Authors Note: Sorry about the wait on this one, also for the shortness. Homework, Easter, and state testing are a bitch and take up a lot of my time.
Ino sighed impatiently while she watched the clock tick minutes by. She could see the deep pink light of the sun set through the window at the flower shop's front. Five more minutes she though excitedly. Five more minutes before she was released from her mother's punishment. Five more minutes before the twelve hour shift she'd been assigned was over. Now four minutes, four minutes until she could go to see Sakura. Ino tore her eyes away from the clock and began to close up. She went to the door to flip the sign, then pulled the blinds. She went around the shop watering plants and then swept up after she finished watering.
"Mom," She called. "Its seven I'm going out now." She slipped out the door before her mother could protest. The girl jobbed across Konoha to reach Sakura's house.
When she arrived at the front of the house she found the pink haired girl sitting on her front steps. The blonde sat down next to Sakura without invitation. "Hey," She offered awkwardly.
"Hey." Sakura answered shortly.
"What's up?" Ino asked tentatively.
"My mom doesn't believe that I was trapped in a cave for a day. I'm stuck in the house. Apparently my mother feels she can't trust me. I'm not even supposed to be out here."
"You're grounded?" Ino snorted.
Sakura nodded. "Yeah." Her shoulders slumped.
"For how long?"
"About five more seconds, I'm going for a walk. Wanna come with me?" Sakura stood up.
"Are you sure your mom won't get more mad?"
"She will but she'll forget about it soon enough." Sakura started to walk away, disappearing around the corner before Ino stood and followed her.
"You're acting weird. Are you sure you're okay? Did anything happen?" Ino asked after she had caught up with the pink haired girl.
Sakura shrugged. "I'm fine."
"You're not acting fine. Come here." Ino took Sakura's hand and walked briskly to the clearing that they had been lounging in before they became trapped in that cave. The pink haired girl allowed herself to be lead along the fastest route into the forest and then to the clearing. Once there, Ino sat down and motioned for Sakura to do so as well. The medic shrugged and sat down in the grass next to Ino. "What's wrong?" Ino asked again.
"I told you, nothing. I'm perfectly fine." Sakura snapped, turning away.
"You're not fine, something is bothering you." Ino insisted. "Tell me."
Sakura sighed. "I told you nothing is wrong, nothing happened. Just trust me."
"If nothing's wrong and nothing happened, why are you acting this way?" Ino asked lowly. Sakura wordlessly lay down and turned on her side away from the blonde. "Saku…" Ino trailed off petulantly, reaching over to stroke the girl's back. Sakura stiffened against her touch. Discouraged but not defeated the blonde withdrew her hand and moved closer to her. She too lay down, turning to face Sakura's back. After a few minutes she reached out and wrapped her arms around Sakura's mid-riff. Ino was surprised when Sakura simply lay her palms over her hands. The blonde moved closer, snuggling up to the pink haired girl. Sakura rolled over and pressed her face into Ino's neck. "Are you going to tell me what's wrong now?"
"Nothing to tell." Sakura replied.
"You're sure? Ino pressed.
"Positive. Now drop it." Sakura said with finality. The blonde hummed something intelligible before kissing her forehead playfully. "So," Sakura began. "How was your day?"
"Horribly boring. Mom made me watch the shop all day." Ino pouted. "I already know how you day was, want to give details?" Sakura shook her head again.
"I told you, there is nothing wrong. I'm fine, really." Sakura snapped, clearly irritated by her lover's questions.
"I'm sorry, I'm just really curious." Ino nuzzled her face apologetically.
"Its alright." Sakura relented. "I'm just grumpy, being cooped up in the house for long periods of time does that to me." Ino hummed in agreement.
"Want to watch the sun set?" The blonde asked, almost random. Sakura looked up at the sky, it was already a shade of bloated purple.
"Not much left to watch." Sakura observed.
"Its enough." Ino replied and disentangled herself from Sakura before standing up and offering her a hand. The pink haired girl let the blonde pull her to her feet. The florist walked over to a tree and began to climb it, motioning for Sakura to follow her up.
"Why climb a tree?" Sakura asked, vaguely remembering her own dreams of this the night before.
"Better view ." Ino answered directly as she climbed onto a large branch, making room for Sakura to sit with her. The blonde wrapped her arms around the pink haired girl, facing out toward the dark skyline where only a sliver of the sun was visible. Ino and Sakura stayed in the tree until all trace of the sun's light had vanished, then lounged in the clearing until the last of the stars twinkled reluctantly, breaking into the spell of darkness. It was only when the moon shone brightly with confidence did the girls part and return to their respective homes.