A/N: I've decided that maybe I'll try something new on this story and give little shout outs at the start of reach chapter. Thank you to shannny2k and sad little monkey for taking time to review.
I've observed that of all the Naruto characters Kankurou seems to have this eye twitch thing going on…well, more than anyone else at any rate...so yes I'm going to use it. If you find it annoying feel free to write me a review and let me know, but also tell me some else you do/don't like about what I'm doing, okay.
Disclaimer: Kishimoto-sama is out there writing wondrous tales with the characters he created for Naruto. I, on the other hand, just wonder how these tales pop into my head.
Early Session Frustrations
--Ino was walking through the streets of Konohagakure during a festival. As a little girl, she had believed if you had a date that you spent the whole evening walking around with that person would be your true love. She was twenty years old now and, though she had mostly dismissed that idea, some part of her still wanted to believe it.
She wore a yukata that was practically a walking advertisement for her parents' shop. The material was strewn with images of many varieties of flowers in all their loveliness. Of course, I'm the prettiest flower of them all, she smiled to herself.
Somehow she couldn't catch up to any of her friends as she walked around. She'd see Sakura in the distance with Lee but, no matter how swiftly she moved, they'd be gone by the time she got to their previous location. She'd spot Shikamaru and Chouji at some food stand and would find herself tangled in crowds and spun around in another direction. I'm a kunoichi; how is this happening to me?
Her frustration was mounting, It's like I'm alone in a crowd. There's got to be someone here I can talk to. Ahead, she caught sight of Naruto with a dark haired girl. Did Hinata decide to cut her hair? She was rapidly working her way toward them. Oh good, Ichiraku Ramen is just ahead, I'm sure they'll stop there. She grinned, Finally someone to talk to.
Sure enough they had taken seats in front of the familiar counter and Ayame was already placing bowls before them. Is it just the light or does Hinata's hair seem darker? Maybe it's the contrast of the pale blue violet of the yukata to her hair.
"Hi," Ino came up along side them.
Two heads turned to face her. One was exactly what she expected to see, bright blue eyes and a broad grin framed by whisker marks. The other face was not Hinata… Ino studied the hair: black with blue highlights, the eyes dark as well. A conceited smile curled the corner of the lips and Ino felt a chill wave through her innards. It's Sasuke pretending to be a girl.--
Ino sat up in her bed with a gasp. What a wretched dream. But what she really didn't want to admit to herself was the uneasy truth that Sasuke made a prettier girl than herself in the dream. It's bad enough that I didn't get him in real life; I don't need my dreams to rub it in. She flopped back down onto the mattress and tried to fall back to sleep.
The next morning, Chouji woke up with a sense of genuine excitement. He had not been looking forward to this assignment and all its meetings and discussions, but last night had changed that. Even if it was just pretend, he was going to be Ino's boyfriend.
Sure we've kind of played this game before on our specialty missions, but that was only for short term. This is for an ongoing audience. Dress neat, smile and who knows…
Ino was the last to arrive at the breakfast gathering. "Sorry, I was just trying to get myself together." She wore something similar to her usual mission outfit, only no bare midriff. She had also put leggings under her skirt, "I figured I should cover up a little more than usual."
"That's not exactly what I'd call covered up," Kankurou muttered, his eyes narrowed as they studied her. "You just don't get it; you're already on his list."
"I'll keep close by. He won't have an opportunity to get her alone," Chouji said firmly.
"That's not the point," the puppet master growled. "She's not helping out with her wardrobe choices. He's not the only guy who'll be looking her over either."
"I don't know whether to feel complimented or insulted." The blonde kunoichi looked at him.
Kankurou said nothing, but his face wore mild distain.
Ino didn't like the way this was going. She felt like this was a challenge she had to overcome, "So what if you distracted him with something new?" She suddenly turned to Shikamaru, "Can you do that thing like Naruto does? You know, 'poof' you're a pretty girl."
"That has got to be the dumbest idea you've ever had Ino." Her black haired teammate rolled his eyes.
"For more reasons than one," Temari said, "one of his specialties is…"
"Don't bother to explain it. It has to be seen in action." Kankurou frowned, but then slowly it slid up to a smirk, "If you will excuse me I have some matters to attend to." He rose from his seat and left the chamber.
An hour later Temari led them to the central meeting room. "Welcome to your other home away from home." The room was large and the same dull sandy color as most of the building. The seating was double tiered in groups of three with long narrow tables in front of each section of seats.
Ino took one look and promptly found where Homura and Kosugi were already seated. She turned to Shikamaru, "You should probably sit in the front rank with them. You'll be of far more use to them than either of us."
Chouji leaned forward to add in a whisper, "Besides that, I should be next to Ino in case the Kazekage's lurking about."
"Oh, I'm sure he'll here for the first part of the day," Shikamaru muttered. Then his attention was caught by a movement at the entrance.
They all turned to look as Baki came in accompanied by an attractive woman around their own age. She had reddish brown hair about shoulder length; her grey eyes brightly looked about the room. A moment later Kankurou filed into the room, very obviously checking her out.
"Who is she?" Ino asked Temari.
"No idea," the flaxen haired jonin answered as she moved toward her former sensei.
Baki witnessed her approach and gestured to them and the puppet master as well. "Temari, Kankurou, and honored guests from Konohagakure," he bowed his head in acknowledgement, "this is my niece, Akira."
The girl bowed her head and smiled.
"She's always wanted to see a bit more of the politics that run this place." His expression was hard to read with the half veil he wore over his face. "I figured that the first day of these sessions might be a good introduction."
"I'd be more than happy to sit with her and answer any questions she might have," Kankurou smiled in an uncharacteristically friendly manner.
"I could do that just as easily," Temari interrupted. Her features seemed to show disapproval of her brother's interest in the woman.
"Well anyways, maybe we all better just get seated," Shikamaru said, gesturing toward where the Konoha contingent was to be set up. "If you'll excuse us."
Ino and Chouji followed him and set up as they'd previously discussed.
"Maybe I won't have to worry about the Kazekage today," Ino said softly to Chouji. "Do you think she's pretty?"
"Wha...?" He seemed surprised by the question.
"Do you think Akira's pretty?"
"Maybe," he replied, "but she's not my type."
"Oh, you have a 'type', do you?" Ino sounded amused as she watched the goings on across the room. Although Kankurou had claimed the chair next to the girl, there were three other's among the Suna contingent who were talking to her while they waited for things to begin. Did someone say something that made her blush? Ino didn't know whether to be relieved or jealous due to the attentions the newcomer was receiving.
"Hey Ino, here he comes," Chouji's finger did the slightest flick to indicate the doorway.
Pokaru entered, followed by Haijun just a step behind. He took in the room and froze looking to where Akira sat next to Kankurou…and two others stood still talking at her.
"Oooh look, already distracted." Ino smiled in a satisfied way. Safe.
"Kankurou, what is the meaning of this?" The Kazekage folded his arms across his chest like he was about to scold a naughty child. Then he snapped his fingers…
The face of the puppet master grimaced as if he'd been slapped on the head. Suddenly, where Akira had been, sat on puppet that bore some similarity to Karasu but was not his old puppet, "Sorry, my liege," his head bowed low with the apology. The two men who had trying so hard to impress her looked shocked, like they had no idea what they had been hitting on. "I had a rare moment where I thought a prank was the right thing to release the tension we are all feeling today."
"You're a jonin; you should be respectful at these meetings. Though it not your usual style, I must say the expression on Hideo's face was worth the disappointment I feel." A slight smile graced his lips, then his face shadowed over, "Now get that thing out of my sight."
Kankurou did the hand signs that would replace his puppet in its carrying scroll.
The man who must have been the one the Kazekage had referred to as Hideo slunk into a seat in the back of the Suna ranks.
"I want to know what that was really about," Chouji said softly as he leaned close to Ino's ear. He tried to smile as he spoke figuring that would look more like he was saying something of a more intimate nature if Pokaru happened to look their way.
Ino turned to face him. "You think there's more to it?"
He hesitated for a second. Her face was so close it had nearly brushed his as it turned. Then he responded, "Do you really think Kankurou's the kind of person who would allow himself to be seen in a bad light?"
"No, probably not."
"Then there's got to be something more," the swirl cheeked man said as he looked into his teammate's eyes, "and for some reason I am dying to know what it is."
"Well that will just have to wait until later." Ino gave him slight smile, "So, are you ready for this?" She glanced in the direction the Kazekage had gone.
"Probably more ready than you." Chouji couldn't resist doing it; he playfully tapped a finger to the tip of Ino's nose.
The first day went by as an annoying blur for Ino. It had been planned that she would try to do little things like take Chouji's hand if the Kazekage (or one of his toadies) came in to check up on the negotiations. Instead, she found herself grabbing his hand and squeezing it every time she wanted to scream. Self-control was a must for these sessions and she was fighting to keep hers; Let alone how the importance of the items they brought up completely eluded her.
At the end of the first day's session, Chouji studied his hand, Are those bruises? He walked along side Shikamaru. It was strange heading back to their temporary home in the main complex. I haven't set foot outside all day. It just seems weird walking around in this warren. They wandered up the stairs toward the floor they were staying on. More walls of a color between ecru and gray. What a drab place this is. I hope the rest of the village isn't like this.
They finally arrived at their floor. Ino looked at the two of them. "I'm going to freshen up. See you in about 20."
"See you at dinner then." Shikamaru responded in a matter of fact tone. He, at least, had successfully argued one of Kosugi's ideas into general acceptance, and so had a better opinion of the mission so far than either of his companions.
Ino did a slight wave back to him and headed to her room. She slid through the door and ever so briefly contemplated just picking up her pillow and spending the whole time punching it. In the end, she decided it would be better just to take a shower and let the hot water melt the tension out of her shoulders and neck. It would be nicer if I could find someone who'd be willing to work it out manually, but so far the only one who's showing interest is the Kazekage. After Temari and Kazue-san's warnings, I don't want to go there. She dressed in a V-neck blue-violet tee and a pair of black capris, before heading back down the hall.
"Well, look who finally decided to grace us with her presence." Kankurou smiled, but the paint on his face made it appear almost like some sort of demon's smile.
"Great, just what I need; a warm greeting from you to make a long day longer," Ino snapped back at him. I can feel the tension trying to come right back.
"Come on," Shikamaru rolled his eyes, "we're supposed to be allies here."
"And personally, I'd like to leave the meeting back in the council chambers." Temari added, somehow her presence dominated the room. Was that her battle aura? "Can we just have a little peace during meals?"
"Fine," Ino cringed.
Kankurou said nothing but his right eye twitched.
"Well then, let's see what they gave us tonight." Temari lifted the lid off the first dish.
A moment later they were all partaking of their meal.
Finally, when it seemed like the meal was winding down. Chouji asked about the thing he'd been curious about all day: "Kankurou, why did you pull that stunt this morning?"
The expression on the painted face showed a hint of amusement. "You mean to say you didn't believe the explanation I gave the Kazekage."
"I certainly didn't," Temari spoke out, "but I was going to ask you about it later."
"I wanted to drive the point home about how dangerous Pokaru-sama is." He looked at Ino. "The easiest way was to demonstrate how effortlessly he uses his skills. Did you notice?"
"I caught that he saw immediately that you were using an illusion to cover your puppet," Ino said. She had noticed that this show was apparently put on for her, so she'd better tell him what she'd gotten from it.
"Was that all?" the puppet master sneered.
"He saw through it when nobody else did." Shikamaru corrected Ino, "I certainly didn't, it implies that you perform illusions on a level well above all the others who were in that room, and that your chakra signature is disguised as well. When you manipulated Akira, no one noticed anything unnatural about her either."
"Is that all?" Kankurou regarded him the way he had just regarded Ino.
There was a momentary silence at the table. Temari had a look on her face that seemed to show approval of what her brother had done. "Shall I explain…" she started to say.
But Chouji decided that it was time to add his observation to the mix, "Besides seeing through the illusion when nobody else did, he dismissed it with a mere snap of his fingers." He raised his eyes to meet Kankurou's. "That was the reason you looked like it hurt you, not because you were disappointed that you'd been caught, but because his act off dispelling the illusion caused a backlash of some sort."
Temari smiled and offered applause. "Pokaru-sama sees through any illusion with no effort at all. He can see chakra patterns with equal ease, and can also track by them. When confronted by anything that is an illusion or genjitsu, he is not taken in by them, but still perceives their presence. He can then dismiss them with ease."
Kankurou turned to Ino again, "So keep that in mind: if he's looking for you, he will find you." His eyes narrowed, "Dangerous."
"My brother says that out of experience," Temari regarded him with a slightly superior attitude, "although you saw him snap his fingers, his other hand did a gesture we refer to as the cut, it severs the opponent's hold on the chakra that maintains the jutsu. As long as the chakra extends beyond the attacker's body. He can also use a variant of it to sever other attacks that require an ongoing chakra manipulation. Needless to say Kankurou doesn't stand a chance against Pokaru-sama if he uses his puppets."
"Thanks for sharing." Kankurou glared at her.
"That's what big sisters are all about."
After dinner Chouji walked with Ino back to her room. "Are you okay with the situation of the Kazekage?"
"I didn't have any plans on trying to disguise myself to avoid him." She glanced up at him; It's so sweet how he worries… "And so far he hasn't sent anyone to come looking for me tonight."
"Yeah, I suppose. So what do you think we should do if he drops in on the session tomorrow?"
"Same thing we did today. Improvise," she smiled.
"About that." Chouji took a breath, How do I say this? He started to reach his hands out.
She looked at them as they began to enfold her own. "Chouji," she gasped in surprise, "omigod, did I do this to you? I'm so sorry." She saw the bruises on his hands where her fingers had dug into him when she had been frustrated. "Why didn't you say something sooner?" Her aquamarine eyes met his. They showed concern and just a hint of annoyance than he'd held something back from her.
"I…I…well, you know." He laughed uncomfortably, anything that he had contemplated saying flew right out of his head.
She gently summoned her healing energies to work through the powerful hands she held. She watched as the bruising faded, then she stroked her left hand across them gently. "Not perfect, but at least I don't think anyone will notice." She smiled up at him again.
"Thank you." He said softly and gave her a quick kiss on the forehead. Oh well, half an attempt is better than none. "Goodnight Ino."
"Goodnight Chouji," she replied and slipped into her room.
The next two days proved to be easily as frustrating as the first but not for the same reasons. The Kazekage had not shown up again. Instead, somehow she found herself losing it very fast, in particular at Kankurou. The man had a way of making demands that sounded very much like a threat…and she had no doubt that he had the ammo to back those threats up. They very quickly found themselves in drawn out arguments in the middle of the session.
During the lunch break, Ino decided she needed to take a walk. After allowing Chouji to get what she considered a reasonable repast, she grabbed the utensils from his hand and slid her own hand in their place. "Com'on, we've got about fifteen minutes left. I need to clear my head," she said softly in his ear, "and I can't do it surrounded by the people I've been hissing at." She tugged lightly and he got to his feet with a bemused expression.
As soon as they were out of the room he chuckled lightly, "Can't go anywhere without your bodyguard?"
"You know how it is, I can't risk it."
They walked further down the corridor. "So," he looked at her, seeing the tension in her movement, "you're really uncomfortable with this."
"Hanging out with you?" She pivoted to face him, her back toward the wall, "Never, Chouji."
Her movements suddenly seemed natural again, flowing, almost flirtatious. When she decides to put on a show she's flawless. He sighed, "You know what I'm talking about: These sessions."
As he watched, her eyes flicked quickly sideways, before he could check what had caught her attention her eyes locked onto his, she whispered something with a smile. Just as quickly she wrapped her arms around his neck and drew him into a kiss. The first moment was shock, the second was joy as she pressed against him. His arms slid easily around her and accepted what had been offered to him. Then suddenly his mind registered what she had whispered… "Haijun."
A moment later she ended the long kiss, but punctuated it with another quick one. "Sorry," she whispered with a grin, "that was the fastest solution I could come up with to avoid having him come over." Her arms returned to her side.
"Um, more than happy to help out?" Why did that come out like a question? Chouji berated himself. He took her hand, "Maybe we should head back now."
"You know what?" she gazed up at him with her brilliant colored eyes, "We need to come up with some non-verbal signals so I don't have to surprise you like that again…or risk being overheard."
"Yeah, that might just help," he replied. Between the suddenness of the kiss and how long she kept it going, I was starting to get a little excited…until I realized what was going on. Talk about a bucket of cold water…
That evening's dinner seemed to carry on the tension of the day. "If you didn't act like you owned this place, maybe I could relax a little," Ino scowled at Kankurou.
"So I have a distinct set of interests I want to defend. I don't see why you take it as a personal affront," the painted face exaggerated his annoyance.
Shikamaru sighed, "Relax, this is our down time."
Temari enter the chamber, "You two at it again? Settle down right now or I'll kick both your asses."
Kankurou opened his mouth like he was about to say something to his sister, but she cut him right off, "Don't even think about it. You know I can take you any day of the week."
And she turned to Ino, "Nothing from you either; I want a peaceful meal."
After that, Shikamaru, Chouji, and Temari had a peaceful conversation about the maintenance of their weapons.
After dinner Temari asked Ino if she'd walk with her. The Suna jonin lead the Konoha med-nin through some of the back stairways and out to the streets.
Ino's curiosity had been piqued, "Where are we going?"
"Nowhere in particular." The older blonde smiled, "I just figured you needed to get away from our little group. Just for an hour or so."
The younger woman took in her surroundings as they wandered around, "Why does everything in this place resemble sand?"
Temari was silent for a moment, and then chucked, "Well, we are hidden in the sand aren't we? What did you expect?"
They walked along through the transition time into twilight. They stopped in front of a small café. "Would you like some tea? This is one of my favorite places, and as good a place as any to talk…"
Less than five minutes later, they were sitting in a quite corner. "I wish I could apologize for my brother's behavior but I really can't. He's always had a stubborn streak," she picked up her cylindrical cup and sipped from it.
Ino had just sipped from her jasmine tea. Though it was very good and its fragrance refreshing, she wasn't sure what had made her companion bring up the puppet master.
"It's not your job to apologize for him," she replied, then after a moment she revised the thought. "I suppose that would be like me apologizing for Chouji eating three times as much as anyone else at the table. You're saying he is what he is and there's not much either of us can do about it."
The flaxen-haired jonin regarded her over her cup. Then a smirk crooked the left side of her lips, "But that hasn't stopped you from trying, has it."
Ino suddenly felt defensive, "Hey, at least I can say it's a physical requirement for Chouji's jutsu."
"I don't see him getting into any fights here," Temari replied, "unless Pokaru has been trying harder than I've seen evidence of." Her eyes met Ino's.
"No, thankfully what you've seen is pretty much it."
"So far," Temari muttered. "Well, here's hoping it stays this way." The Suna jonin raised her cup like she was offering a toast.
"I'm with you on that." The pony-tailed blonde matched her gesture.
A/N: This is probably going to be the typical chapter length from now on. The first one had a lot of establishing to do. Oh Yeah, and the love story...(stories?)
begin for real next time.
