Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Sober ❯ Truce ( Chapter 2 )

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]

Chapter Two: Truce
Ino stared at her glass of water sadly. She was feeling horrible; her head hurt, her chest wound ached, and she was cold. She shivered, "this apartment is so cold!" She shut her eyes and bit her lip. She was about to call for Shikamaru, but a blanket was drapped over her shoulders. Her eyes snapped open.
"Better?" Shikamaru asked, taking her water.
She frowned, "how did you get here so quick?"
He scowled, "does it matter? Do you need anything else?"
She shot him a glare, "I'm still mad at you." His eyes softened as he sat on the bed with her. She blushed as he gazed at her. She hoped that he would just leave her alone. "Please, don't say anything to me!" she thought.
"I'm sorry," he mumbled.
She cringed as her headache thickened, "don't."
He frowned, "so, do you need anything else?"
She shook her head and laid down, "no..."
He stared at her, "why don't you believe me?"
"Shikamaru, you hooked up with some random girl!" she snapped.
"I was drunk!" he shot back. "How many times do I have to tell you that?"
"You were drunk on my birthday," she said angrily. "I spent all day with you the day before! You didn't even give me a present..."
"But I was going to give you something."
"Bullshit," she mumbled.
"I'll prove it," he said, getting up.
She watched as he opened and searched each of the drawers in his dresser. He groaned and looked underneath the furniture. All of this took about five minutes, and he still looked under the end table and bed. He stood again and stepped to his desk, lifting the papers and books.
Ino sighed, "I don't want it anyway."
"No," he said quickly. "I had it in this room."
"I don't want it!" she snapped.
"Yes, you do."
"No, I don't!"
He turned to face her, "please, I'm trying to-"
"You're trying to get off easily," she interrupted.
He lowered his eyes, "Ino..."
She frowned, "you're not even trying to talk to me."
He sighed, sitting down by her. He reached forward and pulled the collar of her shirt over. Her bandages were bloody. He noticed that she was blushing. He almost cracked a smile, but he was a little down for it. "What?" he asked, keeping his calm expression.
She sat up easily and took his face into her hands. She pressed her lips to his and deepened their kiss as it progressed. He supported her sitting position by putting his hand on her back carefully.
"Ah!" she cringed, pulling away.
"What hurts the most?" he asked, reaching for the wound in her chest.
She stopped his hand and shook her head, "don't; I'm fine."
He kissed her cheek, "lie down. I'll be back to check on you in a minute."
She nodded and did as requested. "Shikamaru?"
He looked at her, "yes?"
"I...still love you."
He smiled, "I love you, too."
She rolled over in his bed and closed her eyes.
He walked out and to the living room. He noticed Choji eating on the couch. He sat with him, "hey."
"Is she okay? I heard a yelp," Choji muffled over his full mouth.
Shikamaru frowned sadly, "something isn't right, Choji. Something is going on with her."
"Well," Choji hummed.
"What? What is it?" Shikamaru asked eagerly.
"She heard something from Tsunade two weeks ago," he told him. "When we were on our missions."
"And?"
"I don't know what it was. Sakura wouldn't tell me. She only teased me with that information."
"Is it bad?"
"I would think so. I heard from Kurenai-sensei that she saw Ino wailing in the bathroom afterwards."
Shikamaru stood again, "I'm going to bed... Maybe I can get her to tell me tomorrow."
"Good luck. I'm going to be up early; so, if I'm not here after nine, you'll know," he said.
Shikamaru nodded, "sure thing." He walked back into his room and took off his shoes. He stepped to the bed and saw that Ino was crying quietly to herself; she hadn't even noticed that he was right behind her. He frowned, getting into bed. She stiffened, afraid that he was going to ask. But, he didn't. He threaded his arms around her and pulled her into an embrace.
More tears streaked down her face as she put her hand over one of his. He pulled hers up and kissed it, "I love you."
She choked out another sob to cry a little harder, and he silently kissed her cheek gingerly. She smiled sadly, "I l-love you, too....Shika-kun."

Shikamaru kissed Ino's forehead as he awoke beside her, "morning."
She scowled, "some morning. It's twelve-something now." She had awoken an hour ago and watched him sleep the day away helplessly.
He frowned, "Ino, could I ask a serious question while when we're alone?"
She looked away nervously, "what question?"
"I heard that Tsunade gave you some news...bad news?" he asked cautiously.
"None of your business!" she snapped.
"I could help," he started.
"Good, my bandages need changing," she said as her voice broke.
He sighed, taking fresh ones from the end table. Of course they were in reach, like he, of all people, keep them in the bathroom. Of course not, he would have to walk to get them, and nothing mattered more than being by her side at all times.
Ino pulled off her shirt slowly. Shikamaru blushed madly and stared motionless. Ino noticed this and hid her breast with her hands quickly, "hello!"
He blinked, taking off her dirty ones. "I'm just stunned," he murmured.
"At what? You've seen them like a hundred times," she said bitterly.
"Twenty-four," he said quickly.
"Huh?"
"Twenty-four times," he corrected.
She flushed even more, "you count? How could you?!"
"Well, I really remember everytime," he told her. He pulled her left hand down to rub on the medication over the stitches. She breathed deeply as his cool hand ran over her warmer skin. He then place the bandage over it and taped it still. "There," he said softly.
She leaned her head on his shoulder, "Shikamaru..."
He frowned, trying to avert his urge to touch her exposed upper area, "what's really wrong, Ino? You can tell me."
She shook her head, "I don't think so. You're so....so..."
"I'm ninteen," he told her.
"I know...but," she sighed.
"You don't think I can handle it?" he asked.
"I'm just ashamed," she told him sadly.
"Don't be, Ino," he murmured. "I'm here for-"
"I don't want to tell you!" she cried angrily.
He shut his mouth and sighed a bit. He then took her into embrace as she cried more.