It was 6.oo pm and Sakura was wondering what she should wear on the party. She was standing in front of her wardrobe, looking doubtfully at her dresses. She had bought most of them when she was 16 years old. So the question was: Did they still fit?
»Let's give it a try.«, she murmured to herself.

After an hour of trying and almost going crazy she finally spotted a black dress with cute white dots. She remembered that she bought it out of frustration, because she hadn't found anything when she was shopping with Ino. At the time she had to find out that it was too loose-fitting so it vanished in the depths of her closet.
But now it fitted perfectly! It had a halter neck, but still a nice décolleté. Under Sakura's bosom it was tight, so her slender hips were perfectly accentuated. It was knee-length and pleasingly breezy.
She decided to pin up her hair, but she let a few strands of pink hair hang loosely into her face. After adding some make-up and lip gloss, she left her flat and went to Ino's house.

On her way she met Rock Lee and Hyuuga Neji.
»Sakura-san!«, Lee shouted enthusiastically. »Are you going to your party?«
»Well, actually it's Ino's party, isn't it?«, Sakura said with a warm smile for her friend. »Are you two going there, too?«
»Of course! Tenten and I even get Neji to come with us.«
»That's very nice.«, Sakura answered with another smile towards Neji. The Hyuuga nodded.
»Let's get going.«

When arriving at Ino's house, Sakura saw many familiar faces. Next to the house bar were standing Shikamaru, though without Temari, Kiba and Shino, who were by now drinking and chatting exited – well, if you can link the words 'Shikamaru' and 'exited'.
Ino, Tenten, Genma and Anko were already dancing in the middle of the room while Gai was standing on the turntables, arranging good music, while Kakashi, Kurenai, Asuma and Tsunade were sitting around a table. Sakura could see that the Hokage was already drunk, but it only made her giggle. She heard Tsunade shout: »Let's bet! I know that I'll win!«
After those words you could hear cheerful laughter and see Tsunade getting angry.

When she saw Sakura, Ino stopped dancing and went to welcome her.
»Sakura! You're finally here! Neji, Lee.«, she nodded smilingly to her guests.
»Ino, I cannot believe how many people you invited! How did you set this up?«, Sakura asked in astonishment.
»Aww, Sakura, you know me. I'm famous, I'm popular!«, Ino said with a smirk on her face.
»Well, yeah.. Of course.«
»Can I get you something to drink?«, the blonde Kunoichi asked.
»No, thanks. We'll go to the bar ourselves.«, Neji said.
»What about you, Sakura?«
»Surprise me, Ino-pig. I'll get myself seated over there.«, Sakura said with a nod towards the table.

Since the moment Sakura hat entered the room Kakashi hadn't averted his gaze from her. It made him almost lose his breath as he saw how beautiful she was. Her dress was sexy, but still pictured her innocence and kindness.
The silver haired Jounin mentally punched himself for looking over her this way, but still he couldn't avoid it. When she spotted him, she started to beam at him until she finally seated herself next to him.

»Hey, Kakashi…«, Sakura paused demonstratively, to accentuate that she wasn't calling him sensei. »I'm surprised that you are already here.«
»Yeah, he surprised every one of us when he showed up on time.«, Kurenai said giggling, earning a frown from Kakashi.
»I'm not that tardy. And I always have a good reason, you know.«
»Like getting lost on the road of life?«, Sakura asked teasingly.
The whole table was roaring with laughter and Kakashi frowned only more.
»Aww, don't look so gloomy.«, his former student said and stroked his arm. He slightly flinched at her touch, hoping this would not be noticed.

Hell, Kakashi, what's wrong with you? You know her since she was twelve so stop overreacting now., he scolded himself inwardly.
While the others were chatting Kakashi only listened half-heartedly. He was thinking about wrong and right, when suddenly he felt a hand on his arm.
Vacantly he looked right into Sakura's hypnotic eyes, startled by the fact that her face was only three inches away from his.
»I asked you something! «, she said, only pretending to be enraged.
»I'm sorry, what's wrong?«
»Hell, Kakashi, there's a girl working up the courage to ask you to dance with her and you are not even listening!« Sakura laughed.
»I'm not a good dancer…«, was the repellent answer of the Jounin.
»Well, I don't care. «, the pink girl said, still laughing.
»But I care. I'm not in the mood.«, he said sharply.

He averted his gaze, because he couldn't bear to see her hurt face. He should be making sure that she doesn't get hurt and now he was the one to hurt her. But, he thought to himself, I would hurt her even more if she knew my thoughts.
Kakashi's thoughts were brought back to reality, when he heard Genma approaching and addressing the young Kunoichi by his side.

»It's Haruno Sakura, right? I'm Shiranui Genma. You wanna dance?«
Kakashi's eyes switched to Sakura. The girl was looking at Genma with surprise, then looking at his outstretched hand.
»O-okay.«, she said quite unsure, but finally taking his hand.

The silver haired man felt an unfamiliar twitch. Anyone of us would have noticed the feeling of jealousy, but in fact Kakashi hadn't felt this feeling since.. He couldn't even remember. So it was no surprise he didn't recognize it.
He carefully watched every single move of those two. Genma was whispering something in Sakura's ear which made her blush and giggle.
»You know that you should be the one dancing with her – not this womanizer, right? «, said Kurenai, who was sitting next to him.
»Hn.«
»Now stop looking so indifferent. I know that you don't like that. She is your former student after all, so you have to be a little more protective than you show now. Actually I have no idea why you didn't want to dance with her. You are not a bad dancer at all.«
Sometimes this woman is so annoying.
»Well, as you noticed perfectly she is my former student and way too young to dance with an old man like me.«, Kakashi snapped at her.
Kurenai smiled understandingly. »She didn't ask you to marry her. And Genma doesn't seem to think that he's too old for her.«
»Hn.«

He didn't have to be so cold., Sakura thought as Kakashi turned her down.
When Genma asked her to dance with him, she was really surprised. Of course she still knew him from the Chuunin-exams. Even when she finally became Chuunin he still was the referee. And if she remembered correctly he was known as a womanizer. Even Ino had dated him.
Now he was spinning herover the dance floor. Suddenly he was behind her, pressing himself against her back.

»I never knew that dots could be this tantalizing and sexy.«, Genma whispered into her ear.
It made her blush furiously, but the same time she had to giggle like a schoolgirl.

Genma was a good dancer and she was glad that even during her mission she had some time to enjoy herself with other Kunoichi - for example by going to bars. So she herself wasn't that bad on the dance floor. When she was 15 she even found time to take dance lessons together with Ino and Hinata at the Hyuuga's residence.

After another two songs Genma asked: »Can I get you something to drink?«
»Yes! I'm almost dying of thirst!«
While standing there, waiting for Genma to return, Sakura felt tingly as if someone was watching her. Unconsciously the turned towards Kakashi, who was actually looking at her. She smiled at him, but he showed no reaction. Then he looked away.
What's wrong? Maybe he smiled, too, and I just didn't see it because of his mask.
Still she was scowling.

»Here you are.«, said Genma as he returned with the drinks.
»Thank you.« Sakura sipped on her drink, then took another sip. »Wow, that's delicious!«
»Something sweet for my sweetheart.«
Sakura didn't know what to answer so she nibbled on her straw.
»You really seem to like that. Do you want another one?«, Genma asked, smirking.
»Yes, that would be nice.« Slowly but surely Sakura was feeling a bit tipsy. She wondered why, because the drink didn't taste like alcohol.

»You know that he is fuddling her.«, Kurenai said with raised eyebrows.
»Maybe you should end this, Kakashi.«, agreed Asuma.
»Naaah, she is MY student.. hick.. and MY student can take.. ugh.. care of her.. ugh.. herself!«, was the drunken interruption of Tsunade.
Kakashi listened to this silently, watching Genma playing with Sakura's hair while they danced.
He stood up and walked over to the dancing couple.

»May I have the next dance?«, he asked Sakura, but than looked at Genma insistently.
»You may.«, Genma answered generously and handed Kakashi the hand of the young Kunoichi.