I'M SORRY! I'M SORRY IT TOOK SO LONG! Please forgive meh!

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After two agonizing hours of being dragged around Konoha by Ino, Sakura finally demanded a break. Her eyes were hurting with the glare of the setting sun, her arms hurt from being scratched by so many random materials and sharp price tags, and she was generally E-X-H-A-U-S-T-E-D.

Shikamaru wasn't looking any better. He was murmuring 'Troublesome' or 'What a drag' practically every damn second.

"Alright Ino. I pass. Break please. Shika looks like he's ready to pass out any given moment. We'll wait for you by the Hokage Tower, OK?"

Ino huffed. "Oh, fine! I need to go to Lady Parlor's Beauty Shop, anyway. Be back in half an hour, s'alright?"

"Yeah. See you then."

When Ino ran off in the direction of the beauty shop, Sakura grabbed Shikamaru's hand and dragged him away.

"Oi, Sakura, the Hokage Tower is the other way."

Sakura grinned. "I know."

"Then why are you going there?"

"Because, Shika-dear, you don't actually think I will wait for Ino to come back and give her the opportunity to kidnap me as her shopping partner again, do you? And I thought you were supposed to be smart."

Shikamaru smirked lazily. "Now I see. You really are just as cunning as I thought you were. Che, Ino will throw a fit later on. Kami-sama save me."

"Oh, come on Shika-chan! Pwease?"

"Fine… Troublesome woman…"

"Yay!"

"But under one condition."

"Yah?"

"Play shogi with me."

"When?"

"Now if you don't mind."

"AWESOME!"

~::~

"FOREHEAD-CHAN!"

Sakura glanced at Shikamaru, who was looking very smug, with his hands tucked under his head. His posture almost screamed 'I told you she would throw a fit'. Sakura smirked. Two could play that game.

"PIGGY-CHAN! I'M BY THE WEST GATE WITH OUR DEAR SHIKA-CHAN!"

She grinned when Shikamaru sent her a (supposed to be) murderous glare.

Payback was a bitch.

Ino was in front of them in a matter of seconds. Her face twisted slightly with fury and exhaustion.

"I waited (pant) two bloody hours for the two of you to show up at the Hokage Tower. TWO BLOODY HOURS!" she screamed, "Just tell me, whose idea was it?"

The rosette smirked. "Shika's. I was perfectly content with waiting for you, but our dear lazy-ass over here had a sudden rebellious streak. What could I do but follow?"

Shikamaru almost gaped. How on Earth did she-?

No, hang on a second. Ino actually believed her! What the hell! It was an O-B-V-I-O-U-S lie.

But then again, the Nara had to hand it to the Ame genin, she was a great liar.

Now Ino turned her head to face Shikamaru, the sickly sweet smile which was plastered on her face was so…

Repulsive. I swear, that smile could kill babies.

Agreed. Remind me to thank Ita-sensei for teaching me how to keep a perfectly blank poker face.

Heh. Atleast that Uchiha blood in him was useful for something.

Too true.

"Well, Shikamaru, you can officially forget about any shogi games you could've played with Asuma-sensei. I'll make sure to inform him how hopeless your teamwork and co-operation skills are."

Sakura ignored her Inner's taunt of 'Ooooh! Big words!!' and instead stole a side glance at the unusually quiet Nara.

He smirked. "Well, too bad Ino. I'd found a more… ah, fitting partner." He gestured towards Sakura, and Ino's jaw dropped.

"You played with him? How much did you lose by?"

Sakura frowned and Shikamaru sighed. "What makes you think she lost?"

Ino gaped at him, her jaw still ajar.

"Ino-pig, stop that or you'll catch flies." Sakura said. Seriously, why was it so surprising? She was always smart. That's just how she is. Period.

"Y-you mean she actually… WON WITH YOU?"

"Goddamnit, Ino! Calm it down! Yes, Sakura won with me. If we weren't interrupted, we would've continued."

"Shika! That's rude! Be a good boy and apologise, or else I'll run off right now and tell everyone that the almighty Nara Shikamaru lost to a pathetic little Ame genin in SHOGI! His favourite game!"

It was Shikamaru's time to gape. "You wouldn't…"

Sakura smirked. "Watch me, Lazy-ass."

"Alright! I apologise!"

Sakura's smirk widened. "Good boy."

Ino was staring at the rosette intently. How did she bend practically everyone to her wishes? Was it some hidden talent or is she really a master at the art of mind-fuck?

Probably the latter, since she herself had seen what a few kind words and just persuasion from the pinkette made even Nara Shikamaru cave in.

All Ino wanted to know, was how on earth did her friend (she supposed that was an appropriate term to call Sakura) know when to stop.

She never overdid it, also Ino hadn't seen anyone reject her.

Which was just strange…

But oh, so freaking awesome!

~::~

"UUUUmi-chaaan!" Sakura whined.

"Yeah, Saku-chan?"

"Train with meh!"

It was about seven o'clock now, and the streets of Konoha were getting emptier and emptier. Sakura and her team agreed to meet up at the dango shop where they would discuss when they'd leave to go back to Ame.

Sakura wouldn't say it aloud, but Umi knew that deep down, the rosette missed the rain and the cool, fresh air of Amegakure. She herself did too.

"Saku-chan, the exams are in five days' time. Five days! You had almost a month to get ready and find someone to train with!"

Sakura grinned. "Oh, but I did. I just wanna see if I'll have to bite my nails out of worry if you'll end up going against Bug-Boy, or worse, the Sand dude."

"You doubting mah skills?" Umi asked while munching on her dango.

"Me? Of course not! How could you think that? I'm just genuinely concerned. That's all."

Umi stared at her teammate with calculating eyes. It was the first time Sakura had seen Umi serious.

"Honestly, Umi."

Umi sighed.

Sure you're 'just genuinely concerned' Sakura-chan. Of course. You and Shiso are the same. I know what you think about me. I'm not stupid. I will show you and I'll make sure you never look down on me again. But now, it's peace-making time. I can't let her know what I'm thinking.

"Well, then that's great!" she said in an abnormally high-pitched voice. She flinched. Even to her, it sounded fake. Just by looking at Sakura, she knew that the rosette noticed it as well.

She looked around then smiled. Finally, Shiso and sensei are finally here…

::

DONE! Please tell me what you thought!