A strange new life

7.6.h

Hug-chan watched the Original leave the training field with the visitors. Ino stirred and mumbled, hands gripping the clone’s clothing and pulling closer.

“Ah, I’m dreaming.”

The clone looked at the blonde’s face. Her eyes were half-lidded, and she didn’t look at all there. Ino looked worse than Hinata had ever seen before. It wasn’t just the bags under her eyes; her clothes were unkempt, the bandages on her hands flecked with blood, and most alarming of all, she wore no makeup.

In the years since Ino learned about it in the Kunoichi classes, this was the first time she’d seen the girl without.

Ino nuzzled her face against the clone’s shoulder.

“I want to go home.”

That was easy enough. The clone didn’t mind taking the sleeping girl home. It was a good idea even. Put her in bed where she could rest properly. It was a shame the original wasn’t here right now, but that was life.

“I want cupcakes.”

Another line that sent her heart racing. Best girl Ino wanted sweets. That decided things even more.

Hug-chan got up, taking care not to jostle the drowsy girl too much. The clone adjusted Ino so the blonde’s front rested against her back, and Ino’s arms were draped over the shoulders. Ino’s head nestled near Hug-chan’s neck. Her hours of carrying Karin around gave her the know-how needed to keep Ino comfortable and stable. Before she left, she scribbled an abridged note for the original.

Grocer. BGIWS. BTYFS.

That should be more than enough. Once Original-chan had the sweets, dropping by the Yamanaka flower shop would be easy.

The clone took one last look at the training field, made sure she wasn’t leaving anything behind, then left.

She didn’t run, or take to the highways; no intense movement or jumping. Hug-chan Express would do her best to deliver a comfortable travel experience to her sleeping passenger. Bump and jolt free.

The walk gave Hug-chan time to think about things. Maybe it was the perspective of being a clone, but her thoughts weren’t on the growing list of the original’s problems. No, what concerned the clone was feelings.

Feelings or obsession?

It was difficult to tell them apart. She’d been so obsessed with the characters in the show, and so consumed with wishing to meet them that, now that she did, she wasn’t sure if her feelings were real or some form of idol worship.

God knows she already did that a lot in the form of fangirling.

There was this happy feeling building in her gut, knowing that Ino cared enough to be in this state because Hinata went missing. Was it selfish to feel happy at her friends’ suffering?

The original never considered a relationship at all. For all her bluster and obsession, romance had never seriously crossed her mind. Too young, she’d mostly dismiss. There are horrors in the future, can’t worry about feeling right now. Every time a hint of that came up, justifications popped left and right.

When not caring about the many horrors of the future, the clone really wanted to cuddle and snog and go on dates. She even suspected Ino might not be totally against it. Maybe not in a romantic sense yet, but Hug-chan could dream.

The concept of same-sex relationships might not even exist here, with clans pushing for their children to find a good match and continue the clan’s bloodline. It might even be frowned upon or outlawed. Hinata never even heard about gay couples in all her years around.

Hug-chan’s steps led her to the flower shop. She pulled the door open, then stepped inside. One of the workers was on the counter. He looked startled when Hug-chan stepped inside carrying a sleeping Ino, but a quick gesture ensured he didn’t cause a fuss.

It wasn’t the first time she’d been here, so Hug-chan walked inside, past the storefront, and into the Yamanaka residence. The house was quiet and still.

The clone adjusted her steps and walked toward Ino’s bedroom. Once there, she laid the blonde on the bed, removed her shoes, unwrapped the bandages from her hands. Hoping Ino would forgive the intrusion, she searched the blonde’s room for cleaning supplies and a first aid kit.

Back at the bed, she cleaned and re-wrapped the hands. She noticed a shift in Ino’s breathing. Maybe it was the stinging cleaning agent or the strong alcohol scent. Ino’s eyes were open and looking at the clone’s face.

“You’re really back.” Ino whispered.

Hug-chan smiled. Nodded. She finished tying up the bandages, put the first aid kit away. Under Ino’s intense stare, she made sure the blonde was tucked in and comfortable, even bringing over the sheets.

Tucked in and comfortable, Ino spoke again.

“Are you leaving?”

Hug-chan shook her head. She was a clone; there was nowhere she needed to be. Taking care of Ino was more important than worrying about all the other problems.

Ino’s hand sneaked from beneath the sheets and pulled Hug-chan into the bed, too. Ino hugged the clone, hiding her face against the clone’s chest.

“Promise you won’t disappear again.”

“I promise.” Hug-chan husked out. She wrapped her arms around Ino. It didn’t take long until the blonde was asleep again.

Now, alone with her thoughts, the clone had even more time to think.

Could she promise it? At that moment, the clone knew even the original wouldn’t hesitate to make that promise. That also highlighted another issue that bothered every created clone, which the original was keen on ignoring.

If the original ever wanted a real relationship, she had to be honest. About her past, about the knowledge, about her plans.

Hug-chan wasn’t about to spill the beans, even if she thought that would be the best course of action, but she imprinted enough reaction on her mind just to make sure the Original knew that she had to address this sooner rather than later.

To truly be friends with Ino, and hopefully something more, Original-chan needed to be honest. It wasn’t fair to the other girl to keep to herself all the secrets that could cause many problems in the future.