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"What are you doing tonight, Ten?" Ino's question came as they lounged around Yamanaka Flowers on a sunny March afternoon. The fourteenth of March, to be exact. White Day, where those who received Valentine's chocolates were supposed to reciprocate.
"Oh, I guess I'm just getting some takeout and running numbers for the armory." Maybe Ino was just being hopeful, but she sounded a little disappointed with that outcome.
Now that Tenten was next in line to be village quartermaster, once Chouji's dad retired, she spent most of her time where she was happiest: around weapons. Though, that wasn't the only place she spent her time, as evidenced by the many hours of downtime she spent helping Ino run the flower shop (a thinly veiled disguise for gossip sessions) or train (which often ended with Ino unwinding Tenten's thick mass of curls and playing with them). But it wasn't enough—Ino needed more time with her.
"Why don't we go out? I'll pay, as a thanks for the chocolates last month."
Tenten quirked a brow.
"You gave me chocolates, too, Ino. So are we just paying for each other?"
"No," Ino immediately replied, a firm edge to her voice. She softened quickly, though, hurrying to make up for her blunder (she couldn't blow her cover yet, not before she'd gauged Tenten's feelings a bit more). "I'm paying for everything. You made sure I got the best brace of shuriken from the armory for my mission to River last week, so that's more than enough payment."
Tenten looked at her for a moment longer, then relaxed, shrugging.
"Okay. Do you want to try that new teahouse a few blocks over? Hinata says it's nice."
"Yeah, we can do that. Six o'clock? We can beat the late crowds if we get there before seven." While the lovey-dovey couple crowds might set a more romantic mood for some, Ino wasn't trying to overwhelm Tenten. Not yet, at least and not outside of the bedroom.
They beat the crowds, as she'd anticipated, but Ino couldn't focus on such a small victory when Tenten was sitting across from her, looking more delectable than anything a menu could possibly offer. The other woman was in a white, high-necked dress with bright red trim that accentuated every last curve and showcased her muscular arms, and Ino wanted nothing more than to see it on the floor of her bedroom.
"It looks okay, right?" Tenten's voice broke her out of her thirsty reverie, and Ino rushed to reassure her.
"You look hot, Ten. Like, the hottest woman in the world hot."
Tenten blushed and tried to wave off the compliment, but Ino could only stare, drinking in the sight until their food arrived. Even then, she snuck glances as they ate, unable to stop admiring the other woman even if her life depended on it. She barely tasted the food for all her mooning, and when they talked (about everything from going shopping the following weekend to checking out a kunoichi manicure spot that offered diamond-strength nail lacquer for literally tearing out an enemy's throat) it seemed to feel like someone else was talking instead of herself. And every so often, when a moment presented itself, she would let her hand reach out and brush Tenten's.
Gods, Ino was so gone for her, it was unreal.
Despite her distractions, however, it was a pretty perfect dinner. So perfect that Ino was sure she was going to ask Tenten if she was okay with it being a real date, instead of a girls' night. But as they strolled out of the restaurant and towards the direction of the Yamanaka compound, Tenten beat her to the punch. Stopping in her tracks, Ino also halted to turn around, so they could face each other.
"Ino…" She trailed off, hesitating. Ino tried not to squirm as she waited for the question she was sure was coming. "Is this- Was this a date? Like a serious, romantic date?"
Ino felt as though she was going to throw up. In all her life, flirting mindlessly with targets and friends alike, she'd never been so worried about the possibility of rejection. Those other times, those other people, they never meant what Tenten meant to her. Sure, she loved Forehead like a sister, and Shikamaru and Chouji were her ride-or-die teammates, but Tenten—Tenten was the woman she wanted to trust her whole being to, body, mind, and soul.
"Would you hate it if I said yes?"
Tenten paused for a moment, and tension began creeping into Ino's muscles. She was so on edge that when the other woman reached out, she nearly struck with her shinobi reflexes. Luckily, she managed to hold off, because the reward was more than she'd dared hope for.
Tenten's lips were just as soft as her curls, and they molded so perfectly against Ino's that it was like two puzzle pieces coming together. They were made to kiss each other, and Ino sank into the soft, fuzzy feelings with no small amount of gratitude. In fact, when they parted for air, she couldn't help pouting.
Tenten smiled, brown eyes twinkling, and swiped her thumb across Ino's lips.
"I'd say it was about time, actually."