Never Knew I Needed

Summary: Maybe they shouldn't be drinking so much but then again maybe just one night wouldn't be so wrong. Right? What's the worst that can happen? She's always needed him, she just never knew it. That is until now. He thought he always had everything figured out. That is until he gets the biggest shock of his life. What do you do when you're in a situation like this with the one person you love, and you don't want them to think that that's the only reason?

Pairing: ShikaIno

Disclaimer: I don't Naruto or else things would be so different in the Manga right now. Like For real I am so serious about that. Lol Masashi Kishimoto owns it not me.

Chapter 1: So Far Away

Ino was in her room getting ready for the celebration tonight. She had to have the perfect outfit and look her best tonight. Tonight he couldn't run from her he had to talk to her. Right? He couldn't ignore her in front of all of their friends… Would he? Of course not, it's Shikamaru he would never ignore her, he grew up with her. They've been friends since they were kids, since the day they were born. The reason that they haven't really spoken much lately is just because they've both been extremely busy…Right? Well that's what she keeps telling herself. But she'll settle everything today.

She looked at her clock on the opposite side it read 5:30, she was suppose to meet everyone up at 7 o'clock to celebrate. Everyone in the Konoha 11 was going to meet up at Hideyoshi's. Hideyoshi's a new bar that opened up not to long ago, it's mostly known as a shinobi bar. Everyone was going to celebrate the fact that some of their teammates and friends were now going to be a Jonin sensei. Out of all the many friends of hers that were being promoted Shikamaru was the one she really wanted to celebrate for. Sure they may not really be talking that much now, but its not as if they weren't still best friends, she was happy for him she always knew he had it in him.

'When he gets off his lazy ass he's a real genius.' She thought to herself fondly with a small smile plastered among her face, without her knowledge.

With only an hour and a half to get ready she quickly went to take a shower. After her shower Ino went through her closet for the perfect outfit, She found one that fit her taste, a short, sleeveless, black dress that stopped mid-thigh. She looked towards the clock and saw she had about forty minutes before she had to leave so she decided she'd do her hair and make up. When she was finished she had light purple and gray eye shadow, black mascara, black eyeliner, and pink lipstick. She went to inspect herself in the mirror she deducted that she looked good enough for the night. Ino quickly glanced at the clock on her wall and saw she had 20 minutes left. Knowing it would take about 15 minutes to the bar she decided to leave then. As she was walking out she caught her father's eye.

"Ino, where are you going? It's getting late out." Inochi said with a hint of worry.

"I'm just going out with a few friends dad. Don't worry I'll be back later we're jus celebrating." She replied to her father so nonchalantly.

"Hmm. Be careful, I know how crazy young shinobi's celebrating can get." He looked off and had a far away look and chucked to himself as if remember a far off memory.

"Okay daddy. I'll be careful. Now can I go, I'm expected there in about 15 minutes."

"Oh yes. Go on Ino."

"Bye dad."

"Bye Ino."

As she walked Ino thought about all the crazy things that have been happening and that might happen in the near future. Sakura had told her of what's been going on with her and Naruto lately. Kiba had actually managed to get the courage to ask out Hinata and she said yes. Tenten and Neji finally stopped hiding their relationship from everyone. All of her friends were moving on with their lives so fast and they were all only 17 and 18! Having the life of a shinobi really made you mature and value the little things in life that might not be there the next day. Everyone that doesn't really know how she is, all said that while all her friends were finding someone to be with she'll be alone. That she'll never find anyone that fits her taste and when she does find someone that fits her taste she wont fit their taste, that she was a stuck up shallow little girl. They all said these things without even knowing what were actually her standards are for what she was looking for in someone She knows the faces of everyone that's ever said she's alone.. All Ino really wanted was a guy that will respect her, love her as much as she loves him, understand her profession, and didn't really mind all the small little crazy things about her. She wants someone that'll understand her as much as Kiba, Naruto, and Neji understand her friends. She doesn't know who it'll be but she knows that maybe if she's lucky she just might find him. But to her, as she's watching almost all of her friends find that someone, it all just seems so far away to her. Like a distant dream, someone who she can grow old with and start a family with. The only guys that have ever really shown some form of respect to her are Naruto, Neji, Choji, and Shikamaru. But most of them are already in a relationship. Not that she'd go for either Naruto or Neji, Naruto's just to hyper and Neji's just to emotionless. She thinks that Choji is secretly with some girl who's family own a local restaurant, and she personally thinks that Shikamaru may be having a fling with that one sand kunoichi that's always coming to town. Just thinking that maybe just maybe Shikamaru is with that woman she get gets this small ache in the pit of her chest and starts to feel a little sick.

'Why does this always happen when I think about him with her?'

As she gets closer to the bar she has a sinking feeling, and second thoughts appear. 'What am I even doing here? They can all celebrate without me. What if he still ignores me? Why do I even care if we stop talking anyway?' She knows why it bothers her so much but she prefers to act like she doesn't in hopes that it's not true. She's about to turn back when she hears Sakura call out to her from Hideyoshi's.

"Ino where over here come on in!" Ino has a small smile at hearing her best friend call out to her.

"Yea, yea okay. I'm coming!" She yells back in a teasing voice.

When she got inside the bar she saw just about everyone from their small group of friends. She saw that Neji and TenTen where already leaving.

"Neji! TenTen! Where are you guys going I just got here you guys can't be leaving already."

"Oh, well you see its already getting late. And Neji and I have a meeting with the Hyuga clan early tomorrow." TenTen said in an apologetic voice.

Ino looks up towards the sky to see that the sky is dark looking, almost as if it were 8 or maybe even 9 at night.

"What time is it?" Ino suddenly asks.

"It's half past 9." Neji states calmly.

"Oh, okay. Oh uhm I'm sorry that I came so late and we didn't get a chance to catch up."

"No its okay Ino. We'll just catch up at another time." TenTen says to reassure Ino.

Ino watches them walk away from the bar. And walks towards the bat, wondering just how long she spent daydreaming to herself earlier.

As soon as she got in the bar she could hear the noise of drunken shinobi in every part of the bar. By this time next week he will have been assigned a Genin team of his own to teach and lead, she thinks to herself wondering, if she would ever have a team of her own to and also where was that good for nothing lazy guy at.

A/N: This is my first story. If you have any questions don't be afraid to PM me. I won't be able to update as fast as I would like, so let me just say sorry beforehand.