There was no good transition to return to finances after the meal was complete, so Sakura and Kakashi listened to Futoshi ramble on about the current fashion in the land (Kakashi wanted to impale himself on a kunai) as he led them closer and closer to an inn by the palace as the sun drew closer to the horizon line.
They finally arrived just as night was falling, and after Futoshi spoke a few words with the owner, handed them over the keys.
"Here you go!" He said, dropping them into Kakashi's palm. "All expenses cared for, room service and amenities included. Don't be bashful, take advantage of everything! I'm quite partial to the spa myself," he winked at Sakura.
Kakashi tried to return the keys. "No, no, this is too much," he insisted.
"I agree," Sakura said, "We can't accept this. We insist on paying in full."
Futoshi backed away, hands up. "I'm afraid all has been taken care of already! I can't take it back!"
Sakura bit her lip. "Well, how can we ever thank you for such a generous gift?"
"I know!" Futoshi clapped his hands together. "Please, join me and my family for our brunch. Themed, of course, around love. Lots of other aristocrats will be there, as well as my father. He'd be delighted to meet such lovely folk."
"We accept," Kakashi said immediately. Already an audience with the daimyo himself? That was unprecedented.
"Wonderful!" Futoshi bowed. "I bid you goodnight. I look forward to seeing you both there. Arriving at different times, of course!" He laughed as he walked away.
"Of course," Sakura and Kakashi repeated, waving at the departing figure.
A nice old woman escorted Kakashi and Sakura to their room, then gave them a quick orientation. Futoshi had not exaggerated when he said this hotel was one of the nicest in the village; Kakashi figured it was even nicer than the Hokage's quarters. There was a foyer upon entry, as large as Kakashi's bedroom back in Konoha. It led into the living room which housed two large couches in front of an extravagant coffee table. This connected via open-concept to the kitchen that the owner of the hotel said they wouldn't need to use, as all food would be provided for them.
The bedroom was ginormous—the king-sized bed was front and center in the room, surrounded by paintings of various nature scenes. It was adorned with a red sheet, with rose petals around the foot of the bed.
"And here's the bathroom," the lady showed them.
Kakashi's eyes widened when the door opened.
A huge bathtub greeted him, of which he approximated to be almost three feet deep. Kakashi could just imagine soaking in the water, bubbles enveloping him, as he relaxed and read his Itcha Itcha. It sounded heavenly. But there wasn't time for that: he needed to rest up, head to that weird brunch tomorrow, and then send Pakkun and co out for some more surveillance.
Once they returned to the front door, the landlady asked them, "Is there anything else I can help you with?"
"No, no, we're perfectly fine!" Sakura answered. With a nod, she closed the door behind the woman's departing figure. She turned to Kakashi. "Alright, we should set everything up for bed, get some sleep, and go over what we've learned in the morning."
Without a second thought, Kakashi pulled out his bedroll from his pack and set up a makeshift bed for himself on the floor, in the living room area.
"Kakashi, what are you doing?" Sakura asked.
"Making a bed?" Wasn't it obvious? That's what she just said to do.
"But there's enough for two here. It's literally made for five people," she gestured to the king-sized bed.
"No, this is fine," he insisted, removing a pillow from the linen closet.
"But what if someone enters! Room service, cleaning, or otherwise? We need to keep up appearances. There's even enough space so we won't have to touch," Sakura pointed out.
If it had been anyone else—Genma, Anko, even Ino—Kakashi would have relented. They were two shinobi on a mission, and it would make keeping up the facade a lot easier without having to clean up his bed or worrying about intruders as Sakura had implied. But something about being next to Sakura felt wrong, like he was infringing too much on her, he was assuming too much about their personal boundaries.
He thought maybe it was because she used to be his student. It was improper for him to lay in the same bed as his student.
But that reason didn't seem correct. So without knowing why, Kakashi still insisted on his little bed.
"Fine, be stubborn," Sakura muttered, turning to put away her belongings. She was clearly trying to hide how insulted she felt, as she probably knew he would have been fine with anyone else.
But Kakashi didn't have time to feel sorry, they had a mission to complete, one that could change the course of their village if Tsunade's urgency meant anything. After all this was over, it would be fine. He wouldn't have to deliberately distance himself; in fact, he could try to rebuild the friendship he'd had with Sakura in the past. Maybe even get closer than before. She was proving to be a nice companion. And he did need more good friends. It would probably do wonders for his mental health.
Finally, quietly, Kakashi heard, "Is it because I'm not good enough?"
"What?" Kakashi turned to see Sakura next to the bed, her back still turned, arms across her stomach.
"I know you think I'm not the best ninja out there," she admitted. "I'm sorry about that. But for the sake of the mission, we should set side whatever faults you believe I have and still try to maintain the integrity of the assignment."
With small steps, Kakashi crosses the border from the living room to the bedroom. "Sakura, what's going on?"
With a turn of her head, Kakashi was struck with intense scorn. Her eyes narrowed as she grimaced. "I read the note, sensei. I know I wasn't your first pick; I wasn't even Lady Tsunade's. I understand how you aren't pleased to be stuck on this assignment with me. I also know we haven't talked a while; but your blatant distaste in our pairing is only going to harm our mission." Her face contorted more and more with each word as she fought against the pain of her emotions.
Hands in the air, Kakashi tried to comprehend what she was saying. "Sakura, what do you mean?"
Bowing her head to hide her face, Sakura withheld a choke. "I know Naruto was preferred for this mission over me. He is a better ninja, everyone knows so. But I just can't handle how achromatic you've been on this journey. We need to work together and actually communicate if we are going to succeed in this village."
With a furrow of his brow, Kakashi studied the girl in front of him. The past few days with Sakura had been rocking him mentally, sure. But he'd never intentionally tried to hurt her. Slowly, he said, "Sakura, I never meant to make you feel that way. I just… I'm not a big talker. And sometimes that comes off as gruff." He supposed it had been so long since they'd been in close proximity, Sakura forgot what he was like as her teacher. Or maybe he acted differently when he was in a position of power. Whatever it was, he was surprised she didn't realize before.
She flipped her head up. "What?"
Scratching the back of his neck, Kakashi let out a small, embarrassed chuckle that did not meet his eyes. "It's just how I act sometimes... I certainly didn't mean to be rude."
"Oh."
Sakura paled when she realized that she had falsely accused him. Although he had been creating a space between them, perhaps it was something he should stop doing as well.
"Wait," Kakashi narrowed his gaze at his former student when he recalled more of her admission. "What was that you said? You think I'm not pleased to be on this mission with you? You think I would prefer Naruto ?" That was almost laughable.
Now Sakura's face turned blotchy with redness. "I didn't… Just forget I said that, I'll just go change, and—"
As Sakura fumbled heading towards the bathroom, words flashed across Kakashi's mind. What did I do wrong? She'd whispered it almost a week ago, when she'd thought he wasn't paying attention.
The skies cleared, giving him a full view of the darkness inside Sakura.
The result of his abandonment, his disinterest was displayed as plain as day in front of him. A shinobi that showed so much potential, that had achieved so much, still doubted herself because of lingering questions about her self-worth. Doubt that Kakashi himself had implanted when he decided to focus more on the two boys in his team. The guilt of this realization wrapped him up, gorging him to breathe hard. He couldn't ignore it, not this time.
"I'm sorry, Sakura," he whispered, cutting of her rambling.
She turned her head, and Kakashi could see one small stream of water falling from her eyes. "You're sorry?"
Swallowing, Kakashi made his way to Sakura. He sat on the bed, his head down.
"Yes, I'm sorry. It's my fault you think that way, isn't it? You think you did something wrong, that I don't see how brilliant you are?" He said.
Sakura turned fully around. "How… how brilliant?" She repeated, eyes glistening.
He nodded. "You've achieved so much, Sakura. You made the Hokage take you on as a student, you equal her in medical jutsu prowess, and you're one of the strongest shinobi alive. All of this, you've achieved despite me. I failed you, Sakura." Kakashi closed his eyes. "I saw your potential, and still ignored it, as I thought Sasuke and Naruto had more. And now I see that only resulted in you thinking I believed you less. That has never been true."
Her body tensed up, fingers gripping tighter on her body. "You saw more potential in the rest of Team Seven?"
Kakashi nodded, unable to meet her infinite gaze. "I did. But I was wrong. Even with the sharingan, I did not see what you had. That even though you were from a civilian family, that you didn't possess at the time the physical durability a great shinobi required, you still had boundless potential. Without me, you discovered that yourself, and have become one of the best ninjas I know." Having controlled the pressure behind his eyes, Kakashi finally looked up. "Without me, you prospered. I'm sorry I ever dragged you down."
He felt the weight of a second body press down the mattress under him, and a hand reach out to open his tightly fisted one.
"Sensei, you never dragged me down," Sakura insisted. Her bright emerald eyes shone, emitting a sense of urgency from within her soul.
His hand felt like a thousand fires where she touched him, and he removed himself from her hold. "Please, don't call me that."
Sakura bowed her head in understanding. "I see. That's why you never wanted me to use that title."
Kakashi nodded.
"How about I'll call you Kakashi, if you listen to what I'm about to say?"
Lifting his hair out of his face, Kakashi looked at Sakura. She stared determinedly at the wall ahead of her. "I didn't anticipate that speech you just gave," she said. "But you should know, you never dragged me down. I think in actuality, you ignited a spark within me that made me want to prove myself. Even if you pushed me aside in the beginning, it made me strive for greatness."
"You would have done that without me," Kakashi interjected.
With a terrifying glare that might have matched the fifth's, Kakashi shut up.
"What I'm trying to say is, how about we just forgive each other?" Contorting her body, Sakura jutted out a hand.
Sitting up straight, Kakashi felt strain exit his body like a flock of birds leaving the nest. He extended out a scarred, calloused hand of his own. Just before their fingers brushed, he held up a finger.
"Remember, you swear to only call me "Kakashi" from now on."
With a roll of her eyes, Sakura agreed, and the deal was sealed with one shake.
Author's Note: Sorry about the brief chapter; the next one is much longer!
kanya96, thank you! I appreciate it :D I hope you enjoyed this chapter (and the rest to come!)