"Heyyyy, girls!" Ino called out excitedly, holding a bag that held her dress and another bag that contained makeup and other materials. "I'm here to work on our prom outfits!"

Tenten and Hinata looked up with smiles, but Sakura was still frowning, thinking of that afternoon.

-_-_-_-_-_-

"Oi, Sakura."

Said pinkette turned to see Sasuke standing there, holding a note.

Her heartbeat quickened and she felt her face turn redder from anger. "Dammit, I knew you were the one leaving those crypic-ass messages! Why're you-"

"Calm down, Pinky." He cut her off and thrust the note into her hand. "Someone else told me to give that to you. Don't shoot the messenger."

"Yeah, if I had a dollar for every time I've heard that one." She said sarcastically, but accepted it anyway. She opened it and read, "I'm sorry for everything I've done."

Frowning at the message, she looked up to see him walking away. "Oi, you chicken-butt! Get over here and tell me what this means!"

He stopped and turned to face her with an annoyed expression. "What kind of request is that? I'm busy."

She grit her teeth but gave him an overly-sweet smile. "Chicken-butt, get over here and tell me what this means...please."

He turned back and began to walk away again. "I said I'm busy. Don't be annoying."

"You bast-!" She nearly shouted, but then spotted Shikamaru go around a corner.

Raising an eyebrow, she followed him quietly and when she turned the corner she saw him meeting with a blonde that obviously did not look like Ino.

With four pigtails in her hair and sparkling teal eyes, she laughed with him and put her hand on his shoulder, looking up at him with half-lidded eyes.

Sakura's eyebrows nearly hit her hairline as she watched her hug him, her body pressing gently up against his. He didn't push her away immediately; rather, he put his arms around her.

-_-_-_-_-_-

-Memory Interrupted-

-_-_-_-_-_-

"Sakura? Sakura, dammit, pay attention!" Ino yelled, slapping her upside the head to get her attention.

"Wha-?!" Sakura held her now-bruised skull with anger. "What the hell was that for, blondie?"

"You've been absorbed in your thoughts for a few minutes now, Sakura-chan." Hinata reminded her, putting a hand on her shoulder.

"O-oh, sorry. What were you saying?" Sakura looked back up at her to see her facepalm.

"I was saying," Ino huffed. "That we should start getting ready right now. Your mom's home, right?"

"She's going to be home," the pinkette corrected. "In about half an hour. She had to go shopping."

"Well, what are we waiting for, then? Let's get this over with." Tenten sighed, holding one of her buns longingly.

"I agree! To the bathroom!" Ino pointed in its direction and marched on.

Sakura shook her head at her antics while Hinata quietly giggled.

--

With Sakura's mother home, they were fully free to work. Karin's mother, a beautiful redheaded lady called Akane, had gotten a bottle of red hair dye, a little darker of a shade than Karin's. It took about an hour or so, but Sakura's hair had been fully colored after being meticulously washed and dried.

"You look fabulous, Sakura." Ino gushed, pulling out her Cinderella dress. "Now put this on!"

The other girls had already gotten into their dresses and were awaiting the now redhead.

"Wow, hon. That dress does look stunning on you." Akane gasped and took out her phone to take pictures.

"Mom," Sakura groaned. "I'm not even done with makeup yet."

"I know, I know!" She giggled furiously. "And I know you don't want these pictures sent out. But I just want to capture the moment!"

The redhead sighed again and Hinata giggled, playing with a lock of Sakura's hair.

"And now, for your hairstyle." Ino smirked and went through the magazine she'd brought. "Since you seem to be going for a 'Cinderella-style' this time, I think we ought to go for a low bun or something."

"How about a traditional bun?" Sakura asked. "With my bangs down, of course."

"Sure. Ooh, how about we sweep them to the side or something?" Ino held up a lock of her hair to the side of her face.

She swatted the blonde's hand away. "I'd rather like them off my face, thanks."

"But why?" Tenten asked. "That'd be a dead giveaway that you're Sakura."

"Come on, the student body is stupid." Sakura snorted. "And I mean Sasuke may be perceptive, but he wouldn't recognize me with another hair color, length, and contacts."

"...Yeah, you've got a point." Tenten sighed, defeated.

The redhead smirked triumphantly, and they began on her hair.

It was hard to keep still, but Sakura found Akane's methodical strokes of the brush soothing, and so she closed her eyes in content.

"Careful, Sak. You look like you'll fall asleep at any moment." Tenten joked, folding her arms and leaning on the doorframe.

"You guys starting on Sakura?" Karin peeked in, already dressed in a stunning black gown that was both form-fitting, yet comfortable. Her hair had already been done and so was her makeup.

"You look beautiful, Kar." Sakura opened her eyes and smiled proudly at her younger sister. "You'll knock all them dudes dead at Itachi's house."

"That's not quite my intention, but thanks." Karin blushed a bit at the compliment, but smiled. "Secretly...I'm not going for Sasuke."

"Ooh, my baby sister's gotta boyfriend! Who's the lucky bro I gotta pummel in if he makes you cry?" Sakura was getting excited, nearly turning her head to face her before she remembered her mother was working on her hair.

"It's not like that, Sakura!" Karin flushed red and she covered her face in embarrassment. "It's this boy in the sophomore class, Suigetsu. He's the kid with the shark teeth."

"Ohhh, that guy." Sakura forced herself to keep still as Akane was carefully finishing. "Yeah...he's in my Biology class."

"Yeah...he asked me to prom." She uncovered her face and smiled dreamily.

"Aww, that's really sweet." Hinata smiled up at her from her seat on the toilet cover.

"Thanks! So what're you gonna do for makeup?" She casually leaned on the bathroom counter.

"We're gonna make her a mask out of makeup." Ino answered proudly. "It's gonna be long and strenuous--"

"That's what she said," Sakura interrupted.

Ino glared at her before finishing. "--It's gonna be long and strenuous, but at the end of it all she's gonna look amazing."

"Cool beans." Karin nodded. "Can't wait to see the end result."

"Neither do we!~"

--

By the time they were finished with their makeup, the sun had gone down.

The clock read 7:30. Karin looked at the time and her eyes widened.

"Oh, shoot! I've gotta go if I'm gonna make it on time!" She exclaimed.

Sakura's 'mask' had dark reds mixed with light silvery designs, ending in a curved tip on both ends. It looked elegant, yet with the right touch of allure.

"You look amazeballs, Sak." Ino was practically drooling at her own handiwork.

"Just one more check until we go..." Tenten's hair was long and flowy, her bangs framing her face and highlighting her skin. Just the right amount of makeup had her looking beautiful.

"We look good." Ino smiled, determined, at the other four. "Let's go."

"Karin, are you riding with us?" Tenten asked the redhead.

"Nah, I'll ride with mom." Karin turned to her sister.

"Yeah, sure." Sakura nodded and sent the others a bright smile. "Let's go!"