Catastrophic:
III.
There were things in this world she could do nothing about. So she plastered a smile and cemented up walls.
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Ino wiped the dirt off her hands against the purple apron tied at her waist.
Leaning back on her heels she grinned triumphantly.
She was kneeling atop the roof of her apartment complex. For once she knew it would turn into a warm, sun shining, day. The blue sky to be limpid, fluffy white clouds smeared and blotted.
It was currently twilight. The sun was about to rise.
Unfortunately she had to work later that afternoon. But only for a few hours.
She was planting flowers in the greenhouse that she had had constructed.
A surplus of blinding and pale colors attacked the eyesight.
Surrounding every nook and cranny was flowers.
She was quite proud of this accomplishment. It sure helped to alleviate her tension.
"Ha," She cooed at the flowers, her dirt-encrusted fingernails grazing a petal of a flower nearby. "So beautiful."
"Agreed." She went rigid.
Her head turned much like the first time they had met. Searing blue clashed with morbid black. His eyes were more mellow today. It must be because it wasn't going to rain again. His eyes always glowed when the water precipitated.
His blank stare held her in place - solemn, unblinking. Hair even more distraught than usual. Canines peeking out from his mouth. Arms crossed sternly against his well defined, sculpted chest.
She scoffed. Flattery wasn't going to help his situation. Neither was that navy blue shirt that built up his desirability.
She had been peeved still over the fact that the past couple of nights he took to believing that she had invited him to snooze anywhere in her vicinity.
Be it if she passed out on the couch -he'd sleep on the floor by her feet, or often in her lap. Or on her bed - he'd sleep at the end of her bed, all sprawled out like a starfish.
He was like a dog.
An overly attached mutt.
They hadn't conversed anymore upon the whole him being her darkness.
She hadn't brought it up.
It was as if they were in any normal living scenario. Except for the fact he probably wasn't human.
And he was outlined like a person standing in front of a door that's been opened to a dark room.
She didn't question things anymore. Well. At least not as often about where he was from. What he was. Why he kept pestering her sanity.
Just assumed for the moment clarity would advance. Eventually. When she least expected it.
That didn't dissipate her anger at him though. And he was conscious of that.
"Ino," He breathed out, crinkled smile swallowing her up. "Let's get breakfast."
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"Glutton." She sibilanted, her chin resting against one of her palms.
Crumbs from her blueberry muffin rested on her white plate. Steam from her cup of hot cocoa filtering into the air in the near empty coffee shop.
Kiba was seated across from her, shoveling pieces of food into his mouth at a rapid pace. As if she hadn't been feeding him three heavily loaded meals a day.
His fork delved into his mouth, pieces of french toast stabbed into the prongs like a meat kebab. It was utterly disgusting to watch.
Cornflower eyes flickered to rest out at the scenery unfolding before the window they were seated beside. The sun had risen. Bright flecks of orange and yellow poured onto them. Hints of chestnut brown gleaned in streaks throughout his hair.
Glimpsing over at him as secretively as she could, with her cheek now resting on her palm, her body turned at an angle.
A lump gathered in her throat, creating a war with her oxygen supply as she noticed the bright splashes of gold that trickled through his pupils.
What was with his eyes? They were always changing colors. Either because of his mood or the light that refracted off them.
She felt haunted.
"Is there a reason you like to stare at me?" His voice, that usual sardonic and annoying tone of his inter-weaved through each syllable.
"Who'd stare at you?" She tautly replied, deadpan.
His laugh was the only response he proffered. She was surprised he had halted off eating long enough to utter his words.
A brief pause followed.
He had apparently ceased in his mission to conquer the coffee shop, where he would consume all the sustenance. One of his eyebrows quirked up at her commentary that was running wild. In her mind, might she add.
She never knew when or where he would pop himself into her thoughts. It was incredibly rude.
"You're incredibly rude, you know that?" Ino verbalized the same time Kiba asked "Why is it that I hav'n't met any of your friends?"
Her eyes widened just a fragment. He just stared at her.
Probably his notion she answer his question first. That stupid curve of his lips made its appearance once more.
"Well. If I don't even know who or what you are, why would I subject my friends to you?" She was stepping on very thin ice. What difference did it make she apprehended. The ice between them had already been cracked and chipped in various places.
"'Cause you want to figure me out. Extra help."
"I prefer to solve my own problems. You're the one who told me to find out myself. Am I on some time limit or something to figure you out now?" He flashed her a smirk.
"'m not rude. You just don't appreciate my greatness."
"My mistake, I guess it's hidden by all that arrogant bastard-ism that shrouds you."
Kiba's laugh was unforgettable.
A rich sound. Melted the insides, and one couldn't help but to find themselves smiling back.
Ino chewed on the corner of her lip.
There wasn't any way she was going to smile. His eyes would - tended to - crinkle in the corners when he noticed her smiling. His lips would soften ever so slightly. She would find the world hazing around her. Everything became pale in comparison to when she would get his almost-smile.
She found herself abhorring the very thought.
"Perhaps," She began softly, swallowing the thickness clutching to the caverns of her throat, "you can meet a friend tonight. There's a festival later tonight, if you're up to going after my shift at work. Have you ever been to one?" Her tone was full of snark on the last sentence.
"Yes. I have. I'd be glad to go wit' you later, Ino."
"Can other people even see you, actually? What with the whole dark act you've got going on?" Kiba's eyes seemed to darken. His expression turned a bit twisted. For a moment Ino felt a sliver of fear pass through her, inexplicably.
"You can see me, can't ya?" His gaze was patronizing. Those dark depths of his eye devoid of any color.
She couldn't help but feel she had struck a nerve.
Which would be ridiculous.
If anyone should be seething with rage, she had earned that right.
But she kept quiet, one of her purple-coated fingernails parting a blueberry crumb in half.
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Her shift flew by.
Customer flow was surprisingly heavy.
It must be the sunshine that had decided to make a rare appearance that day.
Sure provided a steady incoming of customers who wanted to buy flowers.
Thank you, sun. She muttered to herself as another reason her shift seemed to fly by was because people were preparing for the festival later that night. Ino hadn't really been planning on going, if she was going to be honest with herself.
Not this year.
Would've signified yet another year that she was doomed to eternal loneliness.
Even though she would of been dragged there irregardless. Shikamaru Nara hated being skipped out on. A lesson she had learned ruthlessly as being his childhood friend. She supposed it was a beneficial aspect though.
She helped him with his scenery painting on masks booth and she handed out flowers. Plus it pulled her away from spending all her time cooped up in her apartment. She didn't take to getting outside much besides to go shopping or to work.
Then there was the little dilemma of Kiba. A very promising reason for her to skip out on a festival that reminded her too much of those she had lost.
Their stiff conversation had made it clear to her that other people could indeed see him.
But that didn't mean she wanted to expose him to anyone else.
Especially her friends.
Couldn't magically explain how a severely heart-wrenching man had come into her life just like that. Or how it had came down to him living with her. There were plenty of other options of living space for a man who needed to keep on the 'down low' as he so vaguely put it.
One of her hands limply ran through her blonde hair.
She hoped she could get through tonight. Unscathed.
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"I don' see why the hell I have t' dress up." The disgruntled, scraggly voice spat.
"It's a festival. Everyone dresses up in some sort of way. I'm dressing up, so shut up. Just put it on, idiot."
She was met with silence. A pleased, but strained smile pulled at her lips.
Returning after her shift to hear him express he was going to the festival in his fur stitched jacket, torn tee-shirt, and black pants caused her to step right back outside until she returned with something more appropriate.
She wasn't roaming the streets of Konoha with a man who looked like he had rolled out of a swamp and fought with a gang of burly thugs.
Staring at herself in the mirror in her bathroom, her fingertips shook.
Her dress felt too tight.
Short, clean-pressed purple skirt. Long-sleeved, hand swallowing, black kimono-resembling top. Large black and purple streaked ribbon tied at her waist and popping out behind her back like a tied shoe-lace. Thin, v-neck collar, exposing the briefest glimpse of cleavage if she were to bend down.
Makeup looked too thick.
Black eyeliner penciled above her upper lashes. Thick, black mascara, making cornflower eyes appear wider, brighter. Small sliver of barely there gold eye-shadow, glimmering at the smallest cast of light.
Eyes too big, complexion so pale.
Hair a disaster.
Neatly pulled from the back into a delicate circle-bun at the top of her head. Long right bang framing the side of her face, curled. Loose short strands hanging on the left side of her cheek.
She felt tired.
Poking at the dark circles beneath her eyes, frowning at the wrinkles between her eyebrows.
She didn't want to do this.
To go out in a crowd of people with a smile stuck on her face, trying to convey emotions that she just didn't have.
Tears brimmed on the surface of her eyes, traitorous water that threatened to spill and ruin all the effort she had tried to put in to looking pretty.
A shaky laugh slipped quietly from her mouth.
It was funny.
She was trying to look pretty for someone - some thing? - who may not even really exist.
Hearing his bumbling feet advance towards her bathroom, she inhaled and exhaled sharply, composing herself.
A sharp knock, his knuckles beating against the wood. She could clearly see the exasperated look on his face as he was staring down at his clothes, his hands pulling and tugging at every clothed inch of himself.
"You done yet?" He grumbled. Voice full of irritation. Impatience.
"Were you not the one just throwing a fit because of having to go?"
"I threw a fit 'cause of wearin' this." She knew he was gesturing to what she couldn't currently see. Idiot.
Rolling her eyes, she stood, smoothing her hands against the fabric of her clothes.
Opening the bathroom door she was met with a tight clench on her heart, the loss of breath, the inclination to the start of perspiration. He was leaning carelessly against the door frame. As his eyes swept up her frame to meet her own, she noticed his expression blanked.
Oh, she had chosen something far more than just appropriate for him.
Crimson stained dress shirt clung to his muscled torso and arms. Long-sleeved. A black vest. Upturned red collar. Fitting, long, black dress pants. Simple black shoes. She resisted the urge to touch his cheek. The red in his shirt heightened the intensity of his red fang-tattooed cheeks.
His hair he must've had a fierce battle to the death with. Usual tousled, straying strands were slicked back neatly, exposing more of his facial features. Showing his ears.
Hello, advanced version of mister tall, rugged, and handsome. Her thoughts ping-ponged, too scattered.
Not trusting herself to stand there and just stare she moved briskly past him, the scent of vanilla trailing behind her.
"Let's get this over with." She muttered, missing the stunned, euphoric, look Kiba tossed at her retreating form.
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At least Kiba was enjoying himself.
Laughter creased his face, his eyes flickering with flashes of bright gold around his irises, and that hard to see violet-blue.
He was stumbling after the little children, their faces covered with masks Shikamaru had painted for them.
In one of his hands was a brightly painted dogs mask, the cheeks painted with the fang like tattoo's expressed on his own face. He was clearly happy. And even in the bright illumination of the hanging flame-colored lanterns, that shadowy outline of black wasn't there. Or if it was, she couldn't see it.
"Cheer up." Her eyes rested on the bum of a best friend of hers. Shikamaru stared at her, eyes half-lidded with boredom. Face portraying his trademark lazy expression. His own black vest covered a white up-turned collared shirt. Khaki pants, littered with multi-colored paint stains.
She snorted, limply flailing a purple nail colored hand at him.
His black hair smoothed back into a ponytail at the top of his head. The contained hair spiked out. His dark eyes were imploring, containing questions she knew she had no answers for. But Shikamaru was intelligent. He always knew things she didn't have to express.
"I'm fine, Shika'. Just tired."
"Sure." He muttered, arms linking behind his head. Leaning against the wall behind him, on his stool. His booth was always popular with the little children. He painted such brilliant masks, intricately detailed. Full of vibrant splashes of color.
She wondered why he never bothered painting anything.
He always told her it was too troublesome. Better to do it only once every year.
He was stupid.
She knew he was just too lazy, would rather spend his days staring up at the clouds with his roommate Choji. It was a surprise he managed to keep his job with the lack of work effort he had. Yet she was aware when Shikamaru actually had interest in something, he worked hard. With all his might.
Her part of the booth, on the other hand, was less successful. She handed out free flowers to anyone who wanted them. White flowers that faded into orange, red, and pink. Business came and went.
"You sure you're okay? I know this day is a lot for you."
"Then why do you make me come here every year?" She muttered darkly, tossing him a glare.
"I know it brightens your heart." Ino shook her head, situating herself in her chair. Her bold eyes followed after Kiba, softening at the pure happiness he was letting slip through the cracks of his facade.
His arms were waving around, chasing the children who screamed with laughter, scattering about to not get eaten by the 'dog monster'. She placed a hand over her mouth to contain her laughter.
"Kiba seems to as well." She paused. Glancing at Shikamaru, he still lazed in his position. But his eyes were now alert. Focused. Clearly seeing through her.
When they had arrived, she had firmly stated that Kiba was someone she had met a long time ago. Just never mentioned him because they hadn't been close. Shikamaru had seen through her lie. He had known her all his life. She couldn't lie to him.
She told him everything. Almost everything. But he hadn't pressed for details. She knew he accepted everything about her as long as her life wasn't in any threatening danger.
He seemed to find Kiba acceptable.
She didn't comment, too lost in her own mind. Shikamaru granted her peace, closing his eyes.
She was pulled from her distracted thoughts when Kiba approached, his face covered with delight. His eyes were gleaming, a light sheen of sweat on his complexion. He glanced at Shikamaru. Then back to her.
His eyes were unreadable as she tried to guess his thoughts. There wasn't any possibility he had heard them. He was too far away.
His lips parted. His expression uncharacteristically eager.
"Mind if I steal Ino for a bit? Want t' watch t'e fireworks." Ino blinked at Shikamaru who didn't move an inch.
"Go ahead." A warm smile pulled at her lips and she stood, leaning over to press a kiss against Shikamaru's cheek. She smoothed down her skirt, clasping her hands together behind her back as she followed Kiba, who was intent on leading her somewhere.
Shikamaru's face showed a lazy smile. "You deserve every happiness, Ino." He muttered as he watched her walk closely beside Kiba, smacking at his arm when he tried to ruffle her hair.
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He led her to a high hill, beneath a large cherry blossom tree.
In his arms he carried a yellow blanket, a six-pack of beer, and two sticks of cotton candy. One pink, the other blue.
Handing her the beer and cotton candy momentarily, he spread the blanket beneath the tree and motioned for her to sit down. She complied, stretching her legs out in front of her. She had peeled off her black strapped sandals.
Kiba handed her the stick of blue cotton candy and an uncapped bottle of beer.
"Is this your idea of some cleverly disguised attempt to get me wasted, Inuzuka?" His lips curved that familiar smirk.
"Not at all. You look'd like you need'd a break." She laughed.
The town spread out ahead of them. The small streets brightly lit because of the festival in front of them, the dark expanses of the sky behind them. The stars were twinkling, specks of light in the darkness. They sat there on the blanket, arms almost touching, waiting for the anticipated fireworks show to begin.
It was late. She assumed almost midnight. That was the time the fireworks would go off every year.
She brought the rim of the bottle up to her lips, letting the rough taste slide down the back of her throat. Placing it between her legs, she picked a piece of the blue cotton candy off, plopping it into her mouth.
Kiba appeared about to speak but before he could a streak of light zoomed towards the sky, exploding off with a resounding crack of sound.
Ino's eyes were bright, happiness radiating off of her as she watched the plethora of colors blast across the sky.
She had always enjoyed fireworks.
They so closely appeared as blooming flowers. Beautiful. Incandescent.
She didn't notice him watching her. Watching the way her face lit up. The pure enjoyment as her eyes took in the multiple flecks of color spreading across the dark night sky.
He leaned towards her.
She paused as his lips brushed against her ear, his voice loud but it felt like a soft whisper as he spoke.
"Ino you bloom so beautifully. I wan' you to always bloom by my side." Her eyes widened.
Heartbeat escalated as his lips pressed chastely against her left cheek. The rough stubble from his chin rubbing irritatingly against her skin. The back of one of his hands brushed her right cheek. His knuckles pressing lightly.
His breath fanned out. The mixing scents of beer, sandalwood, and rain. That tangy, electric smell.
It felt like she had been singed.
(:
I hope you enjoyed.
Reviews would be much appreciated! Lets me know what all of you think.
Thank you to:
Kally-kal, and Varun Dhawan. Your reviews meant a lot.
I don't own Naruto.
/- Ink Kissed.