The Games We Play

Naruto was quick to dress and quicker to leave his apartment. He didn’t have breakfast or even stop at the ramen shop when he normally forgot to eat breakfast. What he needed to do couldn’t wait, he needed to do it fast as possible. The sooner the better was always the best plan of action for something such as this.

He spent the entire morning rehearsing what he would say to her. So far he had gotten as far as what he would say but didn’t really have anything prepared if she was going to say anything in return. Well if she was he could just worry about it then, if he waited to long then he would probably chicken out and then worst case he would loose control again and something horrible would happen.

He marched right to the Hokage tower, after all that’s were they usually hung out around this time. He figured he could find her sister first and most likely her sister would know where she was or at least have a general idea of where to find her. In the front office Naruto spotted a head of platinum blonde hair and called out to it.

“INO!” He called too cheerfully in the morning waving down his friend. Ino turned and smiled brightly back. He was about to walk past her when he started to think.

Ino was on good terms with the Hokage. With Sakura and Hinata out, chances are she was picking up the slack. So then she would be spending a lot of time with the sisters. So if she was then she would most likely know where they were or least one of them was right now.

“Hey Ino,” Naruto said stepping up behind her.

The said girl had a stack of files in her hand but still smiled at him. Their relationship had improved a lot over the years, partly because they figured out how much they had in common when it came to pranks and sometimes even gossip.

“Hello Naruto, what are you doing here this morning?”

“I was looking for Misako.”

“Misako?” Ino repeated looking at her friend with a confused look. Then suddenly her brow frowned, Naruto knew that look, he didn’t like it.

“Why are you looking for her?” Ino demanded.

“Because I need to speak with her, have you seen her?” He played his oblivious card. Maybe if he didn’t notice that Ino had gotten upset she wouldn’t say anything. That was usually how it would end up working.

“What do you need to talk about?” Ino asked again and before he could answer she continued. “It doesn’t have anything to do with your date the other night does it?”

“What?”

“Naruto I saw you with my own eyes! I said ‘hi’ to you!” Her voice had reached a new octave.

“That wasn’t a date!” Naruto was quick to defend his innocent name.

“You two together at a nice place like that. Alone! At night! If that wasn’t a date then what the hell was it?”

“It was…” He tried to find words to explain it wasn’t a date because never asked her out on a date to begin with. “Hinata asked me to do it.” He blurted out and for some reason instantly regretted it.

“What?” Ino asked obviously not believing him.

“No I mean, well Misako had mentioned something about lunch once and Hinata said she thought it was a good idea. You know be nice to them and stuff so I did it but suddenly Misako said she wanted to go for dinner and…well, what was I supposed to say?”

He explained quickly and was actually out of breath when he was done, but Ino seemed to take this into consideration.

“What else did Misako tell you?” She said her voice suddenly turning curious.

“Huh? What do you mean?”

Ino looked around them for a moment before lowering her voice again.

“Well I just mean…something is off about both of them.”

“Off?” Naruto asked again. He didn’t quit understand what his friend was referring too so it was always best to play dumb until you knew exactly what they were talking about. No sense in self incrimination when its not needed.

“Yeah, I mean did you know about her and Kiba before he left?”

At this Naruto couldn’t stop the smiled forming on his face.

“Jealous Ino-chan? I thought you said you two had an agreement about things like that?”

Ino’s response was a swift hard whack on the head with her files.

“What the hell!” Naruto exclaimed holding his now throbbing head.

“That’s not what I’m talking about!” Ino huffed blush on her face so pink it almost looked red. “Just forget it!” She said and started to stalk off.

“No wait, you didn’t answer me.”

“No I don’t know where they are okay! Yuna called in sick so they might be at their home!” With one last toss of her hair Ino stormed out of the room and up the stairs.

“Geeze what’s with her all the sudden?” Said someone suddenly standing next to him, he didn’t know who he was but he had seen him around once or twice before. Naruto shrugged because really he had no idea what made Ino’s mood change so much, well he normally didn’t anyway.

“Women huh?” The guy said and Naruto smiled in response.

“Yeah.” Naruto agreed taking his leave. He didn’t have time to continue this conversation of woman mood swings he had to find Misako soon.

Yuna called in sick today huh? So going on that it would be safe to assume that Misako was in fact home right now and then he could go and just talk to her there…or maybe not. He remembered what happened when he was alone with her for long periods of time and it was exactly what he was trying to avoid and all together stop. It would be the best scenario to get Misako in a very public area where everyone could see them.

He decided to just wait and see when she decided to show up. He did further thinking and decided that he had acted pretty rashly and whenever he found her he would talk to her but he didn’t really need to rush it so much. People might get the wrong idea if they saw him asking around for her. People like Ino and the last thing he needed was more rumors about him if they could be prevented.

Having missed breakfast Naruto went back to his faithful ramen bar to fill up and open another tab.

By the time he had finished his fourth bowl, he had missed breakfast at his house after all, he was surprised to find he had some company. He looked over at the new person sitting next to him and smiled as best he could with a mouth full of noodles.

“Shikamaru!” he said with a swallow so big it made his eyes tear up a bit.

His lazy friend nodded his head and behind him his best friend waved hello.

“Good afternoon Naruto.” Chouji said taking a seat by Shikamaru.

“Hey Chouji, what are you two doing here? Don’t you get lunch at the barbeque place?”

“We’re low on cash.” Shikamaru said putting toothpick in his mouth where his cigarette usually was.

Naruto nodded turning back to his food. He hadn’t talked to Shikaramu in a long time the last time he eve heard his voice was…when he was under the bridge with Misako. He knew he should limit his inquiries about the whereabouts of the girl but something told him Shikamaru would know a lot with out even seeing much.

“Hey Shikamaru,” He began.

“Hn.” Shikamaru nodded looking over the menu.

“Um you work in the tower a lot right?”

“Sometimes.”

“Well you wouldn’t happen to know where Misako is would you?”

“Who?”

“Misako…Tanako…”

“Oh yeah, that girl’s sister.” Shikamaru nodded then looked directly at Naruto for a hard moment. Naruto swallowed but met his friends stare. After another moment Shikamaru turned around again to his menu.

“No, not the moment. Ino was bitching about something having to do with them earlier though you might want to ask her.”

“Yeah…Ino,” Naruto repeated regretting he had brought up the subject at all.

“Ino doesn’t like them does she.” Chouji voiced on his friends other side.

“Ino doesn’t like anyone who could be competition.” Shikamaru corrected deciding on a bowl and requesting it.

Naruto smiled to himself, so he was right about Ino. She was just jealous about Misako because of that thing with Kiba.

“Oh Naruto did her hear?” Shikamaru said suddenly.

“Hear what?”

“Sakura and team eight are due back this evening.”

“Really!” Naruto’s spirits were up instantly.

“Yeah I heard Ino talking about it with Tsunade this morning.”

Hinata was coming back this evening? Tonight! No before tonight probably. He had to plan something! But wait, if Hinata was coming back today then he absolutely had to get to Misako before then. He had to clear the air with her; he had to no matter what. Meaning he had to find her be damned what people thought he had to set it right.

“I need to go,” Naruto said throwing money on the table.

Both his friends gave him weird looks because he had only eaten four bowls but he ignored them. He sped past the shops and people determined to get to his destination and get this over with. On the way he bumped into Lee and Ten-Ten who asked where he was going to in such a hurry. He said nothing but wished them a good afternoon and excused himself quickly before getting into any conversation.

It didn’t take him long at all to find Misako’s place. After all he had been there only a few days before and he had a pretty good memory when it came to remembering places. He started to get nervous when the large house came into view. He suddenly felt those butterflies and nerves start to grow, he never had to say anything like this to a girl before. Hell he never even thought he would be in this kind of situation in his life.

He stepped on the door step and hesitated a full five seconds before ringing the doorbell. He waited, and waited the time elapsing was making him more and more nervous. He was going to ring the door bell a second time when it opened and out peered a emerald green eye from the crack in the door. It flew wide open instantly after that and Misako stood there with a beautiful bright smile.

“Naruto!” She said holding the door open dressed in only a pair of short shorts and a black tank top. “What are you doing here?”

“I…um…” Damn he really should have rehearsed better. “Heard Yuna was sick.” He said and mentally slapped his own face.

“Oh, well she just as a bug, she’ll be better before long. Is that why you came all the way over here?” She tilted her head exposing her long neck, her large eyes burning into his own.

“Um…”

“Do you want to come in? Yuna is asleep but you’re welcome to come in for some tea.” She moved aside and Naruto snapped to attention.

“No.” he said sharply and she seemed to not expect that.

“No?” She asked narrowing her eyes slightly.

“No, I can’t come in. Misako we need to talk.”

“Talk? Well we can talk inside Naruto, it is a bit hot out here.”

“No I can’t. Look Misako you’re really pretty but I have a girlfriend.” He blurted it out so fast he wasn’t even sure he even said it. He saw her stare at him and then a strange smile came across her rose lips.

“I know.” She said simply.

“Yeah well I really really like Hinata. She’s the best thing to happen to me in a really long time…hell probably the best thing to happen to me in my life other then becoming a ninja. And I really don’t want to do anything to mess that up okay.”

“Why are you telling me this?” Misako asked leaning against the door. “Do you think I’d make you do something the ruin that?”

“No!” He defended quickly. He wasn’t blaming her, he didn’t want her to think that. “No, I mean…when we’re alone…things get…well they can get out of hand and…I’ve kissed you already and I just…well you know…”

“I know.” She answered and he breathed a heavy sigh of relief.

“You do?”

“Yes I do. And I’m sorry about all of it. I never should have put you in those situations like that, I should have controlled myself better. Its just…I like you Naruto. I’ve liked you since I first met you in that tavern, I never stopped thinking about you. When I heard you were here I was excited but when I saw Hinata I was…well I was a bit disappointed you found someone. I travel so much its really hard for me to find anyone and when I do and things get good I leave and I never see them again.”

“Misako,” Naruto’s heart went out to her. She felt so lonely, he knew what that was like he knew alone and he never wished that on anyone.

“Hehe, Misako your great!” He said getting more nervous about the situation then he had before. “You really are you’re guys is out that for you it will just take time.”

“You really think so?”

“Sure I do, I mean look at me. I’ve known Hinata since we were six and it took me over ten years to notice what I had the whole time.”

“You’re really kind hearted Naruto. Hinata is a lucky girl.”

“Hehe, thanks. Hey speaking of which Hinata comes back today!”

“Oh today?”

“Yeah! I had no idea, I feel a bit bad for not planning something.”

“I’m sure what ever you come up with she’ll just be happy to be with you.”

Naruto blushed a bit but smiled genuinely at her.

“Thanks,” He said and started to leave. “Well I better go, I only got a few hours before she comes into town.” He turned but stopped halfway off the porch steps.

“Thanks Misa, for understanding.”

She smiled sweetly back at him and gave him a wave.

“Bye Naruto.” She shut the door behind her and Naruto was left to plan Hinata’s return guilt free.

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She shut the door clutching the door knob. She took several breaths to calm her anger but it proved to do no good.

“Game over?” Said a voice from on top of the stairs.

Emerald eyes looked up to see her sister leaning over the banister very amused.

“Not quite.” Misako said quickly making her way up the stairs.

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The sun was setting on Konoha and Naruto had the perfect plan on Hinata’s arrival. It started with a soak at the hot springs and dinner soon after. He even rented a room for the two of them because on their returns back from missions their fist night back was always with each other. He knew Hinata’s mission was a hard one if they had to drag Sakura along, and from the little he knew of girls he knew a hot spring was probably a pretty solid choice.

He did all he could not to run to the North Gate, it wouldn’t be very welcoming to Hinata if he showed up all sweaty and gross to kiss her. Before he reached the gate he saw Sakura coming toward him.

“Sakura-chan!” He called to his friend and they embraced in a warm hug.

“Hey you!” She said hugging him back.

“Welcome home!” Naruto smiled brightly and Sakura, even in her dust ridden clothes and dirty face smiled cheerfully bright. “I’d invite you to ramen but I think you already have plans right?”

“We’ll take a rain check.” Sakura smiled and then looked around him. “Hey where’s Sasuke?”

“I haven’t seen him all day he probably didn’t know you were coming back I didn’t even know till this afternoon.”

“Oh…okay…” Sakura said and began to walk off.

“Hey have you seen Hinata?” He called back to her Sakura turned around and pointed to the gate.

“I saw her talking with Misako as soon as we got in; she’s probably still back there.” Sakura called and ran off.

Naruto stopped dead in his tracks.

Misako? Why would she be talking to Misako? Why would Misako seek her out?

“Oh no…” Naruto whispered and went out in a full out run to the gate. He plowed past both Kiba and Shino and when he reached the gate he saw them.

He saw Misako talking to her with a sad and…guilty expression and Hinata…Hinata looked on the verge of tears.

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Sasuke stared out the window. He hadn’t left his apartment all day. He didn’t call the Hokage to tell her he wouldn’t be in today. And when no one came looking for him he was surprised but relieved all the same. It saved him the trip, the call, and the explanation of being absent. Something he could think up while he spent the day alone again before returning to his hole in the wall office.

He was staring at the fading sun when he heard his bedroom door click open. He went on instant alert but the second he smelled her he relaxed. He let her walk in but he couldn’t look at her. She walked up behind him and he felt her wrap her arms around his waist.

“You okay?” She asked into his neck when he didn’t return her affection. He grinned his teeth before turning in her arms and for the first time in what felt too long looked into those familiar sea foam green eyes. The pink petals of her hair framed her angelic face and she looked at him with such love and concern he felt his insides tear apart all over again.

“I missed you,” She said reaching up on her toes to kiss him. He kissed her back but he broke off quickly.

There were many things he could lie about. There were many things he could deny and even just forget about with his normal apathetic way. But when he looked at Sakura, when he saw her love for him, when he felt her trust he knew there were something’s that even he couldn’t handle.

“Hey what’s wrong why are you looking at me like that?” She asked and stepped away from him confusion and worry in her face. “Sasuke are you okay?” She reached up to touch him but he pulled away.

“Sakura,” He said quietly. “I need to tell you something.”

“What? What is it?” She began to demand her worry was clear in her voice making his so much harder. Why did she have to care so much for him? Why did she have to trust him so much now?

“Sasuke you’re scaring me!” She said and went to touch him again.

He had decided sometime during the previous night he was not going to hide this from Sakura. He had messed up this bad she at least deserved to know about it from his own mouth.

“Sakura I cheated on you.” He stated blunt and cold. He didn’t look at her but he didn’t need to, to know the look that was on her face. He couldn’t look at her, if he did he was pretty sure he was going to loose whatever composer he had left.

“You…what…?” She whispered

“I cheated on you,” He repeated quietly this time.

For a long time she didn’t say a word. Neither of them spoke, both just standing in thick tension and silence and then he heard Sakura take a long hard breath.

“Was she any good?” She asked. At this Sasuke looked at her.

Her face did not hold that pathetic sad expression she always held as a child when he turned her down. Her face was hard, tight…angry.

“What?” It was his turn to be confused. Why would she asked that of all things?

“Was she any good?” She repeated and when he didn’t say anything she continued. “Well I sure as hell hope she was fucking worth it!”

He saw it coming but he didn’t stop her.

Her hand flew against his face, had loud echoing slap filled the room until they were back into utter silence.

Sasuke looked at her again his cheek stinging. Her eyes were rimmed with tears her expression was dark and angry. It was a Sakura he had only seen once, but it hadn’t been directed at him. He always wished to never bring that expression from her directed at him. He reached up to touch her but she dived away.

“Don’t!” She yelled and stepped back. Her breath hitched as her emotions go the best of her.

“Sakura…” He managed to say through his closed throat but she had already turned and left the room leaving the door open behind her. He heard his front door open and slam shut. When he was left alone again he found the edge of his bed, collapsed on it putting his face in his hands.

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Naruto’s inside turned to liquid and his legs to jelly.

Why? Why? Why would she say anything? Why would she do such a thing?

He saw Hinata turn his way, their eyes met. Her violate pale eyes of such innocence looked at him with utter betrayal and disbelief. He walked closer to her but she backed away.

“Hinata…” He said reaching out to her but she blinked away tears and ran in the opposite direction.

He rounded on Misako. His expression was utter confusion and shock.

“Why?” He asked breathlessly but Misako gave him a cool blank look.

“I thought about what you said and I thought she deserved to know.”

“But…why!?” Naruto demanded again anger surging inside him he had never felt before. He had never once in his life hated a girl so much as he hated Misako right now.

“She’s a good girl Naruto, and she deserves a good man not a man who can’t trust himself around other women.”

Naruto was speechless. For the first time in his life he was completely and utterly speechless. He looked stunned at Misako but she only smiled. She smiled and walked away leaving Naruto at the North Gate alone looking longingly in the direction Hinata had run.

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TBC - and now it really beings...