I am so sorry I haven't updated in like, forever
I also never usually leave these little author's notes up here (I thought I should fix that) So uh, hey guys!

Schools been long, and summer's finally here! And GAH it's been so long since I've started this story. I realize after re-reading some old chapters that I seem to jump their ages a lot (16 to 17 to 18) I'll fix and re-edit the chapters so they're cleared soon enough. And then the time frame, haha, I said in chapter 1 that everything will take place in one month - pft... maybe three at least or so. Lots of fixing to do.
BUT, I'm still writing it so I haven't given up on this story!

Still, thanks to everyone who reviews and tells me what they think about it! (especially those who review more than once- you guys so nice) This is one of my more-read stories so I always feel accomplished whenever finish a draft, and I look forward to people reading it :) Simple pleasures of fanfiction, you know?

But anyway onward! Thanks again!

Update: 2015
Also working on a comic version, with original characters. In progress.
Tumblr: sammakesamess
DeviantArt: MemorySoul

Step 9: The 'ACTUAL LIKING' Pt1

Sakura decides to try out an all girls day out in the city with Ino, Tenten, and Hinata. Only of course, Sasuke drags the rest of the gang along to follow, because 'heaven for big Sakura gets to have fun'. But an unexpected visitor throws the guys off, and Ino's unusual behavior is attracting a certain someone's attention, not to mention Kiba's growing crush on Hinata.

As of right now, we're all on official break, so no pictures are being taken at the moment. Tenten and Hinata have gone out to buy lunch, leaving me with the guys here in the studio. "Here, Sakura," Neji offers, hanging me a cold can. Some kind of tea from the vending machines.

"Thanks," I smile in return. Neji had told me he was going to buy drinks on the vending machine upstairs and I lent him money to get me one.

"Yeah-huh you so like Hinata!" Naruto laughs, pointing at Kiba.

"S-So what if I do? No wait what am I saying?!" Kiba screams, holding his head as Naruto and Akamaru circle him, laughing and barking.

"What's going on here?" Neji asks.

"Haven't you noticed? Kiba's been acting weird around Hinata all day. Naruto and I think he has a crush on her."

"NU-UH!" Kiba defends across the floor.

"Then why do ya keep blushing whenever you get into all those awkward situations with her, huh?!" Naruto grins, avoiding a headlock from the Inuzuka. "And coming from a guy who loves to talk about 'tits and babes', you sure turn red a lot for a professional ladies' man."

"I'm gonna pound you so hard Uzumaki not even a camera flash will brighten your bruises!"

With Kiba and Naruto at it once again, Neji and I are left at the sidelines to observe alone. Where is everyone else anyway? Probably out for lunch I guess. "Don't you have anything to say about this?" I ask suddenly to Neji. Hinata is his younger cousin. Aren't those two like brother and sister?

"What goes on with Hinata's love life is none of my business," Neji says rather maturely and nonchalantly. He takes a sip of his own tea can while I observe in shock. Hm, Nothing less from the always composed Neji Hyuuga. "Besides, I doubt anything will happen from this point. Just look at Kiba."

"LALALALALALALA!" Kiba tries to sing as Naruto and Akamaru continue to tease him. A young teen denying his feelings, how cute. "Sakura help me out here c'mon!"

I laugh a little in sympathy. "I dunno, Kiba. You two do look pretty cute together."

"Not you, too."

"See Sakura agrees," Naruto points.

Kiba looks uncomfortable and out of his element. "Geez guys, we've known Hinata since like, before we started skateboarding. You know how weird it'd be to, you know."

So he really does like her. Aw. Well this is refreshing. "Why don't you just confess to her?" I suggest simply.

"Confess?!" Kiba barks, practically knocking Naruto over. "Do you know who you're talking to?! Besides, confessing stupid feelings isn't my style. I'm more of a one-night-stand kinda guy, you know? No strings attached! Hinata's not like that, hmph!"

"Whatever you say, dog-boy," Naruto says with an eye roll. He rubs his head from where Kiba knocked him over.

Mm… Well, wherever this goes on from, I'm sure it'll all be alright. "Did Sasuke ever go out for lunch?"

Naruto looks to me. "No. He should be around here somewhere. I don't remember seeing him leave the building. Wanna look for him?"

Leaving Kiba to Neji (haha that should be interesting), I wander the building with Naruto, up and down the stairs and to different floors. Most are abandoned, waiting to be rented out for some event like this I suppose. "So how are you enjoying yourself, Naruto?" I ask. "Sorry I had to end up canceling practice again."

"Nah, technically it was Sasuke who cancelled and made us come out here, so don't blame yourself for it," Naruto assures. "What about you? You look like you're having a lot more fun than you thought you would."

"I am," I admit. Dressing up city-like, being the center of attention with friends. It's fun. "This is probably one of the first times I've hung out with a group a huge as this, you know, with both guys and girls."

"Then that makes most of us," Naruto laughs. "Before you, the guys and I never hung out with girls. Well, dates and stuff yeah but, not like this. It's, nice."

"Totally." No sign of Sasuke here. Geez where is that guy? "But we've come a long way I guess, since we all met. It's a shame the party's coming soon."

"Oh yeah," Naruto remembers. In the midst of all the days of fun, he forgot our mask. Sasuke and me fake dating, me needing a fiancé - all that. "I'm gonna miss having you around for skating."

I'm about to say me too, but, after all this is over, will I have to stop? Will the guys let me go? Our deal will be over, and I'll have reached their terms: practice and win the competition. Is that all our friendship is based off of? "Yeah…"

Naruto senses the sadness coming on, and stops walking. He grabs my wrist to stop me, too. "Hey," Naruto starts. I turn around, wearing a still solemn face. It's no secret we're both thinking the same things, anticipating the same end. And yet, Naruto can't help but feel his own face heat up in an all too familiar feeling. "When all this stupid agreement stuff is done… We'll still be friends, right?"

I fake my smile for show. "Of course we'll all still be friends. I mean, we all live in the area-"

"No Sakura," Naruto stops, a little more serious in tone. "You don't know what'll happen with the others, with Shikamaru or Neji, but, if anything," Naruto hesitates. "You know I'll always be around, right?"

Upon hearing Naruto say this, I feel a small smile and warm comforting feeling flush forward. "I do now," I nod. My wrist is still in Naruto's grasp, but after that assurance, he loosens his grip.

"Good," Naruto nods, the tension gone. It's good to know at least Naruto and I will still have good relations.

"Thank you, Naruto. I needed that."

He smiles, glad.

In the midst of our little talk ending, a door opens from one of the staircases, and we see Sasuke. And he looks just as surprised to see us. "You guys?" he sees.

"Sasuke!" I grin, turning away from Naruto and running down a few steps. I stop in front of Sasuke, interrogating him about where he could have possibly gone. Sasuke begins defending his rights to do whatever he pleases, but while our banters return back and forth, Naruto looks onward a distance away.

And for some reason, despite his look of calm and peace, a sure fluttering feeling of jealousy runs through as well. Sakura-chan… I think I like you.

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Shikamaru climbs up the stairs of the 17th floor, having checked every other floor with no sign of Ino. As tired as he is, he still continues on one step at a time. "This is so stupid," Shikamaru mutters, now nearing the last floor. The top 17th floor. "I saw her enter the stair case but she just ran off from there to who knows where." Shikamaru checks his watch. "If she doesn't show up soon, everyone will be looking for her when lunch ends." And for some reason Shikamaru knows that's the last thing Ino needs. He thought it better she be found by him- in whatever state she was probably in.

Shikamaru's legs feel like jelly by the time his hand lands on the knob of the 17th floor door. However he notices the door already slightly open. He hesitates, but then gathers the courage to push it open all the way.

The 17th floor is empty, but bright from all the open windows. There's nothing to occupy the clean wooden floors; to cover the fresh painted white walls. This makes it all the more easier to spot the girl hiding within the emptiness.

Shikamaru walks across the room, hearing his own footsteps echo, until he reaches the open window sill that Ino is sitting against. Her hair is up in its usual pony tail, and her clothes from her last photo-shoot are slightly untucked and messier, probably from when she was running up the stairs.

"I hope you know how much trouble it was looking for you," Shikamaru says.

"I didn't ask anyone to find me," Ino says coldly. Hearing no reply from Shikamaru, she turns her head towards him, her expression unsettling. He's still there. "Why, did you come to find me?"

Shikamaru leans against a nearby square pillar. "In the midst of all of today's madness, I figured someone should check in with you one-on-one. Sakura has her hands full."

Ino laughs a little. "Sakura brought everyone here for me, you know. I thought I'd be alright but… I'm not."

The window's quite big, so Shikamaru moves over and sits on the other side of the window right beside Ino. Her legs hang outside while Shikamaru's remain in. "I asked Sakura about you, so I have a little idea of what's going on."

"So she spilled it to you."

"I asked," Shikamaru says. "So don't go snapping at the wrong person, okay?"

"… Sorry," Ino apologizes, keeping her sight outside on the city. "Sakura's the last person I want to snap at, considering I already have at everyone else back home… Even at myself."

Shikaaru gives Ino her privacy and keeps his stare inside the studio, too.

"… My parents are splitting up," she says. "My mom's already packing, and I don't really care what happens to me but… it's sad, you know? Where, one second everything's fine and then, one part of your world that you think would stay the same forever, just… changes," Ino trails off, not knowing what to say. How to explain how she feels. "What am I saying, like you care anyway."

Shikamaru remains silent first, breathing. "My parents divorced, too," he mentions, bringing Ino's head up. "It was a long time ago, so it doesn't matter now. But I know what you mean."

"Do you."

Shikamaru nods once. "For a kid, the only thing you'd ever have to worry about was getting a solid B, not falling when playing with your friends, and lots of stupid stuff. You never had to worry about maintaining a marriage, or a family or anything. Then in a second, the situation's at your doorstep and, there's nothing you can do." Shikamaru makes a bold move and looks at Ino, who's eyes are moist with stubborn tears, reeling from falling. She turns frontward towards thewindow instantly. "So yes, I do get it."

"Do you ever get over it?" Ino asks lowly, tear going down on the other side of her face.

"Life goes on," Shikamaru sighs. "It's just an adjustment period. I think it's as long as you have good distractions around you. Namely a loud group of friends who know nothing but how to cheer you up."

Ino scoffs. "How lucky you are then… I don't have a lot of friends Shikamaru. I'm, not that lucky."

Shikamaru arches his eyebrow. "Aren't you supposed to be one of those miss-populars in school who gets along with everyone?"

"Have you noticed anything? Sakura's my friend. Probably my only real friend. All those other girls at school? Yeah we talk but… we're not that close… They wouldn't care if I transferred or if I were having a rough time. Friends like Sakura… they'll know you're down and won't stop pestering you about it till you cry or, till they buy you $60 worth of ice cream tubs," Ino says with a short laugh, wiping her eyes.

Even Shikamaru laughs a little.

"I'm sure all you guys are like that for each other," Ino notes. "Hell, even Sakura has you guys to back her up now if she's ever down and I'm not around. But… all I have is her. She's the last stable thing I have now and… I don't know. I guess I don't want to bother her with miniscule things like this."

"Minuscule?" Shikamaru repeats. "Big word for a blondie."

Ino laughs again. "Shut up. I'll toss you out this window."

"Try me," Shikamaru humors, and the two laugh again. By now Ino's laughter has caused her tears to roll down, so she's trying her best to wipe them away as nonchalantly as possible.

"Did you cry?" Ino asks. "When you parents split?"

"What, are you kidding? Of course not. I'm no girl," Shikamaru scoffs. Even an insult like that causes Ino to laugh/cry. "But, you are a girl. I suppose it can't be helped." Shikamaru looks away, a serious and sympathetic stare in his eye. "But seriously…you can cry if you need to, you know. I won't look."

Hearing that, Ino tries even harder to hold in her crying. She'd just finished wiping away her tears and now more fels like they're coming on. "No, I don't want to cry in front of you. You'll never let me live it down," she says in a convident excuse, in between almost-sobs.

"Alright then," Shikamaru baits, standing up. "I'll leave you to cry in peace then-"

"No wait!" Ino suddenly gasps, throwing her arm back to catch the back of Shikaru's hand. Shikamru stops. He looks back, but her long blond bangs cover her face. Tears drip to the floor from behind. "Please…don't leave me."

Shikamaru holds in a sigh, and eventually steps backwards to sit where he was before on the window sill. When Ino finally lets go of him, still holding her breath to prevent herself from crying. Shikamaru's arm suddenly hooks around her front torso, pulling her quickly to him. "W-Why-"

"So when you bawl your eyes out you don't fall out the window," Shikamaru lies coolly, holding Ino securely with one arm. "Girls are pretty stupid when they're emotional. Especially blond ones like you," Shikamaru muses. "So just… be a girl and cry already."

Ino is unable to hold it in, and sobs there on the window beside Shikamaru for the rest of break.

x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x

Before long, the break is over, and everyone is returning to the studio, including the photographers and workers. The afternoon is almost over and we're all going to be going home soon. I've noticed Kakashi being noticeably in the background for most of the day, not even reading one of his pervy books. When I asked him what was up, he just had a really senseless reply.

"The news said aliens are on the loose today," Kakashi tells me. "I'm just remaining extra focused today to make sure nothing goes wrong."

I told myself to just embrace the fact Kakashi isn't causing me any trouble today. If there was anything he needed to tell me, he would. "Here Hinata," I say, helping her into her next outfit. It's a bit more skin-showing, but I'm sure she'll be fine if I add a few more clips and pins to keep it all from falling. "This should be your last shoot for the day, Hinata."

"Thank heavens," she sighs, while trying to keep her breath in. It's not so much that we're trying to get her waist in, but her chest. "What about you, Sakura? Are you done for the day?"

"Me? Ah, no I have one more shoot to do, too. I'll dress up after I'm done helping you."

"It's another shoot with Sasuke, isn't it."

"Yeah, it is." I look over to the dress Tsunade picked out for me. Just seeing it's flowy and white, springy design sends a flushy butterfly feeling of uncomfortably in me. "In less than an hour, we'll all be on our way out of this place."

"Did you ever find Sasuke, by the way?" Hinata asks me. "Neji and Kiba said you and Naruto went to look for him."

"Yeah, but it's more like he found us," I say, adding another pin. Gosh Hinata. "Sasuke's acting so weird today, even though he won't admit it. Weirdo."

Hinata laughs with what little room she has in her clothing. "I think I know why he's acting this way."

"You do?" I ask, cluelessly and curiously. "Why?"

"You should look at some of the pictures Tsunade has of you on the computers before we leave," Hinata tells me. "Have you even seen any of your shots, yet?"

Now that she mentions it, I haven't. It's not a priority, but maybe I'll look at my pictures if I have time. Once I'm done with Hinata and she's out on her way, I go on to put on my dress as well.

Afterwards, from what I can see outside, it's Kiba and Hinata in this shoot Tsunade's doing, and all the others are watching. Even Sasuke, who's already dressed in his own Tsunade-picked outfit. How cliché; he's wearing black pants with black riding boots, and a very loose see through button down shirt. What on earth is Mom thinking asking for pictures of us like this.

Suddeny I see Sasuke walk away again and away from the group. I frown a bit wondering where he's going again. "What's he up to?" While still unnoticed, I take my private leave around the corner from the dressing room to see if I can corner Sasuke to wherever he's heading. I didn't think it was serious, whatever he's doing.

However before I can appear from out behind the corner, I stop and gather the rest of fly flowing dress, staying hidden behind the white walls. There's a business man with dark red pink hair stands, and Sasuke's approaching him. What are they doing?

"Sasuke," the stranger says. "Have you made your decision?"

The man's holding something in his hand behind his crossed arms. It's a check – I've seen those way too many times in my Mom's parties and events. But I don't see any shadows of writing in it; just a signature. It's a blank check. But, what- I look between the man and Sasuke. What's Sasuke doing here with him? Is…?

Sasuke looks up. "I have."

I stay hidden, quiet mostly because of fear. Why do I feel fear? Who knows.

The man holds the blank check out to Sasuke. "So, here you go. Write whatever amount you want. As long as you leave Sakura and cut all associations with the Harunos, you've got yourself a fortune."

My eyes widen and my hand holds tighter the wall I'm hiding behind. Feelings of turmoil and sickness run around in my body. No pretty dress and flashy background lights can erase the feeling I have right now. This man, was he bribing Sasuke to leave me? Sasuke… Sasuke you wouldn't… would you?

And I honestly don't know what he'll do.

At first I think it's my mind playing things slower than they are. That's how moments like this go, right? But I realize that it's reality, and Sasuke really is standing still, with that calm face on I know too well. And just when I think he'll take the blank check in front of him, he does the complete opposite. "I don't want the money."

My heart stops beating. What?

"What?" the man asks, caught off guard.

Sasuke's eyes harden, and he looks up with a cold glare. "I don't want the money," he repeats. "My word is already invested in a previous engagement and I intend to keep it."

"Your word?" the man laughs. "What worth does your word have, you commoner? Why else would a delinquent like you even consider going out with a blueblood like my Sakura?" My heart skips a beat again. What did he say? "I should know! How troublesome it must be, to keep up appearances! Standards! Threats! If you're in for the money, then why not take the shortcut out already!?"

The man's booming voice frightens me, and it slowly clicks in me who he is. And I blame myself for not recognizing him earlier. It's my father. But, how is he here? And, is he doing what I think he is? And even more so… is Sasuke really… not doing it…?

"Like I said, I gave my word already," Sasuke recites calmly. Sasuke. "Therefore I have an agreement to follow through with. And I'll find money on my own terms, thank you very much." Suddenly Sasuke grabs the blank check and rips it up in front of him – in front of me. I watch in a daze as the pieces fall to the ground, as slow as gravity will let them fall.

Did Sasuke just… really do that?... But why? The sole reason he's in this with me is to get money from a competition we're not even sure I can win. He could've backed out of our deal right now if he wanted, leave me to fend with my own problems by myself. And yet, he didn't…

Hm… I supposed I should give Sasuke more credit. As a friend or a mentor… he really does have my back, after all.

"I don't know what kind of people you think the Harunos are, or how you think your own daughter functions, but I definitely don't function this way," Sasuke says, leaving and walking away from the man. And with that, I take my quiet leave as well before I'm caught.

And Sasuke… thank you.

x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x x-x-x-x-x-x-x

The rest of the afternoon goes without skipping a beat. Kiba's and Hinata's photoshoot together ended quite splendidly if I do say so myself – well, for those of us watching it was entertaining. I don't know about Hinata and Kiba. Turns out one of the overhead lights were about to fall and crash on Hinata, and Kiba jumped in heroically to save her.

"Hinata!" Kiba cried, jumping across the set and tackling her to the ground and away from the crash site of the extremely hot lights.

Only thing was, when all the dust cleared, all those pins and clips I used to help keep Hinata's top, well, on, snapped and she was back to square one - aka, a falling and barely supported shirt where her boobs were just about ready to show out. Rendered practically topless in sitting position, and Kiba's face buried right beneath her chest. It was only a matter of time before he'd realize what happened.

And he did.

"W-Wha… Hinata are you okay-?"Kiba stops, seeing Hinatas blouse encircled around her waist and her arms shielding what they could of her breasts, squeezed together by her forearms. And Kiba was up close to see Hinata's frozen reaction. Blood began to drip from his nose. "W-W-WHA-?!"

Milliseconds after, Neji had knocked Kiba out like a light, and covered Hinata with a huge cloth jacket thing as swiftly as logically possible. Problem solved, but more or less is was interesting. Kiba's resting in the dressing room with Hinata looking after him, so who knows where today's events will lead for them.

As for me and Sasuke, well… I'm going to let what I saw slide, and never bring it up. Sasuke didn't tell me, and I don't blame him. Only, I can't thank him for what he ended up doing, or not doing, rather. But if anything, I have a much better appreciation for him.

"Few more solo shots, Sakura," Tsunade says, taking pictures of me first before Sasuke comes in.

Sasuke can't help but watch. It was a stunning dress, blowing with help from a giant fan. It made me almost look angelic. Yet, when Sasuke sees it, he sees something else. A very clouded memory, of a tiny girl in grass, wearing a white dress as well that blew in the wind. And… pink hair, too? It's a familiar picture he's seen somewhere before – long long before. But he can't quite remember.

"She looks good, doesn't she," Naruto says, coming up beside Sasuke.

"Hm? Yeah I guess," Sasuke plays off.

Naruto rolls his eyes. "Can't you just agree a full 'yes' for once? Look at her."

"I am I am, sheesh. It's just a dress what do you want me to say? She looks like a goddess?" Naruto's face looks unphased, and Sasuke feels a little strange. Naruto never gives off this vibe. "What," Sasuke says.

"I overheard you and that man earlier," Naruto whispers seriously behind Sasuke's shoulder, and Sasuke tenses up. In reality, while Sasuke was speaking with the strange man, while I was hiding behind one corner, Naruto was standing neaby as well, having followed Sasuke after I left to try and corner him. Naruto remained silent and in the shadows and out of sight in the wall right behind Sasuke. "He tried to bribe you to leave Sakura?"

"Does it matter? I said no alright so just shut up about it," Sasuke warns, not wanting this to get out. For obvious reasons. If Naruto heard that part, then surely he overheard that the man Rano was Sakura's father.

"And you're sure you don't like her," Naruto tries.

This again, Sasuke says mentally. "No. I don't," he glares clearly.

"Because I do," Naruto says seriously, catching Sasuke off guard.

Sasuke tuns and searches his long time friend's eyes for any signs of fault or hesitation. He is completely serious.

"I like Sakura," Naruto repeats, only for Sasuke. Everyone else is too busy watching Tsunde's last shoot. "So if you say you 'don't'," Naruto says with finger quotations, "then you better rethink the way you look at all this, before someone seriously tries something."

Thinking back, Sasuke isn't too surprised. Naruto's left subtle hints, super-subtle hints, that he's had a thing for their pink haired friend. Sasuke just, never expected the Uzumaki to do or say anything about it. Naruto's been a whimp about girls for years. And now he knows just what this confrontation means – a silent competition, a rival.

And Sasuke's usually never intimidated by competition – because he always gets the girl. He's Sasuke Uchiha! And yet, with Naruto – and concerning 'Sakura Haruno' of all people – Sasuke… didn't know how to feel.

"Sasuke you're up!" Tsunade calls, pulling Sasuke away from Naruto, who remains still and observing.

Sasuke and I resume similar poses to the ones we had in our previous photoshoot together to finish the day. I have no problems, and apparently neither does Sasuke. If anything, he seems a bit more into it now than before. Maybe it's because he settled things with my so called father. Maybe that's what was bothering him today. That's it.

I look into the camera with Sasuke behind me, arms around my torso and waist with his chin buried in my neck. The skin-to-skin contact for some reason makes my heart race a little. Hope he can't feel my heartbeat. "You're pretty into this," I whisper in a note.

Sasuke's eyes remain locked with Naruto, and Naruto's with his. "I guess," Sasuke mutters back to me as another flash comes forth. "It helps when you actually look like a decent girl."

I'll take that as a compliment. "You look like pretty decent girl, too," I smile back in humor, and Sasuke scoffs as we go into another pose together.

And for most of the shoot, it's Sasuke and Naruto looking at one another every now and then. While Sasuke hasn't said anything officially, it's in the air between the two – an unofficial and secret rivalry not for skating or leadership, but, for something both never expected to want.

Away from all the teens and Tsunade, Rano Haruno watches from the sidelines as this boy poses with is daughter. "So did Sasuke accept the check?" Kakashi asks, appearing suddenly beside the former Haruno.

"Hmph, what check?"

"Don't play dumb with me, Rano. Kana and I know you," Kakashi says. "Kana may not realize it, but I know the reason you left Sakura and her mother." Rano remains silent, as does Kakashi for only a moment. "Were you about to do the same with Sasuke? I saw you talking to him earlier this morning at the staircase."

"You're the same as ever, Kakashi," Rano says. "However if I was offered a blank check at the time I left Kana and Sakura, God knows where I'd be. I spent up my sudden small fortune too soon, and I lost my family."

"You threw away your family," Kakashi rewords, and Rano doesn't argue.

"Still," Rano says, seeing how beautiful his daughter turned out to be. "I was just like Sasuke at his age. I'm still a little surprised he didn't accept the money. Yet in an odd twist, I'm a little glad he didn't – despite my intentions."

"Are you," Kakashi says. "Hm… perhaps you do have a soul."

"Funny," Rano scoffs. "Nonetheless, I can sleep soundly knowing Sakura at least has a seemingly good guy."

"I wouldn't let any other near her." Kakashi is about to walk away, but holds an envelope out to the man. "Here." Rano takes the fancy envelope. "It's an invitation to Sakura's birthday ball."

"Kana won't be happy."

"I know," Kakashi smiles under his mask. "Kana and Sakura are quite used to my antics, but I believe it'll be harmless if you show up for cake, you know?"

Rano laughs, at peace a little. "Thank you, Kakashi."

The last few hours of the day in the studio are spent with us back in our normal wear - Tsunade taking group pictures of us for fun now that the rest of the photographers have gone home for the day. An yeah, while dressing up and doing things 'the professional way' was pretty cool, it's a lot more fun this way.

"GANG UP ON SASUKE!"

"Wha hey-!"

SNAP. The girls and I clutch our stomachs as Shikamaru, Naruto, Kiba, and Neji (barely) tackle Sasuke in a group photo of the guys. How typical. The resulting shot is a huge contrast compared to the girls' and my group photo. "Alright everyone in!" Tsunade calls. "You too Kakashi you've bee such a wallflower today!"

Kakashi nearby shuts his book, looking unenthusiastic about the photo, but he comes over anyway. Meanwhile the girls are pulling me into the shot as Tsunade sets up her camera. With the guys centered and the girls surroundeding them, somehow Kiba and Naruto manage to pull me into the center, and I'm situated right next to Sasuke. Even Akamaru pokes out from behind Kiba's hoodie. Somehow everyone looks composed enough.

"Smile you guys!"

Just as we are, suddenly Naruto does a sudden sneeze that spooks Akamaru - who jumps up and makes Tenten and Ino scream. Obviousy within that millisecond everyone is unfocused, and the photo is taken.

x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x

"Oh yesterday was so much fun!" Ino sighs, falling into a couch on the upper fourth floor of school. It's lunch break and she and I are spending it in the guys' abandoned 'office' upstairs at school. I've taken the opportunity to show her some of the prints from Tsuande she sent to the house this morning. Even I haven't seen them yet, so it'll be new for the both of us. "Thanks for taking me yesterday."

"Did you cheer up?"

"Definitely," Ino smiles, thinking and blushing back to Shikamaru. "And you? You and Sasuke sure looked sexy out there."

I roll my eyes. "Whatever." As I drink some soup from my ramen cup, I take out th greatly-anticipated photo prints and spread tem out on Sasuke's desk where Ino sits on top of. The print are glossy with a transparent loo in the bottom corner. "Wow," I say first. "We look like we've bee printed out of a magazine or something." Ino gives me a look. Oh yeah, that's what these were for. "Right. Sorry."

Ino shakes her head, looking carefully through them. "Aw, look at us." Ino finds one of Ino and me posing together in some evening gowns.

"Oh my gosh Kiba's actually blushing," I gasp, seeing adorable Hinata and in in a couple. Meanwhile I see Ino searching frantically through them. "Which one are you looking for?"

"The ones of you an your boyfriend duh." Ah, right. As I try to help her find those forsaken photos, I manage to find the huge group one of all of us, and I slowly slide it towards me out of the pile. I've been wanting to see how that one turned out. And seeing the picture, I smile a little to myself. Oh my gosh.

It's even more chaotic than I could've ever imagined, yet so perfect I hundreds of ways. For one, Naruto's sneezing face is hilarious. Sasuke and I are both leaning back away form him with priceless faces - mine freaked out an Sasuke's rather repulsed. Kiba's busy looking up panicked at a flying Akamaru, while Ino near the poor door clutches next to a ready-to-fall-over Shikamaru. Neji looks pissed off (as always) while Tenten looking as freaked out by the scene. Then Hinata's nearby Kiba, laughing adorably. Kakashi stands awkwardly in the left of the photo, having been secretly reading but the sneeze and the flying dog have caught his attention. Overall it's probably the best group photo of all of us I could ever hope for.

"AHA!" Ino gasps, findin a group of prints of Sasuke and me. Then a rather interested look dawns her. "Wow, Sasuke looks pretty good."

"Yes Ino I know moderately attractive he's supposed to be," I play along sarcastically.

"No seriously look at some of these. He's so into it," Ino says impressed, handing me half her pile.

I take them and shuffle through a few before I slow, looking at each one carefully and endearingly. Wow. Ino's right - Sasuke really does look into it. It's then I remember Hinata telling me to look through our shots, probably to see this. I had an off feeling when I was being photographed with Sasuke - but a good off-feeling. This looks so unlike him. Then again he's the worlds first class player. He should know how to look into a girl in a photo. But I still can't help but feel something else by the look in his eye. the way he'd look into mine, the way we posed and how comfortable our bodies fit with each one.

Was he acting or... Nah. It's Sasuke, haha.

Then again, Sasuke's never ceased to amaze me lately. Small surprises from him really keep me on my toes. But not huge daring surprises like the ones Kakashi cooks up for me or my Mom blowing something over my head. Tiny, intricate little meaningless things from Sasuke - like him fixing my shorts to covering for me by joining an all-guys pageant. Or even, turning down thousands upon thousands of dollars because I was a friend.

It still stumps me as to why Sasuke turned down my father's blank check. Maybe I just can't wrap my mind around that maybe I mean more to Sasuke than just a girlfriend label or a money-winner for his competition. Yeah we're friends but, I've had yet to experience the furthest length any friend would go for me. Ino's different. We have history. But guys? They're so strange. And Sasuke, he's so... I dunno...

I look up at Ino's board across the empty room. "Say, it's been a while since you've ranted about this thing. Your psychic Ouija board of love, haha."

"It has been a while," Ino agrees, swinging her legs off the desk and up to the chalk board. She has a couple of index cards left taped up; maybe half has been revealed, all in accordance with 'mine and Sasuke's blooming relationship'. Is it really? Nah.

Right?

"Hm… FIRST DATE, UNDENIABLE FEELING, FIRST KISS…" Ino looks to me with a sly smile. "-We're gonna talk about that one day." I roll my eyes as she removes the next index card, revealing the next step.

"The ACTUAL REALIZATION," Ino reads in chalk. "Hm, that's a weird one. Hey Sakura did you realize anything yesterday?"

I give her a weird look. Does she seriously expect me to know that?

Then again, I guess I did find out a couple things yesterday for myself. Like, Sasuke turning down a blank check to keep up our agreement – something I wouldn't even expect a nice Sasuke Uchiha to do. I mean, a blank check is a lot to pass down. Why would he…?

"AW THEN I BET SASUKE MUST HAVE REALIZED HE LIKES YOU AWWWW!" Ino squeals.

"And she's back to her old self," I frown with a side sweatdrop to my head. Still, I won't mention my peeping to Sasuke; might hurt his man-pride or whatever. But despite the strangeness of it all… I'm happy.

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DeviantArt: MemorySoul

PREVIEW:

"It's weird," Kiba speaks up, scratching his head. "Naruto gets like this every year on the same date."

"February 1st?" Ino blinks. "What happened on February 1st?"

Shikamaru shrugs. "We dunno. But he's been like this for as long as we've known him. He won't say why, but we leave him alone usually and he's fine by morning."

x-x-x-x

"Sakura's birthday is about a month away from now." Everyone doesn't stop what they're doing, but their ears are invisibly more alert. "Technically Sakura still hasn't found anyone yet."

"That's right," Kiba remembers. "Sasuke's just the cover I forgot."

"So she's supposed to find some boyfriend by her birthday to actually take her to her stupid party?" Sasuke asks nonchalantly, keeping his physical focus on his board.

"Yeah," Ino replies distantly. "But she's been so preoccupied with skating lately with you guys, and then whatever other crazy situation gets thrown into the mix – she never has time to really look at guys."

x-x-x-x

Naruto eventually looks back at what I'm staring at, and his temper dwindles in a second. It doesn't take too long for me to notice the boy and Naruto are connected. Eyes staring, and tension so thick I could practically see it between all of us. What the heck's going on with these two?

"Naruto-niisan?" the boy speaks first, rather lowly and barely audiable.

Naruto's eyes widen. "Konohamaru."