Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or any of its characters, merchandise, TV rights, ect… (I think you get the point.)

Summery

Drabble Series - Two completely different people. Sometimes they are like ships that pass in the night and sometimes their lives are twisted and intertwined. (Sasuke/Ino)

Like all of my work this is just something that happened to float through the empty void inside my head. Like it or hate it please R and R as honest opinions are always welcomed, as are random acts of worship.

Lamb: First off this one kind of got away from me, hence the length of it, and also why it doesn't have much (anything) to do with the title. And the second thing is that it is a sequel to the last drabble.

Muse: To AkemiYumikov3, WolfFlowerz, kiwi4m4, mood ink, hakuisagirl, Drunksonic, Yoruichi 'Ino', and shadowphoenix101, we give thanks and a picture of Ino's horse.

Dedi: This drabble is dedicated to AkemiYumikov3

Lamb: As always sorry for any bad spelling and if you feel the need to throw things at me please wait until I've hidden behind the sofa kay!?

Muse: On with the fic!

Calling all the stars to fall,
And catch the silver sunlight in your hands,
Come for me and set me free,
Lift me up and take me where I stand,
She believes in everything,
And everyone and you and yours and mine,
I've waited for a thousand years,
For you to come and blow me out my mind,

Mother Nature

It was one thing that really got to him, twenty-two-year-old Uchiha Sasuke reflected as he and his four companions reached the top of the sand dune and looked out on the vast desert that spread out before them. People always talked about Mother Nature as if she was a sweet tempered old woman rather than the cold-hearted bitch that she was. Nature, when she wanted to be, was just like most other females in his opinion, savage and cruel. Even when they were doing what they perceived to be the right thing they still managed to hurt you.

They would just rip your beating heart right out of your breast and drop it at your feet.

It had been almost three years since she had left the village of her birth. Three long years with only the memory of her last embrace to keep him warm through the long and lonely nights. He had tried his best to do what she had wanted, tried to stay with Sakura, but it had been hopeless. Within three months of Ino's departure they had completely fallen apart. It wasn't the fault of the cherry blossom, it wasn't his either and it probably wasn't even Ino's.

From the moment she left, or maybe even from the moment she announced that she was leaving, he and Sakura had started to disintegrate. Little things about the medic-nin, things that he used to find cute and attractive, suddenly began to grate on his nerves until everything about her became a turn off. Sakura too, quickly grew away from him, and became irritated with his silences and brooding ways, the very things that had attracted her in the beginning. It came as no shock to anyone when the pair, very publicly and very dramatically broke apart completely.

Within weeks Sakura, to the surprise of many, had started dating Hyuuga Neji and three years on they were married and expecting their first child. But as for Sasuke…

The fact was that when she had left the blonde had stolen a part of him, a part of him that he didn't even know he had until it was gone. Something it became all too apparent that he could not, nor would not, live without. But by that time it was too late to do anything about it.

She was gone and she wasn't coming back and for reasons of her own the Godaime Hokage had point blank refused to let Sasuke so much as take a mission that took him anywhere near Suna. The truth was the amber-eyed woman could see trouble when it was right under her nose and letting Sasuke go after the former Konoha kunoichi, intentionally or not, could have sparked another war.

Though that was until now, for now he as well as Naruto, Shikamaru, Kiba and Tenten where only a few miles away from The Village Hidden In the Sand. Only a few miles away from Yamanaka Ino.

"Hey look." Kiba suddenly said some half an hour later and pointed to where three riders on horseback were silhouetted against the horizon. "D'you think we're expected."

"Stupid question dog-boy." Tenten responded but she was grinning warmly so the Inuzuka took no offence at her choice of nickname.

"It wasn't a question ya know." Akamaru barked his agreement and cocked his head at the brunet weapons mistress. "You'd think a kunoichi would have learned to pay more attention."

"Here they come!" Naruto's voice cut across the mock fight and was followed by a yelp as he almost fell in his eagerness to get to the bottom of the current dune and close the distance between himself and the approaching riders.

Horses had always played a fairly large roll in Suna, especially the slightly built delicately boned creatures currently flying across the sand as easily as a bird might skim across the surface of a river. Because for all that they were finely built they were exceptionally strong, tough and hardy and had evolved perfectly to the deal with the hot claimant of their homeland. Wide nostrils and small fluted muzzles cooled the heated desert air during the day, they could go for up to three days without water if necessary and also had exceptional endurance. It was also often easier and swifter to travel through The Land of Wind on horseback.

Hooves kicked up flurries of sand that almost seemed to spark as the three riders sped towards the small group. As they approached the sound of hooves thumping on the constantly shifting sands grew steadily louder. They were moving in a standard arrowhead formation, two gleaming chestnut bodies flanking yet also slightly behind the rider on the ebony stead who was in the lead.

When they had closed to within a hundred yards Akamaru dashed towards the approaching trio barking and yipping with delight until he reached the leader. The dark horse tossed its head and snickered but didn't falter in its step. The rider simply laughed as the nin-dog, who was almost a big as their mount, fell in beside the horse and returned to his abandoned, temporally at any rate, master.

"Akamaru's quicker to recognise his friends than the rest of you. Looks like your dog still has more manors than you do Kiba." A female voice laughed as, while the black horse danced under her, the rider reached up and removed the scarf that protected her hair and face from the flying sands. "Hey Naruto."

"Since when can you ride!" Tenten demanded enviously as she looked up into the smiling face of a deeply tanned Yamanaka Ino, while her former team-mate just shook his head and muttered something that sounded suspiciously like troublesome.

"Since about three years ago." She said, pushing a few strands of hair, which had been bleached white blonde by the sun, out of her face. "Gaara-kun –"

There was a pointed cough from one of her two companions and Ino smiled ruefully and rolled her extraordinary light blue eyes. And then glared at Shikamaru until he replaced the pack of cigarettes he'd just pulled out. "Don't even think about it Shika, not around the ponies…"

"Horses woman. For the love of Kami-sama they're horses." But Ino just ignored the lazy-nin's muttering.

"…Anyway I mean Kazekage-sama said that what was the point of have a medic who couldn't travel quickly when the situation called for it. He had me up on a horse the day after I arrived. Talk about a slave driver."

There was another cough, which caused the blonde to click her tongue in annoyance, which in turn had her horse prancing on the spot. For a moment the air was filled with flying sand as the horse leapt from foot to foot causing both its onyx mane and Ino's shoulder length, cropped short for the heat, ice blonde hair to flutter in the air. The dark purple tassels on its simple bridle, which contrasted well with the pale lilac of the girl's outfit, swung in time with its movements and the harness jingled softly.

"There, there my boy. Steady now." The mind walker crooned softly as she rubbed her hand along the stallion's neck. "Daiki, Takahiro, please take the Konoha contingents luggage to Suna and see that it gets to the right guest quarters and then tell Kazekage-sama that I am escorting his guests the rest of the way."

"Yamanaka-sama." The taller of the two intoned, but both bowed their heads in acknowledgement and quickly took the bags that were passed up to them.

If either disliked the order they had been given neither dared to speak the thought aloud for they knew just who out of the three of them held the most power. They were only chuunin all be it ones posed on the edge of promotion and she was Suna's best medic and the confidant of the Kazekage. But as they spurred their mounts back the way they had come neither was looking forward to explaining to Sabaku no Gaara just why the had left his most trusted medic in the desert on her own.

"Well now that they're gone," Ino said smiling as the black stallion under her snorted and pawed at the ground with his right forefoot. "D'you want a ride?"

"Do I ever!" Tenten almost squealed with excitement as she took hold of the blonde's proffered hand and scrambled somewhat inelegantly onto the horse's back and positioned herself behind the saddle so she could hold tightly onto Ino's waist."

"We'll meet you just outside the main gate." The medic-nin yelled as her mount danced sideways eager to be off. "Try not to keep us waiting too long."

And in a flurry of sand they were off, Akamaru running flat out along side them completely ignoring Kiba's sullen rejoinder of "Traitor, is this your way of paying be back for the times I've gone skirt chasing?"

"Troublesome women." Shikamaru intoned, lighting a cigarette and taking a much needed drag, it sucked that he'd had to drop most of the last one but the last time he'd smoked round her horse Ino had almost ripped his head off.

"That's not fair." Naruto howled as he glared moodily at the quartet that was already swiftly shrinking in size. "Why couldn't they have taken me too?"

"Because though it's strong I doubt that horse would have been able to carry you as well, never mind your massive ego." Sasuke said snidely as he too stared at the figures being swallowed by the desert. Three years, three fucking years of waiting and wanting and feeling as if he was only half a person. Feeling as if he were living only half a life. To finally be reunited at last only to have her act as if he wasn't there.

"Like you can talk Teme." The blonde retorted angrily, the whole way here the Uchiha had been sniping at him and it wasn't as if he was as good a all that anyway. Stupid, full of himself Teme.

"Bit me Dobe." He replied automatically. She hadn't said anything to him, hadn't even so much as glanced at him, in fact he may as well not have been there for all the attention she paid him.

"What and get food poisoning." The demon vessel pulled a disgusted face and pantomimed being violently sick. "No thanks."

"Troublesome." The shadow possessor mumbled as he began to fallow in the wake of the two mounted young women, Kiba at his side and the squabbling pair bringing up the rear.

-------

Three years had changed her a lot of that much he was sure as he watch her incline her head towards the Kazekage the better to hear his words, her hand resting lightly beside her plate. She was seated on his right hand side a powerful indication of her states within the Suna community, she was no longer the frivolous, somewhat under rated teen he had known but was now an influential powerful young woman. Sunagakure listen to Sabaku no Gaara and he listen to Yamanaka Ino.

Yes she had changed so much. But like the seasons, which constantly change there was much that was still known and familiar to him. Though her looks had changed, the once pale skin was now a golden bronze and the light gold hair was now silvery white, she was still the most beautiful thing he had ever seen. Even just sitting quietly on her cushion with her legs neatly tucked under her as she ate she still demanded attention and she got it. Ever since she had entered the room, walking side by side with the Kazekage, there was not one person at the impromptu feast that had not been aware of her.

She was dressed, yet somehow also completely undressed in one of the most extraordinary outfits he had ever seen. An impossibly short sarong like skirt of deep amethyst coloured silk was wrapped snugly around her small waist and accentuate the golden hue of her skin. Her top was made of identical fabric, the silk curved around her back before crossing over her small, yet perfectly formed bust, and was tide off with a simple knot behind her neck. Both skirt and top were decorated with small golden coins that gleamed in the light and jangled musically whenever she moved.

The girl who had once worked behind the counter in her family's flower shop was dressed liked royalty. Indeed, aside from the fact that Temari's outfit with made of teal silk with silver decoration, and that Shikamaru was trying to get his hand under her skirt, Ino was dressed exactly the same way as Suna's wind princess. He noted that she had had her ears pierced for a second time so while she wore the studs her dead sensei had given her she also wore drop earrings of gold filigree set with tiny purple stones.

Even as he watched the redhead whom she was seated next to reached out and lightly flicked one of the ornaments gently causing him to smile slightly, Ino to giggle and Sasuke to feel as if he had just swallowed a quantity of very hot liquid.

He wanted to scream at the one time demon vessel to keep his hands off of the blonde, that he had no right to touch her. That no one but he, Uchiha Sasuke, had the right to so much as lay a finger on her because she was his. But he couldn't. Setting aside the fact that to try and tell the leader of a Hidden Village what they could and couldn't do was tantamount to suicide even on the best of days was the fact that it was so clear that Ino didn't belong to him. Not any more.

The thick gold band hugged her upper right arm tightly and engraved on the burnished metal was an hourglass, the symbol that represented The Sand Village. No, she was no longer his, now she was Sunagakure's and it was a fact that he hated.

-------

"Are you just going to act as if you can't see me?" The solitary figure halted half way down the passageway, the flickering light from the torches dancing over her skin as she glanced over her shoulder at the person who had spoken. "Cus if you are I think you're just being childish."

"Well, Uchiha-san how would you have me act?" Ino's voice was soft; yet apparently disinterested as if she were conversing with a stranger about the weather and not the man who was once her lover.

"Uchiha-san!?" Incredulous disbelief coloured his tone as he closed the remaining distance between them and looked down at her impassive face. "Cut the crap Ino, and stop acting all polite and formal, as if we're strangers."

"But aren't –" She started but was cut off by Sasuke's growl as he pushed her up against the wall and pressed himself as closer to her as he could.

"There was never anything polite about you," His hand snaked down her side, curving around her waist until it rested on the curve of her pert behind. She made no move to stop him. "Never anything formal either as I recall."

"And there was never anything subtle about you." And this time Ino's voice was low and breathy, her eyes burning with a complex mix of emotions. Her hands went up to cup his face and she pulled his head down to hers and kissed him with the intensity of three years forced separation.

-------

The dark purple silk that had made up the blonde's outfit of that evening now lay haphazardly around the guest bedroom along with the Uchiha's discarded clothes. They lay abandoned where they had been dropped by thier owners, shed without a care like so many fallen leaves. The desperate need to feel skin on skin had driven the pair of them on. The overwhelming desire to feel what they had been forced to live without for three years was just too strong to ignore. He had taken her once up against the door, being able to wait until they reached the bed.

"So now what?" The Sand kunoichi mumbled hours later as she lay in a tangle of sheets her limbs entwined with those of the onyx eyed male.

"My pack, there's a scroll inside." Sasuke pushed a few strands of unbelievably fair hair out of her face before indicating with a tilt of his head that she should go and retrieve the item he was talking about.

"Open it." He said, when Ino finally held the small scroll in her hands. "Open it and read it."

"Sasuke this is…" The mind walker reread the words not sure if she had interpreted them correctly. "This is a transfer request…" Ino looked at the Sharingan master, her eyes never once leaving his face as she crawled back across the bed until she reached him.

"I know." He reached out and after pulling her to him pressed a soft, tender kiss to her lips. "If you can't, or rather won't, come back to The Leaf then the only way for us to be together is for me to stay in The Sand."

"Oh really Sasuke-kun," Her voice was mock stern which took away any heat her words might have held. "Abandoning your village for a second time. You never were one to learn from your mistakes were you."

"You're wrong Ino, I do learn. I lost you once and I won't let that happen again." And there in his eyes, just as it had been on that night three years past, she could suddenly see what it was staring back at her. It was love.

Lamb: I hate people who hold chapters to ransom, and I'll up date when the next one's done anyway. But I'm saying this because I'll probably never get the chance again. (clears throat) I would like to hit 200 reviews before I update again. (dances) Never thought I'd live to say that.

Please R and R I'd love to know what you thought.

Big love and inspiration

Lamanth