Chapter 4

"So you groped her?"

Ino flushed at the crude statement, twirling her spoon around in her coffee cup, but didn't deny the accusation. Across from her sat another blonde with her hair pulled up into messy pigtails, munching on a pastry with an undeniable smirk on her face.

"Well?"

"You want me to admit it, Temari? Fine! I was in the process of a grope," she muttered, shooting the other blonde a heated glare. "But I never actually got to touch anything!"

"She's got good reflexes, to stop you from coping a feel." Taking another bite of her delicious snack, she mumbled, "Considering most girls don't notice you've moved until they're already half undressed."

The blue eyed girl decided not to comment, furiously spinning her spoon and avoiding the knowing glance her friend was giving her. The café they were seated in was fairly busy at this time of day, as business men and students were released from their long days of captivity. Finished with her treat, Temari braced her elbow against their small table, laying her cheek against her palm and pinning the other girl with a curious look.

"Spill."

"Spill what?"

"What's got you so wrapped up in this one girl?" Temari clarified.

"I-I'm not 'wrapped up'!"

Temari rolled her eyes, deciding not to point out the obvious blush staining the other blondes cheeks, and huffed, "Normally you find your victim, get in a little smooching and groping, and move on to the next. You've been flirting with this one for over a week!"

"W-well I haven't gotten anything but a hug from her!" she defended, crossing her arms across her chest. Thinking for a moment longer, she added, "She hasn't done anything, with anyone. She's a little shyer than my usual choice."

"Didn't stop you from chasing Hinata," Temari deadpanned. "I do recall walking into the girl's locker room last year, finding the both of you in a rather compromising position against the…"

"Shh!" Ino spluttered, flinging a hand across the table to cover her friend's mouth. Jerking her head at a group of starry eyed teenage boys sitting at the next table, she hissed, "I get it already!"

"Then stop pussyfooting around, Ino. What is it about this one that has you so obsessed? And even if a girl did hit you, you've never been this upset about it. Spill it."

The blonde sighed; sinking back into her seat as she distractedly stirred her now cold coffee. Speaking quietly, she finally murmured, "She's…different."

"How?"

She shrugged. "I'm not sure…"

"You're hopeless," Temari sighed. She tapped her fingers against the table distractedly. "Alright. What's the first thing you think of when you picture Sakura?"

"She blushes easily."

"Hmm. This is serious," the pigtailed girl grunted. "You didn't mention her boobs."

"H-hey! I don't focus on just girl's bodies!" Ino defended, a deep blush spreading across her cheeks.

The other blonde snorted. "Sure you don't." Looking around, she nodded towards a group of teenage girls standing at the counter. "What do you think about the girlie with glasses?"

"Mmm, she's got sexy legs…" Realizing a moment too late that she'd just proven Temari's point, she opted for covering her traitorous mouth before it got her into more trouble.

"See what I mean?"

A few moments went by as the chipper girl regained her thoughts, taking a sip of her drink. "So what should I do?"

"About what?"

"Sakura," Ino muttered, a light blush spreading across her cheeks. "Ever since I almost…you know…she won't come within ten feet of me! Whenever I try to talk to her, she runs away!"

"Apologize to her."

"Huh?"

"I said, apologize," Temari shrugged. "Tell her you won't do it again."

"But I want to do it again," the blonde blushed. Despite her tendency's, it was quite awkward to talk about feeling up a classmate.

"Then tell her you won't do anything without her permission. She might be shy, but I'm sure she likes to be in control of who does and doesn't touch her assets, ya know?" Just to tease her friend, Temari wiggled her eyebrows suggestively and was pleased when the other girl blushed even darker.

"Mou, Temari!"


Sakura huffed, plopping onto a conveniently placed bench in the school courtyard. Ever since the incident with Ino, she'd redoubled her efforts to find the source of the demonic activity that was supposedly reported to pop up on campus, but so far had found nothing. She'd searched in the library, the cafeteria, the rooftop, a multitude of classrooms, and even the karate dojo. However, all of them had seemed too exposed for a demon to appear without notice, and nothing abnormal popped up in the usual teenage gossip.

As she sat there contemplating where to snoop for information next, a grumble erupted from her stomach. Covering her abdomen with a blush, she murmured, "I don't think I'll ever get used to feeling hungry…"

"That would be a strange sensation after not needing to eat for so long, huh?" The pinkette froze at the familiar voice, shoulders tense as an even darker blush spread up her neck, face, and ears. Ino stepped into her vision from the right, sitting on the edge of the bench with an unnatural slowness. Before she could even get up to flee the immediate area, the blonde spoke again. "Wait! Please, don't go. Look, I'll stay right here, on the edge of the bench, ok? I won't move. Please, Sakura, I just want to talk."

Glancing at her curiously out of the corner of her eye, because full eye contact was much too embarrassing at this point, Sakura nodded. It was silent for a moment; the typically busy courtyard being occupied by only a few students, who all seemed busy studying. However, if one were to look close enough, they'd notice the side glances sent towards the odd couple on the bench, just waiting for more juicy gossip material to pop up after the episode the other day.

Ino cleared her throat, nervously tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "I…I want to apologize for the other day. It wasn't right of me to try to touch…uhm…well, you know…I'm sorry."

Despite the awkward topic, Sakura was actually amused by the situation. Who would have guessed Ino, the normally chipper, smiling pervert, could fidget and blush this much? It was good to know that she wasn't the only one who stammered.

When the other girl remained silent, Ino chanced a look at the pinkette. "W-well?"

"Sorry…I don't really know what I'm s'pose to do in this kind of…um, situation."

"You either forgive me or you don't," the blonde muttered, smiling despite herself. Sakura was just too cute when she didn't know what to do. When the pink haired girl seemed to be considering her options, Ino hastily added, "I promise I won't touch you without your permission anymore!"

"Pinky promise?"

Ino blinked as the mentioned appendage was suddenly thrust in her direction, following the arm up to the owners face. "Huh?" The Reaper's face was set in such a serious expression; it was at odds against her childish request.

"You've gotta say it, and then pinky promise," Sakura reiterated. Although determined that this was the right course of action in the beginning, she hesitated at the look the other girl gave her. "Is this not right? I-I remember doing this when I was alive…"

The blonde shook her head, gently reaching out to grasp her pinky with her own. Then, as solemnly as she could, she said, "I pinky promise not to touch you without your permission, Sakura."

The sunny smile she received afterwards was more than worth the embarrassing gesture. "Then you're forgiven!"

Although hesitant after just fixing their problem, Ino still couldn't help but ask, "Sakura?"

"Hmm?"

Blushing, because she'd never had to ask before, Ino murmured, "Can I…hug you?"

Sakura tilted her head in such a cute manner that the blonde wanted to squeal, her green eyes studying her intently. "Is that normal for you humans? To hug so much, I mean?"

"Friends do."

Shyly, the pinkette said, "Are we…friends?"

Ino nodded enthusiastically, putting on her trademark grin. "Of course!"

"O-ok, then. But yer hands better stay in neutral territory," she warned.

The blonde nodded again and scooted closer eagerly, slowly wrapping her arms around the Reaper's shoulders. Sakura returned the embrace, feeling her face heating up when she realized how warm it was to hug her classmate. She wasn't exactly sure how long hugs were supposed to last, and waited patiently for the other girl to disengage from the embarrassing contact. After a minute with no movement, she finally ventured, "Ino?"

Warm breath was suddenly against her ear, causing her to shiver. "I'm not giving up on you, Sa-ku-ra," the blonde murmured, her smirk obvious in her voice.

"G-giving up on what?" Sakura felt that strange tingling in her stomach again and mentally berated herself when she gulped rather loudly. Why did it suddenly feel so hot?

"Oh, you'll see!" And suddenly the blonde school girl was all smiles again, pulling away without the slightest remnant of a blush staining her cheeks. "Now come on, we'll be late for class!"


I really hope I'm getting across the strangeness Sakura feels being human again, especially with the small things, like being unsure how long hugs are supposed to last. I mean, think about it—have you ever hugged someone and been all "When are they gonna let go? This is awkward…". Or perhaps that's just me…anywho, hope you liked the chapter, thank you for reading and your wonderful reviews thus far, and please don't forget to review this and future chapters!-Master of all perv's, out!