AN: Hi! Bumper chapter for you my darlings. Please enjoy this one, and let me know what you think.

"You know the best things in life aren't for free" - The Best Things by Filter

"I'm sorry, Sasuke, I think I heard you wrong," Sakura says, hot and irritated from yet another humiliating dance class.

She can't seem to get the steps right, can't fight the martial arts instinct. It's shit, especially when Ino isn't there to serve as a buffer. When it's just Sakura, the other trainees have no problem making their thoughts known. She's too fast, or too slow, or she's dancing like a warrior monk. What kind of idol does that?

And now… there's Sasuke's revelation.

"Did you just say we're performing in two days," Sakura continues, "and that I need to get the part you listened to earlier up to scratch?"

To his credit, she's never seen Sasuke appear chagrined, but she imagines it looks something like this. He nods, unable to damn himself by repeating the request.

Sakura should have known it would be nothing good when he waylaid her after class. Guessed it would be bad when he hesitated to speak. Positively awful when he shuffled from foot to foot: Uchiha Sasuke was not an anxious fidgeter.

"I can't," she declares.

There's silence for a few seconds, Sasuke fixing his mouth into a thin line, and Sakura can tell he's barely keeping his attitude in check. She stares back, unmoving.

His patience evaporates and he shoots her a withering look, taking hold of an elbow (gently, she notices) and leading her into one of the break rooms dotted throughout the building. Sakura follows compliantly, because while he's the messenger and she's definitely going to shoot him, there's no need to cause a scene about it.

Thankfully the room is empty. A wall-mounted TV plays reruns of media appearances by Uchiha Studios' talent, muted but dazzling with flash photography. Sakura stares at it, mind reeling, until Akatsuki appears on screen and she looks away. Sasuke hasn't noticed his brother's face because he's too busy pinning her with a stern expression.

"You have to do it," Sasuke insists. She can tell he's as pissed about the surprise as she is, from the disgust in his voice. "Kakashi is telling Naruto right now."

"I really don't think it's possible. This afternoon… that was an idea. It's not polished. It's barely even actualised."

Sasuke sighs, scrubbing his hand through his hair, which has dried since they parted ways earlier. She's suddenly a touch jealous that it styles so effortlessly. When hers is left wet - or sweaty, she registers with a grimace - it's an uncontrollable mess. Like the current situation, Sasuke's fault or not.

"Your part will bring the song together," he says. He's so confident that Sakura preens despite herself. "I know it."

"I…do you think so?"

He leans forward, heedless of the way it makes his hand grip her elbow harder. Actually, Sakura's convinced he doesn't even realise he's still holding on. His magnetism is as effortless as his hair, and she's deeply annoyed that it's working on her. But not even his dark eyes and earnest expression can work the impossible. She squeezes her eyes shut, blocks out the sight of him.

"No, Sasuke. I can't do it. If we're locked in to perform on Friday, we'll need to run with the original track."

"The current drum arrangement sucks."

"Yes," Sakura acknowledges. "Though I'm surprised to hear you admit it."

She shrugs at his pointed glare and Sasuke's hand moves with the motion. He breaks eye contact to look down at the connection.

When he lets go, she's disappointed, but it gives her space to lean back and flop into one of the comfy chairs in the room, head in her hands. Sasuke copies her, close enough that his knee knocks into hers as he sits. He leaves it. The heat of him is palpable through the ancient leggings she wears to class, through his jeans, and she wonders briefly how he gets anything done while he's burning like a furnace.

They don't talk for a while. Sasuke isn't much inclined to chatter, she's learned, and anyway she cannot imagine him pleading the way Naruto would, or even Kakashi. But his silence is far more effective than he knows, because it's barely five minutes before she lets out an aggrieved snort.

"This is some shitty luck," she grumbles.

"Aa," he agrees. "Things get worse. Or better, I'm not sure."

Sakura waves a hand miserably, indicating for Sasuke to explain. He's never as annoyed about doing what he's told as Sakura expects him to be. It's as if, she realises while he thinks about what to say, Sasuke doesn't have the self-esteem of someone with their name on the door. Ino, her only other reference for rich people, is a walking ego.

Sakura simply cannot imagine her friend explaining herself at someone else's behest.

"It's Kakashi's fault," Sasuke says slowly. "And it's part of whatever is going on with him and Obito right now. He went to my father before my cousin could. Damage control, I think."

Sakura nods. It could have been worse than management rivalry. In-house was a colosseum of sorts, but it was private. Playing in front of an audience for the first time was bound to be nerve wracking. Playing in front of a live, televised audience sounded like a nightmare.

"I figured. But that's not the bad news, is it?"

"No." Sasuke shakes his head, looking down at his hands. "Maybe."

She waits for a moment in silence, the flickering TV playing over his shoulder. It's an old Akatsuki appearance: Itachi's face is younger and more like Sasuke. Though the screen is muted she knows their sound will be grungier, less produced. The clip is from her favourite era, the album that inspired her to actually take her hobby seriously. A classic.

"Is Akatsuki playing?" she asks, struck by a sudden fear. "On Friday?"

Sasuke flinches. She knows he loves his brother. But rivalry is a complex emotion, and any mention of the country's biggest band sets him on edge. Even if his guitar case sports a decal from the band's very first EP.

"They're not," he says firmly. "Akatsuki are too big to play here, though they might if it's my father's birthday. Or if the shareholders come round to hassle everyone."

He laughs humorlessly, looking up into Sakura's anxious face.

"It's not Akatsuki. It's… Ino. She's playing on Friday, too."

Ino. Early-debuting Ino. Over-achieving Ino. Sporadically-texting Ino. Is it good or bad news? Sakura can't decide at the moment. Ino hasn't been talking about what she's been up to, and it's hard to be blindsided twice. Their grand strategy was shaping up to be less divide and conquer and more like Sakura was in Ino's shadow once again. To hear the news from someone else… that hurt.

She'll think about it later, Sakura knows, when she's got nothing else to distract herself with. Sasuke is proving obliging in that respect, leaning forward to examine her reaction and bringing his body so much closer to hers. He's waiting for her to say something, but there's nothing to say, not until she's cried about it.

"Huh," is all Sakura says, though it's followed by a heavy sigh. "Did Kakashi say who else is scheduled? I want to know if there's anyone else that's similar to our sound playing."

"Hn, there isn't," Sasuke mutters, smoothing his jeans with the palms of his hands.

At least there's some silver lining to this mess. Sakura breathes a sigh of relief, but Sasuke's not finished talking, his eyes avoiding hers.

"I didn't ask him," he continues, hesitant. "Actually… I looked up the schedule myself."

"Yeah?" Sakura says, nonplussed. He seems strangely abashed.

"Well, I thought I'd check if Ino was playing before I came to tell you, since this all seems like an extension of our mentors' problems. And, uh, since you guys were split apart in the first place. I know you took it hard."

Sakura gapes at him, taken aback. So he'd taken it upon himself to find out whether her rival was due to appear. That, and the fact that it's the most she's ever heard him say at once.

"I-"

She doesn't know what to say, because that seems awfully close to Sasuke accepting her in the band. As if he cares about her wellbeing, or-

"Though I'm grateful for the split," Sasuke interrupts before she can speak. "I mean, Naruto and I would still be arguing in his apartment if we hadn't found a drummer. If we hadn't found you."

Damn, he's sincere, Sakura thinks, finding it hard not to blush at his intense expression. She'd already made up her mind to ace the performance. But with Sasuke's confidence, she's convinced they might actually have a chance.

"Looks like we have another practice session due this evening," she says with a resigned grin, enjoying the way his face sharpens into a smirk. "If you'll do me the honour of driving me home after. I don't feel like taking the bus."

As a condition, it's not a bad one; they'll be able to jam later, and then Sakura gets to ride in Sasuke's too-fancy car.

"I can do better than that," Sasuke says.

He pulls out his wallet, a tattered leather affair that bulges with old receipts and slivers of paper. When she'd first laid eyes on it Sakura had wondered if it was stuffed full of cash, but it turns out Sasuke has a penchant for scribbling lyrics on any old scrap, keeping them around for when inspiration needed a hand.

"Here," he continues, holding a business card between his index and middle fingers. "My mother keeps a hotel suite downtown, for when she's fed up with the rest of the family. I'll call her and ask if you can use it until Friday."

"Alone," he clarifies, seeing her raised pink eyebrow. "With room service."

"Oh, that is most definitely a deal," Sakura says, snatching the card from his grasp. The printed name is fancy enough that she's never heard of it. Boutique-y, the kind of place the truly wealthy love. "For that, I won't even ask that we eat somewhere other than Ichiraku for the next two days."

Sasuke stifles a laugh as he stands, offering a hand to pull her to her feet. She takes it, blushing when they end up standing just too close. Neither of them back off.

"I'm sure that'll be Naruto's condition," he says with a mock grimace. "For every meal."

"Good luck," Sakura replies seriously, placing a hand on the Uchiha's shoulder. "I'm really going to enjoy that room service."

The next few days are a blur of drumsticks, sweat and screaming matches - Sasuke's not proud of that one, even if he's allowed a little artistic temper - but by Thursday evening the band is where they need to be.

It's a complete fluke. Sasuke knows that if this mess hadn't been Kakashi's fault in the first place, then the three of them would be indebted to him forever. He's extraordinarily skilled at wrangling the best out of a session, working everyone into a good mindset or mellowing things out when tempers start to fray.

Kakashi is also good at knowing when to pack it in: Dai-Nana-Han had been unceremoniously shoved out of the studio at 10pm with firm instructions to head to bed immediately. Of course, Naruto wants to go to the bar. And Sakura wants to go have a three-hour long bubble bath, courtesy of Sasuke's much-amused mother (who'd been strangely indulgent about his request for the room).

"Seriously," Sasuke says with a frown. "Go to bed."

"Make me, make me!" Sakura and Naruto chorus, both of them mincing around ridiculously in the foyer.

He'd laugh, but he can see the exhaustion behind their teasing.

"I mean it," he warns. "If we want DNH to come out first tomorrow, we can't do it if we're tired."

"And that's why," Naruto says, explaining to Sasuke as though he's an idiot, "we have a lie in tomorrow morning."

Perhaps, Sasuke thinks as he's dragged unceremoniously to Ichiraku, Kakashi told them to bunk off now in hope that they'd end up asleep before it got too late.

When they're seated at the usual booth, he fixes his bandmates with his most serious expression. Naruto and Sakura are definitely silly with tiredness, and as the only person with a shred of sense in the vicinity then it's up to him to keep things on track.

"Three beers," he says, holding up the same number of fingers. "And then no bath, and then bed."

"But-" Sakura protests.

"Have a bath in the morning," Sasuke interrupts. "There's no check out time. Have breakfast in it, if you really want."

Sakura sits back, mollified with that suggestion, but Naruto's scrunched up face still suggests mutiny.

"Four beers," he counters Sasuke.

"Two."

"No way, man, we need three rounds at least after the day we've had."

"Two, but I'm paying."

"Deal," says Naruto delightedly, missing the amused expression that crosses Sakura's face as she realises what just happened.

Once they've ordered up and are waiting, it's not long before the trio sinks into tired silence, and Sasuke's half-convinced they'll call it after a single round. He hopes so. Not that he's hard up for cash, of course; it's more that he really wants to get a full night of sleep, but there's no way he's going to let the rest of the band out of his sight until they're practically under the covers. The last thing DNH needed was self-sabotage.

"I have a question," Sakura pipes up after a while. "We've gone over what to expect tomorrow, but… how are we presenting ourselves?"

Sasuke doesn't get it, but their beers arrive before he can ask what she means, and it's a few moments of muted glass clinking and deep draughts of drink before any of them speak again.

"What I mean is, Kakashi drilled the routine into our heads. Look at the list, find out our slot, head backstage one act before us to get ready for our appearance. I just mean… what about our, um, appearance?"

"Oh, you mean what to wear?" Naruto asks. He's always been more perceptive than Sasuke about that kind of thing. For someone who's favourite colour was orange, the blond could be surprisingly stylish with it.

"I dunno," Naruto continues. "We've not had any kind of production briefing, and it's pre-debut and in-house so it shouldn't matter too much, but…"

He trails off, looking at Sasuke to continue.

"But we don't want to look scruffy, right?"

Sasuke blinks at Sakura's interjection, then his mind catches up as she fingers a hole in her sleeve. The studio has been paying them, but before they've made any official appearance it's not a particularly impressive stipend. Sakura likely had other things to spend her money on than talent-appropriate outfits.

"Well," Sasuke hedges, a touch embarrassed that it hadn't occurred to him earlier in the week, "we're a rock band. I think it's fine if we just look like ourselves."

"Yeahhhh," Naruto agrees unenthusiastically, "but it sure would be cooler if we had a trademark look, like Akatsuki's cloaks. Or that ANBU merchandise, with the foxy masks. Something visual, you know?"

Sasuke tuts at Naruto's words, once again having overestimated his friend's powers of tact.

"I'm not suggesting that," Sakura exclaims, aghast. Sasuke catches her eye to let her know he's not annoyed at the mention of his brother's group, more at Naruto's insensitivity. "I'm not sure we'd suit the whole visual kei vibe, if I'm honest."

She pauses, looking down at her lap. With her eyes diverted Sasuke manages to sneak in a cuff at Naruto's ear, glaring at him. In a rare display of restraint he manages not to pout back like a child, instead putting an apologetic hand on Sakura's shoulder.

"Ino's going to look great," Sakura bemoans. "And I'm- well. I'm going to look the same as always."

"Rivalry isn't about what you look like," Sasuke says slowly, but before Sakura can draw breath to argue, Naruto does it for her.

"Oh, come on, you know it can be. Just because you're the spitting image of your brother doesn't mean looks don't matter to other kinds of rivalry."

"Naru-"

"Teme-"

"Let's not fight," Sakura interjects. "Really, it was only a question. I have clothes at home, I'll go back and get them."

Finishing his beer in a single long pull, Sasuke puts the glass down in front of him and stares at the bubbles sliding back down the sides, his brows furrowed in consideration. There are strings he can pull, he knows, people he can speak to to make things a bit easier for them. It's a matter of pride that he doesn't, mostly. But for this… they'd asked a lot of Sakura this week, even with the offer of his mother's hotel suite. One trip to the dressing room wouldn't hurt, though it was bound to be uncomfortable.

"Why don't we," Sasuke drawls, drawing his finger down the empty glass, "pay a visit to your cousin in the morning, Naruto?"

"Oh, am I hell having another drink if I gotta see Karin tomorrow," Naruto complains, but he finishes his beer off with a satisfied sigh, plunking the glass on Ichiraku's battered table.

"Uzumaki Karin is a stylist for Uchiha Studios," Sasuke explains for Sakura's benefit. "I don't want to step on the toes of the team planning our debut, but it's one outfit. It can't do too much damage."

"We'll make sure she doesn't go too over the top," Naruto chimes in, waving the arm not slung over Sakura's shoulder. "I'm warning you now, though, she's a strong personality."

"It must run in the family, huh?" Sakura replies with a laugh. "But thanks, both of you. Really."

Naruto fakes looking wounded, his hand on his heart.

"Whatever do you mean, Sakura-chan? But don't thank me. Thank Sasuke."

"For getting the appointment?"

"For getting through the appointment. Karin… well. You'll see tomorrow. Right?"

It's amazing how sympathetic Naruto manages to look, even though Sasuke knows he's almost certainly laughing on the inside.

"Right," groans Sasuke, trying and failing not to look haunted. "And with that, I'm going to turn in. Come on."

Naruto, Sakura quickly realises, was not exaggerating. After a short bubble bath she'd met the band at reception, all three of them looking annoyingly refreshed. She's not afraid to admit that Sasuke was right about the rest, but there's no time to say it before he hustles them to a floor midway up the building.

There'd been barely any time to take the place in - clothes, lots of clothes - before a red-headed beauty had stepped out from behind a mannequin and shrieked.

"I don't believe my eyes," says the girl, adjusting her glasses, "but do I see Uchiha Sasuke before me?"

"Good af-"

"Sasuke, seriously, you never let me dress you. Come here, I'll get you out of those drab dark colours-"

"Hi, Karin!" Naruto shouts, waving energetically.

Ignoring her cousin completely - Sakura can see the resemblance, though Karin is a study in red rather than orange - the stylist approaches Sasuke once more. Unsure what to do with herself, Sakura can only stand like an extra as the Uchiha ducks behind her, his hands hot on her shoulders. She doesn't imagine the small squeeze he gives them, though she hopes it's not devastatingly obvious from her face.

"Karin, this is Sakura," Sasuke says. His voice is far too close to her ears for comfort.

"Pleasure," Karin dismisses, looking disinterested, but then does a double-take, adjusting her glasses on her nose.

"Oh, you!" she exclaims, pointing with a manicured red nail, "you are gorgeous. Sasuke, you have to give her to me."

Sakura grins with nerves, her smile wavering as she feels Sasuke pull her back just slightly. Protectively, she thinks for an instant, but in the next moment he releases her and she's left to the wolves, so to speak. Karin circles her enthusiastically, pausing for confirmation that she's okay to touch before reaching out and adjusting Sakura's sleeve. One arm exposed to the air-conditioned dressing room, Sakura's bemused before the stylist cries out,

"Oh, you're the mystery drummer! I knew it. I am so going to have fun with you."

Spinning round to her neglected cousin (though Naruto doesn't seem put out by her behaviour) Karin points commandingly, causing him to throw his hands up in defence.

"I'm assuming that's why you've braved the lion's den, to get something to wear for tonight?"

Naruto pouts. "How is it that you always know everything?"

Waving him away with an imperious hand, Karin links her arm with Sakura's, pulling her away from her bandmates with deceptive strength.

"People talk when they're getting changed," she explains. "Now, much as I'd love to get Sasuke wearing something other than black, I have a more exciting model to work on right now."

Shooing the pair off, Karin wastes not a moment in tugging Sakura along. Throwing a helpless look over her shoulder, she witnesses both men give her the same shrug that they do when Kakashi is feeling preachy. She doesn't even get the chance to say bye before they hightail towards the entrance, retreating to safer territory.

Traitors, Sakura thinks with amusement, letting the Uzumaki lead her deeper into the glamorous cave of clothing before them.

Once they've walked past what feels like an endless parade of sequins and chattering idols, they stop before a crisp office door. Catching a glimpse of the name tag that proclaims Karin as a lead stylist, Sakura steps from organised chaos to pristine elegance. The office wouldn't look out of place on the upper floors of the building; what few executive spaces she's seen of the Studio thus far all share the same sense of clean lines and calm. The only nod to Karin's job is a bare tailor's mannequin in the corner, but even that manages to look intimidatingly cool and collected.

"Um," Sakura says awkwardly, unsure what to do with herself once Karin drops her hand and moves to the neat desk.

She hates feeling this way. Feeling like she doesn't fit. Feeling out of her depth. Though she hates to admit it even more.

"I don't bite," Karin reassures her, though she looks as though she definitely could. "Any friend of those two is a friend of mine. No matter what they may have told you."

That last part was accompanied by a wink that did a lot to assuage Sakura's anxiety.

"Naruto did say you have… a personality."

"That's a kind way of putting it," Karin snorts, taking her glasses off and folding her hands under her chin. "Did Sasuke tell you I used to like him? Men get so hung up on that."

Surprised, Sakura blinks a few times. It's not as though it's unbelievable that someone would have a crush on Sasuke. It's just… a shock to hear it, she thinks. Perhaps because his prickliness made him the kind of guy girls tended to admire from afar. To hear Karin had gotten past his taciturn exterior and actually came to like him… it threw her.

"That's a no, huh?" the stylist says. "Well, I did, and sometimes I use it to torment the pair of them. It's less effective now I have a boyfriend, but it was fun while it lasted."

"But enough of boys," Karin finishes, firing Sakura a sharp-toothed grin. "Let's hear what you want."

Relieved, Sakura explains her dilemma, quickly finding that Karin is remarkably well-informed of the goings on at the company. People really did talk while they were getting changed; she even knew that Ino and her weren't exactly hanging out at the moment.

"I heard from your dance instructor," Karin tells her, "just as I heard that Ino's going to be performing tonight as well."

"That's right," says Sakura, "and I figured I want to present myself as best I can pre-debut. Without stepping on any stylist's toes, of course."

Clapping her hands in a decisive motion, Karin stands up abruptly, causing Sakura to follow her to her feet.

"I'll step on as many toes as I want, honey, but don't you worry- nobody will be caring once you sit down behind that drum kit."

Flashing her an apprehensive smile Sakura takes the redhead's proffered hand, shaking it firmly. Though she's unsure what she's gotten herself into, Sakura is surprised to realise she's finding it fun, performance nerves and Ino's looming presence melting away in the face of a good dress-up session. After two days of severe sweating, bad dancing and snare snapping, the idea of trying on a few outfits (and keeping one) felt like a gift.

"Any last requests?" Karin asks ominously, opening the door and gesturing at the pandaemonium outside.

"No pink," says Sakura decisively, "and no sequins, please."

It's not nerves, Sasuke tells himself. He's not worried about the performance, especially not after their intense practice sessions. But sitting in the audience and watching the newest and brightest stars of Uchiha Studios sure makes him feel like an impostor.

"This is great," Naruto enthuses on his right, wholeheartedly enjoying the show. "That bassist is killing it."

To his left, Kakashi's foot is tapping along to the music, a sure sign he approves. And sitting on Kakashi's other side is Sakura, still as a statue, enraptured by the single other band in tonight's lineup. She'd slipped in later than the rest of them (though not in a limelight-hogging kind of way) and he's curious about her experience with Karin, but there's barely been a gap in performances for him to lean over and ask.

Plus, she's so motionless that breaking her concentration might lead to her yelping out loud.

On stage, their rivals finish up their two song set with more of a fizzle than a bang. The energy and momentum of their first track hadn't kept up through the second, and Sasuke can see a cluster of execs in the corner of the hall shaking heads and pulling out phones.

Shit, he thinks. It really is an assessment.

Kakashi lets out a low whistle, sounding disappointed. Naruto sits back too, tutting dramatically as the band shuffle offstage, their faces downcast. It's not a career suicide, but it's not a great look. Personally, Sasuke's a touch relieved the competition is weeding itself out.

"You ready?" He whispers to his bandmates, though there's a few more acts before their number is up.

"Sure," says Kakashi. This level of performance is nothing to him, Sasuke knows, but his calm answer is reassuring nonetheless.

Naruto nods, and Sakura meets his eyes for the briefest of glances, her glossy lips screwed up in an expression that's half nerves and half determination. Sasuke knows because he's sure his face is the same, the pair of them locked in that space between confidence and insecurity.

"Then let's make our way up after the next set. I don't mind standing up a little early."

"You're the boss," replies Kakashi with a wink.

It's possibly the worst idea Sasuke's had all week. As soon as they're backstage the atmosphere changes considerably, the calm organisation of the acts onstage descending into chaos and clusters of talents. They're shuffled one way and the next, preceding acts alternating between strutting and struggling until they step into the ring. Finally, a technician scolds them for disrupting the flow, his tirade punctuated with an apologetic glance at Kakashi, clearly excluding him from their misdeed.

"Just stand over there and don't get in the way," the white-haired man says, pointing to a dark, disused corner of the busy backstage.

"Well, this was a bad move," mutters Naruto, slugging from his bottle of orange energy drink.

"Are you supposed to be drinking that right now?" Sasuke sneers back, annoyed because the singer is right. "Won't it stress out your throat?"

"Not as much as being shoved around will," the blonde retaliates, hissing with typical defensiveness.

There's a moment where Sasuke wonders if Naruto could still sing with a bruised cheek, before their mentor steps between them casually.

"Now, now," soothes Kakashi, placing a heavy hand on their shoulders. "Let's focus."

"Says the experienced guy who let us come here," says Sakura, who had until that point been standing relatively peacefully.

Sasuke nods in her direction, appreciating the help. Usually she stays out of their bickering, and she especially doesn't like to gainsay Kakashi.

"It was dumb, yes, but you gotta make these mistakes once," explains the older man. "Next time you'll wait your turn."

"Pretty shitty time for you to teach us a lesson," argues Naruto.

"Maybe." Kakashi doesn't seem remorseful, but he doesn't argue further. "I'll make it up to everyone by shredding my hardest. That sound OK?"

Somewhat mollified, Sasuke turns his attention to their drummer, currently standing with her hands clutching her elbows as though she could hug away the nerves. Trying his best to be subtle he glances over what she's wearing, a surprisingly understated look that he knows meant Karin restrained herself. It's dark where they're standing, but Sakura's pale skin shines through the rips in her jeans, her pink hair offset by the deep indigo silk of her blouse. The shirt is baggy but tied at her waist in the kind of effortless style that Sasuke knows takes a lot of work; paired with a black velvet choker, Sakura's outfit exudes frontwoman energy.

"You look nice," he says, aiming for nonchalance.

Naruto's sideways smirk tells him he failed, but instead of teasing the blonde simply nods enthusiastically, giving Sakura a double thumbs up. She's about to reply when the harried tech from earlier hurries over, brandishing a slip of paper frantically.

"You're Dai-Nana-Han, number 14, right?" he asks, though he begins moving away immediately without waiting for confirmation. "Act 13 can't perform - stage fright - so we're moving you up the schedule. You're on now."

Hurrying to follow, Sasuke swallows down the bundle of anxiety that threatens to spill forward into his voice.

"Good thing we showed up early then, huh?" he remarks, unable to keep the annoyance from his voice.

"Yes," acknowledges the tech, and Sasuke forgives the guy because he does look abashed.

"I'll owe you one for this," he continues, bowing his head at their retreating backs. Walking ahead, the band grabs their instruments from the waiting stage hands, Naruto passing his empty bottle to the nearest with a delighted smile.

"I'll hold you to that, Suigetsu-san," Sasuke replies over his shoulder, enjoying the tech's shocked expression.

It surprises people when Sasuke knows their name, though in this case it's cheating, as both he and Naruto had looked up the tech when Karin started dating him.

"See ya," Naruto calls over his shoulder to Suigetsu. "Tell Karin thanks again!"

Sasuke's smirking when they walk onstage, though three steps into the blinding lights and waiting crowd the smile is wiped off his face. It's not nerves, he tells himself, bending low over his guitar. His second-best, because he wants to wow for their debut.

The introduction is Naruto's wheelhouse anyway, the singer's infectious energy creating a few small titters of laughter in the invisible crowd, a shapeless mass behind the spotlights. All Sasuke has to do is stand and look serious with his guitar until Sakura starts the countdown. He hopes he's nailing it, hopes he doesn't look frozen.

When Sakura smacks her sticks together in a three-two-one, Sasuke's so relieved he almost starts too early, a move that would be rookie in the extreme. This track has a long drum intro, a chance for their newest member to flex.

And flex she does; Sasuke feels his muscles relaxing with each sharp snap of the hi-hat. Feels his energy shifting towards excitement, towards putting on a good show.

"Alright everyone, we're kicking off with Seal of Heaven," introduces Naruto with a flourish, talking over the end of the slow and steady drumbeat that counts as a lead-in. "We're Dai-Nana-Han, but y'all can put DNH on the fan merch!"

That's when Sasuke loses himself in the performance. He's played with the guys plenty of times, but this is the first outing of all of them together and he knows they're nailing it, feels it in his fingers as the audience begins to buzz with excitement.

Their first song ends with an appreciative round of applause from the audience and he allows himself a fierce grin in Sakura's direction, enjoying how she returns it with fervour, her bangs sticking to her forehead.

Naruto comes up to his side as he's adjusting his stance for This Isn't Real, their more energetic second track, and gives him such a glowing introduction that Sasuke's glad he can't see anyone's reaction. The blonde doesn't say his surname, letting his skill do the talking. As soon as he calls out Sakura's name she bangs the drums in a flurry of sticks, an impressive drum fill that she finishes with a half-bow and a delighted smile.

If she's nervous, she doesn't show it. She's infectious with power as they slide marvellously into their second song, nailing the drumbeat she'd only created a few days beforehand. Sasuke's tested his limits against Naruto's singing, against Kakashi's bass playing, even against his brother on guitar, but it's the first time he's gone truly toe to toe with a drummer and he knows he'll be living for this high from now on.

This, he thinks as they crash to a blazing finish, is why I make music.

He knows they've made it when there's a standing ovation. Forget sinking. Forget swimming: if the rest of their appearances go like this, then Sasuke knows DNH will soar.

"Sakura?"

Ino's voice is hoarse. Her friend looks about as exhausted as Sakura feels, the sleek outfit that is the bane of every starlet's life hanging on by a thread after her exuberant performance.

"Ino," Sakura replies, barely lifting her head from the table.

Though the band were on around midway through the evening and there'd been several acts since, Sakura is as tired as if she'd just walked offstage. She's too drained for this exchange, her arms quivering though they'd played for barely fifteen minutes. But Ino looks apprehensive, so she sits up fully, giving her full attention.

"What is it?" she prompts when Ino doesn't speak. "Why haven't you been in touch?"

Ino still says nothing, though her manicured hand grips the edge of the table as though it's holding her up.

"Ino… Shikamaru says he hasn't been able to get hold of you either. Ignore me if you must, but don't ignore both of us."

"Sakura…" Ino repeats, biting her bottom lip.

"Hey, Ino," Sakura says, standing up and grabbing her friend's arm. "Ino-pig, are you alright? You can talk to me."

Disentangling herself, the blonde takes a small step back, though for an instant it looks like she might cry. Adjusting her sparkling outfit she shakes her head as though to steady herself. Sakura can almost see the mask descending over her friend's face, the boundless confidence that Ino possesses drawing around her again.

"How much authority does Kakashi have at the Studio?" she asks suddenly, throwing Sakura off-kilter. "Do you think Sasuke can leverage his name?"

"What for?" says Sakura, taken aback. "What are you talking about?"

Ino smiles sadly.

"You guys were great tonight," she murmurs. "You're real talented. I told you so."

"But," Ino continues, "unless you're going to fight dirty, I don't think you'll be debuting any time soon."

"Ino-"

"Tell Kakashi," the blonde interrupts, taking a few steps backward, "that Obito has been visiting their old bandmate. I'm sure you've read about her. Nohara Rin, the 'next big thing' who up and disappeared one day."

"I've heard of her," Sakura says slowly, frowning in confusion. "But what does she have to do with-"

"Obito is determined to get in your guy's way at all costs," Ino says under her breath. "I don't know why. But I think it has to do with that woman, and we're all just caught in the crossfire."

With that, Ino's moving backwards before Sakura can reach out and grab her, darting away through the busy mass of performers. She'd clearly taken this opportunity to come speak without the risk of being overheard, though they were both exhausted from the evening's work.

The secrecy, the attitude, the radio silence. It all feels far too much like shady corporate dealings, and Sakura shivers despite herself. There's a whiff of wrongdoing around Uchiha Studios, the sense that something isn't quite above board. Silently, she hopes it's just the paranoia of an ordinary girl in an elite environment.

"Ino!" Sakura calls after Ino's retreating back, but the blonde doesn't turn round, and Sakura's left behind with more questions than answers.

For now, she thinks, sinking back down in the hard plastic chair, there's a victory to savour, though she can't help but think of what she might have gotten herself dragged into.

AN: There we have it! I debated about adding a Karin cameo, but we love girls supporting girls.

I hope to see you again soon.