How Troublesome

Chapter 21: Bothersome Broads

As soon as they got close enough to Ino, she put her hand out and said to Naruto, "Don't move."

Naruto blinked in confusion, but stood stock still while Ino walked around her slowly, nodding and muttering to herself.

Shikamaru didn't even bother to ask what she was doing. He'd find out and probably wish he hadn't.

After a full minute of staring at Naruto, Ino finally asked suddenly, "Naruto, what cup size are you?"

Well, that wasn't quite what he had been expecting her to ask, but he'd long since given up on trying to figure Ino out. Or most females for that matter.

Naruto scratched her head nervously and said, "Um... my what?"

"Your cup size. You know. What size bra do you wear?"

"I don't."

"You don't what?"

"I don't wear a bra."

Shikamaru's eyes widened, and he was pretty sure that his mind was recording this conversation. Ino seemed to be mildly speechless, which Shikamaru was sure had only happened three times before.

Naruto nodded. "Yeah. See?" Naruto grabbed the edge of her shirt and pulled it up, showing her toned stomach and her chest.

Shikamaru stared, and then his brain processed what he was seeing. White cloth bandages had been wrapped around her rather abundant chest, barely covering them. He was pretty sure he was drooling at all of the smooth, tanned skin on display. And he was actually a little relieved that she hadn't been naked under the shirt, like he'd thought. He wasn't sure that he wanted to pass out in the middle of the street from a huge nosebleed. That, and the fact that Ino would never let him forget it if he did.

After Naruto had replaced her shirt, Ino shook her head and placed a hand on the blonde's shoulder. "Naruto, Naruto, Naruto..."

"Yes?" Naruto's voice was filled with trepidation.

"You need help, don't you?"

Naruto glanced quickly at Shikamaru. "Help? No, I don't think-"

"Oh, yes you do," Ino interrupted. "I now totally believe what I heard is true. I couldn't believe it at first when Kiba told me that you were a girl! But you are, aren't you? So, you obviously need someone to show you the ways of being a woman. You need someone to guide you and help you." As she continued talking, she seemed to get a maniacal glint in her eyes.

Shikamaru had rarely seen Naruto afraid. She was one of the bravest people he knew, but she was definitely cowering before the pregnant woman.

"Ino, that's really not necessary," Naruto said. "I'm fine, really. I'm still the same person, after all. There's nothing that I really need to change or do, right?"

Shikamaru's watched as Ino's eyes widened and prepared himself for the rant that he knew was coming. "Are you joking? Of course you need to change! You're a girl! Hello? You don't even wear a bra! Do you even own make up?"

"No..."

Then, Ino's mood did a one-eighty. Her lower lip started to tremble and pale blue eyes became misty with tears. "Or... do you just not want to go shopping with me because you don't like me? I know I was mean to you when we were younger, but I thought we were friends now... And... and..." Her voice trailed off into loud, rather violent, sniffles.

Shikamaru shook his head inwardly. The emotions of pregnant woman were not known to be stable. And, on top of that, it was Ino, who didn't have the most even moods to start with. It was a recipe for disaster, which was why Shikamaru had spent the majority of his time since she had gotten pregnant avoiding her. If he had to help her repaint the baby's room one more time... It would be for the eighth time, and even cigarettes probably wouldn't be enough to calm him down.