Chapter 5 Dinner Date
Kakashi and Sakura rushed through the River Country as fast as they could. They only stopped at night and took turns keeping watch while the other rested. They made it through quickly and without any further trouble.
As they crossed the border into the Wind Country, a hooded figure appeared out of the sand. Sakura stiffened slightly because she hadn't noticed the genjutsu used to conceal the shinobi's hiding place. Whoever this was, he or she had first class skills. It wasn't easy that Sakura missed a genjutsu. It made her uneasy.
"Hello, I am Kashike. I will be your guide." A woman's voice came from underneath the hood. It was customary for visitors to Suna to be met at the border by a guide. The harsh desert that made up most of the Wind Country's terrain was dangerous for foreigners. The Sand kunoichi lowered the hood of her cloak to reveal rich chocolate brown hair pulled up in a high ponytail and almond shaped brown eyes. "You are the Leaf ninjas, correct?"
"Yes, we are." Kakashi answered with an eye crease smile.
"Take these," She pulled out two bundles of cloth from under her coat. "You'll need them."
The cloth turned out to be sand colored cloaks. Kakashi and Sakura quickly put them on as the infamous wind, which gave the country its name picked up strength.
The colossal walls and main gate of Sunagakure materialized through the wind and mounds of sand that surround the village. There were two figures at the gate in matching cloaks. One standing in the guard tower, by his position he must be the gatekeeper. The other was standing near the slightly opened gate. It was impossible to tell who it could be since the cloak was wrapped around the person's body as well as the face. Everyone else's cloak were worn in the same fashion.
Sakura was thankful that they arrived to the village so quickly, all thanks to their guide Kashike. The wind was howling now and the sand seemed to be answering back as it rose from the ground and danced with the wind.
In the alcove created where city walls met the gate and guard tower, Sakura left the cloak loosen, showing her face. To her shock the person, whom she couldn't identify, shouted her name.
"SAKURA!!!" came a male's booming voice. His cloak flung back as his arms shot out, taking her into a rib crushing bear hug.
"Kan…ku…rou, I…can't…breath." Her squished lungs gasped for air.
"Sorry." He let her go. A sheepish grin crossed his face.
He wasn't wearing his usual kabuki face paint. Sakura preferred him this way. Ever since she first saw his face when she had taken poison out of his system ten years ago. He was menacing with the painted mask but without it he looked sweet and gentle though still very manly and strong.
"I'm so happy to that you are here." He picked her up again, gentler this time, and spun her around.
"I'm glad to see you too." She laughed. "That reminds me. I have something for you."
He set her down. She got on her tiptoes and kissed him on his cheek. He blushed and touched the spot her lips had been a moment ago.
"That's from Temari." She told him.
"I'm going to have to thank her." He smiled and put his arm around Sakura. "Come on, Gaara wants to see you."
"Great, another one." Kakashi groaned barely audible. The fact that he could have been one more grain of sand for all the attention he had been paid was bad enough but now Kankurou joined the long list of Sakura's admirers. Why hadn't her parents kept her locked up in her room for her whole life?
"Another what, Hatake-san?" Kashike asked.
"Huh, it's nothing," he hadn't noticed that she was so close to him. "Please, call me Kakashi."
"If you prefer, Kakashi." She was still on the formal side but her eyes warmed as she smiled politely.
Sakura marveled at the architecture of Suna. There were no harsh corners or lines. Beige, tan, khaki, and any variant of those colors were the only ones used for exterior paint. It was done for very practical reasons. The roundness allowed the structures to harmonize with the wind and avoid damage. The color permitted the village to blend with its environment adding to its defense. The buildings reminded her of beehives with dome shape and small round windows.
They walked up to a building that looked like a bunch of beehives smashed together. Kankurou held the door opened for Sakura and Kakashi.
"Thanks for your help Kashike." He waved to her to signify she was dismissed.
"Hai, sir." She bowed.
"Yes, thank you." Kakashi thanked her as well.
She smiled at Kakashi before leaving.
The Kazekage's office was a quite departure from the style of the building outside. It was still circular in shape but it was a deep red color with gold tone accents. There was a plush sofa under a row of the round windows where the blue sky came through and complimented the rich red of the interior.
"Kakashi and Sakura, welcome to Suna." Gaara came from behind his glass desk and shook their hands.
"Temari asked me to develop this letter to you." Sakura pulled out the letter Temari gave her before she left the Leaf village and handed to Gaara.
"Thank you. We haven't seen are our sister in some time. It's good to hear from her." He tucked in his Kazekage robes. "Before we discuss business, I'm sure you are eager to freshen up."
"Yes, we would like to check into the hotel and settle in." Kakashi said.
"The hotel!" Kankurou exclaimed. "You'll be staying in the Kazekage Mansion."
"Oh no. We wouldn't want to intrude." Sakura said embarrassed.
"Nonsense. Sakura, you are an honored guest. After all you saved my life." Kankurou was not going to take no for answer.
"The mansion is quite large. The only people living there are my brother and I. You and Kakashi will have a whole wing to yourself. You won't be intruding in the least." Gaara insisted.
Kakashi looked at Sakura for her consent to accept the invitation. She nodded. "We are grateful for the hospitality."
"Great! I'll take you to your new home." Kankurou was ecstatic about the living arrangements.
Gaara was not exaggerating that they would have a wing to themselves. The guest rooms were more like apartments attached to the main house. They crossed a glass-enclosed courtyard filled with palm tress and orchids from the main house to the guest wing. It was located on the eastern side of mansion, which Kankurou informed them it had spectacular views of the sunrise over the sandy hills.
Reaching a living room with cherry wood floors and light color furniture, Kankurou stopped.
"The right is Sakura's room and the left is Kakashi's." He said pointing with both hands to two sets of double doors on either side of the room. "I'll leave you to get settled." He picked up Sakura's hand and kissed it.
She blushed and Kakashi rolled his eyes.
~xxxxx
Kakashi stepped out of the bathroom, towel around his lower body. The hot water had washed away not only the dirt from the road but also his annoyance with Sakura's accumulating admirers. Genma had told him that she didn't date. He tried to convince himself that the relief he felt about that was only due to the sense to look out for her a by-product of him once being her sensei.
His stomach grumbled with hunger. It was to be expected since he hadn't eaten since that morning and that hadn't been much. He dress quickly in his freshly laundry clothes and left his room. He was headed to Sakura's door so they could go have dinner but someone else was already there.
"Hello, Kakashi." Kankurou waved. He was a bit too excited for Kakashi's liking.
The door opened and Sakura came out wearing a white linen dress and an aqua shawl draped over her shoulders. Her long pink locks were tied back in a loose braid that ran down her back. She looked angelic making both men stare at her momentarily bewildered.
"Hi." She blushed at being gawk at.
Kakashi was the first to gain his composure. "Sakura, I was wondering if you wanted to go get dinner."
"Oh…umm." She stuttered uncomfortably. "Kankurou asked me to have dinner with him."
"Oh" Kakashi's expression turned to stone.
"Would you like to join us? The more the merrier, right?"
Kankurou frowned. More dinner guest was not going to make him merrier.
"No, thanks." The last thing Kakashi wanted was to witness Kankurou's attempts to woo her. "Have fun." He added dryly.
The bright smile returned to Kankurou's face. "Ready to have the best cuisine Suna has to offer?" He hooked her arm through his.
Sakura turned her head back to wave at Kakashi, her face apologetic. She liked Kankurou but she had really wanted to be with Kakashi. Their dinners during their journey had become very special to her. He opened up to her during those times. Letting the impenetrable wall he constantly had up down just a little. It had been a long time since she had felt a connection like the one she felt with Kakashi. He had always made her feel secure and safe. Reassuring her that everything was going to be fine but now there was something deeper that she couldn't quite put her finger on. Could he feel the same way she did? He had turned cold when he heard she was going out with Kankurou. Or did he think she couldn't handle herself? Kakashi and his preposterous over protectiveness made her temper rise. She wouldn't let him ruin her night. She centered all her attention on her date for the evening blocking out Kakashi.
~xxxxx
The Copy Ninja walked the windy streets of Suna hungry, alone, and mad. He wrestled with the idea of ruining Kankurou and Sakura's date. After all she had invited him. He could deal with being the third wheel if that prevent the overt flirting that surely was going on. Visions of the pair sitting at a cozy restaurant booth, Kankurou making googoo eyes at the pinked hair kunoichi preoccupied him, when a familiar voice called his name. He turned to see Kashike jogging up the block.
"Good evening." She said quietly as she was within hearing range now.
"Ya, good evening." He rolled his eyes, his thought still on Sakura.
"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to disturb you." She looked down hurt by his tone and expression.
He ran his hand through his hair, ashamed for taking his anger out on her. She had nothing to do with it and had only meant a pleasant greeting.
"I'm sorry. I was just upset over something." He said in a calmer, friendlier tone.
"I was wondering if you had had dinner yet. If you haven't I was hoping you might like to join me." She looked up at him from under her lashes. "But I understand if you rather not." She added timidly.
"Actually some company would be great." His stomach made a loud grumble at the mention of food. "I think my stomach would love some food." He chuckled and she smiled.
Kakashi was taken aback when instead of taking him to a restaurant Kashike took him to her house. It was small but nice. Dark wood floors covered with warm colored rugs and rustic furnishings.
"Have a seat. Dinner will be ready in a few minutes." She gestured to the loveseat before disappearing into the kitchen.
"When you said join you for dinner, I wasn't expecting a home cooked meal." He yelled over the sound of pots and pans.
"I assumed you hadn't had a proper meal since you have been on the road." She yelled back. The sizzling sound of something being put in a hot pan accompanied her voice.
Her assumption was wrong. Despite the limited supplies, Sakura had cooked mouth-watering meals. Not only did he enjoy her cooking but her company. He hadn't felt so free in a long time. Her innocence and sweetness melted his pain to a bearable level.
"Would you like a drink before dinner?" Kashike stood before him holding a cup. Again he had been wrapped up in his thoughts that he hadn't sensed her approach.
"Sure. I could use one." He took the cup and smelled the clear liquid. His nose wrinkled at the potent odor. He took a swig anyways. Strong was exactly what he needed. It burned his throat and he couldn't suppress a cough. "You drink this stuff?" The young woman before didn't seem the heavy drinker type.
She giggled as she turned and walked back to the kitchen. She came back out a few minutes holding two steaming plates.
Kakashi stood up quickly to help her but it must have been to fast since his head swam. He used the sofa's arm to steady himself.
"You are alright?" Kashike asked concerned.
"I'm fine."
"You just need some food in you system." She smiled and set a plate in front of him as he sat at the table.
He took a few slow bites. He was still dizzy and didn't want to over do it with the food. As he ate, though he felt better. "This is very tasty. Thank you for making it for me."
"I have something to confess to you." She looked down at her hands like a child owning up to doing something naughty. "I had an ulterior motive for inviting you."
"…" Kakashi almost choked on the piece of meat he had been chewing.
"Don't worry. Not like that." She laughed. "It is purely professional."
He swallowed relief flooding his face. It wasn't that Kashike was unattractive, on the contrary, she was very beautiful and she seemed intelligent. She was definitely his type but there was something holding him back. He didn't see this girl in a sexual way. He couldn't explain it. It was difficult to figure it out at the moment since the dizziness was coming back making it hard to focus.
"I'm doing research on Kekkei Genkai. I have study the Sandaime Kazekage's Iron Sand quite extensively. The shinobi of the Sand don't like to discuss their jutsu even with one of their own. We are still much entrenched in our olds ways. I guess that is one of the reasons you and Sakura are here. Unfortunately, I haven't had the opportunities to travel outside of the Land of Wind to encounter foreign blood inheritance. You would be the first I have meant with an actual Kekkei Genkai." She paused her explanation to stare at the Leaf hitai-ite laying over his sharingan.
"The sharingan is a Kekkei Genkai that belongs to the Uchiha clan of the Leaf Village. I really can't discuss it with not of Konoha. Plus I'm not a true heir. I won't be much help to your…research." The room was beginning to spin. He closed his eyes and put his hands on his temples trying to hold up his head as it become heavier.
A soft cool hand touched his cheek. It felt nice against his feverish face. Instinctively, he moved to his forehead, letting the coolness relax the pounding heat in his head.
"Not even for an ally and friend." Kashike moved her hand away but he grasped it in his replacing back on to his forehead.
He needed the coolness of her touch or the fire might burn is brain. His body called for the relief her touched offered. Why not repay her with a little information? She was right they were allies. That is why he was sent here. To share their knowledge.
~xxxxx
It was one in the morning when Sakura returned to the Kazekage Mansion with Kankurou from the dinner date. He had offered to walk to her door but she had reassured him that the courtyard was good. He kissed on the cheek saying he hoped they could do this again. She smiled saying goodnight and that they would see about a second dinner. She had enjoyed herself. He was fun to be around, he was good looking without his make up, and he was an outstanding ninja. Everything she would consider an ideal man. However, she didn't feel the security she needed to open up her heart to him. There were many men back home that held his same qualities and she had never been about to bring herself to seriously date any of them either.
She walked slowly into the guest living room. A terrible heaving noise made her stop and turn toward Kakashi's room. The door was opened. Another gut retching heave came from within the darkened room. She ran inside
"Kakashi?" She called into the darkness. The noise was coming from the bathroom. She entered slowly, flicking the light switch on. "Oh my god!"
Kakashi was crumpled on the floor, his head in the toilet and the putrid stench of vomited assault her nostrils. The medic took over instantly. She hurried to the sink, pulling a hand towel from the towel rod. She ran the cold water and soaked the towel. Kneeling beside the silver haired puking man, she dapped the moisten towel on his forehead. He was trenched in cold sweat and his skin was tingled with sickly green tint.
He pushed her hand away and opened his mouth to protest her care giving but a wave of nausea came forcing his head back into the porcelain basin.
"Shhh." Sakura soothed him, running her hand through his hair to hold out of his face. "Better out than in," she told him as he gasped for air after throwing up the last remnants of dinner.
"Sakura, please leave." His voice was a hoarse whisper. "I don't want you to see this."
"Please, I have seen much worse. Not only am I a medic but also my best friend is Naruto. I've seen more than my fair share of hung over men." She picked up the towel again wiping his face. "How much did you have to drink, anyways? It must have been a lot for you to be this sick."
"I had one drink of some sort of Suna moonshine. The worst part is I didn't even get buzzed. I just got really dizzy and then nauseated." He told her. Not being able to hold himself up he leaned on her shoulder.
She got a whiff of his breath as he laid his head on her shoulder. "Mmm." There was strange smell mingled in with the sick. She no longer thought he was suffering from the after effects of night of heavy drinking.
Putting his arm around her shoulder, she dragged him to the bed. Placing a wastebasket near his bed, just in case he got sick again, she hurried to her room. She took a glass bottle from her medic bag and returned to Kakashi's side.
"Drink this." She instructed, filling a cup with the thick muddy concoction from the bottle.
"I don't think I can." He looked at the substance with disgust.
"Do it." She ordered. "It will make you feel better."
He pinched his nose and gulped it down. "Yuck!"
"Don't be a baby." She chuckled, tucking him into the covers.
"You'll the one treating me like a child." He pointed out.
"What do you call someone that drinks something they have no clue what it is?" She retorted.
"Trust me lessoned learned. No more homemade liquor for me." He pulled the duvet up to his neck and closed his eyes. "Sakura?"
"Yes?"
"Stay."
"Ok"
"Sakura?"
"Yes?" She said a little more impatiently now.
"Thank You."
AN: First let me apologize for the delay in this chapter. I have lots of projects going on at the moment and I rewrote this chapter a few times. I knew the basic plot but I kept changing details here and there. I didn't proofread it so there are probably mistakes. Sorry :(. I will reread it and fix it later.
FYI. Kashike is not an original character. She was one of the children that Gaara attacked when he was little.
Hope you like this chapter. Reviews are always welcomed. Til next time.:D
