Sai lived two doors down from Kakashi - who despite being the Hokage refused to move out of his tiny apartment - It was a plain apartment smack dab in the middle of the complex with the only windows facing outwards to the small yard between it and the next complex. Despite being a nice neighborhood - mostly comprised of single jounin that had served in Anbu - the complex had a reputation: it was filled with damaged goods.

It had a stiff unspoken cleanliness about it that if anything was out of place the entire complex would silently judge them until they left or it was fixed.

It was a perfect place for Sai really, hell Sasuke would probably love the place if he ever came back. But for Naruto, this place was stifling. He could already feel the judgemental glances cast on his back and he was just here to pick Sai up! They all said the same thing, he was too loud, he would disrupt the status quo. He would make their sanctuary a foreign place of chaos.

Thankfully he had no plans of ever living here even if the rent was reasonable.

Why was he doing this? He still hadn't found the answer to that question. He didn't want to date Sai, he was just doing this for the sake of doing it. Which was actually more of a reason than he normally had for doing things. No Ino was right, all he had to do was knock on the door and take Sai out on a date and have a good time. It was easy!

The only thing stopping him was himself…. Right?

Okay, hair check; still an unruly mess that eats combs for breakfast. Outfit; Semi-casual summer wear, perfect for a stroll through the zoo. Wallet; half-full froggy that was going to be very unhappy about today…. How was he broke again?

What did the book say about dating again? Something about just being funny, happy, genuine, avoiding sad topics, put the best version of himself out there. Which shadow clone was that again? Number two thirty-two was pretty suave.

Screw it! He was going to knock! His knuckle stopped an inch away from the door numbers. He was going to knock… any minute now. Any second his knuckle would tap on the wood and Sai would know that he was here for their date.

"Let me give you a hand Naruto." The door knocked on its own without his knuckle touching it. Kakashi passed by in his jounin attire, nose buried in a book, Hokage hat secured at his waist. "Good luck on your date."

Before the world caught up with Naruto, Kakashi had unlocked his own door and was safely inside his apartment. Leaving Naruto alone in front of a freshly knocked on door to Sai's apartment.

"Hey! Wait!" He was too late, way too late.

"Wait for what?" Sai asked, standing in her now open doorway. He had seen Sai in formal wear, he had seen Sai in her battle gear which was as risky as they come. But this, this was unreal, she looked like a mannequin at a high-end fashion store, her clothes both loose and form-fitting was like a sucker punch to the gut. An orange frilly shirt flirted with the waistband of her dull blue pants, the slim black vest that served no other reason than to simply make Sai look that much better. Her hair, normally flat and long against her back was now tamed into a ponytail that showed off the delicate features of her face and neck, while a fringe of her hair billowed out from her brow like a wave crashing down in front of her left eye.

"I uh," Naruto searched desperately for a word, any single word, it didn't matter what it was as long as he stopped standing there staring at a creature that was so beautiful and yet so alien. He swallowed a bit of spit and stood straight, shoulders back. "Wow."

A smile graced her lips, and she rested a forearm against the door frame, lifting her shirt and shifting her hips enough to make the pale skin of her waist visible - something he had seen a million times in her regular shinobi attire - and his mouth watered. "Wow?"
Her voice was like a purring cat.

"Oh!" Naruto jumped, reality finally catching back up to him as a blush slapped him in the face like he had landed in a cold river face first. She was a ghost in the moonlight, untouchable, unfathomable, and undeniably beautiful. "You just look a lot prettier than you normally do?"

Her arm fell, and that subtle bit of her waist faded from his view. Only to be replaced by her ruby red lips forming a pout. They shined like drops of blood on fresh snow. "So I don't look pretty normally?"

This trick! He had fallen for it with Sakura and just about every girl he'd ever tried to ask out on a date. It still worked. "I mean - That's not to say - It's just that."

She laughed. "Naruto, I know I look better than I normally do." She smiled, finger resting against her cheek. "I am grateful that you've noticed my extra effort."

"Are you wearing makeup?" It was a stupid question, it was obvious that she was, now that he looked at her, she was still pale, but she used that to her advantage, somehow making herself go from porcelain to painted porcelain.

"Indeed I am," Her smile turned into a frown. "Is it too much? I did it exactly how Ino showed me, she said it'd be the second fastest way to get you in bed."

"You…." Naruto trailed off blinking twice to make sure this was really Sai, he was still expecting this to be some kind of a joke. "You want to get me to bed?"

"Of course." Sai folded her hands in front of her tilting her body to the side in an attempt to act like a cute girl from a mushy comic. "How else will I find out if you're really Dickless?"

XXXX

Why did she say that? What made those words come out of her mouth? That wasn't what she wanted to say! That wasn't it at all! Not that she wasn't curious, but that's not what she wanted to say. She wanted to say… what did she want to say exactly?

The cute nervous side of Naruto vanished. The hour she spent getting ready to look good for him to lure him in and make him forget about everybody else if only for a moment was gone. Just like that with a few words.

"Sai," He almost growled, glaring at his feet. Freehand scratching the back of his head. He let out a sigh and his blue eyes flashed to meet her. "Can you please not call me that during our date?"

He smiled, it was forced… kind of, no, it was turning real. If he could do that with a smile, maybe… just maybe he could do that for her. "It kind of spoils the mood."

She took in a sharp breath, doing her best to keep her smile on her face. The book said to smile a lot on the date. To make sure that the other person knows that you appreciate the time you spend with them. She wanted to smile at Naruto every day. And for him to return those smiles. "Understandable, no nicknames on the date."

With a sweeping gesture, he stepped out of the way, giving her a mock bow. "Well, let's get going."

"Yes, I look forward to gathering more inspiration for my paintings." She nodded, bouncing along beside him in the way that Ino showed her. Short quick steps that according to Ino brought out the best of her traits. Ino was probably talking about her boobs… or maybe it was her hair? It bounced a lot when it was in a ponytail, she failed to see how this was any more alluring than how she normally had her hair.

"I like your hair like that by the way." Naruto smiled at her, both hands hidden behind his head as he took giant steps alongside her. It was that goofy way that he walked when he was trying to entertain himself. Was she boring him? The date had only just begun.

Wait, he just complimented her! What was she supposed to do now? Oh right! Chapter six of the book said that she should accept the compliment gracefully and return one of her own to Naruto. Okay, she could do this. "Thank you Naruto, I must say that this was rather a creative idea of yours."

"Really?" His smile vanished but his tone was still cheerful.

"I honestly expected you to ask me out to ramen."

"I was, but after reading the book I realized you'd probably make me go back and ask you again."

"It is still rather thoughtful of you, would you like to go get ramen after we finish at the zoo?" She was already rather on the hungry side, having only eaten half a ration bar. For some reason, her stomach had been too nervous to deal with any more than that. But now, now it was oddly calm, if slightly hungry.

Naruto's hand fell, one side falling to his pouch - where he kept his money.

"The ramen will be my treat." Sai offered quickly. She knew it was a dirty trick, Naruto would agree to almost anything for ramen.

There was that giant smile she wanted to learn more about. "Really Sai! That's great!"

She nodded. "There is one condition."

"Which is?" She really couldn't blame him for that untrusting look he was giving her, it was her fault she both loved and hated to torment him. Ino said it was a school yard crush, her book said that she was just trying to get his attention.

She held out her hand towards him. "I would like you to hold my hand like they do in the books."

It felt like minutes passed as they stood there on a populated Konoha street, her hand outstretched and awaiting his companionship. Was this too soon? Was it just hand-holding? But it was hand-holding with him.

"Uhh," Naruto laughed grabbing her hand. "You're so weird but sure."

She weaved her fingers in between his, feeling his pulse through his hands and feeling that wonderful warmth spreading to her cheeks.

AN: Beta'd by xxTerror33XX.

Not a whole lot to say about this one. I enjoyed it. Next update will be for What Is Due