That took a long time, and I apologize. Not only this chapter gave me lots of problems (at first, I had trouble on deciding what was going to be Kakashi's destiny), I also had a broken computer and traveled to see relatives. All that said, I hope you can forgive me for being more than a month late…
About the surprise, the cliff I left on the last chapter, many wrote thinking Sakura could be pregnant. Well, as interesting and surprising this could be, it wasn't what I had in mind, so I kept with the initial idea. Really, it is no big deal, just a small cliff to help me build the next chapter: this one here.
Now, this is a long chapter, but, readers, don't run away. Lots of dialogues, so I think is quite dynamic.
Of course, I again thank all the readers, specially you that left me a review. You see, I write because its fun, but I keep on this story because there are people reading and liking. And I'm reader too, so, even though a chapter may take a long time, be sure I will not leave this story unfinished, for respect on you readers.
Thank you, and have fun.
Month 2, day 1
Shizune was standing in front of her master, hands together in an anxious grip.
"What should I tell him, Hokage-sama?"
Tsunade was reading a parchment, and kept her eyes in the paper as she spoke:
"Just what I told you before…" A cold glance reached Shizune, a sign that the fearful woman behind the desk was loosing her temper. "I'm busy!"
Shizune shivered, and pressed her lips together. She knew better than to open her mouth when Tsunade was in such a bad mood, but…
"Hokage-sama… I… I… said that… already… " Her voice was disappearing, along with her courage. Tsunade could have a mean look when she wanted to.
"Shizune… tell me: why do I have an assistant, again? I thought assistants should keep this kind of trouble away from the Hokage, so she can handle more important business…"
"Oh…", the dark haired woman rolled her eyes, "I thought you needed an assistant so you wouldn't sleep while reading reports…"
"Fine!" Tsunade snapped, her fist hitting the table and making the floor tremble. "Fine, fine…!" She shaked her head, disapproving her own decision. "Tell him to come in…"
"As you wish, Hokage-sama."
"As I wish…?" The irony of it made her smile. "Ah, obligations…"
Shizune opened the office door:
"Please… She will see you now" She gestured vaguely in the direction of the room behind her.
Tsunade crossed her arms and assumed a more relaxed position in her chair. And made sure she was looking with contempt and impatience towards the jounin that came in with a cool expression and one hand inside his pocket.
"Hatake Kakashi…" The Hokage sighed deeply and loudly. "Why in the world are you here?"
"I assumed that the Hokage, the greatest of all ninja, could guess…"
"Don't test my patience… It is very, very small…"
Indeed Tsunade knew what was the reason that brought again the Copy Ninja to her office. She knew it so well that she avoided the confrontation for as long as she could… two whole hours. Unfortunately, her bodyguards and assistants were not strong enough to keep the Hatake Kakashi away. Most of them feared him even more then they feared her… They were about to discover that this was a mistake, of course. She would take care of that later. Now, the problem was standing right in front of her desk, dressed in jounins vests, showing just one eye and with his left arm immobilized in bandages.
"Injured arm, I see."
"Yes. It's treated."
"Yes, yes, I know…" In a characteristic gesture, Tsunade tapped her fingers on her desk. "She told me all about it."
"All about it?" Kakashi kept his undisturbed look, but he felt an unpleasant sensation of coldness in his abdomen. "Is that right?"
"Of course… Do you have any objections?" She put her hands under her chin, a smile on her lips. "I'm her master and the Hokage… It's only expected that Sakura shares everything with me…"
"I suppose…"
Tsunade stared the jounin attentively, but in vain. He gave no external signs of emotion, and the mask made even more difficult to know what was going on inside that mind. She was a bit frustrated, that was the truth. In fact, Sakura came to her last night, but said almost nothing. The girl seemed a little disturbed, and told an unlikely story of how she had treated her former sensei, who was badly hurt from an extreme training. Tsunade thought awfully strange that a simple training could injure an elite jounin, but didn't argue. However, Sakura remained silently about any details, claiming she knew nothing about it. And even told Tsunade she had treated Kakashi alone, what was completely against the rules, since that kind of wound was supposed to be treated in the hospital, with medical supervision, and not by an apprentice… Not to mention that the girl seemed to have been crying, something that made Tsunade concludes that Sakura told Kakashi about the mission…
"Why can't the simple things be simple?"
"So, Kakashi, I assume you are here because you heard about Sakura's task…"
He sighed in relief, just to be reminded of the anger he felt.
"You are going on a mission?", he asked to the young kunoichi that had her face in her own hands.
"I don't know what to say… I'm sorry…", she said through her fingers and a muffled cry.
"What mission…? When…?"
"In three days…"
A glimpse of green could be seen as she lowered her hands a few inches, still hiding her cheeks and mouth. Kakashi shook his head, trying to think clearly. To him, it made no sense. Sakura was on training, and, of course, wasn't part of any team. How could she have been assigned to a mission?
"Sure it will not take long…"
"A month."
"A month?A whole month?
"At least a month…", the girl corrected.
"How could that be? I mean… I don't understand… Are you going alone?
She took a deep breath:
"I'm going with Asuma's team… Ino, Chouji, and Asuma."
"What? Asuma's team?" He used his right and uninjured hand to scratch the back of his head. "What… what kind of mission…? Where are you going?"
Sakura wiped her wet face with the back of her hand, and holding her tears as she said:
"You know, Kakashi-sensei… You know I can tell you nothing more…"
It had been a shock, and one of which he was not completely recovered. So, she was going on a mission? Not only that, but on a mission she could not talk about. Not even to him. Disturbed by this thought, Kakashi let a sonorous sight escape through the mask:
"Yes, Hokage-sama, I heard about it…"
Tsunade leaned over her desk, elbows supporting the weight of her upper body. Attentive eyes on the jounin, she said:
"And I bet that's the reason that brought you here… " She smiled briefly, but proceeded before Kakashi could respond. "Don't you dare think that I didn't consider your position when I took the decision of sending her to this mission…"
"My position…?"
"Please, don't be mad at me!"
They were on his apartment, the small, one-bedroom place he called home. Sakura had followed him there in complete silence, since Kakashi was not up to conversations after the breaking news she gave him. For reasons that escaped him, Kakashi was so upset that even the pain on his left arm had eased, and he could almost forget it was badly injured. However, Sakura didn't seem inclined to leave him alone until something could be done about his arm. Standing by the door, she watched as he sat on his bed, and while he reached for a drawer next to it, taking bandages and a pot from there.
"I'm not mad", he answered after a minute or so.
"You look like you are.."
"Well, I am!" Kakashi was struggling to open the pot he had placed between his knees, but it was sealed with a tag. "Not at you, though."
She stared at him in confusion for a few moments, but he gave no other response.
"Let me help you with that." Sakura seated next to him, and took the pot from his hand. She knew exactly what was the problem: the seal on the tag was a simple one, used to keep the medicine fresh and safe; it was usually very easily opened, requiring no more than an insignificant amount of chakra concentrated on one's hand to undo the seal. However, Kakashi was drained, incapable of molding even that much chakra… Sakura thought it was amazing that he hadn't passed out of exhaustion.
In a second, the pot was opened. "Here you go."
"Thanks."
"You know", Sakura bit her lower lip, not wanting to say anything wrong, "we still must do something about this arm of yours."
Kakashi sighted, resignation being the obvious feeling in his tone of voice. "Yes, I know."
"Can I…?"
"Sure…" He offered her his left side, the exposed arm already showing awful signs of the blows it had taken, dark marks on his pale skin.
Sakura raised her hand to touch him, her fingers pressing carefully and as light as possible. Even though she already knew what was wrong, the kunoichi wasn't quite sure of what she should do. Sakura knew, of course, that the shoulder should be put back in place, and that the elbow needed all the medical jutsus she learned and probably more; however, she couldn't bring herself to start what must be done. For the first time since she begun her training as a medical ninja, she was treating a seriously injured friend… Oh, now she knew why Tsunade was so hard on her; it wasn't easy to look at a wound on a person you cared, and still be able to do what you had to.
"Sakura, are you all right?", Kakashi asked, sensing her hesitation. "You don't need to do it if you don't feel like…"
"I'm ok", she answered abruptly, "just having it examined one last time." She cleaned her throat and said, trying to sound as professional and secure as she could: "First, let's put this shoulder back. I can work on your elbow after that, it will take more time."
"You are the boss…"
"I'll have to pull your arm… It will probably…"
"…hurt like hell? Yes, I know. It's not my first time…"
Sakura felt her heart pounding, nervous to think that it was her first time. Trying to stop the flow of unpleasant thoughts, she concentrated on her work, performing a few jutsus to relax his muscles and ease the pain. She couldn't bear the idea of doing something wrong, and hurt him even more. After all, Kakashi was a ninja, and an important ninja to Konoha. If something happened that could keep him from doing his work… oh, she would never forgive herself, neither would Tsunade or all the other shinobi in the village.
"Sakura", he called, and she raised her eyes to find that cool, calm look.
"Yes, sensei?"
Even through the mask, she could notice he was smiling. His right hand reached her cheek, a warm touch, a reassuring gesture to go with his words: "I'm not worried, Sakura. It's going to be alright…"
She smiled back to him, but only for a second. Then, a grave expression dominated her features, and she lifted his arm with both hands, holding it in a tight grasp. Kakashi's right hand fell from her face, and he used it to grab the sheets. He knew what was about to come, and shared another look with Sakura, giving her the permission she was waiting for.
Without warning, the kunoichi pulled his arm, using a strength Kakashi never thought possible for Sakura to have. He made his best to remain still, support the strong pull and the agonizing pain, his shoulder exploding, his arm going somewhere far away from him, leaving nothing but awful noises and sensations. He clenched his teeth, closed his eyes, darkness ahead of him, the sheet between his fingers, oh, he was on the edge of letting a muffled cry of pain escape…
And the shoulder creaked. He felt as it had found its place again, a minor relief, Sakura's grasp easing, and he could breathe again. A few drops of sweat ran free from his forehead until disappearing in the black fabric of his mask. Kakashi opened his eyes, to see a pale Sakura staring at him with an anxious expression.
"Did I…?"
"You made it." And Kakashi realized he wasn't surprised. "You did it. I knew you would."
She smiled, the smile of pure relief. Kakashi had seen it before, that expression, that look she always had when the fear had left and she had already realized things were going to be alright. Oh, she was the brightest kunoichi he had ever known, but she never learned that lesson about not showing her feelings, did she?
He was glad she hadn't.
"Thank you, Sakura."
The girl couldn't avoid blushing.
"Ah, it was nothing, Kakashi-sensei… That's why I'm here for!"
She had that gracious smile, one that betrayed she was proud of herself, happy and confident. However, she made an effort to contain her excitement: "Don't thank me yet! We still have much to do concerning your elbow…"
Kakashi signed positively with his head, and watched in silence as Sakura turned her attention to his arm. Her green eyes searching, her hands going up and down, pressing and feeling, and even so didn't bring any pain. He concentrated on her features, the pink hair that now and then hid her face, until the moment she would raise her hand and again move those rebel locks out of her sight. The slender and delicate fingers doing seals, and then moving to his arm, her warm chakra mixing with his, that overwhelming feeling that she was donating, giving something that belonged to her, just to make him better. He felt his arm going numb, and his head getting lighter.
"Are you trying to make me sleep?", he suddenly asked.
Sakura looked a little surprised, but not at all embarrassed. "Thought you needed some rest…"
"I'll take care of that myself, thank you…"
She laughed: "You are not upset about this, are you? I was just trying to prevent you to be in pain through the whole night…"
"Upset? No, of course not… I just wouldn't like to pass out while you're still here."
"Actually…", she lowered her eyes to the bandages she was wrapping around his arm, but he could notice she was blushing again, "I was thinking that maybe, if it's okay with you, well, maybe I should stay… you know, to keep an eye on you…"
Under the mask – and feeling grateful for having it -, Kakashi pressed his lips together, thinking how much he wanted to hear something like that from her, and how wrong could that be. He was no fool, and lying to himself was not a habit he cultivated.
"You don't have to do that, Sakura."
"I want to!" She captured his glance with her green eyes. "Since I'm leaving… I wish we could spend some time together…"
Kakashi said nothing. He remained still, watching her as he felt gentle fingers approaching his face, running through his silver hair, resting in his clothed neck.
"Sakura…"
"I'll miss you so much…!"
"Don't…"
Kakashi knew he wanted her to stay. He wanted to be with her. Keep her close. Embrace her and protect her. Sleep in peace, knowing she was just there, a few inches away. Oh, he wanted that so much that his chest hurt, and was fighting against himself, against that impulse, that feeling in his through, that thought telling him he should say "yes", just "yes", and shelter this girl with his arms around her. He wanted her, and that was all.
And also wasn't.
He saw the amazing things she did, and how great she could be. The great ninja she could be. She was an apprentice, and had been for only a couple months, and yet… she took care of him, she fixed his arm, she learned so much! She was growing, not only physically, but in power, in knowledge. She was not only smart, he always knew she was smart; she was talented. Sakura had finally found her place in the ninja world, and it suited her really well.
And she did all by herself.
"You don't want me to stay?" She was looking at him in great expectation.
"I don't." Kakashi glanced at the window, pretending something outside had caught his attention.
"But…" She didn't proceed. Silence fell between them, but Kakashi could hear even her slightest move. He knew she was holding her tears.
"This is wrong, Sakura…!"
"Wrong? How can you…?"
"Yes." He turned to face her, and found Sakura still seated on his bed, confusion showing on her face. "We are friends, and, as your friend, I should never stay between you and your training… or missions…"
"What are you talking about…?"
"You are feeling like you shouldn't go", he used his right hand to raise her chin, like he had done before many times, and looked into her eyes, "aren't you?"
"I don't know…"
"And because of me…" He sighed. "The way you are feeling now…"
Kakashi hesitated, the issue he was about to bring making him feel uncomfortable.
"Sakura…" His hand left her chin, since he didn't mind if she would rather look in another direction. However, she kept her glance on him. "You are young, and you may think you have feelings for me… you may think that what we have is more than a friendship."
"Oh" A wave of hit took her face, her cheeks getting unbelievably red. She immediately lowered her eyes to her lap.
"The thing is, Sakura, that you are probably feeling lonely. And I would hate if you turned out to do something… well, when we are feeling like this, we may even take a simple friendship for something else…"
"Right. You are right." She suddenly was again standing by the bed, now looking at him from above. "I should probably go. You... you let me know if you need me, ok?"
"Of course." Again the mask hid Kakashi's expression, one that could be described as disappointed. "Thank you again. You were great, Sakura."
"Any time." She risked a few steps back, until she was able to sense the door behind her. "I'll come by before I leave, to see how the arm is going…"
"Oh, I'll be fine…"
"Good night, Kakashi-sensei…"
"Good night, Sakura"
The door hadn't even closed completely, and Kakashi already regretted his words.
"Your position as Sakura's former teacher, that is."
Tsunade stared at him with narrow eyes: "You still feel responsible for her, don't you?"
"Yes", Kakashi answered promptly, "and yes, that's why I'm here."
"You have nothing to do with the missions I give her… I respect your concern, but, as Hokage, I must do what is best so missions can be accomplished…"
"I understand that."
"But here you are…"
"I understand Sakura is needed in this mission."
Tsunade sighed: "Go on, Kakashi… Just do it."
"Do what?"
"Just ask me what you came here to ask…"
"You guessed already…"
Tsunade smiled. Yes, her old Sarutobi-sensei was right. Once she asked him what was the hardest thing about being a Hokage. She remembers the old man didn't even blink before answering: "The fact that, in some situations, you must say 'no'."
Oh, that Sandaime Hokage was always right…
Asuma lighted a cigarette. It was his fifth in the last hour, and he was glad he could count on them. After all, a long waiting was something he didn't appreciated, to say the least, and smoking had been his only consolation so far.
"She does that on purpose, of course…!"
This thought had been torturing him for the last half an hour. In his humble life experience, no one could be a whole hour late by accident.
"Women…", he muttered to himself.
Kurenai was the woman in question. To his best knowledge, she was in her apartment upstairs, changing her daily clothes for an outfit that would suit better their plans of dinner in a nice restaurant. However, considering the time this simple task was taking, Asuma feared they wouldn't find any place open this late at night. Looking at the sky, he could tell it was midnight already.
If he was waiting for anybody else, Asuma would be gone after the first fifteen minutes. Problem was, it wasn't anybody else. It was her. For as impatient as he was, it took nothing but a second to remember her face, her eyes, her rare and incredible smile, and all thoughts of leaving would go away. How could he? Specially that night. In little more then twenty four hours he would be preparing to go on another mission, one that would take no less than a month, and who knows when he would see Kurenai again? He was confident he would come back – eventually. But by the time he would be back, maybe she was the one that would be gone… Missions, training, attacks… Ninja cannot count on that thing ordinary people call "the next time". Because for ninjas, it may never come.
So absorbed was Asuma on those thoughts, that he didn't even noticed a figure that watched him in the shadows. Cautious and silent, this one approached without being seen. And when Asuma finally sensed a presence, it was already positioned behind his back.
"What the…?", the jounin turned and jumped, his blades in position. He looked around, searching for others; finding none, he focused on the one that had surprised him: "Oh, it's you…"
Asuma sighed in relief, putting the weapons down.
"You are always so careless!" Kakashi moved to the light, looking less cool then usually.
"We are inside the village, in case you didn't realize."
"That's no excuse."
Not that Asuma wasn't use to have Kakashi appearing from no where behind his back, but he was sure he had sensed something else, something that had signed an alert inside him. He wasn't sure what it was, but there was something strange about him.
"You are definitely insane."
"Insane? A little crazy, perhaps."
Asuma took a few seconds to examine Kakashi from a distance, enough time to notice that, under the sleeve, Kakashi's left arm was wrapped in bandages, and immobilized. It was also obvious that his nose too was hurt, visibly swollen. And his eye… He looked disturbed, somehow.
"Ah… Gai really got you this time, didn't he?"
"What, this?" He quickly glanced at his own arm, and sighed as it was a subject he was tired of going into. "Minor injure… I could fight him today, if he wanted to…"
"Right. Whatever." Asuma returned his blades to his belt. "You two deserve each other, I guess. However, I'm not up to fighting games today."
"Waiting for Kurenai?"
Asuma shook his head in a disapproving gesture, while reaching for another cigarette. "You know I am! Why do you keep doing those silly questions? It's not easy as it is, and we even have to endure people making comments…"
"I'm sorry."
The cigarette fell from Asuma's open mouth. He couldn't believe his ears: did Kakashi apologize?
"What?" The Copy Ninja was offering the cigarette back to his colleague, since he had rescued it before it touched the ground. "Don't look so surprise. You are making me think that I've never said 'sorry' to anybody…"
"Not to anybody I know, at least." Smoke came out from his mouth as he spoke. "Well, not like you mean it, anyway…"
"I meant it. I am sorry. You are right, things are already too complicated, and you guys don't need to hear stupid jokes…"
"Now you're freaking me out! Stop, I'm starting to think you are a henge!"
Under the mask, Kakashi smirked. "Don't worry. This is not a jutsu… Guess that people are always changing, right?"
"Yes, they are…"
Kakashi had changed before, even Asuma could remember it pretty well. When Obito died, and Kakashi got that sharingan. He was never the same. But than, that was expected; no one sees a teammate, a friend, dieing in front of you and remains the same. Now, now something else was happening to the Copy Ninja. The end of his team, his students leaving, yes, again life was not generous on Kakashi. One could almost feel sorry for him…
"Asuma", Kakashi called, "Sakura told me she is going on a mission… with your team."
"Oh, so that is what this is about…!"
Since the beginning, Asuma was unsure about Sakura going with them. She had no problems with the kunoichi, and actually thought she was intelligent and capable. A few weeks ago, when Ino brought Sakura to join their training sessions, he was even surprised to see she had improved a lot, and her qualities as medic-nin were many. Things were more than ok, until the Hokage called him in her office.
"I have a mission for your team, Asuma."
She was in a bad mood:
"So, of course, don't say no!"
"I would never think about denying a mission gave by you, Hokage-sama!"
"Hm… Good to know…"
Even though she didn't look like she was glad to hear it.
"What can I do for you, Hokage-sama?" Asuma probably wasn't the most talented and strong ninja in Konoha, but he was good with words. He had never been with Tsunade when she was irritated or angry, but he could guess that she would prefer to just explain the mission and be left alone.
"You can go on this mission and do it right; that would be a change! I've send two other teams already, and they all returned with a failure on their hands!"
Now Asuma could understand it better. There was nothing worst for a ninja village than failing a mission, and the Hokage was responsible for that. After all, she was the one giving the missions, and choosing the best team or ninja for each one. In a way, a failure could mean she had done a bad choice… twice!
"I will not fail, Hokage-sama. My team is doing well, and sure…"
"Your team can't do it."
"Sorry… what?" He made his best to not sound irritated, but he couldn't avoid some emotion on his voice.
"Yes… your team will not be enough…" She didn't pay any attention to Asuma's offended feelings. "This mission requires a medical ninja, and I don't think any one on your team is a medical ninja, right?"
"No… I mean, yes, right, no medical ninjas on the team." He showed her a puzzled expression: "Then why…?"
"Yes, why send your team? Here it is: you are going to do a protection mission. Can you do that?"
"Of course!" He scratched his beard. "But protect who? Who is the client?"
"Sakura."
"Sakura… You mean Haruno Sakura, Kakashi's student?"
"Kakashi's former student!" She corrected with great emphasis. "My student now, as you know. A medical ninja."
"Yes, but for no more than a couple months…"
"Please, let me explain the mission."
Asuma sighed.
"Sure, Hokage-sama… I'm all ears…"
Asuma wasn't naïve, and he knew that Kakashi wouldn't be happy to hear that Sakura, the remaining member of his old team seven, was going on a long mission… Now he could understand the strange feeling he had when the Copy Ninja appeared: Kakashi was furious. Nothing strange about it, considering what happened the last time members of his team went on a mission without him.
"Yes, we are going on a mission… Look, Kakashi, I'm a ninja, and sometimes I've to do what I'm told. I didn't ask for this one."
"I know you didn't."
"Now, if you ask me, I would tell you to go to the Hokage, and just ask her permission to join us on this one…"
"I already did."
"And…?"
Kakashi took a long breath: "She said no." He nodded his head in a vague gesture. "She said that I was injured, and the mission couldn't be delayed. And also, that Sakura needed to learn…"
"How to handle things on her own, without you?" And on seeing Kakashi's surprised look, Asuma proceeded: "No, the Hokage never told me that… But it is quite obvious."
"Really?"
"Don't get me wrong, please! I think you were good with those kids! You did a great job! I mean, they were great on that chuunin exam, more than anyone could expect…"
"Just say it."
"Okay." Again Asuma looked at his colleague, unable to tell for sure what was going inside that mind. Kakashi was always so… mysterious! It could get into your nerves. "Sometimes Sakura goes to our training sessions. I'm glad to have her; she is a good girl, and a good ninja. However…"
Asuma glanced at Kakashi, wondering if what he was about to say could offend him.
"Go on, Asuma…"
"I've been around, Kakashi. I saw a few things in my life, and not just ninja life. And I know you've been through a lot, and Sakura has also been through a lot… but you should be careful, Kakashi."
Throwing away the filter of his already finished cigarette, Asuma reached for another one, just to realize he was out of cigarettes.
"Damn!"
"Finish what you were saying."
"Okay…" Kakashi was staring at him, not with his usually cool expression, but with a cold one. "Like I said, you should be careful. I know you want to be there for her, and be her friend, but she is a teenager! You know how young girls are…"
"Actually, no. Enlighten me."
Asuma smirked.
"I was just trying to help you understand Tsunade's decision, fool! Just trying to say that I thought she wanted Sakura to depend less on you… and for the girl to forget a little about the terrible things that happened." He took a serious expression. "But you know what?"
"I'm sure you are going to tell me…"
"Yes, I will…! You know what? Now I don't think she did it for Sakura at all… I think she did it because of you. Because you are such a mess right now, because you can't even remember what this ninja life is all about…" He paused for a second, and proceeded in a lower tone: "You have to find your way again, Kakashi, and Sakura is not the answer."
Kakashi's only visible eyebrow moved to sign that the Copy Ninja didn't take well Asuma's last remark:
"You should be more careful with those insinuations…"
"What is going on here?" A feminine, deep voice asked in a high volume.
Kurenai had just arrived, and was standing on the last step of the stairs behind them. She was wearing an astonishing red dress, one that revealed her shoulders and most of her back. The vision was so unusual and beautiful that both male jounins weren't able to say a word of response to her question.
"Well…?", she insisted.
"Nothing going on", Asuma answered, "nothing important, anyway."
"Yes, that's right." Kakashi waved his head to Kurenai, a quick greeting. "I was just leaving."
"Really? You two seemed to be in the middle of something…"
"Like Asuma said, nothing important." Kakashi sighed. "Oh, well, I better get going… I have so much to do! You guys enjoy your dinner. Good night, Kurenai. Good night, Asuma… and good luck with your mission." He left in a cloud of sudden smoke.
Kurenai turned to Asuma: "Are you going to tell me?"
"Well", he smiled, "I would say 'no', but there are a couple things you can do that can make me change my mind."
From the top of the building, Kakashi could see Asuma and Kurenai holding hands.
Month 2, day 3
The sun had yet to rise, and Sakura was already walking the streets of Konoha. And because of an unlikely coincidence, not alone.
"Hurry up, Sakura, we are going to be late!"
"Ah, I'm going as fast as I can!" She gave an annoyed look to her companion. "And what is the matter with being a few minutes late?"
Sakura and Ino had met moments ago, when Sakura took a detour from the faster and shorter way from her home to the team meeting point, on Konoha's gates. On account of a last minute change of heart, she had decided to stop by on Kakashi's apartment, and say a proper goodbye. She hadn't seen her former sensei since she helped him with his injures, and, that last time, she had promised a visit before leaving. Even though she had no idea of what to say, Sakura knew she could at least exam his arm to see if it was getting better. However, that wasn't by far the reason that took her there.
Truth was, Sakura was very confused. As things were, she was having trouble to figure out what was Kakashi's place in her life… and in her heart. He was no longer her sensei, as both he and Tsunade had made it clear to her. She was the Hokage's student, now. Kakashi? A friend, they had agreed on that, but things didn't go as planned. They were friends, all right, but then… then, she felt like more than that. Like she wanted more. Why not? He was nice, he was handsome, he was gentle… all that in one man. Man.
Maybe that was the problem. Things were never a problem when they were alone, when they could talk to each other, when he was just Kakashi. But then, then were the moments where he had to be the sensei – even though he insisted he wasn't her teacher anymore. She knew what was like: he would look at her, and remember she was still a girl. A girl! Sakura didn't feel like a girl, not in many ways. She had seen death, she had lost friends, she had even been through the painful first love… Why couldn't they see her as more than just a girl?
Sakura had no idea what she felt about Kakashi, but she was sure people would tell her to forget about it. Even he did, didn't he? "We may even take a simple friendship for something else…", that's what he said. That was mean, really mean! How could he just discard her feelings like that? It was worst than Sasuke telling to her face he didn't like her… At least Sasuke told her how he felt. Now, Kakashi… he just assumed that her feelings were just confused, and that she didn't know what she was doing! Oh, how could he? Always, always looking at her as the girl to be protected.
Yes, but there were also his touch, his embrace, his voice, things that would bring peace, reassurance, and the need for more. More of him. All those moments she had his arms around her, her body pressed against his… oh, she felt things she had never felt before. Or the way he believed on her, on her skills, on her talent. How many times had she felt tired, or felt the urge of just quit, and his words came to her mind? Kakashi saying she could do it. And she feeling like she could.
When Sakura knocked on his door, all she wanted was for Kakashi to tell he was going to miss her. Tell her she could do it, and that things were going to be all right. And then, she wanted him to take her into his arms, so she could feel his chest sheltering her, his hands touching her hair, his voice coming through his mask, saying: "Be back soon; I'll be here for you."
He wasn't home.
Or, maybe, he didn't want to open the door.
Ino found her seated on a bench, near the bridge Team Seven used as meeting point. The blond kunoichi asked nothing; she just reminded Sakura it was time to go.
They walked together, but Sakura was so distracted that was constantly left behind by dynamic Ino, causing the blond to complain:
"Hurry up, Sakura, we are going to be late!"
"Ah, I'm going as fast as I can!" She gave an annoyed look to her companion. "And what is the matter with being a few minutes late?"
Ino sighed, wishing that Sakura's strange mood wouldn't last for the whole mission.
"Asuma-sensei hates to wait! More than ten minutes, and he will go without us!"
"Don't worry, Ino! We are still early."
"Don't worry? You say that because you don't know…"
They turned the corner, just to find Konoha's gate, and no one there waiting, except for Chouji.
"Finally", the boy said, "I was starting to wonder if this was the right place."
"Maybe you should wonder what happened to Asuma-sensei…"
Having nothing else to do, the three genin sat on the ground.
On his way to the meeting point, with a fifteen minutes walk ahead of him, and twenty minutes before the stipulated hour, Asuma lighted his first cigarette of the day.
"Isn't too early on the day for that?" A familiar voice came from some place above.
Asuma simply enjoyed the first smoke inhaled, and slowly breathed it out of his lungs. Satisfied with that, he said, facing no direction in particular: "Isn't too late for you to be wondering around town?"
"You should quit", was the answer Asuma got. "Smoking, that is."
"Go home, Kakashi."
Asuma walked a few steps, until that, in a sudden move, Kakashi appeared in front of him and blocked his way.
"I'm not in my best mood, Kakashi… I kindly ask you to get out of my way, or prepare to be moved."
A discernable laugh came from under the mask: "You are getting me wrong, Asuma…! I'm not here looking for trouble."
"Glad to hear it. Now, please, move!"
A few seconds passed with both ninjas in complete immobility. Asuma watched Kakashi, the masked face giving no clue of what was going on with the Copy Ninja. He threw the cigarette on the ground, waiting for an answer.
Kakashi stepped aside, giving space for Asuma to walk, what he immediately did. Inside his chest, a relief; there was nothing worst than start the day with a useless fight. However, he had left Kakashi no more than ten feet behind when he heard:
"Take care of her, will you?"
With Kakashi on his back, Asuma felt free to smile widely.
"That's my mission, fool!"
"Is that a promise?"
Finally, Asuma turned to face his fellow jounin. In a way, he could understand what Kakashi was going through. He too had people he cared about; he too had lost friends and family; he too had hands full of blood, blood that sometimes kept him from a night of peaceful sleep. They were both ninjas, trapped in that human condition that so many times caused pain.
So, yes, he understood.
"Yeah, it's a promise… What else?" He assumed a grave expression. "I'll protect her with my life."
"Thank you, Asuma."
"You are welcome, my friend."
Kakashi bowed:
"And I'll never forget this… my friend."
"Asuma-sensei, you are late!" Chouji shouted at the first sight of his leader.
"Hey, hey, easy… I'm late?"
"Yes, you are! Five minutes late!"
"All that? Gee, I guess you're right… I'm sorry, guys, but this friend crossed my way…"
"Baka!" Ino accused. "That's a lie!"
Sakura smiled to herself, watching such a familiar scene. Not many things could make her feel better at that moment, but the silly argument brought good memories.
"Sakura, lets go!" Asuma was calling from the other side of the gate.
She glanced at Konoha one last time, thinking that maybe Naruto and Sasuke did the same when they left, months ago.
"But I'll be back. No matter what, I'll be back."
From the top of the Hokage's building, Kakashi waved a silent goodbye, one that was never seen. And then, the only remaining member of Team Seven sighed:
"Now, to work."
Hope you liked.
What you guys thought about this Asuma I wrote? I like him a lot, the character, and I hope I was faithful to the idea.
So, as you see, this is the end of something: not the story, but of a part of the story. Now, Kakashi and Sakura will be apart for a little while – not too long, of course, I couldn't take it.
Next chapter, maybe a few ghosts from the past will make an appearance… And I'm still hoping I can find a place for Genma and Anko, two of my favorite characters who haven't shown yet…
Tx for being here!