DISCLAIMER: I do not own Naruto or any of the characters. All rights belong to Masashi Kishimoto. I only own my OC's (Original Characters), if any appear. Oh, and this particular fanfic. Thank you.
Before I begin: Since this is the second-to-last chapter, I wanted to send out a MAJOR SHOUT OUT OF LOVE, to everyone who's been following this weird lil' plotbunny of mine! I really appreciate all the feedback and support! You rock, seriously! Mwah! 'blows kisses'
Now, on with the update!
Chapter Twenty-One: Ramble On
"Ouch, dattebayo...you've got one heck of a punch there!"
It was just striking mid-morning, as the sun shone down brightly upon the kingdom of Konohagakure. The scenery outside was alive and vivid; the colors were brighter than a technicolor dream. It would be wonderful to take a stroll in the warmth, under the endless blue sky.
Hidden in the hub of the buildings was a small house, not too far from the main offices, but still rather concealed amongst the many towers, streets and high walls. Inside, as the world went on beyond the reaches of the plaster, cheerfully and without a care, were four figures-none other than Sakura, Ino, and the newly introduced duo of Naruto and Sasuke. Apparently, Sakura had known them before when she'd been living here.
But Ino didn't, and had ultimately wound up responding as such to their actions...well, mostly Naruto's. The pinkette hadn't mentioned anything about them, and as such the Earth girl had no clue that his personality was truly akin to that of a fox's. He was an utter prankster, and he loved pushing buttons. Too bad that Ino's buttons just happened to push right back.
So now, the blond male was seated at a small dining table, nursing the freshly formed bruises on his neck and face. Sasuke was sitting across from him, a wet rag in his hand. His expression was not one of amusement, but he kept the cloth close, as his companion continued to check his wounds with a handheld mirror. Every so often, he'd wave to the dark haired boy, and Sasuke would pass over the rag without hesitation. Thus, the morning went on in silence.
Sakura was leaning on the kitchen countertop, running her finger along the edges of his cabinets. She wrinkled her nose as she saw that the tip was now covered in a good layer of grey dust. After a few more moments of quiet pondering, she spoke. "You oinker, when was the last time ya gave this place a good cleaning?" Ah, yes. A smart comment would most certainly break the tension here.
Naruto gave her a meek grin. "Uhh, I dunno...hey, don't look at me like that, Sakura-chan! You know cleanliness isn't one of my strong suits!" He waved a fist frantically, and the pinkette chortled in response.
"I was just asking a question. Like hell I'd really make you wash the joint! I ain't no taskmaster!" So much for nerves. Folding her hands under her chin, Sakura proceeded to cast her gaze towards the kitchen doorway, where a still currently anxious Ino stood, resting against the frame. Or was she pressed into it, clinging on tight for whatever reason? Sakura couldn't be sure, but enough was enough. It was time to fully clear the air. She coughed.
Ino jumped, and looked over at her in confusion. What did she expect her to say? Did she want her to apologize, or something? Her heart thudded hard in her chest, and she gulped. Oh...right. Sighing, Ino released her grip upon the doorway, marching over to the third empty seat before the two males at the table. Plunking herself down, her blue eyes scanned their faces expectantly-but for just a second. Naruto was staring, mouth open slightly-his expression suggested a tug-of-war between 'fighting' or 'fleeing'. Sasuke raised an eyebrow quizzically, but did not speak.
Oh, boy. That sure makes it easier...Now she was looking down, eyes focused intently on her hands, which were folded before her and resting atop the table.
Sakura had to groan at this. She's still got a lot t'learn. Striding over, she placed a warm hand on Ino's shoulder. The blonde stiffened, but made no move to push her away. Right now, she needed a bit of gentle prodding.
"Guys...Pig's got something to say to you both, so if you'd please? Attentions? Focused now?" The pinkette flashed all three her trademark charming grin, and Ino felt her nerves settle just a bit. Sakura was on her side. She knew what was going on. It wasn't something she was used to, but...
The boys nodded slowly, turning to face Ino. Swallowing hard, she too lifted her gaze to meet theirs. She inhaled sharply, and opened her mouth.
And waited. And waited. And waited.
"I...I, uh...ah..." What was going on? Why couldn't she speak? Where was her speech? It was just two little words-why couldn't she spit them out? She licked at her lips frantically-they felt so dry. Why were they dry? Did she need lip balm? Was it the weather? Wait-this had nothing to do with the matter at hand!
Sakura was watching her curiously. Ino felt a knot the size of a golf ball in her throat. Now Naruto had the same look of bewilderment upon his face. Sasuke let out a soft sigh, and leaned forwards to rest his chin in his hand. "So, then...are you planing to start the conversation, or-"
Luckily for him before he could finish that sentence, Naruto chose to speak, effectively cutting him off. He had his own way of getting answers. "So what's going on, dattebayo? Are you gonna say something? Or do you got a frog in your throat? Ribbit, ribbit!" He laughed at his own imitation. Ino felt the heat flare in her cheeks.
"I'm sorry, alright, you childish oaf? But I'm not good at giving apologies, so stop heckling me! Okay? Jesus!" The blonde was panting, fists clenched and brow shining with a fresh coat of sweat. It was true-in all her years alive, the blonde couldn't ever remembering to really stop and apologize for anything she'd done. And she was sure she'd done a lot. She couldn't recall the specific incidents at the moment, but she knew they'd come back to her in time.
She'd been so focused on being blamed and being the victim, that she hadn't thought about how her attitude reflected on those around her. By not trying, not bothering to find an alternative, or just someone to listen, she'd wound up endangering everyone else. Her mother had almost died for it. If she'd just tried to speak, for just one moment, in a way that wasn't so combative...if she hadn't been such a damned tough girl; a recluse in her own world...
She bit her tongue, hard. That was definitely going to leave a mark, come tomorrow. But she needed to snap out of it. No! That was then, and this is now. I've made it this far,and yes: there have been mistakes. But...there have also been many things gained, because of this experience. If none of this had happened, then I...Her blue eyes darted over, to rest upon the pinkette. She was still staring intently, an expression of green-eyed bemusement upon her face. Ino thought she looked adorable.
I would have never had the experiences I did with Sakura. Heck, I might not have even met her! Her heart jolted violently at this statement. She's...it's like we've known each other forever, even though it really hasn't been that long. That's what a change in thinking can do to you. It can make you feel things; find yourself in places and situations that you'd never even dreamed of. The human mind was very powerful indeed.
Now Ino's gaze rested upon Naruto and Sasuke. Sakura's companions from when she was living here. Naruto was talking again-or had he just been talking this whole time? Ino wasn't sure. Sasuke was obviously listening to him, though he seemed rather determined not to show it. Ino had to stop herself from rolling her eyes. What, was it damaging to his pride or something?
"...yelling all the time, and I think that I at least deserve an explanation for my-" The blonde girl cut him off before he could finish. "A-and I'm sorry...for calling you a-a childish oaf, too." Ino did her best to smile. It wasn't something she was used to.
'WHMP' "Great job, Ino." Now Sakura was hugging her. Seeing this, Naruto began smiling as well. He nodded his head. "Apologies accepted, dattebayo." Ino felt her heart swell, and she returned the hug with gusto. It was truly a wonderful moment.
"'Ahem' Uh, yeah-this is nice and all, but if you haven't forgotten...being banished? To Earth? Where I presume you to be from, yes?" Sasuke waved a hand at Ino, and she let go of Sakura, a noticeable pout beginning to tug at her lips. Sakura sensed the danger-and acted fast.
"Yeah, you're right, ya bird-brained wannabe!" Sakura smirked-that comment had effectively diverted all thoughts away from a confrontation. At least, with each other. Ino was trying not to laugh, as she saw Sasuke tremble-but just for a moment. In an instant, he was just as cool and calm as before. Ino was amazed at his emotional control. It must have taken forever to perfect such an...ability?
"Anyways, back to the subject which you so kindly reminded me of-my glorious return!" With that, the pinkette threw an arm around Ino's neck, pulling her close to give her a noogie. "It's all thanks to this lil' beauty here! If it weren't for her thick-headedness and mad psycho skills, Id'a been dead and stranded!" She began to laugh heartily. Naruto soon joined in with her, and even Ino had to chuckle a bit-once she'd gotten Sakura to stop grinding her knuckles into her skull, that was.
"How is that possible?" Sasuke tilted his head just slightly, in wondering. "I mean, not to be rude or anything, but...we were taught that the majority of humans really aren't that aware or perceptive of all the various changes-some not even of paranormal origin-that occur around them. " He coughed then, managing to look away from the blonde, whose face was a pale mask of an awkward smile. She was twitching.
"Of course, it's apparent that you're the exception to this rule." Sasuke was a trained fighter, but even he was in awe of the pure power that flowed freely, simply from Ino's rage. Add to that the fact that she was definitely housing a spirit energy of some kind, and you had the recipe for one deadly trump card. A human with the ability to see and interact with the dead, as well as their kind? It was unheard of.
His eyes narrowed. But it all adds up...she could very well be...
Now Ino was observing the expression on his face. It was taking all of her self-control not to wring his skinny little chicken neck. Yeah, right...no offense taken, buddy...so I'm some kinda freak now?
"Hello! Story over here! Haven't you ever heard of an explanation before, Sasuke-kun?" Sakura was once again stepping in as peacemaker, effectively silencing both Ino's anger and Sasuke's voice. She put on a grin.
"Yes, Pig here is the ultimate exception to the rule. Not only can she see 'em, talk to 'em, sense 'em and touch 'em...she can also kick some major demon ass. Sure, when we first met, she was a little shy." At this, Ino had to scoff. Shy? That's how she'd describe it? Try 'completely and utterly unable to accept a reality with you in it. My, how things have changed...Now, she was chuckling softly. Sakura had heard her, and was smiling-though there was a hint of a mischievous twinkle in her green eyes. "Well, perhaps the star here would like to explain things instead?" She poked her forehead once more.
Ino gave her a playful smile, pulling her hand down to kiss it before letting it go. She was feeling far more relaxed now. "Fine by me." She looked over at the two males. "Well? Any questions?"
"Yeah, I got one! Exactly how did you two meet?" Naruto was waving his hand in the air so hard, Ino wouldn't have been surprised if it had gone flying off. So excitable! She sighed audibly, and reached across to still his movements. "Calm down, and I'll tell you. I'd been having a bad day-it was a Wednesday, actually-and after school had ended, I wound up coming face-to-face with this...well, uh...it was a demon...and only I could see it-"
"His name was Daniel. Remember him?" She smirked at Naruto. His eyes lit up as he began to laugh heartily.
"Oh, yeah! I remember him...gave us a lotta trouble when he was up here! Took five teams just to transport him-Class B slimeoid. Ugh, 'tebayo." He shivered. "We had to mix both the ANBUs and the Hunters. Ate up half of my damn kunai supply-do you know how much that cost? And then I still had to pay off the bill-they were new, with all the craftsmanship trimmings, dattebayo." He whined. "All that ramen I had t'skip out on, just to save up? And it was all gone, in a flash-" He swung his arm in an outward sweeping motion. "Just like that."
Ino looked up at Sakura in confusion. She was snickering. What exactly was so funny about this? Obviously, the guy was upset. Was she rubbing salt into the wounds, or what?
Sakura had other ideas on her mind. "That was the unlucky stiff who was chasing pretty thing here." She tugged lightly at Ino's ponytail, causing the girl to jump. She gave the Hunter a half-pout, trying desperately to hide the small smile of enjoyment she felt at being given so much encouragement and attention.
Naruto's jaw was hanging. "No way, dattebayo! You couldn't have! I mean, y-you were there! You had your own fair share o'troubles with the guy when you were in the transport party! How'd ya pull it off?" Even Sasuke seemed intrigued now, his earlier expression of distrust and disbelief gone. In its place was one of the utmost captivation. Yes, he'd had his own little skirmishes with the brute as well.
The pinkette looked so smug. "Well, for one thing, I went in there determined that I was gonna stop the louse, once and for all. Plus, I had a civilian to protect. At the time, I mean," She added on quickly, seeing the look of questioning flicker across Ino's baby blues. It was like an unspoken 'Excuse me?' "You're not a civilian anymore, no siree!" She chuckled. "You're a savior of them, actually."
Ino blushed at these words. Naruto and Sasuke, however, had no interest in the lovestruck musings that were currently taking place between the two girls in front of them. They wanted answers, damn it! Strong, clear-cut responses that they wouldn't have to ask a million and one more questions about, simply because their cohorts were 'lost in each others eyes'! Sasuke slammed his fist against the tabletop. "How the hell did you kill him?"
Sakura was leaning back, eyes wide and lips pulled tight in a thin line. She blinked, before letting out a long "Owwwwwwch...", proceeding to stick her pinky into her ear. "That really smarts. You didn't need to yell, Charlie...I would've told ya if you'd given me a few moments to collect myself." Pulling her finger out, she sighed in relief. "Ahh...no blood. Safe!"
Ino covered her mouth to suppress a giggle at the over-dramatic reaction. Sure, her ears were ringing, but it wasn't really all that life-threatening. She'd live. The blonde began to suspect that Sakura got quite the chortle from poking fun at her stoic companion. Exactly why was he like this, anyway?
Sasuke huffed. "And in what way do I possibly resemble a Charlie? I am and always will be a Sasuke. I'm..." But he trailed off, eyes focused on the actions of Sakura before him. She was making a mouth with her right hand, mimicking the act of speech as he spoke. She rolled her eyes at his expression, and leaned over to flick his forehead. He let out a soft whine.
"Calm down. It's just a joke. You still remember how to laugh, right?" She gave him a warm smile then. "And you'll always be Sasuke to me. You pompous hedgehog." Standing back, she returned her attention to Ino. "But yeah...we blew Daniel up with Dorchet. It was way simpler to handle on dry land than in space. All that lack of gravity, you know? Guess that's why it only took one shot to finish him off." She started snickering then. "Hee hee. 'Finish him!'" Ino groaned inwardly-looks like they got old-school video games out here, too.
Sasuke nodded. "Yeah, thanks..." He mulled over their explanation in silence. Naruto was far more accepting. He was on his feet now, bounding across the short distance around the table to grab Sakura by the shoulders, and begin shaking her. "Wow, that is so cool, 'tebayo! Oh, oh, oh! So you and Ino here-can I call you Pig, too?-you two were like, kinda in business for yourselves as Hunters down there, then? Keepin' the peace in Konoha! Wicked awesome, dattebayo!"
He was panting now, but at least he'd stopped the shaking. Managing to pry his fingers from her arms, Sakura patted his head. His sharp golden locks didn't flatten from the contact. Ino was strangely impressed by their durability. And it's all natural too, right?
The pink-haired one bore a smug smirk upon her soft rosy lips. She was certainly impressed by his enthusiasm. "Sure, you could say that. About our racket, I mean." Suddenly, she punched his arm, causing him to stumble back. "But no, you can't call Ino-Pig Pig. That's my name for her." To establish her point, she bent down over the girl, chin resting on her left shoulder. Thank goodness for seats with low backs. Her arms wrapped around her upper body possessively, and Ino felt her cheeks begin to burn. Oh, boy...But it didn't stop that little smile from creeping in at the corners of her mouth; that pleased little grin. It was good to be wanted. She reached up, to hold the pinkette closer.
Naruto chuckled nervously, fishing for a reply. "O-okay, just-wanted to-no, I mean, just checking. Yeah, alrighty then...I'll just stick t'calling you Ino then, 'tebayo?" Having reached the end of his response, his nerves seemed to disappear, and once again he was grinning like the cat who swallowed the canary. And then the canary, in retribution, started growing a nest or something from the top of his head...What strange places Ino's imagination could wander, if she let it.
But back to the events at hand. Clearing her throat, Ino prepared her reply. Short, sweet and polite. No problem.
Then she spoke. "Okay, canary-boy." She had the giddiest smile on her face. She was so happy-no stuttering, and it was loud and clear! She could be nice! She was nice!
It took her all of five seconds for her to realize exactly what she'd just called Naruto. Ino face-palmed, hard. Her cheeks and brow were stinging, and her nose felt like it had been squashed back a size or two. L-like a pig's...
But it took Sakura all of three seconds to decipher the joke, and fall over laughing. She was rolling on the ground, while Ino was clutching at the end of her long ponytail.
Sasuke and Naruto were in awe of the...the...well, they weren't quite sure how to phrase it. Was it a show? An act? A joke? A display of brilliant insanity? L-like that boxy yellow guy on the TV...what's his name again, dattebayo? He blinked. The name was a mystery to him right now.
Now that Ino had somewhat recovered from her shock at actually saying what was on her mind, helped by the fact that neither of the guys had commented, she took notice of the fact that Sakura was laughing so hard. Was it...was it really because of what she'd said? How could she possibly have known the reason why? Ino had only been thinking about it! She hadn't actually mentioned anything about the thought process behind it when she'd given Naruto her answer!
Unless...her eyes widened. She...she can read my mind?
'WHAM' "Whoo...that's a good 'un, Pig! Aw, man! And here I thought ya didn't have it in you!" Sakura was sitting up now, catching her breath after the laughter had subsided. One hand rested atop her abdomen, while the other was palm-down against the floor. She gave the blonde a teasing grin.
Now Ino was confused. She tilted her head. She really was adorable like this...but she was even cuter when she started figuring things out. Sakura loved the fact that she, in a sense, was like a mentor to Ino. It made her so proud. She'd never wanted to share things like this, with anyone before.
For once, she'd found someone who needed her...as well as someone she needed. As cocky and rowdy as she acted on the outside, on the inside she was still just another girl, who remembered listening to fairy tales about the Princess and Prince Charming. Well, in this case, you could scratch out the 'Prince', and just double the girls. She pondered this for a moment. No...she didn't really see herself in the ball gown. She kinda liked the armor. Ino would look amazing in it, though. Oh, that's right-she needs an answer. Whoops! Where does the time go? She gave Ino the most amazing smile.
"What I mean is...well, I know when you're thinkin' deep about what's taking place around you, and I know when you're thinkin', but not really here. So based on that logic, I let my imagination take me to the most logical solution. And that, my dear Pig, was a real rib-tickler. Man oh man..." She stood up slowly, dusting herself off before reaching down to try and flick Ino's nose. The blonde leaned away, only because she remembered Sakura's comment earlier about the place needed a good cleaning. It had nothing to do with the act itself.
"But yeah, that's our story. Mmm..." Sakura stretched again, and there was an audible 'CRK' in the room. She let out a sigh of relief. "Much better..." Then, her expression changed-it was as if a lightbulb had gone off in her head. "Oh yeah, and we met up with this soldier named Hatake Kakashi-and Gaara too, while we were out there! Remember him, guys?" Sakura waggled her eyebrows at them.
Both faces simultaneously lit up. Wait, lit up? "No way! Really, Sakura-chan? You're not pullin' our legs here? Kakashi-sensei was the one who taught our team during the Genin and Jounin portions at the ANBU academy!" Now it was the girls turn to be surprised.
Well, I'll be. He really does have some credentials. Sakura nodded slowly. "Uhh...uh, yeah!" She hadn't known that ol' silver had such connections to her crew; the ANBUs and Demon Hunters were notoriously separated during training. But who was she to let a lack of info stop her stride? "I'm one-hundred-percent serious here, noodle boy. You can ask Ino too, if you like. He was undercover among the humans as a teacher at her school."
Naruto's blue eyes were sparkling, as he looked at the blonde with a newfound interest. "Nice! He taught you too, just like he taught us!" He motioned between himself and Sasuke. "Sweet! We can totally swap stories!"
Ino shook her head. Oh, jeez. He was rotting minds out here, too? Sakura saw the gesture, and jumped in with a clarifying response. "N-no, Ino, it's not what you think. Out here, their schooling was a little...different. You guys down there stick to book smarts-we were all taught a little more along the lines of combat." She smiled. "So while he may be an epic fail as a teacher, if you actually want to learn like on your world-here-I'm assuming, anyway-he's actually quite the skilled fighter who's prepped more than a few of our neighbors on how to go a few rounds. These boys now included," she added on, motioning to the duo before them.
The teen nodded slowly. "Alright, yeah...I think I understand..." Her brow furrowed. "But that doesn't mean I'm gonna lighten up on the jokes." Sakura gave her a thumbs-up. "I wouldn't dream otherwise, Pig." She was smirking, too.
"You mentioned Gaara too, yes? Your ex, if I'm not mistaken?" Sasuke had cut in yet again, bringing the mood back to a somewhat more solemn level. Ino had to frown, just for a moment; was he always such a wet blanket? How could anyone be so serious all the time? She blinked. Had she once been like that, too? With such an aversion to the mere concept of happiness? It was a frightening thought.
Sakura nodded. "No need to look so glum though, ol' chap. As you can see, I'm clearly in one piece!" She did a little twirl. "Fact of the matter is, we're actually on a level closer to friendship, if anything else. And no, before you ask-I know you are, so don't even try to deny it. Either of you. But no, we didn't fight. He wanted to, oh sure." Sakura was examining her fingernails.
"And I almost went through with it. I met up with him in a secluded area. But at the last minute...I turned him down. It broke his spirit just long enough for Kakashi-sensei to show up and put a stopper on his sand attacks." She looked up, giggling at the mental image; Earth video games were simply too much fun. She'd never tire of them.
"After that, it was a simple game of 'who the fuck are you', and without his powers-added to the fact that I was in love-well, you got one heck of a formula for estrogen overload." She grinned at Ino. "Yeah, he respects me now-and it's all 'cause of you." The blonde was in appreciation overdrive. So much sweetness...it was certainly a welcome reward after all that had taken place before.
Naruto was still a bit fuzzy on some of the details. "But why? I mean, why didn't you fight him? How did Ino stop you, dattebayo?" This was cute and all, and he was happy for his friend, but this whole meet-and-greet was starting to remind him less of a reunion, and more of a fill in the blanks type of deal. And he...well, he wasn't so great at picking up hints. So this was madness.
"Ah. That." Sakura chuckled, swinging an arm around Ino's shoulders yet again. "Well, if I'd actually gone through with it: if I'd fought him, I would have lost her completely. That was something I couldn't risk. And I'm a bonafide daredevil. So that's saying something, right there. I've gambled my life on a daily basis for the last decade or so. But this...I couldn't bet her." Her eyes softened. "Pig's too precious."
Ino was stunned. S-she never...she never fought Gaara after all...she defied him, all b-because of me...Ino whirled around then, wrapping the pinkette up in a tight hug, pressing her lips to hers with all the love that was radiating through her. Sakura grunted, but quickly returned the action with gusto. Ino was trying not to cry.
Sakura...thank you. Thank you so much, for everything...everything you've done for me, consciously or otherwise. I owe you my life...but I'm just as happy staying by your side. Wow, this is getting pretty dramatic. She sat back, and wiped at her eyes. After a few seconds, she looked up at Sakura with a smile. "Let's just say that...I'm very happy right now, and leave it be." The Hunter nodded, returning the expression with a grin. As she looked away towards the two males, Ino's smile faltered. Her eyes narrowed.
"Sakura...what about the meeting tomorrow? Your reinstatement?" A small conversation was just begin to start between the three, but Ino's comment cut it short in an instant. She saw the pinkette's shoulders stiffen. A long silence passed amongst the four of them. Ino couldn't see her companion's face, but she didn't need to. Her body language told her all she needed to know. This was just as trying a situation on her as it was on the rest of them-more so on her, because she was at the center of it all. Everything that happened from this point on hinged upon her response.
After another few moments of collective silence, she spoke. "I...I don't know, Ino. I'm sorry...I'm sorry that I don't have an answer for you right now." She turned around to face her, and the blonde could tell by the glassy sheen of her eyes and the red rings that now, she was trying not to cry. And these weren't tears of joy. Ino's heart fell. This was really eating away at her-she'd only seen Sakura cry when she knew that the girl was truly feeling at her worst. Those times were few and far between.
"But I...I'm gonna do my best, to f-find a way..." she paused here, to take a slow breath. "I'll find a solution...I promise you. I'm not gonna leave you, Ino." Although wavering, that familiar green fire had returned to her eyes. Ino's heart skipped a beat. She trusted Sakura. She'd never failed her before. They would find a way.
Sakura wiped at her eyes once more. "And speaking of tomorrow...after I get my license back, they're gonna sentence Gaara. See, he's in custody now-it's the 'right' thing to do. Although I do feel for him-he's not gonna do well in jail, trust me on this one. He won't learn anything. There's gotta be a way to change his punishment." She grinned toothily. "And that's where Scarecrow comes in! Before we took on our last baddie-we'll fill you in on those deets later-he unlocked Gaara's powers, and said that if he helped us take the guy down, he'd find a way to commute his sentence. So hopefully..." She crossed her fingers. "We can work something out."
Ino crossed her digits as well. Although the redhead had nearly driven them apart, he had grown on her after a while. Just like Kakashi, and Sakura...okay, not that much. The pinkette was in a class of her own. She smiled nervously. But hey, he'd at least tried to help, right? And he hadn't fought Sakura either, so that was another plus. Good luck, dude. Ino imagined him standing before a court of ANBU's, lead by a drunken Tsunade. That meant that it could go good or bad; an even chance of either a successful, or not so welcomed outcome. She gulped. You'll need it.
Naruto was nodding like a bobble head. "Is that it, 'tebayo? Wahoo! Now it's our turn for intros!" He pulled at his collar, popping it out. "I'm Uzumaki Naruto, future Hokage of Konohagakure, student of Hatake Kakashi and teammate of Uchiha Sasuke!" At this, the dark-haired male groaned. Lovely. Do I even really need to tell them who I am now?
Nevertheless, he continued to watch the blond boy, a hint of a smile curling at the very corners of his lips. Naruto was Naruto. He'd gotten used to it by now. Didn't mean that he was free of annoyance. It was just...you took the good with the bad. And the bad far outweighed the good. Though he wasn't about to say this thought aloud.
The tanned boy prattled on. "I live by myself in a nice cozy apartment! Although I plan to be the next leader, I still took the courses for the ANBU path. After all, a leader's gotta know how to defend themselves, right?" Ino was listening, though she wasn't sure how to respond. Perhaps she wouldn't have to?
Hey...he said he lived by himself, right? She tilted her head. But he's my age...what the heck? Is it...legal to live on your own here if you're underage, or something? "Naruto, how come you're not living with your parents?"
Sakura flinched. Sasuke's eyes widened, and Naruto seemed to pale a bit, as his grin slipped slightly. He looked away, scratching the back of his head. "Well, uh, y'see...they're kind of, um..." He was obviously trying to downplay his discomfort. Not a question he was prepared to answer. "They're...they're not around anymore, 'tebayo." The realization hit Ino like a shot to the heart. "They're dead..."
Well, so much for pleasant conversation. That's out the window. Sakura placed a hand on Ino's head, and glanced over at Sasuke. "What about you, bubba? Wanna bare some o' your secrets before we break up this lovely little meeting? You know, open up about your-"
"No." His tone was flat and sharp. Sakura dropped the matter instantly.
"Some other time, then." She returned her attention to mending the awkward moment between the two blonds. Hey, if my career as a Demon Hunter doesn't pan out, for whatever reason...I could always become a mediator. Or a referee. She snickered softly.
And so, the day went on.
…...
'TMP' 'TMP' 'TMP' 'TMP'
"Well..." 'SHF' "Here we are, guys. This is it-beyond these double doors, the moment of truth."
It was a new morning in the kingdom of Konohagakure. After a fitful sleep the night before, Ino had risen along with the others, to prepare for the day ahead. This was the day of Sakura's return to the Demon Hunters; her actions on Earth, in Ino's home city, had impressed the head of her home world so much that she'd decided to bring the pinkette back here and remove her punishment. Which meant only one thing in Ino's mind.
Sakura was leaving her.
They'd been seen off by Naruto and Sasuke, before entering the main building where the courts were located. Naruto had given handshakes and words of encouragement, while Sasuke had merely waved. But there had been an underlying current of worry to their eyes. Although they weren't going in with them, they were just as anxious over the results. And, as much as they would've liked for the pinkette to stay with them...they knew she belonged with the blonde.
The girl in question stood in the center of the group, looking up at a pair of imposing double doors in awe. She reached out to grab a hold of one of the door knockers-it was bigger than both of her hands put together! So intimidating...To her left were Kakashi and Gaara, just as nervous about the forthcoming events, but for their own reasons. Kakashi really wasn't looking forward to a return to the grind, plus he was playing lawyer to Gaara. And Gaara...well, he had jail time to think about.
Ino stood to Sakura's right. Her hands were clasped in front of her, and they were shaking. She looked at Sakura with what she hoped was a reassuring smile-it took all of her jaw strength not to let her teeth chatter. "It's t-time, Sakura...let's go in."
The pinkette nodded, and pulled the gigantic handle upwards. She brought it down with three forceful slams.
A feminine tone answered. "You may enter." It was low, and even from behind the door, it seemed to echo. Ino wondered briefly if there were speakers outside. But she didn't get a chance to check. With a long, groaning creak, the doors began to slowly swing open before them. Sakura abruptly released the door handle, since she didn't feel like being dragged today.
The entryway was wide and dark before them. Ino was trying to stay calm. She suddenly felt a hand slip over both of hers, still clutching together tightly. After a few seconds, Sakura managed to grab ahold of her left. She smiled at the blonde, who returned the gesture, though with a little more reserve. Her nerves were like popcorn.
No turning back. With that, the four strode inside.
A/N: Yeaaah...this chapter's just chock-full of dialogue. And strange, random humor [at least, it was supposed to be lighter than the last couple of chapters, just a bit]. Hope it wasn't too boring, though?
This chapter went through a LOT of edits; I found so many glaring inconsistencies with my own blasted canon! XD That's not good. I also tried to show that the relationship between Sakura and Ino is mutual; someone pointed out, quite helpfully, that a lot of the contact was on Sakura's part. So I tried to illustrate that Ino was just as receptive to the idea of initiating affection. Hope I didn't go overboard.
I did my best to try and balance the comedy with the personalities. Sasuke was a bit of a pain to pen out here. Yes, he's still got the heavy backstory here, but...it's not quite following canon; he's closer to Naruto in this universe, hence why he hasn't tried running away to the dark side. Hope that makes sense? At least a little? ^^;
All feedback is welcomed and adored. Don't be afraid to drop a line-we're nearing the end of the home stretch here! I don't bite; feel free to just stop in and say hi, if nothing else! I just like hearing from you all, in general. Your feedback gives me wiiings~! [XD Lousy joke is old and lousy.]
Next time: Last chapter! Will Sakura stay or go? Will Gaara escape prison time? And what about Ino's relationship with Akane? All will be revealed! It's been a long two years, but I'd like to hope that the ride was worth it. :D Thank you all!
=^.^=