IV
A P R I L
Part II
"What are you thinking about? Your eyes looked all glossy there."
Time passed like years inside the hospital walls. She was finally allowed to go home. She had questions rolling around her head during her stay, unanswered. After her confession to Temari, she'd shut herself up and spent her days out of sorts. Most of her time was devoted to pondering her own feelings, what to do, what will become of them. She was terrified. There was nothing to do but wait. Even she knew all her speculations did nothing for her, yet she kept trying to consider every side of the dice and hope for the best. Temari nudged her for the third time.
"Nothing!" Sakura replied, louder than she intended, disconcerted from being dragged out of her thoughts. "I'm just looking forward to getting out of here that's all."
"Oh I bet you are. I recommend you start moving your ass and getting your stuff packed. The sooner you do it the sooner we get home to your fair-headed princess," Temari said. Sakura dismissed her statement with a turn of the head, and shouldered her out of the way as she reached for her bag.
"Where is Ino, by the way?" Sakura asked.
Temari smothered a laugh. "Dunno, watching the Rouge I guess. She's been pretty dedicated while you were gone. It's actually pretty refreshing seeing someone in that little cafe of yours beside you. All you need now are nice uniforms. The shorter the better if you care for my opinion."
"Not getting into any trouble I hope?" Sakura said, ignoring her last statement.
"If you mean trouble as in harassment from customers, phone numbers and cheesy pick-up lines, it doesn't look like anything she hasn't dealt with before by the looks of it. Besides, most people think she's your girl. So it's mostly tourists and hermits or part-time city-dwellers who try."
Sakura zipped up her bag and slung it over her shoulder, manually reconstructing her facial muscles to remain neutral. "That's stupid."
The duffel bag neatly fell into place by Sakura's hip. Temari stood out of the way, bending slightly at the waist in a playful bow as she passed.
During the drive home, Sakura looked over at her friend in the driver's seat of her little red Toyota.
"Temari," she said quietly, so seriously that the car was dramatically slowed. Drivers behind them, alarmed, intuitively sounded their horns and dove into the parallel lane. Temari immediately pulled to a stop along the curb.
"Yeah?" Temari replied. "What's wrong?"
"I need to know something. It's been bothering me for a long time. Who saved me?"
Temari quirked an eyebrow. "You can't guess?"
"That's why I'm asking."
"Alright, alright, don't get your panties in a bunch. It's pretty obvious if you think about it. There were only three people in the room."
"Are you sure there wasn't a third party who came charging in to help me?"
"Sakura, please, I'm don't know whether to laugh or cry. Let me emphasize my point. There were three people in the room. And only three until the police arrived. You, that creeptastic bastard, and Ino. Does that make it obvious? Process of elimination, hun."
Sakura played with the idea in her mind.
"Why do you have to think about this?" Temari said.
"Ino," Sakura finally said. Her eyes were wide. Her cheeks flushed pink in embarrassment.
"Don't look so shocked. I'd really question her if she didn't do what she did."
"I think its funny how no one really told me what happened that day. In a sad way."
"Ah, well she was pretty shaken up when we found her. Everyone was there-the cops, the ambulance, the firefighters—myself included-and half the town. The cops got to the bastard first. He's behind bars now, waiting for his life sentence I hope. Anyway, I followed the paramedics toward you and Ino. They put you in the stretcher right away. I stayed with her. She looked exhausted and dazed. Before long she was sobbing up my uniform, laughing and crying at the same time. You can't even imagine! So I asked her what happened but she was absolutely hysterical. Instead, she just pointed to this bloody item on the floor. Get this. She'd hit a bulls-eye on the back of his head with your frying pan," Temari said. She threw her hands around in abstract gestures out of excitement she felt recalling that day.
"Yeah he was bleeding a bit." Temari shrugged it off like trivial gossip.
"Oh," was all Sakura could say.
"Oh and Sakura? Tenten told me something interesting a few weeks ago. I thought I should share it with you."
"Yeah?" Sakura looked on her friend's face with concern when the atmosphere dropped with sudden weight.
"Well...don't take this the wrong way but Tenten and I have been thinking. Ino probably doesn't want a relationship right now after all of that drama the other day, so, yeah..."
"You want me to forget about her right? I know. Trust me, I want to. But right now I just want to take care of her. I just can't shake off this protectiveness I feel. You know what I mean? She's stoic on the outside but you still can't help but want to help her, can't help but want to hold her and tell her everything will be alright. It's temporary anyway so just let me have my fill I guess."
Temari patted her on the shoulder with a small smile. "Yeah, I know," she said. "The question is: are you willing to give someone else a shot? There's been someone asking about you recently. A regular at the bookstore. She's new here and she doesn't have many friends but I think she likes you."
"Do I know her?"
"I don't think so. She's probably too scared to visit you at the Rouge. I met her once. She's really shy. In a really cute way though," she added with a grin.
"How could she like me when she never met me?"
"Jesus, Sakura. Well, I guess you would never understand since you've always been the centre of attention. That's okay. Give it a try! How 'bout it? Tomorrow night? I could set you up. It's just one date. If you don't like it then fine, just indulge her. No. Indulge me. And Tenten. And yourself for that matter. Have some fun! Okay? Then it's settled."
Sakura shrugged. "Sure. I probably don't have much else to do. What's another day off gonna hurt?"
"Exactly," Temari said with a triumphant smile. "I do miss those bagels though."
X
Her luggage was all of one red duffel bag, filled with clothes and some of the gifts she'd received during her stay. Temari had been kind enough to move the rest of the gifts the day before. One really cannot begin to understand the extent of their popularity until a stay in the hospital. Over the week of her stay, her friends, neighbours, and people she'd fallen out with, people she couldn't even recognize, had poured onto her all sorts of gift baskets, fluffy animals, fruits, soups, soaps and other things she really didn't know what to do with. There was only so much fruit a person can eat and so much soap a person can use.
Ino greeted them at the door with the two kids jumping up and down on either side of her, shouting in what could've been Swahili for all Sakura understood. Temari left as soon as she said her hellos on the pretext of having a date with Tenten, but the coy smile told Sakura otherwise.
"It's great to have you back. Now Chikao and Chika will finally shut up," Ino said with a weary smile after sending the children off the watch TV. "I made some sandwiches. I thought you might've been hungry. I'm sorry I'm not a very good cook. Sit down and relax a bit more. I'll get you some food."
Sakura smiled and followed her into the kitchen. "Thanks, but you really didn't have to. And I can get it myself. I have enough to thank you for already. Besides, I think I've been resting for longer than its healthy I'm sure."
"No. This is the very least I can do after all that you've done for me." Sakura studied her face quietly. Despite two weeks gone by, Ino seemed as shaken as ever. She seemed just as worn, ashen, as before. Sakura reached out and gently touched her shoulder.
"You're the one who saved me."
"No," Ino replied. She dropped whatever she was doing and spun to face her. "You're the one who saved me. If Sasuke didn't attack you, you wouldn't have needed to go to the hospital. It's my fault in the end. I've caused you a lot more trouble then I'm worth haven't I?"
"No! I...It's not your fault! You're not causing me trouble at all so stop saying that. No one deserved to go through what you had to."
Ino smiled the barest of smiles and stepped forward to give Sakura a kiss on the cheek. "Thanks. You really are too kind. That's the best part about you but sometimes I think it's the worst part as well." Sakura felt an eruption of blood blossom into her face. It wasn't the first time a girl gave her a peck on the cheek. Surely a small gesture like that shouldn't give her the wings she felt sprouting out of her ankles. The words she wanted to say were garbled in her throat. She staggered a little and cursed herself for being dramatic. Ino-who'd turned away to retrieve her sandwiches-tuned just in time to catch the silly grin on the other woman's face.
"Are you alright?" she asked. Sakura snapped out of her daze and shook her head, wide-eyed like a guilty child. Words were still not coming to her. She took the neatly arranged plate from Ino's outstretched arms and scurried away back into the living room. By the time Ino made it out of the kitchen, she was already sitting on the couch listening to Chikao's chatter.
"And then, and then, the big dragon made the whole mountain EXPLODE!" Chikao said, making gestures with his arms.
"What are you talking about, honey?" Ino said as she took a seat beside Sakura. Sakura pressed a finger to her lips. Ino looked over and saw Chika curled up with her head on Sakura's lap, breathing gently as she slept. Sakura held the plate just above her head, awkwardly trying to eat.
Chikao rolled around on the floor, giggling. "Saku-mama, it's okay. Chika sleeps like a rock! So anyway, then there was a whole bunch of dragons and, and..."
The rest of his words dissipated into Sakura's imagination. She looked at Ino, dumbfounded and confused. Ino glanced back and shrugged. "I think he's talking about that movie Temari and Tenten took them to see. What's it called...something about dragons?"
"No that's not it. I think," Sakura said slowly, "he just called me 'mama'." She shook her head and did the one thing she thought she would never do. Before Ino could say anything, she jumped in and interrupted Chikao. She called his name. He kept talking. She tried again. He kept talking.
Finally she said, "Chikao I'll trade you a cookie for 5 minutes of silence."
Immediately the little boy cut his long review of the movie short and perked up. He shot up from his spread eagle position on the floor into sitting cross-legged. "Okay!" He said, putting on his best innocent and obedient face.
"First," Sakura said. His smile didn't waver. "Answer me this. Did you or did you not call me 'mama' just then?"
"Yup!"
She looked at him very seriously, unable to find the right words to explain her thoughts. "Chikao, you can't call me that," she finally said.
"Why not?" He tilted his head, genuinely confused if not shocked. "At school the other day we learned about our families! And my teacher said that in a family there is a mommy and a daddy, but sometimes people only have a mommy or a daddy. Well, since Daddy doesn't love us anymore, I asked my teacher if he counts as a daddy." Sakura glanced over to see Ino listening intently, biting her lip. "But then, but then, we had to describe our families. A lot of my friends' daddies go to work and my teacher said it's because they have to make money to take care of us. Lots of mommies go to work too though. So then I asked my teacher if Saku-nee counts as a daddy, but he said that 'daddy' is for boys. So Saku-nee is like Chikao's mommy."
"Chikao...in order for me to become your mommy I'd have to marry your mother. Do you understand that? It's not just a name. It's also a relationship between me and your mom, between you and I, and between Chika and I."
"Can't you just marry Mommy then? I don't really get it but can't I just call you that for fun?" Sakura blushed to the tips of her ears. She glanced at Ino, who seemed unfazed though she could not meet her eyes.
"Didn't your teacher think it was strange that you have two mommies?" Sakura asked.
"Nope! Is it supposed to be? Mr. Hatake even gave me a thumbs-up for asking him! Oh, oh! I finally learned his name! Aren't you proud, Mommy?" Ino nodded stiffly. Sakura froze in horror.
"Wait. Your teacher's name is Mr. Hatake?" He nodded jubilantly.
"Do you know him?" Chikao asked.
"Oh yeah. He was a friend of my mother." She made a face, disbelieving in that he'd become a first grade teacher. Of everyone in town, he was the last man she'd expected to be teaching children. "I'll talk to your teacher. But you have to know that you can't just go around telling people I'm your mommy." She sighed. "You're a big boy now. You have to respect other people's feelings. When you're older you'll understand that being someone's mommy is a lot more than calling them by that name."
Ino didn't say anything.
"But I like calling you mama," he pouted. "Chika does too."
"Ino," Sakura said quietly just out of Chikao's earshot. "How long has this been going on?"
"A few days ago, I guess," she replied, nonchalant.
"This doesn't worry you?"
"Clearly you're more distressed than I was," she said, sounding almost offended. "I told them you wouldn't like it, but they kept doing it anyway."
A long silence settled into the room. Chikao withdrew himself from the conversation, instead falling asleep on the floor on top of the television remote. Ino reached down and plucked it from his arms. She threw a thin blanket over him, one she'd made a habit of keeping on the couch for moments like this. The television was switched off and the silence grew thicker. Finally, Ino drew a breath. "They were so excited for your return that they were practically bouncing off the walls all day waiting," she said with a small smile. Sakura put the empty plate on the floor, careful not to wake the girl. "You know," Ino said, "this place has become so familiar in the last two months. It's going to be hard to break the news."
Sakura immediately whipped around to look at her. She opened her mouth, but thought better of it, and slumped back down to her previous position. Not once had she considered the fact that Ino, Chikao, and Chika would really be leaving. She hadn't considered what would become of her until this moment. She was right. It was all too familiar. "You know you don't have to leave."
Ino felt her eyes. She stared at Chikao's sleeping figure, unable to meet them. "No, I do. I heard about what you were working so hard for. Your mother's dream...that's sweet."
"That doesn't matter anymore! Because I...," Sakura felt her stomach twist into a knot, "I-I can always save up. F-for the renovations and all. All she ever wanted was a name for Rouge. To make it so special that people would come from around the world to try her food and feel her love that still lives today. It sounds cheesy, but if I know my mother, that was all she really wanted—to share love. I mean, I can get there eventually if I continue to work hard. But where will you go?"
"I'm free now, thanks to you," Ino smiled. "I can go wherever I want."
Sakura's heart fell like lead. "Yes, I suppose you're right." With effort, she managed to smile back. "I can't really stop you, can I?"
"It would be too much of a burden on your part."
"You know," Sakura drawled. "It's...not like...I don't like...being called Chikao's mother. I mean...I'm honoured. I really am...but it wouldn't...be fair. You know? It just...wouldn't."
"What do you mean?"
"It wouldn't be fair. To either of us," Sakura repeated in hopes she wouldn't have to fully explain herself.
Ino shrugged. "I guess not. You'll never be able to find someone if you had to carry around a title like that. As if the town's wasn't misunderstood enough."
Sakura bit the inside of her cheek. "Yeah...you wouldn't be able to find a real daddy for the kids if the world keeps thinking we're together, right?"
"I don't really think I want to try my luck again. I'll be happy as long as they're happy," she said warily. "It's been a tough battle."
"You're a tough woman. You shouldn't have to spend the rest of your life alone while you raise two kids."
"Right now I don't really mind. It's better than having to trust a man again."
"Stay with me then."
Ino turned and met determined eyes. She didn't say anything. She didn't know how to respond. She haven't even figured out her own emotions yet, much less be able to convey them. Sakura, seeing her astounded expression, looked away sheepishly. Only now did the she realize how the passion in her voice could be easily misinterpreted.
"As friends. That's what we are right?" Sakura said sheepishly. "I-if you like, I can charge you rent. I promise I don't mean anything by it. I won't hurt you or the kids or anything. Besides! I agreed to let Temari set up a blind date for me. In fact, I have one tomorrow night! But I promise I won't bring anyone home that might...inconvenience you. I just...I hope you understand I really have no ill-intentions in letting you stay."
Ino laughed albeit awkwardly. "No, of course I know. After everything you've done for us, I wouldn't be able to forgive myself if I still continued to doubt you. For now, I don't have much of a choice. If you don't mind, I'd like to stay here a bit longer. Once I find a stable job, I promise you'll have your normal life back. Wouldn't that be great?"
No, Sakura thought. That's the last thing I want. Yet saying so would just scare her away. In reality, she just nodded.
X
The afternoon passed in simple bliss. Dinner was made at home, with fresh ingredients dropped off by Temari on her way home, a favour called in by Sakura in exchange for free bagels the next morning. Chikao and Chika watched closely, amusing themselves with menial tasks like putting fruits into the bowl for fruit salad as Ino cut them up. Sakura tended to most of the dishes while Ino stood by and learned a few tricks on top of her preparation assignments. Dinner was eaten by the television as they watched a princess movie picked by Chika. After much complaining from Chikao, he gave in and sat quietly, even more absorbed than his sister was as he described the events to her. His storytelling was becoming more and more accurate, Sakura noted. After the movie, they spent the rest of the evening talking through a game of Go Fish. Chikao tried his best to fill Sakura in on every detail of his life in the past week. Many of those who heard the news of Sakura's incident came by the cafe as well as the apartment to give their condolences and their lemon meringues. She wasn't kidding, Sakura realized, when Temari said that most of the town thought them to be one big happy family. Ino pointedly said that explanations just didn't sit with anyone. She wasn't sure how to react, and eventually she began to just accept it.
Unknowingly jabbing Sakura in the heart, she had joked, "They'll get over it once you have your life back. If not then let them pretend we had a 'divorce'. People are silly."
The enjoyable evening grew into night. Then it was bedtime for the two kids. Ino tucked them in and sat by idly while Sakura recited to them the popular version of The Ugly Duckling. Once they were asleep, the two women found themselves standing in the centre of the living room. As soon as sleep was brought up, disagreement began.
"You just came back from the hospital, you can't possibly believe me horrible enough to let you sleep on the couch," Ino said.
"You're not horrible. As the host, I've allowed you the bed. It doesn't feel right to me to just take it away."
"Well I insist."
Sakura frowned. "Then I decline."
"Sakura! You need rest!"
"I've rested enough in the hospital. I'm telling you. Don't worry about me."
Ino held up an open palm to signal silence. She took two steps towards the couch and allowed herself to be swallowed by the soft beige leather. She sat there without a word, arms crossed. It became obvious that she was serious in a way that if Sakura was to disobey, she would personally shovel her off with a bulldozer if she had to. Sakura would've put up a fight had she not been so tired. For tonight, she retreated into her room for the first time in over a week, slumped like a patronized child.
That night, Sakura sunk into her bed for the first time in longer than she realized. It felt familiar against her back, in an unfamiliar kind of way. Her blankets were too thin for the night, yet she was much too tired to substitute for a warmer one. She made a mental note to change it in the morning. Sleep came in a dreamless haze. She stirred a little when a flicker of light touched her eyes, so fleetingly that the thought of it lingered for just a moment before it was discarded and forgotten. It didn't take long for her to fall back to sleep. The night was cool. So it was supposed to be. Her mind stirred and began to rationalize, forming blurry thoughts, synthesizing them and tossing them around. This rationalization woke her, leaving her startled. She wasn't cold at all, yet all she had of the blanket was a corner gripped tightly in her hand.
Her eyes opened and closed, she flinched when something poked her. She inched back into her pillow and waited for her eyes to adjust to the darkness. Just as she suspected, a dark frame was curled up against her, tangled in her blanket. Right beneath Sakura's chin was the mass that poked her in the nose. Hair. Sakura carefully manoeuvred herself into a sitting position in a way that would not awake the sleeping figure. Chika? She wondered. Her eyes followed the curves of the shadow as it shuffled closer to the heated spot Sakura had left behind. No, the size and shape could only classify as a woman. A fully grown woman. Sakura could feel every muscle in her body tighten. Without even thinking, Sakura stood and leapt over the footboard. Even the light thump didn`t wake the sleeping blonde.
She stood in the middle of her living room, feeling cold and stupid for what happened. The clock read a little past 4. She circled the empty couch with its blankets hanging over the back. It wasn't until half an hour later, when she'd settled into the plush fabric of the couch that she began to weigh the options of staying or leaving. The obvious choice without a doubt would be to stay. It was a perfect dream come true. Yet her instinct was, frustratingly enough, to do the right thing. She didn't even take a moment to consider whether she was an illusion. She slapped herself. Perhaps, she thought as she drifted off into restless sleep, it was the fear of losing her that proved much stronger than the fear of never having her for herself.
She awoke to the smell of coffee in the air. Sunlight already found its way into the living room, like a familiar friend looking through, watering her living room with warmth. She awoke to a distant humming, a melody without direction. She liked this comfortable setting. It was a red-orange dream in front of her eyes.
Then, a voice struck like thunder out of the blue. "Good morning, Sakura. Did I wake you?"
Sakura rolled over and blinked, wondering if the image before was an illusion. Surely there wasn't a beautiful blonde standing above her with a pot of coffee and her polka-dot apron atop minimalistic pyjamas. Such details could only be a trick of her deprived mind.
"I made pancakes. In case you were interested."
"What time is it?" Sakura asked, her eyes following Ino back into the kitchen. Despite the evidence that she had already, in fact, woken up, she was doubtful that she would be receiving a reply.
"6: 38. I know you get up earlier than any other normal person, but since it was your first night home, I thought I'd let you sleep in for a while." She walked out again, without the apron to cover the skin she showed in her negligee, carrying a plate of pancakes, just enough for two. Sakura got up to join her at the table, feeling awkward in her sweatshirt and shorts.
As soon as they were seated, Ino spoke again with hesitance. "I'd like to apologize."
"For what?" Sakura said, staring at the pancakes with a child-like joy. The last person to make her breakfast was her mother. How many years has that been? She wondered. She felt warm, happy, and extremely touched. Ino's little gesture brought back so many memories. She could've cried.
"You know, last night?" Ino studied Sakura's expression, a shining similar to Chika and Chikao's. She smiled and took a pancake between her fork and knife and moved it onto her plate, as she would've done for her children. Sakura grinned in a way that Ino couldn't help but find cute.
"What about last night?" Sakura poured a glass of orange juice for both of them.
"I didn't mean to go into your room," Ino said, sheepishly looking down at her food.
"It's okay, it's no big deal."
"It...must've been kind of awkward for you."
"A little bit."
"Thanks. For doing what you did."
"Well, I don't really know what to say," Sakura said nervously, "I just did it impulsively."
"I guess it would've been even more awkward if you stayed."
"Yeah. That too."
A cloud of silence drifted in, sitting awkwardly at the table. Then, just as half a glass of orange juice was making its way down Sakura's throat she felt the mass of liquid shoot back up when Ino said something entirely unexpected:
"So tell me about that date of yours." Her tone was even and casual. It was a question for the sake of small talk, yet Sakura was bouncing in her seat trying to cough out the last of the orange juice, face flushed pink. Ino, alarmed, shot out of her seat and showered her with paper napkins.
"It's just a thing," Sakura said, taking a deep breath after calming down, "I promised Temari. Apparently it's a terrible thing that I'm single. This one's a regular at Tenten's bookstore."
"You don't know her?"
"Nope. I guess it's kind of a hit or miss kind of thing in this case. I've never been on a blind date before. It's hard in this town, you know?"
"It's...interesting so to speak," Ino said. "I've been on a few myself. It really depends on who's setting you up. I believe it won't be too bad if Temari's your matchmaker. Tenten's a wonderful girl after all."
"I guess you're right. But tell me. What's it like?"
"Um, well, maybe I'm just unlucky but on the few I've been on its usually it's not so much a date as an awkward meeting and a goodbye kiss. Guys would go on and on about football or computer tech stuff, or work or school. One man spent the whole night on his stupid Blackberry. It's probably different for girls though. I think."
Sakura could tell from the uncomfortable shift in her eye that Ino still wasn't too used to talking about girls in that sense. "I was raised extremely religious," Sakura remembered her saying once, "and we were taught to condemn...deviants like you,"—it took her a while to choose the right word as to not offend her—"but to be honest, I've long stopped believing. Even so, it's only now that I really see how ludicrous it was. I mean, you're the closest thing to an angel I know." That was the closest she ever got to her personal feelings. Every time she recalled her words, she'd feel warm bubbles rising up her stomach.
Back at the table, Sakura courageously brought up a subject that'd wandered through her mind several times since she had her talk with Chikao. "I was wondering. Doesn't Chika and Chikao miss their father at all? Even though he's an ass and all, but they must've had lots of great memories together. Before things went downhill I mean. Once Chikao told me he'd often have fancy French food like foie gras. Once upon a time. What I'm trying to say is," she said, trying to be as casual as she could, "how could Chikao just call me what he did...just like that?"
Ino shrugged, but her eyes were casted elsewhere in a glassy forlorn gaze. "'Cause he's six? Sasuke...well sure they had moments together but he was never really around all that much to begin with. He started having an affair with a girl who lived a few floors below us when Chikao was one. Just before I became pregnant with Chika. Foie gras and things like that were common because of the amount of money my parents left behind. So even though we had money at one point, Chikao was never spoiled by anyone until you came along, hard times or not. So I thank you for that," she added with a gentle smile. Sakura returned her smile and not a word more was said. She enjoyed the quiet comfort of simply being with the other woman. Not wondering how long it would last, not wondering if this would be her only chance, not wondering anything at all.
X
The afternoon flew fleetingly. The sky was high and blue, dotted with shape-shifting cumulous. Sakura took the three around the town, something she'd never had the chance to do up until now. Every time one of the children so much as glanced at a store or landmark with curiosity, Sakura steered them towards it. They took their time making their way up the shopping district. Sakura's wallet size diminished thoughtlessly. New toys, new clothes, school supplies, snacks, and more found passage into the trunk of Sakura's Toyota. After that they recharged at local ice cream and pizza parlour, fit for a warm spring day.
Along the way they met a few more of Sakura's circle. Chouji and his family ran the pizza parlour. Kiba and Shino-a crazy-in-love couple with opposite personalities-ran the only pet store in town. Sasori, a quiet man who seemed to neither like nor dislike children, owned the toy store. Beside him was a general goods store selling mostly kitchen and dining ware run by Deidara, a close friend of Sasori's as it turned out. Very close indeed. A few blocks down was a large cosmetics and clothing store run by Haku, a shy but helpful and very feminine man. In fact, Ino still had trouble believing, even after leaving his store with bags of his recommendations. His partner Zabuza, a huge man whom they met for a brief moment, was the co-owner of the store and was tasked with all things administrative. Miss Kurenai and her husband owned the clothing store adjacent to Haku's. It was slightly smaller and targeted towards children. Finally, there was Sai, a local semi-nomadic artist. They'd met him in the park drawing a man lying on a bench. Sakura introduced him as Shikamaru, who soon woke up to the sound of voices buzzing around him. He didn't own much other than a high IQ, Sakura explained, but most of his money was made by milking the stock market, which has worked better for him than any job so far. From the way he spoke and the subtleties in his body language, Sakura didn't miss his advancements on Ino. Fortunately, she didn't seem to notice or care.
Then again, he was a good man despite the laziness. She played with the idea, but thought better and decided not to encourage it for purely selfish reasons. They jealousy rooted from her own thoughts surprised even herself.
After that they drove home so Sakura could prepare for her blind date.
"Dress or pants? Or skirt?" Sakura asked. Ino-who was sitting on her bed watching her pace around with clothes by the armful-had agreed to help her pick an outfit but never really realized how big her closet was.
"It depends, I guess. Where are you going for dinner?"
"It's been arranged at some semiformal place by the sea. I've never been there. I've never been to a place like that on a first date," Sakura said not bothering to mask the annoyance in her voice. She knew whose fault this was.
"I'd choose a dress." Sakura, on cue, strode over to her closet and began pulling out all the dresses at once and tossing them on her bed. Ino sorted through them.
"I don't even know what colour I want to wear!" Sakura said, throwing her hands up. She pulled out a few jackets that joined the pile. "Why do I own so much crap?"
"I think green would go great with your eyes. Or red. Black. I like this polka-dot one."
Sakura laughed, the sounds muffled by the clothes above her head as she rummaged through boxes for accessories. "I don't like polka-dots. Not on me anyway. Something about me and polka-dots don't mesh well together. It feels like having punctuation all over my body."
Ino smiled. "How about plaid? This one is nice."
Sakura lifted her head, her face brushing against the course wool of her winter jackets, and looked out through the door of her walk-in closet. "That might work."
She walked out of the closet a few minutes later, having changed into the dress, and spun around for Ino to see. "What do you think?"
"You look different."
"Different good or different bad?"
Ino shrugged. "Just different. But maybe it's a little too casual?"
"Oh," was all Sakura said before returning to her treasure trove of clothes.
Suddenly the patter of tiny feet entered her room, breaking the concentrated silence in the air. Sakura poked her head out of the closet with a pair of leggings over her shoulder and a numerous plastic hangers in her hands. Chikao and Chika stood in front of Ino, hands held tightly as usual.
"What's up, honey?" Ino said, addressing both of them.
"Nuffin'," Chikao replied. Without warning he jumped on the bed with his sister in tow, jumping between the spaces where the dresses were laid.
"Mommy, Chikao was making me do weird things again," Chika said with puffed up cheeks. "He said there was an erff-cake so I rolled on the floor like he told me to! But you know what Mommy? There was no erff-cake! He just laughed at me!"
"It's not erff-cake, love. Its earthquake," Ino said with soft laughter. "And if there was one, you'd feel it under your little toes, okay honey? Remember that next time."
"Mommy, Mommy!" Chikao said, jumping onto her back, "come watch TV with us!"
Ino smiled as she peeled his arms off her shoulders to let the air back into her lungs. "I will in a bit okay? I'm helping Sakura right now."
"Oh, oh! Can we help? Can we help? Please, please, pleaaaase? What are you doing? Is it fun?" The two childish voices melded into one mess of questions. Ino tried her best to answer them and calm them down at the same time. Sakura watched from the closet with a silly grin on her face. In moments like these she truly felt like an outsider peering in on these priceless moments. She didn't mind. To be part of such personal warmth would be too much to ask. Sometimes she was even grateful. She could see Ino relaxed, temporarily without doubts. She could see those little smiles she couldn't hide, the bright glow in those tired eyes. She shines almost literally. These were things she kept from Sakura. She was a stranger to her emotions after all.
Sakura understood that. She just couldn't deny how much she hated that fact.
X
The first meeting was awkward. Neither said much other than the usual courteous greetings. In fact, they almost shook hands. A minor lapse on Sakura's part, really. In all honesty, she was prettier than she had imagined. Then again, she hadn't indulged a lot of time imagining in the first place. While driving to her apartment to pick her up, all Sakura could think about was how much she wanted to go home and forget the date. She was sure that she'd rather suffer an entire life as a bachelorette than go on this date.
They took a table at the restaurant on a patio above the sea. Spring brought on a perfect warm evening and a salty breeze. Just behind them, inside the restaurant, live music played out ambient melodies.
"This is beautiful," her date remarked shyly. "Thank you."
Sakura nodded. What should she say? Should she be witty? Should she be smart or charming? Her personality escaped her so suddenly. She just wanted to go home.
"So, uhm, Hinata," Sakura said, "what brought you to this quaint little town?"
"Ah…well, i-it's work mostly, I guess. I'm k-kind of a teacher, but I couldn't find any work at home."
"Oh yeah? Elementary school?"
"Yes. But not really? Um, I mean…I'm like a student teacher. Sort of. I help Mr. Hatake Kakashi."
Sakura abruptly sat up. "You're an assistant to that useless pervert?"
"Y-you are familiar with him?"
"Yeah. He taught me English back in high school. I can't believe he's teaching first grade now."
Hinata looked surprised. "Small towns are amazing. You know everything about everyone."
"That's almost true," Sakura laughed. "I can't believe this coincidence. You teach Chikao then?"
"Oh yes! He is such a charming boy," she replied. "He's very smart. He knows how to please people to get his way, that's for sure. Ah…he is the son of Miss Yamanaka?"
"Mmhmm. He really is something amazing. He has a sister too you know? A year younger. They almost look like twins. He treats her like a queen. Most of the time."
"So…he is…p-practically your son isn't he?"
Silence.
"I-I was v-very surprised…t-to be honest," Hinata said in a quiet voice. "That I could be sitting here with you. R-right now. I didn't even think you would be…a-available. M-much less c-consider someone like me."
Sakura smiled. "You came quite highly recommended by Temari. And she was right. You are cute. I'm not disappointed to say the least. Anyway, rumours can get pretty out of hand so I guess you can say its part of the reason why I'm not seeing anyone. It's not easy getting dates when everyone things you're married with kids. But I'm not sure I'd want to go out with anyone that doesn't mind me being 'married with kids' either."
Hinata giggled. "Then I'm glad that's sorted out."
A/N: Yay! Update! It's been a long time right? You're probably wondering where I've been. If you care at all. My first formal reason is that I had school. Second, I had a writers block I believe. But my unformal (unforgivable?) reason is because of video games that take up free time. I'M SO SORRY. I'd also like to apologize for this update as I don't think it's very good. Hopefully the next one will be super duper awesome to make up for it :D
And if you haven't noticed, I changed the name of this story as well as the name of my pen. Just so you don't get confused :)