Twenty: Picture Perfect

Im Sorry, I Love You

'No. Sai-kun.' Ino thinks running to his side. His pulse is very weak and she is beginning to panic.

Ino focuses all of her chakra into her palms and begins to heal his wounds one by one. As she concentrates, she begins to have flashback images of his smile whenever he saw her. She begins to think about all of the nicknames he gave their friends.

Most of the nicknames were insults. Except hers. Only hers was not.

I only called her by the name that describes what she is. Beautiful.

Ino began to cry. Her tears staining her purple dress. Her mascara ruined. 'I bet if he saw me right now, he'd call me ugly. That's what I am. Ugly. Ugly for lying to him. Ugly for breaking his heart. Ugly for taking him for granted. Ugly for not giving him what he tried to give me.'

She opens her eyes staring at the unconscious shinobi before her. His lifelessness piercing her emotions as she longs to see his dark eyes that have hidden so much pain. Those eyes that hold so much love whenever she is the center of their attention.

She longs to hear his voice. The same voice that irritates others and yet soothes her soul whenever he speaks.

She longs to feel his touch. The same touch that comforted her when she had fallen asleep on their last mission together. His strong embrace that made her feel as though she was in the safest place in the world.

She just longed for him. Sai. Her Sai. Yes. Her Sai. Hers and only hers.

She would return his love just as Naruto had done Hinata.

She would return to his side just as Sasuke had done to Sakura.

She would cherish everything about him. Even the small things. Just as he had done to her.

With his wounds closed and healed, Ino helps Sai to his feet. Not long after she began to walk towards town, she sees Naruto and Hinata running towards her. She immediately notices the worried gaze on the hero's face.

"Sai!!! Ino...is he okay?" Naruto exclaims.

Unable to speak she just stays silent causing the two shinobi to worry even more.

Naruto grabs his friend, his teammate, his brother, and carries him on his back.

Ino then, exhausted herself, collapses. Hinata catches her friend and carries her. Together, she and Naruto rush their friends to the hospital.

Sakura panics once they arrive and rush them to a shared room so she can tend to them both. Hinata walks Naruto back down to the waiting room and stays by his side calming him. Sasuke and Choji arrive shortly afterwards after hearing the news from Kiba.

Ino awakens after being asleep for two days and jumps up scaring Sakura. Sakura notices the panic in her eyes.

"Where's Sai-kun?" Ino asks not caring about anything or anyone else.

Sakura smirks mentally. 'Kun huh?'

She places a comforting arm on Ino's shoulder and slides the curtain back revealing a resting Sai. Ino jumps out of her bed and gracefully to Sai's side.

Sakura is shocked but notices that Ino's crying and sobbing lightly while caressing Sai's cheek.

"Sai...kun. I'm sorry. I so sorry. Please don't leave me. I was afraid and nervous when you asked me out so I lied. I lied like I still liked Sasuke. I don't. I like you, Sai-kun." she says still crying shocking Sakura. Sakura backs towards the door noticing her friends gathered at it. She stops them and shushes them.

Ino continues to confess, "Sai-kun...I have never found so much comfort than when I'm in your arms. Your touch soothes me. Your smile makes me melt. And your eyes when you see me make me feel exactly how your nickname describes me. Beautiful. That picture you drew of me is in a frame right by my bedside. I look at him everyday. I should have told you this before but I was afraid."

The entire gang hold their breaths.

"I love you Sai-kun." Ino says looking at his sleeping face. "I love you with all of my heart. I always will." She lies her head down on his chest. A strong arm wraps around her scaring her but then she hears the voice she's been missing for so long.

"I...love you...Beautiful."

Ino looks up and locks eyes with the ones she's been wanting to see for weeks. "S...Sai...k...kun?"

Sai reaches up and wipes a tear from her cheek. "Don't cry beautiful. It hurts me to see you cry."

Ino crashes her lips down on his and he willingly returns the love. So much passion, pain and love is put into the kiss. They release the kiss and stare at each other. Ino sobs, "I'm sorry I lied. I love you Sai-kun. I..."

Sai puts his finger on her lips shushing her. He lies her head on his chest gently and embraces her. "Just rest and let me hold you for now." Ino nods and wraps her arms around him feeling warm and safe in his embrace.

But...this is a Naruto based story...so you know everything is never perfect.

They hear cheering from the hallway and sees a disgruntle Sakura staring at the door. She opens the door and Kiba and Naruto along with Sasuke and Tenten are doing a happy dance while Choji, Hinata, Lee and Neji cheer sitting on the floor. They all look up and sees Sakura's eye twitch.

With one word, all disperse in opposite directions from the pissed of banshee.

"Run!"