I don't own Naruto.
Ino woke up and was surprised that I was still asleep. Ino then decided to go get food, more supplies and a change of clothes. Ino walked out of the hotel then stopped in the lobby.
"I'm going to go get the supplies first, then the clothes and lastly the food." She said in her head as she made her move.
Ino made her way into a pharmacy then bought more bandages and gauzes. Next she headed to a clothing store and picked out some outfits. Lastly she stopped at a restaurant and ordered two bowl's of ramen and sweetened cakes. Ino walked back into the hotel then headed up to our room. My gaze shifted to the door as it opened, and luckily it was just Yamanaka.
"Finally awake." She smiled.
I just looked at her.
"Don't start back giving me the silent treatment." She plead.
"Thanks for saving my life. I owe you one."
"You don't have to thank me."
"Hn." I got out of bed then stood up in one spot.
I felt that if I moved I would fall.
"I went shopping and got some things that we will need." Ino said then placed the food on the table that was sitting out on the deck through the sliding window door. "Come eat." She walked over to me and helped me to the table.
We ate in this very bad awkward silence and the silence was starting to irk Ino's nerves. "Look Rae, I know things started off bad but we can change that."
I then got aggravated. "Ino, do you even know why I'm mad? Cause I don't think you do. Your playing the victim in your own crime. If you don't get that then I'm saying that you haven't seen me in so long. We have a huge history together and, you basically threw all of that away when you choose Sai over me. All I wanted was a friendly date so that we could catch up on old times but your so worried about what Sai and others will think. Well honestly, I don't give a fuck about what Sai or anyone else have to say. You messed everything up with the decision you choose to go by. So don't get mad when you don't like the outcome of your choice's." I spat then stood up.
I looked into Ino's eyes and seen the pain she was feeling. The look Ino had in her eyes made me feel bad.
"Damnit." I said as I looked away from her. "I'm not hungry."
I walked back into the room then sat on the edge of the bed. I grabbed everything but the shirt in the pile of neatly folded clothes that was laying on the bed then I went into the bathroom to take a shower.
Ino heard the water to the shower turn on. "I'm sorry Rae." She said to herself as a few tears fell down her cheek.
After what seemed like 10 minutes the water stopped. Ino finished her food then got up as I exited the bathroom in my new pair of faded blue jeans with my belt around my pants waist.
"While I was taking my shower I noticed that I also have a head injury." I said while holding a bloody rag on the back of my head.
"Come here." She said then sat on the bed. I sat on the floor in front of her so that she could see the wound on the back of my head. "It'll need stitches." She said then got up and grabbed her stitching kit.
Ino cleaned the wound then stitched up my head up.
"Rae, I'm going to take my shower now but please eat and when I get out I will finish patching you up." Ino said without looking at me.
I just looked at her. "Thank you again, Ino."
Ino didn't say anything then entered the bathroom and started her shower.
"Ugh." I sighed then sat down at the table, moved my food over and laid my head down. "Do I want to be with Ino or should I just let her stay with Sai?" I asked myself. " They were happy before I came along and ruined it, plus I cant keep this little act of mine up. I'm going to eventually slip up. How can I be so called mad at her but I still want to show her comfort? I can't help but to love Ino, she was my first love." I thought to myself as I blankly zoned out.
After what felt like 15 minutes I picked my head up then started eating. 10 minutes later Ino exited the bathroom in her new outfit that looked almost identical to her old outfit but instead of purple it was blue. Ino put her hair into her signature pony tail as I finished up my meal. After I disposed all of the trash, I allowed her to patch me up. She patched up my back and stomach wound also my head injury. I grabbed my new plain black long sleeved shirt and put it on then I grabbed my new white/green/black plaid t-shirt and put it on over my long sleeved shirt. Lastly I wrapped my ninja band around my right arm's tricep. We exited the hotel then stepped outside.
"Wow, the sun is brighter down here then it was on the deck." I said to myself.
We walked through the crowd of people and made our way back into the woods. We were going back to Konoha, but due to me being injured I can't jump from tree to tree so the way back was going to be a long journey. Night time came around and we was still a whole day and half of another day away from Konoha. When we made a stop at a decent location, I grabbed the small cube out of my pouch and pushed the button. A few seconds later we had a perfectly set up tent. I created a sculpter of Yori and Saburo then brought them to life.
*Rae, are you okay?* Yori stood in front of me.
*Yeah. Are you alright master?* Saburo looked at me.
I smiled. "Yes, I'm fine."
*Are you sure?* Saburo licked my face.
"Yes. I'm sure." I kept the smiled on my face.
*Isamu told us what happened. We all know about it.* Yori said in a calm tone. *But quick question Rae.*
"Yes Yori."
*Why didn't you just call for me and Saburo. Hideo would have never got hurt and neither would you.*
"Yea, I know. But they need to live and see the world just like you two live and see the world. I can't just leave them out like that Yori. Plus those two did a great job."
Yori just looked at me.
"Listen Yori, I know you want to be at my side 24/7, and I understand that but the others love me just like you love me and I love them just like I love you."
*I get what your saying Rae, but they couldn't protect you. You got hurt.* Yori got annoyed.
"They did a great job, Yori. Hideo got hurt while trying to keep Takeo from interfering in my fight. Without them, I would have gotten taken out by both Takeo and Daichi. Basically they saved my life. Takeo was going to kill both Hideo and Isamu. So I stepped up and got hurt by saving them. If all of y'all can put your life's on the line to protect me then I can put my life on the line to protect all of you."
Yori and Saburo just stared at me.
"Yes, I got hurt but even though I got hurt, I saved my friend's life and, now we all can live to see another day." I smirked.
Yori put a smirk on my face. *You seise to amaze me master.*
"Good night Yori, Saburo."
*Good night Rae.* They said in a union.
I went inside and laid down in the empty spot beside Ino. She turned to face me but I turned my back towards her and she got mad.
"Rae, I'm tired of you ignoring me. Yes, I messed up but I been trying to fix things."
"Ino, do you remember what you said to me. You have a fiance and his name is Sai, so why are you trying to get my attention so much." I said then turned around and, sat up on my elbows so that I was facing her.
Ino pushed me back then straddled my waist avoiding my wound. We stared at each other then Ino broke the silence.
"I can't answer that question right now but Rae, I can't just give you up, you mean a lot to me and yeah I acted like an jerk but I did that because I knew Sai was listening to our whole conversation since you walked in."
"I already knew he was listening."
"You did?"
"Yes, I sensed his chakra when I was outside of the store befor we went inside."
"I'm very sorry Rae but I didn't know what to do and I didn't want any drama to start." She teared up.
I closed my eyes then took a deep breath. "Look, I'm sorry too Ino. I should just accept the fact that you are getting married."
"I'll accept the first thing you said but i'm going to ignore the second thing." Ino smiled back then stood up.
"I love you Rae." Ino said to herself then sighed.
"So Ino, what all did you do when you came back from your training?" I said as I took both of my shirts off.
Ino took her fishnets off then laid down beside me. I laid on my back and she laid on her stomach.
"When I came back I heard that you left like a week before I came back, so I was assigned to partner up with Sakura and this girl named Akira Toshina."
"She knows Akira." I said to myself in disbelief as I continued to listen.
"We went on multiple D-A ranked missions together. Sakura is the one who introduced me to Sai. After we meet we went on multiple dates then got together. Shortly we was going out doing missions together. After I became a Jonin, Sai surprised me with a ring on our 4 year anniversary."
"What kind of ring?"
Ino showed me the ring. The ring was gold and it had a decent sized diamond on it.
"Not bad."
"Rae, I always wanted to ask you a question."
"Ask me."
"I didn't want to say anything at first but when you introduced your animals to me why didn't I see Ryuu?"
I just looked at Ino with a blank expression.
"Its okay if you don't want to tell me."
"I'm surprised that you remember Ryuu."
"Why would I not remember him?"
"It has been a while."
Ino looked into my eyes and could tell that something was wrong. "Rae?"
I closed my eyes to fight back the tears. Ino noticed it then grabbed a hold onto my hand. I opened my eyes then looked up at Ino as I felt her left hand intertwine with my right hand.
"Something bad must have happened to him." Ino inspected then held my hand tighter.
"He died a week after I left for my training with Kakashi-senpi."
"How?"
(Flash back.)
"Kakashi-senpi, why did I have to leave Konoha?"
"How old are you Rae?"
"14."
"What rank are you?"
"Chunin."
"Right, so if you want to become a Jonin you'll have to complete my training."
"Okay senpi."
Kakashi jumped into the closest tree to him. "Keep up." He said then started jumping from tree to tree while reading his book.
"Come on Ryuu." I said to my Bengal. "We got to get going. Kakashi is already very far ahead of us." I said then jumped into the trees while Ryuu stayed on the ground.
As Ryuu and I ran through the forest we kept each others pace.
*There he is.* Ryuu said as he spotted Kakashi leaning up against a tree that was isolated from the other trees.
"Sorry it took us so long senpi."
"Its okay. I knew you was getting Ryuu ready so I decided to wait for y'all."
"Kakashi was waiting for us. That's new, usually he would have left us and he isn't reading his book." I said to myself as I got concerned.
"Now, let's get serious." Kakashi said then jumped into the trees again.
"Don't let him out of your sight Ryuu." I said as I jumped into the trees.
Kakashi looked back and noticed that me and Ryuu was keeping up. "Let's have some fun." Kakashi said to himself as he picked up speed.
"Ryuu?"
*Yes master.*
"I think something is wrong with Kakashi-senpi."
*What makes you think that?*
"1, he has never waited for us. We had to either catch up or get left behind and 2, he hasn't opened his book yet. I'm starting to think that, that's not the real Kakashi."
*It looks like Kakashi.*
"Yea it looks like him but its not him."
*How do you know that's not the real Kakashi?*
I smirked. "I learned something about senpi when he was training me in Konoha."
Ryuu looked up at me.
"Even if we are training, Kakashi would never stop reading his new book. He even said it himself. He said "Rae your only Chunin, I can beat you without looking up from my book." And ever since then he has been reading while we trained."
*I have also noticed that.*
"Keep up with that clone, don't slow down Ryuu."
*Yes master.* Ryuu then picked up his speed.
I slowed down then sniffed the air.
"Where are you hiding at senpi." I asked myself while continuing to sniff the air.
My nose picked a chakra signal nearby. "That must be senpi." I said to myself as I ran towards the signal.
The signal came from the tree the clone was standing at before I realized that it wasn't the real Kakashi. I stopped in front of the tree then looked behind it. No one was here but the signal was still strong. I continued to look around but still didn't see any sign of Kakashi. I leaned up against the tree then sighed. I closed my eyes then looked up into the tree.
"Senpi." I said in shock once I opened my eye and seen Kakashi tied to a branch.
I jumped into the tree then removed the tape from his mouth. "Senpi what happened?"
"No time to answer questions." He said while looking around "Where's Ryuu?" Kakashi said in a serious tone.
"I realized that the clone of you wasn't really you, so I told Ryuu to watch him to see if he would lead him to the real you."
"That's not a clone of me, Rae. Its an imposter cloned as me. He could hurt Ryuu."
"What?" I said then dashed towards the way Ryuu went.
"Wait Rae!" Kakashi yelled as I ran off. "You could have at least untied me first." Sempi said as he struggled to get loose.
"Ryuu!?" I yelled as I continued to quickly jump through the tree's. "Ryuu!?"
Ryuu roared. *Rae!?*
"I'm coming Ryuu!" I said then ran towards the sound of his voice.
I jumped into the wide open part of the forest. I land on a solid platform then quickly looked around. I noticed a water fall nearby then my jaw dropped.
"Ryuu." I said in shock as I seen the imposter holding one of the two black bladed duel wield Ninjatō swords (Katana like sword legendarily used by ninja) towards Ryuu's neck.
(He's wielding one of the six legendary weapons.) I said to myself in shock. The imposter of Kakashi looked at me with hatred in his eyes. "Number 3,432." He said then slit Ryuu's neck.
"Ryuu!" I yelled then grabbed my kunai.
I jumped at the imposter going for a head shot but he easily defended my attack.
"I'm going to kill you." I yelled then jumped at him again.
He dodged my attack and somehow managed to trip me, sending me to the ground. I laid completely still after my face smacked the ground.
"You are weak kid." He teased as he started to walk away.
"I ain't finished yet." I said as I forced myself to stand up.
Once I was completly standing my forehead down to my chin was covered with blood. The imposter turned around then looked at me. "
You can barely stand, better off fight."
"Don't worry about that, just worry about fighting me." I said as I harshly gripped my kunai.
"Well I guess I'll let you see my face sense it's going to be the last thing you see." The imposter said as he went to his original form.
I looked at him and he had snowy white ear length hair that's was slicked back into a ponytail, gray eyes, beige colored skin, and a piercing on the right side of his nose. He wore an all black Shinobi uniform but it looked different from Konoha's Shinobi uniform.
"Lets finish this." The guy said he unsheathed his other Ninjatō sword.
He then made it into a staff as he ran at me. I blocked the attack, but my kunai broke right after his blade hit mines. Next thing you know he throws his left foot out, connecting with my forehead. I flew backwards flying into the shallow part of the water.
I forced myself up again. "I can't keep this up. My body hurts." I said to myself as I winced in pain.
The guy ran at me again but this time he uppercutted me in the stomach, sending me into the air. Once I was in the air he jumped up then side kicked me backwards into the water. I looked over at Ryuu's corpse then got angry. I forced myself up again then turned towards him.
"You will pay for hurting my best friend." I said as I ran at him.
My speed was a little sluggish due to me being heavily injured. Once I thought I was close enough to him I threw my arm forward hoping to connect with his face. He managed to spend around me again and threw a low kick at the back of my legs causing me to fall onto my knees. As soon as I landed on my knees he put me in a head lock.
"I should break your neck kid."
"Ahh." I yelled in pain as he hurted my neck.
"I won't kill you, at least not yet. I have a feeling that we will meet again and until then, you need all the training you can get. Beware, the next time we meet in battle I will kill you." The guy then used his Ninjatō staff and cut me across my chest from shoulder to shoulder.
"Ahh." I yelled out then winced in pain.
"See ya." He said then back kicked me into the deep part of the water.
As I sunk to the bottom of the lake I slowly closed my eyes.
"I guess this is it for me. I can't believe that this is how I am going to die." I said to myself then my consciousness failed.
Next thing you know I woke up in a hospital bed with Kakashi asleep in the chair next to the bed.
(End of Flash back.)
I tried to hold back the tears but they came out anyways. I threw my left arm over my face, covering my eyes. I felt Ino's eyes on me then I felt her grip on my hand tighten. Ino moved my arm from over my eyes then wiped the tears away. She then slammed her lips against mine.
"I'm sorry to hear that." She said as she slid up closer to me and cuddled under me.
Ino laid her head on my chest, put her left arm over my stomach then closed her eyes. I just laid there for like 20 minutes thinking.
*Rae? Can we talk?* Saburo asked as he sat outside of my tent.
"Hold on Saburo." I said as I slowly got out of Ino's grip then exited the tent.
*Can we go on a walk.* Saburo looked up at me.
"Sure why not." I said as we started walking deep into the woods.
(1 hour has passed.)
"Rae." Ino said in a low tone as she felt that I was no longer beside her.
Saburo and my long, quite and awkward walk was over and, we was now back at the camp site. Saburo and I sat in front of the fire that was at least 8 feet away from the tent. I looked over at Yori, who was asleep directly beside the tent.
"Saburo, neither one of us talked, so what was the point of that walk."
Ino barely heard my question to Saburo.
"I need to get closer." Ino said to herself as she peaked out of the tent.
Ino looked around then spotted a bird on the tree branch close enough to me and Saburo. "Mind transfer jutsu." Ino whispered as she tranfered into the bird. "Now this is better."
*I smelled salt in the air and noticed that it was coming from you. It was obvious that you was crying so I wanted you to get some fresh air.* Saburo laid down beside me.
"Thank you Saburo." Ino heard me say.
"Awesome. I can understand Saburo." Ino said to herself as she ease dropped on their conversation.
*Can you tell me what's wrong?* Saburo whimpered.
"I told Ino the story about Ryuu."
*What did she say?*
"She just tried to comfort me. I mean don't get me wrong it calmed me down but not all the way."
Saburo just looked at me. 5 minutes passed and the awkward silence was deadly.
"I guess the conversation is over." Ino said as she was about to transfer back to her body.
Out of no where Ino heard me speak up. My eyes started watering.
"Only if you knew how much this pain hurts, Saburo." Tears started falling down my face. "I have already lost so many things that are dear to me." I said as tears continued to run down my face. "First I lost Ryuu, while at the same time I lost my pride to a guy with black bladed Ninjatō swords and now I lost my childhood crush to this guy named Sai. She told that she thought I wasn't coming back. Funny right?" My life isn't worth living. I couldn't save my best friend's life nor could I keep the girl of my dreams from falling into another man's arms. I'm so patheic." I put my face into my hands then looked at the ground.
*Rae.* Saburo whimpered as he got up and nudged my face with his nose.
"I should just give up." I said as I continued to look at the ground.
*Rae. Why are you giving in? Your stronger than this.*
"It is hard to control emotions."
Saburo started whimpering. *Look at me Rae.* I just kept looking at the ground. Saburo nudged my head up so that I was looking at him. He then licked the tears away from my face.
*Please focus, Rae. It hurts me to see you like this. I never seen you like this. It's clear that Ino is getting engaged. I think you should just let her go. She made her decision now let her walk that path. You will find your true love someday.*
I just looked at Saburo.
*We are a family and it hurts us to know that somebody with a black bladed sword killed our brother Ryuu and your pride. When the time come, we will face him and when we do we will get our revenge. Until then stay strong boss. We need you at your strongest point not your weakest point. Its okay to feel sad just not to the point were you start feeling depressed and start thinking you don't need to live. Live for us Rae because without you we will be nothing.* Saburo said as he stared at the bird that was on the branch.
After fully listening, Ino noticed that Saburo was staring at her. "He probably found out that this is no ordinary bird."
I calmed down. "Yeah, you're right. Thank you Saburo. I really appreciate the talk. That made me feel a whole lot better." I said then rubbed Saburo's head.
*No problem Rae.* Saburo said as he continued to stare at the bird.
I looked up and notice that Saburo was staring at the bird.
"Great, now Rae is looking at me." Ino said to herself as she got ready to transfer back into her body.
"Why are you staring at that bird Saburo?"
*I want to eat it.*
I sweat dropped then laughed. "Go eat it. I know you can get to it." I continued to laugh as I walked towards the tent.
Just as Ino transfered back to her body she heard the bird chirp in pain. She just laid down like she didn't move and acted like she was sleep. I got in the tent then sat down beside, Ino.
"Saburo's right, I guess I should just leave her alone. She wasn't thinking about when she got engaged so, she shouldn't be thinking about me now." I said as I laid down.
"Rae, I don't want you to let me go. I love you." Ino said to herself as she snuggled back under me and laid her head back on my chest still acting like she is asleep. I stayed up thinking until I finally felt Ino's comfort. As my mind finally went to ease and the bad thinking died down, I drifted off to sleep. Ino laid there for at least another hour thinking about everything she heard until she finally drifted off into a real slumber. I woke up with Ino still asleep on my chest. I just looked at her. After awhile of laying there, Ino woke up then looked up at me.
"Good morning." She smile.
I faked a smiled back. "Good morning."
Ino got irritated about the fake smile then just shook it off. "How does your body feel?"
"A few pains here and there but nothing serious."
Ino ran her index finger across the bandage on my stomach. "I need to replace your bandages."
"You can when we get back to Konoha."
Ino sighed. "We can't lay like this together in Konoha." She said to herself then pouted.
Ino sat up then I stood up. As I put on both of my shirts she started putting on her fishnets. I exit the tent with Ino following behind me.
"Good morning Yori, Saburo." I smiled.
*Good morning Rae.* They said in a union.
Ino packed up our stuff then handed me the tent that was now back in its cube form. I stuck the cube in my pouch, removed Saburo's and Yori's slip then we started back on our journey to reach Konoha.
"Rae?"
"Hm?" I glanced over at Ino.
"Is something wrong?"
"No, I'm fine." I lied.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
"You look pale."
"I just feel a little sick. That's all."
"I need to take you to the Hospital. You're still lacking blood."
"I will be fine."
"I know if you will be fine or not, and right now you are not fine. You're pale, you can barely walk, and I need to change you bandages."
I sighed. "Listen Ino, when we get to Konoha we are going our separate ways. You go where you need to go, and I'll go where I need to go. You made it clear enough that you don't want to be seen walking around Konoha with me so I'll meet you at the hospital then I'll meet you again at the Hokage's tower."
"Rae. I told you already that I only said that because I didn't want anything to start between you and Sai. It doesn't mean I was serious."
"I got to let her go." I said to myself then sighed again. "I'm sorry Ino, but I did some thinking and I think that it will be best if this partnership stops here and we can have a relationship that is based around short conversations."
"Why?" Ino said as she felt her heart break.
"You're engaged and your fiance doesn't deserve this type of disrespect. Me talking to you will just cause problems for you two."
Ino stopped walking. "I don't care if it brings problems between us. I just want my best friend to be there for me." Tears started rolling down her cheek.
"Why do you have to makes this harder than it supposed to be." I said to myself then sighed.
I walked up to Ino then wiped the tears away from her eyes.
"Listen Ino. It will just be better if you stay with your fiance. Now come on. We are at least 20 minutes away from Konoha." I said as I started back walking.
After the 20 minutes passed, it was now 3pm and we had reached the Gates of Konoha.
"Ino!" Someone yelled out as we stepped foot inside of Konoha.
Ino looked towards the direction the voice called her from.
"Sai." She said in shock.
I don't own Naruto our any character (other than my ocs)