Sai drums his fingers over the marble counter, letting minutes pass instead of reading or checking his bike or anything work related. There are a thousand of things he could do than stare at his ringing phone, signaling the new message from Ino and do nothing.

He just had to reach, grab his phone and read. Three easy steps.

However, when it came to Ino things were never easy and after last night

Heat pools in his lower stomach as the vivid dream plays in his head. Certainly, it wasn't his first wet dream starring the buxom blonde but this time it had been so real and the way she moaned his name had been arousing beyond imagination –

His phone rings again and Sai shakes his head in an effort to clear his mind. Rubbing his palms over his tired eyes, he utters, "I'm going mad."

Sai greatly enjoys the quality time he spends with Ino, he really does. She can easily keep up with his personality and counter it with her own. She's a force of nature, stubborn and sassy. Her laughter strings something deep inside him and he knows that there is a mutual attraction between them, but somehow… if it's something different

He can't comprehend it. These complicated feels and strange urges he battles, anytime Ino is within range. The blonde manages to keep his attention focused solely on her when they are outside or just hang out in the shop. The Lord of the Rings marathon at her place was impeccable, the picnic last weekend was a success, and the bike rides around town after her designer sewing class were exhilarating, the shopping spheres were challenging and the video game days – every Friday and Monday – were downright savage. Sai isn't sure why he even agrees with Ino's plans but he does and he's yet to regret a single one.

Things weren't working out for the better, Sai thinks, his drumming fingers picking up speed. His life dramatically changed since the day Ino barged in it and refused to leave. The more he tried to push her away, the deeper she settled in and Sai slowly realized that his efforts to drive her away were losing strength, fast.

He should put distance between them. It's the right thing to do. Ino doesn't know what's she's getting into and should she be harmed, just because she happened to know him… frowning deeper, Sai doesn't want to consider.

Because it's possible. Though Sai washed his hands off the organization, he did piss off his fair share of individuals and he did get the occasional assassination attempt. (Sloppy, amateur stuff that made him roll his eyes. Really? Was this the best thing they could come up with?)

"I'm back!" Shin chirps loudly, having kicked the door open with a blinding smile. His head tilts to the side when Shin notices the dark frown in Sai's face. "What's with the long face? No sadness when I'm present."

Oh, joy, his brother back, alive, grinning and loud.

Annoyed black eyes slide over the beaming idiot and Sai bites back his retorts at the sight of a casted arm and bandaged neck. The same black eyes as his, albeit larger than Sai's, are sparkling in a way that indicates a healthy dose of painkillers.

Sai amuses himself that the slight swell in Shin's forehead is caused by a collision with a wayward object. He wholeheartedly supports that idea. As Shin tended to disappear from his hospital bed the moment he's conscious again, no matter in what condition he was. It wouldn't be the first time that Shin had to be dragged back – screaming and kicking mind you – to bed because he reopened his wounds or missed the window – his usual escape route.

Shin's hate of anything related to hospitals is quite infamous around, not that Sai blames him. While he had been very young, his brother had been old enough to remember. Shin still had nightmares from their shared time in the orphanage.

"Need some ice for that bump?" The tattooist asks sweetly, a practiced fake smile gracing his lips. "Or should I ask how the wall is holding up?"

Shin gives him a middle-fingered salute. "It was a pole, thank you very much."

Sai snorts. He's glad that his brother is back, although a bit roughened, but back. "How did you deceive death this time, brother?"

Shin waves his good arm and Sai sees more bandages poking from under his brother's shirt. "Always the drama queen with you. Just because I got scratched a bit, doesn't mean I was banging death's door."

An unimpressed brow rises slowly. "It looks more than mere scratches," Sai says dryly. He is faintly alarmed at the little sway in Shin's steps and it tenses his shoulders. Sai is ready to jump and grab him before he greets the floor with his blinding grin. (Wouldn't be a first.)

However, Shin makes it to the leather seat, unsteadily but he manages, and Sai allows his muscles to relax. The tattooist contemplates of either dragging his brother to the nearest flat surface or calling Rin over for a fast medical checkup. Though by the faint smell of antiseptic, Shin has probably made his escape from the clutches of the brunette medic the moment she turned her back. Rin should have cuffed him to the bed if she really wanted Shin to take his bed rest.

"Anyway, while your distraction tactics are remarkable, they're useless against the awesome me." Shin squints his eyes in a mock threat that only leads to an exasperated eye roll from Sai. "Spill the beans, little bro."

"There is nothing to spill," Sai replies voice even and disinterested, however, his eyes slid towards his left before he could stop himself. Shin easily catches the movement and twists his lips in a joyful, evil smile.

With reflexes honed through vigorous training, Shin leaps from his comfortable seat to the wayward sketch book on the counter. Sai mumbles curses as he reaches too, praying that Shin's injuries are painful enough to stall him.

However, no luck is on Sai's side, as even an injured Shin is a force to reckon with and he kept himself in top form while Sai allowed himself to slack off after leaving the organization.

His fingers twitch to just grab the sketchbook and hide it somewhere safe, out of reach. Not only because it's private – drawings that sprung to life from his deepest thoughts and desires – but also it's precious in its own way. Sai's jaw clenches as his insides twist uncomfortably, seeing the thick booklet in someone else's hands – even if it's his brother – it's wrong.

A little struggle breaks out, Shin drives his elbow into Sai's ribs and the latter responds with a swift kick to the knee. There is a low grunt and muffled curses, a few wayward punches, awkward kicks and a painful bite enough to bruise but not break skin.

Once the innocent looking booklet is in Shin's greedy hands, Sai growls and sits down. He knows when he's defeated – unlike Shin who is a sore loser – and Sai waits for the inevitable teasing and general curiosity coupled with needles excitement.

Sai knows every single drawing by heart and every single line is still fresh in his memory, as is the model. The thick book is full of her, and strangely Sai never gets bored of drawing her. Every time, she shows him a different side, like a palette made of a thousand of colors, not a shade is the exact same.

He likes the ones where her hair is down. Like a golden waterfall cascading down her slim shoulder to the small of her back. The ends of her golden tresses tease her curved bottom in a way that makes his mouth water. He also likes her braids which gives her a more feminine look and the casual buns that show off the pale column of her long neck.

He's fond of the ones where she's smiling. Twitching lips mere seconds away from turning into joyful grins, one side curved in a teasing manner accompanied by a golden brow arched suggestively, the smug smirks with her hands on her hips; the seductive smiles that make heads turn. His best, though, is the one where she's crouched on her heels, eagerly petting a stray puppy and cooing at its adorableness. Her red lips are curled in a heartwarming way and her eyes are fond in a manner Sai never witnessed.

And the one in the diner. She's gazing down at her half empty glass of wine, swirling the deep red drink. Her blue eyes are clouded, lost in deep thoughts with her other hand – delicate, perfectly manicured, with nails tinted in a soft violet – drumming absentmindedly. He's a bit annoyed that he couldn't exactly find the right colors for her eyes, she had a soft green eye shadow that made her blues seem denser – more like the ocean than the usual sky.

The ones where she is annoyed or angry are his favorite because those are the emotions that make her eyes shine the most. A lightning crackles deep in her blues as honey coated insults are thrown around. She abuses her soft lips aggressively with her white teeth, clicking her heels loudly as she marches up and down. She's the most alive and breathtaking when she's pissed and maybe that's way Sai enjoys ruffling her feathers so much.

Sai is aware that he has some difficulties openly expressing his emotions. He knows, so he trusts his skill with a brush do the talking. A painted canvas could tell more than Sai would be able to. Perhaps, that's the reason why he is filling his sketchbook with Ino. He's expressing his feelings, feelings he can't name nor comprehend, page after page, sometimes with ink sometimes with acrylic, he's painting in hope that he'll eventually understand.

"Holy shit!" Shin exclaims, eyes bulging as he leafs through the pages. Sai's wayward attention focuses back on his brother who whistles his appreciation. "Who's this chick and can I get her in my bed please?"

Sai runs his hand through his hair and wonders how many times a child had to fall on their head to reach Shin's level of craziness.

"No one." He counters weakly, mouth forming a firm line.

"Nice try, little bro, but you don't just sketch no one, repeatedly if I may add." Shin laughs and the quirk in his lips forebodes disaster. "So my little brother has finally come aware to his body's needs. Now there is no need to feel scared, I'll tell you everything you need to know about safe sex and –"

Sai's accuracy is perfect as his water bottle hits Shin right between his eyes and manages to shut him up with a pained grunt.

A halfhearted glare is sent over his way as Shin palms his new injury. "Yes, abuse the elderly."

"You're not that old." Sai counters. He hops over the marble counter and tugs Shin to the nearest chair. No matter how much he wants to strangle the idiot sometimes, he's still his big brother and passing out on the leather seat is less painful and troublesome for him.

The things Sai puts up with for Shin.

The tattooist absentmindedly thinks that if he ever had to write down his life that would be an accurate title depicting his life.

Shin eyes the sketchbook again but doesn't comment; instead, he animatedly talks about his last assignment, giving heavy emphasis on his awesomeness. Sai listens, like always, and the tattooist pretends not to notice the shifting eyes of his brother.

Sai crosses his arms over his chest and leans back. He's waiting for the inevitable, Shin had never been a patient person, the only reason Sai is momentarily off the hook is because his brother had different priorities.

"Okay, fine!" Shin grumbles after five minutes. Sai smirks knowingly; he knew his brother's quirks to well. "Who's this blonde hottie you're obsessing over? How much does she know? And is she good in bed?"

"She knows nothing." Sai stiffly replies, eyes narrowing. "And I'm not obsessing, she is an intriguing model and that's it. She's nothing more." Repeating it in his mind and saying it out loud had the same uncomfortable effect in his chest.

He purposely ignored the last question but Shin could read his little bro. Or so he thinks, "You haven't screwed her yet!" there is a horrified choke as Shin turns his wide eyes at Sai. He leans and whispers, "Oh dear lord, are you gay?"

There is a strangled noise as Sai glares. "I'm not gay Shin."

"It's okay, Sai, I'll love you no matter what gender you'll like to sleep with." Shin waves his good hand around, as words spill out. "I'm your brother and I'll always be by your side. You know I think Tenzo swings both ways, I'm sure if I ask he can help your first time be pleasurable. I heard gay sex hurts if you don't know what you're doing so –"

"Would you like me to hit you with the bottle again?" Sai asks, and his sharp smile shuts his brother up. He isn't above hitting his injured brother if the mild violence will make Shin listen to him rather than his irritating assumptions.

"I'm not gay." Sai feels the need to repeat himself. A pointed glare ceases any argument from his brother.

Shin eyes his little brother and sighs. "Fine. Let's pretend you aren't gay." His tone indicates his distrust of the statement. "What's the deal with the blondie?"

"Her name is Ino. She's a college student and the bane of my calm days." And from there Sai finds it easier to talk. He can't handle his own feelings and perhaps his brother could help him out. Shin had always been a bit more emotional of the two.

Perhaps Shin can help him understand.

So Sai tells.

Shin doesn't help him understand.

At all.

He's eyes are glassy as he bear-hugs Sai, spouting nonsense of young love, youth, marriage and how he'd be the perfect uncle. Sai has to hit his brother a few times to bring him back to his normal self – or as much as someone could be normal in Shin's case.

Shin laughs, palming his aching chin. He mildly regrets teaching his little brother to punch that hard. "You're in love little bro."

"I'm not." Sai argues and adds, "I'm not capable of feeling."

He can hear the ugly orders from the past, snarling that he was a machine and a machine alone. He can feel the ghost ache of his tired bones, and the sweat and the blood he shed along with his humanity. He was raised to be an emotionless machine.

Emotionless machines didn't fall in love.

There's old regret swirling in his brother's eyes and familiar pain lacing his voice as Shin murmurs, "You're… we're more than that. You should have picked by now that everything Danzo says is worth shit."

Sai lets his head fall into his palms. He can see the truth in Shin's words. Connecting the dots together is easy and the final piece glares with all his might.

"It's like chick flick. You hang out with a pretty girl and both learn that you can tolerate each other," Shin starts lightly. "Is it really necessary for something dramatic to happen for you to get out of denial and accept that you care for this girl?"

Sai looks at his pale fingers, calloused from holding different weapons, hands that committed unspeakable crimes. Crimes that would scare Ino away. Would she be disgusted if she knew what kind of man Sai had been? Will her eyes look at him with fear or disgust?

Sai doesn't want to find out.

A hand sneaks around his shaking shoulders. Sai finds much-needed comfort with the contact and leans back. He's not used to so much emotional intensity and Shin knows, he always knows in some weird brotherly way.

"Call her. Things might not go smoothly between you two at first but I'm sure you guys will manage. And if she feels a fraction of what you feel for her she'll understand. So call her."

Confused and achingly desperate eyes turn at the injured elder, "How can you be so sure, Shin?"

Shin grins, in one of his patented I'm-your-bro-its-my-job grin, "Your eyes sparkle when you talk about her. And your face gets this stupid, kinda moronic, sappy, lovesick – "

"Shin."

"Okay, okay, I'll be serious. For once." Shin shakes his head and his gray hair slaps Sai in the face. "We've been through hell and back little brother. Root might have fucked us both up and the best way to say screw you on their face is to be a happy functional human being. What's more human than love?"

Sai takes in a shaky breath. "I believe you read too many teenage novels."

"Hey!" he argues, sounding mildly offended. "I don't make fun of your emo artistic lifestyle so back off."

The two siblings stare at each other intensely before Shin bursts out laughing and Sai allows a fond smile.

"What about Root?"

Shin scoffs. "Fuck Root. You're done with that shit."

Oh, how Sai wishes those words to be true. "If they learn about her –"

Shin digs his knuckles hard at Sai's side, promptly shutting up the younger sibling. Sai glares and Shin winks.

"Some things are worth the risks little bro," says Shin softly. "She's probably worth a million bucks."

The tattooist feels touched; he feels his lips stretch in a smile and warmth fill his insides. Strengthening his resolve is exactly what Sai needed.

"Enough dilly dallying. Call her, now."

Shin dangles the black phone in front of Sai like some sort of bait. Reluctantly, Sai dials Ino's number and his breath evens with every single ring. Anticipation coils inside of him, he's about to hear her voice, Ino's voice.

He's rather shocked when he hears slurring German curses from the other end.

"Ino?" He calls out. Shin curiously leans forward and Sai kicks him away.

"Sai." Is Ino' response and Sai can feel panic rear his ugly head. She sounds broken, angry, hurt and drunk.

"Ino have you been drinking?" The words come out easier than Sai expects.

"No." silence. "…Maybe… you can't prove it."

"What's happening little bro? Your face is scary. I'm about to murder scary."

The tattooist is already on his feet and grabs his keys as he asks, "Where are you Ino? I'm coming." Don't move, he wants to say. Stay, until I figure out who reduced you to this state.

"Oh," The sarcastic bite grabs his attention. "So now you want to grace me with your attention. Well, flash news inky, you're a few decades late."

Ino hangs up but Sai is already on his bike.


Ino is furious, Sai can tell.

If there was ever a time he wished he could read minds, it was now, as he studied the seething blonde. The very wet seething blonde.

He ignores the tightening feeling in his cargo pants as he slowly approaches. While Ino always had a certain charm in her, now, with her rain-soaked appearance, clattering teeth behind thin lips, flashing blue eyes like the storm raging around them, Ino possessed an ethereal beauty.

So beautiful that Sai just had to kiss her.

They witness a forked lightning illuminate the dark corners. And Sai fully takes in Ino.

He truly sees her for all her faults, quirks, and worth. Under the millisecond of light, Sai sees a lifetime of Ino. Smiles bright as her hair, the faint wariness she expertly hides, the tip of her tongue poking between her lips as she scratches down her newest design, the stubborn tilt of her soft jaw, sparkling blue eyes with childish glee whenever Sai brings her pudding, the exotic scent of wildflowers that seemed to accompany her and –

Sai understands just a little more about the thing (Love, a voice suspiciously sounding like Shin whispers) – the attraction, the challenge, the frustration, and the want he shares with Ino.


Her head pressed on his tense back, thin arms hugging his middle, a roaring engine under her that speeds through the mighty storm, Ino thinks.

It strangely pisses Ino of, how the mysteriousness only makes Sai more attractive. The blonde doesn't like secrets, though her curiosity got her into more trouble than she'd like to admit. So, the fact that she can bear the unknown that's Sai, is ridiculous.

The conversation she had with Kiba on the way to the bar sneaks into her thoughts.

"When I think about him, I realize I don't know anything about him Kiba. He's the only one who has tried to understand me for real. However, when it's his turn he's silent. I don't know about his past or the reason of his blank mask and fake smiles. I don't know a single thing about him while it feels like he knows my whole soul."

Ino replays the whole day, the whole weeks she had spent with Sai and she understands that she's scared.

She's terrified that as soon as she finds out anything about him, the magic will break and Sai will get even further away.

Her arms tighten around the muscled frame. Ino has already lost her best friend and her prince charming. This fickle game she had been playing with Sai ended up with a deeper bond than she imagined.

She smiled and winked and seduced but in the end, the one who got mesmerized was her.

Ino never imagined that she might lose more than she bargained for.

Could she be… more than… for Sai?

Under the assault of the pounding rain, Ino closed her eyes shut. Her head started to pound painfully, not helping her state of mind. The blonde is scared, terrified even, the sturdy walls she built through the years are crumbling like a paper forth.

She licks her tingling lips. She can faintly feel the pressure of another set of lips, a demanding tongue and playful teeth. There's longing in her heart and an uncomfortable clenching in her stomach. A faint suspicion poisons her agitated thoughts.

No. Ino clenches her teeth so hard her chin aches. It's just sexual attraction; once we sleep together it will be done.

The blonde didn't believe in fairy tales or one true love. She passed the delusional little girl dreams ages ago.

After all, love didn't exist.

It is just a fancier way of saying sex.


Sai takes Ino to his place. Well, that's what Ino is assuming. She doesn't recognize the neighborhood and the tall building Sai pulls over. He expertly parks the bike under a metal plank and hops down, taking the shivering blonde with him. They go inside the old apartment complex, passing through ugly green entrance, Sai calls the elevator.

Punching the last floor, he drops his leather jacket over Ino's wet shoulders.

Ino grabs the ends of the jacket without a word. She wants to explode, scream, kick and cry but she holds it in. A rusty elevator with annoying background music isn't exactly the best place to get a mental breakdown.

Also, the promise of a bath and dry clothes helps.

The number 14 lights up as the silver doors slide open. Sai's hand hovers over her back close enough to guide but not touch. Ino takes a deep breath, she isn't sure if she could have kept it together with skin contact.

The drenched couple passes through greener painted hallways until Sai stops at the last door. He fishes his keys and they are inside.

Ino lets the heavy jacket fall down her shoulders and Sai turns around with the noise. She doesn't care about the wet mess she is making, Ino growls and swings her fist as fast and as hard as she can.

Sai easily blocks her assault but Ino takes pleasure of the widened eyes. She can crack his stupid mask. And once she manages to they'll end up in a mess of limbs under the sheets.

Then Ino will be free.

No, lose ends.

No stupid concepts like love.

Sex will settle everything.

She had to settle everything before she gets hurt.

"Where's the bed. Let's get this over with." Says Ino without looking up. She fears of what she might see in those eyes. The blonde's heart is frantically beating inside her chest as she mumbles a curse.

"Ino what are you –"

"The floor is fine too." In a swift move, her drenched sleeveless shirt joins the leather jacket on the floor. The room is cold and the blonde can't stop the goosebumps on her skin.

Ino is fumbling with her belt when a pale hand stills her. Instinctively her gaze shuts up, locking with intense black. Sai is looking at her but no matter how much she stares, Ino can't find a sliver of lust in them.

How is she supposed to get over him if she can't even get Sai to sleep with her? Sex is safe, it's a mutual sharing of momentary pleasure. With sex, Ino knows what to do.

But Sai is still looking at her, wet strands brushing his deep eyes. She is cold, shivering but somehow the heavy emotions playing in those charcoals warms her.

Ino doesn't want warm. She doesn't know how to deal with the kind of warmth Sai is displaying. She wants a long steaming shower, fluffy pillows and coffee to help her milk her coming hangover. But she can't. Ino has to deal with Sai right now because she knows she won't find the courage later.

With a powerful tug, Ino frees her hand and wraps her arms around Sai's neck. Ino tips her head back and crushes her lips against his in an uncomfortable angle. Her nails rake down the tattooist's wet tank top with practiced ease.

Sai is still like a statue even when Ino desperately grinds herself against his muscled frame. Faintly alarmed, Ino bits down softly on his neck than sucks strongly, looking for a reaction. Her clawed hands grasp his shaped behind, however, Sai doesn't budge. No matter what she did, Ino couldn't bring forth the fire they ignited on that kiss under the thunderstorm.

"Touch me," the blonde rasps in the neediest voice she could manage. "Please, Sai. Touch me."

Touch me, while I can still walk away. Touch me, while my heart is still my own.

Sai closes his eyes briefly and the magical hold disappears. "Ino."

Hearing her name, pronounced so softly and filled with raw emotion shatters her.

She crumbles like a house made of cards, but Sai catches her. His arm is firm and assuring so Ino just, lets him. The tattooist carries the blonde to the modest bathroom, fills the tub with steaming water and leaves Ino to take a much-needed bath.

Ino is supposed to be angry, she never liked being ignored, but she finds herself to be too tired for anger. She turns to fear, however, the mild headache annoys her too much to shake. And her pride wouldn't let her cry so that only leaves insecurity.

Like in autopilot, Ino sheds her pants and underwear and slips in the heavenly water. A knock is heard but Ino doesn't speak up, neither does Sai wait for an answer. He walks inside with dry sweatpants and a towel around his neck. Ino hugs her knees closer to chest and Sai clears his throat awkwardly.

"I'm making some coffee," says Sai and he sounds as uncomfortable as he looks. "There are clean towels on the top shelf and I'll leave something for you to wear on the counter."

Ino nods and accepts the painkiller and the glass of water. She also lets Sai fuss over her a bit more until he leaves to check the kitchen. Once the water loses its comfortable warmth, the blonde slips out of the bathtub dries her hair as best as she can, and looks over whatever Sai brought.

A clean black boxer is small enough not to fall down her hips, however, the black t-shirt and the matching sweatpants aren't that lucky. Ino had to fold the ends of her pants twice, and while the t-shirt ended right down her bottom, the collar refused to cover both her shoulders. So Ino let it slide down one shoulder.

It isn't exactly her style, but she is dry and warm again so Ino won't complain.

She silently steps out to a long corridor. At her left, she can see the salon and she can hear bustling in the kitchen where Sai is. While the smell of coffee is tempting, curiosity wins.

Ino starts with the door in front of her and she isn't surprised to find it to be a studio. She doesn't light the room; the window brings in enough light for Ino to see. There are several paintings hung around and the smell of wet paint and oil tickles her nose. Blue eyes look through the messy room and she catches different paintings; a lovely sunset is in the corner, a German Shepherd running on a beach is hung over the mahogany table, a breathtaking forest is standing in front of dozens of canvases. But when Ino sees her own portrait left to dry in front of the window she feels the air leave her lungs. Her eyes spastically look around and she can make out several more canvases with herself.

The room starts spinning and Ino throws herself out of the damn place. Shivering and gulping air, Ino rests her head against the brown wooden door. When her heartbeats get to an acceptable level, Ino swears under her breath.

"Idiot, you were the one who wanted to know more about him," Ino mumbles to herself as she opens the door on the right.

Its Sai's bedroom and unlike the messy confusion of the studio, this room is perfectly organized and clean. There's a king-sized bed in the middle and a dark brown wardrobe in front of it. Tentatively, Ino pokes her head inside; it almost feels unlived and dark and she is about to turn away when she makes out a small frame on the table. It looks to be a photograph with two people but Ino can't be sure with the darkness and distance. With small steps, she strolls to the sturdy table near the bed and yes, it's a photograph of a younger Sai and another man. The man has silver hair and black eyes like Sai's, however, he's beaming in a way Ino knows Sai would never.

They look close, friends maybe even brothers. Ino can see the ghost of a smile on Sai's lips and the softness in his eyes. He looks to be completely at ease with the silver haired man's arm around his shoulders.

"He's Shin. My brother."

The red frame slips through her fingers as she jumps back. Sai's hand snatches the small frame before it falls. Ino gulps and inhales in hope to control her frantic heartbeat.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you." Sai apologizes softly and Ino shrugs in response.

The blonde's eyes fall down the frame. She looks at the happy duo and her stomach churns. "I didn't know you had a brother."

"There are many things you don't know about me."

"So I figured." Ino snaps, hand crossed over her chest defensively.

The silence is absolute as blue and black meets. Ino feels like she's waiting on a knife's edge, rooted on the spot. Unable to move and unable to look away, her breath coming way too fast as the air becomes heavy with tension.

Ino is determined to win. She was half-drunk, cold and wet on the doorstep, however, now the tables are turned and Ino refuses to act out of character again.

Her lips curl in triumph when Sai tears his gaze away, conflicted and pained.

"The coffee will get cold," Sai comments suddenly and Ino blinks in surprise. He's about to leave when Ino blurts, "I won't fall in love with you."

Sai stops short, shoulders rigid and back tense. Ino is sure time somehow stopped that instant as she clenched her hands and tried to remember how to breathe. Did she really say that out loud?

Ino clenched her eyes shut, angry and annoyed at herself for letting those words slip. She is just about to lose control and break, though she doesn't know if she'll cry or scream or beg and God, why does it feel so painful too –

"I was hoping you wouldn't." Sai's tone is carefully even and devoid any kind of emotion. "Thank you for making it clear Ino, now, about that coffee –"

"I don't want coffee." Ino interrupts him. The coldness of her voice is mirroring Sai's.

Sai shrugs, with his back still turned. "You can have the bed then. Good night Ino."

"Night."

Ino's heart is beating fast in her chest, echoing through her mind and successfully washing away any other sound. She wasn't aware that she moved until her knees gave out and she collapsed on the mattress.

Eyes wide open, panic slowly bubbling up her throat, choking and burning, Ino shuddered. "This is how things are supposed to be," Ino lets out a strangled, strained laugh that sounds like screeching to her ears. "Come on, Ino, you know better. Love doesn't exist."

Darkness edges into Ino's vision, chasing away all the light and she thinks that maybe, if she can repeat it a thousand times it'll sound true to her ears.