Title: Misunderstandings

Chapter 7

Word Count: 999

"I've decided it's gonna be a summer festival theme."

What followed this statement was pure silence and two confused looks. Ino was having a "meeting" with Chouji and Shikamaru at a restaurant about her End-Of-September party. Since a lot of people had birthdays around that time, including herself, she figured it was the best time to get as many people as possible together to make gift giving an easier process.

"What are you looking at me like that for?" Ino demanded, "It makes lots of sense you know."

"Ah, ah. We know," Shikamaru said, adding under his breath, "It makes as much sense as skipping through a field naked."

Chouji chuckled at this comment making Ino's annoyance grow.

"And you're supposed to be smart, Shikamaru," she said, "It's obvious. This summer was really busy for a lot of people right? So, if we have a summer themed party we can definitely make up for the fun festivals that everybody missed. I mean, it won't be as big but everyone in going around in a yukata will be pretty refreshing."

"But, it's autumn already," Shikamaru stated.

"So? Who cares?" Ino said, happily dismissing his point, "So don't forget to wear a yukata!"

"Why do I have to wear a yukata. Shouldn't I be exempt from something like that?" Shikamaru inquired.

"No way! You just have to wear one. You birthday shouldn't be an excuse on to wear one, it should be an excuse to wear one," she told him, her words accompanied by an unsettling laugh, "I suppose you could always wear a jinbei. Right?"

The smile that accompanied the ending sentence was disquieting to the other two participants in the conversation.

"Ne, what do you think, Chouji?" Ino asked.

He looked at Ino who was staring at him intently then at Shikamaru who looked as though he was annoyed by the whole situation. Suddenly, he felt the pressure of the situation.

"It doesn't sound too bad," he said, deciding on what he thought was the safest option.

"Yay! See, no one dislikes it but you Shikamaru!" Ino said.

"Even if the whole world was against it you wouldn't change your mind," he retorted.

"Shikamaru makes me seem like such a bad character! Determination isn't a bad think you know. You should try it more often," she said, haughtily.

"Not determined," Shikamaru said," More like stubborn."

Ino gave him a dangerous glare and took a sip of the glass of water in front of her. Sighing, Shikamaru stood up.

"I'm going," he said.

"Eh? Where are you going?" Ino demanded.

He grinned at Chouji and gave him a wave as he left, Ino pouting all the while.

*~*~*~*~*~*

Despite blatantly disapproving of the idea, when time came for the party Shikamaru donned his yukata to attend the party; it was probably best to avoid any nagging by Ino because it would take more to appease her than to simply at first please her. He sat at a table in the corner with Chouji and Chiharu, who gave him a gift of a free BBQ lunch at her family's restaurant.

During the party, the people who had either withheld his birthday presents for the party or had simply forgotten it, presented him with a gift; the happiest seemed to be Naruto (for some reason Shikamaru was hesitant to label him as one who forgot his birthday) who handed him a coupon for a free bowl of Ichiraku's ramen and seemed to think it was the best gift in the world. Shikamaru was glad that his birthday and New Year's came only once a year. To go through gift giving and receiving all year would be a very troublesome matter.

This party was just like all the others, except for the addition of a drunken Ino that was ten times as difficult as a sober Ino due to the alcohol lowering the little reasoning skills that already seemed nonexistent at times. Shikamaru and Chouji did their best to keep to themselves, lest outside contact draw unwanted attention. It was while they were both telling Chiharu a story about a past mission that Chouji found amusing that Shikamaru noticed Kakashi leave. He hadn't even notice him arrive.

Shikamaru suddenly got up, apologizing Chouji and Chiharu for the sudden interruption due to a want of fresh air. Slipping out quietly, Shikamaru looked around to find Kakashi sitting on a bench to the side of the establishment they were currently occupying. Shikamaru approached him and was greeted with a smile. For a while, they just looked at each other until Shikamaru took a small rectangular package out of his pocket: Kakashi's birthday present. He hadn't remembered until Kakashi had given him a gift on his own.

"Sorry," he apologized, handing it to him, "I forgot."

Kakashi received the gift and slipped it into his pocket telling Shikamaru that he would open it later. Shikamaru nodded still standing there after the exchange was complete. He opened his mouth to speak but could say anything. He wanted to tell Kakashi how he felt but everything that rolled through his mind was too embarrassing and nothing would come out.

"I," he finally managed, "I . . ." Nothing more would come out.

Before her could muster the ability to utter anything more, Kakashi grabbed his hand and pulled Shikamaru into him. He kissed him.

"I know," Kakashi whispered, "By the way your blushing face is cute."

His last line made Shikamaru's already red cheeks redder.

"Shikamaru."

Shikamaru broke away from Kakashi and looked up. It was Ino. Her face was tinged red from the alcohol and now tears seemed to uncontrollably roll down her cheeks. Shikamaru was shocked by this display.

"I'm sorry," she said, turning around and taking into the roofs.

Shikamaru was puzzled by the whole situation.

"Go," Kakashi said.

Shikamaru turned and looked at him. He smiled back and pointed to the direction Ino went. Shikamaru nodded and went after her wondering what was going on.

*~*~*~*~*~*