Kakashi and Sakura left the Hokage's office hand in hand, and the weight of her impending departure lingered in the air. Sakura's heart felt heavy with the knowledge that the time they had left together was limited, and the circumstances surrounding her departure added a layer of bitterness to their moments.
As they walked through the village, Sakura couldn't help but steal glances at Kakashi, committing every detail of his presence to memory. The familiar sights of Konoha, once comforting, now felt bittersweet as she realized that soon they would be left behind.
Upon reaching their home, Sakura tried to push aside the impending farewell and focus on the present. She cooked dinner, and they shared a quiet meal together. The atmosphere, though warm, held an underlying tension that neither of them wanted to acknowledge.
After dinner, they found themselves sitting on the living room floor, surrounded by the soft glow of lanterns. The silence between them spoke volumes, heavy with unspoken emotions.
Kakashi finally broke the silence, his voice a gentle murmur. "Sakura, you're not telling me everything. I can sense it. What's really going on?"
"I told you, Kakashi, its nothing. I really just miss you. Is that so bad?" Sakura asked cupping his face in her hands.
"No, but - "
"No buts, Kakashi." she leaned in and placed a soft kiss in his lips. "Just hold me, okay?"
Kakashi sighed, realizing that pressing further might not lead to the answers he sought. He nodded, wrapping his arms around Sakura and pulling her close. They sat in the quiet embrace, the weight of the unspoken truth hanging in the air.
The room was filled with a mixture of emotions—love, sadness, and a touch of desperation. Sakura buried her face in Kakashi's chest, inhaling the familiar scent that brought her comfort. Kakashi, too, held her tightly, as if trying to etch this moment into his memory.
They stayed like that for a while, the outside world momentarily forgotten. The gentle flicker of lantern light cast shadows on the walls, creating a cocoon of intimacy in their shared silence.
"Sakura," Kakashi finally spoke, his voice a soft murmur. "I can feel that something is bothering you. I want to be there for you, to share whatever burden you're carrying."
Sakura lifted her head, meeting Kakashi's gaze. "Your presence is more than enough." She reached out to him aand held his face in the palm of her hand. "I love you."
Kakashi's sense of foreboding intensified. Sakura never told him the words, she just show her affection through her actions. So her utterance of those three words made his heart constrict painfully.
He pulled her close to him. "I know there's a problem, Sakura." he murmured. I won't force you to tell me, but please know that I am here. I'll be here for you always." he promised.
"I know." Sakura's muffled voice answered him.
On the third day, Sakura stared intently on Kakashi's sleeping face. The morning sun painted the room in a soft glow, casting warm hues on Kakashi's relaxed features. Sakura traced the lines of his face with her eyes, committing every detail to memory. The weight of impending departure hung heavily in the air, and the room felt stifling with unspoken emotions.
She knew that the time had come for her to leave, to face the consequences of the elders' ultimatum. The village that she had called home for so long, the people she had treated and healed, the friends she had made—they would all become memories.
Sakura sighed quietly, trying to suppress the tears threatening to spill. She didn't want to wake Kakashi, to burden him with the heaviness of her heart. Instead, she gently pressed her lips to his forehead, savoring the warmth of the moment.
As she began to slip out of bed, Kakashi stirred and his arm pulled her closer to him. "Where are you going?" he asked.
"I'm going to prepare your breakfast, Kakashi. You said that you will have a long day today, right?"
"Okay." Kakashi murmured. "Tonight, I'll take you out on a date. Wear the dress I bought for you okay?"
Sakura just nodded. She doesn't trust her voice. She knows that if she tries to verbally answer him, she will tell him everything. And she can't do that. She will not do that.
The whole morning passed in a blur. And before the clock struck twelve noon, she's out of the village. Never to return back.
Kakashi opened the door to their home anxious to see Sakura. He was jittery the whole day, feeling like something bad is going to happen and he can't put a finger on what it is.
"Sakura?" he called out. "Sakura, are you ready? We are leaving in a few."
There was no response. The silence that followed Kakashi's call hung in the air, heavy and foreboding. He walked through the empty rooms, a sense of unease settling in the pit of his stomach.
As Kakashi entered their bedroom, his eyes fell on the note lying on the bed. The handwriting was unmistakably Sakura's, and his heart sank as he read the words that confirmed his worst fears.
Kakashi,
I'm sorry. I have to leave. I love you.
Sakura
Kakashi's grip tightened on the note, his mind racing to comprehend the sudden turn of events. A mix of emotions surged within him—confusion, anger, and a profound sense of loss. He couldn't fathom why Sakura would leave without any explanation, without giving him a chance to understand or fight for their relationship.
For a moment, he stood frozen in disbelief, staring at the empty space that once held Sakura's presence. The room, once filled with warmth, now felt cold and desolate. Kakashi's mind raced with questions, searching for any clues that might shed light on Sakura's decision.
As he combed through their home, he found a few belongings missing, signs that Sakura had prepared for her departure. The realization hit him like a tidal wave, and the weight of her absence settled in.
The note lay crumpled in his hand, and he couldn't shake off the feeling of betrayal. He thought they were in this together, that they would face whatever challenges came their way. The abrupt departure left him with a void that seemed insurmountable.
Kakashi sank onto the bed, his gaze fixed on the note as if hoping it would provide the answers he desperately sought. But Sakura's words offered no explanation, leaving him to grapple with the uncertainty of her departure.
For days, Kakashi withdrew from the village, grappling with the aftermath of Sakura's sudden exit. Rumors circulated, fueled by the void left by her absence and the unanswered questions that lingered in the air.
The elders, satisfied with Sakura's compliance, remained silent on the matter, leaving Kakashi to face the consequences alone. The weight of leadership and the burden of personal loss intertwined, creating a storm within him.
He immersed himself in his duties, burying the pain beneath the facade of the stoic Hokage. But deep within, the ache of Sakura's absence lingered, a constant reminder of what once was.
In the stillness of the night, Kakashi found himself wandering through the village, his steps echoing the hollow space within his heart. The memories of their time together haunted him—laughter, shared glances, and the warmth of her presence.
The days turned into weeks, and Kakashi drowned himself in his work. Taking the habit of Tsunade, his own office had a secret stash of sake much to Shikamaru's distaste. But no one can tell the Hokage to ease on the alcohol, as Kakashi is more efficient as a negotiator when he is imbibed as all of his personal baggage takes a backseat.