This be the second chapter of Older Men. The fact that I was motovated enough to continue this story should make ye happy. Ahem, yeah, I'm in a piratey mood right now so... Be happy, or YE'LL WALK THE PLANK! You asked for it, and I felt gracious enough to supply you with it. The second Chapter.

DISCLAIMER: I DON'T OWN NARUTO, I WISH I DID, BUT I DON'T.

Of Beds and Bets

The only sound he could hear was the sound of his own haggard breathing. His vision was clouded, and dark, cutting off his minds connection to the outside world. Moving was out of the question, his limbs were numb, if they were there at all. He focused what little chakra he could feel in his body, into his core senses, clearing his vision, and unblocking his ears. The world was suddenly revealed to him, and he surmised that he was in a Hospital, more specifically, a hospital bed.

He mentally groaned. Not another hospital, I hate hospitals. I can't even remember Why I'm here, let alone how I got here. A sharp pain pulsed through his chest. He was suddenly flooded with memories of that day. Oh... Now I remember. But, he peered over at the calender on the wall, That must have been at least a few years ago. How am I still alive, and why don't I remember anything? I'm probably dying... If he could have sighed, he would have.

After a few hours, Kakashi was able to prop himself up into a sitting position. He gently ran his fingers over the area on his chest. A nasty scar had formed, and it wasn't going to go away. I still don't understand how I survived... I mean, I'm not complaining, but, how the hell? He slumped back into his bed and shut his eyes, putting the thoughts temporarily out of his mind.

"Maybe a little sleep's all I need." The copy-ninja muttered as he drifted into a light sleep.

He had just drifted into what would have been a fitful deep sleep when the door was ripped open and sent flying with a crash. Kakashi shot up in his bed—OW–and turned his gaze directly into the eyes of his former team mate, a Miss Sakura Haruno. "Sakura...chan? How did you–" He was cut off by a hug that almost killed him. He's lucky it didn't in the condition he was in.

Kakashi felt the heaving of her chest as she sobbed into his shoulder, and he knew that now was not the time to make a remark about the hug, as much as he was tempted. She sobbed heavily, but was able top get out a few words in between. "Kakashi... Thank god... Kakashi." For once, Sakura, the brainy little lab girl, was glad that she had been wrong. She was afraid that if she let go, she would lose him, again, so she clung to him up to the time late at night when she fell asleep in his arms.

Tsunade watched a good portion of the scene unfold and shook her head. "No way she can pass up this chance, she can't just let this slip away... but, knowing her, I'll have to interject. I bet... no, I will bet that I can have them together before you can say 'Kage Bushinn'." She smiled evilly to herself and wandered back to her office to draw up some plans. On her way, she stopped a nurse headed into Kakashi's room. "How long before Hatake Kakashi can leave?"

"Oh! Well, the doctor said that he should have made a full recovery in a about a week. No downtime either!" The peppy nurse nodded and turned back into Kakashi's room, skipping and humming.

Perfect. In one week's time, I will make my bet!

Kakashi glanced down at the konouchi sleeping on his chest. He smiled slightly and ran his fingers lightly on through her hair. He had no ides that she was still awake, unable to sleep with all of the energy flowing through her. She tensed slightly at his touch but eventually relaxed into it. She even went as far as sliding up onto his chest sleepily, turning her face up and burying it into the nape of his neck. Exhaling deeply in her relaxation.

It was Kakashi's turn to tense up a bit. He tried to pass it off in his head as just her moving around in her sleep, you know, tossing and turning. But there was still that little thought in the back of his mind, that maybe she was making a move, feigning sleep to cover it up. Things hadn't been the same between them since they got back together as a team when she was sixteen. God, I wonder how old she is now? Oh god, what if she's still underage? Kakashi quickly dismissed the thoughts, and relaxed a bit into the bed, he was tired, and needed sleep. He placed his hand gently and hesitantly on her lower back, leaning his head slightly towards her, making himself comfortable. He felt her tense again. She is awake, huh. Kakshi tried to put together a train of thought, but gave up after a couple of seconds. I'll think it over in the morning.

And what I morning. The nurse came in carrying the tray for Kakashi's pain killers, and breakfast, and as soon as she laid eyes on the scene in the bed, she dropped the tray and woke the whole room up. By the time they morning had come, Kakashi's left arm was firmly up Sakura's shirt, and his right was wrapped tightly around her upper body. Sakura he gotten quite a bit closer to Kakashi in their sleep. She was pressed flush against him, and her face was buried into his neck, with one hand resting on the other side of his neck, her fingers tangling in his hair. The whole thing suggested adultery, and when they woke up, they knew it right away.

Three seconds, a slap, and one drowsy apology later, Sakura was sitting in a chair brushing her hair, her face slightly flushed. Kakashi sat rubbing his face and trying helplessly to explain that he had been asleep the whole time.

After the whole thing was over, they returned to their idle chat and news updates. They had recently gotten on the topic of Naruto's sexuality, and the fact that as of a week ago, he had moved to Suna, and was currently... with... the Kazekage. The subject surprised Kakashi, but only slightly, the fact that Naruto was gay didn't strike him as unlikely, he had seen it coming, especially the way he acted towards Sasuke.The thing that caught him off guard was who he ended up with. From what Sakura had said, he surmised that Sasuke had returned, and was no longer the topic of controversy, and it made him wonder why Naruto hadn't pursued Sasuke. Though he did recall the connection that flew between him and Garaa when they had first fought.

"Huh... well, I can't say I didn't see it coming." The silver haired jounin muttered rubbing his chin.

His chin...

His chin...

Kakashi's eyes widened to the largest Sakura had ever seen them. He looked around frantically, searching under his pillows, and reaching for bags.

"What? What are you doing?" Sakura asked, avoiding his wandering hands, narrowly escaping some potentially embarrassing situations. She looked at him again and was struck by a revelation, he, had, no, mask. She smirked deviously. Time to have some fun. "Oh Kakashi, I just love the way you look without your mask." She leaned in on the bed, pressing her breasts together in the process. I love "V"-necks. "Your just soooo..." She licked her lips slowly, "Delectable."

Kakashi saw right through the little act. He wasn't going to waste time in scolding her though, technically, he didn't have the right to anymore. He had to find that damn mask, it was his only salvation. Eventually he dove his hand into a bag of his own belongings, removing his precious mask. He sighed and slipped it on over his head. Much better.

The Haruno girl frowned slightly, disappointed that he was able to so easily ignore her. "That's the last time I cuddle up to you at night." She muttered under breath, turning away from Kakashi and gathering her things.

"Hmm?"

"Nothing... just talking to myself again." She sighed as she remembered that large amount of work she had signed herself up for today. Normally she wouldn't have cared, because it was all she had to do most of the time. But now that Kakashi was back, she had other things other then work. Oh well, I'll get to see him tomarrow, if I'm alive. She sighed again, another long, long day.

Tsunade stamped her final paper, and wiped the stress induced sweat from her forehead. Finally after all of her paperwork was done, she could initialize her plan. It had been a week and a half since Kakashi had returned, he was now living in a room near Sakura's–a little doing of Tsunade's–and was back to top condition. Thos two have always been close, and even more so now. I have no doubt that something will happen. Even if I have to coax it to happen. They'll be together, I'll bet money on it.

The Gambling Sannin turned to her assistant. "Shizune, get Jiraiya. And after he's gone, get Sakura and Kakashi. It's about time I put my plan into action."

"So... Jiraiya, what do you say to making a little, wager with me?" Tsunade leaned forward, lacing her fingers together into a cradle for her chin. She had this one locked up, and she knew it. The stakes are gonna be high on this one, she can't resist the urges I know she has. I'll get as much out of this as I can.

"Do go on." The perverted author of Icha Icha Paradise had two things he couldn't resist: Women, and the Gambling they often offered. He rubbed his hands together greedily, thinking of the money he was going to rake in. "How much are we talking?"

"Patience Jiraiya, let me tell you what the bet is first." Tsunade began rummaging through her desk. "I have recently gained into my possession, a mission scroll." She removed a blue paper scroll from her desk and held it in Jiraiya's direction. "The mission details that the Ninja, or ninja's are to act as messengers in secret between two men in rival families. A love affair, if it were. The mission is guessed at a week in length, long enough for the two to make escape plans. It is easy, and the pay is good."

"What's your point then? You've told me about a mission, not a bet." Jiraiya crossed his arms in frustration, quickly losing interest.

"Again, patience Jiraiya. The bet, will be explained in a moment. Now, I plan to send Sakura Haruno, and Kakashi Hatake on this mission toegether. Due to the missions short time period, I had Shizune copy it, and change the time to a month. I am hoping that, in that time given, Sakura and Kakashi will have..." She left the rest to his perverted mind.

The Perverted Hermit smiled gleefully, he loved best like this. "So, your hoping for some, Hanky-panky naughty-business on this mission?"

"Actually, I'm betting on it."

"Ahh... thus the bet. Well now, I'm willing to bet... three million yen against it." Three million was no great thing for him, being the author of a very popular book series, and a successful gambler. But he knew that even The Hokage couldn't resist that.

Trying very hard not to smile, Tsunade stuck out her hand, "Three million yen, from each of us."

"Agreed."

So there you go, another chapter in the story, not(in my opinion) as good as the first, but hey, I tried. A little R&R please?