Something To Prove
Prologue
Yeah, so I was watching part of Teen Mom one night and I just got this idea for a KakaSaku story. I haven't decided whether it should be a one shot or have on so if you think I should continue tell me, please! Cause I honestly have good ideas for this story but then again, I sort of doubt them. So if you'd just let me know your thoughts, it would be appreciated. Oh and for those who read this... THANK YOU. You're so nice and I love you. :"-)
Ok, now on to the story.
It was a quiet, lazy day during Konoha. Sakura's hospital shift was ending and she was just about to be on her way home to see Ino who had been watching her son the past three months while Sakura worked. Yes, Haruno Sakura most definitely had a son. But with whom, you ask? Well it wasn't with anybody she had in mind, that was for sure. She often cringed at the memory because the action was nothing more than a drunken, mistake. Sakura loved her son, she really did. It's just that when ever it came to her thinking about the future; especially her future child, it didn't necessarily match what she had in mind. Her dream consisted of finding a decent man to settle down with, (also with the extent of having a better place to move into) and to give birth to her child a few years later than the age she is now. Sakura's age in the situation never seemed to bother her, it could've been worse... she could've been a teen mom. So that was something to smile about, at least. But never the less, Sakura was only 23. Not too young, but considering the fact that she was only 23, a kunoichi, and isn't even married. Sakura isn't the luckiest girl. And that's how she saw it.
While Sakura continued her stroll throughout Konoha, things were getting a little hectic at a certain silver-haired, Jounin's apartment...
"Look, look! Do you see it? Look she's right there, just on her way home passing by my apartment as if it were nothing. She didn't even bother to look at it..." Genma had been slouched up against Kakashi's faded apartment walls, with his arms crossed listening to his friend's remarks. The outbursts wouldn't stop and with each one meeting his ears, Genmas just slightly chuckled at the masked-man's comment.
"Kakashi I really think you're starting to-"
"I just don't understand why Sakura has such a problem with leaving Obito over here." Genma rolled his eyes as Kakashi cut him off. It really wasn't like the man to act like this, maybe Genma showed up at the wrong time, however, the whole half-hour Genma was there he had not been able to finish a single sentence. Not one. It annoyed him beyond belief but Genma figured Kakashi could use someone to open up to. So in a way he was being a good friend, right?
"I mean, think about it." Kakashi stopped to meet Genma's careless figure. "She works at the hospital from nine in the morning, and gets off at like, four. I am very capable of looking over him." Kakashi paused, double-checking his statement. Before adding on, Genma opened his mouth to speak but of course, he was rewarded with an interruption from the copy nin.
"Tsk, of course I'm capable. I'm the father of that child... who else would be more capable than me?"
Hm... that's the 15th time now, isn't it?
Genma shook his head away from the rhetorical question. Who knows how many times Kakashi has cut him short. Most likely too many to count; Genma was pretty sure he'd got lost at 10... but he wasn't too sure on that one.
There was a short termed silence that embroidered the two. A highly, debatable question popped into Genma's mind.
He's been awfully quiet, should I say something now...?
He twirled the senbon from the inside of his mouth as he thought over the consequences of each action.
Naww... he'd probably just interrupt again. So there'd be no point if I was to-
"Am I the one at fault here?"
Genma grimaced, followed by an eye roll.
Heh, right on cue Kakashi. You can even disrupt my private thoughts...
Kakashi shifted uncomfortably when he noticed his friends lazy slouch and annoyed eye roll. Was he being a bother? Kakashi tossed the assumption aside, he really didn't care if Genma thought his remarks weren't anything but irritating. He didn't even seem to care that Genma looked like he just wanted to get the fuck out of the place. All that mattered was that Kakashi had someone to yell his problems out to, and who better to vent to but Genma?
Kakashi pondered more on it. Maybe he did need a therapist, but everyone knows that the copy nin would never allow it. So instead, Kakashi decided to hide everything under his mask and the happy eye creases he so often shot at people.
Kakashi ended his internal argument with a heavy sigh, staring back out the window. Sakura was no longer there. "Really, Genma is it really my fault? I mean, why Ino...? I understand that she's her best friend but I am the father. And it would be a lot better if I took him in while she worked." Kakashi paused before rubbing the back of his neck as he continued. "Well... it would actually be more suitable for her to move in, so we could all be together but she's just stubborn as ever..."
Genma did not reply. It was obvious Kakashi wasn't done speaking, but it mainly had to do with the non stop interruptions. And just as Genma had predicted, once again, Kakashi added on, "I've thought about it for a while now... and I just don't get it. Why does she choose the most difficult choice when it's be easier to just drop him off, go to work, and then pick him up? She can pick him up and leave, too! It's not like she has to stay. She even passes my apartment on the way to her work. I, I just don't get it..." Kakashi absentmindedly stole a glance at the window he was at not even five minutes ago.
A loud sigh from Genma broke Kakashi's gaze towards said window.
He's a genius and yet he can't even figure this simple one out? Geeze, even Naruto could've gotten it by now, and he's as clueless as a bird.
"Can you really blame her...?" Genma finally spoke up, watching Kakashi's head lift up to meet Genma's remained slouch and crossed arms. "Heh, honestly Kakashi. Think."
"What're you saying Genma?" Kakashi eyed him curiously.
"Dude, you knocked her up!" Genma kept a straight face but it was screaming out, 'Are you serious?' Which made Kakashi wonder, was that really all? Sakura tried to keep their son away from him as much as she could all because he unintentionally got her pregnant? He shook his head in disagreement. That couldn't be it...
"Why are you even so worked up about this anyway? You got to name the kid, you see him every other week, so I just need to ask... what's the big deal?"
If Kakashi was at all angered by that small question, Genma couldn't tell. For Kakashi was definitely not furious. However, he was slightly annoyed.
Kakashi pinched the bridge of his nose, holding his arm in place with the palm of his hand, expressing irritation. "The big deal is that when I imagined having a kid with Sakura, we were together... she trusted me, and Obito would-"
This time Genma took favor in an interruption. "You've... thought about having a child with Sakura, before?" Genma grinned a little mischievously as Kakashi's face brightened with a blush. Genma couldn't see it, but he suspected as much.
"Oh, n-no.. I didn't mean it like-"
"Save it, Hatake. You meant what you said, just admit it. I think it's time you've stopped hiding the truth, ne?"
Kakashi fell into a dramatic silence, Genma could tell he was thinking over things thoroughly. After deciding that enough was enough and that he desperately wanted to go home, Genma said, "You still don't understand do you? Ok, look." Kakashi gave his friend his full attention. "Think over your whole relationship with Sakura. That's what you need to focus on at the moment. Well, besides the kid cuz' uhh, you know he comes first. But let's just step away from that for a second.
"Now I sort of have an idea, but I'm a tad thrown off... what's your relationship like with her now?"
"Now?" Kakashi asked absentmindedly receiving a firm nod as an answer. "Well..." Numerous amounts of flashbacks hit Kakashi's mind on how Sakura has treated him lately. And to say the least, they weren't exactly great memories. In fact, he was often the victim of her vicious insults. Some in which have bruised his ego more than he'd like to admit.
"Well, she isn't exactly kind to me." And that was only half of it, Kakashi thought. But brushed it off as Genma asked another question.
"I suspected as much, but uhh... what's it like? How do you act towards her and your son, how does she respond?" Genma stopped when Obito came to mind. With a hand scratching the top of his head he added, "I'd ask you what Obito is like, but seeing as to how he's just a month old or something it doesn't really-"
"Three." Kakashi responded quietly.
"Nani?" Genma's face twisted in confusion. As much as he wanted to yell, 'Hatake, you're insane!' It seemed unlikely unless he was ready for a good smack in the face, and Genma really didn't feel like having his face damaged... so he quickly decided against that.
"Three. Obito's three months old."
Genma sweat dropped, while shrugging his shoulders and waving his hands to the side saying, "One month, three months, whatever. You're avoiding the question." His eyes now glued back to the silver-haired Jounin in front of him.
Kakashi scowled under his mask and muttered a small 'sorry'. He then turned his back to Genma so he was now facing the window. "She wants me in Obito's life. That's something I always-"
"Are you sure?" It was Kakashi's turn to look confused now. With realization finally drawn into other Jounin's face he added, "Erm, with Obito. Are you sure that she wants you in his life?"
"Yes." Kakashi answered in a very serious-like tone. He also noticed the other man's mouth slowly open but before he could even speak a word Kakashi reassured him with a reasoning. "She told me, 'I want you to be a part of Obito's life' those were her exact words."
Genma smirked. "Exact words, eh?" There was nothing after that until another sigh emitted from Genma. And this time it happened to be a quiet, deep, sigh. Filled with fatigue, and a dash of pity. But, really, who could tell? "Her "exact words" say nothing about being a father, in his life..."
"Genma, I am his father. Whether Sakura wants me to be or not, and I always will be. And if what you're saying is an actual possibility then I'm pretty sure I'd come to wonder why she is dropping him off here every other week."
"Hm, that's true, I guess."
"Sakura and I have an unbalanced relationship. I really don't know how to describe it but, it feels that way."
"How so?"
"She constantly pushes me away. As much as she wants me to be in Obito's life it's only for his sake, which I'll have you know, I have no problem with. I just can't help but feel a little... upset," Kakashi cringed at the word choice. "that she wants nothing more to do with me unless it comes to Obito."
"Well you did knock her up, if you haven't forgotten."
Kakashi closed his lone eye and scratched the top of his dull, silver hair. "Yeah I'm sort of used to daily reminders of that every time I see her. I don't need any more."
"How about before?"
At this, Kakashi smiled at the images of his time with Sakura, before getting themselves both into a mess, flooded through his mind. "Perfect."
"Hm?" Genma's senbon did a twirl and he hummed.
Kakashi tore his eyes away from the window, setting them onto the man twirling the senbon between his lips. "It was great. Lovely, actually. We weren't technically "dating" at the time. I mean, a few dates here and there. And we hung out in public but showed no PDA whatsoever. But the relationship was nice. She was always..." Kakashi thought over as much as he could recall. "...Smiling. Whenever we were together, she had always smiled."
"Heh, then make her smile again."
"What're you talking about? Genma, if you're really just going to be vague about this situation..." Genma's thoughts distracted him from the rest of Kakashi's sentence.
Seriously, he is in no position to call ME vague. Hn, the nerve...
Shaking his head, Genma pulled his arm towards his chest, holding it in place with his palm and brought his free hand to the bridge of his nose, slightly pinching it. "Look, Kakashi." He stopppd the gesture to stare that the masked man firmly. "I just came by here to tell you that Tsunade needed to speak with you." Genma's eyes rolled over tot he nearest clock. "That was nearly an hour ago, Kakashi! Now Tsunade is going to be more pissed off than she was before. And she's going to kick your ass for being late, but more importantly, she will kick Shizune's ass, who will kick MY ass since I took full responsibility in taking the message to you. If I knew I was going to inconveniently become your therapist for the day, I would have easily obliged this opportunity."
"Well I'm sorry to hear that, Genma. But you're here now, and whatever is in the future can wait. But since you are here, I've been thinking about what you said."
He huffed in annoyance. "And what is it, that I said, may I ask? I recall saying many important things but it seems you've been having trouble comprehending to them..." His eye roll mocked Kakashi.
"You will help me win Sakura over, of course." Kakashi crinkled his lone eye, happily.
"I don't remember agreeing to this..."
"Ahh, you're right. You did not. However, you're here now. And well, everything you've said this past hour make sense. Therefore, it would only be right if you were my wing man for this particular mission."
Kakashi's sentence filled Genma's head up with so much rejection but he shook them away, sighing in defeat. He was obviously too tired to argue with the man any longer. "Ok. Fine, whatever. Can I just go home now?"
Kakashi's mask hid his full on smirk. "Sure, but before you go... I'd like to know what to do with Sakura. I honestly have no idea and there could just be so many steps to this I-"
"Stop." Genma's eyes were shut and he held his right hand up to Kakashi as a sign for him to stay quiet. "Just, just go talk to her. About Obito, about your relationship... whatever. Just talk to her seriously. Let her know you're serious about Obito, and her. If you plan to pursue her, that is. If that works out, then take it one day at a time. Don't rush things... get her to let you in and trust you." He felt his hand touch the cold surface of the door knob before something he forgot to mention flashed into his mind. "Oh, and Kakashi..."
Genma's head glanced over his shoulder. "If you truly feel this way, then show her. Don't just tell her. If you truly feel this way about Obito, then show him. Don't just tell him." After that the man was gone in a flash.
Kakashi's head was analyzing each word that had just been spoken to him.
"If you truly feel this way, then show her. Don't just tell her. If you truly feel this way about Obito, then show him. Don't just tell him."
His gloved hands lightly rubbed his face stressfully still repeating the words inside his head. Even though he realized Genma was no longer in the room with him, he couldn't help but spill out the words, "Thank you. Genma." At that Kakashi was out the door, knowing full well on where he had to be.
(While Kakashi and Genma were having their little chat)
Sakura had managed to stop by a couple of stores on her way home, realizing it might make her a tad late but she shrugged the thought off. She only needed to run an errand and pick up a few things from the grocery store so it really shouldn't take that long.
Although, Sakura was a bit disappointed when she left Konoha's main grocery store to find out she'd been out and about for almost an hour. Ino might give her a mouthful, but maybe not. Ino reacted different depending on the day. Sometimes when Sakura would come home late; Ino would bitch and go on and on with each of her insane assumptions. (But that usually only happened when she had somewhere to be.) Other days, Sakura could be late and Ino would just shrug and tell her not to worry. Now that Sakura thought about it, it makes it seem like they're almost a married couple. She snorted at the comparison.
Sakura finally made it to her home fully fatigued and stressed out but arriving to the sight of Obito asleep in Ino's arms made her feel grateful for having such caring friends. Yes, it was true that Ino and Sakura's friendship wasn't exactly 'normal' since it basically lived off of a love/hate relationship but that's what made them best friends. And Sakura's smile widened at that thought as well.
When Ino's eyes met her best friend's she smiled and gently set Obito on the couch. He was wrapped in his miniature, sky-blue blanket that Kakashi had given him. Said blanket was very similar to the one Kakashi had in his own bedroom, just a different color.
"Hey Forehead!" Ino greeted her friend warmly. While her voice was still filled with the enthusiasm, the pitch in her voice wasn't loud enough to disturb Obito. And thank Kami, for that, Sakura thought as she reminded herself about the first time she came home to Obito. Ino's greeting was a bit too loud and had woken the little boy up from his sleep and the screaming and crying would juts not end.
Yes, Kakashi and Sakura both knew... Obito was a light sleeper. And most definitely not cheerful when being woken up.
"Thank you, Ino."
Ino nodded and passed on a simple, "No problem, forehead. I love spending time with the kid, you know? He's so adorable, and every time I come here to see him," She stopped and took Sakura's shoulder in her hand. "I feel so proud, that you had sex with Kakashi."
Sakura rewarded Ino's little "compliment" with an eye roll. "Goodbye, Ino." Her blond friend only smiled back and made no hesitation as she moved towards the door.
In just about ten minutes Obito was managing to wake up slowly. Sakura took this time to make her own dinner and feed Obito. After the boy was well fed, Sakura set him down in front of the tv, in which he stared blankly at the screen as if there was no emotion.
After turning back around and heading for the kitchen she quietly said out loud, "He's too much like Kakashi..."
"Who's too much like me, now?" Sakura's eyes widened as she heard familiar voice behind her. Surely, she knew whom this intruder was but she hadn't sensed his chakra earlier.
Kakashi felt Sakura shooting him a not-so-friendly glare from the corner of his eye. He made his way over to smaller, silver haired infant. Obito's gaze drifted from the tv screen up to Kakashi, beaming a full on grin towards the man.
Kakashi crouched down on his feet lightly chuckling and softly patted the top of the boy's head. "Hey there." His lone eye switched from Obito to the screen. "What'cha watching?"
"Kakashi." Sakura hated to come between any moment Kakashi and Obito were sharing, but could you blame her? The man just let himself right in, and didn't even bother to knock. That is what doors were made for, she mentally noted.
Kakashi left the younger boy's side and made way to the pink-haired kunoichi. "Yo." His eye creased up in delight.
"What're you doing?"
"Just stopping by, thought you may have needed the company..." She stared at him, her face mixed with anger. "Did I do something wrong...?"
Sakura folded her arms against her chest. She didn't say anything, but she didn't have to. The expression on her face said it all.
"I mean... besides giving you a beautiful, baby boy whom you love and loves the both of us with all his heart." There it was. The same, old eye crease.
"Why are you here, Kakashi?"
"Ahh, I wanted to talk to you."
"About...?"
"Um, ya know. Just stuff. There's a lot of things we can discuss..." He wandered off, entering the kitchen and took a few peaks at Sakura's cooking. "So, what's for dinner?" His ever so happy eye crinkle was back again.
Sakura narrowed her eyes at his lame excuse for a chat. It sounded more like he wanted a free dinner in her opinion. "Tsk, get out."
Well, that surely wasn't how he thought the conversation would end up. Kakashi pondered his approach, thinking that maybe he should've used the door.
Oh well.
"Um, look I'm sorry for not using the door. I really want to talk though." Kakashi explained calmly.
She seemed to calm down. Maybe this could work after all.
And just as he predicted; Sakura sighed peacefully and her eyes softened up a bit. "Alright." She replied in her own calm manner. "I'll listen. Talk."
Kakashi shifted his gaze back to her cooking and to Obito. Rubbing the back of his neck nervously, he hesitated saying, "W- Well, it is a lot to take in when you think about it... maybe we should just have dinner and talk, ne?"
Sakura only shook her head, disapproving his request. "I don't think so."
An awkward silence fell between the two and Obito just watched the tv screen with his bored expression as he did previously.
"What's the real reason you're here, Kakashi?" Sakura turned back to her cooking. He shoved his hands thinking of how to answer her question.
"Like I said, I wanted to talk to you."
"It sounds to me that you want to do more than just "talk".
Kakashi laughed a bit awkwardly, finishing it off with another happy eye crease. "You know me so well, Sakura-chan."
"Don't call me that."
Before Kakashi could wonder why she'd say such a thing, it hit him:
Oh, yeah. That's right, I often called her that when we went on dates...
"Seriously, Kakashi. What else is it?" So the interrogation continued.
"Dinner with my child sounds nice. Hey, even dinner with the mother of my child would be nice, too. Hell, both would just be perfect."
Kakashi's heart jumped as he felt the soft grip of Sakura's hand clamped around Kakashi's wrist. One second he was in the kitchen and the next he was near the door. He smiled at the feeling of Sakura's touch but it immediately fell as did her hand and when she spoke he heard her say, "There's the door. Don't hit yourself on the way out." She patted his shoulder sweetly and started to depart until his hand caught her wrist, stopping her.
"Sakura, why are you being like this?" He asks.
"Like what, Kakashi?"
"Is it so wrong that I want to eat dinner with my son, and the mother of-"
"Of course it's not wrong, Kakashi. I'm not escorting you out because of that." Her tone made it seem like she was just stating the obvious.
"Then what is it?" Kakashi's onyx eye was desperately crying for an honest answer. However, Sakura didn't pay much attention to it. She hadn't planned on lying to him so she wasn't going to.
"What kind of people would we be if we actually-"
"Um, a family?" He cut her off, now his voice sounded like he was stating the obvious.
"See, that's the thing." It would an understatement to say Kakashi was surprised. He was more confused than he had been the whole day. "We're not a family, Kakashi. And as much as I want you to be in Obito's life and be there for him as a father can... if we kept acting as if we actually are a family, Obito will be used to this behavior and when he finally learns what's going on... it'll only hurt him."
Kakashi knew Sakura wasn't trying to lie to him. She honestly felt this way, and he understood where she was coming from. A small, bittersweet smile formed upon his face. Kakashi realized she wasn't trying to keep him away from his son, she only had the intentions of looking out for him. But, that's Sakura for ya. Sweet, thoughtful, and caring. And Kakashi loved her for it. Kakashi slowly reached his hand to grab hers. "Maybe we wouldn't have to act..."
Sakura pulled her hand away from his quickly the second he finished his suggestion. "N- No. It just wouldn't be a good idea, ok?"
"You know, you've been pushing me away ever since this whole thing with Obito started. You never even got to hear me out, or even considered talking to me about the pregnancy."
"What was I supposed to do? I couldn't even find you-"
"I was sent to Earth Country for seven months. But that's not my fault, Sakura and you know damn well that it's true." His eye narrowed down at her, and his tone was more firm. The copy nin was in all seriousness. "You knew for a month. You didn't even bother to tell me, how could you think so little of me to not let me know that you were already-"
"I don't know! Ok? It's not like this has happened to me before, Kakashi. I honestly had no idea what to do. I wanted to tell you straight away but I kept having second thoughts. And it wasn't because I thought so little of you, it was more like the opposite..." Realization drew through Kakashi, he knew what she meant and it was all with a good intention, but the words still hurt. Before he could say anything, she stopped him. "Maybe you should go..."
Kakashi deeply frowned, this was not how he wanted the conversation to go. "I'd like to spend some time with Obito."
Sakura chuckled under her breath. "Kakashi, you should know by now that I will never object to you from seeing him. If you want you can go ahead and take him. He's our son." She gave him a weak smile, then opening up the door for him when she realized he had no thought of taking Obito with him to his apartment. He stood between the door's entrance before moving backwards to step onto her porch.
"I'd like to spend some time with you, too."
A sad smile tugged from the corner of Sakura's mouth. She looked up to meet his onyx eye. "You can't have it both ways, Kakashi." And with those being her last words to him, the door was shut gently in front of him.