Konohagakure no Sato -- Sunday Early Evening

[intraspective]

Ino was just glad, all things considered, that the rain wasn't sheeting down on them and the sky was a brilliant red overhead with the sunset--there'd been no way to check that out before coming and umbrella's weren't really used much by, well, ninja.

Or by SOLDIER members, she was pretty sure, considering Zack still... didn't seem to own coat. It was cold, geez.

The forest rustled with the wind and the hard-packed dirt road they were on was clearly well used. Ino grinned over her shoulder at him. "It's just a bit further, and we'll be to the gates. You've got your papers on you, yeah?"

Because if not, they were going to have a problem. And Ino would kick Zack in the shins.

[NFB due to distance, and for the SOLDIER with her!]

Comments

[puppy_fair]

"Business?" Oh.

Oh. Zack's ears were going to start to turn a shade of pink as he slowly started to piece together what Ino's father was getting at, here.

"We're just friends, honest. I mean, we're good friends, but I'm not going to, uh. Try to. Um." Zack's honestly was, alas, hindered terribly by his inability to just babble outright about sex, yes. But that on its own was probably reassuring, right?

Excuse Zack while he fidgets relentlessly and turns progressive shades of pink.

[yamanaka-dad.livejournal.com]

It was a little reassuring. Inoichi did know his daughter after all.

On the other hand...

"My daughter," he said dryly, "is able to make up her own mind when it comes to her body. It's her heart I'm more concerned about. Feelings, boy. Not your dick."

[puppy_fair]

Aaaand now Zack was contemplating the positives and negatives of crawling under a flower pot to die of absolute mortification.

"Feelings?" He was not blushing even more now, no, that was totally a trick of the light. "Friends. I mean, I wouldn't ever want to do anything to hurt her, though. She means more-"

He kind of tapered off, wide-eyed. And then pulled in a deep breath and shrugged while the blush faded away. "She's been an amazing friend to me, especially these past few months. I'd do anything to make sure that she doesn't get hurt. It's the least I can do."

[yamanaka-dad.livejournal.com]

Inoichi gave him a long look.

Then eyed the stairs knowingly for a second. He knew his daughter was listening to this conversation. She was getting better at hiding her presence but...

"She means more?"

[puppy_fair]

Open mouth. Close mouth. Open it again, with words just on the tip of his tongue. Close it again. This talking thing was hard. Especially when the name of the game was 'answer Ino's father in full and complete honesty.'

"... She gets it," Zack settled on, shrugging a little. "I don't think many people do."

[yamanaka-dad.livejournal.com]

Not at the school, Inoichi had heard all about that.

Maybe not in Zack's world either.

"Good enough," he said, flicking his ponytail back over his shoulder. "Just remember--Ino is my daughter, and if you hurt her..."

Well. Inoichi was a very scary bastard when he wanted to be. Zack would likely, in pure power be able to take him--but Inoichi wouldn't attach head on.

Zack's mind on the other hand...

[puppy_fair]

That earned a bit of a lopsided smile, and Zack nodded, looking back toward the floor. More petals, over there. He ought to sweep those up.

"I wouldn't do anything to hurt her, even without the threats," he said, lightly. And then the lopsided smile went a little more sincere, and he looked up again, leaning on the broom handle. "She's lucky to have a dad who cares enough to say something, though."

[yamanaka-dad.livejournal.com]

"Call it a warning," he said, a bit amused now. "Not so much of a threat until there's need for me to act on it."

Forewarned was forearmed and, well, despite himself Inoichi found he didn't really mind this boy.

Inoichi shrugged. "She's one of my precious people," he answered. "And I take it very seriously, what that means."

[puppy_fair]

"Well, then that's something that we both have in common," Zack replied, his voice taking on a serious sort of edge that he tended to keep swept under the rug for the sake of seeming more personable. "I won't give you any reason to act on it, sir. You have my word as SOLDIER." A pause. "And more important, my word as her friend."

[yamanaka-dad.livejournal.com]

"Good," Inoichi said, a bit of the ANBU peeking through in his eyes for a second before disappearing.

"Leave the rest of the shop to me," he continued, "Ino'll want to introduce you to her mother."

[puppy_fair]

Zack found himself idly wondering if Ino's mother was the sort to go through fifty questions, too. He also found himself realizing that there was something he probably shouldn't ask, and so he nodded and propped the broom against the wall.

"It was good to meet you, sir. And thank you for letting me stay here while we're in Konoha."

Zack was nothing if not polite.

[yamanaka-dad.livejournal.com]

This way he could keep an eye on Zack, really.

"Go on," he said, more amused at the polite than anything else. Inoichi had a strange sense of humour sometimes. "Don't take it personally."