Sweet Chaos

Disclaimer: I really wish I owned Naruto, but sadly I don't…

AN: It has been edited and added to.

Chapter 4

He stopped at the traffic light that had recently turned red. He tightly gripped the steering wheel. He felt restless and for some reason his mind couldn't grasp the events that had just taken place that night. He tried asking Temari to try to get some answers, but her responses just left him even more confused.

"Hey Tem, I'm really sorry about that." Her left cheek was blotched and swollen, courtesy of Ino Yamanaka.

"Shika it's fine, don't worry about it."

"No it's not. Look, tell me what actually happened. I've known Ino for a long time and she may be a lot of things, but she isn't a liar." At least she hasn't lied to me before, thought Shikamaru.

"Wait a minute, are you telling that you don't believe me?" She looked at him incredulously.

"No it's just that Ino-"

"Are you seriously telling me that you believe Ino and not your girlfriend," she interrupted.

"No that's not what I meant," Shikamaru replied in a rather frustrated manner.

"Really then what exactly do you mean Nara." Fuck, he had officially pissed her off. She had a habit of addressing him by his last name when she was pissed.

"Look, let's just drop this okay." She didn't respond and we were silent for a couple of minutes until she told Shikamaru something that he found to be completely impossible.

"Ino likes you, did you know that? Hell she might even love you. She's jealous and that's why she slapped me," she gave a slight pause and then began once more, "I guess if I was in her position, I would have done the same thing." The last part was barely a whisper. She looked down at her lap and refused to look anywhere else.

"Wait… that can't be possible… we've known each other for such a long time. She would never be interested in me that way."

"Why, would you have gone out with her instead of me if you had known earlier?"

That question caught Shikamaru off guard. Sure there were certain feelings that had risen over the past couple of years, but he never gave them much thought. He never gave those feelings a chance to develop into anything that wasn't strictly platonic, but if given the chance would he have gone out with Ino?

"I don't know," was Shikamaru's response.

"I see. It's funny how I can see these things and you can't and you're supposedly the genius. Guess I was wrong about pretty much everything." The blonde gave a slight laugh, yet her eyes glistened with moisture.

Shikamaru stopped in front of her house. She stepped out of the car, turned around and leaned into the open window.

"Shika you like her back don't you? You two would make a cute couple." Her voice was soft, but her face was pained.

"Temari, what are you talking about?"

"I tried. I really did try to make this last, but its over now." Shikamaru simply gaped at her.

"Yes Shika, I'm breaking up with you. I would still like to your friend, but for now I think it would be best, if you know we didn't talk. I need some time to get over you because I really do like you… Oh and one last thing I'm sorry for lying to you… I don't Ino is on anything anymore. At least I didn't see anything like that." And just like that, she walked away, unlocked her front door and closed it behind her, not looking back even once.

The look he had seen on his now ex-girlfriend was full of hurt and sadness. He had only seen that face once before, about a year ago when her youngest brother had been brought to the hospital for overdosing on coke. He hated seeing her like that and vowed to make sure she never looked that way ever again, yet her sad expression was now caused by him.

The light finally turned green. Shikamaru quickly dismissed his thoughts, stepped on the gas pedal and headed home.

"Saki, I'm going to use your bathroom and take a long bath. Hope you don't mind," said Ino, sounding quite tired.

"No problem, if you want a bubble bath, the bubble shower gel is in the cabinet."

"Thanks Saki."

Sakura and Hinata heard Ino lock the door and then turn the knobs letting the water run. They sat in awkward silence for a while, occasionally glancing over to one another. Hinata felt uncertain and uncomfortable, not knowing how she should react towards her former best friend who just so happened to be going out with her cheating ex-boyfriend.

"Um Hinata," started Sakura.

"Hmm?"

"Hinata, I'm really sorry… I'm not expecting you to forgive me or anything… I just really want you to know that I really and truly am sorry. I'm sorry that I didn't say anything before " Opal met jade, as Hinata looked into her eyes trying to spot any hint of deceit. However, all she encountered was sincerity and slowly she felt the negative feelings begin to dissipate. Still Hinata knew that she couldn't let go completely.

"Sakura, to tell you the truth when I found out about you two, it hurt so badly. I really did love him. In fact, I still love him, but in a completely different way… and actually the thing that hurt the most was the fact that I lost two good friends…What I guess I'm trying to say is that I forgive you, but the reason I'm here is for Ino."

Am I really able to forgive her? I mean am I really forgiving her, if I can't fully let go?

The raven-haired girl took in a deep breath and faced Sakura directly.

"I don't know if we'll ever be like before, but I would like to you know start again." This time Hinata gave her a genuine smile. Hinata didn't know if she was ever going to forget that she was cheated on by no other than one of her best friends, however, she did know that it would hurt even more continuing like this.

"Oh Hina, that's more than ok with me," Sakura softly cried. Her teary eyed expression, full of gratitude was completely disarming. She always held the truth in her eyes. Hinata was the total opposite and could never imagine being so open with anyone. Even when she was Naruto, it felt as if there was some sort of wall between them that prevented them from truly connecting with each other. Hinata could see why Naruto chose Sakura; she fitted perfectly with him.

"Now I just have one question."

"Sure, what is it?"

"Why were you crying when you saw us?"

"Ah… um… well I guess I was really shocked to see you with you know Sasuke. I never imagined you to be the type to be with Sasuke. I was also a bit ashamed because well me and Naruto never got around to properly apologize… and to tell you the truth I was a bit angry. Not because you were with Sasuke, but because Sasuke was with you if that makes any sense. I was angry because he used me and now he moved on to using you."

Moved onto using me? Hinata was unsure if she should feel offended, but quickly dismissed the thought.

"Do you still love him?"

"No, at least not in the way I used to. I still care for him, I mean you can never forget your first love, especially after all the years I cared for him and all the history we have together, but I know that my feelings for him aren't nearly as strong as the feelings I have for Naruto," answered Sakura. Her cheeks tinted a pretty light pink.

The Hyuuga heiress felt a strange tightness in her throat. Did she feel jealous of them? Perhaps after months of trying to convince herself that she didn't care anymore, she still couldn't let go.

"Hina, do you like Sasuke?"

The question caught her off guard, but Hinata instantly regained her composure.

"I don't like him in the way your suggesting, but–"

"You like him enough to fuck him. That's kinda funny; I never thought of you as the fuck buddy type Hina," interrupted a certain blonde barely by her towel.

"What? Is it really that strange of me? I mean I don't think I'm ready to be in another actual relationship."

"I understand that you're a kinky little sex-addict, but in my eyes you'll always be a sweet, innocent, boyfriend type little girl, no matter what you do," said Ino as she squeezed her friend.

Did she really just call me a kinky little sex addict?

"Ahhh… Ino… I really… can't… breath… too tight," Hinata gasped.

"Oops sorry, got a little carried away, by the your cuteness," Ino replied as she let go of the vice grip she held on the petite girl. Hinata couldn't believe it; after everything that had happened, the blonde was already her bubbly self.

"Hey Saki, can I borrow your kitchen for a while? I'm really hungry now."

"Go ahead, just make sure that you don't burn down my house."

"Yea, yea ok. I'll just leave you two kids here to hash things out," said Ino as she left and walked down the hallway.

"That's Ino alright; ready to bounce back no matter what happened," said Sakura, voicing Hinata's thoughts exactly. Ino always regained her cheerful self without fail; a trait that Hinata wished she could possess as well.

A couple of minutes passed in silence until Hinata's phone began to ring. She looked at the caller ID and answered.

"Hi."

"Don't hi me. Do you know what time it is?" There was a hint of agitation in his voice.

"Neji, what's wrong? Why do you sound stressed?"

"What's wrong is that it's four in the morning and your not home. Did you forget that he's coming back at seven?" Hinata's complexion blanched. She had completely forgotten about her father's return.

"Shit, I completely forgot."

"Yea, just get back soon."

"Thanks Neji, I will." With those last words, she ended the call. Today was definitely going to be hell.

"Hina, is everything ok?" Sakura casted her a look of concern.

"Ya, Neji just called and I need to go," Hinata responded while hastily stuffing her phone into her yellow clutch. She figured that there was no use to go into detail tell Sakura that her father was coming back after his weeklong business trip. Every time Hiashi Hyuuga returned home, he never played the role of the 'present' father. He would always stay late at work, and the rare times that he was present, he was incredibly terse with his children. Sakura and Ino were always be there for Hinata, but now with the current situation things had changed. She decided that it was probably best not to let them know.

"Ah, I'll walk you out then."

As they walked down the hallway leading to the living room, Hinata spotted Ino lying asleep on the couch and smiled. Apparently the blonde has been too drunk and tired to even make it to the kitchen. Hinata walked up to the door and Sakura unlocked it for her.

"Bye Sakura and tell Ino that I'm sorry for leaving early."

"I will and Hinata thank you for everything. Don't forget to get home safe." She gave the raven-haired girl one of her disarming smiles and a quick hug. She then retreated into her apartment and closed the door. Her actions left Hinata feeling inadequate; she was trying her best to reconcile with her, but she still couldn't warm up to Sakura. Hinata felt awkward and even though she had forgiven Sakura, there are still some things she just couldn't forget.

I'm so sorry for the late update (I know it's been months…), but I do promise to update more often. Also I found it a bit difficult to write Hinata's reaction since I've never been in that situation before, so did you guys think Hinata's reaction to Sakura was appropriate/ realistic? Please feel free to leave a comment and tell me what you think.