The Games We Play

Ino was waiting with two glasses for champagne and two half gallons of rocky road ice cream. She answered the door already in her pajamas and handed Sakura her glass. Sakura went in with out a word downed the glass in seconds and went to the kitchen for the bottle. When she saw only one she turned to her peppy friend.

“Tell me you have more?” She said opening the bottle and drinking it.

“Whoa, slow down dude.” Ino said coming up next to her attempting to take the bottle. When Sakura refused her help and went for the ice cream Ino knew something was up.

“What’s up now?” She asked concerned.

Sakura hesitated.

She could tell Ino what she just saw. She could tell her that after what she saw, and what she knew of Sasuke she knew in her gut that was the girl. Her, Yuna, was the girl Sasuke slept with behind her back. Sakura looked at Ino but turned back around.

She could say something.

But then again, she thought she knew Sasuke enough to know he would never do this to her and he did. She thought she could trust him completely and when she did she got hurt. She thought there was nothing Sasuke could do to hurt her again like he had all those time when they were children. She always thought a lot of things when it came to Sasuke, and she had thought wrong. So maybe, just maybe she was wrong again.

“The first love of my life just fucked someone else while I was gone on a routine mission,” Sakura said smiling and taking another drink. “There is a lot wrong Ino.”

“Okay okay,” Ino said opening the fridge and taking out another two bottles of the alcoholic beverage.

“I don’t even know why he did it.” Sakura said as they sat in Ino’s room. Ino in front of her friend on the floor, both girls digging into their ice cream and taking gulps of the champagne.

“I mean there is always a reason right?” Sakura said her voice already becoming a bit thicker. “A reason why they cheat, I mean you had your reasons.” She said pointing to Ino.

“No, I never cheated on anyone. I never made anything official so I was always free to roam the playing field.” Ino defended.

“Okay whatever, my point is when you fuck someone over like that there is a reason! What reason did he have? I fucked him! I fucked him all night in every position in every way?”

“Wow…” Ino mused but Sakura didn’t hear her continuing her rant.

“I mean if I wasn’t giving him any I could kind of see why he would need to venture to someone else. I could wrap my mind about that insane sense of logic because for some reason men have to fuck anything that walks by! But I fucked him!” Sakura yelled.

“I think we need to take a break from the alcohol.” Ino said making a move towards Sakura’s near empty bottle. She never did have much of a tolerance. Sakura however all but growled at the blonde who backed off instantly.

“Or not,” Ino mused and took another mouthful of ice cream. Sakura continued to vent.

“I mean what the hell could she have done that I don’t?”

Ino shrugged her response.

“I just…don’t get it? I mean why?” Sakura’s eyes began to fill with tears.

“Because he’s a jack ass.” Ino finally offered.

“Ino…” This really wasn’t what Sakura wanted to hear.

“No I mean it!” Ino persisted. “You said it yourself if you weren’t giving it to him then yeah there is a reason, because just need to get fucked in any relationship. But you were and he…strayed, so conclusion is he’s a jackass. He’s a jerk, he’s an asshole and a bastard!”

“Yeah, he is and everything you’re saying he is I already knew and I still followed him. I would have followed him to the ends of the earth, shit I followed him into the depths of evil incarnate to get him back!”

“Sakura…”

“After everything I did, after all the shit I put up with for him he does this! How could he do this? How could he treat me like this after everything I have done! HOW!”

Sakura was loosing control now. Her eyes were drowned in tears and her face was red and splotchy. Ino took damage control.

“Sakura calm down okay,” She put her arms around the pink haired girl.

“It just…hurts so much…” Sakura said sobbing. Ino held her protectively.

“I know,”

“No, you don’t.” Sakura said. “You don’t know Ino because you haven’t loved anyone as much I love him.”

“I know but I can understand what you feeling. I have been hurt before too Sakura.”

“Yeah but…its just…different Ino.”

Sakura knew her friend had been hurt, she had been the one who answered the phone at three am to an Ino in tears. But she knew it was different, the guy who hurt Ino was not the man she had loved since she was six. It was not the man she had done everything in her power to get back. Ino did not understand, she could sympathize but she did not really understand.

“Maybe, but pain is pain hun.” Ino said. “Everyone gets hurt Sakura.”

Sakura took in her words. Ino was right, everyone got hurt. You always got hurt. You always got your heart broken, and you always felt the pain. There was no getting around it, it was a part of life. It was something everyone went through, but she didn’t understand why she went through it several times.

“You know I was twelve the first time he broke my heart.” Sakura said sniffling her tears. “When he left the village, I said I wanted to go with him. I told him I would, I would follow him wherever he went and he knocked me out leaving me on a bench till morning. And then, he did it again at fifteen when I asked him to come back and he said he never would, that he would never return what I felt for him. I watched him almost kill Naruto and even after all that I still waited. I still waited, because I knew deep in my heart he would come back. And he did.” She laughed.

“He came back and we were friends again and slowly my dreams came true. And before I knew it we were a couple, and I trusted him.”

Sakura sniffed whipping her eyes looking down at her ice cream.

“Maybe all those times he hurt me before was a sign. A sign that I was just to stupid and love smitten to listen to.”

“Don’t start blaming yourself, it wasn’t your fault.”

“Maybe it was. Maybe its like fate is getting back at me for ignoring my entire past and just running head first into a destructive and…abusive relationship.”

“Abusive?” Ino asked.

“The amount of times Sasuke hurt me would probably crush a normal person. But no, not me because I had to be strong and bold Sakura. I had to prove to him that I was the weakling he left behind, I had to prove that I was strong so he would see me strong. So he would respect me. And he did Ino, he did! He respected me as a ninja, as a person, as an equal. Maybe that’s where I messed up, once he respected me my silly little brain saw it as something else. And I…like gave myself too him. Maybe when I responded to his advances as a lover that respect as an equal went out the window!”

Sakura was drunk now and Ino knew it. She was going on a one woman rampage and nothing was stopping her.

“You can test that theory you know,” Ino voiced. “You can tell him you want to ‘talk’ to him and simply beat the ever living shit out of him.” At her quotations signs at the word talk Sakura smirked.

“It is tempting,” She admitted.

“Screw tempting just march over there and do it now!” Ino sat up.

“No, what if she’s over there.” Sakura said quietly forgetting that when she was drunk her inner monologue would turn off.

“Who? That skank he banged because he couldn’t go with out sex for what two weeks?” Ino laughed. “Hey maybe all your boning him turned him into a sex addict! And when you left he like needed to have it.”

“Ino,” Sakura said not amused at the thought.

“What? You’re sprouting all this nonsense about him loosing respect for you after you succumbed to his sexual advances, the addiction to sex make just as much sense.”

“You would know about sex addiction wouldn’t you?” Sakura shot back and Ino laughed.

“That I would, sex is a very addicting vice. Kiba and I think its probably the most addicting substance known to man, even more then the drugs.”

“Yeah I bet Kiba would know about sex too.”

“Shit from what you say why don’t you know more?”

“Shut up.”

Sakura shifted from her position on the floor and took to Ino’s bed. She grabbed a pillow and held it against her chest. After a moment she re-laid what her friend had just said.

“Kiba?” Sakura asked looking at her friend.

“Kiba?” Ino repeated.

“You said you and Kiba think, but you never talk to Kiba.”

“We talk occasionally.”

“And when you talk occasionally you talk of sex?”

Ino shrugged.

“I talk about sex with anyone and everyone!”

“Yes, but you once said Kiba reminds you of dog slobber and fleas so why would you talk about sex with Kiba?”

“Why are you making this such a big deal?” Ino demanded getting huffy.

“Why are you getting upset?”

“Will you shut up about Kiba!” Ino shot back and Sakura gave her friend and amused look.

“Okay okay touchy.”

After a brief moment Ino joined her friend on the bed.

“I like him.” She said.

“Like who?” Sakura asked looking at a magazine she just found on Ino’s nightstand but stopped and gawked at her friend. “KIBA?”

“Yes,”

Sakura and Ino shared a silent shocking moment. Sakura sat back up and shook her head.

“Okay wait, you…like…Kiba? Kiba of the dog clan as you say. Kiba who you always said smells like a dog? Kiba who…”

“Fucks like a dog too.” Ino mused and Sakura put her hands over her ears.

“EW! I don’t want to know that! God Ino, I swear!”

“Sorry,” Ino said but laughed just the same.

“Okay so back up, you like Kiba?”

“Yes,”

“I’m sorry it’s just…I leave for two weeks and the world turns upside down.” Sakura let her self flop back on the bed putting her hands over her face.

“What’s next Naruto cheating on Hinata?”

“Haha,” Ino said.

“Why?” Sakura asked after some time and Ino shrugged.

“I don’t know its just…with Kiba I can be myself.”

“You’re yourself around everyone whether we all like it or not.”

“That’s not what I mean. I mean, we talk and he gets me. He gets me better then anyone else ever has.”

Sakura looked at her friend and then smiled.

“Oh my god…Ino are you…you’re falling for him aren’t you?”

Ino blushed and smiled.

“Well I’ll be damned; I never thought I’d see the day. Seriously… never.”

“Shut up.” Ino playfully pushed her friend.

“So when did this happen?”

“Well we agreed to be, friendly friends if you know what I mean. And then we just spent more time together and the more we spent the more we talked and got to know each other, and I guess it just happened.”

“Wow,” Sakura said and whistled. “My boyfriend breaks my heart and you’re on the verge of getting a new one.”

“I never said that.” Ino said shortly.

“What do you mean?”

“Kiba and I always had a very open relationship, but the other night I found out he slept with that girl Misako and I just…blew up. I don’t think I’ve ever felt so jealous before.”

“Misako?” Sakura asked. And all though she had mentioned her opinion of Kiba sticking his nose there she didn’t find it in her to be really surprised or even upset about it.

“Yeah her, and I was so pissed. We got into a fight and he said he didn’t even know what we were fighting about and neither did I, I was just so mad.”

“That sucks.” Sakura said beginning to feel the buzz of her drunkenness coming down and wanting another bottle opened.

“Yeah,” Ino agreed.

“I think we need to open another bottle.” Sakura said sitting up and Ino agreed following her to the kitchen.

On the way the girls left the drama of boyfriends, ex boyfriends, and potential boyfriends behind taking on new topics. For which when with Ino the first topic was always gossip.

“So you will never guess what happened the other night.”

“You took a vow of celibacy?” Sakura asked dryly as they entered the kitchen.

“Cute, but no. Last night I was out with Kiba and suddenly he just rushes off. And when I catch him I find out he’s punched Naruto in the face.”

“What?” Sakura asked putting a bottle on the counter. She knew Kiba and Naruto always had some sort of friendly hatred but that was a bit extreme.

“Yeah! Seriously punched him in the face! And when I asked why he said because he saw Hinata crying and he knew only Naruto could make her cry like that so he did something and Kiba had to punch him.”

“That’s some sound logic.”

“Yeah, anyways when we started talking I mentioned Naruto went on a date with Misako…”

“Naruto what?” Sakura’s voice squeaked high pitched, now she knew she was seriously loosing it.

“He went on a date…oh but it was okay he told me Hinata said something about doing it to be nice to those girls you’re always ass kissing. Anyway, Kiba got really mad and then I got mad because he got mad.”

“My head hurts.” Sakura said but took a large drink from the new opened bottle walking back to Ino’s bedroom.

“But do you think he was right?” Ino asked inside.

“Huh?”

“Do you think Kiba was right about Naruto? I mean she’s shy but she doesn’t really cry for anything so I mean maybe?”

“I dunno, maybe or it could have been something else. I can ask her tomorrow I need to call her to ask her about her mission report.”

“We can both ask her, I need to return her jacket anyways.”

“Sounds fun.” Sakura said taking a seat back on her friend’s bed.

The rest of the night passed in a drunken haze of laughter, gossip, and some more tears. Sakura had forgotten how much she had always counted on Ino to bring her spirits up in the darkest times. Some how Ino always prevailed, and when Sakura fell asleep from too much alcohol she didn’t fall asleep crying like the night before, the last thing she remembered was laughing so hard she could hardly breath.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Two days after Hinata felt her life was ready to be put to an end her cousin had some how talked her into training. Despite her wanting to stay in bed all day or at least locked up in the safety of her room she had been dragged out into the smiling sun to sweat and train and she was beginning to be glad she did it. Neji had told her one the best methods to get over or at least deal with any anger or pain you had was to work it out. Literally, physically work it out, and an hour in to her training Hinata was beginning to see why. She was sweaty and she had bruised palms and shins but she felt good. It felt good to hit things, it felt good to concentrate on anything else other then how much her chest hurt to breath.

Neji seemed pleased with her too, Hinata was always a serious student and ninja but it seemed her concentration was even more then usual. And she didn’t just try to avoid being hit like she usually did now she seemed to try and hit as well and she even got in a few good ones to Neji’s ribs. He didn’t know what Naruto had done but he was sure it was pretty bad if it made his cousin this upset.

“That’s good for now, let’s take a break for a bit.” Neji said trying not to gasp for air though that last hit in his chest had certainly knocked some air out of him.

Hinata nodded pulling her hair off her hot sweaty neck. She took her jacket and left the doujo felling a lot better then she had before she went in. But she did still need a shower, she hadn’t been able to get one in before Neji dragged her out of bed that morning and she was in desperate need of one now.

Inside her bedroom Hinata undressed and went to her bathroom. She avoided looking in the mirror she could only imagine what the dark circle under her eyes looked like right now after over two weeks of rough short sleep on the hard ground. She turned the water to scolding hot and stepped inside letting the hot water wash over her fresh bruises and scrapes she had received that morning. The pain was both reviving and uncomfortable, but Hinata could think of worse pains she could be feeling right now. She washed her hair and her body scrubbing hard to get the blood, dirt, and sweat off her body. She stood in the shower longer then she needed to letting the hot water wash over her body and through her hair. It was refreshing being in water, she had always loved the water. Maybe if she wasn’t a ninja she would have been a swimmer. And maybe then if she wasn’t a ninja she never would have met Naruto in the first place.

Outside of her shower wrapped in her towel and wringing the water from her hair onto the tile floor Hinata heard the phone ring and she groaned. She forgot to unplug the phone; she didn’t want to talk to anyone for a while. When the phone persisted she gave in crossing the room still dripping water from her legs.

“Hello?” She answered not sounding at all enthusiastic to get a call.

“Hinata?” She didn’t know why but she was a bit relieved when she heard Sakura’s voice on the other end.

“Hi Sakura, how are you?”

“I could be better,” Sakura said and laughed, Hinata laughed with her but didn’t really know why. “I’m calling because Tsunade said you have yet to turn in your mission report. She just asked me to remind you.”

On top of feeling depressed and betrayed now she just felt stupid. How could she have forgotten her report? Well she knew why she forgot it, as soon as she step foot back home she was blindsided with drama that got the best of her.

“Oh yes!” Hinata said. “I’m so sorry I’ve just been…I’ll get it to Tsunade by noon today.”

“Great!” Sakura said and Hinata soon heard some one else behind her say something and Sakura get mad at her before returning to the line.

“Um, do you want to go to lunch after you meet with Tsunade?”

“Lunch?” Hinata asked feeling her fingertips quiver. Going to lunch meant going outside and going outside meant the possibility of running into Naruto. She just couldn’t face him just yet. She couldn’t see his sad eyes or hear his voice.

“I don’t…” Hinata began but there was a sudden struggle on the other end of the phone. She heard Sakura curse before she heard a female laugh.

“Hey Hinata!” Ino’s voice burst through the phone and Hinata had to suddenly pull the phone from her ear.

“Hi Ino,” she said trying to sound happy to hear from her. But as much as she loved Ino it was hard to be happy to hear a loud person for the first time after not talking to anyone for two days straight.

“Hey look we have to go to lunch okay.” Ino said. “I heard some things we have to clear them up.”

“Things?” Hinata said her heart pounding. Did Ino know about Naruto and his kiss? She couldn’t know unless someone said something, unless Naruto said something. Did someone say something? If they did was it already around town that Naruto had an affair with someone else? Was it already construed into some gigantic mess of lies and sex like all rumors usually turned out to be?

Hinata gulped.

If she stayed in her sanctuary of her home then she would never have to hear any of those nasty rumors that may or may not have started. But if she stayed they would never clear up and what if they only started to pity her. Some how Hinata felt the idea of being pitied was worse.

“Hinata? Are you there?” Ino asked.

“Oh, yes! Sorry I…”

“So are you in for lunch? Please say yes it will be on me!”

“Um…lunch…well I think I have some training…”

“Go out to lunch.” Neji’s stern voice interrupted her excuses.

“Uh…”

“Tell them you’ll be at lunch.” He continued and Hinata nodded obediently.

“Okay Ino, I’ll meet you two for lunch.” Hinata said.

“Great! Okay see you at our place at about 1 okay. Sakura needs to nurse a hang over.”

“Bye.” Hinata said and they hung up. She turned back to her cousin who was now leaving.

“Neji?” She asked stopping him. “How did you know?”

“I could hear Ino’s voice from the other side of the door. I heard them ask you out, it will be good for you to get out.”

“But…” She didn’t feel she could really voice her concerns of seeing his face around town.

“I’ll walk you; if anything…shows up we’ll take care of it.”

Neji left as quietly as he came in leaving Hinata to change. She didn’t think she could ever bring herself to ever tell Neji what happened, and maybe it was for the better he never asked. He just helped because he knew something was wrong and he knew it involved Naruto, as from what she could conclude that was probably all he knew and all he needed to know.

Hinata dressed and got to work on her report. It was easier then she thought to drown out the world and her problems and get to work. So easy she got it done in less then an hour and had time to spare. She realized fast she didn’t like time, because time got her to think and when she started to thinks he got sad. She didn’t like being sad.

At eleven thirty Hinata left her room to start her walk to the tower to deliver her late report. She hoped she didn’t have to explain why it was late. Neji was in the living room when he saw her emerge he nodded to her and followed her out. No asked where they were going and Hinata was glad, she didn’t want to talk to anyone anyways.

She was nervous leaving the house but true to his word her cousin stayed by her side. She may be acting childish or silly but he didn’t say anything so she never apologized. She really was terrified of seeing Naruto so soon after finding out what she did, if she saw him she would most likely run away. And if she ran he might chase her, and if he caught her she would feel that heartbreak all over again.

The walk to the tower was long but peaceful, Hinata saw no sign of the spiky blond hair and neither did her cousin. She went into see the Hokage who didn’t mention anything about getting a late report only nodding to Hinata and thanking her for it. When the left it was only noon and she still had an hour to waste before she met up with Sakura and Ino.

She wandered around the tower for a bit after learning Neji was asked to help some of the other jounin in something. She decided to just wait for him like he had waited for her and found herself wondering the halls looking at all the old paintings of past important people in the village. She had seen all the pictures before but now she took her time in reading each and every one.

“Good afternoon Hinata.” Said a sweet voice and her skin went cold. She turned fear in her eyes to the warm smiling face of Misako.

“G-good after noon Misako.”

“How are you today I haven’t seen you around in about two days.”

“I’m fine, thank you.” Hinata was having trouble keeping a conversation with this girl but she knew it was rude to just leave. And Hinata was never one to do anything that could be rude.

“Have you seen Naruto?” Misako asked suddenly and Hinata looked away back to the painting of the old man looking very cranky.

“No,” She admitted.

“Oh that’s a shame; he was looking for you yesterday. He looked very upset I hope you two didn’t fight over what I told you.”

Hinata didn’t have anything to say to that. It was all she could do to not turn on her heel and run from the girl right now. If she opened her mouth to speak she didn’t trust her self.

“Have you seen Sakura around? I saw she came back into town too but I haven’t seen her either. Yuna said its not good to leave your guests like that, she is upset of Sakura’s behavior…”

“I’m sure Sakura has her reasons for not being here. I hear they have been very busy in the hospital.” Hinata cut her off. It wasn’t a complete lie, everyone knew the nurses slacked off when Sakura wasn’t there leaving her a mountain of work when she got back.

Misako looked a bit surprised at Hinata’s response but her face melted quickly into a strange smile that rubbed Hinata the wrong way.

“Of course, I meant to disrespect. I am only concerned for your friend; my sister has high standards as well as my father. Perhaps the next time you see Sakura you can relay the message.”

“I’ll make sure Sakura is informed.” Hinata said her voice sounding colder in her own ears then she ever intended it to be. “Now if you excuse me Miss Tanako I must be going.” Hinata turned to leave with out bothering to give her a proper farewell.

“Of course, good day Miss Hyuuga.” Misako’s said bowing to Hinata as she turned on her heel but the cold tone her voice was not missed on the young ninja.

Hinata didn’t look back as she left the floor. She didn’t have to; she could feel the girls stare on her the entire way until she reached the elevator. Hinata was not one to dislike many people but suddenly she was feeling a dark force building up inside her at the mere thought of that girl. Something she had never felt before, something that made her hands shake and her chest heave.

For the first time in her life, Hyuuga Hinata officially hated someone.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

Sakura was not up for lunch at 1pm. She never really ate lunch to begin with and with a hangover now too she did not want to go but Ino insisted. She dragged her a long practically by her hair down the street after calling in sick for her at the hospital. Now she had no choice and begrudgingly agreed.

Half way there Ino had to stop into the flower shop for some business. Sakura decided to wait outside, the strong smell of all those flowers didn’t really sit too well with her. A she waited outside watching the people pass she felt a presence round her corner. A chill ran down her back and the hairs on her neck stood up. She didn’t have to turn to see it was him, she couldn’t. Instead she ducked inside the flower shop finding Ino who was in the back.

“What’s up?” Ino asked but before Sakura could reply the door chimed and he called her name.

“Holy shit.” Ino mused looking into the store. She looked back at her friend and nodded.

She left the back room and Sakura sunk back under the door not to be seen.

“Can I help you?” Ino’s voice was ice.

“I saw Sakura come in here, where is she?” Sasuke asked.

“Why would I tell you?” Ino responded and Sakura felt Sasuke’s annoyance growing. She didn’t know if Ino felt it too but if she did she didn’t seem to care.

“I need to talk to her.” Sasuke said his voice dark.

“Well, she doesn’t want to talk to you.”

“Look I know she’s here, I need to talk to her.”

“I don’t care. Sakura doesn’t want to talk to you so you need to leave.”

“Ino this isn’t any of your business.”

“She’s my best friend; it sure as hell is my business!” Ino raised her voice.

“I need to talk to her!” Sasuke was getting impatient.

“You will talk to her when she wants to talk to you. Now I think its best you leave.” Ino said her voice darker then Sakura had ever really heard it.

“Ino…”

“Get out.”

There was a long intense silence before Sakura heard the chimes on the door and felt his presence gone for good. Ino came back to their storage room still obviously fuming.

“Thanks.” Sakura said and Ino only gave her a small smile.

“Let’s hang out for a bit before we go back out there, I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s waiting for you.” Ino said and Sakura agreed.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________

-TBC - The girls are beginning to put the pieces together. What's going to happen next?
____________________________________________________________________________________________

AN: While others may find this chapter a bit pointless I thought it was really good because one you get a good insight of how much Sakura relies on Ino and you see a real bond between them. Also its setting up for some 'revolations' in the future when all the shit finally hits the fan. All in all I really liked this chapter and had fun writing it, I really pulled inspiration from my own friends.

As for Ino and Kiba I know they might be a bit OOC but I had fun with them. When I sat down to think about it I really saw Ino as the fun, flirty, carefree friend we all have and it worked so well against Sakura who seems to be the more serious type. So I played Ino's character and expanded it to magnify her fun flirty personality, I am not making Ino to be a slut by any means, so I need to that straight. Ino is not easy or a slutty she just lives carefree. As for Kiba, I really saw him as the "bad boy-ish". You can see it in the series he's always a bit more rebelious then the others and always a bit more rude so making him a "play boy" really did fit. The "crack pairing" between them was just fun to create and I thought I added a little more drama to the fic and it ties in with the ending so stay tunned for that.

Important note: I was asked if I was writing from expirience on this fic and the answer is Yes. In highschool I knew two girls who are Misako and Yuna. They are not based off them they ARE them with the first letter of their names used. These girls were horrid and just played with people, I was their friend and joined in their games for the laughs. Because teenage girls can be very evil just for a little fun when their bored. It wasn't until I was a victim in their game did I see what was really happening, it was high school and some may see it as silly but real people got hurt. Real emotions got manipulated. I have been the cheater and I have been cheated on. I know what its like and I know the pain you feel and the courage you have to summon to simply face that person again who hurt you or who you hurt. I really see it as something everyone goes through, the pain of heartbreak is a life lesson everyone learns and some have to repeat it over and over before they get it right. This story is about that, the pain of a harsh life lesson and way you can over come it.