Wow! I want to thank everyone for the reviews for last chapter. There were some really in-depth and well-thought out reviews and those are priceless. So thank you very much! Hope I can continue to deliver and meet the high expectations! Just so you all know, I've wrestled with music choices since this idea was conceived. I've known from the start what Sakura will end up singing, but her music on the way was hell. So, no complaints on song choices please. I decided to play while I had the chance. Some are timeless classics (a.k.a. songs I never get tired of) and some are today's hits that will undoubtedly be overplayed and grate on the nerves of even the most patient people. Multiple genres are used. (bright smile) Enjoy!
On another note: Anyone want to beta? I usually don't need too much help with grammar or spelling since I'm a little OCD in those areas, but some help with the story flow would be nice. Plus I have 11 pages of notes for this story - yes, 11 pages - and within those notes are various ways the story could progress. So a little help on which to choose would be great. Thanks in advance!
And now I PROMISE I'm done rambling.
Disclaimers: See chapter 1.
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You Gotta Go There To Come Back
Chapter 5: Roll Up and Shine
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It's time to live, it's time for love
It's time to do what's afraid of
It's time to breathe, time to relieve
It's time to shine
So why don't you take a look around
So why don't we take a look inside
Roll out the shock parade
Free falling from a stage
Performance and cocktails
Roll up and shine
-Roll Up and Shine by Stereophonics
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Sakura nervously twirled a lock of hair as Koji and Hiro looked over the list of radio stations that had put her first single into their play lists. The release party they had was more of a wrap party, since her CD had yet to hit the store shelves. But the radio stations were playing her song...and the amount of requests for it were staggering. When Koji had confidently proclaimed Hiro would make her record a hit, it turned out he was right. DJs around the world had hurried to put the song into play once Hiro's name was mentioned.
Despite the instant success and all the perks that came with it, the only thing the kunoichi was worried about was whether Tsunade had gotten her letter. The request to keep her merchandise from Konoha was unusual and she wasn't sure the Hokage could pull it off, but she was hoping for the best. Chances the others would see her CD on missions were slim since they would be too busy working to head into any music stores. At least, that's what she kept telling herself to calm her nerves. Truth was once missions were over and the shinobi were headed home, they could pretty much do what they wanted so long as they returned in a reasonable amount of time. But Sakura chose to remain blissfully ignorant of that fact in favor of more peace of mind.
Koji shook his head and blew out a breath. "Damn, girl! They are loving you!"
Hiro was busy shuffling through the papers, mumbling. "I just had it. Where did it go? I haven't even looked at it yet, I can't have lost it!"
Sakura distractedly pointed to a piece of paper by the side of the desk. "You looking for that?"
Hiro bent down and lifted the paper, his lavender eyes narrowed as he scanned the sheet. Suddenly his eyes lifted in a smile and he gave a whoop as he made a beeline for Sakura. The startled young woman barely had time to blink as she was caught in a furious hug. "You did it, sweetie! You're number 2 on the charts!"
"What?" came Sakura's muffled question from Hiro's shoulder.
Koji scrambled to look at the chart and gave his own cheer as he came over to congratulate Sakura in much the same fashion. Dazedly moving from Hiro to hug Koji, she asked again. "What's going on now?"
Koji pulled back and smiled giddily at her. "Your first single is number 2 on the pop charts!"
"Um, aren't you supposed to celebrate number 1?"
Hiro laughed heartily as he slapped her on the back, his eagerness giving her a bit of a stumble. "You, my dear, are brand new and no one has ever heard of you before. Number 1 is practically impossible for a newcomer, so to get to number 2 on the charts? That is fantastic so don't underestimate its importance!"
"So, this is good right?"
Sakura winced and then frowned as Hiro clapped her a few more times on the back. "Better than good! Koji, you might want to book some performances for this girl. Live performances will really cement her place in the limelight. Once people realize her talent is real and not some studio fabrication her popularity will skyrocket!"
Koji's face lit up in a smile. "Leave it to me!"
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Kakashi wandered into Konoha's music store, eye searching for the great legs he had seen on that poster from before. He had no idea why he was so fascinated with a silly poster, but he was. Maybe Sakura's greatest fears had come true and 'Icha Icha' had rotted his brain. He smothered his chuckles as he thought about how she would react to the knowledge. Surely her silver tongue and quick wit would be doing a fine job of chewing him out right now. She never resorted to her fists with him as she often did with Naruto or Sai. For that, the Copy Nin was thankful. He didn't think she'd be able to catch him while he was on guard, but if she pounced when he least expected it, he wouldn't come away unscathed.
He stopped his pondering when he didn't see anything remotely close to that other poster. A teenage employee of the store approached him. "Hey man. Looking for something in particular?"
Kakashi rubbed at his head. "Well, I saw this poster on my last mission of this woman dressed in a short black skirt and black leather jacket with long black boots and was wondering if you knew who that was."
The boy put a hand to his chin and squinted, reminding Kakashi greatly of Naruto. "Sorry dude. I got nothing. We haven't seen a poster like that lately."
Shoulders slouched further when he realized he wouldn't be able to dig up any more information unless he left the village and he was just too lazy for that. Maybe he'd get lucky and find the same poster on his next mission. He thanked the kid and left, disappointed in not finding out who the woman was.
The thoughts of Sakura a moment ago alerted him to something he could rectify. He hadn't been able to do any 'Sakura-check-ins' for the past two months and was eager for word on her. It wasn't Tuesday, but he knew someone who had recently seen the young woman, not to mention was related to her, and therefore, was his Sakura expert.
He reached Aiko's house fairly quickly and found her reading on her porch. She looked up as her gate creaked and beamed. "Kakashi! Glad to see you're alive and well. What brings you to this old lady's house today?"
His jounin vest shifted as he shrugged. "Wanted to say 'hi' and let you know I was back. Plus..." his dark eye twinkled "...I believe you just went to visit someone we both know and love."
Aiko inhaled sharply. "Did you just say you love Sakura?"
Kakashi blinked. "Well, yes I mean I've known her since she was 12 and she's a valued teammate and dear friend. Of course I love her in that respect."
Aiko shook her head in disappointment. "Pity. Thought I might hook my gorgeous granddaughter up with a handsome young upstart such as yourself."
Kakashi laughed, louder than he had in years. "Upstart? I've been a ninja since I was 4! And really, I don't think Sakura and I would work as a couple."
Aiko frowned. "Now why would you say that? Is there something wrong with my little angel? Is she not good enough for you?"
Kakashi sighed as he got his laughter under control. An angered and insulted Aiko would no doubt be just as dangerous as Sakura or Tsunade. "No, that's not it at all. I agree with you, Sakura is very beautiful. She's fierce and determined and loyal and honest and charming and funny and brilliant and so many other good qualities. But she's also my former student and 14 years my junior. What would she want with some washed up old man when she could choose anyone else in this village?"
Aiko smiled softly at him. "You sell yourself short. Sakura isn't blinded by age or other superficial matters like other girls her age. She is much more mature than that and you need to give credit where credit is due."
Kakashi ran a hand through his unruly locks and shook his head. "Even if I allowed myself to fall for Sakura - which would be very easy, mind you - I could never give her what she deserves."
Aiko didn't speak any more on the matter after that. Even if Kakashi didn't realize it, with his previous statement he had made it seem like he had to work to keep himself from falling for Sakura. And with that, Aiko figured she had done enough for today. She still had years to break down the stone heart of the great Sharingan Kakashi and open his eyes to Sakura and her feelings. "Bah, ignore this old woman's ramblings. I just figured my granddaughter needed a great man to make her happy. And since you were the only one in years to stand up to me and then tolerate me, I thought you'd be the best candidate. After all, family is important to my little Cherry Blossom and anyone she gets serious about will need to like the family including this wrinkled old prune. Anyway, you were asking how she is, weren't you?"
Kakashi nodded and Aiko smiled fondly, her eyes looking off into the distance. "That girl is living in a huge, beautiful apartment. It came furnished and very tastefully so, I might add. The man who owns it is very nice and very kind to her. She is learning a lot and doing well with everything she tries to do. But we wouldn't expect anything less from her, now would we?" She winked at a softly smiling Kakashi before continuing. "She's always adapted well to her situation and she's very intelligent. She's grown beautifully. You wouldn't believe it, Kakashi! She's gotten at least an inch or two taller. And she's completely changed her look. I won't go into details, but it suits her well."
Kakashi chuckled slightly. "It's a relief to hear she's doing well from someone who just saw her. Letters can be deceiving. Did she have a happy birthday?"
"Oh yes. It seems she's made a lot of friends in her new home. The party was full of people who all seemed to adore her and she was positively glowing!"
Kakashi stood from his leaning position on a porch beam. "That's good to hear. I'm glad she's doing well and feeling better. Sorry I can't stay and chat, but I've got a Hokage to check in with."
Aiko giggled. "Ah, Tsunade-hime. A woman after my own heart."
Kakashi's chuckles mingled with Aiko's as he left her yard.
He ran into Naruto not far from the tower and began walking with him. After the customary post-mission greetings, Kakashi asked the obvious. "On your way to see if Sakura's latest letter came in?"
The blonde nodded. "I don't know what the last one said, but Tsunade-baachan rushed out of the office to take care of something. I followed her to see if Sakura was in danger, but she just told me to shut it and that Sakura was fine. I wanted to keep following, but she went into a restricted area and the ANBU stationed kept me from getting in."
Kakashi's pace picked up as he headed to the tower. He was a little concerned. But if Sakura was in danger, he was sure Naruto would be included on a rescue team so he tried to temper it down. If he was honest with himself, he was a little fascinated with Haruno Sakura. She was too young for him to pursue romantically or have any romantic feelings for, but she was many things he would never be or had lost long ago. She was one of the few he would go to the ends of the earth for and one of the even fewer he had let inside some of his barriers. All of the words he said to Aiko on the subject were true, it would be easy to love Sakura. If she was older and maybe a little less innocent, he wouldn't mind taking their friendship to another level. But he didn't want to see any of that innocence tainted, so it was a Catch 22 for him. Her innocence drew him in just as it pushed him away.
In many ways, he and Sakura were polar opposites. Sakura saw death and destruction on a daily basis as a medic-nin. She had seen some of the most horrific sights during her career, had done countless operations, had lost some of the lives she was trying to save. Kakashi had seen her during those times since she came to him, knowing he would understand at least a little bit. She would come to his apartment, shirt soaked in blood, uncontrollably sobbing over her own perceived shortcomings. He had heard about the ANBU squad she just didn't have the time to save, they had lost too much blood when they reached her. He had held her when she just couldn't get a genin's heart to start beating again. He had even caught her when she collapsed from using almost all of her chakra to try and save a chuunin from a gaping chest wound.
Sakura had survived the betrayal of a teammate and the boy she loved. She had seen her other teammate overtaken by the monster residing inside of him. She had assisted in the death of Sasori from Akatsuki. When everyone else called her weak, she had sought the help of Tsunade and pushed through her training to prove them all wrong. She had loved and lost her fair share of friends and comrades. Yet somehow she remained innocent, loving, loyal to those who were important to her. She had kept her inner light glowing and strong.
Kakashi, on the other hand, had lost his innocence before most children graduated from the academy. At 8 when he found his father dead, he started wearing a mask and proclaimed the rules were all that mattered. At 13, he lost a teammate and blamed himself. He took on some of Obito's characteristics and began to hide behind that goofy, fake smile. At 14, he lost his sensei and started to bury his head behind the 'Icha Icha' books. At 16, he had lost himself behind so many walls and barricades that he joined ANBU. He waited for death, welcomed it, wished it would claim him.
There were so many labels used to identify him, so many burdens: Son of the White Fang, the last Hatake, the Fourth's last surviving student, Sharingan Kakashi. They were heavy burdens for such young shoulders. And he had allowed himself to collapse under the strain, too weak to persevere through the tragedies and obstacles placed in his path.
He had thought Sakura weak of mind and spirit when he first met her five years ago. And now he realized how wrong he had been. Sakura had managed to retain herself through all of her hurdles, while Kakashi was just a shadow of who he had once been. He didn't even remember who the real Hatake Kakashi was. The reality was opposite of what he thought it was. Sakura was the strong one, while he was weak. She had surpassed him long ago in that respect, or maybe she had just been stronger than they gave her credit for all along.
He shook his head softly with a smile. He had been weak and cold when he first got his little brats, but now they had thawed him out. Made him human again. And he could never thank them enough for that.
He cleared his mind as they got to Tsunade's office and Naruto waltzed in without knocking. Kakashi waited, heard the cursing when Naruto got pelted with the paperweight, and then went in himself.
Tsunade merely tapped a manicured finger on her desk as she glared. "Again? You know what? I'm not even going to ask anymore. If you two are in the village, I'll just assume I'll see you every two weeks. And Hatake, if you want info then you better have a mission report for me."
Producing a scroll from his vest, his visible eye crinkled. "I expected you would want a trade."
The Godaime shook her head. "At least it's on time. It should be on time because it's your JOB, but I guess I'll take what I can get." She leveled a slight glare at the still grinning Kakashi before getting to the point. "She's fine. Very busy and very happy. She's met some wonderful people and is learning many new things right now. I think you'd both be surprised at how she's grown. Leaving this village did her a world of good. That's all, so get out of my hair. I have work to do."
Kakashi raised a hand. "Actually Tsunade-sama, Naruto said her last letter caused some commotion. Was everything alright?"
Knowing a simple 'yes' wouldn't get the man to leave, she answered truthfully but vaguely. "Everything is fine. She had a request for me and since I'm busy lately, I did it right away so I wouldn't forget. Nothing to worry about. Now go away."
Kakashi eyed her strangely, but left anyway, deciding to leave the fight for another day.
Once the office door closed, Tsunade pulled out her sake and took a quick shot. 'That brat's too smart. One of these days he's going to catch on, Sakura. And I won't be able to stop it from happening.'
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Koji sat on the floor in Sakura's borrowed apartment across from the woman herself. The glass top coffee table between them was covered in maps and papers and prices and dates as the two planned out a tour for her soon to be released CD. "Okay, so we'll obviously start in Snow since we live here." Koji wrote a '1' over Snow Country on his map and continued. "Lightning would be next since we're neighbors." And it continued in this fashion, following on through the smaller countries heading west into Earth and then south into Wind before Koji dragged his pencil eastward to Fire. "In Fire, we should definitely hit Konoha. It's the largest village there."
Sakura shot out a hand to clamp over her home village. "No! I'm...I'm from Konoha. And quite frankly, going there is something I can't handle right now."
Koji blinked at the wide-eyed woman. "Care to elaborate? The tour would definitely get a huge boost from a stop in Konoha."
Sakura's gaze fell to her lap and her twiddling fingers. "I fell in love with the wrong person. Please don't make me explain any further."
Koji put a comforting hand on top of hers. "Okay then. No Konoha. I won't force you to do something you're uncomfortable with."
"Thank you, Koji."
They planned a few other stops in Fire before going down south to Tea County and then Sea Country before heading back north to Water Country and then back into Snow where she would do one last show to close out the tour.
She looked at all the little red marks on Koji's map and felt overwhelmed. "How will I do all those shows?"
Koji waved a hand like it was no big deal. "It's your first CD so the shows won't be that big. Plus, this will take a few months. Don't worry. You won't be singing everyday trying to cram it all in."
He pulled out a legal pad and began to jot down some notes. "Now, we'll need dancers and back up singers. A band. A security team. A chef so we don't have to eat out all the time."
Sakura looked at him with wide eyes. "All that?"
"Yes, of course. You're a pop singer. Dancers are expected at pop concerts. The other stuff is normal for any sort of musician. Unless you're in a band and then that point becomes moot."
Sakura just rose to get a glass of water, trying to let the overload sink into her mind.
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The singer's CD came out and was welcomed with rave reviews. There was the occasional 'nay-sayer' who claimed she was a one-hit wonder or flash in the pan, a cookie-cutter pop star. But on the whole, the media and fans were struck by her voice and exotic looks. One magazine reviewer had written:
'Sakura's powerful voice and catchy tunes and lyrics are a refreshing change in a music industry that is constantly saturating itself with one cardboard star after another. Her smoky voice emits sensuality with every note despite her young age and one cannot help but wonder what amazing things to expect from this diva. This young woman has spirit and staying power and it will be exciting to see where her path leads her.'
She blushed at the praise and was finding out that a hat and sunglasses were necessary if she wanted to take a walk in peace. It wasn't too bad yet, but she couldn't go far without someone recognizing her and asking for an autograph. Luckily for Sakura, she had made great friends with Koyuki, who had tons of advice on going out without attracting a crowd. The actress-turned-Feudal-Lord had made it into an art form.
Sakura didn't have time to enjoy the favorable reactions to her CD, since plans for her tour were in full swing. All she had been told in passing was that it went straight to number 4 on the album charts after its release. Koji was busy with the mountain of planning that was required. Hiro was auditioning back-up singers. And her choreographer's staff was busy auditioning dancers. This left Sakura with the choreographer, working on her dance moves and perfecting the difficult art of singing and remembering the dance steps and the counts at the same time.
Her choreographer reminded her of Tsunade. The woman was ruthless. She would show Sakura a series of moves, make her work on it until it was perfect, and then add it into all the rest until Sakura was performing as she would on stage. Needless to say, the kunoichi hadn't quite expected all this when she began her new career.
Within the amazingly short span of three weeks, Sakura had a full staff. The backup singers and dancers were all part of the rehearsals now. She had a band that was present for the singing rehearsals. And Koji had found eight massive, walls of men to be her security team. There were two who were the heads of the team and Sakura liked them immensely.
Makoto and Shingo were huge and burly and intimidating, but underneath the tattoos and scowling faces were two teddy bears. With each one standing close to the seven-foot mark, a person would have to be a fool to try to get to Sakura. And she knew they adored her as much as she adored them so she felt completely safe and secure.
They would stand guard when Sakura was at rehearsals and she got a kick out of teasing them during her breaks. She would walk over to the bald, but goatee clad Makoto and sigh dramatically before resting a sweaty forehead on his forearm. He would flinch as if burned before rubbing the arm on his pants or shirt. "That's gross, Sakura." All the same, he would smile at her with a toothy grin and pinch her cheek.
She would frown at the pinch, then giggle, squeeze him in a tight hug and waltz back over to her work.
Another three weeks sped by and it was time to hit the road. Koji had secured seven carriages to transport the staff and the equipment as they traveled. Each carriage would have one member of security while the carriage with Sakura would have two and the order of the carriages would change daily to keep Sakura safe from bandits. The kunoichi felt like laughing. Of course, she couldn't since she was supposed to be a singer and NOT a feared and seasoned ninja. If push came to shove, Sakura would jump in and defend her new friends and co-workers, but she hoped they wouldn't have too much trouble.
The first stop was in town, but since they would leave right after to head to the next destination, the whole caravan packed up and headed to the club where Sakura would be performing. While the scale of the show was large, the first venue was not and it would only be the singers, the band and Sakura tonight. Koji had called it her 'get your feet wet' gig.
They stepped in through the back door of the small club and Sakura coughed lightly at the lingering smoke smell. She got settled in the dressing room and went out to check the stage and seating area. The club was still closed, so she had free run of the place for a couple hours to do a sound check after getting ready. As she took in the small stage and various tables in the club, her spirits sky-rocketed and blocked out her trepidation. "I was so worried I'd be petrified standing up here. But this isn't that big." She smiled at Koji and he returned the gesture.
"I told you it wouldn't be so bad. Baby steps. I'm sure one day we'll be packing arenas, but until then this will do."
Sakura watched as her sound crew scurried around, connecting wires and equipment. "We'll have things ready for a sound check soon, Haruno-san."
Green eyes glittered happily as she shook her head. "Please, just Sakura is fine."
True to Koji's previous words, Sakura had a small team of stylists with her for the tour's duration. One hair dresser, one make-up artist and one person to choose her clothes. Really all the pink-headed star had to do was show up, sing and be on her merry way. She rolled her eyes as the same effeminate man from her first makeover stomped up to her and glared with his hands on his hips. "Look, little miss priss! We need to get you ready and fabulous, so do me a favor and get your little booty back to the dressing room!"
"But Hajime!" She whined playfully and stuck out her lower lip in an exaggerated pout while she crossed her arms. "I don't wanna!"
Hajime did his best to look stern, but the corners of his mouth twitched. "I don't care how adorably cute you are, you need my expert guidance to go from cute to sex kitten, so get a move on woman!"
"All right. All right. See you in a few minutes, Koji!"
Hajime corrected her. "See you in a few hours, Koji. Once I get her back there, the other two will descend on her while she's trapped."
Koji laughed at the stricken look on his newest star's face before making the rounds to check on everyone's progress.
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Sakura peeked through a gap in the curtains and felt sick to her stomach. Empty it didn't look so bad, but the space held more people than she had imagined. The tiny club had a maximum occupancy of 200 people, but there might as well have been 2000 standing out there. It wouldn't have made a difference in the churning in the young starlet's gut. "Koji, this is horrifying! I can't do this!"
He smiled warmly as he placed comforting hands on her shoulders. "Come here. Look at yourself in this mirror."
Sakura obediently took in her reflection. Black skinny jeans, a black T-shirt with a red abstract design, a black vest with vertical ruffles with raw edges and shiny red, patent leather high-heeled boots. Her hair had been parted on the side and left loose, since Sakura had a tendency to lace her hands into her hair as she sang - a habit that peeved Hajime greatly. Her make-up was heavy around her eyes, making them stand out along with her red painted lips.
"How do you think you look?"
Sakura smiled wryly. She actually liked this outfit better than most of them she had acquired. "I think I look good."
Koji nodded in approval. "Now, how well do you sing?"
Sakura giggled. "I don't think it's really anything special, but people keep telling me otherwise."
"And what position did your first single hit on the overly competitive pop charts?"
"Number 2."
"What about your debut album?"
"Number 4."
"And last, what did all those brutal music critics say about your music?"
"That it was good."
"Better than good. And now you can go out there and prove to everyone that you are not just some flash in the pan, no substance paper doll. So let's see it, Sakura. Show me how bad you want this." He ended in a fierce whisper, his challenging words igniting a fire in the young woman's darkening green eyes.
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With a deep breath, Sakura wrung her hands once and bounced a bit on her feet as her band took the stage. Once they were in place, she emerged from the wing, waving with a bright smile to the cheering crowd. She noted Koji, Hiro and her entourage (she mentally snorted at the idea that she had an entourage) sitting at a table in the front corner and saw the enormous members of her security team stationed in front of the stage. She couldn't make out much else with the bright lights shining in her eyes and was grateful for it. If she couldn't see them, then she could pretend they weren't there.
The beat started up and it was now or never. Her voice began to waver with her nervousness, the notes going up and down since she couldn't hold them steady. She closed her eyes, mortified that it was starting like this. However, with her eyes closed, the music came more naturally, the notes more powerful, the steadiness returning. Her nerves melted away until she was belting it out like she had in the studio. As the song progressed, she started to open her eyes slightly, taking it step by step to make sure her performance didn't suffer. Finally, her eyes were fully opened and she was prancing around on stage, singing her heart out. And the crowd was going crazy.
She stopped in the middle of the stage when her favorite part of the song came up, swinging her hips as she sang:
I wanna love
I want a fire
To feel the burn
My desires
I wanna a man by my side
Not a boy who runs and hides
Are you gonna fight for me?
Die for me?
Live and breathe for me?
Do you care for me?
'Cause if you don't then just leave
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Her group watched enraptured. Koji and Hiro knew she could sing, hell they all knew that. But Sakura on stage was a force to be reckoned with. The start had been rocky, but she had recovered quickly and now it was like they were seeing a whole new person. She was vivacious and playful and commanding and had this amazing stage presence and none of them could look away. Koji was afraid to blink, fearful he would miss something.
As she danced and swayed and swiveled her hips and belted out her songs, Hajime blinked rapidly in disbelief. "Damn. If I was into girls, I would so hit that! Hell, I want to hit that anyway!"
Hiro managed to stifle his chortles into embarrassing snorting noises while the nearby and protective Shingo shot Hajime a nasty look.
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After the concert, Sakura was in her dressing room, her insides quivering with her excitement. "Oh my god! I can't believe I just did that!" She covered her mouth in glee, the giggles spilling forth non-stop.
Koji and Hiro had a little scuffle in the doorway, pushing each other since they both wanted to hug her first. Koji won with an unexpected hip check and spun the exuberant kunoichi in the air. "You did it! And it was far beyond what I had imagined you could do!"
Hiro stole the still giddy singer and rocked side to side with her. "If you had just sang, you would have brought the house down. With your amazing performance, you could start a riot!"
Sakura jumped up and down, high on adrenaline.
Koji and Hiro had to force the party to wind down a couple hours later. They had a lot of ground to cover and the performers needed to rest before the next night's performance. As Sakura headed to the shower in her dressing room, she caught a glimpse in the mirror and stared in awe. The make-up had smeared slightly, making her eyes appear darker and smoky. It actually looked better than when it was first applied. Her hair was slightly mussed and a few of the sections underneath were damp and stuck to her neck. Her cheeks were flushed and her lips, although the lipstick was gone, were still bright red from her exertions on stage. She was practically glowing and she had never seen herself look better! With some effort she managed to snap out of her daze and go get cleaned up.
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The tour continued without incident. Sakura moved through the countries, making headlines and new fans at every turn. The venues grew larger and larger and a few times they had to hold a second show on the same night to accommodate all the fans, on Sakura's insistence.
The rest of the group had rebelled against the idea, saying she would wear herself out with so much work. But after seeing kids and adults alike down in the dumps because they couldn't get tickets, she had put her foot down. The 10 year old girl who had approached Sakura in tears, saying how much she liked her but wasn't going to be able to see the show had been the clincher. And no one could dissuade the strong willed pink-headed star on the matter.
Koji had arranged a surprise for Sakura in Wind Country and she had been over the moon when the Sand Siblings had come to one of the concerts.
"Sakura, you looked amazing out there!" Temari bear hugged her friend and Sakura returned it just as fiercely.
Gaara had congratulated her more quietly with a tight hug and then it dawned on Sakura that she hadn't seen Kankuro. Before she could ask, the wind was knocked out of her as two strong arms wrapped around her middle.
"SAKURA!!"
She turned with a laugh, wrapping her arms tightly around the older puppet user. With a wicked grin no one could see, she employed a little of her chakra and left Kankuro gasping for air.
"I've missed you guys! How have you been?"
The reminiscing and catching up had been short lived since she had to leave for the next destination, but just seeing them for a few hours had done her a world of good.
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The weeks flew by and Sakura was running high on the rush of stardom. Her record sales had skyrocketed, taking her to number 1 on the charts and her second single, the only song on the album she had written, had debuted at number 1. This bit of news left Hiro and Koji on Cloud 9. Sakura had trouble listening to and performing the song. It was too raw and truthful to not hurt. She managed every concert to get through it, but she had to take a minute to breathe after she performed the song. A minute to get her emotions under control.
It was during her first concert in Fire that Sakura got a huge shock and a request that left her feeling incredibly honored. Back stage after the concert, Koji had met her in the dressing room with a man dressed in fine robes, not quite royalty but obviously in service to someone very high ranking.
"Sakura, I bring a request from my employer, Fire's esteemed Feudal Lord. The daimyo's daughter has her 15th birthday coming up soon and would like to have a concert from you. The pay and services we can offer you and your team are more than adequate. We would appreciate your help." The man bowed slightly and then offered her a small, almost apologetic smile. "This is really the only thing he can think of as a gift. The princess hasn't asked for anything, but all she does is play your music. She's been distant lately, as all teens tend to be, and the daimyo is hoping to close some of the gap with this gift."
Sakura's eyes darted to Koji and then back to the smiling man. "I would be honored to perform, sir. Just let us know when and where and we'll be there!"
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Tsunade looked at the ninja assembled in her office. "This mission is A-ranked and of the utmost importance. You shouldn't have too much trouble, but due to the high ranking people involved you must be on guard. The daimyo's daughter is having her birthday party in two weeks. Not only will many diplomats and VIPs be present, but I hear there is supposed to be a rising singer performing. With how high profile this could become, they have requested a team of ninja to be stationed around the perimeter and a few inside as well. Hinata, Shino, Ino and Shikamaru, you four will pose as guests inside the party. Naruto, Sai, Yamato, Kiba, Chouji and Neji, you will be stationed outside. Hatake, you will be outside also and mission leader. You leave tomorrow morning so you can oversee the other security preparations. Dismissed!"
The 11 ninja dispersed and Tsunade sighed. It was unusual for such a large group to take on a mission, but the people who requested the mission were too important to risk anything happening to them. Plus the daimyo's estate was too large for a normal group to effectively protect. At least she wouldn't have to worry about the two brats barging in to hear about Sakura's next letter. With a grin, she dug into her paperwork.
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Two days later, Sakura's letter arrived along with news of her performance at the princess's birthday party and Tsunade groaned. If she had known, she would have sent another group on the mission. Not a team of people Sakura was particularly close to, along with the man she loved. She couldn't do anything about it now, either. If she called them back, it would raise suspicion. Not to mention that they were probably already there and it would make Konoha look bad in the eyes of the Feudal Lord to change the assigned ninja in the middle of a mission. She banged her head on the desk a few times before pulling out her trusty sake. Her vice was needed more than ever at times like this.
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Ino, Hinata, Shikamaru and Shino were mingling in the party, on the lookout for anything suspicious. Their earpieces were well-concealed within their attire, the outfits chosen specifically for their high necklines which would hide the microphones without interfering with their reception.
Ino wasn't one to be bored at a party, but this one was drab. Normally she would dread the start of the entertainment since it would make it harder to scout, but she was eager for it this time. At least she would have something to look at other than a bunch of rich kids and their stuck-up parents.
Hinata seemed to be holding up much better, but even the quiet Hyuuga was getting a bit irritated. The daimyo was terrible at throwing a party! She had heard her father mention it before, but had never paid much attention. Apparently, he was right. Then again, maybe it was just the company. After all, the decorations and food were good but with no one willing to loosen up, the party was dull.
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Sakura stared in the mirror, doing her usual pep talk. Tonight was important. Being in front of all those officials could do wonders for her career. She looked magnificent, but she did for every performance. Her hair was once again parted on the side and left down, although Hajime had put a few loose curls in it. He was bored with merely brushing her hair, he had said. She had on black, low slung pants with a silver studded belt, a black tank top that hugged her torso and showed a good portion of midriff and a long black leather trench coat. The coat was her favorite part. The bottom was custom made to flare out and it made for a dramatic effect when the young woman performed.
Koji called out his five minute warning and Sakura made her way to the wings, ready to do her stuff. After the whole group of performers did their pre-show cheer, Sakura watched as her band took their spots. The dancers would come later.
The lights went up and the crowd roared in excitement as Sakura went out onto the stage. "Good evening! I want to start tonight by saying 'Happy Birthday' to Kiyo-hime! And she has made a special request that I start tonight with my new single, so here we go and hope you all enjoy!"
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The four ninja stationed inside were gaping at Sakura and each other in shock. Well, Ino and Hinata were. Shikamaru was smirking and Shino...well he was just standing there. Ino wanted to shout into her ear piece that Sakura was performing, but once the music started she stayed silent in favor of listening.
Those stationed outside were listening in and just waiting for something to happen. Luckily it was a pleasant night so it wasn't too cold or too hot. Kakashi tilted his head when he heard the familiar voice speak. It sounded a bit like Sakura, but the voice was a tad deeper and very slightly raspy so he dismissed the thought.
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On stage, Sakura closed her eyes as she sang, hoping to keep it together during this performance.
And I don't know
This could break my heart or save me
Nothing's real
Until you let go completely
So here I go with all my thoughts I've been saving
So here I go with all my fears weighing on me
Three months and I'm still sober
Picked all my weeds but kept the flowers
But I know it's never really over
And I don't know
I could crash and burn but maybe
At the end of this road I might catch a glimpse of me
So I won't worry about my timing, I want to get it right
No comparing, second guessing, no not this time
Three months and I'm still breathing
Been a long road since those hands I left my tears in but I know
It's never really over, no
Wake up
Three months and I'm still standing here
Three months and I'm getting better yeah
Three months and I still am
Three months and it's still harder now
Three months I've been living here without you now
Three months yeah, three months
Three months and I'm still breathing
Three months and I still remember it
Three months and I wake up
Three months and I'm still sober
Picked all my weeds but kept the flowers
Ino blinked harshly, the pain and raw emotion Sakura poured into that song were all too easy to feel. And the mind walker, for the first time in years, knew they couldn't tell anyone but the Godaime they saw Sakura. Sure it would have been prime gossip, but she also knew Sakura needed her privacy, needed to do this without anyone from Konoha interfering. Hinata caught Ino's gaze and the two knew that the information about Sakura would go no further than the four of them inside and the Hokage.
Naruto's voice crackled over the communication devices. "Dang, that was a good song."
Kakashi agreed with a head nod no one could see. Out of normal curiosity, he tried to peek inside to see the performer, but all he could see from his spot was the daimyo and his wife. With a sigh and resigned to the fact that he would probably be bored tonight, he stuck his hands in his pockets and leaned against the sloped roof next to the skylight.
Neji could see the stage from his position and his eyes opened wide when he saw Sakura step out onto the stage, but he also caught the look shared between Ino and his cousin. When Hinata turned and caught his gaze and shook her head very slightly, he understood this was something they would keep secret.
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Sakura giggled to cover the ache the song left in her chest. The deafening roar of the crowd helped to drown out some of the sorrow. "Thank you!" When the clapping and cheering continued, she shook her head in disbelief. "Wow! Thank you so much!"
The cheering finally faded and Sakura's dancers filed onto the stage as the next song started.
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Ino watched in awe as her best friend performed, looking nothing like the little book worm she had once been. Admittedly, the group inside forgot about the mission as they cheered and clapped with everyone else while watching the young woman on stage.
The trench coat flared as Sakura twirled and Ino realized why she was wearing something that seemed so out of place. The effect was dazzling and dramatic, adding a little more 'oomph' to an already top notch concert.
Finally, Sakura waved to the crowd. "Once again, happy birthday, Kiyo-hime! Goodnight, everyone!"
The group left the stage and the party-goers began to chant for an encore. Even the stuffy officials who seemed determined to not enjoy themselves earlier were on their feet, calling for more. After a moment, the crowd's roaring became louder as the band retook their positions and the dancers emerged. Sakura came out last, wearing a long flowing, black skirt with a few ruffles and a long slit up the side along with a black top that showed her midriff and shoulders, the puffed sleeves falling to her upper arms. This outfit had been made specifically for performances of her first hit.
Sakura smiled at the rowdy guests. "You all want another one?"
When the deafening cheers started in, Sakura nodded. "Alright then. You guys should know this one."
The steady beat of her first single started up and everyone went wild.
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More than ever, the group outside wanted to see what was happening inside. Kiba cursed over the communicator. "Damn it! That sounds like one hell of a party and that singer sounds hot!"
Naruto pouted in his spot. "Can you see her?"
Yamato smiled at the audible pout in the young man's voice. "No one can see the stage from their position except Neji, Naruto."
Naruto's voice turned hopeful. "Switch with me, Neji!"
"No."
"Please?!"
"No."
Kakashi sighed. "Quit bugging Neji, Naruto. You're supposed to be watching for any potential attackers, not drooling over the singer." The Copy Nin wasn't about to admit that he had been doing basically the same thing. As team leader, he could always make the rounds to check on everyone meaning he would pass Neji and the window that had a view of the stage, but the communicators made that task unnecessary and he was sure the rest of the group would recognize the move for what it was.
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Hinata watched Sakura with her Byakugan activated. She had noticed Sakura mumble something before her first song started but hadn't been able to read her lips. When the singer's head dropped away from the mic in much the same fashion as it had for the first mumble, the purple-headed kunoichi puffed her eyes, hoping to catch it the second time. Very clearly, she saw Sakura mouth the word 'Kakashi' and by some miracle alone, Hinata was able to contain her gasp.
Ino noticed the Hyuuga heiress bite her lip and her interest was piqued. She scurried over to the young woman who had a hand clamped over her mouth, eyes wide in shock. Hinata flicked off her communicator and motioned for Ino to do the same before dragging her a little further from the guys. "The man Sakura is in love with!"
Ino's eyes were glittering in excitement. Finally the mystery would be solved! She motioned for Hinata to continue.
"It's Kakashi-sensei."
Ino giggled and clapped slightly. "I knew it!" She elbowed the smaller woman with a friendly jab. "Good choice, huh?"
Hinata blushed but smiled. "He is quite attractive."
Ino jumped when Shikamaru spoke behind her. "So it was Kakashi, after all?"
Hinata looked at him, stricken. "Please tell me your communicator is off."
He motioned to his and Shino's, the red power lights were off and the girls sighed in relief. Ino glared at her teammate and Hinata's. "This goes no further, do you understand? Sakura obviously wanted this to be a secret and as much as I love gossip and secrets, this is important. Are we all clear on this?"
The group agreed and the comms were turned back on, the group outside none the wiser.
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As Sakura sang, Ino frowned with her newly acquired knowledge. Despite the catchy tune, the words were kinda sad.
This perfect romance that I've created in my mind
I'd live a thousand lives
Each one with you right by my side
But yet we find ourselves in a less than perfect circumstance
And so it seems like we'll never have the chance
Ain't it funny how some feelings you just can't deny
And you can't move on even though you try
Ain't it strange when you're feeling things you shouldn't feel
Oh, I wish this could be real
Ain't it funny how a moment could just change your life
And you don't wanna face what's wrong or right
Ain't it strange how fate can play a part
In the story of your heart
Sometimes I think that a true love can never be
I just believe that somehow it wasn't meant for me
Life can be cruel in a way that I can't explain
And I don't think that I could face it all again
It dawned on the blonde exactly why her friend had to leave. If this was how Sakura perceived her chances with her former sensei then it would kill the tender-hearted Sakura to be around him and not be able to show how she felt. Ino had a mission she would see to the end, no matter how long or how hard she had to work at it. She would make sure her friend ended up happy. No one deserved it more than Sakura and her tragedy-stricken idiot sensei.
Her musings ended when the music died down and Sakura started to swivel her hips in a belly-dancing motion. As her hips swirled and her belly rippled sensually while her arms and hands made elegant movements, Ino started to hoot and holler with the others in the room. "You go girl!"
The music kicked up again and Sakura resumed her singing and dancing with a cute male dancer.
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Neji felt his eyes almost pop out of his head. "Damn!" The sound of his own voice startled him. He wasn't prone to vocal outbursts, but Sakura had just blown his former view of her completely out of the water. The brainy medic image was replaced by the extremely sexy dancing he had just seen.
Kakashi was on high alert with the Byakugan user's exclamation. "What is it?"
Neji blushed slightly as he answered. "My apologies. There was some belly-dancing. It just surprised me is all."
Kakashi rolled his eyes, wishing more than ever that he was in Neji's spot. Belly-dancing ranked really high up on his 'sexy list'. Why oh why hadn't he picked the spot where he could see the performance? And judging by the noise from the crowd inside it had been one hell of a show.
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The song ended and Sakura shouted. "WE LOVE YOU! GOODNIGHT!"
Backstage was a whirlwind of activity. The show for the daimyo's daughter had put them slightly behind schedule. Not too much, but now a day off would be a day of travel. No one really minded. It wasn't often that an opportunity such as that would present itself and they all had agreed to take it.
Koji embraced his blossoming starlet with vigor. "That was probably your best performance ever."
Sakura giggled. "There was a lot of energy to feed off of. That crowd was wild!"
Koji nodded before getting everyone's attention. "Get showered and changed. We need to be out of here within three hours so we can get to our next stop by tomorrow afternoon."
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The four from inside the party joined their outside group members and smiled brightly. Naruto continued to pout. "That sounded like a really good concert."
Shino surprised the hell out of everyone by speaking. "It was very good. I wouldn't mind seeing the performer again."
Chouji asked around a mouthful of chips. "Who was it?"
Shikamaru stretched his arms back behind his head. "Didn't catch the name. There was no signage on the stage and she never mentioned it."
Kakashi leaned over to talk to Yamato. "I'm going to go scout the perimeter. Get the rest of the group ready to head out. We'll leave as soon as the guests have all left the party."
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Sakura boarded her carriage, the silent and protective Shingo helping her in before taking a spot on top of the carriage so he could watch for possible attacks.
Kakashi stood rooted to his spot on the roof. He could have sworn he saw a flash of pink, but it was so quick that he wasn't sure. He flared his chakra, hoping to catch any sign of someone else's chakra, but he got nothing. He shook his head at his own silliness and continued on his search. Whoever that singer was, she was well-protected with enormous men like that watching over her. Kakashi had contemplated waiting around to see the singer, but the caravan had started and he realized the singer must have already been on board.
Sakura blew out a breath when they had made it quite a ways from the daimyo's estate. Masking chakra while performing was difficult. She had felt that familiar tingling as soon as they arrived at the palace, that sensation that other shinobi were present. She waved it off, knowing they would be stationed outside. And then before the carriages left, she felt the flare of a very familiar chakra and almost cried, wishing more than anything that she could poke her head out the window and catch a glimpse of the man who still held her heart in his hand. All of the excitement coupled with the extra effort she had just exerted took its toll and before she could ponder much longer, Sakura was asleep.
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The four ninja who had been stationed inside the party gave their mission report separate from the outside group. They didn't want the others to know what they had seen.
Tsunade sighed after hearing from them. "I trust you kept this information from the others."
Ino nodded. "Yes, Hokage-sama. We thought it was best and what Sakura would want, if we kept silent."
Amber eyes settled on the Yamanaka. "I know you have a love of gossip. I hope you will keep this to yourself. In fact, that's an order."
Ino nodded again. "Understood, Hokage-sama." She bit her lip and decided to ask, paperweight of doom be damned! "Um...Hinata saw Sakura murmur a name before she began a couple of songs. We think this is who she's in love with."
Tsunade sighed. "Let's hear it." She couldn't keep it secret if Sakura was the one who had inadvertently given it away.
"Kakashi-sensei."
When all the Godaime did was nod, Ino gave a whoop. "I knew it! That girl is in so much trouble for keeping something like that from me! She's gonna hear it when she gets home!"
Tsunade quieted her down. "That is also not to be spoken of. That is another order."
Hinata bowed slightly. "We understand, Hokage-sama."
"Good. The four of you are dismissed. Just remember. Everything you witnessed is of a very personal and private nature. I hope you follow my orders. Not just because they are orders, but to protect the wishes and the feelings of your friend and comrade."
The four nodded. "Understood."
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The tour continued and finally, after six exhausting months, Sakura and her entourage had returned to Snow. The final show had been massive. The venue had to be changed from a small park to a large arena. Sakura hadn't expected such success, but after her CD had been released and fans had learned she was more than a one-hit wonder, her popularity had gone through the roof. Luckily for the once stage-shy singer, the tour had dulled her nerves on that subject and now she only felt a rush of adrenaline before each performance. The fact that the lights kept her from seeing past the front row helped also.
The group had gathered for a wrap party at one of Snow's exclusive clubs. Koyuki-hime had surprised everyone with it, having reserved the club for the night so they could all relax and celebrate in peace. Sakura had been downing drinks in a corner with her royal friend, the two gabbing about men in general when the conversation turned to Kakashi.
Sakura sighed. "You know, I thought leaving home would help me forget about him for a while. But all it does is make me miss him more." She leaned back in her chair. "I honestly can't wait for a few years to pass so I can go home. I want to tell him how I feel once I return, but I don't know how to go about it." She reached out for her drink, the cool glass and fruity liquid soothing to the overworked singer.
"It's always best to play hard to get." Koyuki smirked at her drinking partner, the kunoichi giggling into her drink.
Sakura put it down and smiled sadly at the princess. If only things were that easy for her. "Playing hard to get is something I just can't do. I've always loved openly and honestly, no restraint, no regrets, no games. I can't love someone and pretend I don't."
The older woman shrugged. "Suit yourself. In my experience, men seem to like the chase."
Sakura smirked. "And you're an expert now?"
"Of course!"
Sakura grabbed one of Koyuki's hands and started to examine it.
"What are you doing?"
"Looking for the wedding ring, oh Mighty Love Genius."
Koyuki laughed as she snatched her hand away. "Shut up! I'll have you know I choose to not be married." She sniffed disdainfully as she stuck her nose in the air causing Sakura to giggle.
"Riiight."
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After the raucous party wound down, Makoto and Shingo walked Sakura home, worried about the young songstress trying to navigate while slightly buzzed and the idea of her wandering around unprotected and not in disguise. They reached the top floor of the apartment building and Sakura stopped dead in her tracks once the elevator opened. Makoto grabbed his cell phone from his pocket while Shingo restrained Sakura from running inside.
The front door to the apartment was opened and she could see papers and furniture tossed aside and broken. With some effort, the two bodyguards managed to keep her quiet while they quickly got back into the elevator and headed back to the ground floor. If the intruder was still inside, they didn't want to put Sakura in danger.
Within minutes, the police arrived along with Koji and the large group headed upstairs and into the apartment. One of the officers allowed them in, but told them not to move from their spots on the couch. Sakura shook in anger and shock. She felt violated and betrayed. She was just thankful she kept all of her priceless possessions with her. Her photos and mementos went everywhere she did.
Koji embraced Sakura in a comforting hug. "It's okay, sweetie. I'm just glad you weren't here when it happened."
Sakura snapped out of her daze and felt bad for not even considering Koji. This was his place, his home, his furniture that had been destroyed. "Oh, Koji. I'm so sorry about your apartment."
He smiled kindly while he shook his head at her. "It's just stuff. Stuff can be replaced. It's upsetting, yes. But nothing I'll lose any sleep over."
Sakura let her eyes skim over the once cold but beautiful coffee table in the living room, shattered from a book thrown through the top. The matching end tables had been knocked over, the tops of those cracking or chipping and the lamps broken. The soft suede couch she had loved was ripped, the stuffing pulled out and strewn across the room.
Before she could process much more of the mess she was looking at, a grim looking officer emerged from the bedroom holding a piece of paper. "We'll need to get her into a safe location."
The four looked up in alarm. Koji tightened his hold protectively on Sakura. "What do you mean?"
The man turned the note so they could read it and Sakura gasped in alarm.
'I will have you.
You will be mine.
You left me nothing to have here.
I'll be watching you.'
The officer gave the plastic bag holding the letter to a man collecting evidence. "It could be a prank or a hoax by some local kids. It could be serious. We don't know and we won't until we catch the person who did this. But rest assured, we will get whoever is targeting you, ma'am."
Sakura didn't answer, merely staring at nothing. She could probably take whoever did this, but the fact that she didn't know who it was and the creepy note left her unbalanced. Coupled with the fact that they had found and broken into her home increased her uneasiness.
Koji turned to the frightened young woman and made her look at him. "Listen to me. We'll keep you safe. You have nothing to fear, do you understand me?"
Sakura nodded, wide-eyed. Koji turned back to the policeman. "I know where we can take her."
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Sakura, Koji, Makoto and Shingo sat at Koyuki's kitchen table along with the princess, a pot of tea in the middle. "I'm so sorry, Sakura. Of course you can stay here. I have plenty of guards on duty day and night. You should be safe here."
Sakura smiled slightly at the feudal lord. "Thank you so much. It really means a lot to me."
Koyuki turned to Koji. "You should stay for a while, too. The monster who did this may be after you. It was your apartment after all. They may not have known Sakura lived there."
The idea had merit and Sakura slapped herself mentally for not even thinking about that. Koji nodded. "I'll stay for a while." He didn't believe it was for him, but he wasn't about to disagree and unnerve Sakura any more than she already was.
Makoto spoke up, his deep voice concerned. "If you have room, Koyuki-hime, we would like to stick around too. You have a lot of guards, yes. But it would make us feel better if we were around to make sure Sakura was safe."
Koyuki smiled and turned her attention to the young woman. "You are certainly lucky to have such good friends."
Sakura's smile brightened. "I know." She shot winning smiles to the three men who were so concerned about her and then yawned right after. "Oh my. I'm sorry."
Koji waved at her. "No worries. We're all exhausted after the party and tour." He tried to stifle his own yawn. "Dang it. Those things are contagious."
Koyuki giggled. "I have four free rooms upstairs. Come on, I'll show you."
Sakura was placed in one, Makoto in the room next to her, Shingo across from her, and Koji next to Shingo. After goodnights were exchanged, the four surprised even themselves by falling asleep almost instantly.
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The Godaime loved getting Sakura's letters. Besides the fact that they were from her dear apprentice, the young woman was living a very active life and Tsunade was riveted by her adventures. The news of the break-in caused a great deal of worry for the Hokage, but once she read Sakura was now living with Koyuki her nerves ceased. She should be safe with all the security afforded to the daimyo of a country, not to mention her own personal bodyguards were staying with her.
Kakashi and Naruto watched Tsunade's brow furrow and then relax with curiosity. Sakura's letter must be interesting this time. If Tsunade said she was 'fine', Kakashi was going to call her on it.
Finally she put the letter down and looked up at the two men. "She's fine."
Kakashi clenched his hand in his pocket. "She's not. Your expressions while you were reading give you away. What happened to her?"
The Hokage shrugged. "She's fine."
Kakashi had it. "Look, if she's in danger or in trouble, I demand to know! I care about her too and I'll be damned if I'll just sit here while someone dear to me is in need of help!"
Tsunade shot up from her chair and pounded her fists on her desk. "How dare you speak to me like that brat? Don't you dare think for even one second that I don't care or that I wouldn't be putting together a team if she was in trouble! Watch your tongue and remember your place!"
She sat down and took a deep, calming breath. "She is fine. There was a break-in to her apartment while she was gone and a rather scary letter was left. She is living with a friend now and will be okay. This person is capable of protecting her. Not to mention many of her friends are also staying with this person to add a little extra safety for her. Also remember she is a kunoichi. This letter was probably left by a civilian and Sakura could take them without a problem. So, yes she is fine. She was a little shaken by the incident but she's feeling much better since she's surrounded by friends."
Naruto's heart clenched. Friends. Did this mean his fears were coming true? Would she forget all about Konoha and her old friends in favor of the new ones? Being a person who wore his heart on his sleeve, his emotions were easily detected by the two elites in the room.
"Hey, kiddo. She'll come back. Don't worry." Tsunade spoke gently. Naruto's fears of being abandoned were easy to understand and nothing to make light of. After being orphaned, ignored, detested and then left by his best friend and rival, it was no wonder the boy needed reassurance that he wasn't being pushed aside again. "She states in every letter that she misses you guys and wants me to tell you so and let you know she can't wait to come home. But mushy stuff isn't my thing and I'd rather not."
Naruto smiled slightly with a snicker at the older woman.
Seeing his face brighten, Tsunade went back to her normal demeanor. "Now get out. I have work to do."
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Sakura's next birthday came and went. Turning 18 had been a huge affair. Everyone she knew from Snow was there, along with her parents and Aiko and the Sand siblings had managed to come visit as well. While the party had been large and rowdy, nothing overly interesting had happened to the kunoichi. The best thing that had happened was the man who broke into her apartment turned himself in. The fact eased the young woman greatly and she was about to start looking for her own place when Koyuki whined. "No, stay here! It's nice having a girl around to have girl talk with. Don't leave me." When she started to melodramatically fake sob, Sakura giggled and gave in.
She didn't really want to live by herself at the moment anyway. The lingering fears from her ordeal hadn't been erased completely yet. Not to mention that now that she lived where her training grounds were, she was getting back into shape after not being able to train for so long with the tour. It felt good to use her body and interact with her environment.
They had plans to start work on her new album within the next month and she couldn't wait to exert her own ideas a little more. Koji was eager to see what her sophomore album did after the phenomenal success of the first one.
After all of the guests who came to visit for Sakura's birthday left, she was starting to feel homesick. It had been two years since she had set foot in Konoha or seen any of her friends there. While she still loved Kakashi, without a doubt, she was starting to realize she needed to meet some guys. Temari had once said to her, she needed to date to learn what she really wanted in a man. It never had to be anything serious, but casual dates wouldn't hurt anybody and would give Sakura the experience she needed to be more sure and confident of herself.
Not at all thrilled with the idea, Sakura headed out onto one of the palace balconies, hoping to clear her head with the fresh air and gorgeous scenery. Despite being early April, there was still a layer of snow on the ground and covering the trees. She shivered slightly and then jumped when a blanket was placed around her shoulders. "Why would you come out here without a coat, young lady?"
She turned and smiled gratefully at her manager. "Thank you, Koji. I just needed to think."
They stood in silence for a few minutes and then Sakura spoke again. "Koji, I told you I fell in love with someone I shouldn't have, right?"
"I remember."
"Do you think dating is a good idea? I mean, I still love this person and I know when I'm older a relationship might be possible. But Temari told me I needed to date to make sure he's what I really wanted."
Koji sighed. "So this man is older, I take it?"
"Mmhmm."
"And that's why you shouldn't be in love with him?"
"Mmhmm."
"I think dating is a very good idea. Don't just date men based on different personalities though. Age also affects people. For instance, a young man and an older man will have different desires. Same for a young woman and an older man. You should date men within your mystery man's age range along with guys your own age."
Sakura nodded silently as she thought over Koji's words. It made perfect sense. Kakashi was currently 32, so she should date guys that age.
Koji looked over at the beautiful young woman. She had changed a lot in the year and a half he had known her. She was more confident, more mature but still full of wonder and innocence. It was a refreshing combination he didn't want to change. He had grown very fond of her, but if she was in love with someone else he didn't want to get involved. However, she may change her mind. But thinking that was getting his hopes up and that was something he didn't want to do. Sakura was fun and sweet and beautiful and he had enjoyed his time with her more than anything else.
Sakura sighed. "It's all good in theory, but I don't exactly meet a lot of people. Makoto and Shingo are sweet, but definitely not my type. Hajime is...well...not into girls. Hiro is the Casanova-type and I don't know how to handle guys like that. Nor would I want to. Dating someone like that is just asking to have your heart broken."
Koji blushed. "What about someone like me?"
Sakura turned slowly to look at him, not believing what she heard. Koji was adorable, but she didn't know if he was boyfriend material. He was a little squishy, but just a tiny bit. His shyness was endearing but she wanted a little more backbone in a guy. She looked at his kind eyes and smiled. They had been talking about a date, nothing serious. Surely a date with him wouldn't hurt.
"Well, let's see. You are adorable, Koji. I'll admit that. But you seem a little too timid. If I was going to date someone, they would need to have the guts to make the first move. I've never even been on a date before so it would have to be someone who wouldn't be afraid to lead the way, you know?"
Koji straightened to his full height and strode the few steps over to Sakura, who was watching him wide-eyed. He was still blushing slightly, but without hesitation he put one arm around Sakura's waist and the other behind her head and pulled her in for a kiss. The contact was sweet and chaste and ignited the fluttering in Sakura's stomach.
Koji had just risen a few notches on Sakura's hot list. So the man did have some courage after all. It was her first kiss and she had never believed having someone's mouth on her own could feel so wonderful. Koji started to pull back and Sakura made a little whining sound and pulled him back down. She wanted her first kiss to be a real one, something with a little more heat and less innocent. She pushed her lips a little harder against Koji's and he got the picture. He smiled slightly before parting his lips, his tongue slipping out to lap at her lips. She opened and then the fluttering turned into sparks. Koji was a damn good kisser. His tongue glided softly around hers and she threaded her fingers into his soft brown hair, pulling him in a little tighter.
They broke apart and Koji pecked her one last time before both of his hands slid to her waist and he squeezed slightly as he whispered in her ear. "How about dinner tonight?"
Sakura shivered and nodded mutely, still dazed from her first kiss. One hand trailed across her stomach as he turned to go inside. "Be ready at 7:00."
Sakura took a moment to gather her thoughts. Should she feel guilty about what she was about to do or had just done? The fact was, she had no claim on Kakashi and he had no claim on her. She had never made her feelings known or made any effort to let him know how she felt. She was hundreds of miles from home, she had no experience when it came to men, she still wasn't ready to say anything to Kakashi, she trusted and cared about Koji and she was following the advice given to her. With a spring in her step and feeling giddy, Sakura glanced at the clock as she entered the palace. When she realized she only had two hours to get ready, she freaked out and became just a blur of pink.
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A/N: Fooled you! Bet you all thought she'd have a thing with Hiro didn't you? Now before you all spear me with the pitch forks, the advice given to Sakura is good advice. She should date to learn what she really wants. Things are totally different in theory than they are in practice. Just bear with me. Everything that happens serves a greater purpose. I'm sure some of you can figure out what I'm doing. All the clues are in this chapter. (wink) Songs in order of appearance are: Walk Away - Kelly Clarkson; Sober - Kelly Clarkson; Ain't It Funny - Jennifer Lopez. Please review if you have time! Smooches!