Sakura took a long, deep breath.

"You look absolutely amazing, sweetheart." Akane gazed at her in the mirror with a smile.

"Whoa, yeah, you look totally different." Karin looked impressed at the change. "I can hardly tell you're the same person."

"Oh c'mon, it's not that drastic, is it?" Sakura chuckled, careful not to touch her hair. Thankfully, she'd bought a wig that already came styled in a high bun. All she had to do was fasten it to her head, tie a silver ribbon around it, and she was good.

Ino came into the bathroom and did a double take. "Whoa-ho-ho, damn! If I were a guy, I would ask you out right here!"

Sakura blushed and lightly hit her in the shoulder. "Ino!"

"What? Tis the truth, Forehead." She laughed, hugging her best friend. "C'mon, milady, your carriage awaits."

"You're going too, y'know." She smirked at the blonde and allowed her to lead her to Tenten's car.

Once she got in, she looked at Hinata and gasped. "Hinata! You look..."

"Amazing, doesn't she?" Tenten threw her a proud grin. "My handiwork."

"Mostly," the noirette chimed in with an embarrassed laugh. "I picked out the dress and shoes, and she did my makeup."

"Well, you are definitely gonna knock Naruto off of his feet." Sakura gave her a quick side-hug, buckled up, and they drove off.

--

Like the last time, the Uchiha house was swarming with guests. Also like last time, the girls stepped out of the vehicle to be met with staring and the awed whispers of the other partygoers.

Sakura held her head up high, beaming at the admirers gathering along the edge of the lawn.

Ino quickly found Sai among them and, with a muttering that she'd see them inside, ran off to go with him.

Tenten spotted Neji walking towards her, and after whispering to Sakura about her phone, took his arm and strolled off with him.

That left Hinata, who scanned the lawn before seeing Naruto by the front doors. "There they are, Akane-chan."

"Indeed." She nodded and, with a gentle smile, took her hand.

--

Naruto was talking to Sasuke about something or other when a shining form caught his eye. "Hey, it's Hinata-chan! And..."

"Akane." Sasuke's breath was momentarily caught in his throat at the sight of her. She was absolutely stunning.

She noted his gaze and flashed a grin, one that made his heart do a aileron roll.

"Good evening, Sasuke-san." Her murmuring voice and her curtsy distracted him, but he snapped out of it and gave her a million-dollar smile.

"Good evening to you, Akane-san." He extended his arm. "Shall we?"

"We shall," she giggled and took his arm.

When both of them went inside, Hinata blushed, clasping her hands together.

"D'you think he'll notice?" Naruto asked.

"Sooner or later, yes," she agreed. "I hope he doesn't get too angry over this..."

"Nah, he won't." Naruto laughed. "If I know Sasuke-teme, and I'm pretty sure I do, it'll take him three seconds before he goes crawling back to Sakura-chan."

"Then I'm glad." She leaned against his arm in content.

--

With Ino

--

Ino giggled happily as she twirled in Sai's arms. "I had no idea you were such a great dancer!"

"I've been practicing, Beautiful," he replied, holding her hand gently.

"Why do you call me beautiful?" She asked, a hot flush drifting across her cheeks. "N-Not that I hate it! I'm rather curious."

"My... guardian, of sorts, told me that you give nicknames to people you consider your friends." He explained, holding her closer with his hand placed in the small of her back. "Nicknames that reflect certain attributes of that person, or it could be in a joking manner."

"I see..." She smiled. "Well, thank you for the wonderful compliment. It's been a while since a boy said I was beautiful and meant it."

He gave her that fake smile, yet she could somehow see a hint of genuine happiness in his eyes.

--

With Sakura

--

"Isn't this familiar, Sasuke-san?" Akane commented jovially, gingerly adjusting her skirts around her as she sat down on the bench overlooking the river.

"Very much so," he replied, gazing at her face as she looked up at the stars. "It's a beautiful night."

"Yes."

The two of them sat there in peaceful silence for a few minutes. Akane sighed in bliss, following the constellations with her eyes.

Sasuke stared at her with a softness in his eyes. She reminded him so much of how Sakura had been before her mother died... and yet, different, somehow.

-_-_-_-_-_-

Flashback

-_-_-_-_-_-

"Ne, Sasuke-kun, the stars are beautiful tonight, aren't they?" An eleven-year-old Sakura asked him, her viridian eyes sparkling in the light of the moon.

"Yeah, they are," he replied with a happy smile as she held his hand. "Itachi used to tell me all about them."

"Whoa, really?" She asked with a gasp. "What did he teach you?"

"How to spot different constellations." He pointed a cluster of stars out in the sky. "See those right there? Most people call them Ursa Major... the great bear in the sky."

"That's amazing," she breathed. "What's that one over there?"

He saw what she pointed at and chuckled. "Itachi said that one was called the Big Dipper. That star at the end of it is called the North Star."

"Ah, and people used to find their way by following it?" She asked.

He nodded, and she giggled, a pink tint dusting her cheeks.

"Man, Sasuke-kun, you're so cool!"

-_-_-_-_-_-

Flashback End

-_-_-_-_-_-

"Sasuke-san? Hello, Sasuke-san?" Akane was gently waving her hand in front of his face.

He blinked. "Sorry; I just got caught up in the past."

"It's quite alright," she replied. "I have those moments too."

More than you know, she wanted to say. She fought hard not to frown, and instead leaned against him.

He wrapped his arm around her shoulder and sighed quietly, closing his eyes.

All was right in their world in this moment. Sakura hated for it to ever end, but all she could do was enjoy it while it lasted.

Hopefully he can forgive me after all of this is over, she thought bitterly, stealing a glance at his face. Forgiveness for three years of nothing but fighting.

His eyes opened slowly once he felt her stare, and he gave her a serene smile.

She tried her best to give one back, and sat up once more.

"Is everything alright?" He asked in concern.

"Oh, I'm fine... I'm just worried." She rubbed her arms as a chill suddenly swept through the air.

"What happened?"

"Well, I lost my phone earlier in the week," she admitted, looking him in the eye. "Thankfully, my mother has allowed me to use her old one as a backup, but it's worried me sick."

Sasuke's eyes narrowed a fraction. "You've lost it?" Don't tell me...

She nodded. "Uh-huh."

"Pink phone case without a charm?"

"How'd you- oh, you saw me take it out last time we met." She laughed. "Yes, that's the one."

"I think I know what happened to it." He replied.

This is almost too easy, she realized in dismay. Dammit, Sasuke, I'd expect this from Naruto! Not you!

Whatever, she was resigned to the fact that she was getting away with the trick.

"I have to say," she commented, turning to face him, "I believe I've started feeling attracted to you."

"Really?" He asked, almost incredulous.

"Yes." She blushed, looking away in embarrassment. "Is that too forward?"

"No, not at all." He took her hand in his, gazing deep into her eyes.

"In fact," he continued, slowly growing closer to her, "I've begun to feel something for you too."

She looked him in his coal eyes before dropping to his lips. This couldn't be happening.

He inched closer so that his lips were centimeters away from hers.

Yeah, this is happening.

For the second time in a month, she felt the Uchiha's lips gently press against hers.

There was no animosity, no rivalry between them; as she'd admitted her feelings, he had confirmed his.

And all that was left was a tingling euphoria that made her feel lightheaded.

She kissed back, tangling her fingers in his ebony hair while his hands moved to her waist.

The kiss only lasted a minute, but when they pulled away she saw some emotion in his eyes that she hadn't seen him give her for nearly three whole years.

"I, um, I guess you've heard the rumors by now," he chuckled nervously, rubbing the back of his neck.

"Rumors? Such as?" She questioned, feigning confusion.

He pulled a velvet box from his pocket and immediately, all alarms went off in her head.

In every single corny chick flick ever, this is where he proposes or something, she moaned. Oh, woe is me.

He got down on one knee - further increasing her anxiety levels - before flipping it open to reveal a beautiful pendant.

"Oh!" She gasped, taking in the sight of it.

The chain was made of a gorgeous silver, and sparkling in the moonlight was a pair of jewels, one green and one black, with the Uchiha fan in the middle.

The thing alone must have cost at least 500 bucks to create, if not being custom-made.

"Sasuke-san, it's- I-" She struggled for the words as she took the box from his hands with the utmost care. "It's beautiful."

"And it's yours." He was smiling at her, and if she hadn't known him before high school she would have thought it abnormal.

She gazed at him, almost guilty. She took care to hide her emotions, though, and gave him an adoring grin. "Thank you so much... will you help me put it on?"

He nodded to her and took the pendant necklace out of the box, undoing the clasp and hanging it around her neck.

The jewels and chain felt cold as they hung there against her skin, cold like the guilt of leading him on. Nevertheless, she again swallowed her true feelings and gasped in delight at how it sparkled in the light of the moon.

"It really is beautiful," she cooed, before catching him in an embrace. "Thank you again."

"It's no problem, Akane-chan," he said lowly, and the fact that he added a suffix to her name made her heart jump to her throat.

She cupped his porcelain cheek in her hand and kissed him again, completely lost in the beauty of the moment they shared.