A/N: Rawr. Another update! Review??
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Sakura smiled as the town up ahead came into view. Glancing at Kakashi, she saw his kimono was a bit raggy looking, and his hair brought that frizzed look to it. Dropping behind him, she smiled as she took out a band from one of her hidden pockets. Grabbing his shoulders she stopped him from walking.
"Hm?" Kakashi asked, trying to understand what Sakura was doing.
"Let me fix this…" Sakura reached above his head and took his hair in her hand, pulling his hair back, she smoothed it down. Pulling out a comb that was in her hair, she neatly fixed his hair and tied it behind his head. The hairstyle brought Iruka to mind. Turning him around she blushed at what she saw. Quickly hiding it behind a frown, she placed her finger on a string of hair that fell onto his forehead.
Kakashi couldn't help but stare at her, he kept his left scared eye shut as he stared at her mouth. He felt his lips part as she licked her thumb absentmindedly and smoothed back the small hair that bothered her so much. He'd cut it if she'd just keep that finger in her mouth. Clearing his throat, he turned around and scratched his chin, "Better?"
Sakura nodded and joined him back at his side. Ten minutes later, they were walking into the town. Paper lanterns were lit throughout the darkening streets as people began to pour out of the buildings.
It was after diner crowd, time for the bars to open. Grabbing Sakura's hand, he rushed her into a well lit building as people began walking out. Rushing up to the counter he smiled at the older man who blinked up at him.
"Are you still serving?" Kakashi asked, feeling naked without his mouth bandages. His tight on Sakura's hand lightened as he stared at the older man.
"We have time to make one more." The cook nodded from the back.
Kakashi let go of Sakura and clapped his hands together, "Thank you." Bowing slightly he raised an eyebrow, "What are you serving?"
"Anything your lady friend wants." The cook smiled pushing up his small cap.
Sakura blushed and covered her mouth with a hand that was well covered by her long sleeves, "I'm fine with whatever you want to make."
"Chicken curry?" The cook asked, the older man had disappeared into the kitchen, he was reading to close up after Sakura and Kakashi left.
Kakashi and Sakura nodded at the same time making the cook smile. His gaze traveled down to Kakashi's sword and his smile faded, "You're a samurai?"
Kakashi slowly pushed his sword out of view, "Not when I'm eating."
The man frowned and crossed his arms, "The lady can stay, but I'm afraid I'm going to have to ask you to leave. We haven't had the best experiences with samurai."
Sakura glared at the man and turned around stomping out of the building in a huff. Kakashi cursed under his breath and hurried after Sakura, who was walking into the crowd. Catching up with her, he grabbed her hand once more and hurried to a ramen stand. Sitting her down he pulled out money and slapped it onto the counter catching the attention of the cook, who quickly placed ramen in front of the hungry samurai and his geisha. He didn't want any trouble by the way he grabbed the money slowly. Kakashi turned away from the man and began eating, taking a few quick glances at Sakura who had copied him. He thought it was cute how she ate with such care, still acting like a geisha. When they were finished, they returned their bowls and Sakura was once more led through the town by Kakashi. He stopped to gaze at a stand that was selling hair accessories. Looking over at Sakura he raised an eyebrow and she quickly shook her head.
Sakura had no idea what Kakashi was doing. They had a limited budget to spend and he was trying to buy her stuff left and right. Sighing, she grabbed his arm and stopped him, "I'm tired. Could we leave so we can set up camp?" Raising her voice over the crowd so he could hear her she looked around, she had a feeling they were being watched and she didn't enjoy the feeling. Kakashi nodded and led Sakura towards the center of the town where the hotel district was. Walking into a red dragon hotel, he ignored the girls who tried to flirt with him trying to entice him towards their hotels. Pushing through the crowd, he demanded a room, making sure to draw attention to himself and his sword. That moved the crowd back a bit away from him and Sakura. The lady at the desk took his money and gave him the room at the top with the balcony and moved on to the next customer.
Sakura was led up the stairs, completely confused as to what Kakashi was thinking. She was fine with sleeping outside as long as they had food, and now he spent the food money on this nice room. When they were inside and the door was shut she began yelling at him.
"What the hell is wrong with you? You said we were on a fixed budget. We could only afford enough money for the week and you rented a room? What were you thinking? I don't care about sleeping outside, and it's a perfectly clear night tonight, as in no rain?" Pointing to the deck she frowned and crossed her arms. Letting down her hair she walked over to the dresser and picked up the wet cloth, cleaning her face she shook her head.
Kakashi took off his sash and sword and placed it next to the bed on the floor as Sakura continued yelling at him. Sighing, he removed the tie from his hair and shook his head making his hair fluff out and back into its original place. Growing tired of her yapping he walked over to her and placed a hand over her mouth shutting her up. Holding up his sack of money he smiled as her eyes widened, it was twice as full as before they started. As she returned her sparkling gaze back to him he felt his face warm up as she placed a kiss on the palm of his hand, "Sakura…" He sighed as he removed his hand from her mouth. The bag of money disappeared into her clutches with a fast swipe.
Opening the bag she took in the shiny glory that beamed up at her. Closing the bag, she hurried over to bed, letting the kimono fall off before she hit the sheets, surprising Kakashi and making him shut his eyes and turn around. Turning around, he saw her smiling face poking out of the bed. Walking over, he pulled up the sheets a bit and saw she was curled up next to the bag of money, it was going to be safe tonight. Sighing, he let the sheet drop and removed of his kimono, climbing into bed beside her he frowned as the bag lopped over and hit his arm. The coins bothered him.
"Sakura." He sighed, staring up at the ceiling.
"Hm?" She asked, sounding completely content with her bag of money.
"Could you loose the bag of coins?"
"Uh-uh." Sakura shook her head as she stroked the bag absentmindedly as Kakashi turned away from her.
"Sakura."
"Hm?" Sakura asked, opening one eye to gaze up at him.
"Why Genma." Kakashi asked, back still turned to her.
"What about Genma?" Sakura asked, opening both eyes now.
"Why did you choose him to take back to your apartment?" He asked, Sakura thought she heard pain in his voice.
"Because at the time he was the only one available…" Sakura frowned and rolled onto her back, moving the coins onto her stomach as she shut her eyes once more.
"Only one available…" Kakashi sighed. Pushing himself up into a sitting position he slowly turned to gaze at her, taking in the scene as the moonlight cascaded into the room, "Did it mean anything? Are you seeing him?"
"No… why are you asking me all this?" Sakura asked, feeling a bit annoyed now. She peered up at him with one eye.
"It was just a quick little thing with him?"
"It didn't have to be him. I looked for other people first." Sakura sighed and sat up, causing the coin bag to fall to her side.
"So you were just in the need and you took the first guy available?" Kakashi asked, raising his eyebrow at her.
"Yes. Is it so wrong to want to fuck someone cute for no reason?" Sakura barked as she lay back down, placing the pillow over her head.
"No." Kakashi said after a moment of silence. He was battling with himself right now. She held the idea that sex was okay to have and forget about, which made him worry about her but at the same time turned him on. He shook his head inwardly as he fought to control his feelings that were waking towards Sakura. She was his student, he was her former teacher. He couldn't go to bed with her. And yet, here they were, sleeping next to one another, her in her underwear and her bag of coins and him in his dark red boxers.
"Sakura." He called for her quietly as he opened both eyes to gaze into hers. Something stirred inside him. It felt so nice to be with her, but he knew it was wrong. If she did something, he'd go along no second guessing allowed. But she had to make the first move. He wouldn't ask her of anything, he'd only react towards her. That was his decision.
Sakura placed a finger onto his lips and opened her eyes, "Kakashi, I'm tired. Can I sleep with my bag of money please?"
Kakashi nodded and lay down on his back. Folding his arms behind his head he sighed and slowly drifted off to sleep.
Having that feeling again, Sakura rolled over and snuggled up beside Kakashi as she gazed at the paper door to the balcony. As long as she was with Kakashi, she felt safe. Closing her eyes, she rested her head on his chest and placed the money between them so it touched her stomach. She felt content with him, and she began to wonder if Kakashi sought anything more in her then just as a former student. Sighing, she took in his familiar scent as she drifted off to sleep. She was beginning to develop feelings for this man who was so comfortable and warm. Who smelt so nice and made her feel safe with just a quick glance. Her mind began to wonder at the things he would allow for her to do with him. She decided she would ask him when they awoke the next morning.
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"How do you think your students are handling without you?" Sakura asked as she tied the sash around her, she really wanted a bath.
"Truthfully? They're probably stringing him up on the tallest tree by his insides… they can be pretty brutal towards subs… broke the last one's leg in a game of 'tag'. They're the worst little pranksters I've ever trained. And smarter then Naruto while your thinking about him." Kakashi smiled as he smoothed back his hair and tied it up. He liked this look, as long as he was playing the part, he rather play it well.
Sakura smiled and tied up her hair that was beginning to feel oily to the touch. Then she remembered they had money and she smiled, "Oh my dear samurai…" She purred as she walked over to Kakashi and grabbed the front of his red kimono, fixing the folds unnecessarily, "Your geisha has a need to bathe. Could we go to a bathhouse?"
Kakashi bent over and placed his nose on hers, "Whatever my little geisha wants, she gets. Although, I suggest we go to a bathhouse in a different town. I believe we've overstayed our welcome. I have this feeling that we're being followed."
"Same." Sakura frowned her breath mixing with Kakashi's she wondered when her breath rate had flown up. She noticed Kakashi's had gotten slower, as if he were enjoying the closeness of her, "I suggest we go to the next town then and enjoy a bath."
'Together?' Kakashi wondered as he felt himself nod and pull away from her, "Right. Good plan." Tying his sword onto his belt he cleared his throat and enjoyed the way she looked for a moment before he turned to leave.
"Wait." Sakura ordered, holding up her hand, her sleeve felt rather heavy all of the sudden.
Kakashi quickly turned around, feeling very hopeful inside. They still had the hotel room for twenty minutes. That would be plenty enough time.
"I… uh… that is… um…" Sakura bit her lower lip and avoided his gaze, she couldn't ask him, "Where do you think the scroll is?"
The hope inside his eyes died immediately, "I don't know. But… I looked around last night while you were asleep," Even though he didn't want to he did, he rather have watched her sleep, no matter how creepy it sounded, he thought it was innocent compared to the other things he wanted to do to her, "And I didn't find anything. I think we'll get a better reaction in the next town." Smiling slightly, he turned around and left the room with Sakura, he had to learn not to get his hopes up with her. But that wouldn't stop him from dreaming about the things that could happen. He just wished he had his novel to read, he didn't know how much longer he could keep his hands to himself.
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As they stepped foot in the next town, they both had to stop to sigh. It had been a day's journey and they were both tired and hungry. Kakashi had to smile at the fact that they had come across no trouble, even though he couldn't shake the feeling he was being watched.
Sakura pushed a strand of hair out of her face, she wanted a bath more then she wanted sleep and food. Grabbing Kakashi's empty sleeve she tugged it gently, "Your geisha wishes to bathe…"
Kakashi smiled and slipped his arm into the sleeve, reaching up, he took her hand and kissed it gently, "Whatever my geisha wants, she gets."
Sakura smiled and allowed herself to be led towards the unisex bathhouse. Dropping her clothes into the woman's changing area, she grabbed a towel and walked out into the large room. Kakashi was lazily soaking with a large cloth over his head, surrounded by steam and bubbles. There were only a few others in the bathhouse as everyone was out partying. Sakura climbed in beside Kakashi and leaned back. Taking the washcloth off his face, she folded it and placed it over her eyes. Sighing, Sakura smiled as she wiggled her toes in the hot water. It was unbelievably relaxing, the way it soothed her soar muscles and calmed her aches.
Kakashi couldn't stop gazing at her out of his un-scared eye. His fingers flexed behind him as he imagined running them down her back. Imagining how smooth that skin felt and how warm she was. Closing his eyes, he moved his leg away from her, fearing any contact down there would set off a chain reaction and he didn't want to make a show of anything with Sakura. Especially in a bath house. In a sauna, that's a different story. There's so much room at those places.
"Are you okay?" Sakura asked, placing a hand on Kakashi's flushed looked face she frowned, "Is the heat getting to you?"
Kakashi shook his head, lie. A certain heat was indeed getting to him. The source of it was touching his face and sitting right beside him, "Sakura-chan…" He quickly said, taking her hand, his voice a bit higher then he would have liked. Clearing his throat he looked into her quizzical green orbs. She was too adorable at times, especially when she tilted her head to the side like that. Clearing his throat again he smiled, "It's your birthday tomorrow isn't it?"
Sakura blinked and gasped, "It is! Oh my gosh! I completely forgot about my own birthday!" Letting a frustrated sigh, she let go of Kakashi and placed her hands over her face, "I'm so tired, I can't believe… stupid me." Shaking her head she grabbed the shampoo and placed a glob of it in her hair. Scrubbing her head vigorously, she turned and blinked up at Kakashi. Plopping another glob of shampoo onto her hand, she ignored his pleas as she scrubbed his head.
"Sakura… you don't have to… I can scrub my own hair." Kakashi whined as Sakura placed her free hand on his chest and climbed onto his lap. His eyes opened wide and they met the soap that had drizzled down his forehead. Not here. Pushing her off of him, he quickly washed the soap out of his hair and rushed into the men's changing area.
Sakura's head rose from beneath the water, he had just shoved her off of him. Glaring the man who laughed at her, she quickly washed the soap out of her hair and hurried out into the women's changing area. He was going to buy her a new kimono tomorrow for what he did. And she got to hog the covers tonight.
Kakashi stood outside the bathhouse, clothed in his clean kimono. Placing a hand over his blushing face, he groaned in frustration. Too close of a call. He needed his novel. He needed to release the tension between them in some way. Maybe if he killed someone, maybe that would help. Kakashi highly doubted that killing people would kill the attraction between them. Maybe if he stabbed himself. No, then he'd have Sakura touching him and healing what pain he inflicted upon himself. There was no other way around it. He had to confront Sakura.
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A/N: Uh-oh... Kakashi's getting antsy. Next chapter will have something special. ::winkwinknudgenudge::
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