Touring was becoming more of a grind than Sakura expected. Every show was different in its own way, and she loved that, but the process was exhausting. She fed on the crowd's energy, and she wasn't sure how she'd be able keep up the constant march from show to show without it.

It's the ultimate first world problem, she thought to herself, knowing how ridiculous it sounded to say that performing for adoring fans, getting a giant stage to herself, and having people at her beck and call every hour of the day made her want to sleep for a solid twelve hours straight every night. But that was the simple truth of it: performances used every ounce of the energy she had. They were amazing experiences, but they drained her.

Her days off were blessed experiences, because everyone left her to herself. It wasn't like the recording days, when they'd wanted her at a press event or photo shoot or in the studio whenever she had a moment to herself. Touring was her only job right now, and other than promotional obligations, in between shows she could generally do whatever she wanted.

They were checking off cities faster than Sakura had ever expected; twelve shows had already come and gone. Sakura felt herself getting better and better at connecting with thousands instead of hundreds. The key was treating them the same, or at least similarly. Her tour team might have limited the amount of talking she was allowed to do during the show, but she fit her own voice in here and there, and it seemed to be effective.

Sasuke was also well into his tour; Sakura had watched clips from a few of their shows. She missed him, and was glad her own shows overwhelmed any absence that dwelled in her mind. Your mind cleared when it was occupied with choreography and a huge crowd. After the comedown, in her bunk or sitting at the back of her bus, was when the lack of Sasuke's presence really affected her. Ino and other friends as well, but Sasuke had become her rock in the past few months. She'd learned to live without Ino's constant physical presence, but she'd come to depend on Sasuke's. At least she was making new connections, and Sakura told herself that would help. She was finally meeting more fans, not to mention the people on her tour staff and in her opening acts. They were all great, and she couldn't get over the energy that people had, citing her as inspiring.

The sexual frustration was real, too, which wasn't something that she'd expected to hit her so hard. She and Sasuke had developed regular habits, and the sudden loss of all of them was taxing mentally and, well, physically.

"You think the tour's going well so far, Kakashi?" Naruto asked eagerly.

Kakashi had intercepted the bus a few hours previously to see a few shows in person. He'd been with them most of the way for the first tour, but with every new album his presence continued to back off. It wasn't like they were his only clients, anyway.

The five of them were together on the bus, hurtling down the highway to make it to their next show on time.

"Yes, I'm happy. Two more shows and then next weekend will be a welcome break, I'm sure." He glanced down at his phone and then put it away.

"What's next weekend?" Naruto asked.

"A pit stop in Kiri for the gala. And ensuing debauchery."

"What gala is this, again?" Shikamaru took a sip of tea. It was his constant companion lately to prevent losing his voice from constant use. Considering the amount of shouting Naruto was doing, the two of them should've been sharing it, but Naruto seemed to think he was fine.

"The annual United Records gala. Several companies come together to host it, it's an excuse to put all their artists together and make some big headlines. And celebrate your work," Kakashi said dryly. "It's a tropical theme, which is why they're holding it on one of the Kiri islands. Apparently the guest list is particularly high profile this year." Kakashi smirked.

Kiba was looking it up on his phone. "There's a whole part of the resort reserved for VIPs." He grinned.

"I hope there's no fence or anything," Naruto said, frowning.

Sasuke pulled out his phone immediately to see if Sakura was going. A text from her was already waiting for him, as if it was fate. Are you going to be in Kiri next weekend?

Yeah. You?

She responded immediately in the affirmative, and Sasuke could already feel his spirits lifting at the prospect. Five weeks had felt like months.

When they arrived in Kiri the following Friday afternoon, it was evident that whoever had planned the event had really pulled out all the stops. Their limo pulled up to gates leading into whatever resort had been rented out. Paparazzi were lined up outside, desperate for shots of people going in. Sasuke had no idea who else was going to be here. Reading an email that had been sent to them, Kakashi described (with a sardonic smile) that there was an informal afternoon reception happening now, with the actual party to follow later that night. They were required to spend time at both events.

"I'll leave you all alone tonight and go off with the other adults," Kakashi said as the limo pulled to a stop. "I hope I don't see any pictures or articles about any of you in the news tomorrow morning."

"What are you expecting?" Shikamaru asked, raising an eyebrow.

"I think all of you know fully well what happens when entitled celebrities are brought together into a small area with a lot of alcohol. Especially a resort like this."

"You calling us entitled, Kakashi?" Kiba asked.

Kakashi just shook his head with a slight smile. "I'm saying I expect you all to be responsible. I'm obligated to give this same speech to all my clients, you know." He opened his door first. "I'll see you tomorrow afternoon. Enjoy yourselves." He left the limo and was immediately picked up by another car.

"I still don't get how he's so smooth," Kiba said, shaking his head.

At a signal from someone standing outside, the four of them got out of the limo and were directed to their rooms. They had been assigned their own cabanas alongside the resort's beachfront. "Classy motel style," Shikamaru said, amused. The band had been given two, but Sasuke wasn't expecting to stay in either one. Assuming Sakura arrived, anyway. It was past four already, and there was no sign of her. She'd promised to text as she got there, and her management would probably do anything to make sure she wasn't late.

"C'mon, teme, they've got an awesome swimming pool!" Naruto, ever the eight-year-old at heart, was practically jumping up and down. "You've got a bathing suit, don't you?"

"Aa." Sasuke rolled his eyes.

"Let's go, then!"

They changed, and a wary Sasuke followed Naruto down into the throng of people on the sand. There were servers with cocktails moving through the crowd. He recognized a few faces, and their appearance was getting a strong reaction from many more bystanders. People parted for him and Naruto. Sasuke didn't make eye contact with anyone, not wanting to get roped into a conversation. Eventually Naruto spotted Kiba in one of the hot tubs. Naruto joined him immediately, and then beckoned to Sasuke, who slid into the hot tub reluctantly. Naruto had already struck up a conversation with the other people in the water, who Sasuke vaguely recognized as a few members from another rock group. He responded to a few questions, not really paying attention to the conversation. He continued to scan the people walking past them. No pink hair.

"What'd you think about it?"

Sasuke realized Naruto was staring at him expectantly. "What?"

Naruto snorted. "He's off in his own world. The new arena in Taki! What'd you think of it?"

"Acoustics were good," Sasuke said after a moment, thinking about it. "Could've used more..." He realized that the eyes of everyone in the hot tub, including Naruto, had moved to a spot directly in front of Sasuke, at the edge of the hot tub.

"Hope I didn't miss anything," Sakura said.

Sasuke looked up at her. She wore a cream-colored cover up dress, and sunglasses were perched on her forehead. Her hair was loose and wavy.

"Sakura!" Naruto said. "I was hoping you'd be here!"

"Hi, Naruto," she said with a grin, breaking the illusion of aloofness. She walked around so she'd be next to the two of them. In one movement she pulled off her dress to reveal a black bikini, and slid into the hot tub next to Sasuke. She gave him a smile that was decidedly not innocent.

He wanted to get out of this hot tub and find somewhere private. Preferably with a bed.

But they were required to be here, so he settled with wrapping an arm around her shoulders. However, Sakura apparently had other plans, and vaguely Sasuke wondered if she'd been drinking when she leaned in and pressed her lips to his, her hands on his bare chest under the water. He responded enthusiastically, feeling the heat of the water flow up into his face.

Sakura pulled away for a moment and grinned at him. "I've been waiting to do that."

Sasuke smirked. "Hn." God, he couldn't resist her. He glanced away from Sakura and realized that they were the only ones in the hot tub. Naruto had shooed everyone else away, drawing attention to them from everyone standing around with drinks in their hand. They all looked away when they knew they'd been spotted. "Jesus," Sasuke muttered. A few people were laughing. The two of them had never done something like this in public except the kiss at the awards show, and that had been planned. They shouldn't have done it here. He cursed the fact that they'd been apart so long. He shouldn't let hormones get the better of him.

Sasuke stood up. "Let's go."

Sakura nodded, stepping out of the hot tub and smiling at the group of people turned their way. She pulled on her dress and smoothed the front down.

"Have you been drinking?" Sasuke asked her, suddenly suspicious.

"I did a shot," she said. At his raised eyebrows, she rolled her eyes. "That's it, just one. I'm fine. They told me to loosen up a little, and I figured it's a good night to relax, you know?"

"Who told you to loosen up a little?"

"Orochimaru. You know. Just tonight."

Sasuke frowned. What the hell was Orochimaru's strategy? He'd succeeded in making her a pop princess (in tiny skirts instead of ball gowns), but now they were encouraging her to be wild or something. Or just wild enough not to be a good girl, he thought.

"Anyway, where's your fancy cabana?"

Sasuke gestured down the beach. "Sharing with Naruto. You?"

"Just me. They're actually letting me alone all night. Want to go?"

"Aa. I'll just get my stuff. Wait here?"

She nodded, and Sasuke went to grab his clothes, anticipating that he wouldn't be be going back to his room any other time tonight. Sakura was waiting for him where he'd left her, deep in conversation with someone. Sasuke envied her easy confidence talking to peoplè. She said goodbye to whoever she was talking to as soon as he appeared and grabbed Sasuke's hand. They slipped off the brightly lit path. Sakura led him down the dark sand, and they froze in the darkness to avoid a group of people coming down from another room. Sasuke felt like a spotlight was going to expose them at any moment. There were too many cameras around.

But they reached Sakura's room with no interruptions, and she locked the door once they were inside, sighing happily.

"So how've you been?" she asked him, grinning.

Sasuke rolled his eyes. "How do you think."

"I don't know, maybe you turn into a different person on tour." She grinned.

"Tch. Right." Sakura was pulling off her dress again. "What are you doing," Sasuke said, eyes narrowed slightly.

"We've got two hours until we have to be at the party," Sakura said, a mischievous smile spreading over her lips.

"Tch." Sasuke started to smirk, and then he pulled off his own shirt.

Suddenly Sakura was in his arms, pressing her body against his. Sasuke felt fire shoot through his body.

"I missed you," Sakura breathed in his ear. It was like they couldn't get close enough.

"Hn. Missed you too." He said, bending his head toward her. She met his lips with hers, putting pressure into the kiss immediately. He slid his arm tighter around her bare waist and she shivered happily.

"You cold?" he asked.

"Course not," she whispered. They were right up against the bed, but Sakura used his shoulders and the bed frame to pull herself up and wrap her legs around his thighs. Her hair tickled his bare shoulder blades, and she cupped his face in her hands to kiss him harder. Her hands slipped back into his hair, digging in at the roots. Sasuke let go of her legs and they fell onto the bed together. Sakura pushed her hair out of her face, grinning, and then sat up and straddled Sasuke's legs. His back pressed into the bed and she moved up toward his waist, leaning over his chest and kissing him, her legs locked around his hips. He could feel the muscles in her thighs.

He reached farther up her thigh until his hand was under her bathing suit. Sakura inhaled sharply. "Fuck," she said, her legs tightening and then loosening around Sasuke's waist. He pushed her back and then rolled them so she was below him. She smirked and slid her hands under the waistband of his bathing suit. He moved fast and kissed her roughly, moving down to her neck. Sakura arched her back when he got down to her collarbone. They'd never crawled all over each other quite like this before, but Sasuke couldn't say he didn't like it.

"This is long overdue," Sakura said her voice barely more than a whisper, and she pushed on his chest so he'd fall back below her again.

"We should probably get ready to go now." Sakura looked up at him. Her hair was a mass of tangles and her makeup had been smeared off. They'd been lying in bed for the past half hour; Sasuke was a few minutes from drifting off completely, his arm around her.

"Aa." Sasuke didn't make an effort to move.

"Too tired to go out now?"

Sasuke rolled his eyes. "You wish."

"I do, actually." She scooted away from him and got up, grabbing the bag hanging on the back of the room door before disappearing into the bathroom.

"Me too," Sasuke muttered, and then went to rummage for his nicer clothes.

Sakura came out twenty minutes later wearing a fresh coat of makeup and a flowing blue dress. Only the hint of a flush in her cheeks and the look in her eyes gave away what they'd been doing.

"Ready to go?" she asked, eyeing his button-down and tie and grinning.

"Tch. Yeah," Sasuke said. Sakura hooked her arm around his and they walked back to the party, sticking to the path this time.

A/N: That wattpad user took the story down, so hopefully there won't be a plagiarism problem in the future. Thanks for the support. Also, happy 2017; hoping it'll be a better year (though I have doubts).