Sorry for the delay in publishing - and I really hope that this isn't too angsty - I wanted it to be heartfelt and thoughtful (you'll know what I mean when you get to it) rather than angsty in any sense ... Still, hope you like it! ^-^

Also: Thanks to everyone who's taken the time to review! Your support really means a lot and I'm amazed how many people like this story! XD

Damn annonymous reviews, I wish I could respond to everyone who's reviewed! Still, thank you guys! ^-^

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Go No Further

Part 7: Ripples Through The Reflection

Kakashi had made it back to the village and dropped off his (often complaining and beyond irritating) charge; he could, thankfully, now begin to relax. However, he had to admit that it wasn't quite as fitful as he might have liked, due to the unexpected but enlightening encounter with Sakura. He was surprised at how amiable she'd been with him and he found that he genuinely couldn't quite figure out the reason why – there was a part of him which found the idea of her being such a mystery to him rather enticing.

But logic told him that whilst his primary objective, when he next spoke to her, was to apologise, having no grasp, even in the slightest, of what she may be thinking would only cause trouble. He needed, primarily, at least, be able to guess how she might respond to any given thing he could say – then he will be able to guess what would be a spectacularly stupid thing to say.

After all, he was, in many ways, looking to creep back into her life and train with her now that he's found something of interest; whilst most people work this way (although generally unacknowledged either by themselves or the other party) it seemed far more harsh when he thought about how to explain his desire to train with her again.

Through the process of apologising (and explaining, to her, his actions), they might build enough of a rapport that he could then ease into the conversation about space-time ninjutsu, without it appearing as something out of the blue.

Or as though he was just looking to use her for his own ends.

His intuition told him that suddenly appearing and wanting to discuss, and then get involved, in a personal project of hers, which he'd nosed in on whilst invading her home to prepare for an argument, was probably not the wisest way to go.

As Kakashi lay on his sofa in the early evening light, a sudden thought occurred to him causing him to bolt upright and feel certain that he would be able to glean some much needed information about the kuniochi, which would help when it next came to speaking with her. He would have to be judicious with the coming conversation, but that was why the bar would be the most suitable location: for its relaxed atmosphere (and it certainly helped that his target's stomach was weak for sake).

Kakashi couldn't help but feel a stab of jealousy when he thought that his target was highly likely to protect Sakura, be it purposefully or inadvertently, if he thought that Kakashi's intention or actions would end up hurting her. What had happened that his own long ago Genin student, who was now such a stranger to him, that he is now forced to ask his rival – a man who used to occasionally frighten and slightly disturb Sakura – for information on the woman she currently is.

He really needed to talk to Gai and he could only hope that the man would be in a cooperative and understanding mood.

Sakura only just had time to dodge a windmill shuriken as it struck the ground and a smoke-bomb attached burst, reducing her visibility to zero; thinking fast and organizing her chakra faster, she pounded her fist to the ground. As she heard a gasp of surprise – which definitely wasn't Raiden's voice – she began to prepare her chakra as she threw a kunai, with kibakufuda attached, at two and ten o'clock. She herself moving off to the two o'clock position, still covered by the cloud of smoke, she waited for a retaliation strike which came at from the correct angle she'd assumed.

As soon as her jutsu was complete, she circled around the edge of the smoke whilst creating a kage-bunshin which leapt ahead of her, but off to the side as Sakura herself began to form the hand seals for her Arijigoku no jutsu [inescapable hell]. Her kage-bunshin was right on time, as Sakura could see from her current vantage point exactly where her enemy was, the clone expelled a great Goukakkyuu no jutsu which forced the enemy – unbeknownst to him – towards the real Sakura who'd just completed her doton jutsu.

To make sure he succumbed to her Arijigoku no jutsu, hurled a shuriken with a length of wire attached at the man, it looped around his neck and she dragged him backwards into the swirling quick-sand like pit. He was despatched quickly and Sakura dispelled her kage-bunshin before she turned around to spot Aijikawa in the process of escaping. Raiden was just about to drive a kunai through his opponent's chest and so Sakura focused her full attention upon the escaping prisoner.

She ran towards him whilst throwing a chakra laden punch to the ground which would have tripped the man over, had he not chosen that precise moment to leap up onto a tree branch; growling in irritation slightly, Sakura picked up her pace and was swift to catch up to Aijikawa. She reached into her pouch and withdrew a length of chakra enhanced rope, which possessed a weight at one end.

Her years of training mean that Sakura's body almost instinctively knew precisely how much force with which to spin the rope before releasing it and allowing it to seemingly snap around the man's legs, dragging him down to a nasty landing on the forest floor. Sakura was swift with her follow up, casting a genjutsu over him.

It wasn't her nastiest, not by a long shot, but it was still enough to cripple those of a less than robust disposition, he gave a shrill scream as whatever disgusted him the most, presumably, attacked him in some way. They really were the most effective jutsus – those which turned the shinobi against himself; still, Sakura didn't have time to waste as she span around to see Raiden finishing off his opponent.

"You alright?"
"Hai, Taichou… Yourself?"

"Been better, but goddamn they really could have chosen a better time to attack," She walked back over, dragging the still wriggling and sobbing form of Aijikawa with her;

"Heh, it probably was a good time for them,"

"Yea…the bastards. They were pretty tough, I hope they haven't taken out Akihiko and Taiki, although he'd probably have made mention of it, if he had," Sakura began to collect up her sebon and shuriken.

"Don't worry, Captain, it takes a lot to bring them down,"

"Hmm, I just wish I knew whether they were on their way or if they got taken down back at the hideout," Sakura quickly made a check through of her final provisions and began to disassemble one of the traps their attackers hadn't triggered or taken apart.

They were due to leave in an hour or two (even though Akihiko and Taiki still hadn't made an appearance) when two pursuers, from the gorge, presumably, had either caught up or decided to attack and rescue their leader. Unfortunately, there were hardly a match for elite – even by ANBU standards – and without any benefit on numbers, they were swiftly dispatched; though not without the expenditure of more stamina and chakra

Although they were shinobi, they weren't much above Chuunin level, Sakura guessed, judging by the speed of their reaction times and their ability to conceal their presence. Still, the only thing Sakura could find to be grateful for was the fact that it had stopped raining.

"Raiden, it's time for us to move off,"

"What?" Sakura narrowed her eyes slightly, and although her face was covered, Raiden knew her well enough,

"I know, but we had an agreed meeting time and they still have not made contact nor have they made the point, we're still under cover and we can't afford to draw any more attention to ourselves by going and looking for them over such a wide area. The best thing we can do now is return to Konoha and get this lug off our hands, then, if necessary, we can form a search party and return for them,"

Sakura spoke only logic but it was still difficult to swallow, it wasn't easy to fathom leaving behind teammates – brothers, essentially, in order to save himself; Sakura dispelled the genjutsu and hauled the spluttering man to his feet,

"Hai, Taichou," Raiden formed a swift katon and touched his hands to the bodies of their enemies burning them to ashes in seconds,

"Don't worry, Raiden, it would take a lot for them to be killed or captured, they could just be resting and hiding form pursuers,"

They finished organising themselves and eliminated all trace that they'd ever been there and set off on a swift pace towards Fire, skirting the Ame/Kawa border; it took them less than a day to cross over into Fire and Sakura had made absolutely certain that they hadn't been followed. Thankful to be back in home territory, Sakura was marginally eased by it although her mind was still aware of the fact she'd had no word from her other teammates, speaking of which…

Just as Sakura landed on a branch with Aijikawa next to her, a small bird tweeted from the branch above her, holding out her arm it hopped down and Sakura picked at the small clasp on its leg, pulling out the note,

"What is it, Captain?"

"Taiki and Akihiko… They're alright, forced to take a detour apparently, they expected to reach the meeting point on time but were forced into Wind territory,"

"Oh, thank kami!" Raiden breathed a large sigh of relief to hear his friends are safe and only delayed, Sakura wrote a swift, although on-descript response and sent the bird away to find them. She, herself, couldn't help but smile to know the remnants of her team is safe and on the return journey; composing herself, she tugs on the rope binding Aijikawa, signalling that they will be moving off, and both ANBU moved at a faster pace than they had done before.

Kakashi walked slowly through the dark, evening streets of Konoha, it was quite – as typical – most civilians were thankfully, generally placid and didn't make too much noise. He'd been at the bar talking to Gai; his old friend disappointingly un-forthcoming with the information he was craving.

Perhaps, somewhere, Kakashi couldn't quite blame him, perhaps, if he'd taken on a student for special training after a previous sensei had failed them, he too would be protective. If he'd had the chance.

As his feet took him slowly towards his typical mediation spot, he ran over the past few hours with his friend, in his mind, silently hoping that he'd missed something in the noise and stuffiness of the bar that would come back to him now.

'Gai! I'm surprised to see you in here,' He made sure to keep his voice cool and noncommittal, it would be far too weird for him to be looking for the green beast – better to allow him to dish out the invitation,

'Ah, Kakashi! My eternal rival! You are indeed right that I do not regularly frequent an establishment such as this, however, I have the next few days off and I have been worried about my students,'

'Oh? Are they alright? Lee-kun is still away, is he not?' Kakashi stood, with his book dropped and his eye focussed on the taijutsu master, who was sat at a small table towards the back of the bar – a small bottle of warm sake in front of him,

'Indeed, he is, although he is expected back later this month,' Perfect, Kakashi couldn't resist thinking, this really will tie in nicely with my attempts to train with Sakura, all the better if Gai isn't as readily available, Kakashi turned to face his friend a little more fully, a useful, but subtle, display of interest,

'That's good, he's been away for some time now, hasn't he?'

'Two years and almost four months…my poor Lee has sorely missed the beautiful grace and honour of Konoha,'

'Hmm…will you being training with him again, when he returns?' Gai met Kakashi's eye for a moment, something in the green beast's look warned Kakashi that he was not as opaque as he would have liked to be;

'Kakashi, are you joining me for a drink or would you prefer to offer me clear headed counsel?' Kakashi paused for a moment, expertly hiding his wariness, he couldn't back out now, anyway,

'Will you still be here when I return?'

'You would think me so dishonourable?' Kakashi shook his head, not having to fake a gentle smile,

'Of course not...same again?' Kakashi wandered away, pocketing his book before Gai could respond; the silver-haired Jounin brought him another drink, anyway;

'Thank you, my dear friend,' Kakashi pours himself a drink, having taken the adjacent seat to Gai, his visible eye able to scan most of the bar from his current position, they remain in silence, for a few minutes,

'So?'

'So, what?' Gai looks at him in mild confusion,

'Lee-kun, will you be training with him again?'

'Ah, Lee…yes I suppose I will be – when I have time, I must still stick to my schedule with the vibrant Sakura!'

'Eh? You still need to train her? I would have thought she'd be good enough by now,' Gai scowled slightly, knocking back his shot of sake before answering,

'Good enough? How dare you, she is brilliant! But I enjoy training with Sakura, she was an excellent student and is now a formidable opponent,'

'Aah,' Yes, he knew about the excellent student part, 'Was she the 'other student' you mentioned?'

'Yes…I'm worried that her team is still not back from their mission… Considering how long it's been, it was no doubt highly-dangerous,' Gai sipped his next cupful more slowly, thoughtfully,

'Don't you have faith in her? I'm sure she'll be fine if she's as formidable as you say,' Kakashi responded cooly, unsure why Gai seemed so worried about her when he spoke so highly of the kuniochi,

'There is nothing wrong in caring for a friend, Kakashi, no matter how competent you think them or how skilled they are,'

'Hmm,' He supposed - no Gai was right, when was the last time he'd done a team-related mission? Too long; when was the last time he knew when a friend was away and found himself concerned at their absence? Far too long; he stopped worrying – genuinely – long ago, it would have killed him to continue then,

'How long has it been since you last spoke with her, Kakashi?' He probably doesn't mean argue – probably wouldn't be pleased to hear about it, either,

'A few days ago, I ran into her on a mission – pure coincidence – though we didn't…say much,' Kakashi took another swift sip of sake, Gai eyed him critically,

'Before then? When was the last time you purposefully had a conversation with her?'

'I don't remember,' This hits a nerve he didn't intent – one of his own, when was the last time he spoke to Sakura willingly, for a conversation rather than to issue orders or to brief a situation?

'Sometimes, Kakashi, I am forced to wonder if she was ever your student at all…' Ouch,

'What do you mean?' Although a sting to his pride, he couldn't resist his curiosity on this one – what exactly did Gai mean?

'Her style was very unique. Whenever I watched Naruto or Sasuke fight – forgive me for bringing them up – it was easy to see your influence upon them, Naruto a little more subtle, for the difference between you and his tutelage under Jiraiya-sama, but it was there.

'Whenever I watched Sakura, though, in her movements – whether tai or ninjutsu, I struggled to see any of your influence – I knew some had to be there for her days under your supervision but there were – at most – flashes, as though she'd seen how you tackled a problem and knew it to be the best way around, so mimicked.' Gai took another sip, Kakashi half expected him to continue but only the dull background chatter of the bar is heard; it forms its own sort of silence, another layer to the atmosphere.

A part of him wants to spew out futile excuses, 'she's a girl', 'I never personally trained her', 'she was under the Godaime's supervision' – but they all point to Gai's accuracy and his failure,

'Does she fight as you would, now, then?'

'Sakura excels at adaptation,' Kakashi isn't even sure how to begin a response – what sort of a response could he possibly form?

'Gai-'

'Training students is, by no means, an easy task…there were times I could not, for the life of me, understand Tenten or where her motivation lay, truly, especially when I felt that either Neji or Lee needed my guidance or that I felt a greater kinship to them…but when I promised myself I would not be a coward or take the easy way out and ignore her, I found it was not as difficult as I had imagined in my mind.

'I made it impossibly difficult, in my mind, and so ended up steeling myself against it – and her – before I had truly assessed the situation – and Tenten – so I could not, honestly, be her teacher. Later, I found her often an easier pupil to guide and more willing to listen than Neji – and to understand; Tenten was not the alien or enigma I had unfairly painted her to be – and neither was Sakura,'

Kakashi found himself speechless.

Gai knocked back his final cupful of sake and rose to his feet,

'It was good to speak with you again, my friend, but I must now go to bed… I will see you again soon for another challenge to prove our manliness! Good night,' Kakashi couldn't even find a way to repeat the last two words back to his old friend, as he watched the man walk out of the bar and into the cool night air.

He'd remained in the bar for some time after, digesting the words Gai had spoken; had that been the reason he'd been so avoidant of Sakura in the past? Had he painted her as something 'troublesome' and 'incomprehensible' before he'd even gotten to know her, just because of her gender?

Probably.

Finally feeling the chill, Kakashi allowed a sharp sigh to escape him, he'd never really wanted to be a teacher in the past and in a sense, always saw it as an easy option. When ANBU got to be the wrong side of 'bearable' and he began to feel it in himself that he had to slow down (which, in itself, took time to accept; that needing a break didn't make him a failure), he turned to becoming a sensei.

He'd always assumed it would be easy – aside from the irritation of children – just a matter of passing on knowledge and explaining things combined with supervision.

What a bloody stupid mistake – they weren't reports to write out, or ninken to train. Young, yes, but in need of approval, praise and support – all three of them in different, but no less valid, ways.

Damn, he wouldn't blame Sakura if she kicked him out right after he apologised.

He turned to walk away from the stone, back to his apartment and hopefully some tea and sleep – however unlikely or elusive. As he made his way back onto the streets, his mind still whirring with thoughts of his, then, students, he caught a glimpse of pink floating over a roof top.

Tomorrow, it seemed, would be the day he would at least attempt to put things right – or maybe make up for things.

Damn, there always seemed to be something new to regret; but this, he promised, would be something he would never let himself regret – rekindling at least amiability, but hopefully, friendship, between Sakura and himself.

She was, after all, the only one left.