Behind the Porcelain Mask

by LolaLot

One more time, she has to hold herself together while she saves his life. Why did he do this? Did he not see that losing him would break her? After going through a war, losing so many loved ones and feeling Kakashi's life slip through her fingers, Sakura refuses to let it go. She would keep trying, until her last breath.

10. Chapter 10: Strike Me Down

xxx

Kakashi knew that today would forever be burned in his mind. The blood on his hands he could wash, but not the violence. Anger, rage and cruelty were no strangers to Kakashi. He'd known war, twice. Only, today, he had been blinded by them.

"Kakashi-senpai?"

Kakashi turned to look at Sakura, the fire he sat by casting shadows on her face from where she laid in his sleeping bag.

"Are you okay?"

Today, he'd killed. He'd killed many times, before. "Yes."

Sakura's gaze remained on him and he knew she saw through his lie. Today, he hadn't simply killed. He had killed for pleasure. For her. The amount of blood he had spilled had been more than unnecessary. The pain he had inflicted more than needed to kill.

"Okay."

Sakura crawled out of her bedding to sit by him, just barely pressing her shoulder to his. He could see in her stiff movements that she was still in pain, even if she had tended her wounds.

He'd killed because it was unbearable to see her in pain, to see the way they had looked at her like prey to be devoured. He'd killed because he wanted to, like an animal.

xxx

Chapter: Strike me Down

…

"Sakura."

They were barely out the building before Kunan pulled Sakura apart, trapping her against a wall, his hands on each sides of her head. First, he removed his mask, then hers. Sakura only stared up at him, her palms flat on the concrete behind her. He leaned closer, until their lips met and he pressed his body against hers.

"The next time we kiss," Kunan breathed out against her lips, "is going to be right here."

Sakura nodded. "Right here."

She was terrified. He was, too.

"Sakura, Kunan," Kakashi called, impatient. "We've got no time to lose."

Kunan didn't budge, staring straight into her eyes with the intensity she'd learned to love. When Kakashi called them again, he pulled away and they were on their way, jumping on the rooftops.

"This squad is bullshit," Shokubai spat. "You realize this?"

"Deal with it," Kakashi said, ominously calm.

"Deal with it?" Shokubai repeated, scoffing. "Let me remind you I almost got killed because you were too lovestruck to think straight. Now it's him, too? We're all going to die before we even make it close to the Kazekage."

Behind him, Sakura bit her lip.

"Do you plan to disobey orders, then?" Kakashi said. "Leave, now, if you're so scared."

"I'm no coward - "

"Then shut up." Kakashi sped up. "Sakura."

"Yes, captain?" Sakura said quickly, rigid. It would be easier this way.

"Whether or not we complete the objective." Kakashi paused, then turned to face her, his dog mask hiding his real face. "You make it home. With or without us."

"Kakashi - "

"Are you kidding me?" Shokubai shouted. "You're protecting her, even now?"

"I'm not," Kakashi barked. "Do I need to remind you the extent of Sakura's healing powers?"

"What does that matters if we're all dead?"

"It matters because I'll be a massive asset," Sakura said, fighting to keep her voice from wavering, "If we fail, and…"

Between her and Tsunade, it would be hard to make a dent in Konoha's army.

Shokubai huffed, but he had no more arguments.

...xxx...xxx...xxx…

Sakura scratched at the wall. Being buried under six feet of Suna's sands was not how she liked sleep. Still, there was no other choice. They were harder to detect if they moved during the night and rested during the day. Kakashi's earth jutsu did a fine job at providing an underground shelter that wouldn't be so easily found.

"What's the plan?" Kunan asked, swallowing the last of his meal.

They would be in Suna the following night. It was beyond time to discuss the details.

"We have a friend on the inside," Kakashi started. "He'll get us in."

"Shikamaru?" Sakura gasped. "How do you think he'll - "

"Don't underestimate him, Sakura," Kakashi ran a hand through his hair, agitated as they all were. "I'll send one of my dogs, he'll recognize it."

"And then?" Shokubai asked. "What do we do when we're inside? Barge in through the front door?"

"Actually, yes," Kakashi said, nodding towards Sakura. "That's exactly what she'll do."

"Are you mad?" Kunan shot, frowning. "How do you expect that to work?"

Sakura stared at Kakashi, biting her lip to keep from speaking up. Kakashi was never a frontal assault man. He would always bide his time. He was certain they would fail - or succeed and die. They were the most likely outcomes, no matter how Sakura tried to view it.

"Element of surprise," Kakashi answered. "And speed. We'll strike in the middle of the night and hope to be out before we're found."

"That would be a fucking miracle," Kunan huffed, but he didn't fight.

They fell silent, then. Watching three men who expected death - if the enemy was merciful - only made the racing of Sakura's heart harder to calm. Only she stood a true chance at survival, only because of the seal on her forehead.

"Sakura," Kakashi called when Shokubai and Kunan were sound asleep. He knew she couldn't sleep.

Sakura rolled on her back to look at him, unable to muster the courage to talk.

"Promise me you won't look back," Kakashi whispered, barely loud enough for her to hear. "Promise me you'll go back home."

"I promise," Sakura said, turning away from him.

...xxx...xxx...xxx…

When Pakkun came back, they were all on their toes. They were only a mile from Suna. Enemy encounter was highly likely. Pakkun was alone, though, stripped of his usual ninja garb in order to look like a common dog.

"Here, boss," Pakkun said as he lifted his snout.

Kakashi reached under his neck, retrieving a piece of paper from Pakkun collar. Kakashi read it and nodded. "Good. Good job."

"Boss," Pakkun called before Kakashi could stand up. "I know I shouldn't ask, but…"

"Don't ask then," Kakashi said. "Go home. I'll see you later."

Pakkun hesitated, but obeyed regardless, disappearing in a puff of smoke.

"What did Shikamaru say?" Sakura asked, frowning. "Can he help us?"

Kakashi nodded. "He'll be waiting for us on the southern end."

"The guards will be fine with him letting us through?" Kunan frowned. "I don't think so."

"Shikamaru's a bright boy," Kakashi said. "He knows they've been tailing him for a while already. He'll lead them away for us."

They didn't say anything else. It was up to Kakashi.

"Let's move," Kakashi ordered. "Follow my lead."

They did. Kakashi ran towards Suna and they followed in his footsteps. It was only a few minutes before they'd jumped the cliff. In mid-air, Sakura looked down under them, watching the buildings grow bigger as they fell closer.

...xxx...xxx...xxx…

Sakura groaned. Her head was killing her.

"She's awake."

"Sedate her again."

"Again? You said you wanted her alive - "

"Just do it."

Sakura opened her eyes to see who was talking, only to see everything spinning out of place. It was nauseating - it all moved so fast. Against her best efforts, Sakura vomited, unable to even roll onto her stomach. She coughed, desperately trying to clear her throat. It burned.

"She's choking." Sakura recognized Kakashi's voice. "You're not going to have much leverage if she's dead. The dose was excessive to start with."

Sakura was rolled onto her stomach, finally allowed her to cough up the rest of her vomit and gasp for air.

"Should I really sedate her - "

"No."

"I knew you were a reasonable man," Kakashi said.

Kakashi grunted in pain. Sakura tried to call his name, though it only came out as a weak moan. Her body was too heavy to even speak.

"Let me talk to her - "

Kakashi was hit again, Sakura guessed.

"Are you awake?"

Sakura said nothing. Her eyelid was pulled open, the light burning her eye.

"Don't do anything rash now," one voice said. Someone pulled her into a sitting position and Sakura felt her head loll back, but someone held it. "Listen to me."

"Sakura," Kakashi called. "The plan's changed. Wait - "

Sakura didn't know what he was talking about, but the order came through to her all the same. Wait for my next orders. Okay, she would wait. No rash decisions.

"She's out again."

...xxx...xxx...xxx…

Sakura woke to the wonderful feeling of emptying her stomach again. At least, this time, she was on her side. She tried to open her eyes again, relieved to find that, while everything still spun, it was more manageable. Kakashi was kneeling across from her, blood smeared across his face. Sakura tried to move towards him, but found her limbs were still refusing to obey. They'd talked about sedatives. She was sedated.

Instinctively, Sakura pressed her thighs together. It was still there. They hadn't found that capsule, at the very least.

Wait for my orders.

Kakashi wanted her to wait. He knew they hadn't found all her hidden drugs. He would tell her when to use it.

"Kakashi..." Sakura croaked, pretty certain it had come out as a completely different set of syllables.

Whatever they'd given her, it had been fit to kill a fucking horse.

"Don't speak," Kakashi whispered. "Don't let them know you're awake."

Sakura hummed. She couldn't move, anyway. The door opened and somebody walked in.

"Back for another visit already?" Kakashi asked, his cheerful persona in place. "I hadn't realized you were so considerate."

"Always so jovial." In its still fuzzy state, Sakura's mind couldn't quite place the voice, but she was certain she knew its owner. "As I'd heard, even in dire situations."

"Everyone finds their way to get by," Kakashi said. "Don't they?"

Sakura put the pieces together, at last. The mission. They were there to assassinate the Kazekage - that was who was talking to Kakashi just now. How they had ended up here - wherever here was - was still a mystery to her, though. From the lack of wounds on her body, Sakura could only guess they'd been sedated before they even set foot in the village.

"Ah, yes, indeed," Jishin said. "I hope you bear no grudges."

From the sound of it, Jishin was facing away from her, between her and Kakashi. Sakura chanced a quick glance at the view, glad to find few people in it. At the sight of the metal contraption around Kakashi's head, Sakura swallowed. It was only natural that they would restrict his usage of the sharingan, but it wasn't a pretty sight no less. They'd gone all out on the tying up too - his hands were stuck being his head, locked in another metal contraption Sakura forgot the name of, and his feet tied to shackles against the wall.

Sakura tried to move her fingers, finding she could only get a weak twitch out of them still. The same results came from her toes. Testing her range of movement any further would be too dangerous just yet.

Kakashi's head turned towards the door and Sakura tried to follow where he was trying to look. Sakura's stomach clenched as she recognized Shikamaru. Blurry as her sight still was, there was no doubt it was him.

"You're sharp," Jishin chuckled. "You know he's there, don't you?"

This time, Kakashi had no cheerful line to spew.

"I would have killed you all," Jishin added. "If it wasn't for him. You should be thankful."

Kakashi still didn't speak. Gradually, the swimming of Sakura's head lessened. The sedative wouldn't keep her helpless too long anymore, even if it would still take hours before she regained full use of her body. The syringe tied to her thigh would solve that little problem, though.

"Maybe you should talk to your friend," Jishin said, turning to Shikamaru. "I'll give you a moment to reason with him."

Sakura closed her eyes as Jishin turned and headed for the door. Although Sakura was glad that Shikamaru stayed, she couldn't say as much for the guards that remained. She'd counted two on Kakashi's side and could only guess there were as many on hers.

"Kakashi," Shikamaru called, stern. "You left me no choice."

"So you betray Konoha." Kakashi's voice was even, but a deep and slow tone that had always made Sakura's blood run cold. He only spoke in such a way to lowest of the low. "That's noble of you."

"Assassinating the Kazekage is noble, in your eyes?" Shikamaru countered, his voice raising just a hint. "You know what this means. You all do. I acted in Konoha's best interest."

"Don't pretend you did," Kakashi said. "You disobeyed your Hokage."

"You and I are no fools," Shikamaru sighed. Sakura cracked open one eye again. Shikamaru had her back to her, arms crossed. "This means war. Even now it does. Tsunade has a chance to end this now, and she should."

Shikamaru had alerted the Kazekage, Sakura realized. He'd led them into a trap.

"Are you so willing to throw yourself in a third war? Is that how far gone you are?" Shikamaru continued, kneeling to be on the same level as Kakashi. "You know war better than all of us here. You know what the outcomes are."

Kakashi's arms flexed, testing his restraints.

"Konoha has all the advantages," Shikamaru continued. "Ame, money, land, resources. You and Sakura. Suna has nothing. War might cripple Konoha for a while, but for Suna, a defeat means their downfall. They will risk this because they've been left with nothing to survive on."

"I obey my orders," Kakashi said. "As shinobi, it's not our place to decide."

"How asinine, to hear this from Hatake Kakashi himself." This time, Shikamaru was truly angry. Sakura, too, frowned. They had all obeyed orders, in the end, because it was what they did. "I once looked up to you. Now, you hang to this title, because it's all Hatake Kakashi has ever been. A ninja. You don't know how to be anything else. You risk war for this."

Sakura's heart hammered in her chest. Shikamaru had never been one to avoid the truth, but he preferred to sidestep confrontation. Their situation was beyond desperate, yet Shikamaru was doing his best to help them regardless. They had put themselves in this mess. Across from her, Kakashi remained silent.

"Stand down, Kakashi," Shikamaru demanded more than he suggested. "Convince Tsunade to accept the proposal. Ame is superfluous to Konoha."

Shikamaru was right. Sakura had blindly obeyed orders because they were Tsunade's and Kakashi's. It had been foolish, a repeat of past mistakes that none of them should have been desensitised to. This wasn't why they'd all fought in the last war. It wasn't why they had fought.

Kakashi hung his head. "I'll try."

"Good. I'll tell them to bring Ino so you can communicate," Shikamaru said as he stood up.

Sakura cursed inwardly. The muscles in Sakura's thighs responded sporadically when Sakura tried to squeeze them together. Injecting herself without the use of her hands was hard enough already without needing another obstacle. When she felt the cap fall down her pants, Sakura lost no time in pressing the needle into her thigh. The liquid emptied by itself, thankfully needing no more manipulation. Already, the door was opening. Sakura bit her tongue, drawing blood, when the stimulant kicked in, to prevent herself from gasping. Her heart felt like it might explode.

There was no time to be wasted, though. Kakashi had broken the iron binding his wrists and was pushing to his feet. Tying Kakashi in iron would have been more than sufficient once upon a time; a time when he hadn't learned from Sakura how to use chakra enhanced strength. It was another of their dirty little secrets and he was rather dreadful at it, but he still managed it. The contraption around his head next came next, the sound of its material being crushed finally alerting the guards.

They'd felt so safe they hadn't even been looking his way, instead watching the Kazekage as he stepped into the room.

Finally regaining enough control of her body, Sakura hauled her body up and hurried to activate the seal on her forehead. The additional flow of chakra throughout her body eased the distress of her body, allowing her to be clear-headed at last. Kakashi formed chidori in his hand, its light nearly blinding everyone in the small confines of their enclosed space. Sakura paid it no mind; Kakashi's target was clear in her mind and she ran for it.

Sakura gasped when Kakashi's hand pierced through her collarbone. Tsunade's jutsu healed her body rapidly - it did not prevent pain. Instinctively, she grasped at his arm as she spat blood on his sleeve. Inside her wound, the still-activated chidori burnt her flesh and sent shocks all through her - a sensation that left her wanting to scream and hurl. On the skin of her back, Sakura could feel Kakashi's fingers twitching. Good, her chakra shield had prevented him from going right through her and reaching the Kazekage.

Kakashi was looking into her eyes, his own wide and terrified. It was cruel, to do this to him, she knew. But Kakashi had been cruel, too.

Before he could speak, Sakura wrapped her arms around his shoulders and pulled him against her as she twisted them around. The guard's kunai slashed at her shoulders, missing any vital points. Kakashi removed his arm from her torso, the sound sickening to her own ears. Sakura refused to let him move away, though, fearing even in his state of shock he'd still attempt to complete their objective.

"Sakura!" Kunan shouted, the metal of his restraints clinking together.

The guards were rooted to the spot, seemingly almost as shocked as Kakashi.

Sakura gathered chakra around her fist, the sheer amount making it visible. "Stay back!" Sakura shouted. "I'll take all of us down if I have to."

As the guards looked to their Kazekage for instructions, Sakura dragged herself and Kakashi away from them, closer to Kunan and Shokubai. Until now, she hadn't had a chance to even see them, but she was relieved to find them here with them now. Their restraints broke like twigs between her fingers.

Jishin raised his arm, signaling for his guards to step back.

Sakura swallowed, her heart hammering in her ears as she placed her hands over Kakashi's shoulders, ready to transfer her chakra to him if they attacked. In such a small space, Sakura's strength was more of a risk than an advantage.

The Kazekage hesitated. He recognized their stance, Sakura guessed. The squad they'd allowed to flee had certainly reported this part of their strategy.

"Explain yourself," Jishin said, surprisingly calm for someone who'd escaped death by a hair's breath.

Shikamaru was standing on the other side of the room, as surprised as all of them. Though he was clearly prepared to act, he made no move to defend either side.

Sakura spat - or more precisely, practically vomited - blood and Kakashi twisted his neck to look back at her, trembling under hands. Chidori had gone right through a part of her lung and made it difficult to talk for the moment, though the gaping hole in her torso was closing rather fast.

"Shikamaru was right," Sakura wheezed. Kakashi's chidori was a devastating attack, even when accounting for her self-healing powers. "I can't complete the mission."

Kunan was at her side, ready to defend her, as the plan had been. Shokubai took the other side, though he looked far more distraught.

Jishin only looked straight in her eyes for a long moment. Every hair on Sakura's body stood on end, waiting for the slightest dangerous signal. She didn't want to fight here. Suna had suffered enough already in the past decade. Wrecking it further would hurt their village almost the same as war would. Jishin knew to what extent she could ravage it with a single punch.

"You saved my life, Haruno," Jishin finally said. "I thank you for that."

"Let us go, then," Sakura answered, her breath evening as her flesh meshed back together.

Jishin's eyes slid shut and he smiled, just one corner of his mouth lifting. "My great aunt was right about you. She said you would bring down a nation to protect those you loved."

Jishin motioned for his guards to leave, which they did with great reluctance.

"My village is worth more than your lives," he said. "I won't take this gamble. Follow me."

Jishin turned on his heels and walked back out the door. Sakura exhaled the breath she'd been holding, although only to choke out more blood. A glance down at her ANBU shirt had her grimacing; she'd done a number on it with all the blood and vomit. Kakashi tried to move forward, but Sakura only tightened her hold on his shoulders and shoved him behind her. They locked eyes for a moment, but Sakura relented when Kakashi presented no challenge.

Sakura led her squad outside, Kunan and Shokubai close on her heels, for safety measures. Sakura doubted there would be any use, but she didn't protest. Shikamaru followed them. He would come home with them. Suna would be unlikely to be a safe environment for him from now on.

"This way," Jishin said, resuming his walk.

They followed in silence. When they finally reached the outside, Sakura reached behind her to take Kakashi's hand. His fingers closed around her palm, squeezing it. Sakura squinted against the bright light of the sun, wishing it could have been the moon greeting them instead. Jishin guided them through the streets, ignoring the rows of bystanders that gathered on their sides.

"I take it you'll be fine on your own from here?" Jishin asked when they were finally outside the village, at the mercy of the sea of sand that surrounded Suna.

"Yes." Sakura nodded.

Jishin extended his hand to her, smirking. "It was an honor seeing the famous duo in action."

Sakura walked the few steps that separated her from Jishin and shook his hand. As shinobi, this was the one true bond that allied any ninja. The thrill of meeting an opponent against whom one had to give everything just for a chance at survival. The thrill of pushing themselves to the limit.

"You speak too soon," Sakura said, one hand on her hip. "You've seen nothing yet."

"Yes, yes, you are right," Jishin laughed. "I'm afraid we'll meet again, soon. I will see you then."

Soon, when our armies clash. The smirk was wiped from Sakura's face. "I'll do my best to convince Hokage-sama to rethink Konoha's position, Kazekage-sama."

"I trust you will." Jishin nodded, stepping back to return to the village. "Go home, now."

Sakura nodded and watched quietly as he jumped down the cliff, back into Suna, before she turned back towards her comrades. Wishing only for the comfort of her bed already, Sakura led the path back to Konoha.

"Sakura," Kunan called when they were a safe distance away. "Stop."

Feet slipping in the sand, Sakura slowed to a stop, cursing at the ground. Exhaustion was weighing down her limbs already, now that she'd deactivated her seal.

"You should rest," Kunan said, cupping her cheeks in his palms as he stared down at her. Sakura couldn't help but smile looking up at his black eyes. He was leaning in, just barely, as if to kiss her, but unwilling to take the plunge. "You're going to collapse."

Sakura did wish he would just press his lips to hers already from one long, hard kiss, but she couldn't blame him. She wouldn't put her lips anywhere near all that blood and vomit. "I'm okay. Let's go home."

They resumed their sprint. Sakura halted immediately, turning to see Kakashi had collapsed to his hands and knees behind them. Frowning, Sakura hurried to his side, dropping to her knees to help him up, only for him to shove her away and onto her hindside.

Sakura pushed herself back to her knees, fisting her hands in the sand. "Kakashi, what are you - "

"I could have killed you!" Kakashi barked, now facing her. With his face bare, his snarl was visible to all. "What possessed you - "

"Shut up!" Sakura shouted. Her fist connected with his jaw and he stumbled on his ass the same way she had. He got back to his knees and wiped at the corner of his mouth, glaring her down. "Glare at me all you want, I don't give a fuck!"

Kakashi lunged for her, pinning her down in the sand as he returned the favor. Sakura grunted when his fist collided with her cheekbone. From the corner of her eye, Sakura could see the concerned gazes of their comrades, but they didn't move an inch. They would fight it out, they knew.

"You're insane!" Kakashi grabbed her collar, lifting her back off the ground. "Why did you disobey me?!"

"I'm insane?" Sakura snarked back, wrestling Kakashi into switching positions. He grabbed her wrists when she reached for his shirt, barely managing to keep her hands away from him. "You're fucking senile!"

Kakashi kicked her off his legs, struggling to get back on his feet as they slid in the sand. Sakura failed all the same, settling for throwing sand in Kakashi's face. Kakashi lost no time to mimic her. They both spat, the sand in their mouth irritating their throats. Sakura forced one eye open, tearing up because of the grains still stuck in it. Kakashi was on his side, huffing and squinting as she was.

"Help me up," Sakura growled when Kakashi stood first, reaching for his hand.

Kakashi hauled her up without a word.

"Let's go home now," Sakura huffed, rubbing her eyes.

Everyone obeyed, silent and avoiding eye contact at all costs. Kakashi settled in his place as the lead and Sakura fell back into her usual position. At her side, she could feel Kunan watching her, though his gaze shifted to the back of Kakashi's head whenever she looked his way.

...xxx...xxx...xxx…

Before sunset, Kakashi signaled his squad to stop. They were long overdue for a short rest, at the very least. Sakura couldn't be more grateful for it. Although her wounds were fully healed - included the burns on her arms - she was exhausted and still in considerable pain.

"There's a stream nearby," Kunan offered, nodding towards the east. "You should go wash up and cool down."

Sakura nodded. They were back in Fire territory now. They knew these parts like the back of their hands. Shikamaru and Kakashi followed her when she walked away. Kunan began to as well, but Kakashi ordered him to stay back. Although it was unclear if it was an order or a threat, Kunan obeyed.

Sakura snatched the satchel from Shikamaru's hand when he handed it to her. "Don't think I'm not pissed at you too because I haven't yelled at you yet."

"I understand," Shikamaru said simply, shoving his hands in his pockets.

"Why would you just hand us to the enemy like that?" Sakura spat as she filled the satchel with water. "They could have executed us before you had a chance to convince them otherwise."

"The Kazekage is more reasonable than you make him out to be, Sakura," Shikamaru answered, rummaging through his jacket for a sanitizing tablet. "It was a safer bet than letting you sneak in and get caught before I could do anything. You tied my hands."

Sakura frowned, dropping the tablet in the water. She closed the lid and waited for it to take effect. "I'm sorry we put you in such a position, Shikamaru."

"The fault doesn't lie on you." Shikamaru sighed and wiped a palm down his weary face. "Tsunade's orders were foolish to begin with."

"Go back with the others," Kakashi interrupted from where he leaned against the thick trunk of a tree, arms crossed over his chest. "I need to talk to Sakura."

Shikamaru didn't protest. He walked away without a word. Sakura exhaled a long, exasperated breath and pulled her shirt over her head, discarding it to the side. Ignoring Kakashi, Sakura bent down and submerged her head in the water, scrubbing away at her mouth. Crusted blood and vomit wasn't so easy to wash off.

When she pulled her head out of the water, Kakashi was at her side, kneeling by her. He didn't leave her a chance to yell at him before he locked her in a tight embrace. Sakura sighed in his shirt, pressing her nose into his breast when his fingers tangled in her hair. He pulled away, only to lean down and kiss her.

"Kakashi - "

Kakashi only pressed his lips harder against hers, fingers digging into her scalp where they gripped her hair. Sakura fisted her hands in his shirt, brows knitting together in frustration, though she didn't try to move away.

"I thought I'd killed you, too," Kakashi breathed against her lips. "I thought I killed you."

"You won't kill me that easily," Sakura whispered, looking at up Kakashi through her wet lashes. Kakashi looked like he'd aged a decade since she'd last taken a glance at him. The bags under his eyes were bigger than she remembered them to be, and so were the wrinkles on his forehead and around his mouth. "You did get a good hit in, though."

The truth was, if she had miscalculated and he had pierced her heart instead, she might very well be dead.

The corner of Kakashi's mouth quirked into a small, nervous smile. He pressed her forehead to hers, sagging against her.

Sakura forced a smile. "I must taste terrible."

"You do," Kakashi chuckled, pressing another small kiss to her lips. "Vile."

"Then stop kissing me," Sakura chastised, pulling away from him. Kakashi only wrapped his arms around her again, trapping her against his chest. "You have terrible breath, too."

Sakura didn't move, and neither did Kakashi. They remained in each other's embrace for a while longer, until enough time ticked by that they thought the others would come looking for them. It was more than time they went back home already.

...xxx...xxx...xxx…