N.O.-S.A.N.C.T.U.A.R.Y. - Hello again. I'm glad that you guys enjoyed the last chapter. And now here's the next chapter, hope you like…

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or its characters, but I love watching the show!

I'd like to thank my beta-reader -Kristine x3-

Chapter 7: Father's Ill…

Ino sighed as she handed a bouquet of flowers to the last customer, and put the money into the cash register. The man nodded in gratitude and walked out. Ino sat back down and tapped her finger against the desk. Her blue eyes glanced outside; the sky was blue, and there were many clouds in the air. It was quite cold outside for some reason; maybe it would rain later on. She smiled as she eyed the sweater that Sasuke had given her a few weeks ago…

+Flashback…+

Sasuke listened to her speak and closed his eyes. He then opened them, and saw her shiver, rubbing her bare arms with her hands to keep warm.

Sasuke sighed and took off his sweater, throwing it at her nonchalantly, his back turned to her.

"Sasuke-"

"You should go home." Sasuke said his back still to her.

Soon she reached her house, and stopped at her front door.

"Thank you Sasuke for-"She turned around to see that Sasuke was no longer there. She looked up at the sky, "He forgot…his sweater…" She muttered. She hugged herself, the sweater smelled just like cinnamon. Just like Sasuke…

+End of Flashback+

The sweater now hung in the closet of the flower shop; she had worn it when she had arrived here. She opened the closet door, turning the knob and hearing a small 'click.' She retrieved the sweater and put it on. She then began closing the shop. She then began walking home; today had been peaceful. She trained that morning with Chouji and Shikamaru, and then went to the Flower Shop. It's all been peaceful from there. She smiled a bit, and then looked at her sleeve.

Sasuke's sweater.

She never thought that she'd be the one wearing it. She didn't mind of course, so she really shouldn't complain.

She approached her house, and then opened the door, walking inside quietly. She took off her shoes and placed them on the mat.

"Father I'm home," She said as she walked inside the living room.

Her father was usually in the living room when she got home, but he wasn't in there. It grew quite uncomfortable, without her father in the room. It was deathly silent without having the usual comfort of hearing the turning of pages from a newspaper, the comfort of a warm smile when she entered the house.

Her father had begun to act strange for the past few weeks. He would have these unusual headaches. His calm manner changed, like he suddenly had another personality. He would apologize, but it had gotten Ino worried. Everytime she would ask him what was wrong, he would wave it off, saying he was okay.

She sighed and started to head up the stairs, running her hands along the wall. She went inside of her room first, and decided to change into something comfortable.

She went through her drawers and retrieved a pale blue short-sleeved shirt which complimented her eyes well, and the usual black shorts that almost reached her knees. She draped Sasuke's sweater over her chair and sighed. She released her hair from its tight prison and put it in a loose low ponytail. Afterwards, she walked out of her room and down the hallway towards her father's room.

She knocked on the door. "Father…?" She waited for a response.

No one answered.

She pushed the door open and walked inside his room. "Father…?"

"I'm in the bathroom honey," She heard him say.

"Are you alright?" She asked, she walked up to the bathroom and saw him looking in the mirror, wiping his mouth. Ino's blue eyes widened a bit.

"Were you throwing up?"

"I guess I have the stomach flu or something," He said and he smiled weakly.

"Dad, maybe we should see a doctor-"

"I said I'm fine!" He snapped at her, cutting her off. "..You should get some dinner for yourself, I'm not very hungry." He said and closed his eyes.

Ino frowned, and then nodded as she slowly walked out.

The Next day…

It was Sunday, 6:00 PM, closing time for the flower shop. Ino closed the shop and began walking home. The sky was gray and it was raining pretty heavily. She sighed and put the hood of her sweater over her head.

She wasn't as happy as she was before. Her father is starting to worry her a lot. His vomiting had increased, his headaches had gotten worse. She didn't know what was wrong. She practically begged him to see a doctor, but he would decline and snap at her. His stubbornness was making her worry the most. She stepped in front of her house and sighed. She opened the door and walked inside. She took of the sweater and draped it on the couch.

"Father?"

She looked around and then walked inside the kitchen.

Guess I'll start making dinner…She thought as she entered the kitchen.

Her blue eyes widened. There on the floor, laid her father.

"Father!" She ran over to him and shook him. "Father! Father!" She shook him, but he didn't budge. "Oh no, oh no." She panicked, tears immediately threatening to fall.

I have…to take him to the hospital…

She regained her posture; this was no time to panic. She didn't have time to panic; she had to get her father to the hospital. She draped his arms around her shoulders and lifted his body onto her back, she used her sweater to tie it around his waist and around her, so he wouldn't fall Kind of like how Luffy carried Namie when she was ill. She then walked out of the door. Her father was quite heavy, but she had to help him. She looked up at the sky for a brief moment, and sighed before she began walking. She took careful steps, but at the same time walked as fast as she could. Soon she was power-walking, stumbling at points because of his weight.

She winced a bit, almost falling. No time to slow down…my father needs me… She thought as she started to pick up the momentum. The rain pounded violently on her face and her exposed arms. She was getting quite cold, Goosebumps appearing on her arms. But right now she didn't focus on herself; she focused on getting to the hospital…
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At the Hospital…
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Ino stepped inside the hospital; she was soaked to the bone. Her pale blonde hair hung limply, and some strands sticking to her forehead. She had Goosebumps all over, she was trembling. Everyone in the waiting room stared at her, and a nurse covered her mouth in shock. Ino saw Sakura; she had forgotten that Sakura was getting training to become a medical Nin. Sakura's green eyes were wide with shock. But Ino paid no attention to her.

Ino spoke, her voice quivering. "H-help, my father. Please." She said, and then her eyes closed, the last thing she saw were nurses running over to her.
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Blue eyes opened, only to be blinded by a bright white light.

Ino groaned and blinked her eyes a few times to get used to the light. She turned her head and saw her pink-haired friend at the doorway. Sakura was looking at Ino with concern as she walked in.

"Ino…are you alright, what happened to you!" Sakura asked her and walked over to her side.

She looked down; she was dressed in a white kimono-like robe. She looked around the room, and then her blue eyes widened. Ino sat up, suddenly remembering what happened

"Where is my father! Where is he!" Ino started to get out of bed.

"Ino, wait you should stay in bed!" Sakura said, attempting to keep her still.

"I'm just fine, but my father! Where is he Sakura!" Ino asked her.

Sakura sighed. She knew she couldn't stop Ino. Once Ino had her eyes set on something she never gave up.

"Follow me."

"Right." Ino got up and followed Sakura. Soon they arrived at another room, and her father lay on the bed. She would have never thought she would see her father like this. Tears gathered at the corner of her eyes and she held back a sob.

A doctor entered the room. "Yamanaka Ino, his daughter correct?"

Ino nodded.

"Well we've done some tests and it seems that your father has a brain tumor…"

Ino's eyes widen. This couldn't be happening!

"…You must be mistaken…" She said, a lump forming in her throat. "H-he was fine…yesterday…."

"Well your father has checked in before, and we recommended that he make an appointment for computerized tomography and magnetic resonance imaging scans to highlight abnormalities…and we also had planned a biopsy for testing the tissue...But he never came back." The doctor said, adjusting his glasses with his finger.

"…Is there anything you can do now?" Ino asked him with pleading eyes.

The doctor sadly shook his head. "There is nothing we can do now…I'm sorry. He doesn't have long to live…maybe a few more weeks if we're lucky."

Ino looked down and sadly nodded. "I understand…" She says.

Sakura stared at Ino. "Ino…I'm sorry,"

Ino shrugged Sakura off and sat next to her father, squeezing his hand.

Why didn't you tell me…Father?

N.O.-S.A.N.C.T.U.A.R.Y.- I did some research on brain tumors in case you were wondering…I know this story is sad…but that is the purpose…please read and review…thank you.

Next Chapter: Bottling Up…