Room 504, Sunday Night

[intraspective]

She'd been alright getting back to the island. Holding it together and keeping a bounce in her step. She'd managed, even, to get through a shower--and was she ever glad to have a real shower again--but it was looking around her room, her things just as she'd left them--

Less than a week ago. More than seven months ago.

--that was making it hard for her to keep her composure. Ino settled herself--thinner than before but still herself--gingerly on her bed, her unfamiliar and yet almost too familiar bed, in a plain white shirt and grey leggings. Ino shrugged a bit, picking at the shirt.

She wasn't ready to sleep yet. Not now.

Not when things kept swirling around in her head. The quick patter of thoughts, persistent and aching, not letting her close her eyes and relax. Ino hadn't relaxed in months, not really, not daring to.

She was glad to be back. Seriously.

But it'd take time for her to be comfortable again.

[Door closed, post is oh so totally open!]

Comments

[sound-loyalty.livejournal.com]

"Missed you, too." Kabuto didn't mind being clung to. He very much liked it, actually. It even brought a smile to his face. "Got your letter."

[intraspective]

Her arms tightened around his waist even further as she tried to place what he was talking about.

...

"Oh," Ino said blinking, "that letter. That was a while ago, wasn't it?"

[sound-loyalty.livejournal.com]

"Only a few days," Kabuto told her. "Longer for you, I suppose."

[intraspective]

She closed her eyes and murmured, barely audibly, "...Seven months."

[sound-loyalty.livejournal.com]

"That is a bit longer, isn't it?" He murmured, rubbing her back lightly. "Have you been keeping up with your training?" It wasn't that Kabuto didn't care...it was more that he wasn't going to act any differently than normal, aside from the not-letting-Ino-go.

[intraspective]

Ino melted, just a bit, against him. "Some of it got a lot of practice," she told him, a soft giggle drawn out of her at that question, "straight out taijutsu got the least though. I didn't get into many full-out fights, and other training took up more of my time."

[sound-loyalty.livejournal.com]

"We'll have to get back into a schedule, then. When you feel up to it." Kabuto allowed one small sign of affection; a light kiss pressed against Ino's forehead, and the small burst of chakra that accompanied it.

[intraspective]

She sighed; happily. Both the chakra and the kiss spoke louder than words would ever when it came to him, and she glanced up at him, eyes soft but older than they'd been when she'd left.

"As soon as possible," she said, glad he'd let her, want her to just move on like that, "though it wasn't a total waste. My chakra control got better," refined through constant usage to help her steal things, "and it doesn't take as much effort to heal bruises anymore."

[sound-loyalty.livejournal.com]

"Then you've made some progress, at least." Kabuto smiled back, noting the different look in Ino's eyes. "I just wanted to see if you were back...did you want me to go, and let you get settled? We can always see each other later."

[intraspective]

Ino stiffened a bit as the thought 'oh yeah, you do have to let him go eventually' ran through her head.

"I guess, I guess I should," she said, not letting go of him quite yet, "I..."

"Later tonight though? Maybe?" It'd probably be early morning by then but Ino didn't think she'd be sleeping either way. Not this night.

[sound-loyalty.livejournal.com]

"Later tonight would be fine." Kabuto smiled again, giving Ino a small, gentle squeeze. "Just take a little time to get used to being back at Fandom. You'll know where to find me, if or when you want to."

[intraspective]

"Okay. I... okay." She nodded against him, then reluctantly peeled herself from his embrace.

"Missed you," she said quietly, earnestly, "will always want to find you."

[sound-loyalty.livejournal.com]

Kabuto leaned forward to kiss her fully. He wasn't about to leave without at least one kiss.

[intraspective]

She didn't really want him to leave at all. Ino met him halfway. The kiss was welcome--more than welcome even, and Ino didn't want it to end.

[sound-loyalty.livejournal.com]

How long they stayed that way was anyone's guess. After a while, Kabuto pulled back reluctantly, resting his forehead against Ino's. "...I'll see you tonight. I-" he caught himself, smiling as he changed his intended phrase. "I really am glad you're back."

[intraspective]

She blinked at him, half-wondering what he'd been going to say and half just wishing that she hadn't said it was alright for him to go.

"Me too," she said quietly, "I'll be by later, it's a promise."

[sound-loyalty.livejournal.com]

"I'll hold you to that promise." Kabuto kissed her again, lightly, and turned to leave,

[intraspective]

"Okay," she said, looking vulnerable for a second before tucking that feeling away and looking more like her usual self. Ino's ability to hide her own emotions had gotten better in her time away. "I'll be there."