The next day, Kakashi found himself outside of Sakura's door. He wasn't waiting for her to answer, the door hadn't been slammed in his face - he was still working on knocking. Knocking was the first step, he knew, but what came after that? He had a feeling that a simple apology wasn't going to cut it this time. He wasn't very good with words in the first place, so he had no idea what to say.
He was about to just give up and leave when everything inside him pushed him toward the door. He raised his hand and knocked, and then waited, and then knocked again. He leaned forward, pressing his head to the frame. "Sakura? Please open the door. Let me explain what happened, please?"
When there was no reply, he knocked again - a little harder this time. "Sakura!"
The sound of a throat clearing behind him had Kakashi turning to face an older man. His hair was an unusually dark shade of purple that it was almost black. The laugh lines were apparent on his kind face and it snapped into place almost immediately - this was Sakura's father.
Kakashi bowed his head and gestured back to the door. "I'm sorry, I don't think Sakura's home."
"I know," he replied. "I'm here to get extra clothes for her."
"Oh, so she's alright?"
"Yes, working hard at the hospital. If I may?" he asked and pointed to the door.
Kakashi stepped out of the way, feeling a bit flustered. Her father unlocked the door and went inside, closing it behind him. Kakashi remained there, unsure of what to do next.
When he emerged, he looked up at the nin. "You're still here?"
"Um... yes..."
"You're Hatake Kakashi aren't you?" her father asked as he began to walk.
Keeping up beside him, the Copy Nin nodded. "I am."
"You were my daughter's sensei when she was a genin."
"That's right."
Her father chuckled. "She spoke a lot of you."
Kakashi felt a bit guilty for smiling. "She did?"
"Not as much as that Uchiha boy, but she was always going on about Kakashi-sensei this, Kakashi-sensei that, Kakashi-sensei is so cool." He gave a genuine smile to the ninja. "Thank you for looking after her then."
"Of course."
"Are you still keeping an eye on her? Or is it more?" he hedged.
Kakashi lifted a brow. "Hmm?"
"You were standing outside her home like a dog returning after running away. I'm not one to pry into her business, and she might even say I have no right, but as an old man who never experienced a boy come knocking for her, you'd indulge me wouldn't you?"
He was shocked at what was being implied and Kakashi lifted his hands and waved them in defense. "Oh, no, it's not like that. We just had a bit of a misunderstanding and I want to try to make it up to her."
Her father stopped and passed the clothes over to Kakashi. "Then you can give her these for me."
"I don't think she'd like me just showing up-"
"But you're already here," he interrupted and pointed up at the hospital. "I trusted you with her life once before, I'm sure I can trust you with an outfit."
Remembering his conversation with Sakura, he tried handing them back to him again. "I think she'd rather see you than me."
"Then tell her I'll be here when she gets off to walk her home."
"But-"
"Thank you, Hatake-san."
Conceding to his persistence, Kakashi turned and headed into the hospital. He strolled up to the stairwell and then once away from watchful eyes, began to head to Sakura's floor while going over what to say. All the build up led to an underwhelming end as her office was empty. He could just leave the clothes on her desk and avoid the confrontation, but he wanted to let her know that he felt badly for what he had said. This is what he had been trying to do after all, wasn't it? But perhaps it wasn't in the cards for him today.
As he reached for the door, it opened and Sakura froze on the other side as she realized he was there. Her surprised face switched to one of annoyance. "What are you doing here?"
"Your father..."
"What about him?" she asked with a huff as she pushed by him.
"I ran into him and he asked me to bring your clothes."
"What?!" She looked over and noticed the set of clothes sitting on the corner of her desk. "Where is he?"
"He left me here. He said to tell you that he'd be here to walk you home."
"Ugh, dad," she growled and plopped into her chair. She looked up at Kakashi. "Well, you brought them to me. So, what are you still doing here?"
"I... I just wanted to talk to you for a minute."
"Listen, I know it's hard to believe, but I'm actually very busy. I can't just stop to visit with anyone that walks in, even if he is my superior."
"Sakura, please, just two minutes."
She looked up at the clock. "I only have two minutes. I can either spend it talking to you or changing my clothes. I'd rather change. Thank you for bringing them, but you have to go now."
When he continued to stand there, unmoving, Sakura got up and opened the door herself. She waved her hand. "Out, please."
He shuffled over to the door. "Sakura-"
She pushed him forward until he was outside and then began to close the door, effectively letting him know that she wasn't going to be talking.
"Sakura, I'm sorry," he declared as the space closed and the door shut.
She leaned forward, resting her head against the wooden panel. All she wanted was an explanation and an apology, and yet she wasn't ready to hear it. He had sounded so sincere, too, but it still didn't change how hurt she felt.
Kakashi stepped back, dejected, as he heard the lock slide into place. Maybe all she needed was time. He had apologized and she should know he was asking for forgiveness. He could give her time, he still had four days - and he'd give them all to her if it meant she'd pardon his idiocy.
.x.X.x.
Waiting when guilty was harder than Kakashi remembered. He found ways to fill his time; he slept and read, he stalked the book store, dropped in on Iruka at the missions desk just to give him hell, and he even rounded up Naruto and Tenzo to spar with. Every evening he'd drop by her place and knock, and when she didn't answer, he'd leave dango or a flower or a book. He knew she was at least taking them because every morning he'd pass by and his gift would be gone.
And Sakura had been receiving them. She had watched his back recede every night before opening the door. The book he left the second night had been the newest release in a romance series she indulged in. On the inside page was a simple note: 'We all do wrong sometimes and we suffer the consequences, but that doesn't mean that we can't be forgiven or that we can't be trusted again after.' Enjoy the book. - Kakashi
She had tried resisting, but the last book left off with a reveal that would change the dynamic of the main couple. So, she caved and started to read it. It wasn't until she was a few chapters in that she read the same line Kakashi had written. It definitely made her pause. Did that mean he had read the book? For some reason, the notion that he possibly had made her feel... warm, good, special even.
By the end of the week, she was wondering if maybe she should give him the opportunity to talk to her, and maybe accept his apology. After all, she couldn't stay mad at anyone for too long, and he was putting forth the effort.
So when there was a knock at her door, she reaffirmed her decision and opened it. Her casual demeanor snapped into professional mode as it wasn't Kakashi, but a masked ANBU agent, that had come for her.
As ordered of her, she changed into her jounin field gear and shouldered her go-bag. She was escorted to the Hokage Tower where her ANBU guard remained just outside the door.
Sakura entered, walking to stand before Tsunade with caution. Kakashi was standing at attention and he acknowledged her arrival with a polite nod.
"Haruno, I need you to go on a mission. We received an official aid request from Imaicho. Their villagers are falling sick. There's speculation that it might be poison related."
"Shizune's a far better poisons expert-"
"That's not what she tells me. Besides, you have a way of commanding a room. They've been having problems with bandits and rogue ninja. So if things were to get out of hand, I know you could handle yourself. But I'm also sending Kakashi along just in case... and I don't want you traveling alone. Once you've made it there and have sourced the problem, you are to report in and I'll make the next decision. You and Kakashi are to await further orders there. Understood?"
"Yes, Hokage-sama," they both replied in unison.
"Good, then move out."
The pair left the office, the awkward silence engulfing them as they walked downstairs. She didn't want it to come in the way, she just needed to come up with a quick way to resolve it.
As they stepped out into the night, Kakashi paused and took her arm, pulling them away from the Tower traffic. "I know you're mad at me, Sakura-"
She tried interrupting, but he wouldn't let her. "Even if you're still upset with me, we have to put it aside for now. There are people depending on us and we can't let them down."
That professional, loyal side of him emerged and it was hard to forget that it was one of the traits she admired in him. She nodded. "I agree."
"And besides, you can knock me around later," he added.
"You'll probably deserve a good throttling by then anyway, I'm sure," she replied as they set off.
Kakashi's heart felt a bit lighter as they took to the trees. She had agreed, and even bantered with him a little, so he figured she mustn't be too cross with him any longer. He knew that he wasn't done apologizing, and that they still had some things to work out, but he was feeling surprisingly optimistic about it.
.x.X.x.
The duo arrived at Imaicho, with no incident, late the next morning. Sakura and Kakashi were greeted and shown to the clinic. Makeshift tents had been raised behind it to accommodate the influx of patients.
Kakashi stood back as Sakura got to work, and watching her do it was a sight in of itself. She was methodic and efficient, quick, but thorough. She tended to the worst cases first, finding it was a poison after all. After extracting it, she worked on an antidote while Kakashi interviewed the villagers to find out everything he could on the people affected.
That night, Sakura and Kakashi sat in the diminutive single bedroom they had been supplied with. She sighed as she rubbed the back of her stiff neck. "So, what do we know?"
"Imaicho had been having problems with bandits. They hired these supposed ninja - who are little more than mercenaries I might add."
She raised a brow. "I'm not arguing, but let's stick to the facts."
"A few weeks after hiring those goons, the attacks became less frequent, but then they started experiencing this illness, which we now know is poison."
Sakura dropped her hand into her lap. "The last attack was around the same time the people fell ill, which was about two weeks ago. The bandits would've encountered the ninja, yet they remain a threat. There are reports of Imaicho merchants being mugged on the road after setting out."
"I don't think these are just petty thieves either," Kakashi added. "They're attacking a village."
"But why?"
"And why isn't the hired help doing what they've been paid to do?"
Sakura fell back onto the bed. "Where's the poison coming from?! I gotta find it," she sighed.
"You will," he assured her.
"There are kids in there, Kakashi. Whoever is doing it, wherever it's coming from, it's not right."
"But you were able to prepare an antidote. You saved them."
"Then why do I still feel so... rotten?"
Kakashi stood from his chair and took the few steps needed to reach the bed. He looked down at her petite body stretched across it. He found that his pulse quickened and his heart pounded as he reached for her. His hand found hers and he pulled her upright, then he squatted in front of her where they could be at an equal level.
"Sakura, you saved lives today and it was amazing. You gave those kids' parents hope, and tomorrow you'll do it again. We'll find out whoever or whatever is responsible and put an end to it."
She nodded, but the inconsolable expression on her face remained. "I'll write the report to Tsunade and suggest at least another medic to come."
"I'll do it," he offered.
She blinked and stared at him in shock. "You'll... what?"
He let out a tiny chuckle as he rose to his feet, and then set a hand on her shoulder. "I'll do it, you get some rest. You'll need it for tomorrow."
He walked away and she watched him pull out some paper. She couldn't stay silent any longer on what had happened between them. "Kakashi-"
"Sleep," he quietly ordered.
"But I really need to talk to you."
He looked over his shoulder at her. "You need sleep more. We can talk tomorrow, okay?"
She reminded herself that he wasn't shooting her down, that they were in the middle of a job, and that tomorrow would be just as good as now. She was feeling pretty tired anyway. Casting another look at him, she settled into the pillow and pulled the blanket up around her. It wasn't long before she was fast asleep.
Kakashi finished the report and then summoned Pakkun. He attached the scroll and gave him his orders. The small pug was gone in a flash, leaving the Copy Nin alone. He ambled back to the chair and plopped down. He was feeling the past day wearing on him, too. Now that Sakura was asleep, he peeled down his mask and pulled off his hitai-ate. The protector dangled from his fingers as he rubbed his other hand over his face. Cradling his chin in his hand, he looked over at Sakura.
He sat up a little straighter, taking in the definition of her peaceful features as she slept. Looking at her now, it was hard to imagine her as that awkward, love-sick child she had once been. He was amazed by her growth, not just as a kunoichi, but as a woman, too. She had come a long way, and faced so much on her own to become the amazing creature she was today. He knew she had meant well in all she had done for him, and as soon as this was over he would admit his mistake and ask for her forgiveness once again.
She moaned in her sleep, a frustrated noise muffled by the pillow. Her shoulder twitched and her lips twisted. Curious, Kakashi moved closer, careful not to wake her. Her eyes were darting beneath the lids and she was mumbling something incoherent, and he couldn't make out even a fraction of it. Still, it was a bit amusing to watch. Her brow furrowed, forming a deep crease, and he lifted his hand, extending a finger. He pressed between her brows until she began to relax, her soft skin smoothing out again. As he started to pull away, he noticed the tear that began to trail down the side of her nose. Using his thumb, he gently swiped it away.
"What's making you so sad?" he whispered.
She didn't answer him of course, and he hadn't expected her to, but he did wipe away another tear and then he set his hand atop her head. It was as if his hand was moving on its own, gently caressing the length of her hair, over and over.
Even while watching himself do it, he couldn't think of why. Yes, she was a friend, a comrade, and someone he cared for. But to do this? Perhaps it was best not to think of the why, or that the why wasn't important, he told himself and continued to stroke her silky rosette locks and watch her sleep.
It wasn't long before he felt his eyes grow heavy - the actions meant to soothe her also lulling him to sleep. He should've moved, but he was far too comfortable sitting beside her, and that was where he dozed off until morning's early light woke him.