AN: This is just a light chapter to bring in the whole idea of this (hopefully) final section to this story. For those who didn't read the summary properly or don't already know. This is the fourth part of the MIA series.

To summarize: The couples who were trapped in a Genjutsu by Tsunade under the pretext of a training mission are now out in the real world again.

After virtually no persuasion, Ino and Shikamaru have fallen in love and gotten engaged, just as was arranged for them by their parents.

Their parents are still a little suspicious of their intentions, but are agreeing to let them go ahead on the assumption that they will keep a celibacy vow until the wedding.

Kakashi admitted to have fallen in love with Sakura and became borderline obsessive about it.

After an awful lot of angst and persuasion by any that know (except Naruto), Sakura has agreed to date Kakashi.

They have together decided to keep their relationship secret to avoid publicity.

Tenten has also entered the story with the revelation that Neji has told her very bluntly that she must get pregnant.

She has also finally let out the secret of how disastrous their marriage has been.

Quick disclaimer: this plot, these character developments, and any OC s are mine. Everything else unless otherwise mentioned does not.

That's about all that needs to be remembered for now I think. Time to move on to the story…

1495 words in this chapter.

Unmasked

Chapter one- Gossip hormone

Sakura arrived at her apartment feeling quite lightheaded. Whether it was due to tiredness or realization of what she had just done, she had no idea. I'm dating Kakashi. Kakashi. I must be mad.

She stumbled into the main room, and was surprised to find Ino sat patiently on the sofa. The older kunoichi sprung up when she heard Sakura entering.

Ino smirked at her tired and grass-stained appearance. "You're back late"

"Am I?" Sakura walked straight passed her, acting like she wasn't paying much attention.

"It's two in the morning." Ino pointed out, obviously slightly annoyed by the fact.

Sakura glanced over at her clock for reassurance, and then nodded, "Right. How's Tenten, is she still here?"

"Hai, she was really tired so I told her to sleep in your bed, seen as you looked like you'd be out all night."

"Ok." She brushed over Ino's obvious insinuation and headed towards the kitchen "Do you want anything to eat? I'm so hungry."

Ino followed her in "Not really, I've been having random binge cravings lately so I ate earlier."

"Well I'm going to cook something; maybe I'll make something for when Tenten wakes up." She began making herself busy, so that she'd have an excuse to avoid Ino's predictable questioning.

Ino sat up on a tall stool against the kitchen counter, leaning on one elbow in interest. "So…?"

"So what?" Sakura didn't look up as she rummaged through the cupboards.

Ino scowled at her. "Don't play stupid with me. What happened with Kakashi?"

Sakura shrugged "Not much."

"Not much?" she looked skeptical.

"Hai"

"So why is your lipstick smudged?"

Sakura stood and put a finger to her swollen lips before realizing something. "Hey, I wasn't wearing any"

Ino giggled at her stupidity "I know, but you just put your finger to your lip so I know something happened."

"Yeah, and…" she remained frustratingly stoic.

"You said nothing did"

"No, I said not much did." She corrected her as she took a few items out onto the counter.

"And that isn't much?"

"No, I just played about a little, it wasn't serious."

"Sakura, don't be mean." Ino sighed childishly.

"He didn't mind." She started preparing the food, still replying with very little emotion to annoy Ino.

Her expression sunk "So you said…?"

"No, aha." She said cheerily "Did you expect any different?"

"You are cruel. Where did he take you?"

She rolled her eyes. "Ino, we are not going to sit and gossip all night."

"But Sakura…" she pleaded.

"Stop meddling Ino-pig. I'm not telling you anything more."

"Hmm…" she sounded like she wanted to argue the toss, but she was to tired to protest properly "I have got to get to bed anyway"

"Why did you stay here? Why didn't you just go home?" Sakura asked her, like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

"I wanted to see what happened." She yawned in reply.

"You really should get a hobby" Sakura smirked.

"What's going on?" A sleepy voice called from behind them both.

They turned to face her, Sakura smiled sweetly "Oh, hi Tenten"

"Sakura, you're home." She exclaimed as her vision came into focus "Did you finish your mission well enough?"

"Hai. Very well thank you."

"Well, alright, it just looks like you got in a fight or something."

She waved her off "I'm fine. I thought you were asleep."

"I woke up." She shrugged, moving to sit by Ino at the counter.

"It wasn't us making noise, was it?" Sakura was concerned at the discomforted look on Tenten's face.

"I don't mind. I needed to wake up any way" she looked down at the counter.

Ino and Sakura exchanged glances. Ino ventured forward. "Dare we ask why?"

"Nightmares…" she mumbled.

"Nightmares?" she raised an eyebrow in interest.

"Neji…" She nodded solemnly "I wouldn't call them nightmares in the strictest sense. They are more like dreams that make the daylight seem worse in comparison. Nevertheless, they mess with my emotions so I need to wake up quickly anyway"

"What kind of dreams?" Ino's automatic gossip hormone shifted into overdrive.

"You know, what it could have been like between us, how things could have gone better. It just makes me want to cry when I know that it never did." Her voice was broken, like she was fighting back an outburst of emotion.

"Shh…" Sakura moved around the counter and rested her hands on Tenten's shoulders. "Getting upset is giving in. The past is the past. You have to look passed it and find a new solution."

"Says she," Ino scoffed.

Sakura ignored her and continued trying to comfort her friend. "You know we are here for you now."

"Hai, and Shikamaru. All three of us, we'll help you in any way imaginable." Ino added in a cheery voice.

Tenten looked up at Ino, "Shikamaru?"

"Hai, I called him a little earlier. He had to know that you weren't living with the Hyuuga clan for a while, in case he needed to contact you. You don't mind, do you?"

"No… it's best for the team if he knows. I've talked to him before about Neji, on missions. He's a good listener, you know?"

"Hai, I know. I'm sure you'll know that he'll do what he can." She smiled reassuringly.

"Hai. Maybe… I just don't want him pulled into the clan politics…" she drifted off, trying to think of her own solution, but her mind only seemed to draw up blank.

Noticing the attention of the other two kunoichi, Tenten automatically sat up straighter and took a deep breath. "Gomen, I shouldn't drag down the evening with my pathetic family life. Sakura's survived a "date" with Kakashi; Ino's got engagement news worth celebrating; I'm certainly not going to bed anytime soon; why don't we have a drink or something?"

"Gomen Ten-chan, but I have to get home;" Ino sighed, "otherwise daddy will grill me in the morning. This celibacy vow has got him on serious paranoia mode."

"How is he going to know? You don't live there anymore." Tenten smirked at the idea of Ino getting home earlier.

"I think he has a jutsu monitoring the apartment or something. Not like he's watching, but he always knows what I'm doing." She looked put out by the idea, but quickly looked back up at Sakura. "Oh, and it's not sound either, so conversations and phone calls are safe."

"You had better hope they are." Sakura scowled at her.

"Right well… as I said, I have to go. I'll see you both tomorrow." She walked out of the room.

They heard the door open and shut a little while later and Sakura let go of Tenten's shoulders.

"It's just me and you then?" Tenten smiled faintly.

"Hai." Sakura smiled back. "I was just going to cook something. Are you hungry?"

Her eyes lit up in response "For your food? Always."

"Good to know. Oh, and if you want something to drink, there's some wine in the bottom cupboard." She continued preparing their meal.

"My hero." Tenten giggled, heading for a bottle. "Why didn't I come to live with you sooner?"

"Secretly becoming an alcoholic Tenten?"

"No, but I think I might start. I don't think I saw a drop of alcohol the entire time I was in that prison house."

"Seriously?"

"Hai. They think it blurs the senses too much, and that they should always be on guard, in case of a sudden attack."

"Well its sound advice, but it certainly does explain why they all seem so intolerant to having a good time."

Tenten set the bottle down on the counter just as Sakura's meal was near completion.

"Bottle opener is in the second drawer and the glasses are in the top cupboard." Sakura told her.

"Do you want one?" She asked as she took a glass down.

"Hmm… just a small one I think."

"You seem quite chipper this morning Sakura. Any particular reason?" she set two glasses next to the bottle of white wine and started to open the bottle.

"Nope"

"Are you just glad not to have to put up with Kakashi for much longer?"

She shrugged amusingly, "He's not that bad."

"Oh, of course. You've seen his face. Is it a sight worth seeing?" She leant forward, glass in hand

Sakura just smirked at her. "I wouldn't suggest he should charge admission, but that's a secret for me alone."

"Sakura! You are so lucky I'm not a gossip like Ino." She took a sip from the glass with a smile on her lips.

"It's nice to see you smile Tenten." Sakura remarked as she finished serving the two plates of food and sat down next to her.

"It's nice to see you outside of your medical uniform."

Sakura nodded at her "Hai, we are both quite pathetic. It's a wonder either of us have a social life."

"To managing anyway!" Tenten raised her glass

Sakura repeated the action. "Kampai"

AN: Thought I'd start this with a bit of general banter. Now about a poll:

Which pairing do you want next? More KakaSaku, ShikaIno, or a head start on NejiTen?

Also, any suggestions about what should happen are very welcome.

Stay shiny and show the luff

XX Belizma-chan XX