Scars
Chapter 7
Author's note: sorry for the long delay, but just to make it up to you guys, I'll post one more chapter today. With love, missgreeneyed
I don't own any of the characters, they belong to Masashi Kishimoto
Still lying under the covers, the young woman was thinking of a way to leave Kakashi's home without being noticed. But there were two problems: first, it's impossible to trick Kakashi unless he wants you to do that, and, second, she couldn't leave without apologizing and thanking him for his help last night. So, no matter what, Sakura will have to face her ex-sensei and bear the shame.
The first thing the kunoichi did was take a shower because if she could tell she smells bad, it would be a torture for Kakashi with his overly sensitive smell. After leaving the shower in his bathrobe, she went to the kitchen to ask Kakashi if he could wash her clothes from last night so she could wear them on her way home, but as soon as she entered Sakura realized she will stay here for a bit longer, just so she could have breakfast with him. He had bought her favorite anko dumplings and some miso soup for both of them.
"Um, good morning" said the woman.
"Good morning, Sakura" answered Kakashi with his trademark eye crinkle "Want some soup, or maybe dumplings? I know you like them"
Sakura knew there must have been something wrong about this for him to be so nice, but she decided to go along for now.
"Yeah, sure" answered Sakura and took a seat at his small dining table.
"Want some coffee?" asked the copy ninja with something close to a smirk on his face.
'He's so making fun of my hangover' thought Sakura
"Yes, thank you, sensei" said the woman knowing it was a low blow, 'cause Kakashi felt old when they called him 'sensei' even after reaching jounin level themselves.
He looked at her with his death glare, but didn't say anything.
They ate in a comfortable silence until Sakura said:
"Um, could you please wash my clothes, if it's not too much of me to ask?"
She knew it was not a problem to him, just like she knew she can use his bathroom without asking, but Sakura felt guilty he had to take care of her from yesterday.
"You can do it yourself. You do know where everything is, don't you?"
"Yes. I'll be right back"
When she came back, Kakashi already had his beloved Icha Icha out and was reading it, which left Sakura with nothing to do until her clothes were washed and dried.
The woman took the dishes and the leftovers. After putting the food into the fridge, she started washing the dishes. It was such a family-like atmosphere that Sakura started thinking about all those things that got her over the edge yesterday. She was happy for all her friends that were seeking love and looking for their second half, but she felt a bit left behind. Well, who could possibly want to date a woman so ugly and scarred both physically as well as mentally? Who could stand her awful moods as well as her insecureness?
"Are you alright there?" asked Kakashi looking at her with the book on his lap "You have been scrubbing this bowl for almost five minutes now"
"I'm alright" said Sakura even though she knew it sounded fake.
Kakashi just looked at her with a more intense stare, but the only thing he said was:
"OK"
Sakura kept on washing the dishes and only then did she realize that Kakashi haven't asked anything about yesterday and about why she was in such a condition.
"Kakashi?"
"Yes?"
"Why didn't you ask about what happened yesterday and the day before, when we were training?"
"Because it's your life, it's your choice whether you want to tell me anything or not" answered the copy ninja without even glancing from his book.
Sakura felt happy she didn't have to talk about it, but at the same time she felt a bit disappointed that Kakashi didn't care for her enough to at least ask what happened.
Without saying a word she went to check if her clothes were washed. As she reached the little laundry room tears started running down her cheeks and she didn't know if it was out of relief or out of heartache. She slowly fell to her knees, but kept on doing what she came here for. She took the kimono out of the washing machine and put it in the dryer.
'It will only take a few minutes now and then I will be able to leave' thought Sakura not wanting to stay with this man any longer. He made her remember everything and all she needed now was to forget it all.
Sakura was ashamed she let her emotions take control of her as she didn't even hear him coming until it was too late. The first thing she heard was Kakashi turning the door-knob.
When he opened the door the copy ninja was surprised to see Sakura in such a condition. He remembered all those children he saved during war, they looked just like this young woman- hurt, lost and helpless. He couldn't think of anything else to do so he took a seat on the ground and hugged her.
The thing that surprised Sakura the most was that he didn't say a word, but he did the thing she needed the most, he embraced her and she felt safe again. She felt safe from her own madness, from her fears and from the world. The woman put her head on his shoulder and still crying inhaled his manly scent.
They spent a few minutes like that, just enjoying each other warm embrace until her clothes were ready. But Sakura didn't feel like she wanted to leave anymore, she didn't want to let him go ever again.