Hello, everyone !

I'm back with the tenth chapter ~

Enjoy :)

Disclaimer : Sadly, I don't own Naruto. Just own this plot T_T

"Ino, what do you want for dinner?" Sakura asked as she took off her coat and hung it on a hanger.

Ino stepped into Sakura's apartment after she shut the door closed. "Anything, Sakura." Ino replied.

Sakura went into her kitchen while Ino made herself comfy in Sakura's living room. Sakura's apartment was quite spacious with two bedrooms. Each bedroom had its own bathroom. Sakura's apartment also consisted of a comfortable living room, and a modern kitchen. A simple dining table was placed in front of the kitchen.

"Ne, Ino, does carbonara sounds okay to you?" Sakura asked as she rummaged through her refrigerator.

"Oh I love carbonara!" Ino agreed immediately. To be honest, Ino was okay with anything Sakura cooked, since the pink haired lady was a great cook. Ino really loved her cooking.

"I'll leave your gifts on the table, okay?" Ino said.

"Sure. Thanks, pig." Sakura replied.

Ino put down Sakura's gifts on the table and then returned to her seat on the floor. She took out her gifts one by one, humming slightly as she neatly wrapping them.

"I'm done!" Ino said happily. She cleaned up Sakura's living room, stacking her gifts on top of the table, and went to Sakura's kitchen.

Sakura's cooking was almost done too. Ino sat on one of the chairs around the dining table, which located right in front of Sakura's kitchen.

"Ne, Sakura, did you buy any presents for Sasuke?" Ino asked.

"Why do you ask?" Sakura asked back while kept stirring the boiling pasta.

"I'm just wondering." Ino said. "You have been working with him for six months already. Shouldn't you buy something for him? Besides, won't it be strange if you bought presents for his friends, but you didn't buy any presents for him?"

Sakura chuckled. "I know, I know. I bought one for him."

"Really?" Ino asked which Sakura replied with a simple nod.

"I didn't know you can be this considerate towards your boss." Ino teased. "Didn't you say that he is so annoying?"

Sakura put the pasta on to Ino's plate and hers. She tched. "I'd rather buy him a gift than hearing him saying that cursed threat."

Ino laughed. Of course Ino knew about Sasuke's favorite threat from Sakura. "But you gotta admit that 'or you're fired' sentence is very effective." Ino said between her laughs.

"Don't tell me that." Sakura put Ino's plate in front of the lady while she took her own seat. "Sometimes I really really hate his gut. What a bossy boss."

"Oh come on, stop pouting!" Ino said as she took her first bite. "Wow, this is delicious as always! Besides Sakura, don't you find it funny?"

"What is funny?!" Sakura glared at Ino.

"The way you always did whatever he told you to, right after that favorite phrase of him came out!" Ino laughed again.

Sakura kicked Ino's leg rather harshly.

"Aw!" Ino protested.

"Just eat your dinner and stop laughing, pig." Sakura snorted.

Ino laughed again. "By the way, can I sleep over tonight?"

"Sure." Sakura shrugged. "But you're going to sleep in the guest room."

"Whaat? Why?!" Ino protested.

"You kicked in your sleep, pig." Sakura said cooly.

This time, Ino kicked Sakura's leg. "I didn't kick in my sleep!"

"You kicked in your sleep, pig!" Sakura glared. "Why did you think I always ended up on the floor while you always stayed on the bed whenever you had your sleepover?"

"You rolled by yourself!" Ino defended herself.

"Do you take me as a ball?" Sakura hissed.

"Oh come on, Sakura! I don't want to sleep alone!" Ino begged.

"You always sleep alone in your house!" Sakura refused.

"No I'm not! I have tons of dolls Sai gave to me to company me!" Ino pouted.

Sakura stared at Ino in disbelieve. Did she hear it right? Jeez, Ino was twenty years old already! But, Sakura knew Ino. She knew that her best friend always hated loneliness. Sakura sighed.

"Fine. But don't kick me out of my bed." Sakura said.

Ino nodded happily. "I won't! I swear!"

Sakura groaned and slowly opened her eyes. Her back was hurt and she instantly knew why.

Ino must have kicked her out of her own bed.

"This is why I told you to sleep in the guest room, baka Ino." Sakura hissed as she stood up.

The blond model was sleeping peacefully on Sakura's bed, clearly didn't realize that she had kicked the owner out of her own bed.

Sakura ruffled her hair slightly in annoyance. She took a glance at the alarm clock on the small table beside her bed.

6.30 a.m.

"Oh well." Sakura shrugged and entered her bathroom to take her bath. Ten minutes later, Sakura stepped out from her bathroom. Ino was still sleeping.

Sakura shrugged again. She was about to go out from her room to prepare breakfast, when suddenly Ino's phone rang.

Sakura raised an eyebrow. Ino was still sleeping, clearly didn't bother by the sound of her ringing phone. Sakura walked towards the small table, picking Ino's phone up. She rolled her eyes upon seeing the caller's name. Or rather, the name Ino typed to save the caller's phone number.

My lovely boyfriend, Sai-koi.

Really, her friend was too love struck.

"Hello?" Sakura answered Sai's call.

"Ino where—Sakura? Is that you?" Sai asked in confusion.

"Yep. What's wrong, Sai?" Sakura asked back.

Sai sighed in relief. "Oh thank goodness Ino is with you. She left early in the morning but she didn't return to her home yesterday! I was so panic! Did she spend the whole day with you?"

"Yeah." Sakura answered. "She's sleeping in my place right now."

"Oh thank goodness!" Sai sighed in relief again. "At least I know she's okay. When she's awake, tell her to call me back, okay? That girl managed to give me a heart attack yesterday!"

Sakura chuckled upon hearing Sai's rant. "Sure, sure. Feel free to scold your girlfriend. And do me a favor while you're at that, okay? Tell her to stop kicking in her sleep."

"Oh? Did she kick you out of your bed?" Sai asked.

"You bet." Sakura snorted. "Do you know about this habit of hers?"

Sai chuckled. "Of course I know. But since I always hugged her whenever she had sleepover at my place, she didn't manage to kick me out of my own bed. Though yeah, she kicked in her sleep."

"Great, the only way to save me is to hug her." Sakura sighed desperately. "I'm straight, Sai. STRAIGHT."

"I know that." Sai laughed softly. "But it's the only way I found really effective."

"Please tell her to stop kicking people out of their beds." Sakura plead.

"Sure, sure." Sai agreed. "Can't guarantee she'll listen, though."

Sakura sighed again. "Oh, by the way, do you have a date with her today? I can wake her up if you want me to."

"Oh no, no need to do that." Sai replied."I just want to make sure that she's okay. Just let her sleep. I'll pick her up later."

Sakura smiled softly upon hearing Sai's caring side towards Ino, though Sai couldn't see it. "Thank you for taking care of her this well, Sai."

Sai chuckled. "Hey, somebody gotta take care of her while you're gone, right? And since I love her, I don't mind."

Sakura chuckled as well. "But I won't ever forgive you if you hurt her. If you ever made her cry, be prepared to see hell, Sai."

Sai gulped down nervously. "Understand, ma'am. Jeez, you're as scary as ever."

Sakura laughed softly. "Okay. I'm off to make breakfast now. Don't forget to pick Ino up later."

"Sure, Sakura. I'll see you later then. Don't forget to tell Ino to call me back." Sai said and then he hung up.

Sakura put down Ino's phone back on the table. She then smiled upon seeing Ino's sleeping face.

"You're such a lucky girl, Ino." Sakura mumbled.

"SAKURA! WHY DID YOU TELL SAI TO SCOLD ME?!" Ino protested.

Sakura rolled her eyes as she put down their breakfast on the table. "You kicked me out of my own bed, pig."

"But you didn't have to tell it to Sai, forehead!" Ino crossed her hands and pouted.

"And not having my revenge? Keep dreaming." Sakura put her tongue out.

"You're so nasty, forehead!" Ino complained as she took her seat.

"Yeah, yeah, love you too, pig." Sakura rolled her eyes.

Ino grinned as she looked at her delicious breakfast. "I love you, forehead! A lot!" Ino said as she happily ate her breakfast.

Sakura rolled her eyes again. Ino's mood swings had always taken her by surprise.

"Oh by the way, forehead, it's three months away." Ino said softly. Sakura almost didn't hear it.

Sakura put down her chopsticks. Her appetite suddenly went away. "Yeah." Sakura replied in whisper.

Ino noticed it and she also put down her chopsticks. Her face grew panic immediately. "I'm sorry, forehead! I didn't mean to!"

Sakura let out a small smile. "Nah, it's okay. I should be accustomed about it already. Don't mind, pig."

Ino lowered her head. "I'm sorry."

Sakura chuckled. "Really, it's okay, pig. I went through that every year."

"But.."

"Don't worry about it." Sakura picked up her chopsticks again. Even though she lost her appetite, she ate her breakfast again. She didn't want to make Ino felt guilty any longer.

Ino lifted up her head, staring at Sakura who was eating her breakfast. An idea suddenly crossed her mind.

"Ne, forehead. Do you mind if I.. if I go with you? On that day?" Ino asked.

Sakura raised an eyebrow. But she didn't say anything. Ino shifted on her seat nervously. "I know.. Maybe this idea sounds crazy. But.. Ever since I left.. I.. I just.."

"Sure, Ino." Sakura suddenly cut and resumed in her eating activity.

"Eh? Are you sure?" Ino asked.

Sakura nodded. "I don't mind."

Ino's eyes glinted and she smiled happily. "Thank you, Sakura!"

Sakura smiled back as her response. She was about to eat again when Ino's next question made her choked on her rice.

"Ne, forehead, I just suddenly remembered something. Since we are on an eight days cruise, we have an eight days party too. What are you going to wear? Don't tell me that red dress you wore six months ago. You have others, right?"

Uh-oh.

Sakura's body froze while Ino was waiting for her answer. Sakura could feel her body suddenly sweating, though it was December. Ino noticed it and sighed desperately.

"We're shopping again today." Ino decided. "And you have to come, Sakura."

Sakura winced. Seemed like her wallet would go thinner than ever.

"Ino, don't you think it's enough already?"

"Aw, but Sakura, look! You're so beautiful in this dress!" Ino squealed.

Sakura rolled her eyes as she glanced at the pile of dress beside her. "Ino, we got ten dresses already."

"But look at this one!" Ino took out another dress. "And this one! All of it looked good on you!"

"Inoooo!" Sakura glared at Ino.

Shivers ran down along Ino's spine. "Okay, okay! Just these dresses, okay? No more! I swear!"

Sakura sighed as she took out her wallet. Actually, Sakura wanted to cry out loud seeing those dresses. WHAT ABOUT HER WALLET?! HER WALLET WAS ABOUT TO BE AS THIN AS A PAPER!

But to Sakura's surprise, suddenly Ino gave the clerk her card. Sakura blinked upon seeing it.

"PIG?!" Sakura yelped as she realized that Ino was about to pay for her dresses. "What are you doing?! Ano, don't use her card! Here, use mine—"

"Shut up, forehead!" Ino hissed and slapped Sakura's hand away from the clerk. "Just let me pay. I'm the one who dragged you here, aren't I? Besides, I don't mind."

"But—"

"Let's just say these dresses are my present for you." Ino smiled.

"Present?" Sakura raised an eyebrow. Why would Ino give her a present? Christmas was still next week!

"My late present for your early graduation from the university." Ino winked.

"Huh? But still—"

"Just accept it, forehead!" Ino growled. "It's a taboo to refuse someone's present for you, you know!"

Sakura winced upon seeing her girlfriend's upset aura. "Alright." Sakura smiled. "Thank you so much, pig."

Ino grinned at Sakura. "You're welcome, forehead!"

"Are you sure you two don't want to have your dinner here?" Sakura asked as Sai helped Ino carrying her Christmas gifts.

"Nah, it's okay, forehead! Thanks for letting me sleep in here, forehead!" Ino grinned.

Sai nodded. "It's getting late too. Thanks Sakura for taking care of her. Sorry she kicked you out of your bed."

Ino playfully kicked her boyfriend's leg. "Okay then, we're going home, Sakura! See you at 25th morning at the harbor!"

"5.30 a.m. Don't be late, Sakura." Sai smiled.

Sakura nodded. "Be careful on your way back home."

Ino waved her hand and as she opened Sakura's apartment door. Sai stepped out. "Bye, forehead!"

Sakura waved back at them and smiled. Then, Ino closed the door and the couple walked away. Sakura turned her body away. She was about to make her dinner when her eyes caught something on her living room's table.

Her unwrapped presents.

She smiled. Sakura turned her course, she was walking towards the presents.

"I'll wrap you guys right now." Sakura mumbled to herself.

Konoha Harbor, December 25th.

"Whoa, look at those ladies!" Kiba said happily.

Ino smacked Kiba's head. "Stop drooling! You're embarrassing me!"

"Oh Ino, thank you so much for inviting me!" Kiba said dramatically. "This eight days will be the best eight days in my life!"

"Pervert!" Ino smacked Kiba's head again.

"Ara, Ino. Thanks for coming, dear."

Ino turned her face to see the source of the voice. Her smile widened the minute she saw who was speaking to her.

"Thank you so much too for inviting me, Mei-san." Ino bowed politely.

Mei Terumī, the legend in the modelling world smiled back at Ino. Even when her age was half of the century already, she was still as beautiful as ever. And yes, the eight days cruise was held and sponsored by her.

"Are these your friends?" Mei asked.

Ino nodded her head.

"Good." Mei nodded back. "Now please come inside. The cruise will start soon. And please enjoy this eight days cruise, everyone."

Done !

Uhm.. So what do you think about this chapter ?

I know there isn't anything interesting on this chapter T_T

But I can guarantee you the story will be more interesting very soon !

Keep reading this fic, okay my super readers ?

Reviews and flames are appreciated ~