An Interrupted Interlude

[clouded_genius]

Joining: Open
Location: The Nara-owned section of Konoha's forest
Time: Early afternoon
Recap: n/a
Warnings: None

It was never-ending, the amount of care that went into the forest surrounding the Nara family’s home on the outskirts of Konoha. It was usually a thankless task, taking care of the animals to make sure they were healthy and that no one had

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[blonde_kunoichi]

"Erm, I hope I'm not interrupting anything?"

Ino opened her mouth only for the Nara to get a headstart, "No, you're not interrupting anything."

Crossing her arms and pouting she let them chat while taking a look at the surroundings...

It was really boring...

Then he found that Shikamaru was looking at her, he sapphire eyes looking at him innocently, "I've been out here the whole time, working. What were you looking for me for?"

She opened her mouth holding up on finger... and then closing her mouth and lowering her hand. Why had she come looking again...? She'd spent so much time looking... she forgot. Was t tohang out...? Her face nearly reddened at the idea, as if.

Looking at him with the rare innocent expression, "I don't remember..." She shrugged, placing her hands on her hips she thought for a moment before saying, "Oh well," She sighed, she knew what followed now. 'How troublesome' and go away sort of thing. Exasperrated with her memory she decided to start a conversation with the girl. Looking her over quickly she deicided that one day she'd have to do a makeover, "So, Moriko is it? I'm Yamanaka Ino. I'm sure you've heard something about Konoha's most beautiful kunoichi." She smiled, holding out her hand toward the girl with all the best intentions.

[clouded_genius]

So, first Ino had apparently ‘been looking everywhere’ for him, which in Ino language could have meant she’d been looking all day or for all of five minutes. She was a bit of a drama queen, so it wouldn’t have been hard to believe. And now she had no clue why she’d sought him out, which was classic Ino and classically annoying at the same time. Shikamaru sighed, but gave no words in response.

He turned to Moriko when she whistled, and then to the eagle when it swooped down to land on her arm. Years of training told his body to be tense around the new girl in case, just in case, but it was soon evident that the bird was hers, and just like that his shoulders shrugged again. When she offered him the herbs Shikamaru blinked a few times, eventually reaching his hand out to accept them. “Thanks. She’s fine now, but with as many as we look after things like that happen pretty often.” He stuffed the herbs carefully into one of the compartments of his vest, “I’ll make sure to put these to good use.”

Right before Moriko had summoned the eagle Ino had begun speaking about herself, which wasn’t that rare of an occurrence but it meant that she was likely to pick up that conversation where it’d left off - all about her. And if Moriko was as new to Ino as she was to Shikamaru, that meant the poor girl probably wasn’t wise enough to come up with an excuse to run away. That meant they’d likely be talking for the rest of the afternoon about how wonderful the Yamanaka girl was.

And that meant, if there was any luck in the world, that this would be an excellent time for Shikamaru to slip away.

“Thanks,” he repeated with a wave of a hand. The hand then slipped back into his pocket, much like the other, and with a turn he started off for the tree line. If there was any luck, that would be it. If there was any mercy, Ino and this new girl would suddenly become very good friends.

[blonde_kunoichi]

She lowered her hand with that somewhat let down expression, she hadn't noticed before but did everyone do this when she talked? As Shikamaru went on about.... Shikamaru-y things Ino closed her eyes and tried to remember previous conversations. The advice given to Naruto, meeting up with Tenten... they all seemed to pay attention right?

“Thanks,” Ino looked over as he started to walk off, "It's rude to walk away before she can even say 'you're welcome'." She pouted running over to his side before motioning for the girl to come along.

Not a request...

Leaning forward and looking up at the lazy Nara's face, she looked more like she was examining his face for something. But it was more of her trying to decide if he ignored her every second of the day or if he really despised being around her.

Then straightening she said aloud with a smile, "Of course not."

Then to Moriko, "So, I've never seen you much around Konoha before? Are you in a clan or anything?"

[hatama_moriko]

“Thanks. She’s fine now, but with as many as we look after things like that happen pretty often.” He stuffed the herbs carefully into one of the compartments of his vest, “I’ll make sure to put these to good use.”

Moriko nodded and smiled.

“Thanks,” he repeated with a wave of a hand.

"Sure anytime," Moriko gave a slight smile, honestly glad to help.

Moriko glanced between Ino and Shikamaru, noting her cue to follow. Oh well, why not, she shrugged to herself. Moriko trotted a little at first until she caught up with the two.

"So, I've never seen you much around Konoha before? Are you in a clan or anything?"

"Mm? Oh. Well," she paused in thought as she answered Ino, "I tend to keep to myself I guess. I am in the forest an awful lot, so I guess most people wouldn't see me much," she paused before answering the second part of her question. "Clan? Well, I don't honestly know. I'm an orphan. I was left on the doorsteps of a kindly old couple who raised me as their own until they both passed when I was about 12."

Moriko's eyes showed a little sadness for a split second when speaking about her adopted grandparents. They're name had been Hatama, so obviously that was the name she was raised with.

[clouded_genius]

Shikamaru just rolled his eyes and sighed. So they were going to tag along with him and talk to each other. They were going to have a chat, and wanted an audience. Granted, it was an opportunity to learn more about this new face, but the lazy side of Shikamaru generally didn’t care.

It didn’t seem to much matter what he wanted, though. Ino, knowing Ino, was likely to follow him around like a puppy until she found something that better suited her interest. So either way the rest of his afternoon was going to be filled with words, whether it was just the two of them or if this girl tagged along.

It wasn’t exactly as Shikamaru had wanted to spend the day.

He just continued to walk towards the tree line, then through the trees with the two girls in tow, keeping quiet as he listened to Moriko speak. His hands remained in his pockets and his face remained generally blank and calm.

[blonde_kunoichi]

She listened to Moriko and frowned...

Well, that was a downer. To divert the sensitive subject from that Ino smiled a little mischieveously, "So, Moriko, do you have any boys that you like in Konoha?" What she almost said was 'do you even know any?' but she knew that would not only be insensitive but rude...

She had grown up some.

[hatama_moriko]

Moriko's slender brows arched in surprise at that question, blushing inadvertantly as they walked. "Well, I ...don't really know anyone to speak of so..." She trailed off, her eyes shifting back and forth a bit.

[clouded_genius]

Boys. These two had tracked him down in the middle of the forest - in the middle of solitude, to talk about boys, like some kind of sleepover. Next they'd be talking about what nail polishes they use, and Ino would want to braid his hair, or something equally unwelcome.

The side of his face was likely to develop a twitch if he didn't get out of here, and now.

"I have some other work to get to." A lie. "I have to go compose a report on the altocumulus perlucidus' that have been spotted around Konoha recently." Fancy words for 'stare at the interestingly shaped clouds'. "And you know how the Hokage can be about punctuality." Had Tsunade ever been on time for a thing in her life? It was a good enough lie, though. It was a good enough ruse. Shikamaru waved a languid hand in the air and started ahead of the two, intent on fleeing the scene sooner rather than later. "See ya."

[blonde_kunoichi]

[SORRY I TOOK SO LONG! D': *was grounded*]

"Well, I ...don't really know anyone to speak of so..."

Awww... she seemed a bit new to this whole thing. Ino smelled a makeover~.

But before she could ask or say anything about it Shikmaru spoke, "I have some other work to get to. I have to go compose a report on the altocumulus perlucidus' that have been spotted around Konoha recently.And you know how the Hokage can be about punctuality. See ya."

Her hand shooting out like some sort of viper she took a firm grasp on his hand with a smile that said "Like hell."

"Excuse me, Moriko." She smiled holding Shikamaru's hand firmly so he wouldn't escape, hardly realizing what that might look like to Moriko. "I have to tell Shikamaru something." Dragging him aside so they were out of ear shot she glared at the Nara.

"I'm not THAT stupid you know! With all your big words I know you're just itching to leave to watch clouds or something!" Then a pause, realizing she made it sound like she was stupid she retracted her earlier statement, "In fact I'm not stupid at all!" She pouted letting go of his hand, "If you really hate being around me so much just say so..." She crossed her arms and looked to the side waiting or him to say, "Okay. Bye." Or maybe even shorter, just a "Bye." maybe because he was so lazy or something... or something...

She shook her head with a sigh and a forced smile, "Whatever. Like I care anyway." Making her way back to Moriko she waved, "Moriko! I have an idea, let's go have a makeover huh?" She was really going to wait and include Shikamaru in the conversation (somehow) since he needed some sort of... female interaction. But Shikamaru was leaving anyway.