It is on this same mission in Rain that another incident takes place, and he remembers staring at the wall of their shared tent as he began to wonder which Divine entity had decided to torture him for the week.
They were on day two of their three day travel, and both teacher and student (or should he just say comrades at this point? He wasn't fooling anyone) decided to pick another spot to camp out in before nightfall. He still remembers to this day the heavenly sensations he'd felt, the confusion mixed with happiness spotted with uncertainty and discomfort at just not knowing. Not being sure of what would happen, where it would take them in the future. If he'd have known then what he knows know, he never would have doubted; and he certainly wouldn't have fallen asleep three hours later than he should have due to the initial stress the experience had caused.
They once again set up camp - build a small fire, cook their portion meals, talk - but this time Sakura assists Kakashi in setting up his tent. He knows she's only being as helpful and efficient as she can possibly be at the moment (because what on earth else could she be? It isn't like she's eager to get into bed with her old, annoying sensei) but he can't help but inwardly chuckle at the way she just assumes they'll be sharing a tent again tonight; though she really has no reason to suspect otherwise, he finds humor in the way she just helps assemble what now seems to be 'their' tent, rather than his.
"If you want, I can have a look at your tent. See if I can patch that hole up."
He only asks because of the notion that maybe she is just as uncomfortable with the thought of sharing a tent as he is (or was) and it's only right to offer. Yes. The right thing to do. Good Kakashi.
There is the slightest pausing of her hands as she drives the front right stake into the ground with her palm, and Kakashi doesn't miss it; he just doesn't quite know what it means.
"No, that's fine. Thank you, though, Kakashi. I appreciate it."
The silver-haired ninja furrows his brow, unsure if he's reading too much into things.
"Are you sure?" He asks experimentally, keeping his tone light and jovial. "I can fix it, I'm sure. Won't take but a minute."
He swears her jaw clenches a bit as she reviews her handiwork, making sure the rope is pulled taut and that the mass of canvas won't come toppling down on top of them while they're trying to sleep (though would he really mind at this point?) and he can no longer accurately discern if he is seeing things or merely just seeing what he wants to see.
Sakura huffs and pulls her hair up above her neck, holding it there. Her other hand rests on her knee, an inaudible drumming of fingers on skin.
"Really, Kakashi, it's fine. The patch kit doesn't have enough fabric to cover the hole anyway. I already checked."
When? He wants to ask.
They had been traveling together for hours, side by side. Practically glued to each other's hips. Unless she decided to pull out her backpack during a potty break, he didn't see how or when she would have possibly had time to accurately inspect her tent.
When?
He wants so badly to say it. Wants to see her reaction, hear what her answer will be.
But he doesn't.
He drops it completely, moving on with a simple nod and a shrug of the shoulders.
