Sakura sat in front of the mirror, brushing her hair. She languidly studied her reflection. She wondered if she looked that different. She was the same height as before, though her body was more toned. There were light shadows under her eyes, had she had them before? Her hair was longer, though the accumulation of thousands of hours of training in the sun had taken away some of its luster. She looked more serious than before, or at least she thought she did… she felt more serious, at least.

She wondered if he noticed.

He'd been back for almost three weeks. After that day in the field [Nothing had happened then, they had simply sat there, not talking, until he stood and said he'd walk her home. He had. No more touching or anything. Though their honest conversation had chased away the awkwardness.] she'd met him when she could, or he'd find her when he could. They'd talk, but not touch. It was like getting to know him all over. Though once she had caught him staring at her, a look suspiciously similar to longing and sadness on his face. But it had been gone in an instant, leaving her to wonder if she had just imagined it. If it had only been there because she'd wanted it to be. Because she'd hoped.

She was going to meet him at his house tonight. They were going to the barbeque, it was Asuma's birthday and everyone was invited. She slid the brush through her hair once more and stood. She was wearing a light summer dress. Simple and white. Her Jounin vest lay draped over the chair by her desk. Her hair fell in loose waves from the bun she'd had it in earlier from training with her students. A jade bracelet graced her slender wrist.

She grabbed her purse, and walked out the door.

The air was hot and humid and the atmosphere seemed to be tinged in a ruddy red glow, a summer evenings in the village.

She walked towards Kakashi's place with her eyes closed. The air was suffocating and hot but she didn't mind. It was like walking through thick, floating clouds before a midsummer's storm. A muggy blanket around her skin, protecting her with its heat.

When she reached his apartment she knocked on his door. His voice floated through the wood.

"Come in."

He was in his living room, gear scattered across the floor.

"Hey."

"Hey."

He hadn't looked up when she entered. He seemed intent on looking though a packed backpack. He was wearing his usual outfit, sans vest.

"Are you ready to go?"

"Yes, just let me find…" He pulled out a dull looking kunai and dropped it to the floor. Picked up a nicer, sharper one and tucked it in.

"Ok."

He looked up. Stared, eyes quickly flitting up and down her frame. Blinked and took a few steps towards her. Stopped and turned into his bedroom.

Sakura could feel the blush on her cheeks.

He emerged in his Jounin vest and headed toward the door.

"You look nice."

The compliment was thrown casually over his shoulder but Sakura could feel the blush flood her cheeks again. She silently berated herself for it and the fact it made her seem like a silly little academy girl.

"Thank you." He held the door open for her and they walked down the steps to the streets. The streetlights were on, the store lights spilling into the darkened sky. The barbeque joint was four blocks away. They took their time, strolling calmly past the glowing store windows.

"Hold on." Kakashi abruptly turned into a store. Sakura waited outside, watching as he talked to a ninja behind the counter. Their faces were serious. Something prickled at the back of her mind.

"Everything ok?" She asked as he came out.

"Yup." His eye shifted into a familiar crinkle, indicating that he was smiling under the mask. "Let's go."

The prickle at the back of her mind would not go away. It wasn't until they were only a block away from the barbeque that it morphed into a suspicion.

"Who was that?"

"Who?"

Kakashi looked up from his book. Nobody was on the corner they were standing on.

"That man. In the store."

"What store?" Kakashi's voice remained calm with a bit of questioning, but Sakure caught the slight shift of his hands, as though tensing to face an attack.

"The store with the green canopy. The one you stopped in to talk to that man." Sakura flung a hand in the direction they had just come from.

"Back there." She added, making sure to erase any opportunities that he had left to feign ignorance of what she was questioning.

"Oh. Back there? Just a friend." He answered quickly, smiling innocently. She knew he was trying to end her questioning.

"Why did you look so serious when you were talking?

She let the accusation slip into her voice. Before he could answer the tickling at the back of her mind took force and formed into a solid thought.

"And why were you packing when I was at your house?"

He didn't say anything. He knew she knew why.

Ever since that day on the field her anger had slowly dissolved away. Day by day it had dissipated just a little more until it was gone. In its place fear grew, a fear so potent she'd feel her heart clench every now and then.

The fear was worse than the anger she'd felt. It was substantial and she had reason to feel it. Somehow she kept her voice was steady It was probably due to her many experiences of placating a panicking individual on the brink of death.

"Don't you think it's a little early to be going on a mission?"

He looked into her eyes, gaze direct.

"I can't stand around doing nothing forever. I need to get back into the swing of things."

His voice was steady.

"Yes. But still. It's not as though you need to be going on one, especially a highly ranked one."

Her voice was insistent, strengthened by the fact that she knew she was right. Shinobi didn't have to worry about packing for an easily ranked mission.

"Sakura-"

"No." Her voice was hard and she turned away. "Don't."

He stayed silent. Waited. She hated he knew what to do. She hated that he was so calm. She hated she was acting like this, had been acting like this. But after all he wasn't hers. Her eyes darkened at her last thought.

She hated that as well.

"You've only been back for a few weeks." Sakura reasoned

"I know."

"You spent one of those weeks in the hospital." She reminded him, as though he couldn't recall that fact for himself.

"I know."

"You've only been training seriously for a week."

"I know."

His voice remained flat, neutral, understanding. She took a few agitated steps forward to distance herself. Stopped and moved forward again as though she wasn't far enough.

He stayed where he was. She took a few deep breaths and tried again.

"You might not… you could…"

He took a few steps forward. Until he was right behind her. Whispered.

"Sakura, I know."

Her shoulders were shaking so slightly it seemed to be the effect of the wind passing over her skin, chilling her body, but Kakashi knew better. Sakura, for her part, was not crying. She had promised herself she would not cry anymore for him, but she still felt her heart beat, overbeat into a suffocating throb that she couldn't ignore.

Neither of them moved.

His chest briefly brushed the top of her back every time he exhaled. She could feel his breath that came though the mask on her skin. Could feel his mask covered lips kissing the top of her ear whenever he let out another breath. It made her feel weak and strong all at the same time. Her mouth twisted into a sardonic grin. Yet again, how cliché.

He put his hand on her shoulder.

"Don't." Her voice wasn't edged with malice, or filled with pleading. She was simply speaking the words as though they overflowed from somewhere inside her.

It slid down to her arm.

"Please don't."

He turned her towards him.

"Please don't leave again."

His arms were around her and she pressed her face into his chest.

But still she did not cry and her voice remained soft and steady.

"Please." Sakura muttered, lips sliding over the feel of thin cloth and skin. The feel of him around her was whole and substantial. Real. Something she could hold onto.

"Just don't."

Kakashi's only response was to slide a hand up into her hair and gently tangle a hand into the strands, gaze moving towards the span of darkness between the tops of buildings and starlight.