So I just realize that at the previous chapter I didn't leave any author note :\

That doesn't feel right so I'm going to take my time and greet the readers here! Hello! Hello! Merry Christmas! Happy New Year!

I hope all of us have a fun and nice vacation :D And thank you thank you thank you for favoriting/reviewing/following this story ;)

The feeling of a fanfiction email notification on my phone is always magical :D

Anyway enjoy the chapter!

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She never meant to discriminate against her friends. That didn't mean that deep down there she didn't bury a feeling she never told anyone else though. Sakura might not be as close to Shino or Neji compared to Naruto or the girls, but she still felt like they were one of them. A part of a clique nobody really talk about they all acknowledge. Sai was supposed to be one of them, but secretly, Sakura never felt that way. In her perspective, the former root member always felt like a stranger, a particular wild card that was way too dangerous. In short, even though she hated herself for it, she didn't trust him. She just couldn't.

And this moment was one of the reason why.

As she checked for any possible wounds on his head, Sai touched her hand slightly and looked up at her. Her heart skipped a beat at the cold touch.

"Don't startle me." She scolded.

"I have a proposition to make you, Sakura-chan." He said.

Sakura raised an eyebrow as she let go of his head, finally confirming that Sai's head wasn't wounded and was in perfect health.

"What is it?"

"Hmm. I wonder where to start …" His voice lingered, the kind that made Sakura felt like that he was mocking her. The pink haired young woman let out an impatient grunt.

"Just tell me, what is it?"

Sai smiled. "It's about Sasuke."

Her breath hitched at the mention of that name on his mouth. As soon as Sasuke's name went out of Sai's mouth, Sakura felt like she was entering a trap with Sasuke as the bait.

"What about him?" She asked quietly.

"Well, for starters, it's pretty much a public information regarding your feeling toward Sasuke-kun." He started as he watched Sakura healed his left hand. There was a shiver at her flow of green chakra and she hoped Sai doesn't notice it.

"No need to panic like that." He chuckled. "Also, well, we all can see how cold Sasuke-kun is toward you. He seems even colder as of lately, I wonder what happened?"

Oh. He's so not poking his nose in this matter.

"I think I'll appreciate it if you didn't poke around in this matter, Sai-kun." She smiled politely. The gut of that guy. Does he want to be punched to his death? Sai was brash and they've been tolerating him for some time now, but there are lines Sai can't cross and Sakura was certain that a consequence from her would be violent if he took another step closer into that boundaries.

"You don't want me to? Are you sure? I'm about to offer you a chance to be with Sasuke which I'm pretty sure is an ending that you'd like in your life, but well, if you didn't want me to meddle with your business, fine." His eyes flashed cunningly and Sakura knew that he was practically throwing her a bait.

No, she wouldn't take that bait.

Sai was the devil, and Sakura was mature enough to hold on to the old sayings of 'Never make a deal with the devil'. She should just ignore that and pretend like he never said it.

"You're perfectly fine, though your left arm would bruise and it would hurt for some time, like for a day or two, and after that, you'll be fine." She gave him her diagnosis and stood up.

"Now, I think I better join the others for the training." She said. Sai shrugged his shoulder as he pulled out a roll of bandage from his pouch.

"So you really don't want me to help you. Okay." He unrolled the bandage and started to bandage his left arm. "I don't understand why, though. You're willing to break whatever it is you have with Ino-chan so she couldn't be with Sasuke-kun but you're not willing to do anything about your relationship with Sasuke itself. I guess you're just one that selfish girl whose life motto is 'if I can't have it, then so the rest of the world'."

Oh, that's it.

"Shut up!" She screamed, her hand punched the ground as she did which caused the earth to tremble shortly.

And so he did. The silence that followed was one of the most agonizing silence she ever been through. Her brains were choke-full of words but none came out of her mouth. Some tried to clarify that she isn't that kind of girl because what kind of girl sacrifice friendship for lifetime over boys besides those shallow ones? Some admitted that she is because Sakura couldn't imagine Sasuke with someone else and she could only imagine how broken she will be when he does. Some wanted to yell at Sai for having the guts to say those mean things to her and spouted mean things back right at Sai, about how Sai has no family, has no feelings, has no real friends, and in having none of that means that he has nothing worth living for and thus he should just die. Some encouraged her to just punch him to the netherworld, and some didn't even make sense. In the end, she chose what every exemplary shinobi did. She avoid the conflict.

Sakura breathed heavily. "I'll just go."

Sai let out a smile. "I can help you change things, Sakura-chan. So that Sasuke-kun would finally see you as that girl who always looked up to him."

The one thing she wants most in her life.

"Don't." Sakura said. "I'm not falling for whatever trap you have in store. Go bother someone else."

"Fine." Sai said. "I'm pretty sure it's a choice we're all going to regret later in life, but, you made your choice and thus I hope you're being responsible for it."

"What do you mean?"

"Ah. What the future holds, only the future knows."

"I'm really going to punch you if you get any vaguer than this, Sai."

Sai shrugged his shoulder as he finished bandaging his left arm and stood up, leveling his eyes with hers. "I'm not a genjutsu and I offer no mirage and yet you still persist of refusing me."

"I don't let people meddle with … that."

"As long as no one's with him, it's okay. So it's true."

"We're just going on a loop here." Sakura sighed. "So what if I'm that girl? What do you want to hear Sai, that I love Sasuke a lot? Then there you go, I love him. Like, a lot. Like, so much. Though the only one he has that kind of feeling to is Ino and I can't seem to be the bigger person and let them be happy together. I just can't."

"I know."

"Shut up." Sakura snapped. "You don't know anything."

"I've been told that a lot." He mused as he put his hand on his chin, gesturing that he was thinking." Hmm… It's funny how no one wanted to admit how they really are feeling. So you're just going to sit around then? Hoping that one day Sasuke will get over Ino and finally looked at you? Here's one harsh fact for you, even if one day he did, he'll still hate you for being the girl who ruined his chance of true love."

"I am his true love."

"He is your true love." Sai corrected. "Though as long as he's concerned, Ino is."

She hated how right Sai was. How there seemed to be no rebuttal at his words. But he didn't understand! He said it all like everything was simply a logical reaction to some chain of actions but it was supposed to be more than that. Her love, her painful, twisted, torturous love must mean more than that! Sai didn't, couldn't possibly, understand that, because he had no feeling. He was this emotionless monster the Root had created.

Except, Sakura knew she was wrong.

The war changed everybody, including Sai. But … no, his understanding of feeling was not this advanced yet. So what if he could feel something? He still didn't feel a one-sided love for a criminal mastermind for years. What did he know about love?

But that's not the point of the whole conversation. Sai never give her love advice, he offered her a way out of this. A chance to make her dreams real, a chance to make her sick love story to have a happy ending. To be honest, after all this time, he was the only one that shed some lights into this particular matter. Just when she thought that there was no hope. Just when she thought that maybe she'll settle with Naruto who always loves her after all this time … Oh, wait. He liked Ino too. Just when she felt alone and nobody's right wants her. Sai couldn't have a better timing at offering her as he was the only one that is willing to lend her a hand.

For a price.

"I'm afraid of the price I have to pay you." Sakura admitted.

"You're going to make somebody very happy." Sai said. "Well, at least temporarily."

Sakura's eyes narrowed. Her mind only speculated so much with just one sentences from the guy. Is she going to be sold for prostitution? Slavery? Murder? Where should she draw her lines?

What won't she do for Sasuke?

"What is it?"

Sai waved his hands. "It's nothing big, but I will only tell you if you agreed with my condition unconditionally."

Is she willing to take that gamble? What if Sai was just playing and was only trapping her into another one of his sick games? Sakura didn't actually know if Sai had sick games, though. It was only in her imagination and it wasn't easy to think that a man such as Sai wouldn't have sick games. Now that she thought about it, Sai was not close to Sasuke at all, so how could he make what he offered to be true? Ino was close to Sasuke and she could only make him hate Sakura even though Sakura knew that she tried. So, how can Sai become so confident …

"Don't mull over it too much, Sakura-chan. I'm a man of my word."

Are you? Her mind went skeptical.

"I swear I'll chase you to the end of the world and beat the hell out of you if you couldn't hold your end of this deal."

"Then I'll explain my deal first then. I'm giving you chances to be with Sasuke, okay? I'm not a magician nor am I a potent potion maker so I can't make him fall in love with you. It's merely a chance to be with Sasuke, and as for how long the relationship lasts, it's all up to you."

"You're saying he can dump me … a minute after I'm in a relationship with him."

Sai shook his head with a chuckle. "Fine, fine … How long do you want? I'll say three days."

"A month. I need a month."

"Such low-esteem from such a great shinobi as you are, Sakura-chan. I'm convinced that you can charm him in three days, but if you said otherwise … fine. I'll give you a week."

"Ten days."

"Fine, whatever. Ten days." Sai chuckled, as if they were discussing such a fickle thing.

Sakura tried her best not to let out a smile, to keep her face as deadpan as Sai's, but she couldn't. Sai didn't understand that he actually just gave her the best ten days in her life. That he just granted a wish she always prayed for, the kind of prayer she was pouring her soul, her heart, and her mind into every day during the last ten years.

Sakura took a deep breath as even beneath all the joy, the giddy excitement over the prospect, there was still a persisting part of her that refuse it all. The part that screams that this was her last chance to bail.

"Okay."

They shook hands.

"Good. Because now, I want you to be with a relationship with Lee."

Silence.

"Lee?"

Sai nodded. "Yes, until I tell you to stop, but it'll take around a week, I think."

"What are you doing, Sai?"

It felt like a bad omen. He was targeting on her friends and it worried her. Yes, Sakura was ready for murder. Hell, she even already thought about ways to wriggle out of the way shall prostitution came to light. She wasn't ready on playing a game with their friends though, especially one that has the potential of hurting them. What is Sai really doing?

Sai chose to ignore the question. "It shouldn't be hard, right?"

"Why are you doing this?" She pushed on.

"You don't know what I am doing." Sai said calmly.

"You know I'll eventually break up with him and …"

"It will break his heart, yes. Or not, maybe he'll figure out a way to charm you the way you're planning to do with Sasuke." Sai let out a sly grin.

"I …"

"Yes, Sakura. That's the price you have to pay. A guy as good as Lee's heart is broken and it's because of you. It's a heart for another, a fair price, I might say."

A fair price for Sasuke's heart. Or, is it? Lee had shown so much love for her, and all the time, she had ignored it. She didn't have the heart to break his heart, to say it out loud, and it was okay, because Lee's method of courting her was so frivolous it's almost cartoonish. That was, of course, until Sai asked Sakura to practically bring Lee high up to the sky and slam him back to the earth.

"For how long?" Sakura asked.

"I'll tell you when you can stop, but it's going to take around a week, I guess. Make it real, make it believable, make sure everybody knows." Sai said it casually, as if he had prepared for this moment all along. Well, she bet he had. Sakura sighed, and upon seeing her reluctance, he added,

"I'm sure you understand that this was only between us, or else, as much as I know that you can hit me as hard as you can, but words do more damages than punches."

She was being threatened. By Sai.

"I won't have myself being threatened like this." Sakura said.

"I'm not threatening you, Sakura-chan, and trust me. I'm doing what I thought is best for the rest of us. Many can be reaped from this certain events."

"You don't get to decide what's best for everyone."

Sai shrugged.

"Who knows? Maybe this is my ninja way."

XXX

I need Ino.

The thought kept repeating itself during the remainder of the training. On her perspective now, Sai was the villain who has mastered the art of twisting words and manipulating people, and who else was better to counter him but Konoha's number one manipulator?

But Sai had the key to Sasuke's heart and Sakura desperately needed that. She had been locked out of that for forever, and Sai was the only one who could gave her a glimpse of what's inside. Sakura hated herself for loving Sasuke so much. Why can't she just fall for a simpler guy? Like that guy from the war, or the other guy from Fire Country. Instead, she had to love the most complicated person in the world, which cause her all the heartache and jealousy, and cause her to be entangled in Sai's spider web.

"What are you thinking?" Naruto asked as they walked to the Ichiraku, which Naruto claimed as the best ramen in the world to Darui. Darui, being Darui, of course only nodded repeatedly and catered to Naruto's need for boasting.

"Hmmm …." She slurred.

"You've been uncharacteristically silent ever since training is finished. What happened?"

"I'm fine." She lied as she darted a glance to Sai but said man was amidst a conversation with Tenten , Neji and Darui.

"Are you sure?" Naruto asked, his expression was worried. "You can always tell me if you have problems."

Sweet, sweet Naruto.

"Please, Naruto." Sakura said as she tried a chuckle but it didn't work.

"Maybe you need some rest, Sakura-chan!" Lee joined the conversation. "You look absolutely pale!"

"No, I'm …" Then an idea popped up on her head.

"Actually, yes, I feel a little bit sick. Lee-kun, will you escort me back home?"

Sakura regretted what she said as soon as she said it. That sentence was weird right to the core even Naruto was stunned. Tenten glanced at her warily and Sakura immediately felt guilt washed over her. Tenten never announced to everyone that she liked Lee, but well, her feelings to him was practically a public information and now Sakura was going to betray her just like that. She wanted to apologize to her for thousands of times and explained that it's not like how it seems but she's scared. Scared because how it actually is was more terrible than how it seems.

"W…w… whaaaaat?" Lee stuttered, disbelieving what had just happened. "I ... m… mean! S…Sure! I'll escort you anywhere you want, Sakura-chan!"

He straightened his back and did a salute to her out of nervousness.

"Well, we'll be parting here then. Your home went separate way." Neji stated as he gave Lee an endearing smile. While Sakura would usually be touched upon finding that a man as strict as Neji was apparently had a soft side for Lee, this time it did nothing but giving her shivers. When she broke it up with Lee, she was pretty sure that it won't be only Tenten who's going for her head. Sakura stole a glance at Sasuke whose expression stayed deadpan. There was no argument that the man was handsome and his cold attitude had its own charm, but what attracted Sakura to Sasuke right now was simply because Sasuke is Sasuke. She knew it made no sense, but then again, love didn't have to make sense… Right?

"Okay. We'll go this way, then! Let's go, Sakura-chan!" Lee said enthusiastically. Sakura looked at Sai and the pale skinned man flashed her a knowing smile. She then slowly moved her hand toward Lee's before holding it on hers.

This time, there's no mistaking Lee's happiness because of the man was having a nosebleed.

"Wow. Did you hit your head, Sakura?" Naruto asked, his voice was laced with concern and amusement. No jealousy whatsoever.

"My question exactly." Sai chimed in. "Why are you getting all intimate with Lee-kun, Sakura-chan?"

For the first time in the world, Sakura felt that Sai's brashness was completely deliberate. It made her rethink if Sai's tendency to be brash in the past all had its purpose just like now.

"I … I think … I like Lee-kun."

The hand she was holding squeezed her so hard it hurts. The remark managed to steal everybody's attention. Even Sasuke gave her a concerned look.

"Ah, the old hag and the bushy brows. You totally deserve each other." Sai broke the silence and Sakura wanted to kill him for it. It was enough that Tenten looked like she wanted to cry.

Naruto laughed. "Nice joke, Sakura! Look how Lee completely black out out of happiness there." Sakura turned to her side and find that Lee was indeed, in a comatose state with a dumb smile on his face.

"It might be hard to wriggle out of that one, though, Sakura. Lee's flirtation would be even more intense from now on." Neji's smile was amused.

"But … I'm serious." If somebody told her she'll be saying this yesterday, she'll laugh herself until her stomach hurts. Yet there she is.

"He's a mighty taijutsu master." Darui offered as he read how everyone seemed to take Lee lightly.

"Yes. Lee's the best every woman could ever want. He's courteous, strong, resilient and kind." Sakura said. Well, at least at the last part, she wasn't really lying. Those were really Lee's best attribute. Lee woke up from his comatose state and immediately looked at Sakura and blushed wildly.

"D… did you mean that, Sakura-chan?" Lee asked, his expression was giddy.

"Sure." Sakura nodded. "I never doubted you, Lee-kun."

"Kiss him if it's really true." Sai smiled. "If you really liked him. I heard you have to really like somebody to kiss him."

Stop playing innocent, you asshole.

Naruto turned to Sai but then he grinned himself. "Yeah, Sakura-chan! Kiss him if you're really serious about it." His expression was mischievous. He was so sure that she won't kiss Lee and to be honest, that was exactly what she didn't want to do.

"I …"

Sakura glanced at Tenten whose face was now even paler than Sai. Sakura felt queasy immediately. She didn't know that queasiness could be brought by betrayal. Guilt, yes. Headache, definitely. But queasiness was new.

"I'm hungry." Sasuke finally joined the conversation as he eyed her evenly. "I'm running out of patience on waiting while you're trying to steal all the attention, Sakura."

Ouch. That hurts.

"I … I object to such filthy display of affection in public!" Lee said, even though he was blushing furiously at the moment.

"Ino's supposed to be here. She's going to be loving this moment." Naruto grinned.

Sakura's brain froze for a second. What if … What if in that duration she dated Lee Ino ditched Darui and got on with Sasuke? What could she do then? Sakura turned to Sai with panic but the artist' face stayed the same.

"Kiss him, Sakura." Tenten squeaked suddenly, as if daring her to betray her more than what she already did. Sakura felt it stab right to her heart. She wanted to bail, to run away from this situation, from seven pairs of judging eyes.

"Sasuke's right. Let's all just go. It seems like Sakura-chan couldn't do anything right." Sai's word was like a cold shower to. Sakura turned to Sai. He was practically asking her to do it.

To show the world of her fake love to Lee, in front of Sasuke. How could he be so cruel? What was that man up to? And what was that again? She couldn't do anything right? Is he implying that she didn't do her mission right? Sakura already started mentally listed Sai's list of failed mission as ammunition for the future when Naruto chuckled.

"Don't be so mean. A nice joke is a nice joke." Naruto grinned at her. "That's quite a good joke."

Lee tugged her hands.

"Let's go already, Sakura-chan. I believe in your lo …"

But she kissed him just right then.

On the lips, no hesitation, no taking back.

Then she figured that this was her first kiss, and only then her heart fell. Her first kiss was supposed to be Sasuke and the moment was supposed be magical and romantic. But here she was, kissing a guy she didn't even like, on the busy street, in front of her crush and her best friend, which secretly crushing on the guy. The kiss itself was awkward and Sakura immediately felt her inexperience to pay. She swallowed as she let go and turned to her friends.

"I've told you before and I'm telling you now. I'm serious about my feeling to Lee-kun." She said as she fought the urge to wipe her lips. Sai gave her a satisfied smile but everyone else were totally stunned. Sakura didn't even dare to look at Tenten.

"You don't have to go that …"
"I'm serious, Naruto!" Sakura snapped. "You're offending Lee that way."

Sakura wasn't actually sure if Lee heard that, because said man was back on his comatose state. Sasuke snorted and started to walk away.

"Sasuke, wait!" Naruto said as he and Neji followed Sasuke before the blonde guy gave Sakura one last unsure look.

"I … I think I'm going home too." Tenten spoke up. "I'm beat."

Sakura still didn't want to look at her. She froze at where she was standing as she held Lee's hand tightly. Not as an act of possessiveness but because she was scared, guilty, and nervous.

"Are you going home, Tenten-san?" Sai's voice was as smooth as silk.

"Yes." Tenten nodded.

"Ah, perhaps you can show Darui-san your weapon collection? You've been curious about it, aren't you, Darui-san?"

Sakura stared dagger at Sai. Now he was planning on torturing Tenten too? Can't he see that she was grieving? But then again, Sai was the most insensitive person on earth, maybe he didn't know.

"Ah …" Darui scratched. "Sure, but if you're so …"
"Of course not." Sai interrupted. "It's a part of our hospitality, Darui-san."

"Oooi Sai! Quick! We can't wait for you forever!" Naruto shouted from afar. Sai waved his hand and signaled the guys to wait.

"You look very pale, Tenten-san. I'm sure you can use a friend." Sai smiled.

Is he … Is he pushing them together?

"It's alright, Darui-san. No sane person would ever refuse a potential customer." Tenten said.

Sakura narrowed her eyes upon her thought, but she couldn't find any sound reason as to why Sai would want Darui and Tenten to be together.

When Darui and Tenten left, Sai looked at Lee, who was still comatose, before turning to look at Sakura. She was about to ask him his intention once again but Sai spoke up first.

"Good job, Sakura. And on the bright side, maybe she can pick up the pieces after you left him."

Sakura's eyes widened but before she could offer him any retort Sai already ran toward Naruto and the others.

Leaving her alone with Lee on that busy street.

XXXXXX

SO WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THIS CHAPTER? REVIEW WILL BE VERY MUCH APPRECIATED. KISSES ARE GOING TO BE SENT TO YOU VIRTUALLY UPON REVIEW.

Hur hur hur hur hur hur I'm so glad I can be prolific and produce two chapters (albeit very short ones) in a short time and I'd love to hear your thought about this on the review section! (yes. I love reviews and I'm proud of it!) It's (and the previous chapter) not beta'd yet because my dear betareader, DoubleRainbowRainbow is currently busy but when it's done, I will be sure to update the chapter so the reading will be more bearable