Chapter 1

Open Spaces Inside Me


-Regular POV-

Ino slept soundly, not a hint of disturbance. She looked peaceful, her blonde,shiny hair laying on her shoulder. Breathing deeply with light purple shadows casted on her. Moving quietly, she turned to face her opened window. Still very tired she lifted her eyes slowly. Blue lighting lit her baby blue eyes. "What time is it?" Ino asked rubbing her eyes. "It's 4:00." A voice whispered from behind. Ino snapped her head back and stared at the shadow hiding in the shadows of a corner. "Who are you? How did you get in my house?!" Ino yelled, rising up from her pale, satin bedsheets. "Lay back down, you look so gorgeous sleeping there. By yourself." The voice laughed. "Who the hell are you?!? Get the Hell out of my house before I kick your ass out of it!" Ino yelled running towards the corner. "Come now Ino," The hoarse voice whispered moving to the next shadow cast.

It's movements were quick, but so was she. "You don't remember me?" The voice grunted,while dodging Ino's kicks. "The Hell I know you! Get out of here, come out of the corner! Come and face me!" Ino grabbed whatever she felt first, and pulled on it. Only to have pure black smoke disappear in her hands. "What in the-?" Ino turned quickly to hear foot steps behind her. "Where are you?!? Don't hide! I'll find you!!" Her hands quickly moved around searching for a light. "It's no use Ino. I can't be seen in the light, nor darkness." The voice echoed in her ears. "What..are you using some Genjutsu to trick me? Ha, well that won't work!" Ino laughed while kicking each shadow infront of her. "If you truly wish to see me, Turn around." The soft voice whispered in her ear. Ino's eyes slightly widened, as she slowly turned around to face the creature. Slowly turning her body, her waste, then her upper body fully turned around. "N-N-No!" Ino's eye's met with the demon's. Or rather, herself.

Looking deep inside the black,twisted mirror, Ino never had felt so scared. "This isn't possible! Mirror's don't talk!" Ino's hands flung at the black, rose designed bureau. "Oh no, of course not. But I do." Said the other her, black hair, brown eyes, everything she had, except beyond from being herself (A/N: Just picture Ino, but with her colors inverted, also known as negative.) "Your so weak, pathetic, a stupid little brat! You've got nothing going for you except your body. And that's all those boys are really after, you know it to!" The other Ino laughed inside the mirror. "That's not true. You don't know.." Ino paused and lookd at herself. Deep inside the mirror, it truly was herself. What she's been feeling for so long. She never stopped to think, that maybe, she was a spoiled brat. "Your damn right your stupid, that's why your a blonde!" The other Ino now practicly on the ground laughing.

Waking up to find another day
The moon got lost again last night
But now the sun has finally had its say
I guess I feel alright
But it hurts when I think
When I let it sink in
It's all over me
I'm lying here in the dark
I'm watching you sleep, it hurts a lot
and all I know is
You've got to give me everything
Nothing less cause
You know I give you all of me

-The next morning-

Waking up the next morning, was the hardest thing Ino could do. Yawning, stretching and waiting for anything. "No training today? Hmm, maybe I'll just go get the shop cleaned up incase of some incoming customers." Ino thought to her self. She rose up and stretched once more. Looking outside at the early Konoha morning dew. Dripping lightly from each tree. Early decembers never were this cold before. Ino shivered and put on a warm sweater her Mother made for her. "I guess Mom wanted me to stay warm." Ino slipped each sleeve on carefully. Thinking to herself, if maybe her parents were safe on the mission they were currently on. "Damn pink sweater!" Ino yelled taking it off with disgust. "She knows pink looks weird on me!" She threw it on the ground and ran out of her frosty room. Slowly creeping to see out the window. "I wonder if Sensei Asuma wanted us to meet today.." Ino asked quietly.

"What happened last night? What happened? Was it a dream and if so then-" Ino was interrupted by a knock on her door. "Huh? A knock? Is it Dad or Mom??!" Ino bounced with joy and ran to open the door. She shoved the door to the side and smiled, but when she opened her eyes she grimaced. "HI INO!" Naruto bounced slighlty. "Uhh...What are you doing here Naruto?" Ino said flipping her long, blonde pony tail to her side. "Um, we got a scroll from the old man (A/N: 3rd hokage 3) and he sent it out to all the Jonin and their students. We have one new mission, at for some reason we have to have different partners..." Naruto dazed off and passing Sakura. "And why can't you team up with someone from your team?" Ino said, her voice irratated. "Because the old man doesn't want us to be partners with our teams or anyone in them." Naruto answered, still looking towards Sakura's way.

"Well whatever, what did you come here for?" Ino asked putting both her hands on her hips. "I wanted to know if you'd be my partner." Naruto said in one big cheesy smile. Before Naurto could say anything more, Ino shut the door right on his face. His poor nose was the first victim. "..." Naruto stayed their quietly. "Ow..." Naruto said rubbing his nose. "Is this what it feels like to be rejected?!" Naruto cried.

Ino went inside her room and threw herself in the sheets. "PARTNER? ME? NARUTO?!?!" Ino rolled over. "No way in hell." She smiled and looked outside to see lazy Shikamaru laying on the grass, under a tree. Irratated mumbles came from him, to smothered to catch what he was saying,"Damn..stupid mumble I'm so tired...mumble crap..." Shikamaru yawned. "I wonder.." Ino put her hands under her chinned and smiled wickedly. "This is going to be so much fun."

TO BE CONTINUED!