Chapter 4 Healing Power of Song

Kakashi felt the cool breeze on the half of his face that was exposed. He could tell they were moving. He opened his normal eye he hadn't been able to open his sharingan eye since using the Mangekyo. His leg throbbed and he felt a warm liquid oozing down. He groaned.

"Stop!" shouted Sakura to the rest of her team. "I believe he is in pain. The medicine must be wearing off."

Naruto and Sakura lightly put down the stretcher carrying Kakashi. Anko and Sasuke perched themselves on a nearby branch watching the medic do her job. Sakura bent over the body of her patient to check his heart rate.

Again the smell of vanilla took over Kakashi sense of smell. "Sakura?" his voice was barely audible that only she could hear.

"It's ok. I'm here," she looked at her sensei with concern. She had always hated seeing the great Copy Ninja in this type of state. As a young genin she would have watched, useless to help. She was so weak back then. Now was different she had the power to do something. "If you could tell me where it hurts, I can take care of it faster."

"My leg," was all he could get out because the pain was getting stronger. The hot searing pain made his leg feel like it was about to explode. His heart was beating faster and faster with the stress of the pain.

Kakashi felt a soothing chakra flowing into his leg relieving the intense burning. He noticed that there was a hand placed gently over his heart and he heard a low sweet voice singing into his ear.

"I close my eyes

and there in the shadows I see your light

You come to me out of my dreams across

the night

You take my hand

though you may be so many stars away

I know that our spirits and souls are one

We've circled the moon and we've touched the sun

So here we'll stay

For always, forever

Beyond here and on to eternity

For always, forever"

It was one of the most beautiful things he had ever heard and it seemed to melt away all the pain and cares. With a smile on his face he drifted into a restful sleep.

Anko stepped behind the young pinked hair medic. "How is he doing?"

Sakura jumped a little being taken by surprise in what might be considered an odd position for a medical ninja to be in. "Oh! Um, he should be ok but I think we should make camp for the night. I don't feel comfortable moving him at the moment."

"I'll get the guys to set up the tent while I'll go get some food. We passed a small restaurant for travelers. I rather have some real food than these pre-packaged ninja meals. Any special requests? "

"Actually yes," Sakura realized that she hadn't eaten since yesterday and Kakashi would need some nourishment to get his strength up. "Sushi for me and chicken soup for Kakashi-sensei."

Anko nodded and was gone in a flash of smoke.

It took about half an hour to set up camp in which time Anko was back with the food. Naruto was looking at the take out bag hungrily. It seemed he was also tired of the ninja meals.

Anko handed out everyone's order but when she got to Naruto, she looked into the bag and frowned. "Sorry, love, but it seems that the girl forgot to put your ramen. There are still plenty of ninja meals though." She grinned pointing at the pack where they kept their supplies.

"What! She forgot my ramen!" Naruto yelled with outrage. "This crap always happens to me!"

"Take it easy. It's not like it's the end of the world," Sasuke said patronizing.

That was all that was needed to push Naruto over the edge. "Easy for you to say, you have your food." Naruto went to go pout at the base of the tree. A small purple snake came slithered towards him carrying a take box on its head.

"I was only kidding." Anko laughed. How could I forget my favorite loud mouth ninja's precious ramen." All three laughed.

"Ramen is nothing to joke about," said the young blonde looking a bit put out at the joke at his expense but he was soon focused on the ramen and all else forgotten.

Sakura couldn't help giggling as she walked to the tent carrying the still warm food. No matter how long it had been or what they had gone through, Naruto still kept that childish quality about him. That had annoyed her when she was younger but now she appreciated, even envied his ability to maintain that bliss that comes from untainted youth with all the hardships he has endured.

"Hello Sakura," came a deep gentle voice from inside the tent as Sakura opened the entrance flap.

"Kakashi-sensei, you are awake." He was pale but he was sitting up which was a good sign. "We have some chicken soup here. Not sure if you feel up to eating but you really should to build up your strength." She set the container of soup on the table and pulled up a stool and sat next to the cot.

"I will have some later. We haven't had a chance to really talk. I want to know how you found me," he asked looking straight into her eyes with such sadness that it was hard to meet his glance. She explained the mission her team had been on and how they had stumbled onto the spot were he had been ambushed.

"Ah I see. Luck was on my side. Unfortunately not for those young ANBU." He looked at his hands. Sakura knew Kakashi had seen this happened far too many times. Obito, his closest friend the one who had given him the famous sharingan, had also died way before he should have. She put her hand in his, trying to give him at least some comfort. How many times had she come to losing the closest people to her?

Kakashi looked at the young pastel haired kunoichi's hand in his. He couldn't help but notice how small and soft it was compared to his large and callous one. He curled his fingers around it and felt the warmth emanate from it.

He looked up at her and gave her a weak smile. "How about the chicken soup you said you had for me?"

Sakura smiled warmly back. "Here it is," she replied. She removed the lid and took out the plastic spoon from the bag. As she handed the bowl to him she realized that he would have to remove his mask. Unsure of what to do she said, "I guess I'll leave you to eat."

She got up from the stool and was about to turn to leave when Kakashi grabbed her wrist. "No stay, please" he said, " I really would like the company especially if you sang for me again."

Sakura's cheeks turned a soft shade of pink that matched her hair. She laughed off her blushing by saying, "I only sing when my patients are in pain. You look fine to me, sensei."

He frowned. "You should stop calling me 'sensei.' I'm no longer your teacher and you are a jounin now from what Lady Tsunade told me."

"Sorry, sen…I'm mean Kakashi," leaving out the honorific suffix felt strange to her tongue, "It's a hard habit to break. Anyways we should eat before the food gets cold."

Kakashi hand went to his mask. Sakura held her breath in anticipation. Was she really going to see his whole face after so long? She knew she was being obvious, maybe even rude but she couldn't stop staring. She would be the first from Team 7 to see it she was certain. She chuckled inwardly at how jealous Naruto would be. He was the one always pushing to see Kakashi with out his mask. The elite ninja pulled down the mask to reveal an extremely handsome face. A strong jaw line with a faint beard from not shaving for a couple of days and very nice lips. Great lips for kissing, Sakura thought. God what was she thinking. This was still her former sensei, even though he had asked her to drop the suffix. Plus he was twelve years her senior though you would never have guessed by looking at him. He was now a thirty-two year man but he looked more like he was twenty-five. The scar that ran down his face over his sharingan added to his attractiveness rather than detract from it.

"See, there is no big deal to it. Just an average face. I really never understood why people make such a fuss about seeing it." He smiled which made his face even less average than he claimed it to be.

"Um." Sakura was lost for words and acutely aware she was still staring. Hopefully her facial expression didn't give away that she was feeling the same way the girl at the ramen shop back in Konoha felt when she caught a glimpse of his handsome face back when Team 7 were still genins. She began eating so she could have something to do besides looking at his face. Why did she have to do things like this around him now? Snap out of it she told herself.

They soon fell into easy conversation. Mostly it was reminiscing about the old days or filling each other in on last few years. Kakashi didn't have much to fill in since he hadn't much contact with the people back in Konoha and he wasn't about this innocent twenty year old all the sorted details of the things an all male squad get into during missions especially long ones.

Sakura had quite a bit of gossip from back home to tell. It seems like her mission had taken back to Konoha a few times over the past two years.

"Well, it seems that romance is in the air in the Leaf Village," she began giving him a wait til you hear look with her eyes. "Shikamaru and Temari, Gaara-sama's sister. Not sure if you remember her." He nodded that he did so she continued. "They have really taken to strengthen the bonds of 'friendship' between the Sand and the Leaf. They are getting married soon. I'm sure you knew about Asuma-sensai and Kurenai-sensei. They got married about a year and a half ago. Kurenai is pregnant now."

"What?!" Kakashi shook his head in astonishment. "That old dog Asuma. Good for him."

"Oh. The last two couples are the best." The kunoichi's eyes sparkled with mischievous glee. "Jiraiya-sama and Lady Tsunade." Sakura chuckled as Kakashi's jaw dropped. "Yep. It's really funny since he still tries to peek at women in the baths and she takes a few swings at him for it. And now my personal favorite match," she pretended she was doing a drum roll with her hands and the sound effect to go with the gesture. "Naruto and Hinata."

This time the copy ninja's eyes sparkled and his face creased with a big grin. "It's about time that boy noticed. Has she stopped going all red and passing out everytime he gets near? I hope so if not certain couple activities would be impossible." Kakashi blushed the last thing he said just came out. He wasn't use talking about those things with Sakura.

She blushed too and giggled. "Well she isn't fainting but she still gets a little pink in the cheeks if one asks her or makes a comment implying they are an item. Technically they aren't official yet. Neither has come out and said anything but they get this goofy grin when the other's named is mentioned. Plus they spend tons of time together when we are home."

"What about…?" Kakashi stopped before he said 'you', he didn't want to hear the answer. He had no idea why. "What about the actual village?" he asked to cover up his original question.

"It's pretty much how you left it. Some old Konoha. I moved from my parents' house and I got my own small but nice flat."

"That's great. You have really grown up. Living on your own is a huge step into adulthood. Where is this small but nice place?" he asked.

To his surprise she blushed again and gave him a coy smile. "You'll see once we get home."

There was a loud snore that came from outside which unmistakably Naruto. "Oh my! Look at the time. I have keep you up past midnight when you need your rest. What kind of medic am I?" Sakura quickly got up and removed the left of food, which wasn't much. "Let me check you bandages before we go to sleep."

She uncovered the blanket to expose his leg. He was still only in boxers since it was easier and quicker to check the wound if there weren't pants to deal with. Now that he was conscious she wished his injury was somewhere less intimate. He is just any other wounded ninja. No reason to be uncomfortable she told herself but to no avail. The awkwardness was there when she undid the bandages and touched his muscular upper thigh.

Kakashi felt it too. The way the young medic's hand gently touched his thigh. The softness and warmth of her skin, how her hair fell forward as she leaned closer over his leg. He could just a hint of skin down the neckline of her shirt. He closed his eyes tightly but her shapely figure seemed to be stamped onto his eyes. He shook his head to get rid of the impure image. "Must think of something else. Something as far from sexy as possible," the jounin thought. "Gai, green suit, bushy eyebrows" That did it. Any chance of arousal was wiped cleaned. He sighed with relief.