Disclaimer:

Kakashi flipped through Icha Icha, before glancing up. "Of Tsuki owned Naruto, I'd be screwed…in more ways than one." He smiled. "It doesn't sound half bad in that respect." He was a pervert through and through.


To Build A Nest
By: Tsukiko Hoshino


The trek back to Sakura's new apartment was a short and quiet one. What was there to say?

Kakashi was pretty sure he was taking the situation a lot better than she was. Scratch that, he knew he was. When you lived as long as he had, and seen and done the things he had, you weren't really fazed by small things like being forced into marriage. There were a lot worse things to be forced into.

Not only that, but he hadn't really been forced into saying yes. It wasn't that he had never wanted to get married or have children, it was just he'd never really met a person worth the effort an actual relationship required. Oh sure, he'd had One night stands, occasionally a month or two of on and off dating…that was pretty much the longest he could remember having a romantic relationship with someone; that was if sex counted as a romantic relationship.

It didn't, which he knew very well.

But, he'd never really felt the thing called love, the real romantic type of love. Sure, Kakashi loved people, he wasn't emotionless despite what people thought, he just happened to hide it better than most people did. From experience, showing people just how you felt about them, usually led to them sticking their nose in where it didn't belong, and Kakashi liked his privacy. In any case, he certainly did feel bad for Sakura though. She'd probably dreamed of settling down with the man of her dreams, waking up every morning, happy and blissfully floating on cloud nine, as she prepared breakfast for her adorable little children.

'Probably sharingan eyed children.' Kakashi thought, if they went by her fantasies. He wasn't exactly a pessimist, and as much as he wanted her, and all his students to be happy, he was pretty sure Sasuke was asexual. Hell, even when he was Sasuke's age the last time he saw him, and all emotionally constipated, he was secretly looking at girls. A boy is still a boy after all. Not only that, but Sasuke didn't deserve her, in his humble opinion. Uchiha Sasuke was only going to bring Sakura pain, and he could see it coming miles away; without the sharingan. 'Well, I guess that's one good point in this mess.' He mused dryly, watching as Sakura unlocked her apartment door. Kakashi didn't have to worry about other men making her miserable.

Nope, that was pretty much his job now. 'We should really go over some ground rules, about this whole thing.' Kakashi mused, putting Icha Icha away for a bit.

Really, it was almost a shame how nice her apartment was compared to his. 'Ah well, that's what you get for being cheap.' Kakashi chastised himself, as he studied the barely furnished household. There was no couch, and there was no coffee table, or any entertainment to be seen in the living room. It was empty. 'That's one point for my apartment.' He thought with satisfaction. At least he had a couch to sit on, rickety as it was.

"Sorry." Sakura stated, offering him a weak smile. "It was an impromptu move, and you know, with the attack and all, finding furniture isn't going to be easy." She was lucky Shizune had scrounged up a few traditional futons and a kitchen table. 'Ugh! So embarrassing…' After all, she'd been riding him about his accommodations just a few days ago, had it really been that long? It felt like just yesterday.

"It's fine." Kakashi smiled waving his hand as she set the box on the floor; he wondered just what else was inside of it. "Aren't you going to open it?" He arched a brow at her when she turned away from it in disinterest.

Sakura looked at the box wearily. "I don't think I can handle any more surprises today." It was embarrassing, but she was absolutely terrified of the box, or rather what was in it. She really hoped he didn't notice her new phobia.

Unfortunately, with the way she was eyeing it; which was like the box was going to grow sharp teeth and bite her leg off at any second; he did notice. "You're scared of a box?" Kakashi arched a brow at her in good humor. "Really now, I would have expected better Sakura." He tutted, wagging a gloved finger at her teasingly. "Especially since I trained you."

"Barely, the only thing I remember you teaching me, was walking up a tree." Sakura wrinkled her nose at him. "It's more like you used me as you're menial labor Genin." Not that she could blame him, hell if Sakura had herself some Genin, they would sure as hell be washing dishes, and taking out the trash…along with all those other nasty chores she hated doing.

Kakashi pouted from behind his mask. "Maa…I taught you the most important lesson of all…the value of teamwork." Didn't that count for something? It was a slightly sore subject for him to have the fact he'd been a bit neglectful towards his other students, especially when one of them was rubbing it in his face 'A lot of good favoring Sasuke did too.' He mused.

As if she sensed the lurking guilt, Sakura's eyes softened, and she smiled at him. "Yea, you did." She admitted. It was a lesson she would take with her to the grave too. "You don't have to feel bad you know, back then, I wasn't interested in training." She admitted, shaking her head. There had been a time, after Sasuke left, that she'd felt a sliver of bitterness. It had been quickly swiped away by Tsunade's rigorous training, in which Sakura realized just how behind she was. "And I'm not scared of a box; I'm scared of what's in the box." She corrected hastily.

It was strange, how she was able to read him like that and see the guilt, despite the many masks he wore. "You don't have to be." Kakashi cast Sakura a smile, and motioned toward the box. "It's better to do it fast and quick, like a Band-Aid." He explained at her doubtful look.

You really couldn't argue with Kakashi's brand of logic; He wouldn't let you. So with a heavy sigh, Sakura pulled the lid off the box, and peered inside. "It's just a few pictures, some scrolls, and uh…" She pulled a piece of folded white cloth out of the box, and unfolded it. "This." She stated simply, it was a white with red triangles lining the hem and sleeve bottoms. Sakura glanced over at Kakashi curiously, when he fingered the happi coat in her hands.

"Ah, you wouldn't know what this is." Kakashi mused, rubbing the back of his neck instinctively. That coat, which had once been so well known throughout Konoha, if not the whole Shinobi community, had slipped into anonymity.

"Just like the Haruno, and all the clans in Konoha, the Hatake have a family crest…something that's unique to them." Kakashi hadn't seen it since it since he moved out of the Hatake house, instead he'd used the Henohenomoheji symbol; it had been his way of further breaking away from his father. "That coat you're holding is one of them." Where his father's had been black and white, and where his own in his child hood had been white and grey, Sakura's was a vibrant red and white.

Sakumo and Kozue if his reportedly mischievous nature were anything to go by probably had something to do with it. They really were adept at thinking ahead…very far ahead.

Red really suited Sakura better than any other color. It was fiery, and passionate, it was the color of many things, courage and life included; and she wore those colors well. How many other women did he know, that would put their happiness on the line to fulfill a contract signed by two dead men? Not many, Kakashi imagined; the only girls he could say he knew well, in a non-sexual manner were Anko, and Kurenai.

Sakura heaved a sigh before passing him a smile. "You actually just told me something about yourself." She sounded like she was congratulating him on a job well done. Kakashi hardly, if ever offered up information about himself, it was a personal triumph for her to learn something like that, no matter how small it was.

Kakashi didn't seem to think so, because he fixed her with a very exasperated eye. "I've told you plenty of things about myself."

"Oh yes, and I quote; I have many hobbies, none of which I want to tell you, and my dreams, aren't any of your business." Sakura was pretty sure that was along the lines of what he'd told them when they all first met.

There was a laugh from across from her, that almost startled Sakura enough to squeak…and she did not squeak…anymore. It was a nice laugh…not a creepy little giggle like when he read a particularly good part of Icha Icha; but a low chuckle. Would it be wrong for her to like the way it sounded?

"Nice try…but I think what I said was, I'm the kind of guy who doesn't like talking about his likes and his dislikes, my dreams are none of your business and I have many hobbies, none of which I want to tell you." It was amazing he could remember that far back with all the injuries he'd sustained to the head since then. Hell, if one were to go by that quota, it was amazing that Kakashi even remembered his name. He was however, immensely amused that Sakura bothered to store what he'd said that day to memory.

Sakura rolled her eyes. "What's the difference? You didn't tell us anything." She delicately folded the coat up, and placed it back into the box. Despite its simplicity, it really was pretty. She really didn't want it getting damaged.

"The difference is if you're going to quote someone as awesome as me, you should have the words right." Kakashi smirked from behind his mask, as he turned towards the door. "And I told you I was a very private person, in a tactful way." He motioned for her to follow him; hunger was starting to get at him.

"Ha! You know, if someone heard that, they'd start thinking you were a little full of yourself..." Sakura grinned at his back. 'Not that he doesn't have every reason to be, I mean he his talented.'

Was it weird, that she felt comfortable, despite the fact she'd basically been married off to her old teacher before she was born? Probably. 'But anything is better than feeling awkward and unsure.' Sakura told herself.

Things probably wouldn't stay so comfy for long. So she figured it would be a very good idea to make the best of it while it lasted.

"I'm not full of myself." Kakashi wrinkled his nose, as he walked down the steps of her apartment building. "I'm confident." With good reason, was it so wrong to know you were good at what you did? 'Nah.' He shrugged the idea off.

Sakura hummed at him as it to say; "If you say so" instead of asking where they were going, she let her mind wander for a few moments. 'I really need to talk with Ino.' God, the blond was going to throw a fit…Sakura could just see it now. 'What?!' Her mental voice cried, mimicking the Yamanaka. 'You're dating you're sensei?!'

Oh the fun that would be had with that conversation. It would make her feel better though, to talk to someone her own age…who hopefully would be just as shocked as she had been. 'I mean, I can just imagine her face…'She almost wanted to laugh, as imaginary-Ino flubbed around like a fish on the floor having a seizure. Sakura was quickly startled out of her thoughts, when she bumped into a rather firm wall. "Eh?" She looked up realizing the wall was his back.

Kakashi glanced back at her, his one eye clearly conveying amusement. "Anno…a Ninja should always be aware of their surroundings." He pointed out. "Otherwise next time it might not be my back you run into…but a tree…and trust me, those are far less forgiving then I am." That was spoken out of experience.

"Right." Sakura could feel the blood rising to her face; really, she should just be stabbed with a kunai, before she embarrassed herself anymore. Could this day get any worse?

It could and as usual, it did. "Well this is it." Kakashi pointed to the convenience store in front of them. He honestly would have taken her somewhere nicer…but he hadn't picked up his pay check, and prepackaged onigiri, and a few drinks were all he could afford.

"You're joking." Sakura looked like she'd just had a bucket of cold water poured over her.

Kakashi laughed, and scratched the side of his cheek sheepishly. "I haven't picked up my pay check yet…and it's better then rations, right?" He arched a brow.

Sakura was beginning to understand just why she'd never really seen Kakashi around with members of the opposite; he sucked. 'But he has a point in regards to rations.' She shuddered in memory. "Fine fine…" She waved him away as she effectively ignored the smile he flashed her way, as she flopped down to sit on the curb. It seemed like the actuality of what she agreed to had finally caught up with her. What had she been thinking? This was bad.

'Very bad.' Sakura gulped slightly, fighting off a panic attack. Sure, she didn't have anyone special she wanted to be with at the moment…but still, what if she ended up liking someone in the future, but couldn't be with them because of a decision she made? 'My life, the living soap opera.' She shuddered. It really did seem it was accumulating into that.

Thankfully, she was saved from lamenting her horrible life, by something ice cold pressing against the back of her neck. "Gah!" Sakura shrieked, jerking away as she twisted around to see Kakashi smiling at her innocently. He was holding out a bottle of iced tea to her. "You're really off your game today." He pointed out cheerfully, as he sat next to her.

"But it's understandable." Kakashi admitted on an afterthought. Just because he wasn't necessarily affected by their situation, didn't mean he should expect the same thing from her…

"How can you act so composed?"Sakura moaned to herself, as she took the beverage and uncapped it; she hadn't meant to say that out loud. He didn't need to know she'd had a slip of the tongue though.

Kakashi shrugged, and sipped his water through his mask. "I never thought one way or another about getting married." He stated, handing her a package of onigiri. "When you've seen and done the things I have, this sort of thing doesn't shock you so much." He smiled at her sheepishly. "But Sakura, if you didn't want to do this, you should have said so…you can say no at any time." He murmured.

"I know…" Sakura sipped her cold drink, before setting it aside, as she looked at him seriously. "You know the same goes for you…why didn't you say no to begin with?" She wondered. Kakashi wasn't the type to do something he had no desire to do…he was the type of person to give you some lame excuse, before turning tail just to get out of it.

That was a good and very private question to ask. 'Why indeed.' Kakashi heaved a sigh. "Sakura…do you want to know why I wear this mask?" He glanced up from the dirt road in front of them to look at her face. 'It won't hurt to answer her, after all, dating calls for emotional bonding, didn't it?' Vaguely, Kakashi realized he sounded like Sai.

Though, the flip side to that was unlike the emotionally stunted artist, Kakashi did indeed find Sakura attractive, which he had to grudgingly admit to himself. Thankfully, It was a recent development, sure he was a pervert, but he certainly was not that kind of pervert. 'I really can't help it, that she's witty and charming, now can i?' That was all her fault, and if she didn't like the fact that he found those qualities rather…appealing. It really wasn't his problem.

Or that's what he was telling himself.

"Besides the rumors about what's under the mask?" Sakura blinked and paused in un-wrapping her onigiri, she had no idea she'd startled him out of his thoughts. "No." She admitted, her tongue swiping over her pale pink lips slowly.

Kakashi really wished she hadn't done that, at the exact point in time he'd been thinking about her attributes. It made things…complicated.

'Convenience store food never looked so good.' She sighed wistfully, and took a bite of the rice ball. Sure, Sakura had idea's as to what was under the mask…everyone did. Her own personal list included, warts, scars, and fish lips. 'Because really, if there isn't something wrong, why cover your face?' She mused.

"Ah…" That was as close to 'Huh?' As Kakashi was going to get as he wracked his brain trying to remember what they'd been talking about a few moments before.

Apparently, Sakura wasn't the only one off her game today.

'Mm…, that's right.' He snapped his fingers together in recognition, earning an odd look from his companion. "The reason why I started wearing a mask was because of my father…you already heard that his last mission ended his career, my father, turned back because he didn't want to see his comrades die.…When he came back from it, he was shunned by the majority of the village, even the people whose lives he'd saved." Kakashi explained, tearing his eyes away from her in shame for what he was about to tell her.

He couldn't remember ever talking to someone about this before. Not ever. "Even though I was considered a prodigy back then…I was still just a child and highly impressionable." Kakashi admitted, his lone eye conveying his humiliation. "When everyone else turned their back on him, so did I. I hated that I looked so much like him…and I was determined to do things differently than him…it only got worse after he committed suicide." His voice was filled with self-loathing for what he had been in the past.

Sakura had lowered the Onigiri, and set it away, her hunger abated at the moment. This was the most he'd ever opened up to her before; it came before food hands down.' Is it wrong, that I feel jipped.?' She wondered, knowing the only reason he was probably telling her was because he felt like he had too. She wanted him to want to tell her these sorts of things out of trust. But she would take it like it was, because something was better than nothing.

"When he died, it was as if all their disapproval for him, transferred onto me...after all I was his son, and I looked so much like him it only made sense to them." Kakashi had truly learnt what it felt like to hate, the day of his father's funeral. "So I donned a mask, so I could escape the looks and whispers." And it had worked pretty well, or perhaps it had been how skilled he was, that shut them all up.

Either way, it didn't matter anymore. Those days were behind him, and now Kakashi could care less if he was likened to his father or not.

It was weird for her to see this side of Kakashi, but it was welcome all the same. For once, Sakura felt as though he was just as corporeal as she was. He was no longer the untouchable pinnacle of nonchalance. "What's all this have to do with why you said yes?" She wondered.

Kakashi smiled at her, this time, his eye didn't close in its trademark way. Instead his lone eye was filled with fondness. "Do you remember how I told you, those who don't follow the rules are scum, but those who abandon their comrades were by far worse?" He scratched the back of his sheepishly. "When I was young, I was the type who chose rules over friends." He admitted, feeling like it just so happened to be, Shame on Kakashi day.

"Seriously?" Sakura arched a brow; she couldn't picture that at all. Kakashi not valuing teamwork...? That was like Gai not wearing green spandex; In other words, Impossible.

There was a slight nod of confirmation, before Kakashi continued. "There was a boy on my Genin team, and eventually my chuunin team the first team I ever led as a Jōnin...He was the Uchiha who donated the sharingan to me, after he saved my life. But more importantly, he taught me the value of teamwork. The day that he died was the day I realized just how horrible I had truly been to my father…he'd done the right thing all along." He sighed.

'I really have been lucky so far.' Sakura mused; she'd yet to really lose someone close to her to death, with the exception of her father. Hearing him speak made her value those precious lives all the more.

"So then, all of a sudden, I wasn't wearing the mask out of anger, but out of shame…in ways, I had contributed to his depression…and I didn't have the right to look like someone as great as him." Kakashi stated, pointing to his mask. "And now, I wear the mask, for two reasons; habit, and because I love driving people crazy with it." He grinned as her sympathetic look, quickly became cross.

It was just like him, to go from deathly serious, to joking in zero seconds. 'Maybe he's bipolar' Sakura mused, the doctor in her suggesting numerous disorders Kakashi supposedly had. "That still doesn't explain anything…" her brows furrowed slightly.

"Mm…it does, you're just not looking hard enough…but since I'm feeling benevolent today, I'll tell you." Kakashi smiled. "I said yes, because I wanted to make up for the sins I committed against my father in the past…all the times I scoffed at his ideals, every time I turned my back on him and our family name…even today, I feel guilty for it." He lamented briefly, his eyes far off.

"You said yes because you loved and respected you're father…I said yes, because I had to make up for all the times I wasn't the son I should have been. For once, I wanted to honor my father." That lone gray eye, glanced over at her, before arching closed. "Or maybe you said yes, because you have a crush on your old sensei?" he suggested humorously, knowing there was a deep red blush sprawling across her face.

Sakura shook her head. "Who could possibly have a crush, on a person whose face they've never even seen?" She remarked offhandedly, fighting the blush down.

"Some girls like enigmatic guys." Kakashi pouted. "Isn't that why you like Sasuke?" It was such a nice way to broach the subject, He congratulated himself.

That comment seemed to catch Sakura off guard; for a few moments she was quiet, before speaking up softly. "I don't know why I liked Sasuke." She admitted.

Past tense, was what screamed out to him. 'That's good.' Kakashi noted, studying her. "You sound like you don't anymore."

"I don't." Sakura blinked up at him. "Not like I used too." She had once worshiped the ground Sasuke walked on, not the smartest thing she'd ever done.

"Oh?" Kakashi arched a brow. "News to me."

Sakura heaved a sigh, and ran a hand through her pink locks. "The day Sasuke pulled his weapon on Naruto right in front of my eyes, was the day the romantic notions of love I had towards him died." She admitted. "He's part of my family, even if he did decide to leave it willingly…and I let Naruto make me a stupid promise, that's caused him a lot of trouble…I have to shoulder my part of the burden now too." She flashed him a smile. "You should know though, that if I loved Sasuke like I used to, I never would have agreed to this arrangement." She pointed out, Sakura would have said no so fast, they'd be suffering whiplash.

'Very well said.' Kakashi mused, feeling a flash of pride, before it was quickly snuffed out. He wasn't the one responsible for the person she was no…all that credit went to Tsunade. "That's a relief, I was a little worried, I was keeping you from becoming Uchiha Sakura." He bit back a laugh as her nose wrinkled up.

"Say…since you told me something so personal, why don't I return the favor?" Sakura suggested, with a grin. He'd been so open, there was no harm in telling him something small.

Kakashi shrugged, as if to say whatever floats your boat.

Sakura nodded. "I hate tomatoes, and I always have." She stated. When she'd been a Genin, she had eaten them nonstop to gain Sasuke's favor, going so far as to pack them in every lunch. It took everything she'd had not to vomit them all back up in those days.

"You're saying, you choked down copious amounts of something you hated, just to please Sasuke?" Kakashi grinned behind his mask. "That's a shame, really." That explained the sour look every time she bit into one.

"It is." Sakura admitted. "Trust me; I am very ashamed of the way I acted back then." She shuddered.

Kakashi smiled, and hooked a finger under the hem of his mask as he began to pull it down slowly. He was starving. "All girls seem to go through that phase…no shame in it." He blinked when Sakura grabbed his wrist hastily.

"What are you doing?!" Sakura's eyes were wide and full of alarm; she'd stopped him as the black cloth perched on the edge of his nose.

"Anno...I was going to eat." Kakashi pouted; surely, she wasn't afraid of seeing his face all of a sudden? Girls really did have a habit of changing their minds, apparently Sakura was no exception. "I thought you wanted to see my face…"

That seemed to strike a cord with her, because Sakura lowered her hand away from his. "I do." She admitted, her toes digging into the dirt. "It's just, I never thought I actually would…and if you show me after telling me all that...it just feels like you're doing it because you feel like you have too." She bit her lips. "And you don't have to do anything." She finished quickly, looking back over at him.

His onigiri was already gone, and Kakashi's face was covered before she'd even gotten a glimpse. "I didn't tell you any of that because I had too, and next time, if I offer to take my mask down, don't stop me. I told you because I wanted too, just like I was about to show you for the same reason." He corrected her with a smile, as he got to his feet.

"You missed you're chance to see it today." He teased, watching her frustrated expression. "Better luck next time." Kakashi stated, as he pulled Sakura to her own feet. "So, how did I do on our first date?" he wondered curiously.

Sakura looked at him thoughtfully. "Hmm…-3 points for taking me to a convenience store and making me eat on the curb of said convenience store." She grinned, as he slumped miserably. "But, plus four points, for being so damn open. That leaves you at one point Kakashi." Sakura was smirking at him.

Damn her smirking was hot. 'No. No.' Kakashi slapped himself on the wrist mentally. They were not going to go there, even if it was perfectly natural to feel something for the person you were dating. If Sakura ever found out, she'd probably be disgusted, and then everything would be awkward.

Hell, it already was awkward. There was no need to make it worse, even if watching her blush and stutter was worth it. 'Now, is definitely a good time to go poof.' Kakashi realized, since his thoughts seemed to be getting a wee bit ahead of themselves. "Mm...Guess I'll have to try better next time." He smiled under his mask, before leaning down. "Say…do I get another point, if I give you a good-bye kiss?" He wondered innocently. 'Ah, fuck.' Even Kakashi's mouth was getting ahead of him.

Literally; considering they were already pressed against the corner of her mouth as he disappeared in a cloud of smoke.

For a few moments, Sakura just stood there alone with the remains of their lunch. 'Did he just…?' Her fingers pressed against the offending spot. Oh yes, Kakashi had just kissed her…with his damn mask on. 'Well it wasn't a real kiss.' She told herself…but it was still the closest thing she'd ever had to one, excluding the kind you got from your family.

It took her a few moments to register what he'd said, but when she did…

'That bastard…' The pink haired girl fumed. "Hell no you don't get extra points!" Sakura shrieked, shaking her fist at the sky angrily. "That was the worst kiss I've ever had!" Sakura tried ignored the looks of people as they passed by, just as well as she tried to ignored the thrumming of her heart.

It wasn't very effective if you were to judge by the red tinting her face as she streaked across Konohagakure, on her way towards the Yamanaka flower shop.

Ino Yamanaka was peacefully dozing at the checkout counter, her sunshine yellow apron standing out against the dark purple of her clothing. If one listened closely, they could hear her mumbling something about a man named Sai, as she drooled a bit in her sleep.

She almost jumped out of her skin, when the front door slammed open, shaking the whole shop. "Gah! Forehead, that's glass you know! You could break it with that he-man strength of yours." Ino quickly wiped the drool away from the corner of her mouth, and made herself presentable.

"That's nice." Sakura stated distractedly, as she toyed with the petals of a few flowers.

This was the forbearer of a juicy secret, as Ino well knew. "Dish it!" The blond squealed happily, almost clamoring over the counter to grab the pink haired girl's arm.

"It's a long story…" Sakura warned her. Well, it really wasn't, considering it all happened in one day, but it sure as hell felt like it had been much more than that.

Ino looked around and snorted, there weren't any customers in sight. "I've got time…Spill! Spill your guts to me now!" She demanded, her voice echoing through the empty shop.

That's just what Sakura did; She was right when she said Ino would freak out. Except there was no flubbing around like a fish, only laughter.

It was disappointing honestly.

"You're engaged to your old sensei!" Ino held her stomach as she laughed, pounding her fists into the counter. "God, you're like a walking soap opera…I should just follow you around with popcorn." She sighed, wiping a few tears away.

"Thanks." Sakura responded dryly, a tick forming on her lower eyelid. "I appreciate your sympathy." Was it so much to ask, that someone feel bad for her?

Ino's pupiless blue eyes softened, if only a fraction. "Sorry…it must be hard." If it had been her, she would have laughed in their faces and walked away. "You must have loved your dad a lot." She mused. 'Not that I don't love mine and all…but I don't think I could marry someone I didn't love for him.' She admitted to herself.

"So where were we?" Ino motioned for Sakura to continue, and she did; until she was interrupted by a customer, just as she was getting to the part where Kakashi kissed her.

"Get out!" Ino shrieked angrily, picking up the register in an attempt to chuck it at the innocent patron. They obviously didn't know not to get between her and a good story. Thankfully, they took the message, and left the shop just as quickly as they entered. "Okay, so then…" she prompted Sakura to finish wherever she'd left off.

Sakura watched with amused eyes, as Ino smoothed back her hair as if she'd never freaked out in the first place. "Then he kissed me, and poofed off." She finished lamely, leaving out how she'd thrown a fit at the sky.

"Whoa, whoa…kissed you where?" Ino arched a brow, her hands on her hips. Ever since Sakura admitted to no longer loving Sasuke like she used to, in private they were a lot closer. They still liked to keep up their competitive nature though; it left them sharp. Though, secretly, Ino would admit she was nowhere near the level Sakura was on, skill wise at least. 'I'm much prettier.' She comforted herself with that tidbit.

"Right here…" Sakura pointed at the corner of her mouth, as Ino snorted.

"Call me when it's a full kiss on the mouth." The blonde yawned, ignoring the glare Sakura fixed her with. "Hey, don't blame me…just because it was your first kiss from a guy, doesn't mean it counts as special." Ino grinned, before heaving a sigh "Damn…I can't believe you're betrothed…To your former teacher no less!." Her laughing quickly switched to a sigh as the glare grew in intensity. "I'd feel almost bad for you; if it weren't for the fact that he's probably dead sexy under that mask…you didn't see under the mask, did you?" She sat a little straighter at the thought.

Sakura shook her head. "No…I refused to see it when he tried to show me." She certainly regretted making that decision.

"Ugh, even with that huge forehead, you're still an idiot." Ino sighed regretfully. "Hey…" She glanced at her watch. "It's about time for me to close up…why don't I stay at your place tonight" She suggested, pulling a few bottles of Sake from the bottom counter. "I stocked up." She grinned impishly. Sakura looked like she could use a good drink too.

Sakura whimpered and looked at the beverages like they were a god send. "For once, I thank god I'm affiliated with you." She smirked at Ino, as they hooked arms, and walked their way across the village towards the apartment complex Sakura now lived in.

The sky was growing dark now, bathed in hue's of red and orange as the sun went down slowly. It was breath taking as always for Sakura to watch it. She hardly paid attention as Ino rambled something.

"Hey, Billboard brow, aren't you listening?" Ino wondered in exasperation, her blue eyes conveying annoyance

"Hm?" Sakura tore her eyes away from the sky.

Ino heaved a melodramatic sigh. "I said, I was reading a magazine earlier today, which said marriages with a fourteen year age gap are more likely to end in divorce." It was ironic considering Sakura's circumstances.

"Great." Sakura let out a sigh. "My Pseudo relationship is already doomed." She stated sarcastically. Statistics were just the majorities, and Sakura liked to beat the odds…not that ending the arrangement with Kakashi would affect her either way.

Really it wouldn't. His kiss wasn't anything special, even if the skin still tingled.

There was no way, she was actually starting to like him, none what so ever. She was just caught up in the aftereffects, that was all.

Sakura shook her head furiously, as she stomped up the steps to her shared apartment and unlocked the door.

"Where have you been?" Tsunade arched a brow, sitting on the olive colored suede couch that she had commandeered. 'Ah, the perks of being a Hokage.' She mused to herself.

Sakura's eyes went wide. "You're out of the hospital!" She stated happily, slipping her shoes off at the door and making her way towards the couch, as Ino gapped at the nice apartment from the doorway.

'Ugh, so lucky.' The blonde whined to herself. She really wished she could move out of her parents home sometimes…but hey, free food, and laundry service had its perks. 'Why do labor when others do it for you?' She mused, slipping her own shoes off before walking in and shutting the door behind her.

Shizune heaved a sigh as she adjusted the bookshelf for what seemed like the thirtieth time today. "She insisted on leaving and coming home…' She explained for Sakura's benefit, eying the alcoholic beverages in Ino's arms. "Did you really have to bring those here?" She really didn't want Tsunade drinking so soon after barely scraping by.

"Sakura's had a hard day." Tsunade chastised her assistant. "It's not every day you get engaged…cut the girl some slack." She smiled at Sakura briefly. "I already told her to save you the trouble, I'm sure you don't mind…" She glanced at the Sake bottles eagerly.

"Its fine." Sakura sighed as she sunk into the incredibly comfy and soft couch.

The poison's specialist smiled at Sakura apologetically. "You do seem to be taking it well…I guess it won't hurt for one night." She relented, leaving the room, and coming back with a few bottles of assorted beverages, most of them being alcoholic. "Don't get used to this." Shizune stated her hands on her hips as she looked at the group assertively.

"We won't." Sakura smiled gratefully, as she took a seat next to Tsunade, her head leaning back against the couch, as the Hokage uncapped a few bottles.

Shizune hummed, and set the cups on the table, one for herself included, for once, she'd join in. It'd been a hard week, and a little down time was just what the doctor ordered.

"Pick your poison Sakura." Tsunade stated.

Sakura hummed. "Anything, anything at all." She stated, sitting up to stare at the bottles. "There's plenty of time to try it all." She stated with small grin.

Spoken like a girl after her own heart, Tsunade mused, pouring some Sake into the shallow dish, before passing the bottle to Sakura so she could fill Ino's. Once the bottle had been passed all around, the four women raised their glasses, shouting "Kanpai!" In unison.

Half way through the first bottle, Shizune retired, leaving the other three ladies to continue their drinking, and at some point after the fourth bottle, Tsunade nodded off to sleep, still feeling the effects of draining herself dry not long ago. Otherwise, she would have drunk them both under the table.

That left a very drunk Ino, and a slightly less drunk Sakura to themselves. Apprenticing under Tsunade had more perks then you could shake a stick at. Including stolen stationary goods…Sakura liked free staplers and pens.

"You know…taking a girl to a convenience store for a first date, much less her first date ever, is really unforgivable." Ino giggled drunkenly, waving her hand, and sloshing the sake in her cup around.

Sakura nodded her head, nursing the cup in her hand, as she hiccupped cutely. "It is, isn't it?" she hardly slurred at all, unlike Ino-pig! How proud would Tsunade be of that…if she were conscious that was. The thought made her giggle as well, as she poked her master in the cheek.

Thank god the woman was so exhausted, or she would have thrown a fit. Thankfully, she just mumbled, and swatted the hand away.

"We should…we should get revenge!" Ino shouted, slamming her cup on the table. "Take a stand for ladies everywhere!" She was a fucking genius, no matter what Shikamaru seemed to think.

Sakura looked at Ino with her mouth hanging open. "That's…that's a great idea!" If she weren't drunk, she never would have agreed to what came out of Ino's mouth next. "How do we do it though?" she looked confused.

"Let's…lets teepee his apartment building." Ino stated, a devilish smile lighting her face.

Drunk Sakura gasped and clapped her hands. Really, the idea sounded brilliant at the time. "Oh…that's a good one…don't forget the eggs." They were on their feet, gathering supplies as they went.

It was really too bad Tsunade was far too tired to stop them, or rather to amused, she did however tell them to buy some more toilet paper as they stumbled their way out the door. Four rolls would not be enough to cover the whole building.

'Tomorrow is sure to be interesting.' The Hokage yawned as she lifted herself off the couch, and made her way towards her bedroom. She'd let Shizune clean the mess up.

The walk, or rather stumble to Kakashi's place was put on hold long enough for them to buy six packs of toilet paper, eight in each one, two cartons of eggs and seal them in scrolls.

The clerk at the convenience store had every right to look at them like psychopaths, not that they noticed. Sakura and Ino were giggling like maniacs as they forked over the cash and went on their merry way.

Really, if Sakura had been sober, she would have beaten the daylight out of Ino, and enjoyed it for suggesting such an idea in the first place. It was juvenile, immature, and yet, decorating that shabby apartment building with long billowing strands of white paper cracked her up.

To bad she forgot in her drunken haze, that Kakashi was a very well trained Shinobi, who was as expected a very light sleeper.

Sakura had been wrong when she likened her life to a soap opera.

It was more like a comedy.


Yeah, I did just leave you hanging *Winks* mwahaha...I feel evil, but I'm glad to be back doing humor…to much seriousness can be a little tiring, don't you think? Guh, props to Kakashisgf, who gave me the idea for Ino Pointing out the statistics about people who have a 14 year age gap being more likely to divorce then others, Calm Serene, and YummyFoods for pointing out a few of my mistakes last chapter…and finally everyone else out there who reads my crazy little story.

In japan, its considered polite to pour sake for one another, and say Kanpai…which is basically the equivalent to "Cheers" To us.

Gah..its like 2:20 am here right now, so I pretty much did a once over on corrections…I wanted to get this out to you guys as soon as possible, one as a reward…( it really shocks me how many alerts and reviews I get.) And two, I have another paper to write that's going to take a lot more effort than my last one..So I'm not sure how long it will take me. So forgive me if you see some crazy mistakes. *puppy dog eyes*

Anyhow, I wrote a few scenes for Kozue and Sakumo when they were younger and put them on my live journal account, anyone whose interested can follow the link. Don't forget to tell me what you think. (I rhymed!)

http :/ /tsuki- hoshino. livejournal. com/

And as an incentive to get you to go…

Kozue couldn't believe his luck, when he got stuck babysitting 4 year old Kakashi. Both Satsuki and Sakumo were gone on a weeklong mission. 'But he's so…so…' Smart-assed; was the word Kozue was looking for. Don't get the guy wrong, he loved the little punk...but….

Kakashi knew it all, or so he liked to think. He'd even chided Kozue for not eating his vegetables! Of all things…