Hehe sorry for not updating in a long time, it's not like I forgot or anything it's just a very large beast of Writers Block. But I defeated the beast and reigned supreme. Anyway here's a very long update to satisfy you all. Hope you like it. And also if you all haven't noticed but I also posted a new fic which is called Ripples and its a Kisame/Sakura pairing but if you don't like the pairing then don't read it it's your call. I've another idea too and it's going to be a Itachi/Sakura pairing and that one is called In Between the Lines but don't get too excited I'm still writing the detailed outline out on it. So just be patient I'm still writing but it's going to be slow due to school being a pain and also college stuff getting in the way. But thanks for the reveiws!
I want to thank everyone for reviewing and adding Metamorphosis to your guys favorite list. A special thanks to Goatis! Thanks for the review! Hopefully some of your guys questions are going to be answered in this chapter, it not just wait I'm going to add them in later chapters. I didn't forget them so be patient! Thanks again! -Mokana-chan
Kakashi continued to stare at the half empty sake cup in front of him. He had no reason to drink; he didn't even know if he wanted to continue drinking in the first place. It was his job to stay somewhat sober in case the famous Green Beast decided to have one to many sake bottles. After all he was the only one that could control Maito Gai if he did get a bit plastered.
He was debating whether or not to pull out his beloved Icha Icha and start reading but his decision was short lived due to Asuma sliding in next to him.
"Hatake, how you holding up?"
Kakashi could only shrug a shoulder as a reply; he was still going over his conversation with Sakura last night and was wondering if their 'problem' was patched up or not.
"You know you should give it a chance"
The Copy Nin turned a dark eye on his friend; he only received a grin before he took a drink from his glass. Kakashi returned to stare at the glass in front of him. He knew what the Sarutobi meant, but he didn't know how to form his answer. Yes, he should give Sakura and him a chance to patch up their broken relationship. But there was still the Your-Talking-To-A-15-Year-Old in his mind and it was a hard trying to shake that feeling.
Kakashi returned his gaze on the shot glass in front of him. Asuma only looked at his direction for a minute till he got up.
"She's tougher than you think" he said softly to the Copy Nin. Kakashi only lifted a cool gaze in his departing direction. A sigh escaped him.
"Yes, everyone seems to be telling me that" he muttered to himself. He heard the door jingle and the cold breeze of the evening came in and softly whipped the silver hairs on his head. Voices were soon heard behind him telling him the entrance of another couple coming in from the cool evening to just kick back and relax.
"My Eternal Rival!"
Kakashi only cringed from the voice; he was in no mood to be talking to the infamous Green Beast of Konoha even if he was the one doing the babysitting. Gai's overly confident attitude was already starting to irritate him, even with it being so early in the evening.
"Gai" he said not taking his gaze from the shot glass. The Mighty Gai slipped onto the bar stool next to him with slight trouble.
"My aren't we touchy this beautiful evening" he happily said leaning closure to him. Kakashi only leaned away from him slightly noticing the strong smell of sake radiating off him.
"Just slightly"
Gai only raised a fuzzy eyebrow at him and turned back to face the bar. Kakashi returned his gaze back down at the glass cylinder in front of him, out of his peripheral vision he could see Gai swiveling back and forth on the bar stool.
"You haven't been talking to my Lee-chan's Youthful Sakura Haruno by chance?" he asked while looking over his shoulder at him. Kakashi only raised an eyebrow from the statement. If his memory served him correct his rival's current pupil had a never ending crush on the cherry blossom. He only wondered how long that would last since the accident.
Kakashi only shook his head in response.
"No, not since a yesterday"
The Green Beast only nodded his head in response. Kakashi raised an eyebrow, Gai was trying to suppress a smile but from what? Him?
"Have you and the Blossom made up since the…."
Kakashi was only beginning to understand where this conversation was heading.
"If you're saying that I should give her a chance—"
"No, No, No" Gai butted in. He slapped him on the shoulder to emphasize his point. "I'm just saying have you seen her? You know, like out walking around and talking with friends?"
The Copy Nin regarded the question, from his knowledge and also from what Naruto told him. None of Sakura's old friends were talking to her; the only sort of conversation that she got out of them was when they happened to be in the hospital getting treated from a recent mission. But with the spanning of months, they should have made up by now and take Sakura back as one of their own. He guessed it was due to Sakura's inability to get out of the hospital with her position and all, but also Sakura not having the courage to go and talk to her childhood friends like she used to.
Kakashi only shook his head at the statement when he heard the door open again. He picked up the half empty shot glass and downed the bitter contents. He flicked a look over at Gai but found him turned around in his bar stool with his elbows resting on the bar counter with a smug expression on his lips.
Kakashi couldn't tell if it was actually Gai behind the smirk or if it was the alcohol, but he shrugged off the idea by standing up and slapping his due amount on the bar counter.
"Leaving quiet early aren't we?" the green clad man asked.
Kakashi only raised and lowered one shoulder.
"Depends on what you define as early" the Copy Nin replied. His comment only was greeted with a laugh from the man next to him. Kakashi only looked at him with a hallow expression.
"I think you should stay a while, things could get interesting"
Gai affirmed his comment by slinging his ankle on top of his knee and further leaned back on the counter.
"I have better things to do" Kakashi said smoothly about to turn and leave the bar.
"You did say that you haven't seen Sakura in a while right?"
Kakashi only frowned slightly; he was getting a little tired of all the repeative-ness coming from him.
"Yes, I told you I haven't seen her" he replied curtly turning toward the door once again. Gai butted in again causing him to halt his turn.
"Then if you claim that you haven't seen her, then who is that?" he asked flicking a finger pointing behind him.
He turned as his lone eye fell on Genma. The brunette was talking to a hooded woman, he could tell due to the long legs and pair of heels that the person sported. Said brunette saw the stare and winked at him before returning to his partner. The woman nodded and began to unbutton her jacket and lower her hood.
Kakashi's lone eye fell on pink hair, but not only pink hair. But pink hair in a red dress.
Sakura was not exactly pleased as to what Genma had in mind for 'going on a date'. Not only that but he took her to a bar, bought her a red spaghetti strapped dress, and also matching black panties and a strapless bra to go with the get up.
You got to hand it to him though, he has good taste Inner Sakura said nodding her head.
"Good taste my ass" she muttered. Not only was this her first 'going out' experience in a long while but also this was considered her 'coming out of society'. She really hadn't been able to walk around Konoha in a while due to the 'accident' and also her working so dang long at the hospital. Sakura wasn't even sure to what the villagers and fellow Shinobi would think of her for going out with the local town flirt.
You are now considered an adult now you know Inner Sakura reminded. So I guess it would be considered alright, right?
"You are a lot of help tonight" she snapped.
Just trying to help
"Well, do me a favor and be quiet for the rest of the night kay?"
"Was that pointed at me?"
Sakura blinked her green eyes at him as she took a sip out of her water glass. Genma could only stare at her with confusion.
"No" she said firmly. "No, just thinking of something"
He leaned back in the booth to regard the statement but he didn't question it further.
"I take it that you're not happy about…."
Sakura raised an eyebrow at the question, and then her mouth opened in a small 'o' then closed it in understanding.
"Oh, I'm not offended of…" She waved a hand at the bar before her. "--it at all"
Genma only looked at her as he leaned his elbows on the table.
Liar…
"If this is really making you uncomfortable we can just call it a night" he said gently.
Sakura felt something jab in her chest. She didn't want Genma to think that she thought of him as a leech, even though he was some of the time, but he did go through the effort of buying her a dress for the occasion.
"No, it's just that…."
Genma twirled the toothpick in his mouth. Sakura shifted in her seat a little and looked at her water glass for a bit before answering.
"This is technically my first date…"
She looked up at the Shinobi and saw him smirk at her before he broke out in laughter. Sakura suddenly felt some heat creep onto her cheeks.
"What's so funny" she demanded. Genma only laughed at her more as he leaned more on the table.
"It's just you, you need to loosen up"
Sakura narrowed her eyes at him.
"And what do you mean by that?"
Genma leaned in a little more which caused Sakura to lean back for her own personal space.
"You keep kicking yourself for what happened. Let it go, you both lived. You…… just got a little older"
Sakura opened her mouth but Genma beat her to it.
"Let it go" he said. "Why do you think I asked you out on a date anyway?"
Sakura gripped her glass slightly.
"Didn't you want to flirt with me? And maybe get some—"
"Well, no" he said butting in again. He then paused to think about what he said by looking her up and down "Well, no actually I lied but I do want to flirt with you but sleeping with you no….well not yet that is"
Sakura narrowed her eyebrows at him, which he only replied with a wink of his own. How could he think that? She barely knew him to begin with and from what she gathered even before the accident was that Shiranui Genma was a ladies man and big-time playboy, well that was going a little far on her behalf but it was a little true.
"You. Are. Sick" she said looking him dead in the eye.
He only smiled at her. Sakura couldn't help but smile back; he was only trying to get her to have a good time. He leaned back in his seat and looked around him.
"Now that we have that out of the way, how about something to eat?"
Kakashi's reason on going home early now went out the door once he saw Sakura.
"What is she doing out so late? And why is she in a bar in all places" he thought. For some odd reason, he was completely annoyed and irritated that she was in fact out and about town. And especially with his so called 'friend'. Out of all the people she had to choose she had to choose Genma.
"Well the question was was it her doing the asking or Genma?" a little voice asked in his head. His superior half told him the later.
Luckily for him, Gai already stood up and went to join Asuma in a drinking game, which left Kakashi alone in the farthest and darkest corner of the bar. With the help of his trusty handy-dandy orange backed novel he was able to disguise his snooping for reading.
He flipped a page in his book and glanced back up at the two naïve couple sitting across the room. Every now and then he would catch Genma looking in his general direction and smirk at him, as if he knew that this irritated him. In all actuality it did really tick him off. Why didn't Sakura just stay home and be a good girl and not get into trouble, especially with older men that had the reputation of getting laid about 6 times a month by a different girl or a group of girls.
He let an agitated sigh escape his masked lips.
"'Treat me like an adult…I can take care of myself'?" he voiced soundly slightly similar to a certain pink haired Kunoichi. "Taking care of yourself didn't mean for you to go out to a bar and drink like an adult"
He flipped another page due to his annoyance. He really needed to keep a careful eye on her, his gaze lifted to take a look at her. He blinked at her.
For what he saw was somewhat refreshing and a big relief to him, for the first time in months he saw Sakura smile and laugh. But it wasn't any kind of laugh either; it was a laugh that involved her tipping back her head and opening her mouth to let out a heart filled laugh.
His gaze went back to the book in hand; he turned back a page due to him not reading it. But he found his gaze lifting upwards to look at the medic again.
If he wasn't keeping an eye on her, he would have to say that Sakura did clean up quiet nicely. The dress that she wore fit her womanly curves very nicely and allowed a person like her to move around in it without having the constricted feeling that most dresses gave off. The dress itself was a beautiful blood red that had black trim on the bottom and on her straps that went over slender shoulders, and crossed over each other in the back.
When she went to go sit down the dress hung just below her knees and moved each time she took a step in the Shinobi high heels that some women preferred, the dress also assented her nicely toned calves and slim ankles.
The vibrantly pink hair that she was well known for no longer hung loose around her face but was held partially back with a nice set of ivory combs which allowed the sides of her hair to be out of her face but made the rest of her hair to trail down her back.
Kakashi glanced back down at his reading material before him; he would have to say that she did really look nice. But this was not the type of place to come out of society with a new adult female body. And also not the type of dress to be wearing at a place like this, she was just asking for trouble especially with Genma.
His gaze went back to the kunoichi. He watched her tilt back her head and laugh at something Genma said to her. He was truly amazed at how different she was, she acted so….
Kakashi's gaze went down to the smut in his hands to find the right word. He wanted to say mature?
He lifted his gaze again but decided that mature was what described the 'then' Sakura. He needed a word that described the 'now' Sakura. He wanted to say….grown up?
He flipped another page in innocence to his indecisiveness in the word. He heard a feminine laugh float over to him; he could only presume it was from Sakura. His mind halted for a minute. He now realized that was the first time that he ever heard her laugh, not since the accident. He sighed and slumped a little more in his corner.
"Why me?"
In effect Sakura had to thank Genma for taking her out because she was for the first time in a long time having fun.
You needed it Inner Sakura replied.
"You're right" she replied silently. She took a sip out of her sake cup and felt the burning liquid go down her throat. It was her third and final cup; she did after all know her limits when it came to alcohol. Even though she was technically over the age limit and this being the first time of her ever consuming an alcoholic beverage, she still didn't like the effects alcohol did to people. Also she didn't know what Genma would do to her if she had more than her limit. She didn't want to wake up the next morning with a naked Genma next to her. Sakura halted her reach to put down the empty cup to realize her last thought.
"Genma….morning…naked…."
She also just realized that she was probably the only 28 year old woman in all of Konoha that was still a virgin. Guess that was the perks of getting your age altered so quickly. Sakura only slumped her shoulders slightly from the sad thought, she thought she would have a couple of flings before she turned 25 or so but she guessed she was wrong.
You get more choices of men though Inner Sakura said with a tempting smile. Also they won't care if you are a--
"You're not helping me here" she said staring at her empty cup.
Sakura's gaze went up to the Chunnin Examiner in front of her; he was too busy to notice her stare due to him taking a drink from his sake cup.
Shiranui Genma was in deed attractive, so would half of Konoha's female population. Every and Any woman would love to share a bed with him even if they knew it would be for a one night stand. But she had to bet that it would be the best mind blowing sex in the entire village.
Sakura looked at the soft brunette hair that was always covered by the bandana head plate and the strong jaw that accompanied the nicely built piece of Shinobi in front of her.
Sakura blinked her green eyes to realize the reason for the stare. Has the alcohol made her mind turn into a pervert? Or was it due to the fact that she didn't realize this when she agreed to go out with him in the first place?
Genma's brown eyed gaze fell in line with hers.
"See something you like?" he asked. Sakura felt her cheeks go slightly warm, she was already feeling a little warm and fuzzy due to the alcohol but she didn't want Genma to realize her sudden stare.
"Ah…." she replied quickly looking down at her sake cup. Genma only leaned an elbow onto the table with his continued stare. Sakura re-crossed her legs feeling slightly uncomfortable. God, she never felt this nervous in a long time, the last time she felt this way was when she just learned that Sasuke was on her Genin team. Her thoughts were cut short.
"You wanna dance?"
Sakura looked up at him with question.
"What?"
Genma only smiled at her.
"You wanna dance?" he repeated. Sakura's gaze went up to the small dancer floor, her eyes fell on some Shinobi that she didn't know or recognize but Asuma was there dancing with Kurenia. Her eyes softened at the sight, they looked so cute together. Her eyes went back to the offering ninja before her.
"Sure" she said. Genma got up and offered her his gloved right hand; she looked at it before she took it with her left and got up to follow him.
He gently lead her out onto the dance floor, in the background a simple song was playing not the kind of music that she was used to but the stuff her parents used to listen to. Sakura felt her heart ache due to the memory, but again the thinking was cut short by Genma causing her to go into a twirl and pulled her back in while putting his other hand above her hip and continued to hold her other hand.
Sakura's cheeks flushed due to the close proximity, she hadn't danced in a while too. She realized that she was almost level with jaw line, that very solid and masculine looking jaw.
You are horrible
Shut it she snapped back at her.
"So what else do you do at the hospital?"
Sakura looked up at the man leading her on the dance floor; he suddenly went into a move of twirling her out. She smiled and a laugh escaped her lips as she twirled back into his arms. He only grinned at her.
"Nothing much, just a head nurse and assistant so far"
Genma didn't say anything for a bit but continued to lead her.
"I'm just not sure if I'm ready to move on to being an intern or field medic" she continued. Sakura had thought that it would soon be time for her to go out and pursue a more serious and suited career for her, but she wasn't sure if she was ready to move on. She really did want to go higher up in her career but she didn't know as what a field nurse or an intern? Either way she would be helping more people but if she chose to go on the field she would be where the action was taken place but if she chose the hospital she would stay there and see a battle after affects.
You're just coming up with excuses Inner Sakura said.
"You know you are really talkative tonight" she replied silently. Inner Sakura only giggled and continued to stare at Genma, which was annoying because every now and then she would blurt out random outburst about him in a provocative manner. Sakura couldn't agree with these thoughts due to the fact that she would blush every time she would look up at him.
She slowly raised her head to see his response to her reply.
Genma nodded his head as the beat on the music shifted to that of a slower one.
"I think you're ready" he said looking down at her, he only received a raised eyebrow in question. "Believe me, I heard from Shizune that you've been doing exceptionally well and also all of the other nurses are talking a liking to you"
Sakura only had to raise an eyebrow at his source. Shizune? Since when did she talk to anyone besides Tsunade or herself? Well she was in fact a Shinobi and she guess she did have to have some type of a social life when she wasn't keeping tabs on a certain Hokage.
Genma must have thought the same thing when he mentioned the woman because he chose to remain silent.
Sakura's eyes wandered off Genma's shoulder to glance over at Asuma and Kurenai again. How long have they been together she wondered? She barely knew them but they did look happy together. She only knew that they were and still Ino's and Hinata's teachers. She had Kurenai as a teacher when she was very little when she had to be taught the ways of the Kunoichi and Asuma, well she really didn't know what he did.
"You glad that you decided to go out with me?"
Sakura looked up at him. Genma's face held a smile but his eyes read curiosity. She realized how close their faces were; Sakura had to fight everything her body was telling her to not move so she didn't seem rude to Genma.
Genma's smile only widened due to her boldness, this only caused Sakura to blush slightly.
"I am"
A low chuckle resounded from the Shinobi.
"That's good"
Sakura only grinned at him from the comment. Her grin slowly faded due to a thought coming to her. Her eyes wandered up to Genma but he was looking at Asuma and Kurenai. She bit her lip baiting whether or not to ask him. Genma had to know Kakashi and hold some type of acquaintance with him. She just needed to know how he's been and what he's been doing during the day.
She's known Kakashi to avoiding hospitals so she knew that whenever he was injured it would take him the longest time to admit that he was injured and go get patched up.
"Genma, can I ask you something?"
Genma's eyes wandered back down to her. Sakura suddenly found it hard to ask her waiting question. Genma only raised an eyebrow in her lack of response. Sakura cleared her throat to ask him when he suddenly leaned forward till his mouth was near her ear. He must have noticed the look in her eyes.
Her breath hitched in her throat due to the closeness. She could feel his warm breath on her ear. It just caused her to shudder. She heard Genma huff from the movement.
"Is it about Kakashi?" he whispered into her ear.
Sakura only slowly nodded her head in reply. She let out the breath that she was holding and allowed it to escape her lips. Genma only leaned back slowly with a grin on his face. He then twirled her out again only to return her to his waiting arms.
"I'm sure he's doing fine"
Sakura could only look at him which earned her a dip due to the look. Sakura managed to muffle the squeak that was about to escape her mouth due to his reply.
"But that was only this morning"
Sakura rolled her eyes at the thought. Typical Kakashi to only be seen by his so called friends once in the whole 12 hours of daylight. Her thoughts went back to last night and how he reacted to her questions. She could only wonder if he was actually going to visit her because he wanted to or did he get cajoled into it by Naruto. She had to bet it was the fox doing the asking because he was being patient with her and her attitude.
Also he's not the patient sort of guy too Inner Sakura said.
"You got that right" she replied to her Inner self.
"But give him some time Sakura, he takes his time with these kinds of things"
That could explain why he's always late Inner Sakura said crossing her arms. Sakura only bit her lip again due to the answer stared at the middle of his chest.
"He'll be alright"
Sakura nodded her head at the response.
"Excuse me, Genma?" a stern voice said behind them. Genma whirled them both around to address the voice. It was a Chunnin messenger and in his hand held a scroll.
"Yes?" he said with a smile, he still continued dancing with Sakura as he addressed the Shinobi.
The boy only frowned at his actions but continued on with the message.
"You are needed to Hokage Tower"
Genma looked down at Sakura before answering. They glanced at each other before Genma broke eye contact to address the boy.
"Now?"
"Yes, now" he said holding up the scroll that had a colored tie to represent the urgency of the message. Genma only sighed and twirled Sakura around again.
"I'm sorry to say Sakura but it looks like our date has to be cut short"
He then dipped her.
"I hope that you enjoyed yourself because I know that I did" he said looking down at her from her dip position. Sakura only giggled.
"Thanks for taking me Genma I really needed it" she replied as he brought her up.
"Glad to be of service"
"Genma the Hokage" the Chunnin said impatiently.
Genma only nodded his head at him as he guided Sakura toward the door with a hand on her lower back.
"Sorry that I won't be able to walk you home" he said above her ear. Sakura felt something in her leap up. He was going to walk her home? Well, that was sweet.
Yup, to think that chivalry isn't dead
She reached for her coat which was hanging on the wall but Genma beat her to it by taking it off the hook and holding it out for her. Sakura faltered from the action, but he only beckoned her to come forward with a friendly smile. She came and slipped her arms into her jacket. Genma waited for her while she pulled her hair out from the collar of her jacket.
She turned to look at Genma who in turn looked to the Chunnin who nodded his head and went toward the door.
Sakura pulled her jacket closer to her body due to the change in temperature when she stepped outside. The air around her was silent due to it being the early start of fall and also it being so late into the night. Her eyes wandered over to the Chunnin now noticing his lingering presence, she had to wonder what Tsunade had to talk to him about if the messenger was still waiting around. Genma stood next to her as she flicked her gaze over at him, their eyes met.
"Feel free to come and talk to me" he said removing the toothpick from his mouth and flicking it from his fingers. Sakura nodded her head.
"I'll keep that in mind"
Genma took a step closure to her.
"Don't worry about Kakashi, he'll warm up to you in no time"
Sakura's mouth moved into a thin line as she looked to the ground. She suddenly felt a hand on her chin guiding it up to look at the man in front of her. She could only look at him before he bent toward her. Her eyes widened at the movement.
"Genma" she said firmly. She could feel his warm breath go across her lips and the huff he sent. She then heard him chuckle slightly.
"Just playin'" he said with a smile. He leaned back a little to look at her. Sakura could only stare at him from his very bold move. But she couldn't help but notice the look in his eyes which read a want of trust.
"Since I can't walk you home the best I can do is give you this" he said. Sakura was about to open her mouth to stop him but he leaned in again and laid a gentle kiss on her cheek.
Sakura froze from his action.
"Anytime now Genma" the Chunnin said. Sakura felt the heat clearly going across her cheeks as he learned back and dropped his hand from holding her chin.
Sakura blinked her green eyes at him as he turned to follow the messenger.
"See yah around Sakura" he said with a wave of his hand. He slipped his hands into his pockets as Sakura watched his departing form.
As Sakura watched Genma leave, a lone grey eye had witnessed the scene unfold behind clouded bar windows. And unbeknownst to Sakura as she turned and left the sound of sandaled feet softly following behind her.