Part l

She grew her hair out. It is down to her lower back now. Did she curl it tonight or has it always been curly? I can't remember to be honest. It's been 3 years since I last saw her. Since the war ended, I guess you could say everything has gone back to normal, if there ever was such a thing as normal. Last thing I heard Sakura and Sasuke got together, but that was a year and a half ago, I am guessing by now they're engaged or married.

I sigh and readjust my mask before slipping my hands into my pockets, watching as she hugs her long time friend Ino. The dress she decided to wear tonight fits her perfectly. Modest, but stunning. Nothing makes you realize how attractive someone is like not seeing them for years. The black fabric of her dress clings to her snuggly all the way from its modest neckline to her delicate hips and then fans out, ending high on her upper thighs. The long sleeves of the dress are floral patterned but see-through.

How quickly she turns to bear hug Naruto almost reveals her behind, flashing me the edge of some sort of black lace. Her flawless pink curls bounce as she retreats from her tiptoed bear hug back to flatfoot. How tall Naruto has grown is rather amazing to tell the truth, while Sakura on the other hand has stayed 5'2 since she was 17.

I catch a glimpse of Sasuke out of the corner of my good eye. I follow the movement and watch as he makes his way towards the small group in which Sakura was. Raising an eyebrow, I watch the two share an awkward exchange of head nods before Ino drags Sakura away from the two boys, leaving Naruto and Sasuke to quietly chat amongst themselves.

My interest peaked; I make my way into her line of sight before casually leaning against a wall. While waiting for her to notice me I pretend to observe my drink as I twirl the liquid inside around in small circles.

I hear Ino call out to Shikamaru, I look up slightly to see her leave Sakura's side and make her way towards the younger male. I look back towards my drink the second I see Sakura start to turn my way.

"Kakashi-Sensei!" I hear her delicate voice over the murmurs of the other guests in the small, overly heated room of the newly built Konoha headquarters. I look up from my drink and with a small wave of the hand; I give her my classic eye wrinkle smile and simple, "Yo."

I watch as she walks closer, her flawless features getting more noticeably flawless as she inches closer; I have to force my racing heart to slow in fear she might hear its relentless pounding in attempt to break out of my chest. I push myself off the wall and motion for her to join me outside to talk.

Once outside I once again lean, but this time against the railing of the balcony. I smile at her again, not exactly sure what to say to her after 3 years has passed. Luckily, for me, she has always been the talkative type.

"How've you been Kakashi-Sensei?" She questions as she takes a sip of what I presume to be sake.

I motion at the cup, "A little young to be drinking, don't you think?"

"Don't tell me you've forgotten your favorite students' age?" She nudges me a little and winks, my heart leaps.

"Don't tell me you're 20 already?" That's right she is 20. She's a young woman now, not some kid.

"You are correct Sensei." She smiles up at me before taking another sip.

"Mind dropping that worn out name? Just Kakashi is fine with me, Sakura"

"Awe, but I'm so used to referring to you as Sensei."

"It makes me feel old."

"Don't fret Kakashi, you're only 34."

"Please don't remind me."

She smiles again, flashing perfectly straight, white teeth. When she smiles her emerald, eyes sparkle. A sense of calm flushes over me as I observe her features, but also a new feeling; a feeling of exhilaration. Pure enchantment.

"So, how are things with Sasuke?" I ask, pretending to expect a short simple answer. I hear her grumble before shuffling beside me uncomfortably. I turn my head towards her and cock my head to the side, signaling I am interested in listening.

She sighs, wrapping one of her fingers up in one of the many curls in her hair. She bites her bottom lip softly; something she always does when she's thinking about something troubling. Noticing her gaze elsewhere I pull my mask down just below my lips to sip on my drink.

"I think he's gay."

I nearly choke on my drink and end up sounding as if I were coughing up a lung. I hear Sakura gasp beside me before pointing in my direction. It takes me a second to realize this is the first time she's seen past my eyes. Deciding to mess with her a small bit, I give her a sly smirk and a wink before pulling my mask back on. I see a light blush cross her cheeks before she turns away again in a huff. She may be 20, but she is still a bit childish in her own way.

"So, why you think that?" I ask.

"Huh?"

"The gay thing."

"Oh, he left me for Naruto."

"Seriously? And you only THINK he's gay."

"Well, it's not like he left me to romantically be with Naruto, Naruto has a thing with Hinata now. No, I mean, he left me to focus more of his time in bettering himself in order to accomplish his newly found dreams. However, he is always with Naruto, and when we talk it is always Naruto this and Naruto that. Damn boy never has anything else on his mind other than Naruto."

"Sounds complicated."

She scoffs, "You're telling me."

A minute of silence and a cup of sake later she decides to speak up again, "I'm done with him, Kakashi."

"Hm?" Is all I can think to respond with.

"I deserve better." She says firmly.

"You do." I smile; glad she finally realizes that.

"I admire you Kakashi, maybe I'll go for someone like you," She says as she nudges me forcing me to look down. When our eyes meet, she winks. I swallow silently, shoving all wrong ideas from surfacing. No matter what unrecognizable feelings I feel towards her, I cannot be that someone. This is something I know, this one fact that I, Kakashi Hatake, can never be someone Sakura Haruno can be with, is what keeps me grounded. The instant I let that thought slip; I'll lose myself into all my perverse wants and do something I'd deeply regret.

"Good luck in that search." I say with a smile.

She sighs, "You're right, there aren't many porn reading, laid back, bad-ass copy ninja out there, huh?" she giggles at herself a little too hard. I can tell she's slightly buzzed.

"It's not porn, it's romance." I say, defending my favorite book.

"Whatever helps you sleep at night."

I make a small grunt signaling my offence, taking a deep breath in I push myself from the ledge and towards the door entering the building, "Well, I better get going." I say, the way things are going now, I just know it would be for the better to keep my distance from a young, beautiful not to mention legal girl who might I add, used to be my student; it's not that it's illegal for ex-students and sensei's to hook up or anything like that. It is just that I made a promise to myself never to fall for a woman, and the way I feel around Sakura, I know it would happen. Then knowing how I react to those types of things, I would end up hurting the poor girl. It would be a huge mess, and I am not sure that is a mess worth making. What would really happen? It is not as if I plan to get married, I would never be able to give her what she wanted. I can never be the one she is looking for.

"Kakashi wait."

I sigh and turn back around, my hand still on the doorknob, "Yes?"

She looks down towards her feet; I notice her swaying a little bit, "You see, I'm a little ashamed to admit this, but it seems I'm rather drunk and all my friends seem busy. If it isn't too much of a hassle, could you possibly help me home?"

Personally, I would really rather not but ethically I should.