The drivers door opened and a leg stepped out, followed by the second, and then a whole body. She was the only one around for miles. It was what she needed, complete solitude.
Sakura wandered out into the large field. The long grass waved in the wind, causing ripples all the way across the clearing. The moon was full and it cast an eerie glow on everything in its path. The only things that could bother her now were the insects and the animals. Hopefully they wouldn't mind her using their space for a while.
Sakura continued walking until she had reached the very middle of the field. It was fortunate that it was so long, it gave her time to reflect on everything that had happened. She looked all around herself, marveling at the quiet and serene atmosphere. She didn't care if she broke it; she had forcefully restrained herself from driving recklessly on the way here. She needed this escape.
Taking in the largest amount of oxygen that her lungs could hold, Sakura thought of the circumstances that had led her out into the wilderness.
.
And she let it all out.
.
It was a gut-wrenching scream. It burned Sakura's throat, but she didn't stop. It was filled with all the grief, hurt, hate, anxiety, and pressure that had been on her shoulders for weeks. The screams soon became agonizing wails. Sakura tore herself apart, opening herself to the world. The large clearing was filled with her cries, but at this point, Sakura could care less. She let herself sink to the grass and rock back-and-forth as she tilted her head up towards the sky and continued. Tears cascaded down her face like rivers, leaving wet spots on her clothing.
"How could they do this to me?" she screamed into the empty air. "They left me! All of them. And they expect me to have everything in control now that they are gone?"
Sakura pulled at her hair, her sobbing becoming more desperate. "They- they're all gone!" she cried. "H- how do I go on?"
Alone. Scared. Empty.
That was only the surface of what she was feeling. Sakura was filled with hate as well. Hate for the ones who had caused her pain, for the ones who had started this godawful war. So many had been killed, and the ones left were damaged, both mentally and physically.
The war had taken both of her parents. Her brother. Her best friends. Her happiness. She felt truly alone for once.
Sakura had tried to deny what had happened. She had held her head high for two whole months, before she felt herself start to break. She had needed an escape, somewhere where she could spill her emotions and no one could judge her. And that is how Sakura found herself lying on her back, in a large field of grass at two-thirty in the morning, tear-tracks on her face and her hair all out of its place. She didn't care. There was no one to tell her she had stepped out of line.
.
That's what she had thought.
.
She felt his presence before she saw him. Sakura shut her eyes tightly, wishing he wasn't there. Not that she didn't like him- after all, he was her teacher,she just wanted to be alone. But Kakashi was there and she knew he wasn't planning on leaving.
Sakura watched as the man silently laid himself down onto the grass. He didn't even look in her direction, he had just invited himself over. They laid there in silence for a few minutes, before Sakura broke it. Her crying had stopped, but just barely. She felt like she could burst at any moment.
"Why are you here?"
Kakashi finally met her gaze. He hmmed, thinking. "I followed you." he replied after a moment. Sakura's eyes widened.
"You what?" she shouted. Kakashi winced.
"Hey, hey, I did it because I was worried." he explained. "It was almost one in the morning when you left."
Sakura dropped back to the grass. "You- you were worried about me?" she asked. A nod. "Genuinely?" Another nod, emphasized by Kakashi reaching over to give her hand a comforting squeeze. The small gesture almost caused her to cry again. Kakashi seemed to sense this and lifted his head, squeezing her hand again.
"You all right?" he asked. Sakura shook her head as tears started to roll down her cheeks once again. Kakashi's eyes widened. He sat up and pulled Sakura up as well. He reached over and pulled her into his lap, his arm going around her waist and holding her tight as he set his chin on top of her head. Sakura let herself be held and cried. After a few minutes, her sobs slowed into sniffles. She leaned back into Kakashi's embrace, her head resting on his collarbone. Sakura was surprised by how comforting it was to have him there with her. He was like a pillar, someone sturdy that she could hold onto as she broke apart. They sat there for another half-hour, saying nothing, just holding each other.
Kakashi slowly got up, never letting go of Sakura's arm. He silently led her to her car, and helped her into the passengers seat. She handed him the key before he could ask. Kakashi left his car in the clearing, he could get it later. He currently had more pressing matters to attend to. He didn't ask any questions on the long ride home. They rode in a comfortable silence, his hand on her knee as a comforting gesture.
When they finally arrived on their street, Kakashi parked in the driveway and helped Sakura into her house. She silently led him into her bedroom and took off her shoes. Kakashi turned, unsure if he should leave or not, but Sakura grasped his sleeve and led him to the bed. "Stay with me, please." she pleaded with him.
His heart broke to see Sakura so vulnerable. This was not his Sakura, the same girl that had saved hundreds of lives during the war. "Of course." he replied. They laid down on the mattress, and Kakashi pulled the blanket over them. He reached for Sakura and pulled her back against his chest, his arm around her waist. He buried his face in her hair and sighed. Sleep came quickly, for both of them.
{O}
{O}
She woke slowly, sleep clinging to her mind. Sakura felt a warm weight on her waist. She turned and came face-to-face with Kakashi's sleeping figure. Then all the memories came back. Her breakdown in the field, him following her, him taking her home, and then them falling asleep together. She smiled and snuggled closer into his embrace, reveling in the feeling of his presence surrounding her.
He woke not an hour later. Kakashi kissed the top of Sakura's head and tightened his arm around her. Sakura's stomach burst into butterflies at the feeling. She smiled up at him. "Thank you." she whispered.
"For?"
"For coming after me, and then staying with me." It had been exactly what she needed. A much-needed breakdown and the comfort of an old friend.
Kakashi smiled. "Of course." He glanced at the clock. eleven-thirty. "Want some lunch?' he asked.
Sakura scrunched up her nose. "Lunch?" she repeated. She also took note of the clock on her nightstand. "Oh, I guess we should have lunch."
They sat up and Sakura made a move to stand, but Kakashi caught her arm. She gave him an inquisitive look as he pulled her back down onto his lap. Those freaking butterflies. Gently holding the back of her head, Kakashi leaned his forehead against hers.
"Sakura. Don't ever do that again. Don't ever go anywhere by yourself like that. Do you know how worried I was?" he said. Sakura's eyes widened at the ferocity in his eyes. "Don't leave like that, okay?" She nodded.
"I won't." she whispered.
"Good. Because I wouldn't be able to handle losing another one that I love."
What? I knew Kakashi loved me, but in a platonic, teacher-student kind of way. What does he mean by another one he lo-
Sakura's thoughts stilled as Kakashi brushed his lips against hers. Before he could pull back, she brought her hands to the sides of his face and pulled him closer. When they pulled back, she heard Kakashi whisper, "Don't ever leave me." She nodded, not trusting her voice enough to speak.
"I love you." she whispered after a few moments. It had taken her a few years, some heartbreak, a whole war, and the largest mental-breakdown ever for her to realize it, but Sakura loved him. Kakashi leaned in to give her a lingering kiss.
"I love you too." he whispered back.
{O}
{O}
Kakashi had never asked Sakura why she had gone into the field that night. He had felt the same way she had. They had both lost Sasuke and Naruto in a battle, and many of their other comrades had fallen.
The field had become part of a tradition of sorts. When Kakashi would come home to find out that his wife had gone through a trying day- or vice-versa, Kakashi would drive them to the field and simply hold Sakura in his arms. Just the other's presence was enough comfort for them.
Then Kakashi would drive them back to their house, and they would lie in their bed together, easily falling asleep in the other's arms. Sometimes the married couple would camp out, under the stars, in the field. They knew that this would forever be their place of peace. A place away from civilization and all of its problems. It was a place that they could share with their children in the future.
A place where they could be joyful, or a place where they could be grieving. A field of memories.
A place where they could let out all of their emotions and not be judged for it.
A place where no one can hear you scream.
{O}
{O}
I am so proud of this piece. I sat in my room for almost two hours, just writing and revising this. It was so much fun to write. I'll be honest, I was on the verge of tears MULTIPLE times while writing this. It was totally worth it though. I really hope you enjoyed this! Thank you for taking your time to read through my work.
~Rus