Day Three

The next morning Sakura received a call from Tsunade telling her not to bother coming into the hospital until the afternoon. Apparently they were training some new medics and therefore wouldn't need her services until later. This was just fine for Sakura, and she had quickly decided to use the morning to confront a certain blonde kuniochi about the packages she kept receiving.

Since she had apparently gone as far as to send two packages, it would only be right for Sakura to give Ino the acknowledgement she was probably dying to get.

"Hey, Piglet, I need to talk to you," Sakura called upon entering the Yamanaka flower shop.

"Hey Shik, did that forehead just talk?" Ino feigned surprise from behind her counter while Shikamaru, who was lazily leaning against the wall, smartly decided not to reply.

Sakura, who was by now quite used to their little act crossed her arms defiantly. "It's almost as amazing as a talking pig."

Ino smiled. "So what's the deal Sakura? You finally get over your little mood?"

Sakura's eyebrow twitched. Little mood?

"As if you don't know, Ino. Look, I appreciate the gesture but really," here Sakura leaned closer to her friend as she whispered, "What would Shikamaru think? You know, if he found out about us? I don't want to break any hearts."

Giving a saddened look to Shikamaru, who had clearly heard every word and now observed the two with a curious brow raised, Sakura pulled away and turned back to Ino with a smirk.

"What are you talking about?" Ino asked, confusion splayed across her face from Sakura's act.

"I'm talking about this!" Sakura replied, producing the cards she had gotten with the bouquet and the chocolates.

Taking them, Ino frowned as she read both cards over, flipping them to the back as Sakura had done before returning them each to the front side.

"You didn't have to do that you know. I would have been fine, but I guess I should thank you for the flowers and the chocolates." Sakura sighed, awaiting the sly smile her friend would surely give her as she laughed at the amazing joke she had pulled.

But strangely enough, the laughter never came.

"I didn't give these to you Sakura, though it really would have been a nice trick, I have to say."

Sakura blinked. "Y-you didn't send them?"

Blonde hair swaying, Ino shook her head. "Afraid not. See, it's not even my handwriting."

Producing a notepad she had been writing on, Ino compared it to the note. "Told you. This handwriting definitely isn't mine."

"Oh…I guess not," Sakura admitted as she saw the two handwritings were indeed different. "…but then who could have sent them? I was positive it was you."

"Aw Forehead, you know I'll always love you," Ino declared dramatically, while she embraced Sakura from across the counter. "But I think it's better for everyone if we just remain friends, you understand don't you?"

Sakura couldn't help but laugh. "I couldn't agree more Ino-pig. I'd hate to give Shikamaru too much competition."

From the wall Shikamaru mumbled "Troublesome" and both girls laughed.

"But all is not lost my friend. Maybe we can track down this admirer by their flower purchase. Why type of bouquet did you get?"

"A mix of daisies, roses, and lilies from what I could tell," Sakura replied as Ino gave her an odd look. "What?"

"We've been out of daisies for awhile now. It's out of season for that type of flower and we sold our last few weeks ago."

Sakura drooped at the new information. "So whoever bought these didn't get them from you…"

"I'm afraid not. Whoever purchased the flowers didn't get them at this flower shop or I would have known about it. They must have gone to someone else." Ino said confidently.

"I wonder why," Sakura mumbled, her tone dry as she looked at her nosey friend.

If anyone did want to keep something secret, they could never get something from Ino, that's for sure, Sakura thought.

"What was that?"

"Nothing," Sakura replied quickly before moving towards Shikamaru. "Hey Shikamaru, you're smart," she said as if just noticing the fact, "Who do you think sent this?"

Shikamaru eyed the pieces of paper for a second before he handed them back with a shrug. "Your true love?"

"Thanks a lot…"

"Oh Sakura! Do you know what this means?!" Ino cried, appearing next to her once again and draping her arm across her friend's shoulders.

"I still don't know who sent it?" Sakura tried unenthusiastically.

"Well that, but more importantly, you have a secret admirer!" Ino squealed causing both Sakura and Shikamaru to flinch.

"Uh huh…"

"Troublesome…"

"Ohhh don't worry Forehead, we'll figure it out! We just need to ask in the right places and—hey, where are you going?!" Ino called as Sakura paused before the exit.

"No thanks," Sakura said, waving her hand. "I have enough very open admirers; I don't need a secret one too. Later Pig, Shika."

Sakura smiled to herself as the shop door closed and she could hear Ino begin whining to Shikamaru. Her smile fell however when she realized she still didn't know who had sent the flowers.

Mind full of confusion Sakura decided to return home before having to go into work. Making a quick detour, Sakura stopped in at Ichiraku to get some ramen. She always promised Naruto to eat ramen at least once while he was on a mission. Something about making sure the ramen stand didn't go out of business while he was gone.

Getting a bowl to go, Sakura slurped her noodles and headed for home. When she neared, her eyes immediately fell to her front step and what she saw made her pause mid-slurp. Another package was waiting for her, this one even bigger than the other two.

Unlocking her door, she attempted to scoot the package inside with her foot, but instead of hitting a light package as she had expected, this package seemed to be filled with something very heavy and didn't budge. Meanwhile, her foot immediately began throbbing from the contact.

Cursing, Sakura gave a little hop as she balanced her ramen bowl in one hand and attempted to heal her throbbing foot with the other.

Pain subsiding, Sakura scowled at the package before setting her ramen bowl on top of it and with her legendary 'monstrous strength' picked up box and bowl and hoisted them inside, slamming her door closed with her foot.

Picking up her ramen bowl, Sakura stubbornly thought she should just ignore the package and walked into the kitchen, where she sat and finished her ramen.

After cleaning up, Sakura meandered around the house, but whenever she entered the front room she would look at the package waiting for her. Finally, her curiosity too great, Sakura gave out a frustrated cry and ripped open the lid. Digging around through the padding, Sakura located some very heavy items.

After a few minutes of rummaging, Sakura had pulled out all of the pieces of a brand new weight set. Her eyes glazed over with delight as she tried a few weights out.

I had been needing some new weights! Wow, what a great gift!

Attached to the largest weight Sakura found another card.

Strength

On the third day of Christmas my true love gave to me…

10 weights for lifting

"Whoever sent this must know me really well, and is also really strong to be able to lift this…, "Sakura mumbled while absentmindedly fingering a strand of her hair. Now who do I know that has a thing for weight lifting?"

Suddenly a thought struck her.

Perhaps tomorrow I should give Konoha's Green Beast a little visit…