Chapter 5

You're Never Alone

A beautiful music was heard all over the campus and most girls were giggling. The beautiful and sweet music playing told every student in Konoha Institute that it was time for the most awaited dance. It was more like of a prom but the only difference was, you get to choose your own partner, but from another section.

"Sakura-chan! Sakura-chan! Sasuke will be your partner right?!" Tenten asked as she giggled. Sakura nodded and answered, "Yeah, he just asked me this morning." It was lunch time and boys were approaching girls, asking them if they could go to the dance.

While Ino stayed inside their classroom, drawing another weird masterpiece. No one even cared to ask her to be her partner. She sighed and thought about how awful her day will be. "I don't care, that dance will just be as boring as ever anyway." she mumbled. But she had already prepared her outfit for the said event. "It will be a waste." Tears started to gather in her eyes but she wiped them just before a familiar person entered the room.

"Is this the 2B classroom?" the boy asked. "Oh, it's just you Sai…SAI?!" she exclaimed seeing her friend when she was still in fourth grade. "Oh, Ino. I didn't know you're in 2B." he said happily. "No silly. This is 2A." she replied. They had a little chat after that.

Sai is also an old student but he doesn't really go to school everyday. Maybe five times a month or twice a week if he's in good condition. He's sickly and has asthma. Sai and Ino became friends when Ino was placed in the same section as Sai, different from Sasuke. She had been with him for a school year and was the one who took care of him. It worries her a lot when he's always rushed in the hospital.

"So I heard there's a dance at the closing of the National Arts Week." he said. "Yeah, and I guess I can't come." she answered. "Can I be your partner then?" he asked shyly. "What? Really? Okay!" she replied happily. She and Sai were hanging out together most of the time. While Sasuke was with Sakura…still silent but sometimes smiling and talking to Sakura whenever he has the moment.

---

It was Thursday and everybody was preparing for the dance. Each student had his task and Ino's job was to design the stage together with the members of the Designer's Club. As she was painting the left side of the wall, she could see how the X-treamz practiced there song. It made her jealous that Sasuke was teaching Sakura how to play the guitar and they were always laughing. 'I should be the one who's laughing with you Sasuke.' Ino thought.

"Ino, let's eat lunch together later." Sai said as he approached her. "Uh, sure." she replied with a sweet smile. "I was just wondering why so many people are looking at us…what's wrong?" he asked. "Maybe they're thinking you're my new boyfriend." she said and smiled. Sai blushed but managed to hide it. "New boyfriend? Why do you have an old one?" he asked. "No, they think that Sasuke guy is my boyfriend, that's all." she answered. "Oh, that serious looking guy. Is that pink-haired girl his girlfriend?" he asked. "I guess so." she replied sadly. "Did you two break up?" he asked as he took the paintbrush. "He's not my boyfriend!" she exclaimed. "Oops…sorry." he muttered and continued to paint.

---

"You cook well, Sakura." Sasuke said as he ate the lunch Sakura made for the both of them. "Thanks. I thought you wouldn't like it." she replied. Suddenly something flashed on Sasuke's mind…

"I thought you wouldn't like it Sasuke-kun. This is my first time making lunch for someone." Ino said."

"Sasuke-kun, what's wrong?" Sakura asked. "Uh…nothing." he replied.

---

"Ino, you're a bit moody today, is something bothering you?" Sai asked. "She's probably guilty about what she did to Sasuke-kun." Tenten appeared from behind. "What do you mean?" Sai asked. "You just got here so you still don't know. She spilled Sasuke's secret to everybody here in school." Kin added. Then both of them left.

"Is it true, Ino?" Sai asked.

"It wasn't me. Sasuke's secrets are inside my diary. I left it in my locker. The next day, it was lost. I tried to explain to Sasuke but Sakura was always on the way." she said while tears gathered in her eyes. She was surprised that Sai hugged her. "Ino wouldn't do that, ne, Ino-chan?" he asked. She clung onto his shirt and cried. "Do you believe me then?" she asked and sobbed.

Just then Sakura and Sasuke passed by. "Oh, Yamanaka has a boyfriend. Whoa, she's a playgirl." Sakura said as her eyes widened. Sasuke clenched his fist and glared at Sai and Ino. "I never knew Ino had still someone on her side. Man, she's incredible." Sakura added. "Let's go." Sasuke said and pulled Sakura. "W-what's the matter, Sasuke-kun?" she asked. "Nothing." he replied in a serious tone.

---

"Great job kids. Well, you should all go home now. You're all dismissed." Gai-sensei said and looked at the well designed stage and well prepared tables and chairs. "Tomorrow night will surely be great." Kurenai-sensei said putting her hands on her waist.

"Sai-kun, do you already have your outfit for the dance?" Ino asked. The both of them walked home together. "I still don't have any outfit. Mom asked me to buy her some face towels so I might as well buy something to wear for tomorrow." he said happily. "Can I go with you? I can help you choose something that will be a good match for my outfit." she said excitedly. "Sure. Thanks a lot Ino-chan." he said and they both walked to the department store.

When they arrived, Ino immediately chose a tuxedo for him to wear. "Are you sure?" he asked as he looked at the garment closely. "Of course I am, I'm an expert when it comes to fashion." she said proudly.

---

An Enchanting Night

It was the closing ceremony of the National Arts Week and also the night for the dance.

That night, at about 6:30 p.m. the party started and the X-treamz was the next to perform on stage. Kiba had to sing with Sakura, well she knows how to sing but she's not that good. Hearing the lyrics of the song made Ino hate Sakura even more. "I wrote that song for Sasuke. He was the one who told me to make this. Why the hell is she ruining my life?!" she thought.

Despite of all the misjudgments Ino's friends made, they were amazed of her looks that evening. She wore a bluish-white evening gown. Her hair was not in her usual ponytail; instead it was in curls that made her look like a living doll.

"May I have this dance, Ino-chan?" Sai offered his hand. She laid her hand on his and they walked towards the dance floor. They were dancing as if they were the only ones in the world. But as they danced along the music, Ino had a glance at Sakura and Sasuke. Sakura had a sweet smile painted on her face while Sasuke was looking down, avoiding the pink-haired girl's emerald eyes.

She wore a pink tube that showed more of her shoulders and half of her back. She wouldn't let Ino beat her when it comes to fashion. Kurenai-sensei and Asuma-sensei also joined the dance; they were swaying slowly and smiling at each other. Neji and Tenten were both blushing as he placed his arms around her waist while hers around his shoulders.

Hinata and Naruto were in a very awkward position. He was turning Hinata every ten seconds and the shy girl felt dizzy that she fell on top of Naruto. Everyone thought it was sweet than embarrassing.

Kakashi-sensei brought along with him a raven-haired girl who was really pretty. Lee and Gai-sensei were both on the watch for beautiful girls, talking about youthfulness.

After Sai and Ino danced, they decided to take a break and eat. On the buffet table were delicious looking cakes, fruit punch, a beautiful ice sculpture made by the Designer's club. There was a big chocolate fondu at the center.

Ino and Sai had a pretty good time talking about the past. He was happy that Ino was smiling again, how he missed that sweet smile of hers. He wouldn't admit it but he also got attracted to this girl. He was afraid to confess his feelings because he thought he was useless, a sickly, good-for-nothing student.

Sakura kept on asking Sasuke if she looked good that night. He just nodded because he was already irritated. From time to time, he would glance at the blonde-haired girl and give her a please-dance-with-me-just-for-once look. Everybody was enjoying as they talked and danced with their partners.

The Prince and his Princess

Before the dance, the students have already voted for their Prince and Princess. The only thing that the teachers should do was to announce the winners.

Asuma-sensei and Kurenai-sensei went up the stage; they both took the envelopes which contained the names of the Prince and the Princess.

"Okay, attention now…" Kurenai-sensei announced. "Girls, you were the ones who chose him to be your prince. Please come up the stage, Uchiha Sasuke" Everybody applauded and Sasuke went up the stage.

"Now, boys, I know this is quite difficult but as I watched how that votes were counted this morning, I was astonished to see the number of votes for two candidates. But the winner has been chosen; tonight's princess who will be dancing with Uchiha Sasuke is… Yamanaka Ino." he finished and then called Ino to go up the stage.

The girls gave her sinister looks and whispered some bad things about her. Ino was surprised to see Sasuke in a 'one leg kneel'. "Please dance with me." he said and offered his hand. Deep inside Ino really wanted to dance with him, but she knew that things will get even worst. So instead, she turned her back and pulled Sakura.

She made her hold hands with Sakura and said, "I definitely want to dance with you Sasuke. But I know I can never let you go once I hold your hand. Besides, it's hard to dance with someone who was just forced. Don't pretend to be nice Sasuke. I know you hate me." How he missed her sweet voice. He felt comfortable standing beside her. "Ino…" that was all he could say. "Loser." Inner Sakura thought.

The party was over so Sai decided to walk Ino home. It was a beautiful night and the stars were glimmering. They've been talking along the way when they heard two familiar voices.

"Sasuke-kun, I love you so much." Sakura muttered. Sasuke only gave her a "Hn." as a reply. "I don't want to go home yet, let's have a short walk around the park first." she said and pulled his hand. Sasuke looked at his wristwatch and said, "It's past ten already." Sakura pouted her mouth but after a while smiled. "Well then, goodnight Sasuke-kun." she said and gave him a peck on the lips. Sasuke's eyes widened and returned to its normal serious from.

Ino sat behind the bushes dumbfounded. After seeing Sasuke and Sakura, Sai pulled Ino and they both hid behind the bushes. Ino sat there, staring at the two lovebirds blankly.

----

It was Monday, early in the morning and the students were helping in cleaning up the school. "Sasuke-kun, could you please take that tarpaulin off the fourth floor?" Sakura asked. "Yeah, yeah." he replied and left.

He was about to go inside when he noticed two persons talking, a girl and a boy. The door was a bit open so he decided to listen to their conversation since he knew the girl was Ino.

"You love him, ne? Ino-chan?" Sai asked. "Mmhm…I love him and it hurts like hell! I always ask my heart, why him of all people? And now it's breaking into a billion pieces. I never thought it would end up like this. If I tell him he'll… No it's too late. I can never tell him." she burst into tears.

"It's never too late to tell him your feelings. You can tell him even though he hates you. Yeah, he'll surely avoid you. But you don't have to worry; he already knows your feelings. Maybe someday, he'll return the love you've shown him."

Sasuke heard all of this, well he didn't react. He was just surprised she never told him despite of the years they've been together.

Sorry for the late update guys! I really had a hectic schedule for the past weeks. Well this is the second to the last chapter. Please read and review! Thanks a lot!

D'unforgiven Assassin