A note: I did this idea in my 'Thunder and Lightning' drabble series and I wanted to expand it.

Scenario Three : In the Universe of Farms

Young Sakura had a farm, and on her farm she had a scarecrow AU

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Sakura sighed as she got up with the first rays of sunshine. At the realization that she was awake, Naruto sprung off the bed to begin running around in tight circles. Of course he would step on Sasuke's tail, causing the cat to jump up howling like a banshee and attacking the large golden-retreiver with murderous intent.

"Oh, Sasuke you stop that," Sakura said with a tired sigh of having to deal with their arguments at least three times a day. She reached forward and expertly picked up the cat. The sleek black cat still had his fur spiked up in aggression (although when did he not) and was spitting at a whining Naruto.

"Come on guys, we have a lot to get done like usual," Sakura said as she cradled Sasuke to her chest and continued petting his soft fur to him calm him down. Naruto obediently trotted along behind her, tail wagging.

Sakura was very proud of her farm. It was not anything spectacular, but her parents had left it for her after their passing and she adored the place she had grown up.

Yes, there were struggles. Like with her previous golden-retreiver Minato and his red-setter lady friend had gotten attacked and killed by a fox. They had managed to save and carry back one of their puppies, Naruto, before they had died right there on the front porch side by side.

Or that giant snake that had snuck up on her. Sakura would have surely gotten bitten and died if not for her favorite draft horse. Sarutobi had kicked himself free of the plough and sacrificed himself to trample it and protect the farm. Sakura had grew up and loved that horse, and while her new one named Tsunade was gorgeous, she did not really enjoy working as hard as Sarutobi had. She also got along poorly with Sakura's donkey Jiraiya. She was always kicking the poor thing as it brayed after her, but the idiot always came back to bother her. Sakura hoped one day she would get a mule out of it.

And yes, she lived alone and was fairly separated from society, but she had all the friends and company she needed out here. She told herself everyday that of course she was not lonely and that of course nothing was missing.

After feeding Naruto and Sasuke (and stopping another fight when Naruto tried to steal some of Sasuke's) Sakura pulled her pastel pink hair back into a neat ponytail and got to work. She had to feed the chickens, weed her personal garden, milk the goat and cow, and then head next door. The elderly couple had decided they did not want to have their plot of land anymore and wanted to move into the city to be closer to their children.

Sakura had agreed she would watch over the land in their absence for some monthly money and free use of their land. Today was the day they had agreed to finalize it and give her a list of what needed to be done, and to scope out the land and take whatever she needed. If this worked out, maybe one day she could get the land for herself.

Sakura took in a breath of crisp morning air and looked out at the expanse of her land. If she was going to take on even more land, she needed to get her own fields in perfect working order first.

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A ragged scarecrow desired the wish to sigh like he had seen those humans do. But, sadly, he was not one and so had the inability to. Because if he was human, he would have swatted off each and every crow from his shoulders and head.

Overall, he did not mind being a scarecrow. He had felt the affection and hope from someone as he was made, willed into existence off of scraps into something much bigger and better. He watched children play in the fields and animals both domesticated and wild cross his path; he enjoyed watching the sun and moon and stars come and go in their rotations.

Yet lately the couple had neglected their fields, allowing them to wither and die. Now he held a pitiful domain of a barren wasteland, himself forgotten and left to the crows.

Now he missed his previous glorious life, and feeling important. Having been made of discarded materials, the scarecrow had always been humble about his homely appearance. But thinking about how threadbare his clothes were, how one of his eyes had been plucked out, and how he was so thin from a lack of fresh straw, he wished he was more handsome. Or at least a little less dusty.

"Hello there, what's this?" he heard behind him.

"I've been looking for a scarecrow," the voice continued to say, now directly in his blind-spot. Then she crept around, and the scarecrow wanted to sigh again, but this time at he sight of her. She was honestly more beautiful than any of the countless days, sunrises or sunsets he had witnessed.

"You're a little beat up, but I can easily fix that," Sakura said as she patted his chest, a good amount of dirt springing out.

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When she had first picked him up out of the ground and carried him over to a new land and house, the scarecrow had been a little worried. He attended that plight of land for as long as he existed. He did not known anything different.

Then she had stripped him of his frame, straw and clothes. He was thrown into a bucket and scrubbed within an inch of his stitches.

But then she was stuffing him with brand new straw, and cut and nailed him a new support. She dressed him in black pants and shirt, a dull green vest giving a smart look. She took some dried silver grass puffs and put it atop his head for some semblance of hair. She even found a loose button and sewed it on where he had lost his other one (although this button was red and his other was black). For the last touch, she even sewed on a new face. His maker had not given him that that- it had only been two buttons for eyes.

"Well, now I think those crows won't bother you in the least. And I think you deserve a name. How about Kakashi? Not original, I know, but quite fitting!" Sakura said before leaning forward and giving him a light kiss on his forehead.

As she gently put him down to attend to that cat and dog who were always fighting, the scarecrow thought that he could live the rest of his days out in this new place and field with the utmost happiness.

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And so the days and months passed and Kakashi the scarecrow grew to understand a thing called love. Of course he did not know that was what it was called, but that is what he felt for the pink-haired lass all the same.

Everyday after her chores were done she would come and sit next to him in his new field, a bright green domain of beautiful plants, and talk about her day. In turn Kakashi listened, and wished every time that he could respond.

"Until tomorrow," Sakura said with a pat on his arm before leaving him.

Kakashi always felt this hollow feeling, almost like he was suddenly empty of all his straw, whenever she left him.

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Sakura got up out of her bed that morning and shivered, rubbing her arms briskly to generate some semblance of heat. Both Naruto and Sasuke were curled up on either side of her, clearly seeking heat from her.

"Looks like it's coming out of fall and into a true winter. It's come a bit early this year. I better start making the necessary preparations," she said to herself before she got out of bed and immediately looked for a warm wool sweater.

That day she started harvesting her crops and planted some winter ones. The cranberries seemed especially adamant this year about showing up all those other summer berries. Realizing she would have to harvest the corn in a month or so, she turned to look at her scarecrow from a distance.

After she fixed him up, Kakashi did a wonderful job keeping away the crows. While she expected him to look at least a little waterlogged after so long in the fields, he only looked livelier every day. She shook her head- thinking a scarecrow looked lively?

Still, Sakura frowned when she realized Kakashi would be standing out there in an empty field once again. She was sure he had seen many winters with the elderly couple next door, but Kakashi just looked so happy here and she wished he did not have to see his field go away when he had to stay.

"I'll tell Kakashi today just so he isn't shocked when it happens," she said to herself, and then shook her head agin. "He's a scarecrow, Sakura. It's already weird that you refer to him by a name and then talk to him everyday. Don't humanize him even more!"

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"I'm sorry about this," Sakura said with an affectionate pat on Kakashi's arm before she turned to her horse Tsunade and began harvesting the field.

Kakashi watched her work with attention, knowing it would be the last time she would come out in a while. Winter was setting in fast, and he understood her need to harvest the crops so she could go into town and sell them. Then she would get supplies and hole away for months to fight off the winter.

Kakashi would not mind being out here, but he missed his field already and he knew he would miss Sakura even more. He did not expect her to wander out in the middle of blizzards to talk to him like she had all those bright, summer days when she had been tanned and her nose seemed perpetually red.

One morning Sakura went off to the market with her ever-present cat and dog by her side. Behind them Tsunade hauled a huge cart full of corn. Kakashi felt proud that he had given her such a good harvest.

"We'll be right back, my scarecrow! Don't go anywhere I can't follow now!"

Kakashi sighed, since she was doing just that.

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Kakashi knew something was wrong.

Everything should be just fine. While she had less to attend to, Sakura still bundled up and came out to see him. One day she had given him an old yellow scarf and it had made him feel better, but the comfort did not lasted.

Yes, his field was empty, but that was nothing Kakashi was unaccustomed to during this time of white. So why did he feel so shaky and useless?

Something definitely was wrong, but he had no idea what.

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Sakura's brow furrowed as she saw her scarecrow was down on the ground in a heap. Had the winds pushed him down? She knew the hardest parts of winter were just around the corner, but she had made sure his frame was secure enough to weather any storm.

Trotting up to him, Sakura nearly sprinted back in retreat when she saw her scarecrow move. Had a wild animal tried to get to him, but he had fallen atop of it? She glanced at Naruto and Sasuke at her side: they were inquisitive, but were not on the offense.

Then she heard a whisper and nearly jumped out of her skin. She thought maybe it had been the wind-but there it was again.

"Sakura…" she heard in a soft, rough tone.

She looked around, but could not hear anything more. Then she heard her name again and- was it coming from the scarecrow? Oh, if some idiot kid had trekked out all the way here in this weather to play a joke on her, she was almost impressed but mainly mad.

"Alright, that's enough, you leave my lovely Kakashi alo-OH!"

Sakura reached down to flip him over, and she did, only to see the scarecrow staring back up at her. His face looked eerily more human than she the comically drawn face she had originally given him. Then the stitches around his mouth moved and she heard again: "Sakura…"

She stared down at the thing, and it started to move in its soft, odd twitches again. She felt a wind whip by and she shivered; oddly enough the scarecrow did too. Frowning, she leaned down to him. It's hand twitch, lifted for a moment, and then fell down.

"I have no idea what's happening or what I'm doing," she said as she reached forward and picked up the scarecrow; he still felt like he was only made of fabric and straw and was quite light. His face seems to turn into her shoulder in comfort, but maybe that was just the sack of straw readjusting.

"Never say nothing exciting happens at my farm," Sakura muttered to herself as she walked back to her house.

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Kakashi had never felt more happy in all his seasons.

Here he was, sitting next to Sakura by her fire. While she usually just talked at him, this time she was talking with him. He could respond back!

"So- you know me?"

He nodded his head as much as he could.

"And you're my scarecrow- really the same Kakashi from my neighbor's field. Well, obviously not the same, but still- you're my Kakashi?"

Kakashi nodded as avidly as he could again, which was really only one slow nod.

"Well, how about that."

Kakashi wanted to smile, and found that he could, as she continued to study him. While he was perfectly content with just watching her, she spoke again.

"I don't really understand what's happening, but it felt like you have some sort of heartbeat in your chest. Honestly, I'm a little afraid to open you up and go poking around. Anyways, for the moment, I have no idea what to do and winter is coming, so we might as well just wait it out."

Kakashi's smile grew.

"Although, your face is a little scary right now, so how about I get you a mask?"

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And so days, and then months, passed and Sakura watched in avid fascination as something mighty odd happened to her scarecrow. Because in the beginning of winter Kakashi had seemed very much a scarecrow; now at the end of the season he seemed very much a man.

The puffs of silver grass had turned into actual, unruly silver hair; his eyes had lost their plastic sheen for the shine of actual eyes; his body was no longer made up of discarded feed bags and straw, but skin and bone and muscle. He had cut himself the other day and had bled.

But still, Kakashi did not talk. The only word he could say was her name. Any other communication was done with nods and shakes of his head.

He still wore the clothes Sakura had first given him, and it fit his tall figure still in his new form. There were still some moments when he would not know just what to do with his limbs, but he was learning quite fast. It helped that Sakura had nothing better to do during the blizzards than to help refine his motor skills.

Finally, it was warm enough to venture outside and Kakashi seemed to revel in his ability to actually walk around in the snow, to pick it up and taste it and then throw it at Sakura in his excitement for her to experience it.

"Kakashi-be careful," Sakura said before following him outside and latching onto his arm.

He looked down at her and she could see the outline of a smile on his face. He seemed very intent on keeping the mask up, even after Sakura had asked to see his face. Sakura did not understand why, as Kakashi's face no longer seemed to have the the haunted look of stitches come alive.

Soon enough he got cold (he was getting better at understanding his new body) and Sakura forced them back inside. She brewed a pot of tea and they sat at the couch comfortably. Naruto and Sasuke sat on the rug before the fire, contently snuggled up to each other in an odd moment of peace. Only the odd crackle and pop from the logs on the fire made a disturbance in the small, warm house.

Even though Sakura could not see Kakashi's face, she knew he was very happy. As if feeling her gaze, he turned to her and tilted his head in question. Sakura thought that he must have picked up that habit from Naruto.

"I'm sorry, it's nothing really," she said softly before tucking into his side.

Now that she had him around, Sakura finally understood Naruto and Sasuke's constant attempts to get closer to her for warmth. There was nothing like folding yourself into something bigger and instantly feeling safer, guarded.

In response, Kakashi gently wrapped his arms around her.

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"Would you look at that- it's finally here! Spring! Oh, Kakashi, come and see the tulips they're just amazing!"

But Kakashi was really just staring at the young woman in front of him with his mismatched eyes. A scar remained stark against his pale skin from where a crow had bitten out his previous eye with its beak in curiosity.

"What are you waiting for?" Sakura asked as she turned back around, an inquisitive frown on her face.

Blinking and shaking himself over whatever he had just gotten caught up in, Kakashi followed after her to investigate the land that was now snow-free. Then Sakura was bringing out the last of their sunflower seeds in happiness. At first Kakashi was wary of encouraging the birds, but then he realized just how peaceful it was to have them eating out of his hand, chirping cheerily and obviously happy about such a gift.

"They're much nicer than crows, huh Kakashi?" Sakura asked, refusing to burst into chuckles as the man turned to her, nearly covered in cheery birds. They really seemed to like him, as if sensing his calm and nurturing self.

He gave a slight nod, startling a cardinal, before grabbing more feed from the bag to give to his new group of friends.

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While Sakura had never minded attending to the farm alone, Kakashi did more work now as a human than he ever did as a scarecrow. Not to diminish his prowess for getting rid of this crows (except the one that Sasuke had an odd fascination with), but it did help that he could walk around now.

"How about you and me, we head into town and you can help me with the errands?"

"I would like that," he said in that rough, soft voice of his: just like fresh straw. He had been getting better at talking and now, mid-summer, he could easily hold a conversation with her. He still talked a little slow and sometimes didn't get the volume right, but it was still passable.

In town, Sakura could feel everyone staring at her and Kakashi, probably wondering where she had found the mystery man (oh, if only they could believe the truth). Finally, someone had the courage to come up and directly ask her about it.

"He was trying to travel during winter and I offered him a place to stay for the season."

"I would stay forever at your side," Kakashi said, and Sakura blinked up in shock at the earnest she saw in his mis-matched eyes.

Sakura smiled and took his hand in hers. During the entire way back, neither of them let go.

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Sakura watched Kakashi play fetch with Naruto. They repeated the process of Kakashi throwing the stick, Naruto bounded up, fetching it, and bringing it back for Kakashi to pick up. Naruto was always the happiest when he could be of some use for others and make them happier.

Kakashi was laughing brokenly at Naruto, taking moments to pet his soft fur, before launching the stick off again. He looked anything but happy.

"Kakashi?"

At her soft call, Kakashi dropped the stick to break the cycle and, ignoring Naruto's whine, trotted over to her.

"Yes, my Sakura?"

"Don't you… don't you want to explore the world? For whatever reason you've been gifted life! Shouldn't you go do something amazing with it?"

He stared at her quizzically before sitting down aside of her. Kakashi took her hand in his (his was almost as tan as hers now), stared down at it for a moment, before looking back up at Sakura.

"Sakura, you were the one who made me like this. Everyday I wished and wished I could thank you, to be a bigger part of your life. And maybe someone or something heard me, or maybe you healed me all by yourself, or maybe I just willed myself into existence with stubbornness alone. But now that I can be here, and touch you, and actually name this feeling I have towards you, I can't imagine ever leaving you."

"What do you feel towards me?" Sakura asked, feeling brave but also suddenly very scared. Right away she had been fond of that lonely scarecrow in that dried up field, and that affection had only grown.

"Love, of course," Kakashi said with a smile still hidden behind his mask that Sakura suddenly, desperately needed to see.

Reaching up, she tried to grab at the mask, but he turned away from her, suddenly shy.

"What if I'm still hideous?" he whispered.

"You were never hideous, Kakashi. Stop being silly. It was just a little disconcerting to see my crude sewing come to life."

Kakashi glanced at her, and then back down to their still-joined hands. She squeezed his in encouragement.

"I have been wanting to do something with you I saw in town," Kakashi muttered as he turned back to face her.

"And what's that?" Sakura asked in confusion as she leaned over and pealed down his mask with her other hand.

What she saw was just another ordinary, human face. He seemed a bit older than her, and the scar made Kakashi seem a little broken, but he was the most beautiful thing Sakura had ever seen. She did not care if it had been her, or him, or something higher up above, that had allowed him to become this. She was gripped with thankfulness all the same.

Sakura smiled against Kakashi's kiss when he finally leaned down and pressed his lips against hers.

Posted: 10.4.2014