Legendary Lovers

Part Five:

Ino shrugged and gave a laugh. "I mean, yes. I have. What we do, Sakura, it's dangerous and we all just went through hell, but we're still here. I don't wanna die and have never experienced things, you know? Like truly falling in love and being loved in return… and sex, I just want to live."

"Is that what this party is about?"

"Not about us getting laid or anything. If it happens to be an opportunity then sure, but not really, after all there's only so many options coming to the party."

Sakura almost missed the bitter tint in Ino's voice. "What's really going on?"

Ino heaved a sigh. "Shikamaru's gonna be there tonight."

"And? That's not a problem is it?"

"He's been spending so much time with Temari lately, even before the war. He was Konoha's liaison with Sand, after all."

While the alcohol in her system wasn't as potent as it had been before they left the house, it was still working on her, so it took her a moment to add two and two together. When the dripping jealously in Ino's voice finally registered though, the tiny gasp that escaped Sakura's lips lifted her shoulders with the force of it. Ino liked Shikamaru? When the hell had that happened? "Ino! Shikamaru?"

Ino made a tsking noise. "I know. It's ridiculous isn't it?"

Sakura couldn't help the shaking of her head. It wasn't in response to her question, because the truth is that it was kind of ridiculous, but not in the sense that it could never happen. It was in the sense that Sakura hadn't had a clue.

Once she composed herself she reached over to pat Ino on the back. "It's not ridiculous. You've spent years with him, being friends with him, fighting with him. I could definitely see you guys as a couple."

"You're being nice. You forget he's with Temari."

Sakura shook her head. "You don't know that, you're simply making assumptions." Sakura could call her out on it, because she'd been there when she'd found out about Karin and how she was a part of Hebi.

Stepping forward to push the gate open to the Uchiha compound, Sakura turned towards Ino before entering. "Tonight could change everything, so long as we initiate it."