Sakura skidded to a halt in front of the gates to see a small group of ninja's all ready making their way down the road. She cursed to herself for being late and clutched her tight chest trying to calm her breathing when she noticed one of the men turn back towards the village. Sasuke caught her gaze giving her an intense stare and Sakura could feel a small blush rise to her cheeks. He gave her a small nod of acknowledgment and her lips twitched into a coy smile. Sasuke turned continuing his journey and Sakura could feel her heart ache watching him disappear from view.
"Oiy I'm surprised you were late." A devilish voice yelled out and she turned to see Naruto bouncing eagerly towards her with a large grin plastered to his face. He stopped beside her resting a warm arm over her shoulders. "Man it's bloody hot today. Lets go get a drink." He said with a small wink and began to pull her from the gates.
"It's only two in the afternoon." Sakura said incredulously quirking her eyebrow. "And one drink with you turns into one to many." Naruto let out a loud laugh pushing his blond hair away from his face.
"So. We'll call it a going away drink for Sasuke." He replied blue eyes full of mischief continuing to lead their way through the crowded street. "Oh come on. It will help take your mind off of things." He continued saying seeing Sakura's disapproving look. She gave him a harsh look but wavered when Naruto pulled his face into a pout.
"Oh fine. But you're doing most of the buying." She finally agreed giving into his pleading expression. Naruto let out a loud cheer startling some nearby people and gave her another big grin.
Sakura soon found herself seated in the back corner of one of the popular pubs downing drink after drink with Naruto. They ordered some food considering that they would be there for awhile reminiscing about old times. Since Sasuke had returned almost everything had gone back to normal between them. Sakura had grown closer to Naruto in the time that Sasuke was gone realizing how good of a friend he truly was. She had turned to him and even Kakashi for comfort and they were able to help hold her life together. Sakura's heart tightened slightly as she thought of Sasuke and how dark he had become. They had grown closer since his return and had a bond that was unbreakable, but Sakura could feel herself slipping away from Sasuke. She wanted to be with him in every way possible, but he never gave her the chance. More of their old friends joined their small table attracted to Naruto's infectious laughter and the likely hood of getting a free drink. Sakura mostly listened, happy to be distracted from her current thoughts and grinned intently at all the stories being passed around. Sakura was surprised when she let her gaze wander to see the pub completely full. She looked at her watch only to find that her eyes couldn't focus and became angry.
"Naruto." She muttered to him still trying to see the miniscule hands on her watch. He didn't respond. "NARUTO." Sakura yelled giving him a hard elbow in the ribs.
"Ow what Sakura?" He asked slurring his words slightly.
"I can't see what time it is." She said sweetly to him holding her wrist in front of his face. Naruto blinked in confusion and suddenly started laughing.
"Neither can I." Naruto's boisterous voice rang out turning away from Sakura and continuing to talk to the flushed Hinata beside him. Sakura scowled at him slightly and began to make her way from the bench.
"I think it's time I home myself walk." Sakura muttered pausing slightly. She shook her head roughly. "Naruto you got me way to drunk. Goodnight." She said giggling madly and giving a small wave to everyone around the table. Sakura could hear Naruto laughing loudly again.
"See you tomorrow." He yelled to her. She cringed at the thought of tomorrow but stopped abruptly when she saw Kakashi sitting at a table with Genma and some other people she couldn't recognize at the moment. Sakura pushed her way through the crowd to stop at his table swaying slightly where she stood.
"Umm Kakashi-sensei could I talk to you for a moment?" Sakura asked timidly trying to keep the room from spinning. She could hear the scrape of a chair and the feel of Kakashi's hand on her back leading her through the pub to stop by the window. "I was wondering..." She stopped abruptly looking out the window to see that it was dark. Oh my god when did it become dark. How long have I been here? She thought to herself surprised. Sakura heard Kakashi call her name and brought her thoughts back to the present. "Oh right umm yeah could I fight you?" She mumbled quietly to him. Sakura looked to see a blank expression on his face which prompted her to continue. "This is really hard to explain while your drunk, but I need help with my taijutsu. I want to join ANBU but I don't think I can and I want you to help me and tell me if I am ready or not." Sakura giggled loudly as she continued to babble. "I won't take up much of your time and it could be like old times." She finished hoping she didn't slur her words to much. Kakashi gave her a slight nod. "So is that a yes?" Sakura asked hesitantly.
"Yeah." A large grin escaped from Sakura's lips.
"I thought you were going home?" An obnoxious Naruto yelled from across the pub. Sakura's expression quickly turned into a sour one as she glared at him.
"I am now shut up." She yelled angrily to him. Sakura turned and started to make her way through the crowd towards the door stumbling slightly.
The cool air caressed her skin as she left the pub and the deafening noise was muffled through the thick closed door. Sakura stumbled through the street only to stop and let out a groan when she discovered she was going the wrong way. She quickly turned running into something hard and bounced to the ground.
"Ow." She mumbled rubbing her forward trying to focus on the person standing in front of her. Sakura could see the silver hair in the moonlight and a slanted eye giving her a quizzical look. "Way two many Kakashi's to deal with right now." Sakura giggled quietly trying to make the three Kakashi's turn into one. He extended a gloved hand to her and pulled her from the street. "Ughh I can barely handle one of you. Imagine if there truly were three of you." She laughed not able to contain her glee any longer while brushing the dirt from her pants. Sakura pointed herself in the right direction and headed off towards her apartment, but stopped when she noticed Kakashi was following. "What are you doing?" She asked grabbing on to a lamp post for support.
"Walking you home." His voice was quiet and held a slight chuckle from her current state.
"I don't need your help." She slurred peering down the street to make sure it was the right one. She continued stumbling only to trip on her own feet and began to fall to the ground when Kakashi caught her by the back of her shirt steadying her.
"Your actions would suggest otherwise." He replied letting out a small chuckle. Sakura scrunched her face in anger.
"There was a rock." She yelled at him pointing at the ground to see none. Sakura scoffed and continued heading down the street only to be caught by Kakashi every time she stumbled. "I don't want you to ruin your night because you think you have to take care of me." She said angrily pulling herself from his grasp. "I can take care of myself." Her voice was still laced with anger as old feelings began to surface. She hated how everyone thought she was weak and couldn't take care of herself, because she knew it was true.
"It's late and I'm on my way home anyways." Kakashi continued oblivious to her change in mood.
"Well then go and leave me alone." She slurred crossing her arms defiantly to him shaking her pink hair away from her face. She could feel herself becoming angrier with every thought of the past and how she always needed to be saved and just wanted to be alone at the moment. Sakura continued walking swaying dangerously now and cursed out loud. "Damn that Naruto and his stupid drinking games. You think I would learn the first time." Sakura slurred exasperated.
She gave up the losing battle of walking and clutched on to another lamp post for balance. Sakura felt the anger melt away as she concentrated more on standing and felt her happy buzz return. She giggled madly as she felt her body slide down the post to rest on the ground and she looked up at Kakashi giving him a goofy grin. "Looks like I need your help after all." Sakura managed sheepishly feeling her heart ache at that statement. To distract herself she laid on the sidewalk trying to focus on the stars. "Sorry." She mumbled quietly to Kakashi. "I don't mean to be such a pain." And she returned her attention back to the night sky.
Sakura could hear the rustle of fabric as Kakashi sat himself beside her and they slipped into a comfortable silence. Her eyes drooped dangerously as a wave of exhaustion swept over her.
"Why do you want to join ANBU?" Kakashi's asked breaking the silence between them. Sakura continued to focus on the stars in the sky remembering the day before.
The sun shone brightly warming Sakura's body giving her the courage to say what was needed.
"Why won't you let me be with you?" She asked quietly not daring to look away from him. "I know you want me." Sakura said a little hesitantly. She could see the pain in his eyes as he turned to leave. Sakura wrapped her arms around his chest as she drew herself near him stopping him. "Stop running away. Let me in for once Sasuke." Her voice was pleading as she buried her face into his back feeling the tears come to her eyes.
"Yes Sakura, I want you." Sasuke whispered quietly hardly believing that he was admitting his true feelings for once. He turned pulling her into a deep embrace as he let his head rest in the crook of her neck. "But I can't be with you. I need someone who is strong to help me revive the Uchiha clan back to it's former glory. I have my duty first to my family." His voice was laced with agony as he said this and Sakura could no longer hold back the tears. His words had cut through her and hurt her deeply, but she knew it was the truth. He pulled out of the embrace softly lifting her chin so she would meet his gaze. "I don't" He paused and she could see the anguish on his face. "I wouldn't be able to let you go if I had you." Sasuke stopped letting his thumb trace over her soft lips and Sakura could feel her knees buckle slightly from his touch. "I'm sorry." His voice was full of regret, but he pulled himself from her grasp abruptly and left her standing stunned and alone.
"Because I want to be strong." Sakura's voice was heavy with the sadness she felt.
"You are strong." Sakura let out a hollow laugh and turned to study Kakashi's face surprised to see no hint of a smile anywhere. She let out a heavy sigh and turned her attention back to the night sky.
"To bad there aren't really three moons. It would be quite beautiful." She mumbled quietly feeling her eyes droop again. They sat in silence once again and Sakura struggled in vain to stay awake. The exhaustion over took her and she settled into a peaceful sleep knowing she would be safe with Kakashi. He shook his head slightly chuckling to himself. He pulled Sakura into his arms cradling her tight against his chest and headed towards her apartment. He could feel the warmth of her body seeping through his clothes to his skin while something ached inside of him and he inhaled deeply taking in her sweet cheery scent. Kakashi arrived at her door and brought his knee to rest up against it while letting her legs dangle over his. His hand reached to the ledge above the door and he located the spare key.
"I thought I told you to move this." Kakashi whispered quietly. Once inside the apartment he looked to see that it was only slightly cluttered and anatomy books were spread all over the living room. He arrived in her bedroom pulling back the covers of her bed and laid her down gently. Kakashi brushed some of her stray pink locks away from her porcelain skin, while looking at her supple lips and imagining the feel of them against his own. He shook his head slightly. I never should have agreed to help her he thought darkly to himself and pulled the covers over Sakura's small body.
Hope this wasn't to crappy but I enjoyed writing it. Was thinking I should do...research...to see how a drunk person would stumble around. Anyways review as always all types welcome.
Cance