During the past few days with the boys I couldn't sleep.
It scared me that anyone could jump us at anytime, And it was all my fault.
It was like any ordinary night, we were somewhere stuck in another forest.
I had no idea where the hell we were. Luckily Neji did. We have a Genius, that didn't mean we wouldn't die. I was leaned up against a tree, hugging my knees close. I was farthest from the fire pit but I didn't care much. The two boys were asleep, and Gaara was keeping watch. I shivered as the cold wind blew my way, slightly moving the flames of the fire. I heard footsteps coming my way and I panicked. I searched around and found a kunai in my ninja pouch. I gripped the metal tightly, my heart beating faster and faster. I heard a ruffle from the bushes to the left of me and threw the kunai as hard as I could at my target. Gaara stepped out, catching the kunai in between two of his fingers. Gaara sighed, tossing the kunai away, like it was nothing.
"Nice attempt but it needs work." I blinked, shaking my head.
"You don't think I was trying to kill you, did you?" Gaara came and sat next to me.
"I couldn't blame you." Gaara pulled me into his lap, holding my body against his.
"I would never." I said, serious as I could.
"Promise?" Gaara teased in a whisper.
I grinned, "I keep my word don't I?"
Gaara smirked,"Well..."
I playfully hit him.
"Okay maybe I haven't been completely faithful."
I could tell Gaara was looking right through me with a scowl. I looked up to see his face.
"Fine, I haven't followed the path I should, that better? Do you feel more superior when I admit I'm wrong?"
Gaara shrugged,"A little." I sighed, cuddling into his stone chest.
"I hate you." Gaara stood still.
"I know."
I weakly smiled,"I hate that I can't stay away from you." Gaara's cold fingers stroked my short hair. "I know." I looked to the fire, a question stuck in my mind.
"Do you still think I'm pretty even with my hair short and shitty like this?" Gaara chuckled. I frowned, how could he find this so funny? Just wait.
When something happens to his looks, I'll laugh and say, "Haha look at you! You're...ugly! Who's laughing now?"
I sighed. Yeah right. Gaara has the looks of a God, that would never happen. I sighed, closing my eyes.
"You look hideous." I quickly opened my eyes. Huh.
"What?" I raised my head from his body. Gaara nodded, his lips in a straight line.
"Oh yes, from the first time I saw you I thought you were absolutely ferocious." I crossed my arms, a sour look on my pretty little face.
"Oh yeah? well you weren't so hot yourself."
Gaara frowned, an eyebrow raised. "Really?"
I nodded,"Yes Really." I mocked.
Gaara nodded,"Go on." I looked at Gaara, thinking of any kind of fault. Not so good.
"Well you were fat." I said. Gaara blinked, he looked down at himself.
"Fat?" I struggled to keep a straight face.
"Yes, you were very fat, obese to sum it all up." Gaara seemed deep in thought.
"Hm, I suppose you're right, I am rather fat but you don't seem to be any different." I looked down at myself then. My plump little belly was indeed a little big.
"That wasn't very proper of you."
Gaara nodded,"Indeed it wasn't but who has time to be proper or even think to use such a mature word which nobody in the right mind really uses anymore." I tilted my head at him, wanting to act all innocent and confused. I just nodded like I knew what he was saying.
"Right, right. Of course, I couldn't have worded it better myself."
Gaara chucked,"You couldn't have worded it because you have no idea what I just said Ino dear." I rolled my eyes, giving up.
"Whatever, I never understood a word you said in the first place."
Gaara nodded,"Look where that got us." I clawed at the dirt ground, getting pissed.
"You lied to me, that's why I came for you." Gaara rolled his eyes, looking down on me like a child. "Jeez you can't stand to be five seconds away from me more or less a few days?
Your not a little kid, I'm not always going to be there to hold your hand." Asshole. I gritted my teeth, snatching the closest thing that was next to me and threw with all the fury in my body. Gaara dodged it with ease, it smashed into the tree behind him, leaving bits of rock to fall onto the ground.
"Fuck you Gaara, if you were as smart as you think you are you would have realized that I came after you for one reason." Gaara's face turned sour as well.
"Yes, please in lighten me to your glorious reason." I threw my arms up, yelling to the top of my lungs.
"It's 'cause I love you, you idoit! I thought you would have figured it out sooner, your truly pathetic."
I used his words against him. I turned my back to him, my arms crossed. He thought I was the stupif one? Tch. Right. Cold arms wrapped around shoulders, as well as cold air blew into my ear.
"Ah so you love me? That changes everything." I frowned, no way was I going to give in to his wicked ways.
"Go Away." Gaara chuckled. I looked up to see his eyes looking into mine.
'Why do you do this to me?" I asked, feeling I had caved in.
"Do what?" He asked, his cold fingers brushing away the last of my bangs from my face.
I sighed,"When I always get mad at you, you look in my eyes and suddenly I'm calm."
Gaara shrugged, "I guess it's just a gift." I laughed, stretching to kiss Gaara on the cheek.
"Yeah, a gift from the Gods." I mumbled.
"The Gods? Yeah, I guess you could call me one of them." Gaara smirked, continuing to stroke my hair.
I closed my eyes and smiled, the cold air getting closer to my lips.
Then he kissed me and my anger vanished.
It was all that was needed to comfort me.
Finally my lips were set free and my body was against his again. "Sleep, you've been awake for days." Gaara ordered in a whisper.
"I'm just scared, that's all." I said, staring at the fire. "Of what?"
I sighed,"If I sleep I'll get kidnapped and then once again you'll have to save me." Gaara didn't speak, a cold wind blew against us.
"If it helps I'll stay here with you, I won't move an inch." I shrugged, snuggling close to Gaara. Meh, he wasn't the best teddy bear but he'll have to do. I didn't even ask if he would promise. I could hear something as if someone were singing. The cold wind blew again, a song dancing with it. I could hear Gaara humming a song. I wrapped my arms around Gaara's waist, not allowing myself to ever think of letting go. I fell asleep at the last of Gaara's ghostly song.
I did have a dream. I saw a man, a creepy old guy to describe him. He stood before me, his black hair blocking half of his pale face. He told me his name was Orichimaru. He beckoned for me to come to him, I walked slowly to the stranger. He told me things, my dreams and how he could make them come true. I believe this as bullshit. I shook my head at him, but somehow believed his crazy lies. Behind Orichimaru appeared a large block object, it was revealed as a big mirror. I went closer to the mirror, hoping to see my reflection. Sasuke was in the mirror staring at me with a blank face. I reached out and put my hand to the mirror, Sasuke did the same. The man, Orichimaru told me he could do the impossible. He told me he had the power to bring Sasuke back. I would give everything to have that happen, to hug Sasuke and tell him over and over again how sorry I was. I nodded as Orichimaru spoke.
"All you have to do is give me your body, your body for Sasuke's."
The snake like man whispered in my ear.
I opened my mouth to speak but Gaara's interrupted me.
"Don't do this Ino, don't let him do this to you. Wake up."
I shook my head hearing both of Orichimaru and Gaara talk at once.
"Don't you want to undo your sin? Have Sasuke be alive and take another breath, to see the light of day again?"Orichimaru spoke.
"You can't do this, Ino don't let him trick you, wake please." Gaara's voice said.
It felt like tug-or-war, I was being pulled from each end. Then Orichimaru held out his hand, waiting for me to take it. I weakly reached out for it and I heard Gaara growled as I was pulled closer to the mirror. I stepped into the mirror and found myself at another. Sasuke was still my reflection, color in his face. His body seemed alive. I reached out to touch the mirror and Sasuke did the same. When our hands were about to touch the mirror had shattered. Glass rained down on my body, all the cuts felt so real. I shook as I saw I was bleeding everywhere. I collapsed to the solid blackness, hugging myself. I screamed out Gaara's name at the top of my lungs. Wanting him to save me. I shot up awake in the dark forest. Gaara was gone and the fire was put out. I looked around but didn't find the team's tent. I was alone.
I rose to my feet, looking around to see if this was a cruel joke. That they left me behind as a good laugh.
"Hello? Gaara?" I spoke aloud, expecting Gaara to appear behind me. He didn't.
"Hello again Ino-chan, at last we meet again." My head turned to the voice.
I blinked, "Kabuto? What are you doing here?"
Kabuto shrugged, pushing his glasses back to the bridge of his nose.
"Ya know, just taking a walk." I eyed him, he really was crazy.
"Where's Gaara and the others?" I asked. Kabuto chuckled, closing his eyes.
"Isn't it obvious? They left you behind to lighten the load. Gaara said you were dead weight anyway."
I looked through his plan. "Gaara wouldn't say that, he wouldn't leave me."
Kabuto chuckled,"Why is that? Did he promise you?"
I looked to the ground, I never trusted Kabuto. "Here come with me."
Kabuto said, turning his back he walked about. "Hey Wait-"
He didn't bother to stop, so I ran after him. Passing trees and tripping over nearly everything, I finally found what Kabuto lead me too.
"Hello." I stopped in my tracks, my heart almost stopping in the process. I screamed in my head.
"Orichimaru..." I whispered. The snake like man smiled. He was wearing a white robe covering his entire body.
"Hello Ino dear." I winced, how did he know my name?
"I've noticed you've been dreaming about me." The man chuckled. Orichimaru's eyes drifted to my stomach.
"There it is, Uchiha's child." I touched my stomach. What the hell could he want with it? There was no fucking way I would let this man even think about my child.
"What the hell do you want with me? If nothing then I'll be leaving." I yelled, I had to find the others fast. I was out numbered in strength and numbers.
"I suggest that you should not run, you couldn't escape even if you weren't pregnant." I glared at the man, even though it was all true. I then looked to Kabuto.
"Kabuto what the hell are you doing with this creep?" Kabuto chuckled evilly, shaking his head as if disappointed.
"I work for this creep, but let's forget about this. How have you been Ino-chan?"
"Horrible. You left me at the fucking bar, where I could have drank myself to death."
Kabuto chuckled again. "Sadly that hasn't happened yet."
"Bastard, you were a fake this entire time."
Kabuto shrugged, "Of course, but think at least I let you live." I raised an eyebrow, curious as to why he did.
"You don't get it do you? Lord Orichimaru saw you as the holder for Uchiha's child, a child that can grow to be as powerful as Itachi himself." I blinked, my blonde brain paused.
"Think, if we held onto your baby for awhile Orichimaru can raised it to have more power and soon Orichimaru himself can have a new body, one he can live forever youthful." I snickered at that comment.
"No offense but that sounds pretty gay." Kabuto blinked, looking at me strangely.
"Kabuto, you have sunk to the bottom." I said, shaking my head. Kabuto looked back at his boss and then back to me.
Orichimaru sighed, "Such a pathetic girl, why was she blessed with such a child?" I glared at Orichimaru.
"I wasn't blessed dumbass, it's more like cursed." I finally calmed myself down.
"Anyway, how come you showed up in my dream? Was it a jutsu?" I asked. Orichimaru nodded, taking steps toward me. I shivered, his words colder than Gaara's.
"Yes it was, do you remember when your little friends found that someone was tracking you four?"
I nodded. "Well here we are." Orichimaru said, showing open arms.
"That was you? It can't be, Neji said-" I began.
"That Hyuuga kid and his eyes, suddenly that makes him a genius."
Orichimaru shook his head, "Easily fooled by such as simple mind trick, some shinobi of the leaf." It took me awhile before I noticed Orichimaru and I were face to face.
"Join us Ino-chan, we can take you from this nightmare."
I shook my head,"No, this nightmare can never end. It only get worse from here on out." Orichimaru frowned, turning his back to me.
"Fine, just think it over my dear we will meet again soon enough." Kabuto smiled, waving me goodbye.
"You won't do anything to my baby, Gaara won't let you do a thing to me." I defended myself.
"Gaara can't protect your mind." Orichimaru said.
I opened my mouth to say something else in defense but found the two were gone. My body shot up, I was breathing heavy. Gaara was right behind me, he didn't seem to have moved.
Gaara looked me, "What's wrong? Are you okay?" I jumped into his arms, holding him tight.
"He's coming for me, he's going to take Sasuke's kid away." I said, crying already.
"Who is Ino-chan?" Gaara gently asked, holding me close against his chest. I opened my mouth, the name on the tip of my tongue.
"Ah..." What? I opened my mouth again, shouting the name in my mind.
Can't let you blow our cover when we're so close my dear.
"Dammit! That snake bastard!" I yelled, my hands shaking with anger. Gaara's hands covered mine, holding them still.
"Ino, calm down. I don't understand what's going on." I paused, trying to think of what words I could say.
"I had a dream of this man, and then he came into my mind and said he wanted Sasuke's kid for a new body. He's like a snake kinda and he was with that guy who I was at the bar with."
Gaara blinked,"Kabuto?"
I nodded,"Yeah, Yeah! That's him."
Gaara nodded,"Kabuto was with an older man, was it Orichimaru?"
I tilted my head at him. "How did you know?"
Gaara weakly smiled,"The third hokage told us about them, he said that they might find us on our mission." I sighed, looking to the ground.
"Don't worry I won't let them hurt a hair on your head." Gaara said, kissing my forehead.
"I know, I know. How much longer until we're at Suna?" I asked.
"Tomorrow, it's only a little farther." Footsteps interrupted our little conversation.
"Gaara-kun, Neji would like to-" Rock Lee looked at us. "Oh, Ino-chan I didn't see you there." I nodded to the green beast.
"I'm used to it being invisible, think nothing of it." Lee nervously rubbed his neck, feeling guilty.
"Um, Neji would let to see you." Gaara nodded, his arms dropping from my body.
"I'll be right back." He whispered into my ear. I sighed, hugging myself to keep myself warm. The boys left, Gaara going inside the tent to talk with Neji. It seemed like Neji would talk forever. I got up from my spot, going to see what the fuss was about. I went to the tiny tent opening. I wanted to know what was going on. After all I was just curious.
"Gaara you can't honestly say that Ino will last another day on this mission without being harmed."
"That's really none of your concern."
"It is If I always have to look back to make sure you two lovebirds are still alive."
"Fuck off Hyuuga, the only thing you can do for me is keep your damn mouth shut."
"Do me a favor. Next time we're on a mission together leave your whore behind, okay?"
"I'll do everyone a favor and kill you next time or maybe right now is more suitable."
"Hey Ino-chan." I jumped and turned to see Rock Lee was sitting next to me.
"Oh, hey Lee." I whispered, giving him a weak smile.
"They're arguing again." Lee sighed, his arms crossed.
"I can tell, it's always over me." Rock Lee's hand was on my shoulder.
"You feel like a burden?" I nodded, it was true. Neji was always yelling about how I slowed everyone down. That the mission would take quicker if they didn't have to drag me along. Gaara, of course, defended me. Arguing back that if Neji insulted me again he'd break his neck. That if he didn't keep his smartass mouth shut, his jaw would be broken so he couldn't say another remark.
"Aw, Ino-chan." I shook back to reality to notice Lee hugging me. I could feel his muscular chest again at mine. I hid my blush and squirmed awkwardly into the hug.
"You should never feel that way. Neji is always like this." I lazily looked to the ground, not hugging back.
"Yeah, I feel bad for you and Tenten." Lee laughed, it sounded so happy. I felt jealous.
"It's not that bad, he's not that hard to ignore." I gently pushed Lee away so we were face to face, just like last time. I heard the tent open and notice a figure staring down at us. It was Gaara.
I looked from Lee's innocent face to Gaara's face which looked to kill.
"Uh, Nothing happened really!" I said, shoving Lee, sending him to the ground on his back.
Gaara held his hand out to me, I immediately took it and he raised me into his arms.
"I know, but what were you doing out here in the first place? Spying?" I gave a nervous smile.
"Just curious is all."
Gaara sighed,"Curiosity killed the cat." I wrinkled my nose at him.
"Love killed the Uchiha." Taking my sick joke for a whirl.
"Good one Ino-chan, I'll remember that one." I rolled my eyes.
"Whatever, so how did it go with Neji?" Gaara shrugged.
"He's still the same smartass he was seconds ago, talking more shit about you and I."
I sighed,"I don't get why he hates me so much." Gaara held me close so our cheeks were touching.
"He doesn't hate you, he hates that you're on the mission. Which I hate as well, to have you at such a risk to follow after me."
I frowned, "I'm not dead yet, right? So it's not that bad." I had forgotten Lee was still on the ground.
"Oh please, With Orichimaru following us you could be in grave danger." I pulled away to look into Gaara's eyes, I pouted innocently.
"You'll protect me though, right?" Gaara sighed, his eyes looking up.
"What choice do I have." I laughed, giving Gaara a quick kiss on the lips only to have him pull me into a deeper kiss. The fireworks always went off in my mind when we kissed. Gaara's stone lips against mine, made me feel like this is what I lived for. This is the kind of things girls dream about. To have a boy like this. To have a boy like mine.
I never wanted to let him go. As always though, something ruined the moment.
"Ahem." Gaara gently pulled me away so I could breath after his breath taking kiss. Everyone turned to Neji who peeked at us through the tent.
"If you two are quite finished." I stuck my tongue at Neji, only to receive a bitter frown. "Gaara you're on look out." I cheered, throwing a fist into the air.
"Yay, now we can make out all night!" Gaara chuckled and Neji just glared at the both of us. Gaara and I both gave him a cracked smile. Scary but effective.
"Night Neji." I waved to the long haired shinobi as he disappeared into the tent once again.
"Goodnight Ino-chan!" Lee shouted, waving at me, walking backwards to the tent only to trip. Gaara snickered, I nudged him.
"Night Lee-san!" I yelled louder to piss Neji off more. Once both the boys were asleep again. Gaara lead me back to the tree we sat at not too long ago. I was in his lap again, his arms around my shoulders.
I looked up at the sky in awe. I knew realized how beautiful the stars looked.
At night in my bedroom I just ignored the stars outside my window, feeling as though the world was as useless and ugly as I was told it was.
Who knew. I finally saw a shooting star. I bounced in Gaara's lap like a little kid.
"Gaara, Gaara! Look a shooting star!"
Gaara chuckled, holding my against his body to keep me still. "Make a wish." Gaara whispered in my ear.
"I don't need to, I have everything I could ever wish for." I said softly, closing my eyes.
"I'm glad you feel that way." Gaara said, as if he didn't mean it.
"Maybe you should make a wish." I encouraged.
"I couldn't wish for anything." I pouted, crossing my arms.
"You ruin the fun, go ahead and make a wish!" Gaara sighed, his cheek against mine again.
"I wish you had someone you deserved." I was speechless as the shooting star passed us by and disappeared. I placed my hands on his cold ones.
"I don't even deserve you."
Gaara chuckled,"Can we do anything right?"
I smiled, looking down. "I think we did something right, just a few mistakes in between." Cold air blew on my ear.
"Love's not perfect but then again niether are we." I nodded. What had taken us so long to noticed this?
I closed my eyes, holding close to Gaara.
I had fallen asleep again.
Gaara singing me to sleep once again.
Who needs a shooting star anyway?
I woke up with the sun shining in my eyes.
I raised a hand, giving shade to my fragile eyes.
I noticed that we were no longer in the forest.
Gaara was carrying me on his back, we were walking through the desert. So this was Suna. Truly nothing but sand. I looked from side to side, seeing all the people and small houses. Small children ran past us, laughing and giggling. I tried to picture Gaara as one of those children. Not knowing a thing of his past, I heard only rumors. Rumors that he had killed his entire family and made his siblings watch. That he ran away from the village based on being born a monster. I sighed, even thought my past wasn't sparkles and fairy dust Gaara had it way worse. I could tell.
"Ah, your awake." Gaara said aloud. I yawned and weakly nodded, resting my chin on his shoulder.
"So this is your village?" I asked.
"Yeah, This little shithole is my village." It didn't look bad at all. It looked like a real village. Nothing to hold it back, everyone had freedom. No schools were insight. Some big building were surrounding the village. Villagers begging and shoving dirty items at us to buy, just begging for any kind of money.
"Why are people so poor?" I asked.
"My father doesn't give a shit about these people, whether they live or die. If I took his place, everything would change." Gaara sighed, I smiled at his dream.
"So you're like royality? Like a prince?" Gaara chuckled and shrugged.
"I suppose you could say that, just a prince in line to be king."
I watched as we grew closer to a huge mansion. "Where are we?"
Gaara set me on my feet.
"My house." My jaw dropped, this "house" was bigger than anything in this village. Gaara took my hand and lead me inside to follow Lee and Neji.
"What is your mission anyway?" I never asked for I didn't really remember they were on mission. With Gaara it seemed like another day.
Gaara squeezed my hand, "A mission I've been waiting for all my life." I blinked, it couldn't be. Gaara turned to me a twisted smile that gave me a whole new meaning of fear.
"We're here to make my dream come true." We went down long hallway after hallway. Rich paintings and dark wallpaper were attached to the walls. It seemed like a big empty house. The sounds of our footsteps echo with each click. We were getting closer, Gaara gave my hand a harder squeeze with each hallway we went down. Soon many doors joined the painting against the walls.
"This place is huge." I whispered.
"My father always wanted to be the best, have the biggest house, leave everyone to fend for themselves." I felt guilty for not giving even the smallest coin to the villagers.
"Are you really going to do it? I mean kill your own father?" I squirmed as I asked that question.
"I have to for the sake of the village." Gaara said. I looked down. If he killed his father, he would take over the village. Which meant he would never return home to the Village hidden in the leaves.
"We're never going back."
Gaara nodded,"Of course not, why would you ever want to return to the Leaf Village?" Images of my parents and friends flashed in my head. Soon they never see me again.
"I don't want to go." I pleaded, feeling like a little kid.
"Ino," Gaara had stopped us, he faced me. A cold hand on my cheek.
"We did it, we're out of that village. We escaped from those walls, we're free now." I stared at him, a single tear fell down my cheek.
All the things I left undone in that village.
Hinata.
Hopefully she found my house and is living to be the girl my parents always wanted me to be.
Naruto.
He'll grow up to be the best ninja in the village, I'll never see that.
Kurenai. I just left her, probably broke her heart without even a single goodbye. Sakura. My best friend will probably be released from wherever and become the greatest Kunoichi the village has ever seen. Shikamaru. Maybe he wont die by the drugs and become the professor he always dreamed to be. We stood at a huge door, it slowly opened to show a throne. where Gaara's father probably sat. No. I wouldn't let this happen. I didn't care if it was Gaara's dream. I struggled to pull my hand away, no luck. I finally tugged it free and ran. Just ran anywhere I could. I went down more hallways until I found stairs.
I went up to the highest I could go.
I couldn't tell if Gaara was following me, I didn't care.
I pushed through a door leading me back outside.
I found myself on the roof of the giant mansion. I slowly went to the edge, looking down. I felt my stomach flipped as just the sight. My heart stopped a beat, I sighed and closed my eyes. I regret nothing. Every breath, every kiss. Then I thought of the baby. I ignored the feeling and wiped my tears away. If I jumped from this rooftop what would I prove? Nothing. I spread my arms out. I felt my heart scream out. I smiled, I needed this thrill. After all Gaara would save me and everything would be fine. After all Gaara wouldn't let this end. Cold arms wrapped around my waist. "If you didn't want to stay with me, you could have just told me." The voice whispered.
"Jump with me." I said. "Don't be like this." I didn't turn to see his face.
"I want to know you would die with me, I wanna know how it is to truly fall in love." Gaara chuckled and kissed my cheek.
"Fine." Gaara held me tight and let us fall. I wrapped my arms around Gaara. I saw Gaara smiling, and I smiled back.
"There now that you've had your thrill." Gaara took my hand and pulled me up to see that we landed on a sand. I notice that we were floating off the ground. It struck me that Gaara was able to control sand and used it to save our fall.
I shook my head, "Please I don't want to watch." Gaara nodded.
"Very well, just stay here." Gaara released my hand and he left me alone. I watched him walk away into the building. I sighed and looked up at the building we jumped off. I smiled, what a thrill that was. I felt like laughing, I had cheated death.
I looked at the sky, the sun was setting. Simply breath taking.
I sighed and sat down on the warm sand, watching the sunset.
Would I really leave everything behind for this?
I watched as the sun lowered and waited to see what would become of myself.
A/n: Please Review.