Author's notes: Hi there mi loves!
I am trying really hard to finish this this month but I guess I started quite late so I am betting I won't finish it... but I do wish I could... sigh..
So... this is it... the Last Message... if In would give this chapter a name that would be this chapter's tittle... This is what most of the readers anticipated eh? I wish (I hope) that you guys will like it... :)) Cause I think it's quite good... But this one is a little shorter than the previous chapter...
Okay.. I give you now the time to read... I hope you enjoy it! :)
Disclaimer: Nuh-uh,.. do not own Naruto... don't think so...
"Shikamaru... I... I'm sorry... I know you've heard it. I'm so stupid... I accidentally sent it to you... that last message... I... I'm really sorry" Ino's voice cracked. Choji came running back when he heard Ino's voice. Kusuma is laying on his arms, fast asleep. Kurenai took her son from him.
"They told me I should be sent there... to Konoha's headquarters and notify you about what I have heard. But... but... I don't think I deserve it..." Shikamaru growled indicating his total disagreement of what Ino said. This caught the listeners' interest, even the Kazekage stopped his discussion with Tsunade and Naruto to hear what Ino was saying.
"I think there would be other people who need to escape more than I do... like Kurenai-sensei and Kusuma, the young children, the elderly, the sick and disabled. I know they will harm them and I need to prioritize them than my own welfare. At least I'm a ninja... I can handle myself."
"So... I threw Kusuma into the water so Kurenai-sensei would have no choice but to follow and swim away... I'm sorry Shika-kun... I know you're cursing me right now ... I know you hate my decision."
"You bet I do!" Shikamaru shouted. He was shaking in fury. Choji tapped his friend to calm down though he can clearly feel the agony.
"But... aren't you the one who told me this is my duty? I now understand your feelings when you left me in this ship. I understand... Shika... I feel wretched doing this... leaving you... but... I have to... because it's the ninja's way of living..."
"Damn! Damn! Damn you! I did this for you! You're always the first in my priorities! I left you in that ship because I thought it would provide you more protection. Why haven't I thought this would happen?! Damn!" Choji placed his two hands on his best friend's shoulders and made him sit.
"Shika..." she was obviously crying, "I... I'm sorry... I always told you that you should stay alive so I can see you again... but... I guess... I won't he coming back..." she laughed bitterly.
"Ino..." Shikamaru whisphered. Tsunade get the phone from Shikamaru's tight grip. The phone would crush if no one will save it. He then put his hands in front of his face. Then, there was a muffled sound of screaming people and hurried steps. There was also a shuffling.
"Shikamaru... I... I'm going to stay here in this ship with the others. We will try to protect everyone..."
"No... no... get out of there Ino...please..." Shikamaru plead though he knew his efforts are put to waste. Ino has this admirable trait of putting others before herself. A trait Shikamaru loves and hates. Right now, he loathes it.
"I'm needed here... the villagers need me... every single capable person is needed protect those that could not protect even themselves... Shika... I am doing my duty... just like you did... You should be proud of me... Your wife is doing something really great!"
"You've done many great things already... you do not need this..."Shikamaru continued to wipe his face with his hands trying to wipe the sweat and the tears away.
"Shikamaru... no matter what happens... please do not give in to them... fight... fight for peace... and do not let them have the satisfaction of breaking you... no matter what happens... even if they used everything you love against you... do not give in..."
"I know... I know they'll use me against you... you are the renowned strategist afterall... they will use everything against you... I... I'll never forgive you if you if you let them use me against you. You're one of the pillars of this generation's will of fire. They know you can crush them with your mere wit... they're scared of you that's why they'll play dirty... but do not... ever let them see you weak... ever... understand Nara?"
Many of the shinobis listening are shedding a tear for Ino's heart-breaking speech. They know it's not only applicable for the young Nara but for all of them.
"This is unfair! This is so unfair! They just got married! They don't even have a day of marriage and then they got separated! Now, there's a big chance they'll never have any." Naruto groaned. He was crying a lot.
Ino was everyone's friend after all. She might be bossy and appears self-centred but she truly has a golden heart. Ino was always just. For Naruto, Choji, Sakura and Lee, Ino was never biased. She had interacted with the supposed outcast like an equal and even helped them gain confidence. She was one of their first friends afterall.
Ino also had this admirable sense of responsibility, even going as far as to put others before her. She had pushed her teammates to be their best. And she is always sincere; whatever manner it is. Though she's not a perfect person, but her flaws can be perfectly hidden especially when combined with Shikamaru. Those two had always seems to fill each other's flaws.
"We need to save them Hokage-sama!" Lee shouted. Choji was crying loudly now, he had sat broken on the floor with his hands to his ears; refusing to hear any more of these.
But with all the commotion happening around him, Shikamaru tuned it all out. Only one voice mattered, only one voice could he hear. One voice and that last haunting sentence.
"Always remember, I love you Shika-kun!"
Then it was silence. Nothing. No sound of beeping, or gasping or laughing, or sobbing or Ino's sweet voice. Nothing. It took Shikamaru's remaining strength to stood up and walk.
"Shikamaru..." Neji called. The others looked at the grief-stricken Nara with pity and sadness. But Shikamaru was still oblivious to his surroundings.
"Where are you going Shikamaru?" Kiba asked his voice was trembling.
"I... I'm going to save her... I... She needs me..." As he weakly went towards the door. But, his vision was already blurred and his breathing was heavy. His knees are so weak and soon he fell. He heard his friends shout his name and the hurried footsteps. He also heard another one exclaimed something about being under attack. But he was drifting... drifting to nothingness, drifting to oblivion. It was pitch black. Shikamaru's world had become pitch black.
A/N: Thank you very much for reading! I hope you'll leave a review! :)
So I added some things... but it's really few so there's no need to reread again... Such a sad chapter isn't it?
Oh! And what I mean from what I said there above... yep... Though I wish I can finish it this month, I'll still continue writing this chapter fic even though ShikaIno month will be over...
