Hey everyone! Here's the next part of the fic! Enjoy!
Key:
Italics mean someone's inner thoughts
----- means a change in POV
Part 2: Time to go Shopping!
Ino hung up the phone quietly after her conversation with Sakura. In mild shock, she stared at the wall in front of her.
Sasuke… and Naruto? They're in love… with each other? She expected to feel extreme jealousy and the urge to go flatten Naruto, but instead she had a feeling of calm, then, surprisingly, joy. She shook her head, thinking. Don't I love Sasuke? I should want to splatter Naruto against the wall for even thinking that way about Sasuke! She continued staring as she considered her feelings. Why don't I feel rage? Sasuke isn't available anymore, and yet I feel nothing evil welling up… Sure I wanted Sasuke- what girl in her right mind wouldn't? Ino shook her head at that, clarity coming to her mind. But I never got to know him the way Naruto does. Sasuke never gave me the time of day, but he was always willing to spar or be with Naruto. And now it seems it's something more than friendship for them. She sighed softly, then smiled as a plan formed in her mind. Well, if I can't have him, I'll make sure he gets the one he loves. Nodding, she quickly grabbed her things and hurried to Sasuke's house. She would help him prepare for the festival, no matter what he says to her.
-----
Arriving at Sasuke's house, she was about to knock on the door when she heard a growl and a muffled thump coming from inside. Jumping to a nearby rooftop, she was surprised to see Sasuke standing in what appeared to be his bedroom, knee-deep in clothes. She was even more surprised to see him looking, for once in his life, helpless as he glanced around the room.
I guess he can't find anything to wear. Well, time for me to step in! Ino leapt back down and softly knocked on his front door. She shrugged to herself when there was no answer. That was typical of Sasuke, but today she would not be deterred. Knocking more vigorously, she heard another growl and footsteps walking downstairs. The door opened incrementally and Sasuke's annoyed eye peered through the crack.
"Hi Sas-" The door closed immediately and she heard him leaving. She shook her head, that too was typical Sasuke behavior. She took a breath and called through the door.
"Sasuke-kun! It's all right! I'm here to help!" She heard the footsteps stop and heard Sasuke's cold, emotionless response.
"Help? Why do you think I need help?" She smiled. Time to persuade him to let her help.
"I saw you in your bedroom as I came here." She heard him stiffen at that. Shrugging it off, she continued. "You looked as if you needed help preparing for the festival tomorrow." He remained silent and her smile grew as she decided to strike the final blow. "Maybe you need help to impress a special someone, say… Naruto perhaps?"
The door flew open and a hand grabbed her and dragged her inside. He looked at her, shocked. "How do you know about that?!" He cried before he got himself composed. Ino laughed inwardly at the look that had been on his face and smiled at him. Patting his shoulder, she answered him.
"Don't worry. Sakura told me. Naruto met her and told her in his joyous delirium, and she told me. That's how I know." She tapped her chin thoughtfully. "Of course, Sakura never was one to keep such a great secret, so she's probably told half the village by now."
If anyone other than Sasuke had heard that, they would have groaned and bowed their head, or dropped to the ground in shock, but this was Sasuke. As for him, a stricken look flashed over his face for a millisecond, then he huffed and turned away.
"Fine. It's not as if I was going to keep it a secret anyway." He muttered. Ino brightened and she continued.
"Great! So, now that you know that we know, will you let me help you? I do have talent with this sort of thing." All she got was a grump at that, Sasuke-speak for yes. Smiling, she turned and placed her hand on the door. "I'll be waiting outside. Grab your things and we'll hit the stores." She saw a shiver ran over his body, probably from the image of him shopping with her, being seen in public with her, probably even being with her for any period of time. She smiled at that sight, for she had the perfect thing to say to keep him from backing out of it.
"Think of Naruto." He straightened at that and turned to her, his jaw set and eyes confident. He nodded slightly and she turned and left. A minute later he appeared and they quickly headed for the shopping district.
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As Sakura turned the corner onto the main street of the shopping district, a shocking sight met her eyes. Ino and Sasuke were entering a shop- together. Granted, he had a look that spoke quite loudly "Why are you making me do this?", but still…
"Eh? Sakura-chan? What's up?" Sakura heard Naruto behind her and she turned to smile at him.
"Nothing. Why don't you go check out that store over there, and I'll join you in a second. I have a phone call to make." Naruto gave her a slit-eyed, curious stare, but nodded and entered the store she'd pointed to.
As soon as he was out of earshot, Sakura grabbed her phone and rapidly punched in Ino's number.
…
…
"Hello? This is Ino." Ino nodded to Sasuke to go on without her, and he nodded, happy to get away from her- I mean, oblige her.
"Ino, it's Sakura. What do you think you are doing?! I just saw you with Sasuke!" Ino grinned at Sakura's tone.
"Ha! I thought I caught you out of the corner of my eye. Sasuke's went ahead, so don't worry, we can talk freely." Sakura grit her teeth.
"Okay then, how's about I start by saying WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING, INO-PIG! Do you have any idea what would happen if Naruto saw you with him? Do the words 'not enough kunai' mean anything to you?" Panting softly from her outburst, she waited for Ino's response.
"Don't worry, big forehead," Ino included the insult in retaliation for her 'pig' comment. "I'm just lending him my wonderful sense of fashion. You can't tell me that after letting me in on that little secret that you expected me to sit this one out, did you? I'm only here to assure that Sasuke floors Naruto. I'm sure that I'll be able to make Naruto's jaw drop, after all, I have far more style than you ever will."
Sakura growled at Ino's smug words. "You really think that?"
"Yeah, I do." Sakura growled again, her anger clouding her mind for a second.
"Fine, Ino. Why don't we see who does a better cleanup of our half of the pair."
Ino thought about that a bit. "That's objective. We can't do that. Besides, if we make this a competition, we might get carried away and ruin it for them."
Sakura gave that a moment's thought. Taking a deep breath, she calmed down a bit. "You're right, Ino. I got a little caught up in the moment. Sorry for the insult." As her anger faded, Sakura gazed up at the sky thoughtfully. "This is no competition, but let's do our best to get those two collectively floored." Ino gave a chuckle at that.
"Agreed. We'll keep in touch, those two shouldn't cross paths if we can help it. Talk to you later, Sakura!" Ino hung up and hurried after Sasuke.
Entering the store, Ino instantly spotted him gazing disinterestedly at a rack of clothes. Smiling, she hurried over to him.
"Hi Sasuke-kun!" She could almost see the chill run down his spine as he turned to face her. He made no answer and gave no greeting, but his eyes silently asked what had kept her. She smiled again.
"It was nothing, just Sakura asking me to go shopping. I told her I was busy… OOH! Look at these!" Grabbing his hand, she felt him stiffen as she led him over to another rack. When they arrived, Sasuke raised an eyebrow.
" You've got to be kidding…" He muttered. Turning to him, she gave him a sunny smile.
"Nooe! Now come on!" Tightening her grip, she tugged him into the jungle of clothes racks.
-----
Sakura smiled as she turned and spotted Naruto through a store window, looking at some clothes. She hurried over, and groaned quietly as she saw what he had draped over his arm.
"Ne ne, Sakura-chan, what kept you?" She shook her head at him, and he tilted his head curiously, asking her to elaborate.
"Nothing, Naruto, just had to call Ino for a second. A better question is, what exactly is that… thing you have there?" He held it up and she identified it as a bright orange suit. He smiled.
"I thought it looked good on me, so I was thinking…" She sighed loudly and rubbed her temple lightly, then interrupted.
"No, Naruto, you weren't thinking. Put that back." Naruto looked stricken at her words and sadly put it back on the rack, his back turned to her. She frowned at the sight of him. I didn't want to hurt his feelings, dammit. I just snapped at him out of reflex. She gave him a comforting pat on the back.
"Naruto, I'm sorry. I didn't mean that. Ino just got me a little wound up. So, what do you say? Let's go find something that'll stun Sasuke speechless." At the mention of Sasuke's name, Naruto immediately perked up and looked at her. He smiled and grabbed her hand as he plunged headlong into the racks of clothes before him, her in tow.
End Part 2
Part 3 is coming soon! Please R&R, and I hope you'll enjoy the rest!