Chapter 11
It was a few minutes after she left Naruto's house and wandered a bit aimlessly that she realized the reason was because she wasn't sure… where Sai was at the moment. There was a good chance he was at home, but what if he wasn't? Besides the library, she didn't know where he liked to go. She sighed as the wind blew her hair into her face. Figuring she would try his home anyway she set to remembering how to get there, high on her feelings tinged with a little anxiety at seeing him again so soon after her embarrassing outburst.
When she saw his building come into view she slowed her pace and willed her suddenly racing heart to calm down before it had an attack and killed her. She managed to calm herself down pretty well… until she stood before the small complex.
First she had a siege of emotions like nervousness and shyness which led to nonsensical fussing over how her hair looked and did her clothes have wrinkles. She tried to snap herself out of overstressing herself again, but… but—!
"Sakura?"
Her body tensed so tightly that it hurt as the call of her name startled her. She looked up to see Sai watching her with curiosity as he stood a few feet away. She put a hand to her chest to remind herself to breathe before running self-conscious fingers through her hair.
"Sai…"
"I saw you through the window." He offered as an explanation for his being there. "Did you need something?"
He was now asking for hers.
"I…" She was a little unnerved when he didn't smile like he usually did. Instead he seemed to have a contemplative frown. When she opened her lips again, words tumbled out in a mumble.
Sai gave her a quizzical look. "Sorry?"
"I… Sai, could we… take a walk and talk?" She whispered nearly inaudibly, twisting her hands in front of her.
Her fidgeting caught his attention and his curiosity grew. She seemed to want to walk and talk a lot lately. Heaving a small sigh, he nodded and smiled. "Sure."
His smile! She found herself relaxing at the now welcome sight. They set off after Sai locked up his home, Sakura letting her feet lead and Sai quietly following. They were brought to a nearby park that had recently been used by the village's youth until parents had called them home for the night. Sakura led the way to an empty swing and sat on it, Sai standing off to the side as they each stared at their feet.
Sakura thought on where to begin. She didn't want things to move too quickly so something ended in a misunderstanding, but she… didn't want to beat around the bush either. She didn't think she could confess if she took too long to do it. Drawing a deep breath she held it for a few seconds before releasing as she used her legs to push herself back and she started swinging, pumping her legs occasionally to keep her going.
"Sai… about earlier… I'm sorry. I… overreacted—you're… not a pervert, I guess." She started with, not looking at him.
Sai watched her before blinking at her words. Ah, so she wanted to talk about that? And she apologized? A smile tugged at his lips. He had a feeling of relief at those words.
She glanced at him and saw his smile. Good… he seemed to accept her apology. "I… talked with Naruto after that… he said some interesting things."
Sai tensed as his smile slipped while he watched the kunoichi swing back and forth calmly. She talked to Naruto? Did he… tell her what he had said? Was this why she wanted to talk to him? He grew apprehensive. He was being led into foreign waters… and Sakura could easily drown him since he was sure how to stay afloat.
"Oh…?" He managed to say lightly, trying to keep his expression and body language neutral.
"Mmn. Of course, I'm sure he found my confessions… interesting as well." She laughed lightly then sighed. "I think our friendship matured today."
Sai continued to watch her quietly, wondering why she was telling him this. And confessions? Was he to find out what she had confided to the other?
Sakura paused in her swinging, trying hard to get her courage up and squash and lingering fears. It would be okay. With Sai… it would be okay! Releasing a deep breath she took up her motion again, swinging slowly.
"Na… Naruto also told me… something interesting about you." She glanced at him out of the corner of her eye.
Sai stared, wondering what to do or say. He knew, knew, Naruto had told her what he had said, well… more questioned. There was a part of him that felt a little… disappointed in the blonde. He… had asked in the pretense of confidentiality and he, in turn, told Sakura? She wasn't going to yell at him, was she?
"Do… you want to know what he said?" She questioned lightly, keeping her eyes trained on her feet as everything else was attuned to Sai.
He frowned before attempting a smile. "I'm sure I already know what he said."
Sakura paused once again. She hadn't expected that for an answer. She started swinging again. "Well, do… you want to know what I thought of that?"
A part of him wanted to say 'no' in an attempt to spare him from whatever she was to pitch at him but then wondered if that would be a good idea. Sakura was so odd, she'd probably get all offended and then be madder at him.
"Of course." He replied, keaton grin strained across his features as he hoped for the best.
Sakura stopped moving her legs, just swinging back and forth from momentum as her lips moved wordlessly. Say it. Say it! her mind encouraged. Come on!
"Sai… I—" She felt her face go red. Stupid body! Stop making this harder! "Sai, I like you."
He merely blinked at her confession, politely waiting to hear if she had anything to add before smiling and releasing a short laugh. "Is that all? I already know that, Sakura, since you've said it once before."
It was Sakura's turn to blink as she looked at him. Huh? When did she—
"You're annoying… and a pain sometimes, just like Naruto… but… I like you."
Ah! Oh yeah… by the fire… but—but this was—
"T-This is different!" She blurted before looking away. "This like… is different."
Sai wondered at that, trying to understand what she meant when Naruto's voice popped into his head.
"You like Sakura-chan?!"
Like? As in… attracted to—was Sakura trying to tell him she—
"I… Sai, I have an… I like you in a way that I have an attraction to… " She trailed off, deeply embarrassed that she had to explain it. Sometimes it would be much better if he could have just been a normal boy! "Naruto said you like me! And I—I like you t—"
She gasped as Sai suddenly appeared before her, jerking her swing to a halt, her knees coming to rest between his thighs while his hands rested over hers on the chain link.
"Sakura… you're mistaken. I am not attracted to you…" He said lightly as he gave her a thoughtful frown. Somewhere she must have misunderstood Naruto. "Surely Naruto told you that?"
Sakura stared at his wall of body, trying to keep calm as she processed his words. He wasn't—no, that wasn't right! Naruto had said… "Naruto said… you feel new things—"
"I do. But Naruto said that wasn't attraction, it's because we're becoming friends. It makes sense." He replied with a small smile.
Sakura thought about that. Naruto had admitted he had discouraged it was because Sai liked her… "Naruto lied to you."
The look Sai gave her made her want to punch Naruto to the moon but then remembered his reason.
Sai couldn't… believe it. "What?"
"Naruto… lied to you." She repeated lowly, looking down to her lap as she managed to pull her hands from his and slid them down the swing a little. "Please… don't be mad at him. He thought… he was protecting me."
He thought on that as he chewed his bottom lip lightly. Naruto had lied? To protect Sakura from his attraction? Why?
"Sai, don't ever touch Sakura."
Of course. He was attracted to her too. Ah! It hit him making him blink in surprise. He was attracted to Sakura! His instinct that had slowly been surfacing in this area… told him so! When did these feelings come around? And she… she was attracted to him? That thought filled him with unexplainable warmth. It made his pulse quicken a little and his blood rush, turning his cheeks pink. He wasn't quite sure how but he knew his relationship with Sakura had just changed in a big way.
"Sakura… it's okay that I feel an attraction to you?" He asked lightly, trying to be sure. He didn't want her getting mad over something misunderstood.
"Eh?" Sakura looked up at him. His expression was so cute and his question so innocent she nearly blushed as she laughed lightly. "I—uh, yeah. Of course… since I l-like you too."
Sai smiled again, trying to get use to this. It was so new yet felt so… familiar. "Um… well, what do we do now?"
He had to ask. He wasn't quite sure. He had read a little about it and some of the things that could follow an attraction… but none of them seemed to fit right with Sakura. Physical intimacy, marriage… no. He couldn't picture doing those things with her. So what, then? Where did they go?
"Oh! W-Well…" Sakura's mind pictured all the things involved in a relationship: dating, kissing, and being close… she blushed. No. Not yet. "Is… it okay if we go slow?"
"Go slow?" Sai questioned before realizing his instinct understood and that put him at ease a little, yet… he wasn't quite on page with it himself.
"Yeah… like improve our friendship. Get to know each other more… do the other stuff later." She tried to explain while hiding her embarrassment.
"Ah." He thought that made sense, even if he didn't fully understand one hundred percent. "Other stuff?"
He watched her with curiosity as her face went even more red. She looked so… cute. It made him want to…
"Y-Yeah, like… kissing…" It was all she could use as an example before she lost her nerve. Wasn't that what got her into this in the first place? That 'accident'? Really. One little peck… and she fell for him?
Kiss her? Sai blushed lightly. 'Other stuff' must mean what attraction leads to… would he do those things with her? 'Later'? He smiled as he watched her hair blow in the wind. Her hair…
"Sakura, can I touch you?" He asked lightly as he moved his left hand up the chain a little to lean on it.
The change in the atmosphere, that had just been calm between them, was immediate. Sai felt worry crease his brows as Sakura tensed.
Touch me?! Touch me how?! Inner Sakura roared while her mind tried to think about it logically. She didn't want to overreact again… but… what else could he mean?! Clenching a fist, ready to hit him in his exposed stomach, she looked up at him with a glare in her eye.
"Depends on what you mean by that." She said darkly.
Sai quickly threw his hands up in defense as he backed off a little. Obviously he had said the wrong thing again. She looked ready to beat him into the ground.
"I just mean…your hair. I wanted to feel… your hair." He explained hastily, learning fast he needed to watch how he said things to her, now more than ever.
She processed that before calming down. He wanted to touch… her hair? Well, she supposed she didn't mind, but… "I don't mind, I guess. But next time… just say that. 'Can I touch you'… sounds so perverted."
He blinked innocently and pondered her words. It sounded… perverted? Well he could kind of see that point of view—if one actually thought of it like that. "Ah… I see."
Sakura nodded in encouragement before smiling as Naruto's words echoed in her mind.
"You could help Sai… and put him in his place when he… messes up. I think… you could be good for him."
"Err, so… I may touch your hair?" He asked just to make sure.
She blushed shyly before nodding slowly, focusing her eyes on her lap again.
Thankful his hands were bare, he reached out and gently took a lock between his fingers and rubbed like he would if checking paint bristles. It was so soft, silk-like and it made him want to feel more. Releasing the lock he moved his hand so the silken strands caressed his hand as he combed his fingers through them, brushing some of her hair out of her face and behind her ear. The scent of floral shampoo and her unique femininity floated to his nose as he played with her hair. It made him smile, curling some locks around a finger as he bowed his head to feel them with his lips.
Sakura knew her cheeks must be a deep scarlet by now… how could they not be when her cheeks felt so unbearably warm? She liked the feel of his hand in her hair… it was oddly relaxing, but made her heart beat faster. Though it was so simple, it felt so intimate and it made her want to declare only Sai could touch her hair. She mentally laughed at that thought and wondered what kind of face he would make if she told him that… what kind of face he was making now.
Eyes moving to meet his face she was surprised to see it moving towards hers—wait! Was he going to…?!
"A-Aiee!" Jerking back in shock she ended up jerking herself right out of the swing. Falling back, her back and head hit the sand hard, the bits of rock only cushioning her a little as she winced in pain and gritted her teeth. "Ow…"
Sai stared at the now empty space Sakura had once occupied a little dumbfounded. W-What… happened? Breath hitching as his mind caught up with the moment, he quickly looked down. "S-Sakura, are you okay?"
"Fine…" She muttered while willing the pain she felt to dull to a low throb before she tried to move.
Sai released a small relieved sight before something took his notice and he turned red as he quickly looked off to the side. "Uh, Sakura… I can see your pan—"
Sakura felt her eyes widen as she realized the position she was in. One leg was still caught in the swing… and she was wearing a skirt! Of course Sai saw—"AUGH!"
She squawked in embarrassment as she tugged her skirt down and kicked her leg free of the swing, managing to catch Sai in the hip in the process. He winced as he fell back while Sakura quickly rolled herself to her knees.
Sai rubbed his hip in a soothing manner as he looked to find her now glaring at him. She was… mad? But why? "What?"
"Why did you have to look—" She snipped at him.
"I didn't! You exposed your—" He tried to reason quickly. Maybe if he could nip this in the bud, he would be spared.
"…I DID NOT! I fell! It was a—" She was shocked! He didn't have to say it like that!
"How is that my fault?" He countered logically.
"Y-You didn't have to say…" Sakura muttered, trailing off… face hopelessly red.
Sai stared before exhaling heavily. Somehow he had made it worse by pointing out that he's seen, he figured… when he wasn't trying to. He'd just wanted to help? Females could be so sensitive over the smallest things. He offered a smile. "I'm sorry I embarrassed you."
Sakura blinked before letting her eyes trail over to him. She really hadn't expected that. A faint smile touched her lips as she sighed. "You… don't have to apologize."
They both knew she was pleased he did.
"Oh! It's getting really dark!" Sakura said in surprise as she got to her feet. "I should probably go home. My parents will worry. Um… we can talk more tomorrow, if you want."
Sai nodded his understanding before an idea hit him. He had read about it before… and it sounded nice. "Could I… walk you home?"
Her eyebrows rose in curiosity before she smiled gently. For some reason… she was really touched. She didn't know Sai had it in him. "Yes, okay."
Sai smiled back at her, happy he got to see the gentle smile he liked. He was also relieved he got through the last disaster okay. Sakura actually seemed more calm suddenly and it interested him. He walked silently with her as she led the way to her home. Once his hand bumped into hers, making him realize how close he had unintentionally been walking with her but before he could put some space between them to keep her comfortable, her hand found his and took it gently in hers, holding it the rest of the way.
She didn't look at him and only her flushed face let on she was conscious of what she had done. He smiled again. The warmth of her hand felt… nice. It made the whole of him feel warm.
When they made it to her door, Sai nodded his head in farewell before touching her hair one last time. She called a soft 'good night' before watching him make his way back down the street. Everything had changed in the last two hours or so… between her and Sai… and Naruto. In a way she felt relieved but another part was a little nervous to see how the next day would greet her. After some thought she figured she should thank Naruto in some kind of way for giving her that final push. Yeah.
With that to occupy her, she let the worries of tomorrow greet her when she actually needed to think about them.
-Chapter 11 End-
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A/N: WOW! An update. Finally. Sorry about the loooong wait. But I was busy with other things... and yeah. So. There are only about another 3-4 chapters left before this story is complete and all that good stuff. Yay?
Whoa! Sakura finally made her move... and now they are together but not... really. Yeah. Hmm. I cannot wait! :D The part I want to write the mooooost with the two is coming up! YAY! It'll probably be a bit before there is another update-- unless I push some other fic updates aside to write more to this one. (Lol, watch... that's probably what will happen! )
