Sakura's first day off in weeks was spent doing the last thing she wanted to- helping Kakashi organize the hokage office. He's felt guilty for even asking her to come in on her day off, but that guilt was quickly squashed when she showed up with salt-broiled saury and sake.

"Maa, Sakura, you didn't have to do all this. Helping me organize everything is more than enough"

"Don't worry about it, Kakashi. I know you really haven't been eating since it was announced that Naruto is to become the next Hokage." She smiled as she handed him the saury and some rice.

"He's only been studying for a year." Kakashi grumbled. "If we can even call it that. You and I both know he's not a good test taker." He chuckled as he poured the sake. "Being in your late 20's must be fun without a war going on."

"Kakashi," Sakura slapped his shoulder with a slight frown. "just because you're not as young as you use to be doesn't mean you can't have fun. After we organize everything, let's go to the street fair!" She suggested, her face melting into a warm smile.

Kakashi felt himself blush under his mask and quickly mumbled "okay" before setting the saury aside and opening one of his drawers. Recognizing the neat stack of scrolls in the drawer he opened, he slammed it closed, making Sakura jump.

"S-sorry," He stuttered, silently chiding himself. "this is the only organized drawer I have." He answered her head tilt lamely. Sakura couldn't know what was on those scrolls. Ever.

"Alright," She mumbled, taking another bite of her tempora, not really believing him.

Kakashi was mentally slapping himself. He knew which drawer he was opening. He knew what was inside said drawer. His dirty little secret. His entire heart was on display on those scrolls. His love for his former student. Each scroll has detailed descriptions of how much she affected him every time he saw her in his office or in town. Every time she accidentally brushed up against him when she gave him a tour of the newly built hospital last week. Every time their eyes met and he felt like he would melt into a pile of goo.

His overwhelming affection for his former student had startled him at first. Never in all his life did he think that he'd fall this hard for an old student of his, yet, here he was, staring at her as she ate wishing they were lounging on his couch back at his apartment while watching her favorite movie.

"Kakashi? Are you feeling okay? You've barely touched your food." The worry in her voice immediately grabbed his attention and he regretted meeting her gaze. The concern in her eyes made his heart clench.

"Maa, I'm fine. I just remembered I have a council meeting in a few minutes." He was lying. He skipped that meeting yesterday and had Shikamaru go in is place, again. He still hasn't found his icha icha book yet.

"Oh," she whispered, her eyes sliding away from his as she looked at the food in front of her. "Well, we can't have you miss something as important as that." She smiled up at him, but her smile didn't reach her eyes and it tore Kakashi apart. He didn't want to make her leave, but he couldn't risk her finding out about the scrolls.

"I'm sorry. I know you came all this way on your day off-"

"No, it's okay. I had things to take care of here anyway. Shizune needs me to go over the hospital guidelines again since there was a misprint." She waved off his apology as she packed up her food. "I hope the saury is good, Kakashi."

Kakashi watched with regret as she slowly stood and walked out of his office. As soon as the door closed, he let his head fall forward onto the desk. "I am such an idiot."

Over the next few weeks, Sakura started receiving love letters from an anonymous man. Every one came with a small gift, from a gift card up to jewelry, the scrolls kept coming. Each one she read made her heart burst. She couldn't believe that someone paid that much attention to her.

One particular scroll she received on a snowy afternoon connected all the dots:

My darling Sakura,

Walking through the snow with you today was the most serene day of my life. I never knew snow could have such a calming effect. Every brush of our arms made me warmer then any coca could. I wish I could tell you to your face how I felt. I'm so afraid you'll turn me away. I cannot lose you, Sakura. I've lost so much in this life and to lose you would be beyond unbearable. Loving you from a distance is painful at times, but seeing you smile throughout your day is enough for me.

Sakura didn't know she was crying until the ink on the scroll began to run. Wiping her eyes quickly, she smiled and shook her head. "That man," she giggled before gently rolling the scroll back up and putting it in her coat pocket, the gold bracelet that came with it dangled lightly from her wrist and she began running to the hokage tower.

Kakashi was absolutely, undeniably drunk. Never in his entire life had he ever been this drunk. He was sloppily working on another scroll for Sakura when she suddenly burst through the door, a warm smile on her face as she shut the door behind her.

"What're you doing here?" He slurred slightly as she quickly dumped the scroll into the drawer, knocking over his ink pot in the process. Ignoring his question, she sauntered over to the desk and placed the scroll she received today on his desk. Kakashi's eyes widened with realization as he stared at the now open scroll.

"Sakura, I-" He paused, unable to form the right words. She'd found him out, and it was his own fault. Sighing with defeat, he poured himself another drink.

"Is this what you do after we spend time together?" She giggled before downing the shot of sake he poured. "Get drunk and write about me?"

Yes. "No. I was reading a mission report." He has panicking. He sent the wrong scroll.

"Is that so?" She smirked as she leaned over the desk and saw that his secret drawer was open. Kakashi quickly closed it before she could read anything else and sighed before hiding his face in his hands.

"I'm sorry, Sakura. You were never meant to know. I sent the wrong scroll today." He mumbled into his palms.

"So, it was you the entire time?" She smiled as she gently grabbed his wrist and pulled his hand away from his face, the chain of the bracelet catching on the fabric of his mask slightly.

Kakashi nodded in response, unable to meet her gaze. Sakura giggled at the bashful and embarrassed Hokage and picked up the scroll he had attempted to hide from her.

I love you, so damn much I can hardly stand it. You're so beautiful, and smart. Kami how can someone who has a heart as big as yours have a brain to match? You're the most amazing woman I've ever met.

Sakura gasped softly at what he'd written. No one had ever said anything like that to her before.

Kakashi stared at her as she kept her eyes glued to the scroll. That was what he had meant to send her today, but his drunk mind wasn't in on the plan. Kakashi pulled his mask down and took a deep breath to steady himself before he opened his mouth to speak.

"Oh, Kakashi," Sakura whispered, finally ripping her eyes off the scroll to look at him and her entire mind went blank at the sight of his maskless face. Her jaw dropped at how handsome he was. His sharp jaw line, his slightly crooked nose, the little mole on his cheek. Without thinking, she reached out and ran her thumb across his jaw, the slight stubble making her breath catch.

"Sakura," He whispered, his warm breath fanning her face as her thumb reached his lips. Placing a soft kiss to her thumb, he smiled and leaned into her touch. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you to your face before. I was afraid-"

"I know," she interrupted him with a soft gasp. Each word he spoke against her hand made her heart beat go even faster. "I know. It's okay. Kami, Kakashi." She giggled breathlessly. "Why else would I have spent my days off with you? Paid for our lunch without telling you I was bringing it?"

The smile on her face made Kakashi's eyes widen as everything finally fell into place. She loved him too.

Kakashi's face lit up with the most beautiful smile she'd ever seen. He immediately stood up and grabbed her by her hand and pulled her into his arms. Sakura relaxed into his embrace and smiled, her arms wrapping around his waist and burying her face into his neck.

"I love you too, Kakashi." She whispered, causing him to tighten his arms around her in response.

"I cannot tell you how happy that makes me." He whispered into her hair. "I never expected you to feel the same. I'm sorry if I said anything that made you uncomfortable."

"You didn't." She smiled as he pulled her face away from his neck and meeting his gaze. The adoration and fear in his eyes made her heart soar. "We'll take it one step at a time, okay?"

Kakashi nodded before pressing his lips to her forehead and pulling her back into his embrace, his heart finally calming down.

"Thank you." He mumbled into her hair again. "Thank you."