26 Chapter 25: Strange Feelings

Taking the stuffed animal in her arms, Ino sighed. Two days had passed since that moment.

(I don't get it...)

Ino hugged the stuffed animal tightly while burying her face in it.

Ever since Toru confronted her in such an extreme way, Ino hadn't been able to leave the house.

She felt too confused and anxious, and for some reason she wanted to see Toru, but unknown that reason.

"Ahg! You fool!"

Ino threw the stuffed toy against the bed and started to hit it while her cheeks blushed.

"You fool! Fool! FOOL!"

With a furious expression on her face, Ino continued to hit the stuffed animal for a few seconds.

(Why? I can't figure it out)

Looking at the scenery of Konoha through the window with a worried expression, Ino wondered to herself.

Every time she remembered that moment together with Toru, her body shuddered and she felt her heart racing.

"Damn Toru..."

Ino stared at the sky for a few seconds, but her eyes widened when she realized she was calling Toru by name.

(Since when did I start calling him by name?) Ino asked herself, but again her face flushed and she started hitting the stuffed animal again.

Just thinking about Toru's face made Ino feel confused, she couldn't even manage to understand herself.

"I shouldn't leave things like this..." Ino said as she got up from the bed.

"I'll go to his house and see to it that he never sees the sunlight again."

Even if Ino had said that, she wouldn't be able to look Toru in the eyes after all the things she said.

And that's something Ino couldn't reproach, after all, all Toru did was tell her the truth.

She was aware of that, until now all he had done was complain, he never did anything relevant for the team.

Even when she saw Hinata in Yamato's arms, completely shattered by the fight against Kouta, all she could do was look on with a frightened expression on her face.

She's useless, she's pathetic and miserable, Toru was right in those words.

That's why Ino hesitated for a few seconds. She wasn't sure about going to Toru's house, she also wasn't sure if she could see him without feeling strange.

(I... Why was it that I became a ninja?) With her hand on the doorknob, Ino looked at the ground with a confused expression.

Her accomplishments, her goals, she hadn't decided any of that. Had it simply been a whim? She wasn't sure about that.

Before she knew it, Ino was walking out of her house, still thinking about everything that had happened so far.

Everything Toru had said, the way he looked at her, the way he expressed himself, everything was completely different than usual.

And that was something that made her think about a lot of things.

(Asahi Toru...) Ino thought as she walked with her eyes on the ground.

(She was like a different person...) Ino thought as she remembered that day again.

She continued walking, she knew where she was going, but she was thinking about so many things that in the end she didn't take so much importance to it.

(Why is it so different?) Letting out a sigh, Ino let her arms drop to her shoulders.

"Ino?"

A voice pulled Ino out of her thoughts, due to the sudden interaction, she let out a small squeak.

But a second later, she realized who had called out to her.

"Hanabi?" Ino said as she saw the white-eyed girl.

In response to that, Hanabi simply let out a small giggle before answering.

"Yes, I'm Hanabi."

"Ha~ you scared me" Placing her hand on her chest, Ino sighed in relief.

"Haha, sorry."

"No worries. So... Why are you alone, shouldn't you be accompanied by someone?" Looking around, Ino spoke.

"I'm old enough to go alone in the world. Besides, I just came from the hospital, I went to visit Onee-san."

At the mention of Hinata, Ino's eyes widened.

"Hinata... Is she okay?"

"Um, yes. In two days she'll be able to leave that place. Fortunately that guy didn't break any bones, so there shouldn't be any problems. Besides... she's pretty strong."

As she finished speaking, for a second Hanabi's expression changed, but she quickly went back to her usual self.

"I understand, I'm glad Hinata is okay."

"Yes... now it's my turn to ask, where are you going with that abandoned kitten face?" With a flirtatious smile, Hanabi looked Ino in the eyes.

"I...? I was just walking, nothing more!"

Trying to hide the fact that they were currently in front of Toru's house, Ino looked away, but Hanabi noticed that.

"Are you going to visit Nii-san? Hanabi said as she looked back.

"Me, why should I visit that guy?" Ino said while trying to hide her blushing face at the same time her voice sounded awkward and nervous.

"Hm... What a coincidence, I was going to visit him too" As she spoke, Hanabi took Ino's hand.

"Come on, it'll be better if we both go" With a smile on her face, Hanabi looked at Ino.

She just looked at Hanabi's cute face and let a sigh escape her lips.

(I guess it'll be better this way) Ino thought, but before she could answer, Hanabi dragged her to Toru's house.

-At Toru's house-

Water droplets slid down his body.

For a few seconds she looked up at the shower ceiling with a neutral expression on his face.

(I haven't heard that voice again)

Lowering his gaze, Toru remembered the fight against Yasu.

While stabbing the spear ninja, Toru had managed to hear a voice telling him to stop.

For some reason, Toru could feel that he knew that voice.

Not only the tone, but also the way that voice expressed itself was familiar to him.

But try as he might to remember, he could not.

It was as if something was blocking his ability to remember.

"Ha~ I must finish my the tool I will use from now on."

Trying to forget that voice, Toru remembered that he was working on a tool that would help him in his work as a ninja

(I'll continue with is after I finish) Toru said as he turned off the water faucet.

After that, he took the towel that was next to the shower door and put it around his waist.

For a few seconds he paused in front of the mirror to see the state of the cut he had received during the fight against Yasu.

(The antidote Yamato sensei gave me was very effective. It neutralized the poison in a few hours.)

Toru sighed and walked out of the bathroom.

He walked slowly around his room being careful not to step on the scrolls and books that were scattered all over the floor.

(I should go out and buy more wire and screws...) Toru thought as he looked at the mysterious artifact on the table.

For a few seconds he stared into the void, remembering those words he used to hear from his father.

(The human mind will always have darkness, no matter who it is, eh).

Toru remained silent.

(Then... I have some darkness in my mind too.)

Toru closed his eyes while. A few drops of water fell to the ground as Toru meditated.

"It's getting cold" Toru said, realizing that he was completely naked, the only thing covering him was the towel around his waist.

But just as he started to get dressed, the door rang.

Someone was knocking on the door.

So, without much invitation from his appearance, Toru went to the entrance of the house.

He gave himself a few seconds to arrange the towel so it wouldn't fall off.

Once he finished, he opened the door.

"Nii-san, we came to...."

"Huh...?"

Ino and Hanabi stared at Toru's torso for a few seconds.

Although they had come unannounced beforehand, they hadn't expected to find a half-naked boy.

"Hm... What?" said Toru.

"Well, I didn't expect something like this. I was just coming to see if you were okay, but.... Nii-san, how do you keep yourself like this?" said Hanabi, at that moment she was trying to hide her blushing face, but Toru didn't care about that.

However, Ino had remained silent, her eyes staring at Toru's abdomen, which, despite being the body of a twelve year old, was very well trained.

"Ino..." Toru spoke, his eyes shining for a second.

This made Ino feel a shiver run through her entire body.

"Ah, yes, I... I'm leaving!" Looking all around while her face blushed, Ino tried to run away after seeing Toru's eyes, but Hanabi stopped that from happening.

"Ha~ come in, stay at the entrance, I'll go change" Toru said as he headed to his room.

Meanwhile, Ino and Hanabi entered without saying a word.

(What do I do?!)

Ino was scared and nervous, she didn't know what to say or how to act.

Hanabi, on the other hand, had only remained observing the interior of Toru's house.

A few seconds passed, until Toru's voice could be heard.

"You can go in now," Toru said.

After that, Ino and Hanabi moved forward.

As they went deeper into the house, they could tell that the whole place was a mess.

There were different kinds of scrolls and books lying everywhere.

Metal think, screws and different tools were lying around as well.

"Should I prepare something?" stepping out from between some books that were piled up, Toru spoke, causing Ino to jump a little due to the shock she received.

"I don't think it's necessary, Nii-san" Hanabi said while looking at Toru's clothes.

"I understand. Then why are you guys here?"

"Hm... I just came to make sure you were okay. Also to tell you that Onee-san will be released from the hospital in two days. On the other hand, I don't know why Ino came" Hanabi said, making Ino flinch.

*cough fake*

"Well, I also came for the same thing. Since we both belong to the same team, I wanted to make sure you were okay."

Crossing her arms and looking away to hide her flushed face, Ino spoke.

This made Toru narrow his eyes.

"Really, you didn't come for other reasons?" asked Ino.

But suddenly, he looked at Toru with a haughty expression, though she was still blushing, and replied.

"What!!! Why are you asking that! You should be thankful that I decided to waste my valuable time with you" Ino said.

Hanabi simply remained silent as she looked at Ino, something had changed and that was evident.

"Hm... Well, now that I've made sure Nii-san isn't dead, I'll be going. Ino should stay a while longer."

As if she knew what Ino was going through, Hanabi left without a trace.

(Don't leave me alone with him!) Ino shouted inside her mind.

After that everything was silent until Toru decided to speak.

"If you want to leave go ahead" Toru said while closing his eyes.

After listening to the grey eyed boy, Ino opened her eyes.

She thought Toru would try to do something weird again, but apparently that wasn't the case.

"Seriously, this place is a mess" Ino scratched her head and changed the subject as she started to pick up the books that were on the floor.

"Just because you're a man doesn't mean you can keep everything messy."

After seeing Ino act so meek, Toru narrowed his eyes a little.

(I guess it'll be better this way) Toru thought.

"Next time I come and find everything lying around, I'll take it upon myself to smash the floor with your head" Ino said.

For some reason Toru felt strange seeing Ino like that, but she guessed it was because of the confusion she felt.

"I didn't ask you to do that "Toru said as he closed his eyes.

"That doesn't matter to me, besides, if you don't do it no one will..."

Ino opened her eyes, she realized what she was doing.

Instantly, her face turned as red as a tomato.

"Eh... I think I should go now."

After that, Ino walked out of Toru's house.

(A strange attitude, no doubt) Toru thought as he didn't understand Ino's strange way of acting.

_____

Author's note: The truth is that I wanted to make a quiet chapter before starting the chunin exams, so, here it is.

Remember that there is a comment box, I accept criticism and suggestions, so that this story doesn't get boring.