A/N: Next chapter after forever and two days. It's kind of slow and not really all that good but the fic will pick up again.

Disclaimer: Don't own it.


When you tell someone that you love them and honestly mean it from the bottom of your heart the last thing you want to hear is their rejection.

"I love you Ino-chan."

"No, I don't want you to love me. I only want you to screw me over and over until I can no longer think straight." Her words were still swirling around in his mind.

Naruto stood there feeling anger, frustration, confusion, and rejection. He had felt so much passion during the sex that he'd never felt before only to get the worse possible reaction. He wasn't expecting her to say she loved him back but he certainly didn't want to hear those words either.

"God damn." He cursed while angrily thrusting his fist into the wall. "Fuck," he hoped the noise would not wake Ino because he didn't want to talk to her right now. He still had that rejection weighing on his mind and it was bothering him greatly. Although the young man was upset he still thought of the situation from Ino's point of view. The young woman clearly was in a world of pain. He could understand it but no matter what her words hurt like hell.

He was unable to sleep that whole night in fact all he did was sit in the living room with his hands folded underneath his chin gazing into space. Ino found him sitting that way later.

"Naruto,"

He did not respond.

"Hey, what's wrong?" she asked only to get no answer. She placed a hand to his shoulder but he did not move. Ino forcefully turned his face to hers.

"Naruto look at me what's wrong?"

Did she really have to ask that? Did she honestly have no idea why he would be upset?

"Ino leave me alone right now."

"No I'm not going to leave you alone when you're upset like this. Talk to me."

He honestly didn't want to talk with her at this moment.

"Ino," he sighed.

"Are you upset because of the other night? Naruto I started it okay so don't feel bad about having sex with me. I don't regret it."

Well at least he knew that she had been sober during the act.

"It's not about the sex Ino."

"Good because we both knew it felt way too good that night."

A frown covered his face.

"Ino stop it. Quit playing around."

"Jeez what the fuck crawled up your ass. I thought you'd be happier about sleeping with me."

He stood up then pointed at her.

"How could I be when it was only physical for you? Don't you get it I wasn't just having sex because it seemed like a good idea at the time. Ino it was more important to me."

She remained unmoved still looking as blank and empty as usual.

"Naruto," she spoke after some time. "I'm sorry, really. I'm not trying to hurt you here."

"You rejected me Ino. I told you my true honest feelings and you just ignored them."

Ino shook her head. "It wasn't like that. Would you I have rather lied to you. I guess guys are just as sensitive as girls sometimes. Naruto it was great okay, you took care of me when I needed you like you always do, but I can't…" she paused.

"You can't what?"

"I can't give you what you want. I already said I can't be that girl you want me to be. I can only give you the physical."

So sex was the only thing she could offer to him. This revelation only made him the angrier. He moved to her grabbing her shoulders.

"Ino," he bit down on his bottom lip. "Don't you see I don't want just sex from you? If it were only about sex I could have easily found that somewhere else. I want you Ino-chan." He kissed her lips. "I want all of you."

She closed her eyes while he gently placed soft, tender kisses on her lips, she almost felt a tear threaten to come down her eyes but held it back.

"No." she whispered then pushed him away. "I can't give you every part of me. The last time I gave everything I got burned Naruto. You were there you saw it."

His eyes widened slightly but gave a nod because he was there. He had seen it. He lived through it and was still living through it. She had this deep rooted fear of getting hurt again. Ino was protecting herself from any and all pain.

"I won't be burned again Naruto its sex or nothing with me, it's all I can give to you. I just want to feel good physically I don't want any of the hurt that comes with giving yourself away completely. I don't blame you if you can't handle it but this is way it has to be."

He slowly let go of her shoulders. The platinum-blonde was not ready for a relationship and deep down Naruto had always been aware of that. Yet it didn't stop him from having just a tad bit of hope that she'd give him a chance. He could argue with her and scream his lungs out at her letting her know that he would not hurt her. He could let her know that he was the absolute best man in the world for her, but he also knew it would fall on deaf ears. She would not listen to him.

"So what now Ino-chan. Am I that convenient dick you need to satisfy you whenever you want."

She frowned. She really wished he hadn't said it like that but couldn't blame him for his choice of words. She gently placed a kiss on his cheek.

"No, nothing changes we're friends. We're still friends."

"Fine," he sighed finding he had no strength to fight or argue with her. He stood up because he needed to sleep. He was physically and mentally exhausted.

"Naruto," Ino called out to him. "I'm sorry."

"No you're not." He thought. "Yeah me too."


"So that's what happened?" Temari asked while stirring her tea not bothering to look at the blue-eyed female sitting across from her.

"Yes." Ino confirmed. "We haven't really spoken in days since that night. I barely see him. He's gone before I wake up and it's usually pretty late when he gets back."

"Can you blame him Ino? The poor guy is crushed. He didn't have to tell you that for it to be obvious."

Ino took a sip of her tea. She knew she had hurt Naruto anyone could see it.

"Its better to hurt now then feel it later down the line. I'm not trying to hurt him Temari. I was doing him a favor he'll see it eventually."

Temari simply did not agree with Ino on this. Naruto loved her more than anything else so there was no way he'd ever hurt her for any reason, only Ino couldn't see that. All she could see was her own pain and hurt. Temari could however understand Ino's point of view as well. She couldn't possibly choose sides because they were both her friends.

"Ino you're hurt I get it but you must know that Naruto wouldn't intentionally hurt you."

"Temari I can't do it. I can't get into another relationship and it's not fair of me to get his hopes up, or to make promises I can't keep. It really is better for everyone this way."

"So you're okay with the way things are with him not speaking to you. Not to mention how uncomfortable it must be for both of you."

"I'm hoping things will calm down and he'll one day realize I had no intention of hurting him in anyway."

It sure sounded all well and good but the sandy-blonde had her doubts.

"Hopefully you will come around Ino and see how much he truly loves you." She thought.

She decided to switch subject for a second. Temari felt like Ino needed to do something very important that may very well help her move on with her life.

"Ino can I offer you a suggestion?"

"Of course Tem you know I always respect your opinion."

"I know you probably don't want to hear this but as your friend I need to always be honest with you."

"I know."

"I really think you need to speak to Shikamaru."

The aqua-eyed female froze though she hadn't really been too surprised that Temari would suggest such a thing.

"He's been worried about you since that night but he's been trying to give you some space. I think for you sake you should at least talk to him. It might be beneficial for you both."

"Temari I don't think I'll be able to sit with him all alone and have a conversation. It's been too long and so much has happened since we were together."

Ino felt scared about being alone with Shikamaru after so long. Their relationship had been over for quite some time so she really shouldn't feel nervous although she did. In truth her relationship with Shikamaru hadn't ended badly. It had been a mutual decision on both of their parts, but he had still been one of her ex boyfriends. He had meant a great deal to her at one point.

"Ino," Temari spoke in a whisper. "It's okay to be scared but don't be alright, keep in mind that Shikamaru although he is hands down the laziest person I've ever met he is a decent guy. Try and remember that."

"Alright." Ino gave a small nod. She naturally trusted Temari's judgment.

"You might feel better after talking to him and who knows maybe you'll be able to have a heart to heart with Naruto as well."

"We've already spoken Temari. I don't think there's anything left for us to say. He knows where I stand."

Boy did he know it. It had been a long time since the whisker-marked male went down to the gym but now he felt the real need for it. He was still feeling upset and he just needed to blow off some steam. Right now the punching bag was getting the brunt of his many frustrations.

"Fuck, Fuck, Fuck," Naruto mentally cursed while throwing punch after punch.

He didn't want to direct his anger at the platinum-blonde although she was the source of his pain at this moment. He still simply couldn't stand to hurt her. He would place his frustrations elsewhere.

"Jeez Naruto are you feeling homicidal much?" when he heard his name he looked to see Kiba standing there grinning at him.

'What is it Kiba?"

The brown-haired male could see the clear anger in those usually smiling blue eyes. He didn't need to be told twice that Naruto was upset. Kiba looked concerned.

"Naruto what's wrong?"

"It's nothing." He answered then went back to attacking the punching bag.

"Oh yea well that's some hell of nothing you got going on over there. You look like your seconds away from totally destroying that bag. You need to sit and calm down okay, here let's sit."

Kiba grabbed the young blond male and sat him down on the nearby bench. Naruto now had a moment to catch his breath.

"Here." Kiba handed him one of the ice cold bottles of water he had in his gym bag.

Naruto grabbed the water and downed it in what seemed like a matter of seconds.

"Are you alright now? Do you want to talk about it?"

He honestly didn't want to talk about his problems. He would rather fight through the anger.

"Kiba," he sighed. "No, not really I don't."

"Well you might feel better if you do."

Naruto took a few minutes to gather up his thoughts. "Kiba, she doesn't want anything from me other than my cock."

"Ino," Kiba spoke knowingly as if there would have been anyone else.

"Yeah it's all physical for her she doesn't want any other part of me."

Kiba nodded sadly for his friend. This had to be killing the blond everyone knew how much he loved the girl.

"Naruto I'm sorry. Maybe she'll come around maybe she didn't mean it." He tried to be optimistic although he truly had his doubts.

"You didn't see her Kiba. You didn't see the look in her eyes. She meant her words. I don't think I'd ever see her the way I did that night. She was so lost Kiba."

He would not forget the look in her eyes and the way she spoke in that tone of voice.

"What are you going to do Naruto?"

He honestly didn't know. He loved Ino that was for sure nothing she did would change that even if he was absolutely furious with her.

"I love her." Naruto said simply.

"Yeah but that doesn't mean you have to take any abuse from her either Naruto, you're hurting man."

"Kiba she is too."

He wasn't surprised in Naruto still trying to defend the blonde female. He truly did love her since he would go so far. He had already proven that.

"Yeah I know but that doesn't give her the right to cause your pain too especially with how you've always been there for her. You have more than proven your loyalty.

Naruto sighed. "Kiba it's all just so fucked up."

The brown-haired male found himself agreeing with him completely.

"I know man, I know."


Meanwhile Temari had offered to see Ino back to Naruto's place but the blue-eyed female declined. She was currently debating on whether or not she would go see Shikamaru. Perhaps Temari had been right and she couldn't possibly ignore him forever. She just didn't believe she could have a conversation with him right now. She didn't have the strength. She stared at her cell phone looking at Shikamaru's number staring back at her. A part of her wanting to call while the other was much too afraid. She had a lot of voices spinning around in her head while she debated on what do. Should she call? Should she not? It might be good to talk and clear that air it might even improve her overall outlook on life. Then again who was to say she wouldn't end up freaking out on him and having some type of rant, taking out her much of her unresolved rage and bitterness just as she had done to Naruto. She knew he hadn't deserved that but in all honesty it had been so easy to direct her feelings on him. Naruto, as much as she hated to admit it was an easy target because of his genuine feelings for her. Her thoughts then shifted from Shikamaru to Naruto.

"Naruto I'm sorry."

She took a breath then gathered up her courage. She had been starting to find and hit the dial button moments later she heard Shikamaru's lazy voice.

"Hello."

'Shikamaru." She whispered. "Hi."

"Ino," his voice held both surprise as well as concern. "Hi how are you?"

"I'm fine." She quickly lied. "Shikamaru if you aren't busy I'd like it if we could meet somewhere to talk."