A/N: It's been a while. I hope you all find reasons to smile in the day, and this is definitely not a cheesy sentiment but a true wish.
You taught me how to smile.
Ino scrutinised Sai then as his pale expression was as unmoving as a rock face. Meanwhile, he merely looked down at the woman standing before him, who was now pressing her lips tightly together to stop a laugh from escaping. The reason was that Ino had decided on an objective, so her fingers were currently forcing the corners of his mouth up. And once satisfied, she held the look in place.
"There," Ino remarked.
Though the longer Ino observed her work, the more she noted that it was the most manic smile she had ever seen because, unfortunately, Sai's eyes had still maintained their vacant neutrality.
Ino couldn't help herself, and her shoulders shook. She quickly let go of the forced look she had created upon Sai's face.
"It's supposed to feel something like that," Ino remarked, "I think you get the idea. Though a smile should reach your eyes too."
Sai nodded, and despite being physically manipulated, there was a quiet place within him that had enjoyed Ino's touch. However, this admission was soon eclipsed as Sai thought through how to smile though he knew the mechanics. He was aware that he could not force such authentic expressions, as they were linked to emotions. Happiness or amusement could evoke a genuine smile.
"Who knew a simple gesture could be this complicated?" Sai voiced then.
Ino grew sombre and reassured him. "You will get there."
Sai was not disappointed but more out of sorts that he could not achieve something so basic. Furthermore, his root survival instincts (which were not shaken off so easily) had made Sai particularly fixated on emotionally evolving so that he could not only read others but communicate in society. People were necessary and valuable when needed, so he was required to connect with them.
Then, Sai felt a hand on his arm and came back to the present.
Ino was squeezed his arm in affirmation.
What could Sai say about Ino? She did not fit into the category that he had mentioned. She made him want to be better emotionally for no reason linked to self-preservation or gain.
She was an anomaly.
~~ooOOoo~~
The heavens had opened up on this particular day, and great puddles had pooled in dips and corners of the streets. It had been raining all day, yet Sai had decided to go out of his way after work and take a detour to the Intelligence division. He knew that a certain kunoichi would still be working despite her contracted hours. So Sai was quick to reach the eves and wait outside the entrance. He could hear the strength of the rain against the metal roof though there was no need, for he had already felt it.
It wasn't long before Ino walked through the glass doors. Her shoulders were sagging, and she appeared to be dragging her feet. It seemed that her day had been a laborious one, for her face was marred with a look of exhaustion. Just then, her weary eyes came up at that moment at met his; they widened in response. Ino paused mid-stride at the utter randomness of finding Sai standing before her. Not only that, his appearance left her shocked. He was very much soaked. His clothes clung to his body, and droplets of water fell from his dark hair, which Sai tried to sweep away from his eyes.
"Sai," she acknowledged, though sounded lost.
He greeted her with a bow of his head.
Ino looked about her surroundings. She was still stuck.
"What are you doing here?" Ino asked, unable to help herself and knowing Sai would take no offence.
Sai was, as a matter of fact, as ever. "I decided I wanted to see you earlier today."
In response, Ino experienced a shake in her legs. It was the usual reaction to his plain honesty without pretence. Did Sai know the full power of his words on her? Ino doubted very much so. He probably saw them as innocuous.
Momentarily Sai turned around to survey the rain and noted that it would not ease soon.
"We should go back inside, though," Sai advised, deciding that it would be better to wait out the weather, no matter how long it took.
When Sai returned his attention back to Ino, he came face to face with an altogether different woman. Her shoulders had come back up, and she stood tall with newfound energy. Ino's face was adorned with a full beaming smile. Spontaneously Ino stepped out from under the eves and greeted the rain with an upturned face. She was quick to grow as drenched as Sai.
Sai immediately followed her and once more met the deluge.
"Ino," he admonished at her illogical behaviour.
The streets were deserted due to the heavy rain. However, many shops had already closed due to the later hour. Without warning, Ino took off, half running, half dancing through the waterfall that pounded the ground beneath her. Sai had no choice but to follow, and he continued to call her name.
Ino suddenly felt alive due to the change in the mundane of her days and weeks. She was invigorated by the rain that washed away her exhaustion, and the sweet sound of her name on Sai's lips heated her heart. Even with her hair now plastered to her head and clinging clothes, she was still exhilarated. Ino was not ruminating about the past or worrying about the future. She was simply living in the moment as her lungs ached slightly from the overexertion, but she continued to run. There was a sense of childlike freedom, and it was like a drug to her. She wanted more.
It was only when Ino could no longer run did she finally stop. The force of nature was formidable, but Ino merely pushed back her wet hair so that she could see. Her feet had subconsciously carried her towards her in the direction of home.
Sai had appeared then, and his confusion had slightly warped his still features.
"Have you never just wanted to walk or run through the rain? " she asked loudly over the pounding water against the surrounding roofs.
"No," Sai merely answered as equally loud.
It was to be then that the sound of music could be heard nearby. Ino looked up in the direction of the sound. The reverb was strong but slow, and the drum beats made Ino begin to move. Next, there was synth music and foreign vocals, which Ino joined in.
"Me and my boy," she sang, "Solid as they come."
"Me and my boy," she continued, "It's not a question now."
Sai merely stood, not understanding her words, therefore, settled for observing. He had not yet linked any emotions to rain though the torrential downpour with its heavy grey clouds was a stark and interesting contrast against her joy. She was like a burning light of a summers day. The pure smile and Ino's free laughter captured Sai in a trance. Her energy was infectious, and it seeped into his very bones, and Sai's muscles itched to move. Sai pondered then on her excentricity and found her abnormal. Finally, however, he came to an understanding that he… wanted to be swept up by her seemingly unconventional and irrational behaviour.
She is so wonderfully mad.
Unbeknownst to Sai, he was so caught up in the sensory information, thoughts and observations to notice what was happening to his face. After all, it was reactionary. For the first time entirely reactionary.
It was fortuitous timing that Ino had become out of breath at that very moment and stopped to look in his direction, and she refilled her lungs. A sudden shake of astonishment took her over at the sight before her. The moment had been fleeting, and yet she had managed to capture the memory.
It was another few seconds before Sai noticed that Ino was standing still before him. He merely stared back.
"What's wrong?" he asked, at her sudden tonal shift.
The rain continued to pour.
Ino could not speak.
A smile…
I taught him how to smile.
The End
A/N: I love these two!
Ironically, this short fic was inspired by me mishearing the lyrics to MGMT - me and Micheal - I had initially heard it as 'me and my boy.'
