A/N: Thanks for all your nice reviews! I don't actually know whether this would be a Sakura/Neji or Sakura/Sasuke fanfiction yet. I'm still thinking of ideas! So here's the second chapter! Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto!!

Chapter 2 The best present a friend can give

"Welcome Sakura," said Ino's mother.

"Ohayou gozaimasu," Sakura said

"There's no need for the formal Japanese Sakura," Ino's mother smiled.

Ino was standing in the corner waiting for Sakura to be done talking to her mother. Knowing her mother, she'd probably take forever. So Ino stood there, until Sakura finally remembered why she was at Ino's house. To get the kimono.

"Sakura, are you going to the festival tomorrow night?" asked Ino's mother.

"She is mother," Ino said quickly pushing Sakura upstairs.

Sakura and Ino walked into Ino's bedroom. Everything was baby pink, even her wardrobe!

"Wow, I've never seen so much pink in my life," Sakura muttered.

"So, Sakura. Here's your present, you have to try it on!" Ino said happily.

"Thanks Ino, this is the best present a girl can ever receive!" Sakura said hugging Ino tightly.

Ino walked outside and shut her bedroom door. She knew that Sakura needed her privacy to change into that pretty kimono. She sat down slowly on the floor. Soon her happy face turned into sadness. It was only yesterday that I poured my heart out to Shikamaru, she thought sadly. She wanted to burst into tears at that moment. How could he be so mean?

Flashback

"Shikamaru, there you are! I was looking all over for you!" an exited Ino called.

"Don't you have someone better to look for, like maybe Sasuke-kun?" Shikamaru asked sarcastically.

"But, Shikamaru... I'm over Sasuke-kun. I like someone else now..." Ino said softly.

"Don't tell me, is it Choji? Cos' I know he likes you," Shikamaru asked.

"Shut up Shikamaru! I like you, happy?!" Ino spat.

"Why me?" he asked himself quietly.

"I've always liked you, ever since we graduated from the ninja academy; you were always lazy but so what? I liked you for your brains and inner strength. I only told everyone I liked Sasuke-kun, was because I was afraid they'd tease me cos' I liked you..." Ino told Shikamaru.

"So, will you come to the paper lantern night festival as my date?" she asked smiling.

She was always bossy, she always thought about herself first, she never cared what others felt and she never gave me a break, Shikamaru thought. She's pretty, but I can't imagine why she'd like someone like me. I like her, but I don't want to express my feelings to her yet.

"So Shikamaru, is that a yes or a no?"

"Sorry Ino, I have a date already!" Shikamaru said and ran off quickly before she'd start crying.

Ino stood there like she'd just been slapped really hard on the face. She'd never actually been rejected by a boy before, so she didn't know how much it hurt inside. So, she ran home crying.

End flashback

Thinking of that moment still brought tears to her eyes. But just as her tears started to come out of her attractive blue eyes, Sakura called, "Come on in Ino, you should see it!"

So, she put a fake smile on her face and walked into her bedroom. She complimented Sakura and Sakura was so happy that she started to cry. Tears of happiness. Ino couldn't stand it much longer so she let all her tears flow. All her anger, pain and shock from that day.

Sakura noticed that Ino's face was becoming red and very wet. So, she leaned down to look at Ino's face. She was crying.

"Are you okay Ino?" Sakura asked.

That made Ino cry even harder. So Sakura got her some tissues and handed them to her. After a while Ino calmed down. So Sakura asked her what was wrong.

Ino told her everything about what happened with Shikamaru and how she felt really rejected from him.

Sakura was very sympathetic to her. So they made a plan to make Shikamaru wish he'd never said no to Ino!

"Stop fussing over me. I'm fine now, thanks to you Sakura. Wow, you look fabulous in that kimono! I knew it was made for you when I laid my eyes on it," Ino squealed.

The kimono was red with white flowers all over it and it had and orange bow (or belt?) wrapped around her waist. With her pink hair in a bun with chopsticks, it completed the outfit.

"Thanks so much for it Ino!" Sakura said. She put her everyday clothes in a bag and walked out the door.

"I'll walk you home Sakura, can't wait to see people's reactions when they see you in that!" Ino said and they both squealed.

So they both walked for a while until they met Rock Lee.

Oh no, not Lee! They both thought.

"Sakura-san! You look pretty, no wonderful, no...oh whatever. You look fantastic! Would you like to accompany me to the festival?" He asked hopefully.

"Ummm, Lee, I'll give you an answer soon, I promise," Sakura told him.

Then all of a sudden Lee burst into tears. "Gai-sensei, I finally did it. I asked the woman of my dreams on a date, you should be proud of me!" Lee said sniffling.

Sakura sweat dropped and same with Ino. What a strange person. People these days. sigh

Next chapter: A new tradition