A.N.: Thank you for the reviews! I super love them! Haha Which is why, I am dedicating this chapter to you guys. Pardon the 2 year hiatus from writing. I had to graduate from college and pass the board exams. But anyway, Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I obviously do not own Naruto.
"What the hell is this supposed to be?" Sakura said as she gingerly held up what appeared to be a grotesque, bright fuchsia and neon orange, one-eyed, three legged unicorn sitting near the foot of her bed; for fear that it might be a booby trap set up by enemy shinobi.
The 6:00 am alarm did its job of rousing her, but the stuffed thing was way more effective in rendering her wide awake. But her fears dissipated as she read the card attached to said monstrosity.
"To Sakura, This is to make up for the misunderstanding before. Well, here you go...From Sai"
It had been two weeks since the failed pick up line/bouquet/painting incident. And this was the first time Sai reached out to Sakura since. Sakura had tried to get a hold of Sai for few days, yet she learned from Tsunade-sama that Sai was given a two week ANBU assignment in Iwa after said incident.
Sakura yawned and placed said monstrosity on her shelf, in such a way that it would be "put on display" so to speak, but is hidden by her other more tasteful stuffed animals. Definitely a pretty weird start for a new week.
Her morning routine would consist of choosing what clothes and underwear to wear, taking a shower, applying her favorite strawberries and cream lotion, getting dressed, drying and combing her short pink hair, and preparing her favorite breakfast of bacon, toast and black coffee.
"Ugh Monday. Hospital duty. So, I guess it's red bra and boy shorts for today."
"Kuso. Forgot to buy bacon. Need to get more lotion, bread and coffee too." The petal haired girl thought out loud as she ate her breakfast of toast and black coffee.
After breakfast, she quickly set out for the hospital. The last thing she wanted was to let a patient die due to her tardiness. And her timing was impeccable as her day consisted of major operations on three ANBU members who came from their assignment in Iwa. Apparently, the resolution of the rift between Konoha and Iwa is not completely settled among some of the Iwa shinobi. This then lead to an ambush and confrontation by both parties.
Needless to say, the aftermath of the fight necessitated Sakura to utilize almost all of her chakra reserves. This was the downside to being a top medical ninja, furthermore the Godaime's apprentice; you are always given the tough cases. After fixing a total of 20 broken ribs, fractured collarbones and skulls, ruptured abdominal muscles, 5 broken arms, dislocated joints, massive internal hemorrhage, and various cuts, burns and bruises, in operations spanning 18 hours, Sakura wanted nothing more than to go home and sleep.
Mustering all her remaining chakra into a teleportation jutsu, she teleported right onto the thing she missed the most: her bed. She fell into deep sleep faster than saying "Good night".
You've flirted a little, you've coughed up a gift.
Now it's time to get to know your *insert-ridiculously-mushy-pet-name-here*
Chapter 3: STALKING
Or as I'd like to call "RESEARCH"
It's just like when two people in love go for a long walk… except one of them is unaware of the other's presence and that they are being followed.
The feeling of waking up in the morning sporting a hangover from downing 10 bottles of sake, 2 cases of beer and "Kami-knows-how-many" tequila shots is nothing compared to the feeling of waking up in the morning sporting a hangover from utilizing almost all your chakra reserves. Being a medical ninja, this feeling is best understood by Sakura. After yesterday's grueling ordeal, all she wanted to do was lie in bed all day so she could check up on her patients later that night. But all thoughts of having a well deserved rest immediately went out the window when…
*Sniff sniff* "Hmmm… I must be dreaming already... I smell something delicious coming from the kitche.… WHAT THE!"
Despite her exhausted state, adrenaline managed to kick in; she rushed to the kitchen to find…
"Eh? Sai? In my apron?"
"Oh. Sakura. Ohayou." Sai said while transferring food onto a plate, while wearing her pink frilly apron.
"You're in my house! How did you get into my house?! And breakfast?! You're cooking breakfast?! In my apron! What the…" Sakura rambled in pure disbelief.
"Well, it's 6:05am. People usually have breakfast at this time of the day. I just made you breakfast even with this broken arm. You could at least say thank you" said Sai in a matter-of-fact tone, with a smile. Sai then proceeded to get something out of the toaster and place it on the same plate.
Sakura smiled 'He's getting better with the smiling thing, I admit.. wait.. broken arm?'
True enough, hidden by the frilly apron was his left arm encased in a cast. Good thing Sai is right handed. Also, she had failed to notice the bandages on his face, his unbroken arm, his torso and his legs.
"Are you just going to stand there and ramble on like a lunatic or are you going to have breakfast?" Sai said while serving breakfast. Sakura sat down and it finally registered what Sai prepared. Bacon. Toast. Black Coffee.
"Wow this looks delicious. But how did yo-"
"I was just in the neighborhood. Just a friend stopping by to see how you were doing. Oh yeah, you left your door open. " said Sai as he took a bite of the toast. Sakura proceeded to take a sip of her coffee.
"Hehe.. I guess I'm getting clumsier and clumsier by the day…" Sakura said while scratching her head.
'But if I remember correctly, I telepo-'
"Yes you are, ugly."
"Nani?!" As Sai was speaking, five veins managed to pop immediately on Sakura's forehead. Her grip on the coffee mug was getting tighter and tighter.
"By the way, you should buy more food. It's not good to starve yourself. And you should really change your clothes after every shift. They're as red as your boy short undies."
"TEME!" Sakura threw the coffee mug on the wall and got up to beat the living crap out of Sai, regardless of his injuries or her exhausted state.
"Uh oh" Sensing impending danger, Sai grabbed something from his pouch. "Here. Catch!" Thanks to her shinobi reflexes, she caught the "thing" with ease. She looked to Sai but with an ink swirl, he was gone.
She inspected that "thing" he threw and could not believe what she was holding. Strawberries and cream lotion.
Tip # 4: Is stalking as bad as it sounds? No way! I mean, they are in your thoughts. You are in their bushes. It's pretty much evened out, don't you think?
Sai breathed out a sigh of relief upon getting back to his apartment, safe and sound. He was the luckiest one in the 4 man cell, as his injuries, which consisted of a broken left arm, muscle soreness, and various scratches and bruises, were relatively lighter than his team mates. Despite that, he did not want to gain any more injuries, especially those induced by a certain pink haired kunoichi.
"Ok. That went well…"
As Sai laid on his bed, he let his mind drift to entertain certain memories …
"Yosh. If there are no more questions regarding your ANBU assignment, you may go". Tsunade-sama said.
Sai and the other three shinobi left the Hokage's office. As they were exiting the Hokage Tower…
"YOSH! IF I LOSE THE SPAR, I WILL RUN 1000 LAPS AROUND KONOHA ON ONE HAND. BUT IF I WIN, I GET TO ASK SAKURA-SAN OUT ON A DATE! TWO WEEKS FROM NOW!" Rock Lee exclaimed with passion-filled eyes.
"That was really unnecessary, Lee. And why two weeks from now? Why not tomorrow?" Neji said
"Because, my youthful friend, I don't have enough money right now" Lee said as he struck the "nice guy" pose.
Neji deadpanned.
"Just kidding. Two weeks from now is my scheduled physical exam. I'm gonna ask her then" Lee said.
Neji and Rock Lee proceeded to their usual training ground, to spar.
Tip #5: Also, stalking is a good way to protect them from danger. Like the danger of meeting somebody way way waaaay better than you.
Sai got up and proceeded to write his mission report.
Meanwhile on the way to the hospital…
"YOSH! TODAY IS THE DAY I WOULD ASK DEAR SAKURA-SAN OUT! I WILL MAKE YOU PROUD, GAI-SENSEI!" Lee exclaimed to no one in particular, amongst a crowd of startled and confused civilians. Upon reaching the hospital, Rock Lee busted down the double doors and approached the front desk. "I am here to see Haruno Sakura-san for my annual physical examination" Lee said while rocking the nice guy pose.
"Ok then. Take a seat and we will call you once Haruno Sakura is ready for you." said the receptionist.
"Hai." Lee took a seat near the door of the clinic. 'Yosh. So far, so good. I will certainly make Gai-sensei proud that I am not wasting my youth. Sakura-san will surely be dazzled by my youthfulness'
Out of nowhere, a masked shinobi appeared before Lee and said "Rock Lee, you are being summoned to the Godaime Hokage's office immediately". In a blink of an eye, the masked shinobi was gone.
"I guess my date with Sakura-san will have to wait. There's something out there so urgent that it requires the expertise of Konoha's beautiful green wild beast". In a blink of an eye, he was off to the Godaime's office.
Right as Lee exited the hospital door, another door opened. "Right. Let's get this physical examination over wi… Eh? Lee-san?" said Sakura. "Now where did he go? I could have sworn I heard him outside." Sakura looked all over the lobby for Lee and even asked a male janitor to check if he was in the rest room. "Oh well. No choice but to reschedule his physical exam." Sakura shrugged. 'This is certainly shaping up to be a very weird day'
Tip #6: In other words, stalking is just another way of saying "I love you so much that I'm willing to invade your privacy to prove it".
Since Lee was a no-show at his physical examination, Sakura decided to make early rounds on her patients. The three ANBU she had operated were at the Intensive Care Unit. All three were attached to life support machines. Though none of the three had regained consciousness yet, no one displayed problems or signs of complications.
With all her tasks for the day accomplished, Sakura ended her shift and segued to the supermarket before going home. Despite Sai being weird, intrusive and annoying, he did have a point that she had no more food at home.
Needless to say all day, it baffled her as to how Sai knew about her morning routine, with emphasis on the specifics of her morning routine. 'How in Kami's name did he know about them? Especially my underwear' Sakura mused as she paid for her groceries. When she arrived home, she checked if someone tampered with the locks on her door. Seeing as there were none, she went in and made sure that the door was really locked this time. "Tadaima." she said to no one. Old habits are hard to break.
After putting away the groceries, eating dinner and cleaning up, she went into her bed room. At the corner of her eye, she saw that stuffed monstrosity Sai had given her. She got it and laid on her bed, examining the stuffed thing.
"Man, you sure are a scary looking thing" Sakura said
"You sure do have a habit of talking to yourself out loud, ugly" said a voice.
"WHAT THE HELL!" In a jolt, Sakura threw the stuffed toy across the room. The moment it made contact with the floor, some weird static feedback sound seemed to emanate from the stuffed toy. The voice coming from the stuffed toy sounded strangely familiar, so she dared to ask "SAI IS THAT YOU?" with her heart still pounding loudly in her ears.
"Hmm.. maybe. "I wouldn't go this far for just anyone, babe."
'Babe?!' Three veins managed to pop on her forehead.
"Although it was pretty amusing to hear you decide between the pink and brown g-string, black and purple bikini and white lace panties a while ago."
"SAI! TEME! I'M GONNA FUCKING KILL YOU!"
As Lee's team camped out for the night, somewhere halfway across the Land of Fire, his thoughts drifted to earlier events…
"Rock Lee, you have been specifically recommended to be a part of this 4 man cell due to your proficiency in Taijutsu. Based on a mission report I have just received from one of the ANBU, the Iwa shinobi they have encountered utilize jutsu that nullifies the effect of any form of ninjutsu and genjutsu. Your mission is to neutralize the threat these said Iwa shinobi pose. Any more grievances may destroy the potentially fruitful alliance of Konoha with Iwa. This may take about 2-3 weeks, depending on the severity of the threat. If there are no more questions, you are all dismissed."
"SAKURA-SAN! I SWEAR ON MY LIFE THAT I WILL ACCOMPLISH THIS MISSION AS FAST AS POSSIBLE SO THAT I COULD ASK YOU ON A DATE AND DAZZLE YOU WITH MY YOUTHFULNESS!" Lee yelled to practically the entire forest.
Out of nowhere, something hit Lee on the head. It was a grotesque, bright fuchsia and neon orange, one-eyed, three legged unicorn.
"Oh! Perhaps Sakura-san would appreciate this as a token of my love!"
A.N: Please R&R. Thanks! :D