Number 33

Anger

This isn't the first time someone has asked her to do something like this. The first time it happened Ino didn't know what to do. But that was in High School, she's nearly 23 years old now. And she usually doesn't care, she's learned it's nothing special, it's just an act with a word attached to it that really doesn't mean anything with anyone. Only with someone special. And Naruto is not that special person.

She thinks about it, rolls the thought over in her head. But the longer she thinks about it the more she hates the idea, the thought angers her. It's been more than ten minutes since Naruto sent her the text message and her phone buzzes again, a copy of the same message he sent her ten minutes ago.

"Oh, Geeze, so this is how it's going to be huh?", she sighs. "Until I say yes, probably."

"What is it?"

Ino didn't hear Sakura come in. But she doesn't jump up out of fear or anything like that. This is a regular occurrence for them, since as long as she can remember. They've lived together for over 5 years now, and before they were practically living together. When they were children they spent every weekend together. When they were in Middle School and High School they spent almost every night at one another's house. Once they were in University they were roommates. And it stayed the same after University.

They are practically sisters really.

"Naruto asked me out.", she tells her. "I guess him and Hinata broke up, or are taking a break or something, I don't know."

"I heard that, too.", Sakura sits down next to Ino on the couch. "So, are you going to? I mean chances are they'll get back together by next week."

"Yeah, I know."

Ino stares at her phone and sighs. She moves her fingers over the screen and blinks, tucking hair behind her ear before hitting the send button. She gets up off the couch and stretches her arms over her head and heads towards the back of their apartment. She has a date to get ready for.

"So, you're going to go through with it?"

"Yeah, he's offering almost twice as much."

"Ino…."

"Don't worry."

She forgets how much Naruto annoys her. Here they are at a decent restaurant and he's behaving like they are at some fast food chain or something. Ino looks at him, he's wearing something like a leisure suit she thinks is the closest comparison. He's calling the waiter over for a second basket of bread. Knowing him he'll fill up on the bread and his own food and asks if she is going to finish her plate. Before the night is even done she bets she'll want to strangle him.

"I'm glad I went all out.", she mumbles to herself.

"Huh, what are you saying?", he asks her.

"Huh?", she is surprised, she didn't think he was paying attention. "Oh, I asked what is going on with you and Hinata?"

"We're taking a break while she's away.", he grabs a piece of bread in each hand. "She got into that photography class thing, you know. She's down in Suna for a month. It couldn't have came at a better time, you know, we were both getting pretty fed up with each other."

Ino just stares at him. The entire time he talks about Hinata. She doesn't know why it bothers her so much.

She always thought Hinata are Naruto were one of those couples from a movie. The same as Sakura and Sasuke. Their relationship was just so cliché. Naruto wasn't the most popular kid but everyone knew him because his best friend was the most popular kid in school. And Hinata was just your pretty average girl next door. Ino doesn't know when or how they got together. She just knows they've been together since 8th grade.

Why, she has no idea what Hinata see's in Naruto.

"So, are we going to finish this up or what?"

Ino finally asks him. For the last 40 minutes he's been going on about Hinata. Naruto just stares at her, his mouth open. Then he regains his composure and nods his head. He tells her sure, why not.

"But we can't do it at my place."

She rolls her eyes. Of course not. She didn't expect to and wasn't planning on it. It was bad enough she was going out on a date with Naruto. But to go back to his apartment, his and Hinata's apartment; she wouldn't have done that. She would have rather wasted the night than go back to his bed.

Ino was a bad person but not that bad.

So she takes him to her favorite hotel. It's not too big and fancy like a 3,000 a night stay hotel. But it isn't as small as a 30$ a night motel. It's her favorite because of the bed. The bed is nice and comfortable, no squeak or anything like that. And the laundry is always so fresh, the towel fluffy for when she gets out of the shower, and the bathroom has a lock on it which she loves.

She isn't nervous when he shuts the door behind her. In fact he is the one with shaky hands and avoiding eye contact. If it was someone else she might think it was cute. But it isn't, it's Naruto. Normally she would drag it out if she was on an hourly time wage, just round the minute up to an hour. But she isn't. She's on a fixed rate for the night. 200$ and dinner, plus him paying the hotel bill seemed like a good idea for the night. But now she thinks maybe not.

She just wants to go home now, she's bored.

Ino turns to him and raises an eyebrow, a smiles a little bit to get his full attention. When she has it she reaches behind her back and unzips her dress, not too fast or slow, and takes a step back. She slowly walks backwards to the bed, sliding her dress down just as slowly. It's perfect timing; she's reached the edge of the bed and her dress is on the floor.

Naruto just stares at her. She sits down on the bed and calls him over, telling him to not waste any time; take his clothes off on his way. He listens to her and jumps into bed in nothing but his plaid boxer shorts. Then he goes in for the kill.

Ino stops him.

She thinks no wonder Hinata is unhappy with Naruto. With his limited skill set it's no wonder she is bored. He's just a pushy little bastard that wants to rush into sex.

"No.", she tells him. "Do just what I say. Okay?"

She scoots back and then lays on her back, her knees still up. She gives him step by step directions and it's the only tolerable thing that's happened that night. At least he is good at following directions. She doesn't get anywhere close to finishing, though, but she didn't expect to. When he is finished she's relieved and that's good enough for her. She asks for her money and leaves while he is in the shower. He yells out that he'll call her tomorrow.

But she's heard that before. No one ever calls the next day. They call her a week or a month later-but never the next day.

When she gets home Sakura is on the couch with Sasuke, her legs resting on his. Oh, that's right, it's Friday night. That means its Sakura and Sasuke's Movie Night. Usually Ino would sit down next to the two, see what they were watching, drink some of Sakura's drink and take a handful of popcorn from Sasuke. But she doesn't feel like it tonight. She doesn't even answer back when Sakura greets her.

She doesn't want to talk to anyone. She doesn't want to see anyone, either. She is glad Naruto doesn't text her or call her-not that she thought he would. Almost no one ever does. It's not like she expects them to but there is something in the back of her mind that wishes one would just once. To say they had a good time or that it was nice to see her or that she looked nice or something like that!

She's lonely.

She decides this while in the shower. The hot water running on her-her head against the shower wall. It's almost enough to make her want to cry. Sex is sex, for her, its nothing special when the person isn't special. Only once did Ino make love and not sex.

That was all before the money. It's all about the money now.

She plugs her phone into the charger and tucks herself into bed. She hears the t.v. still on, Sasuke will spend the night she's sure. She gets up out of bed and shuts her bedroom door. The walk back to her bed is longer than it should be. Once she's tucked herself back into bed she thinks.

"I don't need anyone."

That's what she tells herself. She's lying to herself.

She grabs her phone and dials a number she's known longer than her own. It rings three times and than a voice answers. His voice is familiar and makes her feel at ease, Kiba's voice always was always like that. She gets to the point, asking if he wants to meet up tomorrow. She smiles when he agrees.

In the morning she sees sits with Sakura in the kitchen; coffee in both their hands. Sasuke is still sleeping.

"I got a text from Hinata this morning."

"Oh, yeah?", Ino asks, an eyebrow raised.

"She says Naruto called her last night, asking to get back together."

"Good for them."

"She agreed, he promised her something."

"What, to stay faithful?"

"To try this thing he thought of, where she holds her legs up and he has his tongue!"

"That little Bastard!"

Ino is beyond angry.

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Inspired by two things. 100 Emotion List off Tumblr or somewhere. And Hikari Utada's song Hotel Lobby. If you haven't heard it, it's about a prostitute. So there's a spoiler for you.

With this story I'm not sure how quickly I will update. I'm not even sure if this idea is good enough to evenbe continued. But I hope so. I'm having a lot of fun writing it.