Aijo no Katachi

A form of affection

Chapter 2: Futashika na

The day ended with a steaming cup of tea. She sat there in isolation looking out through the window expecting something to appear....or someone to come back...

But of course that is just wishful thinking....

"Sakura"

She snapped from her trance and saw the copy ninja leaning on her door, composed and confident as ever.

"Ah...sensei...nani wo?"

She took a sip from her cup and placed it down on her table, while Kakashi walks towards her.

"You're already a grown woman Sakura, you don't need to call me your sensei.."

He plopped down on a chair in front of her and started unrolling his right sleeve, revealing a nasty cut probably from a kunai or shuriken. The corners of her mouth tugged into a smile as she took another sip of her warm oolong tea.

"...sensei-"

"Kakashi" he said cutting her sentence off.

"Kakashi..." she stated in plain annoyance. She knew he was only trying to uplift her spirits, but could she stab the man from having such a bad timing? No right?

"We're closed. Don't you read the sign?" She took a long sip, enjoying the warm liquid seep down her throat. He sheepishly scratched his head and grinned under that mask of his.

"This couldn't wait for tomorrow right? or I may have to die from blood loss"

Sakura smiled and placed down her cup, which was now empty of its contents and grabbed the cloth from the basin. "The things I do..." was what she muttered as she started to clean the blood off his arms. They went on like this in silence, only enjoying each others company in odd situations.

"Ne...Sakura.." his tone was deep, and rather serious breaking their silence.

She took the needle and started to stitch his wounds, letting her chakra flow through the thread to prevent the skin from scarring. "hmm?" was her only reply.

"Are feeling well these days?"

She smiled inwardly, just like Kakashi to be so observant of his surroundings. She threaded a loop and began to tie a knot and with a twist of her hand, the thread was cut loose. She grabbed a bottle of medicine and poured it in a fresh clean cotton and lightly dabbed it around the wound, making Kakashi wince slightly from the sting.

There was numerous of answers to his question but she couldn't seem to blurt it all at the same time. She wasn't exactly the little girl who used to cry all the time back then when they were still Team 7. She was a grown woman, one who could deal with her own problems.

"...hmm? why did you ask suddenly?" Yes that's how it should be, turn the tables on him...

Kakashi looked at her matured face, her shoulder length pink hair was trapped in a small bun while some strands dangled loosely on her face, making her look somewhat... motherly.

Her bright green eyes seem to fade each time he sees her. The glow in her eyes when she was a youth was evidently not there anymore. He wondered how such a child can grow so fast and become such a woman.

"..worried maybe?"

She smiled as she took him by surprise with her question. Kakashi couldn't help himself to cough in her exaggeration.

"I didn't knew you had lung problems too, kakashi..." she teased while she carefully dressed his wound.

He knew she was avoiding the subject. He chuckled to himself. If this was how Sakura wanted to play then so be it...

"Ne Sakura...you know Hinata have been having back aches lately...hasn't Naruto told you about this?"

He playfully questioned her. Her eyebrows seemingly twitched for a second there.

So Kakashi was playing her game as well but she won't the one who's likely to lose, especially in a verbal argument.

"hmm...I do recall of Hinata saying this to me....but why does this type of marital things concerns you... kakashi?" she said making sure she emphasizes his name.

She sneered inside, it was fun to play games inside his head but she had to be careful for this is Kakashi she was talking about. Who knows? He might have the urge to use Sharinggan on her.

On the other hand Kakashi grinned inside, he didn't knew Sakura was this conniving when engaged into verbal argument, but he isn't the type to back down easily.

"Oh...but I think this concerns you since aren't you suffering from the same kind of symptoms?"

'Ouch!..another strike...great Sakura you just buried a hole to bury yourself alive' she kicked herself mentally. She finished wrapping the bandages around his arms and proceeded to the counter to wash her hands.

"ah..but that was just a minor back ache I'm suffering from"

She dried her hands on a towel that hung on a bar beside the sink. Kakashi rolled his black long sleeve down, still keeping a watchful eye on her.

".... I'm guessing it's from stress...." Sakura started to take the roll of bandages and medicine and proceeded to return them to the cupboard. He could see her hands shaking as the words rolled out of her lips. Kakashi stood up and walked towards her.

"....or is it from-"

He was about to say something he shouldn't have but Sakura's left hand near his face stopped him.

"Y-you..."

Her hands were shaking and her head hung low. By the looks of it, her tears was ready to fall anytime, as if the ground was asking for it. Kakashi was surprised himself to see her hand ready to slap his face. She clasped her shaking hand with her left, bringing it to her chest, and shut her eyes painfully, controlling every bit of emotion inside her.

"p-please leave...." Her voice was quivering, partly from anger, partly from shame.

He closed his eyes; there was no changing this situation. A bitter end to their game, he can only guess he played a little rough and he was the one to blame. He walked out of the door but not before saying to her.

"Sakura....."

She choked her tears back, refusing to cry, to feel vulnerable in front of him.

"....Were here for you...."

This is it. There was no force on earth that would stop her tears from falling down..

".......I'm here for you..."

Those small words made her sank down to her knees and let all her tears she has been hiding to flow freely from her eyes. She doesn't care now if anyone sees her in such an ugly state, she knew she had been ugly from the start...

.....there was no changing reality....

A/N: hoots go Kakashi! fish Sakura out! Nothing like sweet words to make a woman swoon ha! ha! ( --Ayame Souma laugh-- )

What is Sakura hiding? She????! A Medical Ninja?!?! Yeah well she is, in my story ahaha! What about Kakashi and the Icha-Icha Paradise?!

Cackles evilly Think this is a Kaka/Saku fic? Well guess again for I don't know either! Ahaha! Really! I don't know...Guess who ends up with MY...err...not my...Sakura! Read and Review!