"This isn't love." Itachi said, eyes closed from exhaustion. People would ask what he knows about love. None. But he does understand obsession.
"This world is painful, Obito. You're helping her to realise that. Your disguise is cruel." Pain said, a sad glint in his eyes.
Cigarette smoke spread out as the addressed man exhaled through his lips. He inhaled and exhaled. He loved smoking.
"I'll be what she wants me to be."
And no one dared to carry the subject further. Obito never liked people meddling in his business.
--
Her sweaty skin glistened beneath the sun brightness. She kept her hands in front of her, forcing the chakra out; more determined than ever before. She was done living like a loser- if a stalker has the guts to make a fool out of her that means she was giving him a chance to do so by lounging around. The fact that creep could be observing her at this very moment fired her to work harder.
Mizuki wiped the sweat on his forehead, she was being a bit too passionate and he could tell she was more provoked than any day that passed before this. He was uncomfortable.
"Ino, don't push yourself." He advised.
She scoffed bitterly. "So that others could push me around? I did rather push myself for good."
He sighed. He figured nothing could suppress her motivation, might as well kindly soften the edges.
He moved to her, his hand rested on her shoulder as he pushed her down. "Focus, I'm just making sure you're using the right force."
By the end of it, Ino was fatigued, fell on her back mindlessly breathing heavily. Didn't work, another day went by with no results. Does she even have a chance to get her ninja abilities back at this rate?
"Look what you did to yourself and you still have to attend academy." Mizuki complained.
Burning your full energy as the first thing in the morning as someone who has responsibility as the day goes on is bad. She was falling everywhere, unable to focus on a single thing. Great, she'll learn that on this fateful day.
He was about to rant some more until he remembered. He sat down by her side staring up. "Did you find the thug according to your taste?"
Ino laughed, a genuine laugh in a long time. "Yeah, not just my taste- he's perfect. He could charm his way but he prefers to threaten people. His average day is probably beating someone up. He's rich too. And good looking, a scar on his face but that's a typical pride mark for criminals but still so handsome on him." And she had a lot more to say but that won't be appropriate. For she was admiring a thug in broad daylight.
Mizuki snickered. "You speak so kindly, I could mistake him for a flower."
And Ino wondered which flower suited him.
--
Her fingers paused mid air. Hesitation at the horror he left her with two nights ago. But he planned to talk about the stalker and things they could do.
Door opened, and an unamused Obito stood there. She formed a smile, he scoffed and returned inside totally ignoring her soundless greeting. Ino made a face. She hated him when he behaved like this, snobby prick!
"I've done my research around the village. Guess what I found, Princess." He pulled out a cigarette, not meeting her eyes.
"Did you find the culprit?"
"Your lover boy isn't easy, however your weakness is understandable. Orochimaru, was it?"
Ino is Stifled. His lighter sound echoed in the silence of her thoughts. He did find out on his own. She didn't reward him with the pleasure to acknowledge for she simply sat down coldly eyeing him.
"That's something you should've shared willingly. But of course insecurities left and right. People like you dig their own grave." He stared through half lidded eyes, matching her own iceyness.
"Maybe it wasn't something for you to find out at all." She said through gritted teeth.
"I'm doing my job, before understanding an enemy, one must know what he's after to know his next step to get ahead of him. Your stalker has no fear of you. He had done all that knowing fully you're helpless. No one picks a strong opponent unless they're desperate. Your stalker is simply playing a cat mouse game. You let that happen. Keeping secrets, especially from your protector, is foolishness beyond words." He spat frowning his eyebrows. No longer acting lazy.
"I've my reasons!" She argued lamely.
"Would like to share your reasons then? I'm not making a fool out of myself unless you admit the whole situation to me. The fact you had to go and search for a criminal to do the job when your friends are perfectly more than capable ninjas. Spit it out."
He had her. She wanted to tell him he has no right to pry into her personal life, yet she would be glad if he knew more about her. The problem was, how would he view her as? A loser? Pathetic? Maybe he wouldn't be able to put up with her ridiculous reasons and leave her. However her heart was craving something different. It would be better if he cut all possibilities of love before it became stronger, the way they did for Sasuke.
"Give me a few moments." She pleaded under his stern gaze.
She sat down there as he lit up another cigarette. And then another. His fingers were shaking slightly but he stayed unresponsive staring at the blank wall waiting for her to expose her little secrets connected to her heart that she never planned to make them available for any being.
"You might think I'm a fool, pathetic and even a sour loser. You might even decide to no longer help me out." She waited for him to respond.
He stayed quiet, not even staring at her. She breathed out, nervous for saying what she was about to reveal.
"There was a guy I liked since I could remember. My friend liked that guy too, his name is Sasuke from the Uchiha clan. However, a few months ago, my friend and Sasuke started dating. I-I am happy for Sakura... But I have loved Sasuke since I was a kid. They can't blame me, I envied Sakura for having him. I was in pain... None of my friends saw through my pain. The look-" she remembered how Neji and Lee glared at her for crying, how Kiba snapped at her. How they ignored her, Tenten whispers to her to keep her feelings hidden. Everyone. Even their teachers couldn't see through her pain. "They judged me for something I couldn't control, Obito! I've only ever loved him, I didn't know how to live without loving him... I just wanted them to understand me, give me time... They hated me for crying. They weren't there for me when I needed them... Friends are people who see through your pain, guide you through it. They did nothing but hurt me and treat me like a homewrecker... I just needed them to help me... I was confused and hurt..." She wiped her tears, the pain of unrequited love subdued, but the pain of broken friendship stayed fresh. Why did they treat her like this?
"So I don't consider them my friends. Friends do not treat their friends like they treated me." She breathed out, still pushing her tears back unsuccessfully.
Now here, he could call her a sore loser.
Many emotions crossed on his face, empathy, sympathy before he went and kneeled in front of her. His hands cupped her cheeks to make eye contact.
Raw emotions.
When she saw his eyes glowing at her pain, she couldn't help the sobs that followed after. Not when he was he was the first person who heard her noiseless scream of shattered heart. He didn't hug her, he kept staring at her as she bawled her eyes.
"Humans are cruel. How could they do this to you." He mumbled, his thumb brushing her wet eyes. She hiccupped as her sobs died into silent tears.
"Keeping all this pain to yourself, you're stronger than you give yourself credits for." He wrapped his arms around her tiny waist pushed her on his chest.
Ino inhaled his smell, reeking of cigarettes. But she felt comfort in that smell. The smell set a warm feeling in the deeper part of her heart. Her face resting on his tone chest, she loved the feeling of his body on hers.
--
Ino walked to her house, hand in hand with Obito. She didn't care who would see her like this with Obito. After that hug, he was gentle and kind towards her. He brought her a glass of warm milk, massaged her neck to unknot the tangled nerves. And now he was sending her home, promising her to keep all evil out.
"Thank you, Obito." She whispered as they got closer to her house.
He smiled. "Don't mention it. You deserve a rest."
She shyly stared down, to the point she forgot to check the envelope that daily finds its way on her doorstep. Obito did remind her though.
"There's no letter today." He said looking down with a pokered face.
Ino couldn't be more happier than this. The day was getting perfect. It was officially a perfect day after so long. Thanks to Obito.
She waved him, turned the knob down however Obito yanked her arm, his lips collided with hers. Ino widened her eyes, losed her balance at his forceful move. His other hand snaked around her waist to pull her body against his. Unlike the first time, she didn't push him away. Silently she rested her free hand on his wide shoulder, felt his muscles through his shirt.
His teeth bite her lower lips, she shyly parted her lips as he kissed her deeper. He released her arm, then pushed her back on the door gliding his lips down her chin then eventually her neck. Ino felt hot and wet. She pressed her thighs together unconsciously. No man had ever done this to her, but she know Obito was far too skilled in what he was doing. Shamefully she whined when his wet tongue tasted her sinfully. Her arms wrapped around his bulging neck, pulled him closer to herself to feel him against her raw.
He pulled away suddenly, she nearly yelled in frustration until she met his mischievous eyes dark with lust.
"Well, I should get going." He smirked, her reddened face, swallowed lips, and light pink marks on her neck. He made sure to not make a scar but enough to pump her blood.
"You better get inside first." He said and waited.
Ino clenched her jaw, smiled tightly as she went inside and closed the door. Hastily ran to her room, locked the door, her body dropped down on bed as she hugged the pillow. Thinking over the kiss they shared under the moonlight. Her body was on fire at the intimacy they shared. Just when she thought the day couldn't get any better, it did.