A/N: Just a little idea that came to mind. It probably won't amount to much but it's worth a try.
Pairing: Naruto x Ino
Disclaimer: Kishimoto-sama owns Naruto and co. I never will.
Two blond shinobi stood staring at each other. They were both slightly out of breath from their intense kiss. Ino closed her eyes. She could feel her heart pounding through her chest. She hadn't expected Naruto to kiss her like that. Hell she hadn't even expected that she would kiss him back.
"Naruto this is so fucked up!"
"You're telling me." He agreed.
Ino sat down on his bed. She placed her hands into her lap as she avoided his gaze.
"When the hell did it get like this? Since when did this get real? Naruto this wasn't supposed to happen."
Naruto sat next to her. He wondered just what he could say to her right now. He reached for her hand.
"Ino did you want to kiss me? Did you really feel what I felt?"
Naruto was feeling so many different emotions. He found that he really enjoyed that kiss with the beautiful kunoichi. He felt the urge to grab her and kiss her again. Naruto wanted to make this faux relationship real. Yeah that was exactly what he wanted. Ino turned her attention elsewhere. What could she possibly say to him right now? Should she admit these growing feelings to him? Could she actually breathe light into the current situation?
"Naruto I did want that kiss." She admitted. "It felt… I can't even begin to describe to you how it felt. I've never actually felt anything like that before."
"Yeah." He understood.
The two of them had decided that in no way shape or form would they get involved for real. This whole thing was supposed to be for public appearance. Ino didn't know exactly when she started to actually feel real feelings for Naruto. But right now she knew that she felt them. She felt them and they were not going away. In honesty it was starting to scare her.
"Ino?" he whispered her name.
"Yeah Naruto?"
"What are we going to do now?"
The platinum blond shook her head. It wasn't like she had any answers for him right now. She couldn't answer him when she didn't have any herself.
"I don't know. I honestly don't know."
(Flashback several months ago)
The 17 year old blond haired Kyuubi vessel was busy getting in some extra training. Right now he needed to clear his head. It was either this or go pig out on some ramen.
"Yeah ramen is next." He thought with a smile.
After his training he sat putting his supplies away. He had a lot on his mind right now. Most of his thoughts were focused on his pink haired friend. He harbored these deep feelings for her, for a very long time. The more he thought about it though; he could see that he was getting nowhere.
"Maybe Sakura-chan and I will be nothing more than friends."
Could he really just give up though? He had never given up on a single thing in his life before. Why should now be any different? This was only just another challenge to overcome right?
"Hey Naruto?" He heard his name.
He looked up to see a flash of pink running towards him.
"Hey Sakura-chan." He waved.
"Hi. I was hoping to catch you before I left."
"Are you going somewhere?"
"Yeah I have a last minute mission. I should be back in a week or so."
Naruto nodded an uneasy silence passed through.
"Well I'll see you later okay Naruto?"
"Sakura-chan wait."
She turned back to look at him with a curious expression on her face. "Yeah what's wrong?"
It was now or never should he go for it.
"I…. never mind be careful on you mission."
"Right." She smiled. "I will be careful, see you soon."
He smiled for her watching as she walked away. He didn't know why but he just couldn't bring himself to say anything to her.
"Maybe I really should give up."
Naruto felt his stomach grumble. "Guess its time for that ramen now." He made his way to Ichiraku's. The blond was so wrapped up in his thoughts he wasn't paying much attention to where he was going. He soon collided with a second blond.
"What the hell?" A loud voice was heard.
Naruto looked to see the one and only Ino Yamanaka.
"Gomen Ino I didn't see you there. Let me help you up." He offered her his hand so he could help her. The blond on the ground just took his hand.
"Yeah just be careful next time. What were you in a daze or something?"
He didn't respond to her at first. She noticed the far off look in those cerulean blue eyes.
"Oh boy." She sighed. "I know that look. This wouldn't happen to have anything to do with forehead would it?"
Naruto looked up meeting Ino's knowing gaze. Guess it was really that obvious after all.
"Um…." He started.
"You don't have to say anything Naruto. But geez its not natural seeing you so depressed. Hey I know lets go to Ichiraku's that always seems to cheer you up."
Ino led the way to the ramen stand. When she noticed that Naruto wasn't coming she turned to face him. "Are you coming or what? I mean this is ramen we're talking about. You never refuse eating that."
Naruto just put on a smile for the blond kunoichi.
"Yeah you're right Ino-chan lets get going okay."
Ino wasn't completely sure why she had even offered. If Naruto was depressed over Sakura it really wasn't any of her business. She figured that it was simply because she didn't like seeing anyone down. Once at Ichiraku's she noticed how he sat there. He mindlessly held his chopsticks in his hand. He wasn't even attempting to devour the noodles. She knew for sure that this was indeed serious.
"That's it! I can't take this. Naruto you need to seriously get out of this depressed mood you're in. Moping around doesn't really suit you."
"You don't understand Ino. I have a lot on my mind."
"Oh I get it alright. You're depressed over Sakura because you have this never ending crush on her. Naruto I respect your loyalty and all; but don't you think it's about time you let it go already?"
She really hadn't meant to sound so harsh at the time. She only wanted to be honest with him. The blond male stared at her.
"Maybe you're right."
"Now Naruto I know you don't listen to reason. And don't you dare argue with me…." She stopped. "Huh. What did you say?" she turned her attention towards him.
"I said that maybe you're right."
"Well I definitely wasn't expecting that." She thought. "Damn right I'm right. You know what I'm feeling really generous right now. I'm going to help you."
Naruto swallowed the lump in his throat. Ino and help in the same sentence. He wasn't sure if he felt good about any of this.
"Help me?"
"Yeah I mean I'm glad you agree with me that you need to move on. But if you truly want forehead I'll help you. We'll spend some time together. We'll pretend to be a couple just to get under her skin. You know it will piss her off for sure."
"Ino-chan wont that be like me using you?"
The platinum blonde's eye brow twitched. She then rolled her eyes.
"I don't think of it that way. Besides it might be kind of fun to see the look on her face if she thinks that we're together. And on top of it all if she really wants you, she'll come get you."
Naruto took a minute to process everything that Ino had said. He didn't feel completely comfortable with this plan. She was right though he didn't have anything to lose. Maybe spending some time with Ino would help him get over Sakura.
"Ino I….."
"One thing though before we agree to this "relationship".
"What's that?"
"You and I keep this strictly professional. I mean you can not fall in love with me under any circumstances. The same goes for me."
Naruto took a moment to finally eat some of his ramen. This was going to be a lot to think about. Could they really go through with this? Plans like these were bound to have some type of consequences.
"Alright no problem there." His voice now held its usual confident tone.
Ino frowned at this. Was he suggesting that she wasn't worthy of his affections? Ino Yamanaka was more than enough woman for him. She was definitely sure of that.
"Oh is that so? You saying I'm not good enough for you?"
"Huh oh no Ino-chan that's not it at all. I do think that you're pretty." He told her honestly. There was silence for a moment. He was mainly afraid that he would say something to upset her. "Well I have to go. I'll see you around."
"Uzumaki." She called out to him. "If we're going to do this. We are going to do this right. We have to make this whole thing completely believable."
"Right." He nodded. "Don't sweat it Ino we can pull this off no problem. It's not like we like each other that way."
"Yeah this will be a piece of cake. On the plus side if this works you'll get forehead in the end. And if it doesn't work, well at least you can say that you spent time with a beautiful girl like me." She smiled proudly.
"As expected of Ino-chan." He thought. "Sure thing Ino whatever you say. Later."
"Bye." She nodded. "Oh yeah this should definitely be fun."