..Chapter Forty-Four..
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AN :: For this chapter I'm not including another letter. Sorry, Mateba! I know how you adore them! , I'll have one again soon! I promise!
Anyway, I wanted to address something that everyone has been bugging me about. But first, I want to thank you all for your wonderful reviews. Over 300! I never expected to get so many. And I never expected so many people to love this story as much as I have loved writing it. I know I've been dragging it on. And that's what I'm about to address.
I always liked to say the journey is much more fun than the destination. And for me, that's a huge part of this story. Watching their love grow in the past and watching it slowly bloom all over again in the 'present' really has me sighing in bliss. I know everyone want me to finish this up as soon as possible, and get to the good stuff, but I can't just yet. And certainly not because I don't want to. But because I have a lot more story to deal out. This is a two part story. The only reason it's not split up into another story is because I couldn't think of another title! XD I'm so silly! Gomen!
Anyway, trust me when I say the path as well as the final destination will all be worth the wait. I so wanted to write their time in ANBU before, but couldn't because it wasn't entirely relevant at that point in the story. Now I can because I feel like it's needed in order for Kakashi to slowly realize some things, just as Minato said.
Don't hate me for forcing you all to hold your breath. Trust me, it's ok to inhale now and then! Anyway, enjoy this next chapter. Keep reading. And once again, thank you all. I couldn't have done it without you. Any of you.
--Blade
P.S. - The song from the last chapter is called 'Beauty From Pain' by Superchick. If any of you want to know the rest of them just send me a PM and I'll reply ASAP. -winks-
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Her emerald orbs were set on the darkness ahead of her, avoiding any and all obstacles as she shifted, lept, ran and glided through the night as though she were merely apart of it's all encompassing blackness. She could faintly see the outline of her partner in her peripheral vision, right next to her about twenty feet away. And he was moving at the same neck-breaking speed as she was. Everytime he changed direction slightly so did she. Everytime he moved a bit faster, she did so as well. She wasn't entirely sure if he was testing her, or merely trying to push her to the point of exhaustion. Maybe he was trying to get her to change her mind about all of this. Who knew. As she'd said before, this was Hatake Kakashi she was thinking about. Sasuke himself had always a tendency to push her too much; but that wasn't on purpose. He just did it because that's how he was. But, that time was long gone. Sakura was no longer that girl. She would never again be left behind.
And if Kakashi thought traveling for hours on end strait into the night was going to shake her resolve or kill her limits he was in for one hell of a surprise. She was every bit that woman who'd once fought along his side, even if he didn't know it yet. And she was going to prove that she could do just as well as 'her' if it killed her. Whatever he assumed about her was going to be utterly blown out of the water as she proved with every action over the passing weeks that she could keep up with him, that she could meet him toe for toe and that she was more than worthy of being his team mate.
In truth, she was fighting against herself.
When she'd told him her code name and he'd given out his the look on his face was a mix of confusion, once again anger and what she suspected was a temptation to ask her to change it. Like she could! And he had to know that. Unlike when they'd both passed the test the first time you could no longer chose your code name. That now that became the Hokage's responsibility since ANBU were for the most part his personal soldiers to command. And, it seemed Minato wasn't budging on tradition, no matter what she had tried to tell him otherwise. He'd literally forced her to take her old code name; one Kakashi had given her.
But at least his reaction over that hadn't been nearly as bad as it had been when he found out she would be the one working along side him. And to make matters worse he told her he wouldn't be going over the mission until after they were nearly to the border of Fire Country. Something about wasting enough time as it was. Who the hell did he think he was? Mission details were always given out before you left Konoha, not after. They'd...
She sighed and set her jaw. Of course, she was thinking he'd act just as they use to. He would read off the report and expect her to set the pace in the beginning. But she wasn't the team leader here, for one; not that she'd ever been with him since they'd always been one the same page and managed the duties equally. For two, he wasn't going to treat her the same way because as far as he was concerned she was encroaching on sacred memories. And to make matters worse, again, for him, he had to lead around a woman who, as afar as he could tell, was nothing but a replica; an after image.
"Don't fall behind!" His voice barked out at her much in the same way it had earlier; as it had over and over again.
Her eyes narrowed into dangerous slits. Alright! That was it! She'd had it. It was one thing to keep the mission details from her like a Genin wet behind the ears, to give the ridiculous order that they would have to travel until dawn at this rate and to treat her like a virus; even if she expected that last bit. And to be truthful, despite all she knew and he didn't, there was only so much a temper-driven student of Tsunade take before snapping. But it was another entirely to bark out orders like she had no idea what she was doing!
She knew he was hurting. She knew the cause of his pain had a lot to do with something she had no control over. She understood what she had to endure at the beginning of this. She'd said so to herself many times.
But... for Kami's sake. Enough was enough!
If he wanted her to go faster, then by the gods, she fuckin' would! And if he hurt (physically) more over it because of it, so be it!
A burst of energy churned in her core and traveled down to her feet. It swirled and coursed like a rush; a river uncontainable. She focused it and it one, powerful climax she sent it outward, timed perfectly onto the next branch she lept off of. She spurred forward so suddenly the green and brown around her became a blur. She became one with the wind, the sounds and world around her. Her short strands danced behind her, slicking against her face as she pushed onward; hands and arms drawn back. With each step she felt each bough she stepped on break under contact. And after a while all she could do was smile, anger slowly leaving her in the rush she'd flushed through her system. But what what really got her going the most, truly?
Was the sight of Kakashi following in next to her.
Just as he always had.
She grinned over at him as he met her toe for toe, beat for beat, step for step. And for a while, she allowed herself think they were back, fifteen or more years ago, dancing the same tune as they had been. She allowed herself to think nothing had really changed at all. So, as you can imagine, it was no real surprise, when she shouted to him. "First one to the border has to find breakfast!"
He blinked over at her, one good eye wide at her gamble. His lips pursed and he found himself replying, good naturedly. "You're on." But with barking laughter he found she must have been holding something back. Because shortly after he watched as all he could see of her after that was her backside, egging him on, telling him if he didn't hurry... much like someone else long ago... he was going to lose.
Still, he couldn't help but smirk as he drove onward.
Much like Sakura, he hated losing.
ooo
When they both stopped they were left panting, bent over, hands on their knees and damn near depleted of all chakra. Maybe it hadn't been such a good idea to goad him on like that, Sakura mused. But, at least she'd won. She couldn't help the smile that remained permanently fixed on her face. She was flushed, sweaty and in sore need of not only rest, but a bath. All would come later, she knew. But for now, she was happy. Unimaginably happy.
She laughed as she looked over at him, still bent over. "Got you," she manged out between pants.
"Hn," he muttered out, but smiled in return.
She chuckled and coughed at the same time. But no amount of winded activity could remove the grin from her features. "And we made it to the border in record time."
"Not that racing at breakneck speed was a great idea..." he managed. "When did you get so fast, by the way?"
"Probably when you were too busy with your nose stuck in a book to notice, Kakashi," she managed in return. "Maybe next time you'll know better than to push me so hard."
"Hm.." he said as he slowly straitened himself out. "Either way... it seems like because of our little race the rest of our journey will have to taken at a more even paced speed. No more bets," he muttered lastly as he dropped his bag to the ground with a thud.
She followed suit shortly after he did. "I won't argue with you on that note. It's going to take a few hours of sleep for me to get all that energy back."
"Really?" He tried to not sound too shocked as he pulled his bedroll out.
She sighed and shook her head as she mimicked his movements. Her gloved hands slid over the cotton of her sleeping bag as she pushed the wrinkles out. "How many times do I have to say it to you before it finally sinks in, hm? I'm not that girl anymore. I didn't survive six months of lock down because they were easy on me. I certainly didn't graduate with any illusions of what this new transition in my career entailed... captain."
It was true, he realized. As much as the unit had changed, the process and hardships of actually passing successfully were very much still the same as they had been the day ANBU had first been organized. He didn't know why it was so hard to grasp, but seeing Sakura, the girl he'd first taken on as his student at twelve, as ANBU... well.. he just couldn't see it. He couldn't. And it wasn't just because she was the very image of his own love. It was Sakura, for Kami's sake. Blushing, giddy, easy to anger Sakura. The same girl that had spent more time hounding after Sasuke than was considered healthy for any young girl.
He looked over at her as she stood up. "Where are you going?"
"To gather firewood. It won't gather itself." She began to walk off.
She had to be in a lot of pain after a run like that. And here she was getting up moments later, pushing herself with little or no complaint, to do her share of the work. What had he expected? Her to whine like she had as a child? Complain and beg for him to do it?
"Sakura..." He called out softly.
"Hm?" She turned slightly, looking at him with one eye over her shoulder. "Yes?"
"What..." he began, his eyes narrowed in curiosity, "What rank did they graduate you at? What class, specifically?"
She smiled softly at that before replying. "I'm an ANBU Medical Nin, Kakashi." She took in a deep breath and quoted from the paperwork she'd signed for Minato. "As a medical agent in this unit it will be my duty to not only see to the welfare of my comrades and team mates, but to see to my own as well. I must take caution not to be harmed even in the line of fire, even in the face of the enemy, because my survival is the survival of my squad. My life is the very life of my team. My duty," she finished with confidence in her voice, "is to make sure very man and woman comes back home alive and well, with nothing less but the successful completion of any given mission." She paused as she finished and arched a brow. "Any more questions?"
"No," he said as he shook his head. "None at all. Thank you."
She nodded and without another word left into the woods around them.
Kakashi exhaled slowly as she finally dissapeared from sight. He continued to set up his place on the ground and set aside his pack. When they first started spending time together this week, he'd told himself it was apparent Sakura had quite a few secrets. How right he'd been then. But how misguided he'd been in knowing the real truth behind those words.
He moved to lay down for a while, hands behind his head to support it as he waited for her to return so he could go out and fetch them some sort of food.
She was a Medical Nin in ANBU. He didn't know why he was surprised really. She was Tsunade's apprentice. Her second coming next to another woman he knew. If anyone was going to pass the ANBU medical exam with flying colors it would be her. But, to go through all that training... it was different. It wasn't like being a normal medical nin. Being an ANBU Medical Agent meant so much more. Like she'd said, her life was important in order to ensure the success of any mission in this unit. And unlike being a normal medical shinobi you were expected so much more of. It was nothing for an agent to be seen patching someone up in the middle of a fight, kunais being hurled at them while they had to concentrate of mending a broken bone or a deep gash. They were forced in the lock down to do just that. Teachers would throw any number of weapons at them relentlessly while the patched up a dummy. And then entire time they had to not only concentrate on saving an injured comrade, keeping them alive, but staying alive themselves. He'd seen many a shinobi break down and give up during such sessions when he was in the very same lock down. It took a very special sort of ninja to take the damage, the stress, of being an ANBU Medical Nin.
His heart swelled with unexpected pride over her; knowing one of his students had come this far. But it wasn't just that. He didn't know what to peg it as... but it was there all the same, lingering. It was the same feeling he got earlier in the week when all these weird feelings in regards to his former student had started. And he still didn't know what to make of it. He'd hoped this mission, this time away from her, would give him the ability to sort it out. But, it was apparent that wasn't happening. Not with her lodged at his hip for the next few weeks.
What was Minato playing at? What was going through his mind when he'd agreed to make Sakura his partner? Was he trying to drive him madd? He'd known he'd been up to something when he offered him the deal he'd offered him. But after finding out who his partner was? Truth be told, he was left with even more questions than answers. Minato might be a sneaky bastard, but he wasn't cruel. So, whatever he meant by all of this had to have a good reason; not that he took the time to think about it. His sensei would never intentionally do harm to him emotionally or otherwise. But the real question was, after all, why?
His thoughts were interrupted by the clattering of wood on the ground next to him. He looked over as Sakura began to set the pile up.
"Mind starting this for me?"
He sat up and scooted over. After a few quick hand signs he expelled fire from his mouth and the stack of wood burst into flames. He watched as Sakura kept it going.
"Well, since I'm back, you can go now. I'll keep an eye on the camp, oh fearless leader," she said with a grin.
"Right... I'll be back in a few," he murmured and went off into the woods, intent on finding something for them both to replenish their strength with. Whatever Minato was trying to do, for now, he would just wait it out. As one good proverb boasted, to those who wait... all good things come.
ooo
An hour or so later, dark ever present, they had their breakfast. Both were munching down on the cooked fish as if it was their last meal; as if they hadn't eaten for weeks. And for two people who'd utterly relinquished all their chakra not too long ago, neither one was looking at the other as though they'd lost their mind and table manners. Er... campfire manners?
"That," Sakura got out as she swallowed her last bite, and dropped her stick, "was the best thing I've ever eaten. Either that, or I was just hungry."
Kakashi snorted. "Like either of us could tell, what with the way you practically inhaled it."
"Ha... you too," she muttered, smiling. "So, am I going to hear that mission breakdown? Or are you planning on keeping me in the dark until we reach our destination?"
"I was thinking about it," he said rather nonchalantly.
"Or, you could just tell me," she replied with a smirk. "Then again, I am enjoying the idea of pounding it out of you."
With a dramatic sigh he just reached for the scroll in his bag next to him. He flipped open a small pouch there and had it a moment later. As he unrolled it, he explained. "The mission details are scattered, to be truthful. All it says is were suppose to travel to Waterfall and--."
"The village there?" She interrupted.
He shook his head. "No, to the country capital. Apparently the former Daimyo died very suddenly in the night of unknown causes. His son, the current ruler, as requested an ANBU squad consisting of two shinobi for a very good price."
"Does it explain why?" She murmured, brow furrowing curiously.
"No, it doesn't," he muttered unhappily as he closed the scroll. "Whatever he wants from us, or expect from our team, I imagine he doesn't want to risk the information leaking out."
"Hm... you think it's an assassination mission?"
"Can you handle that?" He said back without missing a beat.
She frowned. "What do take me for?"
He frowned back. "I've never see you kill anyone before, Sakura. It's uncommon for a shinobi to get past or even into ANBU without at least one hit under his belt... but it's not unheard of."
There he went, underestimating her again, seeing her as a child or incompetent, incapable ninja. It could be concern, she supposed. But why was he asking her these things now? Why hadn't he acted this way towards her when they'd been together the entire week? Then he'd appeared to see her sense of adulthood with no problem at all.
But this wasn't her having fun with him. This wasn't a date. This was a mission. And S-class mission as ANBU. As people who very likely might have to kill someone. For that, she supposed she could see past his remark or his doubt. And she had to remind herself, she still had a long way to go in proving herself to him. Just because he was playing nice now did not mean he accepted her as a competent partner.
"Yes," she bit off coolly, "I have, if you must know. Several times. I know what blood looks like when it coats my hands not to heal, but to harm; to kill, captain."
"I'm not asking because I don't think you can handle it, Sakura," he said back with a raised tone. "I asking because I need to know these things if we're going to work together."
Her eyes narrowed. "Are you actually trying to tell me you're starting to accept me as the other half of this squad?"
"No," he replied evenly.
She refused to show her disappointment over that admission. She knew better to expect results this soon. It wasn't impossible, but for now it was improbable. The odds were stacked against her; even if she was ready to knock a few down.
"But I am telling you to be prepared. Whatever we've got waiting on us in the next fifty miles or so I don't want to be picking up your slack the whole way. Understood?"
"Perfectly," she muttered before laying down, rolling over and beginning the short journey to sleep. If she didn't kill him before this was all over she was going to murder herself. All the constant nicks to her pride and ego over what he didn't think she was capable of was going to get old.
Fast.
