AN: Yay! This story actually got reviews! I didn't expect many people to support the pairings listed in here.

Anyway, I just wanted to note that since I don't really care for Sakura's character in the manga/anime and such, she will probably begin to develop the personality of my OC character Midori. So if Sakura is a little OOC in this and later chapters, that's why. I apologize in advance.


Ino awoke the next morning and quickly rushed out of the house, grabbing her backpack and saying a quick goodbye to her mother and father. She had barely been able to sleep the night before, as eager as she was to see Sasuke again. It was nearly unbelievable that he was home now. If it had been all a dream… She shook her head. It had not been a dream. Her father had said Asuma-sensei had dropped by earlier that morning to say Sasuke's condition was stable, although he was clearly a little messed up in the head. The Hokage herself had made sure the boy had had the best of care.

She stopped quickly at her parent's store, grabbing a bouquet of flowers, slapping her allowance money on the table and sped out of the store towards the hospital. She slowed down as she approached and it was only then she noticed the flowers she had grabbed without even looking at them.

Purple Trousers and the Cosmos…

She smiled slightly, remembering a much happier day were the sunshine didn't feel fake on her skin and she didn't need to dance carefully around the topic of Sasuke Uchiha, since he wasn't a topic at all. For the past three years, they had all tried to avoid speaking of him. It was an unspoken rule. Especially not around Sakura, who was still feeling guilty for dating Lee a few months after Sasuke left. They had all been forced to push their thoughts aside, trying not to think of the missing Uchiha. But now he was back, maybe things could go back to the way they had been, before Orochimaru, before the Sound Five, and before that final fight where he had nearly killed Naruto…

Ino sighed, pushing these thoughts away one last time and entered the hospital. As she walked down the hallway to the closed ward of the hospital, she heard people whispering in the corners about the return of the young Uchiha. Ino smiled to herself, already looking forward to seeing the look on Sakura's face when she saw her next.

Speaking of whom, as she approached the hospital room, who else but Sakura and Lee stepped out. Shizune followed them out. All three looked a little sad, and Sakura grasped Lee's hand tightly in her own. They were all talking quietly as Ino approached.

"He wasn't awake, but I guess that's to be expected," Sakura said, squeezing Lee's hand.

"Don't be sad, Sakura-chan," Lee said, squeezing her hand back. "He's been through a lot, but Sasuke always pulls through." Sakura smiled gratefully at him and then noticed Ino.

"Hey Billboard Brow," Ino said in a mock-nasty way. Sakura grinned.

"Ino, you porker, what are you doing here?" she shot back, still grinning at her best friend. They laughed gently, but suddenly Sakura became serious. "Thank you, Ino-chan. For bringing him home."

"No problem, Sakura-chan," She said, smiling. The one good thing about Sasuke leaving was they were finally able to make peace with their broken friendship. They had once again become good friends, and Ino was glad she no longer felt like they had to constantly fight. Things had changed so much since... Sakura smiled and suddenly noticed the flowers, her green eyes widening.

"Those are-"

"I know," Ino said, jolted out of her thoughts and smiled down at them. "I didn't realize I had grabbed them until I left the house. You know, I think I'm just like a cosmos!" They laughed again and talked for a while, both remembering that day of so many years ago, but then Lee and Sakura had to say goodbye and left. Shizune also took her leave and Ino entered Sasuke's room alone. She looked briefly at the sleeping teen and went to the bedside table. She took a small vase from her backpack, filled it with water and gently arranged the flowers inside. She looked fondly at their soft petals, a sad expression on her pale face.

"I've loved purple trousers with the cosmos ever since I was little…" Ino whispered softly, stroking the flowers with a slim finger. "They contrast each other so perfectly… Did you know Sakura and I became friends over a conversation about purple trousers and cosmos?"

"I didn't know that."

Ino jumped, spinning around. Sasuke stared at her with a politely curious expression in his eyes, his ashen face void of cynicism or scorn. He looked almost like he was happy to see her. Ino stared back, blinking in surprise. The Sasuke of a few years ago would never have looked at her like that-

"You're awake!"

"Sorry. I didn't mean to startle you Ino," he said, his eyes not leaving her face as she sat down in the chair next to the bed.

"Don't worry about it," she said, smiling. "I just didn't think you'd be awake. How are you feeling?"

"I'm okay," he murmured. He kept looking at her, still with the expression of polite curiosity on his face.

"I heard Naruto and Sakura visited you," Ino said, trying to make conversation. "They're so happy to see you. They missed you a lot."

"I know. Or, that's what they said."

"And Sakura came back with Lee this morning. Naruto couldn't make it because he's training with Jiraiya and Kakashi."

"Who's Lee?" he asked.

"Sakura's-" she hesitated before she said it. "Boyfriend."

"Oh." There was silence. Sasuke kept looking at Ino, a puzzled expression on his face. Ino stared back, wondering what was wrong with him.

"Ino?"

"Yes?"

"Who's Sasuke?"

The question almost winded her. Who was Sasuke? She looked at the injured boy on the bed, wondering how the hell she was supposed to respond to that one. Sasuke was perfect, he was talented, he was clever, cunning, brave… A prodigy in his own right. Easily the best genin of her year. But he was also an Avenger, a renegade and a traitor to Konoha and his friends. He was the love of her life, but he was also a selfish bastard. She gulped, looking at the floor, then back at the boy.

"Sasuke was… An Avenger," she said, trying to be as honest without being cruel. She didn't want Sasuke to think she thought badly of him, memories or no. "He was one of the most talented genin in Konoha."

"What happened to him?" Sasuke asked. Ino looked at him, then looked quickly away.

"He left three years ago. We haven't seen him since."

"I'm sorry."

"Don't be."

Ino was quiet. Sasuke looked at her, not speaking. He gently reached out and reached out with a bandaged hand to touch a strand of Ino's white blond hair. The girl looked up, tears in her blue eyes. You could fall into those eyes. The boy's heart ached to see her cry.

"You loved him?"

"We all did," she whispered, looking back down at her clenched hands. Sasuke was quiet.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you cry."

"It's fine," Ino said, running a hand over her wet eyes. "Really." They were quiet again and Sasuke looked at Ino, as though thinking about something.

"Did Sasuke ever fight with Naruto?"

"Constantly," Ino scoffed. "They fought like siblings. Why?"

He didn't answer. Very vague ideas were beginning to float into his head and somehow he knew Sasuke had almost killed Naruto, not too long ago. But before this idea could take much shape, he realized was actually getting tired again. The medication the medics had him on were pretty strong for a teenager's system. He looked back at Ino.

"Will you stay until I fall asleep?" he asked. "I want to hear more about this guy."

Ino smiled, still feeling a little saddened. "Of course."


AN: Did you like it? Hate it? Have some ideas for me? Reviews are alwaysappreciated!

Next Chapter: Naruto and Ino try to get Sasuke to remember at least a little of his past...