Sunday, August 11th, 2013.

Exhausted, peeps. Like, I-could-crash-right-now-and-sleep-like-the-dead, exhausted.

Went skating for 3 hours... if it was up to me, it would've been 2. Church thing.

Very little time on the computer this weekend, seriously. I thought I would've gotten farther on "Silver Spoon" by Hiromu Arakawa - that's right, FMA/B's Hiromu Arakawa. That woman is genius, I swear.

I'm not going to explain it to you, but if you've heard of it, I know it sounds lame, but it's actually more entertaing and better than it looks. After all, this is the same lady that created the masterpiece of FMA/FMAB. Many had high expectations for her next work, which is nothing like her first.

And, I think they've been met.

I finished Sword Art: Online last, week, btw. My next plan to finish Silver Spoon and Inuyasha: Final Act as well as the movies and any specials it has.

DIGIMON FANS: The first season, the original, is on Nicktoons at 8pm on weekends on American Eastern Time. 'Kay? I learned through my anime facebook account... I don't have Nicktoons (I don't think; I'd have to pay extra for it, I believe) but I'm just letting you know. If you haven't seen it, do so - it's amazing. Even the English dub is (which is what I saw). Probably my favorite childhood anime ever. But just because you're older, don't think you shouldn't seen it - everyone should see it. And the other seasons, too.

Anime/Manga/Book Rec.: Dude, even typing makes me tired. No.

Fun Fact: I can (roller) skate. (I've never ice skated) I'm an amateur. I can't skate backwards, though, nor do any tricks or stuff or go really fast. And for the record, if you didn't know or haven't done it before, skating is freaking exhausting. You literally feel the burn when skating. Good way to burn some leg muscle.

Disclaimer: IDNON. (I do not own Naruto)

Dedication: My bud, TehNicksterBoi. Read his stuff, peeps.

AotW: (Answer of the Week, a term used by White Tiger of Onyx Star; she's awesome): I forgot to do a QotW the past few times.

Shorter chapter than usual.

Almost 3k of just SaIno, guys.

3.5k with A/N's.

Enjoy.

And RE. VIEW.


Chapter 34: Unable to Stay Away, Unable to Say "No"


Early Morning of the 24th


Inoichi POV,

Another knock, albeit softer than the sound of a normal knock, hit my front door.

Is it an enemy? But then why would they knock on my door? I thought. They're trying to be discreet…

As I finished my trek down the stairs from the upper-level of the housing part of the building and headed to the store part, where the Mystery Person was, I continued to speculate the reasons for their presence. (1)

Well, they could be trying to knock lightly because it's 2:30 in the freaking morning!

I was angry at this person for disrupting my sleep. Pretty understandable, right?

As I neared the front door of the store, I crouched down next to the cashier desk, to get a better look at the person at the door without them seeing me.

Judging by the height and figure of the person, they're male and… pretty young! It's just a boy?

"Yamanaka-san?" They called softly behind the glass.

I slowly stood. "Who are you?"

It was difficult to see only using the light of the streetlights outside, but he pulled out a notebook and wrote something on it. Then, he pressed it against the window.

I couldn't read it, but luckily I had a flashlight with me. I could only hope the glare that it created on the glass didn't obscure what he wrote.

"Sai…" I read. Kinda familiar…

Then, it clicked.

I knew that name.

Immediately, I rose and walked to the door, assessing the appearance of the boy just to make sure it was the same boy my daughter and her best friend –as well as her teammates– told me about.

Dark hair, pale skin, black eyes, slim, of average height, his abdomen is bared if wearing ROOT uniform… that's him alright.

I opened to the door to him, trusting that it was really him and not a transformation. My instincts told me he was who he said he was, so I believed it.

But if it wasn't him… well, I'm gonna pay for it eventually, right?

But what was he doing here?

I locked the door behind him and led him to the housing part of the property – a lot of glass wasn't great for concealing someone or something.

Obviously.

Whatever Sai's doing here, it's secret and important. Of course.

I led him to the living room, double-checking that curtains were covering all the windows, and that my wife and daughter were still sound asleep.

We sat down across from each other.

"So? What is it?" I asked.

"Since the night of the 15th, I've been in hiding, recovering from my injuries. Have you heard?" He asked, speaking softly. His throat must still be recovering…

"Not much, but yes, I have," I answered. "Does the reason you're hiding have to do with ROOT and Danzo?" I've never trusted that guy, honestly. I didn't like the sound of Sai when I first heard of him because of it, him being a ROOT member and all. And THE youngest official member ever. Suspicious, much?

Sai nodded.

"Don't worry – I won't ask for details, but what does that have to do with your presence here?" I knew better than anyone (*cough* member the Konohagakure Intelligence Division here(2) *cough*) knowing too much could get you killed, so for the sake of myself and my family, I decided to let him keep the details to himself, though I'm sure he wouldn't have told me anyway.

He looked down and took a breath.

"Are you out of hiding now?" He shook his head.

I was confused. So what what's he doing here, then? With me?

"I plan to show myself, soon though. As soon as later today or tomorrow, but I'm not sure."

"So what are you doing here?" he took another breath.

"I-I… I want to ask for your blessing."

I blanched. "… What?!"

I nearly yelled, quieting, as I remembered the other sleeping residents, and at Sai's finger at his lips in the universal sign for silence. Well, in most places anyway, as far as I know.

Ino mentioned having a thing for/with Sai, which was the primary reason why he wasn't my favorite person, to say the least. That and my wife teasing me about protecting my daughter from boys.

Most fathers would be overprotective, and I am, honestly, but Ino's the type of girl that… you can't exactly stop from flirting with guys. All you can do is warn her, maybe scare some guys off, and continue to raise her as best you can in hopes that the man she eventually comes to love will be worthy of her.

Anyway. Enough of Typical Daddy Worries.

"What?!" I repeated, whisper-yelling.

"I wish for your blessing to date your daughter, Ino. Though it is kind of late, I thought it proper to have been done." He looked at me seriously, and I admired it. It showed he truly wanted and cared for my daughter. As if asking for my blessing didn't already show that. Because honestly, hardly anyone does that anymore.

"For the record, even if you refuse me, I will continue to love her and be with her as best I could." My eyebrow rose. A child claiming he's in love? But then again, after all he's seen and done, he's only a child in the physical sense… and I know many who have fallen in love at that age…

Then, something caught my attention. "Wait a minute… what do you mean, 'it's kind of late'?! You and my daughter have already been dating?!" I knew Ino was close to this guy romantically in some sense or another, but I didn't know that they were… "official"!

"Officially since the night I left. Before that, we were not 'together'."

Calming myself, I decided blowing up, arguing, and saying, "no", out of spite would be childish, foolish, and futile. The guy just said he'd disobey me if I refused anyway. This was basically a head's-up on what's going on with him and my daughter.

I thought seriously for a moment.

"Do you… truly care for my daughter?" I asked.

"I love her, Sir." Again, I was surprised of the certainty of the way he said it. "I may be inept in emotions and modern society, but I have never been so sure in anything I've felt before. I know I love Beau- Ino."

"And my daughter… w-what of her feelings?" I almost choked, getting this out. Ino…

"That night, she told me she loved me as well. Even if it was said in the emotional pain and panic of my coming absence, I do believe she feels something for me."

I shook my head, not being able to take it anymore. My little girl, Ino… She's growing up… and so quickly! Would she even need "Daddy" anymore soon?

"No, no, if she said it like that, she probably means it. My little girl wouldn't say something like that without meaning it on some level, and seeing her after you left, I know it's true." I wiped tears from my eyes.

Sai looked confused. "Why are you crying, Sir?"

"Don't call me 'Sir', and I'm crying because…" I took a shaky breath. "My little girl's growin' up, is all."

And it hurt, but… I was also feeling a flurry of mixed emotions:

Happy that she's found love and is growing up.

Worried about what is making her grow up so quickly and about the future of not only of her love life, but her life as a whole.

Sadness that she won't need neither her Mother nor I one day. A day that's coming closer than I ever would've thought.

And I was feeling many more other feelings, some unidentifiable.

He still looked confused. "If or when you have children, you'll understand." He nodded slowly, taking it in.

"Do you promise to protect her?" I asked him, going back to the subject at hand, sobering from my tears.

"To the best of my ability, and past my limits, Yamanaka-san." He's so serious…

"Good answer."

I took a breath, and he silently waiting for my answer. "You have my blessing, Sai. Make my daughter happy."

His face melted into a relieved, pleasant smile.

I had a nagging memory reminding me that according to Ino and Sakura, Sai had difficulties truly smiling. My daughter was able to make him smile like that… I hope these two will be happy together.

"Yamanaka-san, may I ask for one more thing?"

"Sure, kid. From now on, remember that you don't have to be so formal – you're part of the family now."

The statement seemed to throw him off. "Wouldn't that normally happen after marriage?"

"Marriage will be spoken of when the time comes," I said sternly. "But for now, just think of yourself as one of us." I smiled.

"Then wouldn't courting Beautiful –my nickname for your daughter– be labeled incest if I'm part of the family in a different way than marriage?"

I deadpanned. Oh, right… he's emotionally inept… the kids -Sakura and Ino and her team- weren't kidding...

"Nevermind. The point is to feel comfortable around us."

"Oh."

"Yeah…"

Awkward silence...

Am I thinking like a teen now? I blame Ino… and Sakura, and Shikamaru and Chouji. I need a Guy's Day out with Shikaku and Chouza. Desperately.

"Um, your question?" I asked.

"Oh, right! Um…"

I rose a brow. "May I… see Beautiful before I leave again?" He seemed almost shy, squirming where he sat.

Nodding, I sighed and stood. "Come on, this way."

I led him up the stairs, turning off the lights as I left the rooms, whispering to him as we headed to my daughter's bedroom. "Normally I wouldn't allow any teenage boys besides Shikamaru and Chouji in her room because I know they won't do anything, but this is a special case and I trust you."

I used a hairpin that I had on me –I have really long hair– to open my daughter's locked door as silently as I could.

"She's been sleeping very heavily lately, mostly because of nightmares. We asked her to come back to live with us from her apartment for the time being for that reason. We can't guarantee her safety if she's living alone." I informed Sai as quietly as I could.

His eyebrows furrowed at the word "nightmares". And that seals whatever doubts I had. He loves my daughter, all right. That's the look I had when I heard my wife was having nightmares of me dying after a rough mission I had back when we were dating…

He entered the room. "I'm going to sleep now and will turn off the hallway light."

I gave him a key. "There's a backdoor to the house, and you can leave through there. Keep the key. Give it to me or Ino if you wish once you're back again."

"Thank you."

I nodded. "Just make my daughter happy."

I left to my room to sleep next to my own love; my wife.

I pray for the best for them… I have a feeling this is just the start of a whirlwind of events. I can only pray they end up okay.


Sai POV

I silently closed Ino's door behind me. Her golden retriever pup, Hikaru(3) she had named him, slept soundly next to her head and only began to arouse as I sat on her bed, stroking her face.

I held his mouth closed gently so he didn't wake up Ino when he saw me at first, and let go when he calmed down, recognizing who I was.

As I pet him and scratched him behind the ears, –something books say dogs like– he whined softly, nodding his head over to his troubled owner.

I turned back to her, watching her face scrunch up and her body toss and turn slightly, clearly in a nightmare.

I didn't want to wake her as I came; just see her, maybe touch her, and leave. But now…

I shook her lightly, as to ease her into awakening as opposed to shocking her.

Quickly, she awoke and opened her eyes. She was groggy, still, however.

When her eyes finally adjusted to the dark, she focused on me, sitting up immediately.

She was wearing a powder blue, simple, nightgown with a lavender neckline that went around her neck in what resembled a ring. One thing I do not know is women's fashions. But she does look quite pretty in it...

I could see yellow/golden, swirls down the sides of the nightgown.

Her hair was down, predictably. The long, beautiful locks pooled at her waist as she sat up straighter, her bangs still covering her right eye.

"Sai-kun…" she murmured, her hands reaching for me. "Are you real? Is this a dream? Are you really here?"

Tears ran down her face and I held her right hand with my left on my left cheek, leaning into it, and held her left hand against my heart with my right. "I'm real, and right here in front of you." I whispered, not that I could do much more in the first place.

She smiled and wrapped her arms around my neck, bringing us closer together.

"I missed you so much," she said as she cried. "I didn't know if you'd be okay, or if I'd see you again!"

I held her tightly to me and stroke her hair. "I'm here," I whispered. "Right here."

"To stay?" she asked. Her eyes hopeful.

I shook my head sadly. "Please? Please, if you can, don't leave again. I know I'm being selfish but I just-… it hurt so much without you, I want you near me so badly!"

Seeing her as she told me this almost made me want to stay instead of going into hiding another day, but… could I? It's only one day, right? Just one… I can stay with her, can't I?

"Ino, I-" I started but.

"Please, Sai-kun! At least-… at least stay here until I fall asleep again…"

After fighting inwardly some more for a moment whilst looking into her pained blue orbs, I sighed and wiped her tears away with my fingers.

"Alright. I'll stay." I just couldn't say "no" to you...

She smiled and let me go so I could enter the bed on the other side.

I was wearing my usual outfit, so I pulled of my top, backpack, and tanto, placing them on the table beside me and placing my shoes beside the bed.

I climbed in and pulled Ino close to me, pulling the blankets over our shoulders.

We spent a few moments just lightly holding and gazing at each other, as I traced patterns on her face.

"I'm sorry," I told her, my voice still soft due to the strain speaking puts on my throat.

She shook her head –as well as she could on her side– placing a finger on her lips. "Don't be – you did what you had to. I'm just glad you're here with me now, safe, however temporary that may be."

My nose and eyes burned, my throat clenching. This is-… am I about to cry?

The tears that poured out of my eyes and down to the pillow I was laying on answered my question.

Ino's eyes softened even more, and she pulled my head to her chest, holding me. "Oh, Sai-kun…"

I sniffled, and almost let myself cry as she held me, but I didn't want to do that. I didn't want to let myself do so… not now.

I need to be strong for her right now.

I rose so we were face to face and kissed her, as softly but passionately as I could, (still working on the whole kiss thing, though) and she reciprocated with just as much love.

When we pulled away, panting, I kissed her cheek gingerly, closing the space left between our bodies.

"I love you," she said, and I could tell she was close to sleep.

"As I love you." I pushed myself further up the bed so I could rest my chin on her head, before kissing her blonde crown.

She wrapped her arms around my waist tightly.

"Sleep now. I'm here." I told her.

"Will you… be there when I wake up?" She asked, her voice thick with sleep. I knew she wouldn't let herself fall asleep as best she could until I answered.

I sighed, smiling and closing my eyes. It's very difficult to refuse her.

"Yes, I will be." I guess I am staying after all.

I felt her smile against my collarbone. "Good."

I let myself drift into sleep once I felt her heart rate and breathing had evened, making sure she was already asleep.

As overused and perhaps "cheesy" (was that right?) as these words may be, I will make them true; I will protect you Ino, my beautiful love.


(1): I kinda picture the store to be attached to where the Yamanaka's actually live (I partially made this up). Like in some places a store has apartments above it? This time, it's connected to a house structure, and the store's the front part. There's a side and back entrance as well.
(2): He really is.
(3): "Shining", "Radiance". I figured Ino was a sunny-ish person, so I had her name her puppy such. And maybe for Sai's sake in a way that I can't explain... I'm not really sure myself.

No pic for the nightgown. I couldn't find one I wanted that was appropriate online, so I made it up.

That's the least amount of Notes I've had for like, ever!

QotW: Can you roller skate or ice skate? If so, how good are you? If you haven't tried, would you like to?

ATTENTION:

Surprise, I'm doing a Christmas mini-arc in this later, and I need ideas for presents. Criteria: between couple presents. Like what Sasuke and Sakura should get for each other, what NejiTen should get for each other, what KibaTsuki (KibaxMitsuki) should get for each other, etc. Within teams is fine, too, but my priority is the couples.

So give me suggestions, guys! Via PM or review.

Love,

Cherry.