"Ugly, what are you staring at?"

A pale boy asked motionlessly, his black eyes staring at her ludicrously. The girl turned to him, seeing a pair of orbs that were all too familiar to the ones that had captured her fright. Standing froze on the ground was how her colleague, Sai had found her. Although they had known each other for only a short amount of time, they grew close friends, despite his rude nicknames. "Ugly?" Sai repeated, raising an eyebrow at her lack of response, surely she would have hit him by now.

"It-It's nothing." Sakura replied hesitantly, not knowing why she found herself attempting to conceal what she had just saw.

The male stared at the Haruno blankly, before choosing to ignore her lie. "I read in a book once-" Sai began, igniting Sakura's annoyance immediately. Did he seriously think this was the time to talk about a book he's read…?! Again? He tilted his head slightly to the side, wondering why on Earth the female's eyebrow was twitching, her eyes closed tightly. "-that sometimes people don't like to talk about things that scare them. Is that correct, Sakura?"

Immediately, emerald met onyx in a sudden shock of appreciation for the male. Although he was too blunt for his own good, she saw his effort to have as many emotions as the next person. She saw the determination in the way he would STUDY how the mind works hour after hour – it's what made him such an impeccable Lawyer.

He would never attach himself to a case too much, so would lay the evidence out fully without a hint of regret for what was about to happen to the prosecution. That's why he was the perfect guy for criminal law. His mind could never understand how something like murder could seem so 'vile' to someone, or why people couldn't stand to be in a room with a rapist. To him, it didn't matter if the defendant or prosecution had done something terrifying to someone or not, he was doing his job, and that's all that mattered to him. His female colleague, however, couldn't stand even the smallest peck of blood involved in a case, for reasons unknown to him. He blamed it simply on the fact that she was female, and that's what it said in the books.

"Yes, Sai, that's right. Why don't we grab something to eat?" Sakura enquired, linking her arms with her colleague, and steering them into the direction of a restaurant before Sai could even reply. "I think there's a new little restaurant that opened around the corner here…" The female continued, beginning to babble – which Sai tuned out of automatically, knowing that none of it really matter. He stared at the female affectionately, tilting his head to the side, a small smile pulling onto his lips.

Their relationship – if it could be called that – was a complex one. They were there for each other when they needed it, but only physically. She would show up at his apartment door at 2AM, and no words would be spoken; only the tangling of lips was heard, the muted sobs crawling in the distance. But, it is said that actions speak louder than words anyway.

The male didn't know if he minded though. He wasn't an emotional person; he always favoured physical actions over words. They seemed unnecessary when emotions could be shown by simply staring into each other's eyes. He loved the silence that was preserved around him, but, strangely, he knew he adored the random babblings of the pinkette even more so – something that he couldn't get his head around.

Did he have romantic feelings for her? He didn't know. The pale boy was glad that he wouldn't have to dive into that any time soon either, as both of them knew that their only use for each other was sex.

Sai slowly shrug all the thoughts away, his body moving along with Sakura's simultaneously. "Sakura?" The male spoke up finally, his black eyebrows knitting together confusedly.

"Mm?" Was her hum of a reply.

"What's Japan like?" Sai asked innocently, unaware of the feelings that began stirring up inside of Sakura.

She paused. Silence.

"Let's just go get that meal first, alright?" The Haruno replied slowly, cautious of her words. A nod was her only answer, of course. Thank heavens for the simplicity of her colleague.

Sliding into her seat, Sakura grinned at her surroundings. The restaurant was that of great beauty – it's dangling red curtains loomed opposite of a great black and white painting of the infamous Olympians, only the lips of Aphrodite being that of colour – a deep cherry red. There were new wooden floors yet to be clawed by the heels of the scurrying females, the large windows, surrounded by mirror-like frames. It was amazing, breath-taking.

A young waiter appeared by their side before they could even utter anything out.

"What would you like~?" The young male inquired in a hushed Southern accent, handing out the companions two menus.

"I'd like some chicken soup for the starter…" Sakura said, dragging her eyes across the card infront of her. "Urm… And then medium-raw steak with boiled potatoes as a main."

"And dessert, madam?"

Pushing her glossed lips together, in a smack, she raced through the dessert section quickly. "Err… can I just have some fortune cookies, please?"

"Of course. And for the sir?"

"The same." Sai said quickly, attempting to get rid of the intruding male swiftly. He flashed the male one of his famous fake smiles. Turning away from the male, Sai crossed his fingers, placing them under his nose. Oh, how did he not know how alike he looked to Sasuke Uchiha? Sakura released a large gulp, still being able to feel Sasuke's hands wrapped tightly on her neck, but she was a foolish woman. She still smelt the wondrous smell of the masculine musk of Sasuke, the texture of his hands, the feel of his hardened Sharingan eyes onto hers. She breathed out slowly, humming to herself to keep herself distracted, whilst her emerald orbs glanced everywhere but at Sai – the replacement Sasuke.

"Sakura!" Sai repeated the umpteenth time, his eyebrows furrowed at the irresponsive female infront of him. Shaking her long blossoms of strands, she smiled apologetically to Sai.

"I'm so sorry, what were you saying~?"

"I was asking you about Japan." The pale man said motionlessly, unclasping his hands, and placing them at his sides as the waiter returned, placing the soup they had ordered infront of them.

"Would you like wine with that?"

She glanced up to the waiter thankfully for the interruption he provided. "Yes, please." The Haruno needed alcohol in her system for this conversation – she knew this was going to get too deep for her own liking.

Whilst the waiter was busy pouring in the expensive substance, Sakura's mind battled, thinking of some way to begin the description of her home country, her past, and her history.

Sai's ogle did not falter in the least, not even when the waiter had left. He was getting an answer. They knew each other for countless of years now, and yet he didn't know anything about her. A feeling was surging inside of him, a feeling that was not quite anger, but not pleasant – what was it called again? – Aah, it was frustration. That's right; he was beginning to become frustrated with her.

"Japan is the most beautiful country there is…" The Haruno began bitterly, attempting to not have to mention all of the happenings that occurred there. "It's extremely traditional, with several of-"

"I don't want a history of Japan, Sakura. I want to know you. Is that so difficult, and weird…? To want to know a friend?"

She forced her head downcast, her sight become mistier by the second. "O-okay." Sakura raised herself shakily, her whole body trembling with the memories flooding through her mind. "I was born in a small village – the Village Hidden in the Leafs – Konohagakure." Sai watched her in fascination; she was actually going through with it. He could obviously tell how she was upset about being forced to tell him all of these things, but he needed it, and so did she. He was tired of the distance.

"I had a small family, no siblings, just my parents and I." The Haruno smiled fondly at the memories of her home, of her mother's sweet smile, and her father's approving stare. "My ambition there was to become a great ninja… You see, Japan was filled with five great villages – the land of fire, the land of wind, the land of water, the land of lightning, and the land of earth. All of these have one leader each – named the Kage. Whilst I was there, Konoha's Kage was my personal tutor – Tsunade Senju. You see…" Sakura continued, finding it easier to speak of her past than she had just a few seconds ago. It was not nearly as bad as she anticipated, it was almost relaxing, sharing with others. "I was a medical ninja, having being promoted to Chunin at the age of 16. Tsunade Senju was the greatest medical ninja there ever was, and she taught me all I know. Because of her, I am what I am today."

"A Chunin...?" Sai asked quietly, tilting his head slightly at the odd word.

"Oh right! So sorry! In being a ninja, there are different ranks. First you have to go to the Ninja Academy to become a Genin - which is the lowest rank, after that is Chunin, and then Jounin, and then ANBU - but many choose to remain Jounin. A Jounin is in charge of a 3-man team of Genins. Each rank has a range of missions. A Genin has D/C rank missions, Chunin's have C/B rank missions, and Jounins have B/A/S missions. ANBU have generally A/S missions."

"Aah. So, what was your team like...?"

"My team? ...It consisted of Naruto Uzumaki, and Sasuke Uchiha, and our leader was Kakashi Hatake." She withdrew her arm towards the glass of wine quickly. "Naruto was my best friend, I trusted him with everything - although not at first. You see, Naruto was inlove with me when we were still in the Academy, whilst I found him a nuisance... But he's the most amazing guy there is." Another sip. "He's caring, compassionate, but also a loud mouth knuckle-head." She chuckled fondly, leaning back against the chair. "Sasuke, on the other hand, was the guy I had a crush on."

Crush, yeah, if that's what you wanna call it, Sakura~

Sakura spluttered loudly, placing her hand over her mouth to stop it. Her inner was back...?! When on Earth did that happen?!

I've always been here, forehead, you just choose to ignore me constantly. Bitch! I am the great Haruno Sakura, how dare you! SHANNARO!

A violent shake over came her body, her eyes as wide as saucers. They were so distant that you couldn't imagine them ever concentrating on something. The volcano that erupted within her poured out, her body collapsing to the floor with a large boom across the restaurant Everything was a blur, nothing was clear at all. The last thing Haruno Sakura remembered was the distant shout of Sai's voice.