The Bank II
"A person often meets his destiny on the road he took to avoid it." - Jean de La Fontaine
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or the characters contained therein, they belong to Masashi Kishimoto who is kind enough to let fans write fiction. I make no profit from this nor do I intend to.
A/N: Unbeta'd. I will attempt to post every other week. I think I'm going to need to do more rewrites on the remaining chapters than in previous chapters so I can't make any guarantees.
Enjoy.
Chapter XX
Kakashi cursed the lumps in the couch as he slowly shifted himself off the uncomfortable piece of furniture. He had originally started out splitting his time between Sakura's uncomfortable couch and her bed but had ended up spending more and more time in her bed as the days had worn on. This had been the first night in a long time that he had spent entirely on the couch and it had been even less comfortable than he'd remembered.
With a muttered oath for his aching body, Kakashi slowly made his way down the hall to Sakura's room, he needed to make sure she was still sleeping peacefully. There was no reason for her not to be okay, it had only been a few hours since he had last checked in on her. But he still needed to know, to make absolutely sure.
Sakura was, as she had been the last time he'd checked, lying peacefully asleep in her bed. Before realizing it, he had wandered closer, just to make extra certain that Sakura was still okay. After standing there, resisting the urge to reach out to her for a few minutes, he turned resolutely to return to the kitchen. He needed coffee. Tsunade would be along shortly if he didn't miss his guess and he needed to be caffeinated for her visit.
As Kakashi was pouring himself a cup of freshly brewed coffee, he heard a sharp knock on the apartment door before it opened. Preparing himself, he poured a second mug of coffee with a dash of cream and went to greet the village's top medic.
"Morning, Kakashi," she addressed him as she handily took the mug of coffee on her way past him, heading directly to Sakura's room without any other comments.
Uncertain what she expected him to do, he followed several steps behind. Upon reaching Sakura's bedroom, Tsunade opened the door, entered the room, and shut the door behind her.
Brought up short by the closed door, Kakashi sighed and turned his footsteps back toward the kitchen with thoughts of making a shopping list. He would send whoever was next on Sakura's care schedule out on the errand so he could stay with Sakura.
Half an hour later, Tsunade emerged from Sakura's room to find Kakashi pacing in the living room. Keeping a smile to herself, she silently held out her empty coffee mug.
Obligingly, Kakashi took it with him into the kitchen, Tsunade following along behind.
Once her mug had been replenished and she had taken a good long sip, Tsunade sighed, Kakashi had learned to make one mean cup of coffee.
"Sakura will be just fine. I re-upped her pain meds and have opted to keep her sedated for the time being. Looks like the strain of yesterday combined with the overexertion of standing for so long got to her." She shot him a look.
Kakashi had the grace to duck his head a little – he knew he should have intervened sooner even though Sakura had not asked him to. To those who knew Sakura well, there had been a few very slight signs that she was fading.
Tsunade continued upon noting his slight sign of culpability.
"Standing for so long put too much strain on Sakura's still healing internal injuries. Things just shifted a bit out of place as a few of her internal lacerations reopened under the strain of standing. She probably didn't notice until she started moving again. Fortunately, now that everything is back as it belongs, she'll be back on track."
Kakashi let out a long sigh of relief, unaware that he had even been holding his breath in the first place.
"But, I had to reopen and reset more of her wounds in order to make sure everything would heal properly."
"What?"
"It's nothing terrible – just a setback. She'll be fine. Just needs more time to heal, is all." Tsunade was unable to suppress a sigh. "She's nearly back at square one though, so you'll have to be extra careful with her. Any and all movements need to be slow and careful and she should not be up and on her feet unsupervised nor for any extended lengths of time. Any sudden movements could be disastrous, could reopen the work I've done today to keep everything stable while she heals."
He nodded. Though the treatment had been somewhat unexpected, the explanation made sense in conjunction with Minako's comments. Regardless, the end result was pretty much as he'd expected.
She eyed him for a moment.
"Are you still going to be around?"
Unwilling to tip his hand, though knowing that he likely already had, Kakashi shrugged.
"I've nowhere else to be. Might as well continue to stay here and keep an eye on her."
Tsunade snorted. They both knew he was laying it on a bit thick. He'd be there no matter what, even if he did have other things he should be doing.
"Right, anyway, she needs to stay strictly in bed for at least the next week, possibly the next two. After that, we can re-evaluate. If things are where they need to be, she'll be able to get up and about a bit on her own again. She still won't be where she was when you returned but she'll be better than bed rest."
Kakashi nodded, absently bringing a hand up to his neck to rub at the soreness. He'd hoped that Sakura wouldn't be confined to bed for too long. He wasn't sure when he could start sharing her bed with her but guessed that he wouldn't be allowed back in bed until Sakura was off bed rest at the very earliest.
Tsunade, examined him from the side of her eye, suddenly remembering how uncomfortable Sakura's couch could be.
"It will be okay for her to share her bed in a few days," she paused for a moment, wondering if he'd be able to keep his hands to himself, and hastily revised her opinion, "No make that a week. So long as you're careful, she should be okay to share with you in a week."
Kakashi felt his cheeks tint and hastily glanced away – occupying himself with pouring more coffee for both of them.
Tsunade laughed, pleased that she had correctly pegged the cause of Kakashi's stiff muscles, and decided not to further acknowledge Kakashi's slip. It was only too obvious that he would be hanging around Sakura for the foreseeable future – no need to bring his attention to that fact.
Sakura slowly woke, feeling groggy and tired. Opening her eyes proved to be a bit more painful than she wanted to deal with so she closed them again. Shaking her head slightly, she tried to clear the cobwebs. When it didn't work, she realized that she had likely been sedated. At least, she'd noted that she was back in her own bed in her apartment. After a moment of just lying there, she also realized that she wasn't feeling any pain. Painkillers. They had definitely given her some of the heavy-duty ones. She must have had a set-back, she'd graduated from the really strong stuff weeks ago.
After a few more minutes ticked by Sakura realized that she would have to open her eyes to try and see what she could. Clearly, whatever they'd given her to let her sleep had worn off.
Cracking her eyes again she took a look around, noting that the pain wasn't nearly as bad as her eyes adjusted to the light. Knowing that she shouldn't move much, or at all, if at all possible, she took a quick glance around her room. To her left, on her nightstand, she found a glass of water – something she knew she definitely couldn't drink without help – and a small brass bell. Sakura sighed. She knew that bell all too well and had hoped that she had graduated from using it.
Irritated with herself she ignored the bell for a moment, instead, trying to remember what had happened. After a few moments of pondering, all she could distinctly remember was going to the Memorial Service and Name Ceremony with Kakashi and Itsuki… after that, she couldn't seem to remember much.
With a sigh, Sakura gave in and cautiously extended her left hand out to the bell. Someone would be in her apartment, likely they'd made shifts again, and she should let them know that she was awake.
Kakashi heard a faint metallic sound from Sakura's room followed by a dull thud. Immediately alert he shot up from his seat on her couch, the thing was comfortable for sitting, and rushed to Sakura's room, almost afraid of what he would find.
Hurriedly he threw open the door to find Sakura awake, her right arm covering her eyes, and the left one still extended as if to try and ring her bell. Immediately Kakashi heaved a silent sigh of relief.
"Coordination not quite there yet?" he asked, humor covering his sense of immense relief, as he made his way slowly to her bedside, bending over to retrieve her bell and place it much closer to her on the nightstand.
"Ugh," she grunted as she removed her arm from her eyes. "Kakashi?" she asked as she realized with whom she was speaking. "Wha-what are you doing here?"
"Keeping an eye on you, and as it so happens, it would appear that you need it."
She couldn't prevent the slight chuckle and was immediately sorry as the movement caused her pain, which she knew must be excruciating considering the strength of painkillers she likely had in her system.
Seeing her wince of pain, Kakashi couldn't help but move a little closer, unable to do anything else.
"Are you in pain?"
She exhaled slowly.
"Just a little, I don't think it signals that I need more meds though – just that I shouldn't have moved."
Feeling anxious, but unable to voice his concerns properly, he just nodded.
"You're to let me know as soon as they start to wear off. Tsunade gave me some pills if you need them. Otherwise, the next medic scheduled to stop by can probably do something for you if you need it."
She nodded slowly.
"What happened?"
"What do you remember?"
"I… I remember going to the Memorial. I remember fighting with Itsuki…" Sakura frowned. "I don't actually remember the Memorial Service and Name Ceremony…"
"You stood for the whole thing, and then stayed to catch up with your teammates for another half hour or so."
Realization of what had probably happened dawned on her.
"Oh…"
He nodded, knowing he didn't need to elaborate any further.
"Oh, is right."
Sakura sighed.
"It's not so bad, I'd already asked Minako to come by after the Memorial Service and Name Ceremony – I knew you'd overdo it – I just didn't realize how badly you'd overdo it."
She inhaled to yell at him but closed her mouth after realizing that she lacked the energy and that even if she had had the energy, the act of yelling would likely only hurt her even more. So her irritation at his – correct – assumption that she would overdo it flared but passed quickly. Sakura knew that he was right and she was lucky for him having had that much foresight.
"Thanks…"
"Tsunade came by yesterday morning to see to whatever Minako couldn't do herself."
"I see."
"She said she had to put you back nearly to square one in order to set things right again."
Sakura couldn't stifle the groan, she didn't want to be stuck in bed for an extended length of time again.
Kakashi chuckled, easily guessing what she was thinking.
"It's not that bad."
She glared at him.
He pulled a lavender book from his pocket and brandished it, thankful that he had been able to persuade one of Sakura's scheduled caregivers to make a detour to the bookstore where he already had a copy on hold.
"See, I have here the sequel to The Tea Shop parody book. You can start it once you finish re-reading that dreadful period piece you love so much."
Despite the pain it caused, Sakura was unable to prevent a very slight chuckle. Their taste in romance novels was mostly the same with only a few notable exceptions, the novel she was currently re-reading being one.
"You have your Icha Icha, I have my historical romances," she stated archly.
Seeing that as intended, Sakura had perked up a bit, Kakashi chuckled.
"Touché." He eyed her for a moment before deciding that though her outlook had improved a bit, she could still use something else to look forward to. "The last time I was at the bookstore I heard that there is a new series by an author who is friends with the author of The Coffee Shop. Of course, I ordered that one as well, it should be here at the end of next week."
"Really?" Sakura raised a skeptical eyebrow. "What's that one called?"
Kakashi grinned, unable to suppress his amusement.
"It's so very originally titled, The Book Shop."
"What?"
Kakashi laughed.
"It's meta – it's about the owner of a book shop that sells ridiculously popular romance novels with incredibly improbable plots."
"Seriously?"
"Yup."
"What kind of romantic lead would that book have?"
"I have no idea but will let you read it first when it comes in, so you'll have to tell me."
She snorted, wincing at the fare of pain.
"Well, on one condition."
"Which would be?"
"No spoilers!"
Tsunade dismissed the temporary aide with a weary gesture, Sakura's latest setback had made hiring someone to fill in for her a necessity. It had been a long day and from the pile of paperwork she still had in her inbox, she could see that she wouldn't be calling it quits for the evening any time soon.
Just as she was eyeing the stack of paperwork, assessing what would be the easiest thing to tackle next, a firm but somehow still deferential knock interrupted her thoughts. Tsunade kept a string of curses to herself.
"Come in!" she called through clenched teeth, doing her best not to let the invective she would rather have used slip. Tsunade knew that would only cause more trouble in the long run.
Yui carefully entered the office, gliding in as gracefully as ever.
"Evening, Yui."
"The Council sends their greetings, my Lady." Yui bowed elegantly.
Tsunade eyed Yui's empty hands and grimaced.
"I don't see a scroll today."
"No, my Lady. The Council has sent me to express a few concerns regarding-"
Having a good idea of what might be coming, no paper trail was enough to tip her off, and finally having had enough, Tsunade interrupted Yui.
"If this is about what I think it's about, I don't want to hear it!"
Taken aback at the sudden exclamation, Yui actually took a step back.
"Excuse me, my Lady?" she asked with some confusion. This was not the first time the Hokage had exploded at her. However, the explosions usually happened after she'd brought up the Council's concerns.
Tsunade slammed a fist down on her desk, sending pens and paperwork of various types flying.
"I've had enough about it from them!"
"But, surely, my Lady-" Yui tried placatingly.
Tsunade shook her head and raised a hand, she was done.
"I should have said this much sooner. If it's about Kakashi you can turn right around and go back to the Council. Tell them that they need to butt out and let nature take its course!"
"My Lady-" Yui tried one last time.
"I'll hear no more about it! And that's final! "
"So, starting tomorrow you should be okay to get up and about a bit on your own."
Sakura nodded, she'd been dying for the good news, though a part of her was slightly disappointed. Surprisingly enough, Kakashi had stayed with her while she was unable to get out of bed alone. She was fairly certain that he was thoroughly sick of hanging around and was likely looking for the first opportunity to make a break for it. He had, after all, rushed out as soon as Tsunade appeared for her check-up. He must have been going stir-crazy spending so much time cooped up in her apartment with her. Sakura had to suppress a sigh, it had been nice while it lasted and she was lucky to have had Kakashi stick around as long as he had. But, like all good things, it would eventually have to come to an end.
The cat would need some time to himself after spending so much time in her company.
"Sakura?" Tsunade asked, sensing that she had lost Sakura's attention.
Hastily Sakura refocused her attention, ignoring a faint tint of color that spread across her cheeks.
"Oh, er, yes. Sorry."
Tsunade eyed her speculatively.
"I would have thought that you would be more excited about the prospect of finally leaving your bed on your own again."
Sakura shook her head slightly.
"Yes, sorry, I am. I was just thinking, is all."
Suppressing a smirk, Tsunade was fairly certain that she knew what Sakura was thinking about, she changed the subject.
"So, what's this I hear about your being married?"
Sakura felt the color drain from her face as her jaw dropped.
Tsunade laughed at her reaction.
"Relax. I know it's not true. People are just speculating on Kakashi's most recent behavior, I'm sure. He's always been something of an odd sock. Spending so much time with you must have thrown the local gossips for a loop. Now they're stretching for a possible reason for him suddenly making himself a part of a pair."
Sakura shook her head and finally managed to close her mouth.
"I-I…" she swallowed and tried to better gather herself to continue. "Well… Not technically, anyway."
Tsunade, who had absently raised her glass of water to take a sip almost spit it out.
"What?!"
Sakura felt her cheeks heat.
"I never got around to filing the paperwork."
Eyes wide, Tsunade repeated her question, "what?!"
Sakura averted her eyes, uncertain why this was coming up now.
"When I was pregnant…" she trailed off, suddenly needing a moment – she didn't like to think about what could have been. Shaking her head Sakura continued. "Well, Kakashi wanted me to have options."
Tsunade raised a surprised eyebrow.
"Options?"
Sakura nodded.
"He wanted to make sure I could hold him legally responsible… if that's what I wanted."
"Really?" Tsunade asked with considerable surprise. "Kakashi?"
Sakura nodded again.
"I intended on filing the paperwork, I-I think he wanted me to…"
Tsunade nodded slowly, it made sense of a sort… Kakashi sense at least.
"I see." She thought for a moment. "Where is that paperwork now?"
Sakura shrugged.
"I left it on my desk after… I wanted Kakashi to have the chance to take it back... if that's what he wanted. But, he left it there. It's been there ever since."
Tsunade nodded slowly, a few more pieces regarding Kakashi's miraculous return clicking into place. Sakura's explanation seemed more or less logical but she hadn't seen any papers on the desk.
"Well, it isn't there now."
Sakura thought for a moment before the vague memory of a conversation with Minako surfaced.
"Oh, that's right. Minako found it while on her first home visit after… well, she found it and put it away for me."
Tsunade nodded, which likely accounted for the most recent rumor circulating through the hospital. Someone else must have seen the paperwork first. Though why it had taken so long for the rumor to start she couldn't say. Tsunade could only assume that Kakashi's recent unusual behavior had likely caused medics to wonder and someone to remember seeing the paperwork.
Not wanting to trouble Sakura with the current gossip going around Tsunade decided to change the topic. No one would be foolish enough to bring it up with her and it would be another two months at least, probably three if she didn't have help with the stairs, before Sakura would be up and out of her apartment on her own. By then, Tsunade was sure that there would be something else occupying the idle tongues of Konoha. No need to worry about it now.
"Once you start getting out of bed again, I don't want you getting overambitious." She eyed Sakura. "No standing still for long periods of time."
Feeling her cheeks tint again, Sakura ducked her head a little. She was well aware that it was all her own fault for not realizing what was happening. Or, more likely, it was her fault for not using the wheelchair that had been provided. If she had, she wouldn't have had things go sideways.
"Good." Tsunade patted Sakura's legs absently as she pushed herself up from the bed.
"I'm sure Kakashi should be back momentarily. Until then, you have your bell and your button?"
Sakura nodded and raised a hand to show the button strapped to her wrist – Kakashi had insisted that she wear the button at all times so it couldn't be misplaced – and pointed to the bell within easy reach.
"Good. I'm off back to the hospital. You know the drill, take it slow and ask for help when you need it – if you're uncertain about it, you need help. I'll be out of town at a conference next week so try not to get yourself into any trouble while I'm away."
"Thanks." Sakura hesitated for a moment before bringing up a topic she'd been afraid to broach. "Er, about Kakashi…"
Tsunade turned, surprise clearly written across her face.
"What about Kakashi?"
"His, er, his schedule? That, that hasn't been changed, has it?" Sakura paused before continuing, "Because of me?"
Tsunade frowned faintly and shook her head, wondering where this had come from.
"What's this about?"
"Kakashi. He's been here, with me, this whole time. Since he came back he hasn't been sent back out. He hasn't even picked up a shift of guard duty." Sakura frowned. "He hasn't been sidelined because of me, has he?"
Surprised that she would think to ask about it, Tsunade smiled and shook her head.
"No, not at all."
Sakura knit her brows together, allowing her frown to deepen.
"But, he hasn't been reassigned or sent out on another mission since his return. He's too good at his job and the village is too short on skilled shinobi for there to be no need of his services…"
"No… No, he hasn't been sent back out..." Tsunade responded slowly, trying to sort out the best way to handle the conversation.
"Because?"
She looked more carefully at Sakura.
"You haven't had a chance to speak to Kakashi about this yourself?"
Sakura averted her eyes quickly.
"No. I didn't like to ask."
Tsunade raised her eyebrow in question and let the silence stretch out.
Feeling uncomfortable in the silence as it expanded between them Sakura felt compelled to fill it.
"I figured that asking him was the surest way to send him running. The moment I assumed he would be around would be the moment he wasn't. You know how he is."
"So, you haven't spoken to him about it at all?" Tsunade asked with some disbelief – it was too important of a conversation for them not to have had.
Sakura shook her head, well aware that she should have pinned Kakashi down and asked him about it weeks ago.
"Do you know about his last mission?"
Sakura nodded slowly, she didn't like to think about it. Having had Kakashi around all the time made it harder for her to cope with the fact that he would eventually start taking on other suicide missions. And that one day, one of those missions would live up to its classification.
It had been one thing when he occasionally showed up for some quality time with her while she worked in her office or the occasional cup of coffee. It had become quite another when he'd started hanging around, and so much more, on a regular basis. And, yet still another, now that he'd been more or less living with her. After having had him around nearly all the time… coping with his choices would only become that much more difficult once he started going back out on missions again.
"I see… well, because of that last mission he has been placed on leave for the time being. As he was not expected to return, certain processes need to be followed. That's all, nothing catastrophic."
Sakura refocused her attention on Tsunade, trying to parse Kakashi's situation. Clearly, there was something she was missing. What Tsunade was saying, didn't make sense with all the information she had. That Tsunade wasn't giving her that missing piece of information probably meant that it was something Kakashi needed to tell her himself.
"So… he's in a sort of bureaucratic Limbo?" she asked, trying not to think too hard about the fact that there was something Kakashi wasn't telling her.
Tsunade frowned, tilting her head to one side and then the other as she tried to find better words to explain Kakashi's situation without actually explaining it to Sakura. Sakura needed to hear it from Kakashi, not her.
"I suppose you could put it that way. Regardless of how you phrase it, his status has been suspended until further notice."
"What?!"
"It's not negative and certainly nothing to do with you if that's what you're thinking."
Sakura felt her cheeks tint and she glanced away.
Tsunade chuckled.
"Not to worry Sakura. He hasn't been grounded on your account if that's what you're afraid of – he's still free to come and go as he pleases – no orders have been issued."
Not able to make eye contact, Sakura exhaled slowly.
"Thanks."
Tsunade chuckled to herself once again as she made her way through the living room. Just as she was reaching out for the doorknob she heard a sound in Sakura's kitchen. Smiling to herself she turned and backtracked to intercept the man currently rummaging around Sakura's kitchen – likely thinking to start a pot of tea from the looks of it.
"Kakashi," she greeted him as he rooted around in Sakura's cabinets, her keen eyes caught sight of a pair of fancy cake boxes sitting on the counter.
Unsurprised, he turned to greet her.
"Evening, Tsunade. Cup of tea? I'm making decaf. Or, would you like a fruit tart? I'm afraid I can't offer you a piece of the rainbow crepe cake," he gestured to one of the fancy pastry boxes, "though. That's for tomorrow."
She raised her eyebrows at the mention of the special cake – the waiting list for one was supposed to be miles long.
Kakashi shrugged, not liking to admit the hoops he'd jumped through to get one.
"I ordered one last week – guessed when Sakura would have the all's clear to get out of bed on her own again. Will be a nice surprise for her when she makes it to the kitchen tomorrow-" he stopped abruptly. "That is, of course, if she's cleared to get out of bed tomorrow?"
Keeping a smile to herself, Tsunade shook her head.
"No thanks to the tea and tart. I appreciate the offer though." She waved her hand dismissively, returning to the more important topic at hand. "Don't worry, she can get out of bed tomorrow so long as she goes slow and is very careful."
He observed that she was not taking her leave nor was she taking a seat to join him.
"Something I can do for you then?"
"Two things."
Surprised Kakashi raised an eyebrow, he hadn't actually thought that there would be anything.
"What do you need then?"
"Rumors are circulating through the hospital."
"Yes?" He turned back to the cabinet, once again looking for the particular tea he wanted. "There are always rumors at the hospital."
"Saying that Sakura is married."
He fumbled the canister of loose tea he had finally located and was bringing down from the cabinet.
"Oh, really?"
She snorted.
"Yes, really. Sakura doesn't know the extent, though I did ask her about it."
"What do you need from me then?"
"I just wanted to make you aware of those rumors – I want you to think about your reaction to this if it should come out and if someone is foolish enough to bring those rumors up to Sakura."
"I see… Is there a husband named in these rumors?"
"You don't need to ask about the source?"
Kakashi sighed.
"Minako mentioned to me that she had seen the paperwork on her first home visit for Sakura and had filed it away out of sight. I'm guessing that she was not the first one here to treat Sakura when she was originally released from the hospital."
Tsunade nodded, it made sense.
"No one is named as the husband from what I've heard. However, it wouldn't take a genius to leap to the conclusion that it was you."
Surprised, he stopped filling the tea infuser to glance up at Tsunade.
"What?"
She snorted.
"Even with your reputation, your most recent behavior has not gone unnoticed."
Letting out a slow breath, he returned his attention to making the tea.
"The second thing?"
"You haven't spoken to Sakura about your plans or your future."
Setting the kettle on to boil – the teapot now set to go for when the hot water was ready – he returned his full attention to Tsunade.
"So? Why does that matter?"
"Sakura is afraid to ask – she thinks you'll disappear if she does."
He raised his eyebrows in surprise.
"Why would she think that?"
"Come on Kakashi, you're a tough man to nail down to make any sort of future plans. Hell, that Sakura has never even tried to with you is probably one of the reasons why you keep going back to her. You come and go as you please most of the time as it is – apparently Sakura is more or less okay with that... Well, she's learned to cope with it at any rate."
Frowning he nodded.
"Okay, point taken. Why is that an issue now?"
"Sakura thought your mission status had been restricted because of her – and was afraid you might start to resent her for it. She doesn't know that you're due to be retired or semi-retired" she waved a hand in irritation, "Whatever it is that we decide you'll be at any rate. Don't you think that should be something you should at least mention to her?"
Kakashi opened his mouth to reply before closing it, realizing that he didn't have a response.
Tsunade nodded to herself, she hadn't expected an answer.
"Think about it Kakashi. Sakura needs to know. One way or the other she's going to find out and it will be far better coming from you than someone else. I did some fancy footwork to avoid spilling the beans but not everyone else will."
Wisdom imparted, Tsunade turned on her heel and made her way to Sakura's apartment door and took her exit, secure in the knowledge that she had planted some fairly important seeds in Kakashi's mind.
Kumiko glanced up just in time to see an obviously irritated Itsuki bearing down on her. Fed up, she'd been looking forward to a nice peaceful break after a very hectic morning. She was supposed to have had the day off to go to the spa, a more than welcome break from dealing with Itsuki to her mind. Instead, she had been called in very early at the last minute that morning.
Before he could open his mouth to start complaining, Kumiko opened hers to preempt him.
"Itsuki – if it's about Ms. Haruno and Mr. Hatake, I don't want to hear it," she stated calmly but firmly.
Surprised he paused just before pulling out the chair across from Kumiko.
"What?"
"If whatever has set you off this time has anything to do with Ms. Haruno or Mr. Hatake, I don't want to hear it."
"But-"
"I've had enough! If you don't have anything better to discuss, go find somewhere else to vent your spleen!" She hesitated a moment before deciding she may as well tell him what everyone else already knew, "In fact, go find someone else to lavish your romantic attentions on! Ms. Haruno isn't interested and never will be. She's practically married to Mr. Hatake anyway. You don't even factor into the equation!"
"Married?" Itsuki asked in disbelief, this was the first he was hearing of it, his ever-present wad of gum going unchewed as his mind reeled at the statement.
"If they're not, they might as well be!" Kumiko shot back spitefully. No one really believed it but she didn't have to tell Itsuki that. Maybe now he'd leave both Ms. Haruno and herself alone. "There's no hope for you, go find someone else!"
"Married?" he repeated in shock, once again starting to chew his gum – a hand automatically dipping into a pocket for another piece.
Kumiko rolled her eyes, of course he'd focus on that and still manage not to listen. How he'd been able to avoid hearing the rumor she couldn't even imagine. It was the talk of the whole hospital, had been for the past few weeks. Then again, given his reaction, it was entirely likely that no one had wanted to deal with the consequences of telling him.
"Rumor has it that they are. And frankly, if they're not… From what I've heard… I'm sure they will be soon." She shrugged, there was nothing else to be said on the matter as far as she was concerned.
"Married?!"
"Nothing you can do will change it – cut line, go fishing elsewhere." Kumiko paused in thought for a moment before adding, "And, change your bait while you're at it!"
Ire expressed, Kumiko pushed herself up from the table and stalked out of the cafeteria. She'd bribe her cover to stay just a bit longer and then go grab a cup of tea from the café across the street. Anything to avoid Itsuki for the rest of the day.
"It's fine Kakashi. I'm fine. Just go." Sakura eyed him in his most formal ANBU uniform, the first time he'd donned it since the Memorial Service and Name Ceremony at the Memorial, and sighed. "You're over two hours late now."
He shrugged and flipped another page of his book.
"Kakashi, you don't get all dressed up in your full formal ANBU gear for no reason. I know you have a meeting today. And, judging by what you're wearing it's an important one."
He shrugged again and flipped yet another page.
Sighing loudly, she tried one last time, "Come on, Kakashi, just go. Whoever is on the schedule for this morning is simply running late. I'm fine. I got out of bed and got myself dressed and to the kitchen all by myself. I'm now comfortably settled at the table with the paper and the second The Tea Shop novel. I have no intention of moving any time soon. So, please, just go. Whatever it is that you're missing has to be important for you to be all dressed up like that."
Kakashi sighed, knowing she was right but just not quite able to leave without having someone there to stay with Sakura. She'd been up and out of bed on her own for a little over a week now and had been doing very well according to the various medics who stopped by the check on her progress. There really was no need for him to stay. And, yet, for some reason, he still couldn't quite bring himself to leave.
"Sakura, I-" he started before being abruptly interrupted by a sharp rap on Sakura's balcony door.
Without waiting for a response, the black and gray-clad ANBU opened the sliding glass door and entered, two more following silently behind.
Startled, Sakura shifted her glance between the three ANBU and then Kakashi.
"I'm guessing they're here for you?" she asked feeling somewhat nonplussed – the meeting Kakashi had been blowing off must be far more important than she'd guessed for them to have actually sent people out after him.
Stifling a sigh, Kakashi raised his mask and then lowered his porcelain mask as he rose to his feet.
"I'll be back."
"I'll be here," she responded automatically as she watched him take his leave via her balcony door – the three ANBU following silently in his wake. After a moment, a slight smile spread its way across her lips – that was the first time he'd ever gone out of his way to say he would return to her.
Sakura glanced up from the paper, startled at the sudden bang of her apartment door opening and then slamming shut again, followed by angry stomping.
Absolutely furious, Itsuki stormed into the kitchen, face red and pinched in anger.
"You went and married him?!" he yelled without preamble.
Shocked Sakura just sat and stared while Itsuki continued to rant.
"How could you go and do such a stupid thing! And to that lazy no good perverted old man no less!"
Still too surprised to respond Sakura continued to watch Itsuki as he proceeded to yell, pacing up and down the length of her kitchen, gum wrappers flying from his pockets as he moved.
"He can't give you what you need! He's just going to ruin your life by getting himself killed on his next mission! Of all the stupid foolish things you could have done! He's not the man for you! He can't be! Never could be! He's never going to be able to give you what you need! What you deserve! He's incapable! He's a cold-hearted killer hell-bent on his own destruction!" Itsuki broke off, starting to run out of both breath and steam.
Sakura, finally recovered from Itsuki's dramatic entrance, took this moment to interject a question.
"What are you talking about?" she asked as calmly as she could, her anger held tightly in check. She had a fair idea but wanted to make him actually spell it out for her.
Still pacing restlessly up and down the length of the kitchen, Itsuki had opened his mouth to start yelling again but paused at Sakura's icy question. Hastily he closed it before turning to face her in confusion.
"What?"
"What are you talking about Itsuki?" she asked quietly but with her ire adding an edge to her voice.
"What do you mean, what am I talking about?" he asked as he started pacing again, unable to face the fact that she hadn't immediately denied his accusation and his emotions starting to once again get the better of him.
She crossed her arms over her chest and calmly posed her question again.
"What. Are. You. Talking. About?"
Pulling on his already fraying courage, Itsuki once again stopped in his tracks and turned to look her in the eye.
"You got married! To that lazy no good perverted old man who can't give you what you deserve no less! He's just going to go out and die, you know, leaving you all alone. He'll never give you the children you want. Or, make sure you don't work too hard. He won't even be around long enough to support you in your career so you can have both career and children!"
Furious, Sakura let the frown she'd been suppressing surface, knowing that any other show of temper would likely only hurt her more than Itsuki – Kakashi had shown her that the last time Itsuki had crossed a line in her kitchen.
"What business is it of yours if I've gotten married or not? We're not dating. And, we're not going to be dating – we tried that, remember? Didn't work out. " She held his eyes for a silent moment.
Itsuki ducked his head, unable to deny the fact that they had indeed dated, briefly, and Sakura had very definitively ended things.
Sakura nodded to herself, seeing that he indeed remembered.
"We didn't work out. We're not going to get back together. So, what possible business of yours is my current love life?"
Fear suddenly forced Itsuki to come back to himself as he realized what he had done. The last thing he remembered was going to complain to Kumiko after hearing some troubling rumors about Mr. Hatake retiring. This was just before he needed to leave the hospital to do his scheduled wellness check on Sakura. He had faint memories of Kumiko rebuffing him before he even got a word out, telling him that Sakura was married. Then he was pacing around the park across from her apartment – waiting, trying to get his feelings under control. Now he found himself in Sakura's kitchen, berating her about her life choices. All the color drained from his face, he had said far more than he had any right to and it was much too late to do anything other than damage control.
"Well… that is to say… Uh…" He started and stumbled to a halt a few times before stopping entirely. There was no way out of the hole he had dug.
"Well?" Sakura asked, her voice artic with angry undertones.
Making an effort to respond, he decided to try for a half-truth.
"I heard you were married… I was concerned..."
"Well, what you heard doesn't matter – it's none of your business." Thoughts of Tsunade's question in regard to her possibly being married floated through her mind.
Finally pulling himself together, Itsuki shook his head a bit.
"I wouldn't have believed it, or been nearly as concerned if you didn't spend so much time with him, you know."
Sakura shrugged, doing her best to try and let her anger go… and failing.
"Kakashi comes and goes as he pleases."
"Yeah, he sure does. Late most of the time too." Itsuki huffed, unable to keep the thought to himself.
Sakura narrowed her eyes.
"What do you mean by that?"
"He just had to be escorted away by ANBU to go to his latest meeting. The lazy man can't be bothered to keep important appointments! I can only imagine how he copes with the less important ones – never mind those involving a romantic partner… can only be worse, I'm sure."
"Kakashi was waiting for my scheduled medic visit – he didn't want to leave me alone just yet…" she trailed off as it occurred to her that he had been waiting on Itsuki, who knew that Kakashi was late to what was obviously an important meeting. All the medics knew that Kakashi would usually schedule his meetings and appointments whenever Sakura had a check-up – so Sakura was never alone too long during the day. "You were waiting for him to leave, weren't you?"
Itsuki's eyes widened as he realized he'd only managed to make things worse.
"What! No! Of course not! That's silly!" He backed up a few steps, holding his hands up in front of himself defensively.
His denial was all Sakura needed, her anger exploded.
"Get out."
"What?"
"Get out," she growled. "I can't deal with you anymore. Just leave. Don't come back."
"Sakura-"
"Out!" Sakura roared, knowing it would hurt and not caring. It was past time for Itsuki to leave.
Sensing that he wouldn't win Sakura's favor back by trying to argue with her any further, Itsuki silently and hastily complied.
Kakashi felt his steps speeding up of their own accord. He had intended on stopping by one of the coffee shops that Sakura favored, to pick up either some coffee or tea for her – depending on where his feet took him. Since she hadn't had either for a few weeks, he had thought it would make a nice treat. But for some reason, his feet didn't seem to want to take him to either one of the two rival shops. Instead, they were taking him directly back to Sakura's apartment.
He had to shrug, the meeting had gone on for far longer than he'd expected, a whole three hours to basically tell him that a decision had not yet been made. Unsurprising considering that they'd called him in while Tsunade was out of the village. As ANBU the Hokage was the only one who could ultimately decide his future – others could advise or offer opinions, but the final decision would have to rest with Tsunade.
So, why they had called the meeting in the first place, he couldn't quite guess. Or, rather, he could, and he wasn't certain what to make of it – he'd never wanted the job and he'd never been particularly shy about voicing that particular opinion. But, then again, he'd never wanted to be a genin sensei either – that turned out to be a job he couldn't refuse either. Regardless of if he wanted it or not, the job in question was thankfully still occupied at present so not something he had to worry about too much… at least, not yet.
Finally, Sakura's apartment building came into view. Without his noticing, his footsteps sped up even more. Quickly, he hopped and climbed his way up to her balcony. This time he had the key and made quick work of the lock.
Kakashi stopped cold in his tracks upon entering the kitchen. Sakura's chair was upturned and there was blood on the kitchen floor. A lot of blood. Too much blood. A quick glance around was enough for him to guess what had happened. There were footprints, smudges, and drag marks with footprints continuing back through the living area and out of the apartment door.
Without stopping to ponder the scene any further, he turned and exited Sakura's apartment, barely remembering to lock the balcony slider behind him.
Several nearly frantic minutes of travel, his heart in his throat, brought Kakashi to the hospital. Suddenly feeling uncertain, he'd never had to actually use the hospital lobby before, and he didn't like his chances with the arduous Kumiko standing guard at reception. Pushing his ceramic mask up and to the side, he slowly approached – adrenaline still pumping and the icy hand of fear clutching at his stomach.
Doing his best to curb his anxiety, Kakashi stopped in front of the desk.
"I'd like to see Sakura."
Kumiko glanced up from her paperwork, the color draining slightly from her face upon seeing Kakashi.
"M-Mr. Hatake. N-nice to see you again."
Ignoring her attempt to make polite social small talk, Kakashi shook his head slightly.
"Sakura, where is she? Is she okay?" He couldn't prevent himself from bouncing a little on the balls of his feet. "I need to see her. Now."
Swallowing, hard, Kumiko shook her head slightly.
"I-I'm sorry Mr. Hatake."
Kakashi's heart sank sharply, in his frenzied rush to the hospital it had not occurred that Sakura may not have made it. Clearly, she'd used her emergency button. He had just assumed... Through an inhuman amount of control, he managed to keep his expression neutral as a portion of his brain reverted to a place he had thought long abandoned – a future, a second chance, without Sakura.
Kumiko continued on, knowing that she was going to have an argument on her hands no matter what she said. Fervently she wished that she hadn't been called in and had been allowed to take that spa day after all.
"You're not on Ms. Haruno's list. I can't tell you anything."
Abruptly, Kakashi returned to the present, grasping the tiny ray of hope Kumiko was extending to him – she wouldn't be concerned about Sakura's privacy if she had died, would she?
"What?"
"Ms. Haruno's list – you're not on it and you're not her medical contact. So, I can't tell you anything."
Suddenly angry, there was no way he wasn't on Sakura's list, Kakashi leaned forward across the desk.
"Of course I'm on her list – she would never bar me from any aspect of her life, she's-" he cut off abruptly and shook his head, well aware that he had nearly said something he shouldn't. "She would never try to keep me out."
Kumiko leaned back as far as she could without actually sliding her chair back.
"That may be, but the fact still remains, you're not on her list. I'm really very sorry. I can't tell you anything."
Stifling his now panicked anger, more than aware that it wouldn't gain him anything, Kakashi did his best to try and maintain an outward veneer of calm.
"Tsunade can and will override anything you may have to say on the subject."
Kumiko nodded agreeably.
"The Lady Hokage certainly can. However, she is out of the village at present." Kumiko took a deep breath, doing her best to keep her fear contained as the very dangerous man in front of her did his best to control himself. "So, I'm sorry, the list stands."
Brought up short, Kakashi thought for a moment, in his panic over Sakura he'd forgotten that Tsunade was out of the village.
"Well, who is her medical contact?" he asked, figuring he'd go ask them to let him in.
"I can't tell you that."
"Who else has access to her status right now?"
"Immediate family, her medical contact, and anyone on her list."
Kakashi shook his head. As far as he knew Sakura had no immediate family and he was sure as hell that she had not intentionally excluded him from her list. He was also fairly certain that her medical contact would almost have to be Tsunade – there was no one else. If that was the case, then they were likely in contact with her about Sakura already.
Frustrated he took a step away from the desk, paced a few steps away before returning to the desk.
"Can you at least tell me if she is still alive?"
Kakashi knew no one could stop him if he should decide to force his way in to see Sakura. However, if he did force his way in, there was no guarantee he'd be able to find her before security called in reinforcements. He was an elite shinobi and would be very hard to stop but, they would stop him. It was a hospital and even in the state he was currently in, he knew he couldn't wreak that much havoc without causing catastrophic collateral damage. No, trying to get around hospital protocol would not only not end well for him but would likely cause irreparable damage – the risk was too far too high for an uncertain reward. He would have to find another way.
Swallowing hard again, Kumiko shook her head slowly.
"I'm sorry."
Interpreting this as the worst, something snapped, and Kakashi turned on his heel and strode briskly out of the lobby. His mind already trying to make plans – or, rather, resurrecting the plans he had already made the last time he had assumed the worst.