Thanks for the reviews and the alerts. I didn't know that many people were reading this story!!!!! So enjoy!!! Also a side note its very hard to stay in character for both Sakura and Kakashi. Especially Kakashi, any other writer you probably can relate and agree with me.
Chapter 4: The Lone Blossom
Sakura finished wrapping the athletic tape around her patient's foot.
"There as long as you stay off it for a couple of days, your foot should be back to normal" she said with a forced smile. The young boy only nodded and hopped off her table and limped out of the room with his mother. Sakura sighed slightly. It had been one long month from her 'accident' and she had to yet get used to being in an adult body.
Also all her friends, her once friends, were still avoiding her. The only one that really came up to her was Naruto because he said that he would still be her friend no matter what happened to her. Sakura also believed that he felt it was his fault that she was now an adult and he failed in protecting her.
Sakura sighed a little, to make matters more complicated. She and Kakashi hadn't spoken since he came to her hospital room that night. She was really hoping that their friendship would continue despite the circumstances.
"So much for friends" she muttered as she cleaned up her supplies. When Sakura found out that her 'accident' was non-reversible she went back to her house and stayed there for about a week. She remembered that she didn't eat, sleep, or shower that long. It wasn't till Naruto came storming into her house with a bag of borrowed clothing and demanded that she ate and showered.
Sakura smiled slightly from the memory.
"What are trying to do?" she asked from her spot on her bed.
"I'm getting you ready for work, that's what" he replied coming out of her bathroom from turning on her shower.
"Why?"
"Because I'm your friend and I care about you" he said throwing the bag of clothing at her. "Those used to be Granny's, I think they will fit. You can borrow her clothes till you have the heart and time to go shopping on your own"
Sakura opened her eyes from the memory. With Naruto's help she was able to get out of her depression bubble and get out in the open. She just didn't know how hard it would be for everyone to get used to her new form.
For the first two weeks of her returning to the hospital everyone thought that she was some older sister or cousin or something. It took some time for people to realize that she was in fact the original Sakura Haruno, but she was just a bit older looking now. Also the village had to get used to her as well, some people still whispered behind their hands whenever she passed on the street. Children would stop and stare and circle her like she was some new toy in a toy store. But thanks to the elderly and also the Konoha Jounin's the whispers were quieted and stilled.
Sakura settled a longing look out her window, since that time not one of her old friends came near her. Ino came over one day; she knew somehow that Ino came here forced. She talked to her but she had the feeling that Ino was feeling the same way she was, uncertain and insecure. So she distanced herself from all of them, the only one that really informed her of her old friends were Naruto who came to visit her on a regular basis. She thanked him for that numerous times.
Someone knocked on her door halting her recollecting; she looked up to find Tsunade.
"How are you holding up?" she asked crossing her arms over her busting chest. Sakura shrugged her shoulders as she threw her trash away into a bin.
"I'm hanging in there but I still can't get used to the damn hormones"
She heard her mentor chuckle. Being an adult was no different from being a teen, well that is if you went through the growing process. In Sakura's case, you were a teen to bam! an adult in less then 3 years. Sakura had her share of hormones but they were magnified with her becoming an adult so suddenly. One minute she would be fine then the next she would get extremely angry or sad. Gosh, she would hate to know what she would be like when she was on her period. Sakura only shuddered from the thought.
Since she became an adult, she never really smiled that much anymore. She didn't know why, she bet it was due to all her friends avoiding her like the plague.
"Your body is still adapting to the change so you're going to be experiencing some mood swings for a couple days. Give your body about a month to adjust and you'll be about normal" Tsunade said looking down the hallway. "I also came by to talk to you about your last medical exam"
Sakura turned her head in question to look at her teacher. She remembered the last exam she had; it was over the last few months of teaching from Tsunade and also her medical examiners. She remembered for the longest time her studying for the exam, but once she had it in front of her she found it exceedingly easy to complete. She was beginning to wonder if it was swapped to make her feel really stupid with all the easy questions.
"I just got done talking to your other mentors and your results on the test were extremely high"
Sakura raised both eyebrows at the statement; she had to be joking, she never done that well on tests.
"Are you sure you had the right test?"
"I double checked the name to make sure it was yours. Some of the questions on that test covered things that an intern would later get, you answered those questions perfectly. You also came up with two new solutions on the two situation-treatment questions. It also showed that you had a strong skill in counseling"
Sakura nodded her head remembering those questions. You were given a situation and were told to answer the question by what you had to do and how to treat the patient. Sakura thought that some of the methods of treatment were a bit meticulous. With the counseling question, she filled the entire space that was provided and had to ask to get a separate piece of paper.
"So what does that mean?" she asked. Tsunade sighed and looked at her pupil.
"I asked if it was possible for you to be moved and promoted to Head Nurse on this floor"
Sakura opened her mouth in surprise.
"I also put in for you to work under Dr. Suzuki, you already know him, but I think he is in need of a nurse and assistant. He's always swamped with stuff and his last assistant left on maternity leave, so he's in need of help. Well see about you getting some counseling work in"
Sakura's mind was reeling; she was just promoted to medical nurse to Head Nurse and Assistant to Dr. Suzuki. She wasn't even sure what she was going to specialize in when she was a 15 year old.
"What will happen to me?"
"You will get your own office so you can be away from prying eyes and also get used to the feeling of being independent"
"When do I start?"
"You can start tomorrow if you like, what do you say?"
Sakura's stomach was flipping due to the excitement and surprise of being promoted so early in her medical career. She smiled at her teacher, she felt like jumping and screaming to the world for her excitement.
"I'll do it! Oh, wow….gosh, I don't know what to say…thank you so much senpai" she said smiling and bowing very deeply. When was the last time did she smile?
"Good" she said turning and walking away. Sakura smiled and looked out the window. "Sakura"
She looked back at the blonde.
"It's good to see you smiling"
Sakura smiled as she watched her teacher turn and leave.
Naruto walked down the street to meet up with Sakura that day for lunch, it was now about a month and a half since her 'accident' and he was getting really frustrated. Not one of his friends or her old friends would come and talk to her. Not one. He pretty much had to beg Ino to come over to her house that one time, which really went over well, they barely said anything and he got an ear full by her the next afternoon.
"What is the deal?" he said putting his arms behind his head. "She's still the same Sakura…. but just a lot….. older looking"
He was happy for Sakura since she was promoted up to Head Nurse at the hospital and also her becoming an assistant to this Dr. Suzuki. He could only do so much by telling everyone else about her, they would only smile and nod their heads whenever he mentioned her name. From what he was told from Sakura, she was happy with her new promotion. She was able to do more independent work and also learn a lot more about counseling which she really was getting into.
He sighed and looked over to his left to the red bridge Team 7 used to meet up on every morning whenever they had a mission. He stopped seeing a very unfamiliar sight; there standing on the bridge was Kakashi. When was the last time did he talk to the silver haired Jounin? When was the last time did Kakashi talk to Sakura?
Sakura didn't say that much about their old teacher but he knew that she wanted to at least say hello and talk since the last time she talked to him it was when she was revealed to everyone. He sprinted toward the bridge and found his teacher still standing on it by himself.
Naruto was really beginning to wonder how long he was standing on it; he looked like he was there for a couple of hours due to the collecting leaves that were falling around his feet. What really threw him off was the lack of the familiar orange book in his hand, the only other time he didn't have it out was when he was at the memorial.
Naruto walked to the edge of the bridge and looked at the older man in front of him. He knew that he was there but he didn't make his presence known by turning his head.
"Hello, sensei" he said walking onto the bridge so he could stand next to him. He looked over at him; he was still staring down into the water. He sighed, he was normally known for not being patient but he found out in the last couple days or month that his tolerance for patience was slowly waning.
They stood in silence for a good ten minutes till Naruto snapped.
"Okay that's it!" he said turning on the Copy Nin. "I don't care about you feeling all guilty about what happened to Sakura but you need to get over it and go talk to her!"
He said this and pointed a very shaky accusing finger at him. The Copy Nin turned his head in his direction due to the tone of voice.
"She doesn't hate you, Sensei!" he yelled at the older man. "What she needs right now is someone else's companionship! Mine can only last so long. And Granny Tsunade can only do so much!"
He stood on the bridge puffing a little from the steam he just let off. He realized how quiet the surrounding trees became and took in a steady breath now feeling a lot better. The birds slowly came out of their fright and began chirping.
He tapped his foot waiting for a response but he just turned around fed up with his ranting, he wasn't getting anywhere.
"Naruto—"
"I'm said my share" he cutted in. He didn't turn back around to answer him. "Go talk to her"
He walked off the bridge but stopped at the edge of it.
"She's wanted to talk to you for some time now. Go. It would make her day a lot better"
With that he stormed off the bridge and continued on his way to meet up with his pink haired friend and hoped that their ramen lunch would get him back in a pleasant mood.
Kakashi looked off the roof he was crouching on. The moon was high above his head telling him that all of Konoha would be asleep, with the exception of the guards keeping watch at the gates. No one would bother him or even question his appearance on the roof that he was on. His visible eye lingered on a window, the only window with light pouring out of it showing a person's dedication to their work. He jumped off the roof and landed in an alley and walked toward the building.
Since the 'accident', he hadn't had the heart or ability to go talk to Sakura. He was in Konoha most of the time but he was occasionally called off on assignment for the oh so helpful Hokage.
He sighed thinking of the woman, some times she could be very wise but most of the time she could be unpredictable.
"Not to mention dangerous" he thought to himself. His light footsteps stopped in front of his destination, the Konoha Hospital. He had to make an appearance here sooner or later, or Naruto or Lady Tsunade would be on him asking him to talk to a certain someone.
In truth he didn't know what to say to her, their conversation on the night she was revealed to everyone still lingered in his mind as awkward and very out of character for the both of them. But he could understand her actions, she didn't want him to feel like it was his fault for causing this incident to happen and he being Hatake Kakashi just stood silently and took it all. But he still couldn't understand his actions or behavior was he acting more along the lines of teacher or friend?
He sighed again as his gaze went up to the lit window. But most of all he didn't know how to treat her, either the 15 year old he saw not just a few months ago or the 28 year old that she was forced to be. He didn't know, but he had to guess that she would want to be treated as an adult now that she was one. It would be unfair to her if he did treat her as a child.
He walked into the hospital doors and silently walked past the sleeping receptionist.
His gaze was constantly moving, it never really stopped on one spot if it did he would happen to have Icha Icha in his hands. His gaze halted on a board that was posted on the wall near the stairs and elevator, it was a bulletin showing what floor and rooms certain doctors resided in. His eye widened slightly seeing the name on the board.
Sakura Haruno
Head Nurse on 7th Floor
Assistant and Nurse to Dr. Suzuki
Counselor
Kakashi stood staring at the name on the board. To think that she could accomplish so much in the little time she was given as an adult. He continued on his walk to the 7th floor, he was due for a visit but not an actual one on one engagement. He climbed the stairs silently, barely hearing his sandaled feet on the stone steps.
The 7th took some time, he was in no rush to go see her, but he wanted to be as silent as possible. He was in a hospital and some people needed their rest. Near the end of the long hallway he saw a small beam of light cut across the floor, showing that a late worker had their door slightly ajar. He walked down the hallway looking at the nameplates to figure out what room his pupil inhabited. His steps halted when he came to the door that had the light coming out of it. From what he saw and read on the door, it was Sakura's room. He slowly eased the door open to take a look inside.
She had a fairly large room for her being Head Nurse. It wasn't exactly the same size of the Hokage's office but it was close. Her desk was directly in front of the door but was shoved into the corner to face the wall, so Sakura only had to lift her head up to see who went in or out of her room. The desk looked sturdy and durable; it was a bit high tech for him and even the Hokage. It had standing shelves to store files, paperwork, or other miscellaneous items, the desk of a becoming doctor. A single chair was placed near the desk so the visitor could talk to Sakura while she continued working at her desk.
The other furnishings in the room were of good taste and of good quality. In the opposite corner was a comfy looking sofa that had a two book cases next to it filled with books, medical he could only assume and a low coffee table placed in front of the sofa. Under the window, which opened to the front of the hospital, was a low bookshelf that had a nice sound system placed on it to play music to sooth any worker or patient. Kakashi could already see a collection of CD's already near the device. The final wall was an entire counter that had cabinets above them. He could hear a frig somewhere; he could guess that it was under the counter. From where he stood he could see a sink, coffee maker, and microwave. For being an Assistant to a Doctor and being a Head Nurse, Sakura had a nice office to accompany her position.
Speaking of Sakura, Kakashi scanned the room to look for her. He heard a shift of movement and his attention returned to the desk. He was so engrossed with looking around her room he didn't even notice her sleeping at her desk.
He silently entered the office and approached the woman. She had her arm under her head which was up on the desk; she must have fallen asleep while doing paperwork. He stood there with his hands in his pockets just watching her.
"Where's the girl that I trained not that long ago?" he said softly. His gaze went down her sleeping form. Her hair was still the bubblegum pink that she was well known for, but it now was past her shoulder blades but he couldn't tell due to the pen she had in her hair to keep it up in a messy bun. Her face was slimmer and more defined with her quick coming of age. Somehow he knew that her eyes would remain the same but they looked a lot deeper and greener when he saw her that night. Her eyelashes lengthened and thickened to mask those green eyes of hers. Her lips still remained the same perfect shape but they turned a slightly deeper pink.
Kakashi's eye scanned over the contents on her desk. It mostly was covered with papers, pens, pencils, coffee mugs, folders, and open medical textbooks. In one corner she had a small desk lamp that would be turned on, like now, to aid her late night stays. The light gave a soft yellow glow over its owner, illuminating her face with lamplight.
Something caught his eye, as he turned his head, a flash of light. He looked over in the opposite corner of her desk and found two framed pictures sitting there looking at him. One was of her parents; he remembered when he heard about the Haruno's deaths. He was returning from an escort mission when he heard the news and was downhearted to hear that Sakura couldn't even make the funeral due to her being in a different Country. The other photograph was of Old Team 7; he carefully reached forward and took the picture into his gloved hand. His eye fell on his former pupils. The first was Sasuke and Naruto; both had grown and moved on from his teachings. Some would likely never return to the gates of Konoha. His gaze lingered on Sakura, how small and innocent she was back then. The corners of his mouth twitched slightly, how he remembered how much she tried to act like an adult ninja. His attention went to back to the sleeping Sakura next to him.
"Looks like you got your wish" he said putting the picture back in its place. He looked over to the sleeping woman; it must have been a little past midnight. How long was she making herself stay up?
Tsunade wasn't only teaching her medical ninjutsu, but also of her habits. He sighed and turned his gaze to look outside her open window. The white curtains fluttered slightly from the breeze the Fire Country gave its people. He sighed deciding what to do next.
He heard movement, he turned back to Sakura. She shifted in her sleep and reached up with her other hand and scratched her head causing the pen that held back her long hair to fall out. Her hair tumbled down her back and shielded part of her face from him.
"What am I going to do with you?" he thought. He looked over at her couch and thought it would be better for her to sleep on her couch than on her desk. He pulled her chair out a little more so he could get to her easier and not disturb her sleep. He leaned her back in her chair and slid an arm under her knees and the other went to her free arm so he could have it around his shoulders to help steady her. He crouched and stood back up with the medical-nin in his arms, he was surprised to how much she weighed before she was so light now he actually had to use some muscle to carry the woman.
He stood and shifted her weight slightly so he could get a better grip. The movement stirred her and caused her to shift in his hands. He froze, praying to the gods that she would not wake up. She stopped moving but shifted her head so that it rested into his neck; he looked down at the pink head that was clearly invading his personal space.
His eye softened slightly as he made his way over to her couch. He stood in front of it for a little to just stare at it deciding what to do. He bent down on one knee and gently placed her onto the couch. Withdrawing his hand from under her head slowly caused the Kunoichi to shift again, he froze, and she stopped moving. He pulled his hand away from her, and that's when she nuzzled his hand when it went past her head. He froze and watched her.
Sakura only sighed in her sleep and shifted to make her more comfortable. He moved the caressed hand and continued to watch her. She slept soundly on her side with still one arm under her head while the other was draped over her stomach. Some of her pink hair was falling over her face creating a rose colored curtain over her face.
He remained in the crouched position for a bit watching her, her aura kept giving off a pent up feeling, even in her sleep he could tell. He sighed; he could be partially to blame for that feeling but also her friends. He reached out with a hand toward her face; he stopped, questioning his actions. The night when he came to her hospital room came to mind.
Then slowly, ever so slowly he reached out and pushed some of her hair behind her ear. He was amazed with how soft and silky her hair felt under his callused fingertips. He gently ran a knuckle down alongside her face, remembering that day when she took that hit. He blinked catching his thoughts and withdrew his hand.
He stood up, completing his visit, and turned and walked toward the door.
"Kakashi-sensei"
He stopped and looked over his shoulder at the voice. His eye fell on green, he froze, Sakura was up. He turned his head back toward the door, wanting to leave before she became fully awake.
"Wait, don't go"
He stopped again and turned back to the woman. He didn't like the need in that sentence, it made him uncomfortable. In her state of grogginess, she sat up from her laying position and had her legs under her as she sat sideways on the couch.
"What are you doing here?" she asked softly. Kakashi raised one shoulder, in response.
"I'm asking that myself" he thought.
"Just came here to check up on you" he replied.
He looked at her, from the expression she gave, she was thinking about how to respond to that. Her mouthed opened into an "o" but it then closed and she averted her gaze to the floor.
"Thanks…. and…. thanks for moving me"
Kakashi nodded his head slightly and turned to leave.
"Why now?" she said. He stopped and turned back around to face her. He looked at her expression; it read question and also urgency. "Why come now, when you knew that I wanted to talk to you?"
He remained where he stood and took in the question. He was about to reply when she butted in.
"And don't tell me that Naruto told you to come, I want to hear it from you"
He sighed as he looked at her.
"I didn't know what to say to you" he said looking into her jade eyes. "I wasn't sure if you would hate me"
Sakura looked at him with a slightly angered face but the look only lasted a second.
"Why would you think that? You and Naruto are the only ones that I have left now. Did you feel that you were partially to blame for what happened to me?"
He remained silent. He saw her get up from her spot but she didn't approach him.
"Did you think that I would break our friendship just because of what happened?"
He looked down at the floor, he head footsteps and heard her move over to her desk. He watched her pick up folders and documents and began stacking them in neat piles.
"Or do you really resent what I did for you?" she said in a near whisper, but he heard it with his sensitive hearing.
He looked up at her and saw that she was less than 7 feet away with her hands wrapped around her middle. Her back was to her desk but the light was off and the moonlight shown through the office illuminating the two people in it.
"Do you feel like you failed in protecting me?" she continued with that soft voice; it was making him squirm in the inside. He didn't know what to think to the questions she threw at him.
"No" he said calmly. He heard her take a few steps toward him, he lifted his head up. Her eyes read want and need of understanding.
"I don't you to keep avoiding me just because you thought you failed me" she said delicately. Kakashi felt something in him stir. "You made me who I am today because of what you did for me when I was a Gennin"
"But you—"
"What's done is done" she said with finality, he saw her smile slightly. His memory went back to the day before they left on that mission where he said those exact words. "You can't undo it and… neither can this"
She reached up with her right hand and gently laid her hand on his cheek that was covered with his head plate and mask. Her touch was soft, warm, and gentle to the skin on his face. He looked at her; her attention was drawn to his covered Shangarin eye. He wanted to close his eye but he didn't, when was the last time did a woman touch him? Her gaze flicked back to his visible eye.
"I don't want our friendship to end just because of what happened" she lowered her hand from his face. "I'm an adult now and I can take care of myself"
Kakashi's jaw tightened slightly from that statement. Sakura's facial expression changed from the movement he made.
"Hey, it's getting late and I know that both of us should be getting home" she said walking back to her desk. She bent and picked up a pair of high heeled sandals that were similar to those Tsunade wore.
He nodded and walked toward the door.
"Sensei"
He looked over his shoulder at her.
"Thank for seeing me" she said looking down at her desk.
"Kakashi" he said. She looked up and at him from his statement.
"What?"
"Call me Kakashi. After all we're both adults now we don't need titles"
He saw her smile and nod.
"You're right, we are. Good night…"
He nodded his head and left her room.
"….Kakashi" came her soft voice from the office, he was meant not to catch that last part. He walked down the hallway with his hands in his pockets and a grin went unseen under his masked face.