THE GENTLE rattle of cicadas echoed through the thin night air as the Yamanaka slowly made her way through the village; one hesitant footstep after the other, no destination in mind. Team Ten had returned from their latest mission only three hours earlier, and yet they had all silently went their separate ways; things had not gone as planned. Her chest tightens at the memory, it was one of which she wished would leave her mind and yet it all echoed through her mind as if on loop; his expression, the harsh sound of his final breaths and the sensation of the icy rain racing down her limbs as she stood there in disbelief - it would be etched into her mind forevermore. This wasn’t reality, it couldn’t be; she would not allow it.
SLENDER PORCELAIN fingertips trace up her arms, trying her best to warm her limbs as she continued to walk through the dimly lit streets. What now? It was impossible to imagine a future without Asuma in it, nothing seemed right anymore. Stopping in her tracks, the blonde slowly gazes up at the streetlight looming above, her gentle eyes softening as tears continued to traced down the curves of her cheeks; an odd numbness enveloping her senses. How long had she been crying for? Everything since his parting words was a blur, if Ino didn’t know any better she would swear she was under some strange type of genjutsu; it was becoming increasingly difficult to differ between past and present as countless memories clouded her mind; setting her already turbulent emotions into overdrive.
THE FAINT sound of muffled voices snaps her attention towards the house to her left, it’s familiar exterior bringing a saddened smile to her rims. “How did I end up here?” the words roll thoughtlessly from Ino’s quaking lips, her feet automatically leading her through the front gates to the Nara residence; the setting of countless childhood memories of her teasing her team mates. ‘Was Shikamaru faring better than she was?’ The question rang through her mind as she lifted a clenched fist to gently rap on the front door to the family residence; hopefully he would be open to having her over at such a time, god knows she needed the company. Suddenly, a heart-shattering scream fills the air, a loud series of wails following soon after; it was enough to make her stomach churn. She knew that voice anywhere…
