Naruto and Ino: Key to My Heart
Summary: Like magnets, no matter how far they were, they would always be pulled back to one another.
There she was sitting on the white bench near the changing rooms. Her golden hair was down in curls and her perfectly cream colored skin glowed under the florescent lights. Her eyes weren't exactly looking at him but they seemed so piercingly beautiful. He wondered when she had been there and how she even returned back here.
Who was her date? He suddenly realized that in order to get in, you had to have a date from school. His thoughts headed straight to her best friend: Shikamaru. He automatically felt the jealousy inside of him boil and he couldn't relax anymore.
Why do I care? He asked himself angrily as he glared at the blonde who was still on the bench staring off at the stray people walking by. He wanted to leave like he was supposed to and pretend as if she wasn't there, but something inside of him kept pulling him closer to her.
I'm supposed to meet Kimi, the inner him kept repeating in his mind, but he felt it fading slowly the more he took on the blonde's features.
Why do you have to look so beautiful, he whined softly to himself as a sigh escaped his lips. He looked away as he noticed people were already gone and it seemed as if she was the only one there besides himself.
"Naruto," he heard her voice and a part of him told him to run or he'll get caught while the other part told him to talk it out and face her again.
He gulped down hard and closed his deep blue eyes.
What should he do? He couldn't face her now after what happened and how she didn't even want to say hi to him. He felt the anger in him rising out of his mouth and before he could stop it, he spoke out not to kindly.
"What!"
Ino was taken back a bit by the bark of his voice and she almost regretted calling out to him. She stood softly and stared at the man who seemed so different from the cute and kind Naruto she once knew.
"It's been a long time..." she spoke softly as she continues to take steady breaths, "... How are things?"
She could see his eyes shifting around him as if he was afraid of something or someone. She couldn't fight the bubbly feeling that was arising every time she looked at him, yet she knew things were long gone and done. She still felt the pain and the cascading tears that fell when she read the last letter from him. Ino never knew how much or how many times her heart could break and she could still be alive, but she was. The blonde beauty accepted the truth and only hoped the best for him, whether he knew it or not.
"You look good," she complimented hoping for a reply.
"You look beautiful," he blurted out only to suddenly look away embarrassed. Yet, Naruto could see from the corner of his right eye that she was blushing and he felt his heart beating even faster than it was before.
"Thank you Naru-kun," Ino gave off a sweet giggle that caused the blonde man to face her once more with the red hues gracing his cheeks.
Naruto knew in his heart that he would never forget the beautiful blonde in front of him, but he also knew that he'd get hurt again.
"Don't call me that," he mumbled out loud frowning sadly.
"Why?" she asked confused until she remembered what had happened.
"I don't deserve to call you that," she whispered out sadly as she looked away for a moment before facing him again, "... Sorry."
She watched him carefully and noticed the hurt on his face. Why did he feel hurt? Wasn't it her that should feel the pain from saying something that was out of line?
"You..." the blonde started to say but his voice stopped abruptly feeling himself drown into the blues of her eyes.
Don't fall again, his inner voice screamed, but the more he fought the faster he fell.
"Ino..." he started again unsure where his mouth was taking him, "... My heart is breaking..."
Ino stared slightly shocked as she felt the tingle of sadness and guilt wash over her. She took a few more steps until she was face to face with the blonde male.
"Mine is too..." she confessed understanding his pain.
"No it isn't," Naruto barked back angrily.
He tried to stay calm, but the anger was erupting and taking place upon his voice in which he had no control of.
"You don't care," Naruto accused her, "... you forgot about me!"
"What?" Ino called out as she felt the confusion in her, "... Of course I care."
"You do, do you?" Naruto asked sarcastically as he grabbed the ends of her shoulders roughly, "... You stopped writing to me and I didn't quite understand why, but now I see it..." he knew he should stop his venting and saved whatever that was left of them, but his mind was racing, heart on fire, and mouth never quitting, "... You're a slut."
Ino smacked him, smacked him as hard as she possibly could and watching him stumble back a few centimeters made her a bit proud. Who was this man? Was it the devil or the demons who has taken over the body of a man? Was what he saying truly what he felt? Did he really think of her nothing more than a slut?
"How could you!" she started letting her anger get the best of her, "I am not the one to be blamed Naruto, you stopped writing to me and then all of a sudden I get a letter saying how much you hate me and never wanted to see me again! What am I suppose to say back?" she screamed angrily holding back the inevitable tears.
Naruto felt the pain searing through his cheek hitting his beating organ. He admitted that sometimes he did felt that way toward the blonde beauty, but as he stare helplessly at her, he felt the anger wash away into guilt.
"I did write..." was only a soft whisper from his lips as he continue to stare at what a mess he had created.
"I never received them," she said angrily as she turned around, "... And I don't care anymore."
Though it was only a whisper, Naruto heard it ringing in his ears as the words tickled his nerves leaving a burn. He noticed her walking away and he felt like everything was fading and he was helpless to stop it.
Are you going to let her go? A voice asked.
Of course he is! She has caused enough pain in his life! Another argued angrily.
But he loves her, why would he throw it all away? Isn't this love worth fighting? The first voice asked again.
He did fight and look where it's gotten him, the other voice stated.
Yes... But she is worth it, is she not? The first asked again softly and the question continued to rang in Naruto's mind.
Yeah, she is, Naruto answered and finally found the courage to run to the female who continued to hold his heart.
Ino knew it was best for her to walk away. This pain and this hurt were too much for her to bare and she needed to leave. She will have to apologize to Shikamaru and Temari for leaving earlier than expected, but hopefully they would understand.
She remembered when things were so innocent between them, so sweet. Where did it go? Did the distance really cause this drift between them?
He said he wrote, her inner voice explained.
So is it my fault? She asked quietly.
No and yes, her logical side explained.
I really do care about him, but maybe he's better off... She admitted as her steps took her further away from the blonde innocent man.
Yet the more she tried to walk, the harder it was to continue. What is stopping her? Is it the fact that walking away is harder than it sounds or was it because she felt her beating heart falling into pieces? Wait, why does she feel a beating organ behind her?
"I'm sorry Ino," she heard his voice whisper into her left ear.
His touch, it's so warm, she told herself as she stopped running away and melted into those arms of his.
Kimi was trying to be a patient woman, but this was just a bit too long. Over an hour the blonde had disappeared leaving her on the dance floor alone. She constantly pondered on the idea of what was going on inside that beautiful head of his.
Where are you Naruto? She asked knowing that she'd receive no reply.
She could feel the racing of her heart beating quicker with thoughts of what the blonde's intentions lay.
"He doesn't care about you! You're just too stupid to realize it!" she remembered someone screaming to her, "Do you honestly expect him to go out with you? What in the world are you thinking?"
She could hear the harsh truths surrounding her membrane and ringing constantly.
"You know he has a girlfriend who moved away, do you think he'd leave you for her? Comparing you two, you don't measure up," Kimi could tell that he meant it with the intent stare and honesty, "... On second thought, you two should be together because he doesn't deserve her."
Kimi shook her head as she continued to stand against the wall feeling more secluded than she was in her younger days. There was no one left in the building but the lone black haired woman outside near the door.
"Where are you Naruto?" she asked softly to the wind hoping for an impossible answer.
Temari held her breath involuntarily as his face came a mere meter away. She could feel the warmth of his breath tickling her face and she had to fight to not close her eyes.
"I thought we were done with this," he spoke as he leaned back, "... Thought you accepted it, was it a lie?"
"No," she said honestly, "... I... It's just..." she couldn't finish her sentence. She really thought things were going to be okay between them. When Ino left, things were good, but now that she's back... It was harder for her to hold onto him.
"Temari," he breathed out a bit exhausted as he watched her face look as if it was in agony and confusion.
"I can't seem to hang onto you anymore," she admitted looking away toward the floor. It was true after all. He was mostly with the other blonde whether it was with family, friends, or anything else. He doesn't call just to talk for hours like before and he doesn't come over just to relax like he used to.
"You're never the same when she is around," she continued her truthful confession, "... I miss you, but you just never see that or care."
"I do care," he confessed as he took her into his arms, "... And I miss you, but I... I'm afraid for her."
Shikamaru took in a deep breath as his eyes we're half lidded. Him being afraid was raw and very true. After the whole kidnapping incident not that long ago, it still haunted him till this day if she wasn't able to free herself. He knew his heart was beating fast and the sandy blonde could probably hear it, but it didn't matter to him because this was him open and vulnerable.
"I didn't realize it," she admitted holding him closer, "... I'm sorry..."
"You shouldn't be sorry. It was the truth wasn't it?" she stated as she turned to face his tanned face.
"No, I... I was just angry," he confessed falling into the blues of her eyes.
"Naruto..." she breathed pushing away softly, "... It's okay, I see you with the other girl," she offered a sadden smile, "... She's pretty and she's probably waiting for you," she gave a small push, "... Go to her."
"But..." he whined holding onto her wrists, "... She's not..."
"She is," Ino interrupted, "... Go to her."
"I love you though," Naruto blurted as he embraced her once more, "... Only you..."
"So you don't love me?" a voice spoke softly as the two blonde turned to the owner of the voice.
"Kimi," Naruto breathed out as he held onto Ino's hands tighter.
"You never loved me," Kimi cried out as the deep of her eyes glowed, "... All those times you lied, you lied to me!"
She hated crying and in front of him, but how could he have done this? How could he had lie to her and go with another woman? What did she do wrong?
"Kimi, I'm sorry," she heard him say as he didn't look at her but at the other woman, "I... I care about you, but I love Ino," and with his blue eyes meeting her brown ones, she thought she died.
"Why..." she heard herself say beggingly, "... Why not me? Why her?"
Ino could feel the hopelessness in the other woman's voice and she felt guilty. She wanted to force Naruto to go and hug the one named Kimi and love her like she obviously did. But was she selfish? Was she heartless to want this man all to herself when she had given herself to others so freely?
He's too good, isn't he? She asked herself hearing the confession of love from the blonde male.
She glanced to the female once more whose tear streaked face brought the sense of pain to a greater level. She forced herself to stay strong and say what needs to be said for the sake of her pride, his friend, and himself.
"Naruto," she spoke gently as she looked into his eyes, "... You..."
Naruto knew what Ino was suggesting so he automatically shook his head hard. He knew he may
be acting like a child, but he would give up everything just to be with her, she should already know that.
"I love you," he said honestly before turning to his good friend, "Kimi, please understand..."
"I do," the black haired female responded without letting him finish, "I understand your feelings for her," she accepted, "... But what I don't understand is you giving up everything..."
She wanted to end it with, "for her!" but she didn't. She didn't know her and she doesn't hate her at all. Yet seeing the blonde haired blue eyed female standing close to her beloved Naruto was more than she could take. The anger and the jealousy along with its ugliness overloaded her will and her pride.
"Because it's worth it," she heard him say and she stared. She stared and scrutinized those blue hues to find any sign of a lie, but to her disappointment, she found none.
"You'd give up your friendships?" she asked cautiously carefully watching the blonde male.
Shikamaru could hear the arguments ensuing at the waiting area where he had told Ino to wait at. His heartbeat was racing along with his mind and he was getting tense. Is she okay? Is there a fight?
"She'll be ok," he heard the sandy blonde say, "let's go get her."
The lazy genius agreed as his girlfriend offered a reassuring smile.
Author's Corner:
Yay, I uploaded. I would like to thank every one for reading and a special thanks to 1upHero who was the first to review after I returned. Thank you once again and please let me know what you all think about it. I am a bit rusty, so hopefully it's alright. For some reason, though, I am unable to break the parts up like before... did they change something on the net that I didn't know?
Questions:
1. What do you think is going to happen to Naruto as Kimi steps into the drama?
2. Do think Naruto is really in love with Ino, since this is the first time they've seen each other?
Thank you once again for taking your time to read,
Love Kiwi