"Mmm 10:00a.m...nothing like a fresh morning to start off Sasuke-kun's birthday." yawned Ino lazily running a finger through her blonde messy hair. As Ino walked towards the stairs to the kitchen downstairs she suddenly realized that she was suppose to meet Sakura, Hinata, Tenten, and the other kitchen girls at 8:00 because the party starts at noon!
Turning back Ino cried out suddenly in panic, "AAAAAAAAAHHHH I'm soooo late! Tenten's gonna kill me not to metion with Sakura's help! And what if Shikamaru actually came and I wasn't there?"
Rushing through her closet as fast as she could, Ino pulled out a sky blue dress and wore on the blue butterfly earings that Shikamaru gave her for Christmas. As she combed her waist length hair, which has grew back from her battle with Sakura from a long time ago, she also stuck a piece of toast in her mouth, hopped into her shoes and sprinted towards in the direction of the Academy.
"Sorry...you guys...woke up late...need...water." Ino apologized through her panting breath as she arrived in the classroom practically ripping out the door. Lifting her blonde head slightly up she saw Sakura wearing a pearl white tank top with a light pink silk skirt with strappy sandals. Hinata wore a long sleeved black shirt with netting areas from the shoulder to the end of the sleeve with a blue capris and a pair of white flip flops. Tenten wore a red Asian style dress with no sleeves and golden linenings embroiding the edges.
"About time you came! We've only got two hours left!" nagged Sakura pointing her index finger at the tired girl.
"Yeah Ino-chan. We need you to help ice the cake." Hinata added almost whispering.
Tenten looked at Ino from head to toe and back, "Nice earings Ino. Girl you got all dressed up for the Uchiha eh?" complimented the bunned haired girl with her hands on her hips.
"Actually it's not for..." before Ino was finished Sakura pulled her by the hand and shoved the royal blue icing in her hands."
"You better start icing or else." threatened Sakura. "Oh yeah, put on the apron or your pretty dress with be for desert!" joked Sakura as she threw Ino a white clean apron.
The girls worked quietly and quickly and soon finished their meal preparing mission with fifteen minutes to spare. As Hinata poured everyone a cup of tea around Naruto's desk, which was the only desk that wasn't removed for this occasion, Sakura starting talking about the guests.
"Kakashi sensei will make sure that Sasuke-kun comes here with him for sure. So I wonder iif everyone else would come too."
"Neji can't. He has a mission. But I made him promise to wish Sasuke a happy birthday when he comes back." answered Tenten very proudly.
Hinata opened her mouth and added, "N-N-Naruto-kun will come too."
"Not just your lover boys! I mean all the invited students and sensei of the Academy." yelled Sakura which made Hinata's face flush very badly and made Tenten grin.
"Hey, Ino. How come you're so silent today?" asked Tenten tilting her head.
"Oh. I guess I'm sort of disappointed that Asuma, Kiba, Chouji, Shino, and Neji can't come. It's an A ranked mission." sighed Ino looking down at her blue high heels.
"A ranked eh? I'm sure they'll be alright! Cha!" Sakura cried patting Ino on the back while Tenten just nodded and Hinata sipped her tea.
"...and Shikamaru." whispered Ino.
"What's that? Lazy ass can't come either? Why?" asked Tenten out of curiousity.
"I don't know...he may or may not."
"I-Ino-Chan's worried about him aren't you?" Hinata's voice muffled in the cup.
"Hmm..."Ino put a hand up to her chin with her elbow on the table and smiled.
Five quickly devoured minutes later all the none absent invited guests came, including the birthday boy Sasuke who didn't look quite amused. Guess who came last? You got it! It's the lazy ass.
Hearing the blaring music mixed with chattering voices, Shikamaru guessed it must be in this classroom. Ino better have come, or else I've gotten all dressed up in new clothes and a tie for nothing. Troublesome. -.-"
Indeed he did get dressed up! Shikamaru wore a brand new clean white T-shirt with a red neck tie and a pair of new black pants but with his same old ninja sandals. Hey, the boy liked his shoes.
Sliding open the class door the first voice he hear was hers gasping, "Shika-kun! Shika-kun! You came! Yay!"
Then it was his heaven the blue dressed goddess with shiney blonde hair pulled him into a tight breath taking embrace while squeezing his neck to hers in happiness.
"You came! You came! You came! Thankyou! I'm so grateful!" squealed Ino still not letting go. "What do you think of my dress uh?"
While everyone watched at the lazy ass not being able to breath Shikamaru choked, "You look awsome, can't breath."
Finally noticing that she was strangling her guest to death she let go.
"Oh sorry! You look very nice too Shika!"
And while the two chatted and everyone else was enjoying themselves the party containued on. Lee finally asked Sakura to go out with him and she gave up all those years of dream of her prince Sasuke and made Lee her reality. The couples had alot of fun at the party and Sakura got to know Lee better and realized that he was better than her former dream and that he was also a very nice guy. Besides Lee never stopped asking Sakura that so she also figured if you can't reject them then join them. And now there's a new couple in Konoha. Green beast and cherry blossom.
Plus, the girl's cooking was a big hit! Tenten's spring rolls were a favourite of Lee and Sakura, while Hinata's onigiri had many compliments. She made a special batch of Naruto faced onigiri for her foxy lover boy too. Other than food everyone thanked Sakura and Ino for organizing the party and especially to Sakura who arranged the duties, guests, wrote the invite cards, and meal menu.
But to Shikamaru, Ino's three layered ice-cream cake was the best. The whip cream and icing was perfectly measured while the fruit toppings were neatly piled on the top. Man Sasuke you're a lucky dude to make Ino make all this for you.
When the party almost ended Shikamaru, Tenten, Hinata, and Kakashi was the first to leave on the request of Tsunadae for a retrieving mission. But before he left Shikamaru got a chance to say goodbye to Ino and gave her a goodbye telling her that he'll walk her home every other chance he'll get after the mission.
Since Tenten and Hinata are on a mission and Sakura's on her date with Lee, the tired girl had to clean after the party all by herself. Until a shadowy blue figure decided to help her out.
"Thanks for the celebration." said the voice.
"Eh, I just hope Sasuke-kun'll like it..." replied Ino as she looked up from her just wiped table and saw that it was Sasuke himself
Surprised that Sasuke was there, Ino quickly fixed her hair and replied, "Oh um...hi." Then there a a moment of er...short of eerie silence. What does he want? To taunt me on how ridiculus the party is to him? I'm not in the mood for this.
Inner Ino: Ask him out BAKA!
Sigh Your right I hate to spend tonight alone.
Hating having to spend a perfectly good Saturday evening alone Ino did something that the old Ino never could have done, "Sasuke-kun? Look, it's not like I'm crazily obsessed about you anymore but um...wanna go to the Ichiraku together?"
"Hm, sure. Only as of a thankyou for the um...interesting party." shrugged Sasuke walking towards the door.
Taking off her apron and walking towards Sasuke Ino quickly added, "Oh and just cause you're the birthday boy doesn't mean that I'm paying got it?"
Aaaand Sasuke just gave her the Uchiha grunt, but under that big lump of dark bangs Sasuke was really grinning.
