Authors' Note: As I said in the last chapter, school takes up all of my time. I wanted to update sooner than this, which I have said before, but my major requires me to write an obscene amount of reports and basically eat, drink, and breath school. The library has almost become my second home. Each time I got a chance to write, I would have to stop and work on another paper, or go to a class, or sleep. If you love the story as much as I love to write it, please be patient. I am still updating, just at a really slow rate; anyway, on the Chapter 8. Oh and I am not too confident in my skills of writing about things that happen on a honeymoon… all of you know what I mean. But I am going to write about it, and I will try my best not to make it horrible. Thanks to *TheMissMalave* and *RosieWinterMoon* for updating on Chapter 7!
P.S.- I don't own Naruto. If I did, you could just watch this in the anime or manga. Nevertheless, I am just writing this story. =)
What a Life
Step left. Stop. Step right. Stop. Step left. Stop. Step right. Stop.
"Ino what are you doing?" I turned to see Shikamaru standing at the end of the hallway, looking at me strangely. "What does it look like Shika, I'm walking. Gosh, even with your big brain you can't figure that out." I responded while walking back down the hall and flicking him in the forehead.
Mrs. Nara was mixing cookie dough as I walked into the kitchen. "Ino would you like to help me? I could use someone who can put the cookie dough on the baking sheets," she said to me.
I smiled and skipped over to the empty baking sheet. I smiled up at her and waited for the bowl of cookie dough.
"Mom!" Shikamaru yelled from the other room. The bowl was passed towards me and Mrs. Nara said "I'll be right back, don't touch the oven Ino, it is very hot." She turned on the heel walked out of the kitchen.
I turned the faucet in the sink on, to walk my hands. I lathered soap in my hands and pushed them under the faucet. Quickly, I yanked them from the running water with a "Yelp". I brought my hands to my mouth and blew on my skin as tears filled and spilled from my eyes.
Mrs. Nara turned back into the kitchen and stopped when she saw me. "Ino, what happened? Did you touch the stove? Let me see your hands." She rushed over, gently took my arms and moved my hands into the light.
She turned them over and stared at the slightly reddening skin on my palms and fingers.
"Let's get some ice for your hands." She said and pushed me towards an empty chair. The cold ice hit my skin and seemed to cool the burning.
"I'll start putting the cookies on the pan. Once your hands feel better you can help with the rest, okay?" She wiped a tear away from my cheek and moved to the sink. She turned back to me and frowned, "I guess I should have warned you that the water is hot too," she said and cooled the water before washing her hands.
When the burning stopped I jumped up from the chair shuffled over to where Mrs. Nara was standing. Carefully I scooped the dough from the bowl and dropped it onto the pan.
"Your mom said that your cousin got married today. You got to go to the wedding right? How did you like it?" Mrs. Nara questioned as the drops of dough started to fill the first pan.
I beamed up at her, "Oh Mrs. Nara it was so pretty. There were flowers everywhere; they picked roses for the bouquets. But that is not even the best part. The bride, that's the lady marrying my cousin, had this big white dress on. She wore a veil and her hair was up in a bun and she looked just like a princess. I helped mom make the bouquet she was holding." I thought of how magical the whole event seemed.
"Did you not want to go to the reception?" she asked.
I looked up at her and questioned "What's a reception? Is that the party thing after the wedding? Mom said that we could eat dinner there and dance. But I heard you were making cookies and asked her if I could come here. I like to be here and I like cookies." I giggled at the last part.
She laughed too and turned to get a second pan for the cookies. "You know Ino, when I was your age, I used to love to go to weddings. But weddings don't happen every day. Actually your mom and I were each married quite a few times when we were younger."
I shot her a questionable look and waited for her to continue.
"I had a huge back yard at my old house, your mom and I would drag curtains outside and pick flowers. We had many weddings right outside in the back yard. Your mom married the cat, the dog, teddy bears, even my little brother. Of course none of it was real, but we loved to pretend."
I tried to imagine it; Mrs. Nara and my mom at my age, draping curtains over themselves and playing wedding. I giggled again at the image. "That sounds fun!"
Mrs. Nara seemed to think for a minute. "I've got an idea Ino, how about we have a wedding in the back yard? We can pick flowers and I have a drape we can use. You can be as pretty as the bride you saw earlier." I smiled up at her and hurried to finish the cookies.
While the cookies were baking in the over I ran outside and picked some wild flowers. I sat on the ground arranging the flowers into a bouquet. I looked up when I heard the door to the house open up. Mrs. Nara walked outside with Shikamaru in tow.
"Ino I could not find a teddy bear, but Shikamaru was not busy; I figured her could make himself useful." She said as Shikamaru grumbled behind her.
She knelt down beside me and wrapped the drapes around my shoulders. Then she stood up and moved over to Mr. Nara, who just walked out of the back door.
Shikamaru sat beside me as I finished arranging the flowers. "Why are you so troublesome Ino, I could be watching clouds right now." I frowned at him, "Well you are noisier then a teddy bear, but I guess you will do." I stuck my tongue out at him and laughed as he scowled at me.
*** Mrs. Nara's POV***
"Yoshiro, what is going on? Why does Ino have a drape on her shoulders?" Shikaku said to me.
"Sweetie, don't you recognize a veil when you see one? When the wedding starts, it will be draped over her."
I tried not to laugh at the look on his face. "What do you mean wedding?" He said in a panicked voice.
"Ino is playing wedding, Shikamaru just happened to be available for the position of the groom. She has picked flowers and everything. Earlier Ino and her parents went to their cousins wedding, Ino was amazed." I smiled at Inos enthusiasm from the earlier conversion.
I yelled out into the yard, "Ino dear, let me go check on the cookies and I'll be right back. Then the wedding can go on as planned." She smiled at me from her spot in the grass.
I turned to go inside the house but stopped after a few steps.
"Shikaku, this is fun for Ino, but I did have an ulterior motive for this. I hoped to give her a little practice for getting married. I wanted to see if she was happy about it. She was so cheerful when she skipped outside to pick flowers for the bouquet." I smiled.
"Well, they need practice now, because I doubt they will be very enthusiastic about this at 18." He responded.
I looked towards the two children. They were laughing with each other. 'How many years do we have left? Will they still be laughing on the day of the actual wedding?'
***Ino's POV***
"Just give me a minuet." I bellowed as I shut the door behind myself and leaned against a wall. I sunk down to sit on the floor and placed my face in my hands.
'Breathe Ino. Inhale… Exhale… Inhale… Exhale…' I told myself.
The door opened and closed again as the light flickered on.
"Ino, what are you doing in here?" The voice questioned. I shook my head in my hands and continued to breathe. "I'm fine," I said.
"Ino, dear you are hiding in a closet. You are not fine." The voice paused. I lifted my face from my hands and Mrs. Naras' face filled my view.
"Ino, tell me what is wrong. You were so happy yesterday." She said to me.
The wall that I had put up broke and my eyes started to fill. "I just feel like I need a minute to breathe. This morning, as soon as I woke up, I was rushed into the bathroom and I got a shower, then my hair was done. After that was I was rushed over to the makeup table. Everyone has been saying to go this way, and then go that way. Ino do this, Ino do that. Ino hurry and get out of the shower. Ino stop moving you will mess up your makeup." I said as a tear slid down my cheek.
Mrs. Nara stood up and pulled me up with her, then wrapped her arms around me and patted my back. "Ino I was so worried the it was about you not wanting to be here. I thought you were getting cold feet, and wanted to back out of it. I am so happy that is not the case. I mean, since it is arranged, you would not have been able to, but still." She smiled at me. "Come on Ino, we will go out into the next room. You will sit down, put your feet up, we will tweak your makeup a little bit and you will relax."
As the door opened up, I noticed that everyone had scattered. Sakura, Hinata, and Tenten were sitting by the window, trying not to let me know that they had been eavesdropping. My mom was at the makeup table, reapplying her lipstick.
"Sit down over there Ino, I'll go get the makeup." Mrs. Nara said as she shuffled off. I gently placed myself in the chair and, for the first time today, I let my shoulders relax.
I laid my head back on the chair and closed my eyes, as a fresh coat of foundation was put on my skin.
After sitting for a little while and listening to Tenten talk about how her date with Neji went, I finally felt like I was not being rushed.
"Ino, stand up for a minute and close your eyes." My mom said. I pushed out of the chair and stood up, closing my eyes and wondering what was happening.
"Alright, now step forward." My mom instructed.
I did and felt something smooth slide up my legs and wrap around my body. I felt it tighten with the sound of a zipped moving up.
Several gasps could be heard throughout the room. "Okay Ino, open your eyes."
I slowly lifted my eyelids and let my eyes rest on the mirror in front of me.
The dress was breath taking. My mom and Mrs. Nara kept the dress from me all of the engagement. It was absolutely perfect from me.
"We figured that the princess fit would look beautiful on you, it is. We found one that was simple. We also knew that your hairstyle and make up would complement the dress. Your father wanted us to give you this. It was his mothers and it covers the something old and borrowed categories." My mom said as she wrapped the thin silver necklace around my neck and tears filled her eyes.
I continued to stare at myself. 'Is this really me? I really look like a bride. I cannot believe it.'
"Ino if you are ready, it is time." Mrs. Nara said.
I walked over to Sakura, Hinata, and Tenten. I smiled lightly at them and they smiled back.
"You all look so pretty." I said to them.
They thanked me and moved towards the door in a line. I helped pick the red dresses they wore. Each dress worked well for them.
I picked up my bouquet. My mom and I chose red and white lilies for it.
I took a deep breath and walked out the door. My father stood in the hallway waiting for me.
"I can't believe that this is my little girl. Yesterday you were just a baby, now you are getting married. When did the time pass?" My dad said as he took my arm and started to walk with me. We stopped in front of a door and I took a deep breath.
"Are you ready Ino?"
I nodded and the door opened. I looked out at all of the people waiting to see me. 'The last time this happened, I was just pretending. Now here I am, walking through Shika's backyard, getting married.'
From somewhere in the back of my mind words echoed in my head.
'Step left. Stop. Step right. Stop. Step left. Stop. Step right. Stop.'
When we stopped walking, I brought my attention back to the present and focused on the man standing in front of me.
Shikamaru stood there, wide eyed, staring at me.
"Who gives this woman to this man?"
"I do." My father said from beside me. I started to move toward Shika, but I was stopped by something holding me back. I turned to look back at my arm, which was being held by my father.
"Dad, it is time to let go now." I said through a smile.
He was glaring at something, when I turned to look at what it was, I mentally screamed in frustration.
He was staring directly at Shikamaru, whom was staring back. 'What are they five and fighting over who gets the shiny toy!' I turned back to my mom and sent her a pleading look. She quietly moved over to my dad and released his grip from my arm. Then took him back to his seat.
I moved up to Shikamaru and listened to the man talk.
"We are gathered here today, on this happy and joyous occasion, to join this man and this woman in holy matrimony."
"Marriage is a solemn institution to be held in honor by all, it is the cornerstone of the family and of the community. It requires of those who undertake it a complete and unreserved giving of one's self. It is not to be entered into lightly, as marriage is a sincere and mutual commitment to love one another. This commitment symbolizes the intimate sharing of two lives and still enhances the individuality of each of you."
"Shikamaru Nara, do you take this woman to be your wedded wife? Do you promise to love her, comfort her, honor and keep her in sickness and in health, remaining faithful to her as long as you both shall live?"
"I do" Shikamaru said.
"Ino Yamanaka, do you take this man to be your wedded husband? Do you promise to love him, comfort him, honor and keep him in sickness and in health, remaining faithful to him as long as you both shall live?"
"I do" I said. 'Two years ago I would have though agreeing to this was crazy, but today I mean every word of it.'
"Then by the power invested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride."
The words hit me and before I could fully comprehend them, Shikamarus' lips touched mine and I felt my head spin.
He took my hand in his and we moved through the crowd of people towards the house.
Once we were inside, we walked into the living room and sat on the couch. I smiled at him and said "Well this is what we have been planning for. This took two years to make everyone happy, two years to get our moms to stop arguing about the correct shade of red for the dresses. What in the hell were you and my dad having a stare off for!"
"Ino, he stared at me, so I stared back. I was not going to be intimidated by him. I was not going to be out stared either. You are not a guy so you don't get it. It was like he was challenging me to make sure I could take care of you." He said in response.
I took a deep breath and closed my eyed. When I opened them I saw my dad standing in the middle of the room, giving Shikamaru a death glare. Shikamaru stood up and walked over to him.
My dads' hand shot out and grabbed Shikamaru by his collar and pulled him closer.
"Shikamaru Nara, if you do anything to hurt my little girl, I will make you pay for it. Don't you dare make her unhappy and don't you ever make her cry. If you do I swear I will hunt you down and…" I jumped up, pushed myself between them, and moved them apart before he could finish his sentence.
"Damn it! Will you two stop acting stupid? First you have a stare off in the middle of the wedding and now, daddy, you are threatening my husband. Calm down!"
My dad responded with "Ino Yamanaka, do not tell me to calm…"
"Nara, its Ino Nara now." My eyes widened as Shikamaru interrupted my father and put his hand on my shoulder.
My fathers' face turned red and he turned and left the house, slamming the door on his way out.
"Say it again." I asked.
Shikamaru stepped in front of me and brought my chin up so I looked at him, "Ino Nara." A smile broke out on my face and I giggled. 'How can a change in my name make me so happy?' I wondered.
Hours later after the cake had been cut, we had danced, and the speeches were finished, I strolled around the yard, through the many people still attending the reception, looking for my father. 'Where is he?' I had finished saying my good byes to everyone but him.
I walked around to the front porch and there he sat, looking out at the sky.
I sat next to him and waited for him to say something. "Ino, I am sorry. I overreacted, I got territorial, I went crazy, and I could tell in your eyes when I took it out on Shikamaru, you were hurt." He paused. "You have been my little girl for so long, my only daughter, my pride and joy. I could not possibly give you away."
I started to respond but he held up his hand and I let him finish talking.
"When you were little I made a promise to protect you and keep you safe. Now that my head is clear, I can tell you that for years I have watched Shikamaru protect you, I know that he would never hurt you. I know that he loves you and that is why I am going to say this once and only once, because my heart cannot take saying it another time. I approve of this. Technically, I approved of it when I signed the arrangement, but now that you are grown up, I can see that, even if you won't fully admit it, you love him. I wish you both nothing but happiness and know that you will always be my little girl. Even though you are not so little anymore."
I jumped from my seat and wrapped him in a hug. "I love you daddy." He smiled and, without another word, moved back towards the party.
I all but flew up the stairs and stripped out of my dress. I changed into something I could travel in, grabbed my backpack and all but flew back down the stairs again.
Shikamaru stood in the front yard waiting for me. "Are you ready to go?" He questioned me. I nodded and he grabbed my hand. Leaves spun around us and we transported to the main gate of the village. Still holding my hand, Shikamaru began to walk.
The moonlight beamed down on us as we walked on the dirt road toward the hotel. "So, do you know where the hotel is?" I questioned Shikamaru. 'Of course he knows where it is dummy, he is Shikamaru he knows everything.' I thought mentally slapping my forehead.
"Troublesome woman of course I know where it is. It is not that far from the gate. You see it every time we leave to go on a mission." He said with a smirk.
"Oh yeah" I said, mad at myself for asking in the first place. 'Ino why are you so dumb? He is your husband if you want to talk to him, then talk. Don't ask stupid questions because then he can be all smart and smirk at you and call you troublesome.' I thought.
"Wow, a silent Ino, I never thought I would see or hear the day!" Shika said, laughing at me. I started to laugh to.
After the laughter died down I looked forward and saw the lights of the hotel. I smiled "there it is" and pointed towards it. Shikamaru checked in and we moved through the hallways until we got to our room. Shika opened the door and I followed him inside.
My stomach dropped as I realized the reality of the situation. I mean I knew this was a honeymoon, and I knew that this was our wedding night, but at this moment I realized what the wedding night meant. Before I could stop them, my hands started to shake and fear crept into my eyes.
I tried to stop it, but before I could Shikamaru turned and saw me. He walked over, took the bag from my shoulders and kissed me gently. Moving back slightly, he rested his forehead on mine and looked me in the eyes.
"Ino, calm down" he said as he rubbed his hands up and down my arms, "I know that it has been two years since we first kissed, two years since we were engaged, but do not worry. Today has been a very big step and we don't have to rush." He kissed me again.
"I love you, if you want to wait, it is fine. Nothing has to happen tonight." With that he moved away and started to walk towards his bag, taking my bag with him.
'Ino snap out of it. You love him, you know it. This is your wedding night and you only get one of those. I know your scared, but if you wait then you have to be scared tomorrow or the next day. You want this! You are married to the man you love, in a beautiful hotel room, with the moonlight streaming in through the patio doors. It is so romantic, go you idiot!' Before I could rethink or question myself I blurted out "Stop!" and Shikamaru turned and stared at me.
"I did not say that I wanted to wait. I had a moment of fear, but it is gone now. I know that today was I big step and we don't need to rush, but I'm not rushing. This is our wedding night, we get one of those and I will not waste it being scared." I paused. "I love you… I love you and don't I get a say in what happens tonight. I mean I should considering… now I feel as though I am rambling and I have lost my train of thought and…" Shikamarus' lips cut me off.
'When did he cross the room?' I thought before my head went fuzzy.
Along with my head going fuzzy, so did the world around me. One moment I was being picked up and carried, the next moment I was laying on the bed.
I felt my shirt move off of my body and at that particular moment I was trying desperately to undo the buttons on his shirt.
The next thing I knew I was completely undressed. Realizing it, I started to move, trying to cover myself. "Don't" one single word, from the man I love, made me stop and stare back into hit dark eyes.
"Don't hide from me Ino, you are much too beautiful to try and hide." He moved to my neck and left a trail of kisses from shoulder to my jaw.
His hands moved over my skin and I tried to hold back the moans that threatened to escape from my lips.
I ran my hands over his well-toned stomach and up towards his shoulders. Once I was able, I wrapped my arms around his back and pulled him to me for a kiss.
In another moment, he was entering himself into my body. He stopped and kissed me again, "This is going to hurt Ino, are you sure you want to do this?" I pushed my face into his neck and nodded.
With one movement he was fully inside of me. I felt my innocence rip away and I cried out and dug my fingers into his skin. Tears formed in my eyes and I waited for the pain to subside. Shikamaru kissed my lips and waited with me. I could see in his eyes how much he hated that fact that he hurt me.
When the pain finally stopped he started to moved. I moaned in pleasure, which to my surprise did not offend Shikamaru at all.
I cried out again, but not from pain, at the end of it all. Shikamaru emptied himself into me and laid his head on my shoulder. Feeling happy and tired I wrapped my arms around him and smiled. Once my heart rate went back to normal I said "Shika," and I looked at Shikamaru, waiting for him to look back.
He raised his head and stared back at me.
"Are you okay, I mean I am okay, well better then okay actually. But I want to know if you are okay." He sent me a small tired smile and replied "Yes Ino, I am okay."
After saying that, he pulled himself out of me and moved to lie beside me. He reached down and pulled the sheets up to cover our naked bodies. Then draped an arm protectively over me and closed his eyes. Smiling, I closed my eyes as well and drifted off to sleep.
The sun drifted in through the doors of the room. My eyes fluttered open and wandered over to Shikamaru. He was still sleeping and looked so peaceful. I tried to move, but his arm held me in place. With his eyes still closed he said "Where are you going Ino?"
I responded by saying "I wanted to get dressed and look outside."
He made a sound of disapproval and moved until he was over my small frame. "I don't think so." With that he leaned down and kissed me.
"What happened to the lazy Shikamaru that liked to sleep and not do anything?" I questioned teasingly.
He smirked and in reply said "He married you." And my mind went fuzzy again.
Authors' Note: Okay so there it was. Chapter 8 is not finished. The wedding night scene could have been better, it think, but that is the best I could do. I wanted it to be sweet and what not so that what happened. If you comment please don't be to mad and harsh with me. I mean I did warn you! I wanted to stop the chapter when they got to the hotel and put the whole scene in Chapter 9, but I knew that it would not be enough to be considered a chapter, so I kept it here. Anyway, until next time!
Blondegirl09
Oh and if, by chance you did like it…. Please, please, please update and make my feel like I did not totally fail! Thank You!