Hi everyone ! It's been a long time since I updated the story, and I'm truly sorry. College life is apparently much busier than I thought. Enough of my ramblings, enjoy!
The feeling was inevitable. She felt like a fish out of water already after everyone hastily left for Konoha which practically leaving her alone in Kumo. Shikaku, the usually calm and composed man, hadn't taken things very well when he came home and found out that Inoichi had used one of his powerful mind torture techniques to Kakashi. The silver haired jonin was unconscious and despite Inoichi's attempt to convince everyone that Kakashi will wake up by himself somehow sometime, Shikaku blatantly ignored this and told Ino to immediately contact her clansman in Konoha to inform Tsunade about the turn of events. The respond was almost immediate; Tsunade told all of them to come back home to Konoha except for Ino who should just focused on preparing herself for the wedding.
Yeah. Great. She thought that she's ready for this, but she immediately felt lonely the very second her father turned his back on her and walked away from the front gate.
She was worried about Inoichi. She knew that Tsunade won't be too pleased with the development in Kumo, and she was as afraid as hell that everybody will find out her sleeping around with Kakashi. What will everybody say?
Her bond with Kakashi was much deeper than what other people would think, and yet …
Well, she had her doubts.
"Seriously? You're really going to follow me all the way to the operation room?" C eyed her skeptically as they walked along the crowded corridor of the Kumo Medical Centre. Ino sighed as she eyed back the handsome young man with confidence.
"Yeah. Why not?" She lifted her chin vainly. "I've got skills."
"Go bother someone else, Ino. I don't have time for this." He stopped at a vending machine and started to reach for some changes in his pocket.
"I'm bored!" She stated frustratingly. "I've been useless ever since I got here."
It wasn't exactly a lie. She had actually tried to get some job in the local flower shop, and yet, it seems like they already have too much hands there. C reached for another pocket but then Ino handed him some changes. He muttered some thanks before putting it into the machine.
"Kumo held a very high standard in each and every of its medical procedure." C observed the drinks before finally picking a particular brand of bottled coffee. "We can't possibly have amateurs around."
"I'm not an amateur!" Her retort was immediate and sounded offended.
"Well, I don't know for sure." He opened the bottle and took a sip.
"I've got my studies and years under valid medical personnel." Ino told him as she folded her hands.
"The thing is, I don't know the measure of your skills and that's it. You don't join this surgery. Ever. Maybe next time, after some proper tests."
The look on C's eyes was resolute and Ino knew him well enough that he's not going to change his mind anytime soon. It was about time to go with plan B.
"But, but … it's been lonely." Ino said meekly, cerulean eyes shied away from his.
"Darui's been away for a mission and I have no one I know here but you." She continued with the same sad tone, fingers crossed behind her back. "I want to be of a help, to you."
Her eyes looked at him once again slowly, hoping to garner some sympathy from the blonde young man in front of her. Nevertheless, his expression stayed rigid. Ino's inflating balloon of hope popped.
"Solitary is the core essence of a ninja. Judging from your actions, it seems like Konoha had failed to teach its shinobi that." Of course he had to say that. C never, ever passed up a chance on criticizing Konoha each time the opportunity comes up.
The blonde young woman decided that it was not going to win her a bigger chance of joining the surgery if she got him an equally derisive remark, so she took a deep breath of patience instead and gave him another piteous glance.
"I'll be a housewife in a little while, anyway." She said softly. C snorted in response.
"Listen, Ino. Somebody's in a critical condition as we speak right now, and my duty is to cure him. Not your loneliness or your boredom. Are we clear?"
Ino pouted. From the way C looked at her, he was not going to let her into the operation room anytime soon and somebody IS in a critical condition at the moment. She should let this one go or she'd feel guilty for the rest of her life if anything bad happened to that guy.
"Fine. But you owe me lunch." Ino said, lifting her small chin vainly; reverting back to her usual self. C let out a small grin, knowing that he had won the round of the argument this time.
"Make it dinner, the wound is pretty bad I'm not sure he's going to be stable by lunch."
"Is that a date?" She quipped and C rolled his eyes.
"Ino. Please." The blonde kunoichi chuckled softly as she turned around and walked away from him.
"See you at dinner then. You know where to find me."
"I don't." She could hear him behind her.
"I'll find you, though."
XXX
She was having something that she likes to refer as the ultimate pudding experience at the moment. The Raikage himself had recommended her the bakery, citing it as the best bakery in Kumo and possibly the whole world. It was located in a little less crowded part of the village and indeed had the best strawberry pudding Ino ever tasted. The texture, the taste, the presentation, everything was perfect.
Well, except for one … a companion. Ino looked at the empty seat in front of her longingly. She didn't like to be alone in Kumo, mostly because she had almost no one she was familiar with and Kumo hadn't been exactly too friendly on her. She totally understood the reason, she was from Konoha and the idea of alliance was totally new for both countries. In the past, there was only bad blood between the two villages and it was not weird if some people still hated Konoha. However, facing the fact that she's alone both literally and figuratively in this foreign country and knowing that she's going to stay here for a long time was depressing her enough. She didn't miss home; she just needs someone on her side. Darui was supposed to be the one on her side, but A had sent him to every mission possible in Kumo. Ibiki had warned her about the feeling of insecurity that will come to her but she hadn't paid too much attention about it. Ino stabbed her pudding moodily, not wanting it to end so fast because she didn't know what to do next.
It was then when she noticed that someone had been staring at her from the outside of the bakery. Unblemished chocolate skin, white hair, large breasts, and a cute face to match. Introducing Kumo's most lovely, Mabui. Ino didn't know her well, knowing her only as the assistant of the Raikage so she only gave her a brief civilized smile before taking a small bite to her pudding awkwardly. The white haired woman probably thought that the smile was an invitation, because she entered the bakery and approached her.
"Hello." Her voice was rich and soft, she must be good at karaoke. Ino gave her a quick look from head to toe and it didn't even take her a second to tell that the woman in front of her had the heart of an angel.
She wondered if Darui was ever attracted to her. It would be stupid not to, anyway.
"Maybe you don't know me, but we have met before. I'm Mabui." She said as she extended her hands, still with a smile on her pretty face. Ino accepted her hands and she smiled back.
"I know you. You're the Raikage's assistant." Ino caught Mabui taking glances at the empty seat she was standing next to. "That seat's empty, anyway. Go ahead." Ino continued and the white haired woman flashed her another smile before sitting in front of her.
"You came here often?" Mabui asked as she took a careful look at the menu.
"It's my first time. A-sama told me that the dessert is wonderful here. He had good taste, apparently."
"Indeed." She then called a waitress to order a chocolate molten cake before looking back at Ino with an intrigued look.
"How are you, Ino? I bet things have been lonely for you ever since the other Konoha ninja left."
"Well, they have to go sooner or later anyway. I can't depend too much on them." She said in a detached tone. Liar, liar, liar's pants on fire. Things had been much more than excruciating ever since Konoha people left and Darui was assigned on a mission. Yukai was a good friend, but he had been assigned for a three months mission away in Grass Country. Ino had no other choice but to stick with C, who was a little less busy than Yukai and Darui, because being alone was definitely not an option. People judged her with their hawk like eyes everywhere she goes.
"But still, it can't be that's easy." The white haired woman persisted and Ino decided that it's no use on insisting that she was not bothered by this for even a little.
"Well, it's not." Ino sighed. She wasn't sure if she should vent on Mabui because they had just met and Ibiki always reminded her not to show any sign of fragility toward anyone especially the enemy. Mabui wasn't her enemy, she was sure of that, but she's not a comrade either.
"To be honest, A-sama sent me to find you." Ino looked up with curiosity. Is there anything she should do? Finally, finally, she could actually do something useful here.
"Does he need me?" She asked, trying not to sound too eager.
"No." The balloon of hope inside her heart popped miserably. "He just wants to know how you fare here."
"Oh. I'm doing well, fine." Ino said moodily.
"And," Mabui took the silver spoon on her right side gracefully. "You might want to know this: Konoha sent another message saying that they had already sent some reinforcements for you here a few days ago." Mabui told her as she sliced her molten cake. Rich melted chocolate dripped from the inside of the cake.
Her mind already speculated about the members of the team.
"…I don't need people to take care of me." Ino said and once again, she could feel Mabui's eyes bore into hers. It almost feels like she could see straight through all her lies.
"That's very brave of you." Her smile was sincere even though Ino was pretty sure that she caught her hypocrisy just a moment ago.
"It's not like …" Ino's word got cut off by the abrupt arrival of a tanned young kid who managed to stand next to Mabui unnoticed.
"A-sama sent me for you." He said. Mabui elegantly nodded and silently thank the kid before standing up herself.
"Well, then it's time for me to go. It seems like the Kazekage is to arrive in an hour and I have to prepare his welcoming."
"Gaara?"
"It's quite rare for the Kazekage to travel all the way here. He said it's very important though, so I should leave now." Mabui winked and paid her bill as she left.
Ino looked at the empty seat in front of her.
Something doesn't feel right.
XXX
Ino immediately wanted to hug Tsunade with full of love and gratefulness when she saw two extremely familiar faces at her doorstep later that afternoon. She was so glad that the Hokage sent Shikamaru and Chouji to stay with her here. They are exactly what she needed.
"Chouji! Shika!" She didn't bother to hide her happiness upon seeing her best friends. She hugged her chubby friend who smelled like barbeque. Chouji gently patted her back and she immediately felt emotional. She tightened her hug toward her chubby friend.
"I miss you guys a lot." She said.
Chouji, the sweetest guy on the world, wiped a drop of tear on her eyes that she couldn't help to shed and smiled at her. "Yeah, we miss you too."
Ino beamed at him and then turned to her less-emotional friend who just stood there and watch the event that unfolds with a blank face. Shikamaru was never much the hugging person but Ino didn't care as she pulled him into a hug.
"It's not even that long." Shikamaru sighed. "It's been only 2 months."
"It feels long." Ino persisted stubbornly and hit his head because he had to ruin such moment. Shikamaru growled.
"So, is it just the two of you?" Ino asked as she let go of the hug.
"No … there's …" Shikamaru never get the chance to finish his sentence because Ino frowned at him and put the back of her palm in Shikamaru's neck and forehead.
"God, Shikamaru! You're feverish!" She exclaimed before she practically dragged him into the house and told him strictly to lie on the couch.
"It's not that bad." Shikamaru tried to defend himself before her barrage of lectures and nagging but Chouji solemnly shook his head. Ino shoved a thermometer beneath his armpit.
"You should take better care of yourself, Shikamaru! A sick ninja might as well be equal to a dead ninja." Ino scolded her friend and then her gaze shifted to her chubby friend who was ready for his unavoidable fate of long Ino's berating.
"And you too, Chouji. Why would you let Shikamaru take the mission when he's sick?"
"Ino, it's just a flu. You're exaggerating." The lazy Nara once again tried to convince her but his comment was blatantly ignored because Ino was still shooting glares at Chouji.
"I'm sorry,Ino." Chouji answered; learning that it was the best way to sate her.
"I bet Shikamaru didn't want to refuse a mission to protect you here, just like I was. That's why he forced himself to go." He added as his eyes followed Ino who was busy preparing the cold towel for Shikamaru.
"Well, then that makes it my fault then." Ino sighed as she put towels on Shikamaru's forehead.
"I don't want the compress. It's … wet." Shikamaru was about to take the towel off his forehead when Ino held his hand midway.
"Dare to take that off and see what happen." She glared at him before releasing her hold. Shikamaru sighed and chose to concede. There's no stopping Ino in her nurse-mode. He was made to drink Ino's self-made herb tea before Ino decided that the couch was not good enough for Shikamaru to rest so they went to the bedroom.
"Fun, is it? You get to sleep." Ino said as she gave him a cup of warm tea and two black pills. Shikamaru didn't answer quickly and judged her tone first. There was humor in that.
"Yeah, being cold had its own perks, I guess." He let out a smirk as he drank his pills. Ino smiled at her teammate and tidied his blanket.
"Good, then. I'm going downstairs now. Sleep well." She patted him on his shoulder and left the room. Chouji was still sitting on the couch; engrossed with a cooking program on the TV. Ino went to the kitchen and prepared some tea for him as well.
"Ah ... I already have my tea, Ino." Chouji said when Ino put the tea cup on the coffee table. Ino shook her head.
"This is for enhancing your immunity system." She said. "You've been travelling with Shikamaru for a few days now; you're very prone to disease as well."
"Thanks, Ino." Chouji muttered as he drank the tea and winced.
"Bear with it." Ino chuckled. "It's worth it, I promise."
Silence enveloped the room after that and Ino found the moment to be perfect for her to ask the question she's been dying to ask ever since they got here. And the fact that there was only Chouji made it even better. At times,Shikamaru was too protective of her he became judgmental.
"So, how's the situation in Konoha?" Ino asked from the kitchen as she made her own tea.
"It's great as usual." Chouji answered, still engrossed with the cooking program. Ino contemplated his answer; was he oblivious with what happened in Kumo?
"Do you know what happened to my dad?" She asked, decided that she shouldn't play mind games and secrecy this time with her own best friend.
"He got suspended. Six months of no mission and pay. Tsunade-sama was pretty angry, it seems like."
It wasn't exactly good news, but she had imagined worse. Ino let out a sigh of relief. This time, it was Chouji's turn to ask.
"So, what happened between Kakashi-sensei and your dad?"
There was a surge of relief overflowing her when he asked that question. People are still oblivious about the nature of her relationship with Kakashi and she was very relieved.
"You don't want to know." She grinned and Chouji knew Ino well enough that when Ino actually said that, it's always, always better for him not to know. Ino stood up and walked toward the stairs and turned her head to him.
"I'm going to check on Shikamaru. Do you want to come?"
Chouji shook his head, knowing that he didn't have any use even if he came, and Ino headed upstairs. When she opened the door, Shikamaru was already asleep. Ino couldn't help to let out a smile; it was true that she apparently didn't miss home. She just needed company and now that her best friends were here, it felt like everything's almost complete. Almost.
XXX
As much as she hated to admit it, Ino had to admit that C indeed was not an embarrassing companion. He was great looking, and there had been countless times when she thought that it should have been him she got engaged to instead. The thought was always shaken off by the thought at how restricted her life would be considering C's tendency to control everything – which she has too-, that way Darui was much more lenient ... and malleable.
"How was the man from this morning?" Ino asked as she expertly cut her steak.
C hesitated for a second before looking at her with a blank look. "Dead."
"Dead." Ino repeated; sarcasm all over her words. "Very impressive."
"There are times when I forget that you're so great at sarcasm." C glared at her. "All his internal organs were severely wounded. There's no helping him."
She let out a sigh. "I bet it did a huge blow to your pristine record of surgery."
"Gigantic." C agreed. "But that's not the point. Someone's dead here."
"He might not be, if you let me in this morning."
"I don't think so." C persisted. "And this argument will not happen again because you're eating free dinner now." Ino let out a smile.
"Okay." She was actually entertaining the idea of her asking if it's alright to continue the argument if she was to pay her own dinner. However, Ino knew the feeling of failed surgery and it was never a good one. As much as she loved to play around with the strict blonde man, because he was so strict it amused her, she didn't want him to dwell on the surgery.
"So." C started. "I heard the Konoha team had come to your aid."
"Yes." She beamed at him and C let out a snort.
"You seem unbelievably happy. You know that in the future, they can't always be with you, right?" He asked. Ino shrugged her shoulder.
"I know, but there's no use worrying over the unseen future." She said. C nodded because she got a point on that.
"Do I know the people?"
"Yes, it's Chouji and Shikamaru, you met them when you visited Konoha months ago."
"Oh, yes, your teammates." C said. "Who else?"
Ino frowned and realized that she never got to ask about the third person to Chouji.
"I don't know." Ino said. "She or he wasn't home yet."
"A wild guess?"
"A jounin, probably. Someone …" She wanted to say someone who could replace Asuma-sensei's position, but it was too sad.
"Someone who could lead the team." C finished. Ino nodded meekly.
"What happen with Kakashi anyway?"
That question. Again.
The nature of the departure of the earlier team to Konoha was ordered to be kept hidden by Tsunade. All they know was Kakashi suddenly fell unconscious and he had to be treated on Konoha. The Raikage hadn't sit well with the fact that there are incidents happening in his turf without him knowing, but Shikaku managed to talk him out of it, as long as Ino stayed.
"You don't want to know." Ino gave him the same answer he gave Chouji but C definitely was not the same person.
"I'm pretty sure I want to when I ask you the question."
"Then you know that it's futile for you to ask, right? The information was classified."
"Ah, you'll spill soon enough, anyway." C grinned and Ino was about to answer but someone else answered first.
"She'll not spill, because I won't let her."
She froze. That voice. She looked up reluctantly, a part of her wanted to prove her guess wrong but she knew that life wouldn't be so generous.
Of course Tsunade sent Shikamaru and Chouji for her. They were supposed to soften the blow.
"… Good evening, Sensei." She mustered up her best smile.
"Good evening, Ino."
Morino Ibiki grinned at her.
Ibiki never left his post in Konoha ever since the war ended and it's been years since he left his post before he actually did when the war came. The only reason he was leaving the past now was because Tsunade ordered him to do so, as his one and only student needed his guidance. Ibiki was of course too happy to oblige, as it's been a long time since he's itching to personally take care of the whole arranged marriage problem. He had always been an outsider at that matter, had always been the consultant who gave Ino insights. Apparently, the girl need more than insights to solve her problem.
What a troublesome girl, he had thought, it seems like his teachings to her had been incomplete.
"Ah, C, Ino." Mabui, who apparently walked behind Ibiki, greeted them. It was then when Ino realized that there were also Gaara, Temari, and Kankuro behind them. Ibiki pulled a chair next to Ino and sat next to her with ease. The others followed and soon the table was crowded. C looked at the crowd with dismay, but he chose not to say anything about it.
"Are you Ino's betrothed?" Gaara asked bluntly to C who shook his head.
"No, Kazekage-sama. Darui is his betrothed." C said. Gaara nodded in understanding and then he shifted his look to Ino.
"How are you, Ino?" He asked and Ino let out an uneasy smile at him; mostly because Ibiki's intimidating presence next to her.
"I have been fine, Gaara-kun. How are you?"
"I'm good." Gaara replied. "So, where's Darui, your betrothed?"
Temari and Kankuro moved uncomfortably on their seat and Ibiki eyed their movement.
"Darui's currently on a mission, Kazekage-sama." Mabui chimed in. "What do you all want to order, anyway? I heard this restaurant's specialty is its lamb chop." She changed the topic. Kankuro and Temari both welcomed the change of topic.
"The sirloin looked very good as well." Kankuro commented as he pointed at the menu.
"What will you have, Gaara?" He asked his brother.
"I will have the prime ribs." Ibiki told the waiter before he tugged Ino's hand. "Now show me where to buy aspirin. I've had this raging headache for hours now." They excused themselves and went out of the restaurant. Cold night air met them.
"Are you okay?" Ino asked with worries. Ibiki's pain tolerance is great, but it didn't mean he couldn't get sick.
"The Kazekage wanted to marry you and he was here to call the wedding off." Ibiki ignored her question. Ino's eyes widened in surprise.
"You have to refuse him and tell him that you love Darui and you like your place here."
"Yes, Sensei." Ino answered obediently.
"Good. Because he'll surely bring it up over dinner."
"How do you know?" Ino asked but immediately regret her question. The answer was rhetorical and Ibiki once again ignored her question.
"Anything else you want to ask?"
"… Yes. How's my dad?"
"We'll save them after dinner. Don't worry, I'll make sure we have a good , long chat about it." He flashed a sadistic grin that was unique to him.
They went back to the restaurant and the food had already come. Ino couldn't help but to take a glance at Gaara. He was eating quietly while his siblings are busy chatting with C and Mabui. Ino sighed. She could actually understand why the Kazekage wanted to marry her. He saw her as the good memory he had at his childhood and Ino felt that it was unfair just to refuse him straight out like what Ibiki told her.
It would be cruel to give him false hope as well.
"Gaara-kun," Ino suddenly spoke up. "You are awfully quiet tonight." She smiled. Gaara looked up from his food and met her gaze.
"I'm sorry." He said. "There's something that's been on my mind."
"Care to share?"
"Ah, it's just a random thought. You shouldn't concern yourself with it."
"Oh please, tell us, Kazekage-sama." Mabui said lightheartedly. Gaara looked at Ino and then looked away.
"I want to marry you, Ino." He said suddenly, much to everyone's surprise – except for Ibiki, of course-. Ino's eyes widened in surprise, she didn't think that Gaara would just blurted it out like that.
"I am currently trying to find a way to free you from this arranged marriage, so please wait for me." Ino already opened her mouth out of reflex but then she closed it again. She could feel pity for Gaara. He had such gruesome childhood and despite whatever happened in the future, his past is not something he could erase. Then, just when he met her again, his hope had to be crushed by the situation.
Ino wanted to cry just thinking about it. The nature of relationship she wanted to be in with Gaara was the kind she had with Shikamaru and Chouji; like siblings. She had this weird urge to protect him emotionally, the urge to never let anyone hurt his feeling.
Life had to be the most insensitive, of course. She had to be the one that hurt his feeling, the one that breaks his heart.
"Well, that was …" C was about to say something but his shin was kicked by Ino under the table. She shot him a reprimanding glare and gratefully, he understood and didn't say anything more.
"Gaara-kun …" She trod with her words carefully. Gaara looked at her, and once again their matching eyes met. Flashback of what happened back then in their childhood flooded Ino's brain, it was but one event in her childhood, but the fact that it was the only light in his
childhood made Ino's heart twisted with pain.
"I'm … sorry." She closed her eyes, bit her lips.
"But I can't." She looked at Ibiki desperately as she said that, hoping for direction and guidance. But the scarred man stayed remote and only looked at her with those black eyes that were cold as nights. Ino threw the napkin on her thigh to the table and left.
She couldn't stay there any longer.
XXX
Ibiki didn't say anything when he got home later that night. Nobody was at the living room and honestly Ino wanted to flee to her room as well. She was dead afraid of her mentor's rage especially now, she had run away from her problems too many times and he was obviously not going to welcome this one.
"Sensei." She greeted him as the man took his long black robe off and hung it on the hanger.
"You left quite abruptly tonight." He made a small comment that Ino didn't know how to answer. He didn't seem angry, but Ibiki never seems angry.
"Gaara took your message very well." He said. "The topic wasn't brought up again for the remainder of dinner."
"I couldn't bring myself to say no to him." Ino admitted. Ibiki narrowed his eyes.
"I thought we've covered the lesson about professionalism as a shinobi?"
"Do you think marriage had anything to do with that?" She couldn't help but to feel irritated. Ibiki viewed the whole problem in professional perspective, and despite how it was right and exactly what she should do as well, she still felt irked. She said to everyone that her happiness didn't matter, that it was all a mission. However, when Ibiki eventually agreed with her and acted accordingly, she resented it.
God, she was such a hypocrite.
"I wouldn't know. That's for you to decide." He popped open a soda bottle and took a sip.
"In my point of view, however, you seem like you love to play around with it."
Ino's expression was somber at her mentor's remark. "Trust me, I didn't have any fun while I'm at it." She said as she gazed blankly at the now half-filled soda bottle.
"I'm skeptic. You seem like having a lot of fun sleeping with Hatake behind everybody's back." There was bitterness in Ibiki's tone that was very rare for Ino to hear. Was it betrayal? She couldn't decide whether she should be amused by it or should be just plain scared.
"I was waiting for the topic to finally get here." Ino retorted wearily. "I've been waiting all day for you to get angry."
The chuckle that Ibiki let out was dark and hollow.
"I don't swing that way. I played more elegantly." Ino winced at the words elegant. What Ibiki had meant by elegance was psychological torture that at times let people go crazy with guilt, or shame, or all those other unpleasant feelings. Everybody had one, he once said. A crazy sadist might not be able to feel guilt, but they usually are so vain they couldn't bear a single moment of humility. Ibiki always knew the right point to press at each person. He had taught her a lot in the past and Ino had seen too much, had heard too much. She had seen how his mentor applied little mind trickery in his daily life, how he managed to uphold his reputation, how he infected her with a strange fondness to playing psychological games with people. He taught her how to be manipulative and to her own surprise, she managed to develop the technique very well.
It proved to this day that that ability didn't help much with how her life goes, apparently. She was pretty sure she could get whatever she wants with that ability at her disposal, but in the end, she didn't know what it is she wants.
"Maybe you just want to delve with the problem and let every guy chases you to the end of the world." His mentor's heavy voice broke her train of thought and Ino looked at him with a flushed face. He could read what she was thinking like a book, and she was the mind reader between the two.
"Are you angry?" She asked, looking at his scarred face curiously. Ibiki reached for the remote and turned the TV on. "About Kakashi?" She hopefully added.
"No. But Hokage-sama was furious enough."
"She knows?" Fear was thick in her voice and Ibiki stifled a chuckle at that.
"No." His answer was in a bored tone, as if he had been asked this question for several times.
"Hokage-sama was furious because Inoichi left so abruptly and cause ruckus, not because you slept with Hatake. As for me, it's not that hard put piece and piece together: an angered Inoichi, an unconscious Hatake and a history." He finally settled with a sport channel but he only looked at it blankly. Ino shifted uncomfortably on her couch.
"Is this one of your psychological games? You know me. I'm dying to see your reaction. Do you wait for me to actually beg for it?"
Ibiki grinned. "Maybe. I find it amusing that after years under my tutelage, you're still practically wrapped around my little finger."
Ino snorted. "I would like to know if you're angry with it or not. No games."
"I'm astonished." Ibiki admitted. "Kakashi was not quite the choice I'd imagine you'd make."
"And who do you think I'd choose?"
Ibiki lifted his shoulder apathetically. "A lot of names can come to mind, but certainly not Kakashi. You're not the type to repeat the same mistake over and over after all."
"Kakashi is not a mistake." Ino muttered under her breath. Ibiki turned his head at her.
"No, he isn't. The mistake is that you sleep with him." He eyed her in dismay and Ino suddenly felt small.
"The mistake is that you complicate everything despite knowing what already lies ahead of you." Ibiki changed the channels again and there was silence. The outburst she had feared never came.
"It's because I don't know what I want." Ino said meekly. Ibiki let out an exasperated sigh.
"There was once a man who could have two different paths of life." He began. "One path was one where he chooses to be a shinobi, serve under his village, and eventually be a memorable hero. The other was one where he chooses to be a normal civilian, make a business on his own, form a small family, and eventually be a great father and business owner. Both have happy endings, but it had to be walked separately."
Ino could see where he is getting at.
"You can't be too greedy, Ino. Make up your mind, and pick the path you're going to walk." Ibiki said as he eyed her student who looked back at him. She was desperate, he could tell.
"Once you've chosen, stay true to that path and never look back. Then in the end, you'll eventually find your own happy endings."
XXX
Ino stabbed her pudding moodily. Ibiki was right, she was too greedy and she hated herself for that. She wants to be the respectable wife of the Raikage, but can she give away the warmth of Kakashi's embrace? Can she let go of those butterflies in her stomach everytime Sasuke gave her a grin? Can she let go of those urges to protect Gaara? Can she let go of the prospect of living a fun life together with Genma? Can she …
Ah. Wait. She had to be able to let go of everything but one and that was the hardest part. Now that Ibiki had said it, she hated the greedy part of her more and more.
"I'm sorry that it takes me so long." The voice that greeted her was deep, one that was still unfamiliar to her ears. "I bet it's dull to wait for me here."
Ino looked up and gave the dark, muscular man in front of her. Darui was handsome in his own way, his appearance was charming and there are some parts of him that reminded her of Shikamaru, (the laid-back,obedient, and malleable part ,not the stubborn and judgmental one). She believed that there are more to his personality than he currently showed her and it was up to her to dig it.
Yep. It was up to her.
"Well, hello, my betrothed." She smiled as she gazed into his dark eyes. "It hasn't been that long. Please have a seat." She gestured him toward the empty seat in front of her and he obliged. Darui pulled a chair and sat in front of her.
"So …" He flipped the menu randomly as he was trying to find a topic between the two of them. They have pretty much nothing in common, and Ino was always the instigator between the two.
"How's your latest mission?" Ino asked in a fresh tone. Stories about mission used to bore her back in Konoha, but now in Kumo, she was dying to hear them. When she couldn't do one, listening to it was the only thing she could do to make it all up.
"Eh … it's dull." Darui said. "We were ordered to retrieve some items at the Demon village."
"Demon village? It is the hideout of every criminal in the world."
Darui gave her words a thought. "It's not that bad."
"And what is it are you retrieving?" Darui let out a small grin.
"It's a secret." Ino raised her eyebrows in amusement.
"Secret or classified?"
She had the feeling that Darui was trying to play around with her, and play she shall. Besides, Darui was her betrothed, which is practically an archaic term closest to 'fiancé'. Ino couldn't help but to feel obliged to make nice to him. They are going to be married very soon, anyway.
If she picked that path.
"Secret." Darui repeated convincingly and Ino let out a small smile.
"It means I can guess."
"Yeah."
"And if I guessed correctly, what do I get?" Her hands touched his coyly. It was just a light brush, but with the correct facial expressions and tone, it could mean a whole lot different; a technique Genma had taught her over their past coffee dates. Darui's reaction had been the same with hers the first time Genma did it to her. His eyes widened, such innocent phrase suddenly filled with loads and loads of innuendo.
"Let's just guess correctly first, and we'll see." Darui said as his large hand easily enveloped her hand. Ino smirked inwardly at that, she felt like she managed to light up the spark within Darui. The huge iceberg that was standing between them was melting.
"Let me see." Ino gave it a thought as she idly caressed his palm.
"Was it a scroll?"
"Hmm. Scrolls."
"Let me guess. Was it a scroll containing a genjutsu art unique to the Demon Village?"
Darui's expression didn't change but from the dilation of his pupil, Ino could tell that he was surprised about her spot-on guess.
"Hmm. I wonder how you can tell." He looked at their entangled fingers. "Is it a jutsu? Do our hands have anything to do with it?"
Ino chuckled. "Shall I tell you?" She batted her eyelashes. Darui nodded.
"You sure you want to know?" She grinned playfully. "The truth might be … dull, you know?"
Darui had chuckled at her borrowing his catchphrase. "Tell me, please."
"Karui told me." She said and let out a small giggle afterward.
"You're right. The truth is dull." Darui sighed but there was a smile on his face.
"Well! If it isn't the Kumo's newest couple!" A loud voice suddenly joined the conversation and as Ino turned her head, a shoulder length blonde man stood next to their table. He was grinning widely which reminded her of a hyperactive kid on the playground.
"Oi, Atsui." Darui greeted him.
"How enviable of you, Darui." He said, still in his confident tone. "Being lovebirds in heat in the public and everything." He shrugged his shoulder and shook his head.
Ino narrowed in his choice of words? In heat?
"Don't disturb them, Atsui. I couldn't even take my eyes off of you for one second." This time, the voice was a little bit more familiar. Ino looked at the owner of the voice and met Samui.
"Samui is like me in general you know : blonde, blue eyes." She had paused at that moment, considering if she should tell Kakashi about her insecurity. "With much bigger chest."
As the memory was recalled once again in her mind, her forgotten worries about Kakashi slowly crept back. Is he okay? Has he regained consciousness? It was her fault to let him have his way that day. She kept repeating to herself that that was the last time they did it, and once it's done everything will be back as it was supposed to be. If she had resisted, they wouldn't do it and Lee wouldn't have seen it. Ibiki was right.
She was too greedy.
"Ino?" Darui's voice was the one that brought her to reality once again and when she looked around C was already joining the group.
"Yes?" She answered.
"You were smiling as your gaze was locked on only one person." C said, in his all-knowing tone. "It's your tell when you weren't listening."
Ino looked at him. As expected from C, they merely spent a month together and he could already tell her tell.
"Sorry." She shrugged her head. "Something caught in my mind."
"That's cool." Samui replied. "Thinking is healthy for the mind." She eyed Atsui when she said that, obviously hinting something. Atsui looked oblivious though.
"Shall we join your table, then? It should be okay, right? Right?" His tone was full of excitement as he looked at Ino, She was about to okayed it when Darui's deep voice cut her.
"We're done eating here since it's getting dull. Ino and I planned to go somewhere else after this." Darui stood up and put some money to the table even though he didn't order anything. Ino wanted to fuss about the payment, but she decided that Darui was in a hurry for some reasons she didn't know so she followed him.
"Next dating spot, huh?"
"Yes." Darui said. He offered his hand to Ino, which she immediately took. They sauntered away from the café and after several minutes of walking, Ino finally asked.
"So … where are we going?" She asked.
"We are going to your reward."
XXX
She had imagined all kinds of scenario as they walked deeper to the forest. Reward has broad meanings after all. Was that THE reward or simply the reward? She was midway of mentally blaming Kakashi and Genma when Darui finally stopped and showed her a huge lake with beds of flowers surrounding it at the deeper part of the forest; her breath was still taken away. All the way to the place, the road had been dark, because of huge trees were blocking the sun, but there, the sunlight was shining brightly and because of all the trees, the temperature was just perfect. Looking how the water reflected the sunlight, Ino was suddenly in a mood for a dip at that clear body of water.
"Beautiful, isn't it?" Darui gave her a knowing smile and Ino nodded slowly, her mind was currently calculating the possibility of having a swim.
"Do you mind if I took a dip?" She finally asked. Darui's eyes widened, apparently he hadn't expected that kind of outcome.
"Did you bring some spare clothing?" He asked. Ino shook her head.
"You'll be wet, then. Sorry, but I can't let you." He said rhetorically. "You'll have cold."
"But it looks so refreshing." Ino said in a longing tone. She let go of his hand, and squatted at the edge of the lake, watching her own reflection. A pair of cerulean eyes gazed back at her and not so long after, another reflection was seen next to her.
"It's okay; we'll come back here again next time." Darui's reflection looked at her. Ino pouted.
"Fine. That's a promise."
"That's a promise." Darui repeated. He walked to a flowerless ground and took a seat, drinking the view. Ino followed him and sat next to him.
"So, is it your secret place or what?"
"I don't know. It's not popular is all I know."
"You're right. This place will be brimming with lovebirds if it's popular." Ino giggled, glad that there were only them in such beautiful place.
"Did you always bring your girl here?" She only meant to tease him but Darui seemed to take that seriously, because his relaxed expression went rigid. It sparked Ino's curiosity of course, but she knew to play her cards carefully.
"Not really." Darui finally answered. "There was only one woman that I was with here before you." There was a disappointment in her heart, knowing that she wasn't the first special woman, but she knew she didn't have the right to expect much from him either with the way she is right now.
"Do I know her?" She asked, trying hard not to sound too eager.
"Probably."
"Hmm. Is it Karui?" She guessed and Darui chuckled.
"No."
"Samui?" Women she knew in Kumo were not much, so her guess was very limited. Darui shook his head while muttering something about Atsui would kill him for it.
"Mabui?" Darui didn't answer for a while before slowly nodding. Ino looked at him.
"Hey, is our betrothal …"
"No. We've broken up long before the plan of our betrothal." Darui cut her, right away reading her mind. "She's the one who showed me this place before breaking things up."
"Why?" That one question was out of impulse. Ino was too curious to hold back.
"Because she realized that she regarded me as a brother and mistook that feeling. It's good that she realized first, had it been me that realized that I look at her as a sister first, things would have been more awry."
The silence after that was overbearing.
"I'm sorry that I have to bore you with such dull story." Darui broke the silence.
"It's okay." Ino said. "Are you sure that you and Mabui is over …? I never like being a third wheel." Darui gave her a grin.
"Are you jealous?"
"A little." Ino smiled.
She wasn't sure which one is first because it all happened so suddenly, Darui's finger slowly entangling hers or Darui's lips softly touching hers. Her instinct from Kurenai's teaching made her kissed him back; her thinking came almost a second later. Was it wrong? Did she owe it to Kakashi or Sasuke or Genma? But Darui was her betrothed at the moment, so it was okay, right? Right?
Darui pulled back when she was deep amidst her thought. His expression was concerned and suddenly Ino felt a pang of guilt. How very rude of her to think about something else while kissing a person.
"You're hesitating." He deduced.
"It's just so sudden." She admitted. "It's just ... things are progressing too fast. Faster than my mind could register."
"Are you thinking of someone else?" He asked and even though it stabbed her right through her heart, she kept a poker face.
"Who's someone else?" She gave him a smile.
"Your lover back in Konoha, maybe?" His tone made her knows that Darui was just wild-guessing.
"I don't have one." Ino said convincingly. "It's just so sudden earlier."
Darui nodded. "It's okay. I'm sorry that I just kiss you so suddenly. And I'm sorry if it's too fast for you, we're going to get married in three months and … Well…" He looked away from her gaze, shifting his gaze to the clear and beautiful lake.
"Darui." Ino called him.
"Yes?"
"Kiss me again."
"Pardon?"
"You heard me the first time." Ino grinned. Darui looked at her with astonishment.
"You're okay with it?" He asked. Ino nodded.
"You're right. I'm sorry that I hesitate." She said. Darui let out a smile before leaning to kiss her the second time. Her mind ran amok once again, but she suppressed it. She melted into his kiss; he was definitely no beginner in this department.
"You can't be too greedy, Ino. Make up your mind, and pick the path you're going to walk.
Once you've chosen, stay true to that path and never look back. Then in the end, you'll eventually find your own happy endings."
She decided on this happy ending.
What do you think of this chapter?
Don't worry ! THE STORY HAS JUST BEGIN! :D
There will be more Shikamaru in the next chapter, and of course Gaara won't back away after one shot down! Ahh ~
Will you all kindly review? (thanks for everyone who has reviewed so far, I'm brimming with tears of joy each time my email notified me)
Ps : is anyone interested on beta-reading this story? PM me if you are ;)