They arrive back at Naruto's house at four in the morning.

They stumbled their way down the hall, giggling the whole way (except for Sasuke, Uchiha's don't giggle) until they successfully arrived in Naruto's tiny bedroom, without waking Jiraiya (which wasn't actually that hard, because he slept like the dead).

Sakura shamelessly stripped down to her underwear, jumping under the covers of Naruto's double bed. She would sleep to the late hours of the morning.

Naruto whined about her stealing his bed, and even tried to climb in with her, but was abruptly and painfully reminded why Sakura is the boss. He sighed, defeated and flopped onto the little leather couch in the corner of the room. He would sleep until at least lunch time.

Sasuke took off his shirt and his belt, and climbed into bed with his sort-of girlfriend. Before he could even get comfortable, she was clinging to him.

Hinata crossed the room opening the sliding door to the little balcony that overlooked the city. Closing the door behind her she sat carefully down on the old wicker chair that creaked dangerously under her weight. She sighed, relaxing into the chair. Hinata wouldn't sleep tonight.

Hinata smiles, thinking of how much she's changed in the last few years.

She'd had spent most of her life being a shy, boring and all around forgettable girl. It all changed when she was fifteen, and she met Sakura. Hinata couldn't figure out why, but for some reason, Sakura took a liking to her. After that they were inseparable.

After being friends with Sakura for a while Hinata began to change. She became more confident and more beautiful, of course she could never hold a flame to Sakura, she reminded herself.

When they were sixteen, Sakura began sort-of dating Sasuke Uchiha. Where ever Sakura went, Hinata went, and wherever Sasuke went Naruto went, and soon enough they were all thick as thieves.

Hinata is startled suddenly when she hears the squeak of the screen door opening.

~*~*~*~*~*~

Sakura isn't surprised when she wakes up, and Sasuke isn't there. She isn't surprised when she sees his silhouette along with Hinata's on the balcony. She isn't even surprised when she sees him smile that special little sincere smile, that he's never shown her.

She isn't surprised, because Sasuke will find any opportunity to be alone with Hinata, to talk to her, to smile at her.

She knows, without doubt, that when the sun rises he'll shake her awake and say, "Hey Sakura, I'm going to give Hinata a lift home, don't wait up." And Hinata will smile that oh so sincere smile and say "I hope you don't mind Sakura."

She does mind, but she won't say so. Sasuke hates selfish girls.

In a few hours Naruto will get up and try to make her breakfast, until he stuffs it up and Sakura has to remake it. And he'll laugh and smile at her with those big hopeful eyes.

Sakura isn't surprised, because this is a routine she's become used to. But as she lays in bed staring at the two silhouettes standing on the balcony, she is surprised, because they're kissing.

~*~*~*~*~*~

"What are you still doing up?" He says, smirking.

"I could ask you the same." She smiles sweetly up at him. Sasuke thought she was beautiful from the moment he met her, but she got more beautiful every day. In the soft light of the moon, wearing that little black dress and those impossibly high heels, he could barely resist the urge to scream something like "You're the one I love, not Sakura!" or "Forget about the stupid dobe! I love you!" but he's an Uchiha, and Uchiha's don't do stupid romantic things like declaring their love in the moonlight. So he settles for: "Kiba knows how to throw a good party huh?"

She giggles and says "I've been to every one of Kiba's parties since he was four years old, and that was definitely the best one yet!"

He smiles, because just talking to her makes him forget everything else but her.

"I'm glad Ino and Shikamaru finally hooked up, maybe she'll get off my back now." He says distractedly.

She furrows her brow and stands from her chair. The balcony's so small that their almost chest to chest. His breath hitches in his throat as she stares deeply into his eyes, as if trying to read what he's thinking.

"I don't get you Sasuke." She sighs. "Most guys would give just about anything to have two girls half as beautiful as Sakura and Ino chasing after them. But you just seem to find them a nuisance."

"There's no point having a bunch a girls chasing you around, if none of them are the right girl." He muttered.

"None of them? Not even Sakura?" She says, sounding shocked.

"No… the truth is, the only girl I really want, is chasing after some other idiot."

She smiles sadly, "isn't that always the case." Two warm hands encase her cheeks.

"It doesn't have to be." He says, and crushes her lips with his.