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Sunday, July 28, 2013

When the Dark Clouds Clear Up


Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or any of its characters and make no money from this. Masashi Kishimito does.

...

Phase Five

To heal, you must accept.

...



Walking towards Sakura's apartment, Kakashi wondered what would be waiting for him. His teeth repeatedly trapped and released his tongue, mimicking the back and forth his thoughts made. Guessing how Sakura would react to his presence at his point could only be a stroke of luck. To avoid an unpleasant surprise when he reached her home, Kakashi made sure to make his chakra obvious. If she wanted to see him, then she would certainly come out to greet him.

If he was glad for anything when he reached his destination, it was that her building's front yard was adorned by a beautiful and tall tree. The perfect spot to hide in and read his prized books until he had company, or until he realized he would have none.

As his eyes roamed the pages of his book, the jonin reflected on the previous night. In no way had he expected Sakura to come back to him so quickly after the argument they'd had, and he considered it a blessing in disguise. She seemed to have come to a certain conclusion about her state after talking to him. If he had done anything to help her progress, then he could have some relief. Maybe her healing wasn't that far away anymore at this point.

To top it off, she hadn't shot him down when he told her yet again that he loved her. No answer was better than a negative one, he convinced himself. Hope could still be had that she would return to him with the reply that he wished for. Either that, or he was being a delusional old man that needed to be locked up. Either seemed just fine at this point, Kakashi mused.

What he knew for sure was that he couldn't allow her to distance herself from him again. After six months of separation, he knew he couldn't let it happen again. He needed her in his life, no matter what their relationship would be like. Missing another person that much simply couldn't be healthy. Still, he clung to the belief that he could be useful to her. With some time, he still thought that he could set her on the right path when it came to healing from her trauma.

Kakashi was all too familiar with trauma after all.

Barely a minute later, Sakura appeared in his sight. She didn't acknowledge his presence just yet, preferring to observe random objects. Why she stalled when she'd obviously come out for him baffled him slightly, but he waited patiently until her gaze was directed at him and she waved her hand in greeting.

Kakashi jumped down from the tree to go meet her, returning her greeting lazily.

"Tea?" she asked, as soon as he was within earshot.

He nodded, following her inside the building and to her apartment silently.

"I've been thinking about what you told me yesterday," Sakura mumbled as she boiled water for the tea, staring at the kettle intently.

Kakashi was slightly surprised that she broached the subject, especially so quickly, but he decided that letting her speak would be best.

"I'm still uncertain about most of it, but it made me feel better nonetheless," she started, brushing her thumb absent-mindedly against her chin as she weighed her words. "I'm happy that you don't see me as anything less than before that mission... Because I know that deep down, I'm still the same person."

"I'm scared of stuff I wasn't scared of before, I'm hurting and I'm doubting many things... But in the end, I'm still Sakura, right?" she sighed, glancing up at him as if seeking his approval.

Kakashi immediately nodded and replied, "Yes, of course you are. Nothing will ever take that away from you."

A timid smile graced her lips and Kakashi felt a weight lifted from his shoulders. Sakura definitely seemed on the right path now.

"It's a big relief. I feel like I have fewer doubts because of all of this now," Sakura said as she poured the water in the tea pot.

"I'm glad then. You'll be like new before you know it," Kakashi teased lightly.

Sakura chuckled and shrugged her shoulders, returning her attention to the beverage she was preparing.

"I've been through similar experiences many times, Sakura," Kakashi started as he leaned on the counter, wondering if he should really share this part of his past with her. "It will never go away entirely, I would be lying if I told you that."

"It gets better, every day helps, if even a tiny bit," he continued, begrudgingly recalling moments that were best forgotten. "You'll always remember what happened and wish you could change things, but nothing could ever allow you to do that. You just learn to live with it, and then you'll just keep going as you did before."

Sakura seemed to lose herself in her thoughts again as she served the tea in two bright-colored cups. Noticing this, Kakashi decided to take this opportunity to ask a question of his own.

"How do you feel about me?" he asked as he took the cup he assumed to be his. "You've left me quite confused lately. You engaged sexual activity with me twice, but haven't said a word when I confessed. You've accepted my comfort when I offered it, but still remained distant..."

"I understand if you don't want to talk about it just yet," he added. "I'd just like to know as soon as possible so that I know how to act around you from now on."

Because being the creepy, perverted old man who follows her everywhere and can't take his hands off of her because she couldn't tell him not outright was not what he wanted to be.

"Do you really love me, without a doubt?" Sakura asked as she turned to face him, eyes wide with hesitance.

"Yes," he answered immediately.

Kakashi stepped closer to her, tangling the fingers of one of his hands in her hair as he gazed into her eyes, searching for any insecurity. Feeling no resistance from her part, he lowered his mask and placed a chaste kiss on her lips, smiling unconsciously as he felt their softness against his.

Soon enough, she responded, adding pressure of her own with no detectable fear or reluctance. Happy and relieved, Kakashi deepened the kiss, wrapping his arms tightly around her as if she would disappear if he let go. Feeling her body against his again was wonderful, to say the least. There was something about holding the person that you loved so dearly that warmed you to your very core, especially after a long separation. Much to his surprise, Sakura's hands slipped under his shirt, sliding up to feel his the skin of his chest slowly. He sighed against his own will against her mouth, slowing down his movements as he enjoyed the feel of her hands.

Before their exchange could become more heated, Sakura pulled away from him, whispering, "Okay."

"Huh?" he let out, his mind a bit too foggy to understand her entirely.

"I can try being with you," she explained quietly. "I know that my feelings for you haven't just been out of friendship for a while, even if at first it was probably just out of lust."

Kakashi was stunned for a second, only blinking in response until he found his tongue again.

"Are you sure you want to be in a relationship with me?", he asked incredulously.

Sakura gave a quick nod, before speaking again. "I can't guarantee that things will work out perfectly, but I'm willing to try."

"I understand, no one could offer such a warranty anyway," he reassured before pulling her in his embrace again.

Purely out of joy, he kissed her again, keeping his lips pressed to hers for a while as he simply enjoyed her presence and the moment. Maybe the gods were on his side for once, maybe happiness could truly be in his reach within his lifetime.

 

 

1 comment:

  1. I love this sequal, maybe a trilogy =^_^=

    ReplyDelete