Raika-chan: Hey! Another update! Enjoy the chapter!

BTW, sorry if there are any grammar mistakes.

Disclaimer: No, I don't own Naruto or any of the sorts. Except the plot of this story.

Chapter 4:

Naruto continued to shout at Shikamaru and Shikamaru was just silent, his veins are popping out on his head. Sakura couldn't take it anymore.

"GUYS!"

Now she got their attention. Both guys looked at her, eyes wide open.

She huffed and smiled. "Really, I insist! Besides, I'm about to go and eat outside after I shop, anyways. Some company would be nice, don't you think?" Sakura tapped her lapped and picked her bag up. "Uh, how about your grocery?" Shikamaru asked. "I can manage." She replied.

"You know, you trust people easily and that's not good." Shikamaru warned. Sakura's eyes widened for a while. She remembered something:

Flashback:

"You know sometimes, you're annoying." He muttered and sat on the swing. She looked at him and frowned. "I'm annoying?"

"Annoying in two ways; one, you already believe what other's tell you, you're too honest. And two: You're so unique that it's too annoying because we're the same." He grinned.

End of Flashback.

Sakura blinked and smiled, "I never had a lot of friends before. Besides, I can tell that you guys are type of people who wouldn't do anything harsh. Except, if intimidated or something." She mumbled that last sentence.

Shikamaru sighed and Naruto grinned sheepishly, "Of course, Sakura-chan! We would never do anything to harm you! We can be the best of friends if you want me to! Believe it!" Naruto rubbed his nose and smirked. Sakura smiled gently and turned head from side to side, "Where's your other friend?" she asked.

"Sai? He went outside; he said something about checking some acrylics in the supply store." Shikamaru replied.

"Sai?"

"Yeah! He's a dorm mate of ours and he's a bastard! Well, not much of a bastard like THE Bastard (keep in mind the difference)." Naruto beamed.

"Dick-less."

Naruto shrieked and jumped from his place. "B-bastard! Don't ever, EVER do that again! You're scaring the shit out of me! I will sue you if I ever get a heart stroke at this early age! Believe that!" Naruto shouted and paused.

He blink.

"… Did you just say dick-less?"

"Yes I did, you dick-less wonder."

Naruto's body was changing colors, from red to purple. Sakura doesn't know if it was because of anger or embarrassment but, wow, the changing-color-thing is kinda cool. Sakura stood there, covering her mouth with her hand. Shikamaru just well, closed his eyes and waited for the impact of—

"B-B-B-BASTARD! D-D-DO YOU EVER KNOW WHAT YOUR S-SAYING?!?!?!"

–Naruto's loud voice.

Naruto clenched his fist with his palm, looking like he's about to kill someone. Shikamaru whacked Naruto's head with a newspaper he found on the counter. "The hell, Shikamaru?!?! Don't just fish something out from nowhere and smack it on my head! What if you picked a mallet?!" Naruto shouted. "Don't worry. Even if I hit you with a mallet, your thick-but-empty skull won't break. Besides, look at what you did." Shikamaru pointed at a shocked Sakura who was held by Sai with his arms. Naruto took Sakura away from Sai, but Sai evaded him.

"Sai!! I don't trust you with Sakura-chan, you bastard. You're too perverted to touch her. Give her to me!" Naruto growled at Sai.

"You were the one who made her dizzy, asshole." Sai smiled at the raging blond. Naruto twitched, he never liked Sai's smile. It was unnerving. "I'll kick your ass you no good prick!" Naruto ran towards Sai, but Shikamaru tweaked his ears, making his stop. "Enough, Naruto." He said.

Sai looked at the pink-haired girl who was shifting at his arms as she tried to stand. "Are you alright, Miss?" he asked after he let go of her. Sakura stared at him, slightly figuring out if she ever saw him somewhere.

"…"

"…?"

"…"

"Uh, miss?"

Sai waved his hand in front of her and Sakura jerked up. "Oh, I'm sorry! I never meant to stare." She blushed. "Yeah, you were spacing out. Are you okay?" Sai smiled. Sakura nodded, "Yeah, I'm fine. Thanks for asking." She replied. Naruto gripped Sakura's shoulders and looked at her apologetically, "Oh, god. Are you okay Sakura-chan? I'm sorry, I didn't mean to make you dizzy or anything. It's just Sai was being fucked up and—

"It's fine. I'm guessing that's how you talk to each other as… friends." Sakura giggled. Naruto sighed and grinned sheepishly. "So, is the offer still on?" he asked, rubbing his sore head due to Shikamaru's persistent whacking.

"Oh! Yeah, of course! Let's go and eat lunch together." She smiled.

Sai blinked, "Lunch?"

"She said she wants to treat us some lunch because we saved her bag." Shikamaru answered Sai.

"Oh, that's great. Let's go!" Sai smiled and Shikamaru sweat dropped.

"What? You too?" Shikamaru looked at Sai disbelievingly.

"There's nothing wrong with it. Besides, how can you reject an offer from a beautiful lady?" Sai looked at Sakura and smiled. Sakura blushed again as she saw his black orbs. It reminded her of something…

Someone…

Precious…

A long awaited friend…

"Sakura?"

Sakura blinked and looked up to see a worried Sai and a curious Shikamaru. Naruto was already gone and is on his way to the exit.

"H-huh?"

"I asked you where you wanted to eat." Sai repeated his question. Sakura forcefully smiled, "Anywhere's fine. As long as we can eat lunch together." She answered. "O-kay, let's go to anywhere then." Sai looked at Sakura with an amused expression. "Guys! What's taking you so long?! I wanna have some lunch now!!" Naruto shouted.

"Uh, may I suggest eating at Ichiraku's place?" Sai asked.

"Ichiraku's it is, then." Sakura replied.

-- ^ -- ^ -- ^ -- ^-- ^ --

While they were walking, Naruto and Shikamaru side-by-side with Sai and Sakura walking behind them, Sakura couldn't help but sneak a glance at Sai. He just looks so familiar, as if she had met him before.

Black hair…

Coal eyes…

Pale skin…

"Enjoying the sight, Sakura?"

Sakura blushed hard; Sai caught her sneaking glances at him while looking at her in the corner of his eye. Sai, realized that he guessed right, smirked.

The nerve?!

"Don't tell me you have the hots for me." If possible, his smirk became wider when he saw Sakura struggled to say something. Sai cannot hold it any longer and chuckled, making Naruto stop his bickering and look at them. Shikamaru looked back too. "What's up?" Naruto looked at Sai who was grinning, his eyebrows rose when he saw Sakura who is so flushed at the moment.

"Is everything alright?" Naruto asked them.

"Yeah, everything's fine." Sai replied still chuckling slightly.

Naruto narrowed his eyes and glared at Sai. He narrowed his eyes more while looking at Sakura, who is still blushing.

"AAH!"

The group stopped walking after hearing Naruto's outburst.

"You were flirting with Sakura-chan and were saying something… eh, something!" Naruto shouted and pointed accusingly at Sai.

"Like what?"

"I don't know! Something that can make her sick!! Look at her!! She's all red!!"

"Shut up and walk, Narutard." Sai sighed and pushed Naruto slightly, telling him to start walking.

"Who you calling a retard, you bastard?!" Naruto complained after he was pushed but continued walking. Naruto shot one last worried glance at Sakura who sighed in relief and started to walk.

-- ^ -- ^ -- ^ -- ^ -- ^ --

They have arrived in their destination (Ichiraku's) and took a table for four. "I'm gonna order for you guys so just stay here, okay?" Naruto chirped. "But I'm the one paying, Naruto." Sakura protested and stood up but was pushed back gently to her seat. "Nonsense Sakura-chan! I was just kidding about the 'treat' thing. All that matters is that you're a new friend-tebayo!" Naruto beamed at her and Sakura just smiled, "Are you sure? I'm not the only one invited here." She asked and pointed at the two boys. "Doesn't matter. I was planning on treating them ramen, since I lost a bet about something." Naruto mumbled. "Mah! Anyway, Whatcha want?" he said giddily.

"Pork ramen for me please." Sakura said.

"Beef." Sai added.

"You already know mine." Shikamaru yawned.

"Alright, then! I'll be back." Naruto jogged towards the counter. Shikamaru scratched his head and looked at the two people across him. "I'm going to the washroom." He said. "Oh, okay then." Sakura smiled and Sai nodded. Shikamaru muttered an 'excuse me' and stood up.

The two teens were left alone. Sai propped his elbow on the table, his head resting on his palm and looked at Sakura. "Sakura." He said. Sakura looked at Sai, titling her head to the side. "Hm?"

"I noticed that you were spacing out a lot lately, and I've just met you today. Is that a habit of yours?" he joked, making Sakura freeze. "Uh, no. I was just thinking of something." She laughed nervously.

"Sou ka." Sai mumbled.

"…"

"…"

"A-anou, Sai?"

"Hm?"

"Can I ask you something?"

"Shoot."

"Have- have we met somewhere before?"

Sai looked at Sakura, his eyebrows rose up. He frowned and closed his eyes, thinking. "No, I don't think so." He replied. Sakura's shoulder slumped, "Oh, I see."

It's not him…

"Why?" Sai asked but Sakura just shook her and smiled, "Well, I just thought you were someone I knew." She said. Sai half-smiled, "Is there so—

"Here's your order, guys!!!"

--but he was cut off by Naruto.

"Eh, where's Shikamaru?" Naruto asked, turning his head to the empty seat across them. "Washroom. Come to think of it, he's taking too long." Sai answered and crossed his arms in front of his chest.

"Ah, he's over there."

Both boys looked at Sakura and glanced to where she was looking. Sai raised an eyebrow and Naruto grinned.

Shikamaru was with another guy. She could not see his face because his back was facing them. Sakura looked at Naruto and saw that he was grinning. 'Maybe he's another friend of theirs.' She thought. The guy was talking to Shikamaru.

Shikamaru said something and pointed to their place. The other guy turned his head and looked at their direction. It made Sakura gape.

Black hair, coal eyes and pale skin…

It's him! Is he? Sakura became nervous, there's this familiar feeling of butterflies in her stomach…

She tried to say something, but nothing came out. Sakura shook her head and composed herself… What if it's not him? There are a lot of guys on that boy's age with black hair, onyx eyes and pale skin like him. Like Sai… But there's something that made her feel and tell her mind that that's him.

What was his name again?

Sakura could not believe it. She forgot her most precious friend's name. 'Think Sakura, think!'

"Keep it for the meantime. Anyway, what's your name?"

"Well, like what she said. I'—

"I said I like it. Your eyes, I mean."

Flashes of memory flooded her mind…

most serene eyes I've ever seen. Take good care—

"Why are you whining?"

too annoying."

She can feel her hear heartbeat in her ears… 'Come on, Sakura! Say something! Say his name!'

"Yeah, I'm the forehead weirdo's friend."

that cloth I gave—

Sakura remembered the handkerchief and cupped her pockets. It's not there. 'The handkerchief! I did not bring it! Of all times…' Sakura was about to say something but Naruto beat her to it.

"TEME!"

---

a/n: okay, chapter 4's down. Really, this story had a lot of grammar mistakes and the plot's moving too fast. But anyway, review please!