DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN NARUTO

Italics mean what the person is thinking.

AN: Definite pairings: SasukeSakura, TentenNeji, NarutoHinata, and InoShikamaru. There is no Inner Sakura in this fic unless you really really want her in it. This story is slightly AU. Remember, nobody likes a flamer!

Three Weeks Vacation

Day 8: Sunday

Sakura woke up early on the day of the dance because she was excited. Sakura immediately sat up, which caused Sasuke to wake up because he had unconsciously wrapped his arms around her small frame. Sasuke muttered groggily, "What the hell is your problem, Sakura, it's five, and I want to sleep."

Sakura kissed him happily on the forehead. "It's the day of the dance, Sasuke-kun!"

Sasuke turned his face away so she wouldn't see the light blush on his face. He replied gruffly, "Whatever…I'm going back to sleep."

Sakura ruffled his hair, and then she fled the room, giggling, because Sasuke growled playfully. Sakura changed into some warm clothes and ran out the door, too excited to stand still. Sakura accidentally ran into Tenten. "Ouch!"

Tenten fell down and let out a small yelp. Sakura opened her mouth to apologize, but in flash, Neji was holding Tenten up with an arm around her waist. He glared at Sakura slightly. "What was that for? Why did you knock Tenten down? What's your problem?"

Tenten brushed herself off and interrupted, "It's okay, Neji. She was just excited."

Sakura grinned sheepishly. She shuffled her feet awkwardly, but Tenten grinned. "It's okay, Sakura. We're going to go now, okay?"

Tenten walked away, holding Neji's hand reassuringly to let him know that she was unharmed. Tenten wondered aloud, "I wonder what Sakura was doing up so early?"

Neji squeezed her hand. "Probably taking a walk…but she was without Sasuke…"

Tenten shook her head. "No, I don't think she was taking a walk like we were. Let's go to that place that's a little ways off the trail, near the cliff edge."

Neji raised an eyebrow. "You mean the place where there are rocks scattered everywhere, and you can see the ocean?"

Tenten nodded, and her eyes shined. "Yeah, that's my favorite place!"

Neji smiled fondly. He enjoyed precious moments like these with Tenten, and when she was happy, so was he. Neji led her there gently and sat down. Tenten sat next to him, gazing out at the sea. Neji threw an arm around her shoulders. Tenten sighed blissfully. "I could stay here forever with you, Neji…"

Neji nodded in agreement and drew her closer. The two were completely content with just sitting in each other's company and staring at the sea. Suddenly, Tenten said, "Neji, don't ever leave me, okay?"

Neji gave her a squeeze. "Never. I promise, as long as I live, I will never leave you."

Tenten smiled faintly. "And I swear that I will never leave your side for as long as I live, either."

She nodded, satisfied. Neji smiled at her simplicity. She thinks that saying something will forever bind someone to their world. It doesn't. In this case, it isn't words that bound us by our promise, but our love. Tenten looked at Neji. "What are you thinking about?"

Neji looked down at her and replied, "How lucky I am to be with you right here, right now."

Tenten snuggled closer to Neji. "Yeah…I'm glad we have each other, Neji. This moment could go on forever, for all I care."

Neji replied, "I am the luckiest man on earth. An angel fell in love with me."

Tenten blushed and hugged Neji. "And I'm the luckiest woman on earth. Hyuuga Neji, the Hyuuga prodigy, fell in love with me."

Neji just chuckled as Tenten giggled. Tenten grinned. "Are you excited about the dance?"

Neji grimaced. "Not really…but for you, I'll go, and I'll enjoy it."

Tenten smirked, pleased by Neji's answer. She gushed excitedly, "I bought this cute dress! I hope you have something decent to wear, Hyuuga Neji!"

Neji flinched. "Uhhh…yeah, I do…"

Tenten continued, "Because if you don't, I will give you the hardest time of your life!"

Neji gulped inaudibly and cringed inwardly. Oh…man…crap…I could just tell Shikamaru that…no…I'll never go back on my words. Tenten…she'll forgive me…Neji smiled and nodded absently. Tenten stood up and brushed herself off. "Time to go, Neji! Breakfast needs to be cooked, and I bet Lee will be hungry."

Neji grumbled, annoyed that their precious moments together was interrupted. However, he walked with Tenten back to their house uncomplainingly. They passed Hinata on the way, and Tenten greeted her cheerfully. Hinata smiled shyly as Neji greeted her formally, but with a hint of warmth. Tenten entered the house and froze as she saw a girl about their age inside. Tenten opened her mouth, but Lee bounded up and grinned. "Ah, eternal rival, and kind teammate! This is Sorai!"

Tenten smiled widely. "Why, hello, Sorai! Lee's told us a lot about you."

Sorai blushed. Neji nodded to Sorai and helped Tenten prepare breakfast. Tenten asked, "So, Sorai, are you a ninja?"

Sorai blushed. "Well, I was for a while, but it didn't suit me, so I came here to live."

Tenten raised an eyebrow. "Oh? What's your specialty?"

Sorai looked up and pondered. A slow grin spread across her face. "Since ninjutsu and genjutsu was hard for me, I settled with training hard in taijutsu!"

Lee dropped the plate he was cleaning. "Taijutsu? Just like me!"

Sorai raised an eyebrow. "Really? My ninjutsu and genjutsu were so bad, I gave up trying to master them."

Lee grinned. "I can't do ninjutsu or genjutsu at all!"

Neji and Tenten sweatdropped. They glanced at each other with a look that said, He says it like it's something to be proud of…Tenten giggled, and Neji shook his head. Lee grabbed Sorai's wrist and dragged her out of the house. "Let's train together, Sorai!"

Sorai giggled, and Neji sighed. "Now, we have the house to ourselves!"

Tenten smiled shyly at Neji. He smirked at her nervousness and stepped up beside her, making Tenten blush. He threw an arm around her kindly. "You aren't nervous around me, are you?"

Tenten grinned. "No…just our close proximity!"

Neji laughed at her and planted a firm kiss on her lips. Tenten blushed madly and returned his kiss. She pulled away, beet-red and muttered something about cleaning up the dish Lee broke. Tenten ran into her room and sat down in the window seat. She stared out the window and saw Hinata walking down the cove. Tenten grinned at Hinata, but she didn't see. Hinata's attention was focused on something else…or rather, someone else. Hinata called out, "N-Naruto…"

Naruto, who was sitting on his favorite rock and staring out into the ocean, flinched, but he turned to Hinata with a smile on his face. "Hey, Hinata-chan!"

Hinata shuffled towards Naruto shyly. He scooted over and invited Hinata to sit down with him. Hinata did so, and she blushed deeply when Naruto threw his arm around Hinata's shoulders. Naruto sighed blissfully. "There's nothing better than sitting at my favorite placed with a loved one! Except maybe, if I had a cup of ramen…"

Hinata laughed and tentatively leaned her head on Naruto's shoulder. Naruto grinned out towards the sea. "Hinata-chan…about the dance…"

His grin turned sheepish. "I'll make sure you have fun and everything…demo…I don't really know how to dance…"

Hinata giggled. "That o-okay…I'll t-teach y-you at the d-dance…"

Naruto gave Hinata his trademark grin, which caused her to smile and cast her eyes towards the ground. Naruto looked at his watch. "Well, the guys are supposed to get to the dance early…so, I'll have to leave at around 5:30, okay?"

Hinata nodded. Naruto continued, "Since it's already noon, I should eat something."

Hinata offered on impulse, "I'll cook lunch for you…ramen?"

Naruto grinned widely. "Really? Sakura-chan won't let me have ramen…she says it damages how her brain functions."

Hinata giggled. "Well...We have some ramen, and Kiba and Shino don't like it, so…"

Hinata stood up and led Naruto to her house. On the way, she was nearly run over by Ino. Ino yelled, "Sorry, Hinata-chan!"
Ino dashed into her house and found what she was looking for. "Nara Shikamaru!"

Shikamaru looked up from his bed. He was staring out the window at the clouds. "What…"

Ino's nostrils flared. "What's this about the guys…"

Shikamaru gulped nervously. She didn't find out, did she? Ino continued shrilly, "…going to the dance early?"

Shikamaru almost sighed with relief but caught himself. "Well…we have to help set up and stuff…"

Ino raised an eyebrow. "The couples are supposed to go together! Arm in arm!"

Shikamaru thought wryly, She's had this all planned out fancy and grand…and I had to ruin it. Well…it's for the best, right? Shikamaru sighed. "How troublesome...the host said we had to go help out otherwise we pay extra."

Ino protested, "But he didn't say that to me when I talked to him!"

Shikamaru defended, "Not my fault…his!"

Ino's face fell. It nearly made Shikamaru change his mind about dressing casually and going early, but Ino suddenly glared at Shikamaru. "Fine…but it better look good!"

She stormed out the house and encountered Sakura. Sakura asked Ino, "What's wrong?"

Ino sighed, frustrated. "I just found out the guys are going early!"

Sakura nodded. "Sasuke-kun just told me…I wasn't very happy, because I wanted us to go together…"

Ino snapped her fingers. "Same here! What is up with those guys…don't they feel anything for us?"

Sakura smiled. "It's okay, I suppose. Anyway, since the guys are leaving soon, let's help each other dress up."

Ino brightened up. "Yeah! I'll go tell Hinata and Tenten!"

The two girls separated, and Sakura headed back into her house. "Sasuke-kun?"

Sasuke limped out his door. Sakura smiled shyly. "I'm sorry…"

The Uchiha looked like a mess. Haruno Sakura had successfully beaten up the only Uchiha to survive the massacre. Sasuke thought, It's an amazement how much strength women have when you have sufficiently pissed them off…which I did in this case. Damn, it hurts…Sasuke rubbed a large bruise on his arm. "That's okay…you only bruised me in several different places, almost twisted my ankle, nearly broke my fingers, and bloodied my nose."
Sakura inched closer to him and wrapped her arms around his eyes. She gave him his puppy eyes. "You forgive me, right?"

Sasuke looked at her and sighed. "Yeah…"

Sakura tightened the hold she had around Sasuke's neck unintentionally. "But you do understand why I got so pissed off because I wanted us to be together from the start to the end of the party, right?"

Sasuke started choking. Sakura had stressed the words 'together', 'start', and 'end' meaningfully. Sasuke could feel the killing-intent aura Sakura was radiating again. Sasuke choked out, "Y-Yes…"

Sakura smiled icily and released him from her death hold. "Good. Don't. Do. It. Again."

Sasuke nodded meekly and watch her punch holes in the ground with her feet as she stormed into her bedroom. Sasuke sighed. Only she can make me cringe and vulnerable like this. Sasuke shook his head and headed to Shikamaru's. Sakura calmed herself and picked up the bag that contained all she was wearing to the dance. She walked over to Ino's house, and she was mildly surprised to see everyone there. Shikamaru started leading the boys out of the house to the village, and the four girls watched until they topped the hill. Ino snapped her fingers too get the others' attention. "Right! Since we have a while until we get to the dance, let's prepare ourselves, ne? Sorai went home early to prepare herself."

Sakura intervened, "You don't have to worry about the boys wearing casual clothing. Sasuke assured me they were going to change there."

However, Sakura recalled the hesitation in Sasuke's voice as he reassured her. The pink-haired kunoichi brushed it from her mind and smiled. "Well, let's start!"
They each took turns to change in the bathroom. After they were in their dresses, Ino insisted to put make-up on everyone. Tenten cringed, but she relented in the end. At 6:30, the girls were ready, and already there. As they stepped into the building where the dance was held, the boys felt the bad aura radiating off the girls. Sasuke hissed, "I knew this was a bad idea!"

Shikamaru shrunk away from Ino's death glare. Hinata looked disappointed, but the other three girls were completely furious. Sasuke, Neji, and Shikamaru felt like they were suffocating in the killing-intent chakra. Each of the girls stormed over to her partner. Ino snarled out viciously, "What the hell do you think you're doing, Nara Shikamaru?"

He offered an excuse, "We…forgot our clothes at home?"

Sakura prodded Sasuke in the chest. "Uchiha Sasuke! What are you doing?"
Sasuke pointed to Shikamaru weakly. "His fault…not mine…he…blackmailed us!"
Tenten glared at Neji, who stared back at her blankly. "Explanation, Hyuuga?"

Neji told her truthfully, "I didn't want to wear formal clothes."

All the other boys crept away quietly. They didn't really feel like dying anytime soon. Sakura's face changed from fury to disappointment. Tears brimmed in her eyes as she whimpered, "Sasuke-kun…I didn't think you would disappoint and shame me like this…"

Sasuke felt extremely guilty. He held out his hands to her, asking for her forgiveness silently. He was about to put a hand on her shoulder when she recoiled, hissing, "Don't touch me, Sasuke! I hate you!"

Sasuke was stunned. He didn't think Sakura would react so strongly to how he acted. Sasuke said softly, "You don't mean that…do you?"

Sakura ran off, tears streaming down her face. Hinata saw her, and she followed Sakura quickly. Ino and Tenten threw a look of contempt to their partners, and they left to follow Sakura as well. Sasuke walked up to Shikamaru, fury evident on his face. He snapped, "Great going, Shikamaru, supposedly the greatest genius of all time. You're such a genius!"

Neji turned his blank eyes on Sasuke. "Careful, Uchiha. You agreed on your own free will."
Sasuke snarled, "I didn't think it would end up like this!"

His sharp eyes caught a flash of pink, and he turned his eyes towards the sight. There was Sakura, on the other side of the room. She had cleaned herself up, and she looked much happier and composed. Sasuke narrowed his eyes…Who's that guy she's talking to…and laughing with? How dare he…! Sasuke stormed over to the man Sakura was with. He glared at the man, but Sakura asked coolly, "What's wrong with you, Sasuke?"

Sasuke flinched. He didn't like the way Sakura said his name without the suffix attached to it. Sasuke asked, "Aren't you supposed to be my partner, Sakura?"

Sakura cast a disdainful eye over his clothes. "Forget it, Sasuke."

She turned back to the man, leaving a fuming and hurt Sasuke. He had never been rejected, and he didn't like the feeling. Sasuke hissed under his breath, "Fine! Two can play at a game!"

Sakura watched Sasuke leave out of the corner of her eyes. What she was doing was tearing her heart apart, but Sasuke need to know that he couldn't do everything he wanted. Sakura resumed flirting with the man. Ino was pulling the same tactic, but Hinata remained faithful to Naruto and taught him how to dance as she promised. Tenten was at the refreshments' table, holding a cup of juice and staring vacantly into space. Neji walked up to Tenten carefully. "Tenten?"

Tenten snapped her head up. "Neji…"

Neji's face was so full of remorse, Tenten couldn't help but sigh. She hugged Neji. "Forgiven…"

Neji hugged her back. Tenten grinned slowly. "So, Neji…are you going to dance with me, or what?"

Neji took her hand and led her on the dance floor, teasing, "No, I'm going to make you stand at the side for the whole time!"

As a slow song started, Neji couldn't keep his eyes off Tenten's face. Tenten blushed, and she smiled slyly. Neji captured her lips with his own once again, feeling the most content he felt in his whole life. Shikamaru watched Ino from afar. He jumped when suddenly, Temari appeared next to him. Temari scoffed loftily, "I see you lost your woman."

Shikamaru flinched. "Where did you come from? How did you know?"

Temari grinned. "Well, my brothers are away on a mission, and I thought I might as well take a break, you know? And the way you're looking at that blonde what's-her-name, it's quite obvious."
Shikamaru sighed. "I screwed up…"

Temari grabbed his hand and led him on the dance floor. "Well, I came here looking for a partner, and I found one. Maybe a dance will cheer you up!"

Temari steered Shikamaru firmly throughout the whole dance, but he didn't mind. He was perfectly fine with brooding while Temari decided how to dance. Hinata flinched as Naruto stepped on her foot. "Ouch, Naruto…"

Naruto bit his lip. "Gomen, Hinata-chan! Dancing is harder than mastering the Rasengan!"

Hinata smiled slightly, and she was about to open her mouth, when a smoke bomb landed in the center of the dance floor. Hinata pulled Naruto down, shouting, "Duck!"

Those whose reflexes weren't as good as the ninjas' yelled with surprise as the explosion knocked them down. The ninjas' thoughts were simultaneous. An attack! But who? As the smoke cleared, everyone got up hesitantly. The Leaf ninjas and Temari got together, and Neji immediately asked, "Where's Tenten?"

He took a quick count of the present ninjas. Neji hissed, "Damn it! Tenten, Sakura, Naruto, Ino, and Chouji are gone!"
Sasuke paled and looked around at the small group for a flash of pink. He found none and cursed. "Shit! Where's Sakura?"
Shikamaru looked around. No damage was done to the building, and it was empty because the dancers fled with fear. He said, "We have to get out of here…let's get back to the houses. We have to plan something."

As the remaining ninjas grouped inside Shikamaru's house, they started devising a plan that would hopefully retrieve their comrades before the night was over.

AN: Sorry if this is really fast-paced! I don't like slow-paced fics as much as fast-paced…oh well! And now you see how Temari comes in, ne? And I'm considering mainly ShikamaruIno, but with a little bit of ShikamaruTemari. There'll be another dance scene since this one was so short. Hope you enjoyed! Lots of important events coming up for me, so I won't be able to update for a while. I'll try, though! And thanks to everyone who has read/reviewed my story! Your support helps me a lot!