Author's Notes

I'm back!

I'm sorry I've had to keep you waiting so long. It's been a whirlwind of activity on my end! I have a new job that I love, and the progress on my original novel is going very well. If you're interested in tracking the novel's progress, including information on where to buy it once it's out, follow me at twelve-colors dot tumblr dot com. I'll be glad to see you there!

The rest of ITB has all been planned in advance, and hopefully once I settle into my new job I'll be able to write some more. Of course, it helps when the source material is interesting. (As of this writing, 663 has just come out and... hoo boy.)

Another chapter has already been written and should be posted next week. I look forward to hearing what you think of it!

Much love,
- Rii

Chapter 148 - Prix Fixe

In truth, even Ino was surprised when Sasuke first reached out to her with the intent of what would probably be considered a date. Especially considering the way that Sasuke went about it.

Long before the proposal even reached her, Sasuke had been spotted asking for advice from various men on the subject of romance.

(Naruto, obviously, was not an expert on the subject.)

Ino ignored the gossip when she heard it—she'd long since resigned to blocking out what her neighbors had to say about him—but when Sakura came to her, she listened.

Apparently, Sasuke had spent an entire day with Lee on the matter, and she found him in her kitchen when she came home from work early one evening. Lee was teaching him how to make chocolates.

"He got out of there almost as soon as he saw me, since I guess Lee promised him privacy," Sakura reported. "And the most Lee told me was that Sasuke was planning some sort of romantic date and he wanted to be prepared."

"Must be doing something special for Naruto," Ino said, half-heartedly.

Sakura looked disappointed. "Oh, come on, Ino, you can't believe that gossip, can you?" she said. "Believe me, there is nothing going on between Sasuke and Naruto. Naruto told me. They're just… living together right now."

"Hmm. Who else would he be going through all this trouble for, then?" Ino said.

(Sakura almost said something, but her mind told her that she knew better than to try.)

(Ino was coping so wonderfully, even with Sasuke gone and a grandchild in the house, and giving her even remotely false hope wouldn't have been fair.)

The second clue, of all things, came from Nadeshiko. The most Ino saw was her looking almost amused coming home from work one early spring evening, and when Ino asked, her reply was, "I think Father is planning something quite special."

"Did he come by the flower shop?" Ino said.

"While I was gone. We didn't speak." Nadeshiko yawned, and began down the hallway to her room. "We'll just have to see what happens."

This was all true, of course. Sasuke had come by the flower shop long before it opened, and had left a note in an envelope for Nadeshiko in the empty outside flower display. It read:

Nadeshiko,

Please tell me your mother's favorite foods. I trust you will keep my request a secret and reply discreetly.

- Your Father

Nadeshiko pocketed the note and kept it to herself until the end of the day, when she told Yakata and her grandfather to go home while she finished closing up the shop.

She wrote her reply on the back of his letter:

Father,

She enjoys cherry tomatoes and pudding. Please take care not to serve them together, however.

Hoping you are well,

- Nadeshiko

The letter was gone again the next morning, when Nadeshiko went to open the shop again. A few days passed without much change, though Nadeshiko discovered a reply early Saturday morning, when she and Yakata filled orders before visiting Shusuke together:

Nadeshiko,

I know better than to try and cook a tomato pudding. But thank you for the advice.

I am indeed well, and hope you are happy.

- Your Father

Yakata asked Nadeshiko why she was smiling as she read it, but she didn't tell him, as she didn't tell her mother that evening.

All the planning and sneaking-about finally came to fruition, of course, through yet another letter, and through Naruto.

Naruto came by at the beginning of April in the middle of the day, when most of Ino's family was out of the house. "Hey Ino, you got a minute?"

There was a confused smile on her face where she stood at the door. "Uh… sure, what do you need?"

"I got a little something for you," he said, and held out an envelope to her. "It's from Sasuke. Go ahead, you can open it." His grin was suspiciously bright.

Ino furrowed her brow again before opening the envelope and sliding out the card inside.

This is what Sasuke had written:

Ino,

I would like to ask you to join me for a meal this coming weekend. I feel it is the least that you deserve.

Please let Naruto know your answer.

- Sasuke

"A… meal this weekend?" Ino said, reading it over again.

"It's a dinner date, y'know." Naruto's eyes closed with his smile.

"A… date?" Ino could feel her heart quickening, though she couldn't tell the exact reason why.

"Yeah, he wants to do something special for you this weekend." He opened his eyes to tilt his head mischievously. "How's that sound to you?"

"But I thought…" She was still holding the card and the envelope, separately, near her chest.

"You thought…?"

Nothing. It would be absolutely ridiculous talking to Naruto about this.

Ino slipped on her public smile and shook her head. "I thought Sasuke didn't like this sort of thing, is all."

"Hah, well, he's been undergoing a lot of training lately!" Naruto said. "I get the feeling he'd like to show it off to someone he cares about."

Ino's heart thumped loudly against her chest. "Ah, is that so…" Her face, unless she was mistaken, was growing slightly warm. "Well, then, um… tell him that I accept!"

"Great! He'll be so excited to hear that," Naruto said. "Oh, you can keep the letter, y'know, it's fine."

"Ah, sure…" Ino slid the card back into the envelope, and held them both close to her chest.

"He'll be by Saturday night to pick you up. That's his plan, anyways," Naruto said. "I really hope it goes well for you," he added, the shine of his usual cheerfulness giving way to genuine warmth, if only for a moment.

"I… hope it does too," Ino said, for lack of a better response.

She didn't tell her children about the date until that Friday night, at the dinner table.

(And to be honest, she'd kept herself from thinking about it for that long, as well, knowing too well than to get her hopes up.)

The results were about as she expected.

"You're going to go eat dinner with him?" Inou was practically banging the table with his hands. "After everything he's done?"

"It's just a dinner, Inou," she replied.

"Yeah, but… Mom, how long has he been gone?" Inou continued. "Like, why would he care now?"

"If he'd stopped caring then he wouldn't have sent us those birthday presents, hm?" Takeru said. "At least for his public image."

Inou curled his lip at Takeru for a moment, before returning to poke at his hamburger-steak.

"It'll just be a chance for us to… catch up with each other," Ino said. "I'm sure it'll be fine."

"Just be careful, Mom." Hajime was carefully spooning mashed peas into Kumori's mouth. At that point, Kumori had gotten used to the smell enough to know to open his mouth when it was nearby, so he was far more successful than usual.

"I don't think there's anything I need to take care of, but… thank you, Hajime," Ino said.

Saturday night came. And the children stayed suspiciously out of the way as Ino pulled her hair up and did her makeup, alone, in her room.

Her heart was pounding again. But it wasn't exactly out of fear, but… caution.

(And maybe a little anticipation?)

When the doorbell rang, the house practically looked empty, though Ino couldn't tell whether the avoidance of her children was to give her privacy, or if it was out of disgust for Sasuke.

She sucked in her breath before opening the door, and tried to smile convincingly.

Sasuke stood there in his old clothes, dark and high-collared, and his face looked healthy. "Good evening, Ino."

"Hello there, Sasuke."

"Are you ready for dinner?"

"Yes, shall we go?"

"Mm."

And he offered his arm to her. There was hesitation in his movements, but sureness, as if he'd been practicing.

Ino took his arm. He felt warm beneath his clothes, in the cold spring air.

They walked for a while, together, without speaking.

Then: "So, how have you been?" he asked.

"Oh, I've been fine," Ino said. "And you?"

"Fine," Sasuke replied. "How have the children been? I've… only heard so much, so it would be nice to hear from a direct source…"

"Ah, well…" Ino cleared her throat, faced with a strange necessity to choose.

Any other situation, she'd have chosen Inou or Karai, to give them a bit of the spotlight over Takeru, but now…

"Well! Hajime's been well. With the baby and all, I mean. He insists on doing almost everything himself now."

"Ah."

From the look on Sasuke's face—blank, maybe disappointed—she thought maybe that might have been the wrong choice. Her stomach shriveled with dread.

"I imagine he's a wonderful father," Sasuke continued. "Especially if he's so attentive." He might have been smiling, if sadly.

"Oh, well, he's…" Ino exhaled, trying to rid herself of the needless fear. "Yes, he's doing a wonderful job, especially given his circumstances."

"Mm." Sasuke nodded. "And Inou, how has he been handling his work?" he continued. "Naruto tells me he's in the police department."

"Inou? Oh, he's having a great time, comes home every day with so many stories…" Ino said. "It makes him so happy to be making a difference, I think."

"A difference, is it?" Sasuke chuckled, faintly. "I'm glad. It's good for him to have fulfilling work. I imagine Karai is the same?"

"She's the same as ever," Ino said, and began smiling herself. "Though she's gone from the house most days on missions."

"Mostly international work, that's what Naruto tells me," Sasuke said. "Peacekeeping and relief."

"You seem to know a lot already," Ino said.

"Well…" Sasuke's head lowered slightly, a touch of sheepishness. "As I said before, it's nice to hear from someone who's closer to them than me."

"Mm."

And Ino found herself reluctant to continue, because the only two children left were…

"Is Takeru recovering well?" Sasuke said. "I understand he's able to walk again."

"Oh! He's getting around with arm braces, yes," Ino said. Her heart fluttered. "He's been able to get some work, thank goodness, he was miserable with nothing to do."

"Back to work? I'm glad to hear it," Sasuke said. "And…" His voice softened. "Nadeshiko is still at the flower shop, I imagine?"

"Yes, she is," Ino said. "Yakata-kun works there now, too."

"Really?" He exhaled, and his smile was one that creased only his eyes. "That's wonderful. They're both where they want to be, then."

"I… suppose, yes?" Ino said.

"You'll have to tell me more at dinner," Sasuke said. "About their work and how things are at home."

"Oh, of course I will, though…" Ino trailed off.

"Hm?"

"Where are we going for dinner, exactly?" Ino said. "Since you're going through all this trouble…"

"Ah. That's a surprise," Sasuke said, and the lack of playfulness in his voice almost made her laugh.

"I'll have you lead the way, then," Ino said.

His arm tightened within hers, bringing her closer, but gently. "If it's all right with you, I'd like to walk for a while longer. It's a fine evening."

"That's fine with me," she replied.

They walked in the calm, welcoming silence for a while longer, before they arrived at their destination.

"What are we doing at Naruto's house?" Ino asked, as Sasuke was unlocking the door.

"He's out of town this weekend," Sasuke replied. "So he said I could host you here. That is, I mean, unless…" He looked up, looking suddenly slightly panicked. "You wanted to go out somewhere? Because I'd gladly take you, whatever you want…"

"Oh, no, no, that's all right, I was just a little confused…" Ino said. "If you've prepared something here, then by all means."

"Ah, all right," Sasuke said, and continued unlocking the door.

It wasn't until she was in the foyer that Ino realized the implications of the situation: if Sasuke had prepared something, then that meant he had made dinner for them.

Though the scale of his preparations was visible immediately.

Candles had been set out and were already burning gently on the various surfaces of Naruto's home, and there was a faint smell of roses in the air. Ino's mouth fell slightly open.

"I can take your coat for you, if you want," Sasuke said, his hands already reached out.

"Oh, yes, thank you," Ino said, feeling immediately inarticulate. She pulled her coat off and Sasuke took it, hanging it up with his on the coat rack.

"Please, this way." He led her to the living room, where a table had been set up and laid, and pulled out a chair for her. "I'll have our first course out in a moment."

"First course?" Ino sat down, feeling grateful that she did, as she was increasingly overwhelmed.

"Mm. I'll try not to take long."

Sasuke disappeared into the kitchen behind her, and Ino, alone with her thoughts for a short while, wondered to herself if this was all an elaborate genjutsu or a dream.

Sure, this was nice and all, but Sasuke wasn't the type to do this sort of thing, much less cook a-

"First course, our salads." Sasuke was carrying two plates, and set one down in front of her first, before sitting with his own. "Please, enjoy."

The salad was absolutely scrumptious. The greens were crisp and lightly coated with some sort of dressing Ino couldn't identify, with cherry tomatoes halved and tossed throughout.

Sasuke asked her, after a fair amount of silence and eating his own salad, "Do you like it?"

Ino had to finish chewing her last bite and swallowed, almost gasping. "It's fantastic," she said. "I've never had anything like it."

"I made the dressing myself," Sasuke continued. "I improvised a little so I was… somewhat worried that it might not taste right."

"You made it yourself?" Ino said. "How did you learn that?"

The orange-yellow light of the candles made it difficult to be sure, but Sasuke's face turned slightly red. "I've been… watching cooking shows, lately. To learn new techniques."

"Cooking shows?" The Sasuke she knew would only watch old movies and the news, if at all.

"Yes, they're… somewhat more helpful than books, since I can just memorize the hand movements instead of trying to figure it out on my own." He suddenly pursed his lips, as if he'd said too much. "I mean, I don't need much help, but I've had to cook for myself again lately, so…"

"I see," Ino said, because she was otherwise somewhat speechless.

Sasuke's reaction was to lower his head and return to eating his salad. This made her feel surprisingly awkward-had she hurt his feelings?

She struggled with figuring out how to apologize, or if she should even apologize in the first place, while she ate, and before she knew it, her salad had disappeared.

"If I may?" Sasuke had gotten up and was reaching for her plate.

"Oh, thank you," she replied.

"I'll be getting our second course," Sasuke said. "It's in the oven."

"Ah," Ino said, and distracted herself by rearranging her fork and knife on her napkin while she waited.

The second course was a chicken roast, with carrots and potatoes cooked in the pan along with it. Sasuke presented Ino's portion to her on a plate that looked like it had been arranged by a professional chef, with sauce drizzled artistically around the food.

"Please, enjoy," he told her, after sitting down himself.

Like the salad, it tasted incredible, and, as strange as it sounded to think it, it didn't taste like anything Sasuke would normally be involved with.

Halfway through the food, Ino couldn't help herself. "Um, Sasuke, before we were… married, I suppose, did you eat like this every night?"

"Before we were married…? Ah, no, I wasn't… really that concerned. I mean." He looked down, then back at her. "I usually ate out with Naruto back then."

"So you… only recently learned to cook like this?" Ino said.

"Yes. I've… had some time on my hands," he added, somewhat quickly, as if making excuses. "It keeps me busy in between time with my students."

"I'm glad you have a… hobby?" Ino said, trying (and failing) to not to turn the phrase into a question. "I, uh, heard you've also taken up knitting?"

"Ah, yes. A friend of mine taught me when I showed an interest," Sasuke said. "It… also keeps me busy."

"I saw the scarf you made for Inou," she said. "He looks very handsome when he wears it."

"Does he really wear it?" Sasuke asked.

His voice seemed almost tender, in the weak sense of the word.

In truth, Inou had avoided wearing it at first. Ino found it stuffed at the bottom of his bureau when she put his laundry away the week after he received it from Sasuke's friend.

However, once the weather turned colder, and his adolescent temper soothed some, she found him throwing it on over his uniform when he went to work every morning, tossed over his shoulder in an obvious symbol of acknowledgement without care, maybe even defiance.

"Yes, he does," Ino said. "Though, um, with spring coming he's not wearing it as much as he used to.

"No, I suppose not," Sasuke said. "There isn't much I can knit that's useful in the summer, either."

"Well, I guess…" Ino thought. Lace was made by knitting, wasn't it? And you could certainly wear that in the summer… "Do you knit lace?"

"No, but I have been thinking of trying, the patterns seem easy enough to work with," Sasuke replied. "Though I don't think… Inou seems the type to wear lace…"

The utter seriousness of his voice, coupled with his answer, sent a nervous blush to Ino's face, and she stabbed a chunk of potato in defense. "Ah, I suppose you're right, yes…"

"Nadeshiko's birthday is coming up, though," Sasuke continued. "Maybe for her. Do you suppose she would like a new blouse?"

Hearing him say her name without even a drop of resentment flooded Ino with further disorientation. "Oh, well, I'm sure she'd enjoy anything…"

"Mm. I'll see what I can find, then." Sasuke returned to thoughtfully carving out a piece of chicken. Ino swallowed at nothing.

The third course, dessert, was possibly the strangest part of the evening, though the food was hardly the oddest part of it.

Sasuke presented her with something called a "panna cotta," which seemed to be a white pudding with fruit syrup drizzled over it. "It's very popular in the Land of Lightning, apparently," he explained. "An Amerikan thing."

It tasted like fruit milk, and Ino enjoyed it very much, and was sure to tell him so. But Sasuke was oddly silent as he ate his own panna cotta, as if he were concentrating very intensely. And it was clear to Ino, when he returned after clearing away her dessert plate, that his face was very red.

"Well, um. I hope everything was… to your liking," he said, hovering above Ino's chair.

"Yes, it was all delicious, I honestly had no idea you were such a good cook, Sasuke," Ino said.

"Ah, well, then…

And Sasuke's rough hand strayed to her chin, and he trailed a finger against the outline of her jaw.

"I, um… I'm ready to go to bed, then, if you are." He was obviously trying to make his voice softer.

"Go to… bed?" Ino felt the blood in her face rising all the way to her ears. "Are you… asking me to sleep over, or…?"

Because the other interpretation seemed downright impossible.

"If you… want to, I mean, I won't do anything you don't want to do." Sasuke's voice quickened, losing the velveteen he'd tried to put on it. "I mean…" He removed his hand from her face and shoved it in his pocket.

An expression of discomfort and amusement was fighting its way onto Ino's face.

What the hell.

"Sasuke, are you… asking me to sleep with you?" she said, because it was becoming very apparent that he wasn't going to say anything close to that.

"...again, I won't do anything you don't want to do, I just thought I'd… because… hrm…"

His lips pursed so tightly that he looked like he was trying to swallow them.

Ino wanted to kick her urge to laugh in the teeth. The only reason she even felt like laughing was because his actions were just so… not-Sasuke. And he was obviously making a serious, serious effort to be nice to her.

She allowed herself a smile, and a kind chuckle. "Well, Sasuke, um… it's typically not considered… gentlemanly to offer to, um…" She tilted her head in place of the word. "...on the - first date." Since what else should she consider it? He had never done things like that for her before they were married, much less after.

"Offer to what…? I don't…" But a moment later it dawned on Sasuke, and he closed his eyes as if wincing. "Oh. Ino, I'm… I apologize, that was… incredibly rude of me, please, let me, um… get your coat…"

He shuffled out of the dining room with such speed that Ino immediately stood and went after him. "Sasuke, wait..."

"I shouldn't have made these assumptions, I was just… nevermind, I apologize, I won't… ask these things of you again." He was almost mumbling as he grabbed the coat, his hands clumsy.

"Sasuke, it's okay, I'm not… offended, or anything, I just…" She ran out of words, wanting to comfort him, but tangled in too many other emotions to find what to say.

"Please allow me to walk you home, at least," Sasuke said, finally managing to hold out the coat properly.

"...of course, I would… very much like that," Ino said. She dipped her arm into one sleeve, then the next, and felt intensely guilty and confused as Sasuke put on his own coat and began walking down the road with her.

She understood that he was making an effort, that he was trying to be nice to her, but… what in the world was going on?

In the silence of their walk, she unwound things.

Before they reached her house, she came to two conclusions.

One, that Sasuke was possessed.

Two, that he'd been given some questionable dating advice.

Considering the circumstances, the second conclusion seemed much more likely.

She stopped him with a gentle touch of the arm about a block before they reached home. "Sasuke, I do want to let you know that what you did tonight for me… it was very sweet."

His head stooped slightly. "It could have been better."

She paused before replying, a minor judgment call. "It could have, but not by much. I really did enjoy myself, you know."

"Of course you did…"

"I did," she said. "I had a lovely time, and if you wanted to do something like this again with me… I'd be glad to."

Sasuke looked back at her, his eyes wide. "But I… what I said, it was uncalled-for, and-"

"Nobody's perfect, Sasuke. How our… date ended hasn't changed things."

And she reached forward, and gently cupped one of his hands with both of hers.

"If you wanted to spend another night with me like this - after some practice, if you think that would help," she added, with a kind laugh in her voice, "then please, don't hesitate."

Sasuke stopped walking, and breathed in through his nose.

"I'll work at being a better… date, I suppose," he finally said.

Ino smiled. "I look forward to that."

He left her at the gate of the house, letting go of her hand with a nod. But he stalled awkwardly where he stood, obviously not sure whether he should stay or leave.

"Well… 'til next time, hm?" Ino said.

"Ah. 'Til next time." He waved at her, and finally began back down the road.

Ino watched him go for a while, before returning to the house.

Things were suspiciously quiet once she got inside. And judging from the almost-staged way in which her children were waiting in the kitchen there, she had a feeling that they had been watching from the door until only a few seconds before she returned.

"Since you're so obviously curious," she said, loud enough to make it clear that she wanted it heard, "your father and I had a lovely time tonight. He made me dinner and we had some good conversation."

Inou made a dissatisfied noise, and shortly afterward left the kitchen for his room.

"Dad made you dinner? Tell me about it, tell me!" Karai said. She leaned forward eagerly, almost sounding out of breath.

For her sake - and really, for everyone else - Ino told her. Though she politely left out the latter end of the evening, to save Sasuke - and really, everyone else - the embarrassment.