Parties are so hard to write organically. Thank you for reading!
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Tsunade followed her line of sight, "There goes Mikoto's nice evening," she chuckled.
Kisame was never any trouble of course, and would be horrified to know anyone was tarring him with the same brush. Deidara and Sasori, however, had reputations that preceded them most places they went. The vast majority suspected their excesses were part of their artistic persona; to keep them in the news and to keep people talking about them.
Sasori was certainly more than just an artistic genius, he was a master of the PR game. They didn't have any representatives or agents despite their status – Sasori had always managed their image and opportunities. His talent for spinning events into positive coverage for both of them was legendary, and he had turned down several offers from media giants to work in their PR departments.
His main challenge was usually Deidara's temper. The man was a creative genius, and his work had revolutionised how sculpture was seen in the modern word. Deidara also had a legendarily short fuse at times, and could lose it over the most minor issues. Kisame had once compared him to those old sea mines: happy to float along until something even brushed one of its spikes.
That Sasori had been able to mould the public perception of Deidara's angry outbursts into something that made him even more famous was nothing short of astonishing. It wasn't like Deidara was out trashing places or getting into fights all the time, but he had a sharp tongue, and didn't hold back on using it. A stray comment was often more damaging than any number of ruined hotel rooms and levelled art studios.
Mikoto was always telling Itachi off for sneaking up on people, but it was something he had definitely picked up from her. The way his mother could move practically unseen had been the bane of Sasuke's life growing up, and she wasn't out of practice.
Both Tsunade and Sakura jumped as she asked from beside them, "Isn't that the actress from 'Ward 9'?"
Tsunade turned to glare down at her closest friend, "Mikoto, what have I told you about doing that? And isn't who, what?"
"That girl, the one Deidara's brought along – I'm sure she plays Himi-chan!" Mikoto looked a little star-struck, and Tsunade eyed her with a mixture of amusement and disappointment.
"Don't tell me you watch that trash, Mikoto."
Mikoto sniffed defensively, "It's all that's on during my breaks."
"We need to get better material into that damn hospital," Tsunade muttered.
"You've never even given it a chance. The nurses never miss an episode you know. Did you ever give the first series a watch, Sakura-chan?" Mikoto asked.
Sakura had never been able to outright lie to Mikoto, so she plied the old excuse of too much work. It wasn't that 'Ward 9' was the sort of dire romantic drama she thought had died out the previous decade, she was just too busy to see it, obviously. Mikoto was a terminal workaholic, and had raised a terminally workaholic son; the 'I've been so busy' excuse would always hold water with her. Tsunade didn't buy it for an instant, but she wasn't going to say anything.
By this point Kisame had spotted them over and through the crowds, and was ushering the new arrivals towards them. He had been well brought up, and he couldn't even countenance not greeting the host as the first point of call on getting to a party. All of Itachi and Sasuke's friends were Mikoto's favourite, but Kisame was one of her favourite favourites.
"Your husband doesn't look thrilled," Tsunade noted drily, as even from a distance they could see the colour of his face changing.
Fugaku had obviously been regaling a rapt audience of the police force's latest exploits. He did work hard, but there really was nothing he loved more than talking about their achievements. There was also his terrible habit of keeping going far beyond his listener's endurance for the topic at hand. Madara kept himself consistently on the other side of any room for a reason.
Kisame was hard to miss what with him standing head and shoulders above everyone else. He was also beyond reproach, but his arrival at these events usually meant the arrival of Itachi's less wholesome friends. Fugaku had settled his sights on the blonde menace (the older one at least) and was grasping his champagne glass in a death grip.
Mikoto sighed, and picked up another flute for in preparation for the interference she was going to have to run over the next couple of hours. Fugaku might have been the Chief of the Police, but everyone knew who the Chief in his household was. He would never do something that would upset his wife; a lesson he'd learned well over the last thirty years. Sakura was desperate to tell Mikoto about Izuna's offer, but before she could start Kisame broke through the crowds and met them.
For all she'd come on over her teenage years Sakura was still that little shy girl at heart. She wasn't going to talk about her achievements in front of Itachi's friends. They knew Itachi after all, and Sasori and Deidara had been for dinner with the Emperor's son last week; they weren't going to be interested in her news. She knew intellectually that they would all be happy for her, but she couldn't shake the feeling of being slightly out of her depth around them.
"Mikoto-san! Thank you for extending the invite to your event," Kisame greeted them formally, before giving them a cheeky wink, "If I'd known you were all looking so lovely we would have been here earlier."
Tsunade smirked at him, "I've always liked this one, Sakura-chan, you can keep him."
"I am flattered, Tsunade-sama," he chuckled, "I hope you're prepared to eat your words tonight, Sakura-chan," Kisame said, drawing himself up to his full height to stare down at her.
What he didn't realise was that Sakura had just faced down Uchiha Madara, and was feeling pretty good about life in general, "Not a chance, Kisame-san, just you wait."
He grinned his huge grin down at her that she returned with force, while Mikoto and Tsunade shared a look behind them.
"You know, I think we're better off not knowing," Mikoto muttered while Tsunade nodded sagely. Sakura didn't cause trouble, usually, they could trust her.
"Mikoto-san," Sasori said, and broke Sakura and Kisame's face-off. The others had obviously taken a drinks detour without Kisame's approval if his scowl was anything to go by.
Mikoto greeted the motley bunch as if they were the imperial family as she did with all her guests. It didn't matter if she'd known a couple of them since they were children. They did scrub up well, though Sakura supposed Deidara's actress date probably looked like that all the time, and it was clear they'd made a real effort. Deidara might have been a sculptor, but he could give Ino a run for her money in choosing flattering clothes. Sakura had to actively stop staring at the way his navy haori complemented his hair before she let anyone in on her secret.
"Mikoto-san, this is Sato Sumire," Deidara introduced his companion who bowed low, and thanked Mikoto profusely for the invite.
He also introduced Sakura and Tsunade, and Sakura managed not to wince when he described her as Itachi's assistant and little brother's friend. It was technically true, but it didn't make her sound particularly cool or interesting. She supposed that if she was going to hang around with such accomplished people she'd better get used to feeling a bit like that. At least until she graduated. Tsunade's title of Hospital Director sounded much more grand, and Sumire was suddenly excited.
"Oh, you're Tsunade-sama!" she said, clapping her hands together, "Tanaka-sama is based on you!"
Tsunade wasn't quite sure how to process this information, especially not after so much to drink, but luckily Mikoto was on hand to discuss her favourite programme.
"I thought I recognised you," Mikoto said warmly, "'Ward 9' is very popular in the hospital."
"It is?" Sumire beamed, "I'm really glad to hear that, do you -"
As the two woman fell into conversation it became clear immediately that no one else, including Deidara, watched the show. Sasori was giving his friend a rather unimpressed look from his position just out of Mikoto's eyeline. Sakura remembered Kisame mentioning once that Sasori was incredibly picky when it came to dating, whereas Deidara tended to have a new interest every few weeks. Of course Kisame had been using Sasori as an example of 'even he's less picky than you' when talking to Itachi, so maybe it had been an exaggeration.
It was at the point where it was getting slightly awkward as they stood observing the in-depth conversation in the middle of them. No one wanted to upset Mikoto, and they were far too polite to interrupt. Well, most of them were. Hidan, of course, had never felt himself bound by each and every social nicety that the others did.
"Sakura-chan," he said loudly, walking over to stand beside her, "I hear from these assholes all the time, you'll have more interesting things to tell me."
Sakura, caught half-way between laughter and mortification at how rude he could be, did her usual and demurred, "I'm afraid I'll disappoint you, Hidan-san, unless you find studying old case files and answering Itachi's phone interesting?"
He barked a laugh, and Sakura was struck again by how good looking he was. All of Itachi's friends were good looking, she should really stop being so surprised by it. If it wasn't for his religion – they weren't quite sure what the exact rules were, but he seemed not to be allowed to date or anything - she was sure he'd be out breaking a few hearts. If his dates could put up with what hard work he'd be.
"Nothing to do with Itachi is interesting," he said, waving a hand dismissively, "Unless he's done something to embarrass himself?"
"He hasn't," Itachi stated, the ghost of a smirk on his face as the two of them jumped.
Hidan pointed right in his face, "Don't fucking do that."
Itachi ignored the gesture, "You're late, you know," he said, inclining his head towards the new arrivals.
"It's Deidara's fault, like always," Hidan griped, "I'm surprised there's any water left in this fucking city after how long he spends in the shower."
"Hey!" Deidara hissed over at them, "Shut the hell up, yeah?"
Hidan contented himself with making some rude hand gestures when it looked like Mikoto and Sumire were starting to catch on that the others weren't quite so interested. Kisame was starting to look thunderous at the fact they were already making a scene in front of the host. They really were to lucky to have him corralling them.
Sai sidled up beside Sakura and handed her another drink. He'd once said he didn't really understand how Itachi and his friends were friends when all they did was make fun of each other and argue. Naruto had pointed out that was exactly how their group worked as well. They'd both assured Sai that these guys had each other's backs, no matter how it might appear to an outside observer, and you'd be hard pressed to find a closer group.
"Thanks, Sai, I'm sorry I rushed off and left you earlier," she said quietly. Sai was such a part of her life she often forgot he had only been to the Uchiha compound a few times, and didn't know Itachi or Shisui that well.
He knocked his shoulder gently into hers – it was a gesture he'd picked up from Naruto, though he'd toned it down to a much less intense version - "It's fine, Shisui has been telling me some very interesting stories about Sasuke."
Sakura couldn't help but grin wickedly at the faux-innocent face Sai was wearing. Shisui had many talents, and story-telling was definitely one of them. If Sasuke had made any attempt at being nicer to the vast majority of her friends she might have felt bad about enjoying Shisui's long and detailed back catalogue of embarrassing moments from Sasuke's life.
Shisui always seemed to know when he was being mentioned in conversation and turned up at Itachi's elbow. He caught Mikoto's eye, and she quickly introduced Sumire to her oldest son and nephew. Shisui lived to rile Deidara, when Sasuke wasn't available, and so immediately turned on the charm.
Sumire, to her credit, didn't exactly swoon at his feet like some of Deidara's previous dates. They were pretty sure Shisui still had a thing going on with one girl that had chosen him over her original date to the compound. For all Deidara's bad temper he was the same as everyone else: no one could stay angry with Shisui.
Tsunade would dearly have loved to stay and enjoy the company of actual interesting people, but the break in conversation was the perfect time for them to slip away and let the kids have their fun.
"Mikoto," she said, "If you want to head off Fugaku we'd better move now."
Mikoto managed not to laugh as all of the people surrounding her whipped their heads up to check Fugaku wasn't on the warpath, "You've only just gotten here, how much trouble can you have caused?" she teased.
"Let's not tempt fate," Itachi said, as they all pictured the time the two artists had combined jet-lag with an impressive drinking session before coming to an event. It had been an experience, for sure. The two of them had barely made it into the compound before Deidara had a complete meltdown and Sasori had gotten into an actual physical scuffle with a pushy reporter.
Sasori rolled his eyes, "That was one time," he muttered, as Deidara shook his head.
Sumire looked between them curiously – perhaps she didn't follow the gossip columns as closely as other people did. It had kept the vultures going for nearly a week before someone else did something embarrassing and they were off the hook. It had taken about the same time for the skin to grow back on Sasori's knuckles, and for him to work off the warning he'd gotten from the police.
"You're right, Itachi-kun, I should know better than to underestimate your friends," Mikoto laughed as said friends avoided making eye contact with her. "I want you all to show face," she continued, "but for my husband's sake, maybe not too much."
Tsunade nodded to them all as she started to walk away, "You kids have fun now. You especially, Sakura, you deserve it. Not too much though," she finished with a wink.
"Don't encourage them, Tsunade," Mikoto warned her, running one last eye over the assembled crew.
"Just let me know when you want to head off, Shishou," Sakura reminded her mother. As if she wasn't always the one retrieving Tsunade from wherever she'd planted herself and getting them both home.
Tsunade turned away and waved a hand, "Don't you worry about me, Sakura-chan."
"It's not you I'm worried about," Sakura muttered at her mother's back, but Hidan swung an arm round her shoulders and started guiding her along with the others. Walking slowly back to their normal gathering place at Itachi's rooms would count as about as much mingling as Fugaku's nerves could take.
"I think you've got Kisame scared," Hidan confided, making sure his deep voice carried to the man himself, "He takes his karaoke way too fucking seriously, you know."
Kisame chuckled in front of them, but didn't otherwise respond to Hidan's accusations. Most likely because it was a well known fact that he really did put way more effort into karaoke than nearly anyone else. If he was scared, and Sakura had a feeling he wasn't, he was hardly going to let them know.
"See, definitely scared," Hidan said, tapping the side of his head with a finger before moving on to antagonise Shisui. Sakura was a little relieved. It wasn't that she minded being so close to him, but he'd been creasing the silk of her kimono and Tsunade would be out for his blood.
"So you like karaoke, Sakura-san?" Sumire asked, falling back slightly beside them. It was a nice gesture of female solidarity in the face of so much masculinity.
Sumire was stunning, and Sakura resolved to ask her for advice on getting her shimmery make-up to look like that. Whenever she tried that style she just looked oily, and that was just depressing. Hopefully she'd give more advice and less casual insults, unlike Ino, as well.
"I do," she replied, "Tsunade-shishou loves it, and she has the proper gear in the house – microphones and everything." Tsunade had tried to get her to take a mini karaoke set to the flat with her, but the walls were like paper and the other people in her building were a bit uptight.
"I was really lucky to meet her," Sumire said, "I'll have to tell everyone on set! Do you think she'd take a picture with me?"
"I'm sure she would," Sakura said, not mentioning that after a few drinks it was hard to get Tsunade to stop taking pictures, "Do you work in the city?" she asked. She'd never actually met someone who was on the tv four nights a week, and it was kind of exciting.
Sumire was the first of Deidara's dates that she'd actually been properly introduced to. Usually he either came stag to these events, or was surrounded by so many people that she and her friends had stayed out of the way. It might have been better for her ego if Sumire was arrogant, or stuck up, or something else unflattering, but she was perfectly pleasant as she described her work. Sakura would have to check out some of 'Ward 9' online just to check how close they'd managed to get to Tsunade with this Tanaka character.
The boys were in the midst of a conversation about baseball. Even if the men in Sakura's life didn't have anything else in common with each other they would still have baseball. Half of them followed the Swallows, and the rest supported the Giants but they somehow managed to keep things civilised. Civilised, if a little heated at times. Such as when they stopped their slow progression round to the edge of the compound so they could speak some more without the distraction of walking.
They were starting to get louder, and Sakura could feel the eyes of Mikoto's other guests settling on them. No doubt some of them were praying for a break in their dull conversations, but others weren't so keen on having their nice evening disrupted. Not everyone thought Itachi's friends were as charming as Mikoto did, and didn't think Fugaku was unreasonable for wanting to be tough on them.
Sakura could have broken it up like she used to break up the boys' fights in high school. Marching in and grabbing the two main offenders by the collars and shoving them apart wasn't quite as easy right now. Laying hands on one of the youngest ever police constables and a Jashinist priest wouldn't be the same as doing it to Kiba and Naruto somehow. Instead she suspected she knew just the answer.
A quick scan of the crowd and she reached over to pull gently on Itachi's sleeve, "I can't see your father – he's not coming over is he?"
Itachi was not an overly expressive man, so even his turning away from the conversation on the lookout for his father to distract the others. Fugaku was probably getting more drinks, or had gone to the bathroom, but the uncertainty was enough to get everyone moving again. There were a few in the surrounding guests who were unsure whether this was their best chance to get the attention of the more famous people in the group. However Itachi had his mind set on not getting another lecture from his father, and moved them away quickly.
Sumire leaned down to whisper to Sakura as they walked, "Does Itachi-san not get on with his father?"
Sakura giggled, "They're fine – Fugaku-san just really likes things to be in order all the time, and well, you've met Itachi's friends."
Sumire laughed, "Yeah, these guys are really fun, and everyone talks about the Uchiha events so I'm keen to see it all first hand."
"Mikoto's events are always the best in town," Sakura agreed, "You must go to some super exciting parties though?"
Sumire admitted that she'd met movie stars and directors at award ceremonies, and that the cast of 'Ward 9' worked hard and played even harder. "That's how I met Deidara, actually, he was opening an exhibit next door to the club we were at and he was buying drinks for everyone. Do you guys know each other well?"
Sakura could feel the ground getting dangerous. It wasn't like she was going to blurt out 'well, not really, but I've been quietly obsessed with him for about six months, does that count?' but still. She was trying really hard not to think about the fact she was making casual chat with her crush's current partner. She knew her feelings were ridiculous, but she didn't need that ridiculousness brought into such sharp focus.
"I grew up with Itachi's little brother so he's seen me at all my most embarrassing phases," she laughed, immediately switching to the safety of self-deprecation.
"Oh my God, I know the feeling," Sumire sympathised, "I was so terrible as a teenager. I had the worst hair cut for like three years, and I was so obsessed with this guy in my class. I actually got a detention because I couldn't stop staring at him!"
That was eerily familiar. Sakura's unrequited love affair with Sasuke had never gotten her into quite so much trouble though. Even Sasuke had to take a backseat to her education, nothing was more important than that. It was more than reassuring to know someone as put-together as Sumire had been just as bad only a few years ago.
"Hey!" Shisui shouted over to them, already half into the doorway of Itachi's rooms, "You girls look like you're still able to have coherent conversations. We need to sort that out!"
Kisame loomed over his shoulder, "Shisui, try to sound less like a sexual predator would you? You're embarrassing me."
Hidan shouted "Sexual predator-ing is a fucking sin!" from inside and Kisame put a hand over his eyes, shaking his head in despair.
"He's right though, Shisui is anyway," Deidara said, letting Sakura pass and then wrapping an arm round Sumire's waist, "Chandelier!"
Sakura slid in beside Sai as they gathered around the small table in Itachi's sitting area. She knew that the Uchiha's were rich – they were proper old money after all – but it was really brought home when all the members didn't just have rooms, but suites all to themselves. Itachi, or more likely Mikoto, had already lain a covering under the table to protect the tatami underneath.
"What's chandelier?" Sumire asked, eyeing the table with some apprehension.
"It's only the best drinking game there is, yeah?" Deidara replied, retrieving a load of plastic tumblers and starting to arrange them in a circle on the table.
Deidara had spent a few months at an art college in America a few years back, and had picked up a whole catalogue of new drinking games. It was just as well as with so many geniuses in the group games of Pin Pon Pan could run for literal minutes. He quickly ran through the rules; bounce the ping-pong ball into someone else's drink to make them down it, and if it went in the centre cup everyone had to drink and then flip their cup upside down. Last one to get their cup upside down had to drink the horrific mixed drink in the centre cup itself.
Sakura had brought it to a few parties and there was nothing like it for getting people drunk in a ridiculously short amount of time. After one memorable incident where Lee had played three rounds, stood up, and immediately fell over onto the table it had been banned for all but the most intense nights out. She was pretty sure that was the night Neji had confessed he was attracted to her so, apart from needing a new table, it had been pretty good. He was due back in the country soon, and they usually met up for something to eat.
As with any sort of contest involving this group there was palpable tension in the air. Kisame was watching Sakura with his shark-like grin, obviously hoping to skew the later contest in his favour by getting her drunk. Sakura watched him impassively; was he in for a shock. Living with Tsunade meant matching her tolerances as closely as possible to make sure they both made it home from nights out.
Normally at Mikoto's nights Sakura and her friends stuck close together, had one or two drinks with Itachi and his friends, and then moved over to Sasuke's rooms. Mostly because the older guys all made fun of Sasuke and he didn't like it, but also because they didn't want to intrude. Sakura, and she reckoned Sai was the same, had to admit feeling like they'd made the move up to the adult's table.
"Ok, we ready to go, yeah?" Deidara asked, looking around the table and flipping the ping-pong ball between his long fingers.
Sakura and Sai were making the sensible choice of starting out on light beer, but some of the others, notably Hidan and Shisui, were already on the harder stuff. Deidara grinned and, with the practiced distance eye of an artist, smashed the ball directly into Itachi's cup.
Itachi looked at it, then at Deidara, with consternation but dutifully drained it and poured himself another. After that, it was pure carnage. Kisame sank a screamer into Hidan's cup and they were all treated to a foul-mouthed rant that was soon cut off when Sasori hit the middle and there was a mad scramble to drink and flip. Sakura and Sai were still university students; they had the advantage of more regular practice and held their own easily against their older friends. Sumire was something of a dark horse, and her shots rarely went astray.
Soon they had reached the point of actual shouting. Hooting at every landed ball, screeching at missed ones, and the general good-natured abuse of close friends.
"Damn!" Shisui laughed as Sakura bounced the ball expertly into Itachi's cup, "Are you sure she's your assistant – you're not hers?"
"You've been making that joke for months, Shisui, you need new material," Itachi said, managing not to choke on the bitter alcohol he'd just thrown back.
"I can't help it, she's just so nice. I'm just astounded at how well she puts up with your shitty personality," Shisui snorted, pouring himself another drink and getting most of it in the cup.
"She's friends with Sasuke, yeah?" Deidara chimed in, "Compared to that little prick Itachi is like a regular guy."
Sakura had to bite her lip not to laugh at the vaguely satisfied expression on Sai's face. Sasuke had been awful to him when they'd first started hanging out, and he hadn't gotten much better even though it was clear Sai was there to stay. It got to the stage where Naruto had loudly told Sasuke off in front of them for being such a dick. That had made Sai's year, and cemented his friendship with Naruto beyond all doubt.
"Come on," Sakura felt honour-bound to defend him at least a little, "Sasuke has gotten a lot better recently."
"Yes, not being in the country has made him a lot better," Sasori commented drily, before his turn, "Drink up Sai."
Hidan snickered, "He's nearly fucking tolerable now."
Sakura shrugged at Itachi; she'd tried. Sasuke had brought most of these problems on himself. Itachi inclined his head towards her to indicate he appreciated that she'd made a token effort.
"He had to follow me," Itachi said mildly, "That must have been very tough for him."
This pronouncement was followed by a roar of derision and many a rude hand gesture cast his way. Kisame reached over Sakura and tried to ruffle his hair. He was only able to dodge the big hand by leaning practically into Sasori's lap. Sasori allowed it; using him as an arm rest as he poured himself more to drink.
By the time a few more rounds, with breaks for conversations and arguments, had passed it was nearly midnight. Sakura didn't realise how fast the time had been going, and she privately hoped that Tsunade wouldn't want to leave soon. No doubt she'd have gathered a group of like-minded people together and they were gambling somewhere quite happily. Sakura had made sure to bring enough money for the taxi home just in case Tsunade went completely bust. It wouldn't be the first time.
This was usually the time that guests with no close ties to the family were encouraged to be on their way. This meant that, so long as no one had been scandalised by the noise coming from Itachi's rooms, they'd made it through another event without Fugaku being pushed to the point of a stroke. Well, he'd probably have found something to get himself worked up about, but at least it wouldn't be their fault for once.
"Is that the time?" Kisame exclaimed, squinting at his phone screen, "You got the goods, Shisui?"
"Don't I always?" he scoffed, before standing up way too fast and nearly falling over.
He waved away their jeers and trotted off through the connecting door to his own rooms. A few worrying banging noises and some swearing later he reappeared carrying his karaoke machine under one arm. He had to go back for another trip to get the smaller parts while the others figured out getting it plugged into the tv on the wall. Shisui handed Kisame the microphones, checked the cables, and gave Itachi a nod.
Itachi turned on the tv and a show-tune blared out at around five hundred decibels leaving him frantically turning it down before they brought Fugaku down on them.
"I appreciate you trying to stop me from being to hear Deidara sing," Sasori said solemnly.
Deidara was definitely in a mellow mood, and just gave him the finger lazily from his place half draped over Sumire. She had caught a fit of the giggles earlier, and was still pink across the cheeks from where she'd been laughing so hard. Sakura was a realist, and that extended to recognising they looked good together. If she wasn't having such a good night, and her future wasn't a whole lot more settled all of a sudden, it might have been a lot worse.
"Alright," Kisame stood up, and snapped his fingers a few times to get their attention, "Who wants to start us off? I know, I know, this is usually Tobi's job, but we'll have to get on with it."
It was almost like being back in school, and trying to avoid making eye contact with the teacher so they didn't have to stand up in front of the class. Sai sat calmly beside Sakura, safe in the knowledge that they all knew he couldn't sing and there wasn't any point on calling on him. Sakura was really hoping Kisame would convince Itachi to get up there; there was nothing she was more curious about than his singing ability.
Shisui looked around the assembled group and dramatically put a hand over his heart, "I am willing to take one for the team," he said, already searching through the interface for the song.
They all groaned when the first few bars played. Of course he'd chosen a terrible pop song that had been inescapably popular when they'd been kids. Shisui could sing, but he kept getting caught up in doing the dance moves that went along with it. It was amazing how muscle memory could bring back things you hadn't thought of in ten years.
It wasn't even by the end of the song that they were all singing along, it was more like the second chorus. Even Sai knew all the words and was singing along quietly, nearly under his breath. It finished on a high note that Shisui nearly reached, although he was drowned out by the rest of them trying to reach it too. He bowed deeply and accepted their raucous applause.
"Now – onto the main event!" Shisui started in between deep breaths to get his breath back, but he was interrupted by the door sliding open and Tsunade poking her head into the room.
"I knew you kids were doing karaoke in here!" she announced. She looked as immaculate as when she'd arrived, but she was swaying slightly, and her cheeks were very pink.
Mikoto peeked in over her shoulder and laughed aloud at the looks on their faces, like they'd all been caught doing something they shouldn't. "Don't worry, you're fine, Fugaku is already in bed."
Tsunade smirked, "Now I don't want him to sue me for libel, but I have a strong suspicion that Madara switched his drink up to something stronger."
"He was being a little repetitive," Mikoto allowed.
"He was being an unbearable bore," Tsunade corrected her, slipping her shoes off and shuffling in to join them, placing another three bottles of sake on the table, "Have I missed you singing, Sakura-chan?"
"You're just in time, Tsunade-sama!" Shisui grinned as Mikoto shook her head at her oldest friend and silently checked with her son that they were actually welcome. Tsunade was always welcome, and a drunk Tsunade was even more so.
"Just in time for what?" Tsunade asked suspiciously, not even bothering with a saucer for her drink.
Shisui paused for dramatic effect, long enough that they all started booing, "It's show-down time! Kisame, the old master, versus Sakura, the young flower!"
Kisame groaned, "You watch too much wrestling, you know that? It's making you stupid."
"Is that what that was all about?" Mikoto laughed, pouring Itachi another drink, "I think you've picked a difficult fight here, Kisame."
"Damn right he has," Tsunade said, "Not only did Sakura get my smarts, she also picked up my talents!"
"Shishou!" Sakura pleaded, covering her bright red face with her hands as the others snickered around her.
Mikoto nudged Itachi and made 'the face' which he studiously ignored. He and Sasuke had both been enduring 'the face' since Sakura had turned sixteen. Admittedly his little brother, being both ages and friends with her had seen it more, but Mikoto was more than willing to keep her options open. With Sasuke out of the country Itachi was feeling the full weight more often.
"There's only one way to settle this – a duet!" Shisui announced far too loudly into the microphone making them all wince and, for Itachi, thankfully distracting Mikoto.
Kisame pulled Sakura up and they stood by Shisui as he listed a few suggestions. The size difference between them was almost comical. The traditional dress that made Sakura look even more petite wrapped in layers of fabric made Kisame's broad frame even more imposing. Sakura was still blushing at her mother embarrassing her, and he was happy to continue teasing her.
Shisui finally settled on an upbeat duet they both recognised – there was an age gap after all – and scuttled back to his seat, crashing into Hidan as he rushed to get comfortable. With the music starting Hidan didn't even smack him over the back of the head like he usually did.
Kisame's section was first, and they all cheered as his deep voice carried the tune expertly. Sakura just laughed as he winked at her, fully confident in a victory. He really did have an amazing voice, maybe he could release an album or something on the side. For all that the guys would claim loyalty to their friend, they were all leaning forward to hear her. If she hadn't had so much drink she couldn't think of anything more intimidating.
She took a deep breath and focussed on the screen rather than looking at the audience and losing her nerves. For someone with such a light voice she had a surprisingly deep singing voice and the tuning of the song suited her perfectly. There was a moment of silence as she sung the last few words of the chorus before everyone cheered. Kisame was laughing, but there was no way he was going to admit defeat so easily.
As the song went on the more they both got into it. Their voices complemented each other perfectly and their harmonies soared in a way that had their audience sitting listening with rapt attention. The bridge was particularly spectacular, and by the time the song finished everyone was already clapping and shouting.
"Too tough to call, this one!" Shisui shouted over the din.
Sakura blushed again, ducking her head to avoid seeing them. Kisame chuckled at her, "I think I did underestimate you, Sakura-chan, where have you been hiding that voice?"
"I think you still have me beat, Kisame," she waved a hand, "I ran you pretty close though!"
"You ran him more than close, Sakura-chan!" Tsunade hooted.
Sai was watching her with a genuine smile, and she resolved to work harder to get him together with Ino so she could see that smile more often. As she moved back to sit down beside her friend the others complimented her, but mostly as a way of getting at Kisame. She was more than fine with that, any more attention and she thought her face might burst into flame. She hadn't made a fool of herself, and that was all that mattered.
"Who feels like they can follow that performance?" Shisui laughed. He always ended up taking the role of compere at these things. He was so unlike the other Uchiha that Tsunade had once asked if he was adopted.
Speaking of Tsunade she gestured for the microphone, "I'll show you kids a thing or two -"
The next couple of hours were filled with a variety of solos, duets, and group performances. Even Mikoto was tempted up to sing a song with Sumire, both of them giggling the whole way through. Sakura even got to hear Itachi sing, and wasn't even surprised that he was amazing. She would just have to continue waiting to find something he wasn't any good at.
Somehow Shisui managed to fall asleep, his head resting on his arms on the table, halfway through Sasori crooning a ballad. Once they'd finished watching Deidara draw an artful moustache on him they decided it was probably time to leave the Uchihas to it. The taxi companies were more than willing to serve the Uchiha compound, even in the early hours. Mikoto and Itachi walked them out, gracious hosts to the very last.
"You're looking hot tonight, Sakura-chan," Hidan laughed, winking at her as their group started getting into the taxi, "Ahh if only I wasn't a priest."
"Yeah, well thank fuck you are," Kisame griped, shoving him into the car, "The women of this country thank your God everyday. Thanks again for the evening, Mikoto."
Sakura wasn't sure whether to be flattered or mortified, so she settled for a combination of both and just waved him goodbye. Sumire gave her a tight hug and told her they should definitely meet up next time they could find the time. Sakura knew that was very unlikely with how famous Sumire was, but agreed, and helped take a couple of photos of her with Tsunade.
Deidara was last into the car, and Sakura knew she was just imagining the long, appraising look he gave her as the taxi drove away.
"Come on, Sakura-chan," Tsunade said as Sai opened the door for her, "Some of us aren't as young as you lot."
Mikoto laughed, "Speak for yourself. Thank you again for tonight, Sakura-chan, it's always a pleasure to see you."
"You'll be seeing her more often come next year," Itachi said, "Izuna-san offered her a traineeship," he continued swiftly to cut Mikoto off from thinking anything else.
"Oh Sakura-chan! Why didn't you tell me earlier?" Mikoto asked, drawing her into a hug, "I'm so happy for you!"
"I'm having trouble believing it," she admitted, but the smile on her face said otherwise.
"Well I don't, and neither does Itachi-kun, nor anyone else who knows how hard you work," Mikoto said firmly as Sakura beamed.
With a few more kinds words they were on their way. Pressed up against her close friend, with her mother starting to nod off on her shoulder, a hoarse throat from a karaoke session with good friends, and an offer to work with the most respected lawyer in her field, Sakura was willing to call the night a complete success.
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