Sorry for the delay but this stupid computer is really a pain in the posterior, hopefully I can update soon. Thanks for reading so far!
Thank you to all the reviewers from the previous chapter:
addicted2reviews- Yes! Gai shall have dainty brows soon enough
moodiful819- Jiraiya is not the smartest penny in the fountain at times but he'll learn from his mistake soon enough and as for Gai, just wait and see
NinjaBethi.x.x- Hell I'm not a NajiHina fan but some of them are pretty good and I'm glad you gave mine a chance
OneSong05- I will certainly put more of the other couplings in but that'll be a fair while later, maybe two more chapters but as for Gai crackin' onto Tenten…maybe I could get Neji to be just as overprotective as Kakashi
Deathgirl997- I do to and I hope I can update on a regular basis
Alanna The Lioness- I've always loved the idea of Kakashi being overprotective/jealous even if it is ooc but I'm happy you still like it
fangirlqueen- I really loved your ideas especially the one about his rivalry with Kakashi lol
Norikoko- I know, sexy ninja guardian ;) who wouldn't want a piece of that
Maelynne Naveen- It is pretty sweet and I'd rather spend the day as an emo than have the unlucky misfortune of having to it beside someone like Gai. Don't get me wrong, he's highly enthusiastic but that spandex can't be good with his Taijutsu sweat. Pit patches, eww!
asuka02redeva- Aww, they'll be lots of huggles. Don't you worry!
Priestess Hinoto- Hmm sweet, I like sweet things and I sall update soon…like now.
Mystic Spirit Angel- That has given me many ideas (evil grin)
animeaddict99- It was my pleasure, I'm a huge fan of this pairing too!
pinky101- Great name! It sounds so cool…I hope this chapter lives up to your expectations
Artemis 85- Gai doing anything is scary
Pineapple Demon- I love it! Gai performing a one-man musical extravaganza about the life-cycle of a butterfly sounds very promising.
Furanshi93- I appreciate the reviews, keep that writing up.
torkess- sits on computer typing this placement thing you've got going shows promise Walks away to get food out of fridge Thanks for the tip!
Placid Snowflake- Everyone inspires me and yes. Gai in the nude would be gag worthy.
A werewolves beloved- XD
BelleDayNight- I always found it funny when Neji shows emotions and jealousy of someone like Lee, I have to agree, was one of the perks of doing that triangle. I don't know how their reactions will be just yet but i'm really excited too...my damn fingers won't type fast enough!
Chapter Two
Maybe it wasn't such a good idea to start his research just yet, or tell Gai about his idea for his new book, or convince the beautiful green beast of Konoha that he'd be exempted from the book, or tell him who would be in it. Now in his bed, at the luxury hotel Tsunade had given him as an incentive to steer clear of the female bath houses, he contemplated possible theories on time travel and the consequences. He would give anything to go back in time and prevent himself from telling 'spandex' (as K.C labelled him) about his new volume of Icha Icha. Because now Jiraiya had spent a whole morning ignoring the irritating tapping on his room door coming from the orange leg warming wearer about ideas for the character of 'Agi Tamoi – A big hunk of sexy man meat who believes in the power of youth and has an eternal rival that radiates coolness and wears a mask'. The lords above were cursing him for all those nights he'd spent fantasising about women he shouldn't, all by his lonesome with a box of tissues.
"Jiraiya-sama, the youth and spunk of Agi could be just what your story needs!" Gai shouted at him through the door.
He groaned trying to will away the green pest standing outside his room, who was really trying to get a character based on him in the book. He ran through several possibilities on how to rid himself of the bowl cut bug and came up with one fascinatingly clever idea. He rolled off of the bed and sprinted to the door, opening it with exuberance and greeting Gai with thumbs up.
"Gai, will you do anything to be in the book?"
Gai tiered up and nodded his head while striking a ridiculous pose, showing the sannin how much he wanted it.
"Okay then, I will need you to run around Konoha fifty times wearing a ballerina costume singing 'the sound of music' deal?"
He pumped his fist in the air "YES!!!" he ran away to order his ballerina costume.
Now he could concentrate on getting better after the brutal beating the copy nin gave him. He was a sannin yet he couldn't dodge a few from a jealous copy cat ninja, who, by the way, didn't fail to mention the lack of entertainment his books were providing. Was it wrong to suggest he find a new entertainment, like having hot steamy sex with his pink haired former pupil? Yes, because he got belted for that too! Why, oh why, would his highly evolved brain fail him like that!
"For the love of all humanity! Where the hell is my shoe?!" All morning, all people had been hearing was some crazy woman screaming something about a shoe. On that exact same day many citizens reported a hyperactive blue eyed dog running around with a ninja sandal in his mouth and eating ramen at Ichiraku's. Once they put two and two together they guessed it was probably Naruto's way of confining Sakura to her house, while he searched for the skirt he'd borrowed from her. It also happened to be the same day a man in his thirties, reported a blonde haired man running around with a skirt on while being chased by a green monster with orange leg warmers, the night before.
All Sakura cared about was finding her shoes so she could go to the tea house with her female friends. She jumped over a pile of discarded underwear and stumbled over her mountain of medical scrolls, only to find that her shoe wasn't there. She bit the side of her cheek to keep from punching a wall in frustration. Her landlord was already a tight ass without half his building being demolished. The man just had to give her apartment a surprise inspection after she had her boys over for dinner, and Naruto just had to comment about his hair loss while Sai called him 'dickless'. She swore and ran to her linen press hoping to find her lost right shoe in there but found only a giant pile of dirty sheets, damp towels, bags of garbage and a receipt for home brand lubricant. That would be the last time she asked the boys to clean up her house while she was away on a mission.
Her extensive search ended when a knock was heard. She looked around her house to see if it was suitable for company…it wasn't. Clothes were everywhere, books were laying all over the place, her favourite pair of panties were hanging from the light fixture, the lubricant receipt was on the coffee table and all the furniture was out of place. She jumped behind a pile and went soldier mode through the mess to get to the front door without tripping over. She jumped out from behind a pile of self help books Ino had given her for Christmas and opened the door, to a slither, to find Naruto on the other side.
"Naruto-kun, now is not a really great time" She blocked the rest of her apartment from his view and smiled, hoping he wouldn't try look inside.
"I just came to give you back these" He scratched the back of his neck and blushed under her scrutiny. She held the skirt and missing left sandal in her hands for a few seconds then glared at him "I've got to go see ero-sannin, bye Sakura!"
He was almost out when a hand yanked on the collar of his jacket and pulled him back into a fist "BAKA! How did you get my shoe, and my skirt!"
"Sakura-chan it's just a misunderstanding, you see Lee made a bet with me last night…Sakura-chan what are you doing?"
She had an evil grin on her face and made a quick set of hand seals. Naruto suddenly found himself wearing Sakura's skirt while she had his pants "Okay, bye Naruto-kun"
She closed the door in his face and pulled on her sandal. She walked into her kitchen and grabbed her keys, checked the clock and bolted out the door because she was late. Naruto saw a blur of pink and realised it was the woman holding his pants hostage, so he ran after her, in her skirt. He noticed the breeze in his nether regions and wondered why it would be so cool and comfortable down there. Then it dawned on him, he spotted a few males covering their eyes and running in the opposite direction, mothers had covered their children's eyes because he wasn't wearing boxers. Hinata said she was taking them to her place to wash last night but he'd forgotten.
Meanwhile a pink haired kunoichi wondered why so many of Konoha's male population were vomiting their lungs up in the street rubbish bins, must've been food poisoning or a bug. She slowed down a bit considering the girls had probably just gotten there and she was in no rush, maybe just a little bit of a rush but not enough to run through a crowded street. The weekly meetings at the tea house only happened because it was so boring during peace time, as horrible as it was, some days she wished Orochimaru would rise from the dead and attack again, just so she could kick some pale homo-sannin ass. It wasn't all bad; the tea meetings were a free gossip time and a check in, of sorts, to see how each other were doing. No one would hold anything back and would just speak their minds, about others. Not once has any of the four of them brought up an issue of their own, except Ino, but they weren't really issues. More like specific unwanted details.
She always managed to steer the conversation away from her own love-life, the girls hated it but she was thankful it worked. Her thoughts on the dynamics of their weekly meetings came to an abrupt halt when a distinct flash of pink drifted in her peripheral vision. She turned in time to see Gai wearing a very revealing ballerina costume, complete with silk slippers and crown. As far as she knew, he hadn't made a bet with Kakashi so that couldn't be it. Then it got worse as Roger and Hammerstein's 'the sound of music' was sung off key and dry reached when he bent over to pick up a stray penny. Who would of thught that Gai's hair growth problem extended to his butt? (A/N I apologise for the image that may have given you)
She'd have to get a few more details about that later but just then she heard a shrill voice call her name.
"Sakura!" Ino was not usually one to keep quiet.
"Good morning Ino, Tenten, Hinata. How are you all today?"
Ino was almost pissing her self from excitement "Guess what?!"
"Seven" Was the medic's response to the blonde's rhetorical question. Ino gave her the 'seriously-not-funny' look and jutted her jaw to the side "Oh! Sorry you don't really want me to guess…go on" The other two giggled.
"Well, it started two days ago when I went shopping for stuff for my new bed because I could not stand the old sheets and the flat pillows. Anyway I was walking past robes n' things when I spotted this water fountain-"
Tenten came to the rescue "Long story short, Ino has a minute crush and won't tell us who it is"
"Hey! It's not a minute crush!"
"Ino-chan, you can tell us all about it when we get a table" Hinata the strong voice of reason halted any venture into a future argument and blushed when they looked at her. She still was a softie at heart.
They took a seat away from all the other customers so they could resume their beginning topic for the outing.
"Well, starting from the fountain. I walked over to the fountain 'cause it looked so pretty when I spotted a weapon store and guess who was inside"
"Michael Jackson" Sakura stated as if she'd been beside the blonde that day, the two other girls giggled.
"Damn it forehead, not funny!"
"They thought it was!"
"Any way" Ino ground the syllables through her teeth "I swear he's so hot, and if his reputation is anything to go by -squeal- I could die a happy woman!"
"Who?"
"Genma Shiranui" A light pink colouring spread over Ino's cheeks. Sakura spluttered and coughed trying to breathe properly but had trouble getting air into her lungs.
"Well good luck with that one pig, just don't get hurt"
Her bright blue eyes bore into Sakura's emerald ones "You don't think he's too old?"
"No" It was Sakura's turn to go red, once she was thinking about her and a certain jounin her mind didn't stop with platonic thoughts. It was a dirty habit but after spending enough time with Naruto and Sai, her mind was rarely out of the gutters.
"You know him, don't you Sakura?"
"I do"
"Can you hook a friend up?"
She really did not want Ino hurt but she agreed to it anyway. The waitress came and took their orders, stopping by another table full of males to flirt a bit. It was a sickening display of boob showing and high pitched giggles, all the while they realised it was cutting into their time because she still hadn't gotten their order in.
"Where has people's modesty gone nowadays?"
"Don't tell me you've never flirted with a patient Sakura"
"Pig, I'm not like that"
"Hey! I mean come on! How many Anbu have you had to heal, there's got to be a few you've liked"
They'd lost the cherry blossom. She was now going through a very raunchy scenario with Kakashi in his Anbu outfit, rescuing her from the clutches of Lee because of a jealous fit. The girls tried waving a hand in front of her face but none could get her to come out of the daze, what ever she was thinking about looked good because she had a goofy smile on her face. Tenten and Hinata both knew that for the last four years Sakura held a few things back, namely, her affection for her ex-sensei so they said the first thing that came into their devious minds.
"Is that Kakashi-sensei?"
Thinking she'd been caught, Sakura blushed ten shades of red and returned to the living. She apologised for spacing out and figured that she needed a drink.
"Sorry guys but I really must see Tsunade, I'll talk to you some other time" She slammed down some money for the bill and ran out the door hoping they wouldn't follow her and ask questions, like they usually did. They stared after their friend.
"She didn't even get her order yet"
The powerful man was always drawing attention to himself with his confident aura and look of pure danger. Women always found Goro irresistible and nothing had changed once he'd returned to his home town. His back was pained from the long wary travels through mist country and fighting off the bandits who dare come near him. He found a lake just outside the village where a beautiful young maiden bathed, the sunlight that broke through the confines of the forest canopy spilt over her figure making her seem as if she glowed. Her …Jiraiya glanced up from his paper and watched the three women bathing, one had dirty blonde hair, one brunette and the last one had dark chestnut hair almost chocolate but very wavy.
He brought the pen to the paper and continued…silky chocolate locks cascaded down her curved back, just above her soft delectable derriere. With the silence of his footsteps, the young woman never gave sign of knowing a dark stranger was about to interrupt her cleansing ritual.
"Cleansing ritual? You can do better than that, Jiraiya-sama"
The sannin scoffed at the copy nin but scribbled out the last two words regardless. He stood up, knowing that with the irritatingly calm man there he wouldn't be able to do a minutes worth of writing. The women still bathed, too absorbed in their own conversation to hear both perverted and infamous ninja argue about the subtle clichés of the author's latest works.
"You don't know what it takes to come up with descriptions of different women, they're all pretty much the same. They've all got tits, an ass and two holes!"
"Jiraiya, as much as I may seem calm and aloof, that is just vulgar and quite offensive to women"
"All I'm trying to say is that it's hard to come up with new characters. It's not like I can write 'Her body made him want to flip her over and mount her like a lion' It just doesn't sound right"
"It wouldn't be predictable"
Two eyes narrowed at the copy nin for the crack about his book because he already learnt that his books weren't up to par with his typical interesting ones, he'd been told countless times already. Not only did the man beside him have the attention of a ravishing young woman but he was an arrogant smart ass, who stole his analysis time. Research time was now reserved for probing questions about every ones love lives. He settled for ignoring the joke, in favour of getting a few questions answered.
"I need a drink, care to join me?" So I can get you drunk and open about your little obsession.
"I have to hand in a mission report that was due a few days ago, and catch up on some reading" He held up a single scroll that looked none to thick and presumably held only a few words in the main report. Veni vidi vici – I came, I saw, I conquered was his conventional mission report detailing.
"Oh, and if you see Gai tell him he can stop" That green clad stud muffin's probably still going, can't be good for my health if Tsunade finds out
The masked man decided it was best not to ask questions.
The rosette haired kunoichi stood outside the familiar shinobi hotspot and stared the whiteboard target set up out the front of the bar. A few other civilians stopped and stared for a few seconds but continued on, not giving another minutes thought towards the strangeness of it all. She needed to clear her mind of impure thoughts about a certain jounin. Entering the bar, even if it was early, she had nothing else to do and she had to work at the hospital tomorrow. Most shinobi had a saying 'Early start, early finish'. In other words: If you had a mission the next day, it was best to start drinking early so you could finish early and get a good nights sleep. Of course they could have just not drunk but what kind of weirdo would do that?
Remembering the whiteboard target she decided to inquire about its sudden appearance "Hey K.C!"
The surly man came bustling from the back of the bar and approached the kunoichi "What can I do for you Sakura-chan?"
"Why have you got a target in the middle of the entrance?"
"Well I was sick of going on a fucking treasure hunt to find the morning paper"
"So you set up a target?"
"And I watched him this morning, smart ass bastard, he got the target mind you, even if he was a dick head"
"HE'S ONLY EIGHT!!!"
"Kids still a dick head, I'm sure you're not here just to ask me about that. What can I get you?"
"Something strong, Ino's gotten herself infatuated with Genma now"
"That woman needs to learn how to close her legs" He pulled out a large bottle filled with clear liquid and two glasses, pouring a small amount in each, he slid the other over to Sakura.
"I'll drink to that"
The drink seemed to unleash a lot of emotions from her, like anxiety. The most prominent of them because she was always afraid of letting slip her little secret, fearing that he would just laugh in her face or get angry with her. Sakura stared at the bitter sweet clear liquid in her glass as a stray tear made its way down her cheek. She hadn't cried in four years, since her mother died and she was left alone with her overprotective father. No one loved their father as much as Sakura loved hers, Eitoku Haruno. She got her eyes from her father and everything else from her mother, except her hair. For some strange reason she ended up with pink hair which was completely different everyone else. Eitoku used to say her hair came from her great grandmother but her great grandmother also had purple eyes and was a psychic. In short, her great grandmother was a nutter and that may have been a cause for concern because of Inner Sakura but she was still functioning and not talking to an imaginary friend named Paki, as her great grandmother often did. So the cherry blossom was safe from being dragged to an insane asylum.
Her next few drinks came and went by quicker than she thought and soon enough Sakura was smashed. She ended her crying session quickly as her thoughts continued to drift around the subject of her affections but her mouth seemed to be against her and her deepest inner most feelings became words.
"Hey K.C! Did-d you know I hado sit on a stooool to g-get any attention" She giggled and downed another drink "And I still like that twisted pervert!"
"Really Sakura-chan, I had no idea you felt that way about me" Jiraiya's leering grin sent the few sober females in the place running.
"Not you, you assss!" She glared at him.
"Oh really" Suddenly noticing the other man in the bar, he asked a question that he'd been pondering over "K.C, what's with the target?"
"Kioshi-san was sick of goin' on a fuckin' treashoor hunt to find the mornin' paper, Jiraiya-sama" She giggled and grinned and then asked for more of whatever the hell she was drinking.
"So beautiful cherry blossom-"
"Don' call me that" Her voice was dark and raspy, almost as if she despised what he said.
His brows furrowed "Don't call you what?"
"Beautiful" she let out a hollow laugh "Don' speak unless is true"
"Oh but it is" pausing, he thought. Maybe, seeing as she'll barely recall anything tomorrow, he'd cut her some slack and tell her exactly what everyone else knew "At least Kakashi thinks so"
Her bright green eyes stared up at him hopefully "Really?" he nodded "Good. 'Cause I love Kashi-kun and I nevr tole him that, so shhh"
"Why keep it a secret? And while we're on the subject of potential boyfriends, why haven't you dated anyone since I was last here?"
"Well, you know my dad" He vaguely recalled the man, he was the one who'd punched him for hitting on Michiko, Sakura's mother "When mom died, dad said I could'n date 'til I was t-twenny-one and Kashi-kun keeps bashin' up all the guys that toush me but its only 'cause I'm still lil' to him. But don' tell him that 'cause I like it when he potects me"
He pulled out his notepad and wrote it all down; it was all gold in his book. He also wrote a few draft sentences for his novel.
He'd known of this kunoichi since her early years but knew not of the tortured heart she held. Her emerald eyes held sadness and fear, fear of rejection from the only one who could cure her misery. Her heart was in the hands of a man she thought held no feelings other than friendship towards her, little did she know; his heart was in her hands too.
Her father was her protector and also her guard for she was imprisoned in his ways of propriety and heavenward standards. Though her mother had passed, her father still saw that small trace of his wife in his daughter and planned to keep it safe, afraid the last of his love would die. His daughter knew this, and because of that she never pushed her father into accepting her love but waited for the time when he would let her be, with the man who she'd known since childhood; The man who held her heart but was unaware.
As he spoke with the depressed young woman he saw, that even in sorrow she was beautiful and fragile. Her rosette hair fell over her glazed eyes, shielding her emotions from his view.
"Sakura, why do you not tell him of these feelings you hold?"
A single tear fell from her eye travelling over the smooth ivory skin of her cheek and dropped onto the cold hard mahogany bar bench.
"I-I…
"Hey, what's that you got there Jirya-sama?"
"He he" He let out a nervous laugh "Just a draft"
"Oh, ok then" Seeing the, usually energetic, woman beat herself up like this made him a little sadder. But his musings on the feelings of others were broken off when a ballerina Gai and porn reading Kakashi entered the bar.
"Ah Jiraiya-sama, it seems Gai wished to show you of his…endeavours himself. Is this why you have readers block Jiraiya, a closet case are you? You should know that we'd accept you, it's natural after all"
"Piss off Kakashi, I'm not gay and for fuck's sake Gai! Go put something normal on for a change!"
"Yosh!" He was about to exit when a sloshed voice called him back.
"Gai-sensei, maybe you could wax those carpet monsers of yours and maybe youd get a few chiky babs onto ya!" She giggled again "An cut the 'youthful' sayin's, is soooo 'noying"
Gai's eyes widened, Kakashi chuckled and Jiraiya was on the ground in hysterics. This caught the attention of the ballerina man himself and he got the drift that maybe, if he were to get in the book he'd have to have a few 'problems' of his own. He raised his hand and saluted the giggling kunoichi "Wise as ever beautiful cherry blossom, I shall wax the most part of my luscious brows, purchase Kakashi style clothes and withhold from using my most favoured 'youthful' sayings"
Kakashi almost lost his cool but retained that aloof look he'd had since his teen years, Jiraiya started spluttering and staring, wondering if his friend was in his right mind –then again, Gai was never really in his right mind. Sakura rose from her seat with tears of pride brimming and she clapped, which turned into an applause from the rest of the bar who'd heard the green jounin's statement. He turned with his head held high, still wearing the tutu and crown, and left.
"Did he actually do that?" The sannin was still surprised, maybe he was that desperate for Agi to be included. Truth be told, he wasn't planning on changing any names.
"I believe so" Kakashi shook himself out of his dazed stupor and remembered why he was there in the first place "Yo K.C, what's with the target?"
The author answered this time "He was sick of going on a fucking treasure hunt to find the morning paper"
Kakashi nodded in understanding, he shifted his view to the only kunoichi there "Tsunade wants to see-…Are you drunk?"
She turned to him with a lopsided grin and tipped her head in the affirmative "Yup!"
He pinched the bridge of his nose and glared at the sannin. Affronted, the sannin felt the need to defend himself "I didn't get it for her!"
"Come on Sakura-chan, let's get you home" Even though he could hardly resist her pout he kept on pressing the matter "I've got good news, it's a mission"
Her eyes lit up as she jumped off of the stool and ran hastily out the door albeit a little clumsily. He waved goodbye after paying for her drinks, she'd have to pay him back tomorrow, and headed out after her.
He caught up with her out side the local grocery store because she was talking to the local grocery store. If she hadn't stopped he was doubtful he would have found her. Using the ninja skills he reserved for A-rank missions and hospital dodging, he crept behind and scooped her up in his arms. She was alarmed at first but relaxed once she learnt who it was and wrapped her arms around his neck, her face found its way comfortably in his chest. He smiled and so did the sannin that was following them.
They both were comfortable in the companionable silence, his strong arms held her petite body in his warm embrace as he travelled to her place of stay…No, that's sounds wierd...Ah! ... as he travelled to her home in which her no one was waiting for her. Her eyes fluttered closed while he lulled her into a drunken sleep with his melodic heart beat and tender hold. The moonlight reflected on the couple, showing the world what they had to offer as one, yet they were frightened of loving and loss. But in the each others presence they could at least pretend they were brave, pretend they were not afraid, pretend they were together as lovers and not just as friends…
"This is gold" He kissed his notepad and returned it to his cloak so he could follow the two on their way home.
The pink haired girl muttered in her light sleep; a few inanimate objects here, a few 'Naruto you baka' and a lot of nonsense about nothing. Then Kakashi's keen ears picked up a change in her breathing as she opened her eyes for a few short moments to let slip three words he thought he'd never here from her.
"Les haf sex" His visible eye widened a fraction, clearing his throat he went back to walking now that she was asleep again. Jiraiya chuckled at her tactless approach but went back to following them. It would have been a little more romantic if she just said 'I love you'
They arrived at the apartment she'd bought a while back to separate herself from her parents and learn how to grow up. Searching for the key in her pockets he found them and carried her inside. Kakashi found his way to her bedroom and laid her down on the soft cotton white sheets as he often did when he found her drunk. She always returned the favour when he'd been at the bar and couldn't walk home properly. He pulled the covers over her and scribbled a note for her to find once she'd woken up. Before leaving he found a box of asprin and left them on the kitchen table beside a glass and wash cloth. She was the medic after all, a simple jutsu could get rid of her hangover.
Jiraiya waited until the copy nin came back out and 'poofed' out of sight before disappearing himself. It seemed a regular occurrence for Kakashi to drag an intoxicated Sakura home.
Sakura however had just woken up after losing the calming aroma and warmth that had sent her to la la land in the first place. She was still drunk but not as bad as before hand, she caught sight of a note on her dresser.
Sakura-chan,
Tsunade wants to see you for a meeting at nine in the morning. Don't be late.
Kakashi ˚-)
A/N It's moving a little strangly in this chapter but it's mainly so you can get used to the thoughts and book excerpts, the next chapter is actually going somewhere - except for the bar. No bar scenes in the next chapter, as much as I love them.
