Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Sober ❯ Ino's Worry ( Chapter 3 )

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

Chapter Three: Ino's Worry
Shikamaru's eyes lowered sadly as he listened to Ino in the bathroom. She was sick...very sick. He wondered if it had anything to do with her medication or Choji's cooking. "Oh God!" she cried hoarsely from inside.
He pulled his courage together and opened the door. She was hunched over the toilet, sobbing. She began to throw up again, desperately trying to wad her hair back. Shikamaru took her ponytail clip from the counter and took her blonde locks into his hands. She gratefully let him put it up for her as she spit out the last of what was her breakfast. She flushed it and shivered from the fatigue.
"I am allowed to help, right?" he asked. She turned towards him, and he pressed a cool, damp cloth to her mouth. Her eyes softened as she nodded slightly. He smiled, "good."
She put her hands on his shoulders and cried harder as he removed the cloth. "Shikamaru!" she cried loudly.
He pulled her into his arms again, "what, Ino? What are you so upset about?"
"I don't feel good!" she cried, actually lied.
"I'm going to take you back to bed," he told her, picking her up. He carried her out of the bathroom, "you don't have to cry anymore, okay?"
"You hate seeing me crying," she whispered, hugging his neck.
He nodded, laying her down, "I do hate it. I wish I could make you feel better." He sat with her and brushed her bangs to the side lightly. She wiped her tears again. "Could I guess?" he asked. She opened her mouth, but he cut her off, "is something medically wrong with you?"
She frowned, "well..."
"Is it serious?"
"Yes."
"To your health?"
"No," she mumbled.
"So, you're not...dying or anything."
"No."
"Then what could Tsunade tell you to make you so upset?" he asked impatiently.
She looked away, "please, just don't ask anymore."
"But I want to know. I want to help. How many times must I explain? Are you trying to push me away?" he asked.
"Yes! Yes, I am trying to push you away!" she snapped.
"Liar," he murmured angrily. "Tell me the truth."
"No!" she cried. "Stop asking!"
He sighed, standing. He slipped his hands in his pockets, "fine."
"I love you to death, but I don't want your help," she told him truthfully. "I swear that I'm not making that up. I appreciate it, but I can handle this."
"I know," he sighed. He smiled, "you're strong. You'll be able to get through it then?"
She nodded, "maybe." Her eyes closed, thinking of the problem. She would never be able to handle this on her own. She needed his help, but she was so ashamed.

"I hate you so much!" he screamed. "How could you keep this from me?"
Ino fell to her knees, "I'm sorry, Shikamaru! I thought I was doing the right thing!"
"You're nothing but a whore!" he told her angrily.
She held her head, "no! I'm not! It was only you! No one else!"
"I hate you, Ino!"
"Please! I didn't know what to do! I'm sorry!"
"You are just a plaything for everyone. You are so pathetic! And you'll just go out to do it again!"
She screamed sadly, "no! No! I'm not! I'm good! I'm not easy! Please, it was only with you, Shikamaru."
"I don't believe you!" he snapped, backing away. "I never want to speak to you again!"
"No! I need you! I have this big mess. I have to have your help."
"Yeah right. I thought you were a kunoichi." He frowned even more, "you've turned out to be just a....slut."
"No!" Ino cried, sitting up in bed. She panted, wiping the sweat from her brow. It was only another nightmare. She looked around quickly, "Sh-Shikamaru..."
"Over here," he said from his shogi set. He looked a little worried, "you okay?"
She looked at him and shook her head, "n...n-n....." She nodded quickly, "yes, I'm fine."
"You're not," he said quietly. "Need something?"
She sighed, laying back down, "no. I'm just going to sleep a little longer."
He nodded, "okay. I'll be right here."

Yoshino sighed as she entered the Yamanaka flower shop. She had promised Mrs. Yamanaka that she would water the flowers everyday. After soaking every green stem, maybe a little too much, she entered the home connected to the shop. She walked up stairs to Ino's room. She gathered clothes and Ino's toothbrush, hairbrush, and shampoo. She sighed again, "poor girl. I wish there was something else I could do other than this." She folded Ino's robe and accidentally knocked the brush off of the bed. "Oh, whoops," she mumbled.
She reached down to get it, but something caught her eyes. The bottom drawer of Ino's dresser was open a little. She became curious of the visible object inside. "Is that a..." she opened the drawer and took out a small box. "It is!" she gasped. She opened it, and her eyes widened as she read the item it contained. "Oh, my God," she breathed.

"Hey, you two!" Choji laughed, walking into the apartment. "Feeling better?" he asked, seeing Ino on the couch wrapped in a blanket. Shikamaru was right beside her.
She nodded, "I guess."
He smirked, "how about ribs tonight? I'll go get them-"
"NO!" Yoshino snapped, walking in.
They all looked at her surprisingly.
Shikamaru groaned, "Mom...this my apartment, and you promised that I could live in it like I wanted, which meant you wouldn't come here to nag-"
Yoshino set the napsack by the couch, "there are your clothes, dear." She totally ignored him.
"Thank you, Mrs. Nara," she said thankfully.
Yoshino sat with them and grinned at Ino. Shikamaru blinked, "what's with the....happy?"
His mother shook her head, "just happy for you two. I can't believe it."
"Believe what?" Shikamaru asked.
Ino realized that she knew her secret. She had to think fast to keep it hush-hush. She interrupted, "us! She's happy about us getting back together." She looked at Yoshino hopefully.
The older woman lost her smile and nodded, "oh...yes. Of course, I'm so glad you both are together again."
"We are?" Shikamaru asked. "Ino?"
She nodded, "don't you want that?"
He nodded, "yeah, but-"
"Enough!" Yoshino snapped. "Shikamaru, you should be caring and comforting Ino all you can. She's having a difficult time."
"I know," he said in the same tone. "She was injured pretty badly."
"Uh, Mrs. Nara," Choji mumbled. "Why can't we have ribs?"
"Ino and the..." she started. She sweated a little, "uh, she can't have spicy food in her condiction. She needs something mild."
Ino blushed, "I do?"
"I'll make her some soup," Yoshino said, standing.
"Here?" Shikamaru asked.
"Shape up!" she shouted. "You have alot of responsibilty now! I wouldn't be arguing if I were you."
He smirked at his mother as if trying to tease her, "it's no trouble taking care of Ino. She's easy to please for me."
"Good, I'll get started," Yoshino said. "Shikamaru, why don't you and Choji eat out?"
He frowned, "but-"
"Eat out!" she snapped.
He jumped up, "yes ma'am!"
Ino hugged herself as he and Choji left quickly. She glanced at Yoshino, who had sat down again. "Mrs. Na-" she started.
"Just Yoshino," she said with a smile.
"Do you know?" she asked.
"Yes, I do," the older woman said. "But, you'll be okay."
"It is Shikamaru's," Ino told her sadly.
"I guessed so. When do you plan to tell him?"
"I'm going to get rid of it."
Yoshino gasped, "get rid of it?! You can't!"
"It's my body, Mrs. Yoshino."
"But, you-"
"I'm not ready for a baby yet."
"You have to tell him, Ino. He has the right to know," she tried.
Ino shook her head, "I know, but I've been having these dreams that I do tell him, and he...he calls me..."
"It's not all your fault," Yoshino told her. "And Shikamaru is not going to call you any bad names. He's not going to be angry."
"How do you know?"
"How do you not?"
Ino frowned, "maybe I am just making excuses."
"Yes, but don't worry about it. I understand what you're going through. Having a the baby is going to seem easier than actually developing it."
"I'm not going to have it," Ino whimpered. "I don't want to."
"That's fear in you, Ino."
"I know..."
"I'm sure that Shikamaru will want it."
"What?" Ino asked, looking at her.
Yoshino nodded, "trust me."
Ino sighed, hanging her head again, "I'll think about it."
Yoshino rubbed her back, "do you want the soup?"
Ino smiled sightly, "yes, please."

Shikamaru pushed the drink away, "I am not doing that again!"
Shikaku sighed, drinking it himself, "you're such a drag."
"What are the odds that Shikaku is here, too?" Choji thought.
"What are you doing here?" Shikamaru asked.
"As you know," Shikaku sighed, "Yoshino is at your apartment; she didn't make anything for me at home."
"That's too bad," Choji chuckled. "And don't you have a mission tomorrow?"
Shikaku smirked, "yeah. Oh and Shikamaru?"
He sighed, "what?"
"You have to be at the academy tomorrow at eight."
"What?!" Shikamaru snapped. "I can't teach little brats now! Ino needs me at home!"
"Your mother will check on her," he said. "But really, Ino needs a substitue. I told Tsunade that you would be happy to do it, knowing how much you love children."
"I do NOT love children!" Shikamaru told him angrily.
"Bullshit!" Choji coughed smoothly.
Shikamaru got up, "you two are such a troublesome drag! I'm going home!"
Shikaku sighed, "see ya."
Choji huffed, "I'll eat with you, I guess."
Shikaku laughed lightly, "you can tell me about your girlfriend."
"I don't have a girlfriend, Mr. Nara!"