A/N - Hello all. :) This is the part where I respond to reviews and such, so if you just want to get to the story, simply scroll past the bold/italic text until you've reached the next horizontal line.
kikolock - "Awesome story - first NaruAnko I've read and though I didn't really see how such characters could work, you handled it perfectly. I found them convincing and true to the show, and i loved the twist with Ino at the end of this chapter. One thing I would say though is whilst I thought it was well-written you keep switching between past and present tense, which is incorrect and does make the narration sound kinda jumpy and unprofessional. Besides that, top fucking class!"
My response - Thank you so much :) and I never noticed up until you said that, how I switch between the past and present tense in my writing! I feel dumb lol, but thank you for informing me of that, and now I'll try to focus on knowing when to use either tense.
*Three hours ago*
Naruto let Ino sob for a few more minutes before he said something, "Ino, I'm sorry." He apologized for the umpteenth time.
"Everyone I care about is leaving me..." She whimpered between sighs, "First Asuma-sensei, now Sakura... Who's next, Chouji? Shikamaru? My dad...?"
Naruto didn't know what to say.
Ten more minutes must have passed as Ino sat there crying, with Naruto rubbing her shoulders comfortingly while whispering small things like "It's okay."
"...I didn't mean to call you a monster..." She mumbled suddenly.
Naruto sighed, "It's fine, Ino-chan."
"I know you must go through a lot, being the container of... That thing. And I can't blame you for what happened, I know that you'd never do anything like that on purpose... I'm sorry, Naruto."
Naruto nodded, accepting her apology.
Things were quiet again until, "... You're a friend to me, Ino."
She sniffled, "... Huh?"
"You asked me why do I care about something you're going through that has nothing to do with me... And I told you I'd answer that if I got you to talk to me."
Ino turned her watery eyes toward him, "I care because... You're a friend to me. I know we may not hang out, or even talk much, but we've known each other for more than three years. We've went on a few missions together, had a few laughs, had each other's back... Shikamaru and Chouji are some of my childhood friends too, even as I first enrolled in the academy. Sakura was one of my best friends, so I at least think you're a friend of mine through association."
Despite her tears, Ino gave a small chuckle.
"Even if I didn't really think of you as a friend, I don't think I could just let you toss your headband away like that. We're comrades, Ino, whether you like it or not. The main reason people call me annoying is because I care more about others than most people do."
"I see..." Replied Ino, "That's very kind of you. But... You can't change my decisions for me, Naruto. While I admire your determination to change anything you feel is wrong, people have to live there own lives, and make their own decisions."
"I know... But I couldn't just let you do this... At least not without a fight." He said with a small smile.
"You're such a knucklehead." She mumbled with no sting in her tone. "...But thanks for being there for me, Naruto. I can only count on one hand how many people would go such an extreme to change a decision I could possibly regret."
Naruto nodded, "So... Are you still going to quit...?"
Ino sighed, "...Yes."
"But...!" Naruto stopped himself, remembering the discussion they had a few moments ago, "...Okay. I tried everything in my power to convince you..."
Ino frowned, "I know you may not agree with my decision, but it is my decision, Naruto."
"I know, I know..." He stood up, as did Ino. He looked her right in her eyes, "I'm going to miss you."
"I'm not going anywhere, Naruto!" She said, trying to cheer him up, "We'll still see each other around the village. I'll still be working here and at the hospital. We just won't be paired up on missions together anymore. It's not like we were paired up often anyway."
"I guess..." Naruto mumbled, "Um... I guess I'll leave now." Just before Naruto touched the door handle-
"Naruto, wait..." He turns around to look at her, "Does... Does Tsunade-sama know?"
Naruto shook his head, "I was about to tell her, until you came into the office..."
She saw his eyes. From the point where he stopped her after leaving the Hokage tower up until now, she never actually looked at his eyes. They held pain. And remorse. It wasn't something that was completely and physically visible to the human eye, but she could tell that those emotions were there.
"...And you said that you were feeling... suicidal?"
Naruto nodded, "Yeah. I feel a lot better now, though."
"I see... Well, at least y- Oh my God, you're bleeding!" She suddenly noticed the drops of blood on the ground, coming from the sleeve of his left arm. She realized she must have accidentally cut him while they grappled around with a kunai in her hand.
Naruto looked at his arm, unaware of the wound himself. He rolled up his sleeve, spotting trails of blood down the back of his arm, which trailed from his tricep.
"Oh, so I am." He said nonchalantly. It wasn't a major wound, just a horizontal cut that tore through his coat and skin.
Ino hurried over to him and grabbed his wrist to properly view the wound, "Ugh, I cut an artery, that's why you're bleeding so much... I'm sorry Naruto, I promise I didn't mean to!"
He simply shrugged, " It's okay Ino-chan, I don't even feel it."
"We have to heal that cut, you're going to lose a lot of blood if we... It's... already healed...? Ino insinuated after placing her mystic palm over the wound.
Naruto gave a small smile, "Heh, I said I was fine. I'm a fast healer."
"But that's... insane! The human body can't heal an artery on it's own that fast, no matter how fast a healer you are!"
"Well... Being container of the Kyuubi has its perks sometimes." He told her. "Honestly, if it weren't for this stupid demon, I think I'd be dead right now."
Ino only looked at him in awe, she was speechless. "...W-Well, we still have to get you to heal faster... We don't want any more spots of blood on the floor..." She uttered, channeling her chakra into her hand to heal him.
"Yeah, sorry 'bout that."
"It's my fault... I was the one being stupid, trying to come at you with a kunai..." She said, "I'm really sorry for that, Naruto-kun. I just... I was only thinking about myself, I didn't even consider your feelings..."
"It's okay, Ino-chan."
"No, I've really been acting selfish... The only thing on my mind was how Sakura's death affected me... I didn't stop to think how you could possibly feel about it..."
Naruto said nothing. Not a moment later, Naruto's cut was healed completely.
"Amazing... I've never seen anyone heal like that..." She thought.
Naruto, now seeing that his arm was healed, lowered it, "Thanks, Ino-chan."
"No need to thank me, I'm the one to blame for it anyway." She said. She then gets up and grabs a small towel from the back of the store, handing it to Naruto to wipe his arm with. Ino then cleaned the floor to rid the spots of blood on it.
"Listen, Naruto..." She started after disposing of the towel, "If you need anything... You can always come to me. I didn't mean what I said about us not being close... I mean, we're technically not close, but... I just..."
Naruto gave a small chuckle, "I know what you mean, Ino-chan. And thanks, that means a lot."
She gave a small sad smile, then it turns into a full blown frown, "I can't stop thinking about Sakura... I just can't believe she's gone now..."
Naruto saw her shoulders slump, then went in for a hug. He wrapped her arms around her securely, something that caught Ino a bit off guard. Despite this, she lifted her arms to hug him back.
"I know, I can't believe it either. But... She's in a better place now."
Ino started crying again.
Naruto closed his eyes and held her tighter, something he felt could help her feel better.
"It hurts though, Naruto..."
"...I know it does, it still hurts me too."
The blondes didn't know how long they were in this position, but Ino pulled her head off of Naruto's jacket once she felt her tears running dry.
Naruto looked at her, then wiped her tears away with his thumb.
They didn't know why they did it.
It could have just been the heat of the moment.
But how they ended up in a passionate liplock was somewhat beyond them.
Once they simultaneously realized what they were doing, they pulled back, with very saturated blushes spread on their features.
They wanted to say something to each other, but didn't know what to say.
They didn't know if what they're doing is wrong or right.
Or why they were doing it.
It just happened.
Their lips hesitantly pressed against each other again, only this time, they didn't separate until one or the other ended up removing an article of clothing.
No more words were spoken for the next half hour.
Only moans and groans echoed throughout the back of the empty flower shop.
*Present*
Anko Mitarashi wakes up in a very unhappy mood. Not only does her dispute with Naruto last night re-continue to roam through her thoughts, but her hangover isn't exactly making things any better.
She kicks the sheets off of her, allowing the cool afternoon air to brush against her still somewhat bare skin. She didn't bother changing before she fell asleep, only a lone, half torn mesh body suit still clings to her frame.
She sits up on her bed, holding her throbbing head as it pulses painfully in tune with her heartbeat. She was about to just say 'screw it' and go back to sleep for a few more hours, that is until she hears a knock at her door.
She curses under her breath, "Whaddya want?!" She barks at her door.
"It's me, Kurenai."
Anko sighs. Kurenai is the one person she can't act hostile to, even if she is in a bad mood. Besides, she knows that Kurenai is going through some tough times right now, and no matter how drunk, pissed off, or hung over she was, Anko can't just brush her off like most people.
For some reason, she was expecting it to be Naruto that was knocking.
Whether she wanted it to be him or not.
Anko groans as she stands up, "I'll be right there, just a minute." She half-staggers to the door of her apartment, holding her blood-rushed head with one hand. She reaches for the door and opens it, revealing Kurenai in the door frame.
"Hey Anko, I- Oh my! Anko!" Kurenai turns her head away and covers a hand in front of her eyes with a blush upon looking at her longtime friend.
Just as Anko wonders what her deal is, she realizes that she still didn't get dressed after she got up out of bed.
"Ah shit... Er, just come in and wait for a moment while I get dressed."
Kurenai slowly nods and steps in the apartment, closing the door behind her with her hand remaining in front of her eyes.
Anko goes to her closet and puts on a pair of pajama pants and a t-shirt. Just something to hide her nude frame, since she still didn't shower yet.
"You can look now." Says Anko. Kurenai peeks through her fingers to make sure, then puts her hand down once she no longer sees any inappropriate skin showing.
"Well, that certainly was a surprise." Kurenai mumbles with an embarrassed smile.
"Sorry 'bout that. You feelin' any better?" Anko asks, sitting down in a nearby chair to calm her throbbing head. Kurenai does the same.
"Yeah... Asuma had already passed once I got to the hospital... But I still shared my final words with him. I'm still recovering, but I'll manage."
Anko nods, something her head doesn't appreciate.
Kurenai notices her wincing, "Are you alright?"
"Yeah... Just a hangover."
Kurenai snickers, "If I told you once, I told you twice; drink water after every shot you take, that way you can still be drunk without the drawbacks of a hangover."
"Shut up, Kurenai." Anko groans.
Kurenai simply chuckles.
"Ugh... So how's the baby?" Anko asks, figuring that Kurenai might as well have checked up on her pregnancy while she was in the hospital. Kurenai told her that she was two months pregnant, so she isn't showing much just yet.
Kurenai gives a small frown, "Ehrm, the baby is fine..."
Anko nods.
Kurenai then clears her throat before hesitating to say, "Anko, can I get your honest opinion on something?"
Anko pauses and looks at her. Throughout all the years that the pair have known each other, Anko learned that the only time Kurenai sounded like this is when something was truly bothering her.
"Yeah... Of course you can."
Kurenai hesitates.
"...Do you think... I should... Go through with this pregnancy...?"
Anko eyes grew wide. She wasn't expecting Kurenai to ask such a thing.
"What the hell do you mean 'should I go through with the pregnancy'...?!"
Kurenai looks away, "Just hear me out... I mean... Asuma is no longer with me. So that means that my child will have to go through life without a father... And I'm not too sure I have the strength to provide for my child on my own... And I want my baby to live a happy life, not a miserable one with a struggling mother..."
Anko could only stare at her, "... Are you freaking serious, Kurenai...?"
The Genjutsu master says nothing, avoiding Anko's gaze.
Anko huffs and rubs her forehead. The situation is not helping the condition of her head.
"... Kurenai, throughout all the years I've known you, I've never heard such... bullshit come from your mouth, not even when your dad died. You're usually such a strong, confident kunoichi that's so sure of herself. And to hear you ask me something like this is just... Wow."
Kurenai still remains silent.
"Of course you should still go through with your pregnancy. I don't know what's gotten into your head, but you need some sense smacked into you."
"...I just want what's best for my child. And I just don't know if I'm strong enough." Kurenai mumbles.
"And you think taking the life from your child will be what's best for him? Or her?"
"...I just don't know, Anko... I don't know..."
Anko sits back and crosses her arms, "Well I know that you giving birth to that little brat forming in your uterus is the best thing you can give it. You're giving someone life, Kurenai. That's the best thing anyone can give to anyone. And-"
"But I'm not strong enough!" Kurenai half-yells with watery eyes. "I don't want my child to grow up unhappy! Not without their father!"
"What the hell do you mean you're not strong enough?!" Anko yells back, despite the slight blur of vision that her headache gives her due to this, "You're the strongest person I know! Stronger than Kakashi, Ibiki, me, even Tsunade! Your heart is made of pure gold, and I honestly look up to you because of it. And you're saying that you're afraid of taking care of that child on your own?! Have you forgotten that I'll always support you when it comes to anything?! I'm sure your squad will also support you, and so will that Shika-kid. So will Tsunade, Shizune, even Kakashi and every one in our graduating year will help you. You're not alone, Kurenai. Yes, it's your child, but you have loyal friends that will support you when you need it. We may not be a replacement of Asuma, but that child will have a great life and will grow up happy, I'll do everything in my power to make sure of that. I know Asuma would tell you everything that I'm saying right now, may he rest in peace. Even if you did have to take care of that baby by yourself, I know you'd be strong enough to prepare him or her for life, and be a great mother and a father figure for him or her."
Kurenai sinks back into her seat, registering Anko's words in her mind, "Stop doubting yourself, Kurenai. It's not like you. I got your back, always."
Kurenai darts from her seat and wraps Anko into a tight hug.
"Thank you, Anko..." She whispers, a tear falling from her red eyes. "You don't know how much that means to me..."
Anko hugs her back, "Anytime."
They remain in this position for a few more seconds until, "Okay Kurenai, you can get off me now... You know I'm not the sappy type. And you're cutting off circulation to the rest of my body..."
Kurenai chuckles and releases Anko, standing up straight, "Sorry."
"Yeah yeah, just stop crying. You look hideous and you're messing up your mascara." Anko teases with a smirk. Kurenai smiles and wipes her eyes.
"I knew it was a good idea to talk to you." She says.
"Of course. You knew it was a good idea because somewhere inside of you, you know I'd smack some sense into you. And since you kinda caught me in a bad mood, I almost mean that literally."
Kurenai laughs, however her smile soon disappears upon realizing something as she looks at her friend, "Wait, in a bad mood? You're hardly ever in a bad mood, even when you have a hangover."
Anko sighs, "It's a long story."
"I have time." Says Kurenai, sitting back down, "What happened?"
Anko really didn't feel like talking about it. But somewhere deep down, something told her to explain to get another opinion on the matter.
*Last night*
Naruto collapsed atop of Ino, but making sure that he wasn't dropping too much weight on her. Ino was just as sweaty and exhausted as Naruto. Their perspiring bodies made them sticky, giving an adhesive-like effect to their skin as they were chest to chest with each other.
Naruto's eyes were closed, as were Ino's, as they tried catching their breath.
Ino soon caught her breath and separated her legs from around Naruto's waist. She looked at him while he still seemed to be regaining his composure.
She wasn't sure what to say. She didn't plan on having sex with Naruto, nor has she ever imagined it happening. Everything happened so fast, it almost felt like it was out of her control, even though she was completely accepting Naruto's advances while making advances of her own.
"...Naruto...?" She whispered.
Naruto didn't even open his eyes, "I know."
"You... You don't even know what I'm about to say..."
"Yes, I do." He slowly opened his eyes and looked at her, "You were going to say that we shouldn't have done this..."
Ino said nothing.
Naruto sighed and got off of Ino, "Um, there's no shower in here, right?"
Ino sat up and pointed past him, "There is. Second door to your left after you turn right down that hallway."
Ino saw that Naruto was actually shocked to hear that, "This shop has a bedroom and bathroom here in the back. My dad had it built for me in case I didn't feel like walking home after closing."
Naruto nodded, then headed for the bathroom without another word.
Ino sighed and struggled a bit to stand on her feet. She wanted to cry. Surprises and unexpected moments in her life seemed to be coming at her left and right. She never would have dreamed of losing her virginity to Naruto. In the back of her flower shop, on the floor, and on various pieces of furniture and counters. She honestly didn't plan on losing it until she was married (preferably to Sasuke). Everything just happened so fast. She was starting to question exactly what she did have control over in her life.
However, that's not to say that Naruto forced or pressured her into doing it. She was just as guilty as him; she was not only just as enthusiastic as Naruto, but felt eager to go that far with him.
And she doesn't know why. She found that the only sensible cause was because of her raging hormones. But she couldn't shake off the feeling that there was another reason.
She was desperate.
Desperate for comfort. Between Sakura's and Asuma's deaths, she felt alone. Like a part of her was missing. Her mind and body was yelling at her to seek out the closest source of satisfaction and warmth, and she listened.
Now that her mind was a bit clearer, she realized that this wasn't the type of comfort she needed. Or at least not one to share with her deceased best friend's teammate.
Naruto soon exited the bathroom and found his clothing. He paused as he was putting his jacket on once he saw Ino's frown.
He stepped in front of her, "Ino-chan... I'm sorry, if I had known that we'd feel like this afterwords, I-"
She quickly looked up at him, "No no, Naruto, it's not your fault. I just... I don't know what's going on with my life. I feel like I'm losing control of everything."
Naruto sighed, "I know the feeling."
"...Was that your first time?"
"...Yeah. You?"
"Mm-hmm..." She hummed.
The room was quiet for a while.
"Does this mean that we're... together?"
Ino thought to herself for a moment before replying, "... Naruto, you're a great guy. Seriously, you are. But I don't think that... going that far would be smart. I think we're better off as just friends."
Ino was expecting him to be saddened by this, but to her surprise, he seemed relieved, "I feel the same way. I mean, it's not that I wouldn't... I mean you're a great person too, but..."
Ino gave a small smile, "It's okay Naruto, I know what you mean. I think it'd be best if we just forgot it happened."
"Yeah, I guess..." Naruto mumbled, unsure.
Ino stood up, covering her breasts, "Um... This is really awkward, but... Thank you, Naruto. I'm not thanking you for what we, er... just did, but I'm glad you took time out of your life to talk to me. The things I said in the beginning... I didn't mean it, I was just angry, full of emotion, and I-"
Naruto held her shoulders, giving her a small smile, "I know what you're trying to say. And I appreciate it." He gave her a peck on the forehead, "We're friends. We have to look out for each other."
"Yeah..." Ino murmured with a smile, "So... I'll speak to you later?"
"Of course." He said heading for the exit. But before he left, a sudden thought came to him, one that he felt he shouldn't vocalize. He sighed and put on one last fake smile, giving Ino one last wave, which she returned.
Once he was out of the store and the door closed, both blonde's smiles disappeared.