"... and that is why I think we need to quickly build up the police force to deter further crime."

"Yes, sure," Kakashi agreed but he wasn't listening. He was trying to wrap his head around a little problem he had discovered earlier. The cost calculations for the library renovations were way off. But why would one of the enthusiastic young librarians try to cheat the village for money? I need to go and talk to them, he decided and added 'library' to his to-do list that spanned three full pages.

"Senpai, have you listened to a single word I said?"

"Yes," Kakashi nodded, picking up the next document from the pile. A neighborly dispute! He hated those the most. "Of course."

"You did not!" Yamato complained loudly. "Senpai, I cannot abide this any longer!"

Surprised by the uncharacteristic outburst, Kakashi looked up into his junior's troubled face. "Tenzo, why are you angry?"

"It's becoming worse!" In fact, Yamato's face looked like the sky before a horrendous downpour. Kakashi thought it wise to put the document back onto the pile. Slowly. "I do not deserve this much disrespect!"

"Huh," Kakashi frowned. "I know for a fact that I don't disrespect anyone. I don't have the time for it."

"Help me out here," Yamato turned to Shizune pleadingly, "maybe he listens to you!"

Kakashi turned his head towards Shizune too. What was going on here?

"Erm," Shizune coughed, avoiding eye contact. "Yes. You see, Hokage-sama, we were wondering whether your, er… distracted demeanor might be a sign of… well, something… health related?"

Ah. That again. Kakashi felt relieved. For a moment, they had had him worried.

"No, it's not. This here?" He rummaged through the top drawer on the right and pulled out the letter from the hospital, signed by Sakura in person, waving it back and forth in front of them. "It says black on white that I am as healthy as an ox, my blood picture is perfect."

"That's not the point!" Yamato yelled.

"Then why did you send me to the hospital in the first place?"

"We are worried about you," Yamato groaned, grabbing his head with both hands. "You are extremely forgetful, it's getting harder and harder to keep you in check!"

His frown deepening, he turned towards Shizune again, expecting her to contradict his junior who, everybody knew, tended to have 'episodes' during which he got into a huff and worried about everyone and everything.

"He is right, Hokage-sama," Shizune said resolutely.

He did not like this at all, Kakashi realized. Not the attention on his person, not what it implied. These two talked about him behind his back and then came up with wild theories about what was wrong with him?

"Like I'm an unruly child," Kakashi murmured. Or a senile old geezer. "I don't need to be 'kept in check'."

"You came half an hour late to the super important meeting with the Raikage. You almost caused a diplomatic incident!"

Hm, well… true. Not his finest performance of late but he had felt so rested after that nap in Sakura's office! And she had been so nice, understanding, and gentle to him, even making him forget how much he hated hospitals.

"You must go back to the hospital," Yamato pleaded. "Tell her to focus the examination on your mind this time."

"You know what," Kakashi exclaimed, reaching the end of his goodwill much faster than usual, "why don't you get yourself a wife to fuss over instead of hovering over me day and night? It would benefit all of us."

"Senpai!" Yamato gasped with a horrified glance at a violently blushing Shizune.

"You have my blessing," Kakashi grumbled. Just get on with it. Now that they had angered him, he realized he was actually quite annoyed by the endlessly slow mating dance these two performed around him. "So what were you telling me that was so important? I'm listening."

For a moment, it looked like Yamato might refuse to do the adult thing and be piqued instead but his diligent nature got the better of him. He took a deep breath, balled his fists once, and then gave his report again.

Hm. Kakashi scratched his chin. Yamato had been right to shout at him: An uptick in robberies and other criminal activities was indeed an important issue that needed to be addressed. But…

"I can't make a decision before Sasuke gets back," Kakashi decided.

The problem was that the complicated history of Kohona's Military Police Force was connected to the tragic history of the Uchiha clan. The Uchiha compound had been razed to the ground by Pain's attack on Konoha. The new buildings that were erected in that area held no visible memories of the past and there was no monument to remind the new generation of the tragedy that had occurred there, not even a plaque. It did not sit right with Kakashi. He felt weighed down by the knowledge of how Konoha had failed Madara's descendents and by the ease with which the village had wanted to forget.

"I think it's too urgent to wait," Yamato put his chin up defiantly.

Kakashi also felt weighed down by Konoha's insistence not to forgive Sasuke for his transgressions. Getting that pardon after the war accepted by the people of Konoha and elsewhere had been tedious and frustrating to say the least. It didn't help that Sasuke was never here - and sulked around, looking grim and intimidating when he was.

"... the other day, they even broke into the hospital," Yamato continued talking, "they broke some equipment and stole the nurses' coffee money!"

"They did what?" Kakashi looked up sharply.

Yamato seemed slightly taken aback by the sudden spike in interest. "Stole money."

"I will go to the hospital," Kakashi got up. "And I will talk to Sakura. Maybe she knows how Sasuke would feel about the police and whether he would expect to have a role."

"That sounds like a good idea," Yamato said. It didn't escape Kakashi's notice that he and Shizune exchanged a look. And maybe he misheard but he thought he heard Yamato whisper "Why don't you get yourself a wife?"

Outrageous!

###

For someone who was not easily roused to strong emotions, Kakashi was quite miffed about being declared 'forgetful' and 'hard to keep in check'. As if he was getting too old to do the damned job properly! Surely, a little bit of brain fog was only natural, given the goddamn schedule he was forced to follow. He wasn't old, he made damn sure he wasn't, he ran extra far and extra fast every morning, climbed extra high using as few fingers as possible, did more push-ups and sit-ups than ever before and could still outperform 99% of all living Shinobi.

"How dare he," he murmured. "After all I've done for the village!"

Ah, but now he was starting to feel sorry for himself and that was something he had sworn he would not allow. He could have kept saying no. He could have been selfish. He could have done what Might Guy was doing - living the time of his life in some resort, finding a nice, gentle girl to massage his back with affection, forget duty, forget honor, and just retire.

Like an old person.

Kakashi sighed heavily. Maybe he had finally caved not because of Tsunade's considerable arm twisting (and other) skills, but because he feared to become that person. Old. Redundant. Well, excellent... He hated being forced to analyze himself like this, it made him feel pathetic and he never liked what he discovered.

Landing soft-footedly on a tree branch outside Sakura's office, Kakashi could immediately spot her sitting at her desk. The sun was feeble today but the meager light was enough to let her hair glow like a cherry-blossom dream. Faced with the reality of her presence, he felt suddenly awkward ogling her through the window. Like a creep.

Someone as seasoned as him should really plan things better instead of just rushing out of the office in a huff.

While he was trying to decide whether he should a) leave (she was clearly busy) or b) use the front-door like a normal person, she noticed his chakra signature and turned around. Either she didn't think it strange to be stared at through the window or she often got visitors who did not use the entrance, but when she saw him, a smile spread across her lovely features.

Kakashi's breath failed. She looked stunning.

Get a grip. Or rather, he thought sheepishly while regulating the chakra in his feet, better not lose his grip, he was quite high up and Shinobis broke their necks like any other living creature when they were stupid enough to fall on their heads.

Sakura must have recently released the Strength of a Hundred Seal, he could see the fading marks on her face. An operation most likely. Nervously, he licked his lips underneath the mask, watching her come to the window to open it for him. She must be really exhausted, why did I think it's a good idea to come here?

"Kakashi Sensei! Did you want to come in?"

Absolutely so. His admiration for the diamond shaped seal, symbol of the highest art of chakra control, was no secret. Tsunade had let him touch hers, laughing at his reverence, and had called him a cute puppy. Well. Better a cute puppy than an old, forgetful geezer.

Kakashi climbed into Sakura's office with so much enthusiasm that he realized belatedly that the bright smile was a little forced and that her eyes were red. Had she been crying?!

"Yes, well," he stammered, "I… have questions."

"Oh," she replied, blinking owlishly. "About what?"

"I heard what happened," he tried to order his thoughts that were in a shocking disarray all of a sudden. Why exactly had he come here?

"You did?" She pressed out. "She was… so young."

To his absolute horror, she started to cry, big, heart-wrenching sobs that made her tremble pitifully. He put out his hand to pat her on the arm, uttering something pointless like there, there, but she misunderstood the gesture and threw her arms around him to bury her face against his chest.

"There, there," Kakashi croaked but his voice sounded squeaky and alien to him. He was so bad at comforting people! The sobbing intensified. Oh shit. He began to stroke her back as gently as he could. "It's alright, it's going to be alright," he murmured. Did something happen to Sasuke? No, he would have heard of it before her. Were her parents alright? They should be. He lifted his left hand to hold her head. "Cry all you need," he assured her. "My chest is honored to receive your tears."

"I'm sorry," she pressed out, "this isn't like me," and then the sobs raked her again.

Eventually, the tears stopped but Sakura did not let go of him. If anything, she tightened her grip around his middle, pressing her face even deeper into his flak jacket.

"I'm just so exhausted," she whispered almost inaudibly. "Please forgive me."

"It's okay," he replied. Her body felt frail in his arms and powerless. "Really, I don't mind."

"I have nobody to talk to," a new shudder went through her and he quickly grabbed her more tightly. Please no more tears. Please. "They're all so busy with their lives."

"Mhm," he agreed. "But I'm here and you can talk to me."

"This is so awkward," she held on tighter still.

Awkward? A bit. Sakura was no child anymore. She was a beautiful woman with a woman's soft, inviting body and she smelled like a beautiful woman too. His sensitive nose picked up the smell of disinfectant, of dried blood, of fear and desperation, but also, underneath… Sakura's scent. He tried not to allow himself to think of it as exciting but he was human, one of his bigger problems really, humans and male and with a body that had been denied sexual pleasure for months.

As long as his brain worked, his chakra control would prevent this awkward situation from becoming outright embarrassing though. He barely stopped himself from saying something completely inadequate like "just pretend I'm Sasuke" and said instead: "But we're friends."

Miraculously, he seemed to have chosen to say the right thing. She relaxed.

"Thank you," she took a deep breath. "I needed this. Thank you."

Sakura lifted her head and gazed up at him with admiration in her luminous green eyes. Oh boy, don't do this. His thoughts were going in the completely wrong direction and he had no intention of falling for a woman and then suffering like the biggest fool every time he saw her with her long-time boyfriend.

"You've always been such a nice guy," she smiled.

"I have?" One could easily get lost in these green eyes. One could easily devote his entire life to putting the dazzling light of joy into them. One could be that fool - but he wasn't going to be.

"You're one of the kindest, most selfless people I know," she nodded.

"Ah, now," he squirmed, "please don't overdo it."

"You don't like compliments, huh," she loosened her arms and stepped back a little. "But it's true. Why else would you have agreed to become Hokage? I know you didn't want to be tied down like this."

"I'm not going to do it for long," he frowned.

"That's what they all say," and then she laughed, shaking her hair out. "Okay, I'm feeling much better. Wanna go up on the roof? I need a break. You can tell me why you're here."

I have no idea why I'm here, Kakashi thought. I think I'm in trouble.

###

Sakura felt almost giddy walking up the stairs next to Kakashi with cups of steaming coffee in their hands. Friends! He had said they were friends and for reasons she didn't quite understand, that statement made her really, really happy.

Maybe because I am in need of friends. New friends who understand my situation instead of old friends whose universe has shrunk to being happy couples and rubbing people's noses into it.

"Brings back memories, huh," Kakashi mentioned when they stepped outside onto the concrete. He was referring to Sasuke and Naruto's fight way back when of course. "Luckily, that's behind us now," he added. "These days, we just suffer from too much work, not age-old bloodline karma."

Sakura laughed, pointing to a couple of rocky plastic chairs she had brought up here. The whole area was in need of some renovations, the concrete was cracked in several spots, with weeds slowly taking over. The washing line was sagging sadly, long ago, they had started to dry sheets in the basement.

"Rough day?" Kakashi asked, cautiously lowering himself into one of the chairs, stretching his long legs.

"Yes," Sakura felt another wave of sadness wash over her, but it wasn't tinged with guilt anymore like before. "Someone died during an operation this morning. I couldn't save her."

"That sucks," Kakashi looked up at the sky.

"Yeah," Sakura agreed quietly. "She was really sick."

"Don't beat yourself up about it," he looked in her direction. "Hear me?"

"I won't," she sighed. "Thanks."

"Go home early and get some sleep," he told her sternly.

"Ha!" she pulled a face. "I don't have a home. I've taken residence here at the hospital!"

"You are kidding, right?"

He looked so outraged, she had to laugh again. "Nope," she shook her head, hair flying. "It has been a rough few weeks, thank you very much."

"Why didn't you come to me? I would have found a solution."

"Kinda was too busy," she murmured. Kinda was avoiding you. Now she realized how silly that had been. He probably would have found a solution.

"You can use my apartment."

"Huh?!" Sakura spilled coffee on her white coat when she sat up too abruptly. "That's a joke, right?"

"No, it isn't," he looked dead serious. "I have an apartment but I don't ever use it because I live in the Hokage Tower now."

"I can't accept it," Sakura stammered.

"That's just silly. I don't even pay rent for it, it's just there. Hey, and you'd do me a favor, too! There are plants there that my ninken agreed to water but I don't think they have a green thumb."

"Haha. I'll think about it," Sakura took a sip of coffee. She couldn't. His apartment? It would be full of his things and…

"My things aren't there," Kakashi went on, "I mean, I don't own much anyway and I took all my essentials with me to the Tower. It would really just be like renting your own place only that it's for free and comes with plant-watering duties."

"You're quite good at being persuasive, I just realized," Sakura grinned. "Have you always been that way or did you acquire that skill as Hokage?"

"The latter," Kakashi murmured, "or I wouldn't have been bludgeoned into becoming the Hokage in the first place."

"Konoha is grateful, Rokudaime."

"Shut up."

They both drank their coffees in companionable silence afterwards. If he removed his mask for it, she didn't see it. Or he was just that skilled. The clouds were thick, but the sun was already strong enough to warm up the air. The birds were tweeting like their lives depended on it. A bumblebee turned a few rounds, checking out the cracks in the concrete.

Peaceful.

"What did you want to talk to me about?" Sakura asked, fighting against an increasing sleepiness. She had a full schedule this afternoon, it was out of the question to leave.

"Sasuke," Kakashi replied after a short moment of hesitation.

"Ah," Sakura grimaced. Well, she had cried her eyes out on his chest, she could as well tell him about the biggest failure of her life. Only that putting it into words felt like it would make it final. Silly cow, still harboring hopes?

"I was made aware that crime rates are rising much too steeply," he explained. "And I heard the hospital was robbed too?"

She nodded.

"Why didn't you tell me?" He demanded to know. "You should report to me regularly just as Tsunade did, the hospital is an important part of Konoha and I need to know what's going on."

"Yes," Sakura looked away. "Yes, I know. I will report. I will."

"It's my job to help," he insisted. "But I need people to tell me if something is wrong, I cannot watch everyone and everything all the time."

"I know," she repeated, shifting her eyes to his. "I'm sorry. I was overwhelmed with… everything."

"I get it," he nodded. "Just keep me in the loop in the future."

"What does this have to do with Sasuke?" Sakura asked.

"Well, I should build up the police force, and quickly at that. I think it will be a good way to keep the younger generation busy without completely neglecting their shinobi training."

She still didn't get it.

"The Uchihas used to be in charge of policing," he sighed heav. "I don't want to make a decision without consulting with Sasuke. Yamato thinks this police business is very urgent though and it is going to be a while until Sasuke gets back. So I was wondering…"

"I haven't spoken to Sasuke in many months," Sakura blurted out. I have no idea what that guy is doing and no idea what he is thinking. "I can't help you."

"Hm," Kakashi dipped his head back and to the side to swallow the last few drops of coffee. "Of course you can't, I'm sorry for rushing here without thinking it through. Well. Thank you for the company. And the coffee."

He got up.

Are you leaving so soon? She wanted to ask. Stay a little longer?

Kakashi hesitated.

"What is it?" Silly her, her heart was picking up speed.

"Nothing," he scratched the back of his neck. "Just wondering about something Yamato said? You said I'm very healthy but do you think… I mean… is it possible that something is wrong with my mind?"

Sakura blinked up at him. His mind? In what ways? As someone specializing in mental health for children, she had bad news for him. There was probably not a single person in this village whose mind was entirely sound.

"I can't look at your body and see what's in your mind," she answered cautiously. "That requires a different set of skills. Why, are you not following what I prescribed for better sleep?"

Why was she even asking. Even masked, his expression gave away his guilt. The worst patient in the world indeed! Looking out for others day and night but incapable of taking care of himself.

"Kakashi," she chided him, "do I need to nag you in the future? What good does it do the village if you collapse from overwork? Why don't you come see me tomorrow at 4pm?" It was during her break, but she didn't mind. Quite the opposite, in fact. "We can discuss options."

"If it shuts up Yamato…"

"It will," she promised though frankly, if that was the only goal, starting any kind of treatment was a waste of everybody's time. "Oh, before you go. I still don't know what Sakura's Adventures in the Cherry Blossom Lands is? You keep telling me to ask my friends. We are friends now so I'm asking you."

For a second, it looked like he was going to tell her. But then, he shrugged, and lifted his hand. "Very sorry, I really can't stay. Next time. Have a good day, Sakura!"

A poof, he was gone.

Okay, she was really curious now.