AN: Thanks everyone for reading. Hehe sorry Hatake Kazumi, I can't reveal who he slept with just yet... but it will come out (all puns aside!) don't worry. AH school work. I have also been bogged down with university work grrr. Thanks Rosebunse, I think people do tend to Sakura bash a lot so I thought I would I would focus on how mature she starts to become (or I think so anyway) in part two. I do think her and Kakashi respected each other at any rate.
Chapter 8
The sounds of Sakura getting ready in the bathroom the next morning brought dread to his belly. He would also need to get up and face what the day had in store for him. What Sasuke had in store for him. Sakura sang softly to herself she probably fussed about with her hair or make up or whatever girls did in the mornings. As Kakashi had never lived with a woman before (his mother had died so young) he really wasn't sure.
Kakashi sighed as he got out of bed. Could he really do this? Could he really face Sasuke again after what he had done?
He had no choice.
If he didn't go to Sasuke, then Sasuke would come to him. And he really didn't want that. That would be weakening his position before it even came to a fight... if that's what it came down to. He also surmised that he would be safer from the lustful Hokage in his office; there were other people around. If Sasuke came here then he would have no restraints. That had Kakashi more worried than he cared to admit.
"Sakura," he called as he made both of them a coffee.
"Yeah?"
"What time do you finish tonight?"
"Err, I'm not entirely sure. Probably the evening."
"I was thinking of making tamagoyaki tonight and thought you might be hungry after work so..."
Sakura came into the kitchen and grabbed a coffee.
"Yes I can stay the night."
Kakashi blushed. Yes that had been what he wanted but he felt embarrassed and weak that it was so obvious.
"Thank you, Sakura."
She smiled at him. "It's no problem. We should look out for each other after... after everything that has happened. But Kakashi, eventually you should come to the hospital and see someone about your sleep." Kakashi noticed she evaded using the word nightmares, not wanting to sound condescending. "We could get you some tablets to help you sleep if you like. And it would be good for you to talk to someone, a doctor who doesn't know you-"
"No thank you. I know your trying to help but..."
"OK. Don't worry. But if you change your mind let me know."
Kakashi just nodded. At least she didn't know the other reason he wanted her there.
"Right Sensei, I have to get going." She pulled him into a hug. He tried not wince at the slight pain. He still ached all over from the battering Sasuke gave him. But he hugged Sakura back all the same. He couldn't but wish that if one of his students had to take an interest in him sexually, it had been Sakura. Or even Naruto. Being with a student was wrong but at least the other two were sane. Kind of.
Sasuke was shouting at Karin as he arrived. Day two at his 'work' and it was already off to a bad start. As Kakashi sauntered in, deep down scared shitless of the Uchiha but trying to look confident and aloof at least, he saw Sasuke thrust some papers into her hands. She soon ran out the room. Kakashi stood in the middle of the room with arms folded. If Sakura hadn't been with him that morning he didn't know if he would have been able to rise from his bed.
Kakashi felt hate curdle within him as he looked at his Hokage. Sasuke watched him hungrily. He could see some of bruises on his face that were creeping above the mask and the boy smirked with some satisfaction. He particularly liked the idea of his old sensei squirming around making pathetic excuses for them.
"Believe me, I'd love to stay and play with you but I have something to do right now. Be a good boy and stay."
He walked past Kakashi, smirking in the knowledge that the one who used to give him orders would now obey him. As Sasuke left the room he heard the bark of "Karin!"
Kakashi waited five minutes. He hated himself for being so damn afraid of someone younger and smaller than him. Though he had to admit at the rate Sasuke was growing in a few years he could be taller than Kakashi himself. He shuddered. The thought that Sasuke could grow even stronger than he was know was one he didn't want to comprehend.
Ten more minutes. Shame and irritation gradually built in him. Why the hell was he stood in the middle of Sasuke's office like some loyal fucking dog?
The minutes slipped by. Kakashi was sweating he was so nervous. Just as he thought 'fuck this' and moved towards the window he heard the creak of the floor boards in the room outside. It must be Karin. He froze on the windowsill for a moment. He knew Sasuke would likely retaliate when he returned to an empty office, but Kakashi had to stop acting like a frightened child and make a point. Sasuke couldn't treat him like a dog and tell him to 'stay' with no indication of when he would return. It was embarrassing that Kakashi was in this situation and he needed some dignity back.
Kakashi had had enough for one day and jumped outside to make his escape. That was when he felt a hand clasp his ankle and pull his back inside. Kakashi's stomach landed on the windowsill as he was dragged back in. He pissed off with himself for not sensing Sasuke's presence yet again.
"And just where do you think you're going?" The Hokage asked. "I thought I told you to stay?"
"Yeah. Sadly my schedule of sitting around and doing fuck all means I'm incredibly busy at the moment. You caught me at a bad time."
"Always so sarcastic," Sasuke purred as he pulled Kakashi into his arms. Kakashi shuddered. He just hoped Sasuke hadn't noticed somehow. "I suppose it's easier to fall back on than your fear."
Kakashi went for deadly serious now. "I am not afraid of you." He hoped the lie had fooled Sasuke at any rate: there was no fooling himself.
Sasuke laughed. "Well, you should be."
He nuzzled into the copy ninja. Kakashi jumped up out of his arms, almost tripping in the process, as Sasuke laughed again. The Hokage took his seat in front of the desk and put his feet up and watched the copy nin. Kakashi willed himself not to back away from the stare.
"I'm thirsty."
Kakashi raised one eyebrow at him, as if to say 'so'?
"Get me some tea."
"Can't Karin do that?"
"I want you to do it."
Kakashi said and resigned himself to playing maid; he knew it was all for the benefit of Sasuke's ego. Kakashi get Karin to tell him where the kitchen was. She led him there, shooting suspicious glares at him now and again.
They walked into a room with a few sofas, a coffee table and a dining table and chairs. One of corner of the room served as the kitchen, complete with counters, and oven and fridge. There was even a kettle and microwave. Had Tsunade been a tea drinker, rather than sake, Kakashi would have seen this area before now. It was evidently some sort of staff room where the Hokage and those who worked for them could take their meals during the working day. During times of crisis he knew Shizune and Tsunade had basically camped out in the Hokage offices so they must have stayed on these sofas. The thought tightened Kakashi's chest. Seeing Sasuke's henchman making themselves at home brought the low bubbling of anger.
The one called Jugo sat eating noodles at the dining table. He glanced at Kakashi as the man entered and nodded to Karin, but other than that, went back to his food and paid them no mind. Suigetsu on the other hand, lounging lazily across the sofa, smiled gleefully at their entrance. Karin greeted Jugo back, but pointedly ignored Suigetsu.
"What you got there, Karin? Is that Sasuke's new pet?" Kakashi stopped following Karin to glare at the boy. His purple eyes were gleaming with malice, whereas before they had seemed bored. Jugo watched the situation carefully, ready to step in to stop any potential trouble. He had hoped to eat his food in peace.
Kakashi was saved answering himself, probably with something rude and bitingly sarcastic, by Karin.
"Of course not, IDIOT!" She moved to hit her colleague, but he turned to water before their eyes. He turned solid again, unharmed. "He is Sasuke's servant, that's all."
Kakashi looked at her almost sympathetically. Almost. The girl was clearly obsessed with her master. It was quite pathetic really. Just like Sakura, Kakashi knew Sasuke would never show any real interest in her. Luckily Sakura had gotten over her love for the sullen Uchiha. Though he had wished it hadn't taken the death of their team mate to make her realise she could do better.
Suigetsu laughed. "Whatever you say."
Karin rounded on Kakashi. "Well? Go get his tea then!"
Kakashi drew himself up to his full height and crossed his arms. He may have to obey Sasuke, but he wouldn't take her shit.
"Excuse me?"
She blustered, shocked at his defiance. Her eyes flicked to a clock; they had already taken longer than they should and she feared Sasuke's displeasure.
"Bu- but Sasuke told you to."
"Exactly. Sasuke told me to. Not you. And I will do it at my own pace."
Jugo watched Kakashi with a sort of admiration. Suigetsu laughed and called, "Oooh Karin, he sure told you." She turned her attention back to him, trying to land a punch as Kakashi made the tea.
As he waited for the water to boil, Jugo came up to him. The other two were still fighting.
"You know," Jugo said thoughtfully. "Sasuke's not that bad. If you don't oppose him he is a good master."
Kakashi watched him sceptically. "So good he allowed his own team mate to die so he could get to Danzo."
"Yet Karin, Suigetsu and I all still remain loyal to him."
Kakashi snorted. "I'm sure you have your reasons- hers are all too clear- but I can think for myself, thanks."
"Fighting him will only make him worse."
Karin had finally given up now but was still throwing insults and threats to her team mate. The kettle boiled and Kakashi made the tea. He didn't know what was worse; Sasuke's company or his team mate's. Although at least they weren't physically a threat even if they were annoying. He wondered how the stoic and quick to anger Uchiha had put up with those two. Though maybe he had practice from his younger days with Sakura and Naruto.
Kakashi started making his exit from the room without waiting for Karin. When Suigetsu cleared his throat and pointed at the exiting Kakashi, she comically jumped to attention and ran ahead of him to lead the way back.
Suigetsu was smirking at him as he left. It was knowing and full of mirth. Kakashi didn't like it one bit. However Karin was deluding herself, Sasuke's other team members knew exactly what Sasuke's interest in him was.
