"Kakashi-senpai..."
Sakura called out, twisting her neck to look at Kakashi's face. "What is
that poking my butt?"
"It
could be one of my weapons." It wasn't. But he wasn't about to admit it.
Being
stuck in an air vent, splayed on top of her so they could both look through the
grid inspired some silly images to pop up in the Copy Nin's mind; which in turn
caused his body to react against his will.
"How
can you be thinking about that at a time like this?!" The girl below him
shrieked as she wiggled under him to try and put some distance between them.
Unfortunately, her struggling only resulted in pressing her bum harder against
his groin. The lack of space was becoming suffocating.
"I
wasn't thinking about anything." Kakashi ground out as he pressed a hand
to her shoulder, pushing her down to incite her to stop moving. With her torso
forced so low, Sakura raised her hips instinctively, refusing to stay still.
"Right,
you aren't." She spat back. "I can still feel it. Move!"
"I
can't! There isn't enough space, just settle down and it'll go away." The
Copy Nin growled as he gripped her hip, wishing she would just lay down again.
This new position only made their little problem worsen. If he hadn't been a
fan of doggy style, he knew he would be now.
"Liar!
You're just enjoying it, you pervert!" Sakura growled as she renewed her
efforts to struggle away from him. The top of her head pushed up against his
chin until the back of his skull hit the ceiling of the vent, earning a pained
gasp from Kakashi.
"Stop
it, I hear them coming." Kakashi muttered as he clasped a hand over her
mouth, using his full weight to trap her down. There was no doubt he would be
paying dearly for this later, but the voices of their targets were entering the
room below them already.
___________________________________________________________________________________________
Chapter Two: Behind the
Snake Mask
___________________________________________________________________________________________
Swirling the contents of her glass, Suzuka sighed heavily. Of course,
Kakashi would never be on time. Forty minutes and two refills of umeshu later,
her companion was nowhere to be found. For the umpteenth time, ultramarine eyes
roamed the room, taking in the excessive amount of patrons crowding the
establishment. Why he had chosen such a popular spot was a mystery to the young
ANBU, who was well aware of his dislike of large gatherings. On the upside, her
drink played the part of enjoyable company quite well. Its alcohol warmed her,
coloring her cheeks a distinct shade of pink, kept her busy and even entertained.
While sipping on the sweet concoction, the
young woman was free to either eavesdrop on the conversations of strangers or
allow her own thoughts to run loose. The words shared by her closest neighbors would
have her rolling her eyes, if her slightly intoxicated state didn't make it
funny. Never would she understand what was exciting about a man whispering
sweet nothings in her ear. Maybe her shinobi profession sucked any meaning out
of those sappy exchanges. When she could die any day, being told that she was
the most beautiful woman in the country just wasn't that appealing.
On that note, the last time she had been
with a man was hard to recall. A few months had passed, at the minimum, that
much she could tell. Relationships were a subject she'd rather avoid, having so
little to say on them. Her last boyfriend had been killed barely a month after
declaring his flame to her and any hopes of being part of a lasting and
fulfilling marriage buried with him. Reminders that a ninja's life was a hardship
were too easy to find. Even a decade later, Kurenai still mourned at Asuma's
grave, never to forget the father who left a child and lover behind. Fate was
cruel to them.
"Yo." A baritone voice suddenly
greeted, snatching the girl from her thoughts.
"Kakashi-senpai! I thought you would
never come." Suzuka exclaimed as a smile brightened her features, masking
her anger perfectly. If he picked up on the forced nature of it, he showed no
reaction.
"I would hate to disappoint you in
such a way, Suzuka-chan." He replied as he took a seat beside her. To top
it off, the only detail that had changed in his outfit was a missing flak jacket. By taking off even
that lone item, the other jonin appeared so much more casual, less
intimidating.
"I already got started." She
explained before taking another sip of her lukewarm drink. "I hope you
don't mind."
"Not at all." Kakashi let out as
he raised his hand to call a waiter. "Do you prefer warm or cold
saké?"
"Warm." At least he was gallant
enough to ask for her tastes.
When the bottle arrived, the older man
didn't hesitate to serve them both and offered her one of the cups as he raised
his own.
"To an easy mission?" He
suggested, lifting an eyebrow.
Suzuka gave a small nod before tilting the
warm container against her lips. In all honesty, she didn't enjoy the rice
beverage all that much unless it was a finer variety, hence why she preferred
it heated. The flavors dissipated in the process, making the taste easier to
stomach for the young woman. A soft chuckle escaped her lips when she noticed her
companion returned his empty cup to the table.
"I would be tempted to think it was
harsh, at the pace you drink." The young woman teased as she poured some
more of the liquid for him.
"Or just very inclined to
celebrate." He corrected as he took hold of the hand that held her own
drink, guiding it to her lips. "Celebrate with me."
Suzuka's fingers let go of her cup, instead
letting her friend hold it for her so he could press it against her lower lip.
Blaming the heat that spread across her cheeks to the alcohol, she parted her
lips and swallowed the rest of the cup's contents when he tipped it down. His
thumb swept across her lips, wiping away any remaining moisture.
"I have a feeling that this will be a
good night." Kakashi announced as he served her more saké.
If imbibing copious amounts of alcohol was
his definition of a fun time, then he was damn right.
___________________________________________________________________________________________
By the time Kakashi led her out of the bar,
all that Suzuka could see were blurry buildings that seemed to disappear before
she could even take a guess at what they were. Where they were going was
unclear, but in the back of her mind she heard his voice repeating that he was
taking her to his apartment so she could sober up. With a frustrated whimper,
she leaned into the Copy Nin, taking advantage of the support his hard body
provided. Either he handled his alcohol better than she did or he'd drunk far
less than she had. It was hard to keep track of the quantity each of them
ingested after he'd pushed the bottle out of her reach and insisted on serving
them both.
With a mind as foggy as the Water Country,
keeping her objective at the forefront of her mind had become increasingly
harder. Extracting answers from him, on the other hand, had been impossible.
The man had fed her stories of impressive missions and hilarious team moments,
all of which she had fair doubts were true. Kakashi was an incredible ninja
well versed in all of the shinobi arts; deception was no stranger to him.
No sooner than when he shut the door behind
her did she realize that they had entered his home. Out of habit, she kicked
her shoes off, sighing in relief when her feet landed on the wooden floor free
from any constraint. The hand Kakashi placed on her lower back ushered her
towards his bed, causing a sudden realization to dawn on her. The evening he
had planned was far from an innocent friendly outing. Clumsily, she stepped
away from the bed, bumping into his desk instead.
"Kakashi-senpai." Suzuka called
out as she pressed a hand to his chest, too weak to prevent him from closing
the distance between them.
With a kiss bordering on impatience, he
silenced her. A soft moan left her lips when his arms wrapped around her to
pull her even closer to him as he settled between her thighs, allowing his
tongue to enter her mouth and brush against hers. The fingers on his torso
gripped the thick material of his shirt, their owner momentarily lost in the
moment until the cogs in her brain restarted turning. This wasn't why she came
here.
"Kakashi-senpai." The young woman
repeated, pushing against his upper body with all the strength she could muster
in her drunken state. "Wait."
"I don't think I can do that."
Kakashi rasped before claiming her lips once more. His hands quickly busied
themselves with her dress, pushing it down until the top half pooled at her
waist so her naked chest was exposed to him.
"No, we can't do-- ah!" Her
sentence was cut short when his mouth captured one of her pert nipples, eliciting
another whimper from the female ANBU.
When her companion hiked the skirt of her dress
up her hips and tugged her underwear down her legs, Suzuka's heart hammered in
her chest, filling her ears with its insistent pounding. For just a second, she
was tempted to allow him to continue, to let his hand fondle her breast longer,
his lips tease hers a few more times; but she couldn't. Even if her body disagreed
strongly with her mind, fighting to convince it with every small jolt of electricity
that sent pleasurable waves down to her crotch, she knew she couldn't let this
happen.
"Release." She whispered meekly,
out of breath as Kakashi's mouth assaulted her neck with a flurry of hot
kisses. "Kakashi-senpai, it's me." Her voice, not so high-pitched
anymore, exclaimed as she gripped his shoulders, willing him to back away from
her.
Black hair had turned to vibrant pink, blue
eyes to emerald. He wanted to bed Suzuka, not Sakura.
"Sakura." Kakashi breathed out in
the crook of her neck as he ground her hips into hers, causing her hips to jerk
back against him due to the delicious sensation it sent throughout her body. He
seemed to calm down, though he didn't tear himself away from her.
Now that she was free to use her chakra
without exposing herself, the medic
hurried to break down any alcohol left in her system. As soon as he felt
the familiar energy, her best friend jumped a step back, eye wide as he finally
understood what was happening.
"Sakura?" He repeated, his jaw
slack. Even in such a shocked state, he'd remembered to pull his mask back up, while
she hadn't thought of stealing a glance earlier. Really, could there ever be a
moment where she didn't envy his skills anymore?
"Yes." Sakura nodded, grabbing
the desk for support as she tried to slow her heart down, still too stunned
from the turn of events to think about covering herself.
His dark eye roamed her naked form, barely
long enough for the woman to notice, before he spun on his heel to give her
some privacy. Understanding why he had turned away, she hurried to replace her
dress into a suitable position.
"A henge?" Kakashi questioned,
tone low and what she assumed to be hurt.
"Yes." She admitted, hanging her
head as guilt seeped through her. The henge was no basic jutsu, no such
low-level genjutsu could fool him. The jonin-level technique she had used
covered even her scent and voice, everything that could possibly give away her
true idendity. Deceiving him had been necessary; he would never have allowed
her to accompany him on ANBU missions otherwise.
"Why?" He asked as he dropped
onto the bed, leaning his arms on his knees as he looked up at her. The
expression he wore was unreadable even to Sakura, who knew him so well.
"You wouldn't have let me be your
partner otherwise." The kunoichi admitted as she sank to the floor,
letting the furniture support her.
"Why would you want to go with
me?" The even and quiet tone of his voice was far from a reflection of his
thoughts, that much was obvious to his old teammate.
"Don't be an idiot." She snapped
back, narrowing her eyes. "You know why!"
___________________________________________________________________________________________
"Kakashi-senpai!"
Sakura screeched as she ran to his side, gaze taking in his battered body for
injuries.
Injuries
which were not hard to find. The deep gash across his chest still gushed blood,
making her wonder if he was even still alive. The medic in her took over
immediately, her hands flying to the wound, glowing green as she did her best
to stop the bleeding.
"Kakashi-senpai!"
The pinkette cried out as tears welled up in her viridian eyes. "Talk to
me! Please!"
No
response.
Letting
loose a guttural scream she didn't recognize as her own, she focused on the
gaping hole that threatened her best friend's life, refusing to let him slip to
the other side just yet. Tsunade's hands joined her own quickly enough,
permitting hope to bloom in the young kunoichi's heart. With the two of them,
maybe they could still save him.
Inch
by inch, the skin was meshed back together, the bleeding long stopped. Lesser
medics had treated his minor injuries while Konoha's best worked on the
largest; a strategy that augmented his chances of survival by reducing the
overall stress inflicted on his body.
"Kakashi-senpai..."
Sakura begged, looking up at his closed eyes. "Please, wake up!"
Was
it too late already?
As
Tsunade finally closed the wound, Sakura stepped behind her former teacher,
cupping his head in her bloodied hands to force him to face her.
"Sensei..."
The
fingertips that brushed against his throat felt the irregular beat of his
heart, so weak she truly believed he was dying before her.
"You
can't."
Biting
her lip, she tapped his cheek lightly, watching closely for the moment his eyes
would open. He always came back alive. Always.
"You
can't, you can't, you can't, you just can't!" Sakura whispered
hysterically as her head hovered above his, tears spilling onto his cheeks.
"Kakashi-sensei..."
She murmured when he still didn't respond, the world around her spinning, her
breathing so erratic she might faint any second.
Sakura
pressed her cheek against his as her knees buckled, loud sobs racking her body.
He wasn't coming back this time. This was it, he was dead. Even he was gone.
"Sa...
kura?"
Her
eyes shot open as she heard his voice, wondering for a second if her mind was
playing tricks on her.
"Can't
breathe..." Kakashi wheezed.
"You're
alive?" The girl mumbled as she got to her feet, lifting her head to
examine him.
The
dark eye she knew so well was open and staring back into her own. Her heat
skipped a beat as her mouth fell open, words vanishing somewhere between her
throat and her lips.
___________________________________________________________________________________________
"I thought I'd lost you too."
Sakura's voice uttered brokenly. "I can't let it happen again."
"This has nothing to do with it."
Kakashi barked, standing up to pace the room.
"Don't lie to me." She muttered
as she got to her feet, wiping away her tears. "This has everything to do
with it."
"Even if it did, that's none of your
business!" He shouted, making the younger woman flinch in surprise. Never
before had he even raised his voice in her presence. "Deceiving me like
this was uncalled for!"
"Maybe if you'd speak to me I wouldn't
have to do this!" Sakura screamed as she approached him, gripping his arm
to make him face her.
Kakashi slapped her hand away and glared
down at her, the anger swirling in his onyx depth unmistakable. "I don't
speak to you because there's nothing to say."
"Like hell there is!" The
pinkette growled as she shoved him a step back. "You've been distant for a
while already... Then you just return to ANBU and there's nothing to say about
that?!"
Her ex-sensei gripped her wrists, making
her wince in pain, before he pushed her against the nearest wall and trapped
her there with his body. Defiantly, the kunoichi maintained eye contact,
determined not to let him win so easily even if the lump forming in the back of
her throat threatened to choke her.
"I said," He started, tone so low
it sent shivers down her spine, "it's none of your business, Sakura."
"I'm sure you'd be the last to follow
your own advice" She rasped, struggling to loosen his hold her hands.
When he freed her, Kakashi's head leaned
closer to hers, his gaze locked with hers.
"Leave." He ordered bluntly, his
warm breath tickling her lips and reminding her of the very different tension
they had shared barely minutes ago. Maybe if she offered him something else, he
might be more compliant.
"No." Sakura insisted as her
hands wove into his hair and pulled him closer until her lips crashed against
his.
Jade eyes slid closed as she kissed him,
feeling her ex-sensei tense against her before he gave in and responded, with
added aggression. After having pulled down his mask, he slanted his mouth
against hers once more, becoming gradually more demanding and forceful.
"What are you doing?" Kakashi
asked as he pulled away to breathe.
"What do you think?" She muttered
before leaning in for another kiss.
"You don't want this." He said as
he broke the kiss, mask pulled up already. "You won't fool me twice."
Defeated, Sakura sighed as she let her head
roll back against the wall. Her companion moved away to sit on the mattress
again, burying his face in his hands to hide his frustration. Staring at the
ceiling seemed to be the best option for the moment, although it didn't help
her find a solution to this mess.
"What's wrong with you?" Kakashi grumbled as he looked up at her.
"I'm your sensei."
"You seemed to have no problem with
that just a minute ago." The kunoichi mumbled as she ran a hand though her
hair. At this point, she couldn't bring herself to give a damn.
"You can go now if you only intend to
mock me." He sighed as he laid down on the mattress, staring at the
ceiling.
"That wasn't my point. You're just
trying to change the subject again." She pointed out while she walked to
the his desk so she could sit on it.
Looking at Kakashi splayed out on the bed,
Sakura's lips twiched in a tiny smile. She knew the body under that huge shirt
so well. After all, she was the only medic he would allow to perform his annual
check ups. Why he hid under such baggy clothes was another mystery. As much as
she hated to admit it considering the anger that still boiled within her, he
had gotten her quite worked up. All those times where she had been a tad bit
too lonely on late nights or when their sparring sessions became a little too
physical were resurfacing in her mind and only added to it. Now wasn't the time
to ponder over such trivial matters, she reminded herself.
"You should go anyway." Arguments
were never his thing, were they?
"Kakashi-senpai..." Sakura
pleaded, her expression showing him all the regret she felt for duping him.
"Go." He repeating as he pointed
the door.
With a sigh, the junior obeyed his command.
As she opened the door, she turned to throw a last glance his way, catching
little more than a pool of dark blue with a tuft of silver hair. Feminine
fingers tightened around the doorknob, their holder torn between the desire to
stay and to respect his wishes. Ignoring the pain in her chest, the kunoichi
exited the room. Oddly enough, the simple sound of the door clicking shut made
her heart clench, as if she was leaving behind a piece of herself.
The path to home being so familiar to her
meant that her feet carried her with a will of their own, while she only went
through the motions mechanically. The cold winds bit into her skin, feeling no
remorse for the girl who had to hug herself for a meager amount of warmth. For
some reason, she couldn't remember the temperature being that low that evening
as she and Kakashi returned to his apartment. The saké might have been responsible
for it, she reminded herself.
This situation was to be expected. Deep
down, she had hoped that Kakashi would open up to Suzuka after a mission or two
before she simply vanished into thin air. Yet, Sakura was aware that this was
only wishful thinking. How would she have approached him then, confronted him
with the knowledge of why he had returned to ANBU? No matter how much she
pondered over it, she was convinced that his reason was not innocent.
Nonetheless, the expression in his eyes
when he had realized what she had done haunted her. All she had in mind was his
well-being. Believing that he would understand was naïve, she knew. Yet,
whether because she had clung to the belief anyway or simply refused to think
of all possible outcomes, she hadn't been prepared for his reaction. Never in
almost fifteen years had they fought. They had gone through the occasional
scuffle, but nothing serious. While she had screamed at him countless times for
various reasons, he had barely ever raised his voice. The few times he had
shouted at her had only been out of concern, whenever an enemy wounded her.
To know he had joined ANBU again had
created a hollowness inside her, left her to think he thought too little of her
to inform her of such an important decision. Finding out by treating his near
fatal injuries had been a shock. She had always steeled herself for such a
heartwrenching moment, but the preparation did nothing to lessen her anxiety
and anguish when he had arrived, dressed in ANBU uniform no less. Why he had
retained the information from her was a mystery to the kunoichi; a mystery that
cut deep. Did he not trust her enough to share this with her?
What she would have done if he had died
that night... She couldn't bear to lose him, too. Too many had died in the war,
far too many. The Juubi had been an immense threat all by itself, but paired
with Madara destruction had been inevitable in every country. The faces of many
comrades flashed before her mind, some friends, some acquaintances. The young
woman inhaled a long, shaky breath as she shut her eyes, fighting the tears
that tried to well up in the corner of her jade eyes. Thinking about them still brought her so much pain, even a decade
later.
Losing Kakashi was not an option. He was
all that she had left, the only person she shared a deep connection and bond
with. He couldn't go just yet, not when she still needed him, more so than
ever. She could never let go of him. If he was to be gone... Then she might as
well follow. An exhausted sigh escaped her throat, which had tightened
uncomfortably. As much as she desired nothing more should he die, she was well
aware that letting herself wither and let life leave her body would be
irresponsible and selfish.
As was believing that her ex-sensei was the
only one who was there for her. Tsunade was still alive, too. She was truly a
second mother for the kunoichi, but their friendship was different. They met
each other either at the hospital or the Hokage building, exchanged brief
greetings and shared bits and pieces of medical knowledge every now and then,
but that was where their relationship ended. Perhaps it was because of her
advanced age that Sakura feared her death less. She was almost sixty-five,
after all. Her absence would still be painful to the young girl, but it was
inevitable. No one was immortal. Or at the least, not at a reasonable price.
Kakashi was still only forty. He wasn't a young man anymore, but he still had
many years left ahead of him if he was careful, as Tsunade and Hiruzen had
proved.
What about her team? Hideki, Hajime and
Akemi counted on her to train them. They were already chuunin, fortunately, and
could take care of themselves, but she still tutored them. Whenever she was not
out on an A or S-ranked mission, she was their captain, in the same manner
Kakashi had remained close to team seven even after their graduation. She still
had so much to teach them and the kids were eager to learn. Maybe it was simply
because she was their sensei, but she loved the brats to bits. Just as Kakashi
had promised them, she had vowed to protect each of them with her life. They
would grow into fine shinobi.
Ino had survived the war as well, much to
Sakura's relief. While they spent very little time together due to their many
responsibilities and having a team of genin of their own, the two women still indulged
in gossping whenever they had the chance. The Yamanaka was the sister that she
had never had. No matter how much they fought, they were always a shoulder for
the other to cry on should one of them have a reason to shed tears. Maybe if
luck decided to shine on her tomorrow, she would get to spend some time with
the girl.
Before Sakura realized it, she had stepped
in her home and locked the door behind her. A glance at the clock showed it was
late, past midnight already, but she was well aware that sleep would elude her
for quite a while. Hopefully tea would soothe her enough to allow her to find a
few hours of sleep before the sun rose. With this in mind, she rummaged through
her cupboards to find her kettle and tea bags. As she waited for it to be
ready, the kunoichi couldn't help but wonder what Kakashi was doing by now.
Had he managed to fall asleep soon after
she had left? It was usual for him to rest his body too little for his own
good, but perhaps tonight had been different. Slumber was such an easy escape
from the torment of an active mind that would pester you with constant thoughts
of either painful or infuriating events. In a way, she hoped that sleep had
claimed him quickly. With a few days to mull over their situation and her
demand, he would calm down and let go of his anger towards her. She could always
wish.
___________________________________________________________________________________________
"Tsunade-shishou."
Sakura called as she knocked on the door of her superior's office.
"Come
in." The older woman replied, voice even and free of any indication that
she was drunk again, much to her pupil's relief. This conversation required
seriousness.
"Tsunade-shishou."
The pinkette greeted with a nod of her head as she made her way to the Hokage's
desk.
"What
is it?" The blonde lady replied, apparently in a foul mood already so
early in the morning.
"I
wanted to speak about Kakashi-senpai." Sakura demanded, standing as
straight as she could while images of Kakashi's bloody return danced in her
mind, still fresh.
"Of
course you would." Tsunade mumbled as she placed the reports back on the
desk, looking up at her subordinate for the first time. Even if her tone was
rough, the junior could still see worry flashing in her honey eyes. "What
did you want to ask me?"
"Why
did he go back to ANBU?" The young woman asked, hiding none of her worry
and fear.
"I
don't know." Came Tsunade's simple answer as she looked out the window,
leaning her cheek in her palm.
"Didn't
you ask him before accepting his request?" Her pupil inquired as she
stepped closer to the desk, gripping the end of it with her small hands.
"No,
it was none of my business." The Hokage replied with a sigh, raking her
other through her bangs. "He's a great asset to ANBU and that is all I
considered before accepting."
Sakura
knew that duty came before anything else for them; for shinobi. Yet, the answer
she received from the woman she loved like a mother was hard to swallow.
Foolishly, she had hoped her mentor would have refused his application in her favor, to keep him where it was safer
so she wouldn't have to fear for his life quite as much. But Kakashi, just like
her and any other ninja, was a tool to his village. While they weren't treated
as mere objects, they would be used for the best interest of Konoha if they
agreed. It was thanks to people like them that the village remained safe and
prosperous.
"I
know it's not easy for you, Sakura." The busty woman let out, snapping the
other out of her thoughts. "But I won't interfere with his choice."
Obviously,
her shishou believed the same thing as her. Her former sensei was not returning
to the special squad for fun. His motives were much darker. Still, she refused
to admit it. She would hear it from his mouth if she was to believe it. Until
then, she had to make sure he would live.
Which
left her with only one option.
Sakura
decided right then that she would follow him and protect him, no matter what
she must do for it. The Copy Ninja had saved her so many times already. At
first, it had been because she was a weak genin that had a knack for throwing
herself in harm's way, until she became strong and no longer needed his
protection so much. There were still the moments where powerful enemies would
gain the upperhand over her, and he would always come in time to pull her away
from the blade that could have killed her.
After
the war, he had been the one to keep her sane, to hold her when she would cry
her heart out at night, mourning the many people who had lost their lives to
protect the living. Without his help, Sakura had no idea how she could have
coped with the overwhelming pain that threatened to swallow her whole. No
matter how inconsolable she would be, he remained next to her and guided her
through it. She was aware he had experienced similar losses in his own time,
that he knew what she was feeling. Maybe it had been why he was so comforting.
Now,
it was her turn. She would help him, no matter what it took.
"Then
let me be his medic on any ANBU mission he is assigned to." Sakura
demanded as she looked up at her mentor, eyes glimmering with a newfound
determination.
"What?"
The blonde exclaimed, blinking rapidly. "Are you crazy, girl?!" She
shouted as she jumped to her feet, slapping a palm to the desk.
"I
don't care." The pinkette stated while locking her gaze with the older
woman's. "You said you wouldn't interfere with Kakashi-senpai's choice, so
let me make my own."
The
duo didn't move for quite a while, competing in a glaring contest until one of
them relented. Even now that she pratically matched her Hokage in almost every
skill, holding such intense eye contact remained intimidating. Sakura held
great respect for the woman and disliked challenging her in such a reckless
way, but there was no other way around this. She had to do this.
"Keh."
Tsunade growled as she plopped down in her chair, closing her eyes when she
returned her cheek to her palm. "Fine."
The
younger kunoichi stared at the other woman for a few seconds before her lips
curled in a timid smile. It wasn't often that they argued over important
matters, and this was the first time she had managed to convince her. As a
bonus, it hadn't even been that hard. Then again, Tsunade could most likely
tell how this situation was eating her up alive on the inside.
"You
can go now, I'll do the necessary paperwork and call you when we have to tattoo
you." The Hokage muttered as she shooed her disciple, frowning at her.
"Thank
you, Tsunade-shishou." Sakura whispered as she exited the room, turning
back to throw her a grateful glance.
___________________________________________________________________________________________
As she lay in bed, eyes closed in an
attempt to inspire sleep to claim her, Sakura's mind was filled with thoughts
that came and went as they pleased. It seemed slumber was not what her body
desired, no matter how heavy her eyelids became. After having spent the better
part of the night replaying the evening spent with Kakashi in her head and
trying to figure out a way to fix the whole mess she had created, she still
came up empty-handed. The only result was a throbbing head and wet cheeks, and
a now relatively clear mind that refused to rest.
The only part of the night that she hadn't
yet picked apart and autopsied was the hot exchange while she was in the form
of Suzuka. Just because of the images that flashed before her eyes, a small
jolt of electricity was sent down from her abdomen to between her thighs.
Sakura sighed as she rolled onto her back, opening her eyes to stare at the
ceiling above her. That moment hadn't been part of her plan, at all. Never had
she expected Kakashi to take such a... liking to Suzuka. In fifteen years, it
was the first time she'd even heard of him showing sexual interest towards
someone else.
Of course, that didn't stop her from
wondering about him every now and then. After all, he was a handsome man. At
forty, he still appeared barely thirty and his reputation was more than
impressive. What young woman wouldn't be attracted to such an extraordinary
male? For all she knew, he was the strongest in Konoha. Back when she was still
a chuunin, it had been hard not to let her imagination wander about where else
her teacher excelled. His position only made him all the more desirable, in a
way. She had never thought this kind of fantasy would be what made her squirm,
but the thought of being taken by her teacher, the top jonin of Konoha who had
promised to protect her with his life plenty of times, was definitely a turn
on.
That was when her curiosity started, but
also when it peaked. Ever since, it had been occasional. She would think about
him, wonder how experienced he was or just what he liked on some lonely nights
where her libido manifested itself. Daydreaming about bedding her former
teacher and teammate wouldn't do her any good. Distractions were welcome every
now and then, but not when they popped up every time you spoke to someone. Now
though, she was alone and Kakashi certainly wouldn't be visiting her any time
soon.
Her cheeks flushed as Sakura remembered
just how he had touched and kissed her. He'd really been about to have his way
with her, she noted. Her panties had been removed, all that was left was for
him to... The girl bit her lip as warmth rushed to her lower abdomen, reliving
some of the sensations he had created. If she'd been wondering if he could be
any good, she had definitely been answered, and quite in detail too. When she
had kissed him, he'd responded to her. The kiss had been harsh and demanding,
but still good enough to make her sway for a little while.
A little relaxation couldn't hurt, could
it? In fact, it would surely help seduce the sandman...
Sakura wriggled out of her clothes,
deciding that they were too restricting and her apartment too hot to need them
either way. With a content sigh, she settled back down on the mattress until
she found that perfect, comfortable spot. Her hand travelled down to the warm
spot between her thighs, caring little for teasing any other sensitive skin.
Patience was not her forte tonight. The company of a male certainly wouldn't
have been refused that night, but wandering out to fetch one would be too much
trouble. Although, Kei, her usual partner, most likely wouldn't have minded the
midnight visit.
As her finger traced her slit, the kunoichi
breathed out a quiet whimper. The image of a certain silver-haired man popped
up in her mind, his head between her thighs. Gasping, the medic pressed her
thumb against her clit to relieve some of the pressure that had just gathered
there. The girl bit her lip and shut her eyes tightly, a small growl escaping
her lips. He was definitely not the one she was supposed to be thinking of.
Surely it would be easier if the imaginary sight of his face against her sex
didn't make her so darn aroused. Or maybe if he kissed his way up her breasts
and...
Enough. There were plenty of other guys who
could fill this role.
Yet, with every stroke and moan, the
scenarios including her ex-sensei only multiplied. She really tried to convince
her stubborn imagination to picture another person with her in her bed, but its
refusal only strengthened as her arousal increased. Proportionally, her will
only weakened as she neared her climax. What did it matter? Kakashi wouldn't
know. Fantasizing about him just this once wouldn't hurt any body. In fact, her
body seemed to be very enthusiastic about the idea.
Just this once.
___________________________________________________________________________________________
Even as they ran side by side, jumping
through the trees and heading towards Warabi once more, Kakashi was intent on
ignoring her. He'd muttered a half-hearted greeting when they had met at the gates
of the village, and that was been all he had said all day. While the sun was
heading west already, getting ready to set and give place to the moon and
night, Sakura enjoyed its last warm rays on the small patches of skin that were
exposed. The comforting heat of the sun was what she missed most in
winter. At the very least, the kunoichi
could be thankful that it had been warm and bright today. Another gloomy autumn
day would only have enhanced the sour mood that floated between them.
The mission they were assigned was related
to their previous one. Again, Sakura had to wonder why ANBU were sent to do
this kind of work. It required little skill, especially since no other ninja
were involved. Breaking two lovers apart was something anyone with a minimum of
brain could do. To send two highly skilled shinobi overseas twice for this crap
seemed strange. Perhaps Tsunade was throwing grunt work their way so she
wouldn't be at risk, so she wouldn't have to go through the horrors of the
special division just to help her friend.
As much as the theory relieved her, it also
angered Sakura. Her and Kakashi's talents shouldn't be wasted on useless
missions like these, even if it was for their safety. As a kunoichi, she was
well aware that she could die any day on the field and accepted the risk
willingly. Konoha's best interest was her priority. On the other hand, maybe
she only saw one side of the situation. If her shishou had wanted to keep her
from harm's way, she might as well have removed Kakashi from ANBU to save her
the trouble of joining to help him.
All she had to worry about was the
objective. Two major business companies whose leaders' children were involved
in a romantic relationship were a nuisance to somebody. It was easy to come to
the conclusion that it was the father of Ichiro who employed them. After all,
why would he try to scare his own son out of the relationship when he could
target the daughter of his competitor instead? Considering that the woman had
been mooching information on the Sugawara company from Ichiro, it would only be
normal that the CEO would want her out of the picture.
How they were to go about it wasn't
precised in the briefing, but that was to be expected. As Konoha's highest
ranking shinobi, they were more than able to come up with a decent strategy
that wouldn't expose their village's involvement. Refraining from showing off
that they were ninja was also included in the details. They were pratically
unheard of overseas, and desired to remain that way. No Kage in their right
mind would agree to send their troops away for extended periods of time in a
land they knew very little of. The payoff for this mission must have been
exorbitant for Tsunade to accept it. Their employer was one of the richest men
in Warabi, after all, it was no surprise that he would agree to spend an
incredible amount of money to achieve his goals.
"Why
did you join ANBU?" The dry baritone voice pulled Sakura out her thoughts.
The younger woman looked at her teammate,
expression blank. As if that answer wasn't obvious...
"Because I was worried for you,
Kakashi-senpai." She muttered, pratically muted out by the sound of the
wind.
"Somehow, that makes sense to
you?" He replied, casting her an annoyed glance.
"Maybe I'd change my mind if I knew
everything you did." The kunoichi spat back, hiding none of the anger that
swirled in her emerald orbs.
"You don't need to worry about me,
Sakura." Kakashi retorted, his tone losing some of its edge. Simply
hearing her name made the girl feel better. Over the years, she'd discovered
her companion refrained from using it in arguments. It was a strange habit, she
felt, but it made her feel safer.
"Fine then." Sakura sighed with a
shrug of her shoulders. "If I'm going to risk my life out on missions,
then I'd rather it be with you..." As if predicting where his partner was
going with this, Kakashi 's head spun to look at her, eyes narrowing. "I
know I'll die out there one day," she continued, lowering her gaze to the
grass below her moving feet. "It'd be nice to share my last mission with
you, sensei."
After all what had happened in the last
decade, all they had lost in the process, Sakura could say these words
confidently. It would only be fitting that they leave this world together.
Neither of them would have to suffer the loss of the other; it would be a
painless conclusion to their story.
If only everything was so simple.
A gloved hand grasped her wrist, forcing her
to skid to a stop and be swirled around to face her captain. He held her hand
close to his shoulder, his black eye staring straight in her own, darkened with
an unspoken threat. Matching his gaze was overwhelming in that moment. Ranks
and skill didn't possess any weight in this situation; all that was left were
raw emotions.
Why was the thought of Kakashi dying, even
when she wasn't alive herself to experience the loss, still such a
heartwrenching idea?
Much to her surprise, he broke their visual
contact to turn his head to the side. She could have sworn he had sworn under
his breath, but the cussing never actually reached her ears, leaving the woman
to wonder if she had imagined it. His fingers left her wrist, only to travel
down to her back and pull her against him in a delicate embrace while his other
hand cupped the back of her head. Sakura could only blink, too surprised to even
move her hands, which were still suspended in the air at his sides.
"You're too young to be thinking about
such things." Kakashi whispered into her hair. "I regret not being
able to protect you from all of this."
"Kakashi-senpai..." Sakura
breathed out, too shocked to be able to reply.
"Just try to be happy, okay? For all
of us." For all of us... For those that didn't get the chance to live long
enough.
His arms lowered to his sides slowly as he
took a step back, refusing to look her in the eye. He had never hugged her
before. Of course, she had been a little too affectionate for his taste every
now and then, but he had never initiated it.
"What about you?" The kunoichi
asked, raising a pink eyebrow. "Why can't you be happy for them too?"
"Who told you I was unhappy?"
Kakashi countered, slipping his hands in his pockets.
"You." Sakura answered, frowning
and frustrated that he still avoided the topic so stubbornly.
"I don't recall saying such a
thing." He let out as he started walking, only waiting for her to follow
him before he resumed their previous pace.
Once more, she had a perfect view of his
back. Backs seemed to be what she saw the most as a child. Whether it was his,
or theirs, she saw them all too often. They were always going ahead of her,
leaving her behind, jumping in harm's way to protect her... Even as an adult,
he thought she could still believe that the world was all flowers and beauty.
"Do you think I am happy,
Kakashi-senpai?" Sakura inquired as she sped up to stand at his side.
He looked at her for a second before
looking straight ahead of him again, hesitating to answer her question.
"Are you?" He asked, breaking the
long silence that had swallowed their conversation.
"You really can't tell?" She
replied evenly, lips curling in a small, sad smile as she observed him examine
her.
___________________________________________________________________________________________
With the stars bright and the moon high in
the sky, Sakura was able to relax after a harsh day of travelling. If running
all these hours hadn't taken its toll on her, the exchange with Kakashi had.
The kunoichi was convinced that she hadn't the last of her partner's sour mood
caused by her deception, but she was relieved that he put it aside for the time
being. Her cheeks stung from the cold breeze that blew by every now and then,
though she paid it little attention. It was a welcome distraction from her
train of thoughts. This time, she was dressed warmly, thankfully.
Being hugged by the Copy Nin had been quite
a shocker. Replaying the fresh memory in her mind still made excitement rise in
her abdomen. It had taken him fourteen years to do this. How long would it be
until he was able to open up to her?
Emerald eyes roamed over his sleeping form,
watching him intently now that he was unaware of her gaze on him. Other than
his return to ANBU, there were very few clues to his current state of mind.
After all, he had always been aloof and quite stoic. Still, Sakura was certain
that his adamant refusal to admit that he wasn't in tip-top shape in that
rock-hard head of his wasn't normal. Call it instinct, but she just knew that
he wasn't doing well and was maybe too proud to seek help.
What could push someone as exceptional as
Kakashi to suicide missions?
Tsunade had come to the same conclusion as
her as well, so Sakura felt secure in her opinion. Shinobi who gave up on life
weren't uncommon. While they were far from the majority, Sakura wasn't
acquainted with another ninja who hadn't suffered the loss of a friend through
this means. In a way, she had been spared from this, though life had
compensated for this blessing otherwise.
Why Kakashi only reacted this way a decade
after the war confused her. If it was all the deaths and atrocities they had
witnessed, then why hadn't he gone back to ANBU years earlier? The man was the
strongest person alive and she was certain of it, so what had happened for him
to act like this so suddenly? Thinking back on her own situation, the kunoichi
found these questions impossible to answer.
Their friends had sacrificed their own
lives so that all of them could live. How could he throw away their gift so
carelessly?
___________________________________________________________________________________________
Next chapter: Necessary Anger
Now
in Warabi for a whole week, Kakashi must deal with Sakura's constant presence
to execute their new mission. His lack of teamwork frustrates her greatly and
his anger at being deceived resurfaces, narrowing their chances of success and
increasing the tension between the two of them.
___________________________________________________________________________________________
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