Breathe Again
"Hokage Sama, sorry I'm late."
Kieshi closed the door behind him.
Sakura was sitting in front of Tsunade. Abruptly, they stopped their conversation.
Sakura's eyes widen upon the presence of Kieshi.
Why was he here?
Kieshi saw her expression. He frowned.
She doesn't know? Tsunade haven't told her yet?
"Ah...Kieshi. You are LATE and you didn't even bother to knock."
Tsunade shot him a hard glare.
Kieshi looked at her expressionless. Total ignoring her superiority.
Having the great urge of giving the grown up man in front of her a long lecture about respect and superiority, Tsunade choose to temporally swallow it. This is not a right time for lecture. There are much important things awaiting her.
"Since you had arrived. Lets begin our meeting."
Kieshi choose a corner and leaned on it. Hand crossed, observing Sakura and Tsunade.
"As you all know, lately there are some rumors about some mysterious attacks at the border of Kohona."
Tsunade paused and looked at her student.
"Sakura, I want you and Kieshi to leave the village this evening. Both of you will proceed to the border and do some ground checking. This is an investigation mission. Focus mainly on whatever information both of you can gather then report back after three days. Do you understand?"
Kieshi remained unmoved as if not paying a single attention on anything.
Sakura looked at Tsunade as if she was talking alien language.
Investigation mission? With an Anbu?
She thought those were merely rumors? She couldn't believe her sensei would pay attention on such a thing.
"But, sensei. I'm only a Chunnin. How can I pair up with an Anbu?"
"Sakura, although you are a Chunnin but you are an outstanding Medic Nin. Furthermore, this is only an information-gathering mission. No harm done. You have been hiding your self in the medic building for two years. I think this will be good chance for you. You have not been on mission for a long time. This will be a good starting."
"But I..."
"No but, Sakura. Both of you should go home and pack up."
Without giving Sakura any chance to protest, Tsunade ended this meeting quickly.
"Both of you may leave now. Good luck."
Sakura looked at her sensei. She knew nothing could change her mind. Slowly, she waved to her sensei and walked out the door.
Kieshi did not move. He remained in the room.
"Take care of her. I had done what I can. Just remember the rules. Good luck."
He looked at Tsunade and nodded to her.
He moved towards the door. Before he disappears from the room he muttered.
"Thanks."
The door clicked.
Tsunade looked at her empty room.
She closed her eyes and spoke softly.
"You are welcome."
Suddenly someone opened her office door.
She snapped open her weary eyes.
Seeing the figure standing in front of her.
She sighed.
Why was everyone entering her room without bothering to knock?
"Genma."
Tsunade looked at the man. He looks terrible. His usual mask of cheerfulness was nowhere to be seen.
Tsunade decided not to lecture him on his basic respect of her superiority. She knew this man had enough.
Tsunade choose her words carefully.
"What can I do for you?"
Wearily, Genma slumped on a chair.
He lifted up a hand and wiped his face. With a heavy tone, he spoke.
"Tsunade."
Tsunade waited for him to continue but he didn't.
She felt a heavy weight on her heart.
She felt pain for him. But she could do nothing.
"Genma, I sent Kieshi and Sakura on a ground checking mission for three days at the border of Kohona, if this is what you wanted to know."
Suddenly, Genma stood from the chair.
He approached Tsunade.
As Genma inched closer and closed towards her, unconsciously Tsunade moved backwards.
He stopped barely three inch in front of Tsunade.
"Why?"
The words came out from his dried lips.
"I told you before, Genma. I am trying to fix things up."
All a sudden, Genma gripped Tsunade's wrists tightly.
"Why Tsunade? Why are you doing all these things? Why are you bringing up all the things again after so long?"
Tsunade stood quickly and break free from Genma's grasp.
She pushed him away from her with full force.
Genma slumped on the wall behind him.
"SHIRANUI GENMA. Don't you dare to do this to me. Who do you think you are? I'm the Hokage. Remember your own position shinobi."
Tsunade was angry. She panted heavily and looked at the Genma.
He didn't move.He didn't speak.
After a long silence, Tsunade's anger began to fade away. Sighing heavily, she knew she couldn't abandon him.
She approached Genma and squatted in front of him.
"Oi."
Slowly Genma raised his head and looked at her.
"Gen...ma."
Tsunade was shock.
There were tears on Genma's wearied face.
Tears of a lost kid.
Tsunade didn't know what to say. A moment, her heart had forgotten to beat. Exhaling heavily, she embraced Genma.
She hugged Genma's cold body closely, trying to bring warmth to him.
"Genma no baka. Baka."
Tsunade's eyes reddened.
Genma was like a younger brother to her. She could never forget how the young little Genma had supported her all through when she had lost her beloved boyfriend.
He was dear to her.
Since what happened two years ago, her relationship with Genma tensed. They no longer interact like how they used to in the past. She knew he was lost. In a way he was angry on her for causing people he cared in pain. In a way he was happy that he could have a chance to be with that person alone. As good-hearted as he was, she knew he felt bad for feeling happy. Despite blaming her, she knew he actually blamed himself.
Hugging him closer to her. Tears slipped out from Tsunade's eyes.
"Baka."
"Hai, baka. I'm a baka. Baka."
Genma stayed unmoved in Tsunade's warm embrace. Savoring her sisterly warm.
"I know I shouldn't be like this. I know my feelings are not right. I like Sakura. I don't want her to get hurt. She is like a sister to me. I...I don't want him to get hurt either. I wanted them to be happy."
"Baka Genma. I know. I know."
Tsunadesmoothed his messy hair.
"But sometimes Genma, sometimes, something no matter how powerful we are, something are still beyond our control. Genma, Its time for you to let go. Release yourself. While you had spent all your time looking at him, open your eyes and appreciate those who are looking at you and you had neglected all the time. Such as...Shizune."
Genma looked up with surprise. Temporally forgotten to cry.
"You know?"
Tsunade smiled at him. She smacked his head lightly.
"You thought who I am? I am the ever-powerful Hokage Sama. Of course I knew."
Genma chuckled.
"Baka Genma. Cry and laugh at the same time."
Genma sighed.
"I'm sorry... for these few years."
"Its all right, baka."
"Tsunade..."
"Hmm?"
"I want to be free."
Tsunade smiled. She was really really happy to hear this from him.
"Good."
"It's time for you to move on. You had been shadowed for too long. Even them had started to move forward."
"Tsunade sama, its time for your weekly meeting with the elders on the...Ah I'm so sorry!"
Both Genma and Tsunade looked towards the empty door.
Was that Shizune?
Shizune had appeared from the door and the next second she had disappeared from it. Thinking she had interfered something she shouldn't.
Genma stayed slumped in Tsunade's embrace but he chuckled. A warm smile played on his lips.
Shizune... Hmm...
Maybe it was really the time to give a chance to others and him self.
Suddenly he felt so free after all these years. He felt a heavy stone had left his heart.
Shizune... aa...
He grinned. He would give it a try.
Outside Tsunade's office door, Shizune felt a sudden cold. She sneezed.
At the entrance of Kohona, a man stood there with a bag pack. He wore a white mask with a single pink teardrop on it. He was fully equipped with the Anbu outfit.
He waited patiently, leaning on a pillar.
He smiled when he saw a small approaching figure with pink locks emerged from the entrance.
The figure was too carrying a bag pack but was equipped with the Chunnin outfit.
Sakura stopped in front of Kieshi. She pulled slightly on the hem of her black uniform.
She felt weird in it. She has not been wearing it since a long long time.
Gripping the stripes of her bag pack. Sakura smiled.
Saa...Its time for a change.
Maybe this mission will not turn out that bad. It had been too long since she allowed herself to enjoy, to feel, to laugh, to cry. Maybe this will be a breakthrough, a get away for her. For her to breathe again.
This will be her first mission since two years ago. Unconsciously, Sakura looked forward towards it.
"Lets go. The sun was setting."
Two figures, one tall one short disappeared in the orangey sky.
Everybody is starting to move on.
Have you wondered how it feels when it's all over
Wondered how it feels when you just have to start a new
Never knowing where you're going
When you face a brand new day
It used to be that way
Now I just close my eyes and say
I just want to breathe again
Learn to face the joy and pain
Discover how to laugh a little, cry a little
Live a little more
I just wanna face today
Forget about the woes of yesterday
Maybe if I hope a little
Try a little more, I'll breathe again
Starting out again is never easy
Disappointments come and go but life still moves on
With a bit of luck, It's a brand new start
That might just work my way, No need to walk away
Don't want to live on life replay
Things will work out fine
If you can find the courage to look past the night
To see the break of dawn
TBC
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