Chapter 3
“Water Colors on Sale..” Sakura read the blue sign hanging on cabinet full of paints inside the trinket shop she was in that was located in the Land of Water.
She had just completed a mission and decided to look around before leaving.
She originally came in to get her gift to Ino for her birthday that was coming up. She didn’t find anything that Ino would enjoy so she was about to walk out empty-handed until the sign caught her eye.
“Sai uses water colors, doesn’t he?” She mumbled to herself.
A few minutes later, Sakura emerged out of the store with a pouch full of paints.
It would have been a shame to have come all this way and leave with nothing.
When Sakura had returned to Konoha, the first place she went to was the Hokage Tower for her mission report, before walking to Sai's Flat.
She had a key to his flat because he had kept breaking into her home, it was only fair she had access to his home.
She opened the door, and knowing he was still out on a mission, she just wanted to drop the paints off and take her leave.
She set the pouch down on his kitchen counter and took it as an opportunity to look around. She never really came to Sai's home as she never really had a reason to. He usually came to her and his home was empty due to his lack of caring for decorations.
"Oh, Geez Sai, not even a vase in sight." She sighed.
Sakura headed for the door and just as she was about to tug the handle, a flash of pink caught her attention.
She looked back and saw the bright color came from something under a long cloth. Curiosity got the best of her because Sai's apartment was usually very devoid of bright colors.
She took the cloth off, and a painting was revealed.
A painting of Sakura herself.
It was so detailed. It captured the different shades of green in Sakura's eyes, her stance was her typical fighting position when she was about to punch something and wreak havoc. He hair was to her shoulders as if she had forgotten her regular trim and her expression was determined. The faint freckles that she didn't think anyone really took notice of were painted as well.
Everything about the picture was 100% accurate and it was beautiful if Sakura said so herself.
But why would he paint her?
Sakura had known Sai since she was 15 and she was 20 now. For the 5 years she had known Sai, he had never drawn portraits. He claimed it was a personal preference and always never answered when asked why.
But now as Sakura stared at herself as if looking in a mirror, she had to ask why.
"Ugly? What are you doing here?"