After coming from the mission, Ino made herself busy in training to become better. She made up her mind to again try to crack the medic role exam for Konoha Hospital. Her time was spent more on the training ground and reading scrolls to perform some few techniques. She didn't see her team mates since coming back to village. She got to know from Sakura that Shikamaru was out to a mission in grass.
She met Sakura after the first week since arriving back in Konoha and both have spent time catching up with each other. Sakura told Ino that Shino was seen with Hana more and more making the blonde kunoichi a little sad. She had wished for someone to wait for her when she went on a long missions so they both could enjoy their time in peace. She also wanted to wait for someone and tell him how much she missed him while he was gone.
But it was not her cup of tea. No relationship of hers lasted for more than a week and Shino was the one with whom she managed to stay for a longer than a week. Ino knew that he never was interested in her and neither was she. It was just some confirmation that her status of being the number one flirt of Konoha lasted longer.
So when Sakura told her this news of Shino and Hana, Ino was left with self doubt. So she went to the Aburame compound to ask the man himself. Over there she got to know how Shino always had his priorities sorted out and how he had always adored Hana Inuzuka.
Broken hearted, Ino walked to the old training ground of team 10 and started warming up. This went on for another week and she continued to train on the same ground day in and day out.
It was the third week when Ino was walking to the field for her training at night, she heard giggles coming from near by. A slight click of tongue confirmed her the couple that was enjoying their time together. It was none other than Shikamaru and Temari.
So Shikamaru was back from his grass mission and the team didn't even meet for catching up. Maybe he and Chouji have met outside without letting her know. She chuckled at the thought and thought that was a valid one. Who would want a nagging friend with you who always shouts at you.
Her training was meant to be secret without anyone knowing so she back stepped and walked to the direction of the park. Upon coming at the gates she felt nostalgic of how her and Shikamaru used to play in this very park. She remembered how he once dropped her from his bicycle and wasn't ready to take the blame on him. Her eyes now were starting to get blurry as water started to gather in the sockets. Where was the friends that she valued so much? Where was her Shikamaru who promised to never leave her alone.
She entered the park and sat in the swing which she made swing a little by her legs. The wind was cooler today as the winter was about to come. Her favourite season of all. She chuckled again at her own dreamy self for dreaming such nonsense when she heard a rough voice from behind.
"Laughing to yourself is considered as a sign of insanity." She stiffened a little at his voice. Shikaku unknowingly was good at imposing fear on others just by his voice and Ino was not far from it.
"Maybe I prefer insanity over other more." Ino answered him back. She feared him, yes. But, she never hesitated to back answer him. "What are you doing here with an insane person Shikaku san?" she asked the Nara leader who in return gave a little laugh.
"I saw you from afar and thought that we need to talk about what happened back there." He was still the calmest she has ever seen a man. No emotions at all on his face or in his voice.
"Nothing happened Nara san." Ino answer unenthusiastic. "Don't worry, I myself am taking measures to forget that." Well that was a little rude for her to talk like this but, she was not a people pleaser as the whole village knows of her
She saw his clothed thigh come into her vision letting her know that he was now on his knees trying to get to her eye level. "I am sorry." Was all she heard from him. No, I can understand what you feel. No, I know your feeling. No, No we can sort this out somehow. No. It was just a plain sorry. He just expected her to miraculously forget her feelings, just like it never existed in the first place.
"Stop saying it when you are not even one percent sorry for it." She tried to cold answer him. Inside she was a mess now. She was sobbing loudly in her mind. "I don't want anything to do with your sorry and your words of wisdom if you are planning to lecture me on." She now looked him in the eye.
He gasped lightly at her now soul less eyes that once shone with brightness. Shikaku wanted to hold the girl in his arms and tell her that he understands her turmoil and he treasured her emotions to the very most. But, he just couldn't do it. He was too much of a coward to say that to her.
"I don't know what you do with what I tell you but, I thought I should apologize and here I am doing it." He answered her, unexpected from him. He got up from his position with a little huff and dusted his pant. "Get up now." He commanded.
Ino got up, obeying his command but she didn't want to go with him. "Good night Shikaku, I better get going." She said and bowed her head.
"I will come with you, its getting late now." He walked to be in line with her but she turned in other direction.
"I will like to go alone Shikaku I don't want to bother you much." The Nara man growled at her answer and he grabbed her arm, whipping her around.
The action was so sudden to tell which from what that they both stood there for a minute, staring at each other. Her eyes travelled the space between them which was none and landed on their chest heaving loudly. She saw their upper bodies touch each other as they breathed ragged and she immediately distanced herself from him.
"Please Shikaku, I am trying to not let my mind get caught up in this." She pleaded the elder man. "Such gentle gestures might make me believe that you also reciprocate my feelings." Her voice was now cracking.
The Nara man clenched his fingers in fist at what she just said. "You are not a bother to me Ino." He tried to remind her. "In the absence of Inoichi, you are my responsibility to take care of." Shikaku told her in a stern manner.
"I don't want to be a responsibility or a burden to anyone!" Ino now cried. "Please! Why do you even want to talk to me when my own friends has abandon me for good!" she spoke wiping her falling tears. "I got to know he came back when I accidently saw him Temari san." She spoke with hiccups.
"Ino..." he spoke softly at the broken girl in front of him. The blonde kunoichi seemed to get a hold of the surrounding and she immediately stopped her tears and washed up the traces.
"I am-I am sorry." She bowed down. "I shouldn't have said that to you, I am sorry." She bowed again.
"There is no need for you to apologize to me Ino. We are humans and we all are supposed to express ourselves. Be thankful that at least you could shred tears for your losses." Shikaku smiled a closed lip smile at the blonde girl that he has known since she was born. "Now lets get you home."
"I mean it Shikaku san." Ino moved away from him extended hand. "Please let me go alone. I promise I will be good." It gave her stomach a weird churn at the words she just said but blinked it away.
"Okay." Shikaku breathed out. "Take care of yourself." He patted her hair and gave a sweet smile that was known to brighten her up when she was younger. This time though, she didn't brighten up. She frowned even more and she ran from him towards the direction of her house.
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New chapter !!!! Please comment what you feel.
