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Author's Note: Hello! Thanks for being patient with me, everybody. Being an adult sucks a lot, so please let this much longer chapter make up for my absence. Anyway, I wanted to spend some time building the relationships between the other characters. So, you could consider these types of chapter fillers. There will be some little missions and side events happening, but nothing major to the story. This is for the people who may not want to read about a particular couple. And trust me, it will all be worth it when you see where I plan to take this story.
This is an Ino x Sai story. Please skip to or wait for the next update if you do not want to read. Thank you!
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Chapter 105: Into the Mind of Sai
Normal P.O.V.
A gentle brush slid down the painted canvas as the artist happily hummed. Soft, dark eyes followed pale fingers as they put the perfecting touches on their latest masterpiece. A long black tail happily swayed as it hung from the back of the chair its owner sat on. Slowly, the black panther lifted his brush and leaned back to stare at his completed piece. The picture was of a beautiful woman with long blond hair to her knees, passionate pale green eyes, a set of pink pig ears and a tail, perfect pale skin, and a caring smile. Although it was just a picture, Sai felt a twinge in his heart as he continued to stare at it. Once he was satisfied, the black panther stood up and stretched his sore muscles. After he popped his bones back into place, Sai signed the painting before placing it with the others.
Although it was not the biggest apartment in the Hidden Leaf, Sai's home was a decent size. It was on the second floor and had two bedrooms, one full bathroom, a decent-sized kitchen, and an open concept for the living room. A nice gift from Lady Tsunade after he agreed to join the ANBU Task Force. And, although he lived alone, it didn't bother him.
With this being his first apartment, Sai made the most of it. He turned the second bedroom into his art studio where he spent most of his time outside hanging with his friends and completing missions. He had only been a part of the ANBU Task Force for a few weeks now, but he did whatever was asked of him, and proved himself on more than one occasion. Yes, his efforts were already being recognized by many of his teammates and a certain blond pig beauty.
The smile never faded from his face as Sai placed the newly painted canvas on the wall with his other drawings of said beauty. For the past few weeks, Ino and he worked side by side to rebuild the Hidden Leaf's Intelligence Division. Since the loss of her father during the Fourth Shinobi War, and after she completed her hospital duties, Ino was offered the position of Head of the Intelligence Division. Together, the young couple reported to each other and worked to gather information to tighten their defenses. This only furthered their relationship.
Sure, somewhat like Lee and Sakura, Sai and Ino previously hung out. But it seemed as if they were nothing more than friends; at least to him. Everyone knew that Sai was emotionally and socially disadvantaged when it came to himself and others. And, during the previous encounters they shared, there was nothing more than a few shy blushes, gentle smiles, side-eye glances, compliments, and light touches. Until recently, that is.
Before the war, Ino found Sai on her rooftop and invited him in for tea. He gave her the picture he sketched of her that morning, and they formed a friendship from there. However, over the past few weeks following the war, a foreign feeling took residence within his chest whenever he saw the blond-haired beauty. Sure, he agreed to draw her if she helped him get better with his social interactions. But lately, it felt as if their relationship's dynamic changed.
It didn't matter what Ino did, Sai couldn't stop himself from staring. His dark, emptied eyes roamed her toned frame whenever she wasn't looking. It also did not help when Ino changed her look to make her look a little older. Her long, platinum blond hair was out of its ponytail and touched the back of her knees with one bang covering her left eye. Her purple, collared haltered, cropped top stopped just under her large breasts and exposed her toned abs and the v-cut around her hips. A long purple skirt hung low on her hips, reached her ankles, and opened in the front to revile black shorts, fishnets stockings, and black knee-high shinobi sandals. Gods she was perfect. No matter how creepy it sounded, Sai had to draw her every chance he got. It eventually got so bad that he etched her image into his mind to paint her from memory. Lucky for him, Ino's vanity let her see it as more of a compliment than odd.
With a heavy sigh, the black panther checked the clock on his wall. It was currently 9:37 in the morning. He promised Ino that he would help her with her family's flower shop since her mother took ill. Since the death of her father, working at the hospital, and gaining her new position his blond-haired muse has not been able to help her mother. And, since her mother must do it alone, it was no wonder she took ill. However, it did not take long before said girl felt the pressure herself. The first few days left her tired and barely able to function. But after the fourth day, she was quick to irritate. It did not take long before she told him about her situation and without hesitation, Sai jumped at the chance to help her out. Although he was unsure why he agreed to such a task, the hug he received was rewarding enough.
11:30 was when he agreed to meet her at the shop. He counted the minutes in his head as his heart rate increased and his palmed sweated. One hour and twenty-three minutes until he saw his beautiful friend again. She told him to drop by any time before the afternoon since that was when the business started to pick up. Although, he was interested to see how busy a flower shop would be in the wintertime; definite a question he would have to ask. Until then, he needed a way to kill time. He walked towards the window and looked outside.
Despite the sun shining brightly and no snow being on the ground, he could tell that it was still cold outside. A walk would quickly turn into a brisk one, and he would soon find his way back to his home until it was time to leave again; even to Sai, which was no fun. And, currently, he was tapped out of inspiration. Could there really be nothing for him to do?
"Hm. I wonder if Naruto is available? He's been asking to hang out sometime the last few days I saw him. I could pay him a visit." Sai thought to himself.
The last few times he encountered Naruto he was indeed asked to hang out. Just as his relationship with Ino improved, his relationship with Naruto did too. Both blonds can match the same energy, but Ino tended to be calmer. The only difference was that whenever he was around Naruto, he never got the same feelings as he did with Ino. Naruto did not make his heart race, palms sweat, or sometimes stumble over his words. Naruto did help him feel at ease. He guessed having someone who accepted you for yourself did that to a person. The only problem with his relationship with Naruto was Sasuke's constant murderous intent-filled vibes practically suffocating him whenever he was around. So why was his relationship with Ino so much more different?
He never had these feelings before, especially with another female. The beta male worked with other females ranging from Lady Tsunade, Sakura, Hinata, and even Tenten a time or two. But none of them made him feel the way Ino did. It was so confusing. Nothing made sense when it came to the blond vixen pig. Maybe seeing Naruto would help straighten his thoughts out. It wouldn't be the worst way to waste his time.
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It did not take long for him to walk to his friend's apartment. He gave two knocks, stepped back, and waited for Naruto to open the door.
"Sai? What are you doing here?" Naruto asked with a shocked expression on his face.
"I thought I would stop by for a minute. Do you mind if I come in?"
"Not at all! Please come in! You can put your coat in the closet by the door. Sasuke! Sai's here!" Naruto yelled as he let his friend into the door.
The black panther removed his sandals and left them by the door and hung his coat up before following Naruto further into the apartment.
"Sasuke, did you hear~"
"I heard you, Naruto. You shook the apartment with how loud you were." Sasuke replied as he looked at Sai.
The two shared fake emptied looks for a split second. Although Sai did not have a particular feeling toward Sasuke anymore, the raven-haired feline omega hides his hatred well. Sasuke never shared his reasoning, both agreed that they would be civil; at least while Naruto was around. Both gave a hard nod towards each other as a form of greeting. Naruto was no stranger to the animosity his mate felt for the black panther. It was one of the conversations they needed to have later. But right now, he tried his best to keep the peace.
"So, Sai, what brings you here?" Naruto nervously asked as he sat on the couch.
"I am trying to kill time before helping Ino at her family's flower shop."
"Oh? Did something happen with her mom?"
"Yes. She fell ill a few days ago, and Ino needed to step in her place."
"Oh wow. That's sad. I hope she feels better soon. I'll have to check on Ino when I see her again. But that would explain why she's been so bitchy these past few days."
"She always acts like that." Sasuke said as he finished cleaning the dishes.
"Yes, but she's been extra bitchy these last few days. I'm only glad it's not for another reason." Naruto grimaced.
"What is this other reason you speak of?" Sai asked.
"Trust me, you don't want to know."
"Hn. I suppose not, especially if she failed to mention it to me. Well, that is why I agreed to help her out this afternoon. Ino said her mother is slowly on the mend and should be returning either tomorrow or the following day."
"That's awesome Sai. I'm glad the two of you are getting along so well, especially since you must work more closely with her. How's that going by the way? Had enough of her barking orders at you yet?" The blond teased.
"No, quite the opposite. I find Ino's company to be enjoyable. She is a confident, intelligent alpha female who is efficient in her work. Besides, I have had worst people with whom I have previously worked. Compared to them, she is not as intolerable as one might think."
"Hn. I think you're the first person I have ever heard say that about her. Hell, I would say that she matches obaasan and Sakura-chan in attitude, confidence, and leadership. It also means that I'm going to have at least three bossy people running my life soon." Naruto sighed as he leaned further into the couch.
"Four." Sasuke smirked as he sat next to him.
"Right. Four."
Sai stared at the couple for a few moments before working up the courage to ask his question.
"Naruto, do you mind if I ask for your advice on something?"
"Sure. What is it?"
"I've… been having weird feelings and thoughts lately… about Ino."
"What kind of feelings and thoughts?" The blond asked as he sat up and gave his full attention.
"There lays the problem. I'm not quite sure what they are. Ino and I developed a kind of friendship over the past few months. She has been working with me on my social skills and understanding of emotion as long as I agreed to draw her."
"Hn. Figures. Her vanity knows no bounds." Sasuke smirked with his arms folded.
"To most people, it would seem vain. To me, I find it… endearing, if you will. As you gentlemen may know, I am a simple beta male who was raised and trained by the late Danzo. I was nothing more than an empty shell for him to manipulate and mold how he saw fit. But now that I am finding myself and understanding the world and its inhabitants, things have changed, especially with Ino. Whenever I'm around her, I feel… not quite myself. I get nervous, my head spins, my palms are sweaty, I tend to trip over my words, lose trains of thought, and I find myself staring at her more times than I care to admit. I'm starting to wonder if I'm feeling ill. I thought about having Lady Tsunade or Sakura examine me for signs of illness or poison. Do you have any diagnosis I could take to them?"
Both Naruto and Sasuke stared at their guest for a minute with wide eyes. This was truly a satisfying moment, and both were glad that they were here to witness it. However, that did not stop Naruto from busting out in laughter and Sasuke to shake his head with a gentle smile. The confused look on Sai's face only made Naruto laugh harder before Sasuke hit him in the back of his head.
"Ouch. Hey, what was that for?" Naruto whined as he rubbed the back of his head.
"Be nice. I think he's serious."
"I'm sorry. Did I say something funny?"
"Not particularly." Sasuke sighed as he quickly stood up. "Why don't you handle this. I'm going to make some tea."
"Alright." Naruto sighed as he got the last of his laughter out and continued. "Listen, Sai, there's nothing wrong with you. Actually, let me take that back. There is something wrong with you, but nothing that Sakura-chan and obaasan can cure. Sai, do you know what liking someone means? If you've been working with Ino, I have no doubt she taught you that."
"If I remember correctly, she said it felt like the oxygen was removed from your lungs and as if the world would end if you didn't have that person in your life anymore."
"That sounds like an Ino description." Naruto chuckled. "That's one way to put it. It can also feel the same way you described. When you like someone, your instincts kick in and you start doing things without thinking to please or help them. You suddenly want to be around them almost all the time. It's almost as if they become the center of your world. At least, that's how I felt about Sasuke, and I still do. Right, babe?"
"Sure. But it can also feel like a fungus that grows on you. But when you scratch it, it's lawfully satisfying."
"Did you just describe me as a fungus?" Naruto asked as he pretended to be offended.
"Of the most aggressive family."
Naruto stuck his tongue out before continuing, "Look, Sai. As I've said before, there is nothing wrong with you. In fact, this is probably the first normal thing I've ever known about you, and I'm proud. You really have come along from the first time we met. However, I want you to do something. Promise me that you won't waste any time and confront Ino about this sooner than later. Knowing her, she has plenty of suiters lining up at her door. Mating season will be here before we know it. Now, I'm not sure about her experience, but I think the two of you would be a great fit. She can be a lot to handle at times, but if you truly feel this way about her, then I say go for it." Naruto smiled before looking at the clock. With panic in his eyes, the blond fox jumped up and frantically looked around. "Sorry Sai, but I must cut this short. I'm late for work, and if obaasan finds out, she'll give me extra paperwork to do. Feel free to stay if you like if Sasuke doesn't mind.
And with that, Naruto went into the kitchen, kissed Sasuke goodbye, and rushed out the door. The interaction between the couple fascinated the black panther enough to give his friend's advice some consideration. However, the longer he stood there, the more the tension filled the apartment. Two sets of dark eyes met in competition. Luckily, the sound of the tea pot going off distracted them. Sasuke broke their eye contact to pour himself a cup. Silently and reluctantly, he offered Sai a cup. The black panther nodded as he took the cup and stood in the kitchen. And soon, the contest began again until their cups were emptied. Sasuke took the cup from his guest as washed them in the sink while Sai stared at the clock on the wall. 10:43 it read; a perfect time for him to make his exit.
"Thank you for the advice and tea. I shall take my leave now." Sai respectfully bowed before turning away.
"Were you being serious?" Sasuke suddenly called out, causing Sai to stop and turn towards him.
"About what?"
"Your feelings towards Ino. I could care one way or another, but I need to know something."
"Yes. I can confirm that these feelings are valid."
"Hn. That's all I need to know. Good luck. As Naruto said, she can be a lot to handle, but if you're serious about her, then it'll be worth it."
Suddenly the air around them became lighter and not as suffocating. It caused a dramatic shift inside of him, and Sai wanted to know why.
"Tell me something, Sasuke. Why did my confession change your opinion of me?"
Sasuke did his best to not jerk at the sudden question. But the little twinkle in his onyx eyes went unmissed by Sai. "I'm not sure what you're talking about. I don't have any particular feelings towards you to warrant that question."
"Do not kid yourself, Uchiha. You and I both know that we've been doing this dance since you returned to the Hidden Leaf. Possibly even before that. However, we've seemed to develop a silent civil agreement for Naruto's sake. Now, I may not know enough about your relationship with Naruto, but I can recognize malic intent when I see it. So, tell me Sasuke. What is it about me that makes you hate me so much?"
Sasuke did not immediately say anything. Instead, he leaned against the kitchen counter with his ears flat against his skull, flicked his tail, crossed his arms, and gave an intense glare. Somewhat intimidated by the omega, Sai held firm as he waited for his answer. Finally, after an eternity, Sasuke relaxed his body and sighed as he gripped the edge of the counter.
"You wanna know why I hate you so much? It's because you were right… about everything…"
"Again, I'm not quite following you. Please emphasis." Sai encouraged with a raised eyebrow.
"Do you remember when you found me at one of Orochimaru's hideouts?"
"Oh, you mean where you sat in the dark and threatened to kill me? Yes, that was quite the greeting. I assumed that was how all Uchihas greeted guests." Sai said with a fake smile.
"Hn. Cute. I hadn't realized puppets could make jokes without their master pulling the strings. But, yes, that day. You said to me that I didn't deserve Naruto. That you couldn't understand why someone of his caliber would throw everything he worked for away for someone like me. You called me selfish. You tried to make me feel as if I was the biggest piece of shit in the known universe. Although you didn't succeed, because I had already done so myself. You gave me a lot to think about, and you were right."
Sasuke gave another sigh as he turned away and folded his arms again. "You don't know what it was like to leave Naruto that day. I still remember his bloodied, unconscious body laying on the ground. I remembered the nausea in my stomach, the pain in my body, the tears on my face, the break in my heart, and every single raindrop that fell that night. I choose to leave while Naruto was knocked out to spare both our feelings. I didn't want to leave him, and I knew that if he even opened his mouth that I would have thrown my things down and stayed in the village.
Naruto, he… made me feel things I never felt for anyone ever. He wasn't particularly the most good-looking guy in the village. He was absolutely annoying as shit. He was goofy as all hell. He always wore a stupid look on his face. Honestly, a complete embarrassment to the name shinobi. And he wasn't great at anything. Hell, he barely graduated from the Academy, and honestly that was a fluke. But, when I took the time to understand and talk to him, there was another Naruto hidden under that bright smile. However, over time, I fell for both versions of him where he loved me no matter what I did. And for him to love me still, especially after everything I did to him, is nothing short of amazing. So, when you came to try and "kill" me, I welcomed your insults because everything you said was right about me.
Yes, I'm one of the most selfish human beings alive. And thanks to my pride and lack of decent judgement, it almost cost me everything. A price I was once ok with paying. I know better now. And, truth be told, I'm still selfish. I want Naruto all to myself. I get jealous easily. I sometimes hate how well he can fit in with just about anyone, even when he doesn't want to. He has everything to show for what he's accomplished, while I don't have anything except my life."
"You sound pathetic, Uchiha." Sai suddenly said.
"What did you say?" Sasuke glared as he flashed his Sharingan and Rinnegan.
"You wouldn't use them on me, and we both know that. Now, put them away and let me finish." He waited until Sasuke did as he was told before continuing. "It's true, you are pathetic. You're upset because you think you have nothing to show? Well, what about your life? You're here, are you not? You be with your family in the Heavens. But instead, you were given another chance, by your mate none the less, and became a war hero living in peace. You're practically living a shinobi's dream life, so why continue to let your past disturb your future? Isn't having Naruto with you and your freedom enough?"
The raven opened and closed his mouth more times than he cared to admit. A small smirk played on his face as he shook his head. "Once again, I hate that you're right. I shall learn to look at things in that perspective than. Thanks."
"My pleasure. Well, I should be going. I must meet with Ino. Good day, Uchi-Sasuke." Sai bowed and turned to leave.
"Sai," Sasuke called out, causing the beta to stop and look at him. "Let me give you some advice before you go. Since you struggle with emotions, you're probably gonna screw this up, so listen up because I'm only going to say this once. Ino is an alpha female. That means that she doesn't care for just anything. She places value in things that she can't give herself. So, if you want to impress her, give her something she can't give herself; a piece of yourself, if you will."
Sai was stunned as he stared at the blushing omega. No, the two were nowhere near friends, but this was the closest they'll probably ever get.
"Thank you. I will take it under consideration." Sai nodded and turned around.
"Oh, and for the record. I don't hate you anymore than I would having a kunai stabbed in my shoulder."
Those parting words managed to put a smile of pale, thin lips as their owner walked out of the apartment.
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11:30 on the dot was when Sai walked through the shop's door. Ino was sitting at the counter counting money before putting it in the drawer. As she looked up, her smile reached her eyes as she rounded the counter.
"Sai! I'm so glad you're here! Thanks for helping out again!"
"It's no problem. Did I miss the big rush?" He asked as he shrugged off his coat.
"Not yet. I was a little busy this morning, and a few people came in right before you arrived. But it was nothing I couldn't handle. Come, I'll show you to the back where you can put your things."
He followed her into a small storage room where a mop bucket and other cleaning supplies were kept. Along with her coat and other things, Sai placed his items. Next, he followed her to another room towards the back. It was a mini greenhouse filled with several types of flowers he wasn't quite sure of. They were also the perfect conversation starter.
"What are all these flowers? What is this place?"
"This is my clan's mini greenhouse in the back of our shop. This is where we grow and nurture some of the most popular flowers within the village. The main ones we sell here are Winter Cherry Blossoms, Daffodils, Winter Peonies, Christmas Roses, and Camellias. People come here to buy these this time of year so they can plant and grow them. The best time to do so is in early December, which is now, so they can bloom and be ready for our village's Flower Viewing Festival."
"Flower Viewing Festival? You have a festival where you just view flowers?" He asked as he examined more flowers.
"Yep. It's one of my favorite times of the year. My clan has one of five flower shop in the entire Fire Nation. But we always do everything we can to become the number one out of the five. It's been that for the past 50 years or so. We so sell herbs and potions. Our shop is known throughout the Five Nations. We even have customers from other countries visit our shop to buy their flowers to take him. We upcharge them for the extra maintenance that comes with them, especially of they live in a place where our flowers may not grow naturally. That is how we stay in business year-round. These five flowers are our current customer favorites, so they make us the most money this time of year."
"That is impressive. I had no idea that all of this was in your shop. This is one of my first times visiting here. Thank you for sharing with me." He smiled, causing her to blush and shyly play with strands of her hair.
"No, thank you for listening. Plants and herbs are my passion, so I jump at any chance to share them with anyone willing to listen." The air was thick with a comfortable silence between them before she clapped her hands to break it. "Now then, let's get started. First, you can help me move and organize some of the plants. Next, I'll have you run the counter for a bit so I can catch up on some paperwork. Finally, once we close down everything, we will clean and straighten the store front. Is that ok with you?"
Sai nodded before silently following her where she needed him.
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It was closing time at the shop. Unlike what Sai predicted, the shop grew quite busy. Around high peak of the afternoon, he was running around the shop, helping customers, running the register and counter, stocking shelves, cleaning messes, and handling money. It was the most work he's had to do in a while. He could honestly say that he was worn out from everything. Luckily, towards the end, Ino forced him to take a break while it was quiet. The rest of the evening they got a few customers and last-minute shoppers, but that was about it. After the last customer left, they started cleaning the store front. With the two of them working together, it didn't take long, and they were out in no time.
"Today was a wonderful day. Thanks again for all of your help, Sai." Ino smiled as she locked the door.
"No, thank you, Ino. I don't think I've worked that much in a while. It almost makes my new position a little easier." He chuckled until his stomach growled.
"Looks like someone is hungry. Come on, let me treat you to dinner. It's the least I could do to thank you." She giggled behind her hand.
"I don't want to be a bother. Besides, I offered to help without incentive. I will be all right."
"Nonsense. Now, quit complaining and let's go. We can eat at Choji's clan's restaurant. It's a barbeque place with amazing food, great deals, and large proportions. Not surprising considering who's cooking it." She giggled again as she linked her arms around his and tugged him in the direction of the restaurant.
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"Ah! That was delicious! I'm so full. I don't think I could eat another bite!" Ino smiled as she held her bag full of to-go containers.
"Yes. It was a magnificent feast. I must compliment the Head of the Akimichi clan next I see him."
"I hope he's doing all right, since Shikamaru and my father passed away. They were all apart of the original Ino–Shika–Chō team. They were best friends and practically did everything together. Now, only he remains. It must be tough on him." She sadly sighed.
"I can't imagine what he must be going through. But the good thing is that he's still alive. He has a chance to appreciate life for what it is. I know that I may not be the best at comforting people or understanding emotions, especially grief. But I've learned to look at life for what it is. And thanks to you, I have another way. I just hope that others can too."
"Wow, that's… really something… I don't think you give yourself enough credit."
Sai just shrugged at her words as he felt their arms link. Silently, the two walked down the street towards her apartment. It didn't take long for them to arrive; a little disappointed the night had to end.
"I really had a lot of fun spending time with you. I'm sorry that most of it was work. The good news is that my mother told me earlier today that she was feeling better. So, she'll be back to work the shop in the morning."
"All by herself? How does one woman accomplish such a task?"
Ino giggled before answering. "Trust me, what we dealt with is a normal day for her. She usually manages the shop fairly well on her own. However, I managed to talk to her about getting with either Lady Tsunade or Lord Kakashi about assigning some genin to help out from time to time. Gods. Calling that old, perverted sensei a lord is something I'll definitely have to get used to. Well, have a good night, Sai. I'll see you around. Thanks again for all your help."
Sai watched as Ino put her key in the door. The anxious feeling returned as he subconsciously opened and closed his sweaty palms. Suddenly, Sasuke's advice played in his head and caused him to act irrationally. Without thinking, he grabbed her hand, causing both to blush in surprise. Ino's pale green eyes slowly gazed between their hands and bodies before finally landing on his face.
"Sai…" She whispered.
He didn't respond right away. Instead, he froze in place. A lump too hard to swallow formed in his throat, and he couldn't focus. The air around them became thick and left him breathless. It took him a while before he regained some composure and realized what he was doing. With his last bit of courage, Sai took a risk and swallowed the lump in his throat.
"I… don't want this night to end… Do you mind if I come in?"
Without removing her hand, Ino nodded at his request and led him inside. Sai closed the door; they released their hands in favor of shrugging off their coats and accessories. The air in her apartment seemed heavier than outside. It took everything in him remain in control or risk passing out from the stress.
They were alone. In her apartment. It was dark, and there was no where to run; no where to hide. All that was left was to go for broke. If he was going to do anything, now was the time. Trying to gain more courage, Sai deeply inhaled to calm his nerves. It worked enough that the slow rise and fall of her breasts did not affect him as much as it should.
"Ino… I want to tell you something, but I'm… afraid."
"Why? Why is so scary about what you want to say?"
A bead of sweat formed at his hairline as he closed his eyes for a moment. This was tougher than any mission he had been asked to complete.
"I've been having these feelings lately. Feelings I'm not quite sure what to make of them. Feelings about you…"
"Oh?" She lightly gasped, not sure what to make of his awkward confession. Without breaking eye contact, Ino licked her pink lips and moved to lean on the back of her couch. "What are these feelings about me? I can help you figure them out."
He shook his head. "No. These feelings are not easy for me to put into words. It would be better if I showed you. Would you preform one of your clan's jutsus and enter my mind?"
"You would allow me access to your mind? That's so… intimate…" She gasped.
"I know that I'm making myself vulnerable to you, but I think it will help give you a better idea of what is going through my head. But if you're not comfortable, please refuse."
"I won't. If what you're saying is true, then I want to see for myself. Please, follow me."
Sai did as he was told and sat on the floor in front of Ino. The blond got into a comfortable position in front of him and readied herself. "Are you sure you want to do this? Once I use this jutsu on you, you'll become vulnerable until I can release it."
Sai just nodded and closed his eyes. It was Ino's turn to take a few deep breaths. After gathering her confidence, Ino placed her fingers on either side of Sai's temple. She focused her chakra through her fingers and mind as she reached out to his. Once she made the connection, both bodies slumped to the floor in unconscious states.
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"Did it work?" Ino asked as she looked around.
The space was large and emptied. She could sense she was in Sai's subconscious, but something didn't feel right. She took a step and stopped when a sudden gush of wind appeared. Ino raised her arms to cover her face until it stopped. Once she did, the blond lowered her arms and gasped in shock at what she saw. There several doors surrounding her. Each on had a label on them.
"These must be his memories. There are a lot of them. I wonder which ones he wants me to see?"
Suddenly, several of the doors disappeared until a few remained. Anxiety filled her senses as she looked at each one. Ino wasn't quite sure what was going on. She remembered her father telling her that, when using this particular jutsu, the mind will show what the user wants to see. It will naturally sort the memories and information to the user's needs, even if the victim was willing or not. Ino only hoped that her father was right, and that she wasn't seeing anything she wasn't supposed to. However, she knew that all she could do was trust their words and her ability. With her new resolve, Ino pushed forward.
She opened the first few doors. They were Sai's memories from his time in ROOT. It made her sick how Danzo and some of the Elders pushed and tortured and manipulated him. It was no wonder he was nothing more than a puppet. The entirety of his life showed him that his life was no more valuable than one. A sense of pain and pity filled her chest as she continued.
Finally, after looking through a few more doors, Ino came to the last one. Her palms were sweaty as she slowly opened the door. To her surprise, there were about a thousand pictures and memory clips of her. She gasped as she looked around. Everything from their first encounter to their dinner date earlier in the evening played before her eyes.
"Is this how Sai sees me? I'm breathtaking." She gasped as she watched herself.
New emotions of admiration and infatuation filled her core and made her blush. She hugged her body as she started to feel warm. The tips of her fingers made her feel calmy, she couldn't stop herself from wiggling in place, and her mouth felt dry. A soft moan escaped her lips as she tried to get her emotions and body under control.
Sai was right, these emotions and feelings were something that needed to be experienced. He doesn't have the emotional or social know how to articulate these to someone like her. In fact, she was pretty surprised that he hasn't gotten the wrong idea and acted on it yet. Knowing him, he would have done something ridiculous to rid himself of what he felt instead of talking to her. She'll have to remember to ask Sakura or Lady Tsunade if he has talked to them yet. She chuckled to herself in hopes she was not too late.
"Alright Sai, I get it. I think it's time for us to return now." She confidently said as she clapped her hands and dispelled the jutsu.
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Back in reality, both teens woke up on the ground. Together, they rose onto their knees and starred at each other with bright blushes on their faces. Shyly, they looked away from the other. Ino played with her hair while Sai just looked off into the distance. Both hoped the other would say something to break the tension. When that didn't happen, Ino took charge and broke the ice.
"So…" She drawled out. "You were right. Those were some pretty intense emotions."
"Yes. I wasn't quite sure what to do about them. I considered making an appointment with Lady Tsunade or Sakura to examine me."
"I'm glad you didn't." She giggled as she continued to play with her hair. The air was thick with silence again, but this time it didn't take Ino long to ease it. "Sai, I'm very flattered and honored you did this. I will forever cherish this gift."
"Really?" He gasped as he looked towards her.
"Of course! You've literally gave me the best gift anyone could have given me. You allowed me to look into your mind and left yourself vulnerable in my presence. If that isn't trust or affection for someone, I don't know what is."
"I understand, I think. But I'm not quite sure where to go from here. I was hoping that, by showing you my thoughts and feelings, you could make sense of it all."
Ino stopped playing with her hair in favor of holding his face in her hands. "Sai, it's not about what I think or how I feel. It's about you. Tell me what you want me to know. Do you even know what you're feeling?"
"No. What I do know is that… I feel different for you than I have for anyone else. I just don't want you to turn me away, or I have to distance myself from you. You're my muse, as you've probably saw."
A soft smile graced her beautiful face. "Yes. I know exactly what you mean, and I feel the same. So, let's keep working on your emotions and thoughts until you can effectively tell me what you're feeling. Ok?"
Sai nodded as he allowed her to hold his face in her hands. The thick tension returned, but this time it gave a different atmosphere. Ino's soft, thin fingers felt good against his hot skin. Her lips were parted, and her chest rose and fell with each breath. He forced himself to keep still to not scare her away. Only when she leaned towards him, was he surprised.
Slowly, their faces inched closer together until their breaths ghosted the other's face. The sweet smells of their dinners on their breaths. Her pouty lips and half-lid eyes caused his heartbeat to increase to insanely high his levels were. He continued to stay as still as he could while following her guide. And, before he knew it, their lips touched in a gentle, but awkward kiss. Gentle with how soft her full lips felt on his thin ones. Awkward because he didn't know how to respond. He knew nothing about kissing, so the only thing he could do was sit there and let her do all the work. The strange part was that he liked it, a lot.
Before long, Ino pulled back enough to stare into his eyes before giving him a hug. "Thank you." She whispered against his chest.
Now this was something he knew, a hug. Slowly, he raised his arms to circle around her smaller frame and pulled her into him. Ino adjusted herself until she was comfortable, sighed when she was satisfied. He'll have to remember to thank Naruto and Sakura for this knowledge. And that's where they sat for who knew how long.
The only thing he remembered before he decided it was time to return home was that it was a lot later than when first entered her apartment. Before he left, Ino gave him a parting gift: a lavender flower. It was incredibly beautiful and made him think of her. He tucked it safely into his pocket and walked home.
Once he arrived, Sai removed his coat and accessories, went into his spare bedroom, and placed the flower into a random cup of clean water. He would be sure to stop by the shop and grab a vase before work in the morning. But for now, it will remain with the rest of his Ino-inspired artwork. With a small smile and flick of the light, the black panther laid down for bed with dreams of painting beautiful blonds and lavender flowers dancing in his head.
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To Be Continued…