Sakura woke up in her bed when the sun was already setting and its rays were coloring the sky in different shades of orange. She got up carefully and looked through the window:"Did I really sleep this much?" In the morning before she went home she gave the nurses instructions to keep her posted about the condition of the patients and the Kumo shinobi. She had yet to receive a word from Tsunade on what to do with him. She was just out of the shower when a knock came from the door. Sakura quickly put on some clothes and opened the door only to find Genma behind smiling smart:"Genma? Are you alone?" she asked while trying to look over his shoulder to see if anyone was there. Genma leaned on the door frame, senbon moving between his lips:"Who are you looking for? Kakashi?" She smiled back at him:"Well of course plus you two are always together like a couple I wonder how Shizune-senpai is not jealous. " Genma blushed at the sound of Shizune's name but still he remembered why he was here:"The Hokage needs to see you. She got your report on that shinobi our team brought in and she wants some feedback."
When she got to the Hokage tower she found Tsunade with a pile of paperwork on her desk. Since it was mission season there many reports that she had to go through. Shizune was at her side helping with whatever she could. When Sakura entered Tsunade raised her gaze to meet hers. For the first time Sakura noticed that her shishou was tired. You could see it in her honey colored eyes and the way she faintly smiled:"Tsunade-sama you summoned me? " Tsunade leaned back in her chair and nodded:"What is the condition of the Kumo shinobi." Sakura took a deep breath as she recalled every bit of information:"He suffered multiple injuries such as a dislocated shoulder and a few broken ribs. I made sure there was no internal bleeding caused from the broken bones but I can say that he also has some nerve damage in his right leg due to a lightning attack. I have instructed the nurses to keep me posted on his condition. I realize that things can a bit difficult if we lose a shinobi which belongs to another village in our hospital."
Tsunade waved her off:"No need to worry. I already contacted the Raikage and he has full trust in us to take care of him. However there was a mix-up with this mission. At first the people had made a request towards Kumo before approaching us. I guess they forgot to send someone to notify them that Konoha will provide service. That is why our team ran into him." For a moment Sakura thought of the situation as weird. She had never heard or been in a mix-up like this but anything can happen so she let it slide her mind:"I will take care of him. Once he wakes up I will ask him questions about his mission I hope he will be cooperative."
Kakashi looked at the clock on the wall in his living room one more time. He knew very well how much sleep Sakura needed once she got off her shift and they had agreed she would come by six and yet it was seven thirty and there was no sign of her. He left his book on the sofa and got up and stood in front of the window looking out on the street. He was a bit nervous. The things he planned to tell her weren't going to come out easy. He still hoped that they would have a nice evening but there were things in his chest that he had to get out. He stood like that for five minutes when he finally heard a knock on the door.
Sakura was wearing a black tank top and red pants with black platform sandals on her feet. Her pink hair was tied in tight elegant bun on top of her head. She had two paper bags in her hands and she was smiling at him. He could see a slight sparkle in her emerald eyes. She looked stunning. He was staring at her and she knew that:"If you are done staring I would like to come in. The dinner is going to get cold." She said with the same soft smile playing on her lips. He just nodded and moved from the door frame so she can get in. She chuckled while getting in:"Okay it has been five minutes now you can say something." He looked at her and smiled under his mask:"Thank you for coming on time by the way. I wasn't waiting at all." Sakura started taking out the boxes of food from the bags while saying:"I had to go see Tsunade-sama. Last night our team returned with a Kumo shinobi and we have to keep a close eye on him. I was discussing this with her." He slowly nodded and she turned around so she can take out some plates for the food. Suddenly without any warning his hands were on her waist. It felt so right. His hands on her body, his presence around her, the way she felt about him. But his words ruined the whole moment:"I would like to talk about something with you. I feel there is something we need to discuss."
She had never heard those words directed at her, but as a woman she knew very well what they meant. They meant that something was wrong. That something was not in its right place. She turned around only to face a blank look on his masked face. She tried to back off but she forgot that the sink was right behind her and there was no place to run. She desperately needed to get away from him because the alarm in her head was telling her so:"What's wrong?" she could feel the fear and alarm in her own voice. She wasn't sure if he noticed but he let go of her and went to sit on the couch. Once he sat down he simply said:"I cannot do this any longer Sakura?" She was blinking like an idiot against him. Her mouth opened but no sound came out. Before he continued she gathered her things and went to the door:"Sakura I am not done I still…." She slightly turned her head so he can hear the words coming out of her mouth:"Whatever. I understand. From now on unless it's professional don't look for me or talk to me." And with those last words she slammed the door and was gone. Kakashi felt he had to go after her but he figured nothing good will come out of it now.
Last night in bed he finally got to the decision to tell her that he can't ignore his feelings for her any longer and they either stopped sleeping together or try to have a normal relationship. He had a whole speech prepared but he never imagined that she wouldn't let him finish. He saw hurt in her eyes as she was leaving and the fact that she misunderstood him and felt hurt by what he had said to her made him feel better on the inside because now he understood that he wasn't the only one with the feelings. "I will let her cool down for a while and then I will talk to her he decided."
Sakura couldn't sleep all night. Her memory was like drum repeating the sounds of his words. Earlier she tried to cry but when to tears had flown from her eyes she knew that when it came to tears she was dry. No man not even Kakashi deserved the sadness of her tears:"Screw men." She thought while flipping the covers of the bed and getting up. She strolled into her kitchen and started making coffee. There was no way she was going to sleep so catching up on documents was going to take her mind off things. While she was waiting for the coffee to boil she though:"I hope that bastard can sleep as well. I hope he doesn't touch another woman for a year at least."
Three days had passed and Kakashi thought it was time that he went to Sakura and try to explain to her the whole situation. He knew that the minute she saw him she would throw him out of her house so he decided to buy her some flowers as a peace offering. When he got into the flower shop he saw Ino sitting behind the counter. He was hoping that either her mother or her father so he wouldn't have to face her. Ino got up from her seat and gave the coldest look he had ever received:"Now I wonder why an asshole would buy flowers." She said with the coldest tone that send chills down his spine. He took a deep breath:"Ino its not like that I want to explain at least to you so you would give me her favorite flowers."
After nearly ten minutes of explanations Ino finally gave up:"That is actually very sweet and romantic but I have to tell you something." Kakashi raised his head waiting for her to say something:"The thing is that…Sakura left the village yesterday." At first he thought that wasn't weird at all maybe she had a mission. He just had to wait for her to come back and then they could talk things out and finally decide what to do but Ino continued and what he heard didn't please him at all:"She took one week of vacation and went somewhere she didn't tell me where. I tried asking but she just waved me off."
