Yay! I am now feeling much better! Thank you for all the 'get well' notes guys. *hugs*

Disclaimer: I do not own any characters in Naruto. All rights belongs to the great Kishomoto-sama

-o-o-o-

Chapter Twenty-Six

"K-kakashi…" The name that came out of Hinata's lips was more of a whisper and Kakashi felt his insides churn. Her voice was so small and so cute that it was driving him nuts. With a groan, he gave the soft skin of her neck a gentle nip as his hands encircled her waist in order to bring her closer.

"Shhh…" He said, enjoying the feeling of her strong and fast heartbeat against his own chest. They both smell of her homemade salve now because some of the said ointment stained her clothes as he pressed his bare chest against her. Somewhere in the back of his mind, a voice was telling to him to slow things down and be rational—in case he might lose control of his own desires. Unfortunately, the intimacy between him and Hinata was too good to be thrown away.

He wanted more.

Hinata gritted her teeth to prevent herself from making whimpering sounds as Kakashi's naughty lips crept up to her chin. He did it very slowly that it made her toes curl. Breathing in heavy pants, her hands rose of their own accord to grab a handful of silver hair on each palm—gentle of course—but enough to give her some sort of support while being driven into the brink of insanity.

She really feared that her mind could not handle the clashing of her emotions and the electricity that seems to run up and down her body with every touch of his lips and hands.

"I…" Hinata closed her eyes as Kakashi slowly left her chin and started reaching for her lips. "I…I need to g-go." She stuttered but her voice was obviously strained. It might be the reason why she felt Kakashi smiled.

"Stay." The older man muttered before silencing her with a deep kiss. His voice was low and deep and Hinata felt a cold shiver on her skin. Kakashi was making her mind go blank and her body to go all crazy. The man was as dangerous with his lips and voice as he was with his sharingan eye. "Hime…please stay."

"But…" She managed. "I…I have to…"

"Please."

"Kakashi-sensei…" She muttered the honorific, a little too late to take it back. It was purely unintentional and honestly came out of nowhere that she was surprised herself. Why did she has to call him sensei at this moment was just so weird. With dread, she felt the Copy Nin stiffened and she opened a guilty eye to look at his face and see if he was offended.

Hinata was surprised to discover that the man was smiling a crooked smile. His lips were spread across his face in a lopsided manner that shows amusement and his mismatched eyes were looking at her mischievously. "Oh you should not have called me that."

The girl lowered her head instantly, her easily embarrassed personality getting the best of her. "Gomen!" Hinata squeaked. "I did not mean to—"

"Because calling me sensei with that cute voice..." Kakashi trailed and he suddenly let his upper torso leaned forward, making Hinata lean back. He heard her gasp when her back touched the floor just as his body rested on top of hers. Kakashi then placed his elbow on each side, trapping her in the middle.

"I'm sorry." He whispered on her ear.

Hinata blinked. What was the apology for?

"I'm sorry that I am touching you like this Hime." Kakashi continued with a sigh. "I can't stop myself... I just have to feel you. You don't know how much you made my body ache."

"K-kakashi."

"Please tell me to stop." The older Jounin pleaded as he leaned down and captured her lips again in a deep kiss that made Hinata's mind spin. He would release her lips every few seconds in order to plead again but would resume to what he was doing with a firmer way than before.

When he broke the contact, they were both panting for air. Hinata's lips were swollen and tingling and her eyes snapped to her lover, seeking any kind of clue as to what he was thinking.

"Tell me to stop." Kakashi said again as his hand crept to the zipper of her jacket. His face was now resting on the hollow of her neck and he was breathing in her floral scent. Kakashi was breathing in a strained way—like he was trying to hold on into something. "HIme…"

Slowly, he tugged the zipper down as he pressed his lower region on her hips.

Kakashi gritted his teeth.

Hinata's breath hitched.

"If you don't tell me to stop now…"

Hinata bit her lower lip. She knew where this was going and even though she was not totally against it, she got a feeling that this was not the right time and the right place. Besides, she suspects that Kakashi was going to take the blame all by himself by morning.

There were just a lot of things to consider, like if she can't come home tonight and someone found out that she was not inside her room, the whole Hyuga clan will surely come looking for her. And of course, just one use of Byakugan and they would know that she was inside Kakashi's apartment.

It was too much risk.

Hinata can't even imagine the troubles that would follow after that. So with a sigh, she parted her lips. "Stop."

Kakashi's hand froze as understanding filled his eyes. Without a word, he let the zipper of her jacket go then propped himself into a sitting position. With a low groan, he leaned back on the side of his sofa. "Alright." His voice was sounding like he was in pain and Hinata can't help feeling guilty. "I will stop hime."

"I'm sorry."

"Ah…me too."

"Please don't be angry with me."

He lolled his head to the side and watched her returned back to sitting position. With a smile, he shook his head as his hand gestured for her to come close. She obeyed and crawled next to him, where he placed an arm around her and let her head rest on his chest. "Don't be sorry. I am proud of you."

"It's not like I don't w-want to do it b-but—"

"I know."

"K-kakashi…"

The man chuckled and kissed her forehead. "My Hime is worried…there is no need for that." With a glance at his wall clock, he sighed. "Just give me a few minutes to cool down…and I will come with you to the Hyuga compound so that I could cover you from unwanted eyes."

"H-hai…that would be good." Hinata agreed. "But before that. Could you please tell me where have you gotten that bite mark on your chest?" She touched the said mark with her fingers. "It really bothers me…."

"Oh this?" Kakashi pointed at the bruise. "Ah…is that really a bite mark? I can't tell… wow, your eyes really are impressive to detect insignificant marks like this."

Hinata frowned, wondering why he was making the conversation longer when all he should do was answer what she asked. Besides, this was not an insignificant bite mark."You…you are trying lead me away from the topic." She said with a slight pout. "Are y-you hiding something?"

"Ah…no."

"Okay."

"I got this from a mission." Kakashi looked away. "I have to get some sort of information from a woman who was very…very…uh…how should I put this?" He made an act of looking at the ceiling. "Very…aggressive. She bit me when she ah…thought that she has no way out."

Hinata's brows furrowed. "D-did you have…"

"Hey…of course not." Kakashi shook his head. "I would never do that especially when I am in a relationship now." He gave her a reassuring squeeze. "Don't go thinking things like that. It's just that things got a little out of hand on the mission and one thing led to another. But no… I could never bring myself to do something like that."

"R-really?"

"Yes. Besides, you own me now Hime, and if ever I'm going to do it… it's only with you."

-o-o-o-

Yamanaka Ino frowned as she observed the rest of team eight while they share a few conversations under a giant tree, taking cover under its shade as temporary refugees from the sun's blazing heat. Her team, team Asuma was just a few meters away—also resting under the shade after training.

A very hard and tiresome training.

Well, mostly all teams who were not on missions were making a lot of time for training this past days. The training grounds were all occupied. It was because the Hokage was going to promote new Anbu teams and everyone wanted to be on their best and be noticed. Being promoted to Anbu was a huge thing. It was an entirely new level compared to Jounins—not that Jounin rank nins were not strong…for they are. She knew a lot of Jounins who were as much as dangerous as any Anbu. Some examples are Genma Shiranui and Hatake Kakashi. There was also Asuma Sarutobi and Kuranai Yuhi. They are a very dangerous bunch and they are also Jounins.

Anbu was just more admired and adored because of the S-class missions and all those mystery stuffs like hidden identities and Anbu masks.

In short words, Anbu was like the epitome of coolness in the Shinobi world…

"You know…I really think Shino is going to make it to Anbu." Ino stated as she leaned her head on Choji's large shoulders. Being with an Akamichi in a team was like having one's personal giant pillow. "And Neji…

Shikamaru, who was lying on his back on the grass with his right arm slung over his eyes, smirked. "Of course. It would be troublesome if they didn't."

"And I really think you could be Anbu material too Shika."

"Anbu is too much work."

"But you are too lazy for the job so better stick your lazy ass into Jounin rank." Ino continued with slight irritation. Shikamaru has the potential, but the young man was too lazy to do anything worth for promotion. The Nara was one of the best, and she doesn't like it that he was not living to his potential. With a sigh, Ino tilted her head to the side and stared at team eight. Hinata was smiling to as she listened to Kiba. The dog boy was making gestures with his hands as he talked.

The Aburame was just sitting next to the Hyuga, observant like always.

"Hey…" Ino frowned. "Come to think of it, something is different about Hinata-chan these past days."

"She is always different than the rest of us." Choji said but sounded like a grumble. His mouth was full of potato chips that came from the plastic foil on his lap. Taking another handful, he offered the blonde some but was rejected with a slight wave of her hand. Ino was always a picky eater and she hates junk foods the most. "Hinata-chan view things more differently compared to others. She has the gift of seeing beyond a person's inner self…and I am not just talking about her bloodline limit."

"Of course I know that. She was the only one who likes Naruto when he was still considered as village pest." Ino said. "But what I mean in entirely different."

"What then?"

"Hinata have this kind of glow… her smile is different too. More wide and big—not her usual reserved one." Ino's slender fingers found her chin and she rubbed it contemplatively. "She is laughing a lot too an—oh my goodness!" Ino suddenly gasped and both heads of her male teammates jerked to her direction. "Why haven't I seen it before?"

"Seen what?" Shikamaru asked, curious.

"Hinata-chan is in love!" Ino declared and raised her hands up. "That glow and that smile… it could only mean one thing." She brought her hands down to her lap with force—wanting to indicate how sure she was about her words. "Love…it only means love."

Shikamaru sighed and covered his eyes with his arm again. "Troublesome."

"Hinata-chan is inlove with who?" Chouji asked. "I thought she likes Naruto."

"That is in the past. Naruto doesn't deserve Hinata." Ino said simply and shrugged. "Maybe Kiba or Shino. There are always a high percentage of teammates falling in love with each other. Though I am putting my money on the Aburame… both of them are silent types and Shino is always this over-protective friend who would cut down anyone who tries to harm Hinata."

"Oh…" Choji suddenly looked pensive while Shikamaru's lips stretched into a thin line. "You mean there is also a possibility that…" He pointed a finger at her then to himself. After that, he pointed at her again and to Shikamaru. "There could be a chance that one of us might end with…you?"

Shikamaru coughed.

Ino blinked. "I m-mean not everyone. Just to some…"

Choji looked at her suspiciously. It was rare to see Ino blush…and right now, she was blushing while her eyes darted over to the lazy Nara. Grabbing a handful of chips, he tossed them into his mouth and munched. "Right."

Ino looked away in an attempt to hide her red face. She then crossed her arms and snorted. "Now that I remember about it… I have to practice my new mind transfer technique and it would be very helpful if all of us end this conversation now and be quiet."

"Okay." Choji gave her a nod. Ino was dangerous when provoked and he doesn't want that. "Shutting up."

"Hn." Shikamaru's lip twitched at the sides.

Brushing her long bangs away from her eyes, Ino huffed then closed her eyes. She was tired and her technique was not anywhere near perfect but it was the best thing that she could come up with before she embarrassed herself further. She would do anything just to hide her feelings with her lazy Nara and she would die first before he was aware of it.

She was a proud woman after all…and it was not on her list to look like a poor disregarded teammate while Shikamaru continues his little romance with that foul-mouthed sand nin. It was ironic really, to be the one of the admired village sweethearts but could not even get first base with her teammate for more than eight years.

Shikamaru was a genius…but he was just as stupid like Naruto when it comes to feelings. So was this what Hinata felt back then? Watching Naruto always doing his best to get noticed by Sakura while she was let out?

"Focus Ino." Ino muttered and weaved her fingers together to create hand seals. The purpose of her technique was to steal memories and read minds of people from far away without them knowing and without her moving from her spot. It was different from her usual communication and mind manipulation techniques for it requires great control and strength.

Her father helped her learn the said jutsu but she was still lacking in chakra control and practice.

Slowly, Ino felt her mind drifting away from reality and into the dark space that serves as her firm ground as she let her mind travel around the place, searching for anything that was worth digging into. She really doesn't want to dig into people's minds right now because everyone deserves their privacy, but deep inside, she knew that her technique was not yet perfect and she has never been successful in her past tries so a part of her was expecting that this time was no different.

So everything was fine and safe…she guess.

In that dark, empty space that Ino was in at the moment, she chose her target from the chakra signatures around her. There was Choji's bluish chakra and Shikamaru's pitch black one. A few meters away, she could feel Hinata's light blue signature and the Aburame's. Shino was also blue with dots of brown—probably from his insects. Kiba's was light red.

Ino chose the Hyuga.

When she reached for Hinata's mind, she was expecting to see and feel nothing. Her father said that it might take her months to succeed and she has only been practicing this technique for just two weeks—so it was a huge shock when out of nowhere, a storm of memories came surging on her mind and made her feel dizzy.

Letting go of that invisible contact, she gasped as she opened her eyes.

"Hey." Choji said and touched her arm. He took it that she failed again. "Don't strain yourself too much. Just practice and you'll get it."

"Any improvements?" Shikamaru asked.

Ino shook her head, still panting. Slowly, her eyes moved to looked at the Hyuga who seems oblivious of her intrusion. Hinata was still smiling. "No…I f-failed." There was one memory in particular that she knew would be stuck inside her head forever. She saw a glimpse of Hinata's childhood and snaps of her life as a Kunoichi—but that memory was different, and for a moment, Ino wasn't sure if it really happened.

"Troublesome." The Nara muttered.

Ino agreed. "Yeah…v-very troublesome."

That flash of memory was about Hinata and Hatake Kakashi making out.

-o-o-o-

Here ends the chapter.

Sorry for the late update so much was going on in here… I promise a very long chapter next update!

-crazychan