Beyond The Camera: The Sequel

Chapter 18

-Sasuke's POV-

"It's been three years since your first and only tour, Prestige. What do you say to finally having another one?" Kakashi grinned at the four of us. It's Saturday morning, and we thought we'd done something wrong for him to call us to the agency so early on the weekend.

Sakura cheered, "I've been meaning to ask you about that! I think it's a great idea. Will Akatsuki be with us again?"

"They'll be meeting with me once we're done here. If they agree to it, then yes. I'll also ask Konan if she'd like to join the line-up."

Gaara asked, "Wouldn't there be an issue with our genres being too different?"

"Yes, you see, that's what I initially thought, as well, but studies show that today's young adults prefer for concerts to have variety. Evolution will be using this line-up as a sort of test to see how well it goes."

Oh, great. Use our tour as a guinea pig, you silver-haired ass.

Truthfully, Kakashi's been great to us all. The only reason I'd call him an ass is because he's a little too honest with us sometimes. For example, when we returned to Konoha during our last tour, he blatantly said seeing our P.R. team get a break in our absence was nice. A businessman typically sugarcoats things, but that's not his style. I suppose I can respect that. It's better than being lied to or treated like children.

"Are we all in agreeance then?"

All of us responded affirmatively in some way before the CEO clapped his hands together, beaming sheepishly, "Wonderful! You'll be leaving a week from today!"

I sighed, irritated, "You've planned it for months already, haven't you?"

Kakashi winked, "A year and a half, actually! Prestige, you are dismissed. Please rest up for your upcoming sold-out tour!"

Sold out! How did we all miss that?

Sakura laughed as she led us outside the agency toward the employee parking lot, "I don't know why, but I'm not all that surprised." She and Gaara shared a knowing look.

"Here's hoping this one goes better than the last one, right?" Hinata half-joked with a sheepish grin directed at the ground.

I rolled my eyes when she glanced my way, elbowing her side, "Don't start thinking about that. You'll psyche yourself out before the tour even starts."

She nudged me back but didn't verbally respond. The other two shared a look before grinning and facing forward again as we reached the cars.

The Hyuuga woman in my passenger seat remained quiet almost the entire drive home, and I pretended I didn't know why so we wouldn't have to talk about it again.

Almost two weeks ago, Sakura and Gaara got engaged, and I explained why I think we should wait. She dropped the subject and said she understood, but she cannot lie to me these days. I know her too well, not to mention the fact that I can read her like a book. Hinata respected my wishes even if it made her sad.

Of course, I love her, and yes, I want to marry her. I've been sure of that for a very long time. I bought the ring a year and a half ago from the same shop I'd purchased the locket she always wears.

Truthfully, I was going to propose, but right around that time, Gaara and Sakura had their scandal, and the amount of backlash they both received was unbelievable, especially toward Sakura. The only thing I could picture after that was the look on Hinata's face the day we almost had sex at home before the tour. She'd been fine one moment, then looked so panicked she might be sick. It was because of the terrible, untrue things posted about her.