Sakura stood at the threshold of Konoha, her back turned to the village. Although she had frequently gone beyond the gates past nightfall, the woods seemed particularly black tonight, ready to swallow her whole. She looked at the moon, trying to approximate the time; late. He was always late.
"Sorry," a voice behind her said. She turned to see a sheepish Kakashi, scratching his head in embarrassment. "I fell asleep."
"That's okay. Thanks for coming," she murmured, her voice not coming out right.
To her surprise, Kakashi reached for her, pulling her against the rough fabric of his vest. She instinctively pressed her cheek against him, listening for a heartbeat. For once, she appreciated the solidness of her mentor; for all of the times he hadn't been there for her, he was here now. And now was when it mattered.
"You were always my best student."
"Not really," she mumbled, squeezing her eyes shut to stop the tears.
"Favorite student, at least."
"Still not really." She smiled, knowing that this was likely the last friendly physical contact she would have in her life. She tried to engrave the feeling on her skin, the warmth, the comfort, the gentle rise and fall of the chest.
"You don't have to do this, Sakura. It isn't too late. We can talk to the council again."
"You know what happens if I don't go. What happens to... him." Sakura couldn't bring herself to say his name. She felt it belonged to moments better left in memories; his name was an incantation for calling weakness into her heart and expelling the breath from her lungs. It was the title of her betrayal; she felt she had no right to say it out loud, to give it to the cold, ruthless air.
"He'd hate that you're doing this."
She pulled away, knowing that if she didn't go now, she never would. "He won't know."
Kakashi sighed; he kept his hands on both of her shoulders. "I'm proud of you. This isn't just for your team. It's to keep the whole village safe."
She nodded, not sure what to say, since she wasn't sure how much of that was true. "Will I see you again?"
"Of course. I'll be around. I know how to get in touch with you."
This was her lifeline, that some part of her life was still going to exist. That there would be someone from when she was real to remind her of who she used to be, where she used to live, what she used to think was important.
"I should go," she whispered, and her hands began to tremble. Her breathing became shallow, threatening to send her into hyperventilations.
Kakashi looked at her sympathetically, and dropped his hands from her shoulders. "Just start running. And don't stop until you can't take another step."
"Take care of them," she pleaded. "Like I would. Don't let them forget about me. Don't let them forget that I love them."
"I won't," Kakashi vowed. "They wouldn't forget anyway."
"Okay. I'm going." She straightened her spine and faced the forest.
"You're doing the right thing."
She smiled at him, but said nothing. She took one last look at him, one last look at her village, and then she took a step past the threshold and did not stop. She did not look back to see if Kakashi lingered. She did not look back to see her home fading behind her. She did not look back for a long time.