Fearless

Chapter 10

Smoke from the shady bar drifted around Ino, creating a hazy fog that hung in the air as she sat at the old bar, a bottle of beer held loosely in her grasp. She had arrived with Ibiki and Anko, however the snake mistress was searching for prey and her sensei was a silent drunk, like her.

" Something's eating you kid," he was also very observant, Ino mused. She took a swig of her beer, thinking over her words for a moment before shaking her head.

" It's nothing," she answered, training her eyes to a corner of the bar. Ibiki watched her from the corner of his eye before snorting.

" One thing I've learned as a shinobi, Ino, you can always drink your thoughts, always, at least until the bottle ones out. Than you wind up looking for that someone you were trying to forget in the bottom of your bottle. You can keep running, keep hiding, like a coward, or you can man up and find the fucker," Ibiki stated, taking a hefty swig from his own beer.

Ino thought over her former sensei's words, turning so her back was against the bar counter. Her eyes lazily drifted over the late night patrons, looking for some form a distraction from the blonde shinobi who had been haunting her dreams since he left.

" Quit thinking so hard, it doesn't suit you," Shikamaru's lazy drawl flittered to her ears, drawing Ino's attention to her left. She quirked a delicate eyebrow, meeting his bored gaze.

" I wasn't thinking, just reminiscing," she countered, listening to the snort he exhaled.

" Sure, sure. You haven't been sleeping," it wasn't a statement. Shikamaru knew the young Yamanaka better than any one. He could tell she had been missing sleep just by the way she held herself.

" I'd rather not reminisce in my sleep," was her only defense. Shikamaru shook his head, turning to glance over his shoulder. Ino followed his gaze, noting most of the Rookie twelve was here tonight.

" Everyone looks to be having a good time," she commented lazily, her eyes half hooded. Shikamaru nodded lightly, a frown marring his features.

" Ino," he started, only for the blonde Kunoichi to pitch forward off her stool. His eyes widened fractionally as every one close to him looked over to see the commotion. It was Ibiki who reacted.

" Damn it. I told the stubborn bitch to go home earlier. Stupid kid, doesn't know how to listen," Shikamaru stepped back as the head interrogator took his teammate from his arms.

" What do you mean?" his brows furrowed in confusion, watching as the older shinobi shifted the blonde until he was cradling her in his arms.

" She has slept in three days. She's been interrogating prisoners. Her mind is weak, her body is exhausted. She's to stubborn to listen and this is what happens. She does this all the fucking time," he bit out, shaking his head before turning on his heel. Shikamaru sighed, his eyes softening at the knowledge he just learned.

" What happened to you Ino?" he questioned the air quietly, knowing he wouldn't receive an answer.

Naruto's sapphire blue eyes followed the older shinobi as he carried the blonde woman from the bar, his brows furrowed in confusion before he turned towards Shikamaru as he joined the group once more.

" What happened?" Temari questioned her boy friend, voicing the question everyone had been wanting to ask.

" She collapsed from exhaustion. She hasn't slept in three days, Ibiki was pissed that she had been neglecting her body like that," he answered, not liking the words as they left his own mouth. Temari nodded, offering comfort to her boyfriend, knowing he would be worried about his childhood friend. Naruto's lips pulled down in a frown, not liking the answer he received before chancing a glance towards the door once more.

" Relax, dobe. She'll be fine," Sasuke's stoic voice reached his ears, reasoning with his irrational mind.

" But," Sasuke glanced from the pool table they had been using, a thin eyebrow cocked as he waited for whatever his friend would say.

" She's a strong Kunoichi Naruto, she'll be fine," he knew that wouldn't easy his blonde friend's mind, however he made the shot, winning that round which drew Naruto's attention back to the competition between them. The night seemed to drag on as Naruto and Sasuke played round after round of billiards, finally coming to the end with a tie when Naruto noticed Shikamaru glancing towards the door.

" Something wrong Shika?" Temari questioned, also noticing her boyfriend's behavior. He frowned slightly, thinking over his words.

" I'm just worried. Ino runs herself ragged all the time, it's just, tonight she looked, I'm not entirely sure, but I could have sworn I actually saw fear in her eyes before she collapsed," he explained, watching Naruto from the corner of his eye. Sasuke knew what the Nara was doing and he couldn't help but smirk. Ino was probably the only Kunoichi he could stand besides Temari and his own girlfriend, Hinata. To add points, she understood Naruto on a level only he did.

" I was thinking of checking on her, you don't mind do you Temari?" He watched Naruto, every muscle in the blonde shin obi's body tensing before he stepped forward.

" I'll go check on her, Shikamaru. I mean, it's the least I could do after all she did for me," he scratched the back of his neck nervously, knowing his excuse sounded weak, hell, it sounded weak to his own ears. Shikamaru heaved a sigh, glancing towards the blonde.

" Are you sure Naruto?" he watched as Naruto nodded his head before slipping from the smoky bar. Shikamaru smirked, watching as Sasuke shook his head.

The late night air was cool against his over heated skin as he picked his way through the silent streets. He knew the way to Ino's aparment better than his own, practically walking it every day. He ran his fingers through his hair nervously, chewing his bottom lip between his blunt teeth as he carefully climbed the steps to her front door. Naruto lifted his hand to the knob before pausing, voices floating to his sensitive ears.

" What's the issue?" Ibiki's gruff voice was easy to identify. Naruto waited, listening to the other voice.

" He wasn't in the right mind set, Sensei, that's the fucking issue," Ino's voice was a growl, frustration seeping from her pores. On the other side of the door, Ino was pacing the length of her living room as Ibiki rested on her sofa, amused by the sight. It took a lot to rattle the cold kunoichi. However seeing her acting this way over the jinchuriki made him chuckle.

" Maybe he still sees you that way brat," Ibiki commented, watching as the muscles of Ino's back bunched with tension before she slowly released it, the energy coiled in her body. She shook her head, glancing over her shoulder to glance at the front door.

" He doesn't. Who would want the frigid Ice Queen of Konoha when they could have Perfect Sakura?" her voice was bitter as she shook her head, breathing a sigh before turning to face her sensei.

" Thanks for bringing me back Sensei, I appreciate it. I think I'll go to bed, hopefully get some sleep," Ibiki eyed her warily before nodding. He pushed to his feet, watching the girl he had taken under his wing.

" Don't let your body go this long without sleep again Yamanaka," he ordered, passing her.

He pulled the door open to see Naruto, eyebrow quirked in question as to why he was out her. Naruto chuckled nervously, scratching the back of his head as he thought over any excuse he could.

" Hello Ibiki," he greeted, watching as the head Interrogator narrowed his eyes in his direction.

" Can I help you Namikaze," Ibiki questioned, arms crossed over his chest.

A/N: And I'm ending it there tonight. I'm going to stretch the last chapter into two. Enjoy and tell me what you think.