#!shikamaru

“So that’s why everyone’s thinking we’re a married couple. Ugh, do you know how many people have given me fertility tips?” Ino shook her head, finally realising why this town was so bizarre.

“Geez... who knew our mission would have us posing as a married couple. Oh well, whatever gets us intel on the feudal lord’s enemies.”

The warmth of the fire that Shikamaru had started was filing away the wintry chill that had settled in her bones. Ino edged closer, warming her hands, as well as the portion of rice she had spooned out. The flames gained more life and danced higher and faster, throwing red and amber patterns across Shikamaru’s face. He could have been Sasuke sitting across from her, a cursed seal parading across his face over sad, weary eyes.

But he was not.

She chewed on her rice, trying not to frown at his evasiveness and deliberated on how best to persuade him to do what- well, what only he could. But how could she make him see? Shikamaru was convinced that the death of all of their friends (at those memories, a lump formed in her throat and eating or swallowing anything became very hard after that point) was his fault. He just did not seem to understand their feelings.

Or perhaps she was not very good at persuading. Ino was bossy and her teammates usually offered zero resistance to her demands. Persuasion was an art Chouji was good at, wheedling extra food on missions, getting Shikamaru motivated for tasks…

However, he was in Kumogakure; therefore the responsibility of making sure Shikamaru achieved his full potential, fell to her.

“I think you would make a good Hokage, you know. You should accept the promotion.” It was best to just get it out there. Hedging around the topic would only tire the pair out further and they would get no closer to solving this issue.

Even if he wanted to run and avoid this topic, the piercing look she fixed him with, made it nigh impossible to just brush it off. She was serious about this conversation and wanted a satisfactory answer. The village was in a terribly fragile state, Tsunade was looking for a replacement and there was no ideal candidate left. Naruto- Poor Naruto - would give up his dreams in shame if Sasuke asked him to – was not ready to become Hokage. He wanted the job… but that was the dream of a young boy. Not a war hero. He needed time to heal (they all did) but Konoha did not have the same luxury as the Kyuubi host. Konoha needed someone with cool logic and the might of his family behind him. Shikamaru… was here.

It was a desperate situation, but Ino didn’t want Shikamaru to agree out of guilt. Shikamaru already knew the facts, now it was just time to think of the obvious conclusion.

The kunoichi knew why this decision was hard for him. Shikamaru may act like he didn’t care most of the time, like everything was too troublesome, but the truth was, he did care. He cared very much. Enough to feel like he was dropping to bits.

She placed her hand over his, trying to comfort and reassure him:

“It’s why I was born after you, Shikamaru… I was born to worry about you. I can’t stop worrying about you or Chouji. I promised Asuma-Sensei. I won’t stop. And you can’t ask me to stop.”

She was Ino and then- not Ino. The ghost of her consciousness slipped seamlessly into the body of another. Nobody could detect the invasion inside their minds when she used her family jutsu.

They had to make sure that their hostages all got away and for the ruse to work, Shikamaru must injure her. She was willing to pay a small price for everyone else to get away.

However, the kunoichi also knew that it went against every single instinct of Shikamaru’s. The young boy who often shouldered on more shinobi responsibility than she- or anyone else- gave him credit for. 

The one who wanted all his team to come out of every mission without a scratch.

Ino could see that he was fighting to come up with an alternative method, another way where they could get out of this situation.

“If you don’t man up, then you doom us all. You have to do this…”

Her expression softened a little, knowing it was harder to be the one making the cut than the one receiving it.

“Nobody will have to know. I know you are charged with protecting my body… but I am not made of glass. I will be fine.”

He blinks at her with mild disinterest a thought pulling his lips into a frown. She was acting way too suspiciously for him to not question her behavior, but more so he’s wondering about her question. What day is it? Who cares? Today was today the same as yeste- oh no. His eyes widen in realization and he curses himself for even daring to leave the house today of all days. Fingers pinch at his nose with a hefty sigh that he doesnt bother to stifle for her sake. “Can we please not do this…”

His aggravation only fueled her desire to continue the long, drawn-out process of wishing her lazy friend a very loud and enthusiastic birthday wish.

“Ayyyee!! We will do it because we’ve been doing it since before I was born!” Ino’s arm wrapped around him, present still held tightly in one hand and she grinned. “HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOUUUU~! MAY ALL YOUR WISHES COME TRUUEEE---!”

“MAY THE HOKAGE BLESS YOU!”

Of course, her singing came from the heart. A bit too much from the heart, especially with how tightly she was hugging him. A thank you, from her side for staying alive for so long.

@stagknight

Blast off!

Past the point of no return,

Loud explosions, engines burn

My heart begins to race!

Wish me luck I’m going up in space!

The medic of the Interceptor was holding out pretty well on a spaceship that was primarily a cargo ship and delivered physical goods and ingredients to other planets. She swore in her video diary that Sakura got the better placement on a grand intergalactic cruise ship, full of royalty from all over space. Whereas she was lumped with these three Earthlings.

“Shikamaruuu,” Ino stomped over to him, a hand on hip and looking rather disgruntled early in their voyage. “Have you seen my hovercam? I can’t find it anywhere…”

She was missing out her news feeds and it was of utmost importance to let her boyfriend know which planet they were headed to next. Just in case he happened to be on a nearby space station. She bit her lip and clicked on a tiny remote’s chip, hoping that the locator may activate the camera and bring it zooming back to her- but no such luck.

“Tch… it might be out of batteries…” Ino sighed, and then, turned to him with accusatory blue eyes, “didn’t you say you’ll install it with a better battery life?”

As lazy as he was, the boy was often good at doing the things he said he would (or at least the things Ino bullied him into doing, anyway).

“Shikamaruuu!?” Ino gasped, delighted and surprised that her lazy team mate, of his own volition, was standing at her doorstep. She pulled the door open wider and invited him inside. But not before giving him a fierce hug.

“COME IN!”

“It’s better if you don’t.”

The boy does nothing - Alesha Dixon

On Mercury - Red Hot Chili Peppers

For your Entertainment - Adam Lambert

Wisemen - James Blunt

Get out Alive - Three Days Grace