Disclaimer: I don't own any characters or plotlines from "Naruto".
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Sakura hadn't expected this to feel so…sensual. She nearly purred into Kakashi's touch as his fingers stroked lightly through her hair.
She had nearly regained her full health, but Kakashi had kept clucking over her like an old woman, shadowing her every move for the past three days to be sure that she was eating good meals and getting her rest. When she'd mentioned leaving for the pub that night to catch up with a few friends, he'd flatly forbidden it and put a seal on the door. She'd been ready to yell at him, but he had gently steered her toward the kitchen where he had started some tempura (her favorite) and pointed out the movies he had rented for their evening (all movies she wanted to see). He had slipped a blanket over her shoulders and lectured her about the evils of alcohol on a body that was trying to recover from the flu. This would have been less irritating to Sakura if he hadn't been slowly sipping from his own glass of sake while he cooked for them, but as the smell of tempura wafted over to her, she had decided to let it go.
After dinner, they had come to rest on the sofa. Sakura had been mildly surprised when Kakashi placed her in front of him. She had been even more surprised when he lifted a hairbrush from the side table and started pulling it slowly through her hair.
"What do you think you're doing?"
"I should think that would be obvious, Sakura."
"But…"
"You don't like having your hair brushed?"
"Well…"
"During dinner, I noticed that your hair was tousled from your nap today."
"I can brush my own hair, Kakashi."
"Hn. But I can see the back of your head, whereas you cannot. I only meant to be of assistance to you in spotting the tangles."
If there was one thing about her sensei that would never change, it would be those inanely lame excuses. Sakura was about to ask him why he cared when she stopped herself. She wasn't sure why, but she suddenly felt afraid of his answer.
His fingers followed the brush as he pulled it through her hair, weaving through the strands in gentle, caressing strokes.
Sakura felt her stomach do a slow flip-flop and goosebumps break out all over her skin.
Kakashi noticed the goosebumps. He was hopeful that they weren't from the cold, but pulled her a little closer to his own warmth just in case.
When Kakashi pulled her nearer, Sakura could feel his breath barely ghosting over her neck through his mask. Her mouth went dry and she reached for the glass of water Kakashi had brought for her.
As her eyes wandered around the room, she noticed something odd.
"Kakashi, where are the lilies that Lee brought me?"
He never paused in his slow strokes through her hair.
"I moved them."
"Where?"
"Outside."
"Why."
"They needed sunshine."
"This room gets plenty of sunshine during the day."
"There's more sunshine outside."
"Outside where?"
"Outside in the large container by the back porch."
"You mean the trash bin."
"I guess some people call it that."
"Kakashi…why are you throwing out my flowers?"
"I replaced them."
"I see that," replied Sakura, eyeing the breathtaking bouquet that had replaced the modest vase of lilies from Lee. "But there was nothing wrong with the lilies."
"You don't like the new flowers?" asked Kakashi, sounding hurt.
"Of course! They're lovely." In fact, the vase contained many of the most beautiful and expensive blooms from the Yamanaka flower shop. "But…those lilies were harmless."
"They were unhappy here."
"What?!"
"They didn't belong here."
"I see."
A memory from Sakura's second day of illness surfaced. She'd been so groggy from the calming teas Kakashi had kept getting her to drink that it wasn't the clearest memory. She'd been awake when Lee had dropped off the flowers and noticed that he had seemed to want to leave quickly after several glowering looks from Kakashi. At the time, she had just thought that her former sensei was being overprotective of her health. She remembered her doorbell ringing again that night when she was resting and Kakashi had answered the door…
She could've sworn she had heard bone crunching and a stifled cry… but that seemed so ridiculous at the time.
"I haven't seen Lee for a few days…that's kind of unusual for him…" she started casually.
"Hn."
"You wouldn't happen to have heard anything about him?"
"Mission maybe?"
Sakura knew that could be true, but somehow the idea didn't fit. Lee had been obsessed with her ever since they were children and never failed to stop by her house or at least write her a note telling her of his latest missions and how he would use the opportunity to become a man more worthy of her. Sakura had never returned Lee's feelings, but he was still a friend.
"Kakashi, did you hurt Lee?"
"What makes you say that?"
"Did you?"
Kakashi felt something dark, ugly and painful start to squeeze in his chest. Involuntarily, he tighted his grip on the young woman in his lap.
Sakura noticed the change, but waited for his answer.
"Would you like Lee to resume his attentions?"
"No!"
Kakashi relaxed his grip just slightly at the vehemence in Sakura's tone.
"Then why not leave well enough alone?"
"Kakashi…I have no interest in Lee in that way and he drives me up the wall…but he's still a friend. I wouldn't want anything bad to happen to him, okay?"
After a very long pause, Sakura heard Kakashi mutter reluctantly "okay" and resume his brushing, but he had tightened his hold on her again. After a moment of silence, he separated out a few strands of Sakura's hair and started to weave them into a tiny braid.
Sakura's mouth went dry once more at the gentle sensation of his fingers playing through her hair. She couldn't help herself.
"That feels nice." The words escaped her before she could bite her tongue.
She felt her face suddenly heat like a furnace.
"And the flowers are beautiful," she muttered. "Thank you."
She felt more than saw Kakashi's happy eye crease. He paused in his attention to her hair and she felt his arms squeeze her in another one of his tender bear hugs.
"Whatever makes my favorite kunoichi happy," he replied.
"Like a trip to the pub?" she rejoined hopefully.
Kakashi frowned. A trip to the pub where bug-eyed Lee and a host of other young men would be eager to shower his Sakura with attention and wish her good health. Then he smiled.
"I'll take you in just a few days."
"And who says I'll be waiting for your permission?"
"Sakura…"
The "sensei" tone was back.
Sakura sighed.
"Are you buying?"
Kakashi gave another happy eye crease. "Sure."
"And you'll walk me home?"
Kakashi felt his heart swell inside him. This was turning out even better than he had hoped. If he escorted Sakura to the pub, purchased her drinks and escorted her back to their home, the message to Konoha would be clear. He had been planning to do just that, but the fact that Sakura was suggesting it gave some satisfaction to the raging, possessive animal that lived in his chest.
"I wouldn't have it any other way."
"Good."
Sakura smirked. If Kakashi promised to walk her home then he wouldn't be able to skip out on the bill.
Kakashi stroked his fingers down her hair one last time and then, in what felt like the most natural gesture in the world, pulled Sakura back against his chest. He knew that she was a kunoichi to be reckoned with, but she felt so delicate and feminine in his arms.
It was taking a great deal of his self-control not to scoop her up and carry her off to his bedroom, but he was one of Konoha's most powerful shinobi. And a very patient man.
As Sakura felt Kakashi's arms wrap around her, she stiffened and thought about struggling, but then relaxed. She'd never won a spar with Kakashi when she was healthy, let alone in a weakened state. Plus, his heartbeat against her back and his mask-covered cheek resting against her hair felt…right.
She couldn't remember a time when she had ever felt this safe and content. Against her will, she eased her body against his, leaning into his touch. Every alarm bell on the planet was going off in Sakura's head, but she felt so good that she couldn't bear to pull herself away from Kakashi. After all, he was only holding her. It's not as if he was feeling her up or anything.
Sakura was taken off guard by the tiny stab of disappointment she felt at this fact. Burying it, she nuzzled closer to the silver-haired shinobi, letting her eyes flutter shut.
Kakashi smiled beneath his mask as he gazed down at the beautiful woman feigning sleep in his arms. If her quicker heartbeat and erratic breathing was any indication, she was reacting nicely to his proximity. Now…how to kiss her without getting a broken jaw…
If there was anything the Copy Nin loved as much as the woman he was currently holding against his heart, it was a challenge.