OLD DOGS - KakaSaku

Kakashi's favorite bar was the one at the edge of the old district, the one with the broken kuni sign outside that seemed to faithfully attract an older crowd no matter how long it had been in business. true, it had some of the best micro brews to find in all the Hidden Leaf, but if Kakashi was being honest, it was the atmosphere he appreciated most of all.

There were cheeper, cleaner, nicer looking bars he could have spent his Saturday night in, but this one suited him just fine. Those places were for the young kids, like his one time genin team. Naruto and his obnoxious friends filled up a room too fast and that wasn't the speed he was looking for anymore.

No, he appreciated a place with a little less distraction for his precious novel reading and ale sipping. Unfortunately, the most distracting thing about any of the young kid bars he tried to avoid was the pretty little pink thing that seemed to be everywhere at once.

He glared at the lines of text in his novel, missing his place as the words morphed into a picture he knew too well. He shut his eyes and tapped his forehead to the spine of his book, knowing he was probably going to hell for even thinking such thoughts.

But it really wasn't his fault, he couldn't help it. She had grow so much so quickly and it wasn't like he was the only one who thought she was God's gift to mankind. Hell, that was one of the reasons she was such a rabid club hopper. There was always someone in there who knew her or wanted to know her or had been saved by her during the war or treated by her some time after. There was always someone younger or nicer looking trying to pin her down and it was torture to watch knowing that would never be him.

She was someone he could never pursue, even after growing as close to her as a second brother. As part of team 7′s original three, Naruto and Sakura were probably the two people he was closest to in terms of relationships, but with Sakura it was different. with Naruto he felt close and bonded. With Sakura… well, with her he felt as far as he could be and too close for comfort all at the same time. He wanted to be intimate with her, but he knew that was a no go zone. He was from a different generation, twelve years older than her, it was dirty.

He curse beneath his mask at all the stupid mental images that started to swell behind his shut eyes. Forbidden romances were soured for him, no thanks to Icha Icha Forbidden Garden.

It was getting so bad he was even hearing her laugh, a voice that tingled the shell of his ear.

No.

He wasn't hearing things, that really was Sakura. He looked up fast, neck snapping as he scanned the room with his matching monochrome eyes. It didn't take long, it never took long to find her.

She was sitting at the counter on a stool talking to Genma. Her cheeks were flushed a healthy rose and her eyes were lit up with the pre buzz sensation. She had downed a few drinks already and was cradling a new beer. If he remembered correctly, she was off from hospital duty tomorrow.

Danger ran down his spine like the fingertips of a dead man. Genma was leaning in, whispering something into her ear while his hand strayed to her thigh. She giggled, clearly more buzzed than Kakashi assumed her to be if she was letting Genma, (GENMA?) of all people feel her up like that.

Genma should have known better. He was the same age as Kakashi, or nearly. He was way too old to be looking at her like that, much less feeling her like that, not when Kakashi endured years of that same wanting. Oh no, oh hell no.

Sakura leaned in and whispered something back before grabbing her clutch and heading to the back where the restrooms were. Genma watched her leave, every step of the way, leering like the pervert he was. It was the perfect opportunity to slip in and halve a friendly word with his oldfriend.

"What the hell do you think you're doing to my student?"

Gema blinked, not seemingly phased by the furious tone to Kakashi's whisper. "Well hello to you too. Got a drink yet?"

"You're a slimy son of a bitch and you're going to stay away from my student."

"Relax, I wouldn't dream of hitting on Naruto. Boys aren't my type."

"You know what I mean."

Genma blinked, lazily. "No, no I don't. There are only consenting adults here at this bar. If I go home with someone tonight that's not your business."

"Like hell it isn't. You're nearly twice her age!"

"Um, no?" Genma looked offended. "I'm eleven years older, there's a difference. Maybe she likes more experienced men, who cares, she's an adult and she's into me."

"No she's not, she's confused."

Genma rolled his eyes. "Whatever, I'm in to her so I'm not letting her father talk me out of it."

"She's my student!"

Something made the older ninja grind his teeth. When he looked over at Kakashi it was to glare at him. "Yeah, so what? She's hot and funny and somewhat into me and I've kinda liked her for a while, so back off."

"No, if I can't touch her you most certainly can't!"

Genma's annoyance melted into a smirk that made Kakashi's heart sink deep. "Well, if you have the hots for your students that's your problem, not mine, but I'm sure Sakura would like to hear about that. Speaking of the lovely blossom, we have a dango date to get on with."

Genma's grin was wicked as he stood up to meet Sakura halfway from exiting the bathroom. He grabbed her around the waist and she laughed playfully as he led her out towards the exit. They never stopped, but once they were past Genma leaned over his shoulder and mouthed the words "Later loser," in Kakashi's direction.

On a creaking barstool, left with his ex-friend's tab, Kakashi came to the realization that he was going to actually damn a few of his ideals if he was going to have any piece of heart for the rest of his life.