A/N:

Ooops, I did take my sweet time for this one. So sorry.

Today's chapter is about Sakura's date with Sai.

The next chapter is her date with our beloved Naruto!

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The Try-Outs

By: NenaUchiha22

Chapter 4: A Date with the Artist

She opened her eyes slowly, setting off her alarm clock. 9 AM. She set it up for 7AM first, but she kept pressing the postpone bottom every fifteen minutes. After eight times hitting the snooze bottom, she finally gave up. She had to get up eventually, she was still sore from her parachute jump the day before, despite not having actually done a physical exercise she tensed her muscles so much from stress that she was now feeling a little sore. A knock on the window startled her.

She looked up and saw the curtains drawn. But whatever it was, knocked a second time. She got up thinking that it could be one of the boys, though none of them had done such thing before. She opened the curtain and saw a small black bird made of ink. It was Sai's drawing.

She opened the window to let it in. It gave her a piece of paper and then disappeared. She sat on her bed and opened the piece of paper.

10:00 Breakfast (French toast, orange juice, and healthy smoothies)

11:30 We leave the house (We'll walk all the way to Hashirama's Avenue)

13:00 We arrive to Riplay's Museum (Museum located between Hashirama's Avenue and Senju's St. I've added on another page a description of the museum)

15:00 We leave the Museum to the next destination (We'll take a blue bus towards Firestorm, we'll get out of the buss in Minato St. Forth stop)

16:00 We arrive to the theatre (The theatre is located between Minato St and Fire St. I've added a map so you can see it).

19:00 We leave the theatre and head home (We'll take all King's St and Hokage's Avenue)

20:00 Dinner (due to the lack of solidarity within our group. They only agreed to leave the house from 7:00AM to 7:00PM, so the dinner is a group dinner and it's Kakashi's turn)

Outfit required: casual. I've added a few pictures, in case this wasn't clear enough.

She read the paper twice, it was a schedule. Her date gave her a schedule for the date. She looked at it and laughed. God. She loved Sai, he could be such a freak. It was then when she realized that it was probably Sai's first date too. She laughed imagining Sai sitting down and organizing the whole date. He could be so cute.

She looked at the images that he had added as outfit references. Nothing too complicated. She picked an outfit and went straight to the shower.

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"Hello, Sakura" Sai welcomed her smiling as she walked down the stairs.

She had picked a burgundy skirt, and a grey sweater. She was wearing grey and long socks, and burgundy heels. It was the closest combination she could find to meet's Sai's expectation. Sai was dressed with a formal white shirt and black slacks.

He helped her down as a true gentleman, she guessed that he might have read that in a book and smiled at the idea.

"As you could read in the paper I sent this morning, we are going to have French toast, orange juice and a variety of healthy smoothies for breakfast" he announced as he pulled her chair helping her out. She nodded as a thank you.

Sakura would never admit it but she was really looking forward for this date. It's not that she liked Sai more than the others, but this was probably Sai's first date as well. And she was dead sure that it would be very interesting.

"We are on a tight schedule, since you came out of your room thirty minutes after the scheduled hour, we have half an hour less for breakfast. So we better hurry" Sai said.

If Sakura didn't know him, she would have probably told him that he was crazy for rushing a date. But she had known him for a while now, and if she had certainty about something with Sai is that nobody, nobody could change his military induced schedule. And they all have tried, but there's no way to convince Sai to get somewhere even just a few minutes late.

So to not mess with her date, she rushed her toast into her mouth and finished her breakfast before the time Sai scheduled their departure, cursing a little because what kind of woman liked to be rushed?

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"This is unbelievable"

"Sai, it's okay. We can just take another road"

"There's no other road. This was the only available option, and the other options won't allow us to get there on time" a small frown grew on his forehead. And Sakura knew that nothing like incidentals could drive him that angry.

As planned they took the Hashirama's Avenue, but there was a boiler explosion in one of the shops so all the people and stores along that avenue were closed and therefore the whole avenue was secured.

After a lot of brainstorming and thinking, they decided to arrive to the museum walking down Tobirama Avenue and then walking Senju St to arrive to the museum from the other side.

Despite Sai's arguments about efficiency, Sakura made it clear that she was not getting on one of his ink birds… So they walked.

Regardless of the good speed at which they walked they arrived there at 13:05.

"Damn it. We are late" Sai murmured as he reached the entrance to buy the tickets

Sakura cursed under her breath, they had walked a long way there and she was tired but she kept it to herself. They were finally in the museum, today was the opening and they had the weirdest things showing.

"There's got to be a mistake"

"I'm sorry Sir, but there are no more tickets for today" the lady on the other side of the counter said.

"Sai" Sakura called him. "It's okay" Dragged him out of the entrance and into the street,

"No Sakura, it's not okay. Everything is wrong, the plan is ruined." Sai said disappointment starting to show on his face.

"Sai not everything has to go according to plan we can—

"Forehead!" Sakura felt relief and annoyance when she heard that nickname coming from her blonde friend.

Sakura and Sai turned to see the blonde and her boyfriend walking their way. Sakura almost laughed when she saw that Ino's outfit was exactly like the one Sai sent on his morning schedule. A black skirt and a pink sweater. On her right was Genma wearing his chunnin vest and with that look that Sakura hated so much, the kind of look that she could describe as I-hate-everything-and-everyone-cause-my-pants-are-so-tight.

"Hey" Sakura greeted with a smile for Ino and a fake one for Genma.

"What're you doing here?! Did you come to the museum too? I heard that they have a replica of the woman from Suna that had this incredible long beard!" Ino said.

"Yes, I was curious about that too. I can't imagine a female species with facial hair" Sai said causing Ino to laugh. For some reason Ino enjoyed a lot the way Sai would sometimes use fancy words to make a point.

"They ran out of tickets" Sakura mentioned.

"What? Oh no, I really wanted to see it. Damn" Ino complained and pouted a little.

"Yeah, I guess everyone wanted to see that woman" Sakura said a little disappointed too.

"Well, I guess we just have to do another thing" Ino said to Genma.

Sai looked at Genma and realized that he had been staring at him the whole time. If Sai were a little more normal, he would have noticed that Genma was jealous as he always was with any male that spoke to Ino. But Sai is no normal person, so he had no idea why this stranger was staring at him.

"Hey, we are probably just going to grab something to eat, you should come!" Ino invited.

"You know, Ino. I think they already have plans" Genma spoke for the first time.

It was no brainer that Genma didn't like Ino talking with anyone but him. And Sakura would have loved to ruin his date with Ino by joining them. But she was on a date with Sai and she didn't know if he would have liked to change his plans.

"Actually we are scheduled to go to the theater at four, so we are free until then since we missed the museum entrance" Sai bluntly said and Sakura was aware that he had never made her so happy. Sai just ruined Genma's plan and his expression was priceless. She couldn't be more satisfied with her date.

"Excellent! Let's go!" said Ino totally missing her boyfriend's annoyed face.

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Who would have thought that this date would turn into a double date? Sakura didn't expect it at all, but spending time with her two friends was actually really fun. Sai and Ino had a lot of chemistry, despite their differences.

Ino was a natural teacher, so she never lost patience when Sai pulled one of his questions unlike her, Ino loved to repeat herself…

"So, then why do you need more than one fork?" he asked totally serious.

Genma looked at him completely exhausted. It was the fifteenth question that Sai asked and as much as Sakura was used to it, Genma wasn't. Genma probably thought that Sai was stupid.

"Silly, it's because in fancy restaurants they put one fork for every meal. Therefore you start to use the farthest from the dish to the closest" Ino answered.

"Why can't you use the same fork?" Sai asked and Ino smiled.

"I'm out!" Genma said before throwing his napkin and fork on the table making it a dramatic gesture. "Sorry, but I can't stand your stupid friend. I can barely stand the pink one, let's go" he said before standing up and offering a hand to Ino to accompany him.

The table went silent for a second and Ino looked at Genma with her mouth wide open.

She slowly stood up without taking his hand and walked out of the restaurant with him following.

Sai and Sakura looked at the way the couple walked out and shared a concerned look.

"Is she going to be okay?" Sai asked and Sakura gave him what seemed to be a reassuring smile, but it didn't reassure Sai about anything. "What if he hurts her?" he asked.

"She's a tough girl, she can handle him" she said as a murmur.

"What you guys doing?" They were taken aback from their thoughts by Ino's voice.

"Ino! Are you okay? Why are you back?" Sakura asked as she stood up checking her friend's arms and face looking for a mark that Genma could have made in his jealousy rampage.

"Sakura, relax. I'm okay. Sit down, don't overreact" the blonde said as she sat down on her chair and smiled.

"Are you really okay? He didn't hurt you, did he?" Sai asked worry showing in his voice something that surprised Sakura.

"No, we just broke up" Ino said trying to sound tough.

"Ino, I'm sorry" Sakura started to say.

"I am not sorry" Sai said. Causing both of them to look at him intrigued. "He doesn't treat you like a boyfriend should treat his girlfriend. He doesn't follow the manual, he doesn't try to meet your friends and he doesn't act considerate towards you. You are better off without him"

Sakura was surprised by his words and then she realized. Of course Sai sees everything objectively, but he wouldn't have acted that way if he didn't feel it. Sai liked Ino. That silly man probably didn't know it himself, but it was clear for Sakura.

And for some reason, thinking of her friend stealing her date didn't bother her one bit. Because she looked at them and they were perfect for each other. She wasn't as patient as Ino with Sai, and Ino needed someone like Sai who would treat a woman by the book.

"Thank you, Sai" Ino said a small tear falling from her right eye.

"No! Don't cry!" Sai suddenly blurted. "What did I say?" He asked Sakura and she smiled at him.

"Nothing, silly. That's my fault. You made me happy, it's a happy tear" Ino said.

"I've never read of those" Sai frowned.

Sakura laughed and looked at the clock. It was 3:35 if they wanted to make it in time for the play, they had to leave right now.

"Hey, it's almost time for the play" Sakura announced and Ino nodded. "But I am not feeling well, why don't you take Ino instead? She loves those kind of plays"

"Are you sick?" Sai asked.

"No, just tired"

"Are you okay with this?" Ino asked Sakura meaning the idea of her with Sai, and Sakura smiled.

"I've never been more okay with something in my life" Sakura assured. "See you later, kidos"

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Sakura arrived home with a wide smile on her face, she didn't start her day thinking of being a matchmaker. But setting her best friend up with her roomie made her feel really satisfied.

She opened the entrance.

"Sakura-chan! How was it?" Naruto asked as soon as she entered.

"Hey" she greeted them.

"I assume not very well since her date isn't with her" Kakashi said as he served a bowl of Mongolian beef on the table.

"No, actually he took off with another girl instead" she said.

The three of them looked at her surprised.

"That doesn't sound like him" Sasuke spoke.

"No, but it's okay. They are the perfect match" Sakura said smiling.

"I guess we are not expecting Sai for dinner then. And hold that story for the table, it sounds interesting" Kakashi said before he entered the kitchen.

Sakura smiled and sat on the table. Her other teammates looked at her intrigued, she seemed awfully calm and they didn't know why. But she was happy that she probably started something good for her friends. A healthy relationship for her female friend and a tolerant girlfriend for his robot friend. This day was not what she expected, it was probably even better.

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N/A

Hey, so this date turned out not as expected. But hey SaIno, how cute is that? And we got rid of her obnoxious boyfriend Genma. Win-win. So next date is Naruto's date with Sakura, they are the closest. What might he have in store?

Thank for your patience and your reviews.

NellaBinstokSarno: Jajaja hubiera sido muy gracioso que no hablara español después del hermoso y largo review que me dejaste. Por cierto, ¿Por qué odias a Sasuke? Es mi fave jajaja un poco problemático con sus issues en la cabeza, pero me cae bien. No sé si habrá lemon, pero a petición tendré que pensar en más escenas KakaSaku gracias por escribir!

Zaz123: Hey you, I missed my deadline because I was in exams. So sorry. And thanks for keep reading it. I hope you liked this chapter. I am not so sure about lemon, maybe slight action… haha Thank for your reviews. Love them so much!

erihiwatari5: Amor de mi vida, gracias! Jajajaja y algunas van a terminar con beso jajajaja if you know what i mean

yourface-Jk: I missed that detail, I spelled them differently. Naughty Sakura indeed, hahaha. Thanks for your comment you made me laugh.

Maten: I love you so much, and thank you. Can't wait for your next chapter. And wait for your wedding with Kakashi.

Guest: Sorry for bothering you by mixing my universes. I'll take that into account

skylaa555: awwww I am so happy you felt something. You rock! :') I love your reviews they make me happy haha.