..Chapter Fourteen..
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The next morning when she awoke, a shocked expression raced across her features. At first because she'd forgotten Sasuke came to lay with her last night; then because Naruto was curled up next to her. Her lips soon moved into a quiet, knowing smile as she reached down and brushed tendrils of almost peroxide white from his calmed, slumber ridden features. She did much the same with Sasuke before pulling away from the center of the bed, feeling bereft at the lack of warmth she'd felt only moments ago between her two team mates.
Sighing with another smile she tucked them in comfortably. With one final glance she slid out of the room. It was still fairly early and she'd have to leave a note for them both. This morning she'd be going to the hospital to see what she could help out with. As Sarutobi had said, there were many injured shinobi who needed her assistance.
With a quick note, shower, breakfast and a change of clothes all done at the speed of sound, Sakura was shutting her front door and making her way down the residential path towards town.
Her bright emerald hues looked upward as her sun kissed face tilted in the same direction. The orb of yellow and orange was bright. The cloud coverage only minimal. She smiled, her hand shading her eyes. It was a lovely day. Birds fluttered about and the smells tickled her senses. She was happy she'd hadn't left early. This way she could enjoy her leisurely walk towards the hospital.
Few people were out and about this morning. Many of them were shinobi most likely going on missions. And others still looked like Genin heading towards the training area for an early session before the Academy opened. In many ways, over the past week, Sakura had discovered that this Konoha was not so different from her own. In fact, there were many times she found herself forgetting what 'time' she was. Any many times she would see a blond streak of hair with purple and think it was Ino, or a rush of white-opaque eyes with black hair and think it was Hinata. Those were the times she found herself most missing her own home, friends and family.
There were still quite a few differences. The ages of the Jounin and Chuunin amazed her. Some were as young as seven. She could never have dreamed of making Chuunin at seven. She hadn't made that rank until sixteen, and even then it'd been difficult for her. Jounin itself had been nerve wrecking; however, she'd been far more prepared for it than the previous exam.
She wondered how different the hospital would be in this time. In her own it was clean, tidy and well run. Everything was done with the precision of a well oiled machine. Tsunade would have it no other way. Neither would Sakura. In this time she wouldn't be the codirector. That was something she would have to get use to right away. Following orders wasn't new to her. But, in the hospital environment she'd gotten use to doing things her way.
She turned left on the beaten old road and found herself taking the same route she always did to the white building. Some people waved at her on her trek. Some smiled. She gave each expression a return of her own. She'd been out and about regularly enough that people at least knew her face. The Hokage had made sure to get their false documents sent over last night. Her new last name? Kaioh. She wasn't sure how she felt about it. It was just a last name though. No true relevance after all. It's not like she was stuck with it for the rest of her life. Just until she went home.
She pushed the door open to the large lobby in the hospital. She gave a quick scan and walked up to the front desk. "Excuse me," she said to the woman behind it, "I'm Sakura. Kaioh Sakura. The Hokage told me to report here for my shift."
The woman, who she found was a young girl, turned to her and smiled. Bright, lavender-opaque eyes met her own. A Hyuuga, she suddenly realized. Her long black hair was pulled back in a braid and her bangs kissed her cheeks. "Yes, hello. I'm Hyuuga Mei. Let me look at the paperwork sent over this morning." She pulled up a clipboard and quickly scanned. "Yes, Hokage-sama sent over the report about you. You were the one who took care of the Uchiha boy, right?"
"I am."
"Well, I have to say, we'd love to eventually see a demonstration. How you managed to piece the kid back together is amazing." She smiled, the expression as soothing as her voice. "Anyway, for now though," she looked down again as she spoke, "it appears you're paired up with Rin today. Just report to room 100B on this floor. They'll have everything you need there." She handed her a slip of paper giving directions. "This should help, but if you follow the signs you'll find it in no time."
"Thank you," she said, taking the paper and walked off, reading it's instructions. It didn't take her long to reach the room. She didn't even bother knocking. Simply because this was a hospital. Unless it was a private room, which is wasn't, she'd be fine. The sight that greeted her as she came in was an almost humorous one.
Obito stood, hands gripping onto two bars, railings, to either side of him. His shirt was off as he tried to walk. His stance was shaky, his grip tight and his face stern in concentration. Pajama pants covered his legs loosely and his feet were bare. Sakura just stood there watching him for a while. He looked like he was making great progress. To have that much use of his arm already was amazing.
She gasped as he started to fall and took the step forward to help him. But just as she made a move, Rin was right there, her hand on his chest and the other on his back. She smiled softly at him.
"Sorry, Rin..." he panted, "I guess I lost my footing there..." He smiled back at her as he hunched over, allowing her to help hold him up.
"You shouldn't push yourself so hard, Obito..."
He laugh softly. "Ah, but with such a cute nurse to help how can I not?"
She blushed a pretty shade of pink and her eyes widened slightly. "Obito..."
Sakura felt like she was privy to what should have been a moment just between the two other occupants in the room. But, she didn't want to alert them of her presence and break it. Obito had said he loved Rin. And right now she was acting pretty receptive to his kind advances. They might both be Chuunin, but they acted just as innocent as the two kids they were suppose to be.
She felt a hand on her arm and jumped. When she turned quickly, she felt her lips bush across another person's covered in the soft material of a mask. It hadn't been her intention to find herself so close to Kakashi, nor had it been on purpose. And she hadn't expected the warmth that stirred in her core or the blush that rushed across her cheeks. She stared at him, wide eyed, speech leaving her. He too, simply stared.
His chest was undeniably close to hers, the swell of her small breasts brushing there. She swallowed. It was the same stirring feeling she'd gotten when he'd brushed her hand against his. The rush of goosebumps he caused to crest across her flesh had never once bloomed like that with Sasuke. Never. She'd not even felt this kind of... chemistry before with any of the men she'd dated or slept with.
And Kakashi of all people...
When he'd been her teacher she'd always admired him. He was strong, capable and experienced as a shinobi in a way she'd always wanted to be. Everyone had someone they look up to when they're young. For Naruto, now, it was obviously Minato. For Sasuke? She wasn't too sure actually... but for her? It was the boy, man he would become, before her.
It was silly to think she would have romantic feelings for him. This feeling must be one of admiration. Nothing more. Being so close to a man you idolized as a child, respected as a teacher and would surely follow to the ends of the earth without a second thought would cause anyone to turn to putty.
"Ah.. Sorry, Kakashi," she said with a grin and scratched the back of her head. "I didn't see you there."
He smiled back, once more thankful for the mask covering his blush. "No problem, Sakura."
She took a step back, thinking some distance was a good idea. "Are you ok, or are you here to check on Obito?"
Kakashi looked across the room at Rin and Obito working together happily and then back to her Sakura. "A little of both, actually. I normally only let Rin work on me..." He looked over, slightly put off she was busy. He wouldn't break Obito's progress with Rin for anything. They looked happy. And despite Obito's insistence, he felt like he owed the boy one for the eye among other things.
Sakura followed his gaze with a knowing smile. "They do look rather happy together."
He nodded. "I'll come back later, I guess." He turned to go but stopped as he felt a hand on his arm. He looked over at Sakura and arched a questioning brow.
"Are you wounded?"
"Well.... you could say that..."
"Where?"
He sighed and reached for the hem of his shirt, pulling the blue material up and out of the confides of his pants. His tight abdomen was patched together with some gauze and medical tape. However, the injury was starting to bleed through.
"You're not going anywhere," she ordered. "Strip down and go sit over on that bed."
He blinked at her. While it was true Rin had said many of the same things before when patching him up... The same words from Sakura somehow... well... you can imagine can't you? He felt himself go red--again--as he followed her orders. By the time he was done, shirtless and pantless, he remained only in his boxers and wraps about his shins. His shirt was pulled up to at least his shoulders, spandex pooling down his back.
Her soft fingers danced across his skin, tenderly pulling away the medical tape to reveal the deep gash on his stomach.
Sakura hissed. "Good god, Hatake, what did you do?" Her now latex covered digits danced across his bloody tissue. It looked as though a kunai had dug right into him.
"Ah... well..." He found he didn't want to tell her. He didn't want to worry her. "Does it matter?"
"I guess not," she mumbled and began to clean the wound out with some gauze and alcohol.
Kakashi kept himself from wincing at the sting. Pain after all, was nothing new to him. He kept his gaze on her, drifting up her hands and arms working on him. They landed on her cool emerald eyes. For the last couple of days he'd spent quite a bit of time with her. And over that time the girl had grown on him like no other. What was it about her that made him... made him want to see her smile? Anything to get that beautiful face to light up in happiness.
Of course by now he'd admitted he had a crush on her. He wasn't sure if it was love. Love was a complicated and delicate thing. One did not take it lightly. And Hatake Kakashi had a feeling if he fell in love with sea-foam green eyed girl he'd want to be careful with his heart. Not because she would break it, not intentionally, but because he knew it was just his way.
Kakashi always thought everything out carefully before he made a choice. And even he, methodical as he was, knew that falling for someone was not a choice you made. It just happened. He wouldn't count himself as a hopeless romantic; however, he wouldn't discount deep things he had no real understanding for.
He knew this. He liked Sakura. He liked her in a way he liked no other girl. He wanted to spend time with her. He admired her. And above all he respected her. She was hard working, intelligent, refined in her own way and a talented shinobi.
Kakashi knew if he ever got the nerve to ask her out, on a date or as something more, it would be a miracle. She intimidated him. Not many shinobi, men or women could do that. And not really because of her shinobi prowess or because she was Jounin like him, but because he... had feelings for her. Is this how Obito felt all the time around Rin? Outclassed and flabbergasted? Unsure of what to say or if it was ok to touch her? Out of his league and totally unprepared?
He was so on edge. So utterly confused about when and how to ask her. Would he ever get the nerve? Who knew. A lot of people his age dated, kissed, passed notes and held hands. But it quickly faded with time and they moved onto the next self proclaimed love of their life. Kakashi didn't want that to happen with Sakura. So, perhaps moving too soon was a bad idea... Maybe... maybe he would wait to see if how he felt about her faded over time or grew. It seemed like a decent idea concerning something he knew he had no control over choice-wise. And Kakashi was a patient individual.
Yes... he would wait.
"There, all done. I've repaired the tissue to as good as new. However, I would suggest taking it easy for the rest of the day." She grinned as he pulled his shirt back down.
"Thank you," he said softly as he got up and pulled his pants back on.
"No problem."
"Hey, guys. When did you two get here?" Rin walked up with Obito next to her with his crutches.
Sakura smiled as turned to the young brunette with mixes of purple in her hair. "Not too long ago. I'm here to help you out with any patients."
"Oh good!" Rin exclaimed. "I need all the help I can get here in the physical therapy ward. I just got done with Obito. I'll find someone for you to assist next." She reached for a clipboard off of a table and began to scan the names.
Obito grinned at her. "Say, later Rin and I planned to go see a movie. Did you guys want to join us?"
Sakura thought about it for a moment. The idea sounded like fun. She hadn't been to one in a while anyway. Plus, Sasuke would have his hands full tonight with Itachi and Naruto planned on eating over at Minato's to meet his girlfriend. So her plans had included reading a good book till she fell asleep. "Sure, I don't mind. Kakashi?" She turned her head to regard him.
He looked over at her, hands in his pockets. He shrugged. "I'm game."
"Awesome." Obito kept grinning. "Well, I'm out of here to change and go home. My sister needs help with some paperwork."
"Ok, bye, Obito." Sakura waved as Rin gave him a quick hug and turned her attention to the pink haired ninja.
Kakashi walked with him to the door. "I'm heading out too."
"Oh, wait!" Sakura called and dashed up to him.
"Yeah?"
She grinned, leaned forward and gave him a soft peck on the cheek. "Be safe. No more accidents, alright?"
He nodded lamely as she walked back over to Rin. After a moment he shook his head and held the door open for Obito, walking out with him. He hadn't expected that. Of course, the kiss could be simply brushed off as a friendly gesture, nothing more. Sakura had no clue about his budding feelings for her.
"So, what was that about?"
He turned his one good eye on Obito. "What?"
He grinned, as usual. "You know what I mean. Sakura, numbskull. The kiss." He trudged forward, crutches helping as they neared the locker areas in the hospital.
Kakashi shrugged like it meant nothing. "It was a friendly peck. She was saying goodbye."
Obito smiled knowingly as they continued on. He didn't look at his team mate. But one could tell the cogs in his head were going a mile a minute. "Yeah, well, don't think I don't know you, Hatake. We've been on the same team long enough to grant me the ability to say that much at least."
"What is that suppose to mean?" He hated that the black haired Uchiha, a year older than him, could apparently read him so well. The direction of the conversation was more than an indication. Playing dumb wasn't working, but like hell he'd admit anything.
"I've seen the way you've looked at her over the past week. I'm might be missing an eye, but I'm not blind. You've never looked at another girl like that before."
"Like what?" he grumbled.
He chuckled. "Like you don't have a clue about anything; like you don't know what you're doing. You always know what you're doing, Hatake. Always." He glanced over at him. "You always have a plan. Plus? I know the look. It's the same one I give Rin all the time." He chuckled. "You've got it bad. I never thought I'd see the day."
Kakashi sighed and slumped forward a bit. "I don't want to talk about it."
"Why? What are you worried about?" He waited for the silver haired Jounin to open the door for him. He entered the locker room with no trouble, noting no one was about. He stepped over to the blue one with his number on it and began to work the combination.
"Worried?" Kakashi asked. "I'm not worried about anything."
"Yeah right. You think she'll reject you don't you?" He opened the door and began to pull clothing from it's confines.
Kakashi sat down, forearms resting on his thighs as he spread his legs and leaned forward. "I don't know how I feel yet."
"But, you're still worried," he stated as he slowly sat down. He allowed Kakashi to steady him as he dressed.
"Maybe..." he finally admitted. "I just don't want to start something if I'm not in for the long haul."
"How so?" Obito lifted his legs one at a time as Kakashi assisted him into his shinobi pants. He shifted and pulled them up the rest of the way.
Kakashi sighed and went back to where he sat, helping when he was needed. "Sakura is a wonderful girl. She has a lot of qualities anyone would want in someone by their side. However, I don't want to get involved with her only to have those feelings wane."
Obito took his time pulling on his sandals one by one. "Are you worried about hurting her?"
"I guess that's part of it." He shrugged. "But I also value her as a friend. I've seen the way other couples act after a bad breakup. I've seen the repercussions when they're on the same team. I don't want that to be us."
Obito sighed and started to stand up, allowing his best friend to help him into his crutches. "Careful thinker as always," Obito sighed exasperated. He was frustrated, but you could tell it was all in good fun. "Don't take too long to figure it out, Hatake. You never know when someone might slip in and steal her right from underneath you."