CC Note: Alrighty so juggling two jobs doesn't allow me the free time I need to update my stories regularly! But just because they're not on the regular doesn't mean that they won't be updated at all…just sporadically! So I now say thank you to all of the people who have stuck with me this long and send such great reviews! I hope this chapter sates a bit of the curiosity. Anywho enjoy the new chappie!

Not Together

Ino mopped around outside on the back porch with the smokers at the party and tried to distract herself from feeling so sorry for herself as she nursed the trademarked red party cup that was halfway full of vodka and orange juice. Not only had Sakura been up under Naruto all night she could find neither hide nor hair of the ever elusive Sasuke Uchiha. She knew he had to be somewhere around this mad house she just couldn't figure out where. It frustrated her beyond belief that everyone, even loser Uzumaki, was able to shack up and she couldn't find a soul. She was sipping a bit on her drink when Neji Hyugaa approached her, a very serious expression etched across his finely chiseled features. While serious was a normal expression for the Hyugaa tonight it was laced with worry and this peaked the blonde's interest.

"Hey N-" Ino started but the frustrated boy cut her off.

"Have you seen Hinata?" Neji asked her, a no nonsense kind of guy as always. Ino pouted and flipped her hair over her shoulder. He was no fun.

"I haven't seen her all night. I didn't even know little Hinata was allowed at parties." Ino teased and laughed inwardly at Neji's frown. She always loved riling people up; it was what she was good at after all. "I'll help you look though."

Neji just shrugged and turned to make his way back inside. Ino followed right on his trail and was mildly amazed at how easily he was able to part the mass of sweaty hormonal bodies like the red sea. Out of the corner of her eye Ino saw Sakura grinding her ass up against Naruto, the boy visibly enjoying himself. Ino had to mentally restrain herself from going over and breaking them up but she stopped that mental train wreck. Why should she care about what those two did, wasn't the point of their whole alliance to get those two together? Well at least it was now Naruto's turn to make good on his end of the deal. The duo went upstairs to the less crowded portion of the party and as they turned down the hallway they found Sasuke Uchiha carrying a drunken Hinata Hyugaa in his arms. The girl was clutching his shirt and singing some kind of drunken sailor song. Ino looked cautiously up at Neji and scooted to the side a few inches. He was furious.

"What happened Uchiha." Neji didn't ask, he stated and while his voice was menacing it didn't seem to faze Sasuke at all.

"Some of the guys from the opposing team found their way in here I guess. One of them handed Hinata a spiked drink. I have yet to find the guy she described." Sasuke stated evenly.

Neji frowned as he processed all of the information. It was blatantly obvious he did not like this situation. Hinata stirred from her stupor a bit and smiled up at Sasuke.

"Uchiha niiiice!" Hinata slurred and, while it could have been a trick of the poor lighting, a flash of mirth crossed the cold Uchiha's features.

Neji made a move to remove his cousin from Sasuke's arms but as he did so the movement caused the petite girl to become nauseous. She promptly threw up all over Sasuke's basketball jersey and to everyone's surprise he didn't flinch a bit. He just kept a firmer grip on the girl.

"I'll take her to your car." He stated.

Ino trailed curiously behind the two basketball all-stars, perplexed as the why the cold Uchiha would show any amount of kindness towards the petite girl. It wasn't that she had anything against Hinata Hyugaa it was just odd to see Sasuke show any kind of emotion what so ever. When the girl was safely tucked into the back seat of Neji's car and the headlights had faded down the dark street Sasuke finally acknowledged her presence.

"What?" Sasuke asked curtly, he had never been one for nonsense.

"Nothing, I just didn't know you could be so sweet." Ino smirked. "Let's go get you a clean shirt."

Sasuke didn't nod. He didn't reply. He just followed her back inside of the house and allowed himself to be led up the stairs. Ino couldn't believe her luck; this night might not be so sucky after all. They were now going to be all alone with hopefully limited interruptions. She just had to turn on the charm and bam he'd be asking her to marry her by the end of the week! As she rummaged through a random closet for a shirt that might fit him, she heard a faint rustle behind her. When she turned around she found out exactly why all of the girls in the school drooled for him. His body was divine. His chest was thick and chiseled and it took all of her will power not to run her fingers over his delicious looking abs. Oh the perfection of the male body.

"H-here you go." Ino stammered a bit as she handed him a buttoned down white shirt.

He simply grabbed the shirt from her and slid the arms over shoulders.

"So you and the idiot?" Sasuke stated mildly the smooth rumble of his voice caused her to snap out of her stupor.

"What about him?" Ino asked sweetly as she shifted boldly over to him and help him button up some of the buttons he was having trouble with.

Sasuke grabbed her hands tightly in one of his own and she could feel her heart sporadically hammering inside of her chest. His eyes were full of malice and the angry was directed at her.

"If you hurt him you will regret it." He hissed and then roughly let go of her hands like she had burned him.

"I- I…WE'RE NOT TOGETHER!" Ino yelled at him. Who gave him the idea that she and that idiot were a couple? She would never stoop that low; she was Ino Yamanaka for Christ's sake! Sasuke only smirked as he rolled the sleeves of the shirt up to his elbows.

"Hn."

Right at that moment the door to the bedroom violently opened and in stumbled the blonde in question and her best friend. Both of them very falling over each other in their drunken stupor but the smiles plastered on their faces were evidence enough that they were thoroughly enjoying each other's company. Neither seemed aware of the tense environment they had just entered into but Ino was grateful that they had stepped in. Naruto's smile grew wider as he threw one of his arms sloppily over Sasuke's broad shoulders.

"Heeeeeeey Bastard!" Naruto laughed and then Ino caught his eye. "INO! Oh Ino you're here!"

He swept her up into a back breaking hug that she'd become accustomed to getting from him. He spun her around and Ino couldn't help but smile at how silly he was being. When he set her down Ino peered over his shoulder to see Sakura glaring at her from across the room. She disentangled herself from Naruto and the boy didn't seem to mind too much. He kissed her forehead and then ruffled her hair before turning his attention back to Sakura who looked almost murderous.

"C'mon Sakura this room's taaaaaaaaaaaaaaaakennnnnnnnnn!" Naruto laughed hysterically at his own joke as he led Sakura out of the room.

Ino suddenly became extremely fascinated with her shoes, her favorite pair of red peep toe pumps that miraculously managed to stay scuff free the entire night. She would trade these shoes and much much more to become invisible right now.

"Not together my ass." Sasuke snorted and then took his leave from the leggy blonde.

CC Note: So there you have it folks! I hope you enjoyed reading this chapter as much as I enjoyed writing it. Give me feedback as to how you think about Ino's character, I want to get her just right and I hope I'm going about it in a good way. Anywho the next chapter will be up when I can get it up but lovely reviews always make me write faster!