Okay, so this is my brand new story :) that I've been thinking about for awhile. Generally I hate stories like this kind (school oriented) but right now I just kinda wanna write it so w.e. :) hope ya'll like it (ew.. I just used "ya'll") and on to the story.
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_
Empty was the only word to describe the room, save for a dresser, bed, and a blonde sitting on the purple sheeted bed. It was the last day in her parent's apartment for the year until the next summer vacation. It was the last day to be carefree and wing-it as it came. College came knockin' on her doorstep and it was time to start growing up.
According to word on the street, all her friends got into the same University and decided to stick together. Of course the brochure did say that they have some transfer students which excited the blonde more; new people that didn't exactly know her past.
Although the past really wasn't so bad now that she thought about it. She could remember the days when she first met her best friend. Then how they went in a stage where they could be best friends only indoors, but the moment people came around the two were rivals.
And now they had grown up and embraced their bantering ways. Each got jobs on campus to help pay for college and since they were owned by the university it lowered the boarding cost. They were both going to start work at the campus Bar & Grill. The pinkette was going to run the bar because of the experience from her godmother, Tsunade.
And to clash the two more, Sakura and Ino had learned that they'd be sharing a dorm due to their "compatibility" tests. It took them awhile to realize they rivaled each other only on the whim of one boy. The boy they both swore off while in college, Uchiha Sasuke.
Ino gave up on him long ago. Instead, she found that her heart lied in one boy who would never hurt a fly and never cared what others thought. He was well respected and even after years of bullying, he still never took revenge.
The blonde pulled the locket from under her plain white tee-shirt. Opening the heart revealed a smiling picture of Chouji and herself at the carnival. His smiling face melted her heart and a warm smile spread across her face.
Then a lone tear escaped as she thought of their memories and never wanted to lose him. He left her and never came back, the memories still fresh.
-_-Flashback-_-
She lay in her overly girly room with the sheets pulled up to cover her nude body. Next to her, the love of her life was laying face down and lightly snoring in his deep sleep. Ino stepped cautiously out of bed as to not wake up her new lover. Gathering the silky purple prom dress off the ground, Ino headed towards the bathroom and cleaned up a bit.
After a hot shower, Ino threw on a pair of skinny jeans and a purple tank and made her way towards the kitchen. Starting up the stove, the blonde cracked open four eggs and started to scramble them. Next she fried up some bacon, not that she'd eat it, but for Chouji.
The food was ready with two glasses of orange juice set on the table. All that was missing was a certain someone.
Padding lightly into her room, Ino started to kiss the snoring brunette's neck until he was slightly conscious. She then kissed his nose and then walked back out the room leaving the door open. Wonderful smells wafted into his den and the boy started to flare his nose.
Kicking the sheets off, Chouji slipped on his boxers and zombied his way towards the light breakfast. At the table he saw his angel with a small plate of food and across sat a mountain of eggs and bacon. (A/N: Yeah… I actually hate eggs AND bacon. I'm not a breakfast person.)
Quickly finding his seat, the large boy shoveled food into his mouth and mumbled a "thanks" as his eyes became crescents and sparkles surrounded his head. He was in heaven.
Surprisingly enough, they both finished at the same time and Ino gathered the dishes and washed them as he got ready for the day.
Chouji walked out in a pair of jeans and a dark green hoodie from his pack for "sleep over with the guys".
"Ino-chan, wanna do somethin' today?"
"Yeah, I found this really great café once with Shikamaru and I wanted to go there again, but it's kinda in the rough part of town. I didn't want to go alone and I know you'd love it!"
"I'll protect you!" he boasted. "Let's go!"
=-= There! At the place!=-=
The two walked about a good three miles to work off their breakfast being that Ino's new diet demanded some type of exercise. When they entered the slums, many catcalls followed Ino and Chouji became more and more annoyed. Then a few guys passed the pair and one man grabbed Ino's ass.
He had enough. Grabbing the molester by the front of his shirt, Chouji started to yell at the guy for touching his girl friend. Sure, the guy was older, but Chouji was bigger and that equates to better in the scoundrels eyes.
A gun appeared from one of the jerks and was pointed directly at the brunette's chest.
"Let 'em go, Fatty!"
Chouji flung the guy back at his friends but out of surprise the gunman pulled the trigger. Ino screamed as her boyfriend fell to the ground.
"Sh-Shit! I didn't mean to! I swear lady!"
"Shut up and run!"
Ino still in shock slumped to the ground and made her way to her protector. Pulling out her cell, the blonde called 911 and waited for them to arrive.
"I-Ino," he wheezed. "Don't cry. Everything will be okay."
But it wasn't. the boy started coughing and the wheezing grew worse. Blood started to dribble from his mouth as the coughs grew stronger. Sirens were loud in the background but all she could hear was his agonizingly painful breaths. He wasn't going to make it.
"Chouji, Don't you leave me! You hear me! You can't leave!"
"I won't. Promise."
"I love you! You can't leave!"
"I-" he started but was interrupted by a cough. "I love you too."
The paramedics arrived, but it was too late. He died in her arms as she held him close.
-_-End-_-
The tears welled up as each memory of him continued through her mind. Reaching into her large purse, the blonde pulled out a much worn journal and flipped to the first page.
'Yamanaka Ino,
Happy fifteenth birthday! I didn't know what to get you but I know you like keeping memories so here is a journal from me! I also included a picture of each of our friends and I hope you fill it with all your thoughts, dreams, and experiences.
Love,
Chouji'
It was the first present he'd given her and out of all the others it was the best. It also became one of the most painful memories he'd given her as well. The blonde filed through each of the pages reading what each friend had written under their pictures. Chouji always had a knack for getting the silliest or most awkward pictures when nobody noticed.
The first picture was of himself at a distance with a butterfly on his index finger, and the last ended with Sakura, her now best friend, holding a light peach colored rose to mean friendship. It was the silent way they told each other that they still cared.
Ino continued to flip half way through the book and began to read.
'Journal,
I've berated him, called him fat, and made fun of him all the time, but I think I've found the one for me. He's always been around and we always get along as long as I'm not mean. Our parents are great friends, but my father is so keen on never listening to me when he asks who I like. If they don't want to hear my answer then why ask?
His name is Akimichi Chouji and he's the kindest person I've ever met. For him I can get over the name calling, rumors, and all the other things that would come with it if he would just like me.
Ino.'
---
'Journal,
Kami! I told one person, ONE, and now the entire school knows! How could this happen!!! My life has officially ended!
Ino.'
---
'Dear Journal,
He asked me out and I told him I'd think about it. :) I know that it seems stupid to do that, but I don't want to seem desperate! I've got a reputation to take care of! OH! I forgot! I'm totally a senior this year! I'm so excited for graduation. :)
Ino.'
Many of the entries continued on about each date and each cute thing he'd done for her. She carried her journal everywhere and wrote everything down. She never wanted to be a writer in the beginning but after her mother passed, Ino found many of her mother's journals and old photo albums. Even when she was not around, her mother had taught her to keep memories for later or for others. She never found her calling in life but hopefully college will help.
The blonde took a deep breath and flipped to the last page she'd written in his journal
'Journal,
This will be and will remain the last written page. Your giver, everyone's friend, and my lover has past and it's all my fault. Today was his funeral. Even the people that hardly knew him came to pay him respect. Of all the flowers people placed upon his grave, my single white lily is placed on his tombstone. It is showing him from heaven above that he's a kind nurturing person and people have always been attracted to your caring nature.
He's gone and although many know the pain within their hearts to be great, none feel the pain of the lover's. None feel the longing to admire someone as much as I do. I wish I could be with him but I feel he'd insist on waiting my time. What if my time is by my own hand? No. He'd say Kami would decide it all. Patience is key.
I will always love him and never forget him. I hope he will wait for me because I always will.
I love you Akimichi Chouji,
Yamanaka Ino'
Her eyes couldn't hold the tears back anymore as they slid down her face. She couldn't write anymore after what had happened.
Sakura entered the room silently and saw the journal open with tear drops staining the pages.
"Hey," the pinkette began softly. "It's time to leave. The haul truck is finally packed and Naruto is getting restless. Let's move on."
Ino caught the meaning behind her last sentence and closed the journal.
"It's just hard to know that you're alone."
"You're never alone. Here."
Sakura handed over a new simple brown journal with a flower impression on the front. The clasp that held it together was two silver halves of a heart.
"His mother found it in his things. She gave it to me to give to you. I'll be waiting for you down stairs, kay?"
"Yeah. I'll be down in a few."
Sakura left and when she closed the door Ino opened the new journal.
'Ino-chan,
Here is the next journal for your next journey in life! I'm very proud of you for making it through high school and this is your graduation gift from me to you. Keep track of all your memories and ambitions for me. I'd love to read it when you're done. I wish you well on this journey. I've included a picture of all our friends once again and each has signed. Congratulations, Baby.
I love you,
Akimichi Chouji.'
The tears slowly stopped as she began to flip through each picture. This time it started with Sakura's senior picture with her small cursive handwriting below it. Each picture was of everyone's senior picture. Last but never least, it ended with Chouji's.
They had all finally grown up and were about to start the rest of their lives. Picking up a pen, Ino wrote the first entry in three four months.
'Journal,
Today is the day I move into my dorm and I start over. I've never missed Chouji less than any other day. I wish he could be here to hold me or even annoy me, but I know it'll never happen. So now I vow to write in this new journal for each experience in college for him.
Yamanaka Ino'
And so the healing slowly began.
-_-_-_--_-_-_--_-_-_--_-_-_--_-_-_--_-_-_--_-_-_--_-_-_--_-_-_--_-_-_--_-_-_--_-_-_--_-_-
Well! That was chapter one! And yeah, the story will be sorta focused on Ino, but there will be other point of views. Also there will be random days in the middle of the plot… kinda like fillers… :) although I like fillers :)
This will not be a "Ninja" like story, but there will be fights :) I just wanted to try a new view/feel for a story.
Please review!
Ideas are welcomed and will be recognized if used. :)
Thanks for reading! :)