LIFE'S HARDEST LESSON

Ch 3: Persistence

Sakura walks out to her balcony, gazing up at the stars and giving a sigh.

Why can't anyone see me for who I am?

She still thinks of a way to get Sasuke's affection for her, but she couldn't think of anything. She has tried everything she could possibly do except for what Kakashi could teach her, and he said he wasn't going to help a girl try to get a date.

I don't want to seem like a cry baby, I've tried for so long to tough it out, but his words cut real deep. And it didn't matter at the moment that he heard me cry, but now I regret it because he'll think I'm just a little girl even more. Maybe if I can at least show Kakashi that I'm grown that he'll teach me.

She started to formulate a plan as she dragged herself to bed.

That soup didn't actually look that bad.

Kakashi groaned as he tried to sleep in for once, but his body wouldn't let him and he arose with the sun.

Great, I'm finally in the mood to take a vacation and I can't sleep in. What's the point then?

He stretches and yawn's so lazily that it could have put Shikamaru to shame. He gets up and gets dressed and groomed. Then he goes to the kitchen and makes a bowl of cereal, and then he eats just as lazily. With one elbow resting on the counter he thinks of what to do today.

I suppose I could just walk around town and see if I can find anything interesting. Plus, I could read my book on the way.

This brought a smile to his face. He quickly finished his breakfast and scurried out the door, book in hand.

Sakura hears Kakashi yawn and she slowly arises from her bed like an undead arising from its grave.

If I would have known that you could anything from my neighbors so easily, I would have just bought an average apartment.

Then she remembers what her plans were for today, and she quickly rushed to the bathroom to get ready. She was all set when she heard him leave and slam the door. She made sure that he was long gone before she exited her own apartment. That's when she was on the trail of Kakashi for a little spying.

I want to see if the rumors are true, and maybe learn a few things if it is.

Kakashi took the long and scenic way to the heart of the village. Taking very leisurely steps and he was a little hunched in his lay backed way.

It's going to take him all day just to get to the middle village.

And sure enough, the sun was a quarter of the way in the sky when they finally made it. By then the village was bustling with people at the outside markets. Sakura spotted a huge billboard up ahead and she stopped for a moment.

Oh crap, please don't let Kakashi see it. Oh, please don't.

Kakashi was reading a dull part of the book when something caught his eye. He looked up and his eye that was visible got really wide. "It can't be, no way, they said it would come out next month. It's, its Icha Icha the sequel!" He was waving his hands in the air and started to run at a neck breaking speed.

It's going to show today! Must…get…ticket…

A throbbing vein popped on Sakura's head and her eye was twitching.

Were those ladies still talking about the same Kakashi?

She huffed angrily and took off after Kakashi.

"Excuse me sir, do you happen to have a ticket for Icha Icha the sequel showing in a few minutes from now?" Kakashi said money ready. "Yes sir, we certainly do," The booth salesman said. As soon as the ticket appeared, it disappeared and money replaced it. The man was in shock as he saw Kakashi running to the theater room. Sakura was right behind him. She got her ticket and sat in the very back when she saw Kakashi smack dab in the middle. It was too dark for Kakashi to notice her, and he wasn't even paying attention to anything except for the screen as the movie started to play.

I can't believe I'm really watching this perverted movie.

Sakura thought, looking for something to keep her busy while the movie started to play. She finally decided to play with her hair and make braids. Though, as the movie picked up her boredom got the best of her and she started watching it. Then it started to get a little "physical" and she ran to the bathroom, ready to puke.

It would have been a good story plot if it didn't have "that" in it!

She came back and saw that the scene was over, so she sat back down. When it was finished, Kakashi left and Sakura followed, though she made sure she couldn't be seen and that wasn't that hard to do since she was a shinobi after all. "Hey Kakashi!" Sakura heard someone yell. Sakura and Kakashi both turned their heads and they saw a magnificent blonde come his way.

Aha! Jackpot!

"Hey Kakashi, do you want to get something to eat or something?" She seemed to be blushing just at his mere presence. Kakashi scratched his head, "I don't know, I'm not that hungry." She whimpered, "Please Kakashi." He shrugged, "Alright, I don't have anything else to do anyways." She squealed in excitement and grabbed his arm, and then they left to go to get something to eat. Sakura was flabber ghasted. (A/N: Ha! Flabber ghasted, it's a funny word. LOL!)

How could he be so smooth and collected in front of such a beautiful woman like that? She's practically a freaking super model! He was acting a lot like…well, like Sasuke does in front of me.

This was confusing for her; did that mean that guys act like that only when they're not interested in you, or is it that their just trying to act cool. She still needed to know more about this, so she started to follow them.

I hope that Shizome remembered that we're just friends.

"Oh Kakashi! It's been so long since I last saw you. Do you have a new girlfriend?" She said. He sighed,

Guess not…

"Shizome, I see you haven't changed a bit," Kakashi said, taking out his book. She gave him a confused look, "What do you mean?" He said, "Asking all those questions as usual. And no, I do not have a girl friend at this moment." Kakashi didn't like the word "girlfriend", it seemed so childish to him. Every time he thought about it, it seems as it was just a word for teenager's hormones. He thinks that love should be something special between two people and not to be given out ideally, unless he wanted heartbreak.

Icha Icha on the other hand is a different story and doesn't concern my heart being toyed with.

Shizome smiled and said, "That's good news, I don't have one either. Would you care for some Sake?" He nodded and handed out his glass, knowing pretty soon that she would start talking about girl stuff and things he was not interested in.

sigh I wish that there was some girl that liked simple things like the sunset or enjoyed the thrill of a mission. Not hair care products and the newest style of purse.

He told the waiter to just leave the whole bottle as she started talking.

Sakura seemed to know exactly what he was thinking as he made that look.

That would be another nice tip for me. Not to talk about girly stuff in front of guys because they don't understand. But, why does he put up with her? Is he just being nice, or does he just want a one night stand? Well, I'll know when he comes home to his apartment. I'm leaving; I so tired of spying that I could sleep for 3 days straight.

Once she was out of sight, she got up and walked to her apartment bushed.

Is there any girl left in this village that is even worth dating? I'm tired of just floozies.

"Are you ok Kakashi?" Shizome asked worriedly. Broken from his trance, Kakashi looked at her and smiled, "Uh, yeah, I'm fine." She asked timidly, "Maybe we could go to your apartment and talk some more there?" Kakashi got up and said, "I'm sorry Shizome, but I have told you already that that kind of relationship is over between us." She pouted and crossed her arms, trying to look cute, "Ok, I can see that you're interested in other woman." This startled Kakashi, "What?" She looked at him, giving a sly sneer, "I could tell because your mind was far off as we talked, like you thinking of someone. Whoever she is, she's so lucky to have a man like you Kakashi." Kakashi was confused, and his face must have made him look cuter because she smiled and kissed him lightly on the cheek, "See ya Kakashi." She then walked off. Once he realized that she didn't leave any money it was too late and he had to take the bill.

Damn it! That's what I do!

Yeah! It's finished! I hope this long chapter has satisfied you my loyal readers and you might not get another for a week or so because of CRT's and the grad exams. Thanks for reading though, and please review my work so that I can know what I'm doing right or wrong in the opinions of others.

Your friend,

Darkened petal : )