Aijo no Katachi
A form of affection
Chapter 6: Watashitachi no sei'iki ga
"hnn! Did you hear that Hanata-san have been seeing Haruno-sensei?"
"EHH! The female doctor?!" The woman's shrill voice was enough to wake a sleeping bull.
"Yes! How shameless Hanata-san is! Taking advantage over a mere child..."
A pair of women just entered the bathhouse with hot springs, gossiping like bees. The sun already picked up its race with moon and stars, settling down behind the mountains, painting the sky with vibrant earthy colors. A beautiful dusk like this, after a whole stressed out day, could only turn sour by gossips. Tsunade could just shake her nose in disgust.
True.
These past days Kakashi have been seeing the Haruno's daughter a lot more often, but she couldn't imagine him to be related to her...romantically. After all He had been her sensei once, Kakashi wouldn't be that foolish to pursue someone, rather young for his age.
Or is he?
But still...they all have no right to meddle with someone else's business. She hugged her tub of toiletries tighter and proceeded to enter the bathhouse. It was her day off, and she didn't particularly care about things right now.
Sakura squinted her eyes and adjusted it to make out her surroundings. Grass swaying against the wind, trees encaged them while the skies were painted in vivid orange mixed with hues of red and yellow. A miniature field of different medicinal herbs was just down the hill she sat on. The large oak tree, twice her age, was planted alone on top of the hill with markings on its bark, that were of a kunai and shuriken, reminded her of the times she would venture deep on to the forest and practice on the very same spot the jutsus she hadn't perfected yet.
She was at her safe haven.
'oh...I fell asleep?' She realized the time that flew by as soon as she saw the sky.
She leaned her head back expecting the rough bark of the oak tree to graze her skin but she found the warmth of someone's chest instead.
Kakashi was asleep; his head hung low, his chin resting on Sakura's shoulder.
For the first time since HE left, she smiled genuinely.
'He must be tired...'
After his missions, he always grabs the chance and would often stop by her clinic to escort her home. At times when she had to close the clinic early, they would spend the rest of the time at their place, where she loved the most. They would sit there for hours, waiting for the stars come out and just enjoying the serene silence. This has been their routine for almost straight two weeks and she was sure fatigue is taking its toll on him.
Kakashi was stubborn as a donkey, or even a mule for that matter. Every time he stops by her clinic she had said to him over and over not to bother picking her up and instead he should take a rest.
But does he even listen?
No.
He just had to make her worry about his health, even if he was as strong as he claims to be, he is also just a man, prone to illnesses and fatigue.
She looked down on her enlarged belly and her hand rested peacefully on top.
When she was with him, she couldn't careless if she looked horrible, more so, if she had committed such a grave sin.
A strong familiar, calloused but gentle, hand rested atop hers.
"Are you sure about this?" she asked.
Sakura's left hand cupped his face that rested on her shoulder. A slight nod was his only reply to her query.
Kakashi sensei had been watching over her ever since he knew of her current state of being pregnant but He never asked to whom. This past weeks was such bliss for her, not only did she grew to forget her sins, but it was safe to say that she could start to live again. It was all thanks to Kakashi, who never left her once even if she desperately pushed him away.
'But does he love you?...'
She didn't particularly pondered about why he did this. She didn't want to know because all she needed right now is company. Someone who could understand her and wouldn't accuse her of her actions. Even if he did this out of pity, she couldn't care less. Maybe it was his teacher's instinct to care for his students?
Or maybe...
....just maybe...he loves her as much as she did...
She could only guess...and others would too.
"You could get bad rumors...."
A faint line of worry appeared on her face but Kakashi flicked his finger on her forehead.
"Don't worry to much"
Sakura burned in annoyance; she was fed up about the uncaring tone of his. His reputation was the one in line right here but does he even care?
"What? How could just say that coolly? Do you even care what happens to you?"
Kakashi burst into a fit of laughter, which made Sakura beet red. It was her first time to hear his laughter; it was pleasant and yet embarrassing at the same time.
Wait a minute... He was laughing at her expense!
"What?!"
He smiled under that mask of his, forming slight creases on the fabric's material.
"You're back to being the annoying Sakura I know"
If there was a more darker hue of red, it would be perfect on Sakura right now.
"moh Kakashi! Don't joke around matters like this..." Sakura pinched his cheek frustratingly just to make him snap to his senses and care for himself, for once.
She looked beyond the sea of trees and through the darkening sky where stars slowly lit up the lonely black canvas; the night was definitely creeping up to them.
She almost jumped when she felt a pair of arms snaked around her, hugging her closer.
"I don't care...."
He whispered through her pink hair. He loved how she smelled like fresh strawberries, how soft her skin and how fragile she looked. Even with a baby, he still loved the beauty she radiated.
'It's alright...everything will be alright...'
Such optimistic thoughts from his own mind would have surprised him. Her optimism must be rubbing off him. True, what she said might happen, or it already has, but even though he didn't knew of who the father of this child he wanted to 'father', what's most important right now is Sakura's mental well being.
"Sakura?"
"hmm?"
Her head was nestled in his chest; she was close to sleeping when he called her name. Kakashi pulled down his mask and kissed the back of her neck, where her short hair was slightly parted, earning a slight giggle from his woman.
Yes.
His Woman...
"kakashi! yamete kure..."
There was no need to say he loved her...
because...
...she already knows...
"Come on...I'll walk you home before you fall asleep here.."
Kakashi started to shift his position, returning his mask in place, but Sakura didn't want to budge.
"Hey..are you planning on sleeping here? You'll get a cold.." He asked worriedly while she smiled.
"Hai hai..I'm up, no need to be such a worrywart. It doesn't suit you Kakashi" He helped her up and they both walked hand in hand towards the town.
"It would be difficult if you have fallen asleep.."
Sakura beamed inside. To have Kakashi like this...makes her want to ask...
Is this Kakashi? Worrying over such inconsequential things like ME having a cold?
This is amusing...
He must've have thought that the cold might come down with a fever and since I'm having a baby I should be more careful, or the fact that he simply cares about my well being right? Right.
"I would have to carry you in my back, and I still want to live tomorrow"
...WHAT?!
Sakura almost tripped on his statement, angry and slightly embarrassed to assume he was worried. Sakura became rooted to a spot while Kakashi tugged on her hand. Her mind that revolved with glee for a while ago just stopped abruptly.
She fixated her anger on a single punch on the back of her head and muttered
"BAKA.."
Kakashi smiled at how she easily changes from being depressed to being happy. It was amusing for him to play around with Sakura since she was very easy to read like an open book and while at other times she was as difficult as a closed book.
"Jo-dan, Jo-dan"
Sakura walked faster and deliberately left him behind.
How dare that moron joke like that?!
Sakura's eyebrow was arched up and her fists were curled up into tight balls in anger. Kakashi jogged and caught up with her but she didn't face him. He took her hand and pulled her petite form towards him instead, making fall to his chest while his arms just wrapped around her protectively. He leaned his forehead on hers and smiled.
Great, he smiled.
Sakura couldn't help but picture his face without that annoying mask of his, but his mask was what had drawn her to him in the first place. It added the air of mysteriousness around him. Without that mask, she thought, Kakashi would look incomplete. Her legs felt like jello and her body felt like a twig that was about to snap from his embrace.
"hai hai, forgiven..."
She just gave in to him.
What could she do against this man?
nothing right?
He was just simply awe-inspiring...
A/N: Ahaha! I'm so evil I should be umm.... hanged upside down? ahaha! I love this chappie don't you? Lovers huddled together under a canopy of leaves....ahh! kawaii! So What now Kakashi? Will you follow on Jiraiya's footsteps? Will the next book of Icha Icha paradise come out soon? Will Sakura ever be happy? (eck..where did that came from?XD) Will this fic end right here without revealing anything about the mystery person? ...hmmm... (Thinks evilly, rubbing hands together like an evil madman on the loose to torment the readers)...ALL depends on all of you! ahaha! Read and Review!
Japanese Translations:
"kakashi! yamete kure..." - Kakashi! Stop it..
"BAKA.." – Stupid!
"Jo-dan, Jo-dan" – Joke, it's a joke.
Watashitachi no sei'iki ga – Our sanctuary