Sakura somehow anticipated that it would be long before she met Jiraiya, so she took the time to unpack. She did not know why she felt as though she would take the job so quickly, without even studying what it brought to her, but she believed she belonged in a place like this.
She took this chance as a unique beginning and there would be no second attempt at a start if she denied it.
"It's like a small home isn't it?"
She'd been talking to herself since she arrived, her mind felt too crowded with thoughts already.
She'd open the curtains in the room, and was surprised to see there was no iron bar over the window, and it made the room brighter.
She had no transportation, but she didn't believe she had any place to go anyway. Her perfect chance was slowly opening for her, but it didn't seem like it would cure any sadness that she ever carried around.
There was a voice in the back of her mind telling her to look around and try to explore the place, but she was told not leave. So she decided to dial the man she had met, Lee, and see what she could do.
It took a while to understand the numbers she needed to dial from the small book next to the outdated silver telephone, but it was not long before a call was made to the 'Main Office/ Rock Lee'.
"Hello dear friend! Who may this be?" Sakura did not know how to respond to this so she settled for a simple question, "Lee? This is Sakura, the girl you met earlier?"
"Oh yes! I'd never forget that beautiful face anywhere!" Sakura coughed, "Thank you, Lee, but I'd like to know where I can go to eat something?"
Sakura swore she could hear the grin on the other line, "Do not worry Miss Sakura! I will personally go up there and take you to get nourishment!"
"No, no! I don't need to bother you Lee, but could you send me some instructions on where to go? I wouldn't like to get lost."
"Well, if you say so Miss Sakura. You just need to go down the stairs and right next to my office is the eating area. You might also get to socialize with some of our patients!"
Sakura smiled, "Thank you Lee, I'll pass by afterwards."
"I will look forward to it very much Miss Sakura! Good bye!"
"See you."
She looked around after lowering the phone, and fixed her white blouse before leaving. There was no use in staying in the room for any longer, she figured. Sighing, she opened the door and walked out into the hallway.
It couldn't have been more than 5 minutes since she departed to find food that she was found to be lost. It was not a large building, just very odd looking. It had a similar feel to it. It seemed as if everywhere you went there would be that same door, surrounded by the same peach paint.
She believed she was on the 3rd floor, and if Lee had said it was close to where he was, then that led her to the 1st floor.
The current predicament however, was that the stairs ended at the second floor, and Sakura had been too preoccupied with studying the new building when Gamabunta showed her around to really notice anything.
Her stomach was beginning to show its disapproval of her usual empty-headedness, and she wondered if she would ever get to eat.
"Are you lost?"
Sakura turned herself to face a young girl and nodded. "Are you new? You must be Sakura, right? She nodded once again, "Lee's been talking a whole lot about you. I'm TenTen, I work here too."
Sakura sighed in relief, "You don't know how great it is to see you Tenten, I can't find the stairs for the first floor."
Tenten pointed to a direction opposite of where Sakura had been previously headed to, and motioned for her to follow. "I was just going there anyways. Have you met everyone yet? Sorry I haven't been around to introduce, we're getting a new patient soon and I had to deal with all the paperwork."
They walked down the stairs and Sakura moved alongside her, "New patient?"
Tenten nodded, "It's a guy. That's all I really know. It's rare to get new patients, but this was a transfer. He's from Sand."
She glanced at Tenten, surprised, "That's pretty far."
"It's not uncommon though," Sakura began to see the office and Lee's dark black hair, "-we get a lot of transfers. It's probably because this place has had such a history of success."
Sakura nodded, "Thanks for dropping me off. I really need to learn how things work around here, don't I?" Tenten smiled, "You'll get the hang of it eventually. Hey Lee, I brought her. How could you let her come all by herself? She got lost, you know."
There was plain horror sketched onto the face of said Rock Lee, his shock evident, "I am so very sorry Miss Sakura! I promise to walk with you everywhere that you may require from now on!" Sakura laughed, "Yes! I vow to never let something bother you!"
"There's no need for that, Lee. I need to learn how things are anyway, I appreciate the help though. Anyway, have you heard anything about Jiraiya? I would really like to speak to him." He nodded, "Why, yes I have!"
Sakura looked at him, "And…?"
He smiled at her, "He's coming sometime soon, but he said he spoke to Miss Tsunade already. Not to worry Miss Sakura, you'll fit right in with all of us!"
Tenten remained quiet until then, "What did you need to get down for anyway, Sakura?"
"Oh! I wanted to get something to eat, if that's alright." She looked sheepish as she spoke, a small blush on her cheeks.
Tenten laughed, "That's quite alright. I'll just ask Chouji to make something for you. Hold on."
She followed Tenten into a room full of sofas and tables, with a small television in the middle. Tenten spoke to a young boy with red markings on his cheeks, and she saw him nod and go back into a revolving door.
It was not long before Tenten came back, a smile on her face, "I've told him already. Just wait until he calls your name. I think there's soup today, some of the patients have colds." Sakura nodded and uttered a small, "Thank you."
"I have to go now, I need to make my rounds. It was nice to meet you!" She watched at Tenten walked away, and looked around the room she was in.
It was not small, but homey, and had enough space for its current inhabitants. Hinata had left her room and was now on the small white sofa, reading a book, while Ino was sitting at a table, a bowl of soup in front of her.
Sakura focused her attention to Ino, and she noticed Ino's odd facial expression. She was looking away, as if not daring to look at the soup. She noticed another young boy with clear blue eyes looking at Ino, as if almost inspecting her, and she figured it was the ever-anticipated Neji. He was surprisingly handsome, with long hair neatly tied up. There was a distinct cold-ness with how he stared at Ino, as if daring her to move.
She didn't budge, as if used to this behavior, and did not even glance at Neji's direction when he walked to her. "Eat."
She shook her head, as a little kid would, and began tapping her fingers to the table's edge. "Ino, you are not a child. Eat."
She shook her head once again, as if daring him, "You'll be put on the tube again if you don't improve with this Ino." She looked at him in horror, "Don't even dare."
He dipped the spoon in the soup and motioned for her to eat it, "I have no choice if you don't cooperate."
She looked at him, as if slightly begging, but when he did not budge, she drank a spoonful of the hot soup, a frown on her face.
Sakura had been watching intently, but she looked away when Ino meet her eyes.
"Miss Sakura!" The voice of Lee calling got her attention and she called out a small, "Yes?"
"Sir Jiraiya is here! You can go see him now; it's the last room in the hall."
Sakura nodded and began walking to the room, her attention focused on what she had been looking forward to the whole day.
Meanwhile, a young boy looked on confused, a bowl of soup in hand.
"Did anyone ask for this?"
He was ignored.
Poor Chouji.
Tell me what you think.
Until next time,
Darkofthenight.