From Point A to Point B
Love is a Garden…Dig it
The request had come out of the blue in the form of an ink flower note that bloomed at her feet. She gave him points for originality and personalization but the note itself left something to be desired.
Dear Ino,
Please meet me at training ground seven today as soon as you are able. I need your help with a personal matter. Thank you, Sai
Not the most romantic thing in the world, but could she really expect much from him? No, not really. She had considered politely declining the invitation, but with Sakura and Sasuke now…dating? Vaguely committed to each other? She wasn't sure what to call it, all she knew was that Sasuke only had eyes for Sakura now. It hurt but she would get over it. Perhaps the first step was to try to find romance elsewhere.
She sped home to shuffle through her wardrobe for the right dress and the best shoes. The note wasn't very specific on time so she figured she could spend some in order to look good for her date. It was around six when she arrived at the training field, wearing a lavender sundress with matching heels and a noticeable yet tasteful amount of makeup. She spotted Sai dressed in his regular gear and sitting under a tree with what appeared to be a sketchbook in his hand. She frowned slightly at seeing his usual outfit as opposed to something a bit nicer; she would have to work on that later.
"Hello Sai," she said catching the young man's attention. Sai turned offering a slight nod in greeting before stowing his sketchpad away and standing.
"Hello Ino. I almost thought you weren't going to come."
"Of course I was going to come silly," she said smiling. "Where are we going?"
"Going? You just got here?"
"Yes and now we can go on our date."
"Date?"
"Isn't that why you invited me out?"
"No…why would I want to go out on a date with you?"
"Why would you? But…but…I thought you liked me?"
"We're friends," Sai said unsure of what minefield he had just stepped in, "that's one of the reasons I had asked for your help."
"So if this isn't a date why did you need me?"
"Your clan is very skilled when it comes to removing and fixing mental blocks and triggers," Sai explained growing serious. "Even though ROOT is no longer active, the mental restraints used on me by that program are still in place."
"What kind of restraints?"
"Memory blocks of my time when I was younger. I can only remember bits and pieces, a face here or a faded memory there. Whatever protocols were used on me are probably strong and dangerous to undo. A member of your clan is the best chance to have my memories restored."
"Why come to me? There are older members of the clan who have more experience performing the mind walk you're talking about."
"I…I am uncomfortable having anyone inside my mind let alone a stranger. You and I are at least friends but if you feel I should ask another member of your clan I will."
Ino mulled the idea over, unsure if she could help in this situation. While she knew the technique and the procedure for performing such a jutsu, she had only just begun to use it. She had been working with the interrogation department for six months before the war broke out and had only performed two mind walks during that time. One had been on her father as her final test and one had been on a low level bandit as her first real assignment. Part of her wanted to suggest someone else, but her pride got the better of her. She could do this; she was Inoichi Yamanaka's daughter dammit!
"I'll help," she said with determination, noting the genuine smile on the boy's face.
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After clearing it with the Hokage, the two began meeting once a week as Ino slowly started to remove the locks inside Sai's head. The first session had been very trying as the first flood of memories can sometimes be overwhelming. Ino was shocked to see Sai crying silently as conversations with his brother returned with crystal clarity. She reached out to shake him from his stupor when she found herself enveloped in a hug more for his benefit than for hers. She awkwardly patted his back and felt her own tears coming. A simple memory many would take for granted, taken away to make a better soldier.
From there, things had settled and the returning memories were a little easier for Sai to handle. Some made him smile while others caused him to remain in a somber and distant mood for the rest of the day. Often Sai would talk to Ino after each session, sometimes to work his way through the memories and sometimes because he didn't understand the feelings he was now experiencing. Ino was patient with him, very much like she had been with Sakura when they had first met. The process was slow with it being both a drain on Ino physically and Sai mentally, but after six months Ino felt they were nearing the end.
Everything seemed to be progressing well and Ino was confident that the worst had past. She was wrong. People trying to seal away memories would often leave behind traps like someone would in the real world. Traps designed to render the victim and those attempting to recover the information drooling vegetables. It was only through quick thinking and luck that Ino was able to contain the damage and allow one of them to escape relatively unscathed. Sai came too to see Ino unconscious. He rushed her to the hospital where Sakura and another Yamanaka met them.
Ino had managed to shut down the jutsu trap before any permanent damage could occur, but she would remain unconscious until her mind was able to recover from the ordeal. The news did little to console the young man. Ino was in a coma for almost two weeks, each day Sai visited bringing her fresh flowers that he set in a small vase by her bedside. Sakura told him she would be fine, but he could see she had been crying and was trying her best to put up a strong front. Often he tried to visit her alone, he blamed himself for what had happen and believed the others did as well.
He arrived one day to find Shikamaru sitting at her side, talking about what he and Choji had been up to and complaining about Temari if what Sai picked up from the one sided conversation was correct.
"You know it's rude to eavesdrop on other peoples conversations," Shikamaru said yawning as Sai stepped into the room.
"I'm sorry…I didn't mean…"
"Ah forget about it," Shikamaru said waving him off, "I have to get going anyway."
Shikamaru rose walking past and glancing down at the flowers in Sai's hand, a small bunch of daisies. He kept walking before final stopping at the door, wrestling with himself before finally turning around.
"Just to let you know…she likes cosmos."
"Cosmos?"
"They're a flower. A sunflower I think…she likes the pink ones best."
"Oh," Sai said looking dejectedly at the daisies in his hand. "I didn't know."
"Don't worry about it. She'll be happy you thought to bring her flowers in the first place. I've been friends with her since we were kids so I've been told every little detail like that whether I wanted to hear it or not."
Sai looked at Shikamaru and then back at Ino, a knot forming in his stomach as he thought about what his selfishness had done to her friends.
"I'm…sorry about what…"
"Don't," Shikamaru said sternly catching Sai by surprise. "This wasn't your fault. If anything it's the assholes that did this to you we should be blaming."
"I was the one that asked her to do this. I was being selfish. I didn't need to have my memories back, I was fine."
"Wanting to know who you were and who your loved ones were isn't selfish. Ino knew what she was getting into and she knew how to get out of trouble if she ran into it. She wanted to help you because she cares about her friends, she cares about you. Being an emotionless prick is not fine; don't make her sacrifice for nothing."
With that Shikamaru turned and left, closing the door to offer Sai some privacy. Sai for his part stood there silently, mulling over the Nara's words before another voice caught his attention.
"He's wrong you know," Ino said quietly her eyes still closed, "cosmos are not a sunflower. They're from the same family but they don't look the same. That bum would know of he paid attention every once in a while."
"Ino," Sai said rushing to her side. "I should get the nurse and Sakura," he said before a hand on his stopped him.
"I don't need everyone poking me and asking me a hundred questions just yet. Can I have some water my mouth feels like sandpaper."
Sai quickly poured a cup from a nearby pitcher which was gulped down followed quickly by two more. Content, Ino sighed working the stiffness from her neck.
"How long were you awake?"
"Just around the time Shikamaru showed up. He tends to get chatty if he thinks nobody is listening. Him and Temari are getting close, totally called it by the way."
"Are you alright?"
"Aside from dry mouth and muscle ache I am. Are you okay?"
"The jutsu trap didn't activate so I wasn't affected."
"That isn't what I meant."
"I was…worried about you. Everyone said you would be fine, that you just needed time to recover but…I felt…guilty every time I looked at you."
"Sai…"
"You were lying there and it was because of me, because I needed to know more about my past, to feel more. I didn't want it. If it meant you would be hurt I didn't want any of it I just wanted you back."
"Sai," Ino said again clasping his cheek with one hand. The action seemed to calm him as he settled holding her hand to his cheek as if she might slip away. "I think I like you too," she said pulling him into a kiss.
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Her boyfriend was an idiot. This was the only conclusion Ino could come too as she stood in her living room in her pajamas watching Sai attempt to sit on the sofa.
"Are you drunk," she asked as she watched him hesitantly lower himself onto the couch only to miss the edge and slump to the floor.
"I…maybe," Sai acknowledge before giving up and just staying put on the rug. "I ran into Kiba after …after I reported back and he invited me out for a drink…or twelve."
"So I have him to thank for you showing up at my house at one in the morning knocking on my window like a total creep? Why were you hanging out with him anyway?"
"He isn't so bad…once you get past the dog smell…and the way he acts…and the jokes."
"Yeah he sounds like a real charmer," Ino said rolling her eyes. "I don't need you stumbling home drunk so you can stay on the couch tonight but if you throw up you're buying me a new one."
"Okay…no wait I'm still mad at you."
"You're mad at me," Ino said raising an eyebrow. "What the hell did I do?"
"I know what I am," Sai said rising to his feet, "I'm the replacement."
"The replacement?"
"I'm the other guy on team seven. I'm not-Sasuke…Sasuke…Sasuke lite!"
"What are you talking about?"
"You…you lost out on Sasuke so you went for the closest thing…me," Sai proclaimed jabbing a thumb in his chest.
"Are you crazy?!"
"No, in fact I'm seeing clearly for the first time. Sasuke was the love of your life and all I am is your pale haired, raven skinned boy toy who…"
*SLAP*
The slap was pretty hard and with his equilibrium already corrupted it was enough to put him out like a light. He woke to the morning sun in his eyes, still in a heap on Ino's floor. His head was pounding and he vowed to never drink again. Then what he said came back to him which instantly caused him to sober up. He sprang to his feet, a mistake which he immediately regretted as his head swirled before being met by a stern looking Ino.
"Ino I…"
"Sit now," she said coldly. Sai obeyed, slumping onto the couch his hand nervously rubbing together as he looked at his feet ashamed.
"I was considering just dumping you outside next to a pile of your burning pictures by you for warmth. But something you said last night made me curious and I want an answer."
"Ino please I…"
"I don't want to hear any excuses. I'm going to ask you a question and I want the truth. If you can't do that then I want you to leave and I never want to see you again, do I make myself clear?" Sai could only nod, afraid to say anything else and terrified to look her in the eye.
"Why do you think I still love Sasuke?"
He briefly thought about lying. To say he didn't mean any of it and blame the alcohol. She would know though, she always knew.
"Sai, look at me." Reluctantly he did and saw the pain and sadness in her eyes, pain that he had caused. "Why," she pleaded.
"He was important to you. He was your first love, your only love. If he had come back and chosen you instead of Sakura would you have dated me instead?"
Ino sighed, the anger she felt earlier abating knowing that he had a point. But she had moved on and that chapter in her life was over.
"Is that why you think I started dating you? Because you would remind me of him?"
"No…but…I worry. I think maybe that's all I am, his replacement. For team seven, for you, it's silly but it's always in the back of my mind."
"We've been dating for almost a year now," Ino said kneeling to face him, "and I've seen you grow into a funny and kind man who cares deeply for his friends. A far cry from the weird boy who said I was beautiful even if he didn't mean it."
Sai gave her a startled look unsure if he had admitted that to her in his drunken stupor.
"I've known since before we started dating. You think I would be in your head and I wouldn't try to see what you really thought of me," Ino scoffed. "I can't deny what you said; if Sasuke had chosen me then we wouldn't be having this conversation now. That doesn't make you his replacement though. When we first started dating I liked you for you not because of Sasuke."
Sai could only look down dejected, his paranoia now seeming rather foolish.
"Sasuke is the boy I fell in love with a long time ago" Ino said cupping his still bruised cheek so he could look at her, "you are the man I've fallen in love with now."
"I'm an idiot," Sai said smiling before giving her a kiss.
"Yes…but you're my idiot."
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Sai could only smile as he watched Ino triumphantly wave her half of a now destroyed bouquet of flowers with Temari equally proud at her half. He noted Shikamaru was also looking on with a slightly less enthusiastic expression before Temari returned prize in hand literally rubbing them in his face. Ino bounded back to him, over the moon and clutching her half a bouquet while looking over at Naruto and Hinata with stars in her eyes.
"Aren't weddings wonderful," she sighed, "Hinata looks so beautiful."
"I don't think I've ever seen Naruto so happy," Sai said looking on as the couple accepted various well wishes and congratulations.
"I think I even saw Sasuke smiling," Ino said pointing at the broody best man who looked like he was trying to calm an upset Sakura who kept grumbling about blond cheaters.
"You were probably mistaken…or delirious from joy, it would be hard to tell."
"Oh you're funny today," Ino said poking him in the ribs.
"I try," Sai said deflecting the blows and wrapping her in a hug.
"Frisky too," Ino said grinning.
"Again I try."
"Well it will have to wait. You owe me at least five dances and some punch."
"Okay," Sai said smiling, "but first I want to show you something in the gardens."
"Oh did they plant the new roses?"
"You'll just have to see."
"This better be good," Ino said with her hand on her hip, "I'm missing some serious dancing time."
"Oh don't worry," Sai said fiddling with the ring in his pocket, "it's good."
Originally I had an idea with a My Fair Lady story with Sakura and Ino making a bet to turn Sai into dating material and so on, cut to end, Ino and Sai are married. I decided on something a little less funny in the end. I will admit that I have a hard time writing Sai because I kinda stopped watching the anime and he's more fleshed out there. If you have something you'd like to see leave a prompt and I'll see what I can do. Until next time read and review people.