Ricochet
It's a bright and sunny day, they are a mere four minutes' time from Konoha's southern border, and they are more than halfway naked. Not for the first time, Ino questions the wisdom of throwing caution to the wind in favor of passion.
It didn't start this way.
They had been more careful about things, at first. There had been rules, sort of : They would not allow their emotions to dictate which missions they accepted and which they did not. They would never allow their feelings for each other to jeopardize the success of a mission. Even in lands great distances away from Fire Country, they would never reveal the nature of their relationship to anyone. They would not go out of their way to see each other when their missions called for them to work independently. And most importantly: not in Konoha. Never would they so greatly dishonor themselves in Konoha. But a season had passed now and they were getting dangerously close to annihilating that last one.
Sometimes the tiniest things could spark an encounter between them - - an action as ordinary as a mischievious tug of the hair or even a sidelong look from either one of them and they'd be lost in themselves. A spark, and things would ignite and flare beyond dousing.
They were becoming increasingly careless, and Ino knows this is at least partially her fault. She has responsibilities to her clan and her department that she cannot ignore and becoming someone worthy of succeeding her father requires training. A LOT of training. She hasn't taken the time to chat with friends in weeks and she can't remember the last time she went shopping, but her efforts are paying off and she isn't the only one to notice. Amidst their usual A rank assignments Tsunade has begun to sprinkle in S rank missions, testing their limits as a team. They've yet to fail, but Ino wonders at times how well Neji can cope with the way things have turned out. Though the days mostly blend into one another for her, she always knows when it's been close to a week since they last indulged. Kisses got rougher, patience got shorter, and discretion would be thrown out entirely. Their regard for timing and location was dwindling; worse still was that neither of them were doing anything about it.
They couldn't get enough of each other, and that truth was both thrilling and worrisome.
They were becoming increasingly dependent, and Neji doesn't care whose fault it is. He doesn't know when their intimate encounters stopped being sporadic and became a regular activity, but he does know that her absence at his side affects him more than he will admit. He has caught himself on more than one occasion snapping at his bretheren on the Hyuuga compound during the rare times when they're given more than six consecutive days in Konoha. Ino has the knack for making him want her at the most inopprotune moments and the closest he comes to resisting her is to not even bother stripping fully. Surely some people have been left to wonder why a pair of mesh shorts have shown up in unusual places. Somewhere along the line Ino became a fixed part of his life, and as her job consumed more and more of her time, he refused to take less of it. He has grown accustomed to the feel of her form against his - to the point that he cannot sleep without her body touching his. It makes his nights in Konoha nothing short of hellish.
Ino comes down from her second high moments after him, back to lucidity and back to him. His bare forehead rests lightly on hers as a passing breeze chills their heated skin. Her fishnets have torn, her top is lying much too close to a puddle of mud, there's dried blood under her fingernails - -
and she couldn't be happier.
Tenten grieves in small ways: her hands become peppered with nicks from her tendency to space out while chopping vegetables. The refridgerator is often empty because she forgets to go grocery shopping. She catches herself staring at her reflection or across the dinner table at Neji and wondering about whose features the baby would have inherited. The already sparse mealtime conversation they once shared degenerates into complete silence and months go by without anything other than sleep occurring in their bed.
And she withdraws.
Little by little she shuts down. She stops watching the Hyuugas train outdoors, stops asking her husband what he'd like to eat for dinner, forgets to ask him if his missions have gone alright. If there are new scars on his body now, she wouldn't know. For the first time in her life, there are days when she doesn't even move from her bedroll until near noon. Days at a time pass with her forgetting to style her long coffee brown locks into her signature buns.
The world is old and small and empty and moves on around her in muted tones of ashe and soot. Even if she had the intuition to realize that maybe - quite possibly - she's crossed beyond the isles of mourning and into the seas of depression, she wouldn't have it in her to care. Depression? Just a word, equally as meaningless as everything else became the day she lost a part of herself she'll never reclaim.
It strikes her one day, standing by a lamptable and watching specks of dust dance in the stream of light filtering in from the window. It strikes her that it's been weeks upon weeks since she's properly cleaned and dusted the house. It's not that it matters - not really - when her husband's away more than he's home and visitors are practically nonexistant, but having a clean house is a matter of pride and damn if that isn't all she's got left of herself. She grabs a dust rag, a broom, and a mop and sets to work.
Her second epiphany hits her four months to the day of her miscarriage. The day begins normally enough: she wakes, showers, dresses, feeds herself, cleans, and Neji returns home. It is after he voices a greeting and passes by her that her sense of smell is assaulted by the heady scent of flowers. Initially her eyes scan the room for a bouquet he must have brought in with him, but when her eyes find no such thing, it hits her that the scent was emanating from him. The shock of that fact snaps her attention like a cool blast of water to the face. She remembers, belatedly, one of the reasons her short pergnancy had been so unhappy: all of her husband's attention had been going to his missions. And unless her nose was lying to her, his attention was going to his mission partner as well.
She tried to reason it away at first; maybe he'd had to carry Ino on his back at some point like Gai had done Lee in the past? But as Neji returned home time and time again smelling like he'd rolled in a field of flowers, it became difficult to imagine he'd given so many piggyback rides. Whatever the circumstances, Yamanaka Ino had been far too close to her husband and this was becoming a very serious issue. As Tenten brainstormed over a remedy for this dilemma, she gave deep thought to the state of her marriage and came to the conclusion that she and Neji had been living more like roommates than spouses.
She was losing her husband, but Tenten would not go down without a fight. She would not give up on the man she'd loved for so long, no, Team Gai was the one team that did not know how to surrender.
Tenten began to actively put an effort into their marriage and breathe life into their stagnant relationship. She started packing Neji's meals again, polished his weapons, and even waited for him sometimes at Konoha's gates. The most her actions garnered her was an occasional kiss on the peak of her cheekbone. Her twenty-first birthday came and Neji brought home a gorgeous bow and arrow set that likely costed three paychecks, but Tenten was dismayed. Her new weapon would never see the heat of battle and after so much time had passed since the days she practiced regularly, her skills had probably deteriorated to an intermediate level. She highly doubted she could wield her weapons as precisely as if they were mere extensions of her arms anymore.
As she dusted the gennin picture of Team Gai, Tenten wondered at how much things had changed since then. Then, in horror, she realized that absolutely nothing had changed. She never knew she could so badly miss something she never fully had.
"What's being a shanohbee like, Auntie Ino?"
Asuka's high voice cut into Ino's thoughts while she flipped through a magazine and chubby fingers attempt to braid a ribbon in the side of her hair. The kid had reached the age where she'd gained a vague (and oversimplified) awareness of the world around her and she had and endless list of whys that needed answering. Luckily, her part-time playmate was well accustomed to her inqueries. Ino had been expecting the kunoichi question ever since Asuka had innocently asked where Ino went when she left Kurenai's apartment. The blonde bit her lip, calculating how exactly to simplify the experience of being a warrior in terms a child barely past their milk years would understand. One day soon, Asuka would know the difference between shinobi and civilian, and between clan and family.
With a family one grew up with two parents who were actually there and probably some siblings. There'd be rules, chores, maybe family outings. In a family, you were born into choice and could be whatever you wanted to be. In a clan, things were much different. You were lucky if you had two parents; luckier still if they actually had time to stick around. Your life revolved around birth order and birthright and responsibility. You did not have fun family gatherings, you had clan meetings - usually politically motivated. In a clan, you were born shinobi, and Kami help you if your dreams lied elsewhere.
And Ino didn't even know where to start on the subject of being a female in a near-exclusively male occupation.
She took a deep breath. "Well, it's a little bit like being an ant."
"An ant?", came the incredulous reply complete with a scrunched up face and Ino briefly missed the days when the child had accepted her every answer without question.
"Yes, an ant. You're one of many others and everyone has their own special job and works together to protect their home. There's builder ants, scouts, warriors...They have a queen too, kind of like how we have our Hokage."
Shino would be proud. Then again, probably not. Prior to learning that little tidbit from the gardening book in her hand, all Ino had known was that there were red ants and black ants. Beside her, Ino felt Asuka pluck some stray strands in her laughable attempt at a braid - - laughable if it weren't for the disheartening thought that she'd have to remove the knotted ribbon from her hair later. Might as well be chewing gum.
"Wow, really? What kind of ant are you?"
"Hmm. I guess I'm a scout. Or a medic ant. Did you know ants have medic teams?"
"Nuh-uh."
"Yeah-huh. Go look real close at some ants and I bet you'll see one wearing a tiny medical uniform."
With wide eyes the girl jumped to her feet and dashed away, the tinkling of a bell telling Ino she'd gone out the back door and into the garden to see for herself. Ino smiled, setting down her magazine and moving behind the counter to grab a full teapot and pour herself a cup. The sound of the bells again told Ino someone had just entered up front.
"Ino?"
Sakura's voice rang out from somewhere around the geraniums.
"Back here!"
Ino sipped her tea as the pinkette came into view, the latter's expression turning comical when she caught sight of Ino's ponytail.
"What happened to you?"
"Four year old."
"Ah."
"Help?"
Sakura smirked and drifted closer while Ino shifted sideways to give her a better look at the damage.
"Well, if the proud Yamanaka Ino is asking for help, who am I to say 'No'?"
"I know, right? You should grow yours out again. Your face is much cuter with it long."
Sakura yanked a small section of hair.
"Speaking of long, are you going for the record of longest hair in Konoha or something? It's on your thighs. This is ridiculous." Ino snorted and Sakura shook her head in disapproval. "You see this? Bangs are supposed to cover your forehead; yours are beyond your boobs."
Ino shrugged and took a sip from her cup. "Rules were meant to be broken. I've been wearing it up a lot lately so I didn't really notice."
The pair made small talk as Sakura worked the knots and tangles free, bouncing from on subject to the next casually until the conversation lulled. The silence was companionable, and Sakura did not notice the change in her friend's mood until Ino broke the silence once more.
"Ne, Sakura. Is it stupid to regret something if it makes you happy? It's pointless, right? Like, what's the point if you're happy but you hate yourself for being happy? I believe in real happiness but I don't think it's supposed to make you feel, I don't know, 'unworthy'. How can it be okay to accept that happiness when it causes someone else sorrow?"
The rosette's hands stopped moving in the golden strands and Sakura tilted her head, confused with the sudden philosophical turn in conversation and wondering why Ino sounded genuinely unsure. Maybe it's the job, she thought. Ino's been working way too much lately. She's probably stressed out.
"What's the matter? Are you saying you're unhappy about something?"
A long moment passed while Ino watched through the window as Asuka dug in the dirt, then
"The opposite. I'm the happiest I've ever been and...it scares me. Happiness doesn't last forever."
Bells chimed and the front door gracelessly swung shut, a bright patch of orange weaving through the foliage and making its way towards them.
"Hey, Ino-chan! Thanks for taking care of Mr. Ukki while I was on my mission-" Naruto stopped short, his surprise at seeing Sakura in the shop evident. "Hi, Sakura-chan."
"Hello, Naruto." Sakura replied, not even trying to hide the questioning glance she shot Ino as the girl stood and went over to a nearby shelf of plants.
Picking up a cactus, Ino turned and handed it to the jinchuuriki. "Here ya go. He was a handful, you know. I suspect some pollenation occurred with the other cacti."
The botany joke was lost on Naruto as he openly stared at Ino for a full minute, much to Sakura's chagrin. Bewildered, he scratched his head with his free hand.
"Something's different about you..."
A vein throbbed on Sakura's forehead. "We're kinda busy here, Naruto, so if you don't mind..."
"Oh right, right. Sorry. I'll, uh, I'll see ya later."
Ino smirked at the last Uzumaki as he made a hasty retreat, but one look at the purple-clad person who followed after him outside reminded her of the delicate situation she was in. In a way she was Naruto, chasing blindly after her feelings and heedless to how someone else suffered for it. She needed to be more like Hinata and try not to be so selfish, though she wondered if it would do any good. No matter what angle she looked at it, from Sakura's jealousy and pride to Naruto's devotion and cluelessness to Hinata's simultaneous hope and resignation, it was a neverending game of Rock Paper Scissors and all three roles were disadvantaged.
"Oi, Hinata-chan! What're you doing?"
The Hyuuga heiress squeaked and immediately turned her gaze away from Uzumaki Naruto's back, instead facing her former teammate and his giant dog. Kiba grinned at her, knowing every bit how flustered she became when someone caught her watching Naruto and not feeling the slightest bit of sympathy for her embarassed blush. Akamaru gave her a customary lick on her cheek, the newly wetted pieces of hair now sticking to the side of her head chaotically.
"...Nothing, Kiba-kun.", her voice nearly whispered as her sixth sense could already feel Naruto turning around to see what was happening. She could even envsion the bright smile he was giving her without using her sight.
"HEY KIBA! HINATA-CHAN! Long time, no see!"
Hinata flattened her palms against the sides of her legs, fighting the urge to fidget like she had in her childhood. The need to shrink away only intensified when the blonde rested a hand on her shoulder and her blush deepened.
Kiba watched the interaction with laughter threatening to spill behind his smile.
"...I h-h-have to go." , she managed to choke out and with a curt bow the kunoichi disappeared in a puff of smoke, leaving Naruto to frown at her departure.
"Why do she always run away like that?"
"Some girls like to be chased." Kiba muttered under his breath with a shake of his head and pat Akamaru. A glance at Naruto's face told him he hadn't heard him. He gestured at the cactus in Naruto's left hand. "Been by the flowershop?"
"Yeah. Sakura-chan kicked me out. I feel weird for saying it, but Ino-chan looks pretty lately."
The words seemed to confuse Naruto as he said them, and he shifted his weight awkwardly. Kiba let out a loud chuckle and ran a hand through his hair, trying to contain his amusement as he recalled the last time he and Naruto had discussed Ino and a certain Hyuuga had sworn they were just partners. He shook his head.
Knew those two were banging.
"Careful, Uzumaki. Girls always look prettier when they get a boyfriend, and I'm pretty sure Ino's spoken for."
Naruto raised an eyebrow. Obviously he was missing something here.
"How would you know if Ino-chan has a boyfriend?"
His confusion only deepened when the Inuzuka smiled and launched into an explaination on the mating patterns of birds.
The sky above was crimson and violet, the moon rising to claim her throne as the sun surrendered his and the stars began to blink themselves awake. Yamanaka Ino watched the shadows consume the village with vacant eyes from her perch on the water tank high above the roofs. To the left of her vision lied the very florist shop she'd just locked up for the night. If she turned her head to the right, she could glimpse Kurenai's apartment. The plants on her windowsill were budding about this time of year. And straight ahead, beyond the stores and restaurants and school... She closed her eyes slowly, drawing a breath for composure, and opened them again.
Come here.
A two word sentence. That's it, that's all she says with her mind and her back hunches slightly with the weight of that short statement. And she waits.
She isn't kept waiting long.
It has been maybe twenty heartbeats when she senses his arrival somewhere to her right. His feet make no sound as he comes to stand beside her and she tries to avoid noticing the hints of apprehension in the lines of his shoulders and the angles of his feet. He is perplexed at her summoning him like this here and has every reason to be. Not in Konoha. Never in Konoha. Though she knows if she wishes it, he will not deny her. They are too far beyond facades now. Instead, she turns her sight back to Konoha's streets and wills her voice to be flat.
"We should end this."
Far below, a team of fresh gennin chase after a cat. Ino's ears catch his sharp inhale and she pretends not to see how his posture stiffens. He does not ask Why. After some measured breaths he asks a different question; one that jars her from her detachment.
"Has your heart changed?"
The very words are preposterous to her. Beneath the stun of hearing them she can't help but to feel offended.
"NO! No, it's not that. It's just..." She trails off, at a loss of words. She can't bring herself to verbalize that she isn't as good at sharing as she thought she would be. Yamanaka Ino doesn't like to be second, ever, and love is no different. And yet she knows she could never force him to choose between her and Tenten. She is not a betting type of girl and 50/50 odds aren't good enough for her. "We should."
His silence is intimidating until she feels his hand around her arm, gently pulling her to him. He soothed away her unease with adoring kisses and Ino chided herself for ever thinking the two of them could just walk away from this.
Neji is not a fool. He knows very well how morally corrupt they're behaving and what they're risking, but he can't give her up. He needs her too much. She's why he hasn't sold his soul to AnBu. She's why he doesn't hide his forehead all the time anymore. She's why he can see himself as more than just his responsibilities to other people. She's why he can actually rest when he's sleeping. She's to thank for all of it, and he doesn't intend to show his thanks by letting her go.
Ino doesn't make any more attempts at breaking up after that.
...information obtained was tainted, omitting the presence of an extremely large, extremely volatile panther roaming the premises near our entry point. Whilst the noise of the animal's charge was significant enough to draw the attention of the Mountain Country dignitaries and their guard, Operative Yamanaka was able to transfer her consciousness to the beast and she and I were able to dispose of the threat. Immediately thereafter we proceeded to...
The Hokage read through the rest of the mission report with mild interest, one of her fingers idly tapping the desk as her eyes deciphered the Hyuuga's ornate penmanship. Although she would much rather avoid combing through mission reports altogether, Tsunade had to admit that she had a bias when it came to Hyuuga Neji's paperwork. Whenever Yamanaka Ino submitted the reports, the summaries were always concise and without any extraneous information. Her partner was the complete opposite; meticulously cataloguing every detail of their assignment in case something dismissed or seemingly unrelated at the time turned out to be important later. It was a rare characteristic among her subordinates but well appreciated when found. It was because of Neji's thoroughness that Tsunade was able to gauge how much progress Ino had made in the past seven months. The partnership was serving the young mindwalker well and she'd shown tremendous growth in tactical manuevering and strategic improvisation. Where she had been confident before in letting the girl lead teams of chuunins, Ino had blossomed into her role as a jounin and Tsunade was becoming confident that she could work just as well on her own.
After all, the idea to stick the girl in a partnership had never been hers to begin with. Now that she'd finely honed the skills she'd need to survive solo assignments, it only seemed logical to terminate their collaboration. Seperately, the pair would complete double the amount of missions in the same amount of time. In mathematical terms that meant more money for Konoha and Tsunade was sure the bright Yamanaka heiress would be able handle it soon.
She would give them a few more months to monitor Ino's defensive abilities and then the Hyuuga-Yamanaka team would be no more.
A / N : Fyi, "clan" (ichizoku) as I've seen it defined in Narutoverse, means a group of relatives who practice speciallized jutsu and/or have physical characteristics that are unique to themselves. Therefore, I assume that Lee, Tenten, the Hatakes and the Harunos are families (kazoku), not clans. I may be wrong. Substantial time passage in this chap, take note. And rife with hints. This is the last transitional chapter, from here on out it's all fireworks. Boom, baby. Good news : I have *quite* a lot of ch 21 already written. Even the dialogue. Also, new poll on my profile. Please vote~