Sorry for the long delay. There is so much going on right now that I get wiped out so quickly. Anyway here you go.
She had fallen asleep on his lap. He could feel her short even breaths on his neck. Her hands still firmly held his shirt and his arms continued to cradle her.
He could see her face through her pink locks. Her cheeks were a faded red from the episode before and her long eyelashes curled up from her cheeks. Her rosy parted lips captured him for a while.
Kakashi, then, turned his attention away from her to her apartment. The living room, where they were, was neat and tidy; how she always liked things. As his eyes traveled to the dinning room, which was connected to the living room, he saw the same cleanliness as the living room. His eyes caught the table with half an empty glass and a bottle of whiskey beside it.
She had been drinking, and heavily as it seemed. He turned his attention back at her. He knew that Sakura, unlike her mentor, did not drink. She had always told him that she would never put her health in such circumstances. It didn't mean she never drank, but when she did, her maximum was always two. He pondered on what would have caused her to drink so much?
"I guess that's the reason she fell asleep so quickly." The intruder spoke.
"Yeah. I think so." Kakashi turned to the dark shadow.
Yamato 's eyes met Kakashi's, but he quickly turned to Sakura. He had heard everything. As much as he had tries to convince himself that he had protected her, he had clearly failed. His once stoic expression turned sour.
"Everything was my fault. " Kakashi didn't respond; there was nothing to say. Inside, he still blamed Yamato.
"She needs help," was all Kakashi answered back.
"There must be something we can do?" We. Kakashi didn't like that word being used. He still didn't want Sakura to be next to Yamato, but he knew it wasn't for him to decide. Sakura had to be the one to push him away, but right now she wanted him in her life and he could do nothing to stop it.
"The first thing is for her to open up. She can't continue like this"
"How do you plan on doing that? Taking away someone's fear is not easy. Especially her's."
Kakashi knew that it wasn't going to be easy, but that doesn't mean he wouldn't try.
"In order to stop this fear she has to confront it." Kakashi looked at Sakura, wondering if she would even want to confront it.
It took Yamato seconds to understand what he was implying. "We can't push her either. " Yamato responded.
"By free will she won't do it either! If we want to help her we have to push her!" Kakashi retorted harshly.
"I understand that you are doing what you think would be best, but throwing her in like that is not the way to go!" Yamato answered with the same force. He would not put his head down any longer toward Kakashi. He knew better than to keep feeling sorry for himself. Now all that was left was to help Sakura.
Kakashi snickered at him. "If it weren't for Sakura I wouldn't even let you be here right now."
"You can still kick me out while she's asleep; she would never know I was here."
"I should..." He let out a loud sigh, "but we both know she needs you." Kakashi stood up from the sofa, Sakura still in his arms, and took her to bed. Yamato stayed in the living room waiting for his return.
He walked out of her room, closing the door silently. Then took his seat on the sofa once more and continued their talk.
"It's simple. I will not interfere with you anymore. She wants you beside her and I can't make her see otherwise." He meant it. He would not stop Yamato from seeing Sakura anymore. If it wasn't working before, it wouldn't work now.
"But I will set out to help her using my method."
Yamato shut his eyes. He felt like things were still the same. "Your method is not the best one. We should figure out something el.."
"I won't change my mind." Was Kakashi's only reply.
"Understand that it's not the best for her!" Yamato exclaimed. He could not comprehend how thick headed Kakashi was. Had he always been this way? He couldn't remember.
"I'm not going to argue with you again." Kakashi looked directly at his eyes. He would not back down.
Controlling his anger Yamato replied back, "This isn't a competition on who can protect Sakura better. It's for us to help her!"
"That's what I plan to do."
"Do you really think so!? Because it sounds to me that you are trying to prove something that's way overdue!"
"What the hell are you saying. This is for HER, not me."
"RIGHT, CAUSE FORCING HER TO DO SOMETHING SHE DOESN'T WANT TO DO IS THE BEST THING FOR HER!?"
"Stop bickering with me!" Kakashi was angry, but was much more controlled than Yamato. "I know what's best. Whether you are with me or not, I will follow out what I have planned."
Yamato scrutinized Kakashi. He did not know what Kakashi's method was, but he understood that it might just cause Sakura to turn back to the girl who shut men, including them, completely.
He wasn't willing to risk it.
"What is your method?"
Kakashi wasn't going to lie. He had no actual plan, but one would come, once he had the chance to ponder on it longer.
With Kakashi's silence lingering between them, there was nothing else that could be said. He had tried to stop his friend from committing a stupidity, but his attempts were in vain. And apparently so was their once held friendship. It was time for him to end his attempts to make amends with Kakashi because as much as he wanted it, Kakashi didn't.
"Please think it over or we'll be losing her again." With that Yamato left, using the shadows as his lead.
Kakashi didn't leave to his house that night. His thoughts wouldn't let him. He could no longer feel secure with the idea of leaving Sakura alone. He needed to protect her and if that meant never leaving her side, he would.
From a distance he heard her rustle through her bed. Was she waking up?
He stood, not making any sound, and walked to her room. He slightly opened the door to see her condition. She was cuddled at the furthest side of the bed looking away from him. Her legs extended away from her body, moving frantically, as if she were desperately trying to run away from something.
He moved toward her, cautious not to disturb her if she was still asleep. Before he could reach her, however, she lifted herself up from the bed using her hands. Her weariness began to show as her arms began to shake from her weight.
Kakashi dashed to her side, catching her before she fell to the side of the bed; preventing her from hitting the floor. Her face was cushioned by his chest and her hands dangled next to his body. Her eyes were dazed as she looked at him through her bangs. He could see trickles of sweat running down her neck.
He called her name, but she didn't respond. Her eyes closed once more and her head landed back on his chest. He positioned her back on the bed. He covered her with the blanket she had wrinkled with all her movement.
He sat at the edge of her bed and read 10:36 at the clock that hung on the wall. He promised himself he wouldn't be leaving her alone tonight.
12:26. A low agonizing noise could be heard from the pink haired girl. The man beside her soothed her, not caring that his sleep was interrupted. Ten minutes later she was sound asleep again.
2:47. The young girl awoke once again, this time yelling and pounding at the man who was consoling her. The man took the beatings she gave him as he wrapped his arms around her, patting her back in comfort. She feel asleep a couple minutes later with her muffled tears.
5:15. She awoke shaking all over. The older man felt her body's sudden shift and he too opened his eyes. The girl had tears running down her cheeks, but she was not, or could not, mover from her hugging position with the man next to her. The man, feeling that it was best to let her sleep alone, let her go. With that her body's abrupt stirring stilled. But this time the poor girl never found sleep.
I finished another chapter. About time, I know. Hopefully next chapter will be up very soon. Again sorry for the delay!
Thanks for reading and sticking with me!
-Zero =D