DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN NARUTO

Italics mean what the person is thinking.

AN: Definite pairings: SasukeSakura, TentenNeji, NarutoHinata, and InoShikamaru. There is no Inner Sakura in this fic unless you really really want her in it. This story is slightly AU. Remember, nobody likes a flamer!

Three Weeks Vacation

Day 1: Sunday

Sakura woke up in the morning and wondered why she was in Sasuke's room. She shook her head as she remembered what had happened last night. Sasuke was nowhere in sight, so Sakura hurriedly walked to her room to change. Sakura sifted through her clothing and picked out a baby blue shirt and some white pants. She grabbed her jacket and exited her room. Sakura found Sasuke in the kitchen. She stifled a giggle as she watched Sasuke trying to make breakfast. Sasuke was clumsily chopping fruits into irregular pieces. She walked over and laughed, "Sasuke-kun, I'll do that. What are you planning to make?"
Sasuke answered, "Fruit salad…just chop up a bunch of fruits and throw them in a bowl."
Sakura nodded. "Simplistic, easy to make, and tasty. Good idea."
For the next fifteen minutes, they worked in silence. Sakura glanced at the clock. 7:00…not too early for Naruto to eat breakfast, I hope. Sasuke said aloud, as if reading Sakura's mind, "Naruto better get up soon, cuz I'm not waiting for him to eat."

Sakura put the knife down and scraped the fruits into a bowl. "I'll go rouse him then."

She walked up to Naruto's door and knocked. She called softly, "Naruto…time to wake up."

Naruto's muffled voice could be heard, "I don't want to…it's only seven!"

Sakura's patience slipped a notch. She threatened, "Then Sasuke-kun and I will eat all of the breakfast, and you won't get any!"
She immediately heard clambering. "Wait, wait, wait! Hold on, don't eat all of it!"
Sakura chuckled quietly as she returned to the kitchen. Sakura rummaged in the fridge, asking, "Where's the orange juice we bought yesterday?"
Sasuke replied, "On the table behind you."

Sakura turned around sheepishly. Sasuke was already setting the table. Sakura poured the juice for the three and sat down. Sasuke sat down as well, but despite his words, he didn't eat yet. Naruto came charging out of his room, wearing his clothes lopsidedly. He grinned and asked, "What's for breakfast, ramen?"
Sakura sighed. "Naruto…we're not having ramen for breakfast. Fruit salad. Just eat it."

Naruto grumbled loudly, "Sakura-chan, you better learn to cook fast because I'll waste away living on this rabbit food."
Sakura smacked him on the head with her hand. "Be quiet, you ungrateful wretch, or else I'll cook up some poison and force feed you!"
Naruto made a face and finished his portion before Sasuke and Sakura finished. He bounded out the door, calling back, "I'll be at Shikamaru's! See you later!"
Sakura stood up and cleared away the dishes. She picked up one of the three keys to the house and informed Sasuke, "I'll be at Hinata's if you need anything."
Sasuke nodded in reply. Sakura left the house and locked it securely. She stopped to survey the view. The houses were situated on a hill one mile from the sea. They could see the sea stretched before them, because there was a cliff separating the houses and the sea. Behind the houses, they could see many little groves of trees and the village on the other side of all these groves. There were many trails, but there was one path that led directly to the village. Bordering those paths were shops, lodges, entertainment lodges, and other buildings. Sakura headed to the house to her left. She knocked on the door. "Hinata! It's me, Sakura!"
Hinata opened the door. She was clad in an apron, and she was holding a wooden spoon. Hinata smiled brightly. "Just in t-time, Sakura! I was c-cooking lunch!"

Sakura stepped in the house. Its layout was exactly the same as theirs. She sniffed appreciatively at the aroma drifting in the kitchen. "You have to teach me how to cook some simple stuff…cuz I'm hopeless!"

Hinata smiled, and they spent the rest of the morning making a large lunch. Noon rolled around, and somebody knocked on the door. Sakura wiped her hands on her apron and opened the door. "Sasuke-kun! What do you need?"
Sasuke asked, "Have you decided what to eat for lunch yet?"

Sakura answered, "Hinata and I cooked enough food for everyone! I think I got the hang of it now!"
Sasuke muttered, "Good, as long as we don't have that poison you cooked again."
Sakura gave him a reproving glare. He half smiled. "I was just kidding."
Sakura laughed and watched him walk away. He actually can be nice if he wants to. She returned to Hinata. "All done?"

Hinata nodded. "We just n-need somebody to b-bring the table out."
Sakura brightened. "I bet Sasuke-kun will help!"

She took off the apron and ran to their house. She knocked on the door. Sasuke opened it. Sakura asked, "Will you move out Hinata's table in front of their house? We're gonna put all the food on there, and everyone can grab what they want."

Sasuke agreed dully. He and Kiba moved the table out. Hinata and Sakura set it with food, and everyone enjoyed lunch. After lunch, Ino gushed, "Sakura, Hinata, Tenten, I found this really great place where we can hold a dance just for us twelve! Won't that be fun?"
Tenten and Hinata agreed. "That would be cool. But we'd have to get the bands and stuff."
Ino waved that aside. "Already found one! I reserved a time for all of us! Next Friday, 7:00 to 9:00! I got a band and everything!"
Sakura reluctantly agreed. "I guess…"

Ino giggled. She exclaimed, "Then we need to buy dresses! And we need to the others!"

Sakura nodded and left to find Sasuke and Naruto. She went straight to Sasuke's room and knocked. "Sasuke-kun?"

Sasuke opened the door and returned to his bed, lying face up. Sakura stammered a bit by his silence. "Um, Ino set up a dancenext Fridaynight at seven…do you want to come? Everyone else will be there."

Sasuke hesitated, then nodded. Sakura exited the room and sought out Naruto. She told him, and he agreed enthusiastically. Ino suddenly pounced on Sakura, slinging an arm around her shoulder. "Hey, Sakura, let's go get a dress! Hinata and Tenten are coming with us!"

Sakura agreed. "Let me get my money."

She dashed back in the house, grabbed her wallet, and followed the three girls. Ino dashed into the nearest shop, and they all followed obediently. Sakura looked around. I guess something comfortable then. Soon, she was engrossed in choosing her dress, as was the other girls. "Hey, Hinata, how about this one? Light pink?"
Hinata agreed. Sakura ran to try it on. She came back out and twirled around. "What about it?"

Hinata nodded. "It's so pretty, Sakura!"
The dress Sakura chose had thin straps. There were patterns of sakura petals drifting in the wind all around the dress. It ended at her knees. Hinata held up a pair of white, sandal-type shoes. Sakura tried those on, agreed that she was done, and paid for it all. Ino had chosen a plain, sky blue dress that fell past her knees a bit. The sleeves were elbow length and see through. She announced, "I have some shoes back at our house."
Tenten settled for a dark blue dress with thicker straps. It was as long as her knees, and it felt like satin. She bought black high heels to go with her dress. Hinata purchased a violet dress that had long sleeves and fell past her knees. She also bought some white high heels. They were walking home with Ino chattering all the way. "This will be so fun! Sasuke will definitely choose me as his date!"
Sakura was a bit annoyed by Ino's constant talking, so she retorted rather crossly, "Wanna bet?"

Ino smirked. "How much do you bet?"

Sakura snapped, "If he asks me, you owe me ten bucks."

Ino stuck out her hand, and Sakura shook it. "And if he doesn't ask you, but asks me, you owe me ten bucks."

The two girls agreed, and there was a little bit of tension in the air during the rest of the walk home. Sakura went straight to her room and fell on her bed. Why did I do that? Oh man, I am so doomed. Sakura continued to lie there, and she was so deep in her thoughts, she jumped with fright when Sasuke suddenly said, "Something wrong?"
Sakura calmed down after a few minutes. She stuttered, "N-nothing!"

Sasuke smirked as he came in and sat on her bed. She's just like what she was named for…pretty and fragile. "I scared you, didn't I?"
Sakura stuck her tongue out at him. "No way! I was just thinking."
Sasuke raised his eyebrow. "About what?"
Sakura replied automatically, "About this bet Ino and I made about-"

Sakura swallowed the word she was going to say and instead said, "-the dance."
Sasuke shook his head. "Yeah right. You were going to say something else, but I'm not pushing it."

Sakura smiled slightly. She asked lightly, "What do you want to eat for dinner? I can cook anything now!"

Sasuke smirked. "Anything? Then how about those gourmet cuisines they serve at that one fancy restaurant back in Konoha?"

Sakura punched him playfully. "I mean anything simple! Jeez, your such a pushover!"

Sasuke stood up and stretched. "I don't really care…"

Sakura smiled. "Then I'll cook something I like."

Sasuke muttered, "It better be good."
Sakura rolled her eyes as Sasuke left the room. However, he suddenly stopped. "Hey, Sakura…are you going with anyone to the dance?"

Sakura's heart started thumping double speed. "No, why?"

Sasuke shrugged. "Just wondering, cuz Naruto was looking for someone to go with."

Sakura's face fell. She thought Sasuke was going to ask her, but he didn't. Sakura tried to sound cheerful. "Well, tell him to ask Hinata."

Sasuke studied her face for a moment. I wonder why she's so disappointed? "Okay, I will."
Sakura sighed. She walked into the living room and curled up on the window seat. She pressed her forehead to the glass and looked at the sunset forlornly. It's so pretty…She turned her head as she heard someone walk up behind her. Sakura turned her attention to the sunset again. Sasuke sat on the window seat with her. He stared at the sunset for a moment. Then, he asked, "Why were you so disappointed back there?"
Sakura scowled at the glass, fogging it up. "Why do you care?"
Sasuke whispered inaudibly, "Because…I care…about you…"

Sakura asked, "What did you say?"
Sasuke shook his head. "Nothing."
Sakura stood up, a little irritated by his attitude. "Well, okay, I'm going out. I'll be back later to cook something for dinner."

Sasuke watched her slam the door on her way out. Something's wrong…Sakura walked along the trail leading down to the cove. There, she sat skipping rocks moodily. Suddenly, she heard rocks crashing together and looked behind her. Naruto was slipping down the slope, yelling his head off. "Whoa, whoa, aah!"

He fell face-first on the sand. Sakura giggled as she pulled him up. "Naruto, you idiot!"
Naruto sat up smiling his signature fox grin. "Hiya, Sakura-chan! Watcha doing?"

Sakura sighed blissfully. "Nothing really, just skipping rocks to pass the time."

Naruto cheered. "I bet I can skip this rock farther than you!"
Sakura retorted playfully, "Oh yeah? Beat eight then!"

Naruto sweatdropped. "Okay…now, how do you skip rocks again?"

Sakura laughed and pushed him in the sea. "Dobe, how will you beat me if you don't know how to skip rocks?"

Naruto resurfaced and squeaked, "Sakura-chan, I can't swim!"

Sakura sat up. The waves were bringing him closer to land, so she didn't really have anything to worry about. "So? The waves are bringing you closer, anyway."
Naruto spluttered as the waves sent him crashing into the sand. The sand clung to him. Sakura started rolling him around until he was covered in sand. Naruto jumped up, spitting sand everywhere. "Yuck Sakura-chan! What was that for?"

Sakura giggled. "It was fun!"

Ino came down the trail calling, "Sakura! What are you doing?"

Sakura waved and called back, "Skipping rocks! I'm just killing time, really."

Ino jumped the rest of the way and joined Sakura. She smirked. "I used to be the champion rock-skipper when I was little. Can you beat five?"

Sakura fingered a flat, smooth rock. She flung it accurately and smiled. "Eight. Yup, I can beat five."

Ino colored. She laughed scornfully, "That was beginner's luck!"

Sakura picked up another smooth, round rock. She flung it again this time. "Eight. Not beginner's luck, now is it?"

Soon, everyone was down at the cove, skipping rocks. It soon became a contest with the winner's reward being the title of 'Supreme Rock-Skipper'. Sakura thought wryly, Like anyone would want that title…unless you're Naruto. Shikamaru studied the water and his rock for a few minutes before throwing it with a twist of his wrist. Sakura counted with disbelief, "One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten! No way!"

Sakura immediately leapt up and brushed herself off. She grabbed another rock and studied the water, but all she could get was eight. Sakura moaned, "And I thought eight was high!"

Ino smirked, "Well, it's hardly unexpected. After all, Shikamaru is the number one genius around here."

Sasuke, who heard, muttered sarcastically, "Yeah, including me of course, right?"

Shikamaru heard it and shoved his face in front of Sasuke's. "Yeah. Cuz I'm number one, or do you have some hearing problems?"

Sasuke retorted, "I can make you have hearing problems, if you want."

Shikamaru rolled his eyes languidly. "As if I would let you. How troublesome."

Sasuke glared at Shikamaru before heading to the house he shared with Sakura and Naruto.

Shikamaru stared after him, muttering, "What a troublesome guy."

Sakura sighed. She was looking forward to a peaceful afternoon, but with Sasuke like that, it was hardly possible. I wish he would lighten up. Sakura accidentally said aloud, "Why won't Sasuke-kun lighten up a little bit?"

Ino tossed her head. "I bet I could get him to lighten up before dinner, Sakura!"

Sakura muttered, "Whatever. You do what you want, see if you don't get him pissed off some more?"
Ino let out a small 'humph' and walked up the trail into Sasuke's house. The rest were quiet until Ino suddenly came back down, anger bouncing off her in heat waves. Sakura asked innocently, "What's wrong?"

Ino screeched, "Sasuke is so unfeeling! That-!"

Chouji interrupted, "Ino, aren't you supposed to like Sasuke?"
Ino blushed and immediately switched modes, "Oh, Sasuke was just a bit grumpy, that's all!"

Sakura cleared her throat. "Translation: I pissed off Sasuke-kun."

Everyone sniggered with laughter as Ino's face turned red. She stormed into her house again. Hinata stuttered, "M-Maybe we hurt her f-feelings?"

Kiba rolled his eyes. "Who cares?"

Sakura stood up, brushed off her pants and headed towards the trail. "I have to go cook dinner! Later, guys!"

She turned on the stove and decided to make soup one more time to see if her skills did improve. Sasuke appeared in the doorway, looking extremely pissed off. Sakura wiped her hands nervously. "What?"

Sasuke's face relaxed. "Oh, it's just you…and not that damn Ino."

Sakura thought, I won't even ask…I bet Ino got what she deserved though! In a half an hour, Sakura finished up the soup and called Sasuke and Naruto to eat. Sasuke sat down emotionlessly like usual, and Naruto was making noise all over the place. Sakura dished out the soup in silence, and throughout the meal, Sasuke and Sakura remained silent. Naruto kept talking about how Shikamaru accidentally pushed Chouji into the sea. Sakura cleared away the dishes, and retired to her room. She pulled out the magazine she was reading on the ship, and it occupied her for a while. Soon, Sakura got tired of it and crept into the living room. She curled up on the window seat again, staring out into the night with her knees tucked to her chest. There wasn't really anything interesting to see. Sakura looked in the reflection of the cold glass. To her surprise, Sasuke stood behind her, hands in pocket as usual. Sakura started talking, her breath fogging up the glass. "What are you doing here?"
Sasuke responded dully, "Looking at the view."
Sakura remained silent. She shivered and remained looking out the window. Sasuke asked, "Why are you shivering? It's not that cold."

The pink haired girl thought wryly, He usually doesn't start a conversation…Sakura shrugged. "I think it's cold. But then again, you're a block of ice yourself."

Sasuke smiled slightly at her teasing. Suddenly, he moved very close behind Sakura. He asked grudgingly, "Better?"

Sakura nodded sleepily. "Yeah…Sasuke-kun…"

Sasuke's close proximity gave warm to Sakura. She sighed contently and without knowing, she leaned into Sasuke. Warm and comfortable, Sakura soon drifted off to sleep. The Uchiha boy carried Sakura to her room and laid her gently on her bed. He stared at her for a few more seconds and left the room, thinking, Will I ever tell you I love you, Sakura? Probably not. He retired to his room and fell asleep dreaming about Sakura.

AN: Eh, not too exciting, but I'm just killing time in the story. I promise, it'll get better later on! And I've decided I'll give a shot at some more pairings. Tenten and Neji, Naruto and Hinata, Ino and Shikamaru. That's all I've decided on. If anybody requests another pair, I'll consider it. If the pairings suck, don't hurt me, it's my first time writing about them! But advice is gladly taken, just no flames!