A/N - This might be a bit of a slow one for you guys, I'm sorry! I need to set up though; I really cant just rush right into the action otherwise it doesn't feel real to me, if that makes sense! Anywho, I hope you enjoy :) TTS

Chapter 4 - United

Sakura giggled flirtatiously as she gripped Mori's arm a little tighter. They had been meandering slowly towards her apartment for the last half an hour, taking the long way round through the dark village. The people were thinning out as it got later and Sakura could feel her excitement building at the thought of being alone with him.

You are not alone right now.

Sakura glared reproachfully at her reflection in a shop window. Thankfully, her annoying hitchhiker had been silent for the majority of the walk home. Occasionally, he would groan quietly in the corner of her mind, but he had been easy enough to ignore. She wasn't stupid, she knew nothing would happen between her and Mori tonight, but that didn't mean she couldn't enjoy the anticipation. What if he tried to kiss her goodnight? Yes, it was a little weird her captain would know, but if she turned him down would he think she wasn't interested?

She was busy weighing up whether it would be worth the humiliation when he spoke. "So, Ino-san mentioned it was your birthday in a few days."

"O-oh, really?"

"Mmhmm," he smiled down at her. "Have you got any plans?"

Sakura sighed. "Well, I'll probably have lunch with my parents as usual. Naruto, Sai, Sasuke and I have a little tradition for our eighteenths so I'll be doing that I guess."

"What tradition is that?"

Sakura glanced into those incredibly blue eyes before biting her lip. It wasn't exactly classy, but he didn't appear to be the judgemental type. "Well," she began, "to be completely honest, around four in the afternoon, whosever birthday it is will be bought a bottle of sake. Basically, the eighteenth shot has to be drunk at exactly midnight when it is officially your birthday."

He blinked at her before grinning. "So, you basically down eighteen shots of sake, plus whatever else you're drinking."

She nodded and laughed nervously. "Pretty immature, I suppose."

"It definitely sounds messy. I think I'd have to be hospitalised if I drank that much."

"Naruto was," Sakura chuckled. "But the idiot was mixing drinks all night."

"Rookie mistake," Mori whistled.

"Right?" She agreed with a grin.

Before she knew it, the two of them were standing outside her apartment building. Sakura suddenly became nervous and found herself unable to keep still. She tucked her hair behind her ears and smiled shyly up at him. "I guess this is goodnight."

"I suppose so."

The silence stretched on around them and Sakura realised she had to leave. Just kiss him! Inner-Sakura was all fired up and as much as she would have loved to act on her urges, Kakashi was in her head for Kami-sama's sake; it would be far too humiliating.

A small, disappointed sigh escaped before she softly said goodnight and turned to walk into the building. To her delight, Mori gently gripped her arm and turned her back to face him.

"I'd regret it if I didn't," he explained, leaning in and placing a gentle kiss on her mouth. Sakura's insides felt like they were about to explode and she beamed up at him, slightly dazed by how great that simple touch had been. "If you have some time over the next few days, I'd love to take you out to celebrate your birthday."

"Ok," she smiled.

After another quick kiss, Sakura excused herself and ran inside. Once she had slammed the door to her apartment, she squealed excitedly, kicking off her shoes and skipping into the bedroom to get unchanged. She hadn't felt this optimistic about a date since, well… ever.

Humming to herself cheerily, she unzipped her dress, letting it drop to the floor before kicking off her heels and prancing over to her nightstand to turn on the lamp. Without thinking, she unhooked her bra and tossed it across the room.

Uh, Sakura?

"Yep?" She asked happily, before pulling back the covers on her bed and sliding in. She had washed her bedding before leaving on her mission and the sheets were wonderfully clean and soft.

You, umm… never mind.

"What?" She asked, curious now.

Nothing important. You may have glanced into the mirror a few times, is all.

"So?" She glanced up and instantly realised what he was trying to say. She watched as the colour drained from her reflections face and cursed loudly, tugging hard on her blanket and pulling it up under her chin. She glared into her own eyes from across the room.

This is hardly my fault. Kakashi sounded indignant, which just annoyed her further. She was the one who was being peeped on, after all!

Hardly, Kakashi scoffed.

"You have been such a grump all night!" She hissed, scowling at herself in the mirror, but really at Kakashi.

Well, you've been uncharacteristically stupid all night, so I guess we're even.

Sakura's mouth dropped open. He had never spoken to her like that before. Even when she actually did do something unfortunate, he was still kind and fair in his admonishment. She had no idea what had brought on this sudden change in attitude but she definitely wasn't liking it.

What do you think? He asked sarcastically.

"Look," she began slowly, lying down and staring at the ceiling so he wouldn't accidentally see any more of her than he already had. "I get that being trapped inside anyone's head would be annoying, but I didn't put you in there and I think it's a little unfair that you expect me to just stop having a life."

If you were making smarter decisions in your life it wouldn't be so annoying.

"What the hell?!" Sakura screeched, "You are way over-stepping your boundaries!"

Am I? He mused, sounding suddenly thoughtful. I've been looking out for you for almost six years now, doesn't that entitle me to a little concern?

Sakura was silent. She wanted to yell that he wasn't her father, but she'd spent more time with Kakashi than her dad since she was twelve. She owed him her life, repeatedly, but did that really give him the right to interfere with her romantic life?

She felt his sigh like a breath of wind through her head. No, it doesn't, he admitted.

Then why are you so angry?

He was quiet for a time but when he finally spoke, Sakura could picture the slouched stance, non-committal shrug and the tell-tale crease in his eye that would indicate a smile that would have accompanied his words if he had been in his body.

I guess it's because I still feel responsible for you. Naruto and Sasuke as well. I know you're all jonin now but I'll always feel like I have to protect you. Naruto from his loneliness, Sasuke from his hate… and you from that ridiculously big heart of yours. You love far too easily, Sakura.

She pondered his words carefully. Did she fall in love too easily? She hadn't thought so considering she had only really loved one person.

That's not true. You love a lot of people. You're not in love with all of them but you care to the point that it's almost a weakness.

"Loving someone isn't a weakness," she replied adamantly.

You loved Sasuke so much you were willing to let him kill you, he pointed out.

Sakura rolled onto her side and stared gloomily at the picture of Team 7 on her nightstand. It was accompanied by a picture of her parents when she was four, tiny pink-haired child clinging to her father's shoulders. Just behind it was a picture of her and Ino during their academy days, smiling brightly at the camera and a more modern Team Kakashi picture. Kakashi had stuck his fingers up behind Yamato's head while she had dragged Sai between herself and Naruto. It was amusing how Sai and Sasuke looked equally uncomfortable at having their photo taken. She regarded Naruto's beaming face.

"Naruto's love makes him strong," she whispered, before drifting to sleep.

Her dreams that night were very muddled and confusing. She watched as Obito Uchiha tried to kill Naruto and again as Kaguya Otsutsuki fought against Team 7. She had this dream often, so her subconscious was unmoved until something changed. The atmosphere shifted from one of controlled fear to the chilling horror of the unknown. A nightmare is only a nightmare because it scares, but Sakura was no longer afraid of that same old dream, so as soon as something new happened, her fear began to grow. The Obito she knew began to shrink and change until he was a kid of around thirteen, lying on the ground beneath her. She was holding a kunai in her hand and knew this was the only chance she was going to get…

A cute, brown-haired girl was suddenly in front of her and Sakura gasped in terror as the girls face transformed into a wordless scream and Sakura saw her hand had disappeared into the stranger's chest.

The dream shifted again and suddenly there was hundreds of sleeping forms shifting around her. She knew in reality it had been lava she was plummeting towards, but for some horrifying reason, it looked more like blood. She couldn't touch it. If so much as a finger dipped into the surface the blood would rise up and consume her. She couldn't let it happen, she couldn't let her fall… Sakura was suddenly looking down at her own wide, scared eyes. As she stared up at her, the fear vanished. She was relieved, sure that she was safe now, gripping on tightly to the arm that was wrapped around her waist. Why was she looking at him like that..?

At him..? The dream began to dissolve around her. She was beginning to wake up. Sunlight was burning her eyelids as she shook off the dream fog. Had she really been asleep all night? It certainly didn't feel like it. She groaned loudly, rolling onto her stomach and burying her face in her pillows. She needed a moment to try and make sense of what she had just seen. Was she supposed to have been saving herself? She didn't often deliberately dwell on memories from the War, but she delved head first into those frightening moments. She had honestly thought they were going to die. She remembered the moment the lava had appeared. Sakura had truly despaired and only Kakashi's quick-thinking had saved her. She had momentarily been confused, blinking down at the lava, amazed she wasn't dead. Glancing up, she remembered looking into Kakashi's eyes. He'd saved her, yet again.

"Thank you, sensei," she smiled into the pillow.

Any time, Sakura-chan.

Sakura sat up suddenly. After a second of fear, she remembered her Captain was sharing her headspace and let out her breath.

Morning, she thought, sliding out of bed and rocking onto her toes to stretch out her spine. She felt it pop in several places and wincing slightly, she turned to glance around the room. Her tired eyes found her reflection and she groaned at the unsightly dark patches indicating her exhaustion. Did she actually sleep last night, because it sure didn't look like it.

Sakura, you're doing it again. Kakashi sounded exasperated.

"Doing what?"

Forgetting I'm here. He said flatly.

"Trust me, you're making it impossible to forget," she growled at him.

Really? He sounded more amused than she thought was warranted. Hmm, I knew asking you to read Icha Icha was out of the question, but I suppose this works just as well.

It took Sakura a moment, but as soon as it dawned on her that she was yet AGAIN naked in front of her mirror, she yelled in frustration and grabbed the blanket off her bed, throwing it over the reflective surface.

Pervert! Inner-Sakura raged

"This is ridiculous!" She agreed, stomping over to her dresser and pulling out clothes. "We need to sort this mess out today!"

"Forehead!" Ino grinned as she came running over to the small book fort Sakura had inadvertently created during a marathon research session in the Hokage Tower archive. "Oh, I suppose I should say good-morning to Kakashi-sensei too." The woman looked positively gleeful at Sakura's predicament.

"What do you want, Pig?" Sakura growled while flipping through her texts. Kakashi had been helping her understand some of the more difficult concepts which had meant she had ploughed through a lot more books than she would have otherwise, but unfortunately, nothing helpful had come up.

"The Hokage told me to help, remember?" Ino sat down and pulled a book onto her lap, but instead of opening it, she fixed Sakura with a look she knew all too well.

"Were not getting anything else done here, are we?" Sakura asked, knowing the answer.

"Not until you spill the beans on Mori-san!"

Sakura sighed heavily but knew there was no point in trying to distract her. Once Ino had an interest in something she never let up. "What do you want to know?" Sakura asked, resigned to her fate.

"What do you think of him?"

"Honestly?" Sakura threw the book she had been perusing to the floor and stared at Ino. "He seems perfect. But Kakashi-sensei thinks I could do better."

Ino's eyebrows shot up, intrigued. "What has it got to do with Kakashi-sensei?"

Sakura shrugged. "If Asuma-sensei was still here, would you listen to what he said about someone you liked?"

Ino's mouth dropped open indignantly and Sakura thought she was about to be subjected to a 'girl-power' type speech, but the blonde hesitated with her mouth open.

"What?" Sakura prompted.

"Huh," Ino looked genuinely surprised, "actually, I might give him the benefit of the doubt."

"Kakashi-sensei said he'd heard things about Mori-san on missions that he didn't like, but that wouldn't necessarily make him a bad boyfriend, right?"

"Hmm," Ino looked thoughtful. "It depends. Some ANBU can successfully detach themselves from what they do on missions and who they are back in the village, perhaps Mori-san is one of them?"

That's ridiculous. As someone who worked in ANBU for ten years, let me say that there is no chance the things he will see and do won't come back to haunt him. They'll affect him eventually and I'd hate to see you in that mess, Sakura.

"Kakashi-sensei reckons otherwise," Sakura mumbled softly.

Ino sighed and shrugged. "I don't know what to tell you Sakura. Most people aren't happy forever. Maybe you should take the risk and just be happy for now? Or just stay lonely because he might make you unhappy later."

Sakura made an exaggerated sobbing sound and flung herself backwards onto the floor.

"You don't have to decide right this second, Forehead."

Hmm, that was true. She could just go on a few more dates and see where things went?

What happens if you get too invested and just end up blind to his faults?

I don't know, she admitted. Out loud, she said, "When I finally decide on a man, I'd like to think that I'd love him because of his faults, as well as his good qualities… Isn't that what it's supposed to be like?"

"I don't know," Ino shrugged.

No idea, Kakashi commented.

Sakura sighed loudly. "Neither of you are very much help, yunno."

Not that I mean to sound selfish or anything, but aren't I a little more important that some guy you've met once?

"What?" Sakura asked sharply. What was he trying to say? Obviously at the moment, but if Mori was to become 'the one', then surely Kakashi would understand if she put Mori fi-

Don't. I don't even want to hear you think it. Kakashi growled through her mind. I meant, can we get back to figuring out how to put me back in my body before I lose my shit.

Sakura was so surprised at his sudden attitude she couldn't bring herself to snap back. She just lay on the floor with her mouth hanging open.

"Any more memory mix-ups or unwanted movements?" Ino asked, oblivious to Sakura's confusion.

"Um, I think we switched dreams a few times last night."

"Hmm," Ino tapped her chin thoughtfully. "I suppose that makes sense."

"Nothing about this makes sense!" Sakura sat up angrily, folding her arms and glaring at her friend.

"I just meant that if you're getting glimpses when you're both awake, it'll be easier for things to slip through when you're unconscious."

Before Sakura could reply, their Hokage whisked into the room with her hands on her hips.

"Glad to see you're working on this," she noted, glancing at the enormous piles of books stacked around the two girls.

"So hard, Hokage-sama," Ino said with a theatrical sigh.

"You literally just got here," Sakura snarled.

Ino giggled nervously.

Tsunade strolled further into the room, ignoring the blonde and fixing Sakura with a look that told the kunoichi she wasn't about to like what she heard. "Ibiki managed to get the prisoner to talk. Basically, you have to find the original caster. Only he knows how to dispel the jutsu."

Sakura rolled her eyes. "I killed him."

"Apparently not," Tsunade said, voice hard. "If you had, the jutsu would have dispelled already. Oh, but here is the best part – If you hunt him down and kill him, Kakashi's conscious will leave your head, but just float around in the ether."

What?!

"What?" Sakura echoed.

"He has to be captured and brought back here to perform the release with you and Kakashi in the same room."

"But… We don't even know where he is!" Sakura was starting to panic. If the guy she brought back didn't know where his buddy was, then he was going to be nearly impossible to find. Kakashi could be stuck in her head for weeks, months – hell, even years! Worse, what if the guy randomly dies before they can get him back to the village and Kakashi is lost forever? What were they going to do?!

Sakura, calm down.

Impossible! She might have to live the rest of her life with her perverted sensei hijacking her mind! Oh Kami-sama, she was never going to go on a date again. She'd never be able to get married, because sex could be embarrassing enough without your sensei along for the ride. RIDE! Oh no…

Sakura, seriously, you're going to have a heart-attack.

"Of course I'm going to have a heart-attack! You're either stuck in me forever or you disappear completely! What the hell do we do?!"

"Sakura, get a hold of yourself," the Hokage interjected.

"I – I can't…" she spluttered to a stop, unable to find the words.

Sakura-chan, it'll be ok.

"How can you say that?"

Ino and Tsunade were watching her curiously, but both remained quiet, obviously understanding she was talking to neither of them.

Because I always make it ok, don't I?

His soft, calming voice brought a torrent of memories crashing through her mind. All the times she had thought it was hopeless, every time she had been afraid – every single moment since she had become a genin where fear had completely overridden her senses was suddenly replaced by the image of her smiling, carefree sensei. Yes, Kakashi always made it ok. He always found a way to keep her safe…

She took a few deep, steadying breaths and felt her heartbeat slow. It was ok. He was going to help her make it ok, like he always did.

There you go. If you relax, we can figure something out.

He sounded so sure, so confident… They would be ok, he would keep them safe. She had no reason to doubt him now after all these years.

There's my favourite student. Now, ask the Hokage what she has in mind and we'll see where we go from there.

"Ok," she said quietly, before looking up at her shishou. "Kakashi-sensei is wondering if you have a plan, or something?"

"At least one of you is rational," Tsunade muttered. Sakura chose to ignore that comment. "Basically, I'm sending Team Kakashi to the location where you fought them, Sakura. Hopefully you can pick up a trail. I'm wondering if Kakashi can summon the ninken from within you, because that would sure be handy."

Sakura blinked. Summon the ninken..?

No, came Kakashi's response. My chakra is in my body. But maybe if you can manipulate my body somehow I can summon them in the hospital and you can take them with you?

Sakura relayed this information to the Godaime, who nodded along thoughtfully. "Right, you'll leave in 2 hours. Ino, find Shikamaru and bring him to Kakashi's hospital room. He can use his shadow techniques to coax Kakashi into forming the seal and summoning the dogs."

Ino stood, gave the Hokage an abrupt nod and flew out the door.

"How long do you think we'll be gone for?" Sakura asked.

"As long as it takes you to find the guy, I suppose." Tsunade replied, rolling her eyes as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

Sakura sighed miserably. It was highly likely they wouldn't be back in time for her eighteenth. Which was ok, obviously getting Kakashi back in his body was more important than her birthday. Still, it would have been a fun night.

Sorry, Sakura-chan.

It's not your fault. She sure did feel like blaming someone though.

When you find the bad guy, kick his ass! CHA! Grinning, she couldn't help but agree with Inner-Sakura. She was going to make that guy pay.

Remember, he needs to be alive to perform the jutsu.

Yes, but you're forgetting I'm a medic. I can pull him apart then put him back together again to release you, then start over. She cracked her knuckles menacingly.

Feisty.

She could hear the grin in his voice. He clearly approved of the plan and if she had taken away anything from their missions together over the past year, it was that they were virtually unstoppable once they had agreed on something.

A/N - Come join us on facebook (The Silver Scarecrow). I think once I've got my uni assignments under control I'm going to start a little contest on the page ^^