A/N:
Okay, so this is one of the first chapters I wrote and I really love how it turned out. I remember that I wrote it the day after the final chapter of the manga was released, and I was really upset with it - and I ended up writing this one to show my passion. So yeah, I really hope you enjoy this - cause it's actually one of my favorites.

Leave your thoughts in a comment, and I'll see you again tomorrow^^

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Disclaimer:
«I do not own any of the following pictures, music, characters or the original universe. I only own the story itself the main character and to the idea.»
Thanks a lot to Lightning Bee for betaing on this story.

Chapter 11 - It's the thought that counts

It was snowing heavy outside the window as Ino Yamanaka closed the door behind her. It was such a day where she'd rather chose to stay at home and watch a movie, but not today. She'd agreed to meet up with her teammate and she was looking forward to seeing him. The wind was blowing cold, and she tried to hide herself in the thick coat. She should have remembered to bring her scarf. Why hadn't she brought it with her? Oh well, it didn't make sense to dwell on that. She breathed out, a little cloud forming in the air as she did, and then hurried toward their meeting point.

The park was empty when she arrived. She looked left and right, but he was nowhere to be seen. ' I swear that if that lazy bum has forgotten about me and is laying on the couch right now…' she clenched her fists, thinking of what she should do.

"Ehm…" A nervous voice behind her made her spin around. "Don't tell me that you were just thinking of me?" His face got a shade paler as he saw her expression. "Ehm, okay. Sorry okay, my mom told me to-"

He was cut off by the girl shuffling a package into his chest.

"Here" she mumbled, taking a few steps backwards. "It's your Christmas gift."

"A-" Shikamaru looked bewildered down at the package. It was of the size of a shoebox and was draped in a pale, pink wrapping. "Ino, you know that there's still two weeks until Christmas, right?"

"Oh, shut up and just open it, okay?" she commanded, a slight red color appeared on her cheeks.

The boy looked at her for a second. What was she up to? He knew that his female teammate often had the strangest thoughts and ideas, but to start Christmas two weeks ahead was something new. He looked down at the package. Ever since he was little the Nara-family and the Yamanaka-family had exchanged gifts during Christmas. Earlier this had been one gift for each member given by the total members of the other family, but this time it didn't look like that.

"Are you gonna open it or not?"

"Shouldn't I wait until-" he was cut off by her quickly stepping forward and jerking the present back. "Ey, Ino. No fair!"

"I thought you said you didn't want it." She teased, pulling the package away as he reached for it. "No, no, I'm not giving it back to you."

"Shadow Possession Jutsu!"

Ino's body suddenly froze in the movement, and she felt herself fall forward. As she was close to hitting the frozen ground beneath her, her legs suddenly reacted, keeping her from falling.

"Ey!" She protested.

"Thought you could get away with it now, did you?" He sent her a teasing smile and walked towards her, making her meet him on the halfway. As were a face to face, he stopped and looked down at the present, making her do the same. He lifted his hands against her and gently prying the box from her hands into his own. "Thank you."

There was nothing Ino could do. She could have tried to fight back and get herself out of his hold, but she knew that she'd probably fail. Shikamaru's chakra control and techniques were strong, and most of her training had been focused on precision, not strength. Still, did she want to break free? Didn't she want him to open the present and see what she had given him?

"Let's see…" He tugged on the ribbon, opening the present carefully. Ino felt her heartbeat raise as he did, eagerly waiting for his reaction. He lifted aside the paper and uncovered her gift. "Heh, nice…" he commented, looking down on the dark red fabric.

Ino gulped. Did he like it? She knew it wasn't the prettiest or best knitted scarf in the world, but she had tried. She thought of the idea on his birthday, hearing him complain about the cold breeze making them notice that fall was on its way. As she'd gotten home that day, she'd asked her mother – a prime example of a housewife, to teach her how to knit. Countless hours later a scarf had been born, and although it still had a few misshaped parts, it still managed to keep the one wearing it warm and cozy.

"Ehm, were you not paying attention when doing this? I mean, really, this looks like it has been made in the dark."

His words stung her. He really didn't like it. It wasn't good enough. What had she been thinking? Of course it wasn't. Shikamaru's mother was probably the only person in the village that was better at needlework and knitting than her mother, and hers wasn't anywhere close to looking like anything in compareson.

"Ehm, I'm sorry. I didn't mean it like that." The boy hurried to apologize. Noticing her face he had probably realized what he'd said, and what it might have sounded like. "Really, it's not that's it bad – it's actually quite good to have been made you!"

One look from Ino and he shut up.

"So, it's no good?"

"No, no, not like that. I mean… Of course it's not of best quality – but I can see that you really tried." His eyes widened. "Aah!" He rubbed his neck, slight panic visibly in his eyes. "I guess I should just shut up, right?"

Ino didn't answer. It was as she'd feared. The gift was no good, but still he tried to be nice.

"Aw, come on!" The pineapple-head complained. "Why do I always get in such troublesome situations!" Frustrated, he let his hands run through his hair. Doing so, he noticed that Ino was still mimicking his moves. "Ah, sorry." He let the jutsu fall and as he did, he saw Ino, now able to move on her own, start shivering. "Um, are you okay?"

"I- I'm fine..." she mumbled between chattering teeth.

"No you're not." The boy stepped forward, closing the gap between them and unfolded the scarf. "Here."

"But," Ino looked at the scarf, unsure what to feel. "It's for you."

"Ah, why do you always have to be so troublesome?"

"I-"

Before she could get out a word, the boy threw the scarf in the air, putting one end around Ino, and the other around himself.

"Will it be okay like this?" he asked, a shade of pink in his cheeks.

"Yeah," Ino smiled, hiding her slightly red face in the scarf. "It's okay."

A/N:
Please leave a review with your thoughts, okay?
it will help me write better in the future^^

And then I guess I'll see you guys again tomorrow^^

Again, please like /follow me if you enjoy my stuff:
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