ShikaIno Run Chapter 2

The morning after, the Nara awoke to an empty space. It wasn't a dream that she was there. He sat up on the mattress rubbing his eyes. Yawning, he looked around the room, it was different somehow. He stepped from the bedroom to see a lovely female poking at a plate of food.

"Morning Shikamaru," she smiled. "Hope you don't mind that I, snooped around. I was kind of hungry."

"Uh, no. That's okay. Do what you want."

She smiled largely, the words coming out very fast as though they were one word. "Oh, I hope you don't mind that I cleaned up around here! I just moved some things and organized some stuff! No big deal~!"

He blinked at her curiously. "Alright," was all he said.

—

Villagers had made little money by selling necessities like wood, fruits, vegetables and water. There was one particular stand that Ino took a while visiting. Having all of her changes of clothes absolutely incinerated, she'd worn Shikamaru's clothes to bed. As annoying as waiting for he to shop was, it was even more annoying for her to wear his clothes. Her arms were piled in different colored fabric. Only one thing bugged Shikamaru, but his curiosity led to the inevitable conclusion; She's making me pay for it…

All of those clothes seemed scarily expensive and there was an awful large pile that continued to grow. He grabbed her wrist and said into her ear, "I know what you're doing, so stop. I am not buying you all of this Ino. You'd better put half of this back."

"Oh but Shikamaru!" She pouted, "These suit me much better than your clothes do! Besides, what will the village think if they see us together and see me coming out of your house with your clothes on?"

"They can say whatever they please. Just get three changes of clothes. You're not emptying my wallet." He replied. She has a point, I can't take that reputation, he agreed in his head.

You're no fun Shikamaru," Ino said poking out her tongue. As he said, she carefully selected articles of clothing, making sure that everything fit, looked good and wasn't expensive. Shikamaru paid the woman at the stand and she handed Ino her bags that had her clothes. They walked in silence for several minutes. Growing tired of this, Shikamaru broke it.

"You're not even going to thank me for all that I got you you troublesome woman?"

"No. You didn't get me all I wanted you lazy ass."

"Troublesome," he said rolling his eyes.

She glared at him.

"Learn to be more appreciative Ino." He said a little insolently with still the playful manner in his voice.

"Whatever. Learn to not be such a tightwad, ass." She said rudely. He grabbed her by the arm.

"Ino, why are you being such a brat? Just because I didn't buy you all those clothes, doesn't mean you need to be all pissed about it!"

"Just shut up Shikamaru! Shut up shut up, shut up!" She yelled grabbing free from his grasp

"Stop being a brat. It's not that big of a deal!"

"I just... I want to be left alone. And alone means without you!" She quickly disappeared; her speed was incredibly, but he was faster. He quickly caught up with her and grabbed her by her thin body.

"Calm down Ino," he soothed. "Tell me what's wrong. You know you can tell me. You know you can tell me anything."

"Shikamaru..." she gasped. She hesitated from saying anything. Her heart was slow and caught in her mouth. She looked away from him. "Yo- you wouldn't understand."

"Please," he said sarcastically. "Just tell me. As I said, you can tell me anything."

"Fine." She caved. "I just feel lonely and just... horrible. My house was demolished, all my things are gone and my father was drafted for an extremely long mission and there is the chance that he could be killed." She paused, a tear brimming from her blue eye. "Shopping just reminded me of days with my father. The only upside to all of this, was that I go to live with you."

His eyes widened a little at that last part. He collected himself. "I guess I don't understand how you feel about your home, but I do understand that about your parents. Both of mine are gone. There's a reason for everything, and something good is going to happen in spite of your father's absence. I'm hoping that great things will come from Asuma's death. I'm still waiting. And so you shouldn't worry either."

"Asuma-sensei..." she whispered, the tear rolling down her cheek."I miss him."

"We all do. But we have to grow up and move on. Right Ino?" he asked and wiped her tear away with his index finger.

She smiled. "When did you become so stupidly mature Shikamaru?"

He smiled as well and extended his hand to hers.

—

"Where have you been? You've been gone for hours."

"Sorry! I was just... out. With Team Eight." she said, cutely biting her bottom lip. Her sentence seemed rather off.

"Troublesome," he said on cue.

She walked into the other room and changed her clothes into her new pajamas. She brushed her teeth and hair, then crawled into the bed next to the lazy man. Her eyes were closed. He opened his mouth, "You're lying. Who were you with?"

"What? I'm not lying! How dare you!" she protested with anger.

"You might have been with Team Eight, but which member?"

"Hinata"

"Try again."

"Shut up! My life has nothing to do with yours! So just leave me alone!"

"Whatever Ino," he said lastly getting out of the room through the window. He jumped to the roof laying down. Even though looking at the stars wasn't as fun as watching clouds, it was still relaxing. He had more time to think up here. There wasn't any stress or tension.

Ino was really being troublesome. Just going from mood to mood to mood. But she always ended up angry. It took lots of patience to clear it up. She was being a real immature little girl. Maybe her destroyed home really messed her up. She wasn't this bad after the Orochimaru invasion. But this time, there really was nothing left. Just a gaping hole.

He couldn't exactly blame her for being upset, but she could at least spare h is feelings. He's known her since they were born, and she's never been this cruel. He also really wanted to know who the crap she was with. He knew it wasn't with Hinata. She'd told him that she was too quiet for her taste. Shikamaru had never known Ino to be a liar, but he knew her well enough to not share the details. If she were with Team Eight, then she'd probably be with one of the males. She thought Shino was creepy, so it wasn't him. Kiba he thought. He seemed like someone she'd go for. Troublesome.

This was just going to cause problems to live with her for the next few moths, or even years. Her in a relationship was only going to make her moods even worse. And Kiba of all people. Shikamaru thought that Ino went for clean, pretty boys like Sai and Sasuke, not rugged, wild ones. How unsettling. Living with a woman was hard. Especially a troublesome someone as Ino herself.

Shikamaru then heard a rustling noise and the movement of shingles on his roof. A doe-eyed blonde curled up next to him. She didn't meet his eyes as she pouted, "Sorry I lied. And for being a brat."

"Troublesome," he merely muttered. She accepted it as him forgiving her. "How was your time with Kiba?"

Her cheeks reddened, her blue eyes widened as she spoke, "Oh, how did you know?"

"It's not that hard to figure you out," he lied. She could just be simply impossible sometimes.

"Oh. Well, since you asked," she said perking back up again. "Me and Kiba were just having a lovely time sitting and laughing and..."

He pretended to listen. Or rather he pretended to pretend to listen. He was actually listening very intently. This subject of her relationship with Kiba just sparked his interest for some reason.

"Are you listening Shikamaru?" She asked.

"Yeah, yeah." he said nonchalantly.

"Kiba asked me out! I told him I'd think about it! What should I say?"

He didn't know what to say at first. "I'm not the right person you should ask about this kind of thing." He was annoyed for some reason.

"Hey, what's gotten into you? Why are you so mad all of a sudden? Are you tired?"

"Yeah, forget it. I'm tired. Let's go to sleep." He got up and slid into the house as Ino followed silently after him. They both laid down on the mattress.

"Shikamaru, you're not mad because I've been a little... moody lately, right?" Ino asked innocently.

"I'm just tired. Good night Ino," he said facing away from her.

She knew something was up. And she was going to find out one way or another.