The next day found Sakura sitting nervously in a booth in a random diner that the Winchesters had picked for the meeting spot. She tried to meditate while she waited but found it difficult to focus.

She was so close to what felt like her last hope of getting home. It had been one year and three months to the day today, and rescue seemed less likely with every report of no change from her clone in Japan.
She tried to picture Konoha after the war more than a year later. Had the alliance dissolved or stayed strong? Was Naruto Hokage yet? Was Sasuke pardoned? Had they moved on with their lives?

Sakura fought back tears picturing some random woman on Sasuke's arm. She knew that it might never be her beside him like that, but it stung more somehow thinking he was busy restoring his clan without a thought or care about her safety.

Changing the subject in her mind, she sincerely hoped Naruto and Hinata got together, and that Kakashi found someone to settle down with. He deserved a break.

Her thoughts of home and her loved ones stopped as she spotted three men entering the diner – correction – two men and one boy. They were certainly dressed like hunters, but she had been expecting only Sam and Dean. Sakura narrowed her eyes and tensed a hand on the handle of her hidden knife.

The shorter of the two men saw her first, giving her a nod of recognition. He elbowed the taller man behind him and tilted his head toward her. The two of them then settled the boy in a booth by himself before moving up to join her.

"Ino," the tall one asked. Sakura nodded her head yes before asking, "Winchesters?"

"Dean," the short one said reaching out a hand for a shake. Sakura stood and gave his hand a firm shake.

"Sam," the tall one said, reaching his hand out as well adding with a smile, "Nice to meet you."

After shaking Sam's hand, they all took a seat. The waitress had seen them enter and dropped three menus off with them after giving one to the boy. She asked for their drink orders and left them alone again.

"Who's the kid," Sakura asked.

"No one – That's Jack," both said at the same time. They had a silent discussion with their eyes before Dean shrugged, looking away, and Sam spoke, smiling again, "He's just a kid we're watching."

Sakura raised an eyebrow but didn't press for now.

They all looked at the menu, not rushed. Dean waited until the waitress came back with their drinks and they ordered their food.

He took a long swig of his beer before speaking, "I just want to start by saying thanks. You saved our friend, and for that, we owe you a lot." Sam nodded his agreement.

So far so good it seemed.

Sam spoke up, "Can you tell us a little about yourself?"

"What do you want to know," Sakura shot back. Missouri hadn't told her what she said to the Winchesters about her.

"Just more about your background," Sam explained, "Missouri only told us that you were from out of town."

Sakura thought a moment about what to share. She wasn't sure if they were testing her, or just being friendly.

"I only started hunting about a year ago," she started, "My best friend was attacked by a poltergeist and a hunter saved her. She introduced him to me. He got me started, and then my friend and I have been traveling ever since, hunting."

"Your friend's a hunter too," Sam asked, his face sincere. Dean appeared to only be half listening, distracted by his own thoughts. Every now and then, he would turn his head to glance at the boy.

"No," Sakura answered, pausing to think how to explain her rather unique set up in the hunting world to them, "She helps me with research and finding hunts, but she doesn't hunt herself."

Seeing the confusion on their faces, she tried again, "I'm the one who wants to hunt; she wants to keep an eye on me."

Strangely enough, this seemed to earn Dean's full attention.

"So you and her are together," Dean asked, the faintest hint of a leer on his face. Sakura's surprise was genuine, and she almost sputtered, "We're not...it's not…I mean I don't like her like that."

They didn't know that Hinata was only a clone of herself and not a potential love interest, but literally no one else had ever asked that. Sure, maybe some thought it, but no one said it!

Dean smoldered at her, "If you're available then, maybe you and I could spend some time together. I could show you just how much I appreciate you saving our friend."

Sakura was sure her face was red. She hadn't thought this was going to be a seduction mission. She had never actual been on that type of mission before, but if it got her into their base…

She suppressed a shudder, knowing that even if she used a clone, she would still get all the memories of what happened. She was barely eighteen, never having kissed a man before (CPR not counting). Perhaps she could get away with a genjutsu, maybe?

Before she could think of something to say, Sam stepped in, "Dean!"

Dean turned to look at his brother, unashamed and almost incredulous, "What?"

Everyone paused for a moment when the waitress stopped at their booth with their food. When she walked away, Sam turned back to further chastise Dean, "Dude, she's way too young for you."

Turning to Sakura he asked, "You're like, what, 30? 28?"

Sakura shook her head no, trying desperately to stop blushing, "I'm 22."

Sam paled slightly, seeming to feel his age, before turning back to Dean his face saying 'See?'

Dean only shrugged as he bit into his burger, tuning back out.

"I'm sorry about that," Sam said, "Please ignore him."

Sakura gave him a genuine smile, glad not to explore that route further, and waved it off with her hands, "Don't worry about it."

"Where are you from," Sam asked next.

"Just a small town in Japan," she answered.

Dean looked up suddenly, "Japan! You're from Japan?"

"Yes," Sakura answered turning to look at him, surprised by his enthusiasm.

He was grinning ear to ear, that hint of leering back in his eyes, "You know there's this magazine and show I love from there. It's called Fortune Noo – "

Sam cleared his throat excessively loud to cut his brother off. "Dean," he said quietly, "I don't think she wants to talk about what porn you like."

Sakura felt her face heating up again. How was she supposed to stick to her plan when the elder Winchester was so focused on sex and subsequently embarrassing her?

Sam spoke up, trying to change the subject, understanding of Sakura's discomfort, "Missouri told us you want to see our library to help find more information on whatever monster killed your parents, and that you think this monster was from another world, right?"

"Yes," Sakura said, keeping for face and voice cool. She didn't want to come off as desperate, "I've been trying to solve their murder long before I became a hunter. I've traveled all over looking for more information, and the little I could find leads me to believe it's not from this world. I've been told the American Men of Letters library has the only books in the world that might hold answers."

She paused, looking at both brothers for a reaction. Sam was sympathetic and his eyes were kind. Dean wasn't even looking at her, his face and body language saying he was bored. His food was nearly gone.

She decided to press her plea with Sam, using his kindness. She took a deep breath, conveying to Sam that this was not easy for her, before speaking with a shaky voice, "Please, I'm just asking to look at your library."

She bowed her head in a traditional Japanese manner before continuing, "Even if I cannot enter your library, please at least bring me the books that would help, and I will take notes on what I need from them – they don't even have to leave your sight!"

She looked back up a moment after her plea, eyes almost teary as she looked deep into Sam's eyes.

Sam took a deep breathe, seemingly swayed, and turned to look at his brother. They looked at each other for what felt like forever, having another silent discussion.

Sakura tried to remain calm, but it was beginning to irk her, this silent communication she could not be privy to.

Dean was the brother to turn to her and speak, his face and eyes cold as he said, "No."