Only Time Can Tell

PAINTING

We're taking a break!!!! Yup, I find that when anime or manga gets too dark and a little bit too hardcore, it makes for a good time to write something a little bit lighter. Like this! I hope you enjoy it. It's the story of Sai and Ino's first date! (This is of my design of course, and all credit goes to Masashi Kishimoto for the characters)This is to celebrate the soon to be 5,000 READS!!! AAAAAGH, and also my serious lack of productivity. 

CHAPTER 39

PAINTING

INO YAMANAKA

It was a while after the Fourth Ninja War, and I was going to the hospital to go and find Sakura after her evening shift. The night was cold, it was the feeling of fall mixing with winter, and though spring is the time for flowers, I really do enjoy the colder seasons too, after all, it's when the forest of Konoha shines the brightest. The sun was beginning to dip behind the tallest of the buildings, as I hurried to make it in time for the end of the shift.

I scuttled over to the hospital door, and opened it, immediately assaulted by the smell of disinfectant and the sound of bustling nurses. The chaos of the hospital was never my favorite. I walked up to the nurses station, careful not to bump into the gurney rushing by. The injuries in the hospital had really begun to slow down since the war, but kids will never stop being stupid, no matter if we're in war or not.

"Hello." I said greeting one of the nurses. "Is Haruno Sakura done yet?"

"Yes. Her shift ended just a few minutes ago Miss Ino." She smiled at me. "It's really nice of you to come in to get her every other day. She won't say so but she really appreciates it. She should be in the locker room."

"Oh--thanks!" I said smiling back at her. I walked down the hallway to find the locker room when I heard two very familiar voices.

"You don't seem to get it Sakura-"

"Oh no, I get it!" She sighed. "You've just got to be brave enough to do it yourself, got it? Aren't you the one always asking if you've got any balls? Well do you?" I heard a door bang closed. "I'm sorry, and I support you, but you've got to do it on your own. Oh and...please, don't say anything stupid or rude to her will you?"

"What do you mean?"

"The word ugly is absolutely forbidden. Only compliment her. Try to understand what a woman wants to hear. Got it? Just don't panic and say something dumb like Naruto would." I blushed realizing that I was eavesdropping on them. What were they talking about?

"Sakura-chan!" I said waving to her from down the hall. Sai stood next to her, and when he saw me he seemed to turn paler. "What's up?" I said jogging to meet them.

"Sai was just leaving, since he knows better than to interrupt me at work." Sakura said a dark undertone in her voice. Sai nodded not saying anything and wheeled around walking in the wrong direction.

"Wait, Sai!" I said calling out to him. "The exit is that way!" He turned his face absolutely mortified. Turning slowly he walked back towards us to the exit. But just as he passed Sakura grabbed his sleeve.

"Wasn't there anything you wanted to say before you leave?"

"Huh?"

"I don't know, maybe to Ino?!" Sakura laughed frustratedly.

"Oh. Uh..." He turned to me slowly, his eyes looking above me instead of directly at me.

"Yes?" I said completely uncertain of what Sakura had said. Did what they were talking about earlier...did it have anything to do with me?