*I'm Glad You're the One*

"But mom! I need to go on this mission with Ino and Shikamaru! It's important!" the young Akimichi complained to his plump mother.

"No buts! I'm sorry but, you're sick! You need to stay home, Lady Hokage even agrees. That's why she's sending [Name] with them so they won't be down a member." His mother responded with a slight irritated face due to her son's complaining.

A small blush rose to Choji's face at the mention of [Name]'s name, "[Name]?"

His mother nodded and smirked, "Yes. [First Name] [Last Name]. You know, the girl you have a crush on."

Choji's small blush became a large, scarlet one as he looked away and kept his mouth shut.

Before his mother could tease him anymore though, someone knocked on their door.

Choji's mother left his room to see who was there. When she opened the door, it revealed [Name].

"[Name]! What a nice surprise! What's going on dear?" Choji's mother and [Name] had always had a close relationship. [Name]'s mother and Choji's mother were best friends which caused [Name] to become especially close to the Akimichi woman after her mother passed away due to being poisoned on a mission. She made it back to Konoha but, didn't receive treatment in time. The poison was too quick.

That was four years ago though and [Name] was coping well with it. She knew that she could lose her mother any time she was on a mission. [Name] had already lost her dad because of missions as well. That didn't stop her nor her little sister and brother now, from training to become a ninja. They wanted to protect the place they called home as well as those they considered precious to them.

[Name] giggled, "Hello Mrs. Akimichi! Nothing really, I just wanted to drop off some food I made a little bit ago. I was told I'd being going on a mission in his place since he was sick so I wanted to do something to help him feel better and get his strength up!"

Choji's mother smiled brightly at the young teenager in front of her, "That's so sweet [Name]! What did you make?"

[Name] smiled back, "Well, I made him a big bowl of of barbeque with rice balls and a small cake. I also bought a couple bags of chips! Do you think he'll be glad I brought it?" [Name] felt so confident and happy walking to Choji's to give him the food she had made and bought for him but now.. Now she was feeling a little nervous.

"Now [Name], you know he loves your food! Even more than mine I think! Do you have time to give it to him yourself? I need to start shopping for lunch!" Choji's mother praised, still smiling.

[Name] nodded, "Sure, I have a few minutes before Ino will get mad." Choji's mother chuckled and said goodbye as she walked past [Name]. She knew the young girl would lock up behind her.

"Hey Choji?" [Name] knocked lightly on his door.

"Hm? [Name]? Come on in." Choji called back to her.

"What are you doing here?" Choji asked once she had walked in. For some reason when he talked to other people about how he liked her, he blushed and stuttered but when he was in person with her, he felt perfectly comfortable. Not that he was upset about that, it was just odd to him.

[Name] smiled at him, "Oh, well when Lady Tsunade called me in to tell me I had to fill in on a mission for you she mentioned you were sick. So I figured I'd make you a couple things. I also bought a few bags of chips."

This cause Choji to blush quite deeply.

"Uh, really? Thank you! What'd you make?" Choji thanked the girl whom he has had a crush on since he was twelve.

"You'll have to see for yourself, I'm gonna be late and I don't need Ino yelling at me the entire time." [Name] giggled and gave Choji the basket that she had everything in and quickly gave him a hug before running to meet with his team so they could get the mission done quickly and she could get back and ask Choji how he liked the barbeque and cake.

"Seriously [Name]! What took you so long?!" Ino complained to [Name] for the millionth time. They're already halfway to their meeting point and that's all Ino's been asking about.

[Name] rolled her eyes and replied, "Ino, just let it go. I'm sorry for being late. I had to help Miyako and Natsune with some chores before I could leave."

Ino gave her a look that said she knew she was lying but, didn't push it any further.

'Finally!' [Name] celebrated in her mind.

Shikamaru and Asuma sighed in relief that Ino had finally gave up.

"Alright, so what's the plan Shikamaru?" Ino asked him.

"Why are you asking me?" Shikamaru retorted with a lazy stare.

Ino rolled her eyes and answered, "Because! Asuma-sensei is too tired to think of one! It's obvious Kurenai is making him get up at night to check on the baby! Which he should."

[Name] giggled at the look Asuma and Shikamaru gave her.

"She's right ya know." Asuma commented, taking a cigarette out and lighting it.

Shikamaru sighed heavily, "Alright fine. Let's keep going until it gets dark. We should make it to the meeting spot and by that time, we'll get the scroll, camp out and then make it back to Konoha by tomorrow night."

Asuma chuckled, "Sounds like a good and tiring plan."

"Well the sooner this is over, the sooner I can go to sleep in my bed." Shikamaru replied.

[Name] and Ino glanced at each other and smirked. That wasn't the reason Shikamaru wanted to get home quickly. The two girls knew it too.

"Are you sure that's the reason you want to get home as quick as possible?" Ino pressed.

Shikamaru gave her a confused look, "What are you talking about?"

"Are you sure if wouldn't have something to do with the fact that.. I dunno, Temari is coming to Konoha in two days?" [Name] continued for Ino, both girls smirking.

A blush crossed Shikamaru's cheeks and he turned his head, "Tch. No. She's so troublesome."

"She's your trouble though." Asuma piped in.

An aggravated sigh left Shikamaru's lips as turned his back to his team "Come on. Let's just get going."

Ino and [Name] giggled over how funny Shikamaru reacted. He was in love with Temari and everyone knew it.

They all took off to meet some grass ninja. Their village and Konoha had begun to start a peace treaty to mend their problems.

Every since the incident with Orochimaru, all those years ago when he had killed a team of grass ninja to take over their bodies; Konoha and them have had a pretty bad relationship before that but it was worse after Orochimaru did that.

Night fall finally came as they approached the meeting point.

"Ah. Konoha's ninja. Surprisingly early I see." A female grass ninja spoke up once we were all together.

"Uh.. Yeah.." Asuma muttered as he pulled out the scroll we were to give them in exchange for their scroll.

She chuckled and took the scroll, handing Asuma hers in return. "See you around, Konoha shinobi."

"Mhm.." Asuma mumbled as he pocketed the scroll. Once he did, we turned around and began heading back. Not to go through the night but, just enough to get some distance from the grass ninja.. They're pretty odd.

"So [Name].." Ino trained off once everyone had set up camp. Shikamaru and Asuma had already passed out. It was about midnight.

"Yes Ino?" [Name] replied, staring at the stars. The had all decided to just bring a sleeping bag each instead of bringing a couple tents as well.

"... Do you like anyone in the village?" Ino asked after a few minutes.

".. Do you?" [Name] asked back.

"Yeah.." Ino mumbled back.

"Me too.." [Name] giggled.

"Who do you like?" Both girls asked at the same time, which caused them both to laugh quietly.

"Okay, at the same time." [Name] said and Ino nodded.

"Sai" "Choji"

Silence followed after the girls' confessions.

They both sat up and stared at each other, wide-eyed and blushing.

[Name] was the first to speak, "That's why I was late.. I made Choji some food and dropped it off before I met up with you guys. Tsunade-sama told me he was sick so I decided to do something for him.. I really like him.. I have since we were graduating the academy.."

Ino smiled softly at her, "That's really cute [Name].. It's so sweet! I guess I've liked Sai.. Almost since I first saw him.. Even though he's super awkward.. He's really sweet when he's trying to be.."

[Name] smiled back at her, "I'll make you a deal.. If you tell Sai you like him, I'll tell Choji that I like him."

"What? I can't tell him!" Ino panicked.

"Why not??" [Name] questioned her friend.

"I just can't!" Ino laid down and covered her face in embarrassment.

[Name] sweat dropped, "Ino. Come on. It can't be that hard.. Right?"

Ino sighed and uncovered her face, "I.. I guess not. I guess it's a deal."

The next day Team 10 made it back to Konoha, Ino went straight to the Hokage with Asuma. Ino wanted to find out where Sai was, whether he was on a mission or not and Asuma went because, well he had to give the report.

[Name] had planned on going straight to Choji's to find out if he was feeling better and if he liked the food she had gave him. Unfortunately for her, that's not what was going to happen.

"Hey [Name].. Do you have any plans?" She turned to Shikamaru with a completely surprised look.

"Uh.. No, not exactly. Why?" [Name] was really curious considering that even though she was good friends with everyone on Team 10, but she rarely talked with Shikamaru.

A dark blush crossed Shikamaru's cheeks which only furthered [Name]'s confusion, "W-well.. You're a girl so I figured you could help me with something. A lot less annoyingly than Ino at that."

"Well what do you need help with?"

Shikamaru walked up to her and whispered in her ear, "Temari and I have been dating for 4 years exactly tomorrow and I wanted to.. To buy her an engagement ring.I'm going to propose to her tomorrow when I take her to dinner." Shikamaru pulled away and continued, "I just don't know what to buy her.." He scratched the back of his neck sheepishly.

[Name] smiled and contained her squeal, "Aw Shikamaru! I'd love to help! That's so awesome! Come on, we gotta hurt cause shops will be closing in like an hour!" [Name] grabbed his arm and pulled him towards the first ring shop she saw.

They had made it back to Konoha much sooner than they had originally thought which made Shikamaru really glad since he wanted to get the ring tonight. It was about 8:00 so they had til 9:00 before things closed up.

As time ticked by, Choji sat on his porch. Watching the sun disappear completely and stars begin to come out. Ino had stopped by to see if [Name] was there. Unfortunately for both teens, she hadn't been. Unknowingly to Ino, this really upset Choji; when she told him that they had gotten back over an hour ago since it was now 9:15.

He was so sure that [Name] would come by to see him once they got back. He had been waiting two days. Still no sign of her though..

"Guess I'll walk around and get some chips.." Choji sighed, mumbling to himself as he got up and began walking to a store that was open all night.

As he was walking and snacking on his chips, he saw Shikamaru and [Name] walking towards Shikamaru's home. Completely confused, Choji followed them quietly.

Once Shikamaru and [Name] made it to his steps; [Name] spoke up, "I'm glad I was able to help, it was actually really fun!"

Shikamaru chuckled and smiled a little, "Yeah it was pretty fun. Surprisingly it wasn't as troublesome as I thought. Neither were you."

This cause [Name] to laugh, "Thanks Shika. Well I'll see you later, I've got to go make a quick visit to someone." [Name] hugged Shikamaru and started walking away.

Shikamaru smirked and hugged her back, "Good luck [Name]!"

"Thanks!" She called back as she made her way to Choji's home.

"[Name]! What are you doing?" [Name] turned to see Choji walking up to her.

"Oh! Choji! I was just on my way to your house!" [Name] answered, smiling at him.

"How come?" Choji asked as they began to start walking to his house together.

"Uh.. Well.. I wanted to tell you something.." [Name] mumbled.

"What is it?" Choji asked, beginning to get nervous. He had no idea what she was going to say but, he felt it wasn't going to be a good thing.

[Name] blushed and looked away, "W-well.. I uh.. I really like you."

"What?" Choji stared at the [H/C]-haired girl with wide eyes. He couldn't have heard her correctly.. Could he have?

"I said.. I really like you Choji.." [Name] said a tad louder, looking away still.

Choji dropped his chips which cause [Name] to turn her head towards him.

"Choji? What's wro-" [Name] was cut off my Choji picking her up and hugging her.

"I really like you too [Name].." Choji mumbled, hugging her tightly.

[Name] smiled brightly, "Really?"

Choji nodded and smiled brightly as well, "Yeah.. And your cooking! It's really good!"

[Name] giggled, "I'm glad you like it."

The two teens stood there, staring into each other's eyes. Slowly the space between them closed and their lips connected.

It wasn't a long or heated kiss. It was a quick and sweet but, still filled with emotion.

After they broke apart Choji pulled her close and whispered in her ear, "Will you be my girlfriend, [Name]?"

[Name] whispered back, "I'd love to."