"Report!"
It had been a long two days and seeing the extremely ill-tempered look on the Fifth's face, she doubted that she would have a long rest before the next mission. Though glancing at Shikamaru's tired face as he dutifully reported what happened, it was her fault that the journey home had been so unpleasant.
It is tiring, trying to avoid speaking to someone who invades her mind constantly.
She had caught herself turning towards him several times on the way home, her mouth opening to ask or comment on some trivial thought that crossed her mind. Always as soon as she had caught his eye she remembered what happened and quickly turned away.
Exhausting actually.
No matter how hard she tried, she could not get the image of him leaning in to tell Yori that she was his. The look of raw possession had sent electricity straight through her bones, leaving her feeling shocked, weak, and dumbfounded.
She had never ever seen anything like that expression on his face before. There had been nothing sloth-like in that look, only unrefined intensity that only he could create. It had been a darker masculinity that clearly showed what he was saying, 'you're mine, no one else can have you' and her body had responded in a way that betrayed her, showing that it was only too willing to let him stake his claim.
It was terrifying.
After fleeing from his stare, she had gone straight to the apartment without bothering to see who would clean up or watch them. Looking back now, she flushed at how unprofessional she had behaved but at the time all she had thought of was to escape.
She had rushed to hide under the covers, as if they would protect or conceal her from the thoughts and feelings that had been racing through her mind.
"Ino!"
Jumping at the harsh Hokage's voice, she blinked out of her inner thoughts and looked at the elder woman sitting in front of them. From the side of her eyes she saw Shikamaru and Chouji both glance at her in concern.
"Yes?"
She saw the golden eyes narrow but the rest of her face was hidden behind her clasped hands.
"I have a mission for you, are you rested enough to accept?"
He watched from heavy lids as the slender body stilled at the question, like a mouse caught in the stare of a hungry hawk. He wasn't sure what the Hokage had in mind but felt small irritation begin to brew as he watched Ino try to keep the blank expression on her face. That woman had wanted to pull her from missions in general and now all of a sudden she wanted her to take them on back to back?
Why only Ino?
The possible answers had him stiffening himself.
"What mission Hokage?"
The blonde woman kept her mouth covered as she spoke.
"We need information on the whereabouts of a certain man that might have dealings with some of the Akatsuki members."
Ino felt her eyes widen in surprise, the Akatsuki?
"Alright, what would I have to do?"
Once again she felt Shikamaru's eyes and wondered briefly why the woman was letting the others hear the information.
"The usual."
Somewhere in the back of her mind, a little important piece of her went blank as the meaning to the words clicked. She wasn't Ino anymore; she was a beautiful, seductive young woman who could send grown men to their knees.
"Of course Hokage, are there any files I may need?"
He wondered if she heard the odd note in her voice, the slight tang to the calm. The slight trembling in her voice that match the tremor in his hands as his mind cruelly gave him a brief image of what she might have to do.
"Are we needed for this Tsunade? Or are we here as witnesses?"
It came out disrespectful and rude but he honestly didn't give a rat's ass. They both knew that she was a step behind him when it came to scheming but that didn't mean they were always on the same plane. Like he always complained about; women weren't predictable.
"Of course you are going to go as her highly dependable body guards. See, highly respectable women never walk alone."
He looked into cold cut gold and knew that she was waiting for him to rebel. Instead, he was happy that he was going, not that he was going to say that.
"Whatever, give her the files. Can we rest for a day?"
Ino didn't show the fresh anxiety as Tsunade nodded while handing out the file. She hoped that the older woman didn't notice the hesitation as she reached out to take the paper. Having Shikamaru watch her act the slut was not something she wanted, no matter how mad she was at him. Hell, she wasn't even that mad, she was just being childish.
"Yes, rest for today and tonight, you leave at midday tomorrow."
With that she nodded in dismissal, turning away from them in order to focus on the growing stack of papers next to her.
Ino felt as if she had just been sentence with a severe punishment, but couldn't think of her crime.
Feeling warm fingers wrap around her elbow, Ino let Shikamaru guide her out of the room. The hand didn't leave her until they had safely stepped outside of the building. Chouji mournfully looked up into the sky before turning towards him.
"I'm going home; it looks like it's going to rain. See you guys tomorrow."
Nodding silently, she watched his retreating back until he was almost invisible before turning away from the other person.
"I'm going home too."
She was stopped by a firm hand on the shoulder and sighed. Ino knew this was going to happen.
"If you are, I'm going with you. We need to talk."
Mentally cringing, she shrugged indifferently and continued to walk, electrifyingly conscious of the fingers that slipped from her shoulder and slid down her back.
A/N: Super short then the last couple but it couldn't be helped. School's really cut my writing time...anyway enjoy, review, thanks