Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, only this storyline, my OCs and my artwork.

Summary: The Akatsuki planned to change the world. They planned to induce such catastrophic destruction onto the world that it would never be able to stomach violence again, and thus peace world reign. Their plan was to take place at a later date, however now the world faces an apocalyptic fate - and for once, it's not their fault.

Sakura, Ino and Hinata are fighting for their lives. They're scared and alone in a new world where walking out the front door is as much of a death sentence as locking yourself in. The government is nonexistent, families are torn apart and lives can be lost over the last can of food. But amidst the brain dead cannibals, rotting morals and chaos, the dawn is coming - and it's dressed in leather.

Chapter 3

Ino

"Get the fuck out of the way!" She screamed, pounding the car horn so violently her car seat shook with her. There was a distant reply of outrage as the black Maserati swung around into the neighbouring lane and back into the previous to over take several cars before it could collide with the ongoing traffic.

Into swore viciously as the radio finished her favourite new song to begin the techno beats of some repetitive drivel that would surely worsen her headache. She attempted to punch in the code for another radio station, getting it wrong twice due to her sharp blue nails, while all the while serving through traffic like she had robbed a bank.

There was a shuddering bump in the road as she slid out of the main highway and over a zebra crossing, an agonised yell following her, but at the moment Ino couldn't even pretend to care. There were far worst matters at hand.

The techno beat was worse than an electric drill. Ino rifled through the compartment next to her and promptly stuck her nail file into the screen of her radio. It flickered mournfully, but silently.

Once she had circled a few blocks after hearing the wailing of sirens (just as a precaution of course), Ino finally slowed down to a respectable suburbs speed. She shrieked to a stop in front of a tall cream hotel with regal pearl and gold details, the proud internationally acclaimed hotel's identity above the door in rouge italics. Ino slipped out of the car once the bellboy had opened her door, and after threatening the existence of his future children he scratched her car, strutted into the building like a thunder storm.

"Shikamaru, I want to have sex." Ino announced after almost immediately spotting him waiting for her by reception.

His half lidded gaze took its time to reach her own slightly manic eyes, noting her tight calf length olive dress, nude stilettos and matching bag, along with a sculpted hair style that revealed her long neck. With a sigh, he replied "Then marry me."

"For fuck's sake!" Ino threw her hands in the air. "You know I'm not going to say yes!"

"Well then we're at a bit of a stand off, aren't we?"

Ino scowled. "I can't marry you."

Shikamaru looked affronted (if only silently). "Why not?"

"Because...I don't want to!"

"Don't be childish, Ino chan."

"Argh!" She pointed her finger accusing at his chest, pinning the crisp shirt down. "I just want to have sex with you Shikamaru. We've been happy for years like this, why do you have to try and complicate things?"

Shikamaru shrugged. "My mother wants me to settle down. She says that I have a responsibility to give her grandchildren."

"Children?! Do you think this dress stretches for pregnancy!?" A passing porter narrowly missed Ino's arms as she gesticulated. "Listen Shikamaru, I consider you a dear friend; you have great taste in casinos, and you know all of my favourite restaurants, but there is nobody on this planet who can make me walk down the aisle. Not even you!"

"Nothing will have to change, Ino. We can always adopt or something." He reasoned with his usual calm armour. "And you would look lovely in white." His favourite set of lingerie she owned was white.

Ino closed her eyes and pinched her bow. "Please, just stop pushing this disastrous idea. Surely having a wife would be too much for a lazy bastard like you?"

"That's true; but you see, it's my mother. It would be far more troublesome to resist her any longer, especially since most of my original clients come from her connections. So you see, Ino, its better if we play along, at least for now."

Something cold settled in Ino. Of course, she had no intentions of settling down. She was young, a successful stock broker and liked to have a regular shag to keep things interesting. She lived with her girlfriends in the cutest house in the suburbs, away from the roaring city she was employed in. Why would she trade that all for a joint account, screaming brats and a lifestyle that would surely replace her Prada with Walmart.

Ino had known Shikamaru almost since birth. Their fathers were as close as brothers, and so once they had grown up (Ino becoming more assertive and curious while Shikamaru grew into a rather handsome form) it was natural for them to experiment. It had never been serious, always temporarily halting if one started an actual relationship, and most of the time they did the things all friends did when they hung out.

There was nothing in this world that Ino thought would make her want to change, but there was something about the clinical purpose behind the Nara's reasoning that cut deep.

She shook her head. "That's it. I'm leaving. Don't call me until you've got all this bullshit out of your system Shikamaru."

"Ino..." He said with a thin sliver of regret. She ignored him, exiting the hotel in a haste that had the bell boy frantically dashing to retrieve her car.

Ino sniffed a little and squeezed her eyes shut as she waited outside. "Don't you dare cry..." The pressure on her elevated toes began to irritate her, making her desire the flats she used for driving even more. "God damnit, how shitty is this service!"

"Hey baby, you need to be getting somewhere?" A masculine voice cajoled.

The blonde swiftly turned to find the embodiment of James Dean leaning against a sleek motorcycle parked halfway off the pavement. He was ridiculously good looking, an albino by the looks of it, with pale eyes and slicked back hair framing high cheekbones and a slightly crazed smirk. Dressed in tight jeans, a deep burgundy leather jacket with several sown in patches and a long rosary that hung like an ironic banner down his neck. One of the hotel porters was trying to talk him into moving away from the hotel and was turning exponentially red as he was ignored.

Half of Ino was judging the clique badboy stereotype, the other was checking him out as plainly as he was her. She lifted her chin a little, feigning disinterest. "No where that concerns you."

The man grinned, unstraddling his bike to swagger over to her and leaving the spluttering porter behind. "Ouch, you're ruthless. My name's Hidan."

"Oh, that's nice." He smelt very nice, and Ino was having a hard time maintaining her lofty attitude.

"And yours..."

The porter finally managed to gain attention. "Sir, I ask that you not disturb our guest!"

The charming smirk turned into a frightening scowl like a flip of a switch. Hidan glared dangerously down at him, spitting. "Oi, can't you shut that prissy little mouth? Or is it only capable of gaping like your asscrack? Go piss off!"

Ino stared mouth open at the man. Great, the first guy who flirts with her, and he's most definitely bipolar. At that moment her car arrived, and she practically tackled the bell boy for her keys.

"Hey, where the fuck are you going?" A hand suddenly slammed the door shut behind her. Ino twisted around to find herself trapped against her automobile, with Hidan blocking her vision. "Common, what's your name, princess?"

"Ino!" Said blonde both cursed and praised Shikamaru's timing. He quickly pushed Hidan away from her with an angry aura. "Who is this guy?"

"As if I have a clue!" She hissed back, trying to mash her key into the lock.

Hidan had turned a furious red, hands in fists. "Bastard! What the fuck are you pulling?"

Shikamaru's eyes narrowed dangerously. "You ought to leave now before I call the police for harassing my fiancé."

Ino gaped at him. "Fiancé?!"

Hidan's eyebrows shot up incredulously, but he persisted. "You're a pretty shitty boyfriend you know, if I offered the chick a lift before you could."

"You don't know who you're dealing with. Back. Off."

"Oh really? I will fuck you up so badly-"

A mechanical shriek alerted the two males, giving them just enough warning before the Maserati shot off and left them in the dust. Both of them stubbled backwards, and as Ino fled after narrowly missing the parked motorbike, she heard the cry of "Crazy bitch!" bid her goodbye.

Several traffic lights later, she actually stopped at the red light, though only as a reprieve to lower her head against the steering wheel. She took deep breaths and cursed extensively until all the adrenaline had drained from her, leaving her very tired. She resolved to have an early night with Hinata and Sakura, and avoid her phone for a few days.

The journey from her offices in the city to the suburbs of the town their house was in was perhaps an hours drive in the early mornings, but in the afternoon turned into a dull 2 and a half hour journey. When Ino finally passed the first town of several till her own, dusk was settling in. She was driving along a spacious but deserted forest road when a sudden figure lumbered in line with her headlambs. Her brain only registered it at the last moment, and with a gasp of horror Ino slammed on the brakes.

She hit the figure at 40 mph almost straight on, enough for it to roll over the hood of her car. When she had stopped and hastily reversed back, fear and guilt started to set in. Hopefully it was just bambi. But if it was human, then getting married was the least of her troubles.

Ino screwed her eyes shut before getting out of her car, leaving the headlamps on. Feeling very stupid, she called "Hello? Are you alright?"

She hesitantly moved towards the figure until its arm started to bend. She sighed in relief, then clamped her hand over her mouth as the figure suddenly lurched up and began to crawl towards her, leaving its mangled legs behind. A gaunt, decomposing face stared at her with diseased eyes as it moaned hungrily. The smell was putrid.

Ino stood watching in disbelief. It was only when a brittle, wet hand grazed her toe and its jaw started to stretch open with a lolling tongue that she screamed and instinctively stamped on its hand like a cockroach, stumbling out of range.

Even if she relived this moment, Ino knew that she would have repeated her actions.

She ran back to her car, fired the engine and reversed on that fucker. Moments later, the now motionless corpse was left in the dark once more.


So now all three of the girls are introduced, and we get some zombie action, woop!

Thank you guys for your patience, as this update was a little slower, and to Guest and LittleRedHead1231 for the reviews :)

Writing Ino is writing Inner Sakura on crack. So much fun. I hope I managed to capture Shikamaru well enough, even if the interaction with Hidan wasn't phenomenal.

Question: What would you guys do in Ino's shoes, regarding the situation at the hotel or with the zombie (or both)?

Love,

Renzin xo