And here's the second one. I've been a little stuck mentally after graduating finally. Trying to find a job and dealing with the anxiety of everything going on keeps delaying me and depriving me of the urge to write. I'm finally working now and eating healthier and I'm starting to feel like myself again. I promised myself that I'd finish this story before the end of the year so look forward to more chapters very soon!

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or any of its characters.

Chapter Twenty-Five

Morning comes quick and the light streaming through the gaps in the blinds is just harsh enough to force me up.

Confusion is brief but when I come to and take in my surroundings, everything comes crashing back to memory. I had Ino back, though not in the way that I'd hoped and so far, it wasn't off to a good start. I glance over to look at my bedroom door to find it still closed, leading me to believe that Ino is still fast asleep.

A familiar cracking of bones and joints realigning suggests that the couch wasn't the most comfortable place to sleep but it was still significantly better than the alternative. I stand and head for the door, shutting it softly behind me. The open railing gives a nice enough view of the snowy blanket enveloping the parking lot down below. The single trail of tire tracks indicates that no one has moved since we came in last night which makes sense given the fact that it was still early.

The pack of cigarettes in my pocket summons my touch but for some reason, I can't bring myself to take one. Instead, I shove my hands deep into the safety of my pockets and trail down the hall to Lena's door, giving it a soft knock. It's early but not too early for Lena who is hard at work when she comes to the door finally.

"You're up early dear, come on in and have a seat," she says and ushers me in with a sweaty smile.

I oblige and press my heel back to shut the door. Instead of taking a seat, I observe the mess of a kitchen Lena's been working in. Cracked egg shells, batter covered whisks and powdery splotches of flour coat the counters like a young child's art project. "Busy morning," I state more than inquire as I lean against the wall beside her.

"Well, with you turning up so sudden and with Lady Ino no less, I thought I'd try to scrounge up a few more things and make a Thanksgiving dinner for you all and some more of the kids," she says, her fingers roughly working and cleansing the greens in the sink.

"You don't need to do all of that. Ino and I will be fine."

She doesn't want to hear any of it. "Hush now. I can tell by just looking at you both that it's been a while since you had a nice home cooked dinner. Plus, it's been a while so indulge me a little and let me spoil my girl, hmm?"

"Fine, fine," I give in and look around while she busies herself at the sink.

I can see the bills she's got tucked away in a bin on the side of the fridge and while the kitchen's a mess, I note that the food isn't nearly as abundant as she'd have me believe. No doubt not being able to move around as well after the incident took a toll on her finances but usually the sector would take care of most things since she was providing for so many children and suffering families.

I stop the subtle grinding of my teeth and snatch the bills and slip them into my back pocket. She wouldn't tell me directly if she was having a hard time but I sure as hell wasn't going to just sit here and pretend I didn't notice. Finding a scrap of paper and a single pen on the coffee table, I move to stand beside Lena once more, placing the paper down on a less messy part of the counter. "What else do you need from the store?"

"I've got enough, Sakura. Don't worry--"

"Lena," I warn, "Just tell me."

That inviting smile is gone and I can see her brows furrow as she shakes her head. She switches off the water and dries her hands on the towel she had thrown over her shoulder. "I don't want you spending all of your money on me. Don't worry about what I've got going on here, I'll take care of it."

"I'm not spending it on anything myself and I've got more than enough to support us both," I press the matter further, "A few extra groceries isn't going to break the bank." I slide the pen and paper towards her and nod, "Just write what you need and even if you don't, just put it down anyway and I'll take care of it. Please."

One side of her lips pulls back and she sighs, knowing fully well that she's been defeated. Snatching the paper, she scribbles down a few items, occasionally looking at me to see if I'll say it's too much. I don't. She shoves the paper back at me and pleads with me to not spend too much. I ignore her of course and even make a mental note to travel a bit further to go to one of the nicer stores. If she was going to make such a big fuss about cooking for everyone, then I was most definitely going to make sure the quality matched the efforts.

"Let me know if you think of anything else," I call, backing towards the door to hide the bills hanging out of my back pocket.

"Get going before I change my mind," she chuckles, flicking water in my direction as she turns back to the sink.

The moment I shut the door behind me, I tug the papers from my back pocket and examine them as I open the door to my old apartment. I grab my phone the moment I'm inside and pull my card from my wallet. The damages aren't as terrible as I'd expected but a collective two grand would be a lot for Lena on her own right now. Though I was trying to be as quiet as possible, the sudden opening of my room door suggests that I might have been a tad too talkative for Ino as she and Aris make their way into the living room.

A few minutes later and the bills are taken care of. I save the numbers and account information so that I can take care of them from now on, something I was sure to get an earful about later. The careful heat of Ino's gaze is hard to ignore but I keep my eyes glued to my phone to ensure that the transactions all go through smoothly. Satisfied, I scoop up my things once more and secure the grocery list in my pocket.

"Where are you going?"

Of course I knew that Ino was the only other person who could've spoken but a part of me still found it surprising that she was speaking to me at all. Keys in hand, I face her with an empty look. "Lena wants to make dinner for everyone. I told her she didn't have to but she's insisting so I told her I'd pick up some extra stuff from the store for her."

A soft okay is the only word that she can muster but she continues to watch me expectantly.

I spin the keys around my finger once before clasping them in the center of my palm. "Are you coming with or no? There's probably not many stores open and if they are, they won't be for long."

She scowls at my tone but abruptly turns to throw on something decently presentable. It doesn't take her more than a few minutes to get dressed and after I ensure there isn't anything for Aris to get into while we're gone, we head out the door.

I'd only driven along these roads a few times but every curve was still ingrained in my mind and the frozen landscape coupled with our mutual silence makes the drive surprisingly tranquil. We arrive and I suggest to Ino that she do her best to keep a low profile given the circumstances. With her being a celebrity in her own right and it being known throughout the entire sector that I was her guard, most would be able to put two and two together. If we make the trip quick enough, that would hopefully avoid becoming an issue.

The store is wide and bright with only a few people here and there, much to my relief. I grab a cart and work my way down the list Lena gave me. Ino keeps close enough to not single herself out but otherwise avoids interacting with me at all costs. Every now and then her eyes will linger on a box or package and she'll inspect it only to press on.

Nearing the end of the list, I make a note to grab a few smaller things for myself before I turn to Ino. "If there's anything you want to try in here just add it to the cart."

She's on the defensive almost immediately. "I can pay for my own--"

I hold up a hand to stop her. "Easy. I wasn't trying to buy your attention. I just figured you'd probably never been in a grocery store so there's probably a lot of stuff in here you haven't had before." My frown is subtle but it works enough to make her realize that she's out of line even if just a little.

When she doesn't say anything further, I keep on and grab a few small snacks and minor toiletries that I'd forgotten. Trying her best to feign disinterest, I watch as Ino slyly peeks at a pack of holiday themed cookies that I've thrown in the basket. Without a hint of teasing, I ask, "Did you want to try them out?"

She quickly attempts to shift her gaze but of course we both know the truth. I guide us back down the aisle where I had first seen them and motion for Ino to take a look.

"I'm too lazy to make them by scratch but these are nice because you just put them on a tray and stick them in the oven. They're surprisingly good and they have different kinds." She gives me a questionable look leading me to sigh. "It's hard to tell if you'll like them or not until you try them so if you want, you can grab any you want to try and we'll make them tonight."

Bit by bit, the skepticism ebbs away and she picks off two additional packages and adds them to the cart. Satisfied with her selection, we make quick work of checking out and return to the car no worse for wear. A sudden low growl sounds from beside me and to my amusement and her utter embarrassment, we realize that it's Ino's stomach.

Her face abruptly turns to the window but I can see the red seeping into the apples of her cheeks. "It'll probably be a while before dinner is ready but we might be able to find something still open and get some breakfast."

"Sure."

With slim hope, I drive towards the main road back to the main city within Iota. It was nicer than the shambles near my old dwelling and in turn the business was a lot better. A nicer coffee shop that I had seen multiple times back at school was open for a few hours and upon seeing Ino perk up a bit, I decided that it would do the job for now.

We both order a drink and a breakfast sandwich to hold us over for the time being. I head back towards our temporary lodging noting how much shorter the drive seems on the way back. We drop off the groceries for Lena and promise to return later on to help out. The silence is comfortable as Ino and I sit and eat, mindlessly watching the tv.

At some point, I find my eyes lingering on Ino as she brings her lips to circle the straw of her drink. I should have looked away but my gaze never seemed satisfied completely. Soon enough, her eyes are on me too. I look away smoothly and feign interest in the cheesy holiday film on tv.

"Did you want a taste?"

I swallow the unexpected lump in my throat at her question. When I face her again, I see the sharp raise of her left brow. I can't tell if it's annoyance or confusion, perhaps it's both. I don't say anything which makes her expression even harder to decipher. Finally, she extends her drink in my direction and urges me to taste it. I take it with hesitation before wrapping my lips around the straw. She doesn't seem to mind and I note the subtle taste of her lip gloss as it mingles with the sweet and spiced flavor of her drink.

I hand it back and settle back into my spot on the couch. "You like it," she asks me and I can only bring myself to nod. It wasn't much but just the single taste of her lip gloss is more than enough to stir up troublesome feelings. Emotionally stuck, I swing my legs up on the couch and roll over. Another wave of exhaustion hits me and the desire to fall asleep is impossible to ignore.

Ino's soft footsteps sound a short while later and soon they disappear entirely back into my room. The shower starts up and a steady flow of music plays from within the confines of the bathroom. My eyes grow heavier under the weight of the lulling sounds and then sleep finds me and holds me safely in its clutches.

The nap isn't nearly as long as it feels and I come to with a gentle tap on my shoulder. It's Ino. "Lena stopped by a second ago, she said everything is just about ready," she informs me. Through the sleepy glaze in my eyes, I begin to make out the distinctions in her face. Her eyes seem an almost lighter shade of blue and her hair even paler yet still teeming with radiance. Her hair is pinned up into a loose bun with slightly curled strands shaping her face. She's dressed in all black which seems odd for her and adds a touch of mystery and danger to her look.

Sitting up, I rub at my eyes and take a moment to gather my thoughts. I don't have much of an appetite and the desire to socialize is equally minimal but after all the fuss Lena made, I know I have to go. I get up to shower and as I head for the bathroom, Ino's soft voice reaches my ears.

"I set some clothes out for you already, I they're in the bathroom."

Sure enough, my clothes are folded neatly on the sink waiting for me. "Oh, thanks," I add dumbly, still coming to terms with just waking up as well as the minor act of courtesy.

Purposefully keeping her eyes away from me, she backs towards the door. "Lena asked for my help with something so you can just come over when you finish up." I nod and allow my eyes to linger until her frame vanishes out the door.

Her newfound behavior is odd and it settles in my mind like a persistent fog until I finish up and find myself standing outside Lena's door. A plethora of scents tempt me as I walk in where several bodies, some familiar and some foreign, bustle around and make light and joyful conversation. Little kids crowd around me instantly and tell me how cool I am and ask me questions that I can't possibly answer all at once.

"Sakura what's it like in the city?!"

"Did you get to stay in a fancy house like the princess?!"

"Did you shoot anybody?!"

"Whoa whoa, easy now," Lena interrupts with a laugh and attempts to shield me from the kids, jabbing one with her cane playfully. "Maybe another time. Sakura has been working very hard to take care of Lady Ino who is also joining us for dinner. Let's not overwhelm them."

My eyes dart frantically until I see Ino emerge from the hallway. She gives a nervous smile and bow to the rest of the group who immediately flock towards her and assault her with compliments and questions. She's flushed red and for a moment our eyes catch each other and then, before I know it, I'm protectively shielding her and guiding her back towards the kitchen. They're harmless, I know that, but I also know Ino. In spite of our current state of affairs, I knew how much she loathed being treated like some sort of exotic being. She just wanted to be liked for who she was and none of them had the luxury of knowing her as intimately as I did.

"Hey," Ino calls in that light voice, her fingers gently skimming across my wrist. I meet her eyes once more and the look of what I can only assume to be worry pools there tenderly. "I'm okay," she whispers and I can only nod.

"Ino dear, why don't you help me finish up this pie," Lena beckons and when I look her way, she's got a knowing smile on her lips.

Like a pair of guilty children, Ino and I separate. Lena being too perceptive for her own good, she's spotted our slip up and continues to give me looks that suggest she knows far more than she ought to. Of course I know I don't have to worry about Lena telling anyone but I also know that she's not going to let me live this down.

Even still, when they both look away, I find my eyes shamelessly back on Ino.

She looks uneasy, never having to make any of her own meals, unprepared food must appear very foreign to her. However, Lena coaches her through it step by step and soon something as simple as whisking together fresh ingredients is more than enough to put a smile on her face. Lena samples an early part of her work, eagerly praising Ino afterwards which equally contributes to her positive mood.

"You certainly catch on quicker than Sakura," Lena teases and yet again, I find myself turning away when I realize that I've been staring too long.

Exiting the kitchen, I stop briefly when I feel a small tug on my sleeve. I glance down to see a small boy with dark hair and wide green eyes smile up at me. I don't know him or at least if I do, I certainly don't remember. He points to the door with his other hand and eagerly turns to me once more.

"Haru! Don't bother Sakura, I'm sure she's very tired," a young woman perhaps a few years older than me who I can only guess is his mother interjects and quickly rushes out an apology.

"Oh come now, the boy probably just wants to go play outside with the others. Dinner is just about ready so a few minutes won't hurt," Lena argues back from the kitchen.

The mother still looks equally flustered while Haru only stares longingly at the door. "I'll take him," I sigh, reaching over to grab my scarf from the hook near the door. I wrap it around his much smaller neck a few times until it looks partially decent and allow his small hand to tug me out the door.

"Fifteen minutes Sakura," Lena calls after me to which I respond with a casual wave.

I had been so engrossed in Ino earlier that I hadn't even noticed the other children slip out to play. Haru was a lot smaller than even the youngest of them and he didn't seem to speak much either. He grasps my hand tight as we edge down the steps but doesn't let go when we reach the bottom.

His gaze is hopeful as he watches the other children play and run about. Upon spotting me, they rush over and plead with me to join them. I watch as some of the older ones fix Haru with looks of disdain and then suddenly it makes sense. I dismiss their offer and sigh, already loathing the words before I speak them. "Why didn't you invite him to play with you?"

A boy steps forward and sneers, "Just look at him, big sis. He's little and he doesn't say anything to anyone. He's not strong like you or the rest of us."

The shiver of defeat in Haru's small frame annoys me more than I'd care to admit. "I was a lot like him when I was his age."

"No way! You were sis?" A young girl asks as I nod in reply.

"I was. I was smaller and didn't talk to anyone and no one bothered to talk to me either. Things are bad enough out here already without you all picking on one another. It hurts being alone all the time especially when all you want is to fit in." Haru squeezes my leg and looks up at me expectantly.

Sighing again, I continue. "You don't have to include him just because I'm saying all this. I have no right to be lecturing any of you but think about how'd you feel if that were you." I get a few shameful looks from the group. I allow them to think on it for a bit as I guide Haru over to an empty plot in the snow.

When he realizes I'm not leaving his side, he releases my hand to go scoop up a small bit of snow. He seems puzzled as he pats it in his hands experimentally. Crunching footsteps catch my attention and I'm surprised to see that it's Ino.

"Lena says things are just about ready," she says softly.

I nod, watching as Haru brings over a small patch of snow. His expression is troubled but before I can help, Ino crouches down with a small smile. "Are you trying to make a snowball?" Red rushes to Haru's cheeks, though whether being in awe at Ino's beauty or out of embarrassment, I'm not sure. Carefully, he nods.

Ino gently takes his much smaller hands in her own and clasps them together, squeezing and rotating the snow in their hands until a small ball of snow makes its appearance. It's pitiful by all accounts but to Haru, it's a significant improvement.

Ino leans in to his ear and whispers something and before I know it, Haru pelts me with the tiny ball of snow. Ino gives a genuine laugh and Haru's sudden light giggle chimes in harmoniously.

For a moment, I just sort of stand there. A frown settles on my lips as I brush the frigid powder from my clothes. I lock eyes with Ino once more who, upon immediately realizing her mistake, takes off. I'm on her heels in seconds and the children squeal excitedly in the background as we run about.

Finally, I manage to grab her but not before a misplaced step on fresh ice causes us both to slip. My reflexes are quick and I quickly shift our positions so that I take the brunt of the fall. For a moment Ino just laughs, perhaps still caught in the daze of our chase until we both become aware of our position.

Her perfect fingers are gripping the front of my jacket without remorse with her knees bracing both sides of my waist. My own arm is locked around her waist and our faces just inches from each other.

Lena's voice beckons us back but everyone but Ino and I move.

There's no blushing or hurried awkward detachment. In fact, for just a moment, we both pull each other a little closer but it's me who breaks it off first. I wince a little at the pain in my ankle which doesn't go unnoticed. Ino helps me to my feet and slides my arm around her neck for stability as she helps me up the stairs.

We speak very little to one another during dinner. Everyone was, as expected, more interested in Ino than me which I didn't mind in the least. When their questions got too personal, I'd step in and carefully shift the conversation for which I'd always receive a grateful look from Ino.

With the bulk of dinner finished, I manage to slip outside virtually unnoticed and make my way down to the car. It's darker now with the settling blue of the sky etching farther away. Again, my fingers tease the pack of cigarettes in my pockets. My will is significantly weaker this time around and I bring one to my lips with much anticipation.

"Please tell me you haven't been smoking those awful things…"

The soft crunching of snow behind me stops for a while. Sighing, I fish the lighter from my pocket and bring it to my lips. Guarding the flame, I whisper, "What do you want Ino?"

I only get one pull before she tugs it from my lips and crushes it beneath her foot. "Hand it over."

I don't have it in me to fight her so I oblige and defeatedly hand over the rest of the pack. "Do you have any more?"

I shake my head.

"Sakura…"

"I don't, I swear. I only bought that one."

She believes me and with a surprising amount of force, chucks the pack somewhere off in the dark. Even with the absence of light, I can see her slightly trembling frame and without hesitation, I shrug my own jacket off and drape it over her shoulders.

"You're going to get sick," she says but makes no effort to remove my jacket from her body.

"Better me than you," I counter, my gaze hard. "You should go inside."

To my surprise and my slight annoyance, she does the opposite and instead joins me up on the trunk of the car. I keep my eyes dead ahead, staring at the vast white nothing before me. Silence brews for several minutes before I choose to break it.

"I'm sorry, Ino."

"What for?"

I give her a look and immediately she catches on. Her fingers curl around where the sleeve of my jacket covers her arm. "Does it hurt?" I ask and she simply shakes her head.

"It feels like so long ago really."

"Not for me." I whisper darkly and I feel her eyes on me. "I see it every night like a nightmare that won't go away. I suppose it's some form of divine punishment."

"Ayame...would tell me how you were doing. At first, I genuinely could've cared less," she admits with a broken laugh. "I kept telling myself it was karma and that it was but a fraction of the pain that I felt."

I nod. "It's true."

"No, it's not." Her tone is harsh as she squeezes her arm once more.

"Ino…"

"After a while, she said you were getting worse and as much I wanted to believe I didn't care, I knew it wasn't true. So I'd ask her to check in on you more and each time you seemed to be getting worse. I almost broke and called you but I didn't in the end. When I saw you after all that time I—I don't know. All the anger and frustration from before came back in waves but it hurt too, seeing that you'd been suffering too."

Something compels me to reach for her hand and when I take it, I'm thrilled when she squeezes it tight. She rests her head on my shoulder and I revel in the faint traces of her perfume.

"I want to hate you so bad," she breaths into my neck, "I want to but I know I can't. I've missed you so damn much and in spite of all that's happened, my feelings haven't changed."

"You've ruined me Ino," I whisper low and soft. "Without trying, you've made it impossible for me love anyone else. I swore that if I ever got you back, I'd do whatever it took to get your trust back. If you'd ask me to cut off any and everyone, I wouldn't hesitate. I won't let you out of my sight ever again."

"Promise me then," she breaths, nails reaching to pull at my neck.

I slowly turn to face her, "Promise you what, Ino?"

When she pulls away just long enough for me to catch on, my heart races at an alarming rate. She pulls and I anxiously allow her to set the pace, and then, her lips are on my own as she drives me wild with the most desperate and mind-fogging kiss of my entire existence.

She pulls away again but only to run her lips against my ear as she says, "Don't let me out of your sight ever again."

"I promise."

And I keep that promise. When we finally return upstairs and she coaxes me to join her, I do. When she peels away everything in front of me and pleads with me to touch her, I do. And through it all, down to the very last second when she's passed out, exhausted from the thrills of ecstasy, I never take my eyes off her and I wouldn't again for as long as I lived.