Chapter 8
Fear. It consumed her before she could even try to fight it, bringing all of her past worries and insecurities to the surface. So… she liked Sai. She was stupid, so very stupid. She watched her reflection tremble while feeling her own body tremble too. What if it was just like before? There was no guarantee Sai would like her back. She didn't even know if he had what it took to have a relationship of that kind. What if like Sasuke… Sai couldn't—wouldn't return her feelings? She felt her lower lip tremble as the fear gripped her tighter. What was she going to do?
She didn't know if she could bear a second rejection. She knew… Sai was more kind than Sasuke in a way, but what if he just thought she was stupid? What if he laughed at her? Oh, why did she have to like Sai?! This was pointless. She would just have to get over it. Move on. Yep.
She sulked, now hating herself. Since she has admitted it… it was now stuck in her head! Every time she tried to refuse the thought it seemed to only get stronger. How was she ever going to face him? Would she be able to? What if—
"Sakura…"
She froze at the call of her name followed by soft knocking. Ino? What did she want? She felt her heart clench as she thought of Ino flirting with Sai… and how he had called her 'Miss Beautiful' while he dubbed her 'Ugly Woman'. That's right… Ino was more suited for someone like Sai… Sasuke too.
"Sakura, please open up." Ino called softly through the door, knocking a few more times.
Sakura stared at the door before clenching her jaw and getting to her feet. This is how she would end it. This is how she would get over Sai. Drying whatever tears that might have formed on the back of her hand; she walked over to her door and unlocked it before opening it.
"Ino." She greeted evenly, looking at the other girl.
The smile that she had when Sakura opened the door for her slowly slid off her face as she was met with the other girl's stern look. She had received a look like that once before. When Sakura had declared them rivals. She suddenly felt very wary as she watched the other girl.
"Sakura, are you—" Ino tried to ask cautiously.
"You were right, Ino. I guess I do like Sai. And I know you do too, so before this turns into another Sasuke-rivalry, you win. You can have him." Sakura said with her head held high, trying to be strong.
Ino just stared at her with disbelief. "Wh… what?"
Sakura felt herself weaken but she pulled herself out of it and continued to hold her head high. "I said… you win. So this doesn't become another Sasuke-rivalry, you can have—"
Sakura felt her eyes widen as her head was jerked sharply, her face turning to the right as the stinging of Ino's slap became nearly unbearable as she listened to it echo through her room.
Ino could feel the hot tears spill down her cheeks as she fought against the anger she felt at those words. "How dare you… how dare you! I w-won't let you do it again Sakura."
She didn't mind that her voice shook as she watched the pink-haired girl, unmoving. She had been worried when she had seen Sakura run by, looking distressed, so she thought she would come and check on her… only to have Sakura try to do it again. No. She wouldn't let her.
"Another Sasuke-rivalry? Don't… don't pin that on me again. Don't just decide how things will be, Sakura. It's not… it's not fair! It wasn't fair! I'm sorry I liked Sasuke-kun too! But did that mean we had to stop being friends?! I didn't want to! I liked Sakura as my friend… you—you're so stupid!" Ino tried to hold the fresh tears back but they fell anyway.
When Sakura had been slapped she had tensed but now as she listened to Ino she began to relax, feeling her eyes water.
"Sasuke-kun… Sai-kun… they don't matter! What mattered most was being friends with you! It hurt! When you said that… when you stopped being my best friend, it hurt so much! Why, Sakura? Why do I have to be hurt for your insecurities?" Ino asked harshly now, wanting an answer.
Sakura just stared off into space as she processed Ino's words before turning to look at the hurt girl with a pained expression. She felt the tears well up more before she could stop them. "Ino…"
"You never valued me… as much as I valued you, did you?" Ino asked lightly, turning to look away from Sakura.
"Ino… I'm sorry—" She winced as Ino turned to glare at her.
"Apology not accepted! Not if you're going to do it again!" She yelled at Sakura, wanting to shake her as more tears fell.
Sakura stared at her friend. Ino… really had been hurt…? No, she probably didn't value her as much as she was valued by the other girl… but why would cute, popular Ino care so much about her? "Ino… Ino-chan, I'm sorry. I'm sorry I hurt you because I was afraid. Then… and now."
Ino watched the other girl as she fell to her knees, bowing her head to her. Against her will her heart cried for her, wanting to still comfort and protect the little blossom. "Sakura…?"
"I'm afraid. I like Sai, but what if he doesn't like me? What if he likes someone else? What about you? What if it's just like Sasuke-kun?" Sakura addressed the floor as she tightened her hands into fists.
So that's what it was. Ino smiled as she knelt down in front of Sakura, watching how her bangs fell over her face just like when they first met. "Shy little ghost…"
Sakura tensed lightly as she felt Ino push her bangs up off of her forehead. I-Ino!
She almost cried again when Sakura looked up at her with the same expression she had had back then. It was like they were starting over again. Smiling once more she reached behind her into her pouch and withdrew one of the most precious things to her. Feeling it slide against her fingers she set to work putting it back where it belonged. Tying the pretty ribbon in a bow, she combed her fingers through Sakura's hair. "You're still just a bud in this area, aren't you?"
Sakura just stared at Ino before bringing her own hand up to touch the ribbon tied in her hair. Feeling it there she started to cry. "Ino!"
She was surprised when Sakura threw herself into her arms but after the initial shock wore off she hugged her tightly in return. She wanted to tell Sakura how much she loved her friend but she couldn't get the words to come out.
"Ino… I really… don't know what to do." Sakura sniffled as she started to calm down.
Ino hugged her tighter, thinking hard on how to help her friend. "Well… why don't you see if he likes you? There are ways to find out. Test him… if he doesn't then you can move on, if he does… then you can talk to him and see what happens then."
Sakura closed her eyes. Ino really could be the voice of reason. She was so dumb sometimes. Luckily Ino was sensible. "How?"
Ino laughed. "Flirt subtly. Make him lunch. Get to know him… things like that."
Sakura blushed as she thought about flirting. Doing it with Sasuke had been so easy, but now that she thought about Sai… she felt shy for some reason. Maybe she would make him lunch. "I see… Ino?"
"Mm?"
"I really am sorry." Sakura said quietly.
"Me too."
--
Sakura yawned, eyes watering from lack of sleep as she walked toward the bridge where her team was to meet for training that day. She had stayed up late into the night talking with Ino about the past and how they could work to improve their friendship again. It would never be like before… but they could try to get close. As she approached she saw Sai already waiting, reading a book. She stopped, blushing and feeling suddenly shy again as she looked at him. Taking a deep breath she started walking again, chanting to herself that she could do this.
"Good morning Sai." She greeted with a small smile.
Sai looked up over his book, a little surprised by Sakura's friendly greeting. She seemed to be doing that to him a lot recently. "Good morning, Sakura."
When Sai smiled at her in return she swore she felt her cheeks heat up. Damn. Now she was being ridiculous! Noticing her blush Sai felt his curiosity rise. What was that about? Remembering yesterday he smiled more.
"Sakura… yesterday when you tripped you—" Sai blinked as Sakura squawked, waving her hands about.
"I—no, that is… I mean—" She laughed nervously. Oh God, how horrifying!
"It's nothing to be embarrassed about." Sai laughed, cutting her off. Her reaction was interesting.
"I-Is that so…?" She asked, still feeling stupid. Sai… didn't seem bothered, maybe he—
"Yes. I… find your clumsiness endearing." He supplied with his keaton grin, reciting something he had read from a book on how to deal with girls in different situations. It had said that when one is found in an embarrassing situation it is often wise to point out you like that about them to make them feel comfortable.
"Isn't that… sweet." She replied coldly before turning away. Stupid Sai! She wasn't clumsy! And why was he speaking to her like she was a child? I find your clumsiness endearing! Honestly! She wasn't five. She sighed. Why did she like him again?
--
"Yeah! Now that's what I call a mission!" Naruto said happily as he stretched his arms above his head as they left Rice Country. They had escorted an important leader and taken out a few bad guys. What made it even more special was that they got to lead the team, Kakashi letting them have the reigns to see how they'd do.
Sakura rolled her eyes, Sai smiled at Naruto's happiness, and Kakashi just ignored him as they walked.
"Well, I am getting hungry. Naruto, come with me to get fish. Sakura, Sai… please get a fire going. Kakashi said suddenly as he stopped walking, closing his book.
"Good idea!" Naruto agreed as he set off with the older man toward where they could hear a river.
Sai and Sakura got to work on gathering wood and getting a fire started. With that chore done Sakura sighed and sat next to it. After Sai's comment yesterday she had not talked to him the whole day. Watching him as he added more wood to the fire, she decided to try again.
Pulling some candy from her pouch she ate a piece before looking at Sai. "Sai… would you like some?"
Dark eyes met hers with curiosity. He wasn't sure what to think as once again Sakura was being nice to him. It was new. It made him feel happy… and yet… it made him feel even more on edge as well. "Yes."
She smiled, blushing a little as she held it out to him, letting him get what he wanted.
"Thank you." He smiled back.
As they ate their candy, waiting for Kakashi and Naruto to return she wondered if she was getting closer to finding out whether or not Sai liked her.
--
Four days had gone by and she wasn't sure what to do next. Ino has suggested flirting or making him a lunch. She wasn't sire if she was ready to flirt yet so she opted to make him lunch. Of course she had to make something for Naruto and Kakashi too. Just so it wasn't suspicious.
The next day during their break in training Sakura pulled out the large bento she had made. She happily offered it to Sai then to Naruto and Kakashi. All three looked at it hesitantly. Especially Naruto and Sai. They both had not very pleasant experiences from before.
"Don't… you want to eat?" Sakura asked after a few minutes of nothing, her smile fading.
"O-Of course! I was just… surprised. Sakura-chan is being generous." Naruto quickly recovered for them, Sai nodding next to him.
To appease her, Naruto grabbed a pair of chopsticks Sakura had brought with for them and found something that looked edible enough and picked it out.
"I-Itadakimasu." He said before popping it into his mouth. They all watched as Naruto tried to keep a neutral face. "D-Delicious."
"Sai, you next!" Sakura said happily as she turned to the pale boy. This is what she had made it for.
Sai wasn't sure what to do… he really didn't want to try after seeing Naruto's face. Pressured by her stare he gave in and grabbed another pair of chopsticks, taking a piece and putting it in his mouth. He chewed for a second before making a face. "It tastes like dog food."
Both Naruto and Kakashi moved away as Sakura released her embarrassed rage by dumping the rest of the bento over his head. Naruto had to admit… he was rather thankful for once that Sai could be quite blunt.
--
Sakura growled in annoyance as once again Ino was laughing herself stupid over the story she had told her. "Are you done?"
"I'm sorry…" Ino replied, gasping for breath. "I really didn't think you were bad at cooking."
Sakura blushed and looked away, not wanting to look at Ino anymore.
"Are you still mad at him?" Ino asked, getting a 'humph' as a reply. She smiled. The way she saw it Sai must like her some about in order to try to the food after a previous bad experience. She had heard about Sakura's disastrous soldier pills.
Sakura sighed, about to declare defeat until Ino grabbed her arm and pulled her to her feet and out of her room. "Ino?"
"Don't give up yet! You just need to do something different!" Ino declared as she pulled the girl along, Sakura becoming wary of as to what her plan was.
-Chapter 8 End-
--
A/N: Ah! So... this chapter started out with a small fight... Yeah. I was sad when Sakura was so cruel to Ino after all Ino had done for her and with her. I still love Sakura, but I couldn't help but feel for Ino too. So I gave her a chance to stand up to Sakura. :D And thus... that part of the story happened.
And then some attempts for Sakura to see if Sai likes her. Lol. Dog food. I really don't know if Sakura can cook... but since her pills didn't turn out too well, I decided her cooking skills couldn't be something behold really either. Why does Sai know what dog food tastes like? He's so cute and weird, I can see people pulling tricks on him, lol.
Aaaaah!! It's moving along! Sakura is trying and Sai will soon start reacting to it. :D It'll probably be another chapter or so before any moves are actually made... buwhaha! Wait for it, wait for it...
