INO

"He proposed! Look its so pretty!" Ayaka gushed at her, showing her a dainty ring looking rather odd on her bandaged hands. Ino couldn't help but find her senpai's enthusiasm endearing. Ino had to admit, the ring was rather pretty if only a tad to simple for her taste. It was clearly an heirloom to her trainer eye and she couldn't help but wonder if her senpai knew it was. Unlikely, Ayaka wasn't one to appreciate jewelry.

To think Neji, of all of them, would actually propose and Ayaka would be excited over it! She didn't consider Kiba's accidental engagement to count although Shiho had been sporting rather curious bruises on her neck this morning. Paired with Shikamaru's sudden desire to seriously pursuit the Sand princess, it's seemed like the Konoha 12 were finally growing up. If only Sakura would give up on the Uchiha traitor all would be well in the world.

"Congratulations, senpai. I'm happy for you, " Ino nodded at the girl, sporting a Kimono in the most mortifying shade of neon orange she'd seen a long time. Kami, had Naruto set this trend upon his return? Ino shivered at the idea. Really, she ought to kick Ayaka out of the shop for that ensemble and would have, if Neji hadn't been sent of on a mission with team Gai. Ino had owed Neji one after all, he was letting her choose the wedding venue. An arrangement Yoshino had visibly objected to.

It couldn't be helped. Ayaka hadn't set foot on the Nara compound in days. Neither had Shikamaru, a fact that hadn't gone unnoticed by any clan in Konoha. If gossip were to be believed the pair were finally working together to achieve a common end. It wasn't often clan heirs rebelled successfully, but if anyone could pull it off it was those two. Street smarts and natural born genius. She wouldn't want to be the one picking a quarrel with either Nara. Not for the first time, Ino truly pitied Shikaku. Through his micromanaging of everything he'd created a problem unseen of ever in the Ino-Shika-Cho history.

"Your dad doing good?" Ayaka asked casually, to which Ino could only sigh in response.

"Dad will be alright. I just wish they'd let me do more in your investigation. Or do more in general." Inoichi was indeed doing better and Ino was thankful for that. Had her father been ill any longer, there would be little to prevent the clan from investigating his absence. Considering Ino knew that there was a rogue Yamanaka somewhere, she couldn't help but want to keep the clan out of the loop as much as possible. Still, she was butting heads with her Kage here and it was obvious she wouldn't win. She was just a chuunin at the end of the day. Tsunade hadn't even included her on the investigation of her patient either. It was so frustrating.

"Well, I think you'll find an opportunity," Ayaka smiled at her and Ino rolled her eyes going through the floral bouquets her cousin had earlier requested to be made for delivery. There were 5 in total, ranging from grand orchid arrangements to a simple, single white lily in a vase.

She frowned at that. Lilies were usually sent as condolences in the shinobi world. She felt Ayaka's gaze linger exactly where hers did. The brunette frowned, her red eyes concerned.

"Haven't heard of anyone passing away recently its probably not anything serious," Ayaka's reassurance was enough to remind her of her company and Ino quickly recovered her emotions, reaching for the vase.

"Yeah totally, let me just move-," Ino paused before gasping, causing Ayaka to glance at her curiously.

Ino Yamanaka

The card held no message, just her name. It was addressed to the hospital and there was no sender listed. Ayaka peered curiously over her shoulder and let out a small chuckle.

"Seems someone thinks you're pure. Next time don't be so morbid Ino, your admirer clearly is a novice in flower language," Ayaka's laugh helped her relax.

Lilies could also mean devotion and purity. Ayaka was right, she was being far too morbid. This week had really left her frazzled. She was Ino Yamanaka! Of course someone was merely sending her flowers. Nobody she knew had died. She was definitely overthinking things. Still, nobody had ever sent her flowers since before the chuunin exams. That had been Shikamaru. The only guy to ever make her ensemble a bouquet of her choosing. It had been a strange feeling.

Her short romance with her teammate was a fond memory. Sometimes she regretted ending things between them. Yet, Ino knew love. One look at Temari and Shikamaru interact and she knew in her heart and soul she had no place at his side. She'd ended things, without any explanations and Shikamaru true to his nature of avoiding trouble, hadn't argued.

If he had, she might still be with him. However, it was not a move he'd make. At least, not for her. Now she watched him, the boy she adored ready to fight a Kage, his brother and his own clan to be with a foreign princess she couldn't help but feel proud. Sad, definitely but proud nonetheless.

Ino couldn't help but wonder if someone would do that for her. She was attractive. She could have any man. Yet, how many men lusted only after her body? Did any desire her for something more?

Could she with all her personality flaws keep a man's interest? Or was she fated, much like her mother had been to settle for a shinobi her clan had chosen. A shinobi that would fuck a Yamanaka heir in her and serve as a mere means to an end. A shinobi that didn't desire for anything other than her clan name and the fact that she had one hot body?

She'd often thought Ayaka might have had similar problems. However, the older girl had hit gold with Neji. One could say what they wanted about Ayaka Nara but it was easy to see Neji was quickly beginning to adore his future bride. The fact that he never let her be unguarded these days by people whom he trusted was awfully sweet and significant.

Ino was insanely jealous of Ayaka. Not because she wanted Neji, but because she couldn't imagine receiving that level of adoration and respect.

No doubt her admirer was just someone appreciating her body. Not someone who could desire her heart and soul. Not someone whom her own heart and soul could desire.

Ayaka had recieved it twice now. It was easy to see in Ayaka's memory how taken she had once been with Hidan and he with her. She was farely certain the Kunoichi still carried a torch for the Jashinist whom she wanted dead. Ino wondered, for as much as Ayaka simply seemed so perfect with Neji, if she would have still chosen him. If given the chance to stay with her priest lover on the run or live a good life in the Leaf with Neji by her side, what she may have decided.

Ayaka liked Neji a lot. She was falling for him. However, she loved the zealot. So much she would be willing to kill him. Ino didn't have the right to ponder these things. Ayaka's life wasn't something she should dare dissect, especially information privy to her after such a gross violation of her rights.

Ino would do best to keep her emotions, jealousy included, in check. So when Ayaka interrupted her train of thought waving a scroll in her face, grinning ridiculously in that Kimono Ino swore she was going to burn, she almost hit her senpai on reflex.

Ayaka, even injured, was too quick. Tossing her the scroll which Ino caught on instinct. Ino eyed her curiously, before dropping her gaze to the scroll. Unraveling it, she couldn't help the gasp she released. Flailing her arms while leaping at her senpai to reward her with the tightest hug, not noticing she'd knocked over a vase.

NEJI

His morning had gone surprisingly well. Originally he'd been nervous about presenting a girl like Ayaka with his mother's ring in a shrine he'd fashioned for her, just out of the barest of research into Jashinism. At first he worried it wound not meet her standards, however, his wife to be had been thrilled. He'd been ill prepared to see tears in her blood red eyes as she embraced him as if he'd given her the whole damned world on a platter. He'd only cringed a little at her Kimono, an engagement gift from none other than Naruto.

Still, it gave him all the more reason to rip it from her perfect body. Under normal circumstances he would've been ashamed to completely loose control like that in a shrine of all places. Especially considering Ayaka was recovering both mentally and physically from the events of the past week.

However he was assigned another mission in Tea and Ayaka was due to head to Suna soon. He couldn't quite resist the alure of her flesh especially when she dared to show him such affection. Her body pressed up against him, he roughly pulled the kimono open exposing her body to his whims.

She wasn't to use her Chakra at all yet and he almost felt bad for using his to make her submit to him. Normally, Ayaka took control with their endeavors. Considering her Forte it made sense and he didn't dare bite the hand that fed him. His little seductress knew exactly what she was doing where his pleasure was concerned.

This time he wasn't going to relinquish any control. He'd show her exactly how much she'd worried him, driven him insane, with his body alone.

And had worked. Her moans were a delightful mixture of his name and a variety of curses which he, as a Hyuuga, wouldn't dare repeat. He'd pushed her to her knees and slammed into her roughly, relishing in how she'd tightened around him. He loved it more when she'd begged him to go faster, harder all while arching her back in a view that would surely be branded forever in his memory.

He'd finished in her without thought when she all but screamed obscenity's in Jashins name, her walls clamping around him all too suddenly. He'd held her as her body shook, coming down from her high. She whimpered as he slipped out from her and he found himself cringing as he took her in his arms.

Content as his princess was, stripped bare and in his arms, he'd obviously been rough with her. Her knees were red and rough and he knew her hips would bruise in the

shape of his palms. Her lips were swollen and her hair a mess from his brutal pulling. Still she hummed happily in his lap, as if he hadn't just spilled himself within her without asking her premission.

Thank kami ANBU and most Kunoichi took contraceptives, in exception for when they were looking to conceive. If he were to get her pregnant so early into thier courtship he was certain Yoshino would castrate him.

"Hime, I don't know what came over me. I'm so sorry, I should never have been so rough with you, " Neji fretted. If Ayaka went to her clan or his own with his actions he was a dead man. He didn't think she had been unwilling but he sure as hell knew she'd be sore a few days.

"No worries Hyuuga Sama. I quite enjoyed that," she laughed lightly, leaning into his embrace as if he hadn't had her on her knees for a good half hour. Her back to his chest, Neji couldn't resist the urge to slip his hand hands around her waist, holding her to him.

"Ah. Well, we can do that anytime, Hime, but I didn't think you liked letting others have control," he murmured as his hands wandered her body, pleased to find by her subtle reactions that she was still quite sensitive.

"Hyuuga sama, you can do that and more to me anytime," Ayaka responded while she blatantly guided his wandering hand to her core and another to her chest. He played idly, enjoying her mewls and gasps. In his lap he had very little doubt she didn't know he was flush between her cheeks.

"Hime, we don't have time," he warned as she bucked her hips dangerously into his hand, a whimper escaping her lips and a groan from his as she ground into him. He really didn't have much time. Maybe just over an hour to get a shower, deliver her to someone to guard and then head to meet his team. True, he could be late but Tenten, Gai and Lee would certainly assume why and be right. That would be too uncomfortable a conversation, to say the least.

"Please, Neji," She dragged the moan out of his name, his real name, as her eyes closed. Instantly he resigned himself with a sigh, knowing he couldn't ignore her when she was like this. Flipping her around so that she straddled him, he lowered her onto him, relishing in the way she bit her lip and swallowed her moan. She was going to make him so late. Yet he didn't find himself minding.

"Please yourself, Hime," he found himself half begging as she obliged.

Which was how he had found himself total, about 40 minutes late, having being further delayed in the shower and again after as he and his bride to be got into a row about her outfit choice.

After dropping Ayaka off hastily at Ino's he could only pray the girl got rid of the ghastly Kimono his bride to be seemed taken with. He owed a great deal to Naruto, true. Yet, even he had to draw the line somewhere.

If anyone was going to be his ally in ridding the world of that dispicable kimono it would be Ino.