It didn't matter how much Ino had hurried her group Animal Kingdom theme park was already open by the time they managed to walk up to the gates. Thankfully her friends were so in awe of the theming and details that was put into the theme park that they for once were not arguing or distracting her from her plans.
Ino had even gotten them to agree to hit their three Fastpasses first before she let them all go do whatever they wanted afterward. She knew she probably couldn't keep their attention all day and after this morning fiasco, Ino didn't think she wanted to even try!
Though Ino did wear a proud smile as Sakura took pictures while on Kilimijaro Safari and Naruto practically jumped in his seat every time he saw an animal. They were amazed. Chouji had participated and tried to answer as many of the cast member's trivia about the animals. Even Sasuke paid attention to the information their 'safari guide' informed them about the animals that lived in the safari.
Only Shikamaru looked unsatisfied. It was the look he had been sporting since last night so Ino was sure the ride wasn't to blame. It bothered her that she didn't know what it was though.
So in line for their next Fastpass+ attraction, Ino made sure to place herself in line right beside Chouji. If anybody knew why Shikamaru was in such a cruddy mood, it would be Shikamaru's best friend.
She waited until Shikamaru didn't notice the move in the line, which he was prone to do while staring up at the clouds and turned to Chouji. "What is going on with Shikamaru? The heat can't be bothering him that much," She grumbled. She had wanted them all to have a great time on this trip!
Chouji shrugged as he leaned against the railing that kept them in line for Kali River Rapids. "I don't know what's up with him. He hasn't said anything," Chouji noted, "Actually he hasn't said much."
Ino gave an annoyed huff, usually, Chouji was a lot more observant about these things!
"He's just been off since... Dinner yesterday? Or sometime after?" It was all Chouji could offer with a shrug. At least he had somewhat pulled through.
"Since after dinner?" Ino asked softly with a thoughtful frown. The line began to move again and Shikamaru finally caught up with the rest of the group. She had to drop the conversation or be caught snooping.
Yet she couldn't help glancing over at him, hoping for further clues to help her in her search for answers. He didn't look any different than usual. Sasuke and Naruto probably didn't even noticed the mood Shikamaru was in. Outwardly, he looked fine.
Except that for wrinkle between his brows, Ino would assume it was any other day with him. But it wasn't. He was avoiding more than usual and was keeping to himself, even from Chouji which was most odd.
She found herself so worried about him that Ino wasn't able to put her attention on Sasuke like she had always hoped for this trip.
She at least got to see a reaction out of him on Kali River Rapids while sitting across from him on the raft type ride. During the big fall, Chouji and Shikamaru took the biggest hit and were almost soaked entirely. Ino couldn't help but giggle at them afterward. She didn't go unscathed with her shirt totally wet but her hair was still manageable, thankfully!
Shikamaru looked absolutely miserable though after that and she hated to admit it to herself but she did feel a bit bad for that.
"Okay! Last Fastpass and then everyone can do whatever they want," Ino swore to the group, hoping that would lighten Shikamaru's outlook.
It didn't.
They all got in line for Dinosaur. Ino had to admit this wasn't her favorite ride by any means. She wasn't crazy about Dinosaurs, especially the loud ones with big teeth. There was a reason she had made this the last Fastpass of the day. She probably would have skipped it entirely but she wanted her friends to get the full experience!
And she knew the guys would love this one.
Her stomach began to do uncomfortable swirls in her abdomen as she waited in line so she turned to Chouji once again for a distraction. "So what happened after supper?" she asked while Shikamaru read the educational signs by all the fossil exhibits. "You and Shikamaru seemed fine when Sakura and I left you to go change for the pool."
If anything, Ino had been the pouty one at that point since nobody would agree to help her with Sasuke this week!
"We were. We sat around for a bit more and I went back for a second helping of food," Chouji got a silly grin on his face at the memory of his food. "The food is great around here, " he admitted before an unimpressed look from Ino made him focus again. "So he waited while I ate more and then we started back for the room."
"Yes. You two were going to join us in lounging around the pool which you never did..." Ino noted, dissatisfied. Girl time was fun but she had still invited everybody else for later on, which Shikamaru and Chouji had never shown up for while Naruto and Sasuke had shown up too earlier so girl time had ended early.
"We were. We even walked by the pool and saw you guys playing around after I was finished eating."
"So why didn't you join?" Ino asked, confused. The more she heard this story, the less it made sense to her.
Chouji then shrugged as the line began to move in front of them. "Well, Shikamaru became a black cloud after that so I didn't push the issue." He moved to catch up with the rest of their group as Ino stood there holding up the line.
"So he got mad after seeing the pool?" Ino pressed a finger to the side of her face in thought before a polite cough from a stranger waiting behind interrupted her thoughts. "Oh! I'm sorry!" Ino let out in embarrassment as she went to catch up with the rest of her group.
The embarrassment was quickly forgotten though when she realized that they were now all in the front of the line. Already they were all being ushered into a section to be prepared for boarding of a pale beige vehicle that was geared out to have the appearance of a time machine. Abruptly Ino felt her stomach begin to churn again as their vehicle approached.
"This ride looks great!" Naruto called out as he leaned over the gate that held them from the vehicle. "We really get to ride these?"
"Looks like it," Sakura said beside Naruto with a smile of her own.
When the gate opened up, Naruto and the rest of the group rushed forward to get into their seats. It was only Shikamaru and Ino who slowly approached, Shikamaru out of laziness and Ino out of fear. Since they were last, they were seated in the second row behind the rest of their group. Ino took the seat on the farthest left and after attentively putting on her safety restraints, Ino couldn't help but press her hands into the safety bar in front of her. She was going to hold on for dear life for this ride. Shikamaru looked unaffected by it all as he sat beside her.
It started off mild as Ino remembered with the vehicle picking up speed and only taking a few quick turns while showing off plenty of very life-like dinosaur animatronics. It was when the announcer yelled, "We can't stop now! Keep going! Keep going!" and the whole ride went dark was when Ino started to hold her eyes shut. She didn't care what she looked like for this ride's picture. She couldn't take it any longer!
It was then she heard a crunch of wood by her left ear when she instinctively turned to look and saw the biggest dinosaur yet with a mouthful of teeth coming at her that she screeched and pulled away as far as her restraints would let her and onto the arm of Shikamaru. She didn't care how she looked any longer. She held onto Shikamaru's arm as the ride swerved hazardously left and right while trying to avoid 'meteorites'. Indistinguishable sounds continued to go off but all Ino could hear was her heartbeat racing as she hid her face in Shikamaru's shoulder.
She expects Shikamaru to brush her off at any moment or at least snicker at her for her fearful reaction to the animatronics. He would for sure call her silly after this but instead, she feels the hand that she isn't clamped down on press against her left shoulder as if holding her into place against him. She's surprised yet comforted by his actions that she presses further into his side. Suddenly the worst part of the ride where the enormous, horned T-Rex roars loudly at the group didn't seem so terrible as Ino hid in Shikamaru's warmth.
She was so centered on Shikamaru's closeness and the smell of grass that the rest of the ride went by unnoticed. Instead, she focuses on Shikamaru and the calmness he brings her. It doesn't matter that he was still somewhat damp from their last ride or that a handlebar was digging into her ribs, she didn't want to be taken from his protective hold. She began to wonder how she had ever gotten through this ride without him when the ride stopped.
Curiously, Ino finally lifted her face up to peer up at his. A look of concern and something else clouds his face. She wants to question him on it. Suddenly more than ever, Ino wants to know what's been bothering him since the pool, yet for once Ino unable to utter a word as she stared up at Shikamaru.
"Please exit to your left," a voice calls out interrupting their moment as Ino jumped in surprise and turned to her left where a dinosaur had once been before she had buried herself in Shikamaru's side. Instead now stood a cast member with a Cheshire-like grin as he glanced at their entangled limbs and close faces. "I hope you enjoyed your ride."
Ino blushed at the tone of the cast member's voice and didn't dare to look back at Shikamaru to see if he did as well. Quickly, she exited the ride before anybody else could see what she had done.
Of course, the ride's picture would tell another story.