AN: Finally then, the last chapter. It's very short, I'm sorry about that, but I'm not good at writing romance... Besides, I have to study for my finals too ;)

Thank you for reading this far, I hope you enjoyed it!

Chapter 25- Happy endings

Late in the night, or rather, early in the morning, Ino, Shikamaru, Temari and Chouji left Ichiraku's. Ino was swaying slightly, and leaned on Chouji for support.

"You really shouldn't drink that much," Shikamaru said. Ino glared at him.

"I'll decide that for myself, thank you," she snarled. Temari decided to prevent an argument and said:

"Shikamaru, could we take the route through the park?" That way to the campus was longer, but more beautiful, especially in the dark. He shrugged. "Okay."

"I'll take the shorter route," Chouji said, gesturing to Ino who was still leaning on his arms. "This girl needs to get in bed soon."

Ino ignored him proudly. When Temari and Shikamaru had walked into the park and left them all alone, Chouji asked:

"Why did you break up with Temari's brother? I thought you were very happy with him."

Ino frowned. "Kankuro… I didn't want to have a boyfriend anymore. And well, he was happy with me, but I didn't really feel anything special for him. Sure, he's nice and good-looking, but I wasn't in love, y'know?"

Her voice was a bit slurred. Chouji slowly nodded. "I see. So that means you don't want another boyfriend anytime soon?"

She shook her head. "I'm not planning so. I've had it with all those arrogant pretty guys, it's like they're all the same. Sai, Kankuro, all of them only wanted to get me into their beds."

"But Kankuro isn't that kind of person, is he? I'm sure not all guys are like that."

"Perhaps you're right. Haha, you're a guy too of course, and you're nothing like them!"

Ino laughed, and lost her balance for a moment. Chouji quickly put his arm around her middle and supported her.

"Careful," he said. She giggled, and said: "I think Shikamaru was right, I've had a bit too much." Her cheeks were red, and she looked up to Chouji with such a cheerful smile that he felt a pang of regret. Why was this wonderful girl always with the guys who didn't deserve her? Kankuro had been an exception, but Chouji still felt jealous of him.

He said: "Ino, there's something you have to know."

"Do you think this is the right moment to tell me? I might have forgotten it tomorrow!"

He thought that perhaps that would be the best, and continued:

"I like you a lot, Ino. You're one of my best friends, but lately I've noticed that, whenever I look at you, I get butterflies…"

Ino interrupted him. "You can't be serious," she said with large eyes.

"I am. I know that you probably won't feel the same way about me, 'cause I'm not handsome or cool or anything like the other guys are, but I just wanted to tell you."

"Please, Chouji, don't say this. I can't loose you too!"

"You're not losing me, ever," Chouji said. "How could you think that? I'd never leave you."

"B-but if you really feel that way… How can I cope with that? You…"

He turned his head away, unable to stand her shocked look any longer.

"I knew it. You don't like me."

Ino softly placed her hands on his shoulders and forced him to meet her eyes again.

"Chouji, I do like you. It's just that you deserve a good girl who won't give you any trouble, not a v-vulgar girl like me who ch-changes her boyfriend every t-two weeks…" Her lips started trembling. Chouji forgot his own worries and said:

"Ino, don't say that. Whoever told you that you were vulgar was wrong, you're lovely."

"Thanks." She smiled with watery eyes. Chouji sighed.

"But I think I'll be glad if you've forgotten this tomorrow. If you don't love me…"

"You silly," Ino said, laughing again already. "I won't forget something like this. And who said I don't love you too?"

--

Temari glanced over her shoulder, and smiled.

"I think Ino's finally settled down."

Shikamaru raised an eyebrow. "That's good. I was starting to get worried about her, but with Chouji, there's nothing that can go wrong."

"I'm glad," Temari said. "There's a happy ending for everyone, after all."

"I guess so. Except for Kankuro, then."

"Oh, he'll survive. I know him, he'll have another girl in no time," Temari said. "Hey, when we're gonna eat with your parents, should I wear something special?"

"Nah, just something decent. We're not going to a really fancy restaurant, but it is quite chic."

"Okay." Temari sighed. "Man, we've come a long way, haven't we?"

"How do you mean?" Shikamaru asked. "It's not very long from Ichiraku's to here, is it?"

"Haha, not like that!" she laughed. "I mean our time together. When I first came here as exchange student, I had no idea I'd end up with you."

"And, do you regret it?"

"Not at all." She stopped walking and looked around. They were in the middle of the park, stars were peeking through the leaves of the trees around them, and it was all utterly romantic. Temari sighed again, and took Shikamaru's hand.

"It's the best that has ever happened to me," she said, a serious look in her eyes. Shikamaru smiled. "I feel very flattered."

"I'm not kidding. I love you, damn it!" She turned to face him completely, her bright eyes lighting up in the darkness. He took in the sight for a moment, this beautiful girl, telling him she loved him. She was wonderful.

"Temari…" He raised his free hand and carefully brushed her hair away from her forehead. Then he let his fingers slide down over her cheeks, and tilted up her chin.

"This is all so very cliché," he said, but Temari smiled.

"I don't care. Just tell me you love me too, already."

He closed her in his arms. "I love you."

She buried her face in his T-shirt. It struck her again how tall he was.

"I'm worried," Shikamaru said. "What if there's gonna be another Tayuya, a new Hidan? What if we can't make it okay any more?"

"That's not gonna happen," Temari said. "Believe me, it won't."

"How can you be so sure?" he asked. "Maybe you'll meet a funny, handsome boy tomorrow who's everything you ever dreamt of, and…"

"Unless that boy is too smart and lazy for his own good, unless he has a ponytail and earrings and unless he's utterly troublesome, I won't even look at him twice," Temari interrupted. "I thought you would know that by now."

"I know, I know. I'm just scared that I'll lose you, alright? That whole affair with Hidan had me really upset."

"I promise it'll never happen again," Temari said. Shikamaru smiled, but grimaced when she dug her nails into his arms. "What was that for?!"

"As if you were the only one who was upset," she said, looking up at him with narrow eyes. "Really, it's good that Tayuya's gone now."

He swallowed, but she already laughed again. "Silly," she smiled. "Don't ever leave me."

"I won't."

He leaned forwards and placed a light kiss on her forehead.

"Hey, should we tell my parents about our plans for marriage when we see them tomorrow?" he asked jokingly.

"Alright, shall I tell them?" she said. "Then you can tell about my pregnancy when I introduce you to my father."

They laughed, but then Shikamaru leaned forwards to kiss her again, this time on her lips. She answered passionately, and soon they had forgotten everything around them.

Half an hour later, when they quietly sneaked into Shikamaru's room, they were still holding hands.

THE END