A/N: Happy Thanksgiving to those of you in the US...I finally got around to writing something InoSaku. Applaud me. And, yes, I really should have finished that chapter of Dogs and People, but I needed an angsty diversion. It's usually not that hard for me to characterize Sakura or Ino, but I made them adults in this, so I'm not sure how it came out.

(let us all give thanks for yuri)

Disclaimer: Naruto belongs to Masashi Kishimoto.

Warnings: Shoujo-ai/yuri (no, really? gasp), SasuSaku, slight NejiTen, barely perceptible SasuNaru/NaruSasu if you squint really, really hard.

Ino smiled and adjusted her grip on the box in her hands. It was wrapped perfectly—blue paper that was bright but not an eyesore, scattered with cheerful little animals and shiny gold kanji. She had stayed up all night preparing it—a week ago, of course. She couldn't sacrifice her beauty sleep for anything; she had to look good for this.

The gift inside was perfect as well—it suited Sakura's fashionable tastes, but still had a rugged quality to it, a dignified stature worthy of the Uchiha heir. Ino straightened the bow and shifted her weight slightly, lifting her hand and extending a single manicured nail to the doorbell.

She appraised herself in the glass on either side of the manor's entrance—her clothing was modest, as befit such an occasion: sky-blue high heels that matched her eyes; navy blue homongi with lighter azure flowers down the sleeves and a white obi tied in the back. Ino looked stunning, and she didn't lie to herself about it.

The door creaked open to reveal a familiar face, pretty in a down-to-earth way, with pale pink hair framing flawless skin and bright green eyes. The other woman smiled at Ino and let out a laugh—Ino couldn't tell if it was real or fabricated. It was disconcerting, because once she could have understood everything about Sakura with a single look.

They exchanged the customary hug and peck on the cheek, and Ino looked down from the hostess's face to smile at and praise the healthy lump over her stomach. Four months pregnant, with Sasuke's child, no less. It sent a stab of some emotion through her, but she couldn't tell exactly what.

"You've grown fat, Sakura," Ino said jokingly, and watched her friend (acquaintance? enemy?) smile wider and bat a teasing hand towards the blonde's face. Her gaze shifted to the package in Ino's arms, and Sakura pointed at the coffee table around which two women were sitting. "It looks lovely, Ino. Thank you." The blonde nodded in acknowledgment and headed over to the table, placing the gift down.

"Have you chased Sasuke-kun out yet?" a muscular brunette woman called out. For once, Tenten had her hair in braids rather than buns. She was chatting with Hinata on the couch.

"He's taking his time," Sakura said, cautiously sitting down in a reclining chair and resting her head. "Ino, how are you doing? We haven't gotten to talk much since the wedding."

The other woman smoothed down her kimono and sat down on the couch opposite from Hinata and Tenten, tucking an errant lock of hair behind her ear. "Great, Sakura. Tenten, I heard you got engaged?"

"Neji nii-san finally got around to proposing," Hinata said, grabbing Tenten's hand and holding it up so that the ring was visible. The women ooh-ed and aah-ed over it for a few minutes before interrogating its wearer about wedding plans. The brunette only shrugged.

"Neji and I are both pretty busy right now; we'll get around to it. So, Ino, when do you plan on getting married?"

Ino let out an airy laugh and shook her head, letting her bangs cover one of her eyes. "Oh, no time soon."

"Well, we'll need something to keep us entertained after Tenten's gotten hitched," Sakura interjected, her voice just a bit too enthusiastic. Ino's lips twitched upward into a smirk for a brief moment. Yes, Sakura couldn't hide from her entirely. She might have changed since those years in high school, but Ino could still figure out things about her that no one else could.

The conversation that Hinata had started trailed off as the four women heard footsteps; a tall, handsome man walked into the room and nodded at the guests before leaning down hesitantly to place a kiss on Sakura's lips. His wife shoved him away playfully.

"You were supposed to be gone a long time ago, Sasuke-kun. It's my baby shower, now get out!"

The man smiled and straightened up, fixing the collar of his button-down shirt and quickly heading out the front door. Sakura let out a sigh and rested a hand on her stomach. "So, do you all want something to eat?"

"I'll get it," Hinata offered quietly, standing up. "You shouldn't run around this much, Sakura."

"I'll help," Ino interjected, but Tenten had already risen. She dismissed the blonde with a wave of her hand. "You two should catch up a bit. I can't believe you haven't seen each other in since August! That's nearly a year." She followed Hinata into the kitchen, where the hum of conversation could be heard.

Ino said nothing, suddenly alone in the room with Sakura. They were silent for a few moments before the pink-haired woman spoke up.

"Tenten's right, you know. Anyone would think you've been avoiding me."

The blonde quirked an eyebrow. "Why would I avoid you? I've just been busy." When Sakura didn't respond, Ino continued. "And let's not forget that you're the one who didn't speak to me for three years after we graduated high school…"

"There's no need to bring that up," Sakura said firmly, though her voice was still nonchalant. "It was a long time ago."

"Really?" Ino whispered. "Long enough not to matter?"

The other woman laughed almost bitterly and turned away from her companion to rest her elbow on the armrest of the plush chair.

"So, tell me, Ino. Why aren't you married already? You've had men falling at your feet for years. Or are you still hung up on Sasuke-kun?"

Ino smirked. "Hey, no need to rub it in. I admitted it when I first got the news. You won, I lost."

Sakura frowned for hardly a second at the superiority in the blonde's tone. Ino caught it and kept on speaking. "You didn't believe me when I told you at the wedding, did you? You believe me now." When she didn't reply, Ino kept on goading. "So, do you regret it? You had a chance to turn back then."

A choked sob escaped Sakura's lips and she placed a hand over her face to shield her eyes from view. "Sh…shut up, Ino."

Ino pursed her lips and stopped talking. When she spoke again, her voice was gentler. "I'm sorry. It was selfish. But you had a right to know."

"Do you think I didn't already?" Sakura swiped at her eye and leaned back again, letting her hands rest once more on the chair. "I'm not stupid, Ino. I've been watching Sasuke-kun for years, and I sure as hell might be good at denial, but I'm not that good." The pink-haired woman shrugged. "And it doesn't matter whether he really loves me or not now."

Ino stood up, anger evident suddenly in her movements. She stood in front of Sakura and placed a hand on either side of her neck, forcing the woman to look at her.

"Look, you don't have to do this, Sakura! I have a decent job; I can support the both of you! Just get a divorce. It'll be the best thing for you and Sasuke-kun."

Sakura swatted Ino's hands away. "It'll be the best thing for no one. Don't even bring it up. You seem to think that the…thing…we had was important, Ino. Don't pretend that it was. I was confused and so were you. We were friends, just friends. Why don't you drum that into your skull?"

Ino blinked her wide blue eyes and set her mouth into a determined line. "If you want to be miserable, Sakura, that's your problem. It doesn't have to drag me down too, though."

"Then move on! There are plenty of guys out there—or girls, if that's really your thing. Now, please get the hell out of my personal space and my marriage before I kick you out of this house."

Ino ignored Sakura's words and rammed her lips against the other woman's, moving them by instinct. It was novel, yet so familiar; in the end, Sakura hadn't changed much.

The woman made no move to resist, instead leaning further back into the chair and threading her fingers into Ino's hair, their lipstick mingling. The kiss lasted a few seconds before Ino pulled back, tucking Sakura's hair back into place.

"Changed your mind yet?" she whispered, her face flushed but her voice sorrowful.

"Please go," Sakura answered. "Just…I never want to see you again." There was no malice in the words, but Ino flinched.

"No," she said.

Sakura gripped onto the armrests and managed to stand up; Ino backed away to make room for her.

"Maybe I did feel something for you, Ino. But I'm not that girl anymore. I'm Dr. Uchiha Sakura, wife and expectant mother, everything I ever wanted to be. And I'm going to stay that way."

Ino swallowed the lump in her throat and regained her composure quickly, glancing up at the clock. "Two o'clock? Shoot, it's the fifteenth, isn't it? I'm sorry, I have to go…client…completely slipped my mind." She turned around to pick up her purse and tuck it under her arm. "Yes, well, it was nice seeing you, Sakura. Tell Hinata and Tenten I'm sorry for leaving so soon." She trailed off and walked to the door, leaving the house and disappearing completely from view when she shut the door.

Tenten walked into the room a few minutes later, holding a plate of onigiri. "Sorry we took so long. Where's Ino?"

"She—she had to leave. Something came up," Sakura said, putting on a false smile. "Those look great! Did you bring them?"

"Hinata did," Tenten said, gesturing to the other woman, who was bearing a second plate. Her white eyes flashed a look at Sakura's green ones and the pink-haired woman suddenly felt very self-conscious. Just how much did Hinata know?

There is nothing to know, Sakura told herself resolutely. She leaned over to the plate and picked up one of the onigiri, lifting it to her mouth and eating it delicately.

That night, after Hinata and Tenten had gone home and Sasuke had returned, Sakura did not wonder about or question her husband on why his hair was ruffled or why he seemed to be in a better mood than usual, just as he didn't question her about why her lipstick was smeared or why her eyes were red at the edges.

And when they both awoke in the same bed from pleasant dreams of blond hair and blue eyes, they both said nothing.