A/N: i don not own the Naruto characters involved in this fic.
Together, as one
Chapter 2- Troubled Reality
"Yamanaka-san" Sasuke said, as he held their hands up for the older man to clearly see their joined hands. "I want to ask for your daughter's hand."
"Sasuke" Ino could only utter his name, he knew Ino was afraid of what her father might do to him but he could care less, because right at this moment, all he wanted was to make her his bride.
.
.
.
It took a couple or more minutes before Inoichi's brain processed the information he just heard and it didn't help that those sinful hands were still tangled with those innocent hands of his precious daughter.
"You're going to what?" Inoichi couldn't contain his anger anymore as he suddenly moved towards the couple and strangle the man in front of him, his grip tighten every second that passed. It was until he felt someone hugged him from behind that he heard his daughter's silent cries. He loosen his grip on Sasuke bit by bit until he finally let him go and turn around to look at Ino, her eyes were now starting to get swollen and puffy.
"Father, please let us be." Ino tighten her hugged on Inoichi, "I really love him."
"Yamanaka-san" Inoichi turned to see Sasuke kneeled before him.
"Sasuke, what are you doing!" Ino saw Sasuke that she immediately moved to him and tried to help him get up.
"I would be grateful . . . if you will . . . allow us, Yamanaka-san" the usually arrogant Uchiha Sasuke, in Inoichi's view point said in between deep breaths as he leaned on Ino and snaked his arms on her waist and shoulder for balance. Inoichi shifted his gaze from the Uchiha to the arms that were currently on his daughter's waist and shoulder. He closed his eyes to calm himself and counted up to ten before he answered.
"No. I don't want you to be Ino's husband. And besides, haven't Ino told you that-"
"Father~!" he was interrupted by Ino's voice, "Please" she said, Inoichi saw Sasuke's confusion that he concluded that Ino haven't told him yet, and so he decided to end this all.
"Ino's engaged to Shikamaru, Uchiha." He said, Ino saw Sasuke's surprised expression and an overwhelming feeling had just been ignited in her system and the next thing she knew was all of her surroundings became black.
"Ino~!" she heard her father's and Sasuke's voices but she doesn't have any strength to even open her eyes and so she let that overwhelming feeling consume her.
No matter what happened, I will always protect you- even if I'm afar from you.
Ino opened her eyes and scanned the room she was in I'm at the hospital?" she thought, then she felt a sudden movement behind her; she turned to see Shikamaru stretched.
"Oh~ you're awake, how'd you feel?" Shikamaru asked as he rubbed his eyes lazily and covered his mouth to yawn.
"I feel better, why you're here? Where's father . . . and-" she trailed, the images of their last encounter with her father flashed on her mind. She tried to restrain the tears the freely escaped from her eyes, Shikamaru noticed it and placed his hand on her shoulder.
"Your father just left an hour ago to visit your house; you've been here for the past three days. . . And as for Uchiha, he's been assigned on an A-rank mission and left yesterday." He said, Ino noticed that Shikamaru's been uneasy when he told about Sasuke's whereabouts.
"Oh~" she manage to say, "When . . . when I be able to get home?" she asked again just to ease the awkwardness that emitting at that moment.
"Since you've just awoke, you will be staying here for another night." Shikamaru said, as he stretched once more.
"Shika" Ino called, Shikamaru turned his attention on his blonde friend turned fiancé, her eyes were disturbed, and he knew what she wants to say.
"Ino, it's troublesome to go against our fathers. I hope you understand." He said as he stood up "I'll call Sakura to keep you accompany."
After Shikamaru left, Ino sat on her bed; she looked at the window and pondered on her situation. It's so unfair she thought, after Sasuke finally recognized her and his feelings for her, there it goes; her father wants her to marry her childhood friend and former teammate just for the sake of the clan's special bond! She stomped her legs childishly on the bed as tears now liberally escaped on her blue eyes stupid special bond! She screamed in her mind.
"Ino, may I come in?" Ino heard the door slid opened and revealed Sakura who was holding a tray of food for her. "Shikamaru told me that you're awake, here have something to eat." She said as she handed the tray on her, she accepted it and placed it on her lap.
"thank you Sakura" she said as she wiped her tears and started eating her food, Sakura just nodded before walking towards the window and opened it, fresh air came in and it made Ino's troubled mind and body to relax. Seeing her friend in a calm state, Sakura's smile formed on her lips as she walked towards Ino and hugged her lightly. It's rare for them to communicate using gestures and it amazed them both that after not being this close for the longest time, it was still easy for them to do it, as if they never been once rival.
"You know, you have me to lean on." Sakura said, patting her once again best friend's back for comfort.
"I know Sakura; it's just that, every time I think about it, it makes me weak. I. . . I don't know what Sasuke-kun think about me now. I know he's mad because I didn't-"
"shhh, Sasuke-kun is not mad at you Ino. In fact. . ." Sakura cut her off but looked around the room to sense if there was some unwanted presence before she continued. "Sasuke-kun is not mad Ino. Before he left for his mission yesterday, he sneaked a visit to you. Of course you wouldn't know that because you're still unconscious that time, and Shikamaru-"
"What about Shikamaru, Sakura?" Ino asked, eager to know what Shikamaru could have been done to her beloved Sasuke while she's asleep. Sakura's green orbs pierce through Ino's blue ones, sending uneasy feeling on her. Many thoughts filled up her mind as to what Shikamaru did to her Sasuke.
"Shikamaru-" They heard the door slid open as Inoichi come in.
"Ino, you're finally awake. I'm so worried about you." Inoichi said as he stormed his way towards the bed where Ino and Sakura sat, Sakura moved slightly as to give way to the older man; he nodded on her upon recognition before he hugged his daughter lightly. "Thank you for taking care of my daughter Sakura." He said, as he patted Ino's head.
"No problem Inoichi-san, it's my duty after all." She replied back, bowing a little, she gave Ino a wry smile before she excused herself from the father and daughter before she finally made her way out of Ino's room.
"Ino, how do you feel?" her father asked, she was still on her sitting position which allowed Inoichi to took a small space to seat on.
"I'm okay now father, just a little bit tired but I can go home by tomorrow." She said with a small smile, and dragged her eyes on anything but her father; her mind was fighting if she would open the last topic they've discussed before she passed out.
"It's good to know you're safe from any harm. Tsunade-sama said that you passed out because of too much stress and fatigue" He said, a sudden silence filled the room after Inoischi spoke. Ino looked back at her father only to see his green orbs directly looking at her. "I know you just came out of unconsciousness and not well enough but I have to tell you this." Inoichi's eyes leave her instantly and his face became hard.
Her heart skipped a bit upon hearing his serious voice why is he so serious? I'm afraid to hear what he would tell me but I need to prepare myself. Is it about me? About Shikamaru? Or about-
"It's about Uchiha Sasuke." Inoichi voiced out his own daughter's thoughts as he read her like an open book. "Ino, Uchiha Sasuke is dead."
"wh-what!?" Ino exclaimed, her eyes widened and hot tears flowed out of her eyes once again, her father pulled her quickly into a hug when she became agitated "that's not true father, you're just lying!" she yelled.
"Forgive me Ino, but that's the truth." Inoichi said as she continued on swaying her arms and legs to let go of her frustration. Nurses came on her room to inject her tranquillizers and it's been minutes before the drug took effect that Ino finally calmed down, she saw Sakura's worried face and her father's before her eyed became heavy.
"Sasuke's not dead, you're just lying." She said before sleep finally consumed her.
. . .as always, reviews are welcome and loved