Hello. It's me. I'mjust casually dropping these two chapters for ya. That's all.
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or any of its characters.
Chapter Twenty-Four
"Speechless? Then again, I suppose that's nothing new for you."
Even Kakashi's witty comments don't tempt me to pull my eyes from the scene in front of me. Just like the first time I spotted her, Ino's faultless features leave me at a loss for words. I suppose I didn't really know what to expect when Kakashi called earlier today; him telling me to pack enough for a week long mission. With everyone else, heirs and guards alike, gone for break, any excuse to get out of my room was welcome.
So, when he called and told me to come downstairs, I snatched up my things, locked up and met him beside my car. There he stood in his usual relaxed demeanor before opening the door and revealing Ino like some sort of horrible magic trick.
She didn't speak to me, not that I expected her to, and any roll of her eyes too close to my direction seemed to make her quite visibly uncomfortable. I wanted to talk to her, to just start explaining myself all over again and tell her how sorry I was but this wasn't the time nor the place. Finally, I look away, not wanting to make her any more uncomfortable than I already had.
"Is this my mission?" I ask, facing Kakashi.
Leaning against the driver door, he folds his arms and nods. "An emergency has called for Lord Inoichi's assistance. He asked me to give you this." A scrap of folded paper rests in my palm and I'm not entirely certain what to expect when I open it. Scripted handwriting reads:
Sakura,
It is with great hesitation that I extend the courtesies of this family to you once more. Your poor performance in the past and reckless handling of my daughter's life leaves me understandably distrustful of your talents. However, with no others to request assistance from and a positive word from our most loyal friend Kakashi, it is with great reluctance that I offer you the opportunity to prove you are still capable at your job.
I have reason to fear that Ino's life, as well as my own, might be in jeopardy. For the time being, she and I will be separated and under constant surveillance until we believe the threat has passed. The two of you are to return to your childhood home where you will host her until Kakashi tells you otherwise. Because there's reason to believe that I'm the primary target, our elite guards will be with me. No one should suspect where Ino is so try to keep her out of the public eye as much as possible.
I needn't express my hesitation to do this but yet again, I leave my one and only child's life in your hands. Should you complete this mission with little or no issues, we can discuss having you reinstated full time. Any further questions or concerns should be passed on through Kakashi. As a personal request, I ask that you not share the details of this mission with Ino. Kakashi will address those with you in private.
Good luck,
Lord Inoichi Yamanaka
Head of Sector Iota
After recovering from the several blows to my ego, I give Kakashi a stern look. He takes Ino's bags and gestures for her to sit in my car. I move a distance away and wait for the door to shut before I speak.
"How bad is it?"
"Bad enough. A recent business move has brought some threats toward Lord Inoichi and Lady Ino. The two of them were going to take a trip for the holidays but their destination was leaked and the arrival of more threats put him on edge."
"They don't think there's any truth to these threats do they?"
He nods. "It's not his life he's worried about. Lady Ino is his only heir and anything they do to him would be minimal compared to what they would do to her. I trust that needs no further explaining."
Unintentionally, I cast a nervous look towards the girl in my car. "She doesn't know about any of this. Does she?" He doesn't answer and that tells me everything that I need to know. "You want me to lie to her."
He steps closer and rests a solemn hand on my shoulder. I can't bring myself to look at him. "Do you know why I put a good word in for you?"
Yes, I do. I lie anyway. "No."
"Because...as much as the two of you tried to hide it, I knew there was something there. I don't need to tell you how dangerously irresponsible that is but I'd be lying if I said I didn't see why. I don't need to know what happened between you, though I have some notion. Right now, all she needs is a distraction and you're the best she's got—"
"Kakashi," I warn with a conflicted sigh, "I can't. I can't keep ruining things for her."
"You're being selfish." I look at him disbelief but his eyes are hard and when he speaks, I know there's nothing but the truth in his words. "This isn't about you and her and whatever happened behind closed doors. Your duty isn't to her, it's to your sector. It is your job to protect this family!"
"How the hell does lying protect anyone!"
We stand toe-to-toe and breath to breath. I'm stubborn and he's annoyed and neither of us wants anything to do with this. He regains his composure quicker than I do and tugs at the slant of his mask revealing the scar on his eye. It adds to his rugged, cool, looks but I'm in no mood to compliment him.
"Do you know how I got this?"
An anticipated lecture keeps me from answering.
"When I was just a little younger than you, I was a guard too. I trained hard and was one of the youngest ever to become a guard. I was tasked with looking after the daughter of the head of Sector Alpha. Her parents were in danger and she pleaded with me to take her back home so she could be with them. I finally agreed and we went back following a lead I had. Turns out it was an ambush. They killed her and left me there to die. Her parents had been dead days before we got there."
His story is too real to dismiss as a cautionary tale and I'm certain he knows that it's had its intended effect.
"I loved her the same way you love Ino. I assure you there's worse evils out there. If anything is to happen to Lord Inoichi, it'll be up to you to take care of Ino and ensure that she goes on to become the next head of Sector Iota. I need you to tell me now if you think you can handle this," he finishes and gives me an understanding look.
Yet again my eyes turn to Ino who's taken to listening to music and staring disinterestedly out the window. I was tired of hurting her, tired of lying to her and watching her suffer. Even still, the sincerity of Kakashi's story moved me enough to get that extra push.
I nod. "I can do it."
I get another firm grip on my shoulders before Kakashi turns away from me. "One more thing," he says before tugging open the rear driver seat. An over enthused Aris that I seemed to have missed bolts towards me nearly toppling me over. I'm excited to see him too though it's probably lost in the midst of shock at seeing how big he's grown now, practically full size with a sturdy frame.
A lingering desire to ask a question pesters me until I finally free it from my lips. "Are you going too?"
He tosses me a nod.
"Be careful."
"You too kid."
We share a final look before heading our separate ways. Watching him leave feels surreal knowing what I know, even more so considering I have to pretend I don't know anything at all. I weave my fingers between Aris' fur losing myself for just a moment in those warm brown eyes of his. I suppose it's best I get a move on. I whistle for Aris to hop in the back of the car and slide into the driver's seat with nervous hesitation.
My private conversation with Kakashi didn't seem to bother Ino any. That or she was a far better actress than I gave her credit for. A quick flicker of my eyes catches her resting gaze as earplugs settle in her ear and the tips of her nail thrum a soft beat that I can only catch bits and pieces of. I want to ask her something, if only just to hear her voice but something tells me to enjoy this peace while I can.
I adjust the heat a little and pull out of the parking lot. The GPS guides us to the highway where a modest amount of traffic has already settled. There's a light snow teasing the air outside and knowing Sector Iota, it was just a matter of time before the entire place was covered in its chilling powder.
Thankfully, the ride wouldn't take long and Ino and I could be safe inside before the roads got too bad. A small victory under the circumstances.
I set the radio on a station that offers some interestingly unique beats that help make the drive feel a little less lonely. Aris has settled on resting his chin atop the back of the seat, occasionally nuzzling at me with a wet nose before turning to look at the array of lights out the rear window. Awkwardly, I turn to steal another look at Ino. It's been so long every brief glance is like trying to commit her face to memory all over again.
A chill kisses her and gives her body a soft tremble. Instinctively, I shrug off my own heavier jacket and drape it over her. She doesn't move and for a moment, I think she's fallen asleep. Instead, after a few long minutes, she sighs and sits up, shrugging my jacket slowly and handing it back to me. I don't argue, but it hurts deep down to watch her turn up the heat just a bit more and cast her eyes out the window.
It could be worse. God, that's such a pathetic answer. Sure it could be worse and she could have yelled at me and told me to screw off but instead she simply maintained her distance. And, the more I thought about it, the more that pissed me off. Against my better judgement, I tap her shoulder, pulling forward just a little when the car in front of me does the same.
She doesn't answer but I'm not willing to give up after all this time. I tug her earbud free from her ear which earns me a particularly heated glare.
"Talk to me."
She makes a swipe to get her earbud back but I shove it into my pocket furthest away from her. "Ino…"
Still, she refuses to speak to me. Annoyed by her willful stubbornness, I snatch her wrist and, in turn, I'm met with a glare so fierce that my blood runs cold. She finally speaks but it's only to give me a lip curling snarl, asking me what the hell do I want.
You. Or, at least that's what I want to say. "I just want to talk."
Her tongue runs over her lip but it's not in the playful way I'm used to. This time it's filled with malice and accompanied by a scoff of disbelief. "You want to talk?" She laughs with humorless disgust. "Fine," she starts, tugging free her other earbud and shoving it in its case, "Let's talk."
Unsure of what to say, I ask and immediately regret, "How are you?"
"How am I? Well," she huffs and rolls her eyes in forced contemplation, "For starters, my break that I planned to spend with my dad gets put on hold because of his job, again. He leaves me a pathetic little note about how sorry he is and how he'll make it up to me. Then, to top it all off, I find out that he's stuck me with you. That is how I'm fucking doing. Thanks."
Well, at least she was talking to me though I was hoping for a conversation a little less hostile. Not that I deserved it any.
Turning down the radio, I prepare myself to ask yet another dangerous question. "Do you want to talk about it?"
As expected, she looks absolutely furious with my question. Her nose flares and eyes grow dark and I'm just waiting for her to tear me a new one. Instead, she takes in a strained breath and slumps in her seat, eyes shut tight as she rubs her face tiredly. "What did I do to end up in such a fucked situation like this…" her voice trails off before ceasing altogether.
"You hate me," I state plainly, grateful that traffic has eased up and I can cruise the highway at a more appropriate pace.
A pause. "You know I don't," she says finally, her voice weary, "Stop asking me that. I don't want to talk about us. We both said all that we needed to that day."
"Ino…"
"No."
"I've missed y—"
"Stop!" She turns on me again with those frenzied eyes. Aris fidgets in the back seat, whining distressfully as he tries to climb upfront but I order him back. "Just stop," her voice cracks and I know that I've overstepped.
Her eyes falter and dampen which hurts more than I expect. Her fingers massage her reddened face and seeing her struggle to keep it together just adds to my guilt. I don't press her further, knowing that she's got enough to stress her out without me adding my personal feelings to the mix. Reaching into my pocket, I pull out her other earbud and give it to her.
She takes it almost immediately and reverts back to her neutral position of shut eyes and a restless mind. I turn up the radio, giving myself an escape from the tension. I don't know what entirely possessed me to say what I said but I know now that it wasn't the time or place. I wanted Ino back and, in a way, I had her. As much as I still craved her, she had enough on her plate and my selfish wants would have to wait.
Snow falls heavier the closer I get to home and for once, my thoughts are on something other than Ino.
I wasn't permitted to have any contact with anyone from my old life and that's assuming any of them still wanted anything to do with me. Lena. Ever since that one incident, I hadn't so much as thought about her, a thought that genuinely made me sick. I wouldn't be surprised if she laughed and slammed the door in my face when I showed up on her doorstep.
I think about the children, the others she's looked after. I didn't spend much time with them but they thought I was cool and I likened them to that sort of relationship of having siblings. Perhaps they'd hate me too.
My grip on the wheel is hard and tense and everything feels like it's swelling up. Well, that is, at least until Aris comes to rest his large head on my shoulder. The feelings melt away and I relax enough to reach my hand and scratch at his ear. He's bigger and more protective now but he's still that dopey little pup I picked up for the first time a few months back.
The voice of the GPS prompts me to take the next exit and almost immediately, the anticipation rises in me once more. The familiar snow-capped pines forming a perimeter around decrepit buildings marks the poor part of the Iota sector. My home.
I don't need a guide to get me home. I've walked this road enough times in worse weather that I'm certain I could get there with my eyes closed. Speaking of eyes, Ino finally decides to open hers and much to my surprise, they're not filled with disgust and loathing. I can't quite place the expression but perhaps that hint of subtle complexity is exactly her intention.
Soon enough, we come to the motel-like row of rooms and the inviting radiance of Lena's room guides me to an open parking spot. Silently, Ino follows me up the single flight of steps until we're outside Lena's room. I raise my fist but, for a while, it just hovers there, suspended in time. My shame prevents me from knocking and my pride prevents me from admitting it out loud.
Ino, in the midst of a flurry of irritation, knocks on the door for me, cutting me a suspicious look.
"Oh, who could be coming by this l—Coming," an all too familiar voice answers amidst the soft thrum of an old western show. The door opens and to my surprise, there's not a moment of hesitation on either of our parts.
The second I see her...the second she sees me, we're locked in each other's arms tight. I ignore the cane that she's throw to the floor and bury my head in her neck to hide the burning of my eyes. She gives a soft laugh, the kind only a grandmother can give and rubs at my back in soothing circles.
I say I'm sorry, or at least I try to manage the words in spite of my trembling form. She only shushes me, kissing the side of my head and assuring me that I have nothing to apologize for. "Hush now, hush now. I knew you'd come see me soon enough."
Ino, for once in these short months, ceases to exist for a moment and a guilty weight leaves my chest. All of that pain and aching is gone and for a while, there's only peace. Lena doesn't pull away but let's me do so only when I'm ready. I rub at my eyes and she places two flat palms on my cheek. "Look at you. You're so big and grown up."
I can't help but laugh and she coos, happy that she's managed to ease my mood if only by a little. "I'm the same size as when I left."
"Nope, you've definitely put on a little more weight."
"So I'm fat now."
"Oh, don't you start!"
We share a laugh and it's only when Ino shuffles slightly behind me that I remember she's there. I step to the side so Lena can see her and the second they look at each other, the mood changes. Lena immediately begins to wobble down onto her knees and like clockwork, Ino rushes down to stop her.
Taking her by the shoulders, Ino orders softly, "Don't. Please."
Lena begins dusting her pants and shakily holds onto Ino, the two of them locked in some sort of secret conversation of the eyes. "My Lady, please. I didn't realize you were—I didn't have time to cl—"
"Please," Ino begs again and to our mutual shock, Ino bows and takes hold of Lena's hands in her own. She swallows a heavy lump in her throat and her body begins to shake as her head hangs low. "I'm sorry. I'm so, so sorry. What happened to you was my fault and I didn't mean for this to happen and I—"
Lena stops her with a careful hand on Ino's chin, tilting her head upward. She exams Ino a way that almost makes me nervous and the furrow of her brow would be enough to convince of some malicious intent. But, instead, she turns her grandmotherly ways on Ino and crushes Ino into her arms.
Who knows how long it's been since Ino's been held that way and I could only figure that Lena's embrace reminded her solely of her mother's. It was the only explanation for why Ino's hardened exterior from before, melted and turned her into a trembling mess. Lena, well, she just sat and rocked Ino's shaking form right there on the floor and neither of them seemed to mind.
I notice the familiar rack of keys by the door and reach in and grab the one I need. I back away, giving them this moment as I grab Ino's bags out the car and lug them upstairs. Aris eagerly hops out and darts past me to Ino. Lena doesn't seem to mind and welcomes him into the embrace as well.
Once our stuff is settled in my old home, I return to find them rising up from the floor. Lena whispers something to Ino, presses her lips to her forehead and wipes the tears from her cheek. "Get this child inside and get her something warm," Lena instructs me carefully.
Ino moves silently to my side but makes no effort to touch me, nor I her. "We'll need to stay here for a few days, just until things are safe for her to go back. After that we'll be out of y—"
"Hush now. We'll talk about it in the morning. I've got some soup inside. Get yourselves some and get some rest now. Understood?" I never was one to argue back with her.
"Ma'am," I nod softly and allow her to pull me in for one last hug. I grab two hearty bowls of Lena's soup and guide Ino down to our temporary home. Her eyes rake over the place and again, only silent curiosity tempts her features. Aris, too, gets to work sniffing around and inspecting any and everything.
"It's not much but if you want I can find you something else."
She shakes her head, "No, this is fine. Thank you."
"You can take my old room, it's that one there on the end." She nods and pats for Aris to follow. I wait for her to shut the door and immediately collapse onto the couch. The day has been long and the emotions draining. I think we both needed our rest and some time to process the overwhelming conflict that the day has presented.
My head rolls to the left and my eyes linger on the shut door of my mother's old room. It had been some years but there was at least a bed there. But, I wasn't ready. Truth be told, I wasn't sure if I'd ever be. It was just a hollow space but the memories it left were enough to fill that space with all the things I wanted and didn't want to remember. So I don't. Not tonight.
My eyes close finally and at some point in the middle of the night, a blanket gets draped over my resting frame. I'd like to believe it was Ino but I knew better. Nothing ever went the way I wanted in this godforsaken house.
