A/N: My first Naruto fanfiction. It's pretty much Sakura/Kakashi centric. Which is pretty much the only place for this pairing. The flow isn't perfect but I was happy enough with it. I am considering a continuation, but I'm still not sure. There's a reference to "Kakashi Gaiden" which if you haven't read—you should. It's awesome. Tell me what you think.
Kakashi-Kun
Sakura breathed in the moist air. It had been so long since she had experienced the delightfully moist weather of her home village. Two months in the airid Sand Village will do that to anyone. She was actually glad about the prospects of rain. She tried not to think about what had transpired there.
Gaara. No, the Kazekage had practically tore himself apart worrying about the people of his village.
Sadly so many didn't make it. No matter how many times she saw it death got to her. She scoffed inwardly she was still so weak. A shinobi shouldn't cry as much as she did. She touched her puffy eyes. The sand village would need much assistance from Konaha in the coming days and months, even years.
The rosy haired woman practically scuffled past the gate and was nodded through by the two familiar shinobi there.
The medical ninja was utterly exhausted mentally and physically. She couldn't wait to be back to her apartment and sleep. Maybe have a couple drinks first…
Unfortunately she had to submit her missions report first. Yes, on to speak with the Hokage of the leaf village.
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Hokage Tsunade looked out at the very gray overcast sky above the village.
"Very ominous" She mumbled rubbing her chin thoughtfully.
Sakura stepped up beside her.
If Tsunade had she not been trained not to she would have jumped. Her apprentice was very light on her feet the proud woman couldn't help but think a little proudly.
"Hello, Sakura back from the Sand? How did it go?"
She sighed "Very tiring." You have no idea how bad, just wait until you read this report. Sakura glanced at it, looking so harmless in its little beige folder. Bastard. Good grief I am tired, I'm berating a folder! Of all things. The tired ninja shook her head trying to wake up some brain cells.
Tsunade understanding how Sakura felt did not push the issue further. This report will probably make more work for me. Shot. I'm never going to get the sleep I need.
"I put the report on your desk Hokage-sama"
"Very good." She tried to resist sarcasm.
Just then the door to the Hokages' office flew open her two subordinates came rushing in.
"You're needed in the conference room immediately!" they breathed simultaneously.
"What is it?" she narrowed her eyes.
"The, the representative for the hidden Waterfall Village have arrived." One stuttered.
"Early?" she groaned "When am I going to get some sleep? Tell them to stay in the guest room until I'm finished with some important business."
"Hai, Hokagae-sama!" They zipped away quickly.
Sakura gave her an annoyed look.
"You just slept for two hours on your desk"
The blonde gave her a puzzled look but before she could ask any questions she was interrupted.
"Yes!" a very frazzled Shizune, cried out from the doorway as she stormed in.
"Sleeping! When you were supposed to be filling out these papers!" She slammed the rather large pile of papers angrily on the desk.
Tsunade looked a little sheepish, before coming to her senses.
"Yes! To the extremely important meeting!" She cried out motioning to the door now quite ecstatic about the conference. "Hey! You two, wait there!"
Suddenly the crazy blonde popped her head back into her office.
Her face became very serious.
"Sakura" She said softly "Would you please take Kakashi his medicine"
She started a little "Of course"
"Thank you, and Sakura…"
"Yes?" She looked at her teacher expectantly.
"He is still grieving, I'm worried."
"I'm sorry I couldn't be here for the funeral, I've been meaning to get some flowers…" She trailed off in thought.
"You were doing your duty Sakura."
"I know but it just seems." She looked at her teacher sincerely.
"I'll see you later." Tsunade smiled trying to comfort her.
"Don't worry Tsunade-sama" she said assuringly.
"That's the star pupil I know" She gave her a pat on the head before striding quickly out the door. Quick enough that she didn't see Sakura start to cry. The rain had finally began to fall.
"Damn it" Sakura hissed angrily. She wiped the tears from her eyes and stomped out of the office shutting the door a little harder than necessary.
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Rain fell lightly on Kakashis' window he stared out into the darkened sky. His hair was still wet from walking in the cold rain. He had needed to visit an old friend. It was so quiet here, he wouldn't readily admit it, but it was very lonely as well.
A knock on his door alerted him to a visitor. He slowly turned around and made his way to the door. He put his hand on the handle his head downcast as he looked at the handle, defeatedly closing his eyes.
Whoever it was knocked lightly again upon the door insisting he open it.
He only opened his one brown eye. Looking back on the end table by his couch where his head protector lay. He was tired, wet and the wound on his chest was not completely healed. It burned and ached, almost as much as his heart did.
"Kakashi?"
"Sakura-chan?" He whispered so lightly it barely reached his own ears. He couldn't imagine what she was doing here.
"Are you there?" Soaked to the bone and shivering she asked already knowing very well that he was there.
She could not have heard him so he cleared his throat with effort. "Sakura-Chan?" his voiced cracked, as he was unable to hide his sadness, his hand tightened on the handle. He wouldn't cry. He had promised himself he wouldn't cry. His hand on the handle was shaking. He released his grasp on the handle.
Sakura outside the door saw the handle quake slightly.
He heard her sigh sadly.
"Please, Tsunade sent me." the sonance of her heavy voice through the dark sounded so caring and warm.
So she couldn't make it, so she sends you?
Kakashi stared up at the door placing a hand on the smooth dark wood.
He bit his lip.
"I can't" the tears were obvious in his voice to her.
"Kakashi…" she choked "Don't do this."
"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry—"
"No don't, please don't," she cried her voice slightly muffled.
"I have your medicine, just for a moment. Open up. Please. Let me in."
The handle slowly turned.
The door eased open and the proud jounin the infamous copy ninja of Konaha stood there in the dark of his home still holding the knob of the door tightly looking strong. He couldn't fool her, though. She saw, through it all. When she looked at him she saw…the sadness, the wet clothes, his matted hair the way his hands relaxed in a desperate way by his side. He had been in the rain.
Visiting Friends.
She took a hesitant step towards him. Slowly she reached up and rested a hand on his shoulder. Then reached her arm around wrapping her arm around his neck.
Kakashi stood unmoving. "Sakura-chan. I'm fine. Don't worry about me." she leaned back resting both hands on his solid shoulders.
She gazed at him now; looking at that fake smile she had seen before and had come to attain its painful meaning.
Tears welled up in her dark emerald eyes.
"Don't try that. I'm not a kid anymore." She bore right into his brown eye and red sharingan with her green pools.
The smile melted of his face the crinkles in his mask disappeared.
He looked away moving out of her touch grabbing her wrist lightly, removing her hand from his shoulder.
"I know." He waved it off.
"Kakashi. Please don't hide from me. I am your friend. No matter what." She reached out her hand for his mask.
"No, I can't"
She lowered her hand and her gaze. Holding her arm insecurely.
The rose haired ninja looked up defiantly. "Kakashi!" she started holding up a fist. She grabbed his retreating form by the shoulder making him face her with his placid expression.
"There was nothing you could have done. Please don't hurt yourself so much…" her voice broke as she realized what she had said.
"I'm not hurting myself Sakura—"
"Liar!" She breathed raggedly.
"You know how much it hurts to lose somebody…" she continued then trailing off sadly.
He glanced her way "In the way that you lost your—"
He raised a warning hand "Don't you dare Sakura. Don't you dare speak of that."
She gave him a conflicted angry stare "Stop pretending to be so indignant!"
"I'll be and do, whatever the hell I want!" He yelled icily slicing his hand across the air violently, his breathing heavy, his eyes wild.
Sakura looked at him as if she had been stabbed in the heart.
"Kakashi…" she uttered quietly looking away.
"I'm sorry I shouldn't…I shouldn't have gotten angry like that." Her ran his shaking fingers through his damp hair remorsefully.
She took steps forward across the gape between them she grasped his shoulders tightly. He tried to turn away
"No." she whispered quietly as she reached up pulling back his defense, the mask fell lightly around his neck. Leaving his sad face bare.
A moment of tension passed as they realized what had happened.
You're such a handsome man. No this is Kakashi, my friend. Even so I can't help but want to touch his lips…
Her eyes studied his face she resisted the urge to touch his lips, instead she stopped her hand by his face and reached for his hair trying to tame the naturally gray locks of hair that had fallen into his face. He gazed back at her not shying from her touch.
Why are you acting like this Sakura-chan? I thought you might kiss me…"You act like everyone else's lives are the only ones that matter. I admire the chivalry. But you must value your life too" Her hand fell to his jaw tracing it. He shivered visibly.
He glanced at her stubbornly then grabbed her wrist.
"There's nothing wrong with mine." She said accusingly.
"What are you saying?" his voice shook a little.
"My wrists." She shook from his grasp and enlacing his hand in hers pulling back the sleeve of his black shirt.
She gasped at the revealing jagged marks scattered along his wrists.
He was angry but the shame overcame that.
"Don't do that." He whispered pulling the sleeve back to cover the scars turning away from her.
"Are you punishing yourself? For not saving them?" She asked her eyes moving rapidly trying to see through him.
His back still to her he quaked and pulled his fingers into fist. Something feral took over as he brought his hands forward pushing her against the wall pinning her there.
He looked hard into her wide shining green eyes.
"Yes!" he yelled "Yes!" he breathed in harshly. Hot tears began streaming sullenly down his face.
"That is why I did it! Is that…!" He paused now looking into her presently calm face with confusion. His grip loosened he could not keep his eyes on hers anymore he looked away quietly. Relinquishing his hold on her shoulders. Dropping his hands to his side.
"…What you wanted to hear?" the shinobi finished as he turned his attention back to her..
"No." she whispered ready to speak again until he cut her off.
"Then what do you want from me?" he murmured.
"I want you to sit down so I can change those bloody bandages.
"My…" he looked at her where his chest was against her, noticing that blood had seeped through his shirt onto hers.
"Sit down Kakashi-san" She pushed him down onto his couch. "Take off your shirt."
"This just got weird." He said as he removed his shirt he grimaced a little realized it really hurt.
"I'll get your medicine for the pain." She reached into her the medical case on her thigh.
"Here I'll go get some water"
"No, this is fine." He grabbed the pill bottle from her hand brushing her palm ever so slightly. She gave him slightly irritated look but proceeded to grab the medical scissors from her pouch. He tensed as the chilly metal touched on his stomach.
"Hey now." Kakashi said a little nervously.
"Relax, I've done this tons of times."
He relaxed a little after she assured him a couple times more.
The medical ninja took a sharp intake of breath at seeing his torn chest. The stitches were oozing very profusely.
"Does it look bad doctor?" his tone was almost light hearted.
"Don't try to be funny Hatake." She scolded at how lightly he was taking his wounds.
"What did you do? Go for a sprint with Gai?" she snapped a little irked.
"Actually—"
"Never mind, don't answer that, for the sake of my sanity." She cut him off motioning with her hand.
"Sit up a little, okay? Sakura instructed quietly.
Her fingers worked the bandages around him neatly and professionally. So perfect with such ease.
"Alright, all done! How does it feel?"
Kakashi groaned "Horrible."
"Sorry. Healing ninjutsu can only do so much Kakashi-kun"
There was a frozen moment.
"What did you just call me?"
She looked bewildered.
"Nothing, what are you talking about?" She looked around nervously.
"Never mind" he smiled leaning back sleepily
"I'm tired."
"That's the effects of the medicine." She said plaintively.
Probably the reason why your acting so loopy too.
"Was it what you expected?"
"Was what, what I expected?"
"My face?"
"It's only a face a mother would love" she smirked.
Kakashi feigned a hurt look as he leaned back onto the couch grunting a little.
He opened one eye to look at her. He motioned her with his hand to come closer. She complied. Then as easily as anything he planted a peck on her cheek.
"Good night…Sakura-chan" he muttered.
She blushed deeply holding her face.
"Good night, Kakashi…" she breathed deeply "Kun"
But he was already asleep.
END