50 Shades of Sand

Chapter 21 - Unbelievable

                  "Shikamaru, why are you here?" My voice came out a bit more irritated then I meant for it but damn it. I was hoping it would be Gaara, for kami's sake!

"I want to know what happened." He murmured as he walked in. Go figure.

We sat on the edge of the bed and I began to go in great detail about everything that happened. I discussed my irritation with not being allowed to take part. My interrogation experience. Disobeying the Kazekage twice. As I went on he just stared at me and nodded at some parts. He didn't interrupt me or ask any questions and it nice. I did leave out all the parts with Gaara though. I didn't need to bother him with that. But I did tell him about me always talking to them while they were comatose.

"So then we came here and I ran straight to your room. And boom you woke up and now we're here." I finished off and Shikamaru yawned.

"Jeez, you didn't leave out a single detail." He murmured. Not exactly, Shikamaru.

"Well you asked what happened, didn't you?" I hissed at him and he sighed.

"Yeah, my fault for asking." He mumbled. I looked at the clock and noticed how half an hour went by.

"Yeah, you think you would know by now." I stuck my tongue out at him and a blush crept on his face.

"Ino... what's up with you and the Kazekage?" I inhaled sharply at his sudden question. Can I really tell him?

"What's up with you and Temari?" I shot back at him and he sighed exasperated.

"Ino, why does it matter?"

"Exactly then. Why does it matter about me and Gaara?" I hissed at him and he rolled his eyes at me.

"There's nothing going on between us." He mumbled and I looked at him. For some reason, I just couldn't believe him.

"Same here, there's nothing going on." I mumbled back and Shikamaru stared at me. He gave me that you're-fuckin-kidding-me-right-now look.

"Don't lie, Ino. I saw how he looked at you after he said good-bye. You stared at that same spot for another minute when he left. There's something going on." He was serious and I felt anger growing in me.

"Why do you care, Shikamaru?" I shouted at him and he jumped back a bit. "There's nothing going on. The same as there's nothing going on between you and Temari." I hissed and Shikamaru looked at me and shook his head. He seemed in deep thought. As if he caught on to something.

"I think it's best if I go now." He mumbled and began to get up.

"Yeah, me too." I replied as I followed him to the door. He opened the door then stopped to look back at me over his shoulder.

"If what you say is true. Then there's something going on alright." He replied before disappearing through the door. I stood there dumbfounded. Then that must mean something's going on between him and Temari.

"Shikamaru!" I called out as I jumped out in the hallway. But I was too late, he was already gone and out of sight. "Ah, you're right." I mumbled as I walked back into my room. I decided maybe now was the best time to go to bed.

I crawled into the bed and stared at the ceiling. After two hours of tossing and turning, I sat up with a cry. It just wasn't the same. I've slept with Gaara for the past week and there was no way I could revert to sleeping alone. I listened to the sound of the wind hitting the walls. I feel like it has been forever since I heard that sound. How am I going to sleep if I can't even sleep a night without him. I wanted to cry, to kick and scream. I wanted him here but I couldn't just walk out to the living area and make him go to bed. I'm in my own guest room alone.