I See, I Want, I Need

Chapter 2: Extracurricular Recon

Night was her thought process' most active time, when torturing her seemed to be the best oppurtunity. Hope. There was still hope that whoever this Sayuri was wasn't for him and that he'd come to his senses. Just like Sasuke would one day come to his senses and love her. Oh yes, it was just the funniest thing ever, when the same thing happened to you over and over again. It was like being drowned in a whirlpool, coming up for your first breath of real air to be sucked right back down into the swirling waters.

Her dreams were sweet at first.

'Sakura, please have me.' Ren said, cupping one cheek tenderly as the other hand tilted her blushing face closer. 'I've fallen in love with you, and you only. I can't get you out of my mind, and I want to be with you!'

His pleadings were sweet, tender as he came close to her.

'Ren, I-'

'Ren! Ren my love, come to me! I'm waiting for you!' A woman with a beautiful face called. Ren turned his gaze toward the girl with long dark hair and big brown eyes. Sakura felt him begin to pull away, looking at her with a confused look. She put on a fake smile.

'Go to her...' she uttered. Ren quickly released her...

It was about then she snapped awake to hear knocking on her door. Groaning she glanced at the clock. 4 A.M.

WHO CALLS AT 4 IN FREAKIN THE MORNING?! Inner Sakura raged. Rubbing the sleep out of her eyes and snatching a robe moodily from the floor, she stomped to the door and yanked it open.

"Whaddaya want?!" She snapped. Ren stood there, a bit stunned at her moody display. He gave the back of his head a nervous scratch, and suddenly she felt guilty.

"Morning Sakura. You said you had something I could give Sayuri for her birthday?"

Sakura blinked as her inner self cursed her traitorous side.

What were you thinking? Inner Sakura continued to rage.

Brownie points, Sakura, brownie points.

"Oh yeah. Come on in, I'll grab it for you." She said, motioning for him to come in. "You know, you could've dropped by last night."

Ren nodded.

"Sorry, I completely forgot about it." He answered, looking around her appartment.

"Hang on, I'll be right back."

Sakura went to her room and dug around in her closet. Tsunade bought her some kind of weapon for each birthday that passed around. Last year's was a dagger that sported a marble handle, pink blending with the bright red inlayed steel. There was a red tassle that hung off the end of it, and it lay in a creamy white sheath outlined with gold material and an elaborate dragon of bronze. It was beautiful, but her katana was so much prettier, she decided. Not to mention the fact she hadn't much use for a dagger.

Coming out she handed it's case to Ren, who gaped at it.

"I hope she likes it." Sakura said with a loud yawn. She let out a yelp when Ren glomped her.

"Thanks so much Sakura-chan! You have no idea what it means to me!" He said, holding her shoulders and speaking in a serious manner. Sakura blinked, pushing down the butterflies down with sobering thoughts.

"It isn't a problem. Don't mention it." She said happily. "I mean ever. That was from Tsunade, she'd kill me if she learned I gave it away."

Ren laughed.

"Now I'm wondering what you do with my gifts!"

Sakura remembered that useless paper fan he'd give her. She was delighted to see it, and that he'd cared enough to remember her birthday. But it needed to go after being her last escape weapon on an S-rank with TenTen.

Laughing, she pushed him to the door.

"Go on, get out of here! Sayuri is waiting for you and I need sleep!" She laughed. Ren glanced back once more with a tender smile.

"Thanks, Sakura." He said quietly, turning and walking down the hall. She watched him go. She couldn't help it, and as he turned the corner to walk down the stairs she felt a familiar sinking feeling in her stomach.

It hurt. To know that you loved being with him, and loved him, but he didn't see it? Then he was telling you all about the woman that was in your place, how perfect she was. Sakura felt tears prick the back of her eyes. It was a simple truth Sakura had yet to wrap her mind around, despite her experience with the opposite sex: Men had yet to really understand feelings. The statement itself was about as obvious as her pink hair, while holding a bright pink sign up in the air that stated it. Sighing, she went back inside and tossed the robe back onto her table before retreating back to her room. Sleep. A couple more hours of sleep was all she needed.

X

Tsunade couldn't help but chuckle when a bedraggled and grouchy Haruno Sakura walked through her door. She could tell by the way the pink-haired medic folded her arms, jutting her hip and batting her half-lidded eyes.

"Shizune said you wanted to talk?"

"Someone woke up on the wrong side of her futon this morning." Tsunade teased before folding her hands together in front of her nose. Sakura's brow twitched.

"When will that rumor let up? I thought guys never kissed and told." She groaned before pointing an accusing finger at Tsunade. "Besides, I've updated since then." Tsunade snorted with a chuckle of good humor.

"Right. Anyway, the reason I called you here. We'll have to wait until your assigned team has gathered before we can discuss the terms of your latest mission."

Sakura ground her teeth, but stayed planted at her spot. A few silent minutes rolled by, Sakura watching each minute tick by until the door creaked open again.

"Yo. Sorry, I was just watering my plant and remembered I had a meeting with you, Hokage-sama." Drawled a familiar muffled voice.

"Are you Kidding?! You were still asleep when I came to get you!" A female voice protested hotly. Kakashi entered followed by a fuming Temari. Tsunade smiled.

"Yes, one of many excuses he uses to sleep in. Ladies and gentleman, I have an assignment for you." Tsunade announced, shuffling a few documents before her. "You'll be headed to the Sand Village."

Sakura's heart jumped.

"I need you to escort Temari home for one. And two, you and Kakashi," She said, pointing between the two, "will be the negotiators for a few new programs we'll be installing in the Academy Training programs for both villages."

X

Kakashi didn't need a degree in psychology to see the moment he entered that Sakura was mildly irritated and tired. Her posture was slouching a bit from her disciplined norm, and her hip was always a sign of annoyance. She would do it when Naruto was being an idiot (an easy thing to pick out since it happened so often).

"The notes for the programs are in these documents." Tsunade informed them, handing Sakura the documents she'd just been rooting through. "I'd prefer it if you left tonight, so read up on the road. You'll have time."

Tsunade paused before addressing Sakura.

"You'll really need to push this with Gaara. I know how close you are to the Kazekage."

Kakashi noticed her tension when the Sand came into it. She'd straightened a bit, then looked slightly interested. He smirked. Sakura could be read like a book.

"Good. Now go pack, get out of my office." Tsunade said, making shooing motions. All three of them bowed and quickly retreated. Kakashi pulled up next to Sakura, hands stuffed into pockets.

"You have any reason to be going to the Sand this time of year?" He asked as he pulled one hand back out, as well as a classic volume of Icha Icha.

"No, not really." Came her guarded reply. "You?"

He shrugged.

"They sell Jiraiya's stuff cheaper than they do here." He answered casually. "I'll see you at the gates."

Sakura nodded and they went their separate ways. Temari was still beside Kakashi when they split.

"The main gates of Konoha right?"

"The one and only."

Then he was by himself. This was the preferable way things were. Kakashi enjoyed his time alone, not just because of the privacy. There were times when he closed his eyes he could still remember what his comrades looked like happy, what they sounded like when they were chewing him out or drinking with him. Grape juice, of course. Sure, a sake with Genma occasionally while fending off Anko's come-ons was nice, the minor exception Anko. But when things were quiet, he could hear them clearly. Even his book was louder when he was alone.

Speaking of Genma, said ninja popped in front of him in ANBU gear.

"Gen-" THWOCK!

Kakashi couldn't finish saying the nin's name on account he'd been hit excrucciatingly hard and shoved against the brick wall of a nameless alley.

"What's your problem, kid?" Genma made a muffled 'urmf!' of displeasure.

"You know I hate it when you blow my cover like that. I'm trying to look a little cool here!" He hissed, moving his mask up to speak mano-e-mano. Genma let out another expletive, but continued after letting Kakashi go. "Listen. There's something up in Suna, and we have no clue what. You and Sakura are both going there on recon, so keep an eye peeled."

"I hope Sakura didn't get the whole brick-wall-shoved-in-teeth routine." Kakashi said with a raised brow. Genma's mouth twisted in a pervertted grin.

"Naw, we gave her the spread-em treatment." This comment earned him a good firm smack to the back of the head. "Hey hey hey, I was kidding, geez! Anyway, Look out for non-local nin, not to mention a couple Akatsuki members. We have a hunch they have a few flunkies in town trying to muss things up for Gaara again."

Kakashi sighed.

"They must have something against the old Jinchuuriki."

Genma chuckled.

"Yeah, more of a fetish. Tsunade wanted me to tell you a few other things. One, being not to tell Temari. She might flip out." He warned. Kakashi nodded and leaned against a dumpster. "Two, the extra-curricular recon notes are buried in there. As in, coded. A kid named Ren will be in Suna for a little while, and you can find him in the local hotel The Melting Pot. Supposed to be visiting his girlfriend or something for a week."

Ah. So thats why Sakura looked like someone shoved a stick up her butt.

"It shouldn't take too long to do, maybe a couple minutes. You'll have to make sure you come up with some weird excuse to stay there for another week." Genma turned to leave before pausing. "Oh yeah, from Tsunade: Don't screw up, Hatake. Hugs and kisses, Copy-cat."

With that, the smart-mouthed jonnin disappeared. Kakashi shook his head.

"Noobs these days."

X

A/N: Wow. So many watches! And now I've enjoyed the introduction of an ANBU Genma. Perverted, as everyone assumes this "ladies" man is. And I just love the word NOOB since I read a comic where Neji keeps repeating himself. Okay, so the only fluff was a hug. But now you know where I'm going! The next chapter involves Sakura, Kakashi, and showers. Yes. . . sees your faces and lol... Mehbe. Mehbe...

With Love (if you review)

GS!!