I'm back~!

The exchange student program was a success! I loved the people and the places there!

Chapter 4: Coming Back

Ino Y. Uchiha "Ami"

Last Time…

"So Ino. One question, one answer." Sakura said all serious again. "And there's no way out of it!"

Ino sighed in defeat. "Fine! Just as long as I answer just one question!"

"So here's the question…" Sakura smirked. "…Would you say 'yes' to Gaara if he asked you right now? Why?"

"Hey!" Ino said. "That's more than one question!"

"Okay! Just one question!" Sakura said. "Just answer the first one!"

"What was it again?"

"I repeat. WOULD YOU SAY 'YES' TO GAARA IF HE ASKED YOU NOW?!" Sakura shouted.

This was a hard question indeed. She didn't know what to answer since Gaara was there to see.

She looked at him and he nodded; as if saying 'go and answer it. I don't care what you say. Just as you answer her question'

She then looked back at Sakura, already prepared to answer.

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "I—"

"Yamanaka-san!"

She was even about to answer when a ninja appeared right in front of them.

Ino sighed of relief. 'Good thing this ninja came just in time or I might have given the wrong answer. I don't think I'm ready to answer the question yet.'

"Yamanaka-san" The ninja repeated in between pants. He must have been running around the village searching for her. "The Godaime…said…go to the office…now"

"The Godaime?" Ino repeated.

"Yes. The Godaime." He reassured.

She then looked back at Gaara as if asking for permission.

He nodded in approval and she looked back at the ninja. "I'd like to report to her now."

"Follow me" The ninja said and they both left.

…

"Do you think she will be okay?" Gaara asked.

"She's a strong girl. She can handle herself." Sakura replied

'I hope you're right, Sakura.' Gaara thought as their order came.

~XOXO~

"We're here." The ninja said. "Please step inside."

"Thank you." Ino replied politely.

She took a deep breath and opened the door.

Inside, he was there.

He was sitting on a chair in the office of the Godaime. It's been three years since he left. He finally got his revenge but still feels as if something's missing in his life. The door suddenly opens and she appeared. He sees her and remembers something…

She was practically speechless. She couldn't believe that he was finally back. She couldn't even believe that the Godaime welcomed him back to Konoha. Shocked that she is, she simply shook her head, ran out quickly, shut the door behind her and tried her best not to cry as she remembered her painful past. 'Why did he have to come back?'

//flashbacks//

"Stop crying now." A raven haired boy said, patting his friend's back.

"B-but they—"

"Those bullies are not going to hurt you anymore. If they still do, they have to go through me first!" He said. "But you have to promise me that you won't cry anymore."

The little girl smiled. "Promise!"

…

"Sasuke! What happened?"

"He…nii-san killed our clan."

"He did?" Ino said in disbelief.

The small boy just nodded.

"…"

"I'm…I'm sorry…"

"I shouldn't have told you that." Sasuke said.

Ino patted his back. "It's okay. That's what friends are for."

"…" He said and sobbed.

"Now…" Ino said, smiling. "…I thought I was the crybaby!"

Sasuke smiled as well. "Ino!"

…

"I heard you like Sasuke too."

Ino felt like she was stabbed in the heart. How could her best friend think of her like that? She admits he's cute but they're nothing but friends. "Sa-Sakura…I—"

"DON'T TALK TO ME!" Sakura screamed. "I don't want to talk to you ever again. We're…"

"Sakura! DON'T!" Ino tried to stop her but it was too late.

"…rivals from now on."

It was like the world ended for her. Her girl best friend; Sakura declared them as rivals. She never knew that Sakura thought of Sasuke and her as more than just friends.

Sakura left the scene so that Ino was all alone now.

She slumped down to the ground and cried.

"I thought I told you not to cry." A voice said from behind her.

Her head instantly turned just from hearing that voice. "Sasuke!"

The girl hugged him close to her and he didn't push her away.

"I thought I told you not to cry." Sasuke repeated.

"But Sakura…she—"

"I saw everything." He said. "And I don't think its worth to be crying for."

"She was my best friend!"

"She may be your best friend but still she valued her love than your friendship."

"I knew that." Ino turned her head away so that she could not face her. "But you do remember that her so-called love is you, am I right?"

"…"

"Why are you even trying to help me?"

"Because I promised, didn't I?"

"I forgot."

"So don't cry now." Sasuke said as he brushed off a tear that fell of her cheek. "Even if Sakura ended your friendship, at least you still have me."

"You?!"

"Yes. Me." He repeated. "We're friends, aren't we?"

…

"Sasuke. Please don't go." Sakura said, trying to stop him.

Sasuke didn't turn back to look at her. "Whatever you do or say, it won't stop me from running away."

"But Sasuke…" Sakura started. "…there are people here that love you. You will be taken care of. Why won't you accept the fact that all you need is right here?"

"Not everything."

"What about us? Your team mates?"

"You're nothing but a thorn in my side."

"What about Ino?"

"Now you're just helpless." Sasuke said, irritated. "Ino's got nothing to do with this."

"But you do care for her, right?"

"…"

"Is that a yes or a no?"

"I only stuck up with her because of that promise." He confessed. "But now, everything's starting to get difficult."

"So your friendship meant nothing?"

"You're asking too many questions." Sasuke said, from behind her. "You're wasting my time."

'How did he get behind me?' that was the last thing that Sakura ever though before she was knocked out cold.

Just then, somebody gasped from the bushes.

"I know you're here Ino." Sasuke said.

Ino stepped out from the bush and turned to him. "…"

"…''

"So it was true." Ino started a few minutes later. "I didn't mean anything to you…"

"I—"

"No need to give me reasons. I understand." She was then fighting back tears. "Though, you should have never let me expect you would."

"I'm sorry…"

"It's okay." With that, she gave him a forceful smile. "Go ahead. I'll bring Sakura back."

"Thanks."

//end of flashbacks//

…

"I think I should speak to her." Sasuke said.

The Godaime nodded. "That would be a great idea."

Sasuke stood up and headed for the door.

…

"Why did you have to come back?" She repeated.

"Why? Did you miss me?" A voice answered.

She looked for the source of the voice and found out that it came from behind.

Ino looked away. "I wasn't talking to you."

"But we are the only ones here." Sasuke pointed out.

"…"

"Why did you walk out in there?" Sasuke asked. "The Godaime was worried."

"You have no right to ask me questions." Ino said icily. "I'm the interrogator here."

"Then you should have allowed me to answer the question."

"…"

"Are you just going to allow me to stand here? I'm an S-ranked criminal!" Sasuke said. "Aren't you afraid that I might get away or even kill you?"

"…"

"Fine. Have it your way…" He said pretending to run away.

"Don't!" Ino finally said.

"Good to know that you can still speak." Sasuke teased.

"If you're still expecting people here to treat you the same, then you shouldn't." Ino said. "You're not anymore the boy everybody loves before."

"Ino! Why so hostile?"

"It's not only me. It's everybody else." Ino stated. "So don't expect me to be treating you the same. For me, you're only a traitor and nothing else."

At last! Chapter 4 is finished! ~^.^~

Reviews are very much appreciated!

-Ami-