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tampered2007-02-24 11:16 pm
lazy-kage-mane.livejournal.com) wrote in tampered2007-02-24 11:16 pm
Log: Complete
When; Feb. 21st
Rating; PG-13 for language and slight violence
Characters; Greed[![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
so_very_greedy], Nara Shikamaru[lazy_kage_mane], Yamanaka Ino[lovelyyamanaka]
Summary; After stumbling across Ino and Greed out on a dinner date, Shikamaru is rather perturbed to realize that he has a big problem with that.
Log;
Greed entered the small sushi restaurant ahead of Ino, making sure it was on the up and up. You never could tell with the places in the underground. The line between posh and poverty was very thin.
"Come on in, babe," he said, grasping her hand and leading the way to the hostess. After a bit of haggling with her for a good spot, they ended up in a private booth, with slow shamisen music playing softly in the speakers. He handed her a menu and gestured to the waiter for a drink menu. "I'm glad you could come out tonight. I missed ya', chick! Your friends did, too."
Ino smiled geniuinely at the man sitting across the table from her. No matter what anyone said, he knew how to treat women, even if he was cavorting with a good many. But, Ino never faulted him for that, not one moment--if the man wanted to spread his love around, then by God, why not let him.
Being stuck in a place like this, there's only so much you can do to keep your spirits aloft, and she couldn't count how many times he had kept her spirits high for her. Looking about herself, she nodded to his remark, bringing herself into the conversation. "I missed you a lot, too. As well as the others...Going home was kinda strange." She continued to look at the decor, continuing. "It's interesting that there is a place like this in the Underground. I never would have expected it."
He nodded and looked around, then turned back to her.
"It's strange like that. If you keep your eye out, you can find these small, tucked away places that are actually good for people to go to.
No danger or anything. Nice places. Classy places." An attractive young waitress placed down hot wash clothes and chopsticks, as well as dipping bowls and soy sauce. She also handed out two slips of paper to each of them, with different kinds of food listed. Greed orderd four bottles of hot sake and some tea, to start with. "You deserve the best I can find," he said, reaching across the table to take her much smaller hand in his, "Because I believe that a young woman's life should be filled with flowers and passion. All the things that ninjas do seem kinda' counterproductive to that." He brought the hand to his lips and kissed her palm, then between her fingers.
Running a hand through black hair pulled into a spiky ponytail, the lanky shinobi sat at the bar, tossing back a glass of....well, he wasn't sure quite WHAT it was, exactly. Either way, it wasn't as though he planned on having many more of them. Afterall, he certainly wasn't his father. In fact, he had no intention of becoming his father, either. A sigh as he scratched his head. Why had he come here in the first place, anyway? Shikamaru really had no idea. But...he was here now, and there was sake and there was food, and it was just too damned troublesome to actually get up and leave after he'd taken the time to come. With a yawn, he waved a hand at the bartender. "Oi....just....something that's edible. I don't care what."
Ino smiled at Greed's words, feeling a slight heat cross her face as a blush appeared. "Well..yeah....Ours is a bloody profession. Sometimes, I don't feel like I even have time to be a girl," she said while taking the hot towel and cleaning her hands with it, then folded it up neatly, and placed it back where it came. "My family ran a flower shop back in Konoha, but a lot of the time we weren't selling flowers for happy reasons." She looked down at the table, with a small sigh. "It's nice to be taken out like this. I kinda like this city," She looked up at Greed once more, a congenial smile once again crossing her face. "No missions, no huge horrific happenings, well most of the time, and best of all, I've met new people...and can finally live like I've wanted to. I miss my family, but I feel so...free here." She turned her eyes down to the food choices upon the little slip, reading over them with a small, undecisive look. She turned her eyes down to the food choices upon the little slip, reading over them with a small, undecisive look. "It all looks so good....what do you recommend?"
"I like the eel, fatty tuna, and a few of the lighter rolls. Not a fan of wasabi though. Too hot!"
He laughed and slid over to sit beside her. If there was one thing about Greed, it was that he had no problem with displays of affecton. A fact he quickly proved by putting an arm around her waist and resting it on her thigh. With he put her other hand in his and guided it over the list.
"Sometimes you have to experiment with different things to find out what ya' like. Very trial and error-type stuff. Have a little taste, see if you like it, and just repeat the process for other foods."
He used her hand and ticked off orders for salmon, tuna, eel, and several varieties of roll, as well as two orders of miso soup. The waitress didn't seem too affected by his obviously amorous nature, and went about getting their meal. "Hope you don't mind me takin' the lead, Ino-chan," he said, tilting her chin up toward him with his hand.
Brown eyes narrowed in a frown. He knew that voice...Turning around slightly, he suppressed a growl as his eyes found Greed and Ino. He didn't really trust the other man anyway and this only made it worse. Jealousy was a bit of a new thing for the tall shadow-user, being normally too troublesome. But...lazy though he may be, Nara Shikamaru also had a decent possessive streak. And so he leaned back in the chair, one hand reaching out to grab a fistful of Greed's hair and yank his head back away fro Ino. "Back off, pal."
Ino's eyes widened at this. She blinked, and her mouth fell open like something reminiscent of what they were going to eat. She struggled for words, but was much to shocked to say anything at first. Finally, her voice kicked itself out of the box that her throat confined it in, and pushed upward. "Shikamaru! Stop it! What the hell are you doing?" She readied a hand, still quite aghast at his forwardness. "Shikamaru, this is nothing like you...you never do these type of things. It's always mendokuse." Her hand trembled, as she fought over what to do with it. Should she smack him, or should she just wait and watch what occurred? Why would Shikamaru, of all people, start a scene in a restaurant? When she and Sakura used to get into it in public, he would always walk away. And now, here he was, doing the exact same thing he had hated for her to do. Biting her lip, she finally let her hand catch air, smacking him across the face. "Snap the fuck out of it!"
Greed was waiting with his lips slightly open, but eventually realized that his kiss wasn't coming. He began to feel the slight tingle at the back of his head as the boy tugged at his hair. HIS...FUCKING...HAIR! As far as he was concerned, only a lover could do that, and only because he liked it like that. This ugly, ill-tempered little human had to be out of his mind! He turned around and gripped the hand on his head, as he heard the smack of palm against face. "Shikamaru..." he said, knowing him by scent before focusing on his face, "You've got THREE GODDAMNED SECONDS TO RELEASE MY HEAD." Greed growled with a sound like a bull gator in mating season. A deep, guttural sound that vibrated the table. His eyes turned to feral slits and he locked them on the smaller male. "Can't ya' see I'm with my sweet lady? Back the fuck off before I toss you out the front door."
Brown eyes opened wide at the crack of a palm across his face, flashing to the blonde at the other end of the hand with something akin to hurt in their depths. Ungrateful woman, didn't she see that he was making a scene, going through all that troublesome effort to do something that he had been told most girls considered "romantic", that thing being rescuing said "fair damsel" from the clutches of the devious player? And he got SLAPPED for it! Hurt pride warred with the desire to simply sigh, shrug, roll his eyes and walk out as he stared down Ino. Unfortunately, there was a decent amount of interference in the form of Greed. Narrowing his eyes in a frown, he gave a final tug before releasing the other man's hair. "Hard to throw what you can't get your hands on. And since when was she your lady?" Eyes flickered back up to Ino and narrowed. "Or maybe I missed something."
Ino was shocked for a second time at his words. Was...Shikamaru fighting over her? Was...he trying to somehow be some knight in shining armor, here to save her? Again, she blinked. She retracted her hand quickly, face paled and eyes downcast, turning from her friend. Mutedly, she pulled herself from the fight, her friend's eyes scathing her like nothing else could. She felt almost like Hidan, in those final moments of their fight with the Akatsuki, when Shikamaru regarded him before running him off away from she and Chouji. His eyes were the same. Hot as hellfire, with a gaze so razor sharp, it would make the Devil himself bleed, and recoil. She wondered briefly if she should make a run for it, and apologize to those involved later, or sit here, and take the emotional beating that might be forthcoming. After Asuma's death, something changed within Shikamaru, something that frightened her. Their sensei's death had taken a heavy toll on all of them, but Shikamaru especially. He was colder now, with a new bloodlust woven into his psyche. She, though she hated to admit it, was sadly unsure that he wouldn't begin to take it out on her. She prayed to whatever gods were listening that she was wrong.
Patrons began to leave the restaurant hastily as Greed stood up and whirled around on Shikamaru, grabbing a hold of his collar.
"I call all the women I'm with 'mine', ya' little shit! They're precious to me! Every single one is special in her own way! If she likes ya', I'm perfectly okay with that, but I WILL NOT put up with some young punk grabbin' me by the head!"
Releasing him, Greed stepped between him and Ino.
"You could have just asked her out on your own time, rather than ruining our date. Do things on your own time." He turned his back to Shikamaru and kneeled in front of Ino, grasping her hand in his. "Sorry about that, babe. I hate to get aggressive during a date...Well, in a non-pleasurable way, at least. A guy has to stand up for himself, right?"
He felt as though someone had kicked him in the gut as Ino looked away, her smaller body tensing. She...she's afraid of me... That, more then anything else, cut the deepest. And of course, it was his fault. Because he'd actually tried to do something that he thought women expected men to do. He glared at Greed, not at all phased by the other man. As soon as his feet hit the ground, he smirked slightly and with a single seal, he vanished into the shadows to reappear behind Ino. Taking one hand out of his pocket, he placed a small velvet bag down on the table in front of her. "Here, I didn't get to give it to you when I was supposed to. Sorry to bother you and your date." Without meeting her eyes, he walked around Greed and plunked himself back down on the barstool. Locking eyes with the bartender, he just nodded his thanks as the man slid him a glass of something that looked less-then-healthy.
Ino sighed, the small, shuddering breath coming from her lips, looking down and away again. She took the bag quickly, shoving it back under the table along with her hands. She looked up. "I...I'm sorry about that, Greed-san.." She tried to smile, but found the muscles within her face did not want to cooperate with her. She didn't know what to think really at the moment, her thoughts becoming like snow on a television screen--fuzzy, with nothing to really decipher. She bit her lip once more, closing her eyes. "This place is nice, but, maybe we can go somewhere else?" She allowed her eyes to dart back to her teammate, wishing that this had never occurred, nor that he had seen her face. She knew this would have reprocussions that would take a good while to heal. She wondered why this always seemed to happen to her. Well, there was always the greenhouse on the roof of Building 6. She could always spend most of her time up there, tending to the plants, instead of interacting with anyone. At least the plants would be silent, and sympathetic. Before she knew it, everything would blow over. It was best to be optimistic, even in situations where there was really not a good reason to be.
Greed looked at Ino for a moment, then at Shikamaru. Ino, then Shikamaru. Ino. Shika. Ino. Shika. He put his hand to his forehead and shook his head. He briefly wondered why all humans had to be SO melodramatic about things.
"Ino," he whispered to her, "If ya' gotta straighten things out with ponytail boy, now's a good time." He put broad hands on her shoulders and planted a light kiss on her forehead. "Very few things can hurt my feelings, so don't feel obligated. Spending time with somebody who's only thinkin' about someone else isn't that fun. I want to be able to have a good time with you," he said, stroking her cheek. "C'mon, you're too beautiful to be lookin' blue. Tell me what you wanna' do. In your heart, I mean." He placed a hand on her back to reassure her, then asked again.
"What do you want to do, tonight?"
With a sigh, he downed the drink in one gulp, motioning for another. OK, so maybe his father was onto something. At least if he got drunk enough, maybe he wouldn't remember the fear in her eyes. In Ino's eyes. The one person, aside from perhaps Chouji, who he was closest to. Who he confided in. Who he...loved. There weren't really very many people that Nara Shikamaru would be willing to say he actually loved. Liked, sure. Tolerated, there were plenty. But loved? That was something reserved for his team. And...his family, he supposed, though they irritated him. Downing another glass of the bitter liquor, he let the third glass sit, swirling the amber-coloured liquid in circles in the glass. He really should go. Afterall, he was the third wheel. The one who was upsetting Ino. And for what? Because he'd been, dare he say it, jealous? Because the thought of her laughing like that, smiling like that, for anyone other then he or Chouji made his blood start to simmer? He gave a wry chuckle. Mendokuse..
Ino looked at Greed, her eyes softening. She, losing her composure, gave him a hug quickly, with a large smile, his words somehow healing her muscles' self-inflicted atrophy.
"We should go do something fun...but...let me do something first." Her fingers began to deftly open the bag which Shikamaru had left for her, as if she were looking for another incentive to go over and apologize to the spindly-framed boy. As her hands pulled out what was inside, and her eyes were able to make it out, her heart fell deep, into a place it had not visted in what seemed like months. She quietly bowed her head, placing the necklace around her neck. She looked once more at the man beside her, speaking softly. "Give me a moment. I want to go talk to him."
"Sure thing, chick. I've got just the table."
Greed immediately snatched her up, then yanked the boy out of his seat as well. He ran to his table and placed them both down, across from each other. He closed the privacy curtains and waited outside of them, apologizing to the owners and staff and paying extra to keep them serving.
"You two. Talk. No objections!" he peeked his head in to say.
"..the fuck!?" Shika probably would have said more, had Greed not yanked him bodily out of his chair. That being said, the shadow-walker barely had time to blink before his posterior hit the booth with a rather severe jolt. Shooting a glare at Greed, and mentally vowing to wish for the man's death (doing it himself being, of course, far too troublesome), he glanced at Ino before looking away. Obviously, the pattern on the curtains was extremely interesting.
Ino bit her lip, looking down once more. It was hard to find the words to say, but, she knew she had to say it, no matter what the cost. She fiddled with this for a few minutes, allowing her eyes to dart back and forth around the table, before settling on the decanters of hot sake that Greed had ordered. She didn't think he would mind her taking a swig from one, and it may loosen up her voice and it had a reputation for being a nostrum which allowed people to speak things that would ordinarily be hard for them to. Grasping the decanter, she took a long draw out of it, grimacing slightly at the hot bitter taste. It was very good, but not something one should take a long draught of all at once. She finally looked up at the boy across from her, a tiny "I'm sorry" coming forth from her wine-coated lips.
One black eyebrow raised slightly at the way she was drinking. No one should drink that stuff that way, especially not a girl. Well, he supposed, unless you were an Akimichi girl. Then maybe it might be ok. Reaching across the table, he pulled the bottle from her hands. "Don't do that. It's bad for you." Setting the bottle down on his side of the table, he glanced away again for a moment. "And don't apologize. I'm the one who wrecked your date."
Ino turned her head, a child-like pout on her face. "It wasn't as much a date, Shika, as me going out with a really good friend. He's a sweet guy, but he doesn't tie down. You know that." She looked once again at the Deerherder's face, beginning to giggle madly. "So...you really mean it. You're...actually jealous?" She began to giggle terribly, not being able to control it in the slightest.
Dark brows drew together in a frown at the look on her face. The frown deepened as she began to giggle, and was soon accompanied by a faint blush. "I...I am NOT jealous!" Crossing his arms with a hmph, he recommenced his intricate study of the patterning of the curtains. No, he would not give her the satisfaction of actually admitting that yes. He, Nara Shikamaru, was jealous.
Ino started to laugh uncontrollably once more, grinning in a manner that would put the Cheshire Cat to shame. She reached across the table, poking the other boy in the ribs. "Are too, Shika." She laughed. "For what it's worth, it's cutely flattering." She ruffled his hair. "I thought squabbles like this were troublesome!"
"I am NOT!" And he persisted in his stubborn assertions that no, he was most certainly, most assuredly, definitely not jealous. "Why would I be jealous of him, anyway?" Scowling at her jibes, he rolled his eyes. "You're troublesome..." With a sigh, he scratched his head. "I..hope your Christmas was alright, Ino. Sorry I didn't give you your present before, when you got back."
She nodded softly, turning her head. "Christmas was good..I spent it with our families." She remembered the worried faces of Yoshino and Shikaku, and Chouza and Kyoko. She didn't want to tell her teammates about their families' worry at their absence, nor their quiet, removed displays at the get-togethers they had shared while she was home, for fear of upsetting her teammates in an indescribable manner. She brought her hand up to clutch the necklace about her neck, feeling the tiny knives, and remembering the one who wielded them.
"I'm glad." He didn't mention his own Christmas. Or rather, he didn't want to mention the fact that he'd spent it alone, locked up in his room with a bottle of something about 80-proof while he watched the snow. He knew it had probably bothered Chouji, but at the time, he just hadn't felt as though he could handle anyone else. With Ino gone for Christmas, it had been as though their team had been stripped of yet another member. Not something that he wanted to think about.
Ino looked at the forlorn expression within his eyes, saddened by it, but not allowing it to show. She let herself smile, trying to change the subject. "How about we do something tomorrow? We can find something fun to do...and catch up. Just you, me and Chouji." She giggled. It will be like a Team Ten reunion." She smiled, as she looked toward the curtain. "And after my outings tonight, I'll be back home at our apartment. I promise."
"And what kind of reunion did you have in mind, Ino?" Brown eyes locked with blue as he struck straight to the heart of the matter. He loved her. Chouji loved her. And, from her own words in the past, she loved them both. And whereas he and his best friend had reconciled it, even....come to an unexpected middle ground over it, neither of the two still had any idea of what Ino really wanted. Almost automatically, he slid a hand across the table to twine his fingers with hers, eyes never releasing her gaze. "Tell me."
Ino blushed uncontrollably at her teammate's motion, looking away, her face almost innocent in its cast. She fidgeted a little, her hand trembling in Shikamaru's, her voice mimicking it.
"..Well...I thought...maybe we could go out to Xanadu, and sit under the Sakura... just you, me, and Chouji....looking at the clouds like we always used to..." She closed her eyes. " Maybe pick up some sweet almonds on the way, or some dango."
Nodding slightly, his eyes nonetheless didn't release hers. With a squeeze to her hand, he raised on eyebrow. "You know that's not what I meant, Ino."
His voice was soft, lacking the angry and belligerent tone that had suffused him earlier, and it was replaced with the barest hint of something else. Anticipation, perhaps? Or a tremulous sense of hope that refused to unravel. Hope that things wouldn't simply go back to the way they were before. That they would evolve, change, expand. Add new dimensions to the partnership that their entire team shared.
"I know, Shikamaru.." She giggled softly, eyes still locked upon his, but yet, wavering, as if they were too shy to stay focused. "But, I would rather leave that for a surprise." Her lips turned up into a smile at this, as she squeezed Shikamaru's hand a little tighter, trying hard not to giggle all the more. "And, there's somewhere I'd like to show you." She winked, giving him an expression that he hadn't seen upon her face since the three of them left Konohagakure. She was practically beaming, a vision of her former, bright self.
They were interrupted as a fresh tray of sake bottles hit the table and a hand alighted on each of their heads. Following the hand up, they would see strongly-muscled arms leading up to a thick neck, on top of which a smiling row of perfectly triangular, clean, white teeth. "Heh heh," Greed said, ruffling the hair of them both, "Ain't this just the cutest thing ever. I wish I could take a picture and make the moment last. I'm glad that you guys are gettin' along well."
He tapped the bottles and slapped the table-top.
"So, you guys ready to get boozed, or what? It's gettin' so serious in
here! Nothin' follows up love confessions like alcohol. It's a pattern I've seen in you homo sapiens time and time again." He turned to Ino and Shikamaru, in turn.
"Did you say what you wanted?"
he looked up in surprise as Greed plunked a tray of sake down on the table. With a raised eyebrow he regarded the man with some degree of trepidation. Wasn't the whole point of taking a girl out to NOT share her with another man? And now the sharp-toothed man was...playing matchmaker?! He scowled at the homunculus. "Love confessions? Go clean out your ears."
Ino's giggles turned into outright happy laughter as she regarded her homunculi companion. "Shikamaru's quite bashful, Greed-san. If it were something like that, he'd never admit it." She continued sputtering and snickering over her remark, before taking a bottle of sake from the tray, and sipping a small bit out of it. She knew there were cups for that, but at the moment, she didn't care. "..Now, for what I want... is whatever you were recommending, Greed-san..." She smiled toothily, and pointed to Shikamaru. "And he'll have mackerel and kelp, if they have it."
Greed quickly relayed the new orders and stepped over the table, sitting next to Ino. He downed a bottle quickly and leaned against the back wall of the booth. "Poor guy is so flustered, he can barely react. I don't know why humans are so difficult with what they feel. You guys need to learn to go with your instincts. Even if you do somethin' wrong, at least you'll do it at 100%."
He addressed Shikamaru's earlier statement, leaning lazily over the table.
"I was pissed because you interrupted a private moment, not because I want to keep her all to myself. Ino's a good friend and we've had some good times together. I don't DO relationships. Hell, I hope you guys bang like rabbits at some point. I just don't want people gettin' all up in my face when I'm catering to a beautiful woman." At this he made eyes at Ino and gently kissed her hand again, licking the tip of one of her fingers just to see Shikamaru's reaction. "Think of it like this. If you were putting the bone to her nice and proper, and I'm talkin' dirty, gruntin', powerful, hip-shakin', sweatin', howlin', can't-stand-up-in-the-morning sex, I wouldn't come over and tap you on the shoulder for a cup of sugar. That would be rude of me. Your act of dinner interruption is the equivalent of me slapping you upside your fuckin' head, mid-stroke. Got it?"
Though he did a fairly good job of feigning disinterest, he couldn't help the clench of his fists as he watched Greed's tongue caress Ino's fingertip. Of course...then he nearly fell out of his seat at Greed's rather...blunt.. analogy. Glaring at the homunculus, he sighed and decided just to not answer.
Ino allowed herself to snicker once more at this, giving a soft smile toward Greed. Shikamaru really is jealous....I wonder how long he's been hiding this? She continued to ponder her thoughts taking another swig of sake, and allowing the scene to unfold around her.
Seemingly in tune with her thoughts, Greed pushed his luck.
"See, a real man knows how to speak his mind about what he wants. He doesn't let things just continue in front of him," he said, grasping her around the waist and pulling her close up against him, "He knows to strike while the iron is hot." He slowly moved his head down her body until he disappeared from Shika's view. Several moments passed with the faint sound of cloth being moved aside...when suddenly he popped up with a fork in his mouth. "I've found it! I was wondering where that fork went! It had fallen under her skirt. Boy, THAT could have been a long search. After all," he smiled, blowing a puff of air in Ino's ear, "Once I start searching for something, I make sure that the probing is LONG and DEEP. That's the only way to finish the job and reach the goal, is it not?"
Fingers clenched in the tablecloth, eyes narrowing on Greed with a dangerously dark glare. Stubbornly holding onto his pride, he fought the urge to simply Kage Nui the man,
toss the girl over his shoulder, and Kage Ontei out of the restaurant. "Quite true, but probing blindly seldom gets you to your intended goal. Without a well-thought out plan, you'll just end up lost."
"Planning is for guys who like to think more than they like to act. Brainy guys get so wrapped in the details, they lose sight of what's simple and right in front of them." He leaned toward Shikamaru, locking eyes with him. "If ya' don't admit things to yourself and the person you love, it's just a matter of time before they get stolen away. Think of it like it is in the wild. He who proves himself, gets the girls. Even a smaller ram can be the king of the mountain, if he proves himself and refuses to back down." Even further in Greed went, until his palm were on the table and he was just inches from the younger male's face.
"Come on, Shika! What's all your fancy planning mean now? What do you do when an obstacle is inches in front of you, with no time to plan? Ino's right there. Are you just gonna' let me stand in the way?"
"What's my 'fancy planning' mean now? This." With a quick seal, he melted into the shadows, reappearing between Ino and Greed. "In a game of shogi, the one who simply barrels across the board is the one who gets trapped and defeated by his opponent."
"Even if you took off with the her, she could always come right back to me. Add to that the fact that warping around won't harm me. You're just staving off the inevitable." He moved toward Shikamaru quickly, clearing the distance in a moment.
"Show me some real moves, kid!" he yelled, taking a mock swing at Shikamaru's head. "Prove yourself, little ram! Let's see how much you love her!"
Ino stared at the two. She had knew about masculine competition, and had even been privy to it many times. Men had fought over her before...and she had always found it amusing. But, this time, she actually cared to see the outcome. She was not going to stop it, no, for she wanted to see if Shika would fight for her honor. If Shikamaru would actually not find it mendokuse to fight for her. If he would go through with it. It would prove how much he cared, once and for all.
With a scowl, Shika ducked the punch. The man was infuriating. And he wanted Shikamaru to actually put forth effort. But...this was Ino. His teammate. His friend. The girl...that he loved. Out of everything he could put his pride on the line for, wasn't this something of the utmost importance? He supposed it was. And so with a snarl, his fingers flew together in a series of seals. "Ninpo Kage Nui!". The black shadows raced across the ground, flying up to strike the homunculus.
Greed stopped and jumped back, taking a defensive stance and awaiting the incoming summons, or blast, or whatever the hell he was going to fire. Ninja hand signals were NEVER good. He soon, however, noticed that nothing was happening.
"Eh?" he said, opening his eyes, "What the hell? No attack? I guess ya' fizzled out, kid." He tromped back toward his opponent...or he would have. For some reason, however, his feet weren't moving.
"WHAT THE FUCK?!?
Greed tried to pull at his legs when he realized his arms weren't moving either. He affixed his eyes on Shikamaru.
"You do this, ya' little punk?"
Ino started to giggle a little at the predicament, her eyes alight with amusement. Kage Nui. She had always been amazed by the way the Nara could manipulate shadows, trapping whatever and whoever was around them with this absence of light. It had always been interesting to her, since all her family was able to do was manipulate their conciousnesses to invade someone else's, or to destroy someone's motor skills, making them do whatever they were told, while still being coherent. Their bodies would betray them, and no matter how hard they tried, they'd not be able to stop themselves. But, the way of the shadow was something even more mysterious. Ino wondered how the homunculus would deal with it.
With a smirk, hands folded themselves into another series of seals. "Kageyose no Jutsu." The shadows came from all around the room, coalescing into long tendrils that raised themselves off of the floor before racing foreward to drive themselves through arms and legs, further tightening his hold on the homunculus.
Shit. With his body damaged in this manner, he couldn't form a shield. Not until his body was healed. On the upside, at least it didn't hurt much. It was time to think fast.
"Hm...Heh..heheheh...HA..HA HA...HAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Nice kid, but ya' forgot somethin'! Every part of us is strong!" He managed to lean his head forward just enough to lash out his tongue and snatch up a pepper shaker from a table in front of him. He expanded his lung and took it into his mouth, then blew out, firing it across the room where it shatter against a banister next to them. The force spread pepper into the air near them. "I'm willin' to bet holdin' me here takes some great concentration, kid! Think ya' can keep it up?" With a flexing of inhuman muscles, he started to try moving his limbs.
Ino stared at this. The homunculi was impressive--something she hadn't really ever seen before. And she had seen a lot of things as a kunoichi. But, as she started hearing a murmur from around her, she decided it was time. Speaking up, she tried to get the two boys' attentions. "HEY! Let's take this outside...as to not destroy this place, where we can't come back, ok?"
"Outside, huh? Guess that might be a better plan." Another series of seals, and he melted into the shadows. But rather then disengaging, the ones binding Greed simply pulled the homunculus after them, dragging him into the lightless realm to spit him out, still bound, outside of the restaurant as Shika's form melted seamlessly out of another shadow. "Concentration? Sure. Doesn't mean you can break it."
He began to flex his arms again. Slowly, but surely, his arms began to move by centimeters. After a few more moments, it was inches.
"As...you....were...saying!" he said through gritted teeth. Super strength was harder to use when you didn't have any leverage, but he was at least managing.
"I'm...gonna'....be...FREE!"
One arm snapped free of it's bindings.
Ino had walked outside, gathering the sushi and sake with her, and bringing it out with them. She settled herself down against a wall, watching the proceedings, sticking a roll into her mouth. She grinned. Greed was right, these rolls were wonderful. Dinner and a really good show. Now, this was her idea of a night out. She'd have to thank the homunculus later for starting it all.
Well, he wasn't about to let that go and waste his opportunity. Concentrating harder, he froze for a moment before taking advantage of the homunculus' shadow-bound condition and aiming one sandaled foot at the underside of Greed's chin. In theory, the kick would either snap his neck or at least send him flying backwards a few feet. Of course, that was the theory. Shika'd done his research, afterall. He knew very well that neither would be likely to actually kill the man. So there was little point in holding back with his kick.
Greed reacted to the incoming strike, opening his mouth for the kick and letting his jaw snap shut like a trap around the side of Shika's foot. "Ha ha!" he yelled through a mouthful of shoe and broken teeth, "Gotcha', bitch!" He snapped his neck back and let go, trying to toss the boy high enough to head-butt him.
"And this time I'm going for your throat!" he said, his jaws opening.
Ino stood up, with a yelp as she saw the man about to snap her now-love-proclaimed teammates neck within his maw. "Stop it! Enough!" She hadn't been worried before, but things were seeming to get a bit too risky for this to continue onward as it was. "The point's been proven! Please!" She wrung her hands together, looking a bit harried. "Both of you!" She wondered briefly if she resembled a certain pink-haired forehead girl s screaming at her two teammates to cease their foolishness when they got this rough...
"Heh. Nice try." Arching his back and shifting his trajectory slightly, Shika's hand flashed to the pouch at the back of his belt. Pulling out something small, he slammed the hand into Greed's mouth, paying little heed to the cuts sharp teeth made on his palms as he shoved the flashbang into the other man's toothy maw. "Chew on that, pal." Pushing off with his hand, he made a seal with one hand, eyes narrowed in a look of ruthless efficiency. "Kai." Backflipping through the air, he landed beside Ino, dropping into a crouch and wiping a hand across his forehead.
Greed's entire skull exploded, the two ninjas getting showered with bits of gore. What was left of his lower jaw quickly started regenerating, his body jerking as the newly regenerated brain reconnected to it's functions, like an old computer rebooting.
"Okay, that's just rude pal," he said, the top of his skull healing last.
He began to flex his muscles, drawing on the reserves of his strenght. Slowly, but surely, the bonds started to snap around him. With a last burst of energy, he broke free, landing on his feet and bounding backwards several yards. He healed his wounds and approached the two, hands in his pockets. "Okay, okay. I give."
"Agh! Shiiiiiiiiiiiiiiika..." Ino grimaced, flicking her hands, and sending goo and bone bits flying to the ground around her. "Always ending with a bang, ne? Kinda like what you did to Hidan..." She shook her head, with a small sigh. "Dammit.. now I'm gonna have to get this dress dry cleaned... and I still don't know if it all will come out." She laughed lightly, then looking over at Greed. "Greed-san...are...you ok?" A little worry had appeared on her face, though that was quickly snuffed when she saw his head knitting itself back together. "Well.. I can say you are....wow. That's a nice ability you have." She walked over to him, standing up on her toes, whispering into his ear. "Thank you..."
A smirk as he combed bits of gore out of his own black hair. "Why not? It worked well before." He stood and watched as the homunculus put himself back together. Shika had to admit that it was rather an interesting sight to see someone's head just...reform like that. Definitely something his father and the scientists at Narake would have wanted to study. He watched with a slight frown as Ino leaned up to whisper in the man's ear. OK, if she's gonna be all chummy with him again, then what was the point of all of this?
Greed winked at her and turned to Shikamaru, "She was tellin' me to back down," he yelled, "And I agree."
He sauntered up to his opponent, extending his hand, "I approve of you seein' her. You can more than defend her."
Ino smiled at the man once more, watching as he walked over to her comrade, extending a hand in friendship. He's a great guy, that one.. maybe a bit promiscuous, but whoever found fault with that? She allowed a warm expression to draw upon her face, as she returned to Shikamaru, draping her arms lovingly about his neck. "Shikamaru...."
One black eyebrow raised as if in skepticism of the man's words, but after only a moment's pause a hand was extended to clasp the one outstretched towards him. With a simple nod and a slightly smug expression, he cocked his head to the side. "Well, glad to know. Seeing as it makes such a difference to me if you do." Despite the sarcasm in his words, his eyes had a light expression in them that easily communicated his acceptance of the other not only as a fighter but as a person. As Ino slipped her arms around his neck, he glanced down at her with a slight smile, other arm sliding easily around her waist. "Uhuh..?"
"Well, I can see you kids have some catchin' up, so this three-hundred year old man will saunter off for the night," he said, bending down to kiss Ino's hand, "My lovely lady."
He gave a quick swat to Shikamaru's rear on the way by. "And next time I'll get SERIOUS!" he laughed, putting his hands in his pockets and heading back toward the temple.
Ino giggled, waving to her friend as he left. "Take care, Greed-san!!" As he faded from sight, she took her hand up, ruffling Shikamaru's hair, planting a kiss on his cheek. "What do you want to do now, Shadowwalker?" She said, taking her other hand, and slipping it into his Chuunin vest. "I can think of a lot of things..."
A visible shudder ran up Shikamaru's back as the other man slapped him on the ass. Ok, he did NOT swing that way. And no, that didn't mean anything in regards to Chouji. Chouji was....Chouji. It was different. Either way, that train of thought was sent spiraling off into oblivion by the feel of Ino's fingertips against his chest. He raised an eyebrow at her. "Hmm.....so can I. And they all start with this." Cupping her face in his free hand, he tilted her chin up to press his lips to hers in a deep kiss.
Ino closed her eyes at this, working her tongue, and deepening the kiss between them. After what seemed like a beautiful eternity, their lips parted, and Ino moved around to Shikamaru's front, looking deep into his eyes. "Then, let's go home and explore these possibilities, shall we?" With this, she took his hand, holding it up, and beginning to walk away, leading him with her. "I...I missed you, Shikamaru." Biting her lip, she held back the swell of emotion that was now threatening to flood her completely. She would keep her composure, at least until they got home behind closed doors.
"Missed you too, Ino." With a mischevious smirk, he gave her hand a yank, pulling her back into his embrace. Hands slipping into familiar seals behind her back, he chuckled. "Why walk? Kage Ontei no Jutsu." Wrapping his arms tighter around her, he nuzzled her ear as the shadows swallowed them up.
Rating; PG-13 for language and slight violence
Characters; Greed[
so_very_greedy], Nara Shikamaru[lazy_kage_mane], Yamanaka Ino[lovelyyamanaka]Summary; After stumbling across Ino and Greed out on a dinner date, Shikamaru is rather perturbed to realize that he has a big problem with that.
Log;
Greed entered the small sushi restaurant ahead of Ino, making sure it was on the up and up. You never could tell with the places in the underground. The line between posh and poverty was very thin.
"Come on in, babe," he said, grasping her hand and leading the way to the hostess. After a bit of haggling with her for a good spot, they ended up in a private booth, with slow shamisen music playing softly in the speakers. He handed her a menu and gestured to the waiter for a drink menu. "I'm glad you could come out tonight. I missed ya', chick! Your friends did, too."
Ino smiled geniuinely at the man sitting across the table from her. No matter what anyone said, he knew how to treat women, even if he was cavorting with a good many. But, Ino never faulted him for that, not one moment--if the man wanted to spread his love around, then by God, why not let him.
Being stuck in a place like this, there's only so much you can do to keep your spirits aloft, and she couldn't count how many times he had kept her spirits high for her. Looking about herself, she nodded to his remark, bringing herself into the conversation. "I missed you a lot, too. As well as the others...Going home was kinda strange." She continued to look at the decor, continuing. "It's interesting that there is a place like this in the Underground. I never would have expected it."
He nodded and looked around, then turned back to her.
"It's strange like that. If you keep your eye out, you can find these small, tucked away places that are actually good for people to go to.
No danger or anything. Nice places. Classy places." An attractive young waitress placed down hot wash clothes and chopsticks, as well as dipping bowls and soy sauce. She also handed out two slips of paper to each of them, with different kinds of food listed. Greed orderd four bottles of hot sake and some tea, to start with. "You deserve the best I can find," he said, reaching across the table to take her much smaller hand in his, "Because I believe that a young woman's life should be filled with flowers and passion. All the things that ninjas do seem kinda' counterproductive to that." He brought the hand to his lips and kissed her palm, then between her fingers.
Running a hand through black hair pulled into a spiky ponytail, the lanky shinobi sat at the bar, tossing back a glass of....well, he wasn't sure quite WHAT it was, exactly. Either way, it wasn't as though he planned on having many more of them. Afterall, he certainly wasn't his father. In fact, he had no intention of becoming his father, either. A sigh as he scratched his head. Why had he come here in the first place, anyway? Shikamaru really had no idea. But...he was here now, and there was sake and there was food, and it was just too damned troublesome to actually get up and leave after he'd taken the time to come. With a yawn, he waved a hand at the bartender. "Oi....just....something that's edible. I don't care what."
Ino smiled at Greed's words, feeling a slight heat cross her face as a blush appeared. "Well..yeah....Ours is a bloody profession. Sometimes, I don't feel like I even have time to be a girl," she said while taking the hot towel and cleaning her hands with it, then folded it up neatly, and placed it back where it came. "My family ran a flower shop back in Konoha, but a lot of the time we weren't selling flowers for happy reasons." She looked down at the table, with a small sigh. "It's nice to be taken out like this. I kinda like this city," She looked up at Greed once more, a congenial smile once again crossing her face. "No missions, no huge horrific happenings, well most of the time, and best of all, I've met new people...and can finally live like I've wanted to. I miss my family, but I feel so...free here." She turned her eyes down to the food choices upon the little slip, reading over them with a small, undecisive look. She turned her eyes down to the food choices upon the little slip, reading over them with a small, undecisive look. "It all looks so good....what do you recommend?"
"I like the eel, fatty tuna, and a few of the lighter rolls. Not a fan of wasabi though. Too hot!"
He laughed and slid over to sit beside her. If there was one thing about Greed, it was that he had no problem with displays of affecton. A fact he quickly proved by putting an arm around her waist and resting it on her thigh. With he put her other hand in his and guided it over the list.
"Sometimes you have to experiment with different things to find out what ya' like. Very trial and error-type stuff. Have a little taste, see if you like it, and just repeat the process for other foods."
He used her hand and ticked off orders for salmon, tuna, eel, and several varieties of roll, as well as two orders of miso soup. The waitress didn't seem too affected by his obviously amorous nature, and went about getting their meal. "Hope you don't mind me takin' the lead, Ino-chan," he said, tilting her chin up toward him with his hand.
Brown eyes narrowed in a frown. He knew that voice...Turning around slightly, he suppressed a growl as his eyes found Greed and Ino. He didn't really trust the other man anyway and this only made it worse. Jealousy was a bit of a new thing for the tall shadow-user, being normally too troublesome. But...lazy though he may be, Nara Shikamaru also had a decent possessive streak. And so he leaned back in the chair, one hand reaching out to grab a fistful of Greed's hair and yank his head back away fro Ino. "Back off, pal."
Ino's eyes widened at this. She blinked, and her mouth fell open like something reminiscent of what they were going to eat. She struggled for words, but was much to shocked to say anything at first. Finally, her voice kicked itself out of the box that her throat confined it in, and pushed upward. "Shikamaru! Stop it! What the hell are you doing?" She readied a hand, still quite aghast at his forwardness. "Shikamaru, this is nothing like you...you never do these type of things. It's always mendokuse." Her hand trembled, as she fought over what to do with it. Should she smack him, or should she just wait and watch what occurred? Why would Shikamaru, of all people, start a scene in a restaurant? When she and Sakura used to get into it in public, he would always walk away. And now, here he was, doing the exact same thing he had hated for her to do. Biting her lip, she finally let her hand catch air, smacking him across the face. "Snap the fuck out of it!"
Greed was waiting with his lips slightly open, but eventually realized that his kiss wasn't coming. He began to feel the slight tingle at the back of his head as the boy tugged at his hair. HIS...FUCKING...HAIR! As far as he was concerned, only a lover could do that, and only because he liked it like that. This ugly, ill-tempered little human had to be out of his mind! He turned around and gripped the hand on his head, as he heard the smack of palm against face. "Shikamaru..." he said, knowing him by scent before focusing on his face, "You've got THREE GODDAMNED SECONDS TO RELEASE MY HEAD." Greed growled with a sound like a bull gator in mating season. A deep, guttural sound that vibrated the table. His eyes turned to feral slits and he locked them on the smaller male. "Can't ya' see I'm with my sweet lady? Back the fuck off before I toss you out the front door."
Brown eyes opened wide at the crack of a palm across his face, flashing to the blonde at the other end of the hand with something akin to hurt in their depths. Ungrateful woman, didn't she see that he was making a scene, going through all that troublesome effort to do something that he had been told most girls considered "romantic", that thing being rescuing said "fair damsel" from the clutches of the devious player? And he got SLAPPED for it! Hurt pride warred with the desire to simply sigh, shrug, roll his eyes and walk out as he stared down Ino. Unfortunately, there was a decent amount of interference in the form of Greed. Narrowing his eyes in a frown, he gave a final tug before releasing the other man's hair. "Hard to throw what you can't get your hands on. And since when was she your lady?" Eyes flickered back up to Ino and narrowed. "Or maybe I missed something."
Ino was shocked for a second time at his words. Was...Shikamaru fighting over her? Was...he trying to somehow be some knight in shining armor, here to save her? Again, she blinked. She retracted her hand quickly, face paled and eyes downcast, turning from her friend. Mutedly, she pulled herself from the fight, her friend's eyes scathing her like nothing else could. She felt almost like Hidan, in those final moments of their fight with the Akatsuki, when Shikamaru regarded him before running him off away from she and Chouji. His eyes were the same. Hot as hellfire, with a gaze so razor sharp, it would make the Devil himself bleed, and recoil. She wondered briefly if she should make a run for it, and apologize to those involved later, or sit here, and take the emotional beating that might be forthcoming. After Asuma's death, something changed within Shikamaru, something that frightened her. Their sensei's death had taken a heavy toll on all of them, but Shikamaru especially. He was colder now, with a new bloodlust woven into his psyche. She, though she hated to admit it, was sadly unsure that he wouldn't begin to take it out on her. She prayed to whatever gods were listening that she was wrong.
Patrons began to leave the restaurant hastily as Greed stood up and whirled around on Shikamaru, grabbing a hold of his collar.
"I call all the women I'm with 'mine', ya' little shit! They're precious to me! Every single one is special in her own way! If she likes ya', I'm perfectly okay with that, but I WILL NOT put up with some young punk grabbin' me by the head!"
Releasing him, Greed stepped between him and Ino.
"You could have just asked her out on your own time, rather than ruining our date. Do things on your own time." He turned his back to Shikamaru and kneeled in front of Ino, grasping her hand in his. "Sorry about that, babe. I hate to get aggressive during a date...Well, in a non-pleasurable way, at least. A guy has to stand up for himself, right?"
He felt as though someone had kicked him in the gut as Ino looked away, her smaller body tensing. She...she's afraid of me... That, more then anything else, cut the deepest. And of course, it was his fault. Because he'd actually tried to do something that he thought women expected men to do. He glared at Greed, not at all phased by the other man. As soon as his feet hit the ground, he smirked slightly and with a single seal, he vanished into the shadows to reappear behind Ino. Taking one hand out of his pocket, he placed a small velvet bag down on the table in front of her. "Here, I didn't get to give it to you when I was supposed to. Sorry to bother you and your date." Without meeting her eyes, he walked around Greed and plunked himself back down on the barstool. Locking eyes with the bartender, he just nodded his thanks as the man slid him a glass of something that looked less-then-healthy.
Ino sighed, the small, shuddering breath coming from her lips, looking down and away again. She took the bag quickly, shoving it back under the table along with her hands. She looked up. "I...I'm sorry about that, Greed-san.." She tried to smile, but found the muscles within her face did not want to cooperate with her. She didn't know what to think really at the moment, her thoughts becoming like snow on a television screen--fuzzy, with nothing to really decipher. She bit her lip once more, closing her eyes. "This place is nice, but, maybe we can go somewhere else?" She allowed her eyes to dart back to her teammate, wishing that this had never occurred, nor that he had seen her face. She knew this would have reprocussions that would take a good while to heal. She wondered why this always seemed to happen to her. Well, there was always the greenhouse on the roof of Building 6. She could always spend most of her time up there, tending to the plants, instead of interacting with anyone. At least the plants would be silent, and sympathetic. Before she knew it, everything would blow over. It was best to be optimistic, even in situations where there was really not a good reason to be.
Greed looked at Ino for a moment, then at Shikamaru. Ino, then Shikamaru. Ino. Shika. Ino. Shika. He put his hand to his forehead and shook his head. He briefly wondered why all humans had to be SO melodramatic about things.
"Ino," he whispered to her, "If ya' gotta straighten things out with ponytail boy, now's a good time." He put broad hands on her shoulders and planted a light kiss on her forehead. "Very few things can hurt my feelings, so don't feel obligated. Spending time with somebody who's only thinkin' about someone else isn't that fun. I want to be able to have a good time with you," he said, stroking her cheek. "C'mon, you're too beautiful to be lookin' blue. Tell me what you wanna' do. In your heart, I mean." He placed a hand on her back to reassure her, then asked again.
"What do you want to do, tonight?"
With a sigh, he downed the drink in one gulp, motioning for another. OK, so maybe his father was onto something. At least if he got drunk enough, maybe he wouldn't remember the fear in her eyes. In Ino's eyes. The one person, aside from perhaps Chouji, who he was closest to. Who he confided in. Who he...loved. There weren't really very many people that Nara Shikamaru would be willing to say he actually loved. Liked, sure. Tolerated, there were plenty. But loved? That was something reserved for his team. And...his family, he supposed, though they irritated him. Downing another glass of the bitter liquor, he let the third glass sit, swirling the amber-coloured liquid in circles in the glass. He really should go. Afterall, he was the third wheel. The one who was upsetting Ino. And for what? Because he'd been, dare he say it, jealous? Because the thought of her laughing like that, smiling like that, for anyone other then he or Chouji made his blood start to simmer? He gave a wry chuckle. Mendokuse..
Ino looked at Greed, her eyes softening. She, losing her composure, gave him a hug quickly, with a large smile, his words somehow healing her muscles' self-inflicted atrophy.
"We should go do something fun...but...let me do something first." Her fingers began to deftly open the bag which Shikamaru had left for her, as if she were looking for another incentive to go over and apologize to the spindly-framed boy. As her hands pulled out what was inside, and her eyes were able to make it out, her heart fell deep, into a place it had not visted in what seemed like months. She quietly bowed her head, placing the necklace around her neck. She looked once more at the man beside her, speaking softly. "Give me a moment. I want to go talk to him."
"Sure thing, chick. I've got just the table."
Greed immediately snatched her up, then yanked the boy out of his seat as well. He ran to his table and placed them both down, across from each other. He closed the privacy curtains and waited outside of them, apologizing to the owners and staff and paying extra to keep them serving.
"You two. Talk. No objections!" he peeked his head in to say.
"..the fuck!?" Shika probably would have said more, had Greed not yanked him bodily out of his chair. That being said, the shadow-walker barely had time to blink before his posterior hit the booth with a rather severe jolt. Shooting a glare at Greed, and mentally vowing to wish for the man's death (doing it himself being, of course, far too troublesome), he glanced at Ino before looking away. Obviously, the pattern on the curtains was extremely interesting.
Ino bit her lip, looking down once more. It was hard to find the words to say, but, she knew she had to say it, no matter what the cost. She fiddled with this for a few minutes, allowing her eyes to dart back and forth around the table, before settling on the decanters of hot sake that Greed had ordered. She didn't think he would mind her taking a swig from one, and it may loosen up her voice and it had a reputation for being a nostrum which allowed people to speak things that would ordinarily be hard for them to. Grasping the decanter, she took a long draw out of it, grimacing slightly at the hot bitter taste. It was very good, but not something one should take a long draught of all at once. She finally looked up at the boy across from her, a tiny "I'm sorry" coming forth from her wine-coated lips.
One black eyebrow raised slightly at the way she was drinking. No one should drink that stuff that way, especially not a girl. Well, he supposed, unless you were an Akimichi girl. Then maybe it might be ok. Reaching across the table, he pulled the bottle from her hands. "Don't do that. It's bad for you." Setting the bottle down on his side of the table, he glanced away again for a moment. "And don't apologize. I'm the one who wrecked your date."
Ino turned her head, a child-like pout on her face. "It wasn't as much a date, Shika, as me going out with a really good friend. He's a sweet guy, but he doesn't tie down. You know that." She looked once again at the Deerherder's face, beginning to giggle madly. "So...you really mean it. You're...actually jealous?" She began to giggle terribly, not being able to control it in the slightest.
Dark brows drew together in a frown at the look on her face. The frown deepened as she began to giggle, and was soon accompanied by a faint blush. "I...I am NOT jealous!" Crossing his arms with a hmph, he recommenced his intricate study of the patterning of the curtains. No, he would not give her the satisfaction of actually admitting that yes. He, Nara Shikamaru, was jealous.
Ino started to laugh uncontrollably once more, grinning in a manner that would put the Cheshire Cat to shame. She reached across the table, poking the other boy in the ribs. "Are too, Shika." She laughed. "For what it's worth, it's cutely flattering." She ruffled his hair. "I thought squabbles like this were troublesome!"
"I am NOT!" And he persisted in his stubborn assertions that no, he was most certainly, most assuredly, definitely not jealous. "Why would I be jealous of him, anyway?" Scowling at her jibes, he rolled his eyes. "You're troublesome..." With a sigh, he scratched his head. "I..hope your Christmas was alright, Ino. Sorry I didn't give you your present before, when you got back."
She nodded softly, turning her head. "Christmas was good..I spent it with our families." She remembered the worried faces of Yoshino and Shikaku, and Chouza and Kyoko. She didn't want to tell her teammates about their families' worry at their absence, nor their quiet, removed displays at the get-togethers they had shared while she was home, for fear of upsetting her teammates in an indescribable manner. She brought her hand up to clutch the necklace about her neck, feeling the tiny knives, and remembering the one who wielded them.
"I'm glad." He didn't mention his own Christmas. Or rather, he didn't want to mention the fact that he'd spent it alone, locked up in his room with a bottle of something about 80-proof while he watched the snow. He knew it had probably bothered Chouji, but at the time, he just hadn't felt as though he could handle anyone else. With Ino gone for Christmas, it had been as though their team had been stripped of yet another member. Not something that he wanted to think about.
Ino looked at the forlorn expression within his eyes, saddened by it, but not allowing it to show. She let herself smile, trying to change the subject. "How about we do something tomorrow? We can find something fun to do...and catch up. Just you, me and Chouji." She giggled. It will be like a Team Ten reunion." She smiled, as she looked toward the curtain. "And after my outings tonight, I'll be back home at our apartment. I promise."
"And what kind of reunion did you have in mind, Ino?" Brown eyes locked with blue as he struck straight to the heart of the matter. He loved her. Chouji loved her. And, from her own words in the past, she loved them both. And whereas he and his best friend had reconciled it, even....come to an unexpected middle ground over it, neither of the two still had any idea of what Ino really wanted. Almost automatically, he slid a hand across the table to twine his fingers with hers, eyes never releasing her gaze. "Tell me."
Ino blushed uncontrollably at her teammate's motion, looking away, her face almost innocent in its cast. She fidgeted a little, her hand trembling in Shikamaru's, her voice mimicking it.
"..Well...I thought...maybe we could go out to Xanadu, and sit under the Sakura... just you, me, and Chouji....looking at the clouds like we always used to..." She closed her eyes. " Maybe pick up some sweet almonds on the way, or some dango."
Nodding slightly, his eyes nonetheless didn't release hers. With a squeeze to her hand, he raised on eyebrow. "You know that's not what I meant, Ino."
His voice was soft, lacking the angry and belligerent tone that had suffused him earlier, and it was replaced with the barest hint of something else. Anticipation, perhaps? Or a tremulous sense of hope that refused to unravel. Hope that things wouldn't simply go back to the way they were before. That they would evolve, change, expand. Add new dimensions to the partnership that their entire team shared.
"I know, Shikamaru.." She giggled softly, eyes still locked upon his, but yet, wavering, as if they were too shy to stay focused. "But, I would rather leave that for a surprise." Her lips turned up into a smile at this, as she squeezed Shikamaru's hand a little tighter, trying hard not to giggle all the more. "And, there's somewhere I'd like to show you." She winked, giving him an expression that he hadn't seen upon her face since the three of them left Konohagakure. She was practically beaming, a vision of her former, bright self.
They were interrupted as a fresh tray of sake bottles hit the table and a hand alighted on each of their heads. Following the hand up, they would see strongly-muscled arms leading up to a thick neck, on top of which a smiling row of perfectly triangular, clean, white teeth. "Heh heh," Greed said, ruffling the hair of them both, "Ain't this just the cutest thing ever. I wish I could take a picture and make the moment last. I'm glad that you guys are gettin' along well."
He tapped the bottles and slapped the table-top.
"So, you guys ready to get boozed, or what? It's gettin' so serious in
here! Nothin' follows up love confessions like alcohol. It's a pattern I've seen in you homo sapiens time and time again." He turned to Ino and Shikamaru, in turn.
"Did you say what you wanted?"
he looked up in surprise as Greed plunked a tray of sake down on the table. With a raised eyebrow he regarded the man with some degree of trepidation. Wasn't the whole point of taking a girl out to NOT share her with another man? And now the sharp-toothed man was...playing matchmaker?! He scowled at the homunculus. "Love confessions? Go clean out your ears."
Ino's giggles turned into outright happy laughter as she regarded her homunculi companion. "Shikamaru's quite bashful, Greed-san. If it were something like that, he'd never admit it." She continued sputtering and snickering over her remark, before taking a bottle of sake from the tray, and sipping a small bit out of it. She knew there were cups for that, but at the moment, she didn't care. "..Now, for what I want... is whatever you were recommending, Greed-san..." She smiled toothily, and pointed to Shikamaru. "And he'll have mackerel and kelp, if they have it."
Greed quickly relayed the new orders and stepped over the table, sitting next to Ino. He downed a bottle quickly and leaned against the back wall of the booth. "Poor guy is so flustered, he can barely react. I don't know why humans are so difficult with what they feel. You guys need to learn to go with your instincts. Even if you do somethin' wrong, at least you'll do it at 100%."
He addressed Shikamaru's earlier statement, leaning lazily over the table.
"I was pissed because you interrupted a private moment, not because I want to keep her all to myself. Ino's a good friend and we've had some good times together. I don't DO relationships. Hell, I hope you guys bang like rabbits at some point. I just don't want people gettin' all up in my face when I'm catering to a beautiful woman." At this he made eyes at Ino and gently kissed her hand again, licking the tip of one of her fingers just to see Shikamaru's reaction. "Think of it like this. If you were putting the bone to her nice and proper, and I'm talkin' dirty, gruntin', powerful, hip-shakin', sweatin', howlin', can't-stand-up-in-the-morning sex, I wouldn't come over and tap you on the shoulder for a cup of sugar. That would be rude of me. Your act of dinner interruption is the equivalent of me slapping you upside your fuckin' head, mid-stroke. Got it?"
Though he did a fairly good job of feigning disinterest, he couldn't help the clench of his fists as he watched Greed's tongue caress Ino's fingertip. Of course...then he nearly fell out of his seat at Greed's rather...blunt.. analogy. Glaring at the homunculus, he sighed and decided just to not answer.
Ino allowed herself to snicker once more at this, giving a soft smile toward Greed. Shikamaru really is jealous....I wonder how long he's been hiding this? She continued to ponder her thoughts taking another swig of sake, and allowing the scene to unfold around her.
Seemingly in tune with her thoughts, Greed pushed his luck.
"See, a real man knows how to speak his mind about what he wants. He doesn't let things just continue in front of him," he said, grasping her around the waist and pulling her close up against him, "He knows to strike while the iron is hot." He slowly moved his head down her body until he disappeared from Shika's view. Several moments passed with the faint sound of cloth being moved aside...when suddenly he popped up with a fork in his mouth. "I've found it! I was wondering where that fork went! It had fallen under her skirt. Boy, THAT could have been a long search. After all," he smiled, blowing a puff of air in Ino's ear, "Once I start searching for something, I make sure that the probing is LONG and DEEP. That's the only way to finish the job and reach the goal, is it not?"
Fingers clenched in the tablecloth, eyes narrowing on Greed with a dangerously dark glare. Stubbornly holding onto his pride, he fought the urge to simply Kage Nui the man,
toss the girl over his shoulder, and Kage Ontei out of the restaurant. "Quite true, but probing blindly seldom gets you to your intended goal. Without a well-thought out plan, you'll just end up lost."
"Planning is for guys who like to think more than they like to act. Brainy guys get so wrapped in the details, they lose sight of what's simple and right in front of them." He leaned toward Shikamaru, locking eyes with him. "If ya' don't admit things to yourself and the person you love, it's just a matter of time before they get stolen away. Think of it like it is in the wild. He who proves himself, gets the girls. Even a smaller ram can be the king of the mountain, if he proves himself and refuses to back down." Even further in Greed went, until his palm were on the table and he was just inches from the younger male's face.
"Come on, Shika! What's all your fancy planning mean now? What do you do when an obstacle is inches in front of you, with no time to plan? Ino's right there. Are you just gonna' let me stand in the way?"
"What's my 'fancy planning' mean now? This." With a quick seal, he melted into the shadows, reappearing between Ino and Greed. "In a game of shogi, the one who simply barrels across the board is the one who gets trapped and defeated by his opponent."
"Even if you took off with the her, she could always come right back to me. Add to that the fact that warping around won't harm me. You're just staving off the inevitable." He moved toward Shikamaru quickly, clearing the distance in a moment.
"Show me some real moves, kid!" he yelled, taking a mock swing at Shikamaru's head. "Prove yourself, little ram! Let's see how much you love her!"
Ino stared at the two. She had knew about masculine competition, and had even been privy to it many times. Men had fought over her before...and she had always found it amusing. But, this time, she actually cared to see the outcome. She was not going to stop it, no, for she wanted to see if Shika would fight for her honor. If Shikamaru would actually not find it mendokuse to fight for her. If he would go through with it. It would prove how much he cared, once and for all.
With a scowl, Shika ducked the punch. The man was infuriating. And he wanted Shikamaru to actually put forth effort. But...this was Ino. His teammate. His friend. The girl...that he loved. Out of everything he could put his pride on the line for, wasn't this something of the utmost importance? He supposed it was. And so with a snarl, his fingers flew together in a series of seals. "Ninpo Kage Nui!". The black shadows raced across the ground, flying up to strike the homunculus.
Greed stopped and jumped back, taking a defensive stance and awaiting the incoming summons, or blast, or whatever the hell he was going to fire. Ninja hand signals were NEVER good. He soon, however, noticed that nothing was happening.
"Eh?" he said, opening his eyes, "What the hell? No attack? I guess ya' fizzled out, kid." He tromped back toward his opponent...or he would have. For some reason, however, his feet weren't moving.
"WHAT THE FUCK?!?
Greed tried to pull at his legs when he realized his arms weren't moving either. He affixed his eyes on Shikamaru.
"You do this, ya' little punk?"
Ino started to giggle a little at the predicament, her eyes alight with amusement. Kage Nui. She had always been amazed by the way the Nara could manipulate shadows, trapping whatever and whoever was around them with this absence of light. It had always been interesting to her, since all her family was able to do was manipulate their conciousnesses to invade someone else's, or to destroy someone's motor skills, making them do whatever they were told, while still being coherent. Their bodies would betray them, and no matter how hard they tried, they'd not be able to stop themselves. But, the way of the shadow was something even more mysterious. Ino wondered how the homunculus would deal with it.
With a smirk, hands folded themselves into another series of seals. "Kageyose no Jutsu." The shadows came from all around the room, coalescing into long tendrils that raised themselves off of the floor before racing foreward to drive themselves through arms and legs, further tightening his hold on the homunculus.
Shit. With his body damaged in this manner, he couldn't form a shield. Not until his body was healed. On the upside, at least it didn't hurt much. It was time to think fast.
"Hm...Heh..heheheh...HA..HA HA...HAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Nice kid, but ya' forgot somethin'! Every part of us is strong!" He managed to lean his head forward just enough to lash out his tongue and snatch up a pepper shaker from a table in front of him. He expanded his lung and took it into his mouth, then blew out, firing it across the room where it shatter against a banister next to them. The force spread pepper into the air near them. "I'm willin' to bet holdin' me here takes some great concentration, kid! Think ya' can keep it up?" With a flexing of inhuman muscles, he started to try moving his limbs.
Ino stared at this. The homunculi was impressive--something she hadn't really ever seen before. And she had seen a lot of things as a kunoichi. But, as she started hearing a murmur from around her, she decided it was time. Speaking up, she tried to get the two boys' attentions. "HEY! Let's take this outside...as to not destroy this place, where we can't come back, ok?"
"Outside, huh? Guess that might be a better plan." Another series of seals, and he melted into the shadows. But rather then disengaging, the ones binding Greed simply pulled the homunculus after them, dragging him into the lightless realm to spit him out, still bound, outside of the restaurant as Shika's form melted seamlessly out of another shadow. "Concentration? Sure. Doesn't mean you can break it."
He began to flex his arms again. Slowly, but surely, his arms began to move by centimeters. After a few more moments, it was inches.
"As...you....were...saying!" he said through gritted teeth. Super strength was harder to use when you didn't have any leverage, but he was at least managing.
"I'm...gonna'....be...FREE!"
One arm snapped free of it's bindings.
Ino had walked outside, gathering the sushi and sake with her, and bringing it out with them. She settled herself down against a wall, watching the proceedings, sticking a roll into her mouth. She grinned. Greed was right, these rolls were wonderful. Dinner and a really good show. Now, this was her idea of a night out. She'd have to thank the homunculus later for starting it all.
Well, he wasn't about to let that go and waste his opportunity. Concentrating harder, he froze for a moment before taking advantage of the homunculus' shadow-bound condition and aiming one sandaled foot at the underside of Greed's chin. In theory, the kick would either snap his neck or at least send him flying backwards a few feet. Of course, that was the theory. Shika'd done his research, afterall. He knew very well that neither would be likely to actually kill the man. So there was little point in holding back with his kick.
Greed reacted to the incoming strike, opening his mouth for the kick and letting his jaw snap shut like a trap around the side of Shika's foot. "Ha ha!" he yelled through a mouthful of shoe and broken teeth, "Gotcha', bitch!" He snapped his neck back and let go, trying to toss the boy high enough to head-butt him.
"And this time I'm going for your throat!" he said, his jaws opening.
Ino stood up, with a yelp as she saw the man about to snap her now-love-proclaimed teammates neck within his maw. "Stop it! Enough!" She hadn't been worried before, but things were seeming to get a bit too risky for this to continue onward as it was. "The point's been proven! Please!" She wrung her hands together, looking a bit harried. "Both of you!" She wondered briefly if she resembled a certain pink-haired forehead girl s screaming at her two teammates to cease their foolishness when they got this rough...
"Heh. Nice try." Arching his back and shifting his trajectory slightly, Shika's hand flashed to the pouch at the back of his belt. Pulling out something small, he slammed the hand into Greed's mouth, paying little heed to the cuts sharp teeth made on his palms as he shoved the flashbang into the other man's toothy maw. "Chew on that, pal." Pushing off with his hand, he made a seal with one hand, eyes narrowed in a look of ruthless efficiency. "Kai." Backflipping through the air, he landed beside Ino, dropping into a crouch and wiping a hand across his forehead.
Greed's entire skull exploded, the two ninjas getting showered with bits of gore. What was left of his lower jaw quickly started regenerating, his body jerking as the newly regenerated brain reconnected to it's functions, like an old computer rebooting.
"Okay, that's just rude pal," he said, the top of his skull healing last.
He began to flex his muscles, drawing on the reserves of his strenght. Slowly, but surely, the bonds started to snap around him. With a last burst of energy, he broke free, landing on his feet and bounding backwards several yards. He healed his wounds and approached the two, hands in his pockets. "Okay, okay. I give."
"Agh! Shiiiiiiiiiiiiiiika..." Ino grimaced, flicking her hands, and sending goo and bone bits flying to the ground around her. "Always ending with a bang, ne? Kinda like what you did to Hidan..." She shook her head, with a small sigh. "Dammit.. now I'm gonna have to get this dress dry cleaned... and I still don't know if it all will come out." She laughed lightly, then looking over at Greed. "Greed-san...are...you ok?" A little worry had appeared on her face, though that was quickly snuffed when she saw his head knitting itself back together. "Well.. I can say you are....wow. That's a nice ability you have." She walked over to him, standing up on her toes, whispering into his ear. "Thank you..."
A smirk as he combed bits of gore out of his own black hair. "Why not? It worked well before." He stood and watched as the homunculus put himself back together. Shika had to admit that it was rather an interesting sight to see someone's head just...reform like that. Definitely something his father and the scientists at Narake would have wanted to study. He watched with a slight frown as Ino leaned up to whisper in the man's ear. OK, if she's gonna be all chummy with him again, then what was the point of all of this?
Greed winked at her and turned to Shikamaru, "She was tellin' me to back down," he yelled, "And I agree."
He sauntered up to his opponent, extending his hand, "I approve of you seein' her. You can more than defend her."
Ino smiled at the man once more, watching as he walked over to her comrade, extending a hand in friendship. He's a great guy, that one.. maybe a bit promiscuous, but whoever found fault with that? She allowed a warm expression to draw upon her face, as she returned to Shikamaru, draping her arms lovingly about his neck. "Shikamaru...."
One black eyebrow raised as if in skepticism of the man's words, but after only a moment's pause a hand was extended to clasp the one outstretched towards him. With a simple nod and a slightly smug expression, he cocked his head to the side. "Well, glad to know. Seeing as it makes such a difference to me if you do." Despite the sarcasm in his words, his eyes had a light expression in them that easily communicated his acceptance of the other not only as a fighter but as a person. As Ino slipped her arms around his neck, he glanced down at her with a slight smile, other arm sliding easily around her waist. "Uhuh..?"
"Well, I can see you kids have some catchin' up, so this three-hundred year old man will saunter off for the night," he said, bending down to kiss Ino's hand, "My lovely lady."
He gave a quick swat to Shikamaru's rear on the way by. "And next time I'll get SERIOUS!" he laughed, putting his hands in his pockets and heading back toward the temple.
Ino giggled, waving to her friend as he left. "Take care, Greed-san!!" As he faded from sight, she took her hand up, ruffling Shikamaru's hair, planting a kiss on his cheek. "What do you want to do now, Shadowwalker?" She said, taking her other hand, and slipping it into his Chuunin vest. "I can think of a lot of things..."
A visible shudder ran up Shikamaru's back as the other man slapped him on the ass. Ok, he did NOT swing that way. And no, that didn't mean anything in regards to Chouji. Chouji was....Chouji. It was different. Either way, that train of thought was sent spiraling off into oblivion by the feel of Ino's fingertips against his chest. He raised an eyebrow at her. "Hmm.....so can I. And they all start with this." Cupping her face in his free hand, he tilted her chin up to press his lips to hers in a deep kiss.
Ino closed her eyes at this, working her tongue, and deepening the kiss between them. After what seemed like a beautiful eternity, their lips parted, and Ino moved around to Shikamaru's front, looking deep into his eyes. "Then, let's go home and explore these possibilities, shall we?" With this, she took his hand, holding it up, and beginning to walk away, leading him with her. "I...I missed you, Shikamaru." Biting her lip, she held back the swell of emotion that was now threatening to flood her completely. She would keep her composure, at least until they got home behind closed doors.
"Missed you too, Ino." With a mischevious smirk, he gave her hand a yank, pulling her back into his embrace. Hands slipping into familiar seals behind her back, he chuckled. "Why walk? Kage Ontei no Jutsu." Wrapping his arms tighter around her, he nuzzled her ear as the shadows swallowed them up.