The ways we lie come in different forms. Lies that can start rumors, lies to cover up mistakes, promises broken, and little white lies. Hiding the truth can bring hurt or comfort, but the one consistency is that if found out, the liar will often hurt the most.
Ino sat alone with nothing but her thoughts to keep her busy, submerged up to her shoulders in the warm water after being sent to bathe by herself, as opposed to the usual routine of helping each other wash while cheerfully chatting about the day's events. She didn't bother to tie up her hair or even spend much time cleaning, truth be told, the only reason she was even there was to think. Her knees pulled tightly to her chest with her arms wrapped around to hold them in place, the melancholic blonde stared vacantly at the steamy surface of the water, silently racing her mind to figure out what she was going to do to make up with her best friend.
"What else do you want me to say, Sakura? I'm sorry, I know I messed up but I'm gonna try to do better I swear."
Sakura glanced up at the blonde who had abandoned her seat a few minutes ago and was now pacing back and forth in front of her, stopping only when she'd come up with something new to say.
"I told you, Ino. I'm not mad at you, I'm just disappointed."
"You know that's so much worse." Ino frowned, jabbing towards her friend with an accusing finger. "You're only saying that cause you know my mom says the same thing when she's trying to guilt trip me."
She was starting to panic, starting to lose control of some of the nervous ticks she only showed when she was truly stressed out. Sakura watched the girl before her as her left hand rose to scratch uncontrollably at her neck, it was true that she hated pushing Ino into this state, but she had to keep pushing if she was going to make her see how important the issue was.
"All I want you to do, Ino.." The pinkette sighed softly, but kept her firm look as she spoke. "Is to not forget what that promise meant. Not just to me, but to you too."
"What it meant to me..."
Ino let out a long, deep sigh as she let her head droop, resting her forehead against her knees. Closing her eyes, the lone girl took slow breaths, feeling the steam wash over her features while the thin strands of her hair that managed to escape from behind her ears, fell in loose coils against the surface of the water.
"It was so long ago... What if it really does mean more to her now?"
She could feel a heavy lump in the back of her throat, her eyes stung despite the fact they were clenched shut, she was using everything she could muster to hold back the tears she felt she wasn't allowed to shed. Until a soft click and a slow creak pulled her attention across the room. The sight of her friend walking slowly across the tiled floor managed to force back her need to cry, and instead her cheeks flushed a pale pink at the form before her eyes.
Covered only by a small towel tied around her waist, Sakura strode with an unseen grace towards the large bath. Her long hair had been tied up into a loose bun, and she seemed to be carrying a small container that didn't look like her usual shampoo or body wash. She had seen it many times since the pair had been living together, but something about Sakura's naked body entranced Ino; the way her modest chest gave the cutest of bounces with each step, or the slow and subtle sway in her hips that she always tried to prevent when she was in public. Right now, she didn't have the air of a high school student, to Ino, she was a woman.
And she was the most attractive woman she had ever met.
The pinkette sighed as she set herself down on the edge of the bath, glancing down at the round pot in her hand before looking over at the girl who frustrated her so much.
"Ino.. I..."
Lifting her form to sit a little more attentive, the blonde pulled her eyes away from her friend's body long enough to see the pained expression on her face. She didn't know what to say to make things better, but she did know that she couldn't just ignore Sakura's obvious discomfort. Shifting her form, she started to move herself closer, only to be met with a hand signalling her to stop.
"Could you just, turn around?"
Looking almost hurt herself, Ino slowly turned away, sitting herself back down with her legs crossed beneath the water. It didn't take long to hear the gentle sound of Sakura's towel hitting the floor, only to be followed by the unmistakable sound of her sliding into the bath. Resisting the urge to look back, Ino kept her gaze focused on the bottles of hair and skin care products arranged at the far side, listening to the girl behind her moving steadily closer.
"I'm sorry."
Ino's eyes widened, glancing back just a little for a brief moment, instead she simply shook her head.
"What do you have to be sorry for?"
She could hear Sakura sigh, feel her breath against the back of her neck, signalling just how close she was.
"I'm sorry, that I pushed you to this again." The pinkette's slender fingers snaked slowly over Ino's shoulders, delicately gathering handfuls of soft, blonde hair to gently pull it to her right side. Watching it cascade over the pale shoulder, clearing the way for her to carefully slide her fingertips over the shallow cuts on her friend's neck. "I know you hate this, and still I got you in such a state."
As insecure as she always felt when she left marks on herself, Ino simply let out a quiet scoff.
"It's not your fault, I should have better control over it by now."
The sound of the lid popping free of the container Sakura brought with her caught Ino's attention, taking only a few seconds before the touch of the pinkette's fingers returned to her neck, along with a cool sensation over the soreness of her earlier scratching.
"This won't do much to cover it up, but it'll at least soothe the pain till you put your makeup on tomorrow."
A quivering smile pulled at Ino's lips, even despite how angry and upset the pair had been just a half hour or so ago, Sakura was still willing to go the extra mile to make her feel better. She shifted, much to the pinkette's surprise, pulling herself into a kneeling position before turning to face the girl she'd spent most of her life with. Settled just a little higher up than her confused friend, she gave her the same smile, bottom lip twitching with the fight to hold back tears, before closing the gap to take her lips with her own.
Giving only a small sound of protest, Sakura quickly surrendered to the kiss, her eyes closing as she started to delicately return it, her lips moving in unpracticed unison with Ino's as the pair embraced, sinking slightly in the warm water while their bodies slowly melted in each other's affection. Deep breaths through noses and tender, wet sounds of lips parting against each other drowned out the light splashing of their bodies pulling closer together. The girls remained in their own small world of passion and bliss, until the moment was broken by the sudden sound of the plastic pot falling to the floor when Sakura's shoulder bumped against the side of the bath. Both girls jumped at the impact, pulling away just enough to check the source, before staring back at each other with heavy breaths and rosy cheeks.
The pair smiled together, Sakura reaching slowly with her finger to lightly boop her friend, causing the blonde to flinch slightly, which was followed quickly by a soft giggle at the tingly sensation of the cool ointment being left on the tip of her nose.
"I love you, you lovable pig."
"I love you too, you big, kissable forehead."
With synchronized giggles, the pair leaned in for another brief kiss on the lips, before Sakura slowly freed herself from the tight embrace and turned to pull herself out of the water, leaving Ino to sit back and stare at her smooth, shapely rear on the way out.
"Don't stay in there too long, I changed my mind about the couch."
The blonde's cheeks flushed once more, as Sakura put a little extra hip into her strut out of the bathroom. Their parents didn't know but the girls had gotten rid of the single beds in the bedroom not long after moving in together, and replaced them with a double that let them snuggle together comfortably. The thought of Sakura waiting for her gave Ino all the motivation to practically fling herself out of the bath, managing to catch herself on the side before her reckless act caused her to slip over, and after pulling the chain to drain the water away, made her own way out as well.
By the time Ino made it to the bedroom, Sakura was just finishing dressing herself in her sleepwear, a simple pink set of a button up pajama top and draw-string bottoms with a subtle embroidered cherry blossom design trailing down the left leg. She smiled over at the blonde, who, in her haste to follow, had arrived in the room still completely naked and dripping wet. Rolling her eyes, the pinkette simply tossed her towel for Ino to catch, making her way towards the expensive looking vanity table that the blonde had insisted on buying just a few months ago, gesturing to the cushioned stool in front of it before grabbing the hair dryer and brush with a smile.
Her cheeks still sporting a hint of pink, Ino moved to settle herself on the stool, draping the towel over her lap as she did and giving a sheepish smile to the reflection of her best friend.
"Honestly, between staying in the bath too long and running around wet and naked, it's a wonder you don't get sick more often." Sakura smiled warmly in return as she worked to gather Ino's hair. "You should probably consider yourself lucky that I'm a doctor in training."
The sound of the hair dryer drowned out whatever Ino was planning to say in response, instead she opted to close her eyes and let her head fall back slightly, letting Sakura's gentle hands take control. Ino loved her hair, and she knew Sakura did too. She had been the reason the pinkette had grown hers back out again, since she had been told no end of times that she looked better with it long, and she wasn't about to start arguing against Ino's eye for style. Even so, she had been glad she'd listened to the blonde's advice, and despite the fact it had been her idea, Ino had only ever praised her natural beauty over whatever style she thought suited her more. It was a big part of what made her feel like Ino was more than just her friend over the years.
After around ten minutes, Sakura set the hair dryer aside and took her position behind her friend to begin gently brush, taking care to not cause any discomfort as she slowly worked her way from the bottom.
"I got myself pretty bad this time huh?"
Sakura glanced up at the mirror, where Ino had subtly tilted her head to inspect the scratches on her neck.
"Yeah, they're not deep, but you didn't seem to realize how much you were doing it."
The blonde simply nodded, not noticing the saddened expression her friend was giving, hidden from view behind her head.
"Y'know, you're not wrong, Sakura." The sudden exclamation caused the pinkette to pause for a moment, looking quietly at the back of Ino's head. "I do consider myself lucky to have you."
Sakura gave a small scoff and a smile, resuming her gentle brushing.
"You just love me cause I'm the only one who'll put up with you."
"Yeah, I do."
Sakura paused again, staring at the bundle of silky blonde in her hand.
"You're the only person I know who has the patience to put up with my crap, the only one who actually wants me to do my best and isn't just saying it." Ino slowly turned in her seat, facing the kneeling pinkette who still held a small bundle of her hair, her head down as she almost seemed to tremble at Ino's words.
"The only one, who can be pissed beyond words with me, and then an hour later make me feel like a goddamn princess..."
She reached to softly touch Sakura's cheek, her fingers tenderly gliding over the smooth skin to tilt her friend's chin up, both girls' eyes meeting, glossed over with held back tears.
"I love you, Sakura, plain and simple. I want you in my life till we both kick it, and I'm not gonna let our childish promise affect that, cause I'm making a new one now." Sakura's hand rose to gently hold Ino's, fingers interlocking as she smiled through the tears that rolled down her cheeks.
"I promise you, that nothing is gonna separate us. That the dreams those two little girls had are gonna come true. Wherever you go, I'll follow. Whatever comes our way, we'll handle together. I promise, that we're gonna be partners for life. Even if we do drive each other crazy now and then."
Sakura couldn't hold back the tiny giggle as she moved to dry her eyes, only to be halted by Ino's thumb doing it for her, rubbing carefully over her cheeks with that same old loving smile.
"From now till the end of our days, you're stuck with me girl."
Sakura nodded, pulling herself up to wrap her arms around the blonde's neck. Ino simply giggled as she carefully snaked her own arms around Sakura's hips, the pair holding each other tightly as they set free their happy sobbing.
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"Hey, Sakura?"
"What is it Ino?"
The young girl shifted on the grass, turning to her best friend who simply stared back with her usual childish grin.
"Let's make a promise."
The pinkette tilted her head curiously, letting her long hair drape down her shoulder.
"What kind of promise?"
Ino slipped her hands under Sakura's pulling them towards herself as the younger girl gave a faint blush.
"I promise, that as long as I live, I'll always be with you. Even if we go to different schools, I'll sneak out and see you all the time."
Sakura's cheeks flushed a little deeper, glancing about briefly to check if anyone was listening to the embarrassing things her best friend was saying.
"I-Ino.. that's such a silly thing to say, you can't just sneak out of school. Besides, I'm sure we'll be in the same place anyway, we have been since we were little."
"I know, but we're gonna be starting high school in a few years, what if we can't be together all the time? What if we're in different classes? What if.."
Sakura gently took hold of her friend's hand, stopping her from scratching at her arm.
"Alright." She gave the blonde a warm and loving smile, holding her hands protectively. "I promise, that no matter what, we'll always be together. If one of us has to change classes to do it, then we will. When we grow up and get jobs, we'll both get the same job."
"But, my family is a florist, you're allergic to some of the-"
"I don't care, we'll still be together, even if you have to look after me all the time."
Sakura gave a cheeky smile to which Ino couldn't resist, the pair shifted closer to gently embrace each other.
Only to have the teacher call on them to get back to their activity. The girls parted with a brief smile, which fell into childish giggles as they went back to their work.
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Ino's eyes fluttered open, her blurred vision and the pitch black of the room had her looking around blindly for a few moments, before the gentle shift beside her pulled all her attention. Sakura's sleeping form rolled just a little bit into Ino's front, the fabric of her night shirt rubbed gently against the blonde's bare chest, causing a pleasant sensation through her body as she dared to pull closer. Ino usually slept in just her underwear, and maybe a thin gown if she was feeling fancy, but the heat in recent days meant that she'd abandoned all but her panties, and despite protesting at first because Ino was just 'being flirty', Sakura had eventually opted to wear her shirt open to cool herself.
It wasn't often that Ino got to be the big spoon when the pair snuggled up, but her words earlier in the evening had left Sakura feeling a little more vulnerable than usual, so she was more than happy to let the blonde hold her.
Ino simply listened to her friend breathing, it was unusual for either of them to just wake up in the middle of the night, but something about the dream she was having just got to her. It hadn't really felt like a dream, more like she was simply reliving a memory, a memory that she thought was long gone before now. Her hand slowly slid over Sakura's body, reaching up to gently brush the hair out of her face and back behind her ear, she couldn't see the pinkette's face properly from that angle, but what little she could had a gorgeous glow from the faint light outside the window.
"Maybe, we're not so different from how we were then." She thought to herself, her hand sliding back down to rest on Sakura's hip. "Maybe, I can keep that promise after all."
She leaned in gently to plant a soft kiss against Sakura's neck, pulling just a little closer as she let herself slip back into sleep.