A/N: Hey guys, I just wanted to thank the people who commented in the last chapter. I know I'm not the fastest updater but I just really like taking things slow and work on multiple things!
Special thanks to SugarRiene, miyutikazuya, zaz, semanggis, MasterJennfer, Lemonchello, 87 and the 4 Guests.
He can feel lying on something soft and warm with something – probably a blanket – swallowing his whole frame. Apparently, blinking makes his brain leak out of his ears and Sai groans, trying to hide deeper –
As soon as he moves, Sai immediately regrets the action. Blinding pain drums inside his skull and he cradles his pale face, squeezing his eyes shut against the bright light. He only moves when his head doesn't feel like it's going to roll off his shoulders and Sai carefully opens his eyes to peer through his shaking fingers.
Hangover. His brain points out, ever the helpful. This isn't torture, you know what that feels like. Hangover is the lesser devil.
It certainly doesn't feel like it, at the moment.
"Shin?" he calls, the word comes out thick, barely recognizable. From the feel of his tongue and teeth he knows, at least, had thrown up twice last night. Contemplating ways to murder his big brother makes Sai ignore the hot pain lacing through his brain.
One look around confirms it that he is in his room. On the top of his bedside table, there is a glass of water that Sai eagerly reaches out for. The water is warm on his tongue but at least his mouth doesn't feel like it's stuffed with cotton balls anymore.
Sai gives himself a few more minutes to orient, pushing the heavy covers off he sits on his bed. The movement makes the room spin and Sai breathes through his nose slowly until it stops. His bare feet are silent on the rug as Sai staggers to his bathroom. Involuntarily, he pauses in front of the mirror. A tired, haggard man with sunken eyes and sickly pale skin stares back. He barely looks human and the fingers going through his hair just messes up his look rather than fixing it. There is an irritating five o'clock taking over his jaw and he doesn't need to smell his shirt to know that he stinks like the floor of a cheap shady bar.
The shower looks heaven-sent and Sai fumbles out of his clothing. He's graceless as he tosses his alcohol/puke soaked shirt and knowing that Shin put him to his bed with soiled clothes makes a vein pop in his forehead. Perhaps Sai could wrap his brother with his sheet and burn them altogether.
It doesn't help that his memories of last night have gotten sketchy and blurry after the fourth shot of tequila.
Sai should really learn to say no to Shin better.
Only after a long shower Sai manages to feel alive-ish.
With only a pair of dark green sweatpants and dripping hair –because the heating is working fine and wearing more would have Sai sweating like crazy – Sai finds his brother violating his kitchen. The colorful choice of words is halted once he smells coffee and buttered toast. Priorities. His brother will still be present for a tongue lashing after breakfast.
"So you do own something that's not black." Shin grins. His silver hair is bound messily on his nape and Sai recognizes the shorts-shirt pair his brother is wearing.
"Are those mine?" he asks, voice still croaky.
Shin hands him a blue mug filled to the brim with life-giving elixir and with a plate full of toast he sits at the square island in the middle of his kitchen.
Sai chugs his coffee down, barely registering the heat as it burns down his throat. The plate of buttered toast is left on the table, untouched. Sai doesn't think he could handle anything solid so he goes to lie down on his couch, throwing his hand over his light-sensitive eyes.
"Sure you don't wanna eat?"
Sai grunts. "Not now."
"Well, your loss my gain!" Shin is fast to attack his little brother's share of breakfast.
Sai sighs, wishing for painkillers but he knows he won't take any. Painkillers muddled the mind, dulled the senses and left you vulnerable. Something that would get you killed in Root. An old habit he never could completely brake off.
Soft footsteps reach his sensitive ears and Shin flops on the single armchair. They are silent for a while and Sai starts counting in his head because he knows his brother and being still and silent out of missions –
"You know," Shin tentatively says and Sai snorts. "I had fun yesterday. We didn't spend much time lately so – well, what I'm trying to say is, you should now that –"
"What, Shin?" Sai bluntly interrupts.
"I'm called in."
The forearm covering his face is lifted and Sai's black gaze shifts. "When?"
"This morning. Should be at headquarters at noon."
Shin looks out of the window while munching on more toast. Sai pushes himself to his elbows, surveying the bandages around Shin's arm and neck, the yellowish bruises in the state of fading on his brother's legs and the slight swelling around his left eye. "Are you ready?"
The smile curling Shin's lips are bitter. "Dear brother, you know we don't get to privilege of choosing. Don't get your panties in a twist though; it's something easy to get me warmed up."
Sai doesn't really believe it but he knows the rules as much as his brother. "Be careful." He offers lightly.
"Awww. Is baby brother worrying about me?" Stars shine in Shin's eyes as he throws himself at his unsuspecting brother. Sai, knowing his brother's way of thinking, has already moved out of the way. Shin hits the couch face-first. "Ouch." He rubs his nose, lips pouting childishly. "Sai, you wound me."
Sai tries not to roll his eyes. He fails. "I will wildly take a shot in the dark and suggest you this brand new innovation. If you'd stop, perhaps – just saying, being an idiot, then you'd avoid getting hurt."
"You've grown to be a rather cheeky brat." Shin accuses, poking his brother with his bare feet.
The tattoo artist pushes the offending limb away from his ribs. Shin over-balances and with a low yelp, roll off the couch. "It's called maturity." Sai offers a bland, close-eyes smile. "You should try it."
Sprawled on the floor Shin snorts. "Nah – too boring." He tilts his head. "So, did the alcohol help?"
"Help what?"
Shin makes a noise like a choking penguin or something and next thing Sai knows his brother has his leg captive in a strong grip. A strong tug has him tumbling down on top of Shin.
"Shin! What-"
"Ouch, ouch, ouch get your elbow off my face-"
"Let my leg go first!"
"No! Not before you grow a brain!"
"Did you even graduate past kindergarten?"
They roll around the living room where Sai hits his head against his coffee table when Shin laughs like the idiot he is which prompts Sai to grab the nearest pillow and try to smother his brother. Swiftly, it turns into an impromptu wrestling match for the soft pillow/weapon. Cursing in a way that would make a nun blush, Shin drums his knuckles between sensitive ribs and with his brother distracted steals his pillow.
"Shin, I swear-"
With an annoyed growl, the younger sibling lunges forward, grabbing another pillow and slams it repeatedly onto Shin. Shin flips their position and straddles his brother to give back his own beating with the pillow. Sai does his best to block Shin's attacks but it's difficult when they keep rolling on the floor.
Sai grunts and with his returning headache and clenching stomach (Shin also shouldn't fool around like this when he had to leave for a mission soon) he decides to end it as fast as possible.
His hand sneaks under the couch for one of his hidden weapons. Shin hears the click and with a grin that's hidden under a pillow, aims his own thin knife at Sai thigh right above a major artery.
Sai feels the knife even with his sweatpants in the way but his grip on his pistol stays the same.
Shin flings the pillow out of Sai's reach. "You ain't as rusty as you seem little bro." he laughs it out, slightly breathless.
Sai gaze is flat as his voice. "Thank you." The weight of a weapon is familiar and unconsciously he thinks of the last time he had one in his hands. The millisecond spark of emotion in black eyes catches Shin's attention. He arches one brow but Sai refuses to budge or answer.
"Let's get back on track, whaddaya say?" Shin offers the olive branch. Sai back off – pistol still on hand with his finger on the trigger – and rests his back on his worn couch.
Shin twirls his knife expertly between his fingers. It's his show-off nature bleeding into his movements as he rolls to sit on his heels without dropping the spinning blade. "I'm not sure how much of yesterday you remember," Sai narrows his eyes. "Not much, as I guessed. Anyway. Doesn't matter what happened but why."
Sai blinks.
"You can't be serious." Shin declares, hands in the air. "Sai, dear brother, blonde bombshell? Rings any bells?"
Ino.
Sai must have an interesting expression because Shin grins. "You almost called her like thirty times yesterday." Horror. Sai's feeling horror in his gut. "But you chickened out. Said she'd never pick the phone. You know, I agree. Go and woe her face-to-face and even if you screw up the sexual tension will fill in nicely." He smacked his brother's back and Sai almost crashed onto the coffee table. "Be brave and get laid."
Sai drives his elbow deep into Shin's gut and gets his feet under him. He wasn't hungry before but now his stomach begs for some food and even cold toast seems good enough.
He is in the kitchen, munching on toast while Shin gets his coat and sends a kiss to his brother. "I'm off." Sai nods mouth full and busy chewing. "I'll stay in touch. And while I'm away for the love of God, do something about your crush."
Shin leaves.
"I feel like I'm waiting for something that won't happen." He admits eventually to no one in particular. He's alone in his kitchen and the total stillness gets to his nerves.
Like always, the routine of the last weeks, he thinks of Ino. It's bordering obsession or maybe that's how humans act when they –
These conflicting emotions inside of him keep growing, taking root deep inside him. The more they grow the more they tangle. It's getting to the point that Sai is sure he'll slip into insanity.
He wants to see her. He wants to hear her laugh and watch the sun play with her long hair. He wants her to be safe, out of the reach of thrash Sai knows exists just under their noses. He's scared of the intensity between them and how it clouds his judgment and shifts his priorities. He worries she'll get hurt because of him or worse hate him for it.
Sai really can't stand Ino's hatred. He wouldn't survive it unscathed.
In the end, it comes down to her choice.
He wouldn't risk it, normally, but he can imagine her right in front of him, stubborn and beautiful and so much alive and he can't help it. It's enough to make Sai want to be a tiny bit reckless.
A wooden spoon in hand, Ino sways her hips to the latest Beyoncé song blasting from her small radio. Her small kitchen smells like a cheap Indian restaurant and the square table in the middle seems freshly out of an episode of master chef.
She'll clean it. Later. Maybe.
Mess aside, Ino keeps up with the beat and little Yukiko joins her. He jumps and rolls around burning the excessive energy contained in that small furred body. Ino makes sure that she hadn't spilled anything while cooking, having spent plenty of time in the Inuzuka household thought her to always check for hungry four-legged tricksters and their ability to snatch and chew anything. As a newly titled pet owner, Ino can picture herself dashing for the nearest vet with a comatose pup that managed to taste test her heavily spiced curry.
Kiba would never let that one slide. She'll be butt joked for eternity.
One glance is enough to make sure her pot is not boiling over – the curry is on the lowest setting to completely savor the flavor. Bending down she picks the wiggling form of her pup and starts dancing around the kitchen with him in his arms. Yukiko's overjoyed yips are added to her tone-deaf voice as they both sing along with Beyoncé. She laughs and it feels amazing.
The song ends and Ino is a tiny bit breathless. Maybe she should pick up her Yoga routine again.
In her arms, Yukiko is curiously sniffing around now that he has a higher reach he usually lacks. Kiba assured her that he should at the least reach her hip once his growing kicked in.
Kiba said that these dogs were loyal and easy to train but Ino has to admit that she doesn't know about Yukiko and how to be a dog owner. She makes a mental note to drop by Hana's vet clinic tomorrow morning before going to the fabric store. The older Inuzuka would also help her buy more stuff for her pup. Kiba had been smart and brought with him a pair of bone-themed feeding bowls, a tennis ball, and a purple collar-leash pair but Yukiko probably needed more.
Hoisting the little guy on her hip in a comfortable position, Ino whips out her phone and starts browsing.
'Highly trainable and loyal to owners.'
Already knew that, come on Google give me more.
'Obedient and requires a great deal of exercise. If they can't find an outlet for all the energy they can get destructive.'
…If this is Kiba's way of saying exercise more, then, Ino's going to make sure to kick him hard next time they meet up.
'Dogs with short coats are vulnerable to cold. They should have a jacket or sweater for cold seasons.'
Ino looks out of her kitchen window. The roofs and sidewalks still support a good portion of white snow and unconsciously Ino tightens her hold on Yukiko. She adds winter gear to her to-buy-list.
'A family dog and shouldn't be left alone for too long. Being included in family activities will make them happy.'
That could be a problem. Ino lived alone in her two-room flat and had classes to juggle between hours of sketching, stitching and studying, she might neglect Yukiko. Her father came to mind but she couldn't leave an energy filled pup inside a flower shop.
Well, she'll ask for some ideas from either Hana or Kiba.
'Doberman will assume the alpha role if they think the owner isn't a suitable leader.'
Ino narrows her eyes at the text and holds her pup up from the thick neck up to eye level. Dead serious she cocks her hip in a challenging manner and growls, "I'm the alpha bitch in the house, Yukiko. You're pack and I'm the leader."
Under her stare, Yukiko yips and licks her nose.
Ino lowers the pup on her hip and counts that as a win.
A bit more browsing tells her that they aren't a breed of dog that barked or howled often. She is delighted to discover that they grow slowly; it takes them three to four years to leave puppyhood size. Also, because they weren't bred to hunt it wasn't in their nature to chase down prey. They also preferred staying close to their owners instead of wandering.
Great. Ino doesn't have to worry about Yukiko dashing after squirrels and getting lost.
There are some articles about ear cropping and tail docking that Ino flat out ignores. She has no intention to do any of those.
Lastly, Ino finds out that socialization has huge impact on temperament. The internet suggests that the Dobie passes some family time with its mum or siblings regularly to mellow down.
That one could actually solve her problem with leaving Yukiko alone during class hours. If she can convince Kiba, Ino could drop Yuki off to the Inuzuka kennels and also join up the dog training courses they have.
In her arms, Yukiko shifts and extends a brown paw to reach –
"Yukiko, no! Bad dog. You can't play with Munich!" Ino scolds the pup. She wiggles her finger and puts her best angry face. Yukiko looks up with adorable eyes but his ears flop down.
Munich is the purple colored Iris Germanica plant she kept in her kitchen. As the name seemed perfect for her – and in her favorite color too! – Ino brought the plant from her father's shop two years ago. The name Munich is an homage to where her grandparents are living.
Apart from Munich, Ino has 6 more plants – all named, of course – around the house that she cared almost religiously every day. Now, though, with a dog in the house, she might have to relocate them to higher places and spare more time to Yuki.
When Yukiko wiggles to break free, Ino lets him down and the eager pup bounds for the tennis ball he left in the hall. While Yukiko is running up and down the hallway Ino tastes the curry. She adds a pinch of salt and turns down the fire, distractedly stirring the pot.
Its curiosity, once again, that makes her Google Iris Germanica and dogs.
The page loads slowly and Ino almost drops her phone.
It's a toxic plant for dogs. The bulb leaves and stem can cause fever, vomiting, and diarrhea.
Fingers trembling, she checks her other plants.
She isn't surprised that Lucifer is highly toxic to pets. It's a plant that can be mildly harmful in small doses even to humans. Well, exactly what one could expect from a plant alternatively called Devil's Ivy. But, Lucifer was also a gift from her mother, for one birthday that she had actually shown up for.
Sexy, the Belladonna lily that was given to her by Kiba who also named the plant Sexy upon learning that it was also known as the Naked Lady. Lilie is her Calla lily with a gorgeous yellow red gradient that her father brought to her flat as a housewarming gift. Both plants are in her room on the wall-fixed shelves. Both entirely toxic, the symptoms range from vomiting, tremors, drooling and oral pain.
Her first plant of the house, Papa, is a parlor palm that stands proudly in her hallway and also the tallest plant she owns, reaching her hip with its thin plentiful green leaves. Some God must have mercy on her because Papa is pet-friendly and Ino can allow some oxygen to her lungs.
Toto the African violet is also harmless. The hand-painted pot stands on her low coffee table in her living room and it had recently flowered in pretty shades of deep blue and pink. Chouji even came to her flat to greet little Toto (and brought snacks with him. Good old Chouji) and Ino planted a super sloppy kiss on his cheek as thanks. It was his present for when Ino won first place with her dress in a competition last year.
Ino's rising hope gets violently kicked down when her last plant Willow turns out to be also toxic for dogs. Her weeping fig is in the living room as it's the room that gets the most light. Willow is a total diva, one of those plants that get super pissed if you move it around the house constantly. Ino had to revive the little bitch three times last year because Willow would somehow get sick without an apparent reason. Only Shika could find such a moody plant to give her for Christmas.
It's depressing how only two of her silent companions are safe for Yukiko.
All 7 houseplants were with her for the last two years. Ino enjoyed talking to them, occasionally singing or brainstorming out loud. Even though they were plants Ino found the act of taking care of them relaxing. She remembered her father's shop and the days she worked there surrounded by all kinds of flowers. When she had moved out to be near to campus, her flat seemed lonely. Furthermore, they were all gifts from her precious people. Her plants were mementos and were her responsibility to look after.
She hears the agitated thumps of Yukiko in the hall as he plays with his tennis ball, chasing it up and down and attacking the poor toy with his baby fangs. The little pup is also her responsibility now, his well-being depends on Ino.
Suddenly, when Ino punches Inoichi's number on her phone screen it doesn't seem like such a difficult choice.
Yukiko lets out a muffled yip from where he is curled in her side as Ino bends on her couch to reach her phone. Carefully, she parks her hot mug of tea away from her sketches, in case any unwanted accident happens, she'd rather save her work and be paranoid then leave it to far-fetched possibilities.
The number is not registered and it's also from abroad. It's not that hard to connect two dots. The device in her hand keeps ringing and Ino has half a mind to ignore it but she ignored the last call already and doing it consecutively would just bring attention to question Ino won't enjoy answering. Her breath shudders as a last ditch effort to keep it level.
"Guten morgen, mama."
"Mein Blume, Ino!" her mother gushes out, excessively bright in Ino's opinion but she holds her tongue. The less fuss she makes the faster she'll finish the call. "Mama has missed you so much. How are you doing?"
"Fine, mama." Stiff fingers brush Yukiko's curved, warm back. It's somehow grounding; keeps Ino focused enough to survive the phone call without a major fight breaking out. She forcefully sets her jaw into alignment and evens her voice. "Same old, same old. Did you lose your phone again?"
"Funny, that's what your father said. I swear I just put in my bag and puff it disappears into some obscure dimension." The high-pitched laugh Ino hears is unmistakably her mother's, one of the few things that remained constant through the years.
Ino thinks about the last time she spoke with her father. He's the one that keeps track of her mother's wanderings and job. "How's London?"
"Rainy." Tired weariness colors her tone and Ino scores one point for remembering the correct city. Her mother can effectively guilt trip her into being sorry with a few words. "I swear, it's this country's default mood. I already miss the sunny beaches of South Italy."
Ino hums into the receiver. Absently she reaches to her lukewarm tea just to give her something to do. The tea warms her up and leaves a faint taste of cinnamon on her tongue. "When are you coming back? To Konoha, I mean."
The older Yamanaka hums thoughtfully. "Not sure, the shooting is going slower than we anticipated. Mama wanted to make it for Christmas-" Halloween is around the corner. "-but I might not. Things are going very slow and the director is not happy with the scenes he has taken."
"Oh. A shame." Ino has gone through similar conversations frequent enough that her tone does not betray the hurt she feels. It's always like this with Mama. She calls, asks about her life, whines about something or the other and then gives half-hearted promises of coming back. (she never does)
"My pretty Ino, you should definitely come visit me! Oh, we can have so much fun! We can go shopping and go sightseeing and-"
"I have classes." Ino reminds her mother. Not that she'd have the time for Ino should she take her word and hop on a plane. She has a tight schedule filled with shooting for her movies, practicing her lines, galas, parties, interviews, photo shoots for magazines and such. "Working on some projects and my applications for Paris and-"
"Paris? Applications?"
Ino takes a deep breath. I can do this, calm down, calm down. I can do this. "Don't you remember, mama? I'm working on my own 7-piece collection so I can continue my studies in France as an exchange student. I told you about it before." Ino cleverly omits the part that she did recount this story to her mother three times already. How can a renewed actress suck so bad at remembering the details of her daughter's life?
"Ino, Liebe, you know if you just ask mama would gladly arrange-"
"No." Ino isn't sure how her voice sounds like she just knows that it stopped her mother for several tense seconds. The young woman needs the silence to put her thoughts into actual words and pray that they make it across to her mother without breaking her heart. She tries very hard to be in control. "I don't need you to step in and hand me down anything I wish for on a silver platter, mom, I don't want to use our family name, or your money or your influence to open all the doors to success. I'll crawl my way to the top if I have to but it'll be with my own power." Ino closes her eyes to keep the burning sensation from overflowing. The half-full tea soothes her parched mouth and Ino uses the seconds drinking her tea to soften her words.
"Thanks for the offer but I don't want it."
Her mother is silent in a way that Ino is worried she offended the actress and in retaliation, the older Yamanaka had dropped the line. So when Ino hears her mother's airy tone she feels her shoulders relax. "Oh, mein blume, it's alright. Don't forget that mama is here, should you have a change of heart."
"Sure." Never.
Her mother lets out a small noise that could've been a whine. "Maybe another time, then."
"Maybe." A word Ino uses a lot with her mother. She struggles to change the subject and her gaze falls on the napping dog. "Did you know about Yuki-"
"Sorry, dear. My break is over let's talk later, okay?" Before Ino could answer back her mother hurriedly says, "Love you lots!"
Ino breathes in, her eyes are burning a little but it's an old kind of pain that only comes out when her mother calls to remind her of her existence. Maybe that makes her a bad daughter but that's what she feels. An absent parent isn't that different from a dead one.
Ino sometimes thinks that she'd be happier without the random calls from her.
"Love you, too." She whispers into the ended call. Under her faster pats, Yukiko lets out a low pitched growl in annoyance. "Sorry."
The mug of tea cools down, untouched on the table, along with the sketches and Ino passes her time cuddling with her pup. Once Yukiko had enough affection, he leaps from the comfy couch – and her arms – goes to the kitchen to find some food.
"Traitor, even my own dog leaves me." Ino glances at the time displayed in the screen of her phone. Technically it is lunch time and feeling lazy, Ino decides to just order some take-out as the curry still needs to rest before she could eat. But before that, she should take little Yuki for his walk.
"Yukiko, wanna go to the park?"
Park is the magic word and the Doberman pup sprints out of the kitchen so fast he skates over to the door. Ino winces at the little scratches on her hardwood floor, left by the tiny claws of her little headache. "Own a puppy, they said. It'll be fun they said." Destroyed furniture is the fate of any pet owner so Ino just grabs her long coat and thick scarf, slips her sock covered feet into her furred ankle boots.
The moment they Ino opens the heavy door of the apartment building, Yukiko throws his body to the nearest patch of snow and Ino has to fish her dog seconds later when the pup whines.
"If you'd stop getting stuck in the snow," she growls half-heartedly, dangling the Doberman from the scruff of his neck in front of her. Yukiko licks her nose. "Ah-Never mind." That's a battle lost that Ino can acknowledge.
The snow kinda melted and the forecast didn't say anything about any more snowfall but the breeze is biting Ino's cheeks. Ino cuddles the warm pup in her arms and fastens her steps to the dog park, praying that Yukiko will do his business quickly so they can return to the warmth of her apartment.
The park is just around the corner and Ino greets other dog owners with a polite nod. There aren't many at this time at the special dog section part but Yukiko still wiggles, excited and full of energy and Ino lets him down so he can greet and play with the other dogs. A young man with glasses and dark hair looks at her, lingering at her curves while pretending to care for his bulldog. Ino wears a charming smile and winks. Caught red-handed the dark haired man blushes and averts his eyes.
Cute. And probably socially awkward. Ino hides her smile behind her sleeve.
She fondly watches Yukiko play for the next ten minutes or so. Thankfully, her feet are warm but even sticking her hands in her pockets or burying her nose into her wool scarf doesn't keep the bite away. Ino knows, as a fair skinned lady, her nose, cheeks, and hands will be bright red once she returns to her flat.
When her pocket vibrates she pulls her phone out. Ino keeps a half eye on Yukiko and instantly answers the call when she sees the name Hime-sama.
"You've reached the resident goddess of Konoha, how may I be of service?"
"Hey, Ino," the blonde in question narrows her eyes at the tone of Hinata's voice. "In a scale from 1 to 10 how-"
"Ditching Naruto's birthday party would earn you a thirteen. Usually. Seeing as you actually called to ditch… I can pull it down to twelve."
Hinata clears her throat. "I promise to make it up to you?" she offers politely.
Ino considers it. "Only if I find your reason acceptable."
"I have an assignment."
"We all do, darling. Next."
"Uhm… the weather is terrible." Hinata tries.
But Ino swiftly shots back. "We'll be inside a bar, which last time I checked had internal heating."
"I have my period?" It's desperate and comes out more like a question than a firm statement.
Ino actually laughs at that one. "Would've worked on a guy but not on this chick."
Hinata probably gives up because Ino hears a long exhausted sigh which basically says, I really don't want to come to this party and yet nothing I say will sway your opinion so can't you just have mercy on my shy introvert soul.
"Hina-chan, what's the actual reason? I'm not so evil to drag you with me if you're reaaaaaaaaaly unwilling."
The line is silent and Ino doesn't push the girl for answers. Instead, she watches Yukiko chase around a terrier pup, growling playfully and rolling around the wet earth with his new friend. Melting snow and mud is a wonderful combination and Yukiko thoroughly enjoys the luxury of getting dirty.
He'll need a bath. Again.
Thankfully, Yukiko doesn't particularly dislike bath time which makes it super convenient to clean him. Ino knows puppies have excess energy to burn and she isn't going to lock Yuki in the house just to keep him clean. Yes, its half-a-chore but Yukiko is her responsibility now and she won't neglect it.
"Ino, I just," a timid voice in her ear makes Ino blink. She spaced out a moment and forgot the phone cradled in her hand. "Naruto and Kiba both – They will be there and I – 've never been overly social and Kiba knows of my crush on Naruto –"
"Your crush on Naruto!?" Ino shrieks. Her thin cry scares half the dogs to start barking loudly and the pet owners glare at her. Ino internally flips them all off which she hides with a charming smile. Curious little Yukiko trots to her side, blinking innocently with adorable eyes. "Since when you have a crush on the resident fashion disaster Mr. Whiskers? And here I am, dead sure you had a thing for Kiba and not Naruto!" Ino hisses into the receiver, being careful with her tone.
"It's complicated." Hinata answers and Ino can imagine her hands waving around and cheeks tinged pink.
Yukiko with his ears flat against his skull distracts her momentarily. Ino hauls the pup close to her chest to assure him that everything is o-kay and Yukiko gives her small kisses to soothe his owner which the blonde appreciates.
Ino buries her red nose into the short warm fur in an attempt to steal some body heat. "I'm so getting that story out of you – with details, mind you – but I'm pressed with time, so give me the short version," Ino says, walking towards her apartment. She doesn't remember if Yukiko did anything besides playing with other dogs but her father is on pup-sitting duty this evening and she'll ask him to let Yukiko out.
"I liked Naruto a lot," Hinata says truthfully. "And for a long time, even though I knew he liked Sakura-san I hoped… then Kiba entered the picture and he managed to entangle everything with his own brand of charm. Things picked up from there and – here we are."
Ino really wants to scream. There is too much drama going today and she decides to not answer the next phone call until forever. "In the light of newly found evidence, I, Ino Yamanaka hear your request and find it acceptable." She declares, overly formal. Hinata giggles, lighthearted, in the way Ino hoped to.
"But – you won't escape the Halloween party."
The giggling stops. Bingo. "Halloween?"
"Yep," Ino is cheerful as she nears her apartment and the mental image of a horrified Hinata just widens her smile. She's so easy to panic. "Every year there is a party in the Uchiha estate and before you have some heart attack, yes you can choose your costume and no, I won't say anything about it. Much."
Another sigh from Hinata. "I guess if we're wearing masks…it shouldn't be difficult."
Ino tries to send her pouting through her phone. "You make me sound like I'm forcing you to pass time with me."
"No, Ino, it's not because of that!" Hinata stammers her apology. "Partying is just not my kind of thing."
"Everyone with eyes could attest to that." Ino holds the phone between her ear and shoulder while she tries to find her keys and not drop her wiggling pup. She fishes her keys from the depths of her pocket. "But, seriously, if I push you too far tell me."
The line is silent until Ino enters her apartment. She has a bit difficulty containing Yukiko and wrestling her boots off while keeping the phone on her shoulder.
"I will," Hinata promises. Her voice carries out with a steel edge and Ino smiles, blue eyes twinkling. "I enjoy talking to you. And you give great fashion advice. To be fair, there's nothing wrong with going out from time to time and I do want to live a bit of college life. I just never had the opportunity."
Ino wants to wrap herself a Hinata-burrito and hug her until she passes out. She's so cute. "You know how introverts make friends, right?"
Hinata laughs. "An extrovert finds them, likes them and adopts them." She finishes Ino's words. "Kiba already made that one to me."
"Damn dog-breath." Ino half-heartedly grumbles. Yukiko finds that moment to hop from her arms and ran to her room with muddy paws. "Stealing my thunder and all that. I'll text you later for a coffee so if you excuse me, I have a troublesome dirty pup to catch and bathe."
A few hours later, Ino has washed Yukiko and cleaned the paw prints he managed to leave everywhere. While the pup napped on the fluffy rug on her room, Ino ate her awesome curry, showered, shaved, painted her toes and nails orange as a tribute to Naruto, curled the ends of her long hair and was in the middle of deciding her outfit when her doorbell rang. The sound woke Yukiko and he raised his furred muzzle with his ears perked up.
"Come in, dad! I'm in my room." Ino yells, patting her cheeks with her citrus moisturizer. Cold season always left her skin dry as a desert.
Inoichi Yamanaka takes off his boots and hangs his winter gears at the wooden hanger at the entrance. He smiles fondly, brushing his fingers over the lacquered piece hammered onto the wall. It's an old thing from their house that Inoichi himself fixed for Ino's use when she decided to move closer to campus.
Yukiko, eager to say hello to the new arrival and hoping for some belly rubs practically flies through the hall and barrels onto Inoichi's legs. "Oh, you must be Yukiko!" the pup yips, wiggling his short tail. Chuckling, Inoichi bends down so the pup can smell him with his wet nose. "Ino?"
"Still in my room." She answers. Inoichi hears muffled steps, the creak of a wooden door and Ino appears at the end of the hallway wearing only black woolen leggings and rose-pearl bra with little black bows. Long golden hair is straightened but the ends are carefully curled.
Inoichi lets out a whistle and Ino sends his father a cheeky wink. "Someone is dressed to impress."
"Oh, daddy, that's me in daily life." Ino pouts, hip smugly cocking to the side.
"Ah, of course. My bad, princess."
Ino rolls her eyes as her father good-humoredly smiles. She gets back to her room to retrieve two hangers. "Seeing that you're here early, dad. Which one?"
The first hanger has an off-shoulder dark-green mini dress with a thick brown belt. The sleeves seem long enough that they'll swallow Ino's hands. "I'm going to wear my new brown thigh-high boots but can't really decide between the two." The second hanger has a brown skirt and an ash-colored knitted sweater.
"The tulip skirt is pretty," Inoichi says.
Ino tosses the dress aside. The green dress lands half on her bed and half on the floor. "You learned!" she coos. "I still remember you calling it wrapped tight skirt with a slit at the side."
"And you say I never listen to you." One brow arches in a challenge. "And I think you should wear your cream sweater with the flaring sleeves. The one you had on you when you came to the shop last week."
"It's a bishop sleeve not flaring sleeve." Ino corrects more ingrained habit than the usual miss-know-it-all attitude. She runs a critical eye on her skirt and tilts her head making her golden hair swept her shoulder like a curtain. "And not a bad idea! Thanks, dad!"
Inoichi sits on his knees to give belly rubs to Yukiko. "Always, princess."
Ino easily slithers into her skirt and grabs the cream sweater from where she last left it, over her chair. She sits on her vanity chair to begin her make up. "I spoke with mom, today."
Inoichi lets out a thoughtful hum. The younger Yamanaka eyes her father from her mirror but his expression is carefully hidden behind a bland smile.
"She sounded okay." Ino tries again. "And busy. Not that that's flash news or anything. She also forgot about Paris, again and hung up before I could say anything about Yukiko."
"Ino." Her father warns her. It's that tone of voice he rarely uses with her, only when she's close to stepping over a line. "It's your mother."
"Doesn't feel like one." She shots back, meeting her father's blue eyes from her mirror. Ino angrily searches for her favorite maroon lipstick, feeling that she'll need some darker make-up for her current mood. "Don't waste your breath, dad. I know every single line. How many times we had this conversation now? A hundred? She's your mother. She's trying her best. She's pursuing her dream. She loves you."
She stops her rant once her fingers catch the small half-full tube of lipstick. Inoichi walks closer to her daughter whose angrily applying lipstick and hugs her from behind. He breathes in the fresh peach smell of her hair and whispers, "You know that all of them are true, Ino."
"Your opinion is biased." Ino murmurs, anger leaving her tense shoulders. "You're in love with her."
"I also love you." Inoichi reminds her and leaves an affectionate kiss on the top of her head to strengthen his words. "We fight over your mother way too much, without making any progress. You're going out with your friends tonight. Wipe that frown and have fun."
Ino wiggles her hand free from her father's embrace to curl her lashes. "Sorry, dad. It's just a sore spot."
"It's alright," Inoichi assures his daughter. "I miss your mother too, Ino."
Ino doesn't answer her father, instead, she holds his larger hand and squeezes. In the end, she might be without her mother but Inoichi was also without a wife. He must also feel hurt and abandoned like Ino but probably his long years in the police force kept an iron hold on his emotions.
"Ino. Are you sure about your plants?"
The sudden change of topic has Ino looking at the two plants on the shelf to her left. "Yeah, with Yukiko in the house…it's better to – they also need care and attention which I'm running out of… school work on top of all…" she brushed her long fringe behind her ear. "I'm sure dad." Stubborn conviction settles into her pretty features and Inoichi nods.
"Well, not like you won't see them ever again." Inoichi points out, patting her head. "I'll keep some in the shop so you can visit your plants whenever you desire."
"Thanks, dad," Make-up done, she gets up to give her dad a big hug. "I'll pick up Yukiko tomorrow morning. There is also some curry in the green Tupperware on the kitchen table."
Inoichi's blue eyes light up like a child on Christmas morning. "Extra spicy?"
"Super extra spicy," Ino promises, the same childish glee sparkling her iris. "I'll get Yukiko's stuff meanwhile you can take the plants with you. You came with the car, right?"
"Yes, princess."
"Great." Ino sways her hips as she looks at her reflection. Her posture is perfect and she tilts her chin to the side, searching for anything out of line.
Inoichi finishes loading the car – Ino having said her goodbye to her plants right after she made her decision – and swaddles the little pup with his large scarf as if Yukiko were a baby. He leaves another kiss on Ino's cheek and he gets to his car. Ino waves at him from her window until the yellow lights of the car fade at the end of the road.
Checking the time, Ino's surprised she isn't late. She puts her silver hoop earrings and a big maroon ring to complete her look. Her fur-lined winter coat is hanging alongside her purse, and Ino starts to cover herself head-to-toe against the merciless winter air, pulling out her thick purple beanie and scarf.
Her new boots look fantastic on her legs. Giddy with excitement she sends a kiss to her reflection. Her lights are off and the apartment is completely void of any sign of life. Not even her silent house-sitter plants are at their posts but, strangely, Ino feels light.
Not all changes are bad. And Ino is moving forward.
She breathes in the cold October night, feeling her cheeks gain color from the drop in the temperature. It's a silent night and not as much as cold as before when she went to the park with Yukiko. It's the lack of wind and Ino counts it as a blessing.
"Ino."
Slowly, her gaze falls down where at the end of the stairs a young man stands. He is wearing a coat – in black of course – that instead of dwarfing him just shows off his wide shoulders and thick arms. Black mussed hair falls around equally black eyes and the expression he has is guarded, a tiny bit regretful and he stares back intensely – as if Ino would disappear should he blink.
Ino's fingers curl around her coat. He's exactly as she remembers, strong and silent with a presence that demands attention and hiding a darker, sharper edge. Her voice catches in her throat and she has to swallow to whisper his name.
"Sai."
Curse me and my weakness for overly handsome men.
Translations for German:
Guten morgen, good morning
Meine Blume, my flower.
Liebe, dear.
A/N: About the timeline, I'll eventually go back in previous episodes to edit some stuff but that has to wait until I finish Inked. For those who are curious, Naruto's birthday is 10th October but because he went camping they celebrate it in the bar on 17th October. Ino has 3 more days to get her tattoo and win the bet.
