White Orchid's Entry: Improper Suggestions (Part Three)
Kakashi looked back and forth at Naruto and Sasuke who seemed to be having an argument about Sakura. He didn’t really understand what the subject was about but all he heard was, ‘It’s your turn!’ and ‘No, it’s your turn!’ They went on like this for quite awhile until he decided to stop the argument before they exchanged blows.
And it would reach that level because this was Naruto and Sasuke.
“What’s going on?”
Two pairs of eyes swung his way. One set look irritated and the other was nothing but determined. Naruto spoke up saying, “It’s Sakura day.”
“It’s her birthday?” Kakashi asked confused. He was certain her birthday was in the spring and not the summer but perhaps he was wrong…
“No.” Naruto clarified. “It’s Sakura day.”
Kakashi continued to stare at the pair as if they were crazy. Which wasn’t too far from the truth.
“Once a month we do whatever the hell she wants because the other days of the month she agrees to whatever we want.”
“Isn’t that a little unfair?” Kakashi inquired. Naruto just shrugged and Sasuke said,
“She prefers it this way.”
“Okay, so why are you two arguing?”
“Because it’s Naruto’s turn to spend the day with her.”
“You bastard! I did it the last two times! It’s your turn!”
“You did no such thing. I’m tired of you trying to weasel out of your turn.”
“Don’t you two think your behavior is a little unfair? I mean she gets one day out of the entire month and the two of you argue over who’s going to spend it with her? You should be ashamed of yourselves.”
Naruto and Sasuke turned and looked at him with an eerie look in their eye. “You don’t know what she’s like Sensei.” Naruto said causing him to frown.
“We would send you in our place but you’d likely forget about her and leaving her crying…again.” Sasuke sneered and Kakashi felt the stirrings of anger at the younger man’s words.
“Sasuke…” Naruto started placing a hand on Sasuke’s arm but Sasuke shrugged him off.
“Let’s just leave Naruto.” The Uchiha said and began walking away.
“No.” Kakashi interrupted. “I’ll take her. Where are you meeting her?”
Naruto looked at him uncertainly. “It’s really okay Kakashi-sensei. We’ll take care of it.”
“So you’re afraid I’ll make her cry too Naruto.” Naruto looked away guiltily.
“Fine. Why don’t we just wait for her together and let her choose?” Kakashi replied calmly pulling out his book to wait for the appearance of their sole female teammate.
It didn’t take long for her to arrive and it was obvious she was shocked to see all three of them waiting for her.
“Hey! I’ve been looking for you guys everywhere. You’re late.” Sakura’s head turned and studied them all briefly. “What’s going on? Naruto, Kakashi why are you here?”
“I told you it was your turn Sasuke!” Naruto shouted and then dodged the blow that Sasuke sent his way. Naruto then turned to Sakura and offered her a bright smile. “We thought we’d let you pick who you wanted to go with you today.”
Kakashi was secure in the knowledge that she’d pick him. He wouldn’t have made the suggestion otherwise. But Kakashi learned one thing about Sakura that day that he really wished he hadn’t.
Be secure about nothing.
“Really?” Her face lit up with joy and Kakashi found himself smiling at her. “Then I pick all of you!”
Kakashi immediately felt the heated gazes of Sasuke and Naruto on his slim form and realized it was going to be a long day.
--IS--
He found her walking in the rain several days after the ‘Sakura day‘ incident. That day had been an experience to say the least. She had dragged them everywhere in the village and did little more than socialize. He got the distinct feeling that they were accessories and nothing more. Sasuke and Naruto had been ready to kill him for dragging them all into the situation but he didn’t care. It wasn’t the first time he had annoyed them to no end and he would make sure it wasn’t the last.
His thoughts were drawn back to Sakura as the flash of red caught his eye. A red umbrella was in her hand and she strolled down the street looking nothing like she wanted to get out of the rain. She twirled the umbrella around over her head as an odd smile graced her lips. He wondered what she could possibly be thinking about and so he approached her. Once he reached her side she looked up surprised as he plucked the umbrella out her hand and used it to cover them both.
“You could have just asked to share my umbrella instead of just taking it.”
“Ah, but that would have given you the opportunity to refuse and that would be unacceptable.”
Sakura smiled and moved a bit closer to him. He saw that her shoulder was getting wet and shifted the umbrella to cover her a bit more even though by moving closer to him the water that coated his body would only migrate to hers.
“What are you doing out here anyway?” Sakura said suspiciously.
“A little of this and that.”
“Oh really.”
“Mmm. And you?”
“Nothing really. Just enjoying the day.”
“By walking in the rain?”
“Sounds odd, right?” Kakashi didn’t respond but he didn’t have to since Sakura chose to keep the conversation going on her own. “Have you ever noticed that the outside has a distinct scent after the rain stops falling? It’s fresh and clean and reminds me of all things new. I love it. I have ever since I was a child. Have you ever smelled it?”
He had a superior sense of smell but he could honestly say he had not. Perhaps it was one of those things he just took for granted but apparently Sakura did not. “No, I haven’t.”
“You should take the time when the rain stops today. You might enjoy it.”
Kakashi smiled down at her. “I just might.”
--IS--
Delight crept into her eyes as she opened her door and saw him standing there. Her joy was easy for him to recognize even though she hid it quickly.
“What are you doing here?” Sakura asked, stepping aside and allowing him to enter.
“Can’t I just stop by?”
“Not without wanting something.” Sakura retorted and Kakashi chuckled. “And if I want something will I get it?”
“No.” Sakura replied clearly not liking the mischievous note in his voice.
“You haven’t even heard my request.”
“Knowing you if I do I’ll regret it.” Kakashi threw her a look that was more innocent than that of a baby causing Sakura to scowl in response. “What is it?”
“Nothing much. I just want some company.”
“Wh-what?”
“I want your company. Is that too much to ask?”
“No, but why me?”
“Why not you?” Sakura was silent a moment or two then said, “What do you want to do?”
“Absolutely nothing or nothing absolutely--however you chose to look at it.”
“…Who are you hiding from so that this is the last place they’ll look for you?”
Kakashi laughed.
--IS--
It had become something of a habit. Seeking her out, staying with her, laughing with her. No. It was more than a habit. It was something of a craving unlike any other. He chalked it up to him just being lonely and Sakura being good company.
For the first time in Kakashi’s life he could say that he was happy. Although, it was a brief fleeting happiness because shortly after he admitted that to himself they kissed. He’d like to say she kissed him but he wasn’t a liar--well not that big of a liar anyway.
She was cooking dinner for him. He hadn’t asked her to. It was more like he showed up at his apartment while she was cooking. His timing was impeccable as ever.
He was inquisitive by nature so it was only natural for him to peer over her shoulder to see what she was had on the stove--especially since it smelled so good. But, he leaned down a little too far. So far that his face was level with hers and all she had to do was turn her head a little…
And turn her head she did. In response to her gaze he looked back. He shouldn’t have looked back. His brain screamed at him to turn away, move away anything but his body was frozen.
Kakashi always thought that when he read novels about finding yourself lost in someone’s gaze was a load of malarkey--until he experienced it himself. Her eyes--if could he even describe them accurately--were like home, a place where he belonged. They pulled him in deeply and filled him with a peace unlike any other. Before he knew it his lips had touched hers briefly, lightly. When he pulled away her eyes were still closed as if she were still lost in the sensation that suddenly began to scare him witless. Before she opened those eyes he was gone.
She searched for him. He was aware of that fact and deftly avoided her. And soon, she grew weary of looking for him. Why did it hurt so much that she stopped looking?
One Week
Two Weeks
Three Weeks
Four,
He appeared on her doorstep because his feet dragged him there of their own accord just as his hand knocked on her door of its own free will. It was a while before she came to the door and as soon as she did he let out a breath he hadn’t been aware that he had been holding. She stood there in front of him with red rimmed eyes and sopping wet hair in a big fluffy robe looking at him gloomily.
“What?” The question was something between a bark and a sob and Kakashi slipped his hands in his pockets and simply stared at her. He didn’t know what to say and he suspected she knew that and that was why she turned her back on him and walked into her home. She left the door open so he took that as an invitation to come inside which he did closing the door softly behind him. By the time he caught up to her she had her hair wrapped in a towel on top of her head. He wondered briefly how she managed to wrap it around her head thusly but he figured now was not the time to ask such questions.
“Why are you here, Kakashi?” Her tone held none of the sweet notes that he was used to and a small part of him despaired at it. He had royally screwed up the dynamics of their relationship up and he had no idea how to fix it.
“I haven’t seen you in a while so…”
“I was busy with work at the hospital. Now if you’ll excuse me I was in the middle of something.”
He ignored her words. In truth he had no other option but ignore them otherwise he’d have to leave and he wasn’t ready to go yet. “Why were you crying?” A part of him knew the answer but couldn’t help uttering the question aloud.
Sakura turned her back on him and wiping her hand across her face in a attempt to stop the flow of tears that had begun anew at his question.
“Sakura…you know I care about you.”
“I do know that Kakashi. That’s why this sucks.”
“Sakura…”
“Just leave.”
“But I don’t want to go.”
She turned back to him and he saw something like hope in her eyes. “Why?”
Kakashi felt a heap of pressure and unease placed upon his shoulders at her question. He suddenly found it difficult to look her in the eye and he flinched when she let our a mirthless chuckle.
“If you can’t tell me why then it’s just best if you leave.”
“Sakura--”
“Or do you like hurting me?” Kakashi sighed and his shoulders drooped. “I’ll go.”
He was almost at the door when her voice made him pause mid stride. “I’d appreciate if you didn’t come back.” Kakashi didn’t bother to turn around when he replied, “I can’t do that.” She had come to mean too much for him to just shut her out of his life completely. She was his friend. A valued friend.
“Then what can you do for me Kakashi? You certainly can’t love me.”
“I want to be your friend.”
“If you wanted to just be my friend you shouldn’t have kissed me. You shouldn’t have given me hope that I had a chance. So is that it, Kakashi? Am I nothing to you?”
“I can‘t be with you like that Sakura,” was his answer. “It wouldn‘t be right.”
“Then don’t toy with my emotions.” She moved away from him then and crossed the room stopping at a table full of papers. She plucked an envelope off the top and brought it back to him stretching her hand out and extending it to him. “You should have this.” Kakashi took the offered object and slid it into his pocket thereafter disappearing into the night.
--IS--
He was sent on a solo mission and thoughts of their last conversation plagued him constantly. It was his fault, really, for seeking out her company so frequently knowing how she felt about him. He had led her on and monopolized her time. He wasn’t usually that type of guy.
At first he had been disconcerted at the fact that she knew him so well then it had become an irresistible lure. The thought of someone seeing him for who he was and not judging him just accepting him had been too hard to resist. So he had found himself opening up to her more fully and accepting her into his life as not as just a teammate but as a friend.
No, that wasn’t quite right. She was already a friend. She was now his confidant. He trusted her like he did no other. She had ingratiated herself so far into his life that he was now at a point that he couldn’t envision himself without her. It was like they were one person like….Kakakura or Sakashi.
No. That was wrong. They were two very different individuals that were drawn together by a force beyond them. More like…KakaSaku.
But he didn’t love her. No, that wasn’t possible at all.
He couldn’t love her because….
Because….
Because….
Wait. What were his reasons again?
He couldn’t remember which worried him. If he couldn’t remember that must mean it was unimportant and if it was unimportant then why didn’t he love her? Why had he hurt her for nothing?
He could still see her face as she told him not to toy with her emotions. She looked like she was barely holding herself together yet her words were firm and sure. In those moments he was certain she wanted nothing more than for him to leave her alone for good.
And now he was realizing why he couldn’t grant that wish. His hand reached into his pocket to finger the envelope she gave him. He hadn’t yet opened it. Something was preventing him from doing such but he pulled it out now that he was finished with his mission and headed home. His fingers tore open the envelope and pulled out it’s contents. His eyes glanced over it once, twice, three times before he understood what it said.
And then his heart froze.
You are cordially invited to witness the union of
Uchiha Sasuke
To
Haruno Sakura
On this 28th day of October
This couldn’t be right. She didn’t love Sasuke. Why the hell would she give him this? Was this some type of sick joke? Was she doing this to punish him for the way he had treated her? Anger surged through his veins at the thought that she would do something so mean-spirited and spiteful.
It was then that Kakashi realized the date. It was the October the 27th. Perhaps it was just a cruel joke but it he didn’t make sure then it was possible that he could really loose her. If he didn’t move then…
This Way To Improper Suggestions Part Four