Moving forward (SasuSaku)

Ino's drunken state

            The first time I've tasted Sake was out of curiosity. I was in the middle of cleaning shishou's office when I came across with an half-empty glass sitting behind the towering stacks of paper works, it irks me how she managed to sneak one this time. Though, Shizune-san told her for a millionth time not to drink inside her office as a Hokage.

The taste was very strong as it touched my tongue, after seconds there was a trace of sweetness out if it and a tinge if bitterness.

How could they withstand this drink!?!

Probably they really would not care about the taste—if according to Tsunade-sama: she wants to forget. Maybe that has something to do with the bittersweet flavor.

Right now, I actually have no idea how a simple dinner, ended up with Ino consuming her fourth glass of liquor and blabbering about some guy she met during her month-long mission..

"Ino, I think we should go home." It was the same phrase I have been repeating to my friend seated across from me.

"Why are you not drinking yours? Forehead, it is just Sake" she said in a slurred voice.

"If that means me talking nonsense things like you--no, I'll pass." I retorted as I stood and take few bills from my wallet.

"C'mon Sakura, then at least do something nonsense once in your life." She whined. "Oh, let me take that back...you are doing it already."

I shot her a questioning look while grabbing her arms to help her from her seat.

"I should take you home."

"I know you enough... you've been ignoring Sasuke after the war. I guess you haven't exchange words aside from those courtesy greetings."

"How did you came up with that idea?!" Really she is sounding ridiculous.

"Sheesh forehead, I got some information from the street that you're going out with a wealthy merchant's son."

"I'm not going out with anyone, much less with a rich brat." I went to her side to help her from her seat. "That rumor or your so-called 'information from the street' is getting worst. Come on I'm tired."

Ino didn't give me a hard time walking outside the diner. But after a few steps she started swaying...

"Ugh, Ino you're heavy." I cried out as her body slump on my side, just in time to catch her before hitting the ground.

If Chouji or Shikamaru was here this won't be hard.

"You're kidding right?! You can lift a rooted tree in a second why not me." She giggled.

"I came from my endless shift you should realize my chakra is depleted by now."

She snorted. "Honestly, you need to sort your feelings." Ino said suddenly but now in serious way.

I looked at her. She untangled herself from my arms and stood in front of me.

"You and Sasuke."

"We are fine. We are all back in here in Konoha." I responded thinking of things to divert from this topic.

"You are so hard-headed. Probably that's the reason for your forehead."

"Ino-"

"I know you still have feelings for him." She sigh, "Enough of you avoiding Sasuke-- Because before you knew it, he will be walking down the street hand-in-hand with a girl. He will wait for that person at the end of the day, they will share precious moment every single time of their life...and that girl is not you."

I stopped on my tracks as those images flooded my mind.

Sasuke with someone else...

Smiling with someone else.

Happy with someone else.

There was a little pain in my chest, breaking my heart into tiny pieces once again. I knew it was the same feeling when I woke up knowing Sasuke left the village.

I tried to speak, to protest, to deny that I was hurt by those things she just said. But when I saw her knowing smile, it will all be useless. She knew my feeling well enough.

"That is what you called jealousy, Sakura."

"B-but I should be happy for him right?" I asked innocently. Really, if one day all of us needed to settle down, I will be happy for each and every one.

How about with Sasuke?

"That is what you SHOULD do, because when that time comes there is nothing you COULD do." Her hands on my shoulder, comforting me as she emphasized those two words. "The last thing I want is to see my best friend have a life full of regret."

I almost feel like I'm going to cry and I can't even move from where we stood. Thinking of Sasuke with someone else is something I'm not prepared of.

Or will I ever be?

"Speaks of the devil." I heard Ino whispered.

Hearing his familiar cold voice shook me from my thoughts--my dreaded thoughts.

Jealousy. Yes, Ino was right. I might still have feelings for him, I'm having this unwanted feeling as Ino forcibly sought for Sasuke's help to walk.

In a span of not more than a minute my mind drifted to the things I refuse to think moments earlier.

What if she is that someone else...? What if Ino still has the feelings for him?

No. Sasuke is just being helpful with me and Ino. It was just coincidence that he found us at the side streets and Ino forced him to help us.

"Sakura." It was Sasuke.

I want to say something but looking at them right now, adding the images that Ino was able to instill in my mind were the reason that is keeping me from saying a word.

"Sakura..." he called again.

What if he is with someone else?

That made Ino look back to where I was standing.

"Forehead, let's go. Sasuke would not want others to start a gossip that we are dating--though I really want that to happen, Sasuke-kun." she said in between giggles that leaves Sasuke giving her a deathly glare.

"I need to go home." I manage to say after a few seconds, stepping back to let them know I am serious.

"Oh Sakura, I was just kidding." She laughed.

"We have-"

"I didn't expect you to be in that state Ino." I did not hear the rest of Sasuke's words as Sai suddenly appeared from nowhere.

"Neither do I." Ino said as she removes herself from Sasuke. "You're just the person I needed. Please make a paper dove so we can fly to my house." It was more of a demand than a request.

Without a word Sai started to sketch on his scroll and summon a dove out of it. Both of them jump into it and said their goodbyes, leaving me with alone with Sasuke.

"Saved from the trouble." Sasuke said quietly as they disappeared through the dark horizon.

"I guess so, goodnight then." I started walking to the opposite direction before everything becomes awkward between us.

"We have a mission tomorrow."

That made me stopped from taking another step. I look at him and there was no indication that he will take back that statement.