Title: Pride
Author: Winter Ashby (rosweldrmr)
Disclaimer: Naruto © Masashi Kishimoto & Challenge © kakasakudrabble at LiveJournal
Rating: T
Word Count: 500 - exactly!
Summary: It was a matter of Pride for Sakura. (Sakura & Kakashi)
Authors Notes: Week 22 Theme: Pride. I'm sorry for the double posts, but when I get into the groove I just have to write. Sorry for the long lull in between posting. Hopefully it will pick up more soon.

It was a matter of pride.

She didn't want to take his hand when she fell.

She didn't want to wipe away the blood when she killed.

She didn't want to love him when she knew it was wrong.

So she pretended that she didn't.

She imagined that he was just like everyone else so could push off to the side and forget about.

She could still forget that he was a part of her life.

Because it was a matter of pride.

She hated the way she blushed when he asked her if she'd like to try out some new reading material.

She hated the way she began to sweat when she knew his eyes were on her.

She hated the way she would wake up in the middle of the night panting and clawing at her throat to release his name they way she always wanted to be able to.

She just hated him.

Because it was a matter of pride.

He was a distraction.

He distracted her from becoming a jounin.

He distracted her from living.

And she wasn't going to put up with it anymore.

Because it was a matter of pride.

She marched to his apartment, ashamed she knew the way so well and horrified to find that it fit perfectly with her lonely dreams where she woke unfulfilled and sought her own solace in a cold bath.

She knocked on the door and waited for his messy silver hair to protrude from around the corner of the wooden door so she could smash it into little splitters into his face for making her have to follow him home.

She waited…

And waited…

Until she heard rustling and muffled voices.

Then his silver hair caught the fading sunlight and she felt her heart beat increase. She forgot that she was going to punch him in the face. She forgot that she was going to make him admit that he loved her too, so she could shake her head smugly and say "I know, but this isn't meant to be."

She forgot everything.

"Ah, good evening Sakura. What can I do for you?"

"Um…" She twisted her fingers together and rubbed the ball of her foot against the smooth wooden floors of the open hall.

"Who is it, Kakashi?" A woman's voice came from somewhere beyond the door.

"It's no one, just Sakura." He tilted his head, and it was then she glimpsed the way his lips were swollen, and his clothes were rumpled and creased, and crooked.

"Kurenai-sensei?" Sakura recognized the older woman's voice and aura and felt a slanting sensation begin to curdle in her gut.

"Ah, we're a little busy Sakura. So if we could talk about what ever it is tomorrow…" His voice drifted into the background of her heart tearing into incongruent pieces.

She turned from his stupid smiling face and stupid OCCUPIED apartment and ran. She wouldn't let him see her cry.

After all, it was a matter of pride.

heartbreak I know - I'm evil.