Obsidian Love

Chapter 21: A Walk to the Past Part I

Ino stared at Sasuke, then at the ray of sunlight slipping through the gap in the closed curtains.

"Who exactly is he?" The question had echoed in her mind not too long ago, but now she realized the answer had been in front of her all along. Those little things, the vague signs scattered everywhere, made her feel like a fool. Yet, she still clung to those fleeting moments-moments that gave her something more precious than anything she had ever known.

Sasuke leaned against the window, waiting silently, occasionally glancing at Naruto's sleeping figure.

"Sai..." Ino began, her voice soft. "He's someone who barged into my life and made me realize there's more to living than just being the heir of our family. He's..."

Ino's thoughts drifted, her eyes distant, as though reliving past memories. "He's the person I love the most."

Two years ago.

"I said, get out of my face!" Ino shouted, her eyes burning with fury. The three thugs surrounding her laughed, the sound grating and irritating.

"Do you think shouting will help?" the one with tattoos on his neck asked, grinning like a pervert.

She was stuck in a deserted alley, blocked by the three thugs For some not-so-good-reasons, she had run away from yet another blind date her mother had arranged for her.

She was tired of it. Tired of having her life dictated by others. Only her father understood her, but he was on a business trip, leaving her mother to do whatever she wanted with Ino.

Oh, for heaven's sake.

Thirty minutes ago, running away had felt like the best decision, but now, with her current situation, she was beginning to rethink that. She had even praised herself for losing her bodyguards along the way but fvck is that worthy of praise.

Ino stepped backward, cold sweat running down her face. She would rather throw herself off a cliff than let these disgusting men touch her. Just as she began to lose hope, she spotted a figure walking at the end of the alley.

She screamed, "HELP! PLEASE HELP!"

The thugs turned toward where she was shouting, then tackled her to the ground. "Keep that mouth of yours shut, bitch."

Ino felt her body slam against the cold ground, the men's hands rough and invasive against her skin. She looked up at the person at the end of the alley, hoping for him to run to Ino and help but neither of it happened.

The boy with pale skin glanced at the thugs, then at her, and continued walking nonchalantly.

Realization dawned on Ino-he wasn't going to help her. Anger flared inside her, stronger than the fear of her current predicament. She screamed in fury, kicking the man holding her down, and pushed the others away with a wild punch.

"Get your filthy hands off me!" she shouted, kicking one thug and punching another before sprinting toward the boy who had refused to help her.

"Stop right there!" she demanded.

The pale-skinned boy turned around, only to be met with Ino's fist. His cheek reddened from the punch, his eyes widening in surprise.

"What..." he began, confused.

"What? You jerk! You refused to help a woman in distress?! They almost raped me!" Ino shouted, her voice trembling with frustration, her nerves still on edge, adrenaline coursing through her veins.

The boy gingerly touched his bruised cheek, looking at Ino with calm detachment. "I don't see why it's my responsibility to help some random person. Last time I checked, I'm no hero."