even if it takes a million days - day one
Fandom:Naruto
Characters: Hatake Kakashi & Haruno Sakura
Prompts: 11. broken spirit & 53. haunted & mental illness: 05. post traumatic stress
Word Count: 604
Rating: PG 13
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.
Warning: AU
Notes: Part of a series. Written for 500themes & lover100 & mission_insane. For sequels, go to even if it takes a million days.
-
Never in her darkest dreams did Sakura expect this day to come.
How could this happen? He was her teacher, her rock, the one untouchable ideal of invincibility in her mind. There had even been certain times in the past when she was teetering precariously on the balance between life and death that she’d thought of him, and his unwavering strength. It was this thought that had given her enough strength to pull through and back to life.
But the man that now sat before her, staring blankly ahead was not that man of her memories.
Sakura took three brisk steps into the room. He didn’t acknowledge her presence. He didn’t even seem to notice the change of personnel.
“Hello, Kakashi,” she lilted, her voice oddly cheerful. “How are you feeling today?”
There was no response to her question, as she had expected. Sakura dropped down in the chair opposite him. She tilted her head slightly to the side to regard him. Though he was looking straight at her, she could tell by the blank look in his one exposed eye that he didn’t register a thing. Or didn’t care.
“I’ve brought you something, Kakashi.” As she said this, she took something out of her pouch gingerly. It was a rather tattered copy of the copy-nin’s infamous reading material. “Do you remember this one? I didn’t actually burn it.”
Sakura handed the book to the man, arms outstretched. His lone eye flickered to the orange object. It took him a few minutes to recognize the book, and in the meantime, Sakura’s arm never wavered, not even a millimetre. Eventually, Kakashi reached out to take the literature into his own hands. The familiar feel of the felt cover and the weight of the book seemed to spark a slight recognition in him, but it was gone as soon as it came. Sakura squashed the disappointment that arose within her. This was progress. Slow as it was, it was progress.
“I didn’t have the heart to burn it. It was so precious to you…” she trailed off, the fond memories of a happier time flowing into her mind. “But god, it was so irritating that you always, always read it no matter how inappropriate the occasion!”
No response.
“I remember how mad you were, even though you hid it well. But by then I knew both you and Naruto so well that it was impossible for either of you to hide anything from me, isn’t that right?”
No response.
“Anyway, I thought you might be getting awfully bored in here, and a dose of nostalgia would do you good. I always meant to return it to you one day. Don’t think I’ve forgotten all your nags about how this one is irreplaceable because it was a first edition.”
No response.
“Alright, I’ve got to head off now. But enjoy the read, alright? I’ll be back tomorrow.”
No response.
Sakura fought hard to supress both the sigh that threatened to escape and grim expression her face wanted to settle into. Instead, she forced her features into a cheery smile that seemed reminiscent of Kakashi’s old self. As she got up she gave her old sensei an affectionate pat on the head. Quickly, she turned away and in a few large, brisk steps she was out of the room.
She didn’t miss the look of pity the guard flashed her as she left. Her hands clenched into fists of their own accord when she saw this. She knew what everyone here thought, she knew what everyone everywhere thought. It didn’t matter.
She would never give up on Kakashi.
Characters: Hatake Kakashi & Haruno Sakura
Prompts: 11. broken spirit & 53. haunted & mental illness: 05. post traumatic stress
Word Count: 604
Rating: PG 13
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.
Warning: AU
Notes: Part of a series. Written for 500themes & lover100 & mission_insane. For sequels, go to even if it takes a million days.
-
Never in her darkest dreams did Sakura expect this day to come.
How could this happen? He was her teacher, her rock, the one untouchable ideal of invincibility in her mind. There had even been certain times in the past when she was teetering precariously on the balance between life and death that she’d thought of him, and his unwavering strength. It was this thought that had given her enough strength to pull through and back to life.
But the man that now sat before her, staring blankly ahead was not that man of her memories.
Sakura took three brisk steps into the room. He didn’t acknowledge her presence. He didn’t even seem to notice the change of personnel.
“Hello, Kakashi,” she lilted, her voice oddly cheerful. “How are you feeling today?”
There was no response to her question, as she had expected. Sakura dropped down in the chair opposite him. She tilted her head slightly to the side to regard him. Though he was looking straight at her, she could tell by the blank look in his one exposed eye that he didn’t register a thing. Or didn’t care.
“I’ve brought you something, Kakashi.” As she said this, she took something out of her pouch gingerly. It was a rather tattered copy of the copy-nin’s infamous reading material. “Do you remember this one? I didn’t actually burn it.”
Sakura handed the book to the man, arms outstretched. His lone eye flickered to the orange object. It took him a few minutes to recognize the book, and in the meantime, Sakura’s arm never wavered, not even a millimetre. Eventually, Kakashi reached out to take the literature into his own hands. The familiar feel of the felt cover and the weight of the book seemed to spark a slight recognition in him, but it was gone as soon as it came. Sakura squashed the disappointment that arose within her. This was progress. Slow as it was, it was progress.
“I didn’t have the heart to burn it. It was so precious to you…” she trailed off, the fond memories of a happier time flowing into her mind. “But god, it was so irritating that you always, always read it no matter how inappropriate the occasion!”
No response.
“I remember how mad you were, even though you hid it well. But by then I knew both you and Naruto so well that it was impossible for either of you to hide anything from me, isn’t that right?”
No response.
“Anyway, I thought you might be getting awfully bored in here, and a dose of nostalgia would do you good. I always meant to return it to you one day. Don’t think I’ve forgotten all your nags about how this one is irreplaceable because it was a first edition.”
No response.
“Alright, I’ve got to head off now. But enjoy the read, alright? I’ll be back tomorrow.”
No response.
Sakura fought hard to supress both the sigh that threatened to escape and grim expression her face wanted to settle into. Instead, she forced her features into a cheery smile that seemed reminiscent of Kakashi’s old self. As she got up she gave her old sensei an affectionate pat on the head. Quickly, she turned away and in a few large, brisk steps she was out of the room.
She didn’t miss the look of pity the guard flashed her as she left. Her hands clenched into fists of their own accord when she saw this. She knew what everyone here thought, she knew what everyone everywhere thought. It didn’t matter.
She would never give up on Kakashi.