A/N: Here's the moment of truth, will they, won't they?? Once again, thank you to shelvesinthecloset, Sylence & shannny2k for taking time to review.
Disclaimer: Kishimoto-sama created the characters that populate his world in Naruto. I have no rights to any of them…I kind of borrow them sometimes, bend them around the edges, but somehow he always gets them back okay. -sigh of relief-
Farewell Sunagakure
The next morning, it was pretty obvious to Ino and Chouji that their mission had been a success. Temari was watching for Shikamaru's entrance that morning; she smiled a very different smile when he finally got there. Shika, on the other hand, looked a little worse for it, definitely over tired. This development was not lost on Kankurou either. He scowled with a slight flutter of his left eye, but thankfully he reserved comment.
And so the day wound into its usual set of meetings…
That evening Ino was very careful. She still needed to clear things up with Kankurou so she set herself up so she could see the entrance to the balcony with the absolute minimum chance of being seen. She was fearful of approaching his room without his permission, and so decided not even to try. Luckily for her, the arrangement worked. He wandered out warily, later than he ever had before. She in turn waited to be sure… Then she took her chance. As she stepped carefully through the archway, she could see he was sitting on his preferred bench.
"Tell me what happened the other night." She wasted no time with him.
"Ino, go away; this is my place, don't ruin it for me," his voice growled quiet and low in his throat as he watched her, caution plainly showing in his every movement.
"I'm going away in a few days," she tried not to sound like she was pleading with him, but it didn't work, "I think I deserve to know why it sounded like we had something special when we went to sleep that night, then you awoke from what I can only assume was a nightmare and I'm nothing to you."
"I don't need you around so you can watch me die."
"We're shinobi. Death is a part of our daily lives."
"Yes, but some of us have a tendency to die younger and more…dramatically." Kankurou glared at her, his teeth bared into a snarl. He released the tension in his jaw and continued, "And the path that takes us there is darker and more painful. Suna will kill me one day, it will not be a kind death, and I do not want you to be the one who weeps for me when I am destroyed."
"Why don't I have any say in my life?" Ino asked, unsure what else she could say.
"Because some of us have greater expectations heaped upon us. If I can get my sister out of this path of doom, I will, but one of us is trapped until the end of it." He looked at her a sad resignation creeping across his features. "Do not follow me, I am suffering personified."
"You're talking really weird, Kankurou." She regarded him in shock; he was definitely starting to make her nervous, "Is this some sort of test?" She almost cringed as she realized the pleading tone had crept into her voice again.
"The only thing being tested here is my patience." He stood up, "If you won't leave, then I will." He jumped onto the balcony's edge railing, then ran down the wall before she could react.
Resigned to the fact that: one, she had underestimated the jonin and two, she would get nothing more from him, Ino decided it was time to go to her room. No, I won't dwell on his words…I can't. If he can't give me an answer I can understand, then he doesn't deserve to be in my thoughts. I'll just go back to the book I found in the library, it was entertaining. Although I wonder how much of it is fact and how much is fiction. She tried hard to convince herself that this was what she really wanted…tonight.
Shikamaru had trouble falling asleep. He was thinking about last night, but he knew Temari had told him she would let him know when the time is right. What a bother, now I have to wait for her. I'll never figure women out.
The next two days passed in a busy blur. The meeting sessions were merely a re-reading and finalizing of everything that had been agreed to previously. Ino was bored as usual, but put up with things because she got to see Kankurou across the way in the meetings. Shikamaru was distracted. One could tell by the way he watched Temari. But the brother and sister gave away nothing about what was going on in either of their lives.
Chouji was just being himself, being supportive of his friends when necessary, especially when the Kazekage sat in for part the last two days; otherwise he just waited and watched. Most of his observing focused on Shikamaru, and a part of him was very sympathetic. He fully understood what it was like to wait for the girl you wanted to give you a sign. Especially when she's using you as a shield in public, he sighed as Ino leaned against him when Pokaru looked in their direction. He gently slid an arm around her and tried to smile down at her though he didn't feel like it at the moment.
The two nights, on the other hand, remained a mystery to Ino. She fretted over Kankurou's words of death and destruction and the cryptic way he had spoken. Maybe there's something wrong other than what he was claiming. Maybe he's just terrified of the slightest possibility I might be pregnant and this was his way of getting me to think he's having a mental breakdown to avoid responsibility…or worse yet it could be for real. They do say insanity is hereditary and any man who would willingly do what their father did to Gaara… She shook her head forlornly. Neither prospect is appealing, what do I do? Should I just walk away now…?
Then the final full day in Suna was finally upon them. A formal celebration was planned to start in the late afternoon but would still end early enough that that Konoha contingent could get a reasonably early start for home the next morning. So, for the first part of the day, it was once again free time. Temari offered to take them to one of her favorite spots in Suna for a late breakfast. She seemed disappointed that her brother decided not to come along.
When they were seated it was in a booth, Shika took full advantage of the situation by sitting next to Temari. You could tell they were attempting to be subtle in their contact, most of the time their hands (His left and her right) were down between them. Once in a while one of them would have a little smile cross their face as they give a quick glance to the other.
Oh yeah, they've got it bad, thought Ino as she watched their little game go on. "On my first free day here, I found a dress I'm thinking of wearing tonight. There aren't any specific dress codes or anything like that for tonight that I have to follow that would limit my options, are there?" she asked Temari.
Before Temari could answer, Chouji blurted out, "Please say there aren't."
They all looked at him.
"You look great in that dress." Then he suddenly looked embarrassed, a slight blush intensifying the color of the swirls on his cheeks, "I was hoping to get to see you in it again."
"Well, thank you." Ino smiled at him. Obviously it must really work for me if he's been thinking about it. I wonder what effect it'll have on Kankurou. She then picked up and sipped her tea to make sure she didn't smirk in a telltale manner.
"No, I don't think there's any limitation, unless it crosses the line of public decency,"
Temari finally replied to the initial question.
"No, everything that needs to be covered is covered," Ino said with a new sense of confidence. "It's just covered really well."
"Oh, then Pokaru-sama is the only thing you'll have to worry about." Temari looked at her with a grim expression.
I'll risk it, was Ino's only thought on that subject.
As they walked back to their rooms to get ready, Ino had promised Chouji that he would act as her escort to the Celebration party. After all, their ruse was that he was her boyfriend to keep Pokaru at bay. So it was no surprise that just as she was finishing her hair, she heard his light tap on the door. "Five minutes Chouji!" she called back to him, as she reached to do her final touch up on her makeup.
When she finally opened the door to him, he smiled and said, "Worth every minute of the wait." He offered her his arm.
She took it, returning his smile. As they walked down the hall together she regarded Chouji, he had put a little extra effort into his appearance today as well. His hair was smoothed out a little, the dark maroon shirt was not a bad contrast to her violet dress. She leaned her head against his shoulder for a moment then said softly, "You look nice today too."
"Since I am your escort, I figured I had to try a little harder," he replied, his tone exceptionally soft. "I can't go in there looking like I just got off a mission when I'm going to walk in with the most beautiful woman there on my arm."
There was something about his tone that surprised Ino. For a moment, she thought maybe it was a mistake to have allowed him to be her escort…It almost sounded like he…no, he's always been part of the team so he's just supportive. So she made light of it, "It's only because I decided to promote myself from 'pretty' window dressing to 'gorgeous' today." She smirked as she looked up at him.
"Whatever you say, Ino." He shook his head, his shaggy brown mane losing any hint of the grooming he had put into it. All I know is that it makes me so happy just to be here with you.
The final reception was open to all of the same people the first night's reception had been, so there were a substantial number of people there already. When they made their entrance, Ino did her best not to look for Kankurou. Unfortunately he was straight ahead of them, war paint as usual, about twenty feet away as they came in. She caught his expression as he took her in, Oh yeah, he wants… She immediately turned to look for Shikamaru, made a show of leading Chouji by the hand that way as soon as he was spotted. He was talking with Temari and Baki.
They came up along side the three of them to get their attention. Shikamaru looked Ino over and commented, "I guess Chouji was right, that dress really does look amazing on you."
Temari raised an eyebrow at him. The flaxen haired jonin was wearing a satiny dress in a dark teal color which was attractive as well, but not in the same league as Ino's. The one advantage she had was that she was already foremost in Shikamaru's thoughts, so it was only a moment before his attentions returned to her.
The party went along nicely, Ino circulated through the crowd with ease. She cautiously avoided Kankurou, without looking like she was avoiding him. I'll deal with you later, she smiled to herself.
She turned around and found herself face to face with Pokaru, the Kazekage. "You look spectacular tonight," his green eyes were already admiring her cleavage, "I was wondering if you'd like to see the view from the roof." His eyes moved to meet hers, "I think you'll find it to be the best spot in all of Suna to see the sights from. It is your last chance." He beamed at her, showing his remarkably white teeth, "I believe it could be your best memory of this place."
"Gee, that sounds like fun, can I come along?" Chouji appeared by Ino's side and smiled at her. "I was coming here to get you; Kosugi wants to ask you about tomorrow's plans for our return trip. If you'd rather go up topside we can do that first and then catch him afterward." He said it so innocently…
Ino watched as Pokaru's expression changed to annoyance. "Go do what you need to do. Maybe you can lose a shoe along the way and he can show everyone how good he is at fetching them for you." He gestured dismissively at them and then he turned and walked towards some of his people who were nearby.
Chouji watched him warily, Did he just compare me to a dog?
Then Ino gently took his arm and leaned her head against his shoulder. "Thank you," she whispered sweetly this ear.
As the evening went on, the compliments were only helping Ino's confidence, although the occasional attempts to get a better view of her cleavage by some of the less desirable men at the party was starting to get tiresome. Luckily, Chouji seemed to have a talent for appearing by her side to hand her a drink, or tell her that 'so and so' was asking for her. I guess he really does have the best grasp of teamwork of any of us.
She eventually bumped into Kankurou literally, about three-quarters of the way through things. She was walking along talking to Kazue, the older woman once again embracing jewel-tones by wearing a jade satin top with pants about two shades darker. He stepped sideways into their path with his back toward them. The silver haired woman stopped taking to her immediately grabbed his arm and turned him around, "Kankurou, this is a party, you've been too serious all evening. You should spend some time with pretty Ino here." The worst part was Kazue winked at him when she did this. His right eye twitched in reaction, it was almost comical. In spite of herself, Ino giggled.
"I really have other people I need to talk to." He tried to get away but since Kazue had his arm he couldn't help but look at Ino. "Please release me, Kazue-san." He was bordering on snarling, talking through his teeth.
"Let him go, please Kazue-san," Ino attempted to intervene, "Haven't you noticed he and I tend to get into arguments? I don't want to ruin this party with a bigger scene than the one you're already causing." She finally could see where this woman had gotten the nickname 'Kazue of the Iron Grip' that Temari had told her about. For just a second Ino wondered what she must have been like when she was younger.
"Oh my, you're right." The woman finally freed Kankurou. "I'm sorry about that," she turned toward where Kankurou had been but he had already disappeared. Since he was gone she turned her attention back to Ino. "My dear, you have to forgive me; sometime I get this urge to meddle in other people's lives." She leaned to whisper into Ino's ear, "He's one of our most powerful young jonin, so I thought he'd be a good catch for someone pretty like you." As Kazue pulled back, Chouji did his regular reappearance at Ino's side. The woman appraised him from head to toe for a second then shook her head, muttering, "Not good enough," and walked away.
"What was that all about?" Chouji asked.
"Kazue's just being an old busy body who should keep her thoughts to herself," Ino replied.
When things looked like they were starting to quiet down Temari whispered to Shikamaru, "Go now, say your good nights, I'll meet you in my room in about fifteen minutes." His feet had wings as he worked his way through the crowds. The dopey smile that drifted across his face as he told Ino and Chouji goodnight told them the whole story.
"Guess who's getting laid tonight," Ino whispered in a sing song voice to Chouji, as they watched Shikamaru make his final exit from the room.
Shikamaru cautiously entered her room after making sure there was no one to see him do so. He looked around; it seemed to be very orderly, with virtually none of the feminine details he would have expected. He looked at her bed, Oh well, let's not be too presumptuous, and decided to sit down on the chair at her desk. Before he knew it, fifteen minutes had gone by, I wonder if this is another one of her little ways of torturing me. Yet another ten minutes went by; he was starting to get worried. He stood up, considering heading to the door. Just as his hand was about to touch it, at last the door opened and Temari walked in.
"Sorry about keeping you waiting, my brother suddenly felt compelled to talk to me just as I was about to leave. I can tell something's bothering him lately, but he won't come out and say what it is." She looked at him, "So I walked around with him for a while, hoping that he might open up about it since he initiated our conversation. Nothing, he suddenly had no words for me at all. Sometimes, I feel I don't know what to say to him either." She reached out her hands to take his as she sat down on the bed, "But enough about my brother…"
He didn't hesitate to move to sit beside her, "I was just starting to think something had happened to you. I'm glad you got here before I did something foolish like go looking for you." He drew her into his arms and kissed her.
She stopped it from going on too long. "I have a little confession to make. It was kind of selfish of me to make you wait until now." A delicate smile appeared on the rose glazed lips. "Tonight's my birthday; I decided that since it was so close, I would wait just so you give me a present I really want." She gazed at him longingly. "Hope you don't mind." She leaned to open the drawer on her nightstand and pulled something out, "Oh, and I also wanted to make sure we were prepared."
"No, I don't mind, not at all," he replied, although mentally he berated himself for not even thinking about safety first. Good thing she was thinking ahead. He put his arm around her and drew her against himself. She gently started to tug at his shirt.
Ino walked back towards her room with Chouji still acting as her escort. She didn't need to be waylaid by anyone before they made it back to their section of rooms.
"So, do you want to hang out and talk a little longer?" Chouji asked as they got to her room. Please say yes…
She tried to act tired stretching her arms and yawning, "Nah, I think I'm ready to turn in. See you tomorrow." She put a hand on the door and started to open it looking up at him.
He had an expression on his face that could only be described as enraptured.
Damn, I forgot the effect this dress seems to have. She cleared her throat, "Chouji, thank you for being my escort. Goodnight."
He snapped out of his momentary daze, "Goodnight Ino." He started to go down the hall toward his room. As Ino watched he paused for a moment then continued on to his room. Once he got there he looked back toward her, then smiled and waved. It was cute in a silly kind of way.
"Goodnight Chouji," Ino said again for emphasis, making it look like she was going into her room, while watching to make sure he went into his. A moment later she leaned against her doorframe. What was that all about? Does Shikamaru finding some happiness have him out of sorts? She peeked out of her door and watched for a few minutes more just to be sure...
Kankurou hissed under his breath as he wandered out onto his balcony. Damn her, why did she have to dress like that? Why did he even think he might be able to talk to his sister about her? If Ino would have been out here tonight, he wasn't sure if he would have been able to hold back. He could feel how badly he wanted her every time he caught a glimpse of her tonight, let alone when Kazue had held his arm and kept him looking at her. I was positively aching after that and not just from the old matchmaker's grasp. One always wants things the most when they shouldn't have them. The worst part is how she seemed to be using Chouji to try and make me jealous. Yeah, it all started as a defense against Pokaru-sama's advances but, I no longer have any doubts about her teammate's interest in her…
He sat on one of the benches relieved that she hadn't been out here. I can attempt to calm down. He lay back to look at the night sky. She'll be gone after tomorrow, maybe I can even find a way to prevent her from coming back here. I can finally get past that nightmare, maybe even find someone else who can hold my interest the way she did. Just no more blue eyes. He closed his eyes for a moment, Maybe after tonight I'll be truly free of my fears. He opened his eyes again and watched the stars for a while, My balcony is my haven again. He smiled. When a shooting star suddenly crossed the heavens, his expression changed to a scowl. He sat up, Maybe its time to give this up for the night, the quiet might put me to sleep. Then he remembered what had happened to Ino the other night and felt a touch of regret.
He walked back to his room; the dim light in the corridors for the evening still seemed bright by comparison to the outdoors on this August night. As he walked past his sister's room, he thought he heard some noise. Well, at least somebody's having fun tonight.
When he opened his door, the light from the corridor was just enough that he saw her. "Why did you come here tonight, Ino?" his voice showed the barely restrained anger that he was feeling.
"I wanted to say my farewell in private." She sat there on his bed, still wearing that dress.
"I told you where I stand the other night." He growled, "I told you to stay away."
"I don't believe you," she replied. "There's something you've avoided saying."
"I don't love you, Ino," he glared at her in the dark: Damn, he could feel how badly he wanted her, "I've enjoyed using you recreationally, yes, but as to anything beyond that…"
"Liar," she slid the dress off, revealing her slip, which was paler than her fair skin, "Come over here and tell me that. I dare you."
"If you insist…" he came over to her and took her into his arms. She started off as enthusiastic as ever. She thinks she's claimed victory over me. He took control and did not give way. He whispered brutal words in her ear like how she was just another body to him, no matter how attractively packaged she may be. He repeated how he was doomed to die and didn't she have better things to do with her life than wait around to watch it happen. He reminded her that no matter how much time he spent with her, it would not change lust to love and she was naïve to even think it was a possibility.
Ino just took in the verbal abuse that he heaped upon her while their bodies were joined. She searched his eyes in the semi dark looking for a different answer. The only thing she could find was fear. What could he possibly be afraid of?
When he was completely spent, he growled one last thought to her, "After you've gone don't even think of contacting me. Regardless of the circumstances, I will not respond. A child will not move me; in fact it would probably be better off without me. If there is one, let it be a burden you keep for yourself. Find your happiness back in Konoha, live your life in a place full of warmth and sunlight, there is nothing for you here." He moved himself off her with a grunt of distain, "Get out."
She didn't move.
He could hear her panting softly in the darkness.
"You haven't left yet…Shall I let them have you?" In the darkness, the sound of the puppets moving was creepier than ever.
As something brushed her arm, Ino gasped and grabbed her dress and fled wearing only the slip. As soon as the door shut behind her, it was like her strength suddenly left her. She fell to her knees there in the hallway, weeping and gasping.
She was barely there a few minutes when the intrusion came.
"Are you all right, Ino?"
She recoiled toward the wall and looked up wild eyed. Then she came to her senses and recognized Shikamaru.
"Ino, talk to me." He crouched down beside her.
"I can't." She still looked terrified.
"You may not want to, but I think you really, really need to." He offered his hand to help her up, "Com'on, we'll go to the library. It should be quiet there."
He walked her carefully down the hall; he thought it was ironic that she looked so ragged now after how stunning she'd been earlier in the evening.
"You're lucky it was me who found you," Shikamaru said softly as he opened the library door. "I think Temari or Chouji would have awoken the whole place with the scene they would have made." Then again it might have been a good thing…it's just not MY kind of thing. "What were you thinking? I thought you and Kankurou didn't get along."
"You're right. I do have to talk to someone," Ino sat back on the couch and pulled her dress back over the slip, but didn't redo the fastenings. Then she started to recount her sordid affair with Kankurou to him, although she cautiously left out things that were only possibilities.
When she finished Shikamaru just looked at her, "Nobody would have believed what you've just told me unless they saw you tonight."
"So I was lucky Temari told you to go back to your room, so you could get some sleep then," Ino smirked at him.
Shikamaru blushed for a moment. "Quit trying to change the subject, Ino. I mean, what are you feeling? Are you going to be okay?"
"I'll try, but I can't be sure. No one's gotten to me the way he did, I really thought…"
"I can't believe that for a second. The way you two treated each other in public, even in the first two weeks, if you were heading somewhere like you thought you were, why didn't it show in your actions?"
"Maybe that was some sort of spontaneous ruse we kept up so no one would know. I can't say. I'm really starting to doubt my judgment in all this." She frowned, "So Shika, will you keep this a secret, just between you and me? You can't let anyone know, not Temari and especially not Chouji."
"I guess," Shikamaru said, uncertain he liked the idea.
"No matter what happens." Ino gave him an intense stare.
"No matter what," he echoed. Yeah, she's back to her old self again.
He walked her back to her room. "If you need to talk to me at any time, you know where I'll be."
"I'll be fine, but thank you again," Ino said in a voice that was as weary as Shikamaru himself felt. She opened the door and slipped inside.
He walked back to his own room reflecting on the fact that this was the last way he ever would have predicted his final night in Suna turning out.
Shikamaru woke extra early so he could wait for Temari to come out of her room. He had a feeling a blatant public display of affection would not go over well, so he figured he'd try for a private one. Fortunately, she didn't keep him waiting too long. "Good morning," he greeted her with a smile. She slid into his arms and they kissed, taking just a moment to explore each other again. "If only I could start every day with one of those." He looked at her with a serious expression now, "Do you have any idea when I'll see you again?"
"No, I can't say." She looked pensive, "I wish there was an easy answer, maybe Chuunin exam time? One could hope that we can arrange something in a couple of months, but all we can do is send messages to each other in the meantime."
"Well, I guess we better get to the central chamber," he looked down the corridor, "who knows who the next one of us up will be." If it's your brother, he thought, I just might get the urge to hurt him if he gives me one of those arrogant looks. Then I'd have to explain myself and it would just become troublesome…and not just for me.
So they sat at the table where they'd met for breakfast for so many days. Shika had already left his pack there. He and Temari killed time just holding hands, enjoying the last fleeting contact they would have for a while.
Chouji came in shortly thereafter, gear packed ready to go. "So this is it," he said.
"Yeah, we're back to an escort mission for a few days," Shikamaru muttered.
"I'll be happy to get back to character assassinations again," Ino walked in with her gear. She had dark rings under her eyes. She was not put together with her usual neat appearance.
"Rough night, Ino?" Temari asked curiosity showed in her glance. "You look like you didn't sleep at all."
"I'll manage," she replied as she looked over her companions. "I assume you guys are ready."
Less than an hour and a half later, they stood at the gates with Homura and Kosugi. Temari whispered one last farewell to Shikamaru and they were off. There was no sign of Kankurou anywhere. As they entered the desert, Ino gave one last glance at the walls, hoping to see him there.
Shikamaru noticed her actions and whispered to her, "Do you really think he'd be there after the way he treated you?"
"I guess you're right." She looked down at her hands, then ahead to where they were going. "I'm such a fool."
"No, just human Ino, entitled to make mistakes, especially where the heart is concerned." He patted her on the shoulder.
He stood in the darkest shadowed of locations on the wall, watching them as they disappeared into the desert. In his left hand, he held the sandalwood comb. As he ran his thumbnail back and forth across the teeth, he whispered to the air, "Forgive me."
A/N: My Beta thinks I should call this the end of Part 1. …DRAMATIC PAUSE…
