Inseparable Companion
Author: I'm sorry this is late!
Thankyou to those who left such nice reviews. Please tell me what you think!
Chapter 5
Sakura felt she was getting nowhere.
Itachi complained of headaches and his chakra was becoming more difficult to channel each day. Sakura could only ease his pain with her own chakra.
Itachi would occasionally take her into his arms and push her down onto his bedroll. She could never remember who would draw forward first.
It had only been five days but Sakura had settled into a familiar routine of visiting everyday. The reality of who Itachi was and what he'd done had been pushed somewhere far away. She had become numb to rational thinking and focused on her lusting after his Sasuke-like presence.
It was on a clear morning that Sakura wondered into the Uchiha residence to find it empty. She checked all rooms, and Itachi was nowhere in site.
Stopping her search and heading back upstairs, Sakura eventually sat down on the floor, crossed her legs and gave a defeated sigh.
She heard the rustling of movement surrounding her and additional shadows now stretched along hers. A three ninja team entered the house and were now standing two feet behind her. Sakura gasped in surprise.
"Looks like we got a squatter"
Sakura was trying to think up a valid excuse to her actions but was saved by a familiar voice,
"That's no squatter… Sakura-chan?"
She turned around wide eyed, "Genma-san!"
He grinned coyly, his senbon stick twitching in between his lips.
"Well now, this is an interesting spot to take a vacation."
She felt her face flush and explained lamely, "I was just looking around, and I never got to see inside before…"
Genma gave a half smile and cocked his head to the side, "Sure, babe, I understand." He turned and signalled to his other two members waiting,
"Go ahead without me, I'll take care of this."
"Were you tracking me down?"
Genma laughed and winked at her, "Naw. I wish I were sent to fetch you, gorgeous. We are still looking for Itachi. The Uchiha residence was naively overlooked so we thought we'd include it in our sweep of the town, but I can see now it's empty of him."
Sakura wasn't sure if she was pleased or not that Itachi had managed to elude this run in.
Genma sobered a little and took a step closer. "I know life's shit right now, and I'm not the type of guy with the gift of words, but if you need anyone to talk to…or even just some comfort-" Sakura looked away blushing again, heatedly, "…you can call on me." He winked before going on.
"Though, I'm staying with Kakashi for the next few weeks. I had a little fire in my apartment- jealous lover…"
He grinned mischievously and Sakura didn't ask for the details.
She was flattered at his attention and playboy manner so she gave him a cheeky smile, "Gee, Genma. I can see you comforting every poor heartbroken girl in Konoha"
He chuckled and turned to leave, "That's it! Smile! SMILE!"
He vanished to follow his comrades and she decided not to wait around for Itachi and find other company for a change. She wondered how her friends were doing and realised it had been more than a month since she'd spoken to Naruto.
Sakura didn't want to purposely seek him out but she still went by the Ramen stand, Ichiraku, though Naruto was not there.
Sighing she stopped at the training grounds and stripped off her jacket. The warm up stretches felt good and she felt the sudden desire to run really fast. Her energy levels were beaming for release and Sakura realised it had been months since she'd had a good spar with someone. She finished her push-ups and continued on with some defensive movement patterns. Each step process grew with an added attack manoeuvre.
Sweat made her skin clammy and sheen, and she refused to stop and brush the bangs from her eyes.
"You should really pull back first before you continue with such a heavy sweep of open fist attacks."
His voice had stopped her in surprise; Kakashi stood a short distance to her side. His casual stance didn't give away the amount of time he'd been watching her, his eyes were also downcast to his orange book.
A sliver of annoyance tugged at Sakura as she looked at it.
"Oh, well if you'd be so kind to demonstrate to me then, sensei."
Kakashi did look up now. She spread her legs and readied her fists for combat, a daring expression on her face. He folded his book in one hand.
"On you?"
"Of course on me! When was the last time we trained together, Kakashi-sensei?"
"Hmmm" Kakashi scratched his clothed chin thoughtfully, "I'm kind of tired…"
"Come on, sensei! I'll shout you dinner, so we'll just do hand to hand combat. No use of chakra and hand seals, ok?"
He nodded and a small smile appeared behind his mask, "Free dinner… how can I refuse."
"Don't get cocky, sensei. I'm not the same little girl you trained all those years ago."
"And I'm not your sensei anymore."
Sakura moved first and he easily dodged, but her turn around was fast and he had to block. The contact led to further attack and Sakura was forcing him back with her blows. But her targeted areas were not actually hitting any damaging points.
"Mm. I think I've warmed up now…"
Sakura drew back from his strikes. He was swift and powerful. Her strength was channelling chakra and she cursed her compulsion to draw on it. Kakashi had put his book away though, so that had to mean she wasn't that bad. She new her skills had heightened considerably in the past years, but still; Kakashi was an intimidating figure, one who had years of experience behind him.
"I hear you have a new roommate, Kakashi-sensei."
He sighed, "Not by choice, I assure you. Genma was there when I got home one evening. I didn't even think I told him where I lived…"
Sakura laughed at hearing this. They had pulled apart when chatting and were circling around.
"I hear you've been seeing a lot of Naruto."
Sakura stumbled, and then regained her balance quickly. "Not really… I've been so busy these past few weeks I haven't seen anyone really."
Kakashi hmmd thoughtfully, wondering at her lies. "Doing what? You're taking a break from work right now."
A growing panic touched Sakura and Itachi flashed through her mind. Sakura immediately let her emotions get the better of her, and punched hard, chakra adding an inhumane strength. Kakashi narrowly escaped and her fist shattered the earth near his feet.
"Sak-" Her leg sweep tripped him and he flipped back. She was moving fast and Kakashi landed heavily. He drew his hands up to perform several hands seals but they were caught in strong hands. Kakashi only glimpsed Sakura quickly before she kicked him hard in front. His fingers flew from her hands and he hit a tree trunk hard. Splintering wood and branches fell around him.
Gasping hard Kakashi struggled to stand. "Sa- Sakura!"
She was by his side in a heartbeat. "Kakashi-sensei! I'm so sorry! I got carried away! I thought you would block…"
He rubbed his chest, "You surprised me. And you're a cheater."
Sakura felt ashamed at acting out. She put his arm over her shoulder and led him out of the clearing and sat him down on a park bench. She offered to heal him, but Kakashi assured her he was fine.
"Just pay for anything I order, which will be a double serving and will have extra ingredients."
"Yes, yes."
Sakura sat at his side. And a companionable silence fell for a while.
"Genma said he saw you at the Uchiha residence. Do you go there a lot?"
"No, of course not!" Sakura bristled, "Genma just caught me there once. I was just curious, that's all. I'd never been inside. I've had a lot of free time as you know and I've just been exploring around a lot."
She hoped her excuse didn't sound too lame, but Kakashi seemed to believe it.
"Avoiding Naruto also apart of your busy vacation?" He noted her expression and explained, "I saw you check out Ichuraku. As well as the subtle shift in behaviour between you two."
Sakura raised a quizzical brow and looked at Kakashi. "Naruto and I aren't kids anymore, Kakashi. And the last time I checked you weren't my sensei anymore. So, whatever it is you're trying to find out – don't. It's none of your business."
Kakashi's expression didn't change as he listened to her words. If he was offended he masked it well.
Sakura felt guilty but was determined not to change her mind. Why was he so interested any way!?
Kakashi stood and turned to Sakura. "I'm hungry. Lets go eat."
End Chapter 5.
Ichuraku? Or
Ichiraku?
