Heart-Shaped Box

Chapter Seventeen

Kakashi closed his eyes briefly after he exited the room Sakura was in. He was a horrible human being. His heart was telling him that he had just raped a person that he was supposed to protect but his mind slightly (and only slightly) disagreed. The fact that there was any conflict at all only made him feel worse about the situation. He swiftly began walking away as his body recalled how slick and wet she had been when he slipped inside her.

He shuddered slightly as he called that he was the first man to ever have her. He’d kill a few people to make sure he was the only man who ever—

A wave of shame washed over Kakashi and his stomach lurched as he realized the direction his tumultuous thoughts were taking him. What was wrong with him? Why was he thinking these things? He was so distracted that he barely noticed the Madam of the house watching him.

“Ah, Red, was our Sakura to your liking?” Kakashi noted that she was eying him shrewdly as if she knew something had gone wrong. He assumed that she was their voyeur although he didn't rule out the option that it was someone else. He wouldn't put it past the woman to charge for the opportunity to watch someone else in the act.

Kakashi inclined his head slightly not trusting himself to say a word. “And yet you look so unsatisfied…could I, perhaps, be of service?” Her eyes roamed over him with enough heat to make Kakashi consider it. He would love to do anything to wash the feel of Sakura's body from his mind. However, he wasn’t a stupid man. He knew that if he took her up on her offer she would begin to suspect that he wasn’t a lover a young girls and that would put Sakura in danger.

That wasn’t an option.

Kakashi let his eye rove over the Madam in an appraising manner. He started at her feet and slowly let his eyes rise up her body. He could tell she was preening over his appraisal. There was no denying that she was a desirable woman. However, given what he had just been through he wasn't feeling solicitous. A smirk flickered across his lips before he replied with, “I think not.” Thereafter he strode out without another word. Had he any inclination to look back he would have seen the Madam's face distorted with rage before he took his leave.

He went back to the dingy inn that he was staying in and decided randomly that he’d change accommodations as soon as Pakkun came back. He had sent his pack to keep watch on whoever entered and exited the house. Later he wished that he had grabbed something of the Madam's scent to so that Pakkun and the others could trail anyone that she had been in…close contact with.

It was too late for that at that moment though. Still, there was always next time. He filed that idea away in his mind for another time. Pakkun appeared suddenly and eyed him for a moment or two silently, prompting Kakashi to give him a nudge so that he would give him the information he wanted and leave.

“Did you find anything interesting?”

“Just gossip here and there. The woman is wealthy—extremely so.”

“Mmm. Any idea how many brothels all total she owns?”

“I’ve heard five. If you don’t count this one.”

“Do you know of their locations?”

“No. The people we followed only go to the one that you apparently frequent.”

Kakashi’s eye widened briefly before looking away from the knowing eyes of the pug. There was accusation in his voice that echoed deeply within him. “Is there any particular reason why Sakura’s scent is covering you?”

Kakashi bit his tongue so hard that he could taste blood. He didn’t reply. Instead he rose to his feet and went to take a shower hoping that with morning the guilt that he was suffocating in would have lessened a little.

:::

Sakura wished she could say she remembered very little of the night after Kakashi left. That was not the case. Every little detail was engraved upon her mind. Somehow, however, she made it back to her assigned room where she collapsed. She wished her sleep had been dreams but it had not. Her mind chose to replay the night over and over and over again. When she opened her eyes she could still feel her skin against Kakashi- sensei's.

She would've stayed in the bed if someone had entered without knocking. She sat up quickly immediately afraid that one of the guests had somehow made their way into her room. There were no locks on the doors so anyone could come and go as they pleased.

"It's me." A quiet voice called out. Sakura relaxed slightly recognizing Hisa's voice. She moved quickly to Sakura's bid her face traveling over hers worriedly. "Why are you still in bed? Did he hurt you?"

The worry in her voice Sakura feel better for some reason. It was like she wasn't completely alone. Still, Sakura found that she couldn't exactly reply. Instead, she swung her legs to the side of the bed and pushed herself to her feet. It was then she realized that she was indeed sore. A pain shot between her legs that she almost collapsed from. The only reason she didn't hit the ground was because Hisa wrapped her arms around her catching her. She wanted to say thank you but found that she couldn't.

A bitter smile formed on her face. It was probably a scary look and she wanted to her sensei had assembled the one on his face at that moment. She envied him his mask at that moment. It was like a hideaway away from the world.

Hisa said nothing further reading the signals that she really didn't want to talk. Instead, she led her to her private bathroom and helped her clean up.

Kakashi didn't return that night nor did he return the next. In fact, a full 23 days passed before his absence became a problem for Sakura.