Notes: Holy shit, eighteen chapters? Jeesh, I need a life...

Disclaimer: I may own your soul, but I don't own Naruto, dammit!

Chapter eighteen

Cheesiness

Ino was grumpy during the rest of the day, and when classes finally ended, she was relieved she could finally go home and take a relaxing bath to forget about her problems. She still couldn't believe Itachi had told her he was too busy to be with her. Was he out of his mind? He should be ashamed, Ino thought. Any guy would kill to be with me, and Itachi is too busy for that?

How could he be so busy, anyways? For as long as Ino remembered, he had never told her about his job – if he had any, and Ino suspected he didn't. She knew Sasuke's parents were rich, so Itachi was probably too spoiled by his daddy to have a job. And he was almost twenty four years old, so he definitely didn't go to school, not even to the university. He should've finished his career like a year ago, right? Unless he was studying a long career… but Ino didn't think so; Itachi was too cool to be a nerd.

So what kept him so freaking busy?

Ino sighed, annoyed, but then something caught her eye and made her heart skip a beat. She spotted Itachi leaning against his black convertible, which was parked in front of the school, wearing black jeans and a tight white shirt that made his yummy muscles easy to appreciate. He was wearing sunglasses, and when he saw Ino, he took them off and smirked at her. That smirk made Ino's heart flutter against her chest, and she ran towards him without a second thought.

"You're here!" she exclaimed, hugging him tightly.

"Of course I'm here, gorgeous," he replied, running his fingers through her long hair. "Why wouldn't I?"

"You said you were busy," Ino said, frowning.

"I am busy. But I always find time for my girl." He smirked again, and Ino giggled, suddenly feeling so happy she could give a glass of her happiness to every person in the world and still have some happiness for her own.

They were looking into each other's eyes like complete in-love morons, ignoring the stares several girls passing by gave them (jealousy for Ino, and lust for Itachi), but Itachi suddenly looked away and stopped smirking, as if he had seen something from the corner of his eye that alarmed him.

Ino couldn't help it: she followed her sexy soon-to-be-boyfriend's gaze. And she realized he was staring at Sakura, who was a few meters away from them. At first she jealously thought: What the hell, why is he looking at her? But then she realized there was something unusual about her best friend: she was talking to a delivery guy that was holding a huge bouquet of red roses, and she was looking really shocked and confused.

"Uh, Itachi, would you excuse me?" Ino asked him, taking a couple steps back. "Sakura seems to be in trouble, and she's pretty stressed out about still loving her ex and stuff, so she definitely needs my help now."

"Of course, babe, go," Itachi replied.

Ino smiled at him, and then turned around and walked towards her best friend. "What's going on?" she asked her as she was standing beside her.

"I don't know," Sakura replied. "This guy says these roses are for me, but I didn't order them."

"Miss," the delivery guy said, sounding kind of exasperated. "These roses are a gift from someone else."

"What? Who?" Ino asked.

"There's a card here, among the roses. You read it, it is yours," he replied, handing the bouquet to Sakura.

Sakura held the bouquet with one hand and with the other she took the card and opened it. Ino leaned closer to read the card too. It read:

To Sakura, the most beautiful girl in the universe, from someone that appreciates her a lot (here's a clue: his name starts with Sa and ends with Sori.)

Ino smiled at it, thinking it was very funny and sweet, and she turned to Sakura if she was smiling too, but she wasn't. She was actually looking very worried.

Then she finally understood why her friend didn't look so pleased, and her smile faded and she said, "Oh. I get it. This makes asking him for some time even harder, huh?"

Sakura sighed deeply, still staring at the card. "Knowing me, it doesn't make it harder: it makes it almost impossible."

If Sasuke was shocked and kind of pissed when he saw his older brother as he exited the school (Oh crap, is he here to ask me more about Sakura or to embarrass me or maybe both?), he was even more shocked and pissed when he followed Itachi's gaze and saw Sakura holding a huge bouquet of red roses.

They were from that older dude she was dating, Sasuke was sure. He was jealous and also sad (maybe that would make her get over him and fall in love with the new guy!), but, most of all, very angry. Why did the guy do something as corny as that right in front of the whole school? People was already staring at Sakura weirdly (except for most of the girls, who looked as if they wished someone had sent them roses too), and Sasuke knew, because he knew her and because he could see her worried expression, that Sakura was embarrassed.

He wondered if he should walk towards her. But then he wondered what he would say to her. "Want me to help you with that"? "Hey there, nice roses"? "It must suck to have an overly-romantic boyfriend"?

Sasuke sighed. No, he definitely shouldn't talk to her. He just had to turn around and continue walking home, and maybe even asking Itachi for a ride, because he suddenly felt too depressed to walk home.

That reminded him… What the hell was his brother doing here? Sasuke thought he needed to find out, so he started walking towards his brother.

"Oh, hey there, Sasuke," Itachi greeted.

"Why are you here, Itachi?" Sasuke asked, frowning.

"I think it is none of your business, little brother."

Sasuke rolled his eyes, but then suddenly thought of something and smirked. "Alright. If you don't want to tell me, then I'll wait here until you leave and find out by my own." He crossed his arms and leaned against the car, right beside his brother.

Itachi stared at him coldly. "You are so stubborn. And the worst thing is that I can't beat you up here, in front of all of these students."

Sasuke smirked and turned his head. He stared at Sakura, as discreetly as he could. He watched her signing something for the delivery guy from the flower shop and, as the dude walked away, she turned to Ino, who was standing right beside her, and sighed deeply. The blonde, who had her back to Sasuke, told Sakura something that made Sakura roll her eyes. Right then, her other friends, Temari and TenTen, joined them. The four girls talked for a couple minutes and then they parted ways.

Sasuke was too busy following Sakura with his eyes to notice Ino walking towards him (or, actually, towards his brother). He only noticed her presence when she was standing right in front of him and saying, "What are you doing here?"

Sasuke returned her glare. "What are you doing here?"

"Well, Sasuke-dear, for your information, I'm here to spend time with your brother, not with you." Sasuke watched with utter confusion as she linked arms with Itachi. "So why don't you just leave us alone?"

"You got to be kidding," Sasuke told her, and then he turned to his brother. "Is she serious?" he asked him. "Are you guys really dating?"

"Of course we are, little brother," he replied as he pulled a giggling Ino closer. "Oh, I didn't tell you before? I'm sorry, my mistake."

Sasuke sighed. He had been surprised at first, but now that he thought about it, Ino was exactly the type of girls Itachi dated: hot, shallow and very extrovert. Besides, Ino wasn't very different from Itachi; they were both annoying brats who thought they were better than anyone else. So maybe they were perfect for each other.

"He came to pick me up," Ino said proudly. "So let's not waste more time, Sasuke. Leave, please… unless Itachi is giving you a ride home." She turned to Itachi. "Are you?"

"I don't know," he replied. "Do you want me to take you home, Sasuke?"

"Nah, I'm fine," Sasuke said. "You guys have fun in your date."

"Thanks!" Ino said cheerfully.

Itachi shrugged. "Whatever you want." He opened the co-driver door and told Ino, "Get in the car, babe, and call your parents. Tell them you're going to be late home and that your date is going to take good care of you, okay?" He gave her a kiss on the cheek, and she blushed and did as Itachi said.

Itachi closed the door and turned to Sasuke. "I have to talk to you," he told him, "but let's make it quick. My girl's waiting."

"What do you need to tell me?" Sasuke asked, confused.

"I saw you staring at Sakura," he said calmly, shocking him. He definitely didn't expect him to talk about her. "I know you're still in love with her, it's pretty obvious."

Sasuke gulped. Of course he still loved her. He had been the one who broke up with her, but not because he didn't want her anymore, but because she was starting to change and too get very clingy. Still, he realized that it didn't matter if she was changing; he loved her anyways, and he missed her.

He shrugged, trying to seem uninterested. "Yeah, so what?"

"I also know the guy she's dating with. Actually, you know him, too."

That made Sasuke frown. "What do you mean?"

"Remember my friend Sasori, the red haired guy who is a rich kid with no job and an obsession for puppets?" Itachi asked, and Sasuke's eyes widened. "Yeah, it's him. He told me about Sakura without knowing I know her, and he seems to be very into her."

Sasuke sighed deeply. He used to like that Sasori guy; he seemed pretty normal compared to Itachi's other friends, even though he was a lazy loser with an unrealistic dream of becoming a great artist. But now that he knew he was the guy chasing after his Sakura (yes, she was still his; she would always be), Sasori was now his worst enemy – right after Itachi, of course.

"Why are you telling me all of this?" Sasuke asked.

Itachi shrugged. "I guess I just want to help you. That's what older brothers do, right? Help the younger ones. Besides, I think knowing that and something else will help you clear your thoughts."

"What do you mean with something else?"

"That Sakura still loves you," Itachi said, and Sasuke's eyes narrowed. "Hey, really, I'm not joking! Ino told me, and she's her best friend, isn't she? She couldn't have been lying."

Sasuke looked away and tried to order his thoughts. If Itachi was telling the truth, then Ino couldn't have been lying. She and Sakura were best friends, and Sasuke knew what having a best friend was like. Naruto also knew everything about him, even his darkest secrets.

So it was true. She still loved him, even though he had been a jerk and had broken her heart. She still loved him… and they had a chance to be back together.

"I really hope you're not lying," Sasuke confessed.

"I am not lying. Not this time." Itachi smirked and rounded his car. He opened the driver's door and told his brother loudly, "Well, it has been nice to talk to you, little brother. Think about what I've told you. I'll see you at home." And then he got into the car.

Sasuke watched the black convertible go, suddenly wondering if the thing between his brother and Ino was going to work. He shook his head and smirked at that thought. Of course it wasn't going to work! They were too similar; it was going to get boring to them sooner or later.

That made him think about Sakura, about how they were so different and so interesting to each other. He was happy to know that he still had an opportunity to get her back and that she hadn't forgotten about him.

He turned around, stuffed his hands into his pockets and walked away. When he got home, he still had a smile on his face.

Hinata arrived to Konoha's airport on Friday, at 5:30 AM. Her sister and her mother were waiting there for her.

"I'm so glad you're back!" Hanabi, her young sister, exclaimed as she hugged her tightly.

"And I'm glad to see you again," Hinata replied, grinning at her sister. "I really thought I was never going to come back."

"But you did! And it's all thanks to mom," Hanabi said proudly.

Hinata looked at her mother, who was standing a few steps behind them. She walked towards her and hugged her. That seemed to catch the woman off guard, because she was tense at first, but then she slowly hugged her daughter back. Hinata smelled her scent, which was still familiar even when it had been a long time since she last smelled it. The warmness of her mother's hug made her feel loved and safe.

Her mother broke the hug and put her hands on her shoulder. She stared at her with a smile on her face. "Oh, God, you're so tall!" she said. "The last time I saw you, you were the same height Hanabi is now."

"Because I was twelve, mom, just like Hanabi is now," Hinata replied, remembering that her mother was always too busy to spend time with them, even though they didn't live so far from each other, so they just stayed in contact through occasional phone calls.

"Is it really been that long?" her mother asked, looking sad, and then she sighed. "I've definitely not been a good mother, have I?"

"You were absent during most of my adolescence, but now you're here, and you've helped me, and that's what really counts. So we forgive you. Right, Hanabi?" Hinata said, and her sister nodded in agreement.

Her mother smiled at her, and then she turned to Hanabi, who was standing beside her sister. "I promise I won't make the same mistake with your adolescence, daughter. I have to be the mother you girls need."

Hanabi grinned and exclaimed, "Group hug!" She put her arms around her mother's and her sister's waists and the three of them laughed as they became a family again.

It was a sunny Friday morning, a perfect day to have a picnic at the park, and Sakura was heading to her homeroom, walking slowly and heavily. She hadn't slept very well last night, because the worry about what she was going to to do about Sasori kept her awake. She had been lying on her bed and staring at the ceiling for almost three hours, thinking about her options. But so much thinking didn't help at all, because this morning she was still doubtful.

Sakura had arrived to school as early as ever. She had shadows under her eyes and her hair was slightly messed, so she looked as tired as she felt, but she felt alright – kind of worried about Sasori and also tired, but besides that, alright. She wasn't upset as she had been yesterday when she got the bouquet from Sasori. She was fine now, and, somehow, she felt kind of optimistic.

But she felt even more optimistic when she entered her homeroom, because the first thing she saw was Hinata running towards her with a huge smile on her face, yelling, "Sakura, I'm back!"

Sakura beamed and squealed happily, hugging her friend. "Hinata! God, I missed you so freaking much! Don't ever leave us again!" She broke the hug and her expression turned confused. "Wait, when did you come back? And why? And how! Did your dad finally realize you were right about his fiancée and let you come back?"

Hinata shook her head, pursing her lips. "He's still going to marry her. My mom was the one who saved me. She called me yesterday, we talked about it, and she bought me the ticket to come back to Japan. So I'm here, and my dad must have found out only an hour ago."

"Oh," Sakura said, surprised, but she smiled and hugged her friend again. "Whatever, I'm so happy you're back. We will never let you go again."

And right then, TenTen burst into the classroom, followed by Temari. "Hinata!" TenTen yelled, and Hinata broke the hug and grinned at her friends.

"Holy crap, you're really back!" Temari exclaimed, and she ran towards Hinata and hugged her.

"My turn, my turn!" TenTen said, and she pulled Hinata away from Temari to hug her. "Girl, I'm so glad you're back!"

"I'm happy to see you guys too," Hinata said, and then her smile faded. "Where's Ino?"

"She's late, as always," Sakura said. "And the same with Naruto. He's always late, too. So you're going to have to wait some more."

Hinata sighed sadly, and she glanced at the door in time to see Sasuke entering the classroom. Sakura saw him too, but she quickly looked away. Her cheeks were pink, as if she was embarrassed to see him after she's finally realized she still loved him so much that she couldn't date any other guy.

Sakura felt his stare oh her as he walked towards their group. For a moment, she thought he was going to talk to her, and her heart started beating faster. But she realized he wasn't when he said, "I'm glad you're back, Hinata. The moron misses you so much he couldn't stop talking about you, and he was giving me headaches."

Hinata giggled. "Thanks, Sasuke. Do you know when he's going to arrive?"

"Maybe in five minutes or so. Don't worry, you'll see him soon," he replied, and Hinata smiled at him and nodded.

Sakura glanced at him, but she regretted it when he glanced at her at the same time and their eyes met. She ordered herself to look away, but she didn't, because she didn't want to. She didn't want to look away from those dark eyes she loved so much. She wanted to look into them forever.

So Sasuke was the one to look away first. "Welcome back, Hinata," he said, and then he walked away.

When he was gone, TenTen and Temari looked at Sakura pitifully. "You alright, Saks?" TenTen asked softly.

Sakura sighed, wanting to say yes, but finding unnecessary to lie. "Been better," she replied.

"Wait, why didn't you talk to him? And why are you like this?" Hinata asked, frowning, and then she gasped. "Don't tell me you guys-"

"Yes, we have broken up. I'll tell you the rest later, Hinata," Sakura interrupted. "I don't feel like talking about it now."

"Oh my God," someone said from the doorway, and the girls turned to see Ino standing there, her mouth agape and her blue eyes wide as they stared at Hinata. "Am I dreaming?"

Hinata grinned and shook her head. "Come here, Ino, give me a hug!"

Ino laughed and ran towards her. "My life is finally getting better!" she exclaimed as she hugged Hinata tightly. "First I get a new boyfriend, and then you come back!"

"A new boyfriend?" Hinata asked, confused. "What about Sai? You broke up with him too?"

"He went to France," Ino said emotionlessly, and Hinata gasped. "But let's not talk about it now, okay?"

"Okay, but who else broke up with her boyfriend?" Hinata asked.

"No one, just Sakura and Ino," Temari replied. "I'm still with Shikamaru, and TenTen is even liked by Neji's strict parents."

"Really? That awesome!" Hinata told TenTen.

"Yeah, but I'll tell you the details later," TenTen said, "Classes are about to start and Temari and I have to go to our classrooms, right, Tem?"

"Right, Tennie," Temari said. She and TenTen hugged Hinata once again, and then they walked away, waving goodbye.

"Let's go to sit, Hinata," Sakura said, smiling at her friend. "Your seat has been empty for too long, and it misses you."

"Uh, actually, I want to wait for-" Hinata said, but she was interrupted by the sound of a very familiar voice coming from the doorway.

"DAMMIT, WATCH-! Oh, it's you! Hi, TenTen. Hi, Temari. What are you guys doing here? Aw, don't tell me I'm in the wrong homeroom! That'd totally suck because I'm already late and-"

And then he saw Hinata. He instantly shut up, as if he had lost his voice, and his wide blue eyes stared at her with a mix of confusion, amazement and uncertainty. It was as if he was wondering whether or not he was imagining things.

"Naruto," Hinata whispered, staring at him tears in her eyes and a smile on her face, and even though they were like five feet apart, he heard her perfectly, and the sound of her voice seemed to burn away his uncertainty and to prove that she was really there.

And then he ran towards her. He put his arms around her waist and buried his face in the crook of her neck. She hugged him back eagerly, sobbing quietly and running her fingers through his hair as if she wanted to make sure he was real.

"Hinata," Naruto said, also crying. "I missed you so much."

"I missed you too," Hinata replied.

Sakura watched as the couple kissed, and she felt so happy for them and so moved she felt like crying. "Jeesh, this cheesy crap is going to ruin my makeup," Ino murmured beside her, sniffing. Sakura looked at her, and then at Temari and TenTen, who were standing at the doorway, trying not to cry as they watched the happy couple kissing, and had completely forgotten about the classes getting started.

"It's more moving than watching freaking Titanic," Sakura admitted, smiling.

Notes: Review and you'll be cooler than you already are! I promise! :D