A free day, Sai had never really had a free day before so the first thing he had done when Team Kakashi was given one was ask Naruto what they were suppose to do. If he had ever been familiar with the burning feeling of unease that came with Naruto's response he would not have asked. But emotions were still new to him and thus a novelty, even the uncomfortable ones. So he had asked and had received an incredulous stare from the blonde who had made no move to cover his laughter or hide his amusement at Sai's lack of knowledge. Sakura was forced to take pity on him, something that had occurred more than once when Sai overstepped himself in the department of basic human interactions. Smiling apologetically at him, the only female he had ever had close contact with over a long period of time, had stepped in and offered to take him with her on an outing to the shopping district, resulting in his current predicament.
Shifting on his feet Sai stared placidly at the various garments hung around the shop. He had assumed that all women were the same pieces and designs. And not for the first time in his life he was learning how wrong he was in assuming. Standing alone in the middle of the rather large shop he was surrounded on all sides by various colors, patterns, and designs of garments that until a few moments ago he had never thought existed.
"Sai," turning Sai raised a brow at the blushing Sakura who was standing with a grinning Ino a few feet away, "I am sorry about this. If you want to go you can. My mother didn't tell me that one of her pickups was for…well for…"
"It's okay Sakura-chan," Sai smiled his patented normal smile, "This is highly educational. I have never seen anything like this before."
Ino giggled, "Really? A worldly guy such as yourself hasn't seen bras and panties?"
Sai turned his smile towards Ino, "I had always assumed that undergarments were the same for both male and female. Obviously some adjustments would be needed depending on size and different attributes but such variety was beyond my scope of imagination."
Sakura smiled even as her cheeks deepened in color, grabbing Ino by the elbow she tugged her to the back of the shop, "We just have to get the boxes and then we can go. Just wait here."
Nodding Sai turned away, his smile dropping as soon as he was out of their line of sight. Eyes drifting over the racks surrounding him, he sighed at the mass collage that the different colors made. It was slightly overwhelming, and at the same time more than just a little fascinating. A muted gold caught his attention, moving forward Sai ran an appreciative eye over the spotted faux animal print. The gold, brown and black satin was almost the exact replica of a leopard he had seen once on a mission to a northern river village. Picking up the rather smallish cut bottoms he tilted them this way and that trying to get a closer look at the detail that went into the design.
"Rather skimpy, no real practical use except ascetically pleasing," he murmured, holding them out he filtered through the various females he had come into contact with trying to place them in the barely there garment. A gleam of what would have been pleasure on anyone else came to mind when he pictured the controlling Tsunade in the garment, "Perfect."
"I wonder," Sai glanced around, not really looking to see if anyone was watching his less than usual actions but trying to find some other pattern to appeal to his senses. Placing the leopard print back he crossed the store to a display of brassiere and panty sets. Matched pairs stood at attention for his waiting eyes, and like any good general he walked down the line of inspection carefully making mental notes of which pair suited its female counter part. The plain ice blue for Ino, while the green would look best on Sakura. Tenten would look best in the pink and white polka dotted set while Temari definitely deserved the deep jade one. Shizune would look best in the plain white and Hinata should wear the black with lace. Fingers brushing appreciatively across his last choice he nodded, "Yes, lace for the Hyuga."
"Pardon me?"
Sai dropped his hand slowly he turned, his mind racing as he realized that someone had caught him off guard placing precedence over the fact that he had been caressing female undergarments in a public store. His smile coming into place he turned to face his observer, "I was just doing a routine inspection of the stock ma'am."
"A routine inspection?" The woman gave him a through look as if trying to memorize him so she would be able to aptly describe him to the authorities for lewd behavior in public, "I don't think I have ever seen someone inspecting a woman's unmentionables store before."
Keeping his smile in place Sai took a cautious step to the right so that he could get around her easier to make his escape. Noting her tired looking suspicious eyes and drab appearance he didn't think he would have to fear being chased down by the unknown customer, "Of course stores like this get inspections. Once every ten months is the policy but I am a bit early this year. Panty inspectors are a bit slow in demand, but look at the time."
Ducking around her Sai was out the door before the first ding of the bell could sound off above the door. The woman was left standing facing a wall of underwear and a light cloud of dust where his body used to be. Hands stuffed in his pockets Sai hurried down the street promising to send a note to Sakura explaining his disappearance from the store. A note that would have nothing to do with panty inspection or his new found appreciation for the variety offered in such mundane details of clothing.
