1He wouldn't even spare her a passing glance. She couldn't hear anymore, she could barely feel. She just kept on fighting, what else could she possibly do? It was as if he was there, and she was not. She felt almost...lonely.
Unwanted memories spun through her mind. A crush. Liking Sasuke. A rivalry. Being ignored by Sasuke. Teasing Sakura. Getting Sakura back. Being happy. Realizing Sasuke was gone. Hurting. Bleeding. Being comforted by Chouji and Shikamaru. Knowing Sakura felt the same, if not so much worse. Knowing --- feeling as though she might always be second best.
"INO!" Their voices mingled. She could not tell who was yelling her name. Or why. She felt herself being tackled and thrown to the ground, and watched in silence as the opposing ninja hit Shikamaru's exposed body, as it loomed over her protectively. She heard nothing. She felt nothing. She only saw.
Yet she could not move. She felt broken. Her teammates and her best friend were fighting for her. She knew that should be enough. Enough to heal her. But it wasn't. And that single thought hurt like hell.
Sakura's mouth moved frantically as she hovered near her, and she tried to figure out the world. She couldn't, nothing made sense to her anymore. All she knew was that Sakura was panic stricken, and crying.
'Don't cry, Sakura...' she thought vaguely, reaching out to touch her best friend.
"INO!"
The whole world came back to her. She was alive again. She flinched away from Sakura, knowing sounds, tastes, feelings. They had all returned to her, and she knew. She just knew.
"S-Sakura -- I'm sorry. And I love you!" she forced out, hugging Sakura tighly.
"I love you too, Ino!" sobbed Sakura, clutching onto her friend. "You scared me. I could have sworn you were losing your mind."
She did not respond, but let Sakura go. "I'll be back." she said, and turned to run.
Now he had gone. Left them all to fend for themselves, just as she had. But this was her own problem. She would find the solution on her own.
"Ino."
The world dissolved as he spoke her name. She froze - what else could she do. Nothing. He stepped forwards. His pale hands ran through her hair, pulling it out of the tie.
"Do you remember that silly old rumor...About me liking long haired girls?" Sasuke murmured, burying his face in her hair. "Because it's true."
One moment was enough