Blinking back tears, Ino shook with rage once she heard the door close behind her. She was so furious with Sakura. Wait, no. She was so furious with herself. Sakura was still partially to blame, but Ino had allowed it to happen. Shikamaru had once told her he admired how she never seemed to lie to herself. But in that moment, Ino realized she had been lying to herself for so long she could no longer remember the full truth. How long had she been in love with Sakura? How long had she pretended to love and desire men, denying her own true feelings? As each memory from her childhood flashed through her mind, she suddenly saw her lies, her blanket of denial. Why she had really protected Sakura. Her strange desire in a Kunoichi class about how, in very rare missions, it was necessary for a female ninja to seduce another female. Her rivalry over Sasuke. It had all been because Ino didn't want to see Sakura with him. She remembered the flash of terror in Sakura's eyes when Sasuke had caught them. No one, not even Uchiha Sasuke, should ever scare Sakura that much. Especially Sasuke, if he was her boyfriend. Sakura shouldn't be that afraid of the man she loves. She doesn't love him. It was suddenly so clear to Ino. Sakura didn't love Sasuke. Wheeling around to the back of the apartment in a rage, Ino saw them through Sakura's window, talking. Sakura seemed to be on the defensive. Ignoring all of her instincts, Ino crouched and framed Sakura in her fingers. Ino was in such a blaze of emotion that all of her other senses were dulled. She never realized that someone she new very well was hiding nearby, watching her. - - - - - - - His own girlfriend was hiding something from him. He couldn't believe he was expected to swallow Ino's story about some piece of clothing. He had been standing there long enough to catch the last bit of conversation and the chill in Ino's voice. "No! It isn't like that, Ino! Just come back upstairs! Please. This...this will be the last time, I promise." "No. Eat it, Sakura. I'm through." The last time for what? And Sakura's face when she realized he had been listening...hell, her face now! He had obviously caught her in the act of hiding something she truly didn't want him to know about. Another man. That was the only answer, of course. His biggest fear was being realized in front of him. Uchiha Sasuke was losing to some other guy. He glared at Sakura, causing her to shrink back. "Sasuke! It isn't what you think—" "What am I thinking, Sakura, that has you so worried?" She cowered a little more, raising her hands up helplessly. "Uh, I, I don't know! It was just a little fight, that's all, you heard Ino—" "I highly doubt Ino was telling the truth." Sakura went cold. He knew. He had to, because she could see a look of determination in his eyes that she only ever saw when he was preparing to fight another ninja. "Sasuke, please—" But Sakura never got the chance to finish. - - - - - - - - - Shikamaru had been trailing Ino all afternoon. He had watched her pace around the place she shared with Chouji, checking her watch, before marching out and hurrying over to Sakura's place. Ino was obviously waiting for something she had planned with Sakura, but it had not been the regular, enjoyable wait of two friends. She had headed over there like she had been on a mission. Ino had entered Sakura's house. Then he had seen the girls upstairs. And then he became confused. Sakura had been trying to shove Ino in a closet. What the hell is Sakura doing to Ino? But a minute later Ino had burst out, looking very, very irate. The two girls were fighting and Ino was charging back downstairs. What the fuck is going on! Shikamaru watched them fight, neglecting to see until the last moment Uchiha Sasuke arrive. He watched Sasuke go in. For a moment, he couldn't see anything that was happening, but then a very upset looking Ino came out the front door, closing it fast behind her. She stood still, fuming, and he could tell she was about to cry. Sakura and Sasuke had gone upstairs, Sasuke looking none too pleased and Sakura looking like a trapped animal. Just when Shikamaru thought he couldn't be anymore confused, he saw Ino's head jerked up with a determined look. She moved around to the side of the building, crouch down...and then her body collapsed. Shikamaru was her teammate and he had seen the move countless times. Ino, you are in the middle of the street, are you insane? She had abandoned her body, and he knew she was in either Sasuke or Sakura. He hoped for her sake it was her friend, because Uchiha Sasuke would not take lightly the invasion of his body. Still not knowing what to think, Shikamaru rushed over and worked to drag Ino's body out of the street to safety. After propping her up, he moved back to watch Sasuke and Sakura and try and figure out just what in the hell Ino was up to. - - - - - - - - "Sasuke, Please—" But Sakura never got the chance to finish. Her hands dropped limply to her sides and, for a second, her eyes glazed over. But then Sakura stood up straighter and looked Sasuke straight in the idea. "Please what, Sakura?" Sakura's voice came cold and steady. "Please understand, Sasuke. I never meant to hurt you." Sasuke felt his anger rising, but in his typical way, kept his outside calm and reserved. "What did you say?" "I never meant to hurt you, but this, us, well...I don't think we are working out." "You seemed fine with 'us' just last week." He had made the word "us" as nasty as he could. Sakura was going down a road she might regret and he was trying to warn her of her peril. "I don't think we should see each other romantically anymore." Sakura paused, and then added for emphasis, "I don't love you." The words hit him in the gut like Tsunade's fist. I don't love you. His whole life he had had one constant, one steady and unwavering thing: Sakura's complete love for him. And now he was hearing that maybe he had been wrong about even that. "Impossible." "Don't make this anymore difficult than it already is, Sasuke. After all, we are still on a team together." Sasuke was barely able to contain he seething at this point. "Tell me one thing, Sakura." "Ok." "Who is it?" Sakura looked confused. "Who is who, Sasuke?" "Don't play dumb. Who is he?" Understanding suddenly dawned on Ino. Yes, Ino. She was possessing Sakura's body like she had done countless times before. There had once been a time when Sakura's second personality had been so strong she had been able to force Ino out of her body. But all of their practice sessions had dulled Sakura's inner strength and reflexes, and Ino had become able to maintain a strong hold on Sakura for a prolonged period of time. After all...practice makes perfect. The whole time Sakura had been yelling futilely at Ino. "INO? WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING? I'M SORRY I HURT YOU BUT YOU MUST STOP THIS NOW!" "No, Sakura. I am doing you a favor." "THIS IS WHAT YOU CALL A FAVOR? I HAVE LOVED UCHIHA SASUKE ALL OF MY LIFE AND NOW YOU ARE THROWING ALL OF THAT AWAY OVER SOME PETTY GRUDGE!" "Petty grudge? Don't talk about things you don't understand, Sakura." "THEN TELL ME! MAKE ME UNDERSTAND!" "Now isn't time for that. Now is the time for me to help you finish this." "NO! DON'T DO IT! I LOVE HIM." "No. You don't love him Sakura. And he doesn't love you. Listen to what he is saying. He is not angry at losing you, he is angry because he thinks he is losing you to another man." "INO YOU ARE WRONG! HE IS UPSET BECAUSE YOU ARE DESTROYING OUR RELATIONSHIP!" Sakura was growing stronger in her panic and Ino knew she would be hard pressed to continue her hold without Sasuke noticing. "There is no other man, Sasuke." "Of course there is, that is the only explanation." Ino felt herself get perturbed at that remark. "Sasuke, do you think it is possible to believe that maybe you aren't as amazing as you think you are? That maybe, for once in your life, you are just not as good at something?" Faster than her eyes could follow, Sasuke's fist punched a hole through the wall next to them. The noise and speed scared Ino and she was forced the step back. "INNNOOOOOOOOO—" The Uchiha immediately resumed his calm façade and walked to the window. She watched him grip the window seal so hard his knuckles turned white. "I see." His voice was stone, and Ino realized how stupid she was. Her body would still be out there in plain view. Sasuke was no fool—she had been caught. "Sasuke---" It was barely a whisper, but she caught it before he turned and ran out the door and down the stairs. "Shikamaru." What? Ino raced over to the window to see Shikamaru's eyes wide with panic. They met hers and she caught the flash of his fingers forming a seal. He looked strained, as if he was trying to maintain control over a powerful force with his shadow jutsu. Sasuke. Ino couldn't decide if it was better to try and release her jutsu or maintain Sakura's body. "INO-PIG, HURRY AND HELP HIM!" Sakura's voice was the motivation Ino needed and they went flying down the stairs in pursuit. - - - - - - "So you thought you could steal her from me." Sasuke's Sharingan flashed dangerously as he tried to figure out a way to escape Shikamaru's hold on him. Shika looked as confused as possible while dealing with the large amount of strain in took to hold back an irate Uchiha. "I don't...know...what you are...talking about." It was hard for him to even speak, he needed to maintain so much focus. "Sakura. You saw something that was mine and you decided to take it. That is unacceptable." "I'm as confused...as you are, Sasuke...please...let's talk about this." "No. I don't talk. I am always the best, do you understand? I own her and you have overstepped your bounds. Now let me go!" "I'm...not...letting you go...until you listen to me." "You have nothing to say that I want to hear!" "I do...though. If you would just...calm down...and look in those bushes...over there." "You can't pull any dumb tricks like that on me." The pressure was beginning to overwhelm Shikamaru and in his frustration, he forgot his fear. "Don't be a complete fool, Uchiha. Look in the bushes." Shikamaru upped his last reserves of chakra to look at the bushes, straight at Ino's limp body. His jutsu forced Sasuke to do the same. "I don't see the point of thi—What is she doing here?" A bit of Sasuke's pressure released and Shikamaru was able to reaffirm his shadow's grip on Sasuke. "Ino is not in her body. She has performed her jutsu. I just caught her and I couldn't tell if she had taken over you or Sakura. Since you are trying to kill me—" "Ino is in Sakura." "Yes." "She said those things." "I don't know what was said, but I wish you would stop trying to attack me." Sasuke relaxed just a bit, but Shikamaru kept him under the jutsu regardless. He didn't trust the Uchiha. "I thought you had tried to steal something that was mine alone. You swear that you have not been with Sakura?" "Not after you began dating her, no. I swear it. I know as little as you do about what is going on." Shikamaru finally released his justsu. Sasuke just stood there, his brows furrowed in thought. Just then, Ino's body began to move, and she unsteadily lifted herself up. She had used too much chakra and her whole being ached, her mind barely able to stay focused. Sasuke's eyes narrowed. He started to march toward the blond ninja. When Shikamaru realized that Sasuke's violent focus had shifted to his teammate, he desperately began the seals for his jutsu again, but he knew he wouldn't be in time— He didn't have to be. A flash of pink intercepted Sasuke and a quick hand shot up, slapping Uchiha Sasuke against the face. With the strength that Tsunade had taught her. Sasuke went flying into the apartment, crashing hard into the siding. Somewhere, Ino's meek voice said, "You...gotta watch out, Sakura. With that strength...you are going to kill...someone." A small smirk tugged at the corner of Sakura's mouth. "I won't kill him. I feel like killing him, but I won't." Sasuke slowly stood up and look with anger and questioning at his girlfriend. "What was that for, Sakura?" "Because you deserved it." His hand went up and rubbed his bruised jaw. She could hit so hard. When he didn't say anything, she continued. "You own me? I don't think so. How dare you presume ownership of me." "I only meant that you were my girlfriend—" "No you didn't. You...you meant it just as you said it. As if I was some sort of prize." Hurt spread across her face with the realization of truth. "I am a prize to you, aren't I? You only wanted me when I suddenly became unavailable. You...probably only kept me around because you needed to maintain a hold on me. To own me." "Sakura, you are looking at this—" "No, Sasuke, save it. I can see clearly now, probably for the first time ever. Be honest with yourself. Do you now, or did you ever really love me?" Sasuke stared at her, and she worried in that moment that she would fall into those eyes and lose everything all over again. "No. You are right. I never loved you." The words stung, but somewhere she felt a strange sense of relief, as if a huge blanket had just been taken off her and she could move freely again. "Go home, Uchiha." "I will, but not yet." "Oh? Want to pick some more fights over petty jealousy?" He only glared in response to her comment. Then he shifted his attention to Ino. "No. I want to know what in the hell is going on." - - - - - - - - - Most days Shikamaru regretted getting pulled into other people's affairs. They were troublesome and tiring. This day, he absolutely hated every minute of it. He had thought that he had known Ino, his ex...his friend...and his teammate. But after Sasuke had forced a confession out of Ino and Sakura, Shikamaru felt completely lost. Ino was a stranger to him. Because the Ino he thought he knew was honest and loyal and would never, ever do anything to hurt a teammate. After the confession, Sasuke had reacted quite differently than Shikamaru would have expected. When hearing their story, he expected the Uchiha to go flying off the handle at any moment. But the boy's face had turned to stone, unmoving. When they finished, he nodded and began to walk home. Sakura made a small attempt to stop him, but she was smart enough to eventually just let him go. Then there were three of them. Shikamaru just looked at Sakura, and she at Ino, and Ino looked at the ground, each of them trying to figure out what to do next. Finally, Sakura had been unable to hold back her tears when the reality of what had happened sunk in and she ran into her apartment, locking the door behind her. So now he was sitting next to Ino but he couldn't bring himself to speak to her, or even look at her. He felt so betrayed, and he was not even her boyfriend. Oh god, her boyfriend. "How am I ever going to tell Chouji this, Ino?" Her big blue eyes met his and he saw the complete and absolute pain in them. "How could you do that to him? How could you do that to the man you love—" But he caught it, that brief look in her eyes, and all of his years of knowing her let her communicate to him without speaking in that moment. "Oh." He looked at her, his own eyes widening in disbelief. It made too much sense. Understanding hit him like a brick and he felt so stupid for having never even suspected it. "Oh, Ino," he said again, sympathy in his voice. It was too much for him and so he reclined back and looked at the clouds. She lay down beside him, there in the grass of the yard in front of Sakura's apartment. She curled up next to him, burying her face in his shoulder and he just let her. He could feel the shoulder of his shirt become damp with her tears. He just let her lay there. How am I ever going to tell Chouji this? - - - - - - It turned out he didn't need to tell Chouji, after all. Ino accepted that task. He walked her home at dusk, pulling her into a final embrace before she went in to break the truth to Chouji, the boy who had only ever wanted to love her. "It will be ok, Ino." She looked at him then and he saw for the first time how truly exhausted she was. How could she not be, with the emotional strain combined with training and on top of it all, overusing her jutsu with Sakura. How Ino had not collapsed before, he didn't know. And then he let her go, his heart torn between her and his best friend, who was about to hear the worst news of his life.
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