The Rendezvous

"I really held out hope that he'd drop this habit once he became Hokage." Sai said tonelessly.

"We all walked out of the restaurant at the same time! How in the hell did he get away?" Naruto asked irritably.

"This is Kakashi we're talking about." Sauske said dryly, leaning on the outpost, arms and legs crossed, eyes closed. Sakura knew exactly where Kakashi was but wouldn't be mentioning it to her teammates. This was his first mission since the war ended. Now that Obito really was dead, there was no other place for him to be right now. Sakura exhaled then sat on the bench and stared at the sky. This was already weighing heavily on her. Orochimaru predictably causing problems years later was draining her. Why did they continually give chances to people who did not deserve them?

"Yo!" Kakashi said, leaning in Sakura's line of sight. Sakura rolled her eyes and moved from underneath his large head. Naruto was filling his lungs with enough oxygen to scold his teacher when Sakura silently stood and said "let's go" by walking out of the gates. Four slightly confused men followed her lead. At full speed, they reached Captain Yamato's hideout near Orochimaru's in about seven hours. A clone greeted them and let them in, sharing that he and the real Yamato would be trading places soon. The goal was to make it before day break. Since Kakashi ended up being an hour and a half late, at full speed they made well after the sun had risen. They all collapsed inside the house.

Seeing how exhausted they were, the clone informed them that the real Yamato would take first watch. Kakashi allowed this, planning to take over first watch after a quick nap. Their late arrival was his fault, after all. He also needed to think about what was going on with Sakura. The closer they got to the hideout, the more tense she became. She knew where he was, so it couldn't have been because he was late. So that only left one option: Sauske. She had asked him why he involved Sauske in the mission, and the answer was clear as day; he knew the most about Orochimaru and had already killed him. They all glanced over at Sakura as she dropped her pack unceremoniously on the floor, unrolled the sleeping bag she'd been using for missions since day one, then immediately fell asleep. Naruto, Sai, and Sauske slowly followed her lead. Kakashi was the last one out. Tenzou woke him 6 hours later.

"Sorry, Tenzou. I meant to wake up and take over first shift. It was my fault we had to go so hard." Kakashi knew something was up when he didn't correct the name he called him by. He simply nodded towards the front of the room, trying not to wake the others. When they reached the isolated area, Tenzou turned toward him.

"Are you and Sakura sleeping together?"

"Why would you ask me that, Tenzou?" Kakashi asked seriously.

"When I came back into the room to wake you for second shift, she was up, watching you sleep. She was also crying." Fuck, Kakashi thought. It was him.

"Sakura and I are not sleeping together, Yamato."

"Then what is going on? I've only ever seen her that upset over one guy, and he was on the other side of the room."

Kakashi sighed, then asked, "Where is she?"

"She's sweeping. She'll be back 'round in a moment."

"Get some rest, Tenzou. I'll handle this."

"Yes, Captain." The younger man went into the room with the rest of their teammates. He met Sakura as she was coming towards the door. She had been crying. She quickly pressed chakra to her eyes to remove the visible parts of her blackened mood.

"What's going on, Sakura?" She went to walk past him, but he grabbed her hand to stop her. She immediately teared up, and Kakashi looked at her in dismay. She gently took her hand from his and mouthed "later" and walked to one of the empty rooms. Kakashi continued outside to begin his shift.

Sakura sat in the corner quietly as she considered what was going on in her head. She was so angry, but for what reason? Because Orochimaru was exactly who he'd always been? Because Sauske was still an ass? Or was this about Kakashi? About the secrecy, the lying to their friends when they wanted to spend time alone rather than in group settings where they couldn't kiss or touch. Neither of them believed in public displays of affection, but she wanted the option, damnit! She was tired of hiding and couldn't figure out why. Then, it hit her. Neji. This was about Neji, and a conversation she'd had with him shortly before the war started.

"Sakura."

Sakura looked up from the chart she was completing. "Neji! What brings you to the hospital? You're not injured, are you?"

"No… I was wondering if we could talk?" Sakura tilted her head curiously at him but nodded and signaled for him to follow her to an empty examination room. It was a slow day, thankfully. She closed the door after him.

"What's going on, Neji?"

"I'm in love with Tenten."

Sakura had to catch the file she had in her hand. "I'm sorry, you're what?" Neji sighed, then ran a hand through that envy inducing hair of his.

"I'm in love with her, Sakura. I always have been. We are about to go to war, and I want to tell her, but I cannot bring myself to do so."

"Why not?"

"Because even if she returns those feelings, nothing can happen between us. Lady Hinata and Lady Hinabi are determined to change the Hyuga Clan, and Lord Hiashi is on board. That means if the Hokage agrees, I am next in line to become head of clan."

And suddenly, Sakura understood. "Which means… you'll end up with another Hyuga. Neji…" Sakura reached out and put a comforting hand on his shoulder. "If you become head of household, you can change that." But as she said that, he shook his head.

"The Elders and the Hokage may agree to end the separation of the Hyuga, but some rules will remain. If I am made head of house, I will wed and breed with another Hyuga. Tenten knows nothing of her family's background. They would never approve of us with the strength of my abilities."

Sakura's love for Sauske seemed so childish in the moment, she flinched. She was desperately in love with someone who wanted to forget she even existed. A boy who'd tried to kill her. Multiple times. "Neji. Tell her." Sakura begged. She knew Tenten. They were friends and had become closer as wartime drew near. She knew how the weapons mistress felt about the beautiful boy. Neji looked confused at Sakura's plea.

"Why? It will not go anywhere, Sakura." Sakura placed her file on the cabinet, so she wouldn't rip it to shreds. With her hands balled in her skirt and her head down she responded openly and emotionally.

"Neji. Tenten is… well, Tenten. She understands you, because you two suffer through Guy and Lee's antics together. We have been through so much shit in the past five years. We didn't have childhoods. We've been on death's doorstep since the age of 12. Now an asshole with multiple tailed beasts wants to end it all." Sakura looked up at him with tears streaming down her face and smiled. "Even if it's for a little while, be together. It will be worth it, I promise." Neji looked up at Sakura, understanding why she was telling him this.

"What if she does not… return these feelings?" Sakura laughed at that while wiping her eyes.

"Neji, you're the most intelligent one in our damn group. Do you really expect me to believe you haven't picked up that Tenten's been in love with you for years?" Sakura almost keeled over and died when she noticed Neji blushing. She started laughing again, then pushed him out of the door saying "Go Neji. Jeez." Sakura flashed back to the present when she felt Kakashi enter the room. She looked up at his solemn face and smiled. "I can't do this anymore."

Whew! That was a hard one for me. I really despise that Neji died, and I'll correct that in another story line. Let me know what you think!

-BB