sorry alex dear.

happy birthday kiba!

chapter two.

There was nothing that could dampen the happiness that filled Sakura Haruno when she stepped out of the hospital into the sunny streets of Konoha.

"Sakura-chaaaaaaaaaaaan!"

She cringed. Kami-sama was out to prove her wrong.

"Naruto," she greeted through a smile that someone who knew her as well as her best friend did should have recognized as forced. Of course, that would require that the friend was somewhat observant. And not an idiot.

"You're off early, Sakura-chan!" he remarked cheerfully. "This is great!"

He linked his arm through hers.

"To Ichiraku! My treat!" he declared.

Sakura raised her eyebrows at him suspiciously.

"Okay," he grinned sheepishly. "Half my treat?"

She sighed. "I'll pay."

"Yay! Thanks Sakura-chan!" He beamed at her so genuinely she couldn't help but smile back as he dragged her to his favorite restaurant.

Kiba Inuzuka did not particularly like ramen. He preferred more filling meals, like hamburgers, or… dog food. Okay, not dog food. Kind of. Anyway, today he craved ramen. Or he craved seeing a certain kunoichi who often hung around this particular ramen stand, but hey. Who wants to know.

Akamaru whined at Kiba's feet while the ninja slurped noodles.

"Chill, Akamaru. I'm almost done," he assured the dog.

Said dog barked and jumped to lick the face of a laughing girl who had slid into the seat next to him.

"Hey Akamaru; Kiba." She nodded at him politely, but her eyes glinted, daring him to annoy her.

He grinned innocently. "Hey Sakura," he replied, subtly injecting a flirty leer into his voice that she did not miss. She narrowed her eyes at him. Naruto made a face.

"What are you doing here?" he asked with dislike. "They didn't serve dog food at Ichiraku last I checked."

"Well, I know you eat here often, and I wanted to ask the chef what he's been slipping into your ramen that makes you think orange looks good on you."

Naruto scowled.

"Are you calling me stupid?"

"What?"

With a growl, Naruto lunged, but Sakura yanked him back with a tug of the hair. She grabbed Kiba's, too, barely noticing how soft it was through her irritation.

"You guys are embarrassing," she growled. Then she bashed their heads together loudly and stalked out of sight. Both boys yelped in pain, drawing attention from all those around them. Naruto looked confused.

"Where'd she go?" His eyes narrowed accusingly at the ninja next to him. Apparently, only Kiba could have caused Sakura's disappearance.

"YOU!"

Kiba rolled his eyes. "She left, moron."

"A likely story! You obviously kidnapped her for your hidden agenda, you sexual deviant!"

Kiba blinked. "Do you even know what 'deviant' means?"

Naruto scoffed. But did not elaborate. And then sweatdropped.

"Moron," Kiba snorted.

"Mutt."

This time, no one held them back.

"You. Idiots. What is the matter with you?"

Sakura had been yelling at the aforementioned idiots for about forty-five minutes now, while healing their numerous injuries.

"You two are the stupidest shinobi in this village! What were you even fighting about?"

Neither Naruto nor Kiba could actually recall the reason of their brawl. Kiba had the sense to remain silent. Naruto, lacking such sense, shook his head.

"I don't really remember, now that i think about it… OW!"

Sakura had taken the liberty of punching him in the head before resuming her lecture while healing Kiba's arm. The dog-nin took advantage of her diverted attention by checking her out. She wasn't the curviest chick, and she was rather short, but she had a kickass pair of legs. Naruto glared at Kiba while the latter's gaze roved up and down his teammate's body.

"…Kiba, you aren't usually this stupid. And Naruto, you need to mature if you want to become Hokage!"

"Nuh-uh! Look at Tsunade-baa-chan!" Naruto protested.

Sakura grimaced at the truth of that statement. She loved her mentor, but Tsunade was definitely lacking in restraint. Especially when it came to sake.

"That is beside the point. You both need to learn to exercise better self-control. Now both of you morons, out of my apartment!" She not-so-gently tossed them out and slammed the door. Naruto and Kiba exchanged looks.

Self control..?

Sakura smiled as Neji led her stiffly from the sushi restaurant to a field of daisies near the training grounds. He did not seem like the romantic type, and this was a nice surprise.

He abruptly released her hand and walked a distance away before turning around to face her. She rolled her eyes and smirked. Of course. Neji Hyuuga's idea of a romantic date was a moonlit, flower field spar. She slipped her gloves on and settled into a battle stance, secretly wishing she had worn her sandals and usual training outfit instead of opting for a heels-and-kimono-shirt ensemble. Luckily, she had worn shorts and a tank top underneath, and proceeded to whip off the long garment. Neji's eyes widened slightly, but, being a stoic-super-awesome-genius, composed himself quickly. Sakura smiled. Of course, wooing her was not the idea of a date with Sakura. All guys were looking for was no-strings-attached action, which the pink kunoichi happily supplied them with, provided they were respectable, elite ninja who she knew well and didn't brag and looked good and...well, so her standards were high. She was no whore.

"Shall we?" the ever-polite Hyuuga asked, mirroring her defensive position.

The girl lunged at him in response.

Sakura panted heavily.

"Neji, I can't move," she told the ninja lying next to her. She smiled at him while he gazed at her.

"Good."

NO, kids. They were fully clothed. They were tires from sparring. The fight tired them out, not… sigh.

Without warning, he slid his arm under her waist and pulled her body on top of his, pressing his lips against hers. A new adrenaline coursed through her and she clutched at his hair while his arms wrapped around her waist. She thrived in the release she felt as their tongues tangled, and the thrill was mutual. Neji liked taking out Sakura because she didn't expect a relationship from their hookups, and he had hormones just like every other guy, damn it! He just repressed them until they were ready to explode. Then he gave Haruno a call.

Sakura, in turn, liked the feel of no love or expectations. She hated love. Tightening her hold on the pearly-eyed boy's neck, she brushed away thoughts of red eyes and spiky hair. Sometimes the empty lust she felt with her boys made her feel a bit lonely inside, but she had friends. She did not need a man to love her.

Not even an incredibly sexy wolf-man?

The pink-haired girl froze. Neji opened his eyes and blinked questioningly at her as they broke apart. She smiled sheepishly and pressed her lips against his again quickly. Sakura's mind spun now that she recognized the voice. Inner Sakura was supposed to be gone now that she had no inhibitions about expressing herself, now that…he was gone. What was her return supposed to signify?

It signifies that you're falling in love, stupid.

With Neji?!

Nah. Though he tastes amazing, ne?

Be quiet. Who else? Oh no, not Naruto!

Not quite. He's a bit too stupid.

True.

Someone else came to mind. Sakura laughed inwardly. (Because outwardly, laughing into Neji's mouth would have killed the mood.) There was now way she, Haruno Sakura, had the hots for Kiba Inuzuka.

Ding ding ding! That's the one!

Much to Inner Sakura's unhappiness, the real Sakura tuned her out and lost herself in Neji. For a short while. Because she and Neji simultaneously sensed someone approaching fast, and leapt to their feet, pulling out kunai. Like shinobi do.

"Akamaru?"

The big white dog jogged toward them happily, his owner not far behind. Kiba waved. Sakura fumed, cursing herself for telling the stupid flirt about Neji. He was possessive enough of her to wreck her dates, and they weren't even together! She didn't want to imagine how jealous he would act when they started dating.

When?

IF. If they started dating. Which they would not. Because she was not interested in the least.

He smiled at them. She loved his smile. Okay, so she was interested in the least. The very least. It was a purely superficial, secret admiration of his attractiveness.

That was how it started with Sasuke, right?

Sakura hated herself sometimes. Right now, though, she hated one Kiba Inuzuka. She glanced at Neji apologetically. He shrugged in response and took her hand. It was clear that their evening was over.

Ah, but the night is so young! Invite the Hyuuga and Kiba over and we'll have a hell of a fiésta!

She squeezed her eyes shut in an effort to push her inner self into the back of her mind. Think of something else… when had Naruto appeared?

The blond was talking to Neji, who looked irritated to the point of twitchiness. Stupid Naruto. Everyone know that when you get a prodigy twitching, the best course of action is to back away slowly. Instead, he placed his hands on the back of his head leisurely and continued speaking.

"Neji, you should know better than to be hitting on my Sakura-chan. Looks like I'm gonna have to kick your ass again…"

"Naruto, we were barely thirteen," Neji sighed. "Need I remind you who is a jounin and who is still a genin?"

"Lalalalalala chunin exams lalalalalalala—OW SAKURA-CHAAAAN!"

Sakura smiled innocently. Then she squeezed Neji's hand and proceeded to stalk off. Imaginary smoke poured out her ears, and Naruto, Kiba, and Akamaru watched Neji avert his gaze carefully, trying not to wince at the pressure she was applying to his fingers.

"YOU!" Naruto pointed at Kiba.

Kiba sighed.