Alright this is chapter 7. I'm working on chapter 12 right now. So that doesn't mean I'm behind, but I was hoping to be a little further before I released another chapter. Honestly, I might release another chapter before I go to sleep tonight.

I'm actually having a lot of fun writing this.

Again, I do not own Naruto or any of the characters besides my own.

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Ino indeed wanted to say the words, but now that she had said them, she instantly regretted it. Kazuma was now going to think she was fast, and she didn't want that. Ino liked him for sure, but she wanted something more than a simple crush. She wanted to be loved and she wanted that love to mature and manifest at its own pace. If she rushed things, then it could end badly.

"If your parents don't have a problem with me staying for a while and if you have the necessary room then... sure, I'll stay with you" Kazuma said sounding a bit unsure of himself. He thought that Ino was very beautiful, but that was all. He didn't know anything about her, nor did he know why she was being so nice to him. She has given him a job, and now she's given him a place to stay. "I just have to be careful, so I don't mess things up. I'll need to be super quiet and out of everyone's way. How hard could that be?"

Ino felt her cheeks get red, but she was extremely happy. She wanted to run home and get his room ready asap. She turned to Tsunade, only to realize that Tsunade wasn't there anymore. She had left and neither of the young shinobi noticed. This meant that it was ok for Ino to leave.

The young kunoichi grabbed Kazuma's hard and took off running with him in tow. "Wait my scrolls!" Kazuma yelled as she continued to drag him away. She rolled her eyes and finally let him go. Kazuma ran over to his scrolls and clumsily began picked them up. For Ino, it seemed like he was taking too long, and her patients were running thin. As soon as Kazuma picked them all up, Ino grabbed him and took off running. She wasn't even embarrassed.

()()()()()()

Kazuma stood outside the flower shop as Ino talked to her father and mother about there potential living situation. It was awkward. He hasn't even met them yet, but he knew they would say no. They wouldn't accept a stranger into their home. Especially one who was an illegal bounty hunter who was only able to stay in the village because he beat up their daughter.

Ino walked out of the flower shop and shivered from the cold air. She didn't know it had gotten so late. The stars really were beautiful, and the moon was even more beautiful. The moonlight reflected off Kazuma's green saddened eyes perfectly. It made her blush and feel bad all at the same time.

"Ok so my father won't allow you to sleep over… but I have a plan" Ino said while she looked directly in his eyes.

Kazuma instantly got up and began walking away. This caused Ino to get a little angry and she definitely didn't like how he didn't even listen to her plan. He just took off and decided to do whatever he wanted to do. Ino grabbed onto his wrist tighter than what she had expected. "If your family don't want me in your house, I won't go in. It's no big deal. I wasn't expecting them to show me the same hospitality that you showed me. Sleeping outside is ok. I'll only be doing it for a few weeks max anyways."

"No!" Ino yelled, still not letting go of his wrist. "I told you I have a plan and I plan on carrying out that plan. Jump up onto the roof and wait until I open my window. It'll be the 3rd window on the second floor. Once I open the window, come in."

"So I don't have a choice in this?"

"Nope."

There was a silence. "Fine. I'll wait" Kazuma said, then jumped up onto the roof.

()()()()()()

Ino finally opened up her window to let Kazuma in. It had taken an extra two hours for it to happen and Kazuma was still nervous. Something about sneaking into a girl's room was weird to him… yet exciting. That's something he'd never tell someone though. It just felt wrong.

The platinum-blond kunoichi herself was excited at the fact that Kazuma would be in her room. Even though they had officially just met today, she loved the idea of being around him all through the night. She even prepared the bottom of her bed for him. Besides, what better way to protect someone than to be right there with them 24/7?

Kazuma jumped through the window and looked around. He didn't notice how cold the night air was until he got into the warm room.

"It smells very sweet in here… like flowers. I like it" Kazuma said as he looked around the room. It was girly, but he wasn't surprised by that at all. Ino loved the compliment she had just received, and she blushed again. She didn't know how to react; she just tried her best to behave. "Is there anywhere that I can shower?"

"In there." She pointed towards the door that was right beside the speedster.

"Thank you. Towels inside?"

"Of course" Ino smiled at him as she watched him place his bag down in the corner of the room. She was confused as to why he didn't sit it on the bed, but he probably thought that his bag was dirty, so he probably didn't want to mess anything up.

()()()()()()()()

Ino had waited patiently until Kazuma finally came out the bathroom. She was upset to find that he was fully clothed, but he smelled nice, so she forgave him. She had to keep reminding herself not to try to take things to fast. It was hard though. Even though Ino has had crushes, Kazuma was different. He made her feel something every time he spoke to her or even every time, he looked at her. This was totally different from her crush on Sasuke.

After Kazuma stretched a bit, he sat down in the corner of the room and laid his head down on his bag.

"Kazuma, what are you doing?"

"Laying down. I'm a bit tired from getting dragged around by you all day" Kazuma said, then turned his back towards her. A tick mark appeared on the top of her forehead as watched him laying down on the floor. She didn't like seeing him laying on the floor. Truthfully, if he were to lay in her bed she wouldn't object. Of course she wouldn't touch him at all. She just wanted him to be closer. She loved all the times she touched him today.

She simply laid down in her bed and curled up into a ball.

"Kazuma… are you up?" Ino questioned, hoping he wasn't asleep.

After a few seconds, she finally got a response. "Yeah, I'm up" he responded. He was clearly tired, but he didn't want to go to sleep. Truthfully, he wanted to keep talking to her and was glad she hadn't gone to sleep yet.

"What's your story?" Ino questioned. Kazuma knew exactly what she was asking, but he really didn't want to answer.

"That's personal…" He spoke. His voice was low and deep. It sent a shiver down Ino's spine and she wanted to keep hearing it. Something about Kazuma's sleepy voice was soothing to her. She loved it and definitely wanted to hear more of it.

"Oh… do you consider us friends?" Ino asked. She didn't know why she asked the question. They had only met officially for the first time today and had no previous conversations.

Kazuma thought for a second. "No. You're my boss and we've only known each other for a day. I feel like we can potentially be great friends though if you'd like to be my friend. Honestly, you've shown me more compassion and care than anyone else in this village so far. I mean lady Tsunade has been great to me, but she's a lot older than me."

The young kunoichi knew he was trying his best to explain, but it still hurt her to hear. She wanted them to be friends as fast as possible so that they could move past that point, but they weren't even friends yet. She kept telling herself that she wanted things to go slow and build over time, but honestly, she wanted something to start between them sooner than later. "If only I knew how he felt about me… no that's to soon to ask. I'll give it about a week then ask him. So this week I have a goal. I'll be the best, most caring, friend he's ever had.

They both fell asleep soundly on their respective sides of the room. The most peaceful sleep either of them had ever had.

()()()()()()()()

There was a knock on Ino's door, and her eyes shot open when the door began to open. She sat up and immediately looked towards Kazuma's side of them room, only to find that he wasn't there. She was relieved because her mother had walked in a second after knocking.

"Hello Ino. Breakfast is ready" Itsune said, while walking over to her daughter. Kazuma stood right outside of Ino's window. He had left earlier because he heard commotion downstairs that had woke him up. "She's really beautiful when she's sleeping" Kazuma thought to himself has he thought back. Ino had on a purple pair of silk shorts with a matching v neck t-shirt. Her legs looked soft and smooth. She also smelled amazing. That was when Kazuma had to leave. He was tempted to do something he'd surely regret later.

He continued to listen in on the conversation. He knew that it wasn't a good thing to do, but he was curious.

"Hey mom… did Kazuma…"

"The kid hasn't showed up yet. I'm sure he'll be here to be your little bodyguard eventually. I want to know something though. Why did you choose him to be your bodyguard?" Itsune said. Her brown eyes and brown hair was a complete contrast to Ino's platinum-blond hair and light blue eyes.

Ino sighed. "Mother you saw how strong he was. It's only right that someone so strong should be my bodyguard. Father has been telling me I should be more careful ever since I was a little girl. I figured he might as well be my bodyguard" Ino lied. Truthfully, she just wanted to be near him every day. Him being a bodyguard, specifically hers, would grant her that very wish.

Kazuma didn't want to hear anymore. He knew they weren't anywhere near being friends, but for some reason hearing that he was only her bodyguard made him feel a bit hurt. He wanted to be more than just employee and employer. Maybe it was because she was the most beautiful girl he's ever met. Even his master wasn't as beautiful. Kazuma decided to take his losses and jumped down from the outside of Ino's window. He decided he'd ring the doorbell and wait for her outside of the flower shop.

"Well Ino your father sure doesn't mind the extra protection, but you're a kunoichi. A ninja. You don't need much protection. Even still I know you're lying" Itsune said, she gave her daughter a knowing look. They had both heard the doorbell ring, but Ino was so shocked that she couldn't even move.

"How—"

"Ino I'm your mother and a mother knows things. He's a cute boy, but he seems reserved. If you want him, you'll have to fight for him and show him that you're the person for him. He is indeed strong though. I'll talk to your father about letting him stay with us" Itsune said as she walked out of her daughter's room.

The words that her mother had spoken stuck with her like white on rice. "I'll have to fight for him…" Ino thought to herself as she looked out the window. Suddenly she noticed that it was open. She was sure she had closed it last night. Then it hit her, Kazuma had jumped out the window before she had woken up. Ino walked over to the window and looked out of it. She saw Kazuma waiting for her and she smiled instantly. She ran into the bathroom and began getting ready for the day.

How'd you like it? I don't think I made this chapter to long. The length of this chapter was good in my opinion. Let me know what y'all think.

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