Short, sweet, simple: A new story. I had to type this out; the story was stuck in my head for weeks. Snorg. It's Kakashi/Sakura and well… I like it. The end.

Summary: Kakashi visits one of Konoha's teen hangouts in search of something he's not quite sure of.

Rating: Your Mother. I mean M.

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.

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(Code Blue)

Chapter One

Too Long

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The night was young. Well, it was a night for the young and the stoned: the stars were glittering in away that could only really be appreciated by the glazed eyes of doped up teenagers and hopeless drug addicts.

Kakashi walked down the street, a sore thumb among svelte fingers.

It wasn't his hair color that was so out of place in this area. Silver, white, neon green, it was all the same in here. His mask didn't attract much attention either since there were always people around that didn't want to be recognized in these parts of town.

It might have been his clothing which made him out of sync with the bright lights and vapid Valley Girl accents. He was wearing his jounin uniform, and was swathed in dark, dull colors. But unlike the Goths, who regularly swathed themselves in dark colors, he wasn't trying to appear deathly pale at the same time, nor was he trying to stare everyone down while maintaining an angst-ridden facade.

"Like baby, check out the ninja!"

"Whoa, I'm so, like, creeped out! Like, let's, like go!"

"Right, bitch."

Or perhaps it was they way he walked, the way he moved, the way his eyes roved over everything but never stopped to really look 'cause he had already seen it all before and if he wanted to bust a cap in a stranger's ass, he would do it and he wouldn't give two shits about it or blink his one visible eye either; he'd just keep on swaggering until he found what he was looking for.

He walked around like an animal on the prowl, causing kids to scatter or to stop and stare at him in blank confusion. He didn't pay any attention to his new admirers and his indifference made girls swoon. So, this was how the Uchiha did it. But Kakashi already knew his trick and often wished it wouldn't work. He knew they were watching him, but he didn't really care; in fact, there were times when he wished they wouldn't stare and just on their merry ways. They thought he had bigger fish to fry then a bunch of kids who were going off and blowing their lives away and it was the threat of bigger fish that had everyone crossing the street to get away from him.

In truth, Kakashi was not looking for bigger fish to fry. He wasn't quite sure what he was looking for. The other day, Genma had mentioned a club, a club which Kakashi might find interesting. In fact, it was a club that he might have found interesting as much as a year ago. Kakashi, intrigued, asked why in his usual deadpan way but Genma had kept his mouth shut on that. Said something about how it would be much more fun if Kakashi figured it out on his own. All Genma would give him was the name of a club, Code Blue, located in the teenager district of downtown Konoha.

As he walked down the cracked sidewalk of the teenager district (TD as it was so good-naturedly called at headquarters) Kakashi realized that he could have just beat the orally fixated jounin to the ground and demanded just what on earth he would find amusing in that sick little area of wrong-doing and forgotten teens where the laws of Konoha were lax at best, but this was a little more amusing and would not require him to build up a sweat. Though he would have to badger his friend to find out just what he had been doing in TD.

Kakashi walked past dark, black façades of buildings, pleased to see the kids in line press against themselves, trying hard to hide themselves from this character that did not belong in this plot, not unless if he was working a drug bust in which case he was really unwanted. He was glad he still had that kind of effect on children. He saw it as a sign of respect, rather than a sign of fear. He supposed they acted this way to all ninjas.

Neon signs hung over window ledges, the only way one would know what lay behind the dark factory walls were actually clubs made for the young and easily impressionable. The signs were removable, able to be retracted at the slightest sign of trouble.

Kakashi hummed tunelessly to himself, casually strolling down the streets not unlike a panther with his grace. Purple Disco, Swine Dealies, Dirty Gertie's, and Two Penny Opera were the names of only a few of the clubs he passed. But it was a certain flashing, neon sign that he was looking for: a bright red sign flashing the words "CODE BLUE." He mused on the odd choice of color.

The line-up was long and took many twists and turns around and into alleyways. There was a recognizable excitement in the air. Apparently, this was the place to be, or so he heard from the murmured conversations going on around him. Murmured because of his presence.

Being out here with so many kids was starting to get on his nerves. He wasn't old was he? Not really. But the kids here were young and ready to get plastered, ready and eager to get plastered. He watched them for a while, contemplating what had happened to himself. These kids were decked out in a wide range of colors: some wore clothing that had to have been coloured in by highlighters before they left the house (assuming they lived in houses and not on the street) while others wore clothing so dark that they put the night to shame. All had fresh young faces and glazed or starry eyes. They were youthful. Young. Exuberant. Innocent and not so innocent. He wondered when he had last looked like them. A long time ago. Much too long ago.

Shaking his head, he wondered how Genma had managed to get in. Of course, the Konoha forehead-protector. Ninjas were known to be big spenders, quiet brawlers, and decent drinkers. They were also allowed into any club anywhere in the city.

He was ushered to the front of the club in minutes and checked over by a bouncer. He supposed he passed the inspection because he was let past a grungy violet (why violet?) door and into a shabby little hallway. A regular door stood at the end of the hall, the only place one could go to escape this dank and tiny cavern.

He opened the door and was immediately bathed in a rainbow glow and he was sure that the metal plates adorning his clothing and protecting his bodily parts were glinting in bright, multihued eccentricity all over the room. An old song that he himself remembered dancing to was pulsing everywhere, it's bass notes rhythmically beating themselves out so loudly that he could feel their needy throb in his chest.

There was dancing going on: on and off the dance floor. It was mostly kids grinding against each other, probably trying to release pent up sexual energy, or just plain showing off their latest moves to their "homies." The futuristic look of the club was pleasing to the eye with its smooth curves and shiny chrome-like metal accents.

But he could see nothing here that even vaguely interested him in the least. The only thing that was happening was that he was starting to become melancholic and slightly nostalgic. Rin and Obito couldn't dance anymore. He blinked, pushing dark thoughts out of his head. Now was not the time. What a fool chase Genma had sent him on. He decided to stick around though. He had caught sight of a bar through the raving mass of teenaged bodies.

I may as well sample the drinks, he thought to himself as he made his way through the maze of twisting, thriving bodies on the dance floor. The bar had a large man at one end, wiping his way through several wet glasses and still managing to serve several customers at once. Kakashi ordered a scotch on the rocks, glad that the barman was large and middle-aged. The club looked pretty kiddie-like with all the strobe lights and rainbow-bright upholstery when he walked in, but the barman was an adult and knew his stuff. The jounin sipped his drink quietly, turning his head to the direction of several dazed looking males, none of which seemed to notice his now unclothed face. He allowed his eyes to roam once more after pulling his mask back up.

And that was when his eyes fell on the pale pink hair that usually graced the large forehead of his female charge in delicate wisps, often prompting her to pin it back with rhinestone-studded barrettes. Pale pink hair that should not have been in a club. Pale sakura petal coloured hair that should have been at home, in bed, right at this moment, getting several hours of much-needed sleep. Pale rose-coloured hair that didn't match and stood out from the vibrant fuchsias and neon pinks of the many teenagers who now decided that having bright pin hair was "in" and "cool." It was a natural pink that should not have been there.

Perhaps, this was what Genma had been talking about?

Rubbing his forehead, Kakashi took a large gulp of his drink, finishing it off while staring at the still dazed teenaged males. Turning, he made his way to his charge, after putting down his drink. His cool demeanour and frosty expression -- was an eye really able to give an expression? Wasn't the term usually reserved for an entire face? -- scaring away almost as many teens as his forehead protector did. Soon, he was behind her, and could watch her unnoticed as he usually did as of late. She was a flighty thing nowadays, and the smallest thing could set her off while the largest could go unnoticed.

She was wearing a red shirt, black pants that ended mid-calf, and strappy heels. She was growing older, colder, didn't say much to him anymore. The greeting of "LIAR!" to his pathetic, but truthful (well, almost truthful) excuses had been replaced by a more mature, "Of course, Sensei."

They had irked him at first, the small changes he kept noticing in her. She was more formal now, to everyone, and seemed to have found a new patience in her. A patience which she was able to keep as she taught and re-taught Naruto many basic moves dealing with chakra. She didn't moon about Sasuke all the time either, but she hadn't shown any new interest in anyone.

He remembered a conversation he had overheard when he was investigating her claims about finally giving up on the Uchiha. He had been sure it had all been a hoax, carefully crafted only to see if her indifference would light the Uchiha's soul on fire.

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"I'm telling you Ino, he's annoying, stuck-up, cold, and really bitchy. And I think he's gay."

"…"

"He's got a really nice complexion, and his hair is to die for! He has to be gay. Or at least bisexual and more interested in guys."

"…"

"I think he might be a hermaphrodite, actually. That might explain why he's always PMS-ing at everyone."

"…"

"Ino?"

"Shut up Sakura. Just shut up."

"So you think he's gay, too."

"I said shut up, FOREHEAD-GIRL!"

"Whatever, Ino. Grow up and face the facts. He's either gay or straight, and even if he's straight, your chances of landing a date with him are zero to nil. Lust after him all you want, I don't want him."

"Ha! Stupid forehead-girl! Now I'll have him all to myself!"

"You don't even know him. Why would you want to date him?"

"He's hot! Duh!"

"You don't know anything about him."

"Do too!"

"Name one."

"He's hot."

"Tell me when you grow up Ino. Besides, what about Shikamaru?"

"Shikamaru's a bitch!"

"Want to talk about it?"

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Apparently, it hadn't been a hoax. And neither was her newfound patience. Or her deliberate way of speaking and the careful pauses she kept taking when thinking. Nor was the determined set of her mouth when she beat tree trunks down to splinters after hours of quiet stamina training.

He watched her as she sipped her drink from a coloured straw. What was going on in that head? What had prompted her epiphany? Her sudden urge to be faster, stronger; to be an asset to the team? He had tried to grab her and carry her away from trouble at one point during a mission, but had stopped himself once he realized that she could and was holding up her own quite well. Much better than he last remembered her doing. He had asked her about it and that was when she had revealed that she had been training with Lee and on her own. During her spare time. It had been her idea.

He supposed he should have paid more attention to her. He had no idea she had so much determination in her. So much untapped willpower. So much anger… enough to help her demolish two large tree trunks after three straight hours of tree-kicking.

He should have paid more attention to all of them.

He put a hand to her shoulder and said her name. "Sakura."

She looked up at him, head tilted, her expression changing from honest curiosity to confusion as she realized who was standing next to her. "Kakashi?" The "sensei" had been dropped from his name when she had become a chuunin. "What are you doing here?"

He removed his hand from her shoulder, rocking back on his heels. "Came for a drink." He made a vague hand gesture at the bar before putting his hands into his pockets. "You?"

She looked up at him, obviously weighing the consequences of what she would say. "I… I'm…" She paused again and opened her mouth to say something but shut it. She narrowed her eyes at him, her forehead crinkling in confusion. "I…"

"Shouldn't be here?" Kakashi put his hand back on her shoulder, turning her around on the barstool, applying enough pressure to show he wasn't going to drag her away if she resisted; at least, not yet. "Let me take you home."

The bartender had waddled over during the course of their short conversation and was now studiously rubbing away at a spot on a glass. "Y'okay Saku?" he asked, his deep voice rumbling.

"Fine," she answered, nodding, but still looking at Kakashi, obviously not knowing what to do.

The bartender nodded and waddled away to serve other customers, his large mass moving with a grace that only exceptionally large people seemed to have.

"I can take care of myself," she finally said, her soft voice lilting over the words. She spoke as if she was savouring every word as it dropped out of her mouth. Every unemotional, compartmentalized word that carried a bland taste of nothingness straight to her soul and – Kami. He was letting both the alcohol and his nostalgic mood get to him.

When was the last time he had heard her scream in frustration at Naruto's silly antics? When had he last send her get worked up over nothing? When had he last heard emotion drip from her voice like heavy syrup?

Too long.

He wasn't sure if her statement had been directed to him or to the barkeep. He answered anyway. "Sure you can."

"Want a drink?" she asked, again using her soft voice. In the club, it was hard to hear, but there were glass walls in this club, partition-like panels set up everywhere to deflect and reflect the waves of sound as they boomed out of large speakers located seemingly everywhere. At the bar, it was easy to hear her words.

And why not get a drink? He had already had one; another would do him no harm. Perhaps he could get her suitably inebriated and manage to get her sick so that she would want to go home. He nodded his head in acquiescence at her.

She waved an arm behind her, flashing fingers in different patterns. The barkeep had noticed and nodded at her back before beginning the creation of their drinks. Kakashi was not impressed. She must have visited this bar for a long time if she had managed to create a sign language for drinks with the bartender. He frowned slightly, wondering if it had been a year. Perhaps that was the other thing Genma had been mentioning.

Twin drinks came sliding behind her on the bar's top and she spun around, grabbing both before they stopped. She handed one to him, taking the one with the straw for herself. Her own drink, now finished, sat discarded on the bar's top. She drank while sitting down, sipping lightly on her drink as he turned around, again flashing his handsome face at the dazed and disoriented males in the back of the club as he downed his drink in several gulps.

"Want to dance?"

Somehow, she had managed to finish her drink before him. He wondered what had been in it. It smelled vaguely alcoholic, but nowadays there were odourless, colorless alcohols that could be added into any drink. He put his empty glass down.

He wondered if she was smashed yet. Maybe she would be soon. A couple of minutes dancing would increase her blood rate, make the alcohol in her system run it's course faster. And if he managed to shoot a bunch of chakra in her to induce her drunkenness a bit faster than natural, well, that was a plus. He could take her home then.

"Sure," he said, shrugging.

She nodded, and got up, weaving her way through the throngs of gyrating teenagers and towards the centre of the dance floor.

Kakashi followed her, his eye glued to her pastel pink hair, unknowing of what was going on in her head.

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The End of Chapter One.

So what do you think? Bloody brilliant or fantastically retarded? Drop me a line and let me know.

And I couldn't find a beta for this chapter, so beware of crazily apparent mistakes which I just happened to miss because I'm blind. How upsetting.

In other words: I need a beta.