Author's Thoughts:

I've been in a slump lately – both in writing and in life. Recently, I watched a vlog about how one of my favorite anime reviewers almost stopped before he really began. It was inspiring and I wanted to share something of mine too and as I'm not entirely tech/video savvy, I thought I'd write. But then since any story that needs updating has an intense block – I thought I'd start something new (Just be like a good person and not actually post until I had finished – if I post at all). Long story short – I decided to write some short pieces of how I was feeling about Sakura and myself. So... here you go.

NOTE: Takes place after the war

Forget Me Not
Chapter 1 - Strength

Kakashi

It's amazing how they seem to be able to just pick up from before everything went so wrong – before he left. The young blonde still loves his ramen. It's always his first choice for the lunch meetings. He can't sit still in his seat as he waves his damp chopsticks in the air and wiggles around in his seat. The long arms make wide gestures, nearly missing the scowling dark-haired ninja beside him. After another near miss, the prodigal son smacks the boy on the back of the head, no doubt mumbling some insult. The blonde shouts back, but he is ignored. It's all so familiar, Sakura muses with a small smile on her face.

Yet, the smile disappears as she gazes at the empty seat beside Sasuke, it's different. She turns away from the scene to look down at herself, peeking from around the corner of a shop a block away. Her fingers grip the corner of the store wall as if it will save her from falling into her own head. If it was the same as before, Sakura thinks, she would be sitting by her team – because they were team 7 then. What are the three of them now? Ex-teammates? Only friends? (Because she knew Naruto was friends with everyone) She knows who the boys are. They are the legendary Konoha nin who took down Madara and saved the world. They are heroes (even if one has a shady past). So who is she? Sure, she is powerful and sure, she is one of the lead doctors – but in relation to her old team? What place does she have now? They have gone and moved ahead of her again and Sakura is tired of playing catch up.

A slight commotion makes her attention again return to the two objects of her thoughts. Two people – a man and a woman – are bowing their heads to Naruto and giving Sasuke a quiet, but accepting regard. Sasuke in turn nods to them while Naruto tries to wave off their thanks with more gestures and a wild blush on his face. Sakura smiles softly. She knows he loves and hates the attention.

Sakura pushes herself away from the corner and out of site of the ramen shop. She stretches her arms and looks up at the sky, forcing back the reoccurring negative thoughts. With a deep breath and steady shoulders, Sakura wills her head to stay straight and proud, hiding the turbulent feelings. She turns on her heels and makes her way into the crowded market street.

She only makes it a few steps before a familiar voice from behind stops her, "And where are you going?"

There is a pause. Sakura takes the moment to collect herself. Then with a steady breath and a forced smile on her face, she turns, her hands clasped behind her back – giving her best impression of playful cuteness. "I'm just going to back to the hospital for work, Kakashi-senesi."

"Oh?" Kakashi is now standing ten feet in front of her with his hands in his pocket. He is still, ignoring the many pedestrians that pass by. His lazy focus is only on Sakura. "I thought you had a lunch break."

"I was called back." The smile begins to hurt. As a doctor, she is used to faking smiles for her patients, but smiling while lying to her old teacher quickly takes a toll.

"Like the last two lunch dates?"

"The hospital is recovering, Kakashi-sensei." She replies patiently, "We've been really busy."

He regards her. His masked face shows little of what he is thinking, but Sakura knows him well enough. He is studying her, subtly poking buttons. Finally an eye crinkles slightly. "Perhaps I should talk to Tsunade then. She must be overworking you. We haven't seen you in a while."

"There's no need for that, Kakashi-sensei. Like I said, we're really busy." Sakura takes a tentative step backwards, "On that note, I really should –"

"I also said you don't have to keep calling me sensei."

The reminder of their former team status hit closer to home than she'd like to admit. "Habit." Her answer is short and too revealing. The analytical look she receives from Kakashi confirms it. Still, she takes another step back.

"Sakura." The way he says her name – it is demanding, but quiet and firm. She has to stop – whether because it's from an old habit as his student, because of his tone, or because a part of her really doesn't want to go, she doesn't know. Her head is down, finding something of great interest on the worn ground. He stays silent, patiently waiting until she finally looks up into his eye. When she does, the crowded street melts away and Sakura only sees her sensei in front of her. It is intimidating and she is suddenly ashamed. "Sakura," He says again when he is sure he has her attention, "Why are you hiding from your teammates?"

"What team?" The words are out of her mouth before she can stop them. Inwardly, she cringes. Her gaze drops to a stone on her left as her shoulders hunch up, "What team is that, Kakashi?" She doesn't move as she waits for some speech about teammates and how she shouldn't leave them and why she was acting like this when they were all finally together. When he doesn't respond, her head snaps up. His unsurprised and unreadable face annoys her to the point of continuing, "All I see are two heroes – the saviors of the world. They are ahead of everyone! They are a team of their own." Sakura bites down hard on her lip to stop her from screaming out her frustrations.

Kakashi steps foreword slowly. When he gets closer, Sakura notices that his eyes are not as blank as they previously were. "Do you really think so little of yourself?"

She can't look at him anymore, so she stares straight ahead at his jacket. "No." The words spill out automatically. Rehearsed words. Words that had been repeated not only by her teacher, but from her own lips. Words she clung to. "I know a medic is important. I work hard." She pauses and he says nothing, so she continues, "But they are…" Her arm raises to gesture in their direction before it slumps back at her side, "…them. They are in their own league."

"I'm sorry." This is not the response she was expecting. Her wide green eyes stare up, questioning. She recognizes the emotion on his face. She has seen reflected in his dark eyes often – but never at her expense. "I failed you as a teacher. I focused so much on the boys that I let you believe you weren't as good as they were."

"Kakashi-sensei, I don't blame you for anything. They needed your help."

Kakashi's head shakes once, pushing away her dismissal. "Regardless. Even without my attention, you found the strength to make your own way." Pride blossoms her chest. Recognition from Kakashi is precious and rare. "That's a strength in itself, not counting your monstrous physical strength."

"Kakashi-sensei…" She affectionately hits his arm.

"Sakura, you might not have fought in the front lines with them, but you supported them and worked just as hard from the back. Besides," He jerks his head towards the ramen stand. Sakura turns her head when she hears more shouting and threats of destroying manhoods. It brings a smile to her face. From the corner of her eyes, she can see the creases in Kakashi's mask. He's also smiling again, "Those idiots need you to balance them out. You're just as important as they are." He places a reassuring hand on the top of her head before letting it drop and taking a step back.

Their moment is finished and Sakura notices the world moving around them again.

"Well," Kakashi has his book out again. His stance is casual, but she knows he's still watching her. "You might want to use your balancing talents soon. I don't think the village needs any more destruction."

There is a crashing sound followed by more threats. Sakura sighs – but it is an affectionate breath. She begins to step through the crowd and around the corner, then stops. She turns to thank Kakashi, but he's gone.

Another crumbling noise causes Sakura to clench her hands. She rounds the corner with fists held high.

After the boys have their scolding and all three are settled in their respective seats, waiting for the next batch of ramen, Sakura realizes that Naruto is unnaturally quiet. He is sitting on his stool, still and blue eyes wide. Sakura turns to question Sasuke, but he is also warily watching the blonde from the corner of his eye.

"Hey, Sakura-chan," Sakura leans in closer, "With you here, it really feels like we're Team 7 again!" A grin stretched across his whiskered cheeks and he barely contains himself as their ramen is placed in front of them. Sasuke says nothing, but Sakura can see the slightly curled ends on his lips and hears the mumbled 'dobe' tumble from his lips.

Sakura watches her teammates, her boys, as they eat their food in varying degrees of shoveling and she realizes that Naruto was right. The three of them made up a team. And with bright rosy cheeks, gleaming eyes, and a grin to rival Naruto's, Sakura digs into the ramen with her teammates.

(Chapter 1 - End)

I'm a sucker for Kakashi and Sakura – not romantically, but a father daughter thing. If you do have any good recommendations, let me know!

I've also been experimenting and playing with first person POV. Maybe it's because it's new and different, but I like it.

Next chapter will come in a few days to a week. All chapters are finished, they just need some editing and a few additions. Naruto jumps in next.

As another side note: It doesn't happen very often, so I feel like I need to gloat – Iron Man 3 came out in Japan before the US.

It was awesome.

Please Review! They make me happy ^_^