Chapter 1

It was a perfect summer day, cool breeze, fluffy white clouds, and well of coarse the warmness of the sun. A young five year old Shikamaru laid in his usual favorite spot for watching clouds. He inhaled some of the fresh air and then exhaled giving off a sigh. 'I'm glad clouds aren't troublesome.' He thought. His mother's voice rang through his head like an annoying alarm 'Shikamaru you better be home by 3:00, not a minute later!!' she told him before he left the house, "Women are so troublesome" he told himself. He sat up and looked at the village clock that was in a distance. 'It's already 2:30 if I leave now I won't have to rush and should arrive right on time.' He thought.

He made his way home just as he planned. He walked rather sluggish, not really caring who bumped into him, his eyes just focused on the clouds above him. He stopped in front of his house and gave a deep sigh. Before entering his house he heard somewhat of loud voices on the other side of the door, one voice being his father's the other voice though was new to him. He walked through the door to be greeted by loud laughter from his and the unknown man. "I'm home !!" Shika yelled making sure they heard him. "Good, Shikamaru get in here, you have to meet someone" his father said, 'Great new acquaintances, how troublesome' he thought before entering the living room.

He walked in dragging his feet on the floor, "Shikamaru stop dragging your feeet" his mother scolded him. His answer was a sigh and picked up his step. His father grabbed him by the back of his neck to hurry him. Shika looked at the man sitting on the sofa in front of him. The man's hair was long and a light blonde, it was also put back in a ponytail. The man gave him a gentle smile. "Shikamaru this is Yamanka Inoishi (A/N I'm pretty sure that's Ino's fathers name, and if it isn't o well, it is in is story) a good friend of mine a former teammate" his father told him. "Hello" replied the young shadow boy. "Hello Shikamaru, how old are you?" the man asked ruffeling the boy's hair. Shikamaru pushed back the strands of hair that fell out of place. "I'm five" he responded.

Just then a young platinum blonde child came out of the bathroom. She had shoulder lengthed hair, her bangs held back back with a hair clip. She had on an orange dress with a giant yellow flower in the center. Her eyes were a light sky blue. She walked over to everyone else. "Oh sweetie this is Nara Shikamru, Shikaku's son." The girl's father said. "Shikamaru, this is Yamanaka Ino, Inoishi's daughter, she's the same age as you." His father told him. Shikamaru looked her over from head to toe and then gave a quiet annoyed snort 'Just another troublesome woman' he thought. He felt something grab his hand. He looked and saw it was Ino's hand "Nice to meet you Shila-kun" Ino sai smiling at him. Shikamaru rubbed the back of his head and nodded "Yea same here" he said with a small blush on his face.

His mother smiled from her son's response, she expected him to be somewhat rude being she was a girl and that she was "troublesome" as her son always put things. "Honey why don't you take Inp-chan up to your room and play a game with her" his mother suggested. He looked at his mother 'why does she always want me to do troublesome things' he looked back at Ino and then at his mother again 'might as well, I don't want her yelling at me later' he thought. "Yea sure" he responded lazily, his mother a little unpleased by his usual lazy tone voice. The shadow boy notised this and sighed, he grabbed Ino's hand "I'll show you the way to my room" he said somewhat dragging her a little. He figured if he held Ino's hand it would balance out how he responded to his mother before and the troublesome woman wouldn't be angry anymore. His mother seemed pleased but no one ever knew for sure.

As soon as they reached his room upstairs Shika immediately got on his bed and laid down. Ino looked around his room his room. It was nothing special grayish blue walls, a navy blue carpet, dresser, nightstand, bed, and then some toys scattered on the floor.

Ino looked at the young boy "Are you tired Shika-kun?" she asked walking up to the lying down boy. "No not really" he said bluntly. "Then do you want to play something?" she asked. "To troublesome" was his only response. Ino then thought she'd try a different approach "Do you have any dolls we can play with?" she asked. Shikamaru looked at her, well actually he pretty much glared "I'm a boy why would I have dolls?" he said with an annoyed sarcastic tone of voice. She sat on the edge of the bed next to him and watched as she kicked her feet back and forth. "Yea I guess your right, but Shika-kun can't we do something , I've been here a while and I've had to sit and listen to the adults talk" He remained silent laying on his bead, he thought about all the times he had to do the same thing Ino did when his mother forced him to go over one of her friends's homes. It was never fun always boring, he wouldn't even be able to go outside and watch the clouds. He looked at Ino and saw the upset and bored look on her face. He sighed "Okay what do you want to do Ino?" he asked. Ino smile "You'll play with me?" she asked. Shika nodded "Yea I know how it feels being a room full of adults, it's not fun." He said. Shikamaru felt something clasp around his neck, it was Ino hugging him, he blushed slightly "Thank-you Shika-kun" He sighed and shoved her a little to get her off "yea, yea whatever." Ino giggled at his reaction.

She then looked around his room again to find something they can do. How it looked they could only play with his toys without disturbing the adults downstairs. "Well lets play with your toys then" she said getting on the floor by the scattered toys. "Fine by me", he replied. He joined her sitting on the floor across from where she was sitting. "Ok let's have a race with your cars, I'll be the white one and you can be this one" she said handing him a blue and yellow car. Shikamaru looked at the car in her hand "But I don't wanna be this one, I want to be this one" he said picking up a light green one. Ino looked at the car he picked "No Shika-kun you have to be the one I handed you" she said handing back the other car. "Why do I have to be this one?" he asked with a scowl on his face. "Well duh! Because the two cars are rivals for fame and fortune and all rivals have to face each other." Ino said rolling her eyes. 'More like you just want your way' he thought. He was the car Ino chose for him anyway, he figured it was no use arguing with a troublesome girl. "Ok they'll race to your bed post and circle back around" she said. She grabbed a pencil that was on the floor and placed it straight. "This will be the start and finish line ok" she said. He nodded his head in agreement. They both put their cars by the pencil. "Ok on your mark, get, set, GO!" she said. They moved the car with their hands while crawling beside them. Ino made car sounds while racing her car and made a screeching sound when she made her car turn around. Shikamaru on the other hand just pushed his car without any noise. Shikamaru ended up winning the "race". "You cheated Shika-kun!" she whined by her loss. "No I didn't, How can I cheat when your controlling the car?" Ino somewhat growled at his response, she was about to say something but was interrupted by her father calling her, "Ino it's time to go" after hearing her father she stood up "Shika-kun will you walk downstairs with me?" she asked waiting for his reply "Yea I guess" he stood up and both walked out of his room and downstairs.

Ino stood next to her father and Shikamaru next to his parents. "Thanks again for what your doing, my wife and I really appreciate it" Ino's father said shaking his old friend's hand. Ino looked at Shikamaru and then went up and hugged him "Bye Shika-kun, don't worry I'll be back tomorrow 'kay" she said. Shikamru slightly blushed and shoved her a little, "What do you mean?" he asked. Ino smiled "I'm going to be staying with you for an entire week" she said. "Wha.." His eyes grew wide with somewhat shock. And with that Ino and her father left.

Shikaku stood at the doorway watching his former teammate and daughter walk off and then he walked back, shutting the door behind him. He looked down and saw a very upset Shikamaru, "What's the matter son, is there a reason to your pouting?" he asked rubbing his hand on his son's head. "I'm not pouting! Why is she going to be here an entire week?" he asked starting to raise his voice. "Well Inoichi and his wife are going on a recovery mission together and he asked if your mother and I would watch Ino while they were gone, and I accepted his request" his father stated calmly. "But I don't like her! She's loud and bossy! And just like every other women she's troublesome!!" Shika yelled. "You seemed to get along with her when she was here, of course I am just going by the way she hugged you before she left" his father said with a smirk. Shikamaru blushed. "Exactly how troublesome is she if you allowed her to hug you?" his father asked. The young shadow boy crossed his arms and looked the other way "Whatever" he replied.

The next morning Shikamaru awoke to the sound of his mother's constant nagging, "Shikamaru wake up this instant, I don't mean an hour from now, I mean right now!" she yelled. Shikamaru put his head under his pillow in an attempt to drown out his mother's voice, but it worked to no avail. His eyes were now wide open. It wasn't wise to go back to sleep he thought so instead he laid in bed his blanket thrown off and the pillow still on his head.

He remembered that Ino was coming today for her week long visit, which was something he really wasn't looking forward to. He sighed "Bathroom" he spoke. He walked out of his room and into the hallway bathroom which was across from his room.

He stood in the doorway for his mother was cleaning the bathroom. "Mom I need to go" he said already starting to pull down his pajama pants. "Well you can't go here right now, go use me and your father's bathroom." She said scrubbing the inside of the toilet with the toilet brush. He sighed and walked to his parents room and then into their bathroom.

He was just about to go when his mother yelled "Nara Shikamaru you better lift that seat, I already had to clean your little pee stains on this one!" (A/N those with brother's know what I'm talking about sigh) "hmm" he growled. He did as his mother told him and lifted the seat and did his business. He left his parent's room and walked past the hallway bathroom. "Did you wash your hands?" his mother asked. He lied "yea" "Come here then and let me smell your hands" she smelt them and of coarse smelt no soap. Her eyes narrowed at him "Shikamaru go to that sink and wash them" she said pointing towards the sink. He sighed and began washing his hands.

He finished and was about to leave when his mother called him back again "Shika come here" she said in a more gentle tone rather than her normal angry tone. He turned back around and walked up to his kneeling mother who was now face to face with his.

He sighed "yea". She kissed his forehead "Your breakfast is downstairs go and eat then come back upstairs and take a shower then put clean clothes on 'kay" she said. Shikamaru gave his mother a small grin and nodded his head "yea ok thank you for the breakfast." He said and kissed his mother softly on the cheek.

This was a very rare occurrence between the two but when it did happen both were happy.

As Shika left the bathroom his mother tapped his rear end and smiled "Go on now" she said. With that the young shadow boy walked out of the bathroom and down the stairs. His father was already in the kitchen washing dishes. Shikamaru pulled out his chair and sat on the old books that were there to give him a boost to reach the table.

"Hurry and finish son so I can wash those plates" his father told him. Shikamaru looked at his plate and saw a waffle cut into small pieces with syrup poured on the top of them. He had one or two strawberries and a glass of milk. He began to eat one piece of waffle after another until he was finished then moved onto his strawberries and then onto his milk.

When he finished he got up and left his dirty dishes there. "Shikamaru bring me your dishes" Shikaku said. With an annoyed sigh Shika did as his father said ' no matter what gender all parents are troublesome' he told himself. He went upstairs and did what his mother told him before.

Afterward he walked inside his room and saw that his window was opened 'I guess mom did that' he thought. He walked over to the window and looked out at the clouds. He gazed at them for a while until he was interrupted by a loud familiar voice. He looked down on the street and saw Ino and her father. A scowl appeared on his face "hmm…great she's here" he said. A few moments later he heard the opening of the front door and his parents welcoming both Yamanaka's.

"Shikamaru!" his mother called. Shika sighed "This week will be troublesome" he self predicted. As he walked downstairs he saw Ino looking up with her sky blue eyes, she had a smile on her face at that. She ran up to him and hugged him "Shika-kun! I missed you so much!" she said. He snorted "Yea" he said and pushed her away a little.

Inoichi put his daughters suitcase down "Ino come say bye to Papa, your mother an I are running late for their mission" her father said bending down to her level. She went over to her father and wrapped his arms around his neck hugging him. "Bye Papa I love you" Inoishi held his daughter "I love you too sweetie, now be good for the Nara's and Papa and Mama will be back in a week 'kay." He told her. "Papa, tell Mama too, to be careful" she said still embracing her father. Tears started forming in her eyes. "Please don't leave me forever" she said starting to sob. Inoishi sighed and smiled gently "You know your mother and I would never leave you, don't worry we'll return I promise" he said kissing her on the cheek. "now wipe your tears and no crying" he said wiping her tears with his thumb. Ino nodded and smiled.

Inoishi stood up in his place. Shikamaru looked at this more softer side of Ino that he didn't get to see yesterday. He only saw the bossy, loud side of her. He looked away. "Thanks again Shikaku for everything, this really means a lot to me. Please take good care of her. I'll see you in a week" he said giving one last wave to his daughter. Ino waved back one last tear streaming down her face but then wiped it away smiling. Shikaku waved goodbye "Be careful" he told his friend as Inoishi walked out the door "of course" Inoishi replyed.

As soon as he walked out and onto the street Shikaku closed the dorr behind him. He turned around to his wife and saw her already grabbing Ino's luggage, "Come on dear" she said grabbing her hand, "I'll show you where you'll be staying." "OK thank-you Mrs.Nara" Ino said following her upstairs.

Shikaku watched as both ewnt up. He looked at Shikamaru "Well I gotta go see the Hokage, he says he has a mission for me, see you at dinner son and tell your mother I'm sorry for not saying bye but I'm in a rush." He said grabbing his vest and starting to walk out the door "Can I go out for a little bit" Shika asked. "Now you see that I'm about to leave, so go ask your mother" Shikaku said closing the door behind him. Shikamaru sighed and walked upstairs. He heard his mother's and Ino's voice coming from his room.

He walked inside and saw his mother putting another pillow on his bed, "What's going on?" he asked. His mother looked at him "Well Ino will be staying in your room with you and you both will be sharing a bed." She said. Shikamaru glared "Why can't she just sleep on the couch?" he asked annoyed. His mother just gave him a death glare and that's when he knew not to irritate his mother any further, "Well anyway, Mom can I go out for a little bit?" he asked. "Fine, but be back before dinner do you understand?" she said. "Yea,Yea" he responded. He was about to turn and leave until his mother called him back "Shikamaru, why don't you bring Ino along?" she asked. He knew she wasn't asking, she was telling. "Ok fine" he said. Ino smiled and then clasped onto his arm.

They walked outside, "Can you please get off of me it's to hot." the young shadow boy said. "Oh sorry...so Shika-kun where are we going?" Ino asked letting go of his arm. Shikamaru sighed "same place I always go...no one knows about...well I think they don't, I never see anyone else there. Which is good because then it would be troublesome." he blankly stated. "Do you always hangout by yourself?" Ino asked. "For the most part...playing with the other kids can be troublesome...so sometimes I play with them" he said. Ino smiled "Oh at first I thought you didn't have any friends" Shikamaru looked at the clouds and sighed "I don't consider them my friends" Ino stopped "What do you mean Shika-kun?" she asked. Shikamaru stopped but kept looking at the clouds "They're kids I hangout with..nothing more" and then he continued to walk. Ino caught up to him and they continued to walk. .

They finally reached the bench on the veranda where he normally watched clouds. He layed down and watched them. Ino sat beside him and looked up at the clouds also. A cool breeze blew on their faces. "A flower" Ino softly spoke. Shikamaru looked up at Ino and saw her pointing up. "What?" he asked. "A flower, that cloud looks like a flower, see?" she kept pointing at up. Shikamaru looked at the cloud she was pointing at. It had a somewhat similar shape to a flower. "Do you see a shape in the clouds Shika-kun?"she asked. He looked around and saw a cloud with somewhat of a cat head shape. He pointed "There. That cloud looks somewhat like a cat head." je said. They sat there for about an hour making shapes out of clouds. "This is fun huh Shika-kun?" Ino looked at him. "hn" was his only reply. Ino giggled at his reply. She was starting to get used to his one sound or one word answers.

They were silent for a moment the Ino spoke "Hey Shika-kun" Shikamaru looked up at Ino "yea" "Is this your favorite place to come to?" she asked. "uum yea I guess so" "Ok that's all I needed to know, come with me, I'll show you my favorite spot" she said grabbing his hand. 'Oh great its probably some troublesome girl store' he thought, 'so why am I going without a fight?' They passed several stores that most young girl's Ino's age would go in but that's exactly what they did, the passed, they didn't enter the shops. "Ino,where are you taking me?" he asked. "You'll see when we get there, don't worry it will only take a few more minutes" Shikamaru snorted.

Like she said it was only a couple more minutes and they arrived. a light breeze blew passed Shikamaru's face. The wind had a sweet smell to it. Shikamaru gazed at his surrounding. It was a spring green field with hundreds of flowers. You canonly hear slight sounds from the village since they were a good distance away.

"This is you favorite spot?" the brown headed buy asked. Ino nodded "yep...I love coming here to pick flowers." she sat down on the grass. Shika stood hovering above her for a few seconds before actually sitting down next to her. She picked a flower and lifted it to her nose smelling its sweet scent. She brought her knees to her chest and then wrapped one arm around her legs. The other hand still held the flower while having it dangle in between her fingers. "Shika-kun can I ask you something..." Shikamru looked at the girl. "I guess, what is it?" "Before when you said that you don't consider most kids you play with your friends..."Ino sighed before continuing"does that include me?" She looked at him with disappointment in her eyes. he gave a heavy sigh " well since I've only known you for about two days I don't really know" he said. Ino looked down at Shika's hands. In his grasp were several flowers that were light pinks, purples, and blues' He continued "But from what I've seen your alright for a troublesome girl." Ino gave a small grin somewhat upset by the answer but yet also happy that he's at least giving her a chance.

Shika looked at the village clock and noticed it was almost time for dinner. He stood up still holding the small bouquet of flowers. "Well we should get going or my mom will really get mad if we're late for dinner" he held out his hand to help her up. She wiped off her dress from any dead grass or dirt that might have gotten on it. "hey Ino..." he said. Ino looked at him and noticed his hand which was holding the flowers was sticking straight out to her,"here these are for you, I'm a boy so I really shouldn't carry flowers around..you know" his head was turned away from the young kunoichi for he was slightly blushing. Her eys grew wide and so did her smile. She hulred her body at Shikamru hugging him, she ended up tackling him to the ground "Thank-you Shika-kun!" "Ino get off of me" he said shoving her off. She giggled "Sorry Shika-kun your just the first boy to ever give me anything" she said. "Well it doesn't mean anything, it's just that boys shouldn't be seen with flowers" he was still blushing a little then said "Come on lets get going before we're late" Ino nodded her head in agreement.