I swear I've been writing this whole time...

You Must Believe in Spring
Chapter Nine: The Friday Fugue

Friday, May 29th 8:45 AM KST
Konoha, ANBU base: Dr. Haruno's office

Sasuke sat still, his expression cool as Hinata took his blood pressure. She listened intently, her pale fingers applying firm pressure to the stethoscope on the inside of his arm. A hint of a smirk tugged at his lips.

"Still beating?"

She removed the stethoscope and put it around her neck. "Still beating," she agreed with a small smile.

When Tsunade had approached him about wanting to do more research on the Sharingan, he had been hesitant – especially since Sakura would be heading up the research. However, when Hinata had also been approached and agreed, making it a comparative study of the Sharingan and Byakugan, he had consented. It was, after all, in an effort to protect both dōjutsus, and could lead to a better understanding of his own powers. He would absolutely not admit that having Hinata in the appointments with them made him feel more comfortable than being alone with Sakura. Sakura was blameless of the rift between them, and as desperately as he wanted to mend it, he did not wish to cause her unnecessary discomfort in the process.

Luckily, his initial concerns proved to be pleasantly unfounded. The first appointment with Sakura had been professional to the nth degree, as had every appointment thereafter. She went through his patient history with him, and asked informational questions about the Sharingan. She quickly analyzed the results of his bloodwork, and gave him a rough idea of what she felt their meeting schedule would look like.

That had been almost two months ago.

Hinata finished up taking his vitals and updating their charts - something she did to save Sakura time, and limit everyone's discomfort. A small timer dinged just as she put the file on Sakura's desk. Wordlessly, Hinata put a tray on the side table between their chairs and poured his tea. As one who abhorred small talk, her quiet nature was a welcome respite.

A vague smile pulled at Sasuke's lips. "Thank you, Hinata."

"You are welcome."

They sat in comfortable silence for a few moments before a perfunctory knock sounded on the door, and Dr. Haruno Sakura strode in, files in hand, white coat over professional attire.

"Thank you for waiting," she gave a quick smile, walking to her side of the desk. "It is a busy day." She put her stack of files on her desk before hanging up her coat. Her movements were efficient and perfunctory without being jarring – no gesture was wasted.

Sakura sat at the desk as Hinata placed handed her a mug of tea. "Thanks," she said, as Hinata returned to her seat.

They waited in silence while Sakura took a sip of her tea, and scanned through the files. After a moment or so, she leaned back, and met both of their eyes. "So!" she said brightly. "It seems we've made some breakthroughs this week, and I have good news for you, Sasuke."

"Oh?"

"I have completed every test possible," she said. "There are absolutely no remaining traces of the Curse of Heaven seal anywhere on your person or in your bloodwork. In fact," she leaned back in her chair. "It appears the integrity of genetic material that constitutes the "curse" has degraded in all remaining cell cultures."

Sasuke arched an eyebrow. "What does that mean, specifically?"

"It means that it is no longer possible to culture and extract cells capable of passing on the necessary genetic information stored in the cursed seal. They are too far removed from the original source, as would be any remaining specimens collected."

"What if the cell cultures were stored cryogenically?" he asked, leaning forward. "Orochimaru had multiple facilities and ways of storing his specimens."

Sakura shook her head. "My research shows that these cells do not preserve well cryogenically. At this point, if anyone wanted to recreate Orochimaru's work, the original specimen would have to be found, and new cells harvested and cultured."

"Jugo is dead," Sasuke said evenly. "And he was the last of his clan. There are no more original specimens."

"Then, aside from Anko," Sakura mused, "nothing remains. I have been working with her to see about removing what remains of her mark. The mark itself appears to have been sealed into dormancy."

"Trust nothing you know when it comes to dealing with Orochimaru or his work," he warned darkly. "The man was twisted, but brilliant."

"So, I am finding."

"And don't underestimate Kabuto. He is a considerable threat."

"I have heard that as well," Sakura reached for her tea. "But we are learning quite a bit from studying the pathogens we have found. The more sophisticated versions appear not only to be targeting the DNA responsible for the Byakugan or Sharingan, but even more specific parts of the coding. If we can figure out what they are targeting, we can not only better protect everyone, but get a better sense of what their true objective is."

"Makes sense," Sasuke sat back in his chair.

"Still," Hinata offered, "that is quite a bit of information – much more than we had before."

"True," Sakura offered her a grateful smile. "I am hopeful we will know even more after the team comes back from Iwa."

"Team," Sasuke sat rigidly. "What team?"

Sakura and Hinata exchanged a glance.

"There is a team of trackers being sent to Iwa," Hinata supplied. "It was just decided a day or so ago."

"When do they leave?"

"They haven't yet," Sakura frowned. "The assignment will be issued today, in fact I think Lady Tsunade will give the go-ahead after her meeting with-"

"When is her meeting?"

Sasuke stood, his tone urgent.

"Now, I think," Sakura checked her watch. "She should be-"

"Forgive me. I must cut this short."

The words were no sooner out of his mouth, than Sasuke was gone.

Sakura looked at Hinata, "What just happened?"

"I'm not sure," Hinata blinked. "But I suspect Sasuke just invited himself to Tsunade's meeting.

"Oh, no," Sakura breathed. "That can't be good."

"Too late to stop him."

"Say, Hinata?" Sakura laced her fingers. "Did I ever tell you there is a wonderful little place for brunch that is incidentally not anywhere near this particular base?"

"Sounds lovely," Hinata grinned. "I'll get my things."

9:24 AM KST
Konoha

Naruto was drumming his fingers on the gearshift, mentally urging the light to hurry-up-and-change-already. He leaned forward with a growl, gripping the wheel with both hands. He hated waiting, no matter for what or how short of a time.

When the light changed, he muttered "Finally," before driving through the intersection.

"You know," Sai said from the passenger seat. "The lights in this area are timed. If you go exactly the speed limit, your chances of catching a red light are statistically insignificant. In fact, if all drivers utilized this knowledge, it would optimize the traffic flow of this area, reducing congestion considerably.

"Is that a fact?"

"Yes," Sai agreed. "It is. And what you are doing now by nearly doubling your speed is the exact opposite of the strategy I am suggesting. In fact, the light ahead of us is about to turn red. You are going to have to forcibly apply the brakes in order to stop in time."

"Oh, am I?" Naruto asked with a wicked grin and a heavy foot on the accelerator.

"Well, yes," Sai said blankly, "Assuming you wish to observe traffic and safety laws-"

They flew through the intersection, and the light turned red behind them.

"-…which clearly you don't."

"Lighten up, Sai," Naruto rolled his eyes, but reduced his speed. Getting out of tickets was a pain in the ass, and usually required favors.

Sai cocked his head to the side. "How so? I am already far lighter than you, pigmentation wise – especially now that there has been more sun and you are tan. I do not believe my weight to be excessive, and have passed every physical I have ever been given. I am not overly dressed-"

"I mean, relax a little," Naruto interrupted. "Don't get so hung up on all of the details of things."

"I am an artist," Sai shrugged. "Details are a large part of what I do."

"I guess that's true. So," he flicked a gaze to his rearview mirror, before glancing over to his teammate. "For someone that said they wanted to talk, you didn't have much to say much over breakfast."

"I thought it best that you have a meal first. You do not pay much attention when you are hungry."

"That's fair," Naruto reached for his large to-go cup and slurped noisily through the straw. "So what's up?"

"I wanted to ask you some questions about your time at Konoha University, and Sasuke and Sakura."

Naruto gave a half of a shrug. "Unless you have some new questions, I don't know that I have much to tell you."

"I have several," Sai pulled a notebook out. He asked Naruto a series of innocuous questions that were answered easily and quickly. He then had Naruto drive him around campus and the rest of Konoha as he noted locations that were important to his friends during those times. Naruto's face was more somber as he parked to lead Sai down the old path out of Konoha.

Naruto stopped in front of the stone bench. He shoved his sunglasses on top of his head, not needing them in the shade of sun-dappled path. The late May breeze that drifted by hinted that summer was just around the corner, but this spot never felt like summer to Naruto.

"It was here?" Sai asked, looking around.

"Yeah," Naruto nodded to the bench. "That is where they found her."

Sai scanned the wide, cobbled path, and the trees banked behind the old cement walls. The stone bench was built into the wall, worn and weathered by time. Long ago, this had been the only path out of the village. That could not be stated now – the village was no longer "Hidden" and there were many ways to exit the city. The towering ancient gates at the end of the path no longer served as the border between Konoha and the rest of the world.

Sai sat on the bench and surveyed the area. He went farther down the path and looked back at the bench. He went to the other side of the bench and looked up the path. Naruto leaned on the wall opposite the bench, his foot propped against the concrete, his arms crossed. Sai stepped back and made a viewfinder by touching his thumbs to the opposite pointer fingers, and surveying the area. Finally, he pulled out a professional digital camera and repeated the process.

When he finished, he sank onto the bench and paged through his pictures on the back of the camera.

"So what are you doing, exactly?" Naruto peered over his shoulder.

Sai continued to flick through the images. "I am trying to see what they saw."

"Well unless you are a Yamanaka, that won't happen. I guess Sasuke could show you with his Sharingan, but the chances of that happening are less than zero."

Sai paused.

"Wasn't he also scanned by Inoichi? When he returned?"

"Probably," Naruto shrugged. "But I don't know if they bothered scanning that particular memory. By then, it didn't matter. He was back. There wasn't anything to see or say. Besides," Naruto kicked a pebble with his shoe. "They already saw it from Sakura's memories. They didn't need it from his point of view."

A glint of an idea formed in Sai's mind. "It's all a matter of perspective," he mused. He fished out his phone and sent a text before returning it to his shirt pocket. "Perhaps," he looked to Naruto, "It is in the details, after all."

"Huh?" Naruto quirked an eyebrow at his friend. "What do you mean by that?"

"I have another question," Sai said, a shadow of concern slipping across his face as he put his camera away. "As Sasuke's teammates, we are his friends, yes?"

"I mean, he'd probably never admit it, but yeah. We're his friends. Even you," Naruto kept a straight face, but mischief pulled at his lips.

"And Haruno Sakura was friends with all of you, and as she is a friend of my friends I am to treat her as if she is a friend of mine, correct?"

"Yeah. Sure. Let's go with that. Why?"

"Then, perhaps you can help me to understand where I should stand in regards to their particular agendas," Sai asked. "You have indicated to me that Sasuke wishes to reconnect with the Doctor, potentially on a romantic level, but she is currently in a relationship with Neji, correct?"

"Well, that's two questions, and a crap-ton of problems," Naruto muttered, sinking onto the bench next to Sai, trying to think how to explain. "Sasuke wants to make things right, but I am sure that he wants to get Sakura back. He hasn't said too much about it, but it sounds like his meetings with her at the hospital have gone well. As for Neji, I guess he and Sakura are official now."

"I was unaware they had filed the paperwork," Sai scribbled a note. "I must remember to request a copy."

"Not necessary," Naruto swallowed a grin. "But why are you asking?"

"Well, they each appear to have different goals that are at odds with each other. As they are both in our circle of friends as well as fellow employees, should we not help them move toward their respective goals? And if that is indeed the case, how do we work with one and not against the other?"

"We don't have to take sides, Sai," Naruto said firmly. "We can stay out of the personal stuff."

"But, according to my notes," Sai flipped back through his notebook, "Ah, here it is. The appropriate philosophy is 'Bro's before ho's,' which, I am led to believe, means that our allegiance must be to Sasuke and his cause, because of our mutual possession of penises. Or," he flicked a glance to Naruto's lap dismissively, "whatever passes for one."

"How does it always come back to penises with you?" Naruto shook his head in amazement. "Seriously? It's got to be unhealthy."

"No," Sai shook his head. "I told you before. I have passed every physical. There is nothing wrong with my penis, and, if the extra attention the nurse was paying to me that day is any indication, there are quite a few things right with it."

"Okay," Naruto cut off the conversation. "No more penis talk. Seriously. Whatever else you have to ask me, skip that part."

"That is fine," Sai shrugged. "I was mostly done anyway, although you did not really answer my question."

"When you were in ROOT," Naruto said evenly, "and you were undercover. You didn't do anything to hinder our movements, and you couldn't be caught promoting Danzo's agenda, right? You stuck to your mission."

Sai frowned. "I suppose. Although considering assassination was part of my orders, I clearly didn't adhere to the mission."

"But you kept yourself neutral for a long time," Naruto said pointedly. "You stayed out of things, and just watched."

"More or less."

"Well, then here are your orders," Naruto said firmly. "Your friend's romantic lives are not your concern. If your friend needs you or your support, they will come to you. Other than that, step back, and let it ride."

"Hm," Sai rubbed his chin. "I was expecting some talk about the bonds of friendship and the responsibilities we have toward one another. This is unexpected." He looked around one last time before nodding to himself. "We are done here. Thank you for your assistance."

"No problem. Need a ride anywhere?"

"No, thank you," Sai stood, pocketing his phone. "My next appointment is at Yamanaka Hana, and I can walk there from here."

Naruto's grin was sly.

"Been spending quite a bit of time with Ino, haven't you?"

"She has been a valuable resource of information," Sai agreed. "It has helped me, as she puts it, 'fill in the blanks' to some of your shared past, which helps me navigate the intricacies of the social construct that is our group of friends."

"Uh-huh," Naruto said flatly. "I'm sure the fact that she's smokin' has nothing to do with it."

Sai frowned.

"Ino does not smoke. She considers it to be a disgusting habit."

Naruto chuckled. "Whatever, Sai," he took out his keys. "I'll see you later." Naruto headed back toward where he was parked, not even stopping to call over his shoulder. "You two behave yourselves, now," he waved. "Don't do anything I wouldn't do!"

Sai watched Naruto swing up into his truck, grinning smugly all the way. As the truck rumbled away, Sai shook his head.

"And people tell me I say the strangest things."

10:30 AM KST
Konoha, ANBU Base: Rehabilitation Unit

Shizune flipped through another page on her clipboard, watching carefully as Anko lowered the weight back into position on the machine.

"Good," she smiled, scribbling something down. "Your strength and range of motion are steadily improving."

"Just have to work on endurance next," Anko grumbled, swiping at her face with a towel. "I shouldn't be breaking a sweat over this kind of stuff."

"You won't for much longer," Shizune assured her. "You had almost a month where you were totally incapacitated, and only about two months to change that. Not even that long," she added, "because we couldn't start your rehabilitation right away. Cut yourself some slack."

Anko snorted at the idea. "The sooner I can get back on my feet, the sooner I can help find my teammates. Any luck contacting Doku?" she asked hopefully.

"Not yet," Shizune reported. "From what Uchiha tells us, Doku was summoned away again shortly after returning from the ANBU base."

"That doesn't make any sense," Anko grimaced. "I don't think there are any contracts with anyone that isn't me or Uchiha, and Orochimaru is dead. No one else should be able to summon the snakes."

"It should be impossible," Shizune agreed, "but that's all we have to go on right now."

Anko stared at her hands. "They did something to my chakra network," she sighed bitterly. "I don't have the control to attempt the summons right now."

"I think they purposely blocked you from being able to do a summons," Shizune said pointedly. "I had a Hyūga medic examine your tenketsu, and we've been monitoring them daily. I have Hinata checking her clan archives for any information that might help us reestablish and reopen those points."

"Is that why my progress has been slow?"

"It is why your progress hasn't been as fast as you'd like," Shizune rolled her eyes, "but considering you were half dead when you got here, I'd hardly call your progress 'slow.'"

"But Ranka is doing better now, isn't he?"

"Much," Shizune smiled. "Apparently they didn't think he would survive whatever they were doing or were going to do to him, so they didn't bother incapacitating him as much as they did you. He's been moved to one of the long-term care wards, but he is out of the critical care unit. Admittedly, he still gets tired," Shizune shrugged, "but he was in a pretty awful state when he arrived."

"At least he is doing better now," Anko fiddled with the towel. "Do…do we know anything more about the experiments they did on him?"

"We know more than we did," Shizune said carefully, "but we are still piecing the evidence together." She glanced at the clock "We're finished for today," she flipped the sheets on her clipboard back down.

"Alright," Anko sighed, standing up. "I've got to get going anyway. See you later, Shizune." She waited until Shizune left for her next appointment to head to the locker room. She changed quickly and made her way out of the base and to the old training ground.

"How did your appointment go?"

She looked up to where Kakashi was sitting lazily in a tree.

"Frustrating," she tossed her bag down. "Slow, boring, pointless, I hate it, and are you going to stay up there all day?"

Kakashi tucked his book away and jumped down, hands in his pockets.

"That's better," Anko muttered. "I kept my end of the deal. I've been going to these stupid sessions. Now it's your turn."

Kakashi shrugged. "I set up some target practice today. We'll do a light spar if you can hit enough of the targets."

"Fine, fine," she said impatiently, crossing to the long table where Kakashi had laid out some weaponry. "Anything to get some decent training in for a change."

Kakashi smiled to himself.

A cantankerous Anko was a recovering Anko.

It was good to see her spirits rising, and watching her return to her normal attitude, even if it occasionally bordered on scary. That was probably why Tsunade had okay'd his covert sessions with her, even if Shizune didn't know about them.

"Don't let her push herself too hard," Tsunade had warned, "but I know she needs a harsher challenge than we can reasonably give her here."

What Tsunade really meant, was that if they officially greenlighted Anko to do this level of training, she would push herself way beyond her current limits, and probably insist on going back in the field. Making a deal with her to attend her therapy while getting in some covert and more satisfying training both kept her in the village, and from overexerting herself.

As she tested the weight of the various weapons, she smiled. "This is more like it," her grin curved wickedly. "I'm so going to kick your ass, Kakashi."

Kakashi shrugged, and nodded toward the targets, some of which were now moving. "I look forward to it."

11:25 AM KST
Konoha, Yamanaka Hana

Kiba entered Yamanaka Hana, and walked past Ino's cousin at the counter.

"It's an emergency," he assured her before waltzing into the large workroom, Akamaru on his heels.

"Wow," he stood, taking in the multitude of floral arrangements. "Guess it's a good thing you drafted Sai for more help in here. Looks like you guys have been busy."

"Kiba?" Ino looked up in surprise. "I didn't think you were going to be back yet."

"I wasn't," he admitted. "I managed to wrap things up a little quicker than anticipated, and was trying to get back to surprise…" Ino met his gaze sharply, and he faltered. "Well, anyway," he cleared his throat, "I just left the assignment deck."

"Kiba, if you are not too exhausted from your mission, I would very much like to discuss it and your travels over a beer this evening," Sai offered.

Kiba's smile was kind, but apologetic. "Sorry, man. Gonna have to take a raincheck on that one."

"I understand," Sai said promptly. "Perhaps another evening would be better."

Kiba rubbed the back of his neck. "Well, you see, it turns out that a team is being sent to investigate the missing members of Anko's team."

"Oh?" Ino frowned, "I hadn't heard anything."

"Brand new mission. I was just turning in my report when Yamato came on deck with his team. They're going to check out the missing team's last known location and see if there is anything more they can find."

"Then I am sure your skills will come in handy," Sai offered.

"Yeah, well," Kiba stretched, "they were going to send another tracker, but Shino is going and he's my teammate. Plus, one of Hinata's clan members is also missing, so I feel like I should help out."

"Are they sending a Hyūga?" Ino asked.

"Hyūga Hoheto."

"When do you leave?"

"First thing tomorrow," Kiba sighed. "That gives me just long enough to unpack, repack, check in with Tsume, maybe have dinner with Tenten, and meet up with them at the assignment deck in the morning."

"Oh, wow," Ino breathed. "That's a heck of a turn-around, Kiba."

"No kidding," he snorted. "That's why I'm here. I need a hand."

"With?"

"I need some flowers. Something that says 'sorry-I-am-leaving-just-as-soon-as-I-got-back-but-I-can't-leave-my-teammate-hanging-so-please-give-me-a-chance-at-the-whole-let's-take-a-weekend-off-and-just-hang-out-thing."

Sai blinked twice before reaching for a book.

"I'm not sure the hanakotoba has anything that specific," he murmured as he flipped through the pages.

"Thing is," Kiba rubbed the back of his neck, "I need it kinda quick. You don't risk pissing off someone that carries that many concealed weapons by walking in empty handed." Kiba fished out some money and handed it over to her.

"Wow," she counted it quickly. "Must be a pretty big apology."

"I mentioned the weapons, right?"

"Here," she pulled a few bills from the stack and handed the rest of it back to him.

Kiba looked at the outstretched money. "So…you want me to get skewered?"

"No," Ino laughed. "You gave me too much. Tenten isn't a huge flower person, but she does love to get them. Use what I gave you back to make dinner nicer tonight, especially since you guys are on limited time. I'm already taking her an order from Gai – I'll get this done right away, and have it delivered before dinner.

"You're the best, Ino," Kiba grinned his lopsided, fanged grin. "And Sai, when I get back, count on a night out to catch up. Beer and everything."

"I would like that," Sai said promptly.

"Stay out of trouble, you two," Kiba's grin turned wolfish, unhindered by Ino's narrow-eyed glare, or Sai's open confusion. "Later," he smirked, and strode out of the store.

"Trouble?" Sai cocked his head to the side, and looked at Ino. "What 'trouble?'"

"Oh, that's just Kiba," Ino dismissed the comment with a light blush.

"Strange," Sai mused. "Naruto said something similar earlier today. I assure you," he met Ino's eyes surely, stepping into her personal space as one of his books told him assured another party in the conversation of his sincerity, "that I have no intention of causing or engaging in any troubling behavior."

"Good to hear," Ino swallowed quickly. "Now. Let's get this order pulled together."

Sai stepped back and went back to the work room, mentally adding to his "things to ask Kiba when he returns" list.

7:17 PM KST
Konoha, The Starling restaurant

"You seem distracted."

"Do I?" Sakura looked up, eyes wide with apology. "I'm sorry, her gaze dropped to her plate. "I don't think I am very good company tonight."

Neji reached over and put a hand over Sakura's. "That isn't true," his palm was warm and sure over the back of her hand. "You are always very good company – it is just that there is clearly something on your mind." He raised his eyebrows. "Do you wish to talk about it?"

"Not really," she gave him a crooked smile. "My research is just heavy on my mind these days, and I'm not very good at letting go during off hours."

"Well I certainly can't question your dedication," he said easily, "but you do need to step away from the job now and then, Sakura."

"You're right," she admitted with a knowing twist to her smile. "Sorry." She took a deep breath and then put her other hand over his. "Okay. For the rest of this evening, I'm just going to enjoy being with you, and being present."

"Thank you," his tone was warm and fond. "That is quite the compliment."

They chatted about this and that, and Sakura really did try to keep her mind on the conversation, but she could feel herself separating from the situation. Truth was, she'd had a couple particularly lousy nights of sleep, and several long nights in the lab. This was the first night she and Neji both had free in a while, and they'd taken advantage of the opportunity to have dinner together.

For his part, Neji knew how intense her schedule had been lately, and at the next opportunity, he asked for the check.

"Sorry," Sakura sighed, her arm tucked into his as he walked her home. June was around the corner, and Konoha was green, and lush, and warm, even in the evenings. "I really did have a nice time and all – I'm just-"

"You're tired," Neji supplied. "When even Shino comments on how long your lab hours have been, it is time for a break, Sakura."

"You're probably right," she chuckled. "Thanks for making sure I got one tonight."

"My pleasure," he patted her hand.

"I hear Naruto is determined to get a bunch of us together," she offered. "Something about ice cream, and maybe going to one of the summer festivals?"

"I've heard rumblings," he said dryly. "Lee has made me promise to join 'the rest of our friends in at least one youthful activity,'" he air quoted.

She laughed as they climbed the outside stairs to her apartment. Neji held open the door for her, but declined her offer for tea, as he was certain she'd be asleep in little to no time. As soon as she closed the door behind Neji, Sakura leaned against it with a sigh. She must really be slipping if a little thing like fatigue was affecting her this much these days.

In no time at all, she'd changed into pajamas, washed her face, and curled up with a familiar book. When she couldn't keep her eyes open any longer, she allowed herself to drift to sleep, her soul too tired to dream.

7:25 PM KST
Konoha, Genin's

Naruto hadn't been expecting to hear from Sai, considering they'd met just that morning. He definitely didn't expect him to invite him for dinner and drinks, at a restaurant that opened just a couple of months ago, but there he was, sliding into his seat, and (reasonably) on time.

"This place isn't bad," he looked around. "What made you decide to come here?"

"I investigated it beforehand," Sai answered, folding his hands neatly on the table. "I got a few good recommendations, and researched them fully. I have read that it is good for friends to have a place that they frequent often, and together. I decided we need one of those places."

"Why? We already have Ichiraiku's."

"True, but not everyone in our acquaintance is as enthusiastic about that particular form of cuisine. This venue has a wider menu, more options for drinks, a suitable ratio of clean to available restrooms, and-"

"Wait, a what now?" Naruto's eyebrows shot into his hairline.

"My time with Ino has taught me that when it comes to restrooms, not all venues are created equal. For instance, the number of occupants that can utilize the facilities at a time, coupled with the available space for waiting, or washing hands or fixing one's make-up varies widely from place to place. Also, the level of supply maintenance, cleanliness, and accessibility is apparently another important set of variables."

"And… you know about the bathrooms here, how?"

"I borrowed a page from your book," Sai smiled brightly. "I henged some ink clones and inspected the restrooms of all of the facilities I was investigating. It turns out that my ink animals – mice in particular – caused more of a disturbance than I had thought." He pulled a notebook out of his satchel. "I now have a comprehensive review of all of the restrooms of the places our group has frequented in the last year, as well as some new options I thought were worth exploring."

"Just stop the story there, okay?" Naruto held up a hand. "I really don't need to know any more than what you've already told me… and I'm pretty sure I didn't need to know that much.

"You did ask," Sai shrugged. "I think after you have tried some appetizers, you will be in a better mood. I took the liberty of ordering several. Ah, here they are."

A friendly waitress set down the appetizers and placed a beer in front of each of them.

"Anything else?" she asked, eyes sliding over Sai.

"No, thank you," he said politely. She left and he turned back to Naruto. "Chōji recommended the appetizer/beverage pairing," Sai admitted. "I have never known him to be wrong in these things."

Assured by the Akimichi stamp of approval, Naruto helped himself to a sample of each appetizer. He was pleasantly surprised; the food was good, and Sai (or, rather Chōji) had been right. The beer went great with what they were eating.

"Not bad," he gestured to his plate. "Although, it seems like a lot of trouble to go through just to have a drink or meal with your teammate."

"Oh, I did not do all of this research for you."

"Planning a big date?" he waggled his eyebrows.

"We have several engagements coming up," Sai dabbed at the corner of his mouth with a napkin. "When Lee returns to town, I am certain he will want to get everyone together. Also, I have been assured that there is a 'guy's night' in the planning, and I want to have an informed opinion on where we should go."

"I was hoping to get your opinion on a few places around town," he continued. "I thought this was a good place to start. We do not have any birthdays to celebrate in June, but there are three in July, and, one of them belongs to our teammate."

"Oh yeah," Naruto rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "I guess Teme's birthday is coming up."

"Yes, and as his teammates, it is our duty to make sure that we celebrate."

"What did you have in mind?"

Sai was clearly surprised. "You are actually going to defer to me in this matter?"

"I want to know what you have to say," Naruto smiled. "I'm sure that between the two of us, we'll come up with something," his blue eyes danced with mischief.

Sai sat up a little straighter, and tried to hide how much Naruto's words pleased him. He began to flick open a notebook, but paused as he looked over Naruto's shoulder. He quietly put the notebook away.

Naruto felt his presence on the edge of his own energies, and winked at Sai. "Later," he promised.

A minute later, he lazily pushed out a chair with his foot. "Long time, no see, Teme," he grinned as Sasuke pulled out the chair.

Sasuke ignored the remark.

The waitress rushed over to bring him an empty plate for appetizers and take his drink order.

Naruto smirked as she walked away. "Sorry, Sai," he chuckled. "She'll be flirting with Teme now instead of you."

Sai blinked twice.

"She was flirting with me?"

"Um, yeah."

"It seems I still do not understand 'flirting,'" Sai mused.

"Don't worry about it Sai," Sasuke said coolly. "Neither does Naruto."

"Oi!" Naruto pointed at Sasuke and narrowed his eyes. "I know way more about it than you, Mr.-cold-fish-I-never-bother-with-anyone-Uchiha."

"Don't confuse not needing to flirt with not understanding how it is done," Sasuke smirked. "And I actively ignore it, which means I recognize it. Something neither of you are capable of."

"I know when a girl is hitting on me," Naruto crossed his arms grumpily.

"I don't," Sai piped up.

"True, you don't," Sasuke nodded to Sai. "And he," he jerked a thumb at Naruto, "doesn't realize when he is flirting. Or trying to date someone."

"Oh, you mean Hinata," Sai said sagely. "Yes, I had heard that Naruto did not realize he was asking her on dates. To be fair, I do not think Hinata realizes it either."

"Hinata won't assume," Sasuke shook his head. "That would be impolite. Manners have nothing to do with Naruto's problems."

Sai cocked his head to the side, curiously. "Does Naruto even have manners?"

"Barely," Sasuke scoffed.

"Wow. Good thing I'm not sitting. Right. Here," Naruto grumbled. "Otherwise this might be awkward."

"Awkward. Like your-"

"Shut up, Sai," Naruto interrupted. "And what brings you out tonight, Sasuke," he eyed his teammate skeptically. "I know I didn't invite you."

"And I was unable to reach you to extend an invitation," Sai added.

"I was in the area," Sasuke said dismissively.

Naruto and Sai exchanged glances. That was hardly an explanation.

"Heard you are heading to Iwa?" Naruto asked, eyeing him over the top of his pint glass.

"In the morning."

"I spoke with Kiba, briefly," Sai interjected. "It sounds like he is also on that mission."

"Bet Yamato's gonna love that," Naruto snickered. His phone buzzed in his pocket, and he checked the screen. "Jiraiya," he muttered. "Be right back, guys," he stood and excused himself.

Sai waited until Naruto was out of earshot before turning back to Sasuke, a line of socially acceptable dinner conversation already in his mind.

"I think these belong to you," Sasuke said, reaching into his bag.

Sai watched in anticipation, and then surprise, and then embarrassment as Sasuke plucked several ink mice from his satchel and held them up by their tails.

"Some associates of mine found these at the hospital," Sasuke handed them over. "I didn't bother to tell anyone that I was fairly certain I recognized them."

Sai carefully sealed the mice into a small scroll that he then stuffed into his bag. "That is why you found us. Well, me," Sai guessed.

Sasuke's not answering was an answer.

Sai remained impassive as Sasuke studied him calculatingly.

"Hn," he finally said, before finishing off his drink.

He laid some money on the table, and stood.

"When I return," he said coolly. "I look forward to hearing about this. This time, don't bother breaking into the private dining room. I'll let the waiter know you are coming."

Sai blinked twice.

"You… you are inviting me?" he asked, the incredulity clear in his tone.

"When I return," Sasuke repeated, and left without another word.

Sai was still deep in thought when Naruto returned.

"Figured Teme would skip out on us," he snorted. "Oh well – means we can get back to our original discussion. Tell me what's up, Sai."

Sai shook off his confusion, and fished out his notebook.

"Right. Birthdays."

"Okay, before you get started?" Naruto began to tick options off of his fingers. "No strippers, no karaoke, no dance clubs, no open mic nights, no martini bars, and nothing with a mechanical bull."

Sai looked at his list, and crossed out two pages worth of writing.

"Well that already narrows it down significantly," he said, eyeing the list. "Here are some of the venues I think would be appropriate," he handed the notebook to Naruto.

"These are some great options," Naruto said in surprise.

Sai silently patted himself on the back. Kiba told him that some of their best parties at KU had started as an off the wall idea from Naruto that they then ran with. "You know what?" Naruto fished out his phone. "This might be a job for our secret weapon." He took pictures of Sai's lists, and sent them off in a text. "There," he handed Sai back the notebook. "That ought to do it."

"Who did you contact?"

"All in good time, Sai," Naruto wagged his finger. "Now," he waved the waitress over. "Let's have another round and talk ideas."

Sai nodded solemnly. This, he heard, was another part of the ritual - the proposal and speculation of different ideas that would become increasingly ridiculous, as well as oddly plausible.

He took a deep breath, and the first step.

"What if...?"

Saturday, May 30th 2:06 AM KST
Konoha, Kunoichi Garden Apartments #2822

Sakura woke up and checked the time. With a sigh, she went to the kitchen and took a beer from the fridge, before padding back to her room and opening the sliding door to the balcony. The thin cotton robe she wore open over her small cotton shorts and tank top fluttered in the warm breeze, and she leaned in the doorway, cracking open the beer.

"This doesn't seem like you."

She didn't break her stare from the stars. "Want one?"

"No. Thank you."

She checked her watch.

"Punctual as always," she slid into a chair and propped long, creamy limbs on the glass table. "But then again, I guess in dreams you arrive at whatever time I think you do."

He bowed his head and she sipped from the glass bottle before pressing it to her forehead and rolling it back and forth.

"So," she said taking another long pull at her beer. "What are we talking about this time, Sasuke?"

"That depends entirely on you."

"Well at least have a seat," she grumbled as she kicked out a chair for him. "Makes me nervous when you hover like that, so damned dark and tall. Must be what it feels like to have a vampire lurking after you."

"I'm not a vampire," he narrowed his eyes, "and I do not lurk."

"You so lurk," she scoffed. "And not just here in my dreams. In general. I almost ran face first into you the other day. Why the hell didn't you tell me you were behind me?"

"How did you not notice? It wasn't as if I was hiding."

"I was reading a medical file," she waved away his objections as if they didn't even apply to her scenario. "That's how I get. Ask anyone."

"Whose file?"

"Yours, believe it or not," she snorted. "Some of your data strikes me as incongruous. I keep going through, and I am sure I'll figure it out sooner or later."

"I'm sure you will," he looked her over. "I might take that beer," he said, and disappeared back into her home.

He sat in his chair and took a deep drink of the beverage before meeting her gaze. "What's on your mind tonight?"

"Why are you so cold?" she asked suddenly. "So clinical? I mean – I know you are professional and everything, but your detachment is on a whole different level, and by all rights the subject matter we are covering lately should be something that strikes a chord with you."

"Ah," he mused. "So that's it. You don't feel I've been properly emotionally invested in our recent discussions."

"Well, I long ago gave up you reinvesting in us, emotionally," she waved her hand between them, "But all of this research and your family...? I really expected it to hit a nerve."

"Who says it didn't?" He replied quietly.

"You can talk to me, you know," she blurted out. "You are my patient, too, and I have to safeguard your health - that requires a good familiarity with your history and how it affects you on all levels. Physical, psychological, emotional – all of that..."

"You've read my history," he said tonelessly. "How do you think I feel?"

"I can't even guess," she took a swig of the brew and leaned her head back on the chair. "Pretty sad, considering I once thought I knew you better than anyone," she said bitterly.

He remained silent as she stared out over Konoha

"I don't hate you, you know," she sighed, tracing the label on the beer.

"No?"

"No. I wish I did," she chuckled mirthlessly. "It would make things so much easier… but no. I don't. I was your friend, Sasuke. I cared about you long before I came to know you enough to love you. I can still listen."

"I don't doubt it," his reply sounded with a hint of amusement, "but isn't that a bit cliché? Crying on the shoulder of your ex?"

"Who said anything about crying?" she scoffed. "And you might be a figment of my imagination, but Sasuke isn't a crier – in the figurative or literal sense."

"Then maybe it's that I don't deserve the right of handing you more of my burdens," he said a hint of regret in his tone. "You carried so many."

"Okay, I must've picked that up in one of those stupid romance novels Ino made me read," she muttered. "Because Sasuke would never say anything like that."

She finished her beer, put it on the table, and stood to stretch.

"Well," she sighed. "That's about all the time I have for this part of the dream. I'm headed out. Be a dear and put the bottles in recycling, won't you?"

"Of course," he nodded his head, watching as she went back to the balcony door.

"This is an interesting way to work through my issues with you," she commented, hand on the door handle. "I am surprised I haven't tried it before. Maybe I should bring it up with Ino."

Sasuke arched an eyebrow.

"And tell her that you have been dreaming of me every night since you returned from Suna in April? I suspect that would not go over well."

"Yeah, you're probably right," Sakura grinned impishly.

"It is telling," he said, and she paused. He crossed to her by the door. "It is telling," he said in a low voice, reaching out and brushing a tendril of hair away from her face and behind her ear, "That you dream of me and not Hyūga."

Sakura arched her eyebrow.

"Who said I don't?" she asked archly.

"Do you?" he asked in a whisper.

"Dreams are part of the past," Sakura said evenly. "Maybe a way of dealing with the present. If Neji has a place in my life – it in the future. In waking dreams."

That familiar smirk.

"I think that answers my question," he said, stepping closer. "You don't dream of him. Not like this."

"It doesn't matter, Sasuke," she said, her voice breathy. "None of this is real."

He stood close enough that his heat radiated to her skin. She could feel the molecules tumbling in the small space between them. He lowered his head until his lips hovered over hers.

"I don't believe you," he whispered, a finger trailing down her cheek to hook under her chin and tip it up. He was millimeters away, and she could feel the brush of his fingers as he trailed his hands to her waist to pull her in.

Lightning cleared her senses, and she shoved him back, her heart pounding, her breath coming in shallow gasps.

"Well lucky for me," she watched him, eyes cool. "I don't believe in dreams. Not anymore."

She turned and yanked the sliding door open, and almost missed his soft reply.

"All dreams, or just the ones with me in them?"

The question hung between them, but she did not turn around.

"All dreams," she finally admitted. "But especially the ones with you in them."

With that, she slipped back inside and closed the door and the blinds without looking back.

It might have been seconds or it might have been hours later when she was jarred awake with a gasp. She sat up, clutching the sheets to her chest, her heart pounding erratically, her breathing unsteady. She groggily checked the time, before reaching for the water next to her bed and gulping down about half of it. With a shuddering breath, she ran a hand through her hair, and forced her breathing to stabilize. She finished her water, and returned to sleep, determined not to dream of him again.

*Wait, when did Sai get close to Ino? What emails? Want to see what happened when Sasuke went to Tsunade's meeting? Head over to the YMBiS "Seasons In-Between" Collection!