Yamanaka Ino - One shots!

Pleasant Company

Freezing, biting winds greeted her when she set her foot outside her otherwise warm house. The streets were filled with expected silence, street lights flickered, and crickets sang.

It was 3 in the morning, she'd checked before leaving her place. Her reason for roaming the streets so early in the morning wouldn't make sense had other people known. Ino, for most part of her, would agree with them, yet the remaining bit thought it was not nonsensical at all. It was logical and understandable.

She strolled the dirty path, light blue eyes flitting from one place to another in a speed the fourth Hokage would be raising his brow at.

It was still way too dark despite the lights looming above her head. She was starting to regret her decision– no, she was already regretting it at the moment she stepped outside. It was the stubborn trait of hers that prevented her from backing out of her own decision, challenge really.

Her mind had already gone haywire, too many disturbing thoughts from here and there. She marched towards the brightest light in the area, all while observing her surroundings in an obsessed manner.

A shadow moved from the corner of her eye and she'd turned her head so quickly that it hurt, yet her entire focus was set on the dim alley where she'd seen the shadow.

Ino's whole body was tense, her hands trembling where they hover the pocket on her black pants wherein a recently bought kunai lies in wait.

She could be hallucinating, or maybe it was just a cat– wait no, no, a cat the size of a human? Or maybe it was one of those dogs the Inuzuka clan owns. But that can't be, surely they wouldn't allow their dogs to roam the streets at this time, right? But what if-

Ino released a heavy sigh, relax, she thought.

Grow up Ino, you're no longer a child.

In the span of 5 minutes, her shoulders were starting to relax, her hands no longer trembling, and her mind had calmed down for just a fraction, it was still a chaos in there but it wasn't as terrible as it was 5 minutes ago.

There you go, she inhaled slowly, deep breaths, you're fine.

Without warning, she collapsed on the dirty ground, upper body bent forward in an uncomfortable way. Her forehead meets the ground and no sooner did the tears come pouring out of her eyes like a dam.

YOU PATHETIC FOOL, AND YOU CALL YOURSELF A NINJA? Her mind screamed at her.

And that's the sight he came upon. And it would be a lie if he said he wasn't surprised at all, because why, why is Yamanaka Ino, frustrating former classmate, on the dirty streets of Konoha bursting in tears.

Although the situation brought him so much confusion, his body moved as if it had a mind of its own, he walked towards her in silent panic.

Sasuke crouched beside her trembling form, hesitated, before eventually calling out her name.

"Yamanaka."

And it must've been the wrong approach because next thing the young Uchiha knew, the tip of a kunai was against his throat. His eyes widened.

Ino, realizing that it was Uchiha Sasuke, a comrade, not an enemy, quickly pulled the sharp weapon away while murmuring a ton of apologies.

Sasuke who finally regained from his initial shock, stood up without a word and offered her a penetrating gaze. It had her snapping her mouth shut at once.

Look what you did Ino, this is bad, terrible, horrible. Why him? Why is he here? Why, just why, why, why-

"Are you planning to sit there forever?"

Her downcast light blue orbs lifted to meet his own dull ones, and all she could manage was a confused, "What?"

Sasuke's eye twitched in annoyance, he hated repeating himself.

"Come with me." He only uttered in response before turning and walking away. He needn't turn to know whether she followed because she was already on her feet, speechless behind him as he leads her to a more isolated area, not too far from houses but also not too close.

On their walk, he finds himself feeling a little uncomfortable because she wasn't her usual irritating, deafening, touchy self. What walks behind him instead, is a wordless, distant and not irritating blonde kunoichi, yet he finds himself surprisingly more annoyed at this version of her he has never seen before.

And before his thoughts could drift further, they arrived, and Sasuke was relieved.

She isn't worth a minute in your mind.

The young Uchiha turned to face her, she was still there, but distant.

"So? Aren't you going to say something?" He speaks with that arrogant tone she's already used to. Her mouth opens, but shuts just as quickly.

You can't, shouldn't, tell him. He'll think you're pathetic. He'll look at you with a disappointing gaze you've already encountered so many times in your life. Don't. Do not tell him Ino.

Mouth shut, the blonde turned and occupied the near bench, dead leaves crunching under her weight. She chose to set her eyes on the ground, as if it was way better than meeting those void eyes. And it truly was, what with the embarrassing display she showed him.

Fool. You're a fool Ino.

Sasuke seemed to get the hint as he huffed and occupied the same bench and said nothing further.

Silence followed.

30 or so minutes later, he was getting restless, and right when he was about to break the peace, she beat him to it. Her tone is soft.

"I think a lot."

He said nothing.

"We all do, I know. However, I consider my thinking a lot more excessive. Want to know why?"

He doesn't answer, because she already knows. And he knows that.

"I think so excessively, before I sleep, I think and think. From the slightest sound I hear from our rooftop, my mind instantly comes up with many questions, theories. Like, is there someone on the roof? Are they trying to come for us? Do they plan on stealing something from us? Are they going to harm us? Will they kidnap me? Kill my family in an extremely inhumane manner? Am I gonna die? Will I get skinned alive-"

She instantly paused the moment she caught the slightest movement from him, it was clear he felt uneasy despite his best attempts of hiding it. So she moved on.

"And well, it just gets worse. I'm sure you've noticed the dark circles under my eyes, I noticed you staring at them before. So yeah, I'm having trouble sleeping now, and my mind just won't stop thinking and thinking, and I've consulted my father before. He...he said it's totally normal and actually brilliant, because we're a clan who specialize in mind-related techniques, and that–" he winced at her voice crack, and she doesn't blame him at all. It was a very ugly, unfitting sound coming from a Yamanaka heiress.


"I only forced a smile at him, like a proud daughter would. Until then, I kept everything to myself, my unhealthy thoughts and just everything. And, it's slowly– no, quickly, eating at me. So, I decided last night to go out early in the morning, where the streets are completely deserted, and challenge myself, face my fears. Stop my thoughts. But nothing changed, and now I'm here and revealing something I shouldn't be. To you, out of all people." Then she gasped for much needed air. Tears were quickly gathering in her eyes.

You idiot Yamanaka Ino. You're an idiot.

She turned her head, expecting disappointment, but what greeted her was the least of her expectations.

His eyes weren't filled with disappointment, and his lips were no longer adorning that arrogant smirk. It had the blonde blinking her tears away to check if her eyes were lying. 

And now, Ino really sees the expression on Sasuke's face. His features softened, no more of the usual poker face, nor the irritated look.

A minute passed, then it was 5, then 10 when he finally indicated movement. The kunoichi watched in anticipation, as he stood up and reached inside his shorts' right pocket.

What once was an empty hand, now clutched a plain dark blue handkerchief, he wordlessly handed it to her and she accepted in shock.

His back faced her and without a word, he left. Ino stared at his retreating form, gaze returning to the fabric, and her tears slid down once again. Except this time, it wasn't out of sadness.

Sasuke didn't offer words of comfort, but the handkerchief he gave her spoke volumes.



A week later, Team 7 and 10 were assigned to offer assistance to a rich family with 5 stuck-up daughters in their age. Unsurprisingly, those 5 siblings couldn't resist the Uchiha's charms and ceaselessly bothered the boy. The youngest daughter was the worst, spoiled, arrogant and shameless.

She went as far as trying to trip herself so she could fall grab onto Sasuke who had his guard down at that moment. Of course, Ino had to step in, so she ran towards them as the brat initiated her plan.

The lass' face was filled with glee. Oh, and how Ino wished she could witness it a second time, see that expression drop when she stood in front of Sasuke. They fell to the ground but it was all worth it.

Sasuke instantly got the picture of course, so he sent a subtle nod her way. And it had her laughing for some reason.

Later, they'd find themselves acknowledging each other's presence whenever they encounter each other. Be it a subtle nod, a raise of an eyebrow, a wink, or Ino's one-sided hugs, but no resistance this time.

They wouldn't be called friends, far from it actually. But they would think of the other as a pleasant company.

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Finally uploaded! Yay to go! You may submit your prompts or requests. Thank you for reading!

-Aku-