Sorry this is really short update! I'm procrastinating... I should be studying for a chem test tomorrow ugh.

Btw, CHAPTER 613... OMG OMG OMGOMGOMGOMGOMG I seriously was like ugh.

Awkward felt almost tangible in the space between them. Actually, Shikamaru knew it was tangible. He could feel the awkward between sips of ramen broth and slurps of noodles, and he knew Ino could feel it too. How had things come to this? To escalate from "family friends" to "teammates" to "companions" to "closest friends" to "family" to… whatever this was.

He knew Ino as his teammate, as the one who always had his back. One who whined and shouted a little loudly, and was brash and cunning and flirty and liked to nag. Looking at her as… a woman made him unsure of how to treat her.

Think, Shikamaru, think, he prepared himself mentally. You are Konoha's genius! You are a strategy man… just breathe. Just treat her like you've always treated her, right? That worked before, why not now?

Well the circumstances are different, another voice in his head pointed out. If she realizes that you're treating her like a friend when she wants something else, she won't forgive you for it. He shuddered. He remembered the last time he had disappointed Ino quite well, and he hoped to never experience such a thing like that again.

The two finished their bowls of noodles in silence, until Ino let out a satisfying and feminine sigh, leaning back in her chair. "Thanks pops!" she called to Mr. Ichiraku. She picked her purse off of the back of her stool and tapped Shikamaru on the shoulder. "Shika will pick up the tab!"

Shikamaru cocked an eyebrow. Pops? Had she visited Ichiraku's enough to refer to Mr. Ichiraku as "pops"? And wait, HE was paying?

Grumbling under his breath, "it was her idea…" "she was the one who wanted to come here…" "I would've been fine eating at home…" and other variations of such, Shikamaru fumbled around in his father's jacket pocket to find bills. He paid Mr. Ichiraku, who winked at him.

"Have fun with your lady there. She's a catch!" he whispered.

Shikamaru nodded uneasily. "Y-yes sir," he stammered.

"Shika!" Ino waved at him from outside the shop impatiently. "C'mon, let's walk around town!"

He followed after her, stuffing his hands in his pants' pockets. They walked around in the middle of town for awhile—since it was nighttime, the streets were nearly empty, except for a few stray pedestrians who fluttered off to their homes or to a nearby bar.

Ino and Shikamaru walked side by side, their hands brushing against each other's every few seconds or so. Shikamaru felt a blush creeping onto his cheeks. What was going on? He wasn't the type to get embarrassed, or nervous around girls, let alone Ino.

Suddenly, Ino stopped in her tracks and turned towards him. "Oi, Shikamaru." Her blue orbs met his chocolate brown ones.

He grunted in reply. "Hm?"

She intertwined her fingers with his. "Let's go to your favorite spot." She pulled him off into the direction that Shikamaru often found himself wandering to every day. His favorite spot—and she knew.

The rooftop where he would lay staring at clouds. Except it was nighttime, and there wouldn't be any clouds. Ino probably just wanted the privacy. She visited him sometimes, with and without Chouji, and sometimes they would just lay there in silence. She would nuzzle her head against his or Chouji's chest and fall asleep. He didn't mind. He felt content.

But why would she want to go there? For more privacy…?

Dirty thoughts immediately filled his mind.

If Ino knew, she would slap him. He thanked Kami that she didn't learn how to read minds yet.

Sorry it's short. And kind of sucky, for lack of better words. Anyway, please review and let me know what you think! Check out my other stories if you haven't yet:)