intraspective | The Causeway and then Konoha, Friday Morning after First Period

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The Causeway and then Konoha, Friday Morning after First Period

After class Ino picked up her weapons and headed for the causeway. Which was where she was now. Waiting for Kabuto.

"So much for meeting me quickly." Ino muttered, crossing her arms and wondering if this was a good idea. "I thought girls were supposed to be the ones chronically late." If they were spotted back home... messy wouldn't be the word to cover it.

And all of this just so they could match at Homecoming?

... okay. Ino had to admit she thought it was worth it. Just as long as they didn't come across her dad.

Now if he'd just show up so they could get going.

[Locked to Kabuto. The fact that they've gone off is FB, the rest is NFB due to distance.]

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Kabuto wasn't that late. He was making her wait intentionally, anyway. "Hey, Ino," he called casually, walking up to her. "Ready to go?"

There was something just a little bit...off...about him somehow. It might have been the Leaf symbol on his forehead protector, but who could be sure?

Ino eyed his forehead protector dubiously but said nothing. It made sense after all, since they were going to Konoha.

"I had class and I made it before you." Ino went to hit him lightly in the arm, "You aren't supposed to make a girl wait. Of course I'm ready to go."

"I figured that you're a girl, so of course you'd be late." Kabuto smiled, gesturing to the causeway ahead of them. "Let's go, then." He started off, expecting her to come along.

"I'm never late." Ino informed him tartly as she, yes, followed him.

"Never say never," Kabuto advised her cheerfully.

Having done this before, Kabuto wasn't surprised when the scenery changed and they were in much more ninja-friendly surroundings. Fandom made travel so much easier, sometimes. "We shouldn't be too far," he told Ino. "At least, it isn't usually. I'm not sure where exactly the shift drops us in the Country of Fire..."

That? That was weird, and she'd thought for a second that they'd be caught in some sort of genjutsu because travel couldn't be that simple, right? Kabuto's body language put her at ease though.

She looked around the area, seeing if she recognized any of it. Some of it looked vaguely familiar. "I think we're about an hour or so north of Konoha."

Though it could have been genjutsu of Kabuto's own making. It was almost funny how much she trusted him already.

The Sound ninja nodded. "You're the expert," he said cheerfully. "Do you know where in town you're wanting to go?"

Trust him? It was more that Ino figured he probably wouldn't kill her and that anything else, well, she'd survive. ~~And then attempt revenge.~~

She gave him her best are-you-stupid-look? as they headed towards the village, "The fashion district, duh."

Kabuto blinked at her. "Fashion...district?" That actually surprised him, though he knew it probably shouldn't. "You mean there isn't just one all-purpose shop for it?"

The surprise in his voice made her laugh brightly. "You've been in Fandom too long - there's entire streets of shops to choose from."

Ino? Excited? Maybe just a little.

"Somehow I'm beginning to think maybe this wasn't such a good idea," Kabuto said, mock-doubt in his voice.

"It's too late to change your mind now~" Ino said beaming, "I'm not going back until I've got a yukata to match yours."

"But not to the point of trying-too-hard, right?" Kabuto asked, idly thinking that most everyone who knew them both would probably be flailing in shock right about now. He had his Reasons for all this, though.

Ino was decidedly Not Thinking about what other people would say. This was for Fandom right? And what happened in Fandom stayed in Fandom and they'd still be enemies after they left it for good.

Yes.

But right now there was shopping to be had! "It shouldn't be too bad," Ino assured him, "the District's got something to please anyone!"

"Anyone, huh?" Kabuto quirked an eyebrow at her. "Whatever you say." He looked at the path, then up at the trees. "Are you up to a challenge, Ino?" He smirked, still looking up at the trees significantly.

Is water wet? Of course she was up for a challenge ~~even one she'd lose~~ and Ino tossed her head impatiently, before darting into the trees.

"Race you!"

Kabuto smirked and jumped up after her. He intentionally let her lead, keeping just behind her. He did prefer to be in last place; easier to see what everyone else was doing and use it against them.

Ino figured that Kabuto staying behind her was better than him out-stripping her by quite a bit and leaving her in the dust. Other than that she mostly occupied herself with the sheer fun of running.

Run. Leap. Chakra to the feet! Long jump over to that branch. Swing under this one, and twist. Grab that branch and up! Run.

Fandom was fun and all, but this? This was home.

Kabuto laughed, watching her. "Show-off," he taunted. But, really; pot, kettle, black!

"You know where you're going, right?"

Ino stuck her tongue out at him during the next twist and roll, "So what if I am?"

"Konoha's this way!" Ino insisted, "I'm not going to get us lost! Homecoming is tonight!"

"I'd hate to go through all this and then not show up," Kabuto admitted. "It's a little too much dedication to just not go."

Not to mention he already had the tickets and all that.

It wasn't long until he was something like bored at following her, so he put on a burst of speed to overtake the lead.

Ino grinned as he shot past her and concentrated on keeping close enough to him that they wouldn't have to shout. "It'll be fun! Will the portal still be in the same place when we leave? Or do we have to search for it?"

"It'll be there," Kabuto assured her. "They always are."

They ran for a while longer, until there were unmistakable signs of habitation around, and if there weren't trees in the way you'd be able to see the gates of Konoha.

"So, are we just going to walk in and hope no one recognizes us?" Ino asked.

"Unless you can think of a last-minute disguise?" Kabuto asked, raising an eyebrow. "I'm fine like this."

Ino rolled her eyes at him. "I'm not the one who's classified as a traitor to the village."

"You're also not me," Kabuto reminded her. "I'm not in the slightest bit concerned." And, really, he wasn't.

"Whatever." Ino said with an irritable shrug, "Let's go shopping!"

"You're the girl," he pointed out. "Lead the way."

To her relief the Chuunin guarding the gates didn't even blink twice at the sight of the two of them. Being careful to avoid any of her usual haunts - Ino so really didn't want to see any of her team while with Kabuto - she headed for the fashion district.

Turning onto the busiest street of the district - it was busy for a reason, right? - she looked around at the shops and beamed.

Shopping was so much fun!

Kabuto was very much a guy who did not like shopping. Unless it was for new equipment, because he always liked getting new knives.

So he let Ino have her fun, walking behind her at a subdued pace.

Knives were nice, but the clothing here was so pretty! How was she supposed to resist?

Ooooh look! Shoes!

Kabuto was already ready to stab somebody. Oh look, that might be a Jonin over there...that might be fun stabby times...

He started to drift off in that direction.

Ino, upon realizing that Kabuto wasn't following her, looked around for him and went just a little pale upon noticing where - who - exactly he was wandering over to. There was no way that would end well.

She hurried after, with one last look at the shoes, and upon catching up to him reached out to grab his hand with studied nonchalance. There! They looked like a couple right? Perfectly normal! Right? Right!

"Behave." She hissed.

"I'm behaving!" Kabuto insisted, easily falling into step beside her. "I'm behaving. Just probably not in the way you'd prefer." He smirked slightly. "I can't help it if clothes shopping is boring."

Ino thought about stabbing him. She had the weapons to do it for once. A quick look around showed several more shinobi going about their daily shopping and she abandoned that idea.

Instead she elbowed him. Hard.

"You know what I mean!" Ino told him. "Let's go in this shop, and if you help me it'll be over quicker."

Same line she used on her dad. Oh well.

Kabuto groaned and followed her, "Okay, okay, fine. Let's get it over with, then."

Much better!

Ino spent the next while - she was watching the time, really! - going through the selection of yukata and asking Kabuto if he thought various ones clashed with his. While modeling for him. Because she could.

"Ooooh! What about this one?"

"I like it," Kabuto replied before he even looked up from his cards. Then he looked up. "...I do like it, actually. It looks nice."

The frown Ino had been giving him disappeared in a flash when he looked up - finally - and said he liked it. Ino beamed at him and turned to the counter, "I'll get this one then!"

She paid for it, wondering absently what her dad would say when he got the bill and realized she'd been home and hadn't come by to see him, and they headed out of the shop.

"Back to Fandom, then?"

"Sure," Kabuto said, smothering his inward reply of 'about damn time!'. "Hope we won't be too late."

Ino smiled ruefully at him and promised, "I'll make it up to you." He was better than her dad at hiding it, but Ino could tell he wasn't happy with how long it had taken.

Kabuto was very skilled at hiding things unless he wanted them to show. "I'll hold you to that," he replied.

And Ino would be willing to bet that the number of guys who wanted to spend hours shopping with a girl was really, really low.

"Let's go back, shall we?"

"That is something I can completely agree to." He offered her his arm - ever the ~~phony~~ gentleman. "May I escort you to the portal?"

Ino took his arm with a laugh, "Escort me away from here. We've got a dance to attend."

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The Causeway and then Konoha, Friday Morning after First Period

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