Rain

chapter 10

AN: (cries a million tears) I only got 3 reviews! (Sniffles) I was so proud of that one too... (goes to cry in a dark little room all by my lonesome) on with the story. (sighs)

My heart skipped a beat when I recognized the writing instantly. The messy yet neat script could belong to one person and one person only. I didn't even know what it said, yet I was filled with joy.

Meet me at the fountain at midnight. I'll be waiting.

"He wants to meet me!" I was going to scream happily then... "Why didn't he do this sooner?! I've been looking for him everyday for the pass 3 months and NOW he want's to talk to me?!" I yelled to no one.

I then look at the clock. "7:29?!" I yelled. I don't think I've ever been so dejected by the time until then. What the hell am I supposed to do for four and a half hours?! I shook my head viciously and throw myself onto my bed. This is going to be hell.

Looking around my room my eyes fall onto the music box that rested on my side table. I just realized that I don't have a clue as to what song it plays. I reach my hand out and open the top.

... Nothing.

Sighing, I pick it up and turn the knob. When I was through with that I rest it on my palm and examine it. Just a normal box... nothing engraved into it. No special molding around it. Just plain brown-black wood. Raising a brow I lift the top up again.

Instantly, my room was flooded with a loud yet soft melody. I've never heard anything like this before. It made me feel happy, but sad at the same time. It made my heart race in one verse and ache in the next. I don't think I could put to words how beautiful this song truly is, feeling as though I wouldn't do it justice if I did.

I made it my personal mission to find out how, after all... Uzuki-sensei and Tenten would want to know. Thinking about letting them hear it made me feel like I was giving something away that I shouldn't. Like this song was made just for me and I'm not going to let it go. Maybe I'm just being selfish, but that doesn't matter. This song was too beautiful.. Too personal to share.

Time went by and I lay on my bed listening to the song, pondering how to describe it's ethereal melody. It seemed that every time it started up again, the song seemed new to me. I must have been laying here for at least an hour and I still wasn't able to describe it.

Sitting up, I sigh as I twist the key to start the music again. Setting it onto my lap, my eyes look around my room without really seeing. The music was like an anesthetic to each and every one of my senses. I couldn't feel whether or not I was cold. I couldn't taste the chocolate snack I had earlier. The flowery scent of my entire house was gone. My hearing tuned everything else but the song and my sight saw nothing but blurs. I then see something very clearly. I gasp as my eyes widen.

There it was. The description that I was looking for. To put it simply, it was love, all of love packed into this small music box. The happiness you feel when you're around your loved one. The excitement of your first kiss. Even the intense depressing ache you feel when they're away!

The song changed from being painful to the happiest part of all. Only now I realized what this is... the reunion. It made me so happy that I felt as though I would burst. I bring my hand up to my face as I fight the losing battle against my tears. Was this how I was going to feel when I meet up with Shikamaru again? If I ever meet up with Shikamaru again...

My eyes focus on the thing that triggered my description. I pick up the paper with his writing. That's right. I'm going to see him tonight. I close the box as the song died down to it's end and I sigh contentedly.

"Stop being so pessimistic, Ino."

"Yeah. I really should..." I answer agreeing to the voice. This person sounds familiar... The song's anesthetic effect to my senses obliviously hasn't left me yet.

"Great... Hey! I've got a question for ya! What time do you think it is, Ino dearest?"

I look to the clock again, not really worried about my sanity. "Umm... 10:41?" I ask myself confused.

"Good girl... you do realize we were supposed to leave for our mission two hours and forty-one minutes ago, don't you?"

Her voice suddenly became very familiar to me as she talked of leaving before midnight. "Uzuki-sensei. I'm not going on the mission today."

"Like hell you're not! This is your first undercover assignment! You've been wanting this ever since you started training with me!" she yelled hitting me over the head with a rubber hammer.

I felt her cold violet eyes burn holes into my back, she was expecting an answer. My mouth stayed shut. I can't answer her, I can't even look at her. I was going to disappoint her. She was probably never going to talk to me again after this, but I just have to see him.

I hear her grumble out of annoyance behind me She was going to yell. "If staying here in boring ol Konoha is so important to you, at least tell me why," she demanded quietly. It felt as though a heavy weight was lifted off my shoulders. I look at my sensei and see her look down at me expectantly annoyed.

"I..." I trailed off looking for the right words to say.

"You..." she replied tapping her foot. She was clearly annoyed. Uzuki was never a patient girl.

"I miss him Uzuki-sensei. I'm going to see him tonight," I replied sincerely. I received an annoyed grumble from her and she raised her hands in defeat. There was silence between us for the longest time. Her deep purple eyes were looking into mine for something unknown to me.

"Tsunade-sama's going to have my head for this.." she stated.

"I'm sorry..." I said, guilt making me look away. How could I do this to Uzuki? She went through so much to make me a good undercover shinobi. And went through even more to get me a mission like this!

"HA! If you're so sorry you'd stand him up and go on the mission!" her words made me wince. I knew she saw my reaction because she sighed.

"Welp, that's how things go I guess. I'll just tell Tsunade that she's too emotionally unstable to do a mission of this caliber," she said to herself. She then looks at me suddenly angry. "Look Ino, I don't give a damn how happy you are after tonight. You'd better act freakin' dead when you see her tomorrow, or I swear I'll make sure your deerly beloved is sent on a suicide mission." she promised more than joked.

"Th-thank you!" my voice broke. I couldn't stop myself from crying thankful tears at Uzuki's actions. I see her look at me like I'm crazy.

"Whatever girly girl. You owe me big for this, and I mean BIG," she warns. I nodded through my hysterical tears. I then feel her hug me with one arm, "I can't believed I trained such a wimp."

I frown then punch her lightly, "Stop trying to be such a hard ass. I know you're just trying to cover up how nice you are."

She glares at me and bonks me in the head with a hammer. "You better shut that mouth of yours before I change my mind about letting you meet your boy toy."

"Oh! I mean, I'm so SO sorry, Uzuki-sensei. I don't deserve to be trained by one as powerful as you!" I say dramatically then laugh.

She smiles and looks at me with... relief in her eyes? "Good. Now enjoy the crummy weather, because Kami knows how I'm not," and with that she was gone.

I look at the rest of the ninja smoke that Uzuki left behind strangely. What did she mean by that? I look out my window. "It's raining!!!" I say happily just about to jump out the window. I knock something over and hear the reason why I'm skipping my mission.

My eyes roam around my room for the digital clock. "11:39?!" I yell again. Now I really DO have to jump out the window. I'm going to be late!!!

TBC

AN: was that a short chapter? 3 pages for 3 reviews. I'm determined to show no Shika and Ino fluff until I get more reviews. I have a lot of fillers in my head and I'm in no particular hurry to continue with the storyline. MUHAHAHAHAHAAA!!! review or I'll discontinue the fic... and I will. Remember: hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.