The next morning was hell... pure, unadulterated hell. Damn headache, Kakashi cursed inwardly. I can't even think!

He growled as he struggled to pour himself a glass of water. The headache wasn't from sake, he knew that... Genma had ruined all chances of Kakashi getting drunk the night before. Probably because of stress or something like that... who knows.

Downing the glass of water in one gulp, he sat down heavily upon his couch. Yes, Genma had ruined Kakashi's night. He'd only gotten down one glass of sake, but he had had to leave. Genma wouldn't stop pestering him about Sakura... and so Kakashi had walked home, sober and thoughtful.

Now, sitting on his couch with nothing else do to, Kakashi thought back to the decision he had reached on that walk home. Seduce Sakura? Did I actually think I could do it?

He chuckled. What the hell had he been thinking? He couldn't seduce Sakura... she was the only one who could seduce anyone. Kakashi was just a lazy, silver-haired man who liked perverted books. No woman in her right mind would fall for that.

He snorted loudly. Seducing Sakura... that was it, no more sake for Kakashi.

It was proving to be extremely dangerous.

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"Look at them over there! I just know they're going to get married... you can't get anything past
Ino that deals with love!"

Sakura nodded absently, sipping her drink. Three weeks had passed since she and Kakashi had made the little bet, and it wasn't looking very good for her. She just had five days for the proposal to happen, and if it never occurred all her life savings were gone... feeding Kakashi for a whole week was going to take some serious cash.

"I think it's so sweet that my old sensei fell in lone with Kurenai, don't you! I mean, he's so cool, and she's okay, so it'll be a perfect match!" Ino grinned widely, leaning back in her chair. "Now all we've got to do is hook you up with someone."

Sakura laughed. "Who says I need to find someone? I'm happy being single." She was glad Ino was over Shikamaru, meaning the two girls could actually have a normal conversation, but seriously... sometimes she wished she had a reason to avoid her again, no matter how good of friends they were.

"Well, now that I think about it, you're not really single, are you? I mean, you and Kakashi are pretty close."

"What? He was my teacher, Ino! Does the word taboo mean nothing to you?"

"Ah... so you like him, but you're afraid of what people will think."

"I don't like him!" Ino smiled craftily. Sakura could deny it all she wanted, but her red cheeks told another story.

"If I were you, I wouldn't care what the village thought. Kakashi's got to be hot underneath that mask, and admit it, all that mysteriousness is really sexy. And before you say 'He was my teacher' again,' let me tell you... he was your teacher, but now he's just a really close friend who's probably looking for something more."

"Oh, Ino! He'd never think of me like that... he's into more mature women. He just thinks of me as the little girl he used to teach."

"Sakura, you need some confidence. Haven't you noticed how whenever you walk by them, men stare? You're hot, and they know it, so why don't you! Tell you what... next time you see Kakashi, see if he looks at your ass. I bet he does."

"Ino!"

"What? That's what men do, Sakura!" The blonde girl shrugged her shoulders, flicking her hair over her shoulder. "I mean, if you ever want to score with men, you've got to work your assets!"

Sakura just shook her head and grinned. Ino was a card, she had to admit, and she certainly did well with men, but she was totally wrong here. "Kakashi doesn't like me like that, and he never will."

Ino huffed loudly. "He does, you idiot! I was talking to Genma the other night-- you know, that really hot jounin who always carries that senbon? The things I've heard he can do with that senbon... Well, anyways, he got kind of drunk and was talking about all his friends and..." She leaned forward, a wicked gleam in her eyes. "He told me," she whispered, "that a certain friend of his had a crush on a certain friend of mine."

Sakura's eyes widened. "He said names?"

Ino sat back down. "Well, like I said, he was drunk, so his words kinda slurred together a little, but I caught the words pink hair, Kakashi, and love." She smiled triumphantly. "See? He likes you, and he told his friend, who then told me."

Sakura sighed, clinking the ice in her glass. "Ino, you can't assume anything just because a drunk friend of Kakashi's said those words together in a sentence. For all you know, he could've said anything in the world with those four words… he could have said he hated me or something."

"Can't you be positive for just one minute? I mean, I think you need to make a move on Kakashi as soon as you can. You like him, right?"

The pink-haired girl sighed—there was no use in trying to hide it from her best friend. "Yes, I suppose I do." She ignored the delighted squeal from Ino. "But what if he stops talking to me just because he doesn't want to give me false hope or something? I don't want that to happen."

Ino grinned. "Take a chance, Sakura, live life a little. I don't think Kakashi would be that immature. Just see what happens... I bet if you don't make a move, he will."

"I'll just wait a while, Ino. Let me think about it."

"Sakura, listen to the advice of your best friend for once."

"Like I said, let me think about it."

Ino sighed and slouched in her chair. Sakura may be one of the smartest people I know, she thought, but she can be such a dumbass sometimes.

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He was sitting in the same spot, as she expected. His routine never changed-- come to the tree, sit underneath it between the two largest roots, etc., etc., etc. It had been the same for as long as she had known him.

Kakashi looked over the top of his book, catching her eyes as she strolled towards him. "Less than a week, Sakura. Still feeling confident?"

She sat on the root beside him. "Of course. Love conquers all, even stubborn men unwilling to settle down."

He chuckled, setting the book down. "If you say so."

She closed her eyes. "Just watch. All Kurenai has to do is peer up at Asuma with those crimson eyes of hers and tell him how much she loves him, and he'll be putty in her hands."

"Is this one of those sweeping generalizations you make about all men? Just have a pretty girl look into our eyes and we all instantly become powerless?"

"Well, in my experiences... yes. All Ino has to do is side up to some poor, unsuspecting man in a bar and ask sweetly for a drink, and she instantly has the best of everything coming towards her."

"You have to take in consideration that all those men are dead drunk, and most have no clue what they're doing."

An emerald eye slid open. "You just have to ruin my moments, don't you?"

"It's rather fun, I admit."

"Yeah, I have to agree with you, though… not about ruining my moments! I'll agree with you on the other thing. Ino was just telling me how she managed to seduce one of your friends... Genma, I think his name was. He was drunk when she met him, but by the time she was done with him, he was telling her everything he knew about everyone. She told me a few things, and it was funny."

Shit. "So, did he tell your friend anything about me?" He said it casually, calmly, but inside he was nervously awaiting the answer.

She looked at him-- he was as calm as ever. "Not that I can recall."

"Not that he knew anything," he said lazily, yawning widely. "I like being a mystery, so telling everything about myself to people would kind of ruin my fun."

"I see." She looked at him one more time, not noting any signs of nervousness. "Well, seeing as how I have things to do, I better head on. Talk to you tomorrow, Kakashi."

"Bye." He returned to his book, thumbing to the page he was last on.

She walked slowly away, remembering what Ino had told her earlier.

Next time you see Kakashi, see if he looks at your ass. I bet he does.

Trying not to be noticeable, she pretended to scratch her neck, looking back at him in the process. Did he... no, he was not looking at her ass from over the top of his book! He couldn't have been. Must have been my imagination, she thought as she continued walking.

Kakashi, on the other hand, was trying extremely hard to concentrate on his book. She had just caught him staring at her butt... Smooth, he thought. Letting yourself get caught is number one on the list of what-not-to-do's, and you just got caught. What would Jiraiya think?

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The next five days passed by amazingly fast, with no positive news about Asuma and Kurenai. Great, she thought. Soon I'll be living in the poorhouse, and all because of a stupid bet!

Sakura was at the Yamanaka flower shop, helping Ino sort through the crates of fresh flowers that had just arrived. Damn Asuma… she visualized giving him a well-aimed punch to the jaw, happily imagining the sickening crunch as fist met bone. Inner-Sakura particularly liked the idea.

"So, thought about what I'd told you a while back? You know, about Kakashi?"

Sakura groaned inwardly. "A little."

"Well?" Ino peered expectantly over the crate at her, blue flowers heaped in her arms. "What are you going to do?"

"Wait and see what he does." She clipped a dead bud off a stem of beautiful pink flowers. "If he likes me, he'll make a move."

"Sakura, sometimes you've got to take charge. Men are so... stupid, I suppose you could say."

"I think it's better to let it go this way. That way there's no chance that I could cause any damage our friendship."

"Whatever you think's best. I mean, it's your life." Ino shrugged. "I tried."

"It's not like I'm a failure or anything! My idea will work!" Sakura hacked away at the next stem, savagely cutting the dead buds off while Inner-Sakura cackled with glee.

"Maybe you're right, but I've always found that a blunt, head-on approach works best with men."

Sakura sighed, desperately searching for a change of topic. "So, any new gossip?"

As always, Ino instantly forgot about whatever they were currently talking about and happily began to discuss the latest news. Sakura nodded, smiled, threw in the occasional "Really?" and "No way," like any good friend should. But, truth be told, her mind was far away from what her friend was saying. She was thinking about the week ahead... thinking about dinner with Kakashi every day...

"Did you hear what I just said?"

"Huh? Oh, sorry... zoned out, guess."

Ino peered suspiciously at her. "I said I heard Tenten likes Lee now, and that Gai is trying to set both of them up! Weird, huh?"

"No way," Sakura said dutifully, thoughts once again leaving Ino's chatter and returning to Kakashi.

Just then the door was thrown open, bells clanking madly. "SAKURA-CHAN!"

She winced, dropping her clippers. "Naruto, not so loud!"

He grinned at her from the doorway. Behind him, Sakura could clearly see the slim outline of Hinata hesitantly waiting outside the door. "Sorry, Sakura, but I had to find you. Kakashi was asking for you."

"What does he want from me? And by the way, Hinata, hello."

Ino waved at her cheerfully, and Hinata timidly uttered a quiet hello.

Naruto shrugged. "I don't know... he said something about dinner. You two a couple now? Taken you long enough."

"No, Naruto, we're not."

"But they should be-- Sakura's in love with him," Ino piped up from behind Sakura.

"R-Really? That's g-great!" Hinata smiled at her from over Naruto's shoulder, and Naruto grinned.

"I knew you did!"

Sakura closed her eyes. "Thanks, Ino," she muttered. "Where's Kakashi now?"

"Uh... I think he said he'd be by the tree, whatever that is."

"Alright… thanks, Naruto."

"No problem... come on, Hinata, let's go get some ramen!" He grabbed the girl's arm, practically dragging her down the street. The two girls watched them go, Ino smiling widely.

"They're so cute together! You and Kakashi could be that cute together, you know. Maybe even cuter."

Sakura shook her head. "I'll stop by later, Ino. Bye!" She hurriedly stepped out of the shop, but Ino's voice followed her.

"Have fun with Kakashi!"

Sakura growled. Have fun while Kakashi gloated over his win?

Nothing sounded better.

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Kakashi didn't even have time to say hello to her. Sakura walked straight over and plopped down in her spot, leaning against the tree.

"You won, I know, but don't gloat over it. It's just seven dinners, nothing to go crazy over."

Kakashi grinned. "Who said I was going gloat? I never gloat."

"Well, there's a first time for everything."

"I won't brag... I'll somehow manage to contain my pride. Just wanted to let you know that, since I did win, you can meet me by the Yamanaka flower shop at six o'clock tomorrow evening."

"Where are we going to eat?"

"I'm still thinking... I'll let you know tomorrow. The choices are just endless, you know? I've got a lot to think about tonight."

Sakura jumped up. "Six o'clock at the Yamanaka flower shop. Fine. But please, Kakashi, no place that's super expensive or somewhere I hate. Be nice to me, okay?"

He laughed. "I'll have to think about that, too. See you tomorrow."

And he was gone in a puff of smoke, leaving Sakura alone.

Where the hell is he going to take me?

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Kakashi being Kakashi, the no-more-sake vow he had made earlier in the month was forgotten almost as soon as he had made it. So, when Genma came around asking for a drinking companion, Kakashi was more than happy to oblige.

Genma had brought along his flavor of the month, a pretty blonde girl that Kakashi didn't know but dimly recalled form somewhere.

"Ino, this is Kakashi-- but you knew that, right? Kakashi, this is Ino."

She smiled at him prettily, flashing her perfect white teeth. "I'm Sakura's best friend! You know, Yamanaka Ino?"

Now he knew her. She looked and acted nothing like the loud-mouthed, bossy genin he remembered from back in the day. "Asuma's old student, right?"

She beamed. "That's me."

They settled down in a booth, Ino snuggling as close as she possibly could to Genma, who looked rather pleased with himself. "So," he drawled, chewing his senbon, "I heard you won the bet with Sakura."

"Yep. Dinner for a week... great deal, if you ask me."

Ino smiled deviously at him. "So... what do you think of Sakura?"

"Blunt, aren't you?"

"It gets my questions answered."

Kakashi was saved by the sake, which arrived just in time. Question forgotten, Ino and Genma wasted no time in downing glass after glass. Kakashi only took one, preferring to watch the show. Genma tended to be hilarious when he was drunk.

It only took twenty minutes before Ino's giggling got out of control and Genma's words began to slur. "Move over, Ino," Genma said slowly, trying his hardest to sound sober. "I need to p-piss like you wouldn't believe."

She giggled and scooted over, falling on the floor. "Oops," she called, shakily standing. "I fell." Genma didn't even notice, instead continuing to shuffle his way to the bathroom.

Kakashi stood and helped Ino up, sitting her back down in her seat. "Now I see why Sakura likes you," she purred, slurring so much he had to strain to understand her. "Such a gentleman."

"That's me." Kakashi sloshed the sake in his glass, spinning it around and around. "So, Ino, tell me... how much does Sakura like me?"

"I can't tell." She hiccupped. "It's a secret."

"Well, I'll never tell her you told me." He leaned forward, winking at her. "It'll be our secret."

Her high-pitched giggle made him wince. "Promise?"

"I promise."

"Well..." she whispered, looking around dramatically. "I can tell you she likes you a lot. Maybe even loves you. But I didn't say anything," she added, grinning lopsidedly.

"Of course you didn't." He leaned backwards, folding his hands across his chest and enjoying the warm feeling slowly spreading across his body. He knew he shouldn't take the things a drunk woman said at face value, but... a part of him wanted desperately to believe, and it clung to this new fact for dear life.

Genma soon appeared, sitting down and pulling a squealing Ino onto his lap. "Hope you didn't hit on my date, Hatake."

"I'd never do that, Genma." He looked at the ancient clock hung on the wall above them. "It's getting rather late... I think it's time for me to head on out. See you later, Genma."

Genma was far too occupied with the woman in his lap to do anything but feebly wave a hand.

Kakashi stepped out of the bar, sucking in a breath of the cool, clear air. He was glad he went to the bar with Genma... it had turned out to be a good thing.

No, he mentally corrected himself, it turned out to be a great thing. Otherwise, I would have never run into that Ino.

Sticking his hands in his pockets, he slouched away into the shadows.

He had some serious planning to do.

END OF CHAPTER 2

A/N: And next chapter begins the seven days of payment. Kakashi, you little devil, what could you possibly be thinking? Something evil, no doubt.

Anyways, just wanted to say thanks to all my reviewers... you all kick ass. Seriously. Keep reviewing... I want to hear what you think!

Thanks for reading!