Chapter 4: Ice cream Goodbye's
A restless rustling at Sakura's window pane was the sound she had awoken to. Had she not known the familiar hunched silhouette and had she not been able to catch a glimpse of the obnoxiously colored jacket she might have actually been worried about the strange being coming through her window. Sadly though, Sakura knew exactly what and who it had been. In an uninterested attempt to call him over, she raised a lethargic; sleep beaten hand in the air for a moment before letting it fall back to its respective and most comfortable spot at her side upon the fluffy mattress.
A very audible 'oomph' resounded from the young man as he tripped over the night desk stationed below the now open window. Had she been more awake Sakura probably would've laughed uncontrollably, then offered a hand and asked him if he were alright, but she would have already known the answer. He jumped up quickly, trying to reserve the little amount of dignity he had left, not that it really had mattered before he had clambered into her window, and dusted off his jacket. An annoying noise left his lips in an almost careful attempt, well at least for him, "S-s-s-sakura."
Was there a slithering serpent in her room? It had defiantly sounded like it, although if it was a serpent it was a very displeasing and noisy one, and a horrid whisperer at that. She was quite convinced that snake could have probably done a better job sneaking into her window and ruled that out quickly. Another rude snake-like sound broke her silent rant.
"S-s-s-sakura-a-a-a, you awake?" he whispered.
A raspy retort answered, "Well, I was."
A small hesitant laugh curled through the air as Naruto scratched the back of head. "Ah, sorry about that Sakura-chan." He laughed again to break the stifled air as he stood anxiously at the drafty window.
Sakura rolled over on the big bed, making a fair amount of room for the boy to occupy, then patted the side next to her in an inviting manner. Naruto smiled before rushing over to the bed, as if the invitation would wear quickly.
He plopped down, settling himself in a comfortable position then sighed in contentment. Then it grew silent. Sakura knew full well that the shinobi was waiting for her to actually act like a somewhat acceptable hostess. She wasn't sure why in the world he would expect this of her after climbing in to her window, not to mention quite loudly, then rudely waking her with his long drawn out calls of her name. Had he even considered the hour? What time was it anyway?
An irritated sigh escaped Sakura's chapped lips as she propped herself up unto a pillow. Now in a position suitable enough to have an actual conversation she questioned Naruto between yawns, "Why are you here so early?" Sakura rubbed at her eyes feebly in an attempt to clear them of the sleeping sand that they had acquired so abundantly.
"Ah, Sakura-chan, it's actually really late. Look out the window, the suns already fully up. You're just late waking today."
Sakura turned her head as directed, not believing the foul falsenesses. Though, as her eyes met with the greeting sunshine through squints, she saw that Naruto was being-- in fact-- quite truthful. The sun had already completely made its way up and was now shining rays of unforgiving brightness down in Konoha's direction.
How had she missed that? Sakura sighed inwardly. Naruto took this as a queue.
"Listen, Sakura about yesterday and the whole Kakashi-sensei thing…."
Instantly at the memory-- Sakura's head jolted up, her gaze quickly moving to the daffodil on the night stand. A nice night of sleep and being awoken by an incredibly noisy dunce had made her forget the earlier happenings of the awkward night before. She scowled at the cursed-in-nine-different-tongues-then-rudely-thrown-aside blossom to her left.
What in the world was it for?!' She questioned quietly. An incredibly fast and almost incoherent ramble quickly interrupted the perfect silence.
"I had really tried my hardest, because you know that I didn't want to let you down, but he is a sneaky person. You know, it wasn't entirely my fault. He is like ninja times twelve, nobody in the whole village knew where he was. And well after two hours of searching I really got hungry and I wanted to use that coupon. And I had already promised Chouji. And I don't think I could have found Kakashi-sensei if I wanted because he is a jounin and everything…."
"Naruto!"
The ramblings were cut short, thank goodness; Sakura's sanity couldn't have endured another second.
"Yeah?" Naruto twitched nervously.
"I can't understand a single word you're saying." She uttered quite put off.
"Sorry."
Sakura itched her eyebrow before continuing, "It's fine, now please continue…slowly."
Naruto breathed in, "Alright, well I tried looking for Kakashi-sensei, you know to help you out, and I found him at first and asked him to join Chouji and myself for ramen. He agreed but said something about changing into his comfortable clothesfirst So, we waited before eating, but he didn't show. Eventually I got impatient and I wanted to find him, so I searched the whole village, and even questioned every villager. Not a pebble was left unturned, Sakura. What was I supposed to do after two hours of searching? And people can't search on an empty stomach, right?"
"No Naruto, only you can't search on an empty stomach. People do it all the time."
Quiet remained for a moment before Sakura re-propped herself and epiphany presented itself.
"Wait a second; did you just say his comfortable clothes?"
He turned his head questioningly, "Yeah."
Sakura smacked her head, and an audible whack'that confirmed it. "Naruto, I know you're a bonehead, but is it possible to be that stupid?"
As almost to justify her point he questioned, "What do you mean?"
"Ugh, Naruto when have you ever in your whole entire life of knowing Kakashi-sensei --seen him in anything different than his jounin outfit?"
"Sakura, what are you getting at here? I'm not following."
She rolled her eyes dramatically, "Naruto I seriously doubt Kakashi-sensei has any sort of wardrobe other than his jounin, old anbu, and funeral black outfits."
Naruto at long last had understood what she was saying, "Oh, so you mean he lied to me and wasn't really going to change into different clothes and come to meet me?"
Sakura nodded, "Yes Naruto that is exactly what I am saying."
Rubbing the back of his head he added, "Oh, okay I gotcha," there was a moment of pause before something else hit him, "Well that was really rude of him."
"Well, that is Kakashi-sensei for you."
"Yeah, I guess you're right."
This was defiantly one of those moments that Sakura was sure they would look back on many years later, at some random rookie nine get together and all laugh hysterically about, joking about how much of a dummy Naruto was for falling for Kakashi's lies, and how stupid of Sakura it was to take Kakashi on in this bet. Sadly though, it wasn't many years later, and there was no get together. And at the current moment, it really didn't sound so funny.
Sakura rubbed her face exaggeratedly, feeling her cheeks warm behind her hands. Once the movements had ceased she questioned.
"So is that all?"
Naruto turned his head to her, "Is what all?"
"Is that all you came to tell me? Because if so, I know now and you can leave so I can sleep." She mumbled on, "My only day off and I get woke up early by an idiot."
"Well no," He paused, "You are so grumpy in the mornings, yeesh," then continued "I actually wanted to tell you that and I also have a mission today."
Sakura shot up. Why hadn't she been told? Why didn't Hokage inform her? She would be late for the mission and….
"Yamato-taichou, Sai, and myself." Naruto added.
Wait what? Why hadn't he said her name or Kakashi-sensei's for that matter? Did that mean she wasn't going? They were a team, they were supposed to complete all missions assigned together.
Before she had a chance to reply Naruto resumed his speech.
"Granny Tsunade doesn't think I act enough like a teammate with Sai. So she is sending me on a mission to gain more of a companionship with him." Naruto puffed, rolling his eyes.
Well that did make sense. Ever since the day Sai had arrived to the team they had never acted very friendly towards each other. Though she didn't enjoy the emotionless artist's jabs at her outer appearance, she had never hated him; well not like Naruto did at least. Sakura could only feel pity for poor Yamato-taichou who had to tag along with them; he would be ripping his hair out by the time he arrived home with the two.
Though the realization that Naruto and the rest of her new team would be gone, by themselves with no medic to watch out for them, hit. What if one of them got hurt, nobody would be there to take care of it.
Instantly she spat out, "How long?" her eyebrows furrowed in concern.
Knowing his companion far too well and knowing that she would worry for his safety Naruto grinned reassuringly, "No worries Sakura, only a week at tops."
Sakura frowned. A week without a medic for Naruto was almost equal to sending him off to his death, he was such a klutz. Sakura opened her mouth to speak something about asking the Hokage to reconsider but Naruto intervened first, "I'll be careful," he stuck his pinky out, waiting for her pinky's acceptance, "I promise."
After a moment Sakura looked up at him, catching his gaze in hers, and nodded. "Alright, I trust you. You'd better keep this promise." She added, entwining her finger around his and squeezing.
"Yeah, I defiantly will." He squeezed back.
They both grinned then laughed.
Sakura wasn't entirely sure why she was so comfortable in this moment. She wasn't sure why she hadn't been angry at Naruto for not keeping his end of the deal, or climbing through her window, or even doing it noisily --and in response, waking her up. She wasn't sure at all why or when for that matter she and Naruto had become so utterly contented by each other's presence. The company was actually very cozy.
Though she and Naruto weren't quite as close before, friends were what they had always been. The only difference now was that the bond had grown so much stronger through time. And though he always acted like a complete dunce, Naruto knew and understood Sakura's feelings more than anyone she'd ever met. Truthfully, it was nice to have him around and it had never been awkward as it might have been with someone else. Come on now, who else could climb in her window and be an idiot and not get knocked out with a chakra filled punch, other than Naruto? Absolutely nobody was the answer.
A minute or two had passed serenely between them, but their time together was coming to a quick and untimely close, so Sakura spoke up.
"When are you leaving?"
"Soon, so I'd probably better get going."He said with an inconclusive sigh.
"Oh, well then how about I see you off? I'll dress quickly. Since I have nothing else going on right now it won't interfere with anything."Sakura offered.
"Kakashi- sensei said he'd see us off."Naruto said-- pulling himself off the bed and away from the warmth that had comfortably made its way around the two. He gave a look of indecisiveness.
"So what Naruto? It's a stupid bet, it's not like I hate him or anything, I just want to win." She justified. "And plus, why would I let that get in the way of seeing my friend off to a mission?"
"I guess you're right. I just don't want anyone to feel uncomfortable, you know?"
"I get what you're saying but it won't be in any way shape or form uncomfortable, okay? Just have a little trust in me." She smiled at him kindly, and he nodded.
"Yeah, okay Sakura. I'll wait for you, just hurry up alright?" her replied.
"Mm-hm." She nodded in understanding, and Naruto lead himself out of the door.
Sakura met back with Naruto, fully clothed and ready to go, at her door step.
"I'm ready to go." She stated, locking the door behind her.
"Oh, good. You didn't take as long as I thought you would." He grinned cheekily.
Sakura rolled her eyes, but all together ignored the joking jab.
"Let's get going, or you'll be late!"
The walk to the front gates of Konoha was completely uneventful. There wasn't much of any silence, though, despite boring environment. Sakura would've gladly chosen silence over what she got. The time of the short walk was filled with uninteresting and repetitive babblings from hers truly, Naruto.
Sakura sighed in utter happiness when the gates came into view. She was ecstatic when the thoughtless words ended, but that faded quickly when she saw the silver hair of a jounin standing next to the rest of the new team seven and the happiness transformed into alerted frigidness.
Naruto noticed the stiffening of his kunoichi friend and gazed down at her. Remembering what she had said earlier in her room, about there being no discomfort Sakura quickly attempted to fix it, she mustered a quick reassuring fake smile. As sure as she was that Naruto wouldn't fall for it, in its complete false glory, he surprised her and did.
He smiled lightly before looking back up and waving at the group that waited for him at the gates.
"Hey Kakashi-sensei, you're actually on time for once!" Naruto yelled his bold grin flashing.
Kakashi did his usual lazy wave, accompanied by the oh-so boring "Yo."
Sakura grimaced.
They approached the group, coming to a complete halt. Yamato quickly briefed the team on the mission and checked that they had brought the correct supplies and necessities. Standing as still as a board Sakura quietly listened to the mission that she had not been invited on. It sounded fairly easy; in fact she was surprised it was called a B-rank mission. If she didn't know any better, which she wasn't sure she did, Sakura would have guessed Tsunade had lied about the rank so Naruto wouldn't complain. But nevertheless she still worried for the team before her, and their safety.
When Yamato-taichou questioned if everyone was ready to go Naruto and Sai both agreed without question. As they began saying their good-byes, Sakura remembered what she had placed in her pocket before leaving. It had happened to be a few medic supplies that had all been graciously wrapped up and ready to go for the group. She reached into her pocket and grabbed it, as all the guys finished up.
"Naruto…" Sakura trailed off, holding the packet in front of her. The group all stopped talking and turned to her questioningly. Naruto looked down at the two delicate hands that held the box wrapped in pink cloth then to her face.
"Yeah Sakura?"
Sakura pushed her hands out farther, looking up before she spoke, "For you."
Naruto's gaze steadily fixed back onto the box along with everyone else's.
He smiled and laughed anxiously, "Sakura, I don't really need …"
She interrupted, "Just please take it. If I'm not around to heal any wounds, I at least want you to have something to do it with, yourself."
The smile dropped. He took the pink box from her hand, "Sakura, don't worry too much, okay?"
Sakura looked up, her eyebrows steadily sewn in apprehension.
"I promised you didn't I?"
She nodded, "Yeah, but…"
"I'll be careful." He grinned, "I promise, again."
"Alright." She wasn't completely sure why she was so worried; she just didn't like the thought of him going somewhere without her to help him. Even if it was a supposed B-rank mission accompanied by an anbu member and another from ROOTS.
"Well, we'll be going now." Yamato confirmed.
"Okay." Naruto answered, Sai gave an easy grunt to indicate he understood.
Sakura frowned and Yamato reassured, "I'll take good care of him, Sakura."
Smiling she nodded, "Yeah I know."
"Yeah see, he'll take care of m…Hey wait, I can take care of myself!" Naruto yelled.
Everyone laughed. After a second round of good-byes, they were on their way.
Sakura and Kakashi stood, watching the team of three's silhouettes wander farther and farther away. The space between the separate groups grew until neither could see each other. She squinted, standing on tiptoes, when they were no longer visible, hoping that maybe she could defy logic, if only just this once.
Kakashi exhaled quietly, watching as the young kunoichi beside him craned her neck over some invisible wall that seemed to be blocking her view of her no-longer-present companions. He laughed.
As reality surrounded, Sakura snapped back from her futile attempts to see past the horizon, thanks to the awkward chuckle of the man next to her.
"What are you laughing at?" She questioned perturbed.
"If you keep craning your neck like that your head might just roll off."
Sakura frowned noticeably and situated herself back onto the soles of her feet.
"I'm a little too old to believe in lies like that, don't you think."Sakura added, nose upwards.
Kakashi laughed once more, "Take it as you'd like, but I've seen it happen." He lied.
For a half millisecond she almost believed him. He had become quite adapted to lying, and doing it well. Scoffing she shook her head in response. Kakashi sighed back and a moment passed as they stood there quietly. Folded arms had found a place across her chest as Sakura continually gazed towards the place where the team had stood. Her thoughts wandered, imagining the various possible ways Naruto would most likely hurt himself while out on the mission. She nervously shifted her weight onto one foot. Kakashi noticed.
"How does ice cream sound?" He asked, rubbing his chin in a manner to make it obvious he was contemplating it, and breaking the tense anxiety radiating from the girl at his side.
Weakly she turned to look at him. A look pasted itself to her face, questioning his sanity.
"For breakfast?"
"Ah, yeah, why not?"
"Have you forgotten that I'm a nurse? That defiantly doesn't sound like the well balanced breakfast most people are advised to have."Sakura stated professionally.
"Oh, stop over analyzing everything. It's a bit party pooperish." He replied.
"I am not! And pooperish isn't even a word."
He nodded ignoring her statement, waving it off and began walking, "Yeah yeah. C'mon it's alright to break rules sometimes."
"Hey! Kakashi-sensei, wait! Don't walk away from me like that." Sakura stood there, watching as Kakashi moved farther and farther away. She gritted her teeth angrily, he was completely ignoring her. And suddenly it was quiet--very quiet, and she didn't like it. All that could be heard were the echoes lightly ringing from the steps of Kakashi, which were moving away swiftly. Looking around she realized that she was going to be alone if she didn't accept the offer, and at that moment being alone didn't sound so fun. Sakura raised her hand and waved it franticly, "Wait Kakashi, I'm coming!"
He laughed lightly hearing her voice a little ways off. He knew she'd follow.
"Thank you Sir." The brown haired woman at the small stand said, grasping the ryo from Kakashi's hand and exchanging him for the two medium order of chocolate mint ice cream.
He turned, handing Sakura her cone. She grabbed it and thanked him kindly as they began slowly sauntering down the road.
Kakashi had purposefully offered ice cream, knowing it was her favorite snack. He hated seeing her worried and the anxiety from her was making him tense. So far the plan seemed to be working; he concluded gazing down to Sakura who was happily licking at her frozen treat.
Sakura noticed him gazing at her through her peripheral. She decided to speak.
"That was a mean joke you played on Naruto telling him you were going to change into your comfortable clothes."
His eyebrows hitched at the sound of her voice, but he nonchalantly replied, "Well it was dumb of him to fall for it."
She laughed, "I agree, but it was still mean."
He scoffed playfully, watching as she took another lick of ice cream, and then wiped her face with the napkin that had been so graciously provided.
After a moment she spoke again, though this time solemnly.
"You're not doing all this just to scare me are you?"
"The thought had never crossed my mind Sakura. Don't always think the worst of me." Kakashi stated genuinely.
Sakura nodded unsure but accepted nonetheless.
His eyes crinkled with a hidden smile. She returned the gesture before noticing he hadn't touched his ice cream. Sakura pointed at it, slightly begging to drip
"Eat your ice cream-- why don't you. If you're that embarrassed, I won't look." She teased playfully.
"Oh no Sakura, embarrassment has nothing to do with it." He replied. Kakashi's feet came to a halt.
She looked at him questioningly waiting for him to continue. Kakashi began walking towards a brightly painted bin that wore a banner around it that said "No littering" in bold letters. He stood dangling the ice cream cone above it.
"I just don't like mint chocolate is all." The ice cream dropped from his hand, making a cracking sound as it met its untimely end at the bottom of the trash.
Sakura stood there, mouth agape and wide eyed. Kakashi had just thrown away a perfectly good ice cream. He hadn't even touched it. Even after spending a fair amount of ryo on it. Though for him she concluded it must be chump change with all the S-Rank missions he took.
Kakashi grinned, "Well I've got to get going. I have something I need to take care of." He gave a quick wave, and with a large poof of smoke he vanished. It was a scene that seemed all too familiar to Sakura.
Sakura stood completely still, staring complacently at the spot the smoke had been. She looked down at her half eaten ice cream cone, no longer wanting any of it. Sakura scowled at it.
"Damn it Kakashi-sensei, why do you always do this!"
A/N: Heheheh... Sorry I made you all wait so long. I want to say thank you to everyone who has taken the time to read this and stay up to date with it even though I've been the worst procrastinator in the entire world. I hope this was enjoyable. I'm not entirely satisfied with the way this chapter ended but it will have to do, because I'm sooo incredibly sick of writing this one. It's soooooooo long! XD
BTW, I apologize for not including the days over the course of the week but each chapter is another day. The bet started on a Monday and the chapters go from there. I'm sorry for being so forgetful and not putting that in. Thank you again to everyone who has read and reviewed this. Your reviews are greatly appreciated and I enjoy hearing that you enjoy it.