Hey there! I've been very productive in this story when I should have been working on English :P I already have most of the next chapter done, though! Expect to see that out withinthe next few days. Without further ado, here is the next chapter!
Sakura heaved the last box onto the shelf and stood back to study her handiwork. She wiped away the droplet of sweat sliding down her temple and sighed. It had taken her nearly a week to clean and organize the new infirmary, but she had done it.
She had scoured every inch of the place; washed and folded all of the crisp white linens and soft blue blankets; set up the standard ten medical cots in the main room; sorted through the boxes of medical supplies and stocked the shelves in the main room and storage room. She had done it all on her own.
The four medical recruits would be arriving today, and she wanted to make the impression that she ran a clean and tight ship. However, Sakura expected little, if any, problems, as all four of the arrivals were supposed to be kunoichi like her former self.
She felt slightly lucky at her occupation as head of the infirmary. Unlike the new medic-nin and any other kunoichi in the fort, Sakura did not have to stay in the barracks, where two sets of bunk beds fit four women into one room. There were two different sets of quarters in the fort; one for men and one for women. Each came with a common room and communal bathroom for the whole group to use. Being that the population of male ninja in the vicinity exceeded that of the female ninja in a four to one ratio, the guys had to share rooms in groups of eight.
Sakura, however, had been given the option to stay at the back of the infirmary in a tiny secondary storage/office room with an attached bath. She was thankful for the excess of privacy she was lucky to have. Although it had become less frequent, her dreams were a recurring problem once in a great while at night. She did not want it to become public knowledge that the head medic was still fixated on her deceased husband.
After acquiring rarities around the camp such as paint and fabric from a secret source, Sakura had tried to create a room with an inviting and comforting atmosphere. She painted the room a mellow creamy color, covering over the harsh blare of off-white the construction crew had opted for, and sewed some simple rosy curtains to hang over the small window in the wall opposite the door. She had used the same material to make some sheets for the narrow futon that doubled as a couch in one corner of the room and found a candle to place on the shelf over the small wooden desk in the other corner. Although it wasn't home, at least it was comfortable.
The roseate kunoichi sat down in one of the rolling chairs behind the office desk set up in the main room and spun around once. The slight rush from the spinning was exhilarating, a strangely uplifting sensation after the past week. She had not seen Kakashi in the last four days; as he had said, the Copy Ninja had his hands full sorting and training a number of recruits on various things. However, Sakura felt slightly cast aside when she realized Kakashi had probably been avoiding her.
They had been in the same group traveling up to the fort, along with Genma, Asuma, and a slightly out of place Neji. The Jounin all held a commanding position of some sort at the fort and were privileged enough to acquire rooms for two. Asuma and Neji were to be housed in one, Kakashi and Genma in another.
Genma and Asuma rode on Kakashi's nerves the whole way, pestering him about his supposedly hot date from the Friday before. When she felt the blood rush to her cheeks as they barraged the Copy Ninja with taunts, Sakura had excused her self from the trio and raced ahead to travel beside Neji for a while.
When the silver eyes glanced at her flushed face and inquired as to what was wrong, Sakura made up the excuse that Genma was telling a story about one of his wild nights that she really didn't care to hear. Neji accepted the explanation without another word. He, too, had been the victim of Genma's stories one time, and found the experience to be quite humiliating. However, he sensed there was more to Sakura's escape from the group as he caught her glancing back at a silver-haired man in particular.
Despite the lack of conversation, Sakura always felt strangely at ease whenever she was with Neji. While working with him on several missions over the years, the two had developed a close friendship. After Neji and Tenten got married and had Mayu, they had asked Sakura to become the infant's godmother, and eventually she became the little girl's adopted aunt.
Sakura spun around once more in the chair to push the memory away, but only succeeded in recapturing the sick feeling she had experienced when she realized Kakashi had not spoken to her even twice on the whole trip. When they reached the towering walls of the stronghold and checked in, Kakashi had abruptly said goodbye and disappeared. The blood rushed to her cheeks now as the hurt and anger at his cold shoulder act resurfaced.
"You're going to throw up if you keep doing that," a sly voice mused from somewhere beyond Sakura's spinning mind. Caught unaware, the roseate kunoichi sat up straight, and in the process fell off the swerving chair. A distinct thump rang through the room as Sakura's butt came into contact with the hard tiled floor. Her emerald eyes dodged around, surveying the spiraling room for the intruder. The figure of Genma, which kept shifting three feet to the right, stood beside the hospital door.
"Falling flat on your ass works, too, I guess," the Jounin said, a friendly smirk on his face as he eyed the kunoichi. Sakura blushed at the added commentary, her face settling into a disgruntled frown.
"Damn it, Genma," she scolded sarcastically, "I'm glad you think it's so funny. Now what the hell do you want?" She grabbed hold of the desk as she made to stand up and steady her self.
"Ooh, somebody's having mood swings," he teased. He had to dodge out of the way as a container of Popsicle sticks was launched into the air in a direct course with his head. Genma raised his hands in defense as Sakura readied another jar, this time made of glass and filled with needles, in her small fist. What was it about him and female medic-nin in particular that never seemed to click?
"Okay, okay," he said, "I'm sorry. I guess you'll be happy to know that your new recruits just arrived. Man, I have to say, you've got some fine-looking ladies coming to work for you." The Jounin's face broke into a wicked smile. "That girl who works the desk at the hospital in Konoha came, too."
Sakura's head shot up. "You mean Sayo?" She watched the Jounin's face as he thought for a moment.
"Yeah," he said, snapping his fingers, "That's the one. You must have been the one who taught her how to throw stuff at me. What did you do? Stick my picture on the wall and see who could bust a hole in my head first?" Sakura stared at Genma.
"Yeah, actually," she said, narrowing her eyes and putting a hand on her hip. "I was very upset when I heard about that whole incident."
"Listen," he replied, his eyes now serious, "I didn't know that the guy was dead. I was told to rush that bundle over to the hospital ASAP. Someone in the upper ranks screwed up, and I'm the one who got landed with the blame."
Sakura frowned. "So, why didn't you just tell Sayo that?" Genma shrugged his shoulders.
"A man's got to save face, sometimes. I regret it, though," he added, "because I was this close to getting her to go out on a date with me." He lifted his fingers to his eye as he measured it out. The right side Sakura's mouth flickered slightly as she suppressed a smile. It didn't matter how mad she was at him; Genma could always manage to get a smile out of her. "I saw that," he whispered, winking at the kunoichi.
"Oh, shut up," she said, letting the smile break through, "Unless you want another jar aimed at your head." Genma chuckled and shook his head.
"That's okay," he protested, "one's enough for today." He placed an arm around the roseate kunoichi. "Come on," he said, "I'll help you bring in your new lackeys. I'll even help you train them, if you know what I mean." He raised an eyebrow and smiled wickedly.
"Genma," Sakura threatened, "you better stay away from my medics."
"Only when you're around," he teased. "You know," he added, "you're so sexy when you're angry." Sakura punched him hard in the shoulder, but he just laughed. He ushered her out the door and into the bustle of the pathway leading down to the front of the fort.
"Alright," Sakura concluded in a matter-of-fact tone, "That will be all for today. Take some time to look around and become familiar with the layout of the fort. I expect you all to be here tomorrow morning at 7:00 a.m. sharp." She heard someone on her left clearing his throat and glanced over at the filing desk.
"Yes, Genma?" She sighed, narrowing her eyes at the camel-haired Jounin who sat behind the desk with his senbon rolling back and forth between his smirk. He had a hand raised for permission to speak. Sakura rolled her eyes and nodded. Genma smiled at the young women lined up beside the desk. He stood up from the rolling chair and leaned forward on the desk, his eyes fixing on each kunoichi with an intense gaze.
"Well," he started, "I just wanted to let you lovely ladies know that if you need anything," his voice lowered slightly, "and I do mean anything; my door is always open." Everyone of the young kunoichi blushed profusely, especially Sayo. She glared at the ground, and her fists shook slightly as she tried to keep her cool. Sakura noted this and stepped forward.
"I have just two words for you Genma: target practice." She raised an eyebrow and let a wicked smile spread across her face. Genma abruptly stood up to his full stature, eyes wide.
"See you around, ladies," he said, glancing at the kunoichi and giving them a small wink before disappearing in a puff of smoke. Sakura turned back to the line of women and shook her head.
"If he gives you any problems, please let me know. You are dismissed," she said. Everyone gave a small bow, and three of the medics scrambled out the door, whispering and giggling the whole way. Sayo, however, remained in her spot. Sakura walked up to her.
"It's okay," Sayo breathed, "I'm okay." She shook her head to clear it. "I've got better things to do than think about him."
"If you're sure," she said, eyeing the young woman.
Sayo smiled and raised a hand to salute Sakura. "Aye, aye, Captain," she teased.
"Well, come on then," Sakura said enthusiastically, glad for someone familiar to talk to. She started tugging on Sayo's arm and leading her into the back. "I'll show you my room."
Kakashi was lying in bed, staring up at the dim ceiling overhead, when the door clicked open and Genma slipped into the room. Kakashi glanced over at the alarm clock on the small side table they had been allotted. The red lights blared 1:26 at him through the darkness. Although he was dead beat from his day's work, sleep still evaded him.
Genma glanced over at the Copy Ninja and nodded his head. "What are you still doing up?" Kakashi shrugged and stared out the window.
"I couldn't sleep," he said. Genma grinned and clicked his tongue.
"You poor thing," he teased, "You must be homesick for your girlfriend. Come on, why don't you just tell me who she is? I'm going to find out eventually."
Kakashi's eyebrows furrowed. He shifted slightly until he was positioned on an elbow, his head resting on his hand, and then abruptly shot a middle finger at the camel-haired Jounin.
"Oh, God; not you, too," Genma sighed. "Sakura was all pissed off today, too. She even threw a jar at me. You got any idea what's the matter with her?"
"No clue," Kakashi said coolly, laying back down and turning away from Genma until he faced the wall. He closed his eyes. How would he know why the kunoichi was so angry? But you do know, the voice in his head urged. It was because he had been avoiding her. He hadn't spoken to Sakura in four days. Five, actually; if he counted this one.
"When was the last time you saw her?"
"When we arrived at the fort on Monday," Kakashi said, "I haven't gotten the chance to drop by the infirmary yet."
"I meant that girlfriend of yours," Genma said, eyeing the Copy Ninja curiously. Kakashi's eyes snapped open as he realized his blunder.
"Oh," Kakashi muttered. Silence filled the space between them, and Kakashi didn't dare to turn around.
"Kakashi," Genma asked innocently, "Why haven't you gone to see Sakura yet?" Kakashi mouthed a silent expletive into his pillow.
"I've been busy," Kakashi replied. Genma took a step toward the Copy Ninja's bed, chuckling quietly.
"It's not like you didn't have the time," he noted. "You could've went to visit her when, instead, you've been moping around this room, which has been a lot."
Kakashi remained turned toward the wall. "Since when have you been so interested in my personal agenda?"
"Since a particularly emotionally distressed kunoichi started playing target practice with my head," Genma said.
"Well," Kakashi reflected, "that just about sums up the whole female population of the camp, so that doesn't help me out too much." He sensed the camel-haired Jounin approaching closer and closer. Kakashi finally glanced over his shoulder, wondering just what Genma was up to.
In that instant, Genma pounced on the Copy Ninja. As Genma struggled to hold Kakashi down, the body beneath him abruptly dissolved with a small pop, and he fell onto the empty bed. A Kage Bunshin. Genma spotted the real body of Kakashi heading for the door.
"Where do you think you're going?" A replication of Genma flew in front of the exit and wrestled Kakashi to the ground. After a moment's struggle, Kakashi's body relaxed in the Jounin's grasp. In his current state, maintaining the fight would be devastating to the Copy Ninja's health, and he was just too tired to fight.
Genma smirked down at the Copy Ninja. "Let me get us some refreshments." His real body walked over to the dresser and pulled out a full bottle of some alcoholic beverage. "I think we need to have a talk."
The bottle of amber liquid sat on the side table between the beds. The glow of the lamp behind it cast through the nearly empty glass container, generating a discolored rainbow of light on the wooden floor. Genma and Kakashi sat side by side on one bed, their backs leaning against the wall. Kakashi swirled the glass he had in his hand, watching the fluid churn and slide around before finally settling down into stillness once more. Genma drained the rest from his cup, sticking his tongue out to catch every last drop. He rubbed his forehead and sighed.
"Wow," was all he could manage to say at the moment. Kakashi glanced over at the Jounin suspiciously.
"'What?"
Genma shook his head and shrugged. "It's nothing…"
"No, come on," Kakashi urged. Genma chuckled quietly.
"Alright, then," he said, "Kakashi, you are totally screwed up in that head of yours." He reached for the bottle on the table.
Kakashi stared at the liquid floating in his glass some more. "What makes you say that?"
Genma snorted, the excess of alcohol finally taking its toll on the Jounin. He plucked the senbon from his teeth and flicked it onto the tabletop. "Do you know what I would give to have a relationship with a woman like the one you have with Sakura? You've got this beautiful, smart, and caring girl who is totally in love with you, but you're too much of an ass to say the feeling's mutual. And all the while Sakura's sitting there, thinking she's the one that messed up somewhere along the lines."
Kakashi glanced sideways at Genma. "So you're blaming me for all this?"
"Yes."
The reply came almost immediately, and got Kakashi's face burning beneath the mask. He grabbed the bottle from Genma and filled his own cup back up.
Genma stretched his neck and yawned. "Listen up, Hatake. I care very much about Sakura. Not in that way," he scowled, taking note of the Copy Ninja's glare. "She's like a sister to me. It makes me unhappy to see her so upset, and you should be ashamed of yourself. Stop toying with her emotions and set her straight. She doesn't deserve that. If you don't love her, then just tell her."
Kakashi shifted and brought his leg beneath himself. "You just don't understand how complicated it all is."
Genma shrugged. "Maybe you're right. I haven't had a serious relationship in years. But still, if I were you, I'd go and talk to her." He took one last swig of alcohol and closed his eyes. "Now get out of my bed," he said, "Or I might puke on you for being such an ass."
Kakashi got up and trudged over to his own bed. Already he wished he hadn't drunken so much. His head grew heavier with every step. When he reached his destination he plopped facedown into the cool, crisp sheets. The feeling of intoxication swept over him, dulling his senses and dragging him further into the darkness of slumber. However, one image remained burned into his brain as the darkness enclosed him. The roseate kunoichi stared up from the picturesque memory, her emerald eyes smiling at him. As he let sleep overcome him, his mind uttered one last word into the silence of the night.
Sakura.
Thanks for reading. All reviews are welcomed :) I know Kakashi's kind of being a jerk now, but that's the way the story goes. You guys are going to hate me for the next chapter o.O Anyways, here are the responses to reviews from 4/17-4/19. Thanks again!
AznNarutoGrl-91: No, lol, we couldn't have a story without Genma!
Tami: Thanks :) I know. Like I said before, you guys are going to be mad at me for the next chapter :P
Firefox: Totally understand, lol. Runs in my family, too XD
bijou: thank you! i feel kind of bad though for writing things out that way :)
Jemiul: aww, I'm glad you liked it! I thought I needed to get the ball rolling and introduce a subject for major conflict. Oh, now I feel really bad for the way my next chapter is going to go. Naruto is kind of like my comic relief when I'm writing this :P