Author's Notes: All I have to say is the school year nearly killed me. Sorry guys!

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Title: Love and in War

Rating: T (or PG-13)

Summary: The first time I met Prince Sasuke was the night he saved my life. I never thought I would see him again, and I certainly never expected to fall in love with him.

Pairings: SasuSaku

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.

Chapter 10: Jealous Stepsister

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I looked at the blonde in slight alarm as she stalked her way into the clinic. "Ino…" I breathed out, my eyes widening. She was safe, and that's all that mattered, but the look in her eyes made me nervous. I could tell I wasn't the only wary one. The waiting room had gone a little bit quieter, and I felt two small hands grasping the fabric of my pants, a sign that Keiko was scared and trying to hide.

"You whore!" Ino was using a rather accusatory tone, and I felt my heart speed up in anticipation. I had never seen her this mad before. I had seen angry Ino, but she had always been predictable then. I had no idea what was about to come next. She continued to walk until she was standing close to me in a way that was meant to be intimidating. It made me feel a little trapped. "You're supposed to be my friend, and instead you go behind my back and try to claim him for yourself." I opened my mouth, but she didn't let me finish. "How many times have I told you how much I love him, and it turns out you've known him all along? Well, no matter what, you can't have him! He's mine, bitch!" Ino lifted her hand, and I tensed, knowing what was coming next but not being able to do much about it. The waiting room gasped a little bit, but everyone was too still to do anything. I couldn't even move without the risk of hurting Keiko, who was still attached to my pant leg in fear. I was just going to have to tough this one out.

Her arm swung downwards so fast that I thought I heard a whistle from the misplaced air. But apparently someone was even faster, because suddenly Ino's hand was arrested by a decidedly male hand. I followed the arm at about the same time Ino did. At the end of that arm was a pissed Prince, who was glaring at the blonde in a way that sent my blood below freezing temperatures, so I couldn't even imagine how Ino felt.

I felt Keiko being pried off of my pant leg, and looked down to see Naruto coaxing her off. Good…he's trying to get her out of the way in case anything happened. He picked up the two-year-old and held her against his hip. I could tell he was trying to be nonthreatening for her sake, but that didn't stop his teeth from clenching.

"He's whose?" Sasuke asked her in a cold voice. Ino couldn't answer, as his mere presence had frozen her to the spot. She even looked like she was shaking a little. "That would have been a very bad idea."

It had gone too far when Ino started to cry.

"Prince Sasuke," I said softly, my mind telling me I was crazy for trying to shift his attention when he was obviously so murderous at the moment. It was only last minute that I remembered that I should address him by his proper title, since we were in public. "That's enough." But I didn't even have to worry about his attention, because he hadn't even looked away from Ino. In fact, his eyes had only narrowed further. "Please." I stressed.

He finally released her hand, but he obviously didn't trust himself to talk anymore, since his teeth were clenched. I could only be thankful he was facing away from most of the people…if this got out to the press…

"Go home Ino." I said, and when she found herself too shocked to move I gave her a look. She finally took off running, and I was actually thankful for the sake of her pride that she managed to keep her tears silent.

Sasuke took a few calming breaths, eyes shut, before he schooled his face to be completely neutral. But if people could only see his eyes up close, they would see that he was still raging. He walked right past me and to Naruto, taking Keiko from his friend's arms. He asked her if she was all right, his voice becoming considerably softer by that point, and she turned into his shoulder and wailed. It was a good thing that Keiko knew who he was and that he had only been protecting me…she knew he'd been the good guy in the situation.

And then I realized…Sasuke was basically doing damage control.

I had no doubt he wanted to see if the toddler was really alright, but in doing that and in holding a little two-year-old commoner to him while she cried, he had gained the favor of everyone in the room. Anyone who had been apprehensive of him before because of the murderous anger he'd displayed was now fully on his side.

Keiko's mother came back into the room and took one look at the scene. She took her daughter and thanked Prince Sasuke for looking out after her. I met Naruto's eyes and jerked my head in the general direction of the break room, and he started walking, Sasuke following after reassuring Keiko's mother that everything was okay, that her daughter had only been scared for a second.

I could feel the eyes on my back, grateful the clinic wasn't near as crowded as it could have been. No one said a word until we were alone in the break room. I took a shaky breath as soon as the door shut behind me, but then froze again when I felt two pairs of eyes glued to me.

"What the hell was that?" Sasuke asked (demanded) in a way that let me know the show with Keiko had been a measure of his self-control. He was still angry.

"We've been fighting…?" My voice rose at the end, and to be honest I was extremely nervous to have that penetrating stare pinned on me. I looked to Naruto for a little support, but he was strangely silent. I really wanted someone to intervene right now, to get those eyes off of me.

"Are you asking me?" He asked, his continued stare making me inwardly squirm. I would tell him anything he wanted right now if only to soften his eyes and look a bit less like he was—

I gaped at him. "Are you interrogating me?!" It was only a split second, but I saw his eyes widen a fraction. That's where I had seen this expression before! In Oto! "The hell you are!" I told him, suddenly feeling a bit of sympathy for the police captain all those years ago.

"Sakura…"

"No. I'm not going to talk to you if you're going to treat me the same way you did Orochimaru."

The anger ebbed away to frustration, and the raven-haired prince actually had to turn his back to me for a moment.

"He's just worried, Sakura-chan, but the bastard just won't admit it." Blue eyes turned to me. "You were almost assaulted, after all."

"Ino's just going through some things, but it's just a phase." I turned to Sasuke, even though he still had his back turned. "She's not usually like this."

"Why did she almost hit you then?" Sasuke asked, his voice sounding better but still a little strained.

"She kind of likes you…" I told him, feeling that at this point it was just better to tell him the truth. Naruto raised an eyebrow in my direction, looking a bit incredulous. "Okay fine, she really likes you, and she doesn't like that I know you."

Sasuke turned around, and he looked more tired than anything else, one eye twitching a little bit. "That's what this is about?" He sunk down on the couch and rubbed his eyes. He muttered, "Women…" which I don't think I was supposed to hear. Then again, this isn't the first time that a woman has lost her mind around him, and it won't be the last.

"I'm sorry you had to see her like that, she's really very nice once you get to know her." I glared at Naruto when he snorted at that statement. "And really, Naruto, assault? You and I both know Ino isn't that strong." She especially wasn't as strong as that District Attorney a few years ago, who had hit me hard enough to make my neck pop. No, if Ino had hit me it would have stung for a bit, and even that wouldn't have really hurt unless she involved her nails.

"I still don't like her." Naruto grumbled.

"You don't have to like her." I told him. "She's my roommate. But I would appreciate if you would try forgiving her, at least for this anyway."

He gave me a flat look. "You want me to forgive her for nearly bitch-slapping you?"

I sighed. "Naruto, she's been missing since Friday night. I have no idea what she's been through, but knowing she's safe is more important than carrying some petty grudge." I blinked away a few tears. There had been moments this morning, at about three or four AM, when I had been certain she was lying in a ditch somewhere. Thinking she was dead was frightening, but not knowing anything was even scarier.

"Fine." Naruto said. "I'll try." He had to force the word out. "I'm going to see Lee." His tone indicated that he was more frustrated than angry. He got up and walked to the door. "I'm glad you're okay, Sakura-chan."

I smiled at him before he shut the door, and then turned back to the grump still sitting on the couch. Of course, at this point he looked more annoyed than grumpy. Still, I guess he had a little bit of a reason to be annoyed. His eyes were closed, but one of them was twitching. His arms were crossed, and he didn't look quite like the saintly prince the media portrayed. He looked so human right now. No walls, no cover-ups.

I sat down next to him. I couldn't look at him for fear that he would look at me again and I'd see something I wouldn't like. Remaining anger? Betrayal that I was defending Ino and not him? A look that said I really was a magnet for unwanted attention? I looked down to the white tiled floor. "Thank you." I said, breaking the silence. "I really do appreciate you intervening." He didn't say anything, and I didn't want to look to see if my gratitude had garnered a reaction. I pulled my knees to my chest. "Do you…do you ever get tired of stuff like this?" I asked.

"Like what?" He finally answered, his voice a forced neutral.

"Getting treated like a piece of meat." I said. I waited for a moment for him to answer, but he didn't for a long time.

Finally, after what seemed to be ages, he said, "Yes."

I turned my head to look at him when I noticed out of the corner of my eye that his eyes were open now, and he was glancing down at me. "How do you deal with it? The fame, the scandals, the…um…the women?"

That finally garnered a smirk. "My life really isn't as hectic as you seem to think it is."

"Really? But I see photos of you all the time…and, of course, Ino buys every magazine with your name in it." I sucked in a breath. "Please don't tell her I told you that."

He didn't even acknowledge the part about Ino, but I could almost see in his expression that he realized some things about my roommate. "Most of the photos they show are weeks or months old. I'm pretty boring compared to most celebrities." I raised an eyebrow at that. Sasuke, boring? Of course there was that one celebrity who went to that one awards show in a towel. Which, if by boring he meant actually pretty normal, then yeah, Sasuke was boring. "The Royal Family pays someone a substantial amount of money to either correct the scandals or make them go away, and the women are…" He paused, his mouth twisting as he searched for the right word. "Troublesome."

"I would just like to point out," I said to him, "that Ino never tipped a car to get to you."

His mouth twitched upwards at the corner. "Good to know."

"So Naruto mentioned going to see Lee. I thought he was discharged?"

"Physical therapy."

"Should you be there?"

He rolled his eyes. "I'm putting it off as long as possible. I really don't want to listen to how many laps he'll have to do if he fails."

It was my turn to smile. "Now what kind of friend are you not to want to go listen to that?"

"I've known the man for six years, one day will not make a difference."

I put my hand over my heart dramatically. "Yosh! One day makes all the difference when you're the Green Beast of—"

"Stop." The Prince interrupted me, sounding a bit pained. I couldn't help giggling at his expression though. I'd talked with Fuzzy Br—Lee a little more before he'd left the hospital and, while eccentric, he grew on you after awhile. "Don't even go there." Suddenly, I saw his eyes narrow. "What happened to your lip?"

Confused for a moment, I felt along my lip for something, when a light stinging made me realize that my smiling must have emphasized the cut that was still healing. "Four-year-old terrorist." I told him quickly, not wanting him to think that this was something Ino had done. "I made him get a shot."

"You're a horrible human being." He said, obviously fake. I smiled again.

"So I'm told." My smile turned a little mischievous. "Speaking of horrible human beings, you need to get up to the physical therapy ward."

The expression on his face reminded me of a child who didn't want to go to bed. "Why now?"

"Because you are a good person and a good friend." I said, standing up and going towards the door. I expected him to follow, but he didn't move. His arms were still stubbornly crossed. "I figured I would go up there, too, to cheer Fuzz—Lee on." Still no movement. "I'll give you a sucker." He raised an eyebrow and I shrugged. "It worked on the four-year-old." This time, he glared at me, slowly standing up. His look automatically sent me into the beginnings of fight or flight mode. He was walking towards me and I bit my lip, watching him carefully. I wasn't afraid of him, but something in the way his eyes met mine made me nervous in a way I couldn't describe. "I have stickers, too." I said a little breathlessly. "If you don't like candy."

He stopped just outside of my personal bubble, and his expression became a little less intimidating. "Annoying." He muttered before walking out of the break room.

It took me a minute to get my bearings, but then I started to chase after him. "Hey!" I hissed indignantly at him, very aware that we were in a public space. "I'm not annoying." He pushed the button to the elevator, and it was only when we were inside and alone, travelling to the fourth floor, that I felt it was okay for me to speak freely again. "You should come up with more words. Like funny, or pretty, or charming."

"Annoying still fits the best."

We stepped out of the elevator, and I tried to growl at him. He only looked amused at this, because I remember his sounding so much scarier. We walked into the Physical Therapy Ward, finding Naruto in the waiting room looking bored.

"They're just explaining the exercises to him today, so he can do them at home." He looked at Sasuke. "By the way, we became his ride home as of five minutes ago."

Sasuke looked annoyed. I looked at him flatly. "Remember Sasuke," I told him dryly. "You're a good friend. Which reminds me…" I reached into the breast pocket of my scrubs and found the sticker I had almost given to Keiko, peeling the wax paper off of it and smacking it onto his shirt. "There's your sticker." And I went to sit next to Naruto with a huff, the blond looking between our matching glares. I thought Sasuke had no right to be glaring at me, even though I had just stuck a rather large pink unicorn sticker to his chest. He opened his mouth and my glare intensified. "Don't you dare say it."

"Exasperating…" He grit out.

"Thank you." I said, sarcastically.

"Where's my sticker?" Naruto asked.

"What have you done lately to merit a sticker?"

"I'm here…supporting my friend…?" He said, probably to see if that was worthy enough. I thought for a moment and decided it was. I gave him a sucker instead, and Naruto gloated to Sasuke. "See, Teme? This is what you could have gotten if you didn't piss her off—wait, Sakura-chan, why do I have to get cherry? This is the one that tastes like cough syrup."

I slid knowing eyes over to him. "Because you came to laugh at Lee trying to learn how to walk again."

Naruto's face went red with guilt and he laughed sheepishly. "Oh come on, it would have been hilarious! Like a baby giraffe."

My teeth clenched, not being able to stand the thought of finding joy in anyone's pain. I stood up, but couldn't face either of them. Maybe I was mad because I hadn't slept at all last night, and it was getting to me, not to mention the whole thing with Ino and now with these two. "I'm going to take my lunch break now. Please tell Lee I hope he feels better and I will see him later."

I heard some protesting from Naruto, but I didn't stop walking until I had gotten to the elevators. I retreated to my desk in the clinic and grabbed my lunch. I was opening the door to the break room when I realized this would be the first place they would look for me to apologize, and I really didn't want to be found just yet. So, I took the elevator again to the fifth floor and was let into room 580 by the guards easier than I thought.

Juugo lifted his head from a book.

"Hi." I said. "Mind if I eat lunch in here?"

"Of course not." He said in that gentle voice of his. "What happened?" He asked, seeing my face.

"I'm just angry at some people in the building and I don't want them to find me yet."

"Need time to be mad?" He asked, and I nodded, sitting at the small table. The lights in here were dimmer than I was used to, with the only light coming from the window and a few lamps. It was soothing compared to the bright fluorescents in the main hospital. "Want to talk about it?"

Gradually, I told him everything that had happened over the weekend, right up to the point where I had stormed out of the waiting room. He listened to me, every word, and didn't start speaking until I was done with my tale. I felt a little guilty for unloading all of my problems on him for the second time, but since he didn't seem to mind…

"I doubt it was their intention to hurt you." He said. "The one who called you annoying…you said he didn't talk much. Maybe that's just his way of expressing himself. Maybe he's too embarrassed to tell you what he really thinks." Too high handed is more like it, I thought, but I let Juugo continue without interruption. "And the other one…I doubt that he really would have laughed at his friend like that, especially if he knew how much pain his friend is in right now. I don't mean to criticize you, but perhaps you shouldn't have taken it so seriously."

I sighed. He was probably right, meaning I should probably apologize to both of them. But was it too much to expect that they apologize to me as well? I thought that was reasonable enough. Though, I decided I really hated being mad at them. It just felt like something was…off in my world. There was a moment an hour ago, sitting on the couch with Sasuke, when Ino was safe and everyone was getting along that everything had felt so right again after my hellish weekend, and now I felt like I was right back where I started.

We talked until my lunch break was over, and then I went back to the clinic. The receptionist looked at me when I entered and said, "Room Seven." I headed there and saw that the room was occupied, but there wasn't a file in the slot on the door. I went in anyway.

Blue eyes blinked at me sadly from the exam table. I looked him over, but I couldn't find it in me to be mad anymore. "You don't look like a patient." I said, shutting the door behind me.

Naruto ducked his head. "I just…I wanted to apologize. We had to wheel Lee out of the hospital and when he tried to get into the car…" His face went a little pale. "Let's just say I won't be making comments like that again."

I winced at the thought of how much pain Lee was in. "I'm sorry, too." I said. "I know you didn't mean it like that but…I just don't like seeing people in pain." Not since I was thirteen and had to watch a disease kill my mother from the inside out.

"Probably why you're becoming a doctor." He said. "Sasuke will be here to pick me up in a few minutes. He'll probably want to say he's sorry too. He won't actually use those words, but you'll get the gist of it."

I blew out a breath, which ruffled my bangs. "I probably deserved it. I did put that girlie sticker on him, after all."

Naruto laughed. "Oh come on, now that was funny! Do you realize you're one of very few people outside of his family who will do something like that to him? Not even his own girlfriend will joke with him like that."

I ignored the way my chest tightened at that. "Why?"

"Well…he's the Prince of Konoha and all that. He was raised with the knowledge that anything he did could be on the cover of a tabloid the next day, so he's pretty guarded." He suddenly smiled, throwing his hands behind his head. "Not me though. The press isn't really all that interested in the Hokage's son, especially since our last names aren't the same." I thought for a moment, thinking that this little factoid explained a lot of things. "And do you want to know a secret?" He asked me in hushed tones. I nodded, leaning closer to him. "He only calls you annoying because he likes you."

I felt the blush start to rise. "…what?"

"He considers you a friend, Sakura-chan. He's not afraid to speak his mind around you and have to worry that you'll run to the press with it. And just because he calls you annoying doesn't mean he means it like that. A lot of things are annoying to him, and not just in bad ways." The corner of his mouth tilted upwards in a smirk I had no doubt he'd learned from the dark haired prince. "If it makes you feel any better, I didn't figure this out until we were teens. It took me almost a decade to figure out why he wouldn't stop calling me dobe." His voice lowered at the end, obviously mocking Sasuke, and I tried to keep from smiling.

I felt like I was slacking off a bit at work, but no one stopped me when Naruto and I left. Of course, considering the state I had been in when I arrived here, the other nurses were probably trying to give me a break, which I was immensely grateful for. I really should have taken the day off today, all things considered.

We walked out the front door and saw that Sasuke had his sleek, black—and probably bulletproof—car parked in front of us, in the covered area for dropping off and picking up patients. Generally, people weren't supposed to park here, but no one would dare reprimand the Prince.

I bit my lip at the first sight of him, leaning against his car with his arms crossed. I was a little nervous about this, since how did one apologize to a prince? He looked at me, and my mouth parted a little to see a touch of guilt across his face. It didn't belong there, I decided. In fact, it was a little shocking to know that he was feeling guilty over something he'd said to me.

When I stood in front of him, I put my hand on my hip and cocked my head to one side. "If I'm annoying," I began, staring straight into his eyes. "You have to admit you're kind of a bastard."

He blinked at me for a few beats, as if not quite taking in what I had just said. Then, he smirked, "Fine." He said. "I'm a bastard."

And just like that, all was forgiven.

Naruto gaped. "Wha—? How'd you do that, Sakura-chan? I've been trying for years…"

I giggled a little bit, before noticing how dark it was for only one o'clock. "You guys should probably go to beat the rain, I'd hate for you to get wet."

The Prince reached into the pocket of his jeans, pulling out his car keys. This meant he unfolded his arms, and I gaped a little at what they uncovered. Naruto was grumbling, climbing into the passenger seat, so he hadn't noticed, but I could hardly move. There, just where I'd stuck it, was that stupid unicorn sticker. He hadn't taken it off.

He nodded a goodbye at me, not acting like anything was wrong, and I spluttered out a "goodbye" and a "see you soon." They drove off, and I looked after them with a slight blush, not really knowing why the fact that he'd kept the sticker on was affecting me like this.

Still, I went back to my shift feeling much better, albeit a little flustered and confused. I really didn't want to over think the issue, since I would absolutely drive myself nuts, so I focused on my work instead. Tsunade's lesson at four was easy for the day, and she gave me a small book to do reading from, which was unusual. I went back to my desk to collect my things, looking for an umbrella since it was absolutely pouring outside, and wincing when I realize I had left it at home. I wrapped my laptop and books in a garbage sack before putting them into my backpack, and changed into my regular tennis shoes so the ones I had on wouldn't get ruined. The scrubs could stay, since I really didn't want to walk in the rain wearing the jeans I had gone to class in.

I steeled myself, walking out of the front doors, wincing at the sound of water pouring off of the covered drop off area. I didn't even have time to prepare myself to run for it, because directly in my line of sight was a familiar black sedan, with a familiar someone leaning against it. I walked towards him curiously.

"Hey," I said, wondering why he was here. Maybe Lee needed to come back or something? Or Naruto had left something here? "What are you doing here? Is everything okay?"

"I figured you needed a ride." He said, walking around to the driver's side. "Get in."

I did as instructed, looking more than surprised that he had thought about me. Of course, it wouldn't have been the first time I'd ever walked home in the rain, and it wouldn't be the last, but those times I had an umbrella. I had been too flustered to even think about it this morning. Though, as flattering as it was that he'd thought about me, there was something in his tone of voice that was a little off.

I put my bag next to my feet, noticing that the hand turning the key was a little tense in an uncomfortable way. I frowned. "You're not still feeling guilty over calling me annoying, are you?" I asked him point blank. By the way the hand on the gearshift paused, I could tell I had been right. "You really don't have to," I said as he pulled into traffic. "I was being a little annoying, what with Ino and that stupid sticker and—are you still wearing it?!" Sure enough, the pink flash of color I had seen on his shirt was the horrendous sticker.

"Hn."

I glowered. "That's not an answer, or a reason." The only reason I could think of was that he was still feeling very guilty, and was doing this to himself as some sort of self-punishment. "You can really tear that thing up, if you want. I was just a little mad about the annoying comments, but then Naruto told me that maybe you didn't really mean annoying annoying, so…"

His hands tightened on the steering wheel. "What else did you and Naruto talk about?" He asked.

"Nothing." I squeaked. He was still looking at the road, but I could see the dry, unamused look he had adopted. "But I am really sorry for flying off the handle like that. I think I'm just crazy from not sleeping last night." Oh goodness, I was starting to ramble. In fact, Sasuke had his teeth clenched, and he looked like he was restraining himself from saying a certain something, probably because he thought it still pissed me off. Honestly, though, ever since Naruto had said what he had, it really started to fall into place that Sasuke didn't mean it in a mean way. When he got mad at me for walking alone at night, I think he called me annoying because he had been worried. And then today, he had really only been teasing me, but I had completely taken it the wrong way. So really, I knew the only way to make him get over this and go back to the way we were.

"Although that reminds me, how are you so intimidating? I guess it runs in the family, but you all always look so…normal in photos. You must get your looks from your mother. And by the way, even though he's engaged to be married, your brother is cute." His hand tightened on the steering wheel and he was glaring at the road through the rain. "But…could you not tell him I told you that? I don't want to be perceived as one of his fangirls. But he really is just so…handsome. I guess all your family's looks went to him, am I right?" By the way his eye was twitching, I could tell he'd had just about enough. I leaned across the armrest and smiled a little at him. "Go on and say it, Sasuke. You know you want to."

His eyes widened as he realized what I had been doing. He did his very best to fight the smirk, but it won out in the end. Sasuke slanted his eyes over to me when there wasn't a whole lot of traffic and said, "Annoying."

I grinned back at him. "See? That wasn't so hard. Though you have the self-control of an ox."

"I'd better have inherited something," He said, still smirking. "Since my brother got the good looks."

I flushed. "I was kidding!" I said, hands up. "I was just trying to rile you up a little. I didn't mean any of it." I thought for a moment. "Except the intimidating part."

He pulled up to my apartment building shortly afterwards, and I tried to judge how wet I would get if I just bolted. It seemed like I was just destined to get soaked, since the rain was still coming down in sheets. I bit my lip, looking out the window. "Thanks for the ride." I said to Sasuke. He'd put the car in park, and he remained pretty relaxed, like he wasn't in a hurry. "Drive safe, okay?" He nodded. "I'll see you around, then."

I reached to open the door, but his hand caught my wrist, stopping me. I looked towards him to see that same intimidating gaze directed at me, though this time there was no anger in it. It was intense enough that I felt my heart rate speed up, and I hope he didn't notice. The car was silent for a few beats, with the sound of rain hitting the outside metal the only noise.

"Be careful." He finally said.

I cocked my head to one side. "Is this about Ino?" I asked. When I felt his hand tighten around mine a little, that was all the indication I needed. I smiled a little at him. Honestly, until today, I had forgotten that this man had been the first person to defend me since my father's death. I had been on my own until he came along two years ago. "I'll be okay." I told him. "Ino is probably more upset than angry right now…she won't try anything." In fact, Ino was probably still crying, since she had just been on the receiving end of her crush's anger. She'd liked him for so long that having him mad at her was a little startling. She probably wished he still didn't know who she was. "One day," I told Sasuke. "When all this has blown over and she's not so obsessed with you, I'll introduce you two, and you'll see that she's not really a bad person." He still looked skeptical. "I promise I'll be fine. Trust me, okay?"

His jaw clenched, but he took his hand away from my wrist, and it stole my breath away that he really did trust me. He didn't seem like the person who trusted just anyone, unlike Naruto, so the fact that he was letting me go sent something through me.

I gave him a "goodbye, Sasuke" before opening the door and bolting inside the building. I was a little wet, but nowhere near what it would have been like had I not gotten a ride. I looked back at his car and saw that he had been waiting until I got inside before driving off. His windows were heavily tinted, so I couldn't see inside.

I took the elevator to the tenth floor and unlocked the door to my apartment, not sure exactly what I'd find. Hinata and Tenten were at the kitchen table, working, and I raised an eyebrow at them. Ino wasn't there, which was bothering me. I had assumed that she would come straight here, but what if she hadn't?

"Ino's locked in her room," Tenten said, stopping my train of thought. "She won't speak to anyone."

I nodded, and then went to put everything in my room. Then, I stood outside Ino's door for a minute before knocking.

"Go away!" A muffled voice yelled.

"Ino," I said softly. "It's me." There were a few heavy footsteps and then the door swung open. She looked like she had been off and on crying for the past few hours. "Are you okay?"

"'Am I okay?' She asks, ha!" Ino said incredulously, before walking back into her room. She'd left the door open, so I took that as an invitation that I was allowed inside. "The love of my life hates me now, and you ask me if I'm okay."

"He doesn't hate you." I told her. "He was just concerned."

"That was not concern, Sakura! He…he…" Her voice cracked, and her eyes were tearing up again.

I sat down on her bed. "He was concerned." And mad as hell, but she didn't have to know that. "Look, something like this happened…that night, and Sasuke saw it. He just…didn't want it to happen again."

She gave me a dry look. "A girl almost slapped you? In Oto?"

"Well…no. It was an attorney, and I actually did get hit." I told her the story that they couldn't have possibly known, since even if Neji told them everything else he hadn't been there for the interrogation part. I told her that Sasuke had been led out of the room, and the DA had come in and ended up hitting me. Sasuke had seen it, even though he wasn't supposed to. "You just reminded him of how he'd felt back then, that's all." I cleared my throat, wanting to get off this topic. "You took down all your Sasuke-related things." I noticed.

"I didn't need the reminder." She said. "They're all in a box in my closet."

"Ino…where did you go?"

She actually laughed at that. "Well, I went to the party like I said, and got really drunk." She blushed a little. "I started to walk home, and then these guys started hitting on me and…well there was this other guy, who sort of saved me, and then I kind of attached myself to him." I actually laughed at that. "I wouldn't tell him where I lived, so he took me back to his apartment and let me recover." She shrugged. "I ended up staying for two days, but he never really cared. He didn't even care that all I did was bitch about my problems. He talked to me…but he was so damn calm and—I don't know—rational that it just pissed me off even more. And then there were moments where everything was okay again and I asked him if he wanted me to leave, but he acted like it wasn't a big deal. He just said it was troublesome that I was there, but he…he fed me and took care of me. He didn't even do anything inappropriate." She huffed. "He even made me sleep on his couch!"

I smiled, imagining Ino fighting for the right to have a bed in someone else's home. "Did you get his name?" I asked.

"Yeah," She said, and there was a certain dreaminess in her voice that I doubt she knew was there. "Nara Shikamaru."

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Author's Notes: And there you have it! Sorry for the wait guys. I'm trying to get back to writing again but it's a slow going process. I am excited to introduce a few new characters in though, so we'll see where that goes. As always, please review and let me know what you think!