Questionable


"Seriously, Sakura…he has to be leaning on that side," hissed Ino.

"He is not, so kindly shut that mouth Ino-pig," the pink-head hissed right back.

However, deep within the confines of flesh, muscle, and bone, Sakura's heart throbbed a pang of foreboding. 'What if Ino-pig is right?' it told her.

Sitting at an outside table at a café close to her house, Sakura looked up to be met with the rainbow that colored the umbrella shielding them from the strident sun. "But if it's true, then why…?"

Ino, across from her bit her lip in contemplation. "Who knows, I mean you are the only one that has ever been subjected to his advances…the only girl I mean," she corrected smarmily.

To that Sakura responded with a glare, and a huff. "I'm going home," she declared, and drowned the last of her iced tea in one gulp, leaving her to stand abruptly (some might say angrily).

"Hey forehead-girl, I didn't really mean it you know," sighed Ino, "It was a joke."

"Of course it was," snapped Sakura. "You have no proof that he's advanced on other boys…therefore you are completely, amazingly, splendidly, dead wrong."

As expected, Ino didn't take that comment too well. "Oh, really," she drawled, quirking a blond eyebrow. "I think I'd like to prove it to you then, Sakura chan."

Sakura was taken aback. "You would?" she asked in wonderment.

"I'd be delighted," she all but sang. "It would be like killing two birds with one stone."

"How so?" asked Sakura suspiciously.

"Well," said Ino as she too stood from the table. "I'd be finding out a very much sought after piece of information…and I'd be making sure my best friend was making the right choice."

Sakura smiled. "Really?" she asked.

Ino nodded and hooked her arm trough Sakura's. "Yep, and so now we have to investigate the suspect. Oh, and we have to come up with a name for our cover operation too."

Sakura nodded enthusiastically. "Yes, out co - Wait, what do you mean our? I though you were doing this alone?"

Ino laughed. "Don't be silly, I know I can do this alone…but it'll be more fun if we do it together don't you think?"

Sakura sighed heavily. "I suppose," she agreed.

"Great!" cried Ino, "Now we really will begin operation 'is he or is he not' she laughed.

Sakura paled at the name. "Shouldn't it be something more covert?" she asked…which of course fell on dead ears.


'Spying is harder than I thought it would be,' though Sakura as she trudged trough the village, covered in mud, and aching all over.

Hiding from him while he trained (in the dirtiest of places mind you) had proven to be a challenge.

'And it wasn't even worth it!' cried her inner. 'All we saw him do was train, train, train…boring.'

Sakura frowned, 'You sound like you want him to swing that way,' she accused. 'But guess what, he doesn't…so there!'

And so by putting out her annoying other out of correction, Sakura felt her spirits rise one notch. But she desperately wanted a bath…a bubble bath…and maybe, just maybe some chocolate fondue.


The next day was a bright one, sun related of course. And nothing could be better than a clear blue sky covered in clouds.

But of course, there's always something that ruins one's spirits.

Ino was that something.

"And so," she said exuberantly from the other side of the circular breakfast table. "Since he spent all day training with another guy, and landing punches (which could consequently also be know as violent caresses) frequently, I say that those two had something going on," she explained.

Sakura wasn't amused. "Could you please wipe that smile off your face, it's not helping me in the slightest."

Ino sighed. "Sure, it must be hard knowing that he doesn't really like you…but that makes me wonder why he even confessed to you in the first place."

Sakura bit her lip tenderly. "Ino, you still don't know for sure, I mean, all you gave me here was speculation not fact."

Ino deadpanned. "Forehead-girl, do you need to actually catch them in the act to believe what I'm saying to you (which really is conceivable)?"

Groaning, Sakura nodded. "I won't be able to leave it alone, much less give him any sort of answer unless I truly know."

Ino rolled her eyes. "Fine, we'll spy on him again this afternoon."

Sakura's nodded "Yeah, su - Oh wait no! I have a date with him this afternoon," she exclaimed wide-eyed.

Ino then smiled her devious smile. "The let's get you ready, I suppose I'll be the only one spying tonight."


The next morning was also blue skied and very much bright.

Once again, Sakura found herself sitting at her breakfast table with Ino, who apparently had taken notes of last night's fiasco.

"In summary," said Ino. "You and 'mister questionable' met in front of the café at 6 o'clock sharp (which gives him promptness points). Then he pulled your chair for you (courtesy points). After he initiated a conversation which involved mostly questions concerning you (good-listener points). And then his 'could-be-lover showed up, and he offered him to stay, which he did (awarding him good-friend points). And in the end he and 'lover boy' both took you home (which means he's a gentleman)."

Sakura smiled widely. "So apart from a few things he's definitely not into boys. And he likes me," she exclaimed.

To which Ino shook her head gravely to. "I'm afraid not," she said. "It seems that you're too naïve to comprehend what's going on right in front of you."

Sakura raised an eyebrow. "Which would be?" she questioned.

"Well," said Ino. "First he met you somewhere, so that way he didn't have to come pick you up and decide where to go, you know, some place random."

"What would that mean?" asked Sakura.

"It means," stressed Ino. "That he wanted to have a place established so that 'lover boy' could meet you guys 'coincidentally' there."

"You're joking," deadpanned Sakura.

"Not at all," said Ino. "And then he was all courtesy and all about you, which means he was trying to find things out about you while at the same time divert the conversation concerning himself.

"And then when 'lover boy' showed up it was just to see how all three of you got along together…and then they both walked you home! Sakura, don't you see what's going on here?" she exclaimed elated and pink faced.

Sakura gazed at her with confusion and fright for her sanity. "Umm, not exactly," she said.

Ino pounded her fist onto the table. "Their trying to invoke a ménage-a-trois or something," she declared.

"And most likely they want children, but since that can't happen between two guys, one of them set out to find a girl they thought would be suitable to give them a kid."

With that said, Sakura got up and left the house, ignoring Ino's protest's as she went though the door.


"I'll leave if you want to," said the 'could-be-lover' brightly.

"No," said Sakura. "I need you both to answer me…and truthfully."

"That's fine," said her 'could be or could be not' kindly.

Sakura breathe in deep. "It's embarrassing," she exhaled. "But I need to know…are you in love with each other?"

And the chocolate haired man choked on air, while the beautiful beast was lost for words.


2 days later

"And so tell me Sakura," he said while they walked to her home after a very nice (and very lee-less date) why on earth did you think I was in love with Lee?"

Sakura smiled goofily, while her inner plotted against Ino. "Oh, believe me Neji, you don't want to know."


And so it ends.

Thoughs?

-cf-