Author's Note: Alright, took me long enough and I've added stories and finished stories before I got around to finally putting up chapter 10 of this one. I am terribly sorry for it taking so long, but I was scared I would screw it up or something, I may still have. So, I'm hoping and keeping my fingers crossed that I haven't.

About this chapter in particular: We see, Choji, Shikamaru, Guy and Lee, etc. Also, you're probably all going to hate Hiro after this, I really want to you of course, so that she can end up with Kakashi, er sorta. This chapter is only the dance, the whole thing. Some surprises and such. I'm keeping this note rather short.

So hope you enjoy and that I haven't done anything wrong. Also thank you for all the feedback still! I really love it!

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or the characters. Don't own the title of the story. No money is ever made from this.

She's Leaving Home

Chapter 10

This was another one of those defining moments in life, the ones that can be viewed later as 'oh wow, you know that really predicted how things were going to swing.'

"Oh wow Sakura," Hiro breathed as he headed for me. His eyes were alight with a fire I had never seen before, though the lights from the dance may have had something to do with the harsh reflection on his glasses.

I merely stood there and smiled, like the obedient date and student I was supposed to be. He was wearing the pants after all. Hiro had dressed in a black tux with the ruffled white shirt and black silk bowtie. He was even rocking a cummerbund, black silk as well, with shiny leather shoes.

He had styled his wavy, brown locks somewhat, so that at least they didn't hang over his black-rimmed glasses so much. I hated to admit it, but he looked nice, very distinguished. He was holding something in his hands that kind of looked like a dove in the dark.

Hiro the magician. It took all my will power and a bit of biting my lip not to laugh at the mental image. As he got closer, I realized sadly that it was a corsage.

"Sakura, you look amazing!" he smiled widely as he took my hand, planting a gentle kiss on the lotion-covered and scented flesh. "Let me look at you." He spun me around slowly, little a little doll or a ballerina.

That was me, Sakura Haruno, the pretend girl. The girl who wanted to be a real woman, like a fucked up version of Pinocchio. The pretender. The first class liar.

Poor naive little Hiro couldn't distinguish my real smile from my fake, read my body language enough to see that he wasn't the right one. I was the princess who had the wrong prince for the ball.

"Thank you," I told him, but I didn't blush. He was blocking my view of Kakashi. I tried to look around him without seeming to be rude, just for a glimpse of the professor, but I couldn't see.

"Really, I just never expected you to come here looking like this, it's nice," Hiro gushed. I giggled. That was the only reaction I could come to and be nice. I mean, he had kind of insulted me with that sentence. "Shall we go in then?" he asked, offering his arm, finally.

"Yes, I nodded. I took hold, feeling more I was headed for my execution that I was just a simple dance. But it wasn't just a simple dance either. I should have figured out by now that nothing in life was simple at all.

Hiro's arm was warm as we approached the gym doors. This was really it. No fooling around this time.

The gym was rather dark, thumping music, and decorations; the whole nine yards.

There was a pulsing disco ball like structure from the center of the floor; I would guess where the huge center score board was. It almost seemed to have a life on its own. Couples were visible in flashes of white, blue, magenta, and yellow.

All the couples were dressed like we were, very formal in many shades of black, grey, pink, blue, etc. Many varieties of dancing were taking place, everything from vintage to modern, shoes clacking across the floor, girls dancing in panty hose.

It wasn't like going to the club at all.

I could see the refreshment table from where I was standing in the doorway with Hiro. He was chattering away but I was hardly listening. I was dying to know where Kakashi was. I wanted to see how he looked fully, as well as everyone else.

I couldn't miss Choji waving at me from beside the refreshments, Shikamaru looking disinterested in everything. I waved back gently.

"Friends of yours?" Hiro asked.

"Yeah, from high school," I said. Maybe later when I had pried Hiro off of me, I would go and speak to them. I had a feeling he would be very hard to get away from.

"Oh, that's nice," he smiled. It was beginning to irritate me, just a little anyway. We walked a little further in. I was hoping that Rock Lee wouldn't recognize me and want a dance. "Well, would you like to dance first or get some punch?"

"Well…" I could steal a conversation with Shikamaru and Choji before I would be forced out on the floor and he did ask me. "Punch first if you don't mind." Of course, why would I pick dancing first?

"That's fine." We headed around the varying floor, to avoid being trampled or pushed over. Hiro held onto me the whole time.

I couldn't help but notice that Hiro kept gazing across the floor at Professor Tsunade. She kept winking from where she was speaking with Jiraiya, or more like looking bored and slightly irritated with him.

I had to wonder if she set this whole thing up after speaking with Kakashi that one day in the conversation I had overheard. Was my own professor and advisor working against me?

Hiro grabbed two of the small plastic cups, you know the kind that look like glass but are even more fragile? I probably could have crushed it with my fist. I tried hard not to even crack it.

"Hey Sakura," Choji smiled as he moved around the table to come and see me. "You look great!"

"Thank you Choji, so do you," I smiled. Choji did look wonderful. He was wearing a red tux with the ruffled stark white top. He had the biggest smile on his face. Hiro wasn't saying anything but sipping on his punch. I hadn't even tried it yet. It was bright green.

"Who is this?" he nodded toward Hiro.

"I'm Hiro, her escort for the night." He was polite, but I watched a twitch at the corner of his mouth. That bothered me. Was he already jealous?

"Oh, I think I've seen you around before. Nice to meet you." Choji has the biggest heart and really deserves a girl that will love him. I wanted to set him up with someone sometime.

"You too," he nodded. Shikamaru was speaking with someone I didn't recognize.

"Would you mind if I danced with her?" Choji asked.

"Oh, that would be fine. Go right ahead," Hiro surrendered. It was the first dance of probably many that night.

Choji took my hand in his larger one, leading me away from Hiro and onto the crowded floor. He put an arm around my waist, trying to keep the other students from knocking me over.

Choji looked like he might have been mean, just based on his size, but he was the gentlest person I knew out of any of my friends probably. He kept me close and protected and I was away from Hiro.

A slow song had kicked up, one I didn't recognize, which would happen the entire night. He stopped in a less crowded part of the floor, turning and placing his other large hand on my waist. He was so much taller than me so I had to settle for resting my hands on his shoulders.

We began to sway gently, him being careful not to step on my feet as we slowly turned in a circle. Choji was very polite with his hands, keeping them only on my waist, and only to dance. "You look very nice tonight Sakura, I'm sure you're going to break a heart or two," he laughed eventually.

"Thanks Choji, I think you might as well."

"You kind of remind me of this butterfly I saw the other day. "

"Well I am honored," I laughed. The song was coming to a close.

"Come on, I better get you back to your escort," he smiled. "Though he seems like he might be a jerk, but I'm sorry for saying that."

"It's okay Choji, I know what you mean. I'm wondering the same thing." Maybe it was just that Hiro was nervous. I tried to brush off his strange behavior as Choji led me back.

"Did you have fun?" he asked nicely.

"Yes, of course," I answered equally as polite. I was just ready to be rid of him. He was rubbing me the wrong way and we had only been here probably less than twenty minutes.

"Hey," I heard Shikamaru say quietly. I turned enough to see that he was standing beside the table, looking terribly bored and maybe a little irritated as usual.

"Hey Shikamaru, I didn't realize you were going to be here tonight."

"Yeah, mom nagged me enough to go and then she nagged my dad enough to volunteer as a chaperone. What a drag." He leaned against the table with his hands in his pockets.

"Oh come on Shikamaru, you'll have fun. Maybe Temari will show up and you'll have to run for your life on the dance floor."

"Too late," he nodded briefly. I could see spiky blond hair coming towards us. His mother must have arranged that as well. I got the idea that Temari was a woman after her own heart. Poor Shikamaru would have two troublesome women in his life if he wasn't careful.

"Oh Sakura, I wondered if you were going to be here," she smiled politely. She was kind of the jealous type.

"I was just wondering that about you as well." We were all being rather fake weren't we? "Good to see you," I smiled. It was rather nice I guess. She had dressed in a silky black dress that opened in a V down to her cleavage, the straps tying behind her neck, leaving her whole back exposed.

"You too. Come on Shikamaru, let's go dance." She grabbed the rather unenthused boy, practically dragging him out to the floor, and leaving Choji to fend for himself. Shikamaru shot a rather sad glance to us as he disappeared through the people.

"Well, I would say that was our cue for at least one dance," Hiro smiled.

"Okay," I nodded, trying not to panic. I wasn't panicking because I was excited to be dancing with him; it was because I was scared I would never be able to get away. I should have just said 'no.' We set our drinks down.

He took my arm in his, just as we had walked into the dance, as he led me through the people once more. He wasn't careful to make sure that I didn't bump into people, his arm had trouble remaining on my waist, and we had to stay in one of the most crowded parts.

The tempo of the music had picked back up. I still didn't recognize it, but at that volume, I would have been surprised if it was music at all. The couples around us were dancing pretty much a step or grind as it was the middle of the gym and no one was going to wade through the bodies to stop them.

Hiro smiled down at me as he pulled me against him quickly. My heeled feet nearly slipped on the floor but his hands and arms wound around me, pulling me as close as possible, trying to meld our bodies together. I just didn't fit against him like I did Kakashi.

We began to sort of sway to the music, more like Hiro tried to sway and grind at the same time, but it wasn't working out. He just wasn't very good at it and top of that, his hands refused to keep themselves in decent and acceptable places.

I mean, I wasn't being hypocritical, but at a dance the sorts of things he was doing were unacceptable and he was just making me uncomfortable. He kept that stupid grin on his face the whole time as well.

Probably half way through the first dance I wiped the smile off my face. He was like a high school boy, bumbling and over sexual. Kakashi knew what he was doing and just where and when to do it.

We stayed out there for a few songs.

I was feeling worn out and was craving to be against Kakashi once again. I wanted someone who knew exactly what they were doing, unlike Hiro. No wonder I never dated guys my own age. They were quite pathetic in some areas of development.

"You know Sakura," he whispered, probably thinking he was being as sexy as Kakashi or fooled like Jiraiya, "I would like to take you right now on the floor." I had never expected that from Hiro, never in a million years.

So those were his intentions? Did he get them from Jiraiya or had he sadly come up with them on his own. I began to feel extremely claustrophobic. "I could in fact," he continued, moving a hand down to lightly cup my rear end. God I wanted to just sock him right there on the floor. No one was allowed to do that but Kakashi.

"Hiro, I need to go for just a little while alright?" I asked. I smiled politely, hoping it would fool him enough into thinking I was coming back. Yeah, I would come back when hell froze over.

God he was a pervert. He was worse than Jiraiya; at least the professor knew his boundaries with me. Hiro just couldn't take a hint. My body language had said from probably the first song that I didn't want to be out there with him, dancing like that.

"Oh, okay, sure." Much to my relief he let go and I couldn't wade through the people fast enough. I was hoping that he would find someone on the floor, anyone, and just leave me alone.

If I wasn't careful tonight, I might just get myself raped. Hiro kind of fit the profile, you know, as 'the last guy you would ever expect to do it' one?

I was bumped into and nearly knocked to the floor numerous times, but none of that mattered. I had to get away from that weirdo. I had watched enough mystery and cop shows to know that sometimes the nice guys were actually the worst ones.

How many times had I heard, "He was the nicest guy, I just couldn't believe that he raped and murdered that girl,"? My point exactly. If I was feeling uncomfortable, then I needed to leave, no matter what had happened before hand.

I ended up on the far part of the gym, trying to fix my clothing again. I could see Naruto and Hinata dancing not so far away from me, but I felt terribly alone.

I should have just come alone and met Kakashi. I was certain that he was upset with me.

I mean, he had told me about it first, so that I wouldn't bring another guy. But then Hiro had seemed like one type of person and really turned out to be another. Honestly, I just wanted to stand there and cry.

"Hey there," I heard behind me. It was the voice I most wanted to hear.

"Kakashi," I turned around. He was standing there with his hands in the pockets of his tuxedo not three feet behind me. I paused for a moment before I threw my arms around him. He was safety.

His silver-grey hair was uncombed as usual, him never finding the effort to tame it and that was fine with me, his eye patch was in place along with the mask, but his tux was pure black, pressed with a crisp plain shirt, complete with a tie and polished black shoes. I had never seen him look so scrumptious.

"Hm?" He didn't hug me back right away, well partly because I had pinned his arms down, but soon enough his arms were back around me, holding me close.

"Kakashi, I am so sorry I came with Hiro. He was a big mistake," I said, trying to honestly not sob.

"It's okay Sakura," he said gently, touching my head. No one was paying any attention to us. "What happened?" I merely shook my head that I didn't want to talk about and he didn't pry. It wasn't important.

Without speaking, he led me over to where there were a few chairs so that I could finally get off my feet. I loved my heels, but god they could kill an arch.

"You're not mad?" I asked.

"You're being silly," he told me in that usual light-hearted tone. "I'm not mad."

"Good, because I don't think I could take you being mad with me." I leaned against his shoulder, allowing my weary head to rest on the top. We watched the floor move before us, the variances in styles and bodies.

"Would you like to dance Sakura?" He was the one I wanted to hear it from the most. My heart stopped for a beat or two, I swear on my life. I tried to answer, but no words came. I could have jumped for joy or squealed or something, but nothing. His one visible eye looked down at me, before it winked.

"Yes," I finally breathed out. He nodded, placing an arm around my waist. It just fit. He helped me up from the chair as we walked out near Hinata and Naruto. They were dancing in the most shadowed part of the whole gym, where the Technicolor lights didn't reach.

They hardly noticed us as Naruto leaned in to kiss Hinata very gently. I didn't feel unprotected like I had with Hiro. It was similar to when Choji had taken me out to dance, only this was more so, as I realized that I was quite attracted to my professor.

He spun me around slowly, like a ballerina, so that he could take in the full view of my outfit. It was okay when Kakashi did it. His large hand held my smaller in his as I turned before his one visible eye, before he pulled me back very slowly, his hands taking charge of my waist very confidently.

Kakashi knew what he was doing. His hands rested above my rear, being careful not to grip so much that he wrinkled the material. One of his hands moved enough to take my arm and lift it up to his neck as my other followed on its own.

I could feel the soft material of his mask before I played with some of his loose hair. He pulled our bodies together, resting his covered face on my shoulder. I gasp as mere inches separated his mouth from my neck.

I hardly noticed the music as he began to encourage and coax my body into swaying with his as we turned slow circles. The whole world didn't matter; in fact to be perfectly honest, the whole thing just melted away.

All that mattered was I finally got to have a very formal dance with Kakashi.

His face nuzzled my styled hair as he breathed softly in my ear, like always. "Have I told you that you look amazing tonight?" he asked. His voice was soft and if he hadn't been beside my ear, I never would have heard it. His arms moved so that they were completely encircling me now.

"N-no," I stuttered against his shoulder. He gently nuzzled my head to the side.

"You look amazing Sakura," he whispered, the material of his mask hovering just above the sensitive skin there. My heart was pounding and I felt nervous, but it was the healthy kind, like right before you know something electric is going to occur.

Maybe it was the darkness and rather secluded feel of that part of dance, maybe it was the music, maybe it was the heat between us, or the way we both looked, but in the next instant, his masked mouth was pressed to the skin of my neck.

I gave a soft gasp as I went limp and pliable in his strong arms. My stomach performed various kinds of flip flops as the blood began to rush through my veins. He began to move up to my jaw line.

"Kakashi," I gasped. He didn't let go and I didn't want him to.

"You smell so good," he breathed. He was still nuzzling me and our bodies were still pressed close. I had, of course, never felt anything like that.

The spot between my legs had begun to pulse a little, my fingers tangling deeper into his hair. Who cared what the music had changed to?

But since Kakashi was such a tease, he released me to spin once more like he had when we first started dancing before bringing me back.

He held me against him, staring down at me as we continued dancing like before. It was just so perfect. Kakashi could have done anything to me on the floor right there and I wouldn't have protested.

"Beautiful," he said. I don't know what I was thinking when I reached my hands up to his face. He didn't try to move them away, but he did move us back a little. I cupped the sides, feeling the material on my hands as I looked into his one visible eye.

Taking a deep breath, I hooked my fingers under the material and began to pull it down. I was biting my lip, feeling scared and rather excited that he wasn't going to stop me.

The material slipped down off of his perfect nose, which I had already seen, further slipping down his smooth cheeks, and eventually over soft lips to pool around his chin.

He just stood before me, staring down, time seeming to pause.

He was beautiful.

His whole face was the color of cream, soft and pure, untouched by the weather or probably even time, except for the scar just under his left eye patch. Was that why he wore the mask? Was he would have women fainting over him? He honestly took my breath away.

"Sakura?" he asked. It was nice to be able to see his lips move.

"Hm?"

"Now you've seen my face," he shrugged, smiling. It was a slow and lazy smile, taking it's time to spread across his face. I was feeling faint.

"Kakashi, you're perfect," I said. He pulled the mask back up before anyone else could see him. I now had another secret I could keep. Hiro who?

"Take that to your grave," he chuckled. I wanted another look but we couldn't risk it.

"You're not mad I just did that?"

"No, it was understandable. I wanted you to see it." He pulled me close once more resting his head on my shoulder. Oh god, if you never let me live another moment after this, then I would have died a very pleased girl.

"Kakashi, really you're-why do you wear that thing?"

"That's one secret you'll never know." Any negative thought just faded away as he held me. I could have stayed like that forever; I wanted to, I really did, but as soon as the next song was over, I needed to get off those heels a bit.

He led me back over to the chairs when I quietly told him I needed a break, helping me sit as I pulled the shoes off to rub the tired muscles.

"Would you like some punch?"

"Sure," I smiled. I remembered I hadn't tried it earlier with Hiro. I hoped that he had found someone else and wasn't going to come and look for me, at least until I could figure things out.

"Well there is at that beautiful 'A' student of mine." I looked up to see Jiraiya standing there smiling.

"Yes?"

"Taking a break from all the guys?"

"You could say that," I told him evenly.

"Well, if you're not too busy, do you think you could cash in on that dance you owe me?"

"I guess." He gave me the sort of puppy-dog face. Even Jiraiya looked nice tonight. He too was wearing a nice tux with a sage green shirt underneath instead of the standard white. I was rather impressed. "Let me just get my shoes back on."

"You were resting? I can wait." He took the seat beside me.

"Are you sure?"

"I wouldn't do that to a lady." He crossed his arms. "So I thought you came here with Hiro?"

"Yeah I did, but I left him." I continued rubbing my feet, waiting on Kakashi to get back. I had learned to not protest with him about doing things.

"Oh? He told me that he was going to bring you and ask for some advice."

"Did you tell him to be a pervert?" I snipped.

"No, not at all," he said, shocked. He seemed genuine enough. "I merely told him to get you that corsage you're wearing," he pointed. "What did he do to earn your disdain and may I use it?"

"Jiraiya," I hissed. "No you can't use it. And basically he was a creep all night. He wanted to do me on the floor in the middle of the dance," I huffed. I felt a little better telling someone.

"He didn't get that from me. I wouldn't be that tasteless. I'll ask Tsunade about it later."

"Wait, Tsunade?"

"Yeah, she was in on this too. We were betting against each other."

"You mean my whole night was a bet?" I snapped, feeling like I was dealing with Naruto.

"No, not quite. Just that Tsunade bet that he would end up with you the entire night and make you forget about Kakashi over there and I bet that he wouldn't. Looks like I win."

I huffed and looked away from him. "Why should I dance with you?" I asked.

"It wasn't my fault," he scoffed. I didn't make any reply. "Sakura, you can't do this," he said. "Please?"

"Well fine, but after Kakashi gets back."

"I heard my name mentioned?" There he stood looking rather confused and holding two glasses of punch.

"It's nothing," I smiled as I patted the chair beside me. He sat down, handing me a glass and putting his arm around my shoulder.

"Kakashi, don't go getting yourself in trouble," Jiraiya warned. We were way in the back of the dance, away from prying eyes. That was great as far as I was concerned. I wanted as much distance between myself and everyone but Kakashi.

"I won't."

I slipped my shoes back on as soon as I was finished with my punch. It wasn't bad, tasted like some kind of lime Kool-Aid. My feet didn't hurt quite as bad now.

"Kakashi, do you mind if I borrow her for one dance?"

"As long as you bring her back." He pulled out one of his orange books. Poor thing, he must have been reading it some of the night.

"I will," he rolled his eyes as he helped me up and made me follow him a little ways away. He knew better than to put his hands anywhere else. I could see Kakashi glancing up at us a few times.

"Alright, no pervyness," I warned him.

"I'm not going to do anything. I have morals, sometimes." I kept my hands on his shoulders like I had with Choji. I had never had so many men dance with me in one night. I wondered just who else was going to show up.

"You know, this isn't half bad," I commented about halfway through the song.

"No, it's not. Plus, it makes for great Icha Icha material," he grinned. We had been speaking of idle things the whole time as neither one of us knew what the music was. I would have to brush up on current or mainstream sometime.

He spun me around an extra time and I realized that had happened multiple times tonight. Maybe I should have taken dance as well.

"Come on, time to get you back."

"That won't be necessary," someone interjected. I had to resist the urge to slap my forehead. Turning around, I found none other than Rock Lee and the strange Might Guy.

"What a night of youth!" Guy smiled as he urged young Lee forward. They were dressed exactly alike in bright green tuxes with orange trimmings. They were certainly eye catching but not really in an attractive way.

"Oh Guy, didn't know you were here," Jiraiya shrugged.

"I wouldn't miss this for all the pushups in the world! Have you seen my eternal rival around here?" I could see the wheels turning in Jiraiya's head, debating on whether to tell him honestly or not.

"I think he was near the punch," Jiraiya lied.

"Miss Sakura, I would cherish the honor of sharing one dance with you," Lee told me boldly, holding out his hand. Well, could I really deny him? It wouldn't have been right, especially since he probably hadn't danced with anyone all night. I really wanted to.

"Go on," Jiraiya urged with a wicked look on his face.

"Alright Lee, one dance." Oh god my feet hurt like hell! Never, ever, wear heels do a dance, at least for the whole night.

"Thank you Miss Sakura!" He grabbed me around the waist like everyone else. At least he had taken dance lessons of some kind. He didn't step on my feet or do anything he shouldn't, just that he was waltzing to pop music.

But even as odd as it was, it was kind of fun. I had never waltzed before and certainly never thought Lee would be the one to show me how to do it.

"Like this Miss Sakura-there you go!" He was going to be a gym teacher, I could tell. He continued to encourage me as the song continued. "That's lovely Miss Sakura." He was so serious about this whole thing that it was rather cute, but not the romantic cute.

"Thank you Lee," I smiled, feeling like I really was back in high school, which wasn't that long ago. I just felt older most of the time now. "I do need to rest some though." It wasn't a lie. My feet were aching more than they had in a long time.

"Alright Miss Sakura! I will lead you back to recharge and will come around soon!" He enthusiastically led me over to where Kakashi was sitting and reading quietly. "I will see you later!"

"Okay Lee." I collapsed in my chair, listening to Kakashi try not to laugh.

"And how did that go?" he chuckled.

"Jiraiya owes me so much right now." I took my shoes off once again.

"Oh?" He put his arm around my shoulders once more, pulling me to him. "That bad?"

"Not really, just strange," I shook my head. "But I should be okay in a little bit," I smiled brightly.

"Good, as the dance will be over before you know it."

"I know," I whined. He merely chuckled at me as he put away the book.

"Who knew you were so popular?" he joked.

"Ha, oh real funny Kakashi. I really hadn't planned for everyone to come up to me."

"I know, its okay." He leaned his head against mine. "But you're irresistible tonight." I blushed. His hand rested on my bare arm, lightly stroking the skin as we watched. I could see Hinata and Naruto dancing away. They were adorable.

I was glad to be rid of Hiro for at least tonight. But what would come of class on Monday and just what did Tsunade have to do with all of this?

"Kakashi, I really am sorry about Hiro," I told him, reaching down to hold his hand.

"Sakura, please don't worry about it." And no more was said about him. "Now come on, let's dance again."

"But what about my shoes?" How girly of me. I really amazed myself sometimes with it.

"Forget them," he chuckled as he pulled me into his arms and spun me around. The tempo was faster now as Kakashi showed me a few moves I had never seen before.

I laughed as I tried to master them. It was some type of swing steps he called 'shagging.' I blushed as I thought of the usual association with shagging.

I tried to mirror his steps, which was the whole point, but I felt that I was failing miserably. He of course insisted that I wasn't. It was something completely unexpected for him. I would have never pictured him doing those types of things until he was actually trying to show me.

"Well, with that dress you're wearing, we have to try some type of nearly dead dance," he told me as he spun me around, swinging me between his legs. It was so much fun. Being in the darkened corner, we didn't attract a lot of attention, even with all the things we were doing.

Of course we had to slow dance a few times more as well. Really, even if I never had another good day, those memories would burn forever. But he didn't try to kiss my neck again, sure he nuzzled it, but he didn't kiss it again, like he was trying to restrain himself, which made sense.

I wasn't sure if I could bite back the moan that had come with the first time he had done that.

But as these things go, they have to end at sometime. Eleven was the time that my carriage turned into a pumpkin once more.

"Sakura, are you ready to go?" Naruto asked. He and Hinata had joined me and Kakashi on the floor.

"Well no, but we all must huh?" I sighed wistfully.

"How about I walk you to your ride?" Kakashi asked.

"Thank you, I would like that." And I would like his protection against any contact from Hiro. He slipped an arm around my waist as we continued walking near the edges. Lee hadn't come back the rest of the night.

No sign of anyone.

We slipped through the crowds easily, taking time to walk to Asuma's car. I just didn't want him to leave. I didn't want the night to end. We beat everyone else there.

"Sakura, tonight was probably the best night I've had in a long time," he told me as he leaned against the car.

"Me too." Yeah this had to be classified from the other weekends. It was all too weird and sensual at the same time.

"And I can't wait for tomorrow." I nodded. He was going to be at my house again and this time I wouldn't be waking up from the first and hopefully last hangover of my life. He pulled me into his arms and just held me for a few minutes.

Before Hinata and Naruto or Asuma and Kurenai could get close enough to see what was going on, Kakashi placed a lingering kiss on my cheek as he released me. My face burned under the contact of the mask again.

They walked up to up a very stunned me standing next to a rather blushing Kakashi as well. I could see it just under his eyes. No one dared ask any questions. He helped me in the car and waved goodbye, but not before he whispered "See you tomorrow," in my ear.

X

Author's End Note: Like it? Love it? Mistakes? Review.