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Paper Heart.
Act II.
He didn't see her the next day, nor the next couple of days afterward.
Naruto and Sasuke began to question where she was, but he firmly told the two not to search for her. It wasn't due to a lack of sympathy in his part, but merely as a courteous effort in cutting down nusances if they were to find her. He knew that she wouldn't pour details to the world as of what happened, but that was only because others wouldn't comprehend her words. Ironically enough, she found him to be the only one who understood her.
He patiently waited for her to come back at her own accord; but on the ninth day, he felt as if he couldn't contain himself any longer. He didn't know why, but felt that he had to see her. To at least catch a glimpse before she scolded him and threatened to kill him with any close inanimate object at hand. Possibly, he wanted to see her due to his natural concern for his students. He felt it was reasonable enough to believe so; however, he also felt the need to present himself as a person and properly apologize after his harsh behavior. He hated the idea of inflicting pain, yet he hypocritically wrecked her with it; sending her away in a sea of confusion and, most likely, hatred towards his existence.
Although he tried to disregard it, there was also the lingering emotion of fear that continued to nip at his thoughts. She confessed her sentiments for him without even knowing she did, and he pushed her away as an endeavor to shield her eyes from realization. If he were to go back in time, he wouldn't take back any of the things he told her that night. He would have erased the bitterness he presented with his words, but not the words itself.
She was a young woman on the verge of adulthood.
He was a man. More specifically, he was her teacher.
Her sensei.
It was wrong, and he knew the consequences were too grave; especially in his part. The fear dwelled inside, and for the sake of saving her from a regrettable life, he forced her away.
He didn't want her to fall for him.
...
Or was it, that he didn't want to fall for her?He mentally slapped himself across the jaw in a desperate attempt to keep his thoughts rational.
But...
Was that really the cause of his fear? The idea of him, plummeting into some sort of one-sided affair? It was an absurd notion, but much to his dismay, it was highly possible. She had been posessed by a graceful diety, developing into an untouchable beauty no adjective can completely describe. It wasn't surprising how he would find Naruto catch his breath, noting her in reverence for what she had become. Though in denial, he would also find Sasuke glance at her longer than he should.
However, what caught his attention the most was her intellect; maturely developed years ahead of her time, gifted with the ability to comprehend in more ways than one. Normally, a teenaged girl would have nothing but boys, crushes, and more boys to occupy her mind. Yet, her mind was constantly thriving on a wider variety of aspects. Questions always speculated her thoughts, increasing her appearance of innocent curiosity during a conversation. It was probably due to her disregard in romance; the female stronghold during their developing years before adulthood. He suddenly realized why she didn't understand the emotions that quelled inside her, nor the reactions she received which directly pointed towards the feeling of affection.
Affection for him.
He tried, but couldn't swat away the butterflies.
As he walked in the Konoha forest trail headed towards the village, he caught sight of a sillhouetted figure ahead; striding with an unmistakable head of pink hair. He continued to walk, casually staring ahead as if he didn't see her. It wasn't until their distance was met halfway when he stopped, still looking ahead with his hands in his pockets, posture lazily constructed. Though her eyes were fixed to the ground, her slight fidgetting and clentched fists told him she saw what was standing ahead.
He stared the sky.
She stared at the ground.
The two parallels collided as she brushed past his shoulder, taking no means of looking at him nor speaking to him. However, she was forced to do so either way as he gently grabbed hold of her right arm; stopping her from walking away.
She bit her bottom lip and firmly closed her eyes, trying to control herself from doing anything reckless.
The summer, afternoon winds blew between them as they stood staring at opposite directions; his hand still holding her arm, and her arm doing nothing to stop him from doing so. It felt as if hours sluggishly moved through time.
"I'm sorry."
She felt him hesitantly let go of her arm, sliding his hand back into his pocket. However, she made no move to leave.
"I'm the one who should be sorry," she stated coldly. "If you forgot, it was me who was feeling that way. Not you."
She let the silence settle between them before walking away.
His presence became something she disgusted above all things. It was already bad enough that she had to cross his path, having to talk to him when she promised herself she wouldn't the night after their quarrel. Her self-esteem had dramatically decreased within the past few days. Her skin paled from not having the appetite to eat.
There was no one to offer an outstretched hand as she slowly slipped away from the world.
"How do you know if I'm not feeling the same way?" he quietly asked.
She swallowed.
A clear distance away, she halted; digging her nails into her palms.
"Don't you even dare mess with my emotions. Kakashi-sensei," she spat out.
"I wasn't trying to. Sakura-chan."
She stood there momentarily before swiftly turning around, not able to contain herself any longer. She didn't care if the liquid fell down her cheeks, or if her heart bled from all the pain, or if her mind shattered from the overflow of thoughts, or if her emotions broke into pieces.
She didn't care if she wanted be with him, no matter how much she realized she couldn't.
"If you feel the same way, then take your own advice," she told him through gritted teeth and rackful sobs. "Because your symptoms are nothing more but emotions that need to be disregarded."
Everything grew quiet.
She had shot him with his own words.
However, he offered no response, nor displayed any sympathy towards her feelings by turning to look at her.
Instead, everything grew quiet.
She fell on her knees as he walked away, letting herself bleed freely as her legs cut against the gravel. She stopped crying, but tears still ran down her face involuntarily. She let the saline wash her face, not bothering to wipe them away with her hands even when she tasted the salt in her mouth. Despite the location, she just wanted to lay on the ground and sleep. She was both physically and emotionally exhausted, wishing to wake up from the nightmare she brought herself into, unknowingly.
Unwillingly.
Her head didn't bother turning when he reappeared behind her. She didn't bother putting out the dreadful warmth in her chest as he knelt down to embrace her from behind. She just wanted to sleep.
To sleep, and never wake up again.
"I hate you," she said, her voice distantly fading as slumber stole her away in his arms.
She didn't feel him as he turned to cradle her sleeping form, to look at her face and offer an apologetic smile. She didn't see him brush away pink strands of hair from her face. Nor, did she see him pull his mask down before leaning in to whisper in her ear.
"I love you too."
No.
She was too lost in her dreams to see or feel anything.
But she heard him, somehow.