Title: Laws of Love
Genre: Romance/Humor
Rating: T
Pairing: Kakashi/Sakura
Note: Kakashi is about 3 to 4 years younger than in the manga/anime. (Putting him at about 25-26 years old, instead of early 30's)
Summary: A new law comes into effect on Sakura's birthday. On that day, all suitors must ask for her hand and she must answer that same day. Sakura doesn't think that she will have any suitors – so she doesn't leave the house – until she's forced to. But what she doesn't know is that she does have suitors. Question is: will she fall for one of them? (KakaSaku)

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Laws of Love

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Kakashi just stared at her, his eyes wide with shock.

"You've got to be kidding me. Wh... what kind of joke... bet... dare... is that?" he exclaimed at the young female.

Sakura just looked at him, her jade eyes gazing out from underneath her pink locks. Slowly, seductively, the kunoichi cocked her hip, crossing her arms in a daring manner – as if to say 'try me'.

She cleared her throat, effectively catching his gaze. "Excuse me," she began, "but do I look like I'm joking," – Kakashi opened his mouth to answer – "for that matter, am I the type of person to tell a joke?"

Forlornly, Kakashi just shook his head. "Fine, Ms. Kunoichi," his eyes had now taken the steel that they looked as he gave her a faux name as he, himself, began to stand up, "but I have to ask you. Even if you hadn't chosen me – it's all for a bet? You could've — "

"NO, I COULD NOT HAVE!" Sakura screamed at the copy-nin. The small form of the pink-haired nin stomped over to him, rage eminent in her eyes.

"I'm. Not. A. Whore. Like. Ino." Sakura told him through clenched teeth.

"I never said you were, blossom. I was just stating the fact that all women flirt whether they are taken or not," Kakashi stated nonchalantly.

Sakura's eyes snapped up at the nickname. "Blossom?"

"My fiance's not allowed to have a pet name?" he supplied.

Jade eyes blinked. "Well, I... I didn't think that you'd... you'd said... said..."

"That I had said yes."

Bending down, Kakashi took one of Sakura's hands in his own, looking up into her eyes as spoke to her.

"Haruno Sakura – " Kakashi began, before being cut off.

By her hand.

"You don't even have a ring. But yes – I accept." Sakura smirked viciously.

Standing up, Kakashi twirled the pink-haired kunoichi around in true celebratory fashion – that is, until they were interrupted.

"What they hell, Sakura-chan?"

Quickly setting Sakura down, the two "lovebirds" turned toward the noise: none other than the number one, hyperactive knucklehead ninja of the village – Uzumaki Naruto.

Green eyes went wide. "Naruto! Wh... wait a second before..."

"Before what, Sakura-chan? Before you make-out with your secret lover over there? Yeah, I know! I see how it is! I ask you and you say now, but Kakashi-sensei asks you and you fucking say yes?! What the hell?" Naruto continued yelling, marching closer to the two with every step he took.

Kakashi (being the ever-smart one) stepped back a couple of feet – knowing how bad Naruto's temper was, and it was quickly being proven, as well as preparing himself for a quick exit. Sakura, on the other hand, was clutching the railing of the bridge, watching her blond-headed friend with teary eyes.

"N... now, Naruto," she began again, "I'm sure that it's a misunderstanding," Sakura swallowed before continuing, "D... did you even hear our conversation?"

Naruto shook his head no quickly, then just as fast began asking as to why he should've heard the conversation.

'Thank Kami-sama that Naruto didn't hear our conversation. Then not only would he be after us... but Ino-pig too,' she thought, 'he'd probably be even angrier and then some as well.' Sakura shuddered at the thought.

"Naruto," Sakura said, a determined air in her voice, "the conversation has everything to do with it. Besides," Sakura took a deep breath, "I asked him – not the other way around."

"You've got– "

"Shush! Let me finish!" Sakura interrupted him, "He... didn't say yes willingly, mind you. It took a lot of convincing – but I did manage to. I have my reasons for not asking anybody else. Moreso, it was because I see everybody else as a brother. Some though, are just not my type," Sakura shivered, thinking of Shino – 'eww, bugs' — "In the end, I asked Kakashi-kun; please don't be mad at him, be mad at me. But please, eventually, will you forgive us, and maybe, accept it?"

Deep green eyes pleaded with the blond. Naruto made no move to talk, no effort to move – only staring at her with something akin to longing. Sakura couldn't tell; she didn't want to know.

"I'm sorry, Naruto," she said, misery and sadness lacing her voice as she turned away, quickly forming the seals of the teleportation jutsu.

She was gone too fast. She was gone before she could she Naruto reaching out for her, his lips forming an apology.

Kakashi turned to Naruto, fury lashing in his eyes. "She's your friend, Naruto. I may not agree with her decision for me to be her betrothed, but again, it is her decision."

Like Sakura, he disappeared quickly, only this time – it was to find the person who had left before him.

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Reaching the top of Hokage Mountain – after deciding to walk the steps instead – Kakashi saw what he had expected to see: Sakura. What he didn't expect to see was the state she was in.

Her hair... it was in a manner of disarray, tears staining her cheeks – her knees pulled to her chest. She looked so insecure, so alone. Naruto had done this to her. He had done this to her.

Kakashi clenched his fists. Slowly, quietly, he walked up to her.

"Sakura."

Pink hair swirled in the light wind, her head twirling as it spun toward the voice. Apparently – she had not expected to be found so soon.

Her eyes met his dark ones; she couldn't smile, but she stood up, moving to greet him.

Sakura's eyes now met the ground. "Kakashi... san," she said hesisitantly, her fists clutching at the bottom of her fighting kimono.

Shaking his head silently, Kakashi brought his hand up, touching it to her chin, tilting it up.

"Never look down, blossom," he said, glancing into her eyes, "you are much too pretty to be doing that."

Sakura was like a dive-bomb after that. Her arms wrapped around the former ANBU-member. Stumbling back, it only took a few moments – after he had gained his composure – to notice that the pink-haired girl was now sobbing loudly into his chest. His eyes softened immediately as he cradled his arms around her back, murmuring gentle words of comfort in her ear.

"It'll be alright," he said softly, "Naruto will come around. You know you're like a sister to him. He'll love you no matter what. He's just surprised, that's all. You, of all people, should know how he is."

Gentle shaking stopped abruptly, only to be replaced by bells – Sakura's laughter.

Kakashi looked down at her, surprised that she had found it funny. "What do you find so humorous, blossom?"

She shook her head, burying it in his chest snugly. "Nothing, Kashi-chan, nothing at all. It's just... I guess I didn't expect you to allow me to hug you, for you to comfort me, let alone, understand me. It's just... odd, but I like it."

The black-eyed ninja smiled beneath his mask. "I'm glad – because you're going to have to get used to it."

Smiling, Sakura pulled back slightly, looking into his eyes. "I know."

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"Okay. So we have to tell the Elders and... and..." Sakura gulped, "Tsu– Tsunade-shishou?"

"Yes? Tell me what?"

Turning around quickly, Kakashi's eyes nearly bulged out of his head, while Sakura was slowly but surely edging toward the door — trying to get out of it.

"Well," Tsunade began, "assuming that you're here to see me – come into my office. It's roomier there."

Slowly, but surely, the two followed her in there: ready and willing to make a quick escape.

"Tsu – "

"So, Sakura, have you gotten proposed to yet? Said yes, no, maybe so – to any guys yet?" Tsunade leaned forward on her hands, curiosity getting the better of her.

Sakura's jaw dropped. "Tsu... Tsunade-shishou! I can't believe you! And yes! I have! I'm already engaged, thank you!"

Tsunade's eyes went wide. "To who?"

Kakashi spoke: "To me."

The blonde Hokage's eyes snapped to the copy nin, her tone clipped. "What did you say, Hatake?"

One, Hatake Kakashi wanted to shrink to the size of an atom. The wrath of Sakura was bad. The wrath of Tsunade was scary. If the two went at it... Konoha could be destroyed.

Sakura glared at her shishou. "I asked him, Tsunade-sama. Do not be angry. It is not your decision to make, nor can you change it. And either way – if he had asked me, I could've turned him down, but I would not have," the strawberry-blonde kunoichi argued defensively.

"Fine, Sakura. Have it your way. He's only – "

"He's not even nine years old than me."

Tsunade's eyes went wide; then turned back to Kakashi. "Is this true?" Kakashi just nodded, afraid to speak.

"Sit."

The two ninja's looked at Tsunade curiously.

"I SAID SIT DOWN!"

Needless to say, they sat down.

"Tsunade-sama, may I ask — "

"It's not real."

Sakura looked appalled; Kakashi looked shocked. Turning to each other, Kakashi tried to come up with an explanation, and at the same time, so did Sakura. They came up with nothing.

Sighing, Sakura spoke, "It's true. It was... " she looked to Kakashi – he nodded – "it was a bet between me and Ino. Please, Tsunade-sama, do not tell anyone about this. Not even the Elders."

A look of surprise passed over the Fifth's face, but she nodded nonetheless.

"Alright, but you do realize what else you have to do, right?"

The pair shook their heads, clueless to what else their "betrothal" entailed.

Sighing, Tsunade leaned back in her chair, closing her eyes:

"By law, there is no set date for when you have to marry; but when you do, you must consummate the marriage within three months and be with child within a year. Ah yes – you must also live together immediately, so as to prevent — SAKURA!"

Tsunade didn't get to speak any further. Sakura had fainted.

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Author's Note:
I finally got the third chapter up!!! YAY!
I'm so excited!!!
I'll be starting on the fourth chapter sometime this week! Wish me luck!

HanyouIY - Thank You!!!!
Rangerette - Thank you!!! I'm glad that you like it!
slaughnite - I changed Kakashi's age for the bet; that and I didn't want him to be too old for Sakura.
the rose has thorns - Thank you SOOOO much! I got excited when I read your review. Nobody has ever told me that my story is original, even though I'm always trying so hard to make it so! I'm glad that you like it!
Cat - Yup. I thought it was different.
Mystic Spirit Angel - I hope you liked Kakashi's reaction then! This chapter didn't turn out anything like I planned it to be, but I liked it nonetheless!!!

Always,
Kandra

Reviews, Flames, and Commentary are Appreciated.