Heyyyyy youuuu guyyyysssss! Long time no see! Honestly! But I got you a present for being gone for so long. Still love me? Of course you do. Great! Okay, let's get this show on the road! Got some chaos I need to stir up! Sit back and enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or any of its characters.

Chapter 11

"Open the damn door Ino!" I hissed, sanity slipping with each passing second she pressed against the door.

We'd been at this little back and forth for about five minutes now and my patience was wearing thin. I had a few choice words for her and quite frankly I didn't give a damn if she wanted to hear them or not.

With each slam of my body against her door, she would press back just as hard to keep it closed. But I didn't get this far just to be deterred so easily. Sucking in a breath, I kept my foot propped against the door to keep it from shutting completely. Taking a careful step backwards, I threw the rest of my weight against the door, forcing it open as I made my way into the room.

It didn't take long for my eyes to land on Ino who was nervously backing into the wall. Locking her door behind me, I stalked closer. "Sakura," She breathed my name as I quickly closed the distance between us. But it didn't stop me.

Instead I drew closer, close enough to the point where I could see the small trail of sweat racing down her forehead before disappearing down her back. "I can explain," she blurted out in a panicked voice, eyes pleading with my own for mercy. But she'd find none from me today. I shook my head and with a frustrated growl, I launched my fist into the wall beside her head.

Her flinch excited me. The way her eyes snapped shut and the look of fear on her face ignited a fire within my very soul. Good. She had a right to be afraid. She should be on her knees begging me not to lock my hand around her throat and cut her off from the breath she so desperately craved.

Her eyes left my own, finding interest with my steadily bleeding fist that was staining her wall. "Your hand," she began meekly only for me to cut her off. "Don't change the fucking subject. Start talking...now," I ordered, leaving little to no room for arguing. Sure enough, she hastily began her attempts to explain why I shouldn't end her right here and now.

"Sakura please, you have to understand," she begged again.

And once again, I shut her down, "I'm not here for you to toss me excuses. I'm not throwing pity parties."

Sighing, she bit her lip and turned to face me fully. I could tell she was struggling with trying to think of a way to justify her actions from two nights ago. She did a good job of keeping out of my range since then but now that I had caught up with her, she was cornered. And I'll be damned if I let her manage to glide through this one unscathed. I'd had enough of her ruining shit for me because God knows I did a good enough job fucking up my own life.

So this was her chance to get everything all out on the floor, to give me a good reason as to why I should spare her. Because if I was allowed to be honest, I couldn't seem to find one. None that was good enough to satisfy me right now anyway.

Seemingly at a loss of what to say, I figured I'd give her a push in the right direction.

"Why Ino," I mumbled, still keeping her locked in between my bloodied and bruised hand and her bed. She studied me, hoping to see if I would guide her with the answer I wanted to hear. But I was through dropping hints and it was clear that she finally understood. "I—I know this doesn't excuse anything Sakura but I just don't like her!" She threw it out hurriedly, chest heaving as she kept going.

"I don't trust her and I don't even know why! God, I just-I like you okay? I'll admit it," she told me, looking nearly ashamed of herself for stating so. "Ino," I warned with an accusing point of my finger, "You don't. You're confused and I get that. I had a stage like that myself for a bit where I didn't know but it's just a phase. You don't want me and even if you do, that's no excuse for you to go and try to ruin my relationship! The stunt you pulled the other night was taking it too far!"

"See," she complained with a push of my chest forcing me to stumble back only slightly. "Why are you in denial that I actually like you? Why do I just have to be going through a phase?!"

"Let me ask you something," I mumbled with a narrow of my eyes and a pull of my lips, "Did you ever break up with that boyfriend of yours?" Instantly, she was silent. Tired smirk tugging, I asked another question, "Did you even say goodbye to him before you left? Did you tell him you loved him and in the midst of your tears did you beg him to wait for you?"

Still, her lips remained closed. The only indication that my words were having any effect was the slight trembling of her body as she stared blankly at the floor. Disgust etched onto my face, I scoffed and ran my hands through my cropped hair. "Of course not," I murmured softly, "And do you know why Ino?"

I wouldn't allow her the luxury to ignore me any further. Using my non-bloodstained hand, I took a hold of her chin as I stepped closer. She shivered as I danced my lips near the shell of her ear, teasing slowly. I caught the subtle ball of her fists at her sides as she tried to fight it. But one thing that was obvious, was that Ino was no match for me. Taking advantage of her moment of weakness, I moved to whisper into her ear softly.

"The reason you couldn't bring yourself to do any of that is because you never gave a shit about him anyway, did you?" I hissed darkly, eyes narrowing coolly. She tensed beneath me, even without my hands on her, I could tell. "You didn't love him and you only used him to fill that emptiness because you can't stomach the thought of being alone. But let me make this clear, I'm not him."

"I never said you were," she corrected sternly as her own eyes darkened.

"And you must think me pretty damn stupid to not be able to figure it out on my own. I'm not here to satisfy you when you don't want to be alone. It's a commitment Ino, one you're obviously not ready for," I snapped. I didn't have any regards as to how cruel I was being because she needed to know the dangers of where she was treading.

"I'm not some toy for you to experiment with Ino," I mumbled against her ear, smirking when she shivered at the touch. "You can't decide you want to have me one day and then be sick of me the next. I don't plan on letting you use me only to toss me aside when you're finished." With a bite of her lip, she turned to face me again. Whispering softly, she said, "I wouldn't use you Sakura. I'd never hurt you on purpose. I just want to be able to take care of you the way you took care of me."

I sighed, growing tired of the conversation the more it dragged on. It was seemingly impossible to get through to her but if I gave up now, who knew what could happen. I had to stick to my guns and remain vigilant lest she find an opening and exploit it to the fullest.

"You're no saint either you know," she mumbled, staring me intently in the eyes.

"Excuse me?" I scoffed. "I never said I was."

"And yet you sit here and call me out for my feelings but you're free to go and mess around with your best friend behind your precious girlfriends' back." She chuckled darkly, running her fingers through her hair. My eyes instantly narrowed at her comment as I tried to calm down the inner bubbling rage I was beginning to feel.

With a knowing smile, she continued.

"So don't try and put me on the spot Sakura while you sit on your throne of almighty bullshit." She snorted distastefully. Right before I could argue, she shoved me back and moved to sit down on her bed. "Yeah, I called you out. This perfect relationship of yours that you're so worried about me ruining, guess what? You're ruining it well enough on your own without my help!"

Fist tightening, I moved to storm back over to her. "Exactly! So why don't you just piss off and let me fuck up my own life?" I was full on fuming at this point, teeth grinding together in an attempt to keep myself from snapping completely. Her frown was far too judgemental and left me feeling more bitter than normal. She reached her hand towards my face but mine was faster as I snatched it harshly.

She didn't flinch, she simply looked at me with those annoying blue eyes of hers. And if I stared hard enough, I could make out the faint traces of pity that she felt.

And I hated it.

I hated when people looked at me. Like I was some fragile little bird who needed to be nursed back to health when in reality, I didn't give a damn. Like I said, my life is my own to ruin. As far as I was concerned, everyone else could just hop the fuck off and leave me be. Most of them understood. They understood why. Everyone except for fucking Ino.

In the midst of my thoughts, I felt her hand capture my cheek. It didn't sting in the way my head had believed it would. But rather, and though I'd never admit it out loud, it was oddly comforting. The whole time, my eyes stayed with hers even as her hand slipped from my cheek down to my neck.

I shivered involuntarily when her nails scratched just under my chin. Her knowing smile was annoying and forced a frown on my lips. I think what annoyed me more though was at how calm I felt under her touch. I think she knew as well as she whispered softly, "This isn't so bad right?"

I didn't answer but I didn't push her away either. I merely stood there while the tips of her fingers danced across my shoulder before locking around my neck. She took the opportunity to step closer and I couldn't help but notice how her light smelling perfume tickling my nose. My stomach was rocking nervously and the second her lips touched my neck, I flinched.

But she didn't allow me the luxury of pulling away. If anything, the small noise that had passed my lips had only encouraged her more. A gentle scratch. A teasing nip. While she was having a field day, I was trying to keep myself from falling apart. It seemed all too real and I didn't think I was ready for what might happen next if I didn't stop this.

Lost in my thoughts, I hadn't noticed Ino's lips slowly ascending the length of my throat as she bit at my chin. I stifled the groan forming in my throat as best as I could but Ino was way too perceptive for her own good. She responded to my narrowed eyes with an amused look of her own before pulling me in until our lips were only a breath away.

"Don't," I mumbled tightly, hands twitching as they yearned to grab at her waist.

A tilt of her lips and innocent flash of her teeth as she hummed, "Mm, but I don't believe I was asking for permission Sakura."

"Ino, I'm serious," I warned, hissing when her tongue made contact with my pulse.

Smirk growing, she giggled softly, "Give me a good enough reason Saku and I will." And I couldn't begin to describe the pulses rushing through me at the way she called my name. I quickly rummaged through my mind for an answer to her question. Thinking of the most reasonable one I knew, I said, "Rin. She's still my girlfriend Ino."

"Mmm," she hummed, nails scratching the side of my neck in a way that felt too good for words, "I do believe I said give me a good reason."

Ah, she was trying me.

Sigh escaping my lungs, I shook my head. "Ino, listen. Now isn't the time. There's a train rolling in soon for a DO-Day and we'll get hell if we aren't on time." Pulling me down so that my ear was right by her lips, she whispered, "Then stop wasting time Sakura. One little kiss isn't going to take that long. What do you say?"

She left me with little ability to think of any answer other than yes. She removed her hands from my neck only to take my hands and guide them to her waist. They instantly latched on as I forced her hips against my own. Her hands were back at my neck as she smiled in a sickeningly sweet way.

"Just one?" I asked reluctantly, already aware of the fact that I was signing my own death wish.

Her eyes flickered mischievously as she realized her newfound victory. Flashing her perfect white teeth, she nodded, "Just one."

And as she guided my lips to hers, I felt my heart snap in my chest. As her tongue brushed against my lips, I stumbled further and further into my grave. And as even as I pulled away, I knew that it was impossible to have just one. She'd gotten into my head and it would take every last ounce of strength I had to make sure that I didn't make the same mistake twice.

Because I knew. I knew that one slip up with Ino and I would be at her mercy for the rest of my life. She was just that dangerous.

X

It was that day all over again. The first time I met Ino.

Here we all were, crowded in a huge mass as the train rolled into the station. Children crying, mothers screaming. Lovers distraught pleas falling upon deaf ears. It never got easier to watch, you just became numb to it all after a while. You just stopped feeling anything.

There was no rain like there had been before. Ironically enough, the sun was beating down rather harshly and I was beginning to grow warm under my light jacket. I had come along with Ino who stood carefully at my side. Ever so often, her eyes would peek over at my own but I didn't look her away. I didn't need to look into those sin-filled eyes again to know what promises lay beneath them.

I simply kept my eyes forward and hands in my pockets as the sickening ritual continued. It was a larger group being brought in this time, a solid thirty or so people had been admitted. Many of them ranging between children who probably couldn't tie their shoes yet to those in their early thirties. I wasn't surprised. The Fire Precinct was known to have the highest demand for labor and they needed all the help they could get.

Unlike last time, there were no out of the ordinary spectacles like what happened before with Ino. Once everyone was separated, the crowd was dismissed and the new people went to get registered in the system.

The rest of the gang was nowhere to be seen. I didn't expect them to linger around but they sure as hell left faster than I expected. "Come on Ino," I sighed, heading in the direction of our building. Several steps later had me realizing that I was walking alone. Turning around, I noticed Ino still in the same spot she'd been standing in for the past twenty minutes or so.

Scowling, I took a step forward and placed my hand on her shoulder. If she had noticed the contact, she surely didn't show considering she didn't so much as bat a single eyelash.

What was she staring at so intently?

I followed her stare but nothing worth mentioning stood out to me. I tugged again, frowning when she still didn't budge. "What the hell are you looking at?" I huffed out, angrily shoving my hands into my jacket pockets. Taking another look, I spotted something that could have been considered slightly out of the ordinary.

A boy, around our age was at the end of the line of people waiting to be registered. His dark brown hair was spiked in the typical fashion I'd seen on many other boys. Nothing about him sparked any real interest within me with the exception of the fact that he looked pretty well built. Even still. It wasn't that spectacular.

I suppose what really caught my interest was the way that he was looking over in our direction, more specifically, Ino. It was pretty interesting to see the difference in expressions on both of their faces. For him, it was complete excitement. Eyes were wide and grin was flashing as he made his way over to Ino.

Ino on the other hand, looked nothing short of confused. Her only response when the unnamed boy broke into a full sprint and scooped her into his arms was a nervous breath that she took in seconds before impact. I guess I should have saw it coming. Nothing good ever lasts long in my case. But man…

Words couldn't begin to describe how badly I wanted to punch the kid in the face when he pulled Ino in for a kiss.

Ino ended the interaction abruptly and took a step back to return to my side. Her eyes were pleading and I could tell in an instant what was going on in her head. He needed no introduction. Not with the way he stood there dazed and lazy smile on his lips. But of course, Ino gave him one anyway. Nervously, she nodded and whispered softly, "Sakura…this is Kankuro. My boyfriend."

X

"It took you long enough to get here. I thought you wouldn't show up."

"Ah, well I'm here now," I mumbled back, kicking off my shoes in the corner. Once they were in place, I claimed the other side of the bed that wasn't occupied and instantly buried my face into the soft pillow calling my name. I couldn't stop the sigh of relief that had managed to slip out upon contact.

Tired didn't begin to describe how I felt.

Nails gently scratched at my scalp as a body settled down to lie beside me. "How was lunch with your friends," Rin asked from beside me. Shrugging, I pulled my face from the pillows just enough so that I could see her face. It was blank aside from the small bags under her eyes. "Fine," I began before asking, "You look a mess."

She rolled her eyes, hand moving to rest on my cheek. "Gee, thanks a lot oh amazing girlfriend of mine."

But I was far from amused. Tugging my face just out of her reach, I placed my own against the back of her head. "Seriously Rin, you don't look good. Are you sick?" I asked, worry lingering about my words. I was rewarded with a soft smile as she answered, "You're always so worried about me. It's cute."

Groaning at the mention of the word, I sat up swiftly, "Rin. Come on."

"I'm fine Sakura, let it go," she sighed, quickly losing her playful streak. Now that she was being serious, it was my chance to pry until I got my answers. "You haven't been sleeping?" I asked, hand brushing just along her eyes, meanwhile watching the way she flinched ever so slightly.

I pretended not to notice, scowling when I felt the heat of her skin rise beneath the tips of my fingers. Having come to my conclusion, I mumbled softly, "You're sick Rin." But she didn't answer, she only pulled my hand away from her face and laced her fingers with my own, "That's not why I brought you here."

"Why did you even bring me here," I found myself asking. The only thing she mentioned was that she wanted to talk to me about something. She never specified what and I simply went on ahead with the gang to eat and promised to meet up with her later. Speaking of which, I was still a little pissed about what happened at lunch.

That stupid boyfriend of Ino's had decided to tag along, much to my dismay. I'd be lying if I said I didn't know why it bothered me. It was clear that I was suddenly finding myself more and more attracted to Ino. When he kissed her it left me feeling a little more on the sour side. But no matter how much it bothered me, I couldn't let Ino know.

I was still keeping up my defense of stating that I didn't want to get involved with her. I didn't need her to think that she had won the game just yet. I still had plenty of time to back out and I wouldn't think twice about it. For now, I just needed to play it cool and take the time to plan out my next move to ensure that I came on top.

A subtle tug of my neck had caught my attention as Rin pulled me over for a slow kiss. My fingers crept across her waist to curl around her back and pull her into me. It was soft and slow, reminiscent of us in our younger stages. The spark was still there but everything now always seemed so rushed. Even the nights that started off slow and soft would swiftly take a sharp turn and end in quick fevered movements.

Before I could dwell on it for too long, she pulled away.

But before I got the chance to ask why, a small whimper caught my attention. It had obviously come from Rin but the action was just unexpected. I quickly sat up, hand brushing against her arm but she only tugged away to press into the wall behind her.

"Rin? What's wrong?" I asked, curious as to what could've caused her to get so upset in such a short amount of time. She shook her head as tears began to stream down her tanned cheeks. Her body shook as she pulled her legs towards her chest, head falling to her lap and obscuring her face from view.

I eased towards her, hand extending as slow as possible to latch onto her but I was rewarded with a shove instead. At this point, I couldn't tell whether or not I should be concerned or just plain annoyed. She never acted out in such a way and when things did manage to get her upset, she'd come to me instead of running away. I muttered her name again, this time more sternly but with that ever so delicate tone I used specifically for these kinds of situations.

"I'm sorry," she choked out, drawing in a long breath before forcing down another sob.

Not understanding, I shook my head, carefully trying to make my way around to her side, "Sorry? Sorry for what? You haven't done anything wrong." I quickly assured her but I was earnest with my words because I actually wasn't aware that she had done anything at all.

"I'm...", voice silenced by an abrupt hiccup, "I'm just so sorry. You...you have to know that I didn't mean for any of this to happen!"

She was a full on mess now. Water practically falling from her eyes, snot dribbling from her nose, face flushed red from frustration. And in spite of all of that, I still had no clue as to what was going on. Having had enough, I complained in annoyance, "What the hell is all of this about Rin? Why are you apologizing? What did you do?"

"I...I just fucked up," she sobbed louder, hands miserably rubbing at her eyes in a futile attempt to stop the overflow of tears. Sighing, I ran my fingers through my hair in an attempt to stay calm. In a soft voice, I asked, "How Rin? What happened?" But no matter how prepared I thought I was to handle whatever case it was she was she was struggling with, no words could even begin to describe the savage blow to my chest when she finally told me what was wrong.

"Sakura...I...I'm pregnant."

Well shit. What do we have here? Looks to me like we have a whole bunch of fuckery going on. Nope. Nope nope nope. I don't believe it for one second. Cliffies. No one likes them yet they continue to exist. But I have good news! I will be able to write a lot more and I'm actually working on the next chapter. It'll be very soon. I know I say this a lot but I mean it this time! Why? Because Kat is officially done with classes for the semester! Let me be the first to say, fuck college bruh. It's for the birds. You. You there. College kid. Drop out right now alright. Do something better, like become a dog whisperer. Taste tester for Oreo's! Whatever! (Kidding. Don't drop out. That's bad.) But I've got three final test next week and then I'll be spending winter break drinking hot cocoa and slaving over a hot keyboard for your beautiful faces. Kat loves all of her fans, see you in the next chappie!