Here comes the Second Part of Ino's reaction; I wrote this one months ago, before Team 10's arc in the manga started, and I honestly thought Ino would have a reaction similar to the one you're about to read.

However, now I think she'll jump into his arms and act like nothing happened. I don't know which one I like better honestly, both of them are fine to me; but I think I was more inclined towards this kind of reaction because I always saw Ino like a strong girl, and I always thought that she wouldn't hesitate on telling Sasuke her thoughts right to his face. But with the way Kishi has been screwing up his female characters lately, I don't know what to expect...

So all in all, I guess this one will have some OCC-ness.

Drabble Four: Forgiveness.

- -

The door opened fiercely, bouncing against the wall. The harsh sound echoing into the quiet room and making everyone's eyes turn to look and see who was the one who had just entered.

And there, at the doorstep, was standing a blonde girl whose blue eyes were wide open with surprise.

Her lips parted, and a single name left them in the form of a mere whisper.

"…Sasuke-kun"

Sakura was the first to recover from the surprise that the sudden entrance of the blonde caused in the room.

"Ino! I was wondering when you were going to come!"

But Ino didn't turn to look at her, didn't even acknowledge her presence. Her eyes locked with a pair of onyx ones that stared at her from across the room.

And suddenly, her expression clouded with pain and her blond head turned to the side, her gaze lowering to the floor.

Slowly, Sakura's green orbs blinked with surprise.

"Ino... are you alright?" She asked sounding somewhat worried.

In the blink of an eye Ino had shortened the distance between her and Sasuke, coming to a stop beside his hospital bed. And before anyone could say or do something, her hand had already landed with fierce force against his right cheek.

"…Why?"

The question left Ino's lips slowly and sounding more pained than she would have liked it to.

Slowly, Sasuke's unexpressive face turned towards her, his dark eyes once again locking with her blue ones which were by now clouded with unleashed tears.

"Why did you do it?! How could you betray us?!"

"…How could you leave us behind as if we meant nothing to you? How could you leave without even a goodbye, an explanation?!"

"--How could you be so selfish and not think about the people that loved you? About the people that would do anything for you! We were worried sick about you!"

Sakura and Naruto didn't say anything, and like the others, just stared at the screaming kunoichi; their eyes clouding with sadness and understanding, adverting to the floor. Because no one understood better what Ino was feeling than Naruto and Sakura did. They had felt her anguish, her fear, her worry in their own flesh, and they couldn't help but silently agree with the words the girl was screaming.

Inwardly, Sakura wondered just what had taken Ino so long to snap.

But Ino didn't pay any attention to them; she just kept her fists clenched, and her narrowed eyes locked with Sasuke's obsidian ones.

Her whole body was shaking with emotion; Anger, sadness, pain, anguish, loneliness—all the feelings that she kept bottled up inside when he left were once again alive and burning within her, burning bright with such a strength that she almost couldn't bear it. Eating at her from the inside out; demanding her to hit him, to show him and inflict him at least a little bit, an small portion of all the pain and turmoil they all went through.

Of all the pain she went through.

So she ignored the eyes that were placed upon her—she didn't have the time, nor the strength to face the sympathy and pity in their gaze—and instead clenched her fists more tightly, shutting her eyes close to prevent the tears from coming.

She wouldn't cry, she wouldn't break. She would never allow herself to be weak in front of him.

Weakness was what drove him away from them in the first place, and some part of her—deep down—was scared that he would take off running away if he realized just how weak she truly was.

Her silent acknowledgement of her own fear only served to make her angrier.

"How could you--?"

"--I'm sorry"

His words came out suddenly, and were surprisingly low. They made Ino's blue eyes opened wide with surprise, her head raising roughly and her blonde locks flying around her, her pained eyes meeting Sasuke's dark ones, which were gleaming with something that she couldn't quite place, nor understand.

And suddenly, the boy lowered his gaze to the side, his right cheek still painted a soft red thanks to the slap.

"…I'm sorry, Ino"

And the only thing that Ino could do was look at him through her wide open eyes, while a single tear finally made its way down her cheek.

"… Me too"

- -

Well, there you go.

Next time, more SasuIno fluff.

Also, thanks to those who reviewed last chapter! You guys are the best; please keep the reviews coming, I love to hear your thoughts!