The chirp of annoying little birds woke her up that morning. She squeezed her eyes hoping to find some sort of sharp object to kill them with. She had no luck. Upon opening her eyes she found the salon was draped in the bright light coming from the sun. It hurt her eyes. She curiously looked around to find Kakashi. He wasn't there. She shrugged. He probably went for a shower and for a normal breakfast. She got up and tried standing. She slightly lost her balance she hadn't walked in a while, but successfully managed to get to the cafeteria. She found Genma eating at one table and decided to join him.

"Hey, long time no see," he waved.

"I know," she smiled. "You look pretty messed up."

"I'll take that as a compliment," he answered. "I heard they were letting you go home."

She smiled. "Yes. Today they're letting me go, but don't worry," she patted his shoulder. "You'll be out there and fighting in no time."

"I hope. You were pretty awesome."

"For real?" she asked in amazement.

"Of course, for real," he answered. "I can't wait to get a mission with you."

"Thanks," she scratched the back of her head. "So…what's been going on while I was sleeping?" she asked.

"I had been bed-ridden all this time so I barely know anything."

"What do you know then?"

He smirked. "I know that Kurenai happens to be an excellent cook. And I even got doubles because whenever she visited you were sleeping."

"Other than that?" she rolled her eyes.

"Gai is okay. He's a fast healer and Asuma and Tenzou are also fine. Are you interested in someone else?" he teasingly continued.

"No…" she looked away trying hard not to blush. "Should I be?"

"No, you really shouldn't," he looked at her.

"What?" her eyebrows furrowed.

"Give it a rest, Anko. You guys probably had your little fling, but seriously, you don't want to go there," he seriously said. "Not with Kakashi, at least."

"What do you know?" she scolded him.

"Trust me, I know a thing or two and you know he hasn't proven otherwise so…"

She got up and left. She wasn't in the mood to listen to his nasty comments. He didn't know anything.

She quietly waited in her salon for Shizune to do a final check-up before she was allowed to leave. It was getting close to lunch and Kakashi was still nowhere to be seen. Probably he took a nap. Last night's sleep wasn't the most comfortable for him.

"Okay, time to open these bandages," Shizune happily said as she entered the salon. "Give me your right hand, please."

"Hey, Shizune," she stared at how the medic started undoing the bandage.

"Yeah?" she smiled.

"Did anything happen while I was out?" she curiously asked.

"Well, as you can see Konoha didn't get attacked or anything. I don't think so. Anything in particular?"

"Did I have any guests?" she asked.

"Oh…" she thoughtfully said. "Kurenai used to come here every day and…she would talk to you."

"She would?" Anko raised an eyebrow.

Shizune nodded.

"How embarrassing…."

"What? I thought it was sweet!" Shizune said.

"Other than that?"

Shizune didn't know if she should tell her about Kakashi or not. She decided not to. It was his to tell.

"I think we're done here," she threw the dirty bandages in the bin. "You can go shower."

"Thanks,' she pulled on a hospital robe.

She liked the feeling of cool water going down her back. It helped her think. She remembered that evening when she and the boys played by the river. She had to write to the little boy soon. Kakashi was being late. They hadn't established a meeting time, but a good boyfriend would have been by her side ever since her waking hour. She narrowed her eyes. They weren't a couple, yet, although the kind of acted like one. She wouldn't know, of course, seeing that it was her first relationship of the sort. A part of her wanted him to be there. She didn't need the smooth romantic nothings. His presence would have been enough. As she wiped the water off, she thought that she should speak to him about their relationship to set things straight. Inviting him to her house was a splendid idea if only she knew how to cook.

To her delight, Kurenai was waiting for her with a set of fresh civilian clothes.

"Hey!" her friend gave her small hug. Anko couldn't remember the last time she was so affectionate.

"Hey, what's up with that?"

"You've been through a near death experience, shouldn't I be a little concerned?" she raised an eyebrow.

"Don't exaggerate," she said as she pulled on her stockings.

"Don't tell me not to exaggerate," Kurenai rolled her eyes. Anko stared at her.

"So, what have you been up to?" she asked.

"Licking my wounds," she grinned. "And sewing…" she rolled her eyes.

Anko laughed.

"Hey, I sewed yours too!" she accusingly pointed at her.

"And I'll bet you sewed Asuma's too."

"That man's a baby," Kurenai crossed her arms.

"And you love being his mother."

"You're so mean!"

"Sorry… I guess I should stop saying these things since…well."

"What?"

"Since maybe I'm in a relationship too," she grinned.

"Really?" Kurenai curiously looked at her.

"Yeah…" Anko blushed. "With that prick Hatake."

"Are you sure?" Kurenai incredulously looked at her.

"Yes. We've grown close during the mission and he's not that scary guy you'd think he is."

"So do you love him?" she asked.

Anko didn't answer to that.

"I don't know, Anko…I wouldn't get my hopes," her friend said.

"Why would you say that?" Anko asked.

"I'm your friend," she said. "I wouldn't like to see you get hurt."

"I won't," she narrowed her eyes at her. "Thanks for the clothes. Catch you later," she left.

"Bye…" Kurenai bit her lower lip looking as her friend left.

Anko walked out of the hospital. The sun was high up on the sky and those damn birds were getting even more on her nerves. Judging by the mood she had, the sparrows should have been grateful that she didn't have any sharp objects at hand. She decided that she should stop by Kakashi's apartment and talk to him, schedule a dinner and other things. She was a bit nervous, but she was also confident when she knocked on the door. She knocked again. No answer came. She decided to knock one more time, but still no answer. She rubbed her chin. "Where could he be?"

She decided that maybe he was training. It was so him, she smirked to herself. She decided to go to the ramen stand for lunch since her stomach started growling.

"Hello, Anko," she heard Gai when she pulled the curtain.

"Hey, Gai," she took a seat on the stool next to him.

"So how are you doing?" he asked.

"I'm great," she smiled. "And you?"

"Oh, fine…" he continued. "You know, I was wondering…now that you're doing good…perhaps you'd like to train sometime."

"Definitely!"

He was taken aback by her enthusiasm. "And then…I can treat to a round of dango…if you'll beat me."

She wrinkled her nose. "Listen, Gai, I'd love to, just don't get me wrong."

"Am I that bad?"

"No, it's just that well," she blushed. "Kakashi and I…" she rolled her eyes. "We've grown closer…"

"But then how are you going to date if he left?" Gai looked at her with confused eyes. "I thought there wasn't anything-"

"Wait, he left?" Anko asked.

"Y-yeah, this morning he accepted a new solo mission," Gai answered.

Anko felt tears coming to her eyes. "Did he, now?"

Gai bit his lower lip. "I thought you knew…"

"Well, why would he tell me? It's not like we were an item…It's not like…oh my God…how stupid I was…" she got up. "Sorry, Gai, but I have to go."

He got her by the wrist. "Are you okay?"

She looked at him with tears falling down her cheeks. "N-no…" she shook her head. "But I'm going to be."

He let her go and she walked away and kept walking until she reached her house and collapsed on her bed. That night she cried like she hadn't in a very long time, but the next morning she was up and early on the training ground fighting to get better.

Yes so this is the end. Like I said I wanted to be bitter-sweet. I'm going to add and Epilogue in a few days. Any thoughts?