A/N: This is a one-shot, but if you want, it can magically be morphed into a multi-chaptered fic. Leave a review, if you please.

Disclaimer: Naruto belongs to Masashi Kishimoto, not some sad American girl who lives everyday wondering what it would be like to own Naruto.

Jealousy

It had been a while since we had been Team Kakashi. We all hung out together. We were friends. But, we were not a team anymore. Naruto and Sasuke and Kakashi all went where I could not follow. Kakashi rejoined Anbu, reclaiming his position as Captain of the Fourth Division. Naruto's and Sasuke's division.

I was a medic, through and through. I stayed a jounin, content with what I had. I worked double shifts at the hospital. It was rare that we were ever assigned a mission together. But, they needed a diplomatic team. Sasuke and Kakashi both were amazing with words (Kakashi never charmed those he knew well with his wordplay. He preferred playing the role of a sadistic bastard with us). And, Naruto had a habit of making friends in strange places. Me? I was there because, somehow, some strange man might have a thing for ugly, pink-haired girls. I was part of the package. That was why they sent me. I didn't lie to myself as we went to visit the Raikage in Cloud Country. I knew I was just extra baggage.

We were to gather in the ballroom at Cloud Palace for a giant party in honor of the Raikage's daughter, who was celebrating her twenty-fifth birthday. We went our separate ways as we were taken to rooms by the ambassador who was supposed to guide us. Mine was richly furnished and absolutely gorgeous. I changed and followed my ambassador out of the apartment complex.

I had never seen anything as beautiful. The trees, with their thin, elegant branches wreathed in soft pink buds; the grass, rich and green beneath our sandals; the water, sparkling beautifully beneath the late winter sun; the gently arching bridges crossing the slender streams; the stone-paved paths weaving across it all… It was breathtaking, the beauty of it all singing in my blood with every step I took as the ambassador led me to the ballroom.

My body rebelled. It didn't want to stray from the sweet crisp air. It wanted to stay and absorb the gentle sunlight; it wanted to watch the fiery sky until the colors faded from view; it wanted to wander the gardens endlessly, never having to face Kakashi in the dress I was wearing.

It was a beautiful dress, and I did not do it justice. It was black and hugged my not-so-impressive figure before lessening at my hips to fall in a long, flowing skirt that reached my stiletto-clad feet. Long slits wandered up the sides, almost reaching my hip. They swayed open with each step, revealing my long, pale legs, contrasting starkly against the rich black fabric. My hair was done up in an elegant French twist, a few strands of vibrant pink hair falling to the side to frame my face. I wore a touch of make up; a hint of lip gloss on my pink mouth, a bit of mascara on my long lashes.

Eventually, though, I could stall no longer. The ambassador guided me through the rice-paper-paneled doors. I took a brief moment to appreciate the elegant swans painted on the paper before I was ushered through the doors and into the gentle lantern light of the ballroom.

I felt their eyes on me. They stared at my hair. I hated it so much… People never saw me. All they saw was pink.

I lifted my head and searched for familiar faces among the crowd. I spotted Kakashi instantly, and my heart spluttered as I saw his face. He had taken off the mask (as ordered by Tsunade-shishou) and he was smiling at me. It was a smile that made me feel weak. He was so beautiful. I could never compare. He, like Sasuke and Naruto, wore a western-style suit and tie. There was nothing traditional about this party. He looked better than it was fair to in the suit he wore. It was unbelievably unfair.

I didn't stand a chance with him looking like he did. My heart wouldn't be able to take the stress.

I shouldered my way through the crowd towards Kakashi and Sasuke and Naruto (who was waving enthusiastically). I finally made my way to them after what felt like an eternity.

To say I was surprised when Kakashi took my hand in his was an understatement. He stared deep into my eyes and smiled. I felt weak, like jell-o. "You look beautiful, Sakura." He murmured, his voice unbelievably smooth and chocolaty. I was entranced, staring up into the eyes of the most beautiful man in creation. The fact that he was unabashedly lying to me ruined it somewhat.

"Thank you." I said, looking away. Naruto bounced forward and grabbed my hand as well, proclaiming that I was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. I just rolled my eyes, thanking God that Hinata wasn't the jealous type. Sasuke just stuffed his hands into his pockets and told me that I wasn't quite as ugly as usual, and I smiled. Coming from Sasuke, it was basically "You look very nice, Sakura," in the language of normal people (I do have a degree in Sasuke-ese. So does Kakashi and Naruto).

I accepted a glass of wine from Kakashi and sipped it lazily as Kakashi, Sasuke, and Naruto went off to perform their magic. I would just get in the way.

I watched them like a hawk from across the room, my hands clenching into fists as the Raikage's beautiful daughter flirted unabashedly with an unaffected Kakashi. I wanted to march over there and punch her so hard she wouldn't be able to see properly through both eyes for months. But, it wasn't my place.

It wasn't like I was Kakashi's jealous girlfriend. I had no right. Yes, I loved him. I hadn't told him yet, and we weren't in any sort of relationship outside of one that was strictly friend-to-friend and nothing more. He was a bachelor, and he could do whatever he liked.

She was throwing herself all over him, her arms wrapped around his bicep. I couldn't hear what she said, but I was certain that she was gushing compliments as Kakashi awkwardly smiled and thanked her as he tried to extract her from his arm. I could tell that this was what Kakashi was doing because he was Kakashi. He had a strict no-relationships-when-it-comes-to-work rule. No matter how beautiful she (or he) was, Kakashi would not bend.

Hatake Kakashi was a heart-breaker, through and though.

And he had already broken mine.

A/N: It's just a stupid one-shot. I might elaborate, but I might just need a little nudge -coughreviewcough-. Thanks for reading!