Fourteen Dates- fanfic

Chapter 13–Miso Soup and Company

a/n Absolutely no perverted fantasies in this chapter, but plenty of Kakashi nonetheless. Thanks to everyone who has been reviewing. I hope to reply to each of you after the holidays, when things settle down. Hopefully, I’ll be able to write and post a couple more chapters in the next week.

Vacation. A forced vacation, courtesy of Tsunade. Sakura had been informed of this upon delivering the report on Kakashi’s condition to her sensei, and every excuse she could think of to avoid the next three weeks off had been shot down summarily. True, the hospital was short handed, but they’d made do without her for the past two weeks as she focused her energies on Kakashi, so they’d have no problem continuing without her for the next few weeks. Tsunade had been adamant, and Sakura knew better than to continue arguing her case.

She would make the best of the situation, she’d decided. Sakura had arisen early, intent on focusing her energies on her training, and had completed a 10 km run by 8 a.m, despite the fact that the weather was miserable again. This was to be expected in April, but it was getting a little old. Hopefully May would be much more springlike.

Sakura had returned to her apartment muddy and sodden, begun running a bath, and had decided that a bit of cooking would improve her spirits. She couldn’t help but think of her mother as she washed the rice and placed it in the cooker. During Sakura’s Sasuke-crazy phase, cooking was something she and her mother had done together. Sakura agreed that there was nothing like a home-cooked meal, not only because it tasted better than take-out or convenience food, but also because of the feeling of accomplishment it produced. Her mother had been an fine cook and had presented Sakura with a binder full of recipes on Sakura’s sixteenth birthday, shortly before the fire that had taken her life. Sakura paged through this cookbook now, and located the recipe for miso soup. She’d stopped by the market to get the three ingredients she was missing: winter squash (there was little else to choose from at this time of year), a pork filet and of course, red miso paste. Everything else she needed was in dried form, and already in her pantry.

She assembled the ingredients now, placing several pieces of konbu into a pan and adding water. Before it came to a boil, she fished around in the liquid to remove the kelp, as her mother had always said that boiling it would make the resulting stock bitter. She then measured and added the smoked fish flakes that would lend their distinctive flavor to the ichiban dashi she was making. As soon as the bonito flakes settled into the near-boiling broth, she removed the pan from the heat and strained it. She set the broth aside to cool. She’d use this delicate stock for the dinner she’d planned for tonight, shabu-shabu. Miso soup required stronger stuff. She took the strained flakes and kelp and placed them in a second pan, added water and turned up the heat. She allowed it to simmer while she checked her bath, then removed it from the stove to allow the niban dashi to steep.

Sakura returned to the bathroom and took a quick shower before entering the bathtub. Maybe she’d spend each morning of this vacation in the tub. At the moment it felt like a very good idea. She’d overdone it a bit this morning. Ten kilometers was a bit much for someone who had been lax about training lately. The heat of the water felt quite soothing against her muscles and Sakura sighed gratefully as the water warmed her, replacing the chill that had crept into her during the run. Sakura had bought a few essential oils for herself when she’d gone shopping for fragrances that might stimulate Kakashi. She’d poured rose and lavender oils into the bath before entering the water. The combination was both relaxing and almost intoxicating, she found. Both fragrances were strong and complex alone. Together they were a delightful, heady combination.

Sakura was just falling asleep when she heard a knock at her door. After a moment’s hesitation, she decided to ignore it. It was only about 8:30 and she was on vacation, after all. Whomever it was would certainly return if it was important. Five minutes passed and the person returned, knocking more forcefully now. Sakura sunk lower into her bath, determined not to allow the small intrusion to ruin her relaxation. She closed her eyes again, and smiled, stretching out to more fully enjoy the pleasure the bath afforded. Ten minutes later, things were still quiet. Whoever it was had gone away.

Suddenly, Sakura realized that she had been mistaken. She felt a slight, cool breeze on her face and opened her eyes to see that the bathroom door was opening. She immediately panicked and froze. There was nothing she could use as a weapon here in the bathroom. A moment later she saw Kakashi staring at her, a look of shock on his face.

“I didn’t realize you were home.” He turned away as Sakura quickly sat up, pulling her knees to her chest. She fleetingly wished she’d been taking a bubble bath.

“Where do you keep your towels? Ah.” He grabbed the one she’d set next to the bath and ran it through his hair.

“That’s mine! Get out of here!” Sakura was flushed from head to toe, helpless to move as she now had nothing to cover herself with. She hadn’t thought to bring her robe with her. After all, she’d been alone. “There are more towels in the hall closet. The least you could do is get me one. Then leave.”

She heard the sounds of doors opening and closing, then rummaging. The bathroom door opened slightly as Kakashi tossed in two towels. Sakura drained the tub, quickly dried herself, wrapping one towel around her torso and the other around her head. She cautiously opened the door and looked into the hall. Mercifully, he wasn’t there. Hopefully, he’d left. She hurried down the hall to her bedroom, dressed and combed out her hair.

What the hell had he been doing in her house? She was still livid, she found, as she stomped down the hall and passed through the living room to the kitchen.

“Nice place.” She almost hadn’t noticed him. He was sitting at the far end of the spacious living room’s cranberry-colored sectional couch, partly in shadow.

“I told you to leave.”

“Oh. I thought you meant the bathroom.” He made no move to exit.

“Why are you here? Why in hell did you break into my house?”

Kakashi shrugged. “You promised me you’d stop by for a quick check up. I got tired of waiting.”

“Kakashi, its only–“ she checked a clock, “eight fifty! Most people consider that pretty early. I wasn’t planning on stopping by until ten at the earliest. And I was even going to bring you breakfast.” After stopping by his place and realizing how long he’d been away, Sakura had thought it unlikely that he would have anything to eat, and even more unlikely, given his laziness, that he’d stop by a store on his way home from the hospital. He could forget breakfast, now, however. How dare he come into her place without asking? “So, answer me! Why did you break into my house? How do you even know where I live?”

“Shinobi.” He pointed to his covered nose. But was that an answer to the first or second question?

“You’re irritating.”

“It was pouring outside.”

“The walkway outside is covered, baka.”

“I got tired of waiting there, so I went around back. Nice roof garden.”

Sakura shared the top floor of the building with one other apartment dweller, a wealthy old man whose hobby was container gardening. The flat roof their apartments looked out on had been converted over time into a lush hidden garden. Mr. Takabishi was kind enough to let Sakura use the space, too, but not overly intrusive. He left her alone when she spent time out there, allowing it to serve as a sanctuary.

“It’s not my garden. It’s my neighbor’s. You might know him. He used to own the bookstore.”

“Mr. Takabishi?” Sakura guessed that Kakashi was smiling. “He shares my interest in literature, you know.”

“Well he should be interested in literature, considering his occupation. Oh.” She belatedly grasped his meaning, and colored. She crossed her arms across her chest and frowned at him.

“Well, let me check you over.” The sooner she was finished, the sooner he’d be gone.

She moved closer to him, and switched on the lamp next to him. “Have you felt anything unusual since you’ve been home? Dizziness, vertigo, nausea?”

Kakashi shook his head. “The door was open, you know. The door to the garden.”

“It was?”

“Anyone could have come in, Sakura. You need to be a little more prudent.”

Sakura chose to ignore him. “Could you remove your hitae-ate?”

Kakashi complied. “I really didn’t know you were home.”

“How did you even know this is my home? You’ve never been here.”

“That’s a stupid question, Sakura. How do you think I found out?”

“Shinobi. Ha, ha.”

“You smell nice.”

Sakura looked at him strangely. She hadn’t been expecting that particular comment. She decided to ignore it, and placed her hand over his Sharingan. She felt Obito’s chakra, stronger than it had been before.

“Have you seen Tsunade yet?”

“Ee. At seven. She rises with the birds apparently.” Kakashi winked at her.

Sakura smirked. “She probably never made it to bed, more like it. So what did she decide? Are you back on active duty?” She moved her hand to his chest and allowed a small amount of chakra to enter his body. His chakra was at normal, baseline levels. Apparently he was fine.

“No. Not even C- or D-class missions. She wants me available so that you can monitor my progress.” Kakashi sighed.

“How long?”

“Three weeks.”

“Me, too.” She hadn’t meant to say that. It was really none of his business.

“Really? You’re on vacation? I didn’t think you ever left that place.” He stood by the front door, his hand on the knob.

“It was an order. I have no choice.” She turned and walked toward the kitchen. “You’re fine. I’ll check in on you in two or three days. Don’t do anything stupid between now and then.”

“Don’t worry about that. Everyone else is away on missions. It’s going to be a long, boring three weeks.”

Sakura grabbed the pan of niban-dashi and after straining it to remove the solids, replaced the liquid in the pan, and brought it back up to a simmer. She quickly chopped the squash, then sliced the pork filet into thin pieces and added them to the dashi. While they cooked, she grated ginger, then squeezed out its juices into a small bowl and added the liquid to the pan.

She heard Kakashi’s voice behind her. “So, what’s for breakfast?” Apparently, she should have made sure he’d left.

“Miso soup.”

“My favorite.” Kakashi pulled out a chair from the kitchen table, and sat facing Sakura.

She turned her back to him and continued preparing her breakfast, ladling a small amount of liquid into a bowl, and stirring in miso paste. “You and about 3/4 of Konoha, Kakashi. But, interestingly, they’re all eating at their own houses.”

“Technically, I’m still an invalid, Sakura.”

Sakura looked at him and sighed. The man was so stubborn. “Fine. Stay. Are you feeling well enough to help me set the table?”

Kakashi laughed, and opened cabinets until he found the one containing donburi and more shallow soup bowls. “I take it there’s rice?”

Sakura laughed. “There’s umeboshi in the refrigerator, too. Could you set that out, as well?

“No saury?”

“Not today. Sorry!” She smiled a fake, bright smile at him as she placed soup and a bowl of rice before him, then poured tea. She then turned away from him, to eat her meal at the counter.

“Sakura. Join me.”

She turned around and saw that Kakashi had removed his mask. A look of confusion passed across her face.

“If you’re going to cook me breakfast, the least I can do is eat it with you.”

He was the image of his father, handsome, beautiful actually, although in an angular, masculine way. He had a strong jaw, and straight thin nose that ended in a bit of a point. He had pronounced cheekbones and a gorgeous smile, accentuated by dimples when he smiled.

“Tanaka and the other nurses don’t know what they’re missing.”

Kakashi quirked the eyebrow that was visible. “Oh?” Interestingly, she wasn’t blushing, he noticed. And she found him attractive. This was a good sign.

“So is that why you wear the mask?”

Kakashi snorted as he tried not to laugh. “No. It’s just an added benefit.”

Sakura’s eyes narrowed as she remembered a pertinent piece of information. “You know, I cooked dinner for you almost eleven years ago. Remember? When you invited Team Seven over for a home-cooked meal, and then had us cook it? And by “us,” I mean “me.” Why didn’t you show us your face then?”

“Because it would have ruined the game the three of you had been playing.”

Kakashi lifted the bowl of rice to his chin and tucked into his breakfast. They sat in comfortable silence for a while.

“Would you like seconds?” Kakashi had lifted his soup bowl to his mouth and had quickly drained it. He nodded in response to her question, and she rose to refill his bowl.

“This is a beautiful place. Not at all what I expected.”

Sakura turned to him, ladle in hand. “You didn’t expect my place would be beautiful. Anything else you’d like to add?”

“No, that’s not what I meant. I didn’t expect it would be so...” Kakashi frowned. “It looks like it’s out of a magazine. I was expecting something frilly and ... pink.”

It was Sakura’s turn to snort. “I didn’t know you read that type of magazine. You know, it’s funny how much first impressions matter. I’m not that twelve-year old you’re thinking of. That was half my life ago.” She paused to pick up the last piece of pork remaining in her bowl. “If you’d met me a year earlier, you would have had a totally different impression of me.”

“And what would that have been?”

“Well, I was a tomboy until just before I turned twelve. Always dirty, always trying to keep up with the boys, always into something. It drove my mother crazy. She had wanted a frilly little girl to dress up and have tea parties with. Then, just before I turned twelve I discovered Sasuke.” She rolled her eyes. “Actually Ino and I both did, and we tried to outdo each other. I tried whatever I could to get him to notice me. But you remember all that. It probably drove you crazy. I’m sure I didn’t seem like a serious student.”

Kakashi chuckled.

“My mother was beside herself with joy to see me acting like a boy-crazy preteen, and we redecorated my room– in pink– and did all sorts of mother-daughter stuff. She even bought us a few matching outfits. I refused to wear those. When I got my own apartment, I took those pink bedspread, curtains-- everything with me, even though by that time I was pretty much through with the boy-crazy, frilly pink phase.”

She was right, Kakashi thought. By the time she was sixteen, Sakura was no longer the boy-crazy student she had once been. The girl he’d comforted had been much more mature, much more subdued than the twelve-year old he’d first met. Kakashi looked around the kitchen and into what was visible of the living room. Not a single pink item was visible. The apartment was decorated in shades of pewter and charcoal, with bold touches of cranberry red, and dark, wenge-stained furniture. The space was crisply tailored, elegant and sleek. It suited the person she’d become, he realized.

“So how did you end up here?”

“Well, after my parents died and their estate was settled, I thought about moving back home. But it was... The house was full of memories, and it was difficult to spend time there. As soon as I came of age I sold it. This place was a good investment, even though it’s obviously too big for me.”

“I like your taste.”

Sakura rose from the table and carried her bowls to the sink. “I’m not used to you complimenting me, Kakashi. I can count on one hand the number of times you complimented me as a student.”

“Didn’t want to play favorites.” He stood and helped bus the table. “I’ll take care of these.” He turned on the tap and filled the basin.

“I’ll dry.”

“Suit yourself. “ They stood side by side, washing and drying the breakfast dishes, until Kakashi broke the silence. “You’re a very good cook, you know.”

“Not as good as my mom. That was her recipe. I’m glad she had a chance to teach me before she died.”

“You miss her.”

“Yes. And I’m sorry I wasn’t able to be the daughter she wanted.”

“You are who you are, Sakura. There’s no need to apologize.”

“Hmm.” There wasn’t much to wash up or dry, and as Sakura put away the last plate she turned to the copy-ninja. “Kakashi. Why did you show me your face? Why are you still showing me it?”

Kakashi turned to her, and looked at her for a moment. Then he said quietly, “Because I trust you.”

Sakura was puzzled. “You trust Naruto and Sasuke, don’t you?”

“With my life, yes. Absolutely. That’s not what I mean, Sakura. You had the opportunity to take advantage of the situation I was in, and you didn’t. You even kept others from doing so.” Sakura looked at him curiously. “By the way, those nurses are definitely afraid of you.” Kakashi paused for a moment, collecting his thoughts, wondering if he should continue. He decided to take the plunge. “Sakura, at this point, after what happened in the hospital, you know me better than anyone. And I’m okay with that.”

“Oh.” Sakura did not know what to say. Kakashi normally did not have much to say, but today he was positively loquacious. She’d barely begun to digest what he’d said. He trusted her? She knew him better than anyone?

Kakashi pulled the plug from the basin, and wiped his hands on the dishcloth Sakura handed him. “Thanks for breakfast. Sorry for scaring you, earlier.” He turned and headed for the front door.

“Kakashi–“

He turned to look at her.

“Since no one else is around– I mean I know I’m not at your level, but if you need someone to train with...”

Kakashi grinned at her before replacing his mask and opening the door. “It’s a date then. Tomorrow, 7 a.m. Don’t be late.”

Chapter 15– First Date (part one)

It was 5:15 and the sun was about to rise as Kakashi left his apartment, stomach growling. He should have thought to stop by the grocery store the morning before, but due to the forgetfulness induced by a full stomach, it just hadn’t happened. He’d gotten take-out that evening, and hadn’t opened the refrigerator since he’d been home, which might have reminded him that there was almost nothing still edible remaining in his house. Kakashi sighed. Even convenience stores were closed at this time of day, and most restaurants didn’t open until six at the earliest. One of his personal favorites for sustenance, the rice ball stand, didn’t open until even later. A couple of onigiri would be welcome right now, perhaps a tori-gomuku or negimiso. He’d even settle for plain old kombu, though it wouldn’t provide much protein.

Kakashi walked on, toward the training grounds just outside the village, past the heavy wooden gates emblazoned with the word ‘retreat’. He loved the early morning. There was something very peaceful about waking up in time to hear the birds perform their morning overture, and at this time of year the birds were extremely vocal. Kakashi walked down still-shadowed streets to the outskirts of town, across the arched red bridge that spanned a small tributary of the Hi river, and into the training fields adjacent. His destination was his usual one at this time of day– the pale granite memorial stone that held the names of his comrades.

He knelt before the stone and bowed deeply, then rose to trace the names of his fallen friends. Seventh row down, fifth name over. Obito. Eighth row, first name. Rin. There were others as well, people he’d had the honor of working with over a career spanning four decades. Asuma’s was the newest name on the memorial, the deep engraving of the kanji still a fresh wound in the stone.

Kakashi was lucky to have lived so long. This near-daily ritual was an acknowledgment of that. But luck was either blind or spiteful. There was no reason he was the one who’d been singled out for longevity. He considered the fact that he was no more talented than either of the two teammates who’d been taken so young. Obito had been only thirteen when he’d died, and as an Uchiha, he’d had a bright future ahead of him, aided by the tremendous powers of the Sharingan. His talent had still been raw at the time of his death. He’d cried a lot, early on in their acquaintance, and had seemed to Kakashi to be weak and soft, his traits a polar opposite to all that defined their profession. But Obito had shown otherwise before his death, demonstrating to Kakashi the true value of teamwork, and its priority over following protocol. Obito had not hesitated to sacrifice his own life to save his teammate, even though that teammate had constantly criticized and rebuked him. He’d then passed along his body’s rare gift, without hesitation. Obito had shown by his actions that teamwork was the ultimate reason for being a shinobi, and Kakashi had learned this lesson with a concomitant increase in humility. The reason to be a shinobi was to protect the larger team– the Konohagure community. It was simple, but the prodigy Kakashi had completely missed this lesson until it was acted out for him in blood. By protecting the team, and acting without ego, it was more likely that the mission would succeed. Following the many rules of shinobi conduct while losing sight of what was underneath these rules was pointless. Doing so made a mockery of their only reason for existence.

Rin had been only slightly older when she’d died. She, too, had prodigious talent, as a healer. Her talent was far less raw than Obito’s: she had demonstrated aptitude in this area at a very young age, and surely would have rose to prominence in the medical community. Another life wasted, and further occasion for guilt. After the epiphany prompted by Obito’s final actions, Kakashi had done his best to ignore the very obvious fact that Rin was interested in him. He was well aware of the fact that Obito had been in love with her, and Kakashi didn’t even allow himself to consider whether he might be able to return Rin’s feelings. Then she died, and Kakashi found that he was filled with the regret at the fact that he’d foregone the opportunity he’d had to bring her some joy, and that in doing so, he’d ended their comfortable, real friendship.

Yes, Kakashi thought, he’d shown talent, too, but no more than that shown by his friends. He’d been labeled a prodigy, but much of his early success had been due to prodigious drive, strenuous discipline and absolute determination. He was not unlike Naruto in that regard. And like both Naruto and Sasuke, he’d been alone for much of his childhood. Few shinobi had the distinction of two parent suicides. After his father had committed seppuku, Kakashi’s mother had begged her son to leave the path he’d chosen. He was still young– there were many things he could do with his life. Being a shinobi would only lead to death, sooner, rather than later. She couldn’t take losing her only son in addition to her husband. Kakashi had refused to even consider his mother’s plea. His ambition, at the tender age of 7, was to become jounin as quickly as possible. He was already one of the youngest chunin Konoha had ever created.

His mother couldn’t understand this choice. She was a civilian. She hadn’t been raised among ninja, and her only link to the culture had been her husband. She was an outsider two-fold, shunned by the family and friends she’d given up to marry Sakumo, and shunned by the shinobi community due to her husband’s disgrace, which had not been fully mitigated by his final act of honor. She couldn’t understand how important it was for Kakashi to be a ninja. She couldn’t understand how important it was for him to live with honor as a servant to Konoha. And to die with honor. But once she realized that she could not change his mind, Kakashi’s mother promised she would support him, and that she would try her hardest to understand.

Still, he heard her crying at night. Perhaps it was for his father, perhaps it was for Kakashi, or even for both of them. But there was nothing he could do. At the age of seven years, when many children still played with stuffed animals and had make-believe friends, Kakashi had become too old to go into his mother’s room and curl up at her side. Even if he’d done so, Kakashi had no idea of anything he could say that would comfort her. Her husband was gone. Her son was risking his life daily. There was no comfort in the truth. He doubted there was any comfort in his presence.

At age eight, Kakashi had come home from a month-long mission to find his home empty. It had the unmistakable feel of a residence that had not been lived in for a week or two– stale air, bone-dry sinks, the thinnest veneer of dust. He’d stepped outside to feel the eyes of neighbors peering at him from behind half-shuttered windows and bamboo blinds. They’d been waiting for him to come home, waiting with the conflicted feelings of people who know they are about to witness a very unpleasant and personal scene– a scene that will be spoken of for weeks to come, in hushed yet eager tones, a scene that will bring with it a guilty thrill in its recounting.

Kakashi denied the villagers the opportunity to bear witness to such a display, instead walking straight up to the closest neighbor’s house and asking in a steady, passionless voice where his mother might be found. This wasn’t the first time he’d worn a mask. He’d learned to school his expressions in the difficult year since his father’s death. He’d seen how easily the villagers’ comments had gotten to his mother. Her demeanor was completely open– she had always worn her happiness or hurt for all to see, and did not know how to do otherwise. Somehow, the openness of her responses to others’ queries only increased the quantity directed at her, and worsened their quality. Her pain on display was like a small amount of blood to a shiver of sharks– one taste and they wanted more, lost all sense of decorum.

A mask, Kakashi realized, was the best way to avoid their stares. Plenty of ninjas wore masks on assignment– they were readily available from the quartermaster. He obtained his first on his way back from making the arrangements for his mother’s funeral, and donned it immediately. Thirty-one years later, he felt naked without it.

Kakashi stood and inspected the area around the memorial stone. Pale granite rocks were embedded around it in a semi-regular pattern, and four lamps, one at each corner of its base, burned day and night. It was long past prime for the daffodils he had planted years before in honor of Rin, but he saw the tips of leaves, and green-yellow buds of the May-blooming tulips just now pushing themselves into the loamy soil at the perimeter of the memorial area. It was her favorite color, if not her favorite flowers– he’d never taken the time to learn what they were. Obito probably would have appreciated the flowers, too, he thought with a smile. He was so soft-hearted.

The call of a blue-and-white flycatcher roused Kakashi from his reverie. What time was it? He checked the watch he’d made a point of wearing today. He had amassed quite a collection over time, as gift-givers seemed to think a chronograph of some type was an amusing, original birthday gift. The watch he wore today had come from the Snow Country, which was known for its superior technology. This watch, he had read, was guaranteed against breakage. He was willing to bet they hadn’t used ninja in their testing.

What? Was it five past seven already?

Sakura stood on the arched, red bridge, fuming. Kakashi had acted so strangely the day before. She should have known he would stand her up. She idly wondered if his behavior had been due to lingering effects of his coma, but quickly dispelled the thought. He had been perfectly fine when she examined him. His behavior had been nothing more than that of the lazy sensei she’d known for so long, hungry for a decent meal, and willing to throw her a bone (his unmasked face, that is) in return for the time she’d spent bringing him back to health. So why was she so angry?

It made sense, really, that he hadn’t shown up today. Even though he’d indicated it was okay that she’d seen some of his deepest memories, it couldn’t be okay. Not for someone as private as he. Kakashi had been polite, nothing more. Polite in his admonition to her not to apologize, polite in his acceptance of her invitation. And cowardly, in his refusal to show up today, as cowardly as he’d been years before.

Sakura shrugged and walked off the bridge, feeling strangely let down. She shouldn’t be feeling this way– not for something that really hadn’t been anything. Their friendship had ended years ago. Or more precisely, it had atrophied until nothing was left. Sakura moved slowly, eyes downcast, contemplating how she’d spend her now unscheduled day, not paying attention to the road in front of her, or noticing the figure who suddenly appeared in her path.

“Don’t leave.” She plowed right into him, and was assaulted by the warmth emanating from him, and the arresting smell of vetiver.

“You’re late.”

“Only six minutes. I even wore a watch– see?” he said, half laughing, as he pulled back his glove to show her. .

“You’re insulting.” She took a step backwards and attempted to walk past him, and was surprised to feel a strong hand pull her back.

“Is this some power thing for you, Kakashi– always being late? Does it make you feel more important to keep others waiting for you? Are you so much of an egomaniac that you have to make a dramatic entrance everywhere you go, without so much as an apology?”

“I’m sorry.”

Sakura blinked. “I don’t think I’ve ever heard you say those words before.”

“Come with me. Please.” She followed, wordlessly, as he made his way back to the training field, past the three tree stumps she remembered from years ago, and to the memorial stone.

“This is why I was late, Sakura. I didn’t mean to be disrespectful– not to you. I’ll admit, in the past, being late has been rather amusing– although the reason for it has always been the same. But I was actually planning on being on time today. Early, even.”

“Old habits die hard, I guess.” Her voice softened. “Do you come here every day?”

“Every day that I’m in Konoha. I meditate otherwise.”

“I guess that explains why you’d disappear every morning when we were on missions. Hmm.” Her anger had dissipated. “Well, are you ready to train?” Sakura began to walk toward the training field.

“Err.” Kakashi scratched the very base of his head, where the knot of his hitae-ate touched his scalp.

Was he cringing? Sakura wondered.

“The thing is, I didn’t go shopping yesterday, and no place was open when I left this morning. Would you mind getting a bite to eat with me, first?”

Sakura shoved her pack at him. “Here. I packed lunch. Go nuts.”

She sat down under the dappled shade of a sycamore and Kakashi followed suit, quickly pulling out two multilayered bento boxes. He untied the furoshiki covering the first box, slipping chopsticks from under the knot as he did so, lay the sashiko-quilted cloth flat on the ground, then set the opened box upon it. “Onigiri? You must be a mind reader. I had a terrible craving for them earlier this morning.” He opened the second portion of the bento container and smiled. “And tamagoyaki and asparagus? Wonderful.” He picked up an onigiri that had been rolled in furokake and ate it greedily. “Did you fix these?”

Sakura nodded. “My mother always said there was nothing more important a woman could do than make a proper bento.” She smiled at Kakashi, who was now devouring the third onigiri, then rolled her eyes. “I take it you agree. Maybe I missed my true calling.”

Kakashi started on the rolled omelet, focused on his work. “You really are a good cook, Sakura,” he mumbled through a food-filled mouth.

“You know, I’d almost rather you were wearing your mask.” That wasn’t true, though. His face was still so new to her, and it was amusing to see how animated it could be, despite the view of partially chewed food. From the look of absolute pleasure on his face, it was certain that Kakashi had a definite appreciation for a well-prepared meal. “I hadn’t realized you were an epicure, Kakashi.”

Now finished with the tamagoyaki, Kakashi took a long swig of green tea from the vacuum flask Sakura had set nest to him. He then picked up a spear of asparagus, and paused to dip it into the small container of shoyu that he’d opened. “Considering that our typical mission meal is cup ramen, there’s really no way you could have known that, Sakura. I’m not Naruto, after all.” He broke off the tip of the spear, and slowed down his chewing a bit, to better savor the flavor of the late spring vegetable. “But you know, I did once tell you that I had plenty of hobbies.” He grinned at he remembered his first day with team seven.

“You also had us train on empty stomachs. I probably should have done the same for you, today.” Sakura smiled at him dangerously.

Kakashi pulled the box a little closer as he continued eating, and didn’t look up until the last of the asparagus had found its way into his mouth.

“Go ahead. Eat the rest,” said Sakura pushing the second laquered box toward him. Kakashi had been eyeing it, and Sakura was too amused to refuse. “You have quite an appetite.”

“Consider what I’ve been eating– or more precisely, not eating, for the past two weeks.”

“Lunch is on you, by the way.” Sakura said, standing. She walked off into the woods surrounding the training field, eager to stretch her legs. She was joined by her sensei in a shorter time than she’d predicted.

“Mmm,” he said, stretching his arms over his head. “I think I need a nap.”

“You’re kidding, right?”

“Yes, I’m kidding. That was actually a compliment, Sakura.” He had replaced on his face. “Ready when you are.”

“I thought we’d run– maybe five kilometers or so, then spar– no Sharingan, though.”

“Fair enough. But no use of freakish, insane strength either.”

Sakura ignored him as she stretched one leg, then the other against the nearest tree, moving her head to her knee as she did so.

Stop it. She was in no mood, he knew, to catch him leering at her. He dropped to the ground to stretch out his own legs. His calves were somewhat tight, despite the physical therapy he’d received while unconscious. For good measure, he threw in fifty push ups. They really wouldn’t do anything to prevent injury while running, but it was the first thing he could think of to keep from looking at her.

“Let’s go, Kakashi.” Sakura was off like a shot, and he scrambled to pursue her.

This is nice, Kakashi thought. He’d never run with Sakura before. As the sensei to team seven, his interpretation of the job had been that he would give the orders, and participate in as little strenuous work as possible, apart from one-on-one sparring. It drove them crazy, true, but that was a perk of the job, one of many that made it so rewarding.

Today though, he was glad to be by Sakura’s side. It felt right. Her company, her friendship, her temper– everything felt comfortable. And the day was only just starting.

Chapter 16– First Date (part two)

“Hold still!” Sakura scolded Kakashi as she tried to clean out the rather large gash he’d sustained during their sparring. It hadn’t been caused by a kunai or shuriken. Rather, as Kakashi had fallen against a damaged tree limb, the splintered wood had ripped through his pants and into the flesh of his calf.

“The water’s freezing cold, Sakura. Can’t you just heal it as is?” He squirmed as she picked fragments out of the wound with the tweezer she kept in her first aid kit.

“Are you five, Kakashi?” Sakura folded another piece of gauze and knelt to dip it into the fast-moving stream that ran along the training grounds, and used it to gently remove the fragments of wood and dirt that had lodged in the cut. The water was clean, as it flowed from an unpolluted mountain source, and was upstream of Konoha. “How many wounds have you gotten in the line of duty, Kakashi? A couple hundred? Did you fidget for each and every one of them?”

Kakashi gave Sakura a dirty look, not unlike that a five-year old might give his bossy, overbearing older sister. Of course, all that was visible to Sakura were his eye and brow, but, knowing this, Kakashi managed to pack a lot of meaning into his glare. Her characterization had been dead-on, of course, but why was she acting so irritable? It was in his nature to complain about medical treatment– she was well aware of this.

Kakashi tried to think of what he might have done to set her off. They’d had a really nice run, he thought, though he had found it necessary to run at her side, not in her wake. On the occasions that he had lagged behind, the view had been rather distracting, causing him to trip more than once. Plus, at her side, they could talk, which was quite pleasurable. Sakura had claimed more than once to be out of shape, but the pace they ran at didn’t wind her, and she could speak quite easily. She had a lot to say, and Kakashi was happy to listen. She wasn’t full of idle chatter as she had been years ago. She had well-informed views on a variety of subjects, and her analytical mind made the questions she asked insightful and to the point. Again Kakashi found himself regretting staying away from her for so long.

The sparring had been worthwhile, as well. Sakura had learned a great deal since the days of Team Seven and Team Kakashi. Tsunade had taught her well, and far more than medical techniques. Sakura had become a confident shinobi under Tsunade’s tutelage. She definitely had earned her jounin status– there weren’t too many tactics he’d tried today that she hadn’t anticipated. Kakashi did out-maneuver her, though, surprising her as she held a kunai to the throat of a shadow clone, which, because it was bleeding, held her attention for a bit too long. That he’d overcome her couldn’t be the reason for her mood, however. It was only natural that Kakashi win their mock battle. He had many more years of experience to draw on, after all. Sakura had never been a sore loser, either. It had to be something else.

Sakura laid her right hand against the leg she’d pulled into her lap as she turned again to the now cleaned-out cut, and began to apply healing chakra to knit the tissue of the muscle and skin back together. It was a slow process, as the wound was not a clean cut, but quite ragged. Kakashi enjoyed the warmth of Sakura’s chakra as it entered his body and mingled with his own. Healing in this manner was such an intimate experience– and therefore one of the many things he disliked about medical treatment. But with Sakura it was a bit different. This intimacy was soothing. Kakashi noticed Sakura was frowning as she worked, eyes closed, intent on mending his wound seamlessly. She had not lost her perfectionism, it seemed. But given her tendency to do things textbook-perfect, the method of delivery she was using at the moment seemed a bit strange. She was using her right hand to deliver chakra to a rather inaccessible part of his left leg. As Sakura was sitting facing him, her left hand would have the better access and allow her more control, something that was important any time chakra was used, but even more so when using chakra to heal. Come to think of it, she really wasn’t moving her left arm much at all. Had she dislocated it during their sparring?

“All done.” Sakura removed his leg from her lap and stood, still keeping her arm to the side, but gesturing with its lower portion and hand. Not dislocated, then. She smiled brightly at her former sensei, with the too cheery, unmistakably artificial smile he’d noticed before. “I believe you owe me lunch, Kakashi. I’m starving. Could you pick something up and bring it back here?”

“Ramen?”

Sakura nodded in agreement. “Shoyu, please. Now get going, I’m dying of hunger!”

“If you’re that hungry, why don’t you come with me?”

“I want to do some stretches.”

“Suit yourself. I won’t be long, though. Ayame always lets me jump to the head of the line.” He winked. “See what happens when I let a girl see my face?”

Sakura snorted. “Do you want to make a bet?” she asked.

He looked at her blankly.

“I know something you don’t. You’ll be at least an hour. Gee, I wish I’d brought something to read.” Her smile was teasing, but Kakashi could see the stress in her eyes.

Kakashi withdrew his copy of Icha, Icha Takutikusu from his pouch and handed it to her. “I’ll be back before you finish the next chapter,” he said before walking off.

Kakashi stopped at the edge of the training field, and quietly retraced his steps through the wooded area that bordered the stream. She must be injured. But why was she hiding it?

Because she’s like me. Stoic to a flaw, completely unwilling to let others see her weaknesses.

Sakura came into view, her back facing him, and Kakashi saw the tension ripple through her as she gingerly lifted her arms to remove her black knit shirt. It was clearly very difficult for her to move her left arm. Next, she slowly began to unwrap the bindings that covered her chest. They’d been cut through, and peeled off in short, blood-soaked strips. Apparently, she’d been slashed pretty deeply. Sakura leaned over the stream to wet her shirt, then gently wiped the wound, shivering involuntarily as she did so, and swearing under her breath. As Kakashi approached, he saw sinuous ribbons of blood diffusing from her shirt into the swirling waters of the stream. Sakura continued wiping the blood from the wound with her makeshift towel. The blood on her side had begun to congeal in places, but pulling off her bindings had caused some areas to bleed anew. She didn’t hear Kakashi approach, and jumped when he spoke.

“Why don’t you let me help you with that?”

“Kakashi! Why are you here? Go away!” She hastily pulled the ice-cold, sodden shirt against her front as she turned to face him, eyes wide. “Why do you keep popping up when I’m undressed?”

“You know, Sakura, I’ve seen breasts before.”

“You haven’t seen these, Kakashi. Now, go.”

Actually, I have. Twice, in fact. And they were magnificent.

“Sakura, who’s being childish now?” Kakashi’s voice was gentle. The wound, he saw, was about 15 centimeters long, starting at her side, and curving around to her back. “I really don’t see how you’re going to tend to that yourself. You’d need three hands, and you won’t even be able to see most of it.”

Sakura glowered at him. “I can manage. This is my job, you know.”

“If you were in the field and needed help with a female patient, would you hesitate to ask me for help?” She ignored him. “How is this any different? You were the one who said that there’s no privacy in medical situations. Remember?” She nodded, and looked away.

“Sakura, it’s obvious you need help. If not me, then we’ll need to take you to the hospital.”

“Fine. Help me.” It had dawned on her that she’d much rather have a friend helping to mend her than one of the medics who were so intimidated by her. Kakashi smiled as she relented. He reached for her arm, and gently lifted it up, to reveal the deep, gaping wound underneath. It was deep, and serious. He couldn’t see her ribs, but if the blade had penetrated mere millimeters further, he would have been able to do so.

“Have you finished cleaning it out?”

She shook her head.

Kakashi knelt behind her, pulling her pack towards him. He proceeded to rummage through it, and pulled out the small first-aid kit she’d used on him only minutes earlier. It contained very few useful materials.

“Where’s the gauze?”

“I used it all on you.”

“Oh. That’s why you were using the shirt.”

“I can see why you’re a legend among shinobi. Those deductive skills are extraordinary. Sherlock.”

Kakashi sighed. So sharp-tongued. “I guess I shouldn’t be surprised that you would use the last of your gauze on a relatively minor wound and spend a half hour exhausting your chakra to boot. Some things never change, Sakura.” He held out his hand in front of her. “Well, give it to me.” She ignored him, and continued to clutch the shirt to her front.

“Fine.” He quickly pulled off his vest and removed his own shirt. “See? I don’t mind if you see my chest.”

Sakura laughed despite her embarrassment. “You’re a funny guy, Kakashi. And you’re kneeling behind me. I can’t see your chest.”

“And I can’t see yours, either. Lean on your right elbow, so your torso is at an angle.” He wrung out his shirt over her side to allow the dripping water to wash away the blood and the short fibers of cloth that still clung to the wound. He touched his hand to her hip as he worked, and was surprised when it came away red. She’d worn black sweats, which had prevented him from getting an idea of her true condition. “Sakura, how much blood have you lost?”

“It’s not as bad as it seems. You’d be surprised how much area a pint of blood can cover.”

He looked at her in alarm. “I’m taking you to the hospital.”

“No!” The word came out forcefully. “You said you’d help me take care of it right here. Honestly, it’s not that bad.” She looked at him pleadingly.

Kakashi shrugged. “So, what’s next?”

“I won’t be able to heal it until I can keep it from gaping open. The tissues won’t find each other unless it’s closed. Are there any butterfly bandages in the first aid kit?”

“No. There’s really not much here, not even tape. No offense, Sakura, but you’d think a medic’s personal first aid kit would be better equipped.”

“There’s some saying about the cobbler’s children having no shoes, isn’t there? Besides, my medic’s vest has all the stuff I’d need. But, of course, I didn’t wear it today. Well, if you could just kind of push the wound closed– but try to keep your fingers away from the wound itself. I’ll need to apply chakra there.”

Sakura held her arm out from her body as Kakashi gently pressed her flesh into place. She sucked in her breath at the pain, but quickly got to work applying her own chakra to the site.

“So when did this happen, Sakura?”

“When I was sparring with a friend.”

“Oh.” He signed. “Could you be a little more explicit?”

“I wasn’t fast enough with the kawarimi technique when you threw those shuriken. The first one hit me before the jutsu completed.”

“Sakura, that was about ten minutes into things. Why didn’t you stop?”

“Would you have stopped if it were you?”

Kakashi didn’t answer. She had him, there.

“Slide your hand back,” she directed. The first portion of the wound had been mended. “I’m working blind now. If it’s okay with you, I’d like to use your hands as a landmark. I’ll have to run my chakra through them.”

“No problem.” Kakashi moved his hands to her back and pushed her flesh back together. This was a somewhat easier task, now that the wound was smaller. Sakura’s right hand covered his, and as she began to apply chakra, Kakashi started. The amount of chakra she was using was astonishing. He felt his fingers tingle with pain. She was even more stoic then he’d given her credit for. She hadn’t winced once during the sparring session or after.

Sakura sighed and visibly relaxed as she moved her hand away from his. “That feels so much better.” She moved upright, causing Kakashi’s hands to slide along her flesh as she did so.

Her skin is like silk.

“So, what about lunch?” She kept her back to him as she began to uncrumple her still- sodden shirt, intending to wear it.

“Don’t. It’s still too cold outside for you to be wearing something wet, especially cotton. You should know it has no insulating value. You’d be better off shirtless.”

“I am not walking into town topless, Kakashi.”

He silently handed her his vest. “This will do while I’m gone. I’ll be right back with something for you to wear.”

Not ten minutes later, Kakashi returned. He’d put on a fresh shirt, and had brought one of his others, along with clean sweatpants for Sakura to wear. His clothes would be outsized on her, but they were warm, and they’d do until she returned home. He handed the items to her, then walked some distance away to allow her to change. She stripped down completely–even her panties were blood soaked. She knelt by the stream and used her wet jersey shirt to scrub off the dried blood that stained her legs, then gratefully climbed into the clothes Kakashi had provided. She had to roll the sleeves and legs several times to approximate a decent fit, but luckily, the pants had a drawstring, which she cinched as tightly as possible. She stowed her stained clothes into the bag as Kakashi swung her backpack over his shoulder.

“So where’s my lunch?”

Kakashi scratched the back of his head, slightly embarrassed, as they began walking away from the stream. “You wouldn’t believe the line.”

“Yes, I would. Ichiraku is always busy at lunchtime. Sometimes there’s an hour wait for a stool. But that shouldn’t have mattered. You said Ayame always let you go to the head of the line. Not able to resist your terrible good looks, I think you said.” She smirked.

“That’s not what I said. Unfortunately, Ayame wasn’t there– her brother, Seiji, is filling in for her. Apparently, Ayame is on a trip with Iruka.”

Sakura giggled. “You didn’t know they were together, did you, handsome?”

Kakashi ignored her teasing. “It gets worse. Before I took on Team Seven, I put a bunch of candidate teams through the bell test. Every team failed before you guys came along.”

“So?”

“Seiji was on one of those teams. Apparently, he still nurses a grudge against me. He went ape-shit when he saw me– he’s been working at the coast and hadn’t seen me in years. I’d have thought he would have been over it by now. His father took my order, though, so it should be ready when we get there.”

“You can go in,” Kakashi said as they approached the ramen shop.

“Coward.”

“No, I just know how to pick my battles.”

Sakura went into to the ryouriya, where Ayame’s dad promptly handed her two take-out cartons. “He didn’t pay for this, did he?” A curt nod was her response. She sighed as she counted out cash for the meal.

Kakashi looked at her appraisingly as she left the shop. She was definitely steamed about footing the cost of lunch, but she deserved it after her smart-ass comment about his looks. But she also looked tired, he noticed as she stumbled a bit.

“My place is closer. Let’s eat there.” She didn’t disagree, and didn’t object when he took her arm in his.

Sakura was quiet during lunch, and didn’t finish her ramen. Kakashi moved her bowl away just before she slumped into the table. He gently picked her up and carried her to his bed. She was already so deeply asleep that she didn’t notice.

Sakura awoke hours later in a room she didn’t recognize at first. Late afternoon sunlight was filtering in through the slats of the room’s wooden blinds. The warm golden rays touching her face had awoken her. She sat up, squinting in the light, and looked around, then sank back into the warm, comfortable bed. This was Kakashi’s room, she realized. How had she gotten here? Where was he? She looked around the room again, and spotted the copy of Icha, Icha Takutikusu he had given her to read earlier that day. It was lying face down on the blue chair that sat by the room’s only window. A ceramic mug stood on the table next to the chair. Sakura noted that a coaster had been placed under the mug. Sakura smiled. Sasuke and Naruto had always laughed at her insistence on the use of coasters, but Kakashi apparently felt the same way she did.

Sakura climbed out of bed, and pulled back the thick kakebuton that served as the bed’s sole blanket. She straightened the sheets, and was about to replace the kakebuton when she noticed the underside of its cover. Like the front side, this side of the futonji was indigo-dyed by traditional methods, but this fabric appeared to be much older than the kasuri fabric used for the front side. There were a few small patches on the cloth, which had been resist-dyed freehand using a technique called tsutsugaki to create a large white crest which covered a large portion of its area. Sakura pulled back the futonji further and examined the ka-mon. It was pentagonal in shape: five identical, stylized birds, wings spread and bills pointing to the center, formed the five sections of the pentagon. The negative space between the birds somewhat resembled kunai. The birds, Sakura realized, were plovers, chidori. Sakura wondered if this ka-mon was from his mother’s or father’s family. Regardless, it was appropriate.

“You slept for five hours, Sakura-chan. Hungry?”

Sakura turned to see Kakashi leaning against the doorway, hands in pockets. There was a slight smile on his face, which was still uncovered. “You snore, you know.”

Sakura blushed, as Kakashi winked, then reddened further as he handed her a bundle of clothes. “You didn t have to–“

“I m very good at removing bloodstains,” Kakashi interrupted, dryly. “Of course, I have lots of experience at it. I thought it was the least I could do after injuring you.” He turned and exited the room, closing the door as he did so. “Nice panties, by the way.”

Sakura stood alone in the bedroom, willing the blush to leave her skin. So he had seen her panties. Big deal. She held up the undergarment. She probably shouldn t have worn such lacy, skimpy ones today. Plain cotton would have been a lot more appropriate (and comfortable) for the no-holds barred training they’d done. Kakashi had probably thought she was a flighty, shallow clotheshorse when he’d seen them. Of course, a flighty, shallow clotheshorse, Ino, had convinced her to buy them. She’d only worn them today because she’d needed to do laundry and they were the only clean pair left. Sakura sighed, then hastily dressed and headed to the kitchen, where she found Kakashi.

“Thanks for your help earlier, and for letting me use your bed and for the laundry. And everything, really.”

“I’m sure you’d do the same. Actually, I know you’d do the same. You don’t need to thank me.” Kakashi turned back to the counter, where he was cutting a chunk of half-frozen meat into very thin slices.

“Well, I ll see you around, I guess.”

“Sit.”

Sakura, too surprised to do otherwise, took a seat at the small table in the dining area adjacent to the cramped kitchen.

Kakashi turned, knife in hand. “You barely ate any lunch. I’m not letting you leave here until I get some food in you. Plus, I’ve gone to a lot of effort, and I don t want it to go to waste.”

“I’ll stay. And not just because you’re holding a weapon. You don’t have to command me, Kakashi.”

“Your behavior earlier today suggests otherwise. You lost a lot of blood today, Sakura. The laundry water was bright red, worse than I’ve ever seen with my own clothes. I’m not going to let you act foolishly now, just because I embarrassed you a few minutes ago.” He turned back to the chopping board. “By the way, I was joking about the snoring.”

But not about the panties, apparently. Although he did almost apologize. Almost. “Do you need any help?”

“No, everything s under control.” He carried a large electric griddle to the table and plugged it in, then turned the dial to its highest setting. “We re having teppan-yaki.”

Kakashi set out small bowls of condiments, and larger plates containing the meat and vegetables they’d be cooking at the table. A large bowl held partially prepared yakisoba, ready to fry on the griddle.

“I haven’t had this for quite a while. In fact, I think I’ve never had it outside of a restaurant.”

“It’s one of my specialties.”

“So you’re not only a gourmand, but also a gourmet? I guess you weren’t lying when you said you had many hobbies.”

“I never lie, Sakura.”

She snorted at this blatant untruth.

Kakashi picked up some thinly sliced beef with saibashi and placed it on the teppan, where it promptly began to sizzle. He added the yakisoba to the other side, and stirred it with another chopstick, then added shreds of cabbage and carrots, shiitake mushrooms and chunks of half-cooked potato in the remaining spaces.

“Aren’t you supposed to be throwing knives and slicing vegetables in mid-air?”

Kakashi laughed. “Hmm. We both know very well that I could, considering my expertise with kunai, but I though we’d be just a little more casual tonight. Want a beer?”

“Sure.” Kakashi pulled two beers from the kitchen’s small refrigerator, and two chilled glasses from its even smaller freezer.

“Wow. You went all out.”

“I always keep glasses in the freezer. Small luxuries, you know?” He poured her beer and she his, and they toasted. She took a sip of hers and set it aside. She was sure she’d become drunk easily, given her blood loss.

“Help yourself,” Kakashi said, as he began to remove cooked items from the teppan, and replace them with others.

Sakura dipped a thin slice of rare beef into a bowl of shoyu and savored the contrasting flavors of saltiness and caramelized protein. “This is wonderful.” She piled some yakisoba onto her plate, along with a bit of cabbage, carrot and potato. She ignored the mushrooms. “So what did you do today?”

“While you were sleeping? Shopping, cleaning, laundry. Manly stuff.” Watching you as you slept, but there’s no need to mention that.

“I don’t think anyone would question your manliness.” Sakura blushed despite herself. She never blushed anymore. What was wrong with her? “It’s– it’s good that you’re comfortable with that side of yourself.”

They were both silent for a while as they enjoyed the dinner, then Sakura spoke again.

“I feel sorry for Hinata. It’s going to be hard to break Naruto of his slovenly habits.”

“I didn’t know Naruto and Hinata were together.”

“Well, not yet. But as soon as he returns...”

“I take it you had a hand in this?”

“I clued him in a bit, and helped him write her a letter. You should have seen what he’d written himself. I wish I’d kept it. It would be fun to read to them at their wedding.”

“You’ve already married them off, then?” Kakashi laughed. “I never thought of Naruto as the type.”

“Would you like to make another wager? It was stupid of me not to set any stakes for our last bet.”

“I do enough wagering with Gai. And I should note, I always win.”

“Not according to him. He says the record is at 120 to 119, in his favor.”

“Well, he would say that.”

“So you don’t want to bet against me? Hmm. I guess you’re afraid of losing.”

“It depends on the stakes, Sakura-chan. If they’re good enough, I’m in.”

“Loser does one task– any task– of the winner’s choosing.”

“Sounds good.”

“Let’s make it a two-part bet. Each part stands alone. Part one: Naruto and Hinata will be seen passionately kissing within one week of his return.”

“Contingent on there being absolutely no interference from you or your friends.”

“Or from you and yours, for that matter.” Kakashi nodded. “Part two: Naruto and Hinata will be married within six months of his return.”

“You must be confident. That’s not a long time.” Kakashi smiled wickedly. “I accept. And I already know exactly which tasks you’ll be doing for me.”

Sakura finished the last of her beer, and stood to get a glass of water.

“I’m cutting you off, by the way.”

“What?!” Sakura was incredulous, and the good, comfortable mood she’d felt since awakening evaporated instantly. “You are so controlling! I wasn’t planning on drinking more than one.” She threw down her napkin and stood. “Thanks for dinner, Kakashi.” She turned to leave, but was pulled back. She struggled for a moment, then gave up. She knew she wouldn’t win.

“Sit, Sakura.”

“What am I, one of your dogs? Don’t you dare tell me to sit like that!”

“Please, Sakura.” She sat reluctantly. “I didn’t mean to be so abrupt. Moushiwake arimasen.” He bowed slightly. “The truth is, you scared me earlier, and I’m feeling a little overprotective. I didn’t realize exactly how hurt you were, and...” He was quiet for a moment, as he struggled to find the words that would convey his meaning, yet not offend. He slipped into teacher mode, doing his best to keep his voice passionless. “Sakura, it’s your job as a team member to be completely honest with your teammates. You know this– it’s one of the most important rules– to protect the team, and to allow the team to protect you. And even though we’re not officially teammates anymore, when we spar, we are partners. You should have told me you were hurt.”

“Would you have told me?”

The next words slipped out unbidden. There was a hint of anger in his voice. “You acted foolishly, Sakura, irresponsibly. You’re a medic, Sakura, but that doesn’t make you invincible.”

That wasn’t the best choice of words, Kakashi noted as he saw Sakura grow rigid with anger. No, not anger. She was furious.

“You wouldn’t have told me, Kakashi, if the roles had been reversed. Why can’t you admit it? So, it’s okay for you to act foolishly, but not me? Explain how that can be if we’re really teammates or partners or whatever.” There was a green fire in her eyes as she spoke, and Kakashi hesitated. “I’m waiting, Hatake.”

Because your life is more important than mine, Sakura. I’m in love with you. I’d kill myself if something happened to you, and I’d do anything to protect you.

“Sakura. I–“

“Yes?”

“It’s different.”

“How?”

“I can’t explain.”

“Because it’s not different.” She pulled out of his grasp and headed for the door. “I don’t need to be protected, Kakashi. Not by you or by anyone else.”

“Sakura–“

She didn’t slam the door, just closed it firmly behind her. Kakashi didn’t follow. What could he say? He knew she wasn’t ready yet to hear how he felt. He’d talk to her tomorrow. He’d need the night to figure out a way to explain away the obvious double standard he held regarding her safety.

Chapter 17– Mitigation

He looked up from the chair where he sat reading to see that she had entered the room. She stood quietly, arms crossed to cover her breasts, naked except for a pair of white lace panties. He stood and approached her, but she did not move. Rather, she tilted her head and looked at him curiously.

“What are you doing in my bedroom?” she asked softly. He didn’t feel the need to reply. Instead, he pulled her into his arms and kissed her firmly. She gasped in shock but didn’t pull away. After a moment, she returned the kiss, opening her mouth to let their contact deepen, and encircling him with her arms. After a few long moments, he broke the kiss, and noticed the pout on her lips and the reproach in her eyes.

“Don’t worry, Sakura. I’m only just starting.” He let his unmasked lips travel to her jaw and along the nape of her neck, and found himself even more aroused by the shudders his touch sent though her. He trailed the very tip of his tongue along her silken skin, now eliciting deep moans of pleasure as he paid tribute to each landmark along his path. Her breasts were enticing, firm globes that reacted immediately to the lightest touch. The curve of her waist was sensual and sensitive.

He knelt before her and gently placed pressure on her inner thigh, causing her to move her legs apart. He inhaled her fragrance, and used his teeth to move aside the small strip of fabric covering the place he planned to honor next. Damn fabric. He reached to his own thigh, and pulled a kunai from its holster. In two quick moves he released the fabric at her hips, and it fell gently to the floor. Just as quickly, he returned to his target and allowed his tongue to move gently between her folds. He felt her hands in his hair, clenching and unclenching.

“You’re wet.”

“I– I just took a bath.”

Kakashi chuckled and probed deeper with his tongue, caressing her until he found the location he sought. Her reaction was sudden and violent. Her grasp tightened in his hair as her body spasmed repeatedly. She was amazingly responsive to his touch.

He stood and quickly disrobed, then pushed her against the dresser.

“Say that you want me,” he growled in her ear.

“I want you, Kakashi.” Her voice was a whisper.

“Louder.”

“I want you, Kakashi!”

He lifted her by her hips and pressed her against the dresser as he ensheathed himself in her. She gasped in surprise as he did so, then moaned as he slowly moved her up and down along his length. With every stroke she struggled to press closer against him, to take more of him into herself.

“Please, Kakashi. I need--”

“I know exactly what you need, Sakura. Isn’t that fairly obvious?”

She cried out in pleasure as he pressed downward on her hips, pushing himself deeper into her. She moved her body closer to him, wrapping her arms and legs tightly around him, as he carried them slowly to her bed, and gently lowered them onto it. He supported himself on one forearm, and moved his other hand between her legs. She was swollen with desire and even slicker than before. He caressed her firmly and felt her breath quicken, her legs involuntarily clench and unclench his hips.

“Will you come for me, Sakura?”

She nodded.

“Say it.”

“I’ll come for you.”

“Kakashi.”

“I’ll come for you, Kakashi.”

“Come for me, Sakura. Now.”

She did.

“Again, Sakura.”

She did.

“C–Come for me, Kakashi.”

“Not yet. I’m not finished with you. Once more, Sakura.”

She moaned in frustration. “Come for me, Kakashi! Please! I–“ She climaxed explosively, and so did he.

...o...o...o...

It was the panties that did it, Kakashi realized with a groan. They weren’t the most revealing ones he’d ever seen– apparently Sakura did not go in for thong-cut styles. These were boy-cut, but he’d had no trouble imagining how they’d sit low on her hips and flare out slightly over the top curve of her derriere. From the look of them, they wouldn’t cover her completely, but leave her firm, lower half a bit exposed. They were lacy– completely unsuitable for a day of sparring, he thought. But still, he appreciated them, and the thought of her wearing such a garment as she practiced with him. Sakura was feminine, very feminine under the tough exterior she showed to the world. Feminine, even as she held a kunai to his throat or kicked him with devastating force. In fact, her strength and her willingness to use it made her even more womanly in his eyes, almost dangerously so.

Yes, it was the panties, he thought, as he untangled himself from the bed sheets that were wrapped around him like a restraint. His kakebuton had ended up on the floor sometime during the night, but he hadn’t felt the cold. Kakashi pulled the sweaty, soiled sheets off his bed and carried them to the washer. He hadn’t dreamed like that in years– not since he was sixteen and had realized he could dream lucidly, and thereby control what occurred in his dreams. Certainly he allowed himself fantasies– waking fantasies, that is– and even allowed his body to act on these fantasies. This was no problem– in fact, he rather liked the total control it afforded him. But he didn’t allow himself to fantasize while he slept. Who knew what his subconscious might cook up?

It was six a.m., which meant he’d gotten all of three hours of sleep. This probably explained why he’d been unable to control his dream– he was too tired. He’d stayed up, trying to think of an adequate explanation for his protectiveness of Sakura– one that would placate her, but not scare her. He had no doubt she was unready to learn of his feelings for her. He was planning to take it very slowly. She had devoted two weeks to him, as he lay comatose. During that time, he’d come to the realization that he couldn’t run from her anymore. He’d therefore given himself a total of two weeks in which to bring her to the same realization. Not fourteen days back to back– she’d surely find that to be too intense, though it might have been something she would have tried herself years ago with Sasuke. No, he wasn’t going to stalk her as though she were prey. He planned to take her on fourteen separate dates– fourteen occasions to slowly reveal himself to her, fourteen chances to nurture and develop any latent feelings she might have for him.

Of course, he’d ruined date one. If only he could have controlled himself. She was right, after all. It was completely unfair for him to expect her to behave differently than he did. It was natural, though, that he’d feel this way, given that he was in love with her. Who wouldn’t want to protect the person they loved above all others? But, he realized, he wanted her to love him in just this same way– and in that case, the playing field would be leveled again. They’d each want to keep the other from harm. They were shinobi– death was an integral part of their job description. They couldn’t protect or restrain each other against the inevitable. He owed her a huge apology, one with no excuses or half-true explanations. She was right, that was all.

...o...o...o...

Sakura hurried to the door, hitae-ate in hand. Whoever was rapping quite loudly was apparently also quite impatient. There’d been three rapid-fire bursts of knocking in the time it had taken her to get to the door. She opened the door to see her former sensei, hands behind his back. He never knocked with such urgency. Maybe he’d had too much coffee this morning.

“What do you want?” She crossed her arms in front of her chest, immediately reminding Kakashi of that morning’s fantasy. He shook his head to dispel the image and fixed a cheery smile upon his mask-clad face.

“Ohayou to you as well, Sakura. Beautiful weather isn’t it?” To her frustration, he moved past her, into her apartment’s small foyer, and sat down on a low bench to remove his regulation sandals.

“This is for you,” he said, handing her a small, potted cactus. He hadn’t been able to resist. She had something in common with the plant: a prickly, formidable exterior, yet for those who were undeterred, occasional, breathtaking displays of beauty. He was a patient man, and quite willing to wait.

“Kakashi, I don’t have time for fun and games,” she said, scowling at the plant. “Tell me what you want, and then get out.”

“I want to talk with you about last night, Sakura.”

“Kakashi, I don’t have time right now. There’s a lot I’d like to say to you, but I’m late. I was supposed to meet Hinata ten minutes ago, and unlike some people, I don’t like to keep my friends waiting.”

“I don’t mind waiting for you.” He moved into the living room and sprawled across the large sectional sofa that dominated the room.

“Get up. You can wait out there.” She walked toward the french-doors that led to the roof-top garden and placed her hand on the lock. Kakashi saw a brief look of concern pass across her face. “I know I locked this,” she muttered under her breath, but not softly enough to miss being heard by the copy-nin.

“I won’t be back anytime soon.” She pulled him up off the couch and fairly pushed him out the door.

“No matter. I brought something to read.” He smiled sunnily at her, crinkling his visible eye as he did so.

She closed her eyes in an effort to quell her anger, then locked the door, grabbed her backpack and hurried on her way.

This was the perfect place to relax, Kakashi thought, looking up from his book. He stood, stretching his legs, and strolled around the rooftop garden, admiring the bonsai that occupied one “room” of the space, and the large collections of flowering plants that overflowed large pots scattered throughout another area. He recognized most of these plants, having an interest in horticulture himself. What he wouldn’t give to have a space like this in which to garden. Of course, it would be a pointless endeavor. He was gone so often that any garden he tended would ultimately suffer the same fate as the bedraggled philodendron that sat on his living room windowsill. It hung tenuously to life, resuscitated between missions, only to wilt and wither when Kakashi inevitably left again. Sakura was lucky to be able to experience the fruits of her neighbor’s labor. Mr. Takabishi, she’d said he was. Kakashi moved closer to the man’s apartment, and was about to rap on the window to introduce himself and apologize for his presence in the garden, when he saw something that was quite upsetting.

Mr. Takabishi was sitting with his back to the window of what was obviously his office, a space that was extremely well-equipped with computers. There were more high-tech gadgets than Kakashi had ever seen in one place in the technology-impoverished Fire Country. In fact, he didn’t recognize many of them. The man must have done well for himself to be able to afford such expensive toys. From his movements, it was clear that the old man was in a state of partial undress, gazing at a video clip while simultaneously... But that wasn’t the upsetting part. Disturbingly, the video appeared to be of Sakura. Kakashi quickly moved out of what would be the man’s line of sight, were he to suddenly turn around (although that, Kakashi knew, was highly unlikely given that the man was extremely occupied at the moment), and looked again at the monitor. It was easy to confirm that indeed the woman in the video was Sakura– how many pink-haired women were there in Konoha? Sakura was the only one he knew of. It was also clear that Sakura was completely unaware that she was being filmed. She was standing in a bathroom (presumably her own) resting her leg on the bathtub as she toweled off. The screen split to show her from several angles. Apparently Mr. Takabishi had expended quite a lot of effort in outfitting her apartment to supply the best view possible. Kakashi seethed as he silently moved to the french doors that led into Mr. Takabishi’s living room, then crept into his office, pausing only to locate and uncoil a roll of strong, flexible wire, and to grab a single kunai from his leg holster.

“Are you enjoying yourself?” Kakashi asked quietly, as he stood only centimeters behind the man. He was instantly rewarded by the sight of the man jumping out of his chair.

“W-who are you? What are you doing in my house?” The man stammered as he zipped up his pants.

“Sakura is a friend of mine. I’m almost positive she didn’t give you permission to tape her. She didn’t, did she?”

The man nodded, then quickly shook his head. Kakashi grabbed him and held the kunai to his throat.

“You must be very stupid to even consider invading the privacy of a shinobi. Either one of us could kill you in a blink of an eye. I can think of ten ways, off the top of my head, that wouldn’t even leave a trace. Your family would think you’d died of natural causes. Of course, your pants would be around your ankles. That might be a little embarrassing, don’t you think?” The deadly calm of Kakashi’s voice caused the former bookseller to shiver.

“Wait. I can explain. Please–“

Kakashi pushed the man into the chair and used the wire he held to tightly bind the man’s wrists behind the chair’s back. “I’m listening,” he growled as he tightened the restraint.

“She’s always so friendly to me. Her smile makes me so happy. But then she disappears for weeks on end. And I miss her.”

Kakashi’s visible eye narrowed at this pathetically lame explanation. “You miss her. So you film her naked so that you’ll have a memento for the times that she’s away. I see. So, do you spy on her in person, when she’s home?” The old man squirmed under Kakashi’s furious gaze.

“Aren’t you– don’t I know you? Wait.” A glimmer of recognition shone in Mr. Takabishi’s eyes. “You used to visit my bookstore every week. You’re that Icha, Icha fan. Ha. You’re just as bad as I am.” The man laughed for just a moment, then cowered as he realized the extreme foolishness of his words.

“You think so?” Even through the mask, the former bookstore owner could tell Kakashi was smiling dangerously. His eyes glinted as he spoke. “Most people would say there is a big, big difference between reading X-rated romance novels– which are fiction, by the way-- and masturbating to illegally filmed video of a real, live person who happens to live next door to you. But you know what? Let’s see what Sakura thinks. You know, I think she’s pretty open-minded. She actually read some Icha, Icha to me.” Kakashi smiled at the memory. “When I was sick, she thought it might help speed my recovery. She’s nice that way. A really considerate, caring person. Perhaps she won’t mind that you’ve been, uh, pleasuring yourself at her expense.”

“You aren’t going to kill me?” Relief dripped from the bound man’s voice.

“I’d love to. And I think you know that no harm would come to me if I chose to do so.” Kakashi sighed. “But that will be Sakura’s decision, not mine.”

The man smirked at these words, actually smirked. Kakashi suddenly had a glimpse of insight into what it must be like to be Haruno Sakura– constantly underestimated on the basis of her sex. Or simply dismissed. It would feel so good, Kakashi thought, to take the man out right now. He wanted badly to do so, and Sakura need never know. He could destroy the evidence and search her apartment for cameras, microphones, and anything else her neighbor had installed. It would hurt her so much to find out about this. But he restrained himself– it was clear to him, now, how Sakura would react if he did take matters into his own hands. And she would find out. She was after all, the most intelligent jounin in Konoha, apart from Shikamaru.

Instead Kakashi simply said, “Observe.” He placed his hand under the heavy oak desk that held a portion of the old man’s computer equipment, lifted it to chest height with a single finger, then let it crash back to the floor. The man gasped. It was clear to him that Kakashi could kill him with slightly more effort than it would take to crush a cockroach underfoot.

“I’ll bet you didn’t know this, but Sakura easily has ten times my strength.” The man’s eye’s widened at Kakashi’s words. “But I’ll bet you did know that she has a very short temper. I’m guessing these walls are pretty thin. Oh, and you’ve got her on tape. Forgot about that for a minute.” Kakashi grinned as the man telegraphed his newfound fear.

Kakashi knew very little about computers. There were several at the academy for instructor use, but as he’d never actually taught within the walls of that building, he’d never used those machines, and the ones at headquarters were assigned to shinobi on desk duty. He did know, however, what a hard drive was, and he used his kunai to pry each out of the computers in the room, then checked the back of each machine for portable memory devices. “Evidence,” he said, with a smile in his voice. “Although I’m sure you won’t be able to free yourself before Sakura gets back. Sit tight,” Kakashi said, as he opened the window to exit. “You may be here for a while.”

Kakashi strode back across the rooftop garden and effortlessly opened the doors leading to Sakura’s living room. He deposited the drives on the square, dark coffee table, and headed to the kitchen. Hopefully, Sakura had beer, or better still, something stronger. He definitely needed a drink, despite the fact that it was only nine a.m.

...o...o...o...

Sakura smiled. It was eleven a.m., which made it exactly three hours since Kakashi had showed up at her door. As a student, she’d waited much longer for him on occasion, but today, three hours seemed long enough. He’d probably left by now. She’d put the time away from home to good use. She’d promised Hinata a run, and then they’d sparred, and she’d owed the still-unnamed baby Uchiha and her glowing parents a visit. There had been plenty to fill the past three hours.

As she entered her apartment pulled off her medic vest (she’d remembered to wear it today, not that she needed it– the injuries Hinata could produce with her byakugan were chakra-related– they didn’t cause wounds, and Sakura’s ninjutsu far outstripped that of her friend). She desperately needed a shower. Ninja friends and family (even babies and toddlers, it seemed) didn’t mind the smell of sweat, but Sakura certainly did. She was about to remove her t-shirt, when she noticed a familiar form sitting on her couch.

“What the hell are you doing here? I told you to wait outside.”

“Sakura? Would you sit, please.” Kakashi’s voice was gentle. “We need to talk.” He raised his hand to halt the response he expected from her. “No, not about last night, we can do that later. That’s important, but this is even more important.”

Sakura saw the seriousness on his unmasked face and sat herself cautiously on the far end of the sectional. It couldn’t be Sasuke, she thought. She’d seen him only minutes ago. Had Naruto been hurt? She noticed the several drives littering her coffee table. “What’s this?”

“Something that belongs to you. I’ll tell you about them in a minute. But first, can you tell me how long you’ve known Mr. Takabishi? I had a very interesting conversation with him today.”

“Kakashi, how is trivia about my neighbor more important than the fact that you don’t see me as your equal? Who the hell cares if you had an interesting conversation with him? Oh. I see. You found out something about him, and have decided there’s something about him that should eliminate him from the very, very small circle of people allowed to walk within 3 meters of me.” She was on a roll, now, as last night’s anger reignited itself. “You know, you shouldn’t jump to conclusions about people. He’s just an old man. And I’m an adult, Kakashi, not the twelve-year-old incompetent who had to be rescued and protected by her teammates. I’m completely capable of deciding whom I should or shouldn’t talk to. I thought I made that clear last night. Damn it, Kakashi, I can take care of myself.” She jumped to her feet, and walked to the front door. “Leave.” She turned away from him, so he couldn’t see the tears springing to her eyes. “I am so tired of this,” she said softly.

Kakashi ran his hands through his hair. He had known this was going to be difficult. Should he go to her and hug her? Would she slug him? He settled for calling to her quietly. “Sakura, if you could just trust me for just a moment? Please?”

She heard something different in his voice. Sakura turned reluctantly towards him, biting her lip.

“Come. Sit down.” Kakashi patted the space next to him.

Sakura perched on the far edge of the couch, crossed her arms across her chest and said, “Talk. I’m listening.”

“First of all, Sakura, let me get this out of the way. I owe you an apology for last night– a huge apology. I shouldn’t, and won’t treat you any differently than I would expect you to treat me. It took me all night to figure it out, but I realized that you were right– completely right. And then I had another reminder of it today.”

“You never apologize.” She looked at him curiously. “Domo, Kakashi.” She settled into her seat and looked closely at him as he continued.

“So. I was waiting for you outside, as you... instructed, and I was going to call on Mr. Takabishi to explain who I was and what I was doing in his garden. I thought it would be the polite thing to do. I didn’t want him to have a heart attack if he looked out of his window and saw a ninja strolling through the shrubbery.”

Sakura nodded.

“How long has he lived next door to you?”

“Oh, about a year. You’d think much longer, though, from looking at the garden. He seems to spend most of his time there. But Kakashi, why does it matter? How is that sweet old man important?”

“Sakura. I’ll be blunt. He’s been taping you.”

“What?”

Kakashi pushed the drives across the table to her. “He must have installed cameras while you were on a mission.”

“You looked at these?”

“No! Of course not! I caught a glimpse when I looked through his window, but only enough to confirm that it was you. Sakura, I’d never do that! Do you really think I’m that much of a pervert?”

“Actually, no. I don’t think you’re a pervert at all. You just have poor taste in reading materials.” She laughed weakly, then paled as the enormity of the transgression against her became more real. “So Mr. Takabishi could have been spying on me for the past year? I think I’m going to be sick.” She got up and ran to the bathroom, and Kakashi heard the sounds of her retching and running water.

“This is great,” she said, returning to the room. “Now I smell like sweat and vomit. A lovely combination, don’t you think?” She returned to her seat, and put her head in her hands. “Do you think he put cameras in every room? Would you help me find them?” Her face reddened as she considered the things the man might have witnessed, then she suddenly looked up.

“What did you do to him? I hope you made him suffer.”

“Sakura, all I did was tie him up. I thought you would want to take care of the details yourself.”

Sakura was silent for a minute, then responded. “Thank you, Kakashi. I do. Would you like to join me?” She gave him an angry smile.

“It would be my pleasure. What are you planning on doing?”

“Not sure yet. I didn’t use much chakra training, so I could break every bone in his body and then heal him before handing him over to the police. But to be honest, I don’t want to have to touch him in that way. Healing is really intimate, you know?” She shuddered at the thought of her chakra touching his, despite the fact that as an untrained civilian, he wouldn’t be aware of the contact. “Maybe genjutsu. Tsunade taught me a few good ones. Any advice, sensei?”

“Nobody would blame you if you killed him, Sakura. And certainly not if you broke his bones and refused to heal him. This won’t be handled by the police. If it involves a shinobi, it’s headquarter’s purview.”

“I’m not going to kill a civilian, Kakashi. But someone else could heal him.” She and her friend headed to the door. “I guess I’ll improvise.”

...o...o...o...

“I feel so dirty.”

“Don’t. You had every right to beat him senseless, Sakura.”

“Not about that, Kakashi. Hell, I should have healed him and then done it all again. That’s not what I feel dirty about.” She spoke softly, as the internal affairs team had arrived and was beginning its inspection of her apartment, using neon-colored chalk to circle the location of hidden cameras and mikes. “It’s bad enough that he watched the movies. But now internal affairs? He said he’d been taping me for a year. There must be hundreds, or thousands of hours on there.” She gestured to the table, which still held the drives.”

Kakashi thought for a moment. “All they need to see is one scene, Sakura. Do you have a toolbox?”

She nodded.

“Get it. And an old towel.”

She hurried to the kitchen and reached under the sink to pull out a large, slightly dented metal toolbox enameled in bright red paint. She lugged it back to the copy-ninja. “It was my dad’s.” Kakashi rummaged through the box as Sakura fetched a towel from her linen closet. She watched as Kakashi set aside the first hard drive, then wrapped another in a towel.

“Have at it.” He handed a hammer to her, and gestured to the towel-wrapped item.

Sakura slammed into it with just enough force to shatter it to pieces. She didn’t bother using chakra– it felt more real, more visceral, not to. Kakashi unwrapped the smashed plastic box, and slid the next one over. Sakura made short work of the memory devices, a smile growing on her face as she demolished each one.

“We’ll save this last one for them– it was the one Takabishi was using when I stumbled upon him. But I”ll talk to Tsunade, if you like, to make sure they watch it only in your presence, and only for as long as it takes to ascertain what the creep was doing.”

“You don’t need to do that for me, Kakashi.” She was quiet for a moment. “ But I would welcome your company, when the I.A. people watch it.” She surprised him by hugging him fiercely. “You’re a good friend, Kakashi,” she sighed, then shuddered as she began to cry.

“You don’t have to stay here, Sakura.” His voice was soft.

“Where would I go? I’d never bunk at Hinata’s. Her father doesn’t approve of me. Naruto’s not here, and he’d drive me crazy, anyway. And Sasuke and Ino have a brand-new baby. They’re definitely not up for guests.”

“Stay with me.”

“Are you serious? You really wouldn’t mind?”

“No. I owe you for my behavior last night. I ruined a perfectly wonderful evening.”

“I’m the one who was screaming and yelling.”

“True. But still.” He smiled at her. She could tell, though his face was masked. “Grab your stuff and let’s go. And bring something nice. I’m taking you out for dinner. Anywhere you like.”

Chapter 18– Tenpura (second date)

The smell of hot oil hit him before they even entered the tenpura-ya. There was more than one very nice restaurant in Konoha. Sadly, in Kakashi’s estimation, this restaurant, the only tenpura-ya in town, was not one of them. But he’d promised Sakura that she could pick the place where they’d dine, and she was a bit of tempura fanatic, he’d learned. He’d thought the very un-Kakashi-like request that she dress nicely might have hinted (a bit too obviously, he had thought immediately after he blurted out the words) that he’d like to take her someplace special, but apparently, she hadn’t clued in. She had dressed beautifully, though, Kakashi noted, taking the opportunity to take a good look at the kunoichi walking beside him. She’d chosen a short, pleated black skirt and sheer black hose that showcased her legs to perfection, as well as moderately high-heeled shoes, that added a subtle sway to her walk. A black cashmere sweater with draped neckline cut low enough to give just a hint of the upper swell of her breasts completed her ensemble. The contrast between her porcelain skin and the inky blackness of her sweater was arresting, and he found he couldn’t look away from her decolletage for long.

Asking her to dress up was a bad, bad idea.

You’d be gaping at her regardless, baka. She’d be beautiful in a burlap sack. So when are you going to tell her?

I’m hoping I won’t have to.

When had he started having conversations with himself? The woman was driving him crazy.

“Kakashi?” Sakura interrupted the copy-nin’s reverie. He looked up to see her staring at him concernedly. “Do I have something on my sweater?”

Busted. “Here. I”ll get it.” He allowed his hand to brush lightly against her sweater to remove the imaginary speck of dust that had obviously transfixed him. Nice save, but it probably made things worse, don’t you think? Kakashi’s fingertips tingled from the brief moment of contact. Even through the soft sweater he’d felt the warmth radiating from her skin.

They chose an empty table and settled in, as a restaurant of this caliber didn’t bother with niceties such as hostesses. It was, after all, just a small step up from a fast-food restaurant. Dinner would be served on pottery plates, not paper, but a film of oil– and in some places, a film of oil, layered with dust-- clung to the table top and chair backs. Still, comfort food was comfort food, and Sakura definitely deserved whatever comfort came her way. And the place did have a liquor license.

“So, what are you going to order, Kakashi?”

He scanned the oil stained sheet that served as menu. “Let’s see. Ebi tenpura, hotategi tenpura, ika tenpura, anago tenpura, kisu tenpura. Renkon, shiso, and satsuma imo tenpura. And let’s not forget takenoka tenpura. I detect a theme.”

“Silly. Tenpura-ya wa desu yo. What did you expect?”

“Actually, I hadn’t planned on dining.”

“What’s the point in going out to eat if you don’t eat?” She looked at him incredulously.

“Sakura, I don’t take off the mask in public. Period. You know that.”

“I’ve seen you at the Dulled Kunai more than once. Do you mean to tell me you sit there with your friends and don’t imbibe?”

“Nah. That would be crazy. But it’s much easier to drink than eat with a mask on.”

Sakura’s eyes lit up with curiosity. “Will you demonstrate?”

“Sure,” he said, as a waitress approached.

Their middle-aged waitress pulled a pencil out of a blowsy bun, and addressed the couple. “What’ll it be? The teishoku?”

“What type of tenpura comes with that?”

The woman chanted, “Kisu-renkon-ika-side-of-pickles-rice-and-miso-soup.”

Sakura couldn’t quite decode the rapid onslaught of conversation, and decided it would be better not to ask the woman to repeat herself. She did not appear to be in a very good mood. Still, Sakura couldn’t stop herself from asking, “Do you have kabocha squash?” It was her favorite after all. Her mother’s kabocha tempura had been to die for.

“Do you see it on the menu?”

“No.”

The woman stood there, smirking, arms crossed over her chest.

Sakura scanned the menu again, obviously flustered.

“Most people order the teishoku.” The waitress sounded as though she had other things to do, although exactly what was unclear as the restaurant was nearly empty.

Sakura flushed. “Would it be possible to substitute–“ The waitress’ smirk turned into a glower, and Sakura stopped in mid-sentence. “A mixed seafood plate, please, along with sides of renkon and shiso, kudasai. And soup and rice, please.”

“And you?” She turned to Kakashi.

“Nothing for me, thanks.” The woman scowled at him. “I would like a bottle of sake, warmed, and two bowls, though.” The woman walked away muttering something about ninjas driving away customers, and Sakura held her face in her hands to stop herself from laughing.

“I can see why you come here. The ambiance is delightful.” His voice was dry, but his exposed eye showed that he was on the verge of laughing out loud, something she’d rarely witnessed.

Sakura collapsed into giggles. “And the service is top-notch.”

“You’d be surprised though,” she said after pausing to take a deep breath to collect herself. “Their tempura is really good. Not as good as my mom’s, but...” A far-away look entered Sakura’s eyes.

“Let’s not talk about the past tonight, Sakura. How are you planning on spending the rest of your vacation?”

“I hadn’t really thought about it. I’d like to go to the coast, I guess. The only times I’ve ever been there were for work. I never got the chance to walk in dunes or explore tide pools, or anything like that.”

“You’d be hard pressed to find one location with both dunes and tide-pools, Sakura.”

“See how little I know about the sea? All the more reason for me to go. It sounds like you know a lot about it, though.”

“My dad’s family lived on the coast for generations. I didn’t grow up there– I’m a Konoha boy– but we used to go out to my grandparents’ old place several times a year until I turned six.”

Sakura nearly asked, “What happened when you were six?” but stopped herself in time, as her mind flashed on the scene, viewed from a child’s vantage point, of Kakashi’s dad taking his own life. “So was it a sand dune kind of place or tide pool?” she asked instead.

“Tide pool. The far north coast is rocky. There are a few flat beaches, but there’s not a lot of sand, because the rocks are volcanic and erode slowly. It’s rugged and absolutely beautiful. Breathtaking, really.”

Like you. The thought surprised her. Where did that come from?

The waitress reappeared with condiments– a small dish of tentsuyu sauce, another of grated daikon, and several bowls of sea salt, one plain, one mixed with yuzu, and one mixed with powdered green tea leaves. She set them on the table and scowled again, as though she’d blamed them for the lack of business tonight. They weren’t sitting near a window, so that hardly seemed probable, but apparently they were a good target for her irritation.

“Thank you, Kakashi.” They’d been quiet for a while, Kakashi taking the opportunity to study his former student as she sat lost in thought, a small smile on her lips.

“For what?”

“For buying me dinner. For letting me stay with you. For being a friend.”

“I know you’d do the same for me, Sakura. It’s no big deal.”

“When did you change, Kakashi?”

He looked into her eyes. Exactly what was she talking about? Time to think quickly, Copy Ninja. Stall.

“I wasn’t aware that I had changed, Sakura. At least no one else has mentioned it. I’m still the porn-reading shinobi with a bad haircut who never shows up on time.”His eye crinkled in a smile.

“How is that I’ve learned more about you in the past few days than in all of the years I’ve known you, combined? When did you become so talkative?”

“Sake.” The waitress (“Bless her!” thought Kakashi) unceremoniously slid a tray containing a large bottle of sake and two cups onto the table. “I’ll be back with tea and your food,” she muttered.

“Shall I show you how I drink?” Sakura nodded eagerly, completely forgetting to pester Kakashi for a straight answer to her previous question.

Kakashi poured a sake for Sakura, and she one for him.

“It’s really simple. If I hold out the bottom of my mask like this, the cup fits easily. See?”

“Yes, that’s about how I’d do it. But I’m pretty sure someone would have noticed you doing that, Kakashi.”

“Not if I do it quickly enough. Observe.”

Sakura looked at him, noting nothing had changed. “I’m waiting.”

He laughed. “Look at the cup. Yours is gone, too.”

She tried to hide the fact that she was very impressed. “So why can’t you do that with food?”

He poured them both another drink. “I’ve tried. It’s just too messy.” He shrugged. “Even soup.”

Their order arrived, accompanied by an extravagant sigh from their waitress.

“Are you hungry, Sakura?”

She looked over the rather large pile of tempura in front of her and laughed. “I guess I overdid it a bit. The miso soup and rice are for you, though. I thought we could bring it home and warm it up for you.”

‘I thought we could bring it home.’ Those words had a nice ring to them, Kakashi observed. “So what’s your favorite?”

“Kabocha. But I guess it’s out of season. She really didn’t have to be so rude about it, did she?” She picked up her wari-bashi, snapping them apart, then rubbed them along each other to remove any rough edges. She then picked up a shrimp and popped it in her mouth. It was heavenly.

“Beautiful women who ask a lot of questions are often seen as high maintenance, Sakura. Maybe she’s jealous.”

“I’m not high maintenance, Kakashi! Ino is high maintenance. You should spend some time with Sasuke and wife if you want to see high maintenance.” He called me beautiful! She blushed at the comment, and hoped her high color might be attributed to her indignation instead.

It is so easy to ruffle her feathers. Kakashi’s eye glinted as he pushed her a little harder. “I’d like the teishoku, please.” He could mimic her voice surprisingly well, given the fact that his voice was in the range of a baritone, while hers was mezzo-soprano. ”But could you substitute umi-boshi for the pickled daikon? And I can’t abide kisu if it isn’t absolutely fresh. Could you ask the chef at what time it was caught today? It was caught today, wasn’t it? Oh, and during what phase of the moon was the shiso harvested?” Her foot connected with his knee and he winced. “Mind the kneecap, Sakura,” he said in his normal voice.

“I am not like that, Kakashi!” But she laughed, despite herself. “I guess I’m a little high maintenance when compared with Naruto and Sasuke, but really Kakashi, Naruto would wear the same underwear for weeks if someone wasn’t around to remind him. And don’t you think that’s just as bad, if not worse? And I take it back about Sasuke. He used to spend hours in the bathroom putting gel in his hair, trying to get it just right. And you know he must have spent lots of time in front of the mirror perfecting that scowl. And, for my gender, I’m really an anomaly. I don’t spend hours in the bathroom, or try on all my clothes before going out to the grocery store, or spend hours in the apothecary trying to pick out just the right lipstick...”

You don’t need to. I’m sure you’re beautiful straight out of bed. “I know, Sakura. I’m just playing with you. It’s fun to get a rise out of you.” She tried to kick him again, but this time he caught her foot between his knees.

“Give me my foot back.”

Kakashi ignored her, pulling out his copy of Icha, Icha Takutikusu and flipping open to a now dog-eared page.

“Kakashi.” Sakura wiggled her foot, succeeding in removing it from her shoe, but Kakashi pressed his knees tighter around her heel, preventing her from pulling her foot back to herself.

“I’m only protecting myself, Sakura,” he said without looking up from his book.

Sakura sighed and went back to eating her tempura, not noticing that Kakashi had poured himself yet another bowl of sake. After gorging herself for a while (she could afford to, she told herself, she had a very high metabolism, after all), she looked up at Kakashi and laughed.

“I’ve been thinking something was different about you tonight. At first I thought it was that you weren’t wearing your jounin uniform– but I have seen you in other clothes a time or two.” He really did look attractive tonight. She hadn’t seen much in the way of civilian clothes in his closet, but tonight he was wearing jeans that looked as though they’d been custom-cut to accentuate the lean muscles of his legs. In addition, he wore a plain, white button-down shirt, open slightly at the neck (she doubted he owned a tie and didn’t blame him– what was the point of wearing a ribbon around ones neck?), to reveal just a hint of his chest. The stark whiteness of the shirt’s fabric set off the paleness of his skin, and contrasted nicely with the mask which stopped at the bottom of his neck. Of course, he’d look even more handsome without the mask, but hopefully, he’d be removing it when they returned to his apartment. Her thoughts surprised her for a moment, but then Sakura reasoned that she was reacting in a completely normal fashion. There was no denying that Kakashi was a singularly attractive man, attractive to Sakura in a way that Sasuke had never been. He wasn’t a scowling pretty boy, for one thing. Kakashi was rugged, like the shoreline he’d described. That roughness was a major part of his charm, she realized. And certainly there was nothing wrong with admitting the man was damn handsome. It was an objective measure, to be sure, that could be verified by anyone (male or female) who happened to see him without it. Not that this was to happen anytime soon. Sakura smiled at the thought that she’d been allowed to see something few others had.

“So what was it?” He turned a page and looked closely at the illustration depicting the words he’d just read. He really had to hand it to Jiraiya-- his books were never dull, though of necessity they covered the same ground, over and over. He always managed to throw in a new twist, in this case literally.

“Hmm?” What had they been talking about? How well dressed he was? Sakura searched to find the thread of conversation. “Oh. I don’t think I”ve ever seen you in public without that book in front of your nose. It’s funny that it took so long for me to figure it out. It’s as obvious as if you were missing an appendage.”

Kakashi looked up and smiled, and Sakura took the opportunity to try wrenching her foot from his clamp-like grip.

“You’ll need to try a little harder than that, Sakura.” Still holding his precious book in one hand, he ran the nail of his other index finger along the sole of her trapped, stocking-covered foot, and laughed as Sakura shivered and twitched her leg. “Ticklish, huh? Yet another weapon I can use against you. Which rule is that, Sakura-- ‘Always be looking for your opponent’s hidden weakness’? ”

“Rule Number 21, I think.” Well, she didn’t think, she knew. She’d voluntarily memorized the hundred-odd Rules of Shinobi Conduct as an academy student years ago, as she’d been an overachiever even then. And a bit of a kiss-ass, too, if truth be told. Now Sakura smiled as an idea came to her. “So, Kakashi, why did you take out the book, just now? Am I not good enough company for you?”

He looked up, startled by her words. “N-no, Sakura.” His hand moved involuntarily to the back of his head, and he adjusted the knot of his hitae-ate, signaling his embarrassment. “It’s just that you’re eating, and there’s an awful lot of food in front of you, so I thought you’d be occupied for a while. I hate interrupting people while they eat.” He was rambling, for some reason. “You know, I never realized you had that much of an appetite.”

“I hope you’re not calling me fat, Kakashi.” His eye widened at the possibility of this unintended insult, but then he noticed Sakura was smiling– a real smile, not like the dangerous, semi-malicious one she’d displayed years ago before raising large bumps on Naruto’s crown. The boy had never known when to shut up. “I’ve always eaten like this, Kakashi. But compared to what Naruto chokes down it doesn’t look like much. I’d guess that’s why you hadn’t noticed.” Sakura took advantage of Kakashi’s distraction to raise and carefully extend her other leg so that it hovered just above Kakashi’s thigh. Gently she moved her foot down until only her toes made contact with his leg. Then she quickly moved them waistward in a gentle caress.

She’d never seen the man blush before, but even with his mask on, she could tell he was, and brightly, at that. And she hadn’t even come close to any of the more valuable real estate. Sakura pulled both of her feet away and smiled sweetly. “What was Rule Number 21, again? Oh yes, ‘Always be looking for your opponent’s weakness.’”

“Touche. You’ve learned well, Cherry Blossom.” She knows that she’s my weakness? No, she couldn’t have meant that. She must have been referring to my preoccupation with Icha, Icha. Kakashi looked at his former student warily as he poured himself another drink.

He went back to his book, and she to her eating, not noticing that the rather large ceramic bottle that held the sake was now nearly empty. Sakura had drunk only one bowlful, and moved on to green tea after that. She didn’t like how she felt when she was drunk. The loss of control frightened her.

“Well, are you ready to go, Kakashi?” Sakura stretched with a satiated smile on her face. Kakashi looked up to see that she had indeed demolished the several piles of tempura that had once stood before her. “I’ll ask the waitress to wrap up the soup and rice, if you’d like. Kakashi?”

“Hmm?” His eye was a bit glazed over. “No, no, Sakura. I absolutely hate tempura. I thought you knew that about me.”

“I’m not talking about– oh, never mind.” She called the waitress over, who brought to-go containers to them faster than Sakura would have thought possible. Apparently the woman would be glad to see the back of them. After packing up the remnants of dinner, Sakura stood, and after crawling under the table to retrieve her shoes tried to help Kakashi to his feet. “How much did you drink?”

“Enough, apparently.”

“Can you walk?”

“Since I was six months old.”

“Six months? That’s incredibly early.”

Kakashi pointed to his nose. “Progidy. Progigy. Whatever.”

He must be really drunk to be slurring his speech. “I need your wallet, Kakashi.”

Kakashi stared off vacantly, apparently not hearing Sakura’s simple request. Unfortunately, Sakura hadn’t brought her own wallet, as her skirt had no pockets, and hadn’t packed a purse in her luggage. Her hands moved to Kakashi’s rear, where she saw a wallet clearly outlined against the fabric of his pocket.

“Are you getting fresh with me, young lady?”

“Yes.” Sakura sighed as she escorted the intoxicated shinobi to the cash register.

“Good.”

She turned and looked at him questioningly, but his eyes were elsewhere.

“Do you make tempura out of these fish?” He was addressing the proprietor, who stood at the register.

“No, no, they’re pets. They’re there for good luck.” Every restaurant in Konoha had a fish tank near the entrance– it was a feng shui thing.

“I’ll bet they’d taste good.”

The man looked at Kakashi as though he were insane.

Sakura mouthed the word “drunk” at the man, quickly handed him enough money to pay the bill, and bowed slightly in apology. This was absolutely mortifying. She’d never seen Kakashi drunk before, ever. Not even at the Uchiha wedding, where the sake had flowed freely in an ostentatious display of wealth (Ino’s idea, no doubt). Of course, she hadn’t spent much time with him in the last eight years, and as his student she’d never been out drinking with him. Maybe he was a total lush. It might have been good to know this before you agreed to stay at his place, baka.

Calm down, Sakura. He’s not a lush. He only had one bottle of sake, and look what it’s done to him. It takes five bottles to bring Tsunade to this state. Sakura took a deep breath, and steered Kakashi out the door.

“Sakura, I think I’m drunk.”

“Really?” She rolled her eyes as she breathed in the crisp night air. “I won’t take advantage of you Kakashi, don’t worry.”

He laughed at this. The coolness of the night seemed to be sobering him up rapidly.

“I apologize for this. I really don’t drink very often.”

“Why not? Don’t you hang out with Genma and Gai and all?”

“Yeah, but I usually nurse one drink for hours. The problem with getting drunk is that I’m more likely to say ‘yes,’ when Gai challenges me to do something inane. And Genma always eggs him on. He seems to delight in humiliating me.”

“That’s part of his voyeurism, I’d say. So what was the worst challenge you’ve ever accepted from Gai?”

Kakashi laughed. “Depends on what you mean by worst. Most dangerous? Most humiliating? Most stupid?”

“Let’s go with most dangerous.”

“There are many contenders for that. The one that sticks in my mind is the time that Gai bet me he could hit an orange with a kunai, while blindfolded, from a hundred paces.”

“And?” That really didn’t sound too bad.

“The orange was held in my teeth, and Gai was blind drunk. I was pretty drunk myself, though not quite as far gone. If I’d done kawarimi one millisecond later, I’d no longer be the handsome man standing before you.”

“Walking next to me.”

“Whatever.’

“Why didn’t you use kawarimi from the beginning?”

“Well, I was drunk, like I said.”

“Sounds to me like you deserved it, then. And who says you’re handsome, anyway?”

“I think you did.”

“No, I didn’t.”

“Not those exact words. But you did say, and I quote: ‘Tanaka and the other nurses don’t know what they’re missing.’”

“Okay. I think you’re handsome. You have an eidetic memory, don’t you?” Even drunk the man could quote accurately and banter without missing a beat.

“It’s freeing to admit the truth, isn’t it?”

“What truth? What the hell are you talking about, Kakashi?” Sakura’s face was crimson.

In the faint glow of the half moon, she saw her mentor’s smile. The street was empty, and he’d deemed it safe to show his face. “My god-like appearance,” she heard him say.

“You know what, copy-ninja? I’m just going to chalk up this behavior to you being drunk. Now give me the key. I am not going to search for it.”

Kakashi pulled the item from his front pants pocket and passed it to the fuming kunoichi. She climbed the two flights of stairs to his apartment, checking back occasionally to make sure Kakashi was still okay. He was gripping the handrail tightly, but seemed a lot more sober than when they’d left the restaurant. She fumbled with the lock, shifting the bag of leftovers to her hip as she did so, and was arrested by a wall of warmth as she opened the door.

“Looks like someone left on the heater,” she said over her shoulder.

“I did. I hate the cold.”

“Your heating bill must be unbelievable,” Sakura said, thinking of how poorly insulated Konoha buildings were. “Well, sit down while I warm this up. You are not going to bed on an empty stomach. The rice will soak up some of the alcohol, so that you don’t get even more drunk.”

“I’d rather just sleep it off.”

“I said, ‘Sit.’”

“What am I? One of your dogs?” He was using his Sakura voice again, and grinning wickedly. But he sat, and admired her figure as she busied herself searching through the kitchen cabinets for a steamer. It was logically located as one might expect from a highly logical man such as he, in the cabinet just next to the stove, but Kakashi felt no urge to point out to her where the bamboo tool was located. Watching her stretch to reach the uppermost shelves was quite entertaining, particularly as her sweater rode up as she did so, revealing the satiny smooth skin of her back.

“You don’t have a steamer, do you?”

“I do. But I don’t use it often. I’m not really sure where it would be. Probably pushed toward the back of a cabinet.” He smirked as she crouched low to reinspect each of the lower cabinets more carefully, giving him a prime view of her posterior, then gripped his chair as he began to feel the warmth of the room amplify his drunkenness.

“Ha!” Sakura cried. She’d found it. Entertainment over.

“Sakura. I’m sorry, but I think I need to lie down.” Kakashi rose and swayed a bit, grabbing his chair back for support. “I’ll be on the couch.”

Sakura placed an arm around him. “No, I think not. Don’t even think about arguing.” She guided him toward his bedroom and eased him onto his bed. “I’ll be back in a moment. I just need to turn off the stove.”

She returned quickly, and knelt next to him on the bed. “I’m going to help your liver a bit, Kakashi.”

“Liver?”

“Yes, the organ you’re currently destroying.” She slid her hand under his shirt until it rested just under his ribs, on his body’s right-hand side.

“Your hand is cold.”

“Quit complaining or I’ll leave you like this.”

“You are so bossy. But it’s okay-- I like it.” Kakashi settled back into the pillows and moved onto his side as she began to trickle chakra though his skin and muscles and into the organ charged with detoxifying his body. Her chakra intensified the metabolism of the cells tasked with breaking down alcohol into non-toxic substances. She felt their activity increase substantially as her chakra provided the energy required to do so. His blood would make a complete circuit through his body in less than a minute– maybe as little as thirty seconds, given his prime physical condition. A half hour of therapy, then, allowing for the alcohol that was still seeping through his system, should bring his blood level down to a reasonable level. She settled in closer to him as she worked, noticing that he’d already fallen asleep, with a peaceful expression on his face. Fifteen more minutes. She’d be so much more comfortable if she lay down next to him, she realized, and quickly did so, draping her arm over his side. She quickly fell asleep.

Kakashi awoke to feel a warmth pressed against his back, and a soft hand still pressed against his abdomen. He rolled over carefully to face her, noting how fragile the petite yet terrifyingly strong kunoichi looked as she slept. Her mouth was slightly open, her breathing steady. Her skirt had hiked up her thighs, revealing tantalizingly smooth, stocking-covered flesh. Damn, she looked good in black. The draped neck of her sweater revealed far more of her flesh than he’d seen when she was upright, allowing her black satin bra to peek out, enticing him further. He longed to caress her, to feel her soft skin against his lips. Kakashi sighed as he rose from the bed and stretched. He felt much better, thanks to Sakura, although he was still slightly under the influence. He’d made a fool of himself tonight-- of this he was certain. She’d have to be completely clueless not to realize by now that he was attracted to her. But perhaps this was a good thing. It was much less intimidating to hear such words from a drunken person than from a sober one, as she would be able to attribute his words to alcohol. Yet the seed had been planted. Hopefully the result would be that she’d begin to think about him differently. Of course, maybe she was already doing so. What had the foot in his lap been about? Or the blush when they’d discussed how handsome he was? Things seemed to be moving along nicely.

More importantly, despite his foolishness, Kakashi had achieved the major purpose of the evening. He’d distracted Sakura successfully. He’d been worried that she’d begin to obsess over the loss of privacy she’d been faced with earlier in the day, and that she’d be unable to sleep as a result, even in the relative safety of Kakashi’s apartment. Yet here she was, slumbering peacefully, in his bed no less. He’d been upset when she demanded he take the bed, and had no doubt that she’d be irked were he to take the couch now. But he certainly wasn’t going to rouse her so that he could sleep alone. He gently lifted her from the bed, pulled the kakebuton and top sheet down, and replaced the beautiful woman in his bed. Then he crawled in next to her, and draped her against him, reveling in her softness and warmth.

Chapter 19– Third date– At Sakura’s Invitation

Obito, I’ve kept this from you for eight years. That makes me a quite a liar, doesn’t it? Lies of omission are still lies. But if it makes you feel any better, I’ve been lying to myself, too. So, here’s the deal. I’m in love, Obito. Completely in love. This has never happened to me before– I’ve never let it. I remember how you felt about Rin, how desperately you loved her. I’ve never felt that way about anyone. Then I noticed Sakura. Do you remember me telling you about her twelve years ago? The little pink-haired girl who was completely obsessed over your cousin, Sasuke? She’s the one. She’s not twelve anymore– I’m not a total pervert, Obito, although many people would tell you different. But when I fell in love with her, it was completely the wrong time. She was only sixteen. Yes, the age of consent is still age thirteen in Fire Country (and I hear it’s twelve in Sand), but I had been her sensei, the person to whom she’d been entrusted. And her parents had just died– she was completely vulnerable. It wouldn’t have been right, and considering the reputation I have among the villagers, I probably would have been lynched. Her family was pretty well known in the village– they were merchants. I don’t think their friends would have let it pass. What am I saying? That wasn’t the real reason, Obito. I learned to ignore what others said after my mother died. The excuse I just gave you was one of the ones I made to rationalize running away– and apparently, I’m still using it. I’ve repeated them to myself so many times that now even I half-believe my own excuses. Here’s the truth: Sakura needed me– I was the only person she cared about that could be there in Konoha to comfort her, and I ran away, because I was scared of loving her. Scared. Me. Everyone I’ve loved has been taken from me– you, Rin, my parents. It seemed easier not to love anymore. But it was selfish and hurtful. Sakura survived me abandoning her somehow, but I can see that the time she spent alone changed her. She is very much a loner now– she’s not the ebullient kunoichi she used to be. She’s much more withdrawn, and I feel somewhat responsible for that. Not to be completely egotistical about it– I realize I am not the center of her world-- but I know that I hurt her and I had some part to play in shaping her. As far as I’ve heard, she doesn’t date, and hasn’t since she broke up with Sasuke, years and years ago. She’s thrown herself into her work, and damn, she’s good. She’ll probably be made head medic in the next few years.

That’s no thanks to me, of course. I was so busy focusing on Sasuke that I left her and Naruto behind. I told myself that focusing on Sasuke would honor you– he was the last Uchiha, and looked a lot like you. But really, I chose Sasuke because he was most like me. He was the arrogant one, as big a prick as I was at his age– the one who couldn’t wait to grow up and move on as a real ninja. The one who couldn’t be bothered to make friendships. The one who was constantly judging other and finding them lacking. Sasuke never recognized the need for training, even as he accepted one-on-one tutoring from me. He never even recognized me as sensei. Do you see the similarities?

Meanwhile, the other two members of my team grew, but without my help. Annoying Naruto, who threw himself into everything, who was such a clown and so slow on the uptake that I never thought he’d amount to anything– he will be Konoha’s next hokage. I’m sure of it. Jiraiya has taught him well. Interesting that he ended up with Yondaime’s sensei, isn’t it? Naruto learned the Rasengan in only days. It took me weeks, even with your Sharingan. I was lucky enough to have him as a student again for a short time after he learned it, but as usual, not for long. So just about everything Naruto’s accomplished has been without my help. He and Sakura have accompanied me on some missions since team seven disbanded, and it’s been amazing to see what they’ve achieved. They’re adults, they’re jounin, all accomplished without my help.

And Sakura. She’s as talented as Naruto and Sasuke, in her own, less flashy way. But I didn’t recognize that talent when I was her sensei. And that’s a sensei’s job isn’t it– to recognize and nourish the individual’s talents? I dismissed her, the day we met, as a preteen who cared more about boys than about becoming a shinobi. I was so wrong. Yes, she was twelve, and silly like most twelve-year old girls, but twelve-year old boys are silly, too. Like Naruto, Sakura threw herself into everything she did, but I was too absorbed in the boys to notice. She was the one who mastered tree-walking her on her first attempt. Can you think of anyone in our class who did that? It took me three days, remember? But there she was, the member of my team who considered herself inferior to the rest of us, doing something completely amazing– and I didn’t make a big deal of it. I really didn’t even praise her for it– I was too busy egging on the boys. It was like that the whole time I was her sensei. Finally she gave up on me and Tsunade took her under her wing. The girl I overlooked was good enough to become the Hokage’s apprentice, in other words. You know how hard it is for girls to be taken seriously as shinobi– do you remember how frustrated Rin would get? Do you remember that even our sensei dismissed her at times?

Sakura is a lot like Rin, Obito, and knowing her has helped me to see just what it was that you loved about Rin. Maybe it has to do with being a medic, but it’s amazing to see how Sakura gives herself completely to her patients. She’s always been extremely hot-tempered (maybe it’s that pink hair– you know what they say about redheads) but she doesn’t hold a grudge. She could have refused to help me– she would have had every right to– but she helped me anyway, lost weeks of sleep to bring me back. And this is without even knowing why I left her, or why I’ve continued to avoid her for the past eight years.

So why am I telling you all this? Well, Sakura healed me recently, and went well beyond her normal role as a medic to do so. We spent a lot of time together– me incapacitated and unable to respond to her, and she, as far as I can tell, unguarded and honest. We were intimate, though not in the sexual sense. I realized I still love her. And so, finally, Obito, I’m doing something about it. For twenty-five years I thought that the best way to honor your memory was to join you as soon as possible. I thought I didn’t deserve to be alive, and I did everything I could to make my day-to-day life as empty as possible. I took on the highest-risk missions– not out of a sense of duty to Konoha, but because of my death wish. I wanted to die like you and Rin did, as a hero. And I wanted it to happen as soon as possible. But death never came.

The guilt I’ve felt over your deaths, and over not being able to join you has been the only emotion I’ve allowed myself to feel deeply. But now Sakura’s in my life again, Obito. And I want to love her. I want to give myself to her, if she’s willing. Tell me this isn’t wrong.

“You deserve this, Kakashi. Honor my memory in this way: by living as you are meant to live, and by loving the person you are meant to love.“ It was Obito’s voice. In the twenty-five years Kakashi had been visiting the memorial stone, he’d never heard that voice. Today he did, clearly, as though the boy were standing beside him, be-goggled, arms akimbo, telling him the way things were, challenging his complacence. It was the voice of a thirteen-year-old– slightly croaky, on the verge of changing. It was the voice of a life cut short. Yet in that voice was the optimism Kakashi remembered.

Kakashi rose from his knees with a smile on his face, now certain that what he was doing was right. He felt blessed in this endeavor by his dearest friend. He leaned and pressed his lips against the memorial stone in a gesture of thanks, then walked away, filled with a peace he’d never felt before, and an eagerness to begin his future with Sakura.

As he entered the training field, he pulled the note Sakura had left for him from his pocket.

“Kakashi– Hope I didn’t wake you. I am going out for a long run. If you are feeling up to it, would you like to spar later this morning, perhaps around ten? I’ll be at the training ground. No pressure– I don’t think I healed you completely last night. Hope you are not feeling too miserable. Sorry for waking up in your bed. –Sakura.”

It’s only ten to ten, thought Kakashi, checking the watch he was wearing for the second time that week. The look on her face would be priceless. He walked quietly across the field to the training ground, where Sakura sat meditating, silently removed his sandals, and sat opposite her, mirroring her position. Her eyes were closed, as they had been this morning as she lay in his arms. He had fallen asleep holding her, and at some time during the early morning, Kakashi had awoken to find that she had reciprocated the embrace, placing her head against his chest, splaying her hand across his back, and intertwining her legs with his. This was not a position in which Kakashi could continue to sleep– he was far too aroused by this intimate contact– so he had lain with her in this embrace, breathing in her fragrance and feeling her soft warmth against him, as well as a certain amount of discomfort from the jeans he was wearing, which were now a bit too tight. Kakashi risked kissing the top of her head and stroking her hair– he couldn’t resist. She was not a morning person, after all, and had always been hard to rouse in the early hours of the day. He had thought it unlikely that such an action would wake her. But she surprised him by whispering his name, then snuggling even more closely against him and falling more deeply asleep.

She’d awoken after another hour or so, and Kakashi, though playing possum, had been totally aware of her responses. She stretched languorously at first, then stiffened and gave a soft cry of surprise as she realized exactly where she was, and in whose arms she lay. For just a moment he considered making it difficult for her to leave their embrace, but decided there was no need to add to her obvious embarrassment. He’d relaxed his limbs, allowing her to carefully disengage herself from him, which she did tentatively, as though afraid of awakening him. As quietly as possible (which was very quietly, given her profession) she’d hopped out of bed, rifled through her still-unpacked belongings, performed her morning ablutions and hurried out of the apartment.

And now she was meditating, completely relaxed and unaware of his presence.

Scratch that, he thought as he saw a smile disturb her serene features.

“I’m having a hard time believing it’s you, considering it’s still morning, but it is your chakra signature I feel. When did you enter the land of the living?” She’d sensed him, after all. Not surprising, considering she was a jounin and a master of chakra manipulation. She still hadn’t opened her eyes.

“Do you meditate every day?”

“If I can. I miss it when I don’t. It helps calm me down– makes me less likely to fly into a rage. My colleagues appreciate it.” She smiled wryly. Despite her daily meditation, she had earned several private nicknames from the staff– nicknames she wasn’t supposed to know about. “She-Bear” was the most objectionable in her view, worse than “Bitch,” “Mini-Tsunade,” and the other appellations she’d heard.

“You do seem a bit more placid.”

“You think so?” Her eyes opened in surprise. “Was I that horrible when I was your student?”

“You were a wonderful student, Sakura. I know you didn’t think so, but...”

“Thanks.” She smiled brightly at him, a real smile and he felt it warm him for a moment. Then she changed the subject, apparently unwilling to continue to bask in the glow of his compliment. “So, Kakashi. Why did you get so drunk last night?”

“Because I didn’t eat.”

“Oh? Is that what it was?” Her voice dripped with sarcasm. “You know that’s not what I meant.”

“Hmm. I’m not sure. I usually don’t drink that much. I don’t like losing control.”

“Neither do I.”

“Did I embarrass you?” His visible eye twinkled.

Sakura laughed. “The restaurant owner thought you were crazy. He was worried for his fish.”

Apparently that was Sakura’s way of saying, “Yes.” Kakashi put on his most contrite expression, although this was hard to see with his mask covering most of his face. “Sorry, Sakura-chan.”

“I probably should have let you suffer the consequences, Kakashi-kun.”

He smiled at the honorific. It had been some time since she’d used it. “I’m glad you didn’t.” She blushed at this, thinking of the position she’d found herself in this morning.

“So, are you feeling up to sparring?”

“I wouldn’t be here if I weren’t.” Yes, you would, Copy Ninja. You’d be here with a broken leg, ruptured spleen, kidney stones, anything. Let’s not kid ourselves.

“Any limits?”

“No. Full-on. We both need the practice.”

“You really think I’m good enough to go up against you, full-on? Wow. Well, if you’re going to use your Sharingan, I’m going to do a check-up afterwards. Agreed?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Don’t call me that unless you want me to get angry.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Sakura clenched her fists as Kakashi disappeared from sight. What should she expect from him? True, the man knew well over 1,000 jutsu, but he seemed to limit himself to his favorites. And he certainly wouldn’t do anything too dangerous, like Chidori, or Rasengan on her. She could count on a substitution jutsu, or several. She jumped as several shuriken whizzed past her.

“Sakura, don’t just stand there.” She dove just in time to avoid a barrage of kunai, then crawled through the underbrush, toward the sound of his voice. He’d probably thrown his voice, or perhaps used a shadow clone to launch the attack, but then again, he might be using the simplest of strategies in the hopes that she’d over-think things. He did tend to underestimate her.

Sakura saw the slightest rustle in an understory rhododendron and knew she’d found Kakashi’s location. Or his double’s. If it was a clone, there was a good chance that Kakashi was in viewing distance, and in the trees, most likely between 5 and 10 meters from the ground. Sakura quickly glanced around her and gauged the density of the foliage covering her. Satisfied that she was well-hidden, even from above, she made the hand seals and said the words to create her own shadow clones. She’d worked hard to be able to create more than one at a time, and hadn’t told anyone of her new capability. This should be a surprise to him. Sakura directed one clone to stay in the current position, and the other two to circle back, then climb into the trees at seven o’clock and five o’clock relative to the target, but back a good 10 meters. Kakashi liked to have a frontal view of his own clones, and he liked to stay close by. There was a good chance her clones would be able to locate him from this position, and catch him unaware. Sakura herself ran back 15 meters, and climbed high into the nearest tree to get a bird’s eye view of the proceedings.

“Fire,” she thought, and the first clone released three kunai in rapid succession. Sakura heard the clunk of metal embedding in wood, and saw no retaliatory fire. He’d used Kawarimi, then, as she’d expected. Her clone on the ground had given itself away, and Kakashi was undoubtedly approaching it. She saw him, at six o’clock, as he leaped gently to the ground and entered the underbrush, and heard the sound of flesh striking flesh. Sakura smiled. Kakashi had been just where she’d expected, only meters ahead of her own clones positioned in the trees. She directed clone one to move out into the open, and clone two to move closer. The first landed a blow to Kakashi’s jaw, knocking him back several meters. He threw a kunai with deadly accuracy, then swore as clone one revealed its true nature. Clone two threw several shuriken at the copy ninja, but was too late. As the spinning blades approached, Kakashi’s form was engulfed in a blur of whirling leaves. Time to regroup.

Shadow clones couldn’t teleport, at least not to Sakura’s knowledge. So, the man on the ground indeed had been Kakashi. Not that it mattered, now. He could be anywhere! Sakura calmed herself and forced herself to think analytically, to limit her speculations to those that were supported by fact, and to select the simplest explanation that fit all available observations. It wasn’t exactly true that Kakashi couldn’t be anywhere, she told herself. Teleportation was for short distances only– 10 to 20 meters, max. That put Kakashi within a circle 40 meters in diameter, possibly smaller. And as he was likely in the trees, she and her clones should stay there as well. What else was important? He was now aware that she was using shadow clones– but he had seen her do that before. But only one at a time. It was likely, therefore, that he thought the second clone was the real Sakura. He’d be tracking it, then.

Sakura directed clone three to stay within 3 meters of the second, and did the same herself, positioning herself on the opposite side. There he was, jumping lightly from tree to tree, as he followed clone two. Clone three moved in close behind, blade at the ready. Kakashi crept up behind clone two and held a kunai to its throat. The clone drove its elbow into his abdomen, and twisted around. As it did so, Kakashi drove the erstwhile digging implementinto its upper arm, and the clone promptly disappeared. Kakashi looked surprised, as he should be on learning of Sakura’s mastery of this technique. Clone three took the opportunity to jump him, and fell with him to the ground. The real Sakura jumped, too, landing lightly on her feet, and ran quietly toward the tussle. The clone quickly pinned him, taking advantage of some of the real Sakura’s prodigious strength, and held its own kunai to his throat. Kawarimi again, on Kakashi’s part. Then his hand reached from the ground and grabbed the leg of the almost-Sakura. The real Sakura took the opportunity to gather chakra to her hand, then struck the ground with immense force. The earth faulted, rupturing rapidly in a straight line towards Kakashi, rendering his attack useless. He looked surprised for a moment as the split earth revealed him, then disappeared.

It would be stupid for her to teleport– it would show him which Sakura was the real one. The clone had the same strength she did– either one of them could have struck the massive blow to the ground. Sakura directed her remaining clone to take cover, and did so herself. He’d be in the trees again. There would be no reason to go to the ground if he wasn’t using the Doton: Shinjuu Zanshu technique. But what would he do? Think, Sakura. She’d surprised him, that seemed pretty clear. He had been using simple strategies– it had been the real Kakashi, not clones, for every encounter so far. He would want to regroup, Sakura thought. So send in the clones. Sakura moved higher in her tree and directed her own clone to make itself a bit more obvious. It allowed a branch to make the slightest rustle. An onslaught of shuriken was the immediate reward. Sakura’s clone avoided every one. More importantly, Sakura now knew the position of one of Kakashi’s doubles. She was certain a clone had launched the attack. Sakura moved to where she thought the real Kakashi most likely to be– in view of both her clone and his own. She masked her chakra as she moved in a wide half-circle toward his position, then crept up behind him. She was sure this was he. His posture was lazy, relaxed, as though there was no chance of her finding him.

“You’re dead, Copy Ninja,” she said as she wrapped her arm around his neck, constricting his windpipe. With the agility he was known for, Kakashi turned the tables, wrenching her over him, then pulling her toward him with a quick, fluid motion. She looked up at him, surprise in her eyes, then noticed that his hitae-ate was displaced. His Sharingan spun lazily, and she found herself unable to look away. She lost herself in the depths of his kaleidoscope eye and slumped in his arms. He lifted her, then jumped nimbly to the ground, and lay her head in his lap. It would be at least half an hour until she came to.

...o...o...o...

“You surprised me, Sakura.” Kakashi’s mask was down and a water bottle was in his hands. He took a swig of the cool liquid, then continued. “I wasn’t expecting three shadow clones.”

Sakura smiled. “You underestimated me, didn’t you?”

“It’s not the first time, is it? Your fighting style has certainly changed. Being able to think like your opponent is a formidable skill. Is this Tsunade’s training?”

“No. She’s more a brute force kind of person. I always rush into things– Tsunade really hasn’t helped much with that. But, today I decided to fight the way I’ve seen you fight.”

Kakashi smiled at the compliment, showing his dimples. Maybe he had taught her something after all. “You did well. You would have beaten me if I hadn’t used the Sharingan.”

“Speaking of which.” Sakura sat up, to Kakashi’s dismay. He’d been enjoying her proximity. He liked the idea of her using his lap as a pillow. “I need to examine your eye.” She knelt in front of him, and lifted his hitae-ate. “How does it feel?”

“No pain, Sakura. Hypnotizing someone takes almost no chakra.”

Sakura lay her hand against his eye and let her chakra gently probe. She detected no swelling, nothing unusual. She removed her hand and smiled as she looked into both his eyes. “You’re fine. You know, I thought it would hurt.”

“I told you it uses minimal chakra. Why would it hurt?”

“No, I thought it would hurt me.”

“I wouldn’t do that to you, Sakura. Not even if you’d turned against me.” Kakashi replaced his mask, stretched and rose to his feet, pulling up Sakura as he did so. “Are you ready to head back? I don’t know about you, but I need a shower.”

“I can’t believe how tired I am. Is it because of the Sharingan? My shadow clones did most of the work this morning– I hardly moved a muscle.”

“True, but you divided your chakra evenly among you, so you started out with only a fourth of your normal chakra. I’m not surprised you’re tired. But, no, it’s not due to the Sharingan. You should be fully recovered from that. You were out for about thirty minutes.”

“Are you all right? I forgot to ask. Some medic, huh?”

“I have a couple of bruises, but nothing major. No worries here.”

“I’ll fix them after you shower.”

“If you insist. It’s nice having my own personal medic.” Kakashi’s tone was dry. “I almost forgot. I ran across Izumo this morning. Tsunade wants to see you about the incident yesterday. She’s scheduled a meeting for two o’clock with the Internal Affairs team.”

“The incident. Oh.” Sakura’s mood darkened, and Kakashi saw fear momentarily cloud her face.

“I’d be happy to come with you.”

“Would you, Kakashi? I don’t think I can watch that video without a friend by my side.”

“Well, I’m definitely that, Sakura.” But I want to be more.

“Yes, you are.” Sakura wrapped her arm around him and pulled him closer to her as they walked home. He found he had no problem with this public display of affection.

“And you won’t think less of me?”

Kakashi turned to face her. “What on earth do you mean? How could I think less of you?”

“I know I’m going to cry. I don’t want you to see how weak I am.”

“You’ve proven over and over that you’re not weak. But you are human, Sakura. We all are. Don’t be afraid of that.”

Sakura sighed. “You don’t cry.”

“You don’t know that, Sakura.” But it was true. He hadn’t cried since Obito had died. Not for Rin, not for any of his fallen comrades. But he knew now that he would cry for Sakura– if she died, if she spurned him, if she ever left him. And he wasn’t ashamed of this. Actually, he welcomed the realization.

...o...o...o...

...o...o...o...

It had been a horrible afternoon. Surprisingly, Kakashi had found himself almost as upset as Sakura was. Almost. She’d broken down almost immediately. The drive they had saved had many, many clips, most edited to show her in the best (read: most detailed) light, and although the internal affairs team had fast-forwarded through many of the clips, they moved slowly enough for Sakura to see that her every waking moment had been recorded and analyzed. He’d even taped her most private moments in the bathroom, Sakura saw, though thankfully the IA staffers hadn’t slowed those clips down to examine them in detail. Nonetheless, the knowledge of this particular indignity had affected Sakura the worst.

“I can’t believe this,” she said, over and over, the words becoming a mantra. Kakashi held her hand in his, gently stroking his thumb against it.

“Tell me again what the point of this is.” His voice had come out more angry than he intended, and the two IA staffers jumped. They were very familiar with his reputation, it seemed. “You have the evidence you need. I think we’re finished.” He pulled Sakura to her feet, and pulled the hard drive from the computer.

One IA staffer protested, but Kakashi quickly shut him down. “Tsunade will be keeping this in her office. This will not get into the wrong hands. Do we understand each other?” The two men gulped and nodded.

“Let’s go, Sakura,” Kakashi said gently, and took her down the hall to the Godaime’s office. “I’ll be right out,” he said as they reached the door, not even waiting for a reply to his knock.

Tsunade looked up with an angry expression on her face. How dare he disturb her? She quickly moved the bottle of sake off her desk and into the drawer she reserved as mini-bar. Then she remembered why he was in the building, and her face softened. “I take it that it didn’t go well?”

Kakashi placed the hard drive on the Hokage’s desk, a look of disgust on his face. He was direct, as usual. “I’m worried about her. She really didn’t need to go through that, just now. Your IA staff are as perverted as Takabishi. But that’s not why I’m here. Tsunade-sama, I know that you’ve grounded me for the next few weeks, but Sakura needs to get out of Konoha for a while. I’d be happy to take her– that way she can keep an eye on my condition,” he almost rolled his eyes at this, “and she can get some rest.”

“Good idea.” He’d expected some resistance. Kakashi’s eye widened at her immediate approval. “I would suggest two weeks, but stay in Fire country.”

“Of course. Thank you, Tsunade-sama.” He bowed before exiting the room.

“Kakashi.” Tsunade’s voice was sharp. Kakashi wheeled around to see that her expression matched her voice. “Sakura is very dear to me. I expect you to take good care of her.”

“I’d put her life before mine.”

“That’s not what I mean, Kakashi. Do I need to spell it out for you? It’s obvious from the way you looked at her this afternoon that you feel something towards her. If you hurt her–“

“Tsunade-sama,” Kakashi’s voice was strained, and almost too soft to discern. “Sakura means the world to me. I will never, ever hurt her again.”

Tsunade’s eyes widened. She’d thought it was just lust. This was clearly something else. Who would have thought the Copy Ninja could love?

“I’m going to hold you to that, Kakashi. My Sakura deserves to be happy, Does she know how you feel?”

“No, Tsunade-sama. She’s still oblivious, I think.”

“Well, then, good luck to you. I’ll see you in two weeks.”

“I have a surprise for you,” Kakashi said as he closed the door to the Hokage’s office.

“I really don’t think I can handle any more surprises, Kakashi. At least not today. I just want to curl up and go to sleep.” Sakura’s voice was flat, drained of all emotion.

“Tomorrow, then. I think you’ll like it.”

...o...o...o...

She was bathing, in her dream, luxuriating in her deep bathtub as she did almost every day. Suddenly, she felt eyes upon her. Sakura looked around and saw the cameras– visible, red light flashing, recording her every move. She tried to cover herself, but found that the water had drained and the fluffy towels she’d seen just a moment before had suddenly disappeared. She crouched to hide herself as best she could and suddenly realized that she’d be there for hours, that her unease was probably adding to the voyeur’s pleasure. Then she saw his face at her window, the pleasant, grandfatherly face that had seemed so safe, so friendly.

Sakura woke up in a cold sweat and bolted upright in bed. This wasn’t her bed, she realized. She looked up and trembled involuntarily. There was a person standing in the shadow of the doorway.

“Sakura. Are you okay? I heard you crying out.”

“Kakashi.” The relief in her voice was tangible. “I’m scared.”

He came to her without being asked, and pulled her into his arms. His voice was soft, gentle. “Do you want me to stay with you?”

She nodded, pressing even closer to him. “If it’s not too much trouble.” She felt his laugh rumble deep inside him.

“You worry too much. Now, move over.” He joined her under the heavy duvet, and pulled her close. She was wearing only a camisole and matching silk shorts. He wore cotton pajama bottoms. He’d had several fantasies start out this way.

Control yourself. This is no time to act out Icha, Icha.

“What are you afraid of, Kakashi? You’re never scared, are you?”

This was not a question he’d normally answer. But these were no ordinary circumstances. Still, he thought long and hard before he answered.He’d been afraid to love her, that was certainly his biggest fear. But the time wasn’t right to tell her this. “You asked me about my mask the other day. Wearing it is a result of fear.”

She turned to him, a questioning look on her face.

“I put it on for the first time the day I found out that my mother had died. I don’t think you saw the memory of that. After my father... killed himself, she wanted me to abandon the ninja life. I was already chunin by then, and I had decided I had something to prove.

“How old were you?”

“Six. I wanted to redeem my family name. There was no way I was going to live as a civilian, and I told her that on no uncertain terms. I was already a jerk– completely disrespectful to her. My mother was devastated by my decision, although she tried to accept it. She pretended everything was okay, but I’d hear her crying at night. While I was away on a mission, she took her own life. When I returned, the neighbors were lying in wait for me. I was the number one story of the week, fodder for their gossip mill. I put on the mask because I didn’t want them to have the pleasure of seeing me cry, of seeing me weak. And I’ve worn it since then for the same reason– out of simple fear of others seeing that I can be weak, out of frustration that I don’t have total control over my emotions. Not because I’m handsome, not because of the bingo books, and not because I look just like my dad. At first I hated him for what he’d done, but after Obito died, I realized my dad had been a hero, as well. I’m proud that I look like him.”

Sakura pushed his hair, unrestrained by the hitae-ate, back from Kakashi’s eyes and looked deeply into them. “Who ever said you were a jerk?” She laughed softly, and then became serious, as she ran her fingers over his face, lightly touching his nose, his lips, his cheekbones. “Thank you for letting me see your face, Kakashi. It means even more to me now that I understand why you hide it.” She gently kissed him, then slid against him to settle her head against his chest.

“Good night, Kakashi.” He waited for her breathing to become shallow and even.

“Good night, love.”

Chapter 20– Journey North (fourth date)

Author’s note: Thanks to everyone who has taken the time to review! I really appreciate it!

“So where are we going?” It was the fourth time she’d asked the question this morning, and as before, the answer did not enlighten her. She increased her pace to keep up with the long strides of her former teacher.

“North.”

“I kind of figured that, Kakashi. But where? Are we on a mission or not? I thought you were grounded for three weeks. Why won’t you give me any details?”

“I told you it’s a surprise.”

“You are so annoying.”

“Look who’s talking. How many times have you asked me the same question? We’re not even out of Konoha yet!”

He’d meant to get an early start on their trip, but so far in his career, that had never once happened. Today was no different. So much for good intentions. He’d risen early, as usual, paid a quick visit to the memorial stone, and then to Sakura’s apartment. She’d need her pack, bedroll and a warm coat for the trip he’d planned, and he wanted to find out if she had certain other garments she’d require when they arrived at their destination. No such luck, he found, after rifling through her belongings. Apparently she wasn’t much for tradition. He was glad he’d come to her place in her stead; she’d be furious if she saw the gaping holes that had been left in the walls and ceilings after removal of Takabishi’s surveillance equipment. He had felt no qualms about waking up the apartment manager at the ungodly hour of six a.m. to demand that Sakura’s apartment be repaired during her absence. It was the manager’s fault, after all, that this had happened. He’d rented the neighboring apartment to Takabishi, and much worse could have transpired. After receiving assurances from a very cowed manager that indeed the apartment would be returned to a pristine condition in a matter of days, if only Sakura would not spread news of the unfortunate event she’d suffered (it would be bad for the complex’s reputation, after all), Kakashi had returned to his apartment to find Sakura still dead to the world. When a soft, “Good morning, sleepy head,” did nothing to rouse her, he had threatened cold water. She’d jumped out of bed in a hurry, growling and muttering.

Her mood had not improved greatly, he thought as he looked back over his shoulder at the kunoichi following him through Konoha’s narrow streets. She was definitely not a morning person, and still barely awake despite consuming nearly an entire pot of coffee. He’d given her only the barest details of their trip over breakfast, which in her morning stupor she really didn’t appreciate. Yes, the miso soup was made with instant dashi, but he’d picked up some broiled saury the night before, and what could make breakfast better than that? She’d turned her nose up at the fish, but polished off two bowls of rice with egg, and griped that there was no ume-boshi. As she slowly woke up, she’d begun to query him about the trip. He revealed very little, other than the trip would take two weeks.

“But what should I pack?” she’d asked.

“A shinobi is prepared for every eventuality, Sakura,” had been his response.

“How long, then?”

“Two weeks.” She’d flounced down the hall to gather her things. Kakashi had joined her in his room, sitting cross-legged on his bed, observing her actions. She really was amusing, he’d thought as he watched her rummage through her still-unpacked luggage, muttering obscenities, quickly assessing and rejecting candidate items for the trip. The items she did select were thrown haphazardly into the pack. At the very least, she was a speedy packer.

“Don’t forget boots. We may run into some snow.”

“So we’re heading into the mountains? Is this trip what you were talking to Tsunade about last night?”

“We discussed it.”

“So, it’s a mission?”

Silence.

“Why won’t you tell me?”

“I already did tell you. It’s a surprise. Don’t you know me well enough to understand that if I’m not telling you something, there must be a good reason?”

“Yes, but I also know you well enough to know that you’re a bit of a sadist, Kakashi-sensei. You enjoy teasing people just a little too much.”

“Hmm.” Kakashi had picked up his copy of Icha, Icha Takutikusu, and begun reading, then suddenly looked up. “I’m not your sensei anymore, Sakura.”

“I’m well aware of that. So why are you acting like you are?”

“You called me that just now to piss me off, didn’t you?”

“‘A shinobi takes every opportunity.’ Rule 60. Sensei.” She’d picked up her pack and slung it to her shoulder. “Can we stop by Ino’s and Sasuke’s on our way?”

Kakashi had grimaced, but nodded. He and babies did not mix, and there were four too many of them at the Uchiha residence. Okay, not all of them were babies anymore, but what was the difference, really? Still sticky-handed and grubby-faced, oozing drool, mucus and other bodily substances. Hopefully this visit wouldn’t take too long, he’d thought.

Of course, it had. Sakura had grabbed baby Uchiha right away, and sat down next to Kakashi as she cradled the child against her shoulder and rubbed her back. What was the point of that? Ah. A sound too loud to have arisen from such a small GI tract emanated from the infant, causing giggles all around. And something white was coming out of its mouth, Kakashi noticed as he snuck a peek at its face. Her face.

“Oh, do you want her?” Before he had a chance to demur, Sakura had deposited the child into his arms, which he had continued held out, frozen, before him. “Don’t hold her like that, Kakashi. Pull her toward yourself, so she feels comforted.” The baby’s face had turned an alarming shade of red, but this quickly subsided as Kakashi mimicked the rocking, jiggling motion he’d seen Sakura doing.

Sakura had nodded in approval, then taken the opportunity to look for Ino’s three other girls, promptly leaving the room.

Don’t leave me! Kakashi panicked, as though he were holding a timed explosive device. He looked up at Ino in entreaty.

“She likes you,” Ino had smiled, stretching, then looked down to see that her shirt was still unbuttoned. Kakashi looked away, a blush creeping to his cheeks. “Sorry, I was just finishing nursing when you two came in. Having these babies has totally destroyed any sense of modesty I once had.”

“So, does she have a name yet?” Ino? Modest? He had nearly laughed.

“I’m pretty fond of ‘Midori’, but Sasuke wants to use a family name. He was so sure she was going to be a boy that he didn’t even pick out any girls’ names. I think it should be my choice by default, don’t you?”

“Hmm.” Best to be noncommittal. “Sakura!” Had she noticed the relief in his voice?

“Come here, baby.” She’d scooped up the tiny Uchiha, who had fussed a bit at leaving Kakashi’s arms, then focused on sucking her fingers. “I think you’re still hungry, little one. Ino?”

“There’s hardly any point in getting dressed. All this one wants to do is eat.” Ino had settled the child against her breast, and discretely unbuttoned her shirt again.

“Sakura,” Kakashi had said, fixing his eyes on a particularly interesting scroll that hung in the tokonoma, “we really should be going. We’ve got quite a distance to cover today.”

“Do we? You should have said something, Kakashi.” Sakura had then smiled that dangerous smile Kakashi had seen fairly frequently lately. “Ino, is there anything we can do for you before we leave?”

“Oh, no. Sasuke is pretty much my dogsbody lately.”

How far we’ve fallen, Uchiha.

He’d finally persuaded Sakura to leave, and now they walked quickly through the village. They were almost halfway to the Konoha gates when they were waylaid by a certain orange-clad jounin.

“Naruto! When did you get back into town?” Sakura nearly tackled him with her hug.

“Just now. Ero-sannin had an errand that couldn’t wait. We’re only here for the day, though.”

“Have you seen Hinata yet?” Sakura looked meaningfully at Kakashi as she said this.

Naruto blushed. “I’m on my way over there, now. Want to get lunch later?”

“Can’t. We’re heading out. We’re late, in fact.” Kakashi was blunt, as usual, though he tried to hide his irritation. Would they be crossing paths with every friend and acquaintance before they made it out of town?

“When has that ever bothered you before?” Naruto grinned cheerily, then remembered where he had been headed, and blushed brightly. “Well, gotta go. See you guys soon! Jiraiyasays I’m almost done with this phase of training.” He rushed off toward the wealthy quarter of town and the palatial residence of the Hyuuga family.

“So what about our bet? How will we know if he’s passionately kissed Hinata?”

“Come with me.” They headed toward the commercial part of town, and entered the dimly lit Dulled Kunai.

“I had no idea this place was open this early.”

“Never closes.” Genma lay sprawled on a padded bench. Kakashi raised the glass of water which still sat on the table (along with a large number of empty sake bowls) and gently poured it on the examiner’s face.

“Baby, I told you I don’t like that.” Genma murmured, eyes still closed.

“Since when do your needs come first?” Genma’s eyes opened wide at the sound of Kakashi’s low voice

“Oh, it’s you. Damn it, Kakashi, I was having the most incredible dream. Why’d you have to ruin it?”

“I take it things didn’t go so well last night? You know, you seem to wake up here fairly often.”

Genma scowled as he moved into a sitting position and ran a hand through his caramel-brown hair. “These incredibly luscious twins walked in last night– I’d never seen them before. They were mine, I could totally feel how into me they were, but Gai– oh, hi, Sakura.”

“Hi, Genma.” Sakura decided to ignore the fact that the eyes of the Konoha casanova were fastened not on her face, but several inches below. “I was wondering if you could do us a favor.”

“Anything for you, Sakura.” He looked at Kakashi and winked. “Speaking of luscious twins,” he said softly, hoping only the copy ninja would hear.

Sakura chose to ignore the remark and smiled sweetly, resting her hand on the table and leaning forward a bit, to give Genma a slightly better view of her twins. She didn’t notice Kakashi frowning. “Could you keep an eye on Naruto? Let us know if anything develops between him and Hinata? But don’t say anything to either of them.”

“Naruto? Sure. Didn’t realize he was back in town. Hinata, huh? So he finally clued in. I’m guessing you want me to stalk them. Sounds like fun.”

“Great. Let’s go, Sakura,” said Kakashi, abruptly grabbing her elbow and steering her out of the bar.

“We need to revise the terms of the bet. The wager said he’d be kissing her within a week of his return, but he’s only going to be in town for one day.”

“I guess he’d better kiss her today, then.” Kakashi’s voice revealed the devilish smile on his face.

“That is totally unfair.”

“Life is unfair.”

“How profound, Kakashi.” They made it to the gates of the town and Sakura noticed Kakashi relax visibly. “It really doesn’t matter, anyway. I have no doubt that they’re passionately kissing right now, assuming Hinata’s dad isn’t around.”

“Then you have nothing to worry about.” Kakashi chuckled to himself. He was so looking forward to having Sakura read the rest of Icha, Icha Takutikusu to him.

“Your pack looks really heavy. Care to explain why? You usually travel light.”

Kakashi ignored her, choosing to bury his nose in his novel instead. He could almost hear her voice reading in that innocent, yet so sexy voice she unwittingly used.

...o...o...o...o...

“This looks like as good a place as any.” Kakashi set his pack down near the center of the clearing, then stretched his back and groaned.

“Finally.” Sakura sighed. Her feet were cold and sore– she should have worn boots from the start. She hadn’t reckoned on running through the canopy for six hours, stopping only for water and bathroom breaks, and she hadn’t considered the difference in temperature between Konoha and the Shiroi Mountains. At least she’d had the sense to dig out her coat during the paltry two-minute break Kakashi had allowed a few hours back. “I didn’t think it would be so cold up here.”

Kakashi seemed unperturbed by the cold, but there was little that did perturb him. “Generally, you can count on a drop of about a degree for about every 60 meters increase in elevation. Even in the summer.”

“How high up are we?”

“About 700 meters above sea level. It’s almost freezing.” Kakashi idly kicked a patch of ice-crusted snow that remained in the shadow of a large rock, then looked up at the patch of white sky visible though the densely clustered trees. “We’ll need shelter– I think it’s going to snow tonight.”

“Well, where do you want to set up the tent?”

“What tent?”

“Your pack is stuffed to the gills, yet you didn’t bring a tent?”

“Why would we need a tent?” Kakashi looked at her incredulously. “We can just build a lean-to. Or better yet...” He started walking toward a large fir tree. Its dense branches touched the ground. He pulled a bough aside, and gestured to Sakura. “One shelter, ready made.”

It wasn’t any warmer under the fir tree, but there was no wind, and it was very dry, as the branches formed an impenetrable roof above them. Better still, the ground was cushioned with a deep layer of needles. Sakura unstrapped her bedroll from her pack and lay it on the southern side of the tree trunk, after inspecting the ground for sticky tree sap. The ground should be slightly warmer there.

She left their makeshift shelter and joined Kakashi in the clearing. “Why don’t you gather wood, start a fire and make the rice? He gestured to the kitchen implements he’d set on the large boulder. “I”ll catch dinner”

“We’re not having cup ramen?”

“Sorry to disappoint you.” Kakashi grabbed a mesh bag from his pack and headed into the forest, toward the sound of running water.

“If I never saw cup ramen again, it would be too soon.”

“Don’t say that to Naruto!” he called over his shoulder.

Sakura had no trouble finding dry kindling and a fallen tree which she quickly chopped into manageable hunks and carried back to the clearing. After digging out a depression, she piled the kindling and logs into a pyramid, then hurried in the direction she’d seen Kakashi go, in search of water. She came upon the man standing knee-deep in the small river, concentrating as he looked into the rushing water. Suddenly, he became a blur as he snapped down and then up again Sakura saw a struggling trout in his hand, which he quickly added to the half-submerged bag he’d tethered to a rock.

“I didn’t know you were part bear.” He turned to her and smiled.

You’re one to talk, onna no kuma.”

Sakura’s mouth gaped. “Where did you hear that?”

“I’ve been to that damn hospital enough times to hear all of your nicknames, Sakura. Probably even a few you don’t know about.”

Sakura blushed. “They really hate me.”

“They’re not supposed to be your friends. And I don’t think they hate you. They’re scared of you. A little fear is often a good thing among subordinates, you know.” He winked at her.

Sakura crouched to fill the saucepan she carried with water. “Was that your teaching philosophy?”

“Maybe.”

“The sight of you reading those books pretty much destroyed any fear we might have had of you. On the first day.”

“Oh.”

“So is that technique the same one as you use to drink with the mask on?”

“Uh-huh.”

“I’m not surprised that you’d find multiple uses for it. But, aren’t you cold?”

“Mind over matter.” He made his way to the bank and gave an involuntary shiver, then laughed. “Yes, I guess I am a bit cold.”

“Take off your pants.”

Kakashi blinked. “If you insist.”

“Baka. Dry your legs off with the upper half. I’ll start the fire.” She turned and walked off quickly with the half-filled pot.

Kakashi returned to a crackling fire and the sight of Sakura reading his Icha, Icha, a smile on her face. With a disarming lack of modesty, he warmed his legs by the fire, then searched in his pack for dry clothes. “You can start scaling the fish, Sakura.” He pulled on his pants, re-wrapped his upper leg and attached his kunai holster.

“I think not. You said you were in charge of dinner. I won’t want to eat them if I have to scale them.” Sakura grimaced.

“I said I was catching dinner. I never said anything about preparing it.” She shrugged. “Well then, you’ll take clean up.” She nodded. “And breakfast.”

“You’re pushing it, Hatake.”

He smiled as he grabbed the book from her, then made his way to a nearby rock, where he pulled out a kunai and set to work. He grabbed several long sticks from the pile of kindling, sharpening each to a point, then setting them aside, to take up the fish in their place. Small, iridescent ovals fluttered to the ground as he ran the kunai against their skin, sparkling in the glow of the firelight. He impaled each fish through the mouth with a sharpened stick, then propped the fish around the fire at an angle. They would cook quickly.

“Rice should be done in about ten more minutes.”

“Perfect. Did you make enough for tomorrow?”

“Depends how hungry you are– it will be no trouble to make more. Are you planning on eating all of those fish tonight?”

“No, I thought we’d tree whatever’s left, and save it for breakfast. Not quite saury, but good enough.”

“Just what is so great about saury? It’s just fish.”

“What’s so great about tempura?”

“Never mind. Stupid question. There’s a world of difference to me between sushi and sashimi and fish on the bone. I can’t stand to look at saury first thing in the morning. It looks like it’s still alive. I would starve if I had to hunt and butcher my own food.” Sakura rolled her eyes. “Typical girl, huh?”

Kakashi turned the fish slightly, to expose their still-raw reverse, and chuckled softly. “You’re a medic, Sakura. Blood and guts shouldn’t make you squeamish.”

“You’d think that, wouldn’t you? Human guts don’t. But fish are different– I have to eat them.” Sakura gave a theatrical shudder.

“Interesting reasoning.” Kakashi smiled. “But you wouldn’t starve, Sakura. You’re tougher than you give yourself credit for. And no, you are most definitely not a typical girl.” Sakura smiled at the compliment.

“How so?”

Kakashi didn’t answer immediately, turning his attention to the rice instead, which he removed from the fire. He emptied most of the contents of his canteen into a kettle and placed it on the flat rock which served as a hob, then removed his mask to drink the rest. “How so,” he finally said. “Well, first of all, you’re not a girl. And how many women can punch a tree into splinters? What else. You’re smarter than almost anyone else I’ve met. Do I need to go on? It’s not like you to fish for compliments, Sakura.”

“I can count the number of compliments you’ve ever given me on the fingers of one hand, Kakashi. You’re such a hard ass.” She began to scoop rice into the lightweight, laminated bamboo bowls that were part of the mess kit.

“Thanks for noticing.” He grinned, ducking to avoid her punch, and quickly moved away from her, to the other side of the fire pit. He busied himself with pulling the fish from the fire, using a kunai to slide the fish off each stake. “Pass me the bowls, please,” he said as he dislodged the first. “Do you want one or two?”

“One, I guess,” Sakura said, wrinkling her nose.

“Don’t insult my cooking, Sakura, or I’ll send you to bed without supper,” Kakashi growled.

“Stop it.”

“Stop what?”

“Stop treating me like a genin.”

“I was joking, Sakura.”

“I’m not laughing. Don’t patronize me.”

“Happy to pissed in 2.5 seconds. Remarkable,” Kakashi muttered under his breath.

“What?”

“Nothing.” They ate in silence for the next few minutes.

“Kakashi?”

“Mmmph?” He’d just shoveled a rather large portion of rice into his mouth.

“What is it with men and breasts?”

Kakashi choked, then coughed violently, spraying rice into the fire, where it popped and crackled. He reached for his canteen, but it was empty. Sakura quickly passed him hers. After a minute or two, the coughing subsided, and Kakashi spoke.

“What exactly do you mean?” He was clearly flustered, though it was unclear whether this was from the question Sakura posed or the coughing it had provoked.

“Why is it the thing that men focus on first?”

“I don’t think that’s necessarily true.”

“Today when we talked to Genma, he never once looked at my face.”

“But you egged him on a bit, didn’t you?” So he’d noticed that. Sakura noticed he wasn’t smiling. Why should he care?

“And I saw you looking at Ino today.”

“I think you saw me trying quite hard not to look at Ino. A difficult task, I might add. She could feed a small village, after all.”

It was Sakura’s turn to choke on her food. “Excuse me?”

Kakashi smirked. “I seem to remember you saying that to me.”

“I thought you were unconscious at the time. It’s true, though. You’d need a wide-angle lens to photograph her right now.” She turned and looked at him searchingly. “What else do you remember?”

“Bits and pieces. You have a lovely reading voice.” The sun had long since set, but Sakura’s blush was visible, even in the orange glow of the firelight. “But back to your question. Men are attracted to breasts because they’re a highly visible female attribute, because they feel nice, and because they’re typically pretty responsive.” He’d switched into teacher mode, his voice dry, his manner cool and objective.

“But why are men so fixated on big breasts?” She grabbed the copy of Icha, Icha and paged through it, holding it up to show each illustration. “Every single woman in this book has bodacious tatas, Kakashi. Even bigger than Ino’s.”

“Are your hands clean, Sakura?” He grabbed the book from her possessively, and stowed it in his kunai pouch. “The big breasts are a kind of shorthand, a not too subtle way of announcing female sexuality. Plus, you have to consider who drew those pictures. Did you notice that every woman in that book looks just like Tsunade? The hair color may change, but everything else is the same. I’d guess Jiraiya was thinking about her the entire time he was writing that book. Not all of his books feature ‘bodacious tatas’ so prominently, Sakura. His relationship with Tsunade seems to be on again, off again, and the books reflect that. And just for the record, most men don’t find the sight of a lactating woman to be a turn on.”

“Oh.”

“Big breasts aren’t everything, Sakura– some men can actually tell that a woman is in the room without so obvious an announcement. There’s a lot more to a woman than breasts.” He stood and handed Sakura his plate. “Clean up is yours. I’m going to read for a while. Then I’ll take the first watch.” He grabbed a flashlight and loped off to their makeshift shelter.

Kakashi unrolled his bedroll, then sat on it, leaning his back against the fir tree.

Where did that question come from?

She hadn’t been trying to fluster him– her follow-up questions had been too earnest. It was clear she felt inadequate, and that wasn’t too surprising, considering the people she surrounded herself with were all well-endowed, even Hinata.

She really doesn’t see just how beautiful she is.

And he’d played the teacher, a role he was dying to recast. She’d made it clear, on several occasions now, that she didn’t appreciate being treated like a child, but he kept slipping back into that mode. He wasn’t her teacher– he wanted to be much more. Her friend, her lover. Her only.

If it had been two or three days from now, he would have answered her differently, said something to make her see that she was fine– more than fine– as is. It was growing increasingly frustrating to have her within arms reach yet still off-limits. But she still hadn’t picked up on his not-so-subtle hints. She hadn’t noticed the wink and shove Genma had given him earlier, nor the look Naruto had cast his way. Hell, even Tsunade had noticed the way he looked at her student. Sakura wasn’t dense. Why hadn’t she noticed, then?

Maybe she’s not interested.

It couldn’t be that, could it? She blushed when he made suggestive comments, and he’d seen her cast glances at him that seemed less than innocent.

Innocent. Maybe she hasn’t been on the receiving end of attention like this.

No. That couldn’t be true. She’d been with Sasuke, after all. But, Sasuke was... a bit of a cold fish. It was hard to tell that he and Ino were married, at times, apart from the plethora of children they’d produced. And Sakura had said, long ago, that he never really loved her– he’d just wanted to get on with the business of reviving his clan. Kakashi smirked. He couldn’t see Sasuke wooing anyone. Tender, loving words were foreign to him.

And whom else had Sakura been with? On her infrequent trips to the Dulled Kunai she drew the attention of every man in the room, and quickly, drinks would be sent her way. She typically sent them back, he’d noticed. Apparently, she never dated, never even involved herself in harmless flirting. That meant her base of experience was limited.

“I can take first watch, Kakashi.” He looked up to see that she’d entered the shelter.

“No, I’ll wake you up in a few hours. Get some sleep. We’ve got a long hike tomorrow.”

“When will you tell me where we’re going?” She folded down her bedroll, and climbed in, still wearing her coat.

“In due time. Are you cold?”

“I’ll be all right.”

Kakashi left to sit by the fire, and noticed Sakura had already suspended the bag of leftover fish from a nearby tree. She’d banked the fire, too. Kakashi grabbed one of the sticks he’d used to cook dinner, and poked at the embers until they flared up, then added a log to the fire.

There was no place he’d rather be, he realized. The woods were his true home– interesting that a village boy would feel that way, he thought, but nonetheless, it was true. And Sakura, for all her griping about fishing and hunting, felt the same way. She’d said so many times in the past, and he could see it in her eyes, and in the way she moved through the forest. But it wouldn’t matter where he was. The reason for his happiness was the fact that she was with him.

He’d teased her too much, today, but there was no way he was going to tell her where they were headed. Perhaps he’d steer her off track tomorrow, drop a few hints to mislead her about their destination. But he’d try to be a bit more patient with her, too. He stayed by the fire until the snow started to fall– scattered flakes at first, then thick, wet clumps. Better to do his watch from the confines of the shelter. He banked the fire again and let his eye adjust to the darkness around him.

He noticed her shaking as he moved aside the bough that served as tent flap.

Is she crying?

“Sakura? Is everything okay?”

“I’m fine. Just cold.”

“Why didn’t you get me?”

“I thought about it, but you looked so peaceful that I didn’t want to bother you.”

“Get up.” She did so, and he quickly carried her bedding over to his and remade the pallet using all of the blankets. “These are cotton, Sakura. No wonder you’re freezing.”

“That’s my summer bedroll.”

Summer bedroll? Who has a summer bedroll? “Ah.” He’d grabbed the wrong one when he’d stopped by her place. “We’ll share. You’re okay with that, aren’t you?”

“Why wouldn’t I be? I’ve already invaded your apartment, your bedroom, all other aspects of your personal space. Why should this be any different?”

“Have I given you the impression that I mind?”

“No. But I know you value your privacy, and I’ve certainly infringed on it.” She climbed into the bedroll, and he quickly followed, pulling her close to him.

“Your hands are freezing.” He rubbed them with his own, then placed them under his shirt. “Sakura, I actually like your company.”

“That’s a good thing, since Tsunade has you baby-sitting me.”

“Is that what you think?” She felt his smile warm her. “Actually, Sakura, this trip was my idea.”

“Really?” She snuggled in closer to him, then raised her head slightly, to look into his eyes. “So where are we going?”

Chapter 21– Barbecue and Transparent Cotton Jersey (fifth date)

He felt her curled around him, naked as the day she was born, her skin silken against his chest. “Kakashi,” she purred, “is this what you want?” He groaned as she pressed her lips against his jaw, then moved lower to caress his neck and chest. Still lower. “Sakura...” “Yes?” “What exactly are you doing?” “I’m giving you what you want. This is what you want, isn’t it?” He murmured his assent as her warm hand grasped him and stroked ever so gently along his length. “Do you mind if I taste you?” He couldn’t answer, only moan with desire–

“You smell so nice.” Kakashi blinked his eyes. What the hell was Sakura doing on top of him? Kakashi struggled to separate the vivid dream he’d just left from the even more vivid reality of the beautiful kunoichi who had apparently decided that the very best place to sleep was pressed flat against him. No, she was straddling him, he realized, as he gingerly moved his hands along her body.And moving ever so slightly against him. This was probably the cause of the very large and painful erection that was making itself known to him. But she definitely was not awake. She was dead to the world, as usual for this time of day. And apparently dreaming. Her eyes moved rapidly back and forth under their lids.

“Mmm. So good.”

Just what was she dreaming about? Something very nice, from the sound of her voice and the small smile on her lips.

“Kakashi.” His name rolled off her lips effortlessly, luxuriantly. The woman was just too damn sensual.

Is she really dreaming about me?

Tentatively, Kakashi lifted her hair and lightly ran his finger along the nape of her neck. A small moan of pleasure was his reward. It would be so easy. They’d both slept fully clothed, but clothing choices of shinobi were typically of the stretchy, knit variety, allowing for full range of movement and, as an added benefit, easy disrobing. Kakashi’s standard issue navy-blue pants and Sakura’s skirt/training shorts (why was she wearing shorts in this weather, anyway?) were no exception to this pattern. Two quick movements, and he could be living his recent dreams.

But that would be wrong. No, not because he was her (former!) teacher, and not because he was 14 years her senior. He really couldn’t give a rat’s ass what people said, and he was sure enough of his feelings for her that he knew that he wouldn’t be using her. If– no, when they consummated, he would have no regrets. No, it would be wrong because she hadn’t yet consented, despite saying his name so passionately, and just as importantly, because he wasn’t sure how she really felt about him. Whenever they did get together, it was not going to be a mindless romp in the hay.

That didn’t mean he couldn’t enjoy the moment, however. He lay back and concentrated on the feeling of her body against him, on the warm hands which had somehow come to rest on his chest, and now touched him lightly. How was it possible that Sakura, completely asleep, aroused him more thoroughly than any other woman he’d met, awake or otherwise?

“I want you.” Her words were soft. To Kakashi, those three words had never sounded so alluring. She wanted him. This was really more than he could have asked for. On the subconscious level, at least, she had thoughts of him. But what about the conscious level? Ones dreams did not always reflect conscious thought. They were sometimes just random thoughts strung together, detritus from the previous day, or responses to sensations felt while sleeping. Dreams often had little to do with reality– Sakura might feel completely different once awake. There was also a good chance she’d awake without even being aware of this dream.

But not if he had anything to say about it. He wanted her to remember how she’d acted toward him in her dream. He wanted her to reflect on it. Perhaps it would crystallize her understanding of what their relationship could be– perhaps she’d suddenly notice all the clues he’d left lying around in quite obvious places. Kakashi thought about his options. He could leave her as is and let her sleep cycle continue– but then she might not remember the dream. He could wake her gently with concern about the “nightmare” she was having. But there was no way she’d fail to notice his arousal– and that would be uncomfortable for both of them. Surely she didn’t need to see such a blatant representation of his desire for her. She responded much better to subtlety, he thought. Kakashi suddenly came up with a better idea, and gently moved her off his body onto the blankets next to him. He pulled one blanket up and tucked it in around her. Sakura was still sleeping soundly, he noticed.

“Kiss me. Please.”

Kakashi threw caution to the wind and kissed her gently on the lips.

“Make love to me, Kakashi,” she murmured, before rolling over and sighing.

Kakashi’s eyes widened for a moment, and for just a minute he considered staying where he was to watch the dream play itself out. But only for a minute– helping her see her attraction was much more important than idle titillation. He smirked as he left the shelter, only to return, moments later, with a flattened snowball in his hand. He rolled her onto her back, then placed the ball of frozen water on the blanket, just over her abdomen. She’d have about ten minutes to finish her dream before melting water awakened her. He’d have plenty of time to take care of his...needs and get the day started. The grumpy mood that would undoubtedly ensue upon Sakura’s awakening was a price he was very willing to pay.

Kakashi was kneeling by the stream, shaving, when he heard her scream his name at the top of her lungs. And not in a sensual way, either.

“I am going to kill you, Hatake Kakashi!”

“Can I finish shaving before you begin?” His voice was calm. He could predict her behavior fairly accurately, it seemed.

She stared at him, then broke into a laugh as she drew closer. “You shave with a kunai?” The sight of him scraping the weapon across his skin was unexpected, yet completely in character.

“Looks that way.” He rinsed his face and smiled at her, then looked critically at his reflection in a small metal shaving mirror. “I take it my makeshift alarm clock worked?”

“Yes. You interrupted my dream.”

“Oh?” He watched as her face burned red. He ran his fingers through his hair, grabbed a hunk, and began to saw at it with the kunai.

“This explains so much.” She shook her head. “Do you need any help with that?”

“No, I’m sure you’d feel the need to pay me back. I might end up bald. Or even worse, you might make it neat and symmetrical.”

“Couldn’t have that.”

“It would ruin my image.” This elicited a rather unladylike snort. “I seem to remember you cutting your hair in a similar fashion, years ago. Maybe I picked up the habit from you.”

“You weren’t there, remember? You were training Sasuke.”

“Ah.” He continued cutting his hair. “Wish I had been.” Then, “Shouldn’t you be making my breakfast, Sakura?”

She was quiet through the morning meal, though Kakashi noticed several sidelong glances in his direction. She cleaned up silently, as well, not even pausing to bicker about whose turn it was. He knelt down beside her at the river’s edge as she stared into space, unwashed dishes before her.

“Need any help?”

“No, I’m almost done. Isn’t your nose supposed to be stuck inside a book?”

“Plenty of time for that later. Sakura,” he placed his hand on her shoulder, feeling her tense up slightly as he did so, “are you okay? You seem... subdued.”

“You know how I am in the morning. It takes me a while to get in gear.”

“Well, let me know if I can help. I’m a pretty good listener, you know.” Kakashi stood and walked away, his broad smile hidden by his mask.

...o...o...o...o...

“We’ll be approaching a town in the next twenty minutes or so. Care to get lunch?”

“At a real restaurant? Yes!” Her mood had brightened, he noticed, and she no longer seemed distracted.

“We’ll need to go as civilians, so get changed. No visible weapons.” Kakashi walked off into the woods, pack in hand. He emerged a good ten minutes later looking substantially different. He was in jeans and a worn bomber jacket, partially unzipped to show a crimson turtleneck. This was surprising, as Sakura hadn’t seen any brightly colored shirts when she’d gone through his closet. She hadn’t checked his dresser, though. Even more surprising was the fact that his hair was no longer silver. He’d removed the mask and hitae-ate, and swept his now-black hair into some semblance of order. Sakura looked closely at him. His visible eye was a pale, crystalline blue, and he wore a white, poorly-taped cotton eyepatch over the Sharingan, as though he’d scratched his cornea. The scar, she noticed, was gone, but otherwise his face was the same, handsome as ever.

Stop looking at him like that. It was only a dream. Dreams don’t mean anything, Sakura. You were sleeping right beside him. Of course you dreamt of him. And who wouldn’t? He’s beautiful, after all.

“Something wrong?” he said, noticing her stare.

“Nothing. It’s just...” She looked away from him, then back again.

“Just what?”

“I wasn’t expecting you to wear a disguise.” She looked away again, slightly disconcerted.

“I’d hardly call this a disguise, Sakura. It’s just a change in pigmentation. Simple henge no jutsu. I’ll release it as soon as we leave the town.”

“I prefer your natural pigment.”

Kakashi smiled. “Too Sasuke-like for you?”

“No, it’s not that. It’s just a little unsettling. Like getting up in the middle of the night after moving all of your furniture around. I keep expecting to see the Kakashi I know, but you’re not there.”

Apparently, she’s somewhat attached to the way you look. A good sign, don’t you think?

“This way we can actually eat together in public. You wouldn’t want me to get drunk again, would you?”

“You can’t eat with silver hair?”

“One advantage of wearing the mask for all these years is that the drawings of me in the bingo books are pretty lousy. I've seen the books from a couple of villages. They get the hair right, and the scar, but that’s about it. I’d stick out like a sore thumb if I were to walk into the town unmasked, and as you know, word travels fast and most people are capable of putting two and two together. I’d rather keep my anonymity.”

“What about the eye color? Did the bingo books mention that?”

“The drawings were black and white.”

“Well, could you change that back at least?”

Very attached.

Kakashi nodded, and partially released the jutsu. Dark grey pigment spread out slowly from his pupil until his eye took on its natural color.

Sakura smiled in thanks. “You look nice, by the way. I should have said that before.”

“So do you, Sakura. Very nice.” He paused to cast his glance up and down her petite form, and did his best not to linger at her hips or breasts. She looked quite enticing in the black, pleated skirt that hit somewhere around mid-thigh, tall black leather boots and the white, long-sleeved t-shirt she wore. To his dismay, she quickly covered up with her coat. It was still cold, after all. “Shall we go?” he said reluctantly.

“Why don’t you just use henge to hide your Sharingan? Why bother with an eyepatch?”

“Because the Sharingan drains chakra as long as it’s uncovered, remember? The scar figures pretty prominently in the bingo books, so I think this is a pretty good compromise.”

“Let me redo the patch. You really didn’t do a very good job putting it on.” She reached in her bag for white adhesive tape and a scissor and quickly fixed him up. “At least your face is the same. Almost. You know every girl in town is going to ask you about your eye.” She batted her lashes at him.

Kakashi sighed and did his best to look beatific. “That’s a price I’m willing to pay to be able to dine with you, Sakura.”

“I think you just want to get some food in your stomach.”

“That too. Dining alone all the time sucks.”

“Really? I thought you were a loner.”

“I am a loner. That doesn’t mean I want to be alone. At least, not all of the time.”

They walked in a comfortable silence for a while, glad of their boots in the melting snow.

“I do like you better with your silver hair.”

“Why?”

“What do you mean, ‘Why?’ Don’t you like it?”

“I hated it as a child, first because it made me stand out, and then because it marked me as my father’s son. But after I grew up a bit I was glad to have it. Though it does make me look old.”

“That’s not the hair, Kakashi.” Sakura looked away as she bit her lip.

“Well, at least you’re not grumpy. That’s something, I guess.” Kakashi rolled his eye heavenward. “You didn’t answer my question.”

“Oh.” She’d hoped to avoid it all together. “Why do I like your silver hair better? Hmm. Because...” She stopped walking as she tried to put words to her thoughts. “Because it’s part of who you are, I guess.” She quickly looked away as she noticed his eye on her. “I’m starving! Are you hungry for barbecue?”

...o...o...o...o...

She was beginning to understand Choji’s insatiable passion for yakiniku. There was something about grilled beef that satisfied some hidden, primal urge. Sakura added thin slices of beef to the brazier centered in the stainless steel table and inhaled the smoky aroma the meat gave off as it sizzled.

“Kimchi?”

“No, too spicy. I’ll stick with the winter squash.” Sakura pulled a slice of beef from the grill and dipped it into a bowl of garlic and scallion-flavored tare. She chewed slowly, a smile of complete satisfaction on her face. “How can meat taste this good?”

Kakashi decided against the obvious rejoinder, and focused on his lunch. Sakura seemed oblivious to the double meaning of her comment.

She really is innocent. How is that possible for a twenty-four-year-old kunoichi?

How is it possible that you’re completely gaga? Get back some self-control, Hatake!

He’d need to break out Icha, Icha, this afternoon, and practice steady disinterest in the face of graphic sex. For hours, most likely. He poured himself some tea, and refilled Sakura’s cup.

“Kakashi? Are you listening?”

“Hmm?”

“I know where we’re going!”

“Do you.”

“To the coast!”

“I don’t remember telling you to pack a bathing suit.”

“But you did say I should be prepared for every eventuality. So I brought one along.”

Great. Now an image of Sakura in a very skimpy bikini (black, of course) was flitting through his mind. He reached in his pack for his book and opened it to a random page. Best to start practicing right now, he thought.

“Is that your only supporting evidence? By that logic we could be going to Sand or Rock Country, or anywhere.” His was voice was dry, but amused.

“No. Tsunade got a message from the Wave Country recently.”

“What did it say?”

“I don’t know. I don’t read her mail. So what’s the mission?”

“Sakura, I thought we were done with this game. You’ll find out soon enough. Just be patient. Please.”

“Fine.” Her brow furrowed as she stood to leave the table. “Will you be ready to go when I get back from the restroom?”

“Mmm.” He didn’t bother looking up.

The bathroom was cleaner than she expected for a small-town restaurant, but the plumbing was ancient. She hated those traditional-style toilets, too, ever since Ino had pushed her in one, long ago. It really was easy to fall in. And the long, trough-style sink was unhygienic, in her opinion. Instead of trapping germs in one sink, they’d be spread the entire distance of the trough. Sakura looked up from washing her hands when she heard a soft sound. She’d thought she was alone in the room, but she definitely heard a child crying. She pushed open the stall doors until she came upon a little girl, no older than three or four, with dark curly hair and matching black eyes.

“I need my mommy.”

“Honey? Where is she?” Sakura knelt outside the stall and gestured to the girl.

“I’m old enough to come in here myself. But now I feel sick.”

“Let’s go find her. I’m sure she’s right outside.”

“Okay.” The raven-haired girl moved toward her, then vomited all over the front of Sakura’s shirt.

“Don’t cry, sweetheart. It’s okay. Everyone throws up sometimes.”

“Michiko! There you are!” A woman who was obviously the young girl’s mother came racing into the bathroom, slamming the door wide open as she did so. “What have I told you about walking off?” She turned to Sakura accusingly. “Why is my daughter crying? What did you do to her?”

“Excuse me, but she came in here to be sick. As you can tell.” Sakura turned to show the woman her foul-smelling shirt, then stood and walked calmly to the sink. “I understand why you’re upset, though. I’d feel the same way if I were in your place.”

“Gomen, miss. I jumped to conclusions. Can I help you get cleaned up?”

“No, your daughter needs you. In my line of work, this is nothing.”

The woman looked at her questioningly.

“I’m a ... nurse.” Villagers outside of Konoha tended not to react well to the word, “medic.” Somehow it frightened them to think of injured shinobi.

“Do you know what might be wrong with my daughter?”

“It’s hard to tell. Has she thrown up before now? Does she has a fever? Did she eat anything unusual?”

“She’s a little warm.”

“Keep an eye on her and give her plenty of liquids. No willow-bark, though, in case it’s flu.”

The woman smiled at her, helped her daughter rinse out her mouth and quickly left. Sakura turned to the age-spotted mirror and inspected herself. She pulled the ruined shirt off as cleanly as possible and threw it into the long trough. Great. Her bindings were soaked through, as well. She’d focus on the shirt first. Bar soap wouldn’t do much to get it clean, but she wouldn’t be wearing it long– just until she caught Kakashi’s attention and had him bring her pack.

She quickly removed her bindings, throwing them into the trash, and tugged the now wet shirt over her head. She opened the restroom door and tried to catch her former teacher’s eye. This was difficult to do while covering her chest with her arms, but she tried valiantly.

Kakashi didn’t notice immediately. It wasn’t until the room grew strangely quiet that he looked up to see her waving at him, quite enthusiastically, in her formerly white t-shirt. It was now a wet, transparent shirt that clung to her frame, showing off her body’s every curve. That explained the silence. He wouldn’t be rising from the table for quite some time, but he probably wasn’t the only one faced with that problem. She’d managed to get the attention of every man in the restaurant.

Her wave wasn’t really enthusiastic, he realized. That had been the shirt talking. She was beckoning to him rather frantically, he saw. Exasperatedly. Kakashi raised his eyebrows questioningly, as she pointed next to him, then to herself, again and again. She wanted her pack, he realized belatedly. But he certainly wasn’t going to bring it to her. Not in his current condition.

Finally, she rushed over to him (across the length of the rather busy restaurant, as their table was placed inconveniently far from the restrooms), grabbed the pack and carried it in front of her to the restroom, to the accompaniment of several loud catcalls. Her eyes had very clearly said, “You will pay for this, Kakashi.”

She returned a good twenty minutes later, still fuming. He’d calmed himself down and paid the bill in that time, which spared her the indignity of remaining in the ryoriya to endure the lustful stares of the male customers and the baleful stares of their companiions. She walked past the table she’d shared with Kakashi, grabbed her coat, and hurried outside. She was halfway down the main street by the time Kakashi caught her and grabbed her. She yanked her arm from his, shoved him and walked on.

“Sakura. I’m sorry.”

She ignored him.

“Honestly, I didn’t know what you wanted.” Not quite true, but what was he supposed to say? I didn't want the whole restaurant to see how turned on I was by you. You understand, don't you?

“I’m standing there in a soaking wet shirt and you couldn’t figure out what I wanted? Baka.” She spat out the words. “What does this generally mean, Kakashi?” She pointed, then motioned to herself. “It means, ‘Bring me that.’ But you were too busy gaping at my chest to notice anything else.”

“If it makes you feel any better, so was everyone else.”

Sakura’s mouth gaped. “How– How could you think that would make me feel any better? My– my friend is a pervert, but hey, so is everyone else. Do you really think I would want to display myself practically naked in public?” Tears welled up in her eyes as she walked away hurriedly.

“Please, Sakura.” He intercepted her again. “We’re not even traveling in the right direction. Would you stop or at least slow down?”

She paused, hands on her hips. “Of course I don’t know the right direction, because I still don’t have a clue where we’re headed!” She was very nearly screaming.

“Kuso.” Kakashi almost never used profanity, but she’d pushed him to his limit. He grabbed Sakura roughly and pinned her arms to her side. “Listen to me, Sakura! Calm down and listen.” He felt her stiffen for a moment, then relax as she recognized the futility of running away. “We can talk about this now, in public, and make things even more humiliating for you, or we can talk in private. What’s your choice?”

“Private.” Her voice was a choked whisper.

“Come on, then.” They backtracked until they found the town gates, then walked quietly into the relative quiet of the woods.

Kakashi sat down, leaning against a red cedar, and patted the ground next to him. “Sit.”

“We’ve been over this, Kakashi. I am not one of your damn dogs. And I don’t think even Pakkun would obey you if you talked to him like that, so why do you think you can talk to me that way?” She furiously brushed tears away. She hated to let him see her cry.

Kakashi rubbed the bridge of his nose and sighed. “Please, Sakura. Do you really believe that I think of you that way?”

“What way do you think of me, Kakashi?”

Kakashi sighed again and released the jutsu controlling his appearance. “Please sit next to me, and I’ll tell you.”

Sakura sat as far from his as she could while still being ostensibly “by his side.” She turned to him expectantly, and didn’t object when he reached to put his arm around her shoulder.

“First let me tell you what I don’t think of you. I don’t think you are someone to order around or humiliate. Sometimes I take control of the situation by force of habit. I deserve to be called on that. You’re a jounin, Sakura, my equal. I don’t think you are some kind of object, or sex toy to be gaped at. But I am a man, Sakura, and you surprised me. Who would have expected you to walk out of a public restroom sopping wet?”

“A little girl threw up on me.” Her tears had stopped, and she drew a deep, shuddering breath.

“Let me finish, Sakura. The truth is, you’re quite attractive, and I’m not gay.”

Sakura let his words sink in, then asked, “And what is it that you do think of me?”

“I think of you as my friend, my closest living friend. You’re precious to me, Sakura.” He turned to her and pulled her to him. “I thought that was kind of obvious.”

Glossary:

yakiniku- Japanese version of Korean BBQ. Meats are typically grilled at the table at a wood or charcoal fired barbecue set into the table.

Kimchi- the quintessential Korean food. Spicy, fermented cabbage.

Tare- a dipping sauce served with yakiniku. Can be miso or soy based.

Ryoriya- a restaurant, typically one that serves the cuisine of a specific nation.

“I guess I’m a little slow on the uptake.” Sakura’s voice was slightly muffled, which was not surprising, given the fact that she was locked securely within Kakashi’s embrace.

“Only you would say something like that, Sakura.”

“You really think of me as one of your closest friends?” She leaned back against his arms until he loosened her grip enough for her to see his face.

“I just said that, didn’t I?”

“And you really think that I’m attractive?” She looked at the copy ninja with a look that intermingled wariness and incredulity.

“Sakura, a person would have to be blind not to find you attractive. Haven’t you ever noticed the way men look at you?”

“Well, today in the barbecue restaurant they were certainly staring, but I was pretty much on display. I’ve seen men staring the same way at undressed mannequins in a shop window–- even ones missing body parts. Just so long as the torsos were there. T and A, right? So men staring me when I’m wearing a see-through shirt really doesn’t count.” She considered for a moment. “Genma stares at me, but he’d stare at an eighty-year-old Buddhist nun, fully robed. And he’d probably fantasize about her shaved head and sutra beads. It seems like anything with two X chromosomes is fair game with him, you know?”

Kakashi chuckled at the image she’d painted and her elite-level skill at rationalization. “Sakura, why do you think men in bars send drinks your way?”

“Because they want to get laid?”

“Possibly.” He smiled at her candor. “Probably. But do they do that to every woman in the bar?”

“Ino never has to buy a drink. Neither does Hinata. I don’t know about the other kunoichi. I never took a poll.”

“They usually don’t buy drinks for Anko.”

“Well if I were a man, I certainly wouldn’t. Unless I was into snakes in a big way. Or pain, if what I’ve heard is true.”

He laughed again. “Poor example.”

“Kakashi, why are you so aware of who is buying me drinks?” She sighed. “I hate how overprotective the three of you are.”

He, Sasuke, and Naruto, obviously.

“That’s not it, Sakura.”

Sakura didn’t hear him. “I swear, it’s like I have three fathers. Each of you alone is worse than my own dad ever was, and together--.” She rolled her eyes.

“I don’t want to be your father, Sakura.”

“No.” Her smile was disarming and shy. “You really think of me as your friend?” She snuggled against him.

“Not just my friend. I said, ‘closest friend.’”

“I think of you the same way. There’s no one I’d rather be with. No one else comes anywhere close.” Sakura hugged him tightly, then stood and dusted off her clothing. “So, friend, which way do we go? I won’t even bother asking for our destination.”

Kakashi pointed. “That way. We have about eight more hours travel left, assuming we run. Do you want to do it all today, or make camp in a few hours? It’s past two already, I’d guess, but the moon will be full tonight.”

“The watch didn’t work out, huh?” Sakura snickered. “Why am I not surprised?”

“I accidentally wore it into the shower.”

“Right. Accidentally. So, will we be staying at this elevation or going back into the mountains?”

“This elevation. It should be good sleeping weather, if that’s what you’re thinking of.”

“I’d really like to get where we’re going. But I’d like to walk for a while, first, if that’s okay.”

“That’s fine. There’s no rush.”

“If we’re not in a rush, why did you push so hard yesterday? We hardly took a break all day.”

Kakashi smiled wickedly. “Training.”

“You are such a hard-ass.”

“Yes, I believe you’ve already mentioned that. But what has my ass got to do with anything?”

“Hentai. Let’s get going.”

This was his own fault, he realized as they set off. He’d had the perfect opportunity to share his feelings– his true feelings, not some watered-down bastardization of them– but he’d chickened out. What was wrong with him?

As a shinobi, he was a master at taking risks. True, he avoided, as much as possible, walking blindly into situations– he’d lived to be almost forty for a reason. But the job required an intimate familiarity and comfort with risk and uncertainty. The outcome of every battle was unknown at the start– one never knew what jutsu the opponent might put into play. That sense of the unknown was what made the job so exhilarating, to be perfectly honest.

So why was he so afraid to tell the woman walking next to him exactly how he felt?

His “closest friend”. This was true, absolutely true, but incomplete. He didn’t want to be her “friend,” not if he could be more.

Baka, baka, baka.

And what had she said? “I think of you the same way.” As a friend. Yes, closest friend, but possibly (probably!) no more than that. Even if she’d been thinking otherwise, he’d just defined the limits of their relationship for them. Friends, not lovers.

Stupid!

She was so good, so very good at rationalization, Kakashi thought as he stole a sidelong glance at her. Right now she was probably explaining away her dream, compartmentalizing the feelings her subconscious had only just made her aware of that morning. It had been evident from this morning’s uncharacteristic silence that the dream had upset her equilibrium, that she’d been cogitating about its significance. And that had been good– it had been just what he’d been hoping for. But he’d ruined it.

Friends.

“Kuso!”

“What’s wrong, Kakashi?”

“Nothing.” He quickly pulled his orange-bound savior out of his kunai pouch, hoping its appearance might distract her.

“You never swear. That’s twice today.”

“I forgot something.” He turned to the illustration on page 212 and pretended to look at it closely.

“What? Is it important?”

“I forgot to set my plant in the bathtub.”

What? Is that really the best you can do?

“Plant? Oh, you mean that poor half-dead thing in your living room?”

“Uh-huh. I usually set it in about 2 cm of water before leaving on a mission so it doesn’t dry out while I’m gone.”

“Well, I hope it survives.”

“Yeah, I’ve had it for 25 years.”

“I guess having me around has screwed up your daily schedule.”

Baka. You just keep digging in deeper, don’t you?

“No, no.” He snapped the book shut and looked at her, an apologetic smile on his face. “I forgot the last mission, too. It’s not you, at all. I just guess I’m getting old.”

“If you say so, Kakashi.”

“You don’t think I’m old?”

“I did when I was twelve. We all thought you were ancient. Remember how Naruto said you had “old-man” smell?” Sakura giggled at the memory. “But no, I don’t think you’re old, anymore. More experienced, sure, but that’s a good thing.”

“If you say so.”

“How could it not be? I’d give anything to know a thousand jutsu. Or to be able to fight like you.”

“Do you still see yourself as that twelve-year-old, Sakura?”

She furrowed her brow. “Sometimes.”

“I don’t. People talk about you. You know that, don’t you? When they call you ‘mini-Tsunade’ there’s a fair amount of awe in their voices. It’s something to be compared to the Hokage. And they’re not talking about your temper, either, although you two certainly have that in common. You’ve grown incredibly in the past twelve years. I wish I’d helped you acquire some of that experience.”

“You weren’t a lousy teacher, you know.” How did she know what he was thinking?

“No? Then why am I not still your sensei?”

“Baka. Because you’re not a medic.” She looked away. “And, to be honest, because of the overprotectiveness. You and the boys were always trying to protect me. Like I might break. And because I felt inferior– because of the overprotectiveness, and because I was nothing compared to them. An Uchiha and the kyuubi container, and me, the shop-keepers’ daughter. And on top of that raw talent, Naruto and Sasuke both had goals. They both had drive and determination. I didn’t.” She looked at him then, noticing the look of guilt on his face. “But Kakashi, don’t sell yourself short. You said I’ve grown incredibly. But have you thought of how much I grew in the year I was your student? It was because of you that I finally did find a goal to pursue. I changed from a silly, boy-crazy girl to someone who wanted to be a shinobi again. And that was because you showed me what it really means to be a shinobi, what it really means to put our village first. So I think you did well.”

“You were never nothing, Sakura.” His voice was soft.

“You’re a good friend.” Her hand found his and they walked in silence.

...o...o...o...o...

Perhaps an eight-hour run, punctuated only by a short dinner break, hadn’t been the best idea. It was clear that Sakura was exhausted, although he knew the kunoichi would never admit to it. But it would be nice to sleep in a soft bed, between crisp, freshly-washed sheets. Their target lay just below them, at the base of the hill on which they stood. Its stone lanterns beckoned welcomingly.

Kakashi paused to work the henge jutsu, and turned to Sakura with a smile. “We’re here.”

“Where’s here?”

“Our location for the next few days.”

“This place?” Sakura looked at the complex sprawled beneath them. It was completely different from any place she’d ever stayed on official business. A rolling lawn and well-planned, though understated gardens surrounded the buildings, for one thing, and the place had an air of luxury, of having been designed with great thoughtfulness to be pleasing to every sense. “This is a resort, isn’t it?” It was obvious that it was– she’d never seen such a lovely inn. “Is the village really paying for this? How on earth did you swing it?”

He smiled. “Have you thought up a name for the register?”

“Right. Hmm.” She was silent as they approached the building’s double doors, which were swept open by two attentive doormen dressed in distinctive black and tan kasuri-woven kimono.

“Nakai-san. Welcome to Ryokan Nanatsu Ishidourou,” one said, taking their backpacks from them.

The foyer, Sakura saw as she sat in the entrance removing her shoes, was as elegant as the exterior, though by no means excessive. The place had a rustic air to it, though it was not in the least bit shabby. Far from it. But its designer definitely understood the wabi-sabi aesthetic. Sakura smiled. It would be nice to spend a few days here, as the place was far, far nicer than the type of hotel typically frequented by shinobi, given their meager (that is, almost non-existent) expense accounts.

“Nakai-san. Nani ka osagashi desu ka?” A well-preserved older blonde woman beamed at Kakashi from behind the check-in counter. Sakura noticed she did not even glance her way.

“Yes. We’re looking for accommodations for the next few days. Two singles, if you have them, close by.”

“Sir, you are very lucky,” the clerk simpered as she tilted her head and smiled widely at him. “If you’d walked in just five minutes ago, I would have had to tell you that we were completely full– it is that time of year, after all– but one of our guests hasn’t arrived, and as it’s past eleven, her reservation is now canceled. It’s not two singles– it’s a two-bedroom suite, but I’d be happy to give it to you for the two singles’ rate.”

Kakashi smiled as the woman beamed at him. Showing his face had been a very good idea, he decided.

“And how long will you be staying?”

“Through the weekend, at least.” Kakashi took a fair number of bank notes out of his pocket and slid them toward the woman.

She smiled, then opened a large scroll and pushed it toward him, brushing Kakashi’s hand as she did so. “Wonderful. If you and your daughter would just sign here–“

“I’m not his daughter.” Sakura’s voice was a growl. Kakashi nearly laughed aloud.

“She’s not.” Kakashi winked at the blonde woman who now looked distinctly put out. Kakashi scrawled a name quickly and passed the registry scroll to Sakura.

Jinrai Taiheya, Sakura read. Very funny, Kakashi. She suddenly knew what her pseudonym would be. Kakashi looked over her shoulder as she wrote and looked at her questioningly. He then turned his attention to the overattentive clerk.

“Do you have a restaurant on site?”

The woman looked up from inspecting their names. “Oh. Yes, of course. It’s quite well-known in the area. But unfortunately, dinner was at six, and meal service to the rooms ends at eight. If you’re hungry now, I’d suggest seeing our concierge. He’ll be happy to suggest a few places that are open late. And if you’d like breakfast delivered to your room, just fill out the card on your bed and hang it from your doorknob by two. Otherwise, breakfast is at seven.” She looked at the scroll again, then looked up, as though trying to place Kakashi. “Your name looks very familiar, Jinrai-sama. I’m sure I’ve heard it somewhere.”

“I come from a very large family. Perhaps you’ve met one of my brothers? Several of them travel quite frequently. They look a bit like me.”

“Hmm. Well, please let me know if there’s anything you need. I’ll be here all night. Here are your keys. Your suite is at the end of that hall.” Apparently she’d decided Sakura wasn’t much of a threat. At least, that was what her body language indicated. Somehow, her kimono was showing a bit more cleavage than it had previously.

“I’m tired, Taiheya. Let’s go to bed.” Sakura hooked her arm around Kakashi and dragged him towards their rooms. “Do you always use that name?” she asked as they moved out of earshot.

“No. Sometimes I go by Arashi Junko. What about you? Who’s Hinade Tsume? ‘Young bird with claws,’ huh?

“I’ll let you figure that out for yourself, Jiraiya hentai. Do you always lie that much? You do it with such grace and fluidity.”

Kakashi opened the door to their suite, which was decorated in traditional style. The main space was an 8-tatami room, with kotetsu and zabuton, tansu and the other pieces of furniture you’d expect to find in an old-style home. Off this sitting room was a large bathroom, with a glass door leading out to a private onsen, and two smaller bedrooms. Each bedroom was empty except for a futon, which had already been laid out, a kimono stand, and the backpacks which had been taken from them on their arrival. The only concession to modernity (apart from the electricity and running water) was the flat-screen television that hung on a sturdy outer wall of each bedroom. Sakura didn’t even notice hers, as she’d never seen one before. Television was a rarity in technology-impoverished Konoha, and the sets they did have were bulky, old-fashioned models, and for official (boring) use only. There were no television broadcasts in Konoha, just radio. Kakashi, on the other hand, did recognize the television, as well as the DVD player he found in the nearby closet. He sighed as he inspected them, and the quality entertainment they might deliver. Too bad he’d have no time to make use of either piece of equipment. He had a full schedule planned for the next few days.

Sakura raised her voice, so that Kakashi could hear her from his own room. “I’m going to take a bath, and then bed. I’m completely exhausted. Unless you want to discuss the mission.” Kakashi did not answer, engrossed as he was in contemplation of an Icha, Icha video marathon. Sakura rummaged in her backpack for her toiletries and pulled a blue and white yukata from the room’s closet. “See you tomorrow, I guess,” she called as she slid shut the bathroom door.

Kakashi pulled several items from his backpack and headed back to the lobby. The blonde clerk smiled brightly as she saw him. “Back so soon? Where’s your friend?”

“My fiancee? Resting. Where might I find the concierge?”

“He’s in back. I’ll get him for you.” There was a definite frown on the former beauty’s face as she walked away.

An elderly man dressed in a black and tan kimono that was somewhat more elegant than those worn by the doormen hurried up to Kakashi. “Taiheya-sama, I must apologize for not being present when you asked for me. We rarely have guest inquiries at this hour. Please tell me what I can do to make your stay more comfortable.” He’d bowed quite deeply, which made Kakashi more than a little uncomfortable.

Kakashi passed him the paper-wrapped packages he’d carried from Konoha. “There are several things, actually. Would it be possible to have these pressed?”

The concierge nodded. “Certainly. They will be ready for you in the morning.”

“Would you be able to give me the contact information for a dresser? Not for me, of course. For my, uh, fiancee.” Funny how that word sounded so appropriate.

“Ah. There are several the ryokan uses on a regular basis. In fact, I can schedule you now, if you’d like, for tomorrow.”

“Wonderful. And is there a place where I can buy the items needed to complete the ensemble?”

“The dresser will bring those with her. Women rarely have all the necessary garments nowadays. It was different when I was young.” The concierge smiled at the memory, then quickly collected himself. “Will ten o’clock work for you? Yuka is free then, and she is one of the best. It will take her about an hour and a half to complete her work.”

“Thank you sir.” Kakashi bowed slightly, and headed back to the suite, a smile on his face. He released the henge jutsu upon entering the sitting room, and was immediately concerned when he did not feel Sakura’s chakra. He checked her room, just to be sure he wasn’t mistaken. But a false negative would be unlikely, given the thin shoji screens that served as the inner walls of the suite. Chakra flowed through paper easily. The bathroom door was still locked, he noticed. He tapped gently on it and called her name. No answer. In a moment, the door was unlocked, and Kakashi stepped inside. The room was bright and deserted. Where was she?

He heard a splash and a small scream of surprise. “Kakashi! Don’t make another move. I told you I was bathing. Why do you keep doing this to me? Tottoto dete ike!”

Ah. She was in the onsen. Kakashi cupped his hands to the room’s glass door and leaned in to block the bright light of the bathroom. After a moment, he noticed the flickering candle that dimly lit the courtyard beyond. Sakura’s head and shoulders were just visible above the spa’s steaming waters. “You had me worried, Sakura.” He closed the blinds and stripped, then quickly showered. Moments later he stood outside, clad only in a towel.

“Mind if I join you?”

“Kakashi! I told you to go away. And close your eyes!”

“Sakura, it’s dark out here, and perfectly secluded. No one will see.” He pointed to the tightly woven bamboo fence that enclosed the small pool, and kept his eyes open. He could see quite a bit more, now that he was outside. Beautiful, as always.

“It’s not anyone I’m worried about. And there’s plenty of light coming from the bathroom.”

“Easily fixed.” Kakashi strode inside, turned off the light and walked briskly back to the pool. “See? There’s no way I can see anything, and I’ll keep my distance. Promise.” Without hesitation, he dropped his towel and lowered himself into the steaming hot water. “Ah. That feels so good.”

“It does, doesn’t it?” Sakura sunk a bit lower into the pool to be sure Kakashi’s wandering eyes would find nothing of consequence to look at.

“Maybe you should blow out the candle. I can see your face.” Kakashi smirked at Sakura’s modesty. “You know, there’s really not much difference between being completely naked and wearing a bikini. And I’ve seen you plenty of times in a bikini.”

“There is a big difference, Kakashi, and you know it.”

“Such a prude.” He rolled his eye heavenward.

“I am not a prude. Stop being so insulting.” She kicked her foot and splashed him.

Kakashi wiped his face, and removed his now-soaked eye patch. “Don’t start something that you won’t be able to finish.” He quickly formed several seals, causing a small, but effective water dragon to unleash a torrent of water over Sakura’s head.

When the water subsided, a thoroughly breathless Sakura slammed her fist into the water. It parted momentarily, inadvertently revealing Kakashi’s naked body (which brought an immediate blush to Sakura’s face), then washed out over the courtyard.

Sakura shrieked as she realized the consequences of her actions. The pool was now half-empty, and she was completely exposed. She jumped up, grabbed her towel and yukata, and dashed inside, locking the door behind her. She heard Kakashi’s soft laughter from the other side. “Told you I would win.”

...o...o...o...o...

Sakura lay on her futon and attempted to sleep. It had been a really trying day. First had been the dream, and what a dream it had been. She’d never dreamt about sex that vividly before. And never about Kakashi. But who could blame her.

He is so incredibly handsome. And so masculine.

She blushed as she recalled the brief view she’d had of his body just minutes before. Despite her work as a medic, despite the many physicals she’d given to shinobi in prime condition, Sakura had never seen anyone so physically perfect as Kakashi. Apart from the scars, of course. He had those in abundance. But somehow this made him seem more real, and a bit more approachable. Even vulnerable.

Kakashi wasn’t overly masculine, like Zabuza, for instance, whose muscle-bound form was almost comical in its stereotypical muscularity. Kakashi was wiry and lean, much more subtle in his masculinity. But virile all the same.

And he found her attractive. The wet shirt incident had been totally humiliating, and the look Kakashi had given her when she’d finally gotten his attention had nearly floored her. The look of unabashed arousal she’d seen in his eye had been almost frightening, and unmistakable. But even if she’d had any doubts, he’d come right out and told her that he found her attractive.

My former sensei finds me attractive!

Well at least he’s not twice your age. Anymore.

Fourteen years difference wasn’t that much now that she was twenty-four. It really wasn't.

He said I’m his closest friend. What did he mean by that? Is he interested in me? What would I do if he was?

We’re talking about Kakashi. What do you think he meant by it? Have you ever seen him on a date? The man does not do relationships. You still know much less about him than you do about Sasuke. Sasuke, who utters a maximum of ten words on a good day. You know less about Kakashi, and you’re his closest friend. The fact that he finds you attractive is meaningless. He would never act on it. He values our relationship the way it is. As friends.

So then why did he invade my privacy while I was bathing? Again? He just whipped off the towel and climbed right in!

Because he’s a pervert, Sakura. The man had no qualms about reading pornographic novels in front of you and the boys when you were twelve. Why would you be surprised that he doesn’t see anything wrong in telling his closest friend that she’s attractive and then getting naked in front of her? Hentai, Sakura, hentai! Plain and simple.

I guess. Sakura sighed and punched her pillow. Things just did not make sense.

Chapter 23–O-Hanami (Sixth Date)

“Today’s the day, Hatake,” Kakashi said as he finished his hour of meditation. Once he’d said it aloud, he’d figured there would be no turning back. After all, the reason he’d spent a small bundle on renting the suite was to make the next few days special. He hoped Sakura would be ready for the bomb he’d be dropping on her in just a few hours.

It was seven, and if he remembered correctly, the overattentive blonde at the front desk had mentioned breakfast would be served at that time. If this were a typical ryokan, the breakfast service would only last for two hours. Sakura would not be pleased at the early start to the day, but she’d be even more displeased to start the day on an empty stomach. He should have filled out the room service menu, he realized, but he’d been too busy the night before, laughing and replaying the very delightful scene of Sakura running, naked and glistening, from the spa to the bathroom. It hadn’t been a problem to refill the pool– lifting a simple wooden gate (which had been located just to the right of Sakura, incidentally) allowed steaming hot water to rush into the pool. Kakashi had soothed his muscles in the relaxing spa until he thought Sakura was asleep. There had been no sense in ticking her off further.

Besides, he’d accomplished what he’d intended by their little interaction. She had to have wondered just what he was thinking in joining her in the pool. After the “friend” comment he’d made earlier in the day, he wanted to prime the pump just a bit, so that today’s announcement might not come as a shock.

Kakashi padded down to Sakura’s room and stood outside the simply painted fusuma, then slid it back silently and entered. She was still asleep, he saw, but that wasn’t surprising. She was not a morning person, after all. Hell, she was barely human until ten or so. But right now, she looked so innocent and vulnerable, with her mouth slightly open and yogi pulled up to her chin. It seemed a shame to wake her.

She groaned when he called her name, pulled the thick, kimono-shaped futonji up to cover her head, then extended her arm to feel the floor next to her for a suitable object to throw at him. Unfortunately, there was nothing by her side except for her yukata, which was a bit too unwieldy to throw successfully. She retreated into the bed like a turtle pulling into its shell.

“Too early. Go away. Unless you have coffee.” Her voice was muffled, but still audible under her pillow.

“Can’t do that. You’ll miss breakfast. Coffee’s there, not here.”

“Five more minutes.” It was not a request, given the tone of her voice.

Kakashi sat on the edge of her futon and waited for a good minute. Then he leaned in to shake her gently.

“Sakura– or should I say ‘Tsunade-hime’?”

“Oh. You figured it out. I knew it wouldn’t take you long.”

“I don’t think the Godaime would appreciate you using her name.”

Sakura bolted upright, the yogi slipping down to her waist, giving Kakashi a very nice view of her nightgown. It was black, as he might have expected, given that black seemed to be one of her favorite colors, but it was completely unadorned– just a plain cotton-knit chemise with thin spaghetti straps. That didn’t stop her from looking stunning, though. Kakashi tore his eyes away from her.

“You wouldn’t tell.” She looked at him menacingly, though the effect was somewhat ruined by the disheveled condition of her hair.

“Do you always use an anagram of her name when you travel?”

“No. Usually I pick something boring. But since you used Jiraiya’s name, I thought it appropriate. I was just playing.”

Kakashi grinned as he stood. “I know. But it was one way to get you out of bed. Be ready in ten minutes.” He walked out of the room.

It took her a bit longer– 90 minutes to be exact. Of course, 75 of those minutes were spent snuggled back in bed, dozing. She assumed Kakashi would stop by again to threaten her when she didn’t join him, but he didn’t. Feeling guilty, she rose from the bed and quickly dressed in a chartreuse wool dress that covered her arms with close cut sleeves, but showed off her legs with a short, flippy skirt.

“Not too many people could pull off that color,” Kakashi said as she joined him in the sitting room. She looked at him questioningly, not sure whether she should categorize his statement as an insult or a compliment. He appeared not to notice, as he was intently studying his book, but continued speaking.

“I’m not surprised you do, though. But you always look good, Sakura.” She smiled at him and blushed slightly.

“Is there something you need, Kakashi? I’m really not used to you being so nice to me.” Her eyes widened. “It’s about the mission, isn’t it? You must want me to do something horrible. I should have known.” She crossed her arms across her chest and scowled.

“Don’t jump to conclusions. We’ll discuss it at breakfast.”

Sakura looked at him warily as he picked up the key to the room and led the way out, book tucked under his arm.

The dining room was crowded, but they were escorted to a table almost immediately. The breakfast menu was large and diverse, offering local specialities as well as typical Fire country fare, and a number of dishes from neighboring countries, too.

“I’m in no mood to be adventurous this morning. At least my stomach isn’t. I’ll just have the rice and soup.”

“Are you feeling sick?”

“No, just a little under the weather.”

Their breakfast was quickly brought to them, and Kakashi tucked into his meal with vigor. They’d gone the ramen route the night before, and he was ravenous this morning as a result. Sakura barely touched her food, and instead sipped her green tea slowly, and stirred egg into her rice with a hashi. She pushed a piece of nori into the bowl, using it to enfold a clump of rice, but dropped it back again before it reached her lips, feeling somewhat nauseated by the sight of food. It must have been the horrible instant ramen she’d choked down the evening before that had made her feel so awful, she decided, resting her hashi on their stand.

“So what’s the mission?” she asked, when Kakashi got to a stopping point in his eating.

“Well, I promised you a surprise.” His visible eye crinkled, and his lips moved into a smile accentuated by his dimples.

He really is handsome. Even with the black hair. Especially when he smiles.

“The surprise is... there is no mission.” She looked at him in surprise. “I thought it might be a good idea for you to go on a real vacation, since it sounds like you rarely do so. And I thought you might find someplace new diverting.”

“There’s no mission? Well, why didn’t you tell me that from the start?”

“Because then it wouldn’t have been a surprise, Sakura.”

“What you mean is, then you wouldn’t have had the pleasure of tormenting me for several days. Sadist.”

“I think I was the one who was tormented. ‘Where are we going? Kakashi, where are we going? Are we there yet?’” He used his Sakura voice, and she laughed in spite of herself.

“So where are we?”

“In a town called Kawahana, in the far north of the country.”

“Kawahana? Never heard of it.”

“That surprises me.”

“Why?”

“You’ll see.”

“Kakashi, Leaf didn’t pay for this, did it? You really didn’t have to–“

“I am well aware of what I have to and don’t have to do, Sakura. You’ve done a lot for me lately, and I wanted to do something special to let you know I appreciate it.”

“You’ve already done that, Kakashi. This is embarrassing. This is a five star resort– it’s really obvious. How can you afford it? I should be paying for half of this.”

“I can afford it, Sakura. The woman at the check in gave me quite a good discount. And I barely spend any of my salary anyway. Don’t even consider paying for half. And don't bring it up again.”

“I don’t understand you, Kakashi-kun.”

“I’ll be right back.” He walked over to their waiter, and the two talked for several minutes before the server made some notes on a pad, then bowed and walked away.

What am I to you? Sakura looked across to Kakashi, who was walking briskly back to her with a subtle gleam in his eye.