CRACKED

''Ino! Thank God you're back!" Sakura said as she welcomed Ino and Shikamaru at the door. She then kept her mouth shut when she saw the two holding hands. When Ino noticed Sakura's sudden lost of words, she quickly took her hand from Shikamaru's hold. Shikamaru then reacted by looking angrily at Sakura.

"Yea." Ino replied and dragged Sakura away with her. "See ya around, Shika," Ino continued and smiled at the shadow-user.

"You've got lots of explaining to do," Sakura whispered to her best friend.

"I know." Ino stopped walking when they reached to a table and seated.

"Better start explaining now…" Sakura replied glaring daggers at Ino.

"One bottle of sake please…" Ino said to a waiter ignoring Sakura's words.

When the waiter nodded, Ino continued, "Okay, Listen. My life is confusing, nowadays… You see that guy over there? I know, that you know, that he is the main cause of my life's complexity."

"State the obvious," Sakura said while she rolled her eyes.

"Do you even want me to explain?" Ino replied while raising an eyebrow up.

"Excuse me, Ma'am. Here is your order, a bottle of sake. Anything else? The waiter interrupted.

"No, thank you. Now, may you leave? because as you can see we are talking." Sakura said to the waiter impatiently.

"Sorry for her misbehavior. No, thank you so much." Ino told the waiter. "Eager are we?," Ino then get back to Sakura.

"Yes, Yamanaka. May you please continue explaining? I'm really confused of what is happening right now with my best friend, and that pineapple-head man standing there who is still staring at this so called best friend." Sakura said.

"Is he still staring? Oh no, Sak. This is really crazy. I mean like I don't know what to do. It's Shikamaru; he is a close family friend and a brother to me. He is acting weird lately… And I want to know why." Ino said, and took a one long drink of sake.

"Hey, ladies!" Kiba interrupted them, and seated between the two kunoichis. Kiba then put an arm around Ino's shoulder. "Hey, Barbie. Why are you drinking that hard, huh?" the dog boy continued.

Ino tried to take away Kiba's arm from her shoulders, but she couldn't.
"Kiba, stop. You're drunk." Ino said dryly.

"Yes, dog boy, stop this, or else you'll be going home this early." Sakura warned.

"Do you have any problems? Care to lessen them? I'm here, baby." Kiba said to Ino , ignoring Sakura's warning.

The dog boy then started putting butterfly kisses on the blonde's cheek.
Ino then didn't know what happened, the next thing she knew. . .Kiba is laying on the floor, and Shikamaru is on top of him, punching him on the face… Akamaru was just barking at them, and the other ninjas were all panicking. The Yamanaka got back to her senses, stood up, and shouted, "Hey, both of you. Stop!" Ino then noticed that Sakura was already missing in action.

"Who the hell, do you think you are dog boy?" Shikamaru said and punched Kiba again.
Kiba, on the other hand, managed to chuckle, he was very drunk and he was not in his real self.

"You'll pay for what you've done" and Bam! Another punch from the Nara. Three more punches were given by the Nara to Kiba when Lady Tsunade appeared with Sakura and the other members of Konoha 10 by her side. The Hokage then pulled Shikamaru away from the chuckling and covered with blood, Kiba. But Shikamaru is still trying to lose in the grip of the Hokage just to punch the dog boy again.

"Nara, stop. I'll get back to you." The Hokage shouted at him. "This is the end of this party. Everyone go back to your houses, and I don't want to hear any issues about what happened this night." Lady Tsunade continued with outburst. "Sakura, please attend to Kiba, bring him to the hospital now, Naruto and others you may assist. . . Ino, please walk Shikamaru home. I'll be seeing you guys tomorrow. "

"Hai." Ino and Sakura replied. And the rest of them went to fulfill their duties.

Ino and Shikamaru were walking in the Konoha streets , both are just walking there in silence. No words came, lips were locked, tongues were tied.

"How ironic, the girl is walking the guy home." Thank God , Shikamaru broke the silence.

"Good thing , you know! What the hell Shikamaru?! What came into your genius brain to do that to Kiba!" Shikamaru stopped walking.

"And what the hell, Ino! You are still concerned in that guy!? Shikamaru shouted.

'Kiba is our friend. You should have understand. He was drunk! "

"Alright! Why are you acting like that?! That jerk kissed you! He called you "Baby" , he has no right to do that! I'm the only the one who should call you-" Shikamaru said while gripping Ino's arm.

Ino didn't let him finish. "Wow! And you're the one saying that? May I ask you sir, what have you done to me a awhile ago?! You were not even drunk that time.. You- you'v-" Ino then kept her mouth shut when she saw Shikamaru bowed his head, and stopped gripping her arm.

"I'm sorry, Shikamaru." Ino said with guilt in her voice.

"No, don't say sorry, Ino. It's my fault , not yours. I'll walk you home, instead." Shikamaru said.

"No, Shika. It's my duty to walk you home."
"I am the guy , I should be doing this, not you. Lets go." Shikamaru then started to walk.

"I don't want anymore dramas lazy. Come on, don't be hardheaded. " Ino grabbed Shikamaru's arm, and started walking.

"Aww,"

"Sorry, Shika. I forgot about your wounds. I'll be healing them, later, okay? Ino said smiling."

"Okay." Shikamaru said smirking.

"By the way, what did you say a while ago? Sorry I didn't let you finish . What do you mean that you're the only who could call what? I didn't get it."

"Nevermind, it was nothing." Shikamaru said smiling.

Finally , they reached the Nara's compound, and of course Shikamaru's house. Shikamaru just entered his house without even knocking. Ino then stood in front of the opened door, and thought that

"Shikamaru will be dead , his mom will literally kill him, he should've knocked." Then she sighed.

"Good evening, Shikamaru. I've been waiting for you, get some sleep , okay? You look tired. " Yoshino welcomed her son. Wait , what? Did just Ino hear her Aunt Yoshino said those words?

"Good evening, mom." Shikamaru replied, and kissed his mother. "We have a guest." "Ino, I think you should enter."

"Oooh, right." Ino thought and slapped her forehead.
"Good evening, auntie." The Yamanaka entered the house and greeted Shikamaru's mom by a kiss on the cheek.

"I miss you so much! By the way, it's getting late , why won't you just sleep here? I'll prepare the guest room for you." Yoshino said while smiling, and went to prepare the guest room.

"Do I have any chance to say no?" Ino told Shikamaru.

"Sorry, but I think no." Shikamaru replied. "I'll be going to my room, bye, Ino" . the shadow-boy replied and went upstairs to his room.

"Great! Now, I'll be left here alone."

After a long wait, Yoshino appeared, and showed Ino the guest room. It was a little far from Shikamaru's room.

"Hope, you'll be comfortable here, Ino. Don't worry, this is like the old days. I have clothes there for you, you may you use them. And still the same, there's the bathroom if you want to clean yourself up before going to sleep. Good night , my dear." Yoshino said.

"Thank you so much, Auntie. Good night. " Ino replied smiling. Yoshino then closed the door, and went away.

"My life. . . " Ino said while laying on the bed.

Hey , guys. Sorry for keep you waiting. I've been thinking that I should stop this story, but it would be unfair for some of you. So, I have decided to update. :) Review, please! :)

(c) Naruto is owned by Masashi Kishimoto :)