Chapter 9: A Cover

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A quiet day later Ino and Yamato set up camp a few miles from the Land of Rivers' border.

"We should make a plan," Ino said, and she noticed how Yamato tensed at her voice. She supposed he would, since this was the first time since she had so explicitly addressed him since shutting him down so thoroughly straight out the gate (literally). Ino almost felt bad about it, but he needed to learn to relax and not be so concerned about forcing camaraderie between them.

"Alright," Yamato said as he sat down on the opposite side of the fire from her. It made his hair shine and his skin look tanner than it was. It illuminated his facial features in an odd, eerie way, and Ino wondered if this was what Naruto had warned her about.

"So our overarching cover is simple: we're honeymooning. I know it'll be a hard to believe it with your face and my body, but we'll make it work."

Ino felt another hint of guilt when Yamato's shoulders hunched. He reminded her of a big puppy and it was like she just kicked him without reason. He just made it so easy.

"I'm kidding! You, the bumbling gentleman woes the icy girl. No one believed in our love so we were forced to leave home from their constant ridicule."

"You've thought about this."

"I already have, like, twenty-seven scenarios made. Can't wait for our traveling circus act personas."

Yamato grinned, and Ino felt like it was a victory. She knew she could be a little (read: a lot) bossy and snappish at times. Ino did not want to hide her true self for months on end, but she also did not want to bite off Yamato's head.

But his illuminated smile made her hopeful.

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Theme: 038. Copper
Word Count: 300
Posted: 10.13.2014