Title: Tangerine
Pairing: Naruto, Ino implied SasuSaku
Wordcount: Do I look like I'll remember? Pfft. Okay, fine, 812.
Summary: Everybody could use a new look now and then.
Requested by: Mahou-san, my chocolate coated crack-pot.

Tangerine

Yamanako Ino loved her flavored-lipgloss.

It was in her world, God, and therefore, she tried quite earnestly to incorporate into every little aspect of her life. Such as in her pocket of her skinny-jeans-her coat-pocket--Shikamaru's mouth--

She slammed her fist onto the counter; blinking her Full-N'Soft coated eyelashes in attempts to stop the moisture gathering in the creases of her eyelids. Willnotcrywillnotcrywillnotcry--

"Calm down, honey, " Her best friend beside her soothed in a voice she often used with her boy--EXBOYFRIEND and could only nod stubbornly as Sakura gently took her hand and patted her lightly; not noticing how Ino's keen blue eyes jealously took in the sight of her other hand intermingled all too innocently with a certain Uchiha's.

Sh-Shika-m-maru and I did thatttt...She wailed inwardly; and unfortunately looked up to see a couple busy lip-locking in the corner of the resturaunt; her eyes gleaming with untold resentment.

Shika and I did that too, she thought longingly; her ramen bowl forgotten as she gazed dramatically up into the clouds.
Damn, clouds. She hated clouds. Hate-hate-hate--

Her fingers longingly found their way around her latest fad; her chocolate-mocha scented (and flavored) lip-balm; the usually comforting scent reminding her of her ex-lover's kisses and impeccably spiky hair reminscent of the same sh--we are not going there, we can't go there not now oh god, can't, my make-up will smear ohgod--

Sakura exchanged a humorless look with her boyfriend of two years; who only raised a perfectly raven brow and shook his head. Ino could only watch with miserable dismay.

"Y'know, er, we could leave; Ino."

Sakura offered helpfully; gazing into her friends impossibly blue-blue eyes
and sympathetically brushing the long corn bangs from her forehead.

"I'm fine," She hissed viciously; jerking her head back from her friend's touch and beginning to angrily devour her noodles. Starch would comfort her. She could nestle herself in gained fat and forget about her fool-proof diet and eat whole tubs of icecream with Sakura and her b-boyfriend, (she had a boyfriend...)

"I'm fine, I'm fine I'm--"

And then she saw the object of her once-affections leaning his mocha-flavored pineapple hair against four ridiculously childish ponytails and her mouth was dry; her hands went slack and a few noodles fell from her quivering mouth. Already she could feel the onslaught of tears prick her perfectly lash-curled eyelashes. (perfectperfectperfect)

"Dammit." Sakura hissed to Sasuke; who only gave her the flattest look possible.

" Hn."
(Translation: Not my problem.)

The dam had broke; the Great Flood was coming. The hurricane had hit.

And its name was Ino.

"Shut-shut up..I'm f-fin-fine.." She croaked brokenly; her sobs high-pitched wails as she banged her head against the counter; her shrieks dying to pathetic half-whimpers.

"Sakura-chan, what's wrong with Ino?"

Another blonde with a like temperament had slipped in while the dam had broken; sitting on her left side and offering a reassuring pat on the back. Over the top of Ino's white-blonde ponytail; Sakura mouthed, "Breakup" in huge 36-bold font letters spelling doom.

Naruto cringed; looking at the convulsing shoulders and noodles splayed across the counter. "Erm, uh, Ino-chan? You gonna eat that?"

"Eat it; It doesn't matter what I eat now..--Shika thinks big-fans are better an-anyway.." She sobbed; throwing herself at the orange-clad blonde with hysterical sobs. (Who wanted a big fan anyway? She had mind control.)

"Nonsense; Ino, I think you're fine just the way you are.." Naruto offered shakily; her impossibly blue eyes meeting his impossibly blue eyes with tears and smeared mascara running like ink down her porcelain cheeks.

"R-really?"

She whispered it like a child. He nodded cheerfully,

"Of course! I mean, you're pretty and nice, Ino!
Don't let somethin' like this get ya down, y'know? "

"O-oh.." She mumbled lamely; staring at her bowl and wondering why her cheeks were flaming.

'Orange is a really nice color,'...she thought distractedly.

Next Day

"I got a new flavor."
Sakura glanced at her.

She wore all orange the next day.

"What flavor, pig?"

Ino batted her perfectly black lashes coyly; a sly secretive smile gracing her pretty pink lips; as she slipped the sweet smelling stick across her lips and smacked for good effect. Across the street Sakura caught a ramen-loving ninja walk by; waving at her blonde friend with a smile.

"Hey Sakura-chan! Hey Ino!"

Ino sighed dreamily.

"Tangerine."

So I use this mascara that's super awesome.
It's called, 'Full'N'Soft, and it's ma-ma-ma-magical.
Please continue to give me awesome reviews&requests.