28. History

Read chapter 25!

At the moment I've almost written 45 chapters in total. Time will tell how many it will be in the end. We had an awesome vacation and finally found some time to unwind and do all the things that couples do. I have met the most positive people I have ever met, it was so much fun! Eventually I've found myself again. Just recently I started accepting my body, my past and what is really important in life. To be honest, it took me an awful while to feel happy now with who I am. Please take care and allow yourself to be who you want to be. Everyone deserves happiness!

Have fun, stay safe and never forget to laugh ;) Now, take a deep breath and dive into the next deep chapter.

SquaMata

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Please remember me. Please come back to me.

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The decision was made:

She would go back to Suna again.

With him.

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The silverhead was never seen leaving the office unless he went for his daily bone-crushing runs late at night. Afterwards he retreated into his apartment. But on this day it was different.

In the pouring rain the dark figure walked down the streets of Konoha in a slow pace as if he was hesitant. With a sigh he stood at the entrance of the Yamanaka flower shop, with one hand he joggled his silver mane and then he walked in.

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"Good Morning, what can I do for…? Hokage-sama! What an honor! What can I do for you?" The blonde woman behind the counter greeted him with a smile.

"Can we talk in private?"

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Ino's eyes turned wide, "Of course hokage-sama. Do you want some tea?"

"Tea would be fine." By the heavy tone of his voice she could tell this conversation would be hard for them both. Inwardly she prepared for the worst.

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She led him into the backroom and poured them green tea. Kakashi sat down on one of the two broad seats, Ino took the other one.

"How is Sakura?"

He only looked at his tea cup. "She is getting better. She has been released from the hospital."

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"Oh, that's great news!" Ino could not hide a smile, but by the sadness in front of her she doubted that he had wanted to tell her about the good news and her look hardened.

In his calm teacher manner he continued, "I'm afraid but I have to decline my invitation to her birthday party."

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The blonde replied agitatedly, "Do you know how hard it was to change plans? I got a new reservation at the skyline."

By the mention of the restaurant he closed his eyes briefly as if it was hitting a raw nerve, "I can only imagine, but after all what happened lately it wouldn't be a good idea."

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"But it's all set! It's just a nice dinner with her friends!", the blue-eyed kunoichi complained.

"Ino, please understand." He stirred his cup in a very unique habit she had seen somewhere before. He held the spoon at its edges in between his thumb and index finger and skilfully drove light and lazy circles into the steaming liquid. It had something classy and elegant on it and was very captivating and somehow relaxing, like the same went for his voice. The blonde was fascinated by his movements and calmed down in an instant.

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After a while watching him with his tea, she asked friendly: "Could you tell me why, hokage-sama?"

He didn't look at her and in between two sips of warm and soothing tea he stated almost into his cup, "They're heading back to Suna tomorrow."

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"What?!" The Yamanaka heiress' eyes turned wide. She wasn't sure if she had just heard him right.

He nodded briefly in affirmation. "She doesn't even… remember."

The way he spoke made her uneasy. Something was off.

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"What about Tatsuo?"

He snorted cruelly and took another sip of his tea. "He's… history."

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The way he said the word history struck her like lightning. Ino's mouth fell open like she was about to say something, but she knew better to not ask any further questions. There was a reason why he wanted to talk to her in private and she wouldn't dare to tell anyone about it. As he made the first eye-contact since they were having their conversation, it was barely possible to miss the sincere pain in his very tired eyes. He must have endured many sleepless nights with huge agony gnawing constantly on his every bone and flesh. His deeply hurt look told her more than she had ever suspected and it crushed her very soul to see the current hokage, who was a legendary shinobi for his ever calm, aloof and strong attitude, standing right there on the edge of losing his famous, incomparable composure. At that moment she noticed she did not really know much about him except for his skills in ninja arts. The exceptional warrior and village leader was a living mystery. Never had she ever really given a serious thought about the grown man hidden underneath the mask and the feeling, vulnerable soul that was embedded in that exceptional ninja warrior. The moment he noticed her contemplating he stood up from his seat and left the flower shop wordlessly.

Ino watched him dragging himself down the streets into the direction of the hokage tower. Eventually she could put some pieces of the puzzle together. What she saw in front of her was a shaken man walking away with a breaking heart, fighting hard to not fall into a thousand pieces.

Apparently it wasn't Tatsuo that he had called history.

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