Ah, the long awaited Chapter Two! This chapter is not as funny, it's more sexual. I wanted Ino to move in on Naruto fast and create that dynamic in their relationship. Ino seems like the slightly presumptuous type.
This story has gotten more than its fair share of attention in the first three days. ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY MESSAGES in my inbox! I am very happy with this and having the most fun that I'd ever had with a story. I plan on playing a little in this chapter with Ino and Naruto's relationship in the house. Next chapter Sakura will come back to Konoha.
Ino… my feelings on Ino are loose at this point. She may be a bit OOC in this chapter. I tried to make her mysterious and dominating to lure Naruto. Anyone who knows me knows I believe in women dominating men. I dominate my man and I like the idea of Naruto as an uke. It's a nice idea to have two strong women fighting over him. I think Naruto is ensnared by strength. Sakura holds a power over him. He acts out to be controlled. (My theory, not to be argued, it's just an opinion)
In my lovely story Asuma is not dead. SHUT UP! I didn't want him to die in the first place. He and Kurenai have a child that's four years old now. I am a little behind in Shippuden, but as far as I know she hasn't had her child yet. Well in this it's a small girl named Aiko. When s/he is actually born in the manga, I will come back and change it. If anyone wants to correct me now, feel free. But please don't spam me about it.
^^NOTICE^^ People have spoken to me about ideas they have for the flow of the story. I am INTERESTED! I want to hear them, so PM them to me. I like the ideas and I will try to assimilate as many of them as I can along with my own and Gof22's.
Oh, and Temari-Chan has a little surprise for everyone this chapter!
Main Pair(s): Naruto/Sakura, Naruto/Ino
Featured Pairs: Kiba/Hinata, Sasuke/Temari, Chouji/Ayame
Mentioned Pairs: Gaara/Lee, Konohamaru/Moegi, Kakashi/Iruka
Warnings: Rated for LANGUAGE and some mature content, NO actual sex, but dirty make out sessions and stuff. There are also a couple of gay couples. Please don't mess with me when it comes to gays. I like gays… so, shut up.
Naruto © Mashi Kishimoto
FanFiction © Courtney Dracon (LuffySP)
Chapter Two: A Women's Touch
"Wow Ino-Chan! Your apartment is gorgeous!" Naruto exclaimed as he looked around the room. The apartment was small, but spacious, with light maroon walls and flowing white sash curtains around the bay window on the back wall of the living room. Even from his spot at the door Naruto could see the lovely view from the window, overlooking a garden complete with a coy pond.
There was a thin hallway directly in front of the door, leading to what Naruto assumed to be the bedrooms.
It had a half-kitchen with small oak cabinets lining the walls and a sleek off-white marble countertop held up by bamboo slating. Three bamboo stools lined in front of it to create a breakfast nook. And to his joy, a refrigerator against the wall that he was positive had food inside of it. Facing the window was a large comfortable looking white leather sofa with a purple and red woven blanket placed across the back, its tassels hanging prettily. A white shag rug was on the floor.
All the furniture was made of oak and tastefully placed in the small room to make it look to its best advantage size-wise. A bookcase filled with volumes sat next to the kitchen. A small table below the bay window had a vase filled with cherry blossoms. The smell filled the apartment.
The home was inviting and warm, so unlike every other house he'd been to in the last month. The decorating was soothing and homey. If that was what was defined as a Women's Touch, then Ino definitely had it. He found himself wondering what other kind of touches she had.
Suddenly, he felt something nag at the back of his conscious.
He was at Ino Yamanaka's house and he was planning on living there. What would Sakura do when she found out? Wasn't it just begging for a fight to become her arch-enemy's roommate? Well, maybe now that Sasuke was with Temari it wouldn't matter as much since they weren't fighting over Sasuke. It wasn't like they were going to find a new guy to fight over! The thought was laughable…
"Welcome, Naruto-Kun." Ino smiled slyly, her sky blue eyes twinkling like soft stars, drawing him in. She took his rough, calloused hand in her silky one and dragged him towards the hallway. He followed her, his eyes lingering on the pictures on the wall.
There was one of her team. It was taken recently. In it, Ino was beaming. She was standing next to Shikamaru. Her cornflower blue eyes alight with an emotion Naruto didn't recognize, a glow of happiness and contentment.
Surprisingly, Shikamaru seemed at ease next to the blonde. He even had a small smile on his bored face. In Ino's arms was Aiko, Asuma's daughter. She was a vibrant little thing. Her chubby little fingers were wrapped in Ino's hair as if she was her mother. If he hadn't known better, he might have thought the child was hers and Shikamaru's!
Aiko's hair color matched his and the little girl's eyes had the same sparkle he'd come to appreciate in Ino's. Asuma was to his right, his strong arm was wrapped around Chouji's shoulder and they were all grinning into the camera.
Further down the hallway, he saw a picture that made him stop. The picture was a few years old, Ino looked about sixteen and she had her arm draped over Sakura's shoulder.
It must have been after Sasuke had been taken off the market because he didn't sense any hatred between them at all. The photograph was taken on New Years' and they were dressed in flowing red and purple kimonos. Both of them looked gorgeous, he felt his heart beat faster. They were friends because they were similar and after six years Naruto had pretty much given up on Sakura, but Ino was almost exactly like her, right? Well, with one difference… she was actually interested in him!
He was dragged from his thoughts with the swoosh of a sliding door. Ino smiled, "Here's your room, Naruto-Kun." She gestured into the room, he glanced around. It was nice. Small, with a single bed covered in a pretty blue duvet cover with two comfortable looking pillows. A petite oak table with a small wooden box lamp, covered in wax paper was next to the bed. There was a desk and lamp, a few scrolls placed on it. A little closet and a crate with the Konoha symbol on it for him to place his mission gear in.
"Thank you, Ino." Naruto thanked her, a blush creeping across his cheeks. She was being so nice. He could almost feel himself falling for her. He tried to force the thought from his head. He probably was just overly glad that someone had offered him a place to stay that wasn't covered in dog poop or bugs, completely bare, or filled with the sounds of sex… at least not yet! NO! He shook his head, trying desperately to rid himself of such tantalizing images.
She winked and slid the door shut. He threw his bag on the floor and flopped down on the bed. He stared at the ceiling, but was horribly aware of the nagging feeling in his pants. Ino was driving him crazy! He'd barely been in the house for a few minutes and he felt the need to rush out of the room to be near her.
Coming to a sudden decision, he tore from the bed and threw open the door.
To his utter surprise, Ino was waiting for him. A lovely grin played on her thick, pouting lips and a glimmer of lust was in her eyes. Abruptly, she placed her hands on his shoulders, pushing him to the bed and forcing him down. It was like a scene directly out of one of Jiraiya's novels as Ino positioned herself on top of him. She was surprisingly strong.
"What are you doing?" he gasped. She didn't reply, but instead locked her lips with his. Their lips collided with the crazed power of their lust. It was almost as if they were trying to force each other backward with their mouths rather than kiss. Ino shoved her tongue into his mouth. Their tongues wrestled as Ino explored his mouth. It was obvious to Naruto that she was in control and he had no problem with it.
She broke the kiss and laughed seductively. Naruto looked up at her with innocent query, "Shikamaru always told me I moved too fast!" she grinned, pulling the tie out of her hair so that it fell down her back like a sheath of shining beauty. Ino threw it aside and smiled even wider, "I guess he was right!" she kissed him again.
Her silky fingers roamed his body, shoving up his shirt and raking her nails down his well-toned chest. He jolted with pleasure and wrapped his fingers in her pale blonde hair as it fell over his waiting face. His eyes glazed over as Ino's knowledgeable fingers stroked his body, moving lower, lower, lower, until…
KNOCK!
Ino rolled off of him onto the floor with a loud thud. She pushed herself up awkwardly and straightened her rumpled dress. She tore from the room to the door with Naruto on her tail, tugging his shirt down and wiping the smeared evidence of her kisses from his face.
Ino flung the door open to find TenTen grinning at them. "Hey Ino-San, I—" she stopped as her gaze fell on Naruto. Her face grew placid. "N—Naruto! What are you doing here? How are you um… feeling?" she asked her smile weak and fake, obviously afraid of another outburst.
"I'm fine, TenTen-Chan. I'm sorry for acting like that." He apologized, scratching the base of his neck. His face reddened with shame but it faded as soon as TenTen's smile became genuine. She flashed him the thumbs up as a way of accepting his apology and turned back to Ino.
"I'm actually glad you're in the same place, that way I don't have to hunt both of you down." She smiled, grey eyes full of a secret she was just dying to tell. "Sasuke came back early. Temari contacted him and told him to come home immediately. She says she has a surprise for everyone, come on!" TenTen gestured them to follow her and tore from off the landing, her buns bobbing.
They followed her as fast as they could.
- 0 -
At Sasuke and Temari's house a small crowd had already gathered. Naruto said hello to Gaara, who was seated on the couch. His partner, Lee, was leaning on his shoulder. Kankuro was sipping a glass of iced tea, looking around the home inquiringly. Shikamaru and Chouji were chatting quietly. They greeted their teammate.
"What's going on?" Ino asked, tucking her loose hair behind her ear. She crossed her arms under her chest, pushing her breasts upward. Naruto's eyes fell to her chest and thoughts of what had just happened drifted through his head. Was he doing the right thing? Ino said she moved fast, did that mean she had been with many men before him? He sure hoped not, but he didn't think so because that wasn't one of the insults in Sakura's arsenal and it was just the type of thing that the pink-haired firecracker would exploit in an argument.
"No idea," Chouji shrugged, stuffing his face with chips from one of his trademark bags. "Shika told me there was going to be Korean Barbeque, that's why I'm here." He admitted. Well, Naruto thought, at least he's honest…
Temari and Sasuke walked into the room, both were grinning from ear to ear. His arm was entwined with hers and she was glowing. Her presence filled the room as she vibrated on the verge of expelling her news.
"Everyone," she smiled, blushing intensely. "I'm pregnant!"
Someone could have heard a pin drop, but the silence only lasted for a split second before a sudden uproar developed. Everyone drifted to Temari, patting her back and singing their praises. Many congratulations were exchanged, hugs given, kisses were placed on her cheeks, and hands roved her stomach in attempts to feel the budding child in her womb.
Naruto migrated over to Sasuke, placing his arm around the dark-haired boys' shoulder and shaking him encouragingly. A grin was plastered across his tan face. "My, my, our little Sasuke-Kun is growing up!" he teased. Sasuke raised an eyebrow in faux annoyance, unable to keep the smile from his face. Finally, he had everything he wanted. His clan was going to be restored.
"Now when are you gonna get yourself a girlfriend, dobe?" Sasuke shot back, smiling with superiority. Naruto half-frowned and pushed him playfully, shaking his head. Sasuke's eyes drifted over to Ino, who was brushing her hair behind her ear chatting playfully with Temari. "I hear you're staying with Ino-San, have you thought of how Sakura would feel about it?" Sasuke asked.
Naruto's eyes fell. He bit his lip in thought. He hadn't thought about it thoroughly. Hell, he hadn't thought about at all. Things were moving so fast his head was spinning. Ino had practically fucked him less than ten minutes ago and Temari was pregnant. The whole world was making little sense and his head felt fuzzed.
Sasuke didn't say another word. He sensed Naruto's inner confusions and let him work it out. Sasuke placed a hand on his shoulder and squeezed it. Naruto didn't acknowledge the hand, he was too wrapped up in his own thoughts to notice the concern of one who so rarely showed any.
Sasuke's hand fell back to his side when Temari walked over to him. He walked forward and took her hands in his. She smiled, "Sasuke-Kun," she said his name in a melodious tone, "I ordered the food from Ichiraku, do you think that you could get it?" she asked. Naruto looked up and Chouji sprang to attention as well.
"I'll do it Temari-San." they said simultaneously, then looked at each other. Naruto smiled and gestured towards the door. "Let's just go together, huh, Chouji-San?" he suggested, "I'm sure it'll be more food than one person can carry," he grinned; Chouji didn't say a word but nodded his agreement. They left together.
- 0 -
Naruto and Chouji walked in silence for a while. Naruto eyed the chubby ninja out of his peripheral vision, he didn't have a problem with Chouji, but he didn't know him too well. As he lumbered along aside the blonde, Naruto examined his walking partner. Chouji's red hair bounced with his steps and his broad shoulders brushed Naruto's wiry ones as they walked together.
"So, you're staying with Ino?"
"I am…" Naruto replied, "I've been staying there for all of five minutes." he grinned at Chouji, who returned it with a slight smile. Naruto's smile widened, he wasn't all that sure of Chouji but Shikamaru liked him well enough so he decided he mustn't be all that bad.
"She's a real nice girl." Chouji told him. Naruto nodded in agreement.
"She is..." he replied, "I am lucky that such a close friend of Sakura's has offered me a place to stay." He whispered. He eyed him sheepishly, with fear that what had happened with Ino was obvious in his face. He'd rather Chouji was unaware of what had nearly happened between him and tantalizing blonde but fifteen minutes before.
"You like Sakura-San very much, don't you?" Chouji asked, quietly. Naruto was silent, blushing. He wasn't sure anymore. Sakura had never shown any interest in him as it was and Ino obviously had feelings for him. Wouldn't it be better to focus on Ino and give up on Sakura once and for all?
Naruto's thoughts were cut short when as they arrived at Ichiraku.
Chouji pushed aside the curtain and allowed Naruto to enter first. He reached upwards and gave the entrance bell an extra tinkle, flicking it with his finger. Teuchi, the owner, looked up into Naruto's grinning face. Chouji followed the blonde in slowly.
Teuchi waved hello, "Well, if it isn't my two favorite costumers!" he bellowed across the shop. Naruto and Chouji smiled their greetings.
"Hey Teuchi," Chouji greeted, "we're here to pick up a large order." he explained. Teuchi nodded and winked, glee in his dark eyes. The owner of Ichiraku was a kind man who had watched the two boys before him now grow from children into the men that stood in front of him waiting for their order.
"You must mean the Expectant Mother Special!" he grinned delightedly. He called over his shoulder into the back room, "AYAME! Get the order written out to Uchiha Temari!" he screamed.
"Alright!" A girl's voice replied from behind the curtain leading to the kitchens. Both boys recognized it as Ayame's, the pretty brunette that worked in Ichiraku as a waitress and part-time delivery girl. She exited backwards out of the back room, her arms filled with piles of bags. She set them down on the counter and wiped her brow. "This is only half of it," she began, looking up at them. "Chouji!" she sounded startled, a slight blush peeled across her cheeks. Chouji gave her a wave, his own cheeks red behind the swirling marks on them.
"H—hello, Ayame-Chan how are you?" he asked her, awkwardly. They stood for a moment, facing one another with little notice to those around them. Naruto looked between them, unsure of what to make of their reactions.
"AYAME!" Teuchi's strong voice broke the silence between them. "Flirt on your own time and get the rest of that order!" he demanded. She blushed redder than the hair atop Chouji's head and skittered out of site behind the red curtain that read Kitchen.
As her brown hair disappeared, Naruto turned to Chouji. "Are you dating Ayame?" he questioned the large ninja.
Chouji baulked and turned on him. "Of c—course not!" he choked, "Why would she want a fatass like me?" he fell quiet and Naruto smiled. It was obvious even to him that Chouji had a thing for the girl. And that his insecurities about his weight had stopped him from ever making a move. He could see it all in his eyes. And for Naruto, this level of observation was impressive.
"You shouldn't be so hard on yourself." Naruto told him, taking the bags from the counter in his strong arms. "Fat or not, at least you're not stupid like me. Everyone has problems, no need to be a pussy about girls because of it." He advised as best he could, a grin making the whiskers on his cheeks glitter. Chouji looked at him with new appreciation, a small smile on his thick lips.
Ayame returned, "Here's the rest, Chouji-San." she whispered, in a very Hinata-like way, pushing the bags into his thick arms.
Their hands brushed each other over the bags and the blush on her cheeks reached her hairline delicately tucked underneath her starched white bandana. She rushed back into the kitchen without another word. Teuchi watched her with surprise.
"I'll see you boys later…" he said. Naruto set his bags on the counter for a moment and fished his frog change purse from his pocket and opened it. He handed the money to Teuchi, who took it with a slightly startled nod, his eyes still flickering to the kitchen and the shy girl hiding within it.
They nodded their goodbyes and exited Ichiraku.
- 0 -
Chouji and Naruto walked back to Temari and Sasuke's flat without speaking. They fell in step with one another as they did before, but no words were exchanged between them. The only sound on the road was that of the rustling bags and the pattering of feet in cloth.
Naruto pushed the door handle down with his elbow and forced the door open with his shoulder, taking care not to tip the bags in fear of spilling the ramen.
"We got the food!" he announced as he forced himself into the apartment, "It's not Korean Barbeque, but it's still fucking delicious." Naruto walked over to the kitchen leaving the door open behind him for Chouji to follow him and placed his bags on the counter. He began pulling the small Styrofoam cups out of the bag. The tops of the plastic containers were steamed over with the heat coming off of the noodles.
Chouji joined him at the counter and started to unload his paper bags as well. He pulled out piles of chopsticks in thin paper wrappings.
"Thank you so much guys," Temari thanked them profusely. She grabbed the containers from the counter one in each hand, chopsticks under her fingers and handed them to her guests in twos. Soon the room was filled with the soft slurping of people devouring noodles.
"Have you started preparations for the baby?" Ino asked, swallowing a mouthful of ramen.
Temari nodded, "A little bit. We have a spare bedroom that we're going to convert for him or her. We're going to paint it a gender-neutral color since we're not sure if we having a boy or girl and I think I want to be surprised." Temari giggled like a school girl, patting her stomach.
Sasuke placed his arm around her, his other over hers on her stomach. "We know that it's sort of soon for us to be having a child since we only got married last year." he said "And it wasn't planned, but it is definitely the best surprise I've ever received." He leaned over and snuggled his cheek into Temari's, his lips brushing her softly. The room was soon filled with "aww's."
Naruto rolled his eyes, but was unable to hide his smile. He wished more than anything that he could have that. He wanted a relationship with someone who truly cared about him, someone who wanted to be with him. Naruto eyes Ino out of the corner of his eye, she was slurping ramen through her perfectly rounded lips, small splashes making her bottom lip look shiny and inviting. As he watched her, he wondered if perhaps Ino was the one for him, not Sakura.
- 0 -
When they arrived home, Naruto walked straight into the apartment, kicked off his sandals and flopped on the shag rug. He folded his hands behind his head and closed his eyes. It was a few seconds before he felt the warmth of Ino's body next to his. The sweet scent of honey and cinnamon filled his nose. He inhaled her scent with longing.
"Naruto-Kun, what're you thinking about?" Ino's soft breath caressed his ear. He opened his eyes and turned to face her. His eyes locked with her baby blue beauties. He considered her words for a moment before speaking. What was he thinking about?
"I… don't… Ino-Chan, how can you tell if you're beginning to like someone?" Naruto found himself saying the words before he realized how it might sound, as was often his problem. Her eyes widened slightly, her pencil-thin eyebrows rising ever-so-slightly with her inquiry. He blushed intensely, "I—I didn't mean…"
"No, no, I understand." She cut him off abruptly, putting a slender finger to his lips. He felt the distinct urge to open his mouth and take her sweet scented finger into it. Naruto had the sudden desire to caress her entire body with his tongue. He fought back his lust to hear her words, "When Sasuke began dating Temari, before the wedding and all that, I thought maybe there was still a chance… for us. My troubled heart eluded me into thinking that we still could have had something, but one day it hit me. I had been wasting my time on someone who had no interest in me at all for years." Ino paused, he felt his throat close. Someone who had shown no interest…
"I realized I had been wasting my time on Sasuke when I could have been seeking happiness for myself. I mean, if it takes someone like seven years to come around to dating you, they're probably not going to. And if they do, it probably won't last…" Ino whispered, a few tears collecting at the corners of her eyes.
"Oh," Naruto coughed. He wasn't very good with tears, he never had been. But he found himself running his fingers through her loose blonde hair. "I'm sorry Ino-Chan," he whispered.
"Don't be, I think I found something a little more interesting than Uchiha Sasuke." Her tender lips locked with his on the end of her compliment. He found himself allowing her to take control of him yet again as he submitted to her probing tongue. A soft sigh escaped his own lips as her deft fingers danced down his face, massaging his chest and tweaking his nipples through the thin fabric of his shirt. Naruto's hands drifted down her hips and up her soft arms to entwine in her hair. He didn't know how long they kissed, but with each passing touch he found himself caring less and less.
Naruto broke the kiss, "I—I don't want to move too fast." He stuttered, knowing what an idiot he must sound like. What straight teenage male actually slowed the woman coming onto him?
"I understand," Ino smiled gently, "I appreciate that you're willing to take your time with me. Naruto-Kun, I really do like you." Her bright eyes were filled with the sincerity of her words and Naruto felt unable to respond.
"M—me too… but…"
Ino placed a delicate finger on his lips, "I understand that it takes time to get over old feelings, but if you don't mind Naruto-Kun. I think I'd like to try this roommate thing for a while and see if it goes a little um… further." Her sensual voice caressed his ears like a gentle summer breeze. He would have agreed to murder if she used the same tone to ask for his assistance. He felt himself melting into her gaze. She kissed him again.
The flaxen woman before him was a vision of beauty. Her incredible blue eyes glowed in the pale living room light. Ino smiled at him. Naruto realized that this was the first time in his life that anyone had smiled at just him. The fox boy felt his heart begin to swell with his new fondness. He felt his feelings beginning to tear…
A slice of his heart remained wrapped around Sakura. His long time love for the pink-haired girl could not be ignored and a part of his heart would always remain with her. But the other piece drifted out to encase Ino Yamanaka, his new affection. The woman who actually returned his feelings.
And as they kissed, he felt Sakura Haruno drift into memory…
