DISCLAIMER:

NARUTO © Masashi Kishimoto

KUROSHITSUJI © Toboso Yana

Single Approach

Naruto/Kuroshitsuji Cross Over

Sakura Haruno and Sebastian Michaelis

Romance/Adventure/Humor/Angst/Drama

Rated T: for Language

Chapter 8 – 8th Step: Regretting

Author's notes:

Hello everyone! Sorry for the lateness of this chapter. I was busy on the last couple of days, might I say weeks and I'll be honest—I forgot to write and was seriously thinking of putting this story in Hiatus. But since my happiness level seemed to reach the highest I can have, I can finally say, I'll finish this story like a boss.

So, without further ado, I present you Chapter 8.

A little warning though: The characters in this chapter might be OOC.

I added the Drama genre, and was thinking I should not… Nah, I'll take it away next time.

"Talking"

Sakura's thoughts /thoughts

Inner talking

Regrets

He had a lot of those. From his father's death to his best friend Obito, to Rin's and his sensei's, the Uchiha Massacre, the chunin exams, the death of the Sandaime, Sasuke's actions, the war, Itachi, Madara, and of course, Sakura.

Regrets

He had a lot of those. His whole life was surrounded with regrets. Regrets that he actually accepted without any shame, regrets that he shrugged until he can't feel it anymore, and regrets that he was hell bent to forgot so that his nightmares would disappear.

Regrets

He hated those regrets.

He wanted to forget them.

But in the end, he knew that Shinobis live with regrets. They were good at hiding it. They were good at denying it. They were good at disguising it.

He lived with regret when his father died, and then hide it when Obito, Rin and his sensei died. He denied the guilt when the chunin exam commence, the Sandaime's death and Sasuke's defection. He disguise it when the war started, when he found out about Itachi's secrets, and when Madara was on rampage, killing many.

But there is one regret that he can't live, he can't hide, he can't deny and he can't disguise. The only regret, he failed to recognize soon, the regret that he actually didn't feel, the regret that he had forgotten, and the regret that he wished he have seen: Sakura.

"You have been a great sensei to me Kakashi; I would never replace you even if Tsunade-sama was my mentor now." She had said that with beaming pride he never thought she had, along with the prowess she had hid, or maybe he had neglected.

That was his first regret. He regretted not focusing on her.

"Maybe if you get that mask off you Kakashi, I might consider falling in love with you." They were at the bar one time, drinking, after a long term mission on Cloud. Her voice was serious but he took it as a joke. He thought she was drunk, he took it as another teasing method of Sakura, he took it as nothing.

That was his second regret. He regretted believing her.

"In the end, I have failed you Sensei." At that time he thought she was having those mood swings again. He thought that, on the next day he would see her, she'll be back to normal and smile again.

But that's the last words she had ever said to him.

That's the last time he had ever seen her.

His third regret – he regretted stopping her.

Now, after seeing his favored student wallowed in regret and anger, he suddenly realized that living with regret, hiding it, denying it and disguising it was easy enough when they were together, when they were still holding each other.

And when they were still Team 7

Looking back he had expected that one day his students would leave him and continue making their own adventures, but never in his right mind had he thought that they will disappeared one by one, with no promise of coming back, with no knowledge if they were to return, with no guarantee they will wave back at him.

He gave out a sigh, everything was a mess.

Right now, he's in no mood to read Icha Icha, he's not in the mood to even train, not in the mood to even argue to his remaining student. The blonde knuckle head idiot had been talking to him since like a month ago.

Ever since Sasuke left with Genma, the Hokage wanna-be kept on disturbing him—from morning to night. He even tried to hide, but in the end, Naruto always found him. Something he had never expected. He gave out another sigh as he looked at his student. He keeps on blabbing something he's not even interested with. Not that he hates the guy, he can't blame him. After all, your best friend had just left again. This time, he wouldn't know if he'll come back.

Kakashi though, had enough. He had been disturbing his peace for so long and he can't take it anymore. Those days in which Naruto would just barge into his house—he even enter his bathroom when he's taking bath, and almost kill Naruto at that time, those times where he was just peacefully reading or those days where he spent his time on the memorial stone to visit sort of people was no longer his. Naruto would be always there; either talking endless or he would just stand there and do nothing which really annoys him.

"And then, he said—"

"Naruto" He saw him flinched and then silence.

The silence was disturbing, maddening. It was uncomfortable. He wanted to speak yet he can't find his voice. He wanted to tell Naruto to stop being like that, but he can't. The way the blonde's usually bright blue sky eyes saddened, makes him guilty. Taking a deep breath, he gently pats Naruto's shoulder and smile at him.

"Maybe, we should talk to the Godaime?"

Naruto beamed. That was what he was waiting for.

He had been nagging his former sensei to follow Sasuke and Genma. Giving him subtle hints here and everywhere. He knew Kakashi was just ignoring him because he felt guilty for letting Sasuke to follow Sakura wherever she was, but it has been a month since he last saw Sasuke. Sakura on the other hand was missing for 10 months.

He regretted it.

He's not a type of person to regret over something he had done, he's a type of person who will rush on things but in the end everything would end well. Sakura always call him reckless, while Sasuke would smirk as he muttered the word 'dobe'.

He regretted not going with Sasuke that night, but at the same time he felt bad for Genma, he knew that Sasuke's silence would irritate him. He tried to laugh at the thought. He can guess that right now Genma was shitting bricks at Sasuke's refusal to speak. And then the 'Teme' would just smirk at his accidental achievement.

He sighs then looks at the sky. He wondered if the Gods hated them. He wondered if the Gods truly despised him. He wondered if the Gods really love making every one of them suffer.

He won't blame them though. He knew that everything that had happened was based on their stupid decisions, stupid notions, stupid acts, and stupid moves.

Now, he knew why he regrets.

He regret because what he did was not enough.

He regret because he thought everything should be done by himself.

He regret because he thought everyone can be save.

He regret because he thought he can change everything.

He regret because he loves.

He regret because he misses them.

Regrets

She had a lot of those. Her whole life solely existed with regrets. She actually sleeps with it, she actually lives with it, and she can say, that she will actually die with it.

She had so many regrets that she can't count on, regrets that she can't actually remember, and regrets that she won't even try to recall. Like when his brother died or when Dan's death was her fault or even Jiraiya's.

She tried to forget them and ask for forgiveness.

She tried to forget all those regrets and never look back.

She tried to forget all those regrets and move on.

But there is only one regret that she will never ever forget. The only regret she will carry until she dies. The only regret she will never forgive and that is betraying her one and only protégé: Sakura.

She knew it, from the moment she met the man's eyes that something bad will happen. But she shrugged it off and entertained him.

The man offer peace to them, a peace that they just achieved. She wouldn't risk having another. He wasn't looking for war, she can tell. His blue eyes shine brightly in her dimly lit office, his blonde hair kept very well. His clothes, from his white vested suit, to his black pants were exquisite and refine, and by the way he moves, he must be a noble.

He said that he was a trader, coming from the east. He said that Konoha was good place to trade. Though she knew that Konoha was not in a good condition yet, she let him in but gave him the benefit of the doubt.

She suddenly remembers what a traveler told her before.

'Nobles were manipulative people. They are demon in disguise. They talk in riddles, gives empty promises, tells you story and their adventures, their travels, their life until you believe them, until you trust them.'

But she forgot them, she didn't listen to her instinct, she didn't believe that the wise-looking man was indeed a demon in disguise.

Flashback

It was pure coincidence that they met.

Her apprentice and him

He was presenting his ideas on her office at that time; Sakura on the other hand came to give her report. The moment she enters, she saw it. His eyes, it never left her. He stared at her, no more like he observed her, maybe the word 'checking her out' was the right term. It was disturbing to say, but then again she shrugged it off. She kept telling herself, that he must have been smitten to her.

Who wouldn't?

Those emerald eyes, red luscious lips, pink-stained cheeks, anyone would melt to her. Even the Uchiha, was smitten to her, but his manly Uchiha pride got the best of him, so he won't tell it to her.

She sighs; sometimes her apprentice was the most oblivious girl ever. Men – they fall on her lap without her noticing it. She just wonders how the hell she stayed single. Almost every day, she would see a guy approaching her, shout their undying love to her and get rejected. Or maybe it was her teammates. Really, you wouldn't want to be tortured by 2 ANBUs, a root ANBU, an Uchiha—albeit he won't show it and a Kyubi holder. Declaring your love to Sakura Haruno was like having a suicide.

But really, the man was smitten to her apprentice, though his eyes would linger longer than supposed it would. Especially on her neck, what is with her neck that he seems to find fascinating? Again, she ignores it. She even introduced her pink-haired apprentice to him.

Their first meeting was comfortable to say at least. The man, Ivan, was his name, was a gentleman, he compliments, he voiced all his knowledge, he was even knowledgeable at medicine, which captures Sakura's heart more.

Sakura's chuckles were like Tsunade's energy refiller. Seeing her student happy was enough for her. The last time she had seen her apprentice happy was the time after the war. It was not happiness at all, it was contentment, it was fulfillment, but not happiness. She had wondered at that time why. She had wondered if she was not happy with the war ended.

In the end she didn't found out about her sighs, her fake smiles and longing gazes.

Right after that, what had happened? Tsunade asks herself as she gazes outside her window. It was a sunny morning. The clouds were not covering the sky, the sun blazing, giving them light and heat at the same time. It was supposed to be fall, yet it was still hot.

She sighs, and sat back to her chair, swiveling it to face her table full of papers. Rubbing her temples to ease away her incoming headache, she mentally cringed as she remembers what really happened.

"Your student" Ivan started, before even sitting. "Was amazing"

She raises a delicate eyebrow at that. She sure hopes that he meant her medical skills not something else that she won't ever think of. His smiles bring horror to him, yet at the same time it was quite comfortable.

'When did he gain her trust?' She suddenly had an impulse to bang her head on the table until it bleeds. She had asked herself when she lowered his defenses. When did he got under her skin? Heaving a sigh, she gave Ivan a look of contemplation, before speaking. "Really?"

He hummed and then gave another smile. "Yes, she was kind, beautiful, not to mention intelligent. Few English women are like that. Most of them were trained to be refined and knowledgeable in terms of social gathering."

"Are you telling me that she's not refine and not knowledgeable in social gatherings?" She heard an amused laugh.

"No, what I meant is Sakura-san, was different from English women that, I know of." He reclined on his seat and look at her. To be honest, the way he looks at her, scare her. The way his blue eyes mirrors her reflection disturbs her, the way his gazes set something in her that she can't think of. It actually made her heart beats faster, faster that even shock her.

She needed to calm down. She thought to herself before gathering her courage to look at the blonde man. His looks were telling her that he's not finished talking, that he has something else to say.

And that she won't like it.

"Mind if I take her as my wife?"

Yes, she didn't like it. But in the end, she didn't take it seriously.

She sighs before taking one of the papers that was stacking up high on her desk. She had been lazing around, much to Shizune's disappointment and horror—because she'll end up doing them. She had been thinking on what to do next that she had almost neglect her duties as a Hokage. The elders almost kill her with their scolding, telling her to somewhat think Konoha first before anything else.

For her they were implying that she forget everything and be a little obedient puppet and do their bidding. She almost throw her desk on them, if it not because of Karin and Shizune.

Karin

Now that she thought about it, after Ivan had asked about Sakura being his bride, she had kept on pestering her to accept her as her apprentice.

Suddenly, a deceiving thought came to her mind. A thought that she never looked at, she never thought to happen, she never thought her another apprentice would do. For her it was a coincidence, it was nothing but a mere coincidence.

A dignified and courageous red head kunoichi stand right in front of her. Her face held confidence, and anticipation. Her red dyed eyes reflecting knowledge and brightness. And her posture shows grace, which surprise Tsunade, though she didn't show it.

This is the first time Tsunade saw her in such manner. The first time she had seen this fire in her. The first time she had found out that she can be what she was right now. She raised her eyebrow at that. She had a feeling, a feeling that she can't quite understand what. A feeling she can't just ignore or forget.

"Let me be your apprentice, Hokage-sama." Her words echoed through her office. It was the sort of unnerving, giving her goose bumps all over. She ignored it, instead she thought about what she had said. She knew for the fact that she had told herself that she'll never teach again. But right now, she can see a confident, courageous and intelligent girl, no, a woman.

She sighs, thinking of the advantages of having another apprentice. She thought that maybe having another one may not be that bad. Maybe Sakura and Karin might be a good combination. Another medic will be added and that means another help.

Her lip quirked up, then look at Karin.

"I'll warn you, that I'm not that easy to please."

Karin beamed.

Tsunade smiled, not knowing what her decision would bring after.

She was aware that having another student and an ex-Sound Nin to say would bring trouble to her. But she had thought that time that medics are clearly needed. Medics were basically their only hope. The village's resources had plummeted to nothingness after war and Medics were in need at that time, not only on their village but also to other countries as well.

She admitted that at that time, Medics were merely money maker for the village. Every time a medic was deployed in other village, Konoha will not only gain ally but also money. She needed to do what the best for the village, and making Karin one of her apprentice was one of the choices she had made.

The first day of Karin as her apprentice was, how to say this… memorable. She didn't last an hour in training. Her chakra control was efficient but not as near perfect as Sakura. But she can give credit to her. Almost perfecting Shōsen Jutsu in only one day was something she had never really expected. Sakura perfected the jutsu within a day too, and she was proud on how she and her new apprentice accomplished.

The second day was the day she had called Sakura to help Karin in training as she was busy in being Hokage. Their meeting was not that good but at the same time it was understandable. Karin hated Sakura, for one reason – Sasuke. But from what Tsunade observed as she hides through the thick layers of the forest, she can see that Karin had acknowledged Sakura as her Senpai quite fast. And she can't help but smile.

The third day was the day she's giving her a task to heal someone. Her choice was of course, Sakura. The pink haired medic gladly wound herself and asks Karin to heal it. The wound was healed within seconds.

The fourth day was the day Karin had met Ivan. They were both in the office when he came to talk to Tsunade.

"My, this is the first time I had seen you here. Are you perhaps the new apprentice Sakura had mentioned?"

The way he had said Sakura's name without the suffix was surprising to Tsunade.

Karin blinked before nodding at the blonde man's question.

"Ah, that is very nice." He then look at Tsunade and gave a smile.

"Yeah, uhm…"

"Ivan and you?"

"Karin"

"Ah, such a lovely name." he took Karin's hand and lightly kissed it, making her blush.

The fifth day was the day she took Karin to the hospital. She took her to Sakura's office and let her observe her work for Karin. At the end of the day when she asked what she had learned on the hospital she only said one thing: "When a patient touches your ass, you can paralyze him with chakra." – Courtesy from Sakura.

The sixth day was when she started to evaluate what she had learned. She knew that she was teaching her a little too fast but she had to, and she wasn't disappointed. She really learned quite fast.

The seventh day was rest. She had asked Sakura, Shizune, Ino and Hinata for dinner at Ichiraku, of course with Karin in tow. It was a happy occasion, the other 2 medics slowly accepted the new addition to them and their evening was splendid.

'So what had happened?' Once again, Tsunade asks herself. Everyone welcomed her, accepted her, and acknowledged her, like she wasn't an ex-Sound Nin, like she wasn't an ex-Akatsuki, like she was really from Konoha.

She groans; these questions were giving her headaches. But really wanted to know what had happened. For her, the last few years were like a blur, like someone had overshadowed all of her memories.

Or maybe someone really did?

"Drink this Tsunade-sama; I'm sure it will relieve your headache?"

She shook her head, dismissing the thought. Karin wouldn't do such thing. She wasn't jealous of Sakura, for that she was sure of. She kept on telling her that she was great.

"Sakura really sure did a great job on that nin."

"I wish I can be like her, Tsunade-sama. Whenever there are emergencies, she's always calm and collected, never to get agitated, never to get nervous. She was amazing."

"Ne, Tsunade-sama, I'm proud to be one of your apprentice."

She smiled when she remembered that. Karin's smile was an energy refiller to her. She suddenly stilled.

"Refiller?" She muttered softly, her lips hanging open before her right hand covered it. A single tear escaped her eye as she slowly closes it. She suddenly can't breathe, she suddenly can't think, her mind slowly fading blank.

It was Sakura's smile that was supposed to be her energy refiller. Not anyone else's, not Karin's.

When did she replace Sakura's smile for Karin's?

Replaced

Kami, she was an idiot. The answers were right on her front every single time.

"My other apprentice? You mean Karin." She had forgotten Sakura.

"Karin will do the job, I'm sure" She had ignored Sakura.

"Would you like to come to Ichiraku with me Karin?" She had abandoned Sakura.

"From now on, Karin will be the Head of the Hospital." She had replaced her.

Now she wanted to kill herself. She wanted to strangle herself for realizing it just now, just when everything was too late.

"NO!" she shouted as she pounded her fists on her table, almost destroying it. "It's not too late. I'll make sure of it."

Her shout didn't go unnoticed by Shizune, who rushed to her office, her face pale slightly and her hair ragged a little.

"Tsunade-sama, are you alright?" her hand still on the bronze knob waiting for an answer.

At that time she was on the records office, organizing some papers, when she heard it. Thinking that maybe members of the council visited her again, she hurried towards the office. The councils were really going to get it again this time. They had been nagging Tsunade for some time and if she wasn't there or Karin, the blonde woman might snap and kill them. She shuddered at the thought.

Without second thought, she dropped all the papers she was supposed to organized—mentally cringing that she'll have to redo her work, she ran through the 3rd floor till the 6th floor—that's how loud Tsunade was, and she was scared because she had heard it, and forcefully open her door.

She blinked at what she saw. The blonde Hokage, shaking slightly from anger—she can tell; her desk was a mess, papers scattered all around. No council members to be found, just her and that eyes of determination, she had caught.

She slowly entered and closes the door silently.

"Call them." Her voice startled her. She vaguely wondered who she meant. Then it clicked, she meant to call them. She opened her mouth to ask if she was right but Tsunade speak once again.

"Call them." She slowly looks at Shizune then shouts "Call them now!"

"Hai" Shizune scurried away leaving Tsunade with her thoughts.

She plopped down on her chair and gave out another sigh.

'You … disgust me.' Sasuke's last words suddenly came through her mind. He was right; she was really disgusting. She sold her own apprentice without even noticing it, letting someone take her away.

"Give this to Sakura." A scroll was placed on her desk. It was tightly sealed. "I heard Mist was having troubles, and I don't want my trip back home be postponed."

"She is my apprentice, did you forgot? She's important to the village."

"You had another apprentice was it? Give her the privilege to be seen by others too. I'm sure Sakura wouldn't mind."

She let some stranger took her away. That man, he was planning to take her from the start, he was planning this all the time.

"A manipulative measure" A grinning Jiraiya once told her. "Anyone can be manipulated, just like you, being manipulated by me." She smack his head as he laugh out loud. His groans of pains put to her to smile. "Be careful." His voice turned serious. "You may have not met one before, but when you did, you'll never notice, you'll never see, you'll never realize, until it was too late." He looked at her straight to the eye.

"I will. I'm not an idiot."

"Good, now can I go back to work?" Knowing what 'work' meant, she punched him right after that.

She heard the door open, but she didn't bother to look who had come. She knew who they are and she inwardly smirk when she heard the voice she had been hearing for quite some time.

"So, baa-chan, can we go look for Sakura now?"

Big ass ship

Sea air

Seagulls flying above them

Older, and has no shame women, leering at … He look left and right, tracing the women's line of sight.

The Uchiha brat—no surprise there, Uchiha's really are good looking.

He smirked at that. By the glare the chicken-haired brat was giving, he was clearly annoyed. Well, who wouldn't? Those women were ogling him like piece of meat. He stifled a chuckle, but in the end it escaped from his mouth, making Sasuke scowl.

"So, Uchiha" Genma speak before leaning on the ships white painted rails, breathing in the sea air, not taking his eyes away to the vast water he was seeing. "Where the hell are we going?"

"We're going to London." I'm coming Sakura.

I don't hate Karin actually. In this chapter I was supposed to write her in present rather than on flashbacks, but a sudden thought came through my mind and purposely dismissed it. I know for the fact that Karin was sort of OOC because of some details like: learning Shōsen Jutsu for only one day, or her friendship with Sakura. The truth is I really wanted another impression to Karin and so I made a risky experimentation to her. Though some of you might disagree in Karin's un-Karin characteristic, I would really love if you can point it down and tell me, so that I may change them on the near future.

Thanks

Tsunade just realized her mistake. Thank goodness! I don't want a bad Tsunade in my fic. :D

Ivan's true intentions were hinted here, and some details to where Sakura's mission came from. Though it was only little, you can now probably guess who had sent her on that mission.

And Sasuke and Genma's on the way. I wonder what will happen next. LOL, Did I just myself that question?

Random Question To authors out there: When did you start writing fanfics and why?

Me: I just started writing fanfics last Oct. 2011. I write because there are some imaginary thought always lingering in my head every time I read one, or when I was just staring my way to nothingness or when my brother is arguing with me one time when I lost his pen. There's always this question lying inside my head—"What if?" So I write, trying hard I may say, and reading as many as I can. :D

Thanks once again

Tell me what you think. If you have notice any errors, kindly point it out for me... Thanks :)

See you all again next chapter.

Review and No flames please.

~2008roseelixir out