Hug Me, Please.
-Part 5-
"Stay away from me."
Why does she have to push me away and why... why does it hurt? he asked himself as the wind blew softly against his face while tears continues to stream down.
She got home and broke down crying on her bed. Her breathing was harsh and she felt like she couldn't breathe every now and then, but she couldn't stop. Why? Why can't that one mission disappear like all the rest of the other ones? Is it because there is actually someone here that looks like one of the men? Her eyes were dried but she felt exhausted and wrecked. She didn't want to move or get up so she lay still on her twin size bed.
Maybe I should leave here… it would work out a little better… I won't have anyone who reminds me of the rapist… she told herself, but her heart was and will always be in Konoha. She closed her eyes to see Naruto's face.
"Naruto…" she said softly as she remembered what she said.
She couldn't let him follow her or else it wont be only her that is getting hurt… he would also. She knows that the more she is around him, near him, even the thought of seeing him would bring just heartache and memories she never wish to see again. So she forced herself to call back at him.
"Stay away from me."
She knew he heard it by the way his face looked. He was shocked and she had to force herself to keep running. She knew it's for the best. Even if Naruto would understand what happened, the bastard's face will always take over his for some terrible reason. Two months and it still lurks her memory… she just wanted to erase it like it never happened, but she was the only Yamanaka left. Her father had past away when she was on that mission… she still wishes for his love and his protectiveness.
"Daddy… what should I do…" she whispered into the empty room. A couple seconds later, there was a tap on her window. She sat up quickly wiping her stray tears away from her eyes. As she turned to the window, she saw an old friend.
"You came to visit me huh?" she said jokingly as she opened the window. The man pushed himself inside as the crunching of chips can be heard.
"Choji! I told you not to bring food into my room!" Ino yelled glaring at her friend with swirls on his cheeks.
"Oh yeah… sorry…" he said giving her a cheeky grin that she gave into.
She sighed as she patted to a space next to her on the bed. He sat silently before pondering on what he would say to her.
"Ino…" Choji began as he reached into his bag of chips until Ino grabbed his wrist.
"Choji…" she said glaring at him. He looked down and nodded with a smile.
"Sorry Ino," he said as Ino let his wrist go.
"What were you going to say Cho?" she asked interested.
"Oh yeah, um…" Choji began again as he starts to reach inside the bag once more. Ino at this point was tired out and far too angry to care who heard her.
"CHOJI! STOP EATING ALREADY AND SPIT IT OUT!" she stood up and screamed so loud that made Choji cover his ears.
"Okay, okay!" he said pulling her back into a sitting position.
"Look… Tsunade told me that she was worried about you and wanted to see you," Choji started as Ino looked at his friend a bit confused, "… but I told her you were fine and she didn't have to worry about whatever she was worrying about…" Choji finished with a smile and Ino mimicked it.
"Thanks Choji," she said.
"Oh yeah… Shikamaru said to meet him at the 'place' at eleven tomorrow…" Choji said.
"Hm… to train?" Ino asked questioning her friend.
"I dunno… he only asked for you…" Choji said shrugging. Ino nodded and there was a silence that befalls on them. To loosen the mood, Ino poked Choji on the cheeks.
"What are you doing Ino?!" he asked confused standing. Ino just laughed as she did it again.
"Stop it already! Geez, you're such a kid Ino, were grown ups now…" he said walking toward the window, "… I'm going, good night."
She watched her friend jump away and the empty feeling overcame her once again. She closed the window and sat on her bed once again.
"I wish I was a kid again Choji…" she said softly as she closed her eyes, "… you don't even know how bad…"
:Flashback:
"Hey Choji!" Ino called out seeing her friend sitting on the bench. The swirl cheeked boy turned with a small smile. Ino invited herself to sit next to him. Her short blonde hair glowed with the ray of the sun.
"Hey Ino, what's up?" he asked wondering why she was there. She is usually off with some of her friends playing catch or talking or whatever girls do. She just stared at him and him at her. There was an awkward silence that made him a little nervous.
"Um…" Choji begin to say as he started scratching his cheek. His movement caused Ino's eyes to fall onto the swirls. Ino moved closer as her eyes locked onto his chubby cheeks. He looked at her confused and worried because his friend seems at awe with something on his face.
"Hey Choji…" she started to say lifting her index finger, "… you have swirls on your cheeks!" she exclaimed happily as she poked him. Choji was taken back and startled at her touch.
"Ino! Stop it would you!" he called out trying to dodge every pokes. While he tried, her fingers seemed to keep coming and coming. If he backs up, her fingers will touch his nose; if he turned, her finger would touch his ear hole… damn her.
He got frustrated and stood up, anger burning inside of him. She just stared at him for a moment then burst out laughing. She stood also hands to her hips as her laughter spread into the cool air. He just stared at her and a smile graced his face.
:End Flashback:
She opened her eyes slowly feeling a soft light fell upon her face. She lay still for a while just taking in her surroundings. Her room, her bed, her house… and only her. She sat up taking a deep breathe as she reached her arms up to stretch. Her hair fell messily down her back and her sheet was falling halfway from the bed. She got up and walked into the bathroom to turn on the sink's facet. She looked into the mirror wearily and saw herself. Someone who took such good and tender care of herself looks so beaten and bruised. She pulled her hair back behind her face so she could see the rest of it. Her eyes were empty and cold, her lips were of a faded pink color, and her hair seemed to have lost its usual bright color.
She bent down to wash her face with cold water that made her flinch a little. After she was done washing up and changed, she headed over to where she had to meet her long time friend. She locked her door as she left and forced herself to smirk and grin at people passing by who looked her way. She found him leaning against the tree that they always were at. She smiled feeling an old memory play, but she pushed it aside and she walked up to him.
"Shikamaru… what's up?" she asked as she got nearer to him. He didn't turn his face to meet hers but spoke into the air.
"Hey Ino…" he said as she stood beside him. He kept looking up into the sky and she mimicked him.
The sky… is so blue… she said softly inside, fighting the urge to cry. Blue… just like the bastard's eyes… and just like… Naruto's. She stopped her thinking as a small sigh escaped her lips causing her friend to stare at her.
"Are you okay?" he asked concerned. She looked at him then grinned so wide that it hid her eyes. He gave her a questioning look before she just laughed to herself.
What's wrong with me… she said to herself sadly as she looked at her friend's concerned face.
"Yea… what about you? Something wrong?" she asked now determined to find out why he wanted to talk. He hesitated a little, something Shikamaru don't tend to do in front of anyone else.
"It's… nothing," he sighed out before facing the sky again.
"It's Temari…" Ino said softly taking her eyes back to the sky. A smile graced her lips when she felt him staring at her shocked.
"Is it that obvious?" he asked her almost angrily. Ino turned to face him and nodded.
"Shika, I known you since forever," Ino reminded him, "what happened?"
There was a small pause before Shikamaru told her the truth. He can't hide anything from her, she's too good.
"I… she… damn!" he cursed himself not being able to say anything for once. Ino just looked at him and realized that Shikamaru is different too… maybe it's because of her.
"Temari likes you, I mean look at you!" Ino called out staring at him like it was so obvious, "you've changed and change is good right?"
Shikamaru looked on as Ino as she explained what was so different about him, and finally he interrupted her.
"Ino, I get it… it's just… I don't think we could make it through a week together," he admitted looking away from her. Ino couldn't help but laugh so loud that it hurts. She had to hold on to the tree afraid she'd fall flat on her face from laughter. Shikamaru stared at her which turned into a glare.
"You agree then," he stated turning to walk away when Ino called out to him.
"W… wait! Shikamaru, you are giving up already? You don't even know what could happen?" she advised him, "… I say give it a shot! And don't be so damn lazy in trying!" Ino screamed at him as he just smirked.
"Fine," he finally said before turning and walking off again.
Ino smiled at his retreating back, before the smile faded into a flat line. She breathed out a deep sigh as she leaned against the tree to stare off into the distance in front of her. She really needed to talk to someone about what happened because it's just eating her up inside and taking over her mind.
No! I'm strong enough to get over this on my own! She yelled at herself as she turned to leave, but instead faced something… orange?
Omg! sorry for a clifie... but this is my longest chapter! yay!
but i promise i will update as soon as i can and sorry for the late update! i had lots of essays to write so yeah...
thank yous for everything though!
readers and reviewers: Gravenimage, jere7782, JovialShogun, 1upHero, Raven, and Amari Kazama!
Love,
kiwi4me~