Note: This may be terrible, this may be okay. It will probably be short and mostly boring. In fact, I would go as far as to say that this won't make much sense sometimes. I wanted to do something different and this is the best I could come up with. Yes, the pairing is unusual, but it has been done before. Constructive criticism and even just complaints are always welcome.
I don't own Naruto; the characters and all involved belong to Masashi Kishimoto. I make no money doing this. Thanks.
Make It Up
You won't lose my love, just back away. Take a weapon and aim it at someone you'll stay with. – The Long List of Girls (the blow)
It was Ino's first night off from T&I in weeks. She, Tenten, and Sakura decided on a night of drinking, complaining about work and men, and generally letting loose. Hinata's invite by word of mouth got lost in her mess of work and duties as the Hyuuga Heiress. They just assumed she was as busy as always as they claimed a table inside the bar, leaving one spot open for their moon eyed friend if she were able to show.
They watched as, across the bar, Lee challenged Sasuke to any kind of youthful contest he can think of.
"If I eat more sashimi than you in just one minute, you must allow me to win back the heart of Sakura!" The man forever in the green jumpsuit slammed his fist upon the bar, earning a glare from the bar keeper. Not that he noticed; his full attention was on the man sitting to his left.
"No." was all Lee received in response from the Uchiha, who looked over at the girls sitting at the table. He looked right at Sakura, a small smile on his face.
"He looks weird when he does that," Tenten remarked, sipping her sake.
"He's so hot," Sakura breathed, giving Sasuke a small wave. Instead of returning the gesture, he nodded once at her and downed his drink.
"Hey, hey, I'll compete with you, bushy brows!" Naruto yelled from his place on the left side of Sasuke. "Whoever wins has to buy all the drinks!"
"Would I be included in that?" Sai inquired, leaning across the bar from Naruto's left.
"Of course! Lee's gonna pay for everything!" Naruto exclaimed, a wide grin on his face.
The girls tuned them out, Ino gazing at Sai for a moment longer than she intended before smirking at the other women at her table. "I wonder if Hinata would've thrown her duties to the wind if we had told her Naruto would be here."
"You know it," Tenten giggled, her face gaining a slight blush already.
"What are you going to do about lover boy over there?" the blonde asked, sipping on her water. She wanted to loosen up like the rest of them, but Ibiki had made it clear that there was a chance she would have to return to work to help probe some minds. Besides, she knew sober was just as fun because if anyone knew how to have a good time under even the most dire of circumstances, it was Ino.
"I'm not going to do anything. Sasuke doesn't see him as a threat so why make a fuss?" Sakura took a gulp of her sake, sighing, and her companions could tell she was obviously bothered by Lee's pestering.
"Want me to do something about it?" Ino offered, not sure where she was going with the question, but hoping she could at least make this night an interesting one.
Sakura raised an eyebrow in question. "What could you possibly do to make the situation better?"
"I don't know about better," Ino laughed, taking another sip. "But I could try to talk him out of harassing your precious Sasuke for the rest of the night if it would make my best friend rest easy."
The pink haired woman shrugged, ignoring the stress that Ino put on "best friend". She didn't need to be reminded again that she and Ino had come to terms with their rivalry. Lately Ino seemed to find different ways of getting under her skin that didn't involve calling her out on her large forehead or fighting for Sasuke. "Sure, good luck."
Ino stood from the table, a smirk on her face. As the blonde walked toward the group of men, Tenten giggled, giving Sakura a mirthful look, "No one can talk Lee out of anything he really wants. Doesn't she know who he is?"
Again, Sakura shrugged. She was just here to have a good evening.
Lee paused in his furious eating of the raw fish when a small but firm hand gripped his arm. "Lee-kun, please come with me." He looked over his shoulder to see Ino, confusion making its way across his face. He let her pull him out of the bar, still wondering what was suddenly going on. They stopped a few yards away from the entrance of the bar.
"Look, lover boy, you need to stop." Ino got straight to the point. "It has been months since you dated Sakura. She obviously doesn't want to be with you or she would. She's with Sasuke now. It's that simple." She had her hands on her hips, her eyes narrowed.
"It is not that simple, Ino-san." Lee immediately defended, knowing where this was going. He had heard this talk from both Naruto and Tenten on multiple occasions. "Sakura-chan has a special place in my heart. She cannot –"
Ino cut him off, her hands reaching up to the back of his head, pulling him down toward her. She brushed her lips over his, resisting the urge to laugh when he became quiet and still. It wasn't really a kiss. He smelled awfully of sashimi, which Ino knew to be completely disgusting. Furthermore, why the hell would Ino want to kiss Lee of all people? The guy she would rather be kissing was inside the bar, probably giving off fake smiles to anyone who looked his way. Ino just couldn't stand to hear Lee's ridiculous descriptions of his feelings for Sakura. She didn't want any flowery language reaching her ears unless it was about herself.
Lee pulled Ino's hands away from his head, saying quietly, "Fine." Then he was gone.
Success! Ino thought, heading back into the bar. She was greeted by a cheer from Tenten and an inquiring look from Sakura. "He said he'd stop for now," she told them as she sat back into her seat, flipping her long hair over her shoulder.
"I can't believe it worked. I've told him to back off countless times." The brunette woman at the table pouted a little, looking into her drink before taking a sip.
Ino's smirk grew. "I'm just good, Tenten."
"Are you always going to get him to back off for me?" Sakura asked, a blush on her cheeks from the sake settling into her tummy.
"I don't know why I would have to," Ino scoffed. "Sasuke can do it from now on. Besides, Lee might fall out of love with you someday."
Tenten burst out laughing. "No, that's unlikely. Lee has the spirit of someone who never gives up. Really, do you guys know him at all?"
The pink haired kunoichi looked at her friends apprehensively. "You think he'll always love me? Really?"
Seeing Sakura's look, Tenten shrugged and looked down at her drink thoughtfully, almost shyly. "I don't know. Maybe if he dated someone else, he could fall out of love with you. I don't know how we could get him to be interested in someone else enough to date them, though. Maybe I could – "
"Ino could do it!" Sakura nearly screamed, a new grin on her face.
"What the hell is that supposed to mean?"
Sakura's grin just widened. "You're totally a flirt, and you're bossy. You're good at getting guys to date you even if they don't like you, right?"
Ino snorted indignantly. "What guy doesn't like me?" Tenten opened her mouth to say something, but Ino put up a hand to stop her. "And don't say Lee. Only Lee would have the hots for Sakura anyway. I'm – "
"Lee and Sasuke," Tenten finally interjected before putting a hand on her mouth and giggling.
The blonde fought the urge to order a hard drink. Some friends these women were! "Sasuke is irrelevant."
"Ino, I dare you to date Lee." Sakura's eyes were narrowed, her huge grin still in place.
Many thoughts raced through Ino's head. What are we, twelve year olds? She wanted to ask. She didn't see anything in dares anymore. What she did see were Tenten's wide eyes and slight frown at this dare. She noticed that the weapons mistress looked ready to object to the idea. That's when she realized that maybe Tenten had a thing for that weird Lee. With that, Ino downed her glass of water as if it were a shot. "Fine, he's as good as mine."
She had a plan.
It's been almost a week, and she hasn't had a single chance to begin her plan. She'd show Sakura! Today she had to fill in for her mom at the shop. Apparently the Allied Mothers Force was meeting up for some thing that Ino had no interest in hearing about, if she were perfectly honest. She saw him the first time he ran past her parents' flower shop as she was opening it. She also saw him the second time ten minutes later while she was setting up the register and putting on her apron. She was waiting for him the third time, ready to cut him off.
"Good morning, Ino-san!" Lee greeted her, choosing to ignore her sly grin as she stood in his path. "Just going for my post-work out, pre-training run!"
"Right, right," Ino brushed off his words with a wave of her hand. "We are going on a date tonight. Meet me at Gyu-Kaku tonight at seven. Bring money because you're paying."
"But I have – "
"It doesn't matter, Lee! You're going on a date with me tonight!" She crossed her arms and flipped her hair over her shoulder. "Gyu-Kaku. Seven pm. Money, bring it."
"Okay, Ino-san, but I do not understand why – "
"We kissed, didn't we? You're obligated to go on at least one date with me." Ino knew how to play her cards right.
Lee blushed uncomfortably, looking away. "Of course. I will meet you tonight. Goodbye."
Another success.
I may be bossy, but bossy gets shit done.
Ino wasn't expecting much out of her day in the flower shop. Flowers had become incredibly boring when compared to her job with the T&I force. So she was more than ecstatic when Sai entered the store.
"Welcome!" She called, smiling at him and hoping her apron wasn't as dirty as she felt it was. "What can I get you, Sai-kun?"
He smiled at her before looking around at all of the flowers as he walked past them. "What do you like?"
"You," she said without shame.
His smile faded, and she nearly laughed at his almost blank expression.
"I like tulips and chrysanthemums, but I'd have to say violets are my favorite," Ino offered an actual answer. He nodded, his smile returning. She knew it was fake, but she didn't care. If a fake smile gave her such butterflies, then his real smile must be breathtaking.
"Give me some of those."
After paying for them, he stood around the store for several minutes looking between the flowers in his hand and Ino.
"Were you going to give those to someone?" As the daughter of flower shop owners, Ino knew that most flowers that were bought from there were given to girls throughout Konoha.
"Do you want them?" He held them out at her. "I read that when you find someone attractive, you give them gifts and they kiss you."
The blonde kunoichi smirked. She liked where this was going. "Sai," she said quietly and reached across the counter for the flowers, instead grabbing him by the wrist to pull him closer. Letting her pull him forward, Sai's impassive expression remained even when Ino leaned over the counter to kiss him on the cheek. "You don't need flowers to get kisses from me."
"Then would you kiss me here?" He pointed at his mouth.
She really liked where this was going.
He wore the jumpsuit. Did Ino forget to tell him not to wear the blasted thing? It didn't matter! He should know not to wear that on a date! Ino had just gotten to the restaurant when she spotted him, so patient and so green.
"Good evening, Ino-san!" He gave her a blinding smile and a thumbs up, but something made Ino feel like it wasn't as sincere as he'd like her to think. Good! No one should be happy wearing that thing on a date with Ino Yamanaka of all people. She knew it didn't really matter since she didn't consider this a real date, but still.
Things were quiet until they were eating their food. Only a few bites into the meal, Ino stared at Lee, making him uncomfortable. "So, you know, you should consider dating other girls and leaving Sakura alone." She didn't bring up that she couldn't imagine that Lee had a long list of girls waiting for the chance to date him.
The man's expression looked pained, and Ino couldn't help but feel offended. "Ino-san, you are a beautiful representation of all that is youthful, but I cannot betray Sakura-chan. I am only here because you are Sakura's best friend, and honestly..." He trailed off, seeming to look into the distance.
At what, Ino wasn't sure, but she did not have time for this. "Honestly, what? Lee, you better spill it!"
"Honestly, I came in the hopes that you would work with me to devise a secret plan to split up Sasuke and Sakura!" He raised a fist in the air as he spoke, but was promptly whacked upon the head with a fist belonging to the annoyed blonde.
"No way!" Ino glared daggers into Lee, lowering her voice. "That's messed up, Lee. Especially for you. Besides if you wanted to devise a secret plan, it would be better to not go yelling it, you obnoxious idiot."
Lee rubbed his head, appreciating that Ino wasn't nearly as strong as Sakura. He looked at his dinner companion hopefully and whispered, "So if I am quiet, you will help me – "
After another swift hit, Ino growled, "No. Isn't Sakura's happiness important to you?"
Resting a hand on his head, Lee's expression softened, his eyes looking down in shame. "Of course."
"Then date other people, Lee. Keep yourself open," Ino advised, looking at her nails. "Sakura would love for you to let her go and find love elsewhere."
"But my heart – "
"Lee," Ino warned.
"I love Saku – "
Ino slapped one of her hands over his mouth."Lee, shut the hell up. What if I set you up with Tenten?" Here we go, Ino thought. I'll just throw that out there, Lee will date Tenten and she'll get her freaky green man. Sakura will get to rest easy, and I'll be the hero. Er, heroine. She removed her hand, allowing him the chance to speak again.
"I could not date Tenten. She is my comrade and nothing more."
Ino resisted the urge to hit him again. "Why not? Not even for Sakura?"
At this, she was surprised to see Lee blush and grin sheepishly. "Ino-san, Tenten is a strong woman, but she is not the type I would really. . ."
Ino quirked an eyebrow. So even Rock Lee has preferences when it comes to women. What turns him on, large foreheads? She snorted to herself at the thought before finally saying, "Fine, then date me." When his eyes widened, she waved a hand at him dismissively. "It's for practice. I'll show you how nice it is to date someone other than Sakura, and then I'll set you free when you're ready to hit the dating scene. Do we have a deal? For Sakura?"
She held out a hand, but instead of taking it, Lee gave her a thumbs up. She supposed that was the best she was going to get.
On her way home, her mind reeled with ideas and plans. She would need to talk to Tenten soon and set everything into motion.
If there was something that Ino knew about herself is that she was the villain. She may not have tried to kidnap someone or destroy a village, but she was the mean girl who would steal the lead girl's boyfriend (or at least try), the bitch who would crush any girl's self-esteem, the woman whose competitive nature would end up being her downfall. She knew she was beautiful, but that only made it worse. The mean girls were always beautiful, weren't they. This was a shot she was just going to take. The trouble better be damn well worth it. Even if it was only a minor one, she wanted to see herself as the heroine of this story.
Metal hit wood, burying itself deep into the post. Heavy breathing pierced the night. Tenten leaned on the post, tired and angry. She wouldn't be so mad about Lee missing their weekly sparring session if he hadn't been so careless about telling her it was because he had a date with Ino. So Ino was seriously doing this? Lee didn't deserve to be played, but after being so in love with Sakura for so long, of course he'd only want the next most beautiful woman of their generation. Just another woman who wouldn't appreciate him for who he was. She sighed, fighting off these negative thoughts. Surely, nothing would come from this one date. Lee loved Sakura If anyone could get him to forget the pink haired woman, it would be his best friend and teammate, right?
Picking up some kunai, she laughed at herself. Yeah right, Tenten. It wasn't like she wanted to date Lee. She just knew that she was the only one who could see how wonderful Lee was.
She just knew she was pissed.
I've never written Sai before. I may have him completely off, but this will just be how he is for this story because reasons.