Random short story that I didn't spend too much time on. From now on, whenever I'm in a mood for some random Shikaino fic, It'll probably be posted as part of this collection. I think the tenses are a bit confused in this fic but I don't think it's a real problem because its supposed to be Ino's crazy ranting and spoken English is rarely proper. That and writing is my weak point.
Title: Games We Play
Ino POV
As a child, I thought that if I screamed loud enough, cried long enough, and/or looked pitiful enough, I could get anything I desired. It was a tried-and-true belief. I generally almost always got what I wanted from my parents. Once in a while mom would get into her disciplinarian mood and be unyielding to my wishes, but I knew I could always get dad to crack by allowing my eyes to swim with tears as I gaze forlornly at him with doe-like eyes.
As a teen, I thought that if I was conniving enough, dressed sexy enough, and/or carried a tirade long enough, I could get anything I desired. It was a tried-and-true belief. I generally almost always got what I wanted from those around me. With a wink and a nudge, I could get boys my age to do my chores for me or buy for me what I couldn't afford myself. And with my endless diatribes, I often irritated Asuma-sensei into compromising with me, the course of Team Ten's training when I was in too lazy a mood to do hard physical work.
Nowadays as an adult, I believe that if I were motivated enough, hardworking enough, and dedicated enough to my duties, I can get all that is desirable in one's life. True to my calculations, meticulously written up reports and deftly carried out missions guaranteed my ascension up the totem pole of ninja hierarchy. I started out as an academy student so many years ago and now, I'm a candidate for the next captain of Anbu. I'm still young and beautiful and men, unvaryingly, continue to cast longing looks my way. I have trustworthy friends and a loving family. The various beliefs I harbored at the different stages of my life were tried-and-true and those were the beliefs that made my life into the model of perfect contentment it is today. The tactics I used, whether crying when I was a toddler, raising hell when I was in my girlhood, and working hard as a grown-up, always gained me the attention from those I sought to attract. Everyone fell victim to my methodology. Except for Nara Shikamaru.
He who has known me throughout the various phases of my course to adulthood is also the only one who is immune to my wily ways. Don't get me wrong. He always performs what I tell him to carry out. I would scream and wave a fist; he would utter 'hai hai' plus some muttering under his breath, and grudgingly obey my command. That's the way it's always been. That's the way it still is now. But despite the way he always gave in to my demands, I can't help but suspect that he only did so because he felt I wasn't worth the argument; that I wasn't worth his time or further attention. Maybe the fastest way, in his opinion, to get rid of me was to comply with my orders.
His apathetic attitude towards me started out as a mild annoyance but gradually pooled in strength until it was an inextricable feeling of unnamable discontent that irritated my every waking moment and most of my nights. For the life of me, I just can't figure out why he never looks at me the way other men do, why he pays me no thought, why he carries on like he's the only entity in this vast universe and I'm but a mere passing dust in his vicinity. He makes me feel confused and from my mess of tangled emotions, the ultimate sentiment that eventually dominated the others is: obsession.
For once in my life, I was the one casting guarded glances at an unaware target instead of being the object of admiration. Lurking in the Jounin lounge, I would pretend to read reports when in actuality, I was peering over the papers to scrutinize the annoyed look on Shikamaru's face while he napped on the color faded couch that sat in the middle of the room. During meetings, I would fix my eyes downwards as if in intense meditation when in reality, I was concentrating on the polished surface of the dark oak table that reflected the serious expression Shikamaru maintained when his mind was focused on duties. The day I tried to spy on him while he changed his bloodstained shirt (not his blood) to something unsoiled was the day I realized with increasing alarm, that I no longer could keep myself from watching him.
Sometimes when I'm watching him, my heart would get this irregular beat that felt uncomfortable in my chest. For a while, I was honestly worried that I had a heart murmur and I even went to Tsunade-sama for a physical check up. Lucky for me, the Hokage declared me to be in perfect health but she did warn me to cut back on my salts. So I obeyed the doctor's orders and reduced my sodium chloride intake, and continued to observe Shikamaru in secrecy even though I knew I shouldn't.
I struggled to break the bad habit but it was like my eyes had become magnetize to the point of attraction that was he. And he continued to draw me towards him; plaguing my thoughts and haunting my nights with dreams that I can't recall in the morning. My obsession continued to escalate; up to the point when I became so desperate that I started to stage 'accidental meetings' with him at the most random of places. Oh god, he's not even good looking! I want to blame him for my jumbled emotions but I know I can't because he has never once encouraged my fixation. I don't think he's even really smiled at me before.
After some careful deliberation, I came to the conclusion that the only way to cure myself of this insidious disease that was Shikamaru-mania, was to catch his eye and turn the tables on our positions; make him the crazy obsessed one and I the one that had trapped his awareness with the aura of my charm. The source of the problem was the fact that he never paid me any superfluous attention so I knew how to cut this infection out of me from the root it developed. I immediately started the procedure that was necessary to hopefully relieve me of my ailment.
While other men would do unspeakable things to get such an offer from me, I had to beg, wheedle, and finally threaten before Shikamaru agreed to go bathing suit shopping with me. Dragging him to the stores, I knew that I was on the path of healing and it felt good. Shikamaru was of course, swearing under his breath. I caught random words like "mendokusee" and other things I don't care to repeat.
Upon walking into the trendy shop, I snatched the skimpiest swimsuit off the rack and danced into a changing room. In the little box-like space, my glee shifted to trepidation when I tried to put on the swimsuit and saw, or rather felt, how little material it had. But I was filled with gumption. Ignoring my embarrassment, I slipped on the little red thing that covered my crotch with a narrow triangular patch and pulled the 'string' that was supposed to pass as my top, over my breasts. Really, it only covered the nipples.
I looked a bit nervously at the long vertical mirror that hung on the wall and staring back at me, was the reflection of someone that was either a scarlet woman or a porn star. It's not that I'm prudish. I wear enough miniskirts and edgy tank tops to show that I'm proud of my body. But the swimsuit was a bit too much for me, which is why I knew I HAD to wear it in front of Shikamaru. If he were indeed a red-blooded male, this would catch his attention. If it didn't, then it was time to reconsider his sexuality. So with a swagger in my full hips, I sauntered out of the dressing room like some practiced exotic dancer, ready to fend off a wolfish and horny Shikamaru once his eyes have landed on my body.
Imagine my disappointment when I found him asleep in a guest seat. Legs propped up on a small bench, head lolled in an awkward angle, he slept peacefully on even though his large frame was forced unwillingly into a wobbling too small chair. I tried to wake him up. I slapped his cheeks a few times, lightly with the palm of my hands, but he waved me away reflexively in his unconsciousness. "Shikamaru!" I had growled at him, "Open your eyes and check out what I'm wearing!"
He moaned a bit, a steady trickle of drool dribbled from the corner of his lips, before he raised the eyelid of one of his eyes with what seemed to be all his strength. I struck my sexy pose but received no response. Irritated, I leaned towards the unresponsive Shikamaru to see why my nearly nudity failed to elicit even the merest of gasp. Looking into his one open eye, I was greeted by the whites of his eyeball instead of the black pupil that allowed sight. He was still asleep. Frustrated, I was forced to admit that in round one, the score was: Shikamaru-01 Me-00
The next plot I used involved making Shikamaru jealous. I told Kiba to take me out on a date and he was too stupid to say no. He's a great guy actually, really sweet and completely devoted to Hinata who took no notice of him but I digress. Kiba is friendly, extremely good looking, and has a hulking fame full of muscles that declared to the world his style of fighting. He was the type of guy that made most other men feel insecure about themselves, therefore he was the perfect tool in my little scheme. Besides, he was a safe guy as in I wasn't interested in him and he wasn't interested in me.
The night of my date with Kiba started off with a prelude of my flaunting the social occasion in Shikamaru's face. I picked a nice little skirt that swished around my hips with each step and a tight little top that accentuated my full bosom. Then, I practically pranced around Shikamaru as I declared to him, how far I intended to let Kiba get with me, not that he would ever try to get into my panties. But Shikamaru didn't know that. I told him: "I think I'll let Kiba go all the way with me tonight." You want to know what Shikamaru said to me? He said "Whatever. Use a condom woman or you'll get pregnant." Then Naruto came by and Shikamaru left with him to get some ramen, leaving me behind to wallow in my mortification.
When Kiba came to pick me up at the Jounin lounge, he found me pale-faced and frozen in anger. He was about to turn and flee before I caught him by his arm. "Where are we going tonight?" I gritted through my teeth, the death grip I had on him tightened. Looking rather nervous, Kiba tugged uncomfortably at the collar of his suit and told me that he had reservations at this nice seafood place that he thought I'd like.
"We're not going to the seafood place." I declared, ignoring his looks of puzzlement. "We're going to Ichiraku."
"You want to go to the ramen stand?!" Kiba looked even more mystified than before. "I thought women liked nice restaurants on dates...."
"Well I like ramen!" I snapped at him, feeling a bit guilty afterwards. How was he to know that I needed to go to Ichiraku so I could put up a show in front of Shikamaru?
So we get to Ichiraku and sure enough, Naruto was busy slurping a jumbo-sized bowl of miso ramen while the target I was trailing was picking leisurely at his smaller bowl of half-eaten noodles. I casually picked the seat next to Shikamaru and flashed him an ingratiating smile, before I pulled Kiba down into the empty seat on my other side. "So Kiba, you never did finish that wonderfully charming joke. So what happens afterwards?" I asked the poor puppet of my plan in a sultry tone.
Bewildered, he looked around panic-stricken. "But I wasn't telling a joke." He cautiously told me. Of course I know that! But I needed to show Shikamaru that our date was going great and he wasn't on my mind at all! Angrily, I pinched Kiba in the fleshy part of his inner thigh when no one was looking.
"O-OW HEY! WHAT THE-" He started to exclaim. The cold glare from my blue-flame eyes silenced him and he started to stutter.
"So...um....A priest, a monk, and a dog walks into a bar."
"Ohhhh do tell me more" I batted my lashes at him. Facing my blatant flirtations, Kiba turned mildly green in the face to my great displeasure.
"And they order some sake..."
"And then?" I graced him with my soul-sucking smile.
"And then....I forgot...."
Naruto started laughing, Shikamaru yawned, I seethed, and the date was over; not because I dumped Kiba immediately even though I should as punishment for his idiocy, but because Hinata walked by and his tongue practically fell out of his skull.
For all the troubles I've caused Kiba, my conscience demanded that I do something for him to thank him for his assistance, in spite of the fact that he was a dumbass who couldn't follow a script. "Hinata!" I waved at her as I called out. The white-eyed beauty whose soft hair I envied looked up surprised and squeaked out a weak hello.
Kiba suddenly stood from his seat, eyes wide with fear and other emotions. "This isn't how it looks!" He cried out, as if Hinata had noticed how it looked. Gentle as always, she merely cocked her head and gave dogboy a serene albeit baffled smile. "We're not really on a date!" He yelled at her. "I-I...I...." His face turned red, like he was about to burst because he had to tell Hinata something that was so sensitive in nature that he couldn't bring himself to say it.
I decided that it was time for me to step in and give the two destined lovers a push in the right direction. So I pushed Kiba, and sent him stumbling towards Hinata until he almost crashed into her. "HE'S IN LOVE WITH YOU!" I screamed, the statement of Kiba's shattered secret echoed in the night. Then like a true superhero, I disappeared into an elaborate cloud of nin smoke, leaving the two; one embarrassed man and one astonished girl to figure out the mess on their own.
So here I am now, three days after that incident, still alone, and still not making a bleep on Shikamaru's radar. I really think I should give up because I'm beginning to see that my efforts are futile. Shikamaru is Shikamaru and I doubt anyone can capture his heart. Did I say heart? I meant to say attention. What? Stop looking at me like that! Don't forget that I'm a very skilled ninja and I can make you very sorry if you dare to say anything! Yea...that's right...you back away now...
Anyways, I've about accepted the fact that Shikamaru will never be interested in...my matters. He'll be around when I need help, he'll do what I tell him to do, and we'll still see each other around because even if we're not friends, we're still very familiar acquaintances. Honestly, he seems happier meeting Chouji than me. What a weirdo.
For some reason, my decision to give up filled me with an inexplicable sense of loss, which is absurd because I didn't lose anything. My relationship with Shikamaru is still the same as it was when we first met. But still, I've been feeling different recently, as in kind of sick. I've been bit listless, been having trouble sleeping, and gained an annoying tendency of spacing out at the most inopportune times. Others have noticed the change in my demeanor and asked me about it but not Shikamaru. If he's picked up on my recent for-the-worse adjustments, he didn't feel inclined to comment. And it's kind of making me angry. How come he hasn't lavished me with questions of concern? Is he so self-centered that he didn't notice his CHILDHOOD FRIEND hasn't been herself for some time?
All my ranting was waking my long dormant feeling of rage and I wanted to lash out at someone. I grabbed the phone and immediately started dialing a familiar number without even looking at the number keys. The phone rang about fifteen times and no one picked up. I dialed the number again, punching the keys furiously with viciously jabbing fingers. After my third try, someone finally picked up on the other end after about ten impatient trills of the phone.
"......moshimoshi?" His sleepy voice drawled out after a moment's pause.
"SHIKAMARU YOU BASTARD! COME TO MY HOUSE NOW!" I was screaming and my unexpected wrath probably alarmed him. I know I'm embarrassing myself but it was too late to stop now.
The silence from the part of the phone pressed against my ear was making me worried and even more infuriated than before. "HELLO?! ARE YOU THERE?" I was practically shrieking into the receiver, I was so mad at him.
"..................Yea I'm here." He finally replied, sounding uninterested but more awake than before.
Taking a deep breath, I started to talk with some composure. "Come over now. I need to talk to you in person." Before he could respond, I hung up on him. After our brief phone chat, I felt amazingly lighter. It was like this weight I didn't even know existed was lifted from my chest, and floated away into nothingness. A drop of warm liquid fell on my hand and I looked up startled, worrying that there was a leak in my roof. From what I could tell, the ceiling looked fine. I couldn't see clearly because there were tears in my eyes. I'm so stupid that I didn't even notice I was crying. But since I already started crying, I might as well do it right. Before I knew it, I was wailing at the top of my lungs and sobbing into handfuls of crumpled tissue paper. I don't know how long I carried on like that but my self-pity fest was cut short by a rap on my front door.
Frantically yanking more tissues out of the tissue box, I wiped desperately at my face but not before the doorknob turned and Shikamaru let himself into my apartment. He stared at me, face carefully blank; his hand still clutching the brass knob of the door. Completely flustered, I pretended that I wasn't bawling my eyes out just moments before and glared at him.
He gave me one more look with his dark eyes that expressed shielded thoughts, then closed the door and strolled over to a chair where he flopped down lazily. He didn't say anything because he was waiting expectantly for me to start talking first. Wiping a trickle of snot from under my nose with a folded tissue paper, I wondered where I should begin. "I have a cold." I told him.
Although his face was impassive, his black eyes were watching me with searing intensity. "......sure." He replied, amiably letting my pitiful lie go through.
Unsure what to say next, I silently berated myself for not thinking my actions through before I allowed myself to call him in a fit of fury. Finally, after wringing five new tissues into a mangled mass in my hands, I sighed and started to speak.
"I give up." I told him in a reserved, hushed voice. He raised one of his eyebrows.
I tossed the tissues in my hands to my right side where it landed flawlessly into a trash bin. Then I started elaborate what I said before. "I've been trying and trying to get you to pay attention to me. You never smile at me. You always say I'm troublesome. We've known each other forever but you've never gone out of your way to hang out with me. We only meet when we happen to have obligations that coincide with each other's schedule. Why won't you notice me? Everybody else does."
Shikamaru's lips slowly curved into a deliberate smirk. Slinging one leg over the other, he sat with his legs crossed and continued to stare at me, waiting for me to continue. The smugness he exuded was starting to piss me off.
"What the hell is wrong with you?! Aren't we at least friends? So how come you never greet me cheerfully when we run into each other?! I know you and Chouji hang out a lot so how come you've never invited me along to your outings!? Is it because I'm the girl of the team? Is that why you feel compelled to ignore me?! I've always noticed you! I've always snuck glances at you so HOW COME I'VE NEVER CAUGHT YOU LOOKING MY WAY!" I was hysterical and I knew this event would haunt me for the rest of my life. Twenty years from now, recalling this moment would probably still cause shame to burn brightly on my face.
"Maybe it's because I want you to notice me instead." His voice was so quiet, so relaxed that it almost didn't even register with me.
"What?"
"I didn't want to be the guy chasing after something too good for him. Throwing myself at you would only make a woman such as yourself take me for granted, so instead, I decided to make you notice me." The features of Shikamaru's face were so tender that I had some trouble recognizing him.
"But...but...." I didn't know what I wanted to say.
He grinned at me, a real smile that was probably the first for him directed at anyone. "It worked didn't it?" He sounded amused. "I'm a patient man and I can calculate the progress of a plan over a span of many years."
I sat in my seat, utterly amazed with his inhuman intelligence and struggling to understand how our situation had come to be. I was so preoccupied that I didn't notice Shikamaru had rose from his seat and was walking my way. His warm hand on my shoulder snapped me from my shock and I looked up at him in awe.
"Shikamaru......."
Bending down at me, he took advantage of my position and gave me my first kiss, silencing my thoughts and replacing the ebbing ache in my heart with warmth. I felt new tears rise in my eyes but those were liquids of happiness. His lips were warm and smooth, tasting faintly of candy. I broke our contact and started to laugh. "I didn't know you liked sweets!" I exclaimed.
Hands holding onto me, he lifted me from my chair with his strong arms. "You don't know a lot of things about me." He replied good-naturedly with a playful light in his eyes. "Would you like to find out more about what kind of person I am?"
I nodded eagerly, nuzzling into the warmth of his chest and with my roaming hands, felt the ridges of muscles that lined his sides through his thin fishnet shirt. His arms looped around me and tightened protectively, and I learned that I loved the feeling of being small and safe under his protection.
"Wanna go to the yakiniku place?" He asked, his voice vibrated like baritone drums through his chest and into my ear that was pressed against his body. I nodded voicelessly.
I wasn't angry with him anymore and I don't blame him for the cruel tactic he used to get my attention. We all have our methods and his happened to be superior to mine. The brief five-minute meeting in my house allowed me a glimpse into his soul and I knew he was the guy I could trust for the rest of my life. Joy burst forth from me in the form of bubbling laughter and I ignored the embarrassed blush on Shikamaru's face when I snuggled even more against him as we walked down the street. People were commenting on what a cute couple we made when I suddenly remembered something important. "Shika? I forgot to lock my door!" I shouted.
"So what? Who'll rob a house in a ninja village?" He grunted at me.
"But it's a matter of principal!" I protested "We have to go back so I can lock my door."
"You're so troublesome." He groused halfheartedly, already turning around to head back to my apartment.
"No YOU'RE troublesome" I retorted to aggravate him on purpose.
"Mendokusee..."
"I'm rubber you're glue. Whatever you say bounces off me and sticks to you." I grinned cheekily at him.
"Whatever...." Came his mumbled response.
Walking together back to my home, I continued to bother him with inane questions and bothersome comments. He shrugged most of what I said off because he knew I was a bit sore that he had played me for a fool for so many years. His amazing tolerance for my idiosyncratic habits only made me fall in love with him even more. I think we'll be fine from now on. Although we're complete opposites, we strangely complete each other by compensating for each other's weaknesses.
Strolling unhurriedly down the stone-paved path with the fingers of my right hand interlaced with Shikamaru's, the orange sun was setting in the distant horizon and I felt like I was in a cheesy badly written romance novel by a novice author who had no experience in love. But what the hey, as long as I get my happy ending.
OWARI (T-T why did Ino have to insult me?)
Moshimoshi: hello used for phone conversations.
I wrote this hurriedly without spending much thought on it. The idea just sorta occurred to me LOL.