Disclaimer: Characters are Kishimoto's. Awesome song at the end is Luke Pickett's.


But Uneasy Souls Are The Lightest

Chapter three


Hinata

I had expected her to be angry, or hurt, or in denial, or to be burst out laughing and tell me that's the best joke she has ever heard. But I hadn't expected this.

"I don't understand why you look so surprised, Hinata," Sakura says. "I mean, it's obvious that Ino is not who she pretends to be. Did you really think I was stupid enough to don't see it?"

"I didn't think you were stupid," I reply, shaking my head. "I thought you wouldn't want to accept it."

She rolls her eyes. "C'mon! That's the same as saying you thought I was stupid, 'cause only someone stupid wouldn't accept something like that."

I eye her curiously. "You know? I'm surprised you were totally unaffected when I told you what a major bitch your supposed bestie is. I expected you to freak out or to get mad at me, or even to be shocked, but you just shrugged and went all oh yeah, I knew that."

Sakura laughs. "But why did you tell me all of this, anyways? The be-careful-Ino-is-mean thing, I mean."

"Isn't it obvious? Sakura, there's someone pretending to be your best friend when she actually hates you because she is head over heels for your boyfriend, or so it looks like. What did you expect me to do? Sit down and read the newspaper until that witch has finally done something to hurt you?"

"Okay, I get your point. You just wanted to warn me, as the awesome friend you are." She sighs and looks around as if to make sure no one is listening. It's lunch time, and there are a lot of people around us, walking by, because we're outside the girls' bathroom, but they seem to be minding their own business. So, now that she realized no one cares about our conversation, Sakura continues. "But what do you want me to do now? Ino is a bitch, she isn't my friend, and she's after my boyfriend. But what do I do about it?"

"Just… just stop hanging out with her," I say. "Get away from her before she does something you won't like. And get Sasuke away from her, too. Keep an eye on him… and on her, too. Just be cautious, okay?"

"Okay, but I can't stop hanging out with her without a reason," Sakura replies. "She'll question my sudden distant attitude towards her, and what am I going to tell her? If I tell her the truth, that I know she's a hypocrite bitch, either she'll deny it and act like the victim, or she'll get angry and acuse me of being the worst best friend ever for not trusting her."

"So what if she hates you? What if she gets angry? Don't you think that's the best thing that can happen?"

Sakura raises her eyebrows, as if surprised of what I said. "Well… you're right," she finally says. "But still, Hinata, I'm not sure. What if she does like Sasuke and everything but she isn't the bitch we think she is? What if she likes him but would never dare to make a move on him 'cause she's still my friend? We can't be sure."

I sigh, frustrated. Is she serious? Didn't she see the way Ino looked at Sasuke? As I told Naruto, she was almost drooling! Besides, even though I don't know her as well as Sakura does, I'm sure she's not a saint. She seems to be a whore, too (no offense, but seriously). I'm sure she wouldn't think twice before making a move on Sasuke, even if he's her best friend's boyfriend or not.

But I don't make a comment about it, because I can realize why Sakura is not sure about getting away from her. The truth is, she doesn't want to stop being Ino's friend, and she's just looking for excuses. Friendship is as blind as love, and she still has some faith in Ino; she still hopes Ino's still the good friend she used to be.

"You have to open your eyes," I say. "Don't judge people with your heart, Sakura; judge them with your brain."

Sakura looks down, looking sad, and I know she realized that I know that she doesn't want to lose her childhood bestie. "I don't think everyone changes," she says softly. "I mean, they mature and everything, but they stay loyal to their past and they still keep some part of what they used to be inside their hearts."

Meaning of her words: Maybe Ino is still what she used to be before; maybe she won't betray me because of our past.

I sigh tiredly. "Maybe you're right, but, as you said, we can't be sure, so just… be cautious, okay? I know you'll take your own decisions, but I just want the best for you."

Sakura nods and I hug her, hoping the decisions she'll take will be the right ones.


Ino

My first day of school in Japan is finally over, and I can't be more relieved. This place is like a fucking hell, and I don't mean it in the god-it-is-really-hot-in-here way.

I should be very pleased, but I'm not. I mean, in the popularity aspect, this day has been just as I expected it to be: perfect. Almost seventy percent of the students in the school already know who I am, heard about me, or seen me and been hypnotized by my beauty. That means I'm pretty popular now, and that's good. That's perfect.

Besides, I've gotten almost twenty phone numbers and been asked out for more than fifty times, and I'm not exaggerating. Boys here are crazy about me, and that's good. I have seen a few good looking guys among the ones drooling over me, and I guess I'd date them, but I wouldn't take them seriously. No guy has caught my attention yet… well, no guy except Sasuke. That boy is the hottest one I've seen in quite a long time, and, because I met a lot of hot male models back in France, that's saying a lot.

Shit, he reminds me of Sakura, and I hate to remember her. It makes me angry, and jealous, and desperate… and sad. I'd never say it at loud, but very, very sad. I wish she wouldn't be dating Sasuke; I wish he wouldn't be so hot; I wish I wouldn't like him so much; I wish I wouldn't wish so hard I wouldn't hate her…

I shake my head and frown at the floor. Wishful thinking is for losers, Ino, I tell myself. Accept it and get over it. Besides, she's just a stupid girl and you've tons and tons of friends more, so you don't need her, right?

"Right," I murmur, just as the same black limousine that picked me up from the airport parks in front of the sidewalk I'm standing on. My dad's chauffer comes out of it and opens the passenger's door for me. "Thanks," I say, and get into the car.

As the chauffer drives me home, I take my cell phone out of my purse and check my messages. There're a lot from my friends, some from my co-workers models, a few from my ex-boyfriends (they're still not over me; how pathetic is that?) and one from my mom. They all ask things like how my fly was, if I've found some hot Japanese guys already, how the weather in Asia is, if the food is tasty, etcetera. They also say they miss me and they hope I'll come back to France soon, and, in my ex-boyfriends' cases, that they still love me and that they can't forget about me (I roll my eyes at those ones).

But my mom's message is the only one that says something different… as expected.

I hope you didn't vomit during the fly, even though I know you've gotten rid from that stupid habit since you were twelve. It's just that you're unpredictable, just like me, your mother. Anyways, have a good time in Japan and tell your dad I wish him luck with you.

I can't help but get angry. No Love, mom or XOXO at the end. Hell, not even a fucking Bye! But well, what did I expect? I know my mom; I know she's against showing love to her only damn daughter.

Don't think she's a bad mother. She just hates me. Yeah, she really hates me, and I'm not kidding or exaggerating. She said once that I'm shallow and selfish and rebel, but she's never realized I'm like this because I got used to trying to get her attention. Besides, I'm spoiled; which girl with rich parents wouldn't be it? And I get bad grades because I hang out with the cool people instead of the nerds.

So I have reasons to my being shallow, selfish and rebel, and I think she's not an idiot and she knows them. I also think the truth is that she hates me because I remind her of my dad (yeah, they had an ugly divorce, and I would've had an emotional breakdown if it wasn't because of Sakura supporting me all the time) and because I kind of ruined her life when I was born. I'm like a heavy burden to her; she can't live her life with me there. That's why she's so excited about me getting eighteen in two years. She can't wait to get rid of me.

But I don't want to think about my mother anymore, so I distract myself by replying to all of my friends' messages (I don't reply to my ex-boyfriends; I despise those delusional morons).


Ino

I've just finished replying my friends' messages (and my mom's, if typing Didn't vomit & will make sure 2 have fun and & wish dad luck is a real reply, because I think it's more like a telegram) when I look through the window and realize we are near Sakura's house.

I smirk, suddenly having an idea. I lean forwards and knock my knuckles against the window on the wall between the passengers' seats and the driver's seat. The window is pulled down and I say to the chauffer, "Change of plans. I want to visit a friend. Turn to left and then to right, now, please."

The chauffer does as I order and in two minutes, I tell him to park in front of the pink house with the pretty garden in the corner. He gets out of the car and opens the door for me. After thanking him and telling him to come back in a few hours, I start walking towards the front door of Sakura's home.

The door opens seconds after I ring the bell for the second time and Mrs. Haruno smiles widely when she sees me. "Ino!" she exclaims, and I hug her impulsively. Okay, she's my worst enemy's mom, but that doesn't mean I don't like her, right? Besides, she was the mother I've always wished I had. How can I hate her?

"I'm so glad to see you again," she says, breaking the hug to get a good look of me. "Look at you! You're so tall! And you're definitely not a kid anymore. You're a young woman."

"Inside I'm still a kid, but thanks," I reply, smiling.

"Oh, please come in!" She motions me to step in, and when I do, she closes the door. "Sakura is not home yet," she says. "She went to Sasuke's house." And suddenly, she smiles and rolls her eyes. "You know how teenage romance is. They never seem to want to get away from each other."

I smile, even though talking about Sakura and Sasuke makes me want to break some bones. "Yeah, they better enjoy it," I reply, and Mrs. Haruno misunderstands and giggles. She thought I meant, "They better enjoy it because teenage romance is something very special and beautiful," when I really meant, "They better enjoy it because I'm going to make it end soon."

I sigh, doing my best to look disappointed and sad. "Well, it really is a shame, because I really wanted to spend some more time with her. In school she's always with Sasuke, you know? She kinda ignored me today." I chuckle.

"That's really mean," Mrs. Haruno says, frowning. "I'll make sure she apologizes and changes her attitude, Ino."

"Oh, no!" I exclaim. "Don't, please. It's okay. I don't want her to stop spending time with her boyfriend just because I came back. And she didn't exactly ignored me, I was just exaggerating; she was very nice, actually."

Mrs. Haruno sighs and smiles, relieved. "Okay, if you say so, then I trust you. But I'll tell my daughter to be nicer, anyways."

"You are her mom, not me," I say, raising my arms and showing my palms to her in a signal of surrender. "But anyways, do you know when she's going to come back?"

She thinks for a moment and then says, "She won't take long, sweetie, so why don't you stay and wait for her?"

I grin widely, as if I've heard the greatest news ever. "Really? That'd be so cool, Mrs. Haruno! Thanks! But, are you sure she won't take long?"

She nods her head. "She just called twenty minutes ago. She told me she would be here soon, so don't worry. Just go upstairs and wait in her bedroom. You remember where her bedroom is, right?"

"Oh, of course I do," I say, smirking.


Ino

I love her, but Mrs. Haruno is really stupid sometimes. But well, maybe she just trusts me a lot. Still, if I was her, I wouldn't have let anyone get into my teenage daughter's bedroom when she's not home. We girls have a lot of secrets hiding in our bedrooms, and no one, not even our childhood best friends, should be allowed to be there by their own when we're not there to supervise.

But Sakura's mom's stupidity resulted pretty convenient for me. Now I'm sitting on Sakura's bed, by my own, while Mrs. Haruno is downstairs, baking yummy chocolate cookies (man, I'm going to send my diet to hell today). The door is half-closed and if Mrs. Haruno comes, I'll hear her footsteps against the wood stairs.

So this is my perfect chance.

I jump up the bed, listening to the distant sound of Mrs. Haruno humming a sweet melody downstairs, and look around the room. Sakura loves pink (that's why she would never dye her ridiculous hair) so her walls and carpet and even the ceiling is pink. They're all different shades of pink; it's hot pink for the walls, light pink for the carpet, and an even lightest pink for the ceiling. Her furniture, her lamps and the door are white, and I think she has a good taste.

I walk towards the night table and start opening the drawers. I rummage around in them (book, pens, pieces of paper, nail polisher), but don't find the thing I'm looking for there.

I stand up and cross my arms over my chest, thinking. Okay, if I were Sakura, where would I hide my diary? I shake my head, realizing that searching in the night table was a waste of time; it's a place too obvious to hide your diary. I have to search in the most unexpected places I can think of…

Under the mattress. Of course! A cliché, but, well, I never said Sakura was original.

But it's not there and, ten minutes later, I find out that it's not among her clothes, or in the further corner of her bookcase, or in the drawer of her underwear, or in a secret safe-deposit box behind one of the paintings hanging on the walls, either.

I sigh, exasperated, and brush my long, blonde tuft away from my face. Where else? I think desperately. Where the hell else…?

Under the bed. How couldn't I think about it before!

I crouch down and stick my head under the bed, lightning with my cell phone. I see nothing but dust and balls of fluff at first, but there's something at the back, against the wall, and it looks a lot like a…

"What are you doing?"

I raise my head but I hit it with the bed and exclaim, "Ouch!" Then, I stick my head out and stand up, rubbing my hurt head, and turn to the door. The person who spoke is Sasori, Sakura's older brother, and – damn, he's hot! He used to be kind of cute before, but last time I saw him he was like fourteen or fifteen years old, and just starting to get handsome. Besides, I had eyes only for Sasuke, but I'm not so loyal anymore, and now I can realize just how fiiiiiiiiiine Sakura's bro is.

"I was looking for one of my contact lens," I say quickly. God, I'm good at lying.

Sasori, who is standing against the wall, with his strong arms (he's definitely lifting some weights!) crossed over his yummy chest, raises an eyebrow at me. "Oh really?" he asks, and I realize that the only thing that has changed in him is his body. He's taller and hotter, but he's still the same bored-looking, lazy boy I used to know.

"Yeah, really." I push my nervousness away. C'mon, he didn't catch me doing something bad, right? I was just looking for my contact lens… just that. "Why are you here, anyways?"

"Well, I live here," he replies, shrugging and smirking.

"I mean here, in your sister's bedroom," I say.

"I should ask the same thing to you."

I roll my eyes. "I'm waiting for Sakura to arrive form her boyfriend's house because I want to spend some time with her, okay? Your turn."

"I was just heading to my bedroom when I glanced at this bedroom and saw your ass pointing at me." His smirk widens. "Nice ass, by the way."

I glare at him and resist the urge to flirt back. I need him to go now, because I need to take that fucking diary before Sakura arrives. "Bite me."

"Would love to," he replies, uncrossing his arms. "Who are you, by the way? Are you one of Sakura's friends? I've never seen you around here before. She only brings Saruto, Hinata and her boyfriend."

"You mean Naruto?" I ask, because I've never heard about a guy named Saruto.

"Yeah, him." He smirks sexily (don't flirt, don't flirt!). "So what's your name, babe?"

I sigh deeply, trying to control myself. "Ino. Ino Yamanaka. And I can't believe you don't remember me, Sasori."

He frowns, and I'm sure he's wondering how I know his name. But then his eyes widen, as if he just remembered who Ino Yamanaka is. "Sakura's best friend…?" he mutters, and then he frowns. "What are you doing here? I thought you died or something. My sister cried a river when you stopped coming to the house, but I never cared about knowing why you suddenly disapeared."

"I moved to France," I say. "But I'm back."

"Welcome back then," Sasori says, smirking, while I'm starting to get really impatient. Why won't he leave, already? "And, uh, you're only four years younger than me, but I'm not into girls that are Sakura's best friends, so forget my comment about your ass, okay?"

"Okay. I'm not into twenty-year-old guys, anyways."

"Good," he says, and then turns around and walks away without saying anything else.

Only a few seconds after he leaves, I'm sitting on the carpeted floor, holding Sakura's diary in my hands. It's a simple pink notebook, with a big butterfly on the cover and no padlock to secure it. I think that's perfect, because now I don't need to search for the damn key to open it.

I glance at the door and make sure no one is coming. Then, I go to the last entry. It's about Sakura being super happy because it's been a month since she and Sasuke started dating. I feel like puking, but I continue reading instead. After writing how happy she is, she writes something about Naruto and Hinata being totally in love, which also makes her happy.

But then, right after that, I read something that makes my heart froze, both from shock and utter joy.

"…we made really awful mistakes like, for example, my almost having you know what with Naruto, which is still a secret, by the way. I know it's not okay to keep that from Sasuke, because it meant nothing and I was just heart-broken and not thinking straight, and - c'mon, Naruto is my best guy friend, only that, but I don't think it's a good idea to tell him that just now. It's been more than a month; if I tell him now, he'll be like, "Why didn't you tell me before? Why did you keep it for so long?" and then he's gonna get mad at Naruto and me.

"Some secrets have to stay secret forever, and this is one of them."

I smile widely. Well, dear Sakura is right about that last line, but seems like this secret isn't going to stay secret for too long, and I'm going to make sure of that.

But suddenly, a thought strikes me.

I wouldn't like someone doing to me what I'm doing to her now.

Well, duh, Sherlock, of course I wouldn't. No one would. And, yeah, I'm being really mean – a total bitch, actually – no, no, scrath that, this is the next level after bitch. Even for a bitch, this is too much (in my opinion) because no one ever messes with a girl's diary, where her most secret secrets are secretly guarded (that sounded so lame).

But I have to do this. I have to, I want to, and I need to… because this is my revenge.

Yeah, I'm not doing this only because I want to get Sasuke. Doing this only because of him would be too stupid, and I'm not Sakura – I mean, stupid (though those words kind of get along too well, don't you think?). I'm doing this, this telling-Sasuke-Sakura's-dirtiest-secret shit, because it's a payback to Sakura. She didn't do something like this to me, but she did do something that hurt me a lot.

I don't think she'll remember it, unless I refresh her memory. Sakura is not good with memories (she used to forget my parents' names all the time). So, when she comes up to me and asks me why I did what I did, I'll tell her, "Simply because you, Sakura Haruno, almost ended our friendship because of Sasuke when we were kids, and I'm doing the same thing now. It's kind of like a payback."

Then she'll be like, "What? What? I don't understand, 'cause, I'm stupid! Please be more especific, oh, awesome and beatiful Ino!"

And I'll reply, "Okay. Remember the ribbon I gave you when we first met? Yeah, the red one. Well, remember you threw it on my face when you found out I liked Sasuke too? Yeah, it was the same day we had that cat-fight. You almost ended our friendship and you let me sooooo down, Sakura. I would've never expected that from you. But you did it; you let me know what a shallow moron you were. You did all of that just because of a stupid boy. And I'm doing the exact same thing!"

Her eyes will widen and then she'll burst out crying and I'll laugh evilly right in front of her, feeling on the top of the world, and then I'll be able to rest in peace when I die.

So, actually, I wouldn't like someone doing to me what I'm doing to her now without a good reason. And I do have a very good reason, don't I?

I put the diary into my purse and sit on the bed, doing my best at looking all innocent and best-friend-waiting-patiently-for-her-friend like, and when Sakura enters the room, five minutes later, I greet her with a big smile of satisfaction.

This is just about to start, bitch.


"Look up all your doors. Revenge never looked so good before...

I didn't think you could pull a stunt like that.

I didn't think you would pull a stunt like that."

Blood Money


Notes: Look! A smiley face with a mustache! :{D