Until We All Fall Down Chapter 3, Memorable, a naruto fanfic

Until We All Fall Down

XxMookinexX

I do not own Naruto or any of its characters, I only wish I did. Any and all unrecognisable characters and situations belong solely to me and are not to be touched without permission. I am not making any money off of this and I write with the soul purpose to entertain.

This story takes place when our characters are 18/19 and takes account of everything up to chapter 337 of the manga. Written in Ino's POV.

HAHA! It is 11:59! Technically it was still Monday when I posted this up! Chapter three of WAFFLES! (manic grin) If I seem in anyway close to a nervous break down I blame the exams and the showcase I have tomorrow, but still, I lovingly wrote this chapter for you, despite the one hour power-cut that forced me to sit there twiddling my thumbs as I considered what to do about my chemistry presentation. Still, Que Sera Sera – everything's eventual 'cos we're all gonna end up dead anyways, so we might as well have fun yeah? So for your continued enjoyment, I shall endeavour to keep writing for you (applauds self in recognition of sudden burst of motivation)

Special thanks to Lori, RefusedAngel, Itsumo Neko, Tsubahime and XTragicxBeautyX who all reviewed last chapter! DANKESHINNIE!! (this is my version of thanks) :D and here are your own personal metaphorical cookies (awards each with metaphorical cookies).

– Chapter Three –

Memorable

Sometimes, I get that feeling where it seems like the whole world is ganging up on me.

Sometimes, I just get paranoia.

But sometimes… sometimes I really am just very, very unlucky.

"Ino?"

I blinked and realised I had yet to respond to her. I guess I was just too stunned. Too shocked into disbelief to answer her as she'd wish.

"You want me to be the Kazekage's guide?" I queried, still not entirely understanding. I thought that was Naruto's job. Or Shika's when Temari wasn't around. Hell, even Lee might be better suited to this position than me. I don't think I've ever spoken more than a few words to him at any one time.

"Yes," Tsunade nodded from where she was propped up in a make-shift bed. We were still in the Hokage's office though, because she insisted that she be seen the correct way. I can't help but feel that she's pushing herself too hard. Shouldn't she retire soon? Live out the rest of her days in peace? But then… I suppose she's worried about the succession. There are many who might disagree with whatever candidate she picks. I think she's trying to hold out for as long as possible before making that decision. "Shikamaru has a different mission that requires his attentions and Naruto…" for a moment, it seemed like she was going to say something else, but she changed her mind and continued, "Naruto is hardly eloquent enough to guide the Kazekage around, despite his being on good terms with him."

Bull shit. Even so… I haven't had a mission in a while. My fingers are itching for something to do.

"Hai, Tsunade-sama," I said, snapping my feet together and bowing slightly by way of respect. I don't particularly relish the fact that I've been assigned to guide the Kazekage around Konohakagure, but I'll be damned if I don't do my job well.

Tsunade-sama nodded and gestured for me to leave her. I did so as quickly as humanly possible without seeming rude, something about being in the same room as my former mentor when I know that she's dying… makes me very uneasy.

Once the door closed I heard a cough, followed by an outbreak of them. It wasn't exactly normal either, there was something wet about it. As if there was bile in her throat or she was coughing up blood. I suppressed a shudder and kept on walking.

"It's horrible, isn't it?" a quiet voice asked me. My eyes flicked sideways to land on Sakura. She looked as if she were about to burst with unhappiness. Then she forced a smile and met my eyes. "But, it's Tsunade-sama… Sensei wouldn't go down without a fight. I'm sure she'll be okay for a long time to come."

"Of course," I agreed, trying to interject as much confidence and belief into that single sentence as a I could. Anything to stop her looking like her world's about to end. "If only because of all the people she'll get to annoy by sticking around here. She's stubborn like that." Just as you will be when your older, Sakura. You've taken on much of your master's mannerisms, after all. She smiled again, properly this time, and just for a second I saw a flicker of hope in those green depths of hers.

She walked with me to the door, and hugged me goodbye before going back to tend to the Hokage again.

The sun hit me hard and I winced and threw up my hands to cover my face until I had adjusted from the gloom of the Hokage's house. Taking a deep breath of the refreshingly cool air I tried to rid myself of the clutches of death that hung around that place. Then, with hardly a sound, I took off, trying to find a familiar face that wasn't about to disappear forever.

Am I being heartless? Trying to cut off and ignore my emotions like this. But the truth is… I'm terrified.

Sure, right now, we're living in peaceful times, but as soon as she's gone… if the next Hokage isn't chosen quickly, we may be plunged into war again. That's why it's vital that my mission runs smoothly. If such a thing were to happen, and we were attacked from the outside, we would be relying on Sunakagure and Gaara to save us. So I must be as accommodating as possible. So that I don't do anything to anger him while he is here.

"Ino!"

I landed lightly on the nearest rooftop and glanced behind me, only to break into a grin as I spotted Naruto's friendly face looking up at me.

A bubble of delight burst within me.

"Naruto!" I called, jumping down to land in front of him and bestowing him with a brief hug. "It's good to have you back, how was Sunakagure?"

Naruto's become rather… special to me as of late. Like the brother I never had. Although if we're going to get stuck into that metaphor I'll have to explain it properly. See, I have three honorary brothers now: Shika-kun, Chouji-kun and Naruto-kun.

Shikamaru's my 'eldest' brother because he's quite overprotective. I mean, he's always looking out for me, although sometimes the fussing can get really annoying. Recently he's been having a go at me for not eating enough. But it's not like I'm deliberately doing it. I just get so wrapped up in my training that sometimes I forget about it. I'm not dieting again or anything. I just look thinner 'cos of all the extra exercise I've been getting. My point is that he's a tad overly concerned where my well-being is concerned, which suits the role of nii-san perfectly.

Chouji's the understanding 'middle' brother. He's the one who I'll go to when I need to whine about life without getting lectured or somehow ending up in a fight with. He won't complain about my whinging, and he'll let me get it all out of my system, properly listening to me and giving me helpful advice at the end of it all. He's the one who'll greet me with a big hug whenever I look even the slightest bit upset. Like my own personal teddy-bear.

Naruto's the one who's closest to my age maturity wise, 'cos age wise we're all the same. He's the one who slacks off with me when I need a break. He'll be the one who helps me avoid my problems when I don't want to think about them for a little bit. The one who, when push comes to shove, will be right beside me, vehemently on my side, no matter the circumstances or troubles he's suffering on his own. I'd like to say that I would do the same for him. Hopefully, he sees me the same way. It's strange how you can get so close to someone in only three weeks. The last of which I didn't even get to seen him in because he was in Sunakagure.

Which reminds me, where's Gaara?

"Good, good," he commented, nodding as he did so. He gestured to the shop beside him and I realised we were next to Ichiraku Ramen. I smiled. No longer the stall it had once been, Ichiraku's had expanded over the years and become more popular than ever. Of course, many still believe that this refurbishment was very much due to Naruto's continuous visits there. It was widely believed that his money had helped to build well over half of the shop. "I was just about to go look for you actually."

"Me?" I queried, tilting my head at him. He nodded.

"Shikamaru said you were the one assigned to guide Gaara around Konohakagure, and since we're all in here anyway and there was room for one more…"

I think it, it happens! Genius.

"I get it, I get it," I laughed and patted him companionably on the shoulder as he led the way inside. A waitress looked up eagerly, happy to serve customers, and upon recognising Naruto led us to a private stall, which had been laid for five people. The three already inside glanced up at us and reacted accordingly.

"That was quick," Temari said, her eyebrows lifting in surprise from where she sat opposite Shikamaru. He merely mock saluted me, but I could tell he was happy from the extra energy in his eyes, which so usually appeared whenever Temari was around.

I ignored her for the most part, my eyes settling on the final occupant of the room.

Bright red hair that was in some way both neat and messed up, pale aquamarine eyes surrounded by the dark blemishes of insomnia, a firm mouth, chiselled features, skin so pale that it looked as if it never saw the light of day, a muscled but somehow lithe figure, taller than Naruto by an inch or so, but not quite so tall as Shika, yet more imposing with the impassive expression on his masked face leaving only his eyes to portray how he was really feeling. Right now they were narrowed in distaste. He was wearing deep red robes and his usual gourd of sand, and I noted the kanji on his forehead was still there, perhaps to mentally torture all who met him with the curiosity of its meaning. Ai, meaning love. The sign he'd cut into himself at so young an age to symbolise his decision to live only for himself. To love only himself. And perhaps he had good reason for it. A long and lonely childhood – the fate all the Jinchuuriki share. It's why he and Naruto try so desperately to receive acknowledgement. Why they will push themselves to attain their dreams past the time when others would have long since given up. Or at least, this is what Sakura has told me.

He sat there, his arms crossed over his chest in the pose that has become so uniquely his own.

Sabaku no Gaara.

His pale eyes studied me as I snapped my feet together and bowed formally in his direction before straightening up and looking at him with clear eyes. He probably knows all of this anyway, but it's the correct way to start one of these missions, and I'll be damned if I do anything improper to embarrass myself in front of him. "My name is Yamanaka Ino. I will be your guide during your stay here." I almost said escort for a second there. Now that would have made things awkward.

Never let it be said that I don't take my missions seriously.

"Hajimemashite (please look upon me kindly)," he said bowing ever so slightly back at me – well, as well as you could bow sitting down. It was all I could do to stop the blood rushing to my face. That was actually… really cute.

I nodded, before taking the only available seat opposite him (Naruto had already placed himself at the head of the table so that he could interrupt anything that Shika and Temari-san started with one another. And no, by that, I don't mean that they were about to perform PDAs, besides, even if they were, Gaara would flay him alive if they tried something like that. No, I meant the arguments or 'playful banter' that they're prone to have with one another. Personally I just think Temari gets way too riled up too easily, but I'll give her this – she's one of the few people (other than myself and his own mother) that has the potential to ruffle his feathers like that. This, if nothing else, puts her as number one candidate for keeping him inline and maybe some day marrying him in our eyes (the eyes of the family).

Before the conversation could start up, however, the waitress came back, bearing a tray laden with food-stuffs of types. There was rather a lot of it, also. I couldn't help wondering just who would be paying for all this, especially if Naruto still possesses the appetite I remember. I guess it's just a good thing Chouji isn't here. Then again, when he finds out we came and didn't invite him… the repercussions could be catastrophic. I glanced significantly at Shika, and from his morbid expression, realised he was thinking the same.

I heard a click from further down the table and grinned at Naruto's expression. He was practically drooling at the choice morsels laid out before him, and hungrily his hands shot out to spear a particularly tender and juicy bowl of ramen. The delight on his face made me think Christmas had come early.

"Itadakimasu!"

"Wait, so, let me get this straight," Temari said around her chop-sticks, before pulling them out to point at the two of us as she spoke. "You're telling me, that this lazy bag of bones actually got off his ass to help you move into your new flat? Seriously?"

I nodded and laughed at the almost pouting expression on his face, although it wasn't directed at me. I watched as the two continued to poke fun at one another, intermittently being interrupted by Naruto and one of his whacky comments. Gaara just sat there and drank his tea, eyes closed, oblivious to the chaotic world around him.

One thing I have found particularly interesting about this has been watching not only the way they all interact with one another, but their mannerisms around food.

Naruto's was obvious. Ramen being his favourite ever dish, there was no doubt that he would wolf it down as quickly as possible and be on his fifth bowl by the time most of us were only half way through our first.

Temari was surprisingly less graceful than I would have imagined. She took large, deliberate bites, forcing the food into her mouth as though she were the type more used to eating meat from the bone and tearing with her teeth, like a barbarian princess.

Shikamaru's was obvious to me, since I'd seen him eat so many times before, even so, the cat-like reflexes were amusing to watch. He'd focus on engaging you in conversation, and then quick as a flash he'd have stolen something from one of the bowls and popped it into his mouth. Lazy people don't bother serving themselves onto plates but eat straight from the dishes. Or at least he doesn't.

Gaara, I decided, had the best manners of them all, although whether that was because he was keeping up appearances as Sunakagure's Kazekage, or whether he was naturally that way I didn't know. He had an unnerving way of getting through a meal very quickly without you ever really seeing him eat, as if he rushed mouthfuls when he was sure you weren't looking his way. But that would be ridiculously erratic behaviour. No, I'll just blame my poor attention span, although the idea of him being disturbed by people watching him eat amuses me.

Aquamarine eyes suddenly sprang open and I realised I'd been studying his face as I thought about this and turned to the side again, trying to fight off any potential embarrassments.

"At some point," he said suddenly in a somewhat low but soft voice that was designed not to draw attention to itself, "we should discuss my itinerary."

I nodded in understanding. I was going to suggest the same, but I didn't want to distract people whilst we were eating.

He seems to be a lot more grounded than Sakura described him. Calmer. But I guess everyone gains better control over their emotions with age.

"Oi, you two." We turned to glance at Naruto. "What do you think? They should get married soon, yes?"

I frowned at him, noticing the flicker of a blush on both their faces, followed by the troubled smiles.

"Naruto, you shouldn't say things like that. Temari-san is-"

"Sunakagure's council has made this perfectly clear," Gaara stated ominously. "The rules for Shinobi transferring to another Village are the extenuating circumstances involved."

Temari went bright pink, and even Shika started to look very hot around the ears and the back of his neck. Naruto frowned, glancing at his reflection in the Ramen juice left over in his bowl.

"What does that mean?" he asked, raising it to his lips to drain it.

"It means," Temari stated, "that I need to become pregnant."

The ramen juice went spraying over the table in a sticky shower of fermented juices. I wrinkled my nose in distaste, only to see Naruto start shaking with silent laughter, his gaze transfixed on the area a little to my left.

Slowly, I turned to follow his gaze, and found myself hard-pressed not to do the same.

Somehow, Gaara had ended up with the juice coated all over his face.

Needless to say, he did not look happy.

As he temporarily lost his composure and attacked Naruto, I found that I couldn't contain my laughter after all and cracked up along with Shika and Temari.

I couldn't help thinking that guiding around the Kazekage might end up being a lot of fun after all.

Translation notes:

1 – Please look upon me kindly is a rough translation of a Japanese word I have temporarily forgotten, but it's customary to give this reply to someone who has taken you under their wing or is helping you in some way, even if you don't particularly like them.

2 – I'm assuming they have Christmas in Naruto. If not, think of an appropriate ceremony you think would fit instead. Eh, maybe a birthday?

3 – Itadakimasu is a customary Japanese phrase which people use to say that they're about to eat… its rough translation is "Let's eat".

Chapter three – you like? Review and tell me what you think! Did you see, Gaara spoke! And so did Temari! YAY! Hope they're still in character in context (I now con this phrase and dub it ICIC (I see, I see – hehe, I amuse myself greatly)). All praise me for I am great! And really in need of cheering up 'cos I'm scared about my exams…

Updates should be hopefully every Monday. See ya then!

Luv ya

XxMookinexX