for i am awesomer than the history textbook i should be reading.
disclaimer: disclaimed.
dedication: to Caroline. to Emily. to Lady Gaga. to sugar. to glitter. to la vie boheme.
les smirks: so if we can hump dead animals and antelopes then there's no reason a man and another man can't elope.
Sara goes: bitches in tokyo whaaaaat? also: Ludo & milk tea and OMIGOD BOYS ARE LAME.
sonya says: ripping through your world faster than a hurricane. do you think i'm pretty without any makeup on?
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"Shit's packed. You ready?"
"Hn."
Kiba raised an eyebrow at Sasuke. Lee was clinging to Gaara's arm and crying like a three-year-old - it happened every time anyone said any goodbye of any sort in Lee's near vicinity. It was funny (which, albeit, was a little bit cruel).
"Peace, dudes. We'll come back and visit during the summer."
Gaara nodded impassively (he was trying to shake Lee off, by this point; it looked like Lee was cutting off the circulation in Gaara's arm), and Lee looked like he was going to cry some more (he seemed to be clinging to the redhead's arm tighter every second. Gaara did not look amused).
Kiba stared at Sasuke. "Aren't ya gonna say 'goodbye'?"
Sasuke glared back. "I suppo-"
"OH, SASUKE-SAN. I SHALL MISS YOU SO! NEXT TIME YOU JOIN US, WE WILL SPAR! MY FLAMES OF YOUTH WILL NEVER BE EXTINGUISHED!"
And then Lee launched himself at Sasuke, sobbing.
Gaara and Kiba both failed miserably at restraining their laughter.
Sasuke swallowed his good-bye and glared.
Actually, he was torn between kicking Lee's ass one last time, or allowing the idiot to hug him before he left. Since, like, you know, they wouldn't see each other (thank god) until the summer. So, sighing, slumping his shoulders and rolling his eyes upwards, he gave in and awkwardly patted the hyperactive male's back.
"Yeah," he said slowly, "Okay. That's enough Lee... Lee... Get off."
Lee clung harder.
"Lee... Get the fuck off me."
And Lee did no such thing.
Sasuke decided kicking his ass one last time was a good idea.
As was his custom, Gaara pulled Lee off of Sasuke. He jerked his head in a silent gesture of goodbye. Neither Gaara nor Sasuke had ever been good with words; they were both the action-oriented type of person, not the speech-oriented.
Kiba (who was still trying to hide his mirth) raised a hand in farewell.
"I'm driving," he told Sasuke, and, without further ado, slipped into the driver's seat.
Sasuke's eye twitched. "No, you're not."
"Too bad. I'm already here, dude."
"Sometimes, I wish you'd just magically explode and die." Sasuke looked rather murderous as he sat in the passenger seat.
Kiba stared at him blankly from the driver's seat. "Sometimes, I wish you'd just grow a pair, and stop being such a bitch."
"Clearly you're still in denial. You of all people should know I have a pair."
"Well, I'm actually not sure, because you always take it from behind..." Kiba told him, coolly, as he snapped the seatbelt into place. Sasuke was the crazy driver, but Kiba really didn't want to die, either. Dying would suck.
"I take it from behind? You're fucking delusional. You're the one that's always on his knees; we've been through this before."
"I'm not delusion. You're just blind."
"I'm not blin-Would you drive already?" Sasuke snapped. Kiba snickered to himself (who wins? Oh yes, Kiba wins. Like always), and yelled out the window (with little or no regard for Sasuke's delicate ears) "LATER, GUYS!"
Suna was behind them, and Lee waved until they were out of sight.
Sasuke was quiet, as they drove towards the highway.
He didn't have much to say, he supposed. That, and he couldn't really stop his mind from racing and producing words at maximum speed until everything was coming out mushed and incoherent and he was confusing himself. And that fucking pissed him off.
Like.
Seriously.
What was he going to say to Sakura.
When would he say something-
How would he say it?
He didn't fucking know. This was one of those things that fell into the "Easier Said Than done" category. Because it was fucking easy listening to Kiba say they were going to talk to those girls. But it was fucking hard as hell getting the task done.
And Sakura was/had been his... his...
Well, she had been his Something and he knew - he knew! - she was a very stubborn girl. She wouldn't want to listen, he figured. And with her stubbornness came his temper and everything was going to go wrong. Fuck it.
Sasuke glared at the dashboard and frowned. He hated everything.
Kiba shot a glance out of the corner of his eye, at Sasuke.
Sasuke had a cloud on his face.
Like that was anything new.
"So what're you gonna tell her?"
Glare. "...I don't know. Back off."
Kiba laughed. Sasuke was too easy to rile up. Then again, Kiba thought, sobering, he himself was no better. Really. "Tell your mom I'm sorry if I break your brother's nose."
Sasuke's eyeball twitched. "Nah, I'll do it."
Kiba kept his eyes on the road. "What, you'll tell her, or you'll break his nose?"
"I'm going to break his face."
"Your mom is going to kill you," Kiba said without inflection. It was true; Mikoto would kill Sasuke, because Mikoto discouraged ("discouraged"... that was an understatement, Kiba thought, deadpan. Mikoto wielded violence and terror to keep her children in line) her offspring from fighting.
"I don't care," was all that Sasuke muttered grumpily.
Kiba let out a bark of laughter. "And I'm the stupid loyal one?"
"Shut up, I never said I was doing it for you."
Kiba smirked. "Sure you aren't, douche."
"Shut up and drive."
Kiba just shook his head to himself, smirked some more, and stepped on the gas.
He had a girl to go see.
.
.
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Ino took a deep breath and smiled at herself in the mirror.
She was looking a little more like herself, now. Days of finally going out and interacting and smiling and laughing and... She was feeling better. Just a bit better. Now, dressed up to par to how Ino should always look - "beautiful" - hair brushed back into a low braid and face finally looking more livelier with makeup, Ino gave herself another cracked smile.
She was going to go talk to Kiba.
It had to be done.
It had to. She either wanted this whole thing squashed, or watered to give it one more chance.
And the only way this was going to work was by being the adult (funny, how he's older) and going to go see him. She wasn't sure if she'd be able to handle it, she wasn't sure what was waiting for her but... It had to be done.
And she was going to slap him for calling her a whore.
That was for sure.
And maybe punch him for not letting her explain. The whole point was that today, Ino was going to address her problems and put an end to them all.
Because Ino wanted to live and be happy and have regrets, yes, but regrets that won't eat her alive. And this regret - this problem - was gnawing her from the inside out until she was sure she'd disappear one day. And Ino didn't want to disappear just yet! She still hadn't left her mark on the world.
Sighing, she stared at herself one last time and exited her bathroom. In her room, she grabbed her cellphone and her car-keys and nervously walked out of the room.
She was going to do it.
Hana sighed.
Her little brother was so fucking stupid.
Actually, so many people were so fucking stupid.
Itachi, for one. He'd redeemed himself, at the very least; Hana had received a very screechy phone call (that had lasted all of three minutes) from Shisui, informing her that "ITACHI GOT A BRAIN, HANA, HE GOT A BRAIN!"
It would have been more welcome had it not been at 3AM, and had Hana not been sleeping. Hana had promptly told Shisui that if she wanted to live, she would never call at this hour again for something this trivial. Hana didn't fall back asleep right away, of course, after she'd hung up; she lay on her bed, stared at the ceiling, and smiled a little for the first time in a week. It was good, that Shisui was happy.
What was not good, however, was her little brother.
He'd still not called, and not informed them of any plans to return.
Hana wasn't worried, not really; Kiba was like a puppy, that way. He always came back. But he was with Sasuke, and while Hana figured, eh, if they wanted to cross swords, let 'em, she was a little bit annoyed that he hadn't even explained why he'd left in the first place.
The one time they had spoken, he hadn't had any plans to return.
Hana had had the feeling that he'd been thinking of transferring to Suna for good.
...
People were so fucking stupid.
During the drive, Ino was freaking out.
Like, her freaking out was so evident that even the music (Lady Gaga) was low and she was talking to herself and flailing an arm all over the air and her blue eyes were wide and it was horrible.
She... She never thought about Kiba's mother or sister not liking her! What if Kiba invited her in so they could talk and his mother and sister were there and they'd hate her? Oh god, Ino couldn't - wouldn't be able to deal with that! It was driving her mad.
She drummed her fingernails on the steering wheel, teeth worrying her lower lip.
This was not good.
This was not pretty.
Not pretty at all.
Once the light turned green, Ino drove. But it wasn't her usual speedy driving, it was slow and almost hesitant...
Oh, gosh, she hoped she never got there.
And this went on for the rest of the drive, with Ino randomly screeching "AHHH!" or squealing an "EEEEEK!" because she'd freak herself out.
When she parked a few feet away from Kiba's house, Ino figured it had been too soon. Sighing and deciding she needed to grow some tits (the Karin in her head snickered), Ino pocketed her keys and made her way to the front door.
Hana started at the dooooooong of the doorbell.
She jumped, shocked to wakefullness, and stood up. She walked to the door, and pulled it open.
And blinked down at some blonde chick. "Er, hi...?"
"...Um... H-hi," the girl said. She was staring at somewhere around Hana's stomach, determinedly avoiding her eyes.
Hana squinted at the girl. "Have we... met?"
"Um... No... I-I'm... Ino..."
The poor girl looked nervous. Very, very nervous. Hana tucked a stray strand of brown hair that had escaped her long braid behind her ear, and smiled encouragingly at the blonde - Ino? "Well, I'm Hana. Who are you are looking for?"
Ino bit her lip. "Um, is Kiba... home? I need to talk to him..."
Hana tipped her head to one side, brown eyes considering. The girl looked so very, very sad; and there was that look in her eyes, the one that girls sometimes got about Hana's brother (uhm, ew, she could not even begin to understand what they saw in him). It was that sad, sad look that made Hana say "...No, sorry, sweetie, he's not. He's been gone for two weeks. You wouldn't happen to know why, would you?"
Ino looked like she was about to cry. Her voice shook when she spoke. "Um... I... I'm probably the reason why."
Hana crinkled her eyebrows. Oh no. Oh, no. She was going to kill Kiba; she'd told him to stop breaking girls' hearts, that little bitch! "Do you want to come in and talk about it?"
The blonde girl shook her head and smiled a watery smile. "It wouldn't make a difference, anymore, anyway," she said, so softly that Hana almost didn't catch it.
"Are you sure? My little brother's stupid."
"Yeah, I'm sure. Thank you."
Hana had a feeling there was much, much, much more to the story than Ino was letting on. "Oh-kay then. I'd let you know when he gets back, but... I don't know if he is coming back."
"...O-oh...T-thank yo-u. I... I have to go now, bye."
And with that, Ino turned, and fled.
Yeah, definitely more to the story then Ino let on.
Hana sighed, and closed the door.
Ino did the sole thing that she had once thought was stupid.
The sole thing she thought only people like Karin and Tenten would do.
She fled.
She ran away - hightailed right on out of there.
And she cried.
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Kurenai was not expecting anyone to come into the studio, that day.
Karin had been MIA for two weeks, and Ino had been gone even longer (no, she was not happy about it; actually she kind of wanted to strangle them both, because she'd had to teach all their classes, and it had been awful, and Kurenai was reminded of why she only personally took a few students a year).
So to see Ino rush in, all baggy dance pants and messy blonde hair, was a shock.
When Kurenai went to say something, Ino just flapped her hand, and rushed to Dance Room 2.
Kurenai said nothing, and quietly put the Occupied sign on the door.
.
Kiba dropped Sasuke off in the middle of the day; the drive home had taken the full three hours
"Later, dude."
Sasuke jerked his head in acknowledgement. Kiba waited until he got all of his shit out of the trunk, flipped him off, and disappeared inside his house. Kiba chuckled, and then looked grim.
Where would his little Ino-bird be?
Dancing? Shopping? Having the time of her life?
No, dancing.
Ino would be dancing.
Kiba's fists clenched around the steering wheel, and he hit the gas.
.
(Ohh, this is it, I am really gone this time
Ohh, never once thought I'd be in pieces left behind)
Ino's nostrils flared; red because Ino's nose always turned Rudolph-red when she cried. This was it. This was the end – after this she was going to forget about him and what they had and everything. Because this was it. He wasn't coming back – his sister… Hana… she'd said he was gone. He'd been gone and…
…He was gone. And he wasn't coming back.
With her eyes still closed, she puckered her lips and spun around – once, twice, thrice. Again and again and again.
(I'm dancing with tears in my eyes
Just fighting to get through the night
I'm losing it (losing it, losing it)
With every move I die)
Did anyone see her?
Did anyone see her dancing?
Did anyone see her dancing with tears all these tears in her eyes?
Spin, spin, spin, spin – don't stop, the world might catch you. Spin, spin, spin. Spin, Ino, spin. Don't stop, don't stop.
One drop after another and the tears leaked out. Down her flushed cheeks, down, down. Leaving a trail; one after the other.
(I'm faded, I'm broken inside
I've wasted, the love of my life
I'm losing it (losing it, losing it)
With every move I die)
Spin, spin, spin, spin.
And then she stopped, eyes closed, tears dropping, Rudolph-red nose flaring, lips trembling.
…Did anyone see her?
Kiba stood in the threshold of the door way, and watched Ino dance. He was entirely dumbstruck.
She was totally lost, her eyes closed, tears making their way down her cheeks.
It was the hardest thing he had ever had to watch, in his entire life. It was so raw, so full of pain, that it almost hurt to watch her. She was shaking, moving like a dream, liquid grace, barely breathing, her arms trembling as she held them aloft. She was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen in his entire life.
The room was silent as the music died, and she froze in place, holding a position that was, for most people, anatomically impossible. She didn't move. And neither did he. God, she didn't know that he was here, and it took every ounce of of self-control Kiba possessed not to grab and kiss her senseless.
Instead, he managed to choke out "God, I missed you, kiddo."
Ino's jaw tensed. No, she did not open her eyes - she didn't want to... She couldn't.
It took every fiber of her being to keep composed, to not shake. Not to fall to the ground. Nothing. She was going to stand there, see how long she could hold her pose; and try to make the tears stop spilling. But they were they had their own power and they continued to fall and spill and god, did Ino hate it.
Slowly, she lowered her arms back to her sides and eased her feet so that she wasn't balancing herself on her toes anymore. But never did she dare open her eyes. Because then, if she did, she'd see him and she'd lose control. And either way, right now she was still deciding how she should feel.
She wanted to... hug him. Maybe even kiss him.
But at the same time she wanted him to leave.
But the thought of him leaving made it hard to breathe.
Biting her lower lip, she did what she had sworn she wouldn't do - opened her eyes and captured him in her stare.
It felt like she was inside a portrait; neither of them were moving, just staring - were they even breathing?
She wasn't - wasn't moving.
Wasn't even breathing.
And that probably was not a good sign. Kiba just stood there, leaning against the doorframe, and stared at her trembling limbs. God, she looked exhausted - when had she last slept? And she looked like she'd lost weight - were those her ribs?
Kiba hated himself. And was kind of pissed that he'd even let them get into this situation. Anger was a comforting fizz underneath his skin; anger at the world, anger at himself, anger at Itachi and just everything. But not at her. Never at her. Hell, he didn't even think he knew how to be angry at her.
His fists clenched. He remembered the last time he had been angry, and she had been involved. He was trying to repress that memory.
It had been the last time he had touched her skin, too.
He didn't want to repress that memory.
Ino licked her chapped lips and flared her nostrils.
"What?" she hissed through her teeth. "Are you here to call me a whore again? Slut, maybe? Oh, maybe I'm going to be called an easy lay now. Well?"
She watched him flinch with every word, but Ino didn't care. And if she did, she was trying really hard to hide it.
"Well? Speak up," and she hated how her voice cracked at the end.
Kiba clenched his teeth, and willed himself not to lose it right then and there. Okay, he more then deserved that. He let out a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding. "I just - just came to say... fuck it, I just came to say sorry."
He bit the inside of his mouth, and wouldn't meet her eyes. Jeezus, he didn't even deserve to breathe the same air that she did.
He couldn't breathe. Again.
"And... yeah, just - just sorry. And you obviously don't want - to see me. So I'll just... go. I won't - won't be around."
"Won't be around to hurt you anymore. Promise. I'm sick of hurting you" hung in the air, unspoken. His jaw was still clenched, and he slowly turned to leave. His knuckles were white as snow against the door-frame.
God, it fucking hurt. He didn't think it was going to hurt this much.
She bit at her lip and raised an eyebrow, "Oh?" She twirled a lock of her hair, looking down at it so he wouldn't see her new tears. Not that he would, anyway - he was making it a point to not look at her. God, how disgusted was he with her. He was just probably back to pick up the last of his things, apologize to her so that he bury what they had and live a normal life.
"You're leaving," she whispered. It was like a sob and a whisper, "You're leaving again..."
Ino looked up at him, smiling softly, even as her tears spilled. Faster, now. They were falling down faster because she was... "O-okay..."
She took a step forward and then refrained. He hated her, right?
"O-okay," she sobbed.
Kiba whirled around, and was in front of her, two seconds, flat.
She was supposed to be happy. He wasn't supposed to make her cry. Not anymore.
Desperation hit him hard in the stomach. "Please don't cry, oh, fucking christ, Ino, you know I can't stand it when you cry, please stop - I'll go away, you won't have to see me anymore, I swear to god I'll stay away if it's what you want. Just please, please stop crying, please, it kills me to see you cry..."
He was less then an inch away from her - and he still hadn't touched her.
Kiba knew he'd break, if he touched her. Because he couldn't say no. Not to her. If she asked him to leave, he'd go in a heartbeat - be gone forever. But if he touched her... god, he'd be selfish. And she deserved so much damn better, it made him physically ill.
But, god, getting rid of those damn tears... He had to.
He reached a shaking hand, and crossed the tiny amount of distance between them, and touched one of the glimmering tears on her cheeks.
"Please stop crying. Please, Ino."
"Then don't leave me," she sobbed, throwing her arms around him, "Please... Don't leave me. Don't leave me again."
She held on tightly, her arms around his neck, her face hidden on his chest as she sobbed. Violently - she was sobbing violently. But... she couldn't help it because... He was going to leave her again. He was gonna do it. And it... didn't he see how much it hurt her?
It was like her mother leaving her all over again.
Only this time, Ino was positive she wasn't going to heal.
Because Kiba meant more to her than that woman ever did. And... Oh god, he just could't leave her. He couldn't, he couldn't, he couldn't!
And why wasn't he touching her? Why wasn't he saying anything? Why... Why, why, whywhywhy?
She pulled back, grasping either of his cheeks with her hands and willed him to look at her in the eyes. She was still crying but it was okay. She stared at him, puffy red eyes drinking him in as if it were the last time she'd ever see him. And it probably was.
"Don't leave," she whispered, "Please..."
She was pressed against him. Everything fit.
Kiba could only breathe in the scent of her skin, and wrap his arms around her. She was real. She was alive. He wasn't fucking dreaming (because he had dreamed this so many times - but every time he did, when he finally touched her [and he always, always did], she would disappear. And it would hurt. And he would wake up feeling like shit. Being away from her had hurt).
He held her close, and growled in her ear "How can you even want me around? I'm such a - such a fucking douche bag."
He wondered if she had hated herself as much as he had hated himself; the responding influx of tears told him she had. God, how had he even ever let her out of his sight? Kiba tucked her head under his chin. He wasn't planning on letting go of her any time in the near future, and if that meant he had to chain himself to her, he would.
She didn't want him to leave. But fuck, if she didn't deserve better.
Maybe -later-, when she was thinking straight, she'd want him to leave (it was going to happen, he just knew it - she deserved to break him; it was only fair), and he would. He had fucked up. And he was going to regret it for the rest of his life.
But right at that second, the only thing he could think about was that she was right in front of him, and that she was clinging to him like a lifeline, and that - it had been so fucking long since he'd kissed her.
Ino smiled a watery smile, "Because you're Kiba. And I told you, you have my heart. And... I love you."
She pulled away from him, and her eyes danced as they scrutinized him; they came to a stop on his lips. And Ino remembered how amazing his lips felt against hers. And she also remembered how long it had been since the last time he had kissed her.
And suddenly, she was longing for him.
For a kiss.
For a hug.
For anything that had to do with him and her.
She decided then that she wasn't going to let him leave her. Never again. Never.
Because he was hers - she was going to be selfish. She had long ago claimed him - and he had been alright with it. He was hers and Ino wasn't going to allow him to ever leave her alone again. Because that hurt. A lot. It was like getting surgery without any anesthetics. It was like a fat kid getting his cupcake stolen. It was like SpongeBob losing Patrick as a friend. It was like walking through hell. Like walking down a road filled with needles, ready to prick her.
Ino's eyes fluttered closed... and she pressed her lips to his.
Kiba groaned against Ino's mouth. He pulled her as close as he literally could - he wanted to be inside her body, so close that they were the same person. He just wanted to be able to touch her forever - even if he could just touch her hand, he would die happy.
But kissing Ino was better.
He eased her to the floor, and just kissed her lips. He still loved her lips.
Fuck, wait, she'd said - fuck, had she just said-? Kiba pulled a quarter of an inch away from her lips. Damnit, he was not close enough to her - but, he whispered "God, I love you. I love you, Ino, I fucking love you so much."
Her eyes were shining. That had to be a good thing.
Kiba leaned down, and brushed his lips over hers again - tingles went up his spine. That was so gay. But he didn't even care-
There was something tapping, behind him. He looked up, and the scary dance teacher ("Kurenai, oh, shit," Ino breathed against his throat) was standing there, arms cross, crimson eyes narrowed, foot tap-tap-tapping out a very steady rhythm.
"I need this room," she said. "I'm teaching a class in here in ten minutes. If you're not out, bad things will happen to you. Get out."
Kiba and Ino both stared at her, a slight bit frightened. Seriously, Kurenai scared Kiba shitless. Kurenai paused, and then looked Kiba dead in the eye.
"Oh, and... Kiba, is it? If you hurt her again, I will hunt you down, and nothing in this world will save you. Get it? Got it? Good. Now get out of my sight."
Then Kurenai turned, stalked out of the dance room, and let the door close with a tiny click. Kiba pretended he didn't see the slight grin that had crossed the red-eyed woman's lips - it was Anko-scary, which really couldn't be healthy, for one thing, but it also screamed "DOOM."
So Kiba helped Ino up, wrapped an arm around her shoulders, kissed the top of her head, and said "I... fuck, I missed you."
"I know," she whispered, eyes closed as she relished in the feeling of him being here. With her. She smiled, "I'll go change."
She whipped around and headed towards the cubby-room. As she picked at her clothes, changing into black skinnies, a black t-shirt and red converses, she decided that she hasn't been Ino Ino in so long. She was without makeup. Her hair was a mess. And.. God. She felt... Ino didn't know anymore.
Sighing, she whipped out the makeup-pouch that never left her bag; added a hairbrush, and headed for the bathroom where she brushed her hair, fixing it into a long French braid; she twirled the end until it curled cutely. Ino smiled and moved on to her makeup. Applied concealer and foundation before adding mascara and black eyeliner.
And, sadly, she felt more like herself again. Before, she'd just throw her hair in a messy ponytail or leave it down and all over the place. She'd refuse - not have the energy - to do her makeup and dear god, she had been a mess. Sighing, Ino stepped away from the mirror and looked at herself - deciding that... she was getting there. Just getting there, back on her feet.
She walked back towards her bag, stuffing the makeup-pouch back in there before pulling her red hoodie down her head, pulling her braid out. Sighing and giving herself a last once-over, she headed back towards Kiba.
A smile came to her lips just at the sight of him.
"Okay," she breathed out, "we can go now."
Before anything, she intertwined her fingers through his and gave him the brightest smile she could ever produce.
He was holding her hand.
Kiba really didn't even know if he was dreaming, or not. Really. Seriously. Her fingers fit between the spaces in his perfectly.
He honestly didn't even care where they were going. He got to hold her hand, again.
She supposed that they were back in good terms rather quickly. Nothing like normal couples in which they talk and then go back to being together. But who said she and Kiba were like normal couples?
She swung their intertwined hands back and forth, almost allowing herself to decide that her nails were going electric-blue next time. Oh! Lookie, there! She was going back to her normal self again. Ino's smile only brightened at the thought.
He opened the passenger's door for her, closing it right after she got in before going towards the driver's side and taking his own seat. Once he was driving, Ino couldn't help but seek his hand's warmth once again. And as he drove towards... Ino wasn't sure where they were going, but either way, they were quiet.
The radio was playing some sort of song that she knew she knew - but for some reason she didn't remember the lyrics.
"Let's go to your place," she said softly after an extended period of silence.
"Sure, kiddo," he told her quietly.
Seriously, he would go anywhere she wanted to go. If it was his house, fine. If it was across the country, fine. Hell, if she wanted him to throw himself in front of a bus, he probably would. It didn't matter. Ino looked - better, he decided, even then she had an hour ago. Healthier.
He gulped, and wondered what the hell he'd done to deserve someone even a little bit like her.
It must have been something really goddamn good.
And Kiba swore, right then, that if he ever fucked up with her again, he was just going to jump off a bridge.
Hurting Ino again... that would be a million times worse then anything Death could throw at him. And seeing her cry had been the worst thing he'd ever done. He would probably destroy himself, if he ever made her cry again.
He brought her hand up to his face, and gently brushed his lips across her knuckles. He'd never loved anyone, before.
But Kiba loved Ino.
And he figured that was all that really mattered.
A radiant smile spread on her lips as he kissed her knuckles and Ino decided that this is what it felt like to be loved.
The rest of the ride was quiet as Kiba concentrated on driving and Ino drowned herself in this feeling of pure peace and ease she was feeling. When they arrived to his house, it took er a moment to grasp the concept before she got out of the car, quickly wrapping her arms around herself and sighing as she looked up at the sky.
It was only when Kiba wrapped an arm around her shoulders and brought her closer to his person that, with a smile, Ino began to walk towards the front door. Once inside, she stood and looked around; it wasn't her first time at his house... But she was kinda nervous and... It... Was just justified, okay?
He led her to the living room and Ino took a seat on the couch as if she were going to break something. Her heartbeat escalated when he sat next to her. And after that, a long period of silence commenced.
Blinking, she almost awkwardly drawled out, "So..."
Kiba just looked at her.
He knew he should probably go off an a tangent, and explain everything -or at least try- to her. She deserved that much. Actually, she deserved a lot more then that, but he still wasn't sure he deserved the right to even speak to her - he probably didn't.
Instead, he took a slow, deep breath, filling his lungs up with everything he had wanted to say.
There was so much, Kiba didn't even know where to begin. But Ino was staring at him with wide, wide blue eyes, and a strange, calming look on her features, and Kiba tried to gather his thoughts about himself.
And slowly, he began.
"I... fucked up. I told you I would. I didn't mean to. But I did."
At their talk, Ino had gotten a bit riled up. But you can't blame her because it was damn straight justified. And it only angered her more to know that she suffered for about three weeks just because of a misunderstanding. Seriously, Life, what the fuck is your problem?
Honestly, her? Making out with Itachi? As tempting as that sounded (though, she already did do such a thing) it was nothing like that. It only caused her to feel smug when she yelled at Kiba's face that while she conversed with Itachi, all that was on her mind was Kiba himself. His face had been priceless.
Now, Ino just sighed, twirling her hair in her finger as she leaned against Kiba.
It was funny, she thought, how today had been another miserable day. It started off as that - the usual puffy eyes, red rimmed and all. The same discussion with her father at the table, where he asked her what was wrong and again, she'd say "nothing, daddy, I've just been thinking too much". Same shower where her tears had mixed with the water dropping from the shower-head.
It'd only became an unbearable day when she had gone to Kiba's house, just to be informed that he was gone. And had been, too.
And just like that - like a quick snap of a finger, everything was back to normal.
She supposed she shoulda made it wait just a bit. But... Knowing Kiba, he'd do something impulsively stupid again, like leaving and such. So she had to hold on tight to him. She had said she'd keep a short leash (metaphorically, of course) on him, and until she's positive he'd never leaver her again, it was going to stay that way.
Ino needed a break.
Something happy, something that made her feel absolutely amazing... Like... Shopping.
She hasn't shopped for what seemed like forever!
With a wide grin on her lips, Ino stood up from the couch and pulled at Kiba's hand. "We're going shopping!"
Kiba just chuckled, and let her drag him out towards his car. Sure, he loved his house and whatnot, and he was totally cool with whatever she wanted to do, but fuck, he just wanted to hold her right then - just wanted to make sure she was real.
Because he was still having issues not throwing her into his bedroom, and locking her away there for a good week and a half.
As far as Kiba was concerned, Ino was his again. He wasn't planning on letting her out of his sight, ever.
It was actually at the point that he was willing to go meet her dad - and, as if that thought wasn't scary enough, he honestly could not see a future without her in it, in some way, shape, or form. And that was god damn scary. Kiba had never been the commitment type.
But all his muddled head could make out was an image of a house, a couple of dark-haired boys, and a little girl who was practically a carbon copy of Ino herself. It practically hurt to think about it not happening.
The only thing that Kiba could hear in his head, (as he and Ino walked out to his car, hand in hand), was Suigetsu muttering "You are so fuckin' whipped. This is sad."
And to be honest?
Kiba didn't even care.
It was sad when a girl gets soooo damn heartbroken, that she abandons everything. Including shopping. It was like saying someone abandoned eating. Like someone abandoning their life and... just stop living.
That was how Ino felt. It was like... she missed a week of her life - just being stuck in her room, sobbing, drowning in her tears, choking in her sobs. It had hurt sooo much. What made Ino feel all the worse was the fact that this was not the first time this happened to her. There was Sasori, there was that other guy and the other and... Kiba. And all Ino really had wanted to know was how much more pain she had to endure before she had a chance of being happy.
But that was before. Kiba was different, she always knew he'd be different.
Because he came back to her and he was here, at her side. And that's all Ino really wanted.
...And now, a step at a time... that's how she was going to take it. And the next step? It was to shop.
"I missed shopping," she murmured to herself as she got into his car.
Kiba drew breath, and listened to her murmur to herself.
The words "I missed you," escaped him before he could restrain them. He caught the slight blush that traveled up her neck, and it took all of his self control to not pull over, pull a U-turn, and head straight back to his house, to make sure she understood exactly what she meant to him.
But he knew she'd probably beat him over the head - she did want to go shopping, and who was Kiba to deny her anything?
So instead, he let her slip her hand into his -he thanked whatever there was for Higher Beings for creating her in all her perfection-, and headed towards Sunnyside Mall.
Today was Sunday.
Sunday meant last minute shopping for the week. It also meant crowded stores, groping, stealing. Annoyance - it also meant annoyance.
Ino would admit it, she had missed shopping like crazy. Like the mama bear misses her cubs when they grow up and leave her. She missed it. But she missed Kiba more than anything. And he was here, with her and she really didn't want to share him with the world right now. Because she was selfish and she wanted to keep him for herself even if just for today.
"Stop the car," she said, turning to look at him with determined blue eyes, "I don't want to go shopping. I don't want to go out today. I just want to be with you."
Kiba slammed the breaks -thanked the sky that there was no one behind him-, pulled to the side of the road, and just looked at Ino for a second. Her jaw was set at a determined angle, a sparkle of possession in her eye.
Wow. That was hot.
He slouched in the driver's seat. "So what do ya wan'na do, ex'ctly?"
A slow, lazy, sexy smile made it's way across her lips.
That was quite literally all Kiba needed to hit the gas, pull a U-turn, and book it back to his house.
Ino giggled at his speed, her braid, dancing with the wind and her bangs whipping at her face.
Her grip on his hand tightened and Ino... Ino has never been happier.
It wasn't long before they arrived back at his house and once Ino was out of the passenger's seat and on the sidewalk... she kissed him.
Hard, possessive, rough.
Minemineminemine.
It took every ounce of Kiba's already thin self-control to actually get them inside his house. He picked her up, and carried her, because fuck if it wasn't quicker.
The front door slammed behind them, and Kiba's lips were at her throat. God, he loved her throat - and he was going to make sure that the rest of the world understood that she was off limits. He growled low in his throat, and skimmed his canines along Ino's collarbone.
When he pulled away -leaving a very satisfactory bruise on the junction of where her shoulder met her neck; damn, he loved her low-cut shirts-, and murmured "Missed you, kiddo."
Her hands were entangled in his hair, her mouth kissing and nibbling at his jaw and she couldn't help but smile at his affectionate name for her. It made her heart beat fast, made her want to do things... Crazy things. It made her weak at the knees.
"I missed you more," she breathed out, trailing kisses at his neck, biting here and there. She smirked when she bit at his ear-pierce and god, how she had missed him.
Wrapping her arms around his neck, she brought him closer. Closer, closer, closer, closer.
She wanted him closer.
Kiba had to admit, he liked the way she trying to get his shirt off. It was slightly amusing, because it seemed like she was having such a hard time with it.
He kissed her again; it was a slow, hot burn of utter want. He crushed her against his chest, because, god, she wasn't close enough. His hands found her hips, and Kiba hoisted her up against the door, and just held her there.
All Kiba wanted, really, was to touch her. Make sure she was real - so he still had issues about her not being there.
She was wrapped around him, and his lips gently brushed over hers.
God, if this wasn't "love", what the hell was it?
This felt so... so surreal.
Ino couldn't help but love the feeling of him being so close to her. So close, yet he seemed so far. And why wasn't he closer. Her legs tightened around his waist, her arms doing the same around his neck. And she kissed him.
So softly, that they had to wonder if their lips were actually touching.
And it was so... torturing for her to go this slow. But it felt so nice. So, so, so nice. Ino sighed against his lips and smiled. "I need you," she breathed out against his lips.
"I know. Fuck, I'm so fucking sorry..."
She shook her head and kissed him again.
It just wasn't enough.
Frankly, Kiba wanted her naked, and he wanted her naked right then.
He picked her up, again. Wrapped her around him, again. Kiba kept her as close as he physically could, without breaking her, and headed straight to his bedroom. He kicked the door closed after them, and then pressed her against the door, his mouth searching hungrily along her jaw.
Kiba pulled away for a half-second.
Damn, if she wasn't the most incredible creature he'd ever seen...
"Not fast enough," she breathed out and for the interval that they weren't touching, she pulled her shirt off and threw it to the side.
She watched in a hazy fascination as he stared at her naked torso with something akin to absolute enchantment. And then he grabbed the hem of his shirt and pulled it up; Ino's knees buckled at the sight of his abs, his chest and his biceps. Her eyes were absolutely glued, even as he began to unbutton his jeans.
She murmured something incoherent and neared him, her hands helping him in taking off all the offending clothing off their bodies.
And when their lips crashed against each other in a kiss that was the embodiment of pure want, Ino lost all her coherence and all she could think, breathe, see was Kiba.
Kiba fixed the way that Ino was, right then, in his mind.
He wanted to remember it forever.
Fuck this, he thought to himself, and practically threw her on the bed. Kiba kissed her pulse.
God, he loved her, he loved her, he loved her; how could he not love her? Kiba kissed her pulse, kissed her collar bone, kissed the hollow of her throat, kissed her chin, and kissed her lips. And then he pulled away, and carefully kissed each one of her eyelids.
Fuck, she was his.
"Missed you, kiddo," he whispered.
And then he didn't think again for a very long time.
.
.
.
It was late.
It was so late.
Sakura stared out the window, into the dark of night, and wondered exactly why she was still awake.
She couldn't sleep.
She - missed Sasuke.
She just - missed him.
Ignore it, Sakura, she told herself firmly, and went to her computer. She was still awake, it was almost three AM, and she just - she just wanted someone to talk to, someone who wouldn't judge, someone who would just be. Was that so much to ask?
Apparently.
Sakura sighed, and went to send a new email.
To: foolishlittlebrother02
From: cherrylipssuperstar
Subject: Are you there?
I know, I know, I know. I'm crazy and it's like three AM, but are you doing anything right now?
Because I really need to talk to someone.
Please be there. I need you right now.
Please.
-Superstar
P.S. To clarify: look, I'm really not in a good place right now. Come and meet me somewhere?
(We have been friends [are we friends?] long enough for me to ask this of you, right?)
To: cherrylipssuperstar
From: foolishlittlebrother02
Subject: Yes. I'm here.
No, it's okay. I'm always awake at this time.
Is something wrong?
...Okay, you're making me feel weird. In that worrisome way.
-Thunder
P.S. I suppose so. Where at?
To: foolishlittlebrother02
From: cherrylipssuperstar
Subject: I can't believe I'm asking this.
I know you are.
Yes, lots is wrong. I just need to talk to someone who isn't going to judge me right now.
It's about that stupid (ex-)boyfriend of mine.
Sorry, I don't mean to.
-Superstar
P.S. Uh, do you know that kiddie park with the swings? Park Ave, I think?
There would be really good.
To: cherrylipssuperstar
From: foolishlittlebrother02
Subject: You already did.
Huh.
Okay, when you put it that way, fine. Then I'll talk about something I don't want to be judged on, too.
It's alright.
-Thunder
P.S. Yeah, I know the place. I'll be there in ten...
To: foolishlittlebrother02
From: cherrylipssuperstar
Subject: I know. I think I'm going crazy.
I'm already there.
See you in a bit.
-Superstar
~Sent from my BlackBerry
Sasuke was inwardly freaking out.
Actually, he had been, ever since that argument-talk he had with Kiba. Unlike the Mutt who must have bolted straight towards wherever the blond girl was, Sasuke actually went Hermit again. He just couldn't face Sakura. No matter what, he just couldn't.
She was different.
These feelings were new. He didn't know how the fuck to use them. Hell, he didn't even know how to express them. How to show them. How to tell them.
And he'd avoided her for almost four weeks, now. How was he supposed to randomly appear in front of her and ask her to take him back - if it was even that what he was supposed to ask. Fuck, he didn't even know what he was supposed to say.
Sasuke sighed as he walked down the empty streets. He had his hands stuffed into the pockets of his hoodie, shoulders hunched - it was fucking cold. No, scratch that, it was fucking snowing. Sasuke actually didn't even realize he had just left the house with what he had on. A maroon hoodie, a black scarf, gray skinnies and all-black converses. That was all.
He let a breath out and Sasuke stared at the cloud of white as it dematerialized after a second. Then he looked up and stared as the park came in to view.
And once the swings were in sight, Sasuke saw a figure.
And pink.
And then Sasuke wasn't cold anymore. He was hot. He was boiling.
Sakura's fingers were locked around the freezing metal links of the swing she was sitting on; her head was bent, and she was waiting, her breathing slow and quiet.
She'd come to this park a lot, as a child. And it had always been a safe, quiet place, because not many people came, and it was just... familiar. It had all the things she loved the best; and most of her favourite childhood memories revolved around this place in some way or another.
Sakura's insides were knotting. She needed to talk to Thunder-or-whateverhisnamewas; she just needed to talk to someone, and he was it. So she might have had a teeny-tiny little crush on him, because he was easy to talk to, and he knew how to fight back with words, and that was something she had only rarely discovered, in people.
Sasuke had been like that.
Sakura's heart hurt.
She just sat there, in the complete silence and stillness of the night, and watched the snow fall near her shoes.
"What the hell are you doing here?" was the first thing that escaped his lips just as soon as he was close enough.
He stopped right in front of her, hands dug deeeeeep into his pockets and hair falling in front of his eyes. He was glaring - fuck, if he could, he'd be shooting flames like a flame-thrower because it was three in the morning and what the hell was she doing out here alone?
God, Sakura was so fucking stupid sometimes, he thought angrily. What if something happened to her?
Sasuke mentally froze.
What would he do then?
The thought of something happening to her made his insides... do some fucked up things. Sasuke didn't like not knowing what the fuck was going on. But he'd admit one thing... He cared for Sakura more than he had ever cared about any girl. He liked her.
Fuck, he fell for her.
"Waiting for someone."
She... was angry. She was... she was a lot of things, wasn't she?
But he didn't blame her. This was a mess.
"Who?"
And... Maybe he should clean it up?
"Someone," she muttered.
Sasuke had an urge... But sadly, he didn't know what that urge wanted him to do. She should go home. It was cold - she could get sick. It was three in the morning. Something could... Sasuke sighed.
"Does this someone have a name?"
She hadn't even looked up at him. Fuck, this was worse than he thought. "Nope."
Sighing, and feeling like something had shifted within him, Sasuke took a seat on the swing next to hers. "Then I'll wait with you."
"I don't want you to."
Sakura kept her head down. Of all people, he had to show up. She didn't have any control, at that second; she had no control over what she'd just said, she had no control over the fact that her fists were curled around the metal links of the swing so tight her knuckles were going white, and she definitely had no control over her emotions.
She could hear the clink of metal against metal against rubber against metal as Sasuke moved slightly on the swing next to her.
Honestly, she just wanted him to go away. She wanted to talk to Thunder.
And she did not want to deal with the tears that were trying their damnedest to make their way to her eyes. Sakura valiantly suppressed them. She hadn't cried about it since a long time ago. She was not going to start crying now.
She was not.
She kept her head down. She could not look at him.
She would not.
Ouch.
That one hit a chord. And surprisingly, Sasuke was alright with that. He deserved that - actually, he deserved everything that she was going to throw at him. And he was okay with that.
He's gotten up to that stage - taking the blame. Because it was his fault... But how could he get to the other stages? How could he make her see that he was sorry. That he didn't want to... to... to lose this. Her. Them.
His hands clenched their hold on the metal. His head tilted downwards, forcing his bangs to cover his face. Sasuke was... he was angry. He was fucking frustrated - not at her. At himself. Because, fuck. Fuck. He just didn't know anymore.
He didn't know what to do.
What did she want to hear? If he was told, he'd say it. He'd say it in a heartbeat because he was losing her. Or maybe he'd already lost her?
She was waiting for someone... Maybe it was some other guy, or whatever. She did seem to be the kind to move- Fuck. No. No. No.
He wasn't going to allow himself to think that. Fucking bastard of a cousin of his. He would have killed him if the Mutt hadn't intervened. God, Sasuke was lost.
"Okay," he finally said softly. "That's fair. But I'm waiting for someone, too."
"That's okay," he heard her mutter, "I don't really care."
And he found himself smirking. She was such a stubborn girl. So, so, so stubborn.
"That's okay, too." There was silence and Sasuke stared at the snow he was kicking as he softly swung his swing back and forth. It was choking him, to be honest - this silence, it was choking. He wanted to leave. He wanted to get up, walk away, never look back and just forget about her. He did.
But then... What if?
What. If?
What if?
(Kiba's words began to replay in his head like a sudden broken tape-recorder.)
"Sorry."
Sakura bit her lip. There were a million ways she could approach this conversation. A million ways - but all she really wanted was for him to go away, and take the blinding pain from the past three weeks with him, because it had hurt, and she didn't really want to feel like that, again.
She drew a breath of sharp ice-cold night air into her lungs, and forced herself to place her chapped-from-the-cold palms in her lap. From far away, she watched a street-lamp flicker, the light snow slicing through the orange light. Sakura's voice was a half-croak. "Sorry doesn't really cut it, you know?"
He was grinding his teeth. She could hear it. "Then what will? Tell me, and I'll do it."
Sakura barely shook her head. Where was Thunder?
"I don't know, Sasuke. I - don't know." Her voice broke. "I wish I did."
Teardrops landed on her folded hands.
(She was not crying why was she crying this wasn't supposed to hurt anymore stop it stop it stop it stop it.)
She... was crying.
Fuck, she was crying.
There was a sharp, dull, pang in his heart as he saw the river her tears left down her cheeks. And she was crying because of him - he did this to her. He made her... made her what? Hurt - of course she was hurting, he left her. He disappeared without even telling her why. Without even telling her anything. She must feel hurt, betrayed... confused.
And then Sasuke knew; he knew right then that crying was something he'd never want to see Sakura do again.
He got off the swing and crouched in front of her. He didn't know what the fuck he was doing - he was disoriented and he just wanted her to feel better. Even if he didn't get her back. He just... He just... fuck.
His hands went to her cheeks and he brushed away her tears. Sasuke, in his life, had never thought he'd do this to anyone. And this was how much Sakura had really affected him. And it was a good thing. It was an amazing thing.
And as he brushed her tears gone, Sasuke...
...He kissed her.
Sakura's insides turned to jelly.
She sat there, and let him kiss her. She didn't dare breathe, or even move, for fear that the whole situation was somehow some sort of really fucked up, cruel dream (which was, by the way, very uncool, kaythanks).
The tear tracks on her cheeks were starting to dry.
Sakura pulled away; she needed to breathe, needed to get away from this situation, needed to think.
"Jerk," she mumbled, and hid her face in his throat. Her hands, still folded neatly in her lap, reached up, and curled into fists in the fabric of his hoodie. A sob almost escaped her throat. "You are such a jerk. I don't - you - I - this-!"
She didn't even know what to say to him. She wanted to kiss him again, but she also wanted to push him away and never see him again, because she never wanted to hurt like this again.
Sakura's voice was low, and controlled. Or, at least, she hoped it was.
"You hurt me, Sasuke. So-" ragged breath, "-much. And I don't-" she paused, to try to regain some of her slipping control. Another ragged breath of air into her lungs, "-I don't even know why. You just - just up and left."
There it was.
There it was. That part where he had to explain to her. And fuck, what was he going to say? 'Hi, I found out you were my gay cousin's ex-girlfriend. He's kind of a total fagatron brainwasher and he brainwashed me into thinking I was your rebound and so I was pissed and I left.'
No.
He couldn't just say that to her.
Right...?
"I know," he finally said. His voice was soft. He spoke slowly. He didn't know what to do from here. But at least he got her talking. "I know - and I'm sorry. I'm sorry - you..." Times like these made Sasuke wish he was good with words. "You didn't deserve that."
Her grip on his hoodie became stronger and she clung to him as if she were helpless and she probably was. God, look at the mess he made. Fuck.
(Vaguely, he wondered where the fuck Superstar went.)
Closing his eyes, he decided he was just going to let it out. Because, fuck, he needed to hear her say he wasn't a... a... He needed her to tell him it had nothing to do with Sai. So he'd tell her. He'd tell her, and if she wanted nothing to do with him then... it'd be okay. Because it'd be what she wanted and Sasuke could give her that. She deserved that much. Taking a breath, he said, "Sai..."
Sai. Of course.
"What did my really lame, really gay, ex-boyfriend tell you? That you were a rebound? Because you weren't. Not ever." Sakura chuckled weakly. "Not even at the start."
It was very, very silent.
"...Oh."
Sakura gnawed on her lip. He wasn't going to say anything more. "Oh". Why didn't that surprise her? Sakura choked a laugh, and pushed him off. She stood up, and took five precise, rigid steps. Then she paused, turned around, and just looked at him.
"I was waiting for a guy named Thunder. But he's not here, and so I'm going home. See you around, Sasuke. Or maybe not."
And then she turned, and started walking away, again.
I will not cry I will not cry I will not cry...
The only thing in his head was that she was leaving.
But, he had thought he'd let her go. But... Sasuke didn't want her to leave. He didn't. Right then - right then, he was freaking out. He didn't know what to do. What the fuck was he supposed to do?
Panicking, he stood up and he walked after her. The hood fell off his head and he was probably going to get terribly sick but he just didn't really give a fuck, anymore. Because she was leaving and by leaving, she was leaving him. And Sasuke couldn't bare this - he thought he could.
But he couldn't.
"Sakura," he grasped her wrist and pulled her back, made her turn to look at him. And... "Fuck, would you just let me think? I don't know what the fuck I have to do here. I... I'm walking blind now. I don't know what you want to hear. I don't know what I want to say. I'm sorry. Okay? I'm sorry."
He took a breath and looked away from her. "I've never done this before. But I'm trying. I'm fucking trying. Just... be patient..." And then, and then he was trying to catch her gaze. And it took him a while and when he did, "Give me a chance?"
"I don't want to hurt anymore," she simply said, blinking rapidly to force the tears that were clogging her vision away.
He almost looked like he was pleading with her. "Let me fix it... Please."
"Give me a reason to give you a chance," she whispered.
"What reason do you want? I... Sakura... I..."
She watched him grit his teeth - he did that a lot. He'd stopped moving, and he sighed. Ground his teeth a little more, and stood there, in front of her, more nervous then she'd ever seen him. He ran a hand through his hair, and kept shooting her a pensive-intense look that had her heart stopping in her chest.
"I need a reason, Sasuke. I can't do this again, for nothing."
He was staring at her, vulnerable. Sasuke was never vulnerable. Never. He ran his hand through his hair again, and then just looked at her. "I... I love you, okay? I do."
Sakura's jaw dropped.
"If this is a really cruel joke, I'm never speaking to you again."
Sasuke froze and he just stared at her. Really stared at her - unblinkingly. Just... blank. And almost weary. He wanted to give up, so badly. But... then he'd never keep her, would he?
"Look at me and really think about it," he said. "Does it seem like I'd just throw that out to just anyone for the fuck of it?"
He stared as she swallowed - probably a gulp. "...I don't know."
Sasuke sighed. And he slumped his shoulders and looked away. "I said it, Sakura. I gave you a reason. What more do you want from me?"
There was a long, agonizingly dragged out silence. Sasuke felt his heart (he actually had one, yes) ram into his ribs and that annoying never ending ringing was back in his ears and he was fucking freaking out. His jaw was clenched taut and his teeth-grinding was becoming close to an obsession. His eyes stared at the swings, slowly moving back and forth both from their rash movements and the harsh, blistering cold wind.
"Did you miss me at all?" she asked after the prolonged silence, her voice a broken whisper. He heard movement, and he strongly wished she'd move closer to him. But all she had been doing was shifting her weight from one leg to the other. He turned to look at her again and he just stared. Stared at her and tried to make her understand that...
"Yes."
...He really did.
And then she threw herself on him and Sasuke almost lost his balance as he gathered her in his arms. He buried his face in her hair and he took in the scent he had been unknowingly yearning for. And he felt... relaxed.
He felt like he used to? Like nothing was wrong. Like nothing happened.
And then something hit him.
"I'm Thunder, stupid."
"...Are you kidding me?" Sakura whispered, voice cracking.
Seriously. Seriously. All this time - no wonder they'd been able to bitch so perfectly to each other. No wonder if had been like they'd been in exactly the same boat; the anger, the betrayal...
Sakura wasn't sure if she should feel sick, or elated, or what. Thunder knew her better then almost any other person alive, because, more then once, she'd poured her heart out to him. And now he was - god, he was Sasuke. She didn't know how emotionally healthy that was, but... but... But all she wanted, however, right at that moment in time, was to cling to Sasuke, and never ever let him out of her grip, much less out of her sight.
She shook her head against his chest. "No wonder... All this time..."
Sakura took another deep breath of the winter air. It stung in her lungs, but Sakura suddenly felt alive, for the first time in weeks.
"Hey, Sasuke..."
He looked down at her, and Sakura stood up on her tiptoe, and pressed her lips against his.
The snow fluttered around them, sugar plum fairies on a winter night's breeze.
.
.
.
.
Extra thoughts from us:
ABOUT FUCKING TIME. now. please, all of you, review. we know you read it, you know we write it, so would you please be courteous and leave us a comment about it? to those of you that do review on a regular basis: WE LOVE YOU. that is all.