Title: Nonsensical
Characters: Sakura x Gai, slight Ino x Kiba
Rating: T
Word Count: 1,216
Summary: Ino really doesn't get why her friend likes him.
Ino doesn't get it.
She tells this to Sakura every day, although normally she is considerate enough to limit her loudly spoken declaration to only once or twice when she does. Normally, but not today. Today they are making their way through the many clothing stores in Konoha, because Ino just has to get a new dress because it's not like she can wear her old ones out tonight, can she? A girl has to look her best all the time. Sakura doesn't mention that both closets in their tiny apartment are stuffed with just the one roommate's clothing already. Instead Sakura follows along quietly, listening to her friend chatter happily as she shops.
And really, Ino declares, she doesn't get it. Come on, she says to her friend, it's Gai-sensei. And down the list she goes, listing his faults with such predictability that the other kunoichi can mouth her words even as Ino is speaking them. Ino is certain that this is just a phase that Sakura is going through, possibly still suffering from post Sasuke syndrome or something else equally emotionally debilitating. Because really, if there wasn't something wrong with you, why would anyone want to date Gai-sensei?
Ino doesn't get it.
Sakura has yet to deign to explain, instead she fingers a very pretty new kimono wistfully. Ino smiles sympathetically, and would buy her friend the kimono as a present if it wasn't for the fact that all her spare money is going to making herself presentable. A girl has to keep up her appearances, Ino knows, even as she sweeps a perfectly groomed lock of hair behind her ear. Ino thinks that Sakura is just lonely, and she understands that. Ino is lonely too. Well, not that lonely. She's busy training with her teammates every day and she works at the hospital and is learning new jutsu and Kiba is finally starting to shape into what she had always hoped he'd be.
Sakura's always been complicated, her life as crazy as her unfortunate luck in teammates, so Ino decides that it's not really Sakura's fault. Too much exposure to Naruto and Sai and Kakashi was bound to have its repercussions, although Ino thinks that ending up with Gai is one of those weirder less expected repercussions. At that comment Sakura merely snorts but Ino notices that Sakura doesn't deny it.
Ino doesn't get it.
She is still mulling this over well into the evening, even as she bats Kiba's wandering hands away from her hips, and Sakura has stopped listening quite as attentively as she has been doing all day. Instead her eyes are drifting across the bar, where a table of older jonin are drinking and laughing, and a pair of eyes catch hers. Sakura smiles and actually blushes a bit, making Ino decide that her best friend has completely lost her mind. The only thing that should be making Sakura blush is the utter mortification that she's not only dating an absurdly older man, but that he is also a loud obnoxious spandex wearing freak whom just happens to be one of the strongest shinobi in the village. But that didn't make up for it, not at all. At least Gai had the decency to stay over there with his friends so Ino doesn't have to pretend not to be utterly creeped out.
Ino still doesn't get it, but as of the moment she has other more pressing problems.
That beautiful new dress just had some drunken asshole spill beer on it, and said asshole is now making eyes at the redheaded waitress as he gets another one, and Ino thinks that really this whole dating thing kind of sucks. You put so much effort in, only to find yourself disgustingly disappointed by it all in the end. She contemplates making a scene, but instead sighs and searches for Sakura, who at some point has wandered over to the other table and is now perched on a very pleased looking Gai's knee.
Ino groans but does her best to smile sweetly as she comes over with the intent to ask Sakura if she's ready to go. Now it's Genma's wandering hands that she has to bat away, and Ino is about done with tonight. Sakura is perceptive, even for one as delusional as she's been lately, and so she says she's ready to call it a night too. Kiba has disappeared and Gai insists on walking them home. Uncomfortable as always when with the pair, who are actually holding hands, Ino tries not to grimace and keeps up a steady chatter to distract herself. Her words only pause momentarily when they pass an alley not far from the bar, and really there is no mistaking the shinobi whose hands are currently up that redheaded waitress' skirt.
But Ino is a trooper and marches on, determined to make Kiba pay for it tomorrow when the idiot comes crawling back to her doorstep like he always did. Gai doesn't come in, says he has to do something, but Ino doesn't pay attention. All she wants is her bed and blissful sleep, free of drunken jerks and strange green clad men. So she strips off her new dress, now ruined, and carefully cleans off the makeup that she will just as carefully reapply tomorrow. Because that's what normal girls did, sane non-Gai-sensei dating girls did, because life had taught her that appearance is important. Very important. And it's not like she needs her beauty sleep, but it would be nice. Instead she finds herself slipping through the apartment much later that night, towards Sakura's secret stash of double chocolate chunk cookies. Not that she will admit it tomorrow…
The lights are off, but the television is still on. Two figures are lying side by side on the couch, and Ino can't help but stop and look at them, something she tries to avoid doing because it always makes her a tad squeamish. Sakura is out cold, the kind of sleep that shinobi can't sleep unless they're drugged or know that they are in completely safe surroundings, and even then they don't sleep that deeply. But the pink haired kunoichi is dead to the world, and Ino thinks she might be too if she was lost in the arms of a jonin who was possibly stronger than even Sakura's famous perverted sensei.
Ino has moved silently but Gai still opens one eye when she pauses, regarding her calmly before closing it again. He shifts and tucks Sakura deeper against him, and Ino decides that those arms look quite a lot better wrapped in muscle and dark ink instead of tight green cloth. Then she shakes her head, decides she's spending too much time with Sakura, and heads back to bed. Tomorrow Ino will wake up and start her day all over again, but not before smiling slightly as she watches Gai place a kiss against Sakura's neck before he leaves her for the day, oblivious to rumpled pajamas and tangled hair. And Ino will be surprised to find a very apologetic Kiba bound and gagged uncomfortably on her doorstep. Hmm. That was almost thoughtful, and the smile of happiness on Sakura's face is almost sweet.
But. Still. It's Gai-sensei. Eww.
Ino doesn't get it.