Day 93
This was definitely the oddest occurrence of Ino's short life.
Shikamaru hadn't spoken a word to her since Monday night. After she had crashed at his house that night, post-drama, he took her to school the next day and home afterwards, but never spoke a word to her. It was all rather puzzling.
But deep down in the pit of her stomach, she knew the reason why he wouldn't speak to her. The three make-or-break words she had uttered to him that night had shocked him. Now with the inner turmoil they had caused, who knows if he would ever speak to her again?
She grimaced and looked at the clock hidden in the corner of her computer screen. Three fifty-five. School would be out in ten minutes, and another day of her precious time left in Konoha would be finished. She only had one more full day of school here left, and then she was leaving Friday afternoon…
Maybe it was best to cut it off anyway. Long distance relationships never worked.
Shikamaru stared restlessly at the clock. He knew it was his move, that Asuma was waiting on another computer across the room for him to finish the game of online chess, but for some reason, his brain just wasn't functioning properly. He drummed his fingers against the table and allowed himself to blink once. Three fifty-six. Ino only had just under twenty four hours left of school here, and then she was leaving Friday.
Was that really enough time?
Monday night had left him in a conflict. Never had he known the great power that such few words could hold. He'd seen it happen in movies, of course, when his mother had hold of the remote and he had nothing better to do, but he'd always thought it was a load of crap. Now he wished he'd paid better attention to how the guy got out of this mess.
Logically speaking, it should be as easy as repeating those cursed words back to her. But he knew all too well that Ino would be able to look right at him and tell whether he truly meant it or not. But did he truly mean it?
Relationships are too troublesome… he clenched his fist and glanced at the clock again. Three fifty-seven.
Day 95
"Are your bags all packed, dear?"
"Yes, mom." Ino sighed, "They're stacked in my room, like always, ready to go."
"Good." Her mom said as she finished packing and storing the last box. They weren't taking everything, apparently. A lot of boxes of book and other trinkets were going into storage. The apartment was going up for rent again, just like it had when they moved the first time when Ino was only a wee toddler. Her mother taped the box shut and stood back up straight, hands on her hips, looking down on her work in satisfaction. She looked back over to her daughter, who was solemnly poking at the corner of the lounge chair on the other end of the room. She frowned, "I'm sorry, sweetie. I know how much you love this place. But there's nothing we can do."
Ino shook her head and turned away, not saying a word. She was trying her best not to cry. Her mother put down her roll of packing tape and crossed the room, placing both hands on either of Ino's shoulders and squeezing them, "I'm sure Iwa will be nice, dear, you'll-"
"I'll make plenty of friends and love my new school. I know, mom. You say that every time."
"Everything will work out."
Except it won't, she thought. She yanked her shoulders out of her mother's grip and walked back into her room to grab her school bag. Shikamaru wasn't going to be in Iwa. Neither would any of her friends here. She wasn't going to get the magical Christmas she had been looking forward to in only a couple of weeks. She wasn't going to get to experience Valentine's Day with her boyfriend. And prom? She was finally a junior, able to go to prom! But how could she do that if she was in Iwa, away from everyone she knew and loved?
The doorbell rang, and she her a muffled call from her mother, "Shikamaru's here to pick you up!"
She pulled on her backpack and grumbled. Shikamaru still wasn't speaking to her, at least not meaningfully. He would say hello and ask her how she was doing, but the car rides remained awkward and class seemed to droll on forever without him there to joke to. She knew she had screwed things up with him Monday, and wished she could turn back time so they could spend her last moments in Konoha happily together.
Instead she was stuck in one last awkward car ride. She would be leaving right after lunch period to catch her flight, and then the perfect relationship she had with Shikamaru would be no more.
Shikamaru wanted to say something. He wanted to whatever he could to make this day less depressing for Ino. He wanted everything that was bad to just go away. But he couldn't do it. He couldn't save her this time. Because this time, he for once had no idea what to do.
The car ride had been mortifying. Ino had only stared out the window the whole fifteen minutes it took to get to school, and the radio just had to be on an endless stream of sad love songs. Not to mention that he seemed to be hitting every single red light. Every time he had to stop he wanted to kill himself.
"You're not going to do anything?" Choji frowned during English. With winter break so near, the class was just finishing up their last novel, The Bell Jar, and getting ready to start preparing for exams. Class now was just a free for all, get your work finished period. And for once, Shikamaru had a lot of work to do, but couldn't find the concentration to do it.
"Huh?"
"You're not going to work on your assignments?" Choji pursed his lips, "I mean, I guess that makes sense, coming from you, but seriously man, I've never seen you with this much work to do!"
It was true. Shikamaru had his binder open and papers strewn all about his desk, all half finished. He was biting the cap of his pen so much that it had thousands of dents in it. Choji was concerned at this point, as well as slightly confused.
"Sorry, I thought you were talking about something else."
"Oh, like Ino?" Choji turned completely in his desk so he could speak more directly, "Like how she's leaving today and you're still not talking to her?"
"…yeah. That."
"You can't let this end badly, you know. You have to do something before she leaves. Hell, you could probably say something now. Kakashi won't care."
Shikamaru looked across the room at Ino. She wasn't bothering to do any work since she wasn't going to be here for the exam, so she was just doodling on a piece of paper while Sakura chatted idly with her as she finished her own assignment. Ino however, seemed to not be paying attention, and only nodded in a steady beat. This would be a good time to tie loose ends, but…
"No buts, I can tell what you're thinking." Choji's brow furrowed, "You talk to her. Now."
Shikamaru sighed and got up, agreeing. Things had to be fixed, and they had to be fixed quickly. He began to cross the room; Ino sensed him approaching and looked up, slightly hopeful. She wasn't flinching, she wasn't trying to get away…
Brrrring!
The bell had rang. Shikamaru froze. She was only a few feet away! Why wasn't he moving!?
"Ino, we better get to lunch," Sakura said, packing her bag and standing up. She hadn't even noticed Shikamaru yet. "Come on!"
Ino nodded and grabbed her own bag, and got up to leave with her. She sent one last hopeful look to Shikamaru before setting off.
"Smooth man," Choji said to him, walking up behind the lazy boy with both of their bags in hand, "Real smooth."
"Lunch time." He mumbled, "I'll get her during lunch."
Lunch was even more awkward than usual.
The whole crew and gathered at Shikamaru's table to say goodbye to Ino. Naruto was cracking jokes, and Sakura was kindly laughing at each of them, despite how incredibly not funny they were. Kiba, being nearly of the same IQ as Naruto, was guffawing beside him, with Hinata trying her best to understand what was so funny. Lee was dishing out as much "youthful wisdom" as he could to Ino, trying to help prepare her for the new road ahead. Neji and Tenten stood behind him shaking their heads and trying to send silent signals to her about what she really should do. Even Sai had shown up momentarily, leaving her a small parting gift: a little flipbook he had drawn, animating her simply turning her head and smiling.
Choji and Shikamaru just sat across the circular table from the whole crowd, slowing eating and trying to figure out what to do.
"This isn't going as planned."
"Odd," Choji mumbled as he munched on his nachos, "Usually everything goes as planned for you."
"Yeah, well, things haven't been that great for me since Monday," he pursed his lips and sipped his soda.
Choji paused and looked at his friend questionably, "What happened Monday, anyway? You never told me, all I hear is Monday this and Monday that. What was so bad about Monday!?"
Shikamaru gritted his teeth, "She told me she loved me."
"Wooow. No wonder you're so out of it."
"Yeah."
"Hey, guys," Ino finally spoke up to everyone, trying to get them all to calm down, "Guys! Thanks for all the well wishes, seriously, but I'll be fine. I move all the time. In fact, I've even been to Iwa before!" She laughed. The group started to calm down some, and stared at her questionably, "Seriously! It was a long time ago but I still kind of remember it. I'll be fine."
"Well," Sakura smiled, and leaned over to hug her best friend, "I know you'll make it. And I know that you'll come back and visit, too."
"Of course."
"You could stay at Shikamaru's house, too! I'm sure he wouldn't mind, right Shikamaru?"
Shikamaru flinched; that comment felt like a stab in his back. It just reminded him of Monday, when Ino had tried to convince his mother to let her live there with them. Ino, however, just smiled sheepishly and looked away. Choji sent a deep stare to Shikamaru, which just seemed to twist that knife in his back. He knew he had to say something.
"…yeah," He managed a smile, "You could stay with us."
Sakura smiled, and shook Ino, "See? Come back for Christmas!"
"We'll see." Ino laughed. We'll see.
Shikamaru opened his mouth to try and say something to her again, and she once again looked at him hopefully.
But then the lunch bell rang. His jaw shut as if on command.
"Well," Ino said, after the roar of the cafeteria grew with all the kids leaving to go to their respective classes, "I guess this is it, guys. My dad said he'd be picking me up at the end of lunch."
"I'm going to miss you so much, Ino." Sakura frowned.
"I'm going to miss you too," she smiled, although sadly, at everyone. "All of you." She laid her gaze on Shikamaru last. She stayed that way for a moment, before pushing back in her seat and standing up.
"Goodbye."
Gym was unbearable.
Friday was always dodgeball day, but the whole class seemed to be out of commission. The game was slow, boring… dull. No one was really putting any energy into it. Not even Lee.
Shikamaru sat on the sidelines, twiddling his thumbs. Ino had to have reached the airport by now, and was probably waiting through security. In about an hour or two, she'd be leaving Konoha for good, and he hadn't even given her a proper goodbye.
The thought of all of this was unbearable. He didn't want her to leave. He had planned out their Christmas together (as troublesome as that was, he had done it.). He had adored every moment he had with her, from the car rides to the phone calls to the dates they went on to the simple days they sat on his couch watching TV. He loved it when she came over to clean his room, so he could pretend he was asleep and watch her glide gracefully back and forth across the floor. He loved the shine of her ice blue eyes and golden hair. She couldn't leave. He didn't want her to.
He loved her too much.
He clenched his fists tightly, upset with himself. It took him this long to figure it out, after she had left? Just in time for her flight to leave!
Wait, he thought, just in time for her flight to leave...
The plans began to formulate in his head again. He stood up and ran out of the gym.
"Shikamaru!" Gai roared, but didn't run after him, "Guess he just really had to go to the bathroom…"
"Now boarding for Flight 4A. All groups."
"Honey, come on, we have to get on the plane."
"Be right there," Ino called back. She had been sitting in that uncomfortable airport seat for the last thirty or so minutes, simply staring at the security gates ahead, hoping for… a miracle. She sighed and picked up her bag, but hesitated when she felt something vibrate in her back pocket.
"Better turn this off," she reached into her pocket to pull out her cell phone, and flipped it open to see what it was. She had gotten a text message... from Shikamaru?
Don't move.
"What?" She frowned. Wasn't he in class? Why would he be texting her?
"Ino!"
She froze. She knew that voice. But wasn't there something… slightly odd about it? How was this possible?
"Ino!"
She shook it off and put her phone away. She was imagining things. She took one last deep breath, got all of the bad thoughts out of her system, and swung her carry-on bag over her shoulder. She turned to go join her family on the plane, but something was blocking her way.
Shikamaru stood in front of her, panting, not five feet away.
Ino was awestruck, not quite sure what to do, "Why… what are you doing here?"
"Don't talk," he said, trying to catch his breath, "I have something I have to ask you, and it's important."
"What is it?"
He breathed in heavily once more, and exhaled his entire question, point blank, "Will you come stay with my family this year for Christmas?"
Ino's bag slid off her shoulder and nearly to the floor, but she was somehow able to catch it on her elbow before it did. "I'm confused. Is that why you came all the way here?"
"Yes," he said, finally catching his breath, "mostly." He reached a hand to his face to wipe his brow and finally relaxed into a comfortable stance, leaning back slightly. He gazed upon her, "Well?"
She readjusted her bag back onto her shoulder, and smiled, "Yes, I'd love to."
"And," he started again, before she could say anything else or try to get on her plane, "Will you be my date to prom in April?"
"You're really asking me that now?" She laughed.
He smirked, "I always plan ahead."
"I'd love that, too. But did you really come all this way, even skip class, just to ask me this?" She raised an eyebrow, still smiling, but slightly confused, "You couldn't wait to call me?"
"I need to speak with you one last time before you left for good," he sighed, "We haven't spoken properly all week, and I'm very sorry for that. But I couldn't think straight anymore. I was too…" he paused, trying to figure out how to say it, "I don't know, upset. I don't want you to leave, Ino." He stepped forward, closing the distance between them until their bodies nearly touched. He raised his hands to hold her face, and brushed his thumb across her cheek, "I don't want to lose you; I love you too much."
Her smile slowly grew into a grin, "You love me?"
"Yes." He smiled softly, "As troublesome as that is."
A tear came to her eye, and she raised her hands to her mouth, happy beyond belief, "Oh my god," she reached her arms around him and hugged him tightly, burying her face into his shirt, "I'm so happy. I love you so much!"
He chuckled and rested his head on the top of hers, "I know."
"Final call for boarding on Flight 4A."
"I have to go," she frowned, tightening her grip on him, "I'm going to miss you."
"I'll miss you too," he rubbed the back of her neck and pulled her away so he could look into her blue eyes one last time, "Call me as soon as you land, and we'll talk about you coming for Christmas."
She smiled again, "Don't think for one second that I'll forget."
"Never dared," he laughed lightly, and continued to stare into her eyes. He leaned down to kiss her forehead one last time, but she tilted her head and their lips caught.
The kiss didn't last long; she broke away and grinned at him, "No goodbyes this time, I'll see you soon!" She secured her bag on her shoulder and hugged him one last time before finally running into the tunnel to her plane, right as the doors were about to close.
He stayed and watched her leave, all the way until her plane pulled out and drove away, down the runway, and took flight. It disappeared behind the clouds, which he swore were shaped just like flowers.
Huh? What? There's an update to Another Month, Another Move? ….what the hell is that fanfic!?
Oh, this one? Ah. I see. I thought it died.
WELL SO DID I GUYS. But I've actually been getting reviews for it lately, and everyone has been begging for it to be finished, and I felt REALLY BAD, so I finally finished this last chapter, pffft. Hope it wasn't too terrible.
However, I still want to do an epilogue, and I SWEAR I WILL. I've got a whole, free weekend ahead of me, and I've been planning and thinking about it for a long time, so I promise to get it done soon!
EVERY TIME YOU READ WITHOUT REVIEWING YOUR FAVORITE FICS DIE AND ARE NEVER FINISHED!
Huh, kinda like this one?
EXCEPT NOT.