OH MY GOD IT'S FINISHED!
Hello hello hello! I was planning to finish this on Saturday, but there's this swimming competition I have to compete in last Sunday, so I've been training harder than usual for the last week. Hence the late chapter! (ps: no, I didn't win. You really can't win a competition with just a week of training apparently)
Thanks for everyone who's been reviewing/favoriting/following my story so far. I am depending on you to give me moreeee! *is a review addict*
OH and also DoubleRainbowRainbow is currently working on the unbeta'd chapter, so those previous chapters will be beta'd soon! No more grammatical mistakes! Yay!
Enjoy!
Yes.
Naturally, that was the first thing that came to his mind upon hearing Tenten's hopeful question. Neji had liked Ino -albeit secretly- for years and never showed it. Even after he gained the knowledge of Ino's arrangement, he still couldn't show it, he didn't have it in him to be anything else to Ino than he usually was toward her, no wonder Ino thought he hated her. Thus, a second chance does sure sound refreshing. In his mind, he promised himself thousands of things about what he'd do if Ino were out of this ridiculous arrangement. He would be nicer to her. He would be more patient with her. He would … throw away the mask he always wore in front of her.
He would be honest.
Deep down, Neji never agreed with the arrangement despite his pronounced support with it. However, what kind of a shinobi is he if he couldn't sacrifice things as fickle as love for the good of the village? In the end, Neji shook his head and gave Tenten a stern look.
"Of course no." His voice was determined and sure, somehow betraying his chaotic mind before.
The expression of Tenten's face afterward urged him to explain everything. He needed to explain it to her. He needed to explain that in the end, Konoha has to always come first. He needed to explain that the fate of thousands of people who lives in the village might be affected by their foolish decision over some stupid crush.
Stupid crush.
They could all dream about the day when the arrangement miraculously get cancelled, but would it even mean that they get to be with the one they love? All they'd get is another chance, and for such a small reward, they had, indirectly, wished an ill wish toward Konoha. The war was still fresh in everyone's memory, right? It's very real and a war between Kumo and Konoha was a real possibility. So, who were they to decide that their chance of love weighed more than the rest of the two villages?
It was the perfect argument, so obviously Tenten could find no rebuttal for that. Her face was conflicted, but Neji knew his friend very well. She wasn't selfish. She would never put the rest of the village in jeopardy just for the sake of herself. She would understand.
"We are shinobi." Neji began with his explanation.
"Yes. I know what you're going to say. The answer is yes, I'm ready to throw away my life for Konoha at any time at any day. I'm ready to kill anyone who might danger the prosperity of Konoha at any time at any day. But …"
"Even if it's Darui?" Neji interjected. Tenten's eyes flickered. It was obvious that she hadn't expected that question.
She lingered in her answer. "Even if it's Darui."
"Good. He's just a guy you know from two days ago." Neji nodded. Tenten closed her eyes. She looked like she was conflicted about something else. Neji wanted to ask what, but he didn't want to preach too much into his friend's life. It was weird enough talking about feelings and all those gooey stuffs with her. He never talked about his feelings to anybody.
"So, are you willing to do the same?" Tenten asked him. Neji arched his eyebrows which pretty much told Tenten his obvious answer. The girl nodded absently.
"Even if it's Ino?" She asked once again.
There was no hesitation in his affirmation. "Of course."
"Does your feelings for her change a little bit because of Kakashi?" She frowned. His lilac eyes flitted for a moment.
"No." Neji answered sternly. "It's because I'm a Konoha shinobi, Tenten."
There was a pregnant pause between the two of them as the sun continued to scorch the whole training ground. Neji was lost in his own thought, which mostly was regarding his feeling for Ino. When he said that he'd undoubtedly kill any traitor for Konoha if requested, including Ino, he had been completely sure. However, there was a vague taste of lies in his mouth when he told Tenten that it wasn't because of Kakashi.
Yes, Neji still loved Ino, he knew that very well. However, Kakashi just had so much upper hand, he couldn't help but to envy him. Ino went rushing back to Konoha as soon as she heard that the silver haired man was awake and tried her best to cure him. The man was planned to ascend the Hokage throne too, soon. How could he fight against that? Nonetheless, he had willed himself to be honest with her. He'd tell her that how he'd been to her, which sometimes was not nice, was because he had this feeling for her and didn't know what to do with that, he'd then apologize for all the mean things he said to her, then he'd tell her his feelings. He'd confess.
Of course, that was assuming that the arrangement was cancelled.
"You're saying that you're supporting this marriage, until the end?" Tenten began again.
There was a lump on his throat as he was just thinking the exact opposite of it.
"Yes."
"No matter what?" Tenten asked again, as if doubting him. Neji let out an irritated sigh.
"Yes, Tenten. And I believe that you should do the same as well."
"Even if she came to your door, crying, begging to be saved, you'll just cold heartedly hand her back to Darui?"
Neji swallowed.
XXX
Those eyes couldn't possibly be any bigger and wetter than that. He could feel something within him got ready to explode as he opened the door for her. Her arrival to his home had been a surprise, but this … this had been a completely unexpected turn of event that his genius mind could never predict.
Shikamaru sighed as he muttered his most used word in the world. "Troublesome."
Ino blinked once again. "Please let me in."
What is it with her? The moment she knocked on his door with eyes as big as the sun and as wet as the rain, lush lips pouting, and her body language screaming vulnerability, she must have known that it would set something off … or on within him.
She knew that he liked her. How could she … Oh. Unless that was the exact thing she wanted to happen.
"What do you want?" He asked as he gave her a space to walk pass him and excuse herself into his room. Ino stopped for a moment before she plopped onto his bed, face down. Shikamaru patiently waited for her to answer and not so long after, she turned around and gave him a look.
"I need your help."
Another groan and another 'troublesome' was muttered.
"Please."
It wasn't that he wasn't familiar with this kind of scenario. In fact, it had almost been a classic for this had been going on since they were nothing but mere toddler. Back then, it was for things like helping her hide this expensive pot she broke, or later, gluing said pot so that Inoichi wouldn't realize that it's broken. Back then, she promised him a candy or a done homework. Now, she gave him the view of her sprawled on his bed.
That one, manipulative woman.
"What do you need?" He asked in resignation. A small smile spread across her lips as she sat up. Her previously wet, big eyes which were begging for help were now shining with excitement. Didn't matter, still gave him the same weird sensation.
"I need your help to make sure that my marriage with Darui goes smoothly."
The moment that name was mentioned in the conversation, everything was ruined. Shikamaru felt something deflated within him. Ino knew this as well, because she approached him and held his wrist tightly.
"Please, Shika. I don't know or have anyone else to turn to."
Those big, wet eyes were back. Shikamaru felt like a toy being swung side to side so easily.
"Explain." He said. Ino tugged his hand so that he'd sit next to her on his bed and gave him another excited look.
"But you have to promise me that you won't tell anyone about this."
"Who would I tell, anyway?" Shikamaru groaned. "How troublesome."
"I don't know. Still, it's a secret!" Ino told him sternly. "Promise me."
"I promise I won't tell anyone." He promised her in a dull, bored tone. That was enough to satisfy her though. She leaned her body closer to him, subsequently filling his nose with her signature lavender and milk perfume. Shikamaru closed his eyes.
This was unfair.
Ino was being unfair to him. In the past, she was forgiven, because she was clueless of his feelings for her. Now, she was using her charm to get him to help her securing her marriage with Darui. How cruel could she be?
"So … Ibiki and Sai are working together in order to get my arrangement cancelled. They have the brain of Ibiki over there so I figure I'll find someone with a bigger brain to outdone him. It's yours, of course."
"Hmm. Does it ever occur to you that it might be more advantageous for me to join that side?"
Ino pouted. "But you're the only one I can rely on now."
Shikamaru sighed. He knew she was stroking this ego he thought he didn't have. He knew she knew that part of the reason he loved her was because she leaned on him. He knew she knew that that made him felt more like a man.
"You're cruel, you know that right?"
A playful smirk was curved on her lips. "Come on, you know me. How come I know that you have feelings for me and not take advantage of that?"
"Women." He cursed. Ino let out a feminine giggle.
"I don't want to help you with that." Shikamaru admitted.
"Please." She blinked. Shikamaru chose the smart way to avoid that look; he looked away.
"No."
"I'll give you a kiss."
His heart skipped a beat. "You can't make that a currency."
"Two kisses?" She chose to ignore him and up the ante instead.
"Ino …" Shikamaru groaned. He could feel her smiling mischievously next to him.
"At least, just hear me out first." Ino said. "Even if you don't want to help me, help our friends! They were all helplessly manipulated by those two."
Shikamaru frowned. Scheming and manipulating was never his forte, or at least he never really tried. It was more like Ino's thing, but when his friends were involved, Shikamaru couldn't help but to be intrigued. As he was saying, it's not that he can't, he wouldn't. After all, when one's IQ had surpassed number two hundred, everything was easy.
"Continue."
She told him everything and it had sounded ridiculous. How could Ino said with a straight face that Sakura and Lee was going out at Sai's request? To think that it was for the sole purpose of getting Tenten and Darui together, as well. The chances for them to bond are actually slim, right? The plan sounds unnecessarily elaborate and for Ino to get the idea of it from Sasuke … It made Shikamaru had a hard time believing it even more.
"Instead of trying to antagonize Ibiki and Sai, why don't you look back at Sasuke for a second? Maybe it was him all along. Maybe he's the one who's trying to make you paranoid and all."
Ino rolled her eyes upon his comment. "You do never like Sasuke."
Shikamaru groaned. "It's not the matter of me liking him or not. Think about it."
"How will it benefit him, anyway? All I want now was to get this marriage secured, more than ever." Ino folded her hand.
The silence afterward was on his part. He was expected to say something, but he didn't. Shikamaru tried to digest Ino's words slowly, words per word, syllable per syllable. There was no other way to comprehend it.
It was what it was.
Shikamaru closed his eyes, the query he had been wanting to ask for so long was at the tip of his tongue. "Why?"
His question had been simple, but it had been loaded with so many meanings, so many bottom lines, so many questions behind that one simple word. A set of azure eyes darted back to him warily, and at that point, Shikamaru realized that Ino knew all that too.
She shifted uncomfortably against the mattress. "Why what?"
"Why do you want to march on with this marriage arrangement?"
They shared a look. Shikamaru knew exactly what's on Ino's mind. She wanted to answer that it's because of it's her duty to strengthen Konoha's relation with Kumo. She wanted to answer that it's because she's a shinobi who had to follow her mission responsibly. Nonetheless, they both knew that it's not that. Ino didn't give a damn about politics.
"I can't let Ibiki control me like this." She whispered, as if she was scared that somebody would overhear them.
Shikamaru scowled. "He's doing you a favor."
"What favor exactly?"
"To get out of this marriage. You've been acting all rash what with your sudden decision to Kumo and sealing the deal with the arrangement, and I know you regret it." Ino let out a dramatic gasp but Shikamaru chose to ignore it and move on. "Admit it, Ino. You regret it. Why else would you want to come back to Konoha if it isn't for a loose end? Then Ibiki came to save you. So why don't we all just sit back and see how it happened?"
"I chose that path, Shikamaru. Regret it or not, I chose that path." Ino fumed, her azure eyes burned with rage. "I don't expect you or everyone else to support me, but I expect him, my teacher, to support me. He's the one who told me to choose my path and never look back! How could he just betray me like that because what I choose happen not to suit his taste?! I am not just a variable Ibiki can control. I am me. I make my choice."
"So you prefer to live all your life in regret rather than let Ibiki take control of the situation for the better."
"Oh, please." She snorted. "Nobody gets to decide what's best for my life. Not you. Not Ibiki."
Shikamaru took a deep breath. How could she just … be like that? How selfish could this woman be?
"You don't get married only to prove a point!" He yelled.
Ino looked at him with a bewildered look, definitely startled at his sudden change of demeanor.
"How long do you plan on torturing me like this? You know I love you." There was a lump on his throat when he said that sacred word out loud. "Yet I let you go. Fine, if you wanted to marry that … that man you barely know. Fine, if you did that only to run away from Sasuke. Fine, if you chose to abandon me here alone. But, I beg you, Ino, please, don't rave about it with me. Don't ask me to choose your side over Ibiki's because I can't. I'm a man, Ino. I have my limits."
He was yelling at her. Loudly. After all those years of their friendship, he was always the one who got yelled at. There were a lot of times when Shikamaru was irritated with her, but he could always keep it civilized. He was the calm and composed one. Ino was just as stunned with his sudden change of demeanor. He could feel her shuddering away from him and he wanted to reach her, tell her that it was an accident. That he didn't mean to scream at her, but he couldn't because he had meant it.
He had meant it all.
"I …" Ino began. "I'm so sorry. I think … despite everything that happened, we can go back to how we used to be."
He wanted to agree with her, to tell her that 'yes, we can go back to normal' but he didn't say any of that, because no, they couldn't go back to how they used to be.
"No, we can't." His voice was husky from all the yelling. He wanted to soothe the explosive emotion he had finally indulged himself upon, but he couldn't.
"Why?"
"You're cruel, aren't you, Ino?" He had said that a lot of times, but this time, Ino knew that he meant each and every word of it. "How far do you want me to go? Do you want me to get on my knees and bow my head to the ground? Do you want me to break before you realize my love for you is real?"
She shook her head as tears started to trickle down her face. "No, I don't want that."
"Then tell me why you act like you're clueless to my feelings!"
"Shika, I'm sorry." She stuttered as she tugged his shirt. "I think it's harmless. I think you're just going to be fine, because you're my best friend Shikamaru … Yet, you're right, I'm so selfish, maybe after all these years, I don't know you at all and it's not …"
He crashed his lips on hers.
It felt right. Ino froze for a moment before she tried to pushed him away, Shikamaru brushed her hand aside easily and pulled her into his embrace even tighter. Yes, he knew that he was going to get some serious hell over this later. Yes, he knew that with this, he had caused upon the friendship they have built for over a decade an utter destruction.
But, please, just let it be his moment.
Her rebellious hands eventually stopped as she finally surrendered to him.
"Shikamaru …" Ino breathed. "It's wrong."
He tried his best to turn deaf ears to that as he kept kissing her hungrily as if it was his lifeline. When he finally let go as he ran out of breath, Ino was under him, her face was flushed. Tears from earlier streaked down the side of her face and somehow that made Shikamaru felt like a jerk.
He was a jerk.
I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry.
Those words were ringing loudly on his mind but he couldn't bring himself to say that. Shikamaru let go of her and sat in silence. The silence engulfed them and the only sound in those room were from their heavy breathing. Ino got up and sat next to him, but still, Shikamaru couldn't bring himself to say anything. He was aware of how close their hands are from touching, which was actually usual in the past, but for the moment, even a touch could be so dangerous.
"Shikamaru." Ino finally called his name. "I'm so sorry."
He didn't respond.
"I'm just …"
"I think you should leave." He interjected her.
There was a stunned silence at her side and Shikamaru knew that he was being a jerk, but things could turn easily dangerous with his state of mind right now. He wasn't being himself, and it would certainly not help with Ino being here.
"Yes. I think it's best." She stood up and walked out of his window.
In a matter of seconds, she was gone.
XXX
Lee was practically beaming when she handed him his first lunchbox she'd ever made for him ever. Sakura tried her best making it – not because it was for Lee, but it was because she tried her best for everything- and she decided that it felt good that Lee was opening it like it was some kind of treasure box.
"Curry! You sure know my favorite food, Sakura! I'm so glad you research me!" He exclaimed excitedly.
It wasn't exactly research if you announced the greatness of curry to the world every three minutes. Sakura thought.
"I shall devour this lunch box with so much felicity!"
Sakura gave him a small smile. "Please do enjoy."
Lee nodded as he took the first bite. "Ahhh! You sure are talented! This curry tastes like so much love has been poured into it!"
Really?
"I was thinking of asking you to go to a restaurant for dinner, but your lunchbox is amazing I don't regret it at all." They were enjoying the sunset at the roof of the hospital.
"I'm sorry my shift takes so long." Sakura said. She didn't need to tell Lee that she was deliberately lengthened the duration of her shift because actually she was reluctant to see him during lunch or during whenever, not because she hated him, but it was because she hated herself more and more whenever she was with him. She was willing to do anything, not excepting breaking this man's heart soon, for Sasuke. That was a fact she had known for years, and yet, in doing that, she felt filthy at the same time. Sakura closed her eyes. She had thought of asking the Hokage to send Lee for a mission, but she didn't have the heart to be cruel like that. The ship has sailed for now, either way, she'll be breaking Lee's heart. Might as well be nice to him now and tried her best to be his ideal girlfriend. Not that it actually made her feel better.
She was trapped now.
"It's okay! I know you're a very, very busy person." Lee gave her his thumbs.
"I'm sure it won't happen a second time." Sakura used her assuring tone.
"Oh! You don't have to go such long distance for me!" Lee exclaimed, his eyes were sparkling against the sunset. Had it been Sasuke, Sakura would be convinced that this would be the setting of something romantic that was bound to happen. Like a kiss.
Sakura blushed.
"The sunset is so beautiful, Sakura-san." Lee's voice destroyed any imagination she had over Sasuke. Sakura looked at the sunset.
"Indeed." She agreed.
"I'll always think about this moment whenever I see sunset from now on." Lee said, his hand sneakily, hesitantly, held hers.
Sakura didn't have any respond for that, so instead, she only tightened her grip on his. Sakura took a deep breath. If Ino could do it, why couldn't she? Ino was about to marry the guy she didn't love for the rest of her life, while she was only asked to endure this relationship for weeks, at most. How could she be so weak?
There was a tender silence between the two of them before the door to the room was banged open. Lee and Sakura both turned their head to the source of sound only to find a young woman with long, orange hair panting on the doorway. She strode toward them and despite her ragged breath, relief was written all over her face when she saw Sakura.
"Sakura-san." She said, as if confirming her name. "Sorry to bother you, but please I need your help. Ino-neesan never comes back."
Oh, so this was the one Yamanaka that was supposed to assist Ino in healing Kakashi.
"Yes? How might I help you?" She asked.
"Kakashi-san's awake and he was having this headache and it looks like the pain was growing more and more painful but Ino-neesan said that I should never let anyone in any kind of circumstances but I can't do anything about it so I figure out that maybe you can be an exception." The poor Yamanaka said that in one breath. She panted again after explaining that to her.
That was quite irresponsible for Ino to go and leave her patients be. Sakura wanted to mull over the reason of that odd behavior but she realized that her former sensei was currently in pain and she should rush there to help. She was already standing up and was ready to bolt to Kakashi's room when she realized Lee's presence.
"Ah … Lee, I'm so sorry I have to go." She said, and for the first time, she meant it. Lee nodded and gave her his thumbs.
"Yes, Sakura-chan! Go save Kakashi-sensei!"
Sakura nodded and ran to the door with the Yamanaka scurried along next to her. Sakura gave one last look at Lee before she closed the door. He was still watching her, and when their gaze met, he gave her a smile and a wave.
For a moment there, with the sunset behind him, the green beast looked beautiful.
XXX
The sunlight hurt.
Ino clenched her eyes shut as tightly as possible to prevent the light from penetrating her eyes, but it couldn't be helped. Besides, all the efforts had ruined any desire for her to sleep. So she opened her eyes. It was obvious that her mother had went into her room and sneakily open up the curtain, which was her subtle way of waking her up. Yesterday, Ino had spent the rest of the day shopping mindlessly from shop to shop, and ended up buying tons of things. That was the only safe thing to do that could drown her sorrow. She was thinking about drinking her ass off but doing that might lead her to do some things she'd definitely regret in the future and that was dangerous.
Ino looked at piles of shopping bags at the corner of the room. She sighed. Those must be worth about four months of her salary. Well, at least she got shoes and dresses and bags and pretty much anything she wanted. She indulged herself greatly yesterday.
Her door was being opened and somebody strode in. Ino knew just from the smell that it was Sakura and she was right. Pink hair and emerald green eyes immediately went into view.
"I can't believe you're sleeping!" She began with an exclamation.
"What are you doing here? The sunlight's harsh enough without your wide forehead reflecting it all the more right to my eyes." She growled.
Sakura hissed. "Kakashi's in pain, you idiot pig. Where have you been all day yesterday?"
Shit. She forgot all about Kakashi and instead went with her rampage shopping spree.
"I'm …" Ino would be glad to say that she was doing something important, but the thing is she was not. "I'm having a crisis yesterday. Also, what do you mean in pain?"
"He's fine now, but it took me all night to get him fine again. He's practically screaming in pain."
Ino jumped out of the bed and started to get dressed. "I'll see him. I'm so sorry, Sakura. I should have been more … responsible, you know?"
"He's asleep now, though he did ask for you before he passed out." Sakura said.
"Thanks." Ino said, then she stopped combing her hair. "Anyway, I've heard about this news about you and Lee. Is it really true?"
Sakura looked away and that was answer enough for Ino.
"What the hell? After all those speeches about Sasuke and all?"
She still didn't look at her.
"Sakura? What happened?"
Ino had a pretty good guess of what happened, but she'd like to hear it from Sakura herself.
"Nothing." Sakura said. "Gee, Ino. Why do you automatically think that it's wrong when I go out with Lee? What's wrong with it?"
"So Sasuke's up for grab now?"
A set of emerald eyes flickered. Ino sighed. "See? Why go out with Lee when you're clearly still in love with Sasuke?"
"I figure that while I love Sasuke, Lee would make me happier. Isn't that what we all want? Happiness?"
"Do we?" Ino now started to undress, deciding that if Kakashi was currently stable, than she should take a shower first.
"That's what I want. I'm sorry, I forget you want drama." Sakura rolled her eyes. "Anyway, enough about me! What about you?"
"What about me?" Ino asked back, for a moment there, she had genuinely meant it then she remembered what her problems were. Problems. Plural.
Darui. Kakashi. Shikamaru.
"You don't suddenly spend a year's worth of salary on clothes and bags if you didn't have a certain great problem. Gee Ino, why can't you just immerse yourself in training when you're stressed? Hitting something does help, you know?"
Ino groaned. "For you. I love shopping better, thanks."
"So, are you telling me or not?" Sakura asked as she followed Ino right to the door of the bathroom.
"If you told me why you go out with Lee, I will." Ino dared her.
"I've told you the reason, you just choose not to believe it." Sakura shouted, trying to beat the sound of the water from the shower. Ino hummed.
"Okay. Then I'll tell you that my cat died."
"That's a lot bull crap."
"Exactly how I feel about your story." Ino retorted as she hummed her favorite song to sing during a shower. Sakura's company was actually very much welcomed because she's a good distraction. That way, Ino didn't have to think about her problems because she didn't want to think about it. At least, for now. There was silence between them for a while and Ino knew that Sakura was thinking about telling her half truths. What comes next from her pink haired friend's mouth were surprising.
"Sasuke's up for grab, if you want." There was hesitation in Sakura's words and at that, Ino immediately turned off her shower.
"What?" She peeked her head from the curtain of the shower, suds of soap and shampoo were still all over her.
"Sasuke's up for grab." She repeated, this time more convincingly. Ino laughed.
"Wow. You're pretty devoted with Lee, aren't you? Wonder what he gave you."
At one point, it wasn't even Lee she meant, it's Sai.
"Stop talking about Lee in such a demeaning way!" Sakura said. Ino made a dramatic gasp.
"Oh no, Sakura. I didn't mean to demean Lee in any way. He's awesome, chivalrous, hilarious, and strong, but I always think that Sasuke's more your type. Lee's more like … Tenten's."
Ino knew she had hit a right button then as Sakura audibly swallowed.
"It's me Lee likes." Sakura said.
"Doesn't work that way with you when Sasuke likes me." Ino grinned.
"What's your point here, Ino?" Sakura scowled.
"I just don't think it's fair." Ino said as she turned the shower on once again. "I think we know how hurt Tenten will be over this."
"I like Lee."
"She loves Lee." Ino pointed out. "And she likes him first. It's only a matter of girl's code which I believe you told me to follow."
"So you're going to berate me about how I steal Lee from Tenten now?"
Ino rinsed her long hair. "Maybe. You would have done the same, trust me."
Sakura sighed. "Fine. Come at me however you want."
"Okay. So now you're officially the most selfish out of the four of us." She had referred to the little group of kunoichi they have, of course.
"Wait, what? Of course, I'm not. You're the most selfish." Sakura said.
"I give away Sasuke for you, is willing to marry Darui for the good of the village, and care about Tenten when you steal Lee away from her. How am I the most selfish?"
That was enough to shut her up.
"So I'm selfish." Sakura huffed. "So what?"
"Hand me a towel." Ino said. Sakura reluctantly gave her one and waited for her to dry her body off. A moment later, she emerged from the shower.
"Actually, it's nothing." Ino grinned. "It's just nice to finally get that title off of me."
Sakura couldn't help but to curve her lips into a small smile. "You're still most ass, Ino."
Ino shrugged as she strode toward her wardrobe, picking her outfit of the day.
"I am who I am."
"So, now that it's all clear about me, what about you? What's wrong?"
Ino turned her head to her best friend and narrowed her eyes. "How's that clear? You didn't tell me a single thing, Sakura."
"What other reason I can possibly have to go out with someone other than I like him?" Sakura shrugged. Ino thought about mentioning Sai's name and stuff, but Sakura would easily deny it. Besides, if her guess was wrong, she'd be mark as crazy like yesterday as well. Even Shikamaru didn't trust her.
Shikamaru.
Ino closed her eyes. She shook the thought away from her mind. No. She couldn't afford thinking about Shikamaru in front of Sakura at the moment.
"I don't know. Poisoned or something, maybe? You choose to betray you friend, go out with someone who's totally not your type, and give up on the man you love so much. If you were in my position, you'd know how I feel." Ino folded her hands as she changed into her new clothes. Sakura's presence didn't bother him. They're both girls, after all.
Ever so the decent Sakura though, she looked away. "There are things we can't just explain, can we?"
"No. Everything got an explanation no matter how absurd." Ino replied easily. "I'm going to the hospital for now, though. You want to come with?"
"No. I promise Lee I'll train with him together this morning."
Ino shrugged. "Fine then. Can you tell him that I said 'See, I told you so.'?"
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"He always raves about how he wants to impress you so I told him how to impress you. It's more like a prank but it's so amusing how he just did what I told him. Like running hundreds of laps around the village or thousands pull ups or something like that. " Ino gave it a thought. "Good God, you're right, I'm an ass."
Sakura shook her head. "You know what makes you more of an ass?"
Ino raised her eyebrows. "What?"
"You're trying to take credit for it now."
XXX
It's only been two days, but it felt like it's been forever since the last time she saw him awake. Hence, when she opened the door and the familiar mismatched eyes were smiling at her, she couldn't help but to shed a tear. She had thought that he'd never survive this.
"Come in." His aloof voice caused a surge of memories to flood her mind.
"Hi." Ino strode, strangely feeling like a schoolgirl talking to his crush. "Heard you had a rough time last night."
Kakashi gave it a thought and shrugged. "Eh."
Ino narrowed her azure eyes. "Sakura told me that you've been screaming all night."
"I can see you without feeling the pain now, though. So it's pretty worth it."
"You're saying it's all deliberate?"
"Your father visits my mind."
Her face went sour at the mention of Inoichi. Her father didn't like Kakashi, so it left her rattled to know that Kakashi was visited by her father.
"What did he say?"
"What I have to go through in order to remember you once again."
"And?"
"And last night happened." He said.
She had thought that he'd wake up not remembering her. She had thought that maybe that it was for the better. She's going to marry Darui anyway, and wasn't Kakashi would be nothing but a hurdle if he remembered her? However, Ino knew herself well enough to know that at the same time, it'd be the thing she's most afraid of.
Was her time with Kakashi valuable? It was sloppy, messy, rushed and there's no way they could call it love. He was just a dark part of her life, a mistake she should never repeat. Though so, she didn't want to lose those. She didn't want to lose that feeling when she looked at Kakashi's eyes in the crowd and know that they share something in secrecy. She didn't want to go back to be merely his best friend's student or his student's best friend to him. She didn't want to look into his eyes only to find out that what used to be her place was empty now.
"You shouldn't." She betrayed her feelings. "I'm marrying Darui. It'd be easier for you to forget me."
There was a certain resignation in his expression that twisted her heart. "I don't want to lose those memories. Even if we went separate way, guess I'll still cherish it."
"That's stupid." Lies, lies, and more lies were spouted from her mouth.
"I guess." He gave her an inattentive retort as he reached for the drawer and produced the familiar orange book. Ino watched him read the book in silence for a while before the silver haired ninja broke the quietness.
"How's Darui?" He asked, his eyes were still focusing on the book.
"Fine." Ino answered curtly. Kakashi peered into her eyes.
"Is there something wrong?"
Ino was not stupid enough to tell him the problem. Kakashi would happily help Ibiki at all cost, should he know about the current predicament. Shikamaru was her only chance, but she had been too selfish.
"Nothing."
His eyes darted back to his book. "Okay."
Silence surrounded the room once again. The second Shikamaru's name was brought up in her mind, Ino's thought were immediately filled with the Nara heir. His action before was new to her. Shikamaru was supposed to be calm and composed at all times and yet, he just did … what he did. It surprised her greatly, and the way he coldly told her to go gave shivers to her spine. Ino's feelings toward Shikamaru was probably the most complex things she ever had for a man. She loved him greatly and dearly like a brother she never had just like she loved Chouji, but Ino was not so hypocrite to say that there wasn't a pang of jealousy every now and then each time Temari got close with him. Ino knew it wasn't a sense of protectiveness like the one she felt when Chouji started to go out with Ayame. The feeling was wilder, more primal.
The kind of feeling that she always shrugged off, because what? Shikamaru was a brother to her. Hence, when that night occurred, when he gave her that painful look, she knew she had said all the wrong things in the world. Was she happy? No. She was afraid. She was afraid because it could easily mean the destruction of the perfectly constructed friendship they had built over the years. Then yesterday happened and Ino knew that what she was afraid of was exactly happening at the moment. There's no way they could face each other and act like nothing happened.
Ino shut her eyes tightly as she tried to shake away the thought when Kakashi's warm hand touch her cold one.
"You'll figure it out."
Ino fought back the urge to squeeze those hands back and lost miserably. She squeezed it back, hungry for the warmth the hand offered her. "Thanks."
"Have you ever loved me?"
The question just went out of her mouth like that. Time stopped. Her blood stopped flowing to places. Her mind stopped thinking altogether. Her heartbeat stopped. She didn't know why she asked that question and she was afraid of the answer because even if it's an affirmative, there was nothing they could do about it.
Kakashi let out a small smile. "Don't string people up, Ino. It's not healthy."
"It just went out of my mouth like that."
"You know I wouldn't go through all that pain if I didn't have any feeling for you."
"You'll forget Sakura, then?" Her retort came faster than the ability to hold her tongue.
"I won't forget Sakura." Kakashi said.
"It's just that … sometimes I think our relationship is nothing but lust."
He opened his mask and kissed her.
A surge of nostalgic feeling rushed through her for a moment. Ino closed her eyes, but then the sensation strangely reminded her of what happened between her and Shikamaru and at that, she felt disgusted at herself. At how easy she was. She pulled away hastily.
"Exactly." She breathed. "That's exactly what I'm talking about."
Kakashi gently caressed his cheek. "Then don't waste your time on an old guy like me."
Then, Ino decided that it wasn't important whether it was love or not. There was no need to define what she had with Kakashi. Suddenly the door was opened and Shizune entered the room, panting.
"Ino. Your presence is required by Tsunade-sama now."
Ino raised her eyebrows. "What is it?"
"It's about your arrangement."
XXX
She decided that thus far, his dark eyes were the one she hated most. Especially now. When she stormed into the room to report, their eyes met and Ino knew that something horrible had happened and it was because of him.
"Ino." Tsunade said, her voice was contorted with disappointment and anger. "I'm sorry to inform you, but …we found that these two were having an affair behind your back."
Tsunade gestured to Tenten and Darui who were standing side to side in front of the Hokage's desk.
"It's okay. The arrangement could still go on." Ino said.
This time, everyone looked at her with a surprised look.
"What? The benefit of this marriage is much greater than a small affair."
Ino desperately wanted to ask what happened, but she knew that it meant that she was practically asking him to rub his work on her face all the more. Tsunade shook her head.
"No, I can't have that." Tsunade said. "Our kunoichi is not someone to be cheated on."
"I'll take responsibility for this." Darui said.
"You don't have to." Ino replied. "I mean, come on, it's a small affair."
"Are you having a bigger one, Ino?" His voice was slithery as usual and it crept her right to the bone.
"No." Ino answered surely. "What are you doing here, anyway?"
"Oh. I'm with Lady Tsunade went we found out that these two were being indecent."
"I'm so sorry, Ino. It won't happen again." Tenten squeaked.
"It's okay, Tenten. It's not your fault." Ino said. "It's Sai's."
"How is it my fault?"
"You're manipulating people into doing your bidding, Sai." Ino frowned. Sai grinned.
"Oh?"
"What do you mean Ino?" Tsunade asked.
"I was told that you've been planning to thwart the arrangement."
"Why would I do that, again?" Sai shrugged. "You're being ridiculous."
"Are you saying that what I'm feeling isn't real?" Tenten asked. Ino looked at her.
"Yes! So you don't have to …"
"I know what I'm feeling, Ino." Tenten clutched her heart. "It felt real."
"Yeah, right. It's just two days, Tenten. I guess it's too soon to call what's real and what's not."
Tenten's face was hurt and Ino knew that she had said all the wrong things and from the look of Sai's face, she had said exactly what Sai had wanted her to say to Tenten.
"You know that sometimes the world doesn't have to revolve around you, right? I mean, Sakura was right, you're damn self-centered."
"What? Tenten, that's not what I mean!"
"Okay, girls. I don't want petty fights in my office." Tsunade sighed.
"I like Darui and I know for sure that it's not because somebody manipulated me to!" Tenten's voice suddenly became high pitched. "It's always about you this about you that, but this time no, it's about Darui and I. You're just the other girl."
Her face was flushed. Darui cleared his throat.
"I'll take the full responsibility and told the Raikage that I'm cancelling the arrangement."
"What? Why?" Ino looked at him. Darui shook his head.
"I don't want anyone to think that I'm a cheater."
"In which you are." Sai commented calmly. Darui gave him an annoyed look, which was surprisingly rare, coming from a man as laid back and composed as him.
"I won't think of you as that. As I've said, we've all only been manipulated by that g uy to be like this." Ino persisted as she pointed at Sai.
"Oh that's it!" Tenten yelled and the next moment was the kind of moment that froze everyone on their place. Tenten yanked Darui's hand and gave him a kiss on the lips. It felt like Ino's heart stopped beating.
"Why would you …"
"Tenten! That's inappropriate behavior twice! We'll have a talk later!"
"I don't think that's necessary." Darui said. "It's consensual, Tsunade-sama. Partly, it's my fault as well."
Saving the damsel in distress, as usual. Ino thought begrudgingly.
Tsunade chose to relent to the dark skinned shinobi. "I think we all have to agree with you, Darui."
"But …"
Tsunade glared at Ino. "You might think that you want this wedding now, Ino. But I won't have you be humiliated like that."
"I'm not …" She looked at Sai both helplessly and with so much grudge.
"Do you think Sai planned this as well, Ino?" Tenten asked, her voice was loud.
"Tenten, enough! Everybody dismissed now except you. The arrangement is cancelled."
"But …"
"No but! The decision is final." Tsunade said. "I may not be a Hokage several days from now, but I am still a Hokage now and what I say goes!"
The three of them walked out of the office when Sai patted Ino's shoulder. "You're welcome." He whispered on her ear and before she could punch him to next year, the man was already gone. She was left alone in the corridor with Darui.
"Something can still be done. I'm sure." Ino said. "You are going to get into so much trouble with A-sama if you're going home brideless."
Darui gave her a sad smile. "Listen. The moment I'm cheating on you is the moment that this arrangement is cancelled. I'm going to go through hell with the Boss, but it's okay rather than …"
"But I'm fine with the cheating! Why can't you understand?"
"You're not supposed to feel fine about it. That's exactly where it's wrong." Darui said. "I don't expect much, Ino. But maybe, we're not meant to be and even if we were, now's not the time."
Ino's hands fell. That was it then. Ino had estimated that things would have taken longer before it turned awry, but the fact that it only needed merely two days were quite dazing her. Though she was supposed to know from the start that she should never go into a battle with her mentor.
Ibiki had definitely always won.
XXX
Days ago …
The moment the dark haired kid entered his room, his handsome face was frowning a little bit. He was uncomfortable with his office, definitely, but Ibiki's office were never meant as a comfortable space everybody loved to stop by. Ibiki noted that the young Uchiha was doing a quick scanning all around his office, taking in information that he might use in the future.
"Come in, Sasuke."
Sasuke reluctantly walked closer to him, his eyes were still wary. It was obvious, Sasuke didn't trust him. However, it didn't matter because Ibiki didn't really trust this guy either, what with his history.
"What do you need me for?" His voice was cold and all business.
"Do you know what I think of when I look at you?" He asked. Sasuke gave it a thought.
"I don't know."
"I thought betrayal." Ibiki's lips curved into a small smile. "Everybody thinks so."
Sasuke's lips thinned into a hard line. "What's your point?"
"I want you to tell Ino about our plan."
"What? Why?" Sasuke asked. "Wouldn't it make the work harder?"
Ibiki waved his hands. "If we targeted Ino, yes, it'd be harder. However, it's Tenten we're targeting and telling her those will make Ino panic."
"So she'll tell Tenten."
Ibiki gave Sasuke a sly grin.
"There's no one better at convincing Tenten to betray Ino but Ino herself. She'll dig this arrangement's grave for us."
What do you think?
My comment on this? I think the termination of the arrangement is too rushed and too convenient. But well, that's how good Ibiki is. *justification*
SHIKAMARU IS BACK YAY.
Well! Share me what you think should happen in the review section. I LOVE INPUT 3