The buzzing caused Sakura to sit herself up in a wild movement. She looked this way and that, clenching at the fabric of her nightshirt that rested over her chest, until her eyes finally rested on the alarm clock and narrowed. How she hated that thing, but how she loved waking up in the morning. Rather, how she loved life. Everything was now wonderful for her—all because of one person who saw past her flawed appearance.

Sakura scooted to the edge of her bed and reached over to the nightstand. After looking it over and holding it tight, putting on her precious ribbon was always the first thing she did after staring knives through the alarm clock. She'd have to take it off again to fix her hair, but that didn't matter. It was tied to her, and the only reason she didn't wear it to bed was because one time, when she used to, it came off in the night and got stuck between the bedpost. By the time she realized it, her mother was pushing her out the door for school. That day, though it may have just been in her head, she got the impression that Ino was disappointed with her, and she vowed to never lose it again.

After breakfast, Sakura brushed her teeth before the mirror. Her eyes looked to her forehead then down to the little blue ties poking out underneath her ears. She could imagine Ino in the mirror, behind her and tying the bow for her. It didn't happen that way, but the thought brought warmth to her heart and a smile to her lips.

Sakura skipped down the street, lunchbox bouncing by her side. "Off to become a ninja," she sang. She smiled and waved to the older shop owners as she passed. They were always too old to see her flaws. "I'm off, off, to become big and strong, off, off to become a pretty little ninja." She stopped and put her index finger to her lips, looking up at the sky. Why, in particular, did she want to become a ninja, she asked herself. Why did she like miso soup? Well, the taste, but why did it taste good? Could she learn that at the ninja academy? With a shrug, she started skipping again. She had this conversation with herself at least once a week.

School was easy for her, but she didn't mind that, either. She understood that she still needed the information, and getting to be around Ino was more than enough to make it worth it. However, today, she found herself looking at Sasuke again. He was surrounded by other students, yet, somehow, still looked so alone. Maybe it was his posture, or the way he said nothing, just scratching away at his notebook with no enthusiasm.

"Isn't it sad?" Sakura whispered without taking her eyes off her sensei, Iruka, and the board he had images and words on. He was explaining how to use angles and your surroundings to manipulate the trajectory of shurikens. The math was easy for Sakura, but she couldn't really visualize applying the techniques. What really was the point of the math, though? It wasn't like they were going to build a railway. She needed to know how to throw—ah, and now he was explaining the degrees in which to flick your wrist to achieve certain trajectories. Okay, then with these notes, she could practice at home.

"What are you talking about?" Ino's voice came from her right.

"Sasuke," Sakura said, "I feel bad for him."

"Oh. Yeah. It's horrible, but that's the world."

"His brother, though," Sakura said. She sharpened her pencil. "He has no family now. It's too sad."

"If you feel that way, why don't you talk to him?"

"A boy?"

"Why not?"

Ino was always carefree and forward like that, and Sakura did want to talk to him. She should. But how could she? How does one talk to someone in such a situation? She didn't want to say anything rude or be a bother. But, if everyone felt that way, then he'd have no friends, right? It wouldn't hurt to try if she just played it carefully. You're smart enough to do that much, even smarter than him, that voice said, go for it. Show him you're the smartest in class!

Like usual, at lunch time, he went out the classroom door. This time, Sakura followed him, from a good distance. She watched him disappear around a corner, and followed at a distance.

Outside, he sat on a bunch and unwrapped a delicious looking sandwich. Some stupid birds were flocked by, and he picked some bread off, throwing it to them. There were so many. He kept picking, and picking, until Sakura could take it no longer. She walked up to him. He was a lot cuter up close.

"Ha-hi," she said, brushing her hair back. "May I sit here?" Sasuke didn't respond. With a heavy heart, she sat on the edge of the bench. She looked at him. "Um, how have you been?"

He turned away.

Forget about him, that voice said, he's pathetic. Weak. Like you used to be.

Sakura reached down and picked up a stick. She ran it through the ground. "I'm Haruno Sakura," she said.

"I know," Sasuke said.

She continued running the stick through the ground, slowly. "Sasuke, don't you want any friends?" she asked.

He didn't respond.

"I'm sorry," she said.

Sasuke turned to her and his eyes drifted to her stick.

"That symbol suits you well," she said.

"What would you know?"

"I mean, it is the fan of flames...the fire of Konoha, that keeps you going, right?"

"No. It is the fire of the Uchiha that keeps me going."

Sakura looked down. He's so weak, she thought, just forget about him. She clenched her eyes tight. She hated this voice. All the years of rejection and being bullied, combined with her being brought up to have proper manors, had created what was...not quite a split personality, but a second voice in her head that only thought the worst of everyone. No one was spared, not even her parents, on occasions. Except, there was one person...

"Do you want me to brush your hair?" Ino asked, sitting near her, on Sakura's bed.

"That's okay, Ino," Sakura said, for the thousandth time. "I don't want to bother you."

"You know it's no bother," Ino said, with a smile. "I like to brush your long, beautiful hair. It's calming."

And Sakura loved to have it brushed by Ino. More specifically, she loves the way the tops of Ino's fingers grazed her scalp as one hand loosely held some hair for the other to brush it. It was, like Ino said, tranquil. She loved Ino's body, the warmth, pressed against her back. She loved Ino, her best friend, but for some reason, couldn't say those words.

"Are you still talking to Sasuke?" Ino asked.

"Yeah, quite a bit," Sakura said. She shut her eyes and Ino gently caused her head to move forward and back as she brushed her hair.

"O-oh," Ino said, from behind her. Sakura felt a hand on her shoulder as the brush continued to go down her hair. "Have you... Kissed him, yet?"

"Ino!"

"No, then?"

"Yes. I mean, no, I haven't..."

"What are you waiting for?"

"I don't know," Sakura said.

"How long have you two been...dating? A few months?"

"D-dating?" Sakura responded.

"You don't consider it that?"

"I-I never thought about it," Sakura said. Her fingers touched her forearm as Ino stroked her hair with the brush.

"Sakura," Ino said. She pushed on her shoulder, guiding her around. "Are you scared to kiss him?"

"S-scared?" she asked. She hadn't even thought about that, either.

"Yeah," Ino said, looking at Sakura with half-open eyes, "are you scared to kiss him?"

"I-I guess so," Sakura said. She was hunched down a little, looking up at Ino.

Ino looked down at Sakura. Her lips glistened. "Do you... Do you want to practice?" she asked.

"Practice?"

"Yeah. You've never kissed anyone, right?"

"No... Have you?"

"No... Do you want to practice with me, Sakura?"

"I-Ino, isn't that... a little weird?"

Ino smiled. "Don't you want to try it?" she asked. "F-for him? Just for fun? Who cares what anyone thinks, right?"

Sakura felt her face go red and she glanced away. "Y-yeah," she said. I want to kiss you, that voice said, honest only with Ino. She felt a hand on her cheek, tilting her head forward. Ino's half-open eyes were right in her face. They were so beautiful. Her friend was so beautiful.

"I'm going to kiss you, Sakura," Ino said. Sakura nodded. Ino leaned forward, her hand dropping from Sakura's cheek and going atop her hand that was flat on the bed. It was just a little peck against her lips, but Sakura's heart jumped into lava like she had never felt before.

Sakura opened her eyes to see Ino and her seductive, half-open eyes. Ino brushed her hair back, blushing. "Did...did you like that?" she asked.

Sakura had physically felt little, but...her heart pounded. It was almost, kind of numb... Breathtaking. She wanted to kiss Ino again, and didn't know if that was normal. "I... I..." she said, but the words wouldn't come. She smiled at Ino instead, and felt Ino's hands at hers, holding them up between the two.

"I don't know if we did it right," Ino said, bringing their hands to their sides, but at the back of Sakura as Ino pressed forward. "Can I try again? For practice?"

Sakura's face was hot for some reason.

"Is it that embarrassing?" Ino asked, "we're just friends."

"Y-yeah," Sakura said, "it's okay. We're friends."

"You want me to kiss you, then, Sakura?"

Sakura glanced away. What was Ino doing? "Y-yeah," she said, "you can kiss me." No, I want you to, she thought, I want to feel the warmth of you. It makes me so happy.

Ino pressed forward until Sakura's back was flat against the bed. She tried to open her eyes, but could barely see between the bliss. Ino's face was completely red above her.

"Kissing is fun, huh?" Ino said, "you'll be a pro for him in no time." Her lips slowly curled into a smile and she glanced away.

Sakura, wearily, wistfully, looked up at Ino, "Is this really okay?" she asked.

"Wha-what do you mean, Sakura?"

I mean, I want to kiss you more, but... "Should girls kiss each other this way?" Sakura asked.

"S-Sakura? W-we're just having some fun, right?" she asked, smiling. "Harmless curiosity. Everyone does it. I think."

She wanted to ask Ino if she loved her, but the fear of rejection was too much...and she wasn't even sure why. She knew Ino loved her, after all. "Yeah, just harmless practice between girls," she said.

Was this her first kiss? She wasn't sure at first...it had just been practice, but that second kiss...she couldn't get out of her head. It was her first kiss with Ino, but wouldn't be her last.

Sakura continued to pursue Sasuke and eventually came on regular talking terms with him. Well, they didn't say much, aside from the basics.

You dumb fool, she thought, and asked, "Ah, isn't this weather nice?"

"Yeah," Sasuke said, looking at the ground.

"Sasuke..."

"Yeah, Sakura?"

"You know, I'm your friend and...and... I know this might sound selfish, but I want you to be happy. It hurts me to see you this way."

Sasuke smiled for a second. "I'm sorry, Sakura," he said, "I don't mean to hurt you."

"It's okay," Sakura replied.

Sasuke folded his hands and looked at the ground between his feet. "Sakura, why... Why are you trying to be my friend?" he asked.

"S-Sasuke," Sakura said, stiff. She looked him over. He didn't lift his gaze from the ground. "Sasuke, I just... I just, wanted to be your friend," she said.

"Is that so?" Sasuke asked.

Sakura, her hand shaking, brought it against Sasuke's cheek and turned it. Wasn't this the man's job? She shrugged and shut her eyes, leaning close, but before she met his lips. After a moment, she felt his lips against hers, for only but a second. It was little more than her first kiss with Ino, but she remembered that second kiss, and wanted more. "S-Sasuke," she said, holding his face towards hers. She leaned forward, slowly, waiting for his eyes to shut, then pressed her lips against his.

"So, have you kissed him yet?" Ino asked from behind Sakura, as she brought the brush down her hair.

Sakura shivered. "We have," she said.

"Oh. Was it good?" Ino asked. Her body suddenly felt closer. Sakura could feel her warmth against her back and... butt.

"Y-yeah. Though, I had your help," Sakura replied, "I mean, because of you, I was able to... to have some idea."

"Is that so?" Ino asked. Her breath was right against Sakura's ear. Her arms were no longer working on Sakura's hair, but wrapped around her waist. Sakura felt some weight against one of her shoulders. "Did he make you happy, Sakura?"

"Y-yeah..."

Ino looked up for a moment, then said, "I guess that makes us rivals, eh, Sakura?"

Rivals? With Ino? She didn't know how to responds. "I don't want anything to change between us!" she said.

"S-Sakura?" Ino said.

"You can have him. I don't care. Your friendship comes first, no matter what!" Sakura leaped forward, wrapping her arms around Ino's waist. Tears stained her cheeks.

"S-Sakura..." Ino leaned forward and grasped Sakura by the hands, holding them up between the two. "You...You're so perfect," she said, "nothing will come between us."

And, people had waved their flags in front of the two, but Ino kept her word.

"W-we had a g-" but before Sakura could finish her thoughts, she felt a warm wetness against her neck. "Ino?" she asked, her face hot.

"You're moving fast enough, aren't you, Sakura?" Ino asked, rubbing her face into Sakura's neck. "Don't you want more experience?"

"Oh-okay," Sakura said, and Ino laid a hand under her chin, tilting it towards herself, until Sakura's face was parallel with her own shoulder. Ino leaned forward, kissing Sakura and brushing her tongue against her lips.

"Ino," Sakura mumbled, and Ino took the chance to put her tongue into Sakura's mouth. Sakura moaned.

Ino had had enough of all this talk of boys, Sasuke, whatever, and pinned Sakura down onto the bed, holding her by the wrists. She looked down at Sakura, able to feel that all she had was desire for the girl beneath her. "Do you want more?" Ino asked. A drop of saliva fell to Sakura's lips, and Ino wiped her own, blushing.

"I-I..." Sakura stammered, and looked away. "Sasuke and I have a date in a little while," she said, her chest heaving.

Actually, it was deeper than that. The bastard, Naruto, had showed up to their last play time. Sakura had only wanted to be a friend to Sasuke, when it all came down to it, but Naruto... What a jerk.

"Hanging out with a girl?" Naruto had asked, a stupid smirk on his face.

Sasuke didn't respond. Sakura hugged him, glaring up at Naruto. "Go away!" she demanded, "you jerk!"

"S-Sakura," Naruto said. He glanced away, then ran off.

Sakura loosened her grip on Sasuke. "Why do you...pay attention to me?" Sasuke asked.

Sakura looked him up and down, then tapped a finger to her chin, "I guess, because...because..."

"Because I am pathetic and alone?"

"No! Because... I want to be your friend!"

Sasuke smiled. "You're already my friend, Sakura," he said. He leaned close, and they shared a soft kiss.

"S-Sasuke," Sakura said, clenching a hand to her chin and looking away.

Ino wasn't going to let this be the end of it. She pressed down on Sakura, gliding both her hand to either hip and she pushed her lips to Sakura's. She lifted her head. The look she gave Sakura sent a chill and warmth through her body like she had never experienced. "Does he make you feel this way?" Ino asked.

Sakura melted, looking up at Ino. Her mouth was ajar, asking for more, though... Though she wanted to plead her case, "Ino, you're the best teacher I could ask for," she said.

Almost within an instant, she felt both of Ino's hands against her cheeks, and her head leaning against her forehead. "I didn't notice those earrings," Sakura said, trying to look away, but her gaze kept going towards the girl she loved atop her.

"Do you like them?" Ino asked simply, looking down at Sakura. Her blond hair brushed against Sakura's stomach as Ino lifted the bottom of her shirt up.

"Y-yeah," Sakura replied.

"Do they make me pretty?"

"N-no," Sakura said, blushing. She looked up at the girl, her best friend, who, with one word, became so fragile, and brought a hand to her cheek. "You make anything beautiful, Ino," Sakura said.

"S-Sakura," Ino said, leaning down. Her face was over Sakura's. "Do you want to practice more?"

No. Sakura wanted more. She... She wanted to have sex with Ino, but was too young and confused to express it. "Yes," she said, shutting her eyes and feeling Ino press down on her. Without knowing, telling herself it was just ritual, she glided her fingers down Ino's cheek until they came under her chin. Sakura was powerless there. She just let Ino kiss her, not caring what.

Ino lifted her head. Saliva dripped between her lips, a strand still connected to Sakura's lips as Ino slowly said, "Sakura, I..."

Sakura smiled, her tongue grazing her lips. "Ino," she said, "I feel confident with Sasuke now. Isn't that great? All because of you, I have found my husband."

"H-Husband? Aren't you jumping forward too much?"

"Maybe, but, who cares, right? It's just fun and games."

The two kissed. Ino put a hand to the back of Sakura's head and held it close. "Is Sasuke like this?" Ino asked. Her eyes were doing that thing again as she pressed forward, her warm breath against Sakura.

"I-I don't," Sakura began. She had had enough of Ino and her ways, but, couldn't lie to her, either.

"Don't what?" Ino asked. She brought her face forward, red as an apple, and cheeks to match.

"I-I," Sakura said. Fingers wrapped around the base of her neck. She looked up at Ino, then shut her eyes, and felt a warm softness against her lips.

"Stop being a fool," Ino said, smiling down at her.

"I'm no fool," Sakura said.

"Oh? Th-then, wh-what have you learned from me, Sakura?" Ino asked.

"...How to kiss," Sakura responded.

Ino gave a low laugh. "So, you want Sasuke?" she asked.

Sakura nodded, and months later, she found herself sitting with Sasuke by her side, Ino across from her, and Naruto to Ino's side. She...tried to smirk at Ino, placing a hand on Sasuke's leg. But, there was only a solemnness to her. Sakura and Sasuke flirted a lot that night, and even shared a few small kisses.

Ino ran into the bathroom. Sakura excused herself and followed suite. She knocked on the stall door she was sure Ino was in. "Ino, c'mon," she said.

"Go away, Sakura," Ino's voice said.

"Wha-why, Ino?"

"Because... Because, you don't get it. You have Sasuke, and I am all alone."

"Ino..." Sakura said, "you always come first."

Ino glanced back. With a sigh, she slammed the stall door.

Sakura reached forward, catching it, and pushing the doors aside, and instantly enveloping Ino around her head and hugging her to her chest. "I-Ino," she said, "cut this out."

Ino rubbed her head into Sakura's chest. "You're so naïve," she said.

"I...Ino, what do you mean?' Sakura asked, pulling back and looking into her eyes, surrounded by plastic stall.

"Sakura, I mean..." Ino said. She glanced away, then looked at Sakura and pressed forward. Her lips were less than an inch from Sakura's. "S-Sakura..."

Sakura moved her head forward, like she always had when she kissed Ino, but... But, her heart beat, like it always had when she thought of Ino.

She stared up into Ino's eyes, until Ino's little fingers enveloped her cheeks. She tasted Ino's tongue, her sweet saliva, and her moans, and felt the stall door. "I-Ino..." Sakura said. What have you done to me? I can't resist...my...my heart, she thought.

Ino looked at Sakura, her face timid, lips trembling, "I lov-" she began to say, but Sakura looked away.