Chapter 6

Ino rubbed her hands together nervously as she looked at herself in the full length mirror. She wore a navy blue, floor length, sheath dress with the back cut out down to the small of her spine. A single delicate button at the nape of her neck held up the boat cut neckline and long tight fitting sleeves. Her hair cascaded down over the front of her left shoulder in delicate waves, twisted under from her right ear along the hairline to force it to stay over her should and leave her back bare. Her makeup was natural and almost nonexistent aside from a light smoky eye. Her appearance wasn't making her nervous, but the Halloween party she was to attend with Shikamaru was.

This would be the first event that he would show her off at and despite his flippant remark to come up with a background for the two of them she had not been able to think of much. Her stomach felt heavy with dread as a knock came at her door.

"Are you done yet? We're going to be late at this rate." came the surly voice of her current employer.

Heart pounding, she gathered up her silk clutch and headed for the door, her glittering heels making little sound against the carpet. Gathering up her courage, she opened the door to face Shikamaru and was puzzled by the look on his face. It was as if he did not want to blink for fear that the very sight of her was a figment of his imagination. Gaining a little bit of self-confidence, she sauntered up to him and was pleased as his eyes took her in from head to toe.

Shikamaru could not help but gawk at her. It was all he could do to keep his jaw from dropping as she gazed up at him with her tentative blue eyes. His stomach clenched with something indescribable as he struggled to keep his hands to himself. Her dress clung to her like a second skin and accentuated all of her womanly curves. He was going to have a hard time restraining himself that night, he just knew it…

"See something you like?" she teased, throwing his previous words right back at him.

Not expecting an answer she was startled when she heard, "Yes," murmured gently against her ear as she passed by him.

She turned to regard him with a startled look, her heart hammering somewhere in her throat as a chill ran down her spine. His dark gaze held hers for one more moment before he stepped away and made to place a hand at the small of her back to gently guide her down the stairs. The touch sent a jolt through her body and she found it difficult to not walk stiffly.

The drive to the party was short, quiet and eventless. Not a word was breathed between the two of them and Ino was relieved for this. It felt as if she hadn't had a single moment to relax since she had arrived at Shikamaru's home and she was desperate for a chance to deflate and breathe. Hopefully this shindig had a well-stocked bar because she needed a cocktail!

Upon reaching the venue, she realized that it was an extravagant hotel. Sabaku Suites was emblazoned in red florescent light from the 30th or so story. Pulling up to a side entrance, a valet took away the car they were driving with immediate haste, bowing respectfully at the couple as they walked by.

"It ain't The Ritz, but it'll do," Ino teased as Shikamaru offered her his arm with a grin.

Upon entering the side lobby, there were signs they began to follow leading them into the lavishly extravagant ball room. The era was 18th century Rococo and Ino found herself agape in startled awe. She didn't even know that places like this existed outside of museums and was drawn out of her revere as a pamphlet was placed into her hand along with an ornate ladylike mask.

Shikamaru found himself smiling at Ino's awestruck expression and recovered quickly before anyone could see, hiding it behind a mask of indifference.

"Close your mouth, you look like a fish." Shikamaru teased rudely.

Ino could swear anyone within a five foot radius could hear the sound of her jaws snapping together. She turned her head to glare at him and was only slightly irritated by the expected smirk on his face.

"You watch yourself tonight Shikamaru," she warned, "a handsome, wealthy bachelor might sweep me off my feet and then I would have no need for you."

A twinge of irritation overtook Shikamaru's face as her rounded on Ino, grasping her upper arms none too gently in his hands he seethed at her, "We both know that you aren't in this for a man Ino, so don't fool yourself. I know you're bluffing."

Before she could growl out her response they were accosted by an overly friendly older gentleman, "Hey hey Nara that isn't how you treat a lady. You gotta woo them. That's what they like, right miss?"

Ino was surprised as Shikamaru released her as if burned and folded his arms defiantly across his chest. She turned to take in the older man and smiled at him gently. Behind the plain black eye mask that was tied around his head she could pick out his features. His hair was short, black and swept up with small traces of gel, his eyes were a kind chocolate brown and he wore his facial hair in that of a chin curtain. He was tall and broad and handsome.

Ino smiled as he took her hand in his and bowed low over it. "It is quite a pleasure to meet you young lady. My name is Sarutobi Asuma."

Shikamaru found himself glaring at Asuma. He was flirting with her and although he knew the older man meant no harm he still felt his possessiveness stirring.

Ino found herself attempting an awkward curtsy as she responded in kind, "My name is Yamanaka Ino. It's a pleasure to meet you as well."

A snort could be heard from behind her and Ino found herself glaring over her shoulder at an irritable looking Shikamaru. Moving to stand beside Ino, he placed his hand at the small of her back and Ino could feel her skin begin to tingle pleasantly. It was, after all, a far cry from the nearly painful grasp of his hands on her arms a moment ago.

"What do you want Asuma?" Shikamaru asked abruptly and Ino found herself chiding him.

"That's rude."

A role of the eyes was all Ino got at her response and she was drawn to look back at Asuma as he laughed jovially. "Oh don't worry about it Ino, he has always been a brat."

Shikamaru snorted again as Asuma continued the conversation as if he wasn't there, "What I would like to know, is how an enchanting creature such as yourself came to find herself with a brat like Nara here?"

Ino's earlier trepidation at not having planned a background story returned with a vengeance as she stiffened up minimally. The stroke of a thumb over the small of her spine was all but lost on her as she turned to regard Shikamaru nervously.

He found himself grinning back at her as her eyes implored him for help. He would let her squirm under the inquisition as payback for the previous night.

"Yeah Shika, how did we come to meet?" she stalled, hoping that he may think of something more quickly than her.

"Oh no, you're not getting me to kiss and tell," he grinned evilly, "this is all on you Ino, love."

Blushing darkly at the endearing title, she looked over at Asuma again, who wore an expectant look on his face. Breathing in deeply, she began to explain the beginnings of their turbulent history before a thought crossed her mind. She would just have to tell some embarrassing stories about his childhood.

Shikamaru watched her out of the corner of his eye as a mischievous smile crossed her lips. She was going to do something that he was going to regret, he just knew it. He found himself pressing his thumb into the small of her back in a minimal warning. If she took it as that he didn't know as she began to formulate her story.

"Well Shika and I happened to meet when we were very little. We grew up together. I never liked him back then. He was far too annoying and childish."

Glaring hatefully at her he added, "But this girl here was nothing but a little miss bossy britches."

"Oh was I?" Ino asked sarcastically, "Well it made sense to me back then to wake him up when he fell asleep in class," she continued unfalteringly, "especially when one day he fell into such a deep sleep that he fell out of his chair and hit his poor little head on the floor. He broke two of his baby teeth and lisped until he grew in his permanents."

Ino was pleased to hear a guffaw coming from the older man and flinched away from Shikamaru slightly as he pinched the small of her back covertly. She glared hatefully at him as if to say 'that's what you get'.

Eyes narrowing in disconcertion, he made to give as good as he got, "I'm surprised you remember that Ino, love," he began, his eyes darkened with something that foretold of vengeance.

"Of course I do," Ino laughed, "I called you Thikamaru for a year after that!" she responded with a fake lisp of his name before succumbing to the urge to chuckle louder.

That was the last straw, "No more embarrassing than you to get bubble gum stuck in your hair," he began and Ino's face turned a ghostly white color at the disconcerting memory, "she had to get her head shaved to get rid of all of it. It took three years before it was long enough to put it into a pony tail again. Learned your lesson after that didn't you?"

"Yeah now I don't chew gum anymore."

Asuma's laughter was addictive as she began to giggle slightly to herself, enjoying the scowl that was present on Shikamaru's face.

Calming down from his unrestrained mirth, Asuma wiped a tear that rolled down his cheek, "Oh that is just priceless! But I don't remember having laid eyes on you within the last few years my dear."

Ino floundered around uselessly for an answer, "Well you see…"

Taking advantage of her stammering, Shikamaru answered, "I ran into her again working at Hooters."

The urge to smack him in the arm was for once just too great. She relished in the hiss she heard from him before attempting to recover some dignity for the remainder of the story. "I-I was pretty desperate back then. I had just gotten out of college and was doing everything I could to keep afloat and get myself into the mainstream business world."

Asuma regarded her with interest before she continued. "I basically caught up with Shika that night and he offered me a job to get some experience before I decide that the time is right to open up my own business."

Shikamaru had not known this. He found himself looking at her expectantly and was grateful that Asuma was invested in the conversation enough to ask the question that he was thinking.

"What kind of business are you hoping to start?" Asuma asked.

With this, she could feel both men's eyes trained on her and she blushed, feeling that her goals seemed small now. "A flower shop."

She took note of the softening of Shikamaru's eyes and withdrew, assuming that the expression was that of pity. That was certainly something she didn't need right now.

"That is a great goal, Ino!" she heard Asuma concur and was startled to feel Shikamaru's hand smooth over the small of her back again to rest on her right hip and draw her closer to his side.

The act alone seemed very intimate and Ino blushed as she felt her skin tingle in the wake of his overly familiar touch. She was astounded to discover that she didn't mind it, however and looked over at him to see his eyes studying her intently.

The expression on her face was unreadable and Shikamaru gazed back at her in rapt fascination. This woman that he cared for had a beautiful dream. He had always thought her to be somewhat shallow but this dream of hers unveiled something about her that he thought was dear and precious. It showed him that she wasn't as vain as she portrayed herself to be. Maybe she was hiding behind a mask as well.

"Ah young love," Asuma sighed taking his leave with a wave of his hand and an 'it was very nice to have met you, Ino'.

Either person didn't really acknowledge Asuma's absence as they studied one another. Ino could feel herself becoming uneasy as the silence between them dragged on.

She had never really dated much outside of high school. It was as if once she had gotten her diploma she no longer had time for frivolous things like boys and relationships. But she knew that Shikamaru remembered her as the school flirt. She prided herself on her appearance back then and would chase boys around as if they were water to a deserted individual. Looking back on it now, she cringed. She was boy crazy and racy and reckless with her heart and the hearts of others. After having hers broken so many times she felt she had learned her lesson.

Looking at Shikamaru now, though, with his overwhelming eyes and handsome features, she believed that she would need to be reeducated. The feelings that he had been making her experience were unfamiliar to her now, but she was steadily beginning to recall.

She liked Shikamaru, or at least she liked the way that he made her feel when he complemented her, when he touched her, when he kissed her. The feelings that he elicited inside of her were sensual and primal and she wanted nothing more than to fan the flames of the fire that he had lit inside of her.

But he was only calculating, only analyzing. She knew that he wasn't feeling the same things that she was. He was a strategic person and only looked at things from a win or lose stand point. He was also a very cautious, guarded person. It would take a lot of effort to break through his defenses, and Ino decided that in the long run it wasn't worth it. But that didn't mean that she couldn't enjoy his touch and his words. It simply meant that she needed to guard her heart as well.

Shikamaru watched as Ino seemed to be thinking to herself before her eyes took on a resolute look. He wondered if she had come to some sort of conclusion and was curious to ask what before he was interrupted by his business partner.

"Nara," a soft voice could be heard from behind her and Ino blinked out of her stupor to look behind her at a unique looking man and a beautiful woman standing behind him.

He couldn't be much older than either of them and not much shorter than Shikamaru. His hair was shaggy and red, his eyes were a piercing turquoise color and his skin was pale. His expression was unreadable as Shikamaru came around from behind her to offer a hand to the shorter man.

"Gaara, how are you?" Shikamaru asked amicably as said man took his hand in his for a cordial shake.

Behind Gaara stood a wheat blond haired girl no taller than Ino. Her eyes were a dark forest green and took in her appearance in a cold calculating manner.

'What's this chick's problem?'Ino thought to herself, restraining the defensive scowl she wanted to throw back at the girl, instead settling for a polite smile.

She was a similar stature to Ino, if a little more full in the hips and bust. Her wheat blond hair was bunched up on the top of her head in a messy bun with jagged bangs accenting and framing her eyes. She wore a pale lavender colored strapless evening gown that billowed down to the floor in flowing gauzy strips. A challenge seemed to linger in her forest green eyes and Ino watched as she glanced over to Shikamaru, then back to her suspiciously.

'Oh great a jealous ex-girlfriend.' Ino caught herself as she began to role her eyes.

The silent exchange between the two women went unnoticed as Shikamaru made to introduce his date, "This is my girlfriend Ino," the words came so easily to him and he couldn't help but notice the pretty blush that came to Ino's cheeks.

"It's very nice to meet you," Gaara greeted, his voice bland and almost emotionless.

Ino concurred as she grasped his hand in a firm shake and smiled at him warmly. The smile was not returned however, and this made Ino shift uncomfortably under his scrutinizing gaze. Without so much as a blink he released her hand and turned away, his blond companion trailing behind him.

"Ok, he's weird." Ino comment under her breath as the pair were just out of ear-shot.

"Don't worry about them," Shikamaru murmured back, "they are the family that owns this chain of hotels," he supplied, enjoying the bewildered expression on Ino's face.

"That was Sabaku Gaara?!" she gasped in a surprised manner, "Who was the girl with him?" she asked off-handedly.

"His older sister Temari," Shikamaru's answered simply as he grasped her by the elbow to lead her to a round table with eight chairs stationed around it.

The centerpieces were beautiful and extravagant. Miniature, gnarled, black painted trees were reaching up to the top of the golden ceiling and were surrounded with violet orange and black flowers at the base. Stings of violet colored crystals were dangling haphazardly from the thin limbs and smatterings of cobwebs were wrapped around each chair back.

Ino had never seen anything as extravagant as the event that was occurring. Orchestral music was being played by an actual orchestra in a hidden alcove of the ball room. On the dance floor, couples seemed to waltz elegantly as the music took hold of their senses. Well-dressed people were hobnobbing in small groups scattered throughout the expansive room, wearing eye masks as part of the masquerade that was occurring. Along the furthest wall was a set of tables which held a myriad of dazzling looking items and note cards underneath.

"It's a silent auction for a charity." Shikamaru explained as he noticed the direction of her gaze.

Shikamaru took the eye mask Ino was holding and made to tie it behind her head. Once finished he found himself placed his hands gently upon her shoulders and exhaled a breath along the nape of her neck. He delighted in the shiver that he felt from her.

Without much thought, Ino made to look over her shoulder at him. In doing this, his lips brushed along the curve of her cheek in a chaste gesture.

Shikamaru murmured against her skin, "You are doing well Ino. I almost believe that we are really together, "he could feel his heart hammering in his chest once again as her expression became unreadable.

Her limbs began to tremble uncontrollably as his hands trailed from her shoulders down to her hips, his knuckles brushing the sensitive skin along her spine in a gentle caress. She couldn't help herself, she turned her head just another inch to capture his mouth with hers…