Ino stepped carefully out of the limo clinging to Shikamaru's arm. She wobbled slightly on her tortoise shell stilettos as she stepped up onto the wet-from-the-rain pavement. "Ready?" asked Shikamaru.
"Ready," Ino agreed. Cameras clicked feverishly as the young couple traipsed down the red carpet. Ino pirouetted blithely, showing off her new moss-green v-necked dress. It was versatile and comfortable but when paired with spindly heels and her grandmother's sterling silver maple-leaf pendant, it was certainly suitable for red carpet nights. Shikamaru tugged impatiently on her arm and pulled her into the dimly lit theater. An explosion of sound hit their ears. Actors and actresses milled about nonchalantly, trying to talk over the blaring music. Even Amaya Von, the leading actress of her day, was there, chatting animatedly with a sharp-featured man in a pinstriped suit.
"Ladies and Gentlemen," the speakers boomed, " Please take your seats, as Delusions will begin shortly."
"Come on Shika," Ino whispered. She clasped his hand and they went to find their seats. The velvet upholstery was warm and inviting after the stinging winds whirling outside. The lights slowly faded into nothingness and an expectant hush fell over the crowd. The screen illuminated showing the first shot. It was a laughing redheaded college girl. She was embraced by a tawny haired boy wearing a loose white shirt and tie. Farther down the beach a small wedding was being conducted. The soft music floated over to them, creating a tranquil mood. The camera did a close up of their faces. "Love," the boy crooned, " consists of a single soul inhabiting two bodies." The girl smiled and held his shirt possessively. "I know, Minato. An we'll always be in love."
The story flowed well and the plot was well defined and succinct. Ino cringed and buried her head in Shikamaru's shoulder when Minato was cornered by the drunk villains in the alley. She tried to suppress her sobs when he died in the cockfight that followed and his last words were Kushina. She laughed along with the audience, looking at Jiraiya's face when Kushina told him she was seeing visions of Minato. And she cried again in the end, when Kushina took her own life in order to stop, once and for all, the apparitions of her late fiancée that haunted her.
When it was over, Shikamrau helped her up. Before they had crossed the parking lot, Asuma, Shikamaru's mentor and director of his enterprise, waved for them to stop. He caught up with them and paused for a moment to catch his breath. "Party's been switched to the Embassy. Tsunade's sent directions."
"What!" Shikamaru complained, " Aww man. There's a huge party going on right next to it at Omni Shoreham. We'll never get parking. Ino, I forgot my coat, can you check my phone for the directions?"
"Sure, Babe. Is it in your regular messages?"
"Yeah. Thanks, Hon. I owe you one." he called over his shoulder. Ino watched them leave before flipping open his blackberry. The screen read, "One new message. Reply?"
"Ah, this must be it," Ino thought, and clicked the reply button. A small speech bubble appeared with the text inside it. It read, " Are you sure you can't sneak away from her tonight, Baby? –Temari," Ino's heart stopped. She felt her insides melt. "Oh my gosh," she whispered. All the signs were there of course. She had never thought anything before. He had never been worried about where she was before, but these days all he wanted to do was ask her where she was going and why. He had been a lot "busier" lately. Staying after at work for hours at a time. Sometimes when he arrived at a date, he was so late that she had already eaten. This had caused many arguments before, but they had always seemed to be able to get over it. He had bought her many more gifts than usual. She had read once in a magazine that this was a sign because they were "guilt gifts". Horrified, she dropped his phone on the cement. It broke with a satisfying crack. Should she wait and confront him? Or should she go and never look back? She went with the latter when she felt tears budding in her eyes. Her blonde hair bounced on her shoulders as she fled to the car. She opened the limo door and got in. "Drive," she told the cabby.
"Ma'am?" the cabby asked, confused.
"Drive! Away. I don't care. Just get me away from here now." The limousine hummed to life, and she drove away from her forever.
"There are tissues in the left compartment," the cabby said, conversationally.
"Thank you," sniffed Ino. She grabbed one and blew her nose loudly. All she wanted was to go to bed. Her feet hurt from walking, her eyes hurt from crying, and she had a terrible headache. " I don't know why they call it a broken heart," she thought, "It feels like every part of me is broken." The city lights whizzed past her window. The cold air coming from the window felt strangely good. It was sucking the pain away from her, and left her feeling numb and empty. She wouldn't look back. Whatever happened, she wouldn't look back.