Chapter One: Seaside
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto!
Sakura smiled to herself as she stepped into the lobby of the resort, her suitcase trailing behind her on its wheels.
It was utterly magnificent: plush carpet she could feel even through her shoed feet, massive, fiberglass elevators, a beautiful overlooking the sea, marble counter tops…it was gorgeous!
She quickly regained her composure and fumbled for the scroll Tsunade had given her: It was her pass for an all-expenses paid vacation from the Hokage herself with a red card pinned to the center of it---literally a limitless credit line that went on Konoha's tab.
The pink haired kunoichi had been working quite hard lately: Rain and Grass had recently entered a war and she had been dispatched to set up a medical facility that would care for both sides. Shortly after, she led the effort to compose a treaty, which was signed within an hour of its proposal. When she had finally gotten back to Konoha, she had been immediately shipped off as an escort to a runner in a quasi-tribal, clan ritual that would determine the ruler for the next five years. Naturally, the other team had a hit on the runner and it had been her job to ensure he made it---which he did…, by a full hour ahead of the competition. Then she received a hawk from Shizune informing her that Akatsuki had developed an organic weapon that fed on chakra and deteriorated the keirakukei network. She was promoted instantly to the head of the special unit assembled for finding the cure and within three days, she was dispensing the antibiotic and vaccines for the uninfected.
That same day Tsunade had called her to her office; the kunoichi had been sure it was another mission. Much to her surprise, her shishou had tossed her vacation pamphlet, handed her the scroll, explained the red card, and said she didn't want to see her for a full three weeks.
Sakura was too stunned to do much but stare for a moment before falling into spontaneous fits of laughing/screaming/jumping up and down/etc before clamoring out of the office window to pack.
Realizing she was at the desk, she quickly pushed aside the sentiments racing through her head and handed over the scroll to the handsome young man at the counter.
"Good afternoon. I trust your journey was pleasant?"
"Quite!" She replied sunnily.
He smiled back and quickly typed a few strokes into the computer before him. A sharp, error tone came over it a moment later.
"I'm sorry…our computers are apparently experiencing a bit of a crash." He frowned.
"Would you like me to shop around for a few hours and try again later?" She volunteered.
"Of course not," He smiled, handing her the scroll and red card while he jotted down a few notes on the notepad by the mouse, "I'll enter you later. I apologize for the inconvenience; your first night will be on us."
Sakura opened her mouth to protest the generosity but he quickly silenced her with an insistence.
"Here's the key to room 214." He said, handing her a card with a magnetic strip, asked if she wanted help with her luggage, and when she said replied she was fine, bid her a good day.
Sakura slipped into her room, closing and locking the door behind her out of habit. She tossed her suitcase on the bed and took a moment to collapse comically in the armchair next to it.
But the day was still young and she was far from ready to retire for the night.
She rose quickly and tore open the bright pink duffel bag and rummaged through her clothes; she had bought a few things specifically for this trip with her own money (she had cash to burn after all those missions). She pulled her headband off, tossing it somewhere on the dresser where she heard it clatter behind the wall, ignoring it, she stripped off her red tunic and short-skirt combo and boots and exchanged them for a more appropriate outfit: a black halter with rushed sides, a white denim mini, casual dress boots in a shiny patent leather, a belt comprised of gold rings, and several silvery bangles. She quickly twisted her hair back into a ponytail that vaguely resembled Shikamaru's spiky arrangement, pinned gold hoops to her ears, and set a pair of sunglasses on her head behind her ears---for later use.
Smiling once at the reflection in the vanity mirror, she grabbed the only purse she owned (a small gold bag with a single strap that wrapped around her shoulder), and headed out.
After a quick peek at the brochure, she decided she would grab lunch at a café near the hotel, do a little shopping, head down to the beach later, and grab dinner at the resort from room service.
The café was just across the street, so she stopped there, picked up a salad, a cup of soup, some raspberry tea, and a slice of cheesecake to go, which she then enjoyed on the pier. After disposing of the resulting trash, she stopped into several of the many shops lining the piers.
With her own cash, she picked up some clothes for Naruto, a book on the fine point of weaponry use for Sasuke, a set of sake cups for Tsunade, some exotic flowers seeds for Ino, stationary for Shizune, and the entire collection of Icha Icha for Kakashi---extended box set, hardcover.
With her credit line, she purchased a bathing suit (white with metallic swirls in magenta, pink, and dusky rose with a matching bikini bottom) and a snack of fried ice cream balls.
Then she returned to the hotel, figured swimming could wait, and ordered her dinner: a generous helping of chicken curry, a plate of sushi, and some sweet and sour soup before indulging in the chocolate lava cake and falling asleep on her bed.
TBC