*Note: Since the contents of these little moments are so short, like tonight, some of my postings may even be twice per day -depending on when I'm hit with inspiration that is. Heh.

Blue Flame Interlude

Green eyes squinted above a white mask shrouded by a like colored hood as a sideways wind tried to push Sakura over into the knee-high snowdrift that she and her partner were currently walking on top of, with chakra staining the soles of their boots. A hand gripping the front of her equally white fur-lined jacket, the kunoichi continued her trek, pushing forward against the elements with Sai equally struggling beside her.

More than halfway to the top of that icy cap that was the dangerous mountain they were scaling, their final destination was on the other side: the igloo-like village of Karas.

The remote village being in the furthest reaches of Earth Country, she and Sai had been ordered to go help out a group of Rock shinobi with a new strain of flu virus that was spreading in that particular part of their own back yard.

It was all part of the newly formed alliance the five great nations had formed after the war.

Sakura wouldn't have minded really, if the effort to actually get there wasn't so vexing.

However, their short term goal was the top of the mountain and fortunately it was just a little further up. Sakura was more than thankful for that, for the lasts bits of sun poking out between the clouds above were steadily dwindling.

They seriously didn't need to go traipsing about in subzero temperatures any colder than what it already was, especially at night.

After thirty more minutes of their bone chilling journey had passed, they finally hit the top.

Immediately, Sakura's shaky hands formed seals, the fruits of her earth jutsu leaving them with a hut like structure to shield them from the elements.

Sakura chucked her pack that had been digging into her shoulder for the past hour onto the dirt formed floor, doing much the same with her body without delay.

After Sai stepped into their shelter, Sakura's hands formed even more hand signs to seal up the opening.

Encased completely in darkness now, with the slight howl of the wind around them, Sai took out the emergency Chem Light he had stashed in his black coat pocket. Neon purple light softly glowed from the stick as he used it to search around in his pack, looking for a certain item he had luckily thought to bring for just such an occasion.

Sakura drew back her hood and pulled down the white mask to her chin as she asked, "Did you remember to bring the scroll?"

Sai gave her a cross, "Of course," in return, feeling that her question was silly seeing as how he prided himself on always being prepared.

After pulling out said scroll, he set the purple tube of light down next to it. After unfurling its contents he did a few hand seals and then a nice little blue, chakra-fed campfire filled the center of the small room.

Taking her gloves off, Sakura gave a heavy sigh, "Well, this blows."

Sai gave a small laugh behind his black mask as he withdrew his own gloves to warm his frozen fingers upon the new warmth, "Yes, I'd have to agree in this situation."

Scooting up next to the fire, Sakura groaned, lamenting her distaste for their current predicament even further, "I'm hungry."

Pooling his mask below his chin, Sai offhandedly commented, "At least this fabricated hovel is sufficient enough for the night, even if your earth nature skills are nowhere near up to par with Yamato-Taichou's."

"Can it, you bastard," Sakura halfheartedly growled, knowing his dig was partly true. She really had ways to go in mastering the skill. She couldn't bust out an ass load of shadowclones to get the job done in half the time like a certain kyuubi-container.

However, she was doubly proficient in another type of ying and yang nature. Corners of her mouth turning upward, Sakura asked, "Beach or Summer glade?"

"Seeing as how I do not favor the idea of having rushing water remind me of things I'd rather not do in the cold," Sai began with a smile, "I'd have to say the glade please."

Seals were completed and they found themselves sitting under a night sky with a field of flowers surround them and their crackling blue fire, completely captured by the kunoichi's genjutsu.

Sakura laid her back against the trunk of the tree that was in reality the wall behind her, while unzipping her jacket with a contented sigh, "Being a ninja sure has its advantages."

"Abuse of one's skill is usually frowned upon, but I would have to agree with you again under the circumstances," Sai gave as he undid his own coat, taking it off to expose the half-shirted uniform underneath.

Sakura raised a brow, "For someone who is always prepared, I thought for sure you'd have better sense than to wear that damn thing in this kind of weather."

"Spending money on frivolities is not something a ninja should do. There are far better things to spend one's paycheck on like weapons, scrolls, or brushes," Snidely he offered, "I will leave such materialistic spending to you and those of your gender."

Sakura grumbled irritably, "Don't come crying to me if you catch a cold."

Speaking of the act of actually asking her for anything -without the threat of death looming over him- Sai smiled, "I would never."

Sakura glared quietly from her place as Sai, sitting by the fire, took out his sketchbook and needed materials.

However, the cold bit of earth behind her that was sorely messing up the scene of summer around her had the kunoichi relocating herself.

Sai said nothing as his partner for the mission pressed her back to his. He merely paused while waiting for the troublesome woman to still behind him.

Having finally settled herself with her jacket being used as a blanket of sorts, Sakura felt Sai go about his business behind her.

After a few minutes of silence passed, punctuated by the scrit-scrat of coal on paper, the warmth radiating from the body behind Sakura lulled her lashes to half-mast. Speaking up, voice slightly hoarse from her sudden attack of exhaustion, the kunoichi asked curiously, "What'cha drawing this time?"

She heard and felt his action pause as he replied, "A summer scene, much like the one around us."

With a feint smile on her lips, Sakura's head lolled to the side, leaning back on and partly over his left shoulder.

"Help detract from the cold, eh?" She asked, while closing her eyes.

"Exactly," was her reply.

"I know you so well," Sakura softly quipped, before finally allowing sleep to embrace her.

Being coaxed by the sandman, the kunoichi didn't notice the extended pause that seemed to linger as the one on the other side of her turned away body stared at his work in progress in silence. Nor was she aware, already breathing evenly in deep sleep, of the turn of the other's head as he regarded her own pink layered crown with a different kind of twitch of the lips, one that she rarely got to see.

A true smile.