Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or any of its characters, merchandise, TV rights, ect… (I think you get the point.)

Summery

Sometimes in life you have to see things right through to the bitter end, even if you wish you didn't. (Sasuke/Ino)

Like all of my work this is just something that happened to float through the empty void inside my head. Like it or hate it please R and R as honest opinions are always welcomed, as are random acts of worship.

Lamb: As always sorry for any bad spelling and if you feel the need to throw things at me please wait until I've hidden behind the sofa kay!

Dedi: This chapter is dedicated to shadowphoenix101

Muse: On with the fic!

I saw my girl with the golden touch,
Give them a taste but not too much,
I just can't listen to the words of fools,
But don't give away too much,
Someone will need your golden touch,

Start to Finish

"Best to reconsider that 'no weapon' rule." Sasuke said, watching as Ino forced green tinted chakra into the deep gash in his left arm. A cut that ran from the point of his elbow to right up to his shoulder and had neatly sliced apart the muscle as it had gone.

"No." Ino snapped as she continued with her task. Trying to focus on the task at hand, rather than Sasuke's naked torso and just how close she was having to get to him to have to heal the wound.

They had made the journey to the secluded village in less than three days, a good time, and had run into no trouble, something that had slightly concerned Ino. It was a fact she knew, though she was careful not to boast about it, that she was very good at her job and that the Uchiha, for all his other faults was also a highly skilled ninja. But still even with all their combined skill, even though she knew that she could move across open country almost undetected something in Ino said that the journey had been just a little too easy.

It wasn't that Ino wanted to run into trouble, an evil little voice in the back of her mind commented that she was just sitting in trouble's lap instead, it was just that something felt out of place. And after twenty-two years the blonde kunoichi had learned, sometimes to her cost, that it always paid to listen to her instincts.

If she had been pushed for an answer however, the Yamanaka wouldn't have been able to say what it was that worried her most. That she and Sasuke had not been disturbed on the road, which may have just been a handy piece of luck. Or that it felt as if they were being let through, as if someone had been watching them like they were rats in a trap. Ino was disinclined to believe that it had been luck, for that phenomenon she had about as much time as she had for destiny and fate.

However the idea that it was simply luck was far more preferable that the idea that someone, or something, had let her pass. Orochimaru was dead, killed by Sasuke's own hand, but that didn't mean that the threat he had posed was over. The snake like Sannin had had many followers, and Ino didn't doubt that even after his death he still had his supporters. And nothing could motivate people quite so much as the tantalising prospect of revenge.

The Akatsuki had been left in chaos after Sasuke's little run in with his brother and several of his associates which had left the remainder of the organisation if not an easy target at least a more reasonable one. And so under the combined forces of Konoha and Suna they had fallen. But again just because they were gone didn't mean the threat was over. They too had had their supporters, some of whom were still at large, and though the organisation had fallen to the might of two Hidden Villages the master of the Mangekyo Sharingan was considered to be the catalyst.

Part of the reason Sasuke had come back to Konoha was for the protection that the Hidden Leaf Village could offer, he was after all a wanted man in more ways than one. But out here in this secluded little port side village, away from safeguard her home offered Ino felt far too alone and exposed for her liking. And not just physically with regards to her safety or the mission.

This far from home, without the security of her friends as a barrier, she had been left without a shield from her emotions and it would only be so long before she would have to confront the painful truth that she had been hiding even from herself.

Suddenly she shook her head slightly as if to clear it. Ino mentally scolded herself, she was most likely just jumping at shadows and as for the other, well she was just reading far too much into things. It was a Yamanaka flaw, probably a side effect form spending so much time inside other people's heads and anyway she could wonder about everything later, for now what she really needed to do was just concentrate on the task in hand. And the fact that what she had in hand was a half-naked Uchiha didn't really make things any easier.

They had checked into a small Inn, grateful when the proprietor had asked them no questions, and with plenty of daylight left they had made a small re-con to where an abandoned temple had fallen into ruin. It was rumoured to be the main hideout of the scroll thieves, which put it high on Ino's list of places to check out.

Almost within sight of the ruin they had been unlucky enough to run across a group of scouts, thus had been lost the element of surprise. But with no other option open the two ninja had quickly disposed of the hired tugs, for that was all that they were. They had no real skill to speak of, but one had still managed to score the hit on Sasuke's arm, something the dark haired shinobi was blaming on Ino. He had tried to block the attack but with no weapon to aid him, he had not been able to deflect the blow and the enemy blade had sunk deeply into his arm. A moment later he had snapped the man's neck but the damage had already been done.

Sasuke shifted slightly earning a slight hiss from the blonde kunoichi before she turned her eyes once more to her chore. The angle of the deep cut was such that the only way Ino could effectively reach it was by making him hold the arm over his head while she straddled his lap. He tried to keep breathing in a steady rhythm though it was so tempting to breathe in deep lungfuls of the scent that was uniquely that of Yamanaka Ino. It was intoxicating, a combination of earth and sweat, but under that the slight floral hints that spoke of sun filled days in grassy meadows. And he could picture himself rolling around in that meadow, the athletic blonde in his arms.

In spite of him self, the proud Uchiha found himself entranced by the young woman's face; her eyes intense and her brow furrowed in concentration while she nibbled on her sensuously full bottom lip. The tension in his groin was almost painful and he didn't know how much longer he would be able to ignore the demands his body was making. In his minds eye he could see himself grabbing hold of the Yamanaka, pinning her to the bed and doing all the things he had been fantasising about for so long. It was a testament to the strength of his will that he remained motionless.

Feeling more relived than she would care to admit, Ino climbed off of his lap pretending that she had not felt the hardness of his erection pressing against her thigh. More than a little perturbed at the way that her heart was racing and the deep hunger that gnawed in the pit of her stomach, a hunger that had nothing to do with needing to eat.

"There, all done." Ino said, her voice just a little higher than normal and a brittle brightness colouring her tone.

Pausing only long enough to snatch up a towel and a change of cloths, the blue-eyed female strode quickly into the adjoining bathroom, locking the door firmly behind her. Turing on the shower Ino hastily dumped her stuff on the floor, stripped and stepped under the comfortingly warm water. She sighed and pressed her forehead against the tiled wall as the scolding water cascaded over her naked body. As Ino stood with the water spraying down onto her shoulders, she felt the little tiny rivers of water running down her spine, leaving tingly trails as they flowed down to the small of her back and firm ass before falling to the tub.

It was so wrong, Ino knew it, she wasn't meant to want him any more. But she could no longer deny the way that her body reacted whenever he looked at her or the way that she would constantly steal glances at him, hoping to catch his eyes flickering in her direction. She bit down on her lip to keep from crying out when, seemingly of its own accord, her hand strayed to the heat that was gathering between her legs, hoping to releases a little of the tension that had slowing been growing within her.

It took hardly anything at all to have the tight ring to fire contracting in her belly and electricity shooting up and down her spine. A couple more strokes and her eyes were rolling back in her head as lights danced behind her closed lids. And with only a few more the wave of sensation crashed down over her and left her body shaky and trembling as his name fell half whispered from her lips.

"Sasuke."

XXXXXXXXXX

"Where do I fit in?" Sasuke questioned some half an hour later. When Ino sat upon the other bed, her legs tucked up under her and her body completely concealed by the large baggy black T-shirt that stood out in stark contrast to her fair skin. Damp silver blonde hair was falling loosely around her and the colour was riding high in her cheeks.

"You're my eyes. If Neji wasn't on a deep cover mission then trust me you wouldn't be here." Ino responded drolly, deciding on the spur of the moment that she did not what to mention the times she had been accompanied by Kakashi.

For not everything that they had done had ended up in their mission reports. And though she was the one that was able to walk in and out of peoples heads in the past few months, the Uchiha had developed a disturbing habit on picking up the things she had left unsaid. It was like he could fill in the spaces around her words, and it was something that irritated her no end.

"I mean, when you think back on the vast scheme of your adventurous life, where do I fit in?" And even as he asked Sasuke was forced to wonder again, as he had been doing so much, just why he cared so much what the Yamanaka thought or felt. "Was I the love of your life or just a childhood crush?"

"Do you really need me to answer that?" She asked blithely, but when he didn't reply gave him what he had asked for. "You were an adolescent infatuation."

"Come on, it had to be more than that, and we both know I'm right." Sasuke persisted, not knowing how much truth his words really held. "And now you're laughing at me."

"Yes, because for some strange reason I used to find you charming." The sarcasm in her tone was not lost on Sasuke, but it had been said lightly, almost affectionately and he could still hear the laughter in her voice.

"I am charming," Ino snorted her disagreement. "Sakura still seems to think so anyway."

"Oh well, she never did have much taste." She teased looking over at his pouting face. "Or much sense for that matter." He looked rather like a toddler who had just had his favourite toy snatched away.

"Some thing's don't change with time." He looked up, saw the way Ino's mouth twitched as she tired to fight her amusement until the bright grin light up her face. "I think that's the first time you've actually smiled because of me."

Sasuke's smile mirrored her own, and Ino was suddenly aware that no matter how much he had changed that this man had once been the young boy she had idolised. It had been far more than a crush or puppy love, though people had laughed when she told them. For it had not just been a romantic attraction for Ino, when she said she idolised Sasuke she had meant it. He was the reason for everything she did; the blonde had worked harder than anyone else had so she could get the highest marks she could. She had trained until her fingers bleed, determined to be that best kunoichi that she could.

Something in Ino's stomach leapt as she looked at his warm and open face and hastily looked away. "It's getting late, we should sleep."

Following words with actions, Ino slipped under the covers on her bed and turned her back on the room's other occupant. Sasuke followed suit, unsure what to make of the blonde's sudden shift in mood. One moment it seemed he was getting closer to her than he ever had before and then it was as if a metal door had been slammed in front of him. She just seemed to close down and block him out for no reason he could work out.

"Goodnight Yamanaka." He said, but was not surprised when his words elicited no response.

Ino bit her lip to keep it from trembling; she could feel the tears pricking the backs of her eyes and hated it because she knew that he didn't deserve them. As a child she had looked at Sasuke and swore that no matter what it took, whatever price she had to pay, one day she would be as strong a shinobi as he was. And then he had suddenly turned his back on everyone, betrayed the village that had sheltered him for all of his young life, and shattered Ino's world apart.

It was then that she had appreciated just how stupid and naive she had really been. All this time she had been trying to live up to his standard, but the truth was she had already long surpassed him for there was nothing in the whole wide world that would cause her to turn traitor.

But as she lay curled in the dark listening to the soothing sound of his breathing Ino was forced to face the most unpleasant truth of all. That as much as she had hated and despised Sasuke for running out on everyone, a part of her had continued to love him. And that small part of her probably still did.

XXXXXXXXXX

It was well past midnight and Ino, who had not been able to settle into sleep, had managed instead to work her way through most of her emotional spectrum. From the tearful point she had started at when she had first tried to settle she had gone through a wide range of her emotions and was currently settled on feeling irritated, angry and just a little resigned. But was so feeling put upon and very much 'life is so unfair' ish.

If only there was some way that she could take her feelings out of the equation, or at least get rid of enough of them so she could just screw Sasuke and there by get him out of her system. A zippless fuck, wasn't that how Kiba had described… well in truth just about everyone he'd ever slept with, but right now Ino could see the attraction. If she could just given in to temptation without having to worry about the effect it would have on her heart it would make things so much easier.

If…

If…

If…

It always came back to that one little word. Those same two letters that were slowly starting to drive her insane. In reality it shouldn't have been that hard, hell it shouldn't have been hard at all… except in one specifically localised area of course, the traitorous little voice in the back of her head chirped happily. Casual sexual encounters were normal for just about all shinobi and Ino was no exception. The sort of behaviour that would have had her, as well as a lot of her friends, labelled a slut if they were civilians was considered common place.

She knew that civilian girls looked at kunoichi and envied them. Envied them their sexual freedom while somehow seeming to remain oblivious of the darker side of the lives they lead. That they lived in the constant shadow of pain and death. And that it was this very lifestyle that in a way forced them to be as open with their sexuality as they were and to act on mutual attraction whenever the opportunity presented its self. When you lived with the risk that you would not live to see another sunrise you had to snatch at the prospect of happiness wherever you found it. With whomever you found it.

She had lost her virginity to Shikamaru at fifteen, which was not all the unexpected and neither was the fact that his first time had been with Temari. That the Suna blonde had first slept with Shino was somewhat of a shock as too was the fact that it had first been Tenten who had taken the bug-nin to bed. That Neji had been the one to take her innocence was something that everyone had known almost before it happened, but it was the fact that the first one to get their hands on the Hyuuga protégé was Anko had really made everyone sit up and pay attention.

Ino shook her head and mentally put the brakes on the train of her thoughts before she could add more of her friends names to the ever growing list. If you looked hard enough for long enough you would probably be able to prove that most, if not all, the ninja of Konoha as well as some of their allies had bedded each other at some point or other. It wasn't that it was strictly easier it was just that it made more sense.

After all who in their right mind would willing sleep with a demon vessel? Kunoichi were not in their right mind, couldn't be because of what was demanded of them, and Ino who had been inside more twisted minds than people could imagine was more demented than most. Maybe that was why she had no problem in lying with the Kazekage before the Akatsuki attack that resulted in the removal of Shukaku. Which meant she was probably the only girl alive who had even slept with two Jinchūriki, both of whom were now the leaders of their respective villages. Maybe it was the hint of danger that attracted her so much, since the last thing you could describe Sasuke as was safe.

Many a young girl… in fact many females regardless of their age had had their hearts broken because they just couldn't, or wouldn't, understand that sometimes to a shinobi it really was just about the sex. No strings attached. Two ships that pass in the night. Or any other cliché you'd like to throw at it. So many of them, in their naive, sheltered life way had thought that with them it would be different, that they could be the one to change the male in question. They never were. Well mostly they never where, but when they were everyone could see it from a mile away so there was no point in them trying to delude themselves.

It was just the same for the kunoichi only they didn't have quite so much trouble. They were like knives in a way: some may have clean elegant lines, others may have curved blades and others may have precious gems set into ornate hilts. But they were all beautiful and they were all deadly just as all kunoichi were. Nothing it seemed was more intimidating to the average male than a strong, sexually independent woman. The average male civilian that was, most shinobi on the other hand seemed to actively enjoy having a partner who wasn't afraid to give as good as she got.

Who else but another shinobi could fully understand what it was like to just want that purely physically contact with another person? That after the horrors and hells that you had witnessed, that after you had scrubbed your skin raw trying to remove the blood that you imagined you could still see on your skin all you wanted was the physically touch of another person. Just that and nothing but that. To feel another person but not have to emotionally engage with them. Because sometimes you just wanted to be there but let your mind close down so you wouldn't have to face reality.

Not that it was always like that.

A light smile tugged at Ino's lips as she easily recalled the memory; she had just turned sixteen the first time she and Naruto had slept together. The two of them had completed a relatively low-key mission and gone to a bar to celebrate. They had been flushed and more than a little worse for ware by the time that they had stumbled back to his home, giggling like a pair of naught kids in-between sloppy kisses. In the morning things should have been difficult and awkward, but they weren't. She had teased him about bed hair and how it made him look like a hedgehog that had had a run in with an electric socket. He had just countered that she was a fine one to be talking, sitting there looking like a zombie with last nights mascara all smeared round her eyes. And laughing and giggling like a pair of normal teens they had made love again.

It was both the right and the wrong way to describe it. There was love there, but not the right kind of love. In was a best friend kind of love, brother/sister kind of love, a closer than blood kind of love, and an 'I'll be there for you as the world falls down' kind of love. But there was no romantic attraction. It shouldn't have worked, it should have driven them apart but it didn't because they were ninja and instinctively knew what the other needed. It was harmless fun while it lasted, light relief and an emotional outlet and both of them knew that when it was over nothing would change.

And it hadn't. They had shared a few happy months together, but when the physical aspect of their relationship petered out their friendship remained just the same as it had always been. That was why years later Ino had squealed like a child when Hinata had told her that Naruto finally got his ass in gear and asked the Hyuuga out. Why she has cried with delighted laughter when she was found out that Naruto had asked the opal eyes girl to marry him. Why she had beaten the blond fool around the head and chided him for taking so long. And why she had been unable to stop the tears of happiness from escaping her eyes when she heard that the indigo haired young woman was pregnant.

They were in love, always had been, even if there had been a time when Naruto was too blind to see it. And in a way, Ino was being forced to realize; the same was true for her. The only difference being that while Naruto and Hinata had finally managed to come together, if she acted on her feelings...

No, the last thing she could describe Uchiha Sasuke as was safe and commonsense told her that getting emotionally involved with him in anyway would be both stupid and dangerous. But the problem was every time he looked at her commonsense went out the window.

Please R and R I'd love to know what you thought.

Big love and inspiration

Lamanth