Chapter 3- Coincidence

On the other side of Konoha's, in the white sterile hallways of Konoha's general, Sakura was finishing her rounds. She had been at it the whole day since arrived promptly at 5:00 am.

Her long hair tied back into a tight bun and clothed in her pristine white overcoat, she strode down the hall popping in and out of rooms, clipboard in hand smile glued in place. As a result of trying to help Sasuke she was behind on both her paper work and her rounds. The day had been a monotonous wash, rinse, repeat cycle and It was now finally coming to an end. Turning a corner she slowed her brisk steps to a halt, it was her resident nurses and by the looks of it what they were twittering about was pretty hilarious. A shudder worked her spine at the high pitch of one of the little twats laugh; she didn't really see eye to eye with her shallow and vapid counter parts. She once thought Ino was bad but in comparison to them she was like a speck of dust in a sand storm. She really should have just walked away but being particularly tired she couldn't stand the nonsense. She took a step then she heard their voices carry.

"I heard that the moment he was released he fucked her brains senseless…"

"Oh no" another voice squealed. "Fucked her he did but no that way, he dropped her ass like the piece of shit she is!" To that they all threw their heads back and cackled. A solid lump formed in Sakura's throat and from the back of her head a violent throb began spreading slowly forward. Fists clenched she embraced that pain and twisted into the bitter sharp edged sword she would use to cut down these clueless whores.

Stepping out of the shadows she clapped slowly, the sound bouncing of the now quiet hallway. They all turned to look at her wide eyed, fear rolled off them as the sweat did on their brows. Yes, she would use it to her advantage. Her lips in a thin slash, she pinned them with a glacier glare.

"Hah, fucking hah." She whispered. She had thought her voice to come out more firm but this way it would be more sinister. She twisted her mouth into a smile and she saw them visibly shake.

"If… this is what you spend your days doing, you might as well get the fuck out of my hospital and never set foot in it again. But then again…" she paused watching each of their wretched faces,

"By the time I'm done with you, you will definitely need to be here." Walking over to the nearest chair she grabbed it and began pushing it together between her hands, watching with grim fascination as the metal began to bend to her will.

"I have had a very, long day and I won't tolerate any of this shit. If you value your pathetic lives and your jobs you will do what you are paid to do." She spat out and with a deafening crack the chair crumpled into a heap of plastic and metal. The nurses jumped back and began bowing and apologising simultaneously. She looked at them, and pitied them.

"Get out of my sight." They left promptly, scattering like the cockroaches they were.

Feeling the energy sap out of her she leaned onto the wall closest to her. Her head pounded in time to her heart as she felt it bleed. Trudging to her office she removed her coat and shoes and slipped on her black nin sandals and black leather coat and started home. The feel of the worn leather on her was like a hug from a friend. She breathed in its familiar scent and could feel her headache ease. She had gotten it for her 21st birthday from Kakashi and Naruto, though she suspected it was more from Kakashi. She smiled remembering when she had opened the badly wrapped present. Dodging a group of kids running, she bumped into someone and turned apology on her lips.

"I'm so sorry" she looked up.

"Sakura?" "Sensei" the voice mixed. Sakura stepped back and watched her sensei straighten up.

He spoke "fancy bumping into you like this." His eye wrinkled with a smile, the other under the mask as usual. He really hadn't been expecting a meet like this. He watched as a blush tinted her cheeks.

"Oh gosh, I am so sorry. Are you okay?" she reached for him, but he stopped her.

"I'm fine, should be asking you really. You don't look so hot." That was a lie.

"Im fine!" she said on a laugh. "Good actually, just coming from work." She pointed to the hospital which she knew, he knew where it was. Why was this awkward?

"Do you want a drink?" He said smiling, he could see right through her facade. She knew he was smiling because it touched his eye and it twinkled in the dim light of the setting sun.

"Uh..."

"Is that a yes?"

What? She had just been in this whole Sasuke thing, she shouldn't. Was it even a date? She looked down and saw him holding a bag of books from the local book store, along with some beers.

"I wouldn't want to disturb you" she said taking a few more steps backwards. He followed her gaze.

"Oh, this." he lifted the bag. "This was a start to a very long boring weekend. Besides I haven't seen you in a while. It will be my treat, like old times." He offered his hand. It was a low blow but he couldn't watch her slip from his grasp when she was so clearly distraught. He watched her process.

"Why not then." She returned the smile and took his hand. Grateful for the distraction, she hadn't been out in months ever since, no her mind would let her go there… Yes she needed this, and she hadn't seen Kakashi sensei in eons.

"This is almost like a date huh?" she joked hoping to diffuse the weird feeling in her gut. To that he chuckled and she could feel his muscles ripple on their linked arms and move into her.

"Come, there is this new place I'd like to try. Hope you aren't too tired"

"I'm a tough cookie, remember" she thumped his shoulder lightly and he exaggerated a wince.

They ambled down the road towards destination and fell into comfortable conversation. The sun had not long set and a breeze picked up sending the early autumn leaves flying. Throughout their conversation they could see the storm brewing because the sky was clear.