This will be a short piece (a few chapters) based on a binge read induced dream. I am aware I have other stories needing updating and trust me I got excuses for it all from 80 hour work weeks to being lazy and a bit uninspired but alas I am able to write this so there is hope for me updating soon on the other stories. Side note this may be less edited then other stories but will eventually get a thorough edit. Warning I fell into some deep clichés.

ALSO I OWN NOTHING, ABSOLUTELY NOTHING

Summary : Sakura goes on an extended mission, leaving unfinished business and recently explored feelings with Kakashi. Will the mission give them both a chance to reflect on their feelings allowing them to continue once Sakura returns or will the distance and time create a wedge between the two? AU set 3 years after the 4th Shinobi war. RATED M Pairing KakSaku

Rating: M

Pairing: KakaSaku

Sakura (19)/ Kakashi (33)

R&R

o00o

Sakura looked back at the tall green gates that opened to the rest of Kohona , revealing a still sleeping city in the breaking dawn light. She stopped and watched for a moment as light began to spill over the eastern mountains, lost in the moment she stood there taking in the city she loved, a city she would not see for 1 whole year if things went as planned.

Sighing, after returning to the present, she tightened the straps to her pack and set out to Kumogakure to fulfill her portion stipulated by the peace treaty after the 4th Shinobi war. She moved ahead and quickly took to the trees as she willed her mind not to think who she left that morning in bed before the sun had made its accent over the mountains. A man she swore to herself she would never pursue and yet in a fit of melancholy and weakness before she left she could not help but hold him tenderly the night before as they both pushed past the boundaries of friendship so willingly and easily.

Sakura, a 19 year old Jonin of Konoha had just left her ex-sensei of 33 in a deep slumber after there one night of passion and she was struggling to remind herself that there could and would never be another night with him. That the lines and boundaries they had danced around the last 2 and a half years since she made Jonin and they starting training together were to never be crossed again.

Increasing her speed, she pushed her way towards the Land of Lightening, hoping to make it in 3 days' time to start her mission of restructuring and training Kumo medical ninjas as well as strengthening the bonds further between the two villages.

o00o

Light hit Kakashi's eyes as he blinked past the grogginess of the morning.

Stupid morning light, he thought as he mentally cursed the sun for rising

He shifted in his bed turning to look at his alarm clock which read 13:23.

Scratch that make it afternoon sun that I find annoying

Bringing his hand to his unmasked face he rubbed the stubble that had begun to grow on his chin; he would need to shave soon, no one liked stubble sticking out through their mask. Letting his mind wake up more he began to process the events of last night and the fact that he woke up alone, a pinkette missing from his grasp.

Of course she left, it is way past noon, I bet she had a shift or training to do or didn't she say something about getting ready for a mission she had to go on soon? Not everyone can lazy around like I do. Kakashi mentally chided himself then chuckled; despite the fact that he was seemingly late to everything he actually never over slept he was a habitual early riser and had not slept in this late since his first hangover when he was 16.

The time explained her absence but now that Kakashi was alone he had a moment to look over last night's events that led him to waking up looking for her.

Sakura had come over last night after he had eaten and was lounging on the couch reading Icha Icha Tactics. This, within itself was not strange, as they had become friends and companions over the last several years since the war. Sakura had quickly risen to Jonin after the war, focusing on honing her Tai and Genjutsu as well as expanding her Medjutsu, using it not only to heal but as an offensive tool. The war had hardened her, she came to realize that her healing hands needed to destroy as well in order to protect and not just with large craters but with paralyzing jutsus and destroyed chakra systems.

The war had changed her, in such a way that both herself and Kakashi found solace in each other's company. It started with training, to better her taijutsu, then afterwards they began grabbing a bite and then it slowly evolved into spending down time reading together. They could not say a word to each other and simply understand, there was harmony and acceptance in the silence. Not to say they spent all there time silently existing next to each other, they talked and teased and argued over philosophy and morals and meaningless things, Sakura's fiery side was not diminished by the war, and Kakashi respected that. So many others held nothing but sadness or emptiness in their eyed but not Sakura, it had ignited a new passion but also gave her pause to reflect, to crave a quiet moment, moments they liked to have together.

Maybe the war had never changed her, just his perceptions of the love struck genin she was in his mind. He had never tried to understand her, never thought there was anything to understand and for that Kakashi was sorry. He did not see the insecure yet passionate girl she had been then but now she was all he saw; the strong and fiery woman filled with kindness and compassion.

Kakashi signed as he reflected over the past several years together, years that led up to her arrival last night.

Her arrival during his Icha Icha time was not strange and had become a bit of a habit for them both when neither was on a mission. Sakura would come over to catch up and he would make her something since she spent most of the day in a frenzy of training/assisting the hokage/ or on call at the hospital. But when Kakashi had opened the door to the pinkette the air around her was strange; he could sense that her chakra was in turmoil.

Kakashi had invited her in for tea and they had talked, inconsequential things; Sakura hadn't been on a mission in a month, which was strange for her since she usually had at least one but told him she would leave soon on another. That she was happy to be getting out of the village and to have a chance to stretch her legs since she was so restless.

As Kakashi replayed that nights memories over in his head he started to see things he had originally missed; the emotions that laid right behind her eyes and the way she looked at him when she thought he wasn't looking, it was piercing. What happened next was a blur; they were reminiscing and sharing stories past, both had consumed a small amount of sake, buzzed but not drunk. After Kakashi had finally finished his story about his father, not a new topic for them but one that truly showed the trust he held for her, a comfortable silence and filled his small kitchen.

Sakura had gotten up to bring her cup and his to the sink, he could hear her clink it down before she was in front of him again, not making a sound.

Her stealth had improved, Kakashi reflected.

She had said his name, whispered it really as if it was a gentle warm summer breeze that tickled his sense and unburdened his heart. Kakashi looked up; meeting her gaze and something broke within him. Kakashi reached up and pulled her towards him and gently kissed her lips through his still-in-place mask.

He had been shocked at himself but not displeased by his rebelling body, especially when she deepened the kiss. Moments passed and Kakashi had become frustrated, so frustrated he yanked down his mask, exposing his face to the pinkette.

Sakura had pulled back as the movement broke their kiss, she looked down at his newly exposed features and smiled. Kakashi was glad she hadn't made a huge deal about the final reveal 7 years in the making, glad that she gave him a kind smile and an accepting look and continued to be happy as she moved forward to deepen the kiss.

They stayed in the kitchen for a while kissing and exploring each other with tentative hands. Fire began to grow between the two as they moved to the living room and onto the couch. As one could guess they eventually made it to the bedroom, where they took off their remaining clothes and joined together.

The first time was slow and passionate with tender kisses. The second and third time where more rough with soft moans replaced by loud cries and tender words replaced with heated pleas.

No wonder I slept so late, I barely slept the night before Kakashi reflected as he felt a goofy grin break across his face, he was glad that they had taken this step; guilt ridden but ultimately glad. Kakashi didn't care what everything else thought, except for Sakura. He had been torn for years about this want and growing feelings.

What did she think? How was she feeling about this development? He thought with a start, he would need to find her and check in. Kakashi knew there would be some initial awkwardness but ultimately he thought she would want to… continue.

And what if she doesn't? What if she was just feeling lonely and you were there? The voice of doubt sounded in his head.

If that was so, he thought, then he would accept it. Kakashi thought harder, what did he want exactly? Yes he wanted her but what did that all mean. Was it dating or was it something more causal?

Kakashi looked at the clock that now read 14:00, he was going to give himself a headache with all this thinking; the first step was to talk to Sakura and go from there. So begrudgingly, Kakashi left his bed with shuriken sheet's that smelled of her, of warm summer rains and open meadows to go shower and dress and find her. Kakashi resolved to finally tell her how he was feeling and how he had felt for some time; he only hoped she would feel the same.

o00o

Well here it goes (again) my quick oneshot took on a life of its own.

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