A/N: I did this for you guys. Enjoy! I'm too tired to be hyper today. If you spot any errors, please tell me and it will be dealt with easily.
oOooOo
Sakura woke up the next day feeling very happy again but sad at the same time. Sasuke had visited her again after a long time but he mentioned something about going on a mission for a month. He had said his good-bye and he probably left already. Still, it didn't interfere with Sakura's daily routine. As she walked around her house, she noted Ino's things still in the spare bedroom.
Sakura wondered how come Ino left without getting her things. She entered the room then arranged everything, even Ino's things. 'She'll probably remember she left them here. I guess I'll just leave--' she trailed off as she noticed a velvet box near the bag. She remembered Ino saying something about carrying whatever is inside that box whenever she had a mission.
Sakura said she wouldn't look but her curiosity grew as she stared at the box. Thankfully, she got distracted by Naruto's energetic shouts by the door. Leaving the box and the room, Sakura quickly grabbed a bite then went outside. "Anou sa, Sakura-chan! Let's go to the training grounds! Kakashi-sensei said there was a general meeting of the rookie genins. And after that, we can go to the Ichiraku Ramen, datte bayou!"
Sakura smiled and followed him without a word. Once they got there, Naruto pretty much said the truth. The rookie nine, although lacking three, are there as well as their jounins. Sakura was surprised that she saw Sasuke. She remembered him saying that he had a mission for a month. Or was his departure a little later? She decided to ask the brooding boy.
"A mission lasting for a month? Sorry, Sakura but I was with Naruto the whole time last night. I never passed by your house nor was I assigned on any mission." the Uchiha answered. A cough not so distant from them caught their attention. Asuma told them to sit down on the grass as he explains what the meeting was for.
"Last night, a squad of five ANBUs, three medic-nins, two jounins and four genins were sent on an A-rank mission by the hokage. They were the first to leave towards the south to retrieve something. This mission is actually a test of credibility of the shinobis and kunoichis of Konoha as well as their survival skills. Not to mention their resourcefulness as well. Kurenai will give out the squads to you." Asuma said then lighted a cigarette as he stepped aside.
Kurenai held up a clipboard then started reciting squads and names. "Squad Two Genins: Rock Lee, Uzumaki Naruto, Uchiha Sasuke and Hyuuga Hinata. Jounins: Sarutobi Asuma and Maito Gai. Squad Three Genins: TenTen, Haruno Sakura, Akimichi Chouji and Inuzuka Kiba. Jounins: Hatake Kakashi and Yuuhi Kurenai."
Kakashi stood up and told the genins to go to their assigned jounins. "Squad Two will leave by 11 AM at the western Konoha gates. Squad Three will leave at 5 PM at the northern Konoha gates. Remember, this is a one-month mission. There is only one clue given to a squad. If you want to find the item, you must look for other clues. Are there any questions?" the silver-haired jounin announced.
Sakura raised her hand. Kakashi nodded at her then she asked where Ino and the others were. "As Asuma explained earlier, the first squad already left last night. Genin members of the first squad are Hyuuga Neji, Nara Shikamaru, Aburame Shino and Yamanaka Ino. They will return after a month. That is, if they find what they're looking for." Kakashi answered.
oOooOo
Each squad left on their appointed time of departure. Sakura still wondered who exactly the person behind the 'Sasuke' is. She was ruling out the members of the first squad.
Neji, no, rumor says he's with someone already.
Shikamaru, no, he's too lazy.
Shino, even if he is, she'd probably see a bug or two.
And then there was Ino.
'Ino-chan? No, how could she? Besides, we're both girls. It wouldn't make sense.' she thought. Just then, Inner Sakura decided to butt-in.
'Who said it isn't possible? Admit it, you've harbored feelings for the girl ever since the day you told her about how you and Sasuke had sex.'
'No I wasn't! But even if I did, Ino-chan wouldn't feel the same!'
'Oh, that's what you think. Haven't you noticed Ino-chan flirting with you from time to time? God, how can you be so dense!'
"Shut up!" Sakura shouted which startled her fellow members. TenTen placed a hand on her shoulder and asked her how she's feeling. Sakura replied that everything is fine, just talking to herself. The weapons mistress continued looking at her worriedly. Sakura sighed inwardly. She had to stop thinking too much...
oOooOo
The month had gone by so quickly. Squad One all returned safely to Konoha. They made their report to the hokage's office then they returned the hidden scroll they assigned to find. All was well and back to normal. Each one of them returned to their respective houses, took a long hot bath and ate until their stomachs threatened to burst open. They caught up with the sleep the lacked and lounged for hours at a time.
Squad Two returned shortly after. Only Naruto was very unruly out of the fourteen. Squad Three followed a few hours later. Ino didn't want the time to pass by but it did. Someone informed her that Sakura was looking for her but said that she had been resting. 'I wonder if Sakura-chan figured it out...' she thought.
Ino would drop by from time to time at the hospital to check on Sakura. She didn't make her presence known though. She knew she would be bombarded with questions from the other girl. In the past few days, the blonde had been hiding from the pink-haired girl out of fear of blurting out what she really felt.
But life is unfair that one can only run so many times. Sakura finally caught Ino as the other kunoichi was managing the flower shop. "Ne, Ino-chan..." Sakura said, "Can I stay over for the night?"
'I feel like we already had this conversation. Only I'm the one asking her.' Ino thought. The expectant look in the girl's face made Ino blurt out her answer. "Yes, of course you can stay over." Sakura's smile widened as if Sasuke was marrying her (5). The pink-haired girl genuinely looked happy but the blonde was fidgeting a bit.
'Why did Kami-sama have to be mean to me?" Ino thought as she and Sakura walked towards the Yamanaka house. Ino fished a key out of her pocket and opened the door at the back. Without being told, Sakura went in and headed towards the girl's bedroom. 'It's still the same as before..." the pink-haired kunoichi thought. Ino went to the kitchen to grab something to munch on while they would talk.
Sakura sat on Ino's bed once she changed her clothes. The other girl's room was simple. Books on a small shelf, a desk with papers and scrolls scattered all over, a couple of chairs, white feather bed and a wardrobe. The pink-haired girl laid down on the bed and grabbed a pillow. 'Kami-sama this pillow even smells like her...' she thought then closed her eyes, drifting off into her world.
Ino walked in unannounced which startled the deeply thinking girl. Ino handed her some juice and a few breadsticks she found in the kitchen. Ino excused herself to the bathroom to change while Sakura continued hugging the pillow tightly, as if wishing it was Ino. 'Oh Ino-chan...' she thought. Ino returned after a while then they talked about things happening around town.
"Ne, Sakura-chan, did you know who Neji-kun's 'special someone' is?" the blonde asked.
"No... I don't think anyone knows... Wait, you mean you actually know!" Sakura said,
"Yes, I do, though it was an accident. I walked in on the two of them kissing. You wouldn't believe who it is!" Ino replied.
"Tell me, Ino-chan! I'm dying to know!" Ino chuckled then decided to tell her pleading friend after so many pleas.
"Alright, alright, it's Hinata-chan." the very shocked look on Sakura only made Ino's laughter louder. Okay, so Sakura didn't expect it but the blonde said it's true nonetheless.
Sakura was in a sort of state of shock. She had expected it to be TenTen but then she noticed a certain Suna-nin's weekly visits. She concluded that the Suna-nin and Temari were together. Going back to the subject, both girls talked and talked for what seemed like eternity. That is, until the pink-haired kunoichi decided to ask, "Ne, Ino-chan, you wouldn't happen to know the 'Sasuke' that has visited me and made love to me, would you?"
Ino gulped. She expected this question to come but not so soon. She wasn't prepared. If it was about a year after "Sasuke's" last visit, it was fine. But not now! The blonde girl panicked. She didn't know what to say to her best friend. Sakura is deeply in love with Sasuke and Ino wanted Sakura to be happy. She thought that if she would disguise as Sasuke, the girl would have a boost of confidence.
What she didn't count on was Sakura finding it out so soon. Worst case scenarios started playing itself in Ino's mind. Just the thought of Sakura hating her made the blonde's heart ache so much. Ino is in love with Sakura. The thought of losing the one she loved broke the girl's heart into millions of tiny little fragments. She would be slowly eaten inside at the pain of losing Sakura. Still, Ino must be strong. And she decided to tell the pink-haired girl the truth.
"Yes, Sakura-chan, I knew something about the Sasuke who had made love to you." she started, "And I happen to be that Sasuke, too. I'm sorry you had to know this, Sakura-chan, but I just can't let you pine away at that brooding boy for all your life. You deserve to be loved, Sakura-chan. I know it's wrong for me to fall in love with you but I just can't help it. I thought that if I'd disguise myself as Sasuke, you'd be bolder. It was hard for me, Sakura-chan, to watch you wither away."
Ino moved closer to Sakura and placed one of her hands on the other's cheek. The blonde gently caressed the skin as tears started to fall from her blue eyes. "You're a great kunoichi. You worked hard under Tsunade-sama to achieve this. You're so skilled it's a wonder Sasuke still hasn't noticed you. And what's more is that you're a very precious flower, a flower whose beauty is far greater than anything compared to it. I love you so much, Sakura-chan, and I'm content if you know even just that..." Ino said and lowered her lips into Sakura's. (6)
The pink-haired girl instantly knew this was the Sasuke that had come into her house. His, or should we say, HER lips pretty much gave everything away. Sakura could taste saltiness at the sides of Ino's mouth. 'Ino-chan must really love me to cry like this...' Sakura thought. She gathered the blonde closer into her warmth and returned her kisses as well. Who cares if this wrong? It just feels so right...
Both girls parted when the lack of oxygen kicked in. They both blushed madly, probably beating that of Hinata's. The blonde girl looked away, fearing the worst from Sakura. Instead of shouts of anger, Ino heard laughter. She looked at the pink-haired girl curiously. Sakura smiled at her then said, "Silly Ino-chan! If you were so caught up in your world, then you wouldn't have felt my arms around you and me kissing you back."
The blonde girl was, to say in the least, absolutely stunned. Okay, so this wasn't part of her worst case scenarios. I mean, she didn't actually believe that it would happen! But here she was, in the arms of the one she loves and loves her back. Smiling, Ino tugged at Sakura and both girls fell onto the bed. Giggling madly, they shifted positions every now and then until they became contented.
Sakura was in Ino's arms and they both had the brightest of smiles. "Naa, Ino-chan, aren't you even going to ask how I figured it out?" Sakura asked. Ino just smiled and nuzzled the other girl's neck. Sakura demanded an answer and pestered Ino to say it.
"One, because I love you so much that it doesn't matter now. Two, because I know you'll find out soon enough. Three, Naruto-kun has been kind enough to teach me the Sexy no Jutsu." Ino said. Sakura shouted a loud "WHAT!" at Ino's last reason and looked incredulous. That fact she didn't expect at all. Nonetheless, the pink-haired girl was curious on how Ino would be like as a male.
Both girls teased each other back and forth. They refused to go to sleep even though their bodies started to protest. They know sleep's essential but so is the other. They were about to kiss each other goodnight when the door opened. Ino and Sakura stared as they were caught in the act by Ino's father.
"It's about time you two had been together… Anyway, it's late. Why don't you girls get you beauty sleep?" Yamanaka Inoshi (7) said. Smiling, he closed the door and headed back to the master bedroom. Both the pink-haired girl and the blonde wondered what that was all about. Shrugging and making a mental note to talk to Inoshi the next day, they kissed and bid each other goodnight. A few moments later, both Ino and Sakura fell asleep in each other's arms. (8)
oOooOo
A/N: What can I say? I'm a sucker for sappy things nowadays. And yes, here's the continuation. I worked on it for about four hours just to satisfy you guys. And if you're wondering why Sasuke's name is italicized earlier on, please refer to Chapter One. Fine! I'll just tell you! Sakura has sex with 'Sasuke' who is actually Ino in disguise. Happy! Oh, and let's not forget that I crave happy sappy endings recently. Some notes:
(5) Ha! As if SasUKE will ever marry her! In his dreams! -nyar!- -ahem-
(6) Okay, so I overdid the 'sap' part… Honestly speaking, sap gives me waay too many cavities…
(7) I'm not sure if Ino's father's name is Inoshi alright? Please bear with me.
(8) Isn't that a cute moment? I swear I'm too sappy these days…
A/N: I started with 5 because it was originally one Word document. Haha! I'm finished with my commentaries! As stated earlier, I'm not in the mood and I'm not hyper today. So long folks! 'Til next time!
Many loves and thanks,
Itachiness