Shopping: (verb) a sport, as some would call it, that involves going around stores (or websites) and purchasing things for the best price, yet still best quality in order to feel fulfilled, buy something necessary for survival (food, water, lip-gloss), or just to look more amazing than usual. (see also: mall, money, Ino's favorite activity)

Exhilaration: (noun) a feel of excitement or anticipation when one does something they feel self-sufficient and/or fulfilling to themselves, others, or something more powerful, such as prayer, dancing, or the ever-prosperous sunglass-shopping. (see also: happiness, joy, shopping spree)

Uncle Rico's Sweet Moola: (noun) a slang term for money used in Napoleon Dynamite and is repeated by many nerds who feel the need to sound gangster by quoting one of the most amazing movies of all time, while at the same time referring to the cash they have; or lack of. (see also: coolest movies, bringing home the bacon, something Sakura Haruno does not own – but Sasuke Uchiha does)

Shopping.

Yeah, that's pretty self-explanatory.

(go check prologue – you know, with all the commandments)

Exhilaration was DEFINTILY an emotion I felt when we did said sport (or activity that resulted in lots of money lost, laughs, and some new sunglasses (sunglasses equal sexy – don't even try to deny it)).

And Napoleon Dynamite is just simply too amazing to NOT quote it. That's like having a peanut butter sandwich in front of you with a sign that says 'EAT IT' and you don't.

Or going to a store and them having a clearance on cute sandals and you not buying them 'cause you apparently 'have too many already'.

(Rule of Life: When it comes to shoes (or clothes or sunglasses or purses), there isn't such a thing as TOO MUCH)

So, yes, Uncle Rico's Sweet Moola, or money, or cash, or the shiz, are all parts in a shopping spree, and part of the exhilaration.

If you have a lot, then boy are you in luck for a good time full of clothes, bags, and hott boys to carry them for you.

If you don't have that much since your parents are middle-classed and aren't like other blonde's parents who own and run, like, three casinos, then you have to conserve your money and only spend it on important things (like sexy sunglasses).

"Whoever said money can't buy happiness simply didn't know where to shop."

The Nine and a Half Commandments

Chapter Three:
veni, vidi, visa
(i came, i saw, i charged)

"Ino, do you know how shallow you are?"
"Honey, have you SEEN this mall?"

"Oh my god! This store is so cute! And so are these jeans. Here, Sakura, take this. You have to try this on! And, oh my goodness! Would you look at these shoes?"

We've been in the store for two minutes.

Scary – I know.

And as she scampered off to the sunglass racks (and really, I would have joined her, but I'm a cheap-sunglasses-buyer – and don't think I don't still pick fabulous ones, because believe me, I totally do) I frolicked out of the story and sat on a bench where I'd knew I'd be safe.

Or not.

"We have to stop running into each other like this." I turned up to see a man clad in (can you freaking believe it?) black while smirking that ever-so-pompous smirk that made me want to smack and kiss him at the same time.

I chose neither and just decided to let him sit down. "Hey to you too."

Ino was soon brought into eyesight as she ran around the shoe department, probably to find the perfect purple rain-boot (even though it really just doesn't rain here). "If I didn't know Ino any better, I'd have to be concerned."

"Well don't waste your precious energy worrying about little old me. This is a reoccurring event." Sasuke snorted, but in an amused sense. "And I believe I should be the only one concerned here."

He gave a puzzled glance my way. "Why?"

"You're the one in the mall, you know, for the second day in a row. Without anyone. So you are therefore committing female-instinctive-activities."

Return of the snort! "There aren't just clothes and make-up stories in a mall, you know. But you probably wouldn't since that's all you do."

"I'm just saying that it's a little weird that you're randomly walking around a mall by yourself."

Sasuke pointed toward a video game store. "The dobe is in there. It got boring. Then I saw you."

"Aw! I made your day less boring! That's so sweet coming from little old Sasuke." I pinched his (red – I think anyways) cheek and smiled up at him.

Sasuke sighed. "Look, I just came over to talk, but if you're going to be annoying, I'm sure Naruto would be much better company than you."

"You know what Sasuke? That hurt. That hurt me right here." I pointed to my heart in an indignant way while being melodramatic with fake tears. "You just don't understand me, or my obsession with pinch-able cheeks."

"Pinch-able?"

I snorted. "Leave it to a guy to take the most unimportant thing out of a conversation and make it the center of attention. Heck, that almost sounds like them themselves."

"I take it you're a feminist. Or are extremely stereotypical."

"I'm not a feminist. Those girls are crazy. I've got nothing against men – especially yummy ones with talented tongues. And I'm not stereotypical. I just think that all men are assholes and don't have a clue."

"And you're not stereotypical. Yeah – okay."

I pushed him playfully. "I'm not. And all men aren't bad forever. It just takes us woman to whip them into shape, give them a freaking idea about love and life and their significant other – if they're lucky enough to have one – and to make them into the perfect male."

"What is it with woman and them finding something perfect? Normal just isn't good enough?"

I actually had to think about that one. Are woman that shallow? Of course not. But I wanted to say something insightful (like I always do), so I simply answered with, "Perfect doesn't mean great at everything or whatever. Perfect is fitting with your standards."

"But normal people don't fit with every day standards – and probably not even yours. Why can't you just have normal be good enough?"

"Normal is fine. But what if I want extraordinary?"

"There's no such thing."

"Well, psh, you just don't know something great when it hits you."

He gave a confused look. "What?"

"See. This is what I mean. There is someone out there for everyone, and when you find that person, you can't let it go – no matter what. Fight for it, kill for it, cry for it, go out of your freaking way for it. But don't lose it."

"Why do I think this isn't about stereotypes anymore?"

"Because it's not."

"You're still stereotypical."

"And you're still an ass."

"And you're still waiting for someone you know you'll never get, so it makes you feel better when you know that you haven't messed up, but it's just the way males are programmed – made to not be what you want, but what you need."

"And who are you to tell me the difference of what I want and what I need?"

"Who are you to decide?"

"Me. I decide for me. I care for me. I don't need a man for that."

"I thought you said every girl needs a guy."

I sighed irritably. "Nononono – you've got it all messed up. Guys are like an accessory. Every girl needs one once in a while, but wearing an outfit without one is alright since it's the main things in the outfit (or life) that make the ensemble (or girl). You know, like the shirt (or her friends)."

"So guys are just something needed once in a while, and not for everyday or long term?"

"Ugh, no. You're getting me all mixed up. Here, let me explain. Guys are like shoes." Sasuke's eyebrow went up. "They come in many different shapes, sizes and styles. Some are like flip-flops, in the essence that they're free and fun; some are like sneakers, in the fact that they protect you and grant you freedom to run and frolick; some are like heels, in that they are high, tall, and persistent, and even if you fall, they'll never leave you, and they are also very defiant and solo-flying.

"Shoes will come and go. Some of them break and some of them just wear out. They can't really promise to be there for you, since most shoes aren't made to last forever. But they'll always make you shine. They'll show you off to the world and let everyone know who you are. They're with you through thick and thin. When gum gets stuck on your shoe, or your heel cracks since you really can't walk in them, they're just little obstacles that lead to a bigger prize.

"When you're favorite shoe breaks and you're crushed since you either spent a lot of money on them, or a lot of time picking them out, you have to realize that they're stepping stones. The broken line of shoes in a store is just a path that leads you to the ultimate shoe. The forever shoe."

"Do you actually write this stuff down?"

I giggled lightly. "No, it just kinda came to me. But it makes sense, right?"

"Sure, I guess. But how do you know when do date this forever-shoe?"

"Well, um, dating someone is like buying something you've been admiring for a long time in a shop window. You may love it at home, but it doesn't fit in with everything in the house."

"What is with you and the shopping analogies?"

I laughed along with him as he did the same. "I don't know. They just keep coming out. I guess you can just relate everything to it."

"Can you relate me to shopping?"

"Why yes I can. If you could be any kind of thing to shop for, you'd be sunglasses."

"Sunglasses? As in cheap sunglasses, like that song by ZZ Top?"

I was happy to know he had good taste in music. "No, not like that. It's just that, well, sunglasses are dark and mysterious. They're like a mask. They shield your eyes from the sun. You wear a mask that shields your emotions to the world."

"And how would you know? You've only known me for a few days."

"You can tell a lot about people from just their appearance in a few days."

"How?"

"Let's just call it woman's intuition."

"Woman's intuition?"

"Exactly."

"Sounds like a bunch of crap. And I'm not a pair of shitty sunglasses."

"Oh, of course not. I'd never compare anyone – not even Sai – to shitty sunglasses. All sunglasses are sexy. Especially if you were one."

He smirked slyly at my endearing comment. "Really now?"

"But of course."

He leaned in, sorta close, and I kinda followed since it was one of those moments where you're in a trance and your mind doesn't really function. It was either because of his comely appearance, the way his words slid off his tongue in this totally enticing way, the way I could smell his aftershave being this close to him and it made me dizzy, or the way that he looked like Sai.

But I tried to convince myself that it wasn't the latter.

Because that would suck.

"Sakura! Come, look at these shoes I just bought! Aren't they amazing?"

And you could just GUESS who that was – completely destroying our moment; or whatever was left of it.

My head moved away from his quickly and I went over to examine the pink boot with purple hearts. "Beautiful Ino. Just stunning."

I was pretty sure she could tell the lack of my enthusiasm, and when she looked over at the bench, she instantly knew why and mouthed me an apology.

After that, she dragged me shopping, and for some reason, Naruto and Sasuke stayed with us. I was pretty sure they were incredibly bored, but it worked. Naruto kept complimenting Ino more than any guy should ever do while I amused myself by putting eyeliner on Sasuke.

And after many hours of doing this sport, and me buying a few things here or there, we arrived at my favorite store and I sorta picked up everything in sight.

But when it came time to pay and I was ready to empty out my entire wallet (and most of the money I brought on this trip), Sasuke put his credit card down on the counter. I looked up at him, an inquisitive look plastered clearly on my face. He just shrugged, like spending three hundred dollars on woman's clothes and shoes was all in a days work.

I kissed him lightly on the cheek before leaving the mall and gave him my cell number, since well, that's just what you do when a guys spends all the money you've made from the past year's babysitting ventures.

And while waving a flirty goodbye and blowing a kiss in a totally Ino-way (maybe it isn't just blondes), he smirked in a smile-ish way, but still had his hands stuffed in his pocket.

And suddenly, shopping didn't seem so bad.

Um, yeah, shopping is amazing. Those analogies about shopping where all mine except the dating one. I want a forever shoe.

Summer is looking up ladies (or men)! I got a new stylish haircut (kinda, really short, but just right for the hot weather), I got a new purse (it's white and has blue, green, and yellow hearts all over it), I got new make-up (aqua eye-liner and new mascara since the new one in the neon green tube was to clump-a-licious), I did something today (saw the Love Guru – it was fabulous), and I have definite plans for tomorrow!

You know one of those days (or week) when you just feel like dressing up and getting all dolled up for no reason whatsoever. Like, putting on make-up, getting in a dress, and doing your hair but having no place to go. I feel like that. I'm going out to some fancy restaurant on Saturday for my sister's birthday though, so that'll be cool).

I want a freaking Sasuke!