Author's Note: Hey, y'all! If you got a notification that a new chapter was added - sorry! Not necessarily true. You see, previously I had taken half the chapters off this story to rework it after it had been finished. Its been a year or so and while I am working on it finally, I decided to rewrite the the rest of the chapters too. I have replaced them with the new ones. I kept the same story but I think it flows a little better now. Obviously the biggest change is the dialogue between characters. Many scenes have been altered. I have been devoting myself to see this story finished (again.) and had been so inspired lately that there will be some more chapters added that weren't originally apart of the story when it was first completed. Go a head and give this story a re-read through if its been awhile!

Ino had just gotten out of the bath, lighting candles around her freshly cleaned apartment that she had picked up at the market. There was nothing more calming than a clean home, smooth legs and sultry candles to ease her mind.

Knock, knock.

Her inner peace was disrupted and she inwardly swore if it was anyone from the Kazekage's tower coming to collect her, she would punch them right into the next apartment. Opening it, she clenched her fist. Before throwing down, she noticed the man in front of her wasn't wearing ninja attire. He was cute and had a hard look about him. His brown hair was a little messy and his eyes were somewhat familiar but she didn't recognize him right away until he spoke.

"Yo. Lemme in?"

'Wow.. Kankuro?'

To her surprise, he wasn't wearing his usual get up she had always seen him in. Nor was his face hidden behind the purple designs. Dark green shorts and a simple white shirt which was actually surprising since she had always seen him in such loose dark clothing. Ino folded her arms across her chest, "You came baring gifts? Sorry but I am not looking for any suitors right now"

He smiled and held up the white plastic bag in his hand, "Dinner and a few movies. My way of saying thanks for the other day. I had a wonderful chat with my very jealous ex when we came back. She had a lot to say"

"You're so welcome! But no thanks on the dinner. I'm on a diet"

"You goddamn liar. I've seen the way you eat, ja"

Ino shot him a dirty look as he wiggled the bag in front of her. Instead of punching out his lights, she stepped aside, letting him in. She couldn't bite back her smile as she closed the door behind him. He saw through her bullshit and called her out on it. They certainly got along for two people who needed their mouth washed out with soap. As Kankuro took the covers off the food from a nearby restaurant, Ino swiped through the movies he had brought from his apartment.

"Really? All horror and action movies. You come to a girl's place with no romance?"

"I would have if this was a date."

Ino looked up at him, her hands freezing. Inside, she was kind of disappointed in his answer yet pleased. She certainly did not think of Kankuro that way. He was her enemy's brother and she wasn't going to use Kankuro as a stepping stone to get back at Temari. That would be low and unfair to him. But somewhere in her felt that old pull of rejection.

"But, I will admit you can flirt with me like that again any time" he shot her a perverted smile.

"That's not going to happen again" she flatly said while reading the back of a horror dvd.

Her apartment had no room for a dining room so they sat on the couch. Kankuro sat on the edge of the cushion, using the coffee table. Ino sat towards him, her legs folded and her take-out plate in her lap.

"Your sister thanked me too"

"Really? Did you guys have a soiree and make amends over Shikamaru?" he teased.

Nevermind. She hated him again. "No. She just said thanks."

"Hm" Kankuro got quiet, "Is that all she said?"

"She told me a little but I'd rather hear it from you."

"You always get your way?"

Ino gave him a wink before taking a big bite of food.

Kankuro debated for a moment. "I thought she loved me. She had a way of manipulating me. There's nothing I wouldn't have done for her but that would never be good enough. She was hard to please, had a temper. And if she didn't get her way, she would try to hurt me."

"Did you find out she cheated or did she confess?"

"I caught her. I was willing to forgive her but she made so many excuses as to why. It finally came out that she did it to hurt me. She said really fucked up things to me and I couldn't do it anymore. I told her I was done but she's on and off again harassed me. She'd leave notes saying she loved me and she was sorry and next I see her, she's throwing him in my face. Sad part is even though I said I was done with her, I would have taken her back had she not done those things"

Ino's eyes softened at her tough companion. Kankuro looked at her, "What about Shikamaru?"

Ino looked away, tucking her hair behind her ear. "He told me he couldn't be the man that I wanted him to be. I never asked him for anything. I never expected anything from him than what we already had. He never gave me any answers to why. He claimed he was saving our friendship. Suddenly he's with Temari and what am I to think? Was he seeing her behind my back the whole time? Did I not matter to him to move on so quickly? Was he lying the whole time?"

Ino let out a heavy sigh, her voice nearly broke. Kankuro leaned back into the couch, looking at the blonde next to him, "Do you hate Temari?"

"I'm not going to talk shit about your sister to you but no, I don't exactly like her. I would love to kick her ass but I'm more so disappointed in Shikamaru with how things ended."

"I think Temari and you need to talk"

"I don't want to talk to her. I've been biting my tongue when we're around each other so I'm not causing a huge scene with how I really feel. She stole him from me. You don't understand what we had. He wouldn't have left. We were happy."

"Ino, Temari didn't steal him from you. I know that for a fact. It should be Temari telling you this but I doubt you'd believe her."

"I don't think I'd believe her either. I just want things to be as they were. I know he still loves me. I want to be happy again. I dated nothing but jerks and assholes. He was different."

Kankuro rested his hand on hers. His fingertips were smoothed from chakra burns but his hands were rough and calloused. Ino looked down at their hands.

"You don't need him to be happy. There's other people who are "different" that would love to have a woman like you, Ino. He's moved on. You need to too-"

"Let's not talk about this anymore. I have heard it all " Ino withdrew her hand from his. "I know you're trying to help but until the day he tells me he doesn't love me, I will fight for him. I spent a year moping around and blaming myself. I regret not fighting for him sooner. I don't want to regret not doing this"

"That's why you're really here, isn't it.. to get back with Shikamaru? How is that going by the way? You honestly don't think you'll regret making fool of yourself?"

"What. Do. You. Care! Do you think I need some 'tough love' or do you get off throwing it in my face? Maybe I will look like an idiot in the end, but at least I'll know the truth and that I tried! You were willing to take your cheating ex back and but I'm the fool?"

"I don't care what you do. I just worry about my sister. This isn't her fault. And yeah, we're both fools for people who didn't love us. At least I'm not crawling around after her"

Ino stood up and opened her door, "Thank you for dinner but I think we should call it a night"

Kankuro tried to say something but bit it back. He stood before her and looked down at her angry blue eyes threatening to cry, "I didn't mean to upset you. I just.. don't think before I talk"

"Well go home and think about it."

Ino slammed the door behind him. Kankuro looked up at the ceiling and let out a disappointed sigh in himself. "Fuck.."

Ino entered the Kazekage's office and to her surprise Temari and Kankuro were already there with Baki. She bowed her head to Gaara in respect as she stood next to the older brother. They hadn't spoken for a couple days and she knew when was summoned, she was going to be partnered with him again.

"We've been keeping tabs on a man in Cabilu. His name is Edgar. He's the leader of a small group of rogue ninjas. They've been recruiting and their crimes in nearby civilian cities are escalating. Unfortunately Edgar has caught on to us and went in to hiding. We need to find him so I am sending you and Kankuro to his second in command Junpei's bar. Bring him back to Suna to be interrogated for Edgar's whereabouts."

"If Edgar is already aware Suna is looking at him why send just us two?" asked Ino.

Gaara stared at her for a second before replying. "He won't be expecting just two. He's a small fry with rogue ninjas. Their loyalty only stretches so far. Kankuro is recognizable to even those who have never met him. That's what makes him perfect for incognito missions. Not many outside this village have knowingly seen him without his gear. He blends in with civilians well and you are Junpei's bait"

"Bait?" Ino cocked an eyebrow.

"Junpei is a womanizer with a notable taste in blondes." Gaara's eyes looked over at his older sister. She rolled her eyes.

"Temari is rough for a man's taste" Kankuro sneered teasingly at Temari.

Temari rested her hand on her hip and gave her brother a death glare. The corner of Gaara's mouth twitched in a small smile.

"Enough. Get going." Baki's hard voice broke the would-be quarrel as if they were his own children. Gaara nodded.

In Cabilu, Ino rented a hotel room under an alias. Kankuro followed in shortly after her. Ino was in the bathroom, squeezing into a short sleeveless leather dress that had zippers on the sides of her upper thighs that opened the dress up. She had bought the dress to wow Shikamaru but he wasn't going to get to see her in it. Tonight her "Look-what-you're-missing" leather dress was for Junpei. Kankuro's voice came through the door after a soft knock, "I'm heading out."

"Okay." She huffed out as she pulled her pony tail out.

Ino curled the ends of her long blonde hair and applied some lipstick. She had to admit she was certainly a hot piece of tail compared to tomboy Temari. Ino struck poses in the mirror, admiring herself. She blew herself a kiss and slid a kunai in between her breast.

Entering the sleazy bar, Ino took immediately notice of the scarce of women inside. The women that were inside looked tired and partially out of it, clinging on to the drunken men. They were a rough crowd and she knew a girl dressed as she was going to have all eyes on her. 'Confidence, Ino. Confidence.'

Ino sat at the bar and ordered a drink. She spun her stool around and rested against the bar with her elbows. She scanned the patrons until her eyes did a double take at a man seated with some rogues as they were gambling. Their eyes met before he looked her up and down. 'Eat your heart out, Kankuro' She bit her inner cheek to keep from smiling. Kankuro folded his hand of cards onto the table and shifted in his seat, paying no more attention to her.

"Don't get too many pretty girls in here" a gruff voice said from behind the bar. Ino turned around and instead of the bartender, it was a different man. It was Junpei.

"I can see why. My type of place" Ino took a small sip of her drink.

He let out a small laugh, "Your type of place is one you're the prettiest girl in the joint, huh?"

Ino gave a flirtatious giggle, "You read through that, didn't you."

"Junpei. I own the place" he poured himself a shot.

"Ino" their glasses clinked to their meeting.

They continued talking and flirting for most of the evening before Ino started to feel a little woozy. She had taken very few sips of her drink and wasn't sure why she felt so numb. She mentally scowled herself for not being more careful. If she messed up this mission, she would have to go back to Konoha without her prize Shikamaru. She needed to get out of there fast. Ino leaned across the bar and whispered in his ear the hotel name and her room number before leaving. Junpei had a satisfactory smile on his face. She had to bait him for Kankuro.

Trying to keep her fluid legs moving, Ino flipped her hair on her way out, making quick eye contact with Kankuro.

Ino was leaning against the wall of the hotel's hallway, groggily making her way to their room. "Goddamnit, Ino. Don't fuck this up" she told herself as she tried keeping her eyes open. It felt like forever before she finally reached their room. Closing the door behind her, she collapsed on to the floor. The room was spinning and it was harder to keep her eyes open. Crawling across the floor, she blacked out.

Ino could feel a hot, wet tongue on her neck and tried pushing away but her hands were being pinned down above her. Her eye lids refused to open no matter how hard she tried. A wet sloppy kiss worked against her mouth. She felt like she was moving but her muscles were weak. There's a tug and the sound of a knife ripping through the tight leather dress. Ino lay exposed and trying to sloppily fight back. She could hear the buckle of their pants clinking and his zipper. She could feel his free hand stroking her bare thigh, going higher until he stroked her over her panties. Her mind was starting to panic, the threat of passing out again looming from whatever she had ingested. His husky hot breath was on her chest, kissing her breasts. She felt his fingers sliding beneath her panties, "You're gonna be my favorite toy" he nuzzles his stubbly face into her neck. She recognized that voice.

There's a loud noise. The door? Junpei's weight releases her and she hears something or someone slamming into the wall. The sound of struggle fades out as she blacks out again.

A voice kept calling her name like an echo getting closer and closer. Ino felt her knees against cold tile and her cheek stinging from a slap. She managed to open her eyes slightly, but the lights were blinding. Kankuro's face came into focus. His eyebrows knitted with worry and a cut was above his eye, blood was starting to dry on his skin. "Ino, you need to throw up"

Her body felt heavy and slow as she struggled to stick her finger to the back of her throat. Kankuro held her hair back and gently rubbed her back as she emptied her stomach of the drugged alcohol into the toilet.

"I should have left sooner. I'm sorry"

"Did he.. ?" Ino couldn't say it. The leather dress she was proud of was now ruined, slit right down the middle. Her black underwear and bra were still intact. Being exposed in front of Kankuro didn't cross her mind.

"No" Kankuro shook his head, "I came in before he could get his pants down."

Ino nodded and tears started to swell in her eyes. The level of distress she felt was unbelievable. Her strength had not returned and her eyes were still heavy but she reached out, weakly pulling Kankuro to her in a hug. He wrapped his arms around her and stroked her hair, "You're safe. I got you." Her tears left their traces on his shirt as he pulled away after what seemed like a comforting lifetime to her. She felt safe in his arms and wanted to crawl back to him.

"We need to leave. Edgar's goons are going to come looking for Junpei soon. He said he was going to come collect a new toy and be back. We need to hurry."

Kankuro brought Ino's pack into the bathroom and set it on the counter. Ino called him before disappearing into the room. He peaked around the doorframe, "Yeah?"

"Thank you." If Kankuro had stalled any longer, she would have been raped by Junpei. He nodded and closed the door after him. Tears fell down her face and she struggled taking off her torn leather dress for her familiar shinobi gear.

They had traveled all night and reached Suna that same morning. She hadn't seen Kankuro the rest of the day. He had told her he was taking Junpei to ANBU so Baki could lead the interrogation. Ino had checked in at the hospital to be looked over and blood work. After her blood came back clean, no other drugs or poisons found, she was requested to Gaara's office to aid with the interrogation – if she wanted to.

Ino paced around Gaara's office, taking in the events of the last night. It was still foggy and dreamlike but she knew, she knew what she felt. Remembering his disgusting hands on her sent a chill down her body. She noticed on the wall above Gaara's desk were pictures of the former Kazekages. The very last picture was of the Yondaime Kazekage, The Sand Sibling's father. Ino leaned across the desk to take a better look.

"What are you doing in here?"

Ino jumped, turning around quickly, "Temari! I'm waiting on Baki" Ino looked back at the picture. Temari followed her gaze on her deceased father.

"Kankuro looks just like him."

Temari joined Ino by the desk, "He does but don't remind him."

"Hm?"

Temari sideways glanced at Ino, "This family has a lot of problems but daddy issues are on top of it all. He's never liked being compared to our father, hated being told the resemblance. Kankuro is unique in his own ways and it's hard to prove your identity when you wear the face of someone so unlike yourself. Not to mention the reputation they left behind."

Ino offered no comment, absorbing what Temari offered about her brother.

Temari faced Ino and placed a hand on her hip, "Ino, I'm not naïve. I know why you came here. I haven't said anything but things have escalated that need to be addressed. I don't know anything about you or the relationship you had with Shikamaru, but getting close to my brother isn't saying much for your character."

"What are you talking about?"

"Using Kankuro to get back at us, back at me. Whatever you're leading on, end it now. This isn't a game."

Ino let out a laugh, "Really? You think I would sink that low?" Ino shook her head. "You're right though, you don't know anything. Shikamaru and I have known each other since we could walk. I have been through hell and high waters with him. You may have him in this dry, dirty, little shit hole at Gaara's beck and call but not for long. I don't need to use Kankuro to get what I want."

Ino gave Temari a superficial smile before turning on her heels. Turning to look back at Temari, "And don't worry about Kankuro. He's in good hands"

"If you hurt my brother, it will be the last thing you do." Temari's voice was cold as Ino walked out.

Ino's hands shook from anger. She couldn't believe the nerve of her! As if Ino didn't have enough anger flowing through her veins. She found Baki and Gaara coming up the staircase as she passed them, "I'm impatient. Let's get this over with." They looked after the bombshell as she disappeared.

Behind the two way mirror of the interrogation room, Ino watched Junpei. An ANBU squad were talking with Baki privately but she didn't hear a word they were saying. The exchange with Temari had made her blood boil and her adrenaline was surging to be released. She noticed all ten of Junpei's fingers were disjointed. Baki stood beside her, "Kankuro broke his hands"

"Kankuro did that?" Ino looked up at Baki, truly surprised. She didn't know what to say. She was shocked.

"Penance" Baki smirked. In his hands was a Sunagakure ANBU mask. Unlike Konoha's ANBU of animal like faces, Suna had demons. She took the mask and brushed her fingers over its horns.

"Are you sure you want to participate? This isn't for weak stomachs. You will put your empathy on a shelf. We get answers. No matter the cost" Baki turned to her. Ino turned his words over in her head and looked back at his mangled fingers. Letting out a deep breath, Ino put the horned mask on and looked up at Baki who extended his hand towards the door leading just behind the mirror. After several hours, her knuckles were red from repeatedly punching Junpei. It felt good to release her anger; it felt good to punch that smug look off his face after what he had done. Baki did not hold her back. But it wasn't just the anger she felt toward Junpei. It was Temari's threat and accusations, fighting with Kankuro and Shikamaru's rejection. Her eyes swelled with angry tears as she let it all out. Junpei's face was bloodied dand his eyes swollen shut. Ino stood with two other ANBU as Junpei cracked. Gaara had been right; weak loyalty. He gave it all; Edgar's whereabouts, where the majority of their members were staying, even the brothel he was running under the bar with drugged women he kidnapped. Had Ino been alone or even a civilian, she could of easily been trapped into their sex trafficking. Ino returned the mask to Baki when he felt he was satisfied with Junpei's answers. To her surprise, Kankuro was waiting outside of the restricted hall of the ANBU. Noticing her bloody knuckles, he reached for her hands but she pulled them away, side stepping to go around him.

"Ino.." he called out to her but she ignored him. "Wait Ino" Kankuro grabbed her wrist. She tried to jerk away but he pulled her into him. He wrapped his arms tightly around her and held her. This wasn't his fault. None of it was but part of her wanted him to leave her alone. If Temari thought something was going on between them, then so did Shikamaru. And if she needed to push him away, that's what she needed to do. But there was no one in this village she felt she could turn to. For the first time in her life, Shikamaru wasn't by her side. There had been many times in her life she felt powerless but what Junpei did, it left her feeling shaken. Kankuro held her tighter. His presence was comforting and his voice calming as he whispered reassurance. She snaked her arms around his waist, taking in his scent as she buried her her face in his chest. All the anger she had thought she had released on Junpei was flowing from her in sobs. He held her until she stopped crying.

Looking up at Kankuro, her eyes were red and nose sniffy from crying. He wiped a stray tear from her cheek. He stared in to her eyes, his thumb still stroking her cheek. Why was he being so gentle? Since she had been partnered with him, all they did was say horrible things to each other and fight. His eyes focused on her parted lips. 'He's going to kiss me' Why not tell him no? Walk away from him? Doesn't he understand her heart belonged to someone else? This isn't what was supposed to happen. Despite the guilty feeling bubbling in her stomach, her hands clenched his shirt, anchoring herself to him instead.

Down the hall, the swinging doors hit the walls with force as Shikamaru ran through. Temari right behind her boyfriend. Kankuro didn't let go of her but like a child caught red handed, Ino distanced herself from him. Shikamaru didn't move from the end of the hall, looking between the two. Temari gave him an 'I told you' look.

Author's Note: To be honest, I hate rape scenes -_- whether its reading one or unfortunately writing one. I was on the fence on whether or not to add the bit about Kankuro breaking Junpei's hands for touching Ino. I wasn't sure if that would be something he is capable of doing. But I guess it doesn't matter in fanfiction. Especially since they are adults now, having killed and hurt people for a living. Also, I had a hard time finding a definite answer to Suna's ANBU. I seen one website that showed they had these black masks with high ponytails and another site sourcing they used demon masks. Anyone really know which it is? Lastly, I didn't intend for Kankuro to want to kiss Ino just yet. I mean, it's kinda shitty timing but let's be real, he's getting it bad for her :) ONWARD!