A/N: Sorry, about the delay my Beta (ladyviolathornhaven) is caught up in NaNoWriMo. Cheer her on, she only a little bit behind…she's planning on Thanksgiving as catch up time. Hopefully the next chapter will be up a little sooner…after all there's only a week left in November.
When I got the idea for this story, parts of this were the first thing I wrote for it. I originally thought this would be the fifth or sixth chapter. Wow, was I wrong…but I don't regret any of the changes since then.
Disclaimer: Kishimoto Masashi owns the rights to his Naruto characters. I occasionally take them out for side trips, introduce them to new people, but somehow manage to get them back to work on time.
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Ryokou's gift
Temari had just greeted Kazekage's entourage as it arrived at the gate of Konoha, on their way to the Chuunin exam finals. She was acting as the emissary between Suna and Konoha. Shikamaru had asked her for a very specific favor today; she wondered if she could make it work. She reflected on what she had learned two weeks ago.
-Flashback-
Shikamaru rushed into their home. "Temari, the Hokage just asked me to fill in for training one of the Exam candidates. So, I'll be gone until the night before the exams. I know that means I'll miss Tsuzuki's birthday, but I swear I'll do everything to make it up to him afterward." He regarded her with a hint of sadness, then continued, "Tsunade-sama also asked if you could see her in the morning: The Kazekage has decided he will make it for the Exam Tournament after all."
"I see, well that will be interesting." She smiled, wrapping arms around herself in a hug as she did so, "It will be so good to actually see Kankurou again, instead of getting one of his rare letters."
"I'm glad that makes you happy." Shikamaru's eyes darted around the room nervously then finally glanced toward her, "I need to ask you something."
"What would that be?" Her expression was puzzled. She tried to look into his eyes but he couldn't meet her gaze.
"I need to know if you would forgive me if I made a promise, but thought that there had come a time for it to be broken. Say that, due to changing circumstances, I felt compelled to share the information I'd been entrusted with."
"That's quite a concept." She was even more curious now. "I don't ever remember asking you for a favor like that."
"But if you had, could you forgive it, if it was justified?"
"I suppose so…Just who did you make this promise to?" She looked at him intensely.
What a pain. he thought, oh well, I can't back down now. "Ino. I made a promise to Ino."
Temari thought about it for a moment. "You know who Ryokou's father is and you're worried he might be in the Kazekage's entourage?"
"Let me put it this way: Yes, I know, and I already know he's coming to Konohagakure."
She looked at him. "Already coming to Konoha…you're not saying…" her hand reflexively went to cover her mouth.
"Ryokou really is your niece." He bowed his head, "I'm so sorry to have kept this from you for so long, but Ino was so scared. You don't know what happened to her that last…"
he stopped, "When all of this is over, you should hear it from her, I have no right to tell you that part of the story."
Temari gave him a disgusted look, her lip curling as she snarled, "How could you have kept this from me?" Her hands clenched and unclenched like she was trying to decide just what to do with them.
"As I just said, you'll have to talk to Ino. Kankurou may be your brother, but Ino has been like my sister for a long time. I had to protect her." He shook his head sadly, "I need you to try to help keep those two apart, I don't know what will happen if she finds out he's the Kazekage and everything else that's happened or he finds out about Ryokou. I know this is a shock, but please…" he looked at her, his eyes pleading for her forgiveness and understanding.
He knew he'd been very fortunate that Temari had gotten her team immediately after Kankurou's elevation. It had made it a lot easier to keep her from bragging about that situation. He'd had a slightly harder time getting word out discretely that he didn't want people walking up to him and saying things like 'Hey, how's your brother-in-law the Kazekage doing?', but somehow he managed to pull it off. Sometimes it pays to let people know I find things troublesome.
"Just go. You have a mission to attend to." She glared, "We will talk when you get back."
Her right hand pointed to the door. Shikamaru realized that she could have done far worse with it…but somehow it still hurt deeply.
-End of Flashback-
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She regarded her brother; he was wearing the broad sun hat and white robes that seemed to be the traditional garb of his office for these occasions. Good, it doesn't give away who he is, unless you see the paint around his mouth and chin. Maybe we can pull this off, she thought warily. She thought on how there had been little contact between them personally since he became Kazekage. Fortunately, she had other sources like Baki, whom she acknowledged with a nod, to keep her up on events in Suna.
"Ahem," Kankurou cleared his throat.
Temari snapped back to attention
"I'm not used to repeating myself," he regarded his sister. "I asked: How are my nephews?"
"As feisty as you were around their ages," she replied. A nervous smile crossed her lips.
A smirk passed across the painted face.
"Shikamaru will be bringing them to the arena," she continued. "You'll see them there if you want."
"Shall we be on our way then?" he gestured for her to fall into the entourage.
The street was relatively clear, so the group moved rapidly along toward their destination. When they where about half of the way there, something unexpected happened: A young girl with her dark brown haired pulled up in two tails, dressed in a rust orange jumper over a yellow t-shirt ran out into the street in front of them. She held out a flower before her and chirped out, "For the Kage-Kage."
Kankurou froze as he stared at the child. He just barely caught his sister's surprised gasp of the sound 'Ry'. No, it was the girl's eyes that held him transfixed. He knew those eyes, he had dreamed of a pair much like them many times through the years. Both good dreams and bad…
He recovered himself and crouched down to the child's level. "Is that a gift for me?" He extended his hand slowly for the flower that was offered. Then he thought, What is it again, a tiger lily?
The child stared at him a moment, then said, "Kage-Kage, you're not a girl," she seemed disappointed, "and you wear too much make-up!"
A sudden movement to her left caught his attention. "Please forgive her," suddenly his head was filled with the voice that matched the eyes that haunted him, "she's only a child, she knows nothing of protocol." A woman wrapped herself protectively around the girl and bowed before him. The pale silk of her hair spilled across her shoulder and that of the child. She remained that way for but a moment.
Kankurou held his breath: this child was his, he had never been surer of anything in his life. Do not give your feelings away, he thought, he mentally braced for the moment when she would look up at him. Has it really been so long…? Ino slowly raised her head; he watched as shock crossed her face like a wave. Has no one told her I'm the Kazekage now? How could they have kept her from hearing it? He sneered and said simply, "I see you took my advice."
He watched as Ino mouthed the words, "Smug bastard". Then she unwrapped herself from around the child and said, "Come along, Ryokou, the Kazekage has an appointment to keep."
"Flower," Ryokou replied and held it up to him.
"Thank you," the Kazekage accepted the lily.
Ino picked up her daughter and bowed, then hurried off into the crowds. Breathe, she reminded herself, what'll I do, if he wants her… what if he makes a public demand? If he wanted me, he'd have sent for me years ago… The thought stabbed into her heart.
Kankurou watched them disappear, resumed his place in the entourage, and then gestured for Temari to come forward. "We need to have a talk, my dear sister," he growled low in his throat.
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Ino saw Chouji in the crowd watching her. She ran straight toward him while she still carried Ryokou. "Dammit Chouji," she glared at him, but somehow her eyes held a wetness like she was fighting back tears, "why didn't you tell me he was Kazekage?"
"You mean Kankurou," he spoke while crunching on some chips.
Ryokou smiled and offered her hand to him. He reached out and gave the hand a light squeeze and let go.
"Yeah," she was trying really hard to calm herself down because she didn't want to say something her child shouldn't hear. She started to walk for home.
"Shikamaru didn't think it would be a good idea," Chouji shrugged, "so he asked me not to say anything. Besides, you two got along like oil and flame, although at times it was hard to tell which one of you was which. I think Shika was trying to spare your feelings."
Ino looked at him Shika didn't think, he knew, she thought then said, "As you obviously saw, it backfired."
"Well, who would have ever seen that series of events coming." He looked at her, "I could feel the scorch all the way back where I was standing. If it's of any interest to you, he called Temari up immediately after you left. She didn't look too happy as they moved off."
"Don't think he'll get the information he wants from her," Ino said as they got back to her parent's shop. They walked inside and Ino put her child down. "Mom, could you watch Ryo? I'm off to the arena with Chouji." She paused as her mother came up front, "Oh, and did you give Ryokou a day lily earlier?" Misao shook her head no. "Then, maybe she also needs a talk about the family business; she's giving away the goods." Ino playfully tugged her daughter's ponytails, then bent down brushing her bangs out of the way to kiss her on the forehead, "Be good for Grandma."
"Bye Mama! Bye Uncle Chouji!" Ryokou chirped as she jumped up and down waving. They waved back as they went out the door.
"So," Ino turned to Chouji, "shall we find a place where our visiting dignitary can't miss us, and we can make it look like we're having more fun than he is?"
He chuckled, "Oh great, he'll get to see that you're still the 'twisted bitch' he remembers."
If only you knew Chouji, if only you really knew, she thought as she took his arm laughing.
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Once they got there, they found a place to hang out with Lee and Sakura.
"So I see you got out here to watch the action too," Sakura smiled as she greeted them. "I'm rooting for the boy with the white hair. His name's Hise Eri, he's fourteen years old. I've given some healer training to him. He has some pretty excellent chakra control. I think he has a real good chance of getting his Chuunin status out of this."
"That's pretty good. Now we've got two to root for and not just because they're local boys." Ino looked out at the group, "Which one is the one you and Shikamaru did the last minute assist for?"
"The tall one, Hamada Yoichi. The kid's got a lot of power, but he needed a little boost to his belief in it. Shikamaru doesn't think he would have made as much progress as he did if he'd been the only one working with him." Chouji said, "It almost seemed as if he really had an idea what was needed to help the boy at this late point. I almost hate to say it, but Raido's accident may have been a good thing in this case."
"I do know that Raido specifically suggested Shikamaru as his replacement," Sakura told them. "I was there when they got him in at the medical center and heard him give his report to Tsunade-sama."
"You know this is going to better than I thought it would be," Ino smiled, giving a quick glance toward the place in the arena where the Hokage and her guests were seated. The seating in the arena had been long since rebuilt so it was more spread out, so from where they were, there was no difficulty seeing the Kazekage. Let him watch. She turned to her friends and realized that Chouji had just put his arm around her, Yeah, he can watch this too.
Sakura smiled when she caught this, "I knew it. So how long have you two been 'officially' dating?"
"Who us?" Ino looked at her then at Chouji, "Are we calling this dating today or not?"
"Well, Naruto's not here for us to taunt, so I guess yes."
"Well then, since just after Chouji's birthday," Ino replied.
"Might I ask how seriously?" Sakura dared to say it, but the only response she got was the two of them looking at each other, and then laughing. "Okay, sorry I asked."
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Kankurou spoke quietly with his sister as she stood along side his seat of honor; he didn't dare risk the Hokage overhearing, "You've only known for about this past two weeks? How could you not have known?"
"Except for the hair color, Ryokou doesn't have very much of you in her appearance. Everything else about her is pure Yamanaka," Temari started, "and the way you and Ino fought, I would have thought you were mortal enemies." She thought for a moment, "I'd say the only thing remotely like a clue she ever gave was that she once said that she thought you were a different person without your war paint on." She shook her head, "Until Shikamaru warned me when he heard you were coming to this after all, I really had no clue. I can tell you I was really pissed at him for a few days. He so lucked out by getting a mission when he did."
"Almost five years is a long time to keep a secret of this kind, but now you've gotten him to betray one of his loyalties. I guess that means in the long term that you're more important to him." He gave her that smirk; she wished she could give him a big sisterly smack upside his head when he did that, "So, what, if anything, did Ino ever say about Ryokou's paternity?"
"Only that the father was from Suna and that he told her to keep away from the village and him." She replied, "I kind of took it to mean that he was married and didn't want any complications."
"And you never connected the request for her to stay out of Suna that came with you when we sent you to Konoha with that? Nor did you connect my request upon becoming Kazekage. Come on Temari, I thought you were smarter than this."
"I just figured you didn't want her to humiliate you in front of Shiori." As much as Temari wanted to smack him for that last barb, she had to smile when she recalled the time Ino possessed him and made comments about his liking to jerk things around other than his puppets. It made so much more sense now. It also explained why he didn't try to kill her afterwards. She suddenly had a new appreciation for the dark side of Ino's sense of humor.
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Ino had spent a fairly cozy hour resting her head against Chouji's chest when Shikamaru came over to join the crew. He had his sons, dark haired Hajimeru and flaxen haired Tsuzuki, with him. Tsuzuki immediately clambered up on Ino's lap to look her in the eyes and asked, "Where Ryokou?"
She shifted herself to a position where she put one arm to balance the boy. Then smiled and answered, "With her Grandmama," she mussed up his hair, "but that should make you happy 'cause that leaves my arms free for you." She threw her arms around him in a big hug leaning him from left to right, and then she did the 'raspberry' thing against his neck until he was giggling uncontrollably. She then looked up to Shika, "Soooo, have you had a chance to talk to Temari since the entourage arrived here?" she drawled.
"Only briefly." He raised an eyebrow, "Is there something you want to ask Ino?"
She looked at the boy on her lap then gestured to him to wait a moment. "Sakura, could you watch Shika's boys for a few minutes?" She picked Tsuzuki up and handed him over to Sakura. Hajimeru was already talking away at Lee and Chouji. "We'll be back soon." They walked up the aisle to the back of the section. "Did the boys get to talk with their uncle?"
"When did you find out?"
"This morning the hard way. You see that day lily he keeps fidgeting with? Ryokou thought the Kazekage was a woman like our Hokage. She ran out to offer a gift, in her favorite color of course." Ino laughed, "She told him he wears too much makeup. I ran out to get her and looked right up at him not knowing…" she looked over to see that Kankurou had noticed them talking across the way.
"You gonna be all right?" Shikamaru put his hand on her shoulder. He remembered the wreck Ino had been after her last evening with Kankurou.
"Of course, because I can live my life the way I want to. He's the one with all the prying eyes on him." She looked up at Shika, "He's trapped up there right now; I can come and go as I please," a sly smile took over her lips.
Shikamaru nodded, Here's Ino trying to pretend that she's invulnerable again. "Yeah, but don't forget Temari is sharing that trap with him today. She's there until he says she can leave."
"So who did the Suna crowd come to see?" Ino tried to change the subject.
"Two of their own," Shika replied, "but the one on the far right is Baki's son."
"Good for him, I always liked Baki," she looked toward the Kazekage's entourage. "He always kept Kankurou from making a total ass of himself." There he was. She could see him now in the Kazekage's entourage. "I wonder if he saw Ryokou," she mused to Shika, "I bet he'd figure it out real fast."
Something moved into the corner of her vision: Chouji, and he was looking at her strangely. Then, he glanced over to the Suna contingent, and again back at Ino.
"You said something about Ryokou," he said softly, "is her father in with the Suna group?"
"Yes," said Shika and "No," said Ino simultaneously.
The glare she gave Shikamaru told Chouji who spoke the truth. He started to ponder over what he knew; "Let's see, he told you to get away from Suna, so he must have had something… like a family to protect…so is it Baki?"
Ino snorted, "No, I don't go after married men."
"Well, what if you didn't know if he got married since then," Shika smirked, "what would you do?"
"You're hinting at something." Her eyes widened, "No, you can't be serious," her hand lightly covered her mouth, and she glanced across the way, "he wouldn't have."
"Well, that tells me what I needed to know," Shikamaru shook his head, "were you thinking about giving him a taste of the past?" He immediately berated himself, Damn, that was the wrong thing to say in front of Chouji.
"That smug bastard, he wouldn't have." She shook where she stood, "He's not capable of love."
"You don't mean to tell me that Ryokou's father is Ka…" both Ino and Shika's hands flashed out to cover Chouji's mouth. They both nodded at him and gestured for silence. When they removed their hands he leaned toward Ino and whispered, "I thought you said you hated the painted freak."
"That's just it," Ino said, almost embarrassed, "I swear he was like a different man without the makeup." Her gaze drifted back in Kankurou's direction, lingering a bit too long.
Chouji looked like he wanted to say something, but the words wouldn't come to him.
Shikamaru made a throat clearing noise. They looked up to see Temari coming out the entrance of their section of the arena. "Oh, and by the way Ino, Baki's never been married," he added in a whisper, to Ino.
Temari walked up to them. "The Kazekage wants to talk to you," Temari looked at Ino, "It will need to discrete, I'm glad to see you didn't bring Ryokou with you."
"Gee, do I have time to change?" Ino spoke in a voice dripping in sarcasm, "What would be appropriate for such an audience?"
"Don't even go there," Temari frowned. "I'm still mad that my husband held your secret for so long." She gave him a dark look, "Come on, we don't have much time," then began to move up the aisle.
"I'm not exactly pleased that no one told me your brother is the Kazekage, or that he's married," Ino replied, walking as close as possible so they wouldn't be overheard. "We've all been keeping our share of secrets."
"Let me tell you a few things Kankurou, the village elders did a lot of tests before they decided to make him Kazekage. He passed them and, in fact, exceeded their expectations. He is not the man you got to know in Suna; sometimes I think I don't know him anymore."
She looked at Ino with a serious expression, "Do you want to know why he didn't bring his wife, Shiori, with him? She's due to bear his second son any day now." She added in a softer tone, "If it's any consolation to you it was an arranged marriage, tied to his becoming the Kazekage. The village elders felt that Suna was loosing some of its stronger bloodlines with the disappearances of the 3rd Kazekage and Gaara, and Pokaru's sudden death. Because Kankurou was the last of the 4th Kazekage's children still in Suna, they wanted some insurance. Shiori was one of three women of prominent households they selected for him to choose from. He only gave her the honor because her family has a way with poisons; you know how he likes to use them."
Ino made a face, "He's as warped inside as I remember."
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Temari lead Ino to a small alcove near the Hokage's seating area. It was apparently set up for just this kind of situation with two small entrances, one on each side. She had Ino wait just out of sight while she relieved the current guard of his post. As soon as the guard was gone, she waved Ino forward. She then took a quick glance inside; her brother had already managed to get there. She turned to Ino, "I told the posted guard to come back in 15 minutes, after a break. You better keep this brief, and if either of you raise your voice to a level where I hear it from outside, I'm gonna teach both of you a lesson." Temari patted her fan for emphasis.
Ino stepped through the door Temari had just looked in through. She suspected one of his guards would automatically take up a similar position at the other door.
Kankurou stood there in his white robes, but had left his hat somewhere outside. They regarded each other in silence for a few moments.
"So, what was so important that you wanted me here? Ino asked coldly.
"Ryokou," he looked down at her, "that should have been obvious."
"What, couldn't you get enough information out of your sister?"
"She informed me she just found out the truth a few days ago." His left eye did one of its squints, "Apparently, Shikamaru showed a fair amount of loyalty to you."
"That would explain her attitude of late," Ino looked up at him.
"On the topic of loyalties, I've noticed the company you keep as well," he gave her one of his most superior smirks, "I really don't think Chouji is someone I would even consider as a father figure for my child."
"You keep him out of this," Ino snarled, "he's been good to Ryo. Ask you sister about what kind of man he is. Besides, aren't you the one who pushed me away, and now you've got a family as well. You have no claims on me; that was your own choice." She shook her head, "As I recall, you don't want me around to watch you die, so I guess you've given someone else that privilege. Let me live my own life." Ino tensed like an over wound spring.
"It's true I have no claim to you, but I do have rights as far as Ryokou is concerned." He folded his arms across his chest. He watched her reaction for just a moment then continued, "Have no fear, I won't take her from you. However, there will come a time when I will inform you that I wish to formally acknowledge her and meet her as a father. As I said when we met earlier, you took my advice; I just want you to know I will be watching, in my own way." He reached out to touch her face. They stood there regarding each other again; it was like time had stopped. Then slowly he leaned forward to kiss her; he knew it was the last thing he should have even considered, but somehow he couldn't stop himself.
In spite of her better judgment, Ino felt herself respond to him. Suddenly she ached from the longing that contact reawakened within her. They revisited the feel of each other's mouths, his arms slid easily around her, but as much as some part of Ino thought she wanted this, it also shocked her back to reality. She braced her hands against his chest and pushed him away, breaking off their reunion. She looked away so he wouldn't see her tears start. "I have to go," she whispered trying not to let the pain show in her voice. Then she turned and bolted through the door she had entered by.
When Ino flew out the door, Temari's first thought was to go after her, but she realized she had not heard them raise their voices. She turned instead to look through the still open doorway. Her brother stood there staring at his hands like they had betrayed him.
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Ino ran into the ladies room, desperate for a mirror. I just know he got some of the damn paint on me. She tried to calm her breathing and stop her tears. There, she rubbed at the spot on the left side of her chin, I can't let anyone know what a fool I am. She then turned on the water and began to splash her face, hopeful that it would help fade the redness around her eyes. Shikamaru might not ask me, but Chouji… she let out a sigh; he really was her best friend now, maybe something more, he'd ask, she just knew it. Sometimes I think he worries about me more than I do. She went back to the cool water, then checked herself out in the mirror. Almost human again…
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"You all right, Ino?" Shikamaru asked softly as Ino came back to sit with them.
"I'm fine." She put on a brave front and replied, "He just wanted to talk a little about Ryokou."
Chouji put his arm around her. "It's nothing you can't handle, right?" he smiled gently at her.
She tensed up, suddenly Chouji's arm around her wasn't reassuring, it just seemed wrong. You smug bastard, what have you done to me, she thought. You're married and you go and kiss me like that. She stood up again, "I've got to get going, sorry I can't stay, I just wanted to check in with you guys so you wouldn't worry." She walked up the aisle slowly.
Shikamaru looked at Chouji's expression as she left. Not worry, yeah right, Ino. Chouji looks like you just kicked him in the gut, he thought. He noticed that Sakura was watching them as well. Good thing they'd kept it quiet, no need for too many questions.
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She walked home feeling like she wanted to punch something. I'm so stupid, I've been half in love with him all these years without realizing it, and he goes right along with his life. He's powerful, married with a family…other than Ryokou. She started running, and didn't stop until she got home. "Ryokou, Mama's home!" she called. When Ryo appeared, she held her for as long she could until the child got restless.
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Chouji stayed as long Shikamaru and his sons did, they still hung out with Sakura and Lee, but the focus was now fully on the event. Neither of them even wanted to speculate what had happened just yet. When it ended for the day, they walked over to meet up at the place Temari had agreed to. She came up all smiles and kisses for her boys. Shika started to carry Hajimeru, she took Tsuzuki. But when they started walking along she asked, "So what did Ino say?"
"A lie, I'm assuming." Chouji scowled. "What did you see?"
Temari appraised his expression, she sighed, "Not much, but Ino ran out of the room as fast as she could. The strange thing was I didn't hear them raise their voices, so I have no idea what happened: Kankurou won't say, so I'm guessing she didn't tell you either."
"She claimed to be okay, but she barely sat down with us before she took off again," Shikamaru said. "She was definitely trying too hard."
"Tense would be putting it mildly," Chouji added. He remembered the way her back had had felt before she had gotten up to leave: It was like every muscle in it had decided to knot at once.
They walked along to take the boys home, they were obviously tired after the long day.
After a few minutes Chouji finally broke the awkward silence that had taken them over,
"Do you think I should go over there and see if she'll tell me?"
"If she won't, this could be real bad." Shikamaru frowned, "You two have gotten closer than ever lately."
"Yeah, we were supposed to go out and do something fun after all this." Chouji looked a little down. He couldn't very well tell them that it was a possibility that tonight they might have…
"All the more reason to go see her, maybe she's waiting for you." Temari tried to be encouraging. She'd been rooting for Chouji and Ino to get together for years. It was kind of a shock to find out that her brother was the man who tainted Ino's past. Yet somehow, she had no trouble painting him as the villain of the piece. "Go on, if you don't get there soon she'll have the excuse that it's too late tonight."
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Chouji moved through the streets toward Ino's house. He passed by the awning where they had waited after the opera for the rain to stop. He smiled, if she wasn't so worried about her dress…that green dress…the one she'd worn that night… It suddenly occurred to him, some of what had happened today echoed the opera. What if that was the reason she was so quick to leave? He hurried the rest of the way to the Yamanaka residence. Don't do anything stupid, Ino.
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Inoichi opened the door but his expression showed some curiosity as to the late visit. "Come on in Chouji, I'll see what she's doing." Inoichi himself had been curious about what had happened earlier, and why his daughter had been so clingy to Ryokou since she got back. He knew the original plan had been for Ino to go out tonight with Chouji, but something had changed it.
"Ino," he tapped lightly on her door. He waited a moment and his daughter came out. She was still wearing what she'd worn earlier in the day, but the light was out in her room.
"I was just getting Ryokou to sleep," she said.
"You went to do that over a half hour ago, Ino." He father studied her; yes she was behaving just a little weird. "Well anyways, Chouji's here."
"Isn't it a little late?" she looked toward the main room.
"Well, you're still dressed; you can go out there and talk to him for a while."
She sighed as she walked to the other room. Now Inoichi was really wondering what had happened today. Ino had been getting more enthusiastic each time she and Chouji had gone out over the past few months. He had been starting to think his daughter was finally getting ready to move on with her life, now this. It suddenly occurred to him, the Kazekage was here with a contingent from Suna maybe Ryokou's father was in the entourage… He started to walk over to her.
"Dad, Chouji and I are going out for a while. See you in about two hours," she already had her hand on the door.
Oh well, maybe I'll just have to ask her later.
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Chouji considered putting his arm around her but he remembered how she had tensed up earlier. "So," he asked cautiously, "are you really okay?"
"Why wouldn't I be?" Ino looked at him.
"With all that happened today, it seems like you'd have been through a big shock." He studied her eyes hoping they'd betray something.
She turned her head away from his scrutiny and ahead suddenly then pointed at the bar on the left, "Let's go in for a drink or two."
Resigned to the fact that he wasn't going to get any information the easy way, Chouji was forced to agree to her plan. Maybe she'll open up a little more if she gets a little more relaxed. I just hope she doesn't over do it, Inoichi won't be happy if I bring her home falling down drunk again or end up drunk myself.
They grabbed a booth in the back and settled in. Ino promptly ordered a bottle, Chouji retaliated with ordering munchies. For a few minutes an awkward silence ensued, then Chouji started, "So where do we go from here?"
She looked blankly at him for a moment, "I'm not following you."
"After our last date… we… I felt so close to you, now it's like you've built a wall around yourself. All in the course of one day."
"Chouji, I can't explain, not yet." She stared down at her cup, "I don't fully understand it myself yet."
"Try me," he replied, "I need to know." He offered his hand to her across the table.
She started to reach out, then hesitated, "You don't deserve an emotional wreck like me." Her hands withdrew to rest in her lap and she looked down at them.
"Ino, you mean more to me than anyone else." He watched her, "I'm here for you, for as long as you need me, even if it is just to talk to."
She looked up, tried to meet his eyes for a moment, couldn't, then set herself to pouring their next round. "Thank you," she said softly, "but as I said before I don't know where my head is in all this."
"Fine, I can wait." He drank his round then turned to the food. It's her turn to break the silence. He watched her; he could see that she was still tense.
Ino just poured the next round and maintained her silence. She snagged one of the few remaining pieces food, then poured again, and drank it right down. She poured one more for herself.
Chouji shook his head as she whacked that one down as well. Okay, I guess that's not going to work. He was about to say something when she finally looked at him.
"Do you have any idea what she looks like?"
"Who?" He was mystified what she meant; maybe she had finally hit that drunken phase where stray thoughts pop out.
"Kankurou's wife."
"None whatsoever," He shook his head, "I didn't go with Shikamaru and Temari for that trip."
"Oh yeah," she looked slightly flushed, "I forgot."
I guess that answered the question I was going to put to her. Chouji felt a little worried. "So you're still hung up on him?"
"That where the 'I don't know how I feel' comes in." She rested her head on her left hand, "The smug bastard kissed me, then tried to take it a little further. Damn him, why'd he awaken all those feelings? That painted faced freak, if he didn't have the paint on…I might not have come to my senses." She started to cry, "Oh hell, I still want him." She wrapped her arms around herself and looked up as Chouji with a positively pathetic expression.
Chouji just watched her for a moment taking in what she had just said. He was grateful she wasn't a loud drunk, so no one else overheard. It wasn't easy listening to the woman you've been dating for a while declare that she thinks she might still be in love with someone else. Although, it was kind of what he was expecting her to say after the way she behaved today. He gave her a few minutes to try to settle down.
"Ino, do you want me to take you home?" he asked her cautiously. She nodded, still as vulnerable looking as she had been a few minutes before. He got up and came around to her side of the table and offered his hand to her. She reached out carefully and he helped her up. Last time she was a happy drunk, oh well. Chouji thought as she leaned awkwardly against him. "I have a confession to make." He said, "When I came to your house tonight, I was more than a little worried about you."
"Oh yeah, why?"
"For some reason my mind kept drawing parallels between your life and Chou-Chou-san from that opera last week," he spoke it cautiously, waiting to see how she'd react.
"Don't tell me you'd think I'd kill myself just because I found out Kankurou was married?" She snorted with laughter suddenly, "Just because I may be hung up on him doesn't make him worth dying for. You can be soooo naïve at times," She snickered.
Chouji blushed.
Their walk continued on with her occasionally breaking into giggles again.
Halfway back she finally spoke to him again, "Stop please," she tried to look up at him, "My father will kill me if I come home like this. Can we just wait here for a while?"
He looked around; luckily there was somewhere to sit her down so he didn't have to spend the time holding her up. "We'll wait here for now," he said softly, "but I do have to get you home tonight."
"But you said you'd be here for me," she sulked.
"You know what I meant by that."
"I know, you know, I know," she muttered.
"Yeah, whatever," he gave her back, "here have some water." He opened and offered a container, and when she started to spill some of it, helped her with it. "You're hopeless Ino."
"And you're my best friend," she muttered back.
He closed the container and let her lean against his chest for a while. Dammit Ino, tonight was supposed to be our night… and here you are drunk again. He thought as kissed the top of her head.
"That tickles," she giggled.
"Just stay awake will you," he said back, "talk to me, or something."
"About what?"
"Anything. How about Ryokou?"
"She has no clue that she met her father today." Ino snorted, "You're not a girl, and you wear too much makeup. Great introduction." She laughed some more. Then she paused, "He thought you weren't an ideal father figure for her…" She turned her gazed to him her expression suddenly serious, "but Ryokou loves her Uncle Chouji very much. She says so all the time." Her head bowed pale blonde hair falling across her face, "How did I end up with such a sweet child when I'm such a mess?"
"Maybe because your parents have been punished enough?" Chouji offered.
She laughed again, "Thank you Chouji, I knew there was a reason I hang out with you. You know me better that anybody else." She hugged him. "I think I feel a little better now, can we walk again?"
They made it back to her place, and although she was drunk, at least she was no longer an obnoxious weepy drunk.
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Chouji snapped out of a restless sleep. No, it can't be. He sat up and stared out the window in the direction of Ino's house. He's everything she ever said she wanted…especially when it comes to powerful…can I possibly compete with that? He concentrated on calming his breathing. Mulling over the situation he sought a weakness and could only come up with one…It isn't an insurmountable obstacle, but I just have to hope it's enough…Kankurou has a wife.
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A/N: Wow, that was a whole lot of development off screen, wasn't it. Please don't panic…there's still a lot of story to get through.
Thank you to: Awaii, overlordofnobodies, shannny2k, shelvesinthecloset, Shubaltz Crazist & Tomato-Vampire-Countess for their reviews, comments and ongoing support.
