Well, I was hoping for a lot of reviews but then I guess a lot of favorites, story and author alert would also mean that you guys liked this. So anyway, here's the 2nd chapter.
Enjoy. Favorite and Review please?
~Ino Ishii
"I'm in."
Naruto stared at her for what felt like an eternity, something vaguely like regret was present in those deep blue eyes, before he turned to the guard and informed him that he'd be taking her with him.
The guard had immediately removed her handcuffs as if the warden himself had given the order. Heart still pounding, palms still sweating, and a full twenty minutes later she settled into the back seat of a large black SUV parked outside the main prison entrance. Every second of those twenty minutes had ticked one by one in Ino's frantic mind. It didn't seem possible that it was really happening, but it was. She was free to go with this stranger who'd shown up in the middle of the night.
Naruto closed her door then slid into the passenger seat next to the SUV's waiting driver.
"Airport?" the guy behind the wheel asked.
"Yeah."
The driver glanced at her in the rearview mirror, his gaze brief yet assessing. She shivered beneath that swift scrutiny, but quickly forced the uneasiness away.
She had to be strong. This was too important to allow fear to get in her way. She was out! Giddiness made her tremble. A few more feet and she would be clear of the last remaining barriers of incarceration.
The vehicle eased forward, gaining speed as it rolled down the long drive. Ino held her breath as the massive prison gates opened and they passed through unimpeded. Relief so profound surged through her that she felt light-headed with the drugging effect of it.
Ten or so seconds later, reality broadsided her. What had she agreed to do? Fear slithered up her spine, freezing the sweet sense of relief in her veins. Twisting around in her seat, she stared at the gray prison walls and the security fence as they left both behind. A tiny seed of hope sprouted deep inside her at the realization that she was really leaving that awful place.
When the bright security lights were a dim glow in the distance, she turned back to face front again. To face the consequences of the decision she'd made.
Gone was the prison garb she'd despised so. In its place, she wore the jeans, T-shirt and sneakers she'd arrived in four months ago. The rest of her personal effects, ID, jewelry, pictures, etcetera, remained in a large padded envelope now in Naruto's possession. He'd told her she wouldn't need them right now.
A new thought occurred to her then. She chewed her lower lip as her anxiety spiked again. Had she traded one kind of prison for another? Where were they going? What would happen after they arrived?
"Why are we going to the airport?" her voice sounded small in the oppressive silence. Surely they didn't expect to keep the intended destination a secret from her at this point.
"We have a plane to catch," Naruto said without looking at her. "That's all you need to know right now."
She opened her mouth to argue, but snapped it shut again. There was no point demanding answers when she knew he wouldn't give them. The last thing she wanted to do was antagonize the man since her fate lay squarely on his hands. The prison signed over responsibility of her to him. In short, she was in his charge, at his mercy.
Just like Sasuke.
She shuddered inwardly at the flash of memories that accompanied that last thought. No. That wasn't completely true. This man was nothing like her former fiancé. The information that he had given her so far – paltry as it was – did appear to be the truth.
She squared her shoulders and lifted her chin. Whatever it took to get her life back she would do it. She wasn't the trusting naïve fool she'd been years ago. She'd learned the hard way to not just trust anyone, most especially a man who put his work before all else.
Her gaze went automatically to the spiky blonde male in front of her. A man like him, she knew instinctively. Well, she didn't have to trust him in that way. And she definitely had no plans to get to know him intimately. This was a business deal. All she had to do was follow his instructions and she'd have her life back.
Whatever happened tomorrow, one thing was irrefutable – right now, this minute, she was free again.
That would have to be enough.
She'd gotten through the last four months one day at a time; she'd get through this the same way. To her surprise they didn't go to Osaka's nearest international airport. Instead the driver parked near a hangar at Japan's favored alternate, Shin Ryu Airport.
The plane, the kind which corporate executives use, gleamed in the runway lights. She followed both Naruto and the driver, until they both stopped and greeted someone.
"We're fueled and ready for flight," the new man said. Almost as tall as Naruto, he was older but he looked every bit as physically fit.
The pilot, Ino decided. Despite his rugged profile, he looked friendly enough. In her opinion, none of the other guys really looked like secret agents. Well, except for Uzumaki Naruto. He did have that aura of danger…a kind of sexy mystique. Then again, all she had to go by was what she'd seen in the movies. Probably not good examples, she decided.
Exhaustion and anxiety clawed at her frazzled nerves and she couldn't help but let out a loud heavy breath. She hadn't meant to, it just came out, igniting instead of releasing a tide of a new anxiety. Naruto and the driver from the SUV turned simultaneously and stared at her. Ino swallowed, trying her level best not to let those piercing stares undo her already flimsy bravado.
After a moment that lasted far too long, Naruto turned his attention back to the pilot. "We'll be ready in five."
The pilot nodded and headed toward the plane while the SUV driver instantly followed suit. As soon as the two started to head out, Ino felt Naruto's intense gaze on her long before she worked up the nerve to make eye contact. Unable to pretend not to notice any longer, she stiffened her spine and meet the assessing gaze head-on. Whatever he expected of her she could do it she told herself again. She had to do it.
"Last chance, Yamanaka. What's it going to be? You still in?"
How could he think she'd back out now? She'd come this far. She sure as heck wasn't returning to that prison.
"Of course I'm still in," she said sharply, though her voice sounded a little shaky and a lot hollow to her own ears.
That intense cerulean gaze bored deeply into hers. For just a second, Ino was sure she saw concern or something on that order, and then he banished it.
"All right. But don't say I didn't offer you an out."
Before Ino could string together an appropriate retort, he turned and strode to the waiting jet. She blinked, suddenly uncertain of herself all over again. He'd given her one last chance to change her mind. And she hadn't taken it. Was that a mistake? Was her passion for freedom going to be a death wish in the end?
There was no one she could turn to. No one who even cared, or who would miss her when she's gone. Her parents died years ago. She had no sibling. And Sasuke, well, he'd been a total jerk. He sure wouldn't miss her. The fact that she didn't have any friends to call upon was no one's fault but her own. She'd always been too busy with work. Work. Work. And more work. That's all she's done ever since she graduated from college. Now look at her, following a complete stranger to who knows where to do only who knows what.
Yamanaka Ino, this is your life. And it sucked.
Naruto paused a few feet away from the open boarding door. "It's the point of no return, Yamanaka. If you're still a go, don't look back because nothing about your life will ever be the same again."
She couldn't have replied even if she'd thought of something exceedingly witty to say. Her throat had closed with fear and a few other emotions she'd just as soon not analyze at the moment. In spite of it all, or maybe because of it, her feet moved her forward, toward the unknown. Toward this man who offered her everything and yet nothing at all.
He didn't have to worry though, 'cause she wouldn't bother to look back.
Less than thirty minutes after liftoff from Shin Ryu, Yamanaka Ino was sleeping like a baby. That shouldn't bother Naruto , but it did. He'd seen the fear in her eyes the moment he offered her the deal. She'd hesitated, but the desire to have her freedom back was too great. She'd caved as readily as a sandcastle in the evening tide. Even the fact that he refused to answer her most elementary questioned hadn't dissuaded her for more than a fleeting moment.
He'd given her one last chance to change her mind before they boarded the aircraft and she'd refused. What happened from this point forward was no longer his responsibility.
Yeah, right.
Like he could change how he felt about the players or this mission. It was dangerous, even for a seasoned undercover field operative. For Yamanaka Ino it would be a suicide mission. On some level she recognized that cold hard fact. He'd seen the truth in her eyes back there on that landing strip. But she'd reined in her fear and climbed aboard anyway.
She was made out of stronger stuff than he'd first given her credit. He'd ordered her to get some sleep as soon as they hit cruising altitude. She'd obeyed probably more from exhaustion than motivation to please him.
The next six days would provide the rest of the story. There wasn't time to teach her everything she needed to know. All Naruto could hope for was to prevent a catastrophe by pushing her beyond all limits to see if she'd break.
If she couldn't tolerate the pressure, she would get them both killed and blow any future prospects of getting close to Kageyama. Testing her mental and physical strength was Naruto's primary objective. He had to know just how much she could handle.
Once she'd proven her ability to keep it together then he would give her an abbreviated course in illegal drugs and military weapons. It wasn't necessary that she know as much as Sakura had, but it was crucial that she appear knowledgeable.
One wrong word, one wrong move in Kageyama's or any of his people's presence and she's good as dead.
Naruto closed his eyes and leaned back in his seat. Kami. He didn't want to do this, but there was simply no other way. Sakura would do the same if she were still alive. It didn't seem right that she was gone. They'd worked together ever since they graduated from the academy. And he knows that she's the best partner he'd ever had. He opened his eyes and turned his head towards his new, temporary partner whose advanced computer skills had gotten her into this predicament.
Yamanaka Ino was pretty and soft in a more feminine way than Sakura had been. But Yamanaka Ino would never be able to match the skills that Sakura had possessed as an operative. She will never be able to learn those skills, not in a week, not in three years, nor in a thousand.
She knew nothing of this life except the non-sense she'd likely seen in the movies or read about in books. The life of an international spy was not nearly so glamorous and was far more dangerous than the entertainment industry portrayed it.
If Yamanaka thought she was merely going to play a role in the latest espionage film, she has a rude awakening coming.
She has no idea just how much danger she was in already and the mission hadn't even begun.
Dawn was streaking its way across the horizon as Ino half stumbled off the plane. Her legs felt weak and rubbery. It was hard to believe she'd slept the entire flight. She scrubbed the last vestiges of sleep from her eyes and tried to focus on her new, unfamiliar surroundings.
Distant mountains were surrounded by trees, bushes and everything that's green. The air smelled different, too. Fresher, yet thinner somehow.
"Where…" she cleared her throat. "…where are we?"
Naruto sans briefcase, slowed his pace only long enough to toss a glance over his shoulder. " A few kilometers from Mt. Kurotake."
Frowning her confusion, Ino followed him to the waiting jeep. She glanced around. The area was desolate. No houses, not even a gas station. She tried to calculate how long they'd been in the air, but couldn't since she wasn't sure what time they'd left the prison. Four or five hours she supposed.
Naruto had awakened her a few minutes before the pilot had started the descent. He'd suggested she have some coffee and use the facilities since they were in for a long ride when they hit the ground. Ino obediently complied. And to her surprise, the coffee had been to die for!
If Naruto was the one who made it, he was a true master. Sweet rolls had also been available but Ino had opted not to start the day with a sugar rush. Then again, she eyed the alien surroundings once more, maybe she should have.
She climbed into the back seat of the military jeep and suddenly felt utterly empty. But she was pretty sure the emptiness had more to do with anxiety than hunger.
She was in deep trouble here. He'd said very dangerous. What if these guys weren't even government agents? What if the credentials were fakes? Fear mushroomed inside her, making her chest tight. Why hadn't she thought of that before?
Well, it was a little late to be to be considering turning back now. Naruto had said that once she boarded that plane, there was no going back. Though she'd known him less than twenty-four hours, she had the distinct impression he didn't say anything he didn't mean.
Her heart thudded harder, sending a new rush of adrenaline through her. Running wasn't an option. She surveyed the desolate area once more. They'd catch her easily and even if by some stroke of luck they didn't, she'd never survive long enough to find her way to civilization. Camping skills had never been her strong suit and her sense of direction had been nonexistent. After all, she was a city girl through and through.
The man who'd driven the SUV swung behind the wheel of the jeep. "Here we go."
Naruto said something to the driver that she couldn't quite hear over the noisy engine. The driver nodded and pressed a little harder on the accelerator.
Clutching the seat to keep from bouncing out of the vehicle, Yamanaka Ino studied Uzumaki Naruto for the first time.
She'd been too shocked when they initially met at the prison to give him more than a cursory once-over. Then it had been dark in the SUV on the way to the airport. Promptly falling asleep in flight had been nice, but had left her no time to consider the man who now basically owned her soul.
He was undoubtedly handsome. She'd noticed that before. He was tall, probably somewhere between six-one or six-two. And with a well-toned body which is hugged perfectly by his plain black shirt, and deeply tanned skin, she's sure as hell that a lot of ladies drooled over this guy.
She also noticed that he doesn't say a lot, at least not to her. But when he did speak, his voice was deep. Resonate. Commanding, yet not harsh.
He also had good blonde hair just like her. Only it was of darker shade. It was short and unruly, yet it only adds up to his being good-looking. She inclined her head for a better view of his broad shoulders. But instead, she noticed that her fellow blonde has whisker-like marks on both cheeks. Of course this doesn't lessen nor change the fact that he's hot beyond sizzling.
And then he looked directly at her, as if she'd spoken her thoughts aloud. Startled, she sucked in a harsh breath. He couldn't have heard her, but she saw that he glanced down at her chest. His gaze lingered there, making her pulse react, before moving slowly back up to her face.
"Is there something on your mind, Yamanaka?"
She shook her head, then shouted over the wind and engine noise, "I'm fine."
He stared at her for two more beats longer before turning away. Ino closed her eyes and released the breath she'd been holding.
She would be stronger than this. No way could she let his every word, and every look rattle her. This was her only chance to get her life back. No matter how dangerous, she had to make it.
Going back to that prison was definitely not an option.
"What's this place?" Ino asked, her voice sounding oddly loud after the two-hour trip with nothing but the grind and growl of the jeep's engine.
The driver had parked the jeep outside what looked like an abandoned compound. Ino lifted an eyebrow in skepticism as she scanned the crumbling buildings around her.
"Let's go, Yamanaka."
Startled, she looked around to find Naruto waiting outside the jeep for her. He offered his hand. Still stunned or maybe numb, she accepted, allowing him to help her down from the vehicle. His hand felt warm around hers. Warm and steady. Something she needed desperately at the moment.
"What is this place?" she asked again, her curiosity definitely piqued.
"For the next six days, it's home," he told her without actually telling her anything at all.
When he would have started forward, she snagged him by the arm. His skin felt hot beneath her fingers. She quickly jerked her hand back and flexed her tingling fingers, struggling to remember what she'd intended to say.
"What now?"
She dragged her gaze back to the 'ruins' before them.
"How did you find this place?" She looked back up at him. "None of this makes any sense. I-I don't understand. What does this have to do with national security?"
"This will be our temporary training post." He gestured to the old buildings. "The person who owned this compound lent it to us because he owned my deputy director a favor. We have everything we need here. Now, come on." He urged her forward. "I'll give you the grand tour. And then we'll eat." He glanced down at her, his eyebrow arched in clear skepticism this time. "You're going to need your strength. Lesson one starts this afternoon."
Ino followed Naruto into one of the deserted buildings, only this one's the largest of them all. A command post had been set up in the dilapidated shrine in the center of the compound. Satellite communications – as well as older, less technically advanced radio-transmission systems – were in place. Two computers were up and running, linked to the Net. A massive generator provided the needed power.
There was what Naruto called a mess hall and a physical training room. The bathing facilities weren't glamorous, but they had hot running water, soap and shampoo. What more could a girl on dangerous mission ask for? Might as well look on the bright side, she told herself, rallying her make-the-best-out-of-it spirit.
Six of the smaller buildings had been prepared for lodging. Naruto explained as the approached the first one of the group. "This one," he told her, "is yours." Then he pointed to the one directly across hers. "I'll be there."
She poked her head inside the room he'd indicated as hers and was pleasantly surprised by the small but comfortable-looking cot. "It's better than I expected," she admitted as she turned back on him. "I was certain there'd be a sleeping bag on the ground in there." She tried for a smile but didn't quite make it. She was just too tired and this was all far too overwhelming to work up enough enthusiasm no matter how hard she wanted to.
But it's real, she kept telling herself. And she was free. That's all that mattered, right?
Ino glanced around at the dozen or so armed men moving about. Well, maybe free wasn't precisely the right word.
"After I've evaluated your strengths and weaknesses, we'll move on to the finer details you'll need for this mission."
"Can you tell me more about the mission?" Ino tried.
"This way, Yamanaka," he offered in reply, smoothly changing the course of the conversation, as well as her little sight-seeing tour.
The next building they entered was one of the biggest and very dimly lit. An oily smell she couldn't readily identify hit her nostrils with the first breath she took. She squinted to better make out the boxes crates. Naruto paused at the first one of three she counted. She peered inside. Instinctively she drew back at what she saw.
Guns. Lots of guns.
"M9 Personal Defense Weapon," Naruto announced as he displayed one of the mean-looking guns from the crate. "Weapon of choice in personal defense."
"M4 Carbine," he went on, putting the first one aside and reaching for another, seeming oblivious to her appalled expression. "Lightweight, magazine fed, selective rate, shoulder-fired weapon. Even in tight quarters, a target can be engaged at extended range with accurate, lethal fire. Every terrorist's wet dream."
"Wait!" Ino backed away another step, her heart beginning to hammer. "I don't get it. Why are you telling me about these weapons?"
Tears welled unbidden. This was insane and what was worse she was going to cry. She hated crying. It made her feel weak. "I don't know anything about guns or terrorists or even personal defense." She lengthened the distance between them by another step, blinking furiously to hold back the infuriating tears.
"Just tell me the truth. What am I doing here?" She flung her arm toward the weapons he appeared to gloat over. "What is all these?"
His glare was as lethal as the weapon he held in those strong, too capable hands.
"This," he ground out, "is just a tasted of what you need to know." He put down the weapon and started in her direction. She wanted to run, but froze instead. Those cerulean eyes held her in a kind of trance.
"You have six days, Yamanaka. Six days to learn what I have to teach you. And this is only scratching the surface. Then we go in, ready or not."
She trembled. "What if…what if I cant do it?"
She couldn't. She was suddenly as sure of it as she'd ever been of anything in her whole life. This was impossible. She couldn't do this. Not for freedom, not for vengeance, not for anything.
Naruto stopped mere inches from her, staring down at her with a face wiped clean of emotion. Her pulse thundered with the fear exploding inside her.
"Then you have six days to live," he said quietly so damned quietly she wanted to scream. "Because on the seventh, we'll both be dead."
