Room 504, Friday Evening

[intraspective]

After a more eventful afternoon at the welcoming picnic thing than she'd planned on, thanks to Shikamaru, Chouji and her Dad all showing up, Ino was glad to be heading back to her room. Even with company.

Maybe even especially with company.

She grinned at Chouji as she opened her door, "This is my room, so no snooping!"

[For Chouji~]

Comments

[intraspective]

Ino scowled at her ceiling. "Yes."

[hungry-mind.livejournal.com]

Chouji's shoulders slumped a bit. He hated when they fought.

"It's not his fault."

[intraspective]

Ino rolled her eyes, still not looking at Chouji, "You always take his side."

[hungry-mind.livejournal.com]

"Do not!" Okay, so maybe he did. "I'm glad you didn't go."

[intraspective]

"I - " Ino frowned at him, "I'm not. I'm not just a, a disposable part of the team you know! I could have helped!"

[hungry-mind.livejournal.com]

"I know that!" Chouji replied, looking down. "But if you ended up like me, he'd never forgive himself."

[intraspective]

"Then why did you get to go?" Ino wasn't blinking back tears. Really. "You're his best friend!"

[hungry-mind.livejournal.com]

Which just made Chouji feel worse. He moved slightly try and comfort her, but was kinda at a lose at what to do. Or say.

"I don't know."

[intraspective]

"I didn't even know you were gone until you came back..." Ino hunched her shoulders and tried really hard not to think about that.

[hungry-mind.livejournal.com]

Finally screwing up his courage, Chouji reached over to pat her on the shoulder. "I'm sorry."

[intraspective]

She leaned into the contact, "Not your fault." Ino said, closing her eyes, "You didn't pick who went."

[hungry-mind.livejournal.com]

Damn it, this was why Asuma-sensei was around! "I don't think he had time to get anyone other than us."

[intraspective]

Ino's lips twisted, and she pulled away, "Doesn't matter much now, does it? He still left me behind, and now I'm here and you're probably all doing just fine without me."

She didn't want to hear Chouji try and justify Shikamaru's actions.

[hungry-mind.livejournal.com]

Oh, that was the last straw. Chouji hugged her. "We miss you! Why do you think we came?"

[intraspective]

"Because my Dad made you. He'd do that." Ino said immediately. She didn't try to get out of the hug though. It was nice.

[hungry-mind.livejournal.com]

"Did not!" Chouji replied. "You're our teammate!" And then added, more quietly, "And friend, right?"

[intraspective]

Ino smiled slightly, "Always. Just... doesn't always feel that way."

[hungry-mind.livejournal.com]

"You're scary sometimes," Chouji said, sheepishly. "You know? Don't want to make you upset."

[intraspective]

"I'm not scary!" Ino protested, "I just say what I'm thinking!"

[hungry-mind.livejournal.com]

"Not like that!" He was bad at this. "I mean..."

Oh the ninja flailing. "...what if I say the wrong thing and you get mad?"

[intraspective]

"Then I get mad!" Ino was trying not to get mad right now. "It doesn't mean I don't want you to talk to me."

... there were problems when you were the only one of your team that liked arguing.

[hungry-mind.livejournal.com]

"You're getting mad now!" Chouji might be trying to hide now.

[intraspective]

"I'm trying not to!" Ino snapped, crossing her arms. "I can't help it!"

[hungry-mind.livejournal.com]

He flailed, trying to think of something to appease the angry beast. "Sakura says hi!"

[intraspective]

Ino was not a beast. If she knew Chouji was thinking that...

"Eh?" Ino was successfully distracted, if a bit startled, by the abrupt change of subject. She looked at him, "Tell her I say hi back!"