Sakura wandered around the hospital trying her best to conceal her emotions away from everyone. She had managed to avoid Tsunade for the whole day and only needed to do it for another five minutes and she would be safe from the Hokage's harsh comments. Sakura ignored the whimpering of her current patient and kept her eyes trained watching the hands approach two o'clock. A small sigh escaped from her lips as her shift ended and she handed the chart to the receptionist.
"I'm going home." She mumbled quietly to her.
"Oh Sakura before you leave Tsunade wants to see you in her office." The girl said cheerily to her while Sakura groaned. She made her way up the flight of stairs her heart growing heavy with each step. She knocked politely on the door before entering.
"You wanted to see me." She said coming to stop in front of her desk. Tsunade put down her pen and leaned back in her chair while giving Sakura a calculating look.
"I got a few complaints about you from the nurses yesterday." Tsunade said while quirking an eyebrow. Sakura shifted uneasily in her spot. "You fought well yesterday. Better than I expected and you should be proud. That is all." She concluded and returned to hovering over the documents in front of her. Sakura looked at her in shock but quickly left. She found Naruto waiting for her at the bottom of the stairs and she gave him a small smile.
"Hey." She muttered quietly feeling guilty for avoiding him all this time. He gave her a nod and began to walk with her in silence. "I'm sorry about how I've been acting lately. It's just hard you know."
"I know." Naruto's voice was gentle and he placed an arm over her shoulder.
"How have you been coping with all of this? It's been a week since he..." She stopped herself abruptly.
"It's been hard, but he's gone. We know these are the risks of being a ninja." He paused slightly. "I came to tell you that I was leaving for another mission tonight and I should be gone for a couple of weeks." Sakura stopped walking and looked at him in shock.
"What class of mission is it?" She asked suddenly and saw a guilty expression flicker across his face.
"It's an S class one." He muttered quietly averting his gaze from hers.
"Naruto." Sakura said desperately to him feeling the threat of tears gather at her eyes. "I won't be able to handle losing you to."
"You won't." He raised his voice angrily to her. "Have some faith in me." Naruto finished softening his voice slightly. Sakura nodded her head and felt herself pulling him into an embrace.
"Ok." She whispered quietly into his ear before releasing him. Naruto gave her a reassuring smile and continued to walk with her.
"Oh and I think you should go talk to Ino. I think she's feeling a little bit hurt that you've been avoiding her for the last little while." He finished cautiously. Sakura only nodded her head in agreement. "Right well I have to go prepare so I'll see you when I get back." Naruto muttered while giving her a hasty kiss on the forehead and running down the street.
Sakura knocked softly at Kakashi's door shifting nervously as he left it open for her to come in. She closed it behind her clutching his clothes tightly to her chest as he sat down in the chair.
"Sorry for ruining your one shirt. I tried to scrub the stains out of it, but they wouldn't come out." Sakura mumbled timidly while dropping the pile of clothes beside the leather chair. Kakashi shrugged bringing the drink to his masked lips and taking a sip. Sakura stared at him with emotions heavy on her heart. The news from Naruto had taken her by surprise and she continued to think of Sasuke's death. She ached for Kakashi to ease her pain and help her forget if only for a little while. Sakura settled herself straddling his lap and pulled the glass from his hand ignoring the puzzled look from his eye. She gulped the amber liquid feeling it burn as it trailed down her throat and the set the glass down beside her. Sakura pulled off her shirt and moved to the zipper of his vest as she nibbled on his ear. It didn't take long before she found herself being carried to the bedroom.
Sakura was amazed at how fast her and Kakashi had settled into a comfortable routine with each other. Her morning's were spent at work, where she had an unspoken truce with Tsunade, and the rest of the days and nights would be spent with Kakashi at his apartment. Sakura found that each day she was with him her pain eased. They mostly spent the days in comfortable silences and the nights tangled in each others arms. Kakashi always made breakfast for them because he was usually always up before Sakura, but there was the odd morning when she would awake to find him snuggled close to her.
"I don't understand how you can wake up so early yet are always late." She said nonchalantly while peering over her book one day. Kakashi shrugged.
"I'm not late...everybody is just early." He replied chuckling at her scathing look.
On a rainy Sunday afternoon, Sakura discovered a game of monopoly tucked away in the back of his closet.
"Why do you own a game of monopoly?" She asked blowing the inch of dust off of the box. Kakashi gave her a confused look from over top of his book. "The board game that was hidden in your closet." Sakura said a little exasperated.
"I don't know." His voice was flat and had his usual bored tone to it as he returned to reading.
"Why don't we play a game." Sakura said feeling the stir of child hood memories. Kakashi gave her an incredulous look. "Oh come on." She pleaded with him plopping down in front of him. "We can make the rules more interesting." Sakura pulled her bottom lip into a pout until Kakashi conceded.
"Fine." He sighed loudly and she gave him a wide grin. A few hours later. Why did I agree to do this? Sakura asked herself bitterly seeing that her piece was going to land on one of his properties with numerous houses on it. "Ohh bad luck for you. Looks like you owe me another $550." Kakashi said gleefully clapping his hands together. Sakura averted her gaze cursing under her breath.
"I don't have it." She muttered darkly and looked up to see Kakashi's eyes crinkled with a smile.
"Hmm pants." He finally mumbled and Sakura glared at him.
"Kakashi." She said exasperated.
"Hey I didn't make the rules." He replied innocently and she could see the wrinkles deepen from a wider grin she assumed. She groaned slipping off her pants and throwing it onto the mountain of clothes beside her. She had to entice him somehow, but she never thought it would come to this. If you don't have the money to pay rent then you must remove an item of clothing that the opposites player chooses. Sakura's words echoed in her ears. Baka why would you think of something so stupid. She bitterly told herself. In her wisdom before starting the game she went to Kakashi's room layering herself with his extra shirts and jogging pants, but now found herself in only her bra and panties. Sakura studied the board glowering at all his properties with hotels placed on every one.
"I didn't realize you would be so good at monopoly." She said sulkily seeing his fully clothed body.
"Neither did I." His voice was mischievous as he collected $200 for passing go and added it to his pile of money beside him. Sakura rolled and let out a groan when she noticed her piece would land on Boardwalk, Kakashi's most expensive piece of property and knew the end was near. She casually stretched out her leg giving the board a swift kick scattering the pieces everywhere.
"Oh no looks like due to natural disasters, i.e. earthquake all your properties have been destroyed." Sakura said sarcastically and giggled at his crushed expression while she rose to her feet.
"You did that on purpose." He muttered quietly.
"What me?" She replied with a mock innocence before settling herself onto his lap. "I never did say I would play fair." She whispered slyly in his ear.
Wow they sure do get around to a lot of cough activities, but I guess that's what happens when you're young..and Kakashi. Enjoy.
Cance