Chapter 5 Border Town

The group of ninjas reached the main gate of Border Town as the sun descended on the western horizon bathing the town with an orange glow. They gave their identifications to the guard posted at the gate. He immediately let them through. By Anko's request the guard directed them to an inn and the post office.

"You two," Anko pointed to Sakura and Sasuke who were carrying the stretcher. "Take Kakashi and go to the inn. Sakura, you'll stay with Kakashi and I'll bunk with Naruto." She smacked Naruto on the back hard enough to make him take step forward to keep himself from falling. "It'll be so much fun. Right, lovie?"

"Umm.." Naruto hesitated. He looked a bit frightened by that prospect. "Yea… tons of fun. But Sasuke will be there too, right?" Naruto looked at Sasuke pleadingly.

"Yes, I'll protect the little scaredy cat from the big bad kunoichi." Sasuke said in mocking tone.

Anko grabbed Naruto's arm and lead him up the street. "Come, scaredy cat, you are coming with me to the post office. We have to get word to Konoha."

"I'm not scared of anything!" Naruto shook his fist at Sasuke as Anko dragged him off. He looked back at Anko and his expression told a different story. Anything obviously didn't include the outspoken raven-haired woman.

Kakashi laughed, "It's nice to see that some things don't change."

The proprietor of the inn was an elderly woman with wispy gray hair, slightly hunched over by age. She had given them the key to the best room in the place for Kakashi since she said he had sorrowful eyes that reminded of her husband when he was young. She handed Sasuke the key to the other room that was located on the opposite side of hall of the first. She warned them it was small but cozy.

"Naruto is going to love that he is going to get up close and personal with Anko," Sakura chuckled.

Sasuke rolled his eyes. "I'm not going to have a great time either. Naruto snores like an elephant."

They reached the landing at the top of the stairs. The hallway leading to what would be Kakashi's and Sakura room wasn't long but narrow making it hard to maneuver the stretcher. Sakura pulled Kakashi's arm over her shoulder. He stood up clumsy but seemed steady enough.

"I can take of care Kakashi," Sakura told Sasuke, "You go ahead to get things settled."

"Are you sure?" Sasuke asked.

Sakura nodded brightly and Kakashi gave him the thumbs up. "I wouldn't say no to some dinner," he added.

"Ok" Sasuke was off in the opposite direction.

Kakashi, leaning on Sakura for support, hobbled into the room. It was spacious and bright thanks to a huge picture window that looked out onto the majestic waterfall that made up the border between the Land of Fire and the Land of Rain.

Sakura guided Kakashi to the bed so he could rest in a real bed. That was when she realized she wouldn't be getting that luxury for herself since there was only on bed in the room. Given, it was a large bed but still only one.

"How are you feeling, sensei?" She asked the copy ninja as he helped him get into bed.

He frowned, "I thought I told you to stop calling me that."

The rose haired kunoichi blushed. "Sorry, I forget."

"I'm feeling much better," he answered her question. He placed his hand on hers as she straightened the blanket covering him. "All thanks to you. I would feel even better if you sang for me again."

"Oh no I couldn't, you are far to awake for my singing," Sakura joked, trying to free her hand from under Kakashi's but his grip was firm. "Fine, I only sing if you take off your mask."

"Fair enough." He pulled down his mask revealing his handsome face once again. "Your turn." He smiled which made Sakura's heart beat a little quicker.

She sat on the edge of the bed and looked out the window at the water clashing down the cliff. She knew that if she looked at her former sensei she wouldn't be able to get a note out. Why did he make her feel like a swarm of butterflies had taken refuge in her stomach?

"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…"

The door creaked, Sakura stopped singing abruptly and Kakashi replace his mask to its usual position on his face. They turned to see Anko leaning on the door frame, arms folded in front of her and a knowing grin on her face. Naruto was peeking over her shoulder and behind him stood Sasuke looking put out.

"Hey Sakura, you got some set of pipes there," Naruto said impressed. He tried to get past Anko to enter but was unsuccessful.

"Yea, by all means don't let us interrupt." Anko said as she lazily entered and plopped onto the bed. She apparently had no qualms about invading personal space.

Sakura nervously scratched the back of her head obviously embarrassed. "Ah, dinner is here." She walked up to Sasuke who was holding a couple of take out boxes. "I'll go get some plates and drinks." She said without looking back at them and she scampered out of the room. She wanted to put as much distance between her and the humiliation that filled the room as she could.

"I'll be right back." Sasuke said and was gone before anyone could ask where he was going

Downstairs, the old lady ushered the young kunoichi into the kitchens. "Here you go, young lady. Feel free to use whatever you need. You're companion." She shook her head sadden. "The silver-haired man he has seen much death in his life. But there is hope in his eyes especially when he is looking at you."

"What?" Sakura looked surprised at the words the older woman said.

"Yes, dearie." The inn keeper winked a wizened eye. "I'm old and I have seen that look in a man's eye when he looks upon his future. My husband, may he rest in peace, looked at me that way."

"Oh, I'm sorry, obasan, but you have it wrong. The silver-haired man is… I mean…was my sensei. I healed him recently so maybe you saw gratitude in his eye" Sakura turned away from the old woman trying to avoid her gaze.

"It wasn't gratitude, just like it isn't concern for your patient in your eyes." The old woman walked out of the kitchen leaving the young kunoichi to ponder her words.

"Here you go, sensei." Naruto tossed Kakashi an orange covered book. "I brought you the latest one of Pervy Sage's boring novels. I swear they keep getting worse. But I know you like them so that is my get well soon present." He grinned widely and pulled an armchair that had been facing the window closer to the bed and sat down.

Anko gave him a stern look, which made Naruto stand up again. "Why don't you be a doll and go see if Konoha has sent reply to our letter." She shooed him away with her hand.

"Fine." He sulking marched to the door murmuring under his breath. "I always get the boring jobs"

As the door clicked closed, Anko rounded on Kakashi. She leaned on the mattress on her hands and knees, her gray eyes glinting with excitement at cornering her prey. "So you have the hots for your cherry blossom student, eh?"

Kakashi's exposed eye widen with disbelief at the question. He quickly regained his composure, however. "Listen, Anko," he began calmly "I have no idea what fantasy about Sakura and me your wild and distorted imagination has come up with but whatever it is you are completely off the mark"

"If that is the story you are sticking to," she pretended to be disinterested. She pulled out a kunai using it to clean underneath her finger nails, "have it your way. I have to warn you though," the perky kunoichi looked at the copy ninja sideways over her fingers. "If you two keep making gaga eyes at each other and the cute singing blossom keeps belting out love songs at you, no one is gonna buy that story. Not even Naruto."

"Sakura" a deep smooth voice called from the door of the kitchen. For a split second she thought or was it hope the voice belonged Kakashi until common sense kicked. Kakashi could barely walk two steps without help let alone get out of bed, walk down the hall and stairs to where she was. She turned to see another sharingan user.

"Oh, Sasuke," she tried to hide the slight disappointment in her voice. "What are you doing here?"

The Uchiha walked slowly towards her thinking of the right words to say. "That day back when we graduated from the Academy. We had just met Kakashi and he made us tell him our dreams."

Sakura laughed remembering how young and naïve they were back then. "Don't remind me. I was so stupid back then."

"Do you remember what I said?" he asked. She nodded solemnly. His dream had been the darkest. "It still is my dream. But," he continued quickly at seeing the uneasiness in her face, "it's the second part of it that I'm really focusing on now."

"That's wonderful, Sasuke." She was relieved. Moving on with his life, rebuilding it with love was the way to go, not hate bent on revenge. "I really think that is the best thing you can do. When we get home, I'm sure Tsunade-sama will give us a long vacation from missions. You'll have plenty of time to meet a nice girl and start the next generation of your family."

She turned back to the cabinet that contained the dishes. She took out five plates and cups and placed them on the counter. Sasuke came up close behind her putting his strong hands on her waist and turning her to face him. Her jade eyes looked up at his onyx ones.

"Sakura, I have found that girl. The girl I want to restore the great Uchiha clan." He tilted his face nearer to hers.

Sakura gulped as the intensity of his stare rose. She could feel his warm breath on her lips now. She shut her eyes tight and drew in her breath. She knew what he was his next move would be but she was at a loss of what to do about it. She didn't even know how she felt about it.

Sasuke kissed her lightly on the lips. She didn't respond which was understandable he thought. He had sprung this on her unexpectedly. Sakura just needed time to understand what had just been said. This was after all what she wanted since they were children. He stepped back from her letting the fact that he had kissed her set in. He looked at her for a moment and then walked off.