INTERTWINED

Ch 4: Preparation

Sakura rummages through her clothes.

I know that dress is here somewhere!!

She always wore the same lavender dress to every special occasion, and since she wasn't a bridegroom,

That Ino Pig!!

So, she could wear what she wanted, and she wanted to wear that dress.

If I can't find it, I'll have to buy another one because that was the only one I had.

It wasn't that she didn't like to go shopping; it's just that she thought she never had the time with work and all. And, since she had to watch her own budget she became kind of cheap.

Oh well, there's only a few hours left to get ready. I'll just have to buy another one.

She couldn't help but giggle a little, it's been awhile she went "girl" shopping. And, from all of her work hours it wasn't like she didn't have some money left to spare. She continued to giggle to herself excitedly as she walks to the fancy formal clothing store.

Hmph, the only time I'm "on time" for something, and she's late.

Kakashi didn't see Sakura at the wedding, and he was always watching the doors to the entrance of the place where the after party was being held. Still, he hasn't seen a head of pink hair anywhere yet, and was beginning to worry. Kakashi wasn't wearing anything special, just a tux with his mask on. So, knowing that worry might get the best of him, he strode over to the bar and took a glass. He sat down and started to take a swig when he saw the most beautiful thing on the planet that his eyes has ever set themselves on standing timidly at the entrance. (A/N: or eye, you know what I mean.) He immediately started to choke on his beer, spitting it out, and it caused him to fall down. Her body stilled lingered in his head, she came with a Latino style red dress that shimmered in the spotlight, she had her hair styled with the back of her hair in a bun and her bangs were curled. She had red high heels, red painted finger nails and toe nails, and soft, kissable red lips. But, what got him was him was that she had a cherry blossom in her hair.

And maybe the tiny fact that her oh so noticeable cleavage was showing for once.

He quickly picked himself up when Sakura spotted him. She came over and said, "Kakashi-sensei? I thought you weren't coming?" She thought,

And I didn't know you'd look so nice in a suit. What?! What I'm I saying? Bad Sakura!

It seemed Kakashi didn't notice her blushing as he said, "Well, I couldn't pass up free beer." He smiled as Sakura rolled her eyes, "Well then, if that meant you'd be on time for something, I would have promised beer to every meeting you were late for with team 7." They looked at each other and they started to laugh. It would be a funny thing to see Kakashi get drunk before a mission. "Billboard brow!" Sakura thinks,

Oh, I know that voice.

Sakura whirled around and saw Ino glare at her, "What's the big idea! Why were you late for my wedding?!" Sakura hollers, "I couldn't find my old stinkin' dress, so I had to find another one you Ino pig!" They glared at each other when the bride groom showed up, "You girls won't lay off at each other even at a wedding, oh what a drag." Sakura smiles at him, "Shikamaru! Congratulations on the marriage, I got you two a present." She handed the present to him, then glared back at Ino. "Not like you deserve it or anything." Ino shouted, "What, I tell you what I don't deserve billboard brow! You being late for my wedding, getting me angry, and trying to look prettier than me!"

What? Sakura thought. All I did was put on a dress.

Not knowing how to act to that last statement, she just mumbled, "Whatever, I'm sorry ok." Ino face became a little softer and she said, "Well, don't try to upstage me again and you'll be fine." And with that, she walked off with her new husband. Sakura turned back to Kakashi and asked, "What was that about?" Kakashi just shrugged, sat back down, and started to read his book. Sakura's eye gave a frustrated twitch and she asked, "Do you think that is something appropriate to read at a wedding?" Kakashi looked at her, then back at the book, and then said, "Yeah, I guess you're right." "And Kakashi-sensei." "Yes Sakura?" "You haven't told me how I look yet." This question threw Kakashi off guard. Sakura swore that she saw Kakashi's cheek turn a slight shade of pink as he said, "Uh, you look very nice Sakura." Pleased with his answered, she smiled and went to see Ino. They started to talk and giggle with each other like nothing happened as Kakashi thought,

Some things about women I'll never understand. But that doesn't make me stop loving them.

Really just talking about one particular in his mind though. As the party continued, he actually quite enjoyed watching all of the drunks make asses of themselves. He also got to see Naruto and Lee get pounded on the head when they wouldn't stop staring at her, which always made him laugh on the inside.

And he sees Sakura sway her hips with the sound of the music. But, he did not like the fact that those same hips were held by some random guy that asked if he could dance with her.

You're the legendary Hatake Kakashi, the copy ninja that has mastered over a thousand jutsu. And you can't even win the heart of the women you love. And then watch her with another man……pathetic…

This crushed him, but what could he do about it. He sighed and left the party, no one else even noticing him or he even thought that no one just cared. He walks slowly down the street, now that it was late at night, nobody was there except a full moon shining down and guiding his path. He cursed aloud and kicked a used soda can violently, sending it so high into the air that it seemed to head right to the moon itself.

Why can't I do anything right?

Sakura sees that Kakashi is no where to be found as she looks around.

Probably left because he couldn't handle a few seconds without reading his book. Well, I'll just have to hunt him down then.

"Hey babe, why we both go to my apartment," Her newly acquainted dancer Yavi says. "Hold on one second Yavi, I need to go the bathroom." He looked a little surprised that she didn't answer his question, but he nodded and she quickly slipped into the bathroom. Once she was in, she climbed out the window and started walking down the street looking intently for Kakashi. Unaware that she was being watched intently herself…..

Kakashi was still sulking his way to his house when he heard a scream, and he knew that scream all too well. "SAKURA!!" He roared and started to run at a neck breaking speed. He came to see her body sprawled in the middle of the road, and a hit on her shoulder that had blood trickling to the ground, and it started to make a puddle. He picked her up bridal style and whispered, shaking her gently, "Sakura, who did this to you?" She lifted her head weakly and tried to say something, but passed out before it came out. "Sakura!" He yelled and teleported right into the hospital.

It's all my fault, it's all my fault, why can't I do anything right?

He watched Sakura breath in and out on her hospital bed. They said she would be fine, but they don't know what hit her. They didn't even know what kind of hit it was. Even Tsunade came down to see her, and in all of her experience that she had she was till left speechless. He felt his eyes well up and heard running coming quickly down to her room. He knew it was Naruto and Lee because they had just the message and it was morning already. "Sakura-Chan!" they both yelped as they both tried to get through the door at the same time. Once they got in, they were going hysterical, saying the same things out loud that Kakashi had just said himself in his mind. "Stop it you two, you might wake her up." They fell silent when a nurse came to the door, "I'm sorry, but visiting time is over, you guys need to go." Then she left. Both still in shock, Naruto and Lee walked out of the room. Kakashi opened a window and was about to leave that way when he turned back to look at her, he kissed her forehead and whispered, "I promised a long time ago that I would protect you with my life, and I intend to keep it. I'll find out who did this you." And he was gone with the slight whisper of the wind.

I know something's not right about this.

He leaps towards the 5th hokage's office.

"I know what you're thinking Kakashi, and I assure you that you have ever right to be suspicious." Tsunade said, and then whispered under her breath, "God, I was saving it until after the vacation." Kakashi heard that as he demanded, "Saving what!" She sighed, looked Kakashi in the eye and said, "We've found the whereabouts of Sasuke."

Thanks for reading and please review. I know it's not that exciting yet, but all good stories must be told properly. Hopefully the story will interest you more as the story unfolds.

Your friend,

Darkened petal : )