Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Sub Rosa ❯ Chapter 4

A/N: Naruto does not belong to me. Please enjoy. And reviews make me happy and possibly mean faster updates. (But no promises, because my muse is a bitch. Seriously.)

CHAPTER 4

Kakashi sat in a dingy diner, sipping on a cup of black coffee that tasted like brewed mud. His fingers tapped impatiently on the speckled table as he waited. After a few minutes a bell tingled at the entrance and a blond boy came in, eyes searching until they landed on Kakashi.

He slid into the booth and yawned, rubbing his eyes.

"What's this about, Kakashi?"

Kakashi shrugged, stirring his coffee as the waitress came over to take Naruto's order. After Naruto deliberated for a few minutes and finally chose something, the woman walked away and Naruto turned his attention back to Kakashi.

Kakashi sighed. "I want to know more about Sakura."

Naruto frowned. "Sakura? Like what?"

"Her past. What she does. Why she is living at my place and not with her family?"

Naruto remained silent for a few seconds before responding. "I don't really know. She and her family just disappeared about six years ago. No notice. Nothing."

Kakashi frowned. Naruto continued. "We tried to find her, but everything was a dead end."

"We?" asked Kakashi.

"Sasuke and I."

"Ah."

Kakashi hadn't heard Naruto mention Sasuke in a while. The Uchiha had left their organization to work for the mob. He had heard the two had had a falling out and hadn't spoke to each other since. Kakashi hadn't realized Sakura had known Sasuke as well.

Sensing his curiosity, Naruto answered the unspoken question. "They were together, if you're wondering. The jerk was furious when we couldn't find her."

"She didn't contact him either?"

Naruto shook his head. "No. Like I said, it's like she just disappeared."

"And her parents...?"

"I don't know. They were always really nice. Her mom was quiet. I think she was sick a lot. Her dad was some kind of business man or something. He was always really friendly. He would always pick Sakura up from the dojo when we were little."

Naruto quieted as the waitress slid a plate in front of him.

"Anything else?" she smacked.

"No thanks."

She nodded and walked away. Kakashi kept his gaze directed on Naruto. It seemed as though Sakura was a mystery. She had been a normal girl with a happy family until about sixteen, when she just disappeared. Interesting....

Naruto shoveled food into his mouth, talking around bacon and sausage. "I don't know if this is true. But I heard that her mom died. She was sick a lot, though Sakura refused to talk about it."

That didn't help much. Even knowing what possibly happened to her mother, it left the question as the where her father was. If he was as successful a business man as Naruto seemed to think, then why was Sakura on the street with only change to her name?

"So," pushed Kakashi, "she hasn't said anything as to where she has been the last six years?"

Naruto shook his head. "No. I tried to get her to talk, but she just got really mad."

They both remained silent for a while after that, Naruto eating and Kakashi staring at nothing. After Naruto cleared his plate he sat back, staring at Kakashi.

"If I know anything about Sakura," Naruto said, sounding surprisingly mature, "it's that she will hide things she thinks will hurt other people. She doesn't like help, and she has way too much pride."

"And a short temper," continued Kakashi. Naruto laughed.

"That too," he said, rubbing the back of his head as though a phantom might come out and smack him. "She used to not be that way, but she always wanted to keep up with us, so she changed herself."

Kakashi smiled. "You know, you can be surprisingly intelligent sometimes, Naruto."

Naruto grinned.

Break break break break break break Break break break break break break

Nothing changed. At least, nothing on the surface changed. A few days passed and Kakashi remained his usual silly, flaky self. If Sakura learned anything though, it was that he was a glorious faker. She wasn't blind. She noticed the way he would look at her when he thought she wasn't paying attention, like he was about to panic and shove her out the front door with little or no warning.

She could tell it was time to leave. Something held her back though. On Wednesday, Kakashi left at about five. She clenched the note in her pocket, the one she had copied a few days ago from on the counter. When he had got home later that day, the note had disappeared. Sakura pretended like she hadn't seen it, and Kakashi pretended like it never existed.

He gave no warning before he left, just shrugged on his coat and said he would be back late. Sakura nodded and watched his car drive away from the window. He had carried a long, sword-like shape with him. About fifteen minutes later, Kurenai showed up.

She exclaimed over Sakura's healing process and took the splint off carefully.

"I'm sure it's fine," she said, "just don't put weight on it."

Sakura twisted her wrist around experimentally. It ached, but for the most part just felt stiff. After Kurenai had poked and prodded her for a few minutes, Sakura had left to get tea. Kurenai followed her and settled herself at the dining room table.

"So, are you two getting along well?"

Sakura nodded as she filled two cups with boiling water and black tea bags. "Yes, I think so. Milk or sugar?"

"No, thank you."

Sakura brought the tea over and sat across from Kurenai, wrapping her hands around the mug to nurse the warmth.

Kurenai watched her for a few moments, sipping her own tea.

"You look comfortable here." she stated.

"Kakashi is very good to me."

Kurenai hummed. "Do you like him?"

Sakura frowned. "He's very nice."

Kurenai smiled. "Yes, he is. But do you like him?"

Sakura flushed slightly, avoiding looking at Kurenai. "Yes," she mumbled, "but I'm not sure he likes me back."

The pregnant woman giggled. Sakura glanced at her in shock. "Sakura," she sighed amusedly, "you wouldn't still be living here if he didn't like you."

Sakura's eyebrows shot up. "I'm pretty sure he doesn't want me here."

Kurenai shrugged, but her lips curled as though she knew a secret no one else did.

Break break break break break break Break break break break break break

Sakura woke up to cursing. Heavy breathing and cursing. She remained still, until she recognized the voice as Kakashi. He continued to mumble to himself and stumble.

"Kakashi?" she whispered.

He stilled, silent.

"Go back to sleep, Sakura," he responded, voice low and tight. Sakura sat up. He sounded different, abnormal.

"Are you alright?" she asked, standing up. She could see his shadow leaning against the door frame to the dining room.

"I'm fine," he gritted, "Go to sleep."

"No."

Sakura slowly made her way to a light switch. She could feel him watching her.Hhis anger and something else intensified the air. She sniffed. She smelled something metallic, and her stomach clenched. She flipped the light on.

"Christ...." she whispered.

Kakashi was covered in blood. His hair was pink, and his face was covered in rust red splotches. His eye patch was missing, and his red eye was dilated. Deep shadows painted the skin beneath eyes, and his cheeks was nearly gray with pain.

"Shit, Kakashi," she muttered as he slid to the floor, and she strode to him kneeling. "What happened to you?"

He just grunted as she pulled his coat off. "Most of it isn't mine," he hissed.

"Okay," she muttered, "okay, okay." She pulled his boots off, and socks. "Okay," she repeated, "we're going to the bathroom. Can you get up there?"

Kakashi nodded, and Sakura helped heft him up, draping one his arms over her shoulders. They stumbled up the stairs, barely making it. Sakura cursed Kakashi only having one bathroom, and it being at the top of the stairs. They finally made it, and Sakura laid him down in the shower. She took a few deep breaths.

"Kakashi? Kakashi, listen to me."

He blinked blearily at her. "I need to take some of your clothes off. Can you help?"

Kakashi nodded faintly and lifted his arms as she tugged the shirt over his head. Next came his pants, which was more of a struggle. She left on his boxers, then hesitated over his mask before removing it as well. Kakashi had closed his eyes. Sakura snapped her fingers in front of his face.

"Kakashi! First aid kit. Where is it?"

He started, then mumbled, "Spare room...."

Sakura nearly growled. That room had been locked. She grabbed some towels. He had a long gash in his thigh, and another one on his right forearm. They didn't look deep, but they bled profusely. She wrapped the towels around his wounds, tying them tightly and hoping he didn't mind blood stains.

"A key, a key," she muttered, "Kakashi, is there a key to that room?"

Kakashi nodded slowly. "Pack. Key chain."

She had left his pack downstairs. Sakura raced down and upended his pack, dumping out the contents. She ignored the gun and knives, focusing the keychain with three keys on it.

'Thank god for only three,' she thought as she sprinted back upstairs, taking two steps at a time. She glanced into the bathroom to make sure Kakashi was still alive, then went the spare room. The first key unlocked the door.

She stepped in. The room was covered with weapons and books and maps. A desk to her right was piled with stuff and she went to it and started opening drawers. The first one revealed a pile of rusted throwing stars. The second had a half empty bottle of Everclear. Sakura wrinkled her nose and grabbed it. The last drawer had the first aid kit. Sakura opened it, relieved to find it stocked well, then grabbed it, and the Everclear, and the left the room.

Kakashi was slumped even further in the shower than he had been. Sakura left him and took off the towel around his thigh. The bleeding had slowed, thankfully. Sakura took out the spool of thread, gloves, needle, and bandages.

She looked up to find Kakashi watching her.

"Kakashi, I'm going to need to clean this and sew it up, okay?" she explained softly. He looked slightly worried.

"You know what you're doing...?" he mumbled. Sakura didn't respond, instead glossing over his question.

"It's going to really hurt. You probably know this." She unscrewed the cap from the Everclear and set it within reach. Kakashi made a grab at it, took a drink, and coughed. Sakura took it back and set it out of range. She needed it to clean his wounds. Before she started a thought appeared.

"Kakashi, is there anyone I should call? Kurenai maybe?"

Kakashi shook his head. Sakura looked at him for a moment, the grabbed a clean towel to stuff between his teeth. He looked started, then relaxed with understanding.

"Okay," she breathed, "here we go."

It felt like it took forever. Kakashi groaned, finally passing out after the third stitch. Sakura felt sweat break out on her brow and upper lip. Her hands trembled and had to keep swallowing so she wouldn't get sick. She finished with his leg, wrapping it up and turned to work on his forearm, which wasn't near as bad, but more difficult to sew since the skin was thinner and more resistant to the needle. Blood covered her gloved hands, and when she finished she scooted back and pressed her face against the cold tile of the bathroom floor.

She wasn't done yet though. She cleaned up the extra bandages and spilt Everclear, then went to mop the blood off his body. Most of it was on his face and in his hair, the rest of his body having been covered. But some still managed to trickle down his neck and legs. It came off easy enough, except for his hair. Sakura wetted it down enough to get the worst out then left it. Only a good washing would get the red stains out, and neither she nor Kakashi was in the position to do that.

Sakura took a few more deep breaths, then started trying to heave Kakashi up. She couldn't leave him in the bathroom. He was much heavier than he looked and Sakura muscles trembled and screamed at her to stop please stop. She ignored them and barely made it to his bed, where she collapsed with him. She stared at the ceiling, then got up and shifted him so he lay strait. She covered his lower half with a blanket, then stared.

He was pale, but his breathing was even and deep, only hitching every few minutes. Sakura sighed and dragged herself out of the room and down the stairs. She went to the kitchen and started going through drawers. She needed to find Kurenai's phone number, or even Naruto's. She managed to find nothing though, just junk and cracked kitchen utensils.

Suddenly, Sakura sank to the floor, hands shaking. A streak of dried blood trailed down her arm and she stared at it blankly before feeling her face tighten. She had been so scared.

She sat there until late, rocking back and forth, sobbing with relief.

Break break break break break break Break break break break break break

Kakashi woke up abruptly after dawn. He stared at the ceiling, feeling his body ache and the sharp throb in his limbs. Turning his head he could glance out the window and saw the sun just rising. The blinding rays forced him to turn away, and he closed his eyes to rally himself before he sat up. When he did dots pranced before his eyes and he groaned. Blinking he cleared his vision to examine himself. His arm and leg were bandaged neatly, if not a bit unprofessional. Most of the blood had been cleaned off him, but he was positive some was still left in his hair. The strands felt stiff and his scalped itched. He was only in his boxers.

Kakashi got up, tenderly favoring his leg. It wasn't as bad as he thought it was. The amount of blood had been misleading, though that was not the first that had happened. Despite his irritation, he was grateful Sakura had been there. He probably would have bled out if it weren't for her.

Kakashi limped out of his room and slowly down the stairs, passing the bathroom. I quick glance revealed bloodied towels and a near empty bottle of Everclear on the sink. The first aid supplies were strewn across the tiled floor. When he reached the bottom he stood still, staring at the couch. Sakura leaned limply over the arm of it, fast asleep. A streak of blood painted her cheek a rust red and Kakashi frowned. Her eyes were rimmed pink.

He shook himself out of his reverie and stumbled into the kitchen.

The first thing he went to was the phone. He had to call Jiraiya. On the fourth ring the older man picked up.

"Hatake," Jiraiya greeted, "I thought you were dead."

"Not quite," Kakashi responded dryly.

Jiraiya chuckled fuzzily over the line. "So, you didn't show up last night. Tell me. I have a feeling I'm not going to like it."

Kakashi sighed. "The job was finished. I got waylaid on the way out. I think it was the mob."

Jiraiya remained silent on the other end. "That's not a good sign," he finally muttered, "I thought they were over that."

"I thought so too," agreed Kakashi.

"I'll have to talk to Tsunade about this. She might know more."

"I think it was some of Danzo's men."

Jiraiya cursed quietly. "Idiots. They don't know when to quit, do they?"

"No, they don't"

"Alright," said Jiraiya, "I'll call you with your next assignment in a few days. You need some resting time, I assume."

"Only a day or so."

"Don't overdo it. Can't have you getting permanently injured. And don't let your guard down. I wouldn't put it past them to go for you at home."

Kakashi gritted his teeth. "That would be very stupid of them."

"I agree. But they attacked you in the first place, so they can't be very smart anyway, can they?"

Kakashi grunted in agreement. They were lucky he hadn't been paying attention. It was the only reason they had been able to lay a few on him in the first place. Annoyingly, his mind had been preoccupied with a certain pink haired woman. When the group of men had burst out, Kakashi had barely avoided being skewered, instead only gaining the lacerations on his thigh and forearm. The irony did not escape him that the girl who preoccupied him and caused his wounds was the same girl who fixed him.

After a few more traded words Kakashi hung up, then immediately dialed Asuma. Asuma answered with a groggy, sleep laced voice.

"It's me," stated Kakashi.

Asuma cursed. "Why the hell are you calling me so early?"

"You needed to be warned."

Asuma remained silent for a few seconds. "What happened?"

Kakashi explained, interrupted only by Asuma's muttered curses.

"I wanted you and Kurenai to be warned. They might go after you as well," finished Kakashi after about five minutes.

"Shit," Asuma grumbled, "Yeah, we'll keep our eyes out. Watch yourself. I'm surprised. It's been years...."

"Jiraiya said the same. He's going to talk to Tsunade about it. Something might be up."

"Yeah, yeah. Something is always up when it concerns Danzo," Asuma grouched. "Well, I'm going to talk to Kurenai. She'll probably want to come over soon to visit with your girl, by the way."

"My girl?" Kakashi commented mildly.

"The girl. Whatever. Kurenai has taken a liking to her," grunted Asuma.

Kakashi rolled his eyes. "Kurenai takes a liking to everybody."

"Except for the dead ones," Asuma pointed out.

"Yeah, well, those don't count. She probably would have liked them too if they weren't dead," Kakashi replied. Asuma chuckled.

"Anyways," continued Asuma, changing the subject, "take care. Keep me updated."

"Sure thing."

After hanging up Kakashi leaned against the counter, staring off into space. He was in a tight spot. Danzo was on the prowl again, which meant trouble for the organization. He never took the split from his mob organization well, and even years later he looked for revenge.

Kakashi's gaze dragged to the doorway to the living room. He had a decision to make. He couldn't keep Sakura around. It was too dangerous. If he was attacked she would be in the way. They would either kill her or take her hostage, or worse. He couldn't have that.

At the same time, it wasn't an option to just leave her somewhere. Even putting her up in a random hotel could be dangerous. If Danzo found any connection between Kakashi and the girl, he wouldn't hesitate to use her. And if she was in a hotel, Kakashi wouldn't be there to protect her.

Asuma's place wouldn't be any safer. He already had to look after Kurenai, who, in normal circumstance, would be able to take care of herself, but being pregnant left her vulnerable. The only other place who wouldn't mind the intrusion, possibly, would be Naruto and Hinata's. Kakashi was sure Naruto wouldn't mind the intrusion, and Hinata would probably understand. Sakura was the real problem. Would she understand?

Kakashi pondered that and came up with the answer.

'Probably not.'

She would get offended and want to stay. She would argue and use last night as an example. She would gripe and scowl and whine and ultimately he would feel like a guilty, controlling geezer.

Kakashi sighed.