Warnings: slight language, vague references to lesbianism (though if you squint hard enough you can read it as just platonic i suppose).

SakuraIno- shadows

Sakura used to live in Ino's (so much prettier and happier and more confident and she didn't want to be like her so much as just be her, she was her hero) so she understands when the blond says—'I-I just can't escape it, as a med-nin and a kunoichi I'm always compared to you I compare myself to you and and it's not fair. It's not fair Sakura!'— really, really she does.

But that doesn't make letting go any easier, doesn't make it hurt any less that it's (beautiful confident poised amazing brave brash stubborn obnoxious) Ino of all people saying this. Because it's like Naruto giving up his dreams of Hokage-dom it's just not right because Ino will always stand out (blindingly) and should never be cowed and she's always been strong and fierce except now when she just isn't...

And now she really really sees Ino's side and how stupid she'd been and this time she's the one left holding a ribbon and memories and crying and alone and she's not sure if it's better or worse that Ino's not leaving for someone else because that means she's just leaving because of her.
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InoSakura- Switch

She isn't Sasuke.

And she doesn't want to be most of the time. Why should she want to be a disgraceful, lying, traitorous, son of a bitch?

But it hurts because Sakura's still determined to cling to him (even after he made her cry, the utter bastard!, and Ino would never ever do that and she just wishes so bad she were a boy sometimes because then maybe Sakura would pay attention) and still won't be friends because she called him out for being the traitor he is. He is he really really is, and there's nothing else to call him, and he didn't have to go, and he's so stupid, and she wants to just punch him in his pretty face for this.

Sakura cried! She hadn't cried in earnest like that since she was eight and bullied (even loosing their friendship hadn't made the girl cry- Ino knew because she had looked desperately for the tear stains and signs of it in the days after darn it, and all Ino's jeers and insults in the following years hadn't done it either). And it hurts that her friend would choose a shadow and a memory at best (and a monster at worst because she's heard the stories) over her. It just doesn't make sense and it sucks.
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A/N: To my readers would you still be able to see/search for this fic if the rating moves up to M? It's possible it may for references and language. If you like the story but don't set your filters so you can see M rated stuff feel free to follow the story. I have no plans for actual explicit content and i will give warnings if any chapter contains such so have no fear on that regard. to anyone hoping for lemons or other citrus um sorry?
Anyway as always leave any thoughts on that or anything here. I'll admit there's some curiosity as to whether readers would like for me to write a lemon.