SOS

To soothe his wrath before he discovers she was the anonymous letter-sender, Ino pretends to be head-over-heels in love with Sasuke. With the help of Sasuke's campus rival, Gaara, and the return of her true love, Suigetsu, will Ino finally iron out the mess?

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto

My apologies for the year-long wait. There's no better way to apologize than to update, right? Here's a nice treat for you all— a +5,800 words long chapter!

VIII.

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"Ino's kidding, right?" From behind, I heard Suigetsu say to Hinata and Tenten. Neither of the two replied. I could not face them. My feet were hooked on the floor. I could not speak. Suddenly, there was a big lump in my throat.

While I pretended not to hear Suigetsu, Sasuke made it evident that he heard Suigetsu. He looked pass me and straight into Suigetsu's eyes. He did not know Suigetsu but he figured out that he was a friend of mine since he was with Hinata and Tenten.

"Ino's not kidding," then he turned to Gaara "And the night you got injured, Ino was with me" As if we had grown closer in the last five minutes, Sasuke decided to use my name twice in short statements.

I regained my composure. Too bad, it was late.

"This is a misunderstanding"

"Which part?" Sasuke tapped his chin questioningly "The one which I said about you sleeping with me or the one which you just admitted on, well, sleeping with me?"

You could see the disbelief that dawned on the face of the students. They had one thing running in their mind; it was all due to Uchiha Sasuke that I abandoned a one neck-injured Sabaku Gaara. One by one, the students began to weave the story. Slowly, the actual events of that night were unraveled.

"So Sakura was not the lucky girl that night"

"And that was why she said to Sakura that she was 'unexpectedly busy' that night"

"She was 'unexpectedly busy' with Sasuke-kun. Damn, she's lucky"

"Who's she, anyway?"

"That's Ino"

There was a buzz around me now. Sasuke looked at Gaara, a triumphant smile curved on his lips. Without saying another word, he turned and walked away followed by his friends. Before Shino left, he looked at me "Sorry, I guess" he did not mean it, of course. If more, he sounded like he enjoyed giving color to what might have been just a blunt dismissal time.

"Ino," Hinata called me softly. Her voice was in stark contrast with the murmuring students. When I turned, Suigetsu was no longer with Hinata and Tenten. He had left before anyone.

"Why didn't you tell us about it?" Tenten said, her voice quavering. Her hands were intact on her side. This was the angry Tenten. Tears swelled at the corner of her eyes but they never fall, not in front of me. She turned her back.

I knew how she felt. Suppressing the truth is not exactly lying, but the effect is almost the same. I betrayed their trust and I marred our friendship. She walked away followed by Hinata who was quite hesitant in leaving my side. Hinata looked back with sorrowful eyes but she knew it was best to stay away. I did not blame her.

Back in the hallway, Gaara was the only one left from the crowd. I turned to him with angry eyes. It was his fault! He was the one who provoked Sasuke. Gaara might have read my mind so he spoke before I could have.

"Isn't this what you always wanted?" Gaara asked, "You caught Sasuke's attention. Wish granted"

I stood there, stultified, and then my eyes narrowed in blinding realization.

"You planned this?"

"I didn't expect you to announce that you slept with Sasuke. That helped a lot though"

Suddenly, I was so angry I grabbed him by the collar. Gaara allowed me to shove him against the window. The last streak of orange sunlight drenched his skin. His red hair turned bloodier. The effect made him look tougher and it was ironic how he would allow himself be pushed by a girl. He could have swiftly gotten away from my hold.

"What a brilliant idea, Gaara. Turn Yamanaka Ino into a public ridicule. She'll definitely catch Sasuke's eyes. Thanks a lot!" I was so sick to the core I did not notice how Gaara eyed me intently "Don't ever attempt to help me again, Sabaku Gaara. I mean that"

"What's the matter with you?" His innocence struck me.

"Oh boy, you are unbelievable"

"No, you are unbelievable. Sasuke just had a spat with his closest friend because of you and you're not satisfied with that? What else do you want me to do?"

"I want you to stop interfering. For God's sake, stop involving yourself!"

"I'm already involved with you"

A cave-like silence dwelled between us. The moment was so fragile I dare not speak. My lower jaw hung and slowly, I closed my lips. I was unaware when Gaara untangled my fingers from his collar. From the corner of my eyes now, I watched him smooth out the wrinkles of his front shirt.

Damn, I thought, when did this all start?

The rays of sunset which made him look tougher few minutes ago now gave him soft touches. Suddenly, all my thoughts were about Gaara. The sun-drenched arms. The crumpled front shirt. The faint smell of cologne. That we were the only students in the hallway became more obvious. The thought that he may attempt to kiss me did not help too. His back was against the wall but the way he stared at me made me wonder how it feels like to be between the wall and Sabaku Gaara.

Oh great, Ino! Just the right idea to pop in your head!

Gaara noticed the growing blush on my face.

"Are you thinking of Sasuke while I just admitted on liking you?"

How Gaara mistook the object of my blushing made me blush more. Seriously, his innocence drives me nuts.

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Why put me in such situation in such unholy time? Three boys, three boys, at the same time! How do you see me handling them, God? I groaned under the blanket and shifted on my bed for the thousanth time.

First was Uchiha Sasuke, the guy whom I hate but whom I had to pretend to like to save my throat. Then came his friend Sabaku Gaara, offering help but inwardly offering more than that. And Suigetsu? He had to return to my life when it was most unnecessary. But how do you shun the guy you truly love? With no pretense and under no condition, I love the bastard.

What was it that brought me to this point? It was my false assumption of Suigetsu. I thought he was cheating on me.

Looking back now, a sudden realization hit me between the eyes. I was now the cheater! Isn't that the first thing that I hated about Uchiha Sasuke? Isn't that the cause of my break-up with Suigetsu? And now will I be cheating with Gaara?

And did I not just establish myself as a cheater in front of everyone in school today? Everyone now knew that I was with Sasuke and Gaara at different times during Sasuke's birthday.

And what of Hinata and Tenten? Do they think of me as a cheater as well?

A chill ran down my spine and I brace myself. I am no cheater! I need to be assured that I am not one. But whom would I get those comforting words? I grabbed my phone from the tabletop and thought of calling someone. Not Tenten. I can almost hear her saying how I betrayed our lifelong friendship. Not Gaara. He gives me more headache than actual help. Not Suigetsu. I knew he will just drop the phone as soon as he hears me on the other line. Not Sasuke. He will—

He will what?

I browsed my phonebook and stopped on the entry Uchiha Sasuke. I stared. What would be his reaction if I call him? Suddenly, I remembered what Gaara said.

Sasuke just had a spat with his closest friend because of you and you're not satisfied with that?

Could it be true that I was the first girl Sasuke fought over with Gaara? Oh, and did Gaara deliberately angered Sasuke to show that... that Sasuke has a feeling for me? I caught my reflection on the wall mirror.

But even if that was true, it doesn't mean that Sasuke likes me, right? Or does it?

I shook my head. What am I thinking?

However frustrating it was to admit, I knew that if Gaara was not involved Sasuke's reaction would have been different. It would have been a totally different scenario. Dismissal time that afternoon would be me with my friends passing by Sasuke surrounded by his buddies, him not batting an eye to my direction, him flirting around with Sakura or someone among her league. He will not acknowledge my presence in any way. He will not drop one hint that we had spent a night together.

I returned my phone to the table and covered myself with the blanket.

I will not call Sasuke. I will sleep and will not call Uchiha Sasuke. I will never call Sasuke and I will sleep right now. I will never, ever—

All throughout my chanting, my hand snaked to the table top to grab the phone back.

I pulled the phone under the blanket and dialed Sasuke's number.

Oh my god, what am I thinking? Ring! Why am I calling the bastard? Ring! He should be the one doing the calling, not me. Ring! Didn't I just tell myself I will not call him? Ring! What will I say—?

"Hello?"

At the sound of Sasuke's voice, I dropped the call instantaneously.

"Oh my god, what have I done?" It was so moronic. It was so dumb. I can almost see Sasuke raising a brow while looking on the screen of his phone. I looked at the clock. I could not believe it was already past 2-o-clock! No wonder his voice sounded grumpy. He sounded like I just woke him up!

"Stupid, stupid, stu—"

I was yet again stopped by my chanting when the phone started ringing. I was so terrified I buried it under the pillow and just stared and stared and stared. When the ringing stopped, I sighed in relief. I did not even realize that I had held my breath.

To my horror, the phone started ringing again. Without thinking, I removed the battery from the back and forced myself to sleep.

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Morning came and I was sluggish. It was already 4am when I was able to sleep. When I woke at my alarm's ringing at 6am, I had to literally drag myself to the bathroom. I would have skipped class that day had I not remembered that I had received a verbal warning regarding my attendance. Oh, boy, this will be the longest day ever….

— and the strangest.

It started during the morning assembly. We lined up in the auditorium and listened to the principal talking about the coming periodical test. Because I was very sleepy, I could not help but doze. I was just unconscious for a minute or two when I snapped back to reality. When I looked around to check if anyone found out that I have doze off, I saw half of the population staring at me. I felt like shrinking on the spot.

It was a difficult task to stay awake in the first period. Kakashi was a boring teacher and he was teaching a very boring Biology class. Each minute, my head threatened to hang. Each minute, I jolted up in my seat. Each second, I yawned. Each second, I opened my eyes.

"Ino, are you alright?" Minako, the girl sitting on my right side, asked. She might have been peeved by my constant jolting and yawning.

"Y-Yeah," I rubbed my eyes, "I probably look worn out but I'm fine"

"You look worn out" Minako looked hesitant to continue "But still you're a beauty"

I stared at her and would have laughed. She sounded so genuine.

Yeah, right. I did not have a good night sleep. I most probably did not hear her right.

"Anyway if you need something, you can always ask me" Minako smiled. She looked so happy to be of service to me in the future. I wonder what Tenten will say to this. I looked at her seat. She was reading a book. Not once did she look my way although I knew she felt the weight of my stare.

I sat straight on my chair. It was like some devil possessed that Minako girl. When did we become friends? I could not recall an instance when we have been that friendly with each other. Softly, I dropped my head on the desk and tried not to be distracted by it. I was about to doze off when I heard two girls whispering.

"Did you see that?"

"What a hypocrite. Wasn't it just yesterday when Minako was talking trash about her?"

"Now she acts like they're best friends"

"Knowing her, her real intention is to get close to Sasuke, not to get close to her"

Her was definitely me, that I knew for certain. I looked back and saw the two whispering girls. They beamed at me, their lips stretching so forcefully that however genuine they wanted it to appear, it appeared 100-percent synthetic. I smiled back at them.

Before my head hit the desk again, I saw two or three guys looking at me. Had I not been that sleepy, I would have realized that they were ogling not simply looking. Had I not been already dozing, I would have heard one of their comments about how hot I was and how the other two guys agreed.

The change in school had not yet dawned on me until later when I bumped into someone on my way to my third class.

"S-Sorry!"

I did not know her name but I recognized her as a classmate of my brother who was a senior student. She kept apologizing while picking up the books that I dropped. I told her that everything was fine. She handed my books and said, "Ino, please don't tell me to Sasuke or Gaara" She walked away so fast I hardly had the time to ask what she meant.

During an activity on my third period, we had to pick a partner. I looked around for a prospect partner and to my wonder everybody was looking back at me expectantly. For a moment I thought, does each one of them wish to be my partner? I shook my head. What an absurd thought!

I asked Himiko, the student nearest me, to be my partner. She looked elated.

"Everybody is so nice to me today, I wonder why" I said as Himiko and I worked together.

"What are you saying? Everybody is nice as they have always been"

"I mean nice in a weird way. Everybody will only be as nice as this if I'm in a dream. It's like I'm living in a dream. You know what I mean?"

"Sure I do"

I knew she did not understand me. After some silence, I continued.

"We haven't talked before, have we?"

"Nope which means that it's high time we befriend each other now, right?"

"Why not before?"

Himiko paused then blinked, "Well, you need an inclination such as this activity where we were paired"

"You want to be friend with me?"

"Definitely,"

"Why?"

"because you're nice" She smiled.

"and?"

"and you're approachable" Her forehead was wrinkled

"and?"

"you're beautiful"

"uh huh"

"and Gaara asked you out"

"I see"

"and Sasuke seemed to like you"

"hn"

"and the two most sought after guy in school fought over you!"

"…"

"and soon you'll be more popular than Sakura!"

There we go, I thought. I looked at Himiko who had clamped her hand over her mouth. She had spoken her mind out.

I looked around and realized what I had missed; I was no longer an ordinary student.

I did not know whether I should thank Sasuke and Gaara.

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"Suigetsu,"

He did not turn around.

"Suigetsu!"

He walked faster.

"SUIGETSU!"

He started running.

"SUIGETSU!"

I pulled his hair back. Suigetsu rubbed the sore part of his head where I yanked his hair. His downcast eyes thrown irritably at me.

"What is your problem?"

"I was calling you" I said with modulated voice. We were out in the street and to some bystanders, we looked like a typical couple having an argument over the most trivial stuff.

"You expect me to stop?" Suigetsu took a step forward "Is there no conscious part in your head telling you that maybe Suigestu doesn't want to talk to you?"

"Stop being a bitch, Suigestu"

"Why when you did not even stop yourself from cheating?"

The last thing I wanted to be accused of was cheating. Here I was being accused though. My lips quivered. I tightened my face "Hear me out, please"

"Don't burden yourself. I know everything I need to know. Dating Uchiha Sasuke while still having me? You're worse than the rest of those fan girls of him"

"You wanna know the truth? It was all for you. All for you, did you hear that?"

"What a farce," Suigetsu raised his arms in exasperation and walked away. He walked in big strides, hands in his pockets. I chased beside him.

"It started with that letter," I began as I followed him "I was supposed to give you that letter but it accidentally went to Sasuke's hands. Of course, you know what happened after that. Sasuke was infuriated and declared war to the anonymous letter sender. I was afraid and I— I pretended to like him to get away from it"

Suigetsu stopped. I almost bumped into him. He just stood there and looked at me for the longest time before he spoke. "Why do you have to invent this shit? The truth was you thought I was cheating on you so you decided to get even by going after Sasuke"

My lips trembled. Suigetsu was right

Although it was an accident that Sasuke got the letter, I did see the situation as a way to get back at Suigetsu. I even harbored hopes of having Sasuke as my boyfriend to make Suigetsu jealous. At the back of my mind, I knew I will not just stop on apologizing about the letter.

"Suigetsu," I rubbed away the tears that I had unconsciously shed "If I tell the truth to Sasuke, will you forgive me"

As if some deity was mocking me, it started to rain suddenly. Other people ran for shelter. I stayed on the spot waiting for Suigetsu's answer. He never answered the question and he simply walked away.

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I was resolved on telling the truth. Let Sasuke gnash his teeth in fury! I had lost my closest friends and Suigetsu. Certainly, there was nothing more to lose.

I decided that I will tell him everything as concise as I possible.

Sasuke, I was the one who sent you the letter. It was by accident. It was meant for my boyfriend. I pretended to like you to appease you. I realized what a big mistake that was. I know you're mad. I know you are. But I just have to tell the truth. I'm sorry, Sasuke.

Who cares what Sasuke will do after that? I mean I had been ridiculed several times now. I had grown immune!

Duh. Who am I kidding? Life after that is an unimaginable calamity.

Yamanaka Ino: The Life of the Campus Laughingstock Part II. Damn, my life can be screenplayed. I can just imagine the post-apocalyptic setting.

Fuck. What am I saying? I should just go ahead and tell Sasuke.

As luck would have it though, Uchiha Sasuke did not go to school that day.

Later that day, I received a text message from Suigetsu. He wanted us to meet at 8pm. I was reading the message when I saw Shino walking alone. I stopped him in the corridor.

"Hey,"

He pretended not to hear me as I walked beside him. "Where's Sasuke?"

"He's not around"

Dude, that is so fucking obvious. I wanted to twist his head. I stopped following Shino as soon as I realized I cannot juice anything from him. I turned around and walked away when Shino called me back.

"Sasuke is sick"

Back in the classroom, I was too preoccupied to even bother listening to the teacher. I did not want another day to pass by without telling Sasuke the truth. I was determined that this will be the day. Anyway, I had enough time to confess to Sasuke before my meeting with Suigetsu. I can visit Sasuke at the guise of a concerned friend when in fact all I want to do is to take advantage of this handicapped situation of him while he is at it.

Sasuke being sick means Sasuke less violent. This is the best time! Sasuke may backlash at me afterwards but what can a bedridden Sasuke do to me? I just hope that he was as ill as that or else he will have the energy to exterminate life out of me.

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I took a deep breath then rang the bell in the Uchiha mansion. In no time, a maid greeted me.

"Hi. I'm Yamanaka Ino. I'm, uhm, an acquaintance of Uchiha Sasuke. I heard he is sick so, uhm, you know, I decided to pay him a visit" I laughed a little. Oh boy, why am I feeling all panicky about this visit? The maid looked at me like I was some idiot. After a while, she ushered me inside the marvelous place.

The maid told me to wait in one of the spacious rooms. Perhaps it was called the piano room. It was mostly an empty space. A big white piano was situated in the middle of the room. The wall and the ceiling were flawless white. The floor was white marble. I sat on the long white couch at the end of the room.

When the door opened, I was expecting to see the maid. To my horror, it was a shirtless Uchiha Sasuke clad in cotton pajama. His hair was ruffled and you can see lines on his face, those lines marked by pillows. He looked like he just stepped out from bed but that was not the worst part.

He looked in perfect health.

B-But he's supposed to be sick! I was so engrossed on the idea that he was so ill that I asked him the most stupid thing, "W-Why are you here?"

"Why are you here?" He asked leaning on the door, raising a brow, crossing his arms.

Damn Shino, that bastard might have been snickering now. I was punked!

Suddenly, I saw myself in no position to be in Sasuke's house. How I had dragged myself there was beyond my imagination. I realized I had not yet apologized for slapping him. Furthermore, it was still fresh in our minds about the fight between him and Gaara two days ago. To top it all, I called his phone at 2am without bothering to think that he might have been asleep. All of those things returned to me and it dawned to me that Sasuke had all the rights to kick me out of his house. Literally.

"Sasuke, do you have a visitor?"

We both looked at the newcomer. She had a long black hair and a radiant face that was always in smile. Everything about her looked motherly. Her eyes locked on me and I realized I was being scrutinized.

Then she looked at Sasuke.

"Sasuke, can't you be more decent in front of this beautiful lady?"

"Mom, I'm almost sure she's about to leave" Sasuke threw me a knowing glare.

"It's just a short visit, missus, and Sasuke's right I'm about to leave now" I stood up and picked my bag when I realized that it was nowhere to be found. I remembered that the maid took it. I can get it another time.

However, Sasuke's mom was quick. She was on my side before I knew it. She held me down on my shoulders. "Oh, dear, why not stay a little longer?"

"I can't"

"She can't"

Sasuke and I said in unison.

His mother looked from Sasuke to me then she chuckled softly, "Sasuke go upstairs and make yourself more presentable. Your friend and I will have a little chitchat for the mean time"

His mother took my arms and dragged me to another room. As we passed Sasuke, I dared not look at his face.

xXxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"How long have you two been together?"

"Oh, no, no, you got it wrong"

"Oh, you don't have to hide it. Did you see Sasuke blush when you two spoke together? I never see him blush in front of any girl before. And I have seen him with hundreds of girls before, mind you"

Blush? I was certain that it was out of spite that Sasuke's face colored a little.

"So what is it that you liked most about my Sasuke?"

Sasuke's mother looked so excited. She reminded me of that time when I told my mom how I like Suigetsu. My mother looked so excited just like Sasuke's mom. I mentally struggled about telling the truth. If I was here to confess to Sasuke, I might as well tell Sasuke's mom the truth.

"The truth is I don't like Sasuke"

It pained me to see the smile fade from her face. It broke my heart but I had already started. I cannot back out.

"To be exact, I hate Sasuke"

I remembered the first time I noticed Uchiha Sasuke. Back then, Sasuke was flirting with Kin under the shade of the tree.

"He breaks everybody's heart. He doesn't care if he hurts them. He'll flirt with one girl then to another one then to another one."

I remembered how scared I was when Sasuke declared war over the anonymous letter sender. I remembered how he beat Akado Yoroi into a bloody pulp.

"And if you resent him, he'll make sure that you'll regret resenting him. It's like you don't have the right to hate him when in fact he's making a good role of being a villain"

I remembered how Sasuke mistook me for Temari. I remembered how he called me a schemer, a cocksucker and a whore. It made me teary-eyed recalling that time.

"He will call you names without even blinking. He doesn't consider feelings of others. He puts his own above others"

My head slumped on the kitchen table. I cried over my folded arms. I did not even realize it but I was shaking all over.

"There, I have said it. I know you will hate me but I just have to say it," I said between sobs. I collected myself and sat up. I noticed that neither of us touched the strawberry cake that she unwrapped on the table "Of course, you will not believe me because you're his mother. I don't blame you. All parents think their child is a given angel"

Sasuke's mother passed me a Kleenex across the table. I took it and blew my nose.

"I'm sorry,"

"Don't be,"

I looked at her. It was weird but I could tell she was amused instead of outraged

"I knew it. The moment I set my eyes on you, I knew you were the one for my Sasuke"

"Pardon me?" I could not help but think that all those times, I was just speaking in my mind. I mean it looked like she did not even hear a word that I said.

"Oh, dear, I have to call daddy to make some arrangements. Oh, and also Itachi! I have to inform him about this. I'm so excited about this, oh, how wonderful!"

Suddenly, you could hear strong footsteps approaching. Sasuke appeared on the door. You could see plain frustration across his face. "Mom, where's she?"

Upon entering the room, Sasuke was hugged by his mom who had been jumping in joy.

"Oh, Sasuke, you don't know how happy you have made mommy today. If you just have told me about her, I would have taken an earlier flight"

"Mom, what are you saying?" Sasuke asked as he looked from her to me. He glared at me, as usual, which I have grown numb of.

"Can you believe that she did not even mention a single word about how handsome you are? She's the real thing!"

That was not the effect I wanted! Oh my God, I stood up from my seat abruptly. My knees hit the table underneath. The sound alarmed Sasuke's mother and she broke off from Sasuke. She was quick on my side asking where it hurt.

Sasuke took me away from his mom.

"Mom, she has to leave now. I'll accompany her home"

"Oh, stay as late as you want, Sasuke. I don't mind"

Oh, great. I now know where Sasuke inherited his madness.

Sasuke dragged me away from his excited mother. As we left the room, I could already hear her talking to 'daddy' on the phone. Sasuke did not say a word to me. He pushed me inside the passenger seat of his car then went to the driver's seat.

We were already on the main road when Sasuke spoke to me, "What did you say to my mom?"

"Nothing," I whispered then thought of all those things that I told her. However courageous I was then, I could not bring myself to tell the exact words to Sasuke now that I was alone with him. He would drain all the blood out of my veins.

"Nothing? She wouldn't have been that excited,"

I just told your mom what a jackass she has for a son.

I looked away from him. I took advantage of the fact that both of his hands were on the wheels where they cannot find its way to strangle me. I stayed farthest from him. Suddenly, I remembered something. Suigetsu and I were supposed to meet at 8pm. I felt my phone in my pocket. Where was it?

"Sasuke, I left my bag in your house"

"I'll be damned if I allow you to return there"

"But my bag!"

"I'll hand it tomorrow"

"But my phone is in my bag"

"I'll lend mine"

"It's not my phone"

"What's so special about your phone? I bet it doesn't have a 3G"

"I need to contact my mom" I lied, "It's very important and I don't know her number"

Sasuke sighed. He pulled over the road then he asked me to lean, his body touching mine as he opened the passenger door for me, "Wait me in that shop. I'll bring your bag"

I stepped out of the car then entered the café shop. As soon as the car was out of sight, I stepped out of the shop and ran to the meeting place. I have only less than five minutes. I cannot wait for Sasuke anymore.

"Shit," I cursed under my breath as I ran on the street. It was starting to rain again.

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