...Amaranthyz Presents...

Escaping Fear

Chapter 10: Spring and Feelings [Part 2]

Character(s) [By appearance]: Yamanaka Ino, Uzumaki Naruto, Haruno Sakura, Sai, Rock Lee, Hyuga Neji, Uchiha Sasuke, TenTen, Houzuki Suigetsu, Karin, Jugo

Pairing(s): NaruIno

Characters from Naruto - rightfully belongs to Masashi Kishimoto

I strongly disclaim all rights on the characters but the entire story was originally and rightfully created by me

Those words froze Ino completely.

Naruto looked up to Ino and said, "Is it me or am I in love with you??"

The redness of Naruto's face was clearly burning. Ino couldn't make out the words to say. She looked into Naruto's focused eyes. They were begging for her answer. Ino could see that clearly. Ino closed her eyes for a moment causing Naruto to wait for her answer in total suspense. Ino then opened her eyes and broke out a laugh.

"What…What's so funny??" Naruto, confused as ever, asked.

Ino rubbed off the tears off her eyes, "It's obvious isn't it, idiot?!" she laughed again. After a while, Ino calmed down and took her breath. "Naruto, isn't it the feeling anyone get when they love or even like someone? Well, we're siblings. Of course we'd love each other. We care for each other. At least, I do."

Her smile touched Naruto and the blonde boy had to chuckle, "You're right, it's because we're siblings. Of course that's the reason!"

"You're still an idiot, Naruto," Ino teased and patted Naruto's golden hair.

"I'll take that as a compliment," Naruto said before he combed back his messed-up hair with his fingers and throwing aside the blankets. He jumped out of the bed and started for the door when Ino grabbed his wrist, "Where do you think you're going??"

Naruto grinned at his sister, "I have to show Sakura-chan and the others that I'm alright."

Ino blinked, "I thought they're coming later. How do you know they're here?"

"That's why the windows were invented, sis."

Ino was taken aback. She let go of her brother's wrist and peeked out the window and into the sunny sky. She can clearly see a pink-haired girl in a big group of people Ino knew very well. She sighed, "He's not an idiot as I say he is now, huh?"

"I heard that!!" Naruto shouted from the stairs before a, "Woah!!" and a few crashes of a heavy object falling on wood before a big thud and Naruto's groaning.

"That idiot!" Ino rushed out the room and down the stairs. Little did she realise that a third figure was in the room all the time, hearing their conversations from A to Z.

---

"You're better already, Naruto?? As expected from you," Sakura said when Naruto greeted the convoy with a big warm smile.

"It's nice to see you as…healthy as a horse," Sai said with his cunning smile. Naruto shot him a look. "Since when are you using similes??"

"OH NARUTO!!!! YOU ARE BETTER!!! I AM SOOO HAPPY FOR YOU!!!"

A typical Rock Lee burst out front from the back of the group to give Naruto a big hug of his oh-so-huge-love. Lee's team consisting of Neji, TenTen and Gai-sensei had just returned from a mission and after they heard Naruto was ill, Lee had been anxious to see Naruto real badly.

Neji came up with his ever so solemn look yet, his eyes showed utmost concern, "Are you alright, Naruto?"

Naruto took a deep breath after Lee's tight hug. "Yeah, I'm fine. It's thanks to my sis and…where the hell did that bastard go??"

Ino, who was standing behind Naruto at the moment, took Naruto's question in account, "Wait, where did Sasuke run off to anyway?"

The group looked around and at that second, the Uchiha came out from behind Ino and Naruto. "Looking for me? That's sweet of you guys."

"Sasuke!" both Sakura and Karin chorused before the two girls gave each other their unique death stare.

"You okay, dumbass?" Sasuke asked Naruto with a smirk on his face.

Naruto turned to face him, "You're a bastard as ever. But yes, I'm alright. Thanks for your 'concern'."

"I'm asking sincerely, idiot. You dare to insult me, huh?"

"You're never sincere, bastard!"

Ino swung her hand in between the two dogs barking at each other and glared at the both of them. "If you two aren't gonna shut the hell up, I'll nail them up literally!"

Ino sighed and just when the situation quietened down, Lee jumped to the front once again and this time, hugged Sasuke to death. "OH, SASUKE-KUN!!!! I HAVE MISSED MY RIVAL SO MUCH! I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR YOU TO COME BACK AND GO ON A ONE-ON-ONE WITH YOU!

Naruto burst out in laughter and the others couldn't help but to join him. Sasuke's face turned red after a few seconds of Lee's hug. It was not sure whether it was from a tight hug or he's just embarrassed.

Finally, Sasuke voiced out, "Yeah…Lee…you're…you're choking me, Lee…let…let go already…! I got it…I got it, you…you want a one…on…one. Fine…just…LET GO!"

"Oh, my apologies for the uncomfortable hug; my feelings have overwhelmed myself." Lee then released Sasuke as the Uchiha broke out a few coughs and took a few deep breaths. Sure enough, his face was red.

TenTen then came to the front with Neji by her side, "Hmmm…the Uchiha prodigy's back, huh?"

"Nice to see you guys again," Sasuke said.

"It's been a while, Sasuke. You're not planning on leaving after this are you?" Neji asked. His question caught everyone's attention and they all looked at Sasuke with assuring eyes. Even the Taka members looked hopeful for his 'no'. Sasuke glanced at each pair of eyes; Naruto and Sakura had the same concerned look in their eyes. It was expected from the two who had searched under every stone for him.

Sai's was impenetrable but he was not in Sasuke's interest for the time being. Taka had their hopes to stay obvious in their gaze. Looks like Suigetsu, Jugo and Karin have taken a liking to the village. It made Sasuke smile inside. Neji and TenTen's eyes were dull but looks like Sasuke's return still made them curious. Lee's was filled with fiery spirit. The guy definitely wanted to go for some friendly kick butt soon.

The last person Sasuke's eyes met were Ino's. Hers was hard to read but he could see her anger burning up if he said he would leave. There was also a small ounce of hope but Sasuke was not sure of that. Her icy blue eyes were forever mysterious. Ino then blink and broke their gaze.

"He'll stay. I'll make sure of that," Ino said to the crowd and winked at the Uchiha before carving a grin on her face.

Sakura then joined the conversation, "How bout we all go for some light training at the fields. It might be nice to know all of our new tricks and stuff. I heard from Tsunade-sama that Sasuke and his team aren't going to go on official missions for the month but at least let's loosen up our muscles."

"Hey, that's a great idea Sakura-chan! I'm in for it!" Naruto had his blue eyes sparkling with happiness.

Sakura turned to all members of Taka, "How bout it?"

Suigetsu rolled his eyes and smirked, "Might be a good chance to show off my mad skills."

"The only thing mad about you is you, idiot," Karin teased.

"Bitch," Suigetsu murmured before receiving a hard punch through his head that turned into water at the second it was hit.

Jugo looked at Sakura and simply nodded with a warm smile. He had a couple of white birds resting on his shoulders and he petted them softly.

Neji cracked his neck and said, "I guess it would be fun even just to watch."

"It will be fun! How bout we go ask Kiba and the others? It'll be a big party!" TenTen had the same shine in her eyes.

"Ooh, that would be splendid! Can I rush and tell them later?" Lee offered.

Sakura giggled, "That's a great idea. Thanks, Lee!"

Lee looked at Sakura with wide eyes and blushed, "Y…You are welcome."

Sakura then focused her eyes on Sasuke, "If you don't want to, you can just say so. I mean, we are doing this for you."

Sasuke narrowed his eyes. He was still out of it with too many people going about around him. He didn't dare to walk by the streets full of people going here and there. He still felt like an outsider. Sasuke opened his mouth to reject when Ino cleared her throat.

Ino cut him off and placed her hand on Sasuke's shoulder, "He'll go. Like I said, I'll make sure of that and...he's being a good guy for the month, right?" Ino raised an eyebrow at him and at the sight of it, Sasuke laughed. It shocked most of them but it was amusing. Suigetsu had to rub his eyes and ears.

"Is it me or Sasuke, Uchiha Sasuke, is laughing??" Suigetsu said and everyone laughed. Even Karin had to giggle.

But it didn't amuse Sakura as she stared hard at Ino. Naruto saw this and came forward to Sakura, "Sakura-chan, you wanna hang out inside for a bit? Come on, you guys already came here anyway and we're still outside."

"No thank you, Naruto. Lee, follow me. We'll call Kiba and the others. You all go in." Sakura pulled Lee away without looking back and her voice was frighteningly solemn. Ino watched Sakura go with not even a glance back towards the others.

"I wonder what is wrong with Sakura," Sai said.

The others stayed quiet for a moment when Naruto got his senses back, "Come on guys! Let's get in first and wait for them."

The group moved into Sasuke's house when a cherry blossom petal brushed against Neji's cheek. He looked up and saw the petals raining down beautifully. "Spring is ever so beautiful. Its elegance is stunning," he said.

Naruto and the others heard him and looked up. One by one, smiles were etched on their faces from frowns. Ino, as if in a daze, went out into the open and stretched out her arms. The birds from Jugo's shoulders fluttered off and flew gracefully in the raining cherry blossoms by Ino, circling her.

"Beautiful," Ino said.

Once again, Sasuke was mesmerized by the look Ino had. It was the 'different Ino' again. Her blonde hair swayed lightly by the soft wind and the sun's light made her fair skin and hair look like velvet or silk. She then turned around and looked at Sasuke straight in the eye. Her icy blue eyes were almost silver but they were beautiful. She then smiled softly and shades of pink grew on her silky cheeks.

"Ino…" Sasuke murmured but realised that Naruto's voiced chorused with his. The raven-haired turned to Naruto and saw his eyes wide in mesmerisation and his cheeks were red. Sasuke narrowed his eyes at the blonde. What is that look on Naruto? What is this feeling? Why…?

Questions filled his head as Ino came back to reality. She blushed furiously, "Sorry! I…I…it's a…a habit of mine nowadays. I…I space out a lot. Sorry."

Ino's red cheeks were then brushed by the petals and one of them hit her left eye accidentally. She yelled out in pain and covered her eye with her palm. Naruto, controlled by his confused feelings, rushed out and softly pulled away her hand and caressed Ino's cheek and the bottom of her eye.

"Na…Naruto," Ino stammered when he touched her.

Before anyone knew it, Naruto bent down and kissed Ino's closed eye. Gasps and questions filled the group of people just two meters away from them. Suigetsu whistled playfully but it was not a joke to a certain person. Sasuke's eyes were filled with flames of anger and a twinge of jealousy hit him. What the hell is Naruto thinking??

Sasuke turned from the scene of the brother and sister and clenched his shirt. Why the hell am I feeling this? It's not me at all, damn it! Refusals of the aching feeling he had hurt his chest. Sasuke turned back around and saw Naruto, redder than before, backing away.

"Wha…Wha…What the hell did I…I…uh…wait, did I just…wa…Wait! Ino…I…I didn't…" Naruto stammered madly. His face was turning redder by the second. He couldn't meet Ino in the eyes.

Ino was still in her thoughts. Her head was spinning with words for her to assemble in a proper sentence. It was all jumbled up. She felt her cheeks turning hot and then blinked her eyes to return to reality.

"Le…Let's just get in. C…Come on you guys." Ino ushered them in but tried to avoid eye contact. Out of all of them, Ino didn't notice Sasuke standing frozen by the threshold in shock at all. Sasuke's eyes were pinned on the confused Naruto who had just boiled Sasuke's blood a second ago.

Naruto saw the pink petals on the ground and covered his mouth to avoid from screaming in frustration. He gritted his teeth and shut his eyes hard and let his body tremble. After a few seconds' worth of shaking, he opened his eyes now a little teary and took in a steady breathing.

He couldn't help to curse, "Shit."

Total MOE~! XD

I guess Naruto and Ino has the same habit of doing things unconsciously as siblings... Haha! Anyways, yesh, Sasuke's jealous... It's something I can't find in Sasuke... That's why I'm gonna bring it out! Uh-huh, the love triangle has begun but there are more conflicts coming soon! And did you notice that Ino didn't hit Naruto or in a way, pushed him away when he kissed her?? The reason why.......is a mystery...!

Thanks to everyone who has read this far and I appreciate your support very Very VERY much!! I love you all!

-Amaranthyz