Hi everyone!! Sorry it's been so long since I've updated anything, my life has gotten so dang hectic you wouldn't believe it. I haven't given up on any of my stories, it's just hard to find the time or mental creativity to write most days!
*and a special shoutout to paosu! When I read your reviews it made me so, so happy! It actually powered me through the last chapter of both my stories :) thank you so much!
anyway, pls enjoy this Shika POV ;)
He'd been sitting on his bed for what felt like hours, fidgeting his fingers as his mind raced. They found their way to their usual circle formation, and he closed his eyes, going back and forth on what to do.
Ino's date was soon, and it was eating him alive, making his skin crawl. He'd been pacing, trying to play shogi, train, read, sleep. Anything to distract him or allow his perception of time to slip to no avail. His mind always found its way back to its usual subject: her. Forcing himself to not look at the clock only made him glance at it more. Minutes felt like slivers of an eternity, stretching out before him.
He furrowed his brow, deep in thought. None of this makes sense.
Something wasn't sitting right with him. If this had been anyone else, sure, he'd be pissed off like he was with her previous dates, but a hint of worry tinged his anger. Sai being the one whisking her away concerned him. He'd always been an oddball, mostly keeping to himself or his team. He didn't seem particularly threatening, but the mystery that surrounded him had always made Shika uneasy; Sai carried a strange feeling around him, like there were layers to his personality besides the stoic boy he put out into the world. As if he moved more in the shadows than a Nara would.
The sudden interest in his woman just made him all the more fishy.
When Ino had told him she said yes to their date, a level of jealousy he'd never dreamed of feeling before exploded in him. It wasn't the same as her dates years before; they were older, more serious now and their friends were starting to pair off. He was sure the bruise on her neck would tick Sai off, but he also worried it may not have been enough to steer him away. It claimed her as someone's property, but not blatantly saying she was his.
Of course, she wasn't actual property. Ino was a woman, carved from Aphrodite herself, and he treated her as such. Sometimes he wondered if his love for her bordered-on obsession—his feelings and actions at this moment only seeming to tip the scale. He burned for her with an intense passion that never waned, never shifted. The moment he saw Ino, it was like a string flew out from her chest and pierced his own, tying their two hearts together with an unbreakable thread.
She was the center of his world, his gravity, his reason. It was supposed to be him taking her out, spoiling and worshipping her.
But he knew Ino was too nice to say no, despite being headstrong. Her heart was kind, which often got her into situations like this. She described Sai as harmless, but was he really? Her date with Shino proved that she would feel pity on less fortunate men and oblige them, making Shika's fingers slip into one big fist, squeezing on himself.
Calm down. He exhaled through his nose, trying to obey his thought. Surely Ino didn't act this way when he had to go on dates with Temari, and that girl fully believed it was genuine every time. She had no idea she was being used. Concern started to creep back when the thought of Sai also considering it to be a true date crossed his mind.
What if he tries something? She wasn't anywhere near defenseless, he had to remind himself, she was a full-fledged shinobi. He'd spent most of his life watching her kick people's asses up and down the world. The image of her uppercutting Sai's nose with the palm of her hand made him smirk.
But it faded. What if she doesn't feel she can say no? Again?
Memories replayed in his mind of her recount with her date with Shino. Shika eventually made her spill every detail, despite his better judgement, because he just had to know how this came to be. Fury licked its way across every inch of his nerves.
I have to protect her, he told himself, rising to his feet. He knew she could take care of herself but wasn't sure she knew when enough was enough. Even just watching over her would be fine with him.
I've gotta make sure she'll be okay, at least. It was 6:10 now, so their date had surely already begun.
Grabbing his recent novel from the shelf, he threw on his sandals and set out, walking everywhere he thought a date could take place. He did his best to blend in with the crowd on the off chance they were walking around, but there was no sight of them. None of the cheap, simple places Shika had taken Temari showed any sign of them at all, causing his nerves to continue to jump wildly. All of these places are reasonable for a first date. Why wouldn't they be here? Where could this weirdo have taken her?
As that thought brought out hundreds of bad scenarios, his feet moved almost as fast as his thoughts, blood surging everywhere from his overactive heart. It was a warm day, but the heat of fury made him start to sweat. His anxiety was starting to consume him.
Turning left down the market street, he saw a blonde flash. No way, he thought as he slowed.
On the patio of Umi, the fanciest place a village like the Leaf had, sat his dream girl, looking impossibly radiant and happy. Her hair was done up and she was wearing a new dress he had yet to see her in. She was looking around, and even from a distance he knew her eyes were sparkling with awe. He stood and watched her, taking in the sight of her experiencing her first real date. The smile on her lips brought one to his, as if he was right there with her watching her take it all in. She looks so happy. Ino puts the sun to shame when she smiles like that.
But that smile quickly faded to contempt. Sai sat across from her, his head resting in his hand, eyes on her, doing the same thing Shika was. He was close enough to actually see her eyes sparkle, to touch her, to speak to her. He was the one treating her to such an experience. He's really trying to one-up me here.
Bastard. He's playing the game too, he thought with a huff. There was no way he was leaving now that it seemed he was right about Sai. He was not going to let this be a repeat of her date with Shino.
To the left of the patio were some picnic tables for a simple market restaurant, mostly clear of people. There. I can watch from a safe distance. He picked a table in the middle, not too far and not too close, setting his book down as he slid between the wood planks. He watched as they exchanged smiles and laughs, sipping on champagne he could never afford. Their food was brought out and her mouth dropped in amazement.
Using beautiful scenery and delicious food to ply her? He's thought of everything. Shika let the cogs in his mind start to churn. There was no way he wasn't trying to woo her right out of Shika's grasp.
Then her eyes wandered from Sai and locked on his.
I wonder what she's feeling right now, he thought as they watched each other. She did not look happy to see him. In fact, she froze for a while before shaking herself free and returning to her date, trying to act as if she didn't see him. A moment later Sai was on his feet undressing, allowing them to truly look at one another, before draping her in his over shirt. Shika grit his teeth, jaw sticking out. He's laying it on a bit thick now.
Several more times her eyes found his, causing his heart to skip a beat. At one point she looked surprised by something, causing Shika to shift in his seat to show he could be there in a moment if she'd just give a signal. He could swoop in and save her, be the hero and be done with this clown. But she regrouped herself and they continued talking and eating. Come on, Ino. Let me get you out of there.
Eventually he moved to the table in front of him after the music had slowed down, though not enough to allow him to hear their conversation. It was easier to make out her expressions however, none of which were good. She displayed a range of shock, worry, anxiety, helplessness. Whatever they were talking about was clearly causing her emotional distress, and by Sai's casual demeanor, it was one sided.
I could be over there in a second. Gingerly put a knife to his throat so she could quietly leave with me. He imagined himself going through the motions in his mind, looking at it from different angles. No. Too many patrons would see.
At one point, she looked like she was holding back a scream using a napkin over her mouth, as if the action of yelling may cause her to be sick. He gripped the table hard enough it made a few crackles, loud enough he was sure she heard them. Please, flick your wrist, do something. Give me a reason.
Their food unfinished, they boxed it up and paid, standing to leave. Shika joined them, watching them as he faded into the shadows. His anger had been reaching a boiling point, enough to cloud his judgement. Don't follow them, he told himself. You're going to do something stupid. It will upset her; she will take it out on you. Go somewhere else and wait.
He stood still in an alleyway, his body fighting against him. He wanted to go after them, grab Sai and beat the shit out of him. Demand to know what he had been saying to her to cause those looks on her face, forbid him from going near her again. He desired to cross every boundary that had been set, call it off with Temari, say to hell with their fathers and the village, and parade their love in the streets. Anything to get that creep away from her.
But he didn't have any reason to. The only justification he had to pummel this guy was that he was on a date with his woman, a fact nobody else knew. He would be tried and possibly jailed for the unlawful beating of a comrade. Talk to her first, get her to give you a reason, he convinced himself, eyes closed, breathing heavy. Don't be stupid.
Don't be stupid. He scoffed, nearly laughing at himself. Everything regarding Ino made him, a literal genius, do stupid shit. The only time he made an effort was for her; it never bothered him, he never second guessed his actions. It was natural for him, just like loving her. If it made him stupid, then he'd be the dumbest person in town.
And proud of it.
After waiting what felt like an appropriate amount of time, he used the rooftops to quickly head over to her house, hoping to avoid them in the streets if he hadn't waited long enough.
What he found was Ino standing on her doorstep, looking dazed, holding their food bag. Sai was nowhere to be found, no indication of how long ago he had left her there. He was grateful not to see him as he was unsure he could hold himself back if in Sai's presence. As she turned to unlock the door, he saw her stumble slightly. Oh, jesus.
He went to her, using an arm to catch and steady her on her feet. When she looked up at him, her eyes were glazed over, lids droopy, cheeks splotched with redness. He got her drunk and left her here alone, he fumed. What a piece of work this shithead is. He was pissed, but thankful she wasn't taken advantage of.
"Oh, Shika!" She said, slurring her words as she stood up on her own. She was excited to see him, even drunk, and a small happiness penetrated his anger for a moment. "I'm so glad to see you. You're here!"
She's hammered, he sighed. The Yamanaka's were good drinkers, able to use their mental blocks to keep alcohol at bay and control their drunkenness. For her to be like this, those walls must have come down at some point, for one reason or another. "Of course I'm here. Where are your keys?"
"They're in the—uh, bag. My bag, not the food one. The pink one—" Ino tried to reach for it with the arm it was slung onto, causing it to slip down to the ground. "Heh, oops."
Rolling his eyes, he bent down to get it, popping the top and searching for her keys amongst her feminine crap. Why do women insist on carrying all this useless shit? It's gotta be a drag. "Which ones the front door key?"
"Uh…" She eyed them closely, blinking a few times. With her index finger, she pointed to one with a square base. "That."
He shoved it in the lock, turning it and the handle as slowly as possible, praying the lights out meant her parents were actually asleep for what he was about to do. The lock released the tension on their heavy door with a loud clank.
"Wait, that's the front door!" She whispered loudly.
"Yes," he stated flatly.
"You can't use that!"
He put her keys in his pocket, grabbing the food bag and wrapped one arm around her. "I don't care. I'm taking you to your room so you don't fall down the stairs and get a concussion." Or worse.
She tried to wriggle free as they crossed her threshold. The house was silent, dark inside to where he could barely see. "Shh," he hissed as she tried to protest while removing her shoes. Fed up, he picked her up in his arms, carrying her bags in his hands. "Don't make a sound. It's gonna take me a second to find my way."
Using only his feet, he felt his way through the entryway and living room, stubbing his toe on the bottom stair. Fuck! His eyes were adjusting too slowly, so he had to risk it. Feeling around, he found the distance between the steps to be fair enough to judge when to take a step safely. After each one, he found his footing to prevent him losing balance and toppling them both down. At the top, he visualized the outside of her house to guess which closed door was her room.
He guessed correctly. Her door was cracked and he nudged it open with his knee, setting her down on the carpet. She trotted over to the bed, plopping down as he flipped her switch to turn her lamp on.
"Shoes," she said, pointing to his feet.
Jeez, even drunk she's troublesome, he thought, dropping her stuff to remove them. This is going to be a pain in my ass. "You're not sober enough to tell me what happened, are you?"
"Mmm…" she thought, biting her lip. "Maybe. But there's a better way I can! If I mind transfer, all the champagne stays in my body, and we can just have a lil' talk in yours." Her feet kicked up and down in a childlike manner.
Shika winced. She'd never used that jutsu on him, and he didn't like the sound of someone else being in his mind, even if it was her. His mind was his escape, his safe place. Having a visitor would feel…weird. Like someone coming over to your home but you forgot to clean beforehand. Yamanakas had the ability to find cracks in your defenses, slyly sneaking into places you didn't want them. That's part of why Inoichi was frequently used for interrogations.
And he had no doubt Ino had learned that from him. Though he had nothing to hide from her, the thought still gave him the jeebies. "I'd rather wait til morning." He brought her food bag over to her, taking out containers. "Here, you need to eat more."
Ignoring the boxes of food he set out on the bed for her, she reached in the bag and pulled out a bottle of champagne, the liquid inside sloshing around and settled an inch or so below the top of the label. She grinned wildly. "Have some of this!"
She's definitely drunk, he thought. She always wants everyone to be in the same level as her when she gets like this. He flicked the bottle away with his hand. "Eat," he demanded.
"Only if you catch up to me," she offered, popping the top off. "This bottle cost over two grand alone. I saw it on the check! Can you believe that?! We can't let it go to waste."
Two grand, huh? He really dug his claws in deep, knowing I can't spoil her that way.
Shika popped the top on a container of sushi and shoved one in her mouth to silence her. "Why don't we save it for another night then?" He truly loved the few times they drank together, the sex was amazing, but he was too angry tonight. He had to make sure she was okay and didn't feel like death in the morning. "I prefer sake, anyway."
"Such a stiff," she said with her bottom lip out. She swung the bottle under her bed to hide it, bringing her legs up and sitting with them crossed to face him. "At least share the food. It's so good. Like, to die for."
"Not hungry," he said, watching her dive into the unfinished meal. There was no way he was going to eat the food he payed for. "If it was that good, why didn't you eat more there?"
With a shrug, she finished off the sushi, chewing big bites at once. It was cute, to him at least. "My nerves." She said through the food. "Killed my appetite. But I was so hungry, I forgot to eat earlier. This was better fresh, by the way." She tossed the empty container in the bag, reaching for the next. "Can I have some water, Shika?"
Behind him on her nightstand was an empty glass, probably used for water the night before or something. "Sure," he groaned, grabbing it and heading to her bathroom to fill it under the sink. Hope she likes tap water; I'm not going downstairs. Before he sat and handed it to her, he spoke. "Why were you so nervous?"
"Sai was freaking me out! It was crazy!" Ino lifted the glass eagerly, chugging it. "More?" She stuck out her bottom lip at him again, batting her eyes.
So I was right. He couldn't say no, though the pouting was overkill. "Jeez, slow down. You're gonna be sick, we're trying to avoid that." He repeated the same motions, handing the new glass to her slowly. "Sip this. Why was Sai freaking you out?"
Tearing through the sides of veggies, Ino finally made her way to her scallops next. The memory of the flavor caused her mouth to water. "I wish you'd try these," she sulked.
"Answer my question and I will." It was a long shot, but maybe he'd be able to get at least a few details out of her tonight. His own nervous system needed answers, his mind needed to be cleared of questions or he was going to go crazy.
That perked her up. "Okay, so…Sai turned into a totally different person. He was saying all this stuff, that he knew stuff…like about us. Oh shit, I forgot!" She grabbed her head. "Shika, he knows about us!"
"What?" He felt winded, not sure if she was remembering it correctly or if it was just her being drunk. That can't be right. There's no way. "What do you mean? Are you sure?"
Ino nodded. "For sure. He said he followed us yesterday, heard us fucking. He was like, 'one day you'll make those sounds for me.' And then he macked on me."
What…?
The reigns Shikamaru had in his anger slipped through his fingers and it raged uncontrollably inside him. His ears, his neck, his back all felt impossibly hot. The fog in his mind seemed to thicken, his thoughts now a scrambled mess. No longer could he hear himself think, his own voice said and asked too many things at once: He knows. He can't know. He's arrogant, why the fuck would he say that to her? How did he find out? Sai must want me to come after him. There's no other explanation. He touched her. He kissed her. He's gotta die.
I've gotta kill him.
Emotions running amok, he almost forgot Ino was there, waving a scallop in front of his face. "You saiiiiiiid," she singsonged.
Unable to deny her, he opened his mouth to accept the offering. It was as delicious as she said, and it only frustrated him more. Ino had been wined and dined by someone who made it very clear he was dangerous. Shikamaru couldn't have that. He wasn't going to share; he wouldn't allow her to endanger herself.
He must know people, people to follow us, to stalk, to research, something. There's no way he found out on his own. I need answers. I need to fix this.
The energy inside him was spilling over, making his skin crawl again with anticipation, almost making him jitter in place. I need to take care of this now. I can't stay here; I need to find him.
Ino looked left and right, searching for a utensil to use for the box of food in her lap. He had to do a double take to make sure he wasn't seeing things. That doesn't look right. "Ino, baby, what is that?"
"What's what?" She paused to look at him.
"Your neck," his voice trailed off, reaching for her jaw. He took it gently and turned her head to one side, looking at the bruises he'd left. Then the opposite direction, revealing a newer bruise not left by him. That better not be… "Where did this come from?"
"Sai," she said, her voice full of shame.
"Did he hurt you?" Shika spoke through locked teeth.
Ino shook her head. "That's part of the kissing stuff he did. He said to tell you, 'your move.' I don't like whatever game you two are playing, Shika. I only have so much neck skin."
He. Marked. Her.
All Shika saw was red. Not her, not her room, not the containers of food spread on her bed. Rage scorched every nerve ending he had, and his muscles cried out to get up and fly out of her window, scour the village streets until he found this guy and beat his brains in. All the ways he could end his life flashed before his eyes, each one more satisfying than the last. Hundreds of scenarios, all playing into his rage, making it seethe within him.
This wasn't a game anymore. This was war.
"Shika, ow," Ino squealed, her face still in his hand. "You're kinda hurting me."
The grip on her jaw had tightened beyond what he meant to use in his anger, and he swiftly released her. "Sorry," being the only word he offered her. His mind was still thinking, plotting, trying to figure out how to end this guy and get away with it. How to lure him somewhere isolated and have a kunai at this throat. Find out where he lives and lace the walls with paper bombs. Corner him in the forest and use a shadow to strangle the insidious life out of him.
He'd taken revenge for Asuma without a second thought, he was more than willing to do the same for the woman who gave his life meaning.
After all, he'd made it very clear he wasn't letting her go and he wasn't sharing her.
Making a split decision, Shikamaru rose to his feet, appearing on the floor next to his sandals, already strapping one of them on. Breaths came to him in a jagged mess, all he could hear was his heart beating like a horse in his chest. It wasn't until he started putting his shoes on that he noticed his hands were shaking.
He rose, making his way toward the window. Ino reached out, grabbing his wrist with such speed and strength, he flew back into place, out of the step he was trying to take. "No," she said, her voice low but firm, not at all like the upbeat sweetheart she had just been. "You're not going to do something stupid."
"Let go and go to sleep," he commanded her. "I'll be back before you wake up."
Ino dug her nails into the skin of his arm. "If you go out that window, you won't be coming back in."
Shikamaru huffed, searching his mind for what mattered more: putting this guy in his place permanently or losing a single night with her. But what if she doesn't forgive me? Wait, why wouldn't she? I guess getting taken in by ANBU would be reason enough. I cannot let him get away with this. I cannot. Will not. There has to be a way—maybe I can clone myself while she's asleep…
Ino broke the silence first. "Take it out on me."
He snapped his head down to look at her. "What?"
She looked up at him now from under her lashes, her eyes soft. "Instead of going out, take your anger out on me."
"Ino, I would never—"
Using the hand she was holding him with, she steadied herself, slithering onto her knees on the bed. Her face went to his neck, breath smelling of champagne. He thought he may get drunk from the air alone. "Take it out on me," she begged, pulling him close. "Please."
Oh.
For the first time in his life, he wanted to refuse her offer. He was too angry, she was too drunk—though it seemed she had sobered up a tad by her tone. This anger deserves to be bestowed upon the object that enraged him, not her. It wasn't her fault; she didn't do this.
I can't do this, not now. Shika tried to tear himself away, but those infinite pools of blue stared back at him, beckoning him to take a dip and forget about the rage that swirled in his belly. To float endlessly in the waters of her eyes.
The hate rising in him kept his feet wanting to go forward. He needed to release it immediately.
But…then again…
No sooner than he rolled his eyes was his hand at her throat, pulling her up into his kiss. His lips were hungry, mashing into her deeply. Feeling her nails dig into him deeper, he flipped his wrist to instead grab onto hers, giving it a squeeze along with his thumb that rest on her carotid artery.
The hand that held her forearm slid down to her wrist, pressing his index finger on the over side of her palm, his thumb and pinky stretched to either side. He brought that hand to his abdomen, laying her warm palm flat against him under his shirt. Her fingers twitched before relaxing, wiggling themselves under his waist band. She already knew what to do.
This dance wasn't new.
He parted their lips to look into those eyes again, trying to shrink himself down enough to jump in them, wade through the waters and forget about the violent images in his head. "Distract me then," he begged, though it was more of a demand. The grip around her throat tightened, coaxing a groan from her lips to his.
"Wait, I gotta—" Ino closed her eyes in a bit of embarrassment. She needed a moment to be human. The champagne had rushed through her kidneys finally, and she desperately wanted out of this dress.
He smiled, removing his hand from her neck to lightly tap her cheek. "Go. I'll get ready and wait for you."
Biting her lip, she scurried off the bed and quickly tiptoed to her bathroom. Shika took the time to undo his belt, watching the door to make sure she wasn't going to pop out quicker than his hands could form the signs.
He turned to the window, hands formed and before him popped up a clone of himself. Within an instant, the clone took the belt in his own hands and began redoing it.
"Find him. Quickly," Shika ordered his clone. The shadow clone gave a quick nod before jumping out the window with haste, making almost no noise as he moved.
With a deep sigh, Shika sat on the bed. Doing this while being distracted was going to be hard, but there was no way he could just let this go. He could only hope the time and distance wouldn't be too great for the jutsu to stretch before the clone located Sai.
Hehehehhe Shika is about to have an interesting night ;D I wonder how multitasking is gonna go for him! Thank you for reading and ily, see you soon!