It had been a busy afternoon. It seemed that in Sakura's absence patients had really piled up. Sakura had always maintained a bit of modesty, but even she had to admit that a part of her was pleased that her skill and experience were so valued. No one could really blame her though. She had trained under the most skillfully trained medical shinobi of their time.

Tsunade was more of a mother to Sakura than her own. It didn't upset her in the slightest. She had never really been too close to her mother and her designation didn't exactly help. There was a stereotype against Omegas, pegging them as just Alpha obsessed and would do anything for a knot. Heat leave was especially sensitive to Betas; saying that it was just an excuse for Alphas and Omegas to fuck.

It was a complicated life, being an Omega.

But Tsunade acted as Sakura's surrogate mother, showing her what it really meant to be an Omega and more importantly, she was more than her designation. That last little piece of advice kept Sakura level whenever she would become overwhelmed by the constant whispers. Tsunade had been no stranger to them when she was Sakura's she, and now that the village's current Hokage was an Omega, it definitely caused a shift and earned the respect of many others. And now that Sakura was head nurse it only solidified the notion that 'we are more than our designations'.

Sakura sighed as she crossed the threshold into her office, rounding the corner of her desk and plopping herself down in her office chair. She leaned back, letting her head fall against the head rest to relax for a few minutes. She had managed to go through most of the day not thinking too hard about what had transpired in her absence, but now that she had a few quiet moments to herself she found the memories all coming back.

She groaned loudly, glancing over to the digital clock perched at the corner of her desk. It read 7:45, meaning she had 15 minutes until the end of her shift. She felt her heart start racing, knowing it meant that she was that much closer to seeing a certain Alpha again. She had hoped to maybe take a day to mull things over and think about how she felt about everything that had happened, but hearing how desperate he sounded to see her again made something in her completely surrender to him.

She couldn't love him. She just couldn't. Not after how he had treated her all those years, only to find that he had been harboring such heavy feelings for her.

It tore her apart… being outcast. She surrendered all her trust into Team 7 and for what? She put all of her love, devotion and hope into a family who never seemed to want her. She put her faith into a leader who all but shunned her. Tsunade was her only saving grace, having plucked her from the depression that she had fallen into at just the young age of 16 after her presentation. She gave her means. She gave her purpose.

So no, she shouldn't bring herself to love someone who failed to fulfill the only role expected of him, all because of her designation. Could she?

No…. she thought. She really couldn't… because no matter how hard she fought it, she was falling for him.

Hard.

Sakura brought a hand to her face, rubbing it tiredly and letting out an exasperated sigh. She gathered the documents and patient files off of her desk, piling them together and sitting up from her chair, deciding now as good a time as any to face the music that was her burgeoning feelings for Kakashi.

Sakura gasped as she felt Kakashi swipe his tongue against her gland, humming against her neck and keeping her pinned against his apartment door.

"Kami, I missed you so much…" he murmured, his breath sending shivers down her spine. He was scenting her, dropping to his knees and examining every inch of her. She could hear him murmuring "Oh, kamj," over and over into her skin, licking and marking her body with his scent. She moaned and let her head fall back as she allowed him to claim her, if only for a few moments. He brought his hands up her exposed legs, trailing up them until he reached the hem of her skirt. He swiftly pulled it down, guiding her feet out and doing the same with her panties.

Her breath stilled as he hitched a leg over his shoulder, his face level with her dripping heat. She could feel his staggering breath as he brought his mouth closer, kissing and licking the inside of her thighs until he reached his destination. He brought his gaze to her for a moment, giving her a wicked grin before delving into her heat, angling his head to fully submerge himself into her.

Sakura let out a low groan as she felt his tongue swipe up and down her folds slowly, savoring her taste and reveling in the wetness that was quickly building and practically drenching his face. She heard him growl at the sudden gush of wetness and felt her eyes roll to the back of her head at his eagerness to lap it up. She felt him make his way up to her clit and slowly wrap his mouth around the bud, creating a soft suction that made her body shudder and legs quiver. She brought a hand down to his head, steadying herself and grabbing a fistful of silver, anchoring herself and slowly grinding her hips in his face. He took the bait, grabbing her other leg and throwing it over his free shoulder and moving his hands to cup her ass aggressively.

Sakura yelped at the sudden change of position and felt her head swim at the mind numbing pleasure he was able to give her whilst holding her up at the same time. She practically cried as she felt him picking up his pace, sucking fervently and gripping her ass so hard she was sure to bruise. He growled against her as he left her clit, licking her folds and making his way down to her entrance, using his tongue to drag teasing circles around it.

"Kakashi, please… " she begged as she writhed above him, trying to get herself closer and coax him back to his pace, whining as she felt him smirk against her.

He circled his tongue around the entirety of her, stopping every so often to suck on her clit and revel at the shudder it would produce in her. He carefully pulled a hand away from one of her cheeks, bringing it down to her heat and teasing her folds. She bucked against his face in surprise and started panting, readying her body for the onslaught of pleasure that it was about to endure.

Kakashi kept his lips wrapped around her clit once again, sucking slowly and causing her to shake slightly. He brought a single finger to her entrance, slowly sinking it in until he couldn't fit anymore and proceeded to hook it, slowly fucking her with his finger as he kept his mouth over her clit.

She was a mess above him now, babbling incoherencies as her mind and body tried to process the insane amount of pleasure that it was receiving. She cried out as he inserted another finger, using both to hook into her and bring her even closer to the orgasm that was threatening to rip into her at any moment.

"Cum for me, Sakura," she heard from below and she could feel her undoing. Her body shook uncontrollably and he quickly retracted his fingers from her heat, suckling at her clit and holding her steady as she rocked through her orgasm, panting and gasping as she stared intensely at the ceiling.

She felt Kakashi slowly bring himself up to a stand after swallowing up the last waves of her orgasm, leaning back against the wall and allowing him to scoop her up and carry her sleepy form to his bedroom.

She smiled against his shoulder, feeling the familiar security and warmth run through her and calm her senses. She couldn't deny the feelings that she was too scared to admit anymore. She couldn't lie to herself.

She was falling for Kakashi.

Kakashi knew this day would come. When it would, he was never quite sure, but the randomness of being woken up at the crack of dawn by an incessant chirping out his window told him today was the day.

Today, Tsunade would ask him to be the 6th Hokage.

He couldn't say no, of course. He had no real reason to. It was an honor; a privilege. Something any devoted shinobi to Konoha would happily take the mantle of. In all honesty, he was highly honored. His love for his village was paramount, and he would not turn down a monuments opportunity such as this.

He found himself standing outside the very Hokage tower where he would be spending most of his days. It gave him a bit of relief, looking back on his very full life. He was nearly 40 and it was time for him to retire as a shinobi. Though he looked as if he could go for another decade or so, how he felt was an entirely different story. He was sure he could get his ass handed to him now, not that he wanted to test that theory, but he wasn't too proud to admit that.

Kakashi sighed as he stuffed his hands in his pockets, making his way through the double doors and helping himself to the top level where Tsunade would be waiting for him. He wasn't terribly anxious, but with such a change he couldn't stop his heart from beating just a tad faster than normal. All he could think in that moment to ease his budding nerves was Sakura.

He had felt terrible leaving her that morning. She looked so content curled into his arm and wasn't too shy to voice her objection to him leaving so early in the morning. His perfect little Omega whimpered beneath him, begging him to stay just awhile longer. He had to promise to be swift, his Omega demanding for him to return to her as quickly as possible.

He wanted nothing more.

He really couldn't believe how much had changed in the past week. It had started with a mundane physical that he didn't think would be at all eventful. Little did he know he was about to walk head into a situation he had been avoiding for a near decade. Being so close to Sakura and having no where to escape her scent caused him to go into a violent rut, and consequently triggered her heat. It really couldn't get much better than that. Knowing that he had been the one to trigger it filled the Alpha in him with immense pride and he couldn't say no when she was presented to him at his doorstep.

And the days that followed…

Kakashi thought he had been dreaming. He had all but accepted that him and Sakura would never be. But now… things were different. He could sense her hesitation but he could also sense her trust in him. It was enough to give him hope that she would be his mate, one day. He had never gave it any real thought, knowing his body would only ever want her. He didn't think it would be possible for him to mark an Omega who wasn't her.

But things had changed. It was possible now. He loved Sakura and in time, she would love him. Her soul was his. Her body was his she all but proclaimed to him. And it was enough to give him hope.

"Kakashi-sama," Tsunade said with a soft smile, picking herself up from her seat behind the large desk and rounded the corner, making her way over to him.

"Lady Hokage," he responded, bowing low and clearing his throat. She stopped in front of him, clasping her hands together and giving him an expectant look.

"I assume you already know why I've summoned you," she said and Kakashi nodded, crossing his arms in front of him.

"I have an inkling," he said and she nodded in approval, turning away from him and slowly walking over to the large windows that rounded the front of the large office. She set her gaze out to the village that she had spent so many years overseeing as their Hokage. She hitched her hip against the window pane, fixing her gaze outside.

"My time as Hokage is coming to a close. There are many candidates who would do a decent enough job but given your history and your allegiance to this village, I can't think of anyone I'd rather have as my successor," she said, turning towards Kakashi and giving him a coy smile, "but you already knew of this…" she continued, moving away from the window and making her way back to her desk, motioning for Kakashi to take a seat across from her. He sat himself down and she clasped her hands together, bringing them to her mouth and setting a serious gaze on Kakashi. It made him stir in his seat, suddenly becoming a tad uncomfortable.

"There's more, I'm sensing," he pressed and she nodded, not taking her gaze off of him.

"There is."

They sat in silence for few moments, just staring at each other. Kakashi made no move to press further, sensing she was preparing what she wanted to say. He couldn't imagine what had gotten her to a point where she was nearly speechless, unsure of what to say. She took a deep breath and he stiffened.

"There has been talk amongst the villages… they want more unification. It's peace time, and we need to show that our countries can be united," she began and he nodded, so far everything making sense.

"The Elders…. well they quite jumped at the idea of…" she stopped momentarily, looking towards Kakashi and pausing for a moment.

"They quite like the idea of arranging a marriage between you and another Kage," she said, bringing her gaze down momentarily as she could sense his gaze darkening. He could feel the blood in him boiling, the rage building, the happiness he had been feeling earlier ebbing away. His hands balled into fists as he tried to focus his breathing. He shook his head and laughed bitterly.

"No," he said, still shaking his head, "they don't have the authority to do that," he said and it was her turn to shake her head.

"Kalashi… they've already decided. It's out of your hands. If you are to represent this village then this is what needs to be done. There are perfectly suitable women Kages that would be happy to join you and show their support for a more unified state."

"I can't," he said, a finite tone in his voice as he looked at her in indignation. She furrowed her brow at him in confusion.

"I don't understand. I know it's not ideal and I didn't think you'd be completely on board at first but I know you and you would do anything for Konoha. What is holding you back? You're not married, you don't have a mate, you-" she paused abruptly, watching at how he flinched at the word mate.

"My God…" she said, bringing a hand to her mouth in disbelief, "have you mated with an Omega?" she asked and he slowly brought his gaze to her, a sadness in his eyes and he shook his head, casting his gaze downward to avoid her scrutiny.

"Well then I still don't understand."

"I just can't. I feel that I'm promised to someone else," he said lowly, refusing to look at her and she scoffed.

"It doesn't matter if you're promised. You're not mated, you haven't gotten an Omega pregnant and the powers to be have already elected you as the 6th Hokage," she said, rising from her chair and towering over him. She softened her gaze a bit upon his look of disbelief and she brought her hand out, offering it to him in a gesture of understanding. He hesitated but brought his hand out, allowing for her to grasp it.

"Kakashi… I entrust this to no one else but you. They… they've chosen Terumi Mei for you, the Mizu-"

"I know who she is," Kakashi said bitterly, slowly feeling his hand squeeze around Tsunade's. She took a shallow breath, taking her hand away and crossing her arms.

"The Mizukage is an Omega, Kakashi. It's almost perfect. The unification of an Alpha and Omega in marriage and as leaders… it can't get much better than that," she said, hope in her voice that he would see reason.

"Would I… would I have to mate with her?" he asked softly, heart pounding as he dreaded her answer. She sighed, looking away from him in thought.

"I think she would find it odd if you didn't, don't you think?" she asked and he snapped his head at her, slamming his hands down on the desk with an almighty bang and shooting himself up from his chair, sending it flying backward.

"No, it shouldn't be odd," he seethed, "this is an arranged marriage. We're not marrying for love. You're an Omega, Lady Tsunade. Why are you not mated yet?" he asked, indignation seeping through his voice.

"Because I haven't found the right-"

"Right, mate," he finished, straightening himself, "why should I be expected to mate with someone whom I don't know and know isn't the mate for me?" he practically yelled.

"Because you don't have a choice!" Tsunade yelled, slamming her fist into the desk in front of her, splitting in half. Kakashi glared at her, unflinching.

"You have been chosen to represent Konoha and you are willing to give that up for a mate you don't even know is out there yet?" she asked and Kakashi just looked away.

He couldn't believe what was happening. He thought he was meeting Tsunade to accept the mantle of Hokage. He did not expect an arranged marriage to be thrown into it. The sudden change of events and the range of emotions he was feeling was making him sick. Not a few moments earlier he had been presented with the very real possibility that he would claim Sakura as his. They would be mated for life, belonging only to one another. The thought of that, after having spent years denying it would every happen and to have that ripped from under you…

He felt his heart breaking by the second.

"I need to think about it," he heard himself saying and to his utter terror Tsunade shook her head.

"It is decided Kakashi. A month from today you will be the Rokudaime and Terumi Mei will be your wife," she said, sitting herself in her chair with a heavy sigh. He stared at her for a long while, words failing him and the gravity of the situation finally settling in. He straightened, nodding his head.

"Yes, Lady Hokage," he said, bowing and turning away, not leaving any time to linger. He just wanted to leave and get as far away as he could from everything and everyone. He didn't even want to see Sakura, the one person who he seemed to ever want to be around.

He exited the Hokage Tower and didn't look back, setting course for the one place he would go when he had no where else to turn to.

The memorial stood before him, black and etched with sharp edges just like his heart. He felt like he was in a nightmare, forced into something he had no control over. There was a part of him that felt like a child, and if he hadn't promised his heart to Sakura then he really wouldn't have an issue with this arrangement. He would even agree with it as being feasible.

"Obito…" he began, closing his eyes and clearing his mind, calling out to his friend in the hopes that someplace he could hear him. Kakashi was never the spiritual type, but speaking allowed always seemed to help him, whether his friends from the beyond were there or not.

"I don't even know where to start…" he said, a low chuckle making its way out of his mouth, "I'm to be the next Hokage, which is an immense honor, but…" he trailed off, bringing a hand to his mouth and rubbing it in thought.

"The neighboring countries find it prudent that we find ways to become more united; equal, I suppose. One of those ways is by marriage…" he said, a bitter taste settling into his mouth. He took a deep breath, looking up to the sky and feeling the light rain drops falling onto his face.

"I'm to marry the Mizukage in a month," he said, darkness settling into his eyes as the words left his mouth. They felt so foreign to him and all he could think about was Sakura. How he wished he could say it was her he'd be marrying. Her he'd be claiming.

And then it hit him.

You're not married. You're not mated to anyone.

The Hokage's words took over his mind as he immediately thought to Sakura. It was soon but he had her now. There was no question that she felt the same connection he had been feeling all those years for her. He was not lost on the times she would present her gland far too willingly for him just to lap and scent it innocently, as if she wanted nothing from it.

No.

The signs were there. He would go to Sakura. And he would ask her to be his, once and for all.