Switched
By kiwime
Summary: She thought in her line of work holding on to love was harder than holding onto anything else. She was wrong. It was worse.
Previously: "I'm sorry," she apologized, "… I didn't lie about leaving soon," she stepped back removing her hand from his wrist, "… I have a job I needed to finish," she wasn't lying, "… I need your help."
"You're kidding," Genma stared at her incredulously, "… you know protocol."
"Of course I do," she narrowed her eyes, "… I didn't tell him the reason we are here."
"Yeah, but you told him you needed information on someone," Genma crossed his arms, "… that someone is the target."
"Yes," Ino glared, "… Shino Aburame is the link to him. In order for us to finish this case, we need his help. He isn't one to just let people in his life easily; though I was able to get closer, I was not close enough. For him to not become suspicious of me, I needed to tell him something that would get the information we needed and not be suspected."
"And telling him our target: Ruben was an old friend would get the information how?" Genma was upset and she knew it.
"Listen," she stood tall not loosening her glare, "… when I mention the target's name, he tensed up," she informed, "… he knows the target personally. He said he would call me once he gets in contact with the target."
"Hm," Genma looked away and stared at the wall in front of him.
"Did she return to him?" Ino stated it more than question it.
"Yup," Genma ran a hand through his hair.
It was a quiet for minutes before she walked over to the couch and sat beside him. She looked to the television screen before shifting her eyes to the plain white walls. If the target mentioned doesn't know her, it could blow their cover but from what his likes were, she fit the bill. She looked besides her feeling his eyes on her.
Blue* met honey.
"I never questioned you," Genma admitted with a sigh.
"Are you questioning me now?" she wondered.
"No," he shook his head gently and spoke after a brief silence, "… she was not the buyer," he informed, "… she was a seller."
"I see," Ino thought about the situation now, "… she does not know, does she?"
"No," Genma looked away from her and closed his eyes leaning back against the couch, "… she is getting on to me though."
"You almost blew our cover," she couldn't help smiling, "… that's a first."
"I said she was getting onto me, not she was going to find out," Genma smiled leaning his head against the top of the couch.
"Sure," she waited for him to continue.
"She caught me looking in her bag and she threw a fit," Genma rubbed his head, "… she thought I was an officer or something. I assured her that I wasn't and when she finally gave in to my charms," Genma chuckled turning his head to look at her, "… she asked if I wanted to buy."
"Did you?" Ino questioned with a confused look.
"I told her we should meet again," Genma offered, "… this way I would earn her trust and might get close enough to the target."
"Genma," Ino said with sternness, but her eyes held fear.
"Don't worry," he touched her shoulder, "… I won't do it."
"If she makes you?" Ino asked.
"I guess I would have to then…" Genma figured as he sat upright facing her.
"Forget it," Ino said strictly, "… you will not return to her."
"Ino," he was about to continue, but she interrupted him.
"You will stay here and wait for my call," Ino stood ending the conversation.
"Don't just walk away from me," Genma said with a bit of anger.
"You will not go," Ino said lowly.
"My health is my problem," Genma stood up, "… I will not become what I was in my early days," he was now an inch away from her, "… don't think you can stop me Ino."
"I can," Ino said with authority, "… and I will," with that she turned once again and headed to the bathroom. She admitted she was terrified. Genma had an addiction to the drug before and she was not going to let him fall prey to something dangerous like that again. She could remember it so clearly.
She was fairly new to the group. Kakashi and Genma had a few years in before she joined. She remembered seeing her partner walking into the meetings with his head in the clouds and if it wasn't there, or he would be irritated and angry. She remembered Kakashi warning her not to get involved, but she was stubborn and curious. Leadersama found out what was going on and Genma was put on probation for a while.
Genma went to rehabilitation for substance dependence. Ino figured that would explain why he would become angry when Marijuana was known to relax a person. She remembered Leader sama was angry from the news, yet she knew Genma was an asset to him.
Until Genma was sobered up, he rejoined the group.
Why did you choose him for this mission? She questioned her Leader's motive.
She ran her fingers through her golden locks as she looked into the mirror. She sighed grabbing the contact lens case. As she removed the lenses from her eyes, she heard him close the bedroom door. She knew he was angry, probably for a long time, but she was protecting him. She blinked a few times settling her focus before heading out of the bathroom door. She didn't see anything quite different with the room, beside the honey eyed male not being there. She walked closer to the bed and noticed his pillow was gone. Ino finalized he was indeed infuriated. She walked over to the door and opened it to see the top of his head perched on the arm of the couch.
So he is sleeping on the couch, she couldn't help shaking her head. Ino closed the door softly.
-o-o-
It had been two days since she had seen Shino Aburame. She decided maybe she should spy on the female Genma had met, but she knew he wouldn't tell her. His pride had been hurt. She sighed into her cup of tea as her blue eyes kept her sight on the male sitting at the couch. She already knew he knew she was watching him, but he didn't budge. The only time he spoke to her was if they had a message from Leadersama or food. Even when she sat in her lingerie beside him, he didn't turn. She sighed and her eyes drifted to the television that was on. People talking about how much they hated life and each other. She didn't understand it and her eyes narrowed as her lips turned downward. Genma only had it on to have noise in the room, since they were barely on speaking terms.
Ino heard the telephone and placed her cup down.
"Hello," she said.
"Keri," came the voice, "… can we meet?"
"Shino," Ino recognized his voice, "… of course. Where?"
"At the shop, come in twenty," he dated.
"Okay," Ino said into the receiver, "… see you soon."
She hung up the phone and turned to her partner. He was already watching her and knew it was time.
"Genma," she called out sternly, "… watch guard," was all she said before heading to the door.
Author's note
It seems I am quite fast today! Yay!
*= I am a little confused about Ino's eyes. I always thought it was blue, but someone told me otherwise. Which is true?
love,
kiwi4me
PS: A wondrous THANK YOU to ShikaIno1 who continues to review. I grin every time I see them. :D
