Ino doesn’t know whether to thank Naruto or not for her situation. It’s not a secret that she sorta-maybe has a crush on Sasuke, his best friend. And the ramen crazy idiot made it his life’s duty to help her out.
That’s what led them inside the closet for their 7 minutes in heaven after Naruto dared Sasuke to makeout with her.
She was torn between running away or hitting Naruto where it hurt the most. What if Sasuke drank instead of doing his dare with her?! That would’ve been so humiliating and something she couldn’t move on from.
To their surprise (minus Naruto, who grinned like a cheshire cat), Sasuke agreed after drinking his drink in one gulp.
Ino’s sure she didn’t drink, but she might as well have been drinking with how drunk Sasuke’s kisses make her feel. She would’ve fallen to the ground without his support with how fiercely he’s kissing her.
The need for air is great, so she pulls away. They’re both breathing heavily as they look at each other. Sasuke looked as drunk as she was as he closed the gap. "Don’t pull away..." Sasuke whispered hotly against her lips. "Not yet."
She’s lost in his kisses—her hand messing with his hair, his hand keeping her in place as he ravages her.
She snaps out of his kisses when she remembers the time limit.
"Wait-" Ino pulls away again. She’s sure her face is red. She fans herself. Is it her or is it hot? "That’s enough. I’m sure it's been 7 minutes already."
Sure enough, she hears hollering outside the closet where they waited for them to come out. Sasuke ignored them, however, and pulled her for another hot, passionate kiss. He placed his hand on the back of her head, keeping her in place as he kissed her more.
With his kisses, Ino is undone.
"Teme," she hears Naruto snickering. "Are you coming out or not? It’s 7 minutes in heaven, not 10 minutes in heaven."
They both ignored him this time.
Sasuke regretfully pulls away.
"Well?" She opened her eyes in a daze and found herself hypnotized by his eyes. "What do you think?"
The only warmth Sasuke felt after his family’s demise was Naruto and Sakura’s friendship, and Itachi poking his forehead one last time before he succumbed to his death.
The first one, he abandoned to become stronger. Much stronger to defeat his brother.
The second one, he lost when his brother died.
And if he were being honest, he would add that he felt warmth whenever a certain blonde kunoichi embraced him from behind. How could he not when there was no malice in them? No intention of hurting him?
But he always shrugged her glomps away, didn’t he? And he could always see the hurt on her face at his rejection.
At that time, it didn’t matter. Nothing mattered more than killing Itachi, who murdered their family. Then nothing mattered more than getting revenge on the person who made Itachi and the Uchiha clan suffer.
And now, nothing matters anymore. He has accomplished his goals. He has brought swift justice to those who hurt him and his brother. Nothing mattered now that he had finally accepted the warmth of his team’s friendship.
So why, he wonders, doesn’t Ino treat him like she used to? Why is he not the center of her affections? Why does she glomp on somebody else but him? Why does his heart hurt so much seeing her act that he doesn’t matter more than her love? Why can he feel as if he can’t breathe when he sees her with someone else?
Sasuke never knew he was a sentimental fool.
He watches as Ino hugs Gaara from behind in the same manner that she did to him before. The only difference is the reaction. Because, unlike him then, Gaara loves her glomps, adores them so much that he stops talking to Naruto altogether to smile at her, and she grins, leaning her head onto his shoulder.
"Why don’t you two lovebirds go on your way already?" Naruto teases when Gaara’s whole attention was on her. She laughed at her teasing, then stopped hugging him to let the two Kage talk, but Gaara already pulled her to his side as he smiled and apologized to Naruto.
He turns and walks away before they can see the anguished expression on his face.
That should’ve been him.
That should’ve been him receiving her love and attention.
If only she could look his way again, then he would do things differently.
Ino was taught from a young age that angels from grace all the time since the creation of the universe.
But why?
She finds herself asking and they always reply with the same thing. It’s just the way it is.
But no angel has fallen from grace for centuries, and no one will dare break that for fear of losing their beautiful wings.
"Listen, Ino. There are two ways for angels to fall from grace and lose their wings." His father said. "The first one is failing their assigned human intentionally, and the second is sleeping with our enemy."
"We have an enemy?" She asked, confused. They’re angels! Why do they have one?
"Yes, sweetheart. Demons are the opposite of existence, our enemies, and the ones we should avoid or kill at all cost."
"Why?"
"Because just the way it is. They tempt humans away from the path of God and cause our kind to fall from grace. They’re simply evil. That’s just the way it has always been and will continue to be."
"But they’re created by God, are they not?" She still doesn’t understand.
Although her father explained it a hundred times, she still doesn’t understand why they can’t just coexist and live in harmony.
She was always cautioned against her curiosity and idealistic view of the world, and she knows how much they worried about her when she was finally assigned a human to protect and guide.
Being on her own without her friends and parents worrying over her is strangely liberating. It feels strangely euphoric. She thinks as she watches Sakura, her assigned human, drink and laugh with her friends. Sakura’s at what humans call a bar, which is the place she frequents aside from the hospital.
"If you don’t focus, your human is going to be in trouble." She quickly turns to the owner of the voice.
"How can you see me?" she asked, amazed.
"What do you think?"
She peeked from behind him and found no black wings, a symbol of a demon.
"You’re an immortal?"
He neither confirms nor denies as he looks at her. She has heard of immortals. Neither human, angel, nor demon, but it’s the first time she ever saw one in the flesh.
She saw her human, Sakura, cross the street, and she quickly said her goodbye to the stranger.
The weeks passed, and to Ino's surprise, she saw the immortal every time they went to the bar. Her eyes narrowed when she saw him glancing in their direction and she decided to keep an eye out.
"Are you interested in my charge?" she asks one day.
He watched his drink for a minute before he looked at her. "Maybe."
Mind games? She scoffed. Now that she knows Sakura, she doesn’t want any strange men or women around her. Sakura deserves better. "Well, you should be interested in someone else other than Sakura. It’s my job to protect her and it’s in your best interest to stay away."
With that, she left him to stay beside Sakura, even though she wouldn’t see her.
Maybe it was her attitude and the challenge she posed, but the following days, the stranger seems keen on getting under her skin. He would approach Sakura despite her glares.
"What’s wrong with you?" She confronts him again when she hears Sakura lament how this strange immortal who goes by the name Sasuke (if that’s even his real name) never contacted her again. "Stop messing with Sakura."
He drinks his beer. "Well, you took your time."
"What?"
"I was wondering when you'd finally confront me."
"Ha?"
What is he even saying? It’s as if he was doing those things to get her attention.
"I took your advice and decided to be interested in someone else." he says, looking into her eyes.
She’s sure his eyes are obsidian, but for some reason, she can see some red in it.
"So you mean me?" she asks, pointing at herself. "You’re interested in me?"
"Yes, I am."
This strange, strange immortal. "You’re crazy."
"I know." What is this guy on?
"Stop playing games."
"I’m not."
"Then what do you want?"
"Your name."
"I’m not giving you my name!" she exclaims. This guy is crazy, and his good looks are lost in his craziness.
"I guess I’ll contact Sakura again then." She glares at him, but he’s unaffected.
"Fine." She glares some more. "It’s Ino, okay? Just stop messing with my charge."
He agreed, but on one condition, and Ino obliged. The guy is crazy and who knows what he might do to her charge.
Ino’s distrust gradually changed when they started talking, and it would be the first time that someone agreed with her idealism. In between watching over Sakura, she falls in love, but she knows it can’t happen.
So when Sasuke voiced his affection, she denied him.
And when he asked why, she didn’t have the heart to lie to him.
It was out of love and loyalty to Sakura’s feelings that she couldn’t ever accept him, and it was out of obligation to Heaven that she denied him.
Sasuke’s eyes darkened at her admission, and leaves.
At that time, she didn’t know that she had just sealed all their fates.
Ino cried when Sakura died because of a hit and run. The Heaven Council said that they will announce the verdict soon for her crime of not being able to protect her charge.
Her family and friends assured her that she would not lose her wings.
But she’s not worried about her wings.
She just wants Sakura to be back and safe.
Sasuke finds her behind the bar Sakura usually goes to, and his presence was the only thing that stopped her from hurting herself.
Maybe it was the loneliness and disappointment she felt after failing her charge. Maybe she just doesn’t want to be alone right now, so when Sasuke beckons her to go with him to his place, she doesn’t refuse.
And when his head leans closer to her, she doesn’t turn away.
She wakes up to find black wings covering her and she bolts out of the bed. She is confused, hurt, and betrayed as she looks at Sasuke.
"Good morning." he greets, as if it’s a normal occurrence for a demon to sleep with an angel. As if he didn’t lie to her and condemn her to Hell.
He stood up to go to her, but she shrieked to stop him. She feels dirty. She feels sick.
Sasuke watches her for a moment before raking his hair. "What’s the matter, Ino?"
"What do you mean 'what’s the matter'?! You lied to me!" Ino shouted, hurt and betrayed. "You're—you’re a demon."
He walks closer to her.
"Don’t come near me!"
"I didn't lie to you."
She took a step back when he came closer. "You said you were an immortal!'
"I never said that."
"But you—" Her mind races as she thinks back to the day they met. He's right, he never outright confirmed nor denied her claim. "You—"
He didn’t listen, and the next thing she knew, he was tipping her chin up so he could look down at her. "I never said I was an immortal, Ino."
"But but you never said anything-"
He caressed her face. "Why does it matter, Ino? I’m always what I said I was and you’ve always said we can coexist, didn’t you?"
She couldn’t say anything because he was right. He was right and she messed up! Tears ran down her face, and he was quick to kiss them away. "Now we’ll be together forever."
Sasuke waits for the verdict of the Heaven Council in his place beside his brother. He feels impatient, but he knows that his patience will be rewarded soon. Today, his mind whispers.
Now, he doesn’t have to hide who he is in front of her, and she will finally learn that demons are not nice. They don’t play nice or fair.
And she will finally belong to him. Only to him.
The sound of Ino falling into his awaiting arms is heaven.
I’m a roll today ~ but I’m very late but still tadaaa @sasuino-week
SASUINO DAY 4: “Barely two words in and you already look like you want me dead.”
"Guess wh-"
Ino finds herself against the wall with the blade of a sword against the delicate part of her throat.
"Wow." she says, totally relaxed even when the mangekyo sharingan is on and the blade of his sword is against her throat. One wrong move and she could die. However, she doubts that Sasuke would accept that. "Barely two words in and you already look like you want me dead."
Sasuke relaxed his hold on his sword when he saw it was her, but didn’t step away from her.
"You should know, Ino, that sneaking up on someone while concealing your chakra is dangerous." He sheaths his sword.
She pouts. "I just wanted you to guess..."
Sasuke rolls his eyes, taking her hand to pull her to his side. As if he’s just going to let anyone aside from her touch him so comfortably.
SASUINO DAY 5: “I’ve never heard you laugh before.”
Ino blames her sensitivity for making her uneasy at a time like this.
She has always been a social butterfly, an extrovert capable of befriending anyone and everyone. She even became acquainted with Neji, the aloof cousin of Hinata, and Gaara, Naruto’s other best friend from another country.
So it bothers her that there’s someone she can’t befriend, and that person just happens to be her lab partner. Why did their lab teacher, Deidera, pair her, a chatterbox, with the least talkative guy in their class?!
She feels as if she did something wrong to him. With his gaze fixed on her face and his eyes following her every move, it's as if he's waiting for her to make a wrong move. He doesn’t even speak unless she talks to him, and she’d be lucky to hear more than a one-word reply.
Ino lightly pushes the microscope towards his direction. "Your turn."
She’s sure she got the answer right, but Sasuke might have had a different answer. She looks back as she waits for his verdict and catches Sakura’s gaze. Sakura pointed towards Sasuke with her lips and smiled at her to cheer her up.
Sakura knows that she feels like Sasuke dislikes her. Or worse, he hates her! But Sakura and Naruto have told her a bunch of times that he doesn’t, and didn’t the conversation just make everything confusing?
"I don’t think Sasuke hates you. He would’ve told you upfront if he did."
Which she quickly countered with, "But he hasn’t warmed up to me like he did with you guys."
"It takes years before he warms up to someone. Remember Karin?" Naruto chuckled. "She was close to tears most of the time ‘cause he just ignored her!"
"If you ask me, I’d say that Sasuke has a soft spot for you, right Naruto?" Sakura wiggles her brows at her.
"Yes! I can’t explain it, but it’s just in his actions, ye know? He doesn’t tolerate your presence like he does with other people. It’s like he’s okay with having you around!"
So he doesn't hate her, but why is he-why is he like this?!
"Next question." Her train of thought was interrupted when he gently pushed the microscope towards her and then proceeded to jot down their answer on the worksheet.
Sasuke inches closer to her to take a look at what she’s doing.
He’s too close!
She tries her best to ignore his proximity. She needs to start getting her shit together and stop acting so flustered around him!
Her eyes snapped up immediately when she heard a rich laugh come from the guy beside her. Her eyes widened in shock.
Sasuke’s lips quirk at the sight of her adorably doing her best.
"Did you just laugh?"
He shrugged, playing it cool. "I guess."
"I’ve never heard laughed before." she says, amazed. "Ever. I didn’t even know you were capable of laughing.’
He rolls his eyes, but he doesn’t look annoyed; he only looks amused. "I can, I just don’t find a lot of things funny like that idiot." He gestures towards his best friend in a carefree manner.
Her jaw dropped. Does that mean he found something funny while looking at her earlier? Did she look stupid? "Then why did you laugh just now?"
"Why don’t you find out?" he says with a lopsided smile, enjoying her reaction.
The bell rang before she could answer. Their teacher told them they’d continue the worksheet another day. Ino hurries off to go to Sakura and practically drags her to their table in the cafeteria. Once seated, she quickly relays what happened.
"I can’t believe he laughed!" Naruto, who tagged along with them, exclaimed while winding his arms around her. "I can’t believe you made him laugh!"
"Weren’t you listening?" She hisses. "He was making fun of me! I bet I look stupid. That’s why he laughed."
"I don’t think so." Sakura says, smiling as if she had figured something out.
"Ino," Naruto says her name in a sing-song manner. "The point is, he never laughs around people he doesn’t like or just other people in general."
Against her will, she blushed. Does that mean he doesn’t hate her as she thought? Maybe he sees her as his friend?
"Isn’t that a good thing, Pig?" Sakura nudges her side. "That just means Sasuke likes you."
Sasuke is exhausted. His bones are aching as he makes the walk to the busy street of Konoha. He looks at his phone and finds no text back from the person he’s been thinking about all week.
He and Naruto discovered the humble bakery on the busy street when he was running late to his mom’s birthday party. He had forgotten to buy her a present, and although he knew his mother would forgive him, he didn’t want to disappoint her, so he did his best to find the perfect gift.
It was purely by chance that Itachi sent him a text saying that the cake they ordered was not coming and so asked him if he could buy one on his way.
That’s when he saw the Yamanaka Bakery on the busy street of their town.
The cashier, a blonde woman who looked the same age as them, listened to his back and forth with Naruto on what was the best cake for his mother.
"I got the perfect one." the blonde winked. She went inside the store for awhile and returned with a box containing a chocolate cake engraved with elegant and simple decorations. "Tell your mother happy birthday for me."
His mother loved his gift and asked him where he got it. It led him to buy baked goods from the shop more often and led to a friendship with Ino, the owner and creator of the baked goods his family and him adore so much.
And weren’t they starting to teeter into a different territory when he asked Ino to be his plus one to a wedding and when Ino casually invited him to her birthday party four days ago?
Of course he would come, but alas, he was dragged against his will by his father to some faraway place to help with his campaign.
Maybe he was arrogant. He was sure that he would be back before her birthday, but campaigning took longer than he thought, and he didn’t get to send her a message because there was no signal at all.
He missed her already, and Itachi was quick to notice his worsening mood. When Itachi found out what was bothering him, he quickly arranged to have him sent home with the excuse of their mother missing him.
Which led to his quest to go to Ino. He dodges people as he walks faster. He pursues his lip when he found no reply from her still. He tried calling her, but she wasn’t answering.
He feels like he blew his chance of being with her, which added to his exhaustion. He feels so tired that he feels like he’s going to faint. He wants to sleep, and he will do just that.
His phone beeps with a message from Ino.
It’s okay, don’t worry about it. I’m still at the bakery. Are you coming or not?
SASUINO DAY 2: “Will we ever meet again? “Maybe in another life.” PROMPT
PAIRING: Orpheus! Sasuke x Eurydice! Ino
Sasuke found her while he was out on a mission with his friends to slay the sirens who lured sailors to their deaths.
He knew of the beauty of nymphs, but he was caught off guard when he came face-to-face with the loveliest of them all.
But it wasn’t her beauty that drew him to her.
"What are you looking at?" she asked, looking down at him from her perch on the tree. "Were you not going to slay those sirens?"
He followed her gaze and saw two sirens hiding from intruders. He scoffed. "I do not need you to tell me how to do my mission."
Instead of being put out by his attitude, she was challenged.
It started there. She loves challenges, and so does he, and they challenge each other in ways other people cannot.
Sasuke married Ino on their second summer together, even though the prophecy said that the marriage would not last. He scoffed because he had been forging his own destiny since he was little. He has no need for prophecies and neither do you believe in them.
Sasuke feels the happiest he’s been since the demise of his family.
Ino hands him a canteen of water after his sword practice, and he lightly places a kiss on her lips.
"Hmm..." she hums and opens her eyes. "How long is your mission this time?"
"3 days." He watches her face carefully for any signs of sadness.
His beloved never tried to stop him from doing anything, even at the cost of her sanity, and he tries not to upset her with his missions.
She breathes, standing up to embrace him. "Good. Teach me how to wield a sword when you come back."
He hugs her back. "You would not need to learn because I would be here to protect you, always."
Ino rolls her eyes, laughing, before sending him off with a smile and a wave.
Sasuke has a lot of regrets in his life. He wishes he could’ve shown his family that he mastered their signature sword style; he wishes he could have shown his brother his appreciation; and now he wishes he taught Ino how to wield a sword.
His belongings are left forgotten when he sees Ino’s bloodied body lying on the dirt. He dashed towards her and cradled his body against him. He hears his friends surround him as they panic.
"Ino?" He gently taps her cheek. "Ino?"
Ino slowly opened her eyes, smiling gently at him. "Sasuke, welcome home."
Sasuke’s eyes feel hot as he tries to smile. "I’m home."
"Let me heal her." Sakura catches his gaze. "Hurry, Sasuke."
"W-what happened, Ino? Who did this to you?"
"A God." she says. "Aristaeus. Don’t worry, he won't be coming back."
His eyes darkened, but he forced himself to calm down when he saw Ino watching him with her tired and heavy eyes.
"I wonder if we’ll ever meet again?"
His eyes widened at her words. "Don’t talk like that."
"Shit."
"What happened, Sakura?" Naruto asked.
Sakura looked at Ino, then at him. "Her wounds are not closing. Something is stoppi-"
"He cursed me." Ino says this calmly.Too calmly for Sasuke’s ears. As if she had already accepted this ending.
"I hope we meet each other again, Sasuke."
"Shh. Stop talking like that, Ino." he says, panicking.
"Sakura! What about Tsunade? She can heal the unhealable--"
"She can’t heal curses given by the gods, Naruto."
Sasuke closes his eyes tightly. He doesn’t accept this. He can’t accept this outcome. Not Ino, gods, please. Not his Ino.
"Please-"
"Maybe we will." she smiles, her tears running down her face as she places a shaking hand on his left cheek. He opens his eyes and feels his tears. "Maybe in another life. Come find me. Promise me."
"Promise. I promise, Ino."
Sasuke screamed. He screamed while holding onto her body until he couldn’t anymore. He screamed and sobbed like he had never done before. He felt Naruto trying to stop him from hurting himself; he felt Sakura trying to get Ino’s body out of the way.
"Sasuke!"
"Don’t take her away from me."
"Sasuke..."
"Please." he pleaded as he held onto her body tighter.
The days turn into nights as Sasuke luggishes away. He hunted the god who cursed his beloved and killed him by killing all his believers.
His friends found him bathing in their blood. They screamed, they tried to reason with him, but no, what is life without Ino? How can he live without her?
Kakashi closes his eyes tightly. If only he hadn’t vowed to take care of Sasuke in place of Obito and Itachi, then he wouldn’t be so torn, but looking at his pupil so devoid of life and purpose made him decide.
"Listen..." Kakashi swallowed, as if he was already regretting his decision to tell him. "There’s a way. There’s a way to bring her back."
For the first time since Ino died, Sasuke felt hope. He listened intently to Kakashi’s words.
"But this could get you killed-"
"I’m already dead, Kakashi."
Despite his friends and his teacher’s caution and worries, Sasuke set off to the underworld.
After countless obstacles, he was finally able to talk to the King and Queen of the Underworld and convince them to let Ino back into the world of the living. At their request, he performed a sword dance.
Sasuke couldn’t hide his happiness even if he wanted to when they agreed to let Ino go on one condition.
He was not allowed to look back or turn around to see her as they made their way out of the Underworld.
"I miss you." he said while walking. This time, for sure, he would shower her with all the love and affection he felt for her. "I missed you so much, Ino."
Silence.
He was tempted to look back, but he stopped himself. Why isn’t she answering?
"I-" he cleared his throat. "I love you."
Silence. Not even a single ‘hmm’ can be heard. He tightened his hold on his trusted sword. "Ino?"
He feels cold. She never ignored him, not this long. Is she okay? Why isn’t she answering?!
"Ino?" Please say something, anything. "Ino, are you okay?"
Silence. Not even a footstep.
Did... did the King of the Underworld fool him?
He looked back before he could stop himself and saw Ino. His beloved Ino. She shook her head slightly. "It’s okay, Sasu-"
Then they screamed when something dark dragged her back to the Underworld.
"Ino!"
Despite his best efforts, Sasuke was unable to return to the Underworld due to the condition he didn't follow.
With nothing left to lose, Sasuke decided to reunite with her in death.
-
There’s nothing Sasuke hates more in the morning than noise and a hangover. This is all his stupid best friend’s fault for challenging him to a drinking contest. He can’t turn down a chance to make Naruto see that he’s way better accepted the challenge.
But the hangover is worth it because he won.
If only there was no game today, then he would have celebrated his victory, but just his luck, he’s playing against one of his least favorite rivals. They waited for their turn, and he saw his opponent. Neji Hyuga wore his fencing uniform with pride. Sasuke sees the insignia of the Hyuuga clan embroidered on his uniform and scoffs.
Sasuke fixes his uniform and smirks when Neji’s eyes narrow when he sees the Uchiha clan’s insignia imbrued on his uniform. May the best clan win then.
Beside him, Naruto whistles appreciatively. "I didn’t know Hinata would be here."
"Who?" He raises his head and sees a group of girls heading towards the exit.
Naruto points at the group of girls. "Neji’s cousin, Hinata. Oh, there’s Ino! Hey! Hey!" He waves crazily.
"Naruto!" Sasuke swore the whole world stopped when one girl turned around to wave back crazily. Her long blonde hair sways. She’s wearing the same uniform as the rest of the girls with her. "Goodluck with your game! Break a leg!"
"I hope you don’t mean literally!" Naruto shouted back.
Sasuke swallowed. The girl laughed, shook her head, and said goodbye.
That golden hair looks familiar. He’s hit with familiar yet unfamiliar emotions at the same time.
"Who’s that?" he breathes. He didn’t wait for Naruto to answer and just dashed out to catch up.
"Hey!" Naruto called out. "Where are you going?! The match is going to start soon!"
He ignores him.
Sasuke doesn’t know why, but he needs to know that girl. He wants to know why his heart aches when he sees her and why he feels like he knows her. Unfortunately, he didn’t catch up to her.
Still, he looked for her everywhere. He feels like a fool exerting this much effort for a girl he doesn’t even know. Damn it! He stops when he’s out of breath. If that damn dobe finds out that he’s gone crazy for a girl, he'd never hear the end of it.
He gave the outdoor tennis courts a once over to see if the girl he was looking for was within sight and cursed when he didn’t see a golden-haired girl.
Sasuke walks over to one of the faucets, drinks water, and wets his hair to cool his head. He wished he could see her again. His train of thought was broken when he saw someone handing him a towel and water bottle in his peripheral vision and he automatically turned the faucet off.
"Than-"
He stopped when he saw who it was. He can’t believe what he’s seeing! As if he wasn’t going crazy trying to find her, but here she is! She was standing in front of him, her long golden hair in a high ponytail.
And when he looks into her eyes, he feels it again. There it was again. That aching feeling That uncontrollable urge to pull her to him. That urge to not let her go. He doesn’t know why he’s feeling this way about someone he doesn’t know.
"Here. You look like you might need it." He stares at the items she’s offering.
At some point, he probably lost his mind and so did his voice because all he could do was stare at her.
"Well?" she challenges playfully, one perfectly eyebrow raising. "Aren’t you going to take it?"
He laughs, taking the towel and water she’s offering.
"You’re a long way from the gym." she says, eyeing his fencing uniform. "Isn’t your match going to start soon?"
I feel like I’ve known you forever. I feel like I’m in love with you. He swallowed and instead said, "You could say that. I’m Sasuke." He offers his hand for a handshake. He feels warm and something inside him stirs when she accepts.
"I’m Ino. Nice meeting you, Sasuke." But what Ino wants to say is, I feel like I know you. I feel like I love you. "Do you know the way back to the gym?"
late cuz life but omg happy sasuino week stil!! @sasuino-week
Queen Tsunade has no biological children of her own, but she has two girls she treated and raised as her children.
From a young age, they were taught their duties to the Konoha. Ino's duty is to strengthen and support the kingdom and the queen. Sakura was taught about her responsibilities as Crown Princess and, eventually, Queen.
And Sakura knew from a young age that Sasuke, the son of one of their kingdom's most powerful families, would be her husband and King. His family's influence, status, and power are an asset to the royal family and befit the future queen.
When she sees her betrothed, Sasuke, for the first time, she falls in love, but Sasuke doesn’t like her despite their engagement. In fact, he doesn’t like a lot of people. He likes only his brother and, to some extent, Naruto.
But no matter, he will grow to love her too.
However, despite her attempts to make him fall, he never did, and she knows why.
From the start, she already knows that the one who captured Sasuke’s heart is not her, the Crown Princess, but Ino. The Second Princess.
She sees the way Sasuke looks at Ino like she's his lifeline, as if he's a ship lost in the sea and she's the light house.
And she sees the way Ino looks at her betrothed, too.
On her order, the attendant wordlessly handed over the letters Sasuke had sent to Ino.
Dearest Ino,
I have thought of you as annoying and unworthy, but despite this, I’ve grown to love you. I love you and chose you despite my status, my duty, my responsibilities.
If you choose me too, meet me by the flower field you love so much.
Always yours,
Sasuke
She burns the letter along with all the others, and when Ino wakes up to find her wiping her tears, she doesn’t tell her about the letters.
Sasuke must be part of a scheme to sow tension between her and Ino. Sakura thinks as dark thoughts about Ino threaten to overcome her.
Sakura knows of the whispers, of touches against skin, of promises.
But Sakura knows that Ino would never betray her, would never break her heart, so she watches as Ino breaks theirs.
Her wedding is the biggest celebration of the year. Her to-be husband is the most handsome groom of all, and she is the most beautiful bride.
But Sasuke may just be blind, for his eyes only see Ino.
Ino, always Ino. His Ino.
"I am your husband, but make no mistake. I only see her and I only love her." he says when she suggests that they consummate their marriage.
As if she would think otherwise.
Ino's betrothal to Konoha's long-standing ally, the Sand, is one of the largest celebrations in their Kingdom.
Sasuke avoided her like the plague when the news broke. She knows he will never forgive her for this betrayal. For sealing away his beloved's fate, for sending Ino away to the Sand, and for not being Ino.
Sakura takes a deep breath. Sasuke betrayed her first by not loving her, by choosing Ino despite their marriage, and by still pining after Ino even when she bore him a child.
Everyone's eyes are on Ino when Sasuke asks for her hand to dance, and she sees the slight panic in Ino's eyes when she looks at Gaara and sends her a look of pleading.
Sakura didn't heed her look of help.
She can give this to her husband. This small moment of reprieve.
Even so, she grips the wine glass tightly when Ino agrees to Sasuke's request out of duty and, if Sakura squints, out of love.
It was an open secret that Sasuke never wanted her. It was no secret that Ino avoided Sasuke like her life depended on it after their marriage a year ago. Nobody said it out loud; they could only whisper about how great the two looked and how they could have been happy without her interference.
Sasuke’s arms are around Ino’s waist as he guides her through the dance floor. He looks at Ino in the eyes, never shying away. While Ino tries to be casual despite the intensity of Sasuke's gaze. Ino's betrothed, Gaara of the Sabaku Kingdom, watches Ino intently, and Sakura knows jealousy and possessiveness when she sees it. That’s what she sees in her eyes every day when she looks at the mirror, and that’s what she sees whenever Sasuke sees Ino and Gaara together.
Sakura feels sick, and she’s thankful when the attendant gives her Sarada, who feels restless because of the crowd.
She lets the whispers and her child’s cries drown her.
She’ll let them have this moment because tomorrow, tomorrow, Ino will finally be gone and Sasuke will finally be hers.
