Seven Deadly Sins

I just wanted to say this, but my inspiration of this story came from a series of books: Seven Deadly Sins by Robin Wasserman. It’s such an awesome series.

Thanks for sending me your love and support guys!

I do not own Bad Medicine by Bon Jovi. It’s an awesome song though.

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Envy

The morning after I woke up, she was already gone. Sakura ate the little plate of food I had for her, and she was kind enough to wash the dish for me. I allowed myself a little smile before continuing my day.

I looked myself over to see if any wounds have reopened. Finding one, the one on my left bicep, I changed it and promptly got dressed. I moved slowly so other wounds don’t open, and it wasn’t like I had anything to do today. I doubt the Hokage would give me another mission in my state, even if it’s washing the clothes of an elderly woman.

After getting dressed, I took the usual route. I walked down the streets of Konoha, taking the time to appreciate my surroundings. Few people were out on the streets at this time, and they were opening up shops to trade and bargain. Up until a certain point, I have stayed on the road…and then I turn and took a different trail through a forest.

The forest life continued around me, even as I trespass their land and homes. Some birds were building nests and others were feeding their little chicks. Squirrels and chipmunks were gathering food and frolicking about. The sweet, earthy scent of the forest always relaxes me, and yet, I feel agitated. Perhaps it is due to the fact that I’ve always camped out in a forest during missions?

Stepping away from the forest, I walk into a clearing. The green grass with the odd flower every now and then surrounds one black monument in the middle of the clearing: the Memorial Stone.

The Memorial Stone holds the names of those who were dear to me. They were all killed in action. There were a few people who weren’t killed this way, but they died nonetheless. I traced the names of my former team mates, Obito Uchiha and Rin. They didn’t deserve to die. And it was true, they didn’t. Rin’s medical abilities could have been useful to our village, and Obito meant well, even if he was somewhat idiotic and late.

My finger ran over the name of the Fourth Hokage. He made the ultimate sacrifice for the village: he gave up his life to seal the demon inside of his legacy, Naruto. As much as the entire village missed him and honoured him, they couldn’t honour one request and that was to treat Naruto kindly.

I sat down and leaned back against the Stone while closing my eyes. I felt an odd sense of peace wash over me. Being close to the Stone made me feel like I was reconnected to everyone I know. It was like a portal where the dead and the living could communicate.

My fingers itched to pull out the orange paperback embedded in my pockets, but I knew I couldn’t. I’d start thinking of her again and that wasn’t something I wanted. I felt humiliated enough that I lost my self control last night and that I did it to thoughts of my student.

Former student, I corrected myself. But, former or not, she is untouchable and off-limits.

I looked up towards the sky and watched the clouds pass by. I can see why that Nara boy loves it so much. It was peaceful and calming, something I haven’t appreciated in so long.

If only you could see me now, Obito.

Ever since Obito’s death, I began to adopt many of his traits. I was late a lot (no, I’m not late; everything’s just early), I began to look out for my friends and comrades, I started wanting one person in specific (like you did with Rin)…

Looking back up in the clouds, I noticed that they were making shapes in the sky. I decided to play a little game with myself in the midday sun. With each cloud that passed by, I would identify their shapes and see if they had anything to do with me. For example, a bowl-shaped cloud passed overhead, signifying my hunger. Perhaps, a bowl of ramen would do…

“Kakashi-sensei?”

She was standing a few feet away from me and I berated myself for not sensing her earlier. Just the sight of her reminded me of my sordid acts in the bathroom last night, while she was innocently asleep.

“Ah, hello, Sakura,” I acknowledged her, “what brings you here?”

“Well, I…” she started timidly. Now, the real Sakura I know would never be this timid. She was the type to always speak her mind. “Well, I wanted to say…thank you, for letting me stay at your apartment, and for the food.”

She got all flustered and mousey to say thank you?

“It was my pleasure, Sakura.” Really, it was my pleasure. “Besides, what kind of man would I be if I kicked out a fatigued, young girl such as yourself? Surely, that would tarnish my reputation of being a hospitable man…”

She gave a little chuckle and her cheeks turned a rosy hue. “I also believe that you aren’t here just to tell me that,” I went on.

“Oh, well…” Now, this was the reason she’s getting flustered. “I…I was going through your medical files to update it, and I realized that you haven’t had a physical in over four years, so…” My lone eye widened. She wanted to give me a…physical!? She was right, my last physical was over four years ago, and if I remember correctly, physicals included…

Oh, hell no.

She must have noticed my shocked look, because she chose to ramble on at that moment.

“Well, you don’t have to do the physical at the hospital, I can do it at your apartment, if you like. I know you don’t like hospitals, and I don’t either because the medics and nurses invade your personal bubble, but I’m there to help people and save lives. Or, I can get another medic to do it for you if you like---”

“Sakura.”

“Yes?” She finally stopped her blubbering to take deep breaths and fill her lungs with the sweet, Konoha air.

“I…don’t suppose there’s a way out of this, is there?” I tentatively asked. She lamented as she shook her head.

“It’s a requirement for shinobi to have a physical once every three months and you’ve evaded it for three years! When Tsunade told me to go heal you last night, she also told me to see if I could…weasel you into a physical, when I told her about your out-of-date file.”

I took a deep breath and sighed. Being one of the most revered ninja had its setbacks and disadvantages. I really should have a physical and check out with a clean bill of health, but at what price? I have to be in top condition for missions; it was a necessity. If I died, one of my subordinates would take over my position as top dog, but they were inexperienced.

Also, there’s the most obvious problem: the physical itself. I’ve always hated hospitals; it reeked of disinfectant that was a sad excuse for an air freshener to cover up the stench of death, so I suppose I could have my physical in my apartment. But who would treat me? Sakura? If she gave me the physical, my control would snap, I was sure of it. But then, the other nurses and medics in the hospital would most likely try to see my face, even the males.

“So…what do you want to do?” Sakura quietly asked me.

“I don’t know,” I answered truthfully.

“Well, Tsunade said that if your file isn’t up-to-date, she’s putting you off active mission status until it is.”

Damn it. Missions were my life. Without it, I’m nothing. The only team I’ve taught had broken up, so that’s a big disappointment. All I would do is drink and socialize for a new companion…oh my god, I sound like Genma!

“Alright, I’ll do the physical,” I mumbled.

“Oh!” Sakura snapped out of her little daydream. Her eyes locked with his, but she darted them away while trying to fight off her darkening blush. “Well, um…when and where?”

“Now, I suppose. I want to get it out of the way.” And to spend the rest of the day in an icy-cold bath.

“Oh, well, I have to go back to the hospital and see what I need to know. I’ll jot my notes down onto a notepad and I’ll come over by your place later,” she mumbled.

“Yeah, sure,” I replied monotonously. She gave me a small smile before turning around and heading towards the hospital. I couldn’t help myself as my gaze lingered on her swaying hips. She certainly had grown up.

I decided to get up from my seat on the grass and dusted myself off. Time for lunch…and maybe dessert…

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I decided to take the cloud’s “advice” and go to Ichiraku for some lunch. It had been awhile since I ate here. At Ichiraku, I saw Iruka, Naruto and Hinata. I sat down on a stool and turned to them to offer a quick greeting before I asked for my order of chicken-flavoured ramen with extra meat from the young girl that worked there.

I looked over to my right to see Iruka, eating his ramen with a little smile on his face. A little farther down was Naruto and Hinata. They seemed to be chatting amicably about something I didn’t know. Maybe this is why Iruka was smiling to no one in particular.

“Here’s your order, enjoy!” said the young girl. Ayame, was it? Well, close enough. As she gave me my order, I noticed a silver engagement ring on her left ring finger, and a matching silver ring on Iruka’s ring finger. Can you say “love is in the air”?

I thanked her, but I must have said it almost threateningly. She scampered away from me and towards Iruka, giving him light kisses over the counter while her father was getting more meat in the back. I used my lightening fast reflexes to shove some noodles in my mouth and slipping my mask back up before anybody saw anything.

I silently seethed. Iruka was engaged to Ayame, Naruto finally opened up his eyes to see Hinata, Genma had different women in his bed every night…it seemed like everyone I know had someone, and I had nothing…or at least, I wanted something I couldn’t have.

Even Sasuke had somebody. After he had finally killed Orochimaru and Itachi within five years of each other, he had come back to Konoha and fulfill his last goal: resurrecting his clan. He fell in love with a civilian girl. He had wanted somebody strong to mother his children, but he opted for a civilian woman. They didn’t have to face the dangers of shinobi life. She could stay at home with the kids while he was out on missions. Also, civilian women didn’t have dominating genes, so Sasuke’s Sharingan should appear in his children.

Damn it. The whole world was mocking me.

The only people I could think of that didn’t have somebody was Kurenai (because Asuma had died, and now she’s trying to face the hardships of being a single mother while juggling her career as a ninja), Sai (because he’s too obsessed over Naruto’s manhood), and Gai (because it just seemed impossible. Lee, too, for that matter).

Throwing down my money for my meal, I got up, waved to everybody and departed. Okay, what next? What else can I do to kill the time? Now that I can no longer have my trusty books on hand, I found myself feeling very bored.

“Ah! Kakashi!” called a smooth, feminine and very familiar voice.

“Kaka! Kaka!” echoed a not-so-familiar, childlike voice. I turned around to meet Kurenai and her one year old son, Akio.

“Hello, Kurenai,” I waved. She looks a little more worn out than the last time I saw her, so I quickly looked around for a place for her to sit. I noticed a park nearby, and I thought she’d like to take a stroll.

“Would you like to take a walk with me to the park?” I asked her.

“Oh! Well, thank you for the offer, but Akio and I were already heading there, so I suppose you’re coming with us.”

I followed the both of them quietly while Kurenai was adjusting Akio in her arms. Once we got to the park, she set Akio down and he promptly jetted off to go play with his friends who were already there.

“So, how are things? Are you…alright?” I asked hesitantly.

“Thank you for your concern, Kakashi,” she replied, “and I’m sorry for what I’m about to dump onto you, but I don’t think I am alright, no matter how much I want to be.”

My eye widened a fraction and I leaned in slightly closer to her. I had made a vow to be there when my friends and comrades needed it, and I don’t intend to back out on my word.

“Everyday, I wake up to a new day, thinking that everything will be alright, but then I reach over to the spot next to me and then I realize that Asuma isn’t here anymore,” Kurenai blurted. “It feels different without having him in my arms, even after all this time. Akio’s been a great substitute, but it’s just not the same!”

Kurenai stopped to catch herself here. She tried to take a few deep breaths to calm herself before continuing. “Everyday, I’m thankful for Akio. He’s the reason I’m still sane. If it weren’t for my genes, he’d be an extremely tiny version of Asuma.”

Looking over to the kid, I realized that she was right. Akio was the spitting image of Asuma. The only difference was that he had dark, mahogany eyes due to the mix of Kurenai’s crimson orbs and Asuma’s deep brown eyes.

“I know it’s stupid of me to even think this, seeing as I’m a ninja like you, but sometimes…I want to be selfish. I want to have Asuma here with me, and here with the son he’s never met. I want that dream to become reality so badly, but…I can’t have it. I’m haunted by dreams of it, every night. I want something I can’t have and it almost kills me, you know?”

Yes, I do know. I know exactly what it feels like. But the difference is, if Asuma was still alive, it’d be a happy occasion. If I had Sakura, it’d be disastrous.

“Sometimes, we all want what we can’t have; it’s human nature.” But what I want is bastardly. “There could be times when things are difficult, like it’s stuck in your head. Just give it some time, Kurenai. I know that it’s hard to raise Akio by yourself, but there are people around you who want to help. Over time, you just have to…let go,” I finished maturely. Kurenai looked deep in thought. She looked like she was analyzing everything I just said. Then a twinkle appeared in her eye and a sad smile appeared on her lips.

“Thank you, Kakashi.” We sat in a comfortable silence for a few moments before I began a light conversation.

“So, how are your classes?” I asked her.

“Oh, they’re fine. This batch of kunoichis are pretty prudish, though,” she said wistfully, “not to mention that they’re incredibly sheltered.”

Kurenai had switched off active mission status since she found out about her pregnancy and opted for a less dangerous job at the academy. She still had some ties with the school, as well as Iruka. She began to work as a teacher again, specializing in the kunoichi arts. She believed that it was a more practical job for her lifestyle. It was a steady job (so no worries about money), there were set hours (so she wouldn’t have to stay away from Akio for more than a few hours a day), and she wouldn’t be risking her life and making Akio orphaned.

After another hour of playing, Akio ran back to his mother. Kurenai tossed him up into the air and gave him kisses. I gave a little wave to him over Kurenai’s shoulder and he waved back.

“Well, I suppose I should get going. I need to do a little grocery shopping,” Kurenai explained.

“Shop! Shop!” squealed the little boy in her arms.

“Yes, shopping!” cooed Kurenai. “We can get you ice cream! Now, say bye-bye, Akio.”

“Bye-bye!” Little Akio said gaily. I responded with a little wave and a crinkled eye. Once Kurenai headed in the direction of the shops, Akio stuck his thumb into his mouth.

Now…what to do, what to do…

I suppose that I could train, but Sakura would have a fit if I did.

“Are you trying to give me more work!? You’re supposed to be resting so your wounds can heal properly, not reopen them so I could patch it up again!” she had screamed one time. I was shocked and surprised when she burst like that. I dismissed it as the “time of the month” agitation.

Hmm…maybe I could track down Gai and challenge him to something easy…like who could drink the most sake and not pass out, or…something along those lines.

I sighed. I’m just going to go home and take a nice, long nap. Maybe this time, I won’t have naughty dreams featuring---

Okay, I really need to stop thinking these things.

I look up as I walk home. The sky that was once a magnificent blue had faded into orange and yellow. The sky was quickly darkening as time goes on. Hmm. Time. It seems like I have nothing but time. They say that time heals all wounds, and I’ve been waiting for it to work its magic. Nothing’s happened yet.

“Hey, Kakashi!”

I turn around to see Genma waving at me. Oh god, how many people am I going to see today?

I politely waved back to him, noting his casual smirk. Okay, whatever he says, turn it down…turn it down…

“You wanna go to the bar for a few drinks?”

“Yeah, sure.”

Damn it!

We ambled over to the bar and I pulled out my Icha Icha to look inconspicuous. As long as I don’t look at the words, I’ll be fine, right?

As we enter the bar, I see a few others at our usual table: Anko and her tan trench coat, Gai (great, now I can really challenge him to pass some time), and even Iruka (weird, I’ve always thought he was a straight-laced man: abstaining from alcohol and sex and such).

A chorus of hellos greeted me as a sat down next to Iruka. Everybody went back to doing whatever they were doing before my appearance.

“So,” I turned to Iruka, “how’s engagement to Ayame? Have you two set a date?” Iruka looked down in embarrassment.

“Well, we were thinking of a spring wedding,” Iruka admitted quietly. He looked up to see that everybody was watching Genma laid down on the bartending counter, place his shots onto his bare abdomen, then propelled it into the air. The liquid made an impressive arc before landing into his mouth and a bit splashing onto his chest. Everyone at their table cheered while the other patrons in the bar cheered as well. The women were cheering the loudest; after all, he did something impressive and got his delectable chest slick with alcohol which made it glisten in the dim light.

“So, how are things with you?” Iruka asked me.

“Well, I’m okay. Missions are fine, but I don’t think I can take on another mission for a little while. You know how Sakura gets.” Iruka allowed himself a little chuckle and sipped his sake carefully.

I watched Genma with a mix of slight amusement and slight envy. He was older than I was and he was the male sex symbol of Konoha. He had ¾ of Konoha’s female population drooling over him and he’s had at least two thirds of them in his bed in one occasion. The ¼ that wasn’t attracted to him were happily married with children and possibly grandchildren.

The door opened and I tried to see who it was. All I could see were the tops of their heads. Blond, black, black and…pink?

“Sakuraa,” purred Genma. “Why don’t you join my table? It’s over there,” pointing in my direction. Sakura stuck her tongue out, making Genma adopt a hurt expression.

“That hurt my feelings,” Genma whined. “You’re supposed to be a healer, so come and heal my broken heart.”

“Virgin strawberry margarita, please,” asked Sakura, “and you,” she said, looking at Genma, “call yourself a jonin. I can’t believe you completely disregarded rule #25 in our shinobi handbook.” Sakura walked right by Genma and smirked when her back was to him, earning catcalls and hoots from the various ninjas in the establishment.

My eye narrowed. How dare these ninjas holler at her like a common whore. She was my student and she is a great medic, therefore, she should be treated with more respect. And that Genma…if she wasn’t here, I’d take that senbon of his and shove it so far up his---

“Kakashi-sensei? Are you okay?”

I blinked and focused my eye on the young woman before me. She had a strange expression that was a mix of curiosity, worry and something that said “This guy is weird…”.

“Do you want me to do the check up now? Just to see if you’re okay, I mean…” I silently thanked her for not saying “physical”. If she did, Genma would be running over here, teasing me that I got to play “Doctor” with Sakura, and then he’d ask her when his turn would come up. “Check up” would imply basic things: healthy heart, regular breathing, blah blah blah…

“No, it’s alright. I don’t want to ruin your time with these three,” I replied jovially, pointing to the three young men around her.

“Yeah, don’t ruin her night with us, Kakashi-sensei!” Naruto declared. “Granny-Tsunade’s overworking her. She just wants to gamble and drink sake all day and dumps her work onto Sakura. I had to drag her out of her office to get her here!”

“Hn,” was Sasuke’s usual bored tone. “I’m sure Sakura would’ve been happier in her office all day long and not be seen with you. Hey!” Sasuke suddenly hollered, “who do I have to kill to get some fuckin’ sake? Three dishes!”

“That, and the hag wouldn’t want to come out anyway,” added Sai. Sakura shut him up with a good hit to the head.

“Ah! Thank you!” she grinned happily at the man that handed her the drink she ordered, as well as the sake. She looked down in time to miss the little wink he gave her, but I didn’t. I saw everything. And I never wanted to punch a man through several walls like I did now.

I turned back to Genma to see him yell something to somebody and I noticed that the background sound changed. They were playing some other song now, and somebody cranked the volume to super-high.

Staccato chords, accompanied by a bass riff and some drums, shot through the air, just as Genma started from the far end of the counter away from us, ran and shot through the air to land on our table (surprisingly by not knocking it over, I might add). Sakura had a shocked expression, I kept my usual “stupid Genma” look but the boys were pissed. He had knocked over everybody’s drinks. The sake dishes landed in all three boys’ laps while Sakura’s virgin margarita splashed onto the floor.

“What the hell!?” Naruto cried.

“Hn,” snorted Sasuke. “Typical. Can’t enjoy a fuckin’ drink.”

“Come on, Sakura!” Genma called to her, his outstretched hand pointed her direction. “Dance with me!” Sakura stared at his hand while going the little proposition over again in her head. I shook mine.

“Idiot,” I muttered under my breath.

“Uh, I don’t think so,” Sakura shyly giggled. She was looking at Genma’s hand as if she’d rather gnaw her arm off.

“Aww, come on! Dance with me, babe!” Genma said while pulling her up to the table. I was expecting Sakura to punch him through the table before I did, but I was…shocked, to say the least. She was pulled up to the table, and then she…began to shuffle along to the music.

Your love is like bad medicine
Bad medicine is what I need
Whoa whoa whoa, shake it up, just like bad medicine
There ain’t no doctor that can cure my disease

Genma hand her hand in his and wrapped one of his arms around her waist while Sakura had a hand on his shoulder. I felt a ferocious rage sweep through my entire body. I hoped that Genma had alcohol poisoning and threw up all over Sakura, just so she’d slap him and never be near him again. I looked down and away from the both of them, hoping to calm myself down while the music blared through the speakers.

I ain’t got a fever, got a permanent disease
And it’ll take more than a doctor to prescribe a remedy
I got lots of money but it isn’t what I need
Gonna take more than a shot to get this poison outta me
And I got all the symptoms, count ‘em 1, 2, 3

Genma had jumped back onto the counter and he left Sakura standing on the table. He began to lip-sync and dance to the song, bringing the back of his hand up to his forehead to describe a fever, pulling money out of his pockets and imitating a syringe shooting a vaccine into his system.

God, what I wouldn’t give to shoot some real poison into him…

First I need
That’s what you get for falling in love
Then you bleed
You get a little but it’s never enough
On your knees
That’s what you get for falling in love

Genma made a whole show about getting on his knees and bent down on one knee to make it look like he was proposing to Sakura.

Now this boy’s addicted ‘cause your kiss is the drug

Genma made motions to imply that he was the boy and after a quick peck on her lips, he fell to the ground with the back of his left hand on his forehead and his right hand clutching his heart with a dazed expression on his face.

That’s when my anger flared.

I continued to watch them with an amused expression (at least, I hope it’s amused) on my face while I fumed. Genma was holding Sakura a little too close for my liking.

Damn it, Fate’s really mocking me today. She made Sakura’s slightly flared hips sway in time to Genma’s and the music, and her front is lightly grinding into him. The other ninjas in this bar were getting a hard-on from the little show she’s unintentionally putting on (after all, Genma dragged her into this).

After the next chorus, Sakura pried herself away from Genma and got down from the table, leaving behind the other ninjas who were enjoying her little dance. A round of groans of dejection became loud enough to drown out the song for a bit.

“Well, Kakashi, I had my share of fun. Now, I think it’s time to go.”

“Yes, I believe so,” I agreed. Genma’s eyes perked up in interest.

“Hold on, did you imply that you’re both leaving together?” Genma drawled, waggling his eyebrows in suggestion. “Damn, Hatake, you’re holding out on me. I tell you all about my conquests and you don’t tell me a single thing about yours. I just thought Icha Icha was doing it for you. I never thought you’d been bedding women all this time, and taking home our innocent little Sakura…damn!”

Sakura walked by him casually while slinging her bag over her shoulder (a bag that I hadn’t even noticed. It hung on her chair the entire time she was here and she was blocking it). On her way out, she smacked him in the head the way she did to Sai.

“Shut up, Genma,” she warned, “or I’ll tell Tsunade to do your physicals from now on.”

Genma immediately shut up. The hospital was the second best place for gossip, the first being Ino’s flower shop. Genma was quite a legend over at the hospital. Before Sakura came along, the pretty, young medics would do his physicals and it was known that he became -ahem- excited. He’d then pick the girl up on a date and eventually lead her to his bedroom. If he got hard in Tsunade’s presence, she won’t hesitate to snap “Little Genma” off.

During our little walk to my apartment, we shared a comfortable silence with each other. She pulled out a notebook filled with notes on my medical history while I pulled out Icha Icha. I pretended to read on the walk over while my eye stole little glances at her backside. She was slim, I can say that for sure. She wasn’t too curvaceous, but she wasn’t stick-thin.

Once we strolled down a familiar street, I pocketed my book and fish out my key. Honestly, I have no idea why I even lock my door. I doubt anybody is stupid enough to break into the humble abode of Kakashi Hatake.

I opened the door and stepped aside to let her in as my inner gentleman took over me. A gave her a happy eye crease as she walked by me, turning to me and smiled back for the briefest moment. God, I feel like a teenager again. Palms are a bit sweaty (could be my gloves though), my adrenaline’s racing (could be due to the fact that I wanted to kill a bar full of patrons), and I got a slight hard-on watching Sakura dance, wishing that I was in place of Genma.

“Okay, so we should start,” I said, throwing my keys onto the little kitchen table. “Where do you want to do this?” Oh god, I hope that didn’t come out wrong.

“The bedroom, I suppose,” Sakura answered. She pulled a square, fabric thing from her bag and handed it to me. “I’ll need you to change into this.”

I unfolded the square and it revealed itself to be a hospital gown. Maybe Sakura saw this as something better to dress in while she was examining me. I went to the bathroom to change into the gown Sakura handed me. I lifted the fabric to my face and took a deep breath. It smelled faintly like her, I noticed.

I stripped from my clothes and put on the gown, tying it tightly in the back so she wouldn’t feel embarrassed about seeing her former sensei’s bare backside. But then again, I should give her some credit. She is Tsunade’s apprentice and a great medic at the hospital (from what I’ve heard) and she’s always clinical and professional when she heals me.

I walked across the hallway an into my bedroom. Sakura was already there with her medical supplies in her bag on the little table I had in there, in case I wanted to eat in bed. She took out a stethoscope and hung it around my neck.

“Okay, first, I’m going to need to hear your heart, so if you could undo the top half of the gown,” she requested. I untied the string around my neck and let it fall loose. The bottom half of me was fine, thanks to the other pair of strings that were a little closer to my abdomen.

I flinched slightly as she pressed the cold metal onto my chest. “Breathe deeply,” she instructed. I took several deep breaths before she removed the metal pad from my chest, walked around me and placed it on my back.

“Again, please.” Once again, I took several deep breaths. “Hmm…your back has a lot of knots,” she mumbled to herself. “Okay, good,” she notified me as she withdrew the metal from my skin while I tried to crack my back to undo the knots she spoke of. She pulled out a pen and her notebook and jotted down her notes. “Everything seems to check out from there. Now, could you walk around?”

I got up from my seat and ambled around the room. She nodded and took notes as I walked around, catching a quick glance of what she was writing.

No limp, knees are good, no pressure on joints…

“Okay. Now, I’ll need you to sit on something elevated, just so your feet don’t touch the ground.” I left the room for a little bit and I brought back a stack of chairs, high enough so my feet wouldn’t brush the cold floor.

Placing her hand on one of my knees, she sent a jolt of chakra through them. In a response, my body involuntarily kicked. Doing the same with the other, the response was the same. Jotting things down in her notebook again, she asked me a simple question which I took for something a little more…explicit.

“Does your back hurt at all? Even if it’s just a little, just tell me.” I was about to open my mouth to say something when she cut me off. “Don’t give me the ‘I’m a ninja, I can take it’ crap. If it hurts, I’ll alleviate it.” I nodded mutely and she nodded to herself to write it all down.

“Okay, go get a towel.” I was going to question her on why we’d need a towel, but I chose to shut up. She’s a great medic; she knows what she’s doing. I retrieved the towel from the bathroom and handed it to her.

“Now, lie down on your stomach.”

I complied with what she said because, again, I trust her. That, and I was a little scared of what those hands could do. It could hold the softest touch and it could soothe when it was accompanied by her chakra, but with that same chakra, her hands could punch great craters into the ground.

I laid down on my stomach, just as she told me, and I turned my head to watch whatever she was doing. She unfolded the towel and laid it over my buttocks and deftly untied the string that slung around my hips and joined in the back. She pushed the fabric aside, pushed up the bottom edge of my mask up a bit and began to work.

She began near the base of my neck and took hold of the juncture of my neck and shoulders. Lightly digging her thumb in, she smoothed them along, adding a little more pressure around the neck area.

I had to say, it felt good. It was like being pampered and I never indulged myself into these kind of things. I simply tricked my mind that this was a medical procedure; getting all the knots out of my back for a more effective performance out on the field.

In and out of bed, of course…

Her hands moved slightly lower and she kneaded my muscles. She pulsed a bit of chakra where the tougher knots were and I had to suppress a sigh. Her hands were like magic! I thought to myself. I could feel my back relax a bit more, and it felt less sore, too.

Her hands went down a bit lower, just where my mid-back was. “So, Kakashi-sensei,” Sakura said, breaking the soft silence, “what have you been doing lately?” Her fingers were pressing into my flesh while pumping small bits of chakra into my muscles to further relax them and make the entire massage easier for her to deal with.

“Oh, nothing much. Go on missions, do stupid things, come home and wait for you to fix me up as good as new, you know. The usual,” I reply. I could hear a soft chuckle from above.

“You know, you really take my services for granted.”

“And you take some of mine for granted as well,” I tell her. I don’t think she knows what I meant. She just continued to massage my back.

Back in their younger days, I was perpetually late. I was late because I wanted to give them something. I know that these children would one day lose their childhood, and that would be when the first drop of crimson-red blood paints the floor with its sickening stench. I just wanted to give them a little more time to be children again, before I send them off to their deaths.

Her hands moved lower now, right where my lower back was and it was bordering on the edge of the towel. This was where it hurt the most, and she seemed to know of this when she digs her fingers into me and feel my muscles flinch in rebellion. She kneaded the area gently, adding little bursts of chakra to soothe the muscles, almost as if she was conversing with them.

“We don’t want you here!” I imagine my muscles say.

“It’s alright. I’m here to help you and relieve you,” her chakra would tell them. God, am I delirious or something?

God, I hate those hands of hers. They’re so soft and warm, and it nearly kills me to feel her touch roam around my body and know that I can’t reciprocate. Just a little touch would be fine: run my fingers through her silky strands, one finger running from her forehead, down her temple and down her cheek…even a little taste of her lips would be fine. Anything.

“Kakashi-sensei?” Sakura called. Oh, well…I didn’t know I dozed off there. I retied the strings around my back and my neck before I got up. Sakura went over to her bag and pulled something out. It looked like it was clear. She slipped her hand into the opening when I realized: it was a glove. And it was for the next part of the physical.

Oh shit. Can I really trust myself not to get hard on her?

“Alright, let’s get this over with,” she stated dully. She got down on her knees (which got my mind reeling with less-than-innocent innuendos) and waited. Awkwardly, I lifted my gown up.

If her hands on my back were hell, what was this going to be like?

Her small hand cradled my package and I tried my best not to shudder at her touch. She was squeezing and cradling to check for any abnormalities, but I still couldn’t get over this. She was doing something I’ve been dreaming of doing since…last night!

I felt a little thrill rush through my body as her fingers brushed the sensitive nerves that were on the underside of my manhood. It took a lot out of me to control myself and not just throw her onto the bed and ravage her well into the night.

Now, she was fondling --- err, sorry, checking my “coin purse”, as Genma calls it. Small bursts of chakra reverberated throughout the entire area. I know she was just checking for any abnormalities in my body, and it’s hard to tell just by feel alone because everybody’s a little different.

I began to bite my lip as a means to control my body. I couldn’t scare her away, even though my body needed her. I could try to go out and pick up a woman and pretend it’s Sakura, just to satisfy myself, but an imitation isn’t as great as the original (which is a bit ironic, seeing that all of my copied jutsus are executed better than the person who developed the jutsu).

“Okay, all done!” she chirped, stripping the glove off of her hand and writing some more things down in her notebook.

“Okay, now, your next physical will be in 6 months, and…oh my god, your lip is bleeding!” she exclaimed. A dark spot had probably appeared on my mask. My tongue stuck out to taste the little wet spot, and sure enough, I tasted blood. I hadn’t realized that I was biting down that hard. She pulled a little tube from her bag and pulled off the cap.

“I developed this lip balm myself,” she stated proudly. “It promotes healing if you have a cold sore or something, and it keeps your lips smooth and soft.” She twisted the bottom and a little bit of white poked out of its little cylindrical shell.

“I’m sorry for the ‘feminine’ flavour, but it’ll have to do!” She wiped her finger over the top of the tube. She was about to bring it to my face, but stopped herself.

“Uhh…you probably wanted to put this on yourself,” Sakura said, handing me the little tube. “But then, this would be a waste of balm,” she continued, presenting the bit on balm on her finger to me. “So, I could put this on you, but I won’t look, I promise.”

“No, it’s okay,” I suddenly said. “I trust you.” And it was true, I did trust her. Shocked, she reached up to the edge of my mask and slowly, tantalizingly slowly, pulled it down until it pooled around my neck. She took a full minute to appreciate the features I have hidden under that black scrap of fabric. I don’t know why she was taking so long to memorize my face, though. There wasn’t anything special about it. A faint tan line, a nose and a pair of lips like the rest of the human race (unless you were deformed from some accident). Maybe she was looking at my scar. It ran down my left eye and continued to run down my cheek and jaw.

She broke out of her little daze and brought her index finger up to my lips. She smoothed it over while she savoured the feel of her finger on my lip. It wasn’t too soft or smooth, but it wasn’t too coarse and chapped. I felt that bit of jealousy again. Does she know what she’s doing to me? Does she know how frustrating it was for me, knowing that I can never make contact with her the way she is with me?

That’s when I felt it: my control snapped. I gave in to another impulse. I kissed the tip of her finger. Her movements stopped and I took the momentary pause to take her wrist with my hand and bring her finger further into the cave of my mouth.

I lightly suckled her finger, sweet with the taste of strawberries from the balm. I licked the tip for another second before I pulled it out of my mouth and kissed the tip again. I pulled her arm towards me until our bodies barely touched each other and I dropped her hand onto my shoulder. I wrapped an arm around her waist and bent my head down to capture her pink lips with mine.

At first, she didn’t react, no matter how much I modified the pressure of my lips so it would feel comfortable. Then, her lips began to move with mine. Her hands tightened their grip on me and I brought her closer to me. The kiss had started out slow and tender, and after a little while, it was hard and full of suppressed passion. I never knew she felt this way about me, or had I persuaded her to sway my way?

My tongue licked her bottom lip, asking for permission to enter. Her delectable lips parted and my tongue slipped into her warm crevice. She tasted sickeningly sweet; almost as sweet as pure sugar. There was a taste to her that was unique and unmistakable and I was addicted to it.

Turning our bodies slowly, I backed her up until her legs hit the edge of the bed and she fell over. I parted from her lips so we wouldn’t knock heads or noses, but I saw in her eyes that this was what she wanted too (at least, I hope she wanted this. This could be adrenaline that fuelled her lust).

She rolled on top of me to straddle my hips and began to press her lips fiercely to mine. I moved away from her lips and began to attack her soft, supple neck with searing kisses. I licked the area on her neck just behind her earlobe, and I was pleased to hear her heavy breathing and little mewls of pleasure.

I pulled the small, discreet buttons on her shirt apart and I was rewarded with the sight of her petite breasts in their lacy confines and a gasp. I looked up at her to see that a cute blush painted her cheeks. I reached behind her and she arched her back, bringing those small, creamy globes closer to me.

I unclasped her bra from the back and roughly pulled it down. The straps scraped against the skin of her shoulders and they were now at her elbows. I didn’t need to pull down much; I only needed enough for access.

My mouth instantly latched onto a little pink pebble and began to flick the bud teasingly. Sakura moaned and gasped at the heat of my mouth and clutched onto my silvery head. Her back arched a little more, pushing her firm breasts toward my face. My left arm circled her waist while my right hand began to roll the neglected nipple. She began to grind her hips against mine and I grunted in response. I could feel the little man in my pants rebel and spring to life as she continued to rub herself on me.

I could feel the heat radiate from her core. I could smell how aroused she was getting. I’m pretty sure she could feel what she was doing to me, but we were to caught up in the heat of the moment to care.

I popped myself off her nipple and switched breasts. Now, my right arm encircled her waist while my left hand gently massaged her breast. I stroked the right nipple with excruciating care, making sure that I made her feel what I felt last night, when she fell asleep on my couch.

Another moan tore from her throat as I began to suckle her erect teat. She still clutched my head close to her chest, and she kept pressing her core to mine. My right hand stroked her back while she did all of this, and she began to shake profusely. Before I knew it, a strangled cry sounded in the air and I felt a slight wetness in my lap.

I pulled myself away from her teat and let her rest her forehead on my shoulder. I patted her back gently, as if I was burping an infant. Her legs twitched every now and then, but I didn’t care.

I wanted her.

I needed her.

The question was, would she let me?

Then I felt guilty.

I was her sensei; operative word being was, but still…I had no right to take advantage of her like that. Just because I wanted her doesn’t mean that she wanted me, right? This would be a one time thing, and we’ll never talk of it again.

Only problem was, I have no idea if we’ll even speak to each other after this.

Sakura had finally come down from her high and raised her forehead. I leaned back a bit so I could see her face. Her face held traces of confusion, worry and…even fear.

When I saw her, I started to hate myself.

I can’t believe I resorted to this. I didn’t go after a full grown woman, I went after a teenager…and she was my former student, for cryin’ out loud! I tainted somebody who deserved better; she deserved someone with proper morals and someone who wasn’t twice her age two years ago.

She got off from my lap and reached around to clasp her bra back on. She straightened her clothing and packed away her things. Her legs looked a little shaky, and if I was correct, I had stimulated her first orgasm. She shouldn’t be up and about like this. I imagined that when she had her first orgasm, she’d be exhausted and she’d lie next to the man she loved with a sleepy smile on her face, and then she’d fall asleep and rest.

I imagined that she’d lie next to me after her first orgasm.

“G-good bye, Kakashi-sensei,” she said finally, stumbling over her words a little bit. She drew in a shaky breath and exited my bedroom.

I was too wrapped up in my self loathing to even hear her, let alone respond.

Not a moment later, I heard my front door close and I felt her chakra signature dwindle away as she left the building.

I had just lost someone else that was precious in my life, but it wasn’t because of death or some other reason…I had chased her away. She’s too far from my reach now.

She was gone forever.

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Next up: Pride