I want to thank ShikaInoInuKikIchiHime36, for the one review I've received. It has been kind of discouraging not getting even 5 reviews but i have made up my mind to finish this story, and I will. So please do be kind to me and review and let me know what you guys think. It really means the world to me.
As always, I do not own Naruto :|
"Fujitaka, I think I'm ill" Ino said sitting down in front of the blond man. Her uncle smiled and hugged her
"I was going to ask you if you were alright, but I guess that's pointless now eh?"
"I guess….."
"What's wrong?" Fujitaka Yamanaka asked the heir to the Yamanaka clan
"I think its morning sickness" she replied looking at her feet.
"Have you taken a test?" asked the man gripping her hand tightly
"No, I didn't think-"
"INO I heard- Oh sorry Fuji, can I talk with Ino? Alone?" asked a young man with blond hair who had run into the room
"Sure. Fai, don't press her too much please" Fujitaka said to his nephew and walked out making sure to close the door behind him.
"That make up me and Naruto had six weeks ago must have caused this Fai." Ino said turning to face him. Fai looked at her for a minute before hugging her. "What are you going to do? Keep the kid?" Fai asked softly resting his head on hers. He felt her nod, and he hugged her more closely than before as she started to cry.
"All I seem to be to be doing nowadays is cry" she said blithely after breaking away
"Isn't that a good thing? You're letting your emotions out at last" Fai said smiling at the woman
"I'm leaving Fai. I'm going to go away from this sad village" Ino said casually walking up to the window
"No ANBU commander runs away Ino. The whole force will fall if the bloody head runs away" Fai said standing beside her
"That's why I'm promoting somebody to that position Fai. It'll be perfect, according to the rules also" Ino said smiling slightly as she thought of a plan
"No you can't. Everybody's skills are average compared to yours" Fai said to his cousin angrily.
"I'm not mocking you Fai. Truly I wouldn't do that now. You are going to hold an important position in the family and society. You skills are something only you'll have to work on. I'll help with everything else" Ino said as she walked back to the bed in the room. Reaching into her scroll pouch on her ankle she pulled out a small battered scroll
"Is that?... It is!" Fai said shocked that the woman had the Clan scroll
"You know what this scroll is used for Fai?" when she saw Fai shake his head she continued "This scroll is given to every new clan head. The person's name is written on it by the present head, and then passed to the heir. It was done for me three years ago. Now I'm giving it to you" Ino said taking out a brush from her pouch
"Isn't this going too far Ino? Nobody in the family will accept me as the heir." Fai said trying to process the information his cousin had given him. She looked up, a calm expression on her face, and smiled.
"Don't worry Fai, they will. You just have to work towards that. You will be the heir for another three months before you take over as the head. Daddy is going to step down" she said as she wrote down Fai's name on the scroll using her blood. "Fai I need a drop of blood. Come here"
Fai moved as if in a dream. When he reached his cousin, Ino bit on his thumb drawing blood. Fai looked solemn as she directed his finger towards the bottom of his name. Once she was satisfied she rolled up the scroll and sealed it. That done, she stood up forcing Fai into a kneeling position.
"I Yamanaka Ino, current heir to the Yamanaka clan, pass down this scroll to Yamanaka Fai, and proclaim him the next heir." She spoke clearly, passing the scroll into his fingers. She looked at him for a few minutes, as he tried to comprehend what had just passed, before kneeling down
"I heard this somewhere, some people are born great, some people achieve greatness, and for some others greatness is thrust upon them. Fai it's your turn to shine now." She whispered into his ear, kissed him on the cheek, and walked out the door.
"Hello Sakura. Can we talk?" Ino asked her friend, who looked shocked.
"Um… sure, just give me a minute. I'll tell Naru- I mean I'll just tell my mother. She came over to help me pack" Sakura said her voice wavering a little. Ino smiled pleasantly and nodded; as she went over to the small flower plant she had given Sakura a couple of years ago. Sakura smiled hesitantly and went inside. A few minutes later she emerged with her coat hung on her arm.
"Let's go then. I was thinking of that small café where we always used to meet when we were Chunin." Ino said taking Sakura's hand and pulling her across the street.
"One Latte and a blueberry cheesecake…. What'll you have Sakura?" Ino asked after giving the astonished waitress her order.
"I'll just have some Lemon Tea. Thanks" Sakura said meekly. The waitress nodded and walked of to another table. Sakura looked at Ino hesitantly, only to find Ino staring at her intently.
"You know Sakura; I don't mind you living with Naruto. You can calm down; I only wanted to tell you some stuff about Akira, nothing more." Ino said touching Sakura's hand. She went rigid at first and then Sakura softened into Ino's touch.
"Alright, I'm sorry Ino. I shouldn't have taken Naruto, but I just couldn't help it. He"
"I know he turned into your dream man; like he turned into mine. But I forgive you, All's Fair in Love and War' right?" when she saw Sakura nodding she continued "Sakura, I'm not here to discuss Naruto, no. I'm here to discuss Akira's future life with you. Seeing as I am her real mother. I would like Akira to remember me the way I am. You know not like a fairy tale?"
"Alright what do you want me to enforce?" Sakura asked happy the awkwardness was lifted a little.
"I don't want her to date anybody till she's sixteen. I don't want her to have any silly infatuations like we had on Sasuke. Ok maybe like Hinata, but not as extreme as you or me. I looked like an absolute slut."
"Thank God you finally realized" Sakura mumbled slyly, smirking. Ino looked up and saw Sakura's expression, then shoke her head and went back to telling Sakura her 'rules'
"As I was saying, I don't want her to become obsessed with ramen, make her try something else also….. Well I guess that's all" Ino said as she nodded to the waitress who got her, her Lemon Demon.
"Alright. Now tell me something about what Akira likes to do, doesn't like to do, and basically everything I would need to know" Sakura said eyeing Ino weirdly as she inhaled her mousse
"She likes chocolate – don't give her too many, she gets hyper -, she loves purple – don't take it away from her, she get's vicious, like I did – then… she wants to become a tracker nin. Mint, caramel, and butterscotch are her favorite flavors. She doesn't like being yelled at. If she's done anything wrong then talk it out with her calmly, don't loose your temper."
"Is her's as bad as mine and yours?" Sakura asked apprehensively
"You could say that, anyway she likes having her hair oiled every Sunday before washing, keeps the nutrients in her hair – use Olive oil. The rest you have to figure out Sakura. She's a lot like you and Naruto. You'll be a great step-mom, I know it." Ino said as she finished her latte. She leaned over the table and gave Sakura a small kiss, and walked out the shop before vanishing.
"Dad, wanna go out for dinner tonight?" Akira asked her father three weeks later
"If you really want to…. What do you say Sakura?" Naruto asked hugging his girlfriend from behind
"I was planning on making something special tonight…. But if you really want to go out then I guess"
"No, no we'll eat at home tonight. I love your food Sakura-chan" Naruto said kissing her neck
"DAD! Not in front of me! Look I'm going to visit Mum. I'll see you tonight." Akira said slapping her hands over her eyes
"Um… about that Akira, remember what we signed? You can visit her only when she asks you to" Naruto said flippantly.
"Yeah, I know. She asked to visit me today. That's why I'm going. Well bye Sakura, bye Dad. I'll be back by dinner" Akira said pushing past Naruto and rushing of at high speeds.
"I wish she starts calling you Mom, Sakura" Naruto said shaking his head
"No that's alright. She needs to get used to this, so do I…. So want some cream and peaches?" Sakura asked licking her lips. Naruto laughed pulling her into their room.
Ino was waiting in the flower shop for the past few minutes, spending that time in peace, thinking of the visit she was going to get from her daughter, before it was all broken in one short yell of fury, coming from both of her teammates. She looked at the two men before sighing audibly.
They were standing there, in front of her for the past ten minutes, trying to take in the fact that while they had gone off on a mission, Ino had got divorced, given up her claim to the leadership of her clan, promoted Sai to the position of ANBU commander, and was pregnant with her second child. All within four short weeks.
"Ino, woman, what the hell were you thinking? Given up the title? What's Inoichi going to say? And whose child are you pregnant with? What the hell were you thinking?" Choji asked his eye twitching when she told him he said something twice.
"Choji, Shikamaru shut up. Guys look it's not such a big deal. I don't mind at all. Why do you care?" Ino asked pinching both the men's lips shut
"…..Maybe because your leaving? Just maybe." Shikamaru said sarcastically
"How do you know that?"
"Well your bags are packed and hidden behind the counter. That might have given me a clue" Shikamaru said glaring at Ino.
"Oi I'll come back. In a few years, but still, I'll come back" Ino said sighing, her head bent.
'Stupid Ino, stupid Ino. What the hell were you thinking? Leaving your bags behind the counter' Ino yelled kicking herself mentally.
"If you're done kicking yourself, I suggest you go speak with her. She's waiting for you" Choji said rapping Ino's head. She glared at the two, picked up her bags, kissed them goodbye and walked out the shop, towards Akira.
"What's with the bags?" Akira asked her mother as she walked out the flower shop.
"…Well anyway, let's get going. I want you to walk with me. Come on" she said two minutes later.
"Mom" Akira started softly, seeing Ino nod she continued "Dad's going to get married in another week….. to Sakura." small tears coming out of the corner of her eyes.
"I know" Ino said nodding softly, wiping the tears away
"I don't like it. I want to live with you"
"Not possible. All of us signed that damn paper" Ino said sternly
"I know that!... your leaving aren't you?" her daughter said suddenly stopping as they neared the village gates.
"Yes, I am. Tell Naruto and Sakura that I wish them luck…. Akira I am truly happy for both of them" Ino said kneeling down to her daughter's level.
"You never loved him….. HOW CAN YOU BE HAPPY FOR A WOMAN WHO STOLE YOUR HUSBAND?" Akira yelled her anger taking the better of her. Ino looked at the girl sharply, cupping the girls face in her hands she said
"Never say I didn't love him… Don't you think I should be happy for my best friend who found the person she truly loves? Don't you think I should be happy for your father who also found his true love? Who loves him back equally? Akira don't hate Sakura. Ever……. Now tell your father that I wish him luck. I'll be back in a few years. Talk to Shikamaru and Choji if you feel like talking to somebody. They'll be wonderful to you." Akira nodded slowly.
Ino sighed and hugged her daughter tightly. Akira looked at her mother's bags for a minute before hugging Ino back. Ino kissed her daughter, picked up her bags and walked towards the gates, leaving the eight year old in the middle of the street crying.
Akira saw her mom produce a scroll to Kotetsu. After the chuunin nodded in approval, Ino jumped away into the dark forest. Akira stayed there till all she could see were the stars in the night sky.
Please read and review guys, I really need to read your reviews. It helps me more than you can imagine. :)