White Orchid's Entry: Improper Suggestions (Part Two)
Three weeks went by and Kakashi only saw her in passing. He wondered if she was just messing with his mind. Was Sakura the type of woman to play such games? He had never thought so. She had always been straightforward and honest in her affection for Sasuke. Why would he be any different? What really had him unhinged was how she could profess to love him and then go three weeks without talking to him unless it was mission related. It was too strange of a concept for him to leave alone. So he sought her out for answers. Answers that only left him more unsatisfied than he was before he even started.
Kakashi placed a hand on Sakura’s shoulder. She didn’t stiffen or strike out. It was like she knew who had touched her and simply paused in her walking and glanced over her shoulder at Kakashi. She gave him a small smile before turning to face him fully. Tilting her head to the side, Sakura looked up at him expectantly. He puzzled at the look in her eyes but immediately dismissed it.
She was working in the hospital and looked to be on her way to see her next patient when he stopped her. He didn’t want to disturb her work but he figured if she was too busy to speak with him for a moment or two she’d tell him to go away. She always had before.
“Got a minute?”
“Hm. Can you let me check on this last patient and meet me in my office?” Kakashi nodded his head and watched as she whirled around and continued on her journey. He watched for a while hearing the soft click-clack of her shoes as they landed against the floor before he finally turned and walked away. He was surprised she hadn’t looked back.
Kakashi let himself into Sakura’s office immediately walking to her desk. On top of it sat several pictures. One of which being of their team when they were a lot younger. Kakashi smiled a bit. It seemed they all kept that picture. They were all a bit sentimental--even Sasuke though he’d never admit.
Kakashi turned his head and his eyes landed on another picture. It was of Sakura when she fourteen. She had just become a chunin. He was in the picture as well--he was the only one around when she received her promotion. Something that had really bothered her that day. They spent the day together and he found that himself surprised that she had such a good time in his company. He brushed it off, though, thinking that she was lonely with both Sasuke and Naruto gone. Had be been wrong? Had it been something more in her eyes even then?
Kakashi studied the picture once more bringing himself out of his thoughts. He was ruffling her hair and she was scowling. He chuckled wondering who snapped that picture.
“I keep it as a reminder of how annoying you are.”
Kakashi looked up seeing that Sakura had entered her office. “Annoying?” He scoffed. “I recall being the greatest sensei ever.”
“I recall a sensei that frequently skipped out on bills. You did that day, too.” Sakura said pointing to the picture.
Kakashi chuckled recalling the memory. “Ah, yes. I remember that, too. I am great.”
Sakura scowled much like she was in the picture in his hand. “What did you want to see me for?” Kakashi immediately sobered recalling his reason for coming. It seemed silly now that he faced her, but somehow he still found it in him to voice his question. “Were you serious?”
Sakura’s lips quirked upward. “About?”
Kakashi eyes narrowed and Sakura knew he meant business but paid no heed waiting patiently for his answer.
“About loving me.”
“Kakashi, why would I joke about loving you?”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” He was affronted by her tone. It wasn’t that far fetched. He was handsome, smart, and extremely powerful. What woman wouldn’t want him? In fact, now that he thought about it he could see what she saw in him. She would be powerless against his natural charm and--
“You’re lazy, forgetful, unreliable, and needless to say old. No woman in her right mind would want to keep you.” Kakashi was glad--not for the first time--that he wore his mask. Otherwise she would have seen in a full fledged pout. “And yet I do. I’m officially crazy. The question wouldn’t even have to be asked before I snagged you. I‘d stuff you in a bag right now and run off with you right now if I thought I could get away with it.”
Kakashi shoved his hands in his pockets ignoring the blush that was beginning to stain his cheeks.
“Why?”
“Does there need to be a reason why? If so then it’s because you’re you. I love you for who you are.”
“Sakura…I…”
“Don’t. Don’t tell me you don’t feel the same way. I know you don’t. I’m not foolish enough to expect things to change overnight. The whole point of my proposal was to catch your attention--something that I haven’t been able to do. I don’t expect anything from you. Well…I would like you to see that I’m not a little girl anymore.”
“I know you’re not a little girl.”
“Do you?”
“Yes, I do.”
“Prove it, then.”
Kakashi glanced at her uneasily as her green eyes darkened. “How do you propose I do that?”
“Kiss me.” A full minute of an uneasy silence passed before Kakashi tried to lighten the mood.
“Now you just want to see what’s under my mask.”
“I’d rather see what’s under your clothes. I call this a compromise.”
Kakashi’s mouth dropped open. She was a forward little miss, wasn’t she? He honestly had no idea that there was a side of Sakura that was so…naughty. If she wasn’t who she was it would be rather likeable.
Sakura cleared her throat breaking his thought process. “So?” She inquired waiting to see what his response would be.
“Sakura that is an…improper suggestion.”
“Don’t you mean indecent proposal?”
“No, I mean improper suggestion.”
“I disagree. An improper suggestion would be me doing something like proposing to you. But a kiss, on the other hand--that can be indecent.”
“How so?” He asked before he could stop himself.
“Well depending upon where you kiss--”
Kakashi left before she could say another word well aware that his cheeks were burning--again.
--IS--
She was like a magnet and he was a helpless piece of metal constantly being drawn to her. Where she went he followed although he didn’t necessarily approach her. He found himself studying the puzzle that was Haruno Sakura and realizing that he really didn’t know her. For so long he saw her as the little girl who adored her ‘Sasuke-kun’ and wanted nothing more than to have him at her side.
When had that changed? When did she start growing up? Yes, he had noticed her growth as a kunoichi during her first chunin exam. He recognized her determination when she passed her second. He was proud to have her fight at his side but…
Was it possible that he recognized her growth as a kunoichi but failed to see her change as a woman? Yes, he decided. It was very possible.
He learned a lot about her in the time he spent tracking her. However, that did not mean that his feelings were anything but platonic.
It was during one of his tracking sessions that he came upon Sakura meeting Sasuke in a bar. He wondered at this since Sasuke rarely met up with Sakura without the presence of Naruto. He wasn’t certain why that was and he never asked questions. Sometimes you just accepted things the way the were.
Kakashi entered the bar after the duo making sure that his presence went unnoticed by using a nondescript henge. He sat away from them but not far enough so that he couldn’t hear what words passed between the two. They said no polite words by way of greeting. They simply slipped into the stools at the bar and ordered drinks as if it was something they did all the time. Although, maybe it was. Maybe it was something that he didn’t know about--though he doubted it.
“When are you going to let this go?” Sasuke asked the kunoichi who picked up her glass and drained it in a second. It was hard liquor, Kakashi knew, he could smell it from where he sat but she had drank it without flinching.
“I have six months left Sasuke. Don’t interfere.”
“There is no need for me to interfere. You know as well as I that he hasn’t a clue that you’re alive.”
“I wouldn’t say that.” Sakura mused thoughtfully. “Nevertheless it doesn’t matter. I still have six months left.”
Sakura stared at Sakura quietly. “Believe it or not Sakura in my own way I care for you. Walking down this path will only end with you being hurt. Just marry me.”
Sakura gave Sasuke a serene smile that caused her companion to scowl. “You know I can’t.”
“You love me.”
“In my own way.” Sakura clarified using his own words against him causing Sasuke to rise swiftly to his feet. Kakashi didn’t know whether or not it was because her words angered him or he was ready to leave. He pushed thoughts of that aside, though, to ponder at a later time. Before Sasuke departed he left Sakura with one final utterance. “Have it your way Sakura.”
Sasuke turned then and looked directly at Kakashi’s henge form. Kakashi knew he had been caught--at least by the Uchiha but he made no attempt to look guilty. He didn’t regret his actions in the slightest. He learned quite a bit from what he had heard and yet he had learned nothing at all. Sasuke broke contact first and strode out the bar without another word. Sakura followed soon after him and Kakashi was left to ponder what it all meant.
--IS--
It was lunch as usual for their team. Sai had the opportunity to join them as well as Yamato which was a surprising fact since the two stayed busy. It was different watching Sakura interact with Yamato and Sai than it was from watching her interact with Naruto and Sasuke.
She tended to be a lot more reserved around Yamato and patient--to a degree--with Sai whereas with Naruto she generally tended to attack without second thought if he got on her nerves. With Sasuke, however, there wasn’t much difference now than from when she had been a child. She didn’t fawn over him but she treated Sasuke with more respect than she did himself. It should have irritated him and it did a little bit but he wondered if that had something to do with who she felt the most comfortable with.
Another thing of note was that Sakura had chosen to sit next to Sasuke. He found that odd given her confession not too long ago and he found himself frowning over it. What also bothered him was the fact that Sasuke was being rather free with his hands. A touch here. A touch there. Yet Sakura never bothered to stop him from invading her personal space.
When had Sasuke ever been so touchy-feely? Kakashi unconsciously scowled.
“When I stare at you, ugly, you tell me it’s rude. Is it not the same if Kakashi does it?” Kakashi glanced at Sai wondering whether he should cause some type of personal injury to him now or wait until later.
Sakura blinked slowly and turned and looked at Sai. “When you stare Sai you’re generally being an ass.” Sakura patiently explained--too patiently if you asked Kakashi. “Kakashi, on the other hand, is staring for wholly different reasons.”
“How did you reach that conclusion?”
“How? It’s simply because I know you and I know him.”
“Then what are his reasons?” Sai inquired curious as to Sakura’s answer. Kakashi honestly didn’t expect her to have a reply ready for him but she did.
“I’ve confused Kakashi. He stares because he’s trying to figure me out. He’s studying me.”
“I study you as well.” Sai countered.
“You annoy me. There’s a difference.”
“Are you saying that Kakashi does not annoy you?” Sakura laughed at question and despite himself Kakashi felt his lips quirking upward as well.
“I’m not saying that at all.”
“Then what are you saying?” Kakashi asked, leaning forward on the table unaware that all eyes were staring at him with avid curiosity. Her head turned towards him and she simply smiled not answering him at all. If he could admit it to himself he would say that she had intrigued him.
He had no idea what was said after that. All he knew was that he couldn’t take his eyes off her nor could he take his eyes off Sasuke’s wandering hands. It made him grow more agitated as the seconds passed. Before he knew it he was alone at the table with Sakura. The others had long since left and he didn’t question the abruptness of their departure nor did he acknowledge her presence--although he didn’t know she really didn’t expect him to. She simply sat quietly across from him waiting for him to open a conversation. Or perhaps he was being a bit narcissistic thinking that her world revolved around him. Her mind could be a million miles away thinking on things that didn’t concern him at all. Whatever the case he spoke first and his words came out a bitingly to his chagrin.
“Do you normally let him touch you like that?”
“Let who touch me like what?” He could hear the confusion in her voice and it allowed his vision to focus solely on her face rather than the unnatural red haze that clouded his vision. Upon really looking at her Kakashi realized she really had no idea what he was talking about and it amazed him that he had judged her so wrongly in such a short span of time. Was she really oblivious to Sasuke? Did she really not care for the younger man anymore? Could she really have meant those words she said to him? “Kakashi?”
“Throughout lunch Sasuke’s hands were all over you.”
“No they weren’t.”
“They were.”
“Kakashi, I think I’d notice if I were being felt up in the presence of others.” A wry grin crossed her face but Kakashi was in no way amused. He could still see Sasuke’s hand laying gently against her shoulder, her arm, and occasionally lightly touching the small of her back.
Sakura’s mouth dropped open and she shook her head slightly as if to clear it from the thoughts she was having. “Kakashi, there’s nothing going on between Sasuke and I.”
“Then why did you chose to sit next to him instead of me?”
He watched as Sakura’s eyes grew large and could tell she was grasping for words. She spluttered a time or two before she could finally reply to his accusation. “When I arrived Naruto and Sai were already sitting next to you. Where was I supposed to sit? In your lap?”
“…”
He couldn’t respond to her question especially when Sakura started laughing then purred, “In the future, Kakashi, if I am unable to be at your side then I will most definitely take up residence in your lap so you can run your hands all over me.”
Kakashi mentally cursed himself as he felt himself start to blush again. Although he said nothing when Sakura chose to leave her seat that seemed so far away from him and move closer.
--IS--
She was dancing although not with him. He didn’t understand how she could claim there was nothing going on between her and Sasuke when every time he turned his head they were together. Admittedly, she had asked him to dance with her first and he refused but that didn’t mean she should have went to the Uchiha.
Okay, in all honesty she didn’t technically go over to Sasuke. Sasuke approached her but that was besides the point. The point was he wouldn’t even be here in the first place if she weren’t, and now she was--
Why was it even bothering him in the first place? It wasn’t like there was anything going on between them. They were teammates and nothing more. She was way to young to deal with an hardened shinobi like himself. It also wouldn’t be wise for her to assume that there was more going on between them than what was. It would only hurt her in the end and that was the last thing he wanted to do.
But why couldn’t he keep his eyes off her?
He had never noticed how well her body moved. Shinobi tended to be graceful but as he watched her dance it seemed to be an extra layer of grace that was bestowed especially upon her. He realized then that he liked the way she moved and there was a small part of him that wished he had given in the her request to dance with her. It would have been an experience he was sure he wouldn’t forget. But it was too late for that and all he could do was sit on the sidelines and watch her with another man.
His mind wandered to Sasuke. Why had he asked her to dance? Kakashi knew for a fact that wasn’t something that he would normally do, but he even looked comfortable out there dancing with his…
Kakashi shook his head deciding to repeat that sentence in his mind.
He even looked comfortable out there dancing with Sakura. So comfortable that it was tempting to interrupt them in some way, form, or fashion. But what could he do that wouldn’t make him look like he was some jealous interloper--because he wasn’t jealous. The notion that he possibly could be was just ridiculous. He felt nothing for her. Absolutely nothing. And you had to feel something in order to be jealous.
Yet if all that were true why did his heart just leap when he made eye contact with her?
Kakashi shook his head. It was a question that didn’t merit an answer yet it still plagued him--especially when after she finishing dancing she returned to his side and stayed…as if she belonged there.
But what bothered him the most was why he asked her to dance later on….
This Way To Improper Suggestions Part Three