A/N: Man guys I am sorry about the delay. I had a terrible case of writer's block yesterday. I think I might have taken on a little too much with writing three stories at once. It's a good thing that this one is coming to a close soon and one of the other ones isn't really getting many reviews (never thought I would be relieved that no one was liking one of my stories…) I am a little overwhelmed though, so please forgive me for my slow posting. I have another idea for a ShikaIno story that I will start and take my time on! It will most likely be a one shot. If you are interested here is the descriptor: On a mission to spy against an enemy of Konoha, Shikamaru and Ino manage to get caught in a trap with only two days' worth of food and water. What happens when they realize the end is inevitable? I think I'll call it Booby-trap, kinky pun intended. Ok well please read and enjoy. Two more chapters after this one and I am calling it quits!

Chapter 13

There seemed to be a tension between them now; something that spoke of their current hardships lingered palpably in the air. Whether it was a sense of betrayal or longing neither could be completely sure, so they treaded lightly, not wanting to risk disturbing the peace again. This silently established harmony was also the only thing that kept either of them from speaking their hearts to the fullest. Better to enjoy the clam before the storm.

However, Ino was made very aware of Shikamaru's presence as they made their way to the nearest deli in the hopes of…what? She didn't know. All she knew was that things seemed to have reverted. They seemed to feel that sexual tension tight between them as if Temari had never made her appearance at all and Ino was relieved. His presence was on the verge of smothering as his hand rested at the small of her back and she could smell his intoxicating cologne. He made her knees so very weak.

If Ino felt that her own presence meant little to Shikamaru, she was decidedly wrong. Having her near him, allowing him to touch her, even if the gesture was a chaste one, made his blood burn through his veins. He had risked losing her too many times so far and he refused to let something come between them again. The only thing holding him back from simply rushing the two of them back home was that he was entirely unsure of Ino's own feelings toward him. He was still too insecure and uncertain, but he was attempting to formulate a plan as to how to express himself toward her without scaring her away again.

As they sat in silence, Ino began to feel uneasy. Shikamaru continued to observe her with an unreadable expression and she needed to finally say something to relieve the tautness building up in her limbs.

"So how did the date go?" she wished she could take it back right away, until she saw him smirk…

"Horrible," he admitted, noticing a slight hint of jealousy in her tone, "Why are you so curious?"

Ino glared at him, "'Cause you never answered my text. I thought maybe it was going amazing or something," she snipped, her eyes trained on the speckled tabletop they sat at.

Shikamaru's expression was confused, but Ino took no notice of it until he asked, "What text?"

Ino's wide blue eyes came to take in his dark gaze. Had he really not received the message?

"I sent you a text that night, asking you if we could talk. You didn't get it?" she was beginning to feel suspicious as her mind began to sift through the puzzle pieces and put everything together.

"No," Shikamaru affirmed, his expression honest and confused.

"That bitch," Ino whispered darkly.

Shikamaru's expression became perplexed and slightly amused. He hadn't heard Ino talk that way since they were in high school together. She looked livid as she glared hatefully at the tabletop.

"Care to tell me what's on your mind?" his grin was enticing and Ino found herself blushing slightly at her little slip up.

"She probably managed to get your phone somehow before you got the message and deleted it. Then she decided to intrude on my privacy and threaten me in my own home!" Ino practically snarled, unable to maintain her composure.

"Wait, what?!" Shikamaru's perplexed expression became alarmed. Just what had Temari done?!

"Yeah," Ino added in a perturbed tone, "she came to my apartment and told me to stay away from you!" she was talking quickly and not really thinking about everything that she was saying, "she told me that she would make me lose my apartment! Too bad for her she didn't know I'm going to be evicted so her threat didn't mean anything to–."

"Wait! You're getting evicted?!" Shikamaru was on an information overload. Just what all had happened in less than a twenty-four hour period?!

Ino's eyes widened considerably as she took in Shikamaru's alarmed expression. She had just spilled the beans, "Uh-oh…"

"Why didn't you tell me you were going to be evicted?!" Shikamaru's expression was livid as he leaned ominously over his side of the table.

Ino gulped audibly as she leaned away from his presence. He seemed very foreboding as he glared at her, as if demanding an answer, and she wasn't prepared to give him one yet. Her mind was in a frenzied blur as she struggled to think of something, anything, to tell him to calm him down and not lead to her confession of love, but she just couldn't come up with anything.

Ino took to looking at the tabletop again as she treaded lightly with her answer, "I didn't want you to think that I was only interested in the money."

Shikamaru's expression changed from one of abject fury to obvious surprise. Did he just hear her right? His heart began to race. Why would she say that? Why would she confess something like that to him? Everything up to this point had always been about the money, hadn't it? Was he reading too far into her words or were his hopes actually conceivable?

The silence was overpowering and Ino could swear she started to sweat underneath his scrutinizing gaze. He hadn't shunned her; he hadn't turned her down or way. That was something to think positively about, but he also hadn't sought to encourage her. Then again, she hadn't made a complete confession either.

This was really getting tiresome! Tiptoeing around one another's feelings, as if they were walking on glass or thin ice, was becoming more than a little irritation for the pair, and something truly needed to be done about it!

Emboldened by his lack of rejection, Ino spoke, "So the date was horrible then?"

Shikamaru lifted an incredulous brow and nodded before elaborating, "Yeah, I really should have known better."

"Why is that?" Ino asked, curious at where this conversation may be heading.

"Because Temari and I never really had any chemistry," he answered simply, taking note as Ino's back straightened indignantly and she pouted while looking off to the side.

Could she possibly be jealous?

"You talk as if you've known her for a while," Ino added in an accusing tone.

"Well, that's because I have," Shikamaru confessed, smirking as Ino couldn't hold back her affronted glare, "She and I attended the same college and much of the same classes. She was my connection to the Sabaku family after all," he explained, noting the darkening color of her eyes.

Well that explained a lot. So the green eyed woman did have a history with him, and she had a good reason for wanting to keep Ino away from him. Well too bad! She wasn't going to be pushed around or walked on by some irritating snobby bitch! She had a history with Shikamaru too and he seemed to actually enjoy her company. The chemistry between the two of them was more than a little evident. All of their little encounters had left them both breathless and frustrated.

"Too bad for her though," Shikamaru began, leaning his cheek against the palm of his left hand as he gazed at Ino with an enticing look, "because she isn't my dream girl."

Ino's countenance became curious, "What would your dream date be like?" she asked with a tentative smile, "With your dream girl?"

Shikamaru's expression became indulgent, "I hate going out on dates," he confessed, "too troublesome; especially taking out a woman to dinner. You have to pick them up and open doors for them and try and seem interested in the conversation when all you're either thinking about is going home or getting them in bed."

Ino blushed hotly at his words. What would he be thinking if he were taking her out to dinner, the former or the latter?

"If I had to pick a suitable date, it would most likely be the movies," he answered simply.

"But that's the worst possible place to take someone on a first date!" Ino chided, of course he would pick something where neither of them had to talk and get to know one another.

"Well you're assuming that my dream girl is someone that I don't already know somewhat," he paused as the look in his eyes became mischievous while raking down her form, "intimately," he finished with a satisfied smirk as he noticed Ino shiver slightly.

There they went again with the double-entendres and the heated looks. It seemed to be a game of subtlety and intimacy that the two knew how to play together surprisingly well. Temptation was always a strong undertone to their relationship and most likely always would be.

"Well then," Ino continued with a perceptive expression, "why the movies with this woman that you already know?"

Shikamaru smirked, the hypothetical-ness of the scenario was highly amusing, "It would have to be a movie that I had already seen," he watched as the look on Ino's face seemed to ask 'why', "because I wouldn't be watching the movie. I would be watching her."

That would be an odd thing to do during a movie.

"I like to watch her expressions," he confessed, admiring the curious appearance of Ino's face at that very moment, "She is a lot more expressive than I am. Each look that she shows is always something new and interesting. I love to watch her beautiful features."

This really did seem to be going somewhere. Ino was certain of it. Now all it was was a matter of just how far they were both willing to take it.

"What is she like?" Ino asked cryptically, already having her suspicious as to who he was talking about, but not wanting to get her hopes up too much.

Shikamaru could see the wheels turning in Ino's head. She was heading in the right direction with the questions that she was asking, and he would continue to answer them cryptically until she either took a hint or it really just became that glaringly obvious.

"She's smart, kind and gentle, beautiful, passionate, exciting and out going," Shikamaru's expression was becoming almost wistful as he described this woman that he loved, "She's everything that's I'm not, pretty much."

"You're smart," she assured with a soft smile.

"Not smart enough to keep her from leaving me," Shikamaru admitted, his countenance becoming regretful and sad.

He couldn't actually be talking about Ino, could he? Her heart began to race and her palms became sweaty as a tingling began to make itself known in the pit of her stomach and between her thighs. This was too good to be true, wasn't it?

"What does she look like?" she asked, her voice a nervous ghost of a whisper.

Was she going too far at this point? Was she hoping for far too much, for this mystery dream woman to be her?

Shikamaru shook his head with a rueful smile playing across his lips, "You just can't take a hint can you, Ino?" he murmured and chuckled lightly at her distraught expression, "The funny thing is," he paused drawing out her suspense and making her scoot to the edge of her seat so she could hear him as he continued in a whisper, "she looks exactly like you."

Ino felt like crying in utter relief as he looked at her with an expression that she could finally define as loving.

"Dummy," Shikamaru added as she finally did cry.

"I'm not the dummy," Ino retorted through light choked sobs, "You are!" she insisted.

"Don't be like that," Shikamaru scolded lightly as his hand came across the small table to stroke at her face while his thumb brushed away the fat salty tears that streamed down her left cheek.

Ino was so utterly relieved and happy. She couldn't control her next actions as she stood from her seat and wrapped her arms tightly around his neck while kissing him over top of the table.

Shikamaru just smiled serenely against her lips and returned her sweet gesture.

A/N: I like how this wraps up everything in one neat little package. Prepare for the smut in the next chapter. Please review!