Chapter 10

Hatake Kakashi once again was on his way back to Konoha after a successful mission when he was ambushed. He barely made it out alive. The silver ninja made it

to Konoha's general hospital and passed out on the steps outside.

Sakura sat alone at the emergency ward desk and wondered what all of her friends were doing at the ball. Were they talking about her, laughing at her? Did

anyone even notice she wasn't there? Just as Sakura was settling into a good funk, she was called into the E.R.

"Haruno san we have a patient. Your favorite one in fact." said the older nurse as she rushed by. "My favorite?" thought Sakura confused. She hurried to the E.R.

to see the only person she never wanted to see again.

Kakashi lay motionless on the gurney looking helpless. Sakura's heart nearly burst out of her chest when she saw him. "Come on Sakura I need some help!" called

the nurse trying to rip Kakashi's pants leg to reveal his wound. Ever professional, Sakura sucked up her pride and began to heal the man she felt slighted by.

Hours went by and Kakashi was still unconscious. His body had been healed completely, he was just sleeping off the sleep inducing pain medication that he was

given. Sakura was happy he was still asleep. The other nurse was on break and it would be Sakura who would have to take care of the sleeping man if he awoke.

Sakura dreaded every second of her shift. Kakashi could wake up at any minute, and she would have to attend to him.

"Mmmm" Sakura could hear her former teacher moving in the room across from her desk. She heard sheets rustling and then a huge thud. "Oh my gosh Kakashi

sensei!" screamed Sakura as she ran to his room. On the floor was the drowsy ninja looking pitiful. Sakura gently helped her former teacher to his feet and back

into his bed.

"Where am I?"asked the dazed man. "You're in the hospital." said Sakura reluctantly. Kakashi's eyes slowly opened to see the little pink haired nurse staring at him

with her huge emerald eyes. "Sakura?" "Yes sensei it's me." said the embarrassed woman. "Why aren't you at the ball?" asked the silver ninja. Sakura thought this

was an odd question from a man who just woke up in the hospital. "I didn't feel like going. I hate Valentine's Day." was her excuse. "Yeah I remember we talked

about that the other day…well night." "Yeah we did. I'm surprised you remember that night." said Sakura annoyed at his nonchalance about the subject. "Yeah I

remember that night. I noticed you've been avoiding me lately too." Sakura was completely put out by the last comment. "Well do you blame me? After the way

you treated me, you better be glad I didn't let you die tonight!" shouted the angry nurse. "Me? The way I treated you? What about the way you treated me

Sakura?" "What are you talking about Kakashi?" "You use my first name when you're upset with me I see, but you have no right to be upset. I do." "How can you

say that when you have your way with me then drop me off at my house like nothing ever happened." defended Sakura. "What are you talking about Sakura? I did

no such thing! We got drunk, went to my apartment, and yes I admit we did do some things that were out of character, but…" "Out of character? You mean the

whole stripping and having SEX thing?" "Shoosh! Calm down Sakura! You'll wake the dead." "Oh now you're all embarrassed of what happened?" said Sakura

fuming and pacing the room. "Sakura, nothing happened." "What?" asked the confused nurse "What do you mean nothing happened? We were practically naked in

your bed all night and you're telling me nothing happened." "That's exactly what I'm telling you Sakura. We did nothing." stated the sliver ninja plainly. "If we did

nothing, then why did you take me home before I woke up? You thought I wouldn't remember what happened or something?" "Sakura, we've been through this

before." "What? What are you talking about? We've never had this conversation before." "No we didn't have this conversation, but we have been through this

before. Don't you remember the first time something like this happened?" Sakura's face was blank. Kakashi sat up in his bed and sat looking astonished for a

moment. "You really don't remember do you?" The pink haired ninja shook her head no. "Well let me remind you. You came to my house about two weeks ago and

said you had to ask me a question. I let you into my house and…" the silver ninja paused thinking about his next words. He wasn't sure he wanted to remind

Sakura about their first odd meeting, but he felt he had to in order to repair their relationship.

"When I opened the door, I neglected to check my face. I wasn't wearing my mask Sakura." The pink ninja let out a great gasp. "Yeah. You caught me without my

mask, and you fainted. I took you inside and laid you on my couch. You woke up. By then I had my mask on. You didn't seem to remember what happened so I

invited you to stay for lunch so you could ask me what you came to ask and because I had food on the table and you were hungry. while you were eating you

noticed I wasn't. Then you said I couldn't because of my mask, and then you remembered you saw me without my mask. You got to leave because you said

something that you must not have meant to say. But before you left… I stopped you. I was intrigued." "You stopped me?" interrupted Sakura. "What did I say?" A

small smile crossed the ninja's mask as he said, "You said I was…hot." Sakura's face burned with humiliation. "I said what?" whispered the young nurse in disbelief.

"I was flattered and a good bit relieved by that statement. I was hoping you didn't pass out because you thought I was hideous or something." Sakura couldn't

help but looked surprised. "Did he really think I thought he was ugly?" she thought.

"I never thought you thought of me other than as a former sensei. When you said I was hot, that made me…I don't know how or if I want to say this but… I tried

to…kiss you." Sakura's eyes nearly fell out f her head. The hottest man in Konoha, the man she had had a crush on for four whole years tried to kiss her! "As I

leaned in you uh… you kinda passed out again."

Sakura could feel her legs going. She needed a place to sit down. The word humiliated was not strong enough for the way she felt at that moment. A sexy man

tried to kiss her and she had passed out. Kakashi continued his story. "I put you back on the couch and went to get a cold cloth to put on your head, but when I

came back, you were gone. I thought you were just embarrassed maybe and wanted to leave before I returned. I didn't take that to heart as much as I did this last

time. I mean I know we were drunk and all, but I was sober enough to realize what was going on. We were in bed. We were about to kiss, and then you fell asleep.

I was a bit… I'll admit it. I was hurt, but I chalked it up to the alcohol. But when I woke up you were gone. That was a deep cut Sakura. I can see it happening

once but twice."

Sakura couldn't help but the see the man in front of her in a different light. For the first time, Sakura could see Kakashi as a normal person. He had insecurities

and worries just like everyone else.

The young nurse sat on the cold hospital floor flabbergasted. First of all, she never thought Kakashi sensei could talk that much. Second, she was to blame for all

the drama. For the longest she thought Kakashi was the guilty party, but it was her. Sakura remembered being told after slumber parties that she spoke in her

sleep and walked in her sleep. She must have slipped out of Kakashi's apartment.

"I'm sorry Kakashi." started the little woman on the floor. "I completely thought you were trying to get rid of me this last time and I honestly forgot the first

incident until now. I'm sorry I hurt you." Sakura could feel the tears welling and she wanted to leave before the waterworks were visible. Just before she reached

the door, she felt a hand holding hers. She turned around to see the unstable ninja gazing down at her.

"You shouldn't be out of bed yet. You're still recovering." said Sakura trying to maintain some composure. Kakashi said nothing but softly wiped the tears from

Sakura's face. "Sakura misunderstandings happen. You don't have to leave every time something happens you don't understand." the silver ninja's calm words

coaxed Sakura back into the room. Kakashi closed the door and led the young nurse to the bed.

"Sit down." said the tall ninja. Sakura obeyed. "We need to discuss the nature of our relationship once-and-for-all." Sakura nodded in agreement. "I know it might

be strange moving from one type of relationship to another, but we are both adults here and…" Before he could finish, Sakura planted a huge kiss on her former

teacher's masked mouth. The silver ninja's visible eye widened in surprise. A moment of silence ensued. Sakura began to think that maybe she had done the

wrong thing, and that maybe it was too late to try for a romantic relationship and that she had caused some irreversible damage. Just as Sakura was thinking of

making a hasty retreat, Kakashi spoke, "Sakura, if you're going to do that you have to give me a chance to remove the barrier between us first."

Kakashi lifted Sakura hand and placed it on his mask. Her heart was racing. "Is Kakashi going to let me…de-mask him." thought the young nurse. The silver ninja

pulled his headband off and waited for the pink haired woman before him to do the rest. Bit by bit, Sakura started to pull down the mask. She wanted to savor

every second of this historic event. Slowly a nose, chiseled stubble covered jaws, soft lips and a strong chin revealed themselves. Sakura's mind was instantly

flooded with memories of the first time she saw the gorgeous man's face. All sorts of feelings swept over the young nurse. She had no intention of passing out this

time.

Kakashi couldn't help but smile seeing the reaction his face was having on the woman before him. Sakura quickly got up and locked the door. "Why did you lock

the door?" asked Kakashi half surprised half knowing fully what was about to happen. The silver ninja's grin began to grow the closer Sakura came to him. Before

he knew it, she had straddled him.

"Sakura. Wait Sakura. Be gentle. Remember I'm still recovering." laughed the happy ninja as Sakura covered his face with many kisses. She slowed down as she

neared his mouth. Kakashi watched the young woman's emerald eyes survey his lips. She bit her bottom lip in anticipation. Just before she plunged in, Kakashi

flipped her over on her back. Sakura couldn't hide her surprise. "I wanna be on top." was all the silver ninja said before he planted sensual kisses all over the

woman below him.

"This is so much better than a stupid party." thought Kakashi. "Best Valentine's Day EVER!" thought Sakura.

The End