Wow, thanks for all the positive responses, guys! Last chapter just didn't feel right to me but I was done messing with it so thanks for the encouragement. If updates are slow, please bear with me. Work, school and family are keeping me busy. I'm done rambling. Hope you enjoy this chapter!

Disclaimer: See chapter 1.

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You Gotta Go There To Come Back

Chapter 4: Rainbows and Pots of Gold

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And we had some laughs; had some rows

But in the end the walls came down

You'd like the place I'm living now

It's a shame you can't come around

And I've grown a lot since we last spoke

Got myself together; fixed what was broke

I wonder if we'll talk again

Or drink together just like then

-Rainbows and Pots of Gold by Stereophonics

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Sakura stared at the apartment Koji had provided for her, if you could call it that. This apartment was larger than Sakura's house and she had to pinch herself a few times to make sure she wasn't dreaming. It was fully furnished in tasteful and expensive furniture and the kunoichi was a little afraid if she touched anything it would break. The metal and glass tables were a little cold for her personal tastes, but the space was free so she couldn't complain. "Is this really where I'm supposed to live?"

Koji nodded and smiled at her innocent and disbelieving expression.

"All by myself?"

Koji laughed at that. "Yes, just you."

Sakura ran her hand along the back of the black suede sofa and sucked in a breath. "This is amazing, Koji! Thank you so much!"

He waved a hand at her. "I own a few properties in town and obviously I can't live in all of them at once. So you're actually doing me a favor as well by staying here." His nose wrinkled slightly with a secretive smile. "Less upkeep, you know?"

Sakura giggled. "Basically I'm your maid while you find me work?"

Koji shrugged. "That's the gist of it!"

Sakura finally came around to the front of the luxurious sofa and sank into its soft cushions. Not allowing herself to relax just yet, she sat upright while her hands smoothed over the suede, watching the color change slightly depending on the direction her hands moved. "Where does it go from here? I mean, what do I do first?"

Getting into business mode, Koji adjusted the thin-framed glasses higher on his nose and sat in the white egg-shaped chair across from the kunoichi. "Well, we need to decide what you would like to do. Do you want to act, model or sing?"

Already having considered this, Sakura answered swiftly. "Singing and acting. Modeling is definitely out of the question."

"In that case, I believe our best course of action would be to have you audition for a musical. If you start out in movies and then release an album, it could be hard for people to take your singing seriously. The same is true in reverse. If you begin your career with music, people may be more critical when you start acting."

Sakura frowned. "This all sounds very unpleasant. Will people really be so judgmental?"

Once again, Koji shrugged. "This is a tough business. There are many who want the fame and fortune who have talent. One just needs that something special that sets them apart."

Sakura automatically fingered a lock of pink hair and Koji chuckled. "That helps to get you noticed initially. But that powerhouse voice of yours is the real clincher."

The young woman tried to stifle a yawn and Koji rose from his chair. "It's late and it's been a long day. I'll let you get some rest and get settled. Be ready tomorrow morning around 9:00. I plan to bring over some scripts to let you see if there's something you would like to try for."

Sakura blinked at him in surprise. "It's that easy?"

"It's that easy for me. I've been in this business for a long time and have a lot of great clients. Scripts are sent to me daily. You, however, are a fresh face in the industry and have no experience. I'm going to have to pull a lot of strings to get you into auditions."

Sakura's lips pulled into a little pout and Koji shook his head at her. "Don't get discouraged already! I just don't want you to get high hopes only to have them dashed if your first auditions don't go well. Have a little faith, though. I know some phenomenal acting and voice coaches who can get you prepared for whatever you decide to pursue."

Sakura walked with him to the door and Koji clamped a friendly hand on her shoulder. "Remember, 9:00!" And with a smile and wave, he walked down the tiny hallway to the elevator. Sakura closed the door and turned to let her eyes sweep over the penthouse apartment in awe. It truly was massive. Much more room than one practical kunoichi needed. But she was an aspiring starlet now and had to act the part.

Her stomach gave a little gurgle and she realized she hadn't eaten since that morning. Rummaging through the well-stocked pantry, she spotted a few packages of instant ramen and smiled affectionately. She gave a giggle as she imagined her hyperactive blonde friend getting ready to eat the same meal, bouncing impatiently for the three minute wait while the noodles soaked. Figuring the familiar meal may make her feel better about being away from home, she decided ramen was fine for tonight. She ate slowly, worried about upsetting her already fluttering stomach.

After taking a couple wrong turns, she finally located the master bedroom with interior master bathroom. A gasp escaped as she stepped into the marble and porcelain bathroom. A large oval tub with jets, a square stand alone shower large enough for two to easily fit and a beautiful marble sink were in the immediate area. There was a tiny door in the wall that held the toilet, for that little extra bit of privacy and a larger door in one corner. Opening the larger door in curiosity, Sakura gasped again as she found herself in an enormous closet. There were a few chairs over in a corner with full-length mirrors set up to give the user a 360 degree view of their outfit. Standing a bit to the side of the mirrors was a large vanity where one could do their hair and make-up with plenty of room for all of their products.

Sakura shook her pink locks and blinked a few times to make sure she was seeing right before dazedly stumbling back into the main bathroom to take a quick shower. The hot water eased the day's stress from her tired muscles and the massaging shower head made quick work of the tiny knots forming in her neck.

Finally flopping onto the massive bed in the bedroom, she was barely coherent enough to set her alarm before drifting off to sleep.

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The blaring beep of the alarm clock woke Sakura with a start and she jumped from her bed, racing to the other side of the room to shut off the beeps. She looked around in confusion for a moment before the previous day's events came back to her. She hadn't taken much of a look at the bedroom the night before, her tired eyes zeroing in on the bed before being blown away by the bathroom.

The room was sparsely furnished, but beautifully so. The bed was huge with clean ivory sheets and numerous fluffy pillows. The cherry wood headboard and foot board stood out in stark contrast to the lightly colored sheets. A matching dresser lined another wall, a row of four votive candles decorating it's surface. A glass shelf on another wall held four more matching votives and next to that was a wall mounted fountain, the water sliding peacefully along a washboard looking background before pooling in a small half-circle surrounded by little smooth rocks. The fourth wall had a pair of cherry wood French doors with flowing ivory curtains covering the inset windows. Opening the doors, Sakura stepped out onto a partially enclosed balcony, eyes widening as they took in the city scape stretched out before her. She ran a hand along the simple rocking chair set out next to a small end table. The space would be perfect for curling up with a good book on a rainy day.

She gave a squeal before hurrying inside to get dressed and eat breakfast before Koji showed up. Throwing on a comfortable pair of jeans and a green sweater that matched her eyes, she took a good look in the mirror to make sure she looked presentable. Yes, he had already asked her to be a client, but the man was responsible for helping her live this new life. She had to show him she really did want it. Satisfied with the end results, she skipped into the kitchen and made a simple bowl of cereal, again not wishing to upset her stomach since her nerves were already feeling frazzled.

Sakura had just finished when a rhythmic knock sounded at her door. "Talk about timing!" With a bright smile, she flung the door open to a similarly grinning Koji.

"Good morning, Sakura! Ready to find your first movie?"

"Good morning, Koji! And yes, I am."

He hauled two large briefcases into the room with him and Sakura eyed them curiously. Koji gestured to the living room. "Get comfortable. This will take some time."

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Three hours later, Sakura groaned in defeat. "Koji." she whined. "All of these suuuuck."

The older man chuckled at her. "I have to agree with you. I certainly wouldn't encourage you to audition for any of these."

Koji stood and stretched before heading into the kitchen to grab some water. He suddenly straightened and rubbed at the back of his head sheepishly, causing Sakura's mind to briefly turn to the one person she was trying not to think about. "Sorry, I just sort of made myself at home."

Sakura rolled her green eyes while smiling at him. "It is your home."

He made his way back over to the couch and relaxed into it. "True, but for right now it's yours."

The two began to pile the scripts back up neatly so Koji could pack them into his briefcases. Sakura plucked at the hem of her sweater. "So what do we do?"

Koji sighed. "The ball's in your court. We could wait for a good script or you could start with either singing or acting and hope for the best when you try to do the other."

Her head tilted in thought. "I'm actually very interested in singing. Maybe we could do that first."

A bright smile lit Koji's already friendly face. "I was so hoping you would say that!" He whipped out his cell phone and punched a few buttons. "Give me just a second."

Sakura sat on one of the plush chairs and waited as Koji began to talk. "Hiro! How have you been?"

"Uh huh. Uh huh. Hey, can I ask you for a favor? This is really short notice but it'd be great if you could do this for me."

Sakura chewed her bottom lip as Koji paused.

"Would you be able to listen to a new singer I've signed? She's simply amazing!"

Sakura blushed.

"Great! I owe you one. In three days, at 11:00 at your studio downtown. Got it. See you then!"

Koji hung up and turned to Sakura, his brown eyes glittering in excitement. "Hiro is one of the country's...no forget that...he IS the country's top producer. If he gets involved with your record it's sure to be a hit!"

Sakura clapped in excitement. "I'm so nervous though. Is there anything in particular I need to do or know before we get there?"

Koji smiled. "Just have that voice warmed up for us." Glancing at his watch, he grabbed his cases and headed to the door. "I have a meeting to get to, but I'll pick you up around 10:00 in three days to go to Hiro's. Okay? Until then, you're free to do as you like."

Sakura nodded with a bright smile and Koji nodded back. "See you then!"

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Sakura wondered how she was going to do this. She wanted to visit Koyuki-hime, but she couldn't exactly walk up to a Feudal Lord's home and say 'Yo, open up'. She sat on the little park bench across from the castle and pondered. Taking in the number of guards, it was easy to tell the princess was carefully protected.

"Sakura?"

Her pink tresses shifted as she looked up in alarm. Who knew her in this country besides Koji? As she looked up at the surprised face of her agent, she chuckled at her own bout of paranoia. She should have recognized his voice.

"Hello, Koji! What are you doing here?"

He settled on the bench beside her. "I was heading to a meeting I have with Koyuki-hime. What about you?"

"Well, I wanted to visit her but wasn't sure how to get in. I guess since you have an appointment with her it's a good thing I didn't get to see her." Sakura smiled brightly at the older man as he adjusted his tie.

"I forgot you said you knew her. I could arrange a meeting for you if you like."

Sakura nodded and then a thought struck her. Koyuki had no idea she was here and hiding her identity as a ninja. Quickly pasting on a secretive smile, she leaned over to whisper conspiratorially to Koji. "Don't tell her I'm here. I want to surprise her."

With a chuckle he stood and straightened his suit jacket. "Deal. I'll see you later, okay?"

Sakura waved as he moved over to the castle, easily being granted access since the guards knew him.

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Naruto stood in Tsunade's office, arms folded across his chest. Next to him, Kakashi stood with his nose buried in one of his books, other hand in a pocket nonchalantly. With a sigh, the Godaime shook her head. "Are you two ever going to stop this? Every two weeks for almost a year now. The younger brat was bad enough, but now you're in on it too, Hatake?!"

Kakashi lowered his book and crinkled his visible eye. "Just making sure one of my teammates is safe and happy."

Tsunade finished reading Sakura's latest letter and gave another deep sigh at the end. Deciding to be difficult herself (hey she was entitled) she merely tucked the letter into a drawer and went about signing her papers.

Naruto blinked in confusion. "Eh, baachan? You gonna tell us what it said?"

"I don't really see how it's any of your business. If Sakura wanted you to know what she was up to, she'd send you a letter." The woman sniffed primly and continued signing documents, inwardly grinning.

"But baachan!"

Kakashi put a calming hand on the fox container's shoulder. "Will you at least tell us if she's safe and healthy?"

Honey-colored eyes shot a blank look at him. "If she were in trouble, would I be calmly doing my work? Hell no! I'd have your ass in ANBU gear with a squad and on your way to get her!"

Kakashi merely stared blankly back at the Hokage and the older woman gave a relenting sigh. "The only part of her letter that causes me some concern is she's living in an older man's house."

Naruto was protesting loudly in the background, but the only thing on Tsunade's mind was Kakashi's reaction to the news.

She watched in satisfaction as Kakashi's hands tightly balled into fists. 'Which is it, Hatake? Care and concern, protection, jealousy? What I wouldn't give to get into that head right now.'

Kakashi let out a breath as he forcefully relaxed his stance. "Sakura is smarter than that, isn't she?"

"The man doesn't live there, he only owns the place. And Sakura is smart enough and resourceful enough to get out of a situation she's uncomfortable in. Again, you just have to trust her. Now, GET OUT OF MY OFFICE AND LET ME WORK!"

The two managed to exit a split second before the feared paperweight smacked the door and thudded heavily to the floor.

Outside the doors, Kakashi motioned for Naruto to follow. Curious, the blonde fell in step with his team leader. "What is it, Kaka-sensei?"

"Did you happen to notice Tsunade-sama shoving Sakura's letter in a drawer?"

The wheels began turning in Naruto's head. "Yeah, so what about it?"

"If she keeps all of Sakura's letters in the same place, which I'm sure she does, then we can go in and do some research."

Naruto's eyes brightened and then squinted in confusion. "What if she's tossed some of them already?"

Silver hair bobbed slightly as Kakashi shook his head. "Sakura is a kunoichi out of the village. Any correspondence with her must be retained. And easily accessible, meaning they all must be kept together."

Naruto's foxy grin took over. "So are we breaking into baachan's office to do our own investigating?"

Kakashi's eye merely crinkled. "Meet me here at midnight."

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Naruto sat on the steps of the Hokage Tower, wondering if his former sensei would actually show up on time. His musings were cut short when a 'pop' sounded and Kakashi was standing in front of him. After giving his little wave, Kakashi spoke seriously to the boy. "Listen, Naruto. What we're about to do is illegal. If you want to back out now, I'll understand."

Naruto shook his head. "And let you have all the fun? No way!"

Silently, Naruto began to follow Kakashi's lead. Using chakra, the two climbed up to the large window in Tsunade's office and Kakashi easily picked the lock. Sliding inside, he stayed in a crouch for a few seconds, listening for any sort of running or alarm being sounded. When he was sure the coast was clear, he motioned for Naruto to join him and his partner in crime slipped in silently.

"What now, sensei?"

Kakashi looked at the large desk. "You take that side, I'll take this side. We'll see if we find the letters."

The desk was clear of any letters, so the two moved on to the bookcases, the chairs, looking under the potted plants, anywhere the letters could be stashed. With a groan, Naruto slumped into a chair. "Where else is there to look?"

Kakashi eyed the bookcase and hated what he was about to say. "We have to flip through the books. She could have stuffed them in one of them."

Sluggishly getting to his feet, Naruto dragged himself over to the bookcase and began flipping through books.

The door opened quietly and the two never noticed, so engrossed in their task. That and the fact the door opener was one of the legendary Sannin kept them from noticing until a voice spoke up. "Looking for these?"

Silver and blonde heads whipped around to face the woman leaning casually against the door frame, waving a stack of letters in her hand. Kakashi started to sweat. This was bad, very bad. She could easily throw them in prison right now and they'd have no defense. "Um, Tsunade-sama, this isn't what it looks like."

She gave a dark laugh. "Oh? So you didn't break into my office or go through my personal belongings or go through classified documents or search my office for something that didn't belong to you?"

Naruto racked his brain, but it was no use. "Uh, no?"

Honeyed eyes narrowed as she shoved the letters into her top. "Nice try, but I knew what you were plotting long before you even started, brats."

Kakashi looked at the spot where the letters had disappeared. 'I'm so not going after those.'

He watched, slightly horrified, as Naruto squared his shoulders and took a step towards the older woman, ready to do what it took to get his prize. Kakashi snatched the back of his jacket and hauled him back next to him. "Doing that is just asking for death, Naruto."

The Godaime growled at the frowning Kyuubi-container. "He just saved your life, kid. Now why don't the two of you go home. I won't report this as long as it doesn't happen again. But get another hair-brained idea and you'll find your asses in Konoha Prison for a few months. Got it?"

The two nodded mutely, mumbled a few apologies, and flew out of the window they had entered through. Not a word was spoken between them, a silent understanding that this was never to be mentioned again.

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Sakura was lounging around her apartment, waiting for Koji to show up. Today was the day she was to meet with Hiro and her nerves were all jumbled into an uncomfortable ball in her belly. She hadn't eaten much for breakfast, a half bowl of cereal being all she could stomach and then she had proceeded to stare at her reflection for fifteen minutes before trying on every piece of clothing she had.

She idly wondered when all the nervousness would end, if ever. If it kept up like this, then she didn't envy celebrities at all. Koji's familiar knock came at her door and she jumped a foot in the air. Racing for the door, she threw it open and tried to smile happily at the man on the other side. Apparently, it didn't work since he frowned. "You okay, Sakura?"

She let out a breath and sighed. "I'm nervous as hell and I didn't sleep much last night, but other than that I'm fine."

She stepped out of her apartment and he slung a warm arm over her shoulders. "You'll be fine. All you need to do is sing. And we both know you're extremely talented in that department."

He led the frazzled young woman out of the building and stopped in front of a ritzy looking carriage. When he opened the door and motioned for Sakura to get in, she looked at him in surprise. "We're going in this?"

"Well, I certainly don't feel like walking the five miles to Hiro's studio. Do you?"

Sakura shook her head and smiled sheepishly. "I'm just not used to things like this. I feel like such a simple person sometimes. The technology is far advanced in comparison to where I'm from. And everything is close enough together that things like carriages just aren't necessary."

Koji's eyes narrowed slightly. "I would have thought you were more familiar with this sort of thing. After all, you know some very important people. For instance, you know Suna's Kazekage, Gaara-sama or at least his sister. You know Koyuki-hime, Snow's Feudal Lord. I often wondered why you knew such high-ranking people."

Sakura answered easily, having anticipated such a question long before now. "I've met a lot of interesting people while I traveled and my home village gets a lot of traffic as well. The Kazekage, his siblings and I actually met many years ago when they were traveling through my home village. The same for Koyuki-hime. She was filming a movie and I seemed to run into her a lot without even meaning to. So, we eventually started talking and formed a friendship."

Her agent settled back in his seat, accepting the answer. A sly smile formed on his face as he changed the subject. "Time to get those pipes ready."

He had Sakura go through a series of scales and warm-ups before singing a few of her favorite songs to get her voice primed. They pulled up in front of a plain building causing Sakura to frown. It didn't seem very promising to meet a producer with such a shabby studio. But Koji had claimed he was the best and Sakura had yet to find a reason to distrust her newest friend.

Sakura stepped in after Koji and took back what she had just said about the building. Outward appearances were obviously deceiving. Inside off in one direction was a small theater. If one went down the hallway on the other side or continued down the main corridor, there were multiple rooms filled with various engineering boards and production equipment. Each room was complete with a soundproof booth for the artist. Koji went down the side hallway and into the last room which was a large office. "Hey, Hiro!"

Hiro looked up and Sakura's breath caught. Here was the Casanova-type she had been worried about. The man was gorgeous. He had nothing on her Kakashi, but he was certainly causing some flip-flops in her stomach. His hair was curly and shaggy, slightly longer in front and shorter in the back. The almost black strands were a striking contrast to his piercing lavender eyes and when he smiled showing perfect teeth and barely there dimples, Sakura's stomach flipped again.

He stood to come around the front of his desk to properly greet his guests and Sakura's green eyes followed the movement. He wasn't much shorter than Kakashi and had the same lean build, the muscles in his arms showing under his fitted black T-shirt. He moved with confidence and the young kunoichi wondered what the hell was wrong with her. She came in contact with attractive and muscular men on a daily basis, but here this civilian was wreaking havoc on her emotions.

Before she could make peace with her thoughts, Hiro was bent slightly to be eye level with her, those captivating eyes staring intently at her. She tried to meet his gaze, but flushed and averted her eyes quickly. "I don't know, Koji. She seems kind of meek to me." His voice had a raspy quality to it, a smoker's voice. Sakura decided it suited him.

Koji gave a knowing smile and bumped Sakura playfully. "Just wait until you hear her."

The trio made their way to a room adjacent to Hiro's office and the producer plopped happily in front of a piano. "This is one of my audition rooms. It seems small and cramped, but the acoustics are good. What will you sing for me today?"

Sakura stammered slightly and Koji supplied her with an answer. "Why don't you sing the one you were singing on the way here?"

Sakura nodded and began the song. She started out rocky, her nerves getting the better of her and contorting her voice. But she soon closed her eyes and allowed herself to get lost in the song. Hiro and Koji were both spellbound as her voice soared beautifully before pitching low with her in complete control. She growled a few of the more powerful lyrics, effortlessly adding a new dimension to an already great piece. Sakura let the last note fade out to a whisper, catching the emotion more profoundly than the song's original artist.

Her eyes opened and Hiro and Koji both clapped enthusiastically. Wordlessly, Hiro hurried to his office, motioning for the other two to follow. He sat in his chair, met Sakura's questioning gaze and beamed. "Meet me here in one week. I'll have all of the documents ready for you to sign on board. That same day, we'll get to work on your album. Your voice is timeless. You have the potential to top the charts for many years to come."

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Sakura left the studio with a skip in her step, Koji similarly afflicted. "I say we go to dinner to celebrate. How about you?"

The woman nodded vigorously. "I barely ate half a bowl of cereal this morning I was so nervous! Where do you want to go? I haven't really been out to eat here yet."

Koji smiled happily. "Then I know just the place."

After a few turns, they pulled up in front of a large and posh restaurant. Sakura took note of the waiters' and waitresses' tuxedos and then looked down at her own casual attire. "I'm not really dressed to eat here, Koji."

Koji pointed to his own casual slacks and polo shirt. "Relax. I know the owner."

True to his word, he asked for someone when they entered and minutes later an older lady was rushing down a hallway to gush over him. "Oh, Koji dear! It's been so long! How are you, honey?"

He chuckled at the woman's fawning and returned her hug. "Good to see you, Hitomi. Been staying out of trouble?"

She scoffed at him. "Honey, I may be old but I still get into all the trouble I can find." Her gaze shifted to Sakura and her eyes widened. "Oh, darling you are just the most beautiful creature I have seen in years."

Sakura blushed but smiled at the friendly woman. Koji introduced her. "Hitomi, I'd like you to meet Haruno Sakura. Sakura, this is Hitomi, owner of 'Globe'."

Sakura squinted her eyes in thought. "Globe?"

Hitomi smiled. "I serve a little bit of everything from all over the world. Everyone who sets foot into this establishment is sure to find something they like."

Sakura's eyes lit up. The thought of getting something that was mostly found within Fire's borders was greatly appealing.

Koji turned to their hostess again. "Got any tables available?"

"For you, honey? Anytime!" She let her eyes rove over her seating chart and led them upstairs to a small booth in a corner. "I better get back to work, but you come see me again sweetie!" She bustled off and Sakura smiled.

"She seems nice."

Koji rubbed at the back of his neck. "A little too much sometimes, but she means well. Don't ever tell that woman a secret though. It will be spread all over within minutes."

The singer's mind conjured up the image of Ino and she smiled fondly. "Don't worry, I know how to handle those types."

Dinner was an exciting experience. After much pleading on Sakura's part, Koji let her try champagne, which she hated. The two talked and planned and plotted Sakura's upcoming album and her anticipated rise to stardom. And then Koji mentioned the one thing he hated mentioning. "Sakura, we'll need to get you a makeover."

Pink lips pulled into a frown of confusion and Koji hastened to explain. "For the record, I think you're beautiful the way you are. But consumers want to see a pretty face with the right clothes, the right hair, the right makeup. And there are people who specialize in those things. So, once the record is recorded we'll get you a meeting with those people and have you set up before the photo shoot for the album cover."

Sakura nodded. "It actually kinda sounds like fun."

Some clients had raged and started a ruckus once the makeover was mentioned so he breathed a sigh of relief at Sakura's easygoing response. "You ready to get out of here?"

"You bet."

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Koji walked Sakura to her door. "You have the next week off before we meet with Hiro again, so do as you wish."

Sakura nodded with a smile before pulling Koji in for a hug. "Thank you for everything."

The startled man blushed but returned the embrace. "You're very welcome, Sakura."

The two parted and Sakura went to bed feeling like she was on Cloud 9.

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The following week, Sakura decided to try her hand at writing songs. The idea of using someone else's material had never appealed to her. The emotions and feelings weren't there if it didn't come from the heart. She had heard too many powerful songs ruined by some singer's posturing and showing off when simple would have conveyed the idea so much more thoroughly. Once she put her mind to it, she found she was actually pretty good. They say past experiences are the best source of material, and Sakura had a plethora of memories and emotions to sort through. The poor girl had seen her fair share of heartache and sorrow at only 16, but those experiences translated into meaningful songs.

She pulled out a hand held recorder Koji kept in a drawer and started to sing the songs onto the tape. She played them back and once she got over the discomfort of hearing her own voice singing, the songs struck a chord with her. Proud of her accomplishments, she decided a little treat was in order and headed out buy a few trinkets.

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A few days later, she was just settling in to read up on some medical jutsu when Koji knocked on the door. Shoving the book under the couch, she hustled to the door. "Koji? What brings you here?"

He smiled slyly at the songstress. "You have a meeting with Koyuki-hime this evening."

"Really?"

"Mmhmm. When you get to the gate, just give the guards your name and mention I set up the meeting for you. They should let you in with no problem."

Sakura squealed in excitement. "Thank you so much, Koji!"

Her evening with the princess wasn't too eventful, which she expected. Sakura had never gotten as close to her as Naruto had, but the evening was still pleasant and the older female had been shocked at Sakura's lifestyle change. She had been even more shocked at the kunoichi's choice in the romance department. But she had to agree the head and the heart each did their own thing when it came to love and logic played almost no part in one's decisions. The event had produced one thing Sakura greatly needed: practice space. There were enough secluded grounds around Koyuki's castle that the young woman could train without being seen. She left feeling fulfilled and relaxed and ready for anything. For the first time since she left Konoha, Sakura felt like she was growing...and that meant the world to her.

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Kakashi sat with Aiko, having their weekly tea. The duo had formed an odd friendship and merchants would frequently ask the Copy Nin if he could possibly dissuade Aiko from her abusive consumerism. The man's response was usually, "What fun would she be if I did that?" causing many groans of disappointment from vendors.

He watched the little pink-headed terror bustle about her kitchen making tea and noticed her mood was brighter than usual. "What's got you so chipper, Aiko?"

One of her rare bright smiles greeted him and she did a little swaying dance as her sing-song reply reached him. "I'm going to see Sakura in a few months."

"Really?"

She nodded. "The girl's birthday is coming up in two months. I will not miss it. I haven't missed a birthday since the girl was born and I don't plan on starting now."

Kakashi leaned against the entryway to the kitchen. "She'll be 17, correct?"

Another nod. "She's growing up so fast. Already an adult if you ask me. But it seems like it was just yesterday that her parents brought her home from the hospital." She set the platter on the usual table and hurried over to a closet, pulling out a few photo albums. "I won't make you look at all the pictures, but there are some that are just too cute."

Kakashi nearly choked on his tea. Oh, the blackmail material he would have! Baby pictures were always the best material. But as he looked at the pictures, he noticed Sakura's eyes were dimmed in a lot of them. From ages 4 to 8, the smiles were empty and forced and he wondered what had caused such a thing.

Aiko shook her head. "Poor thing was bullied at the academy. A lot of the older girls called her names and would beat her up, teasing her about her forehead. Since she had just started, she had little knowledge on how to defend herself especially since it was a group against her."

Kakashi's chest clenched. He had no idea Sakura had gone through such a thing. It explained why she was so sensitive about the size of her forehead. The eyes brightened and the smiles were real from 8 to 10 and Aiko informed him that was when Sakura and Ino had become friends. The more popular blonde had pulled shy little Sakura from her shell and the bond had been strong until Sasuke came into the picture. After that, the smiles were still real and full, a sign of Sakura's own strength.

As he flipped through the photos, he saw a few areas where she seemed down or unhappy. And then he spotted a recent one and his breath hitched. Sakura was wearing a pretty red kimono for one of the village's festivals, but she was standing alone on their red bridge, obviously unaware of the picture being taken. Her hair was piled into a messy bun making her look years older than she was, but what really caught him was the faraway look in her eyes. She was beautiful in the photo but her sadness was palpable and he realized he was probably looking at one of her defining moments. One of the times that led her to the path she was traveling now.

Thoughts of blackmail flew from his mind as he handed the book back to her grandmother. "Will you tell Sakura I said 'happy birthday'? I have a mission coming up and I don't know if I'll get back before you leave."

Aiko stood with her guest and waved her hand. "Yes, yes, I will. Now you be careful on your mission."

Kakashi jolted as Aiko squeezed him around the waist in a short hug. Unsure of what to do, he awkwardly patted her back before she pulled away with a grin. "You're a terrible hugger, Kakashi. Be careful!"

He gave his signature wave before disappearing.

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One month later, Sakura had completed the recording of her first album. She was deeply disappointed that only one of her original songs had been chosen for the CD, but Koji assured her that once she was more established she would get more say on what was included. "Just trust Hiro. He knows what he's doing." She had heard the phrase so many times over the month that it lost meaning.

And now she was headed to a hotel in town with Koji for her makeover. She was actually excited about the upcoming new look. The two entered the enormous lobby and Sakura stopped to admire the glass dome ceiling and the marble pillars before following Koji to the check-in desk. A woman in a navy suit looked up with a wide smile. "May I help you?"

"We have reservations to use the penthouse suite today under Tanaka Koji. There should be a large group meeting us here."

The woman's smile grew larger. "Ah, Tanaka-sama! Here are your keys. Will you be requiring anything else from us?"

"Would you have a craft services table sent up?"

The eager woman nodded and got to work on the order immediately.

Sakura raised an eyebrow as they headed for the elevators. "She was friendly."

Koji laughed at the tone of voice. "Mention you have the penthouse and the dollar signs start flashing before their eyes."

No sooner had the two gotten to the room than a flurry of activity started. Various people arrived toting trunks and bags and rolling racks full of clothing. Still more people showed up with cases full of cosmetics and even more people rolling carts with hair products. Amidst all that chaos, hotel employees began showing up to set up the food table Koji had ordered and Sakura just sat in a corner, watching the proceedings with wide eyes.

An hour after it all started, it seemed everyone had set up their things and were leisurely mingling and nibbling on the light items on the food table. Koji stepped onto a foot stool and clapped to gain everyone's attention. Sakura had to admire how he could go from slightly goofy and shy guy to commanding talent agent in the blink of an eye. "Everyone listen up! I want to thank you all for coming. Today you have the pleasure of working with this world's newest and brightest star! Her voice is nothing short of magical and her exotic beauty will give you a firm foundation for your tasks today."

He motioned for Sakura to join him on his little perch and when she stepped up, a little chorus of gasps were heard. "May I introduce to you, the talented and lovely, Haruno Sakura!"

Sakura shyly tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and smiled slightly. One man could be heard in the background. "Pink?! Hell yeah! That's what I'm talking about!" She wasn't totally sure what the comment meant, but she didn't have long to ponder as murmurs erupted all over the room. She was uneasy with all the pointing and staring, but figured she might as well get used to it.

Koji took charge once more. "I figure we'll start with hair and makeup and then move onto clothes. Agreed?"

There was a chorus of affirmative answers and Sakura was dragged into a side room by a very effeminate male. "Oh, honey! I'm so going to make you fabulous!"

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The stylists were gone and the racks of clothes were being loaded onto the carriage to take back to Sakura's apartment. She stood looking in a full-length mirror. If it wasn't for the pink hair, she wouldn't even recognize herself. She looked good, but she was uncomfortable in her new getup.

"I look like a pop tart. And I don't mean a tasty pastry." She shot a pout to Koji and he chuckled.

"You have to dress the part. Unfortunately, the sound of your first album lands you in short skirts and tiny shirts. The bright side is there are pants and larger shirts you can wear. Before any public appearances, a stylist will be brought in to put you in appropriate attire for that event."

Her hair was very pretty. She had enjoyed listening to the man's ramblings about anything and everything as he worked and she hoped he would continue to do her hair. He hadn't taken off much length and it had grown during the past year. It now hung to the middle of her back and he had pulled the sides back while putting large bouncing curls in her tresses. He had thinned out her bangs and left those laying against her forehead.

The makeup wasn't thick at all as she had expected. "I'm not covering up your flawless skin." the lady had said. And Sakura was grateful. If she was hot while wearing makeup she always felt like her face was melting. Lavender eye shadow and black eyeliner and mascara had her green eyes popping. And the glistening red lipstick made her lips appear fuller and extremely kissable.

There had been outfits she loved on the racks, but this was the one everyone insisted she wear. Everything was black, the stylists saying it went magnificently with her pink hair and green eyes. The skirt was a satiny material that went to mid thigh with a slit running up to her hip on one side. A thick belt made of large interlocking silver rings was slung low on her hips, more for fashion than in an effort to keep her skirt on. The tank top she wore was a little too short, showing a small potion of toned midriff and the navel piercing they had coaxed her into getting. Currently, she only had on a magnetic faux piercing, but it looked damn sexy and she had made up her mind to get the real deal soon. They had taken pity and allowed her to wear a leather jacket with her outfit. The boots they had her in were the only thing she felt comfortable in since they resembled her shinobi sandals. They went up to mid-calf and had a small wedge heel on them, making her long legs stand out.

Koji rose from his seat to stand behind the nervous woman. His eyes met hers in the mirror. "You know what I see?"

Sakura pouted. "A harlot?"

Koji laughed loudly. "You nerd!"

Sakura gasped in giggling disbelief. "Did you just call me a nerd?"

He waved her off and with a smirk turned her back around to look in the mirror. "Now, you are a star."

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Sakura was mortified when they went straight from the hotel to the photo shoot for her album cover. "I'm wearing this?! Why didn't you tell me?!"

Koji put his hands on her shoulders. "Because I knew you would freak out. Look, just trust Hiro and I. We're on your side in this."

Hiro nodded from his spot nearby. "They're going to take a lot of pictures of you in various poses. I'm sure there will be ones in there that you like. And you do look gorgeous so there's nothing to be ashamed of."

Sakura flushed as his eyes swept over her form, but forced her attention back to Koji. This could not be happening. She was modest, prude little Haruno Sakura from Konoha. A medic-nin who could be found in the library when she was off-duty, pouring over medical texts. A young woman who had never been kissed or even on a date! And now she was half-naked getting ready to be photographed for an album cover that the world would see.

Seeing the panic rising, Koji turned to damage control. "Sakura, you're mostly covered. Have you realized that? You have on a jacket, the boots and skirt only leave maybe a foot of leg showing. And then a tiny bit of tummy. Is it really so bad? It's just enough to tease."

Sakura took a few deep breaths. There was truth in his words, but the style of the clothes and the cut of them made them seem far sexier than the little bit of skin that was showing.

The session started and Sakura followed their directions precisely, ready to go home and get comfortable. The photographer cheered when the session ended. "You are a natural and the camera loves you!" He turned to Hiro and Koji. "I'll get these developed and delivered to your office within a week."

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A month later, the Haruno family was reunited for a doubly special day for the pink-headed kunoichi. Sakura's 17th birthday was also the release party for her self-titled debut CD. She had chosen to just use her first name in order to protect her family. The cover was, Sakura had to admit, beautiful. Sakura was facing the camera but turned to the side slightly. The leg with the split in the skirt was bent out in front of her at the knee, hands gripping the front bottom corners of her jacket and a few of her curls had been pulled forward to hang over her shoulders. She was looking up at the camera from beneath her lowered lashes with a secretive smile playing on her lips.

Aiko raced at her granddaughter with a speed no one knew the old lady possessed. "SAKURA-CHAN!"

"GRANDMA!" The two Haruno women embraced giddily, tearfully proclaiming how much they missed each other.

Aiko reached out to spin Sakura around. "Let me get a look at you! Oh, you've grown so much since I last saw you! You're getting so tall."

Sakura's mother managed to wriggle her daughter away to give her hugs of her own, before Mr. Haruno pried her away and proceeded to squeeze the breath right out of her. After all the introductions and once the festivities were winding down, Sakura left with her family who were staying with her in the massive apartment.

Aiko grinned slyly at the woman next to her. "I've got something to tell you."

"What is it?"

She put a wrinkled finger to her lips and mouthed 'secret' to Sakura.

Sakura's parents went to bed after gushing over how proud they were of their 'Sakura-chan', leaving Aiko and Sakura to their private conversation.

Sakura brewed a pot of decaffeinated tea and looked her grandmother in the eye. "Spill."

"I've been having tea with your hunky ninja."

Green eyes widened impossibly. "K-K-Kakashi?!"

"Shush, dear or you'll wake your parents! And yes, Kakashi. He's a very nice man. A little quiet, but cute!" She wiggled her pink eyebrows suggestively and Sakura rolled her eyes.

"Grandma!" She whined at the older woman. "You haven't told him anything embarrassing, have you?"

"Oh, of course not! I know better than that!"

Sakura grew quiet and blushed. "Is he...you know...is he okay?"

Aiko smiled affectionately. "He's fine, dear. And still single. So, that's good. He was on a mission when we left but he said it's nothing serious so no need to worry."

Sakura twiddled her fingers as her eyes grew misty. "I asked Tsunade-shishou to block my merchandise from Konoha."

"Whatever for, dear?"

"I don't want people to see it yet. I want to be able to live here and experience this new lifestyle without worrying about what all my friends back home are thinking. And I don't want them to know where I am or what I'm doing. If Naruto or Ino got wind of it, they'd be up here trying to drag me home."

Aiko nodded in understanding. "In that case, I won't play your CD when Kakashi comes over for tea."

"Thank you, Grandma."

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Kakashi trudged his way home from his mission, barely able to see through his exhaustion. The mission wasn't difficult, but it was lengthy and draining.

His mind kept turning back to that poster he had seen in one of the villages in Water Country. A music store had a poster of a very shapely woman from what he could see, but the store was closed and the window was dark. He was with a client so he couldn't stop to really check it out and then when he went back by the store a few days later, the poster was gone. He didn't know why that poster captured his attention so, but he felt compelled to investigate. He tried to shake the thoughts from his head. He could always check the music stores in Konoha to see what about that poster was so intriguing.

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A/N: You have no idea how many times I did a re-write on this chapter. It still feels iffy to me, but I'm done messing with it. Reviews greatly appreciated! Smooches!