The final chapter of my first fan fiction. Wow. I feel like I've accomplished something like becoming queen of France (I have crazy dreams). Thanks to the good people who review me. You guys don't know how much it means to me. It's touching. This last chappie's dedicated to the authors who reviewed me more than once: they deserve an award or something.

Disclaimer: If I owned Naruto, this wouldn't be here. I also don't own Cabbage Patch Dolls.

CHAPTER SEVEN: Don't Cry… Please.

Four a.m. wasn't a good time.

Anytime wasn't a good time, actually.

Why was she calling him at this time?

He hurt her feelings last night so why doesn't she hate him?

Shikamaru blocked the ringing of his cellphone by slamming his pillow onto the phone, which was on his bedside table.

He threw the covers over his head and shouted in annoyance, "Argh! That troublesome woman! When will she give up?"

He buried his head under another pillow, slowly wishing he could pick up the phone and talk to her. The only thing stopping him was:

Fear. Fear of rejection and anything fired by an angry Ino… including cannon balls heading straight for him.

Soon, the ringing halted. Shikamaru sighed in relief. At that, he shut his eyelids, forcing himself to sleep.

"Finally," he muttered, "She finally gave up. I just hope she doesn't…"

Before he could finish the sentence, his phone rang again.

"…try to call again." Shikamaru finished his sentence.

Out of irritation, Shikamaru took his phone, groggily walked down the stairs, entered the kitchen and placed his phone inside the fridge beside the orange juice.

The vibrating reached the outside world but the ringing was muffled enough to be softer than a whisper. Contented yet regretful, Shikamaru smirked and made his way through the dim living room, on his way to go up the stairs when something out the window caught his eye…

"Ino?" he murmured in surprise.

Yeah, Ino was outside his window, her phone on her ear. She had her knuckles knocking on the glass. Her face was either pissed or worried.

Shikamaru didn't have the heart to pretend to not see her. And besides, Ino made an effort to walk blocks from her home just to get to his house. Shouldn't he even make an effort to even let her in?

'I'm definitely going to be sorry for this…' he thought, 'But, she's just so desperate to talk to me. What's with?'

He turned the knob and swung the door ajar, careful not to sound too eager to see her and not to indifferent so he wouldn't upset her.

"What?" Shikamaru greeted at first glance at her. Ino didn't answer immediately. She first pocketed her phone then coughed a little, diverting her gaze from Shikamaru's bare feet (what a lazy guy to even be too lazy to even put his slippers on) till Shikamaru's dark, captivating brown eyes.

"Uh…" Ino began, holding out her hand, "Congrats."

Shikamaru made a confused look, "…Hunh?"

Ino firmed her hand and said, "Neji and Tenten… The challenge… It was a success. The two went home together. I… saw."

Shikamaru didn't look interested but inside, he was so glad his plan worked. He looked at her out-stretched hand then shook it. Ino gave a pissed look and took her hand away, "I didn't want you to shake it, Shika!"

Rolling his eyes, Shikamaru groaned, "Then why'd you even hold it out?"

He was wasting time. He'd rather be at bed, catching up with his sleep. In his opinion, she was wasting time. Wasting time coz she's still stalling before she confronts him.

Ino held out her hand again then said

"I wanted you to hold my hand and walk with me."

Shikamaru's jaw almost dropped. "Walk?" Shikamaru muttered, "Walk at 4 a.m.? Ino… be reasonable or something…"

Ino still held her hand out, persistent. She didn't give in. Her pout paired with pleading eyes were more than what could convince Shika to go with her. She looked like an adorable Cabbage Patch doll.

Shikamaru did want to go with her but he wanted know if it'll be worth it, "…Exactly why?"

Ino didn't shift emotions or expressions, "Walking with you," she went on, "…will make me happy, Shika."

Shikamaru didn't have to hear anything more.

He'd do anything just to find Ino happy.

He nodded and mumbled something about 'dressing up to decent clothes' and murmuring something about 'how incongruous he looked in his pajamas'. Letting Ino in, Shikamaru was hoping that she wouldn't confront him during their walk.

Once he was ready, they went off to walk together.

"Thanks, Shika," Ino gratefully said as they passed the closed stores of Konoha, "I needed to be with someone badly and I thought maybe you'd be that person."

Shikamaru just nodded, but inside, he was panicking. His brain stopped ticking. His stomach felt like it's digesting boiled fried monitor lizard gizzards (those stuff are real rubbery and difficult to digest, I heard). His lungs seemed like they inhaled tobacco smoke twenty times. And his heart felt like stopping.

"Ino…" he mumbled, trying to say something, "I just need to get this off my chest, okay?"

Ino looked at Shikamaru with total concern and said, "Huh? What's the problem? Can I help?"

Shikamaru gulped hard. He felt like the world was balanced on a thinning pole and he had a chainsaw and a choice of cutting it down or not… and he wanted to cut it down.

"It's… not a problem, I guess. I dunno. But, it's definitely something… And…" Shikamaru didn't know how to act normal at that point, "I don't think you'll help…"

Ino made a brow rise and said, "Is… this related to last night?"

Shikamaru swallowed hard then nodded silently.

"Oh… I see." She made a tiny baby smile (the ones that Shikamaru loved) and tried not to look like she wanted him to just shut up.

Shikamaru breathed deeply and said, "I'm… sorry I told you those things that probably hurt you and…"

Ino sharply turned to face him and said, "No, Shika, it's alright. I get hurt all the time."

Shikamaru shook his head, saying, "That's not the point! What I mean is, I'm sorry I said that I wanted to get away from you and all. I didn't know what came over me. And I guess you hate me right now…"

"Hate you?" Ino repeated, "Shika, I just said that walking with you will make me happy. I have no right or reason to hate you even after what you said last night."

Shikamaru was getting confused by the minute, despite his genius-ness (is this a word? lol). And Ino could tell so.

"Shika," Ino began to say, "You're my best friend. You're always there to support me, protect me, comfort me and even buy dirty magazines for me even if they thought you were gay when you did. After all you've done for me, I'd never hate you."

Everything Ino was saying made Shikamaru wish he could cry in front of her but with the pride of a man (stifling my laughter), he couldn't. He wouldn't.

"I asked you to walk with me about that, though." Ino admitted.

Shikamaru's eyes widened in anxiety. "I figured," he murmured.

Ino then said, "Tell me honestly, Shika: Why were you blushing whenever we looked at each other?"

How insensitive of Ino to ask. She had a hunch but she wanted the truth to come from him.

Shikamaru felt weird. He wanted to just run off another direction, move to the Waterfall Village and change his name. In other words, he didn't want to answer. But, again, the pleading eyes of Ino forced it out of him:

"Don't hate me after this, swear? Alright… Ino… I love you, okay? I know it's stupid of me but I guess a guy can't help it. You were really addicted to Sasuke and every time… almost all the time… you'd break my heart when you swoon over Sasuke."

Ino gaped back. Shikamaru was too honest.

"Whenever you'd get upset over him, I always give you advice, right?" he continued, "But you probably didn't know that I needed advice myself." Shikamaru was already sobbing, too, but he kept it silent, "Sasuke makes you sad a lot and since that's the case, I promised myself that I'll be the one to make you glad no matter what it takes."

Ino now understood a lot. She could feel Shikamaru sob and at that, out of curiosity, she said, "It's real gutsy to tell me that, Shika. Wow. But… why did you tell me the truth? I expected maybe a white lie to cover it up."

Shikamaru turned to Ino then said, "Friends don't lie to each other. I know you wouldn't understand so you can maybe confront me but please… don't snub or ignore me just coz of this…"

"I won't," Ino said, "Coz I feel the same way."

Shikamaru's world and breath stopped, "Holy son of my mother…"

With her cheery smile, Ino nodded and said, "Yeah, Shikamaru. It's true. I love you."

Shikamaru's blush was as red as Ino's lipstick… but pinker (lol). He couldn't breath. Either he was dreaming or he was dead. "Shika! Shika! Inhale! Breathe!" Ino screamed when she noticed Shikamaru's bluish face.

"A-Are you serious? No joking, Ino, please!" Shikamaru said, astonished yet unsure.

Ino hugged him and said, "Aw, Shika, I wouldn't lie to you! We're best friends!"

He made a great toothy smile then looked into her eyes, despite the blushing he'd undergo, "Then, would you mind if I did this?"

He cupped her chin, lifted it slightly then made his lips meet hers.

Ino closed her eyes and wrapped her arms around his broad shoulders. It was a nice, warm embrace amid the chilly morning breeze.

After breaking the kiss, Ino said, "I don't mind."

--End of Chapter and Story—

I know the ending's a little lame with less humor and more cavity sweetness but I guess it's worth a review. :D. Thanks for the reviews, btw. Love you guys! Wait for my next fanfics!