Chapter Fourteen

The next day Sakura was walking along the streets of Konoha looking in the windows of all the shops, wondering what she could get Itachi for his upcoming birthday. Though he always made a point of not having birthday parties, Sakura wanted to throw one for him just before they left for the Akatsuki. It was also meant to be like a good-bye party for them, though only they and Kakashi would know that. Sakura sighed as she remembered that they weren't going to be here for her birthday. She quickly pasted on a smile as Ino ran up to her waving.

"Sakura! Don't see you out and about to much anymore."

"I'm trying to find a birthday present for Itachi. Got any ideas?" Sakura asked as she hugged her friend.

Ino shook her head, "Sorry I can't help you there. Throwing a party for the party hater?"

"I always do. I don't care if he doesn't like them I do, so he just has to live with that." Sakura looked around her at the shops and saw a set of kunai, and kanata. She new Itachi needed to replace some of the ones he broke while training. "Think he'd like those?"

Ino spied what Sakura was looking at and almost laughed out load. "Are you kidding me!? You're married to this guy and all you can think of is a new set of weapons!?"

"What!? It's not like he ever expressed any type of present that he wants."

"Touché." Ino said wiping a tear from the corner of her eye. "Oh and you might want to go and talk to Kakashi, he's training the hell out of the jounin training yard."

"What!? Why didn't you say so before?" Sakura almost shouted as she started to make her way as fast as possible to the training yard, before she stopped turned around gave Ino a hug and said "Sorry, it's isn't your fault."

"I know, you're moody. All pregnant women are. Now go, I think Kakashi really needs you right now, you're the only one he talks to."

"Bye."

"Jamata."

Sakura made her way to where she found Kakashi… crying. He was kneeling on the floor tears running down his cheeks drenching his mask. His head band was pulled up and Sakura could see the blood on his hands, where he'd spilt the skin on his knuckles. She could tell he had broken a few fingers. Sakura quickly made her way down the steps and place a shaking hand on Kakashi's shoulder. He didn't flinch or jump, he just calmly turned his head around and looked into her eyes.

"Oh Kakashi," Sakura sighed as she feel to her knees and pulled Kakashi into an embrace. She hugged him around the shoulders as he buried his face into her shoulder. She just let him cry thing of all the times she had cried on his shoulder, she knew this was all she could do for him at the moment. Soon she'll heal his wounds and then she'd ask him about why he was doing this to himself. She'd never seen him cry before, so she knew that whatever it was it was big. After awhile Kakashi pulled away from Sakura and he dried his eyes and looked at her. Sakura put one hand on Kakashi's cheek, and wiped away stray tears that he had missed. She healed the cut on his cheek and her hand never leaving his face she moved her green charka to heal his hands and knuckles. She also healed his shoulder that he had dislocated. She got a spare mask out of his pouch and pulled off his wet mask quickly replacing it with the dry one.

He didn't stop her, in fact Kakashi didn't even move, he just kept looking at her face. She was the reason why he had inflicted so much damage on himself. He knew she'd ask him why he had done this, but she could never know. But he also knew that he couldn't lie to her, she could always tell when he was lying. She could tell when anyone was lying. When she had finished healing him, she helped him to his feet and led him back to his apartment picking up his training bag on the way. He unlocked the door and they made the way inside. Sakura dumped his bad in the hallway and kicked the door shut behind her. She helped him to the couch and sat him own. Kakashi watched as Sakura went into the kitchen and made some really strong tea. She came back out after about ten minutes with a tray with two mugs of tea and some chocolate. Kakashi smiled, Sakura always knew how to cheer people up.

Sakura placed the tray on the coffee table and sat next to Kakashi, placing a mug in his hands. Taking up her mug, she had to pull down Kakashi's mask so he got the idea to drink. There was silence for five minutes before Sakura asked the blunt and obvious question.

"So why'd you do it?"

"… I don't know."

Sakura looked at him from the corner of her eye. She knew he was lying. To make him know that she knew she pulled his headband back down over his left eye. "Yes you do."

Kakashi knew he had to tell her, but how. There was more silence.

"… I was angry… confused."

"About?"

"… You?"

"… Me?"

Kakashi nodded. It was time to come clean with her. So she had chosen Itachi. He couldn't help that. Maybe if he told her, then maybe he could move on. Find someone that was right for him. Not his ex-student.

"… What about me? Still the Akatsuki thing?"

Kakashi shook his head and took another sip of his tea.

"So, what about me led you to do this?"

"… You know what Sakura."

"Kakashi don't."

"I can't help it Sakura. I don't control my heart."

"Oh Kakashi." Sakura sighed. She put her mug down and then took Kakashi's mug and placed it on the table as well. "Kakashi look at me." She said taking hold of both of his hands in hers. He did. He looked at her right in the eyes with desperation in his eye.

"Kakashi, I know that you love me, but you also know that I'm married now. Also it would never have worked. You're my ex-sensei. The whole of Konoha would be against it." Once again Sakura pulled Kakashi into a hug. His arms around her waist. "I'm sorry Kakashi. But all you could ever be to me is a friend."

"I know Sakura. I'm sorry I shouldn't have told you. But…"

"But I always force things out of you?"

Kakashi nodded into Sakura's shoulder thinking he was going to start crying again. He squeezed his eyes shut to block the tears from flooding down his cheeks, and just let himself get lost in the comfort of her arms. Sakura placed her hand on top of Kakashi's head. She knew she had to leave soon. She felt tried from healing Kakashi before and now having to keep a brave face, when all she wanted to do was to put as much distance between Kakashi and her as possible. If there was anything that scared a recently married woman more than, "I love you" from a man you weren't married to, Sakura really wanted to know what it was. She knew what Kakashi felt for her, but she had hoped he would never tell her.

So much for that hope

Shut up

We have to get out of here and soon

I know. Just be patient

Kakashi felt that Sakura was uncomfortable. Regrettably he let her go.

"You'd better go." He was a little sad but he knew she couldn't stay here after what he had just told her.

Sakura nodded. She stood up and kissed Kakashi on the forehead. She opened up the front door but before she left she called back into the apartment.

"You will find someone one day Kakashi. Someone that you love, and love's you back. And when you find that person, I'll be there with a smile and congratulate you."

Sakura then left and closed the door quietly behind her.

Back inside, Kakashi knew that now he could move on. He loved Sakura, but even if she wasn't his, she was still his friend. 'Yes' he thought. The out loud he said "Yes Sakura. I will find someone for me. Eventually."

He drank the rest of his tea and then went to find Iruka. It was time to go back out into the dating world.