Disclaimer:
I…don't own Naruto…or any music used by respected artists in this story.

Author's Note: Snow Day was fun…Chibi and I are survivors….lawlzers…I might put a video on YouTube :D


Chapter Twenty-Nine: Famous Times, Dark Days

Sasuke and Sakura headed back into the café, hand-in-hand, smiling brightly.

"Where'd Ino and Naruto go--?"

"Hey…isn't that Naruto with Hinata-chan?" Sasuke squinted at a red-haired boy and a brown-haired girl in an opposite corner from the real Naruto and Hinata. Sakura rolled her eyes and reached for his messenger bag, but then he gently stopped her with one hand.

"HEY! I can see perfectly without them," he said politely, yet sternly to her. Sakura smirked and snatched his bag from him. "HEY!" he laughed. She rummaged through his things and finally pulled out a small, rectangular-shaped Armani case, snapped it open, and pulled out a pair of Armani glasses, and handed them to him. Sighing, he held out his hand and took them, reluctantly putting them on.

"You're welcome," Sakura laughed, "and no, that wasn't them."

"I can SEE that now," he rolled his eyes. "Thank you." He kissed her cheek and she giggled. He raised an eyebrow. "I bet they're discussing foreign matters," finally taking a look at the REAL Naruto and Hinata, just a few tables away on the opposite side, talking.

"Ha…foreign matters…my ASS," Sakura snorted. "Hinata and Naruto both love skating…Hinata-chan just doesn't show it to anyone except for me and Ino."

Sasuke raised an eyebrow in surprise. "Hinata…skating…Hinata?"

He just couldn't put the two together in an analogy. He merely shrugged. "Hey…do you guys need a ride?"

"Huh?" Sakura raised an eyebrow. He nodded over to his brother and Hikari, who were now talking to each other…in less-audible voices.


"You nasty little piglet," Naruto hissed. Hinata tried to suppress her giggles. Ino sighed and patted his shoulder.

"Just trying to help your love life," she smirked. She winked at Hinata, who froze and blushed. Ino grinned, winked at Naruto, and then walked over backstage to say hello to Shikamaru. Only then came the awkward silence between them.

"Um…sorry about that," Naruto laughed weakly, scratching his head. Hinata waved his remark of feverishly.

"Oh! Oh, n-no n-need to worry," she mumbled. Her head then shot up. "H-hey! It's Sasuke-kun and Sakura-chan!"

Naruto turned his head and saw a bespectacled Sasuke walk towards them…hand-in-hand with Sakura. He smiled to himself and waved. They both waved back. The pair walked over to them and let go.

"Naruto-kun! Hinata-chan," Sakura smiled. "Naruto, its 8:00, we gotta go. We're getting a ride from Itachi-san and Hikari-san."

Naruto gaped at her. "Aw…next time, Hinata-chan? Maybe we could hang out at school?"

Hinata grinned and nodded, turning a soft shade of red. Naruto gave her a quick, swift hug and waved.

"Happychristmasandamerrynewyear!" she blabbed. Naruto turned back and smirked.

"Ditto."


"Where the hell is Ino?" Sakura scowled. Naruto shrugged.

"I think she went over somewhere with Shikamaru-kun," he responded, smirking. Sasuke laughed.

"Knowing her, I think that's the truth."

"Oh really?" Sakura raised one eyebrow. She walked straight past a confused Sasuke and Naruto, and then backstage, walking past comedians, poets, and singers, until she finally found Ino…

…making out with Shikamaru by the stage door.

She smirked smugly, and folded her arms, leaning against the wall, and just watched them for about a minute, until her patience was finally tried.

"AHEM. Excuse me?" she cleared her throat loudly. The two pulled apart like lighting. Ino gaped at her.

"S-Saku—I—uh—we—" she stuttered. Shikamaru sighed and rolled his eyes.

I KNEW we were going to get caught…THIS is more troublesome than Chouji finishing all the niku (meat) on Yakiniku Saturday…he thought in his mind.

Sakura laughed, "I KNOW what you two were doing. Now, its 8:00, and we promised Minato-sama we'd be back early."

Ino nodded; her face red. She then mumbled a 'sorry' and a quick 'bye' to Shikamaru, and she and Sakura headed back off to Sasuke and Naruto.


"Where were you?" Naruto pouted. Ino bit her lip and looked at the ceiling, her face still cherry-red. Sakura patted her shoulder.

"She was…just discussing some items with Shikamaru," she smirked. Sasuke raised his eyebrows and smiled, folding his arms.

"OH," Naruto laughed. Ino whacked his head, and he rubbed it in pain. "What the hell was that for?!"

"Don't laugh at me," Ino peered maliciously at him. "Let's just go already."

"Fine, fine, fine," Naruto whimpered, not wanting to be hit again.


As they walked out the door, a brown-haired boy with a dog on his shoulder was ordering mochas…

"Sakura," Naruto laughed.

The boy turned his head towards them, but caught a quick glimpse of pink hair walking out the door.

Sakura-chan?!

"Kiba-kun, it's time to go," the boy's mother snapped. Kiba nodded fervently and followed his mother out the opposite exit door.


The car ride wasn't a quiet one at all. Itachi and Sasuke nearly got into another shouting match about which exit to take outside the city to get into the countryside to drop off Naruto, Sakura, and Ino, and proceeded as so until Hikari stopped them. Then, a few minutes later, Sasuke and Sakura and Naruto and Ino began discussing new songs for the band.

"…I think you guys should use that one song that goes…'I'm in the business of misery,'" Sasuke suggested, shrugging.

"Really? For the finals?" Naruto gaped at him, "I was thinking of Runaway."

"Runaway was what ALL the bands had to do for the competition," Ino groaned. "I don't want to do it again," she muttered, and then she saw Sasuke's wary face, and then added quickly, "No offense, Sasuke."

"None taken," Sasuke shrugged. "Hey…we're here."

Naruto, Sakura, and Ino looked out the window.

"Aw," Sakura grumbled. Sasuke poked her shoulder.

"Don't worry, I'll probably see you on New Year," he smiled sympathetically. Sakura still had a pouty look on her face that read 'Aw…that's too long…'

"Don't be like that," Sasuke laughed, poking her once more. Sakura smiled.

"Alrighty," she mumbled. Suddenly, her face lit up. "Wait!"

Sasuke raised an eyebrow as the car came to a halt. Sakura began rummaging through her bag, until she pulled out a neatly-wrapped gift.

"This is for you," she said, blushing. "I was going to give it before, but then you were mad at me, so—"

He then just gave her a hug. Naruto sighed and clapped his hands.

"Alright, alright lovebirds, it's time for us to go now, Saku-chan," he said exasperatedly. Sasuke and Sakura scowled and separated, but smiled at each other.

"Thanks, Pinky," he winked as Sakura left the car.

"Aishiteru," she whispered. Sasuke whispered it back quietly, holding his gift, and scooting over to give Naruto and Ino leaving space.

"Sakura—wait—" Sasuke gently threw her a small box, which she caught. She winked at him and mouthed, "Arigato."

"Doitashimashite," he smiled back.

The door closed, and the rest was history. Sasuke leaned back in his chair, holding his head.

"Are you alright, Sasuke-kun?" Hikari asked worriedly. Sasuke nodded, but his head was in pain.


Two Weeks Later…

"SHIKAMARU-KUN!" Ino tackled Shikamaru at the entrance to the school. Winter Break, Christmas, and New Year had zoomed by quickly. Naruto and Sakura rolled their eyes.

"It's like she hadn't made out with him in three years," Naruto scowled deeply, folding his arms. Sakura tried to suppress her giggles.

"True," she winked. Sighing, she looked at her watch, pushing down the lever for her luggage bag. "Where's Sasuke-kun? He was supposed to meet us here ten minutes ago…"

Naruto patted her shoulder. "Don't worry, he's fine. Uchihas are always LATE," Naruto annunciated the word 'late.'

"Whatever," Sakura smirked. Suddenly, the tune of Radetzky March began playing on her cell phone. "Hey, it's my phone!" she took it out of her pocket. "Moshi-moshi?"

"Sakura-chan?" a weak voice mumbled. Sakura's eyes widened.

"Hey, who is it?" Naruto said, raising an eyebrow. Sakura shushed him.

"Sasuke-kun?" she exclaimed. "Are you alright? You sound like you got run over by a cow or something—"

There was laughter, then a fit of coughing.

"S-SASUKE-KUN?"

"HEY! WHAT'S WRONG?" Naruto exclaimed. Sakura silenced him. Ino and Shikamaru were confused.

"Shhh, I'm sick, I'm in the infirmary right now…" Sasuke coughed, "It was really spur-of-the-moment, one hour ago I was fine, and then the next, I'm hacking like hell."

"Are you sure you're alright?" Sakura said warily.

"Of COURSE, Saku-chan," Sasuke laughed weakly. "Just don't come near me for a few hours; I think I'm contagious…but I think the medication's working."

"Okay…" Sakura sighed. "Aishiteru."

"Aishiteru," Sasuke coughed. They both hung up at the same time. Ino stared at Sakura.

"He's sick," Sakura sighed, "But he doesn't know why."

"Ah," Shikamaru noted, "That's really troublesome…and on the first day of the new semester…"

"Oh well," Sakura pouted. "Hey Ino, let's put our stuff back in our rooms."

Ino nodded, and they both said goodbye to Shikamaru and Naruto.


The two girls were rolling their luggage bags down the hallway of the very familiar Girl's Dorms at the Konoha Academy of the Arts, saying hello and konnichiwa to their friends, stopping to check bulletins.

"Round two of the Battle of the Bands…next Friday," Ino read, sighing. "We've got a hell of work to do until then."

"Yep," Sakura rolled her eyes. She turned around but then she bumped into a certain, tall and stick-thin blonde…

"Watch where you're going, Haruno," Temari spat. Sakura stood up, dusting off her uniform jacket.

"Why don't you say excuse me first?" Sakura retorted. She looked behind the Barbie-like figure and saw Karin yakking on her Razor cell-phone, and Tenten reading Stargirl.

"Did you just call me out?" Temari said, moving closer to Sakura, ready for the kill.

"Uh, no…she didn't, uh, we'll be going now!" Ino said, getting between them. Sakura politely pushed her best friend aside.

"Ino, I think I'll handle this on my own," Sakura glared at Temari. Temari merely huffed and smiled, folding her arms.

"I wouldn't fight a little cherry blossom like you—you're too…ah…delicate."

Then came the loud slap heard around the world.

Temari shouted in pain.

"DON'T—EVER—CALL—ME—DELICATE! Don't you dare make fun of my name!" Sakura spat. Temari untied her ponytails and handed the ties to Tenten, who caught them boredly.

"I can DO whatever I WANT TO!" Temari shouted. She threw a punch at Sakura, but thankfully for her height, she ducked easily and dodged it.

"I guess you can't throw a punch," Sakura growled. "I'll be going now," she said, tying up her hair in a short ponytail. "See you later…bitch."

Ino already left once Sakura said 'I'll be going now.' Rolling her eyes at her friend's cowardice, she turned on her heel, rolling her bag, but a foot stuck out, and she crumbled to the ground.

"Don't you leave yet, Pinky," Temari growled.

"Don't call me PINKY," Sakura shouted, standing up. She pushed Temari to the wall and rushed off back to her room.

"IT'S YOUR FAULT MY CHANCES OF BECOMING SUNA'S RULER ARE RUINED!"

Sakura froze, and turned around.

"So you just dated Sasuke because you had to, and just because you wanted to be a fucking ruler?"

"Well, I liked him for about a week, but afterwards, he just got very boring," Temari rolled her eyes. "What's it to you? YOU'RE with him now, you pink-haired freak!"

"DON'T CALL SASUKE BORING!" Sakura shouted. Ino opened the door to their room, and Sakura threw her bag in.

"Come on, Sakura, let's go," Ino begged.

"No, let me handle this," Sakura scowled. She took off her school blazer, leaving only her buttoned-down white shirt and tie on her top, Temari doing the same.

"Picking a fight now, huh, Temari?" Karin rolled her eyes, arms folded in frustration. Temari glared at her.

"Shut up, Karin!" she spat. "Let me handle this!"

"You'll get in trouble, Temari-sama," Tenten whistled. Temari pushed Tenten to the floor, but Karin helped her up.

"Let's just get out of here," Tenten grimaced. Karin nodded and the pair ran off.

"You think you can insult everyone I know?" Sakura shouted. Temari took a spare hair-tie out of her pocket and tied her hair into a single blonde-and-pink ponytail.

"I can if I want to, poor girl," she said, pulling off her white gloves, and she threw them next to her blazer.

"Sakuraaaa!" Ino moaned. "Come ON, you're going to get in trouble!"

"STAY OUT OF THIS, PIG!" Temari shouted. Ino gaped at her.

"What did you just call me?" she said maliciously.

"I said you were a PIG," Temari said, annunciating, "don't you know what the hell that is?"

"YES I DO," Ino screamed. She pulled off her blazer and pulled out her hair-tie. "Only Naruto and Sakura can call me that!"

"I guess I just did," Temari said playfully, scowling.

"Need some help, Sakura?" Ino said, glaring at the blonde.

"I thought you didn't want to get in trouble?" Sakura smirked. Ino shrugged.

"When it comes to my name, I'm pretty sensitive," Ino said, smirking back.

"Alright, then," Sakura laughed.

"Just GET ON WITH IT," Temari rolled her eyes. "Bring it."

"Oh, I will," Sakura narrowed her eyes.

A group began to form around them, and the normal chant began…

"FIGHT, FIGHT, FIGHT!"

Just then, a loud cough rang through.

"S-Sakura?!"


PLEASE READ!!!

Author's Note: YEAH! HELL YEAH! I LOVE THIS CHAPTER! Well, if you don't then...OH WELL! I respect your opinion though.

Having a snow day here was so boring. Acutally, the day AFTER the actual SNOW DAY was boring. People were watching the Super Bowl on the American sports channels (I live in Japan ;)...there was too much indoorsmen rather than outdoorsmen today.

And I must ask you all of a favor.

I have a poll on my profile--right below my Pen Name. It's a poll about the sequel. I just need your opinions on what it should be about. I'd really appreciate it if you participated!

PLEASE LEAVE A REVIEW! x3

--Saku-sama.