Chapter Two

Kakashi hopped down from his perch in the tree. This was not good. Sakura, the only semi-stable member of the team, was crying alone in her tent. What was wrong? Was she injured? Kakashi cautiously undid the zipper at the front of the tent.

Sakura was sprawled face down across her sleeping bag, her back heaving with sobs. She was only wearing her red chinese dress, so the slightly bloody bandages on her legs were no longer hidden under her black britches.

Kakashi knelt down beside her. Sakura? Are you all right?

Sakura didn't answer, she only continued to cry.



Kakashi gently shook Sakura's shoulders. When she didn't respond he shook them again. Suddenly, Sakura gave a scream and smacked Kakashi's hands away. She flung herself back onto the blanket and continued crying.

Why can't you just leave me alone? she moaned into the down blanket.
Ano... Sakura, you're my student. I worry about you...
Worry? When have you ever worried about me?
Kakashi sat back on his heels. That was uncalled for, he thought.
I always worry about you, Sakura.
You have a funny way of showing it! You always train Sasuke and Naruto, never me. I'm always the one stuck with the easy crap! I may not be as strong as them but I could be. If you would teach me, I could be!

Sakura sat up, her tear-reddened eyes narrowed in anger.

Ever since I told my parents that I wanted to be a ninja, people have been telling me that I'm too weak. That girls can't be ninjas. I'm sick and tired of it! If I complain to anyone about how hard it is they just say that I should've known that girls are too weak to be ninjas. I have no one to talk to! I can't talk to my team mates. Sasuke's a frigid bastard, Naruto's dropped me cold and you, you're just a pervert who's too afraid to show his face! I can't take it anymore! I'm so sick of being weak. I cut myself to try and prove that I'm not, that I can take the pain.

Sakura slumped down slightly, panting from her sudden tirade and the emotions that accompanied it.

Kakashi blinked his one eye, startled at Sakura's outburst. She had always been the level headed one, the planner. To hear her confess to so much personal torture was shocking.

... Plus, I'm on my period and I have cramps and I'm really depressed and like I said, I wouldn't really want to try and explain how hard it is to change a tampon in the woods to Sasuke or Naruto.

Kakashi blinked again before regaining his composure.

Sakura... look, I'm sorry that I haven't been there to help you. I'm your teacher, I should be. I just thought that you were fine and happy. I realize now that it must be hard for you without another girl to talk to. I... I definently know I'm not a girl, but you could talk to me if you want to.
Kakashi self consciously rubbed the back of his head in a very Naruto-ish manner. He wasn't really that good when it came to talking to women...

Sakura sighed and dropped her head, tired from her outburst.

If you really mean it, I'd like to talk to you.
All right. We'll talk tomorrow night. Now, get some sleep.

Kakashi exited the tent and Sakura lay down.

It had felt nice to get her feelings out and it felt nice to know that she had someone to talk to. Sakura really craved some girl talk. Kakashi had offered... a miniscule smile ghosted across Haruno Sakura's face as she fell asleep.


Lily: Hey! that was shorter than I thought... I didn't really have anything in mind when I started this fic. Anyone have any ideas? I'm willing to listen.