• "sakura-chaaan!!!" i sat up. did i just hear... no. it was just a dream. a year has gone by since that incident yet i still can't let the matter go. ino was made it a habit in coming to my house everyday to check on how i was doing. hinata stops by to accompany me to the memorial stone. i rub my eyes and check the alarm clock, it was still three in the morning. finding it impossible to go back to sleep i decided to go jogging. i went to the bathroom to wash up and put on my jogging pants, sweater and running shoes.

    the streets were still quiet during that time of the day. it was so peaceful that instead of jogging, i walked. coming upon the bridge where team seven used to meet up before missions, i couldn't help but smile. as i walked over it, a can't help but stop and lean onto the railing and watch as the river streamed by. the cherry blossoms were in bloom during that time which turned the river polka dotted pink because of all the sakura petals falling in.

    watching my reflection, i realized how grim my life must have been. no wonder ino and hinata were so worried about me. even the godaime herself saw to it that i see her twice a week to talk, not that she was 'fit' for it anyway. naruto would have threatened me or hauled my a** to the hot springs by now. i giggled at the mental image i drew up, but stopped abruptly due to the mention of him. his name was now considered taboo since that day. no one dared utter it in front of me, even hinata, knowing full well how miserable i would get if she did.

    i heaved a deep sigh and placed my chin above my folded arms. closing my eyes, i found myself dozing off. "hello, sakura-chan." i would have jumped right out of my skin if i hadn't recognized the owner of the voice.

    "kakashi-sensei?"

    "hello." he greeted with a wave. it was still dark, perhaps around four.

    "what are you doing up so early?"

    he tilted his head. "i was about to ask you the same thing."

    looking around i blushed as i finally discovered where i was. "oh... that."

    "are you sleepwalking, sakura-chan?"

    "don't... call me... sakura-chan!”

    "well you keep on calling me sensei."

    "i have been calling you that since i was twelve! habits die hard you know! besides, you haven't called me sakura-chan ever... in case to annoy me."

    "nope. i call you sakura-chan to remind you."

    i looked up at him. "remind me?"

    "hm?" he came up to me and leaned on the railing on my left side.

    "remind me of what sensei?"

    "to remind you to stop calling me sensei."

    "oh."

    "and..."

    "huh?"

    "to remind you that there's also someone here who cares for you." and on cue, he patted my head just how he used to.

    "hn." he continued patting my head.

    "hm... something's different about you."

    "enlighten me."

    "you didn't refuse my head pat." he continued patting my head.

    i peeked from beneath my eye lashes. he was gazing down at me, pitying the sight before him as he started to rub my head affectionately. "i guess i needed it this time."

    "oh? are my head pats that powerful?" he removed his hand to inspect it making me tremble in annoyance.

    "you're impossible sensei."

    "so i've heard." silence. he leaned onto the railing again. i can only hear the birds chirping in the background. it was already five in the morning, which means most of konoha's residents have stirred up for another day.

    "i have to go."

    "oh?" he raised his head. "can i come with you? i guess i'm going to where you're going." and with that he stood beside me giving me a happy eye crease in turn.

    "fine. just be quiet."