So… I realize I forgot my disclaimer… Though I honestly don't see the point…I mean, we all know I don't own Naruto, right? If not well… let's just say I'm a yaoi fan :3 heh heh, yeah… so R&R
WildCat6: Yush, I know he's very much so out of character :P You'll find out why in this chapter. Enjoy! HANL
Key: 'thoughts' "ANGRY RANTS" -flashbacks- "Speaking" POV's
Chapter 2 – Fake faces, familiar places…
Ino yawned softly as she awoke from her sleep. Her dream was more of a flashback than anything. She looked up, organizing her thoughts.
A rustle in the bushes startled Shikamaru from his sleep. He glanced around, seeing Ino and Sakura still awake. He silently rushed over, lowering his tone to nothing but a hushed whisper, "We have company." Sakura nodded in response and Ino hesitantly stood to check on Kiba and Halle. Kiba was still awake, his eyes glued on the sleeping figure. Ino touched his shoulder, making the boy and his dog jump. She smiled sweetly, "Hey, we have company, so don't be alarmed if we start screaming." Kiba sighed, shaking Halle, "Got it. I'll take him to the destination as soon as I know they're distracted." Ino nodded, "Hai, and I'll come too." Kiba nodded and Akamaru barked. Sakura held a kunai tightly in her hand, "Shikamaru, tell them to get a head start." Shikamaru nodded, walking over to the tent, "You guys go… now." Halle sat up, "Huh? What's going on?" Ino placed a finger over his lips, "Hush! Come on." Kiba helped the man up, "We're going to take you to your village now." The two shinobi grabbed him and jolted for the fastest route to his village. Sakura and Shikamaru stood back-to-back. Sakura smirked as three of their visitors leapt out, "Party time!" Shikamaru rolled his eyes, "You're such a troublesome woman." They leapt into action instantly.-
Ino sighed, getting into her shower. The warm water soothed her. She sighed heavily, wanting the bathroom to just collapse onto her, but knew chances of that was slim. A knock at the door indicated a visitor. She growled, throwing on her bathrobe and tightening it. Knocks continued sounding at her door, "Yeah, yeah… I'm coming!" She threw open the door, "What do you-…" She paused, looking down at the doorstep, "Want?..." She picked up the large parcel and shut her door as she went back inside. She looked at it, her eyes curious. The tag read some indecipherable name, so she had absolutely no clue who it was from. She opened it. Her mellow facial expression lowered into a saddened one. Inside the package were Sakura's old clothes and kunai. She threw the box to the side and growled, angry now more than sad. She stomped into her room and changed into her usual attire of lavender and slammed her door on the way out. She flopped onto her doorstep, sobbing once again.
Shikamaru used his 'my shadow and me' technique to make the attackers freeze. Sakura stabbed them all through the heart with her kunai, "Come on! There's at least one more, he followed Halle!" Shikamaru nodded, following Sakura's orders. The two dashed to catch up to their comrades. Too late. The ninja was battling with Kiba and Ino. He formed unknown hand seals and aimed his attack at Ino. Ino fell to her knees, her face blank. Kiba growled, cursing under his breath, "Ino!" He shoved her, "Snap out of it." She didn't. Kiba gasped, "A genjutsu you can't break out of by human touch?" The ninja kicked him into a tree, "Never seen one I take it?" Kiba wiped his mouth, "Heh, now I have." Akamaru growled, "Arf! Arf arf arf arf arf-" (translation: Cha! Now let's do the beast man clone and kick his-) Kiba glared at the puppy, "My sister told you to watch your language." Akamaru hung its head in apology. Kiba sighed, "Man Beast Clone!" Akamaru turned into a Kiba and the two stood on all fours. Shikamaru ran to Ino's aide, "What happened?" Kiba growled, "It's a genjutsu." Shikamaru nodded, "Thanks." He tried multiple ways to wake the blonde while Sakura helped Kiba fight the ninja.-
Ino glanced up and growled, "Ugh! I'm going to be late… Why do I care?" She shook her head and hopped roof to roof until she reached the Hyuuga compound. She jumped down and walked to the secluded training grounds behind it. Neji was there. Ino tilted her head, "Ahem." Neji kept his back to her, "What do you want Yamanaka?" Ino huffed up, "You invited me to train, remember?" Neji gave her a sullen look, "I didn't invite you to do anything." Ino growled, tightening her fists, "Yes you did! After the funeral yesterday." Neji's sullen glare stayed in place, "Pssh… As if Yamanaka. Maybe in your dreams." Another Neji crawled up the hills, "Oi! Ino!" Ino glanced at him, "N-Neji?... but you're there… and he's…" The other Neji glanced at the sullen Neji and his eyes widened, "Ack! You weren't supposed to be here!" Ino growled, "What's going on?" The Neji that just recently joined took Ino's arm, "Heh heh, come with me. I'll explain things." The other Neji threw a kunai, barely missing the others' hair, "No… Explain to me too."
He sighed, "Fine." He held up a hand seal and a cloud of smoke appeared in its place. From the clouds, a feminine figure was revealed, "Sorry Ino… You looked so sad. Hinata and I came up with this idea. It sounded good at first." Ino was going to smack her, but a fierce grip caught her hand. Neji growled, "Tenten, you don't need to stick your nose in other peoples' business." Tenten bowed, "Sorry Neji, Ino…" She smiled sincerely, "I just wanted Ino to be happy." Ino pulled away from Neji's grip, "It didn't work." Neji rolled his eyes, "Shikamaru wasn't kidding when he said women were troublesome." Tenten and Ino both glared at him yelling in unison, "EXCUSE ME?" Neji didn't show any sign of emotion, "Are you deaf? You heard me." He turned, returning to his training. Ino held up a fist, getting agitated by his attitude. Neji yawned, "Does the fist you're shaking at me mean you wish to spar with me?" Her insides were screaming, 'Do it Ino! You'll feel ten times better!' The other part of her was deathly terrified of Neji, "No." Tenten placed a hand on Ino's shoulder, "Hey, I'll see you around. I promised Lee I'd meet him later." Ino nodded as Tenten ran off. Neji stood in his Juuken, "Since you bothered to come all this way… Want to go ahead and train anyway?" Ino crossed her arms across her chest, "Why?" Neji still had his back to her, "I gave you a reason." Ino growled, "Fine."
Kiba and Akamaru had fallen under his genjutsu as well. Sakura and Shikamaru were left to defend the three people behind them. The ninja ran at Shikamaru, a kunai in his hand. Sakura ran in front of the lazy bum, only to have the kunai lodged into her heart. She coughed up blood on the missing-nin. He ran off like a coward. Shikamaru held Sakura, "Stay awake, okay? We're going to get you to a hospital." Sakura smiled through her blood-stained mouth, "Heh… Just tell Ino I'm always with her." Shikamaru shook her, "Don't do it!" Sakura, against everything Shikamaru said, died then and there.-
Yush… Tis' the end of Chapter 2 X3 Hmmm… not much else to say really.
-HANL