It's heree. Sorry it's so short but I think where it ends is good enough. I just really wanted to get another up for you all. It's almost break so hopefully I'll have some more chapters coming soon!
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or any of its characters.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Someone was holding me, I didn't know who it was but if I had to guess, I'd have to say it was Rin.
I wanted to push her away but she didn't deserve that kind of treatment from me. After all, none of what happened tonight was her fault. It was mine. In every aspect, my actions solely influenced the route of chaos that the night took and now I was having to answer for them in the most painful way possible.
But it wasn't through my own physical pain that I had to suffer. No, that would have been far too easy.
I had refused to allow them to move me into a room to treat my wound. In the midst of the scuffle, I'd taken a bullet straight through the arm. I was still bleeding, a lot, I could feel it. However, it wasn't the loss of blood that had me feeling faint.
No, I had to pay for my transgressions with Ino's blood. It was seeing her collapse into my arms, bouts of red pouring from her body, slipping through her fingers as well as mine. I'd never seen her so frightened and as she held onto me, she kept whispering how she didn't want to die.
I told her she wouldn't but what did I know? Hell, I had no right trying to console her in the first place.
It still didn't feel real. Not even the pain in my own arm, dull as it was, seemed like a part of this reality. Instead, it existed in a world of its own.
"She'll be okay, I did what I could for her here," the nurse said to Rin who thanked her generously as she continued squeezing my hand.
I had nearly forgotten the others who were here as well. None of them seemed to say anything. Even Sasuke, who I had almost been certain would have jumped at the first opportunity to criticize me, sat quiet and contemplative. Temari and Ayame returned from outside, their expressions looking terribly grim as they stood in front of me.
"Ino's dad is on his way."
I didn't say anything to Temari's statement. After all, what was there to say?
Ayame took hold of my chin, her eyes red and hazy. Of course she'd been crying. She'd known Ino far longer than I had and the two of them were incredibly close, perhaps even closer than we were.
"She's gonna be alright. She's a fighter," she said. And yet, from the tone of her voice, it would seem that she needed the assurance more than I did. I could only nod, looking over at Temari who looked terribly unsettled.
"He's going to have me killed. Isn't he?"
The others looked toward Temari, uneasiness in all of their gazes. She shook her head and sighed, "I don't know man. I honestly don't fucking know." It was real and it was very much her personality to answer that way. I know they all didn't want anything to happen to me, though Sasuke's motives were questionable.
But we knew what a grave situation I was in. They didn't have the authority to voice against my punishment and the only one who could wasn't even guaranteed to pull through. If she died, I'd die, one way or another.
"We need to talk," Temari said finally and though I didn't want to, I knew I had to go.
Ignoring the pitiful looks that Rin and Ayame were giving me, I followed Temari outside. It was still early in the morning with a few rays of light tiptoeing above the peaks and around the limbs of trees.
Temari offered me a cigarette. I had never been much accustomed to them, having tried them but a few times. Thinking better of it, I declined. It wouldn't make the pain stop, it would only dull until the final ember died out and I'd be whisked right back into that world of hurt.
My declining of her offer didn't bother her any and she simply shrugged and lit one for herself beneath her cupped hands.
"You want to tell me, or do I have to ask?"
Silence was my preferred response but I knew it wouldn't get me out of this. With no much else to lose other than any shred of respect Temari had for me, I admitted, "I fucked up. Literally."
"I'm guessing with the girl who hasn't left your side since we got here." Always the observant type. "How'd it happen?"
How did it happen exactly? My mind was cloudy whenever I tried to picture when exactly we ended up fooling around. Cloudy. That's how I had felt in the moment. Like it wasn't me, at least not completely anyways. Then, like pieces of a puzzle, the whole thing revealed itself to me.
Rin had offered me a piece of the special snack that Ayame had made more her. "Rin had this brownie she got from Ayame. It tasted fine but then aftewards, I just felt weird. Something in it mixed with the alcohol I guess had me out of it."
Temari gave a thoughtful hum, tapping the ashes from her cigarette onto the concrete. "While I'm sure not her intentions, she definitely didn't help you any. Edibles are strong enough on their own so mixing them with alcohol doesn't always make a pretty combo."
I didn't say anything. I could only wonder that had I not taken any of the treat, would I have still had a right mind to say no? Or perhaps it was simply a matter of built up sexual tension that forced me to give in.
It hadn't been love, that was certain. Ino was the only one I had eyes for at the end of the day but it would seem that I wasn't as faithful to her as I'd like to think.
"Are you going to tell her?"
Funny, the thought had never crossed my mind until she mentioned it. Of course Ino would be fine, she had to be. She had too much going for her, too much to live for for it all to end here.
When she woke up, assuming her father didn't kill me first, what would I say to her? Temari studied me, taking another tug from her cigarette before tucking it between her fingers as smoke trailed through her nostrils. "I'm not trying to put you in a position for her to hate you, I'm not Sasuke. I'm just saying that at the very least, she has a right to know where you were."
"I know," I sighed, "I know that. I can live with the fact that I fucked up. It wouldn't be the first time. Hell, if she tells her father to have me killed, I can stomach that too. But the part that I just don't think I could handle is for her to let me live knowing that she hates me. That's the real torture."
Crushing the cigarette beneath her feet, she clutched my shoulder and held it tight. She said nothing further, nor did I but we kept a silent walk inside to rejoin the others.
A doctor called Ino's name, his scrubs decorated in her blood as he approached us, making me feel weak all over again.
We all crowded round him, and I stood front and center with uncertainty in my eyes. He tugged the mask from his face and gave us a tired nod and a half smile. "Her condition is stable, she's going to pull through. The bullet narrowly missed her heart by about an inch or so. We managed to remove it and it doesn't look like anything else is messed up. She'll make a full and quick recovery."
For a moment, we all just stood there, processing the information as we all looked to one another. Sasuke was Sasuke but showed genuine relief upon hearing the news. Tenten and Naruto who hadn't said much of anything looked relieved as well. Ayame erupted into tears and Temari pulled her close allowing her to soak her in her tears.
I was stunned, and it wasn't until Rin swung her arms around me next that I had truly processed his words. "She's going to be okay," Rin said again and that time, it finally made it real. I returned her embrace, still unable to find my voice.
Ino was okay. She was going to feel better and back to her normal self soon. I could cry but I'm sure I had exhausted them all on the ride over here.
"She's resting now and it might be a few hours before she wakes up. I'd advise you all to do the same." We thanked him and he nodded and left us with another smile.
"He's right. We all could use a shower and some rest and food. Her father will be here in a bit and he should have that time alone with her." Temari said it to the group but her eyes were directed at me. She was saying that it was best if we weren't here when her father showed up. He'd make a scene no doubt and if Ino managed to wake up before, she could perhaps better talk him into sparing my life without me there.
Reluctantly, I agreed. We all went back to the lake house which had since then been cleaned by the remaining heirs and heiresses who had stayed behind.
They too were relieved to hear of Ino's condition and had prepped breakfast for us upon our return. I had wanted to be alone but Temari wouldn't let me off the hook so easily. Instead, we all sat around in the lounge in front of the TV, making jokes about some of our best times with Ino.
I had nothing to contribute. Or rather, I simply wasn't in the mood.
Ino was all I could think about and even dealing with her father seemed less and less intimidating with each second I was away from her. Even the plate of food that now sat cold and untouched in my lap had not coaxed me out of my depression.
It was my fault she was in the hospital in the first place, I knew that. To not be able to see her at all was an even greater torment. I deserved that too. But I needed to see her, desperately.
While the others were locked away in their jokes in a menial attempt to feel better, I took up my plate, discarding the contents in the trash. My thought were too sour to contest against feeling guilty over wasting a little food.
I had retreated to the escape that the outdoors provided but my solitude lasted only a minute or more.
"You need to eat."
My fists tightened of their own accord. I didn't want her here. It wasn't her fault, I had already established and accepted full responsibility for everything. Still, though unintentionally or not, she had some sort of hold over my emotions.
And that was dangerous.
Ino already had the rest of me wrapped around her finger but Rin was dangerous in her own ways. She was stern with me and a realist but she could care too much about me and it was already known that there was some sort of attractive their.
Her presence was messy and I couldn't afford to have my mind any more clouded than it already was.
"Later," was my only reply.
"Not later. Now."
She reached for my hand and I took a step back. Another reach and another distance grew between. Through tightly pressed teeth, I managed a warning for her to stop. Thankfully enough, my tone did the job and she didn't reach anymore.
"Look I get it, okay," she said soft and I could tell she was hurt, "I fucked up. "
"No," I disarmed swiftly, "It was me. Just me."
"Sakura-"
I silenced her again with a sharp look. "I can't place you at fault here, as easy as it would be, I just can't." My words drew shock from the both of us and for a while, I contemplated if having this conversation was worth the effort. It wasn't for her, it was for me.
They were the lies I had to tell to make myself feel at peace, it had nothing to do with sparing her feelings.
Exhaustion pierced every essence of my body like pins. Each one penetrating all over until the dull aches left me void of energy.
I rubbed at my eyes to push it away the best I could. "Listen to me. Don't...don't talk and just listen. "Something is going to happen and it's going to be bad. I might die for this shit and-"
"Don't say that! You don't-"
"Dammit, just listen!"
I was shaking. Shaking with a mix of so many emotions at once that I could no longer distinguish one from the other. She was quiet yet again and I pushed on with my little speech.
"I might die because I made a choice last night. Do you understand? I made that choice. I'm in deep shit already and I've accepted that. I cannot mention your name. I don't need you stressing about something happening to you too. I've seen a glimpse of what Ino's father is capable of when it comes to her. I don't know what will happen but please...please don't make this any harder for me. I'm a fucking mess alright, I can't afford to worry about you too."
I was winded and the confused sensations were still nesting in every pore of my skin. She didn't speak for a little while.
I suppose she was still struggling to decide if she would speak at all but the universe never granted me an answer. My phone rang the very next minute and I knew long before looking at it who was on the other end. The phone was at my ear in seconds.
"Sir." I answered, doing the best to hide the slight tremble in my voice.
"You need to get here. Immediately. Ino is awake and we have matters to discuss. Don't keep me waiting. Understand?"
I swallowed, "Yes sir."
The line clicked and it was just Rin and me. Clutching my phone in my hand, I drew in a breath and muttered, "I gotta go." Though it was the opposite of what I wanted, she threw her arms around me.
My arms hung limp at my sides. I couldn't return her embrace. I had to go. She understood enough and let me go.
Forcing my hands in my pockets, I turned away and found my car with little trouble. I was halfway up the road when Temari called. I didn't answer. Naruto and Ayame called next. I declined their conversation too.
The hospital stood before me, looking just as eerie as it had been when we first arrived. I checked in and though the trip to her room was relatively quick, my steps felt slow and anchored.
My fist rested on the door for an eternity until I found the strength to lift it and tap once.
The door opened and I was greeted by Lord Inoichi who had sharply ordered me in and the guards out. His hand was at my shoulder and his clutch was crushing but I knew better than to open my mouth in protest.
"Sakura."
The way he called my name made my heart sink and my stomach shrivel into nothing. Perhaps I should've eaten.
"Sir."
"Tell me what you see."
My eyes had been shut and it was only from his squeezing hand that I dared open them. Ache wasn't the word. No, this pain was far greater than any ache. Seeing Ino lying there, her eyes reflecting various kinds of pain felt like a repetitive stab in my chest. Her eyes looked frantic upon seeing me and she struggled to sit up. The effort caused a whimper of pain and my eyes looked away for just a second before they shut all together.
No, I wouldn't get out of it so easy.
His nails sunk into my neck until my own his of discomfort had reached his ears satisfaction. He practically yelled next, "Don't you dare look away! Tell me what you see!"
"Ino," I whined when the pain hot to be too great, "I see Ino."
"Where is she?"
"She's in the hospital!" The blood was racing down my neck and despite myself, the pain forced my eyes shut again.
Ino pleaded weakly on my behalf, a luxury I did not deserve. Her prayers fell upon her father's ears like oil atop water. My bandaged arm suffered next under his ruthlessness and the pain from before cut through me on top of his twisting of my limb.
I fell to my knees and I could feel the wound bleed again. My body was on fire and I could only hiss over and over again because I knew Ino was already crying for me. I could hear her voice shake as she continued to beg for my undeserved mercy.
"Now when I let you up, you better tell me exactly why my daughter is lying in a hospital bed right now or I'll be damned sure that you end up in one. Do you understand?" He gave my arm one final twist for good measure.
I nodded and heaved out a yes.
"You'll stand and look my daughter in the eye and tell her why you failed to do your job." I stood shakily, sweat coating my forehead from the pain as I clutched my arm.
Already, my heart was beginning to crumble solely by the look in her eyes. She was just as nervous about hearing my answer as I was about saying it.
"Ino…"
I paused and quickly caught my mistake.
"Lady Ino. I beg sincerely for your forgiveness. It is my fault entirely that I allowed myself to be distracted. I took you to this party against your will and your father's wishes-"
"That's not tr-"
"Silence, Ino." She didn't intervene further and sunk her teeth into her bottom lip to stifle any sound.
I continued, feeling worse with each word. "It was my fault. I was under the influence of drinks and other substances and in doing so became careless regarding your safety." Lord Inoichi eyed me cooly with a look that suggested he knew I was leaving something out.
"What else?"
Through some hidden source of power, I managed to hold Ino's gaze. "In the midst of my disoriented state...I...I was messing around with a girl at the party. In doing so, I was distracted from my duties and was not aware when you had contacted me for my help. I'm sorry."
"Sakura...is this all true?"
I nodded. "Yes My Lady, it's all true."
Her delicate fingers choked the fabric of her sheets as tears filled her eyes and I watched helplessly as every ounce of trust, love and comfort that we had, shattered into irreplaceable pieces.
Lord Inoichi, despite his hardened years of being a businessman showed such emotion for his daughter. He wasn't father of the year, that was certain but he did care deeply for her.
His hand lightly fell upon her shoulder as he brought her temple to his lips and placed a kiss. His fingers brushed at her hair as he lowered himself to the ground so that he was level with her. Taking hold of her chin, he asked, "She has failed at her duties to protect you. My only daughter, my only child. You are all I have left and due to her incompetence, you nearly lost your life. What would you have me do to fix this?"
Ino was silent. So much hurt reflected in her eyes and it crushed me further to know that I continuously caused her so much pain.
She squeezed her father's hand and bit her lip. "I don't want her killed."
"Ino she-"
"No Daddy," she sucked in through her teeth, "Promise me."
Though I'm sure it would have brought him no greater pleasure, he reluctantly agreed. "Your heart is too forgiving my daughter but if that's what you wish, so be it. She will be punished accordingly under my jurisdiction."
Ino said nothing further, she only nodded.
Lord Inoichi went to the door and summoned his two guards. He stood before me as the two of them stood behind me. "You're lucky my daughter has her mother's heart because if it were me, I'd have you killed on the spot. As of today, you are suspended from your duties as my daughter's guard. You will finish out the remaining month of the semester at the tower where you will remain. Your pay will be suspended and under no circumstances are you to interact with my daughter. Understand?"
I nodded, my entire world crashing around me at once. "Yes Sir."
One of the guards brought me to my knees and shoved me to the floor resting his foot on my back. Lord Inoichi stepped around, his ringed fingers clutching my wounded arm.
"Daddy, don't," Ino pleaded frantically and I was momentarily grateful that had cared enough to say anything.
He ignored her pleas again. "You've crossed me too many times and I'm not my daughter. You won't get away from me without punishment."
I swallowed, clutching my eyes tightly as my arm snapped from its socket and a blinding white pain shot through me as I resisted the urge to scream bloody murder. I was dragged up by jacket collar and snatched from Ino's room. I managed an apologetic look to give her, knowing that it would be a while before I saw her again.
It hurt and the sicker but more logical side of me would've much preferred death than this torture.
Hope you all enjoyed! I plan to do like maybe 10-15+ more chapters for this story before the end. My plan is to potentially do a sequel. Thoughts! Let me know! See you in the next chapter, love your faces!
