AN: It has been a while, and I apologize for that. I can't guarantee this will be the first of many, partially because I don't really have the time or patience, and partially because the cogs are ticking atm for 'Hokage-Sensei'.

It's quite an uneventful chapter, and no fantastic cliffhanger I don't think, but it sets a few things up for later. I promise that the next chapter will be longer, and will see the return of Nobu, along with the plot he'll bring with him.

Disclaimers apply as usual.

Average- Style

"I am so glad we are doing this." Ino grinned as she dragged her by the arm around the small winding streets that covered the Konoha shopping district. "I've had an itch for days to come out shopping and Sakura is just permanently set to busy at the moment. There's a boutique just down here that opened about a months ago and it genuinely is a real gem; I swear if I would have gone another two days without spending something in there I would have exploded."

"You can't go shopping on your own?" Tenten wondered, having only ever gone near shops on her own, and usually for 'groceries'.

"Heavens no." Ino laughed at her as she bounced off own another alley. "You can't just go shopping by yourself, that's beyond tragic. That'd be about equal to drinking on your own."

Should she have been given the opportunity, she would have been shuffling her feet uncomfortably by now, but at the pace the blond was setting, one misplaced foot could send her flying into a shop window. She couldn't help thinking to herself that Sakura must have some kind of physic link to this girl to have been able to cope with her for as long as she had, especially as Ino jolted her left into a doorway without any warning.

Adjusting her eyesight to a slower pace, she narrowly avoided the painted door as it sung back towards her and slipped into the shockingly pink shop warily. The whole place smelled like girls, causing her almost immediately to glance down and checked the extent of soreness her thumb-like nature against the background. She definitely did not belong here.

"What's the matter?" Ino peered back at her, seemingly unaware of her disorientation.

"Um… I've kind of… never been shopping like this. I'm afraid I'm not likely to be much help."

"Nonsense," she smirked back at her. "You have eyes, and I know for a fact that you can't be nearly as much of a tomboy as everyone makes out, despite your dress sense."

"What's wrong with the way I dress?"

"Oh, nothing, providing your intention is just to be training for the rest of your life. What do you usually wear when you go out to bars, or to parties?" She asked as she wandered over to one of the metal rails set out in the shop, pushing her way through wads of hung fabric.

"I just wear this. It's more or less all I have."

Ino paused for a second in shock, before returning to her intent shopping. "You've been wearing that same style of top, if not that same exact top, since you were 17. It barely even fits you anymore, never mind suits you. You're almost as bad as Shikamaru."

Trying not to get too riled up by the steady stream of insults, Tenten sighed and glanced around for a distraction while Ino continued to lecture her as though she was actually a friend.

"Well, I for one will not stand for anyone I come out with in public to be in such a terrible state of- oh dear kami, that is so cute!" Distracted, she had discarded her previous sentence in favor of a short sprint to a glass counter by the side of the curtained dressing rooms at the rear of the store.

Picking up a small hair clip, she poised herself in front of one of the many mirrors within reach as she held it against her long fringe. Excitedly, she turned to face the bemused Tenten, obviously expecting an opinion.

"Um… very cute." Her reply was limited, not really able to see much more than a glint off the sparkly surface of the tiny clip, but it seemed to satisfy Ino as she spun again, a wide smile on her face.

"You should get one of these…" She began, but then re-thought as she looked carefully at Tenten's hair from a few different angles. "On second thought, no, it wouldn't suit your hair type at all. When did you stop doing those bun things?"

"About the same time I joined ANBU. Shikamaru pointed out the logic of how much time it would save for me to just tie my hair up like this."

"It's long, isn't it? Do you ever wear it down?"

"No, it's just not practical."

Ino sighed heavily in disappointment. "Screw practical. Humor me."

"You want me to take my hair down?" Tenten lifted an eyebrow at her, only to receive an eager nod. Reluctantly, she dragged her fingers through her hair, pulling out the elastic band with a painful tug, releasing her hair to fall softly over her back.

"Tenten, wow, there is actually a woman under there." Ino grinned, reaching forwards to fiddle with the few hairs which had fallen down messily. "Ok, I'm banning you from ponytails or buns until you stop staying at Shika and Chouji's; which by the way is incredibly odd. Are you sure you don't want to come and bunk at my place?"

"I'm sure Ino. I don't feel un-comfortable with the guys."

"It's Chouji's food, isn't it? I don't blame you. It's the only reason I put up with Shikamaru's griping." She returned to browsing the rails absent-mindedly.

Tenten mostly ignored the first comment, knowing well enough that her reason for staying there had nothing to do with the food. "You don't spend nearly as much time criticizing Shikamaru as you used to."

"There's no point. At first I just thought that if I could get him laid he would stop lying around in fields all day, but seriously, if he hasn't managed by now then he is already a lost cause."

"Managed not lying in fields?"

Ino laughed. "No, getting laid. He's completely hopeless."

Tenten struggled to hold back her shock. "You mean he's… he's still…"

"How could you not know that?"

"Well… I knew he'd never had a girlfriend, but I never thought… I guess I can't understand why…" Catching herself quickly, she turned to pretend she was looking through the rails herself. "Never mind, just ignore me."

She could feel Ino's gaze on her, so she came up with the best she could to change the subject. "So, what exactly is Hinata doing for her 21st?"

"You aren't invited?"

"I haven't had anything to do with the Hyuuga's for years." She pointed out emotionlessly.

"I'm sure they wouldn't mind if you were there. We're only heading out to a local bar for a few hours, and Neji isn't even going to be there. If you're hanging around Shikamaru for a few days then it only makes sense."

"Are you saying that because you are bullying him into going or because you think it would be easier to make him go if I had agreed?"

"Neither, he's going anyway. Thanks to the mission ban, it'll be the first time in years that everyone can actually be together. I think he's looking forward to catching up with his old crowd."

"Oh, he's friendly with a few others from the academy?"

"Absolutely. There was a core of them who were always getting into trouble with Iruka-sensei. Chouji is the same."

She laughed in disbelief, "Chouji, a troublemaker?"

"Well, where one goes, the other follows." She smiled, a hint of pride in her voice as she thought about her old teammates, two people she remembered hating when their team was decided but had since become as close to her as anyone. "I'm going to go try a few things on. I won't be long."

She had disappeared before Tenten could even reply, clothes bundled high as she dumped them onto one arm and retreated to one of the curtained booths. Finally having a chance to be alone, she dipped her hand curiously into her pocket to retrieve the stash of notes Shikamaru had given her before she had been dragged out.

To her relief there were not too many of them in the small bundle, so she wouldn't feel too pressured to pay it back. As she scanned through them, she also noted that a slip of paper was folded into the wad and curiously withdrew it, placing the notes back into her pocket. Scribbled onto the paper in his lazy scrawl was a brief message for her:

'Miu'-

Beautiful feather

(Heavenly)

Amused by the etymological pun she smirked to herself before folding the paper back up and slipping it into her bra, where she knew only he would be able to find it. The timing was perfect as the very second she let her hand drop to her side, Ino emerged again form the changing room.

"That was quick." She commented.

"It comes with practice." Ino beamed back as she slotted the hangers back into position on the rail closest to her. "Find anything?"

"No, not really."

"Ok, let me just buy that clip and I'll take you somewhere a little more your style."

Chouji looked over at his best friend with wonder, trying to figure out what exactly was going through his genius mind. As ever, this was a complete impossibility, as his mind could only ever equal his when stood in front of a fridge.

Usually at this time of year, Shikamaru was positively miserable, desperate to have the 'troublesome' holiday over and done with. He'd spend half of his time griping about the weather stopping him from lying outside as much, the other half he would be complaining about having to buy gifts for people he didn't even like.

He would rarely be seen, as was now the case, sitting away from the window with his fingers clasped in thought. He would rarely be seen to do that on any day of the year unless a mission was involved, and not even Chouji could believe that he would be thinking about work now, despite his Yule-time reluctance.

Actually, the way he seemed to stare at the decorations in front of his seemed to hint that he was actually thinking about Christmas, and with a smile. Must be the cinnamon… he mused, but couldn't quite manage to leave it alone.

Placing the last of the cookies he had made that morning into their dedicated tin on the small table he had set up, he wandered over to study Shikamaru's expression closely. If he didn't know any better he would think that he had fallen asleep, from the peaceful set on his features.

"Uh… Shikamaru?"

Without moving an inch, Shikamaru turned his eyes to his friend. "Yeah Choj, what is it?"

"You're kind of… being odd."

"Am I? Sorry, I didn't realize."

Cautiously, Chouji sat down beside him on the sofa. "What are you doing?"

His hands moved back to rest on his knees with a sigh. "Chouji… if there was someone close to you…"

Knowing Shikamaru, there was only ever one thing that being 'close' could mean, and Chouji's mind immediately slipped into panic. "There isn't anyone like that!"

A hint of his usual smirk slipped as he watched him blush. "Ok Choj, but if there was… but you don't usually do things like it, would you think you should buy them something?"

"Do you think I should?" He wondered, almost certain that Shikamaru was talking about Ino.

"Well, isn't that what people say? I'm no expert at all, and I know it's probably too late to do anything about it anyway, but I was just thinking."

"You were just thinking? That's not like you."

"I know."

"Or rather, it's not like you now. You used to do it a lot before you were a jounin." Chouji smiled, remembering their time as kids together. "You want something to eat?"

"Not right now." He sighed again and went back to staring at the Christmas decorations.

"I suppose you're right. The others should come back soon. We can eat while we sort the tree."

"I'm sure Ino would like that."

Thinking about it, Chouji felt blood rush to his face all over again. He definitely knows. He probably told Tenten too, after all of their smirking and giggling this morning. 'Just Christmas in general' my chubby ass! If I don't stop blushing like this though everyone will know and she'll never speak to me again.

He tried to change the subject to spare him the embarrassment. "It's nice having Tenten here, don't you think?"

If Shikamaru could have been any stiller than he was, he would have frozen solid. "You don't mind it Chouji?"

"Why would I? It's not like she's disruptive or anything. You know, I actually think you two cancel each other out."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, people are always saying that she can be a little 'hell hath no fury' at times, when she's not training like a ROOT operative, but she doesn't seem like that at all. Might have just been the rumors, but you don't complain nearly as much when she's about either, so it could just be your teammates thing."

Shikamaru nodded in thought. "I hope Ino doesn't drive her too far. She can be a little easy to provoke."

"I'm sure she can take care of herself. Ino's not really as bad as she seems once you get used to her." He grinned stupidly.

Timing hit a fantastic high note as the blond hurtled through the front door, loaded to the armpits in bags from her outing. "Hey guys! You better have somewhere I can hide away for a while because oh do I have some fantastic presents for you!"

Chouji stood up immediately to face her. "You bought presents? We never do presents."

"So wasn't my idea." Tenten sighed from behind her and walked straight through to Shikamaru's bedroom before he could ever see her.

Ino's grin didn't diminish as she bounced off to follow her. "I guess we are going in here then. Shika-kun, don't come near your room ok? Oh… Chouji, please tell me you haven't eaten already, I'm ravishing."

"I'll go cook something now." He nodded with a nervous smile and she disappeared from view. Turning to Shikamaru, he noticed that he hadn't really moved. "They are up to something."

"No." Shikamaru corrected him as he stood up to head towards the kitchen. "Ino is up to something. Tenten's just gone in there to give us some breathing time."

Following him through to find him getting out chopping boards from the cupboard, Chouji started to find things to cook again. "How did you know she was going to buy presents? You knew right? That's why you said it…"

He shrugged and took his usual seat in the corner of the kitchen. "I just had a feeling Choj."

"What are we going to do about it?"

"Just cook Chouji. It'll be enough to keep Ino happy. Either way if she's this exited over presents, they will more than likely be presents for her really."

"Oh… like that stupid hat she bought Sakura so she could mock her?"

"Exactly like that."

By the time Chouji had finished cooking what turned out to just be a 'this and that' meal of snacks, the girls had finished whatever it was Ino had schemed for them, so they all re-entered the main room at the same time. Shikamaru, barely paying any attention, slumped back down on the sofa.

Placing the plates he had balanced up his arms down on the table, Chouji looked over them both and their obviously brand new outfits with a smile. "You two look nice."

Ino beamed. "I know. I'm so glad we went out today. Seriously though, can you believe that Tenten actually has a figure?"

Observing Tenten's apparent will to sink into oblivion as soon as possible, Chouji just laughed it off. "It certainly is different."

"It's just a shame that she wouldn't wear what I tried to put her in. She would have looked pretty amazing if you ask me."

Hating the attention, Tenten scowled and went to sit down next to Shikamaru. "Hell will freeze over before you get me in a skirt without paying me first."

"Anymore plates you need bringing out Chouji?" Ino asked sweetly, ignoring Tenten's comment.

"Sure." He grinned and they soon disappeared again.

Curiously, Shikamaru's eyes slipped sideways, causing him to sharply take in a breath as he looked at her. Tenten had her long hair loose over her shoulders, which were left partially exposed by the soft dark red jumper she had on, the slight natural curl brought out by the damp winter air. Even with her legs pulled up to her chest, it was obvious that the woolen garment clung to all the right places to emphasize her torso's curves.

Biting her lip, she was staring back at him by the time his eyes had found their way back to her face. "Thanks."

He smirked back at her. "I hadn't gotten around to complementing you yet."

"No, I meant… thanks." She signaled at her outfit, obviously meaning to thank him for the money. "But… thanks."

"Oh," was about all he managed to let out before the others came back into the room and Ino flooded the apartment with noise.

"Itadakimasu!"

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