stopped on her ass and he smirked, going to her.
''You are so nervous'', he said, touching her bare shoulders with his hands and starting to massage them. ''Relax. You are better than anyone with who I have ever been seen.''
''Oh well, thank you'', she snapped and brushed his hands off her shoulders.
Shikamaru sighed, realizing what he said and turned her to him again, looking in her eyes. Their gazes met and he leaned in, touching her forehead with his. He wanted to tell her that he didn't mean it. He wanted to tell her that she's actually is so freaking great, so god damned great that he feels like he doesn't deserve to stand next to her. He wanted to tell her that he doesn't give a damn about the press, because she's with him and he doesn't care about anything else. But instead of all this, he muttered:
''Ino who I know will not give a damn about what any kind of those little people will write about her.''
She shivered and swallowed, looking in his gaze. Nodding, she turned around, feeling how he unzipped her dress, stepping back. Whole thing will start in three hours and she didn't even do make up. Quickly getting into another dress, she turned to Shikamaru. His eyes travelled up and down her body and his lips curved into a smirk that she loved so much. He nodded without a word and she finally saw what she was hoping to see all this time in his eyes: fascination. Looking at herself in the mirror, she stayed satisfied with short one-shoulder dress, which was looking way better than any of her previous dresses. She liked the way her collarbones stand out and how dress showed off her curves. It was beautiful and suited her. She turned back to him with a smile.
''Come here doll'', he whispered.
Ino bite her lower lip and came closer, letting him wrap his hands around her hips. He looked at her and leaned in, catching her lips in a kiss. With one quick move, he had her laying beneath him on the bed and his hand was travelling up her leg. Ino let out a sigh when his hand gripped her thigh and his lips kissed her neck. He always made her out of breath with his simple yet undeniable moves that were so hard to resist. If it weren't for this party she would have given up, but they have a party and they need to go there. Shikamaru already was kissing her collarbones, when she pulled him away, quickly standing up. She shot him a gaze and he rolled his eyes.
''Oh, let me guess: make up?'' he asked and after her nod, he sighed, falling on bed and taking his phone out of the pocket. ''Praise god for putting games in this phone.''
She only smiled, going to the bathroom. It all took her like twenty minutes and she was ready. Ino never really liked having much make up, so it was no problem to her. Besides, she got tired of hearing his sighs all the time. She was ready and he was too. Shikamaru came closer to her, his hands gripping her hips and lips finding hers naturally. It was still strange for him to kiss her just like that, to stay in bed with her till the morning. Strange, but so damn awesome. They leaned back from each other and Shikamaru winked, taking her hand in his.
''Don't be nervous'', he whispered, looking in her eyes and she nodded. ''Good. Let's go then.''
They went to the car and he let her get in first, following then. Ino leaned on the seat, closing her eyes and trying to relax. It was surprising that she is so nervous, but she couldn't do a thing. She felt his hand on her knee, giving it a squeeze and going up. His fingers run up and down her thighs, making her shiver. Ino looked at him with raised eyebrow and saw that he was looking straight at the driver.
''Yeah, I think it's better to turn to the left here'', he said, not even looking at her.
His hand gripped her thigh and his thumb started to draw circles on it. Ino slapped his hand, but he stayed still, not taking it way and keep on talking to the driver. She hated moments like that. Absolutely hated them, because he makes her sexually frustrated and don't even look at her. Her hand moved towards his legs and she did the same, smirking, when he shifted on his place.
''What? What happened?'' she asked innocently and he looked at her.
Nara only muttered something under his breath and she didn't hear a thing. Looking at the window, she saw many cars and already could see a paparazzi waiting for everyone to appear. Taking a deep breath and hoping that Shikamaru didn't see this, she swallowed hard, when the car stopped and the driver nodded to them. For Nara this whole procedure was more like a routine, this all happened too many times for him to somehow bother. He looked at Ino and raised one eyebrow and she nodded, not really feeling very confident.
''You're stunning'', he said seriously, making her blush a bit.
Shikamaru walked out of the car, holding a door for her to get out. Ino took his hand in hers and walked out of the car, looking down, so she won't get blind because of the flashes. He wrapped his hand around her waist and pulled her close, looking at the cameras and managing a smile. He hated this part just as much as she did, so he tried to pull her very quickly through this, but luck was not on their side.
''Oh,Shikamaru, hi!'' Tenten let out, coming to them with her husband and smiling widely.
She hugged him tight and then turned her attention to Ino, who smiled. This only meant that they were again under the spotlight and Tenten didn't seem to mind it all. She was talking with them right in the middle of the carpet, like they were in some park. It was a normal thing for Tenten, but Ino felt like running out of there because of all the attention. Couldn't she talk to them when they got inside?
''That was really nice to meet you too'', Ino mumbled, shaking her hand and then coming to Shikamaru. ''God dammit, what the fuck was that?''
''She is like that, don't mind her'', he answered, being pretty annoyed by this too. ''Almost there, come.''
He leaded her to the big building, where all other players were standing. This evening was important for him and Ino knew it. This evening was all about his club, with giving out awards and just spending a good time together. She smiled to everyone, noticing Shino coming to her.
''Oh my'', she mumbled and looked at Shikamaru, who looked at the same direction. ''Be nice, will you?''
''No promises'', he muttered and watched as Shino approached them. ''Hello, Shino.''
Ino gripped his hand tighter and smiled, not feeling comfortable at all. She never really spoke to Shino since that day and he know seemed to be all friendly, which confused her a bit.
''It's so nice to see you two here, how have you been doing?'' he asked cheerfully, wanting to hug them both, but Shikamaru put his hand on his chest, pushing him slightly. ''Oh.''
''Yeah, Shino, 'oh'. We will go inside'', Nara said and went in, pulling Ino with him.
''That was rude'', she said, not being angry on him, but not liking what he did. ''I mean, I would like to be split by you two in that hug, but you could have just say this.''
Nara ignored this, looking around for a free place and as soon as he find this, he pulled her there, waving to his friends. Ino knew them all, so when she sat there, it didn't feel awkward at all. They were laughing and talking and it get a bit uncomfortable, when Neji was like ''I thought you hated each other'' and everyone stared at them instantly after this, but thanks god Shikamaru turned attention to another subject and everyone left this theme. Ino was looking at Shikamaru and thinking how did this happen. When did he start to mean more than anyone else, when did he stop this hate thing towards him. He caught her gaze and looked at her, smiling. This prankish, childish smile is probably the thing about him that she loves the most. She can stare at the way he smiles all the time and will instantly feel better. And looking at him, she knew that he thought about the same and he really did. Shikamaru wondered how did this happen that he actually has aa real woman who he loves by his side, not just some slut. This feeling was new too him, but it felt awesome and he never wanted this feeling to end.
''I'd say that you're glowing from happiness, but I guess you will punch me for that'', Naruto said to him, taking sip from the glass.
''I'd say the same for you, but I guess you're glowing because of the amount of the crème that you put on'', he replied and his friend rolled his eyes. ''How with your..how was her name?''
''It doesn't matter anymore, because she is past and I'm a free man and I will move on and either though I'm all by myseeeeeelf'', Naruto said, singing last part and making Nara laugh. ''But being serious, we broke up lately, but this is not that important and as I can see, you are more than happy'', he added, nodding on Ino.
Shikamaru looked at her and smiled, looking down. Happy. Is he happy? Looking at the smiling Ino, he realizes that he's happy and not because she's with him, but just because she's smiling, while she's with him. He turned to Naruto, who now was holding his hands in a heart shape and making weird faces. Punching him in shoulder, Nara chuckled, turning to Ino. Feeling his gaze, she turned to him with raised eyebrow. He shook his head, his hand sneaking under the table and finding hers. Ino would like to keep it that way, but Shikamaru raised his hand and hers too, putting them on the table, so now everyone could see how their fingers are interlaced. And this way was unofficial way of saying that they are together and this is serious and Ino secretly liked it, even though she rolled her eyes on him.
''Good job'', Neji said to Shikamaru, pointing on their hands and smiling. ''I never thought that you would steal Shino's girl, though.''
''She was never his girl'', Nara muttered through gripped teeth.
''Alright, alright'', Hyuuga mumbled, raising his hands in defense and smiling. ''I can see, it's pretty serious, huh?''
Shikamaru nodded and there were no more questions or stares. He just made it clear that she's with him and not like a date for one evening, but like a girlfriend, even though he hated all those names like 'girlfriend' or 'boyfriend'. They were together and no one said a thing and that was for the best. The paparazzi was going around them, trying to take the better pic of Nara's girlfriend and that pissed Ino off, but she managed to fake a smile for a whole evening. It was not that easy to do as she thought it would be, but she did a good job, as Tenten said then. Sitting in the car, leaning on the seat with closed eyes and being tired of the whole thing, she felt his fingers on her knee, drawing something on it.
''You're stunning today'', he whispered, looking at her face and smiling, when her lips curved into smile, even though she still had her eyes closed. ''And tomorrow you will see your face in the magazines.''
''You could have not mention it'', she let out, opening her eyes and staring at him. ''It was a nice evening. I was happy to meet people, who mean a lot to you.''
Shikamaru smiled, taking her hand and kissing it. He knew that she was saying truth and he also knew that it was important for her to meet all those people, she cared about him and that was amazing to feel her love. He smiled and she smiled back. The silence seemed to be just right in this situation and he leaned in, placing a kiss on her bare shoulder, nuzzling his nose there and smiling.
''I feel happy'', he muttered against his will.
''I know'', Ino replied. ''I'm happy too.''
A/N: Hey guys! This is the last chapter and epilogue should come soon before the New year! I really hope you enjoyed the story so far, hope I could shake up your Shika/Ino feelings. Love you, darlings! – Nizza. xx