By: Charlize Miller
Genre: Romance/Humour
Rating: T
Disclaimer: Naruto belongs to Masashi Kishimoto.
Summary: After five years, Haruno Sakura finally returns to Kohona from two long missions. After spending some time back, she falls into dilemmas that affected her heart and her memories. What will she do? KakaSaku.
Author's Notes: XD You guys are all too funny. Anyway, I guess nobody fell for it :( BUT WHO CARES? Thanks Natori, RikkuThief15 and AnimeGurlLuver for the reviews. Oh and your question about the coupling...yeah he is fourteen years older and stuff...BUT they just look SO good together. right? I swear a whole bunch of people will agree with me. OKAY here's my theory about love: age, looks, race, etc, doesn't matter when you're in love. I think I should receive an award. I feel like a true romantic :D. Oh my god, yesterday, I cut my hair :O by myself! I could have been writing a chapter but man, I don't know what I was thinking. ONWARDS!
Reading AID:
--- means a time shift.
italics means somebody is thinking.
bold means nothing really, emphasis? I dunno.
underline means well, I hardly use it but if you see it use your imagination.
"" means somebody is talking.
'' means somebody is doing an action or a sound.
---
Chapter NINE - Hold My Hand
"Hey Sakura, it's me again. I was hoping you'd wake up today because its been three days already. I'm starting to worry..." Kakashi said studying her pale features.
The others have been visiting Sakura on their own times now but Kakashi had been coming in everyday to see her. He wanted to be there when she wakes up hoping that when she sees him, she'll know who he is.
"Anyway, it's almost past visiting hours. I think I'll see you tomorrow..." Kakashi took her hand and kissed it.
"She's moving!" Tsunade said as she came through the doorway.
Sakura's eyes were still closed but they twitched as if she was about to open them from a horrible dream. Her hands grabbed the sheets and she abruptly sat up on her bed. She opened her eyes and saw nothing but a blur. She blinked a couple of times and looked around again.
...Where am I?
Kakashi inched back. She's awake...
"I...I...who?" Sakura managed to say slowly.
"Well, I'm glad you finally woke up, Sakura." Tsunade said.
"Sakura?" the clueless pink-haired woman said.
"That's your name...Haruno Sakura," she said to her.
Kakashi hoped it was all a dream but it wasn't. She does have amnesia and it seemed pretty bad.
"And who are you?" She said to the medic-nin.
"Well, I am Tsunade. I used to be yourchunin teacher." Sakura nodded but she still had no clue.
She failed to see Kakashi in the corner the first time so when she finally did she blushed a little but it was definitely hard to notice since when she woke up her face started to gain all it's colour.
"Hi," she said to him as if this was the first time she had seen him.
"Hi," he said back.
"I'm supposed to know you right?" She asked unsure.
Kakashi nodded.
"Are we together?"
Kakashi hesitated,"No, Sakura. We're not."
"HEY SAKURA, I'M BACK..." Naruto gasped as he entered the room with Sasuke and Ino, "SHE'S ALIVE!"
"NARUTO!" Ino smacked him at the back of his head.
"Ow!" The boy clutched his head, "I mean, you finally woke up from your coma...AWESOME."
Sakura laughed. Who are they? I supposed they're my friends?
"Sorry Sakura, about the accident. I hope you're feeling alright." Sasuke spoke.
Sakura smiled eyes closed, "I'm alright. I wish I could remember you guys. You sound like wonderful people."
Ino frowned. It's so uncomfortable listening to her like she doesn't know us. She sighed.
"Well, after a few examinations, you'll be able to go home today," Tsunade said to Sakura, "and I'm leaving you with Kakashi." She pointed to the silver-haired man looking out the window.
"WHAT?" They all said together.
"I...I mean, why with me?" Kakashi said as he quickly turned around to meet Tsunade's face.
"YEAH! Why him! It's INO's fault!" Naruto yelled.
Ino smacked Naruto at the back of his head again.
Tsunade laughed, "Because you're her former teacher."
My teacher? For what? Sakura frowned. Is there something wrong with me?
"But, you are too," Kakashi rebutted.
"Do you honestly think I can help her remember her memories? I'm stuck at the hospital everyday and you'd probably do well to help her remember her childhood memories," She said.
"Am I missing something?" Sakura asked innocently.
"YES! You've forgotten about twenty-one years of you life!" Kakashi yelled an obvious answer.
Sakura looked down and covered her face with her hands.
"KAKASHI!" Ino yelled at him.
"Damn...I'm sorry Sakura. I didn't mean it," he exhaled loudly, "I'm just upset at what happened to you. It's nobody fault. It just happened." Kakashi said eying Ino to assure her.
"Okay, guys. We just need to check her up. Before you know it, she's out of here." Tsunade told them as she shooed them out the door.
---
In the waiting room, Kakashi sat with his head in his hands, thinking. Ino, Sasuke and Naruto walked up to him.
"Well, we'll see her later at your house. I presume she'll be there, right?" Sasuke asked him.
"YEAH, you better do nothing to her, old man," Naruto said like a protective brother.
Kakashi grabbed Naruto's shirt and pulled him down to eye level and let go deciding not to say anything to him. It's hard to deal with Naruto. It seems like the wild child doesn't understand anything while his mouth is still working.
"Stop it, Naruto!" Ino said to him. "I know, he'll take good care of her. Would you rather let her stay at her own place?"
"Hmph...fine." Naruto walked out the door.
"I guess, we'll see you later," The other two said as they followed Naruto's departure.
Kakashi waved one of his hand above his head while the other was still on his face.
What am I going to do? She'll be staying at my place...I guess, I'll just try to help her remember everything...even Hatsuharu.
---
"Alright, Sakura. Blood pressure is normal which is pretty unusual for somebody who has just woken up from a coma. You must be really special. Anyway, you're free to go! Take these two times a day to relieve your headaches and the best you can do is ask Kakashi about your life. He'll help you remember again, don't worry."
Sakura exhaled, "okay...umm, he's my teacher? For what?"
Tsunade was a little disappointed that she had forgotten she was an experienced, high-ranked ninja, "Well, you're a jounin, Sakura. He taught you when you were a genin. He's an ANBU, Black Ops."
"A what?" she asked bewildered.
"Assassination Tactics Special Squad?" she said trying to get her to remember, "Well, it doesn't matter right now, but you decided to become a ninja because of that dark-haired man who was here minutes ago."
"Really? I like him? But he looks like he's taken," Sakura said thinking about Ino.
Tsunade laughed, "Well, you used to but I believe you like someone else before this happened."
"I do?" Sakura said sadly.
"Kakashi will help you out." Sakura felt a slight hint from her voice but she couldn't make it out.
Kakashi...
Tsunade led Sakura to Kakashi who was still waiting at the waiting room.
"Where's the others?" Sakura asked him.
"Well, they said they'll come over in a bit to see you. Ready to go?" Kakashi said holding out a hand.
"Umm," Sakura didn't know what he meant with his hand so she took it with hers, "yeah."
Kakashi was surprised but he didn't want to let go. He was afraid he might offend her if he did or was it because he liked her hand in his. Either way, he held her hand. Initially, he wanted to hold her bag for her.
---
Sakura and Kakashi walked together in silence still holding to each other's hand. He thought it would be a good idea to re-introduce her to Kohona. They walked in the park, waterfront, Naruto's favourite restaurant, etc. Sakura tried to listen attentively but she couldn't really concentrate because she was distracted by his voice and his hand holding hers.
"That's your apartment building," Kakashi said pointing to the tall gray structure, "and that's where you used to train with Naruto and Sasuke," pointing to the training area surrounded by trees.
"Who's the other girl?" Sakura asked looking at Kakashi with her green eyes.
He looked at her for a moment. Her eyes drewhis facecloser to hers. I can't... Kakashi looked away, "I...uhh, I mean she used to be your rival. You fought with her for Sasuke, actually."
"Over a guy?" Sakura's eye's widened.
Kakashi nodded, "But you guys are really, really, good friends."
"That's weird, I don't have a slight attraction for Sasuke." She laughed trying to get him to look at her. However, it failed. She looked at Kakashi's mask. Why does he wear that thing anyway?
Sakura almost tripped on the gravel ground. But Kakashi grabbed her before she could fall. Sakura had been in bed for three days straight. It's no surprise she'd start to loose her balance by now, "You okay?"
Sakura nodded.
"Don't worry, we're almost there." They walked a few more blocks and stopped at a particular oak tree. "That's the tree, you'll usually find me. We fell off it a long time ago," Kakashi looked up at it.
"We?" She smiled up at him.
"I...uh...well, you practically caused it," he grinned under his mask.
"On purpose? If so, I'm sorry," Sakura said looking down, remembering Tsunade told her she fell off a brick wall. Although, she wished she knew what happened on that tree. Sakura started to form a phobia of heights.
Kakashi shrugged, "no worries. Anyway, speaking of trees, you were the best at climbing them, out of the team."
"Team?"
"I taught you, Naruto and Sasuke when you were genins."
"How old are you?" Sakura went right off topic.
"I...umm, I'm thirty-five," he believed something wrong would go between this but when he looked a Sakura for a second, she squeezed his hand a little.
"Really? You don't like any older than your middle twenties," Sakura took a while to reply.
Kakashi smirked.
"Hey, what took you guys so long!" Naruto called out to them from a distance.
Kakashi immediately let go of Sakura's hand. Sakura was disappointed the moment didn't last as long as she wanted it to be. She liked holding his hand, even though it was the glove she held.
---
They're coming. WAIT, were they just holding hands?Ino thought. She shifted her body to get a better view at them but all she saw was Sakura smiling at her. Ino smiled back recognizing that glowing smile. Everygirlknew what that smile could only mean.
---
Author's Notes: I would have posted earlier but I had a photoshoot today. Anyway, I hope you liked this chapter. It was hard to write, I couldn't think today. REVIEW, it'll make me happy.