8
Mobile phone
There was a certain place in Konoha Kakashi always loved.
A pair of benches amidst small, artificial ponds, one on each side of a cherry-tree.
When it blossomed, and tiny pink leaves danced in the wind, it was the most beautiful place in the world.
You could just imagine all of the lovers sitting there, one of each side of the tree, exchanging insignificant sweet words as leaves rained on them.
He approached his favorite bench - the one facing the east.
His every step echoed through a creak of the old wooden bridge that crossed one of the ponds.
And suddenly, he heard a sob, followed by a tearful chuckle. And then a whisper, almost inaudible as a gust of wind raked through the tree-tops, sending thousands of voices to a choral of rustles.
Strange.
Kakashi never met anyone on his travels there.
The sakura tree above him wept, its tears in form of soft pink leaves raining down on him as he approached the abandoned bench.
When he raised his hand, something landed in his palm.
Sakura.
A cherry blossom.
"Naruto…"
Kakashi froze.
"Sakura-chan, I am so sorry…"
"Shut up, idiot," Sakura said softly, her sobs muffling.
And Naruto did, quiet as Sakura cried.
Kakashi smiled fondly. It seemed that he was right when he said those clichéd, would-be consoling words that everything bad came with something good.
It seemed Sakura and Naruto made it over the childish part.
He sat down on the bench, ready to pull out his book from his pocket, when he noticed a pink phone laying beside him.
He picked it up from sheer curiosity, as always totally disregarding the privacy of his students.
Sakura and Naruto were talking now behind him, but he paid no attention to their words as he found Sakura's message box.
The newest messages were from Sasuke.
Kakashi shook his head.
Sasuke.
The one person that could easily make Sakura, sometimes one of the strongest persons he knew, cry.
He found their today's conversation - it was longer than he thought it would be, considering it was Sasuke.
Sasuke: Hi, Sakura. I just wanted to ask: Are you alright? You seemed upset during the training.
Me: Yes, Sasuke-kun. I'm fine. Thank you for asking.
Sasuke: You sure? I mean - you were so distracted. You are usually very concentrated.
Me: It's nothing.
Sasuke: If something bothers you, you can tell me.
Me: And you ask me if I'm alright? It's so unlike you, Sasuke-kun.
Sasuke: You are my teammate. It's bad for the team if one of the team is inefficient from emotional reasons.
Me: Okay. It's my dad. I just can't get over it. I was so used to having both my parents… and now dad's gone.
Sasuke: I understand what you feel, Sakura. And I know you should be glad.
Me: Glad?
Sasuke: For all the moments you had together. You may not have a father anymore, but you still have your memories. When you feel alone, when you feel cornered and need father's hand, remember him.
Me: Sasuke-kun… thank you.
Sasuke: And remember as well that you've got your mother to share your grief with. Even if it may not look so right now, you're not alone. You have us, Sasuke, Kakashi and me. And you've got your mother. We'll be there for you, Sakura-chan.
Me: Naruto? Why… how did you get to Sasuke's phone?
Sasuke: Heh, I stole it. I knew you needed to hear this, Sakura-chan, and I knew you would not listen if I told you.
Me: Thank you, Naruto.
Me: Where are you?
Sasuke: I'm at home, why?
Me: Do you know the park with the ponds and the cherry-tree?
Sasuke: Yeah.
Me: Could you come here, please?
Sasuke: Of course, Sakura-chan.
There was one more message, one Sakura obviously didn't open before.
Sasuke: I would do anything for you.
And on the other side of the tree, flooded with leaves, sat Sakura and Naruto.
Naruto had Sakura in a tight embrace, his face buried in her hair as she cried into his jacket.
And the tree above them rained sakuras on them, and the ponds around them whispered as the water washed over rocks and pebbles, and old planks creaked as Kakashi walked away.