Chapter Two

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And I could care just a little bit less

But there's still a heart beating in my chest

And I, but I, try to keep that a secret

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The afternoon was dragging by for Sakura. She had made her rounds, finished her paperwork, and even managed to straighten and rearrange her office...all before her lunch hour. Now, she sat in the courtyard just outside the hospital, trying to force the rest of her sandwich down. But she couldn't finish it.

Sighing, she pushed the plate from her and instead, focused her attention on picking away at the chipped, blue paint of the picnic table. She counted the pieces and made them into a little pyramid. Anything to keep her mind busy...

A flash of Kakashi's masked face, inches from her own, her hand on his thigh, his fingers touching her shoulder flew through her mind like a tiny, infuriating movie. She winced and flicked the pyramid of paint chips away. No matter how much she stuffed in her mind to keep her thoughts in check, that night still managed to squeeze itself in. Tiny flashes while she's washing her hands, another when she's trying to take a patient's blood pressure. Each time they made her wince, as if she'd been pricked with a needle in the back of the neck.

Even when she did allow herself to think about, it made her stomach clench in tight knots. For the hours of the morning after, she tried to piece together the events. She knew she had had a lot to drink, between the wine, shots and beer. It had proved to be too much for her, apparently. She could remember being at Ino's house, remembered bumping into the boys in the street...

Sakura chipped at another piece on the table, narrowing her eyes on the wood grains. Why had he wanted a table so far from everyone else? Why had he let her drink so much?

No...he cut her off.

Frustrated, Sakura pushed up from the table and spun on her heel, nearly colliding into the person that happened to be right behind her. Sakura clutched her chest, startled, and blinked up into Ino's equally surprised face. "Geez, I was going to sneak up on you. Did you get strung?"

"What? No..."

"You jumped up like something bit you." Ino's eyes swept the table's bench for any buzzing insects before staring into her friend's flushed face. "You ok?"

Sakura nodded.

"You know you left really early the other night...What happened?" Sakura could see the look in her eyes..she knew something had happened and now she was sticking her nose where it didn't belong to hear the latest gossip. Ino was a good friend, but she was a great gossip. Any juicy piece of news and it would fly from her lips like wind through the trees.

Sakura waved her off and reached to grab her litter. "Nothing. I just can't handle my alcohol like I used to."

"Oh." Ino stated, her tone one of disbelief. "Because we thought something might have happened to you and Kakashi...He never came back either." Ino's voice dropped low and one eyelid closed in a slow, deliberate wink. It made all the color drain from the pink haired kunoichi's face. She squeezed the bag in her hands, crumpling the plastic with white knuckles. Is that what she thought?! That Sakura had left with her former sensei?!

Despite the pounding in her chest, Sakura tried hard to keep her face one of relaxation, entertained even at the thought of someting so preposterous! Sakura pushed Ino's shoulder with a heavy eye roll. "Oh, my God, you're gross. I...I got sick from the beer and didn't want to puke in front of everyone."

"Ok. So, he just left?"

Sakura shrugged. "I ran outside to throw up and then felt sick, so I went home. I'm not Kakashi-sensei's keeper. I don't know where he goes to when he's...you know," Sakura glanced toward the hospital and swallowed. "Not around."

"Hmm." Ino folded her arms over her chest and narrowed her blue eyes, knowing she wouldn't get anymore info from the girl. But, before she could open her mouth to argue her way into Sakura's business, another voice cut her off.

"Sakura. There you are." Shizune hurried through the courtyard, looking quite exhausted. Her black hair was disheveled, piled into a bun on top of her head with wisps flying in all directions. "Tsunade wishes to see you."

Sakura kept her heavy sigh to herself, knowing Shizune was her superior. She had been learning herbal medicines from the woman for the past several months. Nodding, Sakura cast a glance to her best friend, thankful for the interruption in their conversation. "Immediately." Shizune added, making the kunoichi blink in surprise.

"I still have to make afternoon rounds and-"

"I've got it covered. Please don't keep the Godaime waiting today. She's..." Shizune glanced between the two girls and sighed. "In a mood."

Sakura said her goodbyes and hurried through the streets to the Hokage building. She wished she had had a chance to change out of her nurse's uniform. Since the hospital had been bought by a private company, the uniform had been modified. Instead of her apron and white pants, she was now required to wear a nurse's dress.

It hit just below the knees, the white fabric stiff and unflattering. Even in her normal size, the buttons across the chest seemed to be too tight. It was almost like they had been designed to give a slight boost to the chest. Sakura always wore a camisole under the uniform to hide any cleavage that might peek through.

Sighing, she hiked the skirt up above her knees just a few inches, tucked the fabric so it would stay and quickened her pace. Feet aching, she made it through the main lobby of the Hokage office. It was busier than usual, with men waiting for business permits and families standing by to be made Konoha citizens.

The elevator doors shut behind her and she was thankful for the moment alone, resting her shoulder against the wall. She hadn't met with Tsunade for a few months, since she was informed that she would be working under Shizune. Whatever it was now, Sakura wasn't sure she was ready for it. Between the hospital and her personal life, it seemed that her plate was full. In a few months, she would have to start preparing for her wedding.

The elevator bell rang, jolting her from her thoughts. She stood a moment to catch her breath as the doors slid open. She took several deep breaths to steady her nerves. The door started to close and she caught one in her palm, pushing it back open as she made her way into the dim hallway that lead to Tsunade's office.

Making a right, Sakura hesitated, unable to ignore the tangle of knots in her stomach. She didn't have a very good feeling about this.

"'Yo."

The hairs on the back of her neck stood on end as the voice sank into her head. It was familiar in every way and made her nearly stumble in her steps. Sakura glanced over her shoulder to see Hatake Kakashi standing against the wall, one leg propped up, his face half covered by the worn cover of Icha Icha. He didn't even look up from his book.

"Hey." Sakura said awkwardly and cleared her throat. The hallway suddenly felt so small around them and she felt as if she were as close as they had been in the club, where she had drunkenly pawed at his thigh. She squeezed her eyes shut at the thought and turned back to the Hokage's door.

She hurriedly knocked, hoping to get out of the hallway as soon as she could. It took several minutes before she heard an answer muffled through the door. She wasn't exactly sure she had been bade an entrance, but standing out in the hallway with Kakashi twenty feet away was more intimidating than an angry Tsunade.

The office was dim, with the shades drawn shut to block out any natural lighting from the sun. The only light source was a small desk lamp that was turned away from the Godaime, who currently had her head in her hands on the desk. An empty liquer bottle sat on it's side on the edge of the desk and Sakura glanced from it to the woman before her before sliding the door shut behind her.

"Sit." Tsunade commanded harshly, not even looking up at the kunoichi. As Sakura dropped into one of the two chairs in front of the desk, the Hokage sighed heavily and pulled a scroll out of the top drawer beside her. She unfolded it and slid it toward the girl. Sakura recognized the symbol at the top of the scroll; it was from the Hidden Cloud village. Hesitantly, she pulled the scroll onto her lap and skimmed the words as Tsunade leaned back in her squeaking chair.

"It's from a small village in the mountains, one of our allies. A few of the village elders have fallen ill under strange circumstances. Their medical experts have narrowed it down to a poison but from there, they're at a loss." Tsunade stared at the nin, her eyes rimmed with dark circles, emphasizing the grave importance of the mission. "They've requested a poison expert."

Sakura scowled and looked up from the scroll on her lap. "Why not send Shizune? She's more of an expert than I am. I only just began studying under her." She swallowed hard, hoping the Hokage didn't think she was trying to back out of a mission. She was flattered that she had been considered for something like this. But still, there was so much she needed to do here. Her wedding was close...would she have time to get everything done if she left? There was no telling how long a mission like this could take.

"You know you're more than capable of handling this. Shizune's reports that your progress has been nothing short of outstanding. She's the one who recommended you." Tsunade's sunk in and she couldn't help feeling proud of herself and all the hard work she had been putting into learning from the herbalist. It definitely gave her a boost of confidence that she had been needing lately. Squeezing her lip between her teeth, Sakrua glanced down at the scroll in front of her.

There would be no telling how many missions she would even be offered after her wedding. She couldn't think of many kunoichis that stayed in the game after settling down. The thought sunk in her stomach like a stone and she squared her shoulders and looked the Hokage in the eyes. "Alright. What do I need?"

Tsunade sat back in her chair and crossed her legs at the knee. "I'll clear your access to the medical supply building and the green houses. The Hidden Cloud Shinobi have comprised a list of herbs they need and all those they've tried." She tossed a mission packet to the kunoichi who caught it easily. "You can start there."

Sakura stood and gathered the mission scroll and packet in her arms before turning to the door. Before she could open it, Tsunade stopped her. "Oh, did you happen to see Kakashi in the hallway?"

The name made her insides twist and Sakura closed her eyes and nodded before turning back to the woman. "Yes, did you want me to send him in?"

"No, he'll need to look over the mission details though. Be prepared to leave at dawn."

The knots in Sakura's stomach fell to the floor and she felt the walls of the room closing in around her as Tsunade's words clicked in her head. This wasn't a solo mission. "K-Kakashi sensei?"

"Yes, he's going to be your escort. I don't need my best medical nin injured or worse on this mission. Besides, he knows the way far better than anyone else." Tsuande gestured her hand toward the door and reached into a desk drawer to pull another bottle out, telling Sakura that their conversation was over.

Taking a deep breath, the pink haired kunoichi stepped into the hallway and slid the door closed behind her. Kakashi was still at the other end of the hallway, beyond the elevators, standing as aloof as he had been earlier. Did he not find this to be incredibly awkward like she did? Sakura could feel a headache creeping up the back of her skull.

Anyone else, that's all she had to request. She still had her hand on the doorknob to the Hokahe's office. It would be nothing to walk back in and request another escort. Even Chouji, chomping and scarfing down his bags of crisps, would be better. Clearing her throat, Sakura stepped away from the door and made her way toward her former sensei.

He turned a page in his book, ignoring her presence until she was right beside him. She held the scroll out to him but he made no move to take it. Sakura felt her cheeks flush as he looked over the top of his book. She darted her gaze away, still unable to face him. He took the scroll from her and she breathed a sigh of relief. "I guess we'll see each other in he morning." She spun on her heel and hurried toward the elevators, pressing the down arrow several times.

"Sakura." Kakashi called softly.

"Look," She sighed before turning back to face him. "We really don't have to talk about anything. I made a huge mistake and I think it would be best if we both just forgot the whole thing and ignore it." She squared her shoulders, proud of herself for having the guts to confront him about the ordeal.

Kakashi stared at her through a single eye, making her suddenly self conscious. She shifted on her feet as the elevator dinged loudly behind her. She could hear the doors open.

"Well, while I do agree with you, I was just going to tell you that you dropped this." He held out the list of herbs that the Hidden Cloud shinobis had created. Pursing her lips, Sakura snatched the list from his fingers, ignoring the slight chuckle that was muffled behind his mask. She spun back to the elevators just as the doors shut in her face. She slapped the button beside the doors and angrily stomped into the elevator.