The next few hours were a near blur for Ino as she took shot after shot with her friends. One by one they all ended up leaving until there was only Naruto and Ino left. It had been about half an hour since Sakura left the two alone in the club, Ino was piss drunk and Naruto was in limbo between a sober state and a drunken state. How he could stomach so much liquor was beyond her. Ino downed another shot when suddenly Naruto grabbed her hand and whisked her out onto the dance floor. She squealed from surprise when he began to grind up against her as he danced to the music. She took awhile to understand what had just happened, but when it all clicked into place she grinned and returned the gesture in earnest. They continued to dance together until the upbeat song was replaced by a slower, more loving theme. Ino, not wanting to be separated from Naruto just yet, grasped his arm and pulled him back to the dance floor and much to his surprise, leaned her cheek against the crook in his neck and began to slowly shuffle along with the romantic soundtrack. He soon caught on and rested his head on top of hers, arms around her holding her tightly as they moved silently, their body's telling each other things that they never could in words. Their embrace remained intact long after the song had ended, as the two young souls struggled to find themselves amidst the turmoil of feelings rushing through their minds. After realizing that they were just standing in the middle of the dance floor, surrounded by severely hormonal teenage ninjas, they took their leave. It was only then that Ino noticed how hot and flustered she'd become while dancing and when the cold air hit her, it was a great relief. She closed her eyes for a brief moment and sucked in a deep breath of air to calm her shaky hands and nerves. She released her pent up breath and turned to face Naruto who had been studying her face carefully, as if trying to make up his mind over something. She blushed under his gaze and in a feeble attempt to hide it, she turned her back to him and gazed across the street, eyes looking for anything she could use to divert his gaze. She found nothing. 'Come on Ino, say something, it's obvious that he's waiting for something. Anything.' Despite her mental encouragement, Ino couldn't find the words she needed and so she continued to stare into the night, oblivious of the thoughts running through her blonde companions mind. She wasn't sure whether it was seconds or minutes that past, but they were some of the longest of her life. She stood silently, trying to come to terms with the unsaid emotions between her and the handsome Hokage who was currently watching the back of her head with the eyes of a hawk. Without warning, Naruto closed the gap between them and in moments, had his arms around her waist and his face leaning dangerously close to her ear. She felt his warm breath on her as she gulped and suddenly, he spoke. 'Ino, I think I.. I think I love you.'
The words were a welcome shock to her ears and without feeling the need to reply with words, she replied with her body instead. She gyrated her body slowly, neither breaking his grip on her waist, nor putting anymore space between the two confused ninjas and after looping her arms around his neck, she gave him the only answer he'd ever need. She leaned up on her toes and pressed her lips firmly to his own. Now, she wasn't going to lie to herself, she knew she had a reputation for getting around and despite the fact that she was still a virgin she had kissed a fair share of guys. But as far as how good the kisses were, well, they varied but that's what made this chaste kiss with Naruto so different and unique from the rest. This light kiss sent sparks shooting to every nerve in her body and she shuddered when she felt the tingles from her toes to her forehead. She'd never reacted this way to such a simple kiss before and it was all the proof she needed to confirm her feelings for Konoha's number one knucklehead ninja.
She was kissing him. Ino Yamanaka was kissing him, Naruto. He couldn't process it. He was expecting her to hit him or storm off, anything besides turning around and kissing him. 'Pull yourself together Naruto; don't act like some little kid about this, so what if it's your first real kiss.' He tightened his grip on Ino's waist and deepened the kiss. He wasn't sure if he was doing it right, considering the fact that it was his first kiss. Now that wasn't something he went around telling everyone. He was actually pretty embarrassed by it, but he had nothing to worry about now. His little confession had the desired effect. A minute passed before the two lovers broke apart in desperate need of air and after a few moments catching their breath, Ino spoke, 'Well, wasn't that something, aye Naruto?' She giggled and embraced him in a tight hug. Before he got a chance to respond, she spoke again. 'I love you too.'
He was ecstatic. He could feel the grin tugging at his face and he eventually couldn't hold it anymore. 'Ino, oh god, I can't believe this is happening.' He broke the hug and rubbed the back of his head with his trademark sheepish grin from ear to ear. He felt relieved of a ton of pressure for the second time that evening and it was great. He felt light as a feather and free as a bird. With a smile on his face and a twinkle in his eye, he asked the big question. 'Ino, will you be my girlfriend?' He watched her put her index finger on her lip with her eyes off in the distance, pretending to ponder on the question.
'Hmm, I suppose I could manage that. But you have to promise to make time for me, Hokage or not, you're my boyfriend first and all powerful ninja ruler second. Okay? Okay. Anyway, I need to head home; mum will kill me if I'm too late. So, night Naruto, love you!' And like that she was gone. Leaving Naruto alone with his thoughts and his happiness. He ran his left hand through his hand before heading back inside, paying their tab which the girls had graciously left him with, and then he headed home. He needed a shower desperately. He was surprised he hadn't scared Ino off with his smell. It'd been a long day for him and when you combine that with all the dancing in a hot room, it's a recipe for some serious ninja B.O. Thankfully both Ino and himself were too caught up in their emotions to notice the petty things, or maybe she did notice and was just too nice to say anything. 'Nah, that's not Ino's style. Knowing her, she'd have mentioned it, and then rubbed it in my face for an hour.' He chuckled to himself. Ino was his girlfriend now. It truly was shocking for him considering the fact that she always disliked Naruto when they were kids, always chasing after Sasuke and competing for his love. He found it pretty ironic how Sasuke always claimed he wanted to restore his clan but he always ignored all the girls. 'Some logic' he thought to himself. The only time that Naruto and Ino had really bonded was over the loss of Asuma and then the more recent death of Sai. Naruto knew she had feelings for Sai but never had the courage to act on them, making his death all the more painful for her to deal with. But he promised both himself and to her that he would see her through the darkness and onto a lighter future. 'Guess I came through on my promise after all.' He mused aloud, not caring if anyone heard him after all, the streets of Konoha were pretty deserted at this hour of the night. Not in any rush, he took his time heading home, always enjoying nights such as this. The sky was starry and there was a light breeze drifting through the street, lightly tousling his free hanging golden hair. He unlocked his door and slid inside, quiet as a mouse. He wasn't quite sure why he was intentionally silent considering the fact that he lived alone, but it was just a habit of his when he came home late. Maybe it was because he liked to believe he had someone to come home to. Someone he didn't want to wake up for fear that they'd leave once they did. He sighed to himself before slipping his shirt over his head, throwing it in the washing pile and set off in the direction of his bed. It was only when Naruto slipped under the covers of his bed was that he noticed the other presence in the room. He would be able to place that chakra anywhere, Sakura was in his bed. 'Sakura?' He whispered, not wanting to wake his neighbors due to the thin walls of his apartment.
She groaned and mumbled in her sleep riddled state. 'Hnnn? Naruto, is that you?' He thought he detected tears in her voice so he asked her.
'Um yeah it's me but, um, Sakura. Why are you in my house, and my bed?'
'I'm sorry Naruto, I can leave if you want. It's just.. I'm so lonely. I had nowhere and no one to go to so I came here and figured I'd wait till you got home.' He could tell that she was fighting back tears as she struggled to speak. 'I just miss him Naruto. I miss Kakashi so much and it hasn't even been a day yet. How am I supposed to cope with 3 years? Fuck me I'm lonely. That's why I came here tonight Naruto. You're my closest friend so please, just hold me for tonight? Please?' She sobbed each word out and it pained him severely to see one of his best friends reduced to such a state due to an act that Naruto had ordered. He created the problem, so he was going to fix it.
'Okay Sakura, you can stay the night, but I swear, if Ino finds out, you're the one who's going to have to explain everything to her. Okay?' He tried to put emphasis on his words but he couldn't really bring himself to. He was too tired from the days ordeal.
'Ino? Why would she care.. Unless.. Oh my god, you and Ino finally hooked up?' The news brought her tears to a halt and replaced them with a look of confusion. 'Huh, I never really picked it. But I guess you two have been getting pretty close recently, but yeah, I agree to your terms, now please. Hold me like you promised.' She pouted her bottom lip and nudged her head deeper into the tear-stained pillow she was laying on.
'Alright, alright.' He turned to face her and wrapped her in a snug embrace; it was actually quite enjoyable for him. 'Okay, goodnight Sakura. I promise you, on my word as Hokage, I will make it up to you. No matter what it takes.' He meant it as well. He wasn't one to turn back on his word and he knew that Sakura knew that.
It only took a few minutes for the friends to drift off into a blissful sleep, wrapped in the comforts of each other's company that would hold them until the morning came.
Shortest chapter of mine yet and I apologize for that but I wanted this chapter up before I went to bed because who knows if I'll have my writing flow back tomorrow? So anyway, yeah. Read and review. Cheers~