Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto nor do I own the picture used. The picture is a work from the person known as Annalizz. Check out her deviant art, it's great!

The gust of wind blew causing leaves of green and strands of my blonde hair to obstruct my view. It was a comforting wind that caused a small smile to form on my lips. Today was one of those days where I needed a boost from a man who has been a second father figure to me. In the cemetery, there were genin cleaning the graves and families and other civilians visiting the graves of loved ones. I walked to the all too familiar grave releasing a breath of air. I placed down the flowers I had brought and knelt down to the grave. It had been six months post-Asuma. It had also been ten months post-Gaara. For some reason, the red head came across my mind and I needed to talk to someone about it.

"Sensei." I sighed as I stared at his grave in front of me. "It's been ten months today since we left Suna. And to this day, he still pops up in my mind. I don't know what to do."

I heard a few giggles as a group of children ran by, I looked up to smile at them to my left. One little girl stopped and waved and I waved back weakily. Another gust blew by with the rays of the sun causing me to squint.

"You said not to lose in love or ninjutsu to Sakura." I mumbled, tenderly running a finger on the engraved letters. "How, sensei? How?"

My voice came out weak and I looked down at the bouquet.

"She can cause an earthquake." A smile of pity formed on my face. "I can create a bouquet of flowers."

"She can heal anyone better than I can," I mumbled, frowning at the ground. "Yet, I can control the minds of many. But, she controls the hearts of all."

I could feel tears forming and I looked around quickly to see if anyone was nearby. The closest family stood many rows away.

"Listen to me. I'm ranting on and on about useless stuff." I smiled as I traced the letters once more. "I may beat her in ninjutsu, but in love that's something I don't think I can manage. How am I supposed to beat her?"

My lips began to quiver and I squinted at the grave to try and keep the tears down.

"How?"

"Being here won't help you." I heard a familiar mumble and I looked over my shoulder. Shikamaru stood above me, looking down. I gave him a soft smile, before turning away to wipe my face.

"Shikamaru." My voice came out hoarse and I cleared my throat.

"Morning, Ino." He nodded.

"What are you doing here?" My voice came out a little more harsh than I expected but damn it, you don't just sneak up on people like that!

"Lady Tsunade has a mission for you, Choji and I. When you weren't at the flower shop, I assumed you'd be here." He mumbled while sticking his hands in his pockets. I got up from my kneeling position and brushed the dirt off my knees.

"What's it about?" I asked and he shrugged his shoulders before returning them to a slouch.

"She didn't say yet. I assume it's something to do with the diplomats visiting the area soon." He mumbled and looking off towards the sky. I followed his line of vision to see him staring at a cloud.

"Alright, let's go then." I spoke loudly while walking off towards the Hokage's tower.

As we walked towards the tower, I kept taking glances towards Shikamaru. A smile formed on my lips deceiving the small anger I felt towards him. Our team has grown closer than ever, especially after that one night. Sometimes that tension forms again but neither of us have acted on it. I was too afraid to in fear of him rejecting me again. Besides that everything was well, except for when Temari visited the village last month. He seemed to stick only to her and was avoiding us. I couldn't understand why. I walked around them once and when I waved, he quickly took her into a seperate direction. I was ready to bitch at him, but I didn't want to do it in front of her. When she left, he came back around as if nothing happened so I forgave him; after giving him a good punch.

"You're awfully quiet." Shikamaru broke my train of thoughts and I looked at him with a smirk.

"I thought you'd like that better." He smirked back before sighing.

"Yeah, but when you're quiet, you tend to over think a lot of things. Then I somehow get dragged into it and that all becomes troublesome." He mumbled and I rolled my eyes at him.

"Shikamaru, if I talk too much I'm 'troublesome', when I'm not talking I'm 'troublesome'. I don't get you." I stated while attempting to mimic his voice.

"You're just a troublesome woman. No matter what you do." He mumbled with a sigh. "And I don't sound like that."

"To me you do." I smiled when he gave me a glare. "Yet, you always hang around me, why is that?" I looked at him through squinted eyes and a smirk on my face. He flinched a bit then he opened his mouth to talk.

"Maybe 'cause I-"

"Ino! Shikamaru!" Choji greeted enthusiastically while munching on chips. Shikamaru gave a sigh of relief and I shot him a quick glare. I wonder what he was going to say? I looked up and saw the entrance to the building. Jeez, we got here so fast.

"Hey, Choji!" I smiled and Shikamaru gave a nod.

We made our way to Lady Tsunade's room and I couldn't help but smile. We were silent but it was a comforting silence. Having a mission with all three of us was just beyond wonderful. We may not have Asuma, but we still preferred the three of us together. I looked towards them and they looked back. Choji was openly smiling with a crinkle in his eye. Shikamaru gave a slight lift of his mouth but that was all I needed. I knew they were feeling the same way. I tried to hold some trainings days a few times a week and a weekly dinner so we could all be together. I even found myself hanging out with them whenever we have our off days. Things between us have just gotten so much better. It helped me forget about all the bad.

Shikamaru walked in through the door and Lady Tsunade and Shizune smiled.

"Right on time." She greeted.

"My lady." I greeted to her with a brief nod. I stood in the middle of Choji and Shikamaru. Shikamaru stood to my left and Choji to my right.

"I have a mission for you guys that will be held here. It's a guide mission." She spoke calmly. She had the file in front of her on the desk. "As you know, we have some very important meetings coming up and I have some diplomats coming from different countries. A certain group is coming from Suna and you guys will be their guides and guards throughout their stay."

Oh no, Suna? My eyes widened at the sudden panic of possibly seeing Gaara again.

"This is big since the Kazekage himself will be present."

Oh kami, I'm done for. I felt tears of anger coming, but I tried to dismiss them. I succeeded, surprisingly.

"His two siblings will join him and each of you will be guiding them. Shikamaru, you are Temari's guide."

"Of course." He sighed. One down.

"Choji, you will watch after Kankuro."

Choji looked at her with a "hn" then a brief nod. That's two. Oh kami. I gulped loudly. My mouth and throat suddenly felt dry. The room started to feel fuzzy to me as well.

"Ino." I snapped out of my haze and looked at Lady Tsunade. "You are in charge of guiding and guarding the Kazekage."

Oh kami. I squeezed my eyes tight to fight back tears. I nodded slightly.

"Let me guide the Kazekage." Shikamaru jumped in. I looked at him and he looked at me briefly before returning his gaze to Tsunade. Kami, thank goodness for him.

"No." Her voice was stern. Shikamaru and I flinched. "These are the people I have assigned you. This is your mission. Understood?" She laid her hand on the desk with a loud thud and we nodded nervously to her. Kami, kill me now. "They will arrive tomorrow morning, be at the gate by eight."

"Thank you." Shikamaru murmured as we turned to exit her room.

"Ino, I want you to stay." I heard Tsunade speak and I suddenly became pale. Why me? Once Shikamaru and Choji exited the room, I turned to face her.

"Yes, my lady?" I tried to cover my worry. Her face became very stern and she pulled up the file.

"You were chosen by the Kazekage himself to guide him. He is also putting in extra pay for this. Don't mess it up. He wouldn't have chosen you if he had any doubt in you."

The words hit me like rocks and I tried to sink them in. He chose me? That bastard. I don't understand. He wants to obviously stay clear of me, so why would he want me to guide him? Maybe he just misses the sex. I rolled my eyes inwardly. Like he's getting any after the show he put on.

"Ino." I snapped out of my thoughts to look at Lady Tsunade. "I know something happened. You've been distracted in your work ever since you returned from Suna. Only recently after Asuma's death, have you returned to your usual self. I don't know if it's to do with him or what, but you are a kunoichi. Don't let your emotions get involved in your work, understood?" She looked at me harshly and I could see Shizune frown.

"Yes, my lady." I murmured with a nod. Have I been that affected from his rejection? I even neglected my kunoichi duties. I suddenly felt angry, very angry at him. If only I never had to go there. I would be fine as I was before.

"You are dismissed." She waved her hand and pushed the file towards me. I took it and I bowed once before exiting the room. When I walked out, Shikamaru still stood there waiting for me.

"What was that all about?" He raised an eyebrow at me.

"Apparently, Gaara chose to have me as his guide." I mumbled as we made our way towards the exit.

"Why?" Shikamaru tried to sound uninterested, but I knew he was.

"I don't know, but he put in a large sum of money for it." I mumbled again with a sound of annoyance in my tone.

"He's up to something. Don't let him get to you, Ino." Shikamaru cautioned and I looked at him then back to the floor.

"I don't know how I'm going to be able to look at him, Shikamaru." I whispered as I tried to keep the tears down.

"Ino, you need to get over him. This isn't you. You're always crying when you think of him or you're sad a lot. It's all such a drag-"

"-I might end up punching him in the balls." I added and Shikamaru stopped to smirk at me, I returned a smile.

"Look are you okay, or do I need to come inside with you?" He sighed and I looked up to see the flower shop. Wow, I didn't even notice we stopped walking. He's right, my thoughts really do drown me out.

"I'll be fine. I'll see you, bright and early! Don't be late, Shikamaru." I playfully hissed at him and he gave a big sigh.

"I won't." He began to walk off as he waved his hand lazily back at me. "This is going to be one troublesome mission." He stated and I couldn't help but giggle. Same old lazy ass.

"Isn't every mission to you?" I shouted back and I could hear him chuckle lightly. He didn't respond though and I sighed softly. He was right though. This week long mission is going to be hell.

W

Well, there you guys go. Here starts the new book and I hope you guys enjoy it! I will update sometime next week probably on Tuesday.