Missing Puzzle Pieces

by Kiravu

Little things in my past that I really thought were over and done with were still elements of the puzzle that weren't pieced together, and so she helped me do that. - Marie Osmond. -InoxSakura, SakuraxTayuya- Rated M for mature content/ language/lemons.

18. Chapter 17

"There was one more thing you asked to see-" I opened my mouth to assure her it was alright, if she wanted to go home and call it a night instead. The predatory look in her eyes stopped me. "But coming home with me right now could be dangerous for you." Dangerous for me?

I gave her a curious look and her eyes flashed, taking that as my answer she started to roll the car out of the parking lot.

"I'd like to see it." I replied, ignoring the warning bells going off in my head. Temari nodded silently and we were back on the street.

-Ino-

We didn't have to drive long to arrive at Temari's home. We left the 'Wonderland' district, but did not make it back to the end of town Saku and I live in. I'm actually surprised Temari goes to our high school. She has to live outside of our bus district by a fair bit.

It wasn't until we turned into a driveway that I realized we had arrived. Even in the dark, and under the light blanket of snow, the lawn looked dead. A garden sat on either side of the front entrance way, even if at the moment it appeared to be more of a patch of dirt with a white frosting. One lonely bush barely clung to life at the far end.

The paint on the siding is peeling off and flaking, leaving dark patches amongst the beige. Even the shingles on the roof look old, in desperate need of repair with patches peeled up showing the wood underneath.

Temari fished around in the dark beside me, searching for something in the junkyard that she calls a car. I could hear my heart pounding in my chest as she checked the pile by my feet, before twisting around to check the back.

What am I doing here? What good can possibly come from going home, at night, with Temari? I don't even know if anyone else will be in the house. What would Saku say about this?

She would tell me to get as far away from Temari as I could. Saku would probably also say not to believe anything she says.

Temari seemed to find, or give up on, whatever she was looking for. Snatching her bag from behind her seat, she opened her door and stepped outside. The winter night air has taken on a sharp bite, making me wish I could stay inside the toasty car.

We walked around to the back of the house, I tucked my hands into my armpits trying to keep them warm as I shivered, waiting for Temari to find her keys.

"Don't say anything until I tell you to, okay?" I nodded, dancing from foot to foot as another gust of wind sent the frozen wind through my thin jacket. I really need to buy a new one.

Temari smiled, amused by something as she quickly opened the door and tiptoed inside, checking first before she moved so I could follow.

She didn't flick on a light, so all I could see was a dark outline of what I'm guessing is her kitchen. A soft light flickered and shone in through a far doorway, I could hear the soft hum of a T.V playing. Temari left on her shoes, pointing towards a hallway just past the doorway I had noticed before.

Moving as silently as I could, I moved quickly towards where she was pointing. Only casting a brief, curious look into the room we were obviously trying to sneak by. Inside I saw the back of a couch, silhouetted against the light from a television set. On it looked like a middle-aged man sleeping with his head rolled back against the cushions.

Is she worried about being out past curfew? That would make sense, and it would make him the father that the twins mentioned.

Temari pushed impatiently at my back, and I hurried forward. Three steps down the hallway, the floorboard creaked.

"Temari? You home, girl?" Temari flinched, instantly pointing to me and then further down the hallway to a closed door. She shoved her nap-sack in my hands and pushed again.

"Yes, Robert." She called back, pointing again with urgency as she went back to talk to him. No friends after curfew, I guess?

"Did you finish them errands I gave'd ya?" His voice grated, like his tongue was too large for his mouth and his throat too dry, like trying to get a gear to work on a part that's too small with no oil. I opened the door to the room she had pointed to, slipping inside as soon as the crack was big enough and quietly moved to shut the door.

My curiosity stopped me, and I left it open a crack to listen. Temari might not want to tell me, or rather I was too chicken to ask, what she did today. But if I heard by accident, it wasn't my fault, right?

"Yes." Temari's was short, snippety almost, but still controlled. Like she's afraid of 'Robert'. I heard a snort, followed by a long silence.

The crack of a slap caused me to jump back, barely biting down a squeak as I backed up from the door. A thud followed with hushed whispers I couldn't hear, what just happened? Should I call someone, or stay out of it?

Panicking, I found myself sitting down on Temari's bed; backpack long forgotten on the floor.

A minute later I heard the floorboard creak again, hurried footsteps moving down the hall with no worry of the noise they were making. Temari entered the room, firmly shutting the door behind her.

-Sakura-

I struggled to catch my breath, feeling the sticky sheets cling to my skin like plastic wrap. Tay collapsed beside me, chest rising and falling rapidly and I felt a smile worm its way onto my lips. I had caused this. Me.

I had caused this gorgeous girl to collapse in a sweaty heap of satisfaction. That simple fact gave me an indescribable amount of pleasure. Tay turned her brown eyes on me, a smirk greeting me as I crawled over to lie curled up on top of her.

I felt her fingers on my skin, moving up to run through my hair repeatedly. One thing I've grown to love is the feeling of her fingers on my scalp, playing with my hair for as long as she can amuse herself.

We were silent for a long time, and I was almost asleep when I heard her take in a sharp intake of air.

"Did I..." She paused and I tilted my chin up to see her searching the ceiling as if it would have the answer to the question she was looking for. "Did I ever tell you who taught me to play the guitar?"

"Didn't you say your mom paid for music lessons?" I asked recalling the conversation we had a while ago.

"Only for Piano lessons, and that was after I had started showing some interest in music. It was actually my father who taught me how to play the guitar, or at least he had started to, before my mom threw a fit.

"She fucking lost it, called him a bad influence and all that shit." Tay shook her head, letting out a deep sigh. She rolled onto her side, kissing my forehead. "That was... two years or so before high school. My mother signed me up for Piano lessons after their spat. It wasn't until I entered high school, and met Temari, that I had a real teacher for the guitar."

"I didn't know Temari plays the guitar." I scrunched up my nose, appalled at my lack of knowledge once again.

"She doesn't, her brother does." Kankuro, her younger brother lives with their father, usually. But, I remember Kankuro did come to visit fairly often. It would make sense Tay would meet him, and could possibly have him teach her how to play.

"I met Kankuro a few times - I haven't seen him in years. He was so small last time him, Temari, and I hung out." I replied.

"Well, he isn't small anymore. Last I saw him he was about six-two and built. Like, I mean arms like a tree trunk. I think, if Jirobo and him got into an arm wrestle; one of their arms would break before either of them gave in." (1) Tay laughed, something I don't hear often and something I wish I heard more. Usually it's a silent, amused smirk. Or a mirthless smile, sometimes even a snicker if she finds something particularly amusing.

But a happy laugh, that is something that doesn't escape her enough, which is why hearing it during this conversation worries me.

"Did you love her?" I asked, working through the pile of thoughts that just seemed to continue adding up. Her body tensed, fingers coming to a halt on my back as they stopped working tiny circles.

"Yes." Tay answered, quietly and strained. "But, you loved Ino, right? So it's not like I'm the only one." Her logic threw me off, like she was panicking and already looking for some sort of footing.

"I never loved Ino. I mean, yes I loved her as a friend, as my sister. But I never loved her the way you are thinking." I could feel the stress in Tay's arms and body and decided to add one more point. "You are my first love, Tay and-"

Before I could finish, Tay pushed back so she could look me in the eye. Her brow is knit with worry, or anger, I can't tell which.

"So, what? You're going to hold it against me that I love Temari? She broke my heart and it's over with, this is why I didn't want to talk about this. I knew you would be angry." I paused, caught on what she said.

"You... 'love' Temari?" Sand seemed to fill my mouth and I felt my chest tightening. Tay blanched and quickly worked to correct her slip up.

"Loved, I meant loved! Fuck! It just came out wrong!" I feel sick. Tay pushed herself up, onto her elbow.

"I was just thinking it was odd for you to be that happy over a memory about her." I whispered, shaking my head as I threw my legs over the side of the bed and fished for my shirt. No wonder she didn't want to talk about it, I knew there was something wrong... that she might still care about her. It was just a slip up though, right? She can't really still love her. Care about her, maybe, but love?

I found myself on the verge of panicking, my chest growing tighter and tighter as my breathing quickened.

"Are you fucking serious? Sakura, come on! It was a mistake! I knew this was a bad idea." I pulled the fabric down over my head, ignoring the fact I had forgotten a bra and worked to find pants and underwear. I just need to clear my head. I need to calm down... to get away from Tay, just for a little while.

"Why? Why is it such a bad idea to talk about this?" I demanded, back turned to her.

"Because it's done, it's over with. I don't see why we need to drag up things in the past!" The sheets rolled over the side of the bed; I caught Tay grabbing her oversized t-shirt out of the corner of my eye.

"Because it matters to me!" I shot right back, turning to storm out of the room. "And because if there's nothing to hide, why are you acting like it's a bad idea to talk about this? Is it because that wasn't a slip up?"

"No! I - Where are you going?" Tay called. I ignored her and left the bedroom, slamming the door shut behind me. What is wrong with her? I already told her why I wanted to know, she already agreed to talking. So what, now all of a sudden she is against the idea? Why has she been acting so weird since that fight with Temari, what did that bitch say?

Why is talking about her a bad idea? She had no qualms about talking about her mother, or about anything else and she hates her! So why is it Temari that she won't talk about? I know they were together for a while, more than a while! I know I am not the first person she has been intimate with, and I'm fine with that!

So what could it possibly be that Tay doesn't want to talk about?

"Oi!" The door swung open and banged against the wall. Tay's bare feet made a soft thud as she stormed over the carpet and I paced in the living room.

"Why did you say you love her?" I asked, folding my arms across my chest.

"I already fucking told you! It was a fucking mistake! Alright?" I snorted, "and as for the 'happy-whatever-I-did', you do the same thing while talking about Ino!" Is she accusing me of...?

"She's my best friend! Not an ex-girlfriend!" My voice rose dangerously high. The rule abiding part of me quietly protested, reminding me if I didn't lower my voice the neighbours would complain, again.

The second part of me told the first to shove it.

"Temari and I were never officially dating either!" Tay screamed right back, hands making angry gestures as she talked, strands of red hair flew whenever she would move.

"So basically, you were just fuck buddies?" I confirmed. Tay's face is flushed and angry, her entire posture is aggressive.

"Yes!" Her voice vibrated off the apartment walls; behind me someone banged on the wall and yelled for us to shut up. Not in those exact words.

"And that makes it better? Because you weren't dating?" I screamed right back, just as infuriated as she is. Tay paused to think through what was said, staring at a point in the wall before returning back, kind of like taking a recess break to regroup an argument.

"No! But the point is, it's over! I love you, and I just really don't want to talk about Temari." I glared at her, falling into a staring match as we silently seemed to measure each other up. The anger and hurt in my chest seemed to hold on like a stubborn knot.

Shoving past her, I grabbed my phone and wallet off the kitchen counter before opening the apartment door. I had almost made it out, when I felt her grab the back of my shirt.

I stepped through and she gave little protest, letting me go with only one question.

"Where are you going?"

"To Ino's."

"Not Ino's, please..."she paused, and I could almost hear the inner debate that must be going on in her head. "I'll spend the night at my mom's place, or downstairs with Tsunade, or even on a bench in the park... but please, don't run to Ino."

I didn't answer, simply shut the door and stood in the empty hallway.

-Ino-

I sat in shock as Temari shrugged off her jacket and moved as if nothing had happened. On her cheek was an angry, red welt that seemed to grow as I watched her.

"Stop staring at me!" She barked, turning her back as she grabbed three cards off the top of a dresser sitting across from where I was. Her room is a dark, dingy grey with illustrated paintings on the walls. Beside the dresser, is an aged worn desk with carvings in the wood, like someone had taken a pocket knife to it during spells of boredom.

Overall, the room is small, no bigger than the dorm I used to live in. By the window, at the far end of her bed is a closed closet, and just like her car; the entire room is a complete mess.

The cards dropped silently beside me, onto the ruffled sheets that are a deep burgundy. I picked up the first; it had a head made from some sort of poster board, guard's helmet included. Tiny plastic arms and legs hot-glued into position made them stand at attention with their spears.

I set down the card I had been studying, once I was sure Temari had stopped shaking; whether she is fighting back tears, or anger I'm not sure, but I'm also not going to ask. Sometimes it's best not to ask, knowing when to keep your nose pointed in the opposite direction is something I learned a long time ago. Even if Saku would disagree, avidly at that.

"So the queen of hearts really does have a troop of card guards." I heard the forced laugh in my voice and cringed; Temari traced something on her desk, ignoring me.

Just as I was about to say something more – if only to break the deafening, awkward silence – my phone started to vibrate in my pocket. I pulled it out to check the number, my thumb already on decline.

Saku? Why is she calling me at this time of night?

Temari had turned to look at me, and I could tell she also knew who was calling. I should hang up, but what if something has happened again. Like the night at the dock...

"You can answer it, just try to be quiet." Temari said, sitting down in the chair at her desk. I nodded and accepted the call.

"Saku...? Why are you-?"

"Can I spend the night on your couch?" She asked instantly, without even offering a greeting. Shocked at the unusual question, I didn't reply right away and she tried again. "Please, I just had a fight with Tay, and I really need a place to think. I promise I won't be a bother, I know you are probably studying... I could even help. I promised I'd help with your English assignment already, right?"

"Whoa, calm down, Saku. Of course you can stay at my place tonight," Temari raised an eyebrow but didn't say anything. "It's just, I'm not really home right now and I don't have a spare key..." I don't want to leave Temari, but I also don't want to leave Saku outside in the dark either.

"Can you stay in the lobby, until I can get home? I can call you when I am almost there."

"Yeah, sure." Saku said after taking a moment to process everything I had told her. "Thank you, Ino."

"Anytime, I'll see you soon alright?"

"Okay." With that the line went dead and Temari grabbed her recently discarded jacket off the floor. I opened my mouth half a second before the still-warm piece of clothing was shoved in front of my field of view.

"Take it." She prompted after double checking the pockets. The fabric feels sort of like jeans do, but softer and at the same time the fabric is coarser. It's a light brown, padded with a silky lining. The sleeves still have small damp spots from the snow, but overall it's warm and smells strongly of Temari.

"Thank you?" I questioned as she moved to search her closet. No sooner had the doors opened did a small avalanche bury her feet. She ignored the assault and pulled out a similar jacket that was a dingy red, with the plasticy, more traditional fabric.

"You need to go home, right?"

"Well, soon, but are you..." Temari ignored me, grabbing her bag and quickly shoving different items into makeshift hiding spots. What surprised me was she even hid her textbooks, why would she need to hide her text books? "Okay?" The end of the question was delayed as I watched her work.

"Yeah, let's get going; you're princess it waiting for you, Kitten." Temari looked at the jacket still in my hands and rolled her eyes, but a flicker of her previously dawned smile was back. "The jacket is because you were freezing your ass off in that wind-breaker. It won't bite. You can borrow it till you get a new one."

~o~

Sneaking back out of the house was relatively easy, we didn't encounter Robert and the T.V was dormant. Temari seemed to take it on herself, without any verbal confirmation, that she would drive me home.

I will admit, her jacket is much warmer than mine is. It also smells like her, lilacs with a whiff of cigarette smoke. Oddly enough, it's not unpleasant. It took her a few minutes to find a station we could settle on without scoffing at the song playing. But, soon enough we were back on the road and relapsing into silence.

I want to ask her about today. Why she brought me, why she chose to show me something that is so personal. What were the errands and the packages? What happened between her and 'Robert'?

She seems to have built a separate world for herself, outside of reality, which she can recede into whenever she wants to. Maybe that is the real reason she has a Wonderland.

Temari seems completely focused on driving; the snow is coming down harder than it was before making the road hard to see. We are moving at a dead crawl, and as much as I want to make sure Saku is okay, I also want to get home safely.

When we neared the school, I had to start giving directions. A few times we had to stop while I tried to figure out where we were. I have a hard enough time finding my way home along the main roads as is. Finding it in this blizzard is a real pain.

Eventually, we did make it to my apartment building and Temari shut off the engine. The car sputtered but didn't protest the rest. I placed my hand on the door handle, caught between rushing in to see Saku, and what to say to Temari.

The only thing I was able to come up with was, "thank you." I smiled, genuinely.

"For what?" She asked. The light from the lobby shone in the front of the car, leaving a soft glow on her cheek as she turned to regard me.

"For today, I needed it." Temari snorted, letting out a deep sigh as she rested her head on the back of her seat.

"You're welcome." We fell back into silence and I felt myself fidgeting while trying to figure out what to say. What more is there for me to say? I almost feel like it's the end of a date and we're at the awkward stage before someone makes the move for the kiss.

I opened the door and stepped out, pausing when Temari reached for her keys. I poked my head back inside the door just in time for the wind to whip my hair across my face.

"Did you want to stay here tonight?" Temari instantly turned sour, "I meant because of the snow, it isn't safe to be driving."

"Oh." She said quietly, her grip loosening on the keys for a brief moment. "What about Sakura?"

"She can bunk with me, and you can take the couch." I reasoned quickly as her thumb ran over the metal she was gripping. Just say yes, this is awkward enough as it is and I'm freezing. Well, every part of me not covered in your jacket is, which is more or less waist down. And my ears, they feel like they are about to fall off. "Please, it would make me feel a lot better."

"As you wish," she smiled, easily figuring out what I was doing. "Kitten." I felt my cheeks heat up and shut the door before she could continue her triumphant gloating. She knows I only said that to help sooth the blow to her ego after she assumed I was taking pity on her.

Which means she also knows I somewhat care about her, at least enough to possibly anger Saku. Why can't she be as oblivious as the other two idiots I hang out with?

"There you are! I was getting worried..." Saku's greeting trailed off as I patted the snow out of my hair and she recognized the jacket I was wearing. She peered over my shoulder as the front door to the lobby swung shut and Temari stepped inside, kicking the snow off her shoes that would leave puddles later.

"Why the fuck is she here?" Saku looked ready to kill Temari before the first set of verbal fists were even thrown. Oh shoot, that fight they had was about Temari I'm willing to bet with the look Saku is throwing at her.

"I see you've picked up Tayuya's vocabulary." No, no, no... Don't taunt her. Crap, Ino fix this.

"Fuck you." Saku took a step forward and I quickly moved to block her, shrugging it off like I was just ridding myself of more hitchhiking snow.

"I'd be up for a three way." Temari replied, as easily as if it were something she said every day and my heart sunk even lower.

"Alright, alright! Enough!" I shouted above the beginning cat fight. I pointed at Saku, "go upstairs, I'll be right behind you." She protested, but gave in, not before she could throw one last icy glare at Temari. As soon as she was on the stairs, and out of earshot, I turned around.

"Really?" I asked, Temari shrugged but was more amused than anything else.

~o~

Ten minutes later we were safely, albeit not happily, inside my apartment. Temari had happily accepted a hot chocolate and was blowing steam off the top while sitting on the couch. She doesn't appear in the least bit perturbed by the non-stop, blood-thirsty looks she's getting from Saku who is leaning against the counter in my 'kitchen'.

"So, what happened with Tayuya?" I asked, blowing on my own cup of hot chocolate. I kept my voice low so it didn't carry over the low volume Temari had the television set on. She has chosen some sort of comedy, or western I can't really tell right now.

Saku finally turned away from the living room, stepping more inside the kitchen so she couldn't see the couch.

"I should be asking you why you're out with Temari at this time of night, and why you are wearing her jacket."

"It's cold outside." I replied simply, and truthfully. It is very cold outside.

"Ino..." She gave me the look that I couldn't refuse, tilting her head to the right slightly with a put-out pout.

"It is very cold out." I took a sip of my beverage and looked around the corner to make sure my second guest was still absorbed in her show. "She invited me on an outing and we sort of lost track of time." Both true, "then you called and she drove me home. I didn't want her to drive home in this weather so I offered her my couch for the night."

"Then where am I going to sleep?" She asked.

"You're going to bunk with me." I masked the slight blush the thought had caused by taking another – much longer – sip from my mug. We used to sleep together all the time when we were younger, and she spent a night or two here not too long ago. Well, an afternoon but still it shouldn't be weird, right? It's not like I am going to try anything, but what if she thinks I'm Tayuya in the middle of the night?

My face lit up a darker red and I failed to notice the discomfort Saku was struggling with.

"I don't think that's a good idea." She replied quietly, drawing me out of my daydream.

"Why not?" I tried to keep the disappointment out of my voice.

"Tay is already..."

"Jealous?" I finished for her, catching on to what she was trying to say. Saku nodded and remained silent. "Then don't you think it was a bad idea for you to ask to spend the night here?"

"I don't care." She scowled, knuckles turning white as she gripped the cup.

"Yes, you do, you are just hurting and trying to get back at her." I reasoned, setting my cup down on the counter so I could rub my hands together, finally working out the last of my lingering chills. "Right now, you are probably debating if you should go back home, and talk to her, right?"

She didn't say anything, her silence as much confirmation as any verbal reply would have been. "Well, walking in this weather isn't a good idea but you should talk to her. Hurting her on purpose is a really childish thing to do." Saku stared down into the dark brown liquid that was still at the brim of her cup.

"She said she still loves Temari." Saku faltered, quickly spilling out the rest of the details of their fight. "I mean, she said it was an accident that she meant to say she 'loved' Temari but I don't know."

"You're an idiot." I summarized, catching her attention. "Tayuya is an idiot, in fact, you are both idiots. Saku, she is crazy about you, you know that."

"I know but, she doesn't want to tell me anything about when she was with Temari and-"

"So? Maybe it's just something she doesn't want to talk about? Pushing her to talk about it is only going to get her riled up, and saying something she will regret. Or, nothing at all! She might simply shut down and refuse to talk at all." Saku remained silent as she watched her drink slowly release steam that rose up and disappeared.

Maybe I'm being harsh, but really, they are both idiots. Tayuya probably agreed to talk in an attempt to get something... or right after getting something. My nose curled and I checked on Temari again. Her cup is resting on the table in front of the couch now, and she looks ready to fall asleep.

I wonder if I should get her a blanket, or figure out where people are sleeping for the night before she tapers off.

"She just seemed so happy, talking about Temari." Saku argued. I sighed, drawing my attention away from the sleepy blonde on the couch.

"So, you'd be happier if she was always miserable while talking about herself, and her past?" That seemed to hit something; the expression on Saku's face changed to the one where she is just realized something about a problem she's been trying to solve.

"Well, no. I'd rather she's happy." She paused and I bit back my next comment so she could figure out whatever it is she's mulling over. "She's mentioned a few times now, that I do the same thing when I talk about you." About me? "And that it bothers her."

"Why?" I asked, already knowing the answer. I need Saku to figure it out herself, which means I need to lead her around like a dog after a bone.

"Why? Well..." She set down her untouched cup, resting her head on the cupboards that overlooked the counter. "She said she's jealous of how close we are, and I don't think she believed me when I told her you were the one to give me the final push."

"So, she thinks I'm still the competition?" I prompted.

"Maybe, but that's stupid, right? We are just friends, and I would never betray her." Stupid... right. My chest hurts a lot more than I thought it would, hearing her put it like that. But what did I really expect? Pushing her closer to Tayuya has only put her farther from me. Which, is what I wanted. It's just, now how do I push myself further from her?

"But you came here purposefully to get back at her for hurting you, even if it was an accident." Saku flinched and I knew I had hit another nerve. I probably could have phrased that in a softer way, but she won't understand as well if I do.

"You need to trust Tayuya, if you want your relationship with her to last."

"I do!" She protested.

"No, you don't. If you did you wouldn't have reacted the way you did over a slip up, and you would have taken her apology and explanation with at least moderate consideration. Instead, you walked through a snow storm just so you could go to the one place you knew she wouldn't want you to go. You could have stayed with Tsunade, or on the couch-"

"We still don't have a couch." Saku muttered, cutting off my tangent.

"-the point is: You had other options and you chose the one that would cause the most hurt. Now, I'm not saying you are to blame for that fight. Tayuya shouldn't have promised to talk if she didn't want to. Or she could have at least given you a reason, but neither of those would have mattered if you had trusted her instead of demanding answers." Saku sunk further back into silence, listening to what I was telling her but giving no feedback.

"In conclusion, you're both idiots. You're an idiot for running here instead of working it out, and for believing she could really still be in love with Temari. Just in case you've forgotten, she attacked a guy pointing a gun at you. She has been crazy about you since before the ski-trip, or even the Halloween dance.

"But she was with Temari for a long, long time. There is going to be baggage from that, that will have to dealt with and you will have to get over if you want her to stay around." I let her absorb everything and I heard the television turn off, followed by footsteps wandering over the carpet and onto the tile that transitioned into my kitchen. Temari stuck her head inside the entrance, setting her used mug on the counter.

"So, are you two done talking yet?" She asked, eyes drooping with 'I'm half asleep' sagging down her usual, cocky expression. I checked quickly with Saku and knew the answer.

"Yeah, I think we are." Green eyes smiled a thank-you and I nodded in return.

To their credit, neither Saku nor Temari started another fight and instead silently went about getting ready for bed. I was able to find two old t-shirts and sweat pants that fit them both, Temari's a little long and, Saku's a little short and loose; but they would do.

Since I don't keep multiple, spare toothbrushes in my bathroom they settled for toothpaste on their finger and a quick scrub. Apparently it's funny I use a kids brand that tastes like strawberries. It's not my fault all the 'adult' toothpastes taste like crap.

I was just about to figure out who would sleep where when there was a knock at the door, surprising us all.

Checking the peek-hole, I opened the door and stepped aside so Saku could see who it was.

"I uh," Tayuya stood in the doorway, hair covered in snow and completely soaked. She reached inside her jacket and pulled out a cereal bag. "I brought the last of the Captain Crunch, since I promised you could have it and didn't want to eat it on accident." Hopeless, they are both hopeless.

I shut the door after she had stepped inside, Saku remained silent until I turned the corner to my room and found Temari sitting on my bed.

-Sakura-

As Ino left in a hurry, following Temari who seemed to retreat before she was seen, Tay fidgeted just inside the doorway.

"That has got to be the worst apology I've ever heard." Feeling bashful, my fingers started to twitch. "I'm sorry too. What was it Ino said, 'we're a pair of idiots'? I think that's how she put it."

"Why are you apologizing? And why am I an idiot?" Tay turned cheek, embarrassed and desperately holding onto her dignity while she stood in the doorway in waterlogged shoes. She continued to grumble, finally trying to rid herself of her soaked footwear. It took a few kicks, and ended with a puddle on Ino's doorstep, but she finally got them off.

"I walked through a blizzard to give you this cereal!" She added, and I felt myself beginning to smile.

"I'm aware." I assured her, smiling at her disgruntled expression.

"You better fucking enjoy it!" Tay removed her jacket and searched for a place to hang it before I took it from her and placed it on the hook, on the back of the door. "Seriously though, you better have a fucking orgasm or somethin' while eating this cereal."

I reached up to remove a snow-soaked strand of hair that was glued to her cheek. Her hair is almost blacky-brown when it's soaked, and her cheeks are still flushed. As my fingers brushed her skin I could feel the cold bite that still must have her skin numb. Tay really shouldn't have made the twenty minute trek to Ino's in this weather. It was barely snowing when I walked over.

"You're soaking wet." It was more an observation – an obvious observation – than a question. Tay smiled and pressed her forehead into my shoulder as she wrapped her arms around my waist.

"I'm sorry." She whispered. "It's not that I have something to hide, I just don't want to talk about Temari because... I'm embarrassed." She shivered against my chest and I could feel her damp clothes start to work on mine.

"You're really wet..." I muttered, and Tay pushed back to glare at me.

"Will you shut up about how fucking wet I am! I walked through a fucking blizzard! And-" she started to search the floor, "where the fuck did the fucking cereal go?" I started to giggle, I couldn't help it. Her act is so transparent, it's funny. She isn't actually mad, she's embarrassed and flustered. So, she has gone into a rant meant to piss you off because it's easier for her to deal with.

"You look like a waterlogged puppy." I teased, earning a glare as she stood in her growing puddle at the door.

"Fine, you want wet. I'll show you wet!" Tay grabbed the bottom of her shirt and started to pull it off, over her head. The fabric clung to her skin, fighting the entire way until she threw the garment straight at me. It connected with a soggy splat, instantly dampening my face and dripping down onto my neck.

I was busy peeling the shirt off my face so I didn't notice she had started on her pants.

"Tay!" I hissed, looking back towards Ino's bedroom where the door was still shut. "Stop it!"

"No!" She stood perched on one foot, the second was crossed at the knee while she tried to get the tighter-than-normal jeans to let go of her ankle. Finally freeing one foot, she made quick work of the second and tossed her pants in pursuit of her shirt before ripping off her socks.

"There! I'm not drenched anymore, happy now?" Her teeth started to chatter worse than before, goosebumps crawling up her legs and arms. With only her bra and underwear on, she stood shivering in the doorway.

"I was happy just to see you in the doorway, with my Captain Crunch." I assured her. Tay snorted in reply, the shiver in her body becoming a violent, involuntary full-bodied shake.

"F-f-f-fucking c-cereal." She stuttered, folding her arms tightly across her chest.

I walked into the hallway and opened the closet by Ino's bathroom, grabbing a blanket before returning back to my shivering red-headed mess.

Sitting down on the sofa, I patted the spot next to me and she walked over and instantly buried herself in the warmth the blanket had to offer. Tay sandwiched herself between my chest and the back of the couch, completely submerged so only the top of her head was visible.

"So, why are you an idiot?" She asked, muffled by the fabric when her shivers and chattering teeth died down.

"Because I didn't trust you."

"Really?" Tay pulled down the blanket and scooted up so I could hear her clearly. "Barbie was on my side?"

"Mostly." Tay dawned a triumphant smirk and I kissed her more to remove it than anything else. Her hands gripped my hips, pulling me tighter against her; grinding her hips against mine I could feel the familiar need as her nails grazed my skin.

Her hands were like ice on my skin, the rest of her body not much warmer as the rest of her shakes slowly came to a stop.

"Can I ask..." I started when she had curled up closer to finish heating back up. "Why would you be embarrassed to tell me about Temari? If you don't mind... that is." I added with a quick after thought. "It's just always going to bother me, if we don't talk about it. We don't have to talk about it now, but I'd like – need – to, at some point."

Tay stayed silent, fingers tangled into the t-shirt Ino had given me.

"It's just," she began after a long delay. "I followed Temari around for almost three years. Only about half of which we, uh," Tay cleared her throat, letting me figure it out. "Anyways, she never felt the same way about me, as I did for her.

"Temari told me from the start, she would never love me; and if I ever fell in love with her it would end. But at the time, I was convinced I could change her mind and ended up just being used." Tay's voice grew quiet and I tightened my arms around her. Trying to convey how much I love her, and support her no matter what she told me.

It's not Tay's fault, Temari never told her the full story.

"I hate the way you smell right now." Huh? Well that's the last thing I expected to hear.

"What? Why? I just showered a few hours ago." Tay laughed, and all of the sadness left her eyes.

"Because, you and this blanket, both reek of Ino." She crinkled up her nose and I sighed with mock exasperation.

"Well, then we will just have to fix that."

-Ino-

"That couldn't have been easy, at least the drama classes are paying off. That was quite the act you put on." Temari leaned forward, nails running over the edge of my bed as she kicked her legs back and forth.

"What act?" I snapped, already well past my limit for patience. I can't believe Tayuya would show up with an almost empty bag of cereal. Saku looked so happy she was about to cry. I pulled a hair pin out and dropped it onto my dresser, roughly tearing out my ponytail and tossing it as well.

What a brilliant day. First, Saku and the Harpie are, once again, complete idiots in front of the entire school. Yes, we can see you, you aren't invisible! Then Emi whines continuously for no reason. I'm sorry you are having a bad hair day, but it's no reason to mope for the entirety of homeroom.

After that, Tayuya somehow spots the bandage on my wrist. Which leads to my entire afternoon with Temari. Even if, admittedly, it wasn't all that bad. I actually really enjoyed bits of it, even if she isn't my favourite person to be around, she isn't that bad.

I stared up at the mirror and saw Temari sitting behind me, watching with a curious expression. What would have happened, if Saku hadn't called when she did?

"The best friend diligently fixing all of Sakura's and Tayuya's problems. I heard what she said, it would have been so easy for you to spin it in your favour." She's right, of course. All I would have had to do was make a big fuss over it, and freak out like she had. It could have easily spiralled out of control, with Saku's jealous streak and Tayuya's temper, but what would be the point?

"And then what?" I asked, turning so I was face to face with her, rather than talking through a mirror. "Let's say, it did cause them to break up, then what? I somehow miraculously make her fall in love with me? She will never feel the same way about me, as I feel about her.

"I played that card already, she fell in love with Tayuya." Temari remained silent, not that I expected a reply. She always seems to go silent rather than rebut an argument she can't win. That could be seen as a positive quality, she doesn't argue pointless fights into the ground. Although, she doesn't concede defeat either.

"I can't answer that, Kitten." Was all she said after a lengthy delay.

"Because you don't have an answer," I crossed my arms and leaned back against the dresser.

"No," she caught my eyes and held them, like a spell I couldn't break. Behind it, there was true sadness, and I wondered – not for the first time – what today had been about. "Because I don't know how far you are willing to go, to have her."

"What do you mean?" I asked more to distract myself from the voices I could hear coming from the living room, voices and laughter; than any real curiosity. Saku took my advice after all; they are going to be okay.

"There are always two options, to lie or to tell the truth. To fight, or to give up. To accept what has been dealt, or to find a way to try and change it. To live, or to die. There is always another way, you don't have to simply give up, if what you truly desire is to fight."

"What about a second way, not to hurt... anymore." I asked, finally pulling loose of the hold she had over me. She understood what I was asking, as I knew she would.

Temari stood up and gently slipped my arm out from where it was hidden against my chest. She pulled back the sleeve on my right up, up over the wrist to my elbow before looking back up and reclaiming her hold.

"You've already found another way."

"It's nothing," I tugged the sleeve down, feeling trapped between her and the dresser. "I just burnt myself by accident while cooking dinner." Temari remained silent, running her fingers over my cheek until she was cupping my chin.

"I don't understand," she whispered and I felt my breathing hitch. "You are so beautiful, why would you maim yourself on purpose? Was what I had offered to you, truly that horrible?" To my embarrassment, I started to cry. The frustration and desperation that came with the conversation, after such an emotional roller coaster of a day, as left me spent and tired. I don't have the energy to fight it any longer.

"No... I just," I turned as much as I could in her hold, the space between us now barely existent. "I don't know what I feel anymore."

"What do you feel about Sakura?" She asked, I took a second to try and figure out how to answer her question. Surprising myself when I realized, I did in fact, want to answer it.

"I love her. She's been at the core of my goals for such a long time. When we were younger, I protected her and we looked out for each other. And when she left... I promised, and I made it my goal, that I would find her.

"It was all I thought about, all I worked for, for nearly ten years. But, now that I've found her and I've come to realize she will never have romantic feelings for me, but, what do I do?" I asked, hoping – as illogical as it was – that Temari would have an answer for me. I hadn't realized it till now, but maybe that's why I feel so lost. Even when she wasn't with Tayuya, I had a goal. I thought I had one now, as well, but simply living to make her happy doesn't seem to be enough.

"You work on you. You will never be happy, if you keep pining over her, and letting her do this," she raised my arm so I could see the bandage in the moonlight. "To you, it isn't right."

"I did this," I snapped my arm out of her grip and she let go of my cheek. "Because of you."

"You didn't do it because of me," she retaliated, turning angry. "You did it because you couldn't accept the fact that you had enjoyed being with someone other than Sakura."

"I couldn't stand the fact that it was you! Out of everyone, it was you!" Temari cringed, backing away. "Why did it have to be you?" My tears came down thicker, more potent and uncontrolled than before. "She would hate me, if she knew what I had done! How could she not, with your history with Tayuya, and with how you two hate each other!"

"You could have stopped, if you had wanted to!" She snapped right back, keeping her voice down to copy mine. "I didn't force anything on you!" I heard the hallway closet open and close, biting my tongue until the footsteps retreated back into my living room.

"That's the problem, I didn't want to stop!" Temari stopped, thinking and I cursed myself. Where the hell did that come from? I've never thought that way before, so why did it come out like that. "I mean, I didn't hate it." I gave as a feeble explanation.

"What do you feel about me?" She asked, cautious.

"Nothing!" I blurted out almost instantly. "I don't know... I barely know you, I don't hate you." Temari laughed, silencing my rambles by surprising me into biting my own tongue.

"I'm sorry," she laughed. I take it back, I do hate you; I glared openly at her, my dignity limping off to lick its wounds in a corner. "I just can't believe how seriously you took that question. I'm not judging you, Ino. If some girl who was as hot as me, and as good a kisser as I am, kissed me while I was high. Well, I wouldn't hate it either.

"What I wanted to know, was what you think about me, after the past few days. I wasn't asking if you had fallen in love with me or anything like that, that would be ridiculous. I wanted to know what you thought of me, as a person.

"You've told me things that I'm guessing you haven't told anyone else, and I wanted to know, why?"

"Why?" I demanded, feeling exposed as she continued to hit the nail on the head over and over. I'm not used to being read like a book. Usually I can keep my thoughts and feelings to myself unless I want to share them. Temari's uncanny ability to figure me out is annoying.

"Because the only two people I ever see you seriously talking with, and by seriously I mean people you talk to for a reason besides gossip or obligation, are Sakura and Emi.

"Sakura can be crossed off that list for obvious reasons, and Emi just as easily. You don't trust her, and frankly I think she's a judgemental idiot." Temari summarized like it was completely logical. I opened my mouth to protest, but again she beat me to it. "Tenten and Hinata don't count either. While you do talk to them more than others from your gossip mill, you aren't close to either of them. You're actually a very closed off and lonely person. That's why you are clinging so hard to Sakura.

"And," she continued without losing a beat, "if you are usually so closed off to everyone, why is it you've opened up to me?" Temari hit a button that was rarely touched, slamming her hand on it like a curious child wondering what the warning sign was for.

"I am not closed off and lonely! I talk to everyone, if anything I'm overly social! You could ask me anything, about any club in school or about most of our class and I would be able to answer it!" Temari sighed, like a frustrated parent or teacher trying to explain a simple concept to a child.

"I never argued your ability to retain information about other people. I said you were closed off, you could probably tell me many things about many people. But, how much could they tell me about you? How much could even your precious Saku tell me about you?"

I... don't know. She knows everything about when we were younger, and I've told her a few stories about the boarding school I attended. I haven't told her about the dance recital.

"What does it matter?" I asked, frustrated with her line of never ending questions.

"It doesn't, what you choose to tell her is up to you. All I want to know is why you've decided to open up to me, when you've said it yourself, you barely know me." I glowered at her and she sat down on my bed, relaxing into her usual feline grin.

"I could ask you the same thing." I retorted.

"You could, I don't doubt your ability to ask me a question with a simple series of words." For a brief moment, I imagined myself leaping at her and strangling her. About Saku finding her still body the next morning and calling the cops, and having to explain the infuriating amount of annoyance Temari could stir within someone.

"I don't know." I replied, teeth clenched.

"Good, because I don't know why either." Temari stared out of the tiny window in my room, silent and without any sort of mind probing observations for the first time. Tayuya and Saku could no longer be heard in the living room and I wondered if they had heard any of the argument between Temari and I.

She does bring up an interesting point, as much as I hate to admit it. Why have I told Temari so much?

"Why did you bring me today?" I asked when Temari seemed to drop the subject completely.

"I don't know, you just sort of showed up while I was getting ready to leave and it seemed like a fun thing to do." It seemed like a fun thing to do, what an asinine thing to say.

"What were you delivering?" I asked, shrugging off her previous answer.

"I can't tell you." Temari continued to look out the window, at the snow blanketing down so thick the sky almost looked white. I can't even make out the glow of the moon through the storm.

"Oh please, don't tell me it's one of those 'if I tell you, I'll have to kill you' deals." Sarcastic as it is, I really hope that's not why. I have enough people who would love to kill me right now, I don't need to be sticking my nose into anything else.

"No, I don't know what I'm delivering most of the time myself."

"Alright, fair enough..." There's one last question I want to ask, but how do I go about asking? "What happened-" I paused and Temari looked at me, eyes narrowing like she knew what I was asking before I had even gotten it out, "at your home."

"Nothing." She bit off the word with a sharp edge, turning her cheek so the bruise was hidden, clearly showing me I was stepping out of bounds. Behind me, I heard Saku laugh and bile rose in the back of my throat. They wouldn't, not in my apartment, knowing I was in the next room. Would they?

Temari must have heard them as well, because her expression softened to somewhere between pity and sorrow. How twisted is this, I'm in love with Saku, and Temari with Tayuya. Yet, here we both are, just one thin wall between Temari and I, and Saku and Tayuya.

I can see it, Temari wants to forget about them the way she has trained herself to forget, in the way she's looking at me. But I can't, not again, can I?

Temari waited for an indication, and I shakily pushed off of the dresser, my legs feeling like jelly beneath my body. In a haze, my lips found hers and she pulled me to straddle her hips. I felt her hands wander my sides, as I fell into the lusty, frenzy like dance we were caught in.

The last thing I remember before falling asleep was her blue eyes, focused as she kissed my wrist before returning to my bare skin.

-Tayuya-

Pants, pants, pants... where the fuck did I throw my pants? I can't believe it's almost five AM and Saku is still asleep while I'm awake. I take that back, she isn't just asleep she's fucking out cold. I was able to crawl out from under her, find my sweater and rip the living room apart without her waking up.

But where the fuck did I put my pants? I scratched at my messy bed head, trying to figure out what to do. Pants just can't walk away, not without someone putting them on, so where did they go? Urg, how am I suppose to surprise Pinkie with breakfast on couch and finish my round of ass kissing without pants!

Normally this wouldn't be a problem, but somehow I doubt Barbie would appreciate it if she woke up to find me in her kitchen without pants. Or... maybe she would 'appreciate' it. I twisted to try and look at my ass. Sakura has given it a lot of compliments lately, but I think that's just the sex talking.

No! I need pants! Okay, so... oh! Maybe Ino has another pair! She did lend Sakura a pair of pyjama bottoms. She must have another spare pair as well. Alright, ninja mission accepted. I can totally sneak into her room and find a pair and get out without waking her up. Can I?

Yeah, I totally can. Alright, go!

Checking the living room one last time in hopes of finding my missing garment, I tiptoed out of the living room and silently opened Ino's bedroom door. I pulled it shut instantly after poking my head inside.

Temari. Why is Temari in Ino's bed? What the fuck is going on? I looked back into the living room just as Sakura rolled over, still sound asleep.

Um, okay? This isn't the most surprising thing I've walked in on, I mean... no this trumps that. I wonder if Sakura knows she is in there? She must, Temari must have been here before I showed up and just decided against saying hi. Yeah... but that still doesn't explain why she is in there, with Ino?

Think, think! Okay, so Temari is in there because Ino doesn't have anywhere else she could sleep for the night? So, Temari was here before I was, and is in Ino's bed because there was no where else to sleep?

I guess that makes sense, but wait. Why the fuck is she here to begin with? Since when are Ino and Temari friends? As I stood in the hallway trying to figure out my inner dilemma, something else occurred to me.

Pants! Shit! I'm still not wearing pants and Sakura was just really fucking pissed about Temari, if she wakes up and Temari sees me, Sakura is going to be really fucking mad. What do I do? I could try and go back to sleep, but I'm almost guaranteed to wake her up, and I really wanted to make breakfast. I wonder if Ino has any blueberries...

No! Stay on topic, pants. Pants is the topic. Okay, so I could try and complete my mission of stealing a pair from Ino's dresser. I just didn't realize the quest was meant for a level ten when I'm still a level eight, or something. It's just a higher difficulty but still doable.

Taking a deep breath, I worked the door open, checking one last time to make sure both Ino and Sakura, were both still asleep. Tiptoeing inside her room, I tried to focus on the dresser but something else caught my eye.

Why are Ino and Temari sleeping together? Last I recall, Temari hated to do anything even remotely cuddlish. Yet, they are a mirror image of what Sakura and I look like every night.

I stood gaping and confused until Ino moved, and for a second, I thought she had woken up. Fuck, I need to get out of here. It didn't take long to find her pyjama drawer, and sneak back out of Ino's room. I would have easily been home-free if I hadn't noticed one last detail as I was shutting her door.

Ino wasn't wearing a shirt. I shut the door and paused in the hallway; caught between waking up Sakura so we could gape like children with their noses pressed to a candy store window, and something that was telling me it would be a bad idea.

I walked shakily towards the kitchen, stepping into the loose pyjama bottoms as I went. Ino is a good half a foot taller than I am, so the borrowed pants dragged on the ground and bunched around my ankles.

Let's think this through, maybe she was wearing a tank top? Sakura wears a lot of those. No, she was definitely wearing an old t-shirt last night when I showed up. I remember it was some sort of school fundraiser shirt, brown and something else I think.

Her arm, and what I could see of her shoulder were definitely bare.

I stepped into the kitchen and spotted my still-soggy jeans.

"There you are!" I said before I realized I had spoken out-loud. On the floor in front of the fridge were my jeans, albeit they are still soaked and I probably couldn't have worn them this morning anyways. But, at least I found them.

I snatched them up and looked for a spot I could put them, settling for the sink for now. It's empty and it's better than getting something else wet. I rooted through the cupboard and found a mixing bowl and a box of pancake mix before turning to search the fridge.

"Good morning." I heard a yawn behind me and jumped, hitting my head on the top of the low cut fridge. Ino has one of those half size ones, where the top third is a freezer. Mother fucker! That hurt!

"Oh, did I wake you up?" I asked, turning to see Sakura with sleep still clouding her expression as she smiled with a look that most people who are still half-under use. I let out a silent string of curses, trying to ignoring the throbbing lump growing on my head.

"No, I woke up when I realized you were gone." So, yes. I smirked, oh well if she wants to put it like that then so be it. "What are you making?" She yawned again, leaning her hip against the far counter and her head against the cupboards. Sakura closed her eyes and yawned a third time, it's not like her to be this tired in the morning. I hope she's not coming down with something.

"Uh, well I was going to make fruit pancakes." I turned back to the fridge, rubbing the forming lump on the top of my head. Ah ha! She does have strawberries and blueberries, good that makes my sucking up easier.

"With blueberries?" Sakura asked, perking up slightly.

"Yeah, she has blueberries." As I picked out the ingredients I would need, Sakura continued to hover in drone mode. Do I tell her? I looked around for a pan before Sakura noticed and got one for me. I thanked her and turned back to what I was doing.

Maybe I should figure out what is going on before telling her, it might just be something simple like... I ran through a list of possibilities, crossing them off as quickly as they came up. Or maybe it isn't simple.

"Can I help?" Pinkie asked, and the previous incident we had while making pancakes ran through my head. I should say no, watching Sakura cook is like watching a train wreck in slow motion. You know eventually something is going to blow the fuck up, the question is when and how soon.

"Uh..." I grabbed the box of pancake mix and handed it, and the mixing bowl, to Sakura. She tipped over the box and hit the end lightly, pausing when nothing came out. Cue train wreck.

Sakura looked inside, squinting with one eye closed. I should say something, I know she isn't the best cook... but, fuck.

Satisfied there was still something in the box, she flipped it back over and hit the bottom again, this time with a little more force. Behind me the pan started to sizzle and I cracked an egg into the pan without looking. Come on... do it. I felt a smirk crawl onto my lips and settled in for the finale. I'm such a horrible girlfriend.

Giving up on hitting the box, she shook it and as soon as it came back up from its sudden plunge; the box burst open and a cloud of pancake mix filled the kitchen.

I burst out laughing just in time to see Sakura wipe a plentiful amount of mix off her face. Her cheeks, hair and the front of her shirt are covered in a light layer, the counter and floor around her feet didn't survive any easier. The majority, however, did seem to make it into the bowl.

Sakura glared at me, suspecting I had in some way rigged the incident.

"You have got to be the worst fucking cook in existence." I snickered, Sakura rolled her eyes trying to hide the flush in her cheeks as she started to clean up the mess. "At least you didn't squeal this time, and most of it is in the bowl!" I insisted, earning a reluctant twitch in her cheek.

"It's like food hates you, remember when you tried to crack an egg and it imploded?" I goaded on, playing the scene over and over in my head on instantly replay.

"Then why do you let me help?" She asked, dropping the paper towel into the garbage while I flipped the egg I had cooking in the pan.

"For my own amusement." Sakura flicked pancake batter at me, adding water to the batter that had made it into the bowl. "Hey, do you think Ino will want pancakes?" Fuck, maybe she didn't hear me. What a stupid fucking thing to ask her, now she will say 'I don't know, why don't I ask her?' Then what do I say? Yes, yes you should. You should go walk into her bedroom and see her and Temari, when I still haven't figured out what the fuck is going on.

"Uh..." Sakura paused stirring her charge, rubbing some of the fluff still clinging to her nose with the back of her hand. Wait, she's nervous. Does she already know? Why wouldn't she tell me? "Actually, Temari is here as well." She blushed and gave me her best 'I'm sorry' smile.

Oh, I get it.

"Why is Temari here?" I asked, playing along, pretending I didn't already know and acting a little put out. Maybe I should have tried to sound a little more annoyed?

"I don't really know, Ino said they were hanging out yesterday? Then when I called her..." I chose that moment to scoop the pan-full of scrambled eggs onto a plate and respray it to prepare for the pancakes. "Well, she drove her home and stayed here because it was late and storming." And because it is easier to fool around on a full size bed rather than the back seat of Temari's car. I wonder how long they've been sneaking around?

No, there could be another explanation. I can't just to the fucking conclusion just yet. Okay, that was a bad joke... or pun? Joke? I don't fucking know!

"We can wake them up when breakfast is ready, no point in cutting their sleep short." Since when have I been a morning person? "Why don't you see if you can find the weather channel?"

"Why?" Pinkie asked, handing me the batter bowl. I gaped at her, amazed that something so obvious should slip her mind.

"To see if school is cancelled for a snow day? You've lived here how many years now? I know there was at least one last year." I shook my head, pouring out four pancakes into the pan and sat back to wait for the bubbles to appear. (2)

"I've just always gone to school on snow days." She replied like it was equally as obvious, which considering it's Sakura, it probably should be.

"No fucking way, are you serious? Why would you go to school on a snow day! I mean, you could be outside playing snow soccer or just, I don't know, being busy not being at school?" I found myself laughing as Sakura smacked my shoulder and I feigned hurt. Go to school on a snow day, good one.

Sakura left shortly after to find the local weather channel, and I took the opportunity to slip out of the kitchen after the first batch of pancakes were done to bang on Ino's door. Sakura stuck her head down the hallway and gave me a funny look as I proceeded to scream at Ino and Temari through the door, but didn't say anything.

Twenty minutes later, the four of us were sitting around the living room table eating scrambled eggs and pancakes. And, of course, Sakura had her Captain Crunch as well. Seriously though, there wasn't enough left for a full meal. I didn't do a very good job at guessing proportions but com'on, it's fucking Captain Crunch!

It was probably the most awkward breakfast, in the history of breakfasts. I'm pretty sure, if you put my mother and a priest into the same room for breakfast, it would not surpass the amount of awkward I endured during that meal.

Sakura and Ino chatted about routine topics briefly before giving into the partial quiet chewing supplied us with. Temari was positively foul the entire time, muttering about it being way too fucking early. While I agree, it was also funny to watch someone else act at like a zombie for once.

I found myself watching Ino and Temari, who could not seem to make eye contact with each other and stumbled once while Ino was passing a plate. Until Sakura caught me and seemed to either get the wrong impression, or become curious herself.

In the end Ino picked up plates and excused herself saying she was going to call Emi, Hinata and Tenten to make sure they knew about the snow day and to invite them over for a study day. Of course, Sakura was thrilled at the proposition. Temari and I, not so much.

So a few hours later, we were doing exactly that, which continued on through lunch... and then through dinner. It seemed like the entire day passed by, sitting in the living room with textbooks covering the table, couch, laps and floor doing exactly what we aren't supposed to do on a snow day: work.

I found myself lying with my back against the floor, staring up at the ceiling, while my head rested on Sakura's lap.

"Can't we do something that isn't incredibly fucking boring?" I whined for the twentieth time. Sakura bit off her answer she was giving to Tenten and frowned at me. "Pllleeeaaassseee?" I pouted, doing my best puppy eyes impression. Can you believe Ino doesn't own a single game? What does she do for fun?

"Ino's bedroom is empty," Temari replied from across the room, picking something out from under her nails, apparently still annoyed her car wouldn't start. You should just be thankful we let you back inside Ino's apartment, not that my vote seemed to have any effect on the outcome. "You could amuse yourself for five minutes then take a nap."

Hinata turned ten shades of red, flipping through pages in her book faster than she could possibly read.

"Temari!" Ino hissed, shooting a glare before turning back to what Emi was struggling with.

"Thanks for the offer but Sakura can get pretty vocal, and I wouldn't want to disturb everyone's study session." I barked back at her before I could remind myself to think before talking. I can't fucking stand Temi-bitch!

"Tay..." Sakura squeaked, caught between being angry and embarrassed. Tenten sighed, trying feebly to redirect the conversation back to the question she was trying to ask Sakura.

"Trust me, Hun, I know from experience that she is probably faking." Temari smiled and Ino looked mortified. Sakura smacked the top of my head like an angry owner smacking a misbehaving puppy's nose with a rolled up newspaper, except it was with a textbook.

"Oi! Temari said it not me!" I replied until I saw the look on her face. "Shutting up."

"Whipped." Temari challenged and I pushed myself up ready to leap across the room and strangle her before Sakura skillfully caught me and pulled me back down. I fell on my ass, hard, and found my head against her stomach.

"How about we take a break from studying? And do something else?" Ino suggested, obviously flustered. "You all decide, and I will get more juice." Without waiting for a reply, she grabbed the still half-full pitcher and walked back into the kitchen. Temari watched her go sporting a kicked cat expression.

"Calm down." Sakura whispered, quiet enough that only I could hear her. Her expression appeared strained, I guess I'm not the only one whose skin Temari managed to get under. Sakura is ignoring her to avoid a fight, probably because she knows Temari has no way home unless she plans to walk for over an hour. We could leave, I guess, it's only about a twenty minute walk to Sakura's apartment.

The snow has gotten a lot worse since last night. Emi was able to walk since she lives within walking distance from the school. Hinata spent the night at Tenten's, studying for math I think and Tenten lives on the same block as Emi.

It's only Temari and Hinata that have to drive, or bus, to get to school.

"Oh! That's a great idea, Ino!" Emi clapped her hands together, thoroughly excited by the proposition of a game. "What game should we play?"

"W-we could play g-go fish..." Hinata suggested, rolling her thumbs around each other.

"Lame." Temari rejected the idea and seemed to push Hinata further back into the social corner she had just started to move out of.

"Bitch." I muttered, loud enough so she heard me but quiet enough that Sakura might think it was accidental. I'd rather not get hit again. Temari smiled and winked at me, hoping for a reaction. She received one from Sakura, as she tightened her hold around me.

"How about truth or dare?" Emi suggested, probably hoping for a repeat of Halloween, obvious whore. I'm still angry with her, if it hadn't been two to one on the vote I would have protested louder about inviting her.

"No." Tenten and I replied almost simultaneously.

"Well then, what else is there?" Sakura asked, half of her attention still on Temari who seems all-to-happy with herself at the moment. Ino chose that time to emerge from the kitchen, a strained smile as she set down the more-than-half-full pitcher onto the table.

"What about, 'Never Have I Ever'?" Temari suggested, well that brings back memories. I haven't played that for... almost two years now I think. Tenten, Hinata, Emi and Sakura all looked at her curiously, obviously having no idea what Temari was suggesting.

To my surprise, however, Ino did appear to recognize the game.

"Tayuya? What do you think?" Temari asked, sweetly; what is it you're planning?

"I think it's a drinking game, and we have nothing to drink." Well, I don't know that for sure. But, I would be willing to bet that Ino doesn't have any alcohol in her apartment. Even if she did, it wouldn't be enough for seven people to play this game.

~o~

That was how I ended up at the liquor store, two blocks from Ino's apartment, with none other than Temari. Once the idea of alcohol was introduced, Emi and Tenten – Sakura was completely against the idea of not studying – quickly jumped on the train. Hinata agreed after Tenten badgered her for her vote, I actually kind of felt bad watching it.

After the game was agreed on, I again pointed out the fact – and as it turns out, I was right – that Ino doesn't own any alcohol. Even though I argued the stores are probably closed because of the storm; Emi said everything in the main shopping district that is closest to where Tenten, Emi, Ino, Sakura and I, live is open.

Temari laughed when I pointed out we were underage, complimenting Sakura on her ability to turn me into a saint. Figures Ino would remember I had taken Sakura to a strip club, 'so you must have a fake ID that works.' I mimicked her whiny voice, mentally beating the stuffing out of a faceless bystander who coincidentally looks a lot like Temari.

So why is Temari with me? Because of Pinkie. Directly or not, it is her fault. She didn't want me to go alone, because it's dark out and she's been afraid of the dark since that asshole had a gun to her head. She won't admit it, but she won't even leave the bedroom without turning on all the lights at night.

So she suggested I take Ino, who really looked like she needed a break. Even though Ino isn't my first choice, she was still far from my last choice.

Temari pointed out that they tend to ID everyone that goes inside that looks like they might be underage, probably because of people like us. And, since Temari is the only other person in our current group with a fake ID, and Sakura would rather I went with her – or not at all – than alone; I'm stuck walking to the liquor store with Temari.

Why didn't I just agree to fucking study? It would be soooo much easier!

"Oh, cheer up, Sour Puss." Temari shook her head, showering me with the snow that had only recently settled onto her hair.

"Fuck off, let's just get this over with." The sooner we get back, the better. It's bad enough that Sakura is a jealous drunk, or would paranoid be more accurate? Temari sighed, checking the price on a few bottles. I couldn't help but wonder if her preferences were still the same, it's been such a long time, since we last sat on the top of that old theatre.

It was such a dump when we found it, rats everywhere. But I miss that summer, I miss that roof.

Temari surprised me by asking, "what do you see in Sakura?" Her tails grazed the ridges on a bottle of vodka, moving down to look at a display of pre-mixed drinks.

I looked around the store, at the yellowy-brown walls, the tacky wood designs, and the half-asleep clerk at the counter; anywhere except at Temari. Why is she asking me this, we haven't even fucking talked except for the forced math project. And we both know that turned out really fucking well.

"What do you see in Ino?" I snapped back, before I could stop myself. I really need a fucking filter on my mouth. Suspicious, Temari looked at me as she selected a green apple flavoured bottle.

"I don't see how those are related," Temari handed the green bottle to me, and I grudgingly took it along with a mango flavoured bottle. "But, if you really want to know, we're friends, sort of."

"Like how we were friends, 'sort of'?" Temari smiled, a mischievous smile as she looked at me with a twinkle in her eye. I regret bringing it up, what a stupid, stupid thing to say!

"No. We are just friends." Temari replied, handing me a third bottle before changing sections. "So?" She asked taking her time as she scanned her options.

"So, what?" I asked. Maybe I was just seeing things, I could have sworn...

It doesn't matter, I can't ask Ino and I can't tell Sakura, so all I have to go on is Temari's word. Even if it is worth less than garbage, it's all I have right now. Urg, this is so fucking frustrating!

"So, what do you see in Sakura?" Temari made her last choice, turning to walk up the main aisle towards the check-out. The clerk asked for ID, from both of us, just like Temari had predicted before scanning the four bottles. She rang up the total and announced it to us in a bored voice.

Can't say I blame her, no one has come in or left since we've been here. It's a wonder they haven't closed for the night.

After paying, Temari grabbed one of the paper bags and left the other to me before venturing out into the cold. We walked in silence long enough for me to hope that she might have forgotten her question or decided to drop the subject completely. Either that, or the wind and snow stopped her from continuing anything.

"I just don't get it," Temari shook the snow off her coat and pants in the lobby of Ino's apartment building. "She's changed you so much, it's pathetic."

"How the fuck is it pathetic?" I snapped, slapping at a particularly stubborn patch of snow.

"She's domesticated you." She's what? Temari let out a hefty sigh, heading for the elevator and punching in Ino's floor. "You don't see it, but it's like watching Lady and the Tramp. You're the Tramp, obviously. Then again, Sakura isn't much of a Lady..."

"Get to the point." The doors closed and Temari turned to look at me. Uncomfortable, I shifted my feet and tried to find somewhere else to look. I hate the intensity in her eyes right now, why does she care if I'm with Sakura? She threw me away.

"The Tramp was awesome, he had a happy life and just did what he wanted when he wanted. He got around, do you remember that scene in the kennel? Where all the female dogs were swooning over how amazing he was?" Temari always did watch too many kids movies.

"No, I don't think I've ever watched it." Whereas my mother deemed them a waste of time. Instead I watched documentaries with Gaara in an attempt to bring out the best of him or something.

"What I'm trying to say is, you used to be happy and free. And now, it's like you are trained to heel and follow her around. It's sickening! When was the last time you went out and did anything?" The elevator came to a stop and Temari barely caught the door in time while we were locked in a staring contest.

"Sakura has been really busy lately, so we haven't been able to-"

"See, right there! Sakura has been busy, not you. But the leash around your neck is stopping you from doing anything." Temari turned the corner and started towards our destination, our cheeks still cheery red from the cold outside.

"So? She isn't stopping me. That's what you do when you fuckin' love with someone! You support them and wait until they can go out too!" Temari laughed as she pulled the door open, giving me one last pitiful look before announcing our return.

-Sakura-

I let out a sigh of relief, she's alright - albeit she looks pissed off – but she's alright. I set down the book I was flipping through and half jogged up to Tay, still just fighting the relief I was feeling. It's not that big of a deal for her to walk around in the dark, I just need to calm down.

I skipped around Temari, ignoring the sidelong glance that followed me, catching Tay as she shouldered off her jacket.

"Hey," she greeted. A flash of surprise washed over her face as I kissed her more fervently than I had originally intended.

"Get a room." Temari said and I flipped her off behind my back in place of Tay whose hands are full.

"Are you okay?" Tay asked and I felt a tear run down to drip off my chin. Crap, why am I crying? It's not that big of a deal, even if that was the first time either of us has walked anywhere in the dark since last fall.

Ino seemed to hover between us and the living room, torn on what to do. Tay took the lead and led me to the kitchen, excusing us saying we needed to get glasses and ice.

"Oi, look at me." Tay commanded when we were out of site from the rest of our current company. "I'm alright, okay?" I nodded, feeling some comfort in the fact that she was right, nothing had happened.

"I guess we are spending another night here, huh?" She smirked at her own implied joke. "Can you imagine the amount of sex we've missed out on over the past twenty-four hours?" I smiled despite myself, I don't need to encourage her but I can't help it.

"See, there's the smile." Her smirk widened and I felt her hands on my hips as I leaned back against the counter. This time, it was her who kissed me and I felt infinitely better.

"Thank you." I nuzzled my cheek against her forehead, content in the feeling of her against me. "What did Temari say that pissed you off enough for your 'I need to play a mass slaughter game' look?" That look is usually followed by a couple hours of her in the living room screaming 'die, die die!' At the TV screen.

"I'll tell you later, they are going to be suspicious if we are much longer." Tay kissed my cheek and grabbed seven cups.

"Promise?" I asked, remembering our earlier confrontation as I handed her ice.

"Promise." She assured me, grabbing four and ducking out into the living room where Temari had begun to explain the rules to the game.

"Alright, so it's pretty simple. We sit in a circle and when it's your turn you say 'never had I ever' followed by something you've never done. If someone else has done it, they drink, and if it's an interesting one we can ask for details." Temari looked around the 'circle', which is really more of a retarded square, to see if anyone appeared confused.

This is going to be a very long night.

"O-okay, um..." Hinata fidgeted in her seat, she is sitting beside Tenten on Ino's small couch. After a lengthy argument of who is closer to north, which would symbolize the top of a clock and start us on our clock-wise agreed order, Hinata was picked to start. Beside Tenten, leaning on the couch arm is Emi. She was forced to move from her spot beside Ino after it was pointed out that our makeshift circle looked nothing like a circle.

After that is Tay and I. I'm leaning against Ino's TV stand, and Tay has positioned herself to lie back, against my chest. Her chosen spot brought up another argument about the shape of the circle and the order, but she fought it out so she would go before me and it still looked like a circle.

I think it was more for my benefit in her attempt to comfort than her preference on where to sit.

Ino is on my other side, also leaning against the TV stand, leaving Temari across from Emi.

"N-never have I e-ever d-d-done drugs." Hinata turned bright red, as Temari took a drink along with Emi and to much surprise, Ino. Since when has Ino ever...

Tay seemed equally surprised as she gawked at the blonde beside us.

"Really, Barbie?" Temari I knew about, Emi surprises me a little but I don't really know her. Ino though... when?

"It was just a one time thing." She offered, letting her eyes flicker to Temari who had no emotion on her face. Was it Temari that made her? Is that why they have been hanging out after school?

"Yeah, mine too." Emi added, oh right she drank too. Opps.

Tenten pondered her turn, leaning back against the couch cushions.

"Never have I ever been in love." She said after a moment of contemplation. I took my first drink of Mango Vex, (3)along with Tay – who I squeezed gently and received a smile in return. Ino drank as well, after a moment of hesitation. Temari and Hinata rounded out the group, leaving only Tenten and Emi who watched with raised eyebrows.

"Alright, spill it who have you all loved?" Tenten asked, interested in the answers. Tay shifted against me, she is probably worried about saying Temari.

"You can say Temari, if you want," I whispered and she turned a little so I knew she was paying attention. "I won't be angry."

"K-kiba." Hinata squeaked, taking the silence as her cue to start the round of answers as well. Tay fumbled on her turn, looking at me as she tried to figure out what to do.

"I loved Temari," she emphasized loved, drawing attention from everyone in the room like she has just started to table dance naked. "But I'm in love with the girl whose boobs I'm resting on right now."

I felt a blush crawl onto my cheeks and knew Tayuya had a proud smirk on her face without even looking. Temari studied her but didn't linger long.

"Tayuya," I replied simply, linking my fingers with Tay's while our hands rested on her tummy. "She's my sunshine." I left the meaning up for everyone to decipher, only Tay seemed to understand what I meant.

"I'd rather not say." Ino answered, no one protested and simply looked to Temari who was the last in line.

"Let's see, there was Tayuya," she paused momentarily, catching Tay in a wicked smile. "Bethany, Shana, Ashley, I think there might have been a Lily but I'm not sure." Temari laughed at her own joke, shrugging off the appalled looks and one wide-eyed stare from Hinata.

"I-I don't th-th-think that's what Tenten meant, T-Temari..." Hinata said, earning another laugh from Temari.

Emi smiled, "I think it's sweet, she's just a hopeless romantic." And you are hopelessly clueless. "Alright! My turn, let's see!" She clapped her hands together, pressing her lips against them. "Oh, I know! Never have I ever killed someone! There, no one can drink to that."

I stiffened and felt Tay slip her hand loose, shaking as she took a drink and everyone in the room stared at her. I nuzzled the side of my head, forcing the image of Danzo holding the gun to my head away. It wasn't her fault, she was just trying to protect me and I love her for it.

"Tayuya...?" Ino asked, I had never given her the full details of what had happened. I have never given anyone the full details of what had happened and the story has never been released to the public. The police are still trying to sniff out all of his connections.

"She was protecting me." Ino knows something happened, she knows Tay had protected me but she didn't know to what extent. Tay fought off the slight shake she had taken up, worming her fingers back into mine.

"He had a gun to Sakura's head, so I ran him off the end of the dock with my bike." She twisted in my arms so I could look into her soft brown eyes. "Never have I ever regretted it."

The room fell into silence, no one knew if they should drink or not to the never ever Tay had presented.

"Never have I ever... uh," crap what do I say? I ran through a list in my head, trying to redirect the game and get the focus off of Tay. "Failed a test." Temari burst out laughing, breaking the tension as even Tay seemed to face-palm at the amount of pathetic my never-ever seemed to offer. Even Ino seemed to smile as everyone in the circle took a drink and I found myself embarrassed and surprised at the same time. Really? Everyone has failed a test?

"Never have I ever dropped water balloons off the school roof." Ino said, keeping the game going despite Temari's ensuing giggles. Once again, no one drank but Temari asked:

"Is that something you've thought about doing often?"

"I always wanted to do it at my last school, but I ended up running out of time and I'd rather not be expelled from this one." Ino's pranks, I forgot she used to do those all the time.

"Alright, time for the lame to stop." Perfect, what does Temari have up her sleeve now? "Never have I ever had sex twice in one day."

I turned bright red and realized she was looking straight at Tay and I as we both reached for our drinks. Ino did a double take then decidedly looked at a spot on the wall away from us. Temari grinned, taking a drink of her own.

"Opps, I just remembered I have, so instead I'm going to say three times." As Tay and I both raised our glasses back up to our lips Ino left for the kitchen and Temari let out a cat-call.

"Really? Damn, I really didn't think Sakura had it in her." Tay visibly seethed in my hold.

"U-um," Hinata surprised everyone by speaking up in an attempt to quell the rising tides of war. "Never have I e-ever... um." Ino returned from the kitchen, plopping down a little farther from Tay and I than before.

Just before Hinata could finish what she was saying, the power flickered and went out, leaving us in the dark. Even the street lamp that was letting in a faint glow from the road in front of Ino's apartment complex went out, leaving us in a darkness so thick I could barely make out the outline of the people in the room.

"Well that kind of shits on our parade." Temari muttered in the dark and I heard the clink of ice in her cup. Tenten said something to Hinata, but I was frozen and holding onto Tay with a death grip.

"Hold on, I think I have a couple flashlights." Ino stumbled around beside me and I heard her walk down towards her room along with the rustle of drawers being opened and closed.

"Here," she emerged from the hallway as my site was starting to adjust to the dark so I could make out basic shapes in the dark. She handed one to Tenten and Hinata, who had apparently decided they should head home before the storm got any worse.

She also handed another to Emi who had agreed with the sentiment and was going to head out with them. Unfortunately, that left us with none to use around the apartment as Ino said good-bye and helped the trio find their things in the dark.

"I'm going to try and find some candles." Ino said, heading into the washroom as Tay helped me to the couch before leaving to help Ino look. Temari busied herself picking up glasses and books.

-Ino-

"Oi!" I jumped, dropping the candle I was holding as Tayuya hissed behind me. What does she want? I squinted in the dark to see if she was alone and I heard the bathroom door close.

"Yes?" I tried to keep the rising frustration out of my voice. That game was a stupid, stupid idea. I did not want to know the details of what had happened to Saku that night on the dock, or how many times they have sex in a day.

I just want to be alone, but I can't send Temari, Saku or Tayuya home tonight. Temari's car is more or less snowed in, I guess she could call a cab but I don't want to force her to leave.

Today was bad enough, how am I suppose to survive another night with her?

"I need to ask you something." Tayuya said into the impenetrable darkness. "Did you sleep with Temari?" My breath caught in my throat, oh bullocks.

~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~

1 – True story, I actually had two friends get into an arm wrestle and the ones arm broke after about ten min of back and forth. His forearm snapped clean in two, was actually kind of gross, I could see the bone poking at his skin. Probably wouldn't have been nearly as funny if I wasn't plowed.

2 – For anyone who hasn't cooked pancakes, when the bubbles start to appear on the top you know they are ready to be flipped, or are really close.

3 – Vex, I love you but you leave me shit faced far too easily. So alas, you must be a forbidden love, as I nurse my rum instead. For those who don't know, Vex is a vodka based drink that is sold in Canada, I don't know if it's sold in the US or anywhere else.

Alright, sorry this chapter took so long to get out – and that I haven't updated TP in a while. I've been having one of those months where I can't seem to stop moving, you know the kind. Anywho, I hope the fact that it's about six-thousand words longer than my average chapter sizes helps!

I hope you enjoy it, I realize there is A LOT of talking in this chapter. Yeah... a lot.

Drop a review! I love to read them! Thanx. Until next time - Kiravu