Uchiha's Pride [Complete]

chapter 12

Sakura walked deep in her thought. Is giving Sasuke another chance a good idea? She unknowingly walked in Yamanaka flower shop.

"Welcome to Yamanak- Sakura?" Sakura snapped out of her daze. She looked at Ino in confusion.

"Are you alright?"

"Huh?" Sakura asked still in daze. Ino quickly took off her apron and went to Sakura.

She made her sit down and handled her a glass of water, "drink this." And Sakura did.

Once the glass was empty Sakura thanked her friend.

"Okay. Now tell me what happened?"

"I feel like my head is going to explode."

Ino was silent for a minute or two then spoke, "it's about Sasuke-kun." It was a statement not a question.

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have come here. I didn't want to hurt you again with that top." Sakura stood up.

"Sakura wait!" Ino grabbed her arm, "I'm going out with sai."

Sakura's jaw dropped, "Sai as in, my emotional retard teammate." Ino nodded guilty.

"Oh." Sakura finished pathetically.

"How did that happened?"

Ino's eyes sparked as she started blabbering. Once she finished she chuckled

"Oh my god, Sakura! I missed this so much." Ino smiled. Sakura nodded smiling back.

"Sasuke-kun asked me out." She blurted. Ino's eyes widened.

"Aiee?"

"Aiee!"

"Aiee?!"

"AIEE!"

"AIEEEE!"

"AIIEEE!"

"AIEE-"-"AIIEE-"

she ran to shut her shop door then turned to stare excitedly at the girl she had just been squealing with. "Sakura are you serious?!"

"Mmm!" The other girl nodded quickly, cheeks pink with excitement, heart racing quickly against her ribcage.

The first thing Sakura had wanted was to share this with Ino. While she knew Ino was excited about the whole 'going out' part, Sakura had to admit she was most excited that Sasuke-kun had actually asked. He wasn't socially fluent but he was smart.

"This... is great! Do you know what you're going to do? Where are you going-ah! What are you going to wear-" Ino rambled happily as she skip across the shop.

Sakura looked at Ino, "I don't want you to feel hurt. I mean... you don't have to-" Sakura kept her eyes on her lap, fingers twisting nervously in her skirt.

"Sakura, please stop." Ino said lightly before planting an innocent smile on her lips. "I know what you're getting at... and thank you. And... I'm sorry. I do like Sasuke-kun but not... the way you seem to, so really. It's okay. I'm okay as long as we're okay."

The blonde let the silence settle comfortably around them as Sakura took the words in and made peace with them. Ino lost herself to her own thoughts until a certain memory and unfulfilled promise came to the surface, making her laugh bitterly. Sorry Sensei.

"Ino?" Sakura asked with worry, all of her excitement from before leaving her body.

Said girl turned to her friend and, seeing her concern, plastered a bright smile to her soft features. "I'm sorry! Where were we-ah! Your date with Sasuke-kun, oooh!"

"Ino, we really don't have to-" Sakura suddenly felt uncomfortable. Maybe coming to Ino was a bad idea. She didn't want anything bad to happen.

"Sakura, it's not you-well... kind of, but not what you think." She sighed at the other's politely confused frown. "I was... thinking about something Asuma-sensei told-asked of me."

Sakura looked away confused.

"He said... not to lose to you in love or ninjutsu." She laughed lightly at her silly sensei. "I said... I wouldn't but... I didn't realize I had already lost in one category. I can't keep my word one hundred percent."

Sakura turned back to her friend with surprise. Why was she telling her something like this? What did it have to do with anything? "Ino, I-"

"I know... let me explain." Ino smiled somewhat nervously as she watched the other girl. "I've lost already. Lost to you in love."

Sakura felt her heart clench. Because of her and Sasuke? Why was it turning out like this? "Maybe I-"

"Sakura, don't!" Ino gasped as she reached out to clutch at the other girl's hands gently when she looked like she was ready to leave. "Please, let me finish. I realized I had lost to you in love... but not in a bad way, I guess. I-"

Sakura listened somewhat warily as Ino took a deep, calming breath.

"I lost because I realized how much I loved you when our friendship was..." Ino paused to chew on her lower lip for a moment. "I sometimes wondered if I should be the winner since I found such love first, but I lost because..."

Sakura just stared blankly at the fabric of her skirt as she took in Ino words and the ones she couldn't finish. She also took in the feel of her warm hands. Wait. She felt heat color her cheeks as some pieces started to fall together in an awkward puzzle of possible truth. "I-Ino... do you... are you-?" In love with me?!

Ino watched as Sakura tensed slightly, took in the blush and listened to the question she tried to ask, following where her thoughts were going. Ino blinked before laughing.

"No, I am not in love with you, billboard brow!" Ino smirked as she flicked Sakura's earlier cause of insecurity. "Nothing like that at all! But... I do love you. You're so very important to me... like a soul sister or something."

Sakura flushed darker at her assumption. Well, what the hell? What was she to think with the other telling her something like that? She sighed. Ino was weird... but...

"Does this mean you're really okay with-?"

"Yes! Silly girl!" Ino huffed in playful annoyance. She smiled when the other looked hesitant.

Finally Sakura smiled back, relieved. And then awe crossed her features. "You really... think of me like a sister?"

Ino rolled her eyes. "Yes... and I know you feel the same, even if you're not aware of it."

Sakura blinked. "Oh?"

"Yes!" Ino assured her as she squeezed her hand lightly. "You use to always depend on me... it made me so happy. When we were together it was like I was your fighting spirit and you were my grounded strength..."

Sakura thought on that before smiling fondly at the memories. Yes. It did seem like that. And Ino really was like a sister. It was still that way! Even after everything...

"My fighting spirit." Sakura confirmed, thinking of all the times she pushed to be stronger felt she could because of Ino.

"My grounded strength." Ino nodded like she agreed with Sakura's thoughts.

They both smiled.

"Now! Back to the issue at hand! Sakura, we must go shopping! You need to wear something cute for Sasuke-kun!" Ino gushed happily as she tugged the other to her feet and drug her off.

Sakura sighed lightly as she obediently followed. She was happy everything was good with Ino now, but... did she have to treat her like a mother about to give her daughter away in marriage?