Your reviews just made my day, really. School starts this week but I promise I won't give up on this. :)) And this chapter is shorter than the rest, but it'll give way to other twists and all. Everything in this chapter is really, really necessary for the story as a whole so… yeah.

And oh, beta reader anyone?

Special thanks to pinkhead (I know. It melts my heart too. I'm having so much fun writing this story as much as when you're reading it), xsnakeCHARMERx (I'm planning to keep her identity for awhile. That'll make Sasuke closer to Sakura, rather than to Mizaki), TWINKLE21 (Me too. Thanks for the review!), HArutoSakurabaLOVER (That's okay. I have similar tendencies too. Anyway, no one knows what's in store for their friendship, except me of course -coughs- But I'm not the type that writes totally devastating plot twist and all. You can hold into that. And oh, Haruto Sakuraba is just hot.), buzzzz (Yup, he did. You're the first one who pointed that one out!), gawd-no! (That sure is. And don't we all long for some SasuSaku fluff? At least in Sasuke's own little way he gets to express his true feelings. It's up to Sakura to appreciate it), Jaded Eyes 56 (Well, I died on it. Seriously), fever-mon (Thanks for the review!), yepitsme (At least he was trying to reach out, right? That's just…so great TT), HushPurple17 (Yup. She was keeping it for a year now. That's why she realized that she doesn't have the right to be mad at him pretty much because she has her own secrets to keep. Well, that's life), girlivy17 (Well, here's the next chapter. Thanks for the time!), Not so sweet dream (I'm trying my best to keep up with my pace. Other than major dose of writer's block, the only thing that can keep me from updating would be school. Yeah. But I updated! And for me, this is soon enough), tragic serenade (Uuh… you hate Hannah? Well… people have preferences. And oh, thanks for the awesome compliment!), Anaielle (oh my god, really? Heh, just kidding. Here's the next chapter!), O.o Kaoru-chan o.O (I'm glad we're on the same boat! And about the chapters, well, I still can't tell. All I have is a rough draft. I divert from it occasionally but everything boils down to whatever is written in there), Angelsorceress (Yes, Sasuke has some progress going on. Good for him!), and frienz4ever (you reviewed on The Detour too! This chapter is a gift for you all!)

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Story Title: The Girl I Used to Know
Chapter 4: The New Sai

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"What's this?"

Karin, who was busy lifting her skirt up to get the youngest Uchiha's elusive attention, purred disturbingly in response.

Sasuke's brows furrowed but his gaze never left the folder in hand—much to Karin's dismay.

"It's from the Head department. Mikoto-san left early this morning and flew back to New York and she wants you take care of that," she replied without a slur. She moved closer to Sasuke's table and twirled a lock of her hair.

"Isn't this the job of the entertainment branch?"

Again, those eyes failed to look up.

Karin giggled mischievously and Sasuke was quite positive that one look and the girl would slide instantly on his lap.

"But Sasuke-san, you can always tell me to take in charge of it. There's no problem about it, really," she proposed, her fingers tapping the table unprofessionally. "All you have to do is to ask."

"I get to manage the upcoming concert at the Tokyo Dome this Saturday on such short notice?" Sasuke murmured in disbelief, scanning the remaining pages. His brow shot up upon seeing Akaya Mizaki's name on one of the performers.

"Is there any problem?" Karin asked, urging him to look up as she leaned closer.

Karin heard him sigh but did not answer, his gaze still glued on the document. "Inform Tsunade about this. I need an appointment with her before Friday night," Sasuke ordered swiftly.

"Anything else?"

Sasuke snapped the folder shut and for the first time since she stepped inside his office, Sasuke looked up in a manner his secretary perceived as sexy.

"Leave."

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"Say the magic word first," Naruto demanded.

Tenten rolled her eyes heavenward. "Uh, please?" she asked, sarcasm dripping all over.

"Well, if you say so then I have no other right to say no," Naruto exclaimed, thinking thoughtfully as he scratched his chin.

Tenten smacked him in the shoulder. She knew better. "Quit it. I know you're dying to see her concert as much as I do since time immemorial," she exclaimed, plopping her elbows on her armchair. "Just don't be late on Saturday night," she warned.

Naruto grinned lopsidedly. "C'mon, Tenten. Have faith in me. If it concerns the love of my life I promise not to screw up," Naruto proclaimed. "Do you have backstage passes anyways?"

Tenten pouted. "That's too much to ask, Naruto. Besides, the tickets were from Sasuke. And he gave them to me thinking I'll take Sakura on it to have some fun."

Naruto raised a fine brow up to his hairline. "Really?" he inquired, dragging the word in disbelief. "Well that settles it. I asked him for the tickets too but he never budged. It seems like all we have to do is to drag Sakura-chan with us and we can see all the concerts we want," Naruto pointed out as Tenten nodded.

"Which tells us what?" Tenten asked, hoping Naruto was following the same track.

Naruto shrugged. He could be DENSE on some things but when it comes between a constipated Uchiha and his greatest female friend, he never fails to keep track on their unscathed and unsaid emotions. "You don't have to ask," Naruto assured her, throwing Tenten a reproachful look.

Tenten's lips curved into a smirk. "So…" she said, leaning towards Naruto, curiosity taking the best of her. "How long have you known?"

Naruto fell silent for awhile before he slouched his back in uncertainty. "I don't know…" he answered in outmost integrity. "Really. That's all you can get. It's just… there. He even joined the soccer team for her," he added matter-of-factly.

Tenten sighed and slumped back on her seat, regarding Sasuke and Sakura's empty seats behind her. "I thought that was just a rumor tossed around by Sasuke's love sick fan girls to satisfy their own fantasies," Tenten murmured, finally sounding thoughtful. Sasuke joining the soccer team despite his part-time job in their company was one thing. Doing it for someone else's sake deliberately pushed Tenten off her chair. "How'd you know he did it for Sakura?"

Naruto turned to her, sporting a 'you don't believe me?' look. "Well, he firmly told me that he'll never sign up for Konoha High's soccer team, especially now that he was working for their company. You should've seen his workload, Tenten. It's like he was working as a full-time manager, and not just as a Senior High trainee. He even has his own secretary, for god's sake! How he was able to balance it with his studies, well, it still remains a mystery. Signing up for the soccer team and other extracurricular activities will just wear him out—he knows that," Naruto explained, gesturing his hand as he went on. "But if Sakura enters the picture, then everything changes."

Tenten nodded, pretty much contented on Naruto's logic and deduction, but mostly because she was overwhelmed by Sasuke's odd ways on getting his true emotions across an unsuspecting Sakura.

"And Sakura feels the same, am I right?" Naruto asked rhetorically.

Tenten lifted up her chin. "I dare to guess that she does, by yours truly being her closest friend," she replied knowingly.

"That settles it," Naruto declared with a tone of finality, flattening his palms on his armchair. He turned to Tenten for second motioning but the brown-haired teen just frowned. "What is it now?" he asked.

Tenten's face morphed into a well-demeaned frown. "You failed to mention Ino."

"Well, what about her?"

Tenten threw him a significant look. "Ino is just… well, she waltzed in and this all happens." She heaved a sigh as she leaned on her elbows. "That girl will not back down for the second time, that much I know. We hadn't been friends since kindergarten for nothing."

Naruto growled incredulously. "Don't fret. Sasuke doesn't entertain witches like her."

"Okaaay," Tenten mused before she tucked a strand of hair on her right ear, a bad habit of hers whenever uneasiness sinks her features. "What about Sai?"

Naruto blinked, his mouth gapping. "Is he—"

"Yeah," Tenten cut off.

"And Sasuke doesn't—?"

Tenten sighed, her eyes half-lidded. "You bet."

Naruto paused momentarily before he eyed Sakura's empty seat. "Then we may have problems."

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Sakura's grin widened even more, her cheeks blushing in happiness as she stood on the freshly mowed field.

At last.

She thought she would never be able to marvel such sight, especially when Sasuke brought him the news that all his intentions in joining the school's soccer team all died down—boiling down to the fact that he will not sign up for the team. Just that. All the years of cheering for him went down the drain in an instant, along with the revelation of Sasuke's tight working schedule on his family's company. Sakura thought she lost it. And that there's no way that could make him change his mind.

Apparently, she overlooked it because something did. And as to who or whatever it was, Sakura was deeply thankful for saving Sasuke from himself.

She grinned as her gaze traveled towards the bunch of varsities, trying to look for her raven-haired friend.

Sasuke sighed upon spotting her in the sea of faces, jumping on the balls of her feet. He then jogged towards her, mutely asking for his team captain's permission. Neji just nodded apathetically before he led the team to a turn in the oval, keeping their pace.

"It's getting late," Sasuke pointed out, settling beside her.

Sakura gasped. "Sasuke-kun, you're not supposed to approach me. Now those fan girls will kill me," Sakura grimaced, regarding the crowd of scandalous girls whispering vigorously like crazy with each other after Sasuke approached her.

"Hn."

Sakura tilted her head. "Aren't you late for your work?"

"The same applies for you," he replied curtly.

Sakura leaned on her duffel bag, her face twisting into a frown. Hell. We have another photo shoot later and being late is so not a good idea. Tsunade-san will kill us, Inner Sakura voiced out upon the mention of 'work'. Sakura just sank lowly on her spot.

Sasuke then turned to her and patted her head. "You should get going. I'll be fine."

Sakura grinned—that's all she needs to hear. "Okay."

Sasuke straightened up and Sakura mimicked his action, pulling herself up and slinging her bag on her shoulder. She spared Sasuke's fan girls a mocking glance, seeing them dangerously lurking behind Sasuke, before she made a face. "Be careful on them," she gestured towards the mob of girls. "And don't strain yourself, you hear me?" She turned to him with a genuine smile before Sasuke brushed her off.

"With Neji, I highly doubt that," he murmured softly, but enough for Sakura to hear.

Sakura chuckled lightheartedly. "He still hasn't changed a bit, huh?"

"Well, what do you expect from him?"

Sakura nodded slowly. "You can always ask for Tenten's help. She has an odd way of pulling his leash," Sakura said playfully.

Sasuke snorted in disbelief.

"You don't believe me?" Sakura inquired, tugging his arm. "Well, they once had a date—"

"Alright, alright," Sasuke mused, pushing her away. "I'll call you after this."

Sakura nodded before she mouthed a 'goodbye'. Sasuke nudge her to move on and his pink-haired friend turned her back on him, walking along with the exiting students after a long day of school work. After her frame dissolved with the rest of students on their school gates, he joined his team to warm-up, jogging a bit faster to catch up with his teammates.

Sakura tugged her small duffel bag on her shoulder as she approached the school gates, along with crowding students eager to leave the school from another hard day of schoolwork. She followed the buzzing swarm of students until they reached an intersection, where she broke away from it and turned to the street that led to her apartment.

Her manager was against the notion of letting her walk alone after her classes—as Akaya Mizaki or not—but Sakura insisted. A ten minute walk won't kill her. Besides, how will her friends react if a limo stops by the school's gate to fetch her every time? It will truly arouse suspicion—so much for hiding her true identity.

She passed by a familiar corner that led to her apartment when a strong hand grabbed her forearm, yanking her towards an alley.

"Wha—?"

"Ssshhh…"

Sakura bit her lip, swallowing her scream as she looked up to meet the eyes of her captor.

"Sai?" she gasped, her brows furrowed.

The said high school drop-out smirked and pushed her towards a wall. "Missed me?"

Sakura's emerald eyes widened in fear. "What are you doing here?" she squeaked, her voice faltering.

Sai just tightened his grip on her forearm, pushing her harder to the concrete wall behind. His eyes roamed on her shaking figure. Her jade eyes were filled with delicious apprehension, her hair tossed carelessly around after startling her, and he could feel her speedy heartbeat as he leaned closer. He was a good head taller than her, making it easy for him to stare her down, his shadow looming over her now pale face.

"S-Sai…" Sakura murmured, her voice laced with disbelief. She sure is not expecting him. "What do you want?"

Sai gave her a malicious grin in response.

Sakura swallowed, recalling her friends' warnings about their offending ex-classmate-slash-former acquaintance back in Junior High. That smirk was definitely a flashing caution sign against his hungry craving. "Let me go…" she pleaded, pushing him away.

Sai looked down on her with an unreadable expression on his face. He smirked upon taking in her Konoha High School uniform, with its distinctive logo sewed on the right patch of the blazer. "Konoha, eh?" he exclaimed, still not budging from his spot. They both knew well that Sai can never enter such school, just by judging his delinquent high school record for the past years.

"I said let me go!" she said, trying to break free but Sai held her robustly, cornering her. "What do you want?"

"What? I can't even greet you now?"

Sakura just gave him an incredulous look and kept pushing him away. She felt the tightening of his grip and panicked. "LET ME GO!"

"I'm not going to hurt you," he assured, his voice bequeathing goose bumps on her arms. "I just dropped by to talk."

"We've talked about this the last time. What do you want this time?"

Sai tilted his head solicitously. "Well, Tenten was there."

"Sai, there's nothing left to talk about. Leave me alone," she fumed as she squirmed out of his grip.

Sai let her slide off him, but not until he gets things straight. "It's not my problem that I can't get over you," he started, with Sakura scrambling back on her feet and putting up a good space between the two of them. "But that doesn't mean you can get away after using me."

Sakura gasped. "What are you talking about?" she asked, concern etched on her face.

Sai gave out an indignant noise of disbelief. "You made me fall for you—"

"NO!"

"You made me believe that it's only me that you're seeing—"

"Sai, you know that was never the case between us."

"—when all this time it had been him, right?"

Sakura's eyes widened deliberately. "What do you mean?" she asked, brows furrowed.

Sai turned to her with a daunting smirk. "It had always been the Uchiha, right?"

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"Kakashi, that's just beautiful! I love the concept!" a fine lady chirped, tilting her head towards the receiver of the wireless phone.

The person on the other side just crinkled his visible eye into a thoughtful smile. "I thought so, madam."

"I'm sure he'll gladly accept the offer. He will never disappoint us, that I can assure you."

Kakashi leaned on his chair tiredly as his eyes drifted on his glass windows, reflecting the pitch black darkness of the spring evening. "That's just so good to hear. I'll see to it that everything will be prepared at once."

"I'm giving you the right do so, Kakashi. Inform the entertainment branch right away."

"I will," he replied. He opened his mouth to continue but he pursed his lips back upon a sudden realization. "But who will inform Sasuke about this?" he inquired warily, knowing the young Uchiha's tendencies.

"Don't worry, Kakashi. I'll bring him the news."

Kakashi gave out a long sigh of relief.

"But see to it that this won't reach him before our scheduled arrival back there in Japan." Kakashi heard a sympathetic pause before the person on the other side of the line shifted on her seat. "You know Sasuke, he might freak out. Besides, my son's never one to be open on such deliberate career launches. But he'll soon learn to love the likes on being a star. And oh, you can ask dear Mizaki-chan for assistance. I'm sure that lovely girl has tips on adjusting on immediate changes and rough schedules. She can be a great help to my son!"

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-nods- Next chapter is Sasuke's career launch… as a celebrity! Ah, the joys of torturing him. And on random thought, Chapter 377 is just worth the wait!!

So… review:)