From Before

DG32173

Sarah: here's chapter 3 of the first book of my little series here. I don't own anything relating to the Naruto series.

REVIEW REPLIES

Any eventual Kaka/Saku? (Laughs) yeah; this series is purely 'Kaka/Saku' romance through and through. BUT this particular fic is more of love between an extremely overprotective big brother and a happy-go-lucky little sister; this is just showing my opinion of what happened BEFORE the series. Thus the title: From Before. So this fic will end at the beginning of the actual Naruto series. But I'm glad you liked it.

Kakashi is so nice to her. Hehe, yep. This fic is where their future relationship starts up. Plus, it's my opinion that Kakashi likes kids; why else would he be one of those Jounin teachers for genin? Surely not for the money!

It's cool that Kakashi is open to at least one person. Well, Sakura is a little kid in this fic; she may understand adult stuff better than most her age, but she is still a child. He can open up a little easier with a child than he can a peer

Never heard "don't be impatient or I'll just take longer to update."(Laughs) well, some people don't like being rushed, but everyone likes knowing that their work is loved. I'm just one of those people who enjoy taking their time on things, like Shikamaru. I can relate to him very well; I hate being rushed, but I'm rather smart and can figure my way out of most situations. I also enjoy watching clouds like he does. I'm glad you enjoyed it.

THANKS ALL THOSE WHO REVIEWED SO FAR!

NOTE

(Authors note)

"Talking"

'Thinking'

Scene change

POV change

Memory

Scene change in memory

INDEX

Arigato: thank you

Hai: yes

Kami-sama: God, Lord

Okaa-san: mother

Onegai: please

Otou-san: father

–sama: suffix of respect for someone of higher power or position

–san: suffix of respect for an acquaintance.

Chapter 3

Cure for Her Tears

"Kashi-kun…," Sakura's voice reaches his ears. He instantly looks up from his book upon hearing tears in her voice. And seeing tears streaming down her porcelain face, feels a tug of protective anger at whoever caused those tears. "Is my forehead too big?" she whimpers like a kicked puppy.

Kakashi smiles. "Of course not," he assures her. "If anything, it's too small for that superb intellect of yours," he continues when he sees her smile weekly. She laughs and runs into his arms for a hug. "Now, where did you get a ridiculous idea like that?" he asks, picking her up.

"The kids at school," she says softly. "They call me 'forehead girl'."

Kakashi shakes his head in amusement and smiles at her. "Well then, tell them that you have an Anbu as a friend," he says.

"What if they don't believe me?" she asks cautiously.

He grins. "Well, I'll have to put on my Anbu uniform and pick you up from school myself," he says.

She laughs. "You'd do that, Kashi-kun?" she asks. He nods. She mock-glares at him. "Well, don't be too late then," she warns him.

Kakashi laughs. "Agreed," he chuckles.

The next afternoon

"So where is this 'Anbu' friend of yours, forehead girl?" a rude boy with brown hair and mean dark brown eyes asks Sakura.

"Right behind you," another, older voice says. The group of kids picking on Sakura whirl around and quickly back away from the Anbu behind them. Sakura grins at the man. "Ready, Sakura-chan?" he asks.

"Yup, Kashi-kun!" she says, grabbing her backpack. She laughs as he swoops her up and sets her on his shoulders. She sticks her tongue out at the kids over Kakashi's head. "Told ya!" she says happily just before Kakashi takes off for her home. Her father is supposed to be home from a mission sometime today, and Sakura wants to see him before he leaves for another one.

Sakura had told her father about Kakashi, and he'd agreed to let her stay at Kakashi's apartment while he's gone. Sakura leaps off of Kakashi's shoulders and into her fathers arms when he opens the door to their manor. "OTOU-SAN!" she yells gleefully as her father hugs her. Sakura's father raises an eyebrow at Kakashi's outfit. Sakura, upon seeing the look, quickly explains. "Some kids at school were picking on me and Kashi-kun said to tell them that I have an Anbu friend and he'd pick me up after school in his Anbu uniform," she says excitedly. "You should have seen their faces, otou-san!"

Her father chuckles as Kakashi lifts his mask to grin at the older Haruno. "Arigato, Kakashi-san," he says. "After Maki was killed, I thought I'd never see Sakura smile again. But after she met you, she's so happy again. So arigato for making her happy."

Kakashi smiles warmly. "I should be the one thanking her," he says, glancing at the happy girl standing beside him. "She's quite a fun child to be around… ITAI!" he starts when Sakura kicks his leg.

"Kashi-kun!" she admonishes. "I'm not a child! I'm a big girl! I'm gonna be seven in a week!"

Sakura's father and Kakashi both laugh at her statement. "That means I'm getting old," Kakashi teases. "Twenty-one in a few months."

Sakura's father smiles warmly. "Then I must be really old; I'm almost thirty," he chuckles.

Sakura grins up at the two people who mean the world to her. "You aren't old until you aren't a kid in spirit," she states.

Both men laugh. "Hai, very true," her father says, grinning softly. "Your okaa-san used to say that too."

"Otou-san?" Sakura asks nervously.

"Hm?"

"Will you stay until after my birthday, onegai? The last time you were here for my birthday was when I turned three; then it was just me and Maki, then me and Kashi-kun," she says softly.

Sakura's father kneels down beside his daughter to look her in the eye and smile at her. "Alright, I'll ask Hokage-sama for some time off. Kami-sama only knows the last time I had a break," he says. Sakura squeals in joy and hugs her father.

"Arigato, otou-san! Arigato!" she yells. Kakashi just smiles and watches the scene play out before him. It's not very often that Sakura sees her father, so he'll let them have their time together.

"Kakashi-san," the older Haruno says. "Stay with us for a while; I understand that Sakura is the only company you ever get at your apartment. We have plenty of room here; stay for a while."

Sakura turns a pleading look on Kakashi. Kakashi smiles gratefully, knowing he can't possibly refute that look when it comes from Sakura. "Hai, I'll stay. Arigato, Haruno-san."

Sarah: and the end of chapter three. Next chapter was interesting to hand write, and I hope you guys find it interesting to read.