Not Beta-ed

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Sakura's thoughts: 'Are like this'

Inner Sakura's thoughts:'Are like this, yah dig?'

Normal Writing: is like this.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Mood Ring Color Meaning:
green: average, active, not under stress

"A positive attitude may not solve all your problems,

but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort."
- Herm Albright

.o.O.o.

-

-

-

-

-

-

When Sakura woke up, she couldn't help but notice that she felt good. The type of 'feel good' a person could only get when they actually got 8 or more consecutive hours of sleep.

'Wow… I'm not tired.'

'You should do this whole sleeping normal thing more often.' Inner Sakura sighed, obviously feeling good too.

'Defiantly, especially if it makes you feel this… this… refreshed. I almost forgot what it was like.'

Inner Sakura snickered, 'Well obviously, we were only pissed off and tired all the damn time. Now, if we got laid – that would make this the perfect day ever.'

'Why have you all not given up on that? Hello? Not a whore here.'

'You should be. Sex all the time? It'd be great.'

'How you are a part of me I will never know. Now shut the hell up before you ruin my good day. I shouldn't have to deal with you this early in the morning.'

'Sweetie, it's past noon.'

"Oh shit!"

Sitting up bolt right in her bed and launching an arm out to her left Sakura grabbed her alarm clock and swore loudly as the little glowing numbers very clearly stated "12:15 p.m.".

"Tsunade-sama is going to kill me!" Sakura wailed as she tossed off her covers and quickly bolted towards her bedroom door, only to slam into it before she realized it was closed.

"What the hell?" Sakura shouted as her body bounced back and fell to the ground with a loud resounding thump.

Shoving her hair out of her face, she rubbed absently at her sore bottom before glancing up at her door where a note was taped to it, right in the middle. From the messy handwriting, she could tell it was Naruto.

Hey Sakura-chan!, it read and she could practically feel him beaming through his writing. Teme told me to come and make sure to remind you that you don't have to work tomorrow! He talked to Tsunade-baa-chan and got everything set up for you. She wants to talk to you at 2:30 though, so hopefully you're awake before then.

Laters! Naruto

p.s. I blame Kakashi-sensei for the shut door.

p.p.s. I LOVE YOU JUST AS MUCH AS RAMEN! CHA!

Letting out a sigh, Sakura grinned, her momentary rage and fear quickly forgotten as soon as she read the words 'you don't have to work'.

'Someone does love me out there,' Sakura smiled, as she stood dusting off her bottom before leisurely opening the door and heading straight to the bathroom, fully intending to take advantage of the rare day off.

The first thing she did was take a shower that was blissfully longer than 5 minutes, and enjoyed every second of the extra 5 minutes.

'Only five minutes longer?' Inner Sakura whined.

'Sorry, I'm just not used to long showers! And we need to conserve water anyways!'

Inner Sakura just huffed and kept quiet before Sakura had to threaten her, leaving her to let the tub fill up with bubbles while Sakura dried her short, nearly shoulder length hair.

Once that task was complete, she turned off the tub water before washing her face and putting on a nice clay mask Ino had bought her last year for her birthday. It wasn't surprising to find that it hadn't been previously opened.

Quickly grabbing a fluffy white towel, she wrapped it around her middle before walking back into her room to browse her selection of nail polishes. "What color should we wear today?" she mused as she quickly scrubbed off yesterdays.

'Green. Specifically that lime green one.'

'Electric Eel?' Sakura asked her inner, absently picking up the small tube and reading its name.

'Yeah!' Inner Sakura smiled.

Agreeing with her inner's choice, Sakura grabbed her toe separators and walked back into the bathroom, setting her things on the toilet lid before settling herself in the tub.

Swinging her legs over the side, she placed the toe separators between her toes before applying a few coats and then leaving it to dry before starting on her hands.

When those tasks were done, she settled her hands out to the sides of the tub, hanging out a bit like her dainty feet, before she relaxed.

'Can I just say that this is really nice?'

'It is, no arguing with you there.'

'It's weird that we're agreeing so much today.'

'Mhm, agreed.'

It was when her body started to become one large prune that Sakura finally pulled herself up and out of the bathtub before pulling the plug in the drain and allowing the water to drain out.

Toweling her body dry, she shrugged on her favorite robe and knotted it once at the waist before leaning down and pulling out the annoying toe separators. Leaving on her face mask, she wandered downstairs into her kitchen where she set up a pot of tea and began making some breakfast.

Humming softly to herself, she quickly finished her meal and even washed the dishes when she was done before heading back upstairs to get dressed after washing off her face mask.

Slipping on a matching pair of green underwear, she giggled at how well it matched her nails before pulling on her shorts.

'It's pretty hot today; do you think we should stay comfy?'

'Duh.'

Rolling her eyes at Inner Sakura's attitude, she wandered over to her closet and grabbed a simple white t-shirt and her ninja sandals. Knotting her headband around her neck, she grabbed her kunai pouch and attached it to her thigh before stretching contentedly and sitting herself down at her vanity table she rarely used.

'Some make-up would be nice…'

Sakura smiled at the thought. Picking up a light silver eye-shadow, she applied it to her lids before lining her eyes in a purple liner that made her green eyes pop before giving her lashes a light coat of mascara. She finished up her look with some of her ever trusty cherry chap-stick.

When she was entirely finished getting ready, it was 2:20 which gave her ten minutes to walk to the Hokage tower. Deciding to take her time, she strolled and took in the scenery and hummed a little tune as she weaved her way along with the civilian crowd.

With the Hokage tower in sight, Sakura sped up her pace slightly, as the heat was becoming a bit over bearing. Just as her hand touched the knob of the door, a crackly old voice crowed out, "Oh Sa-kuu-rahh!" causing her to instantly freeze in her tracks.

'Oh fuck.'

'You can say that again…'

'Oh fuck.'

Turning around slowly, with a forced smile upon her face, Sakura came face to face with the sexed up old lady who was waving at her madly from across the street shoving people aside on her quest to reach her.

She was surprisingly fast for an old lady who should be dead soon.

Sakura almost groaned out loud when the old lady reached her, looping her arm through her's like they were best friends, before leading her over to a bench to sit and chat.

"How was sex with the Uchiha boy?" The old lady crooned, practically salivating as she waiting for the details.

Sakura blinked owlishly. "I- I … what?!"

"Don't be foolish child; tell me what it was like to bang the Uchiha boy. I bet he's wild. Where did you do it? Wall… couch… roof perhaps?"

Stuttering and suddenly becoming very hot from the images being placed in her head, Sakura couldn't believe the gall this old lady had.

Before she could ask any more questions that would elicit dirty thoughts from Sakura that she believed she had buried a long time ago, she blurted out a quick "We're just teammates!"

The old lady grinned like Cheshire cat, "Keep telling yourself that sweetheart."

Not wanting to loose her good mood Sakura sighed, "Look, we didn't have sex last night. At all. Not even a kiss."

After that confession, the old lady sighed and slightly deflated, "Oh, well… I have to get going then. You should fix that problem though. Who doesn't want sex with an Uchiha?"

Sakura groaned.

'See, you're the odd freak out.'

'Just shut up.'

Letting out an irritated groan, Sakura stood and quickly entered the Hokage building to hopefully avoid any other odd confrontations.

Tsunade didn't seem to want to let her avoid that though.

As soon as she entered her mentor's office, she was bombarded with a question even she didn't know the answer to.

"Why did your broody teammate, who generally doesn't give a shit about anyone, come bursting into my office insisting that you need a flipping vacation?"

Slightly surprised, Sakura rubbed at the back of her neck, "I… I really don't know."

It was then that her shishou actually looked up from her paper work and sake and she blanched. "You, look different. The good kind. Did you get laid?"

"Shishou!" Sakura squealed, her cheeks becoming a darker shade of pink, "No! I, I just finally got some sleep and put on some make-up!"

Tsunade grinned, "Well, you should do that more often… and you should still get laid. There are plenty of shinobi out there who would be willing to help you out… You know, strong, muscular shinobi whose talents can be put to use in other aspects of life… often in bed… or other places…."

She laughed at the fact Sakura looked ready to pass out. "Don't worry Sakura, that isn't what I called you in her for today."

Her pupil sighed with relief, yet still looked disturbed.

"The real purpose for today," Tsunade spoke, finally getting to business, "Is to notify you of your 10 day vacation. No assigned work in the hospital, and I'm taking you off the roster. You're teammates even offered to pay for a day at the spa for you."

Sakura grinned, "Really Tsunade-shishou?"

"No," Tsunade snickered, "But I'm taking it out of their paychecks anyways."

The two women laughed and Tsunade opened another scroll and quickly skimmed its contents. "Oh, and Sakura?"

"Hmm?"

"Could you do me a favor today? And I'll extend you vacation one more day."

"Sure, what is it?"

"Iruka is sick, and we need someone to take over at the Academy. It appears the current substitute isn't doing so well."

"Of course, Tsunade-shishou."

"Wonderful, you might want to head over there now before something gets blown up."

Laughing and nodding her head, Sakura took her mentor's advice and headed towards the Academy the fastest way she knew how – leaping out of the window and running across the rooftops. Vaguely she heard Tsunade shout out to her back to 'Stop jumping out of my god-damn window. Use the door damn it!'

When she reached the Academy, she noticed the kids running around the yard like chickens with their head cut off, and some poor old lady was pinned by her clothing to the wall with kunai.

'Prepare for hell…' Inner Sakura groaned, and mimicking preparing for battle within her head. Sakura rolled her eyes.

Walking up to the old lady, Sakura quickly helped her down. "Hi, I'm Sakura Haruno, I'm hear to take your place in substituting?"

"Oh thank god!" the old lady cried before shaking her hand, "Good luck, you'll need it."

With those words, the old lady took off running away from the Academy.

'They must have done something horrible to her.' Sakura sighed, before turning to the wayward children.

'Probably tortured her.' Inner Sakura lamented, looking at the children stabbing tree's with kunai, pushing each other into the dirt, and trying to hang a sleeping student.

'I should have made Tsunade pay me for this.'

Letting out a sigh, Sakura placed her pointer finger and thumb into her mouth, letting out a loud whistle that instantly caught the students' attention causing them all to freeze in what they were doing at look at her. Pointing at the ground before her, Sakura commanded a simple "Come here" without even saying anything.

They must have decided to play dumb or deaf, because they resumed what they were all doing.

"GOD DAMN IT!" Sakura roared, surprising them with a fury that seemed highly un-natural to come from such a friendly, and small, looking lady, "I said COME HERE!"

They all began lagging towards her and Sakura's fists clenched and unclenched like some form of twitch.

When they all finally surrounded her, Sakura glared each and every one of them down, "My name is Sakura Haruno, and I will be your substitute teacher for the remainder of the day." Some of the children gulped and one brave little boy raised his hand. "Is your hair really pink?"

"Yes."

And the flood gate of questions opened.

"Do you hate us?"

"I won't if you behave."

"Aren't you the Hokage's apprentice?"

"Yes."

"What are those thingy's under your shirt?"

"Those are boobs you butt wipe," some other student answered for her.

"Miss Sakura, why do girls have boobs?"

"Um, to … help make our shirts fit."

"Why don't boys have boobs?"

"Because you have different shirts from girls."

"Oh. Am I allowed to ask that man behind you a question?"

"Who?" Sakura asked, turning around to find Sasuke smirking behind her.

'Sasuke would lurk behind us like the grim reaper instead of saying hello.'

Sakura rolled her eyes at him, but nodded at the little boy before her.

Proudly he stood up and told Sasuke, "Boys have a penis, and girls have a vagina."

Coughing into his hand, Sakura grinned at Sasuke's discomfort, "Ah, I know."

Holding a bento box out to Sakura, Sasuke ran a hand through his hair and stood there looking uncomfortable as all the little kids looked up at him with admiration in their eyes.

"Mr., are you Miss Sakura's boyfriend?"

"What's your name?"

"You're even cuter than Nato, and he's the cutest boy in school!"

When he wasn't answering fast enough, the kids just stared up at him while they waited for his answers. Looking towards Sakura for help, Sasuke sighed when she just giggled at him.

"No, we aren't dating, and my name is Sasuke Uchiha."

"You don't think Miss Sakura is pretty? Why wouldn't you want to date her?" the little boy sounded scandalized.

Sasuke seemed harassed and tired of questions and Sakura decided now was the time to interject before Sasuke chidori-ed one of the poor little kids, and more importantly, before he said something that might hurt her feelings.

"Alright kids, let's head back inside. Snack time!" Sakura smiled, and the kids all cheered with excitement.

"Thanks for the lunch Sasuke," Sakura smiled nodding at him while she headed back up towards the actual school building. Sasuke nodded and smirked before turning on his heel and walking away, giving her a small wave goodbye.

The chorus of, "What? No hug?!" from the school building wasn't missed, and made Sasuke stop in his tracks and turn around to glare at the students hanging out the window. Laughing, Sakura quickly jogged over to him and gave him a quick hug before heading up into her classroom, a light blush adorning her cheeks.

From that point, the students were manageable until their 4 'o clock dismissal. The girls spent most of the time day-dreaming about Sasuke, while the little boys surrounded Sakura and asked her about her adventures as a Konoichi.

Yet, something was doomed to disrupt the peace, and as soon as Sasuke walked through that door two minutes before the bell, all the girls in the class instantly swarmed him with high pitched squeals of "Sasuke-san!" that could be used as some form of torture by Ikibi.

Laughing at her teammate's discomfort as he was attacked by giddy 7 year old girls, Sakura smiled and waved at him from her circle of boys that refused to let her greet him as they made a wall of little people between them. He simply arched an eyebrow at her before motioning to his watch.

"Time to pack up class, the bells going to ring," Sakura ordered while trying to gently pry the little boys from her person.

"Aw," the students groaned.

"We don't want you to leave, Miss Sakura and Sasuke-san!"

"Sorry," Sakura smiled trying to lighten their eventual upset, but glad that she wouldn't have to deal with that again.

Mumbling angrily to themselves the students all went to their desks and packed up their things, and left the class slowly and huffing once the bell rang.

Letting out a sigh, Sakura went to the desk and finished the old lady's status report while Sasuke slouched against the chalkboard.

"I didn't realize you were coming to pick me up," Sakura smiled as she pushed it away and led him out of the class before turning around to lock it. He shrugged.

"I was training in the field next to the school."

Sakura laughed and looped her arm through his, "Mhm, you don't have to make it sound like some chore you have to do, you know."

Sasuke smirked at her, "Hn."

Rolling her eyes, Sakura pinched his bicep. "Since you're escorting me home and all, you should be gentlemanly and help me get my groceries."

"On one condition," Sasuke grunted, looking down at her.

"What's that?"

"You buy me a tomato."

She tried to smother her giggles, because he looked serious, but she failed and her laughter all but spilled over her lips.

"It's a deal Sasuke-kun; I'll even throw in some of your favorite tea if you carry the bags."

It took them about an hour to get all of the groceries that were on Sakura's list, and since Sasuke wanted the promised tea, he carried each and every one of the eight bags while Sakura carried her little box of pocky.

"How are you going to manage to eat all this on your own?" Sasuke asked, motioning towards the bags hanging from his arms.

Sakura laughed at him, "I make actual meals Sasuke-kun, and the team eats at my house most of the time, remember?"

"Ah."

"Want me to carry some of the bags?"

"I've got it."

"You sure?"

"Yes Sakura."

'Just let him be the man and carry the bags.'

"Sakura."

"What?"

"Your friend is coming towards us down the street again."

"Oh no."

"Saa-kuu-rah!" Screeched the now familiar voice of that crazy old hag who looked even more sexed up than she did this morning.

'I'm going to be haunted by horrible mental images of old people having sex for the rest of my life.'

'I wish you didn't say that.'

'Wanna know how to fix it? Naked Sasuke.'

'Oh my god.'

While she was chatting with her inner, the old lady shuffled even faster until she had closed in upon her prey and was practically preening before them.

"Hello, Sasuke-kun," she slurred, fluttering her eye lashes and looking him up in down in a clearly suggestive way that made Sakura's skin crawl in discomfort. Quickly taking four of the bags, she clung to his closest arm for protection from the emotional distress this woman seemed determined to bring upon her.

"Just the couple I was looking for," the lady continued.

"I just thought I'd tell you that it's unhealthy and not normal for a young couple such as yourselves to not have sex.

If you really loved each other you'd already cross that mark, unless Sasuke-kun doesn't know what to do… as I'd gladly tutor you. Or… if the Sakura girl is a prude, I'll gladly warm up your bed. She is a little homely looking don't you think?"

Mouth agape, Sakura was truly stunned with words, and the smell of alcohol practically seeped out of each and every pore upon the woman's body. About to respond to the comment about her being ugly, Sasuke beat her to it.

"We have dinner waiting Oba-san."

With that said he tugged a slightly deflated Sakura along with him towards her house. When he reached her home, Naruto and Kakashi opened the front door and grinned at him, their smiles fading at the upset look upon their dearest Sakura-chan's face.

"What's the matter Sakura-chan?"

She shrugged, and walked into the house leaving the boys at the front door, while she headed to the kitchen to start cooking. Expectantly Kakashi and Naruto turned to Sasuke for answers.

"That old Oba-san, the one who has sex all the time, called Sakura 'homely'."

Naruto and Kakashi crossed their arms across their chest, "And you didn't correct her?"

Sasuke snorted, "Do I really look like the type of guy to burst with random compliments like you or Lee?"

Naruto frowned and poked Sasuke chest, "Obviously not, you socially constipated reject. Aren't you supposed to tell the girl you like though that she's beautiful sometimes? That would have been a perfect chance to do so without it being random since you still want this to be hush, hush."

Kakashi nodded his head in agreement, "That old lady's going to fuck your plan up."

Sasuke, deciding to ignore them, instead walked into the kitchen to help Sakura cook while Naruto and Kakashi, the two who had no cooking abilities, sat at the kitchen counter.

While eating dinner, it was oddly quiet with only Kakashi and Naruto providing conversation. Sakura simply sat there, pushing around her food, and Sasuke glared at the table. Letting out a sigh, and running a hand through his hair, Sasuke turned to her.

"You really aren't taking a word of what that old hag said to heart, are you?"

She shrugged.

Naruto, quick to offer compliments opened his mouth, but Kakashi quickly shushed him by stomping on his foot, leaving Sasuke to fend for himself.

"Well, that's stupid," Sasuke grunted grabbing his plate and walking into the kitchen.

"What?" Sakura growled, grabbing her own and following him.

Placing his plate in the sink after rinsing it off, he moved aside so Sakura could do the same before answering her.

"I said listening to a word that old hag said is stupid. You're beautiful and you know it, so why bother listening to some whore calling you ugly? She's jealous, drunk, and old. Nothing for you to get upset over."

Sakura rubbed at her forehead and growled, "I get what you mean, but I … I'm not talking about this with you."

Sasuke smirked and moved closer to her. "Is this about you not getting laid lately again?"

She vigorously shook her head no, but her blush provided him the right answer.

Chuckling softly to himself, he grabbed her wrist and tugged her gently towards him, "Get a boyfriend."

With that said, he gently kissed her cheek before leaving the kitchen, turning around to add, "But I have to approve of him first."

Standing in the kitchen, Sakura blushed and gently touched her cheek where he kissed her vaguely aware of Naruto shouting, "What happened? Teme, TEME ANSWER ME!" before the front door shut, and his loud voice was smothered.

Shaking her head, and continuing to wash the dishes with her good mood returned, Sakura started to hum to herself. Drying her hands upon a towel, she went and locked the front door before crawling into her bed and pulling out her diary to record the day's events before reading her favorite romance book.

'Sasuke-kun kissed our cheek.'

'Aye, aye captain obvious.'

'You should have jumped him in the kitchen.'

'With Kakashi and Naruto in the next room…'

'Okay… well… make them leave first.'

'Do you think of anything else besides sex?'

'No, that's your job.'

'Obviously…'

'This is why everyone thinks you're a prude.'

'I am not!'

'No… a prude certainly wouldn't read your trashy romance novels… but you still act like one.'

'I thought I could end this day on a good note… So stop harassing me.'

'Fine.'

Letting out a sigh, Sakura quickly finished writing in her journal before taping it again beneath her desk, and pulling out a random novel from her bookshelf. Flipping it open to her favorite part, Sakura snuggled into her bed and let out a contented sigh.

'Today was pretty good…' she mused. 'I still have no idea why people have to worry about my sex life.'

'Because you're 25, and haven't had a serious boyfriend, or good sex.'

'You know what? Go back to the creepy corner. Now. It's not my fault those guys just hit it and quit it.'

'Fine, fine…'

Hello everyone! Sorry this one came out late, but I've been having 3-4 hours of math homework every night and it's been getting a bit ridiculous. I should have dropped the class earlier, but now i'm at the point where it's almost over so I need to just grit my teeth and bear it. So, don't hate me?

Reviews make me really, really happy. :)