Day 50
"I didn't take the schedule change because they would've taken me out of this class."
Shikamaru and Ino gaped at her, surprised and confused. "Ah… but Tayuya," Ino began, "What about you mission with Oto? What about getting out of history?"
"And," Shikamaru narrowed his glance at the girl, who was only staring back at him with an unreadable expression, "You would have been in this class then, anyway. Sasuke has third period Web Mastering."
She smirked, "You really do know everything."
"It's not that hard, once you figure out how scheduling works."
"Yes, well... Ukon has that class with him, he can take care of it. And I'll catch him before and after school."
Ino finally recognized the look of longing developing on Tayuya's face, and immediately wrapped her arms tighter around Shikamaru. He turned his head and looked at her, concerned, but she just shook her head. "And your history class?"
"I'll deal with it."
Ino frowned and nodded, looking away from Tayuya. Shikamaru sighed and crossed his arms, apparently wishing that she would not act this way. They both jumped at least five inches when they felt a hard rapping on the back of their heads.
Asuma stood behind them, the smell of smoke lingering on his breath. Ino concluded that he had snuck a smoke during passing period. "You know that ringing sound you hear from the ceiling at the beginning of class?"
"Yes?" Ino and Shikamaru both blinked.
"Did you not hear it? Get in your seats!"
"Yes, sorry Asuma-sensei!" Ino let go of Shikamaru immediately, hopped off the table and into her chair. Shikamaru darted across the room to his chair, as he only moves quickly when at the beckon of his mentor. Asuma grunted at them before turning and running straight into Tayuya, "You too!"
Tayuya only stared across the room a moment longer before slowly turning and striding away to her desk.
Asuma sighed, muttered something under his smelly breath about kids who don't follow rules, and returned to his desk. "Lesson's on the board, kids. You know what to do." He tipped his head back over the back of his chair and propped his feet onto his desk, linked his hands together and rested them onto his chest.
"Asuma-sensei."
He had barely enjoyed a minute's rest before Tayuya had spoken.
"What is it?" He yawned, lifting his head and trying not to have to move much more than that.
"I still need help."
"…really? You do?" Asuma scratched his head, surprised. Web Mastering was such a simple class, that any new student should be able to pick up the curriculum almost instantly, "All right, then… Shikamaru!"
This time, Shikamaru brought his pillow with him when he pushed himself across the room.
Day 57
Ino was getting frustrated.
It had been a week now, and yet still Tayuya insisted on receiving help all throughout class from Shikamaru. This had become such a problem that Asuma had decided to switch Shikamaru's seat with the student that sat beside Tayuya so that he would more easily be able to work and help her at the same time (and also still play chess and fall asleep at his desk… two very important things in the Nara boy's life). When he explained the lesson to her, she didn't even seem to listen. She would just stare off into space (facing him, of course), completely miss everything he said and then ask him to repeat himself. Shikamaru would groan and do as she bade.
This lasted all period, every day.
Ino would watch the two from across the room, typing blindly away at her own assignment, completely missing the keys she should be hitting and entering gibberish onto the screen instead. She'd scowl whenever Tayuya would pose a question to Shikamaru (which was promptly every five minutes, always on schedule). Poor Shikamaru, subjected to the cruel torment of tutoring, quickly answered her every inquiry.
Why didn't I get this special treatment? She thought angrily to herself as she grinded her teeth together in further frustration. She completely ignored the fact that she had received homework help from over the phone on a regular basis and they walked together to every class. Now, she was just getting too fed up.
"Shikamaru?" She asked him that day on the way home. Shikamaru looked at her lazily as they came to a halt at a stoplight.
"What is it?"
Ino fidgeted in her seat, the fact that the car was not in motion, therefore giving Shikamaru time to get a good look at her as she spoke, was a little bothersome. She fumbled her thumbs together and stared out the window, "Light's green."
"Mmm," he nodded and stepped on the gas. "Now what did you really want?"
The motion of the car sparked the gears in Ino's conversational confidence, and she spoke outright, "What's going on with Tayuya?"
"Wha'd'ya mean?"
"I mean, why? Why do you two spend so much time together in class? Why does she keep playing dumb?"
"I know it's annoying, but apparently she still really needs help in there." He shrugged, "There's nothing really I can do about it."
A moment's silence passed between them. Ino pursed her lips and shook her head, "I think she likes you."
He whipped his head around and dropped his jaw, "What?"
"She's like another Temari, just not speaking up. Come on, you had to have noticed!"
Shikamaru grinded his teeth together and refocused back onto the road, "Well, I suppose."
"Shika, please promise me you won't fall for any of her traps?"
They pulled up to another stop light. Shikamaru laughed and leaned over to kiss her forehead, "Of course."
Day 58
Ino sighed at the kitchen table early in the morning, picking the dry pieces out of her Eggo Waffle Cereal. Her eyelids constantly drooped over her eyes, and the time length they stayed open staggered. Thanks to a certain pink-haired flutist whose unknown motives haunted her every waking moment, she had the worst night staying asleep, and had woken up early that morning (five o'clock to be exact) without being able to will herself back to slumber. She had no choice but to go ahead and get up, get dressed, and get breakfast.
"You're up early." Her father mentioned to her an hour later, running a few fingers through his freshly washed hair and heading for the refrigerator for breakfast, "Nara doesn't pick you up for another… hour, right?"
"Uh huh." Ino mumbled. She finished fishing out all the dry pieces of cereal and munching down on them, then started mashing the rest into the milk sea below.
"Do you… need to go to school early today? For tutorials?"
A bell rang in Ino's head. Tayuya was in band, right? And the band had early rehearsal, right, because of marching season? So if she went now, she could catch her, right?
Or maybe she'll already be in rehearsal, she thought to herself, as a negative to the situation always tended to pop up these days. Regardless, she had nothing better to do.
"Yeah, take me to school." Ino nodded, and began to stuff her face with breakfast, "I'll be ready in a flash!"
Shikamaru was too happy when I told him I already had a ride today… Ino bit her lip as she walked into school that morning. The usual crowd had yet to form, as it was only just past seven and the only people at school (aside from the band practicing on the field) were those kids who hate riding the bus so much that they hitch a ride with their parents on their way to work so early in the morning, then fall asleep waiting for the bell. The smell of donuts and toast spread throughout the air as the cafeteria prepared for the breakfast shift (some kids were even too lazy to eat at home!).
Ino tossed her bag in to the corner where she and the others usually sat before school. No one will steal it this early in the morning, she thought again, then spun 180 degrees and marched off towards the fine arts wing of the school, thoughts of Shikamaru beginning to surface again.
He was probably just happy to get another fifteen minutes of sleep… she compromised, and nodded, that's right. That lazy boy was just happy to sleep some more.
As she reached to open the large, green metal door, it swung open and a tuba player rushed madly out, nearly running Ino over. She watched him run away in horror as he turned around an shouted, "Watch where you're going!" She blinked, shook her head and calmed herself down before resuming her walk down the wing and towards the band hall.
A quick peek though the glass of the door told her everything she needed to know. "Tayuya is already in rehearsal." She mumbled, angry, then leaned against the door and slid to the ground. She sat pouting there for a good few minutes before she heard a melodic string of notes playing from a few doors down.
Curious, Ino scrambled to her feet and ran down to the source of the music: a door that lead to another, smaller hall that had only a few doors reaching to small practice rooms. She tiptoed into the hall (though with carpet, there's no use to high the sound of footsteps), and quietly shut the door behind her. She leaned her body against the wall and crept down the hall until she reached the very last door, where the melody had originated from. She turned and just barely peered inside, doing her best to remain as invisible as she could.
The melody stopped. A mumbling was heard through the door, and Ino quickly pressed her ear to the door to eavesdrop.
"Beautiful as always, Tayuya," complimented a voice Ino didn't recognize. She was all too tempted to look through the window at who was there, but knew it would blow her cover.
"….thanks." She grumbled in reply. A brief silence was heard: Ino assumed Tayuya was shifting through music or fixing her flute.
"So, anyway, old man Orochi is getting antsy. Any news on your side of the hunt?"
"…no."
"Tayuya!" He groaned and kicked the wall, "Damnit, don't tell me you're letting that… guy get in the way of your job!"
"Shut the crap up, Kidoumaru! I'll do as I damn well please!"
Ino's jaw dropped. Tayuya had always seemed to be such a quiet, shy girl in class, and now all of a sudden she was… a bitch? Ino groaned inwardly, Not another Temari!
"Tayuya, you realize the sooner we take care of Sasuke, the sooner you can get back to Oto and practice with the band again?"
Tayuya didn't respond, just instead started blowing out angry notes on her flute. Kidoumaru growled. "Fine, I'll just leave now!"
With those words, Ino hurried and jumped to her feet, then sped out of the practice room area and out the fine arts wing before Kidoumaru could catch her. Now I know why she isn't out with the rest of the band, she thought.
She reached her backpack and slumped to the ground, biting her lip. But now I'm positive she likes Shikamaru… and I know he isn't going to do anything to fend her off! She sighed and shook her head, resting it in her hands, What am I going to do?
HOLY CRAP GUYS I AM SO SORRY IT TOOK SO LONG TO UPDATE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE FORGIVE ME!!!!!!
is shot
I went through massive writer's block. I'll have to be bringing this story to a close real soon. Not next two chapters soon, but soon.
EVERY TIME YOU READ WITHOUT REVIEWING YOU EXPLODE.
Ha, not so easy when its you in trouble, eh?