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: "He sent people to find me and get information then kill me afterwards," Sasuke spoke monotonously, "… what makes you think he wouldn't do the same to you?"

Case Six: Sai

They waited as the sun beat down on them. Ino was getting warm underneath the fabrics covering her identity. Her head was low so her eyes were shaded and her outfit covered her from head to toe. To a stranger, she would be a blob of darkness under the morning sky. Footsteps were heard nearing them and her heart was beating excitedly. She felt the hand holding hers squeeze gently. She inwardly smiled as she closed her eyes.

"What is this?" his voice was cold and menacing.

"Did you bring them?" the man beside her questioned.

"What is that?!" his voice went up an octave.

"I brought what you want," the man beside her barked out, "… did you bring what you have or not?!"

"I did," there was a snap and noises of something breaking hit the floor.

She felt him squeeze her hand.

"Sai," the male beside her gritted out angrily.

"I asked you to do one thing for me," Sai spoke monotonously, "… you failed."

"You're pathetic," the one spoken to grunted, "… I really could care less about that."

"Then why are you here?" Sai taunted, "… and who is this person you seem to be attach to?"

Footsteps walked closer to them and she was wondering if she should show herself. The sound of something whizzing past her caught her attention. What was that? She could hear the loud screech of whatever it was passing by her ear.

"What are you doing with a gun!" she felt her hand squeeze tighter.

"Sasuke," Sai spoke up aiming it at the person beside the male, "… you didn't give me what I asked for," he glanced at him, "… so I will destroy whatever you bring that you believe would satisfy me."

She felt a tug at her hand and knew Sasuke Uchiha was telling her it was time. She lifted her head forward and slowly opened her eyes. Blue met black. He looked so different in her eyes now. The silky sheen of his dark hair was lost. His fair skin became ghostly; the dark bags underneath his eyes did nothing to hide all the imperfection she saw. He was thin before, but now he was nothing but bones.

"I… Ino?" his voice shook as he slowly walked toward her until his legs caught speed.

She felt him grab her into a hold causing the hood to fall showing her blonde hair. Everything about him physically looked different, but he still smelled the same. She felt his heart and heard the beats. She lifted her free arm and hugged back.

"It really is you," his voice held happiness and joy, "… I've missed you so much. I didn't want to eat. I didn't want to do anything."

"Sai," Ino spoke softly, "… you need to move on."

He pushed her away as he held her shoulders, "… I will never move on," he stated furious as he squeezed her shoulders, "… I promised you, you are and will always be the only person for me," he stared intently at her, "… I will never break that promise."

He tried pulling her toward where he was before he walked toward them, but he felt a tug. His eyes looked at hers before it fell on the entwined fingers. He narrowed his eyes and glared at the other male who stared back blankly. Ino could feel the anger dripping off of him.

"Let her go," Sai ordered.

"No," Sasuke kept his cool façade.

"I said," Sai was livid, "… let her go."

"Or what?" Sasuke narrowed his eyes.

"Do you want to die?" Sai snapped his fingers and the cock of a gun was heard.

"Do not kill him," Ino spoke up causing Sai to stare at her, "… I will not let you."

"Wait," Sai glanced back at the two and his face contorted with anger, "… how dare you," he growled, "… take advantage of her!"

Ino, at first, was expecting him to yell at her but he didn't. His anger was toward Sasuke. Before Ino could say anything, she saw Sai punching Sasuke who in turn punched back releasing the hand that held her. Both were in a brawl on the ground. She reached down to stop the fight, but felt someone pulling her back. She turned to see who it was: Sai's henchman. The henchman held her tightly causing Ino to feel as if her ribcage was going to break. She saw the gun in his hand aiming at the bodies rolling on the ground. She knew she had to think of something.

"Help!" she screamed out, "… Sai! Please!"

Sai threw a punch before turning to see his blond angel. What he saw was his henchman holding onto his Ino and she was screaming for his help. He pushed himself off and went straight to them.

"What the hell do you think you are doing?!" Sai barked, "… let her go!"

"Sir," the henchman spoke up, "… she was about to run away."

"She wouldn't run away," Sai grabbed Ino's arm, "… let her go."

"I told you I would help you," the henchman informed, "… I am helping you keep her."

"I told you to let her go!" Sai tugged on his hold of Ino's but she didn't budge.

"Please Sai," Ino's eyes brimmed with tears, "… he's hurting me."

"What?!" Sai was beyond piss at this point, "… let her go right now!"

"I'm sorry," the henchman said loyally, "… you told me to make sure she will be yours."

"Did you not hear me?!" Sai punched his worker, "… let her go!"

The worker stumbled back but his hold was still strong on his hold on her. Sai was filled with so much anger he grabbed a small gun hidden in his back pocket and aimed it at the man holding his blonde beauty.

"I will not repeat myself," his voice took on a devilish sound.

He cocked the gun and the henchman finally released his hold as Ino ran helplessly away to him. Sai didn't put down his weapon as he continued pointing it at his worker. He pulled the trigger as the bullet pierced into the man's skull causing an immediate death.

"Thank you Sai," Ino said softly as he aimed his smile to her.

"I will always save you," he admitted.

"I have to tell you something," Ino started, "… I don't love you like I once did," she saw his brighten face turn dark, "… you must stop this. I cannot have you constantly obsessing over me. It hurts Sai. Please, it isn't healthy."

"I will never give up on you," he grabbed her arm again, "… if I cannot have you, no one will."

"Sai," Ino started.

"I will take your heart and save it for me and only me," he continued ranting, "… no one else will have it but me."

His eyes turned to the other male in the area who was glaring with a scowl framing his face. Ino saw Sai run toward Sasuke and the fight continued. She tried grabbing someone, anyone, but she was being pushed aside. She saw Sai hold up a knife and Ino's eyes widen. Where did he keep all these weapons he carried? She saw it aim at Sasuke who tried to avoid the steel. Ino screamed at Sai as she grabbed the weapon from behind him. He tried to shake her off, but she wouldn't budge. Sasuke pushed Sai away from him, but Sai, with his free hand slammed his fist against Sasuke's ribs causing a grunt. Sasuke backed up against a tree trying to keep himself up, while Sai stood up with Ino still holding the knife.

"What are you doing!" he barked out turning his anger to her.

"You cannot kill him," Ino spoke back cooly, "… I won't let you."

"You love him then?!" Ino felt his hand let go of the knife.

"Sai," she said softly throwing the knife far from them, "… I promised…"

"What about your promises to me!" he literally screamed at her face.

"Sai…" she said softly wrapping her arms around him, "… it's not the same anymore."

"I will never stop Ino," Sai pulled back and bore his dark eyes into her bright ones, "… never."

"You need help," Ino tried as she could hear the cracks of her heart.

"I need you," he said softly and Ino shot back to the day when she fell for him.

His lips pushed against hers and she closed her eyes. She pushed back wishing this man before her never gotten to this point. Wished he was not this desperate man. All he wanted was love and she showed it, but he continued to want more. She couldn't do it.

She felt the squeeze intensify on her shoulders and she wondered if he would really kill her just to have her. She felt the sting of guilt as she continued to remember the past. If she hadn't taken that mission, would they still be here? Would they have met? If she hadn't been the one to help him, would he have learned on his own? Would she ever found love in him? Would he?

A shot was fired and she felt the warm liquid on her face. The red sticky slime slid down her face as he fell against her. His lips left hers. She opened her dimmed eyes and stared at whatever it was in front of her. She didn't make a move as she felt his weight against her. He didn't make a sound signaling that he died quickly as the wound occurred in his head.

"That was fast," her voice came out sad and cold.

"You were enjoying it," Sasuke said pulling his hand back to his side with the weapon.

"Hm," she breathed out and looked down at the man against her. She ran her hand through his dark hair. It's longer than when she remembered, but it was still soft. After loving Sai, she told herself she couldn't love someone fully again. She didn't want this to happen to someone else. She didn't want this ending either. She slowly kneed down bringing the body with her. She gently put him on the ground leaning down to kiss his forehead.

I'm sorry Sai, she apologized keeping the thought of never loving with all her heart in the forefront of her mind.