Searching for More

By TheCrackShipper

Prologue: Limelight

"Miss Yamanaka, Over here!"

"Miss Yamanaka, if you could answer just a few questions!"

"Is it true that you're pregnant?"

Yamanaka Ino kept her eyes front and center, her overly large designer sunglass perched on her button nose. Her body guards kept the paparazzi in line, and she didn't give the leeches so much as a glance. Just a few more feet and she'd be home free. She had just returned from a fashion show, where they had been modeling her latest creations. Almost there…

"Miss Yamanaka, is it true that your manager dumped you for another woman?"

She could feel her heart harden a little more, her teeth clenched tightly. She wouldn't give them the satisfaction of a facial expression. Damn the paparazzi. Sometimes they got lucky.

It was still so painful, so hurtful. The last few months had been nothing but an introspective glance at all her faults and sadly enough they outweighed all of her talents. What good was it that you could model, design, and dance if you were a terrible person? Her dear manager had managed to utterly lay waste years of confidence. Why would he do this to her? How could he do this to her? They had grown up together, they had been the best of friends, and now they were bitterly estranged.

She stepped into the revolving door, and the flashing lights and incessant shouts were finally muffled. The apartment complex where she resided was lavish enough to satiate her extravagant taste. Everything was ornately designed with gold tinges, and warm themes. It was perfect for unwinding after a long depressing day.

"You okay, Ino?"

She turned a falsely cheery smile to one of her remaining, genuine, friends. Akimichi Chouji had taken a job as her body guard so that they could spend more time together. He was good to her; he thought the best of her which was more than she could say for her ex-friend.

"I'm fine Chouji."

He looked away from her uncomfortably. Chouji always had trouble wording things. Most of the time Ino was impatient, but lately she had been finding herself cherishing those few that she still had. She pushed her sunglasses to the top of her head, and peered up at him. She was beautiful, no one could deny that. Her big, baby blue eyes made her looks so sweet and innocent. Her hair lay freely against her shoulder, and her clothes were always sublime.

"Ino," he was obviously distressed, "Shikamaru was just angry, he didn't mean any of those things he said."

If anything, Chouji was suffering just as much as she was. He had always been soft-hearted, a gentle giant, and he had always treasured his friends above anything else. It killed him, this rift between his two oldest and dearest comrades.

Ino, however, was too busy coping with her own grief to try and understand Chouji's. Her glossed lips pursed, "I think he meant everything he said Chouji."

He sighed. It would take time. He knew it would take time before both his friends healed from the wounds they had inflicted upon each other. He just hoped that it would be before his death day. He had been against their dating from the very beginning. It could only end in disaster and he knew that very well. It would take a miracle for their friendship to survive something as cataclysmic as this.

"Know that I'm here for you, Ino," he put a large, pudgy hand atop her head.

Ino knew the waterworks would start soon if she didn't escape to her room, "Know that I love you Chouji."

Chouji smiled, but restrained himself from giving her a hug. Paparazzi were everywhere all the time, and Ino didn't need another scandal on her hands. The media had made the situation with Shikamaru so much worse than it was, and only served to ignite the hostilities.

She yawned, and gave a half-hearted wave, "I'm going to bed, night Chouji."

"Night Ino,"

Once in the elevator, she leaned against the mirrored walls and closed her eyes. She hoped no one would interrupt her. In any case, she could always bribe them to take the next elevator up.

She needed a break, desperately. All her life she had thought she was doing the right thing. When she was a little girl, as soon as she was old enough, she had wanted to be a star. Her father and mother had supported her and she had worked hard. Her natural beauty had been enough to wow talent agents, and her fiery personality sealed all her deals. Being a child star had been fabulous. Being an adult star had been even better. And then Shikamaru had to go and ruin it all. She had never questioned herself. She had never thought she was missing out on anything, but apparently she was. All these doubts threatened to choke her. For the first time in her life, Yamanaka Ino was hesitant.

It was a relief when the elevator finally arrived at the top floor. She fumbled with her large purse. Rummaging through mountains of make-up, credit cards, and electronic gadgets she triumphantly pulled out her keys. Upon entrance to her not so humble abode she was greeted with her childhood nickname.

"How's it going Ino-pig?"

Ino felt the reluctant grin coming on, "Same as always Forehead."

Haruno Sakura, her roommate and childhood friend smiled from her position in front of the television set. A giant tub of ice cream was set in between her legs, and during occasional intervals she'd shovel spoonfuls into her mouth.

Ino felt the load on her back lighten up slightly. It was a wonderful de stressifyer, watching Sakura engorge herself on ice cream. She collapsed onto the couch next to Sakura. She was watching another one of her cheesy drama. Ino hated to break up this perfect scene, but she was restless.

"Sakura, did you get me the tickets?"

Her friend peered at her from the corner of her green eyes. Straightening up on the purple couch, she turned off the program and gave her full attention to Ino.

"Yeah, are you sure you want to do this?" Sakura's eyes were filled with nothing but concern.

Ino was tired, more tired than she had ever been in her entire life. She had always been a bundle of energy, constantly in motion, but now she was listless, unhappy. She wasn't herself.

"I'm sure," Ino kept her eyes on the tub of ice cream, refusing to meet Sakura's eyes, "I can't handle this anymore, everything is just so screwed up and I'm so depressed, I need this more than anything Sakura."

Sakura sighed sadly, "I know Ino, I know."

They were silent for a minute, until Sakura shoved the carton of ice cream at Ino, "Here, you need this more than me."

Ino blinked back tears as she took a bit of ice cream.

"When are you leaving?"

Ino closed her eyes, and fell back against the couch.

"Tomorrow."

A/N: Hello and welcome to Searching for More the second most popular story in the upcoming stories poll. I hope you enjoyed the prologue and would love to hear any comments you may have.

In other words reviews would be lovely :)