Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.

Enjoy!

Running across the hallway, Sakura quickly slipped into the Lady Hokage's office and greeted her with an awkward smile. The Lady Hokage stared at her in disbelief; learning her apprentice's tardiness again. She cleared her throat after she has scanned all the papers on her table. Sakura gave a nervous laugh as she slowly moves nearer to the Lady Hokage's table. She knows she'll be scolded for good. But not only that, she anxiously hides her right hand from the Lady Hokage so she'll not notice the puppet master's ring.

Tsunade stared at her half-heartedly and muttered in a low tone, "Sakura, tardiness again? I think I'd better not hear about that again."

Sakura quickly apologized to the disappointed Lady Hokage. She mutters in a strained voice, "Lady Tsunade, gommenasai! I'm sorry, I'm sorry!"

From the backdoor, Shizune, Lady Tsunade's personal assistant could hear the cries of apology in the room. She shook her head; knowing that the Lady Hokage was just not in the right mood today. Perhaps it was that night when she lost in a bet that nearly finished all of her cash. And as we all know, the Lady Hokage hates losing! We could just say that the pinkette was not just in the right time to make an appointment with the stressed Hokage.

Staring at the scared pinkette silently, Tsunade sighed after she has given up from her mood swing again. This may not be the right place and time to throw her tantrums. She unenthusiastically reached out the mission report and muttered, "Sakura, since I have just received the mission report of ANBU Cat, I wanted you to go on an A-ranked mission today but if only you would want to because it would be pretty unfair for you since I gave you this whole month as your break."

Sakura thought for awhile. Going on a mission given to her by the Lady Hokage is really an honor and plus, there's nothing to worry about since this mission is branded A-ranked which means the difficulty level is just low. She mentally fought herself about finishing her pastry gifts for her friends and preparing herself for the reunion but there are a lot of things far more important than her simple personal tasks. And of course, this might only take a little time to finish so why not?

She exclaimed with a determined look on her face, "Don't worry Lady Tsunade, I'll take the mission!"

Tsunade was surprised by her apprentice's sudden determination. She announced straightforwardly, "Tonight, you'll be leaving for Suna. I'll just discuss the details later after the meeting."

Sakura beamed and bows down in gratitude, "Arigato, Lady Tsunade."

As she was about to leave, the Lady Hokage calls out, "And one more thing…"

Sakura stopped and stared at her in a questioning manner, "Hm?"

Tsunade's face lits up as she smiled softly, "You may bring company as you wish…but only a maximum of one."

Walking home, Sakura couldn't think of someone who she'll be taking with. Of course, everybody's been pretty busy since the start of the month. This'll be the busiest month of the year. She thought of calling her gals, Ino, Hinata, Tenten since going with a gal is a lot more comfortable than a guy. Dialing the blond's cellphone number, she could hear her phone beep.

"Hello? Sakura?" Came her bestfriend's bubbly tone.

"Ino-pig! Can I ask you a favor?" She tries to calm herself from her sudden excitement.

"Ummm….yes, of course!"

The pinkette hesitated to ask her but she tries to take a chance, "Uh, do you want to come with me for a mission? Don't worry Ino, this is just an A-ranked mission plus…"

"Ah, yes sir, that costs 25 Yen, thanks sir and come again!...Oh, what was that forehead girl? Oh, yes a mission, I see…"

Sakura knew her purple lady friend is really busy running her family's flowershop business. And this is not the right time disturbing her.

"Oh, Ino-pig, don't think about it, I have already found company to come with me! Give my hugs and love to Rabu! Bye!"

"Sakura, are you sure? Maybe you need some help, I'll come…"

"No need, Ino-pig, I'm perfectly fine now. Just continue your work since for sure a lot of customers needed you now."

"Oh, okay, good luck with that, forehead girl!"

"Bye!"

"Bye!"

Sakura hangs the phone up. She knows that she'll no way receive any help as for now since everybody's really busy. Hinata might be busy preparing for her clan reunion and so does Tenten. And disturbing their tasks is not her ideal way of asking her friends out. She sighed but she managed to put a brave face; thinking that this'll be a great opportunity for her to make up for the disappointments she has made to the Lady Hokage.

"I'll show her that I can accomplish this mission all by myself!" She grinned.

She managed to double time herself as she multi-tasked on packing her gift pouches neatly, preparing some things she'll need and cleaning the house. She has not cleaned the entire place for a week! It was all because of her busy schedule and appointments, although its her break. As she was all packed up and ready to go, she glanced at the time to see if she could still catch the boat she'll be riding that would take her straight to Suna.

"7:30…" She smiled. After all she must have beaten the time. By 8:30 she'll be leaving.

Tired and exhausted after the multi-tasking she has done, she decided to take a slight nap, enough to regain back her strength. She fell asleep on the soft comfy couch and fluttered her emerald eyes shut.

After 15 minutes…

She was awakened by the ruffling noise in the kitchen. She slowly rubs her eyes and stood up lazily. Might be a dream…she thought. She gradually heads towards the kitchen and saw a figure behind her refrigerator. Her vision is still blurry that she couldn't clearly see it. She abruptly closed the refrigerator but was startled when she was shaken away from her dream.

"Why did you…?!" Dark chocolate eyes met her emerald ones. The figure was looking sternly at her; pointing her out for doing such thing.

Sakura was frozen in shock; seeing an old acquaintance again. She gasped as she was loss in words on what to say or react. She quickly slapped the figure's face and moved away. The figure was surprised for that sudden jolt that made his cheek turned red. He is now definitely angry. He never lets anyone simply slap him that…hard.

Sakura exclaimed in surprise, "Is this a dream? A dream?" She tries rubbing her eyes again to clear her vision but still he was there. "...and Sasori….no! Akasuna no Sasori! This is a nightmare! Why!"

She tries to back away from him and prepare herself with a fighting stance. Either he is real or not, this is a serious situation to be dealt with.

The red-head shook his head in disbelief and sighed. He never gets pulled away by his emotions, yes, nearly. After that hard slap he got…again from that brat, he'll no way be easy on her. He really hated to see the girl who defeated him during their fight and it is a big blow for his pride. He tries to calm her nerves down by sending some chakra strings to pull her back towards him to somehow lessen the tension.

Sakura shot an angry glare as the chakra strings slowly wrapped itself around her feet and body; pulling her back. She tries to wriggle herself free but there's no use. Sasori could nearly laugh at her vulnerable sight.

"Get it off me! Get it off!" She exclaimed in annoyance.

The chakra strings carried her on a chair to which she is securely tied to. She could not move! The chakra strings are dangerous weapons, she once remembered that it has the ability to manipulate people and she does not want that again. The passive red-head stood inches away from her. He gave no blink of emotion as he stared at the struggling pinkette.

"You'll quickly lose your chakra if you'll continue to do that…"

Sakura growled, "I don't care you, trespasser! And I don't believe….ahahahhaha…" She started to laugh like she's going insane, "…this is just a dream….ahahahah!"

Sasori cocked a brow as he inched closer to the 'going-to-be-insane pinkette. "This is not a dream, brat…"

Sakura closed her eyes and teased back, "Bleh! This is just a dream! Its impossible that Sasori's alive!"

Sasori shook his head and muttered coldly, "Yes, I am alive and I have no idea how and why. And by the way, you just slapped me."

Sakura gives a small peek with her emerald orbs to her hostage taker. His eyes were downcast and his face still impassive. If this is not a dream then how come the red-head is still alive? She clearly saw his death and no way would he ever live again. Well, it was pretty harsh but for a medic ninja, she knows he'll no way survive that blow.

Sakura doesn't want to make a fool of herself if this were real. But being faced in this situation is somehow unrealistic. Akasuna no Sasori, alive and in her house, taking her captive and….eating her cookies….?

"What?! My cookies! Sasori!" The pinkette shouted out angrily at the red-head who is silently munching her Christmas cookies on the table. Sakura could feel her chakra pouring into her balled fists; ready to strike the impassive Sasori.

"I don't know that you could be more useful when you bake." Sasori muttered as he takes another bite.

Sakura cocked a brow, "So are you mocking me? Huh?!" Her emerald orbs flaring with rage. "Quit it!"

After finishing the first pouch, Sasori just simply went into the refrigerator and took another pouch of her Christmas cookies. But this one's different; it's supposed to be for the Uchiha.

Sakura couldn't stand on seeing this torture! Seeing her mortal enemy finishing all of her cookies! She yelled, "No! Not Sasuke's!"

Sasori slowly opened the perfectly sealed pouch and retrieves a star-shaped cookie inside. As he was about to engulf it, the pinkette gave in. She'll no way let her mortal enemy from taking a bite of one of the cookies she specially made.

"Fine! Fine, you're alive! Please, stop eating my cookies! And get me off here!" She exclaimed with a strained voice.

"You're special…eh?" He displayed the perfectly-designed cookie in front of her; showing the message written on it.

Sakura stared at it and furrowed her brows, "Just quit it! That's none of your business!"

The red-head chuckled softly knowing that this pinkette is pretty hopelessly in love with the Uchiha who doesn't even give a smidgen of care to her whereabouts. He sighed; remembering old days.

Sasori gave a small smile as he placed the cookie back in the pouch. He muttered, "I was just waiting for you to wake up from your own fantasy."

Seeing the time, Sakura couldn't take this any longer. It is already 8:15 and if she can't leave this moment, she'll surely lose the boat ride. "Come on, get me off now, Sasori! I need to go now, I have a boat to catch!"

The puppet master shook his head slowly and replied, "Not until we've finished some discussions."

Thanks for reading, Minna-san!