37. As promised,
"Sakura likes me better," feat. Shikamaru and Kabuto.
(I mean it's canon now but why would we do this to our two sweets?)
Not in chronological order.
Also, for Evanelle (Guest), I'm glad to see you again, even happier that you enjoyed the last chapter. Was a little worried that it was still too confusing…
It was a Tuesday and Shikamaru dropped by the hospital.
He waved a pair of slips, with his other hand stuffed in his pocket, "I got tickets to watch the next Princess Gale movie, nee-chan."
Though his body posture was his usual, lazy one, even the patient Sakura was attending to could hear the hopeful expectation in the boy's voice.
And Sakura only smiles guilelessly, "Oh! Yukie's next one came out already? That's great, I'll have to go watch it soon."
Shikamaru opens his mouth to try again.
Kabuto skipped into the room, "Kouhai," sing-songing the 'hai'.
She finishes up the log for the last patient, arching an eyebrow at her unusually happy senpai.
Patting Shikamaru on the head, she tells him, "See you around, Shika-chan, we're on for Thursday yes?"
The young Nara shoots the elder medic a look that Kabuto brushes off.
Sakura waves a hand in front of her little brother.
"Shika-chan?"
"Yes Sakura-nee, Thursday as usual," extra emphasis on the 'usual' that Sakura doesn't hear though Kabuto obviously does.
Kabuto shoots Shikamaru a look back, pulling out a pair of tickets to show Sakura.
"You'll never guess what I got!"
The medic is half out of her white coat, sleeves folding together and draping over her arms.
"No way, tickets to Yukie's next show?"
"Yep, that's what we're watching after dinner!"
She bumps him playfully as they walk out the door.
"I swear, senpai you can predict the future. I was just thinking about watching it after Shika-chan told me."
If Kabuto were more childish, he would have stuck his tongue out.
(he's above that, of course.)
-mini break-
"Dad, Sakura's senpai stole her away from me."
Shikaku pauses in his chewing, "The Kabuto boy?"
Shikamaru is chewing on his chopsticks, tickets to some show on the table.
Ah… he must have asked her to go to a movie before the kid.
His son nods and he sighs in reply.
"Well kid, you just need to up your game then. Think of it as a game of shogi."
He's not expecting his son to suddenly slam his chopsticks down on the table.
"Right. Just like shogi."
Shikaku hides his amused smile, nodding seriously, "Just like shogi. Now eat your dinner, Shikamaru."
"I'll be back soon, dad, got stuff to do!"
Though the Nara clan head can't read his son's mind, he does notice that the tickets are gone.
-mini break-
He's not expecting the Hatake clan head to come through his window and complain, "Your son set my team up on a team date and excluded me."
Shikaku blinks before eating another mouthful of rice.
"Well, how is Sakura's senpai then?"
Hatake's countenance takes on a puzzled look, before his eye creases into a smile, "I see… so that's the ploy. Okay, fine then. Ja! I'm off to find someone else for company, maybe Tenzo would like to hang out with me."
[ "So senpai, you're telling me that today of all days you want a drinking buddy because your team ditched you?"
"Yes Tenzo."
"I'm not sure if I should be flattered or upset."
"Well, neither am I. Apparently I've been caught up in a rivalry between the Nara heir and one of my cute student's senpai."
"I guess I'll feel both, then. Where do you want to drink?"
"Let's pick a large bar so we both don't feel lonely."
"Senpai! The point of us being together is to not feel lonely already."
"Okay Tenzo. Your call. I don't usually drink in bars. Not when Gai might appear." ]
Shikaku imagines what the theatre must be like now.
"Sakura-chan! Look, Sasuke, Sakura is here too! Yay that's great, our team is watching the movie all at the same time!"
"Oh, Naruto-chan, Sasuke-chan! How are you all here too?"
"Shikamaru, that sly fella managed to get us exclusive tickets. He said we should go watch the movie we had a part in creating!"
Shikaku hides a laugh.
It's Wednesday and of all people to come and wake her up, it's sensei.
He knocks cheerily on her window.
She unlocks it for him, shaking her head, "Sensei, you have the keys, why not come in like a normal person?"
"Do I have the keys?"
Sakura deadpans, "Sensei, I gave you a new set the last time you dropped by."
"I dropped by? Well, I don't remember, but I might have dropped the keys again?"
Her chain smacks sensei lightly as she opens drawers to search for a spare door key
Kakashi catches the plain key with an S engraved on it, looking it over.
"I could start a collection of these keys with different 'S's on them."
Sakura shakes her head.
"Sensei, I'm going to run out of spares if you keep doing this."
He lands a hand on her head, ruffling her bed-head into place.
"Sakura, I think you owe me the most important key."
She walks into her kitchen to look for food to cook for lunch.
"The most important key? Chop the tomatoes, please."
Sakura puts a pot on the stove, drizzling in olive oil and dropping in a minced clove garlic.
There's a soft 'click' as her door unlocks.
Politely, sensei tugs off his gloves before washing his hands, Sakura nods approvingly.
She backs a little into the doorway to see who arrived, smiling at Naruto-chan and Sasuke-chan who are on time.
"Yeah, the key to your heart, Sakura-kun."
Her shoulders immediately stiffen – Naruto's greeting dies on his lips.
The only sound left is that of the knife cutting through the tomatoes, hitting the wooden chopping board.
Sensei smiles to himself.
"A-ah, Naruto-chan, can you preheat the oven? We're making pizza today."
With a little nod, he shuffles into the kitchen that is becoming too cramped.
Her lightly confused green eyes meet Sasuke's black and he shuffles into the kitchen as well.
"Kakashi-sensei, I always cut the tomatoes, don't steal my job."
The kids edge their teacher out of the kitchen.
Sakura's shoulders relax.
-mini break-
As they settle down to eat, the doorbell rings.
They blink at one another, the silence a little awkward, the atmosphere a little off-kilter.
"Come in!" she calls out as her chains extend to the door, "Are you here to join us for lunch, Tenzo?"
The ANBU still fully garbed replies, "Ah, no, not to today, Sakura-sama. I'm here to see if Hatake-sama completed his task."
The three of them look curiously at sensei, who comically makes a sad face.
"She didn't tell me!"
The ANBU sighs.
"I knew he couldn't be trusted. Sakura-sama, our mission was to find out, what is the key to your heart?"
Sakura is beginning to see where all of this is going.
She smiles, amused, pulling an extra chair over, shoulders loose.
"Well the first step for you, Tenzo, is to sit down and eat with my family. They have to approve of you."
They all laugh, she doesn't answer any further.
Tenzo eats the pizza that would usually have been given to Shikamaru.
It's Thursday and she and Shika-chan are lying on a small hill.
Laying on the grass, occasionally blowing the strands of grass that land between their lips – shifting here and there in search of that perfect spot.
Shikamaru rests his head on her shoulder and she tugs off his hairband so it's more comfortable.
She runs her hands through spiky hair and listens to his breathing.
"Shika-chan, what are you thinking so deeply about today?"
Kabuto stealthily creeps up the back of the hill.
"Nee-chan."
"Yes, Shika-chan?"
She runs her hands through his hair and it makes him sleepy.
He yawns.
She yawned as well and laughed.
Laughed a tinkling laugh.
"Be honest, nee, do you like me or your senpai more?"
She patted him on the head.
"Did senpai do something to you? You're asking me a question like, do I like Naruto-chan or Sasuke-chan more…"
Shikamaru closes his eyes and lets her voice rumble by his ear.
Sakura sighs.
"Is this about Tuesday?"
Kabuto inches a little closer.
"Tuesday is the day I spend with Senpai, like how Wednesday is for my team and Thursday is for you Shika-chan. Don't worry, hmm? I like both of you equally and I try to spend equal amounts of time with each of you."
The child yawns again, satisfied.
"Okay nee-chan."
They settle down to have their weekly nap.
It's a little longer than the thousand I said it would be, I hope that makes up for the little lateness :)
What do you all think?
Much love,
Kayo.
