Chapter Twelve

Knowing You

Was it odd to feel so good yet so bad at the same time?

They lay in the bed side by side staring into each other's eyes. Moments before the pair had experienced pleasure that not even their first time together could compare to. On some level they were both awed and scared by what they felt in each other's arms, but it wasn't something that either wanted to voice. Instead, they decided to revel in the afterglow, let their minds blank of anything other than each other. However, it was something that didn't last anywhere near as long as each other needed. Soon, reality washed over them, and their brains started churning with thoughts of repercussions, the meanings of their actions, and the like.

"What are you thinking?" Kakashi asked, tracing a finger over her bare collarbone and reveling in the feel of her silken skin. He couldn't stop touching her. She was so soft and so delectable. For some reason he couldn't seem to get enough of her. Was it odd? He felt more and more like a dirty old man-a happy dirty old man. A really, really happy dirty old man. Kakashi smiled.

Sakura hesitated a millisecond before answering. "Just that I never expected us to be here together like this."

Kakashi hand traveled down her throat and through the valley of her breasts. "Is that a bad thing?" His tone was mildly curious, although not overly so. How could anything about this moment be bad? It wasn't often that you found a physical compliment to yourself that was near perfection. It was something you reveled in not turned away.

Again, Sakura hesitated. "It's different."

A grin found its way onto Kakashi's lips, making him even more devastatingly handsome than he already was. Sakura felt her heart speed up at just seeing it. Roughened hands cupped her breast briefly and then moved down her stomach lightly caressing it, yet not moving to where she craved his touch the most.

"You're a tease," Sakura said, pouting slightly as he pulled his hand away.

"I am," Kakashi confirmed with a small chuckle. Sakura pushed Kakashi onto his back and climbed on top of his chest biting his neck lightly. "Who's the tease now?" Kakashi wrapped his arms around her quickly before she considered moving away from him. She raised her head and made a face at him causing his chest to rumble once more with laughter.

"Can I ask you a question?" Sakura asked tentatively.

"I suppose it depends upon the question." Kakashi replied, wondering what was on her mind. She was quiet a moment apparently gathering her courage. He gave her a small squeeze of encouragement.

"Why are you so standoffish?"

"Is that a word?"

"Even if it isn't-which you know it is-you know what I mean." Sakura snapped lightly, reaching to tug a lock of his unruly hair.

"Ouch." Kakashi groused but didn't want to let her go long enough to rub his poor head.

"So?" Sakura asked getting back to the subject.

"Hmm," Kakashi replied, seemingly thinking on the subject but Sakura was aware that he was actually trying to determine whether or not he was going to answer the question.

"Kakashi…."

Kakashi's eye widened, noting that she had dropped the sensei. He wouldn't remark upon it because he didn't want to make a big deal out of it in fear that she wouldn't say his solitary name again. Still, he was pleased…pleased enough to answer the question.

"I prefer not to let people get too close."

"Why?"

"Because the closer they are to me the more it hurts when they're gone."

Sakura bit her bottom lip. It was in those moments that Sakura realized why she had been chosen for this mission. Theoretically speaking it would have been better to choose a kunoichi that Kakashi wasn't on a team with to avoid drama later on. However, for Kakashi, if anyone else had been chosen he would have kept them at arm's length. In fact, the mission would have been a solo one in everything but name and the success of the mission would have been shaky. By choosing Sakura, a teammate, he would be more tolerant and more open-or as open as Kakashi could get. It would also be less likely for him to fall into darkness. Whatever they were dealing with…with these children…was serious. So serious that the Hokage was afraid to send one of her prize ninjas out alone. Sakura knew that to kill those children had broken a part of him. It was something that he was going to have to live with for the rest of his life. If he had been with someone else he would have carried that burden alone. They never would have even realized that he was silently suffering.

"You make it seem like people leave you on purpose."

"Would you?"

Sakura's eyes widened at the question. What did it mean? Was he asking in a strictly platonic way or was he asking for something more? She couldn't give him more. She was with Sasuke and she already had to deal with the consequences of this little adventure later. Sakura briefly thanked whoever it was that had made birth control. The kunoichi made an attempt to remove herself from his chest but his arms tightened around her, refusing to let go.

"It's a simple question, Sakura. Would you leave me?"

"Of course not, sensei," Sakura murmured, avoiding eye contact and put a safe mental barrier between the two of them. Kakashi's hold loosened and Sakura immediately slid off his body. She lay at his side once more, only this time he didn't turn to look at her. It bothered Sakura but who was she to complain? They lay in silence for a while until Kakashi said,

"Is it my turn to ask a question?"

Sakura hesitated, nervous about what he would ask, but didn't want to destroy the mood any more than it already had been.

"Sure."

"Why are you such a feisty piece?"

"A…feisty…piece."

"Does it have something to do with the fact that you're height deficient? You know…the Napoleon Complex?" Kakashi continued on, well aware of the danger than he had stepped into but not really caring. Annoying Sakura would release the tension levels that had suddenly risen within him.

"I do not have a height deficiency! I am five feet five inches. That is tall for a woman."

"Five feet…five inches…in heels-five inch heels."

Sakura grabbed a pillow and began hitting Kakashi with it. He raised his arms, laughing while he blocked her. Between blows and bouts of laughter he managed to squeeze out. "See what I mean…Napoleon…Complex." This caused Sakura's ire to rise once more.

:::

"Describe yourself in one word." Sakura said once they had settled down.

"You never answered my question, Sakura. Why should I answer one of yours?"

"Kakashi!" Sakura hissed testily.

"Fine, fine…Feisty." Kakashi ignored Sakura as she hit him. "Next time I get to ask two questions."

"It's not my fault that you asked a stupid one!"

"There are no such things as stupid questions." Kakashi said sagely.

"Whoever said that was stupid therefore the whole statement was negated because stupid people should be killed on sight."

"I suppose that explains a lot of your feelings towards Naruto in your youth."

Sakura rolled her eyes. "I was a lot different then. You know I adore Naruto."

"I recall hearing you say you love him."

Kakashi studied Sakura's face and noticed deep red that it had turned. She was embarrassed and he wondered at it. Was she in love with Naruto? Had she really meant those words that she said years ago? He hadn't thought so but…

I stopped that line of questioning. Not because I didn't want to know the answer, but because either way she answered it would have led to me asking about Sasuke. It was a topic I did not want to delve into.

"Okay so, one word, huh?"

Sakura sighed relieved that he was willing to change the subject. "Yeah, one word."

"Sexy."

"Arrogant is more like it."

"I believe that's five words, Feisty."

"Stop calling me that." Sakura said pouting prettily.

"Why? I think it's cute." Kakashi smiled inwardly wondering how many shades of red her face could turn. "Or I could continue calling you my chick-whichever annoys you more."

"…"

"Chick it is."

She was cute when she was angry.

Time passed slowly and Sakura grew weary of staying in the room of the small inn day in and day out. After a rather loud argument with Kakashi she got him to agree to get them a small cottage to rent while they were in the tiny village. He hadn't seen the point of 'putting down roots' since they weren't likely to be in the village long but Sakura needed a change of scenery or else they were going to have a problem-and that was putting it mildly.

Finding a place had proved difficult since the locals were wary of the shinobi strangers in their town. There had simply been 'no cottages available'. However, when she could take it no more she bullied Kakashi into being the bad guy and finding them somewhere else to stay. Needless to say Kakashi had been less than happy with her, but she figured he was going to play the role of a bad guy he might as well do it well. It wasn't like he had forced some poor old people out of their homes.

There were two cottages that were actually available but given the circumstances the villagers had tried to keep that information hidden. Sakura selected the larger of the two and she set about making the place as homey as she could.

They had been in the new place for a week when Kakashi walked inside their bedroom and tossed a bag on the bed. Sakura followed behind him curious about the contents and also because he crooked his little finger in her direction from where she was in the kitchen trying to figure out what she was going to feed them that particular evening.

"What cha get me?" Sakura asked anxiously, walking over to the bag and pulling out its contents. Sakura tilted her head to the side surveying it for a moment before asking, "Is this a dress?"

"Yes, it is a dress." Kakashi confirmed a smile forming at the disbelieving look that adorned her features.

"Did you leave the rest of it at the store?"

Kakashi stifled the laughter that threatened to erupt at her question. "It's no shorter than those skirts you've taken to." Kakashi said, lustily eyeing the little red number she had on.

"You like my skirts." Sakura murmured, moving to hang the dress-if you could call it that-up.

"I like when you bend over in those skirts. Otherwise they're just a tease."

"What you mean like this?" Sakura dropped the bag just as she reached the closet and slowly bent over, giving Kakashi a view that a lot of men would pay for. Kakashi swallowed audibly. It took him a moment or two to find his voice.

Sakura looked back at Kakashi, trying hard not to laugh at his dilemma. She rose slowly with the bag in her hand and continued on with her errand.

"Don't hang it up." Kakashi said hoarsely. "Go put it on. We're going out."

Sakura's eyes lit up. "Out? I suppose this is mission related, right?"

Kakashi nodded, not trusting himself just yet to speak. Sakura grabbed the dress and decided to have a little mercy on Kakashi.

She went to change in the bathroom.

Sometimes she made it hard to think, let alone breathe. I didn't want to take her with me because she would only prove to be a distraction, but the fact was she could prove to be more useful to me if I brought her with me than leaving her behind. Besides, leaving her behind would be unprofessional and that was one thing I was not. It was also a party that we were free to bring whoever we wanted...and she deserved the chance to get out.

Sakura could admit it felt good to be able to look into a man's eyes- or in Kakashi's case, eye-and tell that he appreciated what he saw. It did wonders for her self esteem especially since she was nervous about the little black dress that he bought her. It wasn't elaborate or overly special. It had a simple sweetheart neckline and flared at the bottom, stopping a little higher than mid-thigh. The middle was embroidered in white with delicate leaves across the middle. It was more cute than sexy but she supposed for Kakashi it didn't really matter.

Sakura twirled around giving him a full view. "You like?"

"Mmm." Kakashi replied noncommittally, but Sakura only smiled because she knew he liked it.

"Okay, so tell me what's going on."

Sakura watched as Kakashi moved about the room changing his clothes.

"They're having some sort of party. Rumors are circulating that the head of the operation will be in attendance."

"A chance to take him down?"

"Possibly. It's not something we should rush into. Perhaps I'll find a way to ingratiate myself to him and work closer to him instead of here."

"Why are you bringing me?"

"Another set of eyes and ears can do no harm. You're pretty too. Sometimes people equate pretty with harmless and that can be used to our advantage." Sakura blushed at the matter of fact way he complimented her appearance. She blushed even harder at the implication that she was anything but harmless. "Besides if I do manage to get closer to the head then he'll need to know that where I go you go."

"I'm not supposed to work with you on this in that capacity. It wouldn't be believable at this point."

"No, you're not. Still, you're my chick. It's convenient having you around."

Sakura's eye began to twitch. Sometimes the man could turn her into a pile of mush with a few words and just as easily he could make her want to wring his neck.

"What's the guy's name, Kakashi?" Sakura said through ground teeth.

"Daisuke."

Did I mention that she was cute when she was angry? However, she was beautiful when she smiled. I suppose that's why couldn't bear to see it.

My thanks to BlueArcticWolf for being my beta.