Wow I am so sorry this has taken so long. I'm not even entirely happy with it. But hopefully it can tide you guys over until I get a chance to finish up chapter three. Please review and let me know what you're all thinking. I do thrive on reviews after all! Also a quick thanks goes out to my reviewers, sky, allyluv, Analogue Cat, Alexandra Trent, LightDreamer, benjem, Mint, and cuito. You're reviews are all much appreciated and I hope you'll forgive me for the wait and length of this. And so without further ado, I give you the new, but far too short chapter of Promises To Be Kept.

Chapter Two

Kittie-Nova

As Sakura made her way down her front steps she paused a moment to brush har pale locks out of her eyes and took a deep breath before continuing across her yard. Reaching her front gate she was surprised to see Ino coming down the street. The outspoken girl raised her hand in greeting before picking up her pace to meet up with Sakura. She looked pensively at her green eyed friend before speaking. Immediately Sakura realized that this wasn't your average ''I just dropped by to say hi" conversations. Finally, having decided how to phrase her words the blonde spoke up in a near timid voice.

"Sakura can I talk to you about last night?"

Sakura glanced down at her sandeled feet and stared at the shiny silver toe ring she had neglected to remove the night before and responded just as cautiously.

"I am truly sorry for the way I acted Ino. I was just surprised and a little pissed off with Sasuke. I really didn't mean to take it out on you." Pausing in her apology to glance up at the reaction her friend was having, she took a deep breath before continuing. "It's just that he's always told me that defeating his brother is the only priority in his life and seeing you out with him just made me remember how we almost ruined our own friendship with our stupid little rivalry over him, and..."

At this point Ino covered Sakura's mouth so she could input her own thoughts. "Sakura, nothing is worth ruining our friendship over, I have to be honest with you though. Sasuke only asked me out because he and I have a mission together coming up and we were working out some details in our strategy."

At this Sakura let out a noise that was a cross between a groan and a growl. "I can't believe I just jumped to a conclusion like that, I mean if I would have even thought it through a little I would have realized that you would never cheat on Kankuro."

At the comment a slight blush rose to the blonde kunoichi's cheeks at the mention of her boyfriend. She had surprised everyone by accepting a date with the unusual Sand shinobi, and Sakura knew that they had been dating for almost three months now. To the best of her knowledge the two were extremely happy with each other.

Wanting to be back on a level playing field Ino decided to find out what was going on between Sakura and Shikamaru. She let out a sly smirk before turning to Sakura to ask not so innocently.

"So Sakura, what was up with the steamy lip lock last night?"

Sakura's cheeks flamed to a colour matching her hair before realizing that Ino had meant the kiss with Shikamaru, as she had not seen the steamy embrace she had shared later that evening with Sasuke. Her colour only going down slightly she tried to defuse Ino's insatiable curiousity.

"Well we just um...well you see...um...everyone was busy last night so Shika and I decided that we'd go grab a bite together and just, well you know.." At this comment Ino teasingly interupted her.

"Hook up and have crazy, wild sex in the middle of a pub?"

Not completely paying attention to what had just been said Sakura responded without thinking.

"Exactly! No wait a minute! Ino!" Sakura shot her an angry look before correcting herself.

"No we just went out to keep each other company. You know as well as I do that Shika is one of my best friends, and nothing more."

Ignoring the skeptical look on Ino's face she glanced down the road in the direction of the Ichiraku, before starting to walk towards it. Not waiting for Ino she called back over her shoulder.

"Hey Ino-pig want to go for breakfast?" Chuckling because she could imagine without even having to look at Ino, the furious expression that was probably crossing Ino's face at that moment. Unknown to her was that at the teasingly said childhood insult Ino's face actually relaxed into a smile, knowing for certain now that her best friend was no longer angry with her. Not bothering to reply she set off to catch up to the pink-haired girl. Neither girl noticed the dark, hungry stare that followed Sakura's figure as they walked down the road.