Chapter 1: With Goodbyes Come Propositions

There were no clouds in the sky that morning. The sky only had the sun and the vast blue it usually had.

The time had come; it was the day that Sasuke Uchiha would set off for his journey to redemption.

The time for war came and went, and with it much of the quarrel between the villages. This day was also the day where Sakura wondered where her feelings stood and what she believed in now, and as she looked in the mirror, she didn't feel that much had changed in herself as did with most others. She looked tired more often now that she was taking more charge in the hospital, tending to those that were still injured and caring for the children that had no place to go due to the lack of room in most orphanages. Her rose pink hair no longer held the same shine she had cared to upkeep in her youth, it looked a bit messier than usual but simple finger brushing seemed more efficient these days to run in and out of the home; she didn't care to brush her bangs away from her forehead, ignoring the insecurity completely.

She just needed to see Sasuke off today, yet of course, her heart had a small ache knowing that he was leaving again, but there was new resolve in knowing that he was in a better place in his mind and heart than he had previously been. This goodbye would be different from the last one, different from all of the rest. Because where there used to be hatred and detachment, there is now a peace among Team 7 that seemed unmovable, set in stone for the rest of their lives. Sakura sighed as she rushed out of her apartment, locking her door and running down the stairs of her complex. Today felt like any other day, except today was different from all the rest.

Because today was the day that Sasuke Uchiha was leaving again.

He stood before her with a simple cloak, dressed in black, he stared back at her, and her heart ached. His mismatched eyes stared at her seafoam green ones and they held an understanding she herself couldn't comprehend. Although the words had gone unspoken, it seemed as though Sasuke knew clear as day, Sakura Haruno was not only saying goodbye to him, she was saying goodbye to her past self as well.

"Please take care of yourself, Sasuke-kun," she said, with love stemming from a new place that had developed into something more mature instead of a childhood crush.

Sasuke finally gave a small smile and raised his fingers to give a gentle tap on her forehead.

"Thank you… for everything"

Tears brimmed the corners of her eyes as they threatened to fall; it seemed he was also saying goodbye to the young girl who had loved him without fault at some point in her life. As he turned to walk away, she felt a heavy hand pat the top of her head in a reassuring manner, "Not to worry Sakura, I'm sure he'll be on his way back before you know it. Don't look so sad" Kakashi reassured her in a lighter mood than her own, seemingly oblivious to what had actually just occurred. Or he knew but chose not to point it out. Sakura made to wipe the tears that had threatened to fall, "I know… back before we know it."

Except this goodbye was different from all the rest.

But with the ache came something else lighter, carrying her sadness away and something new settling.

"Ne Kaka-sensei, do you have to be back at the office now?" Sakura said as she turned to her former teacher, a new fire in her eyes.

Kakashi watched her with curiosity in his eyes, before he could speak Sakura quickly cut him off, "I'll treat you to breakfast, assuming you haven't had anything to eat. I would like to speak to you about something important."

Kakashi arched his brow before shrugging his worry away, "Who am I to turn down a free meal from my favorite student?" His hand on his chest as he told her so. Sakura giggled and shook her head, the new friendship that had been formed after the war remained strong between them as though it had been there always.

"Actually we can even invite Gai-sensei as well, I'm sure he'd like to hear of my proposition."

Kakashi paused before he gave a sigh of exasperation, "Well if you insist but if he decides he wants to duet another four hundred page speech on youth with Rock Lee, I'm leaving you" Sakura smiled knowing all too well that the bond had with Maito Gai had only become stronger after the war.

As they walked from the gates into a new direction, Sakura took in their surroundings, "it's funny… it looks so different now but not much has changed since the war."

"Sakura please don't tell me you're about to break into song over the Springtime of Youth" Kakashi seemed almost terrified as Sakura chuckled.

"Not even if you begged me to Kaka-sensei" she said as she continued to walk at his leisurely pace, her hands clasped behind her back, a habit she had grown accustomed to since her days in the academy.

"… It really does look different, doesn't it?" Kakashi asked as he looked around, waving at those who waved at him, the title of Hokage earning him a new kind of respect throughout the village.

"Who would have thought?" Sakura asked as she smiled up at Kakashi.

"Huh?" He asked midwave toward an elderly woman who had waved from her window at them both. Before Sakura could respond, she heard a faint rumbling behind them and was not surprised to see Rock Lee running top speed while pushing Gai in his wheelchair.

"That's it Lee! Only eight hundred and seventy six laps to go!" Gai yelled in his ever enthusiastic tone.

"Yes sir!" Rock Lee shouted eagerly.

Kakashi seemed to have lost a bit of color at the scene,"…Maybe we shouldn't interrupt their daily training-"

"You're right go left before they see you," Sakura said as she quickly pulled Kakashi along in the direction of the nearest tea shop. As they were guided to their seats (after the woman gushed about the Hokage visiting her tea shop), they sat across from one another, Sakura handing Kakashi his menu before taking her own. Once their orders had been taken, Kakashi looked over to his student, his hands folded in front of him.

"So, what is this proposition you would like to talk about?" Kakashi finally asked. Sakura cleared her throat, her nerves attempting to make an appearance.

"As you know Kakashi-sama-"

"Stop" Kakashi said with deadpanned, half lidded eyes.

Try again.

Sakura knew he didn't like his students calling him the honorific if they were not in an important meeting, it had something to do with making him feel older. "Right" Sakura said, a bit embarrassed, then sighed as she strengthened her resolve.

This wasn't about her.

"Kaka-sensei have you visited the hospitals?" She suddenly asked him.

Kakashi's playful manner had immediately left, there was almost no change, if only slight, but Team 7 had become so in tune with one another that Sakura had caught the change almost immediately. "Of course I have," he was gentle with his tone, knowing just how big of a heart Sakura had to want to care for those still recovering from the war.

"So… you've been to the west wing" Sakura stated. The waitress appeared with their meals and placed them in front of them, after several bows the waitress left them once again.

"Of course I have, every time I visit it seems as though you never left. Are you taking your days off like I asked you to?" Kakashi asked.

Sakura nodded as she began to pick at her food, "I have… but… there are a lot of children there-"

"We're already building several orphanages in the better parts of the village Sakura, not to worry"

"It's not just a matter of finding room for them Kaka-sensei." Sakura said, her hands clasping in front of her in nervousness. Kakashi waited for her to continue, "I still think about them you know, I think about what it may have been like for you too. I see those kids and I can see Naruto and Sasuke-kun. Some of them won't sleep, won't eat, won't get out of their beds. They haven't even lived and some of them tell me they wished they could have died with their parents." She felt her eyes welling with tears again, but for an entirely different reason than last time. "I talk to as many as I can but I can't help all of them. And I've seen some of their charts, some of these patients are kids that haven't made it past twelve and already they are being given sedatives to help them sleep."

"Sakura, you know there is only so much we can do to help them."

"I know but… I have also thought about ways that I can try," Kakashi remained looking at her with a new curiosity. "How many times did you have someone just listen to you when you were a kid Kaka-sensei?" Sakura knew he didn't like to speak of his personal life, but she knew she needed to ask the question in order to get her point across. "How many people do you think listened to Naruto or Sasuke when they were kids?"

"Where are you going with this Sakura?" He was not angry or uncomfortable, simply curious with where this was going.

"Kaka-sensei, I want to help as many people as I can, and I know you do too but it's not just about healing physical wounds anymore, it's about taking care of the whole patient." Kakashi sipped his tea through his mask and placed it back down as he continued to listen with interest. "The children that have survived this war are the future of, not only this village, but all villages alike, and that means that with this new generation, there will come more trauma, self-hatred, depression… loneliness with them. I feel as though, if only Sasuke and Naruto had a friend to listen; maybe it wouldn't have been so hard for them, you know?"

"Of course I know," Kakashi finally said softly.

"Kaka-sensei, what about a children's therapy center?" Kakashi blinked in surprise as Sakura looked at her clasped hands that were placed on the table, "Hear me out, I know we're still working on the village and all but I feel like all villages can benefit from this and I know that if I could just-"

"Sakura" Kakashi stopped her rambling and Sakura took the opportunity to raise her head again, the passion for this proposition burning in her eyes, ready to rebuttal whatever argument he had. But when she was greeted with warm eyes crinkling from the gentle smile Kakashi was giving her, she could only stare at him in wonder.

Sakura… you really have grown up.

TBC