AN: kind of random and tame this one.
Whoa, this story is already much longer than the other two. I didn't think it was that full personally. Oh well.
The devious plans of others are starting to re-enter. Yay for lack of stupid angst. Anyway…
1917 words in this chapter
Back to Surreality
Chapter 15- dress up time
Ino had been bouncing about all day. After their first official date yesterday, the news of their relationship had yet to reach most of Konoha, but the fact that she no longer had to hide it was reason enough to make her bubble with bliss.
Today was supposed to be their second meeting of the week, where traditionally, Ino would attempt desperately to instill some format of social connection into Sakura. It was her personal mission every Tuesday and Thursday to bring the medic up to public standards and to set her up with someone who would make her happy.
Tuesday's meeting had been cancelled as Ino had spent the day trying to keep their parents under control. They had in the end settled for a vow of celibacy until the wedding, which killed them both internally, but the acceptance after much debate had put Ino into such a good mood that nothing would stop her.
It was starting to give Sakura headache. No one acted like this to Shikamaru, no one. He wasn't short on women in his little black scroll, but all of them tended just to live on with quiet admiration, and the odd sly glance.
He was to them a work of art and an absolute genius. People don't squeal at art. It just isn't done. Except by Ino of course…
"I'm so exited!" Ino squealed as she dragged Sakura into a shop so fast that she couldn't see where they were heading.
"Which one are you talking about? The dance or Shika?"
"Neither…" she grinned "well, of course both of them, but that wasn't what I was talking about"
She stopped and looked around the shop with a determined glint in her eye. "I was talking about my new mission."
"Mission? I thought you threatened Tsunade into letting you off." Sakura frowned, looking around at the seemingly very up-market formal gown store. More wedding things. How will I ever contain my excitement…?
"I volunteered for this one." She turned to face Sakura and held up an envelope. "Who else would get paid to spend money?"
"Nani?" Sakura raised an eyebrow at her.
"Tsunade called me in this morning and told me to take this money and buy you a new dress for the dance."
Sakura began to turn and walk out immediately.
Ino held her arm and dragged her further into the shop. "You aren't escaping this one. I don't fail missions."
"Thanks but no thanks Ino. I'm not going so I have no need for a dress."
"Nonsense. You have to go. You have to give that presentation thingy."
"I can give it another time. I won't do it in Konoha public, with people I know watching. Anyway… Tsunade said I have to have a date to go. So I'm not going"
"Sakura, you are going to go and be measured for a beautiful new replacement for that old thing everyone has seen you wear, whether you like it or not. What you do with it afterwards is your own problem, but it's not even your money so…"
They were interrupted by a woman in her mid thirties, dressed in a bespoke skirt suit and heels, with her blonde hair pulled into a severe bun at the back of her head. She glared down at Sakura pompously before turning to Ino. "Yamanaka-san. Have you come for your dress fitting?"
"Not today Aya. Today we are coming for my friend here."
The woman looked back at Sakura as though she thought she had missed something, scanning her ice blue eyes critically over her plain clothing and simple ponytail, aswell as her lack of make up jewelry or any other decoration.
She looked back at Ino stoically. "She can't afford my work"
Ino laughed lightly, holding the woman the envelope. "I think the Hokage's paper friends say otherwise."
Aya looked inside the envelope and her eyes lit up at the amount she saw there.
Ino continued. "Complete transformation Aya. We need your best work." She shoved Sakura forward "make her beautiful."
Aya looked up and scowled at Ino. "I don't do beautiful. I do stunning, dazzling, spectacular."
"Hai, sure. Can you do it?"
"Hai." She beamed a grin similar to Ino's and called out, "Hoshi!"
A young girl, probably around 17 years old, shuffled out of the back room with eager steps. "Hai Aya-san." She caught sight of Sakura and gasped "You're Haruno Sakura! The Haruno Sakura! I'd know you anywhere!"
"The medic?" Aya asked the young girl, still refusing to acknowledge Sakura's presence formally.
Hoshi gasped in a very teenage manner. "She isn't just a medic. She's the leading Nin in her field. Iruka-sensei told us she was greater in medical skill than the Hokage herself. She even took down the legendary missing Nin Uchiha Sasuke single handed. Even Uzumaki Naruto failed to do that."
"Is that so?" Aya scoffed. "Well that's understandable. He's hardly trust worthy."
Sakura couldn't contain herself any longer. She was about to snap. The only thing she could think of to do was to attempt to run out again.
Ino stopped her again and called out to the other two women. "If you don't mind. This is a very sensitive subject for Sakura and we would appreciate it if you could stop talking about it."
"Hai." Aya looked away for a second. "Gomenesai."
"And for the record, Naruto is a very trustworthy ninja, and having fought with him in the past I would happily trust my life in his hands. Despite him being a complete Baka."
"Not as good as Haruno-san though!" Hoshi jumped in again. "Ever since Iruka-sensei told us about you, you've been my idol. I've been trying for years to get an apprenticeship in the hospital so I could study where you did."
"I'm nothing special" Sakura mumbled, fiddling with the pockets of her jacket.
"Oh! Are you here for a dress Haruno-san?" Hoshi bounced in excitement.
She sighed in defeat "Apparently. Please, call me Sakura."
"Arigato Sakura-san… Aya-san? Do you need me to take measurements?"
"Hai Hoshi-chan, arigato."
"You go into the back room so it's more private." Ino told her.
"I am going to kill you" Sakura hissed through clenched teeth.
Ino giggled lightly as the two others disappeared behind a silk painted curtain. "Gomen, I should have warned you about Hoshi."
The two kunoichi had finished the afternoon's shopping session and were now back at Ino's apartment, surrounded by a sea of purple.
It was fast approaching half seven and Sakura's mind was far away from the world of fabric and sparkle. One thing kept popping up in her mind, but she was still unable to resolve a decision, despite the looming deadline.
She stared blankly out of the window as she pondered her options. She knew she wasn't sure that she could stand forever with Kakashi, but a new thought had worked its way into her thoughts since yesterday afternoon. Do I really want to take the chance that I'll miss out on something great…?
Ino sat next to Sakura with a smug look on her face. "You've been distracted all day. What's happening?"
"Um… Ino?" she started, still gazing absently.
"Hai. What is it Sakura?"
"Promise you won't freak out or anything"
"Hai, I promise."
She took a deep breath before answering, still staring into the distance. "Kakashi asked me out yesterday"
"Really? Ok." She seemed happy, but like she was expecting it. She glanced at Sakura, waiting for her to tell her something that was bothering her. Ino still failed to understand what it all meant to Sakura.
Sakura reluctantly turned to face Ino "Tonight."
"What?!" Ino's eyes went wide and she stood up, ready to scream at her "Why didn't you say? We need to go shopping, and sort your hair and… dear Kami Sakura how could you not tell me all day?"
Sakura put her hands over her ears protectively. "Chill out Ino, I haven't even decided if I'm going yet"
"What?! Of course you have. It's tonight, what are you going to do, stand him up?"
"No Ino, I didn't say yes yesterday when he asked."
"You turned him down?" Ino frowned.
"Not completely"
"Well now I'm confused." She sat down balanced on the edge of the sofa next to Sakura.
"He's going to call here, in about three minutes, and ask whether I made up my mind."
"Here? At my house?" Sakura could almost hear cogs turning.
"Hai. So…"
She beamed. "Don't worry, I'll have it all sorted. Just sit down and relax. I'll just go and make some tea."
She got up and left the room quickly, a skip in her step. She went about making tea but didn't stray too far from the phone in the kitchen the entire time.
A plan began to formulate in her mind and she let out a brief giggle at her own genius.
It didn't take long, and the phone rang sooner than she had anticipated. She jumped but caught the phone from its stand at ninja speed.
"Konnichiwa, Yamanaka residence."
"Ino" Kakashi's voice came from the other end, seemingly disappointed it wasn't Sakura who answered.
"Oh, hi, I thought you'd call"
Sakura walked in to check if it was him. Ino shook her head so she wouldn't think it was Kakashi. Sakura just turned and walked right back into the main room.
"I heard about your engagement. Congratulations." He told her.
"Arigato. Although I think that your relationship is the bigger news right now." She giggled a little.
"Hmm… speaking of which…" he suddenly sounded really exited "is she there?"
"Um…no, she's really busy"
His attitude dropped back to disappointment "So she's not…"
"Oh, she is coming, that's why she's busy." She smiled deviously to herself "She asked me to pass on the message."
His emotions sky rocked full of surprise and anticipation "Oh, that's just great then. Can you let her know something?"
"Yeah, I'll tell her that you love her." She giggled again at how young he sounded. He's like a teenager.
"No not that, I mean, tell her that too but… tell her to dress nice. I think you can understand what that means Ino."
"Hai, definitely." Dress up time…
"Good. I'll be going then. I'll pick her up at her apartment."
Ino deliberately walked into the room where Sakura was sat and said in an obnoxiously loud voice, "Alright Kakashi-san, I'll pass on the message. Have a good night."
"What?! Ino!" Sakura stood up in protest.
She casually hung up the phone with a smirk "He says he loves you and for you to wear something nice tonight"
"I am going to kill you Ino-pig! You told him I'd go?"
"Hai. Someone had to make a decision for you. I mean, you are quite obviously not going to."
"I should inject you with something lethal next time you're in my care." She grumbled spitefully "then you wouldn't cause me nearly half as much trouble."
"It's not trouble, its character development. Now, we've got a lot of work to do. What time is he picking you up?"
"He said eight so… about half nine?"
"That isn't very long at all. Come on; let's get to your house."
"Ino that's ages, it only takes me ten minutes to get dressed."
"You aren't just throwing on the first thing in your cupboard. You are going to make an effort if it kills you" Ino began to drag her towards the door.
Sakura sulked, crossing her arms over her chest. "It probably will."
AN: ok, I want to do another poll here, just to keep you all involved, because I haven't done one in a long time:
Whose POV do you want to see more of?
Should Sakura give in or should Kakashi give up?
What should Ino and/or Tsunade do to interfere?
Which character should be shown more, or included if they have not already been mentioned?
Will Ino and Shika manage to keep their vow?
Will they actually get married at all?
Hen night ideas?
Celebration with the Suna party ideas?
Should Sakura go with Kakashi or not?
Will he ask her?
And any other suggestions, ideas, comments are completely welcome…
I have a few ideas already what will happen but nothing concrete yet. I really appreciate all of your feedback and I reply to every question or suggestion posed in reviews personally. (No evil typing monkeys for me) ;)
Stay shiny and show the luff
Xx Belizma-chan xX