Chapter Seventeen

His chosen path

Sometimes, Kakashi wondered why ever he wanted to avoid this. The warmth of knowing that someone’s there to love and care for you was the ultimate gift a lonely soul could ever have. He had been lonely for years now, with only constant companionship with women he barely even know. It was all Genma’s doing actually. To Genma’s language, one-night-stand was a stress reliever. After putting your life into danger, there’s nothing better than to indulge into the warmth of a woman. He also said relationships weren’t important to shinobis like them. Love was complicated in their job. It hinders you and eventually will be the death of you.

The person beside him stirred just a little and then her soft breathing reached his ears again.

What am I so afraid of? He asked himself, quietly observing the spider weave its web on the ceiling. Sakura’s one of the best medic and one of this days, she’ll get stronger than the Hokage herself. He didn’t want the past to repeat itself. He was a man who abides by the rules and offers his lifetime loyalty to his village. But Sakura changed that. He fell in love with his former student… an act outlawed by many villages. Despite of this, he chose this path.

This path offered no assurance, where is on the other, he will remain respectable for whatever reputation he had. But the thought of seeing Sakura by the end of the endless path of thorns, he knew everything was worth it.

His eye slowly drifted downward towards the pink head resting just beneath his chin. His arm snaked around her shivering body, warming her as much as possible. The snow storm outside was still horrible and the coverlet of their bed wasn’t doing its purpose. His gaze slowly trailed towards the unlit fireplace not so far from the bed. It would help if you hadn’t forgotten to set the fire. He mentally chided to himself. Last night was too intense for him to even remember lighting the fireplace. Last night, he threw all away his self restraints.

And the fact that Sakura told him she reciprocated his feelings made it all better.

Also, the smooth leg thrown over his, completely entangling them was a bonus.

He moved to kiss the top of her head, taking in the scent of her hair. Pakkun once said he and Sakura used the same shampoo… which was odd.

Sakura mumbled something incomprehensible and then rubbed her nose. Kakashi chuckled at this, feeling elated for waking up first to witness it.

Shivering, she scooted closer, if that was even possible and muttered, “Close’ the window, dammit Naruto.” Then a soft snore came from her before drifting back to dreamland.

Kakashi was aware of Naruto’s constant visit on Sakura’s room. It happened after Sakura learned about Naruto’s dilemma of having Kyuubi trapped inside his body. Their relationship back then evolved into something much deeper. She used to ignore and think less of him than Sasuke. But now, she and Naruto treat each other like siblings. Naruto was her alarm clock when she so fails to wake up and enters her bedroom by the window. He knows this because of Sakura’s half-hearted protest of Naruto breaking into their house. As the years passed by, everyone got used to it. Including Sakura’s father who gravely disapproved on Naruto’s disrespectful behaviour for the first few months.

He thought it was cute.

Too soon, Sakura stirred and finally fluttered her eyes open. Yawning and stretching her arms, almost hitting Kakashi’s face if he had not dodged.

Sakura tried to register into her muddled mind her surroundings before turning to face Kakashi. Rubbing her eye with one hand while the other smoothing her hair, she asked, “What time is it?”

“I really can’t tell right now.” He sarcastically pointed at the window where the snow still rained.

“Oh,” Sakura was still under the vestiges of sleep, “… right.” She sat up, stretched again and then silently stared off-space.

Here we go. Kakashi knew what was coming and so, he too sat up, leaning against the head board.

“Kakashi, we need to talk.” She said, her hair hiding her face away from him.

It’s long. He mused, not quite noticing how Sakura’s hair had grown long again just above her breas… Okay, stop.

Finally she turned to him and asked the inevitable, “Where does this lead us?”

This, particularly referred to their new found relationship. There were a lot of things to talk, think and consider about. Like, how will Konoha accept their relationship? Or, how will Naruto and Sasuke react on this? Sasuke, most especially who just a month ago asked Sakura’s hand in marriage and got dumped.

Kakashi wanted to smile in triumph for the latter part.

“Directions are for fools, Sakura.” He started in an even manner of speaking. “Whatever happens, will happen.”

Sakura gave him a lopsided grin, “Are you saying that we’ll do what we want to do and let them guess what’s going on?”

“Exactly.” He returned her grin with a smirk.

God, he looks so handsome. Glad I took that mask off. Inner Sakura did a victory dance inside her head.

“You’re evil.” She moved towards him and allowed his hands to guide him gently down to his lap. In this position, Kakashi was able to easily kiss her mouth, which was soft and pliant. Breaking the sweet lip lock, Kakashi smoothed her hair, loving the silky feel of it around his fingers.

“That’s a strong word.”

“It’s because you’re not being rational.” She leaned against the hand caressing her cheek as her own winding its way around his neck.

“Do you want me to?” a challenging glint appeared on his eye as he moved to kiss her mouth down to her throat. He was granted with a moan.

“Mm… we should stop doing this.” she protested half-heartedly.

“What?” He asked between kisses and nips on the tender flesh of her neck.

“Sleeping in the same bed when we’re obviously not sleeping together.” A blush crept on her cheeks up to her ears. She had never imagined herself having this kind of conversation with him.

Kakashi pulled back and the mischievous smirk on his face made Sakura nervous. “Why, Sakura, I didn’t know you wanted me that way.” He earned a slap on the arm.

“Not that, you perv! What I mean is… well,” she found it hard to construct any words explaining what she really wanted to say. “It’s improper and… what if someone sees us?”

He arched an elegant brow at her, “Sakura, we’re 30 kilometres away from Konoha.” Then his smirk returned, loving the irritated look on his pink-haired kunoichi. “Don’t worry. Next time, I’ll do as what you think is proper.”

Sakura worried her lower lip, glaring at him with great restrain of not pulling Kakashi’s hair out. “Dammit, you and your innuendos. That’s what you get for reading those dirty novels…”

“Hey, stay Icha Icha out of this.” Kakashi pretended to be deeply affronted.

She took this opportunity to tease him more. Placing a finger on her chin, she looked up, pretending to be thinking deeply. “Actually, I was planning on burning your collection for good.”

Kakashi’s eye narrowed, “Don’t you dare.” He didn’t know Sakura would post a threat like this.

“What are you going to do about it? Punish me?” the look on Sakura’s face and eyes almost took his breath away. Goodness! The girl was a seductress. He didn’t know those emerald eyes would look so exotic when she performed that look of a sultry goddess. It almost made him… shit. He had to get Sakura off of his lap, now.

“I’ll do more appalling things than punish you.” He growled with no intentions of showing his anger. Just pure… submission to whatever Sakura’s doing. And here he thought she was still naïve.

She meant to tease him, that’s all. But the sound of his deep voice sent shivers down her spine, tickling her insides in a strange yet nice sort of way. “Oh yeah? Like what?” she remained defiant despite of the fear and excitement running through her. After asking her last question, she suddenly feared how Kakashi would answer it.

He however didn’t fired back any wise-ass comment. Instead, he leaned and feverishly kissed her. Caught in between of shock and pleasure, it took a few moments before Sakura shyly returned the passionate kiss. She was still new with this stuff. For the record, Kakashi was her first boy friend. And Sasuke’s your first ex-husband. Inner Sakura playfully taunted. He is not! We’re not even married yet! She protested but soon her inner battle was forgotten when she felt herself being lowered to the bed with Kakashi on top of her and between her legs.

And the next thing she knew, she was smothered by the passion of Kakashi’s kisses. This doesn’t look like a punishment… Her hands moved from his shoulders to his chest, loving the contours and his battle scars. A punishment cannot be as enjoyable as this.

As much as how Kakashi badly wanted to continue, he didn’t. He immediately pulled back, breathing the air he lost as his dark eye watch the young woman beneath him do the same.

“Why—”

Kakashi rested his forehead against hers, closing his eye, still breathing, “We need time…”

Sakura understood him perfectly. They just went through confession and now its time for adjustments. There was no need to haste everything. As long as they’re together, all is fine. “Yes… I’m nineteen… and still naïve.” That catchphrase will never leave her for some time now. Already two men told her the same statement, which was highly embarrassing on her part. Was it her fault that she had no idea of what to do? How many times did she refuse invitations from Ino to go bar hopping and learn the properties of maturity? It’s just that back then she wasn’t interested. But now… with a renowned Icha Icha fanatic jounin for a boy friend, she’s eager to learn what nineteen year olds should know.

Chuckling, Kakashi rained her face with kisses before extracting himself from her.

Sakura smiled at this. “Why are you always wearing that mask, Kakashi?”

Kakashi stiffened as he sat up. He was, sort of expecting that question to come sooner of later. “You know already about my father, didn’t you?” Years of being best friends include the benefit of telling each other’s secrets. He already told her about his father and how he died. The exact history of why he had became Hatake Kakashi, the copy-nin who strictly sticks to the rules of Shinobi. The only thing he couldn’t tell her yet was about Obito and Rin. He figured he’ll have to share this piece of memory once this mission is over.

Sakura frowned at Kakashi’s question and then it dawn to her. “Oh…” Kakashi looked exactly like Hatake Sakumo. Somehow, it is his way of keeping people from seeing the face of the nin who failed his Village.

He gave her a reassuring smile and then he stood up and reached for his vest.

“What are you doing? It’s still snowing outside.” Sakura sat up and pointed at the window.

“We should arrive there in three days. We can’t waste time.”

“But it’s still snowing…”

“Sakura…”

“Gr, fine.” Begrudgingly, the young medic stood up and started wearing her leg guards and shoes.

**

“It’s disappointing.”

Kakashi glanced at Sakura with an arched brow. “What is?”

Sakura looked up to the sky and sighed, “Well… the mission. The original plan was for me to stay there for a week with my team while you, Shikamaru and Neji will go back to report. And then all of a sudden, Hokage-sama asks me to return with you and leave the rest in Sand.”

“Shouldn’t you be happy? I thought you wanted to go home.”

“I am happy… I missed everyone in Konoha… and—” she paused after recalling her problems with Sasuke, “—and there’s still something I must do immediately when we get home.”

“Then why are you disappointed?” she’s starting to confuse him again.

“Err…” sheepishly, she smiled, “I was kind of… well, hooked with Sand’s situation. The plague, the attacks… the army in Daikon… it’s all intriguing.”

Kakashi smiled, “We’ve been away for weeks. I guess Hokage-sama piled a lot of missions for us to finish when we get back.”

Sakura shook her head, “I doubt that. Konoha’s infected with the same parasite I found in Daikon. I guess I’ll be stuck in the hospital, working.”

Kakashi laughed, “How long has it been since your first duty?”

Sakura looked heavenward, thinking, “Hmmm… three years?”

“Is Hokage-sama still teaching you?”

Sakura nodded, “Sometimes… when she’s available. In the mean time, I train with Shizune or in the hospital.”

Kakashi grinned, “Good, we need more intelligent medics like you.”

A soft blush crossed the girl’s cheek. She immediately looked away, “Why… thank you.”

-

-

“You always thought I was weak. It’s always Sasuke and Naruto, your strong students. You knew they had the potential except me!”

-

-

Why do you have to snap at him like that? So embarrassing… Sakura mentally slapped herself, “Kakashi…” The white-haired jounin tipped his head on the side, indicating that he was listening. “I’m sorry for being… well, bitchy these past few days. I was just… really depressed.” Because you kept on hurting me… She added silently.

“I never thought of you as a weak person, Sakura.” Kakashi interjected, “I never wished to have anyone asides from you in my team. We’re all different and by this difference, we all excel in various fields. Sasuke and Naruto both excel in fighting, not because of their backgrounds and bloodlines. It’s because they belong in that category. You, however… you’re very intelligent and your control of chakra’s remarkable. Hokage-sama saw this in you that’s why she decided to train you to be a medic.” When he turned to glance at her, he saw her looking at him oddly. Not touched nor in near tears. Just… odd.

Sakura blinked at him curiously, “That’s… very deep, Kakashi… have you been rehearsing?”

Deep laughter erupted from the older jounin. “No. It’s because I already said the same thing to someone else before…” Ah, déjà vu. He inwardly said to himself.

“Who?” her heightened curiosity brought her to ask that question.

“Just someone you don’t know of.” Rin.

Sakura scowled at the fact that Kakashi didn’t answer her question. Was it another medic? A female medic, perhaps? She couldn’t help but feel jealous towards the person who received the same advice from Kakashi. Gee, Kakashi. You know exactly how to make a woman feel appreciated. Admitting that you gave the same advice twice just does the job. She couldn’t understand why Kakashi could be so insensitive sometimes when with a simple kiss from him almost set her on fire.

Kakashi noticed the look of displease (or was that jealousy) on Sakura’s eyes that made him worried. “Is something wrong?”

She quickly tried to hide her inner emotional battle, “I-I’m fine… I was just wondering why the Kazekage dismissed us.”

“Gaara’s pride got in the way.”

“Huh?”

“That Shukaku incident. Chiyo revived him and somehow, that made him feel helpless. With Shukaku extracted from his body, Gaara thinks he needs to prove himself as a strong individual even without his demon.” Bending his knees, he took a big leap towards the next tree with Sakura following his every move beside him. “That’s why he doesn’t want Konoha or any other villages helping him. He’s enclosing Sand from its ties to the other villages… which is wrong.”

“Then why did he request Shikamaru and Neji to stay?”

“For formality’s sake. He doesn’t want to worsen his image towards the Hokage by refusing any possible help. Once the war starts, he’ll immediately dispatch them to safety. To him, it was Sand’s war and Sand’s problem alone. He doesn’t want any other villages getting involved.” As they reached the clearing, Kakashi jumped back on the land with Sakura in tow.

“He’s being foolish!” Sakura didn’t like Gaara’s motive one bit. He’s endangering himself as well as his people and if he went on with his imprudent plans of independent warfare, then there’s no possibility for them to win or stop their mysterious enemies from advancing. She halted her steps and faced Kakashi, immediately getting his attention, “Why didn’t you tell me this before we left the village?”

Kakashi inwardly groaned, “And what? Stop him? Sakura, you know how hard it is to persuade Sabaku no Gaara.”

“He’ll listen to me!” She fired back.

“Hm, and make him destroy his new table again?”

Sakura gave him a confused look, “What?”

Kakashi scratched the back of his head. He just remembered Sakura was away when Gaara’s secretary told him… or rather whined at him that he asked her to get him a new table the moment she woke up. He learned that before the table was destroyed, he’s with Sakura and they had a rather… rowdy conversation. “He destroyed his desk because of you. I believe that was the night you asked permission to scout Daikon…”

“He did?? Why that—”, before she could even finish cursing Gaara to hell and back, a hand suddenly clamped her mouth, completely silencing her. Stunned, Sakura looked up to see Kakashi in front of her, scanning the area circumspectly.

“Someone’s here…” he whispered, still trying to track down where the rustling came from.

Trying to be helpful with the situation, Sakura looked around as well. Who…

TBC