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Chapter 10: Kakashi's realization

Kakashi couldn't believe what Sakura had just said. Kakashi knew he wanted Sakura in a sexual way but love, he wasn't really sure.

Love was the one thing he tried to stay away from it was a form of attachment something that could get in the way.

He cared about Sakura deeply as a comrade and a trusted friend.

Not as a lover. Even thought he did scold himself as this thought came across his mind considering the night before he was willing to get in her pants.

But not on a romantic level! He thought to himself.

Sakura was still waiting for Kakashi to say something to ease the silence that seemed to be eternal.

Sakura looked at Kakashi it seemed as thought she had told him a new Icha Icha series had come out while he was absent and she had the last copy available.

Kakashi felt a cold wind chilling his back and he found his means of escape.

Finally Kakashi broke the silence as he quickly spoke, "Do you think its cold in here? I think its cold in here. I think I'll go and shut the window, now."

Sakura knew exactly what he was doing he was trying to avoid her.

Sakura grabbed his arm as he was in half walk/run to get to the window.

"Kakashi," Sakura said in a soft voice as she looked down at the papers that were scattered on the floor of her office, "Won't you help me pick up the papers?"

Kakashi had to think of an excuse and quick, "I… um… need to um…"

Shit he couldn't think of anything. He sighed in resignation, "Yeah, sure."

Sakura gripped Kakashi's arm tighter. She wondered if he just said that so she would let go so he could vanish on her.

Sakura wasn't focused enough to control her anger she was still tired and hadn't had enough sleep the night before. She did have enough self control not to pull his arm out of his socket though.

"I don't get it Kakashi." Sakura practically hissed at him, "I don't get it at all." She was pretty sure there was going to be a good sized bruise of a handprint mark on Kakashi's arm if he ever got out of the building alive.

Kakashi felt Sakura practically trying to rip his arm out of joint as he asked her, "What don't you get Sakura?"

"You look at me with that look in your eye. Then you show me your face."

"What look in my eye?"

"Shut up! I'm talking now!" She bellowed at him.

Kakashi grimaced at the tone in her voice and the ringing in his ears.

"You kiss me then you want to… to… have sex with me." Sakura pulled even harder on Kakashi's arm hearing him ground out a 'Damn it' at the pain being administered.

"Then decide to show up here, trying to make amends. Then turn into a blubbering idiot when I tell you 'I love you'." She was even more upset after thinking about everything out in her mind, "I mean seriously Kakashi, what the hell!"

Kakashi sighed, "Sakura…"

Sakura knew she was walking further out into a dangerous zone as she spat out, "You coward."

Kakashi had been called many things through out his lifetime. He had been called lazy, bastard, worthless, and useless the list went on. All of them he let roll off his back. The one word he never put up with was 'Coward'.

Then again he could see her reasoning behind it. He was being a coward in her eyes. If he had been in her position he would probably think the same damn thing.

Kakashi sighed, "I'm sorry."

Sakura's grip loosened. She couldn't believe she was getting an apology from him. She was expecting him to whirl around on her and take her down a notch.

"What?" She asked in disbelief, she was positive she had heard him wrong.

"You're right." Kakashi said as he turned to face her.

Sakura didn't know what to say. She was just surprised that she was actually right in her assessment on the copy ninja.

"Sakura I…" Kakashi brushed his hand lightly over her hair and let his hand fall back to his side.

Sakura looked at him as he stood silently before her staring down at the ground.

Sakura spoke up as she gripped her hands together in fists as she said quietly, "I thought you felt the same."

Sakura felt like an idiot as she stood there. She could feel the tears forming in her eyes once more.

Sakura's voice trembled slightly as she said, "You should go."

Kakashi looked up from the floor.

Sakura felt the tears coming down her face. She lowered her head so he wouldn't see.

"Sakura you are very precious to me and I don't like seeing you cry." Kakashi put his hand on her cheek brushing the tears away with his thumb.

"Go to hell." She grumbled at him.

Kakashi pulled down his mask and pulled Sakura closer to him.

Kakashi kissed her and then rested his fore head against hers as he shut his eye, "I really care for you Sakura. Really I do."

Sakura's voice was soft but Kakashi could still hear the hurt in her voice, "But not enough to love me, right?"

"I didn't say that."

"Then how do you feel about me?"

"Sakura…"

Sakura pushed him back and stared into his face.

Kakashi opened his eye and looked at Sakura. He snorted a little bit trying to hide his laugh and smiled widely at her. He put his hand up to his mouth as he started to shake with laughter.

Sakura stomped her foot against the ground, "This is a serious question Kakashi!"

"I'm sorry. It's just that you have leaf symbol in-printed on your forehead."

"What?" Sakura reached up and could feel the indent on her forehead indicating that he was telling her the truth. Sakura tried as hard as she could to keep from smiling and laughing herself.

Sakura started to laugh along with Kakashi.

"I like being around Sakura." He thought to himself.

In fact he felt he could drop his guard around Sakura. She was a comfortable person to be around. She probably understood him better than anyone else.

It hit Kakashi like a load of bricks. He was in love with Sakura.

Kakashi put his hand on Sakura's cheek as she was laughing.

Sakura calmed down a bit only chuckling slightly as she looked at Kakashi.

"Yes."

Sakura was confused as she looked at him, "Yes, what?"

"I'm in love with you." Kakashi pulled her closer to him and kissed her.

Sakura narrowed her eyes at him when he pulled back, "You're not just saying that just so you can have sex? Are you?"

Kakashi sighed, "Do you think I'm that one dimensional, Sakura?"

Sakura raised an eyebrow at him, "Do you really want me to answer that?"

Kakashi chuckled lightly, "No, I guess not."

"Well?"

"Well, what?"

Sakura put her arms around Kakashi's neck, "Well, were both in love with one another. So, now what do we do?"

Kakashi was about to answer when a knock sounded on Sakura's door.

"Sakura is everything okay in there?" Shizune's voice was heard through the door.

"Yes just fine!" Sakura called back.

Shizune grabbed the door knob and tried to enter but something was blocking the door.

"Sakura it's just that the ceiling shook a few moments ago. Are you sure you're okay?"

"Damn it." Sakura cursed under her breath. She didn't mean to stomp that hard. Kakashi chuckled softly at Sakura's obvious frustration. "Shut up!" she grumbled at him.

"Sakura, why can't I open your door?"

Kakashi leaned down and whispered in Sakura's ear, "Want to make it interesting?"

Sakura glared back at him hearing the perverse sound in his voice as she whispered back in a way she was hoping was threatening, "No!"

Kakashi yelled out, "Shizune, Sakura's just giving me a physical exam."

Sakura growled at the copy ninja trying to keep her smile hidden, "You bastard!"

Shizune was surprised to hear Kakashi's voice through the door, "Kakashi, what are you doing here?"

"Getting physical."

"You mean a physical exam."

"Is that what they call it now?"

Sakura was trying hard not to laugh she knew Kakashi was speaking in sexual innuendos and Shizune wasn't getting it.

"Well then Sakura make sure it's a thorough report."

Sakura put a hand over Kakashi's mouth and bit down as hard as she could on her lip.

As soon as they heard Shizune leave they both broke out into uninhibited laughter.

When they finally calmed down from there laughing Sakura looked down at the floor and sighed heavily, "I have a lot of paper work to do."

Kakashi cupped her face in his hands and kissed her again.

Sakura felt the slide of Kakashi's mouth against hers. She ran a hand through his soft hair as she still had her arms around his neck.

Kakashi deepened the kiss by pressing his tongue to her lips which she parted willingly.

Kakashi moved his hands down her neck and she shivered slightly. He put his hands on her shoulders anchoring Sakura to the spot.

Sakura felt her whole body catching on fire.

Kakashi moved one his hands down and squeezed her breast causing Sakura to gasp and shudder at the new sensation wracking her body.

"Sakura!" shouted Shizune from outside the door.

Kakashi pulled back from Sakura and muttered a frustrated, "Damn it."

"What the hell is going on in there? What did Kakashi mean by that remark?"

It seemed Shizune finally caught on to Kakashi's meaning.

"I'll come by your apartment later then Sakura." Kakashi said as he performed a hand sign and vanished in a cloud of smoke.

Sakura opened the door for Shizune.

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