PART 1

They hadn't planned to meet, but it was Sasori's bad habit to sniff her out wherever she might be hiding and insist on sticking to her side like sidewalk gum. Most days she didn't mind.

Sakura had just woken up and was making her way into town, intending to stop by the dinner for breakfast, when something made her pause and look back. It was early enough that most people were up and about, getting ready for work on a weekday, but she could have sworn there had been no one behind her last she looked over her shoulder. Glancing backwards once more she frowned when she saw she was still the only one on the street.

She was a little jumpy since the last time she had been stupid and ended up a prisoner in a rival gang's house, tied up and dumped on a couch. Her jaw had since healed, but she was in no hurry to repeat the adventure.

She stepped into the Neptune Diner and let the glass door ease closed behind her. Behind the counter Konan was swapping out the breakfast menus with the mealtime ones, like she did every day at eleven. Seeing Sakura int the doorway, the woman grinned and nodded to a seat at the end of the bar that was specially reserved for friends and members of the Morning Rovers.

Sakura stepped up to the bar and easily slid into her seat, grinning at all the delicious smells that still clung to the diner walls. When Konan came back around to see what Sakura would like to order Sakura forced herself into a pout, pretending to be offended. "Really, you didn't wait for me to take away breakfast?"

"Isn't it funny how that happens the same exact way every day?" Konan shifted the weight of her body from one leg to the other, placing a hand on her extended hip. "What can I get for you?"

"Frosted waffles, please!" Sakura chirped, happily.

Konan rolled her eyes in response before murmuring, "Only for you," under her breath.

But before she could move away a new figure slid onto the stool beside Sakura and held up a hand. "Make that a double."

Sakura turned and saw Sasori with his red hair loose and his grin stretching. He wasn't wearing a jacket today, only jeans and a fitted, white teeshirt. It wasn't much different than Sakura's fitted jeans and button front, red gingham short sleeve with the ends tied up in a bow above her navel, but he looked far more dangerous in a smile.

"Morning, Red," Sakura greeted, using her nickname for the notorious greaser who had fought alongside her more than once. "Didn't peg you as a sweet tooth."

Sasori was bolder today, as he chuckled and leaned in to kiss her cheek lightly before Konan could stop him. "You know I only like the sweetest things."

"No, really, that's Itachi," Konan cut in dryly, staring down at the shorter redhead. "And I only make exceptions for Sakura."

Sasori shrugged easily. Sakura knew he hadn't actually wanted frosted waffles, he just wanted whatever she was having. "I'll take a coffee, black."

"I'm making you pay for it."

Sasori huffed before dropping a quarter onto the bar and sliding it forward. "Happy?"

Konan took his money with a huff before walking into the back to set the cook up on the new order. As soon as her back was out of sight Sasori turned back to Sakura, his grin renewed. "She's gotten so cold towards me. I wonder what could have set her off."

Sakura humming knowingly. "Yeah, I wonder."

There was a glass of water left behind for Sakura that she sipped at, not wanting it any more than she really wanted to talk to Sasori in that moment. He was unusually cheeky. Clingy was normal for him, especially after her abduction, but today he almost seemed…mischievous. The way he was watching her made her unable to meet his eyes. After a moment he reached out and touched the point of her elbow. It was a brief moment, like contact would burn him, but it got her attention easily enough.

"Hey," he said. "What are you doing tonight?"

"Sleeping?" Sakura answered, narrowing her eyes and frowning.

He blinked, straightening up. "You're not going to the Sweetheart Swing?"

"The what?"

"There um-there used to be a dance hall, but it burned down and they're not done building the replacement, but it's a tradition to hold a swing in the burned remains of the old swing hall on the anniversary of it's burning."

"Good Lord, that is morbid," Sakura sniffed, picking up her water again.

Sasori frowned at the water glass. "Yeah, there is a story that it was because a pair of sweethearts broke up and it wasn't a mutual decision. One of them set fire to the place where they shared so many memories. They never did recover the body."

"Is that true?"

Sasori opened his mouth to answer, but it was Konan who spoke up first, coming out from the back with the powdered waffles. "Not in the least. It's just another stupid rumor generated to give boys like this," Konan jabbed a thumb at Sasori, "a sob story to make up a mood that will convince girls to go with them to the dance. Here are your waffles."

"Thank you!" Sakura chirped, reaching for the syrup.

Konan smiled at the other girl before turning her attention to Sasori. Her glare said enough, but then she turned to grab a cup off the hook and pulled out the coffee mug from it's warmer. Pouring his drink in front of him she leaned down to whisper in his ear. "I barely approve of Pein going after her, but the more she gets mixed up the more she gets hurt. Stay away. You don't deserve her."

Sasori frowned, but didn't say anything as she moved away to see to the other customers who lingered. He looked back over at sakura, munching happily on her waffles and making a mess of her lower face as powder got everywhere. She caught him staring and sent him a sideways glare that couldn't possibly, in any conceivable way, be considered threatening.

"What?"

"You're way too cute. If I don't watch over you someone else is going to swoop in and sweet you off your feet." He reached out with his fingers to brush off some of the powder on her face and then lick it clean from her fingers. He chuckled when he saw her eyes widen.

"Who said I'm the type of girl that could be swept off her feet?" She jabbed angrily at her waffle. The poor breakfast didn't stand a chance as she angrily tore it apart with her teeth, making even more of a mess of her face. Sasori just laughed, making her blush and pout.

"Doll face." She turned when she heard his nickname for her and flinched when she saw his face was mere inches away from hers. She tensed, ready to retreat from a kiss, but he only held up a cloth napkin and began wiping away at the mess around her mouth, chuckling when she mewed in displeasure. The syrup stayed stuck, so he licked his thumb and wiped it away that way.

"You're so gross," Sakura huffed, lightly pushing him back.

"So will you come, tonight?"

"Not with you, not as a date."

Sasori wanted to frown, but he was happy enough to hear she was coming at all. "Something wrong with my pretty face?" He swept back his hair. "Not to your liking?"

Sakura rolled her eyes. "Let me guess, is this run down dance hall place disputed territory among the gangs? I heard Pein and Itachi mentioning something about it. They were planning on going somewhere tonight to represent our claim to the lands."

Sasori rolled his shoulders. "Well, yeah, there's that too. I'll be wearing my nice leather if that's what you mean." His eyes widened at a thought. "But you don't need to come looking for a fight. It will throw them off if you came dressed nice and looked like you already owned the place. Physiological warfare and all."

Sakura hummed, smiling. "Looks who's educated."

She was smiling at him and he felt terribly warm all over. He knew his face was a mess of red at the thought of her praising him. He wanted to hear more of it, he wanted to have all her words made only for him. He never wanted it to end, but seconds later, Sakura stood and pushed her plate away.

"Fine, I'll go, but I'm no one's date. I'll just have to see you there."

"Ah, well, if you can't help it…"

He watched her, still a bit dazed and hating how unhooked she made him feel. Sakura grinned at his expression and kissed her fingers before blowing away the imaginary kiss. With a wink over her shoulder she waltz out to see to her business, leaving him a mess of emotions over the table top, sighing gently and cradling the place on his face where he imagined her kiss landing.

"Oh my God, what the hell is wrong with you?" Konah huffed, coming over with a wet cloth to wipe down the counter. When Sasori didn't respond she dropped the cloth on his face and laughed at the way he jerked violently and spazzed in his seat. For someone usually so stoic and dry, this new side of Sasori was one the rest of the world was going to have to get used to if Sakura planned on staying around much longer.

PART II coming soon

Truly, I meant to have this done way in advance, but I got sick and only had the first part finished. The rest will come later today as a two shot. Also, this was supposed to be short and then it kind of became...something not so short.

(Yes, this is loosely tied to Kingdom of Man, but it makes sense even if you haven't read KOM, so anyone can enjoy the SasoSaku goodness.)

-vesper chan