A fic I felt I needed to write... I dunno yet. Enjoy.
I don't always have someone to read over this, so if my grammar/punctuation/spelling/whatever is off, sorry. Please Review after reading, good or bad I really like to know, so please spend a few seconds telling me what you think.
Disclaimer: I don't own a thing
A/N - When I uploaded this somethings messed up (mostly words put together, sentences/paragraphs crunched together) so please don't mind those if I missed any.
Bold - Thoughts
Arial - Italics Memories
Situations
Chapter 1: We Know the Price We Pay
It was all over, they thought they had the last word but I showed them...yeh showed them alright...that I'm not the Naruto they labeled me as. I always did want to go out in a blaze of glory and I guess kissing Ino on her wedding day was the only answer. I smiled as I wiped the blood from my mouth, I'd be lying if I said it wasn't worth it. I laughed as a tear slowly ran down my face, what the hell was I thinking? Honestly? That kissing her would change her feelings for Sai? That I would make her heart want me again? Sai had every right to hit me and throw me out; It was his big day after all. Sitting on bed I grabbed the bottle of whiskey Kiba gave me the day Ino announced her proposal. Goodbye, that's all she had to say that day, I wasn't hurt or anything; we both knew the deal, sex and nothing else. That day was no different from the others with the sex, but once it ended she walked out without a care...no cuddling, no talking, nothing and I couldn't take it anymore, I needed more than that. I sighed heavily as I stretched. Making my way to the bathroom with the whiskey still in hand I disrobed and started the shower, showers usually made everything better…and this whiskey wasn't to shabby either, in here I think about everything... I should have ran after her…
Panting heavily I stared deep into Ino eyes, her beautiful cerulean eyes would stare deep into mine and give me all the energy I needed, but her eyes were a shade of grey this day...cold..emotionless "Ino what's wrong?"
"Nothing Naruto...let's just get this over with" replied Ino as she pressed her lips against mine.
Pulling away from her I frowned "Bull crap Ino just tell me.
"Nothing is wrong Naruto" she said, she's such a bad liar.
"Tell me or I'm stopping" I smiled thinking she might actually stumble into this trap.
She laughed "You don't have the balls"
I pulled out and rolled onto my back..."I'm bored..." I said.
Ino sighed as she straddled my waist "You're such a baby Naruto" and continued whether I wanted too or not. I tried to reply but all that came out was a groan. Ino began to move faster. It was hard to be mad at her right now, she was good at what she was doing and it was all my mind could process. Within minutes I was on my back panting heavily and she was getting dressed.
"Ino what the hell?"
"Goodbye" said Ino as she walked out the door.
"INO, HEY! HEY!" I yelled to her but got nothing back. I sighed as my alarm went off, it was 11:30 am Wednesday and I promised Sakura I would help her at the hospital for a bit. Hopping out of the shower I smiled as I put my winter clothes on, I loved the snow and it did today, the first of the season. Walking through the town I frowned as couples of all ages walked by, I was 18 and I haven't had a single girlfriend. It wasn't that I didn't want one, I tried a few times but nothing really came of it. Sakura had Sasuke, after killing Itachi he came back on his own, disciplinary actions were taken against him for abandoning the village but was givena break due to the fact he killed Itachi and that Sakura practically begged Tsunade, without hesitation he gladly accepted her love. Hinata finally built up enough courage or rather I finally caught on and admitted she had feelings for me in the past, unfortunately she was in the process of making something with Kiba which is really for the better, it wouldn't have worked out... sometimes I wish I noticed earlier. Ten Ten was never an option really, Neji would have killed me first and Lee I'm sure would be before me on her list if Neji said no, Shizune was fun, we fooled around one or twice... but the age difference was too much for us and Tsunade was starting to catch on, god knows what she would have done. Temari was big no considering she would have killed me herself before Garaa, Kankuro or Shikamaru got a hold of me.
As for Ino, she was the only one. At first we had sex once in a while thing which slowly became an everyday thing, don't get me wrong it was great, but about a year ago she started to date Sai so our encounters were less and less until it became nothing but a hello... But these couples didn't remind me of the sex we had, but how we never became a real couple, a couple that went on late night dates and dinners with friends or even just walks through the town arm in arm, hand in hand. We kept our "relationship" a secret from the others, whenever I brought up the idea of us dating she would always respond the same "I don't want to tied down yet, love is a hard thing to have when you're a ninja" I knew it was a lie though; it was really about Shikamaru and Sai. She never really got over Shikamaru properly and Sai called her Mrs. Beautiful which sent her vanity through the roof not to mention what I think is an obsession for cocky guys with black hair. Regardless in the end I'm alone and I can't stand it.
Walking into the hospital I made my way to Sakura's office on the second floor, I sighed again...Why couldn't she get Sasuke to do this crap? Noticing Ino and Hinataenter Sakura's office I slowly creped to her door and listened in.Throwing her hand in the air she squealed as she fidgeted "Look!" she said as Sakura and Hinata rushed her hand "Sai asked me to marry him!!!" A bomb went off in my chest "And I said yes!!" The 3 girls jumped around in enjoy.
"Oh. My. God sweetie!!Congratulations!!!!!" they laughed and jumped some more. Slowly I made my way in; I crossed my arms and leaned against the door
"So...you're getting married huh? Congrats Ino..." Ino's face dropped
"N-naruto...what are you...?"
"Hello Naruto" said Hinata, I smiled.
"Naruto you're here, and late as usual" Sakura laughed "Come over here and check out this ring"
"No" Ino and I said in unison"No, that's ok...I'm sure it's great... Sakura I'll be around" I began to walk away.
"Naruto!" yelled Ino " I...I..."I continued to walk away, ignoring her completely. Like times before my job was to walk around and check up on a few of the kid patients, help out other nurses, little things that needed to be done until finally I made my way to the roof and laid down. "It didn't mean anything""she meant nothing..." I laughed, I've been saying that for so long and it's never once been true I've asked myself a thousand times and more why, why hadn't done something more?, why didn't I just tell her the truth, and like now I had no answer and was left with a painful feeling in my gut.
"I thought I'd find you here" Sakura said as she sat down next to me "What's the matter Naruto? You weren't yourself back there" I sighed in response. Sakura wouldn't understand if I told her and Ino would kill me if I told her, I don't know why I care about what she wants now."You have to get over her Naruto, she's married now"
I shot up."What did you say?" I asked
"Ino, you have to get over her Naruto"
"Wait, how did you…?" Had Ino told her about us? They are best friends so it's not unlikely.
"She told after the first time and she's told me every time since" she responded. That's a lot of times…
I laughed "What was the point of calling a secret then if she was just going to tell people?"
Sakura laughed"She only told me...and Hinata." I sighed "Oh ok, act like you didn't tell anyone"
"I didn't. She told me not to tell anyone and I respected that…" the pain was getting worse "Sakura...does she love him?" I asked, fearful of the answer.
"Yes, she does. She may flirt a lot but there's only a few she's really loved. She's very serious about who she really loves"I groaned. She punched my arm."You're one of them idiot."
"Yea..."
"You really loved her didn't you?"
"More than you love Sasuke...more than I loved you..." Sakura pulled me in close and hugged me. "I'm always here for you Naruto, don't ever forget that"
I laughed as I hugged her."Yea, I know...thank you..."
Stepping out of the shower I sighed as I put the bottle down on the sink, the shower and whiskey idea was a bad one, I only had a few sips before I realized how dumb this was. It had been 6 months since that day and I still wasn't over Ino and Sakura's words still lingered in my head "You're one them idiot...", the kiss was starting to feel like a loss than a victory. I came up with the plan that I had to go food shopping now while everyone was still at the wedding and those in still in town had no idea, there was no way I was gonna leave my apartment for at least the next week or so...I can't look at their faces and I had no right no fight back if they wanted to fight. Walking through town I quickly made my way to the food store and grabbed a dozen boxes of ramen...and some other small things for balance. Walking around a bit, I tried to enjoy the beautiful June weather when suddenly I found myself staring at wedding dress at the store Ino dragged me too.
A few months went by after running into Ino at the hospital, and as much as I hated it, I've completely dodged Ino. I was almost sure it was a trap when Sakura offered to treat me to lunch at this new restaurant in town.
"Naruto there's something I have to tell you" Sakura said while playing with her food"It's partly why we're here…" I was confused
"Ok?"
"How do I put this…" she was silent "Ino…s-she"
"Sakura, just tell me already"
"Ino asked me to go shopping with her for a wedding dress…but I can't with my schedule at the hospital…so I was wondering if you would go?"
"What!" was she crazy? "Are you crazy?"
"I didn't know what else to tell her, she said she wants 3 days worth of dress shopping and I just can't do all 3. It'll only be for one day Naruto, a few hours at most! Besides Hinata will be there too! Please! Do this for me; I'll owe you big for this!" She was almost ready to get on the ground.
I sighed "Sure…" WHAT! WAS I CRAZY!? WHY DID I JUST ANSWER WITHOUT THINKING!
"Really?!" Sakura leaned over and pulled into a hug. "Thank you so much Naruto."
"Yea, yea" I responded. Looking over my shoulder Sakura began smiling and waving her hand.
"Ino's here"
"You meant today?! Ugh!" she was trying to kill me.
"Hi Sakura Hi…Naruto…how are you? I haven't seen you in sometime" I hated awkward small talk. She sat down next to Sakura.
"Fine, been busy with mission and things. How's the wedding coming along?"
"It's going good…" the table went quiet I cursed to myself for agreeing to this.Sakura broke the silence "Naruto's going to be taking my spot today Ino"
"What!" Ino practically jumped out of her seat.
"Believe me I had the same reaction" I said
"Ino, Naruto please. Look Ino I can't go today but I can do the other two days, besides Hinata's going to be there and Naruto's good with fashion."
"Since when?" Ino and I said in unison.
I sighed "Never mind" I stood up and began to grab my wallet.
"No. Wait." Ino started. "As awkward as it'll be…I could use a male opinion today…"
"Are you asking me to come?"
"Yes Naruto, I'm asking if you would help me shop today…"
"Let's get going then, Sakura thank you for lunch"
"I have to use the bathroom first, excuse me." Ino excused herself.
"You owe me"
"I know, thank you again. How about I make you dinner one night? Anything you want."
I smiled "Deal"
A few minutes later Ino returned "Ready?"
I rose from my seat, said my goodbyes to Sakura and walked out with Ino, of course on the way I paid our waiter for the meal and tip; I'm a bit old fashion
So this is Chapter 1, Read and Review please. 2 will be on its way if you guys enjoy this.
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