Ghosts

Shōshagan no Jutsu

"The worst day of loving someone is the day that you lose them."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

KONOHA::

True to his word, Ryuu sought Kaori out as soon as his session with Sakura was over. If he had any remaining doubts about taking the young redhead on as a student, they disappeared as soon as he saw the way her eyes lit up when he told her he had decided to train her. She was so excited, she probably would've started cartwheeling down the hall if they weren't still at the hospital. Instead, she settled for cheering enthusiastically and jumping in place, before blushing upon noticing that everyone in the corridor had begun staring at her with odd looks, Ryuu included.

Kaori's shift didn't end for another hour, so he figured he would return to Sakura's office and kill time there. He was comfortable enough with her at this point to know she wouldn't mind his company, but he supposed Sakura wouldn't be Sakura if she didn't at least pretend to give him a hard time about it.

"Ugh. You again?" She scrunched up her nose playfully when he entered her office for the second time that day, feigning displeasure. "I've got to start locking my door."

"What's the point?" he was quick to shoot back, settling into the chair in front of her desk and making himself comfortable. "No one else ever comes to visit you, anyway."

"You know, just because you're my favorite patient doesn't mean I won't still punch you in the throat for giving me lip," she said sweetly, despite the threat in her words.

"Sounds like malpractice to me," he countered, tilting his head in mock-surprise. "What would your impressionable students think?"

"That it serves you right for being a smart-mouthed bastard."

"Is that my new diagnosis? Could've sworn it was PTSD before."

"Your PTSD is treatable. You being a bastard isn't."

"Good. I'd hate to think all this therapy is turning me into a decent person or something."

"Alas, even I'm not that talented."

He rolled his eyes, she stuck her tongue out at him, and a moment later, they were both laughing. Or, well, as much as Ryuu would allow himself to laugh, anyway. He wasn't exactly the laughing type, but he was trying. Sakura couldn't have been prouder of him. It was rare he showed off his humor, and she was happy to know she was one of the few people privy to his more teasing side. Sometimes, it even reminded her a little bit of Minxie, and that warmed her heart in the best way.

He spent the next hour hanging out in her office, absentmindedly flipping through chapters of one of her medical books while she caught up on some leftover paperwork from the day before.

A knock on the door that they knew had to be Kaori signaled the end of the casual conversation they had begun a few minutes prior.

"You're going to be great, Ryuu," Sakura said, after he slid the book he was reading back onto one of the available shelves. She took a pause from her paperwork to meet his eyes, sending an encouraging smile his way. "Believe me, you've got this. And I can't wait for you to tell me all about it tomorrow."

He hadn't even realized he was still a bit apprehensive about the whole sensei thing until she said it, but he knew he shouldn't be surprised. It wasn't the first time she had figured out what he was feeling before he even understood it himself, and he knew it wouldn't be the last.

A year ago, he would've dreaded the idea of someone else being able to read him that well. Today, he was grateful for it, and for her added reassurance.