Catharsis in the Interlude

Moonlight Apprehension

Inspired by Mongrelssister's fanart.

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The first training session of the newly formed Team Kakashi had gone on way overtime, not one of the 3 members noticing until Naruto's stomach had growled rather loudly, giving away his position and allowing Kakashi to send a barrage of shuriken flying towards his direction. Too late though, Naruto had leapt up from where he previously lay crouched, and shouted to the other 2 members, "AH! I almost forgot! I'm meeting Hinata at Ichiraku's for ramen! Sorry Sakura-chan, Kakashi-sensei, I'll see you guys tomorrow!"

With that he disappeared, leaving in his wake the rustling of shrubbery where he previously stood. Sakura jumped down from the tree she was hiding in, and gave a soft sigh with her hands on her hips. "Geez, Naruto." But immediately, she smiled. At least that idiot would be spending some time with Hinata, she thought endearingly. Moments later, Kakashi appeared, having apparently teleported from his previous location. He looked at Sakura and shrugged, smiling with affection at her. "You've both grown, Sakura."

Her perspiration had long dried off, and now sitting on the thick branch of a tall tree, the cool night breeze raised goosebumps on Sakura's skin, causing her to shiver slightly. She loved the feeling though, and took a deep breath, inhaling the fresh, crisp smell of the Konoha forest during night time. This was her home. She smiled and turned her head slightly to gaze at the large, round moon that seemed to be just an arm's length away. The sight was breathtaking.

"I never knew you liked the moon," Kakashi's voice came from beside her. She turned and saw that Kakashi had his face buried in the new book: Icha, Icha Tactics that Naruto had given him just 2 days ago. Sakura's lips twitched at the sight of the Icha, Icha book, remembering their unexpected but celebrated victory over their lazy but powerful former sensei. "I don't," she replied, "Not particularly, anyway. It's just that it's really beautiful tonight. And the moonlight gives the forest an ethereal feeling."

"Hm," He said non-committally, face still turned towards the book.

Sakura huffed at his lackadaisical response and complained, "I've hardly seen you around in 3 years, and now that we're together again as Team Kakashi, you're ignoring me in favour of a book?"

Kakashi's half-smirk was concealed behind his mask as he pointed out, "I'm not ignoring you, Sakura."

Well, it was technically true that Kakashi wasn't ignoring her, Sakura thought, but what they had could hardly be considered a conversation. After all this time, Sakura thought that Kakashi would at least be a little more interested in her. It was the books' fault, she concluded. "What's so interesting about that book anyway? Naruto said it was boring." Sakura frowned and moved slightly closer to Kakashi, peering over his shoulder and trying to catch a glimpse of the contents of the book.

"Naruto wouldn't understand this book," Kakashi said as he moved said book away from Sakura's line of vision.

Unperturbed, Sakura leaned in even closer, shifting once again to try and peek into the book. "Let me have a look then, maybe I'll understand your obsession over the series. Come on, let me see!" She cried out, making an unsuccessful lunge for the small, green book.

Kakashi chuckled at his former student and purposely held the book up high, on the other side and away from Sakura. "There's a reason this book is rated 'R', Sakura. You can't read it." Sakura gave a small pout at this point of time, and something tugged at Kakashi's heart. "Okay tell you what. If you can grab it from me, I'll let you take a look. Hell, I'll even read it to you if you want," He teased.

Sakura's mouth opened in an 'O' of surprise, but she quickly recovered, smirking. "Deal, Kakashi-sensei." She ignored Kakashi's protests of her still calling him 'sensei', but focused instead on her thoughts. Now that she secured a chance at finding out what was inside those damned Icha, Icha books, she couldn't let Kakashi win. This time, she calculated her actions before making the lunge, surprising even Kakashi by her swiftness. Three years could do a lot of things to a person.