Number Five With A Bullet:

Part XI: Devastation Hands

You got your pieces

And you got your pawns

You got devastation hands

And a life that leads like insanity

Ino blinked once. Twice, at the sight before her. She brushed a limp strand of blonde hair away, tired eyes wide in…horror?

Okay, seriously, was she going crazy? True, she hadn’t been able to sleep or eat for awhile, but now she was hallucinating?

No, no, she couldn’t be the one crazy. It had to be him. Of course that must be the answer. Leaving her for five weeks and he comes back grinning like a maniac—okay not grinning like a maniac—but that smile was creepy as hell.

And did he really take her hair comment to heart? Because it’s so…so…flat now. And his wardrobe…what can she say about the black, skin tight turtle neck and fitting jeans…except, flaming!

“Yamanaka-san, you make me blush when you stare at me like that.” Sasuke—or the now alien—gushed, the smile still plastered on his face. Yup, he definitely did not swing her way. Damn, Uchiha must’ve been knocked over his head quite hard. Maybe this was the reason why they kept him away from her so long.

The blonde could only gape at the dark haired man before her. This was seriously creepy. She made an incoherent sound in her throat as she skirted around the man.

He was the same build, same hair color, same skin color…but his personality just threw her off the rocker…or he was the one off his…

Then it hit her and she laughed loudly, making the man smile uncertainly at her.

“I get it, I get it. Is this your new disguise?” She wasn’t sure if she should be shocked or amused, “You really pull off that flamboyant vibe real well…”

She had been planning to give Uchiha a piece of her mind once he returned to the barren Mansion he had stuck her in…but now…Wow.

The man only stared at her, slightly confused as he cocked his head, “Sorry?”

“No, no. That’s okay. I’m quite curious about our new mis—” She was cut off by another voice.

“Yamanaka-san.”

The deep voice from behind her froze the blonde in place. She could only blink a few times at the still smiling dark haired man before turning around to be face to face with…another raven haired man.

Cerulean blue eyes darted back and forth between the two almost mirror images.

“Oh my Kami, are we all dressing up as Uchiha Sasukes now?!”

The second man face-faulted, almost seeming like he wanted to slap himself before he spoke evenly, “Yamanaka-san, this is my cousin, Sai.”

That was when her brain ceased all processing information.

“Nice to meet you!” The first man perked.

She could only stare with her mouth slightly open.

What…? Whaaaat?

What could she say now? She just thought he was Uchiha and called him flamboyant.

Sai—or so he was called hovered towards her, “Are you alright?”

Before she could say anything, the Uchiha had already brushed past her, giving his cousin an offhanded look.

“Did you forget how to talk? It’s okay, Sai knows how to tame beasts.” Uchiha gave her a smirk as Sai smiled, unmoved by the last comment.

Oh my Kami, they’re related.

And before she could utter a ‘Fuck you, Uchiha’, her knees buckled and her vision went dark.

What you need is what you need

A little something that will take the edge off

Just a little push to get you to the ledge

You can jump it from

And when you’re jumping

Only you would ever know again

“Your face must’ve scared her to death.”

“…”

Some clinking sounds of tableware were heard.

“I didn’t know you had that effect on women.”

There was a scuttle of movement before everything settled.

“I didn’t call you over for this.”

“Noope, you didn’t call me at all! I wanted to visit.”

Silence.

She groaned slightly, her head was pounding. It was hard to breath, her breathing was shallow.

“That was the point you missed.”

“Oh? Did you want to be alone with her?”

Ino rolled over towards the voices.

“Keep your voice down.”

She blinked blearily at the light, her vision fuzzy.

“How are you feeling?”

A hand braced her as she tried to sit up, leaning on the sofa for support.

“What?” She muttered irritably. Her head felt like someone was repeatedly stomping on it and why the hell was everything so damn bright? She groaned at the overhead lighting, grasping her head.

“You haven’t been eating.”

Ino fidgeted away from the Uchiha, who happened to seat himself to her left.

“Hai, hai, Ino-chan looks quite famished,” The cousin agreed wholeheartedly, which made her grimace as the Uchiha had a grip on her thin wrist.

“Why weren’t you eating?” She tried not to look into his eyes, “Did you not like the food Satomi makes?”

Ino shook her head. She just didn’t feel like eating! It wasn’t like she did enough during the day for her to be hungry.

“Is there something you want?”

“No,” She shook her head, “Some bread would be fine.” Sai nodded, heading off to the kitchen…which left her with the last person she wanted to face at the moment.

His hand still wrapped around her wrist. She didn’t even bother to try and shake him off.

“Look at me.”

She turned reluctantly towards him, eyes on a distant object over his shoulder. Ino didn’t want to talk to him about anything at this point. She was incredibly tired. Tired but relieved. She felt safe. She felt the atmosphere, even if it was just the two cousins. For many nights, she had recurring nightmares—like the time at the Hyuuga Mansion.

His cold hand cupped her face and she flinched, wrenching out of his light grip.

“You haven’t slept in awhile.”

Ino shrugged, “Insomnia.”

Sasuke looked like he wanted to say something, but instead, sighed. When she looked at him a little more carefully, she noticed the lines around his eyes too.

“You don’t look that great yourself either.”

He looked a bit torn, but gave a small scoff, “Yeah.” Sasuke stood up as Sai reentered the living room, “I’m going to shower.” Her eyes trailed after him. His behavior was peculiar; he had been exceptionally understanding and nice about it.

You live for love

But the love’s all gone

Surround yourself with genius

But the meanness is enough to kill someone

She could stop worrying for a bit, knowing that they were all well—or at least alive. Gaara was out with on a business trip, so he hadn’t been there, but she imagined he was just as worn out as Uchiha.

Speaking of which, after he declared his shower, she hadn’t seen him for the rest of the night. Sai was staying in a guest room near hers and Sasuke…was off somewhere. The cousin wasn’t as moody or anti-social as Uchiha, but that smile of his unnerved her a bit. He was albeit, quite nice. He told her that he was assigned as her next ‘partner’, but didn’t disclose anything else.

Whatever it was, at least she was with someone else.

Just as she reached over to turn off the lamp, a knock was heard on her door.

Huh? Sai?

She stumbled out of bed, “Coming!”

Opening the door, she was faced with a disheveled Uchiha Sasuke, his hair still spiky, but without form, a loose long-sleeved sleep shirt and gray slacks.

“There are some things…you need to know.”

The blonde just blinked, opening the door wider for him to enter. He made a straight beeline to her desk, pulling out the chair to sit. Noticing her own outfit—a loose tank top and sleeping boxers the maid had gotten for her—she scrambled to the bed, wrapping the comforter around her.

“Well…” She started at his silence.

His mouth twitched. Ino raised an eyebrow at the gesture. What was so hard to say?

This time, it was his hand that twitched, “…Sorry…” He was apologizing? To her? “…about not being able to…check up on you sooner.” His head did a funny movement, but Ino could over look that at the moment. “I…didn’t think of the consequences of leaving…someone alone for such a long time…”

Ino was, more or less astounded. He apologized. To her! At…she glanced at the clock…one in the morning! Exhaustion covered his features, from his complexion to his eyes and the way he was so spastic and emotional.

“I-It’s alright,” She stammered, feeling the heat rise in her cheeks and her eyes watering. Ino was not going to cry at the little act of compassion he decided to show. Or…the one act of sympathy she had gotten in the longest time.

Sniffling, she managed, “You didn’t have to come here this late for it. I’m not holding it against you.”

But he caught the moment she sniffed, eyes wide like a deer caught in headlights.

“B-But…thanks,” Ino gave him a teary smile. It made her feel better, at the least. Before, it had been so dark, so cold and lonely. The sudden charge of her to the Uchiha Mansion solo made her feel trapped. There had no one to talk to, to confine in. There was no contact made to her either, and that made her worry…

“I-I always worried,” She choked, the hot tears now running freely, “That something happened to you guys…that…that…again…I-I…”

She hadn’t noticed that he moved from the chair and now sat beside her, a hand on her head tentatively. But she continued to sniffle.

So you learn what you learn

You drink your blessings

And you take your pills

You look for something better

But you’ve lost your will to save yourself

So the hurt keeps coming

Glancing at the clock, the dark haired woman couldn’t help but feel restless. He hadn’t returned. He’d been staying at her place for over a month. She had adjusted to his presence well, once again. But this time, she sighed, he distanced himself more than ever from her.

Calling her ‘Hinata’ again was something she’d wanted, but his eyes always had that faraway look, his face forlorn and his hands always working, working on something.

Knowing that he wasn’t the same person as he used to be, Hinata was even more compelled to have him again.

He didn’t have to do this. He didn’t have to jump into such a mess.

She could offer him solace. Just her family title with his was enough to scare away competitors. And he didn’t have to go searching for that person.

But she knew the reason why he stuck with it was because he had made a promise. A promise to her; that blonde haired woman.

Hinata felt her fingers clench on the fabric of the comforter. Odds were that he was there right at the moment; with that other woman. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes. He wasn’t something she would get worked up over. Not now.

He had been hers. And she wasn’t going to give him up anytime soon.

She reached over, grabbing her cell phone on the nightstand.

Only you would ever know who was your friend

I know

What you need

Sasuke wasn’t sure how he ended up sitting beside the bawling blonde, his hand patting her on the head reassuringly.

He wasn’t sure why he was even in her room apologizing at 1 a.m. That could’ve waited until the next morning—and so could his other information. But now it seemed like he wasn’t going to even get to that part. His head was all woozy now, and he’d been running on caffeine for the past three days. All he needed was for her to stop crying so he can go to bed.

“We’re not dead,” He rolled his eyes. Yet. Sasuke liked to look at things pessimistically—just in case.

But that had been a taboo word for her and she latched on, crying harder against his chest. Goddamn his head hurt at this point and his eyes could barely stay open.

“Yamanaka-san…” Sasuke could hear himself saying as he patted her on the back, his head resting on hers. His eyelids were so heavy, “It’ll be alright…” The voice was foreign to him, even though he knew it was his.

“…It’ll be alright…”

She smelled like…rosemary mint…it was refreshing to him, even though it was the same shampoo and soap used throughout the mansion. But it calmed him and he felt himself drifting away for the first time in a few days.

Holding her was another thing, and it sent a shock through his body. She was so warm and he felt his thoughts muddle at that moment.

Ah…

He’d forgotten to call Hinata…since her Estate was where he had been residing to thwart any thoughts of Ino’s location.

They weren’t going out again, but he could feel Hinata warming up to him. But, it wouldn’t go back to the old days. Nothing will be the same. Hinata was Hinata, a figment of his past. Of someone he could’ve been, would’ve been. He was not someone she would or should need. There was no reason left for him to impede on her any longer. The lesser the contact, the better.

Now his path was different.

Revenge was it?

Power?

Safety?

What would the downfall of Sound Inc. really contribute?

Hinata and Hyuuga Corporation were clean. At least cleaner than his and his alliances with Naruto and Gaara. Cleaner than the woman in his arms at the moment. Hinata, who had never had her hands stained with blood wouldn’t know. She wouldn’t understand him at this point.

He didn’t notice his grip around the blonde tighten, nor her crying subsiding.

The throbbing pain on his head increased, but he felt slightly content, being where he was—with someone else for a change. Someone else who could understand his pain. His head slipped from the top of her head and he buried it in the crook of her neck, not detecting the flinch from the blonde.

“U-Uchiha?” The blonde moved her hands from his chest away as she tried to steady his body leaning against hers. His breathing was deep and even, and she could feel his breath on her neck. Her body was subsiding to the heat radiating off of him.

She repeated, still getting no answer. Untangling his arms around her, she was able to lie him down horizontally on the bed, his legs still hanging off. Sighing, she instantly missed the other body’s heat. Chuckling softly at his pale features she could imagine her own as a mirror image.

Brushing a strand of his hair out of his face, she felt the corners of her lips turn up, “Thanks…”

Not knowing what compelled her, she curled up next to him, draping the comforter over them both. He could finish what he wanted to say tomorrow. Ino was incredibly tired and sleep was never more inviting.

You need someone to help you tonight

Only when you’re here can I feel like this

When I put my arms around you

“Thanks,” The redhead nodded at the white-haired man who handed him the briefcase. They both made their way to the car. The meeting with the manager of the Kiri branch went longer than expected. He turned around to bow at the manager—Sarutobi Asuma.

Click

Four pairs of eyes turned towards the sound. The white-haired man smiled; two handguns in place.

“Gomen, Sabaku-kun, Sarutobi-san.”

Only when you smile does it hurt like this

Just let somebody love you

End Part XI: Devastation Hands

:O Oh noes! Gaara!

I know I made Ino and Sasuke a little friendlier in this chapter…but they’re both exhausted and arguing wasn’t going to get them anywhere.

I’m guessing you guys all know who the spy now, riiight?

Anyways, read and review! Feedback is always welcomed!

Ame no Megami