This chapter was written as an extra thank you for sticking with the story for so long!

-Life's A Party-

-What Happened?-

The large group entered the building somewhat rowdily, some looking around in awe, while others inspected with a keen eye. Naruto took Hinata's hand, making the poor girl turn several shades of red, and dragged her off to an area close to the dance floor, but with blocked views of other tables.

The group followed, some in dance, wiggling hips and heads, while others simply walked… like robots. Sakura was one in mid-dance when she noticed Temari dragging a tired looking male behind her. Shikamaru caught her eye wearily.

"Tem!" She yelled attracting the blonde's attention. "How are you guys?" A sly grin rose to embarrass the blonde.

"F-Fine Sakura!" the blonde blushed sensing she knew something. A memory flashed in her mind of when she placed a hand on Shikamaru's leg just as a bike flew past. Damn it, she knew she'd been feeling him up!

"You know…" Sakura began once more. "Shikamaru's kinda like your toy boy! He is younger after all!" Sakura giggled sending a calculating look to Shikamaru, who wasn't listening much. He was frowning over at the crowded bar, wondering how they were going to manage to get through the patrons let alone get served! Sakura turned to see fire burning in Temari's eyes and felt her cue to leave. "Ah! C-ya!" She giggled running off to follow Naruto.

"Damn her!" Temari hissed looking around to figure out method of payback. She noticed Tenten nudging Neji as they walked with a giggle playing on her lips. "Tenten!" She yelled making her way over to the girl, who looked quite frightened, yet curious.

She hadn't talked much to the weapon's mistress, she'd spotted her good hand in class, but she knew she was trustworthy and pretty kick ass at times. "Temari-san?"

"Gya! Less of the san, we need to get even with Sakura!" She ordered with a grin, thumbing over to the pink haired girl who danced over to Naruto and Hinata, who had found their table.

Tenten remembered how Sakura had pushed her into Neji when they met. Although it was the reason they began talking and dating each other, she was plenty embarrassed about the incident and swore to get revenge. "I agree!"

"Here's what we do…" Temari started, leaning into the girl who listened curiously.

oOo

Naruto sat down in the cushioned seat with a plop, bouncing up slightly when the cushion protested. Beside him, Hinata sat a little more daintily, folding her fidgeting hands on her lap nervously. Her cheeks were already beginning to colour. She was sitting beside him again; alone!

God, she prayed someone would come over so she could relax somewhat!

As if sent by god himself to answer her prayers, Sakura skipped over happily and beckoned Hinata to budge up. When the girl complied, nervously hinting at Naruto to do the same with a hand on his solid arm, Sakura sat down and sighed.

"This is great!" She announced happily, staring all around at the crowds of dancing, drinking and socializing people.

Hinata nodded in agreement, but her attention focused on Temari Sabaku, who tugged along a whipped Shikamaru. She practically threw him in his seat, earning a grumbled curse from the younger male, then took her own.

Her smile was a victorious, cunning one.

Hinata followed her line of vision towards Sakura' who was bobbing excitedly in her seat, oblivious to the plans being made against her. Hinata gulped and avoided her eyes when the sandy haired Sabaku turned to glance at her.

All interest in the girl's plans were lost, however, when distinctive weight fell across her shoulder. She followed the arm towards Naruto, who clearly thought nothing of it, and mimicked Sakura, looking all around them excitedly.

She almost fainted.

"Hey, where'd Gaara go?" She had thought she spotted Tenten take him away, but didn't think much on it when she spotted the stolen table Naruto had acquired. Actually, where was Tenten? At the bar? She turned around in the cushioned booth and rose to her knees, looking out over the heads of people towards the customers crowing the counter.

"I think he w-went with Neji-nii-san to get a d-drink Sakura-chan"

Sakura nodded absently. It made sense; Neji had been stalking around after the brunette since her clever plan became successful. Still, she wasn't sure she felt comfortable. The girls everywhere were dressed quite scantly, and they were very pretty. With a look one sent at a passing male, they were experienced too.

Would Gaara react? Surely not, he never usually did! Her stomach tightened almost sickeningly. Maybes he should go find him? Why was she even being so protective? She promised this wouldn't happen. Having him as anything other than a friend would be too painful to bare. Osamu would make sure of it.

"Oh… okay. He'll be fine then…"

In that second, something fizzy and bubbly was placed delicately in front of her. She stared for a moment at the bobbing, pink umbrella before looking up at Ino.

oOo

Gaara stiffly nodded, causing a roar of laughter to leave Kiba, who reached around and pushed Choji in agreement.

Truthfully, he hadn't been listening. His eyes cleverly sectioned off every male individual within the place, weighing up their general height, weight, muscle span and the females they took interest in. He had sectioned off five so far, who moved towards the prettier, exotic looking girls with extraordinary colours and personalities.

If they so much as approached Sakura, he'd...!

"Man, I thought the cat rumour was true, but damn! That one too? You're good."

What the hell was he talking about? More importantly, what the hell had he agreed to?

He shook his head and looked down to the beer placed in front of him. After a quick drink, he replaced it on the bar and glanced uncomfortably at the men at either side of him. Maybe they were sort of... pleasant.

Almost.

He glanced over at the Hyuuga, who bent down lower and whispered into the brunette girl's ear. A pretty blush lined her cheeks, which only worsened when he closed the distance and teasingly pecked the corner of her lips.

Where was Sakura?

As if on cue, someone approached behind them, and he turned to identify the pink hellion who propped her hands on her hips and stared around at them each.

"Hey guys. What you doin'?"

He briefly glanced behind her, to where the four girls who had been eyeing them were sending her scathing looks and whispering insults about her to one another. Somewhat moodily, they edged each other away in search of a new target.

"The usual!" Kiba replied with a toothy grin, which died down after he glanced behind her, to where the blonde Ino seemed almost nervous.

Their eyes connected for a brief moment, before Ino quickly looked away and began rubbing her neck. Why was she here? Did Sakura invite them? When did they become buddies?

"You won't mind if we join you then, huh?" Sakura asked, snapping him from his daze.

"Not at all!" His eyes searched back for Ino's and held them for as long as she'd let him.

Gaara very nearly rolled his eyes as he inspected Sakura's supposedly subtle glances at the two. He knew her game all too well after the corridor incident with Hyuuga and... what was her last name?

"Hey Gaara! Wanna dance?"

He partway froze and looked back into her mischievous, daring look. She wasn't serious, was she? Maybe she just wanted Inuzuka and Yamanaka to have some alone time?

"I don't dance, Haruno" He took a drink to dampen his drying throat.

"Come on! You're dressed the part!" He was? He resisted looking down to inspect. He knew he wore the black combats and his red wife-beater. Clubs as packed as this got hot, so thin material had been his line of thought.

"You aren't," he pointed out bluntly in an effort to distract her.

It didn't work, in fact, her hand moved to her zipper and she lowered if almost enticingly down past her pert breasts until it broke free. He tried not to look at her pouting; he wasn't sure which was worse. When she tugged the material from her thin arms and threw it towards the handy bartender, who caught and disposed of it on a little shelf underneath the counter, she smiled.

"Look after it for me!" She said over the music before looking back to Gaara. "Now I am."

When he inspected the little red dress up and down, and just how much skin was visible, someone handily interrupted and made his train of thought worsen.

'I could think of some uses for legs like those…' Shukaku growled.

"I don't dance"

"Fine" Sakura stated, feeling let down. "Then, I'll find another partner…"

What?!

And she was right. She didn't find one, but two, and quickly led them to the dance floor and away from the comfort zone. Was she insane? She trusted people way too easily!

Kiba laughed somewhat nervously and turned back to Ino, who was looking out over the crowds almost nervously.

"Hey Ino"

She turned back to his attention a little too quickly, and scolded herself for seeming too eager. She smiled politely at him. "Kiba"

God why was this so hard? They had been best friends, for crying out loud! What the hell did she see in that Uchiha anyway?

He rubbed the back of his neck almost painfully. God he hated that guy, and he wasn't stupid enough to question the reasons why. Ino was so much better than her front at school!

"You... still growing the tulips?"

Her doe-eyed, questioning stare turned back on him, and for a stunned moment she simply looked at him looking at her. Her stomach began to twist pleasantly, and her heartbeat hastened to make itself known.

"Y-you remembered?"

He grinned at the positive sign and nodded, "Of course! I helped with the part near the pond!"

She laughed colourfully, and Kiba eagerly drank in her beautiful smile. "You fell in!"

He shrugged it off, grinning ecstatically from sheer happiness. God, this was it! She was here, talking to him normally! Like nothing had ever happened!

He opened his mouth to retort, but somehow, over the pounding music, the sounds of something sharp carving up wood distracted them, and they turned around to find Gaara was narrowing his eyes dangerously into the crowd, the nails on the countertop were carving deep into the polished wooden bar. Thankfully, the bartender seemed oblivious.

Ino followed his gaze, and caught a somewhat nervous Sakura looking to every hand which touched her. Jesus she'd congratulate her for having caught too hotties and having then dance with her like that, but she seemed almost terrified.

"Hey, she doesn't look too good," she commented before she could hold the words in for Gaara's sake. It was all he needed to propel himself forward towards the scene. Ino and Kiba shared a disbelieving look.

Ino laughed, breaking the tension hey had unknowingly created between them. They were alone now; Neji and sneakily tugged Tenten onto the floor and wasn't wasting the opportunity to run his hands over every inch of her skin. She looked away almost timidly, in time to find Choji turning away from them and digging into his crisps while he sat on the barstool.

"I wish I knew her secret," she commented offhandedly.

Kiba smiled somewhat crookedly. "What're you talking about? You're way cooler."

Sure he liked Sakura; she was a great friend, even more so for giving him this opportunity, but Ino had always been the one in his eyes.

He laughed off his nerves while she smiled up at him sadly.

"How can you still say that?"

Honestly, he didn't know. "I'm not sure. Sometimes I doubt myself when you chase after that creep Uchiha."

Ino turned away, and for a moment, he thought he offended her and ruined everything. His hand shot out and turned her around, ignoring the burning he felt shoot through his palm when he connected with her bare shoulder.

"I mean-!"

"No, you're right," she admitted honestly. "God Kiba, what have I been doing all this time?" Her head fell into her hands dejectedly, and found himself standing closer and gripping the other shoulder.

"Aw, come on. You're still cool."

She laughed from behind her hands and bravely lowered them along with her head. When she raised her eyes to his, the breath caught in her throat, and she hung onto the moment for as long as was possible.

"You're right though; he isn't all that hot once you dig under the covers," She admitted finally, breaking the tension once more. He laughed and removed his hands from her personal space; pleased to find her watch them retreat solemnly.

Kiba smiled and leant back against the bar. "Are we cool now?"

She looked back up, her bright, blue eyes sparkling more so, as if he'd spoken the magic words. "I thought you'd never ask!"

oOo

Naruto had been dancing by the table when he spotted them. Tripping over his foot and landing into an unamused patron, he pushed away and gawped at the two dancers through the crowds.

"Holy shit! Look at that!"

Hinata, Temari and Shikamaru turned to find what held Naruto's interest. They hadn't been expecting anything spectacular; after all, the blonde was often wound up about the slightest thing. But when they spotted the distinctive red hair looming over a panting (panting!) Sakura, they all gawped.

"Guys… do you see what I see?" Naruto asked, unsure of himself.

Hinata began blushing hotly; were they... grinding?

"Holy crap! I can't look!" Temari cursed, though she made no effort to look away from the pair. Shikamaru eyed her as if she were an idiot.

"So don't"

"No! That's my kid brother!" Temari said. She looked away eventually with a grin. "Not that I'm not happy, but I don't wanna watch that!" She said finally with a chuckle.

"Quite right. It's a rather unpleasant sight to watch Ugly pant over Psycho."

Naruto yelled, jumping by Hinata's side and clinging to her delicate shoulders. "Where'd you come from!"

"I was invited"

"I know that; but you just... appeared!"

His smile never faltered. "It's not my fault you were unaware I had arrived. Perhaps you wouldn't have been surprised if you weren't so dickless"

Naruto's aura worsened and he jumped away and in front of Hinata, pointing a rude finger towards the straight faced Sai, who looked out of place in the club.

"You wanna say that again? Let's go!"

"N-Naruto!" Hinata stood and tugged his arm back, but her voice had already turned his attention towards her, and they bumped into one another. Hinata was sent back into the seat, sprawled out demurely over its cushion, while Naruto managed to reach out and take hold of the table and the back of the seat in time to not fall on her.

When she opened her eyes, they came face to face. The inevitable blush blossomed over her face, but she was stunned to find a similar one had overcome Naruto, and he was stuttering to string together a sentence. She smiled up at him and placed a hand to his chest, in hopes that he'd move back.

Before he did, he caught her own and held it there; his rapid heartbeat alarmed her, and she looked back up to his eyes, which hadn't left hers.

"I assumed there was some kind of challenge you had in mind, dickless. Would you like me to return once you've stopped gawping at Stutters?"

Naruto flared up, lifting Hinata to stand behind him and cling to his back, while he yelled and challenged Sai to some kind of drinking game. After a mouthful of curses, most of which defended Hinata, who began to smile and take in the scent of his orange shirt, Sai gladly accepted.

Temari's eyes caught Hinata's knowingly, and she raised her glass to the young Hyuuga.

oOo

Ino laughed, but she was cut off was Gaara approached and helped a stumbling Sakura over to the bar. Her face was beat red, and the colour didn't seem to be fading from sight. She turned away slightly from Gaara, who caught the colour and began to smirk in self-congratulation.

"G-Gaara?" Kiba blurted, unsure of what he was asking. He was looking at Sakura, gauging her odd behaviour.

Ino laughed, signalling the bartender to double her drinks. When he presented two more, purple in colour, she shoved one under her nose and giggled maliciously. Revenge was bittersweet!

Sakura gladly accepted, needing the beverage to cool down desperately, but with every drink, her eyesight faded more and more. She had already been stumbling over her feet and finding her flushed face just wouldn't cool down. After just one drink? It didn't seem likely, even if she wasn't used to alcohol.

When the glass was almost empty, it was stolen from her by Gaara's side, who took a delicate sniff and almost grimaced. "Gaara!" she protested, feeling some confidence enter her system after the drink began corresponding with her body.

Ino had already left to tell Temari of their steadily approaching victory, but no sooner had she arrived at the table, Gaara approached.

Kiba snatched out and steadied Sakura's shoulder. "What... has she been giving me?" She laughed a little too happily.

"Honestly? I have no idea."

Sakura nodded understandingly and placed her hands on the bar to steady herself. The hand on her shoulder was slapped away, and Kiba looked up to the thuggish looking men in dancer kit. They grinned down at him, already so sure he wasn't going to be a bother.

"What do you want?" He asked rudely, snatching Sakura's arm when she almost toppled off the side of the chair.

"Well, Miss Prissy here needs to learns he has to back up her actions"

Before the hand was slapped from her arm again, Kiba took it and leapt forwards sending his fist to connect with one of the two guys' face. Before he could turn his attention on the second, someone punched him instead, and the first quickly recovered and pushed him in his moment of distraction. His leg tangled with the barstool and sent him to the ground, where he began swiping at the blood leaving his nose.

He looked up angrily when he spotted them lifting Sakura effortlessly and leaving for the exit. Before he could stand, Gaara was by his side.

Where is she?" He asked stopping in front of Kiba who pointed towards the exit. "I'm taking her home when I get her. Tell the others."

He nodded in agreement and stood in time to find Ino approached with a concerned look. "What happened?!" She squeaked out.

The blood was already gone from his nose, so he glared hatefully at the exit. "Those assholes took Sakura."

She gasped, and was about to turn and leave after her friend, but Kiba snatched her arm. "Don't go off alone. Besides, Gaara's probably got her already."

She glanced back at the exit unsurely and sent him a pleading look, so he rubbed the back of his neck and sighed. "Gah! Fine, come on"

In a moment of bravery, he snatched her hand and led her outside. Just beyond the crowded door, Ino spotted the men out cold on the floor and yelped. They were beginning to attract a crowd, so she pulled away and spotted Gaara holding up Sakura by his bike. She sighed.

"God she's so careless!"

Kiba sent her a sceptical look, "Who was feeding her alcohol?"

She blushed prettily and turned back in time to find the most unlikely pair locked in lip combat. Her mouth dropped open, and she blindly fumbled for Kiba's shirt, who growled at her until she tugged him and forced him to the scene. His reaction was a similar one.

When the two broke apart, Kiba was sure he heard Ino let out one of those girly whines of approval. Her hands had even clasped in front of her as she watched him pick her up and sit her on the bike with him, quite content to have her in his arms.

She nudged Kiba's side teasingly. "Think you could beat that?" She joked before she realised what she was saying.

When she did, her eyes lit up with embarrassment, and she opened her mouth to apologise and explain, but Kiba launched forward and captured her lips in a merciless hold.

Her whole body had frozen in shock, but when his lips began working wonders on hers and he sunk one of his fangs into the pert bottom one, she melted in his arms and surrendered to his will.

Maybe he could beat it after all.

oOo

There won't be a sequel before anyone asks. After much thought, I think a sequel will just kill Her Secret Hell. So it's best to let it sleep as it is. Besides, I want to try other ideas now and move along from this storyline.

Also, to those who don't know, there is another story alike mine on fanfiction. I hadn't been aware of it, of course, since I promised myself not to read other GaaSaku while I wrote this one should I get sidetracked and ruin this one.

So, when I finished and began browsing then found someone who had been a fan had wrote a practically identical story six months after I began Her Secret Hell, I flipped a little. Understandable though (I don't care to admitting it), since I worked for a year and a half (approx) on this, working my own plotline and such.

Well, it's been resolved now. We spoke over it and stuff, and even though it isn't one of a kind anymore, I'm happier now and am moving past it.

Thanks again everyone for your support! I hope this chapter cleared the party scene up! I know I left a lot of blanks (I totally got sidetracked lol).