This story is dedicated to a dear friend of mine :3

everyone else who reads this thank you so much! I appreciate it and hope you all enjoy this crazy crack pairing.

*A few facts you should know before we begin*

*This setting is not your typical 'Naruto' world.

* Asuma sensei is not dead. (Obviously)

* There may be some Sakura bashing...

*Ino is approximately 22 years old

*Asuma is approximately 31(I know this age range is not accurate. Deal with It)

I appreciate reviews, and I like hearing feedback, however, if you have rude things to say about my writing, take it elsewhere. Constructive criticism however is a different story.

And we begin

Chapter one- memories

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It was really like a sealed fate from the beginning, Shikamaru and Ino ending up together. Seeing as how Inoichi Yamanaka, Ino's father, was the chief of police and his best friend, Shikaku Nara happened to be his right hand man. The duo had been working for the city together for twenty plus years, meaning no matter what, Ino and Shikamaru were forced to hang out from an early age. Ino often found herself wishing she could go back to the days when things were so much simpler...

"Hey did you pack my lunch? I'm gonna be late for work!" Shikamaru exclaimed as he rushed to the doorway of the bathroom he and Ino shared. Ino was promptly pulling her hair up and readying herself for a day of rehearsal at the dance studio. She turned to him and gave him a stern look.

"Shikamaru, how many times did I tell you that today I can't make your lunch I have my own things to take care of. "

He blinked at her a few times with his small brown eyes, unsure of what he had just heard. "Things to take care of? Like what putting on your damn leotard so you can go shake your ass for a few hours a day? Look that's bull shit. I work hard to keep up on this place for us the least you could do is make me a damn sandwich or somethig!"

There it was. The 'snap' . Shikamaru could hold in his temper for a certain amount of time until Ino said one thing that really irked him and it became a sudden explosion. This was happening a lot more recently since they had moved in together. Ino was regretting a little more and more each day the choice she made to move in with the guy. Especially after each angry outburst from him. At this point though, if she said. Anything more it would become an all out brawl, which would then result in the both of them being late. The blonde took a deep breath, finished tying up her hair and stood. "Make your own damn sandwich." She said in a manor so sweet it seemed to drip venomous honey. With that she grabbed her purse and walked out the door.

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'God when did things get so bad between us? I know we've had our ups and downs but seriously? He's getting out of control! maybe it's just me I mean... What if I'm just annoying or something?' Ino thought to herself as she began walking home from her rehearsal. Ever since graduating high school, she had been adamantly Perusing her dream to be a dancer. Things were finally looking up for the girl. She had landed a part as Juliet in the ballet production of Romeo and Juliet. But despite that, all of her joy and excitement seemed to be sucked away by the man she thought she loved.

As she walked she remembered their high school days together. Even during those years, the relationship was bitter sweet.

*flashback*

"What do you think Shikamaru's gonna get you for your birthday?!" Sakura asked her blonde friend as the two primped in the bathroom before home room began.

Ino stood in the mirror and smiled at herself. "Oh I don't know but hopefully something good! I mean, last year's present will be hard to top."

"Didn't you two go to that huge amusement park or something?" Their brunette friend Tenten chimed in.

"Uh huh it was soooo much fun!" Ino gushed.

"Hurry up and get out there! He may be here waiting already!" Sakura said as she pushed her friend out the bathroom doors.

"Yeah home room starts soon!" Tenten added.

Ino blushed at her embarrassing friends. But they were right. It was her 16th birthday. This was a big one so the gift better be just as monumental. She straightened out her blue pleated skirt and began strutting down the hallways of the school, her long pony tail swishing behind her with each step she took. She gleamed with excitement., heads were turning to gaze at her as she made her way to her boyfriends locker where she hoped he would be. She could see his spiky pony tail in the distance And he seemed to be approaching her .

'There he is.' She though . A few butterflies found themselves floating about in her stomach as he approached.. Shikamaru, however, didn't seem quite as excited to see her. His hands were stuffed deep in his pockets and he kept his head down, avoiding her gaze. He kind of looked like a mess. His tie was crooked, hair was a bit out of place and his eyes were a bit swollen. Ino increased her speed, worried for her love.

Finally they stopped right in front of one another. "Shikamaru." She said putting her hands behind her back and looking down . "You okay?" She asked concerned.

"Yeah I'm fine. I overslept and I was almost late for school.

"Is that so. Well looks like you made it!" She chimed, followed by a cute giggle.

"Yep." He replied.

At this point, Ino was a bit agitated at his grumpy behavior. "Do you know what today is?" She asked, bating her eyelashes and trying to make a cute face.

"Uh...it's Tuesday. " he answered plainly.

Ino gasped , absolutely shocked he had forgotten. Immediately, tears welled up in her big blue eyes. "Shi-Shika... Today...today's my birthday!" She exclaimed, tears now rushing down her face.

He looked at her a little confused and maybe a little scared. "Oh... " He scratched the back of his head nervously. "Must've forgotten."

"Obviously! A simple sorry would be nice!" She said before storming off to her home room class. She took a seat in front on the far right side and put her face in her hands and sobbed. 'at least here I can be alone right now.' She thought as she sobbed even harder. But she was not alone, in fact, her home room teacher , Mr. Sarutobi had been siting at his desk the whole Time.

"What seems to be troubling ya, kid " his voice came from behind the desk.

Ino gasped and quickly wiped her face free of the salty moisture that fell from her eyes. "It's...it's nothing." She managed to get out.

Her sensei stood, grabbed the box of tissues on his desk and placed them on hers. "You know you can talk to me, I'm your teacher that's what we're here for." He said kindly.

Ino rolled her eyes and let out a sigh. "What do you know about boys, you're old." She snapped, not intending to be so harsh.

Mr. Sarutobi simply chuckled. "Well if it helps, I wasn't always this old. What happened?" He asked, genuinely concerned for his student.

Ino let out a sigh. "Shikamaru forgot my birthday. And what's worse is that he didn't even say sorry. He didn't even say happy birthday for that matter! Not even after I reminded him. It's like he didn't even care."

"You might be a little young for this, but if a guy isn't treasuring you like the treasure you are you should let him go. A relationship should build you up not tear you down. Besides that you're too young to date!" He said with a chuckle. Ino smile fondly up at her sensei. His words seemed to make the sadness dissolve.

*end flashback*

Ino gasped upon remembering those words her former sensei had left with her that Day. "but if a guy isn't treasuring you like the treasure you are you should let him go. A relationship should build you up not tear you down".

"He's right!" She exclaimed aloud before promptly bumping into someone on the sidewalk and falling onto her butt. "Oh I'm sorry!" She said before looking up. Low and behold, there stood her former sensei extending his hand down to her to help her up with a cunning smile gracing his face.

End of chapter one. Hope you enjoyed!