Welcome to my first official ShikaIno, thank you for coming by. This couple have always had a special place in my heart, and I have a really special conection with Ino's character since my childhood, but I had never had the courage to write something about her; about them. Until this year, that is.

The beginning of this new year hit me very hard, and in response I burried myself in nostalgic reading. That helped me to stop thinking and revived the ashes of my love for this couple, so, since I have the time and inspiration, here we are.

Might I add, I originally wrote this in spanish so if there's any funny parts I apologize, I tried my best to make it fluid. Anyway, I hope you enjoy this One-shot, made with love and care from me to you.

Sky Blue

Shikamaru was six years old when he first met her. Although their parents insisted they knew each other as babies, he didn't remember her. His first impression was that she was a pretty girl with a big smile. She seemed nice and sociable, exactly the kind of girl he would not get along with.

And as soon as she opened her mouth, he knew he was right.

Ino was noisy, spoiled and bossy. She was always making him do things he didn't want to do, dragging him and Choji to her adventures, which inevitably ended up with their parents scolding them. But never Ino; she never got the same reprimands, her father couldn't bring himself to scold her, even though she was always the mastermind. Neither of them loved spending time with the blonde, yet somehow they always ended up hanging out, usually when their parents gathered to eat.

One day, Shikamaru managed to convince her to watch clouds with him instead of playing whatever game she had invented that week. He lay down on the grass to silently observe the sky, breathing in the soft scent of earth to relax. At least, that was the plan, but Ino didn't seem to grasp the concept of silence. She started humming, moving her feet, hands, and head, almost dancing to her tune.

Shikamaru closed his eyes, holding off the urge to shut her up, knowing it would only make things more troublesome if he angered her. But when he opened his eyes, he flinched, seeing Ino suddenly hovering over him, casting a shadow as she watched him.

– I thought we were cloud watching, don't sleep.

– I'm not sleeping; I was just resting my eyes.

Ino had blue eyes, but he had never paid much attention to them until then. Only at that moment did he notice her eyes were the same color as the sky. He frowned; Ino wouldn't move away and kept staring as if she wanted another answer.

– Why don't we do something else instead, Shika-kun? Cloud watching is boring.

Of course. He should have known the girl wouldn't last five minutes.

– It's boring for you, not me – Ino pursed her lips, thinking.

– I don't get it – she mumbled.

Despite her complaint, Ino lay back down and looked up at the sky, humming. He had to give it to her; at least she tried, although he could easily predict she wouldn't last another five minutes. He savored whatever little time of peace he had left, watching the clouds softly drift across the sky. And the sky was in her eyes. For some reason, he couldn't stop thinking about it.

As suspected, soon enough the blonde stood up and stretched, prompting him to get up and play something else. He tried arguing, but it was useless in the end; Ino always won.

And that didn't change through the years.

He smirked when they assigned him with Ino and Choji as a team, as he knew it would happen; there was never a choice, and it was funny that his now teammate would ever think there was. If they followed through with tradition, they would be assigned to a member of the Sarutobi family as their sensei, which Ino also knew. It was illogical of her to think it would be any other way. But there she was, moping about not being in her beloved Uchiha's team.

Shikamaru would never understand what was so great about him that he had all the girls head over heels. He was mean and quiet, treated them awfully and believed he was better than everyone. The Uchiha wasn't his favorite person, but it had nothing to do with the jealousy Ino always accused him of feeling. No, he didn't mind being compared with Sasuke; he didn't care at all. He knew they were worlds apart. For starters, he would never mistreat Ino, he wouldn't ignore her or treat her like a problem. He wouldn't make her cry.

Ino watched full of sorrow as her beloved Sasuke went away with Naruto and Sakura, never taking her eyes from him. But Sasuke would never look back, he didn't know what he was missing. The worst part was Sakura being his teammate; he just knew Ino wouldn't shut up about it and could only hope the complaints wouldn't last too long.

The beginning of that rivalry always bothered him. He remembered the times when they were best friends. Sakura was always alone before that, crying around the corners, with kids bullying her like they did to Choji. He remembered Ino protecting them, scolding whoever would bother them if she was around, even though right after she would turn around and scold them for letting others bother them. And he remembered Sakura joining Ino's friend group, getting more confidence and standing out as time passed.

But what he remembered the most was the day he found Ino crying in her bedroom. One afternoon, when his father took him to the Yamanakas to chat with Inoichi and they sent him to see her just to get rid of him. He remembered sitting down with her in silence as she cried on his shoulder with no explanation. The soft smell of flowers and the noise of their parents' laughter buried by her sobbing. He remembered the stomachache, being uncomfortable with her tears and frustrated about not knowing what to do, what to say. And he vividly remembered how powerless he felt as he saw Sakura the next day, ignoring Ino and talking with her friends, dividing the group and making the so-called love rivalry official. What kind of person even does that?

Yet Ino wouldn't let it take her down. She looked up and smiled, she moved forward. But after that event, he noticed changes in her. Ino always was born with a strong personality, that much was clear, but she had never been rough, until then. She started complaining more about his laziness, about Choji's weight. She started arguing more, always trying to win, in everything. But the biggest change was how she suddenly became chummy with Sasuke, hoping to hug him, holding onto his arm, shamelessly flirting. She didn't do it for him, because she would only act like this when Sakura was there, and she could tell the Uchiha didn't like her behavior; she didn't like it either. He could tell; every time she would hover over the Uchiha, she would put up a smile he knew very well, one she would only have when she was uncomfortable. Every time Sakura was around and for just a moment Ino would purse her lips. Every time she would take a deep breath and suddenly smile, talking in a slightly higher pitch than usual.

But he never said anything. And he would keep staying quiet, listening to her never-ending complaints about Sakura and how she didn't deserve being in the same team as the ever so grandiose Sasuke Uchiha. Anyway, it would be too troublesome to get into that conversation.

He really, really didn't want to get in that conversation.

Especially as he saw those sky-blue eyes, clouded with sadness and worry when he found her after coming back from the failed mission to retrieve Sasuke. What could he possibly tell her? He failed. As a ninja, as a friend, as a leader. He had been lucky everyone came back alive, not thanks to him. And right now, he didn't have the strength nor the courage to face anyone, especially not her, not when she looked at him with those expectant eyes. He looked away, exhausted.

– I guess you already heard, but the mission failed.

Ino quietly walked until she was in front of him, searching for his eyes. The lack of words on his usually chatty teammate only irked him more.

– Didn't you listen? We didn't bring him back, Ino.

His hands clenched as he closed his eyes, frowning. Ino kept quiet, but he could still feel her eyes on him. His jaw tightened; he couldn't look her in the eye, not right now, not after failing her and the entire village. He clicked his tongue with the lack of a response, feeling his heart in the throat, the shame of his failure hitting with all the strength of her eyes staring at him.

– Aren't you gonna say anything? I failed, Ino, the mission was a fiasco. I almost got us all killed, and we came back empty handed.

– But you came back.

She whispered and took one last step towards him. Shikamaru opened his eyes and stood there, paralyzed at her words. He had expected literally anything but that, and what came next. Ino opened the chest pocket of his chunin jacket and carefully placed a dandelion inside, slightly pressing both her hands to his heart as she looked at the small flower, whose meaning was lost to him at that moment.

– Tomorrow… Let's go see Choji, alright?

Ino looked up again and smiled with a tenderness he believed lost in his childhood memories. He could only look at her eyes in silence, finally understanding that the worry in them wasn't only for the Uchiha traitor. He nodded.

And he kept nodding. Every time Ino would come with those bright blue eyes; despite what she asked of him, despite how much he tried to argue, he always ended up nodding. Even when she dragged him into the most troublesome situations of his life.

– Shikamaru, c'mon! Lets go there!

Yelled Ino as she giggled, hanging from his neck with wobbly legs as he held her from the waist to help her walk. He clicked his tongue in anger, almost popping a vein as they moved, but he kept holding her steady, walking slowly through the streets of Konoha.

– Oh, Shika, look!

Ino propelled herself to the other side, signaling that way with her arm. But of course, she didn't make it far, stepping on her own foot. Shikamaru immediately secured her from the waist to stop her from falling.

– Goddamn it, Ino! Stay still.

Shikamaru wasn't one to easily lose his nerves, not only because of his peaceful nature but because he was used to his friend's insane ideas; but this was out of line. He wasn't her babysitter, and she wasn't a child. Why did she drink so much? Ino wasn't the type to have more than one or two glasses; he couldn't understand what on earth she was thinking when she decided to get to that point and was still trying to process the fact that Kiba, of all people, had been the one to go look for him because Ino was "out of control". He kept asking himself: What was she thinking? How did she even end up like that? Why? His head was spinning and the more he thought about it, the angrier he got.

– You are so boring! Relax, let's go cloud wishing!

She wasn't making any sense and Shikamaru wasn't about to grace her nonsense with answers. He held her arm and placed it again over his shoulder so she would lean on him, keeping a steady hold as he was sure the moment he let go, she would drop like a rock. The hideous smell of alcohol flooded him as he held her close.

He thought about leaving her behind a couple times, had violent thoughts other few times, and countlessly regretted opening his door when they started knocking after midnight on his free day. But in the end, he would look at her disoriented expression and angrily sigh, knowing there was just no way he could leave her to her own devices in that poor state. But she was so gonna pay for this.

They finally made it to his house, and he opened the door with relief, juggling between the keys and stopping Ino from falling when he took off her shoes. In the end, they were in his room. Ino didn't know how lucky she was that their mothers were on a trip with Choji's mom that week, or maybe she had done it knowing her mother wouldn't see her. There had to be a reason for her behavior, he couldn't for the life of him understand which one was, but there had to be one or else he would end up killing his best friend.

– Shikamaru! Lets play cards!

Just as she got up from the bed, the color left her face.

– Don't you dare, Ino!

He ran to hold her and drag her to the bathroom, barely making it to the toilet in time. He made sure to hold her hair and offer water despite his annoyance, until the crisis was averted. Or so he thought, when suddenly she was sobbing, and he could feel his eye twitch. Shikamaru took a deep breath; two, three times, closing his eyes, counting to ten, using whatever method to keep him sane just a little longer.

– Now what?

He asked as he kneeled with her, helping her up. Ino shook her head and cried without uttering a word. Shikamaru rolled his eyes, it was extremely hard to be understanding with her tears when she had just drunkenly puked in his bathroom. He picked up a towel and moistened it with water to clean her face, leaving her mouth last to clean up any leftovers. Then he used the dry side and repeated the process, all while ignoring the smell of alcohol and puking as he tried to keep his annoyance under control as much as possible with a tight jaw that was starting to hurt from clenching his teeth so much.

– Come, let's get back to the room.

Ino nodded, seemingly more stable but just a little. He took her back to bed, untying her ponytail and fixing the sheets so she could lie down. She suddenly seemed way more docile, so she didn't protest and was fast asleep in a matter of seconds, as if nothing happened. Shikamaru closed the door and let himself fall down the wall for a minute, mentally exhausted, still trying to understand why Ino was behaving like that because it didn't make any sense. The worst part? Even now he wasn't gonna be able to sleep properly, as he had to make sure she wouldn't wake up and puke herself. Shikamaru clicked his tongue and went to make some coffee, he would just guard her for a couple hours and then go to sleep. The bitter flavor in his throat and the cold sensation of his bedroom wall helped him finally calm down, at least enough to remember again: She had to have a good explanation for all this mess.

Ino woke up the next morning with the soft light coming through the window. She usually loved the natural light, especially the sunrise soft light, but at that moment it only worsened her headache. She found Shikamaru in front of her, asleep, sitting by the wall in an uncomfortable position; she sat up carefully, feeling like her head was about to explode. The movement woke Shikamaru up immediately, alerting him in case she needed him, but the second he realized it was early morning and Ino seemed back to herself, he leaned back in the wall and clicked his tongue. The blonde had no trouble noticing his anger, he made no effort to hide it, looking up the window with a frown and a very tense jaw, so she gulped and carefully kneeled in front of him.

– Hey, Shika…

– No.

He wouldn't even let her start, he knew the second she started apologizing with those big, guilty eyes, he would forgive her. And he didn't want to forgive her so easily, he was angry, he wanted to be angry. Ino had crossed the limits of his patience and that was no easy feat. She gulped again; a dry throat and hangover headache didn't really help her case, but despite the strong need to seek water, she stood there in silence, waiting for him.

– What were you thinking, Ino? – he kept looking away, and she knew it was not her cue to answer. Shikamaru started to battle the newborn hammering headache as he remembered everything that made him angry – Do you even remember any of all the stupid things you did last night? They got me out of bed to go look for you. Kiba thought you were out of control. Kiba, for fuck's sake! – He pressed the bridge of his nose between his fingers and sighed in frustration, remembering the disgusting smell of the bar; the screaming of the drunkards – I found you yelling on top of a table, surrounded by creeps, Ino. And you threw a jug at me for trying to get you down! – He finally looked at her, just to point out a spot in his head, it still hurt a little – I had to use my shadow jutsu to get you out of the bar, do you follow? It took me over an hour to get you back here. The walk takes fifteen minutes!

When he finally took everything out of his chest, Shikamaru sighed and leaned his head on the wall to look up the roof, trying to erase the bad memories of less than five hours ago. Ino swallowed hard again, nodding slowly.

– I'm sorry, Shikamaru. I don't… I don't really remember much, but I know I made a fool of myself. I'm sorry – she pursed her lips and cleared her throat – thank you for bringing me back.

She carefully stood up and walked to the door, ready to leave with all the embarrassment on her shoulders.

– Where do you think you are going? You owe me an explanation.

Ino closed her eyes and stood still with the sliding door half open, refusing to let go of it. Shikamaru gave her a side glance, and he could almost hear as she tried to look for excuses to leave. Maybe she would try to bicker, but Ino knew when she messed up big time, and she wasn't as shameless as she liked to make everyone believe she was. And still, she wouldn't let go of the door, thinking how to escape. Shikamaru knew she felt embarrassed, but he didn't care right now. He stood up and closed the door for her, almost breathing on the back of her neck.

– No excuses Ino. Explain.

He heard her take a deep breath, letting go of the door. But she still refused to move; he knew she didn't want to turn around, she didn't want to confront him, but it was the least she owed him after the shitshow she had put him through. Ino wasn't a coward, at least not most of the time; he knew she was debating between confronting him and escaping, but that she wasn't really capable of the second option, so she was paralyzed in place. Shikamaru gave her a minute, he wasn't in a hurry and knew she would come through sooner or later.

– I wanted to stop thinking – she whispered in the end, swallowing hard again, her throat itching – I was tired and thought, maybe…

– Thinking about what?

– Everything, I guess.

She cleared her throat again, Shikamaru sighed and went to the night table, picking up a glass of water Ino didn't see before, offering it to her. Ino still didn't turn, and he clicked his tongue.

– Troublesome woman, just drink some water.

– I don't want to.

– Why?

– I don't want to turn

Shikamaru could feel his patience running thin again but took a deep breath, he knew her better than that.

– Just take the glass, don't be troublesome. It's not like it's the first time you make a fool of yourself.

– What did you just…!?

Ino turned around to face the accusation with a frown. Shikamaru smirked. That was way more like the Ino he knew. But she, upon seeing his face, looked away and cut her complaint short, snatching the glass from him and dropping some water as a result before drinking it all in one go. He stopped himself from chuckling, reminding himself he was angry.

– Better? – He asked, tilting his head.

– No!

She walked away and left the now empty glass on the night table, sitting back in the bed, grumbling. Shikamaru rolled his eyes and followed her, sitting by her side. This time, he didn't insist on asking; it was too hard trying to stay angry when it wasn't his nature, and she kept avoiding provoking him. He leaned on his hands to look up the roof, wishing for maybe the thousand' time that it was transparent. Ino wasn't making the conversation any easier and he could feel the tension but wasn't planning to pressure her anymore. If she wanted to talk, great, and if she didn't, just as well. Anyway, he knew she would talk. Ino wasn't physically capable of staying quiet for ten minutes.

– How do you stay so calm, Shikamaru?

Just as predicted.

– Who says I'm calm?

– Well, your attitude? – She glanced at him. He shrugged.

– My best friend made a scene at some bar in the middle of the night. I had to get up in the middle of my precious free day to literally drag her back to my house and put up with her drunk ass, and I haven't got the slightest idea what could have gone through her mind when she decided it was a good idea to reach that point. Would you be calm?

– I never thought it was a good idea, I just didn't think it would be so chaotic, or that they would call you to pick me up, I just… Didn't think.

Shikamaru sighed and sat up by her side, leaning with his arms on his knees to seek her eyes.

– You never really think about the consequences, Ino.

– That's not true! – Shikamaru immediately realized Ino was about to explode. She crouched a little and held her head, pressing her eyelids, surprising him – All I ever do is think, all the time! About Asuma, my dad, yours, my mother, Neji, Hinata – she bent slowly more as she raised her voice with every word, Shikamaru felt all his body tense up at the mention of those names – All the new graves, the wounded that come and go in the hospital, the never ending line of war PTSD patients – she sobbed and trembled; her breathing became erratic and he could almost tap her stress – The T job, the minds of all those people, the Yamanaka elders' demands. Choji, you… Every day. From the hospital to the intelligence center, to the flower shop, to my mother crying, to the clan meetings, to the missions. All the time, every minute!

Shikamaru tugged her in and hugged her tight, covering her face and her trembling body. Her distinctive scent of flowers mixed with alcohol leftovers, his stomach churning for more than one reason. For a moment, he felt as if Ino would break. It was a horrible sensation, that he had only felt a couple times before with her. Ino was strong, she didn't fall easily, always smiling and pulling through no matter what. He knew it, because many times she had been the one to pull him out of his own misery, but he forgot that, sometimes, she also needed a hand to pull through.

He kept hugging her in silence, stroking her hair and back, trying to comfort her from the pain, patiently waiting for her to calm down. All while thinking, now her behavior made sense. It didn't change the fact that she had acted like a fool, but he would cut her some slack this time. Now he was only worried about seeing again those cheerful eyes and that smile capable of lighting up any room. Helpless at the fact that he couldn't do much for her other than hold her in his futile attempt to protect her from the pain.

By the end of what felt like an eternity, she calmed down and was now quietly sobbing on his chest, slowly pacing her breathing until she managed to take a deep breath.

– I made a fool of myself in front of everyone… – she suddenly whispered, covering her face – I threw up in your bathroom… Oh god, I cried in your bathroom after puking.

Shikamaru pressed his lips to avoid laughing as Ino mortified herself, but the second she lifted her head with her red eyes and nose, guilty and embarrassed, he couldn't help but chuckle. She hit him in the chest.

– Next time just let me die in an alley, please – she leaned on him, pressing her forehead in his shoulder as she shook her head.

– Next time? – he lifted an eyebrow, backing off a little to look at her. Ino looked away and frowned.

– Fine, there won't be a next time

– That's what I thought.

Now that everything had calmed down, Shikamaru offered to sleep a bit longer, since it was barely dawn. Ino took the offer and started to roam around his room as if it was hers, taking a change of clothes from his wardrobe to go change and refresh in the bathroom, coming back to bed where Shikamaru already lay half asleep. It wasn't a big deal for them, after spending so many nights together on missions, so they both went back to sleep without talking anymore, the silence drowned by the singing of the early birds. But Shikamaru kept thinking about Ino's words for a long time after that.

It's not like he didn't know Ino's life was chaos since the end of the war. His own situation was very similar with all the new responsibilities and the weight they carried. The diplomatic meetings, the hokage's paperwork, the clan responsibilities, the rebuilding efforts and support between nations… Just thinking about what was waiting for him the second he came back to work gave him a headache, and he didn't have to deal with the minds of other people in the process.

He didn't know how to help her, not that Ino made it any easier. She wasn't precisely someone who would ask for help often, if ever. It was usually her who would offer to help others, and maybe that also didn't really help with the stress she was carrying around. He couldn't know for certain because Ino would never admit anything that was going through her mind.

At least, that's what he thought, until a few months later she would surprise him again.

They went out to eat with Choji to their usual place, and everything seemed normal as they said goodbye to their oldest friend, who left a little bit earlier, talking about an appointment he had to get to. His friends suspected what this was about, but it was very recent, so they were waiting for the moment Choji would be ready to tell them who this so-called appointment was. They ended up alone, drinking what was left of their beers in a comfortable silence that, as usual, didn't last long, as Ino found a topic to talk about.

Shikamaru was a listener, nodding and answering every now and then, but mostly hearing. He leaned in his arm on the table and silently looked at Ino as she spoke, observing her expressions, her smile, those eyes that seemed to brighten up every time she laughed. Ah, that laughter. When was the last time she heard her laugh like that? It felt like music. So, he listened, as usual, to the most troublesome and explosive woman he knew talking nonstop about anything that would come up in her head, complaining about any trivial thing just to start laughing right after. Changing her expressions from laughter to anger, to whimsical, to happiness, everything in less than five minutes. And small silences, while the next topic waited to appear in her head, drinking a bit more, moving something around the table, folding a napkin into a flower.

Until a new idea came up in her mind and she smiled widely, standing up.

– Hey, there was a street art gallery this week around Ichiraku, let's go!

He didn't get to answer – not that it would have made a difference – when she was already signaling literally anyone to come charge them for the food. As soon as everything was paid, she took Shikamaru's hand and pulled him to the streets, where she started power walking as she chatted and giggled. He didn't have any special interest in art, and didn't really understand surrealism, but he walked nonetheless, following his friend around the Konoha streets.

– Ino, stop running, we got time – he complained as per usual, trying to get a cigarette from the package with his free hand.

– Don't be lazy Shikamaru, hurry! – she turned to see him just as he placed a cigarette in his mouth – Hey! No smoke around me, you know it.

Shikamaru rolled his eyes and complained, but saved the cigarette nonetheless. He didn't want to wake up the blonde's bad temper, especially when she seemed to be in such a good mood that day.

They heard the exhibition before seeing it, guided by the noise of voices, yelling and laughing that became louder as they walked, turning one last time in a corner to find the gathering of people coming and going in what seemed to be an improvised fair with small booths selling personalized artwork and different paintings lined up creating an exhibition hall to check out the canvases and buy. In addition, there were many food booths with sweet and salty snacks, flooding the area with delicious smells everywhere they walked. Ino finally slowed down but didn't let go of his hand as they walked around the fair. Shikamaru thought long and hard about it but ended up not saying a word and keeping the contact, just enjoying the subtle warmth from her hand. It was a nice change, one that didn't appear often with her.

She kept dragging him around, ignoring his complaints as she admired and laughed, buying some souvenirs here and there until they reached the end of the gallery, now guided by the sounds of music and laughter. They reached an improvised gathering outdoors, full of families and couples dancing to the rhythm of a quartet and Ino got immediately excited and turned to Shikamaru, looking at him with those big expectant eyes.

– Ino, you know I don't dance.

– C'mon, Shikamaru! Just move with the music. Please?

He grumbled, trying to say no, but now Ino held him with both her hands, taking a step towards him as she leaned, looking straight at him under her eyelashes as she asked. She really didn't expect a no, and as much as he tried to fight himself, he ended up saying yes.

– I don't want you complaining if I step on you.

– Don't step on me and I won't complain.

He rolled his eyes, Ino laughed as she pulled him to the dance floor with everyone else, turning to face him as she started moving with all the charm he didn't have. Shikamaru was honestly uncomfortable, not knowing what to do or where to move no matter how much he tried to follow the rhythm of the song. But he ended up getting distracted when Ino placed her hands on his shoulders. He was still tense, and she kept telling him to relax, to breath, that she wouldn't bite him. And she danced with all the graciousness and sensuality she knew she had. Shikamaru gulped, placing his hands on her waist, partially more nervous than before, partially too distracted with the feeling of her skin under his fingers while she moved like that to really think about the troublesome situation he got in.

Later rather than sooner and by copying the movements of some guy dancing in front of him, Shikamaru managed to adapt – somewhat – to the dance and Ino's moves. She kept on laughing, spinning, moving around him, almost getting him dizzy. He just kept following the pace the best he could, at least not to be a laughingstock. But soon enough he realized no one was really paying attention to his sloppy moves; no one was really paying attention to anyone else. Everyone was just laughing and dancing with their families, elderly, kids, partners; everyone lost in their own world. When he understood no one cared, he looked back at Ino again and she was only looking at him with those beautiful sky-blue eyes and all of her seemed to shine with that smile under the sunlight. He finally smiled too, relaxing slowly until he was able to follow the pace better. Only then did he start to enjoy himself, to feel the breeze on his face every time they spun around.

By the end of what seemed to be an eternity, the long tune was over, and everyone started to clap. Ino jumped on her toes and hugged him enthusiastically, giggling. Her scent of flowers flooded his senses. He didn't know what to do, he didn't hug her or back away, he just kept his hands on her waist until she took some distance and looked at him with a lovely, calm smile and her hands on his shoulders. She looked at him differently, he wasn't sure how to explain it, but it was as if her eyes were saying something, the meaning lost in her silence.

– Thanks, Shika – she whispered and kissed his cheek in a delicate gesture, taking a couple steps away to turn her back on him – shall we go?

She didn't wait, as usual, and started to walk. Shikamaru needed a couple seconds before moving, trying to process what had just happened. It's not like it was the first time, but he was sure he could count with the fingers of one hand the amount of times Ino had kissed or hugged him on her own, it hadn't been many times and honestly, he remembered each and every one and why she had… No, it was better not to get into that right now. He decided to stop and start following her before he got lost in an endless rabbit hole that would end up in nothing.

– Hey, where are you going now?

Ino didn't answer, she just kept walking to a relaxed pace, ignoring him, humming. He rolled his eyes and sighed, following her for a while until he noticed they were walking to their houses. He lifted an eyebrow, kind of curious. Were they going back home? Part of him didn't want to say goodbye just yet, dragging his feet every step, but as usual, he said nothing and just kept walking. Then he noticed they had taken a detour and realized Ino was walking him to the deer forest.

They entered the Nara lands and kept walking until they reached one of the Yamanaka flower patches they grew in the area. Ino finally stopped and sat down, hugging her legs absent-mindedly as she looked up at the sky. Shikamaru took a seat beside her as the scent of flowers surrounded them; the breeze rocking the trees created a soft melody just for them. He leaned on his hands and looked up at the sky too, but despite everything being perfect, he couldn't focus on the clouds that would usually distract him easily, to help him stop thinking for at least a minute. No, because he kept glancing at her, looking at the details of her silhouette, her long hair flowing with the breeze. When did she stop tying her hair? He wasn't sure, it just happened one day when he wasn't paying attention. He forced himself to stay still, not move his hand, not touch her hair. He glanced at her profile, her uncovered shoulder, a loose strand of hair away from the rest, her porcelain skin. He breathed deeply, looking back at the sky. There was a strange sensation in the atmosphere, and he couldn't put his finger on why, but he refused to say anything about it.

– Thanks, Shikamaru – He looked at her again, confused. She turned to see him and giggled as she saw the doubt in his expression – for being here.

– Where else would I be? You didn't exactly give me a choice on where to go – Ino giggled again, looking back up and shaking her head.

– When I need you, when I can't keep up.

Shikamaru grimaced, understanding where the conversation was going. He sat up, imitating her position, hugging his legs, although keeping them separated.

– There's nothing to be thankful of and you know it, we are a team.

She turned to him again and something on her face made him stay quiet, looking at her until she showed him a sad smile.

– I miss when we were a real team. Team ten, with Asuma-sensei, doing D rank missions… I miss when we would spend all the time together, going on mission after mission – She breathed deeply and leaned on him, carefully placing her head on his shoulder – I miss the feeling of safety and peace when I would cancel my jutsu and wake up, protected between your arms.

Shikamaru calculated every breath, trying to keep Ino from noticing the change in himself. He looked up to the sky again, repeating every word in his head, reminiscent of missions, laughter and anecdotes years back. The need to protect her when she was defenseless, the fear of losing her, of not seeing those eyes open again. The relief every time she woke up, every time she looked at him again.

– I feel like today I laughed more than in the whole month, that I can breathe for a little longer, because Choji choke eating too much meat at once, because he spilled his beer through the nose when he laughed about something I said, because he was happier than ever thinking about his "appointment" tonight… Because you were here, because you accompanied me, because you didn't let go of my hand, because we danced, because you stayed by my side and followed me, even thou I didn't tell you were I was going… Because you don't stop my ramblings, because you lend me your shoulder to rest – she lifted her head just enough to see him – because being with you makes me happy – she looked him in the eye; expectant, intense – because in your arms I can rest.

He tried to process her every word, but with Ino looking at him like that it was extremely hard to think – or breathe –. He gulped, his throat suddenly dry and a million thoughts going in his head with no answer.

– Ino-

– Shikamaru, I love you – she whispered. Her heart beating in her throat, her hands trembling.

Anything he could have imagined didn't come close to reality. For a straight minute he tried to decide if he was hallucinating or not, or maybe he had eaten something wrong. Was he dreaming? The more he tried, the less he was capable of logical thinking. Years of training in strategy and planification and he couldn't process two words. He suddenly couldn't even hear the wind around them, only his heartbeat in the ears intensifying, drowning everything else.

He always took pride in knowing the blonde very well. He could notice the slightest changes in her expression, predict when she was gonna explode, when she was happy or angry. He knew when she was pretending. Even though she was an excellent actress, he could always see through her deceit. And yet, she always managed to find a way of surprising him, one way or another. He always thought he could see through her acting, but he couldn't be more wrong. He could see in her eyes she was telling the truth right now, and he had absolutely no idea how long it had been true. Was it recent or not? Since when had she shared his feelings? How much time had they wasted? How could he not notice?

He couldn't answer, he wasn't even sure he could breathe, he just couldn't react. Thousands of questions with no answer, thoughts crashing with each other. Ino tried to be patient but slowly started to frown at the lack of an answer and the disbelief in his face, every second more irritated until her expression transformed completely into anger and she hit him in the chest, backing away.

– You know, the least you could do is reject me. Instead of standing there like an idiot!

She stood up in a second, going away with unshed tears.

– Wait, what? Ino! – He immediately followed her, finally reacting. Ino going away in anger was a way more familiar scene for him – Hey, Ino! – the blonde wouldn't stop, not until he finally caught her by the wrist, making her turn around. He could see how she was trying not to cry in front of him but was still on the verge of breaking – Troublesome woman, you can't just drop a bomb like that on me and expect me to know what to say – That only seemed to anger her more, frowning and trying to free herself from his grasp – Ino, Ino!

– No! If you don't know what to say I'll make it real easy for you, just forget everything I said! I'm leaving – He had to hold her tighter for a moment, pulling her to trap her in a hug, it was the only thing he could think of to keep her from leaving in that moment.

– God, why must you always make everything so troublesome?

– Let go of me! – She hit his ribs, but Shikamaru knew her strength, he knew she wasn't really trying.

– Will you just give me a minute? I still think I might be dreaming – Ino suddenly stopped moving – I have no idea how many times I have dreamed about hearing those words from you, although my ribs say this isn't a dream – he tried joking, but she backed away to look at him frowning, silently threatening with leaving again; he sighed – Ino, I…

The words got stuck in his throat, he loosened her hold to hold her more calmly now that she wasn't fighting and placed a hand on her cheek, carefully cleaning the trace of a stray tear. The expression in her eyes softened by the second, and the feeling of her skin was even softer in his hand. He gulped, trying to clear his throat, unable to speak, to say what he had felt for years, getting lost in her eyes. He felt her hands moving, and suddenly she was hugging his neck, her eyes diverting every now and then as he wondered, where was she…? Oh. Ino was looking at his lips. Tilting her head just the slightest bit.

– Say it – she whispered. He gulped yet again, breathing deeply, and it took him a moment to finally get the courage to talk.

– I love you, Ino. Ever since I can remember, always.

She breathed out and smiled, getting on her toes, pulling him down.

When their lips connected, his world was shaken. Suddenly everything made sense, and his body reacted before his mind. He tightened the hold on her waist and gripped the back of her head to pull her closer, savoring every detail with yearning. How many times had he dreamed of her? Of kissing her, holding her? But he never entertained the idea, never wanted to think about how much he desired her because he knew, the second he started he wouldn't be able to let her go. And if she didn't desire him the same way, he wouldn't be able to live. But now? Now everything changed.

They finally pulled away against his will, until he opened his eyes and found the most beautiful sight he had ever seen. Ino's lips were slightly swollen and moistened, her white cheeks displayed a soft pink and her eyes, those eyes he loved so much, looked at him with the same longing he felt, shining clearer than ever, more beautiful than the sky itself. If that was the sight waiting for him every time he kissed her…

He took a deep breath and kissed her again; calmer, slower, with all the yearning of years of waiting, memorizing every detail, every sensation. The subtle way her tongue seemed to battle him, as if she wanted to win a non-existent competition, one she would always win. The way she smiled against his lips, as if playing with him, knowing she had him in the palm of her hand. And the way her hand brushed the back of his neck, causing him to shiver at the delicate sensation of her nails on his skin.

And now there was no force on earth that could pull him away from her.

He had reached the sky.

Thanks for reading!

Kms