The Promise of Forever
DG32173
Sarah: chapter 3 is here. Enjoy. I don't own the Naruto series, so stop asking.
NOTE
(Authors note)
"Talking"
'Thinking'
Scene change
POV change
Memory, reading or writing something, etc. (you'll figure it out)Scene change in memory
TRANSLATIONS
Kami: God, Lord
Chapter 3
A Different View
Kakashi glances around. He knows Sakura's around somewhere, waiting for a chance to attack. He had planned on teaching her a lesson about why she should not steal his books … only for her to turn the sparring session around and keeping him on high alert. He had never seen her move so swiftly before, appearing and attacking then disappearing into the forest around them without giving him a chance to counterattack.
Sakura smirks as she watches him from her hiding position. She knows she had turned the tables on him and is making him nervous because of that. She darts in and throws a swing at his arm; he barely dodges. She then attempts a roundhouse kick, then several more punches. He barely dodges each time, not getting a chance to turn on the offensive. Before he gets a chance to recover his footing, she darts back into the forest again.
A little further off, Naruto and Sasuke decided to finish their sparring session early so as to watch Sakura's and Kakashi's. Both men are inwardly choked on laughter at how Sakura's keeping Kakashi on his toes. They're also having trouble keeping track of her, but at least they aren't sparring with her. That would be a major blow to their egos. At the same time, all three men see the black jacket that Sakura wore over her clothes today in a bush. Kakashi smirks, thinking he found her. But when he starts towards it, he has to leap back to avoid being caught in a pit trap she had set up quickly. Suddenly, he senses someone behind him; he turns and ducks to avoid getting hit in the head by her foot.
All three men see the outfit Sakura had chosen for today and realize why she had worn a jacket, despite it being late spring. Her clothes hug her body, showing off every curve she has to an extreme. Sasuke and Naruto are frozen in shock and gaping at seeing the womanly curvature of their 'sister'. They still thought of her as a young child, though they know she's a young woman now. But now that view is blasted from their minds like dynamite blew it up: no child could have such a gorgeous body that would send guys into spasms just looking at her. It is a very good thing that they already hooked up with each other and that they feel for her only as if she were their sister. Otherwise they'd be just as helpless against her looks as Kakashi is.
Kakashi finds his eyes, both visible and hidden, widen at the sexy woman who had somehow blossomed overnight from the cute girl he had grown fond of as a former student and friend. But he has to keep moving as she's not letting him have a chance to stop and check her out. He notices the sly smirk on her lips and realizes that she planned on this effect to his and the boys' senses.
'Kami, when did she grow up to look like that?' he asks himself as he continues to avoid her attacks. He had never seen her curves like this before because she has a habit of wearing loose clothing and jackets to hide her shapely body. 'Is this what Genma was talking about when he said she's become quite the woman?' he wonders. 'And on that thought, how would Genma know?' he thinks suspiciously.
"C'mon Kakashi-kun, are you gonna spar with me or just stare at me all day?" she asks, chuckling as she continues her onslaught, not giving him a chance to answer. "You're the one who said you wanted to be the first to spar with me today."
Naruto and Sasuke grin. They know why the Copy Nin isn't attacking her. He's too shocked at seeing the sexy woman that Sakura had somehow turned into without any of them realizing it. They both know for a fact he likes her as more than a friend, though he never told them. They have a feeling she returns his feelings, but aren't positive. They would approve of the relationship if it ever came into existence. Kakashi once told them a little about his past and how he got his Sharingan; he needs someone like Sakura to fill that void he's been carrying everywhere since the deaths of Obito, Rin, and the Yondaime, the team he had been in as a Genin years ago. And they don't mind if he chooses her to be the one to fill that void. They actually hope he does choose her.
After another hour and a half of him just avoiding her attacks but not fighting back, Sakura stops, scowling at him. She puts her hands on her hips. "Sheesh, if I didn't know better, I'd think you fell in love with me or something," she states, watching him closely. She doesn't see the blush spread on his cheeks because of his mask, for which he is very grateful. Naruto and Sasuke bust out laughing. Sakura doesn't know how right she is. Sakura sighs and looks up at the sky, watching the dark clouds that are slowly blocking out all the blue that had been there only a few hours ago. "Since you don't want to spar with me anymore and Sasuke and Naruto are more interested in watching us than sparring, I guess we should head back. It's going to rain soon and I really don't want to get soaked if I don't have to."
Without waiting for a reply from any of the men, she turns on her heal and starts heading back to the village, taking one of the many trails so as to get inside some building before the rain starts. She has a feeling that she won't make it. Sasuke and Naruto stand up and quickly take off for the Uchiha manor, wanting to get some 'alone time' in during the oncoming storm. Kakashi watches Sakura's ass as she walks away for a moment before swiftly catching up to her so as to walk to the village with her. He also has a feeling they won't make it to the village before the rain hits them. True to their senses, the clouds open up and pour the water they hold down onto the earth below when Kakashi and Sakura about half a kilometer from the gate.
Kakashi glances at the wet and upset kunoichi beside him, knowing that she lives much further into the village than he does. "You could wait out the storm at my place, if you want," he offers. He hopes she doesn't read into his offer the wrong way and hit him. Much to his relief, she gives him a grateful smile and nods her acceptance of the offer. She and the boys have been over to his apartment many times, together and individually (but only her individually), in the past seven years since they first met.
Without warning, he scoops her up bridal style and takes off swiftly for his apartment. She squeaks in surprise at the sudden change in her position but doesn't complain. She knows he can get them there faster if he carries her than if they ran there together, as he is far swifter than she is. She lays her head against his shoulder trustingly and enjoys the closeness while it lasts. She knows he won't try anything inappropriate with her.
Despite all his perversion and love of porn books, Kakashi still has a code of honor. And she knows he won't do anything to lose the immense trust he has earned from her over the years. He already has too few close friends to risk losing even one of them. She and the boys have somehow become close friends with aloof man over the years they've known each other.
Kakashi feels Sakura lay her head on his shoulder and relax in his arms. He is very proud that she trusts him not to try anything inappropriate. And he won't ever do so without her consent. He is too afraid of losing her trust and friendship to even consider such an act. Hell, he's in love with the woman, and has been since he first laid eyes on her seven years ago. And he has suspicions that she returns his feelings.
He's noticed how she's been far gentler and kinder to him than she ever has to Sasuke, even when she was infatuated with the boy. Despite her harsh words every time he's late, which is every time he's supposed to meet up with her and the boys or even just her but never when she needs him most, he has seen the amusement in her eyes mixed in with annoyance and anger. He's seen all those glances and stares she's sent his way when she thought no one was watching. He's seen how she blushes slightly whenever he is a bit closer to her than necessary. He's seen how those same blushes appear whenever he makes skin-to-skin contact with her outside of sparring sessions. And he's overheard the quiet conversations about she's had with Naruto and Sasuke when they thought he wouldn't hear them. Yes, he notices a lot more in the world around him than he lets on. Even more so when it comes to her.
Kakashi realizes he has reached his apartment door. He gently sets Sakura on her feet so he can get his keys to unlock the door. He lets his hands stay in contact with her body a good bit longer than necessary. She blushes cutely, and continues blushing cutely when he finally removes his hands to search his pockets for his keys. He blushes when he rinds out he forgot them.
This time she sees the blush and smiles softly. "You forgot your keys again?" she asks, humor lacing her words. He ducks his head in mock embarrassment. She chuckles and does a few hand signs. Her chakra gathers at the tips of her fingers, and she puts her hand against the lock. She sends her chakra into the lock and uses it to open the latch with click. The door swings open slightly.
"You are going to have to let me copy that one day," he comments as he enters his apartment. She chuckles again and follows him in, closing the door behind her.
Unknown to them, one of Kakashi's neighbors just happened to walk out of her apartment in time to see the young woman follow the stoic man into his apartment. She smiles. She's seen that girl visit Kakashi before, often having two other men accompanying them, and knows that nothing serious is going to happen. Despite knowing all about his perversion, she also knows he has a soft spot for the pink-haired maiden and would never do anything to lose the girl's absolute faith in him. She continues on her way out of the apartment building. She's in need of groceries, as she has no food left in her pantry or fridge. She's a ninja just like her neighbor and his young friends, and she just got back from a month long mission. She had had to give away or throw away the food she had, as it would have spoiled while she was away.
Meanwhile, Kakashi and Sakura drop their gear and their vests on the floor beside the apartment door before continuing further into the small apartment. Sakura likes Kakashi's place. He has decorated it in earthy colors, including the kind of furniture one would expect to find in a bachelor's pad. And very much unlike Naruto and Sasuke's place, Kakashi keeps his home simple and tidy, very unusual for a home that only has the masculine gender living within it. But then again, this is Kakashi, who's already very unusual and far different from other humans of either gender.
Kakashi heads for the kitchen to make some tea for them, as she is still not of age to drink liquor. Sakura just plops comfortably onto the black leather couch, ending up in a laying down position. She's surprised to find her eyes slowly closing of their own will. She must have worn herself out more than she thought she had today. Her eyes close completely and she soon leaves the waking world far behind.
Kakashi walks into the living room to let Sakura know the tea is ready, only to find her deep in sleep on his couch. His hidden lips slowly turn up into a caring smile, noting how angelic she looks when she's asleep. 'She must have worn herself out today while I was too distracted by her looks,' he thinks.
He heads down the hall and soon returns with a dark blue blanket. He lays the blanket over the sleeping woman and heads to his bedroom, intent on getting a nap of his own. But he is frozen in his tracks when he hears her ever-so-softly whisper something in her sleep: "Kakashi-kun…"
He looks at her in shock. 'She's dreaming of me? Why? In what way?' he thinks, surprised and delighted at the same time. A yawn interrupts his thoughts before he can get much further than that. 'I'll think about this later. For now, a nap is in order.' With that, he continues on to his bedroom, falling asleep the instant his head hits his pillow.
Sarah: well that's it for this chapter. I know, not much fluff. But I hope you enjoyed it. Please review and tell me what you think.