Chapter 4: And all the faults you've left behind

When I awoke the next morning, I found Sasuke still lounging in the same position I had left him in last night. He glanced in my direction, his eyes catching mine for just the slightest second, before reverting back to the television. At that moment, I was glad I didn't actually have to go to work that day.

I sat down on the couch, swatting at his feet so I could have a place to sit as well, a bowl of cereal clutched in my hands. Sometimes I wished I would just invest in the kitchen table I so desperately wanted, but even I knew there wouldn't be a place for it in my tiny 600 square foot apartment.

I had just started to get interested in whatever documentary Sasuke had put on when a knock resonated throughout the apartment.

Being the good host that I am, I promptly set the bowl of cereal on the only semi-flat surface I could find (I didn't always have much time to clean..) and made my way to the door. When I opened it, I found the blonde hair chick that had accompanied Itachi and Sasori yesterday.

I didn't even have a chance to ask her what she wanted before she pushed the door opened further than I had intended and squeezed herself through the crack. "Hey!" she practically shouted and engulfed me in a hug, as if we knew each other. Something about her personality reminded me of Naruto.

"I'm here to relieve you Sasuke. You have eight hours to do whatever you want and then you are to report back here." When he gave her an arrogant-I-don't-have-to-listen-to-a-word-you-say look, she promptly responded, "Itachi's orders. Don't be so pissy."

I could swear I saw him roll his eyes at her antics, but didn't have the time to question it before he simply vanished from my sight.

This shit was going to take some getting used to.

I closed the door that for some reason had remained open during Ino's (I think that was her name) relay of information. I needed to finish my breakfast and, quite frankly, I hadn't been in the mood to deal with any of these crazy people lately.

Ino followed my example and took a seat in the spot Sasuke had been previously sitting in. She glanced at the television before she turned her attention back to me. Apparently, sharks did not interest Ino one bit.

"So, um, do you have any questions about any of this?"

"No." Ino was trying to make conversation, but I wasn't going to let that happen. I didn't need to be getting close to any of these people. Even if what they said was true, how would I know that they are the good guys?

"Well, what do you think about Sasuke? I mean I know he is a total jerkface, but isn't he the hottest? I mean, I used to have this huge crush on him when I first became a succubus and it took me centuries to get over it. You are one of the luckiest girls I know. I mean, you get to spend hours at a time with his hotness. What I would give to be able to sit there for hours just staring at his bare, muscular chest…" Ino's rant drifted off. I assumed she was had been lost in her own thoughts.

I didn't want Ino to have the wrong idea, but she did have a point. He was good-looking. "Listen, Ino, Sasuke might be 'hot,' but that is pretty much the only thing that guy has going for him that I have been able to see so far."

"Ooh, so you do think he is hot?" I found myself almost missing Sasuke's silence.

"It's not like I want to jump his bones or anything." I proceeded to shovel the cereal into my mouth. If I didn't eat it quickly, it would soon be all soggy. Plus, it did give me a way of avoiding anything Ino decided to question me on. This did not discourage her.

"I know this is all weird and new to you, but you just have to trust us. I mean, that sounds weird and everything. Trusting demons and those who have sold their soul to hell. I had the same inclination when I was first approached by the imp I sold my soul too. I guess it doesn't help that he did end up kinda screwing me over. I just hope that you will listen to me. I do have a lot of years on my life and, therefore, a lot of wisdom in these bones. Yafeelme?"

I didn't even bother to respond to Ino's rant that seemed more for herself than for me. There was silence for about two minutes before the blonde sitting next to her couldn't take it any longer. I got the feeling that she didn't like being bored.

"So, what are we going to do today? Shopping? Meeting up with some of your friends? I would love to meet some of them!" I wasn't sure exactly how Ino's whole succubus thing worked, but I found myself wondering if she had wanted to seduce my friends to steal their souls.

"I didn't have anything planned for today." My eyes stayed glued to the television and never faltered.

"Oh, well then let's go to the mall!"

Not only did I not want to go, but I also had no qualms about smothering her spirit. My response was simple, "No."

"Well why not? This is so boring. Maybe you and Sasuke belong together. Both of you are complete hermits. Come on please." She elongated the please, as if that would change my mind.

"Ino, I don't have any money to spend on frivolous things like clothes." It was at least a half-truth.

"Oh, no need to worry about that. My treat. I haven't had anyone to go shopping with in decades."

"If I agree to go with you, will you stop talking so loudly?" The blonde shook her head in a rapid manner. "Ok fine. Let me get ready." I couldn't believe I was actually agreeing to this, but, hey, it was her treat and I really could use some new clothes.

"OH YES! I love this part. Let me help." I found I hadn't been about to say anything as she grabbed my brush out of my hand and began to thoroughly scour my hair for knots. "Now that I am a succubus and can shape shift into whatever body I please I have found that I miss this part of getting ready."

Before I could stop myself, the words came out of my mouth, "Wait, you can change your form?" It wasn't every day that stuff like that happened.

"Hm? Oh yeah. Cross-gender switching takes a lot out of me. Cross-species is even worse. It also means that I can just think 'Man, I wish I was wearing shorts instead of a skirt' and instantaneously I can be. I mean, I have to be careful around humans. I can't really have them noticing that my clothes are changing form."

I just sat there as she kneeled beside me, flat-ironing my hair and applying light make up. Not that I would ever admit it, but she did a pretty bang up job all in all.

I found the next few hours of my life being dragged from store to store, my arms being shoved full of clothing and thrust into the nearest changing room. Ino expected from me to try on everything she gave me and then show her how it looked. Every time I protested to her being too generous, she would ignore me and pull out her credit card anyways. I most definitely didn't expect that. She did sell her soul to the devil. Literally.

Once we were sitting in the food court, I decided I should bring it up. I did look around to make sure there was no one within hearing distance. "Ino, if you sold your soul to the devil, why are you so nice?"

"Sakura, let this be a lesson to you. Not everyone who works for him is evil. I did what I had to and that's all there is to it." She sheepishly rubbed the back of her head. "Maybe one day I'll tell you my tale, but it's not something I like to discuss in public."

I could only nod. Who was I to question her decision?

I looked up from my oddly delicious food-court-Chinese food to have my gaze caught in the vicinity of cerulean blue eyes and they weren't Ino's.

A/n: I think I am going to end it here and start the next chapter with the same scene. This will make the chapters consistent lengths. Plus, I've been dying to write the next chapter for my fanfiction. Sorry about any grammatical mistakes. I really just don't feel like rereading over this. If you see anything huge, bring it to my attention and I'll fix it.

Anyways, same drill as before. I need 2 reviews and then I'll start on the next chapter.

Read and Review.

REVISED ON 5/27/2014! WOO GETTING BACK INTO THE GAME -my-name-is-V-