The Scheme

A/N: SORRY! SORRY! A lot of you informed me that my Japanese is horrible. That’s fine. I admit it. I tried to spell everything out phonetically, and that is obviously NOT the way to go with these fics. I just want to correct that I did NOT mean oni-chan as in monster or onii-chan as in older brother. I meant onee-san as in older sister. Japanese……sounds like the same thing……..

Obviously, I don’t have a beta for this story. It takes too long, and I rather just type it up and publish it. I don’t consider my mistakes to be that erroneous, and it’s so much easier checking someone else’s work. I thought I’ll just wait until I finish so I can re-edit the chapters when I can once again look at them with a fresh eye.

Disclaimer: see chapter 1

Scheme – chapter 11

The evening air was crisp and breezy, the moon glistened against a backdrop of twinkling stars, and one female nin and one male nin were walking next to each other as if they were partaking in a wonderful romantic courtship. If the camera angle came to a close up to this couple, one could observe that a date was the farthest thing from their minds.

“Why are you following me? Don’t I see you enough already? I rather experience withdraw,” said the female, her hand flipping her pink hair back in agitation out of her face.

“You should be glad that a good looking man seeks your company on a daily basis. With me, you look less than ugly,” responded the man, his smile only widening at her blatant frustration.

“Please. It’s the reverse, idiot. So why are you coming? I don’t think Sasuke-kun wants you to be there.”

“That is why I’m coming.”

“I didn’t ask you. It’s his special day, not yours. Also, I prefer to be a ninja not in debt for the rest of my life.”

“I don’t know what you are talking about.”

“You are only going there to goad him with your presence,” she refuted, comprehending the exact reasons for his stubborn insistence to attend Sasuke’s victory celebration in the jounin exams. She had another incentive. If another bar became ravaged by a drunken riot, Tsuanade-sama would surely chop off all their heads. She preferred to keep her groomed shiny pink tresses if at all possible.

“My reasons are my own,” he stated blankly.

Sakura rolled her eyes and twisted her lips into a frown. “Thought you said all my friends are insane.”

“I changed my mind. And the Mutt invited me.”

“Because he has an animalistic tendency for violence,” Sakura argued.

“I’m not the violent one. You are the one in need of therapy.” He maintained his vacant smile and widened his stride to keep up with her quickened pace. “You aren’t going to lose me, ugly.”

“Sure, whatever. You complain about Kiba enough. What is with the change of heart, hn?”

“Maybe I’m asserting my position as your boyfriend. I don’t want my reputation damaged when you will become your usual drunk self and drape yourself over that traitor in public.”

“Not likely,” Sakura muttered under her breath. She just did not understand why Sai refused to just cooperate and stay away when she had much romancing to manipulate with Sasuke-kun. Did her moronic and sadistic teammate want to ruin her chances to corner her man alone when he would be in one of his rare good moods? After Sasuke-kun will, for once, obligingly consume copious amounts of alcohol that will weaken his stoic defense mechanisms, Sakura had planned to cozy up to him. But now, Sai would be there and completely smash her chances to cop a feel. If this was outer Sakura’s assessment, inner Sakura’s displeasure was deafeningly more severe and furious.

“We are already late. Trying to out run me and taking the long way will get you nowhere.”

“You bastard.” Sakura gathered all her anger and pent up frustration into a glare of death.

He wore his typical cheery face, but Sakura could sense his conceited and smug righteousness.

“You have to promise me that there will be NO violence. That means: no name calling like ‘traitor’ or ‘dickless wonder,’ no waging of silent wars, and no attacking people with tigers.”

“I can’t learn about emotions when I can’t have fun.”

“You had enough fun. Now be a wall flower or else, I’ll pound you into the wall and make you into wallpaper,” she warned with her curled fist, placed before his eyes, the chakra glowing menacingly.

He glanced down and shrugged. “I won’t unless provoked.”

Sakura understood that his lame excuse for a promise was the closest thing she would be able to acquire from him without actually having to exact some violence. She was a lady after all, and punching a hole to tarnish the handsomeness of his face would defeat the purpose of using him as her boyfriend. Okay, the latter excuse held more merit than the former.

They entered the crowded ninja bar – since the other was currently under construction – to find that all the usual members of their crowd assembled in the middle. Several other ninjas interacted with those in the table. Sasuke-kun received the spotlight of attention ironically because he rather sulk in a corner alone and shoot annoyed looks at everyone from his obvious agitated state.

Kiba stood up and stumbled forward with Akamaru nipping at his heels. “You guys finally came,” he belted out, unable to control the volume of his voice. The aroma of whiskey spewing out of his mouth and his dark watery eyes testified to his inebriated state. “Shit, everyone’s here already. I mean everyone.” He grinned to reveal his canine teeth. He drunkenly pointed his finger to Kakashi-sensei, seated next to Sasuke urging him to drink more while his eyes were glued on his book, Gai-san, who was hugging his adorable cute student in a disturbing show of male affection, Asuma-san, shrouded by a cloud of smoke, the crazy Anko-san, being held back by Kuranei-san from attacking the bearded nin, and Tsunade-sama and Jiraiya, both seated at the bar raucously enjoying the hundred bottles of sake before them.

“You aren’t kidding,” wondered Sakura at this odd and slightly disconcerting scene before them.

“Yah. Oh before I forget, I was told by Kakashi-san…...you know that bastard’s kind of scary. Can’t believe you had him as your teacher…..” Kiba ranted with Akamaru howling in agreement.

“What is it Kiba, you idiot,” demanded Sakura, having no patience for someone else’s drunken schpell when she herself had yet to partake in the festivities.

“Women, sheesh. Shikamaru’s right –“

“Kiba!” Sakura growled. She needed sake now before the bar became redecorated with ninja wallpaper!

“I have to take Sai here,” he said as he slung his arm around Sai’s neck. If looks given by Sai could kill, Kiba form would have been splattered like Akamuru’s diarrhea turd by now. “And you are to go to say hello to your team.”

“No violence,” threatened Sakura as Kiba dragged Sai away to a group of male nins composed of Shikamaru, Choji, Shino, and Neji seated at one corner of a long table.

Sakura happily being relieved of her warden and Sasuke inhibitor made her way to the crowded table where an unhappy Sasuke-kun sat between a loud Naruto and an absent minded Kakashi-sensei.

“Hi everyone.”

It was Naruto as usual to pounce whenever Sakura’s voice was heard. “Sakura-chan! Did you hear?”

“Naruto, of course I know that Sasuke-kun won the jounin exams. I was there remember? Although I did not have the pleasure to treat him since he received no injuries,” she replied with a childish pout as she sat across from them. “Congratulations Sasuke-kun. I knew you could do it.”

“Hn,” smirked Sasuke. He appeared to be as his lovable, moody, revengeful self, but his glazed eyes and disheveled head, nodding a bit in whichever direction, spoke otherwise. With the twenty or so empty shot glasses in front him, anyone would have deemed the normally quiet stoic man to be affected by the alcohol.

“No that’s not it,” spoke Naruto excitedly. “Now that he is no longer in probation and is a jounin, he can join the team again. Imagine! Team seven united once again!”

“Really?” Sakura attempted to act surprised and very pleased. True, as the Hokage’s apprentice, she was privy to this news, but which understated genius ninja mastermind can claim credit to argue for Sasuke-kun’s re-introduction into his old team?

“Tsunade-sama revealed this information tonight,” Kakashi said as he peered over his book, his one unconcealed eye granting her a secretive wink. Of course her mysterious sensei deduced the truth with his six sense of digging for the underneath of the underneath. She didn’t mind because he was exceptionally helpful tonight with the stubborn Sai who -- all of a sudden -- decided to be a persistent thorn at her side.

“I’m so glad Sasuke-kun. Just like old times right?”

“Hn.” His smirk transformed into a half smile. He was definitely in a good mood. There was no intent of murder being exuded in waves, no angst filled brooding, and no overt disgust of the world being shone through his face. The liquor and today’s macho demonstration of his superior ninja victory had successfully morphed him into a happy person – well his version of it. He may as well have been Jiraiya stuck on an island with beautiful and promiscuous bikini clad nymphos. Yes, that was an exaggeration, but the poignancy of this rare mood must be highlighted.

Wisely, Sakura took upon this opportunity to her advantage.

“Oh Naruto, why don’t you go and talk with Hinata since she’s over there with TenTen, and Neji is conveniently being occupied at the other side of the bar.”

“What? But…..”

“Don’t worry about Sasuke-kun. I’ll take care of him,” she alleviated his concerns. Naruto immediately left, leaving the chair empty for Sakura to surreptitiously sit on and to be at a hair’s length away from this pliant agreeable Sasuke.

She then non verbally shooed her sensei away which he disregarded until Gai demanded that his eternal rival and he enter a drinking contest to determine who had the edge in their endless childish battle for supremacy. Actually, it was Gai-san’s nearing presence that prompted Kakashi-sensei’s disappearing act.

“Finally,” Sakura sighed eager for some alone time with this man vulnerable to her manipulative ways. She scooted her chair closer until it knocked into his.

Half lidded black eyes regarded her solemnly. “Sakura,” he whispered, his breath emitting a distinct smell of whiskey.

They chatted a bit. Sasuke’s inattention did not bother her at all, since it was expected; however, he was acting somewhat loopy from the alcohol. Yet his mesmerizing dark gaze was fixed upon her, and that unnerved her as much as it excited her.

“Sasuke-kun, are you okay?” she asked sincerely, although Inner Sakura urged her to caress his manly muscles and pinch his firm bottom with little Sakura acting as her cheering crowd.

“Ah,” he said, leaning towards her intimately.

Sakura almost swooned and fainted from his action. Immediately, she grabbed the closest filled glass and swallowed it whole to calm her nerves. “Yes, Sasuke-kun?” she squeaked, her voice hushed considering that his lips were so very close that she could almost taste them.

“I’m glad that you came,” he admitted, wisps of his breath tickling her with every syllable.

“You know that I’ll always be there for you.”

“As a teammate?” he posed, eyes glistening and lips closing in.

“Anything you want,” she professed genuinely, her lids descending down in response to the eventual touching.

“Haruno, there is no sake left,” came a masculine voice and a jarring noise of a chair leg screeching against the wooden floor.

The intrusion successfully interrupted the happy union of mouths. The devil in Sakura’s eyes sat before her in Neji’s form. Inner Sakura hollered, ‘KILL HIM! KILL HIM!’

Sasuke-kun blinked to shake himself from his confused state. He seemed to have miraculously lost his desire and righted himself up, erecting his ten foot shield and re-depositing the stick in his ass.

Sakura pondered every possible way to kill the Hyuuga in cold blood, and in doing so, cracked the wood on the table.

Neji amusingly quirked his eyebrow at her before settling into his blank expression. He then turned to Sasuke-kun who had refused to meet anyone’s eyes. “Uchiha, go and get your teammate off Hinata-sama or else there will be a missing member in Team Seven.”

Without a word, Sasuke brusquely left, leaving a bewildered Sakura. The pink haired nin clutched onto the table, the wood fracturing more from the increasing force being exhibited.

“Neji, I am going to MURDER YOU!” she vowed venomously, her fist shaking against the table ready to strike the Hyuuga’s attractive face.

“Before your emotions run away from you because of my interference in your attempted display of public affection with a drunken shinobi who is here to be the center of everyone’s attention, I’m here to prevent another destruction of property,” he explained. He slightly tilted his head at an infuriated Sai being verbally chastised by a boisterous Ino who had her arms spread forcefully preventing him from getting closer.

“What does Sai have to do with anything?”

“He is your boyfriend, remember Haruno? If you have a plan, let me suggest that you go through with it.”

When Sakura observed Sai more with the corners of her eyes, she could gauge his expression clearly. He may be smiling, but the slight downward tilt of his lips, the miniscule furrowing of his eyebrows, and the manic glint in his eyes conveyed something malevolent. Thankfully, she could count on her best friend to keep him at bay, yet she could not understand his over dramatic reaction. She did admit to himself that he should be angered by her obvious and overt lust for Sasuke-kun, but he could not be that incensed by it, could he?

Not wanting to appear as the wrong party in this contrived soap opera-ish scene, Sakura pouted and complained, “Shut it Hyuugi. I’ve done nothing wrong. I’m just sitting here minding my business.”

“Now, it’s Hyuuga. Haruno, you have no subtlety.”

“No subtlety? NO SUBTLETY? Me?”

He smirked and crossed his hands across his chest as he leaned against his chair. “You displayed no subtlety. If you want to engage in a discussion, I suggest you share the sake bottles stashed in your bag. As you can see, Tsunade-sama and Jiraiya-sama depleted the sake source in this bar.” He waved his hand indifferently to two legendary sannins who successfully drained two hundred bottles of sake and acted like asses accomplishing such feats.

Sakura, the ever prepared alcoholic….er….. responsible ninja, stashed two large bottles of sake in her duffel. People would assume the bag to be filled with a medical kit and her scrubs, but in actuality, the bag served to disguise a convenient reserve of liquor. Subtlety, thy name is Haruno Sakura. Only someone with the Hyuuga eyes could see through the canvas material, and only Neji would bother.

“Why should I share?” Sakura huffed, still angered by Hyuuga’s unwanted interruption.

“Well then I have to go around and ask why Jiraiya-sama keeps on glancing at you with his perverted and drooling stare,” he replied with a wry grin. “That is subtlety.”

“You are a bastard and a half,” muttered Sakura while pulling out her bottle reluctantly. Ninja wallpaper sounded like music to her ears.

“There are eyes everywhere,” he warned.

“Don’t you have to be a fanatic protector and stave off Hinata from Naruto’s vile clutches or something right now?”

“I will. But first, I want to enjoy more sake. That should be my excuse when I brutally kill him,” he mused out loud, a sardonic glint shining through his white eyes.

“Well then here you go,” she offered and poured a large glass with sake. “Run along now.”

“You seem to be in need of a ‘fanatic protector’ yourself.”

“I have male protectors in droves. The stupid men in my life don’t realize their misplaced concerns because their testosterone infused brains displace logic and reason.”

“Maybe I want to be your captivated audience seeing how amusing this all is.” He tilted his head slightly in the direction of Sai rushing to the table followed by a screeching Ino.

“You owe me big time, forehead girl,” Ino hissed in her ear as she sat down angrily next to her. Sai took the seat across from her and fixed her his angry stare hidden behind his mask.

To quell the tension stifling the air and to take her attention off of Neji’s complacent and haughty sipping of his drink, Sakura covered her irritated features with her usual cheerfulness. “Do you guys want some sake?”

“I hate that stuff, but okay,” Ino accepted while her eyes furtively sought out her senbon man.

Sai pushed his empty glass towards her without speaking, his glare still piercing her.

Sakura drank heavily as Ino ranted on about the difficulties of pursuing a man. Neji added his sardonic comments which seemed to infuriate the blonde more. It was when Ino screamed at the indifferent Hyuuga, driving him away after refilling another large glass, when Sai opened his mouth.

“Banshee, I see Genma over there,” he said drawing Ino’s attention.

“Jerk, stop calling me that!”

“Well then I’m not going to inform you that another kunoichi is approaching him right now. From the looks of it, she’s attractive and her mouth doesn’t sound like a wailing pig’s.”

“AARRGGHH! You asshole!” Ino shot Sai with an angered look before stomping away.

“That’s wasn’t nice, you know,” accused Sakura.

“Don’t care.”

Sakura fidgeted in her seat like a reprimanded child. Frankly, she could not understand Sai’s standoffish behavior. What the hell was the matter with him?

“You are particularly being surlier today. Usually, you reserve it only for me and not bother to ingratiate yourself to others,” she said sarcastically.

“Maybe I want my good natured personality to spread around, ugly. You certainly are one to speak. You do love to throw yourself upon others. I don’t think that is a way to get a man. It makes you cheap,” he sneered dropping his mask to verify his less than pleasant state.

“It’s not what you think,” she defended herself. Although inner Sakura yelled, ‘So who cares? He shouldn’t, that fucking moron!’

“It’s not? I can see, ugly. Obviously you can’t since you don’t trouble yourself with looking at a mirror occasionally.”

“Well at least I try to find myself attractive men. Where’s the competition when one only seeks out romantic interludes with ugly or savage men? No wonder you possess such an ego bloated head.”

“Don’t delude yourself into believing you can actually win one. They take you in out of pity.”

“Then why do you consort with someone like me. Admit it, I’m devastatingly gorgeous.”

“Gorgeous should not be in your vocabulary. I call you ugly because that’s the honest truth. Now you’re cheap and ugly,” he mocked her cruelly.

Sakura was becoming increasingly angry and upset. Maybe a few weeks ago, she would have overlooked any insults rolling out of his mouth, but now, it was different. Liquor would be a potent additive to her state, but Sai was being exceptionally hard on her. Usually his barbs meant to rile her up, superficially insulting but never did his remarks cut below the surface. Tonight, his arsenal proved detrimental somehow because she could ascertain that he had truly intended to strike where it hurt the most. She did not understand why he would be so ruthless with her after she verbalized their friendship.

“Why are you being so difficult with me?” Her smile slipped to express her ire.

He turned away and poured himself another drink. He bothered not to respond.

“Look at me! Tell me why?! What is wrong with you tonight?!” she cried out, ignoring the curious stares. They appeared to be in a lovers’ spat from the intense emotions emitted between the two nins, but the onlookers could not fathom the truth.

He sighed and allowed his posture to relax and his real face to be exposed. His lips thinned, his forehead creased tiredly, and jaw tightened. “Sakura, I don’t know what I’m feeling at this moment, but it’s something unpleasant,” he admitted. He stared down at the half empty glass.

Sakura was taken back. He said her name! And, he revealed his feelings. Why did she always provoke him into experiencing some negative emotion? Even with her overly large brain and heightened capacity, she could not find the logic in all this.

“Sai…..”

“Don’t speak. I just want to forget about this,” he said as he poured liquor into both their glasses.

“Sakura, is he bothering you?” came a low husky voice underlying a tone of intimidation.

Sasuke-kun stood before them, radiating an aura of fury and menace.

Sakura reacted by putting a cheerful face even though her insides were churning uncomfortably. “Sasuke-kun, oh no. Sai’s not bothering me at all. You want to come and join us? I have lots more alcohol to share!” She pulled out a second bottle and swished it in front of his face. However, he did not acknowledge her. Rather, he glared murderously at Sai who wore his vague smile.

The tension practically crackled between them, and a dangerous foreboding air circulated between the shinobis. Sakura sat there helpless, unable to pull either of them away from an outright brawl. If they were outside without Tsunade-sama close by, she would have punched them or created a crater between them to separate the hard headed males. Being enclosed in this environment, she could not start trouble to resolve the impending trouble.

The fact of the matter that sake has replaced her blood in her body did not help with her situation at all. So her brains failed to operate and the obvious violent resolution had to be nixed, what is a drunken kunoichi suppose to do?

“Why did you pull me away Kakashi-sensei. I could have beaten the bastard up!” shouted Naruto rubbing against his bruised cheek. Kakashi casually walked into the middle of the silent shinobi foray while yanking a struggling Naruto by the collar.

“Now, now, Naruto. Senseless violence against a comrade is not the ninja way,” her sensei admonished humorously and shoved the blonde onto a chair. “Oh Sakura, I heard that you had some sake. You wouldn’t deny your poor sensei with a glass or two.” Kakashi lazily took his seat next to Sai and lifted his empty glass for her to fill.

Sakura thanked god that her sensei appeared at the most convenient time. He had such knack about him that she would buy him a shelf full of his perverted books out of immense gratitude. “Of course sensei. I would never DARE to refuse my WONDERFUL sensei with sake,” she stated exuberantly.

“It seems that our team seven is complete. I think we should make a toast,” he proposed in a light hearted tone, but underneath the underneath, he alerted his stubborn pupils to walk away from their dispute.

Sasuke-kun grudgingly took his seat next to Naruto and hastily grabbed his glass, and Sai placed his sedate non-threatening mask back on.

“Since the bar is running out of alcohol and many ninjas will be clamoring about to steal what we have, I think we should drink all the bottles now,” said Kakashi as he urged his students to drink continuously one after another. He was so wise to provide such misguided help.

After countless glasses and verbal arguments between Naruto and Sai, an uneasy interaction arose between all the members. Even Sasuke relaxed when he didn’t glare poignantly at Sai. Perhaps all the alcohol consumption and the expected haze that settled in their brains allowed everyone to disregard their hatred for one particular member and take pleasure celebrating the wonders of sake.

While Sakura was enjoying the mind numbing effects of the liquor, she distinctly heard Kakashi mutter, “At least I don’t need to worry about premature graying.”

She did not know how much time passed or the fact that her consciousness failed to register the blackness that fell before her eyes. All she knew was that a persistent poking against her arm perked her head from its resting position within the folds of her arms.

“Huh? What’s going on?” She took note that the bar was emptying, and the patrons were stumbling out or awkwardly swaying out the door alone or in pairs of twos and threes.

“Get up. It’s time to go,” said Sai with a goofy dazed look.

Chuckling, Sakura pointed at his face. “You’re weird looking.” She hiccupped for good measure.

“Sakura-chan, the bar’s closing,” confirmed a weary Naruto who hoisted up a comatose Sasuke from his seat.

“Is Sasuke-kun alright?” Sakura worried.

“He started earlier than you, and he certainly drank more. He doesn’t have your expertise in handling his liquor,” mused Kakashi.

“Hey, are you calling me an alcoholic?” slurred Sakura.

“If the shoe fits, ugly,” jested Sai, his smile now lopsided. Like Sasuke-kun, Sai did not have her expertise either. But could that explain why everything appeared distorted and a buzzing noise pervaded her auditory senses? Maybe, she gave herself too much credit.

Kakashi offered her an arm to support her on her feet that tingled from the blood rush. “Naruto, take Sasuke home.”

“What about Sakura-chan?” Naruto asked, slinging Sasuke’s arm around his neck and dragging the sleeping nin with him.

“I’ll take care of her.”

“Alright, Sakura-chan, I’ll see you. Kakashi-sensei, you better get her home safely.” He then turned to Sai. “Bastard!”

“Dickless wonder.”

Once Naruto was out of sight, Kakashi began his own chore to carry the drunk pink haired kunoichi who was wavering in and out of consciousness.

“Kakashi-san, I’ll take her,” requested Sai extending his arms.

The older man contemplated the offer for a mere second before dumping the extra weight on the other’s arms. “You better have her home undamaged and unharmed,” he ordered seriously. He reserved a special place in his heart for this wayward female pupil, and Sai knew better than to tread on thin ice with her if he valued his life.

“You don’t need to worry about that.”

Sakura was jostled awake in someone’s embrace. She could feel the hard planes of a masculine chest and smell the enticing sage and natural aroma produced by the man’s body. When her foggy emerald eyes opened, she could visualize the chiseled jaw line, sculpted nose, and black eyes peering down on her.

“You awake?”

Her first reaction was one of happiness. This must be a dream. Sasuke-kun would never carry her with such familiarity and warmth. She happily sighed and cuddled closer allowing her eyes to close so that her other senses, especially her head, can drift into a romantic fantasy.

“I’m taking you home,” he whispered, slightly troubled by the little noises coming out of the woman.

Sai rushed to her apartment and began to undo the traps expertly since he became accustomed to her habits. After rearranging her in his arms, he successfully deactivated the numerous exploding tags and other whatnots the paranoid kunoichi set. He attempted not to take notice of her murmurs of adoration, but it proved difficult.

“Are you with me? I’m taking you inside.”

She giggled and tightened her arms around him. He hurried to deposit her on her bed, but she apparently had other plans. She cooed contently when her soft mattress touched her back. She sat up, her hair mussed, her glazed eyes sparkling, and the moonlight brightening her angelic features.

“Don’t go,” she whimpered.

Sai stood in the dark watching her, becoming awed by the enchanting sight. Against his better judgment brought upon by liquor, he remained, the ugly swirl of emotions rising to the surface threatening to break his barrier. Only she could unman him. Only she could incite life into his dead shell.

“Please,” she whispered, pleading with welcoming arms.

He automatically and mindlessly stepped towards her, and she did the rest. Sakura forcefully pulled his limb until he toppled on top of her. She caressed his face gently as she nibbled on his ear causing him to shudder and seize her arm.

“Sakura –“

“Shush,” she admonished playfully, placing a finger against his lips. She continued with her ministrations against his throat and traveled up his chin. Her teasing lips touched his, and her tongue probed the ridges of his fleshy skin. In response, he opened his mouth and delved into hers with fiery passion. Fingers glided and skimmed against their clothed bodies, and tongues caressed each other while mouths suckled.

Endlessly he felt the contours of her sweet mouth, and logic flew out the window with the pleasurable assault by her in all her glory. As he took his turn to leave a trail of wet kisses down her throat, she hummed in pleasure.

“Oh Sasuke-kun. I love you,” she sighed sleepily. Her glazed, fluttering eyes did not discern the shocked look of the man who essentially froze on top of her nor did her mind become alerted to his immediate departure. All she registered was the fact that she was experiencing the best and most realistic dream of her life before sleep once again claimed her.

A/N: Yeah, yeah, yeah. Another bar scene. Maybe I should specialize in that. Gawd! I hate writing all this drama crap. I can only make oh-so-much humor especially when it comes to Sasuke. I guess romance needs drama, and because I put myself out there to write one, I should follow through. The triangle develops! Oh the tension! Sakura, you lucky girl.

Thanks for the reviews everyone! =)

Blunt: My perceptions on Sasuke? I don’t really have one. I’m ambivalent when it comes to either Sasuke or Sai. I personally didn’t like Sakura when I first started out with this fic because I found her overly emotional to the point that it clouded her judgment and made her a terrible ninja. I felt that the author poorly developed her character in a consistent fashion. Also, there are tons of fics out that portray her character as a foolish, weak-willed teeny bopper who is the perfect damsel in distress. She’s a ninja for Christ’s sake. She should be doing the heroic knight deeds. With all these negative representations of Sakura, I decided to take her under my wings and see how she would grow under my care. Now, I like her after I tweaked a little bit here and there, hopefully preserving her character intact. I just highlighted certain understated attributes such as her intelligence, humor, feistiness, indomitable determination, and compassion.

After writing Sai and Sasuke, I can only say that writing Sasuke’s character is the biggest pain in the ass. He doesn’t say much and he broods way too much. Granted, he possesses a kernel of humor and civility but these attributes must be extracted from him with great difficulty. Both Sai and Sasuke are asses and misunderstood by others, yet they are very similar. I figure that they both experienced horrendous trauma so they conceal their true nature with something unseemly to detract attention. They have so many layers that it’s tedious and difficult to peel it off them. Inside, I believe that Sasuke has a good heart and good intentions, so he should not want warrant such hatred.
Hopefully, I’m doing an adequate job, but I want to finish this, so I had to quicken the pace a bit.