Limbo
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.
Author's Notes: I don't want to seem like I am dragging out or building suspense toward Ino's big dinner date with Genma. This transitional piece here just underwent several re-writes and modifications before I was happy with it, and since it's been a while since I updated I thought I'd throw you this bone while I work on the rest.
Enjoy! And if you have the time...a review would be lovely.
5:15 p.m., Streets of Konohagakure, Wednesday.
The shadows were starting to grow long as the sun started sliding farther toward the eastern horizon, still a good hour or more of summer daylight left before evening took hold. The village streets were bustling with shinobi and civilians alike all making their way to their homes or restaurants for their evening meals. Ino wandered amongst the crowd, just another Konoha shinobi in her dark turtleneck, pants and trademark green vest. She'd spent the last sixteen hours on gate duty, pulling a double shift just so that she could have that evening off for her dinner with Genma. She wondered if it was some form of sadistic punishment from Ibiki for her failure in the interrogation the day before - true, she was still just a chuunin, and all chuunin were required to work a certain number of hours a month on routine village duties, like manning the mission desk, night patrols, or gate administration - but it just seemed somewhat too coincidental that her name came up in the rotation right after screwing up.
She glanced over at a clock that was displayed in the window of a shop. Less than three hours before her dinner date with Genma and she still had no idea where his apartment was. He'd told her to ask Yuugao, but unfortunately for Ino the violet-haired kunoichi was out of the village on a mission. She'd hoped to catch her when she returned, but Ino had pulled her double duty on the lesser used eastern gate. She'd checked with the mission desk at the end of her shift, but it seemed that Uzuki Yuugao was still listed as on assignment. As was Shiranui Genma.
Chewing her lower lip thoughtfully she considered who else she could ask for Genma's address. It wasn't a choice she took lightly. Despite her rather impulsive and impetuous nature, Ino actually preferred to keep her personal life, well...personal. Discreet. Especially with relationships that were new, though she supposed technically what she had with Genma couldn't even be called a relationship yet. Ino sort of felt like she was just blindly following Genma down a path that she didn't know the destination of, but she really didn't care all that much. It still didn't mean that she needed or wanted any of the grief she'd be sure to get if she asked the wrong person about how to find Genma's home, therefore feeding the rumor mill.
Like letting some non-existant cat out of a theoretical bag.
Still deep in thought she drifted around a corner and ran face first into another green flak jacket just like her own. Ino almost bounced back onto her butt, but strong hands grasped her upper arms to keep her from falling. The acrid smell of cigarette smoke filled her nostrils and she looked up to see she had run into her old sensei.
"Whoa there, almost took a tumble," Asuma said before he really looked at her. His smile widened when he recognized who had run into him and he put his hands on her shoulders, holding her in place. "Ino-chan! Why, look at you! I hardly recognize you!" he said cheerfully, looking her over in her standard Konoha-issued uniform like he'd never seen her before.
"You just saw me the other night..." Ino pointed out. Asuma patted her on the shoulder and stuck his hands in his pockets, his grin turning a bit sheepish.
"Yeah, guess I did," he paused, scratching the back of his head. "Which reminds me... I don't really remember much, but uh...Kurenai-chan mentioned that I might owe you an apology for my behavior at Genma's party," Asuma told her. "So if I said - or Gods forbid - did anything that offended you, Ino-chan..." he trailed off.
"It's okay. I know you didn't really mean it," she shrugged, dropping her eyes to the ground. She and Chouji both knew that their genius teammate was their sensei's favorite. They hadn't questioned it, nor felt the need to contest it. It was just fact. Ino had learned to swallow that bitter pill in later years whenever Asuma chose Shikamaru or Chouji to take on missions with him and she was left behind or shunted off to another cell. It was an old hurt, one she'd forced down countless times. Shikamaru was Asuma's prize pupil. Chouji had also earned his praise, especially after he'd made chuunin, but Ino...
Well, it had always been obvious. Asuma just didn't know what to do with her at all.
Asuma flicked the ash off the end of his cigarette and exhaled in resignation. Ino didn't look up, but she could feel his eyes on her, studying her. "Kurenai-chan might have a point, damn her. I guess I haven't really been fair to you. You've become a tough kunoichi in your own right. It's wrong to always compare you with Shikamaru, or Chouji." Asuma shifted his weight uncomfortably and looked up at the golden blue sky, his teeth clamped around his cigarette. "I.. Shit...why me?" he muttered to himself then turned his attention back to her. "I should have been a better teacher to you," he finished quickly, dark color rising to his cheekbones. Ino stared in shock. In his own indirect macho-man way, was Asuma actually apologizing to her? How completely unprecedented.
Ino stepped forward to hug her former sensei, rescuing him from the moment. Pressing her cheek against his flak jacket as her heart swelled with happiness to have finally received his acknowledgment at last. "I wouldn't have traded places with any other kunoichi in my class for anything. You're the best, Asuma-sensei," she told him. She meant it too. If she had to do it over again, she wouldn't trade her former team or sensei for an entire squad of Sasuke's. Asuma hugged her back briefly with one arm before rumpling her short hair playfully, his expression almost relieved.
"And don't worry," Ino added as she pulled away, "Your secret is safe with me. I won't tell Kurenai-sensei she was right," Ino winked conspiratorially. Asuma groaned at that before they shared a laugh. He felt good though. His dysfunctional genin squad had turned out okay in the end after all.
"Hey, I'm meeting Shikamaru and Chouji at the Korean BBQ right now for dinner --in fact I'm probably late-- will you join us? My treat," Asuma asked. Ino was torn. It had been a long time since all four of them had gotten together and she really did miss Shikamaru and Chouji, but she still had her mission of finding Genma before eight.
"I'd love to, but I already have dinner plans later tonight," she said regretfully.
"What time?"
"Eight," she told him.
Asuma reached out and took her arm, turning her in the direction he'd been going toward the BBQ restaurant and pulling her along with him. He let go after a couple of steps to light up another cigarette. "Plenty of time," he told her between puffs. "I'll buy you a cup of sake to celebrate your promotion. Hell! I'll buy you two. You deserve it."
"You heard about that? How?" Ino asked. It'd only been two days that she'd officially been part of the ANBU Interrogation Squad and she hadn't even gotten the chance to tell a single soul about it herself yet.
"Little bird told me," Asuma joked. Ino's eyes narrowed suspiciously.
"That little bird wouldn't have a senbon permanently affixed to its beak would it?" she asked narrowly. Asuma glanced down, his cigarette dangling precariously from his lower lip.
"Huh? Genma? No, just heard it through the grapevine," her sensei replied, looking puzzled. Ino cut her eyes away before he could read anything in them she didn't want him to know.
"Speaking of..." Ino started carefully. She was trying to delicately work her way into asking her former teacher for Genma's address when they arrived at the restaurant. Chouji and Shikamaru waiting out front.
"Eh, Asuma...you're late," Shikamaru complained as he pushed off from the wall he was leaning against. His tall lanky build slouching at the shoulders as he slunk over to them, hands stuffed in his pockets. Ino knew he'd be almost as tall as Asuma if he could ever be bothered to actually stand up straight. He'd gotten slouchier it seemed the taller he'd grown, like every additional inch was some incredible burden. Knowing Shika, it probably was.
Chouji was taller than both their teammate and sensei now, his lion's mane of chestnut hair shining in the last rays of the sun that sliced over the rooftops with their golden light. His cherubic tattooed face splitting into a wide grin when he noticed who Asuma had brought with him to dinner. "Ino-chan!" Chouji cried happily and then picked her up to give her a hug. Ino threw her arms around him to return the affection of her longtime friend and former teammate.
"I've missed you!" she told him sincerely, squeezing her arms tight around the big bear. And she had, it'd been a few months since she'd seen either of them beyond the odd crossing of paths at the mission desk, and her training with Ibiki had kept that from being too frequent. She turned to Shikamaru with a smile when Chouji put her back on her feet and brushed her short hair out of her eyes with the back of her hand. "Hey, Shika..." she greeted the Shadow-nin.
Shikamaru grinned, exposing his teeth in that one expression he had that said he was actually glad to see her, and making her own smile widen in unhidden delight. "Hey yourself," he replied and she couldn't stand it, her enthusiasm for the spontaneous reunion got the better of her and she pounced. Throwing her arms around Shikamaru's neck to give him a hug too and nearly knocking him over with her exuberance. "Such a pain," Shikamaru muttered complainingly, but his arms went around her back to squeeze her tightly to his chest. Padded vest to padded vest.
"Shut up and take it like a man," she teased. And then for the final insult gave him a rather loud smacking kiss on the cheek before she let him go. Giggling along with Chouji's amused chuckles as Shikamaru mumbled his favorite catch phrase and wiped his cheek. Too bad she wasn't wearing more than just plain lip balm. His reactions were even more priceless when she actually wore lipstick.
"Let's go in. Ino can't stay that long," Asuma said, shepherding them inside.
They got a booth by the front, the low bamboo wall and awning separating their table from the street outside and letting the cool breeze into the restaurant. For a change Ino slid into the booth before Chouji so she could see outside, her eyes moving restlessly over the passersby, hoping she might get lucky and see Yuugao returning, or even better, Genma. She'd missed her opportunity to ask Asuma, since there was no way in hell she'd ask for the special jounin's address in front of Shikamaru and Chouji. She didn't need to give Shikamaru any more ammunition to pick on her than he already had, thank you very much.
The waitress came and took their order while Ino paid only half attention. Her mind out there with the crowds and she almost missed it as Asuma finished the order with, "And four bottles of Sake, please."
Ino whipped her head back around. "Four? No, one! You trying to get me loaded?" she laughed. "One bottle, two cups," she told the waitress with a smile. Asuma turned back to the waitress. "Two bottles, four cups," he corrected. With a slight eyeroll at the whims of crazy shinobi and the extra-large order of meat the waitress left.
Shikamaru raised an eyebrow from where he sat across and diagonal to Ino and looked over at the bearded jounin. "This an occasion or something?"
Asuma smiled broadly. "Sort of. Our Ino has made good. She's just been promoted."
Shikamaru smirked. "What? You make ANBU or something?" he scoffed. Ino tried not to bristle defensively, so she smiled sweetly instead.
"As a matter of fact, yes. The Interrogation and Torture Squad actually."
Shikamaru's squinty eyes actually widened a moment she was pleased to note before his usual bored and grumpy expression slid back over his face like a mask. At her side, Chouji turned toward her with a wide and genuine smile. "Congratulations, Ino-chan! That's great! Did they give you the tattoo and everything?"
Ino smiled back at him, her hand coming up to touch her shoulder on his side. "Yeah, it's still sore. I'd show you, but well..." she apologized, tugging on the long sleeve of her turtleneck. Chouji nodded in understanding.
"Some other time," the Akimichi agreed. Ino glanced over to see Shikamaru slightly scowling at her.
"What?" she demanded loudly.
"That's Morino Ibiki-san's squad," Shikamaru said, his brow still furrowed. Ino raised her eyebrows in an impatient expression. She may have matured over the years, but something about Shikamaru just seemed to bring out her inner bitch, probably because he was the closest thing she had to a brother, and twice as irritating it seemed. To think five minutes ago she'd been hugging him and happy to see the lazy bastard.
"So?" she prompted, bristling inwardly in spite of herself. Shikamaru kept looking at her steadily.
"Why you?" he asked bluntly.
The temperature at the table plummeted by about ten degrees as Ino's eyes narrowed. The wary look had come back to Asuma's face and Chouji retreated to his last line of defense whenever Shikamaru and Ino argued, he pulled out a small bag of shrimp chips and started eating. Hoping in vain the crunching in his ears would drown out the coming fury. Ino surprised them all when she calmly smoothed her hands over the napkin in her lap and then folded them on the table, collecting her thoughts when she wanted nothing more than to launch herself across the table at Shikamaru and throttle him.
"Well, Shikamaru," Ino started, her voice deceptively soft and even. "As you are well aware, my family's jutsu's are specialized to the gathering of intelligence. And I'm sure even your big fat brain would agree that interrogation IS just another form of intelligence gathering, is it not?" she asked sweetly. "Ibiki-sensei thinks so."
Shikamaru grunted non-commitally. "But the Torture Squad, Ino?" he questioned. Ino gave him a positively evil smile that said she would be more than happy to give him a private lesson in all she'd learned from her new squad. He folded his arms over his chest as he leaned back in the booth, his eyes sliding half shut. "It just seems...wrong. Odd. You haven't been a chuunin that long, and suddenly you're ANBU? Neji was a jounin for over a year before joining," Shikamaru pointed out. Leaving the point about the Hyuuga being a genius -while she was not- unsaid.
"I've been a chuunin over three years," she reminded him tightly, "and are you trying to piss me off, Shikamaru?" Ino asked, her voice like ice. The other two occupants of the table trying to be as quiet and unobtrusive as possible.
"Not specifically, no," Shikamaru sighed.
The waitress brought the sake bottles and Asuma was quick to pour them cups of sake to break the growing tension at the table. "All the more reason to be proud of our Ino, eh Shikamaru?" he prodded the Nara, handing him a cup of the alcohol. "Team 10 has always been ahead of the curve!" Asuma said cheerily, raising his cup. Chouji joined him, his eyes still flicking uneasily between his best friend and their blonde former teammate.
"To Ino-chan!" Chouji offered, raising his cup. Ino had her hands resting on the table on either side of her sake cup and she fisted them, her nails digging into her palms as she tried to keep her temper under check as she glared in Shikamaru's direction.
"Just say it, Shikamaru," Ino demanded quietly, her voice bitter as she ignored Asuma and Chouji's toasts. "You don't think I'm good enough to be in ANBU."
Shikamaru leaned forward over the table, almost putting his elbow in his cup of sake as he scowled at her. "I never said that, Ino! And I never would. I said it was odd. There are protocols to joining ANBU, you know that. The exceptions are the geniuses; Hatake, Hyuuga, Uchiha..." he ticked off on his fingers, "you're no genius, Ino. Not trying to hurt your feelings, just stating fact," Shikamaru told her, sounding like he was lecturing one of his Academy students.
"But Shikamaru..." Chouji interrupted, his kind face troubled. Shikamaru made a dismissive 'tsking' sound and shook his head at the larger man.
"No, she's going to hear it, Cho," Shikamaru said. "Some shinobi train and wait for years for the chance to become ANBU. They don't hand those masks out to just anyone who wants one. Now Ino has just skipped ahead of the line? I don't have even have to hear them to know what the rumors will be like. That Morino-san only promoted her because she's beautiful. It's going to be troublesome for her. For you, Ino," Shikamaru finished with a pointed look at Ino.
Ino's anger had evaporated the moment Shikamaru had started talking about protocols. She understood now. He wasn't doubting her abilities, or belittling her skills as a kunoichi. He was concerned for her, acting as always in his lazy, lackadaisical way, as a protective older brother. An older brother who was only five hours older than she was, but it was the thought that counted. And she appreciated it, she really did. It was good to have friends that cared so much.
She picked up her cup of sake with a deviously smug look on her face. "Shikamaru thinks I'm bee-yooo-tee-full, did you hear that, Cho?" she sang gleefully. "He's finally admitted it after all these years," she grinned and sipped her drink.
Asuma shook his head in amusement, while Shikamaru face planted audibly onto the table. Chouji just chuckled quietly at the crafty gleam in Ino's bright blue eyes.
"So how long have you been hiding these tender feelings for me, Shika-kun? It's all so sudden..." Ino cried dramatically, fluttering her eyelashes as she clutched one hand -the hand not holding her liquor- to her chest like the virginal young maiden she hadn't been for years. Shikamaru raised his head sharply, looking stricken at the sudden bizarre turn in Ino's reasoning. "I never knew you harbored such deep passion for me," she sighed meaningfully.
"I WHAT? I never..." Shikamaru gaped, his mouth opening and closing as he looked from Chouji, to the simpering Ino and back.
"Admit it. You loooooooove me," Ino sang, leaning over toward the blushing Shikamaru.
He looked flustered for all of two seconds until he noticed what Chouji already had, the look of bright mischief and teasing on her triumphant face and his eyes narrowed. Ino sagged back in the booth as she burst out laughing at his expression.
"Bitch," Shikamaru muttered, but there was no malice in it. She'd gotten him good, he had to admit.
"Dumbass," she retorted, smiling at him fondly as she giggled. He sneered silently at her before taking a sip of his drink.
"So glad we got that out of the way," Asuma mumbled sarcastically under his breath as he poured another cup.
Ino looked away after Shikamaru had given her a small secret wink to let her know things were fine between them. She let her eyes roam over the thinning crowds and caught sight of a familiar tall figure with brown hair. What luck! She gulped the rest of her sake and hopped to her feet on the seat of the booth.
"Ino-chan?" Chouji questioned, as all three men looked up at her in surprise.
"Sorry, I see someone I really need to talk to, so I hafta run. Asuma-sensei, thank you for the drink. Shika, Cho, it was wonderful seeing you!" she smiled widely. "I love you guys!" Ino waved and was gone.
Chouji scooted over to where Ino had been sitting and peeked over the low wall to see Ino jogging to catch up with a spiky-haired shinobi and then fall into step with him as they headed down the street.
"And so we survive yet another brush with Hurricane Ino," Shikamaru quipped dryly, folding his arms behind his head as he slouched. Asuma chuckled as he lit another cigarette.
"Shika...do you really think that Ino-chan will have problems in her new squad? Like you said?" Chouji asked a few minutes later, after the waitress had brought the large order of food. The brazier in the large center of the table making Shikamaru's expression hard to read through the heat shimmer. "Shika?" he repeated when the shadow-nin stayed silent.
"I don't know. Maybe," Shikamaru answered finally. Chouji looked to their former sensei.
"She'll be fine," Asuma told him before Chouji could ask.
Chouji let it drop, but he noticed Shikamaru didn't look all that convinced either.
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