Chapter 4: The Funeral
The walk back to Sakura's house was filled with awkward silence. Kakashi glanced at Sakura a few times trying to get a reaction, but all she did was look down at the ground. The Sakura trees that they passed on the way were in full bloom. Such a shame he thought to himself, so much sadness in the beautiful spring season.
"Ano.." Sakura timidly asked, "do you think…when you have the funeral prepared, could you have my parents look peaceful?" Kakashi's lazy gaze became soft and caring. He placed a comforting hand on her shoulder.
"Sure, Sakura." She looked up at him and smiled, pulling his arm over her shoulders and nuzzling her cheek into his side for comfort as they walked. "By the way," Kakashi asked, "where am I staying?"
Sakura's eyes widened then recessed, becoming moist with tears. "You can sleep…in my parents' room." She said in broken breaths. Kakashi wished he hadn't asked seeing the expression on her face.
After about ten minutes, they reached her house. Kakashi only remembered it by the dark of night, but noticed that the house was as pink as Sakura's hair. "Home, sweet home." Kakashi sighed. Sakura walked up to the door and pulled out her keys, and opened the door slowly. She led her former sensei to his new room and showed him around the kitchen and the bathroom. He already knew where the living area was from their previous meeting. Kakashi set his bag down and began to unpack as Sakura went to her own room just across the hall. He looked around at the photos in the room, admiring the pictures of a child Sakura. When she was 5, she fancied a red bow over her head. He chuckled at the picture.
"Kakashi sensei?" Sakura called.
"Hn?"
"Umm, would you like something to eat?"
Immediately, his stomach growled louder than any of his nin-dogs. "Yes please." He replied sheepishly. Sakura walked out of her room to the kitchen and pulled a few things out of the fridge. Kakashi poked his head out of the door and saw her frantically chopping food and starting up the wok.
Sakura started cutting vegetable and fish as fast as she could. I know Kakashi sensei's appetite she said to herself, and he doesn't like to eat around people because of- she was cut off as to her surprise a pair of hands hat gently taken hold of her own. "Leave it Sakura," He said softly, "I'll do it. After all, it is part of my mission briefing." Sakura slowly let go of the utensils and blushed at the contact they just made.
Whoa Kakashi he thought to himself, you're getting a bit too close. She's like your sister now remember? Kakashi continued to prepare the meal as Sakura set the table for two. What was that feeling? She asked herself, It was as if I enjoyed his touch. Sakura shook her head to get rid of the image. He's like you're older brother now Sakura. No naughty thoughts.
20 minutes later, Kakashi brought the tempura to the table with two bowls of rice. He sat down in front of an already seated Sakura. They both broke their chop sticks and simultaneously.
"Itadakimasu!" They said together and began to eat. Sakura's taste buds danced to how delicious the food was. Absolutely delish! She said to herself. She looked up to see that Kakashi had already finished. Wow that was like 30 seconds! She then remembered the mask. "Why do you keep that mask up sensei?"
"Why don't you like it?"
"It's not that, its just that I've always wondered what lies behind that cloth."
"One day you might find out. I stress the word might."
"Hmph!" Sakura pouted like a child, "Looks like I'll have to find out for myself one day while you're sleeping."
Kakashi chuckled. "Let the games begin."
Kakashi got up to clean the dishes and then put his sandals on. "Where are you going?" Sakura inquired.
"To start preparations for the funeral." He replied without looking up. Sakura nodded her head slowly. Kakashi looked at her and his eye crinkled in a smile. Pop! He disappeared from the room.
It was a wonderful day outside. The cherry blossom leaves danced with the wind, the white clouds taking shapes only the imagination could recognize, and the sun radiated its light over the village. It was a perfect day for a funeral. The entire village was at the funeral, located where the previous Hokages and ninjas were buried. Kakashi wore a simple black Yukata, as did everyone else who paid their respects. Sakura stood ahead of everybody alongside with Kakashi. Hear face was laced with tears, yet she tried her best to keep a brave face. Kakashi rested his hand on her shoulder. She took hold of it and held it tightly. "They look so peaceful," She whispered, "Thank you so much Kakashi nee-san."
"Nee-san?" Kakashi questioned, looking down at her.
"Yes. You're like my older brother now. May I call you nee-san?" Sakura asked looking up at the Copy Nin.
Kakashi's eye softened. "Of course you can, Sakura-chan." She smiled and leaned up against his body as she cried some more.
Everybody had left and it was only Kakashi and Sakura left. She walked from the gravesite to the memorial and placed a sakura flower on the stone. Kakashi had his gaze focused on the names of his fallen comrades. Everyday of his life since he was 9 years old, Kakashi came to this spot and just stared at the memorial, feeling guilty for the death of his comrades. This was the reason that he was always late. Each time he came, the memory replayed in his mind. It was 22 years ago…
"We have to save Rin!" Obito screamed.
"No! Our orders were to continue to the bridge and destroy it, we can't disobey orders." A younger Kakashi cried. Suddenly, he fell over as Obito gave him a right hook to the jaw.
"Those who disobey orders may be trash, but those who leave their comrades behind are worse than trash." He yelled before he ran to save his teammate. Kakashi sat there dumbfounded for a bit before getting up to go follow him.
Obito was in trouble, almost about to be struck down by the rock ninja when Kakashi shoved him aside and lost his left eye in the process.
"You shouldn't have done that!" Obito screamed at the nin. His Sharingan was unlocked now. He was able to see the nin who put an invisibility jutsu on himself.
After cutting Rin free, the three nin started to run away as a rock ninja sent an avalanche of boulders down towards them. Obito shoved Kakashi aside and was crushed by a boulder.
"Kakashi…" He whispered, "I never did get you your jounin gift."
"I told you I didn't want one." Kakashi replied holding back tears.
"Here is my gift to you. My sharingan. Rin, please perform the transfer." Rin proceeded to use medical jutsus to transfer the sharingan eye into Kakashi's left socket before another boulder came down on Obito, killing him…
Kakashi opened his eye and looked down at Rin's name, remembering her dying of lack of chakra just afew days later. Sakura saw the pain in Kakashi's eyes, but did not know why he felt that way. She took hold of his arm. "Nee-san?" She asked.
"Hn?"
"Are you alright?"
Kakashi sighed heavily. "Just fine, Sakura-chan." The two turned and left.
Once they got home, they barely spoke to each other. Kakashi quietly changed into his jounin outfit and Sakura prepared for bed. "I'll be gone to the bar for a few hours." Kakshi told her.
"Okay…" she managed to slip out before she passed out in exhaustion.
Kakashi looked at her sleeping body and smiled. What a brave spirit. He thought to himself.
"Hey! Kakashi, you alright?" Genma asked.
Kakashi was on his 7 cup of sake. He needed the alcohol to take away the pain of the day's events. "Just fine Genma." He replied through slurred speech. Between watching his 'little-sister' cry over her parent's funeral and remembering the deaths of his two best friends, Kakashi maxed out on his emotional container. Kakashi was a mystery to the people of Konoha. He never showed anything, and his face as always mostly hidden behind his mask and carefully adjusted hiat-ate. All the people knew about him was that his was the Copy Nin with his sharingan, and was a pretty decent candidate for Hokage. The rest of Kakashi's past was a mystery to most, even his friends like Genma, Gai, and Asuma didn't know much about his personal life. He preferred to keep it that way because it gave him a low profile. How effective would it be to be on a mission and having all of his targets know that the Copy Nin Kakashi is after them?
"Woohoo! The springtime of youth is bursting in this bar!" Gai exclaimed at the sight a few young kunoichis.
"Gai," Asuma began between drags of his cigarette, "They're genin, all under 18." Gai immediately blushed and sat down in his seat.
"So how are you and Kurenai doing?" Genma asked.
"Well," Asuma replied, "Actually…Kurenai's pregnant."
Kakashi broke away from his thoughts, Genma spit up his scotch, and Gai made his funny "Springtime of Youth" noise.
"What the fuck?" All three of them said.
"Asuma, you two aren't even married yet!" Genma said.
"How are you going to keep this quiet from Tsunade-sama?" Kakashi inquired.
"Sarutobi, you youthful scoundrel!" gai exclaimed slapping him on the back.
"Easy, guys, easy," Asuma began nervously, "I have it all planned out. I'm planning on asking her to marry me in about a week's time." The four friends continued to ask questions, but kakashi's mind was elsewhere. He was thinking about Sakura when they went out for ice cream and how happy she looked after the first bite. And the way she laughed during his brain freeze episode. Why am I thinking of Sakura so often? He asked himself, Sure, she's like a sister to me now, but that doesn't mean I should be thinking about her 24/7.
Sakura stared out her window in her bed. She thought about walking down the street with Kakashi to their house and how warm and relaxing his arm felt around her. It was the most relaxed she's ever felt in a long time. Why am I thinking so much of Kakashi Nee-san? She asked herself, Sure, he's like a brother to me now, but that doesn't mean I should be thinking about him 24/7.
Sakura looked up at the full moon and wondered. "Maybe…"
Kakashi walked out of the bar, and looked up at the full moon and wondered. "Maybe…"
"Could this be love?" they thought together.