Oh yeah-this isn't JUST a reunion party, it's when Neji's going to ask Ten Ten to be his fiance! She doesn't know yet, though. Next chappie: Engagments and THE ALMOST REVEAL! 2 more chapters left; then there may be the parallel story with a different ending. Akatsuki's the hint!

~ArtIsAnEternity~

The Party

As Sasuke casually sauntered through the door into Neji's house, where the party was already full-swing, he stood there, unnoticed for a few seconds.

He saw Naruto sitting next to Hinata, not noticing her half-drooling face when she looked at him. "Stupid dobe," he thought.

Shikamaru was being dragged by Ino to the salad bar, and he could clearly hear Ino yelling at him to MOVE or else, and Shikamaru's grumbled, "Troublesome."

Neji was sitting at a purple-tableclothed table with a lilac on it. He was holding hands with Ten-Ten under it, discreetly. Ten-Ten looked extremely surprised and happy.

Choji was talking to Shino, something about the strength of the remaining bloodlines.

Kakshi was in the corner, alone. He stood there, and Sauke noticed that his usually ever present Icha Icha novel (well, can porn be called a novel?) was gone. Just...gone. It wasn't even in his pocket!

Sasuke shook his head. He would never understand his sensei. Team 7 had been trying to get Kakashi to stop since Genin days. Had Naruto and Sakura finally –

Where was Sakura? Sasuke sighed and massaged his temples. This was just getting troublesome! Where could that annoying little girl be? He wanted to try to be patient, but this was just too much! Was she avoiding him or something? He growled at the thought. She wasn't here, anyway.

Well, you did knock her out after she proclaimed her love for you, a nasty little voice said in his head. "Shut up," he told himself, than groaned. Now he was arguing with himself!

Suddenly, he noticed that the noise in the room had completely stopped.

Ino was whispering with Shikamaru and kept glancing at him.

Naruto had gone completely still and Hinata had a worried look on her face.

Ten Ten looked slightly angry and Neji was stiff.

Silence. And Sasuke just stared. And the hostility and awkwardness filled the air.

Finally, Neji got up, walked to Sasuke and gave a forced smile. "Welcome to the party, Uchiha."

Sasuke could tell this was already going to be pleasant. Yeah, right.

He was tempted to go. But- Hinata, Ino, and Ten Ten had been Sakura's friends.

They would know something.

And he would know it too,

soon.

Follow them home, question them...

I mean, an Uchiha always gets what he wants. Besides,

Uchihas do not stalk, they investigate.