Fated

[openedthebasket]

You deserved to die.

The piece of paper was snatched out of the air before it could hit his face, leaving him pausing and frowning down at it with a sudden chill. Where could it have come from? A moment as he formed the seals to activate his Byakugan, but -- no one to be seen who could have tossed this at him. Troubling, somewhat cruel, but seeing as how he could see other papers drifting to the ground before other people...? Hardly something to be concerned about, lest this were another seal of some kind.

Still, he couldn't let it fall, running a thumb over it before letting it slip into his pocket. It hadn't been much more than another few steps when a second paper fell, snatched before it could land on his shoulder.

You deserved to die.

Comments

[perfectcosmos]

"He's not home right this second, but I'm sure I could find him if you're in a hurry to get it out of the way."

[guiltoftruth]

Sasuke was still incredibly stiff, glancing meaningfully at Ino before she eyed Neji and sighed, "... Not right now. But soon."

She needed to think of what to say...

[openedthebasket]

"I would accompany you, if I may," he murmured, glancing to Ino himself before focusing his attention on Sasuke. "If you would permit."

[perfectcosmos]

"I don't know why you two need to talk to him at all. He already knew about you two."

[guiltoftruth]

"But including you is new today," She stated firmly, her frown never leaving the ground as she leaned against the counter, arms crossing over her chest, "... It's your choice, Ino. We won't if you don't want us to."

[openedthebasket]

He didn't know about that. If anything were to come of this, he... well. He would prefer to speak with Yamanaka Inoichi about this matter. He didn't add further, only glanced to Sasuke and rested a hand against her elbow.

[perfectcosmos]

"Ah... no I meant about you two and myself, and things. I mentioned it. His exact words were 'I'm not your dad' I do believe."

[guiltoftruth]

"I still want to at some point," The words were spoken with blunt determination behind them, her eyes finally rising to meet Ino's again when she did.

"It doesn't have to be today. But I don't want to hide that you're with Neji and I, either."

[openedthebasket]

Neji nodded in agreement with what she said, glancing to her with the smallest of approving smiles. That, more than anything, her willingness to take it seriously, to make sure everything was done properly... that put him more at ease.

Both women would be of equal standing in his life. Of this? He would be certain.

[perfectcosmos]

Ino flushed a little and huffed a breath, then simply inclined her head. "I see there's no arguing with you, so I won't try."

[guiltoftruth]

Ino's words put her at ease and she nodded, breathing out a low sigh as she leaned back against the counter again.

"Mm."

[openedthebasket]

"Thank you," he murmured, glancing between the two of them, at a loss to what he should do. Having one significant other had been challenging enough, and now two...?

Heavens help him.

[perfectcosmos]

Ino shifted in place, then rolled her eyes, grabbing a hand in each of hers and heading for the living room area. "You're both so stiff."

[guiltoftruth]

She made a little noise at the grab but followed Ino's pull willingly enough, glancing to her when she did. Stiff, though? And just what did Ino have planned for them now?

[openedthebasket]

Neji's brow furrowed, but he also went along without resistance, glancing first to Sasuke and then to Ino, as if in search of a cue. "My apologies," he responded after a moment of following her tug.

[perfectcosmos]

"I'll get you guys used to me." She shook her head, moving to the couch and releasing them to point at it imperiously. "Now sit, we're cuddling."

[guiltoftruth]

Cuddling? She had to blink a couple of times and gauge if Ino was serious before she sat down on one side, waiting for the other two almost expectantly.

[openedthebasket]

They were being ordered to cuddle? Neji felt patently ridiculous, but did as she said, taking a moment to carefully study the couch. If he sat beside Sasuke, would that prohibit Ino from reaching her? If he sat too far, would that make it awkward for Sasuke?

A frown, then he settled for a halfway point -- enough room for Ino to squeeze between him and Sasuke if she chose, yet not far enough away to make it unreasonable for her to sit on the other side of him, either.

[perfectcosmos]

Ino, highly amused by the way that Neji is rather awkward about it, and she moved over, sitting in his lap without much of an ado and leaned forward to tug Sasuke closer.

[guiltoftruth]

Sasuke couldn't help making a noise at that, blinking a few times before she leaned in and tried to settle into the warmth of the two close to her. Okay this was... Different. But she could deal with it.

[openedthebasket]

Maybe Sasuke could, but Neji couldn't. He let out a decidedly strangled noise at suddenly being sat upon, eyes going wide as he stared up at her back, then glanced to Sasuke.

What was he supposed to do with his hands? How was he supposed to sit?

[perfectcosmos]

Ino squirmed until her legs were draped across Sasuke's lap, and she reached to grab Neji's left hand, resting it on her waist, then took his right and looped it around Sasuke so the dark haired girl could nestle in easier. Sasuke seemed to be doing better, so she figured the girl might be able to manage her own hands.

[guiltoftruth]

It took her a few moments, but she did figure out something to do with her hands. Very gently she rested them on Ino's legs, leaning into Neji when she did so that she could at least make an attempt at being more comfortable.

[openedthebasket]

Alright, this was starting to edge toward humiliating when Ino took his hands, but once she'd adjusted him and Sasuke had shifted in, he had to admit the warmth was... nice. Really nice, actually, and he carefully let the hand around Sasuke's shoulders lift just enough to lightly brush through the ends of her hair as his other hand's fingers fell into a more natural position against Ino's waist.

"...Now what?"

[perfectcosmos]

"What do you mean now what?" She nestled in against his chest with a soft laugh, putting her head on his shoulder. "Do you have somewhere to be?"