The Years Turn Slow
A/N: And now back to Konohagakure. This chapter features a lot of 'snippets' just to fill in gaps and keep things moving.
Oh, and special note to the anonymous reader who commented on my habit of changing pairings listed for this story. My whim, I won't stop doing it until the story is over, but you can always find this story listed under just Ino's name, her name will always be there…it's her story.
The Years Turn Slow
Inoichi spent the first two weeks of his granddaughter's life trying to see her with her eyes open. Although both Ino and Misao had assured him that Ryokou had the hereditary blue eyes, he desperately wanted to see it for himself. It wasn't enough that Ino had listed her legal name as Yamanaka Ryokou, he still needed that affirmation of his legacy: the brown hair made him slightly uncomfortable. Finally, when he did see for himself that the baby had the jewel like eyes… that was the moment he was completely, irrevocably wrapped around her tiny, little finger.
To everyone's amazement, Ino proved to be a very serene mother. Of course it helped that Ryokou turned out to be what many considered to be a perfect child: she started sleeping through the night early; when she cried, her cries were distinct enough that even Chouji could pick up on the differences when he visited.
Hajimeru, on the other hand, was a more normal baby, but it didn't bother Temari and Shikamaru that badly, although it was always disturbing when Ino had a knack for calming him down on the off occasion when he seemed to be fussing for no reason. Furthermore, the Naras decided that they wanted to try for a second child sometime before 'Haji' turned two.
Temari and Ino would regularly work out, babies in tow, as they tried to reclaim their pre-pregnancy bodies. In general, they got together as often as possible so that the children would grow up with each other. Since Ino had already labeled everyone as 'Aunt' and 'Uncle' around Ryo (as she decided she would call her daughter for short), she wanted to get the children to think of each other as cousins. Although it was true, Shikamaru was a little hesitant, but Ino convinced him to. "Who knows, the truth may have to come out someday…not just yet…" It didn't seem to bother Temari at all; Ino presented her case there as she'd been around Shika so long it was almost like he was her brother anyway.
About two months after the children were born, Tsunade sent for the members of Team 10 to go for one of their character assassinations. She was a little surprised when Temari accompanied them to the office. She bowed before the Hokage, "Please allow me to substitute in for Shikamaru on this mission. I've been off duty for a while now and am dying to prove my worth to Konoha."
The Hokage looked at her, "Well, I suppose you look enough like Ino to pass for her sister. That could be part of your cover. I know you're fully aware of the nature of these missions. I heard about the little demonstration you got back in Suna, so you'll do just fine with that. Very well, you're in for this one. We'll look into your strengths and figure out what else to do with you later."
Temari smiled, "Thank you Godaime-sama."
"I also have a new piece of equipment for you Ino," Tsunade smirked.
"What would that be Godaime-sama?" Ino looked at her with curiosity.
"Well, since your pregnancy provided such excellent cover for your 'fainting'…" she pulled out a scroll, "We've got a new addition for your mission wardrobe. It is something that will combine easily with any disguise, whether jutsu or merely cosmetic." The Hokage did a simple release gesture and the scroll disappeared to reveal a pillow like item, "This vest will allow you to look somewhere around 6 months along, and it's designed to feel realistic enough to satisfy those busybodies who like to rub expectant mother's bellies."
Ino made a face. "You know how much I hated being pregnant, now you're telling me I have to fake it?"
"Unless you can find a volunteer…to…you know." The Hokage smirked as she taunted the blonde.
Ino's eyes narrowed even more.
Temari stared to laugh, Shikamaru and Chouji joined in.
"It would only be for the day you arrive and while you're in the target's town." The Hokage shrugged, "I thought you'd like something that would prove to be a lightweight piece of equipment and would increase your chances of mission success. Besides, it'll allow you to once again wear some of those cute maternity tops you bought. You are, by far, the most fashionable of my kunoichi."
Ino rolled her blue eyes, "Very well then, I guess this is a challenge that I'll have to accept." She didn't look happy, but there was just enough determination in those eyes you could tell she was serious.
Since Temari was taking Shikamaru's place on the mission, Ino and Chouji challenged her to try and come up with the theme for their 'attack'. It was decided on before they even got to their destination. Apparently their target was always surrounded with attractive assistants, so Temari thought sexual harassment might just do the trick. She chose to act as Ino's catcher as well, since she'd always heard about these missions but had never seen one, she wanted a front row seat.
When Ino did the possession, the 'target' was in a group seated in front of the watching crowd. She decided it would be easiest if she simply had him paw the knee of the woman seated to his left. What made it better was that his assistant was seated to his right: she saw the whole thing and immediately slapped him. Unfortunately, it was a surprisingly hard slap, so Temari almost dropped Ino's body when her head shuddered to the left from the impact.
It was lucky all the attention was focused up front where the slapping was taking place, because that's what Ino's response was: She (as the 'target') turned, stood and slapped the assistant right back, while saying, "You work for me."
"Work for you, play for you. Go to hell!" the assistant shrieked. Ino barely had time to release the jutsu before the woman said, "Take this, you two-timing bastard," and gave him a vicious knee to the groin.
Ino was practically dragged out of the crowd by Temari, so they wouldn't be caught as everyone around them surged forward to get a better view of the fight. It took a while for Chouji to catch up to them for the same reason. "So, how's the face?" he asked Ino as he gently tilted her head to see if there was still any remnant of the slap showing on her.
"It was pretty vivid a few minutes ago," Temari told him.
"Yeah, I already healed up the worst of it," Ino added.
"Well I'm glad you're both okay," he smiled.
"You shouldn't have to worry about me." Temari looked at him, "I had the easy part."
"I wasn't talking about you. I was worried about 'Junior'," he laughed and rubbed Ino's false tummy.
"You're such an idiot, Chouji." Ino smacked his hand.
"I've been waiting all mission to do that," he grinned at her.
"Sometimes I wonder why I put up with you," Ino shook her head trying hard to suppress her own amusement.
On the trip home, Chouji and Temari decided to continue calling the item 'Junior' and they spent the rest of the trip taunting Ino about it. However, the worst thing that happened was that Temari included the name in their report to the Hokage, and she started using the name 'Junior' as well.
It was a hot August day, but nowhere near as humid as it normally got this time of year. Ino sat outside of the greenhouse that was on the roof of the Yamanaka residence. She'd just finished up with caring for the plants inside. She gazed down at Ryokou, sleeping in her carrier placed in the shadiest spot just outside of the structure, but close enough that Ino would have heard her if she'd suddenly woke up.
She smiled as she sat against the roof railing that went all the way around the structure. Before you know it, you'll be running around up here. Staring down at the streets below, wondering if anyone you know is down there, and calling out to them hoping they can hear you when you do. She turned to take a quick glimpse below, then closed her eyes. A warm breeze swirled about her and suddenly she was somewhere else…a night about a year ago…
--flashback--
She was lying on her stomach on his bed, chin supported on her left hand. "You know," she said softly, "I want to revisit a question you didn't answer the first time I asked."
He ran a hand lightly across her back from where he sat on the bed next to her. "And that is?"
"Since you have such a nice body why do you hide it under those baggy black clothes?" She absentmindedly played with the end of her braid, "When I first saw you at those chuunin exams I thought you were the second fattest guy there."
"I probably was," he replied in a dark tone.
She rolled slightly on her side to look him over, "Really? You, with 'love-handles'?"
"Let's just say I didn't work the rest of my body as hard as I worked my hands back then. Actually, you have Gaara to thank for the man you see now. When he decided to work harder to become Kazekage, he convinced me that I'd have to push myself as well so I could remain his 'right-hand man'. So I did.
"When the Akatsuki got him, I realized that though I had worked hard, it was no where near enough. So after I was completely recovered, I re-doubled my efforts again. My skills without my puppets are far superior to what they would have been had I been left to my own devices."
"Sooo, what do you like to do when left to your own devices?" she grinned playfully at him.
"Other than you?" he pulled lightly on her braid.
"Yes, besides me," she took her hair away from him.
He stood up and walked across to his puppets. "Needless to say, I spend a lot of time on repair and general maintenance. The room next door has been allotted to me for that purpose; it also has materials for me to design new projects as well."
"You do make some of them yourself?" Ino looked at him with new respect. "I had heard that a lot of the puppets you had were Sasori's."
"As I've said before that encounter changed a lot of my thinking." He studied her as she still lie on his bed, his voice dropped, "So do you want to know how puppet masters dance?"
She pulled herself up into a sitting position. "I've got a feeling that this is a trick question."
He smiled, "Exactly," his hands gestured, "we don't dance, we make others dance for us," one hand flicked toward his dresser, the other toward her.
Ino felt herself jerked to her feet and suddenly there was bright tinny music playing. As he twirled her around in the limited space of his room, she tried to catch a glimpse of the music box the tune chimed out from. After a moment, she had to give up since he didn't stop spinning her. "Kankurou, you're going to have to have to quit this, I don't want to get sick."
"What kind of training do you get in Konoha?" he laughed as his hand gesture changed and she jerked around to spin in the opposite direction. He counted down, "Three…two…one," and gave just a slight push of his chakra to make her sit upon his bed.
"Don't do that to me again." She flopped onto her back, "That was a little too fast for my liking. It didn't match the timing of the music at all."
"Are you saying I have a lousy sense of rhythm?"
"Only in dancing," she said softly, "you do very well in other situations." She sat up offering her hands to him.
He came over to weave his fingers into hers.
"But you may just have to make sure I'm remembering it correctly," her voice teased.
-- End flashback --
Damn you, you chewed me up and spat me out, I'm not supposed to have good memories.
"Uhhh uh whn WHAAAA!"
Ino's head snapped around. Ryokou had awoken and from the sound of it she was hungry. She swung herself off her perch on the railing and onto the rooftop beside her daughter. She grabbed the light shawl from the basket as she adjusted her top then smoothly scooped her baby up. A moment later she settled against the rail again, shawl obscuring the sight of her suckling child from any roof-hopping shinobi passerby.
Somehow she found herself humming the tune of the music box.
"You must really like that tune."
Ino turned to face the stairway that lead to the roof.
Temari stood in the doorway with Hajimeru in his harness carrier. "That's Haji's lullaby you know, I can't have you stealing it."
"But when I'm over at your place, you play the music box for Ryokou too," Ino smiled back, "so you've shared it with her." The first time Temari had played it; Ino had almost slipped up and asked her when Kankurou had given it to her. Fortunately she'd caught herself in time and just asked: "Oh, what a nice tune, where did you get it?"
It turned out that it had been their mother's music box which Kankurou had found without letting his sister know it was in his possession. However, when she was packing up for Konoha he'd decided she should have it as a farewell present.
He does seem to have a sentimental side. He had the music box and remembered the sandalwood comb…
"So," Temari spoke interrupting her stray thoughts, "I was wondering if you'd like to go to dinner with us tonight. The guys just made it back from their mission, I ran into them on their way to report in. Although Chouji was a little disappointed when I told him it would be somewhere nice. I think he had his heart set on B-B-Q." She punctuated the letters by wagging her finger left to right.
"I'm sure he did," Ino smiled as she thought about her teammate. "What's the occasion?"
"Have you forgotten? It's my birthday," the older blonde grinned. "I've survived a quarter of a century…well almost, not until 7:53 pm."
"Where and what time are we doing this thing?"
"Teien no Yume at 7:00, I already told your mother before coming up here. She said watching Ryo is no problem." Again the teal eyed woman grinned.
"I have a feeling you set this up well in advance in hope your husband would be back. I know all about the need for reservations for that place." She looked into her friend's eyes.
"Hey, how about we wear the dresses we wore last year on this day," Temari suggested.
"You might be able to get away with it but I don't think I can," Ino muttered. "I suspect I'm a little more at risk of 'popping out' than I was last time. My cleavage has become a bit too utilitarian lately so I'm not quite as confident about showing it off as I was then." She adjusted her daughter toward her right shoulder to rest against the shawl as she reached her other hand to pull her clothes back into position. Gently she placed the hand on Ryokou's back and started a gentle movement somewhere between a pat and a rub.
Temari stepped closer, "She's such a little lady, Hajimeru would still be going at it."
A moment later there was a soft burping noise, "Hear that, you're such a little lady." Ino tilted her daughter so she could smile at her bright blue eyes…Yamanaka eyes.
"It's a shame she ended up with brown hair." Temari said softly, "It would have been cute if you and Shikamaru had both created junior versions of yourselves."
"Although her hair sometimes reminds me of her father, I'm glad she has it. I really want her to have her own identity. Not live under the Ino-Shika…you know, shadow." Especially if she surprises us by being the first member of the clan to have the eyes, but not the jutsu. What am I going to do if she's a puppet-master? "Let's go downstairs into the apartment, I think it's my turn to have a drink." She grinned at the flaxen haired jounin, "We have lemonade."
"Oh, how can I refuse?"
Ino walked down the street toward the restaurant. She had settled on a black dress with cap sleeves, it had a matching jacket as well but she'd decided against it on such a warm evening. She had twisted her hair into an elaborate up-do and added just a bit of curl to her bangs. When she had kissed her baby goodbye, Ryokou had blinked uncertainly a few times, then had been distracted by the glittery barrette Ino wore. The blonde kunoichi couldn't help but smile at this, You really are all-girl: already fascinated by my bling.
She stopped as she got to the door and checked her watch. Seven minutes to spare, it's like a new record for me. Maybe being a mom has made me a little less fussy about the details. Or maybe it's just that this isn't as much of an occasion for me as it is for Temari. Her gaze drifted up the way to see the Naras coming down the street. Just rounding the corner about a block behind she could see the broad form of Chouji making his approach as well.
True to her word, Temari had worn the dark teal dress that she'd worn their last night together in Suna. It seemed just a bit tighter across the bust than before. She wore her hair down with two barrettes with rhinestone dragonflies; body and wings matching the teal while the wings were in an aurora borealis crystal.
"I hope you don't plan on coming here every birthday," Ino teased the former Suna resident.
"It's a special occasion," Shikamaru said, "and I must say it denotes the end of a very remarkable year."
"That just may be an understatement," Chouji added as he joined their circle. He appeared to be slightly uncomfortable in his black suit, hands already reaching to readjust the burgundy tie that looped his throat.
Ino realized that she never seen Chouji at ease in more formal attire. Probably too restrictive for him. Then again Shikamaru tends to look bored no matter what he wears, except when he and Temari do their touchy-feely thing. Then he's got a little life behind those eyes. She decided to speak, "Well, what a strange group we are. Do you think we'll fit in well here?" She followed it with a light laugh.
They went inside and were escorted through garden maze to their table.
"I'm so glad I chose this," the flaxen hair jounin looked around at the rose hedges and flowering shrubs. An almost childlike delight filled her features, "I'm relieved I don't seem to have any allergies to flowering plants. There are so many here we don't have in Sunagakure."
"I've only been here twice before," Ino commented, "although I think my parents come here every anniversary. It's kind of like home only better, everything's so perfectly in bloom." A soft sigh followed the thought.
"You couldn't have something like this in Suna." Temari glanced around, "It would probably take three times as much work to maintain there."
The meal was splendid and the company pleasant so all in all it was a nice experience. Afterward, Chouji escorted Ino home; it was dark out and he insisted it was his duty as a gentleman.
"So you decided to be nice and not outshine her." He said it softly, almost like he was thinking out loud.
"I'm not getting you."
"Temari wore her dress from the reception last year, you didn't. So I figured you let her stand out a bit more because it's her birthday."
They had just arrived back at her house, "Now I understand, you're really saying you're disappointed I didn't wear it." She pressed her hands against his chest as she looked up at him. "I was hoping I'd be pretty enough in this." Somehow she just couldn't resist teasing him. She tilted her head just a bit more then suddenly pulled away to open the door, "Well, goodnight and thank you for walking me home."
During the next few months, Temari took over Shikamaru's place on the character assassinations. She let Chouji be the 'catcher' for most of them which was just fine with him. He enjoyed being the man in Ino's life even if it was just pretend for the missions. Not that he didn't take the opportunity to spend time with Ino and 'Ryo-chan' every chance he got. Better still, it didn't seem that unusual because of how often he'd been around prior to Ryokou's birth.
However, as things went on, Temari was slightly annoyed by the fact that Kankurou was unable to come out to Konohagakure to see his nephew. He'd informed her of some of the details of his mission searching for Gaara, but she suspected there were some things he couldn't risk putting in writing.
She had just received his latest message, the third since the mission and was taking her frustration out by ranting at Shikamaru. "If you had a brother or sister who'd had a child you'd make a point of trying to visit wouldn't you?"
"I'm not your brother. I can't answer for him, not even hypothetically," her black haired husband sighed.
"Look at this. He'd rather do missions for Pokaru-sama." She thrust the letter out under his nose.
"We've been through this before. It's not that he'd rather be serving Sunagakure, it's his duty." His dark eyes looked up form the paper to her, "Besides, isn't he currently trying to get your 'adopted little sister' her promotion. I mean, unless he's succeeded. Is it mentioned in this letter?"
"No, not yet," Temari replied, "but at least he's managed to hold Kazunari back from his. So, I suppose that makes my brother happy. The guy was such a self-centered jerk, but maybe his scars have humbled him."
Shikamaru shrugged, "Have you ever considered that maybe the Kazekage's deliberately keeping Kankurou busy? You know, so he won't take it upon himself to go off searching for Gaara again."
About six and a half months after Hajimeru's birth Temari announced that she and Shikamaru had succeeded in conceiving their second child. It was a little earlier than they had originally planned but these things do happen. Needless to say, Temari tried to argue with the Hokage about her right to continue doing the character assassinations for now. After about ten minutes, Tsunade agreed to allow her to until the beginning of Temari's fourth month, until she was noticeably showing, or until her condition resulted in physical limitations, which ever came first.
Fortunately this allowed Temari two more missions, which seemed to satisfy her.
Once again, Shikamaru insisted that this baby was going to be a little girl. He tried to document every difference between Temari's current pregnancy and her first as proof. She just laughed it off and told him it didn't matter to her as long as number two was healthy.
As for Hajimeru, well, he was just too young to care.
For Kankurou, the time seemed to fly. He was keeping busy with his ongoing projects: First off was the building of new puppets and increasing the number he could control. He was having some minor issues based on the complexity of the additions. The simpler the functions the more he could work…but he wanted them all on the same level as the seven he'd taken on the search mission.
The second project, Mio, was coming along nicely. She had been touring the outposts helping hunt down borderland brigands. Sometimes he accompanied her and sometimes he'd get her version of things upon her return. Either way, her reputation as someone who gets things done was improving.
Then one day she surprised him by requesting his advice about how to ask someone out that you were genuinely interested in.
"As long as it isn't me," he'd muttered.
"Oh no," she grinned, "someone much more mysterious."
"Not Shiori, I hope." His eyes narrowed, "When you joked about being a man I didn't think it meant you had those leanings."
"No, it's a guy, I see him all the time," she smiled.
"Either way, I'm not the one to ask." Kankurou frowned, "I'm too selfish. I think you have to be more giving and open to be in a lasting relationship."
"Onii-chan is being open right now."
"But not enough, I have too many secrets." He regarded her cautiously, this was usually the kind of moment that was followed by her pouncing on him with Ni-Nyanko close behind. He flicked a glance at the cat who was acting casual, preening herself nearby. "And I think I like keeping them for the most part." He hadn't thought about Ino in months…the dream had left him alone, but now this conversation. In fact this almost makes me have the urge to talk to Bara again…one person for my darkest secret.
When the second Nara baby was born, Temari's swearing vocabulary came into full swing again. Shikamaru kept waiting for the medic to announce the baby's sex, and when it happened he was disappointed, but only for a moment. Yes, it was another boy, but somehow he just couldn't continue to feel let down when he heard that first cry and saw the little face that made it. They named him Tsuzuki. It was the name Temari had picked out for the baby regardless of its gender. She insisted it was a logical progression from Hajimeru.
Ino made a point of going to see the new baby as soon as she heard. She even brought Ryokou with her. Chouji had just gotten there as well when she arrived. They walked in together for their visit. Temari didn't look tired in the least, but Shikamaru wasn't there at the moment.
"So this one's got your hair," Ino smiled as she saw the golden fuzz. "That's good. I think the Nara hair is too coarse, yours is so much nicer." Ryokou was in her arms looking wide eyed at the tiny little bundle Temari held.
"There's nothing wrong with my husband's hair."
"Then why do all the Nara men insist on pulling their hair back like that?" Ino replied. "You're wearing yours down today."
"I thought we were here to see the baby, not talk about Shikamaru's hair." Chouji interjected.
"You're right…sorry to get sidetracked." Ino smiled at Tsuzuki "Looks like number two is a prettier baby than his brother. Do you think he'll have your eyes?" her glance moved up to Temari's face, "I've always liked your dark teal eyes."
"We'll see." Temari smiled as she adjusted her position in the hospital bed so she could settle Tsuzuki back into his little bed along side hers.
"Well, congratulations again." Ino took one last look at the new baby. "Give Shika a kiss for me."
"Yes, congratulations," Chouji smiled. "Tell Shikamaru I'll catch up to him later."
Temari laughed, "Do you think I'm a message service? Get out of here."
They went back out into the hall and headed toward the exit. Ino shifted her daughter in her arms, then rubbed noses with the little girl.
Chouji watched how happy she seemed. "Hey Ino," Chouji asked, "do you and Ryo-chan want to get something to eat? My treat."
"Thank you, I think that could be nice." She smiled while she looked at Ryokou. "Is that okay with you, wanna go out with Uncle Chouji?"
"Un-ka" the brown haired girl sounded out as she turned her head to smile at him.
"I think you can take that as another yes," Ino regarded him as well.
"All right then," he said, "Let's go."
A short while later Chouji was very happy. He had three things that made him feel that way. First, of course, was the food. Second was the opportunity to spend time with Ino. The third was the chance to observe Ryokou, being around her fascinated him to no end. There was always something new about her, plus she was just so darn cute when she made her happy noises or did things.
The next year followed in a similar pattern. The members of Team 10 and Temari acted as one extended family. Shikamaru and Temari traded off on character assassinations, but Chouji did everything in his power to be part of every one. Other missions were there to be had as well, but those were more subject to the Hokage's whim lately as to whether a team would be sent in its standard form or not. The only thing that was certain was that Shikamaru and Temari were never sent on the same mission.
At one point, well after Ryo and Haji had turned two, Temari and Shikamaru did go back to Suna. They took their boys with then so they could meet their Uncle Kankurou. The reason for their trip had to do with the unexpected demise of Pokaru, the sixth Kazekage. They were going as Konoha's representatives to witness the appointment of his successor.
Ino felt slightly guilty that she was pleased with this development. But then she remembered the man as a lecherous creep who stared at her while she was there. Strangely enough she didn't even care who was his successor…they could only be an improvement.
She did have one request of Shikamaru: That he make sure that Temari didn't have any opportunity to slip up and say anything about Ryokou around Kankurou.
He gave a brief report to her upon his return: No, Temari didn't get anything resembling an opportunity talk to her brother about anything except immediate family. And if you knew some of the other things that were said you'd probably be more resentful about what happened with him than you already are.
Shortly after the return trip something even more surprising came along to take up Temari's time. She was given a team of genin to train. Because of the amount of time she would be away during this she made a request to the Hokage that Shikamaru be allowed to concentrate his time at home…except for the Team 10 specialty. In particular, his obligations to his clan and their research, and one other promise he'd made in the past: He now spent a moderate amount of time training Asuma and Kurenai's son.
Three year-olds rapidly approaching their fourth birthdays grew like normal Konoha children for the most part: the starting of learning basic shinobi skills from their parents. Other than that, Ryokou was like a ray of sunshine, she seemed to brighten the lives of every one around her. Hajimeru had his own sense of perfection; he spent a lot of his time correcting his little brother. Tsuzuki, although active, was quieter than his brother for the most part. Maybe it had to do with all the correction he was given by Haji.
So time passed. Ino never got sent on any missions to Suna…there still seemed to be restrictions. And, somehow, Kankurou never made it to Konoha…but at least Temari understood his reasons for the time being.
And strangest of all was that Chouji became the default babysitter for both of his teammates whenever immediate family wasn't available. When he'd watched Ryokou for the first time his aunt, Chikako, had crept up the stairs to check up on him because she was sure he wouldn't be able to cope. The only time after that she'd come to see if everything was all right was when she'd heard him raise his voice at the Nara boys. It turned out that was the only time they'd heard him do that as well; shocked, they had promptly gone to opposite corners of the room for the time-out he'd requested of them nicely only a moment before.
Team 10 worked their way home from the latest mission. The nights were surprisingly cool, not as cold as that one night when Ino had been pregnant, but still unseasonable. When they camped, Shikamaru decided it would be best if he took the last watch when they rested. He remembered how in the past when the weather was like this, Ino was like a cat, heat seeking, once many years ago, when Asuma was still alive.
Shika recalled a night like this: While the rest slept on his watch, Ino in her sleep went into heat seeking mode and curled up back to back with Asuma. In turn, Asuma still asleep, rolled over muttering, "Kurenai" and put his arm around Ino. She woke up with a start, screaming, "Pervert", grabbed Asuma by the arm and, in a moment of hysterical strength, flung him on top on Chouji. Shikamaru had been amused for days: especially when he remembered the expression on Chouji's face when he was suddenly awoke by Ino's shriek then being confronted by the sight of his sensei flying at him.
Yeah, this night is a lot like that. Ino had already curled up next to Chouji, so far nothing weird had happened, but it wasn't quite dawn yet. A few minutes more passed, the sky looked like it was just starting to lighten. There she goes, Ino turned to face Chouji then snuggled tighter against him. This could get embarrassing, Shika smirked.
Ino reached her hand out to brush Chouji's jaw. "Wake up darling…" Chouji moved like he half heard her.
Darling? Shika tried not to snort.
"…The kids are still asleep…"
Kids? You only have one, Ino. Shika waited. I gotta ask her about this dream she's having.
She threw her arms around Chouji's neck, "…Make love to me…" and then she drew him into a kiss. At first, Chouji seemed to be caught in the dream too, then his eyes snapped open as Ino's hand slid from his neck, down his chest and continued downward. Then she said, "…Chouji…" it came out in a sultry sigh.
"Ino, wake up Ino!" Shikamaru said in a firm tone. Damn, she was actually dreaming about him? You've got to be kidding me. That lost its entertainment value really fast. Then again, it could have been worse: She could have said Kankurou.
Ino saw where she was, and what she might have been working on doing. She jerked her arms back tightly against herself, blushed and muttered. "I'm so sorry, I was still asleep."
"Must have been a nice dream Ino." Chouji replied with a slight pout.
Dammit Chouji, quit backing down, she just had a dream about you. What better opportunity could you ask for? Shika thought. Just get to the point, tell her how you feel, ask her out, the worst that could happen is she'll say no. Stop being held back by your own insecurities.
A/N: Tsuzuki means 'continuation'…oh the trap of symbolic names. Serendipity: Yes, I looked it up (after choosing it) 'Haji'(though not with the same characters) I discovered it can mean 'disgrace' but it's like an inside joke. If you think about Chapter 11: Temari was sent to Konoha in disgrace. : p
Okay, I wrote 90 percent this chapter before I wrote the Kankurou chapter. I forgot about the thing with 'junior' maybe it seems repetitive but I actually think in terms of a disguise element in this world expectant mothers probably gives a false sense of fragility. Most women of course don't have that many limitations due to it, but somehow our minds still pick up on the stereotypes…
And though I personally hate the word 'bling' it seems like something Ino would use so there it is. Also the restaurant Teien no Yume makes it's second appearance in this chapter, it previously appeared in my story 'The Hokage's Request'.
Thanks: To Awaii, shelvesinthecloset, Shubaltz Crazist & one anonymous reviewer for their comments (Virtual chocolates anyone? Oh wait, my Beta says they might not be good for you.)
