RECAP: Nothing is happening that I am continuing off of in this one and I dont know what to put here.

Ino had just watched Sakura leave. She thought she was over Sasuke but she wasn't sure, but she was sure she didn't want to be alone right now so she called Shikamaru and asked him to come over. He was there in about 20 minutes. He hugged her hello and sat on the couch and Ino sat next to him.

"What's going on?"

"Not much...just feeling kinda down."

"Why's that?"

"It doesn't matter. I just need some company."

"Ino, you know you can tell me anything right?"

"I just don't feel like talking."

"It always makes you feel better. Come on."

"...I guess you've noticed my feelings for Sasuke by now."

"I suppose you could say that, yes."

"Well...Sakura and Sasuke...they've been hanging around eachother...I didn't think much of it but...I took an internship at the hospital...she had to get a pregnancy test..."

Shikamaru's eyes widened, he couldn't believe what he was hearing but he had to let Ino continue, not wanting her to regret trying to talk to him.

"It was positive...I guess they were shocked because they came back a few weeks later and got another one...that was a bad time for me but...I found out that when I was off duty she had come in with a miscarriage...so they wanted this to happen...and to top it all off Sasuke asked me to help find a ring...to propose...I can't take it anymore Shika..."

She started crying, Shikamaru could feel her tears soaking into his collar. He held her tighter the harder she cried and started rubbing her back to calm her down.

"Ino...I'm sorry...you know they aren't doing this to hurt you..."

"I know it just feels like they're rubbing it in my face...I thought I was just being jealous but then he asked to help pick out he ring...I just...why would they do that to me..."

She put her arms around Shikamaru and he put his other arm around her. He didn't know what to say. What could he say. It wasn't Sakura and Sasuke's fault that their love was hurting Ino but to ask her to pick a ring. It seemed cruel to him.

"Ino...I promise...someone better than Sasuke's-"

"Please...don't say that...that's what he told me..."

"He doesn't deserve you, Ino. You deserve someone who'll love you no matter what...I know you'd like it to be him but...that guy just isn't Sasuke..."

She didn't say anything. She lifted her head off of his chest and looked him in the eye. She was still crying. Shikamaru didn't know what to do so he just smiled at her. His eyes were closed and he was smiling for what seemed like a long time. He couldn't see her but he could feel her get closer. Before he knew it she'd forced her lips on his. His eye's went wide. Shikamaru pushed her off and stood up, so did Ino.

"Ino!"

"What? You were saying a better guy would come along..."

"I didn't mean me Ino..."

"Why not?"

"I have someone else in mind..."

"Who!"

"It doesn't matter."

"But...Shika..."

"Ino, you're just vulnerable. You don't love me like that and you know it."

"Harsh."

"You know it's true though."

"You're right...I just feel betrayed...ya know?"

"Why's that?"

"Sasuke and Sakura they're doing this awful thing to me-"

"Ino! They aren't doing it to hurt you! They're doing it because they're in love! It's not always about you. I know you're hurt but the way to deal with that isn't to blame those two and get ridiculously drunk!"

"S-shika...I-I..."

Nothing more would come out of her mouth, just more stuttering. Shikamaru was mulling over what he'd said in his head while she stuttered. It sounded a bit harsh to him. His eye contact with Ino never broke but his focus was elsewhere. When his focus came back to Ino he saw she was still standing in the same position but crying much harder and still looking him in the eye, as if she was afraid to break eye contact. He started to feel guilty but he wasn't sure what to do.

"...Damn it."

Shikamaru pulled her into a tight hug.

"...I didn't mean to sound so...mean..."

"..."

"I just want you to get over him...without hurting them or yourself...it's not worth it. OK?"

He pulled her off a little bit so he could look her in the eye.

"...OK..."

"I'm sorry Ino."

"No, it's OK. You're right..."

"Don't get so uspet OK. It's no big deal."

"I'm fine...so uh who's this other girl...the one you stopped a kiss from me for?"

"It's no big deal..."

"Tell. Me."

"As long as you don't tell anyone else, not even Choji, OK?"

"Cross my heart."

"OK...it's Gaara's sister...Temari..."

"Ooooh."

"Very funny. I kinda know how you feel about Sasuke though...Temari has only been here once...she didn't seem too interested in me...then she has to go back to the Sand...what if she goes back and there's a million other guys waiting...which I don't think is too far-fetched (-worst pokemon EVER)."

"Well, I have a feeling she'll be visiting soon. Greet her at the door, carry her bags, take her to lunch, the whole shabang!"

"Ha, OK. I gotta go now. Bye."

"Bye and...thanks Shika...I love you."

"I love you too. See you later."

"Bye."

Shikamaru kissed her forehead and went to walk out the door. He turned back to look at Ino. She smiled back.