Chapter Five: The Momiji Festival
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It was his third attempt to comprehend the document in front of him. He scrolled up and down his computer screen before finally closing out the window and shutting off his laptop. Kakashi leaned back in his leather agronomic office chair— a gift from Tsunade to sweeten the pot when he accepted the Hokage hat — and spun in a slow circle, using just the right amount of force to complete a full rotation. In battle, he liked to be loose and limber. The chair rotations had become the equivalent when it came to sorting through the tedious piles of administrative non-sense.
Frankly, after he'd arranged the economic treaties amongst the other four allied shinobi villages, the reconstruction projects after the destruction from the Pain attack, setting aside the funding and creation of Sakura's mental health program and creating a railway system to connect the five villages — everything else seemed unimportant.
"Can you please not do that?" Shikamaru sighed across the room.
"It's hard to focus. I'm hungry," Kakashi whined. He looked at the clock ticking away on the far wall right above Minato's framed portrait. It was one o'clock. Normally, a certain former teammate would have brought him something to eat a half-hour ago. He had to wonder, if his being so romantic as Sukea might have sabotaged the benefits he as Kakashi normally received from his normally attentive personal medic.
"I'm surprised Sakura hasn't dropped by to bring you anything." Shikamaru opened his bento box that his fiancé Temari had packed. The scent of a home cooked meal was like pouring salt into the wound that was Kakashi's empty stomach.
"It's not an established arrangement." Kakashi blew out a frustrated breath. "I'll just have Raido pick me up something when he goes on break in a bit. He generally asks."
"Did you upset Sakura?" Shikamaru asked. He began to dig into his lunch. "I noticed Shizune has been dropping off the reports from the hospital this week. And I'm aware of Sakura's temper. Though, it's been a while since anyone has been on the receiving end of her ire. I don't think she's even hit Naruto in over a year."
"I haven't done anything different. Sakura is just busy," Kakashi reasoned. He had sent her flowers again the day before as well as a box of dango fresh from the local sweet shop she seemed to favor. A genin had delivered both to her — a special mission commissioned by Sukea. Maybe he was digging his own grave. Hell, Kakashi liked Sukea more than himself at this point!
"So, is it true? The whole administration staff has the weekend off? For the Momiji (red maple) festival?" Shikamaru asked. He picked up his thermos and drained the contents.
"Yep, and I'm having Naruto be on call if there is any sort of crises. That way no one will bother either one of us." Kakashi balanced his feet on the edge of his desk. "If he does a decent job, maybe I can try this method more often to get him more experience. Minato was Hokage by twenty-two."
"If you think Naruto will be ready in a year to be Hokage, you're obviously optimistic," Shikamaru countered. "Though, I can't remember the last time there was a Momiji festival. Maybe back when I was five or six?"
"Probably. The village stopped hosting it after the Uchiha clan massacre," Kakashi explained. After that bloody night, it was hard to find anyone excited about celebrating the red fall foliage of the maples. However, festivals brought commerce, so since the Cherry Blossom festival in the spring was extremely popular it made sense to have its counterpart in the autumn renewed during this time of peace.
There was a brief knock at the door before Raido entered with Sakura walking alongside him. "Good afternoon, Lord Hatake," Raido said gesturing towards Sakura. "I was just about to ask if you needed anything to eat when Director Haruno showed up with your lunch."
"Ah, good afternoon to you both," Kakashi answered, shifting his gaze from Raido to Sakura. She smiled at him briefly and then set the box on the edge of his desk. "Thanks, Raido." The dark haired jonin leaned against the wall near the door, watching the exchange between the Hokage and Hospital Director. Kakashi probably wasn't in danger, but it didn't hurt to be vigilant.
Kakashi liked Raido. They had always gotten along. Raido had been on a genin team with Asuma and Kurenai back in the day and had been appointed to Hokage bodyguard under Minato. Mostly, Kakashi liked that Raido minded his own business and didn't ask personal questions.
"Hey, Kashi, sorry about this. I know you're probably counting on me to bring you lunch at this point." Sakura braced her hands on her knees and bowed at him in apology. She straightened and looked at him directly, her jade eyes focused.
"Think nothing of it, Sakura," Kakashi said with one of his familiar eye-smiles. "I appreciate that you think of your old Team Captain from time to time."
She smiled at him nervously and twisted her hands together. "I thought maybe it's time you stop counting on me to bring you lunch, Lord Hokage. I've liked doing it for you, of course, but my work load is starting to get a little more hectic with the mental health clinics taking off in the other villages. I'm doing a lot of consultations."
"Of course, Sakura, it's no problem. And we've talked about how you address me. I at least need to feel like a regular human when I'm around friends." Kakashi itched to open his lunch, it smelled like his favorite - saury and eggplant miso soup. He hoped this wouldn't be the last lunch she brought him — it was what he looked forward to most on the majority of his days. "Maybe we can eat lunch out together sometime?"
Sakura chuckled and stopped twisting her hands and they fell to her hips in that sassy pose she pulled off so well. "So you can stick me with the bill? No thanks, Kashi." She shook her head in amusement, a few pink tendrils fell out of her messy ponytail. "I'm taking the rest of today off. I also wanted to remind you all that several of us are having dinner at the barbeque restaurant this evening." She turned towards Shikamaru and Raido with a warm, inviting smile. "You're all welcome, of course."
"Temari and I will see you there," Shikamaru answered. "Enjoy your evening, Sakura. You deserve some time off. Are you going to the festival's opening ceremony tonight?"
"Yep!" Sakura's smile broadened. She turned back to Kakashi. "Genma's cousin Sukea is going to be at dinner. I think you'd like him."
"I appreciate the invite," Kakashi answered, careful to neither accept nor reject. He'd be at the dinner, but he didn't think it wise to use clones this time around. Sakura wasn't a naive little genin anymore. His ruse would be over much too soon. Either she or Naruto would sniff out any of his lightning shadow clones.
"I've already got plans with Anko for tonight," Raido answered. "Hopefully, we can run into you at the carnival. If you try the strength test — the one where you use the large hammer to ring the bell - try not to break it, Sakura."
Sakura laughed again. "Maybe I'll skip that challenge — unless the prize is some adorable plushie — then all is fair!"
Kakashi watched as Raido escorted Sakura out of the Hokage office. He looked behind him towards the shadows where he knew Genma was hiding. He didn't want this to be his last home cooked lunch from Sakura. He'd just need to focus on dating her — even if it was as his alter ego. It did feel a little like a knife twisted in his back at her rejection of meeting him for lunch. His reputation of being a cheapskate was coming back to haunt him. It had seemed funny at the time.
"You just keep digging your own grave," Genma muttered.
Kakashi stuffed his face with the saury Sakura made him and ignored the barb.
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Their group had reserved the private backroom of the Akimichi family barbeque restaurant. Choji's favorite restaurant was destroyed in Pain's attack and his clan had built their own during the village reconstruction. Sakura and Shizune had arrived together, otherwise she knew that her hardworking sempai would find an excuse to bail. The older medical ninja was even more nervous about her date with Genma than Sakura was about hers with Sukea.
Shizune wore a lovely long-sleeved black dress. Her friend had a preferred color pallet and wasn't going to change it for a night on the town. "It's stupid really. I've known Genma for years. We've been on the same team on multiple occasions and we worked together under Lady Tsunade and Lord Kakashi."
Sakura bit her lip to keep from interrupting. She didn't understand Shizune's formality with Kakashi. She knew good and well he'd asked her to refer to him in less ceremonial ways. Surely, Sakura wasn't the only one he'd been vehement about her dropping his formal titles. "I remember the two of you dancing around each other when I was a genin," Sakura teased.
"He's always been a love 'em and leave 'em sort," Shizune worried.
"That was the Genma in his twenties. Now he's in his mid-thirties. His priorities will have changed," Sakura assured her. Though, some men in their mid-thirties — like Kakashi — still acted like sullen teenagers. "Well, hopefully."
"It's weird though. I've never heard of his cousin before. If they're close, it just seems strange that he's only now coming to Konoha," Shizune murmured. "Though, I did miss a lot those years Lady Tsunade and I traveled."
"Let's just try and enjoy ourselves." Sakura opened the door to the restaurant for them. She had dug into the far reaches of her own closet, past the red, pink and white. She took the green knit sweater-dress that fell to her knees, a pair of dark blue leggings, and a pair of dark charcoal gray boots with heels. She'd bought the dress last fall, but never wore it. She'd enjoyed wearing the earth-tone colors during the war— the traditional colors of Konoha shinobi.
When they arrived at the restaurant's private room, Ino, Sai, Shikamaru, Temari, and Choji were already there. Sakura and Shizune had just settled down at the table when Sukea and Genma arrived.
When Sukea took the seat next to Sakura, she felt a thrill at his presence. He came for her. She had a man show up for her! Was this feeling what her other friends took for granted?
He looked handsome, a little odd still wearing the purple face paint, but that was some people's culture. Regardless of the paint, his tussled light brown hair was cute, but to be honest, Sakura would have preferred raven black or silver hair. Tonight was not the time to focus on her past loves, she was tired of chasing after unattainable men. She was going to give this handsome, interested man her undivided attention.
"Nice shirt," Sakura commented when Sukea turned towards her. He was wearing dark blue cable knit sweater that fit snug upon his toned torso and a pair of dark gray cargo pants and boots. Their colors were coordinated in such a way it almost seemed planned.
"Nice dress," Sukea answered back. He leaned towards her and brushed his lips over her cheek. "You look beautiful," he whispered in her ear.
Sakura's cheeks burned in a blush as he leaned back.
Naruto and Hinata rushed in at that moment, both breathless, and took the seats across from them. "Sorry, sorry!" Naruto said, holding his hands up apologetically. "We lost track of time." He smiled at Sakura and Sukea. "You look great, Sakura-chan! Good that you're here too, Sukea!"
"Good to see you again, Naruto," Sukea said with a breathless chuckle.
"Oye! Sukea!" Naruto's eyes widened as if he'd just have a revelation. "I was hoping you could take some engagement photos for me and Hinata!" Naruto pointed his chopsticks towards Sakura's date.
"Oh, well, this is the last weekend of the butterfly migration," Sukea pointed out. "That would be a good background if you're okay missing the carnival tomorrow morning. Sakura and I took some nice photos there last week."
"I saw the photograph in Sakura-chan's office!" Naruto exclaimed. He turned towards Hinata and his bright smile stretched from ear to ear. "Oh, Hinata, it's a great idea! You'll love the butterflies!" He reached for her face and cupped her cheek in his left hand.
"Okay, Naruto-kun, that sounds lovely," Hinata agreed softly, leaning her cheek into his hand. Her lavender eyes focused on no-one but Naruto, as if he were the sun and she was the planet that orbited around him.
Sakura groaned quietly under her breath. Twelve-year old Sakura would have been oooing and awing over such a romantic display. Twenty-two year old Sakura felt bile rising up her throat at the saccharine sweet moment.
Sukea reached for Sakura's hand, surprising her, laying his larger calloused hand over the top of hers. She stared down at their joined hands noting the pale scars scattered across his knuckles before meeting his gaze, his light gray eyes boring into hers. "It helped that I had such a pretty model. Would you be able to assist me, Sakura? I've never done engagement photos before and you have a really good eye for detail."
Sakura squeezed his long fingers. "Sure, Sukea. That sounds fun."
He smiled at her, and in spite of feeling nauseated by Naruto and Hinata's goggly eyes, Sakura felt her heart stutter in her chest when she was on the receiving end of a focused look. "Great." He released her hand and picked up his cup of tea and took a long sip. "Though, I've been thinking about it, Naruto." He set his tea down, softly clicking the base of the cup against the saucer. "I can't be the photographer for your wedding. I travel a lot and I really can't commit to something like that. I do photography for fun." He gestured towards Genma. "My cousin reminded me that I might have other obligations. You should hire a professional for the actual ceremony."
"Oh. Well, okay." Naruto's expression was crest-fallen for a whole three seconds before he brightened. "We can still do the butterfly pictures tomorrow!"
"Of course," Sukea said, smiling in such a way that included his eyes into little crescents.
Sakura wasn't sure what to think of that exchange. Sukea was a traveling man. She'd been in a relationship with a traveling man before and it never worked in her favor. Was she just setting herself up for failure again? What obligation would interfere with his coming to Naruto and Hinata's wedding? He didn't have a secret family did he? She tried to calm her spiraling thoughts of doom. This was only their second date. She didn't need to be picking out the decor for their future imaginary house.
Sukea speared a piece of meat off her plate and popped it in his mouth. He smirked at her while he chewed. His teeth were so perfectly white and even and his canines were just a bit sharper than average. "Eat up, Sakura, or else I might just clear off your plate for you. Or are you saving room for all those desserts at the Momiji Festival's carnival?"
"It's not every day a girl can find a dango stand on every street corner." Sakura angled herself towards Sukea and tapped her shoulder against his in an attempt to flirt. She felt stupid doing it, but when he tapped her shoulder back, the knot in her stomach dissolved. Her smile was less nervous now and little more natural.
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Kakashi's scalp itched. He hated this stupid, brown wig. And his eyes felt too dry with the contacts. But, Sakura was holding his hand and she looked smoking hot in her skin-tight sweater dress and those boots of hers accentuated both her calves and her glutes. Kakashi liked breasts of course, but he was a butt and hips man. And frankly, he felt that Sakura Haruno had the best backside in all of Konoha. He may or may not have spent many-a-missions staring at that backside over the years— an innocent observation of course.
Normally, Kakashi didn't put much thought into his outfits. Most of his wardrobe was the standard issue jonin uniform. He was glad that over the years, he would occasionally purchase an article of clothing outside of the standard uniform. Though, most of his civilian clothing were bought on infiltration missions over the years. His collection was smaller than one might think since quite a few samples of those clothes had fallen into disrepair via blood stains or lacerations from sharp projectile weapons.
He did not enjoy when Sakura and Shizune had dragged him and Genma to the booth with cats up for adoption. It was as if the felines could smell the dog on him. Tamaki — Kiba's cat-loving girlfriend — ran the booth. Sakura had eagerly signed up to foster one of the cats. It was a cranky, sullen black cat with amber eyes. It reminded him all too much of one Sasuke Uchiha for his tastes in both looks and attitude.
"What do you think, Sukea? It's a good idea to foster before committing to being a fur-parent, right?" Sakura asked, looping her arm through his, leaning heavily on his arm. "Tamaki said I can pick him up tomorrow afternoon!"
"It's not a bad idea to foster before adopting a pet," Kakashi answered, using a higher pitched voice than usual for his Sukea persona. He was going to need to drink a lot of honeyed green-tea to help with his inevitable sore throat and inflamed vocal cords. "You might discover you're actually a dog person."
Walking in front of them, Shizune and Genma stopped abruptly. It was only his ninja reflexes that kept Kakashi and Sakura from plowing into their backs. It was strange seeing the two familiar shinobi looking so relaxed and playful. It was a nice strange.
"Oh! Let's head to the games!" Shizune suggested. "There's a senbon throwing contest where you burst balloons." She smiled up at Genma. "Would you like a friendly wager, Shiranui?"
"What do you have in mind, Shizune?" Genma countered, the senbon in his mouth clicking against his teeth. "Loser goes home with the winner?"
"And does their laundry?" Shizune said, raising a dark eyebrow and feigning ignorance.
"No. Maybe, removes laundry from the winner," Genma said. "Sakura, do you need to explain the point of flirtation to Shizune?" He leaned towards Sakura with his eyebrows raised. "Maybe the birds and the bees talk?"
Sakura laughed. "Sorry, I don't think I'm a good person to try and explain that." She released her hold on Sukea's arm and folded her arms over her chest. "Maybe the loser gives the winner a back massage and if something comes of it — well — that would be between the two of you."
"I can agree to a massage," Shizune agreed. She held out her hand towards Genma.
Genma stuck his senbon behind his ear, took her hand, and kissed her knuckles. With his lips still pressed to the back of her fingers he said, "Agreed."
They wouldn't see Genma or Shizune again that night.
"Oh! Let's try the fishing game!" Sakura latched onto the disguised Sukea/Kakashi's arm and pulled him towards a kiddy pool full of goldfish. The players used small nets with handles to catch as many fish in one scoop. You had five seconds once the net hit the water.
They released the goldfish, but not until Sakura could claim the title of winner with the twenty-three fish she'd caught.
"You weren't planning to catch goldfish for that foster cat to eat were you?" Sukea/Kakashi asked. He resisted the urge to laugh at the look of utter undignified shock on Sakura's face.
"No way!" Sakura quickly freed the fish back into the pond, thanked the vendor, and they moved on to the ring around the bottles game.
"How's your aim?" Sukea/Kakashi asked, spinning his rings around his index finger idly.
"I was on a team with Sasuke Uchiha and our lazy sensei always showed up hours late. You can rest assured that Naruto and I both have precise aim." Sakura sniffed and snatched the three colored rings off his finger and tossed them in rapid succession to land perfectly over three different bottles.
Sukea/Kakashi nodded, trying not to be be offended at being called out for being a lazy teacher. It wasn't that he was lazy — more that he was unmotivated, depressed, and distracted. His genin had been very annoying and he hadn't liked any of them until after their mission to the Land of Waves. "Very nice." He took three more rings from the vendor and had landed them all on the same bottle, earning an impressed head nod from the vendor.
Sakura pointed towards the large white plushie ninja dog on display, suspended on the roof of the tent. "What do I need to do in order to win that prize?"
"Twenty rings onto twenty bottles," the vendor said. "You have to match the colors — red, yellow, green on the bottles and the rings." He gestured towards the large plushie. "That beauty has been through four different villages and no one has won it yet."
"Maybe no one was motivated enough," Sakura answered. She took the rings and with an intense focus, started to earn the prize. She'd met nineteen out of nineteen. When it came to the twentieth, her arm was bumped from behind by Konohamaru Sarutobi.
"Oye! Sakura! Sorry about that!" Konohamaru apologized before running off after his teammates.
"Sorry, friend. Maybe next time," the vendor said, breathing a sigh of relief.
Sakura stared at the final red ring that had been precariously balanced between the yellow and red bottle necks, not falling onto either.
"Actually," Sukea/Kakashi said, give us a moment. He leaned close to Sakura's ear. "You can still get the ring to fall onto the red bottle neck. You mentioned you had an affinity for Earth chakra. Create a small rock and send it to tip the ring to the red bottle." He pointed out the clock on the wall. "Technically, you still have fifteen seconds."
Wasting no further time, Sakura kneaded chakra and created a small stone. She flicked it towards the precariously balanced ring and it settled onto the red bottle neck. "And that makes twenty."
The vendor's face went pale. Sakura eagerly awaited her prize and once the vendor reluctantly gave it to her, she squealed in delight and hugged the ninja dog plushie that looked like it had been based off one of Kakashi's ninja hounds. While she was distracted by her prize, Kakashi leaned closer to the vendor. "You'll make the Hokage very happy if you will stop acting like you're constipated. This is Konoha. You should expect to lose a few prizes to elite jonin. If you're worried about profit, I'm happy to make a donation."
"That won't be necessary. The loss of the prize isn't a concern." The vendor's tense shoulders relaxed. "I didn't realize that was Sakura Haruno until now. I should have known."
"Ah, good." Sukea/Kakashi shoved his hands into his pockets and ambled back to Sakura's side. "That's quite the large plushie."
Sakura tucked the dog plushie under her arm and knocked her shoulder against him, much like she'd done during dinner. "I need someone to share my bed with," she teased.
Sukea/Kakashi's eyes widened at the comment. "Well, if you're looking for a volunteer?"
Sakura giggled. "Or, I may give it to my friend. It's a month late for his birthday. He's so antisocial, he could probably use a bedmate." Sakura shook the dog towards him. "Don't you think I'm the perfect companion for our esteemed Hokage?" she asked in a gruff dog-impersonation.
"I think you should keep it," Sukea/Kakashi murmured shaking his head. His birthday had been a month ago. He had eight ninja hound summons, he didn't need a plushie. But it was reassuring that even now, he — as himself— had crossed Sakura's mind.
As they walked down the path of the carnival, red maple trees lined the pathway. The crimson leaves were an explosion of color. "I should have brought my camera," Sukea / Kakashi observed. "Maybe we can walk this way tomorrow before the butterflies to get a few photos."
"That sounds nice," Sakura agreed. She pointed towards a neon spectacle of a temporary building. "A house of mirrors! Let's check it out!"
"I'll carry the dog," Sukea/Kakashi volunteered, taking the massive plushie and tucking it under his arm. He followed after Sakura into the maze with the bizarre mirrors.
He paused briefly at a set of mirrors that were side by side — one showed him as impossibly tall and skinny and the other extremely short and wide with the plushie making the visage even more ridiculous. He chuckled before trailing after Sakura through the winding hallways.
There were several distracting and hilarious images within the mirrors, but there was one that seemed to suck out all the joy from his date. "What's the matter, Sakura?" Sukea/Kakashi asked. He peered over her shoulder and saw that this mirror widened the forehead dramatically.
"When I was young, I was very self-conscious of my forehead. I know this is an exaggerated image, but this is what I thought I looked like." Sakura rubbed her finger over her diamond seal mark. "Ironic that the evidence of my greatest achievement is prominently displayed on this giant forehead of mine."
Sukea/Kakashi grinned, his canines looking even more ferocious as he stood behind Sakura and rested his chin on top of her head. She fit perfectly against him. "You're beautiful, Sakura. Your forehead is exactly the right size."
Sakura smiled at their image in the mirror. "My Sukea, what big teeth you have."
"The better to eat you with, my dear," Sukea/Kakashi whispered, dropping his voice to his normal tone. He felt Sakura shiver against him. He cleared his throat and stepped back. "They'll be starting the fireworks soon. We should find a spot by the lake."
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For someone that didn't spend a lot of time in Konoha, Sukea certainly seemed to know all the best scenic places. Between the butterfly migration sanctuary and this spot tucked away at the edge of the forest, away from the crowds, right on the lakeshore — she was definitely impressed.
"How did you find this place?" Sakura asked, reaching into the small cardboard box with a few pastries within. She had picked at hers and he'd not really touched his. He wasn't a big fan of sweets apparently, at least not the food kind.
"You're friends with the Hokage, right?" Sukea asked.
"Yes," Sakura answered warily.
"This is actually private property — part of the old Hatake estates. I figured if he wasn't going to use this area to watch the fireworks, he wouldn't mind if one of his close friends did," Sukea reasoned.
"Oh. Well, I hope you asked permission," Sakura said. "I wouldn't want to take advantage of my relationship with him."
"Just what kind of relationship do you have?" Sukea asked, his light gray eyes piercing her with a sudden intensity that made her look away.
Sakura drew her knees up to her chest and wrapped her arms around them. "He probably won't mind." They fell into a comfortable silence as the fireworks began to fill the night sky. They were far enough away from the music that they could still hear the cicada and frogs near the shoreline. "Tell me, Sukea, have you ever been in love?" Sakura turned towards him, eager to gage his reaction.
Sukea wasn't looking at her, but was staring up at the sky, the lights of the fireworks reflecting in his eyes. He leaned his arms behind him, palms flat on the ground and stretched out his long legs, crossing them at the ankles. "Once," he admitted.
"What happened?" Sakura asked, trying to ignore the familiar pangs of envy.
"She was in love with someone else. I never had the courage to tell her how I felt." Sukea glanced her direction and smiled at her sadly. "How about you?"
Sakura hugged her knees closer and rested her chin on them. "You're going to think I'm fickle."
"I doubt that. You have a large heart, so it would not surprise me to learn you have loved others," Sukea said quietly.
"I've been in love three times." She shook her head and pressed her face against her knees for a moment, trying to collect her thoughts to explain it best. "I've fallen in love with every member of my original team. Not at the same time, mind you. I don't think there's been anyone as foolish as to let those lines between friendship and affection blur repeatedly."
"I would never call you a fool, Sakura," Sukea said quietly. "Will you tell me more? I'd like to know what I'm getting into." He reached for her hand and pulled it off her knee with one hand and used his other hand to lift her face up, gripped under her chin gently so her voice wouldn't be muffled. "I'm very interested in you. I want to know if it takes more than a pretty face to gain your favor." He smiled down at her.
"Oh my goodness," Sakura murmured, her cheeks flaming. "You heard me say that? All those years ago?"
"You were a cute kid. You're a beautiful adult. A photographer's eye has a knack for spotting pretty things," Sukea explained. "Tell me more?"
"Okay. Well, I didn't fall for them just because they are all handsome. I've worked in temporary teams with some of the best looking shinobi in the Allied Forces and wasn't the least bit interested in them. The first boy I loved, my feelings started back at the Academy. I didn't realize he was a popular boy — I just appreciated his academic success and how skilled he was at everything. For a girl who grew up without a clan, seeing him do such amazing things without a clan to support him — it was inspiring. He was troubled though and I felt compassion for him and wanted to make things better. We became friends when we were on the same team together eventually, he called me out when I said stupid things — like judging Naruto for his pranks when he was an orphan and had no guidance. Sometimes he would return my affections and other times soundly reject them. We officially dated for three months before he left on mission after mission that would keep him out of the village. I wrote him a few times, but he never wrote me back," Sakura explained thinking of Sasuke.
"Maybe he couldn't write you back?" Sukea suggested.
"He chose not to," Sakura said. "At the very least, I thought we were friends. He wrote Naruto. And of course, he wrote the Hokage mission reports."
"And the second person?" Sukea asked.
Sakura laughed ruefully. "Less of a romantic love," she said thinking of Naruto. "I was desperate to keep him safe. He'd had a crush on me since we were young and I thought I could make it work. We worked together so often, both grew into strong shinobi at the same time. Like me, he wore his heart on his sleeve. He became the most important friend in my life. So, in the middle of the Fourth War, I confessed my feelings. Nothing like impending mortality to make you say things you'd usually keep to yourself. Unfortunately, we had an audience when I expressed my feelings of love for him. He didn't believe me. So that chance fizzled and died all within the span of ten minutes."
"I see," Sukea said. "That must have been difficult." They fell into silence, the chatter of people in the distance a faint buzz in their ears now that the fireworks had ended and there were no longer the occasional booms. "What about the third?"
Sakura groaned. "He was there for both confessions. He's seen me at my lowest over and over. He wouldn't believe my sincerity even if I had the courage to tell him. I used to see him as a mentor, but in the last battle — it was just us. The rest of the world was trapped in these deadly cocoons or engaged in a stupid duel. I'd never seen him so defeated mentally. He's the absolute best person in the village. No-one has sacrificed more for Konoha or experienced more trauma than him. I just — I would do anything to lessen his burden. I've tried repeatedly, but there's nothing on his end. I had thought that maybe…," she trailed off. She remembered various moments she'd shared with Kakashi over the years. She'd never even seen his face, but she was incredibly attracted to him. His charisma and his bravery and yes — his body. "You remind me of him."
"Then why are you here with me and not with him?" Sukea asked.
"The two other times I confessed my feelings for the other person and was epically rejected. I'd rather be alone then go through that again. If he cares about me in such a way, he can approach me. He knows where to find me." Sakura angled her face towards him. "Every man I opened my heart to before you was someone unattainable. There are perfectly nice young men that have asked me to dinner, but they didn't know me, and I've turned them down. It wouldn't be fair to them if I couldn't give my full attention."
"Yet you've given me a chance," Sukea pointed out. "Why?"
"I guess you caught me off guard. I'm so very tired, Sukea. And to be honest, I'm lonely. All my friends are paired off, getting married. I want a partner too — I have so much love to give and having a pet cat isn't going to be enough for me. You don't know my reputation and have done all the things I've ever wanted — asked me to dance, taken me on a romantic viewing of the sunrise, bought me food at our date, taken me through the streets of a festival while holding my hand. And no one has ever sent me sweets and flowers." She smiled faintly. "I've never had someone treat me like a precious girlfriend."
Sukea leaned over Sakura, cupping her face in his hand . "You're a special woman, Sakura. You deserve good things." He drew closer, his breath mingled with hers before he claimed her lips in a searing kiss. He leaned back, hovered over her and brushed his thumb over her cheek. She'd begun crying quietly. "Let me take you home. It's getting late. You'll need to be up early to help me with the photography session."