The smell of breakfast woke Sakura up. Grilled fish and rice wafted up the stairs and under Ino's bedroom door. Her stomach gave a rumble as she breathed in deeply. From beside her, Ino giggled. Sakura could feel it against her back with how close Ino was lying to her. She was so warm with her arm draped over Sakura's side. Sakura felt calm. She felt safe.

'I missed you, ' Sakura whispered. 'The mission was...it was hard. The guys, they're great, but - '

'Sometimes you just need a girl. ' Ino finished for her, tightening the grip around Sakura's middle. 'I missed you, too. ' Sakura could feel Ino's breath on her neck. 'Do you want to talk about it? The mission? How you got the sword? '