"He's awake, honey." The old woman called while changing cloths on Shikamaru's forehead. Shikamaru groaned as he tried to move. "Don't move." the old woman said holding his arms down. "Your too injured."

"Shikamaru!" Ino screamed coming down the stairs and running to him. "Oh im so glad your alright!"

"Where am I?" Shikamaru asked. He noticed Ino had bandages on her and he noticed a big bruise on her forehead.

"Your in the farm house. This woman was nice enough to treat you!" Ino explained.

"Well anything for the people who will get rid of those bandits." she said.

"Actually, there was a ninja there with them. He was actually very skilled in fighting." Shikamaru mumbled. "Thats why we're like this."

"Oh my, a ninja? I'm so sorry, dears. I should have known." the old lady apologized.

"Its okay. We're just glad that nobody was killed." Ino said. "Even if we were beaten up."

"I'm sorry. I'll pay extra for the mission. I am very sorry. Let me make it up to you. I have made some amazing ramen in the kitchen. Let me go get you some." the old lady said standing up.

"Thank you." Ino said sitting down next to Shikamaru. The old woman left towards the kitchen and Ino looked at Shikamaru. "Why did you do that? Why did you get in the way?" she asked.

"I don't ever want to let a comrade down again. I couldn't let him hurt you. Even if it killed me. I wasn't going to have a repeat of the Sasuke mission." he said.

"Shikamaru..." Ino said. "Thank you."

"Heh." Shikamaru said. "I'll always protect you. Hold me to it."

Ino felt tears in her eyes as she wiped them away.

"Okay."

Shikamaru's wounds had begun healing and they weren't that deep. So he was able to walk around by the afternoon. Of course taking it easy, he still had Ino at his side. She volunteered to get him things and help him walk. He just laughed at her and said "Ino im fine." every time. Still. She was worried.

That night, the old woman and man had two spare rooms that they let the two of them sleep in. Shikamaru fell asleep instantly, while Ino laid awake, thinking about Shikamaru. She couldn't sleep at all. She got up and walked down to Shikamaru's room. She sighed and cracked open the door.

"Shikamaru..." Ino whispered in the dark, slowly opening his door. Shikamaru was asleep, but he heard her and opened his eyes slowly. He groaned as he sat up from his pillow.

"Ino...? Ino you okay?" he asked in a drowsy voice.

"Yeah im fine...its just..." Ino began. She blushed because she thought of herself as foolish. Like a little kid.

"Just what?" Shikamaru asked looking at her and rubbing his eyes.

"Your gonna think this is pretty stupid."

"Well lets hear it." he said yawning.

"There's a tree outside my window. Its creepy looking and it keeps scratching up against my window...and the wind is blowing real hard..." she lied.

Shikamaru's eyes grew wide. "Your telling me your scared?"

Ino blushed and grabbed her left arm. She stood there biting her lip. She nodded slowly. Shikamaru laughed.

"Wow, Ino. How in the world did you ever get past the academy? You're a ninja!"

"I know its just...well, can I just sleep in here with you? I'll sleep on the floor..."

"No you won't. Im lazy but im a gentlemen. You can sleep with me, there's room. And if there isn't, I'll sleep on the floor. Its not a big deal." Shikamaru said laying back down. He put his hands behind his head and laid on the pillow.

Ino walked to the bed and crawled over Shikamaru, putting herself between him and the wall. Shikamaru scooted over to help make room and covered her with some of his blankets. Shikamaru looked at her and laughed.

"Your just like a child." he whispered.

Ino blushed but smiled.

"Shut up, I've always been afraid of creepy trees at night. I've always been that way." she lied again.

"I guess its just a girl thing." Shikamaru said laughing. Then he closed his eyes and sighed.

Ino moved around, trying to get comfortable, until he looked at her. She looked at him and sighed.

"Sorry. Trying to make room."

"Is that a fat joke?" Shikamaru laughed. Ino laughed too.

"No. Im just...uncomfortable."

"Well scoot over here." Shikamaru said taking his hand and wrapping it around her arm. He pulled her to him and she laid her head on his chest and wrapped her other arm around him. "Better?"

"Yeah...your really comfortable, Shikamaru." Ino said smiling. Shikamaru blushed a little and giggled.

"Another fat joke."

"Shikamaru?"

"Yeah?"

"I'm glad we're on the same team." she said. "Your like...my best friend."

"Me too. You're my best girl friend, Ino." Shikamaru said. Ino scooted closer to him and her foot accidently brushed on his leg. Shikamaru gasped. "Wow Ino, your feet are really cold."

"Oh, yeah. I forgot to pack my socks. I get really cold at night."

"Well, my legs are pretty warm. Tuck them under there if you want." he said looking at Ino.

Ino looked back into his dark eyes. His eyes looked different than they usually did...they were like bedroom eyes. Ino nodded and tucked her feet under his legs.

Shikamaru sighed and closed his eyes. Ino moved her face closer to his and watched him.

"Shikamaru?"

"Hmm?"

"Just seeing if you were still awake." Ino said smiling. Shikamaru opened his eyes and looked into Ino's big, pale blue eyes. He smiled.

"You want me to go to sleep?"

"No...I want you to stay awake." Ino said blushing and smiling.

Shikamaru took his other hand and laid it on Ino's. Ino linked her fingers with his and they locked eyes. Ino leaned in his face until they were inches apart. He could feel Ino's slow, calm breathing on his lips. He pushed a strand of hair out of her eyes and laid his hand on her face. She leaned up a little to where she was on her elbows and closed her eyes. Shikamaru closed his eyes too and with one movement together, they were kissing.

Ino crawled on top of Shikamaru and kissed him. Shikamaru slid his hand under her shirt and began rubbing the small of her back, and placed one hand on her bottom. Ino held one of her hands on his face and the other one was behind his head, pulling him closer to her.

They were now kissing passionately. Shikamaru managed to roll her over, so he was on top. He stopped kissing her, and began kissing her neck. She wrapped her legs around his waist and sighed. He kissed her neck, and slid down to her collarbone. He began to go down towards her breast but Ino flinched. He stopped immediately and looked at her.

"I'm sorry." he whispered moving off of her. She grabbed his shirt.

"No...its okay. Don't go." she said. "I don't want to go too far...but I still want you."

"Whatever is comfortable for you." Shikamaru said kissing her gently. Ino smiled when he leaned away. He smiled too. "What's the big smile about?"

"I've had a crush on you for a while..." she said blushing again.

"I thought you liked Sasuke." Shikamaru said pushing some hair out of her eyes.

"I used to. But when we started going on missions and stuff, I kind of developed a little crush..." she said grabbing him by his shirt collar and pulling him to her. She kissed him gently and leaned away. She looked at him with her puppy dog eyes and he kissed her neck once.

"Its like three in the morning." he whispered on her neck. "We should really get to sleep."

"Hmm...your right." she whispered in his ear. "But I think im still a little scared."

"Heh." he whispered in his cool tone of voice. "Your such a child."

Shikamaru rolled off of Ino and laid sideways next to her. She laid sideways too and he wrapped his arm around her stomach and pulled her close. He kissed her cheek and laid his head on her shoulder.

"Goodnight, Shikamaru."

"Goodnight, Ino."