Authors Note: I'm back! Getting to the good stuff soooon! Sorry for the delay. Life, you know? Reviews Reviews Reviews! Please :D
"How can Kaka-sensei be late twice in one day," whined Naruto.
The three young ninja were waiting as patiently as possible at the gates of the village. Naruto's leg shook eagerly as the excitable young man's patience began to wear down. Hinata stood happily beside him, a soft smile on her lips, acting as if the wait didn't bother her at all. Sakura, however, stood next to the couple despondently, her confidence from earlier replaced with confusion, nervousness, and self-doubt. Her and Kakashi had clearly crossed a line, or blurred some boundaries that could never be unblurred. Even if nothing ever progressed between them she would never be able to see her former teacher with the same child-like reverence.
Sakura didn't know if she even wanted any of this. Her body ached for it, yes, but it was a stupid move. Never in her whole life had she ever done something as stupid. Her obsession with Sasuke had made more sense then this. Before, the thought of Kakashi rejecting her had made her heart break but the idea that Kakashi could actually want her, that he did want her, that he wanted to do all those deliciously, naughty things she had dreamt about to her, had her realizing what a bad idea it all really was. Not just bad - horrible. It was a horrible idea, she said resolutely in her head. Surely, Kakashi-sensei would have come to the same conclusion by now. There's no way she would ever .. fuck him. Just no way.
"Sakura-chan, why is your face so red?" Naruto asked, stepping closer.
"Eh?" Sakura turned to look at Naruto.
"Your face, ya know? It's as red as Hinata's used to get when I'd get too close," Naruto's eyes went wide. "EH! Sakura, who are you thinking-"
A swift fist to the top of the head and Naruto lay in a Naruto-sized crater in the ground. "Ow, Sakura-chan- what did I say?"
Hinata giggled as she bent down to help Naruto up. "Don't push it." Naruto just stared back at her in confusion.
"Sakura, what did I say about damaging team-mates on missions?"
"You're LATE!" yelled all three young ninja's simultaneously.
Kakashi's hand scratched the back of his head. "Well - you see -"
"Save it. Let's get going." Sakura said, heart hammering in her chest. She didn't think she could handle hearing his voice anymore. Even if it was just recounting another one of his lame excuses. Her mind finally settled on the number one reason why her and Kakashi could never, ever, be a thing. When their lives, and the lives of their teammates were in each-others hands they couldn't afford to be distracted. Her heart was hammering just from hearing him chastise her. There was nothing seductive about what he had said but she wanted him to do it again. She wanted him to pay attention to only her. She wanted him to teach her everything he knew, punish her when she didn't do it right, and praise her again, and again. Heat rose to her cheeks again and she knew she was done for.
The trip to their destination was uneventful. Kakashi, Sakura and Hinata travelled in relative silence while Naruto loudly barked about the need for an exciting mission before Kakashi told him to act like a ninja and be silent. Sakura was resolutely silent the entire trip, and Kakashi knew not to push her. He wasn't sure how things had progressed to this point, or why. Two days ago everything had been how it should be. His personal life was a mystery to most, and his relationships with his former students were platonic, at best.
His actions the past few days had been deplorable, as well. Had he really succumbed to the same level as Genma? Sure, he rarely turned down a night, afternoon, or quickie in the bathroom with a young Kunoichi but that was before they had become the same age as someone he had practically raised. Or.. watched grow up under someone else. Her eyes, and face.. had been so receptive earlier. The way she practically purred under his touch. He knew she was mostly inexperienced. Knew that he could would have the time of his life breaking her in. And that disgusted him.
He should just leave her alone. And by the way she was ignoring him it was obvious that she had come to a similar conclusion. A huge part of him was disappointed but that was quickly squashed by his rational, adult side. The side that saw her crying her eyes out over her teenage crush. The side that had helped her with her period problems when she was young. She really had been like a daughter to him.
But she's not your daughter.
He shook his head vigorously. Attempting to kill that thought before he could take hold again. Before it could encourage him to act on instinct rather than rational thought. Sakura deserved better than what he could give her. He would just break her.
Other guys would break her too.
His stomach churned uncomfortably. His eyes glanced toward the pink hair teammate to his right. Her brows were furrowed in concentration - hinting that she was deep in thought. They would be reaching the crossroads of their journey soon. Hinata and Naruto would need to get into their disguises and approach the Inn separately. Soon he and Sakura would be alone. They would need to have a discussion about the occurrences of the past few days. They would both need to step back, and try to reclaim the relationship they had before. He would apologize for treating her the way he had, for interrupting her and Genma, for not stopping this earlier, for not being the responsible man he should be. He knew better.
He raised a hand and motioned for the group to stop. Hinata and Naruto said their goodbyes and made their way to change and approach the Inn from a different direction. Kakashi and Sakura stood a part, hidden in the canopies of the large forest that surrounded them. The awkwardness was palpable but Kakashi couldn't tell if that was because Sakura was sexually awkward or didn't want to deal with the situation awkward. His eyes glanced her features. She was chewing on her bottom lip, and ringing her hands like how she used to before gearing up the nerve to talk to Sasuke. He hadn't seen her act that way around anyone in years.
"Sakura-"
"Sensei-"
They both stopped, and looked at the other. Waiting for the stronger of them to begin talking.
He didn't know how to do this. How to repair a relationship like this. He didn't have too many female friends. At least none that had expressed anysort of attraction to him. Besides Rin... and he had not handled that well.
Kakashi sighed and ruffled a hand through his hair. This was awkward. "Listen, about earlier..." he trailed off.
"It was stupid wasn't it?" Sakura said softly. "I don't know what we were thinking." Her eyes were staring resolutely at the ground.
"I know what I was thinking." Kakashi with a chuckle at the look of incredulity on Sakura's face. "Like it or not our relationship has changed, Sakura."
Sakura nodded. "But anything ... like that... would be... unwise," she struggled to find the words.
Kakashi wasn't sure how to reply. He agreed wholeheartedly. It was something they could never and should never do. But that didn't stop every fiber of his being from wanting to jump her right then and there. He just wanted to ensure that the air was cleared between them. That this wouldn't affect what their relationship had been before, at least not too much.
"Don't worry about it, Sakura," he said with his customary eye-crinkle, closing the distance in order to ruffle her hair as casually as possible. She glared up at him. "You saw some things, did some things, I did some things. We are both adults. Let's just put this behind us." He pulled his hand off of her hair. Her soft, strawberry smelling hair.
"I dunno, Sensei." Sakura said, a playful smile on her lips. Kakashi's one visible eyebrow raised curiously. His heart skipped a beat at the look of mischief on her face and he hoped his self control managed to fight off his libido. "Or should I say, Lady Hokage?"
"I don't know what you are talking about."
"I'm sure, Sensei." She punched him lightly on the arm.
Kakashi hung his head dejectedly. "You could at least stop calling me Sensei... it makes me feel so old," he whined.
Sakura giggled. The sound was music to his ears. The atmosphere between them no longer felt tense, but the dynamic of their relationship had definitely changed. Kakashi wasn't sure if this was a good or a bad thing. So long as he refrained from acting on his baser urges everything should be fine. Sakura was off limits for him. She was meant for someone else, no matter how much his libido wanted to tell him otherwise.
"So are we all good then?" he asked.
Sakura pretended to consider for a moment. "I suppose so. Just promise you'll treat me like an adult now, okay.. Kakashi?"
"I've always treated you like an adult." he stated simply.
Sakura scoffed at him. "You blatantly called me a child last night." She poked him hard in the chest. Kakashi absentmindedly rubbed the spot as he took a step back from her. She smelt way too good and looked way too cute when she was angry.
"That was to make sure that Genma didn't defile you!"
Sakura eyed him dangerously. "Let's get something clear, sene- Kakashi." He loved the way she said his name. "Maybe I wanted to be defiled, hn? Maybe that was my intention. Did you think of that? No. Of course not. And you didn't seem to mind when you were the one who might be doing the defiling, eh?"
Kakashi stared back at her, his mouth slightly agape. "Genma is different. He's... well... the things he does... you deserve something better than that. To be more than just a notch on someone's bedpost."
"Maybe he was going to be a notch on my bedpost! And how is he any different than you? Can you honestly tell me that woman you had in your room was anything other than a mindless fuck?"
"Uh, well, you see, Sakura..."
"No, I don't see. I am no different than that woman, Kakashi. Sometimes I need ... things. Like.. mind blowing orgasms. And if I want to search out Genma for it, it's none of your god-damned business. Okay?!"
She turned abruptly and began to walk towards their destination again. Kakashi smirked behind her as she walked. Eyes following the every movement of her ass before he settled on a way to relieve the tension. He knew their relationship was forever changed. Likely to stay in a flirty-adult stage so long as neither of them acted on any of their desires. It was dangerous for them yes, but it was better than the awkwardness that he had anticipated.
"So, what you're saying is you want the mind blowing orgasm I clearly gave that girl, ne?" he chuckled.
Sakura stopped in her tracks and looked back at him, mouth hanging open. "W-what?"
He lazily followed after her. "All you have to do is ask."
"Kakashi!"
He laughed, and couldn't help but notice the look of mirth in her eyes. Good, at least this isn't awkward. He was proud of her, he really was. She had grown up a lot without his help. She was likely more mature than he was now. This new dynamic to their relationship would be good for them, likely. So long as he kept it in his pants.
