-0-
Chapter 4
-0-
Sakura was enjoying herself.
She pumped on top of him and could feel herself wet from the inside, down to her inner thighs. Her breasts jutted out and she gasped as she felt him slid deeper and deeper in every motion. She rode him intensely and couldn't help but moan from the feel of him.
Sasuke ran his hands along her smooth stomach above him, his back plopped against the soft white mattress. He settled his palms on her throbbing mounds, kneading them in circular motions. He sat up and ran his hot tongue between them, then sucked one pink nipple. First gently, then roughly.
Sakura enveloped an arm around his head against her bosom, entangling her fingers with his messy raven hairs as she continued the rocking motion between them. He was warm against her, and his lips and breath were hot on her nipples, making her even wetter. She felt she was going to burst out of her skin from the fiery feeling with him against her.
"Ohh… Sasuke, that's the spot… That's—ohhh—" She breathed heavily as he twisted himself under her and slammed in and out.
She bit her lip as she tried not to sigh loudly when she felt herself giving in, angling her head up as he thrusted, sending her to bounce painfully against him. Over and over. His hand squeezed her bottom and caressed her thighs. His face buried between her breasts when he breathed out in pleasure.
It took Sakura a while to catch her breath. She slumped weakly on the bed, their legs still tangled. Her head rested on the corner, her arm lied on top of his muscled abdomen. Her legs felt like jelly.
There was a moment of stillness as she watched him and tried to get herself together after he just fucked her brains out.
In silence, she watched him ran his hand on his damp forehead. He was looking at the ceiling above them without a word. They didn't speak for a minute and she just watched him in a contemplating manner.
She could only see the side of his face from where she was lying. How she always loved seeing that straight nose and his angled eyebrows above his dark eyes from that perspective. For her, his character itself was beautiful, not just his appearance.
She hates that screwed up emotion she feels after getting physical with him. She wasn't supposed to feel anything right from the beginning. Sakura wished they would stay there forever. Just the two of them as they let the world pass by. She wished he could be someone whom she could say was hers. Only hers.
Then, his phone gave a short sound and vibrated somewhere on the floor where his pants was.
He didn't move at first, then checked it after a few seconds. Lifting his upper body as his elbow settled against the mattress. He reached from the side of the bed, lied on his back again and browsed his phone above his face with one hand, too exhausted to move.
Sakura watched his face gave a strange expression. Sort of a half-frown and a half-grin.
"Don't tell me it's Kakashi or Yamato. You said you're on your day off today." Sakura grumbled to him. Her voice still sounded a bit breathless.
"No, but looks like my valuable presence is being demanded somewhere else." He joked in a bored manner.
Sakura already knew it was an escort job.
He sat up and moved off the bed. He grabbed his pants and started putting them on.
"Who is it and where're you going?" She asked snoopily.
It wasn't the first time she has asked about his whereabouts and schedule even if he wasn't comfortable about sharing much about his personal or working affairs.
"Just some girl. Don't worry, it's nothing physical." He said. "She just needs me to show up. She's like an old lady."
Sakura didn't say anything as she watched him put his shirt on and tucked his phone in his pockets. She reminded herself not to seem like she was prying and then make herself seem like an attached girlfriend. He would dislike that and would probably lose interest in her. No matter how much they've gotten close, she didn't want to look like she was being affected by his actions with his personal affairs. Jealousy wasn't in his agenda.
"Anyway, I'll see you at the bar." He turned to her before grabbing a backpack on the floor, swinging it onto his shoulder, then walking out of the door.
He was always like that. He was good at walking away without trouble after a steamy sex, as if nothing happened and he was back to his normal self. Sometimes he would leave a kiss or two. That was it. Sometimes Sakura feels like throwing a shoe at him for being so ignorant.
Yet she knew she didn't have the right.
-0-
"What took you so long?" Ino eyed him as he approached the flower shop, her hands on her hips. Sasuke had grown to notice it was her mannerism.
She stood outside the door and had the shop apron fastened around her. She was wearing a red bandana which pulled her hairs out of her face. One of her hands held a paint brush. Buckets of yellow and white paints lied next to her.
"You never said anything about helping you renovate your goddamn shop." Sasuke snarled when he stopped in front of her.
It took him an hour to take a quick shower before heading there. He usually moves fast, but that afternoon he leisurely took his time after reading the rest of her messages.
He glared at the paint bucket. "I'm not a painter nor a household worker. I'm not doing that, granny."
"Then what've you come here for?" Ino asked him sternly.
"To say it in your irritatingly beautiful face." He drawled.
She made a noise that sounded like 'che', then grabbed a folded apron and an unblemished, long paint roller against the wall and shoved them on his chest.
"Hidan texted me to say he's gonna come by and I told him I'm busy re-painting the whole shop. And since his head is made out of shiny gold bricks, he clearly ignored my excuses and he's going to drop his fancy ass here to see me." She told him in a commanding tone. "I don't want him lurking around. That's your job, isn't it?"
Sasuke scoffed. "So you just decided to re-color the whole shop?"
"I am supposed to re-paint it today to attract more customers, you idiot. And now, since he's suddenly gonna come by, and since you're posing as my extremely sweet boyfriend, you're going to pretend you're helping me." She said, bending down and dipping the brush on the white liquid, then started smearing them on the exterior wall.
"I didn't know this was part of the description."
"What do you think boyfriends do?"
He had a list of answers to that, but didn't say anything at all.
Instead, he leaned the long paint roller against his chest as he pulled out and shook open the pale yellow apron in front of him. It had a logo of the shop and it looked like he stole it from a five year old girl in an art class once he put it on.
"There's actually a good sushi stall near here. I'll treat you there later after giving you the first paycheck." Ino said in a brighter tone after seeing him started doing the work.
"Is that some kind of trick to get me on a date?"
"Nevermind. Just starve to death."
She honestly didn't expect he'd be showing up that day after her sudden message, and she was impressed by his—well—professionalism. He didn't disappear as if he'd taken their agreement for granted. She also didn't mean for him to be doing that labor. She could do it herself and planned to in the first place. But Hidan was getting more persistent lately and she just needed Sasuke to act like what they agreed. She didn't plan it in any way.
"Nice to see you on your day off." She couldn't help but taunt him after a moment as they painted next to each other. She was pushing it.
His face gave that flat expression in front of the wall. "Obviously, it's not a day off."
"Were you with someone when I texted you?" She asked candidly.
"More like inside someone." He grunted to himself. She barely heard it.
A silver Audi car parked at the side of the shop. The driver in a black coat got out to pull the car door open at the back. Hidan stepped out of the vehicle, wearing a maroon blouse and dark pants. Ino saw him at once.
He always had this posh air around him. As if whatever he does, he always looked refined. He straightened himself after seeing her outside, giving a reserved smile.
Another guy stepped out from the other side of the car. He was wearing round glasses and was shorter than Hidan. He had long icy white hair tied at the back of his head. He was wearing a black suit. Ino recognized him as Hidan's assistant, Kabuto. There was a bouquet of red roses on his hold and he followed Hidan as he walked towards her.
She always had this doubtful feeling towards Kabuto. In her opinion, he was a sneaky guy, knowing things he shouldn't even be knowing. She was as cautious with him as she was with Hidan.
Hidan's eyes were only fixed on her as he came to her side. Kabuto maintained a few feet away from them.
"Ohayou, Ino-chan." He greeted her with his confident smile.
He ignored Sasuke a few meters behind her, who was grinding the paint roller against the wall so hard it looked like it was going to break in two.
"I told you I'm busy today." Ino spoke in a not so friendly manner.
"And I told you I wanted to see you." He said. He gave one look at the exterior of the shop. "Nice to see it alive and well. I can have a group of guys do that job. Let's eat somewhere. There's this new French restaurant downtown. You'll love the champagne and the view."
"I can do this by myself. And besides, Sasuke-kun is helping me." She responded, nearly choking on the word 'Sasuke-kun'. She tried not to laugh at it. It just sounds so dumbly sickly sweet it's annoying.
She took a mental note that it was the first and last time she was putting that stupid extended name call, even in front of Hidan. It was too obnoxious for her taste.
Hidan gave a hard stare at Sasuke over her shoulder. Sasuke was too busy with his paint roller it looked like he was going to ignite a fire at it from the speed he was rubbing it against the hard wall. Oh, he really loved what he was doing.
Hidan didn't acknowledge him. He simply lift a hand and Ino flinched in surprise when he rubbed a drop of paint off her cheek with his thumb. His hazel eyes stared at her without mirth. And for a moment, Ino felt that familiar emotion she had tried to forget. That emotion about feeling connected with someone.
She had not seen him for a long time, and now he was standing there in front of her. He barely changed.
Kabuto stepped a foot forward, Hidan took the flowers and handed it to her. There was a dozen of them and they were one of the finest roses she had ever seen.
"You probably don't need any more florals like what you always say, but I still want you to have them." He said.
Ino stared at the flowers he held in front of her, her hands not lifting up to receive it. She knew it wasn't just about accepting gifts. There was something behind his gestures.
Before she could touch them, a hand held the bouquet down between them. Ino looked up to see Sasuke standing by her side now, his eyes fixed on Hidan's face.
"You might want to take your pretty flowers some place else." He said to him in a stony voice. "She's taken."
It was the first time Ino saw the two boys next to each other. They both stood tall and they seemed to scrutinize each other for a moment. They were both attractive men in their own ways. Refined, long silver locks in contrast with rugged, black spikes. It was like the rich boy met the street kid.
There was a sudden cold ambience emanating between them. And there was this threatening air that she could sense in an instant. It was like a natural, tyrannical instinct she would usually see among men.
She knew Hidan had never met a guy whom he could feel threatened before. He had never seen her with another man in the past after all.
"I don't believe we've met." Hidan said to him in a deep voice.
"We haven't." Sasuke replied.
Hidan stared expressionlessly at him for a minute.
"Hidan, this is Sasuke, my boyfriend." Ino said informally. "He's helping me today."
They didn't shake hands.
Hidan angled his head a bit. "I didn't know you're in this kinda type." He spoke mostly to Ino.
"What type?" Sasuke asked.
"Nothing. It's just… knowing her and seeing you. It's kinda strange. You don't look like her type at all. And by looking at you, I wouldn't think she's your type either." There was a hint of a mocking smile in Hidan's face.
"Well, it doesn't look like you know her at all." Sasuke said in a laid back manner. He ran his fingers at the back of Ino's hair. He felt her going still and rigid instantly. "She likes the unpredictable."
"Oh, I know her. She's been with me for two years." There was a trace of annoyance in Hidan's profile now, seeing him touch her.
"That's odd. She's never said anything about it nor mention you. That true?"
Ino knew Sasuke was mocking not just him, but her, too. "Well, I…"
"She must've forgotten to mention you. I've been keeping her busy, you see." Sasuke said, putting his arms around Ino's shoulder, embracing her from behind. He pressed the side of his cheek above her ear.
Ino felt his warm body pressed against her back. His firm arms rested around her. It had been a while since she was held like this by someone. She used to feel awkward being embraced or kissed in public, but she could admit it felt good. And he smelled good, too. She always knew he was adept at keeping his women feel secured. One of the reasons why she chose him.
Hidan was scowling at him now.
"I've been living in Tokyo for years, it's surprising I haven't seen or met you before." He said vaguely.
"We're running with different crowds. I'm not up for fine dining and cruising."
"Looks like it." Hidan sneered.
The tension between them was getting tighter and Ino couldn't take the uneasiness anymore.
"Listen, we should be getting back to work. I still got some orders to arrange after this." She said, untangling Sasuke's arms around her. "You should go, Hidan."
He turned to her. "I don't expect you to slack off on your job."
"You know I'm not like that." Ino told him in pursed lips, crossing her arms.
Hidan gave one grim look at Sasuke before uttering to her. "I'll see you."
He turned around and walked back to his car. Ino saw Kabuto tried to hide the look of entertainment on his face before he bowed down and followed him.
-0-
The next time Sasuke and Ino were together was three days later, in one of Jashin Corporation's product launch in a small, pricy garden hall in Bunkyo.
Sasuke and Ebisu hauled the four flower stands from the back of the van one by one. They were at the parking lot at the side of the hall. Large koi ponds surrounded the area. There were still no guests at that time so only a few vehicles were parked around.
"So how many events is golden boy exactly having for the year?" Sasuke asked, placing a stand cautiously on the ground. He wore a dark blue blouse over a pair of gray pants and black sneakers that day.
"Not sure. Hinata-chan's the one arranging the schedule. I don't think I want to even look at it." Ino said, checking down a list on her hold.
"I think I should make a contract about my service starting today." hissed Sasuke.
"Oh, but you're doing so well, honey." Ino quipped.
"Cut the crap."
"Ino-san, I don't mean to meddle, but are you sure you want him to be a part of this?" Ebisu said, referring to Sasuke beside him.
Ebisu didn't feel comfortable of the idea of having Sasuke around when he found out about it. He was not very trusty about new people he finds in the shop or around her. Ino knew he was just being protective, knowing she had no more parents.
"Hey, she's the one who asked me for this, not me." Sasuke told him.
Ino was still looking at the list when she spoke. "Oh, shush. It's not that big a deal. Now, let's get these to the garden so we could get things done early."
They crossed the tiny bridge situated over a koi pond to the hall, Ino strutting in front of them freely, while Sasuke and Ebisu hauled the four-foot flower stands with each of their hands, trying to catch up with her fast steps. They passed through the hall leading to the garden at the back where the event was going to be held in a couple of hours. A few staff of event suppliers were there, going in different directions and setting up the tables and lights.
Ino saw a comfort room at one of the corridors in the hall.
"You can stand them on the side of the grasses, just up ahead. I'll catch up in a minute." She told them, quickly turning to the corridor as they went ahead.
Ino walked alone and before she could reach the door of the female's comfort room, it was pulled open and a woman with long black hair stepped out. She was wearing a fitted white dress, the hems ending a few inches above her knees. She had fair skin, dark brown eyes that looks almost black, and a pretty face. She wore high heels and she was tall, but Ino was taller.
She saw Ino about to walk in. Their eyes met for a brief yet slow seconds.
They knew each other, but no words were exchanged as she moved passed her. They merely examined each other, their eyes in cold stares. There was something in the way she stood and moved away, as if doing a catwalk for Ino to see. Highlighting her curves and physique as if showing them off. Perhaps to the girl it was confidence, but to Ino, it was disdain and smugness.
For a second, Ino was a bit startled to see her there. And she was still staring at her as she moved away without looking back at her, as if she saw nothing at all.
Like the first time she saw Hidan again after a long time, she felt something inside her stirred. Something unpleasant and something she was trying hard to brush off.
Instead of going to the toilet, Ino went first to the sink to wash her face and cool her head. She looked at the mirror in front of her, her face dripping wet. Her blue-green eyes looked like gems under the classy lighting of the room.
The girl's name was Tsuchi Kin.
She felt the atmosphere abruptly changed around her after seeing her…
Ino had imagined herself doing a lot of horrendous things to that girl for countless times. She had imagined pulling her long, delightful hair and dragging her down the street until she was all bruised and scathed. She had imagined hitting her straight on her cute nose with a thick frying pan or pinning her down as she punched her face freely like they do in the movies.
It took her a great effort not to do those stupid, reckless things in the past.
She thought she shouldn't be surprised to see her in events like this. She was a former trainee in Jashin Corporation after all. And Ino knew well she was actually more than that…
Ino hated herself for having felt that again. For having been affected that way. It wasn't as awful as before, but still, there was a sting to it.
And she remembered why she hired that smartass airhead escort in the first place.
-0-
After a few minutes, Ino came to the gardens. She found Sasuke snickering at a human-sized cardboard cut-out of Hidan at the corner of the entrance to the garden. He was flashing his white, perfect teeth at the gigantic picture, a glass of rum on one hand on.
"What're you doing?" She hissed at him.
There was no one in the garden yet except for a few waiters setting up the long table at the middle.
"Did your ex win a Mister Photogenic contest before?" Sasuke asked.
"I think during college."
"Does he have a statue of himself, too?"
"I don't know—zip it and let's set those stands up so we can go. Where's Ebisu?" Ino snapped, pulling him to the gardens.
"He stepped out to move the van. The grumpy guard asked him to park at the other side."
Ino began to set and fix the yellow flowers on the stand one by one. Sasuke dragged the rest to their right spots near the entrance to the gardens.
A moment later, she heard a voice behind her.
"Nice to see you here so early."
Ino turned her head as she held one of the flowers. Hidan stood beside her, wearing a gray tuxedo. He was in his usual clean, sophisticated attire.
"You know I'm always early." She grunted, turning back to her arrangements.
"I was afraid you've changed." He said in his smooth voice.
Ino stayed quiet.
"One of the reasons why I chose your services was so I could see you more often. I was hoping I wasn't too late." He continued to say. He glanced at Sasuke, whose back was turned to them as he stood at the other corner of the entrance. "He's not the right guy for you."
"What do you know about what's the right guy for me. You sure weren't." Ino said in an unfeeling voice, still not looking at him.
"I am the right guy for you. I'm just not perfect." He said assuredly.
"Why don't you tell that to Kin. I'm sure she'll be happy to listen to you today." Ino scorned.
Hidan paused. It took him a moment before speaking out.
"I didn't think she'd—" He began to utter out.
"You hungry, love?" Sasuke came to her side and put an arm around her.
Ino went along with it and nodded. Sasuke noticed her serious face. "Yeah. I need coffee."
"There's a cafeteria outside. Let's grab something." He said, ignoring Hidan at her other side.
"She's not yet done." Hidan spoke to him in a hard tone.
"We still have enough time." Sasuke responded, untroubled.
"Can't you see she was talking to me?" Hidan said with an aggravated face.
"I don't think she wants to talk to you anymore." Sasuke said. Then, he glimpsed at the entrance of the hall. "Besides, aren't you supposed to be doing some made-up interviews before the launch starts?"
Hidan gave him a long, dangerous stare. Ino didn't normally see that in his face. She would only see that look whenever he wasn't liking a business agreement with some company head. His brown eyes were like molten rocks.
"If I were you, I'd be careful of where I place myself." He said to him slowly.
"But you're not me. So that's a pity." Sasuke answered before he and Ino turned away and left him.
Ino could feel Hidan's stare piercing her back as they walked to the entrance. By surprisingly seeing Kin that day, she didn't care about what he was thinking at all. She was trying not to get upset and the smell of coffee would do her good.
She assumed Sasuke was a bit younger than her and Hidan. And Hidan was the kind of guy who didn't like being stood against or be blocked by anyone, especially if it was a younger, good-looking guy.
-0-
Tsuchi Kin walked straight to his room in one of the suites near the lawns. Her nails painted as red as her lips, and a bejeweled purse hang on one of her arms. She pulled and closed the door in a loud thud before setting herself on the bed.
Hidan sat behind a desk across the room, looking at his speech written in a piece of paper. He could hear loud footsteps from afar even if the the floors were carpeted. He didn't look up when she entered and sat a few feet before him.
"So the news were true." Kin said, her head held high. Her skirt was pulled up for him to see her flawless legs. "You're seeing her? You didn't tell me you invited her to the event today."
"I took her services. What's in it to you?" Hidan spoke, still reading the paper.
"I thought you didn't want her anymore." Kin said, her feminine face suddenly curling in a glare. "I thought you said she was plain and boring."
Hidan was silent as he read.
"Aren't you going to introduce me to the media today?" She asked.
"My hands are full today. I don't think I'll have time for the media." Hidan sighed.
"Oh, but you still have time for her?" Kin jeered, her red lips twisted.
He didn't answer again.
That's when she threw her purse across his desk and it knocked a pen holder and bumped his hands. He turned to her with a scowl.
"Why do you keep hiding our relationship in public? They damn well know I'm as good as it gets!" She yelled at him as she stood up in her high heels.
Hidan always knew she was a fierce one even from the first moment he laid his eyes on her and her voluptuous body. He likes it whenever she pulls that out in bed with him. Sometimes it brings out his wild side, too. It was mainly the quality that he liked about her, and sometimes it can also be damn annoying.
"Haven't we talked about this before?" He snapped at her over the desk.
"You're the only one who agreed to it. It's always your way! I was being patient with you, and now you're reaching out to that blonde bitch?" She said angrily.
"She's not a bitch." Hidan said in a threatening tone, his face instantly turning serious.
There were many traits that would define Ino, but not a whore and a bitch. They may not be the best of lovers or friends, but he didn't like it when people would say foul things about her.
Kin swallowed and was silent for a few seconds, seeing his hard expression. Then she started trudging to the door.
"You're a fucking asshole!" She barked before disappearing out the door, leaving her purse on the floor.
Hidan exhaled out as he straightened the paper on his desk.
It was actually a usual scene between the two of them. One minute they would be shouting at each other, the next minute he'd be banging her lights out and she would be screaming his name in pleasure. There were nights when he would have barely any sleep. With her liking to try out new things in bed and arousing him even when he was tired from work. But nowadays, she was becoming more of a hindrance.
Kabuto marched in right after she vanished.
"You called, Hidan-san?" He spoke, standing near his desk and seeing the clutter and the gleaming purse on the carpet.
"Yeah." He sighed, setting the piece of paper down and standing from his comfortable chair. "I need you to do something."
He took slow steps to the windows and gently pulled aside the emerald curtains. Just a few inches for him to peer out as he stood there in front of the glass window.
They were five floors up and he could see the gardens well from there. He could see the white, lavender, and pink flower beds across the grounds. There were trees lined at the sides and some were scattered. Food were being placed one by one on the long table at the middle. It won't be long and Jashin employees and shareholders would be entering that scenic area.
Under one of the trees there, Sasuke knew where Hidan was standing at that exact moment. He could see him looking out at Ino from a window at a distance, at his two o'clock like a spooky stalker. He had a flirty conversation with the receptionist and he easily found out which suite he was staying at.
He wasn't doing it for Ino, though. He actually finds him cocky and rather menacing which was why he was keeping a careful eye on him for his sake, too. He knew rich men were powerful—if they had the right wits. Ino had never really opened up about him nor did he ever really asked, but judging from their first meeting, he knew he wasn't one of those dignified badass moguls. He was one of those rich big boys who had something under their sleeves. He reminded him of the seniors in his school who always act as if they own the place because they were huge and they'd been there longer than he was. Bullies with minions following them or would have them doing the dirty jobs, rather than doing those themselves. They didn't like threats like him. And he sure didn't like them either.
"Come on, let's go!" Ino called him as she approached him under the tree. They were alone there.
Sasuke suddenly tugged her hand and pulled her against him. His hands slid around her back. Ino unexpectedly found herself inches away from his face.
"What are you doing?" She asked, confused. Her face had that dictatorial expression she always has.
"Shhh… he's looking at us." Sasuke murmured to her ear. He led her hands softly around his waist, pressing his body against hers.
He gazed at her face. She was stiff for a moment, before relaxing slowly in his embrace. She looked up at him and saw his dark grey eyes examining her, as if checking her reaction against him.
"Is he behind me?" She asked curiously.
"No. He's watching us from a window."
"You're really taking your job seriously, huh? Why do I feel like you're enjoying this, too?"
"'Cause I am enjoying it. He looks like a cocky prick." He said, then he planted a kiss on top of her head. "Oh, sorry, I didn't hurt your feelings, didn't I?" He teased.
Ino tried to ignore his graze. She was the first one who kissed him out of nowhere, anyway.
"Undeniably, he is." She croaked.
She was getting used to Sasuke's warm contacts. It was easy to find a good spot against his body. He seemed to know the right place. He was comfortable interacting with her, or perhaps just with the way he was, and this was actually making her comfortable with him. He was easy to get along with despite his annoyingly clever mouth, she noticed.
Then, he bent his head down and his lips brushed hers. Ino had to remind herself it wasn't her first kiss, although it had been a long while. She felt his soft, warm lips and he didn't loosen his hold on her.
For one short moment, it felt like he was the only thing she could feel. Everything else stood still...
It happened fast and his face was away from her in a blink.
He saw the look on her face. "You should get used to kissing me if we're going to pretend we're a couple, you know."
Ino hastily looked around them before sliding out of his arms and giving him a soft push. "You blockhead—I'm a supplier in the event. I'm not supposed to be kissing someone during work even if we're together! Let's just go—"
Ino was blushing as she tramped away in a haste. Sasuke started laughing again at her uptight demeanor. She was beginning to think he was loose in the head.
Hidan glowered through the glass as he watched them moved away from the open grounds. He had been silent for mere minutes, just standing there and observing in a viperous way. His hand balled into a fist at his side. He was still staring out the window even if they had gone.
"Kabuto." He called again.
"Yes, Hidan-san?"
"I want you to check on that bastard's background. Get any info you can gather—accomplishments, tragic history, dirty secrets, criminal records—any skeletons in his closet." He spoke unfeelingly, his back still turned to him.
Kabuto promptly knew whom he was talking about. He gave one nod. "Yes, Hidan-san."
"There's something off about that fucker. I can feel it." He drawled, turning around.
Hidan stared blankly in the room as Kabuto exited.
Ino was supposed to be his, and his alone. She was meant to be in love with him, no matter what the circumstances were. True, he had let some mistakes slipped out and he had been reckless, but he knew he could get her back. He knew she had loved him.
She was the type of woman he needs for his image, not some slut. As much as he hates the public, their reception was a part of his success. And they like seeing them together as if it was an image of a rich boy being with a regular, down-to-earth girl. They loved that. He needs to put them in a loop, play them around his finger.
He was also good at taking people out of his way. If Ino wanted to play hard to get, then he'd be willing to play that game—but in his own way. And he was going to start with that shady bastard with her.
-0-