"Come on, we'll be late. I told them nine thirty," Sakura said, tapping her fingers impatiently.

"I'm done, I'm done!" Ino checked her makeup one last time in Sakura's mirror. "Damn I look good." She had pulled out all the stops, and Sakura didn't blame her. It wasn't every day you met your celebrity crushes (even if you'd long since gotten over them). Ino was wearing a tiny black dress, her hair loose and wavy.

"Yeah, you do." Sakura had gone for something slightly less provocative: a t-shirt.

"Aw, thanks. So do you."

Sakura shook her head, grinned, and checked her phone. "We're going to meet them at the bar. Less conspicuous that way." The two of them were meeting Sasuke and the rest of the band at a bar in downtown Ishi. Naruto had recommended it, and everyone else trusted that they wouldn't be recognized there.

"So this is your life now," Ino said as the two of them quickly ducked into the cab that Shizune had called for them.

"It's not that glamorous," Sakura said. "Mainly it's me going to meetings and the studio and then collapsing into bed whenever I can."

"I mean the secretive part. I can go out and public and no one will recognize me. As much as I like people staring, paparazzi are hellish."

"Yeah. That's for sure."

They arrived at the bar fifteen minutes later, and the entrance was peacefully empty of paparazzi. Ino took the lead, pushing the door open confidently.

The band had claimed a table in a back corner, and Sakura realized she hadn't talked to Naruto or Kiba in at least three weeks. Naruto, however, was nowhere to be seen.

"There you are," Kiba said, standing up. "Sasuke was getting worried." He grinned.

Sasuke rolled his eyes, and Sakura smiled. "Well, we should do formal introductions. Everyone, this is my friend Ino. Ino, this is…Everyone except Naruto."

"He's outside with his girlfriend," Kiba said, rolling his eyes. "Good to meet you, though. You're on Karui's tour, right?"

"Yep," Ino said. "It's great to meet you."

"Good luck working with her," Kiba said. "She's a character."

"Trust me, I know," Ino said. "I'm sure you're more intimately familiar with her, though. At least from what I've heard." She smiled.

Kiba raised his eyebrows but bit his lip, eyeing Ino with an amused look. "Can't trust everything you hear."

"Let's not revisit that whole thing," Shikamaru said. He looked vaguely irritated, and Sakura held back a smile. His eyes hadn't left Ino.

"Probably not a good idea. Anyway, great show today, Sakura," Kiba said. "They streamed it online so we watched from the bus."

"Thanks! I think it went well." It had been thrilling to see the crowd's reaction to her new songs; Sakura was pretty sure she was still on a high from the performance.

"No surprise there," Kiba said.

Sasuke had moved away from the table so he was standing next to Sakura. "You want to get a drink?" he asked her.

"Yeah. Just one, though," Sakura said. Their first (and only) experience in a club was vivid in her mind considering the similarity of the current setting. It was less tame for sure, with no dance floor and pulsing trap music in the background, but the neon lights made it feel like déjà vu.

"Can I buy you something?" Shikamaru asked Ino.

"Oh, sure," Ino said with a smile. "I wouldn't say no to that."

The four of them walked over to the bar, but in a flash Ino had paired up with Shikamaru and the two of them split off from Sakura and Sasuke to grab two empty seats.

"He's got a thing for blondes," Sasuke said.

"And she's got a thing for ponytails," Sakura said with a slight smile.

"She knows what she's getting into, doesn't she?" Sasuke asked, frowning.

"Oh, yeah. Don't worry. If anything, it's Shikamaru who doesn't know what he's getting into." Sakura sighed. "She can be a bit too hot to handle. In both a literal and figurative sense, probably."

"Tch."

"Sakura!" She recognized Naruto's voice and whirled around to find him right behind her, holding hands with a dark-haired girl.

"Quiet, dobe," Sasuke muttered.

"Aw come on, teme, no one's listening. Sorry we missed seeing you guys come in! Is your friend here?"

"Yeah, she's with Shikamaru." Sakura indicated where they were sitting.

"Cool, I'll go introduce myself! Wait—" Naruto looked between her and the girl next to him. "You haven't met Hinata! I can't believe I didn't do that first!"

"Naruto, it's no big deal," Hinata said quietly.

"Yeah, of course it is! Sakura, this is Hinata my girlfriend. Hinata, this is Sakura Haruno."

"It's really nice to meet you, Sakura," Hinata said. She was pretty, with large pale eyes and long black hair.

"You too! Naruto talks a lot about you, it's great to finally see you in person."

"He does?" Hinata raised her eyebrows and glanced at Naruto.

"'Course I do. What else am I gonna do when you're off working!" Naruto grinned and Hinata shook her head with a slight smile.

"So you're a sound tech?" Sakura asked, genuinely curious.

"Yeah. I work on tour circuits usually," Hinata said, sounding self-conscious. "It's a lot of traveling, but I like it."

"She's going to be on our staff for the summer tour." Naruto said, putting his arm around Hinata.

"Hopefully," Hinata said, squeezing his hand. "I still have to work out the details."

Naruto waved a hand. "It'll work out." He glanced over to the corner. "We're gonna go sit down. Wanna buy me a beer, teme?"

"No."

"Aw, well." Naruto grinned and then led the way over to Shikamaru and Ino. Sakura watched her best friend's eyes widen at the sight of Naruto, but then she was laughing and rolling her eyes at something he said. Sakura turned back to the bar, satisfied.

"Hinata seems really nice," Sakura said.

"Hn. Yeah," Sasuke said grudgingly. "They're both too nice."

Sakura shook her head, exasperated. "So, do you want to buy me a drink?"

"Thought you liked paying for yourself."

"I've got nothing to prove this time," Sakura said, shrugging.

"Pretty sure you said something like that last time."

"I'm surprised you even remember that, I think we were both pretty drunk at that point. Anyway, I'll return the favor if you're in the mood for a second one."

"Deal," Sasuke said with a smirk. He ordered them two shots, and they both drank at the same time.

"Whew. That's enough for me," Sakura said. "We should probably avoid a repeat performance."

"On a dance floor at least," Sasuke said.

Sakura supposed it was good they could talk about Iwa, considering they'd had an unspoken agreement to never bring it up. She glanced over to check on Ino and Shikamaru, but their stools were empty. Oh, boy. She scanned the room for blonde hair and saw them sitting at a corner table, Ino nearly up against him. Sakura gave it five minutes before they'd be all over each other.

"It's getting crowded over here." Sakura hopped off the bar stool and Sasuke followed her automatically. They made their way to the back of the room again to a free space of the wall near the table Kiba had claimed.

Sakura slid her fingers through the belt loops on Sasuke's jeans and pulled him closer. He felt a burst of heat near his navel and held her waist. "We're not doing this again," he muttered.

"I know," Sakura said. She tightened her hold on his hips, and he leaned toward her…

And then suddenly Sasuke jumped and broke apart from Sakura, glaring to his left. Kiba was standing there, and had clearly just poked him. "Someone tweeted that they saw us. Gonna make a quick getaway before the paps get here."

"Damn it," Sasuke said. He and Sakura both looked over to Ino and Shikamaru in the corner. "I'll get them."

"C'mon, Sak," Kiba said. "The cameras are gonna come out any sec."

Sakura nodded and followed him out the back entrance, where Naruto and Hinata were waiting with a security guard. It was mercifully empty of anyone; she had expected a horde of screaming fans.

"I just called a cab," Naruto said. "Where's everyone else?"

"Here." Sasuke had appeared, Shikamaru and Ino right behind him. The cab pulled up to the curb as the door closed behind them.

Ultimately they decided to go back to the rooftop lounge at the hotel where the boys were staying before leaving early the next morning. Ino was pressed up against Shikamaru in the cab, and couldn't help being happy with that arrangement. There had been a moment of awkwardness when the seven of them realized they would fill up the entire car. "Dibs on the front," Kiba had said after taking one look at the three obvious pairs.

The rest of them stood around awkwardly for a minute before Sakura took the organizational role. "How about Ino and I get in the way back. Shikamaru, maybe you can take the right side? Then Sasuke, Naruto and Hinata can sit in the middle." She climbed in first without a second thought, glancing back at Ino, who gave her an appreciative grin. Sakura's matchmaking skills were subtle but effective (well, hopefully).

A slightly disgruntled Sasuke climbed in next to Naruto, who was spread out over the middle seat. He glanced backward, and Ino didn't miss the look between him and Sakura.

Ino consciously felt the contact of Shikamaru's arm. She had butterflies, of all things. A guy hasn't given me butterflies since…when? Sai in freshman year? She smiled to herself. They hadn't gotten around to much at the bar, but judging from the way Shikamaru had looked at her at that table, they were both interested in doing a little bit more.

That's all she was asking for, really. Half an hour with Shikamaru Nara might just satisfy the sexual tension she was feeling right now. Not to mention it would be a great story for her grandchildren. This night was shaping up to be better than any past fantasies.

The hotel lounge was a combination restaurant-nightclub, but luckily the hotel had signed a confidentiality agreement with the band's management. There were no cameras lurking in corners, and the seven of them claimed a secluded corner of the dark room.

Ino took a seat on a leather couch and Shikamaru and Kiba sat down to her right and left. Her teenage self practically fainted at the thought of being sandwiched between two members of Firestyle, but her slightly older, more mature self didn't react.

"Well this took an anticlimactic turn," Sakura said, but she was perfectly happy to curl up on a chair next to Sasuke. "This place is quieter than I expected." There were only about twenty other people in the room. They ordered drinks from a waiter who either didn't recognize them or was determined to play it cool.

"Yeah, I was promised something exciting," Ino said. Kiba laughed.

"Aw, sorry, Ino," Naruto said. "And I was just gonna say that Hinata and I were going to bed, that makes it even more boring."

"Seriously?" Kiba raised an eyebrow.

"I have to work early in the morning," Hinata said, blushing. Clearly she wasn't nearly as comfortable as Sakura around the rest of the band, and Ino didn't blame her. It was a lot of star power in one room.

"Kiba tends to forget the way the stage crew lives," Shikamaru said dryly.

Kiba rolled his eyes.

Naruto stood up. "Well, we're gonna go watch a movie and probably fall asleep. It was great meeting you, Ino!" He hugged Ino, who was surprised by the gesture. "Sakura, I'll see you soon!" He grabbed Hinata's hand, and with a laugh she led the way out of the room. Sakura waved.

"They're like an old couple," Kiba said once Naruto and Hinata had left.

"I think it's nice," Sakura said, and Ino saw Sasuke smirk.

"So how's the view from the roof? You must be able to see the whole city," Ino said, glancing at Shikamaru.

"It's decent," Kiba said. "I was up there last night, we're in the penthouse."

"I think I'll check it out," Ino said, standing up. Sakura watched Shikamaru, who sat up more when Ino moved.

"You want to go too?" Sasuke asked her.

"I'm good here," Sakura said lightly. She was tucked into the crook of Sasuke's arm, the two of them sharing a chair.

"I'll go out with you. It's stuffy in here," Shikamaru said. He followed Ino outside, and there was a decisive click as the door shut behind them.

"Are we gonna talk about that, or no?" Kiba said immediately.

"They're just enjoying the view," Sakura said, unable to hide a smile.

Kiba snorted. "God, I really am the odd one out. Should've brought home the girl I was talking to at the bar."

Sasuke snorted at that.

Ino and Shikamaru came back in about twenty minutes later, Ino's hair distinctly more ruffled. "What time is it?" Ino asked.

"Almost one," Sakura said. She yawned. "Do you want to head back?"

"Sounds like a plan. I have to be up early too," Ino said.

"Hey, it us up if we're ever in the area as Karui. Any friend of Sakura's is a friend of ours," Kiba said. Shikamaru nodded in agreement.

"I'll try. I'm pretty busy nowadays." Ino grinned. "Thanks guys, it was nice meeting all of you."

Sasuke followed them to the door. "I'll walk you down," he said to Sakura, who rolled her eyes but nodded before leading the way out of the lounge.

The two of them started walking down the hallway, their backs to Ino. Sakura laced her hand in Sasuke's and it looked so natural. Ino envied their relationship, which seemed so close and, well, understanding. And it had happened without her there at all to see it, which was the strangest thing of all. Sakura said something to him and Ino saw Sasuke smirk. He loved her, that was for sure.

It felt strange to have missed something so big in Sakura's life. Ino was used to knowing every detail, every development in a relationship. Sakura had recapped their first meeting, but after that it was large blank periods, interspersed with quick updates and more than a little doubt on Ino's end (she felt guilty about that now).

Sakura was also more comfortable around Sasuke than Ino (strangely) could've ever expected. Something about him was intimidating, but clearly Sakura didn't feel that at all. Ino knew she masked uncomfortable feelings well, but being around him and Sakura felt weird, like she was intruding. She put it down to being away from her best friend for so long.

They also made an incredibly attractive couple, which Ino had known all too well, but seeing them in person was something else.

"No wonder the media's going crazy over you two," she said to Sakura later that night when they were in her hotel room together. It was past two in the morning, and they had changed into t-shirts and collapsed onto the plush couch.

Sakura scoffed. "I'm serious," Ino said.

"Yeah…" Sakura traced a line on the plush couch.

"I feel like your life is out of my depth now," Ino said. The high of the night was starting to wear off.

"Don't be ridiculous."

"I'm not. I don't know, like, what we should be talking about."

"Ino, you're the one person I've been banking on to finally treat me like I'm normal," Sakura said. "I want to talk about the normal things. Frustrations, fun stuff, boys, I don't know. Tell me about the tour, you know I want to hear everything. How many dancers does Karui have?"

"Six. Four guys, two girls. We were all out there yesterday."

"Do you guys hang out a lot?"

"We kind of have to," Ino said. "But everyone's cool, for the most part." She rolled her eyes. "By the end of the summer we'll all know way too much about each other, that's for sure. Karui likes bonding activities, she thinks we're her squad. She's more dramatic than I am, Forehead. I never thought I'd say that about anyone." Sakura laughed and Ino shook her head. "You should hear her sometimes."

"Is she still dating—"

"Omoi, the rapper? Who knows." Ino flicked her hand dramatically. "They break up every other week because she's always paranoid he's cheating on her. That doesn't leave this room, mind you, it was told to me in confidence." Ino stared at her and Sakura snorted. "He always comes back, I don't know how she doesn't get it. Or how he puts up with her yelling."

"Love's weird," Sakura said.

"I guess you'd know. You're experienced now. The whole celebrity dating world's a strange place."

"Wow."

"Okay, that came out way bitchier than intended."

"You think?"

"Sorry, Forehead. Seriously. I know you and Sasuke are real. It's—I mean, I see it."

Sakura waved a hand. "It's fine."

After a second, Ino turned to her. "You know what's funny? Like, yeah, Shikamaru's totally my type, but he was never the one I was interested in. It was always Sasuke and Kiba, I thought they were so fucking hot."

Sakura laughed. "Well…"

"And I mean, they are, it's just…Weird that suddenly Shikamaru's the only one I'm really attracted to. Not that this is gonna go farther than just tonight, obviously. But why didn't I notice him in high school?"

"You were too busy watching Kiba rip his shirt off," Sakura said, and Ino snorted.

"You're sure he doesn't have, like, a secret family, right? Or a high school sweetheart who he's been married to for five years?"

Sakura rolled her eyes. "I'm pretty sure Shikamaru's the most responsible—well, most level-headed one in the band. So I doubt it."

"You mean Sasuke isn't the most level-headed one?"

"Not always."

"Oh really?" Ino was grinning.

Sakura poked her. "Shut up."

"I don't think I said anything bad."

"I know exactly what you were thinking, though. Completely unnecessary."

Ino sighed and leaned back on the couch. "This is what I miss. Like, so much has happened in your life, and I wasn't there for it. We only say the necessary stuff when we talk on the phone."

"I know," Sakura said. "God, I wish you were there for it. And I wish I was there for you. Your career completely took off while I was off in Kumo."

Ino shrugged. "It's not like there's anything to do about it now."

"We both could've used each other," Sakura said. "Being away from everyone was the one thing I didn't really think about when I started all of this."

Ino extended her leg to stretch. "Along with the possibility that you were gonna fall in love."

Sakura shrugged. "Yeah, well…"

"I'm almost disgusted by you two. Almost."

Sakura just rolled her eyes. "I don't deserve that. We're not that touchy."

"You guys literally eye-fuck each other all the time."

"Ino."

"Just giving you the truth, here." Ino paused. "But in all seriousness, I like it. I'm giving you two my blessing, which I reserve the right to retract if Sasuke does something particularly douchey."

"Thanks," Sakura said. "Aside from that second part, I'm glad you're satisfied. I was worried you'd still doubt him as a person."

"That's kinda impossible when I see you two together," Ino admitted.

Sakura blushed but nodded. "To be honest, I don't know what the past few months would've been like if I didn't have Sasuke. It's just—It's been hard."

"No shit," Ino said. "But you found someone else to help you through it." She must've sounded bitter, because Sakura's eyes widened.

"He'll never be your replacement, Ino. No one could fill that void. You know that, right?"

"Of course I know that. I'm irreplaceable." At Sakura's exasperated look, Ino sighed. "Thanks for saying that. But I know you. Probably better than you know yourself. It's just been…Weird? Different? But that's life."

Sakura nodded. "Well, we've got time right now. And from now on, I'm making time to go home, and to see you, even if you're on tour in some random obscure place."

"You can wear your ridiculous brown wig."

"You did see me!"

"I was told exactly where to look," Ino said. "I totally knew it was you, though."

"I'd hope so. You know me better than I know myself, don't you?" Sakura was grinning.

"Ha."

Neither of them said anything for a minute. "Any interesting things you've saved to tell me now?" Ino asked Sakura. "Because otherwise I'll move onto the last question on the list."

"I can't think of anything, honestly. Ask me about whatever, though."

"Good. So, how much sex are you having?"

"Um…"

"You're blushing so hard, Forehead, oh my God."

"You'd be blushing if I asked you that, it's a ridiculous question."

"Are you kidding me? I'd be totally straight-faced. 'I bang Sasuke Uchiha every night.' No shame."

Sakura snorted, and then collapsed into a fit of laughter.

"Multiple times a night," Ino said, and then couldn't keep a poker face any longer, rolling forward onto the carpet with a giggle.

"I'm not that horny," Sakura said after a minute, gulping for air through her laughter. "Really, Ino? Sleep is underrated, honestly."

"Not in Sasuke's bed it's not."

Sakura slapped her on the arm. "I swear to God—"

"Okay, okay, I'll stop," Ino said, hiccuping. "I'm crying, Jesus."

"I think we both need to sleep," Sakura said, still laughing, and Ino nodded in agreement.

They shared the bed, and for a few hours it really did feel like old times.

A/N: Two updates in a month=not bad.

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