The Great Escape

Sakura looked up from her medical books as a chair was pulled out, from under her table, across from her. Turning a weary brow upon her dark haired teammate, the kunoichi nodded toward the stack of books he was currently laying down, "Self help, erotica, or art?"

"The first," Sai replied with a smile as he went about sitting down, pulling the top hardback toward him.

Sakura read its title out loud with a tilt of her head, while laying down her own acupuncture manual, "Stage Presence and how to obtain it." After the man merely cracked open his book across from her, the kunoichi righted her head, going back to her own business with a quiet laugh, "Getting ready for your part in the festival, I take it?"

"Yes," Sai replied with a frown.

After marking her space, Sakura looked back up with a smile, "I still can't believe Gai-sensei roped you two into participating in this year's Festival of Arts show." Shaking her head with humor, she asked lightly, "What exactly are you guys doing again?"

Sai answered with that frown lingering, "Gai-sensei said it was a form of performing arts, but it is actually a form of hand to hand combat." The crease between Sai's brows deepened as he added, "Because our movements are scripted, he says it is more like that of a dance."

"I take it you don't like that, eh?" Sakura snorted.

Her reply was a dry, "No," before Sai looked to her for help, "I do not understand what it is meant by playing to the crowd. Do you understand this saying, Sakura?"

The kunoichi stifled yet another laugh as she looked over his slightly confused features, "Did Gai-sensei say you needed to work on that?"

Sakura watched that previous crease of his features return as he nodded, "Yes, but I cannot right something that I do not understand."

Just imagining the kyuubi-container trying to explain that tidbit, Sakura asked with a barely suppressed giggle, "Did you ask Naruto?"

"Yes, but-"

"He wasn't much help was he?" Sakura chortled.

As Sai frowned yet again, the female across from him sighed as she admitted, "Well, there's not so much I can tell you really without actually knowing or seeing what you have to do, but basically it means carrying yourself in a way or doing things during your performance that will," She paused while searching for the right word, "please the crowd."

"Then I have to ask you the same question I have asked Gai-sensei," Sai shook his head, "I still do not understand that meaning in this context. Is what we are doing not combat?"

Sakura paused to think of a reply as a flash of blonde coming toward them made her own lips turn down, "Here comes trouble."

"Hm?" Sai hummed as he turned around, following Sakura's eye-line.

Sakura watched her teammate put on his usual mask, smiling inwardly, as the other woman neared with an overly enthusiastic, "Wow, funny seeing you two here!"

"What are you doing here?" Sakura's lips formed a smirk as she added, "Didn't know you'd moved past picture books finally, Ino-Pig."

Faced with the object of her amorous thoughts, Ino merely brushed the other woman's quip off as she brushed invisible lint from a shoulder, while standing off to Sai's left with a hand on the male shinobi's own shoulder, "I'll let that go," Looking at her nails, the blonde added, "Seeing as how I'm the better woman and all that." Then, looking to Sai, the mind specialist tried to keep her smile as Sai went about nonchalantly removing the kunoichi's hand on his shoulder, "I just came to pick up some reference materials for my father, but I'm glad to see you're here too, Sai," A glare at the other, "Even if Forehead's here." Looking down at the blank-faced man, Ino asked, "What'cha reading about, Sai?"

Before Sai could answer, Sakura took it upon herself to reply, "He's doing research for the festival." Giving Ino a pointed look, the kunoichi crossed her arms, while leaning back in her seat, "So, why don't you run along now and let him be."

The two women glared at each other as Sai finally spoke up, after having collected his books and going about to stand, "Actually, Sakura was just about to help me in a practical session with my performance."

Sakura raised a brow. I was? But then, quickly recovered as she too began to collect her things and stand. Giving the other kunoichi a smug, "Well, guess we'll see you later, Pig," Sakura turned away with a little wave, completely feeling the burning glare assaulting the back of her head as she trotted off with her teammate in tow.

Heading out through the lobby's doors, Sakura gave a laugh, "Wow, she looked pissed." Then turning to her impassive teammate, the kunoichi asked lightly, "Why'd you lie, Sai?"

"It was not a lie per say," With the two of them walking along through the village's main road, her teammate gave a smile –that bordered on arrogant in Sakura's book- before continuing, "I was in the process of asking you before you're friend came along."

Sakura threw back an unimpressed look with her tone bordering on the same, "So you just thought I'd drop whatever I was doing and come help?"

Another smile.

With a heavy sigh, Sakura tried to portray the act of irritation even as the twitch of her lips betrayed her, "Come on, you bastard. Let's get this over with."