Sakura pulled herself up on the dining room table, clutching the edge as she leaned forward nervously. Ino pulled out the chair closest to the pink-haired girl and sat down, crossing her legs. They hadn't spoken much on the way to Sakura's empty house, and the silence seemed to follow even now. Tension settled between the two as each waited for the conversation to begin. Ino shifted, standing back up unable to sit comfortably.
"Ino." Sakura started, unsure really what to say. The blonde turned to face her, her cheeks a light pink as if her own thoughts had embarrassed her. Ino grabbed Sakura's face, holding her still as she closed the distance. She claimed Sakura's lips with her own, stepping in between her thighs. Sakura hadn't expected another kiss. She was sure she had offended her friend, creating an uncomfortable dynamic. She rested her hands on Ino's petite waist, returning the kiss. The blonde ran her finger through Sakura's hair, her lips parting as Sakura deepened the kiss. The pink-haired girl slid one hand to hold the small of Ino's back, her free hand traveled up Ino's inner thigh. Ino tensed, clutching Sakura's wrist as she broke the kiss. The girls were panting, and their faces flushed.
"I…I can't." Ino stuttered. The doorknob of the kitchen door twisted, signaling the girls to an intruder. Ino pulled away from Sakura, creating adequate space between them. A brunette woman walked into the kitchen, a bag of groceries in hand. Her bangs were set like a triangle between her eyebrows, her face shrouded with accusation.
"Sakura, your hair is a mess." Sakura's mother noted, setting the bag down on the table opposite the girl. "And your ass is on my table."
"I've had a busy day." Sakura defended. "I was just coming home to freshen up before getting back to it."
"Good thing Ino's here to help." Her mother stated. "She always looks so put together."
"Mom!" Sakura huffed. Without another word Sakura's mother ducked into the kitchen, leaving the two alone in an awkward silence.
"We were supposed to talk." Ino stated, clasping her hands behind her back and adjusting her gaze on the wooden floor.
"Right." Sakura flashed a self-conscious smile, running her fingers through her tangled pink hair. "We still can." She offered, not wanting to embarrass her friend by pointing out that Ino had initiated the kiss
"Not now." Ino shook her head, gesturing to the kitchen.
"Tonight?" Sakura offered. "We could get yakitori, in a nice public setting."
"Yeah…okay." Ino agreed. "What about Shikamaru and Choji? That's their favorite meal."
"Shikamaru is too busy, I can assure you." Sakura tilted her head to the side and thought for a moment. "Besides, we eat dinner together all the time. Nothing has to be any different."
…
Hinata crossed her arms and took a deep breath. Neji stared at his cousin in disbelief, unsure what to say. The forest grew quiet for a brief moment as the two stood in silence. They were midway through the path that connected the Uchiha compound to the rest of the village.
"Nii-san please." Hinata pleaded. "I absolutely can't do this on my own."
"No, you certainly can't." Neji agreed, crossing his arms over his chest. His expression, much like usual, was serious and stern. "It is absolutely ridiculous to put yourself in that danger. Why wouldn't you give this information to Sasuke?"
"Because Sasuke-kun would kill him."
"Try to." Neji corrected. "There is a reason Danzo is a mystery to us. A reason he is in charge of an elite, secret, militant force."
"He would confront Danzo almost immediately." Hinata ignored the doubt her cousin held in regard to Sasuke's strength and ability. "With an enemy like this you need intel…you need to learn and observe."
"Agreed, I just don't understand what any of this has to do with you." Neji inquired. "Have you not proven your loyalty to this boy?"
"It isn't about loyalty anymore." Hinata admitted. "If it were I would have given him the intel. I believe Danzo is a danger to our village, to our way of life."
"What makes you believe this?" The dark-haired boy asked. "How can you hold such an opinion on a man you weren't even aware of 9 months ago?"
"I believe he ordered the massacre of an entire clan; men, women, and children." Hinata chewed on her inner cheek.
"Why? Is this something Sasuke has convinced you of?" He asked, scanning the area, cautious of any onlookers who may stumble across their path.
"Actually," She paused, unsure how he would react. "It's something the masked man said."
"Are you serious?" He tensed, clearly disappointed in her trust of the source. "He is trying to insight a war. Why would you believe anything he told you?"
"I don't believe him, not entirely." She sighed. "Which is why I came to you instead going to Sasuke. I can't condone killing an innocent man. I need to know if he is as rotten as the masked man claims."
"Are you expecting another massacre?" He asked, slightly sarcastic.
"Of course not." Her frown deepened. "I want to know what kind of man orders the murder of children."
"Someone who is power hungry and afraid." Neji remarked. The two fell into a heavy silence, both pondering the idea of truly disgusting individuals. A twig snapped behind Neji and he spun around cautiously. "Who is there?" He demanded. Sakura moved into view, walking down the center of the dirt path.
"It's just me." The pink haired kunoichi announced, walking directly to Hinata's side. "I hope I'm not interrupting."
"Not at all." Neji nodded politely. We are done here."
"Please consider what I've asked Nii-San." Hinata pleaded one last time. Neji gave his cousin one final glance.
"Be sure to spend tonight at home." He urged. "Your father is disgruntled." Hinata nodded, not daring to promise him. She couldn't be sure where this evening would take her. Once Neji walked out of view the girls turned their attention to one another.
"How are you?" Hinata asked.
"Confused." Sakura admitted. "I know we've been in this really weird place lately, but I really need to talk, and I don't know who else to go to."
"You and Ino seem close these days." Hinata offered, jealousy laced her tone. Sakura took a second to find the words.
"That's the problem. I can't go to her, not about this."
"What is it?" Her tone kind once more as genuine concern took over.
"I kiss Ino." Sakura blurted. "Twice." Hinata blinked, standing perfectly still for what felt like an eternity for Sakura. "Say something!" The pink-haired girl demanded.
"Did you enjoy kissing her?" The Hyuga asked, not sure what to say or how to appropriately react.
"I don't know."
"You kissed twice; something must have gone right the first time." Hinata noted. "Why did you kiss the first time?" Sakura bit her lower lip before sighing.
"I saw you….with Sasuke." Sakura closed her eyes, unsure how to explain. "He was being so…loving to you. At that moment I just wanted to talk to Ino, maybe bitch about how unfair it all was. But when I found her…It just seemed like the right thing to do."
"Sakura….I am so very sorry about the pain I've caused you." Hinata whispered, her heart aching. She tried so desperately to avoid any intimate contact with Sasuke in front of her. Sasuke didn't feel the guilt of their pairing, but she certainly did.
"I can't talk about it right now." Sakura shook her head. "Not with you."
"How did kissing Ino make you feel?" Hinata asked, accepting the boundary her friend insisted on.
"Excited."
"Anything else?" Hinata asked.
"I don't know." Sakura frowned. "I haven't done these kinds of things, how is it supposed to make me feel?" Hinata wanted to explain this feeling of content that Sasuke gave her. How kissing him, resting in his arms, made her feel acknowledged, safe, and empowered. But she didn't, instead she offered a simple response.
"I don't know." The truth was when Sasuke first kissed her, Hinata was afraid. She was confused, angry,frightened, and yes…excited. The sense of security and connection had taken time, had taken commitment.