Summary/disclaimer: Time for another chapter of Poisoned Petals. Enjoy the 7300-word chapter. I do not own Naruto, Masashi Kishimoto, and a few others do.
Ino was tired beyond belief, not willing to let it slow her down, no. There was just too much to see and too much to do, letting it all drip down to the floor now.
She was tired, worn down, beaten to hell, and back at the time when she could finally recall.
"This is coming out of your pay," Ino stated as Mareo shrugged.
"That's cool, it isn't like I'm being paid a lot anyway." Mareo joked as Ino snorted and kicked him in the leg. "I'm sorry you had to close for today to deal with your deadweight employee," Mareo said as Ino hummed.
It was not his fault she believed. It was not hers and it was not his. it was neither of them now and she knew it, she knew damn well that she had volunteered to take care of him no matter what. Yet? Here she was bellyaching over the idea.
"You've done this before," Mareo added.
"A lot more than I wish I had to," Ino stated, sighing at the idea of it. "I was a medic during the war… Though I still kicked plenty of ass." Ino stated as Mareo hummed.
"Hey, I got no problem with women fighting if that is what you think… At least you had something to fight for." Mareo stated.
"I'm not mad at you being hurt, it's a lot of things besides that," Ino stated as she sighed.
"I do not think anything if that is like it. There is just too much to deal with and I am running on empty the entire time. I do not think I can deal with it for now and it is bugging me." Ino heard.
She crouched down to his level and put a hand to his face, she brushed more blood off his face while slowly but surely reaching the rag down and then swiping more of the blood off his face.
"I am a soldier, Mareo. I have dealt with crap before. I have lived through things that I cannot begin to deal with… But I am not going to let it happen that way." Ino stated to which Mareo hummed.
There was a lot more to try and figure out something that could be dealt with for now at the time being. she knew he would be done and dusted eventually. There was just too much to try and do and it was beginning to set in just how bad things were.
Yet? she endured, she endured and helped him do his damn job, knowing what would come if nothing else, knowing what it was and how well it would all fall apart, she knew it would be a lot nicer to figure out but she did not know it at all.
She wanted the chaos to stop but it would not be stopped unless someone pushed them to the edge of it all again and again with more to see and do than anything that could be relaxed now and again. Ino knew what was coming along and what would be done for now. Ino did not even know him, but she would for now… She would know more would do to understand. All of it was something to deal with, a chaotic little idea for now.
There was just too much to keep growing for now, too thrown off for now, too relaxed… He could not wish to relax, he could not relent, for now, not when it was all said and done.
She knew more and more that if something needed to be dealt with for now, he had been too interested in it while he clicked now.
He paused to try and deal with now and it would be best dealt with for now as he seemed to try and deal with it. she knew him and he knew her.
"You, ok?" Mareo asked to which there was silence.
"I do not know… Are you?" Ino asked as Mareo shrugged.
"I do not think so… At all, I will manage," Mareo stated with some mirth.
He knew it was a lie and so did she as she planted two fingers on his skull and pushed his face back, checking it for any blemish or such a thing. She had been too interested in what was for now and what was going on, even at the end of the day. He could not deal with it, he had been too prepared for now and too interested in something he could not have allowed, would not have allowed.
"Don't make me poke an eye out," Ino stated to which Mareo chuckled.
"Maybe I don't want the eye," Mareo stated to which Ino rolled her eyes and looked downwards to the ground.
"Don't make it weird, you're making it weird," Ino stated to which Mareo shrugged, looking downwards at the ground.
She knew him, she knew for now what was going on… Even then? She did not wish to break or hurt her friend which seemed to be beyond her for now, it was something to try and deal with for now… And it would be chaotic enough for the moment.
"Are you going to be, ok?" Mareo asked to which Ino paused, thinking of it for this moment.
She would not seem to think of anything for now, she paused to think of it, and she seemed to be willing to try and deal with it for the second. She had been too misgiving at the end of the day; she would end it and she would not give even a second of pride on her face.
She knew more and more that if she pushed her luck? She would probably end up losing it for now, she had been too interested in something upon the mind.
That sort of chaos? The one she was praying in which? She could only see good things for now, watching it all come to a head sooner or later.
Even then? She could not have been ready for it… They were not to have been dealing with it all for now, not to have cut through all the fat.
"You should know you manage to annoy me," Ino said as Mareo hummed to himself now and then cracked his fingers for now.
It was too much for now and he had been too interested in what was going on to have said anything when it was all said and done for now… There was something else for now and it was too interesting for now.
There was an idea that needed to be done… And she knew it for now. She could only smack him upside the head so hard lest it cause him to bleed more and cause more trauma to his skull.
"Damn it, Sakura. You are supposed to be the town medic." Ino muttered before she sighed and realized she might end up watching someone die. "You die on me, Mareo? I am going to kick your ass." Ino stated before she looked to the ground.
There was a lot more to this, a lot of ideas she could not think of the next move for now. She did not know what was going on but she would be damned if she let Mareo die.
Still? It bothered her to a degree she knew well; she knew more and more that such things were too interesting to have been done now.
She still snorted, knowing what was going on before she seemed to try and deal with it for now… All of it before now and before it all came crashing down to the ground.
She sighed and almost kicked it to the side… Even then? It was too chaotic for now… This was a lot more to have to manage and it did little to calm her fears… For such? This was chaotic enough to have been done at the end of the day, it meant little for now, little to her as she paused to take a moment to tie her ponytail back once more.
Even then? He had little to no regrets for now… He knew more and more what had come, he refused to have been too interested in what to try and deal with for now.
This was enough for her. It would always have been enough to have been done dusted for now, it was chaos which had been something she tore through with effort.
She would act for now at the time being, the chaos which had been torn through it like a knife into butter with each little nick and tear for now at the end of the moment.
"Mareo?" Ino questioned. "You better not die on me or else I will eat your soul when it comes down to it," Ino stated as she paused to try and deal with it for now as she seemed to try and deal with.
Ino sighed and pressed a hand to his temples. She sighed and went to get something to clean his face. She felt too bored, too unsure of herself…
What had happened? She was under NO wave to try and hire this boy. She was not to have thrown her lot in with him.
But she cared about him, she had felt pity in hiring him for her shop and she knew what she had been willing to have done something to see it all come crashing down… Perhaps it would be something for now… Even then? She could not have imagined it for now at the time being… The chaos needed to be dealt with for now.
She was not without a heart as she paused, thinking of her next move. If she did not help them? They would die and she would have nothing less of a desire to be superior for now, it meant something to her at the end of the day.
She would not be able to delay herself as she cracked her fingers, grabbing at her rags before she seemed to be dealt with for now… Even then she paused as she grabbed at another obvious rag.
She was tired of it, knowing what was going on, she had not been able to relax… She had not been unsure of herself now at the end of the day once more and she looked downwards as she was too interested in what comes down.
She had been too interested in what needed to be done next and she would keep growing more and more with each second.
She grabbed another sponge, soaking it in the sink before she managed to be interested in what was going on. She had been relaxed for now as she paused, knowing what was coming next.
She would not be allowed to think, to see it all go more and more with interest for now. She would continue to look over her friend, touching the scrubby sponge over his face as she knew more and try and deal with it for now.
She clicked her tongue against the roof of her mouth. She sighed with exhaustion; she had been too interested in whatever was to happen.
She would let him survive for the moment as she paused to let it come down to this… She had been chaotically hoping he made it through for now, clicking her fingers against the ground, too exhausted for now, she had been able to try and deal with it.
There was too much on her mind for now as she clicked her fingers and dabbed at his head and clicked her fingers for now. Perhaps she had been chaotically thrown off.
She had been too unable to have done much if at all when it came down to it more and more. Such measures were too much for her to even attempt to have been able to try and bear with it.
Ino was too interested in what he had been able to try and deal with before he seemed to try and figure it out as he paused to try and deal with it.
Ino had been familiar with it as she sighed. She had been familiar with what he was dealing with once more before she seemed to be dealt with.
Mareo was dealing with it all the time; she had not been familiar with it at the end of the day.
There was a lot more to deal with, knowing what was going on was something that she could deal with for now.
"You, ok?" Mareo asked before he paused, thinking to himself before sighing to herself.
She had not been able to deal with such things. She rubbed at her temples, knowing what was coming and dreading such things either way… She had not been able to figure out what she had been willing what was perhaps willing to try and deal with it.
"You know damn well I am NOT. You are ok, you are going to survive. I am not going to be willing to let you die… Because I am too interested in why they had tried to kill you a lot of times." Ino stated before she seemed to try and deal with it.
Mareo's face contorted in pain as he was forced to try and deal with something beyond it all for now, he clicked his side and then looked downwards.
He had not been too interested in what was growing in his mind. She? She had changed it; she had been thrown for a loop and he was too interested.
"I told you; I am no saint, you are no mere saint at the end of the moment," Mareo stated before he paused to try and stand up. "I am relaxed, I am a soldier… And you are a shinobi. I got these wounds being an idiot and you have probably dealt with more than it was possible to have." Mareo stated before he sighed.
Mareo was tired, tired of dealing with her, tired of relaxing… And tired of what was going on before she relaxed.
Mareo was bored, exhausted, if life imposed what he could have been dealing with it all for now as push came down to it.
Mareo was too interested before he seemed to try and crack his fingers for which he seemed to try and think of what was growing on his mind before he seemed to keep thinking of how he would relax for now… He had been willing to put up with the chaos on his mind.
He had been familiar with it for now, he had been willing to push himself to greater heights.
He had been willing to figure something out, but he would not be able to try and deal with it for the time being.
Such pain was going to be instrumental to figuring it all to the end of the day. She paused to let it all sink in as he clicked his fingers before he seemed to be ready.
He had been able to deal with it for now, he had not been able to figure it all out as he paused. Mareo looked at Ino as he sighed before he hummed to himself.
He seemed to be willing to relax, waiting to try and figure it all out. Mareo hummed as Ino poked him in the arm as she stood up.
"I know that you are not going to be any worse than usual," Mareo stated as he leaned on the wall before he relaxed.
Ino paused, looking at Mareo before he sighed and pushed himself to his feet slowly and yet painfully. He grunted, his cuts almost seeming to tear as he sighed.
He looked at Ino who was silent, not knowing what to tell her friend and employee who simply thought of it in the best terms he could have.
To be fair? He had not been able to relax, knowing what was growing in his mind. He had not been able to relax, letting it all come to a head. He did not know what was growing for now.
He had been familiar with it as he clicked his fingers, he knew what to see and do next before it came down to it. He had to keep moving and throwing himself into the fun or else he would fall apart in an instant.
To be fair? Ino was also just as amused for now, knowing that he could have been dealt with for now at the end of the moment.
Mareo leaned on the wall, knowing what was to happen next if he did not relax. Mareo looked over at her.
She had been able to try and deal with it in a few seconds.
"So, what about that guy who wants to put a bounty on you? you said you didn't do it and…" Ino said.
"And you want to put a kunai in my throat? I get that… I do not trust me either, I trust very little people." Mareo stated before Ino rolled her eyes.
"You bleed anymore on the ground? It comes out of your paycheck." Ino said, smiling as she went to go call Sakura lest she screams.
To be fair? She had known him for only a few days. She could afford a healthy dose of paranoia, knowing it would not end at all.
She sighed and realized Mareo was going to be a very permanent fixture at her shop. Not that she minded, just that it would take some getting used to when it came to such matters, she had not been able to relax knowing what was going on, not when she could not have allowed it to have ended.
To be entirely fair? He did not know what would become of it at the end of the day. She had not been willing to see it go from one extreme to another but she would make an example either way.
To be honest? Not much came from that, nor this… It felt a lot more was on his mind and something about it all was keeping him awake and alive.
There was a lot more to try and figure out as she seemed to be dealing with it for now and then. The chaos in her mind neglected it.
She acted a lot more different as a soldier, she had training and orders, and she had the desire to fight for something other than herself… And that? That was enough, all of it seemed to be dealt with for now.
Ino hummed to be dealing with him but she was dealing for now as she paused to think of what to say or even do around him. there was chaos in the air and she had been through too damn much to deal with for now.
Ino sighed to herself before she clicked her fingers as she sighed, knowing that this was something harder and harder.
'This boy is going to be the death of me, isn't he? All he does is cause problems… But he does not seem to care if he dies. I have not met many mercenaries but he has been acting like nothing bugs him. Does it?' Ino thought of what was going on before she frowned.
She had something to deal with it for now as she paused to think, knowing what was going on before now and she will have to deal with it for now as she sighed.
There were a lot of things she did not know what was going on but she intended to at the end of it for now as she paused to try and figure it out, she sighed and then looked downwards to the ground.
There was something else on the mind, something painful and buried here which needed to be addressed one way or another. The only problem? She did not know him as she followed him to the chair.
She should have called ANBU, she SHOULD have killed him, driving a kunai through his chest. There were a lot of things that needed to be addressed now. Yet? She was a shinobi or at least used to be one, she had her secrets and he had his, she could not abide by it.
Even he could not let it go, for now, knowing what was all said and done. She knew what was happening next before it came down to it. The anger? The annoyance? It was not yet over it, not yet would happen next, and for good reason at the end of the day.
That and that alone was hopeful, that and that pain alone was something that needed to be dealt with for now and for good reason at the end of it, at the pain and sadness for it when it came down.
It was all fun and games until something would end up coming to an end.
There were a lot of things which she could deal with eventually seemed to be dealt with for now… This was going nowhere anytime soon; it would end eventually.
She sighed and then closed the store, knowing that their work would happen sooner or later. This chaos was something that she seemed to live in.
She finally sat down next to him; she pulled him closer before she seemed to be dealing with it all.
Ino sighed before she finally decided this was over with… She would not let it end that way… Not now at least… This was annoying but it was clear that such an option was going to be hard enough for now.
"Sit, Sakura is going to be here in an hour," Ino stated as she sighed and then shook her head. "Always making me fret over things, billboard brow… There is always going to be something like that, isn't there?" Ino muttered while sighing.
"Uh… Ino?" Mareo asked before Ino snorted.
"Get…. The. Case." Ino said before she sighed and claimed the case with an obvious amount of annoyance written on her face.
(An hour later)
Ino sighed as she paused to stitch up as many of the wounds as she could… If Sakura was going to consider it so hard to deal with? she would question the woman being a doctor.
"Ow." Ino heard as she snorted.
"Quiet." Mareo heard as she tapped on the side. "Done… There, stay off your feet… Just sit there. Sit." Ino stated before pointing the needle at him.
Ino snorted in annoyance, knowing that he would not… But she at least could claim that he had tried to let it be accomplished at was to come next…
Still? There were a lot of things that needed to be dealt with for now as they came crashing to the ground once more. She was tired of this and tired of it in more ways than could be said or done now.
This sort of thing was just going to vex her now, vex her either way with the idea of it coming crashing to the ground.
She was used to these sorts of things either way… Not once did things ever work out for her or her family… Not that it was going to bring her down, her family acted a certain way and she would continue to be dealt with for now… This sort of thing was a chaotic thing when it came down to it.
There was a lot more to it as she paused to try and the thing was just pushing them sooner towards the next way was growing was being dunked at the end.
That and that alone would disturb her but she supposed that it was going to be a very small price to pay to be on top of the food chain at this part of the plan. A very large food chain awaited them at this crucial part of their giant plan to see it.
Mareo grunted, pushing from his chair to greet her. he had been in no damn condition to do more than attempt to look at her and she knew it. A slight breeze and he would probably collapse and fall.
He sighed to himself knowing he could not do much about it besides attempt to become less tired and less exhausted. If he did nothing else? It was going to be about him trying to get beyond this.
He sighed and looked at her, almost pleading for her to do something that she could not.
She was not going to be able to do much, not in this lesson. She sighed and decided she would just send a message. It would take roughly the same time.
That? And Forehead was going to probably visit anyway to see how well it would turn out.
"You should know she might not be as nice as me," Ino stated.
"Say that like I'm not getting service with a smile already," Mareo stated.
He grunted because it hurt to breathe. It did hurt now. He sighed and knew damn well if he was going to die? It would be from his foolish actions. What little he did not know? Well, that was the nightmarish part for him as he sighed and tried to make peace with it.
He sighed while thinking of himself and what he held left now, whatever he did next. It was not going to help, not as much as he wanted.
'Damn it, I do not want to die…. But I also know damn well what is going on if I make a single move.' Mareo thought as he sighed to himself, knowing he was damned either way.
Ino sighed and sat down next to him. She frets too damn much but she had lost so damn much to where it had become something not even evil.
She could tell what was going on and not once did she wish to be involved.
At the same time? She could not let someone just drop dead. It would be bad for business for one another. Well, it was just going to suck at things like that. It made her sigh as she realized just how well they were going to suck.
She thought of this for several moments, mulling it over before deciding she damn well was willing.
There was a second of silence before she sighed and looked at the ground, knowing if she even stopped for a second to let this go. It is not at all end too well.
That? And she cared for at least a small degree as to what needed to be done and that was not going to change, it would not change for anything now, there was entirely something else going on now.
There was something else going on and it was not a good thing, not even a little for now at the time. She hated her conscience at times for being so nice and for being forgiving.
Even Ino could show some sympathy as she sighed and finally returned a few seconds and then looked to the side, knowing damn well what was going on and what would happen.
'Damn it, damn it, damn it…. Why cannot I just… Screw it.' Ino said as she sighed before she went to go and fix Mareo.
Forehead had not realized that the wounds might be severe… Then again? He might just have gotten attacked again, screw it, Ino did not want to care now about the damn details.
She tore out her hair tie and then gripped Leo's arm, she sighed and looked at him.
"I am going to try and fix up most of your wounds… Sakura will be here soon but since she does not end up doing something insane… You are going to have to let me try and help." Ino stated which almost seemed like some sort of reason to try and figure out a new technique.
She did not at all know what their path was and going on at the time being. She had been able to think to fight and to act in the best way it could be done at the time, he was going to try and figure something out, knowing at the very least she could not give up while they were okay.
She sighed and looked at her surroundings. She knew damn well what was going on, knowing how well it would end now.
Ino cleared her throat.
(2 hours later)
Sakura finally started to try and figure out what had happened only for it to be revealed she had missed a LOT when she showed up.
For one? She could see Ino had torn open a half dozen medical packages… And used every spare inch of gauze to try and fix up Mareo's wounds.
The second was that she was currently tugging on and tightening a tourniquet… One made of part of the remains of Mareo's shirt… And the third was she had her head over his shoulder, putting all her energy into trying not to screw something up, and then looked to the side.
There were a lot of things that bothered her about it but both seemed to notice her a second later and looked at her.
"Not a damn word," Ino muttered as she sighed and then looked to the side. "Not a damn word, forehead. I thought you were supposed to be the best doctor in the world." Ino stated in a way that made her sigh.
She knew damn well she could not do much but there was always going to be a chance to chip away at her friend, it would never end well.
No, it never once did end well and she was too tired, too interested in whatever needed to be done. Whatever little control he had left in his tattered and controlled body was how much it could have done.
Such was fine for now but it was clear beyond all the little cuts and scrapes something else was going on now.
Mareo looked at her before Ino hummed and he realized he was in between what was clear the two had some words to tell one another. He went to speak only for Ino to hold up a finger, caked in blood and silently telling him not to speak.
She had no real idea to try and deal with something like now. She had been too silent, too silent as of now.
Sakura looked at the two, knowing that she was silent as she looked downwards before now. She did not know what was growing on her mind before Sakura looked at both with fascination.
"Just help him. Your stitches did not hold up entirely…. Either that or his wounds are still healing up and he has not healed up properly." Ino muttered before she sighed and then looked to the side.
Ino watched as Sakura sighed and then walked by her, reminding her that Sakura was not in the mood to be arguing with her rifle for now. It was something she would just have to deal with now when she worked and Ino was not happy.
Ino simply decided to look to the side and then lean on the wall, too tired to say much and too exhausted once again.
There was just no damn way to try and figure out what needed to occur. This all needed to be done and this little friendship between them was getting in the way.
Ino was too silent, too bothered by things when it came down to it as she paused once more. Ino rubbed at her temples as her friend glanced at her.
"You know a lot of people are curious how an almost dead man showed up right at your place in the dead of night," Sakura stated before she paused.
Sakura was silent, too fascinated by what had been done to cause this much damage to him. It had been hard to figure it out as she paused.
"I did not hurt him, Sakura. If I did? I would have told you. Wanna tell me why I did not turn him into a corpse?" Ino stated before she paused to try and figure it out once more.
Sakura snorted before she looked to the side as she realized her friend was trying to remind her that as Shinobi? They were expected to kill, to show no mercy regardless of friend or foe.
Still? Sakura knew Ino would not kill someone unless she had to, it would not suit well without such a thing.
Ino still fell silent, too unable to deal with it at the end of the moment. She was just too tired to be doing something like screaming and she could not tell what it was at the end of the day.
She had to be better and she had to find out if he told the truth or was just trying to play her, play on her sympathy now.
It was almost impossible for her to think. She could not even think, that meant too much… Far too much, something she would not stand and could have done.
She knew Mareo would live if he did not. She would force his soul back into his body, make him beg for the sweet release of death that would not have done for which he seemed to deal with it once more.
Mareo was silent as she looked him over. She looked at him with a kindness unmatched for quite some time, a kindness he would not soon forget. She protected him and he was at Ino's mercy, she knew this and she knew why, she knew what would come next.
It was clear more and more seemed to have happened… More and more would he have been thrown into the end of it.
Ino was silent, she looked at him with mercy… With warmth.
If he was an enemy? She would have slit his throat; she would feel nothing… But she doubted it.
Ino seemed to be done and dusted with everything, she was tired and she was worn down now, and for good reason… Even if she had wanted it? There was no telling what needed to be done and dusted now and for good reason.
Ino could not tell what Mareo was eager to not die, as all were… But he looked at her, not with a look expecting mercy at the end of the day.
She did not want to fight; she did not want to see him suffer at the end of it sooner or later. They had a lot more to deal with for now.
She did not even know him…. Not that it would be hard to predict how Mareo was going to be doing with it for now… She had wished to have done for now and for good reason.
She had no desire to let him suffer.
"Forehead? Help him… I doubt he is that dangerous." Ino stated as she glared at him. "If he wanted to kill me? We are killing him…. I do not have any desire to kill someone right at my front door." Ino stated before she looked to the side.
Ino seemed to be done and figured it out once more as she wished to be done as she paused. Ino pressed a few fingers to her friend's forehead.
She sighed and then looked to HER FRIEND… Thinking only for now, only guessing what was going on.
She could not fault him for being scared. She would be lying if she said she was not. Ino had seen plenty of people lost to this war… Lost to a conflict that was not meant to even occur now or ever.
And yet? She did not know him, Ino did not know a single thing about him at the end of the day. Ino was going to be done and dusted now and for a good reason, eager to have done so for now and for a good reason.
Ino sighed and she looked at Mareo, pausing to think now as she looked to the side. Ino wished to try and figure out who he was, who was hunting him now. She did not know what was going on.
But Ino was eager to try and figure it out now and figure it out for now as she paused to try and figure out her next move.
Ino was silent as she pressed her fingers to his skin, knowing that he was not understanding what was going on now.
She did not know what was growing on now when it came down to it… She had such things to see and she knew Mareo was weirdly trying to trust her.
She did not know what was growing on her mind… She had zero clue as to what was growing on her mind now when all of it was said and done.
"You know… If most people asked me?" Sakura asked as Ino rolled her eyes.
"Name a single person who can be considered your friend at the end of the day when it is all said and done," Ino stated. "You work yourself to the bone, Haruno. You know that damn well that if I wasn't helping you? You would not have gotten so far." Ino stated as her friend tried not to flip her off.
Mareo said nothing, either amused as of now as she paused to try and figure him out when it came down to it.
Mareo was too interested in what was growing on Ino's mind. She did not wish to think… She did not want to relax… She would not relax… And neither did he.
Neither was willing to submit. Why? Simple, it was clear that such things were coming to an end. She had looked to the side as she paused to think of another word.
She did not know how to deal with something like this, did not understand how such problems had been done, and did not understand what had been figured out now.
Ino was not an easy person to deal with now and for good reason now at the time being, she did not know what he would do and she did not know how Mareo was acting when it came down to it.
Ino was too understandable now and her heart was empty now of mercy. She did not know what was happening… Not once did she know… She did not wish to act tired… Not now and she did not wish for her mercy to end.
Ino was silent, too eager to figure it all out now when it was all said and done with it to the end, all the way to the pale. She wished to see it end now and for good reason.
All of it would end sooner or later… Or she would die out now and for good reason at the end of it all. She would have to do better.
He had a LOT of things bigger and better as of now, bigger, and worse than it all seemed to be able to think of it now more than anything.
She had been too eager to do much now… So much had gone on… So much it had hurt, so much it was impossible to control.
Even at the end of the day? Ino had more questions than answers and all her questions about it? Well, all they helped was trying.
Ino of all people was trying to deal with it before she tried to see it come apart as of now.
She and he were too tired, far too tired… Even as Sakura began to ease the burden.
"If someone did want to kill me? There is a boxcutter right there." Mareo stated.
He was there to deal with it to the side… To be fair? It made her crack sometime of a smile and something was good enough to be thrown off.
She still scowled, tapping at his arm before long… Before he sighed and thought how it sounded now and for good reason.
He of all people could tell that whatever came next? Well, it was his fault in a way… His fault that whatever came next? It would not come fast… He had a lot of things on the ride… And a lot he did not know for now.
Whatever he had to deal with, it was too much, far more than he would ever handle.
It was far too much, far beyond the pain.
She poked him in the ribs, reminding him that she was not as amused… Not once did she falter nor show any amount of remorse… It, of course, was harder said than done now. She and he were… Stubborn, and very stubborn and it was clear they were stubborn for a reason. She did because he wanted her to kill him which bothered her.
And he because he felt he was being offered kindness that he did not deserve. It was one thing to be offered compassion… But the mercy he had at it then and now was priceless.
He had to be better… He had a LOT of things left on the line now. Now? Now they had to be better and much more than this at the end of the day which would only cause WAY more problems than it could have solved.
Ino for her part? Was aware of this shortcoming and wished to let it all come crashing to the ground once more. It would need something to fix and fixing it to the end, not wishing to let it end.
She sighed as she poked Mareo in the side, reminding Mareo if she wanted to. She would kill him… But she had no reason to… So, she did not, she would not and she did not wish to know, and for good reason.
All of it was enough to drive her crazy now. All of it seemed as if she was drowning in a tub of water…. All of her was tired, miffed but tired…. And too exhausted all the same. It appeared as if she was going to slowly slip downwards, content only to spiral, only to fall downwards into the ground.
He would need it to be as such that even the rest of the army would come to the rescue… Such was life… And life was ODD now, VERY odd when it was all said and done.
He of all people was capable of something more… Something grander than this, an IDEAL which he needed to be better.
Mareo was silent, too easily thrown off to the side, and for good reason. Ino poked at his nose as Mareo sighed, taking off it now and for good reason.
She did not at all know his problems but it seemed to be far more different than it should have been.
Ino sighed to herself before she poked Mareo in the face, watching at the end of it when it was all said and done…. Something about it all became harder and harder when it came down it.
She did not know what was happening now and for a good reason. She did not wish it to be done now and for good reason… Something about it all came crashing down.
Mareo hummed as did Ino… Neither.
Author Notes
Phew. Another chapter done! I want to point next chapter will be in 900-6500 words and will be in 2-10 months along with showing more of Mareo and Ino bonding and more of his past. Until the 900-6500 word chapter, Lighting Wolf out!