Part 15

An all too familiar treeline was starting to get visible in front of them and they all felt the same mix of relief, excitement and tiredness as soon as their eyes laid on it. It was a long and draining affair, but after 23 days they were finally back home. Home. It was close after midnight when they entered Konoha through the front gates. They decided to keep the nights short and be home a couple of hours earlier. They said their quick goodbyes and all went their separate ways. Naruto talked about nothing but how much he missed his family the whole way back. That's why it wasn't surprising when he said goodbye the quickest of everyone. Shizune also just wanted to go home to Genma. She missed him extremely and just wanted to lie in his arms and fall asleep. Kakashi, on the other hand, was less looking forward to his bed than to Sakura and the fact that she was home again. Not just at home, but that she lived right across the street. He had vowed not to bother her tonight. He would go home, take a shower, and then go to sleep, like any sane person would have done. But about an hour ago he started to negotiate with himself. And he really wanted to stay strong, but this wasn't the first time he lost to himself. He wouldn't bother her if her lights were off. That was the deal. If her lights were off, he would do the only right thing and go straight home. But as fate would have it, a light in her flat was on. He had to admit, it was a small kitchen light, but he never said it had to be particularly bright.

His feet landed safe on her balcony. Then he looked into the flat he had chosen for her a couple of weeks prior. She didn't change much. Some new pieces of furniture were placed, her living room furniture was moved a little and pictures and other personal items were scattered around the room, but other than that she kept his selection. It looked like home in his opinion. A warm feeling went through his body as his gaze moved to the kitchen. There she was. Her pink hair reflecting the small kitchen light, which sealed his deal to come to her tonight, has gotten quite long in this six month, but other than that nothing seemed to have changed. She still was slim and petite and if he wouldn't know for a fact that she was about nine months pregnant by this point.

Sakura sensed him shortly before he landed and her balcony. A big grin run over her face, but she couldn't face him. Not just yet, she needed to take this moment in and enjoy it, because he was back. They were both back. These last few months were intense for her, but she felt like she grew immensely not only in size due to her pregnancy but also mentally. And she couldn't wait to tell Kakashi everything she had learnt and experienced in this last six months. But he didn't come in. He was still standing on her balcony and she started to wonder. She wanted him to come in. So she took a second tea mug from her kitchen counter and poured him some tea. She figured he was tired and could use some tea. She slid the mug next to her and started to turn, so she could face him finally. He understood the invitation and opened the balcony door and let himself in.

"I was wondering if you'd come in," her tone soft and playful, still strong enough to fill him with it. A smile visible on her lips and her gaze fixed on her guest.

"I wasn't sure, if I'd be welcome," his tone mimicked hers.

"Liar." She snickered and a smile formed on his face as well. Her pregnancy suited her well, he noticed. He was just so happy to be here with her.

"Wow, you're…"

"…huge, enormous, fat" she continued his sentence annoyance clearly hearable in her voice, but Kakashi hadn't thought of any of these kind of adjectives.

"Beautiful." He now completed his sentence. A blush formed on Sakura's face, as soon as this word left Kakashi's mouth.

She called him a liar again, but deep down she knew he meant what he had said. It didn't happen often, but on some rare occasions Kakashi's expressions were like an open book for her. She then knew exactly what he meant or what he thought and right now was one of these rare occasions. She just knew, that he was telling her the truth. The blush on her face intensified and for the first time in a long time she felt beautiful.
But none the less they spent enough time teasing each other, she wanted a proper hug and she knew she would get one. Kakashi felt the same. His only wish was to hold her and a huge smile formed on both of their faces as they started to walk towards each other. Needless to say, the hug that followed was incredibly good for both of them. Kakashi still couldn't believe his luck. She was really back and healthy and Sakura was also overjoyed to be here again. She really enjoyed her time in Amegakure and made many new friends. Of course it hurt her a lot that she had to leave her new friends behind again, but being here with Kakashi in her home was much nicer. It was something she had been looking forward to for months and right now it was a thousand times more beautiful than she imagined. If it were up to her, she would stay in this moment much longer. However, of course that wasn't possible, so they separated far too early.

Kakashi felt similarly. He too could spend a little eternity in this perfect happiness. They both settled on the sofa.

"You know; I can't stay long" he said with sadness displayed in his face, eying his half emptied tea cup.

"I figured, Shikamaru is rather keen on getting to Suna."

"I actually shouldn't be here in the first place, especially so late at night and you should be sleeping already."

"That is true." She said, eyes half closed while looking down on the carpet.

"Thanks for the tea." He continued while finishing it. "I need to make my report, but I'll be back tomorrow morning, I promise, but you should rest now. I have the day off tomorrow Tsunade offered to take over for a day, so Shizune, Naruto and I can rest well. So you can tell me everything." A smile was forming on his face and he looked in her direction. This was the best part of the whole ordeal, having a full day off to recover and spend with Sakura.

"That sounds great, but I guess Naruto and Shizune will be looking for me too."

"No problem, I can share, at least for a little while."

"I am not a dessert." She shot him a dirty look and returned his gaze.

"Oh I know; you are far salty for that." He teased pleased with his action as he saw her visual reaction.

"Salty? Me? Salty? I am no such… SALTY?" She stammered. Did he really just call her salty. Him of all people.

"Mah, mah, Sakura, you forget I always prefer salty over sweet" He said with a big grin on his face, like he had said the greatest compliment ever made in human history.

"Do you even know, what salty means?"

"What do you mean? Salty means salty, you adding salt to something, a delicious and for our survival important mineral that is deadly poisonous if you handle it wrong or misuse it. Just like you." The grin still visible in his face.

"I cannot believe you. Are you really that old?! For the love of the first, please promise me to never, and with that I mean never, ever use salty again to describe me. Because it is not what you think it is." A frown got visible on her face.

"Then what does it mean?" He wasn't sure if she was serious or not.

"I won't tell you, old man." Now he was shooting her a dirty look. Being called old by Gai, Naruto or Tenzo was one thing but being called old by Sakura actually hurt his feelings. He wasn't that old, why would she phrase it like this, he was just trying to be nice. He said his goodbye shortly after, still a little irritated from her reaction to his little tease. He made a mental note to find out what salty actually meant. Then he proceeded to go to the hokage tower to give his report and to dismiss Shikamaru who didn't lose a single second. He packed his things, took his leaving permission and started his journey to Sunagakure. Kakashi didn't hold it against him. He wanted to see his wife and son again, just like Kakashi wanted nothing more than to see Sakura. Maybe not exactly, since Kakashi and Sakura were just friends and not couple, let alone be married. Even if his subconscious classified it a little differently. This thought went unnoticed and was gone as quickly as it came. Then he went home.

His peaceful slumber got interrupted far too soon, as someone barged into his apartment in around 6 oclock. He knew the chakra signature from the get go, it was Naruto, but what would possibly be so important, that he would break into Kakashi's apartment.

"You need to get up. NOW!" Naruto screamed breathing heavily, his face red.

"Naruto, what is going on? What are you doing here?" Kakashi yawned. He definitely wasn't awake enough for any drama.

"Sakura is in labour. We should be in the hospital supporting her." Naruto said. His breathing had stabilized.

Kakashi was awake. Every last bit of tiredness left his body immediately. He was in operation mode. This was the moment he read so much about and Sakura would need all the support she could get. They left for the hospital immediately. Kakashi tried to listen and understand everything that Shizune had said about Sakura to him and Naruto, but he couldn't. First the smell of the maternity ward was far worse than he had ever expected. It took him a good minute to get his senses straight and not be overwhelmed and distracted from the smell. Then he really did not know what Shizune was talking about, but apparently Naruto understood everything. As soon as Shizune went back into Sakuras room, Kakashi wanted to know everything, that Shizune had just said, preferably with words he understood.

"To sum this all up. Sakura had a risky pregnancy and the birth of her child is equally risky if not more. She is not in a perfect condition. She is in the early stages of pre-eclampsia, which can turn into eclampsia, which is life threatening. They are doing what they can, to prevent this from happening, but childbirth is tricky, even for the best medics." Naruto did not meet his gaze. He looked to his own feet. Kakashi remembered to have read about this in one book. He found it horrible. Just the idea of convulsing to death gave him a stomach ache, but the thought that Sakura could meet that fate just one room over, felt like a kick in the stomach.

"So, what can we do?" Kakashi asked shyly. His gut told him, what Naruto's answer would be and that was the only answer he was afraid of.

"Nothing." Naruto answered and everything shattered inside Kakashi. "We can just wait. Shizune does not want to trouble Sakura any more than she is right now, therefor only one person is allowed in the delivery room with her. Ino is already with her and I think that is the best support for Sakura. Therefore, we can only wait for it to be over one way or another."

Kakashi inhaled deeply. He hated the fact that he couldn't do anything. Doing nothing had always been the worst thing for him. Sakura could slip into a life-threatening situation at any moment and he wouldn't be able to stand by her side or do anything to help her. He could only watch. The floor in front of her room was hard as he sat down on it. He chose a place where he wouldn't be in anyone's way, but could still move quickly if necessary. His legs were crossed in front of his chest and his hands were resting on the laps of his knees. Naruto did the same and sat down next to him. They waited. The medical staff came and went in and out of Sakura's room. From time to time, Ino would come out to Naruto and Kakashi to let them know how things were progressing. She always had a fake smile on her face. Even if Ino didn't want to admit it, it was clear to Kakashi that Sakura's condition was getting worse. Ino's body language was painfully so telling.

With every update, every doctor rushing to Sakura's room and every time Shizune or Tsunade stepped outside Sakura's door to collect themselves, Kakashi lost himself in his dark thoughts. Even though he seemed calm and controlled on the surface, he was a complete mess on the inside. He hid his hands between his bent legs as they began to tremble. He tried to reason with himself, but his dark thoughts had long since begun to control him. He was helplessly at their mercy.

A loud scream broke through Kakashi's inner turmoil. It was a baby. There was no doubt that the cry came from Sakura's room. Her baby was born and for a brief moment, Kakashi allowed himself to hope and believe that everything would be okay. But there was a second scream. This time, it was Ino, pleading. Her plea was for Sakura to stay awake. She begged the First to have mercy on Sakura. Then she turned her attention to Tsuande and begged her to save Sakura. Then she just wept. At that moment, Kakashi was sure that he could see his own body from the outside. He saw himself. He was sitting on the hospital floor, his head in his hands, as he tried to breathe normally. Next to him, Naruto began to sob softly.

After what seemed like an eternity, Tsunade left the room and collapsed beside Kakashi. Her face buried in her hands, she cried bitterly. He inhaled sharply as a piercing pain shot through Kakashi's chest. The realisation of what had just happened hit him. When he exhaled, everything was numb. The world was a blur of shapes and every sound was just an unidentifiable murmur. And for the first time in his life, he knew with absolute certainty what the future would hold. He would follow her.