Thanks for the reviews! Sorry for taking awhile to update but I had to take a while to figure out how to end this chapter and where to go from the last one I wrote. This chapter is a flashback of basically where the base for Kakashi and Sakura's relationship blossomed. I didn't put it in entire italics because there is one thought in it and it might be rather distracting with all the slanted print. Just to let you know, this is the end of the first Arc and the next chapter will be the beginning of a new one.
-Lone Arctic Wolf (LCA)
Replies to reviews
CherishNOjutsu: I actually have no idea where I'm going. I just keep writing until I'm in a fix and then take a day to ponder where to go next and continue until I feel like wrapping up the chapter. Yeah, I am a HUGE Kakashi fan. I find him totally amazing and really cool, just wish he were real. I guess I fall for all the masked men because I also like Nova from Bleach lol. I don't really know where I got the idea for this pairing. I really like Kakashi and the only woman (I don't think he's gay, although there are some really good yaio fics out there) I could really see him with was Sakura. I don't really see age as an issue and Kakashi is A LOT like Sasuke, a reason she might actually fall for him.
Jovianwolfgirl: I'm not sure about TenTen and Ino. I'm considering the idea of holding a poll to decide if
TenTen should be: A.Single
B.With Neji
C.With Rock Lee
D.With both
And with Ino: A.Single
B.Sasuke
C.Shikamaru
D.ust let her be miserable
E.Kill her off once she has the child (yes, I'm evil)
Moriko Saki: Yea, I know. I didn't really like how I ended the last chapter, it felt rather rushed to even myself. I tried to make this chapter a little better. Hope it's ok because this is the first fanfic I've written. Well actually, this is the first long story I've ever written as well. Usually I just stop or get bored at the second chapter.
Chapter 24
The Past Which Has Shaped Us
The wind fluctuated ever so often, making the petals of the sakura tree dance in the air. Though it was still the start of spring, the season was ever so warm and the flowers had blossomed earlier than usual. Though there was occasional rain, the days had been hot and humid, the night being the only relief. The weather would cool down considerably then, making it the perfect temperature to sleep after along day of working in the, almost unbearable, weather.
The wind blew across the gentle river and the newly blossomed flowers bowed down to its presence. The sky was pitch black, not a star was lit. The only light came from the pale moon that shone brightly in the night. Though it was old, the bridge was sturdy and simply creaked now and then, breaking the serene silence, under the feet of the one who stood there, leaning on the rail. Sakura.
It was on this night that comfort was sought on that bridge. It was a place full of memories-some good, some bad. So many times before had she found herself standing here, unable to find any sleep within the comfort of her home. As she rested her elbows on the railing and looked below, she counted the time that had flown by. It had been a few hours since she had finished her shift at the hospital, a few days since her parents died, six months since she had become Kakashi Hatake's personal medic-nin (being the only one he would let close to him), a year and four months since Naruto suddenly began to take interest in joining the ANBU, and two years since Sasuke had run away. Everything was changing it seemed, all too quickly. It had only been a little over two years that she had been the naïve young child she was. Now, she was alone in this cruel world; but she would not complain.
She sighed slowly, resting her head on the arms. She had not told Tsunade, but lately she had not been sleeping a wink. Sakura had spent all her nights on the bridge, lost in thought. For the longest time, she had been feeling so confused, like she had missed something. Whenever she would lie in her bed, the thought of being ignorant of the obvious would keep her awake, taunting her. If she did happen to fall asleep, she would only be woken up a few minutes later, wrapped in her sweat-covered sheets. She knew that she should tell someone, anyone, but she was not sure who. Naruto was always busy with his training, Ino with her flower shop that she now owned, and Kakashi with his many missions that took him away for many months at a time.
Slowly, Sakura closed her eyes, taking in the silence. She heard the rustling of bushes at the foot of the bridge, but thought nothing of it. Nor did she move when she head a creak of the wood directly behind her, believing it to be only in her imagination. She only reacted once she felt a strong hand grip her upper arm possessively. Twirling around with the grace of a ninja, she found herself face-to-face with the one person she thought that she would never see again. "Sasuke."
There he was, bleeding heavily from wounds inflicted all over his body. He looked unsteady, slightly shaking. He hadn't changed much over the years, his eyes still bitter and dark, his hair still spiky as ever, and his skin still cold as a block of ice in the middle of a snow storm. He looked directly at her; his face covered with black bruises, and softly whispered, "Sakura," before falling to the floor of the bridge with a huge thud, his body in a crumpled heap at the feet of his old teammate, his old comrade-his old friend.
Sakura let out a gasp and crouched down beside him. Her sharp eyes instantly focused on the most serious of all his wounds and her hands began to remove his many layers of clothing to get a better look. She let out a sharp hiss seeing the extensive damage down to his once perfect body. Her hands rested on the most serious of his gashes, mostly on his lean, muscular torso and her chakra began to flow from her fingertips as the soft green light that all could see. After spending the last two years under the Fifth Hokage, Sakura had quickly learned how to heal and had soared through the ranks of a medic nin until, finally, she had become the head medic nin in her division of the hospital.
After healing most of his wounds, and being almost completely out of chakra, Sakura began to tear strips of his clothing, and her own, and made bandages. She applied them carefully, making sure to cover the wounds that would cause significant damage if not taken care of. Though there was enough material to make more bandages, Sakura left some of his smaller cuts as they were, knowing that there was no real point of covering them up. It wouldn't prevent infection because the remainder of the clothing was covered in dirt and mud. Sasuke's eyes slowly opened as he felt the faint feeling that he was experiencing slowly fade, and he whispered hoarsely, "Thank you," before falling asleep due to his exhaustion from the battle he had obviously participated in and the long trip to the village.
Her lips quirked in a small smile, feeling proud of herself for saving his life. Out of habit, she gently pushed aside some of his hair that had fallen on his face and basked in his beauty. "I knew you would return, Sasuke-kun."
"There he is!" Sakura's head jerked up at the sound of the loud voice and saw an ANBU member running towards them. She could not clearly see his outfit in the dark, for a cloud now covered some of the moon, but his mask stood out. He was wearing a mouse shaped mask with many intricate designs. All of a sudden, ten more ANBU members appeared behind him, all of them wearing similar masks. The man with the mouse mask looked from the unconscious Sasuke to the cowering Sakura and growled, "I should finish you off right now! You just aided one of the most wanted missing-nin of this village!"
Sakura stared at him as he took a step towards them, fear overcoming her. She couldn't move, couldn't think. She knew that she was no match for an ANBU squad leader, especially with her diminishing amount of chakra, inexperience, and the fact that he was part of her village. She soon found her voice after watching the man pull a long katana from the holster he had attached to his side. "Please I didn't mean too! He needed help! I couldn't let him die, I'm a medic nin!" Tears streamed down her face and her heart pounded in her chest.
"That's enough!" Both mouse mask and Sakura looked up. On a branch, in a close by tree, stood none other than the Copy Nin. "I called you here because I sensed this Uchiha's presence, not to frighten young women." His voice was harsh, filled with anger, as was his sharingan that gleamed in the surrounding darkness.
"Kakashi-sama," the mouse man spoke, breaking the silence, "she healed him. Surely we should take her in as a traitor."
"I said that's enough!" Kakashi leapt to Sakura's side, his voice raised in full out furry. "Maybe you should learn to listen, Tomiko. She has not done anything but abide to her medic rule-help all those who need it."
Tomiko did not seem to know when to back off. "At least let us take her and question her. We should do a full background check on her whereabouts and past." He took another step towards Sakura, katana still in hand. Suddenly he leapt back, dodging the rain of weapons that were sent hurling his way.
Kakashi growled, "Take Sasuke and leave. Sakura is an old student of mine, and a medic nin who is the Hokage's apprentice. Other than being at the hospital, she has spent the last few nights here at the bridge, alone."
Tomiko said nothing for a moment, and then motioned for his men, who had stood silent in their place as they watched everything unfold, to take Sasuke. As they approached the boy, Sakura threw her arms around the Uchiha. "I won't let you take him!" Tears were flowing freely from her eyes, tears she had held back since Sasuke's departure. Tomiko looked at Kakashi for guidance on what to do next.
Kakashi crouched beside her and ruffled her hair. "It will be ok Sakura, you know that. Come, let me take you home." At his famous eye crease, Sakura threw herself in his arms and sobbed. Kakashi looked at the ANBU, who were already performing a jutsu to keep the boy from waking up and fighting, and said with an edge to his voice, "You better take care of him." Then, he gathered the pink-haired woman in his arms and left, leaping from treetop to treetop.
"I'm sorry." Kakashi looked down at Sakura, who he was carrying bridal style and saw her shimmering, tear-filled eyes staring back at his.
"What for, Sakura-chan?" he said with a hint of humor in his voice.
"For being weak," she mumbled. "It wasn't supposed to be like this! When Sasuke returned, he and I were supposed to fall in love once more and live happily ever after."
Kakashi shook his head sadly at her, "That sounds like a fairy tale to me. Life isn't a fairy tale-"
"I know that! I just wanted to be happy." Sakura whispered the last words, sighing with frustration. "Why am I always the weakest one? I never see Naruto, Ino, or even you cry!"
"In the future you'll be happy that you could cry when others could not." His voice sounded to distant, as if he was lost in the past, so long ago.
"I don't understand," Sakura frowned. Why would she ever be happy that she could cry?
He simply sighed, "You'll understand when you're older. For now just rest."
"Kakashi-sensei please make me understand. I am older! I'm not a little girl anymore!" Anger filled her, consuming her small frame.
Kakashi simply chuckled, "I've noticed Sakura." His eyes lingered on her face for a mere fraction before roaming her body. Seeing the blush spread across his former student's cheeks he simply smirked and his eyes locked onto hers. "How could I not?"
Sakura's rage kicked in and she began to regret taking this "trip" home with her sensei. "Pervert," she hissed, the anger clear in her voice. Watching his visible only crinkle at the comment she continued, "Why do you find it so funny to see me angry, Kakashi sensei?" She added his former title to rile him up, to make him mad at her for a change, and it worked.
"Sakura," he warned her softly, but she just giggled.
Poking him in the chest she laughed, "What's wrong old man? Have the years finally caught up to you?" Kakashi gave the woman a smoldering look that clearly said he was in no mood to carry out this discussion. Sakura only took further delight from this and pressed him further, "You're practically ancient sensei. No wonder you have gray hair."
Kakashi growled, "That's enough, I'm, not old and my hair is not gray, it's silver." She simply laughed, throwing her head back and letting her pink fly gently in the breeze.
"Ouch!" Sakura found herself lying, face up, on the roof of a building, a smirking Kakashi standing beside her. "Baka! Why did you drop me?" The rage was coming back, stronger than ever. She looked up at him, her green eyes filled with fury.
"I'm sorry Sakura, my old body must have become to tired," he replied sarcastically. He reached out and extended his hand at the fallen girl. "Maybe I'll be able to muster enough energy to pull you up." His grin was evident beneath his mask, as well as the twinkle in his eye. He knew that it was good for Sakura too be mad at him; it would take her mind off the Uchiha boy.
Emerald eyes meet his lone one and she placed her smaller, delicate hand in his. Kakashi pulled her up, only to be pulled down, next to Sakura. "Did you forget about my strength Kakashi?" She sneered at the man who lay beside her, although she was now in a sitting position. "Seems like you really are getting weak, aren't you."
Kakashi lay there, staring up at the star filled sky. "Hmm," he thought quietly. "The stars are quite beautiful, don't you think Sakura?" Although he was talking about the stars, his eyes had moved o examine the woman beside him, and Sakura suddenly had the feeling that he wasn't talking about only the stars.
"Hai," she whispered softly, her voice gently carrying in the wind. She stretched slowly, arching her back, and lay beside the Copy nin. "I never took you as one who watched stars," she said, turning her head to look at him, finding that his piercing gaze was still fixed on her.
"I never took you as one who took midnight strolls every night." Sakura merely turned away, not wanting Kakashi to she her heated cheeks.
"So I take it then that you have been watching me?" she murmured softly.
Kakashi only sighed. "You're not the only one who lacks sleep." His student turned to face him once more, concern masking her beautiful features. "It's nothing," he chuckled, turning his head to look up at the sky above. He didn't want to burden her with his past or his lack of a future. For in truth, the famous Copy nin was barely able to deal with his own life, the loneliness and sorrow eating away at him bit by bit. But Sakura was too young, too innocent, too…pure. To tell her his problems would just make more trouble for her, and he didn't want to do that.
"Why do you not sleep Kakashi-sensei?" Sakura's eyes were filled with unease. No mater how hard she tried, she was never able to crack that shell that Kakashi surrounded himself with. When she did manage to get partially through it, it was as if his defenses became more stronger and it became even more harder to understand what he was going through. However, it was at times like this, when he was at ease, that Sakura was able to see the real Hatake Kakashi, the man that was truly dying inside. Although he tried to hide it, Sakura knew that he was suffering, but she was not sure as of what it was caused by.
"Just thoughts, dreams." Short and simple, the kind of man Kakashi was. He liked to get directly at the point of the problems, never beating around the bush. He was smart that way, knowing just how she felt. After Sasuke left, she was prone to get angry quickly, becoming the monster of the village. It was Kakashi that stuck by her, stayed with her when she least wanted him or needed him. However, he was also there when she was about to fall apart, as were all her other friends. He was the one that the villagers called for when Sakura went on one of her rampages. All he would have to do was talk to her as he ignored her punches and brutal attacks. He would just have to listen to her cries of frustration as she caused the earth to cave in. He would just have to hold her when she was ready to fall into the depths of exhaustion. He would just have to be there and everything would turn out all right.
Sakura sat up, blocking the light of the moon and covering Kakashi's masked face with her shadow. Seeing it was no use, she lay down once more, this time resting her head on his stomach. "What do you dream about?" She was curious; she had to admit it. For some reason she couldn't picture the great Copy Nin sleeping. Though she'd been on overnight missions with the man, he had always been a gentleman as to get Sakura her own room in the hotels they would stay at, sleep in a different tent as her, and wake up before the rays of the sun had even touched the earth.
Kakashi remained silent for a moment before murmuring, "Just some things."
Sakura sighed, not wanting to give in on this subject. "Like what? Come on Kakashi-sensei, tell me!"
After keeping quiet for a few minutes Kakashi finally spoke up, "The past."
Getting irritated, Sakura tried a different approach. "What are you afraid of sensei?"
She heard him chuckle softly, "No you for sure!" Wincing in pain from where his former student had poked him, hard, he continued, "I guess I'm afraid of what every shinobi fears; losing those precious to you."
The pink haired one lay silent, contemplating his answer. Suddenly, breaking the calm silence, she asked innocently, "Have you ever loved anyone, Kakashi-sensei?"
The elite jounin propped himself on his elbows and looked down at her, his mismatched eyes fixed on hers. "Define love," he whispered softly.
Confusion plastered the young woman's face as she thought carefully about how to respond. "Love is when you would die for that person a thousand times. It's when you would give up everything you could ever want for that person, just to see them smile."
Kakashi just gave her his famous eye crinkle. "If that is so then I must love you Sakura."
A blush crept upon her face, obviously not expecting him to say that. "Baka, I meant women."
Kakashi cocked his head, a smirk obviously hidden beneath his mask. "Oh, so then you are not a women? Would you like to test that theory?"
"Kakashi!" Sakura's face was a bright red, clashing horribly with her bubblegum pink locks. "I mean other than me!"
Kakashi just chuckled and sighed. "Sakura, I became a shinobi to protect our entire village. Although I'm not sure I would do anything to see them smile. Whenever I pass by, they always cringe in terror and lock themselves in their houses, especially the civilians. Love is just a simple word, it means nothing."
She shook her head, surprised. "How could you say that? Love is wonderful, it is an amazing feeling!"
Kakashi's eye ceased its crinkle. "Tell me Sakura. In all the years that you have loved Sasuke, has he ever showed any love back?"
"Toni-" she began before Kakashi cut her off.
"Tonight he just used you to get himself healed by the best medic nin other than Tsunade-sama. He knew that everyone else would just run and alert the ANBU, whereas you would heal him first and ask questions later. Do you think that he would die for you a thousand times? Or that her would give up everything he could ever want for you, just to see you smile? It's one sided love Sakura; unreal love."
Sakura shook her head, holding back her anger, "How would you know, Hatake?" He knew that she must be really mad to use his last name. She sat up suddenly and turned to face him. "Have you ever felt love before? Have you ever felt rejection and sat there knowing that you could never stop loving this person because something inside of you needed someone to hold on to. Have you ever cared for someone and knew that they would never care about you; that they thought you were dirt?"
It infuriated her more when the elite Copy Nin looked away, up at the stars. "Yes," he said simply.
"Who?" Sakura grinded her teeth, not believing him for a second.
"Someone who I cared for deeply, Sakura." She could see that faraway look in his eye, as if he was thinking about something way back in the past. Slowly her anger subsided and she crawled back next to his side and looked at the stars with him.
"I wish he never returned," she muttered softly so that he barely heard.
Kakashi sat upright at once and turned towards her, surprised. "You mean, Sasuke?"
Sakura nodded, closing her eyes. "I know that he doesn't love me Kakashi-sensei, but I feel like I need him. Ever since I was little I've always been picked on for having a huge forehead. When I met Sasuke, he was the first person who didn't think that." She leaned back, resting her head on Kakashi's chest.
"You know," he whispered thickly, "I never thought you had a big forehead. If I had told you that before Sasuke, would you have fallen in love with me?" He grinned at Sakura's blush and ruffled her hair.
"Kakashi!" she squealed, mad at him for messing up the hair that she had taken forever to style. Running her fingers through her hair quickly, trying to make it less hectic, she glared at him menacingly. Though she looked like she was ready to kill him, Kakashi was quite aware of the softness that lay beneath the fury of her emerald orbs. Obviously, his words meant something to her, and to that all he could do was smile.
Unfortunately, Sakura took this the wrong way and scowled at her teacher, the softness fading away. "What's so funny?" she demanded, believing him to be laughing at her.
"Oh just a joke that Naruto told me," Kakashi replied, with a hint of amusement in his voice. "But I don't think that you would find it funny, Sakura chan."
She pouted, showing her displeasure. "Tell me the joke sensei," she demanded harshly, knowing very well that there was no joke.
Her former sensei grinned and thought for a moment. "Why did the little kitty cross my path?"
"I don't know. Why did it cross your path?" She looked up at him, knowing the punch line already.
Kakashi smirked beneath his mask. "So that I would have an excuse for being late." Sakura simply rolled her eyes, only finding this joke corny and old, one that she had heard many times through out the village when small children had nothing better to do than make fun of the best ninjas.
"That was so funny," she said sarcastically.
"Yes, almost as funny as you falling into that trap on the way back from you last mission."
A blush crept across Sakura's face. "You heard about that? Who told you?" She was so embarrassed. Not only had she walked into an obvious trap, she actually had to be rescued by small children.
A chuckle passed the Copy Nin's lips. "It's not every day that the top medic nin and shinobi ha to be rescued from a catch set up by kids who were only in their first year at the Academy."
"Who else knows?" A frustrated look appeared on her face as she thought about others hearing how she had really messed up. It wasn't exactly her fault. She had been drained of her chakra and was almost ready to collapse when she walked, no, tumbled into the village's gates.
"Don't worry, everyone screws up sometime." Kakashi wrapped his arm around her slim waist and rested his chin on the top of her head.
Sakura seemed surprised, amazed by the Copy Nin's confession. "So when did you mess up?"
Kakashi closed both his eyes and his free hand moved to tentively touch the closed eyed lid of his left eye, he himself lost in the past. "It was a long time ago," he whispered, "I was younger than you are now. I was the leader of my two comrades and things sort of got out of hand."
"What happened?"
"I ended up losing my best friend and almost letting my other comrade get kidnapped."
Shocked, Sakura was at a loss of words. Her mind was reeling from this new information. Kakashi leaving a comrade behind? That sure as hell wasn't the Kakashi Hatake that she knew of, the man that focused all on teamwork. Taking a deep breath, she muttered, "Surely you didn't mean for any of this to happen. It wasn't your fault."
She cringed at Kakashi's hollow laugh. "I was all my fault. I didn't want to go after Rin, fearing it would jeopardize our mission so I decided to leave her in the hands of her captors and continue what we were originally sent to do." He paused at Sakura's sharp gasp. "Doesn't sound like me, does it?" He gently closed his normal eye as well, thinking back to that bloody day. "It was Obitio that changed my mind. That boy always was an idiot. He leapt off, wanting to save that girl and I had no choice but to stop him." Kakashi voice became softer, "We began to battle Rin's captors and Obito died saving me, saving my pathetic life."
Sakura leaned back further on the Copy Nin's back and placed her small, fragile-like hands on his. "It wasn't your fault, sensei," she whispered softly, as if talking to a young, scared child.
"Damn it, yes it was!" Kakashi's voice became louder and his voice was filled with unfocused rage. "If it wasn't for him I would be dead right now, Sakura. I would have never become the sadistic bastard that I am now. It's my fault that everyone around me gets hurt, including you."
Sakura sat up and spun around, her eyes flickering with anger. "How can you say that? Without you Naruto, Sasuke, and me would not even be alive! You saved our asses so many times sensei, we need you."
Kakashi's eyes opened, but he didn't look directly at her, but straight through her. "I think you need a new sensei, Sakura. Tomorrow I will officially turn you over to Tsunade-sama and release you from your duties as my personal medic nin."
Sakura became really angry. "You can't do that!" she yelled, her fury unrevealing. "I still need you!" But Kakashi simply rose from where he sat, ignoring her words. "Fine! Be this way! You know what, you're right, I don't need you." She stood up as well and spun away from him. She was about to leap to the nearest building, and away from him when suddenly, Kakashi grabbed her wrist and pulled her back. Sakura was surprised to find herself face-to-face with Kakashi's broad chest.
"What the-," she began before Kakashi cut her off.
"Promise me something, Sakura" As she looked up she saw his mismatched eyes staring intently at hers.
"Why should I?" she hissed, mad at him for being such a jerk.
"Sakura," he sighed impatiently, "I have a month long mission tomorrow. Just please promise me this."
Sakura looked at him, confused and took a step back, Kakashi's hand still wrapped firmly around her slender wrist. "Month long mission? But you just back from one yesterday."
Kakashi chuckled, "They say missions don't wait for a ninja, ninja wait for missions. I'm quite fortunate to get so many, it means more money and more popularity with clients." He smirked when he saw Sakura roll her eyes at his last comment. Although she was still mad at him, Kakashi knew that she couldn't walk away, knowing that he was going on a long mission and may never return, although those chances of him not coming back were slim; no one could kill of the famous Kakashi Hatake so far.
"But, Sasuke," her voice became softer, fear filling her green orbs. Kakashi placed his free hand on her shoulder and smiled reassuringly, knowing how uncomfortable it would be for her to have to face the man she once loved, knowing that everyone would be watching her every move and that gossip would be flying all throughout the village about how Sakura happened to 'suddenly' come across the boy. Not only that, Sakura was afraid of Sasuke, of what he had become. She still cared for him, but she was unsure of how to act around the Uchiha.
"You won't see him for quite a while Sakura. Right now, he can't be trusted and won't be allowed to go anywhere or see anyone. He will also be under twenty four hour surveillance, if they decide not to kill him."
"Kill him?" Questions began to form in the young woman's head. Would they really kill the second last Uchiha? Would they let his bloodline die alone with him, knowing that Itachi wasn't going to find a willing wife any time soon?
"Shh," Kakashi whispered soothingly, "I'm sure it won't come to that. Besides, if you want to avoid Sasuke, you could always request a mission." Sakura looked a little brighter, and she didn't look as scared as before.
"I don't want people to think I'm running way from my problems, I'm not weak Kakashi." Her former teacher simply nodded. "I'm not the weak little girl who cries all the time, I'm stronger now, and I'm a better ninja for showing no emotion." It was at this that Kakashi's face became rather pale.
"Sakura," he began.
"No, Kakashi. I know that you think I'm weak, but I'm not! I changed! I'm not a little girl anymore."
Kakashi bowed his head. "You may be a better ninja for not showing emotions, but are you a better person?" Looking up and into her eyes, he released her wrist and cupped her chin to make her look at him. "Promise me Sakura that you won't be like me, that you won't close your self and hide all your problems." Closing his eyes for a moment, thinking, and then he whispered softly, "Don't become like me Sakura, because once you become this you can't turn back; I've tried. You will begin to doubt all that there is; happiness, sorrow, hate, and even love. You will only feel empty, and nothing will be able to fix that, nothing."
Sakura's eyes widened. "But sensei, I just don't want to be weak."
Kakashi dropped his hand, his eyes still locked onto hers. Slowly he smiled beneath his mask and his eye crinkled. "Then be strong, Sakura. When you're not on missions, cry when you feel sad and smile when you're happy. In the long run, you will be strong, no matter how much you suffer because of it. Promise me you'll do this, for me."
Sakura nodded, tears filling up in her eyes. Her threw herself at her former teacher, burying her face into his vest. "I'm scared, sensei. I don't want to go back to the village. He's there."
Kakashi's arms encircled her slim waist and held her close to him. "You don't have to go back." Sakura looked up at him, puzzled. "Come with me, on this mission. Tsunade-sama said I needed a medic nin."
A smile spread across Sakura's lips. "Really? Thank you sensei!" Kakashi released his hold around her waist and she took a step back, her eyes still staring into his. "What rank is it?" she asked, cocking her head slightly.
Kakashi smirked nonchalantly, "Oh, don't worry. It's only S-ranked, nothing major."
Sakura's eyes grew in size, as did her mouth as her jaw dropped. "Are you crazy? You'll get me killed!"
Kakashi chuckled, "Too late to back out now."
Sakura frowned, wondering why she even hung out with this man who could make her change her emotions so quickly. "Oh really? Why?" She did not like the sound of this. How would Kakashi be able to force her into coming, without it seeming like sexual harassment?
The elite jounin looked away, "Oh, just that I told Tsunade that you'd already come."
Sakura was going to kill him, really kill him. "What! You are so annoying sensei," she fumed, poking him hard in his chest. "What if I change my mind?"
Kakashi grinned, "You'd rather pick Sasuke over me, I'm so hurt Sakura." A blush spread across her cheeks.
"Shut up." She leapt to the next building, away from her former sensei.
"Where are you going?" Sakura sharply turned as soon as her feet landed on the roof of the next house. There was Kakashi, lazily examining her with his dark eye, his forehead protector covering his sharingan.
"Away from you," Sakura huffed, and then yawning, she added, "and to get some sleep. I still have to pack and prepare for tomorrow's mission."
"Hai," he replied, his dark eye staring at her longer than she would have liked.
"So, I guess I'll see you in the morning sensei?" That seemed to have brought Kakashi back from la la land.
"Hai. I'll be there at seven sharp, so you better awake," he responded mechanically.
"So I guess I'll be waiting until nine, then?" Kakashi gave her a dirty look as she burst out laughing.
"No, I'll be there at seven Sakura, you can count on it." He shot her another dirty look, seeing the look on her face, as if she was going to burst out in another fit of giggles.
"Fine," she sighed, not bothering to hide her wide smile. "Well, bye sensei!" She turned around only to have him walk beside her.
"Why don't I walk you home?"
Sakura gave him a weird look and then rolled her eyes. "I'm old enough to walk home alone you know. I don't need some one to hold my hand, Kakashi-sensei."
The Copy Nin simply shrugged, yawning himself, "Yeah, well I don't like you walking alone this time of night."
Sakura giggled, much to Kakashi's dislike, "Alright dad, I got it."
Kakashi decided to play along as they walked on together, "You're grounded young lady. No fawning over raven haired boys named Sasuke Uchiha for you."
Sakura stuck out her tongue and grinned. Suddenly, she frowned, "Umm, Kakashi-sensei. Will you still transfer me to Tsunade and get a new medic nin?"
Kakashi looked at her, serious this time. "You know Sakura, Tsunade would help you more than I ever could, and I'm just wasting your time asking you to be my medic."
Sakura shook her head, disagreeing. "Kakashi, although what you say about Tsunade is true, I still want to at least be your medic nin. I know for a fact, that if I'm not around you always stay at home and decide to take care of your own wounds."
Kakashi thought for a moment, "And what's wrong with that?" he questioned.
Sakura smiled slightly, "Leaving your wounds open does not count as healing yourself, it will just make it easier for you get an infection."
Kakashi sighed and considered his options. "Fine, since you want to be my medic nin so badly, you must do something for me first." Seeing the look on her face, he smiled at her genially, "Don't worry it's nothing bad."
Sakura raised her eyebrow, not trusting the village's biggest pervert, aside from Genma of course. "Why should I?" He wasn't doing her a favor; it was quite the opposite.
"Would you like me to find someone else, Sakura?" Kakashi was toying with her, teasing her.
Sakura huffed, " Go ahead, sensei. I know that you don't trust anyone else as well as you do with me."
Kakashi chuckled, "True, guess you don't owe me a favor…this time."
Sakura gave him a look that silenced Kakashi immediately. "Next time it may be you who owes me a favor, sensei. Oh, here's my house." She informed her sensei as they neared the nice little house where Sakura resided now that her parents were dead.
"Hn," he said, yawning. He walked Sakura up to her door and then watched as she searched through her purse for her keys.
"Where are they? I know I have them with me somewhere. Damn it!" The young woman went fishing into her purse, searching for the small, irritating keys.
"Are you looking for these by any chance?" Sakura glanced up, only to see Kakashi leaning against the wall of her house, holding her keys. Slowly, her eyes narrowed into green slits, trying to intimidate the Copy Nin.
"Give me my keys, sensei!" She tried to grab them from him, only to have them pulled higher and out of her reach. Being a lot shorter than her former teacher, Sakura was unable to obtain the keys, even on her tippy toes. "I'll kill you for this!" Then, smirking, she gathered her chakra, which had gradually been increasing after healing Sasuke, and punched him in the stomach. Her fist was mere millimeters from him body when his free hand darted out and grabbed her fist, stopping he attack. Sakura used this opportunity to gather chakra into her other fist and attempt to punch him, when he grabbed it with his other hand. Confused, Sakura looked to see where he held the keys, only to find the key chain dangling from his mouth, where he had bitten it through his mask.
"Try harder next time, Sakura." His lazy eye scanned her face, only finding pure rebellion written upon her face. He let go of her fists and stepped back just in time to dodge her swings. Suddenly Sakura felt someone grab her from behind and she felt the steel of a kunia at her throat. "Remember, see underneath the underneath," a sultry voice whispered into her ear.
"Shadow clone," Sakura groaned, feeling pathetic for falling for such an obvious tactic.
Kakashi released her and handed back her keys. "Good thing we have a mission tomorrow, you really need more training."
Sakura gave him a dirty look before sticking her key into the lock and turning it. Pulling out the key and turning the doorknob, the white cedar door swung open before the two. "So, umm you want to come inside?"
Kakashi thought for a moment before nodding and following her. "Nice place," he whistled, impressed.
Sakura simply shrugged as she led him down the hallway and past some of the rooms, "Yeah, I guess. My parents did the decorating." The house was simple, but large. Everything in it looked expensive and grand, especially the large cedar piano in the corner of one room. Kakashi, intrigued, crept away from his guide and sat down on the small bench in front, running his long, slender fingers lightly on the keys so that they never made a sound. He closed his eyes, concentrating, and then his fingers began to skillfully move along the keys.
Sakura suddenly stopped, aware of the beautiful music that had begun to drift through the silence. Turning around, she noticed that Kakashi wasn't there, and she moved through the hallway silently, knowing where he would be.
After finishing the song, Kakashi opened his eyes and looked at the beautifully made grand piano. "It was wonderful." His head sharply turned, and let out his breath that he had been holding, seeing Sakura leaning again the entrance, a look of amazement on her face. She glided towards him and he moved over so that she was able to sit beside him. "Where did you learn to play like that?"
Kakashi merely smiled at her. "My sharingan, Sakura," he reminded her gently.
She looked up at him, her emerald orbs filled with curiosity. "So," she murmured softly, "Sasuke would…will be able to do this too?"
Kakashi gave an exasperated sigh, "Stop thinking about him, he's not worth your time."
"How can I? All these years he's been gone, I missed him so much, and all of a sudden he appears and asks for my help? What else am I supposed to think about?"
"He doesn't love you, he never has. Damn it! Until tonight, he hasn't even shown you that he even cares for you. You can do so much better than him."
"How the hell would you know," she retaliated, not wanting to give in and admit that Sasuke hadn't shown any sort of interest in her, "it's not like you would know anything about it! You've never ever felt hurt so how can you understand?" Her eyes narrowed dramatically, daring him to challenge her words, and he did.
"You think I haven't felt pain, Sakura," his voice softened so that it was barely a whisper, "I have. I watched my father kill him self in front of me. I had my comrade, no that's not right, my friend die saving me. How can you say that I haven't felt pain? How can you say that I don't understand?"
Sakura sighed, rubbing her temples. "I'm sorry, Kakashi sensei, it's just that I feel so frustrated. I mean, when we were on the rooftop it was as if I didn't remember him, you made me forget. But now…" Her voice faded, that lost girl look sliding on to her face. "I don't know what to do."
Kakashi thought for a moment, "Focus on the reasons that you don't need him, why he's not important. Try to imagine him doing the worst thing that someone could ever do to you."
"What would be the worst thing that anyone could do to you, sensei?"
"Trifle with something of mine," he replied, his voice free of any emotion and his face blank.
Sakura giggled, "You mean 'Icha Icha Paradise'?"
Kakashi looked uneasy, "There are other things that I don't want any man to touch, Sakura." A small smile appeared beneath his mask and his visible eye twinkled. "Although I guess I don't want anyone to touch my books as well."
"Wait, I'm confused. What is it that you don't want another man to touch?"
"Uhh, well you see, Sakura." Damn, he was finding it so hard to explain this without corrupting her. "It's like Ino sleeping with Sasuke." He silently cursed himself for bringing up the boy once more, but could think of no other example.
A blush spread across Sakura's cheeks as her eyes widened and a frown tugged at her mouth, "Oh." Then, due to her undying curiosity, she asked, "Does that mean you have a lady friend sensei?"
It was Kakashi's turn to blush. "Well, I wouldn't exactly call them 'lady friends.' They are more like a one night stand."
The frown one the woman's face increased. "Wait. You get jealous when you see your one night stands with another man?"
Kakashi shook his head, groaning, "Sakura, you don't seem to understand. When a man sees his 'property' with someone else there is usually a challenge to decide who gets her."
Sakura rose out of her seat, disgusted, but not before trying to punch him. Kakashi was just able to block her, instead injuring his arm greatly. "So all the women you slept with are mere objects that you own?" She took a few steps back, away from the man she had once admired for being an amazing ninja. "You men are all the same!"
"Sakura, you asked for an explanation. Look, I don't see women that way, at least not anymore." He pinched the bridge of his nose, thinking. "I haven't been with a women in quite a while, despite my reputation of being a pervert. I'm just saying, if I happen to have a girlfriend I would kill any man who would even look at her the wrong way."
His former student calmed down, at least for the moment, and sat down once more. "So were you serious?"
"About?"
Sakura whispered, slowly leaning onto his side, "About not loving anyone."
"I don't know. For me love has always ended badly, making me wonder if what I had felt was love at all." His eyes were closed and his fingers had found their way back onto the piano keys, making the beautiful music fill the room, this time with a mournful note.
"That must have been horrible, to feel so confused."
"No, I felt nothing but anger and rage. Sakura, I have my strengths, and one of them is not to let anyone get close to me. Usually, that's what also ends up being my undoing. I'm human and I too make mistakes. I have regrets and I have suffered as everyone else does sometime throughout their life. However, before being a man, I am a ninja. I have a duty to my village and that comes before anything that I may feel, want, or desire. You know this, for it is how you must live as well."
Sakura nodded, understanding. "Still, not everyone feels the same way. Sasuke was more concerned about power than the village."
Kakashi growled, his eyes opening, "And look where that got him, Sakura. He's being held and may face the death penalty. Is that how you want to end up?" Sakura shook her head. "Good."
Suddenly, a clock in Sakura's house chimed, making the two aware that it was already midnight and time that they should get some rest, having to get up early. "I'd better go," Kakashi muttered rising from his seat, the music dying abruptly as his fingers left the keys. Watching his former student remain seated, just nodding, he walked to the door to let him self out and heard her footsteps echo in the hallways as she finally decided to watch him leave.
His fingers wrapped around knob when he suddenly heard her whisper softly. "Wait! Don't leave. Please don't leave me alone." He turned to see her looking at him, a strange look on her face. He took a step towards her and was surprised when she threw her arms around his waist, burying her head in his green vest. "Make me forget, just for tonight," she mumbled. She took a step back and slowly her fingers reached fro the zipper of his vest, throwing the article of clothing across the room after shrugging it off him. His skilled fingers worked on her top removing it, to reveal a simple black lace bra beneath.
She had already removed his black shirt and was now tugging his mask down, with no objection from her sensei. His lips met hers in a kiss full of desire and longing. Kakashi had been to long without a woman and Sakura needed simply to forget, both knowing that they would regret this in the morning. They broke for air, both panting. "That was my first kiss," she slowly whispered, a blush blazing across her cheeks. Damn, her sensei was hot!
It was at this that Kakashi finally snapped back to himself. He had just kissed his former student and stolen her first kiss! "Sakura," he breathed, "we shouldn't be doing this." He silently cursed himself, his hands slightly shaking. How was it possible for her to affect him so greatly? How could she say such things, look a certain way, or even do something and make him forget all of his morals? He needed to go, and she definitely needed to forget all that had happened.
She looked at him, her eyes misting up with tears. "Please, sensei-for me. Just help erase this pain that I feel in my heart. Fill this hole that just won't go away. Please, sensei." Her fingers traced his weathered body and traced his scars with her gentle fingertips, healing his wounds in the process. She looked up at him, a confused look on her face. "Why don't you ever go to the hospital if you are injured. You've been away for a month and now you have all these injuries, but yet you decide to play hero instead and go through all this pain for nothing," she muttered, shaking her head at the man.
Kakashi tried desperately to push her away, not liking where this was headed, but was unsuccessful. "Sakura, you'll regret this. I'll regret this. We shouldn't do this." He felt her lips capture his as she left his wounds, which were now healed.
"Shut up, Kakashi," she murmured against his mouth. He was silent, not used to having her call him by his first name.
His arms went around her waist, pulling her closer. He felt her sigh as he deepened the kiss and then as she moaned his name. Kakashi instantly released her, his conscience attacking him. He pushed her away, "Damn it, I'm serious! We can't do this!"
She looked at him, angry. "Why not? It obvious that you want this and that I need this, so just shut up, please," she begged, truly feeling like she needed her former sensei to help her forget.
Kakashi sighed. He knew that she was right, he wanted this, but he didn't want to take her innocence. She was his former student, his comrade, and a friend. To lose her as any of those due to the awkwardness they would both endure…it wouldn't be worth it. Slowly, he pulled down his forehead protector and revealed his swirling sharingan to the woman. Sakura stood there, mesmerized, knowing what he was doing. She swayed slightly, falling into his arms, her eyes still locked onto his and her voice feeble. "You may erase my memories, but you can't erase your own, sensei. In the back of my mind you'll always wonder about this night and I will always think about you." Her eyes closed and she collapsed against his chest, held tenderly in his arms.
"I will wonder, Sakura," he told her softly, knowing that she couldn't hear him. "I've been to long without a woman and you've never been with a man." He looked up at the lights in her ceiling, "It's just better this way- for the both of us. I can't lose you, not ever. I have already lost Sasuke, I can't let you go as well." He gently walked through her house, opening door until he finally found the master bedroom. Laying her gently on the bed, he pulled up the blanket and, chastely, kissed her forehead. "Goodnight, Sakura," he whispered before jumping out the window.
He knew that the next day would be awkward, for him. He was half determined to wake up the hokage and beg her to switch his assigned medic nin, but Kakashi didn't. He knew that Sakura needed to escape from the village, at least for a while. Although he didn't want her to run away from her problems, he didn't want his former student to have to bare the curious glances and rumors about Sasuke's return and her part in it. He knew very well that Tomiko was nothing but a gossip when he messed up, altering the story to make himself the hero. The first thing in the morning, Kakashi promised himself, I will see to it that he does not utter a word about tonight.
With that, Kakashi climbed into his bedroom window and collapsed in his small chair. He was feeling to overwhelmed with all the emotions that he just reached for one of the familiar orange books and read, only sleeping when he was totally numb from all that had happened.
It was ok; Kakashi had spent many lonely nights with his book, trying to forget the memories that only haunted his mind when he was still. It was only then that the ghosts of his former comrades came to lecture him in his sleep, torturing him with the reminiscing of his failures and past mistakes. Tonight was different though. The only thing that tortured Kakashi Hatake during his sleep was a woman with jade eyes and long, flowing pink hair. It was tonight that Kakashi's dreams finally allowed him to rest, only thinking about the future to come.
Me: Wow, that took me SO long!
Kakashi: You could have typed faster, you know.
Me: (giving him an evil look) Shut up. Next time you're typing this!
Kakashi: (laughing) Alright, if you want a scene from Icha Icha Stories, you got one!
Me: (rolling my eyes) Never mind. (Pulls Kakashi's sleeve) Let's go!
Kakashi: (confused) Where?
Me: (groaning) You were supposed to take me to town since you have NOTHING in you damn fridge!
Kakashi: (Remembering) Oh yea. Hey, aren't you afraid of being attacked by Sakura and Ino?
Me: (complaining) I'm too hungry to be scared. Besides, you better protect me!
Kakashi: (sweat drops) I never agreed to this.
Me: (grinning as I drag Kakashi away) Stay tuned!