Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto
Sakura hummed quietly as she made her way up the Hokage's tower to Tsunade's office. It was turning out to be a nice day, sunny and mild and Sakura relished in the promise of a bright day. She was the third of her teammates to arrive in the office, on the left stood a bored looking Sasuke who briefly tipped his head to show he acknowledged her arrival, and on the right stood Naruto who was impatiently shifting from one foot to the other.
"Sakura." Tsunade greeted only flicking her eyes up briefly from the scroll she was reading.
Sakura glanced at the clock, she was ten minutes late. Did anybody notice that she was suddenly becoming late for every meeting, hospital shift or training session she had?
"Hey Sakura you were late." Naruto pointed out as he looked at the clock before looking at the door agitatedly, most likely trying to time the perfect glare for when Kakashi arrived late.
"Yeah I had to help my mum with an errand, it ran over slightly." Sakura replied vaguely contriving to sound bored and natural. Naruto simply nodded before tensing. Sakura followed his eye line to the door just in time to see Kakashi slip through the door.
"You're late." Naruto stated with restrained frustration, fidgeting still. Sakura frowned at him, what had gotten a bee in his bonnet? Kakashi however appeared unfazed.
"Ah so I am." He agreed making his way to stand in front of Tsunade's desk.
Tsunade sat back in her chair and snapped the scroll shut.
"Right let's get on with it shall we? The four of you are to go to the small town of Kurashiki on the border. The town has been having some trouble with a group of bandits, and from the sounds of it they are most likely a group of rouge ninja. It shouldn't be anything too taxing I doubt the group have any ninja worthy of note if they are engaging only in theft. Here's the scroll you can leave whenever you're ready."
Tsunade offered the scroll to Kakashi and turned back to the mounting pile of scrolls on her desk. She waved a hand in a shooing motion and out of habit Sakura immediately spun on her heal and made a beeline for the door. Sasuke sloped after her and Kakashi followed reading the scroll as he went. It took only a few moments for Sakura to notice the most boisterous member of the team, who would usually be running through the door in pre-mission excitement, was still looking at Tsunade expectantly.
"When do you think we will get back?" He asked quickly.
Tsunade paused her work with a heavy sigh and levelled a dark look at him.
"Excuse me?" She asked, and Sakura felt herself shrink back at the tone. Naruto was about two words from having something thrown at him.
"Do you think we will be back before Friday?" He questioned a whine creeping into his voice.
Sakura wracked her brain for any hint as to why Friday was so important to the boy, and then like lightning she remembered. Hinata's birthday party, of course! Sakura couldn't help the little aw that slipped out at his consideration and eagerness. Unfortunately she wished she had been able to suppress it because she was now being shot confused weary looks by her teammates and her mentor. Tsunade gave her an unimpressed looked before shaking her head.
"I don't know when you'll be back it depends on whether you all get your asses in gear and get the job done! Ask your team leader when he thinks you'll be back he has the dam scroll with all the information. Now get out!" Naruto scarped pretty quickly watching Tsunade cautiously as she reached for the plant pot on her desk.
None of them felt particularly safe until they started down the towers stairs, and even then Naruto kept looking over his shoulder often just in case the Hokage had decided to chase after him and throw the pot.
"Smooth move loser." Sasuke smirked as they strode along.
Naruto seemed to ignore it and bounded up next to Kakashi.
"So then? When do we leave and when do we get back?" Naruto asked tugging at a corner of the scroll. Kakashi yanked it back out of Naruto's grasp and snapped it shut.
"You'll be back in time for your party don't worry." Kakashi reassured tiredly.
"We will meet in an hour by the main gates we will probably be there for a maximum of two or three days so pack accordingly." He finished pushing the scroll into one of his vest pockets. Naruto seemed slightly worried by this but he chirped and ok and shot off in the direction of the Hyuga estate. Sasuke humphed and slipped away toward his home, but not before looking at Kakashi and then giving Sakura a measured look. She shot him a glare, watching him walk away. She nearly jumped out of her skin when Kakashi gently touched the juncture of her neck and shoulder.
"You ok? You seem a bit tense?" He asked softly.
She hesitated slightly and cast a worried look around the street at the passersby. Wasn't he being a bit obvious? Her worries increased as he gently brushed his knuckles up and down from her neck to her shoulder. It was a comforting gesture she had seen other couples engage in, but was it really right that he was doing it now in broad daylight on a busy street? It then dawned on her slowly that he was trying to show that he didn't mind if people knew. She smiled at him warmly and placed her hand lightly over his, her heart pounding as she caught some people she recognised looking at them.
"Yeah fine." She responded watching him warmly as he dropped his hand and gestured his head in the direction of his street.
She would have rolled her eyes if she hadn't already been home and gotten her things so she could spend more time with him. She slotted into his stride next to him smiling faintly as they walked. He asked her about her moving out and she spoke about it animatedly and with excited enthusiasm. When they reached his apartment she lounged on the sofa whilst he packed the essentials for the trip. When he finished he dropped the bag near the door and made his way to the kitchen for a glass of water. Sakura watched him intently as he tugged down his mask, tipped his head back and took thirsty gulps. Watching the way the water moved down his throat made her flush and shift in her seat slightly.
"When are we going to tell Naruto?" She asked suddenly resting her elbow on the sofa arm and her chin in her palm.
Kakashi placed the glass on the counter and began spinning it slowly, looking at it as though he were deep in thought.
"I don't know. I want to tell him as soon as possible, however I don't think it would be appropriate to tell him on a mission, especially if he reacts badly it could jeopardise the mission." Kakashi answered dropping down to sit next to her. Sakura let her head drop onto his shoulder almost immediately and she began to rub slow circles on the back of his hand. He shifted so his cheek rested on her head and sighed with content.
"Hmm maybe we should tell him after the party?" Sakura offered.
She didn't want to ruin Hinata's night by providing a grumpy Naruto as a date. She felt Kakashi nod and kiss the top of her head, he twisted his hand so that he held hers. He laced their fingers together and pulled her gently into a kiss, she let her eyes drift closed and enjoy the warmth of the kiss. His other hand reached up gently so his thumb brushed against her cheek. She mirrored his action and ran her free hand over his cheek bone and into his hair. They broke the kiss and pressed their foreheads together, Sakura smiled as she watched his eyes scan her face.
"So we should get back for Hinata's then?" She questioned wondering if had simply told Naruto they would to placate the boy.
Kakashi rolled his eyes and pulled back from her, annoyance coming across his features.
"Yes yes, you'll be back in time for your party." He grumbled waving a hand dismissively. Sakura grabbed the hand and looked at him expectantly.
"Erm yes that is my hand can I have it back please?" Kakashi commented sarcastically trying to pull himself free. Sakura held on tighter and shifted her fingers slightly to get a better grip.
"Are you still being a sour puss about me going with Sasuke?" Sakura asked knowingly refusing to loosen her grip even when Kakashi began to pry at her fingers with his free hand. She fought back a smirk as he failed to release himself. She squeezed a little harder applying the barest amount of chakra.
"Ow." Kakashi whined pulling his whole body back, trying to catch her off guard by throwing his weight back. Sakura held firm and grabbed his other hand by the wrist.
"Answer the question." She said calmly ignoring his pleading and yet somehow frustrated expression. Kakashi quirked his lips and began to twist almost violently against her grip. Sakura let out a sound of surprise and struggled to keep hold of him without hurting him.
"My god you are freakishly strong." He ground out as he leaned back on the sofa still fighting valiantly.
Sakura followed him pushing her body up close to his, straddling his hips trying to use her body to stop his movement. She laughed and pressed her face into the crook of his neck still holding onto his wrists. Kakashi twisted his head away from her and continued to struggle raise his hips to try and push her off. He made another exasperated, whining noise in the back of his throat before becoming still. Sakura continued to giggle into his throat and she enjoyed the feeling of his slightly elevated breathing.
"Are you going to answer the question now?" She asked sweetly, peering up at him through her lashes. Kakashi resolutely ignored her and stared at the ceiling, Sakura guessed he was contriving to look pained and annoyed but she couldn't help but think he looked more like a sulky child. She raised herself up to press a kiss to his mouth.
"Hmm are you going to answer?" She asked again watching him closely. When he failed to reply again she pressed another more intense kiss to his mouth, she clucked her tongue in irritation and disappointment when he didn't respond to the press of her mouth. She pouted at him giving him her best hurt face and she delighted in watching his resolve waver slightly as he regarded her silently.
"Don't be mean." She complained rubbing her thumbs over the pulse points on his wrists that she still held.
"You're the one who wrestled me and now has me pinned to the sofa." He pointed out dryly. Sakura smirked and captured his mouth again moving her lips soundly against his, slowly Kakashi responded matching her intensity. Sakura took in a shuddering breath as she pressed a kiss to his brow whilst he began pressing soft kisses to her jaw.
"Are you going to answer me yet, or do I have to keep you hear longer?" She asked gasping shortly after as Kakashi's teeth nipped at the skin on her neck. His wrists shifted in her grip as he tried to move his hands to touch her. Sakura kept her grip and pulled back from him. She heard his exasperated sigh and felt the defeat in his posture beneath her.
"No I'm not being a, what was that lovely phrase you used?" He asked with fake cheer.
"Sour puss." Sakura provided.
"Ah yes, no I'm not being a sour puss about it. Now could you let me up?" He asked moving his wrists against her again to emphasis she still had him stuck.
"You're not jealous are you? Because that would be very silly." Sakura asked letting go of him but staying sat where she was. Kakashi let his hand moved to sit comfortable on her knees.
"Not of Sasuke, just that he gets to take you I guess." Kakashi answered tapping her knees showing that he wanted to get up. Sakura slid off him and the sofa to stand stiffly, a quick glance at the clock told her she needed to get going soon if she were to arrive on time and before Kakashi.
"You still going to come along aren't you? I mean its open invite to like the whole village; you know how the Hyuga's like to overdo things." Sakura asked hopefully turning to find where she had dropped her bag.
Kakashi wrinkled his nose slightly.
"Hmm I'm going along with whatever Genma and Asuma are doing that night." He answered rubbing his eyes.
"So translated that means you're going to go to the party for one hour take advantage of the free alcohol, and then drift off to some pub in town to get gleefully sloshed?" Sakura questioned not even needing to know the reply.
Kakashi nodded.
"Sounds about right, I haven't been gleefully sloshed in a while."
Sakura rolled her eyes and slid her bag straps onto her shoulders.
"I'll see you at the gates in half an hour." She said grabbing the door handle.
"Were meeting in fifteen minutes." Kakashi corrected bending down to give her a quick parting kiss.
"Yeah like I said I'll see you in half an hour."
The journey to Kurashiki was uneventful and tiring it had taken a full day to get there and all of the members if team seven were feeling slightly worn out. After a quick meal to regain some energy they trudged toward the nearest hotel. Now it was common practice that if the whole team couldn't a shared room than the teacher and the female student would share a room with separate beds. The logic was that teenage boy's intentions were less than pure compared to a fully grown jonin who was supposed to follow a code of conduct and have their student's best interests at heart. Now Sakura didn't doubt that Kakashi had her best interests at heart, but she did doubt that he was sticking to the code of acceptable conduct or that he had pure intentions toward her, well at least some of the time. Her heart was currently residing somewhere in her throat as Kakashi sorted out the rooms. Although it was silly to think Naruto would question why they were sharing a room she couldn't help but run the scenario over in her mind. Her fears were never realised as Kakashi thanked the woman who handed him the keys and gestured that they follow him down the hall.
"Right you two have room 206 and we have 205." Kakashi told them reading the numbers and the directions on the wall whilst they walked.
"We will meet tomorrow at eight and start the mission. Ok?"
The boys gave him a head nod and thumbs up before struggling over who got through the door first to call the best bed. Sakura shook her head in disbelief.
"Boys." She muttered walking into the room and making her way to the bathroom.
She set about cleaning her teeth quickly, all she really wanted now was to crawl into bed, pull Kakashi in with her and sleep. She flicked her eyes up to the mirror to see Kakashi stopping to stand beside her, his mask was down and his tooth brush was already in. There was a slight bumping elbows fight as Kakashi moved his arm in an exaggerated motion leading to Sakura pushing him and laughing as he staggered to hold his ground with his toothbrush still firmly placed in his mouth. She elbowed him softly one last time and made her way in to the hotel room. She took great delight in stripping off her ninja clothes and slipping into her more comfortable sleeping clothes. The sheets were cool and soft as she got into bed and she sighed and rubbed her cheek against the pillow, encouraging the feeling of tiredness that fell upon her. Her eyes drifted closed and she waited patiently for Kakashi to come to bed or for her to fall asleep whichever came first. On that note he sure was taking his sweet time in the bathroom. It was then she heard him coughing, it started as a quite restrained sound, almost like when you got a tickle in the back of your throat, but the coughing intensity grew and it caused Sakura to open her eyes and prop herself up on an elbow. She looked worriedly to the bathroom door.
"Kakashi you ok?" She called almost hesitantly.
The coughing came to a stop shortly after she asked and Kakashi strolled out of the bathroom already tugging off his clothes. Sakura blushed slightly as he changed into what he slept in.
"You ok?" She asked again.
"Oh yeah some water just went down the wrong way." He replied sheepishly rubbing the back of his head. Sakura smiled at him and shifted to make room for him. He accepted the space eagerly and pulled her close.
"Night ."
When she woke the first thing she became aware of was the sound of rain against the window. She wanted to groan in annoyance. There were few things worse than missions in the rain; it always meant spending extended periods of time standing around cold and getting soaked. She buried her face deeper into the material of Kakashi's shirt and muttered out a complaint. She felt Kakashi shift slightly to peer over her shoulder to look at the clock.
"The alarm is going to go off in about five minutes." He said sleepily.
She clung to him a little tighter in response, five minutes was not nearly enough but she supposed it would have to do. His hands passed over her back lightly in a soothing motion making it harder to fight against the pull of sleep. The shrill beeps of the alarm made her jump and push her hands to her eyes in frustration. Kakashi rolled away and out of the bed, taking his warmth and comfort with him. Sakura let her arm fall to the space he had occupied and smooth over the sheet slowly before letting her eyes close again. After a few minutes of dozing she felt the bed dip next to her and a warm hand slip into her hair.
"Sakura you need to get up." He stated quietly.
She rolled over to look at him. He was already dressed and his breath smelt like mints and Sakura appreciated the way the dim light fell on his features, it made Sakura sharply aware that she probably wasn't looking anywhere near as good. She yawned and sat up to make her way to get dressed. Just as she was finishing brushing her teeth there was a knock on the door. She frowned slightly in confusion making her way toward Kakashi who was pulling up his mask before grabbing the door handle. Sasuke was stood on the other side looking bored.
"I thought we might as well meet here, so you two could actually turn up on time." He said in a dull tone.
Sakura grabbed her bag and made her way to the door.
"Well as you can see we are ready and would have been in the lobby on time." Sakura answered gesturing to the fact they were dressed washed and had their bags ready. Sasuke smirked slightly and crossed his arms.
"Hmm well I didn't doubt you'd be ready more that you would get...distracted. You have been late a lot recently."
Sakura flushed and her mouth worked silently for a second before she answered.
"I've not been distracted." She hissed angrily.
"Who's been distracted?" Naruto yawned sleepily as he approached them.
Sakura glared at Sasuke.
"Nobody, are we all ready to start the mission now?" Kakashi asked tiredly seeming irked and oddly impatient. This seemed to wake Naruto up and the boy began to fidget and twitch.
"Yeah yeah let's get this mission over and done with already." He said spinning away from the rest of his teammates to turn down the hall.
"Alright looks like we're moving out." Kakashi replied shutting the hotel room door and slipping the key into his pocket. Sakura nodded and tugged the hood of her waterproof tightly over her head.
The rain drove down in a steady, heavy downpour and Sakura watched bleakly as steam rose from her still teammates. It had been an uneventful slow and cold morning and Kakashi had called them all back together for a lunch break. They had gathered all the information they had needed from the villagers and had set about searching for the bandits. From the information they had gathered they felt it was safe to say either the bandits had a hideout nearby, or that they had moved on.
"Is it ever going to stop raining?" Naruto whined throwing a pebble across the ground into a nearby puddle.
"Doesn't look like it." Sakura replied in an overly cheerful sing song voice that see knew would irk the boys. Sasuke's eye brow twitched and Naruto's face visibly crumpled. Sakura smirked with satisfaction sipping her tea contently.
"After lunch we will split up again, and check out the other side of the outskirts of the town. Make sure we maintain that safe distance from each other, Naruto." Kakashi explained levelling an unimpressed look at the blonde.
"What?" He asked miserably.
"Don't what me, stop rushing off ahead there are reasons we keep to that distance so if there's an emergency we are there to back each other up, you know that." Kakashi scolded slightly.
"Pfft emergency we haven't seen anything all day and besides Tsunade said their only low level bandits, hardly anything for us to worry about." Naruto answered.
Sakura could tell even with the mask on the Kakashi's lips had quirked in annoyance.
"Don't be so big headed. This is important don't disobey orders again."
Effectively told off, Naruto shrunk down and looked at his food. She felt slightly bad for Naruto but at the same time he should now Kakashi's feelings about putting teammate's safety first. Everyone on team seven had their neurotic tendencies and the same went for their team leader , like how Sasuke needed to check he had set an alarm clock at least six times before he could sleep, or how Sakura could get a teensy bit obsessed when it came to cleanliness, or Naruto's fixation with ramen. Kakashi's obsession however was the people he cared about safety, and he would push himself to the edge to ensure that they stayed safe and alive. Sakura felt the urge to give Kakashi's knee a comforting squeeze but she pushed it down to maintain peace. She didn't need Naruto finding out that way. Kakashi stretched and stood sharply.
"Right if everyone's done we'll head out again. Remember maintain that distance."
A chorus of "yes sensei" was heard and they made the preparations for moving on with the mission.
Sakura felt like crying. She felt she had done well to keep the more whiney side of her nature at bay today but now her self control was waning. They had spent the whole of the afternoon scouring the other side of the woodland area that surrounded the small town and so far none of them had found anything. The rain had continued and as a result it was getting dark fast and early. Sakura pressed a hand to her ear as the ear piece crackled to life.
"Anyone found anything?" Kakashi's voice was unmistakeable.
"No."
"Nope"
"Nada."
"Alright then, we'll head back to town it'll be too dark to search soon anyway. Everyone meet back at the point we decided on earlier, you all remember where that is?" Kakashi responded sounding deathly bored.
"Yes."
"Yup."
"Yahuh."
Sakura almost added a whoop of joy but she felt it was probably unnecessary. Her feet moved almost on their own accord and she made her way back to the rendezvous point, and she began fantasising about a warm bath, some hot food and snuggling up in bed with Kakashi. She smiled brightly and sloshed her way through the splattered puddles. A quick movement to her left made her freeze immediately. She whirled around her eyes scanning the area and her chakra searching for any trace of another chakra signal. She tried to calm her breathing and push her heart back down from her throat. She couldn't see or sense anything; maybe she had just imagined it? She settled herself and began walking again, this time a little more alert and tensed. A few moments later she heard a snapping sound behind her, very much as if someone had stood on a large twig, and she stopped abruptly with a kunai drawn and raised.
"Who's there?" She called tensely. Her eyes scanning the area carefully she called out again.
"Hello? Naruto?" She didn't want to unknowingly attack a teammate, and she knew Sasuke and Kakashi were smart enough not to sneak up on her in the dark in the woods, Naruto however well it was questionable.
Another snapping noise came from behind her and she whirled around again defensively. She tried to focus on searching for signs of movement but the rain, wind and darkness was making it difficult to really see anything.
"Naruto if that's you then knock it off it's not funny." She shouted angrily trying to ignore the cold creep of fear. She wouldn't put it past the idiot to do something like this, especially after an uneventful day.
Sakura knew she wasn't far from the meeting place and she weighed up her options. Either it was Naruto being an idiot, a woodland creature, her imagination, a townsperson on their way home who was just as afraid as she was, or it was an enemy. After another few moments of weighing up her chances she took in a shuddering breath and straightened. She couldn't sense anything and she couldn't see anything, and in this current situation it was possible her mind was playing tricks on her. She kept a tight grip on her kunai but she turned and began walking again, although a little faster and with more purpose than the last time. She bit her lip to steady her breathing. Another snapping noise this time from ahead of her made her slow. She peered ahead of her at a particularly odd, twisted tree; a shadow stretching from it that made her heart beat furiously. She raised her kunai again and slowly made her way toward it. She reached her free hand out ready to reach around the tree. She let out a scream as the ear piece crackled in her ear. She pressed her hand to her chest as a familiar worried voice flowed into her ear.
"Sakura? Sakura?"
She took a deep breath trying to find something to say.
"Sakura are you ok? I'll come get you."
It was Kakashi and he sounded worried. Sakura almost felt like laughing, she had really freaked herself out!
"Hey I'm ok. I just freaked myself out." She replied still eyeing the tree in front of her.
"You sure? I heard you scream. I'm coming to get you stay there." He answered the worry intensifying slightly.
Sakura was just about to tell him not to when her heart stopped. Her hand dropped down from the ear piece and her breath escaped her in a rush. A little further up from the tree slightly off to the left was a silhouette. A man was stood still watching her one hand placed on the tree he stood next to. She knew she would feel slightly ashamed later that her first instinct was to run, and not to stay and fight like all her training had taught her, but her nerves were shot. She was alone, already terrified and the menace she felt rolling off this man made her want to gag. She stared frozen for a fraction of a second longer before setting off into a sprint in the direction of the rendezvous point. Everything became blurred and disorientating as she ran, the only thing she seemed aware of was her rapid ragged breathing and the horrible feeling that someone was just about to grab her shoulders from behind. Suddenly she connected solidly with a firm body. She felt another scream catch in her throat as hands gripped her arms. Through her panic she thought she heard her attacker call her name.
"Sakura! Sakura calm down it's me!"
She opened her eyes and belatedly realised that it was Kakashi she had run into. His visible eye was searching over her terrified form, looking for injuries.
"Sakura, look at me you're safe." He assured holding her still and looking her in the eye.
"Kakashi?" She blurted out confused.
"There, there was a man. A man I saw a man. He was stood by the tree and he, I thought he, he came after me." She sputtered turning her head so she could check over her shoulder to see if she had been followed. Kakashi caught her chin and turned her head to look back at him.
"Sakura calm down there's no one there now, I promise. You're safe." He reassured.
Sakura let her head fall to his shoulder and she tried to tame her breathing. Kakashi pulled her closer and wrapped his arms around her. Relief hit her as she finally felt the cold sting of fear ebb away. She listened to the rain as it continued to drive down around them, and she listened to the familiar sound of Naruto and Sasuke's footfalls and voices.
"Jesus sensei did you have to take off so fast, what happened to the keep the distance rule?" Naruto complained as he splashed his way noisily toward them. Sakura suddenly remembered what they were doing and she tried to push Kakashi away weakly. Kakashi moved away from her stiffly as Naruto drew level with them shooting them odd looks.
"Hey Sakura what's wrong?" He asked slowly noticing her shaken demeanour.
"A man. I saw a man in the woods; I think he came after me." She explained again steadier this time.
Naruto's brow furrowed and he turned to look at Kakashi.
"Should we go look for him?" He asked anger seeping into his words as he watched Sakura shake slightly. Kakashi stood up a little taller and looked at their surroundings.
"No. I doubt he's stuck around now that we've regrouped, and it will be difficult to find anything in the dark and this weather." He paused to look behind him.
"Besides I think we should call it a day we've been in the rain too long and Sakura is pretty shaken up." He finished giving her another quick glance over.
"Let's head back."
They stayed close as a unit and Sakura didn't feel fully relieved until they stepped into the town and she saw lights, houses and groups of people.
There hotel was pretty quiet when they walked in, but the restaurant looked busy. Naruto gave it a fleeting glance whilst they walked by. Once they reached their rooms Kakashi stopped to regard the boys.
"We will meet the same time tomorrow." He said glancing at Sakura trying to open the door with shaking hands.
"Yeah sure. After we've showered were going to get some food at the restaurant if you guys want to join us?" Naruto offered his eyes flicking between his sensei and Sakura.
Kakashi flinched slightly. Naruto had never asked like that, usually he would just say they were going for food and a time and that was that. But the way he had phrased the question, it made them sound like a couple not teacher and student. Like what one of them decided the other would do because their plans involved each other. It was only a small detail but it was enough to make Kakashi wonder. There was a few moments of awkward tense silence where Naruto and Kakashi stared at each other. Sakura watched them worriedly and chanced a glance at Sasuke who was watching Naruto closely. Sakura broke the tension by opening the door and giving the boys a quick nod and a smile before walking into the room and out of sight.
"Yeah sure" Kakashi answered sounding as lazy and calm as ever, and he threw a slightly wave before following Sakura into their room.
Sakura tugged at her raincoat tiredly and began kicking off her boots. She could hear Kakashi doing a similar thing behind her. She felt exhausted mentally and physically, and she had the strange urge to cry. She held back the lump in her throat whilst cold fingers tied up her hair into a messy pony tail. Kakashi's arms came around from behind her and he pulled her softly so her back was flush up against his chest. He pressed his cheek to hers and kissed her neck gently.
"Are you ok?" He asked quietly.
She nodded fighting even harder to old back tears. What was wrong with her? She felt pathetic this wasn't how kunoichi were supposed to behave. So what some guy had gotten the jump on her in the woods, he hasn't attacked her, he hadn't done anything really but something about the whole experience had left a bad taste in her mouth. The menace she had felt rolling off that man still had her jumping at shadows and worrying over unexplained noises. Kakashi turned her slowly so she was facing him.
"I'm sorry I don't know why this is getting to me so much." She apologised keeping her gaze fixed on his feet. She saw Kakashi raise his hand to pull down his mask before sliding his hands to her face to lift her head up to look at him.
"Don't worry about it. Everyone gets scared every now and then." Kakashi soothed rubbing his thumbs over her cheeks gently. Sakura rolled her eyes.
"I bet you've never freaked out like this." She sniffed. Kakashi gave her a sad looking smile.
"You'd be surprised." He muttered pulling her close to his chest again.
She let him take her weight wrapping her arms around his broad back.
It's just I've never felt such a disgusting feeling come from another human being before." She whispered trying to push the image of the silhouette from her mind. She felt Kakashi tense.
"What do you mean?" He asked carefully.
"It's hard to explain, but it just felt wrong like there was something not human about this guy. Like I knew instantly that he thrived off pain and fear, and I knew that if he caught me that he would take pleasure in hurting me. It was vicious and all he did was stand there." She whispered almost in disbelief. Kakashi had tensed even more in her grasp.
"I'd never let anyone hurt you, you know that right?" He asked into her hair. Sakura sniffed again and nodded feeling him relax slightly as she got control of her emotions again. She pulled back slightly to look at him.
"Thank you I feel better now. I need a shower I'm really cold." She said, and from the look and feel of Kakashi he wasn't fairing too well either. She ran a thumb over his bottom lip.
"On second thoughts maybe you should have one first, I think your lips turning blue." She said seriously. Kakashi nodded stiffly and began stripping off his clothing numbly. Sakura was amazed he hadn't argued with her over it, he must have really been cold. She noted that amount of layers that he kept pulling off were about twice what she had on.
"I'll be quick." He told her pressing a kiss to her forehead on his way to the bathroom.
Sakura smiled and slipped off her more bulky outer clothing. She sat herself down on the bed and picked at her hair absently. The rain still beat steadily against the window and it pulled Sakura into an odd tired trance. She carefully lifted her eyes to the large window and found it made her uncomfortable. After the disorientating fear she had felt in the dark forest she didn't really want to see the bleak window. She stood sharply intent on ripping the curtains shut but she found herself stopping. She stared out of the window trying to remind herself that she wasn't afraid of the dark. She took in the dreary scene noting the dullness of the street. But wait what was that? What the hell was that? She pressed her fingers to the glass and traced the shape across the street, her heart rate increasing as her fingers drew the outline of a man. A man who was stood staring right at her. Her mouth ran dry and the terrible feeling she felt earlier slowly smothered her again. Just as she was about to rip closed the curtains and hide under the bed a hand landed on her shoulder. She jumped and cried out in surprise whirling around. She was met by an almost equally startled looking Kakashi.
"What? What's wrong?" He asked quickly looking behind her out the window. Sakura turned quickly her finger ready to point to what she'd seen.
"There's."
She stopped dead as she realised the street was empty. She shook her head slightly and sighed in annoyance at her own reactions.
"Nothing I guess I'm just still freaked out." She explained laughing slightly trying to reassure Kakashi. She noticed that Kakashi looked better for the shower, not so frozen or depressed. She gave into impulse and kissed him gently on the lips before slipping away from him toward the bathroom. Kakashi watched her go and pulled the curtains closed.
Sakura found the shower helped a lot. The steam and the heat worked out the tension she had been carrying since her scare, and clouded her head so she felt more content and thought less of fear. She put on her clean casual clothes and tied her still wet hair up messily. She paused to look in the mirror, all in all she looked ok just a little tired. Taking in a deep breath she opened the door and gave Kakashi a smile.
"I guess we should head down for dinner?" She asked already slipping on an oversized hoodie and her shoes.
"You sure you're feeling up to it?" Kakashi asked although he was already looking for his shoes.
"Got the key?" She called over her shoulder once she had the door open.
"Yep."
Sakura waited for him to lock the door and catch up to her before she started walking, and a warm feeling settled on her chest as he slid an arm around her shoulders to pull her close to his side as they walked. She smiled and enjoyed their slow walk to the restaurant, happy that all thoughts of menacing silhouettes had left her mind.
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